#munson family stuff on the mind sorry

[steddielations]

Wayne pov, implied neglect, abandonment

Wayne gets a call from Hawkins Elementary that Eddie hasn’t been to school in two days.

They couldn’t get ahold of Al on the phone, as usual. Wayne hopes his suspicions are wrong, but he already knows what he’s going to find when he shows up to the shabby old house on Philadelphia street with a McDonald’s bag in hand.

His knock on the door goes unanswered, but he sees small fingers and big round eyes peeking through the side window blinds. 

“Hey, Eddie, it’s your Uncle Wayne. Open the door, it’s alright.”

Eddie shuffles away from the window, but there’s still no answer.

“You hungry? I brought those nugget things you like, that’s all. Some kinda toy in here too.”

After a moment, the door slowly opens a sliver. One big button eye peeks through the crack and a pale skinny arm reaches out.

Wayne hands over the food. “Gonna let me come inside?” 

Eddie’s arm snakes back in with the bag like a claw machine. But after another moment, the door swings open fully, revealing Eddie in rumpled clothes at least a couple days worn. The shadows under his eyes tell Wayne all he needs to know.

“Dad’s gone to the store,” Eddie smiles nervously, he didn’t inherit Al’s ability to lie behind it. “He said he’ll be right back.”

Wayne just nods as he comes inside. One look around confirms what he already knew. By the window, there’s a blanket and a scatter of candy wrappers and empty soda cans where Eddie’s been sleeping. Waiting and watching the driveway for Al.

This wouldn’t be the first time Al’s gone off and left Eddie to fend for himself. Wayne’s been helping out as much as he can since Eddie’s poor mama passed. He doesn’t know much about raising kids but he knows Al’s one dumb selfish bastard to be leaving Eddie alone for days since the ripe age of 8.

Wayne ignores the twist in his chest and the stab of anger he feels and doesn’t mention it. He follows Eddie to the coffee table in front of the couch where Eddie digs into the McDonald’s sack.

“School called and said you weren’t there. You feelin’ bad?” He reaches out, gently pushing back Eddie’s wild curls to feel his forehead. He’s surprised Eddie lets him, too busy scarfing down chicken nuggets. “No fever.” Wayne notes, but Eddie’s hair needs a good wash.

Eddie’s narrow shoulders slump a bit. He doesn’t look at Wayne, tearing open his chocolate milk with his teeth. 

“I just— didn’t wanna go today. I hate school. Miss Taylor always gives me a bad behavior grade even when I act the best in class. She calls me Junior. Munson Junior.”

“Thought you liked being called Junior. Like your dad.”

Eddie shrugs, those shadows darkening on him. “Everyone forgets I have my own name too. Sometimes I just wanna be Eddie.”

Already, he’s feeling the weight of his last name. Al taught him to hotwire the second he turned 10 and how to pick locks even before that. Munson tradition, Al wouldn’t listen when Wayne told him that’s bullshit. What seem like cool tricks to Eddie now already make him guilty in everyone’s eyes. Wayne’s been feeling it all his life, thanks to his old man and now Eddie’s got Al to thank for making it even worse.

“That’s good, you just keep reminding them,” Wayne says, being careful with his next words. “When you finish that, why don’t you go pack a bag, alright? You can come stay with me until your dad gets back.”

Eddie goes stiff, chewing slower now. “It— it hasn’t been long. He said he’d be right back.” His eyes drift over to Wayne, checking to see if he buys it. Wayne doesn’t. So Eddie huffs, “I wanna stay here. I hate the trailer park.”

That’s just him repeating Al’s shit talk, so Wayne doesn’t take offense. “Your friend’s been askin’ about you. That little girl next door.”

Eddie perks up at that, “Ronnie?” Wayne nods and thinks that does the trick for a second, but Eddie stubbornly sulks again. “I can’t go. Dad told me to stay here until he gets back.”

“Well, you shouldn’t be here alone. You don’t have to be.”

“I’m not scared to stay by myself,” Eddie insists, sitting up straighter, looking even younger trying to look older. “Dad said I’m not a little kid anymore. I’m 10 now and I can look after myself. He taught me to use the stove and everything. I always do fine on my own.”

“So he’s been leaving a lot, then? You know you can call me to come pick you up,” Wayne tries not to frame it like it’s Eddie’s fault, pointing to where his phone number is pinned on the fridge with a magnet.

Eddie’s lip wobbles despite how he tries to square his jaw.

“There’s nothing wrong.”

“You ain’t—”

“You said to call if I need you and I don’t need you, Wayne! I'm fine!”

Eddie shoves the food away, his eyes wide and shiny when he cuts them back to Wayne. Not glaring with anger, just hurt. 

“It’s not fine,” Wayne tells him, gentle as the first time he held him, just a tiny thing all bundled up in Elizabeth’s knitting. “Your dad’s got his head in his ass again. You can’t stay here on your own, no matter what he said. I ain’t leaving you by yourself.”

“I’m not going.” Eddie’s more pleading now than arguing. “I have to stay here so Dad can find me when he gets back. Don’t you get that? If I’m not here, I won’t see him.”

That’s what it’s really about, Eddie thinking it’s his responsibility to keep up with his Dad. Instead of the other way around.

“If he comes looking for you, he’ll know where to find you.” But Al won’t. It’s never Eddie that he comes back for. Wayne doesn’t tell Eddie that, but now Eddie’s starting to learn that on his own. Al proved it to him time and time again.

“Why do you even care?” Eddie’s angry now. But it’s not really Wayne that he’s mad at. They both know that.

“It’s alright, son, c’mon now.” Wayne reaches for him but Eddie quickly pushes his hand away.

“You aren’t my dad.” Tears escape with the words, and seeing his pain hurts Wayne more than anything he could say, or do. He pushes Wayne again. “So why do you care? Why are you here?”

He doesn’t need an answer, he just needs to let it out.

So Wayne sits there while Eddie shoves his chest and cries harder, “You aren’t my dad. Why do you care?” Wayne curls his hands around Eddie’s smaller ones as the question turns to, “Why aren’t you?” Then it’s a broken little sob of, “Why aren’t you my dad?”

Wayne catches Eddie when he finally tires himself out, and instead of pushing Wayne away, Eddie’s clinging to him. Eddie’s holding on like Wayne’s all he’s got left in the world. Wayne hugs Eddie to his chest, wishing there was more he could do.

Al put a hole in Eddie and he’s digging it deeper everyday, one that Wayne won’t ever quite fit into. He tries to fill it the best he can, giving Eddie the only bedroom in the trailer, going to the talent show because Al never makes good on his promises to be there for Eddie, not letting Eddie stay in this damn house alone waiting for someone who’s never gonna show up. Maybe Wayne’s not that someone, but he can still be here for Eddie. And he’s gonna be.

“C’mon, let’s get you outta here.”

[mrsmnsn]

“You look more like Kirk Hammet”

Eddie Munson x fem!reader

another day, another fluff fic 🤭

wc: 1.2k

author’s note- The reader is Dustin’s sister!!!

Enjoy!

*********

Now, you were at your work, at Family Video, just waiting for him. It was like a routine. Every friday he would walk through the door and search for movies for his weekend.

At first, you only knew Eddie because of his reputation. "Eddie 'the freak' Munson" as the people in your school used to say. Honestly, you never knew why people would call him that. Only because he liked to play Dungeons & Dragons? Your brother did too, and he was no freak! Was he incredibly annoying? Yes! But it's not like he would worship the devil for that.

But with time, you got to know him a little bit better and you got to see he was nothing but a sweetheart. That's probably when you started to crush on him. You were in the senior year and, consequently, would share classes with him. It's not like you would talk to him all the time, but the times you did, even if it was just to say that he dropped his keys on the floor, your heart would melt.

On this friday, Dustin said that he wanted to come with you for work because he wanted to talk to Steve. So there he was, whispering something to Steve while Robin were organizing the new movies in the shelves and you were just singing along with the radio, which was playing a song of Mötley Crüe, a band you definitely didn't only like because of Nikki Sixx.

When the bell rang, announcing that someone was entering, you stopped singing and turned around seeing him walking to you. You could feel your cheeks getting red.

"Hey you. How was your week?" he said placing the movies he got in the last week in the counter

"Hi Eddie. It was good, thanks." You said looking at his hands full of rings

"Do you mind if i leave this here while i look for some movies?" he asked already looking to the horror section

"No, not at all!" You said giving him a smile which he reciprocated. You felt your stomach do a flip

As he walked to the shelves, Robin got close to you, giving you a mischievous smirk.

"What?" you asked and she only raised her eyebrows. "Oh please Robin, we're at work."

"I didn't say anything! I just think that, you know... you should go for it. You have a shot!" She said while you both looked at him trying to make a decision between two movies.

"Oh yeah, like if thats true! I don't think i have and honestly i don't think i want to figure it out." You say putting your hair into a ponytail "What if he reject me?"

"You'll only know if you ask babe." She said going to the back to get more boxes

Of course you wanted to say something to him, but how could you? You didn't know how things could go if he said he wasn't interested on you. It's not like he was going to spread gossip, he could never. If you knew one thing about him, it was that he was not like the jerks at school, he was respectful and gentle. Well, at least with you. All you got....

"Y/n!" He called you making you snap out of your trance.

"Sorry. I was just... thinking." you said getting the movies on his hands. Your fingers touched for a moment and you could still feel the warmth from his hands.

"What got you all up in your head?" He said taking his wallet and with a little concern in his face.

"Oh nothing. Just, stupid teenage girl stuff." You said laughing a little and he didn't say anything else.

The song in the radio was another one from Mötley Crüe and you hummed the song while handing him the movies he got.

"You like Mötley Crüe?" He said trying to see if he heard you hum the song or if he was just mistaken.

"Tell that to her bigger then 40 inches Nikki Sixx poster in her bedroom wall" Robin said behind you looking to the computer.

"Robin! Shut up!" You scolded her. It was not even that big "I'm sorry" you said looking at Eddie who was getting amused

"Oh yeah? Nikki Sixx, huh?" He said giggling "I look a little like him, don't i?"

You study his face for a second, as if you needed to. "You look more like Kirk Hammet"

"Oh yeah, this one is making company in the wall for Nikki too!"

"ROBIN!" You were getting redder by each second. So embarrassed to look at the man in front of you. But he found the whole situation very funny.

"Well, i'll take that as a compliment." He said looking at your eyes "So, Metallica too? You don't seem to like this kind of music"

"I wouldn't say that i'm a huge fan of them, i only know a couple songs and that's it. It's not like i listen to metal all the time like you. I only have the posters because i, uh, i think they're pretty" You said nervously talking before thinking and not really realizing what you're saying.

"It a'right. They're pretty metal!" He said but got interrupted by you brother

"Eddie! What are you doing here?" Dustin said happy to see his friend. You didn't know how they knew each other

"What do you think?" He said showing the video tapes on his hands "What're you doing here?"

"I'm here with my sister! Do you know her?" Dustin said looking at you

"Y/n is your sister? Of course i know her! How come i didn't know you were related?" he said looking back at you

"You've never asked if i had a sister."

"How do you know him?" I asked curious as well, too confused to connect the dots

"He's my dungeon master y/n, i told you i got in a d&d club!" Now everything connected.  "Can i talk to you? i had a incredible idea for a campaign!" Your brother said while Eddie head out of the store

"Sure. Bye gorgeous!" He said winking at you and that was it. You were melted inside.

"What are you waiting for? He's flirting with you! It's your chance." Robin said giving you courage to go after him before he left

You stormed out of Family Video when Duntin came in again. There he was ready to leave when he saw you.

"Hey, uhm, hi." You said too nervous going to his opened window. His van was tall so you were face to face with him.

How could he get even more hot with sunglasses on. You had to be tough.

"So i, uh, i was just wondering, you know, if there was any chance of us going out sometime, even to watch a movie if you want, i just really like you and"... You were cut. Speaking as fast as you could, trying to be brave, you didn't realize he shut your mouth with a kiss.

When he let go of you, leaving you speechless he only smiled at you "You're so cute when you're nervous. I'll pick you up at seven, how about that? You can come to my house to watch these movies i got."

"I'd love that!" You said in a state of haze. Looking at him passionately

"Then it's a date. I'll see you sweetheart" and he drove away.

You stood out there, watching him leave, touching your lips to make sure it wasn't a dream.

"I told you, you had a shot" Robin came to you putting her arms around your shoulders .

[steddiealltheway]

(Set right before season 4)

Steve rushes over to the Henderson house after an ominous call from Dustin saying, "Come over as soon as you can, it's an emergency," before hanging up dramatically.

He can hear his nail bat rolling around in his trunk every turn he takes as he gets there in record time. He grabs the bat out of the trunk and rushes to the door, not bothering to knock before he barges in.

He's met with the sight of Eddie Munson staring at him with wide eyes as Dustin yells, "No! No! Don't swing! Not a code red!"

Steve sets down the bat and lets out a deep breath. "What the hell, Henderson?! I could've seriously taken you out with this thing!" He hears Dustin give him a half-assed apology as he tries to get his heartbeat to slow down. "Next time, don't leave such a cryptic message, okay?"

"Okay," Dustin says, holding his hands up.

"What the fuck is that?" Munson asks, staring at the bat.

Steve points at him and says, "Language," before turning to Dustin and asking, "What's he doing here?"

Dustin sighs and gestures them toward his couch. Steve shoots Eddie a look before taking a seat right against the arm of the couch. It's not that he hates him, hell, he's pretty sure he's gotten weed from him before. It's just that he doesn't like sharing this older brother role with another guy - especially one who likes to make dramatic speeches on top of lunch tables.

Based on the way Eddie is similarly leaning away from him and uncomfortably fidgeting with his rings, he can tell there's a mutual tension between them. Dustin doesn't pick up on it as he sits across from them, acting like he's about to deliver the worst news ever.

Steve leans forward a little trying to get Dustin to finally spill and tries not to lean back immediately when he sees that Eddie is doing the same thing.

"Okay, Suzie and I were talking, and her family is considering visiting Hawkins."

Steve smiles. "That's great, but why-"

"Why are you acting like that's bad news?" Eddie asks, finishing Steve's sentence. The two glance at each other, and Steve tries not to size him up.

Dustin groans, "Because I need to take her on a proper date! We weren't able to go on dates during science camp, so I want this to be special. Of course, this is all contingent on whether she can convince her dad to give us alone time..."

"I could be your chaperone, but I'd ditch you once you got to the movie theater," Steve offers.

Eddie scoffs, "Yeah, a date with Suzie will not be at a movie theater."

Steve crosses his legs and turns toward Eddie. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know you knew something about dating. Wait a minute." He directs his attention back to Dustin, utterly horrified. "You asked me and Munson for girl help?"

"Don't sound so shocked," Eddie says, but Steve ignores him.

"Yes," Dustin states simply. He sighs and gestures between the two of them. "Steve, you're a lady's man and you know exactly what to say and where the best date spots are, but you pick up the worst girls. Except Robin who you refuse to date." Steve doesn't have time to argue before Dustin points at Eddie, "And Eddie understands all the cool nerd stuff that Suzie and I like, and he's super charismatic. So, I thought we could combine your abilities to create the most epic date in the history of dates."

"No," Steve and Eddie both say at once.

"Guys-"

Steve turns to Eddie and raises an eyebrow. "Why are you protesting my help?"

"Because try as he might, Dustin can't convince me that you aren't an asshole that has never actually wooed a girl. You get by with your pretty looks and think that's enough."

Steve's mind lingers a bit on the "pretty looks" for some reason, but he pushes past it to say, "Please, you're telling me you know a single thing about wooing a girl?"

Eddie leans in with a bright smile. "You heard it from Henderson, I'm charming."

"Charismatic," Steve corrects him, "But I haven't seen a shred of that yet."

Eddie tosses an arm over the back of the couch and scoots in until Steve is trapped against the arm of the couch. Steve tries not to show Eddie how much the sudden closeness is affecting him.

"I could easily charm your pants off, big boy," Eddie says with a wink.

Steve's eyes betray him and flicker down to Eddie's lips. "Please, I'd easily beat you to it."

Eddie tilts his head and looks at him through his lashes. "Are you saying you want to charm my pants off, Harrington? I'm flattered, but I'm not that kind of girl."

Steve raises his eyebrows. "Is that a bet?"

"Do you want it to be? Because it kind of sounds like it."

Steve blames his series of bad dates, the meaningless sex with girls with no substance, and the weird tension between them for his response. "It's a date, Munson."

"So, I'm going to assume that was the weirdest way of you two agreeing to help me," Dustin says, startling Steve away from Eddie who he was definitely not just about to kiss.

"Jesus H. Christ," Eddie mumbles under his breath as he moves away, seeming to have also forgotten where they were.

"Sure, we'll create a date for you two and trial-run it for issues," Steve says.

Dustin smiles wide and giggles, "See, I knew you two would help if you just put your dumb differences aside!"

"Something like that," Eddie mutters. "But hey, what does your gut say? Where do you want to take her?"

Dustin shrugs. "I like the idea of the movies."

Steve slowly looks over at Eddie and gives him a cocky smile. Eddie's mouth twitches momentarily into a frown, but he ignores him. "I'll think of something special to do after, but Harrington can fill you in on a movie date."

"I thought you were the expert on wooing," Steve snarkily replies.

Eddie huffs, "Movie dates just aren't my thing."

If they're actually trial-running this, Steve will make it a point to make movie dates Eddie's thing.

"That sounds great. Thank you both!" Dustin says, still ignoring the obvious tension.

"Well, I've got to head out, but it was good seeing you," Eddie says with a genuine smile that Steve thinks he would like to see more often.

"I do, too. Hey, I'm glad I could help. Next time maybe don't make it sound like a nail-bat emergency though," Steve says lowering his voice before grabbing the bat.

He follows Eddie toward the front, but they both stop and turn to mess up Dustin's hair simultaneously. Steve pulls his hand back when Eddie's hand runs on top of his. He looks at him with his eyebrows furrowed.

"I told you you guys are similar."

Steve thinks that Dustin's right, but maybe they're only similar in the way they both obviously care for him.

They finish their goodbyes and head out into the cold January weather. Steve clutches his jacket tighter around himself - he had forgotten to grab a heavier coat in his rush over. He turns to Eddie and says, "Hey."

Eddie turns to him and raises his eyebrows.

"Want to trial-run that date tonight?"

Eddie frowns at him. "I thought you were joking."

With that, Steve should take the clear out given to him and agree. Yes, it was just a joke. Instead, he says, "It doesn't have to be."

It's a long few seconds of Eddie staring at him before he gets a quiet response of, "Yeah, sure. Uh, let's go to my place though. I don't want your reputation to be tainted if you're seen in public with me."

"I wouldn't mind," Steve says sincerely. He's not sure why he's so adamant about this date, but maybe he just wants to see where that moment on the couch could truly lead. "But hey, your reputation would also be tainted if you're associating with me."

"And we wouldn't want that," Eddie says with a small smile. "The freak and the king. What would people say?"

This surprises a laugh out of Steve before he says, "I think your place would probably be a little more intimate than a movie theater."

He can't tell if Eddie's cheeks suddenly flush a little pinker from the cold or a blush. "I told you, I'm not that kind of guy."

"More intimate doesn't always mean sex. You know this."

Eddie laughs and shakes his head. "Why don't we continue this conversation at my place so you don't freeze to death?"

"I like the sound of that," Steve says, making his way to his car and trying to hide the huge smile that's trying to split across his face all because of Eddie Munson.

He rushes to shove his bat into the trunk, hoping that he won't have to further explain that to Eddie. But based on the way his eyes linger on it, he's thinking he won't get away from questioning too easily.

Luckily, he has prepared his Harrington charm for this moment. And boy, he's going to be using it as often as he can to prove Eddie wrong.

Part Two (aka the final part)

[lavendermunson]

dancing with our hands tied — eddie munson

୨ৎ ˙ ˖

summary Eddie seems to live in constant hell except when he is with you.

tags +18. eventual smut. friends to best friends to lovers. angst. pining. no upside down. slight chrissy x eddie and jealous reader. fingering. p in v without protection; be smart irl. no use of y/n, eddie calls reader peach. lose of virginity.

tw eddie has an older brother who punches him. slight mentions of blood and violence. alcohol. mention of drugs. if i forgot anything lmk!

w.c 7.6 k

a/n hey people! it’s the first time i write something like this. the fic is divided in tiny chapters that are titled by the lines of taylor’s song (see title) i hope it’s easy to understand and let me know if you like the format ♡ enjoy!

I. First sight, we love without reason.

It came to you as a surprise, really. The moment he sat down on the nearest seat to start the tutoring lesson. The secret is Eddie has always been good at English, it’s a thing among others that he kept as a secret. You weren’t sure why he would hide it, even lie about it.

You and Eddie became friends easily. But you wish the relationship had more meaning, you weren’t friends just school friends. The worst kind of friend you could be with someone as cool and pretty as Eddie.

One day, in the early morning of a cloudy Thursday Eddie attended school with a black eye. He rushed past you mumbling a kind Hey and going his way. You said hi back but it was too late, he was gone.

You missed him the rest of the day, he didn’t show up to class. His friends were alone at lunch. There was no sign of Eddie until later, tutoring sessions.

He slumps on the chair next to you, taking a deep breath and scratching his scalp nervously. His hands were shaking as he started to scribble on your textbook.

Your mind wasn’t focused on the textbook once, you looked longingly at the maroon-tinted bruise on his eye. A cut, maybe 12 hours old, rested on the bridge of his nose.

“Sorry if I’m interrupting” you whispered “I can’t keep my eyes off…your… are you okay, Eddie?” you pointed your finger at his eye, and he turned his head to look at you.

“Yeah, no don’t worry” he sighs, shifting uncomfortably in the wooden chair and taking a deep look at your face.

Your mouth has formed a pout and your brows are furrowed, Eddie tried to read your mind and he succeeded. You were worried.

“My stupid older brother, he comes in unexpectedly, and when I tried to kick him out of the trailer he punched me”

“Oh, I’m so sorry Eddie” You lean your head to the side, his face looks better from this angle.

He looks tired, the punch looks like it hurts a lot, more if it came from a person of his own bloodline.

“You know what, we can study another time and you can go rest” Your hands are quick to close the textbook, gathering all your stuff as Eddie’s body comes closer to you.

He takes your wrist on his hand, with a little more pressure than intended. When your mouth leans to the side he realizes he is hurting you (not too much, but still he didn’t mean it).

“No, I'm sorry” he drops your hand on your lap, delicately “We can study, I'm fine. Please I need the money”

“I know, I will pay you. But I can’t sit here and I can't focus knowing you are in pain or your mind is somewhere else” You smile at him, and he nods.

“Thanks…I'm having a really bad day. I cannot thank you enough, tomorrow we can study double I promise”

“Don’t worry, I got you” You head out of the library beside him “Take care of that, it looks like it’s going to stay there for a while”

He giggles at your comment, you are not sure why. You pay him for today and he smiles at you.

“Thank you, Peach”

He didn’t talk about his family much, he wasn’t entirely sure if there was something interesting to talk about. His mom left a few years ago, along with his older brother, leaving little Eddie and Uncle Wayne alone.

You knew Wayne from one of Eddie’s stories he told you about. He loves the man like he is his own father, but he is in a lot of debt with him.

Wayne takes care of Eddie as if he’s his own child. He surely loves Eddie like that. He works most of the day and night leaving his nephew alone in the trailer park.

One of those cold and lonely nights Eddie’s brother came to visit him at the trailer park only seeking some money. He was out of luck, and so was Eddie, when his furious brother came in and punched him in the face. Not once, but twice.

Eddie’s head and face hurt the rest of the night. He unfortunately overslept and didn’t get a chance to start school properly so he chose to show up just to the tutoring sessions. He needed the cash, you needed help.

II. Picture of your face in an invisible locket.

A week has passed since Eddie’s brother came to town. You’ve grown closer to Eddie than before.

You hang out after school now that tutoring lessons are over, he invites you to Hellfire Club to watch the campaigns and you sit there watching the whole thing unravel. He had a great imagination, and a wonderful mind full of creative stories and riddles. The kids enjoy his company as much as you do.

He talked about his problems at home with you, trying to get the ugly feeling out of his chest. You listened to him buying him a cup of ice cream and enjoying the wonderful summer breeze.

“I enjoy being with you,” he said “You are a great friend, Peach”

You smiled at him. He smiled at you. His dimples showed up for the first time since you’ve known him, a simple gesture that knocked some sense on you, you had a crush on him.

“Me too, Eds”

Your relationship with Eddie has evolved, not only do you have pet names for each other but it seems like you are best friends. It’s been some weeks since the first time he offered to tutor you and you accepted immediately.

You’ve always liked Eddie, he is his true self every time and he is proud of it.

You admire it.

People at school used to call him awful names, it was always like that until he met Chrissy. The popular kids are the ones that make more fun of him as if it wasn’t exhausting for them to be assholes and jerks nine hours a day. They have toned their jokes down knowing that the queen of Hawkins has a soft place for Eddie and he is more than happy hanging out with her sometimes.

That made your heart ache, it was a dreadful feeling.

After spending some time with Eddie you went home. Still under that lavender haze of accepting that you had a crush on him for a while. It was embarrassing to you only because you were so, so obsessed with him.

His face. His hands. His scent. His hair. Realizing everything about him made you crazy was scary, he only had eyes for one person who was the most perfect cheerleader in the history of high school.

To distract your mind from all the lousy thoughts you took a shower, it was quick, you needed to brush off the sweat and release some tension with a thorough massage on your scalp. The lavender shampoo lingered in the air, relaxing every inch of your body.

After the shower, it was time to eat some dinner. Instead of making a complicated meal you decided to heat some leftovers from yesterday and enjoy your evening eating and dancing in the kitchen with some of your old records playing upbeat songs to cheer you up.

A knock on your door makes you jump after finishing dinner. No one used to come by at this hour, not when your dad was out of town.

You get close to the door and look through the peephole to see who’s interrupting your godly moment. It was Eddie.

A gasp falls out of your mouth and you open the door as quickly as possible. You meet Eddie’s trembling body standing in front of you, his lip is bleeding and his eyes are watering.

“God, Eds…” you whisper, he leans closer to you, wrapping his hands around your neck and hugging you.

You didn’t say anything else, just mirrored his movements and wrapped his waist with your arms. Taking a few steps back and leading him in, you close the door with your foot and he stands there, still not letting you go.

You rub his back as he tries to ease his breath.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t know where else to go so I-” he takes a step back breaking contact with you, his head falls as his eyes look at his feet.

“He, he did this to you again?” he broke contact so fast you decided to stay in your place, careful not to overwhelm him with unwanted touches.

“Yeah, shit shit, sorry I should've called. My mind sort of blacked out and the only thing I could remember was your street and the color of your house, the one with the weird birdhouse…”

“Eds, it’s okay” you interrupt “Let me help you, alright? let me clean your wound and make you some hot chocolate”

He nods, walking with you to the bathroom and past your bedroom. You are quick to find the first aid kit, taking some rubbing alcohol and gauze to clean Eddie’s cut. He hisses at the stingy feeling in his mouth, you apologize and he encourages you to continue.

And there you are, with the boy that you like so much. He leans on the counter closing his eyes and allowing himself to feel at peace with you around him.

You stand between his legs, his inner thighs rubbing the exposed skin of your thighs. The ungodly thoughts need to go away so you blink pretty fast, focusing, it’s not the moment nor the place nor the person.

You finish up cleaning his wound and placing a band aid over it to avoid any sort of discomfort while it heals.

“It’s ready” Eddie opens his eyes, finding you in front of him. So close. The white light in the bathroom makes you look like an angel.

“Thank you, peach” he squeezes your cheek slightly. Neither of you move from where you stand, so close to each other but so far at the same time.

“It’s nothing, let’s make you some chocolate”

“Wait, I'm not really hungry. I need to clear my mind and feel at peace for a bit, ‘m just gonna go back to my place to rest but again… thank you” he stands up straight and you step back, missing the heat of his body.

“No! you can’t go back, it's dangerous. My dad is out of town, you can stay here”

His head leans down to one side, he looks at you concerned.

“Really?”

“Yeah, of course. Anything for my best friend” you say. It’s the first time you call him like that. It’s the first time anybody has called him like that.

“Thank you, again, thank you”

“No problem, let me get you some fresh clothes”

You get Eddie some of your oversized clothes that only get out of your closet on rainy days. You give him some space to change and freshen up in the bathroom, getting him a new toothbrush and a towel so he can wash his face.

When he gets out you offer him the guest room, he immediately denies it and asks if he can sleep with you. You shake your head and show him a gentle smile.

“Is this okay? I don’t want to make you uncomfortable or bother you” he asks while you get the bed ready to sleep.

“It’s okay, Eds. I get that you don’t want to be alone, do not worry”

You get in bed, he drops his body beside you. Both of you rest your head on the pillows while looking at the ceiling.

“You can stay here in the morning if you don’t want to go to school, I do have to go and hand in this paper I’ve been working on”

“Thank you, I owe you one,” he says, crossing his arms in front of his chest and letting out a sigh.

“You don’t, I’m happy to help you” You look at him, but he doesn’t look back. “Goodnight, Eds”

“Goodnight, sweetheart”

The pet name falls from his lips so beautifully.

You close your eyes with a smile plastered on your face, aware that the heat of your cheeks is present leaving a pink tint.

You are thankful it’s dark and Eddie is about to fall asleep so he won’t notice.

When you fall asleep Eddie does too. It takes him a couple of seconds to get into a deep sleep, he hasn’t slept like this in weeks, all thanks to the torture of his stupid brother and the constant thought of him coming back to punch him.

He feels safe around you and he is more than grateful to be your friend.

III. ‘Cause it’s gravity, keeping you with me.

Eddie has been staying over at your house multiple times, Your dad is out of town and you appreciate the company, his company. Sometimes he comes with you right after school, other times after he hangs out with Chrissy. You are not sure of what kind of relationship they have but it still hurts your heart every time he laughs at something she says.

You are thankful for having him over. The nights consist of movies, old tv shows, watching the commercials on the tv, and listing in your head what to buy next for these reunions.

The last slice of pizza remains in the box, it should be cold and washy but

Eddie is fine with it. He watches you from the corner of his eye, your gaze glued to him.

“Sorry, did you want the last slice?” His voice snaps you out of your thoughts into reality.

“Huh? No, no you have it”

“Sure?”

“I hate it when the pizza is cold” Your mouth falls to the side, and you look at the slice with disgust.

“Bummer, I’ll have this baby for myself”

He raises his hand with the slice between his fingers, his head falls to the back and he takes a bite of the tip of the slice. You watch him in awe, not really thinking about how weird it is to watch Eddie eat, but your eyes can never leave his face. His mouth opens and his jaw tightens when he takes a bite, and another, and another until he finishes it.

“Don’t know why you pushed this aside, it was so good”

The corner of his mouth is full of tomato sauce and cheese grease, you laugh at him shaking your head.

“You have something… there” you point with your finger, Eddie furrows his brows and leans his head to the side looking like a confused puppy.

“Where? Here?” He wipes his mouth and smiles victorious, although it is the opposite side.

“No, here”

You get closer to him. His body is fully turned to the left so you sit in front of him kneeling.

He watches you getting close, he takes a deep breath as his Adam’s apple bobs as a result of his own nerves. You are too close, you’ve never been this close –just once when he hugged you – not even when you two are sleeping in your bed.

As you take the napkin to clean his face you get the opportunity to get closer, you wipe his mouth slowly and pinch his chin between your fingers. You breathe and he is mixing up, the room feels suddenly too hot.

Eddie wants to give in, he gets his head closer. He doesn't care about anything, just you. The only source of light is the TV which gives a shadow of multiple colors on your face, it’s adorable. Your body, your naked thighs, your pretty face so close. He is about to kiss you until you speak.

Shit.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Shoot”

“How do you punch someone?” you ask, he shakes his head confused shaking off the thoughts he had earlier. He was so close to kissing you, but he couldn’t. You are his best friend.

“Wow,” Eddie laughs, grinning “Who do you want to punch, exactly?”

“I met someone”

Your news hit Eddie in the chest. He shouldn’t be feeling like this but he is… jealous?

“He told me to go to this party with him… and a friend told me I should be prepared for everything”

“Everything? Like if he wants to get in your pants you’d punch him?”

“Only if he is a real jerk and thinks he is too smart”

Eddie nods, he takes your hands in his standing up from the couch. You follow him.

“Alright, pay attention”

He drops one of your hands and takes your dominant hand in his, the cold rings on his fingers keep you from falling apart from his touch.

“The secret is in your hips and shoulders, that’s where the power comes from okay?”

“Yeah, but please don’t teach me how to kill someone. I just want to throw a little punch if needed”

“I know, peach” he laughs “Stand up like this” His stance looks professional, maybe he has done this before. Maybe to protect himself from his older brother.

“First things first, your stance gives you balance so you don’t fall to the floor and break your nose too y’know?”

“Am I going to break his nose?” you ask, a little scared of what you are getting yourself into.

“No! ‘M just saying. You don’t have a lot of strength to do that, don’t worry”

“Like this?” You mimic his stance, feeling a little awkward.

"Exactly. Now, focus on your fist” He hasn’t dropped your hand yet “Curl your fingers in, and tuck your thumb under them. This way, you won't hurt your hand when you punch”

“Why do I feel like I shouldn't be learning this?”

“You are fine, watch” Your hands form a perfect fist, Eddie holds it in his hands and tries to set you up on the perfect stance. Your knuckles turn a bit white as you focus on the lesson “See? Perfect”

“I got it”

"Now punch me,” he says, he is serious.

“What?”

“C’mon I’ve taken the worst punches, bet yours will feel light as a feather” he grins. Inside he feels dumb for aching your touch so much even if it means taking a hit “Twist your body and extend your arm in a straight line, then go straight to my cheek” his fingertip touches his cheek “Not my nose! Please” he remarks, but at the same time he is encouraging you.

“Alright,” you do as he says, swinging your arm back and forth. Your fist comes into contact with his cheek and he groans in pain, his head falls to one side.

“Jesus H. Christ!” he caresses his cheek with the palm of his hand “I underestimated you” A chuckle falls from his lips, and you are covering your mouth with your hands surprised. Your eyes are glassy.

“No, no don’t cry I’m fine”

“I’m so sorry Eddie. I thought- fuck, I didn’t see that coming! I am so fucking-sorry, sorry” you cry, your cheeks glow red as embarrassment washes over you.

“No, don’t” he is still laughing “Oh god, come here”

Eddie opens his arms and wraps them around your shoulders. This is the second time you hug him, and this time it feels different. One of his hands rubs your back to calm you down as you keep murmuring sorry. He keeps thinking you are the most adorable thing on the planet.

“Do we count this as tutoring? Am I getting cash for getting punched in the face?” he chuckles.

You bury your face in his chest, hugging his body tightly. He feels you trying to get closer.

“Yeah, yeah if you want”

“I'm joking, peach, you did good!”

You smile at the praise, although he can’t see it.

“Thank you for teaching me”

“Nah, don’t worry about it. It was a pleasure” he breaks the hug, and his hands come to rest on your arms. He is not giving up touching you “I hope whoever you punch… you do it harder than this one” he smiles.

As you watch his face, hypnotized, you smile back.

“I will, only if he is a jerk…”

“Or thinks he is too smart, gotcha” he interrupts, filling up the rest of the sentence “But you know if someone bothers you, you can call me and I will kick his ass right?”

“I’m a big girl, Eds. I can take care of myself”

“That I see! ‘M just offering, You did good honey” He pinches your cheek, and the new pet name hits right above your stomach where your anxiety rests. He has never called you that before, you feel the heat on your cheeks.

“We- uhm, we should sleep is getting late” You watch the clock, it is 3 am already.

“Oh shit, yeah. Let’s go”

IV. I’m a mess but i’m the mess that you wanted.

Watching Eddie kissing Chrissy was a punch on the tits. His hands are on her waist, she grabs his jacket getting closer. Their mouths were glued to each other. You were sure this was the night, this was the night you would tell Eddie your feelings, but instead, you decided to meet up with the guy you told him about. Ignoring your feelings for Eddie.

Nothing ever comes out as you wish, after punching the guy for trying to touch your ass after he didn’t even know you were in his math class, you punched him. Your hand hurts, but it was worth it.

You try to find Eddie but he isn’t around. Ignoring the feeling in your chest, you decide to fill the guilt and the secrets with alcohol.

After a lot of refills, the living room’s bottles are empty so you make your way around the house to find more. That’s when you find Eddie, you take your sixth? seventh? Cup of the night and walk to him.

“Eds!”

Your voice is like honey to him, he didn’t want to be here but as soon as Chrissy mentioned you were coming with “the guy” he wanted to be there. She was nowhere to be seen after spending some time with him.

“I did it! I punched him!” you mumble, proud of your achievement and so, so drunk.

“Fuck, I missed it?”

“Yeah, I have been looking for you everywhere to tell you” You lie, you’ve seen him multiple times and ignored him. It was a decision that sober you took. Drunk you is a little more insistent “I didn't think you were coming”

“Chrissy wanted to be here, I'm just keeping her company… was, she left” he looks around, but she is still somewhere else.

Her name rings in your ears, your stomach crumbles.

“Well, let’s get drunk!”

Deep down Eddie is grateful that the guy you were meeting up with fucked up everything and now you are with him. Chrissy is nowhere to be seen and you seem like you need someone to watch you. Take care of yourself.

You are so drunk, your whole body feels light and your head is in the clouds. Maybe you are a little bit high too.

“Can we find somewhere more quiet? I wanna smoke” Eddie finds himself screaming, the music getting louder with the minutes.

“Sure, let’s go”

You hold a red solo cup with something in it, enough to make you more tipsy. You follow Eddie outside, to the porch. The night is hot and Eddie realizes your dress is too short. He takes a deep breath, looking at your thighs as you take a sip from the cup.

Eddie lights a cigarette and takes a peek at the party from outside, The window leaves a space so the warm light of the house hits your face. The night at your house, the one when he almost kisses you comes back to his head. A side of your face lit up by the chaos inside, yet you look so peaceful, so beautiful.

“I need more of this. I- shit I forgot the n-name” you slur your words again, taking a step forward. Eddie takes your wrist in his hand, stopping you.

“What the fuuuuck?” you say.

“I think that’s enough for today, let’s go home”

Your whole body is on fire, all of your insides begging for more alcohol.

“Home? What? I didn’t know we lived together!”

“C’mon, peach. You know what I mean” Eddie’s cigarette bounces on his mouth, his voice is firm and his free hand comes to cup your waist.

“No, no. Let’s go dance here” You take his hand, the alcohol makes you bold. He follows you to the living room after dropping his cigarette.

The music is too loud, you empty the cup you had and throw it away.

“I’ll be right back, need to take a piss'” Eddie says, disappearing. You don’t hear him.

His “girlfriend” is still ignoring him, but he remembers what she said. She got mad because he was looking for you, and she got jealous too. Chrissy wanted all the attention but Eddie was giving it to you.

He stopped eating lunch with her, he was with you instead. Talking about random tv commercials that you thought were clever, it was some of an inside joke.

As he comes back from the bathroom he hears a crowd cheering, he is so done with this party, tired of the happy sappy music playing over and over, and the smell of sweat and alcohol makes him sick. He makes an effort to find you and he does.

There you are, standing on the table dancing. You were dancing, making some sexual moves that all the guys were screaming. Your hips move as the music gets to your ears, the whole room electrified by this little show.

Eddie’s face goes beet red, he can’t take this. He isn’t enjoying this.

Jealousy takes over him and he grabs your hand, yanking you down and letting you fall on his shoulder.

He carries you away from the table, a hand comes behind your back and he places his palm on your ass in an attempt to stop your dress from going up. You feel the cold of his rings again, your whole body lights up in anger as he carries you outside.

“Let me down! Eddie, I'm not joking!”

“Whine for as long as you want, I’m taking you home”

“Eddie please, I'm going to throw up”

He gives up, he lets you down and you pick up your breath. You place a hand on your belly trying to steady yourself and make the nausea go away.

“I need a moment… just give me a–”

“No! I know you will go back inside. You can’t even walk by yourself”

“Yes, I can! Don’t- don’t try to babysit me” you bicker.

He lets out a deep sigh, he is not letting you go back and you know it.

He wants to protect you, but more, he wants you to be with him and not dancing and showing off for anybody else. Yes, he was jealous and it was time to admit it. His feelings for Chrissy were never as intense as what he feels when he is with you.

“Sweetheart-”

“Don’t call me that!” you scream, his eyes open wide.

“Please just-”

He tries to hug you but you don’t let him.

“I'm not your sweetheart! The other day you called me like that too and I- what are you doing to me?”

“I don’t- fuck, what are you talking about?” Eddie is confused, you are acting like you don’t want him around, and that hurts him.

“I- I like you, Eddie! I fucking like you so bad but you… You don’t and I know it!” you have no time to breathe, the alcohol encourages you to confess your feelings.

“Peach-”

“No! No, I- I like you since that first day of tutoring… I’ve liked you since then and you don’t know how fucking hard it is to oh- sleep with you and you- almost fucking kissed me and I panicked. This, you, her- it’s too much ah- go away!” you cry out, your head is spinning and you can feel your temples aching.

This wasn’t planned, future you will kill you for this. But right now in the heat of the moment, you let Eddie know how you feel. Your whole body aches and your heart is shattered.

“I know you like her! Just- I don't want to talk to you right now!”

A salty taste lingers in your mouth, your tears. Your arms ache from the sudden cold breeze as the night gets darker. It’s maybe two or three in the morning. You are drunk and high. Eddie’s brain seems to stop working.

He is quiet, looking at the grass under his feet. It hurts seeing you like this.

“Fuck!” you turn around and start walking, thinking you can walk home from here knowing it’s impossible.

“Hey! Let me take you home”

You stop.

“Please, I won't stay. I’ll drop you off and go to my trailer- you can’t get home by yourself” he is right.

You don’t move. Too heartbroken to say everything else or even turn around to see him. You are ashamed, he can’t even look you in the eyes.

He sees you waiting for him and he asks you to follow him to his van.

The ride home is long and torturous. He didn’t reciprocate your feelings, but you don’t blame him. Who could fall for a mess like you?

You fall asleep in the passenger seat of his van, he opens the door carefully and carries you to your bed. He wants to change your clothes but he knows it is not okay, he does peek at your naked thighs before covering your body with the sheets.

His calloused fingers move the hair off your face “I like you too, peach” He murmurs, leaning in to kiss your forehead before leaving. You can’t hear him of course, he knows it damn well.

V. Deep fears that the world would divide us.

The last time you talked to Eddie was two weeks ago. He didn’t know how to talk to you since that night, he didn’t know what to tell you. It is now summer break, you are in your bed facing the ceiling and letting the air from your window hit your sweaty body.

You were so bored. Without Eddie it feels like the world just turned gray, you regret everything you said that night. He never should’ve known.

He is now in his trailer, maybe with Chrissy. Your brain starts to think of a hundred scenarios. They could be spending time at the local pool, going to starcourt and eating ice cream, trying on some new clothes, or playing at the arcade.

You miss him. Your whole body aches without him by your side. Your bed feels so empty.

Tears start rolling down your cheeks, you are all alone in this gigantic house. It doesn’t feel like home, not without him.

You can’t pick a book and read it to kill time because every book you own is about romance.

You can’t watch movies without Eddie’s sudden comments.

You can’t even watch fucking commercials without him.

So you just let yourself on your bed, waiting for the sheets to swallow you whole.

Night came by after a nap, it was time to close the windows to stop the mosquitoes. It was time to eat so you headed down to the kitchen, the leftovers seem to always keep you company.

You wish he came back. Knocking at your door and getting in. Kissing you.

It doesn’t happen. To you. But it can happen to him.

You take your keys in your hands and head down to the trailer park, it isn’t that late so you go by yourself. With your clammy hands tapping on the steering wheel and a feeling of uncertainty.

It takes you from ten to fifteen minutes to get there and you park your car close to Eddie’s trailer. You’ve given him a ride home before, you know where he lives.

As you get closer to his trailer you hear screams. The door of his trailer opens suddenly and makes you jump. A tall and slightly old man comes out of the trailer, his white tank top is covered with some blood.

No, no, no. You mumble under your breath and run to the trailer. You find Eddie with a cut on his lip, his eye is purple already and his nose is bleeding.

“Eddie?” you whisper, he panics.

“No, no you can’t be here” he gets up from the floor and places his hands on your arms, pushing you out.

“Why? Please I just want to talk”

“You can’t be here! He- if he does something to you I’m never going to forgive myself Please just leave” his breath quickens, and his chest rises up and down. He is nervous, he is scared. The feelings are contagious.

“Come with me, please. Eds-”

“Just fucking leave! please please please, leave right now”

Nothing you do is going to convince him you should stay, as much as you want to. You hear screams of an angry man getting close to the trailer.

Running out back to your car and driving home, the radio becomes an annoying background noise screeching. Your heart is beating so fast out of fear, and your hands are trembling.

You set yourself down on your bed once you get home. You are scared of what could happen to Eddie. You know he is in danger and you also know he doesn’t want to see you.

The tears come back, your eyes are blurry and the walls feel like they are closing in and are about to crush you. You cover yourself with the sheets, as some type of protection, just like when you were little and scared. Yes, you are scared now, so fucking scared. But there is nothing you can do now so you sleep, and you fall asleep crying, again.

VI. I'd kiss you as the lights went out.

The next day goes by quickly, it’s currently midnight and you are sitting in front of the tv watching a random documentary about dolphins. You’ve slept all day so sleep is not an option. A huge bucket of ice cream in your hands gives you a cold feeling of serenity.

A knock on the door makes you jump, the thing you’ve been waiting for.

You open it quickly, and Eddie is there. You look at him with sadness in your eyes, some of his wounds have healed since yesterday.

“Before you say anything… I am sorry, sweetheart” You don’t let him in, and he doesn’t take a step forward “I like you too. I like you so much. I tried to date Chrissy because I thought I could get my mind distracted by the fact that I'm crazy for you. "He licks his lips, he moves his hands in the air as he always does when he explains something or rambles about a thing he loves.

“I was scared to tell you, that night at the party I swear all I could think about was- fuck, I wanted to rip those clothes off of you and kiss every part of your body but I was fucking terrified” his chest rises up and down, his heart is bumping in his ribcage. “I didn’t want to say anything because 

I didn’t want to lose you, You are too good to me and I didn’t want you to be with someone like me-”

“You don’t get to make that choice for me” you interrupt, your own heart is beating so fast it could burst.

“I know, I know. That’s why I'm here… is it too late to hang out? Look, I slept all day and some little bird named Steve told me the sunrise at Lovers Lake looks awesome and I really just want to be with you” 

You look at him, he is standing at your door confessing his love to you and, weirdly, it doesn’t feel like a dream. It all feels too real, too peaceful.

“A date at midnight? Did you plan this because you look like you even showered”

He lets out a big laugh. You see those dimples you love so much.

“I- I wouldn’t see it as a date because I think we’ve had tons of them” he shakes his head, and his curls bounce with the movement. “Pretty please? Join me on this adventure”

“We must be connected by some kind of thread because I slept all day too” you chuckle, he laughs with you “Sure, I want to be with you. Let me change and I’ll be right back”

You head upstairs quickly as Eddie goes back to his van for something. 

With the quickest movements in the world, you manage to get yourself some pretty clothes, a tiny bit of makeup and fix your hair.

Running to the first floor to meet Eddie, your legs stop working as he stands up in your living room with a bouquet.

“You did have this prepared” You are smiling so wide your cheeks start to hurt, but you can stop it. After days of missing him, he is now here and everything feels right.

“I did. You look- you look beautiful” he looks at you from the bottom to the top, taking every detail of your figure. “I mean, you always look so beautiful I just-”

You come closer to him, he hands you the bouquet and you take it. 

“You are beautiful too, Eds”

Your fingers touch his cheeks, he feels the warmth and breathes in to take everything in. Your scent, your touch, the closeness. Your cheeks have a pink tint from blushing and it makes you look so pretty. He leans in and in a second, his lips are touching yours.

You gasp at the sudden feeling, your whole body electrifies. His hands come to rest on your lower back, keeping you close to him. Your hands travel to his shoulders as you stand on your tippy toes.

His lips trap your bottom lip, sucking in your taste. Your whole heart flutters as your head goes back to catch some air.

“I wanted to do that for so long” 

Goosebumps travel from your arms to your lips, missing him already.

“Me too” you bite your lip.

“C’mon, let’s go watch the sunrise sweetheart”

VII. Deep blue but you painted me golden.

The trip to Lovers Lake in the middle of the night resulted in love confessions and a heavy make out session, Eddie packed the back of his van with christmas lights, sheets, and blankets along with some pillows. 

You and Eddie sitting in front of each other, his lips crashing into yours as sweet as honey.

“So yeah- that time when you sat down and started tutoring me I fought so hard to pay attention but I just loved the sound of your voice” You take a sip of beer.

“It was hard to teach you when your confused face is just so adorable. 

Every pout you gave me was a kiss I wanted to give you” Eddie laughs.

“You can give me all the kisses you want now, I'm all yours”

Eddie’s breath hitches in his throat, his face glows pink and you let out a chuckle.

“Honey, I will” he takes a sip from his own beer, finishing it.

Alcohol makes both of you giddy, dozy, and dumb. Or maybe it’s just the love you have for each other.

“What time is it?” you murmur against his lips, his hands travel from your waist to the back of your head.

“I have- no idea” he stops, with his head leaned slightly back he watches you. Your lips are puffy and pink, his too. Both of you have a maroon tint on your cheeks. “It’s almost six, we have time” he peeks at the clock on his left hand. 

“Alright, c’mere” With your hands placed on his shoulders, you try to get closer to him. 

You kiss him. He is addicted to your taste already. 

This time the kiss is messy and uncoordinated. His teeth collide with yours, saliva drops from the corner of your mouth. 

With a firm hand caressing your back, Eddie helps you fall back with your body pressed against the sheets. Your head rests on a pillow as he gets comfortable on top of you.

You can feel the van getting hotter, a cloud of passion and love around you. Eddie makes a quick move with his knee as it presses against your hot core. 

Absent-mindedly you start to grind against his knee, feeling the combination of friction with his sloppy kisses sending chills through your spine.

His lips now travel all the way to your neck, he presses sweet wet kisses against your skin.

“Eddie-” you whisper, letting the air out of your lungs. “I want you”

You have been dreaming about this, he has been dreaming about this. 

This moment. This very golden moment is going to live in your head forever.

“Are you sure, sweetheart?” he murmurs against your collarbone, his lips tingling your skin.

“I’m sure, please”

He takes a break from the kisses, looking at your sweet face. 

“Have you ever…?” he asks.

“No,” you bite your lip nervously.

“I’ll take care of you, I promise”

You nod, and he returns to kissing your neck. One of his hands travels to your thighs, he gives a slight massage on them making his way closer to the heat between your legs. 

His cock gets hard against his pants as he feels the wet spot between your legs.

“You are so soaking wet, peach-”

With both hands, he takes off your panties, gently. He is so gentle with you. 

“And so, so pretty”

Eddie starts to rub your clit with his thumb, his circular motions make your toes curl. It’s a sensation you’ve never felt before. With his mouth pressed against your jaw two of his fingers get inside you slowly, the pain of it quickly goes away and turns into lust. His fingers move in and out, making sure not to hurt you and make you feel good. 

Your back curls and your thigh touches the bulge on his pants. 

“Eds, please”

“What do you want, princess? Say it”

“I want you to fuck me”

Your voice makes his heart flutter. He leans in to kiss you more as he curls your fingers inside you. 

“Oh god, Ed-Eddie” you mewl, your head too giddy to make up words.

“Good girl” his voice is now deeper, and his pupils dilate as his body perks up with electricity.

His fingers leave your pussy, you whine and he tells you not to worry. 

He is gentle on taking your clothes off, smiling after admiring every inch of you. He wets his lips with his tongue admiring your figure.

“You are so fucking beautiful, princess”

“You too, baby”

The mood has clearly changed, you are still so horny and whining for each other. But Eddie has decided to take his time to make you feel like the princess you are.

Your hands help him take his clothes off, you admire his bare chest and your eyes focus on his tattoos. When he takes his pants and boxers off it is inevitable for you to take a look.

Your mouth waters at the sight. Eddie caresses your cheek and leaves small kisses on your lips as he goes inside you. You feel his hot cock 

inside you, it twitches as you stretch and leave out a louder moan.

A grin shows up on Eddie’s face as he thrusts into you. Your nails scratch his back slightly. He feels his skin burn.

“Feeling good?”

“Yes, god yes”

He groans at the same time he increases the speed. Your moans get louder and he kisses your neck again, his bare chest meets yours and you whimper. He is moving on top of you, his cock inside you, and his chest rubs your nipples.

The tiny knot in your stomach untangles as chills go down your spine. You moan as your orgasm comes to you.

“You are such a good girl, go on cum for me”

His words are sweet, he keeps praising you as you finally come. 

“So so good baby, I’m going to-”

He moves back but your hands are quick to tangle around his neck, not letting him leave.

“Do it, baby. Cum all over me”

Your encouraging words get into Eddie’s head, his thrust becomes sloppier as he relaxes and he comes into you as requested.

The hot sticky combination of cum slides down your legs as Eddie hugs you and pulls you to him to the side. His back is now pressed against the dirty sheets, your head falls in his chest.

He kisses your forehead and runs his hand through your back. 

The sun starts to show up. 

Eddie leans forward to open the back doors of his van, he comes back to his place next to you as quickly as possible and hugs you harder.

The lake glows with a yellow tint, the water now shows a baby blue color. 

“I love you, sweetheart”

Surprised you turn your head to look at him, you give him a big smile.

“I love you too”

You stay there a couple of minutes, touching each other and loving each other.

there it is! my little baby. feedback is appreciated REBLOG TO SUPPORT THE AUTHOR! and DON’T throw a punch like it has been described!!!

tagging everyone who interacted, tysm 💕

@ali-r3n @witchwolflea @ghostlyfleur @littlegingerbat @live-love-be-unique @expiredcum21 @emma77645 @silent-stories @hellfirenacht @eddiemunson95 @tenthmoon

[laundrybiscuits]

(Continued from this snippet! Content notes: police interrogation, homophobia)

“You don’t look gay.” The detective gives Steve a very obvious once-over. Steve tries to look gayer as subtly as he can. 

“Sorry,” he says. “Guess I’ll have to let my boyfriend know you don’t think I look gay enough to fuck him.”

The detective’s face twists slightly, like he’s smelled something bad. “No need to be like that. I’m just saying, I bet a good-looking guy like you could get a girlfriend pretty easy.”

“You’re not my type,” says Steve. He smiles with his teeth, even though his heart is going fast and he can feel his palms starting to sweat. 

The detective’s hands tense, and Steve wonders if he’s about to get hit, but they relax again and the detective sits back.

“Just doing my job,” says the detective. “Because, funny enough, we asked around with all your little friends, and it seems like you used to be a bit of a ladies’ man.”

“Things change,” says Steve. 

“In fact…seems like none of your friends ever even saw you talk to Munson before. Moved in different circles and everything. I remember what high school was like.”

The detective leans close. 

“So why would the captain of the swim team, a nice normal boy from a good family with a string of pretty girlfriends, ever—ever—stick his neck out like this for some murdering scum like Munson? That’s what I’m trying to figure out, here.”

“Don’t fucking talk about him like that,” says Steve. His mouth is dry. His pulse is thundering in his ears. “He didn’t kill anyone. He was with me the whole time. He’s—he didn’t kill anyone.”

“Hm,” says the detective. 

It takes a while for them to stop interrogating him. They keep asking him the same questions over and over, trying to trip him up. He asks for water and doesn’t get it. In the back of his mind, a hysterical little voice is shrieking Scoops Ahoy! I work for Scoops Ahoy!, but he manages to keep it locked down. Doesn’t let himself get baited, just keeps repeating that Eddie was with him the whole time and neither of them know anything. 

It takes a while, but it’s over eventually.

When he leaves the station, Eddie’s standing outside with Hopper and Joyce Byers, wearing a shirt and jeans that definitely belonged to Jonathan at some point. Eddie’s got his hands tucked into his armpits, looking antsy and tense, but he’s free and standing on his own two feet. It’s a pretty big upgrade from when Steve last saw him about a week or two ago. 

It’s almost too easy to go straight over to him, wrapping him up in a tight hug like they’ve had their arms around each other a million times. 

“Oof. Easy there, tiger,” laughs Eddie. “I’m, uh, still a little fragile.”

“Sorry,” says Steve, and loosens his hold. He doesn’t let go all the way.

“Come on, boys,” says Joyce. “I’m taking you two home. Steve, Eddie’s been staying with us, but we’re a little short on spare beds and it’s not great for his recovery. We’re moving him to your place until we can figure out something better, okay?” 

———

Joyce drops them off and helps carry in a few garbage bags full of Eddie’s stuff. There’s not that much.

And then the door closes behind her, and Steve’s alone with Eddie for the first time since—actually, maybe ever. 

“So,” says Eddie. “What…the fuck, Harrington.”

“Is that an actual question?” Steve says. He rolls his shoulders, trying to get some of the stiffness out. “I mean, didn’t Hopper and Mrs. Byers explain everything to you?”

“Kind of? I mean, I still think this is probably the worst idea of all time, but they told me—anyway, what I meant just now was a much more personalized and individual what the fuck. As in, why the fuck would you agree to any of this? You know you’re never gonna get another girl in this town to look at you now.”

“Dumping me already? Ice cold, man.”

Eddie groans and actually throws his hands in the air in frustration. Steve hadn’t known people did that in real life. 

“Jesus christ.” Eddie wheels around and grabs two of the garbage bags. “I can’t do this right now, I need to take a fucking nap. We will be discussing this later.”

“Still don’t know what there is to discuss,” says Steve, but he picks up the last garbage bag and leads the way to the spare room. 

Eddie pitches forwards onto the bed, arms outstretched and face mashed into the pillow. “Fuck yes, I am going to marry this goddamn mattress. Hit the lights when you leave,” he says, slightly muffled. 

For a second, Steve finds himself stepping forward with a hand outstretched to���do something. He’s not sure what. Touch Eddie’s hair, or something dumb like that. His face warms. He’s really glad Eddie isn’t looking at him and doesn’t see how he’s kind of just standing there with a hand out for no reason. 

He turns around, flicking the light switch on his way out, and doesn’t look back.

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Dear Diary. . .

18+ for some smut. . .

Steve thought a lot about people's sexuality since Robin came out to him on the floor of the bathroom at Starcourt. Well, he thought about it a lot more. Before, it was only a casual thought. How could two members of the same sex do that? Not in like a hateful way but more in a curious way. How could two men have sex? He usually spent time on it, thinking about it. . .too much time thinking about it, really. That should have been his first clue, but at the time, he shook those thoughts away by telling himself that he was just being overly judgemental like his dad. Now, he was thinking about it a lot more, and he couldn't quite figure it out until Eddie Munson walked into Family Video one afternoon.

"It's fucking freezing! I can't believe Keith made us come in. I swear that I'm going to do it this time," Robin said. "I'm gonna kill him."

"You keep saying it, but then it never happens," Steve chuckled.

"There's no one even here!" Robin complained.

It was the middle of December and pretty damn cold. No one would be crazy enough to escape the warmth of their homes just to get a movie. He was quickly proven wrong, though, when the door opened and Eddie Munson walked in.

"Jesus H Christ! It's freezing in here. Do you guys have the air conditioner on in the middle of winter?" Eddie asked.

"It's broken. We couldn't fix it, and we couldn't get anyone to come out," Steve said.

"And you guys didn't just say 'fuck it' and go home?" Eddie asked.

"We can't really afford to do that," Steve said.

"Really? King Steve can't afford to take one day off? The man with his own castle or so I've heard," Eddie said, and Robin scoffed at him, scowling.

"You mean, my parents' house? Yeah, no. It's their house and like they've told me since I was six: It's their house and they just allow me to live there. They made me start paying them rent the minute I didn't get into any college, and they threatened to kick me out without all my stuff if I didn't pay up on time, so no I can't really afford to say fuck it," Steve said. "And the thing about being called King Steve are the assumptions that come with it. They assume that because I was born into money that everything that comes with it is mine. That I have it easy. You know, you can have all the money in the world but you can't pay your parents to love you. I mean, I don't know. Does it make you feel good when people call you freak?"

"Jesus. . . No," Eddie said, looking properly shamed. "Look, sorry, man. I can fix your problem for free."

"Which problem? People calling me King Steve or my parents not loving me?" Steve asked.

"Well, I can't fix those problems, but I can fix your heat," Eddie smirked. "Let me go get my tools."

He left the store, leaving Steve alone with Robin.

"He's lucky he apologized and offered to fix the heat, or otherwise I would have kicked his ass," Robin muttered, and then she paused. "Your parents are home, aren't they?"

"Yeah," Steve muttered.

"You know, my dad put bunk beds in my room like I'm a kid or something. Want to have a sleepover?" Robin asked.

"Only if I get the the top. A top for a top," Steve said with a smirk.

"Ugh. You'll get bottom and like it," Robin said. "You know, my parents love you. I think you should take up their offer and -"

She didn't get to finish her sentence because Eddie made his way into the store. He shook his toolbox at Steve.

"Lead the way, Harrington," Eddie grinned.

"I'll mind the store, although I think it's pointless. I don't think anyone else is crazy enough to come out in this weather," Robin said to Steve. "You mind him."

"Thanks," Eddie grinned cheerfully as he followed Steve into the back.

Wordlessly, Steve watched as he took off his jacket and got to work. The other man was wearing a tight red sweater. It was so tight that Steve could practically see his. . .wait, are those. . .are those nipple piercings? Steve swallowed. Why couldn't he look away? The movement of Eddie rolling up his sleeves tore his attention away from the man's nipples. There was a tattoo of a creature controlling a puppet on his forearm. He stared at it while he worked and wondered if there were any more tattoos on Eddie's body. Steve tilted his head to the side as he pictured taking off Eddie's sweater to look for more, his mind picturing Eddie's piercings. He could imagine them so clearly, and Steve could see his own hand reaching out to brush his thumb over the piercing. Suddenly, Eddie's underneath him, and Steve is reaching down to take it -

"All done!" Eddie's voice called out.

"What?!" Steve exclaimed.

He realized what he was feeling now. The familiar pull of arousal in his stomach is something that he immediately recognized. Mews being eaten by a demodog! Mews being eaten by a demodog! Yeah, that did it. Eddie was staring at him now with his big brown beautiful eyes, his plump lips looking ever so kissable. Shit.

"You okay, man?" Eddie asked. "Where did you go?"

"Oh, nothing, sometimes I just space out," Steve said, trying not to blush.

"Yeah. I do that, too. I fixed it!" Eddie exclaimed proudly. "Am I forgiven now?"

"Oh, yeah, definitely," Steve said. "Thanks."

Eddie shrugged on his jacket and shook his toolbox at him.

"I'm going to go put Bert up now," Eddie said. "And then look for a movie."

"Bert?" Steve asked.

"My toolbox. Problem?" He asked.

"No, it's cute," Steve laughed.

Eddie looked at him for a moment as if he was trying to figure him out.

"Hm. Dustin was right. You are an interesting dude," Eddie said.

They walked out of the back together, and Steve continued to watch him as he walked out.

"It's definitely warming up," Robin said. "Thank God!"

Eddie walked back in and started browsing the aisles, Steve’s eyes never leaving him. Robin unscrewed her bottle of water and started drinking.

"Yeah, I can definitely picture myself having sex with that guy," Steve said, and Robin started choking on her water. "Jesus, Robin. Are you okay?"

"Am I okay?! Are you okay? What the hell, Steve?!"

"What?"

Later that evening, after they got off of work, Steve and Robin immediately got settled up in her room. A random radio station was playing in the background. They were laying on the floor, their feet pressed against the wall, as they stared at the stars on Robin's ceiling.

"So, let me get this straight - something which we apparently both aren't - you kept trying to picture how it worked between two men, and apparently, that made you think that you were homophobic?" Robin asked.

"Pretty much," Steve said.

"Okay, you're going to have to start telling me all of your thoughts outloud so I can tell you if you're wrong or right," Robin said. "I'll do the same thing with you."

"Like we're diaries?" Steve asked.

"Exactly like we're diaries, Steven," Robin said. ". . . Diaries who give feedback."

"What if they're dirty thoughts?" Steve asked.

"I'm a fully grown lesbian. I can handle it," Robin said. "I want every single slutty detail."

"Okay," Steve said.

"For example: Dear Diary, my platonic soulmate realized he wasn't straight today. He also came out to me. I want him to know how proud I am of him and how much I love him," Robin said. "Even if he is attracted to boys."

"Dear Diary, I came out to my platonic soulmate today after finally accepting that I can be queer. . .that I could be bisexual like Bowie. I don't think I ever could have gotten to this point without learning from her. If she hadn't trusted me, then I wouldn't have been able to put so much trust and courage into accepting myself. I'm so proud of her, and I love her so goddamn much," Steve said. "Even if she is a pain in the ass."

"Aw, Steve," Robin said tearfully and took his hand, interlacing their fingers together. "You know what my favorite thing about our friendship is?"

"What?"

"We're both bitches," Robin said and they both burst into fits of giggles.

After that, Steve wished for more interactions with Eddie, but whenever he went to pick up Dustin from Hellfire, Eddie would scowl and look away whenever Steve tried to wiggle his fingers at him. Eventually, it just became awkward, so Steve stopped trying. He didn't even look at him anymore. Steve even tried approaching him in the grocery store just to ask what his problem was, but Eddie took off and ran out of the store without buying anything. Eventually, Steve realized that Eddie clearly still saw him as King Steve and wanted nothing to do with him. So Steve stopped trying, disappointed, and rejected. Instead, he tried moving on by going on dates, and eventually, Steve pushed Eddie to the back of his mind. . .then spring break rolled around. It all went to hell, and suddenly, he was fighting to save Eddie from being convicted of murders he didn't commit while also trying to stop the earth from splitting open.

Luckily, it was all a success with some injuries. Unfortunately, Eddie still needed to be hidden from the town, and Steve's house was the best place for him. He was currently resting in Steve's guest room, bandaged heavily as he was worse off than Steve but not so bad that he needed a hospital. Steve was pacing downstairs. Now was the perfect time to talk to him. He couldn't run away this time. Steve sighed and walked up the stairs. He entered the room without thinking and without knocking. Eddie froze, his unbandaged hand down his pants. He quickly pulled it out.

"I had an itch!" Eddie exclaimed.

"Uh. I can come back," Steve said.

"No, seriously! It was an itch!" Eddie exclaimed. "I was just thinking about you."

Steve’s mood changed pretty quickly. His cheeks turned pink, and he grinned. He slid carefully onto the empty space beside Eddie. He used an elbow to avoid laying on his stomach.

"Really?" Steve asked.

"How could I not? You pulled me out of hell, man," Eddie said. "I wish I could thank you properly, but I can't even get out of bed."

"You can thank me by letting me do all the work," Steve said.

"Uh, yeah, okay," Eddie said, looking at him, confusion as he started to disappear under the covers. "What are you - Oh! Oh! I think there was a misunde - OH, fuck it! It's such a good one. JESUS H CHRIST!"

There was a popping sound from under the covers as Steve peeked out from under the blankets.

"Do you want me to stop?" Steve asked.

"No! Get back down there," Eddie said and pushed his head down. "I can't believe - I, uh, thought that I hated you and I, uh, I uh, I didn't understand why I did. Oh, fuck! It's why I ran - I shouldn't have - Steve, Steve, I think I'm going to - God!"

Steve plopped down on the empty spot beside Eddie, smirking as he licked his lips.

"I didn't think I would be so good that I'd get a name change," Steve said. "God. God Harrington."

"Cocky asshole," Eddie replied. "So, what does this mean? Is that all I'm good for, or do you want more from me?"

"I think I would like to try more with you," Steve said softly.

"Me too, and once I get better, I am so returning the favor," Eddie smirked.

"There's a lot of things we're going to do when we get better," Steve said as he leaned in close to Eddie's face.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

Steve placed a soft kiss to Eddie's lips, smiling when Eddie started kissing him back. Steve pulled back.

"The first thing, though. . .I'm so making you sleep on the couch," Steve said.

"What?!" Eddie yelped. "Why?"

"Well, one, you forced the kids to choose between Lucas and Hellfire. Second, you didn't stick to the plan, and you nearly died in Dustin's arms," Steve huffed.

"But I - yeah, no, that's fair," Eddie mumbled. "I do feel bad about making them go through that. I'm going to work my ass off to make it up to them."

"I know you are," Steve said softly. "Luckily, you've got the rest of your long life to make it up to them."

"Thanks to you," Eddie said, and Steve bit his lip. "You want to tell Robin, don't you? Go ahead."

Steve went downstairs and into the kitchen. He picked up the phone, twirled the phone cord around his finger, and dialed Robin's number.

"Hello?"

"Dear Diary. . . I totally went down on this really cute guy. . .bit of an asshole. . . but he's working on it. . ."

[missybee-writes]

Shadow in the Dark: Chapter Five - Sleepover

Genre: Sci-fi; Romance; Horror

Warnings: (eventual) sexual content; violence; gore; swearing; alcohol and drug use.

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Fem!OC

Summary

In July ‘85, an ambitious realtor sells the crumbling Creel house to a family looking for a new start.

Rose McAllister may be living in a grand and gothic murder house in a small Midwest town, but senior year in high school is the stuff of her nightmares: a last chance at a normal school year without being the odd one out, the sick girl, the weirdo from across the pond. Blend in, make it through the year, and make some friends. Stay unnoticed at all costs.

Hawkins, and one seriously loud-mouthed metalhead, is about to flip that carefully laid plan Upside Down.

Chapter one: Cursed

Chapter two: Munson Magic

Chapter three: Fearless

Chapter Four: Code Name, Farrah Fawcett

Ao3 link

---

Rose

Hawkins was pretty in the autumn. Maybe it was the burnt orange leaves that crunched underneath her boots, or the slight chill in the air that felt crisp and tingled in her lungs as she breathed deeply. Maybe it was the freedom of walking into town on a Saturday afternoon by herself, fresh from a morning of American History homework and completing all her week’s assignments. She might not have a driver's license, but when the red-gold tree-lined streets were this picturesque, who minded walking?

Main Street was busy on a Saturday afternoon, a dozen bikes chained up outside the stores, older folks sat on a bench outside the library, watching the world go by. A girl with red hair a little lighter than Rose’s swung open the door of the arcade, and a loud wave of bleeping machines and electronic music blasted out the open door. She slapped a skateboard on the sidewalk, jumping on it and balancing easily, weaving between a couple leaving Melvald’s General Store with big brown paper bags and ignoring their protests as she passed. The girl raised her middle finger over her head as she disappeared in the distance, attitude stone cold.

Rose peered into the arcade window, and saw a familiar gangly figure inside. Mike was hunched over one of the arcade games, bashing buttons and manhandling a joystick, whilst Lucas leaned against it, slumped and looking longingly at the door.

She thought about waving or saying hello, but they were both absorbed by the shiny metal machine with its bright screen, with a great big donkey plastered on the side. Fixated, like it was life and death. She’d never understood the appeal herself; being wound up like a jack-in-the-box and raging with anger, desperate to beat some high score and placing coin after coin into the game...all for what? To end up on a leaderboard on a tiny screen?

After a few seconds at the window someone her age with brown hair and a name badge popped up on the other side with a weird look on his face, staring at her with his mouth wide open; she backed away slowly, then quickly paced along the sidewalk, almost missing her destination.

Family Video was attached to the arcade, with a neon store sign and glass windows covered in posters of The Breakfast Club and Scarface , along with other movies she hadn’t seen. Her nerves came back in full force as she pushed open the door, not sure if Robin would be up front. 

It wasn’t busy inside, with only a couple of families browsing the rows and rows of tapes, and stands of popcorn and candy. A guy leaned casually on the counter, in a white shirt and green waistcoat, kind of like Han Solo. He was glued to a TV behind the counter, with his back to Rose, and a hell of a head of hair.

“Welcome to Family Video,” he said in a monotone voice, like he wanted to be anywhere else. “We bring the stars of Hollywood to your living room for low, low prices.”

No sign of Robin, not lingering in the rows of tapes or behind the counter with the guy.

“Hello,” she approached the counter with a tentative wave, one slow step at a time. “Hi. Sorry, i’m looking for Robin, and I don’t know if i’m in the right place.”

He noticed her slowly, head turning, straightening himself up and looking at her eagerly. Floppy hair. Confident. 

She fidgeted with her hands, squirming internally at being the centre of someone’s full attention. “Well, I know I must be in the right place, there can’t be two video stores in a town this size, can there? I mean, there are only so many times you can watch The Breakfast Club before you start to lose the will to live. Oh...sorry, that’s probably your favourite, isn’t it. I have a unique talent of putting my foot in my mouth within three seconds of meeting someone.”

The guy’s answering smile was kind of dreamy, which threw her for a loop. He leaned on the counter, speaking low, like he was letting her in on a secret. “Actually, between you and me, I hate The Breakfast Club. I feel like i’m there, taking detention on a Saturday, wasting my life in a school library instead of being outside with my friends. Libraries are kind of dull, aren’t they?”

“Some people would say that,” she mumbled. Not her , but she didn’t want to argue about it. “I’ve never had detention though.”

“Not once?”

“Nope. Cross my heart.”

He found that amusing, his smile growing wider. “Really? You know what, you kind of remind me of the girl from that movie. Molly Ringwald. Mostly the hair, maybe not the face.”

“I don’t know, I can’t see it myself.” Rose’s hand raked through her hair; it was much longer, but perhaps it was a similar shade of red. Though Molly Ringwald had a perfectly styled head of hair in the movie, and Rose’s long waves were more untameable. She’d left it in its natural state this morning as she couldn’t face a can of hairspray or a mirror, still brooding after last night’s disaster when Eddie drove her home and all but confessed he had someone special already. And she was admittedly a little taller and rounder than Molly, never running particularly thin like some of the girls at school.

“Actually, I’ve been told i’m like the jock, what’s his name...” he clicked his fingers repeatedly.

“Emilio Estevez?”

“Yeah, that’s the one. But come on, Emilio Estevez wishes he had my hair.”

She snorted with laughter, covering her mouth with her hand in embarrassment. “It is a good head of hair. I wish I could keep mine that bouncy.”

“You think so? It’s all natural, just born with good genetics, I guess. Hey, how have I not seen you around before? I mean-”

“Oh no, this is not happening, Steve! ” A screeching Robin burst through the office doorway behind the desk, an angry whirlwind in a green waistcoat, hair tied up in a messy half-pony. “My friends are off limits. Keep your sucky flirting skills in your holster.”

Rose cringed hard, half tempted to hide behind a row of tapes or a cardboard cutout of Indiana Jones she’d just spotted in the corner. Refuge behind her beloved Indy.

“ Jesus , Rob,” Steve whined, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Can’t I have a conversation with a girl without you bursting out and mocking me? Do you have to do this every time?”

That was flirting? Rose glanced at him out the corner of her eye...she supposed he did have a kind of Simon Le Bon look...but not even a resemblance to her favourite musician could detract from the fact that when she saw this guy’s perfectly nice brown eyes, all she could think of was they’re not Eddie’s . Eddie’s were unfathomably dark, except in the bright sunlight, when the sun’s rays lit them whiskey-brown. Oh god, She was well and truly fucked, wasn’t she?

Robin leapt onto the counter and knocked over a tape, sitting cross legged on the top and prodding him in the chest.

“Ow,” he rubbed the offending spot.

“You should be thanking me for retiring the ‘you suck’ scoreboard, dingus. I finally have a cool, cultured, European friend, and you’re not taking her from me with your Farrah Fawcett hair and your King Harrington routine. She speaks French, Steve. French. She’s been to Paris. Whatever this is,” Robin waved her hand at him disdainfully, “she’s not interested.”

“Hello? I’m right here,” Rose said. The odd duo didn’t even stop to take a breath, they kept right on bickering.

“Alright, alright, cool it,” Steve held up his hands, de-escalating the situation. “I’m not sure if I can just turn off my innate natural charm like a light switch, but I get it. Off limits.”

“Steve?” Rose said, cogs turning slowly in her head. “As in, walkie talkie Steve?”

They both snapped to her, like they only just remembered she was there, wearing twin expressions of confusion. 

“How do you know about the walkie-talkies?” Robin asked suspiciously. “Our frequency is supposed to be highly secret.”

Steve leaned into Robin, their heads almost pressed together. “You said she speaks other languages , right?”

Robin thought about it for a while, and shrugged. “Nah, she’s too odd to be a...uh...one of the workers in the mall. She’s organically odd. No one in a position of power would dream this cover story up.”

“Odd, you say. How?” Steve asked.

“Well, for one, she made a total ass of herself in front of O’Donnell’s class by insulting the jocks and their macho need to throw balls in hoops. No desire to fit in with that team of idiots and their slack-jawed followers, at all.”

Steve frowned. “I was the captain of that team of idiots until like three months ago...you do remember that, don’t you?”

“That’s why her speech was so brilliant, it was insightful...scathing...tearing down the fragile male ego,” Robin sighed. “But she also lives in the murder house on Morehead, and that’s just too weird a backstory to make up.”

“Maybe,” Steve agreed. “Or maybe that’s what the Russians want you to think. Or maybe - ”

“Fucking hell,” Rose snapped. “This is ridiculous. I don’t know half of what you’re talking about, but you seem to be implying i’m some kind of spy, when actually i’m just friends with Dustin. I overheard your conversation on the walkies. Spinal Tap? Remember?”

“Oh shit,” Steve said, the memory clearly coming back to him. “ You’re Dustin’s lady friend.”

“Ew, don’t phrase it like that.” Robin pulled a face. But she slumped with relief, resting her elbows on her cross-legged knees. “I’m sorry, Rose, we may get a little carried away sometimes. You’re good, in fact, you’re great. Most interesting newcomer to Hawkins in like, ever. Are we good? You’re not gonna ban me from our murder-house movie night sleepover are you?”

Rose kicked the fluorescent carpet with her shoe, looking at the floor. “Of course not. Who am I to judge someone else with verbal diarrhoea? If anything, it makes me feel less anxious. And I could do with some cheering up, actually.”

“Oh,” Robin drew out the word, scooching along the counter and dropping her legs off the front, coming closer to Rose. “Is it to do with that whole thing going on at school, the extreme sexual tension with...uh...the guy in our English class.”

“Guy?” Steve asked, looking slightly dejected. “Of course, all the beautiful girls are spoken for.”

Rose was reeling with the implication that anyone would think her beautiful, let alone this admittedly handsome and confident young man, when a customer shattered their illusion of privacy.

“Excuse me?” A middle aged lady in a pea coat, clutching a tape, approached the counter. “Is anyone actually working in this place?”

Steve’s ‘innate natural charm’ turned straight back on, smiling sweetly at the lady. “I am so sorry, ma’am, we were just helping this customer with a video-related dilemma. But let me help you right out with that....Love Story, huh? What a classic movie. Gosh, it just makes me cry every time.”

“Oh, it’s wonderful,” the lady said, looking starry-eyed at him. “I’ve watched it a dozen times, at least.”

Steve stifled a laugh. “Is that so? Well that must make you our most loyal customer.”

Robin hopped off the counter, leaving Steve to serve the lady, ushering Rose to one side, standing underneath the TV. She slung her arm around her. “I’m the last person to think the world revolves around guy drama, but this is about him, isn’t it?”

Rose could feel a curious mix of anger and tenderness at the very implication of it. She hadn’t had the chance to speak to Robin about it, Robin only twigged on her crush yesterday, seeing her and Eddie together up close for the first time.

“Maybe,” she offered up.

“What a dickhead,” Robin fumed on her behalf. “What did he do? Whatever it is, it’s his fault, I just know it. My offer stands, by the way. I can set a very ferocious middle schooler on him for you. He’ll crumble like a breadstick.”

“It’s not anything he did,” Rose groaned. “It’s what he didn’t do. It’s me, i’m an idiot.”

Steve’s eyes were alert, swivelling between the two girls. The moment the lady at the counter left and the store's door closed, he leaned across the counter. “Who are we talking about here? Do I know the guy? Want me to break out my nail bat?”

Robin shot him a scathing look. The two of them clearly were great friends, for this felt like the real unfiltered Robin, not the slightly more reserved version she’d seen at school. “It’s not my place to tell you, it’s kind of private.”

“Who am I gonna repeat high school gossip to?” He said. “I’m a working man now, with my own place.”

Robin rolled her eyes. “Your parents’ pool house doesn’t count, dingus.”

“Yes it does!”

“Do you pay rent?”

“I help with groceries sometimes.”

She looked over at Rose. “Point proven. He’s a man child.”

“Hey, that is a very adult thing to do, alright?” He objected, crossing his arms and looking between the both of them. “And not even the grocery store. I went to the butchers in Cartersville last week and picked up a rack of lamb for my mom’s dinner party, it cost twenty bucks...how ridiculous is that?”

“Was it crusted in gold?” Rose added. “Never mind. Anyway, there’s no secret to keep because nothing is happening . Eddie and I are merely friends. Platonic friends, who barely know each other. Acquaintances, really. That is all.”

“No, no, no,” Robin interjected. “ Steve and I are platonic friends. Have been ever since we started working together at Scoops Ahoy. I enjoy watching him strike out with girls, because we’re not interested in each other like that. You and Eddie? No way. I thought English class yesterday was gonna end one of two ways: a proposal, or the two of you making out on O’Donnell’s desk in front of the whole class. It was the nerdiest flirting i’ve ever witnessed in my life - and that includes dingus here - but you were both drooling over each other.”

“Eddie.” Steve tapped on the counter as he thought aloud. “Eddie Kowalski, in Junior year? Glasses, mathlete?”

“God, no,” Robin laughed.

“But it has to be, that's the only Eddie below my class at-” Steve paused, and looked back at Rose in total shock. “Oh sweet mother of god, hold on. Are we talking about Eddie the freak Munson?”

Rose snapped. All the emotions of the past week boiled up and rushed out at once, until she was wagging her finger in Steve’s face. “Don’t call him that! What is it with people calling him a freak? He’s the kindest, sweetest person I think I've ever met. He protects his little pack of friends, gathers up all the outcasts who are bullied and abused, and puts himself on the line - literally taking a beating, if what I hear from Dustin is true - to keep them safe and give them a sense of belonging. He’s putting himself through a third senior year, because despite all the insults and the mocking from his classmates and the whole bloody town, he wants to be better than the name Munson . Nothing about that suggests to me that he is a freak.”

Robin and Steve were stunned into silence, and it was too much. Tears started spilling from the corners of her eyes, overwhelmed by all the new things that had happened in her short time in Hawkins High, the new place, new people, and horrible new emotions. “And maybe I thought something would happen between us. But it’s all hopeless, because he already has someone. He said as much last night, when he wouldn’t come into my house. I feel like such a fucking idiot . Sorry, Steve. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

After a long pause, breathing hard, Robin rushed over and gave her a bone-crunching hug, the scent of shampoo and strawberry chapstick overcoming her. It was strangely comforting, not being able to move in her arms.

“Boys are so stupid,” Robin groaned. “But in good news, you’re in the right place for a breakdown. Steve and I are the most pathetic losers in the romance department ever. He’s not over his ex, and I...well, I have a tendency to like people who are unattainable. And beyond that, it’s been kind of a hellish year for us.”

“Yep,” Steve echoed. “We’re doomed. Welcome to the losers club, come and join us.” He opened the hatch to the counter, and she followed Robin into the employees’ domain, the little control centre of the video store.

“Munson though,” Steve mused out loud. “I wouldn’t have guessed it. Though I suppose Molly Ringwald does end up with Judd Nelson in the Breakfast Club. is there a basket case out there searching for me? If she looks like Ally Sheedy, I'll gladly accept.”

“Eddie is nothing like Bender,” Rose scoffed, sitting on a stool by the snacks. “Eddie rants a little bit, but he’s not angry. He’s just anti-establishment, naturally ill-disposed to authority.”

“That’s too many syllables for a Saturday evening,” Robin complained. “But here’s what I don’t get...who the hell is this mystery girl that Eddie is with? I have never seen him with a girl at school, not once. There was a rumour that a girl in the party kid clique - Cass something or other - was seeing him secretly a couple of years ago, but that was never really proved. And she had plenty of boyfriends after. Anyway it’s a moot point, she moved to Wisconsin for College in ‘84.”

Steve shook his head. “I can’t think of a single girl it could be. But we haven’t exactly moved in the same circles. Are you sure he has someone? What happened?”

Rose picked at a loose thread on her dress, going back to the conversation in her driveway last night. “He dropped me off at home last night. I asked if he wanted to come inside, and he said he’d like to, but he made a promise not to do it and he didn’t want to be a cheating, lying scumbag like his dad. Or words to that effect.”

Steve sucked in a breath. “Damn. Did he actually mention a girlfriend by name?”

“Nope.”

“And you’re sure he likes you?” He asked. “I don’t want to upset anyone, but he could have used a fake girlfriend as an excuse. What kind of signs are we talking about here? And not this girlie magazine stuff, like he opened a door for me once, he must be dreaming of our marriage ?”

“I don’t have much experience in this area, but let’s see,” Rose said, so firmly down the rabbit hole with Robin and Steve that she couldn’t stop if she wanted to. “He made me a mixtape. He called me fairer than the sunrise over  mountains. He kissed my hand once, though that was kind of acting during a Hellfire session. We did almost properly kiss a couple of times.”

“Wait, what?” Robin interrupted. “You never told me this? Explain, stat.”

Rose’s skin flushed warm. “We were in the woods behind the school on Monday, and we ended up holding hands. He sort of held my face and pulled me closer, but his rings got stuck in my hair and took out a small chunk of it. Oh, and then we were pressed against the lockers yesterday but Jeff came into the hall, and even Jeff noticed something, he called it a weird, alien mating ritual. So I don’t think it’s just me misunderstanding things.”

“Oh yeah,” Steve affirmed, arms crossed over his Family Video waistcoat. “That is not platonic behaviour. He’s down bad.”

“But I don’t think i’m his type. Dustin said he has a thing for cheerleaders.”

Steve made a funny face. “Pfft. So he’s a red blooded male? Doesn’t mean he only likes cheerleaders.”

Robin cracked her knuckles and stood up, pacing around the desk area. “We need to solve this mystery, I just can’t take it. Is there an unknown girlfriend? What is going on? I would say we could ask Dustin and Mike, but they’re little snitches, I can sense it. They’ll tell Eddie or the older guys and it will all come out.”

It was oddly comforting, sitting with an action movie blaring in the background as the last few customers of the day browsed the tapes, sharing her confusion with Steve and Robin behind the counter. At least she wasn’t brooding in her room, looking out over the treetops like a heroine from an Austen novel.

“Hold on a minute,” Steve sounded excited. “I may not have moved in the same circles as Eddie, but I know someone who does. I dated Jackie Teague in Junior year.”

He looked at them like that should mean something, tutting when their faces were blank. “Her older brother Dougie was one of his best friends, before he failed senior year the first time. And he used to be in that satanic little club with Eddie, the stupid hell and brimstone thing.”

“Hellfire,” Rose corrected. “Which i’ve joined, by the way.”

Steve stood with his hands on his hips, like he was utterly fed up. “Eddie Munson is suddenly a crushable figure and pretty girls are joining the satan club? It’s like the order of things changed as soon as I graduated. But I might be able to get to Dougie through Jackie and get the dirt on your guy.”

“You would do that?” Rose said gratefully. 

“Any friend of Robin’s is a friend of mine. Plus, us romantic losers need a helping hand now and then, right?” He ran over to a jacket on the back of his chair, and pulled a little book out of his pocket, wetting his thumb and flipping through the pages.

Robin pumped her fist and hopped back up on the table, sitting cross-legged again. “Steve, I knew your slutty little black book would come in handy one day. I am so here for this investigation. Harrington, Buckley and McAllister, detectives extraordinaire. You know what? All this tension makes me hungry. This calls for snacks,” she reached out for a pack of candy, something labelled Chewy Lemonheads Rose had never seen before. She broke open the box and popped one in her mouth, holding out the box. “What? I’ll ring this up on the register before I leave, i’m not just stealing.”

“Thanks,” Rose took one, pulling off the plastic wrapper as Steve balanced the earpiece of the phone between his ear and shoulder, dialling a number.

There was a long pause. “Jackie, it's Steve. Yeah, that Steve...” he grimaced at Robin and Rose, and a tinny voice from the phone got louder. “No Jackie, I am not crawling back to...hold on a minute, will you just let me speak? I’m sorry about the whole thing, alright? Tommy H was a prick. No, we don’t hang out together any more, I wised up eventually...yeah, you were right about me. I wasn’t in the best place, but i’m doing better now.”

Steve slumped over, shaking his head. “Actually, i’m not at college, i’m a working man now. Wait, that’s not the point. I kind of need to speak to your brother about something, I was hoping you could give me his number. Why?” He looked over at Rose, scrambling for something to say. “He was in a band, and i’m looking to get into the music sales business. I could do with some insider intel on what kind of items to stock. Uh...amps...guitars, you know, the usual.”

His smile must have meant it worked. He grabbed the little book, and looked around desperately for a pen; Rose leapt off her stool and passed him one from the counter, so he could scribble down a number. “Thanks. Seriously, i’m glad you’re doing well. Bye Jackie.”

Robin began to laugh, her shoulders shaking. “She was mad, wasn’t she. What happened between you two?”

Steve raised a brow. “A lady doesn’t kiss and tell.”

Rose’s mouth dropped open. “Are you the lady in this scenario?”

“He’s one of the girls, don’t let him fool you into thinking he’s a jock,” Robin agreed.

“Haven’t I done enough?” Steve waved the number in the air. 

“You’re right,” Rose said, contrite. “Please, please work your mysterious magic and see what you can find out. I’ll owe you one.”

He was smug, still craned to one side to hold the receiver to his ear. He dialled the second number, whistling as he waited for the phone to ring out.

“Where even is Dougie Teague?” Robin asked, voice muffled as she chewed on a lemonhead. 

“Terre Haute, his old man has a construction firm up there,” Steve replied. “Oh hi , man. Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Sorry, that wasn’t a joke about the Hellflame club.”

They waited whilst Steve greeted this Dougie guy, a faint voice coming from the other end of the phone.

“Yeah, I have a favour to ask,” Steve admitted, twirling the phone cord around his finger. “But before I say anything, I need you to promise that word doesn’t reach anyone about what i’m asking, including the person this relates to. It’s part of the favour. Why should you do that? Do you not remember the number of times I distracted your parents at dinner while you climbed in the window stoned off your ass? And the time that I took the blame for that box of condoms? Your dad gave me ‘the talk’ with a shotgun casually laid out on the coffee table. I could have died, man. Or, I could go and visit your Mom right now and...”

Rose was kind of engrossed, finding out about the inner workings of this Steve, the friend to so many people in her new social circle. From his easy going demeanour, and the way he so casually called in a whole bunch of favours to help a relative stranger, she could tell he was a good egg. 

“Thank you,” Steve sighed. “That’s the spirit. So I need to know everything about the romantic history of Eddie Munson.”

He held the receiver away from his head as laughter rang out. “Yeah man, i’m serious. Remember the deal. Jeez, I don’t care if you think he’s an overdramatic dungeon master...wait, that’s not something sexual is it? Oh, thank god. Now spill. Any girlfriends, crushes, preferences?”

Five minutes stretched out with Steve adding the occasional uh huh, okay , or anything else? , and it felt like the longest five minutes of Rose’s life. Robin had to serve a couple of customers in the interim, ushering them out of the store as quickly as she could without being rude. Between them they went through the box of candy, until she could feel the beginnings of a stomach ache coming on. Though it could be the tension as much as the chewy lemonheads, tangy and sugar-sweet in her mouth.

By the time Steve hung up the phone with a shrill ring, it was closing time. Robin sprinted over to the door and flipped over the sign from open to closed and they waited with baited breath.

“Do you want the good news or the bad first?” Steve asked, running his hand through his floppy hair, almost making it stand on end. 

“Bad,” Rose said. “Wait, good then bad. I’m fragile today, build me up to it.”

“Okay. Good news, he doesn’t have a girlfriend that Dougie knows of, and saw Eddie only last month for a rock concert in Terre Haute.”

“That’s great!” Robin looked joyful. “No girlfriend!”

“That we know of,” Rose reminded her.

Steve cleared his throat and continued. “He’s not really had girlfriends in school, Dougie thinks he was seeing that Cass girl. He may have had a thing with a girl from a bar in town, but that was a while back. And his last girlfriend was a music label executive from California, who was a few years older. She apparently wanted Eddie to move out there and pursue a record deal, but something happened to throw it off. He wouldn’t say what it was.”

What? How was she supposed to compete with older women, bloody record executives with a vast array of experience - life, career, sexual - that she wouldn’t have? And she would bet the California girl didn't need to be given a mixtape to learn what metal music is. God, it made her feel like a kid.

“There’s more,” he said carefully. “Dougie thinks he has a thing for Chrissy Cunningham, though Eddie hadn’t mentioned it in a while. Said he’d had a crush on her since middle school.”

At this point, Rose just hummed and nodded, her worst fears oconfirmed. “I see. So he’s either not into me at all, and using some imaginary girl to spare my feelings as he’s changed his mind about me. Or, he’s in love with Chrissy, maybe even carrying on some kind of fling behind her boyfriend Jason’s back.”

“That’s just a theory,” Robin added, her energy wild. “If anything, this has opened up even more questions. We need more leads. Maybe Chrissy herself; she looks fragile. I can get that nut to crack. Let’s get her in the girls’ bathroom on Monday. Or wait...where does she live?

“Woah,” Steve held up his hands. “I hate to douse water on this fire, but have you thought about sitting down with the guy and actually asking him what’s going on? Like a proper, adult conversation?”

Rose and Robin looked at each other, and burst out laughing. “Are you mad?” Rose said between gulps of air. “What am I going to say? Eddie, I may have known you for less than two weeks but i’ve developed a raging crush on you, and after secretly interrogating your old friends using very shady contacts outside of school-”

“Hey, i’m not shady!”

“Correction, using very unorthodox contacts outside of school, i’ve compiled a history of your love life, and think you might be carrying on an affair with your middle school crush. Can you confirm or deny?”

Steve rubbed his face with his hand. “Okay, when you put it like that, it sounds insane. Maybe you could just say: I like you, I think you might like me, do you wanna go out sometime? That’s how I've always asked girls out. Maybe with a little embellishment, but it’s not difficult.”

“He already declined coming into my house and said he didn’t want to be a lying cheat, what am I supposed to do, beg?” She argued. “Oh god, i’ve accidentally willed this into being, haven’t I...i’ve always wanted to be Eowyn, Lady of Rohan. And now I am.”

She looked at their blank faces, and missed Hellfire and Eddie deeply. They would have put the metaphor together straight away, and known exactly what she meant. “It’s a character from Lord of the Rings. She falls in love with the hero, Aragorn, future King of Gondor, pining away for him as they battle the forces of evil. But he’s in love with an Elvish princess, Arwen Evenstar. Okay, there’s a little more to it, but it’s a tragic love triangle with swords and elf ears and stuff.”

“Back up,” Steve said. “We’re in a world where Eddie Munson is a fantasy hero with not one, but two beautiful women lusting after him, and I can’t even get a date? What did I do in a past life to deserve this?”

Robin was eager to leap in. “Do you want the cliffnotes, or the full thesis?”

“Ha ha,” he said sarcastically. 

“Fuck it,” Rose stood up. “I’m not going to talk about Eddie Munson any more. We’re going to rent a movie, and consume so much sugar that we can’t see straight. Also, I don’t know if you drink, but I may have a sizeable stash of alcohol and a mother who always forgets the drinking age is twenty-one here, and not eighteen.”

Robin’s eyes lit up. “Ooh, that sounds good. My brain is fuzzy enough today, let’s double it up with booze.”

“I like that energy, Buckley,” she replied. “What movie do you want to watch?” Something high brow and intellectual? Foreign language?”

Robin laid back on the counter, knocking over the candy display. “I can’t take it tonight. Give me something trashy and brainless.”

Rose went out into the rows of tapes, scouting the shelves, fingers trailing over the VHS tapes. She left behind the documentaries and dramas, heading for the new and popular releases. She passed right over The Breakfast Club, stopping at some of the other tapes, grabbing a couple and coming back to a reclining Robin holding two aloft.

“Footloose, and Risky Business. What do you think?”

Robin gave her a big thumbs up.

Steve watched her with a strange look. “Dancing and hookers. Sounds like a good night. I was always kind of jealous of girl sleepovers...boys don’t get that.”

“You never had a sleepover?” Rose asked. “I haven’t had one in a long time. Unless you count sleeping with five other girls on a hospital ward. There was much less chance for booze and gossip, and the bleeping machines killed the vibe.”

“Not really,” Steve confessed. “Not outside of people crashing after a party, but then we’d all be hooking up. My parents weren’t big on hosting when I was a kid.”

“Come with us!” Rose said, spur of the moment. She’d had such a nice time in the video store, that she knew she didn’t want him to feel left out. It would be nice to bond with them over something other than her doomed love life, and she wouldn’t get to see him at school like she would Robin.

“Ooh, yeah!” Robin sat up quickly, grabbing the back of her head as if she were dizzy. “Come on, it will be fun! Haven’t you wanted to see inside Creel House?”

Steve shuffled from foot to foot, like he couldn’t make up his mind. “You’re parents won’t mind?” 

“Not at all,” Rose reassured him. “The house is as big as the high school, so you can have a room to yourself. My mum would love to meet some of my friends, and my stepdad is as threatening as a puppy. He’ll keep out of the way. It’s the least I can do, after you went to all that trouble with your ex.”

He chewed it over, and broke out into a big smile. “Girls night it is! Give me an hour to lock up and grab some clothes from home, and I can come to your place.”

“Great,” she beamed. “It’s near the corner of Morehead and Cornwallis, opposite the abandoned playground.”

He grabbed the keys, tossing them into the air and catching them deftly. “Oh, everyone knows where that house is. I’ll see you there.”

Robin patted him on the cheek as they left the store. “What did I say, Stevie? You’re just one of the girls.”

---

The walk from Family Video back to Rose’s house was slow. Rose and Robin talked nonstop, pausing every few minutes to laugh until tears came to their eyes, Robin filling her in on all funny or boring facts she could summon on Hawkins and the townsfolk. 

“There,” Robin said, pointing at a dilapidated, rusty-roofed bus stop on Morehead, just a few minutes from home. “That’s where an owl attacked old Mrs Gillespie’s head, and tried to nest in her perm.”

“What?” Rose barked out. “How big was that woman’s hair?”

“That’s not even the best bit, it turned out she’d been wearing a hairpiece since the late 60s, and the goddamn owl clutched it in its talons and flew away with it.”

Rose covered her mouth with her hands. “No way.”

“Yes way, she even called the police station to report a theft!”

She doubled up and clutched her sides, laughing so hard it hurt her ribs. “Stop.”

“Chief Hopper, or Officer Hopper back then, asked if she wanted it reported for theft or actual bodily harm.”

Rose buckled over, laughing until she couldn’t breathe. “I think I might pee.”

That launched Robin into another fit of giggles, and the two of them clutched each other, stumbling the street like drunks, laughing even harder when a passing car swerved away and the driver looked like he should be calling the doctors at Pennhurst Mental Hospital. 

The girls arrived like that, swaying up the driveway and scaring away the birds from the trees, which of course made it even worse. As they stepped up on the porch, Robin craned her neck and whistled, looking up at the house.

“What are you, part of the Addams Family? Is Lurch gonna answer the door and offer me a cup of tea?”

“Yep, Uncle Fester will be along any minute.”

Robin snickered. “If you mean Steve, with all that hair he’s more like Cousin It.”

Rose fiddled with her bag and tried to find her keys, when the door clicked open and swung inward. Jerry stood in the doorway, in a striped shirt and a cardigan, smiling merrily at them.

“Welcome, come on in,” he said, arms beckoning inward. “Now the first thing we do in this house when we have visitors is put the kettle on. Would you like a cup of tea?”

Robin screeched like Mrs Gillespie’s criminal owl, and her face was so red she looked like she would burst a blood vessel any minute. All the tension Rose had accumulated dropped, and she was filled with mirth and happiness, unable to keep herself serious, laughing alongside her yet again.

Jerry scratched his greying head, and looked kind of worried. “Uh...Shirley? I think I might need your help. I don’t know what to do!”

A set of footsteps bounded down the stairs, and her mother’s panicked face came into view, softening as soon as she saw Robin and Rose gasping for breath and wiping tears from their eyes.

“Oh, don’t worry, Jerry,” her mum said. “This is what teenagers are like when they gather in packs. They’re like Gremlins fed after midnight. You girls haven’t been drinking already, have you?”

“Nope,” Rose asserted. “Just high on life.”

Mum’s blue eyes - same as Rose’s, one of the only features they had in common - narrowed. “Hmm. Well come on in, let me put the kettle on.”

The hilarity began again, until the adults in the house went from amused to slightly irritated. They made it inside eventually, Robin cooing over the period features in the house, the sweeping stair and fireplace, high ceilings and turn of the century architecture. 

“I’m sorry, Mrs Gruber,” she said, gathering herself together. “I’m Robin Buckley. Rose’s friend from English class. You’re house is amazing. It’s so gothic and bohemian at the same time, I love it.”

Mum looked so genuinely pleased she almost vibrated with happiness. “Thank you, Robin. You’re welcome any time. God knows we can barely find each other in this house as it is, we probably wouldn’t even notice you!”

Rose stepped in, patting her mother on the back, trying to butter her up. “On that note, I may have promised that another friend can stay over too. Is that alright?”

Mum nodded, blonde hair bobbing about her face. “Of course. WIll she want to stay in the attic room too?”

“ He , actually.” Rose said confidently. “Steve is Robin’s best friend, they work at the Family Video together.”

Jerry clutched his chest in the background, like he might have a stroke, but her mother was totally unfazed. “It isn’t some sort of menage a trois, is it?”

“Bloody hell, no,” Rose said loudly. “He’s more like one of the girls. Honestly, it's mortifying that you would ask me that.”

Her mother merely smiled. “Oh, stop. You’re nineteen in a few weeks, not a little child. If this Steve wants to stay, he can stay. We can make up the guest room at the back of the house, can’t we, Jerry.”

He’d gone pale, but nodded dutifully. “Yes, Shirley. What a...great idea.”

Mum ordered a pizza while Rose gave her friend the tour, pointing out all doors that shouldn’t be opened, bits and pieces of the house that might snap or fall off at any minute, or wobbly floorboards, as they were still in the middle of restoring the long-abandoned place to its former glory.

When Steve pulled into the driveway an hour later, Rose ran out onto the porch to greet him, a bottle of Jerry’s beer in hand. Steve came into the house to a round of cheers; he seemed to love being greeted by a bunch of adults and teenagers eating pizza in front of a tiny TV in a huge sitting room, the music from Footloose blaring on the little speaker. Another hour and another drink - or two - later, and they all hung out in Rose’s room in the attic.. 

“No way!” Robin cried out from her spot on the end of Rose’s bed. “I’m an only child too! All three of us, that’s weird.”

Steve was laid out on a beanbag, with a girly peach-schnapps based cocktail made by her mother in his hand, sipping loudly and trying not to poke out his eye with a little yellow cocktail umbrella. “Mmm...but...would you actually want a sibling? Aren’t they kind of annoying?”

“Maybe,” Rose said, laying on the head of the bed, her feet propped up against the wall and covering the poster-face of Indiana Jones. “But i’m just glad to be here, eating pizza and drinking Tia Maria with you guys. Just happy to be alive, you know? Heart still beating. Life still moving forward. Living in a place so quiet and unremarkable that I know I can just...rest for a bit. You know what I mean?”

“Oh boy,” Robin groaned. “Sure is normal in Hawkins. Nothing ever happens here.”

Steve giggled, high pitched. “She’s right. But you live in a murder house...how can you say nothing happens here?”

Rose rolled right-side up without spilling a drop of her coffee liqueur-martini concoction. “Oh. I forgot. I don’t really know about the murder. Didn’t want to ask.”

“Really? Robin screeched. “I’d have to know.”

Rose hummed. “Maybe someone was pushed down the stairs? Stabbed in the kitchen, with a knife? Or maybe just whacked over the head in this attic with a lead pipe? Yep, that’s right, I live inside a real-life Cluedo. Just wonderful .”

“The Creel murder was brutal,” Steve explained. “It...woah, what the heck is happening with the lights?”

Rose opened her eyes. The bulbs in her room were malfunctioning one by one, the lamps and ceiling light blinking on and off. “Oh, it happens all the time. Dodgy electrics, you see.”

“That makes sense,” Robin reasoned. “This place is ancient.”

Steve wasn’t convinced. He took another sip of his cocktail, watching the lights, pointing at them. “They’re flickering in a line..see? One, two, three. It’s a sequence...like something’s moving across the room!”

“Oooh,” Robin made a creepy noise. “It’s a gh...a, a ghost."

“Hold on.” Rose slurred. “J’accuse! You are drunk. There’s no such thing as ghosts."

Steve was in his own world, watching the lights. “It reminds me of...of something...can’t remember what though. But it’s important. Very important.”

Robin sat up, out of the blue, wild-eyed from the schnapps. “I can’t take it anymore! I’m gay, alright? Stop with the questioning. I like girls. Are you happy now?”

The silence was thick, punctuated by the faint, pulsing hum of the flickering lights. 

“Uhh...Rob, I know that already,” Steve said. “Did you know that Rose?”

“Nope,” she replied casually. “But it’s all good. More boys for me that way, aren’t there?” She peered up at her wall of posters. “But Simon Le Bon will always be first and foremost in my heart. In fact, I swear off all men, be they international rockstar or high school guitarist. But Robin, are you good? Did you want to talk about it?”

Her friend slumped back down on the bed. “Huh. Maybe I just had that argument in my own head. Bloody hell, i’m drunk.”

Steve giggled yet again. “ Bloody hell. You sounded like Rose. English cursing is weird. Go on, go on, say something.”

Rose pointed at the posters and thought about it deeply. “I’m not a bloody circus freak, you wanker.”

“Hah!” Robin laughed. “That’s like a jerk-off.”

“Hey, you’re just taking the piss now, aren’t you.”

“I know that one!” Steve added. “More!”

Rose grumbled. “I’m too bereft and miserable to think of anything else. You twat.”

“Wait,” Robin called out. “You said twat pronounced like cat , not twat like what .”

“That’s what it is, love.” Rose downed the bitter dregs of her martini and put the cup on her bedside table. “I wish that ghost would bloody keep still, the lights are hurting my eyes.”

Steve sighed and closed his eyes. “It’s coming toward my beanbag chair. Hey, is the ghost single? This may be the closest I've been to being touched since Nance dumped me for Jonathan freaking Byers.”

“We’re so pathetic,” Robin agreed. “Also, I think I might like a girl in band. But I haven’t spoken to her yet.”

“Details please,” Rose requested. “But I think I might need some fresh air, should we open a window?”

Robin crawled off the bed and over to the stained glass dormer, pulling herself up with her fingers on the pane. “Wait a minute, there’s a playground twenty yards away, right? Let’s go on the swings! I always want to play on the swings. Why is it that you get to a certain age and you're told that all delight and whimsy must die, and you can’t play anymore? They should make playgrounds for adults.”

“Robin,” Steve chipped in. “It’s midnight, it’s cold, and we’re wasted. Oh, and we’re also in our PJs. So that’s a brilliant idea, let’s do it!”

Their midnight excursion was a disaster, crashing down two flights of stairs with bottles of alcohol in hand and slippers on their feet, whispering so loud they would wake the dead, let alone Rose’s mother and stepfather. But they made it out into the moonlight, laughing like idiots and running across the deserted street, making for the rusty swings.

And if Rose felt the wilting stems of cut flowers crunch under her slippered feet, and noticed blotches of shadow-dark petals on the sidewalk, then by Sunday morning it had completely slipped from her drink-addled memory, along with Steve’s recollection of the flickering lights.

---

Eddie

Eddie was a good musician, and he knew it. It wasn’t false modesty, he’d spent years learning to play and practising all hours of the night and at weekends, an outlet for his restless energy and creative brain. Music kept the buzzing in his head away, and calmed him down in a way nothing else could, except maybe weed. But nearly as important as hours of practice, he had that something people often searched for but couldn’t describe, the thing that drew the eye and kept an audience hooked. The rest of Corroded Coffin were good too, and Gareth was a demon on the drumset, but they were still a garage band. Decent, on time, in tune, and doing a damn good job of covering their favourite songs. 

But today? Practice was doomed from the start. Whatever magic he usually summoned to give him skill and stage presence when he played was completely fucking absent.

“Get it together,” Gareth cried out, his drumbeat faltering and the whole band trailing off into silence. “Your timing is so off. It’s like your racing to the end of the song, and this is goddamn Fade to Black , a fucking ballad. It might be Metallica, but it’s not thrash metal.”

“Alright, no need to be a dick,” Eddie snapped, looking down at the lump of plastic in his hand. “Jesus H Christ. I’ve broken another pick.”

Chris scoffed. “What is that, three? I’ve got a spare, but it's my last one.”

He reached into his back pocket, fishing out a black pick and pressing it into Eddie’s hands. Eddie took it gratefully, eyes directed at the chipped concrete floor of Gareth’s garage. “Thanks, man.”

“You’d better not be this bad at the Hideout on Tuesday,” Gareth warned, pointing at him with his drumstick, making the wooden implement look threatening. “If we’re gonna do a new slower set, we have to nail it. Bev won’t let us keep playing forever, not unless we actually bring in some customers. Or at least, not drive the existing ones away.”

Eddie clicked his tongue. “Sorry, alright? I promise i’ll bring the good stuff on Tuesday. You know me, Gare. I’m usually on this. Today, i’m just...off.”

His friend raised a sarcastic brow, a smug expression plastered over his face. “Off. Is that what they call it now? Dude, just forget about the girl for a weekend. Obsession is not a good look when trying to score.”

Eddie looked up, pacing Gareth’s garage with its fluorescent overhead light, nearly tripping on an amp cable. “Don’t say it like that. I am not just looking to score , man. You sound so sordid.”

“ Oh ,” Gareth taunted. “So you don’t want to bone her, just go to a tea party together. In that case, can I take a shot?”

Eddie advanced on him, teeth clenched together. “I'm one second away from smashing this guitar over your head, Emerson. If your mom wasn't so nice about us using the garage, i’d have done it already.”

Jeff stepped in to view, putting a hand to Eddie’s chest. “Easy. Easy, dude. He’s just making a point, though it was kind of a gross one.”

“Yeah,” Gareth chipped in again, sat comfy behind the shield of his drum set. “Point made. Why don’t you invite her to see us play on Tuesday? That way you’re actually making progress , and asking her out. And maybe if you think she’s going to be at the shoe, you might actually put in some practice and try not to suck.”

Chris sucked in a breath, watching the guys’ drama unfold, rhythm guitar poised in his hands. 

“Maybe that’s a good idea,” Jeff added.

After a week of intense longing and subtle flirting, Eddie was a goner. Rose McAllister was not just the pretty face that appeared in Hellfire from nowhere, she radiated goodness. Observant, accepting, warm and thoughtful. Starkly different from the girls he’d usually fallen for. And on top of that, she was a fantasy nerd with a voracious taste in exploring other worlds through the written word, and had the soul of a poet. He’d been himself around her, and somehow he’d not scared her off yet, and that was a rare thing...non-existent, actually. She knew about his trailer, his criminal dad, and his dealing, and she still wanted to be around him. But last night when he dropped Rose off at home, things got...weird.

She’d listened to W.A.S.P and Sabbath and Metallica, not put off by his kind of music, and they’d talked and smiled and flirted, until he got to her driveway and she invited him inside. His heart fucking jump-started and sparks fizzled in his fingertips at that, but he’d made a promise to Uncle Wayne not to go in that house, and he intended to keep it. Eddie had made a mess of explaining it, and she ran off. He had to course-correct with Rose, before he veered off a cliff and she never talked to him again. Eddie had lost out on so much - his mom, an opportunity to be a rockstar, his father’s love, a normal graduation - he’d be damned if he let the girl slip through his fingers.

“Okay,” he said, making up his mind. “I’ll ask her to the show. Like...a date. Maybe go out after.”

Jeff clapped him on the shoulder. “Live long and prosper, my friend. Good luck.”

“What if she says no?”

“Then at least you know.”

“I don’t think i’m gonna be able to concentrate right now,” he said. “I need a cigarette. Maybe a joint.”

“Hey,” Gareth shouted, “Mom has a no-tolerance policy, remember? Don’t light up til you get home.”

Eddie groaned. “Fine. Oh god...what if she says yes ?”

Gareth gave him a strange look again. “Then you fucking celebrate having a girlfriend, and start going out on dates and shit. That’s not exactly a problem, man.”

Eddie turned his frazzled mind to his Warlock guitar. He struck the opening few chords of Wild Child , the first metal song he’d introduced to Rose. Maybe he could play it for her on Tuesday.

“You’ll need money,” Chris piped up out of nowhere. “My sister’s boyfriend is always paying for her movie tickets, and burgers and shakes, and a corsage at Homecoming. Being a boyfriend is expensive.”

“Shit, I think you’re right, man.”

Eddie had the means to earn, even if it was a little less than legal. But when he had money, it tended to drain away pretty quickly: guitars, clothes, concert tickets, running his monster of a van and helping Wayne with the bills. 

Rose had never given off the impression of wealth, but he hadn’t forgotten that she lived in literally the biggest mansion in town, and had seen far more of the world than Eddie ever had. If he was going to do this right, he’d have to put some money together. And if he needed more cash, there was only one place to get it.

---

Lovers Lake glistened through the treeline as Eddie’s van sailed down the road, getting closer with each minute, until he emerged in a clearing. A decent-sized white lakehouse sat on the northern shore, with a separate boat house and a little jetty stretching out into the lake. He had to admit this part of Hawkins was pretty, surrounded by nature and autumn coloured trees. 

He killed the engine and the blaring noise of Judas Priest faded into nothing, leaping from the van and slamming the door. By the time he walked up the front steps, a face had already appeared in the doorway.

“Eddie, my good friend.” Reefer Rick bumped his fist and clapped him on the back, ushering him into the tidy, plainly decorated home. “Wasn’t expecting you till next week. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Rick Lipton was six three at a slouch, with the physique of a football player who’d let himself go. His long hair and beard gave him a hippy kind of air, only heightened by the cloud of weed that floated out the kitchen door, a joint lit and perched on the kitchen table’s ashtray.

“Hey, Rick. Good to see you,” Eddie began. “I know i’m not usually back within a couple of weeks, but I was hoping to shift more product.”

The great big hippy pulled at his beard, head cocked to the side. “Munson Junior, scaling up. Given up on high school yet, ready to earn something more than pin money from selling football stars and prom queens weed?”

Rick passed over the joint; Eddie took a drag gratefully, twitching and waiting for the calm to settle into his bones. They sat in silence for a moment, looking out the big window toward the lake, with a little row boat bobbing up and down on the jetty. 

“Nah, still in school,” he said, blowing out smoke and handing it back. “Not looking to get myself in more trouble, I just need to shift a little more this month, make a few extra bucks.”

“So not just here for pleasure. You should drop by sometime just to play pool and have a few beers. Maybe sit out by the lake. It’s nice here in the summer, real pretty.”

Eddie gave him a deadpan look. “It’s October, man. It’s cold out. And besides, what is it that you always say? Pleasure is the business.”

Rick grinned around the joint, smoke spilling from his lips. “Right on. Listen, i’m a little lower than usual. You can have another five ounces, but it’s bennies that i’m sitting on right now. Ket too.”

He kept a smile on his face, trying not to let his disappointment show. Rick had been distributing to him for a year or two. He was a contact of his dad’s before dad split town after fucking up a robbery and getting involved in a shooting. When shit hit the fan for Eddie and he needed cash, no reputable business in Hawkins wanted to employ a brash metalhead with a criminal family and no high school diploma. He’d caved and come to Rick for work. Dealing paid well, but he was this fucking close to being busted by the cops, on more than one occasion. And being a drug dealer with a moral compass absolutely sucked . Not to mention that the punishment for pushing hard drugs like ketamine and bennies was greater than possession of a little weed. 

“I’m not sure, Rick,” he said, grabbing the back of his neck. “Weed for high school kids is one thing, but I don’t want to be responsible for a bunch of strung out kids getting hooked on ket.”

“Ket and bennies have a greater profit margin,” Rick said, with a shrug. “More cash for less effort. Smart business.”

“I could take a little more, but not much. With Hopper gone, Chief Powell is on my ass. I can’t risk getting cautioned again, man.”

“So be it, Junior. Six ounces of weed, six bottles of bennies, six of ket. Six, six, six, the devil’s number...you’re into that Iron Maiden shit, right? That’s a pretty metal deal, endorsed by Satan himself.”

Eddie laughed. “Coming from you, that’s funny. Nothin’ but sixties rock, like you’re a Vietnam vet something. Weren’t you like ten in the sixties?”

“Shit, you sound more like your old man every day, Junior.”

Eddie’s jaw twitched, and his foot tapped against the pale lino of Rick’s orderly kitchen. “Just a chip off the old block, huh. Another piece of shit Munson, cheating and stealing his way through life with a smile on his face and a string of casualties in the rearview mirror.”

Rick’s easygoing face fell, like he was troubled. “Didn’t mean nothing by it, kid. I know you’re not like your dad in the ways that count. Anyways, what do you need this extra money for? New guitar, new ride, or something?”

Eddie leaned on the back of a kitchen chair, and chewed on his own hair like a goddamn cat. “Not exactly.”

“I know that face, brother. Seen it many a time. It’s a woman, ain’t it?”

A goofy smile came over his face. “Yeah.”

“Taking her out somewhere nice?”

“I’m hoping to. I haven’t asked her out yet, not properly. But i’m going to next week at school. Just need to find the right time to do it, I guess.”

Rick looked down his nose at Eddie, appraising him in one glance. “So this shit isn’t even in the bag, yet? What have you done so far?”

Eddie looked from left to right, like he was physically searching for an answer. “Do you mean...you know....like, sexually?”

“Hell’s bells, kid. That is not what I meant. Have you wooed the lady yet? Made your intentions known?”

Eddie’s anxiety went from nought to sixty in about three seconds. “I...don’t know. I mean, I think so? We’ve talked, listened to music...oh god. What if she just wants to be my friend? What do I say? What do I do ?”

Rick slammed his elbows on the kitchen table and buried his head in his hands. “I know it’s the eighties, man, but chivalry ain’t dead. What’s this girl like? She a rocker type like you?”

“Rose?” Eddie said with a sigh, picturing her instantly, heart going soft. “No, she’s no type at all, she’s unique. Funny, open-hearted, seriously smart. And beautiful...she doesn’t seem to know how beautiful she really is. I don’t understand why she’s giving me the time of day. I keep expecting something to happen, like some big-shot prom king or college kid is gonna turn up and sweep her off her feet.”

“Here’s what you’re gonna do,” Rick said bluntly. “Shelve all this casual shit. None of this wait til Monday ,or i’ll flirt a little longer and see what happens . Go over there right now, and tell her you’re damn crazy about her. You’ll want to bring her a gift too.”

Eddie sat up straight, feeling a surge of energy course through his veins. “Gift. Right. Wait...what kind of gift?”

“Depends on the girl, my man. But if in doubt, go with flowers.”

“Flowers,” Eddie repeated. “I can do that.”

Rick smiled, taking another drag from his joint, blowing out the smoke with a big grin. “Well what are you waiting for? Drugs aren’t gonna be ready til Monday, so unless you’d rather hang out with your supplier on a Saturday night, go and get the girl.”

Eddie leapt up, tripping over his chair. His jean chain caught on the chair leg as he set it back up, and he crashed about the kitchen like a clumsy foal on wobbly legs. Some mug or teacup smashed in the background and he apologised over and over, making everything worse as he tried to pick it all up.

“Get out, kid.” Rick waved him off.

He stopped long enough at the door to shout at the laughing guy inside. “Thanks Rick, I owe you one!”

---

His rusty old van rattled and roared as he sped down the backroads of Hawkins, foot heavy on the gas pedal; he was a man with a mission, a knight on a quest to win the heart of a fair maiden, and nothing could stop him now. Rick was right, he’d have to pledge his heart to the lady and seek her favour. 

Except he could hardly arrive with four hundred bucks of drugs hidden in the back of his van, reeking of weed. Pit stop necessary, a side quest, if you will. He raced home, sniffed all the clothes in his ‘clean’ heap and changed into the least creased shirt, and stashed the pills and baggies in some drawer in the hallway, under a load of old tins and spare tools, and other junk they’d never use.

Half an hour later he ran into the grocery store, five minutes before closing, sprinting down the aisles seeking the display of cut flowers he knew he’d seen last week. He startled the customers, but right at the end of the aisle he spied his prize, the treasure at the end of the dungeon crawl...or wait, was Rose the treasure? She wasn’t an object , but she was precious. God, he was nervous. 

Only a few bunches of flowers remained, but which ones did he get? There were pink ones and red ones, little ones surrounded with white baby’s breath. The big sunflowers were bright and cheerful, but he wasn’t sure about them...now that he looked at them up close, what was up with sunflowers? How were the heads that big? They were like a baby’s head, and that was a weird image. Fuck it, not the sunflowers. 

An older lady in a store apron walked by, and he seized upon her, running toward her and startling her.

“Jesus, sorry,” he held up his hands. “Help, please help. I need to buy flowers for a girl, and I don’t know which ones to get. Wait...flowers have meanings , right? Like there’s this secret language that Victorian women used to be into? What if I chose pretty flowers and it means sorry your dog died and she hates me forever?”

The lady’s panic slowly evaporated, and she walked him over to the flowers. “Okay, let’s take a look. The roses are pretty. There’s nothing classier than a Rose.”

He smiled. “I couldn’t agree more. Wait, if her name is literally Rose, does that change things? Is it too obvious?”

She shook her head, wrinkles creasing in the corners of her eyes. “I wouldn’t say so.”

“Perfect. Thank you, ma’am,” he shook the woman’s hand, and grabbed the best bunch of red roses he could find. They were still grocery store flowers, one of them slightly wilting, but he could throw that one out.

By the time he’d bought the roses and approached Creel house, the energy that sustained him was seriously flagging, and all kinds of possibilities were swarming in his head. 

What if she wasn’t there? What if her mom, the Balrog, answered the door? He supposed it was only fair that he slew some demons on his way to the fair maiden, but he couldn’t exactly pull out a broadsword and run through her mom. Or the stepdad...what if he was the kind to own a shotgun, and decided buckshot was the best way to get Eddie the freak off his lawn?

Heart pounding, he pulled up within sight of the house, twenty yards down the street. It was fancier than he remembered, an intimidating castle, ready to be sieged. The lights were on, car parked in the driveway; at least someone was home. Maybe he should climb the veranda and deliver them to her window. Shit, he didn’t know which one was hers.

“Time to fight, Munson,” he muttered to himself. “Roll the dice, and pray to Ozzy for a nat 20.”

He grabbed the flowers and went for the door handle, but had to shield his eyes from bright headlights instead. Bright headlights turning into the driveway of the Creel house. The car’s door slammed shut, and Eddie froze like a deer in headlights.

Steve fucking Harrington. The King, The Hair, or whatever dipshit nickname the gullible kids of Hawkins High like to call him, was walking up Rose’s driveway with a goddamn overnight bag in his hand.

No sooner than his face scowled and mouth dropped open, Rose came out the door. She called out, loud and happy, throwing up her arms in the air like she was so pleased to see Harrington she couldn’t contain it. Within the space of exactly six heartbeats, Harrington dragged his bag into the house and Rose closed the door behind him.

What the fuck?

Harrington was a year below him through Middle and High school; enough of a jock enough to be naturally opposed to Eddie and his band of freaks, but not violent or mean enough to be a real enemy. The guy was a bit of an asshole, and when he and Tommy H got into the basketball cult, they’d grown insufferable, pulling pranks on everyone. Come to think of it, they’d shoved Gareth into a girls bathroom stall in his freshman year and locked him in. 

How in the hell did Rose know the guy? And more importantly, what was he doing with an overnight bag in her house? Maybe she’d just hedged her bets and found herself the first prom king that came along. Someone better suited. Rich family, high school diploma, Hollywood hair. 

Eddie waited thirty minutes to be sure, but Steve never came out. With each minute his heart sank lower, until the night was pitch black and he was freezing cold in the van’s cab. Turning on the engine was a little act of defeat, an admission that he’d taken too much damage, killed before the campaign had even begun. And when he rolled out of Morehead, past the creepy old playground, he threw the roses out the driver's window, watching the splash of dark red fade in the rearview mirror.

[callme-dickmaster]

Sweetheart - (eddie munson x reader)

**UNDER HEAVY CONSTRUCTION**

Ch. One - The Wot?

summary: when the split mayfield/hargrove family move to hawkins the oldest mayfield finds out that hawkins might be the weird change she needed.

pairing: eddie x fem!goth!mayfield! reader

warnings: 18+ (minors dni) this is obnoxiously long, unfortunate use of y/n, language, mentions of abuse, billy hargrove -i think that's all-

author's note: i'm nervous but also excited for this. the first few chapters are purely exposition and are honestly pretty boring except for some funny stuff but it picks up pretty fast. let me know if you like it and want to see the rest. love you <3

Series Masterlist

Y/n Mayfield stretched her arms above her head as she stepped out of her stepbrother's Camaro outside Hawkins High School on her first day, discreetly tossing her nearly finished joint on the ground. "Uh, hello?" her sister Max called from the backseat. "Oh, my bad," Y/n snorted. She moved the seat forward so Max could step out. Her stepbrother Billy was already long gone and on the way to the school but neither of the sisters noticed or cared.

Max punched Y/n's shoulder when she stood fully with a smile. Y/n gasped and dramatically held her shoulder with a look of fake anguish on her face. Max giggled and told her to shut up. Y/n snickered and ruffled Max's hair.

"See ya, rat," Y/n said. "Bye Simmons," Max replied, skating towards the middle school. "Still hate KISS!" Y/n yelled, earning a middle finger from her little sister.

The older girl noticed two other teenagers gawking at them from their own car across the lot. She smirked and tossed a peace sign above her head as she walked backwards towards the high school before turning and walking normally.

Y/n kinda liked it in Hawkins. California was too warm, and it was always ridiculously bright there. Being a person who liked to wear dark clothes didn't really mix well with that. That and all the people there were obnoxious and annoying. But it was California.

Not much else to expect.

Y/n smiled charmingly at the receptionist in the office as she walked in. "Hey, uh, I'm new? Should be under Mayfield?" she asked.

The receptionist shuffled through the papers on her desk and pulled out two papers. One was her schedule, and one was a little map of the school. Y/n tried not to laugh out loud at the map but thanked her anyways. "Ah! Let me call up a student to show you to class. Hold on one second, hon," the lady said, calling someone on the phone and telling Y/n to wait there for a minute. She nodded and leaned against the wall until the girl who was staring at her earlier came in.

"Hi, Nancy. Would you mind showing her to her first class? You have it together," the receptionist lady asked. Nancy stuttered before nodding with a 'sure!' and motioning for Y/n to follow her. Y/n did, saluting the secretary as she left.

Nancy walked beside her, humming quietly at the faint smell of weed, hair dye, and fabric softener from Y/n. Nancy thought it was odd but comforting for some reason. "Sorry. I-I'm Nancy. Wheeler," Nancy spoke up, introducing herself. Y/n snorted at her awkwardness and shook the girl's outstretched hand, "All good. I'm Y/n," she said.

Nancy nodded with a smile, "Nice. It suits you," she replied. Y/n smiled and thanked her.

They did get a good conversation going after that, having finally broken the ice and Nancy took her schedule from her to see what classes they had together. The shorter of the pair also showed Y/n where her locker was so she didn't have to carry all of her stuff and helped her get it open. Y/n, still partially high, tried her best to listen to what Nancy had to say. Nancy seemed pretty smart, and it was obvious she had lived in Hawkins her whole life, so good thing to have a friend who knows their shit.

Nancy glared at people who were staring at Y/n, who was completely oblivious to it as she carried her books and dropped the other school stuff she didn't put in her locker into the bag her mom made her carry. Y/n towered over Nancy, so she stuck out like a sore thumb. Not because Y/n was inherently tall, but because she had a pair of six-inch-tall black platform boots to add to her normal height.

Nancy noticed and thought it was brave of her. People were very judgmental in Hawkins, so to walk around without caring and with a look like that took guts. Nancy appreciated it. She had never really hung out or met anyone like Y/n, but she'd always wondered what it would be like to have a friend like her.

Y/n was currently standing at an even six feet tall and wore black head to toe including her hair, which was dyed jet black and ruffled into a shaggy cut.

Nancy smiled in satisfaction with herself when they walked into class and people gaped at them walking in together. Miss perfect Nancy Wheeler walking around with someone who looks like something straight out of a heavy metal magazine.

Robin Buckley's eyes widened from her spot in the back corner seat, and she listened to Y/n talk when the teacher made her introduce herself. Everyone was staring at her, seeming completely interested in what she had to say.

"Uh, hey! I'm Y/n," she said, "I'm from California. Now I live here. I'm just trying to graduate, so, if you're chill, we can hang!" Y/n mumbled thanks to the teacher before taking a seat in the back directly behind Nancy. Nancy turned around and gave her a thumbs-up, inviting her to sit with her at lunch. Y/n snickered and shrugged, which was her way of saying yes.

The whole class kept staring at her off and on, trying to focus on schoolwork but also hung up on the new girl. Hawkins almost never got new kids, but when they got one like this?

Everyone is shell-shocked.

Y/n blinked slowly and listened to the teacher ramble on about math. She grabbed a tin of Altoids that obviously didn't have Altoids in it anymore and popped one in her mouth. The bell rang shortly after and Y/n and Nancy were on their way to their lockers and next class.

Y/n took off her jacket, shoving it in her locker, and even that simple action earned some whispers. Nancy also looked a little shocked when she walked up, hugging a new pile of books to her chest. A guy who was about half an inch shorter than Y/n with huge hair trailed after her, eyes widening at Nancy's new friend. "What?" Y/n asked obliviously, eyes bouncing from one to the other. The couple was quiet, trying to come up with an answer, and failing.

"It's the tattoos, innit?" Y/n whispered. Nancy nodded a small smile on her lips.

"I can, like, put my jacket back on if it makes y'all uncomfortable..." Y/n offered.

"Nah, man, they're cool! I just think people weren't expecting them," the guy replied swiftly. "Oh. Okay," Y/n shrugged, and they were walking to class.

Y/n sucked her teeth and picked up the pace to toss herself into the lockers next to a blond boy dressed in all denim, a smarmy look on his face.

"What?" he said sharply.

Y/n laughed at him, "Oh, you wound me with your hatred!" Billy looked very unthreatening having to look up to speak to her eye to eye. He rolled his eyes and repeated himself. "Just wondering how your day is going. Are people staring at you too, or is it just me?" Y/n asked.

Billy scoffed and looked around, noticing a few people quickly avoiding his gaze before they got caught staring.

"Nah, it's not just you," Billy said lowly, slamming his locker and stomping away.

Y/n found her way to second period and sat down next to Nancy after having to introduce herself again.

"Hey!"

Y/n turned at the sharp whisper and raised an eyebrow at a brunette sitting next to her. Y/n looked around before pointing at herself, "Me?" she whispered back. The brunette nodded. Y/n waved hesitantly, glancing at the teacher to make sure they wouldn't get in trouble. The brunette held up a finger, turning to her notebook and writing something in it before ripping it out and passing it to Y/n.

"hi"

Y/n smirked and wrote back "hi :)" the brown-haired girl smiled and wrote on the paper under that.

"I'm Robin"

"Y/n" Y/n wrote back.

"I know. We have first together too."

"Oh, word? Nice."

"I know! Anyways, I think we should be friends! I like your style."

"Hell yeah we should! You seem nice and thank you." "Awesome!! I was so worried that wasn't going to work."

"Ahahaha don't worry you're cool."

"Yay I'm cool!! But I won't make you pass notes for an eternity. You probably have a lot to catch up on, so I'll see you later, k?"

"Ok!"

And with that, Y/n made a new friend.

taglist: @sisgotdemons @tlclick73 @deafeningmoontragedy @marjoriea13 @playfuloutcast @twosluttychains @leetaeilsnecktattoo @lil-quinnie @razzles-bottom-lip @originalstar1

@yessargeantbarnes happy birthday babes <3

tiny author's note: hii!! i'm glad y'all were excited about this! this starts slow but it gets to the point pretty quick so don't worry there will be eddie content very very soon. Let me know if you wanna be on the taglist! love you! :)

[allys-corner]

Part 1

Summary: You and Eddie have known eachother since childhood, though a falling out between the two of you has led to you guys becoming distant. Can Uncle Wayne and your parent's meddling solve this issue?

Pairing: Eddie Munson x reader

A/N: Sorry it's been so long since I posted, but I don't have much motivation atm. If you wanna send any requests, please feel free! Anyways, hope you enjoy :)

<><><>

When Wayne told Eddie to wear something nice, he thought maybe Wayne was bringing home a lady friend, but not this. Wayne had invited the family from across the street over, and with them their daughter, you.

These dinners used to consist of a younger you and Eddie scheming on one side of the table while the adults conversed on the other, but you hadn’t really talked to each other in years. Mostly because of high school. Eddie didn’t like your taste in friends, and he never really invited you around his either. I wonder what made her decide to come. Must have been her parents blackmailing her of some kind.

Eddie fully walks into the living room and takes his place by Wayne’s side. He greets your family politely before awkwardly saying hi to you as well. You give him a half-smile before turning back to the others.

“Alright everyone,” Wayne claps, “who is ready to eat? Eddie, can you go grab the ham for me?” Eddie nods as he sees your mother whisper in your ear before pushing you towards the kitchen as well. Eddie tries to pay it no mind as he enters the room and heads towards the drawer holding the potholders. He reaches the drawer just as you enter the kitchen.

“Hey, my mom said you might need help carrying stuff?” you question looking around at the dishes on the counter.

“That’s okay, I got it” Eddie dismisses before grabbing the two handles on the dish. It would take him more trips but he didn’t really want you in his way.

“What about these green be-”

“Yeah sure” Eddie cuts you off as he walks out the door. You give a weak glare at his back before grabbing the food and returning to the dinner table.

Dinner is fairly uneventful other than the subtle brags from both sets of parents. You put it down as your mom trying to get brownie points for having a good kid. Wayne mainly bragged about Eddie’s band and his new job at the local mechanic shop. This was news to you since the last you heard of Eddie, he was working at Family Video.

During the night, as the adults bordered on a little too tipsy, your parents and Wayne stopped focusing on you two and were engaged in conversation amongst themselves. Choosing to break the silence, rather than wallow in the awkwardness, you turn towards Eddie who Wayne had seated right across from you.

“So… how are you liking the new job?” you ask politely, hoping for an easy connection, but Eddie never made it easy for you.

“It’s alright I guess,” he stabs the food on his plate muttering, “I don’t think you’d really know what I was talking about if I told you anything else” he dismisses turning back to the meal. You are unfettered by his comments as you continue,

“Oh well, what made you wanna work there?” you ask.

“I got sick of Steve being my manager, so I quit. Just so happens that Wayne knew this guy that owns the shop, and he got me a job there.” He explains quickly as if trying to get out of the conversation as soon as possible.

Feeling dejected by his replies, you give a quick “well, that’s nice” before going back to eating silently. Neither of your parents seemed to have noticed the exchange between you two, as the atmosphere doesn’t change much after.

Finally, it was time for the awkward goodbyes and waves before you were hopping in your dad’s chevy and headed home. You barely made it into bed before you were fast asleep hoping to forget the weird night you just had.

<><><>

Saturday came as a blessing, as you were finally allowed to catch up on some much-needed rest. Crawling out of your cocoon at around 11, you walk downstairs to an empty house. Looking out the living room window, you see that both of their cars are gone. A large yellow piece of paper draws your eyes as you wander through the kitchen doorway. Picking up the note, you begin to read:

Hey Hun, me and your father have some stuff that we need to get done today so we won’t be back until late. Don’t forget that Aunt Janice should be getting there at around 3 pm so please make sure the house is clean when she gets there. Love you!

-Mom

You groan out loud before slamming the paper back down. It took you a couple hours to finish cleaning the house. You plop your exhausted body down on the couch right before the doorbell goes off. Struggling to stand, you slump to the door. Opening the curtains reveals the face of Eddie Munson equipped with a shiny red toolbox in hand. You shoot him a confused look, but open the door anyway. He walks in, casually hanging his jacket, before turning to explain.

"Uncle Wayne sent me here. He said you were having a problem with your car and to come look at it." he says imploringly impatient. You don't give him time to say anything more before you're already bounding off towards the garage with a wide grin (with a hesitant Eddie following behind).

<><><>

“Maybe you should try to convince him to go to prom with you?” you teased.

“Yeah, probably not,” he dismisses while turning back to the car. Wow, he actually looked at me for longer than two seconds this time. I think that’s a record.

“Plus, I’m not even going to prom, so it won’t matter much.” The statement cuts through your thoughts abruptly, but your reply is quick.

“Wait, you're missing your senior prom again?”

“y/n, you know this is my second senior year, I don’t think it matters much anymore.” He replies easily while grabbing a tool from the box behind him.

“Yeah, but this could be your last one and you haven’t been to prom since your junior year!” you exclaim quickly as you move into his sight to give him a disappointed look, “and didn’t you say that this was your year, it can’t be your year, if you don’t do all the typical high school things,” you reason with him.

You don’t know why you have decided that you needed Eddie to go to prom so badly. Maybe it's that thought that if he was there, you wouldn’t feel so alone or weird or that you’d at least have someone to talk to when your friends ignore you all night. Before you could say anything more though, the doorbell rings throughout the house, muffled by the garage door. With that, your conversation with Eddie is cut short as you leave the garage and head towards the front door.

Upon reaching it you look through the fogged glass and recognize your Aunt Janice’s bright white fur coat. Taking a minute and a breath, you open the door with the biggest smile you can muster.

“Hey Aunt Janice, you made it!” you welcome as you automatically reach to help her with her suitcases.

“Oh hello dear, lovely to see you again.” She responds not giving you much notice as she steps into the house. Her eyes seemed to be searching for all the small new things she could bring up about the place. It only took her a few minutes for her to find something that she disliked, commenting that the new rug would probably look better if it was donated. You chuckle along, as you feed her small comments and information to tide her over.

“Well Aunt Janice, I’m gonna go put these in your room for you.” You tell her as you make hast towards the guest room. Taking a breather while you set her stuff down, you try and decide if you should tell her about Eddie being here or not, and also what you should say to Eddie as well.

<><><>

Aunt Janice had been a bitch your whole life, but you'd think she would at least have some restraint when strangers were around. I guess maybe she didn't see Eddie as much of a stranger since she wasn't holding back.

"Are those the clothes you are gonna be wearing tonight?" She said, haughtily. Aunt Janice had always seemed to dislike you the most out of the family. No matter how primped and polished you are, there's always something wrong for her to comment on. This time it seemed to be the outfit choice that you had picked, although this was a casual setting and you hadn't left the house at all. This wouldn't have made you think twice if it was just family around.

"No," you blush, looking down at your outfit embarrassed.

"I don't know what I'm gonna wear to the party yet. I haven't given it much thought."

"Clearly girl, if you ever want people to take you seriously you have to dress the part." she leaves the room before returning quickly with an expensive looking blouse, "Here, you can wear this. It probably costs more than your whole wardrobe so be careful with it."

You begin to reach for the blouse before Eddie's hand stops you. You look up at him confused, but he's already stepping up beside you with a hard gaze pointed at Janice.

"I think she looks just fine in what she's wearing, but if she wants to change that's her choice," He pushes the shirt back towards Janice's shell shocked face.

"I also think that the price of the thing doesn't always mean that it's better." He gives a shark-like grin before turning back towards you. Before he can speak, Janice cuts him off loudly.

"I don't think anybody asked what you thought, boy."

Oh no, Eddie was in for it now.

<><><>

[crimsonthehuman]

I just randomly had the thought that Eddie Munson is really really similar to Anne from Anne with an E (I've not read the books sorry guys).

The first thing that comes to mind is their eccentricity and vocabulary, the drama in everything they say and do, coming from their passion for literature and the fantastical. They are both in love with fiction and feel like it brings out the beauty in reality rather than hiding it or distracting from it.

Also of course they both embrace who they truly are, and don't try to hide their true selves for the comfort of others. They let others sit with the discomfort. They're both outcasts and rejected by a tightly-knit community/small town, but find their own family.

They're also so genuine and passionate when they care about something. You can see this in their passion for politics and equality. They both take in outcasts, create a safe space, stand up for what's right. Obviously we don't see much canon chatacter building for Eddie, but we do see this with his little sheepies and his lunch table speeches.

And then also they're both flawed in a similar way I think. Their passion and obsession with a subject can sometimes cause them to lose sight of the bigger picture and can almost seem like it's coming from a selfish place. For Eddie this would be him refusing to move the final session of the dnd campaign for Lucas' championship game bc he's 'betrayed' them. For Anne, one example could be her becoming obsessed with the idea of a romance between Matthew and Jeannie.

All of this to say *cough cough* they're autistic *cough cough*, I think they'd love each other. Idk what this means but I think character comparisons are cool anyhow.

There's definitely other stuff but it's been a long time since I've watched Anne with an E, and st season 4 lmao, because canon SUCKS. But yeah, if I rewatch, I may do a continuation!

Them side by side because I love them:

[havecourage-darling]

Firsts: Sold-Out Concert // Eddie Munson

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Female Henderson!Reader

wc: 4.3 K

warnings: it's just poorly written smut, I'm sorry ahead of time, pls love me

A/N: Special shout out to Katie, who bullied me until I decided to post this. It hadn't originally made my firsts cut but she loved it enough to convince me to include it

masterlist || ao3 || firsts: meeting the family

“Congratulations boys, you officially sold-out Madison Square Garden.”

Fiona, Corroded Coffin’s manager, revealed two massive champagne bottles from behind her back and shrieked.

Chaos reigned.

For a moment, you didn’t know what to do. Skye, Gareth’s girlfriend, clutched your hand between hers so tightly you were sure she was trying to mold you two together.

“Holy shit,” she said over the boys’ screaming, “they did it, they did it!”

Steve, Jeff, and Dustin, both hugging and jumping on the couches in the recording studio, were the loudest of the group.

Fiona’s words finally sunk into your mind – the world around you going quiet as Skye jumped into Gareth’s arms and you felt Eddie take her place.

“Princess,” he breathed, eyes wide, looking a little dumbstruck.

Feeling bowled over still, you nodded dumbly. “Yeah, you did it.”

“We did it,” he repeated, sounding like an echo.

The both of you caught each other’s gazes and immediately grinned like lunatics. Without warning, his lips slammed into yours and your hands clutched at any part of him you could reach.

“You fucking did it, you did it!” You said between searing kisses. “Eddie!”

He panted against your neck, like he’d run a marathon, and before you could think of anything to say – a pillow smacked into the both of you.

Steve had his hands on his hips and Dustin had his arms crossed. “For the love of Christ, keep it in your pants.”

Annoyed, you shot them a withering glare. “I am congratulating him, you perv’!”

“Is that what the kids call it these days?” Robin asked, wiggling her brows.

Eddie huffed a laugh at that and you couldn’t help but smile. “I hate you all.”

“Even me?” Eddie asked, indignant.

You nodded. “You most of all,” you said, kissing the wrinkle on his nose. “Congratulations, I always knew you’d make it here.”

“And to think,” Jeff chuckled, eyes looking suspiciously wet, “it only took almost fifteen years.”

Knowing he’d meant it as a joke you laughed lightly almost on reflex, but then the words had sunken in.

fifteen years.

“I am so proud of you,” you said softly, the room quieting down with you. “All of you.”

Gareth, Jeff, and Liam smiled at you, looking like the emotional goofs you’d met at the theater room the day you’d gone to pick up your brother.

“I know I wasn’t there from the start, but I saw the early stuff,” your voice cracked a little and you blinked, slightly embarrassed, “and holy shit guys, you made it here.”

Jeff was the first one to stumble passed everyone and wrap you into a hug. “You weren’t there for the dumb early shit but you were there helping us unload and reload our equipment into Eddie’s shitty van for years. When it really counted.”

“Hey!” Eddie protested.

You smiled, wrapping your arms as tightly as you could around your friend. “Every Wednesday.”

Gareth laughed, joining you both in on the hug. “That bar really sucked,” he admitted, grunting when Liam slammed into you three.

“It had good fries,” Liam said.

“It did,” you laughed.

Jeff pulled back and looked around at the group of you. “It got better when you joined – Eddie got more annoying but-”

Eddie grunted. “I am right here!”

“-thanks. All of you, thank you.”

Trying to discretely wipe away a few tears, you stepped back so that the boys could have their moment. Steve and Robin came up to you. “I can’t believe you managed to fly in,” you said, nudging Robin. “Ms. World Traveler.”

“Hey,” she said, wrapping an arm around your shoulders, “when I moved, we promised to always be there for the big moments.”

Steve wrapped his around both of you. “Is Henderson calling us at four in the morning shrieking about sales considered a big moment?”

“It is because I had to find a flight back here within twelve hours,” Robin huffed, bumping him, “you try doing that while you’re at work. And, she isn’t Henderson anymore.”

You rolled your eyes, knowing that this would start their bickering all over again. It’d been barely three months since the wedding and Robin wasn’t letting it go.

“I’ve known them for two decades, she’ll always be Henderson to me,” Steve insisted, crossing his arms.

Eddie’s warm hand pulled you into his arms and you went willingly. “Are they arguing about your last name again?” He asked, chin hooking over your shoulder.

“They’ll argue about anything,” you said, placing your hands over his on your waist, eyes falling to the ring on your finger.

His huff of laughter hit your skin and you laughed when it tickled. “That’s true. Have you told them that you still haven’t technically changed it?”

“No,” you snorted, “it’s a lot of paper work okay? We’ve been busy.”

“Hey, I told you – I don’t care what your name is-”

“-so romantic-”

“-as long as you’ve got my ring on your finger,” he said, ignoring your quip, “besides, I’ve been yours for a long time.”

Fingers twining through his hair, you tugged lightly and smiled when his jaw twitched.

“Your brother is glaring at us,” he warned, fingers bruising at your hip.

“I am!” Dustin’s not so far off cry came from the left. “You two need an ice bucket!”

Laughing, you kissed his chin and turned back to referee Steve and Robin’s escalating fight. “He’s your brother too now,” you said. “Besides, him and the band have bigger problems than our PDA now.”

“Yeah?”

Rolling your eyes, you shot Dustin a look. “The goal was to get here – now you’ve actually got to plan the tour.”

Eddie and Dustin’s eyes widened.

“Shit.”

“I’m going to throw up,” Gareth said, palms on the desk in front of him, head hung between them.

Jeff clutched a trash can to his chest, as if daring him to take it from him. “Find your own bucket,” Jeff said, groaning.

Liam had a pair of headphones on, his eyes wide and frozen.

“I’m going to mess up, holy shit I think I forgot how to play the guitar,” Eddie muttered, his eyes wild. You pressed a palm between his shoulder blades as his breath started to come in pants.

“Eddie, you’ve known how to play the guitar since you were nine,” you said soothingly, “I think you’re more likely to forget me first.”

The line hit as intended because he swiveled his head towards you. “I’d never forget you. Never.” He smiled when he saw your grin, having caught on. “You’re seared onto my soul, Princess.”

You kissed his jaw and caught Dustin’s eye from across the room. He pointed to the guys, his wide stare saying: we have to do something about them. While you, Dustin, and Fiona had made sure their suite was set – you knew that if they juts sat around someone would definitely end up chucking up their lunch.

Glancing at the four of them, terrified, you nodded. Tour? He mouthed. You nodded again.

“Hey, guys,” you cleared your throat, “did you give the kids a tour of the place? There’s still like an hour to go and they haven’t seen anything!”

Max straightened and El looked around the room curiously. “Nancy, Jonathan, Robin, and Steve are taking a look through backstage, why don’t you show them too? I mean, it’s pretty cool. Dustin designed a bunch of pyrotechnics.”

Liam snapped out of his trance, as if reanimated into his body now that he had a purpose. “Oh, yeah, sure,” he said, wrapping an arm around Mike.

Gareth nodded, face still a little green. Jeff stood up and started towards the door. “Keep an eye on Will!” You said suddenly, eyes going towards the blushing adult. They were all almost practically adults, and absolutely able to take care of themselves, but you would always have a soft spot for him. The hand he dropped to your shoulder as he left told you that he knew. Everyone you both knew, and you meant everyone – you had to help an excited Joyce and mostly reluctant Hopper to the VIP section earlier - had flown in for this concert.

“You can join them,” Eddie said, hand rubbing down his face, “I’m going to stay here and panic until I pass out.”

Nodding, you bit back your laughter and tapped at your chin thoughtfully. “That seems like a really logical response, you should do that more often.”

Eddie wheezed, his breaths coming out faster. “I should hold conferences.”

After a few beats, Eddie’s breathing slowed and you rubbed a hand down his back. “Has anyone ever told you that you tend to be a bit of a drama queen?” You asked.

Eddie pretended to think about it as the room completely emptied out. “No, actually, I’ve been accredited for being very levelheaded during emergencies.”

Snorting, you leaned back into the couch and hummed. This was nowhere near Corroded Coffin’s first big concert – but it was their first time selling out a massive, iconic stadium. It was a first and you knew that despite the almost decade of performances, starting all the way back in The Hideout, nothing would shake the nerves out of Eddie.

Fiona was practically quadruple checking everything on her clipboard. When you’d arrived, at your scheduled ten minutes late time, she had literally checked you off her list.  

An idea struck you. “Would going over the set list and making sure all the equipment is ready to go again help you out?”

“Yes?” He said sheepishly, his nose scrunching like it did when he was embarrassed. You smiled at him and pulled him to his feet.

“Come on Mr. Munson,” you said, intertwining your fingers, “let’s go get our ducks in a row.”

You pushed open the door to the massive ensuite bathroom and blinked to see Eddie hadn’t moved from where you’d left him – on the chair by the sinks. Honestly, how fancy did an ensuite have to be that it had furniture in the bathroom? Even Eddie hadn’t gone that far when you’d bought your house together.

His leg was bouncing erratically, eyes screwed shut, and his fingers plucking at invisible strings. The soft spot in your heart with his name seared onto it melted at the sight of his anxiety. You’d spent an hour double checking his equipment before the sound of people chanting their names trickled into backstage and he’d rushed off to the bathroom, swearing he was going to be sick.

“Sweetheart,” you called out, “you’re going to drive yourself insane. It’s thirty minutes until you’re on, you’ve got this. Just think of it as another concert. You guys have done loads of those, this is just another one. You sold out in LA too!”

“I know,” he mumbled, eyes still tight around the corners.

“Eddie, I-”

His hand on your arm stopped you. “I know what you’re going to say.”

“You do?” You said, smiling at his animated expression.

“Yes. Eddie, you play really well, you’ve earned this, you guys have a growing fanbase, the debut album is on the top one hundred, I love you, you look like a god, and you’ve ruined me for any other guy,” he said, high pitched imitation of your voice. “That orgasm you gave me this morning was your best work.”

“First, I don’t sound like that.” You quirked a brow and he smiled, eyes sparkling and mischievous. “Second, you’re a menace to society.”

Eddie grinned at you, teasing like always, but an idea grew in your head. “But did I lie?” He asked.

You shook your head and reached into the waistband of your skirt. “I know this will be a big shock to you but, that’s actually not what I was going to say.”

Eddie smirked, eyes darting across your face, curious. “Was I close? I can keep guessing.”

“I have something that might keep you calm,” you said, the black lace spilling out of your hand. Eddie’s eyes dropped to your hand clenched around the scrap of fabric.

His brows disappeared into his hair and you smirked. “Is that…”

You leaned forward, grabbing his hand, and spoke lowly, “The black set that you love? Yeah.” Dropping the underwear into his open palm, you grinned at his dumbfounded look.

So, for the first time in the years since you’d been with him, you watched Eddie’s jaw go slack. After fighting demobats, Vecna, escaping the Upside Down, signing to a record label, a few national tours, you didn’t think you were capable of surprising him still. You were glad to see you still had some tricks up your sleeve.

“Did you – is that – holy shit,” Eddie stammered, “please tell me these are the ones that were on your body.”

“Took them off a few minutes ago in the hallway bathroom,” you said, lips trailing down his jaw. You felt his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed. “Thought they’d be good luck for your concert. The same way my lipstick tends to be.”

Stunned into silence, you took advantage of the moment.

You made sure he watched you as you pulled a tube of lipstick from your bra out. His eyes followed your hands as you applied a fresh coat. Leaning over to kiss his neck once firmly, you used a nearby tissue to wipe off the excess from your lips.

“Like when I first watched you play at that club in college, with that girl who kept putting her hands on you,” Eddie grinned, pupils darkening, “I want all your new fans to know that while I’m willing to share - you’re mine. Okay?” Eddie’s expression morphed into a familiar one and you fought the urge to smile. It’d been years and you knew it still pushed all the right buttons when you told him that. Your hand curled around his neck, squeezing just a little in the way you knew drove him crazy.

“And I’m the menace?” Eddie breathed, eyes wild and hands tightening around you. “Holy shit, I can’t believe you just – I’m so turned on right now.”

“It’s a good thing we have about fifteen minutes before everyone probably piles back into the green room,” you whispered, walking back through the bathroom and locking the door. Sauntering over to him, you bit down on the other side of his neck and mouthed around the sensitive skin. Eddie twitched as his hands came down to your hips and he maneuvered you onto his lap. You squeaked as you helped him move you both into a comfortable position and laughed when you were level with his excited expression.

“You’re unbelievable,” he breathed, the excited familiar glint in his eye making your stomach flip.

Tapping your chin with your index finger, you pretended to look deep in thought. “You know, I like to say that to myself every morning so my sparkle doesn’t dull,” you quipped back.

Eddie threw his head back and laughed, the last remnants of his anxiety falling away. “Someone’s feeling sarcastic today,” he teased, tongue dragging across his bottom lip. You felt your blood simmer and experimentally ground down into his hips.

“It’s a side effect from being around you too long,” you said, determined to have the last word.

Grinning, Eddie looked ready with a rebuttal but you dropped your lips to his. Your restraint snapped at the same time because your hands immediately collided.

“Fuck,” Eddie mumbled as you sucked a hickey below the lipstick mark, your teeth nipping at his skin, “I love you so much, Peach, so much.”

Smiling, you lapped at the bruised skin almost in apology and startled when you felt his cool hand cup you beneath your skirt. Wasting no time, he took advantage at the lack of barriers and sunk his fingers into you.

“Eddie,” you said, panting a little as his fingers rubbed you in the right spot. “Eddie, there’s no time for us to-”

He tutted. “You can’t start something and not finish.”

Your breath hitched as his knees nudged your own further apart. “Eddie, anyone can walk into the green room and hear us,” you gasped as he brushed against the bundle of nerves. His wide grin told you he was enjoying this.

“Should’ve thought about that before you handed me your underwear, Princess. You know I can’t get enough of you as it is,” he said between open mouthed kisses to your neck.

Mind scrambled already, you panted. “We might not have enough time for the both of us,” you said, hand coming to stop his.

Eddie stilled, leaning back to look at your face. “We have time for you, I can tell,” he said, twitching against you. Trying not to smile, you knew you failed when he beamed at you.

This night wasn’t about you – it was about him. You knew he’d never it go, like a dog with a bone. Well, you could be stubborn too. “Both of us or nothing,” you said, eyes slanting and tone turning bossy.

He huffed. “Princess-”

Hand coming back up to his neck, you lifted yourself above him and pressed him into the velvety chair. “You’re not in charge here.”

The hardness beneath you grew steadily. Groaning, he dropped his head and pulled his hand back to your hip. “You’re killing me Peach, you’re killing me.”

You leaned over to grab at his wrist and smiled when you saw the time. “What I did was successfully distract you to showtime.”

“What?” Eddie said, checking the time himself. “You little enchantress.”

“You’re a little predictable,” you admitted, letting your arms rest around his neck. You dug one hand into his hair, raking your nails across his scalp softly while the other unbuckled Eddie’s pants and shoved his underwear down just far enough. He sprung out, searing hot and already leaking.  

Eddie grunted, hand stilling yours but you smacked it away. “Both of us or nothing Munson,” you said again, plucking a condom from your bra.

Pupils blown, he gaped. “Jesus, what else do you have in there?”

Laughing, you rolled it onto him and winked. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” You both groaned when you seated yourself fully onto him. The angle and force were unforgiving, tears almost instantly gathering at the corner of your eyes.

“Holy shit,” you hissed, needing a second. It’d been a while since you’d both found yourselves both unable to keep your hands off each other and pressed for time. The sudden stretch ached a little but you could handle it. “Okay?” You asked him, already starting to lift yourself off him.

Eddie’s face was flushed bright red, his head thrown back, and hands clenched around your shirt. “Yeah, I’m perfect,” he croaked.

With a familiar urgency, you set an unrelenting pace and your skin smacked against his. The sound was lewd and loud but you couldn’t help and drown in it. It only took a few moments for your thighs to begin to shake and Eddie hauled you to your feet.

Whining at the loss of him, he maneuvered you against the sink, arms resting on the cold marble. Your eyes caught his in the mirror, his hair was wild from where you’d been clutching at it. “Be quiet for me, Princess,” he said, giving your ass a smack and laughing when you squeaked.

“I swear to God Eddie if you don’t-” you hissed the moment he slammed into you, both of you fumbling with the force. His hand settled on your hip and the other trailed down to the bundle of nerves between your legs. If you could think past the heat curling in your stomach and your racing pulse you would’ve remembered to be embarrassed at how rapidly you fell apart in his hands during a quickie.

Your head fell down to your arms, white flashing across your eyelids, your legs threatening to give out from under you as he kept thrusting into you. Oversensitive almost immediately, you needed him to join you. Trembling, you used the last of your energy to reach for him. Your hand tugged him to you, his hair tangled around your fingers. Biting down on his bottom lip, you swallowed his moan, pulled his curls a touch shy of painful, and felt his hips stumble. He stilled, his grip on your hip bruising and you both collapsed against the counter.

“Holy shit,” Eddie stammered, “I think I’m blind.”

Snorting, you swatted him and he weakly stumbled away. With shaking hands, you pulled your skirt back up and straightened your shirt. “I’m insulted,” you said, taking a few deep breaths as you got the feeling back in your feet. Shaking out your left leg, you fanned at your warm face.

“What?”

“That wasn’t even some of my best work,” you told him, smiling when he grinned. He jumped as he pulled his pants back up his legs and you did your best not to ogle him.

Not one to let it go unnoticed, Eddie smirked. “What? Ready for round two?”

Your laughter echoed as your breathe settled. “We don’t have time for round two,” you said, shoving at his shoulder. He settled into the chair and pulled you down with him. Steady in his lap again, you flicked his nose. “This is how round one started...fourteen minutes ago. Oh, new record for the both of us.”

“Is it?” He asked, pretending to look oblivious. “Huh, what a coincidence.”

Running a hand through his hair, you untangled a few pieces delicately and shook your head at him. “You’re relentless,” you said, “you’d think after this long you’d learn to exercise some restraint.”

“Who followed who into the bathroom?” Eddie’s brow quirked.

“True,” you said, “but you looked about two seconds from passing out. I had to do something.”

“A quickie was the solution?”

You grinned, shameless. “You seem much more relaxed,” you said with a shrug.

“I’d be even more relaxed if I could just, woops,” he said in faux worry, pulling your shirt’s strap out onto your shoulder. Your shirt was loose enough that the black lace was visible. “Ugh, I do love this set.” He leaned his cheek onto your breasts and you snorted.

“Would you like me to leave you three alone?”

“Honestly, I could die happy right here,” he said, licking a stripe up the lace, making sure to mouth at your nipple. The suction sent a shiver throughout your body and you scrambled to rein it in.

Pinching his side, Eddie yelped. “Behave,” you warned, already feeling the telltale sign of him gearing up for a second round beneath you.

Eddie nipped at your skin in retaliation and you squeaked, laughing when he had to dart forward to keep you from falling. At that moment, the door behind you opened. Steve’s face swam into your peripheral and he stood frozen for a beat before slamming the door shut.

“What the fuck?” You heard someone say through the door.

“Can you guys not keep it in your pants for any occasion?” Steve shouted; his voice muffled. “Have I need been tortured enough throughout the years?”

“What?” Someone shouted followed by a very Dustin sounding gagging noise.

“Get it, Munson!” Robin shouted, her laugh echoing.

Gareth’s voice thundered. “For the love of suffering Jesus, can you both get yourselves under control!”

Eddie grinned, giving the swell of your breast one last nip before helping you stand. You straightened your skirt and shot Eddie a look to behave. In response, he shoved your underwear into his back pocket and winked at you.

Casually opening the door, you grinned at your friends. “Managed to get him to calm down,” you joked, laughing when mostly everyone groaned.

“Get a room!” Steve muttered.

“Yeah, we had one,” Eddie said, coming up behind you. “Everyone okay?”

“Aside from adding another traumatic event to my pile?” Steve grunted, leaning against the far wall. “Peachy.”

Eddie snorted and you laughed. “Sorry Stevie,” you said, widening your eyes. “We were both fully clothed. To be fair, I did walk in on you and your exes like fifty times over the years because you have the inability to properly lock a room. So really, I’m just evening out the playing field.”

Steve’s jaw dropped in outrage and you watched as the group descended into familiar chaos. Eddie’s arm dropped around your shoulders and he pulled you into his chest. His heartbeat pulsed through you, strong and quick.

“Corroded Coffin?” One of the PAs called out. “Fiona says we need you by stage left in five.”

“They’ll be right there,” Nancy said when everyone froze.

Dustin was the first to move. “Shit, we gotta get good spots in the VIP section – I want to record some of it. Come on!” Most of the group called out encouragement, slapping the guys’ shoulders.

“Hey,” you said, before you extracted yourself from his arms, “you did it, sweetheart. You made it here. Just another little ol’ concert, okay?”

Eddie exhaled deeply and nodded.

“I love you, Mr. Munson.” you said, smacking his ass hard enough for him to stumble. “Kick ass and play like our lives depend on it.”

Laughing, Eddie shook his head and pressed one last kiss to your lips. “I love you too, Mrs. Munson,” he inhaled deeply and shook his head, “let’s start every concert off this way from now on, okay?” He grunted when you swatted at him.  

Fifteen minutes later, you watched as the crowd around you screamed once the first chords echoed throughout the stadium. A familiar voice greeted the crowd.

“Hello New York City! How are you all doing tonight?” Eddie grinned, his smile almost splitting his face in two.

Your heart sung as Eddie settled into his well-rehearsed spot. The lights dimmed and the crowd went eerily quiet. Breath caught in your lungs, you pressed your hands to your chest and hoped everything went according to plan.

Then, cutting through the darkness, Garret’s voice softly echoed.

“One, two, three, four!”

A/N2: I liiiiiiiiiive! So, in my defense, I got so sick (seriously, guys, I've never been this fkn sick in my entire life) and the holidays hit me like a truck. But, alas, I'm back! (kinda? lmao) Hope you guys had a great new year!

[sweeter-innocence-fics]

My Sweetest Downfall - Chapter Six

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Reader

Work Summary:

Eddie’s back from the Upside Down, but things aren’t exactly how he left them. Hawkins is in pieces, his friends are scattered and the love of his life is… pregnant?

Eddie Munson x Harrington!Reader

Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Epilogue

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 3326

Read on AO3.

Masterlists.

Taglist: @mrs-kai-anderson @ang3l1te @missryerye @eddiesgirlforever @harrys-tittie @munsonmoonshine86

Taglist info

Previous Chapter

Notes:

warnings for medical stuff, pregnancy stuff, allusions to King Steve, bullying, drug mentions, choking, mind control, violence

---

~ TWO MONTHS EARLIER ~

You were in a car again, driving to a clinic, although under much better circumstances than last time, because Steve was behind the wheel. You were going to find out your baby’s gender today.

After the stunt your parents tried to pull, Steve had taken you over to Hopper and Joyce’s place. You had stayed with Joyce and the kids, while Hop, Steve and Jonathan, as well as Hopper’s Russian friend Dmitri, went back to your house to talk to your parents.

None of them would tell you what happened, just that your parents were leaving town again. You couldn’t help but be grateful.

The two of you had stayed the night (Steve taking the couch, you commandeering Will’s room while Will shared with Eleven) and when you went home the next day, your parents were long gone.

With your parents gone, and unlikely to be coming back any time soon, you and Steve made a decision. You would stay at your parents’ house for a few more months, just to give you time to save up some extra money, since your parents were undoubtedly about to cut you off.

You had picked up some part-time secretarial work at the police station, while Steve took on more Family Video shifts.

Once he’d told Robin about your plan to move out, she had decided to throw her lot in with you as well. That was good. Splitting rent three ways was cheaper than two, and she’d be able to help out once the baby came.

It was strange. Your baby was becoming more and more real by the minute. You couldn’t help but imagine what it would look like, but every time you pictured it, you could only see Eddie’s face. You wondered how you would bear it.

What if you couldn’t care for your baby because looking at it only reminded you of your grief? Or worse, what if your baby looked nothing like Eddie, and over time every memory of his face faded?

“Are you okay?” asked Steve, making you jump. The car was parked in the parking lot of the clinic – your clinic, not the one your parents had taken you to – and Steve was watching you with concern.

You swallowed. “I don’t know.”

“Well, we don’t wanna be late, but we can talk about it after, if you want? I’ll buy you lunch?” he offered, as if he wasn’t paying for all your food anyway. He insisted that all the money you were earning should be for you to spend on yourself and the baby.

“That sounds nice.”

*

The nurse bustled into the examination room, where you were already settled, lying back on the bed with your tummy exposed. She was an older woman, with a kind face.

“Hello dear, my name is Laura. I need to ask you a few questions before we get started.” She glanced at Steve, who was sitting in the chair beside you. “Is this the father?”

“No,” you both said, very quickly.

“I’m her brother,” said Steve, at the same time that you said, “The father is…” You trailed off, feeling your eyes begin to sting.

You cleared your throat awkwardly. “The father is dead. He died shortly after the baby was conceived.”

The nurse gave you a sympathetic look. “I’m so sorry. The earthquakes?” You swallowed, and nodded. “Well, I don’t want to make this any more traumatic for you than it needs to be, so I’ll try to be quick about it.”

She took a brief medical history from you, filling out information on a clipboard. You answered robotically, wanting to get to the important part.

“Alright, this is going to feel quite cold. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Despite her warning, you winced as the cool gel was spread over your bump. As she pressed the ultrasound wand to your tummy, you looked at Steve, but he was staring at the screen.

There was your baby. It looked like a peanut. The nurse pointed out the baby’s head to you, but you couldn’t respond. Your mouth was too dry.

“And do you want to know the baby’s sex?” she asked.

“Yes.”

She examined the image on the screen, shifting the wand slightly. “It looks like you’re having a little baby girl.”

You let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding. You looked at Steve, and saw that he was crying.

“A girl,” you breathed, picturing a child with long dark curls and big brown eyes. Steve squeezed your hand, letting out a shaky laugh. Tears were rolling down your cheeks, and you weren’t even trying to wipe them away anymore.

*

The first time that you ever interacted with Eddie Munson, you were in your sophomore year.

You were the polar opposite of your brother. He was cool, and popular, and had a different girl hanging off his arm every week. You were dorky and shy, and the mean girls in your class could smell blood in the water from a mile away.

You had just closed your locker and turned to walk to your next class when a foot caught around your ankle, sending you headlong, your books flying out of your hands. From behind you, you could hear your bullies tittering as they walked away.

Your knees stung where they had scraped along the floor. As you started to gather up your books, you couldn’t seem to get your hands to move fast enough. The idea of going to your next class, of having to sit in front of those girls, filled you with dread.

It wasn’t as if you had many friends at high school. You were quiet and nerdy and kept to yourself. Steve, who had always been there to protect you throughout your childhood, was distant now. He was almost an adult, and he didn’t have time to hang out with his kid sister.

You’d probably cramp his style anyway. As you began stuffing your textbooks into your bag, a pair of scruffy sneakers entered your line of sight.

“You okay?” came a voice from above you. You looked up into the eyes of Eddie Munson, local drug dealer and drop-out waiting to happen. Or least, that’s what people said.

“I, uh… Yeah.” Your voice cracked embarrassingly, and you realised you were about ten seconds away from bursting into tears.

Eddie held out his hand to you, and you let him help you to your feet.

“It’s Harrington, right?” he asked.

“Yeah. And you’re Eddie Munson.”

He flashed you a grin. “I see my reputation precedes me. But what is a goody two shoes like you still doing here? Aren’t you gonna be late for class?” He drummed his fingers against a locker. He seemed unable to keep still.

You blew out some air from between your lips. You were already late, and the thought filled you with an anxiety that hit you like pain in the chest. The image of your bully sneering at you as you stumbled in, five minutes late, was unbearable. “Fuck going to class. The bitch who tripped me is in that class.”

Eddie’s eyes widened mischievously. “In that case, I know a spot that none of the teachers know about. You wanna hang out?”

You looked at him. He was smiling at you, but there was a trace of nervousness in his eyes. You realised that he was putting himself out on a limb here.

“Fuck it. Lead the way.”

His eyes glinted as he beckoned you to follow him.

*

That evening, you’d had to take the bus home, because Steve was hanging out with his asshole friends after school. You didn’t mind it. It was nice to have the house to yourself. Hanging out with your brother wasn’t as fun as it used to be.

It was after 11pm by the time he got home. You were eating pizza while watching a movie. He stopped in the doorway and regarded you.

“What are you looking at?” you asked, and he sighed.

“Tommy said he saw you walking into the woods with Eddie Munson earlier.”

Your heart sank. “And?”

Steve bit his lip. “I’m not telling you what to do, but be careful, alright? That guy is bad news. And he’s way too old to be hanging out with you anyway.” You scoffed, but Steve continued. “I’m serious, okay? The guy’s a freak.” 

“He’s really nice, actually,” you snapped back at him. “I’m done with this conversation.”

*

You had never been happier to prove Steve wrong. Eddie was never anything short of a gentleman to you. He was almost too much of a gentleman.

It took a few months for you to realise that you were developing a bit of a crush on Eddie Munson. By that point, you hung out all the time, getting high and avoiding doing homework.

You got the sense that he was holding you at arm’s length. He would never sit too close to you, would never touch you if he could avoid it.

At the time, you had assumed he just didn’t like you that way, but in retrospect, it was probably because he was two years older than you.

You had no idea that he might’ve felt in any way the same as you did until that one night at Reefer Rick’s. You had a feeling that Steve had known before you had.

“I just don’t like you hanging around with him,” he’d said one evening after Eddie had dropped you off in his van.

“Oh, so now you care?” you’d snapped back at him, and he’d flushed.

“I don’t like the way he looks at you.”

You’d rolled your eyes. “We’re just friends.”

“Look.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I know what guys are like. I’m just trying to look out for you, okay?”

“If you got your way, I wouldn’t have any friends at all.”

“Hey, that’s not fair,” he’d said, but you were done having the conversation. You’d stormed off up to your room and slammed the door behind you.

But Steve now was nothing like Steve then. He was still protective of you, but he was kinder. Maturity, grief, and the years of being an unwilling babysitter had softened his sharp edges.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked you. Again, you found yourself sitting in the passenger seat of Steve’s car, except this time you were in the parking lot of the motel that Wayne Munson was staying in. It was two days since you’d found out you were having a baby girl, and in those two days, you had realised that Wayne deserved an opportunity to be a part of that little girl’s life.

You liked Wayne plenty, although you barely knew him. He was always civil and courteous to you, but you knew from Eddie that he was a whole lot more than that. Eddie idolised him. You knew that Eddie would want Wayne in his daughter’s life.

You looked down at the photocopy of the sonogram that showed your baby girl.

“I already told him that I’m pregnant on the phone. That was the hard part,” you said.

Steve squeezed your shoulder. “I’m here with you.”

Wayne met you in front of his motel room. There was a moment’s hesitation from both of you, but you decided to hug him. He smelled clean, like soap and a trace of engine oil.

It was a warm evening, so the three of you sat at a little picnic table on a patch of grass beside the parking lot. Before any of you could speak, you slid the photocopy of the sonogram across the table to Wayne.

“I want you to have this,” you said as he picked it up. “The first picture of my baby girl.”

“A girl, huh?” Wayne wiped his eyes on a handkerchief, and you tactfully didn’t acknowledge the fact that he was crying. “Have you thought of any names for her yet? I know it’s early days.”

You hesitated. You hadn’t even told Steve what you wanted to name the baby.

“Melody,” you said. “Because Eddie was a musician.” Was. It still stung to say.

“Little Melody,” Wayne mused. A smile flickered across his face. “I like it.”  

~ PRESENT DAY ~

Eddie released you and you sucked in a breath, your hands flying to your throat.

“Let go! Let go of her!” shouted Lucas, pulling on his arm. Eddie may have been bigger, but Lucas was athletic. Now that Eddie was no longer resisting, Lucas was able to drag him off you.

Your hands were covering your neck, mercifully hiding the bruises he knew were forming. His stomach was churning hard.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m so sorry.”

You looked back at him, your eyes wet with tears, and Eddie’s heart shattered into a million pieces. He’d hurt you. He’d never meant to hurt you, but he had.

Dimly, he realised Dustin was yelling into the microphone attached to the switchboard, trying to get someone to help.

“I’m coming,” came Steve’s voice. “I never should’ve left her alone.”

“Steve, no-” Your voice came out weak, and you coughed. Instinctively, Eddie reached for you to comfort you, but pulled back suddenly, realising you may not want his comfort right now. Pushing yourself up using the coffee table, you went over to the switchboard and commandeered the mic. “Steve?”

“Are you okay?” Steve asked. “Did he hurt you?”

“Don’t come here,” you said. “Stick to the plan.”

“But-”

“Look, whatever just happened, happened because Vecna wanted it to. He’s trying to draw you away. Don’t give him what he wants.”

“Screw Vecna, I just need to know that you’re okay.”

You turned and looked at Eddie. There was a burning sensation in his chest, like shame he had never felt before. The evidence of violence – unwilling as it had been – was written into the bruises on your neck. If there was anything he could do to fix this, he would.

“Vecna isn’t controlling him right now.”

“But what’s to stop him from doing it again?”

“Tie me up,” Eddie cut in. You looked at him, wide-eyed. “I can’t hurt you if I’m tied up.”

“What if you need to fight?” you asked, and he shook his head.

“It’s too risky. I can’t hurt you. I won’t. Please. Just tie me up.”

You swallowed. “Okay.” You turned back to the microphone. “We’re gonna tie Eddie up.”

“I heard.” The disapproval in Steve’s voice was evident.

“Please, just…” You took a deep breath. “Please just stick to the plan, okay? We’ve got to do this on our terms, not Vecna’s.”

There was a long pause, and then Steve sighed. “Fine.”

Fortunately, Hopper had anticipated the need to keep someone incapacitated. There were a couple of sets of handcuffs, as well as a closet with a sturdy, lockable door.

Eddie held out his hands to you so that you could cuff him. You decided to cuff his hands in front of him rather than behind, for his comfort. In spite of everything, you didn’t want to hurt him.

“I’m so sorry,” he murmured to you as he walked into the closet, almost too quiet for you to hear.

You cleared your throat, which still stung. “Not your fault.”

“Still.” He swung around to look at you, a pleading look in his eyes. “I’m sorry. Not just for this.” He gestured at your neck. “For all of it. Dying. Leaving you. Hurting you. I never wanted any of that for you.”

“You didn’t die,” you said, wiping away a few stray tears. You’d taken a couple of cushions from the sofa, so you busied yourself arranging them, and then set a bottle of water on the floor for him.

“I think I did. I don’t know what I am now.” You could only stare at him. There was a long pause, and then he said, “you should probably close the door. Before… you know…”

“Right.”

You were just about to close the door when he said, “Wait.” You hesitated, and immediately regretted it when he lunged at you, a sickening grin on his face.

You slammed the closet door just in time to hear him collide with it and then curse loudly. Eddie was gone. Vecna had him again.

From the living room, you heard shouting. Your fingers were trembling as you locked the closet using the three deadbolts Hopper had installed.

“Come on, baby,” Eddie whined, sounding so unlike himself. “I just wanna have fun. Can’t we have fun?”

“Get out of his head,” you hissed.

“I love you, you know that?” You stopped in your tracks. “You’re my dream girl. I’ve been in love with you for years.” Your heart was hammering in your chest. These weren’t Eddie’s words, as much as you wanted them to be.

Footsteps were rushing towards you. Dustin was calling your name. You turned to see him looking frantic. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Will. And Max. They- They’re-”

Blood ice cold in your veins, you sprinted past him, back into the living room. To your horror, the front door was wide open. You ran to close it, but Dustin blocked you.

“Will ran out there. Mike followed him.”

“Shit.” You rushed to the door and looked outside, but it was pitch dark. “Why did he do that?” Shadows danced in between the trees, too fast for you to make out.

“He was in some kind of trance, and-”

Lucas shouted your name. You had to resist the urge to put your hands over your ears.

“I need your help,” he shouted. The terror in his voice made you turn around. He was holding Max, but her body was limp, her eyes rolled back into her head. You saw that he had put her headphones on.

“Let’s get her into the bedroom,” you said. The bedroom had been prepared as a last resort. It was where the weapons were, and was even more heavily fortified than the rest of the cabin. “Close the door, but keep watch for Mike and Will. Don’t do anything without me,” you said to Dustin and Erica.

Between you, you and Lucas managed to lift Max into her wheelchair, wheel her into the bedroom and manoeuvre her onto the bed. You checked that her music was still playing, and thankfully, it was. You hoped against hope that it would still work.

From next door, you heard a huge, horrifying crash. Everything was happening so fast, and despite being surrounded by people, you had never felt so alone.

“Stay with her,” you said to Lucas, although you knew that there wasn’t a force on this earth that could tear him away from her now.

The living room was carnage, even worse than how you’d just left it. You almost tripped over a sofa cushion on the ground. Dustin was lying in the shattered remains of the switchboard, and Erica was trying to hold the front door shut by herself.

There was a strange hissing, and then you realised what Erica was trying to hold off. Trapped with its head in the doorframe, its body outside, was a demodog. It was trying to wrap its head around her legs, and she was kicking at it ineffectually.

Something slammed into the door hard, almost knocking Erica off balance. That snapped you into action.

You ran to her side and grabbed the baseball bat that was by the front door. You brought down the bat with all your strength on the creature’s head, and then continued beating it until its head slipped back through the gap.

Adding your strength to Erica’s, you shoved the door back into place. You held it shut while she fumbled with all the locks, and at last, it stopped shaking.

“What happened?” you asked, out of breath.

“Eddie,” she said, her big eyes shiny with tears. “He escaped.”

Next Chapter

[thornsnvultures]

eddie munson x reader (pwp: platonic w/ potential)

cw: self harm, bruising, mental illness, hurt/comfort, talking about therapy

a/n: this fic talks about y/n having bruises in lots of varying colors because of their age. I know this isn't the case for some darkskinned poc. I'm not trying to exclude people out of spite/hate but I mostly wrote this for myself to process bad mental health stuff I'm going through. if you skip this, i totally understand as it's written with myself in mind and I'm white. I try to avoid any indicators of physical appearance in my fics so they can be read and enjoyed by anyone, but it was hard to avoid it with this one. putting this long winded warning here so no one's caught off guard. ok bye.

-----

Eddie's knock on your apartment door was met with silence. It wasn't that out of the ordinary, you weren't a very loud person to begin with, but you knew Eddie was coming over. The two of you made plans just last week, he called you the other day to check if they were still on. The grocery bag full of ingredients for tonight's dinner was in his hands, all bought from the list you gave him.

So it was strange that you didn't answer on the second, then third, knock. He called your name a few times, pressed his ear to the door listening for any sign of movement or call that you were coming. Nothing.

His gut was screaming that something was wrong. Maybe you were sleeping, had a long day at work and forgot to call him to cancel. It wasn't like you, but maybe...

Eddie fumbled with his keys, the bag of food dropped to the floor. He didn't know why he had so many fucking keys or where they all came from. Next time he goes the hardware store he's getting yours specially printed with a nice cover so he doesn't lose it in the ten others he's got jangling around with him. Finally, he finds yours and jams it in the door, his fingers shaking.

Sleeping, you're probably sleeping.

The bags of food are tossed on the counter along with his keys and he makes his way down the hall. Your roommate is gone for a few days to visit family so it's just you in the apartment, alone. Your door is closed but Eddie can hear music, one of your favorite songs. That's got to be it, you didn't hear him over the music.

Eddie takes a deep breath, and shakes his head. Of course you're fine, he's being silly.

"Hey, it's me," Eddie calls out. He knocks on the door as he opens it.

And the smile on his face falls.

You're crying. Sobbing. Eddie doesn't know if you heard him over the music, your tears, any of it. Or if you don't care. Because you're sitting on the floor and punching your leg. Your bare legs, both of which he's never seen before. He understands why now, your aversion to wearing anything but long pants, because they're covered in bruises. Mottled in all different shades of color, some old, some new. And you're giving yourself new ones.

Eddie doesn't think. He practically tackles you down to the floor, wrestling your hands up over your head. You're sobbing and still fighting him and you're way stronger than he thought you'd be but he can't let you do this.

"Stop it! Stop," he shouts at the same time you're shouting at him to let you go.

He's kneeling over you, stradling your waist but not putting any pressure on your body. Just holding your wrists so you stop.

Eddie's heart is hammering wildly in his chest. You stopped fighting, too tired from your kicking and screaming. Now you're just crying. Taking heaving, shuddering breaths that make your whole body shake. But you're tired.

"If I let you go will you do it again?"

You shake your head.

"Okay."

Eddie lets go of your wrists and moves off of you. You just lay there so Eddie does too.  He pulls your limp, shaking body into his chest and holds you. You wipe tears and snot into his shirt but he doesn't care.

"I'm sorry," you shakily whisper. "Sorry I ruined our dinner."

"Nothing's ruined. Nothing you could ever do would ruin it. Not even if you spit in my food."

"Gross," you reluctantly laugh under your breath.

Eddie kisses your head and holds you when you start crying again. His heart hurts. That you've been hiding this part of yourself away, dealing with it on your own for so long, it hurts. And he wishes he hadn't found out this way, but now, now he can help. Even if it's just holding you after, or letting you wipe snot on his shirt and spit in his food.

He tells you all this. Asks if there's anything he can do. He's your friend. Your best friend. He wants to do anything he can.

"Just be here. Just hold me."

The food Eddie bought sat out on the counter the whole time the two of you laid on your bedroom floor so you ordered take out instead. Eddie let you put on whatever movie you wanted, but you put on one you knew he liked too.

"Are you seeing anyone?"

You freeze, looking up at him from your mouthful of lo mein.

"Like...a therapist, a counselor," he clarifies, looking away. "Wayne made me go talk to this guy after...well, after I started living with him. I don't know, it helped. He got me into DnD actually."

You swallow down your mouthful of food. Eddie can feel your eyes on him. He's never told anyone that.

"No. I'm not seeing anyone."

Eddie looks at you with your feet folded up under you, sitting sideways on the other end of the couch.

"It might help...talking to someone. I can get a number for you to call," Eddie hesitates, "no pressure though."

"Yeah. No. It's- thank you."

It's quiet for a bit, but not uncomfortable. Just quiet. You've always been quiet.

"Oh man."

"What?" Eddie snaps his attention away from the movie. You look disappointed, holding his now empty container of shrimp fried rice. "Did you want some?"

"No," you sigh, "I forgot to spit in your food."

Eddie laughs the hardest he's laughed all day and tackles you into the couch, tickling your sides. You're laughing so hard, gasping for air, and Eddie would do anything to keep that smile on your face forever.

[virginburial]

could you do a blurb about having to be quiet somewhere with Eddie so you don’t get caught in a compromising position? Either reader or Eddie is loud and has to stay quiet with some flirting/teasing involved

didn’t have much in mind but it popped into my head and I thought it would maybe be fun? honestly this for Eddie or Chad bc I also love scream

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ okay, let's talk about Eddie because I have some things to say.

Eddie Munson CD mix!            .·:*¨༺♱༻¨*:·.

Eddie always sneaks away to this dealer's home, because he is a family friend. the only place he could catch his breath was Reefer Rick's dock home for his poor excuse of a boat-says Steve. Reefer Rick does not know how often Eddie comes around and how often he brings you. the amount of times you've guys fucked in his boat is uncountable. so the first place Eddie and you hide, when Dustin comes around looking for Eddie, is in the boat, under the tarp.

of course, on top of each other.

Eddie is such a dick about it too, you knew his hiding spot and hijacked his run with the law, now he was going to make sure you learned your lesson by being in such a compromising position. "I told you not to come find me-" "-shut up they might hear us." you scold him a bit, earning a mumble from him that, despite being so close to each other, you didn't clearly hear. you just laid his head on his chest and heard his heart beat faster and faster the closer the voices got. you then felt something hard pressed up against your stomach.

"do you seriously have a boner right now?"

Eddie huffs out in frustration. "sorry..." he mumbles. "it's just that my body knows we did it in the boat before and your tits look so good right now-" Eddie was such a tits guy, which is what you found out one time you were hanging out in Family video with Robin and Steve since Robin is also a 'self-claimed tits girl' and Steve 'loves ass and tits equally.' a rather stupid conversation but it was more than relevant now. "jesus christ Eddie-" "-I'd fucking love to stuff my cock in between them, sweetheart." he teases softly, wrapping his arms around you and having your abdomen press down on his bulge, letting out a soft groan.

then the door swings open.

you cover Eddie's mouth, your eyes widening as you silently begged him to keep it in his pants for once. the tension of getting caught though, ruined the moment because once Eddie realized that it was Dustin and multiple other people looking for him; his dick went limp. of course, you made it up to him later.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ but we can also talk about Chad, we have to talk about Chad.

Chad Meeks Martin CD mix!            .·:*¨༺♱༻¨*:·.

mainly Chad and you hiding in a closet while Ghostface is somewhere nearby. you knew Chad had horrible luck but he would protect you first before letting you get hurt. it's why running off with him was ideal. you and he stuffed yourselves into the closet, it was probably the most cliche hiding place but it was all you guys had. the space was quite tiny, so you were pressed up against Chad; ass-to-lap and all.

the thing you were not expecting was to feel Chad shift his hips around slowly, and to feel Chad's cock twitch and grow right up against your thigh and ass crack; it didn't help that you were wearing the tightest leggings and a thong that perfectly outlines your ass. you could hear himself trying to stay silent, trying not to move up against you or let the adrenaline in him take over. yet it was like his body was betraying his wishes and gravitating itself to you.

you tried to ignore it, having your breathing get shallow as you focused on the door. good thing you barricaded the door before entering the closet, it gave you time to prepare for anything that was about to come; besides Chad, whose cock was starting to get so hard it was impossible to ignore. of course, you liked the way it feels, your body can't help it either, but seriously, right now? why now?

a small whimper left your body as your hips jerked, and Chad's big hand claps over your mouth. he knew you felt good, he knew you wanted more, but your safety was his number one priority. the lust you both had couldn't be a distraction right now. his breath shakes as he pulls you closer. "shhh..." he whispers softly in your ear. "if we make it out...i'll give it to you all night." he muttered as his hot breath hit your ear.

blushing furiously, you nod, holding onto him as the doorknob rattles, both of your bodies tense up as you guys stare through the metal blinds of the closet. Ghostface was after multiple people in the house, he could've been looking for anyone else, just as long as the killer didn't see you. Ghostface might've wanted a specific target, so after barely trying to open the door, the killer went elsewhere, Chad uncovers your mouth and sighs out in relief as you turn to him.

"Maybe I can take you now?" you tease.

           .·:*¨༺♱༻¨*:·.

buy me a coffee ૮⸝⸝> ̫ >⸝ ა

[agirlwholovesrockstars]

she's my collar

☆AGATHA'S MASTERLIST☆

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

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

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

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

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

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

It's April 16 1988

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Okay" You nod

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

You loved movies, you always loved watching movies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Oh, you are?"

"Yeah"

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

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

"Steve, have you-"

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

She smirked and you looked back at Steve in confusion

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

"Ooh, really?" She answers sarcastically

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

She annoyingly smiles at Steve and goes back to the office

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

"What do you mean?"

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

"Ah"

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

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

"Huh? Is that it?"

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

"Oh"

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

"What?"

He motions you to look back at the horror section

"Oh, yeah right" you chuckled

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

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

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

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

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

You nod at her and smile

"Wow"

"Exactly"

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

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

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

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

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

Maybe.... You finally made friends

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

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

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

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

"Wait? Are you in college?" Robin says

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

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

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

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

"Well, you found the perfect place" Steve smiles

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

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

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

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

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

"Yes, I can"

"Good"

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

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

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

"Sure thing!" Robin smiles at you

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

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

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

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

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

"What makes you say that?"

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

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

"But what if, she is!"

Steve chuckles "Only way to found out tomorrow"

6:30am in the morning, you woke up

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Goodmorning, pumpkin" she greets

"Morning!" you smile

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

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

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

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

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

"Yeah"

"At the Family Video?"

"Yes!"

"And you're excited about that?"

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

"You did?"

"Yes!"

"What are their names?"

"Steve Harrington and Robin Buckley"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

She chuckles as she places a glass of red iced tea

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

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

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

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

You cleared your throat and they raise their heads in unison

You shyly wave at them

Robin smiles "Perfect timing!"

"Hey there!" Steve greets you

You sheepishly nod at him

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

You gasped as you look over to your uniform

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

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

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

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

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

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

Steve chuckles and shakes his head at you

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

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

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

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

"We had a bet right?"

"What?"

"A bet that we did, last night"

"Oh- that"

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

Someone enters the store with heavy boots on

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

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

He's wearing Ray-Bans black sunglasses

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

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

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

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

His sensing something..... else

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

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

The man just hushes them both

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

He can smell you, he can even hear the beat of your heart

He takes a deep breath and he narrows his piercing red glowing eyes to his friends

But before they can say anything, he heard the restroom door open as he swiftly snaps his head looking at you

you unbeknownst to what's going around at the store and the strange man that came in

You're wearing a walkman and you're listening to "Deep Purple - Child In Time" with your head down and you swing your bag over your shoulder fixing your uniform more properly

He removed his sunglasses with his lips apart

The man could've sworn to himself that he is dead, he felt alive again just seeing your presence, even though his heart isn't the same anymore since.... the disaster happened

It's been 2 years and yet here you are, he thought he would've never feel anything that is human but now.... he is feeling something again and that intrigues him

You feel eyes on you

Your raise your head and you have locked eyes at the peculiar man standing not too far from you

He can feel and read your mind, emotions towards him, you're curious and somehow.... intimidated?

That's what he is afraid of.... but that changes when you started walking towards him with a smile on your face

You remove your walkman headset and pause the cassette

Steve and Robin shared a knowing look with each other as they smirk behind the man

"Oh, hello, I'm Y/N" you offer your hand to shake hands with him

You asking him? to shake hands with you?

He blinked and swallowed he becomes nervous as he couldn't said a word

You furrow your brows while you reach out for his hand and he shakes it "and you are?"

"I-I'm Edward Munson- b-but you can call me, Eddie" he stutters and he winces at the awkward answer but you find it cute

The one thing that you noticed, it's not even winter yet but his hand feels.... cold... not that it's weird is just it's summer but you don't pay attention to it...maybe....it's because he's nervous

"Hi, Eddie is a pleasure to meet you, I just recently moved here."

"You do?"

"Yeah, just yesterday"

He looked back at his friends raising his eyebrows

"And that what I've been meaning to tell you" Robin sighs

"She's on her first day of the job!" Steve says while putting his hands over his waist

"Are you picking up a movie?" You asked

"Uh- yeah- I was"

You nod "What kind?"

He got confused by your question and you chuckled "What I mean what kind of movie genre"

"Oh, I get it" he admires your features carefully your eyes, lips, smile, nose, even your voice.... is making him melt

You move yourself beside him and that shocks him, he's never been close to a human girl in his life.... except for his friends though

"You're looking for a Mystery/Thriller film?"

"Yeah, I am"

You look over the VHS section, you found that catches your eye but before you put it out from the shelf, you ask him first

"Are you looking for something that is uh- spooky?"

He tears his eyes away from you while you lean down bending beside him

You didn't even noticed that he is watching you, my god- you're so beautiful- it hurts

He clears his throat "I-I'm kinda into some kind of action"

Steve scrunches up his brows "Since when?"

Robin elbows him with Steve saying "OW!"

"Don't mess up with the moment" she whispers

You picked it up and give it to him

He take it out your grasps and he reads the title "Die Hard"

"You gotta love it" you told him

He smiles to you "Okay"

Robin presses her lips together as she can't control her excitement

"Say- uh- Eddie- I think Y/N is also into rock music" Robin says as she throw her arm around your shoulder with a grin

"How- did you?-" you say as you turn your head on Robin

"You are?"

"Oh- yeah I am"

"What kind?" he echoes the question that you asked him earlier

"Heavy metal, speed metal, glam rock, hard rock, blues, psychedelic rock and so much more" you say as you motion your hands for far more wide

Eddie's eyes almost bulge out of his head "Really? No way!" he jumps out of exhilaration

"Yes, I do!"

You mirrored his enthusiasm as you jump at the same time- you didn't even realized you both holding each other's hands

Robin face turn into such a satisfaction as she turn into Steve mouthing to him "Pay me"

Steve rolls his eyes at her with a smile as he digs out of his pocket a dollar and gives it to Robin

You share each other's interests as you both looked down

you rip your hands from him immediately while smiling sheepishly at him

Eddie scratches the back of his neck

"Are you going to pay for that, Munson?" Steve asks

"Right" he responds as he holds up the VHS you gave to him

Before he can leave the store he turn around and say "Can we hang out sometime?" he shyly asks

"Sure, Eddie, I would love to"

"Oh, okay good, what day are you available?"

"I could hang out with you tomorrow if you want"

"T-That's perfect!" his voice raises a bit much that gives two of his friends shared giggles and he shakes his head at the sight of them

You laugh "See ya, tomorrow, Eddie"

"You too, sweet thing" he gives you a smile before he exits

and that's where all it began....

Everytime you bond with each other, you two became close, literally inseparable

You even met his amazing friends that you very liked in the first place that you met them

Dustin, Max, Lucas, El, Mike, Nancy, Will, Jonathan, Chief Hopper (but he prefers to be called Jim) Joyce, Murray, Karen, Ted, Enzo

You notice something again in their eyes, you can't even read it what it means but you never really mind it about anyways

The first thought comes to your mind, maybe.... they're observing you- they feel like they should get to know you first before trusting you

Are they hiding something from you? or maybe they're just being careful or it's just their instinct

But at the same time it doesn't add up, if they won't trust you they shouldn't be inviting you to hang out during weekends or inviting you and your aunt on dinner

You have done it, countless amount of times already.... and it's overwhelming to you because.... this never happen to you before

One time though, you made garlic buttered shrimp that Eddie almost runaway at the smell of it, you thought he didn't like the food and you can see he is scared.... like you can't even explain it- it looks like you're going to hate him?

Eddie on the other hand can read your mind and he wishes if anything happens, if ever you found out about him, he hopes that you will never change towards him

"Oh, are you allergic to seafood?"

"U-uh- yeah I am" he quietly sighs of relief

You gasped "My deepest apologies, I am so sorry I didn't mean any harm" you say as you moved away the food from him

You met Eddie's uncle, Wayne, that's your first impression again

You got intimidated, but that got off as well as soon as he acts so friendly to you

He has the exact same qualities with his nephew

He is so sweet and kind like Eddie

Sometimes you caught them looking at each other with a look that again.... you couldn't understand

There's also no mirrors in their trailer

There's mirrors in some of his friend's house but all of them are covered with a fabric

You find it odd but you can't stop yourself from being curious though

Also....

One night, you came home late from work since you insist to take the night shift from Robin- you couldn't quite understand the reason why the sudden she has to leave

It's about a "Code Red?"

Steve didn't want to leave you behind but you heard Dustin's voice coming out from the walkie-talkie shouting

"Bring Steve with you, y-you guys better come in here right now! It's urgent!"

Judging by the tone of his voice, it is very serious and you hate yourself for thinking this is kind of a sick joke but it really is not

You drag your brows together but you don't wanna pry and it's really none of your business but you wanted to know what's going on though

Robin almost dragging Steve out of the store

He really didn't wanna go and you can't understand why, the more you try to convince Steve that you'll be okay and you can see in his eyes that it's highly unlikely that you'll be fine,

alone.

It's closer to 12:00am, you packed up your stuff and you make sure all of doors from the back door and the office are locked and you switch off the lights and close the store

The cold wind made you shudder a little

Your aunt take the bus ride home she leaves you with the car, while on your way to it- you didn't know that there's a man holding out a knife to harm you

Before he can attack you, there's a wind swoosh behind your back, you turn around and you notice there's nothing in there- you roam your eyes everywhere

There's no one

You felt nervous and you grip on your car keys as you quickly unlock the door

There's 'clang' of a trashcan that flew into the air and that made you shrieked and you drop your keys on the ground

You take a deep breath and you shout

"Whoever you are! Show yourself!"

Eddie can feel your fear and he feels bad he's the one that caused it but he doesn't want anyone to hurt you, he won't let anyone to do that to you

His eyes are red, his hands are bloody, and his fangs were out.... good thing that he can go back to normal after a while to calm down

When no one respond, you huffed and shake your head, you pick up the keys on the ground

The moment you look back again, you screamed "AHH" you put your hand over your chest and you're heavily breathing

It's Eddie fucking appeared out of nowhere in front of you and you didn't even heard him coming

"You fucking scared me half to life! Eddie! What the hell?!?"

You clasps his hands together saying "I'm sorry" repeatedly

You wave dismissively at him and he says "A-are you good?"

You laugh in disbelief- you scratch your forehead "What are you doing in here anyways?"

Oh shit

He needs a valid reason

"Uh- Steve asked me to guard on you"

"Guard on me?" You raise your eyebrows while you squint your eyes on him

"Y-yeah since, it's late"

before you can reply, Dustin runs around you and he put his hands over his knees as he tries to catch up his breath

Steve leans over to your car with a ragged breathing

Robin puts her hand over her chest as she gives a small wave

"Oh- good, you're okay" Dustin hugs you and you hugged back looking at Eddie in confusion

He pulled out a forced smile as he doesn't know what to say

Hopper's car arrived and he came out of the vehicle and he gives a glare to Eddie

Eddie gulped and put his head down

"There's a suspect that runs into this area that's why we came as fast as we could" Hopper explained

You nod and that lessens your suspicions but- you want answers

You're still confused by the whole situation going on but they watched you as they saw you're inside of the car and drove away

Eddie watches you closely as he can read your thoughts and he feels so guilty for not telling you the truth about....

Himself

"What have we told you?" Hopper says sternly

"I know-"

"Listen, kid, you know I like you alright?" Hopper says

He just nods

"I can't help but feel infuriated by your stubbornness"

"Look- I just- wanna help! I caught the bad guy! didn't I?!?" He looks over to Dustin, Steve and Robin

The three of them give unsure looks

"Oh, come on, you guys"

"Yeah, you caught the bad guy but what about you?" Steve says

"I agree with Steve" Dustin can't even look at Eddie in the eyes as he can remembers how he almost lost him before

"What if, someone saw you? Do you think they won't think twice of killing you instantly?" Robin added

"We know that you wanted to help but we can't risk anyone by finding out that you're- Eddie cuts Hopper off before finishing his sentence

"A what?!? A fucking vampire?!?" Eddie exclaims

He lets out a exasperated sigh "I know guys are concerned about me and I promise this is the last time that I will violated what we talked about" he starts

"If there's a bad situation, I will never do anything without your permission"

Hopper, Steve, Dustin, Robin glance at each other as they all know no matter what they do- Eddie will always be there to save someone from harm

"He-" his angry tears welled up behind his eyes

Hopper blinks at his vulnerability, He knows that he is strong but he truly does care for his loved ones

But this is the first time that they saw him like this..... again.... after the incident....

"He almost killed her, Hopper"

"If- if I wasn't there on time, he would've killed her"

"I would've have lost her" he sniffled

Steve gives Eddie a sympathetic smile, Robin softly gasps at his subtle confession about his true feelings to you and Dustin widen his eyes

"I'm sorry, if I was on a rush for making risky decisions again" he says plainly as he flew off

All of them watch him as he flies away

Dustin smiles sadly "What happens if she finds out?" He says as he still looking up in the sky

"What?" Steve asked

"What if she finds out the truth about him?"

"Oh" Steve can't help but feel so sorry for Eddie, he knows that he never loved someone in his life ever since, he never knew this could happen

"What should we do if ever that might happen?" Robin says as she presses her lips together

"She won't" Hopper says while he's walking towards to this car

"She won't" what? Dustin raises his eyebrows as he waits for Hopper to continue

"She won't be scared of him"

"What makes you say that?" Steve added

"Because they've been together a lot, it's over a year since they moved here and Y/N told us that they frequently leave even though she doesn't tell it to me, I feel like she wants to stay here because of him.... and that says a lot." Hopper says as he goes inside of his car and turns on the engine

"You know what, he's right" Robin says

Steve and Dustin looked at her

"She wouldn't be with us, if she doesn't trust us."

"Well, I just hope she won't change after anything if she finds out" Steve sighs

"I believe in Y/N too" Dustin while he crosses his arms

"Remember the time when Y/N defended Eddie from those douchebags at The Hideout?"

Steve chuckles and Robin "Oh yeah, she got heated when they're calling him "monster" and a "freak"- she literally splashes him with a beer and my god she punches the guy after he tries to hurt her"

Eddie rambles the whole situation over and over to Dustin, from what his dear old friend doesn't know even he is just a kid, he can see his eyes shine whenever he talks about you

Dustin is very happy for him, he hasn't seen his friend this joyful ever since

"Just be there for her, if ever, okay?" Hopper says

All of them nod at him, they watch as he droves away

Eddie on the other hand

Thoughts going wildly on his mind while he's flying around the town

He doesn't know what to do, is it a right decision to tell you or to keep it a secret?

but he knows deep down, if he still keeps this as a secret, you would be furious that it makes him look like he doesn't trust you

He angrily shouts as he lands on a forest

He screams "Why?!"

"I know this would've happen, but I never thought it will really happen" he's heavily breathing as he continues to shout

"Why do I have to suffer like this?!" He says as he owns tears getting choked up in his throat

"I really wanted to stay with my friends but right now?!?" He laughs incredulously "I would rather die than seeing my love getting afraid because of me!"

Memories flashes before his eyes as he remembers the one who gave this to him

"You'll live"

Eddie is gasping for air but he feels different

He woken up he is still laying in the upside down

He sits up, the demobats that tear off half of his skin and limbs are all healed

"W-What have you done to me?" He says as he backs away from him

"Shh" he shushes "Don't be frightened"

"I need you to work for me"

"What?"

"I gave you life and powers"

Eddie runs his tongue over his teeth and he shouts "No" his fuelling anger is becoming tears in his eyes

"You can't do this to me!"

"You're my slave, I need you to do something for me"

"I won't work for you!"

He slams him behind the trailer as he threatens him and choking him in the process

"You wanted to graduate is that it?"

"Y-yes, I do"

"Then follow me what I need you to do"

In fact he did follow him, but he had other plans

Everyone was shocked that he is still alive, he showed up first to Dustin, he thought he saw a ghost the first time he saw him again

"I knew it! You're alive!" He hugs Eddie with happy tears

"It's really good to see you, bud" he says as he rubs his back

"But- how did you manage to-" Dustin pulls away but he got cut off by Eddie saying

"I will explain to you everything, we have a problem"

"Copy that" Dustin says as he walks over to grab his walkie-talkie saying "Code Red"

To be completely honest everyone felt weird when they saw Eddie alive and well as if he wasn't got eaten off by demobats

Eddie can understand why and that he is truly himself, just undead that's all

"Steve, Robin, Jonathan and I, will take cover for you" Nancy says

"El and Eddie will corner Vecna to finish this once for all" Mike tightens the grip on El's hand as she flashes out a small smile

"We will be at the gates and guard on it if ever nasty monsters will get out" Erica says as she nods over to Lucas and Max

"Me and Argyle will warn Hopper and Enzo to the townspeople to stay alert and be ready" Will added

Eddie sighs "Do you think this could work?"

"It has to- and I believe you can beat his ass off" Dustin reassures Eddie

The plan is going on so nicely, everything is coming to an order

El uses her telekinetic powers to hold off Vecna and while Eddie pins him down on the ground

"Your time is running out" Eddie grunts

"You're making a big mistake"

"Am I?"

Vecna tries to fight back but El groans and screams harder as she pushes him back down and Eddie stabs him with a sword and punches him

That caused a lot pain to him "Traitor" he says while wincing at the wound

"If you kill me, you won't be able to go back to normal"

El glances over to Eddie and he looks back at her

He gave her a small nod and mouthing to her "it's okay"

"Someday, you'll see, if someone tries to love you, they won't love you back because you're a monster"

Eddie clenches his jaw as he deepens the wound

"They won't accept you, everywhere you go- they'll hate you"

"A freak but also a monster?" He laughs darkly

"Don't listen to him, Eddie!" El yells as she uses both of her hands to hold him back down

"Now, don't you worry, supergirl, I am not" he says sternly to Vecna

His eyes widen as he watches him raises the sword to chop his head off

"I would rather live like this than to knowing that you're still alive killing innocent people" he says in his last blow of his sword

Both of them shout in anger and exhaustion

They both fell back down and the upside down is now crumbling

Eddie, El, Steve, Robin, Nancy, and Jonathan running for their lives as they try to leave the upside down

Erica, Lucas and Max watches the gates closed on its own and it faded like it wasn't ever existed

The cracks are all gone and the wind and the red glow in the area is nowhere to be seen

"He made it" Enzo chuckled

"The kid got guts" Hopper smiled as he closes his eyes finally at peace for this town

Mike speaks over the walkie-talkie asking "Hey, guys? I see the town is going back to normal is everything alright?" Dustin can't reply as he's watching the last gate where Eddie is

He kept saying "Come on guys, Eddie, come on, man"

The 6 of them jump on the ground back into the real world as the watch the last gate finally closed and goes back to where it was before

Dustin sighs of relief "Is everyone okay?"

"Yeah, we're okay" Steve says as he looks over to his friends

Eddie is the only one who is silent as everyone is catching up their breath

He is disappointed of what he has become for all eternity but also the same time, he is glad, that the war is finally over

"Are you good?" Jonathan asks Nancy as she gives him a nod

"Eddie?" Robin asks

El glances over to Eddie and he looks at her giving him a hopeful smile

He finally turns around "I am stuck like this, you guys, forever" he scoffed while shaking his head

Everyone gave him a sympathetic smile

"You're a hero, Eddie and nothing ever changes that" El says as she puts over her hand in his shoulder

"Thank you" he says softly

"You'll be okay and we will always here for you, Eddie" Dustin says

"Yeah, man" Steve agrees

"It never felt any different ever since you came back, Eddie, it's still going to be the same" Jonathan says with a small smile

"We should celebrate, you know" Nancy shrugs

"Oh, I hear you, Wheeler" Eddie chuckles and all of them laughed

"We should cover up those wounds first, Munson" Robin says

His eyes became misty as he is so grateful to have friends like them

Eddie proved Vecna wrong about people not accepting for who he really was....

but... what about you?

Joyce, Murray, Karen all of them decided to keep Eddie's true nature a secret and kept it quiet

Hopper and Enzo agreed with this

So the townspeople won't snoop their noses around him, they'll still believe he's the one that caused it

Fucking close-minded people

"She's deserves to know" he says as he calms down a little bit

"She has to know" he says it himself

No more lies, no more secrets, he doesn't like to see you get betrayed and hurt

But he hopes that you'll won't be disappointed

He's going to admit it all at your first date together

You showed up in Family Video, you went to do all of the tasks as if nothing ever happened last night

Steve and Robin give looks at each other and then back to you

"You know that I can feel your eyes on me, right?" You say while opening the window blinds

"Sorry" Steve says softly

"Y/N, we just wanna know, if you're okay?" Robin says

You bring yourself around to face them "I am totally fine, guys"

You both gave them a reassuring smile

There's still a piece inside of you wanted answers to your questions but you don't want to make things worse, so you kept it to yourself

While you're bringing the storage boxes outside, Eddie approached you while clearing his throat

"Hey, Y/N" he says softly

"Hi" you say sheepishly

"I know what happened last night was so weird, please, forgive me" Eddie says with his doe eyes

His eyes are making you say "aww" on how adorable they are

Wait- you found my eyes appealing? He thinks to himself while he reads your mind

But he stops doing it right away as he feels like he's invading your own thoughts

"You don't have to explain and you don't have to apologize to it anymore, Eddie" you sigh

"Look, just hear me out" he says as he looks deeply into your eyes

You swallowed nervously and you blinked rapidly

Woah- why is your heart beating so fast? Do- do you like me?

He can feel emotions rushing and the energy of it.....is growing wild

You nod for him to continue

"I know this is like way too early but I'm asking you out for a dat-"

"Yes" you cut him off

"I'm not even finished yet" he throws his hand up

"Yes, I would like to go out with you"

"Really?"

"Yeah" you smile at him

He looks straight into your eyes and he might felt come alive again as he doesn't see anything else that is untrue

You're his dream come true

"Are you serious?" He says as he can't believe that you're willing to go with him

You roll your eyes playfully and giggled

Your smile and laughter brings soothing to his heart, even it's not the same anymore

He felt like a normal human being again

You step closer to him and he's taken a back

"You're amazing gentleman, Ed's, that's why I wanted to go out with you, I hope you know that." You say as you place your hand over his cheek and caresses it

He melts into your touch and closes his eyes for a moment and he smile down at you

"Is 7pm alright?" He whispered

"Yes" you replied while you pat his cheek

You walked away leaving a breathless Eddie behind

"Goddamn" he smiles to himself, his smile though slowly fades a little as he remembers what he's going to do tomorrow

You wore a black corset and black ripped jeans

You checked your outfit while looking at yourself in the mirror

"Hmm, it might be too cold outside" so you picked out your sheer white jacket

"You look absolutely divine, honey" your aunt says while she leans over to your doorframe

"Oh, hi, I'm sorry I didn't tell you but I have a date"

"Is it Eddie?"

You gasped and you take a double look at your aunt "How could you know?"

She chortled as she sits down on your bed motioning for you to come sit beside her

You smiled at her and she starts "I see the way you looked at him and the way he looked at you"

"Auntie-" you groaned but she laughs "Just listen to me for a moment"

"Never be afraid just to get out there and explore and have a new adventure at your life"

"When I was your age, me and your uncle just go literally everywhere, and it was the surreal experience of my life" she paused as she snifffles a little

You rub her back and she holds your hand "this thing you have with Eddie? Is very special, I see myself through the both of you"

"You both have the same interest and filled with just pure happiness and imaginary at the things you loved the most"

"Never lose yourself and I love that you kept being yourself, honey"

Your tears are threatening to spill "of course, that's what you always told me when I was a kid"

"Hush now" she presses a kiss to your forehead "don't ruin your makeup and I might be the caused of that" she snickers and you laughed

"See you later, auntie!"

"I love you"

"I love you forever, auntie"

You came in the diner that Eddie asked you to come and for moment there you thought you got stand up but you saw him and sigh of relief

"For a minute, I thought you're not going to show up" you say

"I-I'm sorry, I got nervous"

"You're nervous?" You watch him as he sits down across from you

Eddie has always been so handsome to you but you've never seen this close and you're used to see him wearing bandshirts, denims, leather jackets

He is now wearing a decent attire, a little bit formal but still has the touch of his own style

He's wearing a white polo, black pants with his Reebok

His chains and his rings making you feel hot sensation all over your body

"Am I late? Do I look okay?"

"No- you're not I just arrived 2 minutes early and you look exquisite"

"Exquisite?" He smirks

"Fine" you huffed "you look extremely so handsome tonight, Eddie" you bat your eyes at him

Eddie laughs as he admires your pretty face as he looks at you

You corset goes so finely with you, it hugs your breasts so tightly and he grunts softly at the sight of it, every hairstyle is perfect on you but he loves to see you wearing it down

He loves everything about you

The date is going on smoothly, you both shared laughs and funny stories about each other

Like come on, it's like you're fooling both of yourselves, you've been friends for like over a year now, so this feels so natural for you and so does he

Eddie droves you to over his trailer for a movie date

He put VHS Beetlejuice (1988) as he settles down with a popcorn bowl on his hand and places 2 canned sodas on the table

He froze when you remove your white sheer jacket off and you remove your high-heeled shoes

Good thing, he knows how to control his powers, he can't stand not to see your pulsing veins on your neck as he tries not to take a bite of it

You caught him watching you and he shyly ducks his head down and he moves sideward to give you open space to sit down on the couch

You smirk and sat down beside him

You grab a pillow and you put it in front of you to hug it while you're eating popcorn

He can smell your sweet scent as he exhales slowly, he feels so comfortable whenever you're around

You're paying attention in the movie while he doesn't- he watches you

Your eyelashes are so pretty, he just wants to smushes his own face on you and showers you a lot of kisses

But he doesn't want to do anything rash right now, you're being nice ever since you met him and he hates it he's getting thoughts like this

You looked over to him while chewing on the popcorn on your mouth and you chuckled a little when he looked back at the television screen and he grabs his soda immediately and takes a sip of it

"Whatchu, lookin' at- Ed's?"

"What?"

"I'm not blind, Eddie, I saw you looking at me!"

Oh- his cheeks is on fire

He steals the popcorn bowl from your hands and you gasped "You're making it all up" he says as he throws a popcorn onto his mouth

"Sure, whatever you say, handsome" you roll your eyes as you looked back at the TV

"Handsome? that's the twice she said that to me?!" He thinks to himself

He watches you again

You feel his eyes on you as you quickly turn yourself on him

Once again, you caught him

"Aha!" You point at him "I caught you red-handed!"

You throw popcorn at him and he laughs "Okay, fine!"

"Aww, you feel defeated, Ed's?" You pout at him

God, how can you be so cute and hot at the same time? He thinks to himself

"I am guilty, sweetheart" he says as he smiles down at you

You giggled at him and while you reaching out the pillow that fell down from your lap

"You're beautiful"

"Pardon?"

"I said, you're beautiful" he repeated with a grin on his face

Now, it's your turn to be flustered and you smile at him sheepishly

At this point, you don't even care if you got rejected, you have this crush for him carrying it for a over year now

You gotta take the risk or live with regret

So, fuck it

He loves to see you getting blushed because of him as he takes another sip from his soda while he places it from the table

"Eddie?" You called out for him

"Yeah?"

You and him both stare at each other and he gulped of what you're about to do

You cupped his cheeks and presses your lips into his

You kissed him and his eyes were wide as hell

You pulled back and you furrow your brows at his expression, you can't even read it

You chuckled nervously "oh wow- okay, that was stupid, you know what I'm gonna go-" you get up but he grab your hand

His eyes softens and you look back at him and you slowly sat down again beside him

He tucked your hair behind your ear and he slams his lips onto yours

The kiss was so passionate and it was steaming hot, he tilted his head as he deepens the kiss even more, you moaned

You runs your hands over his chest as you throw your arms around him and one hand over the back of his head as you hold him and pulled him even closer

You both flushed at each other's bodies automatically

His cold hands run over your shoulders and to your thighs

You're both making it out like it was for centuries and he doesn't mind it all

He loves to kiss you forever

You don't even noticed that you both floating up in the air

You pulled away and gasped as you put your hand to cover your mouth

And you look back at Eddie and his eyes are red and you look down at his mouth, you saw his fangs

You're in a state of shock as you felt coming back down on the couch

You breathe heavily of what you just witnessed but you quickly collected yourself

All of the missing pieces are coming together

Now, you understand everything

Eddie is a vampire and you're completely clueless about it

You stare at him and he looks away from you ashamedly but you stopped him from doing it while you place your hand on his cheek to make him face you again

He knits his brows together at your action

You peck a kiss onto his lips and he kisses back "Talk to me"

"I wanna know everything, Eddie" you say to him as you flash a sweet smile

He searches uncertainty on your eyes but he doesn't find anything, he saw compassion and love?

You love him?

He just burst into tears as he goes back to normal again

"Oh, Eddie" you hug him while you rest your head over his chest

He hugs you even tighter and you embrace him even more

You both stayed like this in comfortable silence

Locked into each other's arms

He runs his fingers through your hair and you sigh in comfort

You broke the silence first "Before you can think of anything that I don't want you anymore after this, I won't do it, Eddie, I really mean it"

His eyes are still blurry from the tears as he looks down on you and kisses the top of your head

You hum in agreement with a smile on your face

"I- I adored you ever since, Eddie, I love you" you confessed

You felt him get tensed up and he looks at you in shock

You pulled away from him and you cup his cheeks

"I am willingly to spend my whole life with you, Eddie"

He never felt this much happiness in his life but he smiles sadly at the thought-

He's immortal and you're not, his lifetime will be different in the world and yours will be end up fast unfortunately

At least he got the taste of true love but he really wants to make that happen

Loving each other endearingly

But he also doesn't want to cross over the line, you might want to live your life normally

"Oh, sweetheart" his eyes are brimmed with tears and yours too

He got confused "What is it, darling?"

"I- I thought I will be rejected" you laugh "but I see nothing but the truth in your eyes, Ed's" you say

"Even you don't say it-" he cuts you off by saying

"I love you too, Y/N" he kisses your cheek

"Ever since the first time we met" he added

Your lips clashes onto each other as you make out again

Eddie carried you into his room not wanting to break the kiss

He closes the door and locks it and he places you slowly on his bed

You helped him unbotton his polo and you quickly rushed to unclasp your corset

"No, let me" he stopped you and you nod at him

"Are you sure about this?" He asks before he continues to undresses you

You just nod at him and he sighs as he doesn't want to make this go any further if you're aren't up to this truly

He does not want to make you regret it, it's fine for him, if you're not ready

"Hey" he lifts your chin up to make you look at him in the eyes

"I need verbal answers, sweets" he says as he narrows his eyes on you

"I-I've longed for this, Eddie and I only want you"

"Okay" he says softly as he kisses on your knuckles

You make love for the first time and you're so sure of yourself that he is your person

You're going to settle the life that you want with Eddie

You're naked, laying on his bed, your hair is a beautiful mess

You blushed when you noticed his eyes are roaming around your body from top to bottom

You got shy, you tried to cover yourself by wrapping your arms around you

He licks his lips and his eyes filled with hunger, he chuckles darkly

"Damn- that's so hot, why does he have to do that" you think to yourself

"My love, I was just admiring you" he says as he places both of his hands on your hips

"My love?" your knees are now wobbling at his words

"I can't take my eyes off you, you're a goddess!"

"Oh- stop it! Eddie, I-" he cuts you off with a fervid kiss

You squealed and you can feel his smirk while kissing you

You grab a fistful of his hair and he groaned on top of you and as his hands roam over around your body earning a whimper from you

He deepens the kiss even more as he unbuckled his belt

You're already got so worked up by the simplest touches that he did

The effect he has on you, is freaking unreal

He breaks the kiss and you frown, he laughed while he grabs something on the drawer

"I want to be safe"

Your heart melts as he cares about your pleasure first

He pulled his boxers all the way down and you squirmed

Oh, he is huge, you don't even know if you can take it

"You can take it, don't worry, hunny" he winks at you as if he can read your mind (you didn't know that he can truly do that)

He places himself back on top of you and grab his dick directing to your hole

"You ready?"

"Yes, I am, Eddie"

"I applaud your attentiveness, sweetheart"

He takes himself in slowly and you scrunched up in pain

"Just tell me to stop and I will stop" eying you in concern

"No- no, I'm adjusting, keep going"

The moment his all the way in, you look down and you saw that he filled you up real good

"Oh" you breathe heavily

"Told you can take it"

"E-Eddie- you can move now"

He thrust and he grunts as at your pussy already clenching

"Wow, my darling- you impressed me"

You want to keep your eyes open but can't help by the overwhelming sensation burns through your system

"It feels so good, go harder, please" you beg and he doesn't want to keep you begging for more as his thrusts grows harder and harder

You kept your lustful eyes on him

"Don't you dare look at me like that or I will tore you apart" he thinks to himself

"Ah- Eddie! Oh my fucking god!" You moaned

He grabs your legs and places it over his shoulders

He watches as your chest rises up and down

You got confused ignoring the enrapture that you're feeling at the moment

"Eddie- what are you-" you got cut off as he deepens himself down onto you

You can't suppress your moans any longer as you moaned louder

You grip on the sheets as he fucks you roughly

He even watches your boobs bounce up and down, he smirks at the sight of it, he is enjoying himself

"Holy- shit- oh!" You exclaimed

"Baby, I'm coming, I can't take it anymore"

You arched your back in pleasure as he came undone

He falls down on you even though you felt weak, you still manage to hug him

You can feel him smiling at your action and you run your fingers through his hair

He carefully puts down your shaking legs

Your eyes are heavy lidded, your cheeks are flushed, Eddie slowly pull himself out of you

He wiped you, cleaned you, he pulled a clean bandshirt on you and he chuckles softly on how big it is to you as he dresses you up with his clean boxers

He wore his pajama pants as he cuddles next to you

"How's that?" He asks

"It's astounding" you say while your eyes are closed

He bursted out laughing and you furrow you brows as you slap his arm playfully

"I-I am sorry" he is tearing up from laughter "your choice of words are remarkable" he says with a British accent

You laughed at him "Well, you're not the only one" you snorted

"Oh- how dare you" he says dramatically

You rolled your eyes as you push him back laying down on the bed

You caught him by surprise

You remove his boxers that belonged to him and his

You sat down at him without any warnings and you bite your bottom and you moaned

With his lips apart while looking at you

You place your hands over his shoulders as you begin to ride him, your eyes rolling back as you can feel yourself getting wet because of him

He squeezes his eyes shut on the sweet sensation as you say

"Round 2?" You say menacingly as you smirk down on him

He moans while laughing in the process "where have you been all my life?"

He takes care of you after you both make love again

As soon as he goes back beside you, he's picking up the clothes that he wants to put on you, you're ready to snuggle up with him and yes he will cuddle up with you as soon as he dresses at you up he insists to do that one first but you give him a scowling face

He chortled at how clingy you are

He pulled up the blankets as he lays down and he open his arms out for you

You smiled as you lay your head over his shoulders and hug him and he kisses your forehead

Now at this time, he told you everything about him, about what happened 2 years ago

"I wish I was there for you" you start "they didn't even look hard enough, you're innocent"

"I appreciate that, Y/N, Thank you"

"And I also appreciate your honesty" you pulled back to look down at him and you smile

Your prop your arm up and you say "So there's this other world that you guys called the upside down and this asshole named Vecna did this to you?"

"Yeah, that's sums it all up"

His story sounds like the sci-fic, adventure and action films that you watched before and now knowing that this really happened sends goosebumps into your skin

"Where's Jason now? I would like to punch him in the face"

"Easy there, tiger" he chuckled

"You didn't deserve that! Eddie!" Your eyes are forming with tears

Eddie pulled you into a hug as he rubs your back

He is now sobbing softly with happy tears

You're not afraid, you trust him, you accept him, and you even love him

His eyes flashes with so much gratitude

You suddenly became concerned as you heard him crying

Both of your eyes are stained with tears

"What's wrong, Ed's?"

"Nothing, I just" he sniffles "I didn't know that I got to have you and called you mine"

You smile widely "I'm yours forever"

"I'm yours forever" he keeps replaying it in his head

"I'm so lucky that you exist and you're here with me"

"Because I thought I would never have-

"Someone?"

"Yeah"

"You're my first" you admit

"What?"

"I don't wanna give myself to someone who wasn't true to himself" you paused

"I was never in love with anyone until you, Eddie"

His eyes glint with teary eyes with overjoyed coming into his face

"Me too" he says while you into his eyes and look for dishonest on them but nothing

You fall for him even harder

"I love you, Eddie"

"I love you forever and ever"

You snuggled up together as you slowly close your eyes as you drift away to sleep

Eddie is wide awake somehow gobsmacked at his life right now

He embraces you even tighter as if you might disappeared from him

You hold onto him close as you bury yourself on his chest

His sheets are now covered with your scent and he just loves it, mixed with vanilla and lavender from your shampoo

He can also smell the lotion from your soft skin, flowery and fresh scent

He smiles in content as he fell asleep....

Everything is going so well, why does it have to be like this?

An intense magnitude Earthquake happened all over across the town of Hawkins, Indiana

You and your auntie hold on to each other inside the diner

You both tried to stay calm as you both headed towards the exit

A big rumble on the ground made you both ripped at each others hands

Your eyes widen in fear and you screamed "No! Auntie!"

A big pole that fell back down on her crushes her entirely

The earthquake is becoming more and more stronger as you ran towards her

"Y/N! Stop! Save yourself!" She chokes on her own blood

"No- I won't leave you!" A small wall but heavy enough slams down on the half of your body made you screech in pain

"R-remember what I told you, sunshine"

"I-I love you" she blinks slowly and she dies

"Auntie" you cried out "N-No"

You felt dizzy and you look down wincing in pain, your head bleeds as before you got unconscious the last words you said

"Eddie...."

"I need to find Y/N before it's too late" Eddie says

"Be careful, kid" Enzo says while he and Hopper protect everyone in the open ground area

Eddie gasps as he saw you laying in your own blood, your heart is slowly beating

You're still alive, but losing a lot of blood

"Don't you die on me!" He shouts as he raises the wall that almost crushed you

Eddie saw your lifeless, Aunt, "oh- I am so sorry, sweetheart"

Your mind is hazy but you knew the person who is carrying you

"You came"

"Of course, sweetheart, I'm taking you to the hospital"

"I-I tried to save her" you say weakly your nose starts to bleed

Eddie cries in anger as he quickly finds a hospital

The earthquake is finally over, everyone was wounded, lost a loved a one, lost a home

Emergency vans, were everywhere

The hospital is crowded, every nurse and doctor are running all over the hallways

Eddie's knee kept bopping up and down as he couldn't stay calm at what you're state your in

The doctor finally talked to him and said it's bad news

"She might not make it, I'm sorry"

He cries in agony and this is his greatest fear, losing you.....unless....

There is only one solution to save you

He comes inside your room and he weep even harder as he saw you slowly breathing

It's not your time yet, this isn't fair

"I want to save you, but I don't know if it's also that you want" he says as he holds your hand

You heard him and you slowly opened your eyes and he saw it, his eyes are bloodshot from crying, his clothes are covered with your blood

"Do it, Eddie" you say

"But I don't wanna-"

"Please, Eddie, I don't want you to be alone and I don't wanna leave you behind, I really want this"

"If I do this, you might not be able to do the normal things anymore"

"Let me into your world, Eddie"

"I've got nothing to lose, I only have you" you sob

He can feel you're very certain, he warns this might hurt a little and you'll die for a second

He bites your neck and he cut his wrist to make you drink his blood

You drank a lot and you can feel your heartbeat finally comes to an end

Your eyes, your complexion is now similar to Eddie's, your hair became more wavy, your whole appearance changed

You gasped for air and you didn't feel any pain on you anymore

You looked over to Eddie and you laughed slightly and he hugs you tightly

3 months after the earthquake

Hopper grabs the walkie-talkie and he calls Eddie to come over

When he arrived Dustin and Steve and everyone is in there

He showed him the "WANTED" picture as Hopper explains the criminal that you and Eddie need to capture

Before he continues he exclaims "Where the hell is Y/N?!"

"I'm here, Jim" you say as you entered the room with Eddie's black leather jacket draped over your shoulders

Eddie smirks at your entrance

You take a quick sip of your flask with blood droplet on your chin and you wipe it off using your finger

"So, where to- Chief?" You smile with subtle red glow on your eyes

[missnind]

No Plans and None Can Be Broken

Eddie opened the door of the car with an easy grin.

"What's up, Harrington?"

Steve shot a dazzling smile back.

"Hey, Eds." He said, sweetly. "Ready for the movie?"

"Yeah, sounded cool. You know me... easy." He replied with a grin.

"I wouldn't say that, Munson. You haven't had a single date the whole time we've been hanging out." Steve jibed.

Eddie cleared his throat and fidgeted as he put his seatbelt on.

"Man, I-"

"I was teasing, dude! No need to sweat it." Steve replied as he moved to switch the radio on. "Ready?"

"Yeah, let's go."

The car cruised down the road, Steve nodding his head to the song on the radio. The silence was easy between them and Eddie relaxed. He loved spending time with Steve. Even if Steve didn't feel the same as he did.

Eddie glanced over and took in the sight next to him - full, thick hair, gorgeous eyes, full pouty lips, golden skin - fuck, it was no surprise people fell at his feet.

Steve had been a bitch in school. Now he was Eddie's best friend - something no one saw coming. Eddie had held an unrequited flame for him since 9th grade. Since he realised he really just wasn't interested in girls. Watching Steve in those little Hawkins Tigers shorts doing basketball and the various other jock stuff he was so good at... Well, that did it for him.

"Eddie? You OK, man?"

Eddie shook his head to clear the thoughts and realised he was staring.

"Sorry, dude. You know me - always in a world of my own." He laughed nervously.

Steve reached to place a hand on his knee.

"You sure you're OK, man?"

Eddie felt fire where the hand was. Straight to his groin. This car ride needed to go quicker.

"Yeah. Think a nice smoke before the movie will sort me right me out." He grinned.

Steve sighed and smiled.

"If you say so, man. Those things will kill you. Just saying."

Eddie laughed out loud.

"Yeah, be a shame to die from those after all we've survived, hey."

"What can I say, Munson? That noise you call music saved us all. Well, almost not you but like fuck were we gonna leave you there."

Steve's hand squeezed Eddie's knee and Eddie squeezed it back.

"You wouldn't know good music, Harrington." He shot back with a laugh.

"That, my friend, is where you are wrong! This-" He turned up the radio. "-is good music! You heard this one yet?"

Eddie's ears perked up as the music began and his heart began to hammer against his chest.

Steve was tapping his fingers along to the beat on the steering wheel. He was singing along to the song and Eddie just stared at him. Speechless.

"These lyrics, man! Who even comes up with this stuff?" Steve said as the song ends.

Eddie thinks for a beat and replies.

"Do you not like them?"

"Not like them? Munson, they literally resonate to me deeply! Like, OK so ... one sec, let me compile my thoughts into proper words."

Eddie's heart felt like it was going to force its way out of his chest.

"Ok, so, take this bit - 'Do you laugh about me whenever I leave? Or do I just need more therapy?' Like, I often feel that people are judging me still. You know, King Steve and all that. But is that like paranoia? I know you and the kids and Robs... you are my family. But the thought that you guys are just... The song's title is 'Fake Out'. Maybe that's it. There's a part of me that thinks you all just fake it." Steve took a breath and ran a hand through his hair.

Eddie opened his mouth to speak and nothing came out.

"Anyway, another one, yeah? So, there's this bit that goes 'My mood board is just pictures of you but I'm not sad anymore'. Like... I think it's about some unrequited love or something."

"Steve, I... It is, by the way. It is about unrequited love."

"Ha! I knew you didn't mind this type of music really!" Steve laughed as he reached out to poke at Eddie. "Or is this your opinion as a songwriter?"

"I haven't written in a while, Stevie. My muse must have left me. But I did send a load off and got paid for it. They showcase some to bands/artists. So if you're lucky, someone uses your lyrics for their song. It was a mad moment and Gar said it may be an idea since I had so many."

"Eds!" Steve pulled up the car into the parking lot of the theatre. He turned to face Eddie. "Why didn't you tell me, dude? That's pretty cool."

"I guess I just... it's not likely to be your song picked out of so many. So I just didn't think to." Eddie shrugged.

"Eddie, we would have been proud of you for trying. So, if your lyrics are picked do you get like a credit or something?" Steve asked with interest.

"Yeah. They will credit you for writing. And then you get a percentage of the royalties of the song."

"Well, I think you are gonna hear good things soon, Munson! Positive vibes." Steve smiled and leant towards Eddie for a hug.

Eddie's mouth was so dry. He did the only thing he could think of.

Singing quietly, he sang "We did it for futures that never came. And for pasts that we're never gonna change. Love is in the air. I just gotta figure out a window to break out. Buried alive inside my dreams. But it was all a fake out."

Steve looked at him curiously.

"That... it's my favourite part." Eddie explained. "It's about how we never really escape our pasts and a future that isn't... it can't happen. Won't happen. And no matter how much I want it, it won't be real."

Confusion flickered across Steve's face.

"Hey, Eddie, we aren't our pasts anymore. You know that, right? I mean, look at us! You're my best friend. Who would have thought it back then?"

The words stabbed through Eddie's heart. Worse than any demobat bite.

"Yeah." He managed a weak smile. "Friends."

"Eddie, come on. Talk to me, man. What is going on?" Steve seemed genuinely concerned.

"I just... OK, don't judge me. That song? It's mine. I wrote it."

Steve's face lit up with excitement.

"Man, that's awesome! That was you? Damn, you made me feel some kinda way! Maybe this is the road to the big time for our Eddie Munson from Hawkins! The kids are gonna-"

"Please, don't." Eddie began. "Don't tell them. I... I have something else to say."

Steve settled back against the car door.

"Eds, man, you're scaring me here." He said with a cautious smile.

Eddie looked down at his hands as he played with his rings nervously.

"I don't want to be friends." He blurted out.

Steve looked like he had slapped him.

" You don't wanna... did I do something?" He said, the hurt clear.

"That didn't come out right!" Eddie panicked and grabbed for Steve's hands.

Steve recoiled and Eddie looked like he was going to cry.

"Stevie, I-"

"Nah, it's cool, man. Don't sweat it. I'll just-"

Steve opened the car door and got out. He ran his hands through his hair, breathing quickly and trying to calm himself.

Eddie pulled open his door and ran around the car. He grabbed Steve and pulled him around the side of the building into an alley, away from prying eyes.

"Hey, dude, not cool!" Steve riled as he backed away from Eddie.

"Steve, you're not- ok! OK, I like you. I don't want to be friends because I want to be more." He trailed off as he pulled at the hem of his tee and looked at the floor.

There was silence and Eddie couldn't take it.

"'M sorry. I'll get Gar to come get me." He said quietly as he turned to leave.

"Eddie." Steve said quietly and calmly.

"It's ok, Stevie. Thank you. For everything." Eddie rambled as he walked quickly towards the open lot.

Hands spun him around and lips found his own. Pushing. Desperate. A tongue felt its way between his lips and he opened up, allowing it to explore his mouth.

Eddie backed up and the look on his face made Steve laugh.

"Eddie, you're an idiot." Steve laughed.

"I'm sorry? You-" Eddie began in an incredulous tone.

Steve looked at Eddie with hooded eyes and puffy lips.

"Eds, you took your sweet time. I've wanted you for longer than I care to admit. You just didn't seem-"

"You wanted me?" Eddie looked like he was about to hyperventilate.

"Yes, dingus. Didn't you- All those times we spent the night out in your van talking. Sitting up when the kids had gone to bed and just shooting the shit. All the times I tried to get you to open up about your love life... you really didn't...?"

"I... you want me?" Is all Eddie can push out.

Steve walked towards him and backed him against the wall of the alley. He put his arms up against the wall, blocking Eddie in. He leaned forward towards his ear and pressed a gentle kiss beneath it. He felt Eddie shudder.

"Yes. I kinda want you, right now." He said as he grabbed Eddie's hand and pushed it to the growing hardness in his tight jeans.

Eddie moaned and smiled like the cat who got the cream.

"I can help you with that, Stevie baby. If you want me to." He gave a positively filthy look as he dropped to his knees and Steve was glad he was holding himself up because the sight made his knees weak.

"Fuck, Eds. Here?" He looked around cautiously but it was empty except for them.

Eddie looked up at him with his doe like eyes and grinned devilishly.

"Here."

He began undoing the button on Steve's jeans and slid the zip down slowly as he pressed his face to the emerging bulge.

Steve hissed and gently pushed forward chasing the pressure.

Eddie mouthed over Steve’s clothed length and moaned softly.

"Oh, baby, I'm gonna enjoy this." Eddie said as he pulled out Steve's length. "Fuck, you're so big."

Steve looked down at him, a dopey look across his face.

Eddie started giving the tip kitten licks and Steve moaned softly. Pre-cum oozed out and Eddie lapped it up.

"Mmmm, you taste so good, Stevie." Eddie moaned before he popped the head between his lips.

Eddie sucked and licked at Steve, hollowing his cheeks. He loved the sounds Steve was making and he decided he could die happy if this was how he went.

Steve tried so hard not to thrust into Eddie’s hot mouth.

“Fuck, you’re so good at this.” Steve gasped as he looked down. “So fucking hot with my cock in your mouth. Fuck.”

Eddie just looked up through his lashes and hummed, causing Steve to moan again.

"Eddie, Eds," Steve's breath hitched. "Close."

Eddie looked up at him and took him deeper. A strangled sound left Steve's mouth as he spurted into Eddie's mouth. Ropes of hot cum covered the inside of his cheeks and his tongue.

Eddie swallowed down Steve's load and got himself to his feet.

Steve grabbed him into an embrace, bringing their foreheads together.

"That was..."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm amazing, I know." Eddie laughed teasingly, voice slightly hoarse.

Steve smiled widely and laughed.

"Where does this leave us?" Steve asked softly.

"Um, the alley behind the theatre, Stevie boy." Came the sarcastic answer.

Steve bounced his head gently against Eddie's.

"Was that song really about me?" He asked curiously.

"Mayyyyybe." Came the reply. "Why? You into that?"

"Eds, I just kissed you in an alley and you sucked my dick. I'd say I was so into that." Steve replied.

"Still wanna watch that movie or wanna come back to my place? Wayne's at work. Maybe we could figure out what this is?" Eddie said, holding his breath for the answer.

"Sure. Sounds good. I mean, I think this is the start of something wonderful." Steve said as he began to walk to the lot, pulling Eddie behind him.

"Sure it's not a fake out?" Eddie replied with a grin.

"Imma show you it's not, Munson. Every day if I have to." Steve replicated his grin.

Eddie rolled his eyes.

"I suppose that would be acceptable, Harrington."

"The kids are gonna be pumped." Steve said with an air of confidence.

"I'm sorry, what?" Eddie paused by the car.

"The kids. They've been taking bets on how long til we finally got it together." Steve said matter of factly.

"Wait... the kids? Our kids?"

"Yes, dude. Our kids."

"They know I'm-" Eddie stumbled to say it aloud.

"Gay? Yeah. And that I'm bi." Steve raised a brow. "Just seemed you were the only one who didn't."

"Man, I... Fuck. No, I didn't. I just don't assume."

"If you had, this could have happened quicker." Steve teased as he pulled Eddie towards him and kissed him softly on the lips.

"Let's go home, Stevie." Eddie said.

They got back into the car and they held hands all the way home.