#so like Will Max and El all having puppy crushes on Steve

[thev01dd]

sometimes i do wonder if Mike knows what happened between Steve and Nancy, that his sister cheated on Steve. i had a little draft about it going on but i think i deleted it/gave up on the idea, so idk...

but maybe... what if Dustin got a hold of this story (maybe Robin and Steve forgot Dustin was browsing the fantasy/sci-fi movies section and Steve was telling what went on between him and Nancy, so he ended up listening to it too) and told the party, since he's a big mouth, and Mike just-

you know, you never imagine your sibling would do something like this since they grew up with you, listening and watching and absorbing the same values about loyalty and fidelity in a relationship, so you think "well, i'd never cheat on my partner" and think your siblings think the same way so...

-he doesn't like Steve (for whatever reason) but he thinks he didn't deserve having his trust and his heart broken like that, so he's pissed with Nancy, because he also feels betrayed on some level, and is a little bit less of a dick towards Steve since knowing that.

I just thought of a fun idea :)

It’s part of the whole shovel talk thing going around.

What if when Nancy tries for the shovel talk to Steve, it’s at her house when he’s picking up Dustin. Right? So, there’s Nancy pulling Steve to the side to threaten him not to hurt Eddie. But here’s where the fun comes in, before she can get far into the threatening part….Mike comes in with his sass, knowledge of how much of a fucking lovesick fool Steve was with her and what went down between the two of them.

He tells his sister she has no fucking right to threaten her ex-boyfriend. That if anyone is going to hurt anyone, there’s a chance it’s Steve that gets hurt. (Not that he knows for sure, he also knows how much of a fucking dork Eddie is for Steve, that they’re lovesick fools and he hates it sometimes). Steve is just staring at Mike, and Nancy growing so embarrassed and ashamed. It’s a whole thing.

I think it would be fun :)

[ikarakie]

part 1

eddie wakes up.

he doesn't expect to. not on earth, anyways. but he does, in a hospital bed, to dustin's scolding and the girls' smiles. he's told they won, vecna's dead. the government are working on clearing his name as they speak as a fucked up 'thank you', and everything is fucking okay.

he asks after red and the sinclairs. apparently, they had a run-in with asshole of the century jason carver, but sinclair had held his own with a mean right hook that harrington had taught him once. max had fought vecna off with the help of supergirl, who'd come into her mind at the last second via shenanigans that eddie didn't understand. though he was assured he'd have the story told to him by mike himself, since he, supergirl, and the byers' were on their way in from california.

everyone's crowded around his bed, minus one very pretty head of hair, firing off their accounts. robin's partway through how the vines had attacked them when it happens.

"and then they grabbed me and slammed me against the wall! so steve-" and she hesitates. widens her eyes and a looks a bit nauseous all of a sudden. eddie feels his stomach sink.

"hey, speaking of harrington, where is he?" he asks, hoping to fucking god it's not what he thinks. though the way the room falls silent, the way dustin's suddenly holding his hand a lot tighter, makes his eyes water.

"he got you out." henderson whispers, sounding so very broken. "he- he carried you back to the gate and sent you through, but it- it was closing." he's biting his lip so hard he draws blood.

"he... he's still there?" eddie asks, breathless, horrified. the image of steve harrington hauling his ass out of that backwards hell dimension only to get stuck there himself makes his head spin. robin breaks down next to him, bringing her legs to her chest on her chair. nancy puts an arm around her shoulder.

"he made sure we all got through first." she says, deceptively even. eddie can see how tense her shoulders are, and he gets it. because, for fucks sakes, of course he sent the girls and henderson through first. "i think... i think he didn't want to risk coming through when it was so nearly closed. so he stayed."

eddie takes a second. looks around the room, at everyone's sullen faces. wonders why steve thought his was the life to save instead of his own, when all these people loved him so fucking dearly. eddie liked robin, and he liked max, and nancy, and the little sinclair, but they were more steve's people than his. and yet the guy, for whatever fucking reason, thought eddie, who was barely clinging on to begin with, was the one who deserved to live?

if you told him three months ago that he'd be sat in a hospital bed, having been dragged back from the edge of death by steve harrington, who'd fucking sacrificed himself to do so, he would've laughed. even more, if you told him that, in that position, eddie's heart ached with affection for the guy, he would've punched you. probably.

not that his puppy crush on steve was a recent development, but this whole... seeing him in action thing had just exacerbated it. especially with all those lingering looks they'd shared. semi-flirty words and little signals that eddie forced himself not to read into. but now he wished he had. wished he'd said what he'd meant to, that last time they saw each other.

"it's okay, though." dustin said, breaking the silence. "because when el comes back, she'll just open a gate, and we can go and get him." he sounds so sure, that for a moment, eddie thinks he's right, but the way nancy sighs indicates this is an issue.

"we'd like to do that." she says, "but... we don't know if vecna dying means... the upside down did, too." god, she was right. what if it'd all collapsed in on itself? robin sobs harder, shaking her head, and eddie puts a hand on one of her knees. wishes, not for the first time, that steve was here, to hold her. instead of- of- wherever he was.

the next week and half passes in a blur. eddie gets discharged, despite everyone's protests, and just told he needs to rest while he heals. they all set up camp in steve's house, which feels fucking weird, but dustin reasons that they need to all be together to form a plan, to watch eddie, and robin had a key anyways, and the place was massive, and it's not like steve ever minded. (the 'when he was alive' goes unspoken. they don't want to talk like that, not yet.)

it's one more week before mike and his little crew get back. apparently, they got caught in some government bullshit that'd held them up, but they return with joyce byers and a back-from-the-dead chief hopper, so that's cool. there's hugs and reunions and stories are exchanged. when the bit about steve getting stuck in the upside down comes up, eddie sees how will byers' face falls. remembers dustin saying he'd been trapped there once, too, and supposes it's sympathy.

chief hopper looks ready to tear the whole place apart. he'd asked after steve the second everyone had gathered, strangely terrifying for a man who was skin and bones. he'd only settled and listened to the story after being assured steve wasn't dead. (not that they... actually knew that, but no one wanted to say it out loud again).

supergirl, eleven, wasted no fucking time. she grabbed a radio and a piece of fabric and apparently began 'searching for steve in the void'. though eddie didn't quite understand, he held his breath alongside everyone else. only relaxing when she smiled, and said, albeit a little wobbly: "he is alive. he is okay."

robin's sobs would probably be with him till the day he died. she'd collapsed into joyce byers' arms, mumbling incoherently. dustin wasn't any better, crying into will's shoulder.

after some safety briefings, and a begruding blessing from hopper, supergirl opened a gate in steve's living room and fucked off through it. eddie was astounded at the ease with which she entered the dimension. will explained that, because vecna was dead, it didn't 'feel as bad anymore'. though he still held mike's hand tightly and sat as far away from it as possible.

and so the waiting game began. they tried to make small talk, tried to keep the mood light, but the whole thing weighed heavy on them. watching the gate to hell that they'd just sent a little girl through, wishing every second she'd come back in one piece.

it was maybe forty five minutes later when max perked up. they all turned to the gate at her movement, and sure enough, there they were.

he was pale, and tired looking, covered in some sort of goop or slime or something. holding eleven's hand the whole time- though for who's benefit, eddie wasn't sure. he stumbled a bit as he stepped through the gate and still, still, turned to help el through. though he was a bit slimmer, and clearly weary, it was him, it was steve, and he was alive.

robin was on him in seconds. screaming, clinging to him and asking him 'how dare you? how fucking dare you? never do that to me again, you piece of shit! i love you so much, you can't do that!' he buried his face in her shoulder and swayed slightly as he held her. murmuring things eddie couldn't hear. dustin wasn't far behind, squeezing between them and similarly blubbering. steve was hugging them both and gazing at them- at everyone who was crying- with such wonder. like he couldn't believe he'd been missed that much.

one by one, everyone had their fill. max whacked him on the arm and then hugged him so tightly it looked like it hurt. nancy brushed his hair back out of his eyes and called him an idiot. joyce byers gently wiped his face of dirt and grime before kissing his cheek. chief hopper held him like a father, strong and tight.

eddie sat back, just watched. wondered how someone could be so loved and not feel worth it at all.

then steve's eyes settled on him. they brightened, almost sparkled. "eddie!" he called. his voice was rough from disuse, but still sounding so relieved and happy it made eddie falter. he stepped forwards, feeling steve's dazzling smile pull the corners of his own mouth upwards. "you're okay!"

then he had an armful of steve harrington, and it all came flooding out. he felt a bit foolish, but only until he realised steve was crying too. "you... asshole." he muttered, holding him as tightly as his strength would allow.

"i told you not to be fucking hero." steve huffed, though it lost any of it's power with how his voice wobbled. "i thought you died, i thought-"

"you're one to fucking talk!" eddie cried, pulling away just enough to look him in the eye. "i woke up and you- they told me you dragged my ass outta there and then stayed behind! no one knew what had happened to you, it's been weeks, steve! i couldn't- why would you do that? why would you not just leave me-"

"i couldn't leave you!" god, he sounded so offended at the very idea. eddie felt like his heart was going to explode out of his chest. "i couldn't- i wouldn't do that-"

"i know you wouldn't." eddie lamented, because fuck, he did. he knew deep down even if he had died there, outside his trailer to those bats, steve still would've brought him home. "doesn't make it any less stupid. just makes you- makes you so-"

it hit him how close they were. probably an inch, maybe less, between their faces.

"makes me so what?" steve asked, a little breathless. eddie gazed at him, deciding that: fuck it. he'd been too close to death to not... see if whatever he thought they had was real. he sent a mental prayer to a god he didn't really believe in anymore: please, let him not have read this wrong.

he looked to steve's lips. pointedly. watched how his cheeks flushed and a shy smile crept onto them. how his eyes flickered down to eddie's as well. there was a silent, shared understanding: if we were alone right now, i'd like to have kissed you.

"so... stupidly perfect, steve harrington." eddie muttered, undeniably affectionate, pulling him in for another embrace. tucked his face into his neck so he could whisper. "you can't save someone's life and then die before they can tell you thank you." steve melted under his touch, pressing a kiss to where his shoulder met his neck under the safety of eddie's hair. it made him warm, and giddy, and so very fucking thankful.

"you can tell me now." he whispered back. eddie couldn't help but smile again. he'd tell him anything if he asked like that.

"thank you, steve." he muttered, squeezing him slightly. hoping his touch communicated what he needed it to: please, please, please don't leave me again.

"anytime, eddie." steve whispered back, hands balling into the fabric of the shirt eddie wore. i won't, as long as you don't either.

[atmilliways]

(Directly inspired by Eddie and Jeff’s friendship dynamic in this, which is much lighter and sweeter than what’s about to follow.)

What if a fic where all the Upside Down shit happens and Eddie lives, and Steve actually seems to be interested in him which is insane… but Chrissy died. Eddie and Jeff bonded over their nerd-on-jock crushes for all of high school, he can’t just get his guy when Jeff’s crush is dead.

So, with much angst and pining, Eddie withdraws. He stops flirting with Steve or responding to him much at all, just one-word answers to questions until Steve gives up on asking. (Which takes a while, the hot stubborn bastard.) And then it hurts too much to hang out with the entire group, because Steve is always there on the outskirts, watching him like a kicked puppy. He still sees Nancy regularly (because she’s even more stubborn than Steve) and by extension Jonathan and Argyle, but Robin drifts off, siding with Steve.

The kids are divided: Mike sticks by Eddie, Lucas and Erica stick by Steve, Will and El try to remain neutral because they never really knew Eddie to begin with but obviously lean more team Steve, and Max is just pissed at both of them for being idiots. Dustin tries to be there for both of them, but it’s such an obvious strain that Eddie starts pulling back from him too, telling himself he’s giving the kid a break. (Part of it, too, is that Dustin can’t help talking about his favorite people and doesn’t always catch himself in time to avoid giving Eddie anecdotal updates about Steve. He tells himself that by absenting himself, he’s sparing Steve from the same thing.)

Eddie is miserable, but he can’t admit why any more than he can break the NDAs and risk the government taking it all back—his pardon, his diploma, the brick and mortar house, the money that means Wayne doesn’t have to work himself to the bone anymore or worry about Eddie having to deal to help make ends meet.

And Jeff isn’t stupid. He notices, and he can guess why, and a few vague references to Harrington that make Eddie’s face do this awful, awful thing only confirms it.

It takes a long time, but Jeff manages to convince Eddie that he has his blessing. And then it’s another month of wallowing and calling Nancy at inappropriate hours to freak out about how much he’s ruined everything—but she seems to think he still has a chance with Steve.

So eventually, Eddie walks up to Steve’s front door in his best jeans, clutching a bouquet of sunflowers and trying not to sweat through his shirt even though it’s spring again and still nippy out, hoping against hope that his high school crush will let him inside.

[boldlyvoid]

No pressure blurb request for Eddie: "Please don’t touch me. I can’t fall any deeper."

(Actual line not required but I like the feeling)

absolutely bestie! thank you <3

he's been having dreams about her for months now. they started out as nothing serious, little appearances and funny moments that made no sense mostly... and then his brain decided to conjure up a whole life with her inside his dreams. a life where she held him in her arms and kisses his forehead, she made him laugh and smile and she married him. she wore a ring with his initials engraved in the band, she wore a beautiful white dress and her hair looked perfect and she kissed him at the end of the aisle...

that dream took a while to recover from. then he had a dream that she had his kids. he had dreams about holding their babies, ones who looked so much like her and had his attitude. he snuggled them close, and they cuddled all together in a big comfy bed with the sun shining through the windows and the birds chirping and it was perfect. then he woke up. it always broke his heart to wake up... to reach out for her and only find his pillow because she wasn't really his.

she's just a friend.

he has to get that through his thick skull before he accidentally wraps himself around her and kisses her on the cheek, or the back of her neck or her shoulder... it would be so easy, too. she's always so close, it just feels right to want to reach out and give her some love but he can't... until she makes it almost impossible.

a group camping trip was supposed to be a fun way to have a vacation together. they'd all take a vehicle, they'd bring tents and supplies and smores and they'd spend a weekend at a lake 3 hours away from Hawkins where they could just be normal. it was a great idea until they had to separate for the night. Steve and Robin take a tent, Nancy and Jonathan head into the back of her station wagon, the kids are in a huge 10-person tent that ted wheeler bought, overjoyed to know they'd be leaving his house for a weekend.... leaving Y/N with Eddie.

the back of his van is stuffed full of blankets and pillows, he wanted to be comfortable in the night and he didn't even account for someone sleeping with him... it was BYOT. bring your own tent, he brought a van, and he expected Y/N to partner with someone like Robin or Max and El. Not him. but he can't say no to her when she asks ever so sweetly, "can i sleep in the van with you?"

so now he's here, laying completely flat on his back, blanket tucked under his chin as he stares at the ceiling. there's enough room between them for a third person, he's so close to the wall of the van it's like he's afraid she's going to bite him or give him cooties or something. he's so scared of her. and she can feel it too.

"Eddie?" she moves closer and he tenses.

"what?"

"it's cold, don't you want to cuddle?" she pouts, bringing out the puppy dog eyes.

he shakes his head and keeps looking at the ceiling, he can't give in. not when it means something completely different to him. "please don't touch me... I can't fall any deeper."

it takes her a moment to realize she did hear that right. "Eddie... baby?"

"Don't," he pleads, begging with his eyes. "you can't lead me on, I'm so gone for you already I won't recover from a night of cuddling with you."

"so don't," she shrugs. "fall completely sickly in love with me and let me take care of it. let me shower you in care and kisses and comfort and praise. let me love you."

the anxiety of loving her in secret for so long all comes out in one simple, wobbly-lipped, "please?"

she pulls him into a hug and cradles his head and kisses his cheek gently, "I thought you'd never ask... I've wanted to tell you for so long, Eddie."

he laughs then, pulling back so he can look at her, "since when? if I knew you liked me back I would've done something about my crush ages ago?"

"I thought being subtle would help... little touches and sweet compliments and making you things I know you'd like, those were all my attempts at showing you I care," she explains. "but if you want me to come on stronger I can tell you I've been dreaming about loving you for ages."

"I've been dreaming about your love just as long," he admits.

"you don't have to dream anymore," she looks at his lips and then his eyes and back down to his lips again.

he can read her a lot better now that he knows it's mutual, so he lays her back against the makeshift mattress and hovers over her. she reaches up to brush his hair back behind his ear, leaving her hand on his cheek, "are you gonna kiss me?"

"can I?"

she nods, "please?"

he leans in slowly, watching her the whole way until their lips meet and both of their eyes close. she hums with contentment, relaxing under him as he breathes her in, pushing into her slightly before he pulls back, barely. their noses touch, he smiles at her and she steals another kiss, and then a third before she starts to giggle.

she brings up her other hand to hold both his cheeks, "i love you..."

"I love you," he says, shocked and in complete disbelief that this is real and happening and not another dream he'd regret in the morning. "I love you so much."

she pulls him in for another kiss and another one after that. he had a feeling she was going to kiss him until the sun came up and he was okay with that. more than okay with it. he wanted to live here forever, right in this feeling of newness and tenderness and excitement. it's everything. she's everything he dreamed of.

maybe he can actually see the future... he was always meant to be here.

[peeves-gurl]

Just Us, And Your Friend Steve

Eddie Munson x GN!Reader

This is the first time I've written for a Stranger Things character so I'm sorry if it's bad.

Warnings: Fluff, cute, oblivious Steve, secret relationship, implied sex at the end

As the end credits of some corny old horror movie rolled in, Robin stood up from the couch in your garage, stretching her limbs with a groan. Dustin, Lucas, Max, Mike and El were still rubbing their eyes in the dark, and Steve’s head hung back on your couch as he slept through the slight commotion.

You sneaked look towards Eddie, who was looking right back at you from across the room, a smirk plastered on his face, before the lights were flicked on.

The two of you had been seeing each other in secret for a couple of weeks now. He had confessed his feelings for you when he showed up outside your window at midnight, just when you were beginning to realise the crush you had on him. Things were going pretty well, and after a drive through date and another movie date, today was supposed to be your third. He was to stay the night at your place since your parents weren’t home. You planned to watch cheesy rom-coms and cuddle on the couch, and you really hoped it could be something more than cuddling by the end of the night.

That was until Steve suggested a group movie marathon at your place because he knew your parents weren’t home. You and Eddie were now stuck at opposite sides of the room, trying your best to not shoo the others out of your place so that you could have him all to yourself.

“Alright people, enough for today.” Robin said.

“Yes, time for bed kids!” Eddie said, eagerly motioning them to get up from their places.

“Okay, Robin takes you lot back as well.” Steve said, his voice still hoarse from his nap. “Let’s go Eddie.”

Eddie’s van had broken down just this morning, and Steve stepped in to pick him up from the trailer park, and Robin borrowed her cousin’s car to bring in the kids.

You looked at Eddie again, giving your best puppy dog eyes silently begging him to stay and he nodded, turning to answer Steve.

“I-uh…” He started, “I’ll get a cab Steve, don’t worry.”

“Cab? Don’t tell me you’re fighting again, Steve!” Robin scolded, slapping her best friend’s arm.

“What! No?” Steve said, hitting her right back. “Why do you want to take a cab dude? I’ll take you.”

“Oh… I thought you’re tired so I’ll let you get home early.” Eddie said meekly.

“It’s not a problem Ed. It barely takes ten minutes.” Steve replied with a smile, and you almost wanted to melt at his kindness and give into letting Eddie go back home.

“Actually,” Eddie attempted again, “I need to go to the garage and check how much work is left on the van.”

“Oh, that’s fine. I’ll come with you,” Steve said sweetly. “My dad knows the garage owner so I can get you a discount.”

Eddie turned to face you helplessly, and you shrugged slightly. You always appreciated Steve’s concern and were glad to have a friend like him. But boy, could he be more oblivious?

Eddie reluctantly agreed to go with Steve, and excused himself out of the room to use the washroom attached to your room, but not before discreetly motioning you to follow him.

You waited for a couple of moments, chatting casually with Steve, before you mumbled something about a book that you needed to return to Eddie that was in your wardrobe.

As soon as you entered the dimly lit room, Eddie pulled you into a hug, and it was obvious that he was longing for your touch just as much as you were for his.

You pushed yourself up on your toes to leave a peck on his lips, and he returned it immediately, and it quickly turned into a makeout session. His hands were on your hips, and yours were around his neck, pulling him closer to yourself. You could taste the caramel popcorn he had been munching on, mixed with the sugary soda and bubble gum, and you were glad that he neither smelled, nor tasted like cigarettes.

Eddie had stopped smoking months ago. It was after you had casually mentioned that you once ended up with an allergic cough because of your uncle who smoked, and it was this very effort of his that made you realise your feelings for him.

“So it’s finally me and you,” you whispered, pulling away to look into his deep brown eyes that you’d grown to love.

“You and me,” Eddie said, placing another peck on your lips.

“Just us, and your friend Steve.” You giggled, poking his chest with your finger.

“Hey! He’s your friend too!” Eddie reprimanded.

“Yeah, a very sweet, very oblivious friend.” You said, looking up at him with a deep sense of longing.

“I’ll get a cab back here later at night and stay over,” Eddie offered after a pause.

“No, it’s okay Eds. My parents will be out for a week next month. Maybe then?” You said hopefully.

“Or you could somehow come to mine? Tell your parents you’re going to Robin’s for a sleepover. Wayne’s out most nights, you know”

“And we’ll have to tell Robin about us for that… She’ll have to cover for me if my Mum calls her place,” you reminded.

“I do want to tell them, honestly, but only after we’re a hundred percent sure that we won’t kill them for teasing us.” He stated, and you agreed.

“Maybe I can tell my parents once they’re back. They like you anyways.” You said, burying your face into his neck.

“Maybe,” he said, before leaning in to kiss you again.

“Oh!” Steve gasped, and you pulled away from Eddie immediately, putting a small distance between the two of you as you faced Steve.

You were so lost in the moment that neither of you heard Steve’s footsteps walking towards your room to check what was taking you both so long. And now he was standing at your bedroom door that had been left wide open, smirking at your flustered faces.

“I knew Munson had the hots for you,” he said, “but I didn’t know he’d told you.”

“I did, just a few weeks back,” Eddie said throwing an arm around your shoulders and moving closer.

“Well, no wonder you wanted to take a cab.” Steve laughed.

“Sorry, we did mean to tell you guys in a couple of days,” You explained.

“Never mind guys! I’m glad you’re together.” Steve chuckled, hugging you and patting your back, and doing the same to Eddie. “I’ll be off then. Use protection!”

“Steve!” You groaned.

With a final chuckle, he took to his heel and left the house to you and Eddie, just how you guys had planned originally.

“Just us now?” Eddie smiled, and you kissed him deeply.

“I’ve been waiting all night.” You whispered against his lips, threading your fingers though his hair and earning a soft whimper from him

And safe to say, a lot more than cuddling did happen that night, and you were truly grateful for the happiness Eddie brought into your life.

Should I write more for Eddie?Please give me your reviews!!

[ven0moir]

ONE SIDED LOVE IN ST ... SPOILER ALERT: BYLER IS NOT ONE SIDED.

In S2, the show gave us examples on how they set up a requited vs one-sided love triangle ... and what's interesting about it was that Mike mirrored BOTH parties; the one who got their feelings reciprocated and the one that did not. Take a look at how it was blocked.

In the very first scene of the season, Lucas tells us what's going to happen; 'Princess Daphne' aka Max in this analogy, will end up with him (this was confirmed by the Duffers btw. This dialogue foreshadowed Lucas ending up with Max).

When they first see Max, she's introduced as the new student, aka, she is alone/has no friends. When Mike first saw Will, it was the first day of kindergarten and they were BOTH alone too. Then, Dustin and Lucas both approached Max and asked her to join their party. Mike approached Will and asked him to be his friend.

Mike is mirroring both Dustin AND Lucas, which is also why there were TWO Venkmans but Mike insisted they can only be one. (In meta dialogue, only one would get together with their love interest.) Now, I believe this is all FORESHADOWING Mike and Will ending up together (I don't think Mike was aware/had feelings for Will yet)

When they all go trick or treating, Dustin and Lucas end up spending the night with Max while Mike ends up spending it with Will back in his basement. (It is unclear how long they all were trick or treating for/how long Will stayed over with Mike but since it was established they'd be picked up at 9pm, I'm going to assume that's how long they were together)

Now this is where things shift a bit and it is then Will who mirrors Lucas; they both tell their love interest about the supernatural, and ask them to keep it a secret from others.

Then we see Dustin find Dart and get distracted from his crush on Max by taking care of someone mysterious that is unknown to him but fascinating and intriguing. Sounds familiar?

(I might have to make a whole ENTIRE post on this alone tbh, since there's a limit to how many screenshots we can post but boy, these parallels are quite telling.)

In Mike's case, he also sensed that El would be the key to finding Will. Now before you call me a weirdo for this comparison you need to remember that the Duffers did call Eleven and Mike the 'ET and Elliot' of their show. There are blatant ET & Elliot/Mike & Eleven parallels in the show. So Dustin & Dart/Mike & Eleven parallels were done intentionally.

I mean, even in an interview they said Mike felt like he was taking care of a puppy or something like that, which these parallels bring home. What I think they are trying to portray is their CURIOSITY, not any sort of 'love at first sight' instance. Hence why Mike also has parallels to Benny in the way he met Eleven, because he did see her as a person and not some sort of 'pet' or experiment. (I will actually make a post about this since I feel like it deserves the context, but we'll leave it at this for now).

The party split up after they met in the AV Club to discuss Dart. Lucas and Max got closer, Will and Mike got closer, and Dustin went off on his own, then eventually ran into Steve.

And then when the season closes, this happens. Now what's most interesting about this is how Mike is mirroring Lucas. Eleven showed up and he gets to dance with her instead, just like Lucas is dancing with Max (and he even copies Lucas asking Max to dance).

However, he is also mirroring DUSTIN.

Mike looks sad/conflicted because Will is now dancing with a girl, and we see Dustin staring sadly into the distance as Lucas dances with Max. We also see Dustin dance with Nancy-someone he idealized and at some point had a small crush on, but that eventually he will also let go of in favor of someone he connects with better, just like Mike is dancing with Eleven.

I think that what this set up ultimately foreshadows is that Mike's relationship with Eleven was never meant to be a long-term thing. Whether you think Mike is gay or bi, his feelings with Eleven never developed in this way because they were never able to fully connect romantically.

If we think about how Dustin, the one in the one-sided end of things, closed the season, then we would expect Will closing up S4 similarly, correct? They had Dustin close the season dancing with someone else after getting his heart crushed, and Max with her actual love interest, Lucas.

The last time we saw him, he was moving on from Max, so it wasn't a huge surprise that the next season he had a new love interest. It was expected given how S2 ended for him! His crush on Max was hopeless.

It is worth mentioning that Dustin only knew Max for a WEEK and that storyline was still handled with a lot of respect for his feelings. The show didn't make fun of him for it nor did they punish him. He didn't even get flat out rejected-He never confessed to Max nor did we see his feelings develop beyond just a simple crush. But it was clear how Max had chosen Lucas. Dustin didn't need to tell Max that she was The Heart for her to confess to Lucas, did he?

So if we think about Will ... he ended the season standing in a literal field of flowers next to MIKE. If Byler was truly one-sided, Will would've closed the season very apparently MOVING ON from Mike, with Mike very apparently CHOOSING El.

Instead, the show set them up to still be a TEAM in S5. They left the season in a literal cliff hanger in this regard because Byler getting together is going to be HUGE. I am assuming they will go all out. And I honestly cannot wait to see what they do with them.

[ladykailitha]

Meet Me On the Dance Floor Part 3

Part 1 Part 2

Eddie found Mike on the curb in front of Steve’s house looking like a kicked puppy.

Eddie sat down next to him and bumped his shoulder. “You okay?”

Mike huffed out a bitter laugh. “As okay as one can be having their entire world view turned upside down.”

“It’s a good thing we’re experts at upside down,” Eddie said with a grin. “So hit me. What was so life changing that you ran out of the house like it was on fire?”

Mike blushed. “I think I’m bisexual.”

“Okay,” Eddie said, pursing his lips. “Finding out you’re not straight is pretty mind altering, but not quite what I was expecting.”

Mike sighed. “And I have been since I was eleven.”

Now that was life shattering. “Yeah, how do you figure?”

“Because one night I caught Steve trying to climb up to my sister’s window, and some part of me hoped he’d get the wrong one.” Mike clasped his hands together and silently begged Eddie to understand why without him having to spell it out.

“Steve was you first crush?” Eddie cried out.

Mike started flapping his hands. “For fuck’s sake, keep it down! I don’t want him to hear. Jesus.”

“So wait, why did you attach yourself to me?” Eddie asked narrowing his eyes.

Mike huffed out a bitter laugh. “Have you seen my sister? You two could almost be twins. And I figured Steve had a type for girls and maybe that would extend to boys too.” He waved at Eddie. “Which, clearly, I was right. So when you came along, looking so much like Nance, I thought that if I hung out with you I could figure out how to be the cool version of her.”

Eddie cocked his head and grinned. “Yeah, I noticed Steve had a type, too.” He bumped Mike’s shoulder again. “And I when I thought he was straight, I figured I could tease him about it. A chance to flirt with him without consequence, because I knew he couldn’t return my feelings.” He clasped his hands together and fiddled his rings. “And then I find out that not only did he like guys, too, he liked me specifically. And let me tell you what a revelation that was.”

He waved his hands wildly. “So when I say I get it, believe me. I really, really do.”

Mike sighed. “He said that I got my feelings all jumbled up and started putting the blame on him.”

Eddie nodded. “Sounds about right. He’s pretty smart.”

Mike groaned. “He’s so much better at this than like anyone else.”

“Only because he’s had time to practice.” He stood up. “Come on, I’ll take you home. Just let me go tell the others.”

Mike nodded.

*

To say Steve was surprised to see a crying Mike Wheeler on his doorstep would be an understatement.

“Mike!” he said when he opened his door expecting Eddie. “Hey, man. What’s wrong?”

“El broke up with me,” Mike said.

“Shit,” Steve said with a sigh. “Come on in. I’ll get you some water.”

Mike went to the front room and sat down hard on the sofa.

Steve came out a few minutes later with a bottle of water. “Sorry it’s not cold. Whoever drank the one in the fridge didn’t replace it.”

“No it’s fine.” He opened the bottle and took a sip.

“So what happened?” Steve asked, sitting down next to him.

Mike sighed. “After we talked I realized that I hadn’t spent much time with Dustin and Lucas and especially Will, so I thought we could have a camp-out just the four of us. Like in the old days before the Upside Down.”

“Sounds like fun,” Steve agreed. “But she wasn’t a fan?”

“She wanted it to be all of us,” Mike said leaning his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands. He looked down at the floor. “Her and Max and Erica, and you older kids, too. But I just wanted it to be us boys. Especially with Lucas going to Duke, and Dustin MIT and me UCLA. Will hasn’t decided which one of the many schools he got into to go to yet.”

“So with the four of you being literally flung to the far corners of the country you just wanted to have some guy time,” Steve said. “Makes sense.”

Mike threw his arms in the air. “Tell her that. I told her we would be have plenty of parties and get togethers with everyone before we leave. But I just wanted to hang out with my friends.” He let out a shuddering breath. “Then she asked if Max and Erica weren’t friends.”

“Ouch,” Steve commiserated.

“Yeah.” Mike’s voice cracked. “So I backpedaled but that only seemed to make things worse. And then the next thing I know she was telling me we were through and was storming away.”

“Fuck, man,” Steve said. “Being dumped is by far the worst feeling of your life.”

“Is this how it felt when Nancy dumped you?” Mike asked.

Steve sighed. “Probably worse. I’m not trying to compare pain. But you had some inkling that things between you weren’t going well. I got completed blindsided. She called me bullshit. Couldn’t even tell me that she loved me at any point in our relationship.”

Mike winced. “I wish I could say I’m surprised, but I’m really not. I love my sister, but sometimes she can be a real hardass. Which works for being a reporter and fighting evil, not so much when you want to be romantic.”

Steve laughed. “Seems to be working out with Jonathan.”

“Yeah, yeah it is,” Mike said.

Steve bumped his shoulder. “Maybe it’s fate that Wheelers and Byers are meant to be.”

Mike blushed. “Will wasn’t my first boy crush, though.”

Steve frowned for a moment. “Ah.”

“Yeah,” Mike said with a bitter laugh.

“Explains all that latent hostility,” he teased.

Mike’s laugh was clearer this time. “Yeah, I guess it does.”

Steve smiled. “So you going to ask Will out?”

Mike hung his head. “I don’t know man,” he whispered. “I want to but what if that ship has sailed?”

“So chase after it, Mike,” he whispered back. “Seriously if Will is who you want, don’t hide it. Let him know.”

“Thanks, man,” Mike said.

“Finish that water,” Steve said, pointing to the water in his hand. “I’ve got to get ready for work.”

Mike nodded.

Part 4

[sunflowersteves]

A whole kiss just for me? Than of course I have to make a request with the fruity four, what about Eddie being too shy to talk to the reader because he has a really big crush on her and thinks she's really cool because they like all the same things, so the rest of the group come in and wingman for him and it's all just kind of awkward and embarrassing for everyone, but in the end the reader agrees to a date if the "wingmen" don't tag along and make it any more awkward and weird.

a whole kiss for u!!! muah <3 join fruity four saturday!!

Eddie had the biggest crush on you, ever and it was driving the gang absolutely insane. don’t get them wrong, though, they love you. you’re a nerd, a geek, and a metal head—who wouldn’t have a huge ginormous crush on you?

but it was more so Eddie’s actions that were getting on their nerves. like you didn’t show up to a dnd session one time and he’s looking around like a lost puppy. not to mention he couldn’t stop thinking or talking about you. “did she bring snacks—oh wait. sigh.” “where’s her character sheet? never mind I found it.” “well, she would’ve rolled a 10 or higher to kill that frost giant, Henderson.”

And Dustin just waved his hands in the air in defeat. Of course, he’s not you! Duh, eddie! and ever since that day, the gang had tried to come up with ways to set you two up together.

you’re all eating pizza in Steve’s dining room after a pretty intense dnd game and you can see Dustin giving Mike weird eye signals. “what are you two doing?” they both freeze and stutter out excuses.

“Yeah, what’s up with you guys?” Eddie is taking a sip from his soda and giving them a stern look. “Nothing!” Dustin was quick to change the subject, “so, um, you like metal right?”

Eddie is glaring at Dustin because he knows that little dude is up to something. you nod, taking another bite of your pizza. “Yeah, I do.”

“So, you like Black Sabbath?” Ok, now it was really getting weird. What the hell is Dustin doing, eddie thought.

You hated Black Sabbath. Eddie knew that and used it to his advantage for teasing you, but why was Dustin asking you that? Then it dawned on him—that sneaky little nerd.

“No, I don’t, actually.” Dustin’s mouth forms an ‘o’ before going completely silent. Well, so much for his wing man abilities.

“What about Metallica? Iron Maiden? Slayer? Maybe Megadeath—” Eddie finally has enough before he’s shooing the two boys out of the room. “Ok time for you to go somewhere else, Henderson and Wheeler.” “But—” “nope, goodbye.”

And then you’re sitting in silence, trying to figure out what was going on. Eddie sighs before going back to his seat. He looks up at you, biting his lip. “You know, Henderson has this grand idea that I should ask you on a date.”

Ahhhh, so that was it. You bit back a smile, “oh really?” Eddie chuckled, “yeah he thinks I need a wing man and has been trying for months.”

out of the corner of your eyes, you could see a little head with luscious curls pop out from the door. “I don’t know, sweetheart, I guess that depends on your answer to my question.”

you wait for him to ask, eyes locking with Eddie’s. Oh, wow, he’s nervous all of a sudden. “Will you go on a date? with me?”

you’re smiling wide, getting up to walk over toward him. “I’ll say yes, but only on one condition.” He’s raising an eyebrow in suspicion at your response.

You grab Dustin forward and before you know it, mike, lucas, max, el, and will are all falling down with him. “Promise me that they aren’t invited.”

Eddie laughed, “cross my heart.”

[instasiswetrust]

In Glory, In Ruin (Part 1)

First (You're here) || Next

-----------

"Bet you think you're offerin' me the deal of a lifetime, huh? Get me off the streets, sure, but at the cost of my freedom. Use me as a brood mare 'til you get your little royal heir. Maybe you'll even behead me after. Wouldn't that be fun?"

Steve blinks, making a grossed out face. "Ew no, why would people even- No, no. Not at all. My parents want me to get married so they can get a better deal, and I don't want to. I'm just trying to spite them.”

A beat

"You're an omega?"

Billy hisses because he gave himself away by running his mouth

"Look, you want to mug me and go off on your way, that's fine. I swear I won't even put up a fight.” Steve can't exactly scent himself to know what he's projecting right now, but he hopes the calmness he's feeling somehow translates. “But if you want to do me a favor just so I can spite my parents and get money out of the deal, be my guest.”

The knife lowers, but the posture doesn't change. Still taught lines and that frankly very intimidating mask and the light scent of rooftops and dust.

"Why the fuck would I do you a favor, literally marrying you, just to spite some noble fucks I don't even know?"

It's charming in a way that surprises Steve but he doesn't want to get distracted when the guy is still holding a very sharp knife in his hand.

“You don't have to.” He shrugs. Murray always said sometimes you had to take a gamble in life and Steve had decided if there ever was a time to start taking chances, it was now. “But if you do, the Crown Prince would owe you a favor.”

---

There would be money in it. Things to steal and perfect access to them, to send to Max and El and Kali and so many other horrible little brats that he cares too much about. A single fork from the palace could put food into so many orphaned mouths -

Crown Prince ain't that bad on the eyes and, well, Max always did like to tease him. Call him a princess. Well.

Billy takes the mask off. For this sort of thing, it just feels like he oughta look the man in the eye.

"Fine." He says, jaw set, looking up with fire in his eyes, "Count me in."

---

And for the first time in a life where he's always known what to say and what to do in every situation presented to him, playing his perfect prince mask to a T, Steve feels words die in his throat as his mouth goes dry.

It's not the looks that do it. Despite how shallow and stuck up he might appear to the public, beauty has never been something he gave much importance to. Sure, the man (The Omega), is easy on the eyes but he's no Princess Carol.

But the fire in those eyes?

It makes him wonder if this was the best or the worst decision he would ever make.

“Then it's a deal.” He offers his best smile, one of the honest ones, as he offers his hand out.

---

Billy casts his eyes down to the offered hand and works hard to suppress the smirk that bubbles up. He spits on his hand. Takes the prince's and shakes it firmly, with all the strength of a skilled and practiced knife-wielder.

"Pissin' off the king and queen ..." Billy clicks his tongue. Looks up at the fool that's going to marry him, through his lashes, through his skepticism. "You better protect me, husband."

---

For a second Steve feels like laughing as he shares a spit shake with someone other than his little brother. It's nostalgic rather than disgusting, and he gives the hand an extra squeeze before pulling away.

But then the man looks at him through lashes that are unbelievably long and that settles it for Steve. It is the worst decision he's ever taken solely because he knows he won't come out of this unscathed.

(Nancy always said he's like a puppy when it comes to crushes. For all that he hated it at the time, he knew she was right.)

He swallows, looking away and fixing his clothes as an excuse for the sudden loss of visual contact. When he answers though, he's deadly serious.

“They won't lay a single hand on you, that I will swear on.”

[kaypeace21]

i'm losing hope of byler being an endgame :( milevens say that we are invalidating mileven, besides having several scenes that they show "passion/love". they make fun of us, besides always giving reasons why mileven is an endgame, and disrespecting other people's ship, and maybe actually Will will be with another boy right?? idk but I really hope I'm not being deluded

lol  lets not focus on byler for a sec and mostly discuss mileven. what scenes show mileven’s  ‘passion/love’? Because the show invalidates mileven constantly-why they’re so aggressive/afraid of us.THEY KNOW IT’S DOOMED (they live in head canons and nothing else).  I’m going to try keeping this short by doing bullet points.

-The writers in s3 threw in a telemarketing joke just for Mike to say “El. no. sorry not interested” and hang up the phone. 

- Flo  in s1: “only love makes you that crazy and that damn stupid.”

Mike: “if we’re both going crazy. we’ll go crazy together right?”will: “yeah, crazy together “ *smile and stare longingly at eachother *————————————————————-Mike: “they do say it makes you crazy”El: “what makes you crazy?”(the exact opposite of crazy together as she continues to be confused over every explanation he gives of love 😂)————————————————————-During the byler fight  Mike says “el’s not stupid!” After this, Will calls himself “ so stupid “ 4x .  rips up photo where they said they’d go crazy together and cries . But, El after fighting with mike happily says: “there’s more to life than STUPID boys .”  El’s catchphrase being “not stupid” which she says in s2 before going to see Mike at the school. And Nancy before Mike says he loves El / Mikeduring the byler fight (about mileven) say “El’s not stupid!”

original gifs  sources

-the s3 stobin confession parallels mileven’s s3 shop confession (full analysis in link). Both El/Robin have bandages on their legs and both pairings sit together (on the floor) during their confessions- and are interrupted by Dustin. And in both straight baits- the guys use the terms “stupid/crazy” but subvert the expectation of it being romantic-as both girls say they’re not “crazy” or “stupid” for the guy. El saying “what makes you crazy?” in response to Mike. And Robin saying she was not into Steve’s “stupid hair” (similar to El saying there’s more to life than ‘stupid boys’/other saying she’s not stupid.”Also the song ‘the first i love you’ only plays twice in s3. During Steve’s romantic confession and robin rejecting him because she’s gay & El’s romantic confession and awkward kiss with mike (where Mike doesn’t reciprocate). Cause Robin/Mike are both gay and will reject the romantic confession.

- Erica making he-man and barbie kiss: “Hey , They’re in love!”Lucas (livid- and standing right next to a rainbow forcing them apart): “No, actually,  they’re not. they’re not even from the same planet.”  El even watches he-man in s1! Mileven is not in love!

Cue El and mike being compared to ET and Eliot -WHO AREN’T FROM THE SAME PLANET (by the Duffers in multiple interviews and in the pilot script ) .   And then there’s the  old euphemism of “girls come from Venus, and boys come from Mars”.  The Duffers saying mileven isn’t in love cause they’re not from the same planet (aka the same gender) -is just them telling us Mike is gay so he can’t fall for El-who is a girl/diff species. They literally have Will say to Mike “welcome to my world” as a contrast. So El telling mike he should ‘stick with his own species’ (aka boys) is another gay hint.

In s2 they even had El wear the same shirt as a 1986 movie character (staring Winona Ryder). The movie is called coincidentally “lucas”- and he’s in an unrequited romantic relationship with a gal named maggie. And he later says him and Maggie are  from “different worlds.” El being movie-Lucas in a unrequited romance, in this scenario. And the other easteregg is the Duffers have st-Lucas  say the “planet/worlds” similar to movie-Lucas.

some milevens also attribute romeo/juliet to mileven cause Dustin mentioned it while mileven was out of shot. But romeo & juliet weren’t actually in love-it was just kids in infatuation. And also used to describe the unrequited infatuation of Lucas/Maggie.

-Also when dustin in s1 says el is “like a wizard” (like Will.) Mike corrects dustin and says “more like yoda”. Really hammering down the alien references- which the Duffers reference to el in interviews all the time-by comparing her to et . In the pilot they even said mike and el are like “Eliot and et.” They said they made el dress like a ghost cause et did so- and then for the extra burn they made mike a ghost hunter/buster. And they also said that EL’s makeover in s1 was like et’s in the movie. And sorry ... who compares the girl they “crush on” with a green gross alien (yoda)- kind of shows how he sees her more as this foreign superpowered entity rather than a girl/crush. And on what planet is et /Eliot romantic??Answer is -it’s not. 

- In contrast, They have Mike and Will parallel  Diane and Venkman. In ghost Busters, Mike -is Venkman- and Will -is Dana Barret- who Venkman flirts with shamelessly until she is possessed. Dana finds a demon-dog in her fridge, and hires the ghost busters. And right before Venkman goes on a date with her she is possessed by the big-bad, Zuul, and is transformed into the gate-keeper (who controls demo(n)-dogs). Venkman proceeded to try to talk to the real Dana , ignoring her possessed form and eventually realizes how serious her condition is, is forced to sedate her. Eventually with the help of his team, Venkman closes the gate to Zuul’s dimension, rescuing Dana in the process. And Venkman plants one on Dana before riding away in triumph. While, El is a ghost and Mike is a ghost hunter XD

Notice in the same season lucas says mileven is ‘not in love’ and compares mileven to he-man and barbie .  Dustin has a  he-man & Et next to each other (along with a ghost buster sign above them, and the ghostbusters-trap next to et). This just reinforces the mileven eastereggs I’ve already talked about -  and how they want you to make the connections  about mileven not being in love. They showed et/barbie next to he-man, had El watch he-man, compared El to Et (who had a barbie-like makeover/ghost costume), so the next he-man ref of ‘not being in love’  cause rhey’re from different planets would connect in a more obvious way to mileven.  Same with Et next to the ghost trap and ghost busters sign (and El dressing as a ghost and Mike as a ghost buster-as an extra burn).

- Mike dehumanizing El is hammered down again when they compare s1 mileven to s2 dart /dustin (a demo dog) , to further show how un-romantic it is. Fin even said the duffers told him Mike saw el (OFFENSIVELY) as a “puppy’ (right after s1).  And of course millie accurately said “what a horrible way to describe me!”But the parallels are there: Dustin/Mike sharing sweets ( nougat vs eggos) for breakfast and saying they’ll have to wait for them to come home from school. And having mike annoyed, say  “a bond? cause you shared nougat?!” is dissing milevens who think the ego thing is cute/romantic. Dustin/Mike saying they ‘promised’ to take care of them and that they ‘trust’ dustin & mike. Dart killing a cat and El almost killing a cat. Dustin/Mike trying to convince Lucas- Dart & El aren’t bad. The boys thinking both El & Dart were bad guys causing both to end up running away because of that. Mike even admits in s1 he doesn’t like eggos and told El she doesn’t have to eat “like a dog” anymore.  it’s ironic when Mike says to Dustin “she’s not a dog” cause he treated her as such. Why El says in s3 angrily , “am I your pet?” It’s because he did/does unfortunately treat her this way to some degree. 

-They Parallel Mileven to Hopper & El (since mileven isn’t actually romantic)!

*teaching the meaning of promise vs com-promise. And making “promises” to eachother is not some super romantic thing- for just mileven.

* Telling her to eat “real food” vs eggos

* saying her new look is “cool”and saying it’s “bitchin” after El says the look is.

* Saying others are “corrupting her” and in response gals say neither respect her ability to make “decisions” in regards to romance. Hopper not accepting Mileven together (want them to break up)  and Mike not accepting she dumped him.

* Max saying to not let Hopper/Mike control her

*El saying “you lie” to both of them

ok , back to listing other points

- they dance to ‘every breath you take’ a break up song about a stalker ex who can’t accept he is now with her friend. The writer of the song also has said many times “it’s NOT a love song.” The duffers obviously knew that. Lumax also danced to it and Lucas was called a ‘stalker’ . El also stalked Mike in s2 (all that stuff milevens found romantic- El watching him without him knowing. Mike says he was not ok with it in s3). And in s3 he said not to do that and she just says ‘i make my own rules’.Plus, sting (the singer) mentions it’s supposed to sound romantic but the lyrics are sinister. And that the ambiguity/deceptive happy -romantic tone was intentional. Kind of like how people think mileven is healthy and in love when the show (ambiguosly says ) that it’s not -and the “opposite”.Just like the song being misinterpreted as romantic because of its deceptive packaging -mileven is the same . Mileven got popular cause everyone missed all the warning signs it wasn’t healthy (cause it was packaged as ‘cute’ and ‘ in love’) when behind the surface it was shown to be the opposite and not healthy.

 Not to mention Nancy teaching Dustin how to dance is a direct parallel to Mike teaching El. 

Mike also tries to act like Dustin, and  forces Will to dance with a girl (who’s wearing a rainbow hair clip). Trying to be a good sport like Dustin is about lumax. And right after this we see Dustin look sad about Max/Lucas dancing and Mike (next to Dustin) look sadly at Will/girl dancing in the same exact frame as Max/Lucas. As they switch between these 2 shots to emphasize their sadness/jealousy.Then they both sit down (mirroring each other) on the verge of tears before Nancy and El show up to comfort them and distract them.  As El once again (presumably) wears Nancy’s dress. Mike after El asks “will you be my brother?” “you cant go  (to the snowball) with your sister... i mean you can but it’d be really weird.” 

- before their first kiss in s1 she asked if he would be like her brother (after being compared to a cousin, and being compared to Holly, and wearing Nancy’s dress.) In s2 they even make a direct parallel to Luke &Leia (who were siblings who had a weird romantic relationship/kissed before realizing they were related). Mike (as Leia) saying “it’s a trap” to El (Luke). 

- Mike in s1 writes a d&d story for Will inspired by star wars.  in ep one Will tells Mike “it was a 7, the demogorgan it got me.”At the end of the season Mike writes a whole story of him and his friends killing a 7 headed monster, and showing the decapitated head of the monster to king Tristan (Will). Similar to how at the hospital he tells Will to not worry cause “it’s dead now”. This is right after Will rolls a 14 (cause Mike and Will are 7s together). And Mike who is a fan of starwars has King Tristan give them medals after killing the monster. Cause he wants Will/king tristan (instead of Leia -a girl) to present him with medals and be his romantic love interest (and praise him for being a hero).

- They had Dustin call mileven “bullshit” just like stancy (who were never in love). And in s3 for almost every single character in the show to dislike mileven . if that isn’t a cry for help from the writers idk what is XD

other stancy parallels: Making out on a bed to cheesy music. stancy wasn’t in love but they kissed the most in the series and nancy and steve (similar to mileven exchanged ‘i love yous’) but weren’t endgame and it was never love. Mike and Steve sing to their gfs and neither girls are fans and cut them off.In s1, both Nancy/Mike slap Steve and El and then both yell “ What is wrong with you?!”  Stancy/mileven are compared to Karen/ted who according to Nancy “never loved each other”. El is a fan of ted’s lazy boy. (Karen in s3 looks at Ted in the chair when the lyric “I should have walked away “ plays). And Steve and ted continuing to eat chicken as their gf /wife storm off from the table upset , and they do nothing. After the mileven and Karen/Ted fight- Steve says while eating “what did I do?what did i do?” And mike while eating says about el after their fight “what did i do wrong? what did i do wrong?!Steve and Ted both tell Mike to “stay on the bench/you’re on the bench.” Karen/ ted that they “never loved each other” (just like mileven and stancy which are “bullshit.”) All 3 wheelers were with people cause it seemed like the rational choice ( rich guy/ popular guy/ girl). Not to mention mike said “ I don’t remember” ( in reference to saying he loved el ) . And doesn’t say it back when el says “I love you”. Which mimics Nancy in s2 saying “I don’t remember ” (saying the stancy relationship is bs) . And she is also unable to say she loves Steve when he says“say you love me.” And Steve and el walking away as both wheelers stand there in silence. Unable to say “I love you” back.  Also, when stancy officially breakup it also pans to mileven on the porch as another parallel.And 11byers mentioned (at Christmas)  jancy has a moment but despite stancy’s issues she goes back to Steve where she looks sad over the decision .  Similar to how Byler have a moment , but then after , mileven talks about christmas  and they have that awkward kiss. In s3, steve when talking about stancy and trying to be popular even says “dustin’s right it’s all a bunch of bullshit.” (meaning Dustin’s right about mileven). Steve even says “everything people tell you is important that you’re supposed to care about- it’s bullshit.” (same season Mike mimics Lucas’ words from s1 about El being the “most important thing”.

-They also had Mike tell Max “i don’t hate you. I don’t even know you.”  Aka he can’t hate Max or love el cause he knew both for a week-and doesn’t know them. The amount of mileven burns that were in s2 -were insane XD.

other direct contrasts between Mileven & byler 

besides the ones already mentioned. 1) ‘crazy together/so stupid’ vs ‘what makes you crazy?/el’s not stupid/more to life than stupid boys & 2) ‘they’re not in love they’re not even from the same planet’ vs byler’s ‘welcome to my world’

3) Mike has drastically different expressions after the byler/mileven fights and the difference in weather and music selection ,convey how Mike is feeling. He looks regretful with Will, and almost annoyed with El dumping him.  Mileven breaks up to upbeat music on a sunny day (the break up being in front a crowd and a joke) vs the morose music and the storm shown (with just Mike and Will fighting ). We are supposed to take the byler fight seriously and the mileven one as a joke.They had Mike apologize to Will immediately. But with El he says “what did i do wrong?’ (Kind of like how ted, after pissing off karen says “what did I do?”)And then had Mike wait by the phone for her to apologize- says sexist stuff about her. Then have mike laugh/burp and talk about cheese and El to laugh about the break up/high five max and immediately oggle a pic of another boy/male celeb (unlike Will who looks sadly at the pic of Mike after their fight). And then after staring at the  teen-male celeb,  El says she’s not sure if  Mike’s a good kisser cause he’s just her “first boyfriend” and she has no other boys to compare him to (implying she’s thinking of other boys in the future).  Contrasted to Will who said he thought him & Mike would never get gfs but just spend the rest of their lives together. El after all these events, then happily reads comics  as Max says she shouldn’t hang out with Mike all the time. VS Will having him sadly read his comic to distract himself  only to throw his comic on the ground right before he looks at the pic of mike from Halloween (where they said they would go ‘crazy together’), calls himself stupid (unlike El saying there’s more to life than stupid boys/mike saying El is not stupid-aka in love ). And then destroys castle byers /crIES after the their fight. These events were perfect opposites.

4) When Mike says in the pool shed she’s the “most important thing in the world” to him. she cuts him off and says Hopper is right about them spending too much time together. But when Mike in the shed says asking Will to be his friend was the “best thing he’s ever done” (it was practically the cliche of true love breaking the curse) XD.

When Mike says to El  “you’re most important thing to me” in the pool shed. El doesn’t even acknowledge the comment (and neither should the audience- cause the words were empty). The framing of this mileven scene was not cinematic or heartfelt, and neither was the delivery from Mike. He’s not crying, trying to reach her with proclamations of his genuine feelings. There’s no dramatic music, framing, lighting or shot composition (and the scene was incredibly short).And El just responds and cuts his supposed ‘true feelings’ off- only to agree with Hopper and says “ what if he’s right”  . I didn’t speed this up FYI.

Juxtaposed to the MUCH longer byler shed scene. A literal single tear falling down his cheek as Mike , recounts the first day they met. This whole monologue is only of tight shots of just their faces (their bodies aren’t shown like in the pool shed scene). With contrasting colors of light and shadow.This is a personal moment between them and them alone- and the fact we zoom in on their faces (expresses this to be important emotionally) . And when we see Will’s reaction to Mike saying “it was the best thing I’ve ever done”. We just see Will’s face only- no music is playing and all we hear is  Will’s whimpers and Mike crying in the background.*

5) Max in s2 at Will’s house questions how Mike can still trust Will now that he’s a spy for the mf . Max (in s3) at El’s house: says that Mike doesn’t trust El- and Mike mentions that her spying is why he doesn’t trust her.  in s2, Mike: “if anyone could stop them it’s Will“. Max: “ I thought we couldn’t trust him that he’s a spy for the mf now?” Max in s3 calling Mike out  : “El has saved the world twice. And Mike still doesn’t trust her.” Mike: you want to talk about trust really?! after... Eleven spied on us! I guess girlfriends don’t lie they SPY!”

Not to mention - the fact is... El has “saved the world twice but Mike still doesn’t trust her” to fight the mf. Yet he 100% believed Will could defeat the mf -despite Will being possessed/a spy for the mf . And despite the fact Mike  thinks Will has no powers - unlike El ( but we all know he does , though :P). And, Mike even says Billy is dangerous cause  the “mf is in him ...Billy’s mind is sick, diseased” (but with Will possession -Mike still trusted him).  Max rolls her eyes and stares challengingly at Mike cause she remembers what Mike said about Will in s2- and the hypocrisy . And she finds it annoying how little faith he has in her compared to his almost unmoving-trust in Will (who at the time was possessed) . Mike has 100% trust and faith in Will-but simply doesn’t trust El.  And MAX KNOWS IT! Cause she’s paying attention. Like her facial expression/raised brow, at the end, is a challenge- you think non-superpowered Will could defeat the mf but not El with a history of fighting monsters? You say Billy possessed by the mf is dangerous- but still have more faith in Will possessed by the mf- than your own gf?! tbh El couldn’t defeat the mf (so technically him trusting Will over  El was proven to be correct). He wasn’t right about the El ‘giving up’ bs and he was still wrong for not respecting El as her “own person” with her “own free will” : not believing in El’s ability to make decisions like breaking up with him/ not believing El made the idea to spy on him, etc . But, Team work has always been what saved the day in s1-2, so over-relying on El to do it all and acting like she was the messiah ( like most of the st fanbase) was a poor plan . It’s not the El-show (it’s an ensemble cast with several mains). When they relied on her only ,to be the chosen one- she lost her powers, 30+ people d*ed, and they had to save her.

6) ) El and Will both calling for “Mike” alone in the upside down . And Mike “never giving up” on them.In the exact same ep (s2 e2) , both call for Mike from the upside down. El saves herself without Mike’s help. But Mike rushes to save Will crouching to comfort Will (whose body language mirrors El’s but who was alone in the forest after she sees mike and he did nothing). 

in s2 ep 1, both call for Mike ,but Mike only comes for Will -not el. It was like how Nancy in s1 called for Jon, and jonathan pulled her out of the upsidedown.  And as Jonathan and Mike both pull Nancy and Will back from the upside down , Jonathan says “I got you”. And Mike says “I got him “ twice. But mileven is like how barb while in the upsidedown called for Nancy (but nancy didn’t hear her screaming her name-cause it shows symbolically Nancy does not return Barb’s romantic feelings). Just like mileven.

Mike even saw Will’s dead body but the second he heard his voice he convinced everyone he was alive. Mike deep down assumed El was dead he brushed off seeing El as seeing things (like how Hopper described seeing Sarah). He even tells Max “ they took her just like they took bob” who was dead. Then a few minutes later lies and says he “never gave up” on her when she appears alive (which was a lie cause he just said she was dead). When El goes to his house Mike doesn’t ever go the forest to find her (unlike how Mike went into the forest in the pouring rain twice for Will). The truth is the only person he ‘never gave up on’ was Will.

7) They have El & Will have pics of Mike on Halloween (same night of the ‘crazy together’ speech). El only has a pic of Mike being miserable  and Will has pics of Mike staring at Will, and smiling next to him- despite the joke Mike never smiles in photos , this isn’t the case when mike is next to Will (he always smiles with Will). Cause being crazy with Will makes him happy - unlike his relationship with El who he fakes being ‘crazy’ about .

zoom in of Will & El’s pics of Mike: Will’s pic on left vs El’s on right . XD

8) Millie said El is “obsessed with Mike” so she has Mike-themed stuff all over  her room. She has a drawing with a heart that says mike on it/random heart pics, mike pic, dice that spell out mike, mikes’ stuff. So, It’s funny that mike has nothing relating to El at his place. In contrast to this, he still has 5 d&d drawings from Will on his wall (that he’s kept on his wall for 3 years despite removing an old poster from that same wall-which he gave to El). Mike even put up a 6th Will-drawing in s3- next to his new poster. And he never put a single 1 of her many drawings on his wall-just Will’s).

back to other points...

- They compared mileven to karen/billy. El in s2 , mimics Erica Kane who m(in the ep she is watching) rushes into a relationship with a writer named Mike Roy. (That relationship is not endgame-and  literally ends with one of them stalking and sabotaging their next relationship, but eventually accepting it’s over). This, also parallels Karen/ Billy. Before she meets him in s2, Karen is reading a romance book that has a guy that resembles Billy on the cover. The Duffers even mentioned they changed the cover to show the resemblance between Billy and the fictional book character. And we see Karen reading the sequel in s3 before Billy appears. Both El and Karen don’t/didn’t love Mike or Billy- they just projected onto them fictional characters they were infatuated with. El being into Mike roy- but projecting her crush on to Mike wheeler.

-They had El’s whole s2 arc be destroyed to show mileven is bad for her. “friends don’t lie” to let me lie to my friends so I can kiss mike and ditch them. lucas even said “they’re lying (about her curfew).”And lie to Mike about hearing his confession. Then in s2 trying to leave the cabin to experience the world and see my friends and fam again. To literally ignoring them all for 6 months and never leaving the cabin-despite Hopper letting me leave the house in s3.

- El in s3 says Mike treats her “like a pet” and “garbage”.

-In s1 Mike referred to her as a ‘weapon’  to help get Will back. smacked her when he thought she lied about Will being alive and said Lucas was right about her all along when he thought Will was dead and he couldn’t use her anymore. 

- They had El never apologize for spying/stalking . And  Mike never apologize for lying -despite it being the cause of the breakup . And had mike not reciprocate the kiss/ or say ‘i love you ‘ back  and had his eyes open while the same exact song plays that robin came out to: called ‘the first i love you’). These are the only 2 times the song plays in s3. The ‘first i love you’ also sounds like ‘the first lie’ - that song played when jancy said they were just friends. it sounds the same cause jancy lied about it not being romantic while mileven lied by saying it was.  He never apologized for lying cause the love is the lie- like Max said “boyfriends lie ALL THE TIME”. And it’s why the camera panned to Will when Lucas asked why Mike lied to her. And he never answers El’s question of ‘why do you lie?!’ (he just looks up silent and guilt ridden).This awkward kiss all happens in Will’s room too while Mike is in front of an open closet (while El is holding Will’s old bear).  

Plus he also fought with Hopper in s2 (’about El’) in Will’s room too. He wasn’t actually calling Hopper the liar he was calling himself “a stupid disgusting liar”out of self hate .  That scene was foreshadowing his lying to El in s3 (about his feelings for her). He blamed Hopper for his feelings for Will cause he told himself it wouldn’t have escalated if El had been around to ‘fix him’ . “I BLAME YOU! NOTHING ABOUT THIS IS OK! NOTHING ABOUT THIS IS OK. YOU STUPID DISGUSTING liar, liar, liar, liar”.starts crying.

- Mike says “i never gave up on you (to El). “ When moments earlier he says “it took her just like it took Bob.” HE’S LYING AGAIN. He always thought she was dead -he was just hoping she was alive so he didn’t have to blame himself. He felt bad for treating her like a “weapon”. Mike saw El and didn’t even bother looking for her in the woods cause he assumed she was dead and was hallucinating. Mike saw Will’s dead body- but heard his voice and got him from another dimension (for El he couldn’t even bother to walk into the woods). Despite going into the woods in the pouring rain 2x for Will in s1& 3. El and Mike both call for Mike in the upside down (Mike in the same ep only comes for Will).

- They barely spoke to each other and all they did was makeout for 1 ep (while Mike put a drawing of ‘Will (the fire wielding) wise’ on the wall to help him kiss her/ with rainbows pic everywhere in the room to signify he’s gay and lying).  All while listening to a mixtape Will gave him as he kisses El.As Mike moves her hands off him (and sings a song from ‘boy in the box’) and El says to Max later she doesn’t know if mike’s a good kisser . And Mike rushes to one of his many established double-dates with Will and lumax  (x). And Mike in s3 when dating el, removes the sign of the heart being propelled by a rainbow (which he had before meeting El in his basement) .BUT it follows him symbolically ,as a drawing of a heart being propelled by a rainbow (in el’s room- cause no matter how much he kisses el there, he can’t escape his rainbow/being gay.)

-as mileven kiss in s3 e1. We zoom in on the drawing of Will the wise (the lyrics over the pic are “a little more time can open closing doors”). And then Mike continues to sing this song from ‘boy in the box’ (cough closet).Will in s3e1 says he won’t fall in love and the song then a diff song plays “love that was new to you , you open up the door.” mileven at the end of s3 kissing in front of Will’s open closet door with Mike’s eyes open not kissing back , and saying he doesn’t “ remember “ the love you and just says it was “in the heat of the moment”. The mike song being from “boy in the box” (closet). And they make out to “I can’t fight this feeling” which the singer says is about wanting to admit your feelings to your friend of many years and being afraid it’ll ruin the relationship. Aka even when kissing El he’s thinking of Will and admitting his feelings and not being able to fight his feelings

- Mike saying about Max “awesome? you don’t even know her.” Dustin says “ i don’t have to i mean look at her.” El was said in s1 multiple times to look like a boy (specifically Will). So Dustin and Lucas had no interest in her -only Mike did. BUT when max (a girl who looked like a girl) arrived- they as straight boys  were smitten. And Mike was not interested at all (cause he’s gay). The fact people don’t realize Mike was rude to her because he thought Will liked her too makes me laugh - he even was 1/2 honest in s3 saying he was jealous of her  XD 

why in s3 (when she looks like a girl) the compliment to her look is almost the same as Hopper’s comment to her makeover in s2. Paralleling Mike to her dad is the opposite of romantic!

-people say in s3 Will saying “a day free of girls” is gay coded but everyone ignores Mike in s3 saying “BOYS ONLY”. Same energy.

-MiKE has more rainbows than Will: Mike’s rainbow bedroom blinds, the rainbow-heart wooden sign in the basement in s1, the rainbow heart drawing that says Mike in s3, a rainbow sticker in his room, byler standing behind a rainbow poster in s2. And Will with the rainbow ship and the girl he danced with having a rainbow hearts-hairclip.

- People mention Mike saving El in s3 was romantic ( when he hit Billy). But when Billy slapped max he charged in to save her too and tried punching him (despite their beef). that moment wasn’t romantic (unless you think madweheeler is- which no). Mike is just a good person- he also risked his life for dustin. He’s brave and will defend HIS FRIENDS. 

- we’re almost to the end for those not keeping tract mileven is compared to stancy, ted/karen,  karen/billy, stobin, Dart/Dustin, max &mike, barb/nancy, nancy & dustin, siblings & cousins & a parent/kid dynamic. And contrasted to byler.

- Finn, after s1, said the duffers told him,   Mike thinks of her as a “puppy/ “et” , and that Mileven was a  “first summer love thing”- foreshadowing what was mileven’s downfall during the Summer (aka s3). He repeats this “first summer love” phrase 2x.  Millie when he mentioned what the duffers said, rightfully thought the puppy thing was “awful”, but Finn was clearly told mileven doesn’t last -very early on.Summer love” by definition fails-as it only lasts during the summer.  

-It wasn’t a break it was a breakup. Like Max and Will said in response to Mike  “ she said she dumped your ass! That doesn’t sound like a break?!/ it wasn’t!’ Or El knocking all the candy out of the machine, except the kit kat Mike wanted. Slogan of kit-kat “ having a break , have a kit kat.” In other words, it was NOT a break. It was a breakup. Difference is - in s4 it’ll be El who can’t accept this fact , not Mike. Max having to correct El that Mike is her “ex boyfriend” after the breakup (in s3) foreshadows this.The other couples in s3 who fought -were always still paired together in framed shots (jancy/ lumax) were on a break (but got back together- by the end of s3,  not confident about their futures together, but they still have a distinction from mileven-based on such framing). That mileven didn’t get back together. El in s3 was always on her own and Mike was paired with Will (while the other couples were in frame). 

this could go on and on honestly. there’s so much other stuff proving mileven is not going to be endgame. Not to mention all of Mike’s queer coding (x) XD   

[lesbianrobin]

Would love to hear more about your thoughts on Lumax, Stobin and Jopper after that gifset... v cool tags! Never thought of that before.

So I’ve let this sit in the inbox for awhile hoping that my thoughts would eventually coalesce into something smart, but... that hasn’t happened, so I’m just gonna give it my best shot anyway! For those curious, this is the gifset with my tags that anon is referring to, but I’ll be adding smaller versions of the gifs into this post for reference.

To start with, I definitely think that if we’re drawing direct parallels between members of the different core groups (kids/teens/adults), then Lucas, Steve, and Hopper would all be one another’s counterparts. They’re all very kind-hearted, playful, protective, action heroes, the type to step up when nobody else will, but they’re also prone to overconfidence and getting very angry or resentful when they feel they’ve been wronged by someone they care about (Lucas fighting with the party over El, Steve going full 80′s bully when he thinks Nancy’s cheated on him, Hopper with El in S2 and after being stood up by Joyce in S3). This isn’t to say that they all have the same personality or character arc, just that they have a fair number of similarities and often fulfill the same role within their respective groups. (Sidenote: Interestingly, all three of them tend to fill a “pursuer” role in romantic relationships, the one making their intentions known and waiting for a response or going out of their way to “woo” the object of their affections, but this is true of Mike as well. Jonathan is actually the only guy on the show who goes a significant amount of time without making a move on his crush, and the only one who does so after having essentially been told how said crush feels about him. He is also the odd man out among Mike, Lucas, and Steve, all of whom make attempts to “win back” their love interests at various points, whereas Jonathan does not reach out to Nancy after their fight in S3 and seems to have had no intention of doing so before she called to say their lives were in danger.)

There are also definite parallels between Max and Robin (the newcomer to the group, incredibly skilled and confident in her abilities yet harboring a deep fear, outwardly self-sufficient yet longing for friendship and a sense of belonging, snarky, lesbian, pretty, absolute lights of my life). Joyce, however, doesn’t quite fit this mold! She lacks the tough and sarcastic exterior, almost an inverse of Max and Robin; While they seem unflappable yet hide vulnerabilities within, Joyce initially appears rather weak yet hides a wealth of courage and tenacity. This is all relevant, I promise.

Before we go into the gifs, I’d like to ask that you pay attention to the movement of the camera, and you should see what I’m getting at immediately, but I’ll go into it a bit later on.

So, Max and Lucas!

The two of them grab each other’s hands impulsively out of fear when the demodogs are about to break into the bus, and once the adrenaline fades a bit, they realize what they’re doing. While Max seems fine with it, Lucas quickly wrenches his hand out of Max’s grip.

More or less the same thing happens with Steve and Robin!

They hold hands out of fear when they duck down to avoid being seen, and once the adrenaline fades, Robin seems okay with it, but Steve tears his hand away.

I think both of these scenarios are cases in which the people involved feel safer with the person next to them, are in need of comfort, and cling without thinking. There is no intention involved! Maybe if Robin weren’t there Steve would have held Dustin’s hand instead, and maybe if Max hadn’t been there, Lucas would have simply grabbed the edge of the bus seat behind him, or held onto Dustin’s shoulder or the back of Steve’s jacket. We don’t know! All we know is that they did not choose to hold hands in these two scenarios, and both Lucas and Steve were embarrassed by the weakness revealed to Max/Robin through this action, and thus put an end to it. Both Max and Robin seem hurt when Lucas and Steve pull away.

With Joyce and Hopper, however, things are different.

Do you see why I mentioned the camera movement? We have the same downwards tilt as the previous two scenes!! 

At this point, both of the previous scenes have already occurred, so we the viewer have been taught by Stranger Things that if two characters with some romantic potential or tension are standing next to each other when something scary happens and we do a tilt down, that means we’re gonna see that they’re holding hands, and if tradition holds, we’re also gonna see Hopper pull away.

This doesn’t happen.

Joyce and Hopper aren’t yet holding hands as the camera tilts. They’re looking at each other not in surprise as they realize that their fingers are entwined, but as a question, a confirmation, and an understanding. This moment is not involuntary. It is not in response to a life-threatening danger, and unlike his younger counterparts, Hopper is not afraid of the potential weakness represented by the action. The two have been in plenty of dire situations prior to this moment, in the Upside Down and Hawkins Lab and secret underground Russian facilities, but it is on the Gravitron that they choose to hold hands.

Max initially teases Lucas for his crush before eventually kissing him, but then proceeds to dump him time and time again, possibly only going along with the romantic aspect of their relationship out of compulsory heterosexuality or for the fun of having a boyfriend. Lucas goes along with this routine dumping happily and has fun “marching into battle” to win her back. While the two certainly love each other, it is puppy love at most, and they are more friends to one another than they are true romantic partners. They’re on two different pages, one craving the vulnerability and trust that the other hasn’t yet grown mature enough to embrace, and so they cling to each other out of instinct before letting go.

Steve insists that he isn’t interested in Robin, yet later confesses his feelings to her immediately after having been tortured and drugged together. She rejects him outright. It’s unclear whether Steve truly had feelings for Robin that he’d been lying about all along, or if he simply mistook his feelings of genuine love and friendship for romantic interest. While they love each other, it is entirely platonic. They were on two different pages, Robin happy for the comfort of a friend and Steve fearful of a potential crush, and they clung to each other out of instinct before letting go.

A lot has happened between Joyce and Hopper. They’ve both suffered a world of loss, and helped each other through some of their darkest moments. The two love each other as lifelong friends and confidantes. Then, in Season 3: Hopper asks Joyce out. She’s still mourning Bob, and so she stands him up. He holds a grudge. They argue... a lot. Still, at the end of it all, they look into each other’s eyes, and finally, they’re on the same page. They know that they’re more than their worst selves, more than their hurt feelings and their pasts. They’re adults, partners, done with the misunderstandings and missed opportunities, ready to step into their future together, and so they make the choice to hold on. 

I... think those are all my thoughts? I hope this is sorta what you were looking for!! Sorry it isn’t more articulate lmao but thanks for asking!!

[addictofsupernatural]

Emotions (pt. 5)

Billy Hargrove x reader

Summary: Billy and y/n go to prom together, but some people and things get in the way of the two.

Word Count: 2047

Chapter 1 • Series Masterlist • Chapter 6

"Guess where we're going."

You stared at the paper, frowning. "I've never been to one of these before. It's not on the list."

He flashed you a grin, pulling out your folded up bucket list from his pocket. At the bottom he scribbled the words prom together in marker. "Sure it is. What do you say?"

You stood, holding Billy's hand. He stood as well, and the two of you went to your room. You sat down on your bed and sighed. "That's a lot of people Billy. I don't know how I'll do with a big crowd."

He sat next to you. "What do you mean sweetheart?"

"Everybody's going to stare at me. It bothers me when it's a lot of people."

"Why do you think they'll stare at you? Is it because wearing a dress makes you a lot more cuter?" He teased.

You began to play with his hair while resting your head on his shoulder. "You attract a lot of attention, which isn't a bad thing. It's because you're so pretty, but people look at me funny when we're together. It makes me feel weird about myself."

Billy felt a pang of guilt and sorrow. Though you didn't realize it, you basically told him you feel insecure standing next to him. "Sweetheart, never be embarrassed about yourself. You're pretty damn gorgeous if you ask me, and it takes a pretty person to know a pretty person. So go find yourself a cute dress, and get ready for prom in two days. I'll be your date."

"I've never had a date before." You quietly said.

"Well, you got a pretty handsome first date. You must be special or something." He playfully nudged you.

You giggled. "Something like that."

Once he left, Mike walked into your room. "Hey, so, I know that I always talk crap about Billy Hargrove for being a man whore, but really. Be careful. Even though you're an ass most of the time, I still care about you."

You smiled. "Thanks Mike."

Joyce was more than happy to take you dress shopping, after she heard about the prom from Hopper complaining about it. You got a shoulderless, flowy dark blue dress and styled your hair the way Billy likes it.

There was a knock at the door, and Eleven answered to reveal Billy, in a black suit with a dark blue tie. Max was behind him, and shoved past him to get to El. Billy shook his head and huffed while walking inside, where Hopper looked him up and down. "Just, home by 10. Please. And no bad stuff." Billy smiled and nodded.

You walked out of your room, and Billy was blown away. Damn, you were just too sexy for your own good. You walked up to Billy, smiling as he gently grabbed your arm and put a blue corsage on your wrist. He took your hand and the two of you walked out of the house in silence. "So damn beautiful." Billy whispered into your ear before he opened the car door for you.

When he got inside, you immediately reached over to him and gave him a hug. "You're so perfect Billy."

He hugged you back. "Just trying to live up to you sweetheart." He paused. "Could you actually do me a favor?"

You pulled back and gave him a smile that cause him to unconsciously lick his lips. "Anything."

"Could you give me one of those little braids that you did when you were at my house?"

You giggled. "Sure Billy." He scooped you up into his lap, telling you to continue. You shook your head, smiling wider. "Such a charmer."

When you got there, the two girls in front handed you a ballet. "Vote for prom king and queen!"

You both looked at it. "Huh." Was all Billy said.

"Why are our names on it?" You asked.

"Guess people think we look cute together." Billy said, with his head on your shoulder. You looked back at him, and he looked up at you, grinning.

The two of you had fun together. You laughed, you danced, you took pictures. Though Billy didn't show it, this wasn't something he really wanted to do. He wanted to get you dressed up and make you feel special, but he didn't like how many eyes where on you two, or that the music was too loud to talk to each other. But he made you feel special, and you were a potential prom queen. He knew he would make you feel amazing, so it's worth it.

When they called for the king and queen candidates, it was no surprise to you that Billy would win. He looked back to you, giving you a smile and a shrug. You gave him a thumbs up in return, flashing him a grin. "And the winner for this year's Hawkins prom is... Heather Halloway!"

You smiled and clapped. Though you had to admit that it would feel like a fairy tale if you and Billy were king and queen together, you didn't really think you'd win. It's not like people like you, so why would they vote for you. But still, you were very happy for Billy to get his crown.

Billy's smile was wiped clean off when they announced Heather as the winner. She excitedly got her tiara and was immediately on Billy when they had to take a picture together. Right before the flash, she turned his head and gave him a kiss on the lips. He looked over to you, who was watching this happen and walked into the crowd, where he couldn't see you.

Shit. Shit shit shit! Why did you see that?! He didn't want the kiss. He didn't want her. He wanted you! Where were you now? You didn't leave, did you?Shit!

You walked over to the beverage table, where you saw Jonathan in an old light brown suit chaperoning. "Well, I didn't think I'd see you here." You said with a smile.

He looked up and smiled. "Yeah, right back at you. You look nice."

"Thanks. And you look very handsome in that suit." He let out a breath and looked down. "Need community service hours?"

He playfully scoffed. "Why else would I be here?" You giggled. "So, why are you here?"

"Oh, I'm here with Billy."

"Um, Billy Hargrove?" You smiled and nodded. "Isn't he, like, a lady's man or something?"

You smiled and shrugged. "We're actually just friends. Believe it or not he doesn't make moves like that on me. He's just playful with me, is all."

He nodded in response. "So, where is he now?"

"He was voted prom king, so right now he's dancing with his queen." Your smile became a little more forced.

"You like him, don't you?" There was no disgust or judgement in his voice like anyone else; only pure curiosity.

You put your finger to your lips with a smile. "Shh. I know someone shouldn't have a crush on their best friend, but sometimes you just can't help it."

"Yeah, I get that." He nodded, to which you made a face. He noticed. "Try to be nicer to Nancy. She's different from everyone else."

"If you say so." You shrugged. "I just don't like some of things she says and does." Jonathan rubbed the back of his neck. "Your mom was amazing, by the way. For taking me to pick out the dress."

"Yeah. Even though she's a little tomboyish, she really liked it. It's something that she can't really do with her sons, y'know?"

You let out a fake gasp and held his hand. "Don't talk about yourself like that! I'm sure she would love to go dress shopping with you, if that's what you want." The two of you laughed together.

As Billy went searching for you after the dance, he found you grabbing another guy's hand and laughing with him. Billy figured that he deserved that, considering he had another girl pressed up on him for almost 5 minutes. He crept up behind you and grabbed your arms. "Boo." He whispered in your ear.

You jumped, turning around and smiling so brightly. "Hey Billy. Congrats. Feeling like a king?"

"Feeling like I got the wrong queen." He said, taking your hand. "C'mon."

You looked at Jonathan. "Don't tell Nancy, please. I don't want to hear it." Jonathan only nodded.

Billy pulled you away, and another slow song started playing. You loosely put your arms on his shoulders when he grabbed your wrists and wrapped them tighter around his neck. Smiling, you watched him wink at you before putting his hands on your hips. "I didn't want her to kiss me, by the way. She just did."

You nodded lightly. "You don't have to explain yourself Billy."

"I know, but friends don't lie, right?" You chuckled and nodded. "Speaking of which, who was that?"

"Oh, Jonathan? He's the brother of one of El's friends. He's pretty nice, but he hangs around a girl that I don't like."

He hummed. "And here I thought you were kind and adorable to everybody."

"Mm. I'm only adorable to you. Anyways, she's got a boyfriend, Steve Harrington, and–"

"Ugh, King Steve," Billy interjected. "Don't see how he'd ever land any girl."

You laughed. "He's not that bad anymore. He's nice now. He treats me normally, so that's something." Billy made a tsk at that. "Anyways. She strings him along like a little puppy, even though it's obvious that she doesn't like him like that anymore. But she also leads Jonathan on and keeps him with her at all times. I just feel like she wants the best of both worlds, and that'll end up hurting both."

"What's so special about that girl? She got beer-flated nipples or something?" You both laughed.

"Excuse me." Heather said, grabbing your shoulder. "Can I cut in?"

"No." Billy said.

"Billy, you always play hard to get." She smiled. "Let's dance. Don't you want to dance with a real queen?"

Before Billy could say anything, you said, "How about after the song is over, hm?" She gave you a dirty look, but nodded and left. Billy looked at you miserably. So you did get the wrong impression. You pressed yourself against Billy and whispered in his ear. "Let's get out of here." He grinned. Or maybe you know him better than he thought?

The two of you then got fast food and brought it back to his house, considering Neil was on a business trip for a few days. You both sat on the floor and ate while watching TV and talking. You were sitting in between his legs and leaned on him. "I love this movie!" Was what you said before falling silent to watch Back to the Future.

Billy's mind began to wander to places they shouldn't. He thought about how your chest was snug in your dress, and how looking down at you gave him the perfect view. He thought of your soft hair that lay on your bare shoulders. He thought about your skin, looking so soft and calling for his touch. His mind wondered to how your head was tilted, almost like you wanted him to kiss your neck.

Billy cursed himself for thinking like that. You were friends, he shouldn't be thinking that way about you. What would you do if you found out about the ways he thought about you sometimes. What would you say? Would you still want to be friends? He unintentionally jumped a bit when you turned around. You gave him a bright smile. "Why are you staring at me?"

"You're just so damn perfect, my mind can't help but wander." He breathed out. He didn't think before he said that, but it was out now.

Your smile faded as your eyes flickered from his eyes to his lips. You then said in a quiet voice, "If you get romantic feelings towards your best friend, what do you do?"

Billy felt a surge of confidence as he took your face in his hands and went for a kiss. Billy has kissed lots of girls before, but it was never like this. It was never slow and sweet. It was never this kind of passionate. It was never as special as this.

He felt the warmness of your hands as they slid up his chest. As Billy pulled back, he saw you open your eyes and give him a beautiful smile. "I got a crush on my best friend too sweetheart." He said.

You wrapped your arms around his neck loosely. "So, what happens now?"

One arm snaked around your neck to hold you close to him. "Now I get to take you on romantic dates, and be around each other more, and make out and shit."

You giggled. "So it's how we are usually, but closer?"

He chuckled as he admired your happy glow. "Oh, pretty girl."

"Handsome boy."

"Your handsome boy."

"Your pretty girl."

---

Tag List:

@roxytheimmortal @shane-isa-shame @actuallyazriel @tanovic54321 @chipster-21 @jula-bear @ellie2468 @sassysmiles @frozenhuntress67

[robinskey]

hi!! i love your fics sm! so could you do steve x fem! reader where reader is steve’s best friend/ crush and when the byers+el moves( and billy passing away) reader starts taking care of max and nancy(even if they are the same age) like they starts having girls night, hanging more and one day steve and dustin goes to reader’s house and they see them having fun and steve’s like “maybe i should ask her on a date” and dustin’s like “maybe?? no YOU should” please please please! thank you ❤️❤️❤️

Girls’ Night

A/N: Day 7 of my 12 Days of Ficmas! I really loved this request, but I hadn’t had a chance to write it until now. Thank you to the sweet (and very kind) anon who requested it. I appreciate you more than you know.

Warnings: language, fluff, slight angst

After the Byers family moved away, taking with them both Nancy’s boyfriend and Max’s best friend, you knew the girls needed a little extra love. After all, Max and El had grown inseparable over the past year or so, and Nancy spent virtually all her time with Jonathan. For days after their other halves’ departure, both Max and Nancy moped around, the ever-present spring in their steps completely vanished. After about a week of that, you couldn’t take it anymore. You half-asked, half-demanded that they come to your house for a sleepover. One fun-filled girls’ night quickly turned into a weekly ritual.

Occasionally, your best friend, Steve, would drop by. Oftentimes, he brought his sidekick, Dustin, in tow. He didn’t seem to quite understand the premise of a girls’ night. But even though you gave him a hard time about it, you didn’t mind the party crashers-as long as they gave you a little bit of forewarning. You weren’t exactly pleased the night that your doorbell rang in the middle of a skincare session, and you had to answer the door looking like an alien in your pale green face mask. You were incredibly embarrassed, but Steve and Dustin couldn’t stop laughing. You had to admit, it was cute at first; rather quickly, it got old. Eventually, Max suggested that, since they found it so funny, maybe they should get facials, too. The boys spent the next hour lying still on the couch while you smothered a sticky homemade concoction over their skin.

After that night, Steve always made sure to call in advance. 

At least, he usually did. This particular night, however, it wasn’t until he and Dustin had arrived on your street that he realized that he’d forgotten. Steve parked the car on the side of the road and turned to his curly-haired little friend for advice. 

“On a scale of 1 to 10, how mad do you think Y/N will be if we show up unannounced?”

“I’d estimate around a -6,” Dustin answered, “on account of the fact that she’s in love with you.”

A small huff escaped Steve’s lips. “She is not,” he protested. “We’re just friends, Henderson. You know that.”

The smaller of the two boys rolled his eyes. “Yeah, just friends. But you both wish you were more.”

“God, Dustin, you get trick one girl into dating you, and suddenly you’re the love expert.”

“Yeah, you’re right, Steve. Suzie and I are coming up on our four-month anniversary soon, but you’re clearly the expert on relationships, since you’re practically married to the idea of being single and sad about it forever.”

“For god’s sake, Dustin, we’re just friends. Which is why I know she won’t murder me for crashing her sleepover again,” Steve said, popping open his car door and hopping out. Dustin followed suit. 

“I know for certain that at least one of those statements is incorrect,” Dustin stated as the pair made their way across the lawn. Their shoes squished over the soft mud on the ground. The younger boy noticed his friend begin to slow down as they neared the front porch and gave him a gentle shove to encourage him onward. 

As they neared the house, a faint humming grew louder and louder. Eventually, it evolved into a baseline and the voice of Cindy Lauper crooning “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” A thin set of curtains obscured the view into the living room, but Steve could still make out one three silhouettes. One, a slight figure that must have belonged to Nancy, sat on the floor, watching the other two spin in circles around the room. The taller of the two dancing shadows had something feathery draped across her shoulders-a boa, perhaps?-and the other wore some sort of fancy little tophat. All three girls’ giggles were loud enough to overpower the blaring music. Steve stood there, absolutely entranced, as your unmistakable silhouette twirled around behind the curtain.

“Maybe I should ask her on a date,” he murmured, barely aware of his own words. 

“Maybe? No, you should, dude! That’s what I’ve been saying all along!” Dustin half-yelled. 

That snapped Steve out of his hypnotized state. Panicked, he slapped a hand over Dustin’s big mouth. But the damage had already been done.

“Did you hear something?” a muffled voice asked from inside the house. The music ceased.

“Shit, should I get my dad’s gun? I don’t know how to work it, but you do, don’t you, Nance?” the boa-ed silhouette asked the seated girl.

“Oh, come on, guys. It was probably just a dog howling or something,” she answered.

“Some kind of dog that must have been,” the third girl said. Then, there were shuffling footsteps, a shadow growing larger, a tug at the curtain-and a freckled, judgemental face appearing behind the window. Her gaze flicked up and down the pair, still too stunned to move. “No dogs. Just a couple of dickheads,” she announced. Two more faces appeared above hers in the window moments later.

“Steve? Did you tell me you were planning on dropping by tonight? I don’t remember you saying anything about it,” you said, scrunching your brows together.

“Well…uh…not exactly, no,” he stammered. “Look I’m really sorry we scared you.”

“Yeah, I am, too. It would’ve been a shame if Nancy put a bullet through that pretty little forehead of yours, Harrington.”

Steve was too focused on the heart palpitations you induced by calling him “pretty” to acknowledge the death threat. Dustin, however, was no lovesick puppy (except when it came to Suzie-Poo, of course). To be perfectly honest, as sweet as you were, you scared him a little sometimes. So he tugged on Steve’s arm and tilted his head back toward the car.

“Maybe we should go, Steve. We don’t want to interrupt their night any more than we already have.”

The surprise in your eyes quickly morphed into a spark of realization, then a glimmer of mischief.

“Don’t go yet, boys. We were just about to start doing mani-pedis,” you said. “And I’m pretty sure your cuticles could use some work, Harrington.”

Steve, completely unaware of what any of that meant but excited to spend time with you, nodded eagerly, just as Dustin slammed his palm into his face.

General Taglist: @novaddictx @rexorangecouny @morganvanilla @anolddayslover @schwankyblock @anabundance0ffand0ms

Steve Taglist: @broadwayandnetflix @explode-a-pult @whormotional @loulouloueh @peterhollandd @songforhema @linkispink1995 @stoven-harrington

Stranger Things Taglist: @readinthegarden12 @lacunaclouds

If you want to be added to the tag list for a specific character/my writing in general, leave a reply or send me a message! Thanks again for reading.  

If you want to check out more of my writing, here’s my masterlist. :)

[st-fandom-imagines]

Halloween Surprise

Little nonny, thank you so much for this request, I had a lot of fun writing it and I feel like I could totally seeing something like this happening! I'm sorry it got so long, anyway I hope you like it and I hope I made your vision come to life. The prompt list is here if you need it to send requests!! ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡ Request- anonymous asked: You’re so great at writing!!! Can you do Steve x Reader 23, 30, 41, 68. I know it’s a lot but I thought they all fit the idea well but don’t worry if you can’t fit them all!! I’m picturing a Halloween party for the kids and Steve lost a bet to Robin so he has to actually dress up (maybe Dracula or Frankenstein some classic nerdy monster) and he’s screwed because Robin also invited his new crush to the party. (Female Reader is sweet and girly, you can pick her costume!) 23- “I immediately regret this decision.” 30- “Is that blood?” 41- “I’m not drunk enough for this.” 68- “This isn’t what it looks like.” ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡ *Steve’s Point Of View* “I bet you can’t ask (Y/N) out next time you talk to her.” Robin dared me as as watched (Y/N) put the returned movies back on the shelf, putting them all in the correct spots. “Okay, you’re on. What’s the wager?” I asked Robin, believing in myself that I could ask the girl that I have been slowly falling for ever since she set foot into Family Video. “You win, I’ll find out if she likes you or not, that way you can talk to her with no fear of rejection.” Robin promised making me sigh knowing that if that was the pay off then the downside would be horrible. “You loose and I get to pick what your costume is for the Halloween party.” She smirked making me scoff, that was it? If I loose than a couple of kids get to see me dressed like a dork for a night? “Deal.” I confirmed, Robin and I shaking on it, just before (Y/N) walked over to us with an empty box. “So what’s next?” She smiled, looking at Robin for her next task and I just studied her, her smile, how sweet she was even to the rude people that came in here, a trait that I wish I had. “We were actually just talking about what our plans for the weekend, what are you up to this weekend (Y/N), got a hot date?” Robin asked making (Y/N) shake her head back and forth with a slight blush on her cheeks. “No, nothing like that. I think I’m just going to stay home, maybe watch a movie on Halloween. What about you guys?” She asked, her eyes locking with mine, making me clear my throat and ran a hand through my hair. “Yeah, hum, just gunna, uh, hand out candy…and well read?” I hated my answer as soon as it came out of my mouth, read? Really Harrington, idiot. I mentally punched myself as (Y/N) nodded with surprised eyebrows. “Didn’t know that you read, at least not unless you had to, good to know.” She smiled, trying to make my dumb answer have a reason behind it, god why does she make me so nervous? “I actually need some help with putting together some new displays, and I wanted to run something by you anyway, follow me?” Robin asked (Y/N) making her nod and shoot me a small smile and wave as she followed Robin to the back room. I threw my head back in defeat, as Robin walked backwards and mouthed “loser” to me with a big smile on her face. Wow I really messed that one up, now I can only wonder what costume Robin had in store for me. ** “I immediately regret this decision!” I yelled as I stood in my bathroom, Robin waiting for me in my room, to come out in costume. The kids asked me to hold a Halloween party for them seeing as they thought they were too old for Trick or Treating and I couldn’t say no, not after what we all went through this summer and last Halloween. Robin showed up to the party as a Russian soldier, a inside joke with the group, and as I dug deeper in this box for my costume I couldn’t help but groan at each piece that I was pulling out. Fake teeth, fake blood, a giant cape, hair gel?! Oh I was going to kill her. “Hair gel, Robin?! You want me to kill my hair as well as my Halloween?” I asked her through the door as I began getting dressed into my costume. “Dracula is classic, a ladies man, and he has an awesome cape. I went easy on you, dingus, just change and stop complaining, you lost.” She ranted making me nod even though she couldn’t see me, all I had to say was thank god (Y/N) wasn’t going to see me. ** I was finishing putting out the snacks for the kids, putting some drinks in the fridge for Robin and I as the doorbell rang. “Oh, I’ll get it! I invited someone, I hope you guys don’t mind.” Robin jumped up from the couch, telling all the kids, making me look up out of pure confusion. All the kids were here, Nancy and Jonathan were on a date so it wouldn’t be them and all the kids parents were happy that they were out of their hair for a night. Besides, Robin was only friends with me and (Y/N)… shit, (Y/N). As the door opened, I saw (Y/N) walk in, El and Max running over to her to hug her, Dustin looking back at me, knowing about my crush on (Y/N). She was dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, a movie I use to watch a lot as kid. She looked amazing, her hair in two braids, her blue and white checkerboard dress, her ruby red heels, she even brought her family dog in a little basket, it’s like she walked right out of the movie. I turned around and put my forehead on the fridge. “I’m not drunk enough for this.” I mumbled, opening a beer, taking swig before Dustin walked over to me in his Marty McFly costume from Back to the Future. “You are so screwed.” He commented making me look down at him. “Yeah, no shit. If (Y/N) didn’t like me before Dracula, she certainly won’t like me now.” I grunted taking another sip of my beer. Robin set me up, she knew I would take the bet if she left out one detail of (Y/N) coming to the party. I just sighed as I looked at (Y/N) with all the kids, hugging each of them, letting the girls play with the puppy while she complimented the boys costumes. She looked up between talking to Lucas and Mike, locking eyes with mine. “Shit, go back over there.” I pushed Dustin back towards the living room, as (Y/N) walked my way, her heels clicking on the tile. “Nice costume, Dustin. I love that movie.” She smiled making Dustin nod his head towards me. “So does Steve, he helped me with the costume.” He proudly stated, making me smile at him trying to earn me some cool points back. Her smile lit up a room, her personality making me weak the knees. She wasn’t like every other girl, I wanted to keep her safe, to hold her, to have conversations with her, deep ones, I wanted to know everything about her. “Is that blood?” (Y/N) panicked once she reached me, and I both nodded and shook my head no at the same time. “It’s fake blood, so yes, it’s blood but it’s not real.” I explained making her nod and let out a breath. She looked me up and down before smiling at me, making my heart race. “Dracula, huh?” She perked making me nod while taking another sip of my beer. She was about to say something else but I cut her off. “I think the kids wanted to watch a movie, maybe order some pizza, want to help me pick the movie? They always fight on what to watch so I just end up picking.” I offered making her nod with a big smile, more than eager to help me. That was the first time I didn’t sound like a complete idiot while talking to her, maybe this beer was helping me, or maybe Robin planned this all along. ** (Y/N) and I ended up picking E.T., a movie that wasn’t going to freak the kids out but was still entertaining enough that they would get bored. As (Y/N) and I sat next to each other on the couch, I couldn’t help but graze my hand against hers, it was taking every thing that I had not to intertwine our fingers. The doorbell rang, startling us all, (Y/N) getting up from the couch to get the door. “El want to help me?” She asked the girl sitting in front of her, El and (Y/N)’s relationship was a lot like mine and Dustin’s and that just made me fall for her more seeing how she was with her. Once El thanked the pizza guy and they carried it all inside, I saw Robin follow the pair into the kitchen, my curiosity peaked at the trio I got up from the couch to see if they needed any help. *(Y/N)’s Point Of View* When Robin asked if I wanted to go to Steve's Halloween party, I was hesitant at first. I liked Steve, a lot but he didn't seem to like me too much which is his choice, but I didn't want to make things awkward. Robin assured me that Steve wanted me to come so I agreed, not having set plans for that night anyway. I used a costume that my mom had made and wore when I was younger while I dressed up as the good witch, I remembered how much I loved her costume and thought it would fit me, perfect enough, it did. The whole day, I was excited, excited to see Steve and all the kids in costumes, excited to have a fun Halloween. When I got to the house, the kids all welcomed me with warm smiles and hugs, Max and El especially. Steve was quiet, a little distant but what's new with him? I thought him asking me help him pick a movie was a good start but the whole time while we were watching, he didn't do or say anything. So when the pizza got there I knew I could get away from the confusing mess that this party was. I asked El to help me because she was my little side kick, my partner in crime and Robin must have followed us into the kitchen. "He didn't want me here, Robin. He has barely said two words to me." I whispered, not wanting anyone to hear what I was saying. El held my hand as she saw me begin to tear up. "Friends don't lie." El said looking at Robin making me cock an eyebrow, what was she talking about, what was Robin lying about? "Okay before you freak out, Steve and I made a bet that if he could ask you out, I would find out if you liked him or not, if he couldn't then I got to pick his Halloween costume, I just didn't tell him that I invited you to the party because I know if I did he just would have spazzed out more. This isn't what it looks like, he likes you, he just doesn't know how to talk to you without being a puddle of a human being" Robin confessed making Steve clear his throat from the doorway, making me turn around to dry my tears, hoping that he didn't see them. "Talk to him." El said before letting go of my hand and walking out of the kitchen, taking Robin with her. I took a breath before turning around to see Steve leaning against the door frame. I didn't say anything, I just started to plate some of the pizza for the kids. When I went to grab another slice, I felt Steve's hand on mine and I looked up, our eyes meeting. "Why were you crying?" He asked softly making me shrug and sniffle. "Robin asked me here under false pretenses." I responded and he just sighed, taking the pizza out of my other hand and turning me towards him. "I do want you here, I just didn't want you to see me dressed like this. I was excited to see you walk through that door, looking beautiful like always, I just didn't know you were coming, let alone that you came because you thought I liked you, which I do, I just- you make me nervous, you are smart and sweet and the prettiest girl I have ever seen and you deserve better than me." Steve poured his heart taking me by surprise. I couldn't help but laugh at the situation, he scoffed as I laughed, and I started shaking my head, trying to make him understand that I wasn't laughing at him. "I'm sorry, I just- we both like each other but we were both too scared to say anything but when we did, you are dressed Dracula." I giggled out causing Steve roll his eyes and taking his fake fangs out, making him look a lot more like himself. "I love your smile, your laugh, everything about you." He swore, cupping the side of my face, making me smile even harder. "Just shut up and kiss me, Steve." I wished and he smiled before connecting our lips at my request, this was certainly not the Halloween I was expecting.

[carol-effing-danvers]

knock me the fuck out (i dare ya, babe), part three

this is final section in part one of the series “run long, roam far, return soon” part two: “where we grew up” part three: “push me, pull you”

(click here if you’d prefer to read this in AO3′s format)

part one, part two

Billy has no idea what the fuck Steve is talking about, and he has no interest in anything that’s not their mouths touching each other, anything that’s not Steve’s lips and Steve’s tongue and Steve’s hands. 

Billy has no idea what the fuck Steve is talking about, and he has no interest in anything that’s not their mouths touching each other, anything that’s not Steve’s lips and Steve’s tongue and Steve’s hands.

There’s still some of that Old Billy left in him, a part of him that’s always a bit wild – a little blood in his eyes, a little fire in his heart – and it doesn’t usually require too much effort on his part to put that beast on a leash. But everything about his emotions goes out of control where Steve Harrington is involved.

Billy pushes him backward until he hits the wall, hands gripping his sides too tightly, and leans forward to drags his teeth across Steve’s bottom lip. Steve makes a soft sweet sound of startlement, and his hips jerk sharply. A thick hot ridge presses into Billy’s dick and holy shit that is actually Steve’s dick and he’s so big and so fucking hard.

A growl vibrates through his vocal cords and he pushes back hard, almost pinning Steve to the wall with his own hips, grinding against him with enough force to leave bruises on them both and pushing his tongue into his mouth with a wet slide. Steve makes a throaty provocative noise, a purring “mmm”, like he’s taken a bite of something really delicious, his fingers digging into Billy’s lower back to hold him there, blunt fingernails cutting gouges into his skin.

Again, they have to break away for air and Steve draws away with a gasped little “uh” that makes Billy feel so fucking dizzy with want, a string of saliva connecting their lips for just a second before Steve tilts his head back, red lips parted and throat bared as he gasps for breath. The temptation is too great for him – Billy traces over the beauty marks and creamy skin with kitten licks of the tongue, sinking back into his boyhood fantasy with relish, softly biting and sucking at every single one.

“Uhhh,” Steve moans under his breath, dragging his nails over his skin and pulling Billy’s erection into alignment with his own, and Billy is-Billy is gonna fucking explode-

"Ahem." There is a tiny cough, more of a pointed clearing of the throat than someone struggling through a late winter illness. 

The two of them probably jump about a foot into the air, scrambling around to figure who had witnessed them trying to all but fuck in public. Buckley was looking amused and very pleased with herself. Outright gloating, she says "I see I won't be grading any quizzes next year."

Steve is blushing hard, hair wilder than ever and lips kiss-bitten, tenting out of the front of his pajama bottoms with an obscene bulge that Billy needs to get his hands and his mouth on. "I-that-you-"

Robin hands him her purse, with a smug smirk. "Here, cover that before someone calls the cops on us," she says, hazel eyes dancing with laughter. "I told you he wouldn't hit you in the face. I can't believe the two of you had a crush on each other and it took you ten years to figure it out."

Billy whirls on Steve. "You-you had a crush on me, pretty boy?" 

Under normal circumstances, he'd be embarrassed by the way his voice cracks, like an acne-ridden boy, but this is an urgent question demanding an urgent answer. 

"You didn't tell him?" Robin laughs. "Oh, Steve. Honey, you can't let your dick do the talking for you."

"I disagree,” Billy says bluntly, eyes darting over his crotch – currently (tragically) hidden behind Robin’s purse.

“Of course you do,” she says in a tone of humoring him, still far too entertained and smug. “Seriously, Steve. You can’t manage one adult conversation?”

Even more flustered – my god, that pale skin gets so red – “I thought he was gonna clock me, I wasn’t about to have a heart to heart!”

“Why the hell did you kiss me if you thought I was gonna deck you?” Billy demands, skin crawling with the discomfort of old longing and older shame.

Steve shrugs rather helplessly, a very dissatisfactory answer.

“He likes to flirt with danger,” Robin informs Billy grimly, giving Steve something of a gimlet stare. “He’s addicted to risk.”

“Rob!” he yelps, looking harassed.

“Steve!” she mocks. “I’m literally gonna get old and die before you talk about your feelings! Hargrove, Steve-o had a big gay crush on you in high school-”

“Oh my god,” Steve moans, covering his face with his hands.

“Can I safely assume that you also had the hots for my man Steve-o at the time?”

“Uh…sort of, yeah,” Billy mumbles, shocked into near honesty.

She gives Steve a pointed stare. "I draw the line at asking him out for you, dingus."

Wild, terrifying hope surges in Billy. "You wanna go out with me?" 

Steve's big dumb doe eyes are directed at the checked linoleum floor. "You-you don't," he mumbles. "The whole town knows I'm a queer, Hargrove. You don't wanna go anywhere in public with me."

"Don't," he says softly, dangerously, boxing him in against the wall with a hand planted beside his head. "Don't tell me I want. No one tells me what I do with my time."

No one tells me what to do.

"If I say I want a date with you, I mean it." He's throwing himself off a metaphorical cliff here, but the memory of Steve Harrington's face has haunted him for ten years. After knowing his lips and tasting his skin, Billy's sure it will haunt him for thirty more if right now he does nothing. If after all that time, he has a real shot and throws it away because he'd rather stay closeted, if only in Hawkins, then he is nothing more than the scared boy still wilting under Neil Hargrove's control.

Robin, he sees from the corner of his eye, looks almost impressed.

There's a sweet, reluctant little smile tugging at Steve's lips. "Yeah?" With a bit of cheek, a bit of a flirtatious air, he tugs on Billy's button-down shirt. "Can I cook you dinner?"

His brows shoot upward. "Can you actually cook, pretty boy?"

"Say yes, Hargrove," Robin sighs. "If only so I don't have to watch him mope for the next ten years. Even if you don't bone, which is unlikely since Steve is a whore (“Jesus Christ, Rob!”), it’ll probably be the best meal you’ll ever eat in your life. Steve can cook his ass off."

"Wrong choice of words," Steve says dryly.

"Is it, though?" she counters. "If you play 'Hot for Teacher', I'm never speaking to you again."

"Shit, there goes that plan," Steve deadpans.

Billy grins, tongue held between his teeth. These two are great, he feels like he’s watching Frasier, but gayer and with swearing. "The two of you oughta think about getting your own sitcom."

"Saved By the Bell?" Robin suggests tartly. "Unmarried with Children? Friends But Gay?"

"Queers," Billy shoots back. "Like Cheers, Buckley, c'mon now."

"Hey, that's not bad," Steve says brightly. Then, shyer and quieter: "Do you like Italian?"

"The sky's still blue ain't it?" he answers, feeling his stomach do an anxious little flutter.

"Last I checked. Meet me after school this Friday, and be hungry."

Billy feels more daring, more confident, so he lets his eyes traveling up Steve's body. Sex hair, red lips, bright eyes, and a beard rash from Billy all over that snow white skin. "That ain't gonna be a problem."

Steve smiles at him, like he's charmed, like Billy's just charmed him. 

Billy wants to take a time machine, go back eleven years into the past and shake himself so goddamn hard. "Just wait!" He wants to scream in his 17 year old self’s face. "Don’t take it out on him, for fuck’s sake!! All you have to fucking do is WAIT!!"

But he can't do that, and he ends up standing in the store, dumb-struck, when Steve kisses him, fast and hungry, and Robin pulls him out the door.

El watches him at the kitchen door, grinning from ear to ear, looking like a cat that just ate a whole goddamn flock of canaries. "All right you little shit. You win."

"He likes you," she says, looking entirely enamored of this new development. "He really likes you."

Billy's heart goes double-time and his stomach flips all the way over.

Ellie grins even wider. Her chins rests on her fist and she gives one of her excited little wriggles, like a puppy whose seen her favorite person. “You should bring him flowers when you see him tonight.”

He makes a face. “You don’t think it’s too corny?”

“Steve is a romantic,” El coos. “He’ll appreciate the extra effort. And you think he’s worth extra effort, don’t you?”

“Well yeah!” he blurts out, and El’s face is terrifying. Jesus, she looks like a shark when she smiles that way, and Billy realizes that he’s been caught, yet again, havin’ feelings and shit. “I don’t wanna look like I’m coming on too strong. That shit makes some people nervous, you know?”

“Yes,” Eleven agrees solemnly, folding her hands together.

Billy looks at her sharply. “Yeah? What about you, Ellie? You and Max are out here trying to get me dates – you talked to any boy since you and Wheeler broke up?”

She stiffens, fidgeting slightly. “It’s-you know, it’s just more-more difficult because-” El touches the watch over her wrist, worn to conceal the serial number tattooed there. “And the town still think I’m a weirdo, and some of them don’t like me because I’m one of Joyce’s kids, and all of us love Steve. I really only talk to the-the Party-?”

She’s talking very, very fast and she’s tripping over her words and that’s how Billy knows that he’s stumbled upon something that El’s been holding close to her heart. “The Party, eh? Some nerd you-” and he’s falling into a trap but he still can’t see it yet “-got your eye on?”

Immediately after the words come out of his mouth, Billy realizes the black hole that he’s just opened up. The losers who fell into the weirdness of the Upside Down were not a large number. Wheeler, whose relationship with Ellie is over. Byers, who might actually be queerer than Billy himself. Sinclair, who still makes eyes at Max when her back is turned. And-

“Henderson?!” he demands incredulously. “Do you have a crush on Henderson?!”

Eleven, his poor Ellie, fiddles with her apron and stares at a point over his shoulder instead of looking him in the eyes. “I-I didn’t say that. I never said that.”

Oh, poor girl. She doesn’t even have to. El’s face is starting to look blotchy, like she might burst into frustrated tears. “El,” he says gently. “Ellie, any one of the nerd-herd would trip over themselves face-first for you. Ask the boy out – he’s gonna say yes and thank sweet Jesus for the chance.”

Looking outright miserable now, El says “I can’t.” No, she doesn’t just look miserable, she looks like she might be sick. “I’m-I haven’t-I don’t-”

Billy doesn’t really understand what she’s trying to tell him until El gestures at her lower body, quickly swiping angry tears from her eyes. “Oh,” he says, though he can hardly fathom it. “That’s-that ain’t that big a deal.”

“Do you know any other twenty-four year old virgins?” she snaps, flushed with shamed anger.

“Probably Henderson too?” he jokes, then feels like shit when her lower lip wobbles. “That doesn’t matter! Do you…want to?”

“I-I wasn’t ready. And now it’s probably too late. He’s had like ten girlfriends!” El wails, blotting her face again. “They’ve all been really smart and pretty, Billy!”

“Baby,” he soothes, heart breaking for her as he folds her into a hug. “You’re smart and pretty. And I need you to know that if he does anything to hurt you, I’ll take a psychotic level of pleasure in destroying everything he loves.”

A laugh escapes her, thin and watery. “Bitchin’.”

---

"Oh my god," Steve says on way back to the car. "Robin-"

"I know."

"He fucking said yes, Rob-"

"I know."

"I'm making him dinner."

"Mhm."

"Oh my god, what am I gonna do? I'm-I'm gonna fuck this up, Rob, I-" He pauses, taking in the look on her face. Robin is staring at him serenely, brows pitched slightly upwards. "I'm being an idiot again, aren't I?"

"Only a tiny one," she says, with great loyalty.

"Hurry up, I need to clean everything I own twice." Again, when he's sitting in the driver's seat, staring with blank disbelief out the front windshield. "He said he likes me."

"Yeah, babe," Robin says gently, reaching over to squeeze his hand. "He did."

This she won't make fun of. Whom Steve loves, he loves without caution, holding nothing back for himself, and with every expectation that his affection will be spat on and thrown back at him. It was heartbreaking to watch, and she'd seen it happen too many times. 

Trying to keep him from stumbling into a pit of his own anxiety and insecurity, Robin asks "So...is he a good kisser?"

Steve's face floods with heat and he breaks out into this goofy adorable grin. "Such a good kisser, Rob."

She smirks. "It sounded like you were being mauled by a wild animal."

Dreamily, Steve says "His lips taste like strawberry jam and he smells like a bonfire in a forest of pine trees. He can maul me any time he wants to."

"Oh, he wants," Robin drawls with laughter in her voice. "Trust me, he wants.”

He spends nearly a week randomly flooded with giddy anticipation and nervousness but by the time Friday actually rolls around, he kinda…forgets? It’s not that he forgot he and Billy have a date, it’s that when the actual agreed upon time comes around, Steve is a bit too distracted to notice.

---

Billy isn’t dumb enough to bring the flowers with him – there’s forward and then there’s forward, y’know?

Rather than being in his classroom, Billy is stopped short just before he turns the hallway down to the primary kids section when he hears Steve’s voice, quiet and very serious. “Why did you hit him?”

“He-he said I was stupid!” a little boy says, with all the blind impulsive fury of a small child. “Him and Hannah wo-wouldn’t play with me!”

Completely surprising him, Steve solemnly asks “So Denny hurt your feelings?”

A quiet sniffing, and then a mumbled “Uh-huh.”

“That’s wasn’t very nice of him to say, Martin,” he says sympathetically. “Do you want a ‘feel better’ hug?”

Even quieter, like he was scared to say it out loud: “Uh-huh.”

And when Billy peeks around the corner, Steve is crouched on the ground, hugging Martin Roberts as he snuffles into his shoulder. Billy is having an emotion, and it’s A Big One, even if he doesn’t quite understand what that emotion is.

“Do you feel ready to say sorry to Denny for hitting him, and he can say sorry for hurting your feelings like that?”

“Yeah.” Martin does sound much calmer, actually.

Steve stands and spots him, gives Billy a small smile, like he hasn’t just broken his brain a little bit. “Sorry I’m running a bit late.”

“Take your time,” Billy says, thunderstruck.

He wonders what would’ve happened, what his life would’ve been like if one of his teachers had been even half as patient and understanding as that with him. 

---

Billy says "Go ahead and unlock the door, I left something in my car."

Angie is his living doorbell, so as soon as Billy returns and opens the door, she's right there, wailing in her usual piteous manner. Steve already assembled the sauce for dinner, it just needs to be warmed up and the fresh pasta boiled to tender.

"Who is this?" Billy asks, amused.

"That's Angie. Pet her - she expects to be greeted at the door and she won't leave you alone until you do." Steve goes out to the hall and stares, owl-eyed.

In one arm, Billy has Angie who looks very smug at having seduced Steve’s man, and in the other- Dumbly, Steve asks “Did you buy me flowers?”

“Uh…” Billy says, uncharacteristically bashful. He lets Angie drop back to the floor with a heavy thump. “…yes?”

He could tease him – ‘is that a question or an answer?’ – the problem is that he’s stumbled and fallen face-first into a giant pile of infatuation. “They’re beautiful,” he breathes, eyes wide, tentatively reaching out to lightly brush his fingers over the petals. Billy bought him red carnations. Not quite as obvious as red roses and somehow both lurid and innocent. “Let me find something to put them in.”

He leans forward with head tilted, hand around the collar of Billy’s shirt, and gets halfway to kissing him when he realizes that this is maybe overplaying his hand. But like…Billy Hargrove bought him flowers? Fuck it, I’m gonna kiss him.

Gently, he presses their lips together and Billy let out a sweet little sigh, slipping his fingers through Steve’s belt loops to pull him closer. His mouth is soft, full, velvety, and discovering it again is so delicious that Steve gets lost in him. Billy licks his lips as they part. "Still having Italian, I see."

Steve blushes. "Uh, yeah." Quickly, he scrambles away with flowers in hand before he can do something incredibly dumb and classy like offer to make himself the first course. "Hope you're hungry."

"In many ways," Billy replies huskily, eyes shamelessly undressing Steve right there in the kitchen. 

So maybe he preens a little. So maybe he bends over a little too long as he grabs a vase from beneath a sink. It's been such a long time, he thinks wistfully, since someone wanted him in such an open, brazen way. He gets laid...well, not often but not never, either. But that’s quick, hurried fumbling in a bar bathroom of the next town over or fast hand jobs in dark places.

He doesn't get a bed, or lots of kissing, or arms to hold him afterwards. He doesn't get the next morning or lazy sex in the sunlight. Women think he's gay and men are scared shitless to be seen talking to him longer than ten minutes. He gets scraps and has to be happy with it because up until now, he understood that was the best he could hope for after being outed in a small town.

"You're a little cocktease," Billy rasps, eyes fixed rather desperately to the way his dark jeans are hugging Steve's ass.

"Can you blame me?" Steve asks with a smirk over his shoulder, letting Billy look his fill. "Spent a year watching you strut around without a shirt on, sweating and pushing me around. And I was such a dumbass, it took me a whole year after that to figure out why I was half-hard every time I saw you walk onto the court."

"Yeah?" Billy purrs. Oh, maybe Steve shouldn't be giving shit like that out. Too much ammunition. "Did I have you chubbing up your shorts?"

Steve rolls his eyes. He's sure that to Billy, he must've seemed terribly obvious. The hopeless bisexual disaster with his tenting shorts, either unable to figure out what he wanted or without the guts to do something about it. "You know you did."

"No," Billy replies quietly, with much more seriousness. "I didn't know."

Steve pauses to fill the vase. "...that wasn't why you were teasing me?"

"No. I teased ya because I wanted the prettiest boy in school to pay attention to me," he admits, an almost helpless note to his voice, looking genuinely pained.

Startled, Steve says "Okay, but I wasn't actually the best looking guy in-"

"My frigid ice princess, he froze me out in every direction, no matter how I pushed him. And when he wouldn’t give me what I wanted, I hurt him." Billy closes his eyes, as though the memory makes him sick, even now.

“I’m not cold,” Steve says quietly, setting the vase filled with lushly blooming carnations on the counter, and watches him practically do a double-take.

“That’s what you chose to take away from that?!” he demands.

Coldness reminds him too much of his parents. Looking at Billy through his lashes, Steve says “You already apologized for that years ago. But I resent being called frigid. I’m not cold.”

My frigid ice princess. He refuses to accept being called cold. But he doesn’t refuse being called Billy’s.

Billy’s stare is piercing and he lifts a hand to draw a rough thumb over Steve’s lower lip. “No,” he rumbles. “You ain’t, are you?”

Billy has always possessed this weird (well, it seemed less weird after he figured out he was attracted to him) magnetism for him, this force that draws Steve in. Time has not diminished that force.

Again, he pulls Billy in by the collar, their tongues curling around each other, and Steve gasps “I have to finish dinner!” with a ragged voice, even though his arms are still around Billy’s shoulders.

“Hurry,” he says in a soft burr, beard scraping over Steve’s neck as he nuzzles into him and sending a hot crackle of sexual tension through him.

“Who is a cocktease?” he demands weakly.

“Oh, I definitely am,” Billy says with a wicked smile. A daring hand cups the full expanse of one buttock and gives Steve a possessive squeeze. “Better feed me good – gotta keep my energy up.”

“Oh my god,” Steve says, face flushed as he turns back to the sauce on the stove. “You’re awfully sure of yourself.”

“If you wanna play hard to get, I don’t mind a game of cat and mouse,” he says with a smile that’s positively predatory. “But to be honest, I don’t think you have that kinda patience in you, Harrington.”

Steve salts the boiling water and throws Billy his most heavy-lidded flirtatious smile. Subconsciously, he mimics Billy’s lip-licking motion. “If you wanna get in my pants, you’d better learn to say ‘Steve’.

Billy strokes his beard, letting him see the heat in his eyes. “Stevie,” he husks, his stare consuming Steve’s whole body like a physical touch. “Stevie-baby. Darlin’.”

He has to make himself keep focusing on cooking because he knows that if turns around right now, all this work will have gone to waste. “Make yourself useful,” he says hoarsely. “And grab the bottle of wine from the fridge.”

“Sir, yes, sir,” he drawls, brows raised. “Holy shit, Steve. If the kids make you drink this much you might wanna consider a new line of work.”

“Most of those are nearly empty,” he says, rolling his eyes. The corner of Steve’s mouth lifts and he adds, “The kids are fine. It’s some of the parents I can’t stand.”

He sets his vase of carnations on the end table beside the sofa where they can be admired, and wonders if Billy’s already noticed that next door, Melanie Dohr’s class has twenty-four children but his classroom only has sixteen. Several parents were so outraged that he was hired on for the kindergarteners that they outright refused to allow their kids to set foot in his classroom.

Maxine van Haut had been one of only two parents to actually volunteer, in public, to put her daughter in his care. To his utter surprise and disbelief, his old classmate and former friend Carol Bainbridge had been the other parent.

Billy watches him drop nests of fresh pasta dough into the boiling water with fascination. Steve counts to thirty in his head before scoops the noodles, just underdone, from the water and into the sauces, adding a knob of butter before he lets the tomato, cream, and herbs meld together.

“How did you learn to do this?” Billy asks, as he adds a pinch of red pepper flakes and begins plating their pasta.

“Um…well, after my parents basically told me not to bother going back to their house ever again, I was sad and when you’re sad, you eat a lot. I became obsessed with making the most complicated, ridiculous things I could find. If I was focused on the food, I didn’t have to focus on why I was making it,” Steve says lightly.

He realizes too late that he’s probably oversharing. He does that a lot when he likes someone – Robin calls it his ‘Achilles heel’, whatever the hell that means. She says that once he’s attached to someone, he can’t let them go, even when it hurts, which is why Rob and Nance are still his friends. He doesn’t see the problem really. Who couldn’t use another friend? So it hurts for a little while, he still gets the rich reward of a friend forever.

“After I figured out how to make things that would break my brain, I started focusing on how to make them delicious. On that note: please don’t ever say the word ‘barbecue’ around Rob, that’s a ten hour lecture nobody needs to hear again, even though I only gave myself food poisoning.”

“You…gave yourself food poisoning?” Billy asks slowly, eyeing their plates.

“Yeah, who would’ve thought that grilling and drinking don’t mix.” Steve shrugs and grins. “Grab the wine and the glasses, I’ll get the plates.”

Steve has a reasonable level of confidence regarding his own skill. He still blushes to what he’s positive is probably a firetruck red when Billy takes his first bite and makes a noise that’s more suited to a man receiving a blow job than a man eating a meal. He whispers, “Holy fuck, Harrington”, eyes closed in reverential bliss. The rings on Billy’s fingers gleam, silver and gold and ruby, as he holds his knuckles to his mouth, as though he’s tasting divinity.

Steve grins at his fork. For a while, there’s no talking because Billy has zero interest in anything that’s not this meal.

They actually make conversation like real ass adults, which he will tell Robin about later because she’ll be proud of him for that.

It takes them until the end of dinner, laying back on the sofa and trying to not die because they are both full, that they get to a topic deeper than day to day activities. Because it’s sort of the elephant in the room with them, Steve decides to break the taboo and says “So…where did you go, when you left town back then? Max told us she thought you went back home to see your mom.”

It maybe wasn’t the thing to say, because for a moment, Billy’s eyes look flinty and cold. “No,” he says finally. “I never stayed in Bakersfield for too long. I only went to see her once. She-the way she saw the world was one way, and the way I saw it was another way, I guess.”

Steve’s nose wrinkles. “What does that mean?”

Billy’s jaw tightens. “It means that when you’re on your second marriage with a six-year-old kid at home and your first son shows up on your doorstep as a wild-eyed man fresh outta the hospital, you’re gonna call him a raving lunatic, slam the door in his face, and threaten to call the cops if he doesn’t leave you alone.”

Steve’s spine goes rigid. “Oh god, I’m so sorry,” Steve blurts out. “Jesus, she sounds like a shitty parent. I mean, mine aren’t a whole lot better, but they wouldn’t call the cops on me.”  

Billy shrugs, though he can see the shadow of old pain in his eyes. He takes a sip of wine, probably to steady his nerves, before commenting, “Yeah, Max told me why you probably won’t run for mayor anytime soon.” Reflexively, Steve grimaces and Billy chuckles slightly. “Kinda sorry I wasn’t here for that.”

“For my public humiliation?” he says, trying to ride the fine line between bitterness and black humor.

“For your ‘awakening’,” Billy purrs. He’s looking at Steve’s neck the way Steve imagines lions stare at the necks of gazelle on the savannah. “I’m not the picture of class and taste, but I’m pretty sure I coulda gave you better than a coat closet.”

Steve can’t quite bring himself to look at him directly. “You were there for it, in a way. You were the reason that I realized I wasn’t completely straight.” It’s his turn to reach for the wineglass. “You raced out of Hawkins, and I realized that I had a meteor-sized crush on a boy I was never going to see again, and the last time I had seen him, he was dying in front of me.”

Even now, with Billy right in front of him, he can’t hold that memory too closely or he’ll just start bawling. It’s probably tied with his mother telling him Steve needs to stay with Robin and leave his keys for his most painful memory.

Keeping his head down, Steve adds “And I maybe didn’t deal with that too well, so after that was a series of really terrible decisions Rob is too nice to blab to other people about, but will never let me live down in private, all neatly wrapped up with outing myself to the whole town.”

Billy is very quiet and it takes a moment for him to gather the courage to look at him. Billy’s stare has become penetrating, and unwavering. Lowly, he says “Maybe we dodged a bullet with me leaving, then.” He smiles grimly. “Cause the person I used to be wouldn’t have been too nice about knowing you were willing to suck a dick and the dick wasn’t mine, Harrington. And I don’t just mean not nice to you. I woulda made the whole fucking town pay for that.”

Trying to hide his nervousness, Steve rests a hand on his elbow and sips from his glass. “I’m not exactly inexperienced, you know. What does the person you are now think about that?”

“I think…that I don’t really care what you’ve done before,” Billy says slowly. “Or who you’ve done it with.”

“I’m sensing a ‘but’ at the end of that sentence,” Steve observes.

“If you’re the kind of person who gets bored with having the same partner, you might wanna cut this short,” he informs him bluntly. “I don’t like sharing, and I try to be a better person than I was, but I’m not about to tell you I’m not a jealous possessive bastard, because I’m never gonna lie to you. I am.”

He leaves his glass on the table. “I’m pretty sure there’s this saying, ‘only boring people get bored’.” Steve leans his head back into cushions, feeling full and sluggish and maybe a little bit horny. He skims his fingers slowly up Billy’s thigh. “If you don’t wanna get bored, you have to put in the work.”

“Yeah?” Steve is transfixed by the way Billy’s tongue curls around his teeth. Teasingly, Billy says “You gonna work for it, baby?”

Steve kneads the muscle in his thigh, thick and warm beneath the denim, and feels heat begin to coil in his belly. “I think…you should let me worry about that,” he murmurs, tracing his thumb up the inner seam of his jeans. Billy’s breathing stutters and he smiles, slow and satisfied. “And relax.”

He swings a leg over Billy, settling on his lap and leaning in for a kiss as he unzips his jeans. Billy breathes “Shit” against his lips and starts unbuckling Steve’s belt.

Steve’s pants end up thrown over an arm of the sofa, where they’ll probably end up covered in black cat hair, and he opens the fly of Billy’s jeans so that their dicks only have two thin layers between them instead of four. It’s been too long and Steve moans “fuck” as he settles back down onto his lap. He can feel Billy pulsing, the wet spot forming in his boxers and Steve pants, open-mouthed as he grinds down, slow and lazy.

“No, c’mon,” Billy says raggedly, pulling at the buttons on his shirt. “Don’t just gimme half a show, baby. Let me see that body.”

Steve helps him, flipping his tie off and sending it to hang out with his slacks, and pulling his cardigan over his head. He knows when Billy notices what’s beneath the linen when his hands skim up Steve’s chest and pluck at his nipples, gently tugging at the medical grade steel embedded in his skin. “Oh, you’ve got goodies,” Billy groans, mouthing over the fabric. Steve hisses and arches up to meet the touch, lightly pulling at his dirty blond hair. “Naughty Stevie, trying to hide his goodies from me – oh. Baby, you are all grown up.”

“I shaved,” Steve chokes out, throwing his shirt to the side and trying to steer Billy’s mouth – his teeth, especially – back to his nipples. Billy strokes the dark thatch of hair on his chest, tantalizingly close to where he wants him. “In high school, I shaved it. I thought it was weird, how much I had.”

“Hmm,” Billy purrs thoughtfully, rubbing his face in it. Steve moans and squirms as the much rougher hair of his beard scraps and catches on the permanently sensitive skin. “Think I like it.”

“You,” Steve starts, hoarse and cracked, then swallows and tries again. He wants Billy, wants his sweat and skin and heat, wants all those things he never usually gets. “Yours too, Billy.”

“It ain’t pretty, Steve,” he warns.

“Do you really think that’s worse than watching it happen?” he whispers, pulling Billy in for a kiss, deep and intense. “It’s alright, c’mon.”

There are large scars, thick and deep and silvery, all across Billy’s chest and stomach, places where the Mindflayer tried to kebab him. Steve runs his hands across all of it – the scarred and the unblemished, the ugly and the statuesque – and bends to kiss him everywhere. None of it surprises him, and to him, it’s both terrible and miraculous. Every piece of logic in the universe says that Billy Hargrove should have died that day, and yet, here he is, warm and shuddering beneath Steve’s hands.

“I didn’t know why,” he continues at a whispers. “I didn’t understand why I had a hard time looking away from you. I remember watching the way the sweat dripped off you on the court.” He hums and traces a hand down Billy’s chest, over the muscles and scars, the same path of the sweat in his mind’s eye. “I was so stupid – I thought I was jealous of your looks. Nobody says that men look ‘beautiful’. But you were, and you still are.”

“Don’t need to sweet talk me,” Billy murmurs, nosing at his jaw. He pets at Steve’s hair, hand caressing all the way down his spine. “I’m a sure thing, sweetheart.”

“What if I just want to?” Steve says with a smile, bangs hanging into his eyes. “What if I think you need someone to be nice to you?”

“Is that what you think?” Billy asks, and plucks a flower from the vase. “Maybe I think that’s what you need, too.”

Gently, he uses the petals to trace the shape of Steve’s lips, his knuckles brushing the shape of his cock through his briefs. Breathlessly, he gasps “Billy Hargrove is a romantic. Stop the presses! Breaking news!”

“No one will ever believe you,” he says sweetly, clamping the stem between his teeth. “I’ve committed the perfect crime.”

He hauls himself and Steve from the couch, cackling as Steve yells and clutches onto his shoulders. He prays that Billy is as strong as he looks. “Turn left!” he yelps. “Bedroom is the last door.”

As soon as they are safely on the bed and Billy is no longer trying to bear both of their weight, Steve snatches the flower from his mouth to kiss him.

“You’re a madman,” he says with admiration, caressing his cheek with the petals.

“I’ve met Wheeler, you’re deeply attracted to the mentally disturbed,” he accuses, plucking at Steve’s piercings to make him squirm.

Billy draws his teeth lightly over his left nipple. “Yeah, like that.” Tugging gently on his hair and pushing his ass down on Billy’s cock, his limp fingers surrender the carnation back to him. The petals feel like velvet against his ultra-sensitive nipples and Steve chokes down his whines. “Bite them, please. Billy.”

He’s leaking all over his underwear, dick jumping and twitching with each little nip and sharp bite, mindlessly frotting with him, and Billy squeezes at his ass, rolls up his hips to meet him. “Fuck, you’re big.”

“I thought you’d want to top,” he gasps. “I don’t mind.”

He hums and looks up at Steve through his impossibly long lashes. His eyes are dark and glittering. “Maybe I just want to do this. Maybe I just want to see you fall apart on top of me.”

That flower – he’s still holding the carnation, uses the scarlet petals to paint a path down over his stomach, and swirls it over the wet patch of fabric where the head of his cock is trapped by the fabric. “Your hands,” he pleads, pulling lightly at his hair again, guiding his other hand, calloused and covered in rings, into his lap. “God, you have such beautiful hands, Billy.”

Billy gets his palm around Steve’s length and grunts as Steve turns his head and tugs on his earlobe with his teeth. “Imagine me jerking you off, like this?” he rumbles, rough skin grating over Steve’s cock. “Huh, baby? You think about me in the dark, when you were alone? Did you think about my hands?”

“Your hands,” Steve rasps, and kisses him softly. He can’t get his fill of Billy’s skin, rough, silky, smooth, and everything in between. “The way a cigarette looked in your mouth. You pressed up against my back. Sweat running down your body and Billy, how much I wanted to touch you-”

Billy cuts him off with a low groan, biting at Steve’s lower lip and abandoning the carnation to give his nipple a cruel twist, grinning against his mouth as Steve convulses. “I dreamed ‘a you, Stevie. I dreamed of your big heartbreaker’s eyes and your pretty lips.” He touches his neck and Steve realizes that he’s tracing the moles all over his skin. “I thought about the noises you’d make if I kissed you here. How you’d sound when you came. For me.”

“I’m gonna,” Steve croaks, sucking at Billy’s tongue. Imagining that he’s sucking something else. He’s sounded in the pine and bonfire smell of him, and his thighs shake around Billy’s hips.

“How you’d taste,” Billy growls, and Steve can taste him, the strawberry jam sweetness of him, and he could cry. “Don’t leave me waitin’ for it, Stevie.”

“Fuck, oh fuck,” he cries, trembling hard.

“Let me hear it.”

And Steve sobs “Billy. Don’t stop, Billy.”

“I got you, Stevie-baby.”

His body is liquid fire in Billy’s hands, fluid and burning ember-bright. Billy keeps kissing him, frantic and hungry, even while Steve is out of breath, and he doesn’t realize why until Billy starts squirming out his jeans and underwear and starts jerking himself off harshly, still kissing at Steve’s neck.

“Stop,” he slurs, and rolls on top of him, pinning Billy’s arms to the bed.

“Steve,” he whines. “Don’t be a brat. Just-”

“Let me do it, baby,” Steve murmurs, stroking his belly and throwing his best bedroom eyes. He strokes his hands up Billy’s thighs for extra insurance and licks his lips. “Let me get you there, Billy.”

“Fuck,” Billy whispers hoarsely, briefly closing his eyes. “Okay. Yeah.”

Just because he’s gonna do it doesn’t mean he’s gonna make it easy.

Lazily, Steve French kisses his way down Billy’s chest, treating the scarred skin the same as the silky-smooth muscles, taking his time to lick down his body, letting himself taste the salt and musk. He by-passes Billy’s cock, weeping all over his stomach, only stopping to lap up the little pool forming above the head.

“Steve,” Billy hisses. “Jesus fuck – PLEASE.”

He sucks hard on his inner thighs, biting at him until it will bruise. “I’ve thought of this so many times,” he admits, gently pressing his thumb beneath his balls, brushing his other fingers so achingly close to his cock. Billy nearly jack-knifes off the mattress, swearing at his as his fists pull on the sheets. “And it’s better than anything I could’ve imagined.”

“I wondered what you’d do,” he murmurs, kissing just alongside his cock. “If I was on my knees for you.”

“I’m gonna fucking die,” Billy gasps, touching his hair, stroking it away from his face. “Steve-”

He makes sure he’s watching, makes sure Billy’s eyes are open as he circles his fingers around him and s l i d e s his cock, hot and wet with precum, past his lips. He hums and groans at the velvety heat in his mouth and Billy bucks the tiniest bit, moaning like a dying man as his dick rubs over the silky slickness of his tongue.

“Steve,” he says, weak and reedy, “…sweetheart…”

He hollows his cheeks and groans again, giving Billy a come-hither stare. Billy’s head falls back onto the pillow, crimson lips parted as he pants, loud and desperate. Oh, Steve likes him this way. Billy’s beautiful. He’s always been beautiful, but he’s worn into this beauty, like the softest cotton shirt in the drawer.

Steve sucks him, slurping and sloppy and wet, presses his fingers ruthlessly to Billy’s perineum.

“FUCK,” he roars and grips Steve’s hair just this side of too tight. Shoves up into his mouth, always just shy of choking him, and begs softly. “Take me, gorgeous. Fuck, like that. Gonna come, Stevie, gonna come for your hot mouth-

He screams without making noise and Steve licks him clean, flicking the jizz from his lips like a cat licking cream.

“Jesus Christ.” Billy says, still breathing hard. “Stevie, you’re worth waiting ten years for.”

[ohmuqueen]

I finally watched the s3 trailer and I'm going to cry in disappointment if b*lly doesn't die. Please just let him rot. Anyways not the point of this message lol which may be long because I want to yell about MAX AND EL!!!! ;0; I LOVE THEIR SWEET SMILES AND WARMTH TOWARDS EACH OTHER AND OH MY GOSH THEIR OUTFITS!!!!!!!!!!!! I like to think that Max & El went to Nancy about fashion & style bc they were at Mike's playing dnd when Nancy goes to the basement for whatever reason and Max sees (1/?)

how Nancy is dressed;bright tank top, cool acid-wash shorts with a bright belt, cute sneakers and aheadband tied to keep her bangs out of her face. And Max is just “you’reso stylish and pretty, Nancy!” And Nancy is really humble bc she doesn’tget that type of compliment, esp. from other girls, and she put a lot of effortinto the outfit so she’s really appreciative and happy!!! And just El issmiling, “Very bitchin’” and god just I want these girls to hang outand to have Erica meet (2/?)

El and Max and Nancytoo and just GIRL FRIENDSHIPS!!!!!!! :’) and god what’s her name’s comment toSteve when he does a handshake w/ Dustin “how many kids are you friendswith?” just is so cute bc I can imagine the gang or just one or twovisiting Steve. AND JONATHAN BRINGS THE GANG AND HIM AND STEVE TALK ANDINTERACT AND ARE NOT USE FOR A SHITTY LOVE TRIANGLE (same for Nancy too) andidk pls give these two boys a relationship (3/?)

AND CAN YOU IMAGINEKALI SEEING EL’S NEW LOOK AND SMILING AND HAPPY TO SEE HER SISTER BEING HERSELFAND JUST OH MAN THAT IDEA MAKES ME SO HAPPY. I think I’m done spamming ur inboxlol I’m really hoping for will & el bonding, El & Joyce bonding, andJoyce & Nancy bonding!!!!!!!!!

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God I love the mental image of Nancy going to the basementwhile the kids are playing dnd and Max admiring her style, that’s the cutestthing ever. And when El hangs out with Nancy in her room for the first time,Nancy invites El to look through her closet to see if there’s anything shewants to borrow, especially now that it’s getting warmer and El has lessclothes of her own to wear.

And later when Nancy gets closer with Max and of coursealready knows B*lly is the worst person ever, she takes Max under her wing muchlike she did El and is like “I would kill for you” but saying it differentlythan that. And I really just wish I could see Nancy and Kali shopping with Eland Max at the new mall and being girls together, and Max is just all hearteyes with a puppy dog crush on both of them, and El is so happy to have two bigsisters, she’s just on cloud nine, fam. Nancy and Kali giving their wildlydifferent but complimentary styling tips. Max taking everyone’s advice as shebuys new clothes but still keeping her signature style. Nancy helping Eldiscover her own signature style but letting El make all final decisionsbecause she knows how important it is for El to be independent. Kali seeing theresults of this and knowing Nancy is a great influence for El and just lovingboth of them so much.

Realistically I know we won’t see Kali in s3, or much ofNancy bonding with Max (and not El either I imagine, cuz the duffers don’t careabout female characters bonding even tho Joyce, El, and Nancy are thereasons their show is so successful – like even if Nancy isn’t as importantplot wise as Joyce and El, where would their show be without their preciousmeme!Steve, who is only in the show because they had to have their teenage lovetriangle in s1, hmm?)

And yes please let B*lly get written out, idec how just let him leave the show we already gotta see him and Karen in scenes together again as if that’s not a complete waste of screentime like jfc duffers no one wanted that