#steve harrington is happy
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Inspired by this tweet and a conversation with Cass (@henderdads) and Liam (@withacapitalp) about puzzles.
"Are you sure this is going to work?"
Steve hovers over Robin's shoulder, standing together at his dining table. There's newspaper spread out to protect said table with a completed puzzle lying on top. Robin unscrews a fresh bottle of Mod Podge as Steve waits for an answer.
"Nope," she replies, popping the 'p'. And with that, she pours the glue all over the front of the puzzle.
"Wha- Robin!"
She laughs. "There's only one way to find out, dingus."
This had been all Robin's idea. Her constant teasing about his ugly plaid wallpaper had finally worn away at Steve, and he'd caved, agreeing to rip it all down. She'd celebrated as soon as the words had left Steve's mouth, grabbing his hands and spinning him around in a weird, oh-so-Robin dance.
It'd taken them a few days to ask around to learn how and what they needed, then strip the wallpaper and paint Steve's room. It had been tedious but vastly more therapeutic than Steve had expected. Stripping the plaid had felt like stripping away the final part of Steve tied to his 'King Steve' era, the growing pile a final 'fuck you' to his parents.
He'd gone for yellow on the walls, needing a colour that didn't viscerally remind him of the Upside Down that wasn't a dull grey or white. It was a lot at first, a significant change to a space that had been the same for as long as Steve could remember. But it finally felt like his.
"What if it ruins the puzzle?" He can't help but ask. It wasn't one of his favourites for that exact reason, but he didn't want to have to throw it out.
"Then we'll have learnt something." Robin pauses her paintbrush strokes, turning to look at him. "It's going to be fine Steve."
He can't help but soften at the care in her eyes. Robin can read him like a book. He smiles. "I know."
"Good."
The next day they're standing in Steve's room, the colours of the puzzle contrasting nicely with the yellow wall it's now situated on. Steve couldn't believe it stuck together when he'd picked it up. It was solid, like a piece of cardboard, which had made it all too easy to put on the wall.
It feels like a reminder of good times, like so many of the photos scattered around Steve's room. A reminder that he did that with Robin, that he was no longer alone in his love of puzzles. Robin had given Steve the opportunity to share the calm that the activity had brought him. He'd always enjoyed them, especially as a kid, but post-demogorgon, they'd meant a lot more. Working on a puzzle became a way for Steve to settle his thoughts and distract him from his constant paranoia. For Steve, nothing was better than curling up with a mug of hot chocolate or sitting in the sun and basking in the warmth like a cat, doing a puzzle.
Robin had found out in the aftermath of Starcourt. She'd found him at the table, searching through puzzle pieces at an ungodly hour of the night, unable to sleep. Wordlessly, she'd joined him, which had slowly become a tradition. Late-night puzzling turned into lunchtime puzzling, which made way for nights when they would get wine-drunk and puzzle. Robin called them middle ages moms once and threw them both into fits of laughter. It's perfect, and Steve wouldn't have it any other way.
Robin bumps his shoulder. "So, you like it?"
Steve looks at her, a smile on his face. He slings an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into a rough side hug. "I love it, babe."
"Wanna go start another?"
"Absolutely."
"I like how it looks when we just glue the back."
"Hmm. You're right, you can see the individual pieces better."
"Yeah. It's not as weirdly shiny either."
It's been months. Steve's bedroom walls are covered in puzzles of all sizes. Each and every one worked on with Robin by his side. Steve's not alone anymore. He feels safe. He feels loved. He feels at home.
Steve pulls his other half into a crushing hug. "Thank you, Robbie."
She makes a confused noise against his shoulder. "For what."
"This. Being here," he squeezes her a little harder. "For everything."
"No need to thank me, dingus. It's an honor."
"I mean it, Robs."
"Yeah. So do I."
#platonic stobin#my beloveds#stranger things#steve harrington#robin buckley#puzzles#steve loves puzzles#now so does robin lmao#soft platonic stobin#fluff#steve harrington is happy#for once lmao#souls writing
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i like to call this âpopular mlm ships with freakishly similar name dynamicsâ
this means absolutely nothing iâve simply been observing this for a hot sec
#iâm onto absolutely nothing here iâm just making connections#i donât even go to 2 of these fandoms!#also congrats 911 fandom for bi buck!#happy for yâall <3#stevebucky#stucky#steddie#buddie#ed x stede#bucky barnes#steve rogers#steve harrington#eddie munson#evan buckley#eddie diaz#stede bonnet
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Boys in love taking silly selfies
#steddie#steve x eddie#eddie munson#steve harrington#its been so long!!#quite happy with how it looks!!
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golden hour cuddles
#steddie#steddie fanart#steve harrington#eddie munson#stranger things#my art#im really so happy with how this turned out#plz reblog with tags so i can read them and i'll love u forever (every tag makes me blush)
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you can pry happy endings from my cold-dead hands. It can be the most heart stopping, gut wrenching fic that has every existed and I will read every drop of it if I get my happy ending. I have had enough painful endings in real life, give me happy in my fantasy world. It can be at the last second, it can be a single sentence, even a single word. Give me all the angst and hurt in the world for 500,000 words, but please give me the comfort I need in the ending. please and thank you.
#do I love angst? yes. but also need to be happy in my delulu world for five seconds#sometimes you need domestic fluff to soothe the burn#fan fiction#ao3#hurt/comfort#steddie#stranger things#lumax#byler#ronance#steve harrington#Eddie Munson#archive of our own#wattpad#robin buckley#steve x eddie#happy endings
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The boys go to a pride paradeđłïžâđđ
#theyâre just goofballs#steddie#stranger things#eddie munson#steve harrington#steddie fanart#fanart#stranger things fanart#pride month#happy pride đ#my art
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smh they got into the candy bowl
#stranger things#steve harrington#robin buckley#eddie munson#steddie#dtus art#stobin#platonic stobin#stobeddie#happy halloween!!
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Kinktober prompt 16: aftercare / tattoos
After getting way too enthusiastic about Steve's new tattoo, Eddie is taking care of him with slow devotion
bonus: front view
#steddie#steve harrington#eddie munson#ff kinktober 2024#this time eddie is out of their weekly skin care routine since he wont stop all the kissing but OH NEXT WEEK#he'll get both a face mask and a hair mask#since steve started this combined routine eddie is shining he never been so moisturized#anyway. back to kinktober! happy to combine both prompts this time c:#my art
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Steve gets very well acquainted with hawkins general while Eddie is healing as he's wondering around when Eddie's busy (surgeries, physical therapy ect) and finds out there are babies that need to be held because they don't have anyone and nurses and doctors can't spend the necessary time to do it so he starts volunteering
Eddie is working on his mobility and was told to walk as much as he could but there's only so much walking up and down one hallway a man can take so he goes off to find Steve in the mythical land of babies (he'd heard about Steve's adventures because Steve came to hang out with spit up on his shirt once and robin complaining that it wasn't fair that all the cute nurses were obsessed with him just because he held a few newborns)
Eddie finds him swaying and cooing at the baby in his arms and man if he wasn't gone of Steve already he'd be absolutely done for
#steve is happy to see him#then goes into over protective mode because he knows for a fact eddie isnt supppsed to go this far#steddie#steve harringtons gender is wife and mother to me#they deserve soft things and a happy ending
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Having thoughts of The Party being touchy as all fuck after everything.
Like you cannot enter nor leave any kind of hang out without a hug, high-five, pat, or anything from everyone you were hanging out with.
And then, suddenly, you arenât able to leave without a kiss or hug of some kind from Steve.
It started after the bullshit that was the Starcourt Mall. The kids were leaving Steveâs house from a DnD session maybe 2 months before the Byers left for Cali.
Dustin was taking forever to pull his shoes on and get out the house to his moms car and everyone was complaining. It was one of those rare times where Steve wasnât the one carting them all aroundâ they all had their own rides.
Dustin got his shoes on and Steve handed him his bag andâ without thinkingâ pressed a kiss to the top of his hat before waving him out the door.
The rest of the kids are silent until Mike speaks up bitchily âwhat about us, asshole?â
Steve has no idea what they mean until El points to her head with a grin. Steve deals out head and forehead kisses for everyone and waves them off to their respective rides.
And then it justâ sticks. At first itâs with just the kids whenever he sees them. Heâll usually greet them with a hug or an exasperated sigh and then say goodbye with a kiss to their foreheads.
Not even Mike complains. This is the kind of shit he never got while growing upâ might as well make the best of it.
And then it migrates to Robin as well, and the Nancy is joining in on the hugs (theyâre still too awkward for the kisses but the hugs are enough for now).
And Steve never holds back, not even in public. Again, no one complains.
And thatâs how Hellfire finds out about the kissing arrangement (that might be the title of this if I make it an actual fic). They watch as Steve presses a forehead kiss to Mike, Lucas, and Dustin before waving them off and then presses a kiss to Maxâs head and giving her a tight hug.
The guys try to make fun of the kids for it but none of them are embarrassed.
âItâs Steve, dude. Heâs like a mom.â
âThe kisses are actually really comforting.â
âItâs a Party thing.â
And then the fuckery of 1986 and Vecna happens and suddenly Eddieâs in on the hugs and pats and high-fives.
And then.
And then.
Heâs in on the kisses.
Steve doles out the kisses like usual one night after Hellfire and gives one to everyoneâ including Eddie.
And Eddie panics and gives Steve one right back.
And then the kids are going feral about wanting to give Steve a kiss too.
And Eddie leaves during the chaos.
And then they donât talk about it.
Until Steve and Eddie do it again.
And the kids accept is as the new normal; you have to give Steve a kiss back.
And then Steve and Eddie have an excuse to kiss each other on the foreheads and cheeks and noses.
One night theyâre hanging out, just the two of them at the trailer after Wayne left for work.
Steve had greeted Eddie with a tight hug the moment heâd gotten in the trailer. Eddie had squeezed back just as tight if not tighter.
Steve was getting ready to leave, and on instinct leant in to kiss Eddie, but Eddie was also leaning in to kiss Steve. So they meet in the middle and accidentally kiss on the lips.
And then the new normal for Steve and Eddie is kissing on the lips goodbye.
Idk, just Steve being a very touchy feely person makes me so happy
#stranger things#steve harrington#eddie munson#dustin henderson#mike wheeler#robin buckley#will byers#lucas sinclair#max mayfield#steddie#el hopper#nancy wheeler#yes jonathan also gets hugs and kisses from steve#argyle is all too happy to indulge in steves kisses#itâs make eddie jealous if that wasnât just how argyle was#steve harrington gives great hugs#everyone agrees#bisexual steve harrington#gay eddie munson#steddie idea#but it doesnât have to be#this can also just be steve and the kids if you wanted#everyone is touch starved#my mom doesnât know what touch starved means#I had to explain it to her đ„Č#thatâs all#goodbye!!!
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Steddie Amnesia Ficlet: Part Two
-> Part 1
cw: more head trauma/concussed!Steve discussions.
Steve hears Eddie call after him, but he doesnât stopâhe canât face it. Not right now, anyway. Not when his eyes are stinging and his heart is pounding in his ears, each pulse more painful than the last. His legs take him to the building heâs supposed to go into, fueled purely by muscle memory. Not brain memory, of course, because nothing up there works properly anymore, apparently.
The Brain Injury Recovery Center.
Itâs where Eddie expects him to go. Heâll catch Steve if he goes in, or heâll wait for Steve by the doors until he comes back outâboth options involve facing Eddie after Steve had made a total idiot of himself. Both feel utterly mortifying.
So he ducks into the alleyway beside the familiar brick building instead, just to catch his breath. It takes Steve longer than the average bear to sort out his feelings now, after all. Jesus, whoâs he kidding? Everything seems to take him longer.
Steve feels hot tears streak down his cheeks before he angrily scrubs a sleeve over them. Of course Eddie isnât his boyfriend. Eddieâs funny and cool and heâs in a band and he lights up every damn room he walks intoâand Steve⊠well, maybe Steve was something a few years ago when he was in high school, and maybe he was even something before his accident, but nowâŠ
Thereâs a sharp clapping noise that sounds like thunder. A door slamming, Steveâs brain sluggishly supplies. Itâs followed by shouting.
âSteve? Steve!â Eddie calls from somewhere on the street.
Steveâs heart feels like itâs going to fall out of his ass. His face is probably still blotchy and wet, his breathing hasnât evened out yet and his eyes are still leaking like a goddamn faucet. Heâs pathetic.
Canât let Eddie see him like thisâŠ
He ducks behind a metal garbage bin, careful not to let anything but the bottom of his sneakers touch the sticky looking surfaces around him. It stinks, like rot.
âSteve?â Eddieâs voice echoes off of the alleyway walls. Steve claps a hand around his mouth to muffle out any of the pathetic sounds that seem determined to escape from him. So much of his body just does whatever the hell it feels like now. Out of Steveâs control, like everything else.
For a few, tense seconds, thereâs silence. Eddieâs listening for him, maybe. Steve shuts his eyes and waits him out.
It feels like an eternity before he hears Eddieâs hurried, retreating footsteps, continuing his shouting for Steve. He sounds almost as panicked as Steve feels. Almost.
Steve gives a noisy, wet sniff and does one final scrub of his face before getting to his feet. He starts walking.
As he goes deeper into the alleyway, he thinks back on all the things heâs been wrong about. The fact that Eddie had some of his band t-shirts mixed in with Steveâs clothes⊠well, that was because they were both guys who wore about the same size, and Eddie left his shit everywhere. Itâs no wonder some of his stuff got mixed into their laundry. And the times Eddieâs driven him places? Thatâs just⊠what friends do, Steve supposes. And all those times Eddie made Steve laugh? Made him feel like the center of the universe? Well, thatâs just⊠Eddie. He must make everyone feel that way. Itâs like his super power. But it isnât romantic⊠It doesnât mean anything more than Eddie being a magnetic person.
Steve is just so stupid. Painfully so.
He blinks as the sun hits him. He mustâve reached the other side of the alleyway.
Steve cups a hand over his eyes and grimaces. His migraine wasnât backing down. He sighs. Time to head back.
Steve turns back into the alleyway heâd emerged from, only heâs about halfway through when he realizes the color of the buildings on either side of him are wrong. Theyâre brown on one side, painted green on the other. That isnât rightâŠ
His heart jackrabbits in his chest, but he keeps walking forward. Maybe heâll recognize the street once heâs back on the other side.
But when he gets there, itâs as unfamiliar to him as the alleyway. Steve turns, looking up and down the road to see if he could spot Eddie, or his van, or the Center. But thereâs nothing.
And when someone shoulder checks him, Steve supposes he was sort of asking for it, standing in the middle of the sidewalk like that. He apologizes, but itâs too late. The personâs already out of range to hear him.
Itâs as if everyone else is on fast forward while Steveâs stuck on pause. The world keeps moving along while all he seems to be able to do is watch it go by.
Why would he ever think someone as dynamic and spirited as Eddie would hitch his horse onto Steveâs busted up, barely mobile cart?
Stupid, stupid, stupidâŠ
He presses the heels of his hands to his eyes and wills himself not to start blubbering again like a goddamn baby. His life is already one big, painful lesson in humility as it is, he doesnât need to wallow in it.
Steve keeps walking. Figures heâll spot something, or someone familiar to him eventually. The pounding in his headâs eased off to a dull ache, at least. Maybe there was something to this exercise and fresh air thing the doctors were always going on about, after allâŠ
The thing is though, Steve doesnât spot anything familiar. Not even vaguely so, and itâs not until the streetlights turn on that he realizes heâd spent the majority of the day wandering around the streets like some lost dog that managed to slip his leash.
Itâs cold too, and all heâs got on is jeans and a polo. Itâs October, isnât it? No wonder heâs got goosebumps all up and down his arms.
Then, he finally spots something familiar; a phone booth. Steve breathes a sigh of relief. Heâd just call his parents. Theyâd come pick him up.
He gets the booth and lifts the receiver before he blanks. A quarter. Heâd need that. Duh, Harrington. So he hangs up the phone and pats his pockets until he finds a wallet, but all thatâs inside of it are a couple of crisp bills. Heâd need to break one.
Steve turns, scans the street until he spots a well lit, invitingly warm looking diner. The joint looks so damn cozy that he forgets to make sure the street is clear before he steps out into the middle of it.
Tires screech, harmonizing with the horn thatâs blasting at himâSteve flinches, reaching up to cover his head and braces for impact.
To his great relief, the hit never comes. Which, thank fuck. He canât afford anymore accidents. As it is Robinâs threatened to make him wear a helmet full-time.
Steve doesnât listen to whatever the person yells at him, he just hurries to get the hell out of his way of the other moving vehicles.
âSmooth, Harrington. Real smooth.â He mutters to himself as he catches his breath.
He pushes the door to the diner open with shaking hands, but itâs blissfully peaceful inside, and he can actually feel his insides unclench as he stands inside of it.
âSit anywhere, hun, Iâll be right with you.â A womanâs voice tells him. Steve nods and slips into the nearest booth overlooking the street. Watches the cars go by. Thereâs even a couple of cop cars, sirens blaring, lights flashing. Steve wonders briefly what sort of emergency theyâre rushing off to when the waitress comes to his table.
âWhat can I get you, handsome?â She asks, cheery and warm like the rest of the diner.
âUhâŠâ Steve frowns, taking a few seconds to process the question, ânothing. Iâm just waiting for my parents to come pick me up.â
The waitress taps the side of the notepad. âWell you gotta order something, hun, or you canât stay here.â
Steve wants to stay here. Itâs warm and smells fucking amazing, like âpancakes?â
She waitress smirks. âYeah, we got those. You want a stack?â
âYeah, please.â Steve smiles back, laughing along with the waitress like heâs in whatever joke thatâs currently so amusing to her. âIâm starving.â
âYou want some coffee too, to help you sober up, maybe?â
âOh, Iâm not drunk.â He huffs out a little self deprecating laugh, âI wish. No, Iâuh, my meds, theyâre the kind that you canât mix with alcohol. Coffee too. Bummer, right? Yeah⊠But, uh, it is what it is, I guessâsoâŠâ
He can feel it. The way his mind so often wanders. Heâs lost his train. His track. He frowns, eyes drifting towards the street again, watching the headlights zip by.
ââŠso just the pancakes then?â The waitress asks, jolting his train back onto its rails. His attention snaps back onto her.
âYeah, pancakes. Sure.â Steve flashes her what he hopes is a charming smile.
She returns his smile and leaves him be, and he lets himself relax. Props his head up on a fist and watches life go on for everyone else but him.
He gets his pancakes, and some juice too that he doesnât remember ordering, but hey, thatâs nothing new. And damn, the pancakes taste even better than they smell. He needs to remember the name of this place so he can come back with everyone. What did the doctors say? Repeat something in your head over and over until it sticks. Repetition. Repetition, repetition, repetitionâŠ
Itâs around the time his fork hits an empty plate that one of the police cars stops in front of the diner window, lights on, but the sirens are off now.
Hopper steps out.
Huh. Thatâs weird. Steve wonders what sort of emergency heâs here for.
When Hopper enters through the glass doors, the bell hung over the entry way rings out pleasantly. An angel getting their wings.
His eyes land on Steve and the older man sighs, shoulders falling. Relief, Steve recognizes. Hopper pulls the radio from his belt and says something into it before stomping over.
Then it clicks.
Oh. Steveâs the emergency.
He feels his face heat up. The handful of other patrons scattered across the diner are all looking at him.
âThere you are.â Hopper sighs, gruff and exasperated.
Steve sinks into his seat, just a little. âShit. I fucked up, didnât I?â
âJust a little.â Hopper chuckles dryly. He takes off his hat and slips into the booth across from Steve, apparently not in any sort of hurry now that heâs found the runaway dog.
Steve runs a hand through his hair, a nervous tic heâs developed. âSorry.â
âNah, donât be sorry. Just strangle Munson for me when you see him next, will ya?â Hopper drops his hat onto the table and waves the waitress down. He orders a coke.
Munson. Eddie.
The memory of how he made a total and utter fool of himself comes rushing back, slamming down onto him like one of those cartoon anvils. Jesus, how did he forget that..?
Suddenly the pancakes arenât sitting so good in his gut. Feels like heâs gonna ralph.
âWas he freaked out? Eddie, I mean.â Steve asks, cautiously approaching the question. Did Eddie say anything about whyâŠ?
âYeah, him and Robin both. Then the kids found out tooâdonât ask me how. I suspect the curly-haired one has an illegal transmitter.â Hopper leans back in the booth as the waitress drops off his coke. He takes the straw out and drinks it right from the glass. Steve waits for him to finish, doesnât say a word.
When Hopper puts the glass down, Steve just sits and watches the way the drops of condensation run down the cup, distorting around the fingerprints Hopperâs left. âAnyway, theyâre all out on their bikes looking for you too.â
Hopper smiles fondly, like itâs something charming and not⊠pathetic. âYou got a lot of people that care about you, kid.
Steve swallows around the lump in his throat, and nods. Tries for a grin, but itâs weak. Probably wouldnât fool anyone, much less a cop. âYeah, Iâm a real lucky guy.â
Hopper looks like he wants to say something else, but he just takes a breath and nods. Steveâs grateful he doesnât argue. Doesnât think he has the energy in him right now to fend off the âbut look how far youâve come!â âYour speakingâs gotten so much better!â âIt could be a whole heck of a lot worse!â comments.
âWhat do you say we get you home? Unless you want dessert? My treat.â Hopper offers with a grin.
âNo, I just want to go to sleep,â he says, before remembering his manners, âthanks, though.â
âAlright then.â Hopper glances down at the cleared plate of pancakes and the half finished coke before sliding out of the booth, followed by Steve. He takes out wallet, but Steve beats him to it. He tosses down a few bills, hoping itâs enough. Hopper doesnât comment, so it must be.
The drive back to his and Robinâs apartment is a solemn one, but itâs strangely peaceful. Hopperâs got the heat on full blast due to Steveâs lack of coat, and the motion of the vehicle along with the darkened sky leaves Steve feeling wrung out in a way he hasnât felt in a long time.
In fact, when they finally arrive, Hopperâs gotta shake his shoulder to wake him up.
âWeâre here.â He rumbles out in his gruff baritone.
Steve lifts his head from his folded arm and looks up at the modest building. He wonders how far they live from the pancake diner. If they could walk there, sometime, him and Robin and Eddie.
But then Steve realizes he never got the name of it. He feels his insides sink. Another thing lost to him.
âThanks, Hop,â Steve gives Hopper a nod and what heâs sure is a tired smile. âIâll, uhâIâll try not to run off again.â
âAh, donât worry about it.â Hopper says, diplomatically. âLet me walk you in.â
Steve cringes at the idea. Heâs grateful for Hop and all heâs doneâespecially the part about not making him feel like a complete dummyâbut he just wants this all to be over and for things to revert back to how they were. And at this point heâs so close he can taste it.
Steve busies his hands by undoing his seat belt. âNo, itâs okay, reallyââ
Hopper looks like heâs about to argue but Robin damn near crashes out through the buildingâs illuminated front doors. She makes a b-line for Steve, whoâs just barely gotten out of the cruiser.
She wraps her arms around him and doesnât let go. âSteve! Holy shit, you scared me so bad. Iâve been out of my mind!â
Steveâs arms are trapped at an awkward angle, but he reaches around her as best he can, arms like flippers. âIâm okay. Seriously. Look, not even a scratch.â
She doesnât laugh. Just squeezes him harder. Truthfully, Steve doesnât know if heâs okay, but itâs what everyone always seems to want to hear from him, so he says it often.
âIâve already killed Eddie like three times.â Robin murmurs into Steveâs chest, before finally pulling away. Her eyes are bloodshot, her nose stuffy, like sheâs been crying.
âItâs not his fault, Rob.â Steveâs brows pinch together as he frowns, âis heâŠâ
But when Steve looks up towards their building, he can see Eddie standing in the doorframe, his dark silhouette illuminated by the entry way lights. Heâs still as a statue, holding open the door for them, arm extended out into the cold autumn night. Steveâs insides squirm.
âYou got him from here, Buckley?â Hopper calls from his cruiser and Robin ducks to meet his eye before giving him a thumbs up. She loops her arm around his waist and they start towards their placeâtowards Eddie.
Before they reach him, Steve keeps his voice down as he asks, âCan I just go to bed? I donâtâI canât talk about it right now.â
âOkay.â She nods, âI get it.â
But she doesnât, not really.
Steve avoids eye contact with Eddie when they finally reach the building, and before he can say anything, Robin interrupts. âHeâs going straight to bed. Iâll call you tomorrow, okay?â
âYeah, okay.â Eddie says in a small voice. He doesnât argue. Doesnât even follow them back up to their apartment. Maybe Eddieâs even relieved he doesnât need to confront it tonight. Maybe they wonât ever confront it⊠maybe heâs hoping Steveâs brain will take care of everything and make him forget. Make it like it never happened. Part of Steve wishesâ
No. He doesnât wish that. His brainâs already functioning at half capacity, he doesnât want to thank it for fucking up, even if it might make Steveâs life easier.
Whatever Eddieâs expression is, Steve doesnât look back to find out. He keeps his eyes on his feet, focusing on putting one step ahead of the other.
When they finally arrive at Steveâs matchbox sized bedroom, he doesnât even bother changing into pajamas, or even out of his jeans for that matter. He just falls into his bed, pulls a pillow over his head and wills himself to let go of the day and surrender to the sweet pull of blissful unconsciousness.
đ«Ł Oops, I made it worse. But I promise the Eddie and Steve confrontation is in the next part! đ This is tagged angst with a happy ending for a reason.
Tag List: (message me to add or remove yourself.)
@morallyundefined @estrellami-1 @ollieolive @mugloversonly @wheneverfeasible @steddiefication @what-if-a-dragon @wrenisfangirling @yesdangerpls @flustratedcas @scarletyeager @snowstar2368 @starxlark @sofadofax @lawrencebshoggoth @stevesworldxx @jizzing-bastard-600and69 @bambibiest @queenie-ofthe-void @lilpomelito @bananahoneycomb @kaspurrcat @deadwhiterosesstuff @queenie-ofthe-void @dame-zoom-a-lot @3vilpurpl3d0t @loudmariachibands @steddieislife
#Steddie#I swear Iâll fix it#đšđȘđȘ look I have my tools right here#let me know if you want to be added to the tag list for part 3!#angst with a happy ending#Steddie amnesia fic#concussed Steve Harrington#tw head trauma#Steve Harrington centric#whew boy weâre in for a bit of a roller coaster#Eddie Munson#Steve Harrington#stranger things#stranger things fanfic#steddie fanfic#Eddie Munson is a sweetheart#heâs just a little guy#Eddie x Steve#Steve x Eddie#pre-Steddie#but theyâre heading there I swear#I WILL make the boys smooch I swear#but anyway here it is!#Iâve literally never had a fic blow up the way this one did#thank you everyone#my writing#write Rae write
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Steve knows he falls in love too easily. Nancy told him, Robin too.
But falling in love with Eddie Munson is hard.
They're supposed to be friends after Vecna. They're supposed to be friends, but Steve can't get past what Eddie did in the Upside Down; how he put himself in a position to nearly die, how Dustin got hurt. It's not fair. He knows it's not, but it doesn't make the anger go away.
Eddie's part of the group now, though, and Steve won't leave him out, no matter how angry. They're all at movie nights, at pool parties, at Hellfire, at Corroded Coffin gigs. It's just that Steve and Eddie don't speak. And Steve is okay with it. If it's what it takes to make sure that they're all hanging out together, not talking to Eddie is a small thing. He's pretty sure Eddie doesn't mind. At least, he seems as uninterested in hanging out with Steve as Steve is with him.
It doesn't need to be anything more than that, and it isn't, not until Steve goes upstairs to get more sunscreen during one of the pool parties, and walks back downstairs to find Munson waiting for him in his kitchen.
"You need something?" He asks, unable to fully hide the way he jolts with surprise.
Eddie twists the rings on his fingers, something Steve's noticed he does whenever he's nervous. "You have a problem with me, Harrington?
"No, of course not," he answers too fast.
"C'mon, man. You can barely stand to be in the same room with me."
"That's not true! We're in one together right now."
Eddie rolls his eyes so hard that it has to hurt. "Don't do that. Don't pretend like you don't know what I mean. You can't stand to be alone with me for more than thirty seconds."
Steve splutters, searching for a plausible reason.
"Is it cause--" Eddie swallows, hand going back to cup his neck. "Is it cause you heard me tell Robin that I'm gay? Back at the hospital. Is it because--" he cuts himself off.
Something in Steve's chest clenches hard, warmth swooping dangerously in his stomach. "No," Steve says, means it. "I didn't hear. I didn't-- it has nothing to do with that. It's--that's cool. Thanks for--yeah, that's cool."
Eddie's smile is a brittle little thing. "Then, what else?" Eddie pulls a chunk of hair over his mouth. "I can't think of any other reason you'd hate me so much."
"I don't." And Steve hopes it's coming off as genuine. "I promise."
He can't help remember the camaraderie, the understanding, that started to grow between them in the Upside Down. The "don't cha, big boy?" of it all. They could be friends. They should be.
They shouldn't get into it. Not right here, not right now when the kids' splashes and excited screams filter through the sliding door.
"You're a shit liar, Harrington."
"Ed--I'm not--"
"You know what? Don't bother. I'll just--" He jolts in the direction of the front door.
"Don't be stupid, Munson."
"God, I can't believe I didn't see it before. You just fucking loathe me."
"I do not. Grow up."
"Oh, yeah? Then what's your problem?"
"There isn't--"
"Stop lying!"
"You didn't fucking think!" He shouts. Loud enough that the noise outside cuts off. "You pulled that shit in the Upside Down and you almost died! Dustin got hurt!"
Eddie blinks his big brown eyes in stunned surprise.
"I told you, I said, 'dont try to be cute or be a hero or something.' And you know what you said? Do you?"
Eddie won't look at him now. "I had to make a choice, Steve."
"It was the wrong one!"
"I would do it all again. No matter what you say. I would do it to draw the bats away. To protect Dustin."
"But you didn't."
"There was no other way to stop them, Steve! They would've gotten through, into Hawkins."
"It doesn't matter."
"You weren't there! You can't tell me--"
"Yes, I can! I know."
"You don't! You think--"
"I almost lost you!" He screams. "You nearly died in my arms, Eddie. And for what?"
Falling in love with Eddie wasn't easy. It was blood and near death; it was weeks in a cold hospital room while Eddie existed in a drug-induced twilight state; it was agonizing convalescence and physical therapy and changing bandages; it was Eddie leading dnd sessions with bright eyes and contagious enthusiasm, herding the kids to the arcade and video store, theatrically serving snacks at movie night; it was festering, senseless anger at the near loss of something.
Eddie's lips tremble. "Steve, I--"
"It doesn't matter." He turns away to slide a hand down his face in an effort to wipe away the emotion. "You're fine and we're--it doesn't matter."
"I'm sorry," he whispers. "Steve, I'm sorry. I wanted--I thought it would help. I thought--"
And Steve has to admit, he does, the whole terrible contradiction of it all. "I know," he whispers back. "I would've--I know."
"I thought I was protecting Dustin. I thought I was buying you guys time with Vecna." Eddie's voice breaks. "I didn't--I--" He squeezes his eyes shut.
In the quiet of the kitchen, they gravitate to one another, foreheads resting together.
"I should have been there, Ed. I shouldn't have left you two alone. You almost died, and I--"
"Sweetheart, I'm right here. We're right here."
They don't kiss, but they're close enough that their mouths brush with each breath they take.
"Don't do that, again." Steve clenches his fists into Eddie's cutoff t-shirt. "Promise you won't ever--"
"I promise, Stevie. I promise. I'll be by your side until the very end, whatever it is."
#steddie#steve x eddie#steve harrington#eddie munson#ficlet#angst#angst with a happy ending#getting together#falling in love#protective steve harrington#oblivious eddie munson#mutual pining#steve harrington is bad at feelings#not quite rivals not quite enemies but a secret third thing to lovers#it's angst but then it's sweet#we're all traumatized here
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Steve and Eddie are on again off again for years after the events of st4. It's never too serious, they have basically opposite schedules. Eddie tends bar and plays with his band, existing mostly at night. Steve gets a degree and moves onto being a school counselor, late nights are the bane of his existence. It's easier when they live together, but over the years they've moved in and out of the little place they share with Robin.
Eddie's moved cities a few times, tried living with the band, has been on and off tour. Steve moved back home when his parents divorced for about a year to help his mom out, moved in and usually quickly out with partners. He volunteered a few summers to live in low income rural areas and help with the schools summer programs.
They just never quite get the timing right to try anything other than casual. It's honestly tearing Steve apart, it's been the source of every break up he's had since meeting the man. Eddie however seems entirely unbothered.
Steve knows for a fact he's Eddie's favorite person. Even when Eddie is "seeing" someone else, Eddie's relationships are never serious, he still prefers to spend his time with Steve. He just doesn't get why Eddie doesn't want something real, but he doesn't push, doesn't wanna lose what he has
It's a full decade of this nonsense before the song Quit Playing Games With My Heart by The Backstreet Boys comes out. Steve doesn't really care much about the band, he likes boy band music well enough. It's fun and catchy and danceable. But he's picking Eddie up from the airport, back from a three month stint in LA recording and promoting with the band. And the air is tense as the lyrics spill out of the radio, and it makes Steve feel heavy.
The song ends but he's still pretty misty, it's only ten minutes back to the apartment. He can hold it back, and when they're home he'll just excuse himself and cry quietly on his bed. He's done it plenty of times before, this is no different, he's got this, he's good.
"Stevie?" Eddie asks softly, and his his voice sounds strained, like something's got him worked up too.
Steve can't respond, not with his voice, so he just sort of nods, doesn't look at Eddie, but can feel the weight of Eddie's stare.
"What is it about me that you don't wanna stick around for?" He asks quietly, but there's a solid quality to his tone, like this is a question he's resolved to ask many times, and finally got his nerve up.
Steve doesn't respond for a long time, as pieces slowly move into place. Eddie has always seemed so unaffected, even congratulating Steve when things got serious with someone else. But if he looked closely at Eddie's reactions now, in retrospect, with the way he asked his quiet question, it clicks.
Eddie never liked any of Steve's partners, always gave Steve an out of he needed it, was always a little petty about Steve's ex's after a breakup. The thought that maybe, for all these years, a decade now, they'd been wasting their time keep things casual was just...well it was fucking hilarious. Terrible and heartbreaking, sure. But it kick started ridiculous sounding giggles.
Giggles quickly snowballed into full hysterical laughter. He glanced at Eddie who looked hurt, which was absurd. Steve's laughter became unhinged, and he had to pull off the road. Eddie didn't look hurt anymore when he looked back, he looked furious, and he was wiping his cheeks. Steve hadn't seen tears, but the idea that Eddie was crying over him did nothing to quell the laughter.
The moment the car stopped Eddie threw the door open, and climbed out. Grabbing his duffle from the back seat. He managed to stomp a good distance away before Steve could get himself together enough to chase after him. He was still giggling when he caught up enough to grab the strap of Eddie's bag. He pulled it back hard enough to knock Eddie off balance, and had to reach out to steady him.
"Eddie please," he paused to laugh and catch his breath as Eddie struggled to pull out of his grip. "Please, baby, give me a minute."
Eddie froze at that. They didn't use pet names like that. Nothing so relationship-y. It was enough to make Eddie wait for him. Steve didn't let go though, terrified Eddie might run off without a proper explanation.
He didn't know how to explain it, the years of longing, the way he'd wanted to ask the same question so many times, how he ached for him. He certainly didn't know how to explain his reaction.
"I don't know why it made me laugh like that." He started once he had his breathing under control. "Some stupid pop song-" and he was laughing again because this was stupid. He threw his hands up in frustration, immediately grabbing onto Eddie again when his hands came back down.
"some stupid pop song had me on the brink of tears, because my stupid, broken heart-" more laughter, and Steve was getting really tired of this. "Aches for you, when you've, I guess-" laughter, "been feeling the same way. God Eddie how stupid are we?"
And with that the giggles were gone, his insides had gone suddenly still, and he felt the loss of the time they could have had.
"how long?" Eddie asked, quiet again, he was never this quite. When Steve looked at him now his face was hard to read, tears still brimming in his eyes, but the anger and hurt were gone.
"since the boat house probably, at least since the hospital, for sure. When you woke up and you were cuffed to the bed. The first thing you said was some joke about being flattered they thought you were that dangerous. I knew for sure then, but I think it started in the boat house." Steve flushed, his face hot and pink.
"God, no, that's ..we can't have been feeling the same way so long. Stevie, what have we been doing?" Tears were falling, both men crying on the side of the road, and Eddie was holding onto Steve now too.
"Didn't think you'd want me for real. Didn't think anyone-" Steve coughed around the lump in his throat. "Tried to move on, so many times. Never could, it always came back to you."
And Eddie was suddenly in his arms, weeping, getting tight words out between sobs. "Never. Anything. Compare. No one. Even close. Just you. My Stevie."
"Didn't catch all that sweetheart. You'll have to tell me the rest later." Steve whispered into his ear, and Eddie melted in his arms, nodding emphatically into Steve's shoulder.
The time they waisted sat heavy on Steve's shoulders, but he had Eddie now. Eventually they would joke about it, about pining after each other for a decade before getting thier shit together, but it was gonna hurt for a while still.
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#yall have no idea how long it took to do the colors on this#i feel like my brain melted out my ears#but im SO happy with this theyre so cute god#my art#stranger things#steddie#steve harrington#eddie munson#st fanart#steddie fanart#please rb with tags they make me so so so happy and i screenshot them and show my friends and its so cute
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Steve walks in to Eddieâs studio during one of his live-streams and Eddie stops strumming to ask, âHey, did you see that email I forwarded to you?â
Steve: Huh? NoâŠgimme a second *checks email* Hawkins High wants you to give a commencement speech at graduation?
Eddie: Isnât that insane? Why would they ask that?
Steve: You should do it
Eddie:What? No-
Steve: Not because of the speech. I donât care about that. If theyâre dumb enough to think you wouldnât pull shit, thatâs on them.
Steve: You should do it and we should bring Robin with us because Tammy Thompson is the choir director there.
Eddie: IâŠIâm not following
Steve: Robin had a massive crush on her. She couldnât even talk to her. I wanna see if she still gets flustered and awkward around her
Eddie, considering it: Wait a minute, didnât Tammy Thompson have a massive crush on you? What if she still does?
Steve: Eddie, thatâs a given. Sheâs only human
#my sister graduated high school today and Iâm happy for her but I do not want to sit through it#Steve loves Robin to death but she once wrote his number on a bathroom stall so he has to torture her on occasion#the last time they saw Tammy was Steveâs high school reunion#Eddie couldnât make it and Robin was his wife so they went together#Robin poured punch down the front of her shirt#eddie munson tiktok saga#eddie munson#steve harrington
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Let Me Raise The Bar
T | 3,602 words | Steddie | also on ao3! | Modern AU, Meet Cute, Fluff
This fic is for the @strangerthingswritersguild fic exchange, by @starryeyedjanai and @devondespresso. Thank you to @dreamwatch and @bubblesandink for betaing for me!! <3
dividers by @/thecutestgrotto
edit: oh my god i forgot the keep reading the first time im so sorry guys
This night is going terribly.
He keeps telling himself heâll delete all his dating apps for good, but the prospect of being alone forever always has him re-downloading them.
Right now, heâs remembering why he hates them so much.
He hates Tinder, specificallyâguys on Tinder only want to fuck. And if that was what he was looking for, thatâd be fine, great even!
But he wants a relationship and guys on Tinder will say they want one too and then turn around and leave right after they get what they want.
At least guys on Grindr are upfront about it being just a hookupâno oneâs getting their hopes up or feelings hurt when it turns out to be just that.
Tinder guys will take you on a date and pretend to be interested in you as a person and then won't fucking text back after they leave your apartment the next morning. Itâs annoying and itâs frustrating and itâs a waste of Steve's fucking time at this point.
And this guy tonight isn't even trying to pretend. He tried to get Steve to blow him in his apartment building garage before they even left for the date and he really should have taken that for the red flag that it was.
But Steve looks good, and he did his hair routine that takes entirely too fucking long for no one to appreciate it.
His date drives him to this hole in the wall restaurant that Steve must have passed a million times on the bus ride to his job without ever noticing.
He thought he might be able to turn things around when they got thereâitâs a small Italian place, a real family-owned type vibe to it. He knows before he even orders that the food is going to be some of the best heâs tasted since moving here.
He tries asking the typical first date questions to get to know him, but his date keeps giving him short answers. So he switches to talking about himself a little, but then he realizes his dateâs been staring at his mouth the whole time heâs been talking and Steve finally snaps that he isn't getting into his pants.
Steve breathes out a deep sigh as his âdateâ gets up and goes to the bathroom. Some fucking date this isâthey haven't even gotten their fucking food yet. What a disaster.
âHey,â he hears their waiterâEddie, his nametag reminds Steve when he looks upâsay after a minute of his date being gone. âI hate to be the bearer of super bad news, but I just saw your date slip out the back door, and I don't know if heâs planning on coming back.â
There's a lilt of sympathy in his voice and Steve can't help but snort.
âOf course he did,â Steve says. âWhy can't guys just be upfront about what they want? It would save everyone so much time.â
Heâs not looking for an answer, but Eddie's mouth twists and he says, âGuys are stupid. I mean, theyâd have to be to give up the chance to get to know someone as cute as you.â
Steve can't really muster up a smile at the pity, so he says, âWell, whatever the case, he was my ride home, so I think I need to call a Lyft now. Can you box the food up and bring me the check?â At least heâll have lunch for tomorrow, which doesn't feel like an adequate consolation prize for how shitty he feels right now.
Eddie shakes his head and says, âThereâs no way Iâm letting you pay for such a shitty date.â Steve opens his mouth to protest, but Eddie continues, âTell you what, my shift ends in ten minutes. Why don't I show you how Iâd treat you if we went on a date.â
Steve's heart thuds in his chest, a flicker of hope in this incredibly dull evening. âSeriously?â he asks.
Eddie nods. âThink of it as a trial run. See if I rank good enough for a real one.â He winks and Steve finds himself nodding dumbly, still shocked at the rapid turn of events.
âOkay,â Steve says, kind of breathless.
Eddie heads back to finish cleaning up his other tables before he ends his shift, and Steve fills Robin in over text about what happened.
Heâs still waiting for a response when Eddie shows back up with two plates of food, setting one in front of Steve and the other where his date sat before sliding into the chair across from him.
Heâs wearing a different shirt, Steve realizes. It also looks like he attempted to wrangle his curly hair into something more manageable, maybe sprayed some water on it to smooth it down.
The thought that this guy, this random guy who happened to be his waiter on this horrific night, would put in more effort than his previous date makes Steve's cheeks get hot.
Maybe this night really can turn around.
âAlright, names. Hi, I'm Eddie.â Eddie says, sticking his hand out across the table cartoonishly for a handshake. Steve suppresses a laugh and takes Eddieâs hand with a smile.
âSteve.â He says, and Eddieâs eyes brighten before he takes his hand back.
âSo, Steve, what do you do for fun?â Eddie says, leaning forward slightly with vibrant confidence, tone feeling more and more noticeably rehearsed as he goes. âOther than light up the room with that smile, of course.â
Steve huffs a laugh, blushing despite himself.
âYou practice that one a lot?â
Eddie shrinks back a little, still smiling even as he messes with the hair on the back of his neck, already starting to ruffle what heâd tried to tame.
âYeah, itâs uhâŠâ
âItâs sweet.â Steve leans in a little closer himself, trying to match the effort Eddie keeps putting in. âAlmost as sweet as the smile you're wearing.â
Eddie flushes pink and lets out a little âThank youâ to cover a nervous laughâand christ, Steve is already hooked.
Steve hums and grabs his fork to start eating and Eddie mirrors him.
âThank you for this by the way.â Steve continues, âTonight's been⊠ugh, you know.â
âA special kind of shitty?â
âYeah,â Steve sighs, âSo all this is⊠really nice.â
âI'm glad.â Eddie says, voice soft before he shrugs and continues casually âMâhoping Iâll at least do better than the last guy.â
âYeah, of course, you havenât even asked me to blow you yet or anything.â
Eddie turns red and busts out a nervous laugh, looking away immediately. God, heâs so fucking cute.
âYeah, yeah, I'm notââ Eddie looks back at him, nervous still, but sincere anyway, âThat's not exactly my style.â
âYou a wine and dine kinda guy?â
Eddie shrugs lightly, then he seems to get an idea, leaning in again with a smile âActuallyâ ideally, I'm a dine and mine kinda guy.â
A smile takes over Steveâs face that he canât fully tamp down, a little flustered and a lot amused.
Eddie preens, then continues with a shy smile.
âThough, uh, usually it's more dine andâŠâ Eddie pauses, âPine. Dine and pine. You know, like pining.â
Steve makes his face relax as he nods and leans back. âOh, yeah, like the tree.â
Eddie stops and looks at Steve, and soon Steveâs smile breaks out again.
âNo, I know what you mean.â He says with a little laugh that Eddie quickly mirrors.
Eddie visibly relaxes, slouching overdramatically to the side with a sigh.
âGod, I swear Iâm usually good at this sort of thing, words and stories and shit,â He groans, gesturing around almost like heâs talking to himself, âBut apparently I meet one pretty boy and suddenly Iâve got screws loose. And theyâre all falling out, all across the floor, âthere they go!â, yâknow?â
Steve bites back a snicker and hums a quiet agreement. Eddie notices, though, looks up and sees right to Steveâs amusement, so Steve decides to save them both the embarrassment and move on.
âSo your job. You like it here?
âOh yeah, absolutely,â Eddie says, perking up and gesturing as he starts talking, âThe owners are really cool, they were our neighborsâ Wayneâsâmy uncleâsâneighbors when I first moved in with him, way way back, and they were so chill, loved having people over. Then one time in highschool I mentioned saving up âcause Iâm trying to make it big with my band, and they offered to give me a job here while we get there.â
âThatâs awesome. Your band any good?â
âDepends on who you ask.â Eddie laughs, playing with the food on his plate, âWayne says weâre pretty good, which is probably the equivalent of moms showing up to their toddlerâs dance recitals, but itâs something.â
âWhere'd you guys play?â
âThe Hideout, a couple blocks downâŠâ
Steve nods.
âYeah, itâs, uh, pretty fun if you ever wanted to stop by.â
âSounds like a great second date.â
Eddie blushes, playing with his hair again as he smiles and looks away.
âIâll probably have to wear earplugsâ not because of your band orââ
âNo, no, no, youâre goodââ Eddie says, almost jumping up to reassure him, âItâs metal, thatâs normalâ good, even.â
âOhâ good.â Steve says, a bit awkwardly, and looks back down to his food.
Eddie leaves barely a moment of silence before he pulls the conversation back together.
âSo what about you? You just a professional bad-Tinder-dater?â
Steve huffs and fiddles with his fork.
âGuidance counselor, actually.â
âOh damn, really?â
âYeah, Middle school.â
âOh god,â Eddie groans playfully, âI can't imagine going back there willingly.â
âYeah, I mean, it can get pretty rough,â Steve shrugs, âIt's good though. Kids start thinking about who they are, I get to try and make that a little less shitty.â
âThatâs a tall order.â Eddie laughed into his glass. âI respect it though. Hell, just having a queer adult exist around me wouldâve made a lot of it easier.â
âGod, yeah. I've got practice, at least, for when they need more than just some guy standing around in an office.â he laughed, pulling out sarcastic air quotes for the next part, â I âbabysatâ kids in middle school before I graduated. Bunch of little shits but they were good kidsâ still are good. They're like four years younger than me though, so they're more like siblings than kids.â
âYeah, bet they don't take well to âkidsâ.â
âOh, they hate it.â Steve laughed and Eddie followed with him, âAlways hated it, but Dustin put his foot down after highschool. Rob and I call them my âtwenty-somethingsâ now.â
âGod, wait, how old are you?â Eddie laughed
âTwenty-six.â
Eddie laughed a little louder, a lively and full laugh that looked enchanting on Eddie.
âYou'd love them, they're allâ
Steveâs phone buzzes.
Both of them look over to it on the table. Steve moves it to the seat next to him, looked up to Eddie with an apologetic smile.
His phone buzzes again.
And again, and soon Eddieâs eyes flick in that direction, eyebrow quirking with barely-restrained curiosity.
Then Steveâs phone starts ringing, the electric guitars of Hammer To Fall creeping up in volume way too fast for comfort.
âSorryââ Steve cringes, grabbing his phone and answering the call in a furious whisper, âRobin, are you dying?â
âNo, but thank you for confirming that you arenât.â
âI texted you what happened.â
âYeah and it was vague as hell! I reserve the right to be a worrywart with this shit.â
âYeah, I know.â Steve sighs, but canât really argue with her on it. âThis was going well, thoughââ
âIs.â Eddie chimes in, not trying to be loud enough for the phone to pick it up, just for Steve to hear him clearly.
âIs going well.â Steve smiles.
âOooo okayyy.â Robin hums and Steve can hear her cheeky smile through the phone.
âGoodbye, Robin.â Steve says, failing a half-assed attempt to cover his amusement.
âOh wait no, tell him if he tries anything Iâllââ
âMânot doing that.â
âI will though, Iâll go after himââ
âOh woah youâre breaking up, canât hear you.â Steve deadpans.
âSteve, I knowââ
âLove you, byeââ
âSteeeeveââ
âDonât pull your hair out.â Steve says and hangs up, coming back to the present to Eddie watching him, thankfully looking amused instead of annoyed.
âSorry about that.â Steve says.
âNo, no, itâs fine.â Eddie leans forward again, propping his head up in one hand, âSo⊠friend?â
âBest friend, has to be to get away with shit like that so easily.â
Eddie snorts.
âWhat was she calling about?â
âI wasnât clear that this new date thing was gonna be a good thing.â
Eddie nods civilly.
âShe worries,â Steve continues, âFuckinâ tinder dates, yâknow?â
âUh, not reallyâŠ.â Eddie smiles.
âGood for you. Theyâre all the same asshole in a different haircut.â Steve says, and Eddie smiles, laughing a little with him before continuing with something calmer, a little more earnest.
âThen why keep going to them?â
Steve shrugs.
âCall me an optimist, I guess.â
Eddie hums noncommittally, like heâs thinking more than heâs sharing, and continues the conversation in a lighter direction.
_
The rest of the date is wonderful. A little less chaotic, especially once they start finally eating their food for real, but what it lacks in eventfulness it makes up for in comfort. Theyâre not exactly quiet, but Eddieâs energy always comes with a sincerity underneath, like heâs bold and fun because he just is, and not because heâs making himself be.
Itâs refreshing. And as the night goes on, it becomes intoxicating.
So when Eddie offers to save him the Lyft fee and just drive Steve home, Steve agrees, just to get a little longer in Eddieâs bubble.
Eddie leads him through the restaurant and out the back into a small parking lot with a handful of cars and one big van, decorated with a clearly hand-painted dragon on the side. Which, of course, ends up being Eddieâs.
âDustin would love this thing.â Steve says as he hops into the passengerâs seat, not really thinking twice about it as he looks at the interior, eyes lingering on the big fuzzy dice with too many sides hanging from the mirrors.
âSo Dustin isâŠ?â
âA Twenty-something.â Steve laughs as he spins the fuzzy dice to see all of its sides. âHeâs like my little brother. Loves DnD and science and⊠all the nerd shit.â
âNerd shit?â
âYeah, I meanâ it's not my thing but itâs cool. Iâve played with Dustin and them a couple times.â
âOooo, a bit of a nerd, are we?â Eddie hums in a weird, almost witchy voice.
âCasually.â
âMmm, but youâre already down the path~~â
âJust drive, dude.â Steve says with a fond eye roll.
âAs you wish, your majesty.â Eddie hums in his normal voice, giving Steve a glowing glance before shoving the keys in.
âAlright, I'm about to push your nerd-tolerance to its limits.â Eddie says, pulling out his phone with a grin. He connects it to the car and quickly turns it down before drums and guitar erupt from the speakers, and Steve flinches at the volume.
âSorry, sorry.â Eddie whispers and turns down the music again.
Steve nods, and after a second of the music playing much more quietly, he finds it much more comfortable. Nice, even. The energy is quick and alive like Eddie is, though the aggressive vocals fit his outward aesthetic more than his borderline goofy demeanor.
âItâs not the music, I promise.â Steve says, saying it casually but meaning it sincerely.
âYouâre fine, I get it.â Eddie laughs, a little too cynically for Steveâs liking.
âNo, Iââ Steve reaches for Eddieâs hand between them, intertwining fingers and bringing both hands up between them, âIâm serious, I like it. My headâs a little sensitive, been hit a few too many times, but itâs nice. Itâs bold and very energetic⊠stuff that I already like about you.â
Eddie blushes hardâa sweet cherry pinkâas he slouches, bringing their joined hands closer to his face like heâs trying to hide behind them. Eddie rests his forehead against the back of Steveâs hand and huffs a quiet laugh.
âGod, youâre quite the charmer, Stevie.â Eddie says, and Steve finds his face warming too.
âAnd Iâm guessing itâs working?â Steve laughs.
Eddie looks up at him, smiling wide.
âOh, itâs working very well.â Eddie says, and brings their hands closer to him again to plant a soft kiss onto Steveâs hand.
Steveâs face goes warm again, lights him on fire, and Eddieâs smile turns slightly smug before he looks away.
âAlright,â Eddie says, looking back to the front to drive but not letting go of Steveâs hand. He even reaches his left arm over to change the gears, leaning into how silly he looks to make Steve laugh.
Itâs sweet, it's genuine, and it's everything to Steve.
Eddie starts driving, hand still firmly holding onto Steveâs, neither of them willing to let go first. Steve looks at it as Eddie drives, splitting most of his attention between their hands, Eddieâs profile lit up by the colorful city lights, and the road ahead as he navigates Eddie to his apartment.
And if they miss a turn or two because Steveâs tired brain doesnât want to watch the damn road? Eddie doesnât mention it.
_
âAlright.â Eddie says, putting the car into park with his left hand again, though far less comically now.
He sits there for a second, quiet like somethingâs on his mind, so Steve waits.
âOkay, uh,â Eddie starts, looking vaguely down as he wanders through what he wants to say, âI had fun, Iâm assuming by how the nights gone that you did, tooâŠâ
Steve squeezes Eddie's hand, and Eddie laughs.
âI had a really great time. And I want to do this again, if you want to.â Eddie glances up at Steve for a second before his eyes dart away again. âBut I want to be sure youâre⊠youâre not being an optimist with me. That you want want this, yâknow, because you're an amazing guy, Stevie. I donât know how you keep having such shit luck but believe me when I tell you it's not because of you.â
Eddie looks back up at him again and keeps his gaze there, looking more relaxed now.
âSo, uh, I would love to take you out again.â Eddie says, âIf you want to.â
If he wants to, as if that's not the most romantic thing Steveâs heard in his life.
Steve almost says that. He also debates kissing him or pulling him into an awkward hug over the center console that heâs sure would be put up with no matter how uncomfortable itâd be. But Steve doesnât, because Eddie continues before Steve can make a decision.
âWhat do you want?â
Steve resists the urge to say a cheesy âYouâ and thinks about it, really thinks so he can put together words that make sense, so he can give Eddie a real answer.
âI want a long relationship. A real one, yâknow?â
Eddie nods.
âAnd I want to get married, someday. I want someone whoâll stay that long, who will love and let me love them, all cheesy and clingy and shit.â
Eddie hums, searching Steveâs face.
âAnd?â
Steve looks down at the joined hands between them.
âAnd Iâd love if it were you. Youâre sweet, so sweet, but youâre also⊠alive. Everything you do, youâreâŠâ Steve thinks hard for a moment, working out how to phrase it. âItâs like the world doesnât weigh you down. And youâre so genuine and youâll come and say what you mean like itâs nothing, and I think every one of the people in my lifeâmy favorite peopleâwould love being around you almost as much as I do.â
Steve looks back up to him, face hot with another intense flush, and tries to smile casually.
âHate to break it to you, dude, but youâre kinda my perfect man.â
Eddie huffs a breathy laugh, face painted with disbelief and wonder.
âOkay, then. Case closed.â
âYeah,â Steve hums, with as much fondness as possible. Steve leans in across the center console, bringing a hand up slowly, trying to signal that heâs leaning in for a kiss.
It takes Eddie a second, and Steve gets to watch him look down at Steveâs hand and look at Steve leaning in, gets to see the moment it clicked before Eddie lunges to meet him halfway and then some, making the hand that was supposed to cradle Eddieâs face hold onto the seat beneath him to keep their balance.
Eddie kisses him hard at first, bringing a hand up to card through Steveâs hair, excited and alive. Then Eddie seems to come back to his senses, moving back but taking Steve with him until theyâre both leaning over the center again.
Their kiss softens, intensity melting out into fondness, gentle but passionate, warm and Steve wants to melt from it.
Still, Steveâs going home tonight, going to go upstairs to Robin and tell her all about it. Heâll get to have a good night's sleep in a bed that doesnât need cleaning, and heâll get to wake up to the idea of something new brewing fresh in his mind.
Steve pulls back gently and Eddie does the same, eyes flicking open one after the other, a smile on Steveâs face and another lighting up Eddieâs.
Steve catches his breath, feeling lighter now than he has in ages, and Eddie opens his mouth to say something again.
âDoes this mean I can get your number?â
#stranger things#steddie#steve harrington#eddie munson#steddie fic#steddie fluff#fluff#modern au#happy ending#devon's writings
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