#steve harrington what have they done to you

[sp0o0kylights]

Part One

A large part of the Steve Harrington lore was that he left his throne, his popularity, childhood best friends behind--for Nancy Wheeler. 

This was a lie. 

It wasn’t even one he encouraged--and Steve had done some damage control in the aftermath of that whole thing with the tunnels. 

He volunteered, dropped hints to the right crowd. 

It took time, but eventually, his insistence that he’d changed, left his old crew behind to become a better version of himself, began to stick.

Or at least it did with the people who mattered.  

It took Starcourt for him to realize that wasn’t really the truth either. 

Steve did want to be a better person. He was working actively on being a better person. 

But…

(But he still heard screams from a bus in the junkyard when he slept. Felt fear lick down his spine as he charged in, knowing he was the only thing standing between three dumb kids and a painful, shitty death. 

But he still heard Dustin, full of conviction, tell his friends that Steve was the only person he could find. 

But now he had a “bad” shoulder, a “twinge” in his ribs, and a head that was plagued by migraines, all of which made him look in the mirror and ask himself “What if I hadn’t gone with them?) 

…you couldn’t be there for someone, couldn’t protect someone, if you were too busy playing high school bullies with your friends. 

Robin would likely argue these were simply the reasons he wanted to be a better person, but Robin now ranked as one of Steve’s top 10 personal regrets--even if he was pretty sure they’d become best friends.

Because Steve was the oldest. He’d graduated high school for fucks sake, he should have shut Dustin down the second he realized what was happening was legitimate. 

He absolutely should not have let Robin get involved and Erica--

He can’t even really think about Erica, no matter how much Erica herself argues elsewise. 

At the very least, Steve can admit to himself he protected them in the end. 

Got beat to shit and had to fake his death alongside Hopper to do it, but they all got out. 

Alive.

Unscathed.

Hopefully to put this whole fucking thing past them once Owens finished cleaning house in the government. 

Unfortunately life--and Eddie fucking Munson--was not ready to put anything to rest. 

Munson in fact, seemed hellbent on disturbing what he could--and Steve, wholly haunted by the fact the kids always came to him, couldn’t let him do it alone.

At least, he thought with grim distaste, as he followed Munson’s weaving path to the ruins of Starcout,  he was getting his car out of it. 

xXx

Uncanny valley doesn’t do Steve’s feelings justice. 

Starcourt was laid out in a giant L, and coming at it from the outer edges like he and Munson did means everything looks disturbingly normal. 

Off putting, if only because it’s 10 in the morning and not a soul is in the mall, but otherwise? 

Like nothing ever went wrong.

As they move closer to the center, things begin to unravel. 

It’s not noticeable at first. Not unless you’re looking. The litter on the floor, the little piles of weird looking debris. 

The stains.

Nothing that outwardly screams “something horrible happened here” but it's coming--and though Munson is creeping along just as quietly as Steve is, he knows the guy isn’t on edge in the same way. 

Why would he be? Nothing Steve said had managed to deter him, and given Steve can’t exactly explain what happened or why he’s playing possum, Munson was plenty confident about going forward with his little B&E. 

At least not until they finally turn the corner, and the destruction hits them full force. 

Glass and chunks of plaster cover the ground like confetti. Lights hang sideways or lay smashed on the floor, as do pieces of doors (and railings and half of the entire upper floor.) 

The place looks like something out of a disaster film--which Steve supposes, is exactly what it is. 

If the disaster was supernatural in nature, and also caused by a giant monster made out of the melted flesh. 

(God, his life was weird.)

“What the hell happened here?” Eddie said, eyes wide as he took in the damage. 

Steve tried to imagine what it must look like for him. Looked at the scene and tried to pretend he was someone who wasn’t in the know, who thought the mall had been destroyed by a fire and subsequent structural collapse.

Could almost convince himself one could buy it--if it weren’t for the smears of blood that still stained the floor. 

He stared at said smears, trying to match up which puddle was the one Billy died in, in comparison to all the other stains that the feds hadn’t bothered to remove. 

Recalled the way Max screamed, fighting her way towards her step-brother when he finally fell.

The yell Billy himself had let out, when he’d managed to shake off the Mindflayer, long enough to give El the time she needed. 

Steve hadn’t really thought about it until now. 

Billy’s death.

 Hadn’t really had time too, given Owens had pulled him and a handful of others out of the ambulance and forced them into hiding.

(From the fucking Russians still hanging around, apparently, though that had been Owens flimsy excuse. Murray and Hopper and long guessed it was something far closer to home. 

“You ever think about how weird that was? That Russians made it to Hawkins and no one ever noticed?” Hopper had asked, a beer in the same hand that had an IV sticking out of the back of it. “Given the lab was right across town you think they’d be watching for that kinda thing.” 

“Please Jim, I am begging you, for once, to use your head. They didn’t get here without assistance and they certainly didn’t do it without help from our own government.” Murray had scoffed in return. 

He held two lit cigarettes in his hand, and was reaching for a third.

“Why the hell would the US military let in Russians?"

“An excellent question, and I’ll return it with one of my own. If we assume we are being lied too, and all the Russians are actually gone, why would Owens still need to hide us?"

“...Fuck.”

“Fuck indeed.”)

Now, Steve found he had all the time in the world to contemplate Billy Hargrove and his mostly unnoticed possession. His supposed sacrifice. 

 Had it redeemed him, the way movies and TV shows always said that kind of death, did? 

Steve imagined the sneered grin on Billy’s face that night at the Byers. Felt phantom knuckles brush across his face, the fury that had ignited within him when Billy hadn’t gone for him, but for Lucas.

Compared it to his own fight with Jonathan in ‘82. 

The words he’d allowed Tommy to spray upon the theater sign regarding his own girlfriend. The camera he’d destroyed. 

The demogorgon in the Byers house, lights flashing as it tore through the wall. 

If things had been different, if Steve hadn’t survived back then--would people wonder the same things about him? Would they ask themselves if his sacrifice was worth it--if it proved he was a good person, under it all? 

“Harrington?” 

Steve jumped, startling when Munson nudged him. 

“You good, man?” He asked, and Steve almost laughed at him because no, he definitely was not good. 

He can’t say that though, and so he does what he always does. Shoves the thoughts down, puts the feelings back inside a box in his mind. 

Lies. 

“Yeah--fine.” He said, brushing off his staring. “Come on, Scoops is that way.” 

He gestures, ignoring the concerned look that’s overtaken Munson’s face. 

Panicking he knows, will not get his keys back, and neither will it help him learn what idiot is poking around the Upside Down this time. 

Because for all of Murray's conspiracies, he doesn’t actually think the feds are Munson’s benefactor. Owens had been inclined to agree, when Steve first reported this entire situation back. 

It’s definitely not his parents, who are conveniently overseas in London. 

That leaves very little options, including a disturbing possibility of a new player to the game, and given all the green goo Steve had seen, the way they all know it does--something, to help power the gate... 

It’d be nice to get ahead of things for once, instead of scrambling to catch up. 

(Screw Hopper and Owens and everyone who told Steve to stay out of it.

He knew damn well Munson wouldn’t listen to his warnings. 

Wouldn’t back off and definitely wouldn’t leave it alone.

Hopper’s half-delirious (and morphine fueled) rants about this finally being a wakeup call for Munson if he didn’t listen wasn’t going to make up for the blood on Steve's hands if the guy went in there without him and died. ) 

Walking through Scoop's is almost more unnerving than walking through the mall itself. Likely because Steve spent time here, and seeing it in it's destroyed state--lights off, ice cream melted and fouling the air with the a rancid stench do him no favors.

The You Suck board is laying haphazardly on the floor.

Steve forces himself to walk by it, and breathes only through his mouth.

“Your locker, my liege!” Munson crows as they enter the back part of Scoop’s, throwing out an arm at it like he’s presenting a game show prize. “Shall we see if the treasure we seek is behind door number one?” 

Steve rolls his eyes, but remains quiet as he steps up and enters his combination. 

It swings open as easily as it ever had, and there, hanging from the crooked hook, is the car keys Steve is so desperately after. 

Munson throws his hands in the air, like Steve’s just shot the winning basket of a game. 

“Score!” He yells, and Steve grins reflexively even as he shushes him. 

“Now," Munson says dramatically, "the hunt begins for our second prize.”

Steve rolls his eyes.

“I told you I don’t have a class ring.” 

“And yet they have me searching for one anyway.” Like a hound zeroing in on a trail, he immediately orients to the back of Scoop’s, waltzing through to the backrooms like this was everyday for him.

Given his confusing and handwaved excuse of how he got involved in this, Steve suppose it could be. 

(He had decided, sometime between the first and fifth time he’d tried to get Eddie to explain how, exactly he’d been roped into this little mission, that the man could never meet Dustin.

Henderson was already too good at steamrolling over Steve, explaining nothing other than the facts that would force them all to do what the little shit wanted, all the while leading them further into trouble.

He didn’t need to befriend someone like Munson, whose mastery of the same bullshit had him doing, well.

This.) 

To the end of the hall Eddie skipped, and Steve kept his eyes on his jacket. Some sort of demon thing was posed on the back, a shirt that had been ripped up and resewn to be a backpatch. 

It was better than looking at anything else back here.

It took them no time at all to reach their destination. 

The door down had a shiny new lock on it. A big thing, with chains so thick Steve briefly wondered if they were worried about containment. 

Had they pulled something through the gate, before it had exploded?

The base was large--larger than Steve had seen, and he'd passed room after room when running around down there.

No one had the time to explore, and one would assume any and all monsters had been removed from the premise but there was always that little tickling feeling.

The one that chanted 'What if...'

Unfortunately, the lock did nothing to detour this little jaunt. 

Munson dropped to his knees in front of a door, hair pin in hand. He fiddled with the lock for a moment and Steve took it to visualize how different things might have been if the older teen had been there with them. 

How much easier some of it would have been. 

(Not that Steve wanted to involve anyone else in this mess.

He'd carry the guilt of dragging Erica and Robin both into it for the rest of his life, not matter what either had to say about the matter. Dustin he knew he couldn't stop, but then, Steve doubted they'd have even made it that far without the girls.)

A click sounded, and Eddie looked up, eyes bright with a wild grin on his face. 

“Open sesame.” He purred as he stood, the door opening under his hands. He pushed on it, revealing the dark gaping maw of a stairwell.

Dread hit Steve like a wave.

“We shouldn’t go down there.” He said.

They had already had this conversation, but Steve felt the overwhelming urge to revisit it on grounds that he still isn’t sure how exactly, Munson got him to agree to come in the first place, and also, now that he was thinking of it, because the guy reminded him of Dustin.

“We shouldn’t be here at all.” Munson countered, springing back to his feet. “But some of us need this little thing called money.”

He rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, as if Steve needed the extra visual.

“If you’re giving me the car--and the car keys--what's the point of going after the ring?” Steve tried, staring down the stairwell before him. “Aren’t they gonna like, not pay you for not finding anything?”

Munson made a dismissive noise, waving his hands in the air like he was dispersing smoke. 

“Eddie.” Steve said, and knew by the way Munson looked at him that the use of his first name hit as intended. “I mean it, man.” 

There was no point in going through with the rest of it. No point at all.

“And I told you I was given a side mission to my main mission, and a little industry secret for ya here Harrington,"

Steve watched as cheshire-cat like grin lit up Munson’s face, in a way eerie similar to Dustin’s gummy smile. "the side missions always pay more.” 

“What's under there isn’t--this isn’t--it’s not safe.” Steve fired back, hating how he fumbled the words, like a ball slipping through his hands. 

Munson scoffed.

“Life ain’t safe.”  

“This is different.” He tried to argue and hated how stubborn Munson was being about this.

It almost made him feel bad about all the time’s Robin had protested. 

(Idly Steve wondered if this was how she felt. Like she was getting dragged along--like she had to go. 

Did her insides feel scooped out? Stomach hollow and head hurting?

Or had the excitement blinded her too much to feel the way the walls seemed to press in?)

Steve’s gut clenched with worry, and he shook his head to clear the anxiety.

Met Munson's gaze and desperately thought of something to say to convince him to walk away.

Some of that must have bled onto his face, because Munson was giving him an odd, searching look.

“I’ll make you a deal, Steve-O." He said. "You give me two good reasons why we shouldn’t go down there, and if they’re really convincing, I might agree to skip it.” 

“I signed NDAs.” Steve sighed, because this was an argument they’d also already had. 

Twice in fact--once, when Eddie first found him, alive and very much not dead as reported, and the second time when he approached Steve with his “retrieval project.” 

(Both times at the goddamn gas station, which Steve would now be avoiding for life.) 

On eyebrow raised. “Over a mallfire?” 

“I think,” Steve said dryly, gesturing around to the destruction that surrounded them, “that you’ve figured out it wasn’t a mallfire.” 

Technically he wasn't even supposed to say that, but then, Steve had long stopped caring if he actually broke the stupid thing.

The real issue was that the story sounded like something out of a bad horror film--fake and ridiculous. If he tried to explain it, Munson would assume Steve had finally cracked.

Or, more likely, decide he was being made fun of, and react accordingly.

(They couldn't afford to fight here, and neither did Steve want Munson storming off.)

“Well duh. But then, you’re the one who won’t say what really happened here.” Munson waggled his eyebrows in a way that was so cartoony Steve was mildly impressed a person could pull it off. 

He sighed a second time. 

“You wouldn’t believe me.”

“You keep saying that and you keep not trying me.” Eddie leaned against the door frame. “Come on Harrington. Two reasons.”

Steve tried.

Ran through what might convince Munson to leave it all alone. 

Figured the guy was kind of like Dustin, in that he couldn’t be too vague (because it would just intrigue him) and he couldn’t be too honest (because any idiot could see Munson would be all over some kind of government conspiracy.) 

“The fact the building might pancake on us at any moment isn't enough?" He asked, unsure if sounding desperate was the right move here (an equally unsure if he could hide it if it was.)

He’d hadn’t tried this route before--hadn’t thought Munson would go for it. 

Not when he'd waived off every other attempt Steve could think of, to stop this.

“Nah, I trust my source, this place will hold.” Munson leaned forward, deep into Steve’s space and though Steve waivered back, he let the older teen get close. “You’ve been off ever since we came in here, Harrington. I want to know why.” 

“I was in the fire. Munson. I did almost die."

He still had a bruise left to prove it.

"That ain't it and you know it."

"I don't know what else to tell you then." Steve said, angry. why was the guy making this so hard? Why couldn't he just fucking listen!?

“Not even two reasons?”

“There’s not--” Steve closed his eyes, frustrated. “I’ve given you far more than two reasons!” 

“Not any good ones.” 

“I don’t know what you want from me. "Steve admitted finally. "because I told you, you wouldn’t believe the rest of it--” 

Munson didn't let his rant pick up steam. instead he pulled himself back, interrupting Steve.

“Then down the rabbit hole we go, Alice!”

Quick as a flash he was  down the stairs and Steve bit back a curse as he rushed to follow.

“Munson--come on, wait!” He yelled back.

Eddie, of course, did no such thing. 

It took everything he had in him to rush after, but Steve did it anyway.

What else was he good for?

[supernovafics]

𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐌𝐄 𝐁𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒

read part one here!

pairing: steve harrington x fem!reader

word count: 6.8k words

summary: in which spending the night with steve only makes things more complicated 

warnings: explicit language, cheating (both reader and steve are cheating on their partners), implied smut, a lot of angst

author’s note: did this for the like ten ppl that asked for it<333 i listened to a lot (A LOT) of i, carrion (icarian) by hozier while writing this so that pretty much explains the super angsty vibes we have throughout most of this lol (angst with a happy ending though so no need to hate me! 🫶🏾)

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。

The time couldn’t have been later than six o’clock. 

For the most part, it was still dark outside, but you could see the beginning bits of the sun rising through Steve’s thin curtains. 

And it was then that you realized that you were still in Steve’s bed when you definitely shouldn’t have been. A fresh wave of guilt began to settle in your stomach as you shifted around to face him. He was still asleep, lips slightly parted and hair a mess. 

You needed to leave— you actually should’ve left hours ago, but you’d fallen asleep way too easily in his bed; something that you’d actually never done before. And even now you still couldn’t find it in you to move, so you instead kept looking at him and pushed away the guilt that quietly gnawed at your stomach and told you that you should be running away right now. 

“You’re staring,” Steve mumbled after a few moments, eyes still shut and the tiniest hint of a smirk on his face. 

You quickly shook your head even though he obviously couldn’t see you. “Not true.” 

His eyes opened and you immediately closed yours, knowing that he caught you but you still pretended as if you were innocent. 

You felt him poke your side barely a second later and you laughed despite yourself. Your eyes opened and you didn’t hesitate to meet his gaze, but then seeing the small happy smile on his face reminded you of why you shouldn’t have been in his bed right then. 

You shifted so that your head was back against the pillow and you stared up at his ceiling, focusing on a random spot. “So, um, are you feeling okay after last night?”

You decided against specifying exactly what happened last night to save you from pointing out the elephant in the room— him being drunk and showing up to your house and a conversation that was honest but also not at all somehow leading here. 

“Yeah, just a headache, but not really.”

You promptly decided to use that as an excuse to get out of his bed. “I’ll go grab something for you. Is the aspirin still in the same spot in your bathroom?”

“Yeah, but you don’t have to do that.”

You shook your head as you pulled the blanket off and got up. “No, it’s fine.”

You stepped through the door that connected to his bathroom. You avoided looking at yourself in the mirror, for reasons that you couldn’t fully decipher, and simply rummaged through the drawer underneath his sink for a quick second. 

Steve was still in the same position in his bed when you returned to his room, except now he was looking at you with a confused look in his eyes. 

He didn’t say anything or call you out on your current antics though as you tossed over the bottle of aspirin to him, and then you realized something. 

“Oh, you need water too. I’ll be right back.”

“You don’t—”

You waved him off before he could finish his statement and slipped out of his room, not giving him a chance to say anything else. 

It didn’t take long, you knew his house fairly well, and doing the mundane task of finding a glass and filling it with some water was enough to help clear your mind and make you think about everything logically. You realized just how much of a mistake last night was, but the only good thing was that this would be easy to recover from. You two could still go your separate ways and let your different lives completely go back to how they were before you two started sneaking around with each other. 

When you got back to Steve’s room, he was sitting up and leaning back against his headboard. He pushed a hand through his hair, which actually did very little to tame its messiness. 

“Here you go,” You said as you handed over the glass. 

He smiled at you. “Thanks.”

You simply nodded in response at first and then you were speaking. “Yeah, no problem.”

You lingered awkwardly by his bed because you didn’t want to get back in, but you felt as if there was a lot more you should say before you left. “Hey, um, can we agree to actually not do this anymore? I still stand by everything I said in the bathroom yesterday.”

His confused look returned. “We didn’t do anything last night.”

“Yeah, and I think that’s somehow worse,” You told him as you turned away because it became too hard to hold his gaze right then. You grabbed your hoodie off the back of his door and slipped it on. “Let’s just let things go back to normal, okay? You with Nancy and me with Jamie.”

It didn’t necessarily feel right saying the words, but they felt needed. You had to say them. You had to pretend that everything was fine, or that it at least had the potential to be that way. 

“I broke up with Nancy last night.”

For a second, all you could do was simply look at him as the words processed in your brain because at first you were convinced that you heard him wrong. But once they did process, you were immediately blurting out, “What? When?”

“Before I got drunk and saw you,” He answered, voice way too soft to match this huge news that he was dropping on you. 

You shook your head and sighed as you realized that everything wasn’t going to easily go back to normal and be fine like you wanted it to be. “God, Steve, I really wish you would’ve told me that last night.”

“Would it have changed anything? Is it changing anything now?”

“I wouldn’t have let myself come here,” You answered immediately. “If you had told me this when you were standing on my front lawn, I would’ve told you to go and try to get back with her.”

There was a lot more that you could’ve said— that you would’ve seen the conversation you two had last night right here in his bedroom entirely different if you’d known, and you wouldn’t have let yourself fall asleep in his arms if you knew that there wasn’t any hope for things to go back to normal because he no longer had a “normal” to go back to. And you wouldn’t let yourself be here with him in this moment either. 

“Is it changing anything now?” Steve asked again when he noticed that you hadn’t answered that question. 

“No... No, it’s not,” You said after the briefest moment of hesitation and then turned away from him again. “I’m gonna go. You should try to fix things with her.”

“Why do you want me to be with her so bad?” You could hear him ask as you closed his bedroom door behind you. 

Because then I’d feel a little less terrible about all of this. You wanted to practically scream that at him. You wanted him to understand that if things could just go back to how they were then you’d feel okay about how shitty of a person you’d been for the past month and a half. At least, that was the hope. 

However, you didn’t tell him any of that. 

“It’s just, it’s the right thing to do, Steve,” You responded loud enough for him to hear you through the shut door. 

You headed down the stairs, not listening to see if Steve said anything else, and you were in the middle of putting on your shoes when you heard his door open again. You tied your sneakers quickly and terribly because you hoped that you’d be able to slip out before Steve made it down the stairs. 

Perhaps you two needed to have a better conversation that would actually come to some sort of proper conclusion, but you couldn’t do that right then. And then you quickly figured that if you kept pushing him away, maybe he’d get the hint and push you away too, or simply let go. 

You were only able to pull open the front door before you abruptly stopped your fast movements.  

Because Nancy was standing in front of you, finger seconds away from ringing the doorbell. Her eyes met yours and you suddenly wished for the ground to swallow you whole. 

She looked like a girl that had just been broken up with, eyes puffy and red like she’d been crying all night, and you knew that was entirely your fault. An immediate “I’m so sorry” was on the tip of your tongue, but you couldn’t say that, not right then. She had the saddest look on her face that was quickly replaced with surprise and confusion when she saw you standing where you were.

“Oh, oh, hey. I was, um… I was just leaving,” You said to her, trying to sound as normal as possible but this was perhaps the most not normal situation ever.

Her eyes immediately narrowed at you. “Oh my god, I knew it.” 

You wondered what she meant. Did she mean that she knew that Steve was cheating, or she knew that he was cheating with you?

You obviously didn’t ask her to clarify, though. Instead, you slipped past her and started walking away. The last thing you heard was Steve saying, “Nance, what are you doing here?” and her responding with some angry words that you felt as if you shouldn’t have heard.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。

After the moment you and Steve had on New Year’s— an abrupt kiss on a swing set that led to a lot more kissing in his car—  a sort of routine quickly formed. It became a cycle of ending up in his car or your car or his house, and it was exactly three weeks after New Year’s when he finally saw the inside of yours. 

It was a rare one-off situation where your parents were gone for the weekend and you knew that you weren’t supposed to have anyone over; not even Jamie, even though they’d known him for practically forever. 

You had never had the urge to break the rule before and Jamie wanted to keep a good relationship with your parents and was also too nice to suggest breaking it either, so you initially thought that your nights would be quiet. 

Except you now had Steve in your life. And he didn’t mind breaking the rule of your parents who he hadn’t even met, so he came over to your house around ten o’clock. 

You were immediately trying to pull him in for a kiss when you closed the front door behind him, but he pulled back with a teasing smile.

“Can I at least get a tour before you try to seduce me?”

You playfully rolled your eyes at him but still nodded at his request. “Of course, I’m so sorry, where are my manners?”

You grabbed his hand before you could think too much about it, and quickly led him through your house and pointed out everything. “Kitchen, small dining room, living room, guest room and bathroom down the hall. And that’s pretty much it for down here. Nothing as extravagant as your house.” 

“I like it.”

“Don’t get too attached because this is the only time that this will happen here.” 

You didn’t outwardly say the exact reason why that was probably the case— it would never make sense for him to come over any other time; it would either be too risky with your parents right down the hall or during a time when Jamie was over. But, Steve understood all of what was left unspoken.

“Got it,” He said and then he smiled at you. “Can I see upstairs?”

You nodded, leading the way once again. “My parents' room is down that way, and I’m right here.”

The door was already open so you let him walk in first. There wasn’t too much you found embarrassing about your bedroom, not the full shelf of books or the few posters that hung on the wall above your desk. The only thing that made your cheeks warm in embarrassment was the wallpaper on your walls that you had since you were a kid and had hoped to change sooner rather than later, but you had just never gotten around to it.  

Steve looked at you after a moment. “Cute room.”

“One day those pink unicorns will no longer be on the wall.”

“I like them. They add character.”

You couldn’t help but roll your eyes even as you laughed at his words. “Shut up.”

The teasing smirk on his face didn’t manage to annoy you as he stepped closer to you and the distance between you two became nonexistent. He leaned in and kissed you then because that was what was supposed to happen and it probably should’ve happened sooner; what you two were doing wasn’t meant to be anything more or less than physical. 

Your freshly made bed became a mess in a matter of moments and clothes were quickly scattered on the floor; his jeans and t-shirt gone and your own tank top and shorts tossed somewhere to the side too.

It was fairly early for a Friday night, and you kind of wondered how Steve could even be here right now, but neither of you ever asked where each other’s person was. It was just quietly understood that when you two were together it meant that some excuse had been made or some lie had been told so that this could happen. 

A part of you knew that you’d eventually feel bad about all of this, but it had only been three weeks and you were able to forget about how bad you should’ve been feeling when you and Steve were together like this; not an ounce of space between your bodies and limbs tangled beneath bedsheets. Weirdly enough, it just felt too right even though it was objectively wrong. 

Soft kisses trailed along your neck and collarbone and then proceeded to move lower and lower. All you could do was sigh in contentment and your eyes slipped shut as you let Steve turn your mind to mush for the time being. 

“You’ve read all of these?” Steve asked you later; when you were heading back into your bedroom after using the bathroom and you saw him standing next to your bookshelf. 

He was shirtless with only his jeans hanging low on his hips, which made sense since you were wearing his t-shirt right then; it had been the closest thing to you afterward. Now, though, you pulled it off and tossed it over to him and then went to grab your own shirt. 

“Yeah,” You simply answered his question as you searched around your room for your underwear and slipped it on once you spotted it partially under your bed. 

Steve pulled one of the books off of the shelf, you couldn’t see what the title said even as you moved a little closer to him. “This is the one that we had to read for that English project last year.” 

You nodded. “Oh, yeah, I liked it a lot, actually.”

“I barely remember anything that happened in it.” 

“That’s not surprising and it’s probably the reason why we got a B+ on that project.”

Steve placed the book on the shelf and then turned around to face you. “Hey, a B+ is great.”

“Yeah, for you, but for a person that actually really likes English, not so much,” You told him and then smiled to show that, for the most part, you were joking. 

He held up his hands in mock surrender. “Sorry for holding you back on that project.”

“Apology accepted,” You said. “I also really don’t even need an apology because I’ve had much worse partners than you on things before.”

“Okay, in that case, I feel honored that I haven’t been the worst person you’ve ever had to work with.”

You laughed a little. “And I hope I was the best person you’ve ever had to work with.”

Steve nodded. “Of course, you definitely were.”

You were pretty sure he was joking— even though he didn’t entirely sound like it— so you continued playing along. “I feel honored.”

He stepped closer to you and for a second you thought that he was going to kiss you again, and although that never happened after, you didn’t think that you would’ve reminded him of that or pushed him away. He didn’t kiss you, though; he stopped before he got that close to you and started heading toward your open bedroom door instead. 

“I should probably go,” He said, and you nodded in agreement. 

He could’ve easily stayed the night if either of you wanted that to happen. But, he didn’t ask and you didn’t offer. It would’ve been wrong to, you both could silently agree on that. 

You were kind of starting to become okay with things becoming more and more wrong, though. 

This was meant to be mindless and solely physical, but it was becoming a sort of routine, second nature in a way, to talk about random nonsense or joke around with each other. 

However, staying the night felt like a line you two shouldn’t cross; it felt different than just talking for a while after. It felt a thousand times more intimate and serious and like it went several steps past just having sex or being two people who talked about way too much with each other sometimes. 

“I’ll see you later,” Steve said before he opened your front door. 

“Yeah,” You nodded. “Goodnight.”

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。

Barely a month later, and the line had been crossed.

The unspoken rule was broken and there wasn’t even any point to spiral out about it because that somehow wasn’t the worst thing that happened. 

Everything was ruined, or it at least soon would be because you couldn’t imagine Nancy sitting on this information and not telling anyone. She was rightfully mad and maybe you deserved whatever would happen once all of this spread around the school. 

Your walk home from Steve’s house was quick and the sun was completely up by the time you made it through your front door, but it was still early enough that your parents were still asleep and wouldn’t know that you’d been gone for the entire night. 

A part of you wanted to simply just go to sleep when you stepped back into your bedroom, sleep through the entire day, and just forget about everything. But then there was the other part of you that couldn’t not think about everything; the inevitable explosion that was coming sooner rather than later, and it didn’t even feel entirely dramatic to view it that way. 

Ultimately, you decided to take a shower because it felt like the only thing that would help you feel a little better. It ended up being the longest shower you’d had in a while and it actually didn’t do much to make you feel any differently. There was still the guilt that had made a home in your stomach when you woke up and it was now coupled with a lot of dread. 

You left for school at the time you were supposed to leave, saying a quick goodbye to your parents before stepping out of the door, but you turned left instead of right at the end of your block and ended up at a diner. You stayed there for probably way too long, sipping coffee instead of anything else because you couldn’t stomach the thought of having actual food right then. 

You thought about how you could fix things, and if there was even any hope to fix anything, and also what exactly was there to fix. You didn’t want to hurt Jamie, but you were certain that you did, and what could you even say to him now that would magically “fix” what you’d done? 

That you loved him and still wanted to be with him? That everything that happened with Steve was a stupid mistake and you regretted it entirely? 

You had lied a lot over the past month and a half and you didn’t want to just continue piling onto it. But, then the thought of being a thousand percent honest felt way too scary. 

And when thinking about how fucked your life was became too much, you took the newspaper that a random older man offered you and sipped more coffee, and reread the same articles over and over again. 

You eventually showed up to school halfway through lunch. Missing the entire day felt a bit too cowardly and you also remembered that you had to take a Chemistry quiz at the end of the day. However, you didn’t immediately step out of your car once you were parked in the school parking lot. Instead, you leaned your head back against the headrest and let out a sigh, eyes slipping shut in the process as you mentally prepared yourself for whatever you'd have to face inside those walls. 

An abrupt quick knock against your window scared you and made you open your eyes. It was Jamie standing at your passenger side window and you could feel your heart speed up in your chest, and it wasn’t because you’d just been startled by him. 

But, he didn’t look mad at you, just confused, and that felt like a good sign; maybe that meant that the “inevitable” actually hadn’t happened yet. 

You gave him a small wave and then he opened the door and proceeded to get in your car. 

“Where’ve you been?”

“I wasn’t really feeling good this morning, but then I remembered my Chem quiz last period and I don’t wanna miss that.”

He nodded. “Oh, okay.”

He wasn’t looking at you— you could tell that he was purposely avoiding eye contact with you, actually— and it was that that made you realize that he knew. 

“I’m so sorry,” You blurted out. 

“Is it true?”

“I’m so sorry.”

Finally, his eyes met yours and the hurt look on his face made you want to break his gaze, but it would’ve been too shitty to look away because you suddenly felt bad. “I don’t get it... Steve Harrington? Really? Do you wanna be with him now?”

For a second, you didn’t say anything. You couldn’t; no words would form on your lips. And it was then that you realized that you weren’t ready to be honest with this guy sitting next to you who you’d known since you were twelve and considered your best friend since then too. It shouldn’t have felt so fucking hard, but it did, and the worst part of it was that you knew that you had to tell him the truth anyway. 

“Honestly, Steve has nothing to do with how I feel about us and you,” You ultimately said, realizing that you weren’t completely answering Jamie’s question, but he didn’t call you out on it. “I’d been feeling… off about things for a while, but I wanted to pretend like I wasn’t. I wanted to pretend that everything was fine and normal between you and me, so I pushed those “off” feelings away and buried them down, and acted as if they didn’t exist. I lied a lot to myself because I was scared that I’d mess everything up. And then I saw Steve on New Year’s and we did something stupid and shitty that didn’t feel that way at the time, and that’s when I started lying to you. And all of the lying and what me and him were doing never felt completely terrible and wrong until yesterday. But, by the time I actually wanted to do the right thing and try to be a good person, it was too late. And maybe that’s actually a good thing because I would’ve just kept lying to myself and to you too if things hadn’t blown up this way.”

You were rambling and probably not making any sense right then. The thought of ruining absolutely everything still weighed so heavily on you, even though the damage was already pretty much done. There was no recovering from this and there was no “fixing” things, you realized now. However, you were still explaining and explaining and hoping that maybe things could somehow be okay.  

A confused look crossed Jamie’s face. “Why didn’t you just tell me how you were feeling about us before?”

“Because I’m a coward and I wanted to avoid all of this,” You admitted. “And also because it was just so confusing. I love you, you’re my best friend, so it didn’t make sense to me why I was no longer in love with you. And the thought of having any sort of conversation about this scared the shit out of me because I don’t wanna lose you completely.”

Things became quiet for a second and Jamie looked away from you, staring straight ahead at the parking lot instead. 

After a moment, he started speaking again. “Remember back in seventh grade, and I’m pretty sure most of eighth grade too, you used to make me turn around or close my eyes whenever you wanted to tell me some sort of secret?”

The abrupt subject change surprised you, but you nodded anyway. “Yeah, I remember that.”

You weren’t ever entirely sure why you would do that so much. Jamie was the first person you’d ever gotten super close to and you felt like you could tell any and all of your secrets to him, but the act of doing so scared you, so you’d make him look away whenever you did. He thought it was a little weird at first, but he came around to the antic after the first few times. 

“You eventually stopped doing that and you started telling me everything right to my face,” He continued and you understood where he was going then. “I thought that meant that you felt like you could tell me anything, especially all of the shitty stuff.”

“I didn’t want to hurt you,” You said, and it was a bad excuse, but it was also honest. “And I know that I just ended up hurting you, anyway. Probably a thousand times worse than if I just told you the truth from the beginning.”

He looked at you again. “So, what’s the truth?”

You wanted to break his gaze so badly, but you forced yourself not to. “I love you, I really do, but I want things to go back to how they used to be with us. I wanna just be friends. I’m sorry.”

“Okay,” He said softly, and he didn’t sound completely hurt, but you still felt terrible. 

“I’m sorry,” You told him again because it felt like the only thing to say right then. 

He lightly shook his head at you, like he didn’t want you to keep saying it. “At least I don’t have to be scared of your dad anymore.”

His joke made you smile and inwardly sigh in relief; maybe things actually could somehow be okay. 

“There’s literally never been any reason to be scared of him. He likes you more than me. Who else can he talk about basketball with?”

Jamie cracked a small smile at that and a comfortable silence lingered for a bit as you took a look at the time displayed across the dashboard. There were only about fifteen minutes left of lunch and it probably would’ve been a good use of your time to focus on studying for your quiz later, but you didn’t bring it up right then and you didn’t move to grab your bookbag from the backseat. This moment actually felt okay and you didn’t want to be the one to break it.

“I’m just realizing that you didn’t answer my question from before,” Jamie eventually said. 

You glanced at him, confused. “What question?”

“Do you want to be with him? With Steve?”

You weren’t entirely sure how to respond to that, but you were opening your mouth to stutter out something anyway because staying silent felt like it would’ve been an answer in itself. 

Before you could manage to say anything, though, Jamie continued. “Actually, no wait, never mind, I don’t think I wanna know the answer.”

He still didn’t sound entirely mad, but another soft-spoken “I’m sorry” was on the tip of your tongue. However, he was opening the door and stepping out of your car before it could fall from your lips. 

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。

This time when the rocks began hitting your window in the middle of the night, they were expected. 

You had actually called Steve asking him to come over and he didn’t say no. There was the smallest part of you that thought that maybe he would. 

You pushed your window open and looked down at him standing on your front lawn. “Come up.”

A confused look crossed his face. “You’re not coming down?”

You shook your head. “No, come up.” 

It was risky, your parents were right down the hall and this was pretty different from you sneaking out, but you couldn’t really find it in you to care. 

The way the roof was angled made it easy for Steve to pull himself up and maneuver his way toward your bedroom window. Steve wasn’t completely graceful doing it, but he tried to be, which made it funnier, but you didn’t laugh and instead only smiled at him once he was through the window and standing in front of you. 

“Did that look cooler than it felt?”

That time you couldn’t help but laugh a little. “No, sorry.”

He pushed a hand through his hair and gave you the smallest smile. “A lie would’ve been appreciated.”

“Oh, what I meant to say was that was actually the hottest thing I’ve ever seen,” You told him and he laughed. 

“Thank you,” He said and then slipped off his jacket and laid it on the back of your desk chair, which left him in just his white t-shirt. “I didn’t see you around school today.”

“Oh yeah, I didn’t really want to go today,” You said with a shrug that you hoped feigned the proper amount of nonchalance. Your answer was only half of the truth— you actually didn’t want to go, but you also couldn’t seem to force yourself to step out of your car after your conversation with Jamie, it felt too hard to, so you instead ended up back at the diner for another handful of hours. 

You sat on the floor at the foot of your bed now, leaning back against it, and Steve followed suit, leaving only a little bit of space between you two. 

You turned your head to look at him. “How bad is everything?”

“Not terrible,” He answered after the briefest moment of hesitation and you could tell that he was attempting to downplay it all for your sake. “It’ll probably blow over by Monday.”

You weren’t sure that was possible, given just how popular Steve was, but you nodded anyway and your eyes fell to your hands in your lap because it was easier than doing anything else. 

Maybe he saw through the half-hearted nod because then he was whispering to you. “It’ll be okay.”

You didn’t say anything in response to those quiet words, but they did manage to soften something inside of you. You pushed away the thought of school and what Monday would look like for you; what everyone probably now thought about you and the shit people would say because of it. 

You looked at Steve again and he gave you a small hopeful-looking smile that you suddenly felt like you didn’t deserve. 

“I feel like I was way too mean to you this morning and I’m really sorry about that,” You abruptly told him. 

Steve shook his head at your words. “It’s okay. Doesn’t matter.”

His hand found one of yours then, intertwining them. It felt like way too tender and sweet of an action, something that had never been done between you two, but it also felt entirely right. 

“Did you ever think about why it was so easy for us to do it? To lie and cheat?” You asked him, not holding eye contact and instead focusing on the floor. 

You knew your own answer to the question, but you wondered what his was because he never seemed entirely unhappy with Nancy, and since you two rarely ever talked about your respective relationships, you felt like you knew nothing about where his head had been. 

“Honestly, I didn’t think about it.”

“Why did you do it?” You asked. “Why’d you want to kiss me that night?”

There was no pause or hesitation before he answered. “Because it was you.”

That was probably the cheesiest thing you’d ever heard, so you immediately nudged his shoulder and rolled your eyes. “Stop it. Be serious.”

“I am serious,” His hand gave yours a light squeeze, forcing you to meet his eyes. “You remember the first time we met up after school to work on that English project?”

You did remember it, but you only nodded because you really wanted to hear what he had to say about it. 

“We hung out for like two hours that day. Worked on the project for a bit and then just talked about random stuff for most of the time, and it was all just so easy for some reason; so damn easy to talk to you. I looked forward to every day that we had to work on the project after that. And then I think it was one of the last few days of us doing it that you randomly mentioned that you had a boyfriend and I realized that I had zero shot with you.”

You weren’t entirely sure what you had expected Steve to say, but you knew that it wasn’t that. He was right that the conversations you two had then had been pretty effortless and nice, but hearing that he liked you all the way back then felt like something that you immediately wanted to shake your head at and deny. There hadn’t been any moments during those two weeks that gave you any indication that he liked you in that way. Yes, he was flirty, and he wasn’t even dating Nancy yet so it could’ve been plausible that he really was flirting with you, but you figured that was just his personality; everyone knew just how damn charming he was. 

“And then all those months later I saw you in that backyard. And things were going fine with me and Nancy, but I suddenly really wanted to talk to you. Because you were alone, and I thought that meant that you and Jamie were over because why else would you be alone on New Year’s? But, no he was still in the picture, but you didn’t tell me to fuck off because of him, so I didn’t.”

Things got quiet for a second and before you could really even think about how to respond to that, Steve was speaking again. “Why’d you let me kiss you that night?”

“I didn’t think about it too much,” You immediately answered him, suddenly finding it so easy to be honest. “Deep down, I knew it was a bad idea, but that wasn’t enough to make me wanna stop it.”

You shifted closer to him, closing the last bit of distance between you two and leaning your head against his shoulder. 

“It was the kind of bad idea that felt like a good one once it was happening if that makes sense,” You continued. “It felt nice and good and really… Right. Even though it shouldn’t have.” 

“Yeah, it always felt right,” Steve agreed, voice soft. “It still does.” 

A part of you couldn’t help but think that even though this moment felt right too, maybe it also shouldn’t have felt that way. But, everything else— what made this all so wrong in the first place— was already ruined and over, so perhaps it was okay to finally lean into this rightness since you wouldn’t end up feeling bad or guilty about it in the long run.  

You pulled your hand away from Steve’s and then shifted so that you were in his lap, legs on either side of him and knees pushing into the carpet below you.

Your eyes met his soft brown ones that looked unsure of what you were about to do or say next. 

“I really like you.”

It was the first time you were admitting it out loud and as the words fell from your lips and settled in the quiet air of your bedroom, you realized just how long you’d been aching to finally say them to him. 

The smile that spread across Steve’s face practically melted your insides. “I really like you too.”

Your hands came up to settle on his shoulders as you nodded and smiled back at him. “Cool, nice to know that we both like each other.”

“Really like each other,” He corrected you and then leaned in to press the quickest kiss against your cheek, which made you laugh a little. 

“Oh, sorry, you’re right,” You said and then it was your turn to lean in. You brushed your nose against his and your eyes slipped shut as you whispered your next words against his lips. “Really like each other.”

You started pulling back but Steve’s mouth chased yours, putting an abrupt end to your teasing. You gave in easily and leaned into him, returning his eagerness and inwardly sighing in contentment at the feeling of his lips on yours. Your pajama shorts rode up as you shifted in his lap and one of Steve’s hands moved to rest on the sides of your thighs to keep you steady. 

You wouldn’t mind kissing him forever. It was a thought that hit you a lot in moments like this— as mouths explored and hands roamed— and this was the first time that that thought didn’t scare or worry you because it wouldn’t actually complicate things like it would have before.

You pulled away from his mouth after a moment and your lips found his neck instead. He let out a low hum the second you grazed your tongue over a particularly sensitive spot on his skin; you had discovered it the second time you two made out in his car and you adored the soft sound he made when you found it. 

“You still have unicorns on the wall,” Steve abruptly said and the words felt so random that you stopped your movements. 

You let out a laugh against his neck. “Shut up. Why are you bringing that up right now?”

“Sorry, I had to turn down the mood somehow,” He said and you pulled back to look at him. “Since your parents are right down the hall.”

“Well, I guess that just means that you have to be really quiet for once.” 

He let out a sound that resembled both a scoff and an amused laugh. “Me?” 

The tiniest hint of a smirk played on your lips as you nodded, fingers threading through the hair at the nape of his neck. “Yeah, you get really loud, Harrington.”

“I think we have very different memories of what this last month has been like,” He said and then he was tilting his head up and finding your lips again before you could potentially say anything in response to him.  

His hands moved from your thighs to your hips and he pulled you down against him. There were some layers separating you two— your thin shorts and the sweatpants Steve had on— but it was still the perfect amount of friction. You were brushing roughly against the tent in his sweatpants, which made you inadvertently moan into the kiss. 

“See?” Steve mumbled against your lips. “You’re the loud one.” 

You pulled back a little, it was too hard not to laugh, even as you playfully rolled your eyes at him. “That was very evil.” 

“I’m sorry,” He said, but smiled at you. “Come on, let’s go to my car. Maybe head to the lake? You can be as loud as you want there.”

You nodded at his teasing suggestion, but still slotted your lips against his once more, not wanting to move out of this position just yet. Steve didn’t seem to mind at all and he pulled you closer, as close as you two had been so many times before.

You could recognize that this was a weird set of circumstances and the smallest part of you was trying to figure out how much of it you’d end up looking back on and regretting— the lies and secrets that started all of this and ended up hurting people just like you knew it would. But, in this moment, you deliberately didn’t think about that. Instead, you focused on Steve and how glad you were that he was here and how happy you were to have him in your life. 

You whispered those sentimental words to him moments after they hit you; labeling them as cheesy and he immediately shook his head and told you that they weren’t. 

“I’m happy too,” He whispered back and one of his hands came up to find your cheek. The way he stroked your skin so tenderly made you suddenly turn shy under his gaze, but that didn’t make you want to look away from him. “That I’m here with you. And that you want me to be.”

“I think I’ll always want you to be,” You said, voice still soft and quiet, and it didn’t hit you how true those words were until they were out in the open. Maybe they were a bit blindly optimistic, but that didn’t change how much you meant them right then.

Steve kissed you again and you two stayed like that for a little longer before you moved out of his lap and the two of you finally headed to his car.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。

let me know ur thoughts<333

[paceprompting]

cinnamon buns

written for ‘christmas’ | wc: 736 # | steddie | rated: t | cw: no archive warnings apply | tags: post season four, pre-relationship, fluff, steve has a crush on eddie, and vice versa, christmas together

@steddieholidaydrabbles

Wayne always managed to get Christmas off. Every year.

Eddie didn’t know what exactly he promised in return to manage it, but ever since little eight-year-old Eddie Munson shuffled into the trailer to live with his uncle, every Christmas had been theirs.

Wayne always woke up first, setting out the presents collected throughout the year and hidden under his bed—and Eddie hadn’t peeked since that first year—nursing his first cup of coffee while in his pajamas until Eddie emerged.

When he was still little, he’d bum-rush the tree and tear open the presents, but soon the little traditions emerged.

Playing Rudolph and Year Without a Santa Claus on VCR tapes that survived years of rewatches, but no interdimensional portals.

Cinnamon buns from tins for breakfast, always burnt around the edges and covered in icing—but they split the best one from the middle.

And the last present was always, always Wayne’s. It took several years for Eddie’s wrapping skills to actually look like the box he was wrapping, but Wayne never said a word.

It was one of those Christmases that Eddie got his first set of dice.

Government hush money bought a decent house for them, with real insulation and top-of-the-line boiler. Just in time for Christmas. Wayne actually had a real hiding place for the presents this time, and no matter how hard Eddie had looked, he’d have to wait until next year to find it.

They could get real lights, too. Not just the couple of strings that wouldn’t overload the trailer’s generator.

They also had to, since those lights were carted off to some Area 51 with the rest of the things the government wanted to pretend had never happened until maybe they could use it to their own benefit.

One other thing had changed this Christmas, too.

There were three of them this year.

Eddie heard the crunch of tires on asphalt from the kitchen. He was supposed to be setting up the ham to go in the oven—which he’d never done in his life, yet he’d volunteered—and he’d only gotten as far as preheating the oven.

So, he headed straight for the front door, sans any sort of jacket or shoes.

Eddie had hated the cold most of his life.

When you lived in a metal box with shitty heating on a good day, the cold months meant shivering through showers, mainlining coffee just to be warm for a couple minutes and layering blankets because sweating was better than losing a toe.

But there was something about Steve Harrington in the cold.

Or, more specifically, in the snow.

He eased out of the driver’s side of the Beemer, running a hand through his hair. His shoulders filled out the blue denim of his jacket, which matched his jeans—which stretched over his pert butt.

Not that Eddie was looking. For too long.

Maybe Eddie liked the cold a little bit more now.

But the whole reason Steve had bent over in the first place was to bring out a few things from his backseat. He held them behind his back as he straightened, and Eddie pouted as he trudged through the snow onto the porch.

His cheeks were pink when joined Eddie by the front door, ducking his head as he offered a hello.

“Hey, Eds,” he said.

Eddie leaned over to try and peer at what Steve had behind his back, eyes widening when Steve brought out a Tupperware that looked like it had several stacks of cookies, warm enough to steam up the inside.

“For me?” he asked, raising his brows.

Steve let him take the cookies with no comment.

“No, I thought it’d be rude not to bring something.” He shrugged, and it took Eddie a moment to realize that his other arm was still bent behind him. Eddie stared pointedly, and Steve smiled before revealing a more Christmas-y gift—in red and green plaid wrapping paper and white ribbon. “This is, though.”

Eddie immediately swapped cookies for the present, holding it close with a wide grin.

Steve cocked his head, sliding his hands (probably cold) into his pockets. “You’re not going to open it?”

He propped his present on his hip and reached forward to grab onto Steve’s wrist. With probably wild eyes, Eddie met Steve’s gaze, waited until Steve leaned forward just a bit and said, with every bit of seriousness, “We haven’t had the cinnamon buns, yet.”

[apomaro-mellow]

Steddie Bingo Prompt: Switching

@spectrum-spectre asked for this one

Steve's brow furrowed as he focused on his task. He couldn't believe he got to do this. Couldn't believe that he got to see Eddie like this. Strung out and moaning as his cock. He’d been wanting it all night. From the moment Eddie stepped foot through the door and started to pass his wares around. The boys loved him once they got used to how weird he was. He was like a beloved dog to the brothers of Steve’s frat. 

And after they were done giving him pets (in the form of high-fives), Eddie went upstairs with him to get his bone.

Eddie clawed at the sheets of the bed. One that had seen many a sorority girl in this house’s history. Steve groaned as he watched his cock sink in and pull out. The way Eddie took it, arching his back. Moaning for the whole house to hear if they weren’t blasting music. Sometimes he wondered if Eddie would be just as loud if they fucked in front of everyone. When he blew his load into him, Eddie cried into the pillow by his face.

Better than any fucking fleshlight he’d ever had.

“Does it really feel that good?”, Steve asked as they were coming down together, passing a joint back and forth.

“Feels like fucking heaven, dude”, Eddie said, laying on his front. He took a long, slow drag.

Steve’s eyes were glued to him. To every part of him. His long fingers, his pink lips, his hair spilling across the pillow and the line of his back. He realized he’d been staring for too long when his eyes met Eddie’s and he saw that knowing smirk on his face.

“I can see the cogs turning in that head of yours. Care to share with the class?”

Steve shrugged, then looked up at the ceiling. “Does it really feel that good?”, he asked again.

When he looked back at Eddie, he saw that familiar grin on his face. When it was turned on him, it usually came before wild ideas like hot sauce chugging, barrel races, and them fucking for the first time.

“You wanna try it out?”

-----------------------------

Steve was on his back, his hole having already been lubed up and stretched by Eddie’s fingers and against all odds, he was hard again. Eddie wasn’t grinning at him anymore, no he was smiling. Something warm and this felt different from their usual fucking. Eddie held his legs apart as he sunk in, carefully and slowly. Steve’s chest rose and fell and Eddie’s hands were drawn to his pecs.

“Feel good, man?”

“Feels good, holy shit”, Steve’s eyes screwed shut.

Eddie’s grin returned then, one that felt almost devilish. “Good. Get ready, baby.”

A couple of guys walked by the bedroom, carrying a keg together. This far from the music, they could hear the bed moving and someone’s breathy whimpers along with what was obviously the sound of ball-slapping good sex. They both beamed at each other.

“Dude, Harrington’s getting his back blown out!”

“Dude! Finally!”

They high fived each other before continuing on their way to share the good news.

@steddiebingo

Bingo card:

[thisapplepielife]

Written for @steddieholidaydrabbles.

That's Priceless

Prompt Day 26: Hanukkah | Word Count: 442 | Rating: T | CW: None | Tags: Future Fic, Established Relationship, Chrismukkah, Gift Giving, Jewish Eddie Munson

Steve pushes the cart, and Eddie isn't paying a lot of attention. They've been at this for hours, and he's not invested in any more shopping. He's done, done. But Steve's list to buy for is longer than the list of people Eddie even likes, so here they are. Still shopping, and Eddie dropped three stores ago.

When he looks up, Steve's putting a roll of wrapping paper in the cart. It's covered with blue, white and gold graphics, very clearly for Hanukkah. 

"Don't we still have some paper left?" Eddie asks. He's pretty sure they still have the roll they bought a few years ago.

"Well, yeah," Steve answers, "but everybody else gets new Christmas wrapping paper way more often because we go through more Christmas paper. I thought you might like to see something new, too."

Eddie smiles. He definitely, one hundred percent, doesn't care about what the wrapping paper looks like. But if Steve cares, he'll care, too.

"Thanks, that's nice of you," Eddie says, because it is nice, and thoughtful. 

Steve Harrington is a good dude, and that's a fact that Eddie has learned over and over again during the time he's known him.

The night before Hanukkah begins, Steve hands him a box, looking giddy. Eddie pulls the top off, and there's a new menorah. It looks hand-carved, with characters that are designed and painted in a DnD theme. It's totally fun, and not at all what Eddie expected to be in the box. 

"It's kosher!" Steve announces, nearly bursting at the seams, he's so excited.

Eddie picks it up, and it is. Eight candle holders in a straight line, on the same level, with the helper candle spot just a little raised. It is, in fact, kosher. Steve's been listening to him, which shouldn't surprise him at all. Steve always listens, retains information, and tucks it away for a rainy day.

"It is," Eddie says, "thanks, Steve. I love it."

"There are forty-five candles, too. Just in case one breaks or is missing a wick or something," Steve explains, and Eddie really, truly wonders who he's been talking to. 

It doesn't really matter. Steve thought this through, thoroughly, just to make Eddie happy and that's priceless. 

Eddie clears a space for it, and can't wait for the next night. It's his very own menorah, suited to him, just because Steve loved him enough to reach out to someone to have it made.

He's always celebrated both, and Steve has embraced that fully. There's a Christmas tree in front of the window, and now his very own menorah on the mantle.

'Tis the season. Both of them.

If you want to write your own, or go see more entries for this challenge, pop on over to @steddieholidaydrabbles and follow along with the fun! 🕎

Notes: I saw the video of the woman showing different menorahs and having the viewers guess if they were kosher or not. There was a fun dinosaur one that was, and it made think, well, there could be a DnD one for Eddie.

[whimsijoy]

steve harrington helps his nurse fiancee get ready for work when she's called in too early ☄. *. ⋆

wc: 1.3k

warnings/about: reader gets called in early for a bus crash, no description tho. fluff, breakfast is made, steve harrington my house husband <3 set in like 1989, sorry if there’s inaccuracies i wasn’t born yet lol

a/n: omg its finally winter break, and then I got sick, but it was christmasssss so I got a new laptop. i shall be a menace made of clicky keys

—

You wake up to the tinny ring of the phone by your and Steve’s bed. You barely have enough time to compute what’s going on, what time it is, before you have the pale green plastic pushed to the side of your face, your own fingers gripping the plastic loosely.

You squint at your alarm clock and make sure that you’re not late for work. Considering the fact that your shift wouldn’t start until 10:00 AM, and the short hand of your alarm clock is hovering around the 5. Unless Steve decided to dose you with a horse tranquilizer, you’re sure you’re being called in early.

“Hello?” You rasp out silently. You’ve learned that Steve sleeps like he’s been given horse tranquilizers. You’re sure that he’s slept through an earthquake before.

“Hello,” You hear a familiar voice drawl through the handset. “—is this Miss [L/N]?” Is it Amy or Priscilla? You’re too tired to compute that information, other than the fact that it’s a coworker.

“Yeah, Mhm.” You say a little more clearly as you prop yourself up on your elbow, your adjacent hip digging into the mattress beneath you. 

“So, unfortunately, there was a bus crash right outside of town, and the nurse-to-patient ratio is just… completely out of whack. Would you be able to come in? We’re willing to pay you overtime for this.” The voice explains through the phone. You figure it’s Priscilla talking since she’s the chattier one. 

You stare at the clock, your log of a fiancée, the ceiling, and then the window before sighing. “Yeah. Yeah, I can do that. I’ll be there within the hour or so.” You mumble into the handset with your head hung. 

You know you’ll be abusing that staff room coffee machine the second you get there, so you don’t bother making your way into the kitchen once you get out of bed. You plunk the handset back onto the boxier part of the phone before stretching your body so hard that you have to sit back down on the edge of the bed. 

A few deep breaths and some slower movements later, you’re starting the shower. You strip yourself of the nice pajama set Steve bought you for your most recent birthday before stepping under the shock of the water.

You go about your shower routine for the day, your tired hands grazing the lathered loofah all over your body until you deem yourself clean enough for work. You step out, dry off, and wrap yourself in your robe before venturing into the closet. 

After putting on your starched whites, which Steve so dutifully washed for you, you’re in front of the mirror trying to make it look like you’re not running on an inadequate amount of sleep. It’s easier said than done, or so you’ve figured out. However, you feel lucky that your hospital has allowed you to switch from dresses and skirts to white, open-collared shirts and trousers.  

While brushing your teeth, you watch the bathroom door behind you slowly creak open. By the time Steve shows his tired face in the gap, you’re already making dead eye contact with him in the mirror. You’ve been caught. 

Steve’s too tired to be stern. Instead, he gets clingy. He lets out a yawn before covering your shoulders with his hands, and then pressing the front of his left hip to your right glute. You continue the movement of brushing your teeth and gums as he starts pressing lazy kisses to your neck. 

“What’s with the getup?” He mumbles into your shoulder blade. The corners of your mouth turn up around your toothbrush before you spit out the white foam. 

“They’ve called me in early.” You say matter-of-factly, to his dismay. He lets out a soft whine before returning to his posture to normal. 

“You weren’t going to tell me?” He asks without any heat behind it. For this time of year and time of day, he’s either too soft or tired for it. 

“I was..” You say around your toothbrush before finishing up, going to brush your tongue last. You spit out the last of the water and put your toothbrush back in its holder. “..just before I was going to leave.” 

“Like your foot was going out the door?” He asks as he rubs the sleep from his eyes. Again, there’s no malice in his tone or anything. He wishes you woke him up, but that’s a hard enough feat on a weekend. Oftentimes he wants to rub your shoulders before you even think about moving. 

“Probably.” You say with a brandish smile. You take out your compact and do something quick about the lack of life you have around your eyes. Ooh, shimmery. 

You pin your hair out of your face and tie it up accordingly, then pin your hat on before turning to him with a soft, glossed smile. He doesn’t look as nearly as awake as you do, but, you feel the way he looks. You give him a kiss so that your lips match his, then smile even harder. 

“You should have told them no,” He mumbles out as you leave the bathroom in search of your shoes. “you have a shift later today anyways, so like…” Steve says as he follows you. 

“Yes, but there was a bus crash, and I’m getting paid overtime.” You explain gently as you tie your shoes. You feel your stomach gurgle and growl as you bend to do so, and Steve just can’t have that. 

“Want me to make you something to eat before you leave?” He asks softly, his hand going to the small of your back as you finish the bow.

“Mm.. Something quick. I’m supposed to be there soon.” You say softly as you rub the back of your neck. You feel a kind hand on you, a wave of disappointment, and then hear the sounds of socked feet out of the bedroom, then down the hallway. You stifle a laugh when you hear a thud, and a soft “Ow” come from your significant other. 

One more look over in the mirror later, you’re walking out of your bedroom. You have that awful feeling that you’re forgetting something before you spot your bag on the counter. You smile at Steve and the way he’s standing in front of the toaster like he’s the one that’s running late. 

“Thank you, honey.” You say softly, mirroring his pose. You quit the getup soon enough and go to return some of his clinginess from this morning. Your lips leave behind a glossy ghost on his neck, but he doesn’t wipe it away. 

He grumbles something in response to your words of gratitude, and you only smile wider. You consider sneaking him into work with you. Men can be nurses now, right? You ask yourself. You press a few more kisses to his cheek and neck for good measure before pulling away, still smiling. 

In the dim kitchen light, you trace the shapes on his face with your eyes. The points of his nose, the angle of his jaw. You feel a pit well in your chest when you realize that you have to leave for work in just a few minutes. He’s so kind to you, that you start to feel guilty. You know that he probably wants you back in bed, even more than you do but… duty calls. 

Sooner than later, he has a plate with peanut butter toast and a banana on the side. You eat it happily, but carefully (so as to not stain your uniform), and make sure that you don't have any stray crumbs on your face, or starched whites before you leave. You make light conversation, ask what the rest of his plans for the day are, and put your plate in the dishwasher. 

You make sure that he knows you love him, and that you’ll stay safe. You try to call him once you get to work, but there’s no answer. You smile to yourself, knowing he’s asleep in some uncomfortable position on the couch. You carry on with your day and count the minutes until you get home. (540 and counting.)

[gloomysoup]

home is where you are

@steddiebingo prompts: hurt/comfort (main card) and home (christmas card)

rating: Teen+ | word count: 2400 | tags: omegaverse, alpha eddie, omega steve, mpreg, insecure steve harrington, hurt/comfort, fluff | ao3

Eddie came home from work to absolute chaos. Addie and Violet were sitting on the living room floor, arguing over whether to put the white lights or the colored lights on the Christmas tree, which he had put up the night before. Addie wanted white, but Violet wanted colored. Eddie was almost certain none of their lights from last year were even going to work, so they'd have to buy new ones anyway. James and Lucy were fighting over an orange crayon at the coffee table, two blank pieces of paper and a whole assortment of other colored crayons in front of them. Steve and their youngest, Grace, were nowhere to be seen, but Eddie could hear movement in the kitchen. Eddie quickly slipped his boots off at the door and swooped in to de-escalate all the arguing.

He started by grabbing a second, emergency, box of crayons from the cabinet that held the art supplies. He pulled out an orange one and handed it to Lucy, so she would stop trying to take the other one from her brother. Then he moved to the older two girls, squatting down in front of them and picking up two strings of lights.

“Why don't we put the lights away for now, my loves? They probably don't even work. I’ll take you both to the store this week and we can pick some new ones out together. How does that sound?”

They easily agreed, and Eddie was incredibly grateful that everything was solved quickly tonight. Once all of the pups were settled and occupied, not a single argument left to be had, Eddie moved to the kitchen. He stopped in the doorway to smile at what he found. Steve was standing at the stove, stirring a pot of boiling macaroni noodles with Grace on his hip. He was swaying back and forth, softly humming a lullaby as he did.

Eddie slid up behind him, leaning in with a hand on Steve’s other hip to kiss his cheek. “Evenin', beautiful,” he whispered. Steve smiled and turned his head to get a proper kiss.

“Hey, baby. How was work?” Steve asked after they had separated.

Grace was grinning, trying to scramble from Steve’s hold while saying, “Da!”

Eddie shrugged, taking Grace into his own arms. “Nothin’ new. Missed you, though. How was your day? Pups drive you too crazy?”

Steve hummed in consideration. “Hectic. Lots of arguments today. Oh, Lucy broke one of the nice glasses that Joyce got us. She was trying to be like Addie and Violet and help put the dishes away, but she dropped it and it shattered. Everyone was okay, though, and I’m pretty sure I got all the glass cleaned up.”

Eddie’s hand looped around further to rest on Steve’s swollen belly. “And how was the little one today? Not causing too much trouble, I hope?”

Steve huffed a small laugh. “Not letting me actually get anything done today.” He put down his spoon and leaned back into Eddie’s chest. “Every time I finally got the rest of the pups settled down enough to do something, I either had to pee or sit down for a little bit. By the time I was done, someone else needed something, and the cycle repeated.”

“That's okay,” Eddie murmured, nuzzling his nose against the shell of Steve’s ear and taking a deep breath of his scent. He always loved how much sweeter his mate smelled during pregnancy. It was one of his favorite parts of the experience. “I'll finish the chores for you after dinner. You just worry about relaxing.”

“Eddie, no,” Steve argued, moving to stir the pasta again. “You just worked a ten-hour shift. You shouldn't have to come home and do everything here too. I'll take care of it.”

“You will do no such thing.” Eddie adjusted his hold on Grace, who was snuggled against his chest after not seeing him since the night before. She had been the only one still asleep when Eddie left for work that morning. “You chased our little pack of hooligans around all day while growing a pup. You deserve to put your feet up and relax for the evening. I'll take care of everything else. Don't worry about anything.”

Steve glanced over his shoulder with a frown. “At least let me help. Then we can get everything done faster.”

Eddie smiled and kissed Steve’s cheek again. “Whatever makes you feel better, my love.”

Dinner in the Munson household that night was quite the affair, as it usually was with five kids under the age of eight. Afterwards, Eddie corralled all the pups upstairs for baths and pajamas while Steve cleaned up in the kitchen. By the time everyone was clean, clothed, and settled on the couch for one last movie before bedtime, Eddie was wrecked. He loved his children more than anything in his life (except maybe Steve), but they were exhausting. He had no idea how his mate did it all day long.

Finally, he started the movie and went to track down his superhero of a partner. It didn't take him long at all. Steve was in the laundry room, loading the washer to get one more in for the evening. Eddie came up behind him, wrapping his arms around his husband and kissing his cheek. He pulled Steve back into his chest and swayed gently. He reveled in the way Steve instantly sank into his hold, body going lax and a sigh of contentment leaving his lips.

“Have I ever told you how much I love you?” Eddie whispered.

“Mmmm, tell me again?” Steve replied just as softly.

“I love you so so so much, my love.” Eddie gently tightened his arms around him. “You are an absolute wonder. I don't know how you deal with our little gremlins all day and not just completely lose your mind.”

Steve hummed, a soft smile on his lips. “They're not so bad. Most days. It helps that Addie, Violet, and James go to school five days a week.”

“A saint,” Eddie said, slowly releasing his hold on Steve to dramatically collapse to his knees in front of him. “I worship on my knees in your holy presence.” As Steve laughed, Eddie leaned forward with his hands on Steve’s sides to press a kiss to his belly. Their pup moved beneath his touch. Eddie would never get tired of the feeling. It always amazed him, just what Steve’s body was capable of, especially when it came to creating life.

“Come on, up off the floor,” Steve finally said, grabbing Eddie’s hand and starting to pull him up. The alpha went easily, rarely one to say no to his omega.

With the pups suitably distracted for at least a little bit longer, Steve and Eddie set about the quiet routine of getting evening chores done. They didn't speak much, just moved around each other in a comfortable silence. Eddie did the day’s dishes and wiped down the countertops while Steve folded laundry at the table. The movie in the living room was still going when Grace started getting fussy. It wasn't long before Violet was calling for them to make her stop.

“I'll get her,” Eddie said softly, not wanting to break the calming atmosphere in the kitchen. Steve nodded, still folding laundry, while Eddie headed for the living room.

Grace was pushing at Lucy when Eddie walked in, and Lucy was quickly losing patience with her little sister. Eddie picked Grace up, trying to remedy the situation, but that just caused a full blown tantrum. She kicked and screamed, fighting against Eddie and her own exhaustion. She wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. No matter how hard he tried to put out a calming scent to soothe her, it was all for naught. She just kept screaming and kicking and writhing. Steve quickly appeared in the doorway, looking a little worried. As soon as Grace saw him, she reached her arms out.

“Give her here,” he said gently, coming over to take the screaming toddler from Eddie’s arms. “I'll sit with her.”

Eddie nodded and passed her off to Steve, watching as Grace instantly began to calm down. He made sure Steve was comfortable on the couch with Grace curled into his body before leaving to finish cleaning up the kitchen and folding laundry. By the time he was done, the movie was over. All five of their pups were fast asleep on the couch. Grace was curled up on Steve’s lap, her head pillowed on his chest. Lucy was situated firmly in Steve’s side, while the older three were piled up and stretched out across the other cushions.

Eddie was extremely careful in his extraction. He took Addie and Violet upstairs to the room they shared first, then James to his room. When he came back, he slowly picked up Lucy and let her burrow into his neck while Steve carefully tried to stand up with Grace. It was a lot harder the further along this pregnancy got, but Steve was nothing if not determined. He never let anything slow him down; not even being nearly eight months pregnant. Again, superhero. Eddie was obsessed with him.

After a very long, very chaotic night, all of the pups were finally tucked away in their beds. Eddie and Steve could actually take a minute to breathe without someone needing something. As they did every night, once the children were tucked in and sound asleep, they curled up on the couch together with some random movie they'd seen a hundred times before. It was more for the noise and familiarity than the movie itself. Steve was tucked against Eddie’s side, his head resting where he could hear Eddie’s heartbeat, just like every night. Eddie held him close, breathing in Steve’s scent and letting himself finally relax for the first time all day. They both remained quiet for a while.

Something deep down in his gut was telling Eddie that something was wrong. Something was bothering Steve, festering in his mind. Before he got the chance to ask, Steve was opening his mouth to speak.

“Do you think we’re making a mistake?” he asked so softly, Eddie almost didn't catch it. If their house hadn't been so quiet, he might not have heard him.

“What do you mean?” Eddie tightened his arm around Steve’s shoulders.

Steve shrugged as best he could from under Eddie’s arm. “I just- Do you think all of this is just a big mistake?” Eddie’s heart shattered at the broken lilt to Steve’s voice, the tremble of his words. “Is having another baby a mistake?”

Eddie frowned, trying so hard to control his scent. “Of course not. What's wrong, baby? Where is this coming from?”

Steve sniffled a little, pressing his cheek a little more firmly into Eddie’s chest. “I don't know. I just- We already have five kids, Eddie. Our- our house isn't that nice. We don't really have a whole lot of extra money. And with Grace’s medical bills… maybe- maybe we should have just stopped after James, or Lucy. Maybe everyone was right, and this is all just a big mistake.”

Eddie shook his head, feeling the fabric of his t-shirt start to dampen. “Absolutely not,” he said. He pulled away, shifting so he could fully look at Steve. “Baby, this is not a mistake. I don't know who’s putting these ideas in your head, but they're wrong. So what if we don't have the nicest house in Hawkins? That's never mattered. Not to me, not to the pups. It's just a house, Stevie. And so what if we don't have all the money in the world? Our family has a roof over their heads, clothes on their bodies, and they never have to worry about going hungry. Our pups are loved. Why should anything else matter?”

Fat tears rolled down Steve’s cheeks. Eddie caught them with his thumbs as he cradled Steve’s face in his hands.

“I love you, Steve Munson,” he continued, unable to stop now that he was on a roll. “I love you, and I love our pups, and I love our life. I don't care about money, or our house. All I care about is our family. Our five little pups, who bring me so much joy every single day. Sweet little Sophia, who is going to be so loved, just like her siblings. You, the love of my absolute life, who has given me so much to be grateful for.”

Tears were welling up in Eddie’s eyes against his permission. He just loved Steve so much, and he hated seeing him so upset.

“Eddie,” Steve whispered, voice shaking with his emotions.

“Stevie, honey, I cannot even begin to tell you just how amazing I think you are. How strong, capable, loving, and wonderful. The greatest gift of my life is getting to be a dad, and you have given that to me six times now. I am so deeply in love with you, and our big family. I would never trade any of our pups for anything in the entire world. I don't need a fancy house or money, because you and our babies are my home. I don't care what anyone else has to say about it. I am obsessed with you and our six little pups, this house with its scattered Christmas decorations that we haven't had the time to put up yet, and every single other thing about this little life we’ve built for ourselves. Fuck everyone else. This is the only thing that matters.���

Eddie held Steve to his chest as he cried, rubbing his back and whispering all of his love into Steve’s ear in the hope that it would sink beneath his skin and stay there forever.

Later, Grace will wake up and need Eddie to put her back to sleep. Later, Lucy will crawl into bed with them and cuddle up to Steve. Later, Eddie will help Steve make breakfast before going to work. Later, they’ll put up decorations and stick the Christmas presents under the tree. Later, they’ll have a newborn in the house, someone else for Eddie to love with everything he has.

Later, Eddie will still be deeply in love with the home that he and Steve have built together, regardless of what anyone else has to say about it.

[lythpomme]

the downfall of steve harrington in s4

hi im back i forgot abt this acc. anyway i wanna rant about what the fuck the duffers turned steve into in season 4.

tl;dr - stancy doesnt make any sense, im genuinely upset it coming back is technically canon

~

literally what happened???? seasons 2 & 3 gave steve so much character development; he acknowledged that he was a terrible boyfriend towards nancy, and began to move on. then s4 fucked it all up and somehow he's in love with nancy still? like it frustrates me so much, sure nance is the one who got away but i dont think he really knew her.

ive seen a ton of people talk about this; if nance and steve were to get back together, she'd be running away from her dreams and becoming what she hated the most. her parents. jonathan is fully supportive of her aspirations to become a journalist, while i bet steve doesnt even know that shes interested in it so much.

lalala team jancy, team ronance... i just want what will be best for nance, or for everyone for that matter. BUT WE ALL HAVE ONE ENEMY: stancy.

there are just so many things WRONG with that ship. i am genuinely so frustrated that this shit is CANON. like im genuinely so upset over it...

the REAL nancy would not ever consider going back to steve. sure, with the strain her and jon have atm, she'd probably think abt it. but she's a smart girl! she knows why they didnt work out, i mean he hurt her!! completely disregarded her trauma!! even if thats in the past, their dreams are just way different!

they also dont KNOW EACH OTHER HELLO

RONANCE makes more fucking sense if the duffers wanted jancy gone. nancy being an independent woman works as well tho :3

ugh i just. its so disappointing. steve's character went completely backwards. i hate it so much.

~

i am open to others' opinions btw! pls reblog, or comment or whateva &lt;3

[steviesbicrisis]

To me it’s the fact that Steve assumed Robin had a license but still woke up 3 hours before his work shift to drive her to school everyday.

That is not a plot hole everybody, that is just the kind of person Steve Harrington is.

[trensu]

Steve had always wanted to be a skilled fighter. The schools that churned out the best fighters all happened to be schools for holy warriors. It was possible that Steve maybe sort of lied a little (with the help of his friends Robin and Dustin) to get into this school by claiming he was full to the brim of religious fervor but hadn’t decided who to pledge his sword to yet. It shouldn’t have worked, if he were honest with himself, but by some stroke of luck it did, and he finished his training as one of the top combatants. 

The issue now was that he had to pick a god whose crest to carry. There were all sorts of gods. Gods of water, gods of air, gods of agriculture, war gods, cat gods, plant gods...the list was endless. And while Steve was one of the best fighters around, he was most definitely not one of the best researchers. Thankfully Dustin and Robin were very clever and knew where to find details about the many gods in existence.

“So what kind of god do you want to follow? Maybe we can start there,” Robin asked.

“Uh…a good one?”

“You’re no help at all, you know that?” Dustin grumbled.

They suggested a local god known as Carver who stood for righteousness, but Steve turned that down. It didn't feel like a good fit. They suggested a love god by the name of Chrissy, who valued love of all kinds, romantic, platonic, familial...Steve had been tempted, very tempted, because Steve had always carried an excess of love in his heart. Robin had vetoed that one stating that Steve was already too reckless with his love and she wouldn't stand by and watch him break his own heart over and over again.

Dustin suggested a god of knowledge, Clarke, who blessed and guided those with curiosity, imagination, and a knack for invention. Steve shot that one down immediately. He was never one to be overly imaginative or curious; he preferred to deal with concrete things. Out of their quickly dwindling list, Robin reluctantly suggested Hargrove, a war god favored by a nearby kingdom, but if Carver was ill-fitting, then Hargrove was outright repellent to Steve.

"C'mon, Steve, you gotta pick someone!" Dustin huffed in frustration. 

Robin thunked her head against the table in the library where they were looking up deities. She was obviously at her wit's end too. Steve, however, just dug his heels in with a particularly stubborn scowl.

"I can't just pick anyone!" Steve said. "If I'm going to pledge my sword to someone, it has to be someone...someone good. Someone that, I don't know, someone I can believe in, even when--no especially when things go wrong. That’s the whole point!"

"Yeah, I get that," Robin sighed, a mix of fond and annoyed, "but this is the eighth book we've gone through and the only one left here is called the King of Darkness which is hardly going to--huh."

Robin paused mid-rant to look at the page more closely. Steve and Dustin both huddled around her to peek into the book as well. Dustin also made a sound of curiosity.

"That's weird," Dustin said.

"Right?" Robin asked enthusiastically.

"What? What's weird?" Steve didn't get what caught their attention.

"This god only has a couple of sentences," Dustin explained, "And they don't really make sense. Something about dark creatures and the undeserving? The grammar and structure is all weird though."

"It looks like a half-assed translation," Robin added with a nod. "We should find the original text."

"Yeah! And if we can make a better translation, we could get it added to the next edition and they'd have to put our names on the book," Dustin said excitedly. Robin's eyes lit up at the thought and they both rushed off to the stacks to track down any original sources.

"Guys! Guys, what about my..."

The librarian hushed Steve, irritated. Steve groaned in defeat.

"...godly choices. Yeah, fine," Steve slumped back on his seat. "I need to find non-nerd friends."

Two days later, Robin and Dustin finished translating a slim, dusty book. They were nearly vibrating in their seats as Steve reviewed their notes on what they found. Dustin gripped his arm and gave him a shake.

"So? What do you think?" he asked excitedly.

Robin slung her arm across Steve's shoulders. With more tenderness than Steve expected, she said, "I know it doesn't seem like it, he doesn't really fit with your whole style, but it could work."

"Yeah," Steve said with a hopeful smile. "Yeah, this feels right."

--

It took longer than Steve would've liked, but eventually he managed to track down a small, crumbling shrine. It was an alcove carved near the entrance--no more than a crack in the stone really--of a cave at the edge of a lush forest. He almost missed it, it was so drowned in overgrown crawling vines and weeds. It bore a modest statue, no bigger than Steve, standing atop an equally modest plinth. There was a spot that obviously held a plaque once, but it must’ve been dug out by thieves at some point.

The sight of it made something in Steve's chest twinge; a strange pang of melancholy at seeing a god so forgotten and abandoned. It surprised him as he had never been particularly religious, but there was just something about this one that drew him in.

It was the middle of the day, so Steve quickly made camp and took advantage of the light to begin clearing the shrine. He started where the plaque had been, scrubbing off the dirt and moss that had filled the indentation. He knew a good smith; he could commission a new plaque to be made. After that, he weeded the immediate area around the plinth where worshipers would typically lay their offerings and pray.

By the time he finished that, it was late afternoon and he decided that was good enough for today. He had to eat and get a few hours of sleep so he could be alert once night fell. When he curled up on his bedroll, he couldn't help the grin that spread on his face. He was going to offer himself to his god tonight, and with any luck, his god would accept him.

--

He woke to a multitude of high pitched squeaks and the sound of many, many flapping wings. The sun had just fully set, and the stars that could be seen through the canopy burned brightly. Steve took his time to fasten on his armor and scabbard properly, and fixed his hair so not a strand was out of place. He took a few deep breaths to calm an unexpected bout of nerves before going to the shrine and kneeling.

His god had no official prayers. Or rather, the prayers for his god were forgotten. Robin and Dustin did their best to find anything prayer-like but it had been in vain. They suspected that most of the god's holy items and lore were purposely lost. Lacking that, Steve decided it was best that he introduce himself.

"Um, hi," he started and immediately winced. "Sorry. I'm not used to...this. I couldn't find any of your…holy words? Prayers? The right ways to speak to you, I guess.

"I'm Steve. Steve Harrington. I'm a fighter. I finished my training a few weeks back. I was the top of my cohort when it came to combat. I'm good with my sword and I know how to take a hit. I can turn just about anything into a weapon if it's needed."

Here Steve paused for a moment, straining to hear but there was nothing other than the typical sounds of a night out in the woods. Steve took a breath and plowed forward.

"I want to be more than a fighter, though. I don't want to just wave a sword around for nothing. I want it to...to matter. So I spent a lot of time trying to decide who to wield my sword for. It took me a while, but I found you. I want to be your shield and sword, if you'll have me."

Steve stopped again to listen. Nothing. Robin warned him this might happen. Gods didn't always accept warriors who offered themselves to them, and forgotten gods weren't always reachable. It was fine, though; he’d try again tomorrow night. Steve turned in just before dawn, eager for night again.

--

Steve worked on clearing the vines tangled around the statue's legs and feet. He yanked out the thick, scraggly vines, and carefully picked apart the prickling thorny ones. There was a particular gnarl of vines that didn't seem like they had a stranglehold on his god's statue. They were healthy and strong, and the way they curled and grew looked more like a caress than an invasion. He decided to leave those on, though he gently rearranged them while removing the more invasive vines so they looked more decorative.

When night arrived with the sound of squeaks and wings, Steve went to kneel at the shrine. He introduced himself again, gave the same spiel as the night before. Still he heard nothing. He scratched the back of his neck in mild insecurity.

“I guess I should tell you I didn’t find you on my own. My friends Robin and Dustin helped me. They’re way smarter than me, you know? Total nerds. I can swing a sword like nothing, but books and research? Yeah, that never works out for me, so they helped me look up all sorts of gods.

“There’s a lot of them. Way more than I thought. Dustin and Robin both recommended me ones or vetoed others. They were getting frustrated with me because I kept rejecting the ones they gave me. 

“Then Robin found you. Kind of by accident, to be honest. But she did her research thing and I knew that I wanted to carry your symbol. It took me forever to find this shrine. Robin said this was probably the only shrine you had left, so I had to find it. 

“Dustin kept saying it was on the other side of the forest, but obviously he was wrong. Not that he’ll ever admit it, the little shit, but whatever. I’m sorry your shrine was abandoned like this, but I promise I’ll fix it up. I’m good with my hands, I can do it.”

There was no response to his admittedly disorganized ramble. It was fine, he told himself. He needed to be patient. He’d come back the next night.

–

Around the statue’s waist there was another tangled mess of vines, except these vines had died and rotted to dark sludge. There was fungus growing on it, and it reeked. It was gross. Steve scrubbed at it for hours because the rot had stained the stone. He was able to get rid of the rot and most of the stains before going to catch a few hours of sleep in the afternoon.

Night fell and Steve was kneeling for the third time. He repeated most of what he said the previous two nights. There was still no response. He thought maybe he was pushing too hard. He’d never been the super talkative type anyway. He could share the quiet night with his god, if that was what his god wanted.

A few hours passed when he was startled out of his near meditative state by the sound of snapping twigs. He leapt to his feet, hand on his scabbard. Someone–a man by the look of it–stumbled out of the woods. He was pale and dark haired, dressed in ragged clothes that were probably awful even when they were new. He looked like a vagabond. 

Steve stepped in front of the shrine, protectively. The stranger grinned at him and Steve could already tell he was not going to enjoy the conversation that was about to happen.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” Steve asked firmly, cutting the man off before he could speak. The smile only grew wider.

“I could ask you the same thing, sir,” the man said, adopting the annoyed huff of a wealthy lord. Steve scowled.

“I asked first.”

“I asked second!”

“You didn’t ask me anything,” Steve responded, somewhat smug. The man paused and then snorted a laugh.

“Yeah, okay.” He raised his hands in mock surrender. “You got me.”

“So?”

“So what?”

“What are you doing here? Who are you?” Steve repeated shortly. The teasing grin was back, and Steve felt his scowl deepen.

“Nothing and no one, m’lord,” the man bows mockingly.

“I’m not a lord.”

“Huh. Could’ve fooled me. You’re certainly as demanding as any lord I’ve ever met.”

“Oh fuck you,” Steve snapped. “I’m a holy warrior.”

The man laughed at him outright.

“Well that doesn’t sound very holy warrior-ish. Are your type allowed to swear?”

Steve grinded his teeth and decided it was not worth it to continue this conversation for much longer.

“Look, if you’re here to steal, I’ve got nothing on me.”

“That’s exactly what someone with something to steal would say.”

“Well, I don’t! I’m on a pilgrimage and I don’t want to spill blood on holy ground. So.” Steve wrapped a hand around the hilt of his sword. “Leave. Please.”

“Holy ground? Here?” the man barks out a laugh. “Don’t you know what this place is?”

“Yes,” Steve says shortly, placing himself more firmly between the shrine and the man. “Please leave. There shouldn’t be violence done here.”

“Oh, it’s far too late for that. This place used to belong to the King of Darkness. It’s said he was so evil that nothing grew here until he was run out and defeated by the god of righteousness. You know the one. Really plays up the holier than thou thing by making his hair all gold and glowy? Gotta say, you could give him a run for his money though.”

“You’re wrong.”

“No really! Your hair is great. Way better than Carver, even with the glowy thing.” 

“Not that!” Steve said in frustration. This guy really liked the sound of his own voice and Steve was starting to get a headache. It was near dawn and all he wanted was to spend the last hour or so in the quiet night with his god.

“So you agree your hair is better than a god’s?” The man tsks at him. “That’s pretty blasphemous. Are you sure you’re a holy warrior?”

“No! I mean, yes. Wait,” Steve growls at his own bumbling. “No, I’m not better than any god. But I am a holy warrior. Kind of.”

“Kind of.”

“Look, I’m working on it so I need you to leave. You’ve insulted him enough already.”

“Your god is the King of Dark–”

“Call him that again, and I will draw my sword,” Steve said, voice steely. “He’s the Lord of Night, and I won’t let you insult him at his own shrine.”

The man goes quiet for the first time since he showed up. He looked almost surprised, his mocking grin gone. His eyes flicked over to the dilapidated statue and then back at Steve.

“Lord of Night doesn’t sound much different than what I called him,” the man said lightly.

“Well, it is,” Steve told him. “Now, will you please leave?”

The man stared at him for a moment before shrugging. “Yeah, alright.” And then he left as suddenly as he had arrived.

The tension that had built up in Steve’s shoulders drained away. He went back to kneel in front of the shrine again when he noticed the barest hint of sunrise on the horizon. He cursed under his breath then was hit with a wave of embarrassment at cursing in front of the shrine and the whole situation that had transpired.

“I’m sorry about that,” Steve said, abashed. “It won’t happen again, I promise.”

–

It happened again.

now with an additional snippet here and here

ps: i do not do those reader tag list things. if you'd like to keep up with my stuff, follow my writing tag: trensu tells stories

[the-angst-chronicles-fanworks]

The Wolf and The Witch

Part 1/?

Steve knows better than to enter the Witchwood. He’d been warned from the time he was a child, back before the wolf, that it was home to its namesake. And not just any witch, a dangerous one. One that had killed an entire hunting party, unprompted, with the flick of a finger. None who have entered those woods since have ever returned.

Steve knows better than to enter the Witchwood, but he doesn’t have a choice. Robin is slumped over his back, hands clenched tightly in his fur, clinging desperately to consciousness. He can feel her blood, warm and sticky, matting the fur of his back. His own gait is slowed, every step jolting the silver teeth digging into his right hind leg and sending sharp pain shooting through him. He’s not sure how much longer he can run, and he can hear them - the bloodthirsty cries of the townsfolk dead set on his murder.

They had been found out. So many cycles of living in this town, living among its residents as a friend and neighbour, and still they’ve all turned on him. Of all the times for it to happen, too. It was the moon he had agreed to make Robin a wolf. She had already been weakened from the wolf taking hold when they had been attacked, the silver already a weakness but her body not yet given over to the strength of the wolf.

Steve wishes he could take her to Nancy, knows Nancy would help despite everything, but the townspeople have blocked them off, funneled him in his blind panic. His only hope is to lose them is the wood, but even then he might lose Robin to his own fumbling medical knowledge.

But first, he has to get away from their pursuers. Steeling himself with a deep breath, Steve enters the Witchwood.

————————————————————————

Eddie is no stranger to people trying to do him harm. It’s been a constant in his life from the time he was a child, long before his gifts had awakened. And one that had- well. It’s been a constant of his life, sure as the cycle of the moon and sun. So he notices the prickle of someone entering the woods, but he gives it no regard. It happens a few times a year, that someone gets it into their heads that they will be the one to kill “The Witch of the Woods”. None ever even make it to him, losing themselves in the enchanted trees.

These trees are older than him, and their magic is their own. They like him and welcome him among them, but otherwise are hostile to outsiders. In the beginning, he had tried to help those who became lost in the woods, but those days have long since passed. Despite what his uncle says about his soft heart, Eddie’s become bitter and jaded and he no longer pays any mind to those who venture into the woods.

But this time, something is different. Eddie feels the disturbance of someone crossing into the forest, feels the shift of magic as the forest warps around them, and it’s… different. The ways and paths of the trees are second nature to him, he can tell by the shimmer of magic against his skin which paths have been revealed and which hidden away and this…

The forest is being lenient, gentle. The interlopers are shown the ways to peaceful places, soft and danger-free. Eddie can recall only a few times that the forest has been kind to intruders, and it has almost exclusively been to children.

So he’s more than curious already when he feels the buzz of more people crossing the boundary into the woods. A lot more. And Eddie realizes that this hunt is not for him.

The trees are not so kind this time, opening its twists and turns like a maze, a trap for anyone foolish enough not to turn back immediately. They don’t, of course. They never do. Eddie pays them no mind, drawn instead by curiosity to the two that are being pursued.

He steps between the trees, slipping into a space that’s folded away between reality, picking his way with ease through paths that are there and paths that are not until he emerges at the edge of a small clearing, moonlit and mossy. Theres a tiny spring-fed pond and there, limping toward it, is a wolf. It’s huge, the size of a small bear, with a strong frame and thick russet fur.

It notices him at the same time as he notices it, and it’s massive head swings to face him, teeth already bared in a snarl. It’s hackles raise, and it turns fully, squaring up, a threatening growl rumbling across the little clearing to him.

Eddie steps back, already gathering his power until it glows around him with dark energy, because this is no normal wolf. Even without the size and the silver trap clamped around its leg giving it away, he can see it in its eyes, feel in its presence that this is something more.

He recalls his childhood, the warning tales at his mother’s knee. He remebers later, freshly chased out of town and taken in by his uncle, watching as the old man leafed through his ancient book and warned Eddie that he wasn’t the only dangerous thing in the wilds. Eddie has no doubt that he’s come across one of those dangerous things now. He looks at the wolf and knows exactly what he’s seeing.

A werewolf.

[1wooden-antlers1]

[OLD]

Starting with the miscellaneous lol (one-off playlists)

Bullet Train (2022) | Tangbug (2h6m)

Dead Poets Society (1989) | Nuwanda (16m)

Fight Club (1999) | Tyler Durden (35m)

Lair of the White Worm (1988) | James d'Ampton/Angus Flint (2h36m)

Merlin (2008–2012) | Gwaine/Lancelot du Lac (54m) [this one's just embarrassing lmao]

Mushi-Shi (2005–2014) (1h5m)

Scooby-Doo | Fred (22m)

Stranger Things (2016–) | Steddie (4h25m)

The Breakfast Club (1985) | The Athlete (11m)

The Magnificent Seven (2016) | Goodnight/Billy (2h48m)

The Sandman (2022–) | Hob/Morpheus (32m)

[flowercrowngods]

bard/knight snippet word vomit

“i have misstepped and trampled on your heart, and your life, and your… your pain so cruelly, my lord. steve.”

eddie falters, feeling the cold of the rain seep into his bones, but even the pouring stream is not enough to kill the fire within, this burning need for steve to know, the scalding sensation of those eyes trained so intensely on him.

“i have not the words to express the regret i am feeling, nor the guilt, at having wronged you so. i do not ask forgiveness, i— i can only hope that you believe me when i say that i am… deeply and endlessly sorry.“

eddie dares not ask for forgiveness. and he dares not hope to find it in lord harrington’s eyes that seem to soften just a fraction even as the rain intensifies and plasters the locks of his hair to his forehead. water drips from them to enticingly, all but inviting eddie to cradle his cheek so tenderly, and feel the wetness on his skin with a man who wandered deserts for weeks.

he dares not, not anymore. and yet the yearning in his heart still betrays him once more, making him want — for the real steve this time, not for the notion of grandeur and epic romance.

and it is more intense, thus, than the first time, leaving him with shaking hands and stuttering heart as the rain drenches them so thoroughly as though attempting to wash away their history and provide a fresh start.

and it grows in intensity when the lord swallows thickly before his eyes flicker down to eddie’s lips for just the fraction of a second. but it is a second that will cost him a lifetime, he knows, for eddie stops breathing now.

[hexiewrites]

me, earlier this week: i'm just gonna write a short little one shot, kind of a prequel thing, but mostly an excuse to write some more smut. short, sweet, nothing major!

me, 5k in with no end in sight, sweating buckets: there may have been a slight miscalculation here!!!

[loudsnapdragon]

it's a sex shop fic.

Buy Local: Steve Harrington's Guide to Modern Sexuality

steve/eddie. mature. 49,000 words, 5/5 chapters. background platonic stobin, nancy/jonathan, and robin/vickie. read on ao3 here, loudsnapdragon.

Amid the crotchless lingerie and silicone dildoes that litter the floor of Hawkins’ worst and best and only Adult Store, Steve undergoes a very short, and not very stressful sexuality crisis; Robin fails to lose her virginity; and Eddie refuses to admit why he doesn’t use Grindr. It’s not what Steve expected out of life, definitely not what Steve's dad expected out of his life either, but Steve’s not complaining, well, not until he ends up locked in the stockroom, with nothing more than a bag of genitalia-shaped candy, and a prudish Eddie Munson to keep him entertained, with their least favourite gun-carrying regular tearing apart the merchandise outside.

‘Co-captain’s log, the time is…’ Steve checks his watch. ‘4:47pm, the date is 06/10/23, we are currently locked-’

‘You cannot be serious.’

Steve snaps his head away from the security camera positioned in the high corner of the stock room, scowling at Eddie, who sits jaw-dropped, eyebrows set in a furious line, legs sprawled out on the floor, his elbows wresting on a cardboard box marked Penis-Enhancer 2000.

‘What else am I going to do? Dude, we just have to wait this out. I pressed the panic button. The police will be here soon. Might as well be productive.’

Outside the stock room, there’s a loud thump, a swooping noise, followed by the quiet woosh of air escaping an inflatable. Steve winces. Unlucky Doris.

Eddie pulls at his hair with both hands, his feet bouncing faster. ‘How is that being productive?’

‘It’s how me and Robin pass on notes, don’t be a dick. Just calm down and shut up.’ He turns back round to the camera. ‘It’s the sixth of October, and we are currently locked inside the stock room…’

There’s another bang from outside the stock room, the sound of Rodney’s muffled cursing, then a shelf falling over, a clattering of small boxes hitting the floor. Steve silently mourns his beautifully organised DVD displays.

Eddie clumsily jumps up onto his long legs, belt chains clanking on the cement floor, knocking over a box of skin rags in the process, starting to pace manically around Steve. ‘We’ve gotta do something! He has a gun.’

Steve shrugs from the floor. ‘It’s just Rodney.’

‘It’s just Rodney? How can you be so chill? He’s tearing your store apart!’

Steve rolls his eyes, giving up on his captain’s log. ‘Dude, this is like the third time this has happened to me. I don’t really care anymore. Ms. Scarlet has insurance, she’ll be fine.’

From the sounds of it, Doris will be the only casualty, which is a shame, Steve had grown quite fond of the inflatable sex doll.

read more under the cut.

Eddie stops his frantic circling around the six-foot square space. ‘This store has been robbed two times already?’

‘Oh, I dunno, probably, Ms. Scarlet seems prepared, but the other robberies weren’t here.’ Steve yanks Eddie down by the shins, because he just can’t deal with the unnecessary panic right now. ‘That was at Scoops.’

‘Who the fuck does a stick-up at an ice cream parlour?’ Eddie says, confused, which is good, maybe if he’s distracted, he’ll give up with the fretting. He settles beside Steve, leather pants tacky as he wraps his arms around his knees, feet still bouncing.

‘Two guys who massively overestimated the value of vanilla milkshakes.’ Steve says, planting a hand on Eddie’s thigh to stop it shaking, only resulting in Eddie striking it off with a scowl.

Steve laughs, ‘Oh, I forgot there was a robbery at Family Video too, but I wasn’t working that day. And there was this car chase at the drive through, same day that me and Robin got locked in overnight, but that was just the kids messing with us.’

Eddie skews his eyes. ‘Dustin?’

‘Nah, not him. Will and Mike.’

‘Will?’ Eddie asks, tilting his head, surprised. ‘I mean Mike, sure. But Will? I did not expect that for him.’

‘He’s a schemer when he wants to be. He got pissy when I refused to give them free milkshakes on their big date. He pickpocketed the building keys off Robin when she wasn’t paying attention.’

Eddie smiles, feet slowly stilling. ‘Good for him. The boy deserves some mischief.’

‘Easy for you to say.’ Steve scoffs. ‘We’d just finished a ten-hour shift. I was exhausted. Have you ever been forced to make an emergency bed out of hamburger buns? Have you?’

Eddie’s eyes glint in the stock room’s dim light, and he laughs as he fiddles with his hair, curled round his finger, long line of his neck white and gleaming; and Steve considers, not for the first time, there’s danger here, in the trapped box of a stockroom. They’re locked there, their phones lying dead and smashed behind the door, waiting until the police arrive as Steve’s least favourite regular throws a weaponised hissy fit outside.

‘Be honest, was that the worst place you’ve ever fallen asleep?’ Eddie asks, with a knowing lilt.

Steve sighs, smiles despite it. ‘Obviously not. The worst place was last night.’

‘Last night?’

‘Yeah. I swear, my Grindr date’s bed was stuffed full of rocks.’

Eddie laughs, throwing his head back, opens his mouth to speak, stops at the sound of a bullet pinging off the stock room door.

Steve turns to it, bolted from the inside. There’s another bang, a loud crash, then presumably what must be Rodney chuckling to himself.

Steve glances over at the screen with the different security camera views by the light switch, where all the store’s cameras are still very much covered in the silly string Rodney brought along, pink and orange lines dripping over the three of the four views, the fourth one just a grey-scale square in the corner, showing Steve and Eddie hauled up in the stockroom, looking like off-duty actors caught behind the scenes. 

Eddie starts biting his lip so hard it’s going bright red. ‘Fuck. Fuck. He has a gun! Steve, he has a gun!’

Steve pats his shoulder. ‘The door is like, titanium, or something. Ms. Scarlet says it’s bulletproof.’

‘Thank God.’ Eddie exhales, raises his hand to cover Steve’s, skin on skin, then a second later, blushes, and shakes it away. Steve can’t help but smirk.

‘This never happened upstairs, we’ve never had a robbery.’ 

‘Huh. I woulda’ thought a vape store would get tonnes of this shit.’

‘No.’ Eddie says, his legs practically hovering off the floor. ‘Not once. Never had it at the record store either.’

‘Was the record store your only other job?’ Steve asks, trying to find a conversation that will take Eddie’s mind of the madman outside. Probably rude to call Rodney a madman, like he’s an asshole, obviously, but it’s not his fault he has a couple screws loose.

‘Yeah, yeah. Only other legal job.’ Eddie says, unravelling his legs, almost relaxing. ‘Started working there at sixteen, stayed there four years. Then it closed, and… well… you know how my move to the city went after that. But shit man, I can still remember how bummed I was when Andy said he was going to sell the place.’

‘I get it, fucking pain in my ass when Family Video closed.’ Steve says, ‘And Scoops, and Benny’s, and Holloway Press, and Merrill’s farm, and the library, and…’

‘Christ.’ Eddie interrupts. He does that all the time. ‘How many jobs have you had? How did ya’ even get all them?’

Steve doesn’t try counting, he’d need his resume to know for sure. ‘Robin’s good at applications.’

Eddie snorts. ‘You get Robin to apply for all your jobs?’

‘Yeah. We’re a package team, she’s not going anywhere I can’t follow.’

‘Cute.’ Eddie rests his chin in his hand, elbow on his only-slightly shaky knee. ‘Soo how did you end up here? At this wonderful, titanium protected, sex emporium? She sent in an application for you both?’

Steve kicks out his legs and raises his eyebrows. The door remains shut, the barrage of Rodney’s destruction filtering through the cracks.

‘Actually, that was all me.’

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hawkins has always been a shit hole, but in the years following Steve and Robin’s consecutive high school graduations, it’s become an all-encompassing shit crater; a chasm devouring and destroying all hope for the few youths that remain in their backwash hometown. Every local store closing, most of the big businesses vacating, Family Video first, but hey, can’t blame them. Personally, Steve blames Netflix, streaming is killing the little guys, people just don’t appreciate a good DVD these days.

Benny’s drive through-was the saddest closure, but the man was just retiring early, couldn’t be assed competing with the McDonalds down the highway. Steve didn’t really give a shit when the newspaper stopped printing, other than losing out on that sweet dental insurance and his last pay cheque. Tom Holloway, the rat bastard, still owes him $558. But Nancy was real torn up, practically mourning the local paper, had a very detailed argument explaining why late-stage capitalism was murdering independent journalism, which Steve failed to keep up with, too busy trying to surreptitiously text Robin under the diner table, asking her if she had any luck with their application at Walmart.

Robin is forging an escape route, halfway done at the community college in the town over, but she’s still bunking with her parents, still pretending to be dating Steve to survive scrutinising questions at weekly family meals; saving up cash for the fancy, probably single sex dorm rooms at whatever stupid, liberal arts school on the East Coast she’ll eventually run away to. Yes, Steve is bitter about her plans to move away, but never enough to try to stop her. So, for now, they still spend their weekends together, driving the pot-holed roads and empty streets, past the burnt-out crisp of Starcourt mall and the bug infested corn fields, singing along to the cheesy local radio stations, and gossiping about all the other losers still clinging on to their hometown by their fingernails.

They’re both very experienced, very bored, and very, very desperate for cash; like most other twenty somethings stuck in the Midwest; and with the rent on the tiny apartment in Steve’s shabby complex only getting higher, and the scholarships Robin’s applying to only getting more competitive; their desperate job hunting driving around the edges of Hawkins eventually leads to the sign-less warehouses just past the town boundary, where the sidewalk stops, the windows are painted black, and the posters promise: a clean and confidential experience.

Robin slams the car door after jumping out the passenger seat. Steve scowls, and she huffs, before gently petting the door and cooing. He accepts this apology on his Beamer’s behalf with a tight-lipped nod.

She twitches her nose as she looks up and down the strip. ‘Steve, are you sure about this?’

‘Not really, but hey? Can’t do any harm.’

A literal tumbleweed rolls over their feet. A crow caws from its stoop on a rickety drainpipe. A barefoot woman in a massive trench coat stumbles out the back entrance of the farthest warehouse, lighting her cigarette, pushing away her silver wig to glare at them over a cloud of smoke.

‘I’m feeling like it could do some harm.’

‘We could do worse.’ He says, ‘Come on.’

[agirlwholovesrockstars]

OHHHHH I SEE IT NOWWWW I GET IT- I GET ITTTT WHILE READING THIS I WAS LIKE "wait- that's so bad but I like it" I AM OFFICIALLY DEMENTED- YES- NOW I WANTED TO BE CORRUPTED BY EDDIE MUNSON HIMSELF AND HOT DAMN ANGRY STEVE HARRINGTON- HOLY SHITTTTT!!!! ALL OF YOUR FICS ARE DEFINITELY WORTH THE WAIT BECAUSE WOW- I AM SEATED AS FUCKKKKK I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT PARTTTT- RACHAEL- I AM ALREADY INTO DARK SHITS- YOU JUST MADE ME MORE DARKER AFTER THIS OH MY GOD OKAY!!!! RACHAEL, YOU ALWAYS OUTDID YOURSELF!!!! I LOVE YOU 😩😩🫶🏻🫶🏻✨✨🩷🩷💯💯

CRUEL INTENTIONS - part one: genesis

18+ — MINORS DNI

pairing: steddie x innocent/shy!reader

summary: you're a new student at All Saints Catholic Academy and Steve and Eddie have every intention to sink their teeth into you.

contains: enemies to lovers between steddie, blasphemy/religious talk, drug and alcohol use, SMUT - 18+, fingering, mentions of smoking, corruption kink, blood kink, mentions of a knife kink, very mild violence, subtle bullying, NON-CON/DUB-CON, and steddie being pervs <3

word count: 7.1k

WARNING: this fic contains dark themes including - NON-CON/DUB-CON,  manipulation, coercion, and corruption. Again, THIS IS A DARK FIC, do not read it if you’re not comfortable with it!

| next part |

| series masterlist | -main masterlist- |

PREFACE…

“Here at All Saints Academy, we aim to ensure staff will equip students with everything needed to succeed physically and spiritually.”

Your mother and father are beaming on each side of you as you nod to the lady’s words, smiling in agreement. Mom and Dad have been busy with business, and they were starting to get weary about how much time you spend home alone, so they enrolled you in the best catholic boarding school money could buy.

It’s a beautiful campus with big Romanesque architecture-styled buildings. The halls are vast and well-lit with high-hung candle chandeliers. You have yet to visit the dorms, but from the pictures, you were able to tell they’re nothing short of spectacular. You don’t have much to complain about other than the absence of your parents.

“Based on your records here, I can tell you’re a bright student,” She smiles at you, folding her hands atop her desk, “We’re so glad to have you here, young lady.”

You preen under her praise; cheeks warm when your mom proudly squeezes your knee as you thank her. There’s not much left that the lady goes over; she mostly just lets your parents know how and when it’s appropriate to call to check on you or visit— and before you know it, you’re hugging your parents goodbye and waving from the main buildings front steps as they drive off. You’re clutching the folder and pamphlet to your chest, nerves racing through your body now that you’re officially on your own.

A new chapter, and you couldn’t be more excited to start it.

Eddie’s late to his last class of the day.

He’s late, and he’s praying that he doesn’t reek of weed because he’s on his last strike with this teacher, and he really can’t afford to get another call back home. It’s Eddie’s luck that the classroom has a door in the back, so he’s able to slip in quietly.

And Eddie’s not exactly thinking when he slides into the nearest seat, but he thinks maybe the universe is rooting for him because next to him is the prettiest girl he thinks he’s ever seen.

You’re wide-eyed from shock, given Eddie’s just casually slid into the seat next to you, and Eddie cracks a pearly white grin. “Oh, I’m sorry,” he says with a slight undertone of sarcasm, “Is this seat taken?” Eddie asks.

You don’t even attempt to open your mouth in response; you just shake your head no, and Eddie’s grin widens. He holds a hand out for you to shake and introduces himself, “Eddie Munson. And you are?”

You’re shy, and your voice is sweet, but Eddie can hear you clearly as day when you say your name, gently shaking his hand with a visible blush dancing in your eyes. Eddie’s chest stirs when your teeth sink into your bottom lip as you shy away from his gaze. He smiles, caressing your warm knuckles as he responds, “Pretty name for an even prettier girl.” 

You smile, glancing at him with burning cheeks, “Thank you… I, um, I like your hair.”

Eddie laughs at that. He tries not to be too loud to draw any attention, but you’re the cutest thing, and you’re looking at his hair like you want to sit down and spend hours practicing different plait patterns. “Thank you,” he grins. Eddie’s eyes fall to your chest, and he snickers to himself before reaching forward, gently picking up the shiny pendants hanging from the silver chain on your neck. A cross and a purity ring. Fucking ace.

Eddie hums, twirling the purity ring between his fingers, “This is nice. Would you like to trade?”

Your face twists in confusion, “Trade?”

“Yeah, I’ll give you my hair for this cute little chain.” He gently tugs on the pendant, and you giggle. It’s a saccharine sound. Fucking beautiful, absolutely the best thing Eddie’s ever heard since his first listen to his first Metallica record, and Eddie thinks he could dedicate his life to pulling that sound from you. Thinks he wants to pull other noises from you too, ones that’ll make you preen with embarrassment and beg him to stop teasing— because your knees are brushing against Eddie’s thigh, and Eddie doesn’t even bother being slick about the way his gaze drops to your thighs, praying for your school skirt to ride up higher.

Eddie’s limbs have a mind of their own apparently, because his knuckles brush against your nylon-covered knee as you open your mouth to respond, but fucking Mrs. Lockwood steps up to you both with a clear of her throat. You jump, your hands settling in your lap as you turn to the teacher, “Munson. I didn’t see you walk in today; when did you arrive?”

You distract yourself with writing notes like a fucking scolded puppy, and Eddie almost ignores Mrs. Lockwood so he can just watch you in awe, but she clears her throat again, and Eddie shrugs, “Been here since the start of the period, miss.” Eddie responds.

Mrs. Lockwood hums with a tilt of her head, “I took attendance already, and you didn’t answer.”

Eddie shrugs again, glancing at you as you practically cower from the class's attention that’s now on you both, “I didn’t hear you say my name.”

And even though Mrs. Lockwood knows Eddie’s nothing but a bullshit liar, she also knows that Eddie can argue like he’s getting fucking paid for it, so— “Get your work done, please.”

And Eddie shoots a wink your way when the teacher turns away, but you’re too focused on your notebook, and Eddie thinks— Jesus Christ, he can’t wait to break you.

Classes end sooner than you know, and you find yourself in the dormitories. So far, you seem to like it here— the teachers are friendly, the workload isn’t too bad, and the students seem to keep mind to their studies— there was even one kid, Eddie, who made you feel nice and welcomed and you appreciated that more than you could express.

Still, even though your day was lovely, you’re exhausted from new faces and sceneries, and your eyes are begging for a moment to relax with a quick nap. With your mind so caught up on taking a nap, you forget to knock on the door to your dorm before you enter, twisting the doorknob and pushing the door wide open. 

You regret your mistake immediately.

“Oh my god!”

“Oh, goodness! I’m so sorry!” You turn and cover your eyes, shoulders tense as you spew out a slew of apologies to your roommate and the man she’d been busy with. How great! Your first day, and you’re already being a rude roommate. “I’m sorry, I should’ve knocked! I can just— I’ll just.” You move to blindly reach for the doorknob to make your exit, but your roommate speaks up before you can escape, “No! It’s fine, we— stop it— He was just leaving anyway.”

“I wasn’t actually—” “Steve.”

“Okay! Okay.”

You stay turned around with your back to the couple, embarrassment broiling in your veins as you try to ignore the rustling of clothes and sheets and their hushed whispers. “I’ll see you tonight, okay?” The man— Steve, you gather— whispers. You hear a wet smooching noise and a grumble from the girl to, ‘stop being gross.’ and your cheeks burn. The man huffs out a laugh, and you only turn when you can feel his presence behind you since you’re blocking the doorway. He’s tall, broad shoulders with a handsome face, and brown eyes to match his fluffy brown hair. His lips spread into a smirk, eyes dancing across your face as he winks, reaching around you to grasp the door handle, “Keep an eye on this one for me, okay?”

You don’t mean to, but with the handsome man so close to you as he shuffles to move past you, warm body brushing against yours, you can’t help but blush as you nod. He huffs a small laugh before bidding his last farewell to your roommate and disappearing into the hallway. You’re unsure how he can easily slip in and out of the girl's dormitory, but you don’t ask when your roommate clears her throat, “Sorry about that.” She mumbles, “I’ll be sure to be more… mindful in the future.”

You nod with a welcoming smile, stepping further into the room as she rises to her feet and extends a hand for you to shake, “I’m Nancy, by the way.”

When Nancy asked you if you were busy tonight, you weren’t under the impression that the night's final destination would be a party. You surely weren’t under the impression that it would be as big as a party as this one— it’s something you’ve only seen in movies… well, only the few movies you’ve been allowed to watch.

It looked somewhat fun in the movies, but this? This was anything but fun. It was a mistake tagging along with Nancy tonight.

You’ve only just finished your first day at All Saints, and you’re already surrounding yourself with terrible things, things your parents have warned you time and time again to avoid— drugs, alcohol, sex, etc.

It’s everywhere: your classmates are drunk and cheering on as the rugby team chug beers, Tommy and Carol have been making out on the living room couch for nearly an hour, and Nancy— god, you don’t even know where she is, and you’re overwhelmed and scared, and you wish you had stayed in your dorm when Nancy asked what you were doing tonight.

You didn’t want to seem rude, and Nancy is so nice despite Carol evidently hating your guts, and you would hate to throw it back in her face. And sure, maybe she’s only being nice because you’re her roommate, but you still feel as if it’s a little obligatory to accept whatever plans she throws your way.

You’re still in your school uniform, making you feel out of place since everyone here seems to be straight out of a magazine, revealing dresses and neatly done hair. You’ve been glued to the living room wall since you arrived, too scared to do anything but blink and stare in shock. It’s when things start getting rowdy with the rugby team that you decide to peel yourself from the wall, desperate for some sense of reprieve from the absolute zoo you’ve been thrown into, but a body slides up beside you and catches your attention.

A handsome man, tall with dirty blond curly locks that dust across his broad shoulders. His eyes are dark with his gaze, but you can see the ice-cold blue peeking through when a light passes. “You’re too pretty to be hiding in the shadows, you know?”

It’s strong and direct and should make your nose scrunch up in distaste, but with the drawl of his voice and the way he’s leaning a solid hand onto the wall, it makes your cheeks warm. He drops the hand that had been on the wall and reaches out, offering a handshake, “Billy.” He introduces himself.

You only blink at him, glancing at his hand, and he chuckles, a dashing white smile flashing on his face. “Okay. Well, can I offer you a drink? Haven’t seen you with a cup all night.” He points out. You’re not sure why, but the comment makes your stomach twist. He raises a seemingly kind eyebrow, and you shake your head, shying away and pressing further against the wall, “I-I don’t really drink.” You respond.

Billy snickers, head tipping to the side with an unamused look, “Have you ever had a drink?” He questions. Your face warms at that, embarrassed by the truth when you shake your head, “No…” You mumble. The man laughs again, hearty and clean, before he shrugs. His other hand, the hand that’s been wrapped around a can, reaches out between you both, and his eyes glisten when he gazes at you, “Try some of mine?”

You quickly shake your head, curling your fingers into your palms, “No, thank you, I think I’m gonna—” “Come on. It’s not like I’m trying to poison you; just take a sip.”

And well… he’s right, right? He isn’t trying to poison you. He’s being kind, offering you his drink, and you’re being rude and acting like he just asked you to kill your childhood dog. Your shoulders drop, physically giving in as you reach forward, but Billy pulls the can away with a smirk. You’re confused as you gaze up at him, eyebrows furrowed when he steps closer.

He slinks his fingers beneath your chin, rough fingertips sending shivers up your spine as he roughly tells you to “Open up.”

You’re against the wall with nowhere to go, so you obey his orders, opening your mouth, eyes squeezed shut as you try to ignore his chuckles. Your nails are cutting into your skin at this point, stinging and sure to leave a mark as you await the drink on your tongue. You nearly choke when he pours the drink right onto your throat— no, you do choke. You fidget beneath him, wriggling and accidentally getting some of the drink on your chin, and Billy hums like he’s enjoying the sight. “Keep going, doll, you’re doing fuckin’ great.” He chuckles.

You whine, reaching up to press your hands against his chest as the drink threatens to overflow your mouth. But Billy doesn’t stop. He keeps going until the drink is spilling over the sides of your mouth, and you have no choice but to shove at him, choking on the bitter liquor as he chuckles— he’s so strong he doesn’t even budge. But then suddenly, someone is grabbing the boy and tearing him off of you with a loud curse. They’re arguing, that much you can tell, but your head is foggy as you try and catch your breath.

The front of your shirt is damp with the bitter-tasting drink, and you frown, angrily wiping at your mouth as you look at the two men arguing. “The fuck is your problem, man?” It’s Steve, Nancy’s boyfriend. You had all arrived together, but Steve and Nancy seemed to be in the middle of some quarrel, given the way they had immediately parted ways once they stepped into the party.

Your chest tightens, knowing he had come to practically save you, watching as he furiously shoves at the other boy. “Relax, Harrington, we’re just having fun,” Billy snickers before looking at you with a smirk, “Right, Cherry? We were having fun.” And it’s then that you catch the group of people across the room laughing and snickering from the scene you’d just caused. It was planned.

You catch Carol and Tommy giggling, and then you see Nancy locking eyes as she sends you an apologetic look. With a frown on your face and tears brewing in your eyes, you flee the scene, heart racing and embarrassment flooding your body and soul, ignoring Steve as he calls your name.

The kitchen is crowded but less than the living room, and you’re just glad to be in a well-lit room now with zero eyes on you and the promise of a glass of water somewhere.

You’re so caught up spiraling within yourself that you don’t even realize you’ve stopped right in front of your newest classmate friend— “I did not expect to see you here, lamb.”

You turn at the familiar voice, your body immediately relaxing when you meet the gaze of pretty brown eyes. You blink, tilting your head in confusion once you realize what Eddie called you, “Lamb?”

Eddie, perched up on the kitchen counter, taps the heel of his shoe against the wooden cabinet, “You’re cute like one. Lost, too.”

“I’m not lost,” you respond, shying away when Eddie raises an eyebrow, “M’just… overwhelmed. Never been to a party before, and that Billy guy is so… mean.” You frown.

Eddie hums, reaching out and gently tugging on your necklace. You’re not sure why, but Eddie seems to have a weird fascination with it. “Mm. What are you doing here? Little lamb like you should be at the dorms, studying or sleeping like a good girl, hm? Wouldn’t have run into Billy if you were being good.” He says. You frown at his words, guilt swirling in your chest from the reality that you definitely should not be here. Nothing good comes out of places like this; your parents had always warned you to avoid it, yet here you are. Your first night, and you’re already disobeying your parent's wishes.

“Uh, my roommate, Nancy, invited me.” You answer. Eddie’s eyes glimmer with something you can’t quite put your finger on, but before you can even ask, he’s sitting up straight and hopping down from the counter, “Notice you’ve got empty hands. Want a drink?”

You blink, subconsciously twirling your necklace between your fingers as you respond, “Um— a water, please?” Eddie’s lips twitch into a smile, and he nods, “One water coming right up.” He winks. You don’t know why, but the gesture makes your chest flutter. You're thankful that Eddie seems to have a kind heart.

Eddie disappears momentarily to get your water, but he’s quick about it and by your side in no time. Before you can thank him for grabbing you a drink, someone else is sliding into the frame with a gentle hand pressing to your lower back, a familiar soft yet deep voice filling your ears, “Hey, are you alright?”

Steve. You blink up at the boy, shying beneath his gaze in embarrassment from how he’d seen you not too long ago. “Uh, y-yeah. I’m okay.” You answer. Steve glares at Eddie, who’s silently watching as Steve reaches forward and takes the untouched cup of water from you. “Is he bothering you?” Steve doesn’t refer to Eddie by name, but you know he’s talking about the other boy. 

You immediately shake your head no, “No, I—” “Does it look like she’s having a bad time, Steve?”

The attention is now on Eddie as he calmly gazes at Steve, waiting for an answer. Steve’s eyes narrow, fingers subconsciously tightening around the red solo cup, “Fuck off, Munson. I know what you do to girls at these parties.” Steve says with a raise of the cup. You don’t know what Steve is talking about, but you don’t get a chance to ask because Eddie tilts his head with a grin and asks, “Yeah? What’s that?”

Steve grimaces, like Eddie’s the most repulsive thing he’s ever come across, and you frown, sad to see that your new friends seem to not be getting along. Steve places your cup of water on the kitchen island, “You’re fucking sick in the head. I won’t let you do your weird satanic bullshit on Nancy’s friend.”

Without a moment's pause, Eddie responds, crossing his arms over his chest with a tilt of his head, “Mm. Nancy’s friend or your eye candy?

And then Steve punches Eddie square in the jaw.

It happens quicker than you can comprehend, and you stand there like a deer in headlights when Tommy appears from nowhere to pull Steve off of Eddie. Eddie’s grinning, bloody, and tauntingly with a split lip, and Steve is glaring with clenched fists as Tommy backs him up to the other side of the room, mumbling stuff about Steve needing to keep his spot as captain on the rugby team— “He’s not worth it, man.”

Instinctively, as you see your new friend has gotten hurt, you step forward to assess the damage, frowning at the open wound as Steve calls out a harsh remark. You figure you should take Eddie somewhere that Steve isn’t, so you gently tug on him, but Eddie only chuckles at Steve’s words, stumbling in a daze as you drag him away from the scene.

You don’t know where you’re going, but Eddie seems to realize your intentions when you open the third door to an occupied bedroom, “Restrooms down there, lamb.” He gestures down the hallway. Surely enough, the last room in the hallway is the restroom, and when you step in with Eddie behind you, you’re too busy searching for a first aid kit to hear the undeniable click! of the lock to the door, sealing you to your fate.

Eddie, claiming he was tired of standing, made himself comfortable on the floor, ushering you down to join him with the dusty, old first aid kit you’d found. You don’t mind it, but having your knees scuffed up by the cold, hard ground of the restroom floor makes you squirm until Eddie hums, suppressing a wince when you dab an alcohol wipe at his split lip.

“What’s wrong, peach?” He asks.

You huff, shifting in your spot, “Floors hard.” You grumble, focused on your task. Eddie frowns then, and you shake your head quickly, “It’s okay th— oh!” To your surprise, Eddie’s hands are stern on your hips as they drag you forward onto his lap, making sure your thighs bracket his hips, alleviating the pressure from your knees.

It’s nerve-wracking being this close to Eddie; you’re practically inhaling him, and you can feel something hard forming against your thigh. You try your best to ignore the unfamiliar object as you dress Eddie’s wound. You clear your throat, “You and Steve know each other?” You ask.

Eddie hums, warm hands settling on your bare thighs, fingertips digging into your soft skin. “You could say that.” He responds. You frown, tossing the bloody wipes to the side once you finish cleaning his lip. “Eddie?”

“Hm?”

You fidget in your spot, and Eddie groans, but you’re unsure why. “What did… what was Steve talking about? About you with girls and parties?” You ask. Eddie’s eyes are sharp as he gazes at you, and you find yourself shying away from him, subconsciously reaching up to fiddle with your necklace. “He said you do weird… satanic things.” You whisper.

Eddie, ever the handsome man he is, cracks a grin that sends shivers down your spine. It’s alarming, and you find yourself squirming to create distance between you, but Eddie’s hands slink under your skirt, fingertips harshly digging into your skin to drag you back over his crotch. Your breath hitches, heart racing in your chest from the sudden proximity.

Eddie’s voice is a low drawl when he responds, “Does that scare you, lamb?”

You can barely look Eddie in the eye, your throat suddenly feeling tight as Eddie’s hands explore the skin of your thighs. You want to pull away; you can hardly stop yourself from glancing at the door, but Eddie’s gazing at you with this gaze— daring you to try.

You shake your head no, eyes burning with the threat of tears. “Sure about that?” Eddie asks. Eddie shifts below you, and your fingers curl into the palm of your hand, widely blinking at him as you nod. The rough pad of Eddie’s thumb drags across the waistband of your panties, and you whimper, dropping your hands to wrap around Eddie’s decorated wrists and weakly tugging.

“I think I should go, Eddie. N-Nancy’s probably looking for me.” It’s a poor excuse, and Eddie doesn’t even try to act like it isn’t when he quickly responds, “Nancy’s off sucking face with her boyfriend, lamb. I can guarantee you she’s not looking for you.”

Eddie’s sharp tone and mean words pull your lips into a frown, but Eddie doesn’t pay any mind as he leisurely teases his fingertips on the waistband of your panties, tilting his head with a menacing gaze, “It’s a sin to lie, sweet lamb.”

Your frown deepens, hips squirming when Eddie presses a thumb into the middle of your lower pelvis, “I didn’t—” Eddie cuts you off with a raise of his eyebrow, and you slump into yourself. “I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to lie, but…”

You gasp when Eddie hooks his thumb in the side of your panties, his other arm tightening around your waist when you shakily breathe and try to move away. “But you did. And now you owe me. Not only for saving you out there but also for lying to me.”

Your face twists in confusion, voice weak and small as you ask, “Saving me?”

Eddie doesn’t bother answering you, doesn’t bother saying anything really, because he takes the moment of your confusion to slip his thumb beneath the thin cotton between your thighs, swiftly seeking out the bundle of nerves between your lips. You jump with a squeal, pressing your palms into Eddie’s chest, “I, wait—” “Shh, shh, shh. I’m gonna make you feel good, baby.” Eddie hums.

You’re shaking in his hold, whimpering and fighting against him, but Eddie’s much stronger than you, so it’s useless trying to get out of his hold. “I wanna go home, Eddie.” You softly sob. Eddie hums, dragging you closer and nuzzling into your neck, his nose dusting across your chin and breathing in deep, “I’ll take you home, sweet lamb,” he lowly says, flicking your bud beneath his finger, “I’ll take you home right after this, yeah?”

You’re huffing in uneven breaths, on the precipice of sheer panic, but Eddie’s words hold a promise, and even if you’ve only known the man for less than a day, you somehow find yourself trusting his word. Brave through this, and Eddie will safely take you home. Right?

You sniffle, knuckles curling into Eddie’s shirt as he drags his thumb lower to your entrance. It’s slick there; it happens every now and then, this weird sensation that makes your insides curl. You’re not supposed to act on it; it’s just your body tempting you to sin, but the way Eddie dips into your hole and drags the sticky substance up to your tight nerves makes your toes curl, and your eyes roll.

“O-oh!” Your thighs quake, and Eddie grins against your skin, softly chuckling when your hips jolt into his touch. “That feel good? Has anyone ever touched you like this?” He asks, his voice seeping into your ear and down to your core. You whimper, knuckles prominent and aching from how hard you’re clenching a fist. You can’t even bring yourself to answer him, hardly shaking your head with a wet sob as he pinches the taut nerves.

Your head is spinning, lungs full with the smell of Eddie, mind whirling with his words, limbs weak with overwhelming sensation. “No?” Eddie muses, “No one’s ever touched this cute little pussy? Such a shame. You make the cutest noises when I fuck you like this.”

Eddie’s words are so lewd. So perverted and raunchy that it causes your entire body to burst into flames, subconsciously hiding your face in Eddie’s neck. Your fingers accidentally curl into the ends of Eddie’s hair, and he groans, chest vibrating against yours as he teases one finger in and out of your entrance. 

“I-I, Eddie, it feels…” “What? Feels good?”

You don’t want to say yes. Don’t want to admit that this sinful and greedy act is making your stomach twist and your body shake from pleasure you’ve never tasted before, but it does. You’re writhing in his arms, hips twitching into his palm while simultaneously trying to move away from him. “Come on, sweet lamb. You’re twitching around me, so I know you want it. Just give in.” He says. You shake your head, unwilling to admit it because, no, you didn’t want this… but it feels so good. It’s so wrong, and it feels good. Eddie grunts, humming at the slick sound coming from between your legs, and you keen forward in blissful white-hot pleasure, eyebrows furrowing when Eddie’s lips smear over the corner of your mouth.

The music and chatter of the party from outside drown out as Eddie mumbles into your skin, a gentle finger working in and out of you, teasing to sink all the way in. You’ve never felt this way before. You’ve never let the desire boil over a fleeting thought, always quick to turn to prayer, and you are, without a doubt, ashamed.

“Jesus Christ,” Eddie groans, “You’re so fucking tight. Wonder how I’m gonna be able to fit my cock in this little pussy.” He speaks to himself as you loudly whimper, leaning into the immense build-up. His arm loosens from around you, and you take the opportunity to wriggle away from him, but he doesn’t let you go far. He’s making quick work to grasp onto your chin tightly, fingertips angrily digging into your cheek as he drags you forward, sharp gaze cutting across your face as he grits out, “I’ll just have to make it fit then, won’t I.”

It’s not a question, but you shake your head nonetheless, even if Eddie’s hold prevents you from doing so.

It’s when Eddie shoves the entire length of his finger into you that you topple over the edge, a sharp cry leaving your lips as your body tenses, face screwing up in pleasure. Eddie slants his lips over yours, tasting your cries and moaning into them, creating a harmony of nothing but sin. Your thighs shake, and Eddie’s finger is moving in tandem with the thumb he’s pressed to your clit, shoving you closer and closer to this immense sensation that has you sobbing out against his mouth.

You whine, squirming against his hold when his sharp teeth sink into your bottom lip, harsh and claiming. The taste of metal fills your mouth, spilling onto Eddie’s tongue when he laves it over the new wound. He parts from your mouth with a wet smack; lips tinted red with your blood as he gives his second bloody smile of the night. Between the throbbing and sore sensation in your core and the aching wound Eddie has now left on your lip, your body has been pushed to the limit.

Eddie smiles, reaching up to thumb at your split lip, eyes twinkling as he admires his work. He leans forward, pressing a kiss to your damp cheek, gently licking the salty tears away with a hum before settling back to gaze at you in a fond manner.

He pinches your lip, grinning when your breath catches.

“Now we match.”

Eddie doesn’t usually go to mass.

It’s not that he doesn’t want to go (he doesn’t), but who the hell is waking up at six in the morning to sing a bunch of ancient hymnals and recite scriptures that he’s already read a million times before? Not Eddie. 

The thought of dragging himself out of bed, still half asleep and groggy, to sit through a seemingly endless series of hymns and recitations he’d heard countless times before was simply dreadful. It was a chore—a monotonous obligation that stifled his soul rather than nourishing it. You couldn’t pay Eddie enough to say one good thing about mass.

Well, that’s changed now that you’re here.

One good thing about mass? The pretty girl sitting three rows ahead of him.

Sunshine-dripping smiles and flouncy skirts. Strawberry and honey-scented winds when you walk by. Pretty, kind, and innocent bright-eyed you— the star of Eddie’s dreams— wet and tame. It’s been a day, and Eddie would crawl to the ends of the earth for a second between your thighs— except Eddie doesn’t need to do all that work because he’s practically got you in the palm of his hands.

You’re so fucking clueless, so easy to bend and mold into the shape of Eddie’s little fucktoy that Eddie honestly thinks this is the universe's gift to him for fucking him over all his life. And Eddie’s had his fair share of women. Back home, he fucked over half of Hawkins PTA moms, and he’s had a few of the prissy good-for-nothing girls here at All Saints doubled over his dorm bed and sobbing his name. He’s had a good run with a few of the rugby and soccer team members as well, sometimes takes a good fuck as payment for a bit of snow.

And Eddie’s into fucked up shit, okay. Likes the whole chains and whips scene, likes it when they cry, and aren’t sure whether to ask for more or less. He likes leaving his mark, whether it be with his teeth, his hands, or his pretty Darla— a pretty, wooden hunting knife that his old man gifted him before he got tossed in the pen. Eddie can’t hunt for shit, but he figures he’s still doing the blade justice, right? Carving his initials into his catches seems better, anyway.

And Eddie likes to break things just to fix them again. When he was younger, he would take apart the home phone down to the tiny nuts and bolts and put it back together, and he would do it over and over until he got bored and moved on to the toaster.

Technically, you aren’t any different from the home phone or the toaster.

Eddie wants to take you apart, piece by piece, and study your parts until he’s an expert in all things you. And then he wants to put you back together, leave out certain pieces, and replace them with his own until you’re nothing but a creation of his doing. He wants to make you believe in him like he’s a fucking god, like he’s everything, like you were nothing before him, and you’ll be nothing without him. He wants to ruin you for anybody else.

He wants you for him and only him.

You’re cute today. More timid and shy than you were yesterday, and you’re even cuter with your head bowed as you recite prayers and confessions of your own. You’ve got the school uniform on, just as everybody else, a pleated skirt with knee highs that Eddie can’t wait to feel brushing up against his ears as he fucks you into his shitty mattress. Eddie notices you have a habit of subconsciously tugging and twirling around the pendants on your necklace, and it somehow makes you cuter.

You’re battling something, Eddie can tell, with the way you’re practically choking yourself with the necklace and chewing on your lip, careful not to nick the scabbed over the wound that Eddie had left last night— so fucking cute. 

And then, Eddie realizes what had been worrying you when you stand up and make your way over to the short line where students line up to sit in a box and confess their lousy sins to some dipshit priest that could care less.

And Eddie thinks, oh, you’re just the sweetest thing he’s ever come across— confessing to sins that don’t exist. Asking for forgiveness that you won’t receive. You were made for Eddie to destroy, and he’s already fucking winning.

And as if it couldn’t get better— there’s Steve.

Steve Harrington— captain of the rugby team, grade-A asshole, and the one thing that Eddie could never get his hands on— is looking at Eddie like he wishes he would burst into flames on the fucking spot. Eddie’s seen an angry Steve— he’s a rugby player, for fucks sake— and Eddie can admit that this look, the angry glare he’s receiving from across the room, tops it all.

Steve has never liked Eddie, and he never will— he made that clear one too many times. He’s caught Eddie looking at him in class or watching him instead of the priest during sermons, but he made sure to let Eddie know he wants nothing to do with him because, ‘I’m not fucking gay, Munson.’ And that’s fine. Whatever. Eddie’s not wailing to the sky about how Steve Harrington doesn’t want to fuck him. But something about the look Steve’s giving Eddie— the absolute murderous glare that’s cutting stars into Eddie’s vision— makes Eddie think that maybe he’s got a chance.

Like, you ever hate someone so much you wanna fuck them? That’s how Steve’s looking at Eddie. Like Steve wants to make Eddie feel so good that Eddie loathes the fact that it’s Steve making him feel good. Like he wants to make Eddie see stars. Like he wants to make Eddie regret ever looking at you.

It’s cute. So fucking cute, you and Steve.

And Eddie realizes— yeah, I hit the fucking jackpot.

The day passes fairly quickly, and the athletic period arrives before Eddie can gauge it.

Eddie very rarely participates in afternoon sports. 

It’s not that Eddie doesn’t like sports— Wayne is a big baseball fan, so he knows quite a bit about the sport— but Eddie doesn’t have a single athletic bone in his body, so it’s more of a matter over mind thing, really.

Unfortunately, athletics is mandatory, and Eddie is on his righteous way to failing if he skips one more day, so he musters up the dignity he has left and forces himself to attend the class. The sun is annoyingly bright today, and there’s hardly a breeze, so Eddie’s sticky and sweaty by the end of warm-up— and Eddie was not planning on washing his hair tonight, but alas… eh, he probably won’t either way.

It’s halfway through the period when Eddie decides the coach doesn’t give a shit about him, and he can make an escape to the locker room. It’s been roughly a month since Eddie was last in this rancid-smelling room— two weeks if you count the drug deal he made with the soccer goalkeeper; he was short on cash, so Eddie settled for a blowie as payment, and although Baine swears to fuck all that he’s never sucked dick before, the hand to mouth coordination was a little bit too practiced for a rookie, so. 

Even if there’s a fresh, raunchy memory to associate with athletics, Eddie’s still got a scowl on his face when he walks out of the locker room. His skin is searing to the touch, hotter than a fucking oven, and Eddie hates being hot— there is nothing extraordinary about being a metalhead when the weather is twelve degrees above hell. He’s making a beeline for the showers, not even bothering to remove his shirt when he flips on the cold water and sticks his neck beneath the cool stream. It’s orgasmic, really, and Eddie thinks he could spend an eternity here if it didn't smell like dick and balls.

Eddie’s so caught up in the cooling sensation of water on his skin that he doesn’t even hear the locker room door open or the heavy footsteps of Steve Harrington. He fucking feels him, though, especially when the rugby player reaches around and switches off the shower head, sweat-slick skin rubbing against Eddie’s wet frame.

Eddie turns around then to look at Steve, raising an eyebrow at the deep scowl on the other boy's face. “What’d you do to her, you fucking asshole?”

Despite Steve glaring at Eddie with a look that would send anyone in their right mind running for the hills, Eddie can’t help but think him akin to a chipmunk. Cute with more anger than his little body can hold. “Not sure who you’re talking about, Harrington,” Eddie responds. Steve snarls like he’s a literal wolf and Eddie almost coos, “You know who I’m talking about, Munson.”

Eddie feigns confusion before snapping his fingers as if he’s come to a conclusion, “Oh! You mean your eye candy from last night—” Eddie can’t say more then because Steve is grasping him by the collar of his shirt and pressing him into the shower wall, anger flashing across his eyes as he glares at Eddie. “Watch your fucking mouth, Eddie—”

“Why?” Eddie presses with a glare, “You’re mad I got to her before you could? I gotta say, I owe you big time, Harrington.” He teases.

“Thanks for punching me in the fucking mouth.” Eddie shoves the boy off of him with a glare. “Really fucking hurt, by the way. But I mean, it sped up the process for me. You practically dropped her cute little ass in my lap.”

Steve steps closer, sharing a breath with Eddie as he grits out, “If one punch wasn’t enough for you to back off, I’ll gladly give you another.” He threatens. Cute.

Eddie chuckles, pushing Steve away again with a roll of his eyes. “Jesus. Loosen up, man, I didn’t fuck her… Not yet, anyway—” “Well, you can keep wishing.”

Eddie bellows out a deep, hearty laugh at that, head tossing back as he leans against the shower wall, “It’s funny you think you have a say, Stevie.”

With a glare on his face, Steve scoffs and turns to leave, but Eddie thinks now is the perfect time to give his proposal, if ever, right? So, despite Eddie’s pride, he calls out the other boy's name, stepping away from the shower wall when Steve turns back around with an annoyed expression.

“I’ll tell you what, Harrington,” Eddie says as he approaches Steve. “I’ll teach her.”

Steve’s face twists in confusion at that, glaring at Eddie as he responds, “Teach her?” 

Eddie nods with a grin tugging at his lips, “I’ll teach her. Get her nice and ready, even have her wrapped in a cute little bow for you— and when she’s ready, you can have her. I’ll even grant you the privilege of fucking her first.”

And Steve doesn’t seem to believe it, which, Eddie doesn’t blame him— it’s a great fucking deal. Steve shifts in his spot, body turning more towards Eddie as his eyes slightly narrow, “What’s in it for you?”

Eddie scoffs out a laugh, flashing a pearly white grin that seems to make the other boy's face flush with a cute light tinge of pink, “Everything, man. I get to break her in,” Eddie shrugs, “It’s the best part.”

And whether or not Steve thinks Eddie is completely insane, whether he believes in those satanic ritual rumors or not, or if he believes Eddie’s some ridiculously demented man, it doesn’t stop Steve from wanting in. Eddie can read Steve from a mile away, and nothing about Steve’s demeanor right now says he’s not interested.

“...Fine— but if I find out you fucked her—” Before Steve can finish the threat, Eddie’s holding his hands up in surrender. “Cross my heart, hope to die, Harrington. She’ll be perfectly trained and fresh for you.” Eddie winks. Steve grimaces at that, shaking his head as he begins to turn around and walk away with a mumble of, “Fuckin’ perv.”

And Eddie can only grin to himself as he watches the boy leave, knowing that not only is Eddie gonna have the time of his life turning you into his personal fucktoy, but he will also 100% turn Steve Harrington into his bitch.

a/n: HIIIII, oh god here we go, another series hehe. again, thank u so much to my bae @munsonlore for brainstorming this fic w me and helping me along the way. i hope u enjoy what we have planned for these three ;)

thank u for reading, ily always!!

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