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pearynice · 2 years ago

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5+1 Things

Part 1 Part 2 (Final Part)

cw: period-typical homophobia/ f-slur | tags: Wayne POV, hurt/ comfort

5 times Eddie trusts Wayne, and one time Wayne has to trust Eddie

Ao3 Link

Wayne can tell something’s changed.

Eddie’s started taking calls. At all times of the day and night his boy has the phone pressed to his ear, laughing into the phone like he’s got a crush. He twists the phone cord around his fingers and bites his lip and murmurs into the mouthpiece with stars in his eyes.

Wayne doesn’t press and doesn’t question. He knows Eddie will come to him when he’s ready.

This philosophy is challenged, however, when he meets the boy on the other end of the line for the first time.

When he walks into his home he thinks he’s stepped back into 1957, Richard Harrington sneering down his nose at him and Al, ready to pummel the trailer park trash.

But then he blinks, and the fluffy haired kid is in front of him, saying it’s nice to meet you, Mr. Munson, and he’s holding out his hand, and Eddie’s laughing at this boy for calling Wayne Mr-anything.

“You can call him Wayne, Steve.” Eddie laughs, and the boy’s cheeks turn a bright red, and Wayne still hasn’t taken his hand.

He does, at the last moment. Grips hard. Gives Steve a firm shake.

“You’re the spitting image of your daddy,” he says. “Thought I had a young Richard Harrington in my home.” He doesn’t say it kindly, and Eddie’s eyes narrow at him.

“Oh, yeah. I hear that a lot.” The boy smiles, disarming and awkward, and it makes Wayne’s hackles rise.

“Steve’s staying for dinner.” Eddie says. Still frowning. Still watching Wayne.

“Oh, I don’t-” The boy stutters, looking between Wayne and Eddie like a tennis match. “Not if I’m intruding.”

“You’re not.” Eddie says. Louder. He breaks eye contact to look at his friend. “You’re never intruding.”

Something passes between them. Something Wayne doesn’t like.

“Well, let me help with dinner, then.” Harrington offers, that soft smile still on his face, a wolf in sheep’s clothes.

The boy helps with dinner. Eddie does what he normally does, which is getting so distracted by every little thing he can’t get a single one of ‘em done.

He bounces around, jumping from the record player to the fridge to the pantry, humming and smiling. Smiling at Steve, dancing around him, poking him in the side when he passes him, and Wayne probably chops the carrots with more aggression than is strictly warranted.

The Harrington boy is over quite a lot after that. He seems to prefer coming to the trailer than bringing Eddie to his home where the neighbors could see. Where his parents would know he’s slumming it with a Munson.

Wayne knows better than to open his mouth about it, but Eddie scowls, protective, when Steve’s over. Shuts them both in his room where Wayne can only hear their short bursts of laughter.

Wayne wishes he could trust it. But through his years he’s learned that people like the Harringtons and people like him and Eddie are oil and water. And one day that boy’s gonna realize Ed’s oil, and he won’t care about the pieces he leaves in his wake.

*****

“Why don’t you like him?”

Wayne sighs. Turns off the television. “Ed-”

“He’s more polite than any other friend I’ve ever brought over. He calls you Mr. Munson.” Eddie marches in front of him. Arms crossed. “What gives?”

“Listen, son, boys like him-”

“‘Boys like him’?” Eddie mocks, interrupting, “what happened to not judging a book by its cover and appearances are only skin deep and all that other crap you’ve raised me on? Why doesn’t that extend to Steve?”

Wayne sighs. Puts his beer on the coffee table. “Listen, Ed, I knew his daddy growin’ up and-”

“Knew his dad!?” Eddie shouts, “what, so we’re judging kids by their parents, now? So you think I’m destined for Pendleton, too?”

“That’s not what I-”

“It is!” Eddie shouts. “It is what you said!”

“I don’t trust him.” Wayne finally growls. “I see how you look at him, Ed, and I don’t trust that he’s not gon’ break your heart.”

Eddie, arms still crossed, breathes heavily through his nose. “We’re just friends.”

“Now, you an’ I both know you want more than that.”

The muscles of Eddie’s jaw flex. “He’s a good person. You just don’t like him ‘cause of his last name.” Eddie glares, looking Wayne up and down. “You’re a hypocrite.” He spits.

And Eddie storms off, slamming his bedroom door behind him.

*****

“Hey, Stevie. It’s me. Again. I’m just…” Eddie continues his message, and Wayne tries to keep his temper at bay. Tries to breathe. Because this is what he knew would happen. Oil and water. And Steve Harrington has finally realized Eddie’s oil.

His boy comes back to the living room, continuing his endeavor of tearing away at the skin of his thumb nail. He curls up on the couch, brings his legs up in front of him like he did when he was little. Wraps one of his arms around his knees.

But Eddie’s never been good at keeping still. And he’s the worst when he’s anxious.

Throughout the night he stands and paces and sits back down, only to bounce his knee and bite at the skin of his lip when he does. His gaze falls to the phone like eye contact will be what makes it ring.

Wayne watches as Eddie tries reading. Tries playing his guitar. Brings out his DnD notes and pours over them without writing a thing.

Until the skin of his fingers are bloody. Until his bottom lip is scabbing.

But Wayne keeps his mouth shut. Because I told you so burns like every other promise that’s broken his boy’s heart, and as much as he knew this would happen, Wayne had also prayed it wouldn’t.

But then the crunching of gravel fills the night air, and Eddie’s gone from his seat in such a hurry that the screen door is slamming behind him by the time Wayne’s even able to get out of his seat.

His reflexes aren’t what they used to be, but he can still move fast when he needs to.

So he’s halfway down his front stoop before he realizes what he’s seeing.

Harrington, illuminated by the light of his car’s headlights, hugging onto his boy like it’s the only thing keeping him alive.

It’s dark, the boy’s face only partially lit, but Wayne can see from here the puffy bruising of his face. The blood on that ridiculous work uniform.

“‘M sorry.” Harrington is murmuring. “We had plans, Eds, ‘m sorry, I wanted-”

Eddie interrupts him. Says something Wayne can’t hear. He cradles Harrington’s bruised face in his hands and Wayne watches as Steve leans into it. Closes his eyes into the feeling of Eddie’s skin on his own.

It scares Wayne. The way they talk to each other. The way they look at each other. Because the world ain’t kind to boys like this, and all Wayne can think of is how that Hargrove boy jumped away the moment he was found out. Ready to hang Eddie out to dry.

Then they’re walking towards him. Towards the trailer.

Steve freezes when he sees him. Something wild and terrified behind those eyes. “I don’t-” he starts, but Eddie clings onto him tighter. Brings him more securely into his side.

“Trust me, you’re staying here.” Eddie says. Final. “Right, Wayne? Steve’s staying here?”

And now Wayne can really see how bad this boy is bruised. His nose is certainly broken. His cheekbone, too, with the way the swelling looks. He’s leaning into Eddie like he’s having a hard time standing up on his own.

Wayne wonders if all those beatings Richard Harrington dealt out on the schoolyard never truly stopped.

“You need someone to set your nose.” He says. He steps to the boy’s other side. Offers him his arm. “Might as well be me.”

Eddie rolls his eyes, and Steve relaxes. Just a little.

“Thank you, sir.” He whispers.

Wayne doesn’t remember the drive to the hospital. Doesn’t remember where he parked. If he parked, or if he had ditched his truck in front of the hospital and ran straight in.

He can feel his heart in his throat. In his fingertips.

Eddie- found, Eddie- in the hospital- critical condition, Eddie- alive.

Alive.

“Munson,” he pants, breathless, to the woman at the reception desk. “Edward.”

The woman, to her credit, seems unfazed by his breathlessness. By him in his pajamas and unbrushed hair.

“Are you a relative?” She asks. Calmly, soothingly.

“Yes.” He insists. “He’s my-” Wayne swallows. “I’m his legal guardian.”

She nods. Flips through a clipboard. “He’s just gotten out of surgery.” Her eyes flick to his. “Second floor. Room 237. Please b-”

But all Wayne hears is surgery and second floor before he’s running to the stairwell, bypassing the elevator altogether.

Wayne’s always heard others say time speeds up when adrenaline surges. How it all happens so fast. In the blink of an eye. A car crash. A kid in danger. They act without thinking. Instinct propelling them.

But Wayne’s only felt the opposite. Like time slows. Molasses thick.

It did in Vietnam.

It does now.

The stairwell stretches like Sisyphus’s mountain in front of him, each step like treading water, a never ending series of stairs to get to Eddie. Eddie- alive.

Alive.

He swings the door open. Can barely read the placard that shows the room numbers, has to count in his head before he understands 237 is to his left.

The hallway lengthens. Like that horrible movie Ed made him watch. Half expects a set of twins at the end, and elevator of blood, of Eddie’s blood, of his son’s-

But there’s no blood in room 237. There’s Eddie. Pale and asleep with tubes and wires and beeping machines, but alive. The monitor on his side singing beep beep beep in the most beautiful melody Wayne’s ever heard.

Because that’s his boy, and he’s alive, and he’s here, in front of Wayne, after the longest week of his-

“He’s innocent!”

Someone jumps between them, arms outstretched, blocking Eddie from his view.

Even in the dimmed lighting of Eddie’s room Wayne can see how bad off he is. The dark, purpled bruise around his neck. His wet, raspy breaths. The way he favors one side as he stands between Wayne and Eddie.

But Wayne also knows shell shock when he sees it. Saw it in his own soldiers’ eyes, the ones they called lucky enough to come home, and he sees it in Steve’s, now. Wide and glassy, looking at Wayne like a wounded animal ready to draw blood.

“He’s innocent.” He pants. But Steve’s voice is pleading, now. High and vulnerable and so, so tired. “Innocent.” He repeats. Like it’s the only word keeping him grounded. The only word he still knows in the midst of all this, the one truth he can hold onto.

“I know.” Wayne answers. Calm. He holds up his hands. “I know my boy, Steve. I know he didn’t do what they say he’s done.”

Wayne watches as the words sink in. Because Steve doesn’t move at first. He stands, chest heaving, between Wayne and Eddie like his body will be the thing to protect his boy from it all.

But slowly his shoulders drop. His hands. And he haltingly backs into the chair he’d lept from at Eddie’s bedside.

Steve sags in his chair, and Wayne notices the baseball bat at the boy’s feet. Wonders if he’s had to use it.

He keeps his questions to himself. Goes to Eddie’s bedside, and takes his cold hand in his. It takes all of him not to recoil at the feeling, so wrong in light of how they usually are, and suddenly Wayne is gripped by the thought that they took his rings. That his rings are gone, and Ed will be furious when he wakes and realizes they’re no longer there.

“They said he should wake soon.” Harrington murmurs, interrupting Wayne’s thoughts. His eyes still look far off, like he’s not quite here, but there’s the faintest hint of a smile on his lips, now, and Wayne eyes the way the boy trails his fingers over the railing of Ed’s bed, eyes like moons as he stares. “Said once the anesthesia wears off, he’ll wake.”

Wayne squeezes Eddie’s hand a little tighter. Feels his weak pulse beneath his fingertips.

Alive. He reminds himself. Awake, as soon as the anesthesia wears off.

“How’re you in here?” Wayne asks, suddenly. Gripped by the reminder that despite his best intentions, this boy has no right to be by Eddie’s bedside.

Steve shifts. His gaze darts from Eddie’s face to his own filthy shoes. “Told ‘em we’re cousins.” He mumbles. “I didn’t-” Steve swallows. Adjust himself in his seat again. “After Dustin called, we didn’t know how long it’d take you, and I didn’t want him waking up alone.” Steve’s gaze goes to Eddie’s face again. “I didn’t want him to be afraid.”

Harrington looks up. Meets his gaze. “But I can go, Mr. Munson. I, uh-” and he licks his lips. Shifts again in that creaking vinyl seat. “I know you don’t like me, much. Sir.”

And damn this boy. Damn him, for being nothing like his daddy. For caring for Eddie. For standing vigil at his bedside until the moment he thinks he isn’t wanted.

Damn him for proving Wayne wrong.

“Nonsense.” Wayne grumbles. “Ed’s gonna be happy to see you, when he wakes.”

And one would’ve thought this boy just won the lottery with the way his face lights up. This heartbreakingly hopeful expression cracking through his haunted gaze, and he leans forward to take one of Eddie’s hands in his.

“Not as happy as I’ll be.” He whispers. And Wayne knows that wasn’t meant for him. But it warms him nonetheless.

“He’ll want you tended to.” Wayne gripes. Nods to Steve’s- everything. “We’re in a hospital, boy. I’ll find you if he wakes.”

Steve looks like he wants to argue, pulls his shoulders back and sets his jaw like he’s set on arguing the opposite, but Wayne levels him with a look.

“Do you want him worryin’ about you when he wakes?”

Steve holds onto his indignation a moment longer, those shoulders high to his ears, before they drop. He leans forward. Rubs the heels of his dirty palms into his eyes.

“Okay.” He mumbles. “Okay.”

*****

Eddie doesn’t wake that night.

They sleep in fits, and Wayne’s back’s killin’ him by the time sunlight begins streaming in through the blinds.

Visitors bring food. Gareth and Jeff and that boy Wayne can never remember the name of bring coffee and bagels and a bat plushie that they place by his bedside.

Kids he’s never met, that apparently know Eddie, bring flowers and balloons and hover feet away like they’re worried they’re intruding.

Steve collapses into the arms of a girl with short hair and blue eyes, and they cling to each other like siblings.

Wayne never sees the Harringtons.

Visiting hours come and go. Gareth and Jeff and the third promise to come back tomorrow. Make Wayne promise to tell them if he needs anything.

Steve hasn’t left save the forty-five minutes it took to piece him back together. He sits in the splitting vinyl chair, and rests his hand next to Eddie’s.

More than once Wayne’s seen the way he curls their fingers together. Hears the soft words Steve speaks when he thinks Wayne’s asleep.

Worry claws at him. Worry for Eddie, but for Steve, now, too. For both existing in a world that’s so unkind.

*****

Eddie wakes at 3:36am.

They’re both half asleep. Watching some horrible movie Wayne doesn’t know the name of when those cold fingers twitch against his.

“Wayne?” Eddie’s voice is barely a rasp, barely able to carry over the volume of the television, but Wayne thinks he’d be able to hear it anywhere. Feel the pull of it. Know no matter where he is that Eddie’s calling for him.

“Eddie,” he says, because that’s the only word he can seem to conjure, his boy’s name, over and over.

Eddie’s fingers curl tighter against his, and there are tears glistening in those bruised eyes. “Wayne.” He croaks again, so Wayne rushes closer, pulls himself close to Eddie’s face and uses his free hand to cup his bandaged cheek.

“You’re okay,” he soothes, through his own tears, “Ed, you’re okay. I’ve got you.” He wants to hold him. Wants to pull him into his lap and curl his arms around him and never let him go. Never let the world get to him again.

But for now, Eddie leans into his touch. He breathes. He holds Wayne’s hand.

Wayne doesn’t realize Steve had left until a team of doctors comes back in with him, and they force Wayne out of the way to proke and to prod, to check vitals and ask him questions. Questions like what’s your name and what year is it and who’s the current president?

And Wayne can’t hold back his laugh when Eddie coughs, Reagan, unfortunately.

Then, much later, when Eddie is home, when the charges are dropped, when Steve has properly glued himself to Eddie’s side, Wayne asks them what happened. What really happened.

And Eddie, with Steve by his side, tells him.

“Hey, Mr. Munson.” Steve greets, groceries in hand as he lets himself inside.

“Afternoon.” Wayne grunts, getting up from his spot on the couch.

“No, Mr. Munson, please-” Steve starts, as Wayne grabs one of the grocery bags.

But Wayne waves him off. “He’s in his room.” Wayne grumbles. “Dyin’ to see you, too. How bout you put ‘im out of his misery?”

Steve pauses for only a moment, until Wayne shoves at his shoulder and the boy grins, bashful.

He darts off, the scar around his neck still pink.

Wayne puts the groceries away. Sees that Steve bought those ridiculous frozen bagel bites Eddie likes so much. That he bought milk and canned fruits and canned vegetables, frozen meals that Eddie can prepare himself when he has no one else home.

Wayne stares at the box of Honeycombs like it will tell him whether or not Steve’s gonna break his boy’s heart.

He hears the two of them already, murmured words that Wayne dutifully tunes out.

He knows, by now, that Steve Harrington is not his father. Wayne’s a big enough man to admit when he’s wrong, because the Harrington boy is a good one.

But good people break each other's hearts all the time.

He puts away the Honeycombs.

*****

He knew this was coming. Wayne knows he’s old but he ain’t blind, not yet, anyway, and the way these boys have been wrapped around each other is anything other than how Ed has behaved with any of his other ‘friends’.

But despite everything, Eddie is still chewing on his bottom lip like Wayne’s about to throw him out on the street.

“He loves me.” Ed murmurs. Quiet. Like if he says it lowly enough Wayne will be more inclined to accept it. “And I love him.” And his boy looks at him with those big brown eyes, pleading. “I know you don’t trust him, but Wayne trust- trust me. He loves me. So much. I never thought I’d ever have this. Anything like this. But it’s real and he’s here and Wayne I don’t think there’s anything he wouldn’t do for me. That I wouldn’t do for him.” Eddie crosses his arms in front of his chest. Defensive. “I need you to be okay with this.” He whispers.

Wayne’s never been in love. Never particularly wanted it, either. He always liked his solitude. Liked his peace and quiet.

Eddie changed all of that, of course. He can’t imagine a peaceful life, now. Can’t imagine going back to a life of solitude now that Eddie takes up half his heart.

Doesn’t mean he’s not about to put Steve through the ringer, though. “He treat you right?” He asks, gruff. Even though he already knows the answer. Has seen over the past year, the past three years, how much Steve cares for Eddie. How right he treats him.

But that smile spreads across Eddie’s face, the one that only happens when he talks about Steve, and he grins, mumbles, “yes.”

Wayne spreads his arms. “C’mere, son.”

Eddie smiles wider. Curls his chin against Wayne’s shoulder despite being taller, and wraps his arms around him.

“Of course I trust you.” Wayne rubs his boy’s back. Feels the ripples of scar tissue under his shirt. Knows, if not for Steve, he wouldn’t be holding his boy like this right now. “‘n I trust him, too.”

Eddie curls tighter into him. Wayne savors it, the security of having his son in his arms, safe.

And he knows, deep down, Eddie is just as safe with Steve.

✨✨✨

Epilogue

Wayne doesn’t think he’s seen Steve this nervous in the twenty years he’s known him. He hasn’t sat down, just gripped the mug of coffee Wayne’d poured him and stared into its depths like he’d find whatever answer he needs there.

Wayne waits. Rocks back and forth in his recliner. Knows Steve’s the type of man to need to collect himself. To sort all of his thoughts before speaking.

So unlike Eddie.

Wayne sips his own coffee. Watches the game he doesn’t care about that’s now on mute, letting Steve take his time.

And eventually Steve sets his mug down, and Wayne turns to him.

“I don’t know why I’m so nervous.” Steve laughs, breathless, wiping his palms across his jeans. “Sorry.”

Steve, finally, sits.

“Eddie loves you.” He starts. “He thinks more highly of you than anyone. And I know- I know that if I didn’t do this he’d never say yes. And-” he stutters, rubbing his palms on his jeans once again, “and, I wouldn’t want to do this without your blessing, so.” Steve breathes, and straightens. “I want to ask Eddie to marry me. I’m here to ask for your permission to do so.”

Wayne heard the news from Massachusetts just the other day, and now, not forty-eight hours later, he has Steve Harrington in his living room, asking for permission.

And this boy, who’s not even close to a boy, anymore, who has been with his son for nearly twenty years, looks at Wayne like there’s any chance in the world Wayne could say no. Like over the years Steve Harrington hasn’t become as much of a son to him as his own boy. Like there’s any world where Wayne wouldn’t want to see both of them happy. And together.

“One condition,” Wayne says. And he curses his old age. How easily tears come to him, now. Can feel the heat in his nose and the tightness in his throat. Because he knows how the name Harrington haunts Steve, has seen how he reacts when the surname of the people who cast him away is used to address him. “You take our last name.”

Steve’s mouth twists. His eyes turn glassy. He clenches his hands into fists and stares at Wayne the same way he did when Wayne took him in all those years ago. He coughs, and nods, a little frantic. “I can do that.”

Wayne stands, and he wonders if it’ll ever stop taking him by surprise how his joints ache now, how much more work it takes for him to go from sitting to standing. “C’mere, son.”

Steve exhales, heavy and wet, before standing as well. Lets Wayne gather him in his arms. “You take care of him.” Wayne huffs. It’s as much of a command as it is a statement. Because Steve’s been taking care of Eddie for two decades, now. Has done it better than Wayne ever prayed possible. “I’m trustin’ you.”

“I will.” Steve promises.

And Wayne believes him.

✨✨✨

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novacorpsrecruit · 4 months ago

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The Munson Charm

Steddie | Hurt/no comfort | cw Al Munson

Al Munson who has been in and out of jail the last couple of years. His latest stint ended in Pendleton Correctional Facility with a charge that should’ve kept him locked up for a decade.

If it wasn’t for that Munson Charm.

All the Munson’s had it. The ability to charm or talk their way out of trouble. It’s a big factor in why Eddie doesn’t have any drug charges on him and has only been booked once. Between him and Wayne, they were able to sweet talk him into a slap on the wrist and a promise to do better.

But Al?

Al’s ability was next level.

He was able to charm anyone he met. He was handsome and he knew it. An insane flirt. Eddie knew better than to bring anyone around Al.

The only two people Al hasn’t been able to charm was Wayne and Eddie.

So when he showed up on the Munson doorstep, he wasn’t treated very kindly. Al was let out early on the count of good behavior. He was working a program and following his terms of parole. He promised Eddie that he was turning his life around.

Eddie heard this promise before.

But Steve hadn’t.

Steve, who watched quietly from the kitchen as Wayne and Eddie tried to push Al back out of the house — out of their life.

Steve who met Al’s eyes and saw honesty and remorse.

Al who saw his way in.

“Is this your friend, son?” Al asked. Eddie kept his mouth shut, trying to lead Al out.

“Steve,” Steve said, introducing himself. “Steve Harrington. Nice to met you.”

“Al,” He supplied with a smile. “Any friend of Ed is a friend of mine.”

“Too bad you’re leaving,” Eddie frowned. “You’re not welcomed here.”

“Maybe another time,” Al said sweetly. “When you’re up for a visit from your ol’ man. Nice to meet you, Steve.”

A shoot of a wink and he’s out of the house. Eddie and Wayne stood by the door, almost as if they were guarding the entrance, a silent exchange between them.

“He seemed nice,” Steve said, breaking the silence. “Seems like he wants to be back in your life.”

“He’s no good, Steve,” Eddie frowned. “He’s gotta have some kind of agenda for this. He’s not like this.”

“Must’ve figured you got some sort of compensation,” Wayne suggested. “Ain’t no use sniffin’ round here.”

“You don’t think he means it?” Steve asked. “That he’s turning a new leaf?”

“Not at all,” Eddie said. “Look, stay away from him. I’m sure that’s not the last we see of him.”

“He’s right,” Wayne said. “Always no good. Promise this ain’t any different.”

Steve pressed his lips together and nodded, as if he understood. But he didn’t. Steve would be ecstatic if his dad was interested in him again. If his dad was being nice and wanted to reconnect. As much as he hates his dad, if his dad was to try again — to try in the first place — Steve would want to give him a chance.

So he doesn’t understand why Eddie doesn’t want to give him that chance.

Eddie refuses to tell Steve about Al. Said all Steve needs to know is that he’s a piece of shit who’s never gonna change. Wayne would shake his head and say it ain’t his to share.

So when Steve was working alone at Family Video, he knew he should be uneasy when Al Munson walked in.

But Al flashed this smile, something that reminded him of Eddie. Something that made Steve feel at ease. He greets Steve easily — remembering his name. Apologizing for how they met. Al wasn’t expecting Eddie to react that way, but he understood.

“I was tough on him, growing up,” Al said. “I’m just trying to make it right. Get that connection with him going again. I miss my boy. Missed seein’ him grow up, seein’ him grow into the man that he is. He’s a mechanic now, ain’t he?”

“Yeah,” Steve nodded. “He’s at Thatcher’s. Does oil changes, tire rotations, tune ups.”

“He’s still outta car, ain’t he?” Al asked. “After all that went down during spring break.”

“Yeah,” Steve said. “Between me, Wayne and Thatcher’s wife, Monica, we get Eddie to work and back.”

“You’re sweet on him, ain’t ya?” Al asked with a soft smile and a wink. “My boy needs someone like you.”

Steve felt his cheeks warm as he nodded.

“Maybe you don’t mind helping me with him?” Al asked.

He pulled out a rolled up newspaper from his back pocket, showing Steve the classifieds. He pointed to a 1975 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, circled in red.

“Wanted to get this for him,” Al said. “His birthday’s comin’ up soon and I know a car ain’t an apology, but I’m hoping that it’s my foot in the door to a conversation. I know he needs it, and I figured givin’ it with a title would at least show him I’m trying to change. Only issue is I’m short about $500,” Al said sheepishly. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but I’m workin’ at the junk yard in town and staying at the Oxford house. Could you help an ol’ man reconnect with his son? I can pay you back, but it will be in payments.”

Steve should say no. Eddie told him to not talk to Al. Steve’s been trying to save money. Him and Eddie were planning on moving to Chicago, with plans for Steve to attend one of the City Colleges. He needed money for rent and tuition, and the more he makes at home, the less he has to work while attending classes. He doesn’t have a lot saved up… but if Al can pay it back, it shouldn’t be an issue, right?

So he agrees. He wants Eddie and his dad to have a good relationship. It’s what he wants for himself.

So when he’s off of work, he goes to the bank. He pulls that $500 he’s been saving up and gives it to Al. Invites him to the party they were throwing for Eddie’s birthday.

Al promised he’d make it. It would be the perfect time to give Eddie the car. Al said he missed too many birthdays.

He wouldn’t miss this one for the world.

So two weeks later, the party’s at the Harrington household, celebrating Eddie’s 20th. And Steve could barely hold his excitement. When he’s inside, he kept looking towards the front window for the ‘75 trans am to pull up.

When they were outside, he kept walking towards the gate, looking for Al. Making sure he didn’t miss him.

As the party went on, the antsier he got.

Finally, Eddie stopped Steve on his fifth trip to the gate.

“What’s going on, Stevie?” Eddie asked. “It’s like you’re waiting for someone. We’re all here.”

“Not — not everyone,” Steve admits. “I invited your dad.”

Eddie frowned, looking towards Wayne then back to Steve. “He’s not coming.”

“He said he would,” Steve said, still hopeful. The sun was just setting. There’s still time. “He said he wasn’t gonna miss another birthday.”

“It’s not the first time he’s said that,” Eddie said. “I promise you, he’s not comin’ unless he’s getting something out of it. Come back to the party.”

Eddie tugged on Steve’s hand, Steve firmly planted in his spot.

“Stevie —“

“He said he was gonna buy you a car,” Steve admitted quietly. “For your birthday. A 1975 Trans Am.”

“He made that promise every year since I turned 16,” Eddie said. “It’s not coming true this year.”

“He promised,” Steve said, his voice cracking. Fuck. He’s going to cry. He pinched the bridge of his nose. “He promised to be here. He promised to pay me back.”

“Oh,” Eddie’s heart sunk. “Oh, Stevie —“

Steve should’ve listened to Eddie. Should’ve known better to believe a dad whose promises weren’t worth shit. He couldn’t help but break down when Eddie wrapped his arms around him.

All he wanted was Eddie and his dad to have a good relationship — to reconnect. Because if Eddie’s dad could turn around that maybe it would be possible for his own dad to not be shitty. But here he was, crying over a dad who failed to be here for his son.

Crying because he believed in the good the man promised to be. Crying because he was tricked, sucked in by Al Munson’s charm, and shorted $500 that was meant to uplift him and Eddie. To make their lives easier.

Crying because if Al can’t be good, than neither can Richard Harrington.

#stranger things #eddie munson #steve harrington #steddie #Al Munson #the only time you’ll catch me calling him Al in fic #//myfic

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misfitwashere · 4 days ago

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July 7, 2025

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

JUL 8

READ IN APP

At about 10:30 this morning local time, heavily armed masked agents in trucks, armored vehicles, a helicopter, on foot, and on horseback, accompanied by a gun mounted on a truck raided the MacArthur Park area of Los Angeles. Journalist Mel Buer reported that agents from Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), the National Guard, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brought what he called a “massive federal presence.”

Fox News Channel personnel were embedded with the raiders and broadcast throughout the operation, suggesting that it was designed for the media as a show of force to intimidate opponents. CBP brought its own press team, and its people were also taking photos of bystanders. After Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass arrived and spoke with Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino, the agents left. It is not clear that there was a specific target for the raid, or that anyone was arrested.

Later, Bovino told Bill Melugin of the Fox News Channel, “I don’t work for Karen Bass. Better get used to us now, cause this is going to be normal very soon. We will go anywhere, anytime we want in Los Angeles.”

Immigrants rights groups sued Bovino last week to block what they call an “ongoing pattern and practice of flouting the Constitution and federal law” during immigration raids.

Steve Beynon of Military dot com reports that about 70 National Guard troops have been deployed to the new detention facility in the Florida Everglades as the administration “leans harder on the military to enforce its nationwide immigration crackdown.” Unlike the National Guard troops Trump federalized in Los Angeles, these troops are operating as state troops under Florida governor Ron DeSantis. Another 8,500 active-duty and National Guard troops are stationed along the border between the U.S. and Mexico.

The Trump administration is also sending 200 Marines to Florida to aid ICE, part of a push to increase deportations by using active-duty troops.

The U.S. Marine Corps has launched a pilot program to station ICE agents at Camp Pendleton in California, Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, and Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten of Fox News writes that the plan is to strengthen security at those bases, although University of Tampa defense professor Abby Hall Blanco pointed out: "It gives kind of an odd impression that the Marine Corps is not handling its own security sufficiently. Having known quite a few Marines in my time, I can't imagine that they would find that to be a particularly flattering interpretation.”

As Harvard sociologist Theda Skocpol pointed out in Talking Points Memo, it appears that officials in the Trump administration are using immigration as a way to establish a police state. Indeed, they are using the concept that presidents have control of foreign affairs as a way to work around the laws in place to prevent a dictatorship.

In its 2024 Donald J. Trump v. United States decision, the Supreme Court majority held that a former president has “absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority,” as well as “presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts.” In April 2025 the court specified that it considered foreign affairs to fall within a president’s constitutional authority, writing in Noem v. Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia that the executive branch was owed “deference…in the conduct of foreign affairs.”

Although the Framers of the Constitution put the power to make laws in the hands of Congress, they divided power in foreign affairs between Congress and the president. Almost immediately, presidents began to assert their authority over foreign affairs, noting that the Constitution gave them power to appoint ambassadors and negotiate treaties and pointing to the president’s role as commander-in-chief of the Army. The branches have tussled over this power ever since, but as James Goldgeiger and Elizabeth N. Saunders wrote in Foreign Affairs, presidential power over foreign affairs has grown dramatically since 2000.

After the attacks of September 11, 2001, members of Congress were unwilling to appear soft on terror and so allowed President George W. Bush great leeway in the nation’s “war on terror,” even after it became clear that Bush’s invasion of Iraq in 2003 was failing. In Foreign Affairs last month, Saunders wrote that a lack of accountability for either the failures of the Iraq War or the 2008 international financial crisis fed the idea that the president could make sweeping decisions about both foreign intervention and the international economy without check by Congress.

On February 12, 2025, the Trump administration made clear that its members intended to expand Trump’s power by pushing the boundaries of what foreign affairs entails. In an executive order, Trump claimed the Constitution “vests the power to conduct foreign policy in the President of the United States.”

Trump’s actual work in foreign affairs has been different from what he promised during his presidential campaign. His vow that he could end Russia’s war against Ukraine with one phone call has resulted only in Russian president Vladimir Putin’s accelerating his attacks on Ukraine. As foreign affairs journalist Anne Applebaum wrote on July 4 in The Atlantic, it is clear that Putin believes he can conquer all of Ukraine because Trump is abandoning the longstanding U.S. bipartisan support for Ukraine and pivoting the U.S. to back Russia.

Last week the administration said it would not send Ukraine a large shipment of weapons already funded under President Joe Biden. It claimed that U.S. stockpiles of weapons are insufficient, a claim former Biden officials and independent analysts contradict. Applebaum notes that Russia has interpreted the change as a sign that the U.S. is ending its support for Ukraine.

The U.S. is also essentially lifting the economic sanctions that have hamstrung Russia’s economy. By not adjusting sanctions to combat developing Russian workarounds, the administration is allowing Russia to rebuild its economy. In addition, the Trump administration has stopped countering Russian disinformation around the world, while Trump appointees, including Trump’s main negotiator with Russia, Steve Witkoff, regularly parrot Russian propaganda.

Trump’s launching of strikes against Iran’s nuclear weapon production sites without input from Congress earned pushback from congress members who noted that the president’s authority to launch emergency operations depends on an actual emergency. Trump’s own director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, told Congress in March that the Intelligence Community assessed Iran was not, in fact, building a nuclear weapon.

Then Trump’s claim he had “totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program turned out to be exaggerated, although as journalists questioned his statement, the administration doubled down on it. Today, Barak Ravid of Axios reported that Israeli officials believe Trump will green-light further Israeli attacks on Iran. Trump has said twice since the U.S. strikes that the U.S. could attack Iran again if Iran renews its nuclear program.

But the claim to domestic power based in the president’s alleged right to control over foreign affairs has fueled much of the administration's domestic agenda. The administration claimed the power to render undocumented Venezuelans to the notorious terrorist CECOT prison in El Salvador by arguing that the Venezuelan government was sending members of the MS-13 gang to invade the U.S. After wrongfully delivering Maryland man Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador in violation of a court order, the administration claimed courts could not order him returned to the U.S. because that order would interfere with Trump’s ability to conduct foreign affairs.

Documents filed in court today said Salvadoran officials told the United Nations that the U.S. retained jurisdiction over the migrants it sent to El Salvador, undermining the administration’s insistence that it has no control over migrants once they are out of U.S. territory. El Salvador simply had an agreement with the U.S. to use the Salvadoran prison system to detain U.S. prisoners, they said. “In this context, the jurisdiction and legal responsibility for these persons lie exclusively with the competent foreign authorities, by virtue of international agreements signed and in accordance with the principles of sovereignty and international cooperation in criminal matters.”

In a lawsuit against the administration, Abrego Garcia says he was tortured in El Salvador, severely beaten, deprived of sleep, inadequately fed, denied bathroom facilities, and tortured psychologically. He says he lost 31 pounds in two weeks.

Today the administration ended temporary protection from deportation for about 72,000 migrants from Honduras and another 4,000 from Nicaragua. The decision strips them of their legal status and echoes similar decisions made about migrants from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Haiti, Nepal, and Venezuela. A federal court has blocked the early termination of protected status for Haitians.

—

#heather cox richardson #letters from an american

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dreaminginthedeepsouth · 5 days ago

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mike luckovich :: @mluckovichajc

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

July 7, 2025

Heather Cox Richardson

Jul 08, 2025

Immigrants rights groups sued Bovino last week to block what they call an “ongoing pattern and practice of flouting the Constitution and federal law” during immigration raids.

The Trump administration is also sending 200 Marines to Florida to aid ICE, part of a push to increase deportations by using active-duty troops.

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

#Mike Luckovich #political cartoons #Heather Cox Richardson #Letters From An American #immigration #rule of law #migrants #ICE #police state #lawlessness #totalitarianism #authoritarianism #false imprisonment

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ncisfranchise-source · 10 months ago

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NCIS: Origins (Oct. 14, CBS)

NCIS fans may have spent 19 seasons getting to know Mark Harmon’s character Leroy Jethro Gibbs, but the version of the special agent they’ll meet in his prequel series NCIS: Origins is very much his own man. Narrated by Harmon, who also serves as an executive producer, Origins shines a spotlight on a young, grieving Gibbs' (Austin Stowell) early days at NIS Camp Pendleton under team leader Mike Franks (Kyle Schmid) after a devastating experience changes his life forever. “The Gibbs that we find in our show — it's not the guy that the fans are used to,” Stowell tells EW. “This is someone who's going through a lot of pain. He's suffered a tremendous tragedy just four months before we pick up this show, and there's a lot of newness in his life. There's lots of firsts going on right now.” —E.T.

NCIS (Oct. 14, CBS)

It’s been six months since Jessica Knight (Katrina Law) accepted the REACT chief job in California, and her departure has since created what showrunner Steve Binder calls a “chain reaction” with the crew: Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) vies for a deputy director position, and Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) returns to his undercover roots. “The team kind of separates, so picture Parker [Gary Cole] walking into the bullpen and the kids aren't home,” says Binder. It’s not long before a case leads Parker out west, though, reuniting him with Jessica — who may or may not be mulling whether she made a mistake for leaving boyfriend Jimmy (Brian Dietzen) behind. “Under the worst circumstances possible will these two have the talk,” quips Binder. All in all, expect heavy hitting episodes filled with romance, “fun and unusual” pairings, and mystery. Like, who the hell is Lily (Sunnie Pelant)? “I wouldn't be so sure that Parker knows who she is either,” teases Binder. “We don't always remember the scars of our youth.” —Jessica Wang

#ncis #ncis origins

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sweetrinaxd · 1 year ago

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i love freckles representation in videogame characters cuz this is my lil complex..as you can see in my art, i always draw freckles on every character :D shitpost btw!! here's my list of characters who has freckles in canon (or not, my hcs)

canon!heather mason from sh3! fav girl

canon!mikaela reid from dead by daylight!

canon!claire redfield from resident evil revelations 2!! also my fav outfit is "sniper"

hc!jill valentine should DEFINITELY have freckles.

hc!moira burton from rev2 too! (i hc freckles on barry, so it runs in the family)

hc!elle holloway from sh homecoming! (i hc alex was definitely jealous of her, think he thought it was really cool)

canon!lynn langermann from outlast 2

semi-canon?eileen galvin from sh4 dont ask why..

hc!kate denson from dbd

hc?anne marie cunningham from silent hill downpour, and also charlie pendleton (think it reminded murphy of his son, so yeah)

semi-canon?sunny smiles from fallout new vegas HER NAME LITERALLY SAYS THAT SHE MUST HAVE FRECKLES!!

semi-canon or canon?I DONT REMEMBER BUT STILL emily from class of 09

hc!rachel jessop/faith seed from far cry 5..

canon!max caulfield from lis1/de

canon!cheryl-heather mason from silent hill sm

hc...rebecca chambers...

hc!maria gomez from re vendetta/di

canon! diana from rule of rose

hc!steve burnside from re code veronica x

hc!helena harper from re6

semi-canon?fiona belli from haunting ground

hc! falin from dunmeshi

hc! jess sherawat from re revelations

hc...unmasked hunk/lady hunk is redhead and definitely has freckles

canon!ellie williams from the last of us/2

hc!ellis from left 4 dead 2

hc!alyx vance from half life 2

thanks for watching me being nerdy

#shitpost #idk how to tag this #silent hill 3 #half life #resident evil #silent hill #dbd #dead by daylight #left 4 dead 2 #fonv

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joeinct · 2 years ago

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Night Bushes, Pendleton, Oregon, Photo by Steve Fitch, 1975

#Steve Fitch

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friendship-showdown · 2 years ago

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The bracket is here!!!

For the first round, there will be 55 "byes" (the ones who do not have byes were randomly determined, but all were one submission preliminary winners). There was an exact tie between Erina and Robert from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure and Willow and Xander from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, so they both made the bracket! Also, there was so much passion for Agent Beakley and Scrooge McDuck that I just had to include them! So in total, there are 73 competitors. The first round will be released tomorrow and will only be a one day poll so we can jump into the round of 64 quicker! May the best besties win!!!

The participants are as follows:

Maya Fey and Phoenix Wright

Holga Kilgore and Edgin Darvis

Robin Buckley and Steve Harrington

Jessie and James

Sherlock Holmes and Joan Watson

Willow Park and Gus Porter

Pat and Ink

Simon Snow and Penelope Bunce

Denji and Power

Donna Noble and the Doctor

Lady Mary Crawley and Tom Branson

Luke Sunborn and Serene-Heart-In-The-Chaos-Of-Battle

Jang Jaeyoung and Choi Yuna

Inej Ghafa and Jesper Fahey

Sana Bakkoush and Isak Valterson

Curt Mega and Tatiana Slozhno

Ted Lasso and Rebecca Welton

Kronk and Yzma

Camilla Hect and Palamedes Sextus

Wei Wuxian and Wen Qing

Sara Chidouin and Joe Tazuna

Ryuunosuke Narudodou and Susato Mikotoba

Marlin and Dory

Kisaragi Gentarou and Jojima Yuuki

Hina Azumi and Eiji Hino

MK and Mei

Raleigh Becket and Mako Mori

Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson

Ahsoka and Anakin Skywalker

Jonathan Sims and Daisy Toner

Pep and Cadebra

Nagisa Shiota and Kaede Kayono

Aang and Toph

Zuko and Sukki

Saruhara Shinichi and Kitou Haruka

Lollipop and Gelatin

Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki

Willow and Xander

Abed Nadir and Annie Edison

Jeff Winger and Shirley Bennet

Percy de Rolo and Keyleth of the Air Ashari

Dick Grayson and Donna Troy

Fig Faeth and Gorgug Thistlespring

Mina Harker and Abraham van Helsing

Violet Evergarden and Benedict Blue

Joey Tribbiani and Phoebe Buffay

Billy and Mandy

Roger and Lyra

Darius and Elinor

Erina Pendleton Joestar and Robert E.O Speedwagon

Julie Molina and Reggie Peters

Shotaro Hidari and Akiko Narumi

Lilo and Stitch

Lucky Luke and Calamity Jane

Sorn and Nam

Maui and Moana

Sunflower and Peashooter

Ash Ketchum and Misty

Rui Kamishiro and Emu Otori

Alejandra Estrella and Adalmundo

Shadow the Hedgehog and Rouge the Bat

Miguel and Lyla

Ahsoka and Rex

Steven Universe and Connie Maheswaran

Sophie and the BFG

Linh Cinder and Carswell Thorne

Lilith Clawthorne and Hooty

Fezzik and Buttercup

Chon and Pang

Undyne and Papyrus

Wander and Sylvia

Jayfeather and Briarlight

Bentina Beakley (Agent 22) and Scrooge McDuck

#friendship-showdown #bracket #polls #i'm so excited y'all!!

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kaitlinamberxo · 1 year ago

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Kaitlin's 100 Favorite Male Muses Masterlist

Documenting some of my fictional crushes over the years. Some are justified, some not so much, and in no particular order.

There are many that I attempted, but I couldn't do them justice.

1: Nate Archibald

2: Tyler Lockwood

3: Robb Stark

4: Bellamy Blake

5: Peter Pevensie

6: Din Djarin

7: Percy Jackson

8: Anthony Bridgerton

9: Bucky Barnes

10: Sirius Black

11: Cedric Diggory

12: Tony Stark

13: Aladdin

14: Prince Naveen

15: Leo Valdez

16: Newt Scamander

17: Flynn Rider

18: Scott McCall

19: Elijah Mikaelson

20: Benedict Bridgerton

21: Luke Castellan

22: Fred Jones

23: Conrad Fisher

24: Derek Hale

25: Fred & George Weasley

26: Bruce Wayne

27: Ron Weasley

28: Nathan Scott

29: Dick Grayson

30: Lucas Scott

31: Jaime Lannister

32: Oliver Wood

33: Clark Kent

34: Obi-Wan Kenobi

35: Jon Snow

36: Jamie Tartt

37: Joel Miller

38: Alec Lightwood

39: Poe Dameron

40: Klaus Mikaelson

41: Evan "Buck" Buckley

42: JJ Maybank

43: Anakin Skywalker

44: Sam Winchester

45: Steve Rogers / Captain America

46: Jacob Black

47: Reggie Mantle

48: Hobie Brown / Spider-Punk

49: Diego Hargreeves

50: Lincoln Kom Trikru

51: Simon Lewis

52: Hernan "Shades" Alvarez

53: Enzo St. John

54: Edmund Pevensie

55: Jake Fitzgerald

56: Raphael Santiago

57: John B. Routledge

58: Art Donaldson

59: Klaus Hargreeves

60: Daryl Dixon

61: Simon Basset

62: Tobias "Four" Eaton

63: James "Jim" Gordon

64: Dean Forester

65: Matthias Helvar

66: Isaac Lahey

67: Prince Charming / Kit

68: Thomas "Tommy" Shelby

69: Oberyn Martell

70: Dean Winchester

71: Chad Meeks-Martin

72: Jim Hopper

73: Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw

74: Dan Humphrey

75: Peter Quill / Star-Lord

76: Colin Bridgerton

77: Forsythe Pendleton "Jughead" Jones III

78: Wade Wilson / Deadpool

79: Kaz Brekker

80: Draco Malfoy

81: Sodapop Curtis

82: Peter Maximoff / Quicksilver

83: Phil Dunphy

84: Scott Summers / Cyclops

85: Haymitch Abernathy

86: Finnick Odair

87: Damon Salvatore

88: Johnny Storm / Human Torch

89: Harry Potter

90: Matthew Murdock / Daredevil

91: Jeremiah Fisher

92: Peeta Mellark

93: Remus Lupin

94: Stiles Stilinski

95: Aleksander Morozova / The Darkling

96: Prince Eric

97: Nikolai Lantsov / Sturmhond

98: Regulus Black

99: Peter Parker / Spider-Man

100: Alexios / Deimos

#character challenge #character aesthetics #kaitlin's 100 favorite fictional muses #moodboard #character moodboard

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yourreddancer · 4 days ago

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Heather Cox Richardson

July 7, 2025 Heather Cox Richardson Jul 8 At about 10:30 this morning local time, heavily armed masked agents in trucks, armored vehicles, a helicopter, on foot, and on horseback, accompanied by a gun mounted on a truck raided the MacArthur Park area of Los Angeles. Journalist Mel Buer reported that agents from Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), the National Guard, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brought what he called a “massive federal presence.”

Immigrants rights groups sued Bovino last week to block what they call an “ongoing pattern and practice of flouting the Constitution and federal law” during immigration raids.

The Trump administration is also sending 200 Marines to Florida to aid ICE, part of a push to increase deportations by using active-duty troops.

NOTE: MAY YOU ROT IN HELL FOR THIS, JOHN ROBERTS!!!!

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