#steve the stove

[whereisstevethestove]

Hey just a reminder

Three years since the last plot driven main sanders sides video

[livwritesstuff]

So in this ‘verse, Hazel is born approx. four months before Eddie’s fourth book is published.

The book, obviously, was planned. Hazel was not (he and Steve got about three hours notice).

When Eddie starts doing press for the book, it comes up that his third baby was just born, and a natural consequence of this is that he starts getting asked, with varying levels of tact, why another?

For the sake of his kids’ privacy he’s not going to give the real reason, so he makes a game out of giving the dumbest answer possible every time he’s asked (because it’s a dumb question to begin with when he’s supposed to be talking about his book).

During a radio interview with NPR, the interviewer asks, “How did you decide to go from two to three kids?”

Eddie replies, “Uh, well, we’d been getting dangerously close to showing up on time for shit. Had to fix that.”

Another time, he’s doing a Q/A at a book reading and is asked, similarly, “Why did you want three?”

He responds with, “We’ve got four burners on our stove so my husband had room for another child refusing to eat the food he cooks for dinner.”

Some other honorable mentions are:

“I love doing laundry and I wanted an easy way to generate more laundry.”

“We really needed a tie-breaker for when the older two get into arguments.”

“I thought it would be a creative way to increase our water bill.”

Steve is so delighted by this every time. He thinks it’s hilarious.

[ruiviart]

I recently learned a new term… stove and bucket

[tending-the-hearth]

Two-Bit: Which one of you was going to tell me that tea tastes different if you put it in hot water? Ponyboy: Y-You were putting it in cold water???? Darry: Keith. Answer the question, Keith. Two-Bit: Yeah??? I thought for like five years that people just put it in hot water to speed up the tea-ification process. Didn't realize there was an actual reason. Dally: You don't have the patience to microwave water for three minutes??? Sodapop: Why... are you putting it in the microwave to boil it? Dally: Do you think I have the patience to boil water on the stove? Sodapop: It takes less than a minute. Steve: Soda, is your stovetop powered by the fucking sun? Sodapop: How long does it take you to boil a cup of water on the stove? Dally: Like seven minutes. Sodapop: Just stick the mug on top of the stove on medium heat and it boils in like two minutes, less than that if you use a saucepan. Johnny: Crying, you're putting the whole mug on the stove??? On medium heat??? Your stove is enchanted. Darry: Every single person in this gang is a fucking lunatic.

[sir3n-s]

As a gift for Steve, Eddie is replacing the stove in the kitchen after he accidentally set it on fire trying to make hot chocolate for their movie night.

[keila-of-asgard]

Bucky fills up awkward silence with random embarrassing facts about Steve

[irondad-defensesquad]

bucky barnes 🤝 tony stark

abandoned by stove rogers

[howlingcommanddo]

MY HOWLIES AND STUCKY

Wish me luck, Cap.

Another Steve/Bucky. This one took time *understatement*. I’m glad it’s finally done ♥ (Photoshop CS6 - Paint Tool SAI)

[toakatdot]

Mets Extend Reliever Drew Smith with One-Year Deal, Club Option for 2026

The New York Mets have reaffirmed their commitment to their longest-tenured pitcher, Drew Smith, by signing him to a one-year contract for the 2025 season. The agreement, which includes a club option for 2026, ensures Smith remains a part of the Mets’ bullpen plans despite currently recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. According to reports, Smith will earn $1 million in 2025, with the…

[solarmorrigan]

Steve knows how to take care of himself. He's good at it. He's been doing it for years

Illnesses, sports injuries (other injuries) - he knows how to manage them so they'll go away as quickly as possible. He knows when he needs to rest, he knows when he needs to take medication, he knows how to care for pulled muscles and broken skin. Maybe he doesn't always have the opportunity to care for these things properly, but he knows how, because with no one else around, he'd had to learn

Eventually, he gets it down to a routine. A science, almost. An airtight series of steps for whatever is wrong with him so he can knock out whatever crud is keeping him down and move on with his life

There isn't really room for anyone else in it

"You want me to do that?" Eddie asks, watching as Steve stirs a pot of soup on the stove.

"'m good," Steve answers with an absent sniffle.

Eddie hums. "Well, do you need me to go out and get anything? More tissues, cough medicine, more soup...?"

Steve shakes his head, though he stops when it brings on a wave of dizziness. He braces himself against the counter, waving Eddie off when he steps forward to try to support Steve. It's really just a little cold, but the congestion is killing him.

"I've got everything I need," Steve finally says; he always makes sure the medicine cabinet is stocked for this sort of thing, replenishes anything in there as soon as he uses it up, just in case. "Thanks, though."

Eddie is quiet for a long moment. "So you, uh... don't need me for anything, then?"

"Nah, it's fine. Just gonna eat my soup and get some rest," Steve assures him. "You should go enjoy your day."

"Right," Eddie says, sounding weirdly flat. "I'll just. Go do that. I guess."

He disappears into the spare room (ostensibly a guest room, but it's also become a space for all of Eddie's D&D and music stuff, and Steve has jokingly taken to referring to it as Eddie's office), and Steve finishes heating his soup with a little puzzlement. Something is up with Eddie, but Steve is too worn out to figure out what.

He eats his soup and goes back to bed, but it isn't until he's been lying there, exhausted but restless, for almost an hour that it occurs to him what's wrong. He plays back over the conversation in the kitchen and feels a little stupid for not catching on sooner.

He can hear Eddie strumming absently at his acoustic when he goes to knock on the door of the spare room. The sound stops and Eddie opens the door, looking almost surprised to see Steve.

"Yeah?" he asks.

"Hey. I, uh - I'm trying to rest, but I just... can't, for some reason." Steve shrugs. "I think maybe I need some company?"

"Yeah?" Eddie asks again, his voice warming a little.

"Yeah. I mean, if you're not busy, or--"

"Free as a bird, baby," Eddie says quickly, reaching out to take Steve by the hand. "Let's get you back to bed."

Eddie takes to his task with gusto, making sure Steve has all the pillows and blankets that he needs, dimming the lights, even offering to read a book. And it's - it's nice, Steve realizes.

It's nice, having Eddie there, giving Steve the one thing he's never really had before.

It's nice to have support.

[whereisstevethestove]

This was over a year ago fyi

[urdreamgirls-dreamgirl]

part one

“so how was your first day?” robin asks steve as he slides onto the barstool next to her and chrissy.

“it actually wasn’t that bad,” steve shrugs before taking a long pull from the freshly opened bottle the bartender slides his way.

“it wasn’t that bad?” chrissy asks, incredulous. “so he didn’t make you go to the erewhon all the way across town? the one he goes to because selena gomez was seen there once?”

“that’s why he made me go there?”

“yeah, he really likes that one movie she’s in.”

steve thinks for a moment. “the dead don’t die?”

“no, the one with the dancing,” chrissy snorts.

steve makes a face and then shrugs again. “i made him his breakfast, i drove him around, i organized his tshirt closet… pretty standard stuff for an assistant.”

“you organized his tshirt closet? what the fuck does that even mean?” robin asks, laughing.

“exactly what it sounds like,” steve grins at her. “anyway, really, it wasn’t that bad. sure, he’s insufferable but not anything i couldn’t handle. don’t worry about it.”

“well, thanks for doing this,” chrissy says. “vickie handled it for a while, but i guess once you’ve been fired twelve times in the course of six months, you have to draw a boundary with the thirteenth.”

“it’s really not a big deal, it’s not like i’m doing it for free,” steve responds. “the money is more than worth it.”

“still, i know how he can be. but he’s really not so bad. once he’s… comfortable.” chrissy frowns.

“whatever,” steve shrugs for a third time. “i’m just here for the cash.” he winks and gives her a reassuring smile.

~*~

the next morning, steve pulls up to eddie’s huge beverly hills mansion bright and early, just as he had yesterday. he punches in the gate code, waves to the security guy on duty, and makes his way inside to the kitchen.

eddie storms in while steve is halfway through cooking another omelette, this time with tomatoes and onions and freshly grated cheddar cheese.

“i don’t care, wheeler, i’m not making a fucking appearance and i’m definitely not doing it with him,” eddie snarls into the phone pressed to his face. he hasn’t seemed to notice that steve’s in his house again.

eddie waits for whoever it is on the phone to speak before he says, “well maybe i don’t want to fix it. maybe this is it,” and then hangs up the phone. he lets out a frustrated little scream before he turns to leave the kitchen, finally noticing steve by the stove. “you’re back,” he says, voice monotone.

“i’m back,” steve smiles, sliding the plate full of food across the large island toward him. eddie looks down at it like he’s surprised. “eat,” steve tells him.

“another sweater vest?” eddie sneers instead of picking up his fork.

“i like them,” steve shrugs, still smiling.

eddie rolls his eyes. “whatever,” he mutters and then picks up the plate and retreats from the kitchen.

~*~

eddie is deeply annoyed by how good steve’s omelettes are. he practically licks the plate clean when he’s finished, which only serves to make his bad mood worse.

“can i take your plate?” steve asks from the doorway of the living room.

“jesus christ, man, wear a fucking bell,” eddie grumbles before holding out the plate, forcing steve to walk across the room to the couch and take it from him.

“i’ll remember to announce myself from now on,” steve replies. “chrissy just called; you have another meeting with the pr team this afternoon. we’ll leave here in about an hour.”

eddie doesn’t respond and steve goes quietly back to the kitchen.

~*~

eddie tries to confuse steve with the directions to nancy’s office again, mostly just to annoy him since the car has a built in gps. steve ignores eddie, leaving him to play on his phone in the back seat. the windows are tinted dark, just how eddie likes it & it lulls him into a false sense of security to where he’s almost relaxed by the time they get to nancy’s office.

the meeting is a fucking drag. it’s just a rehashing of the morning’s phone call and eddie had already made himself perfectly clear. he’s not willing to fix anything. nancy and chrissy try to double-team him, begging him to think about the tour & the album roll-out & the rest of the band. the entertainment blogs are running wild with the rumors circulating about the other night and now they’re digging up shit that he wishes would stay buried.

“absolutely fucking not,” eddie spits out. “i refuse to be fucking cordial with that moron.”

“fine,” nancy says finally. “i guess we’re done here then.” she gets up from the head of the conference room table and leaves through the big glass doors and the rest of her team takes that as their cue to leave, too.

chrissy levels him with a look, waiting until the last intern has left the room before speaking.

“eddie, i know you’re pissed right now. trust me, i would be too,” she says, using that tone eddie always hates—the one that makes it sound like she’s trying to placate a rabid dog. “but the label has invested a lot of money into you and they need you to put in some work right now. take a minute, take a breath, and then we’ll talk again. but we need to respond; we can figure out what that looks like. i’ll talk to nance… maybe we don’t need a joint appearance. maybe you can just make a statement.”

eddie knows there are a ton of people relying on this tour & this upcoming album. he knows the band doesn’t deserve the hit from this. but what is there to even say? he’s just so fucking angry about it.

“fine. i’ll make an appearance. but i won’t, under any circumstances, be seen with him,” eddie tells her firmly. he slides his sunglasses back onto his face before pushing himself out of his chair and making his way over to the door. “just tell me when and where. and make sure nancy doesn’t make me sound like a fucking idiot.”

“great,” chrissy smiles so bright she looks like a teenager again. “i’ll talk to nancy. we’ll figure it out.”

any reassurance eddie feels is washed away by a renewed sense of annoyance when he sees steve waiting for him in the lobby, still wearing his pastel yellow sweater vest, drinking a purple smoothie from a straw and scrolling on his phone. he’s laughing at something on the screen and the sunlight comes through the huge front windows just right, making him glow golden, and eddie just feels something inside him twist unpleasantly.

steve looks up then to see eddie coming, but eddie breezes past him to the sidewalk. steve jumps up to follow, handing the valet their ticket. when the car finally pulls up, eddie says, “no liquids in the car,” before sliding into the back seat.

he sees steve shrug before smiling at the valet and handing him his half empty smoothie to dispose of and a tip.

the car ride home is silent. eddie practically leaps from the car before it’s even come to a stop when they pull into the driveway. there are packages on the table in the foyer, likely brought in by the security guy at the gate. “grab those,” eddie tells steve with a wave of his hand.

steve follows eddie into the kitchen, arms laden with paper bags and boxes. most of it, eddie knows, is free product and merch, stuff he never uses and mostly stuff he doesn’t even want. steve places the packages on the counter and watches as eddie sifts through them, clearly looking for something.

“do you want lunch?” steve asks. eddie ignores him, finally finding the package he’d ordered earlier today. he flings it across the kitchen island toward steve on the other side.

steve catches the package in his hands and arches an eyebrow.

“open it,” eddie tells him, nodding at paper wrapping. he opens the fridge to pull out a bottle of water and takes a long sip as he watches steve’s fingers tear at the brown paper.

once the package is open, steve huffs out a laugh, barely a breath, before holding up a bright pink cat collar with a tiny bell attached. he shakes it in the air, making the bell tinkle. the collar clearly will not fit him.

“fuck you, man,” steve says, still smiling.

“fuck you, too,” eddie says.

and then he leaves the kitchen.

[hairmetal666]

"I'm going to marry you one day, Steve Harrington," he declares to all and sundry (Steve and Robin) in Family Video.

Steve laughs, ducks his head, hair a bountiful cascade that doesn't move an inch. He's blushing but it's not, like, a reaction to the sentiment of marriage. Steve knows Eddie is just like that, flirtatious and over-the-top and incapable of not speaking his thoughts as soon as they enter his head.

Robin roles her eyes, goes back to flipping through her magazine, something about cinema, and Eddie swipes his just rented movies off the counter.

"You think I'm joking," he twists so he's facing them, walking backwards to the door. "But I swear it, oh, beloved purveyor of movies and deleter of late fees."

"Yeah, yeah." Steve's face is pinker than before and Eddie recognizes and immediately forces himself to forget how cute it is. "But get out of here before I change my mind."

And Eddie, he loves to push his luck and also has very little filter between his brain and his mouth, so he says, "aw, don't be that way, Stevie, you love me."

Robin looks up, then, mouth a pursed twist as she tries not to laugh. "Gross, Eddie." She throws a Sour Patch at him. "Keep all that mushy stuff to when you two are alone."

It's his turn to blush, fierce and raging, and Steve whirls, squeaking, to whack Robin with a Twizzler.

Eddie points at her. "Rude, Buckley. You know I love you too."

"Again, gross." She sticks out her tongue, tinged blue from the Sour Patch.

"We really need to work on your ability to accept affection," Steve tells her.

She scowls, kicks him, makes Eddie laugh.

"I think that's my cue to leave, children." He says. He, quite literally, bows out of the store, just missing the barrage of candy thrown his way.

---

Three Months Later

Eddie stumbles into the Harrington house, kicking his boots off by the door. Steve's in the kitchen, fussing around the stove. His hair's askew and he's--

"Harrington, are you wearing an apron?" He ignores the kick in his chest at the sight. "You'll make a sweet little housewife one day."

"Shut-up," Steve says without any heat. "Try this."

He brandishes a spoon filled with red sauce in Eddie's direction, and Eddie--heart always on his sleeve--eagerly leans in to taste. He closes his eyes, savors, and it's good, truly. Perfect fresh acidity with just a burst of sweetness.

"It's amazing, baby," he says without thinking. He opens his eyes right in time to see Steve turning back to the sauce, blush high on his cheekbones.

"Thanks. You're making me nervous though, hovering." Steve hip checks him. "Go sit somewhere."

And Eddie does, jumps onto the island--the Harrington's are the kind of people who have an island--and chatters to Steve about his day, about his new campaign, about the new song he's trying to learn.

All the while, he's watching Steve cook, in his apron, with such care and thoughtfulness, with true command. Maybe it's the domesticity of the scene, maybe his raging crush, but he has this flash of the two of them in the future. In their kitchen, Steve cooking dinner, and Eddie's arms are wrapped around his waist, he's pressing kisses to his temple, complimenting all his hard work and--

Steve feeds him a bite of the finished pasta, and it's so good that he groans, full-throated, unembarrassed, and says--he says, "I'm going to marry you one day, Steve Harrington."

He laughs, face pink, batting Eddie's shoulder. "Go sit down, man. It's time to eat."

---

Two Months After That

Eddie's working on a new campaign when the storm rolls in, wind rocking the trailer, thunder and lightning crackling in the sky. The power doesn't go out, but only just barely, the flickers making his heart pound for reasons that have nothing to do with weather.

There's a knock on the trailer door, and he opens it to find Steve Harrington standing on the porch, hair plastered to his head, clothes soaked. Robin's bike is propped against one of the awning supports. Familiar panic snaps to life in his gut.

"God, Steve, are you okay? Did something happen? That's Robin's bike, where's the Beamer? Is it--is it Vecna? Is--" He's blabbering can't stop, so he shoves his palm against his lips.

"It's not--not Upside Down stuff." He runs a hand through his soggy hair. "Can I come in, man? I--I want to tell you something."

This snaps Eddie out of his panic, and he's moving aside, saying, "Oh my god, get in here, you're soaked. Let me get towels. Do you want a change of clothes, I can--"

Steve catches him by the elbow and he full stops at the look in those big hazel eyes, fearful and sad and he doesn't know what, but his anxiety amps back up.

"I was with Robin and we were--we were talking, you know? And I told her that I like somebody, like really like them, but it was unexpected and--and--it's a guy. He's a guy but I still like girls? Robin said--she said that I'm probably bisexual. That I like guys and girls and--and everyone, I think."

It sends shockwaves through him, and he hopes it doesn't show, doesn't think it shows, but he's having trouble processing. Steve is bi and he likes someone and--Eddie stuffs down the jealousy that claws at him, knows it's more important that he's here for his friend.

"Thank you for telling me, sweetheart." He reaches out, slow in case Steve doesn't want to be hugged, but he launches himself into Eddie's arms.

Eddie holds him tight, heedless of his wet clothes, can feel his shoulders shake, and it tears Eddie's heart in two. All he can do is hold Steve and offer comfort, jealousy be damned.

"You're so brave, honey," he says once the tears taper off.

Steve gives a wet chuckle, face still buried against Eddie's neck. "I don't know about that. I think I got snot in your hair."

"It'll wash out." He laughs. "Is now the time to welcome you to the family? Apparently, we're growing exponentially."

"Does the welcome include a cake or something? I could really use cake."

And God, Steve, is so fucking cute, so sweet, so--everything Eddie has always wanted, and he--it's an accident, or at least, thoughtless--he presses a kiss to Steve's temple. More than one.

Steve pulls back fast, and Eddie lets go immediately. "Sorry, sorry. I--that was stupid. You like someone already, and I--"

His words are cut off as Steve kisses him. Steve kisses him? His brain can't process, but he kisses back. Can't not, not with Steve. Like, he doesn't know anything, head empty, but his body is with the program.

They break apart, he's breathing hard. Steve is beautifully flushed, mouth red and swollen. "You like someone," is what Eddie says.

Steve laughs. "I like you, Munson. Fucking crazy about you."

He smiles, so big it hurts, so big it grows into a delight laugh. "I'm going to marry you one day, Steve Harrington," he says.

---

Six Years Later

They're in bed, Saturday morning, rain pattering softly on the window.

Steve places slow kisses against his naked tummy, makes him tremble, shiver with overstimulation.

"Baby," he whines. "Sweetheart."

Steve smiles up at him, something cold pressing against his ribs, then into his hand.

It's a ring, black metal, shiny and iridescent as he turns it in the light. "What--Steve?"

With one last kiss to his hip bone, Steve sits up, slips the ring onto Eddie's finger. "I'm going to marry you one day, Eddie Munson."

[steddieprompts]

Another mini fic. cutesy. Eddie is an idiot. 1880 words.

Thanksgiving, 1986.

Eddie smiled into the phone as Joyce listed off all the people who were going to be at their early Thanksgiving.  “Argyle is flying in from California, and Dustin is bringing his mom.  You and your uncle should come! The more the merrier!”

“That sounds great, Mrs. Byers.  We’d love to.”  Eddie replied.

“Oh good!  Remember, Friday at 3:30, we’ll eat at 4:30.”

“We’ll be there.”

Eddie hung up the phone and left a note for Wayne.  He wouldn’t be home until 4 in the morning.  Eddie was sure he would have something to say about it.  “Ain’t got nothin’ to bring,” or “Three’s a crowd, not sure what to call twenty.”  But he would go. Hopper would have a glass of whisky for him, and they would sit out on the porch after dinner swapping war stories.

What worried Eddie more was his… situation with Steve.  See, earlier in the week he and Steve had gone to the movies.  They had had a nice time, a really good time, even, and for a few months Eddie had sensed something building between them.  He just couldn’t believe it was anything close to what he deeply, deeply hoped for.  He was so in his head about it that after the movies, when Steve dropped him back at the trailer, Eddie panicked.  Acted like a virgin idiot, really.  Steve had parked the car, glanced up at the dark trailer before turning towards Eddie.

“I had a really good time tonight.”  He had said.

“Uh, yeah, it was nice.”  Eddie replied, tense in his seat because he could sense something coming from Steve.

“Yeah, nice.”  Steve mused and then Eddie made the fatal mistake of looking at him.  Steve was sort of leaning towards him, elbow on the armrest between the seats, head tilted ever so slightly, eyes soft.

“Yup!”  Eddie squeaked out and then grabbed the door handle, throwing the door open and tripping out of the car like he was being chased by the devil.  “We should, uh, do it again sometime.  Bye!”  He bumbled out before slamming the door and launching himself up the porch stairs and into the trailer.

He hadn’t really talked to Steve since.

+++++++

So, that Friday, when he and Wayne were welcomed into the Byers’ home, he wasn’t sure what to expect.  Wayne was immediately pulled away by Hopper and a glass of whiskey, leaving Eddie to shuffle awkwardly towards the living room.  Once the kids saw him, he had something to keep him occupied, until all the hugs were given out and Nancy brought him a drink.  He hadn’t seen Steve yet.

“Uh, where’s Max?  Not here yet?”  Eddie asked as he accepted the drink.

“Oh!  She’s with Will and El in the kitchen.  They’re helping Mrs. Byers with the cooking,” Nancy explained.

“I should go say hi.”  Eddie stepped away from the living room towards the kitchen and stopped dead in his tracks when he got to the threshold.  There, next to Mrs. Byers at the stove, was Steve, with his knit, red sweater and a towel over his shoulder, like some sort of Christmas romance movie hero.

“Eddie’s here!”  He heard Will say before he could tear his eyes away from Steve, who, of course, turned around as soon as he heard Eddie’s name.  Bemused, he watched a smile spread over Steve’s face before Will enveloped him in a hug.  A hug that Eddie graciously returned.

“Sir William, it is an honor to be welcomed into your abode.” Eddie said with a little bow, before hugging Max and El.

“Eddie!  We’re so glad you made it!”  Joyce said from the stove as Eddie took another few cautious steps into the room.  “Is your uncle here too?”

“Uh, yeah, he’s with Hopper tending the fire,” Eddie relied, “Thank you, again, for having us.”

“Of course, sweetheart!”

Eddie chanced another look at Steve.

“Hey, Eddie,” Steve said, eyes warm, easy smile.

“Hey, Stevie,” Eddie replied.  Maybe he hadn’t totally fucked everything up as much as he thought.  But Steve seemed quiet, reserved. Maybe he had.

“I think about ten more minutes!”  Joyce said, pulling the turkey out of the oven.  “I need Hop to come carve the turkey.  Hop!”  She yelled out into the noisy living room.

“I’ll go find him, Mrs. B,” Eddie volunteered before ducking out of the kitchen… and right into Robin.

“You.” she said, jabbing a finger into his chest.

“Uh, hello to you too, Bobin.”

“What the hell did you do to Steve?”

Eddie’s heart dropped into his shoes.  “I… what? Nothing!”

“He’s been mopey for the past five days!  The last thing he did was go to the movies with you!”

“I swear!”

“Did you say something about his hair?  You know his last haircut didn’t really go the way he planned.  Or was it the movie?  Did you tell him you didn’t want to see Hoosiers?  Because you know how much he wanted to see that movie.”

“No! Buckley, we saw Hoosiers! And I didn’t even notice his hair.  Look…”  Eddie let out his breath in a huff.  “Just hold on.”  Eddie moved from the hallway to the living room so he could see Hopper.  “Hey, chief?  The missus needs you to carve the bird.”  Hopper nodded to him and Eddie turned on his heel to go back to his conversation with Robin, only to come face to face with the woman herself.  It was a miracle he didn’t spill his drink down her shirt.  “Ok, look, come here.”  Eddie murmured, dragging her off into a corner of the hall.

He took a sip of his drink and steeled himself.  “Ok, I might have, maybe, panicked, a little when he dropped me off,” Eddie mumbled out.

“You what?”

“Look, you can’t tell anyone, but I’ve got this stupid… fat… stupid crush on Harrington and I might have, like, freaked out about it.”

“…you what…”

“I know it’s stupid! But he looked so… soft! And just.  Like he might have, I don’t know, wanted to kiss me or something, but there is no way that could have been what was happening, but my stupid primate brain thought it was, so I bolted, Okay?  I’m not proud of it. It probably came off as weird and rude and that’s probably what got him all twisted up.”  Eddie took a deep breath after his rant, and then a sip of his drink, watching Robin’s face cycle through uncountable emotions.

“Edward, I say this with the utmost sympathy as well as disrespect.  You, are an idiot.”  And with that she left him blinking in the hallway.

Eddie thought about those two little sentences throughout the entire dinner.  An idiot?  He knew he was an idiot, but why?  Because he thought Steve maybe liked him?  Or because he didn’t kiss Steve?  What the hell did she mean?  Not to mention Steve was across the table from him and every time Eddie looked up, Steve would look away from him like he had been staring.

“Eddie!”

“Huh?!” Eddie tore his eyes away from Steve to look at Dustin.

“I was asking if we were still on for our campaign next week.”

“Oh, yeah, I’m almost done.  Just need to iron out the kinks.”  Eddie replied, feeling Steve’s gaze burning into the side of his head, but when he looked back Steve’s eyes were back on his plate.  He had been uncharacteristically quiet when Eddie was in the kitchen.  Was he mad at Eddie?  No, that couldn’t have been it; he gave Eddie that smile that nearly made him forget where he was.

Steve was being cautious. Guarded. So unlike himself.

Eddie really had screwed up.

“In the drama room?”  Eddie heard Dustin say, distantly.

“Uh-huh,” Eddie answered, eyes not leaving Steve, who kept glancing up at him.

He had to fix this.  He wanted the old Steve back.  Wanted more than that, if his luck was with him.

After everyone had eaten and Mrs. Henderson was bringing out the pies, Joyce started to gather the plates.

“I’ve got it, Mrs. B.  You sit.”  Eddie said, standing and gathering the plates around him.  “Stevie, you wanna help me with dish duty?”  He asked, sending up a little prayer to the universe that his stupid, little, half-baked plan would work.  Steve nodded and started gathering the plates on his side.

In the kitchen, plates stacked high on the counter next to the sink, Eddie stood with his hands in the soapy water, the sound of his extended family floating in from the dining room, and Steve next to him with a towel in his hands, drying the dishes Eddie handed him.

“About Monday night…” Eddie started hesitantly.  He saw Steve freeze next to him.  He kept his gaze on the dish he was washing. If he looked at Steve he might choke again.  “I… Shit, I don’t know what happened. I just… well I thought maybe there was something, I don’t know, between us.  But I’m not good at reading those signs, ya know?  Not much experience.”  He heard himself chuckle wryly, before clearing his throat.  At least Steve was unfrozen, listening and drying a casserole dish.  “But it’s not about that, not really.  I shouldn’t have just… bolted like that.  I can’t pretend to understand what was happening, but whatever it was, that was a pretty shitty reaction on my part.  And I’m sorry, Stevie.” 

He kept washing the dish in his hands, watching out of the corner of his eye as Steve put the casserole dish down.

“Eddie, look at me.”  Eddie turned his head, meeting Steve’s gaze.  His warm, gentle, beautiful gaze.  “it’s not all your fault.”

“Oh…”  Eddie let out a little noise.  That didn’t answer any of his questions, but he couldn’t look away.  He couldn’t look away as Steve stepped closer.  Couldn’t look away as Steve took the dish out of his hands and gave him the towel.

“Come on,” Steve said, nodding over his shoulder towards the back door.  Eddie quickly dried his hands and followed Steve outside to the back porch.  The air was frosty, the lightest dusting of snow on the handrail and tiny flakes dancing in the dim porch light.  “I should have…”  Steve settled his hip against the porch rail, looking down at his nails.  “I should have been more up front with you.”  He said, finally looking at Eddie.

Shit.  Steve was going to try to let him down easy.  He knew he read it wrong.

“I really, really like you, Eddie.”  What? “And I’ve never really felt this way about a guy,” What?? “Let alone a friend.  And I’ve been so scared of ruining what we have.  I should have just told you.” Excuse me?

“Wait.”  Eddie let out a little, exasperated laugh, reeling it back in when Steve winced. “Stevie, you like me?”  Steve just nodded.  “Did you really want to kiss me? Monday night?”  Steve nodded again.  Eddie took a steadying breath, “do you still?”

There was a pause… and then…

That soft, warm, smile that made Eddie feel like he was made of sunlight.

“Yeah,” Steve barely got out before Eddie launched himself at him, cupping Steve’s cheeks, kissing him until he knew that smile by feel alone.

Happy Thanksgiving.

[hawkinsbnbg]

Steve got injured so many times that he was kind of used to it. So one day, when he was preparing dinner and accidentally burned himself, he just ran his fingers under the tap like usual and then returned to chopping onions.

He was so lost in his zone that he didn't realize Eddie had seen it all, nor notice when Eddie left the perch on the counter to go retrieve the quick aid kit from the bathroom.

“Can I have a minute with you, sweetheart?”

“Sure,” Steve put his knife down and turned off the stove, wiping his hand absentmindedly on his apron in the process. Before he could ask what was wrong, he was gently steered to one of the dining chairs by Eddie.

“Have a seat, baby,” Eddie pressed a small kiss on his temple to soothe his confusion.

Once Steve settled down, he belatedly saw the kit on the table.

“Eds,” he said fondly as Eddie sat on the chair next to him, slightly exasperated at his boyfriend’s overprotectiveness. “They just sting a little.”

“But you were still hurt,” Eddie applied the burn cream on his injuries carefully, brow furrowed deeply in concern. “Which means I’m hurt, too.”

Steve’s heart gave a heavy thud to that. He didn't know what to say. Even after years of being cared for by Eddie, he still forgot sometimes that he didn't need to do everything alone anymore. Including patching himself up and hissing at the pain.

When Eddie was done, he kissed Steve's bandaged fingers one by one and gazed at him with those big brown eyes all the while. Steve wished they didn't work so well on him every single time.

“Alright, I promise I’ll be careful next time,” he conceded. And continued when Eddie just kept staring at him in silence. “No overlooking my injuries or hiding them from you, either.”

Linking their pinkies together as Eddie demanded, he met those triumphant eyes.

“Happy?”

“Very,” Eddie nodded solemnly.

Then stood up and caged Steve in his chair with a wolfish smile. “Let’s seal it with a kiss, baby.”

Steve leaned forward to meet Eddie halfway.

And knew this was what love tasted like.

[regressionschool]

going full toddler: part 3: so icky

Steve gave Marie’s puffy bottom one last pat before standing up, ruffling her hair as he moved toward the kitchen. “Daddy’s going to make lunch, princess,” he announced, already rolling up his sleeves. “You be good and play while I cook, okay?”

Marie nodded, still nursing from her fresh bottle, the slightly sweet taste of the special juice mix lingering on her tongue. She didn’t know exactly what Daddy had added to it, but she had a feeling she’d be finding out before long.

She squirmed a little, her warm, squishy diaper pressing against her with every tiny movement and Daddy had left her like that on purpose.

But he’d change her soon… right?

Marie sighed softly, settling back into her playpen. She picked up her bunny again, absently rubbing its soft ears against her cheek as she looked over her little collection of toys. The pastel blocks were still scattered from earlier, and after a moment of hesitation, she grabbed one and started stacking again.

At first, she tried not to peek at Daddy.

She really did.

But every so often, her eyes drifted toward the kitchen, where Steve was moving around with practiced ease, grabbing pots, stirring things on the stove, humming softly under his breath.

And then he caught her staring.

Marie squeaked and quickly ducked her head, pretending to be totally focused on her blocks.

But she wasn’t fast enough.

Steve smirked from across the room, his gaze warm, knowing, adoring. He didn’t say anything just gave her a look, one that made her tummy flutter and her face burn.

It was the kind of look that told her he knew exactly what she was thinking.

She whimpered softly behind her bottle and squirmed in her soggy diaper, feeling small and silly and warm all at once.

Steve chuckled but let her be, turning back to his cooking.

Marie tried to focus on her toys again, and the more she played, the smaller she felt. She lost herself in the simple joy of stacking and knocking things down, occasionally giggling softly when the blocks tumbled over.

Every so often, she’d glance back toward the kitchen—only to catch Steve looking at her again.

And every time, his expression was the same.

Steve’s expression was one of love and adoration, his eyes practically glowing with it whenever he looked at her. But there was something else in his gaze too—a hint of waiting.

Marie wasn’t sure what he was waiting for.

She fidgeted in her playpen, absently stroking her bunny’s ear between her fingers. The warmth of her soggy diaper was still noticeable, hugging her bottom in a way that made her feel hyper-aware of just how little she was. But there was something comforting about it too—the way Daddy had checked her, acknowledged it, and then just let her be.

Like it was normal.

Like she was supposed to be like this.

That thought sent a deep flush to her cheeks, and she quickly grabbed another block, stacking it carefully atop the others. Her pigtails bounced as she shifted her weight, her legs splaying out as she leaned forward, focusing intently on her tiny masterpiece. The plush blocks were soft beneath her fingertips, the pastel colors almost soothing as she built her little tower, block by block.

Marie giggled when the stack tipped over, tumbling in a small heap in front of her. Without hesitation, she started again, grabbing a new block and placing it at the base.

She was so lost in her play that at first, she didn’t notice it.

The gentle gurgling in her tummy.

At first, it was subtle. A soft little roll, an almost pleasant sensation deep in her belly. She barely paid attention to it, more focused on stacking her blocks higher, her little tongue peeking out in concentration as she carefully placed another piece on top.

And then… the sensation grew stronger.

Marie froze mid-movement.

A slow, deep warmth settled low in her belly, spreading outward in gentle waves. It wasn’t painful—just… different. A pressure that wasn’t quite insistent yet, but undeniable. Her eyes flicked up instinctively, landing on Steve in the kitchen. He was still moving around, still cooking, still watching her with that same expectant look.

Like he knew.

Marie’s stomach flipped for an entirely different reason.

Her heart thudded in her chest as she swallowed thickly, shifting a little in her playpen. The thick bulk between her legs crinkled as she adjusted, but it only made her more aware of what was happening. Of what she might have to do. Of what she had told Daddy she was curious about.

Months ago.

She had confessed it in a hushed voice, barely above a whisper, while curled up in Steve’s arms one night. She had told him that she’d wondered about it—that she’d thought about it before, about using her diaper for everything.

And he had listened.

He hadn’t teased. Hadn’t laughed. He had just held her closer, rubbed her back, and told her that one day, when she was ready, she wouldn’t have to think about it anymore. That it would just happen. That she would just let go.

But… was this that moment?

Marie’s cheeks burned as her fingers tightened around the edge of her bunny. Had Daddy given her something to make this happen? Was that why she had been so thirsty? Or… or was it just because she felt so small?

She wriggled a little, trying to distract herself, reaching for another block and pretending to focus on it instead. She stacked it neatly, her pigtails swaying as she moved, but her belly had other ideas.

A small cramp rolled through her, stronger this time.

Marie sucked in a soft breath, her thighs pressing together instinctively. Her toes curled slightly, her body tense. The pressure was more insistent now, sitting low in her tummy, warm and ready.

Her fingers trembled slightly around her block. This was happening.

Unless she stopped it.

She hesitated—just for a moment—before blurting out the words before she could stop herself.

“D-Daddy?”

Steve glanced up from the kitchen immediately, his eyes locking onto hers. “Yes, princess?”

Marie squirmed, her cheeks burning, her fingers gripping her bunny so tightly that the soft fabric bunched under her hands.

“Can I… um…” She gulped, suddenly feeling very, very little.

Steve raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. “Can you what, sweetheart?”

Marie sucked in another breath, her tummy gurgling again, sending another slow, heavy wave of pressure through her. She knew what she needed to do.

But she wasn’t sure she could.

“Can I go potty?” she whispered, barely audible.

Steve stopped.

For a moment, he just looked at her. Then, very deliberately, he tilted his head.

Marie’s stomach flipped at the expression he gave her next—soft, patient… but completely unyielding.

“Oh, baby,” he said smoothly, stepping closer. “Where are you sitting right now?”

Marie’s face flamed. She knew what he meant.

But still, she mumbled, “M-My playpen…”

Steve nodded. “And what’s my little girl wearing?”

She swallowed hard, squirming. “A… a diaper…”

His eyes twinkled.

“Exactly,” he praised, reaching in to cup her cheek, stroking it gently with his thumb. “So, princess… why would you need to go potty?”

Marie felt so small under his touch, her heart pounding, her tummy still churning with slow, insistent pressure. Her legs pressed together on instinct, but Steve’s hand was right there, sliding down to her knee, gently easing them apart.

“You don’t need to go anywhere,” he murmured, his voice warm but firm. “You just let go, sweetheart. That’s what your Pampers are for.”

Marie let out a tiny, high-pitched whimper. “B-But Daddy—”

“No buts,” Steve interrupted, brushing his lips against her forehead. “You wanted to know what it felt like, didn’t you?”

She had. Months ago, she had.

But now that it was happening, she wasn’t sure.

Her tummy tightened again, her body practically begging her to just do it. But her mind… her mind was racing.

Steve cupped her cheek again, forcing her gaze to meet his. His expression was so gentle. So knowing.

“It’s okay, baby,” he whispered, his voice soothing. “You don’t have to hold it anymore. Just be a good girl for Daddy.”

Marie whimpered softly, feeling herself tremble. She could feel it—right there. Ready to happen. She squeezed her bunny, clenching her thighs just for a moment longer.

Could she really… just do it?

Steve gave her bottom a firm, reassuring pat, rubbing slow circles over the thick bulk of her diaper. “That’s my girl,” he murmured. “Just let it happen.”

Marie whimpered again. Her tummy churned.

And then…

She took a slow, shaky breath.

And stopped trying to hold it.

Marie’s breath hitched as she squeezed her bunny tighter, her fingers gripping the soft fabric like a lifeline. Her tummy gurgled again, a slow, rolling pressure that made her shiver. She couldn’t fight it anymore—not with Daddy right there, not with his warm, patient voice guiding her.

Her legs trembled as she hesitated for a split second longer, clenching her thighs before finally… releasing.

A deep warmth bloomed low in her belly, spreading downward in slow, deliberate waves. She gasped softly as her body took over, instinct giving way to something deeper, something far beyond her control. The thick padding beneath her swelled with warmth, hugging her snugly, accommodating every slow, inevitable push. She whimpered, her cheeks burning hotter than ever as the mushy sensation spread, pressing against her as she filled her diaper right there in her playpen.

She hadn’t even realized she was whimpering until Steve’s voice broke through, gentle and full of praise. “That’s my good girl,” he murmured, brushing her bangs back from her damp forehead. “Such a good little princess, just letting go like she’s supposed to.”

Marie whimpered, her body still tingling from the experience. The sheer helplessness of it, the warmth cradling her, the way she could feel every shift, every squish as she settled slightly—everything was so much more intense than she’d expected. Her mind swirled with emotions, hot and messy, just like her diaper. She had wanted this. She had asked for this. And yet…

She felt so little. So vulnerable.

And so, so icky.

A sniffle escaped her before she could stop it. The heat of shame mixed with the lingering flush of arousal, her emotions tangled in a way she couldn’t quite understand. “Daddy…” she whimpered, shifting slightly, her mushy diaper pressing into her in a way that made her eyes go wide with a fresh wave of embarrassment.

Steve’s hand was on her instantly, warm and grounding as he cupped her cheek. “Shh, baby, I’ve got you.” His voice was all comfort, all reassurance, but Marie still squirmed, her lip wobbling.

“I—It’s so yucky,” she whimpered, pressing her face into his palm.

Steve chuckled, completely unfazed, rubbing slow, soothing circles against her back. “I know, sweetheart. But that’s what Daddy’s here for, isn’t he? To take care of his little girl?”

Marie nodded, but the sting of embarrassment remained. The warmth in her diaper was starting to cool, the heavy, sticky feeling making her squirm even more. “It’s so messy,” she whispered, voice thick with emotion.

Steve’s smile softened as he reached down, slipping a hand under her bottom, palm pressing firmly against the full, squishy bulk of her diaper as he scooped her up into his arms.

Marie gasped, a fresh wave of humiliation crashing over her as she felt the mess shift, pressing against her even more as Steve lifted her effortlessly. She whimpered, curling into him, her small hands gripping his shirt tightly. “D-Daddy…”

“Oh, princess,” Steve cooed, rubbing her back as he bounced her slightly, making her feel every little squish. “It’s okay. Daddy’s got you.”

She sniffled again, feeling overwhelmed as he carried her toward the changing table. Every step made her hyper-aware of the state of her diaper, the way the full padding pressed and squished against her with each movement. She buried her face in his neck, her breath warm against his skin as she fought back another sniffle.

Steve laid her down gently, his touch careful as he set her on the padded surface without squishing her too much. Marie’s breath hitched as she stared up at him, her emotions swirling.

“Alright, sweetheart,” Steve murmured, grabbing the wipes and fresh diaper from the shelf. “Let’s get my messy girl all clean.”

Marie bit her lip as he popped open the tapes of her swollen diaper, the cool air hitting her skin immediately. And then—then the smell hit her.

Her face burned hotter than ever as she realized just how strong it was now that the diaper was open. She clenched her fists, looking away in pure shame. “D-Daddy…”

Steve, however, didn’t even flinch. He just chuckled, wrinkling his nose playfully. “Whew, baby girl, you really did make a big mess, huh?”

Marie whimpered, her hands flying up to cover her face. “It’s so stinky…” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Steve’s warm, reassuring touch was back in an instant. “Of course it is, sweetheart,” he said cheerfully, grabbing a wipe and starting to clean her up with practiced ease. “That’s what happens when little girls go poopy in their diapers. But that’s why Daddy’s here, remember? To clean up his princess and make everything all fresh again.”

Marie peeked at him through her fingers, her heart twisting. How could he be so unfazed? She was lying here in the stinkiest, messiest diaper she’d ever had, and he was still smiling at her like she was the most precious thing in the world.

Tears pricked her eyes, but this time, they weren’t from shame.

Steve worked quickly, wiping her down with gentle care, humming softly as he made sure every inch of her was clean. “There we go,” he said as he slid the used diaper away, balling it up neatly before grabbing the fresh, pastel-printed unicorn diaper she loved so much. “Almost done, princess.”

Marie sniffled as he lifted her legs, sliding the thick new diaper beneath her before dusting her with sweet-smelling powder. The familiar scent was comforting, grounding. As Steve taped up the fresh diaper snugly around her, she felt… safe.

Loved.

By the time he was done, the overwhelming emotions she had been holding in finally spilled over. With a soft, shuddery breath, she reached for Steve, her lip wobbling. “D-Daddy…”

He was there instantly, pulling her into his arms, cradling her close. “Shh, baby,” he murmured, rocking her gently. “I’ve got you.”

Marie clung to him, fresh tears spilling over as she buried her face in his chest. “I—I don’t know why I’m crying…” she hiccupped, overwhelmed by everything—by the release, the mess, the shame, the care, the love.

Steve just held her tighter, rubbing her back in slow, soothing circles. “It’s okay, princess,” he whispered. “Sometimes little ones have big feelings. That’s what Daddy’s also here for—to hold you through them.”

Marie sniffled again, curling into him, her new diaper soft and crinkly around her waist. “I love you, Daddy,” she whispered.

Steve kissed the top of her head, squeezing her just a little tighter. “I love you too, baby girl. Always.”