Bee * 20s * she/her

The Weight of the World

Your First Love

Cynicism

For Always

Vulnerability

My Hero

Solace

New Girl

An S/O With Rage Issues

Standby

Itty-Bitty

Reassurance

Meltdown

~Prompts~

“Why is he on the counter?” / “He likes to feel tall.”

I’m sorry, I wasn’t catcalling you, I was catcalling my buddy.

What do you mean, ‘whoops’?

~Eddie Reactions~

Jealous Arguments

Shy Reader with Nipple Piercings

Steve Harrington

You opened the door to Family Video and stepped inside to return the tape. You smiled and waved at Robin when you saw her at the desk. She grinned and took the VHS from you before putting it on the counter behind her.

"How was your date?"

"Ah," you groaned with a dismissive waved of your hand. "It didn't work out. Hopefully there will be another at some point, but I'm not in any rush."

She turned to the computer to check your return in and said, "Don't worry, there's not a girl here who wouldn't want to be with you." She paused for a moment, realizing what she said.

Your cheeks reddened as you said, "Thanks, Robin. That's really kind of you to say."

Steve walked in from the back, a box of tapes in his arms. Sensing the nervous energy, he looked between the two of you. You slipped away to look for a new movie and he set the box down on the counter before he planted his hands on his hips and turned to Robin.

"What the hell? Was she just trying to hit on you?"

"Actually, I-I was the one who flirted," Robin stuttered.

Steve's hand flew to his chest, affronted. "I can't believe you would betray me like this."

Robin rolled her eyes and turned her focus back to the computer. "It's not a big deal, Steve. She was just saying her last date didn't work out."

He moved a bit closer, a touch of curiosity in his voice. "Oh, yeah? Interesting. I wonder who she'll go after now."

She snorted. "You know the drill. Whoever you do."

He pressed his lips together as you walked back up to the desk, tape in hand. He huffed and blurted. "You can't have her."

You recoiled, confused. "Who, Harrington?"

His hand swung out toward his coworker. "Robin, obviously."

You shared a conspiratorial smile with Robin. "She's lovely, but I'm not interested in anyone right now."

His head nodded sarcastically. "Uh huh. Sure. Yeah, okay." He scoffed in disbelief and looked to Robin to back him up.

Her face was scrunched in annoyance as she rang you up and handed back the movie.

You looked at him, blank-faced. "Thanks for the ride the other night, Harrington. Bye guys."

Once you were out of the door she spun to face him. "You're such a dingus. What is wrong with you?"

"Me? You guys were flirting and you expect me to be okay?"

Her lips curled up at the corner. "You're being a little emotional, here, Steve. Chill out. Also, what was she mentioning about a ride?"

~~~

You were sitting cross-legged on a picnic blanket at the park, engrossed in a book when you saw Steve Harrington across the grass. His head turned in your direction and his eyes widened slightly. You both paused awkwardly before you rolled your eyes and waved him over. He stopped at the edge of your blanket, rocking on his heels.

You shielded your eyes from the sun with a hand and looked up at him. "Wanna sit, Harrington? I've got food."

He squatted slowly and sat beside you. Your eyes darted back to your page and you pretended to read quietly before saying, "I see you've got a rowdy bunch with you today."

He turned to you, anger rising until he saw a teasing smirk on your lips as you looked down at your book. "Yeah they're a mess but they're my mess, I suppose."

You watched him as he smiled at the group walking around together. He looked back to you and you both startled, held captive by each other's eyes.

"Hi," you whispered.

"Uh. Hi. Are you going to Robin's party?"

You frowned in confusion. "What party?"

He instantly cringed and you laughed dryly.

"Steve, I hate to disrupt your delusions, but Robin and I are not close enough for her to invite me to a party. I see her as much as I see you: rarely ever."

He huffed and leaned forward. "Oh, has she given you evening rides when your car has crapped out on the side of the road?"

A laugh burst from you, drawing attention from the kids and you pushed his shoulder lightly.

"Shut up, Harrington," you mumbled.

He grinned a bit and said, "Consider this your formal invitation."

"What?" Your brow furrowed skeptically.

"It's at my house. There'll be plenty of room. I'm inviting you. I'm sure she won't mind."

"I don't know.. I haven't had the best experiences with parties at your house."

His demeanor turned sheepish. Dustin yelled across the park for him and he started to rise to go to the group.

"Just.. Think about it, okay?"

"Yeah. I will."

"Eddie, I need to go."

"Yeah, I know, baby. We're going right now."

You stood in the checkout line for the grocery store, a few customers ahead of you. Your foot tapped anxiously and squinted underneath the blinding lights. The sound of the small group of people chatting while waiting began to make your ears buzz. The swarm of noise overwhelmed your body and you started to feel clammy. Your vision flickered and you grabbed his arm for support.

"No, I need to get out of here now."

He looked at you, worried, and nodded, he passed the keys off to you and gently nudged you toward the door.

"I'll be at the van in a second, just let me pay for our stuff first."

You grasped the keys tight in your fist, squeezing so hard that the ridges poked against your palm. You sped out to the van, unlocked it and sat in the passenger seat. A desperate whine escaped you and you kicked off your shoes and climbed in the backseat. Eddie had made it a safe space for you to be in, where you could lay down on a soft blanket and a few pillows. You grabbed one of the pillows and curled around it, running your finger over the material of the blanket.

You curled tighter in on yourself and whimpered, trying to get your body to relax. This was the worst part: feeling your mind and body run away without you, just having to be helpless as it happened. Eddie opened the front door so he could get in, put the groceries in the backseat and peek over the seat down at you.

"Hey, baby," he mumured. "You want some company?"

You nodded and he kicked off his shoes into the floor and followed you into the back. He put the other pillow under his cheek and smiled softly.

"Do you want to be touched right now?"

Lacking energy for even the simplest of words, you simply lifted your pinkie and he nodded. He linked his pinkie with yours and rested your hands between you. You sighed, feeling a little better that he was with you now. You were slightly more settled but still uncomfortable and feeling constricted, you yanked off your jacket. You laid back down and slid your hand to his. He tenderly rested his on top, twining your fingers together.

"What was it that felt so overwhelming, sweetheart?"

Tears leaked out of your eyes and you mumbled, "Lights. People. Too many sounds. Felt like drowning."

"Oh, baby," he said sadly. He held his arms open and you scooted closer before turning over, your back to his front. He wrapped his arms around your body and whispered, "Squeeze?"

You nodded and he tightened his grasp around your waist and over your chest. You sighed in relief at the feeling of security.

"Sorry, Eddie."

Your hands twisted together. You spun the ring that Eddie had given you, moving it around your finger and rubbing your thumb over the stone. The music in the van surrounded you as Eddie drove you home from a graduation party at Robin's. He pulled to a stop outside his trailer and turned to you with a smile. He leaned in and pressed a yearning kiss to your lips.

You responded appropriately, your brain running overtime as you tried to make your lips move against his and push your heavy thoughts away at the same time. He sensed your discomfort and pulled back, reaching for your nervous hands and squeezing them with his.

"What's going on inside that head of yours?" he asked with a smile.

Your lips pursed, trying to keep back the emotions and overwhelming thoughts but a surge of emotion flew through you and you blurted, "Idon'twannahavesexwithyou."

He reeled back, a little alarmed.

"Hey, tell me slowly," he murmured.

You took a deep breath and steeled yourself, but your eyes darted everywhere but his, your heart pounding heavily.

"I don't want to have sex with you."

"Um, okay," he huffed a breath out of his nose, fighting a small smile.

You glanced at him, a little hurt and said, "You're making fun of me."

His eyes grew wide with panic as he squeezed your hands comfortingly.

"No, no. Absolutely not. I'm just a little shocked. It feels like that came out of nowhere. I just kissed you, I wasn't asking for sex."

Your lip trembled and you said, "Isn't that what kissing leads to? Everybody says that's what happens after. First base, second base, and all that."

His eyes saddened and he said, "Hold on."

He hopped out of the car and circled the van, opening your door. He signaled for you to get out and when you did, he held his arms open.

"Can I hug you?"

You rushed into his arms and tightened your grip around him. He rocked you slowly as tears started flowing down your cheeks. He pressed his cheek to yours and sighed softly.

"I don't.. I don't have have any expectations of you. I just like to be with you. If you don't want sex, we don't have to. I would never make you and I need you to know that you're always safe with me, okay?"

You nodded against him and held him even tighter, your words coming out in a sob.

"I don't know if I ever want to have sex with somebody."

He rubbed your back soothingly.

"That's completely okay. Relationships are about more than what you can give someone physically. I'd like a kiss every now and then if you're up for it. Ooh! And cuddles. But beyond that, if you don't want to, we won't."

"But won't you get tired of me not wanting to? Wouldn't you go somewhere else for it?"

He looked grief-stricken and held your face in his hands.

"Never. I love you for who you are and the love you give me. Everything else is just a bonus."

You nodded, sniffling as your tears slowed. He brushed them off of your cheeks with his thumbs and grabbed your hands, swinging them between you.

"Do you still wanna come in?"

You were nearly finished ringing up a customer at the register when you saw a motion out of the corner of your eye. Steve Harrington stood at the end of your lane and paused, a few items in his hand. He looked back and forth between your lane and your coworkers and sighed in defeat when he saw the hefty amount of groceries in the buggy being unloaded behind you.

He shuffled forward and dropped the food on the conveyor belt. With a huff, he shoved his hands in his pockets and tapped his foot impatiently. You handed the customer their change and sent them off with a smile. When Steve walked up, you let your mask drop.

"Harrington."

"Y/L/N."

You picked up a box of Eggo waffles and raised an eyebrow at him before scanning it along with the box of Oreos and a box of popcorn.

"That'll be $4.05, Harrington."

He thrust his money at you and while you dispersed it into your till, you decided to rib him a little.

"A little hungry? Quite the variety you've got here."

He scoffed and took his receipt and bag from you.

"Not for me, it's for the kids."

You cocked your head and a corner of your mouth curled up.

"Oh yeah, I've seen you and that little band of rugrats running around town. What a good dad you are," you commented, sarcasm dripping from your words.

He rolled his eyes and sighed, the bag now slung over his shoulder and one hand in his pocket.

"They're not mine. Just some kids that have attached themselves like little leeches." He finished with a smile.

Your mind whirred curiously at his softness.

"Careful, Harrington. Someone might think you actually have a heart."

~~~

You drove home after your shift, the light slowly vanishing behind the tree line. You yelped as you heard a loud pop and managed to pull your car to a stop on the side of the road. You leaned forward and put your forehead onto the steering wheel, taking a moment to calm yourself. You turned your hazard lights on and threw your door open. You crouched down to see a flat tire and a nail sticking out of the top of it.

Headlights came closer and slowed as the car they were on parked behind yours. You blinked in the bright light and pulled your pocket knife out slowly. Readying yourself for a potential fight, you tightened your fist around it before you heard your name.

"What are you doing out here? Is everything okay?"

Steve Harrington came into focus as he stepped out of his car and propped his arm on the door. Your body relaxed and you waved him off.

"Yeah, don't worry about it. I'm taking care of it."

He walked closer and looked at the nail in your tire. He crossed his arms and leaned against your car.

"I can see you've got things under control."

You glared at him and crossed your arms as you stared him down.

His face twisted before he stood up, looking at you.

"Just let me take you home. Come on."

"No. I'll be fine here, thanks."

He gestured to your car and planted a hand on his hip.

"Your tire is busted. You're on a back road and it's nighttime. Just let me drive you."

You muttered under your breath as you slammed the door and stomped over to his car. He leaned down to the door and said, "Henderson, in the back."

More grumbling came from inside the car as the passenger door opened and one of the kids that Steve hung out with got out, offered you a quick nod and got in the back. You sat where he'd been and sat quietly as Steve got back in and shut his door.

He turned to you and said, "Seatbelt. We're not moving until you've got it on."

You snorted and grinned. "Wow, you really are a dad now, aren't you, Harrington."

He gave you a deadpan look and reached across you, pulling the strap over your chest and locking the buckle in place. His hair brushed across your face as he moved and you sniffed and giggled. He was startled and confused by your reaction and waited until you'd looked at him, tilting his head as if to say, 'What?'

"Is that the Farrah Fawcett spray I just smelled?"

His eyes widened as a burst of laughter came from the backseat. He turned to face the windshield and you could see a pink tinge on his cheeks in the dim light as he drove on down the road. You and Dustin giggled for the next few minutes as Steve navigated toward your house. You gave him the instructions and gathered your things as soon as his car rolled to a stop.

You were about to stand before you spun back to him, your lips tightened, and said, "Thanks for the ride." You scurried inside your house and he watched as you went.

Dustin clambered back into the front seat and grinned cheekily at Steve.

"So.. How long have you liked her?"

Steve recoiled, looking at Dustin with his face screwed up in disgust.

"What are you talking about, Henderson? I don't like her at all."

"Heh. Sure, okay."

Steve ruffled Dustin's hair and glanced past him to watch as you stepped inside. You paused and met his eyes across the yard before you shut your door quickly. Steve was so lost in thoughts of you as he drove away that Dustin very narrowly stopped him from running into a mailbox.

Allergy season was wrecking you this year. Your cough had been so bad that you had gone to the doctor's office to make sure everything was okay. They checked your breathing and after looking down your throat they stated that they suspected allergies. They decided to get an x-ray just to confirm nothing else was going on. After looking at your films in the office, the doctor reassured you that it was just allergies and recommended a few remedies.

You drove to Eddie's and opened the trailer door. He was sitting on the couch, feet propped up since he'd just gotten off work. He jumped up as soon as he saw you and pulled you into his arms, burying his face in your neck.

"How are you? What did they say?"

He slid his arm around your shoulders and pulled you to sit on the couch next to him. You let out a big sneeze that kicked off a coughing fit and it took a few minutes to reign it back in. He rubbed your back soothingly while you explained what the doctor had told you. He nodded in understanding and gestured to the folder in your hand.

"What's that?"

"Oh! Yeah, so they took some pictures of my chest and I asked for copies. They looked pretty cool and I thought you might like to see."

You pulled out the first picture and showed him. You explained what the doctor had shown you in the office and he nodded. He pointed to the lower area of your lungs.

"Oooh, what's this?"

"Hmm, I'm not sure. He didn't say much about that."

You looked closer and the realization of the familiar shape hit you like a brick wall. He looked panicked when he heard your strangled gasp.

"What? What is it? Is everything okay? Is it bad?"

You shook your head, hands slapped up to your face to cover your burning cheeks.

"Honey, tell me. You're scaring me."

You sighed, face falling into your hands and mumbled quietly. He leaned closer, worried.

"Say it again? I can't hear you."

"It's my nipple piercings!" you cried.

You could feel your face red-hot and glanced over at him. His cheeks were blushing just like yours and his wide eyes were unseeing as you looked at him. You shook his shoulder, bringing him back from his trance.

"Uhhh were you ever going to tell me?" He rubbed the back of his neck bashfully.

You crossed your arms over your chest and leaned back against the couch.

"At some point, I thought I would just show you."

His eyes widened as he glanced down toward your chest. "Can that point be right now?"

It had started like any other rivalry. Competing for cute girls, of course. You had been invited to a party at Steve Harrington's place and knew absolutely everyone would be there, including your crush. She was lovely to look at. Her hair seemed so soft and she always had a sweet smile for you. When she walked past you to get to her desk, her fruit-scented perfume filled your nose and a pang hit your heart; you just needed to be close to her. Tonight was your chance.

You saw her across the room and your fingers tightened around the drink in your hand as you readied yourself to get your feet moving to her. As soon as you stepped your first, you noticed motion from another corner to the room. You kept moving, not realizing that your destinations were the same. Steve had gotten to her first, slid an arm around her and leaned down to whisper in her ear. Her giggle cut through you and you put a hand to your chest to ease the ache.

Steve noticed you and a smug look came over his face, the bastard. He saw the expression on your face and thought it was for him, your desire only boosting his ego. She turned in his arm and noticed you, gave a small wave and a smile. You smiled back weakly before cutting your eyes back over to Steve. He waited expectantly before you steeled yourself and spun on your heel to leave.

Prick.

~~~

Your date was picking a movie and you put a hand on her lower back, tugging her a bit closer. She giggled and you leaned in to whisper in her ear, mirroring what Steve had done years ago. You'd heard he was interested in this girl and so you darted in and swept her off her feet before he could, as you had with so many others. They were all lovely girls and you were surprised by how much you had come to care for them, but nothing matched your first crush from school and eventually all the relationships ran their course.

You always parted ways at least as acquaintances. Many young women in Hawkins weren't ready to be openly queer, which you understood, having faced your own problems with some of the locals. Your family had always been a bit more free-spirited, leaving you to decide who you wanted to love based on the contents of their heart and not the package those contents came in.

To be quite honest, it had become a game to you. You were hardened by that initial pain and hadn't managed to get over it. After all, it had only been a few years since that night. With a few girls, the relationship had been mutually beneficial. They got the chance to explore a relationship with another girl and you got the chance to make Steve Harrington's anger fly through the roof.

You glanced at Steve as he stood behind the desk. His arms were crossed and his nostrils flared. Hiding a snicker, you looked at Robin and winked. She was visibly affected and Steve's annoyance only increased. Robin and Steve had formed an unusual bond over the summer of the mall fire when they'd worked at Scoops Ahoy. It wasn't something you'd ever understood, but they worked well together and it seemed were joined at the hip.

You walked to the desk after your date picked up the movie she wanted. You placed it down and grinned at the two workers.

"Hello, Harrington."

The cocky smirk on your face only grew as you felt the vexation radiate off of him. He rolled his eyes and turned to the computer, playing around with it to keep busy. Robin rang up the movie and you slid the money across the desk.

"Thanks, see you guys next time!"

You waved goodbye as you went back out to your car. Steve watched through the window as you opened the door for your date and drove away.

"Every time, Robin. Every time I show even an ounce of interest in a girl, she's always there to take them right out from under me."

Robin leaned into his shoulder, bumping against him.

"First off, Harrington, they're not yours to take and second, what does it matter? Just find another girl, you always do. Why are you so bothered by her?"

He groaned and ran his fingers through his hair.

"I'm just.. confused? I mean she had a crush on me when we were in school-"

Robin cut him off with a sharp laugh.

"I'm sor- I'm sorry," she was holding her sides as she bent over laughing. "That girl has never liked you, no way. I can't believe that."

"She did!" he screeched. "I swear! We were at a party and I went up to this girl who was in our class and put my arm around her and she came up behind us and looked really sad and.. oh."

His revelation made Robin cackle even harder. She slapped him across the back and he winced, glaring at her.

He propped his face up in his hands and looked out the window to where you had been parked.

"Well. Shit," he grumbled.