lina

“But this,” Steve says, waving his hands between the two of them, “this is a one-time thing.”

Steve could swear he sees a flash of hurt across Eddie’s face, but it’s gone before he can be sure.

“Alright,” Eddie says.

“Not because you’re a dude.” Steve needs to make that clear. “Just so you know. It’s entirely because it’s you, because you’re so fucking annoying.”

“Yeah, yeah, sure,” Eddie says, and at least he’s smiling now.

---

Card: 1990s | Prompt: Spice Girls | Song: Wannabe | Word Count: 1990 | Rating: T | POV: Steve | Relationships: Steve & Corroded Coffin, Steddie | CW: Drug Use (Weed) | Tags: Canon Divergence, Pre-Season 4 | Read on ao3

for @corrodedcoffinfest

Steve loves Eddie. Sometimes he can't quite believe that they're together. It took him a month to ask Eddie out and they almost didn't go on a date because Eddie just stared at him for a minute before he blurted out yes. Eddie's been a great boyfriend, but there's one thing Steve has struggled with.

Corroded Coffin.

Steve knows how important Eddie's bandmates are to him. That's one of the first things he brought up on their first date. Eddie talked about them becoming friends, Gareth joining the band, and how they hope someday they can make it out of Hawkins. Steve knows how important friends are. Realizing that your friends are assholes who you don't want to be around gives a person a greater appreciation of making friends. Which is why for the past month he's been worried about what he'll say to them.

He's seen them a couple of times when he drops the kids off for Hellfire and given a head nod and 'hey' after attending one of their gigs. But he's never had a full-fledged conversation with any of them. Gareth, at least makes sense, he was a baby freshman when Steve was a senior. Jeff and Les were only a grade behind so he must of had at least one class with them.

Eddie told him he had nothing to worry about. The guys were sure to love him because Eddie loved him. It's a sweet sentiment, but not something that Steve is going to keep his hopes up about it. He's decided that he'll get to know each of them one on one. Surely, then they'll see that he's a good boyfriend and perfect for Eddie.

pairing: steddie | rating: G | WC: 746 | ao3 tags: platonic stobin, meet cute, alternate first meeting, kiss cam

⚾️ 🎥 💕

Robin wasn’t especially happy to come to the game with him, but Steve is grateful for her making the best of it. He knows she’s only there because Lucas had an unexpected family obligation, and she felt bad for him when he was lamenting either missing it or going alone.

At least she seems to be having an okay time. She and Steve periodically lean in close to make each other giggle about the dude three rows down who’s definitely not getting another date. To everyone around them, they must look like they’re having the time of their lives.

Unfortunately, they’re also two young adults of opposite sexes, which puts them on a very particular radar.

Content to chatter with Robin between plays, Steve hardly pays attention to the music the stadium organist is banging out, nor is he really aware of what’s happening on the giant screen beyond second base. The danger doesn’t even occur to him when he sees the camera over the dugout pointed right at them.

He misses Eddie like a limb, but he knows how to be on his own.

If, for any reason, Steve has to be gone while Eddie is home, it's another story. Eddie is a feral, wilted chihuahua. He's showing up at everyone's house, lamenting about being left alone. He sleeps on the couch just to be dramatic. He sends Steve postcards every day, even if most of the trips are too short for any of them to actually reach him.

Steve has learned to brace himself when he opens the door, ready for Eddie to leap into his arms and, more than likely, lick his face.

Face masks, pedicures, junk food, and their favorite movies.

Eddie knows they’re having this slumber party. But, being the boyfriend menace he is, he thinks it would be funny to have a panty raid.

However, he never expected to have a face mask on his face, his hair braided, his nails painted (better than he’s done it), and shoving food into his mouth while he’s crying watching Beaches. He uses the pair of Steve’s underwear he stole, to wipe his tears away.

She had demanded Steve take her to this music festival since he needs "to discover better music" and Eddie was a part of that demand since it was apparently a "Rock and Metal" festival, now she'll never admit this but Eddie got her hooked to Anthrax, but she's a diehard Joan Jett fan and she will fight anyone of they say otherwise. But now she's sitting in the backseat watching Eddie fail to be subtle while it all flies over Steve's head.

"y'know Harrington this is a great place to meet people." Eddie said jokingly.

"I'm not gonna meet someone at a concert, love the confidence Ed but that's not me anymore." Steve said with a small sigh.

The rest of the ride was pretty much silent except for the occasional, "that's not a bad one" or a "ok that's sick I like that one" from Steve as Eddie had brought some cassettes to expose Steve to the music he'd be hearing.

When they arrived Max soon realized just how out of place her and Steve looked. Everyone else was in leather jackets band shirts and ripped jeans. Max only matched them with her wild hair but after that she looked like a princess compared to these people. Steve didn't look all they intimidated by this sight rather he smiled. Eddie was used to the sight considering he got right into the crowd.

"c'mon you two let's get you fitted in some appropriate attire!" Eddie said as he grabbed Steve's hand and dragged him away, Max sprinted after them. Once they reached a tent that was suitable for their needs Eddie let go of Steve's hand his face somewhat red.

"Shit sorry man didn't mean to just latch myself onto you." Eddie said sheepishly. Steve just chuckled a bit.

"Relax man it's fine glad you're excited." Steve said casually.

"Yeah but maybe slow down? I'm already out of breath and we haven't seen a performance yet!" Max gasped for air. Eddie laughed nervously but they entered the tent and looked around, Eddie was helping them both find stuff, he grabbed an Anthrax shirt along with a denim vest that he quickly found pins to put onto. She was already wearing jeans that he refused to cut up since they were still good, Max just took his knife and did it herself. After that he helped Steve who had found an Iron Maiden shirt he liked and Eddie once more gave Steve his Dio vest. Steve had grown attached to it after the upsidedown jokingly saying he'd have to make his own. Eddie had brought an alternative vest instead and put that on after. They paid and left to go see who was performing.

Max had stuck herself next to Steve that way Eddie was on the other side of Steve. They were walking for a while since the festival was packed full of people, Eddie managed to get around just fine while Max and Steve struggled a bit but caught up to Eddie as the first band was performing. Eddie was having the time of his life, Max was starting to get into it, while Steve just kinda stood there. After a few songs they got off stage and a small break ensued. People began pushing and shoving their way towards them as they made their way out. Eddie managed to get out and dragged Steve with him but Max unfortunately got split from the group. Max had gotten shoved to the ground after someone told her to move out of the way. She thought she was about to be trampled by people but a sharp voice yelled out.

"The fuck are you animals!?" Eddie yelled from above. People's heads snapped up at him. Steve lifted Max up and Eddie proceeded to yell at the people near.

"I get wanting to get some beer and food but Jesus Christ watch where you're fucking going next time!" Eddie yelled with fury. Eddie motioned them forward so they could get close to the stage. They waited and chatted as the next band was setting up. Max turned her head to see that it was her favorite band. Anthrax was getting ready and Eddie and Steve were unaware as they were talking to each other. Max didn't pay attention as she had her eyes glued onto the scene unfolding in front of her. Soon a sound came from the mic making Steve and Eddie shut up and look in front of them.

Anthrax put on a killer show and Max will admit she went wild during the whole thing. But she couldn't help but notice Steve was holding Eddie's hand during one of the songs. After a few more bands they packed up and left. Max was beyond satisfied for the day but what happened back at the car made her day even better. She had gone to the bathroom and told the boys to wait for her. When she got back Eddie and Steve were kissing subtly. They split apart as soon as she cleared her throat.

"oh uh hey you ready?" Steve said nervously.

"yeah as long as you and your boyfriend are done making out" Max said with a smirk. Their faces went red as Max slid into the backseat and laid down.

He’s been burned before. That’s what it feels like, anyway. People get close, closer, closest, all that light right in front of his face—and then they’re gone. The light fizzles out. And he’s in the dark again. So when an ember starts dropping into his orbit now, his whole body tenses on instinct. He doesn’t even know if he’s afraid of getting burned or afraid of watching it go out when it finally reaches him.

Eddie lands softer than anyone he’s ever met. One day he’s just this bright thing across a cafeteria, across a trailer park, across a field full of kids. Then he’s on Steve’s couch. In his kitchen. In his passenger seat. On the floor of his bedroom, laughing at his own joke. Right up against Steve’s skin.

It should burn. This ember on his skin. Steve waits for it to. His brain keeps insisting, any second now, this is going to hurt. He keeps his shoulders up around his ears, keeps a little distance tucked inside his chest, like that’ll make it easier when Eddie fizzles.

But it doesn’t hurt. He looks at the ember, bright against his skin, and it doesn’t hurt and it doesn’t dim.

It just…glows. It’s warm where Eddie presses up against his life, not scalding. It’s the kind of heat you lean into without meaning to. A hand on his shoulder. A knee against his on the couch. A voice at his side going, ‘Hey, you awake?’

Sometimes, when it’s late and they’re the only ones left by the dying fire in the Harrington backyard, Steve looks down and realizes he’s stopped bracing. Eddie’s light is right there on his skin and he isn’t flinching; he’s just admiring and holding his breath like he’s afraid to accidentally blow it out.

The thing is, embers always go out. Steve knows that. He can feel that fear like a ghost burn under the surface, even while he’s sitting there, bathed in Eddie’s warmth. He doesn’t know how to believe in an ember that might stay.

This is for @steddiemicrofic June prompt "Pride" | rating: G | wc: 481 | cw: referenced bullying

summary: Amelia gets sent to the Principal's office.

AO3

Eddie's been in the principal’s office for fighting his entire school career. The only reason he had to repeat senior year so many times was due to his amount of suspensions.

So, sitting across from an oak desk was par for the course really.

What wasn't however, was Steve sitting next to him and Amelia pouting outside the door.

“She did what?” Steve asked.

“Amelia broke Justin’s nose,” the principal repeated. “This type of behavior is not tolerated—”

“Why?” Eddie interrupted.

“What?”

“Why'd she break that kid’s nose?”

“Why doesn't matter, violence is not acceptable,” he replied with pursed lips.

“She’s normally not a fighter, right? So that kid must have done something,” Steve said. “Did you even ask her?”

The principal’s silence said all they needed to hear.

“Amelia, can you come in here please?” Eddie called.

Amelia quietly stepped into the office, eyes cast down, and bottom lip quivering.

“Amelia, why did you hit your classmate?” Steve asked softly. The girl shrugged once.

“Amelia,” Eddie didn't need to say anything else for the truth to explode out.

“He kept shoving worms in Terry’s face!! Terry asked him to stop but he didn't. So I made him stop!” She stomps her little foot to emphasize her point.

“Did you tell the recess attendant?” Steve, ever the guidance counselor, asked.

“Yeah, the first ten times it happened. But they never do anything!” Amelia's red in the face from exertion, moments away from angry tears.

Eddie turned back to the principal with a raised eyebrow.

“Sounds like your school does condone this kind of behavior if you won’t stop bullies.”

“Regardless, she still hit a student,” the man implored. Eddie was done with this guy.

“And I've never been prouder,” he declared. “Suspend her or don't, but she's getting ice cream on the way home.”

“You're going to reward violence?” The principal scoffed.

“I'm rewarding her for standing up for her friend,” Eddie corrected.

“Mr. Munson, you're a guidance counselor, surely you can—” the man tried, but Steve chuckled condescendingly.

“Maybe, if your teachers were more capable of handling bullies, you'd be talking to Justin's parents about their son's behavior instead of trying to get us to punish our little paladin,” Steve shrugged.

“Okay, now I've never been prouder,” Eddie said, beaming at his husband.

The principal sighed and shook his head.

“We'll give her a warning this time, but if it happens again it'll be a three day suspension.”

“Are you gonna make Justin stop shoving worms in Terry's face?” Amelia glared at the man, crossing her arms.

The principal blinked at the girl, taking in her righteous anger. A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“I will,” he promised.

“Then I won't hit him again,” Amelia replied, sticking out a hand for a shake. He took it, agreeing to the deal.

They left the office, heads held high.

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And here they were. At last resort. And earlier than he'd expected.

He sighed and dialed, hoping that Steve wouldn't hear the phone from the other room where he was in the rocking chair beside the crib.

"Help," he said.

"I'll be there in six minutes."

When Joyce arrived, she shoved a glass casserole dish into his hands and immediately went to the kitchen to wash her hands. She looked at Eddie expectantly.

"He won't sleep," Eddie said simply.

She smiled. "Well, babies not sleeping is—"

"No. The baby sleeps fine. It's Steve. Steve won't sleep."

Confusingly, Joyce smiled wider and patted him on the shoulder. "Ah," she said. "The firstborn problem. Where is he?"

"Nursery," Eddie sighed.

"On it. Why don't you go grab a shower?"

The suggestion was gentle, but Eddie still chuckled. He definitely needed that, even he could admit it. When he reemerged from the bathroom in a waft of cinnamon-scented soap, he found Steve, sprawled fully clothed on top of the duvet.

"Joyce said she'll watch him," Steve murmured, exhausted.

Eddie frowned. He moved to Steve and started pulling layers of clothing off of him. He offered Steve the soft grey tee he preferred to sleep in, but let him keep his boxers. It felt like more work than it was worth to get him into different pants. He was disappointed; he'd been hoping that Joyce would offer a better solution than someone else pointlessly watching the baby, but. Still. Sleep was sleep.

They both fell asleep immediately; Eddie dreamed of a unicorn that fed off the native honeysuckle in their yard. Just as the Protect Unicorns Society was telling him the house was going to be taken over by the government, Eddie awoke to a sharp cry, followed by the sound of Steve bolting out of bed.

Eddie followed at a more sedate pace, curious and also alarmed by Steve's movement. In the nursery, Joyce stood in the middle of the room, holding the baby, a bottle of formula in one hand as she rocked.

"Oh, look at that. Less than two minutes and you're both here," she teased with a grin. "It's almost like you're going to hear your child no matter how tired you are. Eddie, I declare you on shift. Steve, go back to bed. He's safe. He's got two great dads. Shifts, boys. You'll survive this." Eddie took the baby and smiled at Steve. Joyce put both her hands on Steve's shoulders and squeezed.

"It's hard. It's scary. It never gets less hard or less scary," she said gently. "But you've got this. Don't make Eddie call me again. He hated it."

Steve looked at Eddie over Joyce's head and gave him a small smile at the sight of the baby, curled into his chest, quietly calming down. She patted him once more and left.

"We've got this?" Steve asked quietly.

Eddie grinned. "We've got this.”

He shifted the baby to a more comfortable position. The tiny weight in his arms felt both impossibly fragile and remarkably sturdy. He watched Steve's shoulders drop, the tension visibly draining away.

"Joyce is right about shifts, you know," Eddie continued, keeping his voice low and soothing as much for Steve as for the baby.

Steve ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "But you have that commission due next week. You need sleep, too."

"Hey, I've pulled all-nighters for way less important reasons." Eddie smiled, carefully settling into the rocking chair. "Remember when I stayed up three nights straight to finish that D&D campaign for the kids?"

"That was different. This is…" Steve gestured vaguely at the baby, who had started to drift off again, tiny fingers curling around Eddie's shirt.

written for @steddiemicrofic

june prompt: pride | wc: 481 | rated: G | tags: eddie reflects on past mistakes and lessons learned, post vecna - everybody lives, established relationship | also on ao3

If Eddie had to name his own most toxic trait, it would have to be the false sense of pride he's worn like an armour for years. This performative act of freakish superiority that carried him over the table tops of the high school cafeteria, presenting his personal agenda as the only valuable truth in condemnation of society's conformity doctrine.

The pride of being a herder to his flock of lost sheep, a leader to all those young, susceptible minds that would've followed him blindly because they believed in him to have it all figured out. Believed that he'd always look out for them, watching over them from high up the pedestal he'd built on the lies he kept telling himself.

A pride that nearly cost him everything. First his freedom when he ran instead of asking for help, then again when he didn't run and almost paid with his life for it, overconfidently ignoring his limits and fears when he should've accepted his weakness.

He's learned his lessons, most of them unwillingly, has the physical and emotional scars to remind him whenever he threatens to slip back into old patterns.

He still finds it hard sometimes not to let his pride get in the way of his happiness, is still learning to accept these new truths life taught him.

You can be a cog in a machine and still fight for what's right; you don’t have to do it alone.

People can enjoy stupid ball games and be a nerd at the same time.

Heroism isn't defined by strength or status or age, it's what you do when push comes to shove.

Friendship comes in all shapes and colours and sizes. From the bossy little girl that has more courage in her little finger than any soldier wielding a gun. Over the curly haired teen whose heart is even bigger than his brains. Right to the guy Eddie always wanted to hate on principle but fell hard and fast for once he allowed himself to really get to know him.

   "What are you thinking about?" Steve's voice filters through Eddie's thoughts, pulling him back from wherever he drifted off to.

   "Hm? Oh, um, just- how lucky I am."

It's not the whole truth but it’s part of it. Because Eddie is lucky to have been found by this group of mismatched characters he couldn't imagine his life without now. Especially the man in his arms, who keeps him grounded while simultaneously lifting him up to the greatest heights.

   "Because you have me?" Steve teases, smiling against Eddie's lips when he kisses him.

   "Because you make me a better person," Eddie agrees and pulls Steve back against his chest, letting his fingers glide over bed-warm skin.

   "You make me a better person, too," Steve whispers back, sleepy and content, and it makes Eddie's chest swell.

He didn’t understand it at first until he watched Steve going on failed dates after failed dates, or watching a short relationship end in a terrible break-up and Steve moping around.

Eddie didn’t want to count how many times he’s seen Steve’s heart break.

So now he’s on a mission: keep Steve from dating.

He’s ruining every opportunity Steve gets for dates, making plans with him almost every weekend and after a while, Steve stops asking girls out and Eddie feels accomplished.

At least, he did until Steve kissed him goodbye after movie night and now Eddie’s so fucking confused.