Steddie Going

sea witch Eddie portraits :)

[Patre0n] [instagram] [Twitter] [BluSky]

Warning: Steve makes some really bad decisions re: sex with Eddie, and he and Eddie have to deal with the fallout

Eddie had been more than patient with him in the three months since they started dating, but Steve knew it couldn't last. Knew Eddie would only wait around for him for so long. 

They'd been kissing a lot, so it wasn't like he was leaving Eddie completely wanting, but maybe that was worse, because Eddie would get hard every time, and then they'd just…stop. Sometimes Eddie would have to go into the bathroom to take care of himself if he got too worked up. He said he didn't mind, but Steve was sure that was a lie. He hated sitting there, knowing Eddie was jerking off down the hall, needing something from Steve that Steve wasn't able to give him. 

Steve would never have waited as long as Eddie was for a girl to put out. When Steve used to date, his main objective was always to get the girl into bed and on his dick as soon as possible. He wasn't completely heartless—he did always care for the girls he dated, on some level—but he also liked the challenge of convincing them to let him fuck them. 

But then Steve's popularity at parties had gone through the roof and those kinds of girls had stopped wanting to go out with him, and Steve had gradually lost almost all interest in sex. Which was sort of his just desserts, if you thought about it. 

And now here he was, with some kind of mental block preventing him from letting Eddie touch him. He didn't really understand it, because he did want to have sex with Eddie. It was just that any time they tried to go further than making out, Steve got this overwhelming sense of dread that threatened to suffocate him if they didn't stop. It was a sort of dull panic in his stomach that rose up into nausea in the back of his throat. Eddie always seemed to notice, even if Steve tried to push though, and that would be the end of that.

The point was, even if Eddie was all respectful and shit and wasn't going to pressure Steve into sex, he still was a guy, and there was just no way he was gonna hang around forever in a sexless relationship on the off chance that someday Steve got it together. Steve was frankly surprised he was still here.

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.

It’s also how he gains some new information…

Eddie Munson and Steve Harrington have been officially, but semi-secretly, dating for a couple weeks now.

They were in Eddie’s room, making out, half naked, when the walls of the trailer start to rumble. They immediately run out of Eddie’s room, not bothering to put their shirts back on, to see what’s happened. They find Wayne sitting on the couch, looking at them with a questioning look; until he sneezes again, while the trailer once again shakes.

Steve is the one to shyly say, ‘bless you.’

After a beat of silence, Wayne speaks up, and assures them, mostly Eddie, that as long as they’re happy and safe, that’s all that matters.

With one more sneeze from Wayne, it shakes any lingering awkwardness out of them.

He's busy.

There's a grocery list folded in his pocket waiting to get crossed off.

But all of that can wait, because there's a guy carrying his dog walking right in front of him.

The guy's wearing bright red running shorts, and the muscles in his legs flex with every step. In his arms sits a…Eddie actually has no clue what breed of dog it is, but whatever it is, it looks completely content with its life, tucked securely against this man's chest, watching the traffic go by.

Eddie has never wanted to be a dog more.

Which is saying something, because he doesn't even like dogs that much. He's more of a cat person.

So why is a guy carrying his dog the hottest thing Eddie has seen in months?

Why is he carrying the dog, anyway?

Maybe he's waiting until they reach the park so it doesn't run into traffic.

Maybe the dog just wanted to be carried.

Eddie can relate.

He, too, would like to be carried around by this guy.

He reaches his turn.

Eddie slows.

Thinks about it.

Then promptly ignores it.

Groceries have to wait, for now he's following a random hot stranger whose face he hasn't even seen yet.

Totally normal behavior.

Eddie's eyes drift down to those legs again, then slightly higher.

Yep.

Thank you, running shorts.

He misses another turn.

Suddenly the guy stops.

He crouches down and carefully sets the dog on the ground.

The dog immediately holds one paw slightly off the pavement.

Oh.

Great.

The dog's injured.

And now Eddie feels like an asshole.

Here he is thirsting over some guy who's been carrying his hurt dog around.

Then again…Why does that somehow make him even hotter?

Eddie desperately tries to think of a reason to approach.

Maybe the dog stepped on a bee.

Maybe there's glass.

Maybe…What exactly is Eddie supposed to do?

He's not a vet or something.

He has nothing to offer here.

Then the guy finally looks up.

And Eddie catches his first glimpse of his face.

Of course.

Of fucking course.

He's gorgeous.

Like insultingly gorgeous.

Eddie's so busy staring that he doesn't realize he's stopped walking, too.

Not until the guy's eyes meet his.

Eddie immediately jerks his gaze away. He glances around, pretends he's hopelessly lost, then spins on his heel and starts walking in the opposite direction.

His head hangs low.

His ears burn.

Meme dump once more

+ two that I’m not proud of but had to make

And Eddie's listening with a smile, because he knows Steve's just loopy from the drugs, but he kinda likes the future Steve's planning out

oh my GOD the askbox is so sweet and cute tonight I’m loving the vibes

I had an idea. So here's a little something I wrote for it, maybe I'll make this a full fic someday.

Steve Harrington being suicidal, but he's not, like, showing signs...if that makes sense? He isn't actively harming himself, or at least not to the naked eye—he does other things, like ignoring meals or taking too hot showers or biting his fingernails down down down until he's gnawing at his skin.

He isn't standing at the edge of cliffs or taking reckless drives or planning an overdose. Nothing like that. He thinks about it, sure. Thinks about what it would be like, if he just...died. If he died in the Upside Down, if his death would be worth it. If he died and how little his friends would react. Thinks about death a little too much.

He doesn't have plans. He doesn't have anything set in motion. He just thinks about it. Thinks and thinks and thinks about it. Sometimes caught in daydreams of it, what it would be like to just slip away from life and find somewhere quiet to die, like a cat or another small, helpless, terrified creature. He falls into himself over it. Imagining himself disappearing right within a crowded room. Imagining himself never talking again, just to see what it would be like. Imagining himself gone. Maybe moved. Maybe taken. Maybe murdered.

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.

Eddie: Several traffic violations

Eddie: Three counts of resisting arrest

Eddie: Roughly thirteen cans of energy drinks

Part 2

Home Improvement Store - They man the paint section, mainly because when customers would ask Steve to carry heavy things to their cars, Robin would get offended and insist on doing it herself (she kept injuring herself, management was worried she'd do something permanent and mess up their disability insurance rates).

Casino - Steve is a blackjack dealer. Robin is a bartender. Nancy is a cocktail waitress. Robin makes sure to pour Nancy's orders extra strong so she gets better tips. Eddie is a card shark who frequents Steve's table. The Owner starts to worry that Steve and Eddie are working together because of how frequently Eddie wins but he's actually just really good at counting cards (which isn't illegal but is frowned upon).

Funeral Home - Robin and Steve work front of house, handling all the client facing parts of the process. Eddie also works there, preparing the bodies. Robin was hesitant to hire him (she got a necrophiliac vibe) but Steve insisted and he's worked out great so far. Nancy is their go to Florist. If Robin contacts her about an order, she always makes sure to pick out the best flowers.

Airline - Robin and Steve are Flight Attendants. They only work together. Nancy also works there, she's a Pilot. Robin somehow always finds herself in the cockpit when Nancy is flying them around.

Farmer's Market - Robin owns a farm and sells fresh produce. Steve owns a bakery and is working with Robin to develop a line of preserves. Eddie works there too, he owns a distillery and loves giving Steve free samples. Nancy runs the whole thing because of course she does.

Park Rangers - Robin and Steve somehow end up assigned to the same park that is honestly too small to need both of them. It is some obscure park that no one ever really visits but now they are living and working together 24/7. Nancy and Eddie are the only frequent visitors. Nancy is a local birdwatcher and Eddie likes to get high amongst the trees and nature bathe.

Post Office - They both work at the front desk. Eddie sorts mail in the back. Nancy is a mail carrier. Robin has a huge crush on her. She always goes on break when Nancy comes back from her route so she can talk to her about her day.

Written for the June 2026 round of @steddiemicrofic

Prompt: pride, 481 words

Rated: M

Tags: No UD AU; Catholic schoolboy Steve; Priest Eddie; Demon Eddie; Dark Eddie; Catholic guilt; Religion; Sex dreams; Mindfuckery

Notes: The mods said "happy pride", my brain did ... this. I dunno what my problem is.

“Forgive me, father, for I have sinned.” The confessional reeks of dust and sage. Steve shuffles on the bench and loosens his uniform tie. The sooner he gets this done, the lower his chance of getting a migraine. “It has been two weeks since my last confession.”

“You sure about that? Cause I've been here a month, and we haven't had the pleasure.”