Mkay.. (AstroNova)

I feel like this scene isn’t talked about enough. Mike, who as a reminder was TWELVE at the time, was literally willing to k!ll himself in order to save Dustin. He knew he most likely wouldn’t survive the fall, and he had no idea that El was there.

Steve’s quiet for a second, watching him. Then says “Huh.”

And Eddie says “What?”

Steve, shrugging, a little embarrassed “I never… actually made a fort. As a kid.”

Eddie sits up so fast dragging his feet away from Steves lap he almost knocks his beer over “I’m sorry, what?” Eddie stares at him like he just confessed to a crime. Then his whole face lights up, with a mischievous grin. “Oh, hell no. Nope. We’re fixing that.”

Steve blinks. “What, right now?”

Eddie’s already off the couch. “Yes right now, come on, I’ll show you. Childhood do-over, Harrington.” Eddie tearing through Steve’s house like he owns it. Going through closets and grabbing blankets from Steve’s bed and Couch cushions Steve’s just leaning in the doorway, arms crossed, absolutely gone for this man.

Steve laughs “Eddie, ome on You’re going to get everything dirty.” And eddie, dragging a dining chair in the living room “For a king,” he says, dropping everything in a pile with the goofiest, proudest smile. “Can’t have his majesty catching a draft in his first fort.”

Steve bursts out laughing, hand over his face. It’s so stupid. And It hits him all at once nobody’s ever done something like this to make him happy and god was he happy. And Steve, softly says “God, I love you.”

Eddie freezes. Blanket in hand. Then he grins, slow and dangerous, and drops the blanket. Two steps and he’s got Steve by the hips and backing him into the half -built pillow wall.

Eddie, nose to nose with him “it’s because of my good fort skills isn’t it?”

Steve can’t even answer. He’s laughing, but it’s wet, and he yanks Eddie down by his vest. “Shut up and finish the fort, Munson.”

They do eventually end up finishing it and It’s lopsided and one of the chairs keeps collapsing. String lights from Christmas are hanging inside because Eddie “always wanted those in a fort.”

Steve’s laying on Eddie’s chest, both of them under the questionable blanket roof. Eddie’s playing with Steve’s hair.

Steve says almost in a whisper “I get it now. Why you never wanted to get out.”

Eddie, kissing his temple “Yeah?”

But what nobody knows is Steve started it. And Steve keeps starting it. Because the first time Eddie got really mad like red faced, voice cracking, gesturing with those rings and hair all wild from running his hands through it Steve’s brain just short circuited. God, he’s so hot when he’s pissed. He would think to him self.

So now Steve has a system. He says something dumb about his music choice and Eddie explodes. Steve wins. Not the argument. But just to see him.

Eddie doesn’t get it at first. He just thinks Steve’s an asshole who peaked in high school and never learned to shut up. Until one night Steve’s baiting him about “real music” and Eddie shoves him hard against the brick wall outside the Hideout, and Steve smiles.

Oh.

“You absolute freak,” Eddie says realization dawning and devastating. “You like this. You like when I—”

“Hi, Mom said you’re my dad. I guess.”Steve panics and is saying to him self this has got to be a joke no way and is hyperventilating and calls the one person he knows that would help him Eddie. His best friend. Which is still weird to say to him self, considering 8 years ago Steve was dragging his bleeding body out of the Upside Down.before that they didn’t get along but then after that incident they were always together. And eddie pulls up thinking it’s a prank. Then he sees a kid on Steve’s couch watching Looney Tunes, eating cereal straight from the box.

“Holy shit, Harrington. There really is a kid.”

Now it’s Dad Steve with the overpacked lunches, strict bedtimes and parent teacher conferences which he does actually enjoy. And Fun Uncle Eddie with the “sure we can dye your hair blue,” guitar lessons and D&D campaigns run at the kitchen table. They’re a team before they realize it.Coparenting a kid who starts calling Eddie “Papa” during bedtime stories. There’s also a social worker sniffing around, real iffy about two guys raising a kid alone.

Until the kid looks her dead in the eye and says, “I love my parents. Can you go away now?”

They really hit it off. Steve's only in town for a few days to see a friend's show and Eddie suggests they meet up again before he goes home. The train is loud and crowded as they make plans but Eddie is pretty sure Steve mentions his emotional support dog which like, "Bring 'em. The more, the merrier."

They meet up the next day for their date and Eddie realizes that he should've asked a few clarifying questions because Steve does not arrive with an emotional support dog.

But what nobody knows is Steve started it. And Steve keeps starting it. Because the first time Eddie got really mad like red faced, voice cracking, gesturing with those rings and hair all wild from running his hands through it Steve’s brain just short circuited. God, he’s so hot when he’s pissed. He would think to him self.

So now Steve has a system. He says something dumb about his music choice and Eddie explodes. Steve wins. Not the argument. But just to see him.

Eddie doesn’t get it at first. He just thinks Steve’s an asshole who peaked in high school and never learned to shut up. Until one night Steve’s baiting him about “real music” and Eddie shoves him hard against the brick wall outside the Hideout, and Steve smiles.

Oh.

“You absolute freak,” Eddie says realization dawning and devastating. “You like this. You like when I—”

But what nobody knows is Steve started it. And Steve keeps starting it. Because the first time Eddie got really mad like red faced, voice cracking, gesturing with those rings and hair all wild from running his hands through it Steve’s brain just short circuited. God, he’s so hot when he’s pissed. He would think to him self.

So now Steve has a system. He says something dumb about his music choice and Eddie explodes. Steve wins. Not the argument. But just to see him.

Eddie doesn’t get it at first. He just thinks Steve’s an asshole who peaked in high school and never learned to shut up. Until one night Steve’s baiting him about “real music” and Eddie shoves him hard against the brick wall outside the Hideout, and Steve smiles.

Oh.

“You absolute freak,” Eddie says realization dawning and devastating. “You like this. You like when I—”

It's no Loch Nora household, and definitely not something huge for just the two of them, but it's homey.

Steve has his space, the kitchen and his bedroom mainly, and Robin has hers in her room and the living room.

Their styles blend together a lot better than one might expect. Trophies on shelves next to trinkets, sports posters overlayed with obscure movie posters. Even their movie collection in a good mix of popular musicals and films in languages only one of them understands.

They even have a small space put aside for the kids, a pull out couch and extra blankets available for anyone to crash for the night when they feel like it.

Of course, as there usually is with rooming with anyone, there is one problem they're having.

Eddie leaves Steve's room before Steve himself, making his way out into the kitchen with his hair tossed every which way. Robin looks up from her seat at the table, raising a brow.

"Hey Robin." Eddie yawns, tiredly missing the very pointed glare Robin is sending his way.

"Hello Eddie." She replies sharply, watching as he makes his way over to the coffee maker. "What are you doing here?"

Eddie pauses, half turning away from where he's pouring himself and Steve some coffee. "Uh, I was here with Steve last night?" He says it like it's obvious. Robins nerves flare out, watching as he pours himself some of her creamer.

Steve comes down now, smiling in delight when he notices Eddie with two cups of coffee. He takes one, leaning against the counter next to Eddie as they both begin to drink.

Robin throws her arms up.

"No like, what are you doing here all the TIME." She's exasperated, clearly confused. Steve appears to take all of a whole minute to process before he laughs.

Eddie raised a brow at Robin and then at Steve.

"I never-" he's interrupted by another laugh "you haven't noticed?"

"No- no I've noticed you're both RAGING homosexuals, but why is he HERE all the time! Go to his place! I don't need to know you're banging all the time! He doesn't live here and he like- freeloading!"

This gets Steve to laugh harder, Eddie's face lighting up red at the first part.

"I-"

"Bsh!"

"But i-"

"Buh buh buh! Nope! No buts! Take your boyfriend somewhere else!"

Robin ends up rushing them out the door when they're finished coffee and breakfast.

Eddie still keeps showing up anyways.

"Why are you HERE"

"Hello to you too, Buckley." Eddie smiles from where he's sat on the couch. He's scribbling in a notebook, no doubt some ceaselessly nerdy information or ideas. Robin throws her hands up.

"He's not even here! Why are you in my house!"

Eddie laughs, taking in her annoyed and exasperating look.

"I'm here to surprise him. And I think better here, less clutter."

Robin looks around at the mix of her and Steve's clutter, which has also been slowly integrated with jewelry and metal albums and other left behind items. Somehow, she doesn't believe him.

She raises a brow at him when she's done looking around, earning a teasing chuckle. She gives up, throwing her hands in the air before storming off to her room. Eddie stays where he is on the couch.

After that it's a regular occurrence, Eddie curled up on the couch or cooking in their kitchen or asleep in Steve bed.

"You know," Robin starts one morning, looking at Eddie cooking in the kitchen with THEIR eggs and THEIR milk "I ought to start making you contribute to the rent."

He half steps towards her, raising a brow.

"Oh really?"

"Yup. You'll have to pay for residence, becajse this will not stand." She's grinning despite herself, watching Eddie laugh to himself as well.

"Sure Buckley. Get back to me when you sort that out."

She even has to start introducing him along with Steve when she brings new friends or dates over.

"And this is my roommate, Steve. We rent this place together." Robin pauses, letting out a long sigh before gesturing to Eddie. "This is Eddie. Don't let him fool you. He doesn't live here."