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sound of silence | 1k | 911 | buddie + christopher
βBuck,β Eddie breathes, just about the second the call connects. His voice is pitched, strained in a way that immediately sets Buck on edge. He doesnβt pause to let Buck say hello, either. Just gets straight to the point. βChris wasnβt on the bus.β
Buck blinks as the words slam into him, one after the other. βWhat?β
βChristopher,β Eddie says, tight and tinged with distress. βHe wasnβt on the bus. The one he takes home from school every single day. I went down to the stop to wait for him, like I always do, and he didnβt get off the bus, Buck. Heβ he wasnβt even on it.β Eddieβs voice cracks. βThe driver, he said he didnβt see Chris get on.β
It takes a second, for the reality of what Eddie is saying to sink in.
Christopher, not home from school. Christopher, not on the bus. Christopher,Β missing.
β¨ 911 works and Stranger Things works Below the Cut! β¨
β¨ 911 Works:
we'll do the things that lovers do | 2.5k | 911 | buddie
βHey,β Buck says, nudging Eddie with his elbow. He tips his chin towards the toothbrush in Eddieβs hands. βGimme that when youβre done.β
Eddie pauses, the circular motions of his brushing coming to a halt. The toothbrush stays wedged between his teeth. His mouth still hangs open. βUh,β he says, and toothpaste trickles from the corner of his mouth. βMy toothbrush?β
Except β it comes out more likeΒ muh too bruh?
Buck snorts, chest glowing warm, and nods. βYeah, what else?β
Eddieβs brow wrinkles, and his nose scrunches. βUh, no?β He replies. βThatβs gross.β
β¨
now that the end's in sight | 3.3k | 911 | buddie
Traffic is crawling.
Itβs nine oβclock at night, and traffic is crawling. Not that Eddie should be surprised, really. This is Los Angeles, after all. When is trafficΒ notΒ crawling in this city?
Normally Eddie wouldnβt mind. Orβ heβd be less inclined to mind, anyway. Itβs a Friday night. A whole 96 off stretches out ahead of him. Christopher is out, at a friendβs house until tomorrow afternoon.Β TechnicallyΒ thereβs no rush.
Butβ Eddieβs kind of been on edge all night. Heβs kind of been counting down the minutes, theΒ secondsΒ until it was socially acceptable to snatch Buck by the wrist (and the bicep, and the waist, andβ anywhere it was appropriate to get his hands on him in such a public setting) and drag him out of there.
There being the annual LAFD fundraising gala.
Or, the one where Buck looks good enough to eat, and Eddie Diaz is not a patient man.
β¨
rock steady | 2.4k | 911 | buddie
The water is hot. Pleasantly so. Roiling gently thanks to the jets. Eddie plunges into it with a sigh pulled from somewhere deep. He sinks onto the bench and tips his head back, submerged enough to rest it comfortably against the ledge of the tub behind him. The water rises as he settles, lapping at his collarbones. Beneath its surface, he stretches his legs out.
Itβs a quiet night. The neighborhood children are all tucked up in bed by now, the cars parked in driveways for the evening. The windows are shut, so are the sliding glass doors to yards; the distant, twinkling sounds of conversation and laughter from within long since muted. The noise of the city is inescapable, but here, itβs softer. Further off. Itβs almost easy for it to fade into the background in this little corner of suburbia. Instead, crickets chirp from the bushes, the stray croak of a frog from somewhere in the grass joins their song. Overhead, string lights weave through the patio cover beams, casting the porch in a soft, warm glow.
Itβs nice here, in Buckβs new backyard. Peaceful.
But, maybe thatβs more to do with the company, than the ambiance.
Or, Buck, Eddie, and Buck's new hot tub.
β¨
sometimes it returns | 1.6k | 911 | buddie
Eventually Eddie asks, βWhat are you doing out here?β
βI like the rain,β is Buckβs answer.
Eddie doesnβt understand how. Anything more than a drizzle makes him nauseous these days; storms, downrightΒ sick. Heβs like a caged animal if Buckβs not within his line of sight when the clouds roll in and the sky turns dark.
They say lightning doesnβt strike the same spot twice, but Eddieβs never been that lucky.
βI donβt,β Eddie says back.
β¨
we found our home | 2.1k | 911 | buddie
βOh, Chris wanted to tryββ
βThose new yogurt things!β Buck chirps, snapping his fingers. βRight, good catch! Almost forgot that.β
Eddie has to bite the inside of his cheek as he adds that to the list, too, and the butterflies in his stomach flap their tiny wings.
A fluttery laugh traps itself in his throat. Thatβs not something heβs ever had happen over aΒ grocery list, the butterflies, butβ if thereβs anyone that could make that happen, it would be Buck.
Itβs justβ it feels so domestic, this back and forth as they plan for their week. Buck knowing them well enough to plan out their shopping. Asking Eddie for his input, because theyβre not just partners in the field, but partners in their chores, too. Buck anticipating what Eddieβs going to say before heβs even finished saying it.
But, it isnβt just the grocery shopping. ItβsβΒ everything, lately.
β¨
a hunk, hunk of burning love | 2.9k | 911 | buddie
βSo,β Buck tentatively tries, unable to stand the silence that stretches on between them all any longer.
βBuck,β Christopher finally says, and Buckβs spine stiffens under the sudden scrutiny of his stare. βDad,β Christopher adds, and Buck relaxes βΒ barelyΒ β as the sharp gaze flashes towards Eddie, who sits right beside Buck.
βChristopher,β Eddie says, and Buck feels his leg tense up where it presses into his beneath the table.
βYou two are firefighters,β Christopher says, andβ shit. Heβs not beating around the bush. Alright.Β Okay.Β βDo all of those fire safety talks you gave me mean nothing to you, Dad?β Christopher asks. βWhat happened to βnever leave an open flame unattended,β Buck?β
Yikes. Heβs got him there. Buck ducks his head, feeling properly chastised.
βChris,β Eddie tries, but Christopher barrels on.
βWe canβt have the fire department called on the house ofΒ two firefightersΒ because they were too busy playingΒ grabassββ
Buck promptly chokes.
Eddie makes a strangled noise from the back of his throat and his hand flails out, squeezing at Buckβs thigh to stabilize himself.
β¨
connecting you to a driver... | 4k | 911 | buddie
The flight from Los Angeles, California to El Paso, Texas is one hour and fifty-five minutes long.
Buck spends one hour and fifteen minutes after he lands in the El Paso International Airport pick-up zone, waiting for his ride. He also racks up one hell of a debt in Uber cancellation fees.
The two are very much connected.
β¨
some sunny day | 118/118 chapters | 13.9k | 911 | buddie, gen
A collection of 118-word drabbles, written for the 118dailydrabbles season 8 hiatus challenge on Tumblr!
(Each chapter is it's own; more specific tags and warnings will be listed in the notes at the beginning of each one!)
β¨
i blinked and suddenly i had a valentine | 10.6k | 911 | buddie
Jee thrusts the card out towards Eddie. βFor you,β she says, cheeks dimpling as her smile turns shy.
It reminds Eddie so much of Christopher, when he was this age. So sweet, so earnest. His heart squeezes in his chest as he accepts Jeeβs card.
Andβ it is just about the cutest fucking thing Eddieβs ever seen, honestly.
The card, clearly handmade, is shaped like a bumblebee. A yellow teardrop body, striped with crooked lines of black marker. Its head is shaped like a heart, with two pipe cleaner antennae sticking out, and this teeny tiny u-shaped smile and a pair of googly eyes glued to make up its face. The kicker, though, are the wings β two big, slightly misshapen pink hearts (clearly cut out by Jee-Yun herself) protruding from either side, each with a little message scribbled out in Jeeβs loopy handwriting. The one on the left reads βBEE mineβ and a grin breaks out across Eddieβs face, an amused chuckle slipping past his lips. The one on the right, though β it brings an embarrassing lump to Eddieβs throat as he reads, βHappy Valentineβs Day Uncle Eddie!β
Uncle Eddie.
Oh.
β¨
from your point of view | 4.3k | 911 | buddie
βHey, Buck,β Eddie not-quite-slurs. Itβs a close thing, though. The glass in his hand is his fourthβ no,Β fifth, and wine always hits him so much harder.
Heβs bright-eyed and rosy-cheeked and loose-limbed on the couch, pressed so close to Buck heβs half in his lap.
Buckβs got a steadying arm around his waistβ couldnβt avoid the draw to touch even if he wanted to.
βHm?β Buck asks, feeling a little buzzy himself.
βBuck,β Eddie repeats. βYouβre bicycβbisectβΒ bisexual.β
Buck laughs at Eddieβs stumble. Smiles bright,Β proud, and nods. βI am,β he agrees.
βHave you everββ Eddieβs winestained mouth purses; his brow furrows thoughtfully, ββ have you ever thought about me?β He sways forward, widens his eyes purposefully, whispers, βLike,Β yβknow.β
β¨
who you share it with | 2.2k | 911 | buddie
βOh, hey, green this time,β Buckβs voice filters in as he swings around the corner of the railing. βWhat flavor is that? Watermelon or green apple?β He doesnβt pause to let Eddie answer though. βOr maybe strawberry? Although, I think Haribo are the only ones that do that.Β SβweirdΒ though, donβt you think? Strawberry isnβtΒ green, it should beΒ red.β
Eddie, who hasnβt looked up from his book β heβsΒ masteredΒ the art of splitting his attention, by now β snorts and curls his hand into a fist. The ring pop is lodged halfway down his middle finger, a little tight around the knuckle but secure. He stretches his arm out towards Buck, a silent offering.
Buck brightens and veers towards Eddieβs side of the couch. His fingers wind around Eddieβs wrist to steady it and he draws Eddieβs hand up, ducking down halfway to meet it.
He hums delightedly, as he gets his answer.
β¨
in your own sweet time | 1.5k | 911 | buddie
βHowβd it go?β Buck asks as they reach the Jeep. He jams his thumb into the button on the fob β has to really dig his nail in to get it to work, itβs so worn downβ and the locks click open.
βGood,β Eddie answers, sliding into the passenger seat. He runs his tongue over his left molars. Practices his bite. Bares his teeth at Buck in the kind of smile a seven year old Christopher used to flash all the time. βEasy. It was just a filling.β
βNo pain then?β Buck asks and the engine purrs to life. He switches the gear to reverse.
βNope, they numbed me up good. Still feels weird, though,β Eddie says, touching his fingertips to the left side of his upper lip. He prods at it carefully, barely feels it. βKind of heavy. Like itβs on a lag or something.β He chuckles even though it kind of sucks. βDonβt know how Iβm supposed to kiss anyone with only half a working mouth.β
Buck laughs. Puts the car into drive and pulls towards the main road. βWhoβre you supposed to be kissing anyway?β
Without thinking, Eddie replies, βYou, I hope.β Then freezes.
β¨
let love take hold of us | 2.7k | 911 | buddie + christopher
βHey,β Eddie calls, twisting his shoulder as he stuffs his arm into his jacket sleeve, βtake a coat, bud. Itβs cold today.β
Christopher, already halfway to the door, pauses to scowl at Eddie. βItβs sunny,β he says.
βItβs supposed to be windy,β Buck supplies, doing up the last button on his coat.
βAnd itβs December,β Eddie adds.
Christopher rolls his eyes. βIn California,β he counters, unimpressed.
Eddie sighs. βIt gets cold in California.β
βNo,β Christopher says, impatient, βit doesnβt.β Then heβs out the door. Coatless.
βStubborn,β Buck comments, bumping his shoulder into Eddieβs. βReminds me of someone.β
Eddie huffs a laugh.
Or, Christopher Diaz and the Consequential Coat Conundrum; featuring christmas tree farms, hot chocolate, and the kind of stubbornness only a thirteen year old can possess.
β¨
forever and ever and always | 1.7k | 911 | buddie
βYβknow,β Buck says, drawing the tips of his fingers over Eddieβs knuckles, where theyβre slotted with Buckβs other hand in the space between them, βif I took your last name, weβd have the same initials.β
Eddie blinks, suddenly much more awake than he was five seconds ago. βWhat?β
βYeah,β Buck continues, oblivious. βYouβre E.D., Edmundo Diaz, and Iβd be E.D. too. Evan Diaz.β
Eddieβs stomach swoops at the sound of that, and he fixes his eyes on Buckβs face. Stares hard at him until he catches onto it.
βIs thatβ is that something youβve thought about before?β Eddie asks.
β¨ Stranger Things Works:
for all the pretty mouths and pretty words | 5.4k | st | steddie
Eddie snags both drinks with a thanks to the bartender and turns to head back towards Steve. Things have been going well, things have been goingΒ reallyΒ well β not even that rocky start could put a wrench into things, and the note they left off on before Eddie slipped away wasΒ promising. Eddie is eager to see where the rest of the night will take them. He has high hopes.
But, as Eddie is intimately familiar with, highs are not meant to last, and hopes are easy to lose.
Things, meet wrench.
He makes it three steps when his stride stutters because β oh. Thatβs. Thatβs Steve, with a girl. A pretty girl. With short, sandy brown hair andΒ freckles. Itβs the same pretty girl Eddie had seen with him earlier. The one heβd thought, for a second, might be Steveβs girlfriend. Heβd let himself hope she wasnβt, when he first approached, and let himself start to actually believe it when heβd tried his hand at flirting and Steve had flirted back.
But now...
Now Eddieβs not so sure.
Or, the one where Steve puts his foot in his pretty mouth and Eddie pays the price. Featuring: cherry stems, half smoked cigarettes, and the world's biggest misunderstanding.
β¨
the privilege of being yours | 3.1k | st | steddie
βWhat do you think?β Eddie asks, grinning.
βYouβreΒ ridiculous,β Steve laughs, already reaching for Eddieβs ankle. He curls his fingers around it and gives it a tug, beckoning Eddie closer. βTheyβre perfect,Β youβreΒ perfect. I love them,β he adds, as Eddie scooches into his space.
Steve cups both of his hands to Eddieβs face and kisses him right on the center of his mouth. βI canβt wait to marry you,β he says.
The kiss turns into something else as Eddieβs lips split against Steveβs, and he murmurs back against them, βI canβt wait to marryΒ you.β
When they break apart, Steve taps Eddieβs knee. βOkay, whereβs the rest of your sense of tradition? I showed you mine, you show me yours now.β
βOh, Iβll show you tradition alright,β Eddie responds, and he reaches for his left sleeve.
Or, the one where Steve and Eddie share a rooftop, beloved traditions, andΒ soΒ much love.
β¨
hold your breath and just dive right in | 4.5k | st | steddie
βCome on, man, what are you waiting for?β Steve calls, several feet out from the shore where heβs treading water with a perfect, practiced ease. Fucking show off. βAn invitation?β
βHa ha,β Eddie shouts back, deadpan. He makes no movement towards the water, though. Just digs his toes into the sand and wiggles them, watching the tiny grains spill into the spaces between and swallow his feet.
He glances up to stare out at the lake, and his stomach roils uneasily at its vastness. The other end is visible from where he stands, but it still seems so far away. Theyβre nowhere near the middle either, and even Steve isnβt that far out. It still makes Eddie nervous.
The funny thing is, it isnβt even his recent experiences with Loverβs Lake thatβs putting this horrible feeling in his gut. Well, okay, maybe it is a little bit. But mostly, itβs because EddieΒ alreadyΒ didnβt like the water before that. Heβs never been a fan.
Because Eddie Munson does not know how to swim.
Or, the one where Eddie Munson does not know how to swim, and Steve Harrington is nothing if not the perfect teacher.
β¨
keep me on a rope | 6.6k | st | steddie, unrequited stommy
Tommy wipes his palms against the side of his jeans and squeezes through the crowd, never once taking his eyes off of Steve as he makes a beeline right for him.
Heβs a couple feet away, gearing up to call out his greeting when someone else beats him to it and sidles up to Steve. They touch Steve, putting their palm low on his waist, half tucked up under his blazer. Itβs an intimate touch, an almost possessive one in a very casual sort of way.
Tommy freezes in his tracks.
Steve perks up in the presence of his new company, back straightening and body turning into theirs β receptive, familiar.
He tilts his head, just enough that Tommy can see the smile gracing his lips, the softness in his eyes, and the other person dips their own chin, leaning in to whisper something into Steveβs ear. Their curtain of hair sways forward, brushing against Steveβs collar, and Steve reaches up to tuck it behind their ear, giving Tommy a clear view ofβ
Of Eddie Munson.
Or, Tommy Hagan attends his ten year high school reunion hoping for one thing, and leaves with something else entirely.
β¨
trippin stumbling flippin fumbling | 5k | st | steddie
βDonβt be such a coward,β Eddie tells himself. βFuckingβΒ go.β
His body doesnβt move. Not even an inch. His ass stays glued to his seat, his feet firmly planted on the floor. His hands donβt leave ten and two.
βGodΒ dammit,β Eddie groans, dropping his forehead down to the wheel.
Except β he underestimates the distance, and rather than pressing into the top of the wheel between his hands, his forehead smacks squarely into the center of the horn.
He jerks back so fast he gives himself whiplash, but the damage is done. There is no taking back the short, sharp,Β loudΒ honk that emits from the bowels of his traitorous van.
βShit, shit, shit, shit, fuck, shit,β Eddie hisses, eyes going wider than the moon hanging in the sky tonight.
He immediately slouches in his seat, sinking down as low as he can go. But itβs too late. Heβs caught Steve and Robinβs attention now, and despite parking off to the side and a little further back, his set of wheels is unmistakable.
Theyβve seen him. He canβt leave now. He has no choice but to go inside.
β¨
when i turn out the lights | 1.8k | st| stommy
Steve tells everyone who asks him that his first kiss was Sheila Anderson when he was fifteen years old.
But, really, that's not true.
It was Tommy Hagan. When he was fourteen.
Or, the one that tells the real story of Steve Harrington's first kiss.
β¨
love grows (where my rosemary goes) | 3.2k | st| steddie
βDo you know you have, like, a trillion freckles on yourΒ face?β Steve asks right back, leaning in. His left hand winds itself around the strap of Eddieβs overalls, pulling him in too, and the right one catches Eddieβs jaw. Itβs cold from his own lemonade glass, abandoned somewhere by his feet, and his thumb sweeps over the bridge of Eddieβs nose, the apples of his cheeks. Doubles back to tap the single freckle that sits right on the tip.
Itβs true β EddieΒ doesΒ have freckles. Maybe not a trillion, but when the sun peeks out from behind the clouds like today and becomes a more permanent resident in the sky, those pesky little polka dots like to make their appearance, painting his face in faint faint dusting. Theyβre not obvious or anything; nobody really notices them unless theyβreΒ lookingΒ for them.
But thatβs the thing about Steve. Heβs always looking. AlwaysΒ seeing.
Itβs why Eddie loves him so much.
Itβs why βΒ oh. He loves him.
β¨
the strength to let it show | 3.2k | st | steddie
So, the thing is, Steve likes Eddie.
As in, he kind of wants to date him. And to kiss him. And toΒ be his boyfriend.
But, he also doesnβt want toΒ tell himΒ that. Not in so many words, anyways. Those have never been Steveβs strong suit, words. He always messes them up. Never picks the right ones, always ends up sticking his foot in his mouth. The thought of sitting Eddie down and making some bigβ¦Β confessionΒ is mildly (extraordinarily) terrifying. Big speeches and grand declarations usually are β donβt let the romcoms and the chick flicks fool you. Theyβre never as easy as they look.
He doesnβtΒ notΒ want to tell Eddie, though, either. So itβsβ¦ well, itβs a tricky situation.
Until Robin, brilliant brainy genius Robin, suggests that instead of telling him, he should justΒ showΒ him instead. That way Steve can avoid the dramatic deliverances and still get his point across, just in a way thatβs comfortable for him. On his own time. At his own pace. He can gradually show his hand, can drop hint after hint until EddieΒ gets itΒ (and Robin is confident that he will in no time at all).
So Steve does.
β¨
shake it loose together | 6.3k | st | steddie
Steve keeps his voice quiet enough as he sings now, not wanting to disturb the masses just one room over, but itβs still loud enough for him to get a little lost in it. He matches the strokes of his sponge with the tune heβs singing and even starts to wiggle his hips along. Itβs hard not to want to dance to this one βΒ Bennie and the Jets, because it came on the radio in the car while he was making his rounds to pick up the kids, and itβs been stuck in his head ever since.
Most of the dishes are clean now, so all thatβs left is the silverware. The casserole dish was the last of the major pieces. Steveβs just finishing rinsing it, letting the excess water sluice off the sides before he sets it on the kitchen island with the other plates waiting to be dried.
In the process of turning, two things happen at once:
1. Steve squeezes his eyes shut and tips his head back as he belts out the chorus, βSheβs got electric boots, a mohair suit, you know I read it in a magazine, oh. B-b-b-bennie and the jets!β
2. His eyes fly back open to land right on Eddie. where he stands in the doorway β no,Β leansΒ in the doorway, like heβs been there a while, like heβs gottenΒ comfortable.
β¨
to my heart i must be true | 14.4k | st | steddie
Robin starts toΒ smile, this big, evil grin that unfurls slowly across her face, and oh. OhΒ no. Thatβs not good. Thatβs never good.Β ThatΒ always means trouble.
Robin sticks her hands on her hips and juts her chin out at Steve. βI bet I can get a Valentineβs date before you can,β she says, all arrogance.
Dustin and LucasΒ ooohΒ at her fighting words, then turn to Steve for his rebuttal.
βRobin, Robin, are you sure you want to do that?β He asks, standing to his full height. His shoulders roll back, and he feels the patented Harrington Charm flooding back through his body like a switch has been flipped.
βAbsolutely certain,β Robin replies, not backing down. She holds out her hand.
Steve shakes his head at her, then lets an easy, confident smile curl his mouth. βYouβre gonna regret that,β he says, then smacks his palm into hers, βbut youβre on.β
In which a bet is made, Steveβs prowess shines until it doesnβt, and sometimes things donβt end up the way theyβre planned.
Sometimes, they end upΒ better.
β¨
i was thinking maybe i could lay beside you | 3k | st | steddie
Their room is the last door on the right, just like Joyce told them.
Eddie pushes inside first, immediately flicking the lights on. He spots their bags in the corner and beelines straight for them.
Steve, on the other hand, freezes in the doorway.
Because, oh.Β Oh.
Thereβs only one bed.
Which β Steve doesnβt know why this surprises him. This isnβt a hotel. Itβs a guest room at a friendβs house. Of course itβs not going to have two beds in one room. He doesnβt know why he was expecting that.
But itβs β itβs fine. This is cool. He can share a bed for the night. Heβs shared lots of beds in his day. Thereβs nothing different about this time.
Except that there is because he doesnβt have to share with just anybody. He has to share withΒ Eddie.
Eddie, who hasnβt even batted an eye at the bed situation. Eddie, who seems cool as a cucumber about it. Eddie, whoβ
Whoβs already shucked his shirt off and has his thumbs hooked into his sweats, about to tug those off too, and jesus fuckingΒ christ,Β Steve canβt do this. He cannot do this.
β¨
in all your blame, in all your pain | 2.4k | st | steddie
When Eddie had gotten dragged headfirst into this alternate hellscape dimension, DnD monsters-come-to-life nightmare shitshow, no one told him that by the end of it heβd be offering himself up as bat bait to do his part in putting an end to it all.
No one told him that heβd wind up mangled and shredded and torn apart, but still, somehow,Β alive.
No one told him that heβd be bedridden forΒ monthsΒ afterwards, as his body stitched itself back together. That some days would be painful at best, while others would be downrightΒ excruciating. That heβd barely be able to walk at first, or bathe himself, or even eat on his own.
No one told him that healing would be the most grueling part of it all.
But those were all things that Eddie could get over. Things that, with time, he could forgive. After all, itβs not like anyone had known that thatβs how it was going to play out.
What Eddie could not forgive, however, was the fact that no one, not one single member of their rather large, rather extensive party had told him just how much Steve god damn Harrington loved to play Florence fucking Nightingale in the aftermath.
β¨
come and rest your bones with me | 2.6k | st | steddie
βWeβre making a fort.β
Steve is barely even halfway through the door when he is accosted with the declaration. His slick raincoat is still zipped up, his wet umbrella still wide open and dripping onto the porch behind him.
βWhat?β He asks, fumbling to close the umbrella and shake it out before a stack of blankets are being shoved into his arms.
βWe are making a fort,β Eddie repeats, grinning at Steve. Heβs got his own heap of blankets bundled against his chest, and when Steve glances past his shoulder he can see that the bones of said fort are already mostly established β Wayneβs armchair has already been moved from its cozy corner of the room to now sit directly across from the couch, and the coffee table has been pushed to the side so as to not be a nuisance to the building process.
And, well, it sounds like a lot of fun, actually.
βYeah, sure, alright,β Steve replies with a huff of a laugh.
β¨
hash brown, egg yolk (i will always love you) | 2.8k | st | steddie
Six months is aΒ longΒ time to be apart. A long time to go without seeing Eddie in the flesh. Without hearing his laugh, low and melodic, right against the shell of his ear. Without hugging Eddie around the middle and hooking his chin over Eddieβs shoulder while he stands at the stove and pushes something delicious around a pan. WithoutΒ kissingΒ Eddie.
But so is the way of being married to a hotshot musician with a band that has more than made it big.
Because that's what Eddie is. And, god, Steve couldnβt be more proud.
Even if it does mean that sometimes he and Eddie have to go long stretches of time without seeing each other.
But that doesnβt matter anymore. Because Eddie isΒ homeΒ now, and heβs going toΒ be homeΒ for a while. Corroded Coffin just wrapped up the European leg of their tour (βFuckingΒ Europe, Stevie! Can you believe it!β) and theyβve been given a month before their North American leg is set to start. A whole entire month that Eddie already promised he will be spending at home with Steve.
Starting today.
β¨
stuck to the gum that's stuck on your shoe | 2.1k | st | platonic stobin
βTalk to me, Steve,β Robin says, βplease.β
And nowΒ sheΒ sounds upset, and that makes Steve feel evenΒ worse.
He doesnβt want to say it, doesnβt want to make Robin feel bad. Sheβs been so excited ever since she got that letter in the mail, going on and on about the linguistics program sheβd been accepted into, about the campus and how gorgeous it is, about the surrounding city and how much there is to do there.
Steve doesnβt want to rain on that parade more than he already has.
But he knows that sheβs going to wheedle it out of him eventually. Might as well rip the bandaid off now.
He can barely bring himself to say it. It hurts too much to acknowledge. But he does, because he has to. Because he will have to.
βYouβ you got into college, Rob. Youβre going to leave,β Steve finally tells her.Β Whispers, because if he says it too loud he thinks he might break again.
βOh, Steve,β Robin breathes.
β¨
i wish i knew how (your eyes are like starlight now) | 10.6k | st | steddie
βMistletoe!β Robin cheers, and Steveβs heart stutters so hard in his chest that he thinks it might crack his ribcage and drop right out the bottom of his stomach.
His eyes fly up, and, sure enough, there hangs one of the many sprigs hung all around the apartment. Small and inconspicuous, but unmistakable. That ridiculous little plant has no idea that itβs just turned Steveβs entire world on its axis.
Across from him, Eddieβs eyes are trained up too, big and round and wide where they stick on the mistletoe. His lips are parted in surprise, and Steve canβt help but stare and thinkΒ am I going to kiss those now?
When Eddie finally tears his gaze from the plant and lets it flicker down to Steve, a pretty pink dusting blooms across the bridge of his nose and spreads into the apples of his cheeks when he finds Steve already looking back.
Steve spares the mistletoe one last quick peek before he takes a deep breath and steels himself. This is it. He sticks his hands on his hips, aiming for casual, and asks, βWhat do you say, Munson?β
Or, Steve makes a promise, Robin likes to meddle, and the spirit of Christmas strikes (out) again. And again. And again.
(Until it doesnβt.)
β¨
under my umbrella | 5.8k | st | steddie
Steve sidles up to the bench. Munson stands at the other end of it, arms crossed tightly over his chest, glaring out at the street as if that will make the bus show up any quicker. His bangs are flat against his forehead, the rest of his long hair lank and wet over his shoulders.
He looks like a drowned cat.
So Steve holds out his umbrella. Tilts his chin and raises his eyebrows at Munson as an invitation to step under and get out of the rain.
Munson looks at the umbrella for less than a second before he turns back towards the street with a scoff. βNo thanks,β he says. βIβm good.β
βDude,β Steve says, dumbfounded.
βDude,β Munson parrots mockingly.
βYouβre really going to turn down my umbrella?β Steve asks, still holding it out.
βI really am,β Munson replies, showing all of his teeth in a rancorous smile. βNow if you donβt mind,β he adds, taking a large step forward, closer to the curb and further from Steve.
Steve lets out an indignant huff and pulls his umbrella back to himself. Only just refrains from muttering an unsavory name under his breath becauseΒ heβs a good person now.
Whatever. Let Munson get soaked. Let him freeze.
β¨
temptations of trouble | 2.8k | st | steddie
Eddie ignores the flip flopping in his stomach as he meets Steveβs gaze and fits his palms to either side of Steveβs jaw. Cradles his face likeΒ heβsΒ something special now. (Because he is.)
And then he leans in to kiss him. Right on those pretty pink lips of his.
Itβs short and sweet like it always is, but when Eddie pulls back and opens his eyes, heβs met with Steveβs, wide as fucking saucers, goggling unblinkingly back at him. He can feel Robinβs stare boring into the side of his face, can feel the tiny pinpricks of Nancyβs and Jonathanβs and Argyleβs on his back too. The whole room is quiet enough to hear a god damn pin drop.
Eddie is about to open his mouth and ask what the hell thatβs all about when it finally catches up with him.
He just fuckingΒ kissedΒ Steve fucking Harrington. On theΒ mouth.
β¨
waving down the wind | 10.3k | st | steddie
Eddie furrows his brows, and heβs about to ask Steve what heΒ didΒ come over here for, when Steve starts to shrug out of his jacket. Rolls his shoulders back and lets it slide down his upper arms.
βI came over here,β Steve starts, and he gives his arm a shake when the sleeve gets caught around his elbow. Once itβs off, he bunches his fist into the fabric of the collar. βTo give you this,β he finishes and holds out the coat.
Eddie blinks down at it. Then he looks back up at Steve. βWhat?β
Or, three times Eddie looks cold and Steve does something about it, and one time heβs toasty warm.
β¨
the world will follow after | 2.6k | st | steddie
Another glance at the clock and SteveΒ reallyΒ has to leave now. He barely has time to shove the piece of toast Eddie, so graciously, made for him (crisp, but not too crunchy, and definitely not burnt, with just the right amount of butter spread thin across the top) into his mouth before heβs running towards the door.
Heβs about two steps away from it, hand already reaching for the knob, when Eddie catches him. He gives Steve's shoulders a squeeze, then spins Steve around and reaches for his collar next, fussing with it until itβs straightened and flat. He pats Steve twice on the chest and gives him a smile.
βAll set now,β he says. Then, βhave a nice day at work.β
Steve, at the complete whim of his scrambled brain, smiles back, tells Eddie thanks, glances at his watch, curses under his breath, then leans in to kiss Eddie goodbye.
Then, just as quickly, heβs out the door and in his car and finally on his way to work.
It isnβt until heβs halfway there that it hits him what heβs just done.
He kissed Eddie Munson.
β¨
from this moment on | 3.9k | st | steddie
Steve bought the ring a year after they started dating.
It was too soon,Β wayΒ too soon, even if everything theyβd been through made it feel like theyβd known each other, like theyβd been in each otherβs corners for forever. One year was entirely too early to be putting marriage on the table, especially when they were still so young. Not to mention, Steve knew that Eddie had a rocky relationship with the concept thanks to his parents, and, truth be told, so did Steve.
But none of that really mattered. Because Steve wasΒ thatΒ in love. He was thatΒ sureΒ of them.
So he bought the ring. Without hesitation.
And he held onto it, for all this time. Heβd had a gut feeling, back in 1988. And eight years later itβs still there. Still there and stronger than ever.
β¨
can't hide the way you make us glow | 6.3k | st | steddie
βSo,β Wayne finally says and looks between them. He gestures his can from Steve to Eddie and back. βStill just friends, huh?β He deadpans.
Steve chokes on his sip of beer, and a grin cracks across Eddieβs face.
βTo the general public of Hawkins, sure,β Eddie responds smoothly, hand absentmindedly rubbing Steveβs back as he recovers.
Wayne narrows his eyes at him. βI ainβt the general public of Hawkins, now, am I?β
Eddie shakes his head. βNo, I suppose not.β
When he doesnβt elaborate any further, Wayne lifts his eyebrows expectantly.Β Out with it, boyΒ they say. He barely refrains from waving his hand in aΒ go on thenΒ motion.
βSteve and Iβ¦ weβre, uh,β Eddieβs smile turns soft around the edges, and his hand goes to Steveβs beside him, drawing it into his lap and lacing their fingers together, βweβre going steady now.β
Or, Wayne finds out that Eddie and Steve areΒ EddieandSteve.
β¨
good for my boy | 7.4k | st | steddie
Wayne lets the front door swing shut behind him, rattling and smacking into the frame audibly.
βJesus, Munson!β A voice rings out β the freezer fiendβs, and definitely not Eddieβs. βTook you god damn long enough!β The head finally pops out of the freezer. βI got tired of waiting and βΒ oh.β
The strangerβs hand slips from the handle and the freezer door thumps shut. As does the strangerβs mouth when he looks right into the face of, not Eddie Munson as expected, butΒ WayneΒ Munson.
Wayne briefly recognizes him as the Harrington boy.
or, the first time Wayne Munson meets Steve Harrington is a complete accident.
β¨
if you have a minute | 10.6k | st | steddie
They pass the cigarette back and forth for a few quiet minutes. And thereβs something about Eddieβs presence thatβs helping just as much as the nicotine.
Eddie holds the cigarette back out for Steve, blows the smoke out in a smooth, steady stream, and tilts his head. βYou working tomorrow?β He asks.
Steve shakes his head. βNot tomorrow. Why?β
Eddie pushes himself off of the wall. βGreat,β he declares and grins. βWeβre doing something then. You and me. Iβm gonna take you somewhere.β
Steveβs face scrunches. βWhat? Where?β
Eddie tuts and wags his finger. βNope, not telling you,β he says. βYouβll find out tomorrow. Meet at my place at nine. Donβt be late.β
He doesnβt give Steve a chance to argue or further question it. Just throws a little salute and turns on his heel, disappearing around the corner.
Or, the one where Steveβs anxiety doesnβt get the hint that they defeated the Upside Down, and Eddie knows just how to help.
β¨
and stars, and stars, and stars | 1.5k | st | steddie
βWhat are you even painting?β Steve questions, unable to keep himself from asking. Eddie hadnβt told him his plan when heβd first laid Steve out and gathered his brushes β just instructed Steve to stay still and let him paint, heβd see soon enough. But Steve isΒ curious, and itβs been almost an hour now.
Steve carefully tips his head to the side and presses his cheek against his folded arms, trying his best to catch a glimpse of Eddie where he sits atop the backs of Steveβs thighs, bent over his canvas in concentration. His tongue pokes out of the corner of his mouth, like it always does when heβs focusing hard enough, and a piece of hair dangles against his cheek, escaping the bandana heβd tied it back with.
βIβm painting an essence,β Eddie answers cryptically, and he draws the brush in a broad stroke, low on Steveβs back.
βAn essence?β Steve repeats. βAn essence of what?β
βAn essence of you,β Eddie says simply. The brush dots Steveβs upper back now, light little taps.
Steve doesnβt know what that means, but heβs looking forward to finding out.
β¨
i want to hold your hand | 14k | st | steddie
The film isnβt even on Steveβs radar at this point. He couldnβt say whatβs happening anymore, but he doesnβt even care. Forget Geena Davis, forget Jeff Goldblum, Steve canβt stop thinking about Eddie Munson, right there next to him, hand inches away from his own.
Steveβs pinky twitches out, like itβs got a mind of its own, towards Eddieβs hand. His heart is in his throat, breath caught behind it, as his pinky hovers, trembling. He could touch him.Β WantsΒ to touch him. To hook his pinky over Eddieβs, curl them together, maybe even link the rest of their fingers too.
Heβs never wanted to hold somebodyβs hand so bad before.
β¨
promise me nothing, live 'til we die | 2.9k | st | steddie
βYouβve seriously never had your first kiss, though?β
Eddie snorts. βWhy do you sound so disbelieving? Come on, Harrington. I donβt exactly have a long line of suitors winding out my front door, vying for my hand or anything. Nobody wants to swap spit with the local freak. They might catch something.β He gives Steve a scrutinizing look. βIβm not like you,Β King Steve.β
βIβm not worried about catching anything from you,β Steve says.
Eddie tilts his head, perplexed. βOkayβ¦ thanks?β
Steve shakes his head. βNo, I mean, if no one else wants to, I will.β
βWill what? Line up outside my door?β Eddie scoffs.
βKiss you,β Steve says and knocks all the air out of Eddieβs chest. βIβll do it.β
Eddieβs eyes have got to be as big as dinner plates as he blinks at Steve. βWhat?β
β¨
harlow gold | 4k | st | platonic steve & nancy
Nancy is pretty sure that she could talk to Jonathan about it. He knows a little something about being the black sheep, and Nancy doesnβt think he would judge her for it. But theyβd only just broken up, and while it was a mutual decision and an amicable split, she doesnβt think it would be fair to turn to him so soon after for advice about the feelings she already has for someone else.
She doesnβt have any girlfriends to talk to either. Robin is kind of the first close female friend sheβs had since Barb.
And despite this budding friendship between herself and Robin, Nancy canβt turn to Robin. Sheβs the type to ask a lot of questions, and she doesnβt give up easily. Sheβll push until she gets the answers sheβs looking for. Itβs not necessarily a bad thing, but Nancy isnβt so sure sheβs ready for that kind of inquisition. Not about this.
Which only leaves one person that Nancy trusts enough with something as delicate as this, one person whom she is comfortable enough to confide in:
Steve Harrington.
β¨
sloe gin fizzy, do it till you're dizzy | 6.7k | st | steddie
Eddie scoots down on the bed until heβs level with Steve and turns onto his side, shifting closer in the process.
The movement draws Steve, and his head lolls to the side to see what Eddie is up to.
It brings them nearly nose to nose, and Eddie goes a little bit cross-eyed focusing on Steve.
Steve doesnβt flinch away from the closeness. Just breathes and blinks. And then his eyes flicker down to Eddieβs lips and right back up, so quick that Eddieβs hazy brain would have missed it if he hadnβt been paying attention, hadnβt been anticipating it.
Eddie takes it as the invitation it has to be, and slowly, slowly closes the distance. His nose does bump into Steveβs as he enters his space, but he pauses, hesitates with his mouth hovering a hairβs breadth away from Steveβs.
He waits for the rejection, for the brutal shove away, for the disgusted βwhat the fuck man?β.
But they donβt come.
What does come is Steveβs mouth, pushing forward to press against Eddieβs.
β¨
it's my feeling we'll win in the end | 6.3k | st | steddie
Eddie thrusts his hand, fisted around the diploma, into the air like heβs god damn John Bender on the football field, and he lets out a triumphant whoop.
He hears his friends go crazy in their seats again, and when he finds them in the crowd once more he sees that Dustin has climbed up onto his chair, one hand gripping Steveβs shoulder for support while the other is pumping through the air. Heβs shouting Eddieβs name, and so is Mike, who is clapping so hard his hands must hurt. Lucas and Max each are holding one corner of a sign spelling out βEddie the Conquerorβ across the center, with hand painted flames licking around the words. It makes Eddie laugh, bright and buoyant, and he shakes the diploma through the air some more.
Eddieβs chest feels tight in the best kind of way as a sudden tidal wave of emotions body slams him, clogging his throat and forcing him to take a sharp, deep breath through his nose. His nostrils flare with it, and a hysterical sort of laugh bubbles up. Itβs just, heβs never been this happy before. Never been this proud. Never felt this good.
Heβs smiling so big that his cheeks hurt. He feels like heβs walking on fucking air. He did it, he fuckingΒ did it.
β¨
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transformative work policy:
fanart, podfics, translations, and any such creations based on my works are always welcome!! if you're not sure about something, just ask!
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