#small riots

written for @steddiemicrofic

may prompt: door | wc: 599 | rated: G | tags: Robin & Steve & Eddie friendship, pre Steddie, Eddie has a crush on Steve, he doesn't know it's mutual, chivarly isn't dead, open ending but the "to lovers" is heavily implied | also on ao3

Out of all things Eddie has learned about Steve since the start of their unlikely friendship, finding out he’s an ally was probably the biggest surprise.

And much like Steve’s shamelessly open interest in Eddie’s love life, it is both blessing and curse. Because it’s nice not to have to pretend in his presence, but it also makes pining in secret a lot harder. Especially when they’re sharing drinks and dreams in close proximity, because tipsy Steve gets touchy and tipsy Eddie has a loose tongue.

Thankfully, Robin is there as a distraction.

written for week 1 of the @steddiemicrofic july challenge

prompt: three | wc: 333 | rated: G | tags: established relationship, steve is weak for eddie's puppy eyes, eddie is a menace but steve loves him for it | also on ao3

Three years.

It's been three fucking years.

You'd think Steve has learned his lesson by now but somehow, Eddie still manages to surprise him. To catch him completely off guard and make him question everything he knows about the man he's been sharing a bed and a life with for so long.

Because when he enters their home, tired from work and ready to waste away in front of the TV for the rest of the evening, he's greeted by two pairs of puppy dog eyes.

   "Babe. What did you do?"

Eddie looks at him, all innocent and sweet.

   "His name is Dio. Well, the lady at the shelter said his former owners called him Rocky. But I like Dio more. And I think he likes it, too."

As if to agree, the dog Eddie holds in his arms starts wagging its tail, happily nuzzling and licking his face.

   "Can we- I don't know. Maybe take a few steps back so you can explain to me again why the fuck there's a dog in our house?"

Eddie has the audacity to shush him, covering the dog's ears with one hand.

   "Steve! No swearing in front of the child, please."

    The- what?

Steve's going to strangle him.

   "He's only three," Eddie says, as if that explains anything.

   "I'll ask again." Steve tries to sound annoyed but he knows he's probably failing. "Whose dog is that?"

   "He's our dog!"

Steve pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs defeated. He's weak, can't fight the power of Eddie's big, beautiful eyes when he looks at him like that.

   "I don't wanna hear a single word about it being too early, or too hot, or too rainy outside to go on walks. He's your responsibility."

written for the @corrodedcoffinfest pop-up event Metal Day

wc: 111 | rated: G | tags: corroded coffin gig, rockstar eddie, security staff steve

Metal shows are Steve's favourite because however wild people mosh to the deafening sounds, they're usually the most peaceful concerts to work at. Today's Corroded Coffin gig is extra special, but no exception to that.

He doesn't mind helping the occasional crowd surfer over the barrier, and he definitely doesn't mind the hot lead singer's obvious flirting. Doesn't care that it's deemed unprofessional to flirt back.

"Everyone cheer for me if you think the hot security guy down there should come home with me after the show," the singer commands and the crowd goes insane.

written for the @corrodedcoffinfest april microfic challenge

prompt: polaroid | wc: 599 | rated: T | tags: established steddie, childhood memories, bad parents, emotional hurt/comfort, good uncle wayne | also on ao3

Steve finds Eddie outside smoking, eyes fixed on something in his left hand. He steps close enough to peek over his shoulder, causing Eddie to flinch hard when he becomes aware of Steve's presence.

   "Sorry, didn't mean to sneak up on you. Is everything okay?"

   "I'm fine. I just- I don't know."

Eddie sighs deeply and looks back down at what Steve now notices is a polaroid. On it are two fairly young men, proudly holding fishing rods with their catch dangling from the hooks.

One of the guys looks oddly familiar and even though the long, wavy hair falling over his shoulders is deceiving, Steve recognises Wayne's gentle eyes immediately.

The resemblance between his uncle when he was younger and Eddie now, is striking. The same facial features drawing Steve's attention to the other man in the picture.

The guy is taller than Wayne, bulky, with short hair tucked under a hat, but it's clear who Steve is looking at.

   "Is that your dad?"

Eddie hums in response and Steve's heart breaks a little at the heaviness in his tone.

   " Sorry I didn't tell you. Got a letter from Wayne today. He's cleaning out the garage and found this along with some other stuff. Said he thought I might want to have it."

Steve slings both arms around Eddie's waist from behind and holds him pressed against his front for a little while, quietly waiting for the dam to break.

In all the time they've been together, all Steve's learned of Eddie's dad was that he was a troubled man, always on the run from himself and the law, never truly there for his wife and son when they needed him. He was never a father, more like a ghost that floated in and out of Eddie's life whenever he felt like it, until tragedy finally forced Eddie into Wayne's loving care.

   "Is it weird that I do want to keep it?" Eddie asks as if Steve has any say in it. "I mean. I hate him. I'll never forgive him for what he did. For not being there for me, not even when mom... you know. But he's still my dad. And having this picture kinda reminds me of where I come from. Does that make sense?"

It does. Steve knows the feeling too well. Even after the fall-out he had with his own parents a few years ago, they're still the reason for why he exists. Why he gets to have this wonderful life now, doing it different, better than they had.

That's why he still sends his mom a card for her birthday every year, not expecting anything in return, content to have grown out of the mould they tried to push him into.

   "I think that's why Wayne sent it to you. He could've just thrown it away and never tell you, but he didn't. He wanted you to have it for that exact reason."

Eddie stubs out his cigarette and turns to look at Steve, eyes wet but with a small smile on his lips.

   "Thank you. I really needed to hear that."

Steve pulls him in for a kiss and feels his boyfriend relax in his arms.

   "Baby?" Steve asks, brushing his fingers through Eddie's curls. "How old do think Wayne is in that polaroid?"

   "Somewhere in his late twenties, maybe. Why?"

   "Just trying to figure out how much time there's left before you lose all that beautiful hair."

This earns him a wholehearted laugh.

   "Will you still love me when I go bald?"

written for @steddiemicrofic

april prompt: long | wc: 692 | rated: M | tags: famous Corroded Coffin, Rockstar Eddie Munson, friendship, established steddie, sexual innuendo, (is it a soft launch when they're both hard doing it?) | also on ao3

They’re Back! Eddie Munson teases long awaited release of Corroded Coffin’s third studio album - and maybe more than that

After two years of silence, earlier today, frontman Eddie Munson went live on the band’s official instagram account. In the recording, that lasted not even a full minute, the Rockstar offered a rather intimate insight. Despite the bad lighting, attentive fans did not miss the exposed backside of someone lying next to an equally uncovered Eddie Munson. The mystery man [editor’s note: Three years ago, Munson came out as ‘raging homosexual’ (sic). Read more in the linked article here.] could be heard laughing when Eddie traced a finger over what appeared to be a bat tattoo on the small of his back, a creature often symbolically connected to the singer himself, before ending the live with the following words: Album release, April 16. Save the date.

The video has since been re-uploaded by multiple sources and sparked speculations among fans, if maybe there’ll be another, more personal announcement soon.

written for the @steddiemicrofic october prompt train

wc: 551 | rated: T | tags: pre steddie, best friend robin buckley, oblivious steve harrington, feelings realization | also on ao3

Steve shouldn't have listened to Robin but it seemed like the perfect solution at the time.

Now, he's not so sure anymore. Because Eddie still hasn't said a word, is still looking at him with these big, brown eyes and his mouth hanging open. His dumb expression is almost cute but that's not the point. The point is-

   "You want me to what?"

   "I want you to train me like a puppy and walk me around on a leash," Steve answers sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

He doesn’t miss the way Eddie's eyes grow impossibly larger, the blush on his face turning a dark crimson, and it makes him want to shake him. Ugh.

   "Come on, Eddie. Keep up! I said, I need you to pretend you’re my boyfriend. That girl is crazy. Maybe she'll finally accept that I'm not interested when she sees me with someone else."

Eddie clearly struggles for words, stammers something like 'Why me?' and 'Why not Robin?' but Steve isn't really listening, has his mind set on the plan.

   "All you gotta do is come by Family Video tomorrow and- I don't know. Maybe flirt with me and invite me over for dinner or something? Please, Eddie. You'll get free movies for a month."

Eddie rubs both hands over his face and groans. When he looks back up, he still seems unsure but Steve's lucky.

   "Alright. I'll do it."

   “Really? I could kiss you right now!” Steve says, and does. Places a big, wet kiss on Eddie’s burning cheek.

The next day, as dreaded, Janet is back. Steve notices her too late, so hiding in the staff room before she sees him, isn't an option. She comes up to him to return the movie she rented out yesterday and definitely didn’t watch.

   “So, Steve. What are you doing tonight? You’re shift ends at 8, right?”

Steve finds Robin’s gaze, wordlessly begging for help, but she’s busy with another customer, so he’s on his own.

That is, until the door opens and his knight in leather and denim walks in.

   “Hey, Stevie.”

Eddie’s voice is low and raspy, and Steve wonders if he’s always sounded like that or if he’s just putting on a show for him, no, Janet.

He leans against the counter, shoulder pushing past the girl like she isn't there, and takes Steve’s hand, thumb brushing over his knuckles

   “Can’t wait to have you all to myself tonight.”

Janet gasps outraged but Steve can’t pay her any attention. Something tugs low in his stomach when Eddie brings his hand up to his lips, not breaking eye contact.

Someone giggles, and to his horror, Steve realises it's him.

   "L-looking forward to it," he stutters, feels lightheaded when Eddie lets go.

   "See you later, sweetheart."

   "It worked!" Robin laughs, pulling him out of the haze.

   "Huh?"

   "I almost felt bad watching her storm out."

   "Uh-huh."

   "What's wrong, dingus?"

Steve looks at her and she understands before it even clicks in his own head.

   "Oh," she says.

   "Yeah, oh," he sighs.

Finding out he's fallen for Eddie was not part of the plan. And now Steve has missed his chance because Eddie thinks this was all just a joke.

Or maybe he doesn't.

written for the @corrodedcoffinfest march microfic challenge

prompt: withdraw | wc: 371 | rated: G | tags: struggling musician Eddie, established Steddie, (eventually famous) Corroded Coffin | also on ao3

Withdrawing money from their shared bank account feels wrong, almost criminal, despite a quarter of it being rightfully his.

It's not meant for spending on anything else; it's what they save up to someday get the fuck out of here. For better instruments and proper equipment to record their demo, so they can send it out to every label in hopes they'll eventually sign a deal.

They're working their asses off for this, hardly afford anything because everything they have, they put towards their music. But Eddie needs to make an exception. It's only 80 dollars; he'll ask his boss for double shifts to pay it back before the other guys will notice.

   "You look exhausted. You're working too much," Steve says and reaches for Eddie's hand across their small kitchen table.

They're having rice and beans for dinner again, just like last night and the one before. Eddie's sick of it, but it's filling and cheap, and money is tight, especially at the end of the month.

   "It's fine," he lies and gives Steve's hand a reassuring squeeze. Hopes he doesn't notice the sadness behind his strained smile.

God knows why Steve's still with him. Why he goes through all this struggle just to be with a penniless loser that keeps chasing a hopeless dream. How he still so firmly believes that it's all worth it, and that it'll pay out in the end.

   "Got you something," Eddie says once they're done doing the dishes.

   "Eddie, you didn't have to!"

   "I know." He holds out the poorly wrapped gift and hands it to Steve. "Hope you like it. Happy Birthday, baby."

The camera is used but fully functional, not the newest model, but it's the best Eddie could do.

   "Oh, baby. This is too much!"

It's not. Steve deserves so much more.

Maybe one day he’ll be able to give him the world.

   "Good evening, New York! It's great to be back!"

Eddie looks at Gareth, Frank and Jeff, and wonders if they'll ever get used to the roaring crowds.

His gaze wanders to Steve, smiling at him from the side of the stage, proudly holding his camera to document Corroded Coffin's biggest show yet.

written for the @steddiemicrofic may challenge

prompt: delay | wc: 408 | rated: T | tags: POV Robin, Robin & Steve & Eddie friendship, someone's keeping secrets, (accidental) drunken confessions

   "Wait, what? Carol and Tommy?! When?"

Robin doesn't know why she's even surprised, but this game of truth or dare has really taken a turn.

   "It was just once! At a party. Before they started dating. It didn't mean anything,” Steve plays it down, and really, who's she to judge?

    Oh, but she does, taking advantage of her best friend entitlement.

   "Dingus, you’re a slut. Anyone ever told you that? I love you, but you're the worst."

She knows he’s not. Knows deep down he’s longing for the real thing. Real love, he deserves more than anyone. Still, he doesn’t object, just shrugs, and smiles his dopey, tipsy smile.

Next to her, Eddie snorts loudly, seemingly overcome by drunken giddiness.

   "What's it like to be the only person Steve hasn't made out with, Buckley?"

Robin's about to answer when she catches the shocked look Steve shoots their friend, whose face instantly turns a deep shade of red. There's something off about the way they stare at each other like two scared deer trying to have a silent conversation, they don't want her to be part of.

She doesn’t get it at first. Her brain’s lagging, unable to put two and two together until the words have finally, fully sunken in and delayed realisation hits her.

How did she not see it before?

   "You tryin’ to tell me something, Munson?”

   "I, uh, I mean-"

The poor guy's struggling hard and maybe, under different circumstances, she'd have mercy and let it go. But right now, curiosity wins.

   "Robin?" Steve interrupts. "Ask me again."

   "What?"

   "The game. I want another turn."

His demand throws her off but she complies anyway.

   "Alright, Steve. Truth or dare?"

Robin fully expects him to choose truth again, ready to confess what she thinks she's already figured out. But instead of talking, Steve shifts forward and grabs Eddie by his shirt, pulls him in and kisses him unprompted. Right on the mouth. And Eddie, with no hesitation whatsoever, kisses him back.

Like it's normal, familiar. Like they've done this many times before.

Because, undoubtedly, they have.

She can't even be mad at them for keeping this a secret, because the look they share when they part is so soft, so full of love, it melts her heart.

They’re so disgustingly cute together, it makes her sick with happiness.