Rating: M š Words: 2.4k š Tags: Friends to lovers, Soft and sweet, Mutual pining, Feelings confessions
šPrompts for:
@steddiebingo Stranded
@steddiesmuttyseptember Motel
@softsteddieseptember Friends to Lovers
Ao3
āFuck,ā Steve swore under his breath. A little red light had just flashed to life on his dashboard and they were still three hours from home. He looked around for someplace to pull over just as the power steering went out. Hand over hand, he yanked the unyielding steering wheel to the right and rolled into motel parking lot, just barely making into an actual parking spot. He took a deep breath and looked over to Eddie sitting quietly in the passenger seat.
He popped the hood and they both got out, circling to the front to take a look. Steve released the hook and lifted the hood up, only for them to jump back when a billow of heat hit them hard in the face, the hood slamming shut. Steve pinched the bridge of his nose, breathing deep, trying so very hard to keep his cool. Eddie leaned in the driverās door and popped the latch again.
āYou got any coolant in the trunk?ā Eddie asked.
Steve sighed, āNo, I used the last of it to fill up for this trip.ā
Eddie nodded, āMust have a leak. Got any jugs of water?ā ā Steve shot him a glare ā āIāll take that as a no. Well, we need to cool it down, so itās either that or wait it out.ā
āSure, but then weāll just overheat somewhere else, probably in the middle of nowhere.ā Steve spun around, taking in the closing businesses around them. āMaybe we just ask to be let in one of the rooms to get some water? We can fill up the pile of empty 2-liters. Hopefully, theyāll get us back to Hawkins tonight.ā
The attendant wouldnāt budge on just letting them in a room to fill up their bottles, forcing Steve to hand over his emergency credit card to rent the room for the night. Steve grumbled all the way back to the car, muttering to himself about poor customer service and that if he treated someone like that in his job, heād be getting a talking to about being kind and courteous.
Eddie let him stew as he got the room unlocked, propping the door open, and going back to help Steve gather up all the empties from the back seat. They got the first bottle filled up in the tub, poured it over the engine and in the radiator, and went back to fill all the bottles for the rest of their drive.
Eddie was sitting on the edge of the tub, handing a filled bottle to Steve. āHow ābout we actually use the room for the night? You already paid for it.ā
Steve handed Eddie another empty and screwed the lid on the filled one. āYeah, I was thinking the same. I donāt really want to make the rest of the drive in the dark if weāre gonna have to keep pulling over to let it cool. Maybe we can even find an Autozone between here and Hawkins. Get some actual coolant. Okay, you finish these, Iāll go bring in the bags.ā
Steve dumped the bags on the bed and went back out for the cooler theyād kept full of sandwich fixings: sliced meats and cheeses, peanut butter and jelly, reeseās peanut butter cups because Eddie insists theyāre better cold, though Steve is fine either way.
Dusk had fallen hard and Steve was a little relieved to be staying the night. This was the last leg of their mini road trip back from Steveās family reunion in Pennsylvania and he was tired.
Heād been driving for ten hours after theyād stayed up waaay too late drinking with his cousins around the bon fire and then a long brunch that morning. Technically, neither were scheduled to work for a couple more days so they werenāt in a rush home, but Steve had wanted a few days with Dustin before he headed off to his first year as a camp counselor at nerd camp. Steve just knew that the kid was going to spend the first half hour of their Epic Weekend of Steve and Dustin complaining about having to make cuts to his meticulous list of activities that was probably already too long.
Steve breathed out a laugh as he shut and locked the door, pulling the curtains shut tight across the window. He loved that kid, but sometimes he wished his attitude had simmered down with time. But if he was chill, he wouldnāt be their Dustin.
āWhatās the joke?ā Eddie asked, lining up the bottles like little soldiers on top of the dresser.
Steve smiled over at him, āJust picturing Dustinās tantrum when we get home tomorrow instead of tonight.ā
Eddie chuckled. āOh, you mean when he whips out his notebook of his list of activities for you two and starts dramatically crossing things off?ā ā he switched to a high pitched voice mimicking Dustinās ā āAnd there goes letting you teach me how to play basketball! I got a ball and everything! Not anymore! Oh, if only youād been back on time!ā
Eddie cackled at his own impression, falling back on the bed, hair splaying out, hand resting above his head. He looked up at Steve grinning, and just like how the rest of the trip had gone, Steve couldnāt not grin back. He was even almost used to the way his belly flipped when he saw Eddie so unabashedly happy. Almost.
āYeah, right,ā Steve scoffed, looking down to pull his pajama pants out of his bag. āIāll make you a bet. If thatās really on his list, youāre filling in for it. Weāll hit up the courts while heās gone and you can amaze him with your wonderskills when he gets back.ā
āOoooh, you just wanna make the kid jealous.ā Eddie laughed, catching his own pjās Steve threw at his face. āYou know we can do that even without the bet? You know, if you wanna just hang out? Though, I bet thatās what heād be really jealous about. His best friend and his best DM getting so close without him. How dare we!ā
Steve shucked his jeans, pulling on fleece pants, and tossed their bags to the floor, his jeans going on the floor next to them. Eddie refused to get off the bed to change and wiggled around switching out his own jeans for his own Garfield fleece pants. He flopped back, winded.
āDid I tell you he called before we left on Friday?ā Steve asked, opening the cooler to make sandwiches.
āUh, no you did not! What did he say? Was he dramatic?ā
Steve chuckled, spreading the peanut butter all the way to the edges of the bread to keep Eddie from complaining about the crusts. āPretty much exactly what youād expect. How dare I not ask him to go. How dare I invite you to meet my whole family before he gets to first. Tried to tell him his mom said no, but it was like talking to a wall. And then he demanded that I fill him in on everything that happened this weekend.ā
Eddie hummed. āEverything?ā
Steve handed him his sandwich. āYep. Not sure how exciting he thinks a family reunion gets.ā
āWell, considering I think he was truly flabbergasted that you actually have a large family, Iām sure heāll eat up any little details you give him.ā
āYeah? Should I tell him you played D&D with my cousins?ā
Eddie squawked, crumbs spewing everywhere. āThat wasnāt my fault! And you said youād take that to the grave!ā
Steve laughed. He had no plans on telling Dustin anything about Eddie playing D&D with his nerdier cousins, but he loved- liked when Eddie got all dramatic and flail-y. āOoooh, right, I did say something like that, didnāt I? I donāt know, I just think heād find it really interesting. You seemed to really like Chrisā story telling.ā
āWell, I did. But itās like I betrayed everyone back home! So, to the grave, Steve.ā
āOkay okay, I wonāt tell.ā He huffs a laugh, sitting on the bed with his own sandwich stuffed full with the last of their meats and cheese. āThough, my two cents? Totally not a betrayal to just play around while on vacation. And if the kids or guys are babies over it, let me know.ā
āAww, Stevie, you gonna defend my honor by giving them a good olā talkinā to?ā
Steve huffed out a laugh through his nose as he took a too big bite of his sandwich. āIf I have to,ā he said around his mouth full of food.
They finished their dinner in companionable silence. Eddie grabbed the bathroom first to wash up and then flipped on the TV, twisting the knob to look for a station with anything good on. Of course, there was literally nothing on, so Steve took his turn in the bathroom.
Standing there in the little room, dim bulb lighting him up in the mirror, he got lost in thought brushing his teeth. Because it wasnāt like heād set out with the specific goal to tell Eddie how he felt during their mini vacation away. But he had just kinda thought something would happen. Organically. Effortlessly.
And sure, there were moments where Steve couldāve said something. But then some family member would walk in and the moment would be gone.
Besides, if Steve were being perfectly honest inside his own head, heād really been hoping Eddie would make the first move. Eddie was the one who started the flirting all the way back during the worst spring break ever, so Steve thought it made sense that Eddie would also move things forward passed flirting.
But Eddie hadnāt. Which must mean Steveās been reading it all wrong the whole time. Maybe Eddie really is just a touchy dude. Maybe none of it has meant anything except what Steve wanted it to mean. Or maybe itās just different with guys. Lots of flirting, no follow through. Steve sighed, spat out his toothpaste, and left the bathroom, leaving the light on with the door cracked.
Eddie was tucked under the blankets and had turned out all the lights except the one on Steveās side of the bed. Steve slid in under the blankets, reaching over to turn off the light, which didnāt really plunge them into darkness like Steve fancifully thought it should. Light shone through and around the curtain from the parking lot, a parking lot which clearly doubled as a football stadium with how bright it was lit up.
Eddie lay alongside him, mere inches separating their arms, yet Steve felt farther from Eddie than he had all weekend and they hadnāt even shared a bed at his grandmaās! Eddie shuffled around, rolling away from Steve, returning to his back, turning to face Steve just to roll right back to his other side.
āEddie?ā Steve whispered. āYou good over there, man?ā
āUgh, nooo.ā Eddie flopped back dramatically. āI canāt get comfortable. I donāt know, the bedās too hard or something.ā
Steve chuckled quietly, āLike that princess, dude. Maybe thereās a grape under the mattress.ā
Eddie laughed low, energy seeming to seep out of him. He rolled to face Steve. āThink it was a pea under, like, a huge pile of mattresses.ā
āEh, pea, grape, theyāre both tiny balls. Whoās feeling any of them under all that.ā
Silence rang across the mattress. Steve dared to meet Eddieās eyes and they both broke. Cackling, Steve face palmed, trying to hold himself together as Eddie hid his face in his pillow, laughing so hard Steve wasnāt sure he was able to breath. As his laughter slowed, Steve felt the earlier tension between them release.
Eddieās face was red when he finally looked back at Steve. Steve smiled at him in the low light. Their knees touching and Eddieās hair all over the pillow, a warmth spread through Steve.
āSteve,ā Eddie said, his voice low. He slid his hand from under the blanket and seemed to hesitate, fingers resting lightly on the bed halfway between them.
āEddie,ā Steve said, almost pleadingly. Just wanting- needing something to change, for Eddie to take a chance, to move them forward into something amazing. Steve wished he could make himself do it, but what if he was wrong? How could he take that chance? After everything heād been through, all the heartache, all the crushed hopes and dreams. No, he couldnāt bridge the gap, but he could wait.
āSteve,ā Eddie whispered across their pillows, his eyes taking in Steveās face, his poised body, his hitched breaths. āYouāve gotta give me a sign here, sweetheart. Something, anything. I need to know you-ā
āI do.ā Steve said, cutting Eddie off. His body vibrated, his heart pounded, it felt like the very blood in his veins crackled and sparked. Heād spent so long restraining himself, he didnāt know how to finally release himself from his own chains. āPlease, Eddie. Iāve liked you for so long, I lo-ā
Eddie rolled over Steve, firmly cupping his neck and kissing him hard in one swift motion. Eddie slid a leg between Steveās, kissing him deep, licking deep. Steveās heart fluttered, heat pooling low in his belly, he rolled up against Eddieās thigh, writhing against the weight of Eddie above him. Steve gasped against Eddieās mouth, āEddie.ā
āYeah, sweetheart. Youāre so perfect, fuck.ā He peppered kisses along Steveās cheeks, slowing down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss against his forehead. Steve panted as his heart exploded just a little bit, he kind of felt like crying at the sweet gesture. āSteve. Iāve wanted you for so long, sweetheart. I just always pictured our first kiss, our first time, being...softer, slower. I donāt want to rush you, baby.ā
Steve shook his head, eyes prickling. He clasped his fingers behind Eddieās neck, bringing their foreheads together. āNot rushing, I swear. I just- I think no matter what, itāll be perfect because itās us.ā
āSteve,ā Eddie said, his voice filled with soft reverence, bright eyes shining down at Steve. Steve tilted up, pulling him down into a slow kiss. Time slowed as they moved together, hands brushing skin, lips parting only to suck in breathy gasps.
Afterwards, within the quiet humming of the room, they lay pressed together, limbs intertwined as if to become one. Drifting off, nose pressed close to Eddieās shoulder, Steve was suddenly incredibly grateful for overheating cars and rude motel employees for giving them the first night of the rest of their life together.
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WC: 1327; Rating: T; Tags: Omega Steve, Alpha Eddie, pregnant Steve, fluff, tooth-rotting fluff. Inspired by a wonderful prompt from the mega-creative @moonjelly69, and for @softsteddieseptember week 2 prompt, first date,ā
This fic can be read standalone or as a sequel to my previous @softsteddieseptember fic, āBun in the oven' (read on tumblr, on ao3) Ā
ā¦
āAw, Eddieācheck out that wolfie in the claw machine. He looks just like you!ā
It was ten minutes into Eddieās first date with Steve.
Okay, to be fair, they werenāt actually āonā the date yet. Theyād not made it to the diner, because Steve insisted that they drop the kids off at the arcade first, which was fine with Eddie. Then Steveāin all his seven-months pregnant gloryāwanted to trot in after them and check they were all okay, which was fine with Eddie too.
It was particularly fine because, by the time Steve caught up, Dustin and co had knuckled down to beating their top scores on Golden-axe and Contra. To the noisy soundtrack of bleeps, bloops and cussing kids, Steveās knuckles brushed the back of Eddieās, and Eddie grasped the Omegas fingers. Suddenly, like a couple of fourth graders, they were holding hands.
And nobody noticed, stuck their fingers down their throats and made gagging noises. Not even that little shit Mike Wheeler.
Then Steve spotted something he fancied in the arcadeās creaky, retro-looking claw machine.
He tugged Eddie over, pointing at a stuffed wolf. Specifically, at a goofy-looking wolf with its snout squashed up against the glass. Itād gotten goggly eyes, a lolling tongue, and⦠a badass mane of jet-black totally metal rocker hair. Like, wtf?
āHe looks just like you!ā Steve giggled his head-off and then⦠Ugh, he went in for the kill with a pout. āYou gonna win him for me?ā
āHuh? Yeah, okay, if you want. Anything for my Babygirl.ā
Steveās pretty Babygirl eyes grew stupid levels of huge and round. Then he rose on tiptoes and nibbled soft lips against Eddieās that made every part of Eddie tingle and glow. āGo get me my wolfy, Alpha.ā
Once Eddie had stopped grinning at Steve as goofily as the stuffed wolf, he rubbed his paws together. Game on. How hard could it be?
A pocketās worth of change later, and Steve was laughing so hard that Will got worried, bringing him over a chair and a bottle of water. Eddieāonce assured Steve was fineā started to lose his shit. Heād won Steve a mini Snoopy that would look cute in the pupās crib, so that proved he wasnāt a total loser. Trouble was, the goddamn machine was rigged! Getting a grip on any of the larger toys was impossible. Three times heād clenched the claw around that dumb wolf, creaked the juddering crane toward the chute.
Each time, the machine conked out before he could drop the dipshit stuffed animal down the tunnel. Money gone. Time up.
āYou do!ā Eddie rounded on the Omega, barely containing a snarl. A red veil slammed down in front of his eyes. Not because he was angry with Steve, but because his Omega wanted the toy, and he was gonna provide or die trying.
āYou are getting your wolfie,ā said Eddie, softer now, not wanting to scare Steve, and very gently, steering him away from the devilish device. āI do not like to lose a campaign of war, and I am not letting this pile of junk beat me. The problem here is that I havenāt gotten my tools of the trade, so Iām gonna go fetch some lock-picking gear from the van. Nobody will notice or care⦠apart from possibly Keith.ā He peeped over to where the arcade supervisor hovered in the door of his office, munching a packet of crisps. āHeās a slippery one, so thatās where you come in. Could you, uh, go chat to him or something?ā
āIām an ex-jock, Eddie. He hates my guts.ā
āHeās a wasp to everyone, Sweetheart, and heās been drooling after you for years. Trust me. Go ask him a question or something. Anything. Dumber the better. Iāll be in and out of the claw machine in a gnatās heartbeat.ā
Steve gawked at him, mouth forming a perfect āoā. āYouāre seriously asking me to..? Okay, screw it. Iām in. If Keith thinks Iām flirting or something, you will have to murder him.ā
āDeal.ā Eddie shot off, teeth gritted with single-minded determination. Keith was a Beta, and heād never make a move on an Alphaās territory, let alone Eddieās. Steve was definitely safe, and if Eddieās Omega wanted something, his Omega was gonna damn well have it.
However, when he was throwing all his kit out of the back of the van, growling at his inability to find his tools amid the chaos, the reality check hit hard.
He was roping Steve into committing petty larceny on their first date.
This was beyond cuckoo bonkers insane.
He could picture Wayne standing in front of him, placid and unjudging as ever save the merest shake of his head. His uncle would remind him of basic sex-ed, let alone everything heād learned in recent weeks since Wayne took in homeless, pregnant Steve.
For an Alpha like Eddie, being around an Omega he was crazy about like Steve, had serious consequences. Before they were even officially courting, Eddie had found himself desperate to build Steve a nest, to feed the Omega, and ensure he was always comfy and cosy. First dates famously sent Alphaās pheromones into a wild tizzy. Another well-known possible danger was over-zealous urges to buy expensive gifts and nest items that werenāt always neededā¦
ā¦or, in Eddieās case, the urge to break into a claw machine and steal a stuffed wolf with rocker hair simply because the Omega pouted cutely at him.
Eddie cringed and lightly bit his fist. He took a deep breath and tossed everything back into the van.
In the door of the arcade, he almost collided with Steve waddling out. With the stuffed wolf tucked under his arm and Snoopy spilling out of a pocket.
Steve batted his lashes.
Eddie rolled back onto the chunky heels of his knock-off Doc Martens. āWhut!?! how the f..?ā
Steve took Eddieās hand so tenderly the remnants of Eddieās brain disintegrated to mush. āItās all right, Eddie. I remembered how Alphas could go a bit gaga on first dates and... Look, I shouldnāt have teased you, okay? Iām sorry.ā
Steve was so sweet and understanding. And how the heck did he get the wolf? Eddie hardly cared. His heart was so stuffed with feels it ached and throbbed. He forced himself to focus as Steve, leading him back toward the van, explained heād simply slipped Keith a dollar bill and dangled the prospect of Eddie selling discounted weed. Which they both knew was never gonna happen, as Eddie had quit dealing and was going legit with a bar job.
āWasnāt gonna risk ending our first date with you in jail,ā said Steve. āOh, and now I can snuggle with my wolfie in the nest, so I guess I donāt need you and youāre back on the couch, Munson⦠Eeeee!ā
That red veil had slammed down in front of Eddieās eyes once more. This time, his Alpha urge was to swing his Omega up in his arms and plaster that pretty, snarky mouth with a kiss, licking and caressing, until Steve parted his lips with a soft giggling sigh.
When the lingering kiss finally ended, Steve lolled dazedly, dabbing swollen lips. āThat was a start-of-date kiss?ā he panted, cheeks flushed bright pink. āI reckon I could get used to crazy Eddie.ā
Carefully, adoringly, Eddie popped his Omega back on his feet. āNo more dumb craziness,ā he vowed. He helped Steve onto the van seat, strapped in his precious load, and kissed the Omegaās glowing cheek.
The most apeshit idea yet struck: Is a first actual date too soon to tell somebody youāre pretty darn sure theyāre your soulmate?
Possibly. Didnāt wanna scare Steve off. As he hurried around to the driverās seat, he settled on baby steps and on topping that kiss with a show-stopping end-of-date oneā¦
steddie | rating: t | wc: 3,8k | cw: mention of throwing up | tags: pre-season 4, different first meetings, eddie is afraid of heights, steve is a sweetheart, holding hands, first kiss
for week one of @softsteddieseptember using the prompt āfacing your fearsāĀ
read on ao3 here
Jeff and Gareth stumble out of the Ferris Wheel and Eddie snorts out a laugh.Ā Ā
Jeff is struggling to keep them both upright as Gareth leans all of his weight on him, his face alarmingly green. Jeff manages to get them to the picnic table where Eddie is sitting without Gareth barfing but when he plops down next to Eddie he scoots away, putting some distance between them just in case.Ā
āShouldnātāve gone on the Ferris Wheel after swallowing three fucking corn dogs, Gare,ā Eddie sniggers, taking a drag of the cig heād been smoking while his two friends were spinning fifty feet from the ground.Ā
āDonāt-ā Gareth mumbles, cutting himself off with a gagging sound that makes Eddie sit on top of the table just to put more space between them. āDonāt mention corn dogs. Or food,ā he finishes meekly, hunching forward and burying his face in his hands.Ā Ā
Jeff gives him a pat on the shoulder. āItās your fault, man,ā he tells Eddie, who gasps, affronted by the accusation. āIf you didnāt fuck off to go take a piss then Gareth wouldnātāve had to go on it with me.āĀ
Eddie shrugs, the cigarette dangling from his lips. āWhatcha want me to say, Jeff? When you gotta go, you gotta go.āĀ
(The truth is Eddie didnāt have to go.Ā
He lied about it and then wandered around the fairgrounds aimlessly until he was certain Jeff and Gareth had gone on the Ferris Wheel.
Because Eddie isĀ terrifiedĀ of heights, a fact no one but his uncle is aware of given how cool and unmetal it is.)
āUgh,Ā IĀ gotta go,ā Gareth grumbles, stumbling over to some bushes before throwing up all over them.Ā
Eddie recoils with a grimace. āDude!āĀ Ā
Gareth pulls himself together. He wipes his mouth and glares at him over his shoulder. āShut up, Ed, you wouldnāt be doing any better if it wasĀ youĀ who went up-ā He pauses, narrowing his eyes at Eddie. āWait, how come Iāve never seen you go on the Ferris Wheel?āĀ
Oh crap.Ā
āIāve been on it,ā Eddie shrugs, lying as convincingly as he can. āMany times.ā
Jeff studies him curiously. āNo, no, Gare, is right. Weāve been coming here for three years and youāve never been on it with us!ā
āIāve been on it,ā Eddie insists. āJust you know with other people.āĀ
They both snort. āOh yeah?ā Jeff asks. āWho?āĀ
āYeah, Eddie, you donāt have any other friends,ā Gareth adds.Ā
āI do!ā Eddie protests, waving his hands like it will make names appear out of thin air. āI have Freak!ā
Jeff raises an eyebrow. āWhatās his real name?āĀ
āUh-ā Eddie shrugs. āFreak?āĀ
Gareth shakes his head. The color is back on his face but Eddie wishes heād go back to hurling his guts out. āIf I didnāt know any better, Eddie, Iād say youāre afraid to go on it.āĀ
āPfffft,ā Eddie slaps his knee with a laugh. āI amĀ not.ā
āProve it then,ā Gareth says, crossing his arms over his chest.
āWhat?āĀ
āGo on the Ferris Wheel now.ā
āUh, can I finish my cig first?ā Eddie asks, trying to stall.
But his friends wonāt let him. āNo,ā they say at the same time.Ā
Well, shit.
āUgh, fiiiiiine,ā Eddie says, throwing his arms up in a tantrum before snuffing the cig against the table.
He stands up and, flanked by his two friends, starts walking towards the Ferris Wheel. As he does, he considers the pros and cons of fleeing- heās gotten very good at running from people and neither Gareth nor Jeff are as quick as some of the jocks heās had to outrun before.
But Eddie realizes he might not need to run away when they reach the line just as the guy manning the ride opens the last car to let the last two people in.
āWonāt you look at that!ā Eddie whirls around, clapping his hands together. āItās full! Oh well, thereās always next year!āĀ
He throws his arms around Jeff and Gareth and starts dragging them away. Only for them to stop in their tracks when thereās a voice behind them.Ā
āWe have one spot left!ā The guy announces. āOne spot left! Who wants to ride?āĀ
Gareth whirls around. āHe does!ā He says, pointing at Eddie who curses inwardly. āHeāll do it. Right, Eddie?āĀ
Through gritted teeth, Eddie muttersĀ āif you insistāĀ because what other fucking choice does he have?
He makes his way to the front of the line like a man stepping into the gallows, jaw clenched and hands balled up into fists at his sides pausing again just as heās about to get on.Ā
Because sitting on the Ferris Wheel car is no other than Steve fucking Harrington.
He wants to do this evenĀ lessĀ now knowing that Harrington will be sitting next to him as he tries not to shit his pants. The last thing he wants is the King of Hawkins High to go around sharingĀ thatĀ with everyone.
āDude, are you getting in or not?ā The guy asks when Eddie just stands there, an annoyed tilt to his voice.Ā
Eddie glances over his shoulder to find Gareth and Jeff giving him two thumbs up, matching smirks on their faces. He flips them off, ignoring the scandalized gasp from a mother waiting in line with her son.Ā
Then he glances back at the car- at Harrington, who is staring at him with an impatient bitchy look. The King probably isnāt happy about sharing a Ferris Wheel car with the Freak.
Yeah, well, the feeling isĀ fuckingĀ mutual.Ā
āYeah, yeah, Iām going in,ā Eddie says anyway, sliding into his seat. He does his best to ignore Harrington as the guy lowers the safety bar on their laps- as well as the dread that has settled on his belly.Ā
It only grows as they start moving.Ā
āEnjoy your ride,ā the guy tells them with fake cheerfulness.Ā
Eddie fights the urge to flip him off too.Ā
āFuck,ā he mutters, grabbing the safety bar with a death grip as their car starts to rise. They keep rocking back and forth and Eddieās stomach falls out of his ass every time. āFuck me.āĀ
Next to him, Harrington lets out a snort. āAt least buy me dinner first, Munson.ā
Eddie snaps his head towards him- Harrington is leaning back against his seat with a smirk, seemingly not caring at all about the fact that theyāre about to be thirty feet from the ground.Ā Asshole.
āHardy-har-har, Harrington,ā Eddie says through gritted teeth, trying not to let his voice waver.
As far as comebacks go, itās a lame one and Harrington must notice. āGeez, man. Are you okay?āĀ
āYeah, Iām- Iām fine.āĀ
Harrington glances down at Eddieās hands on the safety bar with a pointed look. āReally? Because you look like youāre trying to snap that bar in half.ā
Eddie glances down and sees that heās white-knuckling the safety bar. He loosens his hold a little. āIām fine,ā he says, voice clipped. āMind your own business, Your Majesty.āĀ
āChrist, Munson, whatās your problem?ā Harrington huffs out a sound halfway between a grunt and a laugh. āAnd donāt call me that. You donāt hear me calling you Freak.ā
To Eddie, theyāre not the same. He thought someone like Harrington would enjoy being reminded about his popular status in high school- even if Eddieās tone is mocking. But it seems the whole King thing struck a nerve.
āMy problem is-ā Eddie starts, meaning to tell Harrington that itās him even if Eddie hasnāt had a problem with him in particular since he graduated but then their car jerks and his words trail off into a whimper.Ā
āThis fucking deathtrap, shit. Okay, Iām not fine,ā he admits, eyes screwed shut as they reach the top. āI'm like terrified of heights, okay? Which is fucking lame and super unmetal of me so go ahead, laugh it up.ā
He waits to hear it- Harringtonās laugh but thereās only silence.Ā
Eddie peeks at him through one eye.
āIām not gonna do that,ā Harrington says, his eyebrows knitted in a way thatās frankly kinda cute.Ā
Cute? Jesus Christ, Eddie, not the time.
āWhy not?ā He asks. āItās what you jocks do.ā
āYeah, well, I havenāt been a jock for a while, man.ā
Eddie guesses thatās true. Even before he graduated, Harrington had stopped being a jock under Eddieās definition of the word. He still played basketball, but he didnāt pick on Eddie or the other nerds and now heās not laughing at him for being afraid of heights even though if the roles were reversed Eddie would probably get a few laughs in himself.Ā
Maybe he should cut Harrington some slack.
āWhy are you riding the Ferris Wheel anyway?ā He asks after a short silence. āIf you donāt like heights?āĀ
AnotherĀ mind your own businessĀ rests at the tip of Eddieās tongue but he did just say heād cut him some slack. Besides, Eddie is slowly realizing that talking to Harrington is helping keep him distracted from where they are right now.Ā
āWell, my friends think Iām scared-ā
āYou are,ā Harrington interjects with a smirk.
āYeah, yeah, I am,ā Eddie accepts with an eye roll even if he feels his mouth tick up. āButĀ theyĀ donāt need to know that, I have a reputation to uphold.āĀ
āWith your friends?ā
āWith my friends, the school.ā Eddie clicks his tongue. āĀ Society.ā
Harrington snorts out a startled sort of chuckle, eyebrows raised in amusement. āWell, I wonāt tell society,ā he says with a conspiratorial smile. āYour secretās safe with me.āĀ
He bumps their shoulders together and it makes the car tip forward. Eddie bites down on a very embarrassing scream. Harrington grimaces. āShit, sorry.āĀ
āWhy are you- why areĀ youĀ riding the Ferris Wheel?ā Eddie asks. āYou canāt possibly enjoy this, man.ā
āItās not so bad,ā Harrington shrugs. āI like the view, especially at sunset.ā
āAh,ā Eddie smiles teasingly. āI bet you bring all the pretty girls up here, hold their hand if they get scared.āĀ
Harrington raises an eyebrow at him. āAre you suggesting I hold your hand, Munson?āĀ
Is he?Ā Eddie looks down at Steveās hands. Theyāre nice hands and Eddie has to admit that the thought of holding one of them right now doesnāt exactly make him want to jump off this car.Ā
It makes his heat build in his cheeks actually. āFuck off, no, Iām-āĀ
āBecause I would,ā Harrington interjects, āif you wanted me to.āĀ
Eddieās eyes go wide. āI- uh. You- no, you wouldnāt.āĀ
Harrington tilts his head, watching Eddie with a mixture of amusement and something else. If Eddie didnāt know any better heād say Harrington finds it endearing- how nervous Eddie is.Ā What the hot fuck?
Harrington holds out his hand, palm up, in the space between them.Ā
Eddie can only stare at it like itās going to bite him or like Harrington is going to jerk it back and laugh at him for falling for the joke. He does neither. He wiggles his fingers and Eddie, who might be oxygen-deprived from the height, lets go of the bar with one hand, wipes it on his jeans, and grabs Harringtonās.Ā
He links their fingers together loosely and gives Eddie a little half-smirk, half-smile that he bets left a girl or two giggling back in the day. Right now it makes Eddieās heart stutter in a wildly different way than being this far from the ground does.Ā
The ground, which is currently far, far away. Shit. The reminder makes him grip Harringtonās hand tighter and itās really nice- warm and soft instead of cold and hard like the safety bar. Eddie looks down at their joined hands, and focuses on that- on how big Steveās hand is and how many freckles are dusted over the back of it, how he doesnāt seem to mind that Eddieās rings are probably digging painfully into his skin with how hard heās holding on to him.Ā
āBetter?ā
āYeah,ā Eddie admits with a shaky laugh. āUm, thanks, man, for not laughing and like, not being a dick about this.āĀ
āYeah, well, Iām trying to be less of a dick these days.ā
āAnd howās that working out for ya?āĀ
Harringtonās nose scrunches up. āIām alone at the Ferris Wheel, Eddie, so what do you think?āĀ
Eddie chuckles. āOh, so what am I? Chopped liver?ā
āNo!ā Harrington counters quickly. āJust not who I thought Iād end up riding the Ferris Wheel with.ā
āOh how you wound me, Steve,ā Eddie says with an exaggerated pout.Ā
āShut up, youāre the one whoās wounding me,ā he says playfully, using his free hand to gesture at where his other one is still trapped by Eddieās. āThink youāre cutting off circulation to my hand.āĀ
Eddie loosens his hold a little, his cheeks pinking up again. āFuck, sorry.āĀ
āItās okay,ā Steve says, giving it a squeeze. āRobin and I went to see this gross movie once calledĀ The ThingĀ and Iām pretty sure I almost lost all my fingers from how hard she was gripping my hand.āĀ
Eddie blinks. āRobin Buckley? From band?ā He asks and Steve nods. āI didnāt know you two were friends or is it- are you two like-āĀ
Jesus, why do you even care, Munson? Talk about minding your own business.Ā
āOh no,ā Steve replies even if Eddie didnāt finish the question. āI love Robin, but sheās just my friend. My best friend. Itās tectonic.āĀ
Eddie tilts his head. āDo- do you mean platonic?āĀ
āYeah, that,ā Steve says, snapping his fingers and shooting a single finger gun in his direction. āSheās actually down there somewhere with- um, with someone else.āĀ
āOh, Steve,ā Eddie says, shaking his head. āYouāre third-wheeling your band nerd best friend? How the mighty have fallen truly.āĀ
Steve groans, throwing his head back but not before Eddie sees how his mouth twitches. āIt gets worse, dude. Iām also here babysitting a bunch of fourteen-year-olds who are also nerds. Except for Max, sheās cool, she doesnāt play that- dorks and dweebs game the others are obsessed with.ā
āHold on, Iām sorry, do you mean Dungeons and Dragons?ā Eddie sputters, trying to wrap his head around everything heās learning about Steve- horror movie enjoyer, nerd-sympathizer, a babysitter who sort of knows what Dungeons and Dragons is.
Steve purses his lips. āI think I like my name better.ā
āSure, buddy,ā Eddie says with a snort. āWell, Iām sorry to inform you that I run an after-school club for that game so by hanging out with me your cool-o-meter just took an even bigger nose dive.ā
āWell, goddamn it, Munson,ā Steve says jokingly.Ā
āBet you wish you got stuck with a pretty girl instead of me, huh, big boy?ā
Steve falters at the name that truth be told slipped out of Eddieās mouth without him realizing. A slight pink tinge shades his cheeks.
Itās nothing compared to the deep shade of red Eddieās cheeks turn when Steve says, āActually being stuck with a pretty boy is fine by me.ā
A nearly hysterical laugh rushes from Eddieās lips before he can help it. āA pretty- uh. What?ā His heart is doing summersaults in his chest and Eddie tries hard to get it to calm down. Steve could be fucking with him.Ā Fuck, is he?Ā āAre you- Steve.Ā Harrington. Are you fucking with me? āCause you mightāve graduated and you might not be a jock anymore but I know you know what your teammates called me, man, you know Iām- and you fucking with me like that isĀ notĀ cool-ā
āWoah, Eddie, hey. Iām not,ā Steve assures him, pretty brown eyes wide like a startled deer. āItās true, okay? YouĀ areĀ pretty.ā
Oh.Ā
An ugly strangled noise escapes Eddie. āOh. Okay. Uh.ā
Steve runs a hand through his hair and shifts nervously in the seat. āFuck, just forget I said that, I didnāt want to make things weird, okay? Just- yeah, forget it.ā
āWho says I want to?āĀ
Steveās eyebrows meet in the middle.Ā Cute, Eddie thinks again. Oh, maybe itĀ wasĀ the time after all. āUm, your face, man? You look like I splashed you with water and then threw a toaster at you or something.āĀ
āThatās- thatās actually a good way to describe how I feel, yeah,ā Eddie agrees. Steve cringes slightly. āNot in a bad way! Iām just surprised! I didnāt know you-āĀ liked boys? liked freaks? liked me?
Whatever he means, Steve gets it. āYeah, I do,ā he says, the tips of his ears turning pink. āItās fine if you donāt or whatever-ā
Eddie opens his mouth to assure him he does in fact like boys and freaks andĀ SteveĀ who might be a freak himself if this Ferris Wheel ride has taught Eddie anything-
Before he can though the Ferris Wheel screeches to a halt, their car rocking in place at the top.Ā
āWhy- why are we stopping? Whatās wrong?ā
āNothingās wrong,ā Steve says, squeezing Eddieās hand. āItās the last spin, theyāre probably gonna stop each cart at the top for a few minutes.ā
Eddie whines pathetically. āWhat?Ā Why?ā
āSo people can watch the sunset? Make out?ā Steve blushes. āOr something.ā
The wind picks up and makes the car rock back and forth and Eddie groans. āFucking great!ā
āHey, what do you need?ā Steve asks, rubbing his thumb over the back of Eddieās hand. Itās almost enough to distract him from being stuck at the top.Ā Almost.Ā
āTo be back on solid ground? Or a distraction. Please distract me, Stevie,ā Eddie says, feeling panic bubbling up inside him. He doesnāt even notice when the nickname slips out.Ā
Steveās eyes flick over his face looking for something. He either finds it or gives up. Either way, he takes a deep breath. āPlease donāt punch me for this.āĀ
āPunch you for-ā
The last word dies in Eddieās throat because Steve leans in and presses a kiss to his mouth, effectively shutting him up.
For a beat, neither of them does anything. Then Steveās free hand cups Eddieās cheek and he moves his lips. Eddie makes a soft, needy noise in the back of his throat, his eyelids fluttering shut, and then heās kissing Steve back.Ā
Itās a slow and lazy kiss but itās enough to make Eddie forget where he is or that heās supposed to be panicking. He even lets go of the safety bar just so he can get his fingers in Steveās hair.Ā
They donāt break apart until the Ferris Wheel starts moving again, their car making its way down so they can finally get off this stupid thing.Ā
(Though it might be starting to grow on Eddie. Just a little.)
When they stop again so that the people in the next car can have their go at the top, Eddieās stomach merely swoops and it might have more to do with the way Steve licks his pink, wet lips than with anything else.Ā
āWell, thatās one way to distract someone,ā Eddie says, his voice coming out a little breathless. āThanks, Stevie.ā
Steve snorts, hanging a hand from his neck. āThanks for not punching me.ā
āIām a lover, not a fighter, baby,ā Eddie says and watches delightedly how a flush creeps up Steveās cheeks at the pet name. āIād never punch you, your face is too pretty for that.ā
A startled laugh tumbles from Steveās lips. āSo I could kiss you again?ā
āIĀ couldĀ be persuaded to do that again, yeah.ā Eddie tilts his head, eyes darting a little anxiously over Steveās face. āFirst I gotta know if this is like a āwhat happens in the Ferris Wheel stays in the Ferris Wheelā kind of thing, you know?ā
āNah,ā Steve says with a smile that edges on soft. āI was actually gonna drag you with me to the Hoop Shot game after this. Impress you a little.ā
āOh yeah?ā Eddie asks, grinning widely. āGonna impress me with your jock moves?ā
āMhm. By winning you a stuffed animal too.ā
Eddie clicks his tongue. āStevie, Stevie, Stevie, I told you, I have a reputation to uphold-ā
āWith society, yeah, yeah. Donāt worry, Iāll get you something metal like a bat! Or a dragon.ā
āHm,ā Eddie taps his finger against his chin. āGet me both and itās a deal!ā
Steveās eyes twinkle. āDoes that mean I get two kisses?ā
āOh, sweetheart,ā Eddie says, pitching his voice low and deep. Steveās eyes widen slightly. āYou can have way more than that.āĀ
Theyāre almost at the bottom now which is probably why Steve doesnāt lean in for another kiss right then and there when itās clear that he wants to. This close to the ground, people could see and the last thing they want is an angry mob waiting for them at the bottom.Ā
Theyāre happy to just hold hands for whatās left of the ride. Despite Eddie not being scared anymore, neither of them considers letting go, not until the guy from before yanks the safety bar off their laps, stares curiously at their clasped hands for a second before his expression turns bored again, and waves them out of the car.Ā
Eddie climbs out and jogs down the steps, past the people waiting in line. His eyes dart over the people hanging around the Ferris Wheel, looking for Gareth and Jeff but his friends mustāve gotten bored and wandered off at some point because theyāre nowhere to be seen. Whatever, he was gonna ditch them to hang out with Steve anyway.Ā
But Steve gets the wrong idea when he sees Eddie scanning the crowd. He scruffs his Nike against the ground and hangs a hand from his neck. āItās okay if you wanna find your friends-ā
āFuck, no,ā Eddie says quickly. āTheyāre big boys, they can get home on their own. Or not and it serves them right for forcing me to go on that deathtrap!ā
āOh, come on,ā Steve says with a playful grin.Ā
āFine, I guess it wasnātĀ thatĀ bad,ā Eddie says, rolling his eyes, the corners of his mouth ticking up. āWhat about you? You donāt have to find your baby nerds and make sure theyāre okay?ā
āNope, those shitheads can take care of themselves,ā Steve says. āI have more important things to do.ā
āLike me?ā Eddie asks with a ridiculous waggle of his eyebrows. It makes Steve tip his head back with a laugh. Eddieās eyes zero in on the moles in the column on his neck, thoughts drifting to wanting to kiss every single one of them.Ā
āMaybe later,ā he tells Eddie with a wink. His stomach swoops and this time it has nothing to do with gravity and heights. āCāmon, man, letās get you that bat.ā
Eddie holds his finger up, wagging it in front of Steveās face. āAnd the dragon!ā Eddie says, getting all up in Steveās space as he starts walking in the direction of the Hoop Shot game. āDonāt forget the dragon!ā
āYeah, yeah, whatever you say, Munson.ā
(Steve gets him the bat. And the dragon. And cotton candy. And later follows Eddie home after dropping off his herd of fourteen-year-olds. Eddie lets him have two kisses and more just like he promised.)
(And he rides more than just the Ferris Wheel that day.)
for @softsteddieseptember week 2 prompts "falling" and "friends to lovers" | rating: G | wc: 525
summary: Steve slips off a ladder and right into Eddie's arms.
AO3
Thereās something to be said about reputations; Steveās not sure what at the moment, but there is something. To the kids, he's a fearless pushover and heād like to keep it that way. The only problem is that while heās a pushover, heās not fearless.
Heights. His greatest shame. No one knew how much he hated them or the vertigo he got looking down no matter how hard he tried. A short distance, he could do; but onto his roof? No shot.
But when the kids pestered him for months to decorate for Halloween and now he found himself nearly 30 feet in the air on a flimsy ass ladder hanging fake cobwebs in his gutters while the kids and Eddie decorated the lawn.
Trying to lose himself in the motion, drag, staple, drag, staple, drag, he leaned too far to one side. The ladder wobbled dangerously and he over corrected throwing his full weight to the other side.
āCareful, Stevie!ā Someone shouted; later he'd realize it was Eddie. But the call came too late. His fingers slipped from their grip on the roof and he was plummeting to Earth. Bracing for impact, he didn't have time to scream as he shut his eyes.
Something soft broke his fall.
āYou alright there, sweetheart?ā Eddie wheezed out from below him. Prying open his eyes, Steve realized the soft thing he landed on was Eddie's puffer jacketā¦and Eddie. Blushing furiously, Steve pulled away, assessing the other man for injuries.
āOh my God! Eddie are you okay?ā Steve shouted frantically running his hands down Eddie's sides.
āI'm fine, darlinā. Especially if you keep touching me like that.ā Eddie winked, a wicked grin spreading across his face. His hands rested on Steve's thighs and that's when he realized he was straddling the other man's lap. If it was possible for his face to get redder, it did.
āHoly Shit! Are you guys alright?ā Dustin shouted as he rushed over.
Doing a quick internal body scan, Steve sighed in relief when he found he was relatively unharmed.
āMight have a bruise or two but we're good. Right?ā Eddie asked. Steve nodded in agreement and stood, pulling Eddie to his feet.
āThanks for the catch.ā He said sheepishly. Eddie shrugged it off, then his grin turned mischievous.
āNo problem, Stevie. Though when I pictured you falling for me in was must less dangerous. And I figured we'd land in your bed not your garden.ā Eddie smirked, then skipped off as if he hadn't set Steve's blood ablaze.
Chasing after him, he wrapped an arm around Eddie's shoulders and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.
āWe can do that too. How about tonight after we drop the gremlins off, I take you out to dinner?ā It was Eddie's turn to blush as Steve watched on with a soft smile.
āSounds like a plan.ā Eddie replied pulling a chunk of hair in front of face to hide his smile.
Steve may have fallen for Eddie, in more ways than one, but it was his turn to sweep the other man off his feet. He was determined to catch him in return.
Iād like to announce Soft Steddie September is once again taking place!
Just like last year this is a sister event with @steddiesmuttyseptember. (their prompts are up now!)
With that in mind, this is 18+.
The goal of the event is to use the prompts provided to write something that makes you happy, or go awww!
Happy Endings is the goal (they can be implied but they should be Heavily implied)
Writers: No word limit
Artists Welcome!!
Be sure to tag the blog @softsteddieseptember when you post and include the prompt, ratings, word count, and any warnings. Like this
prompt | rating | wc | cw
Any NSFW should be under the cut. Use one prompt a week or combine them! Prompts can be combined with other events as long as it fits their guidelines! Combine them with smutty Sept to your heartās content!
The prompts are split into each week, and anything included that week will be in the weekly masterlist. But, as long as they are posted by the end of the month, the post will be included on the big masterlist.
I will comment a š„¹ once your piece has been put in the queue for reblog.
Find the AO3 collection here to add your fic.
If you have any questions send me an ask here or @mugloversonly
Now for the prompts!
Week 1: (Sept 01-06)
Strangers to Lovers | Blind Date | Party | Cooking | Fairy tale
Week 2: (Sept 07-13)
Friends to Lovers | First Date | Secret | Falling | Pool
Week 3: (Sept 14-20)
Surprise | Wedding | Love at First Sight | Lake | Second Meeting
Week 4: (Sept 21-27) & Week 5: (Sept 28-30)
Communication | Eavesdropping | Parents | Wrong Number | Anniversary | Modern AU | Sunrise | Flowers
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
ā Live Streamingā Interactive Chatā Private Showsā HD Qualityā Free Actions
Free to watch ⢠No registration required ⢠HD streaming
Written for @steddiesmuttyseptember (prompts: backseat | clothes on | soft and slow | bruise) and @softsteddieseptember (prompt: Road Trip). This is super late, I'm sorry.
The biggest thank you to @firefly-party for reading over this and helping me make sense of English grammar and tenses. UGH.
6k | rated: e | warnings: (consensual) blood drinking | tags: vampire!eddie, monsterfucker!steve, dry humping, Steve takes care of Eddie
Read on AO3
āIām dead, Harrington, not deaf! Havenāt I been through enough? Do you have to torture me with⦠with this? Crappy music from an even crappier movie? And here I thought we were friends!ā
Eddieās voice grew louder as he ranted, his hands flapping dramatically, his wide brown eyes sparkling under the streetlamps they passed. For someone technically dead, he was so aliveāfull of energy and life in every way that mattered. Even with his too-sharp teeth, translucent skin, and the absence of a pulse, he was still, well, Eddie.
Not that Eddie agreed.
Thatās why they were here now, on this strange road trip to Washington D.C. to meet some friend of Owens who supposedly had a solution for him. How, Steve wasnāt sure. And if he was being honest, he didnāt entirely trust this friendāor Owens, for that matter. Theyād been screwed over too many times, and Steve wasnāt about to risk Eddieās⦠non-life.
Eddie seemed on edge too, fidgeting and talking too fast, too loud, confined in the tight space of Steveās trusty BMW.
āIf the movieās so crappy, how do you know Take My Breath Away is in it, huh?ā Steve countered, smirking, raising an eyebrow in challenge.
As expected, the question left Eddie sputtering, before he huffed and crossed his arms, pouting.
Steve took pity and turned the volume down, but not before belting out the chorus at the top of his lungs. He couldnāt help but enjoy the way Eddie looked at him, his attention fixed solely on Steve. If he were being honest, thatās all heād been craving latelyāEddieās gaze, his words, his touch.
Steve was down bad.
Theyād been driving for six hours, and Steve could feel the toll it was taking on him. He still wasnāt sleeping wellānightmares keeping him awake more often than not. The only thing that brought him any real comfort was when Eddie came back from his nightly hunts. It shouldāve felt strange that the only time Steve truly felt safe from the horrors of the Upside Down was when the one "monster" they hadnāt killed or sent back to the alternate dimension was taking a shower in his en suite bathroom before crawling into bed with him.
Not that Steve thought of Eddie as a monsterājust because he looked a little different and needed blood to survive didnāt make him one.
The only one who saw Eddie that way was Eddie himself. It had taken weeks to convince him to let them anywhere near him, constantly reassuring him that they knew he wouldnāt hurt them, that they loved him.
Eddie had only agreed to stop hiding in the woods if Steve was there, nail bat in hand, ready to strike at the first sign of danger.
Thatās why Eddie was living with him now. And thatās why Steve was the one driving him to Washington to meet this friend of Owens.
āYou donāt look so hot, Stevie.ā
āGeez, tell me how you really feel, Munson,ā Steve shot back, only slightly annoyed. Eddie sounded more worried than anything.
Eddie raised his hands in mock surrender, a small smile tugging at his lips. āRelax, you always look hot, big boy. But right now? You look beat. Wanna take a break?ā
A break didnāt sound bad at all, Steve thought. Just to rest his eyes for a bit.
āNot your worst idea,ā he conceded, much to Eddieās delight.
Eddieās voice turned theatrical as he declared, āI only have good ideas, Iāll have you know.ā
Steveās reply came without thinking. āSacrificing yourself to the bats wasnāt.ā The weight of his words hit him the moment the silence in the car became deafeningānot even the sound of Eddieās breathing, which was more habit than necessity, broke the tension.
Shit.
āEddie, Iām sorryāā
āItās fine,ā Eddie cut him off, his voice flat, the humor gone. āThereās a path over there, leading off the road. Take it. We can park at the edge of the woods. You can rest, and Iāll... hunt.ā
Eddieās whole demeanor screamed for him to drop it. As much as Steve hated the tense silence hanging between them, he didnāt know what to say to make it better. He was sorry for how his words had come out, but the truth was, heād meant them. Part of him knew it wasnāt fairāhe hated what Eddie had done, but he also knew that, in Eddieās place, he wouldāve done the exact same thing. Saving Dustin, buying them time. Sacrificing himself because what was his life compared to theirs, compared to the world?
If Steve was being honest with himself, heād admit that it wasnāt Eddie he was truly angry atāit was himself. He should have been there. He shouldāve been smarter, faster. Better. But he wasnāt. He let them fend for themselves, and this was the result.
The car swayed as it rumbled down the gravel path, pulling him back from his spiraling thoughts. What happened, happened. There was no changing it now. The only thing they could do was deal with the aftermath.
Steve parked the car in a secluded spot, hidden from the road to give them some privacy. The second the car stopped, Eddie swung the door open and disappeared into the woods without a word. Steve sat there, staring after him, regret settling like a weight in his chest.
With a heavy sigh, Steve pushed open his door and went around to grab his nail bat and a blanket from the trunk. He crawled into the backseat, balling up his jacket as a makeshift pillow. The bat went under the driverās seat, just in case, and he pulled the blanket over himself. It wasnāt exactly comfortable, and with the weight of guilt in his stomach and his mind racing, he doubted heād be able to fall asleep.
But sleep had other plans. It claimed him within seconds, and as usual, Eddie was the last thing on his mind before darkness wrapped around him like a lover.
He came back to himself slowly, like wading through thick molasses, his senses gradually returning one by one. First, there was the awareness inside his body. He was thirsty. Hungry, too. A dull headache throbbed at his temples, and his neck ached from the awkward position heād slept in. Everything pointed to him having slept far longer than heād intended.
Next came his hearingādulled ever since Billy Hargrove had taken a plate to his head, but still somewhat functional. He could make out the distant hoot of an owl and, if he concentrated, the faint sound of cars speeding by on the nearby road. Then there was something elseāa rustling sound, faint and close by. He had to strain to hear it, and mightāve missed it if not for how near it was.
Steve kept his eyes closed, everything feeling too heavy and far away. But now, cautiously, he cracked them open just enough to survey his surroundings without alerting any potential threats.
The car was dark; the sun had set a while ago, from the looks of it. At first glance, it seemed like he was alone, and worry crept in about Eddie. But then the rustling sound came again, and this time his eyes landed on its source. Someone was sitting in the passenger seat, trembling violently.
āEds?ā Steveās voice came out scratchy from sleep. He swallowed and tried again, softer this time. āAre you alright?ā
The figure in the front seatāwho Steve hoped was Eddie, though who else could it beāshook its head but remained silent. As Steve blinked the sleep from his eyes and they adjusted to the darkness, more details came into focus. Eddie was hunched over, knees pulled tightly to his chest, his feet up on the upholstery. Normally, Steve wouldāve complained, but right now all that mattered was making sure Eddie was okay.
āEddie, please, talk to me. I canāt help you if you donāt talk to me.ā
He sat up and reached out to touch Eddieās arm, but the moment his fingers grazed the fabric of Eddieās jacket, Eddie recoiled, scrambling as far as the small space of the car would allow.
āDonāt,ā Eddie rasped, his voice raw and jagged, almost unrecognizable.
Ignoring the warning, Steve inched closer, raising his hands in a calming gesture. āEddie,ā he repeated softly, using the name again because he remembered the first time they encountered this version of Eddieāferal, lost, barely recognizing them. Nancy had said to repeat his name often, to remind him of who he was. It became a habit Steve hadnāt been able to shake entirely.
āWhatever it is, you can tell me. Did something happen while you were hunting?ā Steveās stomach twisted at the thought. What if Eddie had hurt someone? Lost control to the instincts he barely understood? He shouldāve been worried about whoever Eddie mightāve harmedāand he was, he wasābut more than anything, he worried about what that guilt would do to Eddie. That it would push him to retreat, make him decide that he couldnāt be around people anymore. That heād leave them.
Leave Steve.
At Steveās question, Eddie finally looked up, and their eyes met. Steveās heart lurched. Eddie's eyes were no longer the warm, familiar brown. They were red.
A whimper escaped Steveās lips before he could stop it, and Eddieās faceāwhat little Steve could make outātwisted in what looked like pain. Steve realized, too late, that his involuntary reaction had struck at Eddieās worst fear: that they saw him as the monster he believed himself to be.
āāM sorry, Eds,ā Steve stammered, rushing to correct himself. āYou just surprised me, thatās all. Iām not scared of you, I swear. Iām just worried for you. Let me help, please.ā
With his back pressed against the glove compartment, cowering in the cramped footwell of the passenger seat, Eddie let out a dark, humorless laugh. āYou have no idea what youāre asking, Steve. You should just take that trusty bat of yours and bash my head in. Thatās the only way you can help.ā His voice cracked, raw with desperation. āI⦠I donāt want to be a monster.ā
āIām not doing that, Eddie.ā Steveās voice was steady, even as his heart hammered in his chest. āYouāre not a monster. Youāre our friend.ā
Eddie let out a bitter sigh, his hand fumbling for the car's overhead light. When it flicked on, Steveās breath caught in his throat. Eddie looked more monstrous than everāthe sharpness of his teeth more pronounced, his skin drawn tight and pale, dark veins spidering beneath the surface. His red eyes glowed unnaturally in the dim light, and his trembling grew worse.
āI havenāt eaten in days,ā Eddie confessed, his voice low and filled with shame. āI couldnāt do it. I couldnāt bring myself to kill any of the animals out there. And tonight, when I finally got desperate enough to try⦠there were hunters in the woods.ā He clenched his jaw, as if disgusted with himself. āI couldnāt risk it, Steve. I had to retreat before I hurt them. Before I would have... lost control.ā
Steveās heart twisted at the sight of Eddieāso vulnerable, yet fighting desperately to stay in control. It hurt to see the raw fear in his friendās eyes, especially when there seemed to be nothing that Steve could do to make it better. There had to be something. Anything.
Eddieās refusal to feed explained why the monstrous side of him was becoming more pronounced, more visible. The hunger must be unbearable by now, gnawing at him from the inside out. Yet, Eddieāthe stubborn idiotāwas willing to suffer rather than hurt another living thing. How anyone could see a monster in someone so kind, so selfless, was beyond Steve. He knew without a doubt that Eddie would starve himself to death before ever harming anyone.
But maybe it didnāt have to come to that. Not if Steve had anything to say about it.
āMaybeā¦ā Steve began, choosing his words carefully, āyou donāt have to control it.ā At Eddieās incredulous look, he quickly added, āI mean, what if you let yourself have bloodāfrom someone willing to give it to you? You wouldnāt have to hurt anyone if it was, you know, consensual.ā
Eddie blinked, his wide, reddish-brown eyes staring at Steve in disbelief.
āCould you repeat that? Because for a second there, it sounded like you were suggesting I should be drinking blood from a person.ā
āIt sounded that way because thatās exactly what Iām suggesting,ā Steve said, keeping his tone calm. āNot just any personāsomeone whoād let you do it, of course.ā
Eddieās expression hardened as his voice rose, anger mixing with incredulity. āAre you out of your mind? Youāre suggesting I just walk up to someone and be like, āHey, can I get some consensual blood-sucking in? I canāt promise it wonāt hurt, but youād be doing me a real favor.ā Is that what youāre suggesting?ā
The flare of anger in Eddieās voice was almost a relief. It was familiar, a sign that somewhere under all that fear, the Eddie Steve knew was still there. Steve would take Eddieās frustration over the emptiness heād seen in him any day.
āOf course not,ā Steve replied, his lips curling into a smile as Eddieās shoulders sagged a little. āIām suggesting you drink from me.ā
You couldāve heard a pin drop in that moment, even with Steveās less-than-perfect hearing. He was certain Eddie had even stopped breathing, not that he needed to. Eddie just stared at Steve like heād suggested they strip naked, douse themselves in glitter, and run sparkling through the streets of Hawkins.
āDid you hear me? I. Want. You. To. Drink. From. Me,ā Steve repeated, enunciating each word with deliberate conviction.
Eddie was already shaking his head before Steve had even finished speaking. āNo! No, no, no. Absolutely not. Youāre insane. IāSteve, please, no.ā
It was like Eddie was going through the stages of griefāanger, denial, and bargaining. Robin had explained those to him once, and now Steve was watching them unfold before his eyes.
He knew he couldnāt force Eddie to do it, no matter how desperately he wanted to. The truth gnawed at him: a part of Steve didnāt just want Eddie to feel better; he wanted to be the one who made Eddie feel better. And wasnāt that a messed-up thing to feel?
āPlease, man. Youāre dying. I can see it, and you canāt go on like this much longer.ā
The look of utter defeat was painful enough, but it was the resignation in Eddieās eyes that twisted the knife deeper into Steveās heart.
āIām already dead, Steve,ā Eddie said quietly. āI died that night, and I shouldnāt have come back. Not like this. I donāt want to live as a monster. If I donāt feed, maybe I can at least die as a human.ā
His words were calm, as though Eddie had made peace with his fate, but the sadness lurking behind them hit Steve like a truck.
It made him furious.
āAre you fucking kidding me? Youāre seriously gonna sit there, look me in the eye, and tell me itād be better if you were dead?ā Steveās voice shook with raw emotion. āNewsflash, assholeāif you die, it would destroy the kids. Dustin worships your scrawny ass. Mike tries to grow his hair like yours. Max would play D&D just to have you DM the game. And itās not just them. Nancy. Robin. Me. Did you ever think about that? We need you, Eddie. So donāt you dare say itād be better if you died, because it wouldnāt. It wouldnāt!ā
His chest heaved with the effort of getting the words out, his anger mingling with desperation. But as the weight of his outburst settled, Steve felt something shiftālike a festering wound finally being drained. It left him raw, but somehow⦠cleaner.
For a second, he thought it had worked. Eddie moved toward him slowly, his hand outstretched. Steve noticed the darkened tips of Eddieās fingers, the sharpness of his nails, more menacing than theyād been just hours ago. But Steve didnāt flinch. He stayed exactly where he was, letting Eddie come closer.
Eddie didnāt bite him. Instead, his fingertips grazed Steveās cheek, soft as a summer breeze. āYouāre crying?ā Eddieās voice was a disbelieving whisper, like he couldnāt fathom that the thought of losing him could bring Steve to tears.
āI donāt wanna lose you,ā Steve whispered back, his voice thick with emotion. He didnāt care if Eddie could see everything he was feeling nowāall the love and fear, laid bare for him to witness. If it meant Eddie would accept his help, if it meant Eddie would stay, then Steve would give him everything.
āYou really mean it.ā The wonder in Eddieās voice made Steve smile, because it was so unmistakably Eddie.
āFor someone so smart, you can be incredibly thick. Yes, I mean it. Now would you please get over yourself and bite me already? Jeez.ā
Eddieās startled laugh told Steve heād said the right thing. āYou do know I repeated senior year three times, right?ā
āYeah, and we both know that had nothing to do with you being dumb, dumbass.ā
They both grinned at each other, the kind of goofy smiles that made Steveās chest feel light. In that moment, all Steve wanted was to lean in and kiss Eddieājust close the gap and see what it felt like to finally do it.
But before he could act on that impulse, Eddieās face suddenly twisted in pain.
āEddie? Are you okay? Whatās happening?ā Steveās voice rose with the anxiety building in his chest.
Through clenched teeth, Eddie managed, āIām so hungry and youāā He stopped, squeezing his eyes shut.
āYou what? Come on, man, I thought we were having a moment here. Talk to me!ā
Eddie groaned, clearly struggling, and finally blurted out, āYou smell so fucking good, okay? Happy now? You smell good enough to eat and it hurts.ā
The weight of Eddieās words hung in the small space between them, thick with tension. Steve had been through enoughābeaten, tortured, fighting interdimensional monsters while babysitting a pack of troublemakers. Heād earned something good in his life, damn it. And if that āsomething goodā was Eddie Munson biting him and drinking his blood to stay alive, then so be it. Steve Harrington would take it.
"Almost," Steve growled, his patience finally snapping. He framed Eddieās face with his hands, pulling him forward into a kiss that had been months in the making. And Eddie went willinglyāno, eagerlyāletting Steve lick into his mouth with a muffled, desperate moan.
Without breaking the kiss, Steve leaned back, pulling Eddie with him into the back seat. Eddie followed without hesitation, lips still fused to Steveās as if they couldnāt bear to part. Maybe it was Eddieās newfound abilities, or maybe the kiss had awakened some hidden grace, but somehow, Eddie managed to climb into the back with him without so much as a stumble.
The heat between them was electric like a thunderstorm, a shiver of pure need running through Steveās body.
As they sank onto the cool leather, Eddieās weight pressed down on him, and for the first time in what felt like forever, something settled in Steveās chest tooāa deep sense of peace. He had craved this closeness for so long, the feeling of Eddie with him, on him.
āEddie,ā Steve moaned, finally pulling back to gasp for air. The moment their lips parted, though, he felt Eddie tense above him, realization dawning in his eyes. The danger of being so close to Steve, so close to his pulse, his heart pounding from desire, the blood rushing beneath his skināit obviously hit Eddie like a freight train.
Steve knew if he didnāt act fast, Eddie would pull away, put distance between them when all Steve wanted was to be even closer. So he took the leap, pushing Eddieās face toward his neck just as he wedged his thigh between Eddieās legs.
āPlease, baby,ā Steve breathed, voice low and thick with want. āI need you to bite me. I want it. I want you.ā
He didnāt care that he was beggingāhe only cared that Eddie wouldnāt leave him.
āSteveāā Eddieās voice was strained, pained, and Steve felt the sharp graze of a fang against the sensitive skin of his neck.
Steve didnāt give him time to second-guess. He pressed his thigh upward, right against the growing bulge in Eddieās jeans, and the movement knocked Eddie off balance. He fell forward, right into Steveās arms, and Steve held him tight, refusing to let him pull away.
āI know you want to, so do it,ā Steve urged, breath coming in shallow bursts. When Eddie still hesitated, Steve rocked his hips up and clawed at Eddieās back, desperation leaking into his voice. āDo it!ā
And then, finallyāEddie gave in. With a groan that was half-pain, half-relief, he sank his teeth into Steveās neck.
It hurt.
But the pain wasnāt the worst part. No, the worst was the suckingāthe sensation of blood being drawn from his veins. It felt foreign, unnatural, mixing with the burning throb of the open wound on his neck. The combination made his head spin, disorienting him in a way he hadnāt anticipated.
Yet somehow, despiteāor maybe because ofāthe intensity of those sensations, Steve was painfully hard. His cock strained against his Leviās, which already felt tight on a normal day. Now, they were almost unbearable, constricting, and he half-wondered if theyād cut off circulation to his legs soon.
It was confusing, how his body reacted to Eddie feeding on him, but what really sent shivers down his spine were the sounds Eddie was making. Quiet, needy moans muffled by Steveās neck, soft hums of pleasure that Eddie probably wasnāt even aware of. And it wasnāt just thatāSteve could feel Eddie mindlessly rutting against his thigh, the thick, hard length of him pressing into Steve like a promise.
Steve had never been this close to another guyās hard-on before. The closest heād come was watching Tommy H. jerk off beside him in his bedroom during a sleepover, Tommyās eyes dark with something that had made Steveās skin prickle. But this? This was so much better. It wasnāt just realāit was Eddie. And Steve had been halfway in love with him ever since that day when Eddie talked about Dustin, about how much the kid worshiped him, and how maybe Steve wasnāt such a bad guy after all.
The cramped space of the car was filled with the sound of their ragged breaths and soft moans, but they werenāt just Eddieās anymore. Steveās own sounds were growing louder by the second, the initial sting of pain transforming into a heady mix of heat and need. Each pull on his neck sent a pulse of pleasure straight down to his groin, making his cock twitch against the too-tight denim.
He had never felt anything like this beforeāthis blend of pain and pleasure, of intimacy and raw need. And all he could think was how right it felt. How right Eddie felt.
Steve felt like he was drifting in a dream, the world around him soft and hazy, time slipping through his fingers like sand. He couldnāt tell how long it had been since Eddieās teeth first pierced his skināseconds, minutes, hours? Maybe even days. It was impossible to say, lost as he was in the slow, heated grind of their bodies. The friction between them pushed him higher and higher, though he wasnāt sure if it was the pleasure or the blood loss that had his head spinning. A distant part of his mind registered alarm at how weightless he felt, how far away everything seemed.
But Steve felt so good. Safe, even, wrapped in the arms of one of the most dangerous creatures heād ever encountered.
It was Eddie who finally pulled back with a wet, slurping sound, his mouth leaving Steveās neck as he gasped for breath. āSteve? Shit, Steve, come on, man, look at me.ā Eddieās cool hand cupped Steveās cheek, shaking him gently, his fingers trembling as he turned Steveās face to meet his gaze. When their eyes finally locked, Steve was relieved to see that the red had vanished entirely from Eddieās eyes, replaced by the familiar warm brown that he had come to love.
āāddie?ā Steve slurred, his voice sounding weak, even to his own ears. He caught the worried look on Eddieās face, the way his brows knit together and his lips pressed into a tight line, stained with drops of blood. My blood, Steve thought vaguely. Somehow, the idea didnāt bother him. Summoning the last bit of strength he had, Steve smiled and placed his hand over Eddieās, still resting on his cheek. āām fine. Promise.ā
āYou donāt look fine, Steve,ā Eddie shot back, panic edging his voice. āYou look like youāre about to pass out. Goddammit, why didnāt you stop me? Shit, I couldāve killed you.ā
Eddieās voice cracked with guilt, his words thick with fear and desperation. He sounded wrecked, not in the way the still-persistent throbbing in Steveās groin suggested they both should be, but wrecked with the weight of what had just happened. But Steve didnāt care about that. He didnāt care that he was dizzy, or that his body felt light as a feather. What mattered was making Eddie understand that Steve wanted this. He wanted everything Eddie could give himāhis hunger, his desire, his love. And in return, he wanted Eddie to take everything from him ā his blood, his heart, hell, even his life. It was all Eddieās for the taking.
A gasp slipped from Eddieās lips, sharp and incredulous. āEddieā¦ā Steveās voice was barely a whisper, his gaze soft and unwavering as he stared into Eddieās wide, unblinking eyes.
āYou donāt mean that,ā Eddie whispered, his voice thick with disbelief.
Steve blinked, suddenly realizing he must have said it all out loud. Oops.
Well, in for a penny, in for a pound, right? So far, Steveās gut instincts had always guided him right, more or less. He was still alive, wasnāt he? That was good enough in his book even if the Robin in his head was rolling her eyes at him.
āI mean it,ā he said, his voice soft but steady. āI know you donāt believe me, but I do. I want you. All of youāthe good, the bad, the ugly.ā Steveās lips curled into a smirk, mischief lighting his eyes. āAnd if you havenāt noticedā¦ā He rolled his hips deliberately, making sure Eddie could feel just how much he wanted him. āI was really enjoying myself.ā To drive his point home, he shifted his thigh, pressing it against the unmistakable evidence of Eddieās arousal. Above him, Eddieās face contorted in pleasure, a low moan rumbling from deep in his chest.
Gotcha, Steve thought with a smug little grin.
āAnd I think you liked it, too,ā Steve continued, his voice dipping lower. āSo why donāt you stop worrying and get us both off, huh? Iām not sure I can right now, so itās the least you could do to make it up to me, donāt you think?ā
It was a bold move, pretending to be nonchalant when, in reality, Steve felt like he was hanging on the edge of a cliff, waiting to see if Eddie would catch him or let him fall. His heart pounded in his chest, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still as he watched Eddieās faceāthose deep, whiskey-brown eyes wide with surprise, disbelief, and something else that made Steveās pulse race even faster.
Then, something happened that Steve did not see coming at all.
Eddie laughed.
Not just a chuckle, either, but a real, belly-deep laugh that shook his entire body. The anxiety that had been etched into his features for so long, the haunted look heād worn since coming back from the dead, finally melted away. In its place, there was warmth, the corners of his eyes crinkling as laughter spilled from his lips, dimples flashing in a way that made Steveās heart clench.
Eddie was so beautiful.
Eddieās laughter faded, the echo of it lingering in the close confines of the car like the remnants of a shared secret. His gaze softened, the humor in his eyes shifting into something far more tender, far more vulnerable. āYouāre unbelievable, Harrington,ā he said, shaking his head, but this time his voice was filled with awe rather than disbelief. āHere you are, barely hanging on, and somehow youāre still making me feel flustered. What kind of guy are you?ā
His fingers, cool but delicate, ghosted over Steveās cheek, the sharpness of his nails a reminder of the monster Eddie thought he was. But the touch? That was all Eddieāthe boy Steve had been falling for piece by piece. āYou really want me to believe youāre okay with this? With me? After what I just did to you?ā
Eddieās voice wavered, his uncertainty spilling out despite the bravado. āYouāre either the bravest or the dumbest guy Iāve ever met. Maybe both.ā
Steve couldnāt help the smile that tugged at his lips, one that matched Eddieās in its softness, despite the tension hanging between them. āI donāt hear you telling me Iām wrong, man. Weāve been talking about meāwhat I want. But what about you?ā He paused, his voice gentle but probing. āWhat do you want, Eddie?ā
Eddieās reply came without hesitation. āYou.ā
Steveās heart stuttered in his chest while the butterflies in his stomach went wild. His voice dropped to a whisper. āThen have me.ā
Blessedly, this time, Eddie didnāt argue. He didnāt hesitate or question whether he deserved thisādeserved Steve. He just did what Steve asked.
Pushing himself up on one arm, Eddie moved his other hand from Steveās cheek, letting it trail down to palm him through his jeans. The earlier intensity had faded slightly during their conversation, but the moment Eddieās hand found him, it was like lighting a match to gasoline. Heat surged through Steve, reigniting everything Eddie had stirred up.
Eddie's grin widened, his sharp teeth gleaming as he looked down at Steve, the dangerous undertone of it a sharp contrast to the mischievous, boyish excitement that always pushed Steve to keep up with his contagious energy. āI knew youād be packing, big boy,ā Eddie teased, his voice full of admiration and humor. āAnd all this for lilā old me?ā His fingers squeezed experimentally before running along the length of him, feeling the way Steveās body responded, hardening further under his touch.
Steve, still a little lightheaded from the blood lossāmade worse now that more of his blood seemed to be rushing southāblinked up at Eddie, his thoughts scrambled. All he could do was press his hips up, seeking more friction, his body moving on instinct even if his brain was lagging behind.
His hips began to grind against Eddieās hand, slowly at first, trying to find a rhythm as Eddie held back, teasing, not giving him the relief he craved. Words failed him, but his body knew exactly what it wanted, each roll of his hips desperate and pleading.
āDidnāt anyone everāfuckātell you not to play with your food?ā Steve groaned, hips stuttering as Eddieās touch continued its slow, maddening exploration. It was risky bringing up the fact Eddie had just fed from him, but the elephant in the room wasnāt going anywhere, so why not address it now, while they were both caught up in the heat of the moment?
Eddie paused for just a moment, his eyes searching Steveās with an unreadable expression. Then, he laughed softly, the sound low and rough, sending a shiver through Steve's entire body. "Oh, sweetheart," Eddie murmured, leaning closer, his lips brushing against Steveās ear. "You have no idea how much I want to devour you."
Before Steve could even process Eddieās words, Eddie shifted, settling between his thighs. The new position aligned their hard cocks perfectly, and they both gasped at the intense sensation. Eddie leaned down, nosing along Steveās jaw until his breath ghosted over Steveās ear. āThank you, Stevie,ā he whispered.
Eddie's hips rolled slowly, expressing his gratitude with each movement, though Steve wasnāt sure what Eddie was thanking him for. It didnāt matter. The only thing that mattered was the electric friction between them, the delicious drag of flesh against flesh. The weight of Eddieās body should have made Steve feel trapped, but instead, it just amplified his need, igniting something primal within him. He was preyāand he loved it.
That thought made him cling even tighter, his legs wrapping around Eddie's waist to increase the friction. Eddieās pace quickened, hips thrusting with more purpose, slow but insistent, like they were making love for real. Like Eddie was buried deep inside him. And suddenly, thatās all Steve wantedāEddie inside him, closer, always closer. His teeth in Steveās neck, his cock in his body. He needed to feel everything.
Steveās fingers dug into Eddieās back, nails scratching against the thin fabric of his shirt in a desperate attempt to mark him, to claim him the way Eddie had claimed Steve with his bite. Eddie didnāt complaināif anything, the scratches seemed to spur him on. His breath hitched, and he let out a string of grunts and moans, the sounds vibrating against Steveās skin as Eddie whispered praises into his ear. He called Steve brave, kind, selfless, and so, so pretty.
Steve had experienced some incredible sex in his life, but nothing compared to thisādry-humping Eddie Munson in the backseat of his car, bodies pressed together, breathless, and needy.
A familiar tightness coiled in his groin, his whole body tensing as he teetered on the edge of release. But something was missing.
āBite me,ā Steve begged, his voice high and needy, almost desperate.
Eddie whimpered, his hips stuttering for just a moment. āSteveāā
Not willing to let Eddie pull away, Steveās hand gripped his ass, urging him to keep moving, while his other hand pressed against Eddieās neck, guiding him closer to his own neck. āIām close, baby, so close. Please.ā
As Eddie's teeth sank into his flesh once more, Steve's vision blurred, the rush of pleasure and pain so overwhelming it felt like his soul had left his body for a moment. He mustāve floated away for a bit, because when he came back to himself, he was no longer beneath Eddie but lying on top of him, his head resting on Eddieās chest, while Eddieās fingers gently combed through his hair in a soothing rhythm.
Steve mustāve made a sound, or maybe Eddie was attuned to the change in his breathing, because Eddie noticed right away.
āHey, sweetheart, back with me?ā Eddieās voice was soft, warm, filled with affection.
āMmm,ā Steve hummed, feeling content and utterly spent. His limbs felt like they weighed a ton, his body heavy but blissfully sated. āDonāt wanna move.ā
āNever?ā Eddie chuckled, his laughter light and fond, and Steve could feel himself falling even deeper into this perfect moment, cocooned in the warmth of post-orgasmic bliss.
He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, his stomach growled loudly, breaking the quiet. Eddie snorted. āI think we have to move, darling. That sounded like a demogorgon.ā
Steve groaned in protest, causing Eddie to give in with a soft smile. āOkay, fine. A few more minutes, but then weāll get you something to eat and drink.ā His hand drifted to Steveās neck, thumb gently brushing over the already healing bite. āThis took a lot out of you. Let me take care of you, okay? Like you did for me.ā
Steve snuggled closer, the idea of being cared for by Eddie sounding better than anything. āOkay,ā he mumbled.
Eddie pressed a lingering kiss to the top of his head, his voice barely a whisper. āThank you, Stevie.ā
Written for @thehairandthebanished 's event Steddie's Back to School Bash, day 6: Last Day of Summer, and for @softsteddieseptember's week 1 prompt: watching a sunset!
Last Day of Summer / watching a sunset | Goodbye / See You Later | Rating: T | CWs: none | Additional Tags: angst with a happy ending, summer fling, they are in love | Ao3
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Eddie is a little out of breath as he follows Steve's footsteps, not two feet ahead of him, as they trek through the woods. The six pack in Steve's hand glinting in the small amount of sun still breaking through the leaves. He's already exhausted from the ten hours they've been together today, more than any other day this summer, more than they'd spent together, period, but Eddie still doesn't want it to end.
Neither does Steve. Isn't that something.
So Eddie follows Steve through the woods, trusting that this whole amazing summer hasn't been leading up to some sort of jock ritual sacrifice. It would be a hell of an investment, and besides that, you can't fake the softness in Steve's eyes as he trailed his calloused fingers across Eddie's stomach. You can't fake the hesitation Steve had when he told him when he'd be heading west to Terre Haute, of all places, to go to college on a scholarship.
It's been an incredible day, one of the best he's had in⦠god, maybe ever. And he knows this is goodbye, he's smitten, not stupid. He just wishesā¦
Then Steve steps through a break in the treeline to a drop-off looking over the lake. Right now, though, it's the perfect outlook to watch the sunset over the forest.
Steve pauses a safe distance away from the edge, turns to give Eddie a smile that he wants to press a gentle kiss to, so he does. Steve is sweet as always. Soft, like he's been all summer, even when they snark and bitch at each other.
Not today, though. Today is just soft and sweet and enough to make Eddie want to cry.
Steve sits on the bare earth, heedless or perhaps uncaring that his light-wash jeans are surely collecting dirt across his finely-sculpted butt, and beckons Eddie over, too.
A beer cracks open, foams a little, too, enough that Steve brings it to his mouth to prevent a spill. Eddie flops down next to him, all gangly, coltish limbs, and takes it when it's offered. Steve gets his own, and they sit and watch the sun set.
It's beautiful, is the thing. Reds and purples and oranges stretch across the roughage of leaves like brushstrokes.
Eddie wishes Steve didn't have to go. He knows. He knows Steve was never going to stay, was never going to be more than a summer fling, but.
But.
His eyes start to burn from watching the sun for so long and for no other reason at all. That's why he's okay leaning his head against the warmth of Steve beside him, why he's okay accepting the arm wrapping itself around his shoulders, why he pretends not to feel the dampness growing on his head where Steve leans his own.
He feels another soft kiss to the crown of his head, and wraps his own arm around Steve's waist.
It's the last day of summer. Eddie needs to absorb as much warmth as he can.
They go through all six beers, and sit there until the sky is fully dark, and then a little longer, until Eddie is sure he's starting to get bitten and they're shivering a bit in the early autumn air.
āIt's not forever, Eddie,ā Steve murmurs into his curls, squeezing Eddie against him. āI'll be back for Thanksgiving, and Christmas, andāā
āI know.ā Eddie knows that Steve will find a pretty girl at college who has a future, who will be so much easier to love than a washed up super-super-senior who sells drugs out of his uncle's trailer. Who he doesn't have to keep secret from his parents, his friends. Who he can marry, one day.
Eddie also knows that Steve doesn't know. Not yet. That he might thinkā
āEddie, Iāā Steve hasn't let go of Eddie, not at all, not even a little. If anything, he's pulled him closer, until Eddie is nearly in his lap. His hand comes up to cradle Eddie's face, tears long dried. He takes a breath. āEddie, I love you. Iāll be back in less thanāā
Eddie doesn't hear the rest, even if Steve continues as if those three little words didn't shift the Earth itself beneath their feet. He pulls back a bit, and Steve lets him. āYou⦠love me?ā
Taken aback, Steve blinks. āBaby, of course I love you, how could I not?ā His hands run up and down Eddie's soothingly, almost absent-mindedly. āYour passion, your creativity, even if I don't play your dragons game I know how much work you put into it for those kids. Now I could stand for the occasional Tears for Fears songāā
āNot on your life!ā Eddie cuts in, his voice strangled, but Steve continues unabated.
āābut I'm willing to compromise for you. Because I love you, Eddie Munson.ā
Maybe Eddie is a little smitten and stupid, because he almost believes Steve. Believes him enough to let himself imagine for the first time what that might actually look like.
Thanksgiving in the trailer with Steve and him and Wayne, all three of them squished onto that old couch eating Chinese food out of cartons, Eddie loudly decrying the hold organized sports have on the public consciousness but making no move to change the channel.
Christmas, exchanging small gifts, what little Eddie could afford to make or buy, maybe a pair of gloves, or a custom shirt if he manages to swing that art class again, treasuring whatever Steve had time to purchase, whatever evidence there would be that Steve thought about him; Steve carefully unwrapping brown paper to unveil his very own mug from Wayne and tearing up like Eddie knows he would.
New Years, curled up together on Eddie's bed, or maybe on top of the trailer to watch the fireworks across the neighborhood, sharing a secret kiss and an even more secret smile as the clocks turn to midnight.
And he knows this is goodbye, he's smitten, not stupid. But maybe, just maybeā
Hype's Filthy Fluffy Forty - Soft and Slow + Sapphic September - Day 24 : Ballgown + Soft Steddie September 2025 - Week 3 : Wedding - 20.09.2025
I decided to combine one of @just-my-latest-hyperfixation's prompts with one from the @sapphic-september's prompts and also with one of the prompts from Week 3 of the @softsteddieseptember event šš
Hyper's Filthy Fluffy Forty : Day 1 - (You got me) In the palm of your hand | first times | written in the stars / Day 2 - Just add water | outdoor sex | summer romance / Day 3 - Hic sunt dracones | monsterfucking | soul bond / Day 4 - Possession | BDSM | hurt/comfort / Day 5 - Whatever you want it to be | heat/rut | courtship / Day 6 - Someone who cares | domestic fluff / Day 7 - Saltwater Symphony | (semi-) public nudity | love songs
Sapphic September 2025 : Day 1 - Quill / Day 2 - Voyage / Day 3 - Laurels / Day 4 - Discovery / Day 5 - Inheritance / Day 6 - Wild West / Day 7 - Aeroplane / Day 8 - Corset / Day 9 - Kimono / Day 10 - Industry / Day 11 - Hieroglyph / Day 12 - Cartography / Day 13 - Wartime / Day 14 - Gold Rush / Day 15 - Revolution / Day 16 - Archeology / Day 17 - Ivory / Day 18 - Timepiece / Day 19 - Treasure / Day 20 - Lighthouse / Day 21 - Nobility / Day 22 - Millenium / Day 23 - Jade / Day 25 - Theatre / Day 26 - Sculpture / Day 27 - Holy / Day 28 - Oracle / Day 29 - Chiffon / Day 30 - Scroll
Soft Steddie September 2025 : Week 1 - Strangers to Lovers | Blind Date | Party | Cooking | Fairy Tale // Week 2 - Friends to Lovers | First Date | Secret | Falling | Pool // Week 3 - Surprise | Love at First Sight | Second Meeting // Week 4 - Communication | Eavesdropping | Parents | Wrong Number | Anniversary // Week 5 - Modern AU | Sunrise | Flowers
Sapphic Steddie getting married - 20.09.2025
I had a lot of fun drawing this :3
I hope you'll like it Hype !
Done using ink pens, graphite pencils, alcohol markers, colored pencils and Photoshop for the lace motifs, the jewelry, hairclip, the background and the hearts and fireflies effects
AO3 post 1 / AO3 post 2 / AO3 post 3 / Bluesky post / DeviantArt post / Instagram post / Pillowfort post / Twitter post