#starbara

ZING!

i think she and steve's relationship would have naturally fizzled out. nancy would have realized that steve was not really her type and that she was more into the idea of the popular boy liking her than actually being with steve.

i also think that things would almost stay the same except barb survives in the upside down and gets rescued with will. so now, she is undoubtedly a member of the party and this puts her and steve in each other's orbit much more than before.

nancy and jon would still get together. i mean, it's basically inevitable. barb and steve go from strangers to frenemies to actual friends to something that lingers on the side of more. the friendship is a lot of banter and light teasing until it transforms into something deeper.

steve calls her barbie. she pretends to hate it. she calls him a litany of different nicknames, but he likes it most when she calls him steven. they study together often. he carries her books, walks her to his car. she always makes a little show of acting annoyed but she waits by her locker for him after basketball practice every day of senior year.

he graduates with decent grades because of barb. hell, he gets into state with her help. she's going to state too. she insists it is fully a coincidence. with nancy and jon so wrapped up in each other, she has the alarming realization that steve harrington might be is her best friend.

when she has nightmares, she knows she can call him even at 3 o'clock in the morning and he'll sneak over and climb through her window. letting steve hold her hand in her childhood bed doesn't seem so scary when she dreams about monsters with petal faces and rows of teeth.

she defends him to her other friends, even her old best friend robin who insists that steve is a terrible guy. she tells robin she can name a 100 ways that steve is an amazing guy.

steve defends her viciously. anyone who so much as looks at her wrong will get an earful or worse. he'd already dropped tommy and carol, but he loses his last few buddies on the team after he hears them making fun of barb after practice.

steve looks at barb and he just thinks she's beautiful, that she's perfect exactly as she is. he loves her red hair, her soft skin, pretty kissable lips. what others call big or fat, he thinks of as curvy, as soft, as lovely. her laugh, her intelligence, her fierce commitment to being true to herself. steve loves everything about her.

so when he hears the team talking shit about what he sees in her, he gets into another fight. he's got a busted lip and a black eye and a startling realization that maybe his feelings for barb aren't as platonic as he thought.

he doesn't just love her as his best friend. he's in love with her.

when robin enters during season 3, i think steve and barb would become steve barb and robin. the terrific trio. robin wants to shake them both because it's so obvious they like each other. they'd finally get together around the events of season 4.

and yeah, robin gets it to an extent. steve is a great guy even if he is a total dingus. not that she gets the appeal personally.

steve makes the first move after he gets jealous watching her interact with eddie. i think eddie's a shit and would totally flirt with barb because 1)she's a pretty girl and 2) he immediately picks up on steve's interest and jealousy. he's a little shit who likes to stir things up and watch the chaos unfold.

steve knows he has a shot when barb also gets jealous over nancy's flirty glances.

barb stays with lucas, max and erica because she thinks an adult should be with them. before parting ways, barb would make some sarcastic comment about steve making sure he doesn't get another concussion. tells him that he better come back.

and he takes the chance. kisses the hell out of her right in front of everyone. says some cheesy line like 'how could i not come back when i know you're here waiting for me barbie'

And the hangout happens etc but Nancy is like okayyy baaaarb I'm gonna ;) head out now ;) you okay here? And Barb is like Nancy for the love of fuck I am going to make out with him and he might even take his shirt off I will call you when I get home but Nancy goes it might be a bit late to call...maybe try in the morning;) and Barb kinda wants to die a little bit because her best friend is sorta living vicariously through her and it's embarrassing to have a crush but also. It's fun and exciting to have a sort of boyfriend who's clearly super into you but also backs off when you tell him to and lets your intense best friend come to what you are realizing may have been a casual double date, so she waves to Nancy and heads upstairs.

They sleep together and it's nice and she even got him to help her take her bra off while she felt him up under his shirt and she's pretty proud of how smooth she was. But she does have to go home, so she nudges him awake and he kisses her again and she tells him she's heading home but is also stealing his sweatshirt. He gives her a lazy smile and asks if he's picking her up for school tomorrow and she's like nu uh I'll see you AT school bucko. And he gives her a little pout but says goodnight and she starts walking the few blocks to her car.

She never makes it.

The next day at school Nancy is like Steve. Where is Barb. And he's like Nancy. Where is Barb. And both go ???? WHERE IS BARB!!

Cue them both kinda freaking out, and then finding out Jonathan took pictures of the backyard and had at some point looped around and taken a picture of Barb fiddling with her Keys with Something in the background. Steve still smashed his camera because what the fuck Jonathan, the picture he took was like. Ten seconds before her bra came off? But now they're all stuck together because they've gotta find Barb and Will.

In case you missed them, here are the next ten works posted from the Stranger Things Reverse Big Bang!

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Don't Throw it Away by @lightoftheseraph | Art by @karadanverss

Rating: General

Warning(s): No Archive Warnings Apply

Characters: Jonathan Byers, Argyle (Stranger Things)

Relationship(s): Jonathan Byers & Argyle (Stranger Things), Jonathan Byers & Joyce Byers

Summary: Jonathan Byers feels lost when his family moves to the California coast to escape the depressing city of Hawkins, IN, but when another joining community art classes he finds a friend who helps him feel like he truly belongs.

I'm Not Gonna Do It (I Did It) by @ukulilyjane | Art by @sillysparrow

Rating: Explicit

Warning(s): No Archive Warnings Apply

Character(s): Robin Buckley, Nancy Wheeler, Argyle, Jonathan Byers, Chrissy Cunningham

Relationship(s): Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson

Summary: Robin is nervous about getting her nose pierced so obviously Steve has to go and support her. So what if he gets his own piercings done at the same time? And Eddie definitely doesn't feel some type of way about it. He doesn't.

They Gave You Life, and In Return, You Gave Them Hell by @viviseawrites | Art by @ent-is-indecisive

Rating: Explicit

Warning(s): No Archive Warnings Apply

Character(s): Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, Vecna, El Jane Hopper, Robin Buckley

Relationship(s): Steve Harrington / Eddie Munson

Summary: Eddie Munson died in the Upside Down during the spring break from hell. Steve knows that all too well. But when Steve is captured by Vecna’s forces, a familiar face reintroduces himself as Kas. And Kas’s mission? Interrogate Steve for details on the party’s plan to face Vecna. Still, Steve can’t help but see Eddie somewhere under the magical new powers and blank eyes. He just has no idea how to reach him.

You See Better When You're Looking by @starryeyedjanai | Art by @inflomora-art

Rating: Teen

Warning(s): No Archive Warnings Apply

Character(s): Chrissy Cunningham, Eddie Munson

Relationship(s): Chrissy Cunningham/Eddie Munson

Summary: Chrissy doesn't know what she’s doing. She really doesn't know what she’s doing. She puts the car in park and tries to calm her nerves. It’s going to be fine. She’ll knock on the door and Eddie will sell her sleeping pills and she’ll finally, finally be able to sleep through the night. She has nothing to worry about. or—who knew going to the town’s local drug dealer for sleeping pills would lead Chrissy to finding so much more than just a good night’s rest?

Come and Get Me by @rindecisions | Art by @waldos-art

Rating: Explicit

Warning(s): Graphic Depictions of Violence

Character(s): Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, Billy Hargrove, Tommy Hagan, Calvin Powell, Phil Callahan, Robin Buckley

Relationship(s): Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson/Billy Hargrove, Eddie Munson/Billy Hargrove, Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington/Billy Hargrove

Summary: A pulp fiction style sports AU full of sexual tension, underground bouts, and one-night stands that put Steve, Billy, and Eddie in borderline crack-like situations.

Peaches and Pears by @ahsokatanoss | Art by @oriarts

Rating: Teen

Warning(s): No Archive Warnings Apply

Character(s): Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, Robin Buckley, Gareth, Chrissy Cunningham

Relationship(s): Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson

Summary:

“I’m sure it’s nothing too wild. If it was something super terrible, he would’ve said something by now.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“You’ll know soon!” Robin said. “And then your months-long pining can officially come to an end.”

Steve shot her an indignant look. “I haven’t been pining! We’ve actively been flirting back and forth for a while!”

“Pining!”

“Not pining!” Or: Steve, co-owner of a coffee shop with his best friend, and Eddie, guitarist for up and coming metal band Corroded Coffin, meet on an Animal Crossing forum. Catching feelings online quickly ensues. 

We the Youth (1987) by @skepsiss | Art by @farahsamboolents

Rating: General

Warning(s): No Archive Warnings Apply

Character(s): Robin Buckley, Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, Robin Buckley's Parents

Relationship(s): Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington, Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson

Summary: Robin and Steve have moved to New York together to live as room-mates while Robin saves up enough to start school the following year. But... Robin doesn't know what she wants to do. Robin struggles to find her place in the world, like every 18/19-year-old, but the more she looks around, the more goodness she sees in everything. It's rough to be displaced and yearning for love, but she has so much love around her that she slowly starts to recognize and put her faith into it. This 5 chapter miniseries showcases a different kind of love in each chapter, and how it eventually bolsters Robin to go for something she really wants. Lots of Platonic Stobin, with background Steddie stuff.

In the Nick of Time by @sourw0lfs| Art by @kokoshka67

Rating: Teen

Warning(s): No Archive Warning Apply

Character(s): Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, Robin Buckley, Nancy Wheeler, Chrissy Cunningham, Tommy Hagan

Relationship(s): Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Robin Buckley/Chrissy Cunningham/Nancy Wheeler (implied)

Summary: Steve’s eyes are flickering between the front door and the obnoxious demon cat clock that Robin demanded she be allowed to hang in the living room, teeth pulling at his bottom lip with every passing minute. It’s not very late yet, but it is late enough that he’s worried. Next to him, Robin is worried too. They’re worried because Eddie’s late. Really late at this point. Was-supposed-to-be-home-when-the-sun-was-still-up late. OR: the one where Eddie is a ghost and Stobin has to learn magic to fix him

I Want to Taste You Both by @kallisto-k | Art by @karadanverss​

Rating: Explicit

Warning(s): No Archive Warnings Apply

Character(s): Nancy Wheeler, Steve Harrington, Jonathan Byers

Relationship(s): Nancy Wheeler/Steve Harrington, Jonathan Byers/Steve Harrington/Nancy Wheeler 

Summary: Jonathan thought that his crush on Nancy Wheeler would eventually go away. She was dating King Steve Harrington after all; Jonathan had no chance. What he didn’t expect was for his feelings to spread.

Sword and Scale by @ronilani | Art by @acidicbarkbeast

Rating: Teens and Up

Warning(s): Graphic Depictions of Violence

Character(s): Steve Harrington, Barbara Holland, Nancy Wheeler, Robin Buckley, Dustin Henderson, Erica Sinclair, Kali Prasad, Heather Holloway, Carol Perkins, Tommy Hagan, Barbara Holland’s Parents, Shadow Monster| Mind flayer, mentioned Billy Hargrove

Relationship(s): Pre-Steve Harrington/ Barbara Holland, Steve Harrington & Robin Buckley, minor Robin Buckley/ Chrissy

Summary:

Talks of peace between Dragon and Humans were brought up and two were chosen to prove the land of Hawkins that it is possible. 

Enter the Voice of the Dragon Clan Steve and Dame Barbara of Maple Kingdom. There are hiccups from beginning to end, but for the sake of their people, both listen and support the other.

And maybe there is potential for something more between a dragon and a knight after everything.

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Stay tuned for more incredible works from the Stranger Things Reverse Big Bang!

Title: Sword and Scale 

Word Count: 19,496

Archive Warnings: slight body horror, implied Dragon poaching, Steve Harrington Whump, Complicated Family Relationships, Betrayal

Rating:  Teen and Up

Pairing(s): Steve Harrington/ Barbara Holland, Steve Harrington & Robin Buckley, minor Robin Buckley/ Chrissy

Character(s): Steve Harrington, Barbara Holland, Nancy Wheeler, Robin Buckley, Dustin Henderson, Erica Sinclair, Kali Prasad, Heather Holloway, Carol Perkins, Tommy Hagan, Barbara Holland’s Parents, Shadow Monster| Mind flayer, mentioned Billy Hargrove, Scoops Troop, Kali Prasad’s Gang

Tags:  Adventure, Knight Code, Medieval Fantasy AU, Knight!Barbara, Dragon!Steve, Animal Transformation, Getting Together, Magic, Cameos

Summary: Talks of peace between Dragon and Humans were brought up and two were chosen to prove the land of Hawkins that it is possible. 

Enter the Voice of the Dragon Clan Steve and Dame Barbara of Maple Kingdom. There are hiccups from beginning to end, but for the sake of their people, both listen and support the other.

And maybe there is potential for something more between a dragon and a knight after everything.

Beta Reader: Kate

Art link and credit: Art 1 and Art 2 @acidicbarkbeast

🫣

They broke up when Barb gets into college and Steve doesn’t.

Eventually she ends up with a new guy, an incredible guy and everyone is jealous. She likes him, really likes him and everything is perfect.

But she misses the screaming, fighting and kissing in the rain. The way Steve would act insane with love, the roller coaster rush of emotions.

Her new boyfriend doesn’t see the fake smiles, always respects her, is close with her family and she’s comfortable with it.

She curses Steve’s name at 2AM, missing the dancing in the moonlight, the complicated love and how in love she was with him that she acted insane.

Barb will always be in love with Steve.