Some thoughts on relationship dynamics and Sherlock and John. I'm using my favourite adaptation, Sherlock & Co., as my lens. And I admit it: I too am a Johnlock-shipper.
At times, an adaptation would commit to this kind of relationship dynamic; not open to interpretation, but clearly represented. It doesn't have to be dramatic or extraordinary... But it would be nice to have, I think.
However, there is one thing I absolutely adore in Sherlock & Co. The adaptation understands that love does not have to be romantic, and it does not have to be physical to be intimate and more than friendship. I like the term queer platonic, but sometimes, love does not need any label at all.
I think about this a lot because relationship dynamics baffle me sometimes. To be honest, while I do follow social rules regarding love, not all feel authentic to me.
For instance: I love my partner. I also love my best friend. I could see myself spending my life with both. But I do not feel romantic or physical attraction toward my best friend. I still love them both, just differently. And honestly, some of my closest relationships have never fit neatly into the simple category of “friendship.” We are each other’s witnesses to life. That means something, and it's meaningful enough.
The same goes for Sherlock and John as well. Their dynamic does not necessarily need romantic or physical affection, but they absolutely love each other. Maybe Sherlock is a little bit like me in this regard, and confuses these societal boundaries sometimes. And maybe he doesn't even have to worry about this with John.
I think, Mariana—the absolute queen—also is very entangled with them, but John is just Sherlock's person. Maybe they don't need a specific label for their love. And maybe they can just confidently and authentically enjoy it.
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Following this post where Eddie ends up in Steve’s bed and asks him for a cuddle.
adding tag by @the-inspector-jones & adding + tag by @pictoluna
I hadn't planned on writing anything more about this, but it inspired me, so here goes (this was supposed to be much shorter, but I think I got a little carried away) :
On the second night, Eddie is drunk again and ends up in Steve’s bed once more. Steve says, “You know your bed is over there, Munson?” but Eddie pays no attention and tells him again, “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug,” Steve sighs, acting as though he doesn’t want to and is being forced into it, but deep down, he is very happy about the situation.
On the third night, Eddie pretends to be drunk to have an excuse to get back into Steve’s bed (because if Steve starts getting fed up with him and rejects him, he can always blame it on the alcohol, it would be less humiliating). As soon as he lies down, Steve says, “You’re back,” and Eddie, feeling a little less confident, replies, “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug.” He has barely finished the phrase when Steve’s arm wraps around his waist and pulls him back against his chest. “You know you don’t have to be drunk to come to my bed?” Steve whispers in his ear, and Eddie answers with a vague “mm-hmm,” because at that moment, he is incapable of saying anything else.
On the fourth night, Eddie shows up at Steve’s bedroom door. He’d like to arrive looking confident, but, well, outside of D&D, he’s no hero, is he? So he arrives with his head down, wringing his hands; after all, what if Steve didn’t mean what he said yesterday? What if he’d only suggested it because he thought Eddie was drunk and wouldn’t remember? What if he’d said it because he was tired and was imagining he was talking to Nancy or some other girl instead of Eddie? Steve puts an end to the whirlwind of thoughts by saying, “Don’t just stand there, Munson, come here,” and Eddie trots over to the bed, slipping under the covers while saying, “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug.” Once again, he’s barely finished the phrase before Steve is pressed right up against him.
On the fifth night, he shows up at Steve’s door again, a bit more confidently this time, though he still doesn’t step inside. He lingers in the doorway with his arms crossed, waiting for Steve to invite him in. “What are you waiting for, Munson?” Steve asks, grabbing the edge of the blanket and pulling it open. Eddie trots over to the bed again and slips inside. “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug.” The blanket has barely settled over his shoulders before Steve is right behind him, his arm wrapped around his waist.
On the sixth night, Eddie doesn’t wait in the doorway; he walks into Steve’s room as if he owns the place and slips into bed. “I see you’re getting comfortable,” Steve says with a smile, and once again Eddie replies, “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug,” and just as quickly as the other times, Steve’s arm finds its way around his waist.
On the seventh night, Eddie enters Steve’s room again and slips into bed; this time, Steve says nothing, he simply smiles, but Eddie won’t accept that. “Steve?” “Yeah?” “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug.” Steve just chuckles softly before burying his face in the crook of Eddie’s neck, his hand wrapping around Eddie’s waist.
On the eighth night, Eddie is already in Steve’s bed before Steve arrives. When Steve walks in, he pauses for a moment upon seeing him before smiling and heading toward the bed “You’re already here, Munson?” And of course, as always, Eddie replies, “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug,” which Steve is quick to do.
By the ninth night, they realize they can no longer sleep without each other. Eddie needs Steve; he needs his hugs, needs to feel Harrington’s arms around his waist, to feel him close, to feel his breath against the back of his neck, he needs to feel safe. And Steve needs Eddie, too; he needs to feel Eddie’s body against his own, needs to touch him, to rest his hand on Eddie’s stomach and feel it rise and fall with his breathing, to hold him close, to feel that he can offer comfort, that his presence can be soothing. They don’t talk about it; they barely even dare to admit it to themselves. Eddie says, “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug,” and Steve does exactly that; for now, it’s enough; they don’t need to talk about it.
On the tenth night, Eddie is supposed to go back to sleeping at his Uncle Wayne’s, alone, in that cold, empty trailer, but there he is again in Steve’s bed “Weren’t you supposed to go home?” Steve asks, more out of politeness than anything else, because seeing Eddie still there fills him with joy (he didn’t know how to ask Eddie to stay; he didn’t know how to make him understand that he needed him without bringing up what was going on between them; it was still too early, too fragile). “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug,” Eddie replies, but it doesn’t sound the way it usually does; it’s softer, deeper, more intimate. Steve wraps himself around Eddie, holding him tight, and that too is different from usual, it’s more tender, more affectionate, more intimate.
They still don’t talk about it, but they keep doing it every night. Steve says something, anything, and Eddie replies, “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug,” and instantly Steve is pressed against him. They convince themselves that it’s a habit, that it’s part of their routine, but deep down, it’s more powerful than that.
They don’t talk to anyone about it because no one needs to know; it’s their own business. Steve pretends not to notice Robin’s intent gaze, the look that says she knows something but wants him to confirm it. He doesn’t even know what’s happening here; he needs time to understand before telling her anything. He isn’t ready to face the truth.
And then Eddie started saying that phrase outside the bedroom. The first time, it just slipped out; Steve was complaining about onions stinging his eyes, and without thinking, Eddie jokingly said, “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug” and he saw Steve’s reaction. He saw him hold his breath, saw his body relax as he exhaled, and saw him slowly turn his head; he saw his eyes, intense and almost hungry, and saw Steve abandon everything on the counter to come and embrace him. Eddie complained that the hug was terrible because Steve was keeping his hands away on account of the onions, so, without ever letting go, Steve steered them toward the sink, washed and dried his hands, and then held Eddie the way he deserved to be held, causing Eddie to melt into the embrace with a contented sigh.
Eddie loves hugs, he always has, but he especially loves hugs from Steve; he loves feeling Steve’s strong, muscular arms wrap around him and squeeze his waist, and he loves being snuggled up against Steve. He loves burying his face against Steve’s chest, and he loves falling asleep with Steve behind him.
And if Eddie keeps telling him to shut up and give him a hug, it isn’t because he actually wants Steve to be quiet (because, honestly, he loves hearing him talk); he says it because he needs a hug, he needs to feel safe and soothed, he needs to feel like he matters to someone, but the words always get stuck in his throat, and he’s unable to tell Harrington that he needs him. It’s easier to just say, “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug.” Especially since, every time he says it, Steve drops whatever he’s doing to come and hold him. So, what’s the point of ruining things with words or feelings when they both get exactly what they need from that simple phrase.
They keep going like that. Eddie heads home around 11 a.m. and makes breakfast while waiting for his Uncle Wayne to wake up; then they spend the afternoon together until Eddie goes back to Steve’s place to help him get dinner ready (well, Steve actually cooks the meal, while Eddie just watches, occasionally chopping a few vegetables, handing over the pepper, and asking for a hug). Then the others arrive to eat before heading home with full bellies, since they don’t do sleepovers anymore. Eddie, however, doesn’t leave; he stays behind to help Steve clear the table and do the dishes (sometimes asking for another hug) before they both climb into Steve’s bed to cuddle. The next day, they have breakfast together before Eddie returns to his uncle’s place (And maybe he’s asking for another hug. He can’t help it; he loves it, and Steve’s hugs are the best.)
Then, some time later, Steve and Robin are allowed to return to the radio station. They host an afternoon show there that runs until 5 p.m. Eddie leaves it playing in the background when he’s with his uncle (and if he pricks up his ears when Steve speaks (and especially when he laughs) no one needs to know... And of course Wayne has noticed, but he doesn’t say anything).
Their routine remains unchanged, except that they now have their meals just the two of them; with his return to radio, Steve no longer has time to prepare such elaborate meals (sometimes Dustin and/or Robin join them, but preparing an extra portion is less of a hassle than cooking a meal for several people.) Apart from that, everything remains the same, until the day Steve tells him that he and Robin are hosting a special broadcast that won’t wrap up until around 10 p.m. Eddie jokes that he can manage sleeping alone for one night, and Steve lets out a forced laugh, trying to mask it with a cough. Neither of them wants this situation; they haven’t slept alone for weeks! But they are both too afraid to say anything. That evening, Eddie asks for more cuddles, and their embrace lasts longer. When they go to bed, Eddie barely has time to say, “Shut up, Harrington, and…” before Steve is already pressed against him.
The next day, Eddie takes a bit longer before heading home, once again letting the hug last a little while. He knows it seems a bit ridiculous, that Steve isn’t leaving for months, that it’s just one night apart, but a night away from Steve feels almost unbearable after all the nights they’ve spent together. Eddie can no longer really deny the feelings he’s developed for Steve.
Wayne doesn’t ask questions; he doesn’t ask Eddie why he’s still there when he’s usually in such a rush to leave. He heard the radio, he heard that Harrington kid announce the special broadcast, and, most of all, he heard Eddie’s dramatic sighs when he said he’d be staying the night. Wayne knows his nephew; he’s figured out what’s going on, he likely realized it long before Eddie did himself, and he knows there’s a good chance that when he comes home tomorrow morning, Eddie won’t be in his bed.
When Wayne leaves for work, a sad and distressed Eddie bids him farewell as if he were a grieving widower (that kid is so dramatic!).
No sooner has Wayne left than Eddie collapses onto his bed, clutching the soft pillow he stole from Steve’s house (the Harringtons have heaps of pillows; they won’t notice one is missing. Besides, he took it from the room that had been assigned to him, so it’s practically his anyway). He turns on his small portable radio and listens to his friends’ show, thinking that, since he can’t have Steve right there beside him, he might at least be able to fall asleep listening to his voice and cuddling the cushion that smells like his laundry detergent.
Eddie isn’t sleeping, neither during the show nor after. Steve’s voice had soothed him, but now he feels a void. It’s too quiet. The pillow was a decent substitute, but it isn’t Steve; it isn’t warm or muscular, it’s limp and useless. Eddie closes his eyes and tries to sleep, he really tries, but sleep eludes him. It’s late, 11:50 p.m. ; it’s not the time to be driving, not the time to be showing up at people’s houses… But it is the time to go to Steve Harrington’s place. It’s the time to get a hug, the time to ensure a good night’s sleep. Without another thought, Eddie gets up, scribbles a note for Wayne, grabs his car keys, and leaves the trailer park, heading for Steve’s house. He knows the way by heart.
He rings the bell. Maybe he shouldn’t, since it’s past midnight, but he does it anyway. He can’t think straight anymore anyway; he needs Steve, he needs his arms…
Steve opens the door, surprised. “Eddie?” “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug,” Eddie replies, relieved.
Steve hesitates for a moment, looking at him as if he can’t believe it’s real, then smiles, grabbing Eddie by the front of his T-shirt and pulling him inside. He closes the door, pins Eddie against it, and wraps his arms around him. He holds him close, as if they hadn’t seen each other in years.
“I thought you could go a night without me?” Steve teases, as if he weren’t just as happy about the situation. “I lied,” Eddie replies, tightening their embrace.
They stay like that for a few moments until Steve suggests they go upstairs. It will be more pleasant if they cuddle in his bed rather than in front of his door.
Lying in bed, with Steve’s arm around his waist and his firm, warm chest against his back, Eddie falls asleep in moments.
After that, things slowly start to change between them. Steve finally manages to put into words what he is feeling. He still isn’t ready to admit it to Eddie, but he talks to Robin about it (she puts on a look of mock surprise “You have feelings for Eddie? I never would have guessed!”).
Eddie starts using his phrase for everything and anything, because he knows the effect it has on Steve and loves seeing him drop whatever he’s doing to rush over and wrap him in a hug. He also uses it whenever he wants a hug, or feels like Steve needs one.
Steve complains about Jonathan because he’s a total moron “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug.”
Steve gets annoyed because he’s hungry and the pizza delivery guy is three minutes late “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug.”
Steve is annoyed because Dustin spent 25 minutes singing Eddie’s praises, while he just told Steve that he was cool. What do you mean, he’s just cool? “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug.”
Steve says the movie on TV sucks “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug.”
Steve is annoyed because he had to cut his shower short since there is no more hot water “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug.”
Steve had a bad day and someone was rude to him “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug.”
Some jerk bought the last pack of Peanut Butter Boppers “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug.”
Eddie really finds any excuse to ask for a hug, and Steve is starting to get a little too addicted to it. Sometimes he even makes up excuses complaining about completely trivial things, because he knows Eddie will ask to hug him, and he absolutely cannot resist; he has a desperate need for that physical contact.
Without quite knowing who started it, they become more tactile (beyond the cuddles) with each other. It begins with fingers brushing against one another, lingering a little too long; then a hand on an arm, the lower back, or a shoulder; fingers running through hair; a thumb on a cheek to brush away a crumb or an eyelash... fingers that caress and stay a moment longer than necessary. And then there are the glances, more intense, deeper. None of them says anything, but their bodies speak for them.
And besides, Eddie no longer settles for just asking for a hug; he doesn’t wait for Steve to drop everything and come to him anymore. Now, Eddie goes and gets the hug himself. It’s a change Steve is far from minding, even if it still leaves him dumbfounded.
The first time, he was sitting on a high stool when Eddie slipped between him and the table, pressing his back against Steve’s chest. Startled, Steve asked, “What are you doing?” Eddie simply replied, “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug,” something Steve was quick to do, wrapping both arms around Eddie’s waist and burying his face in his neck, completely forgetting the documents in front of him. Then it happened again, Steve had just closed the fridge door and asked Eddie what he wanted to eat, but he’d barely had time to turn around before the metalhead fell into his arms “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug.” Choosing a meal might have taken a little longer than planned that night, but Steve couldn’t very well deny him a hug.
Steve was completely at his mercy.
And it went on, over and over, until Steve, who had actually handled the situation well up to that point, started blushing every time Eddie sat on his lap (needless to say, he blushed a lot).
Eddie can’t believe he’s the one provoking these reactions in Steve; he can’t believe he’s the one making Steve blush like that. Exhilarated by his discovery, he begins to become clingier and more teasing. Steve can’t sit down anywhere without Eddie ending up in his lap. Eddie doesn’t really need to say “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug” anymore, since Steve’s arm immediately finds its way around his waist, but he keeps saying it anyway because he knows the effect it has on Steve; he can hear Steve’s breath hitch for a moment before he exhales slowly, as if trying to steady his breathing; he can feel Steve’s body pressing closer as he leans in, seeking more contact; and he can feel Steve’s arm tighten around his waist, sometimes bunching up the fabric of his T-shirt before letting go. Eddie is completely dependent on Steve’s reactions to him; he loves it.
And he keeps teasing him, intensifying Steve’s blushing and reactions each time. First, there are the intense, deep gazes that make Steve go weak at the knees (“Stop looking at me like that, Munson,” Steve whispers, his voice slightly shaky; “Like what?” Eddie replies innocently. He never gets an answer, because Steve looks away, but Eddie doesn’t need one, he can clearly see the flush on Steve’s cheeks). Then, Eddie starts lowering his voice slightly when he asks Steve to be quiet and give him a hug; sometimes, he even plays with his hair, twirling it around his index finger (Steve might collapse to the floor if he didn’t have such control over his body). And when Steve looks at him, Eddie bites his lower lip. At that moment, he doesn’t really have a reason to tell him, “Shut up, Harrington, and give me a hug,” because Steve is completely silent, his eyes are shining and he is out of breath, but Eddie says it anyway, because it amuses him, because he loves watching Steve step toward him, completely mesmerized.
Until the day everything changes. It’s a perfectly normal Thursday evening; they’re in the kitchen, and Steve is busy preparing the meal while Eddie tells him about his brilliant idea for the next D&D campaign (even though Steve hasn’t got a damn clue what a lich or a kender or whatever the creature is called is).
Eddie is leaning against the kitchen island, twisting a strand of hair around his index finger, and when Steve turns toward him, he unconsciously bites his lower lip while continuing to gaze at him intensely, his large brown eyes filled with desire. He has no idea that he is about to collapse, continuing to talk about his idea, his voice slightly lower now that Steve is looking at him. He isn’t really in control of his tone; it’s as if his body is acting for him.
After a sudden intake of breath, Steve steps forward until they are face-to-face. Eddie doesn’t have time to react before Steve grabs his necklace, hooking his index finger around the chain and pulling him close “Shut up, Munson, and give me a kiss.”
Eddie is completely disoriented. His breath catches, his eyes widen, his mouth falls open in surprise, and he feels his heart pounding against his ribcage, hard and powerful. His head is spinning; he feels as though he has stepped out of time.
He remembers that he needs to breathe and he lets his breath slowly escape from his mouth, finally registering Steve’s words. Still disoriented, he leans forward as if he has no control over his own body and plants a kiss on Harrington’s cheek before pulling back (though he doesn’t get far, as Steve is still holding him by the necklace).
Steve raises an eyebrow, his gaze locked with Eddie’s, his lips curling into a playful smile. “W-what?” Eddie stammers, blinking, still bewildered by what is happening. Steve gives his necklace a slight tug, pulling him a little closer, and then, with their faces inches apart, he murmurs, “Shut up, Munson, and give me a kiss.” And yeah, Eddie finally gets what he means, and... holy shit! His eyes go even wider than the first time, but this time he doesn’t disconnect from reality; this time, he leans in and, with his heart pounding wildly in his chest, kisses Steve.
Eddie might just faint, he really might, if Steve’s arm hadn’t just wrapped around his waist, steadying him and pulling him closer. Steve lets go of his necklace, sliding his hand behind his neck to deepen the kiss, and Eddie responds with fervor.
+++
That very evening, Steve calls Robin to tell her he finally kissed Eddie! (Picture him leaning his head against the wall, winding the phone cord around his finger, blushing as he tells Robin that Eddie kissed him back and that he’s his boyfriend now!)
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with the way ilya went fucking DEMON MODE after the news about shane and rose hit the internet and the way ilya was suddenly playing WAY rougher and angrier with shane than he ever had before, i KNOW most of that team thought ilya had a thing for rose.
and depending on how many movies for the franchise rose had filmed in montreal in the past??? not impossible that SHE was the montreal girl cap was always running off to see when they were in town. yes! it all makes sense!! rose landry is montreal girl, and hollander has STOLEN HER!!
which leads to the very funny idea of the boston team trying to be loyal to ilya and parent trap situations on nights out on the town to get ilya and rose to spend time together because SURELY cap can win her back! he's ilya rozanov!! of course he can do it!! manage to get them "accidentally" locked in a room together and NO chance cap doesn't win her back and steal her away from hollander!
thinking about jonathan byers thinking his little brother's death, who he practically brought up all by himself, was partially 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙪𝙡𝙩 for taking on an extra shift in order to pay the bills
thinking about jonathan byers putting up missing posters and looking at caskets and organising the whole funeral practically by himself
thinking about jonathan byers forcing himself to go and see his abusive father because he felt he needed to check his house and his 𝙘𝙖𝙧 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙩 for will just in case
thinking about jonathan byers watching his mother refuse to accept will was dead, while the whole town was grieving, and he really really thought will was 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙
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Yuna realizes that Shane and Ilya are in LOVE love when she hears singing coming from the kitchen.
“Chopping carrots with Ilya,” Shane sings under his breath. “Making salad with Ilya.”
Yuna smiles softly from the dining room. This is one of her favorite things about her son. From the time he could (barely) talk, he made up little songs about anything and everything. The first time he’d done it, he’d been strapped into his car seat and watching cars go by. When he’d caught Yuna’s eye in the rear view mirror, he’d smiled with all 8 of his little teeth and waved.
“Dwiving,” he’d sung, all of 18 months old and barely able to say the word properly. “Dwivin’ wi’ Mama. Wuv Mama.”
Yuna’s not sure if it’s Shane’s way of processing the world around him, just A Thing some people do, or something special about her baby boy. All she knows is that from the first time he’d made up a little tune about Driving With Mama, everything turned into a song. When he’s comfortable and feeling at ease, Shane turns little things around him into music.
Learning to tie his shoes? “Daddy’s teaching me to tie my shoes. One lace over the other. Make the bunny ears!”
Gearing up for practice when he was 8? “Going to practice. Gonna be great. Gonna score a goal!”
Studying for a science test? “Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. Everyone says it because it’s true. Moving on—organelles and cell walls.”
Gearing up for his first Metros game as captain? “Taping my hockey stick. Going out on the ice. Gonna kick some ass.”
It’s something so uniquely, adorably, perfectly Shane.
Today, though? As Shane’s in the kitchen preparing a salad for lunch? For the first time, someone else sings along. For the first time in Shane’s life, someone hears the tune and lyrics that only exist in his head and joins in.
“Making salad with Shane,” Ilya croons along, hooking his chin over his boyfriend’s shoulder and wrapping strong arms around his waist. “Preparing lunch with my love.”
Shane smiles and sings back as Ilya nuzzles his neck. “Being domestic with my boyfriend. Thinking of boring things we can do together.”
Ilya laughs and kisses his ear before finishing the song. “I love to be boring with yooouuuu.”
🏅🏆✨👏🏼 Beautiful Human Award ✨ 👏🏼🏆 🏅 Send this to someone you think is a beautiful soul -- interact with your followers and spread some Positivity, Appreciation & Tumblr Love! Let's Do This! 🖤
🥹🥹🥹 Oh thank you. This is so lovely! This is the side of tumblr that's been missing, isn't it?
thinking abt a twt post i saw a while ago abt Steve who wakes up with a guitar pick imprint on his cheek every morning from sleeping on Eddie's chest :(( my heart hurts the visual is just SO SWEET :(( he's just a lil sleepy guy, hair sticking up everywhere, sleepy lil face with his boyfs necklace imprinted on his sleepy face!! :(( ugh! im so soft
(and eddie who gets cuteness aggression bc of it. but manifests it in little kisses on the imprint. that's his babyyyyyy)
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Steve is excellent at molding himself perfectly to his partners interests when he is in a relationship. With Nancy he read every single article of the school newspaper she wrote. Movies nights were either filled with Tom Cruise (not that Steve minded that much) or documentaries he tried to be interested in. Once he suggested they'd watch an episode of Star Trek together but when she said "I really want to watch this documentary" he had relented.
It's the same with every girlfriend or fling afterwards. They get to pick the movie, the music, the dinner, the activities. Or more accurately Steve picks exactly what they like because they seem to expect it. He shows up to Sarah's piano recital and watches Heidi's cheer practice. He let's Jenna eject his Tears for Fears tape with a frown and put on some Ska instead. And when Chloe really, really wants to go out for milkshakes he pretends like ice cream doesn't make him want to throw up after Starcourt. Not a single one of them ever shows up at his basketball games or his swim meets.
Love means sacrifice and putting yourself second. At least when you're Steve Harrington.
So when Steve starts dating Eddie he doesn't expect anything else. It's not as bad though as with some previous dates. It's nice to listen to Eddie go on a long ramble about the history of metal. He likes to sit in during the DnD games, flicking through a magazine while Eddie and the kids play. And sure he is not the biggest fan of horror movies but it's a nice excuse to cuddle up with Eddie during movie night. Not that he would need an excuse, Eddie is incredibly tactile.
Steve is in the middle of a little league baseball game when things change. He is so focused on coaching his team he doesn't notice the mop of black curls in the audience at first. Only when his little team has their first home run and an eardrum shattering whistle comes from the bleachers, Steve turns and is surprised to find Eddie in the audience, smiling, cheering, hollering.
When he spots Steve looking at him he waves at him with an even bigger smile. During a brief water break Steve jogs over to the bleachers.
"What are you doing here?" he asks, still surprised that Eddie is here.
"Came to support my boyfriend and his team, of course," Eddie grins. If they weren't in public, Steve would steal a kiss right now. Eddie very much loathes sports and yet he still came.
Once the game is over Eddie drives both of them home. When he turns on the tape player, Steve very much expects the usual metal to come out of the speakers. Instead he is met with the familiar voice of Duran Duran. He expects Eddie to change the tape but he just lets it play. After Duran Duran there is a Judas Priest song and maybe the Duran Duran just got on there by accident. But after Judas Priest Hall and Oates plays and Eddie even hums along? No complaints, no berating Steve for his horrible taste in music, but fucking humming along?
"Did you…did you make this?" Steve asks, trying to wrap his head around what is happening.
"Yeah, thought this way we can both listen to stuff we like," Eddie smiles and laces their hands together. "But I also got some Bowie and and Queen tapes if you want something else."
It's the few musicians they can agree on. But Steve shakes his head.
"No, I like it. Leave it."
When they get to their small but comfy new home Eddie dashes upstairs to take a shower and tells Steve to pick a movie from the few he rented earlier.
The first one is Rosemary's Baby. Of course Eddie picked a horror movie. But then the next tape surprises Steve yet again. It's Back to the Future and the one after that is Star Wars there even is Top Gun. And Night of the Living Dead. A perfect mixture really.
When Eddie comes back from his shower Steve is still staring at the movies a frown on his face.
"You alright, Steveheart?"
"You know you don't have to do this," Steve says slowly. "Pretend you want to watch something I like. Or listen to my music. I don't want you to pretend."
Eddie walks over, wet hair dripping onto the floor. He presses a kiss to Steve's cheek and takes Top Gun out of his hand.
"I'm not pretending," he says and walks over to their TV. "I want to watch stuff you like. The same way you agree to sometimes watch stuff that I like. That's how it works, doesn't it? We compromise."
Steve blinks. Compromise. No ones ever really wanted to compromise with him. No one ever cared enough.
"Why?" he asks and sits down on the couch.
"Because I love you. And I want to know about the things you love. The same way I want to hear about your day or how your run went, if you liked your green smoothie this morning," Eddie says and sits down on the sofa too, pulling Steve into his arms.
And maybe it's taken him 22 years to learn. But finally Steve realizes that love is not putting others always first. Love is to meet in the middle. Love is to care, and to compromise and to share.
He's never felt so loved like when the intro to Top Gun starts playing.
