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ash-is-dying · 8 months

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Mr Perfectly Fine: Chap 4

A/N: Smashed this one out. A bit shorter but just as good I swear. Heavily focused on Eddie's pov this time around. I promise he's getting better with a bit of help from his life coach A.K.A Wayne Munson. Enjoy!

Eddie x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 1.9k

Chapter 4: Mr. I’ve Been Waiting For You All My Life

---

He fucked up.

He would never admit it in a million years, but he knew he had fucked up.

You hadn’t been around in a week. Even on his days off Eddie would come back and hear the others complaining that you hadn’t been in at your usual time. It was doing his head in and his pride wouldn’t let him tell them that it was most likely his fault.

Okay, maybe definitely his fault.

But it was a good thing. No dumb orders with a bunch of substitutions and additives, no analyzing eyes watching over him, no yelling or arguing or anger at all. So it was a good thing. Right?

But if it was so good why didn’t things feel right? He felt himself wondering why he was so off, he’d only known you for a few weeks and every interaction crawled under his skin and made it boil. He was happy to be rid of you. You were too familiar. Made him too nostalgic. Things should have gone back to normal by now. Key word being should.

If his own inner turmoil wasn’t enough, Wayne had also been up his ass every time they spoke. After college, at work, at home. The old man was a ninja. Okay so not Eddie’s best analogy but his point still stood. As soon as he had gotten you off his mind his uncle appeared shoving you right back to the forefront.

“Have you talked to her?”

“Did you say sorry?”

“You have to do something for her.”

“Get off my couch and go fix things Edward.”

God it was a living nightmare there was no escape from. When it wasn’t his own voice it was Wayne’s and vice versa, there was no reprieve.

The voices got louder when he lay sleepless at night. Her face and the tears in her eyes were stuck on loop as he reheard her shaky voice as she last spoke to him. The good part he has left in him regrets it all. Then again the good part of him wants to cry himself to sleep, go buy her a bouquet of flowers and beg for forgiveness. Like hell was that happening. But his mind kept returning to those lingering questions even he couldn’t answer. Why had he pushed her away? She had done nothing wrong and he had yelled at her because of what, her keen observation skills? Her relationship with his uncle?

Because he knew this feeling all too well.

By the time he reached that level he’d given up on sleep opting for a smoke and some coffee. Ain’t no way is he going down that road.

He made his way back inside dumping the cold coffee in the sink as Wayne walked out of his room stretching.

“You’re up early Ed. That’s the third time this week.”

Eddie responds with a grunt of acknowledgement, his eyes darting back to the sink.

“Something on your mind?” Wayne pauses putting his elbows on the bench. “Someone on your mind?”

That was a loaded question. It was very obvious what was on his mind. What Wayne was really trying to ask was what was he going to do about it? And the answer to that was the same as it was the last few days. Nothing.

Wayne sighs and they move around each other as breakfast is made. They both sit on the couch shoveling eggs into their mouths before they had to leave and open the shop.

“You wanna know the four steps to winning back a girl?”

Eddie chokes on his food as he registers these words. He swallows hard and clears his throat. “Okay well first of all I have no need for such tips and second of all I’m in no mood to hear uncle guru’s life hacks this early in the morning when I’m running on caffeine and burnt toast.”

Wayne chuckles. “First off the toast and caffeine is your fault, second, I’m telling you anyway because I think you need to hear it.”

He puts his plate down and leans forward making direct eye contact with his nephew. “Step 1. Break the ice. Step 2. Contact. Step 3. Talk. Step 4. Apologize. 5. Peace Offering. If a girl is mad at you she’ll put up a wall you just gotta charge through that wall. You do something surprising so it stops her from completely icing you out, then you make sure she’s okay with you getting closer again, you start to talk and get her to open up and finally you open up, she feels trusted and she trusts you then to seal the deal you give her something meaningful so she’s always thinking of you. Never fails. Munson guarantee.”

Eddie smiles shaking his head. “Munson guarantee?”

“Munson Guarantee. Works one hundred percent of the time and if it doesn’t then you get a full refund.”

Eddie stands collecting their plates. “I didn’t invest no money in this.”

Wayne stands and scruffles Eddie’s bed hair. “That would be the point my boy.”

Eddie finishes his morning routine in a relatively good mood, every few minutes having a laugh at Wayne’s girl advice.

Five steps to win you back.

Yeah right.

---

He’d been a selfish idiot and sat in his regular spot, placed next to yours. Only for you to walk in, see him, turn tail and sit in the front corner. He couldn’t stop the pang of guilt in his chest when you walked away even though he knew it was coming. The first class in the last fortnight where you weren’t nagging in his ear and he missed it. Nag is the wrong word. You don’t miss nagging. Maybe he just missed you talking to him. But you sat a metaphorical ocean away. He didn’t even have your number. There was no way possible for him to even begin to explain what was going on. Not like he wanted to.

So he moped. He sat with his feet on the desk biting his lip and letting his head fall back. Moping over the unexpected impact losing you had on him. No matter how brief and shallow your interactions were. Suddenly a pop up in the corner of his screen drew his attention. A black textbox with your name at the top.

An email.

A lifeline.

It was just about the project, the first few pieces of sheet music with notes and rewrites. It simply read ‘make sure you have your overlay done by next Monday for when I booked the studio.’ But to him it said so much more. He had a week. Maybe he could fix things.

Wayne’s list got into his head.

Step 1. Break the ice.

Eddie’s first thought of course is, make you laugh. He scrolled through his options for a good minute or so before finding something he had a gut feeling would at least make you smile. He found a gif of a cat typing on a computer with the caption ‘I’m on it!’. He smiled and sent it through, his eyes immediately drifting to you. It took you a few minutes but he watched as your mouth twitched upwards ever so slightly. A huff of amusement passing through your lips before you started typing again. A notification popped up on his screen, a reply.

‘Not funny.’

Progress is progress.

Step 2. Contact.

He didn’t really know how to make contact considering you had been keeping about a miles radius between you two. Luckily his chance came tumbling down some stairs. Quite literally. On your way out of class one of your books had fallen apart, pages falling to the floor. You were on your knees whilst the class had already passed you by. A hand appeared in front of you gathering the spill of paper. You looked up to thank the person it was attached to when you found yourself looking into familiar eyes.

“Thank you so- oh.”

Eddie swallowed holding his pile out to you. You immediately clammed up but took the pile and held it to your chest as you stood.

“Thanks.” You mumbled. He stood slowly to meet you before you walked past him and out the door. He thought that had made no difference until he found you no longer aimed to stay away. You no longer seemed wary of only words of harm leaving his mouth.

At least you weren’t shoving him away with a bargepole anymore.

Step 3. Talk.

Talking to you was evidently not his strong suit but he couldn’t have planned this better. He had your sheet music in hand, half assed notes of his own to make it look like he had questions and concerns. He would tell you he was curious about your style choices and needed an explanation. It was a perfect plan. Yet here he stands in front of you speechless.

“Couldn’t you have just emailed me?”

Shit.

“Well no my laptop crashed yesterday and I didn’t want to just not do the work so uh yeah.” Idiot.

You choose to ignore the fact that you saw him on his laptop in class earlier and you grab the sheet from his hands. You spend the next ten minutes going through his questions and correcting his notes. He fidgets as he sits listening to things he already knows. But you move closer. You point out his mistakes. You make eye contact. You finish your speech and look up at him tiredly.

“Don’t know where I’d be without you angel.”

“Probably be off torturing another girl somewhere.”

Your words hold no poison and he takes that as a victory, he smiles gently back at you.

“Probably. Probably”

Step 4. Apologize.

“Sorry what?” You replied, your face stuffed with a grilled cheese as you rip out your headphones. He was obviously interrupting. Oh well. Too late now.

“I was a dick. I’m sorry.” He said looking to the ground.

You put your food down and turned to face him. “Where’s this coming from? Been waiting for this Eddie all my life. Did your uncle have a go at you or something?”

Yes he did. But he didn’t need you knowing that. “No I just realized you were right. This work involves both of us and its easier when we can tolerate each other being in the same room.”

You sit in a silent state of shock at Eddie’s out of the blue maturity. “Oh. Okay then.” The silence continues as Eddie digs his shoe into the ground and you stare at your food. “Do you um- Do you wanna sit?” You gesture at the opposite bench.

His eyebrows raise. “Uh yeah. Yeah for sure.”

Maybe Wayne was right. It was that easy.

Just one more step.

---

At your usual table sat a familiar coffee cup. One with loafs of bread and leaves scrawled along the rim spotting this you instantly knew where it was from and who put it there. The real question was why.

You walk tentatively closer, eyes catching on the boy sitting in the opposite corner of the room chipping away at his black nail polish avoiding your eyes. Your attention then moves back to the cup as your bag slides off your shoulder and you reach for the cup taking a hesitant sip.

He even added almond milk.

You place the cup back down on the table and only then to you spot the hardly legible writing on the side.

‘Peace Offering?’

---

Taglist:

@micheledawn1975 , @emma77645 , @rustboxstarr

#eddie x reader #eddie x you #eddie x fem!reader #barista!eddie #slow burn #enemies to lovers #stranger things #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson smut #eddie munson

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ash-is-dying · 9 months

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Temporary Tattoo

A/N: Felt compelled to write a quick blurb after drawing one of these on my own hand. Idk guys the delulu is really getting to me today. Anyway enjoy!

Shy!Eddie x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 782

Fluffy / Mildy Spicy Blurb

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“Just stay still Eddie!”

“But you’re taking forever!”

The pen runs over his knuckles as you outline the bones on his hand. You had spent the entirety of calculus at the back drawing on Eddie’s hand. He had breached the topic of getting a skeleton hand tattoo so you had made the generous offer to be his temporary tattoo artist.

His various rings had been scattered across the desk and the sleeve of his hellfire shirt had been rolled the full way up his arm exposing his actual tattoos alongside the detailed sketch on his left hand. You sat knee to knee with the boy as the arm you’re drawing with pins his arm to the table and the other holds his hand flat.

For someone who was covered in hidden tattoos you’re genuinely surprised by how much he moved while you were working and how whiney he was being about you taking too long.

“How long?”

“Eddie I haven’t even done your wrist yet. Chill your balls. We’ve still got half an hour anyway.”

He throws his head back and sighs deeply. His other hand starts to fidget, miming the chords for some metal song or another. His eyes close and he looks like a toddler who’s been denied chocolate from the shops. His head lolls to the side to look at you.

You’re completely oblivious to the look he gives you as he studies your concentrated face, biting your lip and your brows furrowed as you smoothed over the outlines you had drawn. Unbeknownst to you the real reason he was so all over the place wasn’t because the tattoo was taking too long.

It was because you were the one drawing it.

When you had started your gentle touches had left him flinching, moving towards your warm hands. Hence the need for physical restraint. Eddie’s cheeks flushed the moment you had wrestled his arm under yours, your closeness making his heart jump start. He could spend hours here just having you draw all over him. He’d let you fill every gap between his tats if it meant he could keep you like this.

The only reason he was now encouraging you to hurry was because he didn’t need the artist girl he’d been crushing on for months noticing the semi he was sporting. He had tried to slide further under the desk to make it less obvious but the hold you had on his arm was making things increasingly harder.

In both ways.

“I don’t think we need to do the wrist, just my hand is fine-” he said sharply.

“But didn’t you want a half-sleeve anyway? Thought you wanted me to try the whole tattoo.”

“As cool as that would be I kinda need my arm back sweetheart-” He says with an edge of panic in his voice.

“Okay okay, I’ll be done in ten.”

The next ten minutes were probably the longest ten minutes of his life.

For the fine detailing you had made the decision that you needed to get even closer. You had rotated his arm and had folded your leg over his, just adjacent to where he desperately needed you not to be. He watched anxiously as you shifted to finish off the tattoo. He genuinely tried to sink into his chair and disappear. If you had even a hint of what was happening under the desk he would be absolutely mortified.

“Why do you get so many tattoos Eds?”

Her sudden question pulls him out of his head. “Oh- um. I guess because they look cool? And they help me express a part of myself that I want to show people rather than tell them about.”

“Fair enough.” There’s a long pause. “Can I ask you something?”

Eddie’s brows raise in concern. “Yes?”

“Do you get this turned on for all your tattoo artists or just me?”

The silence is deafening as his eyes widen in shock and realization. He stutters as you move off of his lap unable to find the words. The bell goes and you begin to pack up your things not sparing him a glance until you put your hand on his shoulder and lean to whisper in his ear.

“If you ever need another tattoo done… call me okay.”

You give his cheek a quick peck as you turn away and walk out of the room with a flush on your face, leaving behind an extremely flustered and red faced Eddie. He looks down at his arm. It’s amazing of course. But what really catches his eye is the messily written phone number on the underside of his arm.

Maybe he will get another temporary tattoo.

#eddie munson #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson smut #eddie x fem!reader #eddie x reader #eddie x you #stranger things #blurb

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ash-is-dying · 9 months

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Mr Perfectly Fine: Chap 3

A/N: It’s been a while but it’s fineeee. I warned you I’m not a consistent person... This is quite an angst heavy chapter and we FINALLY get a hint as to why Eddie is being such a dickhead. Hope you enjoy and I’ll be starting a taglist even tho I’ve only got like a few people on it... BUT PROGRESS IS PROGRESS AND WE STAN!

Eddie x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 2.3k

Chapter 3: Mr. Looked Me In The Eye And Told Me You Would Never Go Away

---

After you made the unfortunate discovery that your life was going to become inevitably more intertwined with Eddie’s you gave up on avoiding him. If you absolutely had to interact with the world’s biggest pain in the ass then you were going to gain the upper hand. You felt childish but giddy at the same time, like a spy trying to figure out how to take down the bad guy. The best way to do this turned out to be an all day café study session. He had let slip that he would be unable to do any project work this weekend due to his full-day shift.

That was a bit of information he probably should’ve kept to himself.

As there was now a girl sipping on her third almond milk caramel hot chocolate sitting in the corner booth half writing notes on a lecture and half watching Eddie Munson.

For revenge purposes.

Obviously.

You watched the way he moved like he owned the bar. He timed everything perfectly. He would stick his tongue out whilst he poured his latte art, his hair frizzed under the heat of the steamer and he would hesitate by the fridge for a second too long to cool off. He had memorized every order by heart and had no need to glance at the recipe sheet behind the machinery. If he had nothing to do he’d fidget with the change in the tip jar, flipping it between his oversized hands over and over. He eventually dropped some under the counter and dipped his hand into his apron to replace the missing cash with some of his own, that was kinda cute. Not that you’d ever admit it.

When it came to customers he greeted everyone with a tired smile on his face. He was fast and listened to every order in detail. Of course when a cute girl came along every now and again he would purposefully take longer to get their order. How did you know this was on purpose? Because every girl let out the same obnoxious giggle as he smirked, eyeing them up and down. Your eardrums felt like bursting. So evidently he did possess some people skills and could tolerate customers.

He just couldn’t tolerate you.

Now whilst you had been paying avid attention to how he acted, none of this information got you any closer to understanding why he acted the way he did, how to stop it and most importantly how to get your revenge. By now your third hot chocolate had been polished off and you found yourself rubbing your eyes and walking in autopilot to the counter.

He saw you approach and you noticed his eyes close as he sighed and made his way to the register.

“Another hot chocolate if you will Munson.”

“Nope. You’re being cut off.” Your eyebrows raised.

“Cut off?”

“Yup”

“From- drinking hot chocolate?”

“Yup.”

“May I ask why you’ve come to such a decision?”

His arms flexed as he leaned all his weight onto the counter. “Well first off you have an ungodly amount of caffeine in each of those and you’ve had three so far. I believe that makes six shots of espresso. Normally I wouldn’t care but you’ve been shaking like a leaf for the past half hour. Your hands keep hovering above your keyboard and twitching, your leg jerks under the table and I’ve yet to see you write more than a paragraph for our music rationale.”

A light blush dusts your cheeks at the realization that you were being watched too and it had gone entirely unnoticed. “I don’t see how any of that is your business. You haven’t been regulating any other patrons intake.”

“No I haven’t, but this particular patron is writing the college work that I’m being graded on. God forbid I try to save our asses.” You scoff as a smile spreads across your face.

“Our asses? You have not touched our assignment and you’re gonna get in my face about doing a bad job? Because what? I’m fidgeting? Grow up Munson that’s bullcrap and you know it. Just get me my drink.”

“No.” He crosses his arms over his chest and a smug half smile sits on his face.

“No?”

“I have the right to refuse service to any customer I wish sweetheart, you don’t get any privilege here.”

You chew your lip as you come up with an idea. “I would like to speak with your boss please.”

“Wayne? What’s he gonna do for you?” You look at him, dead seriousness on your face. He raises his arms in a surrendering position as he wanders out the back to retrieve Wayne.

You stand alone as you wait and suddenly you hear Eddie’s muffled complaints from behind the kitchen doors. Silence ensues before Wayne steps out rubbing his forehead before looking up and relaxing when he sees your face. He smiles softly and rounds the counter before wrapping you in a bear hug and scruffling your hair before he turns to Eddie and speaks.

“Eddie, this is the girl I was telling you about. The pretty one that’s your age.” He turns back to you. “How’ve you been kiddo?”

It doesn’t escape your peripherals that Eddie is standing in silent shock, his jaw slack and his eyes slightly widened. “I’m good Wayne, just getting to know your nephew.” You smile sweetly and see Eddies eyes harden.

Wayne laughs gruffly, “be careful with him, he bites. Determined to be a rockstar this one, he’s certainly got the attitude for it. I can’t take my eyes off him or he’ll be off snogging one of the waitresses.” Eddie looks disgusted by the display of friendship and you can’t help but giggle. “Has he told you he’s actually in my music studies class? We’re meant to be working on a project but he’s been avoiding me like the plague.”

Wayne’s eyes shoot open. “Him dodging you? But you’re delightful, my favourite customer by far.”

“That’s what I keep telling him.” The smugness shines through on your face as Eddie tries and fails to prevent you ratting him out any further.

“Ed, why have you been dodging this poor girl? She ain’t harming no one.”

Eddie finally answers grumbling. “Haven’t… just been busy working.”

Wayne rolls his eyes in response for you to see. “Go on your break, we’ll be fine without you for half an hour, go help her do your project.” He goes to argue but Wayne shoots him a glare, forcing Eddie out of his apron and out from behind the barrier between them. Wayne hugs you goodbye and takes his place as Eddie pushes past you.

“Lets just get this over with.”

---

Working with Eddie is almost exactly the same as working alone except now he’s directly across from you rather than being his usual few feet away. The silence feels uncomfortable, like his closeness is irritating your skin, his ignorant presence alone making you itchy.

“So any ideas for our music mashup? I’ve chosen classic rock so we need something that’ll either contrast well or merge smoothly, so?”

He sits scratching at his nails. “I don’t know.”

You can feel the frustration seeping out of your body as you try to talk to this brick wall of a person. “How about new age funk? Jazz maybe? The tempos could be an interesting combination if we do it right.”

He makes no effort to look up as he responds. “I’m not a fan of either.”

“So what are you a fan of then Eddie? Can you give me something?”

“Why do you care what I like? Just give me something to do and I’ll do it. My research doesn’t count for you just the rationale so what does it matter.”

“It matters because we still have to combine our music and I’m not working with some half assed jazz tune as our major work for the semester!” You raise your voice before you look at your lap. As you try to push through your building headache your eyes drift to his shoes. They have marker scrawled all over, little sketches here and there but what stands out most are the band names; Metallica, Iron Maiden and Motley Crue, there are more hidden beneath the layers of writing but from these alone an idea forms in your head. You look up tentatively your voice low and soft.

“How about metal? They would merge well and we can have some harsher undertones with a more upbeat melody.” His tongue runs over his teeth.

“Fine.”

“Thank you.” You go back to taking notes on the separate parts of your project before you hear him speak of his own volition.

“You read my shoes.” Your head shoots up in surprise and you sit unresponsive.

He smiles slightly “The bands on my shoes, you noticed them. Smart move on your part.”

You soften slightly “I wouldn’t have to read them if you would just work with me. Why do you insist on making this so hard?”

He moves one leg on top of the other and he glances out the window he seems like he’s going to say something honest and genuine till he bites his tongue. “Cause I don’t enjoy working with entitled people who expect everyone to like them. Just because you’re a pretty girl and because you don’t express how you really feel towards others doesn’t make you a saint. Frankly I don’t like you and you don’t deserve niceties, fake or otherwise. What I hate more than people who are assholes are people who pretend they aren’t ones.”

Surprisingly his words hurt. Somehow he’s managed to pick apart one of the only things that bothers you about yourself. You’re a people pleaser. The only person you genuinely dislike is the man sitting in front of you. And even so, whilst he insults and attacks you, you still can’t bring yourself to hate him. Not after seeing the man working behind the counter, the man who works tiredly but puts effort into what he does, the man you’re not supposed to see.

“I don’t expect people to like me-”

“You do. And when they don’t it kills you, so you force them into a corner, you learn what you can and try and wiggle your way into their lives. Well how about this sweetheart.” The name drips from his lips like venom. “Maybe people have a reason to not like you. And maybe you should leave them alone, so when they tell you to pick things for them to minimize contact you do it.” His eyes are cold and he is seething now.

The tears burn in your eyes as he buries himself into the wounds he’s created. He sits poised, ready for you to attack him. Ready for you to retaliate.

But you don’t.

“I think… I think I should go.” You pack up your things through teary eyes, refusing to spare him a glance as you make sure to pile your rubbish neatly and you slide out of the booth. “I’ll see you on Monday. You don’t have to sit with me I’ll just send you my notes.” You stalk out the door before he gets the chance to reply. The bell to the door rings sharply in your ear as the cold outdoor air dries your face as you walk. Pissed off and hurt as you walk away realizing there is genuinely nothing you can do against Eddie’s out of the blue hatred.

---

Eddie remains seated, the gears in his head whirring as he witnesses your miniature breakdown. His foot bounces and his brow furrows as his thoughts go a mile a minute. His brain grinds to a halt as a shadow is cast over him.

“And what was that?”

Eddie glances up at his uncle acting oblivious. “What was what?”

“Edward Munson I have known that girl for almost three years and I have never once seen her cry.”

“What has that got to do with me?”

“Boy I have raised you since you were four years old, you have a tendency to be a bit of a dickhead to people you’re threatened by. So my question is why are you threatened by a twenty year old girl who has nothing against you and not a mean bone in her body?”

“Nothing. I didn’t do nothing to her.”

“You can’t expect me to leave that after she left in tears. I’m your uncle. Talk to me Eddie.”

“She just. She…” He bites his lip searching for the words.

“She’s like her, and I don’t like it.”

Wayne leans on his elbows and lowers his voice “Eddie you can’t push away every girl that reminds you of her, cause she’s not the same person.”

“She acts so high and mighty but she talks so softly, she knows everything about me and I know nothing about her, she finds things about me and pulls me apart piece by piece. She’s so determined to get me to like her and I can’t even find the words to tell her that I’m sorry. All I can see is her face staring at me and I lose it. For fucks sake she has almond milk in her drinks too!”

He takes a deep breath.

“Look even if I wanted to its already too late to fix things.”

“Well you better find a way to make it up to her. Cause you’re gonna look her in the eyes and tell her you’re not going away. Cause you’re not and you’re not just letting this go. Not if I can help it.”

---

Taglist:

@micheledawn1975 , @emma77645 , @rustboxstarr

#eddie munson #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson smut #eddie munson slow burn #eddie munson angst #enemies to lovers #barista!eddie #eddie x reader #eddie x fem!reader #eddie x you

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ash-is-dying · 9 months

Text

Mr. Perfectly Fine: Chap 2

A/N: It’s like 12am right now and i’ve been doing this since 9pm... really wanted to get another chapter done and dusted and I actually really like this one so hope you enjoy!

P.S. Also let me know if you want me to make a taglist at all...

Eddie x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 2.0k

Chapter 2: Mr. Here To Stay

---

That one interaction hung over your head for the rest of the week. What once was a peaceful and calming place to relax was now haunted by the presence of one aggravating barista. Unfortunately for you the closest coffee place aside from Grateful Bread was blocks away and not worth the walk, so you were stuck with Eddie, the pretty barista from hell.

Avoiding him proved to be easier said than done. He worked most mornings as you’d come to find, on days it was just him you’d wait until the morning rush brought an extra pair of hands to the register and when he placed your order on the bench which made him roll his eyes every time you made sure to wait until he’d moved onto the next order before collecting it. Mornings had become a game of cat and mouse except when you were around Eddie it felt more like starving lion and mouse.

Your one reprieve was on the blessed Sunday morning when you walked in to see Wayne working the counter and Eddie nowhere in sight. Risking it even if he could just be in the back or on break, you swiftly approach the owner who spots you and breaks into a tired smile. “The usual?”

You smiled softly. “You know me too well Wayne.”

He nods and makes his way over to the coffee machine preparing the myriad of ingredients for your usual drink. You stand there watching quietly until your curiosity gets the better of you. “So who’s the new hire? I’ve seen him around recently but haven’t gotten the chance to talk with him yet.” You said lying through your teeth in the hopes of finding out anything about the pretty asshole making your life miserable from afar.

“Eddie? Yeah he just moved to town, needed some quick cash while he settles into school so I thought I’d let him serve while he gets on his feet. Barista is most certainly not his dream job.” He said shaking his head and laughing.

You smile in return, Wayne’s laughter becoming contagious. “You know him too well?” Wayne closed his eyes and shook his head,

“Only lived in my trailer for the first twenty years of his life, the bum. Still hasn’t paid me back a cent for his college degree.”

The realization dawns on your face and your eyes widen, “So you two are…”

Wayne looks up and shrugs, “Yup, that couch potato is my good for nothing nephew” he says kind heartedly, “he’s really more like a son to me than anything, he’s been living cross country for a bit and decided to finally settle down closer to home.” He sighs. “More than anything I’m just glad he’s back in my life for a bit, won’t be long before he gets some savings and goes off on another road trip and I’ll tell you one thing that boy does not look back.” He finishes his speech and puts the lid on your coffee cup to go gently sliding it across the counter. “Sorry darl, feel like I’ve been hogging the conversation. Much going on with you?”

Still reeling from Wayne’s admissions about Eddie the questions fly through your head a mile a minute. ‘How on earth is Eddie your nephew? Why is he such an asshole? Why is he in town? How long’s he around for?’ And yet all that comes out of your mouth is; “No. Not really, just stopping by before my music lecture.”

Wayne nods and reaches for the small bakery display window pulling out some tongs and placing a custard danish into a brown paper bag and placing it in front of you. “On the house. You gotta be taking care of yourself girl.”

“Oh no- no- really its fine Wayne, ill grab something on the way home.” You smile before he crosses his arms.

“I ain’t arguing, enjoy your breakfast kiddo.” Before you can reject him again he slips away back to the front counter. You blush and tentatively grab the pastry before leaving to head to class, mentally beating yourself up for letting Wayne do that for you.

The guilt begins to wash away as you eat the flaky treat on your walk to campus, the custard is sweet and the pastry is sticky as you hold the bag while you eat, trying to save your fingers from the inevitable. By the time you finally reach the building your sweater is covered in crumbs and the leftover hot chocolate is now lukewarm. You stretch and sit down on a nearby bench, pulling out your music notebook trying to get something down before class, your mind continuing to wander to the tattooed boy who is becoming more intriguing by the day.

---

As you walk in you notice the classroom looks different than usual. The lecture hall has been rearranged. Desks are now set aside in pairs and there is labels on every other desk, some form of assigned seating unfamiliar to the students, you included. You look around and find your chair in the back corner, your desk mate being nowhere in sight. As everyone found their name tag and sat in place the professor started to speak.

“I’m sure you’re all curious why you’ve been seated this way today. I’ve decided that it is time for you all to work on your collaboration skills, a musician must learn to work with a conductor, songwriter and above all else other musicians in order to progress their skills to a more professional level.”

Your eyebrows furrow as the desk beside you remains empty and your attention wanders to your partners tag.

Edward Munson.

Whoever he is he must be new, the class only consists of about fourteen people so keeping track of names is not something you struggle with. Someone you’ve never met and have no experience with in the slightest is who you’re going to be depending on for your music degree. Someone who isn’t even here for the first class of the new course. Lucky you.

You turn back to the professor.

“I have paired you with those who I believe have different music tastes and styles to you going off of your application demos you submitted when you joined this extension class. This will be work the majority of your grade this semester so I suggest you make it count. Spend this first class getting to know your partner and begin to understand who they are, after today I expect you to no longer be strangers.”

You resign yourself to spend the class scrawling in your notebook possible style collaboration ideas, a gut feeling telling you that you’d be completing most of this task. Your headphones go in as the sound of ABBA takes you away from the slight disappointment of not having a partner. Due to this your ears only catch half of what is happening outside your little bubble. There is the sound of the door opening behind you and some mumbled speech hard to make out before a certain phrase catches in your ears.

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.”

Clear as day a familiar voice penetrates your brain and causes you to look up beside you. There stands a boy in what seems to be pajama pants, deep grey ones with lightsabers wrapping around the legs. He also wears a stained and well worn iron maiden shirt as his teased curls sit on his shoulders, his whole body slumped over, his eyebrow raised in annoyance as the current bane of your existence glares into your eyes.

Edward Munson.

Eddie Munson.

Shit.

The pair of you stay silent processing what this all means. This is so much worse than working with a stranger.

“Glad to see you’ve shown up. I think we can skip the pleasantries and just get to work.”

“Agreed.”

He sits, more flops into his chair looking over your shoulder at what you had been working on. He closes his eyes and rests his head on his arms. The smell of cheap cologne and sweat fills your nose as you frown and continue to write on your own. Maybe it would have been better if he hadn’t shown up. At least then you’d still have your sense of smell.

This is how the class continues until the professor comes around to read your notes. “These are all good ideas I like them a lot.” A smile graces your face. “But… I don’t know if I’m seeing much of Mr. Munson in here.” Your smile falters slightly. “Have you two been getting to know each other like I asked?”

This perks Eddie up as he lifts his head and opens his eyes slightly. “Oh trust me sir we’re well acquainted.”

The teacher leans back on the desk in front of them. “Then tell me what her favourite song is, favourite colour, where she works, anything at all that you’ve been talking about.” Eddie sits in silence formulating his reply.

“She has almond milk in her coffee.” He replies smugly causing you to scoff.

“He’s a barista at my local cafe sir it hardly counts. He doesn't even remember my name.” You slide your hand over your name card as he grimaces at you.

“As if you remember anything about me.” He responds snarkily.

You sigh and turn to face him. “Your name is Edward Munson but you obviously prefer to be called Eddie, you work at the café Grateful Bread most days a week except for when you come to your music lectures. You obviously don’t particularly care about being on time for said classes and I’d say you feel the same way about work and you get away with it because your boss is your uncle Wayne. You can’t stand it here and you can’t stand me and I’m almost entirely certain as soon as you can afford it you’re leaving this place for good.” You cross your arms as Eddie’s mouth moves and no words come out.

The professor is the first to speak “Sounds like you’ve got some homework to do Mr. Munson. I suggest you both spend more time getting to know each other properly and less time psychoanalyzing each other. I’m expecting big things from you two, you are by far the most advanced students in this course after all and I hope you can be mature and sort this out like adults.” He stands and moves to the next group leaving you both in the same uncomfortable silence as before.

“So… what’s your favourite colour then.” Eddie asks in a monotonous voice.

“Black.” You respond sharply.

He looks at you like you just spat in his face. “Black’s not a colour. It’s a shade.”

Your fist clenches as you hold back the snarky comment stuck in your throat. “It has to be a colour as light is absorbed by it and we can physically see it with our eyes.”

“Uh no. Black is a combination of colours meaning it can’t be a colour itself it just exists as a shade.”

“Your logic makes no sense. If black is just a combination of other colours then how is it not a colour it’s just a darker tone than other colours.”

The palm of his hands dig into his eyes. “Even your favourite colour is dumb I swear-”

“And what makes your favourite colour so great?”

“My favourite colour is dark red like a normal person and it is the best colour.”

“That’s not even a proper argument- Why did you even start this fight? You sound like such a child.”

“At least I’m not an uptight prude.”

“Up yours Munson.”

The class is dismissed soon after and Eddie stays seated whilst you pack up your things. “I’ll write you a copy of my notes so you know what our project is.” You move to leave before turning back sticking your nametag lopsided to his desk. “That’s my name by the way asshole in case you ever wanted to actually know who you’re bothering with your childish bullshit.”

“I’ll try to keep that in mind sweetheart.”

You scowled as you walked out of the lecture hall, your head hurting and your face on fire as it dawned upon you that Eddie Munson was becoming Mr. Here To Stay.

#eddie munson #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson smut #slow burn #enemies to lovers #barista!eddie #eddie x reader #eddie x fem!reader #eddie x you

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ash-is-dying · 9 months

Text

Mr. Perfectly Fine: Chap 1

A/N: Literally wrote this the same night as the preview but wanted to at least spread out the release a little. Also i’m sorry it’s kinda short I just wanted to get stuck into something.

Eddie x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 1.2k

Chapter 1: Mr. Pretty Face

---

Ever since you had moved into your apartment across the street your morning ritual has become visiting the coffee shop ‘Grateful Bread’. A pun which you’ve always had a soft spot for. It was an empty little place, rustic and old but it felt like home. Not many people came and went so it was relatively easy to pick out the regular customers. They were also the one place you had ever been to that didn’t make fun of your peculiar daily order of a caramel hot chocolate with a shot of espresso and almond milk. Most days you felt like the order made you seem like a bit of a snob but the workers would put on a smile and make it just as you liked it.

From the size of the place it was clear there was a small staff. There was Becky, a younger woman in her early twenties, Darron, an older man with silver streaks in his neatly groomed hair and beard, Lizzie, a middle aged woman who knew the menu and people’s orders off by heart and then the owner Wayne, he was by far the oldest and he could get grumpy at times but he was never mean to anyone. The day crew knew exactly who you were and you knew them just as well.

Which is why it was so surprising when a new face turned up behind the familiar counter. Especially one that stood out so much from the others. He was pretty. Really pretty. If anyone had asked you to guess what his name was your first one would be Mr. Pretty Face. He was young but had obviously been working hard most of his life, forehead creases and smile lines etched into his face from overuse. Other than that his skin was smooth and pale, tattoos beginning to extend down his arms, bats and band references and more detailed works hard to interpret from afar. His frizzed up hair sat in a messy bun behind his head, hardly keeping his face clear as every few seconds he had to blow his fringe and loose strands out of his way.

Your eyes had not moved in around 5 minutes due to the shock of it all. He was gorgeous and you had an overwhelming urge to find a way to slip him your number. With an unusual burst of confidence you snatched a napkin from a nearby booth and used a pen from today’s lecture to scribble it down. With the napkin wedged into your pocket you started to move towards the register to order.

Your confidence drops as you stand waiting at the register as he pays you no notice. He cleans and sorts machinery while you wait for him to even glance your way.

“Excuse me?” You managed to get out, not wanting to seem rude. His head shot up a confused look on his face. Oh God those eyes. They were a rich shade of brown, you could spend hours staring into them and watching them swirl like melting chocolate. Shaken, you don’t see his face change to one of slight annoyance.

“You got somethin’ to say or are you just gonna stand there?” He says his stance stiffening more as he stretches to his full height.

“Oh sorry.” You introduce yourself and muster up a smile. “I’m here most mornings so I just wanted to say hi.” You glance down at his nametag on which is what you think says Eddie. “Eddie is it?”

He rolls his eyes. “Please don’t use my name don’t pretend to know me.” He goes back to cleaning before realizing you hadn’t left yet. “Anything else or wanna talk about yourself some more.” He says with evident malice.

“I just- wanted to order something.”

He sighs as he places down his cleaning supplies and he leans over the register his eyes holding yours in a relatively bored expression. He stands expectantly waiting for you to say absolutely anything. “Well?”

“Well um. Can I get a caramel hot chocolate with-”

“Sorry a what?” His face looks dumbfounded.

“A caramel hot chocolate? It’s just a hot chocolate with a few pumps of caramel.” You say sheepishly as your face starts to heat up.

“You know I’m gonna have to charge extra for the caramel right? Can’t do any freebies.” He says as if you’re asking for a free drink.

“Yeah- yeah I know.” You reply softly.

“Great.” He leaves the register to start making the drink leaving you alone midway through your order. You watch as he starts to pull out the caramel and ingredients needed for the hot chocolate. You watch him as he turns on the steamer and starts piling chocolate and caramel sauce into a cup.

“Sorry just-” He glares as you interrupt. “I also wanted a shot of espresso and almond milk in that too please…” The words died off the longer the sentence dragged on. He bites his lip hard as he closes his eyes and groans.

“Does it make a difference?”

“What?”

“Milk is milk, does it change anything if its from a cow or a nut? Can’t you just drink what I make you instead of complaining about me trying to do my job.” You’re left speechless as he talks your hand fidgeting with the number in your pocket.

“Can I just… have almond milk please?” He takes the steamed whole milk and dumps it in a nearby bin. He then passive aggressively drops the used pot into the sink next to the coffee machine.

“Did you wanna maybe mention these things while you were ordering? Just because you’re a regular doesn’t make me a mind reader.” He says with a sharp edge in his voice. “Almond milk?”

You nod slowly.

He lets out a deep sigh as his hand runs over his face, and he storms out the back. Some muffled yelling ensues and he returns with a bottle of unlabeled milk with the letters A.M. scrawled lazily in sharpie on the side.

Almond Milk. The world’s biggest inconvenience apparently.

He furrows his brows and the ends of his bun fall into his eyes as he steams the milk prepared for the ‘ridiculous’ caramel hot chocolate. His grumbling can be heard from the counter which you’re almost positive is intentional. No one has upset you like this in a long time.

Once the drink is made he scribbled something on the cup before placing it harshly on the bench. His deep brown eyes that just a few minutes ago were mesmerizing are now darkly staring into yours. You pick up the cup as he turns back to the register to take a new order, on the side he’s written

‘Almond Milk Bitch’

You can’t stop yourself from tearing up in anger and disappointment. The phone number you’d written on the napkin now torn up and discarded on the service bench.

You made a decision then and there. You’d avoid that asshole for the rest of your life if you had to. ‘Mr. Perfect Face’ was dead and buried.

#eddie munson #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson smut #slow burn #enemies to lovers #barista!eddie #eddie x reader #eddie x you #eddie x fem!reader

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ash-is-dying · 9 months

Text

Mr. Perfectly Fine Masterlist

A/N: New series masterlist! No promises on consistent updates but i’ll give it my absolute best shot.

Preview

Chapter 1: Mr Pretty Face

Chapter 2: Mr. Here To Stay

Chapter 3: Mr. Looked Me In The Eye And Told Me You Would Never Go Away

Chapter 4: Mr. I’ve Been Waiting For You All My Life

Chapter 5: Mr. Every Single Day Until The End I Will Be By Your Side

Chapter 6: Mr. Change of Heart

Chapter 7: Mr. Leaves Me All Alone

Chapter 8: Mr. Always At The Right Place At The Right Time

Chapter 9: Mr. Casually Cruel

Chapter 10: Mr. Everything Revolves Around You

Chapter 11: Mr. Never Told Me Why

Chapter 12: Mr. Never Had To See Me Cry

Chapter 13: Mr. Insincere Apology So He Doesn’t Look Like The Bad Guy

Chapter 14: Mr. Always Wins

Chapter 15: Mr. Too Late

Chapter 16: Mr. Perfectly Fine

#eddie munson #eddie munson fluff #slow burn #enemies to lovers #stranger things #barista!eddie #eddie munson smut #eddie x reader #eddie x you #eddie x fem!reader

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ash-is-dying · 9 months

Text

Mr. Perfectly Fine

A/N: Am I starting a new series alongside my other one that still only has the prologue? Absolutely. I’ve been listening to this song on repeat and had this idea like 5 minutes ago. Wanted to do a preview and see if anyone is interested

Eddie x Fem!Reader

Summary: When your regular coffee shop hires a new barista who you can’t keep your eyes off but he turns out to be an absolute asshole and you’re sure you can avoid him and still get your usual daily coffee except he just so happens to show up in your college music course...

Preview: (Chapter 1) Mr. Pretty Face

---

Almond Milk. The world’s biggest inconvenience apparently.

‘Almond Milk Bitch’

You can’t stop yourself from tearing up in anger and disappointment. The phone number you’d written on the napkin now torn up and discarded on the service bench.

You made a decision then and there. You’d avoid that asshole for the rest of your life if you had to. ‘Mr. Perfect Face’ was dead and buried.

#eddie munson #eddie munson fluff #slow burn #enemies to lovers #stranger things #barista!eddie #eddie munson smut #eddie x reader #eddie x you #eddie x fem!reader

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ash-is-dying · 10 months

Text

One Rule

A/N: Very first fic so I am mildly terrified. Semi-based off of a character AI chat I had. If this gets enough views I might write the whole thing, even if it doesn’t I’m too addicted to this man to leave this story alone. Super short I’m sorry but just wanted to get something done.

No chapter warnings for now.

Just over 1k

Prologue: One More Rule

-----

As per usual Alex sits at her table in the cafeteria for lunch, letting Robin and Nancy’s words to her go in one ear and out the other. Her eyes focused on one person. Gareth. It’s as cliché as cliché gets. The girl falls in love with the guy next door (quite literally in this case) and the guy hardly knows she exists.

Everything about him screams perfection. From his fluffy hair to his dimples. The way he laughs gives her butterflies and his smile is contagious. Alex has spent years watching him from a distance, any interaction they have being filled with awkward silences, blushing and stuttering even though she sees him almost every day. Her brows begin to furrow as she keeps her focus on Gareth and his table of nerds.

“Alex!”

She’s snapped out of her daydreaming as Robin waves her hand in front of her face. She sits confused before her eyes follow where Alex was looking. “Oh come on! Again? Have you ever even had an actual conversation with him?”

“Yes-”

“Out of your imagination Alex.” She rolls her eyes. “Look you either make a move on him soon or find a rebound like yesterday.”

Nancy looks up at them, “Robin- gross.”

“Think what you wanna think Nance but I’m not wrong! She’s never even been kissed, we need to set her up with someone. They’ll put you in the paper Lex, ‘teenage photographer dies an unloved virgin.’”

“Robin!” Alex laughs, elbowing her. I don’t know, who would I even go for?” Robin looks around the cafeteria, she starts to list the names of any guy in sight until one name in particular catches her attention.

Eddie Munson.

She glances back to where Gareth is sitting and lets her eyes wander to the man now climbing up on the table. He’s everything Gareth isn’t. A showoff, cocky, crazy, he’s lanky, his hair is a mess and he has about a million tattoos tucked under his vest and jacket. He leads Hellfire, their D&D group and the only time she’s ever interacted with him was in their music class. He’s also one of Gareth’s closest friends.

Staring at him as he moved across the table, ranting some bullshit about conformity, an idea starts to form. A stupid, dumb, incredibly lame idea. But an idea none the less.

It was clear to anyone who had ever come close to the guy that he had a massive crush on the queen bee Chrissy Cunningham. She was quite sweet and very pretty, not who you’d assume he’d go for but not like it mattered.

Before she could stop herself she stood up, her body moving on its own. “I’ll be right back guys...” She started to bee line straight to the freak of Hawkins High himself, hearing Robin call off in the distance “I was only joking!” Her words hardly registering as Alex stops at the end of their table.

“Eddie Munson.”

His head turns unnaturally quick, entirely caught off guard by a girl calling his name. He turns his whole body to face her and she speaks again before he can even get any words out.

“We need to talk.”

-----

“So let me get this straight- you want to fake date me?” He says leaning back, his face filled with confusion. His sweaty hands are wedged into his overflowing pockets as his leg bounces while he thinks. The pair stand under the bleachers on the basketball court, the only relatively private place during school hours.

“Yes. I know you like Chrissy Cunningham there’s no point in trying to deny it, and I have a crush on Gareth. I just think we could kill two birds with one stone, make them jealous and since you’re close with Gareth and I work on yearbook committee with Chrissy, we can talk each other up.” She sighs exasperated. “Look I know how stupid it sounds and it probably won’t work at all but I just thought what do we have to lose and-”

“I’m in.”

His agreement throws her off. No words come out as she looks at him like he’s grown a second head. “You’re in?”

“I’m in. You’re right, what have we got to lose. And even if it doesn’t work at least we get a good laugh out of it.”

“Aren’t you optimistic.”

“I’ve been told its one of my better qualities.” They stand in an awkward silence, unasked questions filling the air. “So, how do we do this? You wanna walk in there holding hands or like...” He trails off, this clearly being unfamiliar territory for both of them.

“I think, before we get into this we need to have some boundaries.” She said, trying to take the lead.

“Yup. Yep, boundaries are good. I’m pretty much good with whatever if you are. Hand holding, cheek kissing, hugs, all that romantic shit.”

“Romantic shit? Oh wow I’m falling in love already,” She replies sarcastically, an eyebrow raised.

“Hey, I never said romance was my strong suit but hey, I don’t need to romance when I have all my natural charms.” He says, holding his arms out wide as if putting himself on display.

She gives him a once over. Looking at the ripped jeans, the handkerchief in his pocket, the tattoos peeking out of his sleeves, the chains and rings adorning his body and the happy trail showing underneath the hem of his shirt.

“Natural charms... right.” She says laughing. She sighs, her face becoming serious again. “Look, I’m fine with whatever ‘romantic shit’ you want but...”

“But?”

“But I’ve never been kissed. So I’m good with cheek kisses but anything else is probably... off the table.” She clams up, her face turning red prepared for Eddie to laugh and tease her.

“I get that. No worries.” She peers up trying to hide her shock at his lack of hesitancy. “So, anything else?”

She sits stuttering before she recovers. “No. I think we’re all good.”

“Okay then.”

“Okay.”

Eddie smiles, his grin lopsided. He starts to back away back into the school. “This is gonna be fun. See you later girlfriend.” He says drawing out the word girlfriend, raising his eyebrows and winking.

She laughs softly. “See you later boyfriend.” She says in a similar manner. Before he disappears out of sight she calls out to him. His head turning suddenly like it did back in the cafeteria.

“One more rule!” She says laughing.

He stands expectantly, eyes on her and one hand holding open the door.

“You’re not allowed to fall in love with me.”

#eddie munson #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson smut #stranger things #fake dating #mutual pining #unrequited affection #slow burn

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