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raventroll80 · 1 year

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Stowaway Mer AU

Part 6: The Dock

Em and Seth meet once more, this time Em attempts amateur first aid and Seth becomes a little less afraid of her. Also Vega’s here!

This chapter contains dead animals(fish), animal death (fish), blood, injuries, and alcohol mention.

It was around 4:15 as Em walked down to the old dock. The path had an old wooden staircase that creaked and groaned as she walked down it. She didn’t touch the handrail mostly due to her mild fear of getting a splinter from the old wood.

She carried her old fishing rod and the bucket of fish from earlier. She walked to the end of the dock rolled her pant legs up, took her boots off and sat down. She had placed the rod down beside her so she could open the bait bucket.

The pungent smell of fish wafted out of the container and Em scrunched her nose up slightly. After a second or two she un-scrunched her nose. She picked a fish from the container and placed it on the hook.

Em cast the line and waited for something to bite. The water was rather calm this evening, and Em watched small fish dart about her legs. She felt something tug on the line and immediately regretted sitting down.

Em struggled to stand and hold the line as she began to reel in. Once she was up on her feet the felt the line loose tension and she slumped her shoulders in disappointment.

She baited the hook again and cast the line. Once again something tugged the line and she reeled in only to find it empty. Em was about to bait it a third time when she noticed a familiar shape in the water.

It was long and shark-like and moved slowly through the water. She watched as it moved under the old dock. The mer was facing away from her and appeared to be holding something.

“Hello again,” She said softly, the mer turned to look at her.

“I’m surprised you actually came… you still seem a little afraid,” she continued.

He stared at her for a moment before swimming forward and handing Em her knife. She looked the mer over and noticed the netting was still wrapped around his neck. The mer had a nervous look on his face before pointing to his neck.

“Did you want me to cut the rest of the net?” Em asked, the mer nodded in agreement.

“Ok, you’re gonna have to get closer to shore so I can get to you,” he nodded again moved out from under the dock and towards the pebbly shore.

Em set her rod down and walked to the shore. She was about to wade into the water when the shark-mer began to drag himself onto shore.

“Oh, you don’t have to drag yourself onto shore,” she said, worrying about the mer’s injury.

The cold waves lapped at her feet as she knelt down in shallow water. Seth propped himself up on a rock and took a deep breath. Em took out her knife and held it up before saying,

“Ok, I need you to hold still, I know you’re still afraid but I don’t want to accidentally nick your gills,” he nodded in nervous acknowledgment before tilting his head up and to the side.

She slowly began to lift the knife towards the mer when she remembered something.

“Wait! I have line cutters in my bag, wait here!” Em exclaimed before sprinting back to the dock.

Seth watched her root around in her bag before she exclaimed and triumphantly held up a small pair of scissors. She jogged back over to him and knelt back down.

Once again she slowly reached towards the mer, this time with the scissors in hand. Carefully she cut away the net, lightly tugging it off. Occasionally stopping whenever Seth whimpered to give him a supportive smile.

Eventually with a sigh of relief Em unwrapped the remaining net and gave Seth a pat on the shoulder.

“Welp congratulations you are now net free my friend!” She said proudly as she began to bunch up the loose netting.

“Hm,” Seth mumbled as he gingerly touched his gills. They were a little sore but there wasn’t any damage from what he could tell.

“Those scares look pretty nasty… would it be ok if I took a look at them? I-I might be able to help,” Em said. A worried look on her face as she eyed the injury she’d caused.

Seth thought for a moment. He was still confused as to why she was trying to help him. After some contemplation he nodded his head.

Em stood up and walked back to the dock. She dug through her bag again and came back with a small green bag. She set it down on a rock and opened it.

“So remember how I said you didn’t have to come on shore? Well… you’re gonna have to come on shore…” Em said.

She waded a bit further in to the water so she could help him onto land. Seth was trying to haul himself further onto the beach when he felt himself get picked up.

Em had picked the mer up to try and help him but she was quickly regretting that decision as she began struggling to hold him up. Seth had ended up wrapping his arms around Em so he wouldn’t fall. Though it wasn’t clear if it helped or hindered her. Em was able to get the mer a few feet onto shore before she had to put him down.

“Oh god… oh my back, alright let’s take a look at ye,” Em wheezed.

She walked over and grabbed the first aid kit and brought it over. She took out some bandages, gloves, and antiseptic wipes.

“Hold this for a sec,” Em said handing Seth one of the wipes.

He inspected the small square as Em put on some gloves. He opened the package and sniffed the contents. Seth scrunched his face and held the wipes away from himself.

Em chuckled as she watched the mers reaction. “Yeah, those can smell pretty nasty,” she took the wipes from Seth and took them out of the package.

“This is probably gonna sting,” she warned before wiping the stab wound.

Seth hissed in pain before it melted into a whimper. Em bit her lip.

“Sorry,” she whispered as she continued to clean the injury. Once she was done, Em took some gauze and some antibiotic cream.

She applied a thin layer of cream to the wound before covering it with the gauze. Em went back to the bag and dug out a larger roll of bandages. Em wrapped the wound tightly with the new bandage before taping it.

“Ok, now that that one’s done let’s look at this one,” she said, turning her attention to the much larger injury on the mers side. “Damn… what caused this one?” She mused while digging out another wipe.

Seth thought about speaking up but still couldn’t find his voice. He watched her open another antiseptic wipe and braced himself for the pain. He hissed again but this time he didn’t whimper.

It took Em a bit longer to dress this wound as it was bigger, but she took her time and cleaned it thoroughly. She put more cream and gauze on the injury and began to wrap it. As she did Seth managed to find his voice and spoke.

“Thank you,” he said softly. Em jumped when she heard him speak.

“You can talk?” She asked,

“Mhm,” he mumbled in affirmation.

“Oh, uh… no problem, it’s just-I…” Em started, “I-I I’m sorry, for stabbing you… I was just scared and overreacted, I’m sorry…”

There was a strange silence as Em finished wrapping the scar. She gave his tail a light pat before standing up.

“Alright round two, let’s go!” She said white a clap of her hands.

Seth was confused at first but soon understood as Em picked him up again. He wasn’t any less alarmed as she stumbled down the beach. He held on for dear life as she slipped on the rocks. One moment she was standing the next the two had fallen into the water.

Em started coughing as she had the wind knocked out of her. Seth flailed around trying to reorient himself.

“You alright there buddy?” She asked between coughs.

“I think I’m supposed to be asking you that, hah,” he replied.

Em stood up and walked back to the dock as Seth lounged in the shallows. She picked up the orange bucket and walked back over to the mer.

“Here, I figured you’d be hungry,” she said whilst unscrewing the lid.

Seth took the bucket and looked in it. He recognized the contents to be the bait he had been taking.

“Aren’t you using these?” He asked.

“Kinda, but I got them for you,” she replied.

“Oh… thank you,”

A silence fell over the two while Seth ate. It wasn’t awkward or tense, but calm and relaxed.

“Uh, my name’s Seth by the way,” he said after a bit.

“Oh, um mine’s Em, it’s nice to meet you Seth,” she replied extending her hand to shake his own.

Seth looked at it for a moment before tentatively reaching his hand towards hers. He jumped a little as she gave him a firm handshake.

“Oh I should mention you should probably avoid that sunken rowboat tomorrow, my aunt and some friends are going to be retrieving that crate tomorrow. We’ll be there for quite a while,” Em said,

“Ok, I left those bags you had under the boat so the currents wouldn’t take them,” Seth said before taking another bite of fish.

Em looked at the bucket and saw that it was almost empty. “Wow, you must be really hungry. That was a lot of fish you ate there,”

“Oh yeah, sorry I wasn’t sure if you wanted to use any more of them. I’ve barely eaten anything since I got here,” he replied meekly.

“Oh no, no it’s fine! Eat as much as you want! I’ll just need the bucket back when you’re done cause I gotta return it to Marko when I go back to work,”

Seth looked into the bucket before pulling out the remaining fish. He handed Em the now empty bucket before saying, “wait here, I’ll be right back,” before swimming out into deeper waters.

While he was gone Em began to pack up as the sun began to set. The old house and trees casting great shadows over the dock and beach.

As she was getting her boots back on Em saw something out of the corner of her eyes. It was large and green in colour and was moving towards the old boat house. Em turned to look but there was nothing there.

Her attention was drawn back to the dock as she heard a splashing sound and Seth calling out to her.

“Here,” he said holding out some large fish, “it was the best I could do, figured I owed you some since you patched me up and all, heh,”

“Oh thank you!” Em exclaimed as she took the fish. “I’m going to go prep these for dinner, you should probably get some rest,”

“Actually I just woke up, I’m not usually awake during the day but a bit more rest does sound nice…” Seth said, rubbing the back of his head.

“Well if you’re looking for somewhere quiet there’s a sea cave not too far from here, look for the glowing algae. Not many people go in there should be safe there, just try not to tear the bandages. Oh! And be careful you might get stuck inside if the tide gets too low,” Em said while packing the fish away.

“If you think the bandages need changing or you just want to talk I’ll be back down tomorrow night and the night after that,” she continued.

“Oh ok, uh.. thanks again for helping me, I owe you one,” Seth said, absentmindedly touching the bandaged stab wound.

“Well, it was nice meeting you Seth, I hope we can meet again soon,” she said and waved goodbye to him before walking up the stairs to the house.

“Me too,” Seth said quietly to himself, not entirely sure what to make of today.

————————————————————————

Em had walked in through back door and saw Flynn and Nimh staring at what appeared to be a bowl of rice.

“Hey… whatcha looking at?” She said with a tinge of concern upon seeing their faces.

“Rice… allegedly,” Flynn said with a look somewhere between confusion and bewilderment.

“You didn’t put any rice in the microwave did you?” Nimh asked.

“No… why?” Em asked as she set the fish down on the counter.

“Well someone apparently doesn’t know how to cook rice in the microwave,” Nimh replied amused.

Em inspected the bowl of “rice”, though rice was a strong word to describe the sludge that was in the bowl. It had been horrendously overcooked and had turned into a sticky paste. It was still edible but everyone silently agreed that none of them wanted to eat it.

“Well rice is off table then, do we have any potatoes? We could do some up,” Em suggested.

“Yeah, got some earlier, I’ll go grab them,” Nimh said walking out of the kitchen.

“I’m going to go dump this… “rice” in the compost ‘round back, could you prep the fish for us?” Em asked Flynn who was still interrogating the rice.

“Uh… I don’t know how to prepare fish,” Flynn mumbled.

“Really? Don’t you work on a fishing boat?”

“… yeah,”

“Come here I’ll show you,” Em said setting the bowl down by the door and walked back to the counter.

“Ok, first we’re gonna need a knife and a cutting board”

————————————————————————

Seth had, had a bit more trouble finding the sea cave without proper instructions. But once night fell he noticed scattered trails of green light leading towards the cliff.

It reminded him of the nights when him and his family would find glowing water, it had made his gills and lungs sting and they’d all be sick afterward. He remembered eavesdropping on a tour boat and hearing a guide say that it was caused by the algae. But this algae didn’t sting, actually it felt kinda nice on his gills. Almost soothing.

It was a bit of a squeeze getting in, but he was able to get in. Luckily he didn’t tear any of the bandages.

He stuck his head out of the water and looked around. The algae clung to the surface of the water like a mat of seaweed and crawled up the walls.

He wasn’t entirely sure but it almost appeared to form spiral patterns on the walls.

“Wow…” he whispered to himself. He was quite glad Em had told him about the cave, it was calm and quiet and he was sure nobody would come in here.

He spent an hour or two exploring the caves and found that it was actually a lot bigger then he thought it was. He was resting in some shallow water when he had heard the sound of footsteps.

Seth couldn’t tell where they were coming from, but he knew they were getting closer.

He quickly shuffled back into the water trying not to make too much noise. He slid under the surface and flattened himself against the ground. Not long after Seth heard the footsteps stop and something be placed on the ground above water.

Seth jumped a little when he saw a pair of boots plunge into the water. Seth watched as a pair of gloves hands dip a vial into the water and pull it out.

He watched as the person continued to dip things into the water. Eventually they stopped and Seth breathed a sigh of relief before panicking again as the boots began slowly to walk towards him.

Seth began to back up as the boots continued to approach until the person was up to their waist. A fearful grimace crossed his face as the person placed some sort of ring on the surface of the water. They appeared to be removing water from ring.

He was confused but quickly realized that the person wasn’t removing water from the ring, they were removing the algae so that they could see into the water.

If Seth wasn’t afraid before then he was terrified now as he watched the ring move around. He became a little less afraid when he noticed that the person wasn’t looking for him specifically but was instead inspecting what else lived in the cave’s water.

That brief moment of calm immediately disappeared when the boot of the person accidentally brushed against him. Seth gave a short scream before quickly swimming away.

Vega was ecstatic when he had found out that one of the tunnels in his “research station” lead to the caves that contained the algae he was studying.

It was a bit of a walk but he didn’t mind, it was peaceful in the sea caves and he needed the peace. It had been a hard couple of years since the incident with Olivia and his falling out with Hayden.

But ever since he had arrived at Port Murlow and discovering the algae, Vega had felt like he had been given new life and his passion renewed. Sure he had been kicked out of the motel but he didn’t mind anymore.

He had taken a couple of samples of the algae and was recording what flora and fauna were active at the same time as the algae. He mostly found anemones and muscles, with a few crabs here and there.

Vega was about to move to a different section of the cave when his leg brushed against something large. The large something startled and immediately swam off. Vega jumped as well as he wasn’t expecting something that big to be in the cave. It disturbed the water as it fled causing the algae to disperse and flash brightly.

Vega followed the creatures path with his eyes watching as it erratically swam about. It appeared to had stopped a few pools over. He debated whether to investigate further but a pit formed in his stomach as a shape slowly emerged from the water.

The light of the algae illuminated the upper half of a humanoid head in the water. It’s two, slit pupil eyes shone a yellowish colour in the green glow.

Vega’s mouth felt dry and his heartbeat became erratic as he stared at the creature. They stared at each other for a few seconds before Vega took off running down the tunnel and Seth made a break for the cave entrance.

Vega had tripped and fell as he entered the main chamber. He sat up and took a shaky breath and ran his fingers through his hair.

“I think I need a drink…” he said to himself before walking towards the dock. He wasn’t in the right mind to think about what he had just seen and the once calming cave felt cold and empty, and the shadows seemed move on their own. He really needed a drink.

#Stowaway Mer AU #mermay 2023 #I might do more chapters outside of may if the brainrot gets me #mermay #my writing #tw blood #tw animal death #tw dead animal #look at Seth being brave #and then not #poor Seth #can’t catch a break #also poor Vega #also no Vega is not an alcoholic #he just needs to be around people and that’s where most people are at this time in Port Murlow

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mixsethaddams · 7 months

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Steddie fic that was originally a twitter thread. Hurt/comfort, light angst, pining Steve, happy ending, roughly 6.5k words. Enjoy!

Look. It wasn’t like Steve was jealous, ok? Envious of the situation, maybe. But not jealous of the person. He was still burnt by Nancy rejecting him for Jonathan again. That was all.

After Vecna, he’d thrown himself into caring for everyone else just like always. Visited Max every day and helped her get used to her wheelchair. Drove Lucas to see her. Drove Robin to meet Vicky. He even helped Eddie and Wayne move into their new house.

Steve liked spending time around Eddie and his uncle. It was the type of family unit he never thought actually existed. He couldn’t fathom living somewhere so cramped and not tearing each other apart. He liked being alone with Eddie in the yard for a quick smoke, too.

Steve was kind of disappointed when there was no reason to spend time with them after they were all moved in. He told himself it was just because he didn’t have much else to occupy his time once Max came back home and Robin got her driving license.

The few times Steve did catch a passing glance at Eddie after he’d pick Dustin up from a D&D session, he had to fight against the urge to come up with an excuse to stay. He just… he was sure hanging out with Eddie would help ease the loneliness that he felt. That’s all.

So when the kids suggested a party at the end of the summer before going back to school, Steve thought it would be the perfect excuse to get some quality time in Eddie’s orbit. It wasn’t like he wanted them to be best friends or anything, just closer than they were.

They were probably too different to ever really get along in any meaningful way, but still. Steve still wanted to be near him. A male friend his own age, right? Is that so bad? He hadn’t had one since Tommy. He missed the specific type of camaraderie that came with it.

Steve was delighted when Eddie sat beside him in his kitchen on the day of the party. Their elbows knocked while they spoke to each other and those around them. They laughed and whispered behind their hands at the kids. It was perfect.

Well. At least until Steve had to excuse himself to make a phone call. Only… that was a lie. Because Steve was sitting on the floor of his bathroom with tears streaming down his face and a tightness in his chest he hadn’t ever felt before.

Everything had been going so well... Until the doorbell rang and Eddie jumped up to answer it, leaving Steve halfway through a sentence. When Eddie came back, smile so wide his eyes were practically crinkled shut, he introduced the whole group to his new girlfriend.

It was easy for Steve to pass it off as a bad call with his parents when Robin came looking for him twenty minutes later. He told her he’d be fine, but had a headache now and was ducking out early. Not the first time it happened so it was easy to believe.

Steve curled up on his bed while the party wound down downstairs. He found himself simultaneously straining to hear Eddie’s voice, and flinching when he heard that unfamiliar high pitched laugh. Her laugh.

It sounded like everyone liked her. There was no awkward silences and her voice was wound right into the cracks of every conversation. Steve clamped his hands over his ears when he finally couldn’t take it anymore. He was happy for Eddie. He was!

He just missed that New Relationship phase. It wasn’t like Steve couldn’t go out and get laid any time he wanted. He could. He did. He just always ended up wishing he was hanging out with Eddie instead after leaving them back at their houses.

Steve sniffled and shook his head roughly against his pillow. He was being selfish. He knew that. His chance to have a closer friendship with Eddie was ruined by some girl. Vague memories of high school name calling wormed their way back into Steve’s brain.

It was a bitter thought, to think how much Tommy Hagan would be surprised by Eddie having a real life girlfriend and not just someone that everyone was sure he’d made up. Steve half thought about calling his old friend to crack some jokes about it, make a little fun.

It only made the hollow feeling inside him grow to think like that. He felt silly, really. Getting so upset over a person who still thought of him as a high school bully dating someone. Steve fell asleep as the sun rose, hours after everyone went home.

They went everywhere together. But that’s what couples did, wasn’t it? They spent time together. Steve just kind of wished Eddie didn’t have to bring her, Sara, along with him every time he came to Family Video.

Steve felt himself getting almost angry whenever they walked through the door, holding hands and cooing over each other. He’d find a way to busy himself to avoid dealing with them and a couple of times even point blank ignored them.

The day he caught them kissing in the store was not his finest hour. He snapped that it was the middle of a Saturday afternoon and to get the fuck out, don’t do that shit when there’s kids around. Eddie looked confused, almost hurt.

He muttered something about kissing not being illegal while he pulled Sara out of the store behind him. She was sheepishly giggling and Steve wanted to yell at her to fuck off again. People getting boyfriends or girlfriends never bothered him this much before.

Robin finally getting with Vickie never made him jealous. Dustin and Suzie, Will and Mike, none of them. He sighed and ran a hand over his face.

“What is wrong with you?” asked Robin, appearing behind him. “Since when do you throw people out for kissing?”

“I just don’t need to see it,” said Steve. He turned to grab a pile of tapes to restock.

“Are you jealous?” teased Robin.

“No,” snapped Steve, louder than he intended. Robin stood in silent shock. “I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “I just… I miss that, I guess,”

Robin eyed him carefully.

“You miss what, exactly?” she asked. “Eddie? I didn’t know you guys were close,”

“No, not…” Steve sighed again. “I just don’t like friends ditching us for someone they barely know. That’s all,”

Robin pursed her lips.

She knew as well as Steve did that was almost the opposite of what Eddie was doing. He brought Sara along to get-togethers, and invited everyone to join them when they went to Indy for the day, or to the quarry to swim. Everyone else had welcomed her warmly.

Because she was nice. And isn’t that just the fucking worst? Steve tried his hardest to deny it to himself but she was a sweetheart. It was no wonder they all loved her. A stone settled in his stomach when he thought that Eddie might actually love her too.

No one fought back too hard against Steve when he kept skipping out on spending time with everyone. His mood lately had been enough to make them almost glad that the dark cloud wouldn’t be joining them. He preferred to sit and stew by himself anyway.

He’d hang out with Robin like normal but even she was starting to run out of ways to avoid talking about Eddie. Because people had noticed. They’d have to be blind not to. It was painfully obvious that whenever Eddie (and Sara) was mentioned, Steve soured.

Steve couldn’t even blame everyone else for finding it awkward. Eddie was their friend and they wanted to be around him. That’s all Steve wanted too! They were on the same side here! Once or twice he felt like throwing a tantrum and reminding them HE was there first.

Especially Robin and Dustin. Whenever he was feeling particularly sore about his failure of an attempt to build a closer relationship with Eddie, he wondered why they had managed to get what he wanted.

It wasn’t like there was anything wrong with him. He used to be the most popular guy in school! He had charm! It should have been so easy to get Eddie to want to be around him too. Steve often found himself wishing Eddie was next to him watching tv at home.

Just a subtle thing. He’d hear a joke on some sitcom and wonder if Eddie would find it funny. Or if the latest song on the radio would make him nod his head. Steve thought back to one of the days he helped Eddie and Wayne move into their house.

There was a song playing downstairs while they hung blinds in his room. Steve couldn’t remember the song or the tune, but he could tell you exactly which one of the freckles on Eddie’s nose were covered with tiny paint splashes. All he could remember was Eddie.

And see, Steve’s not an idiot. He knows, okay? He’s known ever since Sara turned up in his fucking kitchen and he felt like Eddie’s smile was sharp enough to slit his throat. He fought it from the start. Told himself again and again that it was nothing. It’d pass.

Throwing them out of the store was all Steve needed to admit to himself that maybe a closer friendship wasn’t all he’d been hoping for, when he lay awake at night wondering what would happen if he just drove on over there. He liked to drift to sleep thinking about it.

Robin caught on quick. She wasn’t dumb either, you see. She was able to see the way Steve’s brows turned down a split second before furrowing when the happy couple came into the store on a friday night. She never mentioned it, but Steve knew she knew.

It wasn’t until well into the winter that Steve actually saw Eddie without Sara attached to his hip. He came through the door while Steve and Robin were preparing to close up the store for the night, rapping his knuckles on the counter to get their attention.

Robin shot Steve a careful look before greeting him and asking what movie he wanted.

“Nah not tonight,” Steve heard him tell her from where he’d turned his back to rewind tapes.

“Just here for a visit?” asked Robin.

“I’m on my way to give Sara a ride home from work,”

Steve’s stomach clenched at the mention of her name.

“I’m actually here to invite you guys out somewhere, week after next one,” said Eddie. “A party, kind of,”

“Oh yeah?” asked Robin brightly. Steve knew she loved parties. “What’s the occasion?”

“Well,” said Eddie with a long breath. “Sara’s got some family up in Michigan, and her cousin offered her a job running the place she owns,” Steve had stopped moving. Please. Please no. “And it’s too good to turn down soooo,”

Eddie cleared his throat.

“I’m throwing a going away party,” finished Eddie.

“For Sara?” said Robin. “Oh that’s so sweet,”

Steve could tell Robin was still a half step behind. He squeezed his eyes shut as hard as he could. Please, not this….

Eddie let out a small laugh, he sounded almost nervous.

“Actually, uh,” Eddie drummed his fingertips on the counter. “For both of us,” Steve opened his eyes and felt his breath shorten as Eddie continued. “I’m going with her,”

Steve, back still turned, gripped the vhs case in his hand so hard he could feel the edges about to crack.

“Wait, you’re…” Robin stuttered. “What?”

“I’m going with her,” repeated Eddie. “To Michigan. She asked me to come last weekend,”

“She says there’s some metal bars I can try find work in,” explained Eddie. Steve could hear the edge of excitement in his voice. “And maybe I’ll join a new band up there too, who knows,”

“Your band!” exclaimed Robin. “Oh god, what are they going to do without you?”

“They’ll figure it out,” said Eddie. Steve could practically hear him shrugging. “Better off without my reputation holding them back anyway,”

Steve focused on keeping his breathing steady. He picked up another tape, hoping his shaking hands weren’t too obvious.

“This is…” Robin started. “Eddie are you sure about this?”

“What?” he asked. “Yeah! I mean this is the fresh start I wanted and Saras great. All I can think about is how she wants me there, no-one wants me anywhere,”

Steve held back the scoff that built in his throat

“And I’m happy for you,” said Robin. “We all are-" She reached back and placed a hand on Steve’s back, which he subtly shook by moving sideways. “-but isn’t this a little, I don’t know, soon? You’ve only been together a couple months,”

Eddie was quiet for a beat.

“This is something I’ve dreamed about, this chance,” said Eddie flatly. “New life, great girl. Whats your issue?”

“Eddie its not that easy to-“

“Buckley?” Eddie cut her off quickly. “Either be supportive or don’t okay? I already got this lecture from Wayne”

“I just-“

“I really don’t need to hear it from anyone else” said Eddie. “Am I putting your name on the guestlist or not?”

Robin sighed.

“Yeah, yeah I’ll be there,” she said. “Vickie too,”

“Great!” said Eddie, instantly brighter, a sharp edge to it now. “Harrington? You too?”

Steve spoke over his shoulder.

“Working that night,” he said simply. “Can’t,”

“Seriously?” said Eddie. “You don’t even know what night it’s on!"

“Yeah well,” said Steve, finally turning around to look Eddie in the eye. “It’s probably a safe bet so, count me out,”

“I don’t get you, man,” mumbled Eddie, looking him up and down. Steve shrugged and turned his head to watch the lone customer browsing through the aisles.

“Enjoy the party,” said Steve simply.

“Whatever,” said Eddie, pushing off the counter and going out the door.

“Steve…” said Robin gently.

“Don’t.” He warned.

“Are you really not going?” she asked.

“I can’t watch that,” he told her. The customer waved him over. Before he went to them, he looked to Robin again. “Don’t try to make me,” he said.

She just nodded.

Steve stuck to his word and didn’t go to the party. He had started to get angry about everything, truth be told. He felt a flare in his stomach when he thought about why he had to fall for someone who not only didn’t like him back, but was leaving the state too.

It didn’t seem fair. All Steve wanted in life was someone to love, but everytime he tried to open himself up to it, he got knocked back. He browsed a magazine in the gas station that gave the advice “get over them by getting under someone else” in large bold letters.

So thats what he’d been doing. Steve had called up every girl he knew with a pretty smile and spent every single night, getting over Eddie. It was easy to lie to himself and pretend it was working.

Whenever any of the kids came by the store to rent a movie, Steve pretended to be busier than he was to avoid them. They all had stories about Eddie, reminiscing about good times and getting sad in the run up to his leaving date. Steve didn’t need to hear it.

One night, a quiet Saturday right before closing, Steve counted to 10 and asked Robin how the party went. Her smile was tight.

“It was fun,” she said gently.

“And…” Steve took a deep breath. “Eddie had a good time?”

Robin’s eyes were soft.

“He did,” she told Steve. “Sara bought him a new guitar, as a surprise,”

Steve swallowed hard and looked away. The flare of anger tried to brush through his ribcage again. Instead it felt weak, too drowned out by the heavy feeling behind his eyes.

“Does he love her?”

Robin chewed the inside of her cheek as she considered Steve’s question.

“He’s following her to another state,” she said after a moment. “That must mean something,”

Steve nodded.

“Yeah,” he whispered. “Guess it does,”

"Come on, it'll be fun, it's only for two nights and it'll take your mind off everything,"

Robin was trying to convince Steve to join the other older members of the party for a weekend in some cabins in a national park in Tennessee.

Argyle's family owned them and, as a Thank You for welcoming him into their little group, had promised them free use of them whenever they wanted. Nancy would be going overseas to study for six months after New Years, so it was a kind of send off for her.

It was well into December now though, and Steve didn't feel like freezing his balls off alone in a cabin. He hadn't seen Eddie's van around for a little while, but there had been a small ad in the classifieds from Sara's family wishing her luck with her new life.

That was really all Steve needed to tell him that they were gone. Eddie was gone. A few days of peace and quiet wouldn't be the worst thing to clear his head. Well. That, and Argyle's guaranteed van full of weed.

As if to read his mind, Robin spoke up again.

"They're got these huge wood fires in the cabins, and me and you will have a whole one to ourselves," she said. "And no kids! We can have some drinks and just relax. Please, Steve?"

Steve eyed her carefully.

"I don't know, Rob," said Steve, sighing. "Argyle will have tons of room in his van for you, and he'll bunk with you if you don't want to be alone,"

"But! But!" Her eyes were wide.

Steve smirked.

"Tell me the truth and I'll say yes," he said, teasing.

"What?" she tried hard to look confused, bless her.

"Tell me that this has nothing to do with wanting to comfort Nancy," dared Steve, the corner of his mouth quirking up.

Robin balked.

"Thats...! That's not...!" she stammered.

Nancy and Jon's break up had been kept quiet. None of the kids knew yet. They agreed that another stint of long distance would be too much for them, so they parted ways. It was clean, easy. It made Steve sad in his own way.

Robin and Vickie's breakup was less easy. She decided that Steve and Robin's friendship was something she couldn't be comfortable with. Robin had no choice but to understand, and Vickie had no choice but to walk away when Robin chose Steve over her.

Steve laughed.

"It's okay, Rob," said Steve. "I just don't get why you need me there for it,"

Robin finally gave up the act.

"So you can be my getaway driver if it doesn't go well," she said like it was obvious.

Steve laughed again.

"Alright fine," said Steve. "But...even if it goes well, she's still leaving,"

"I know," sighed Robin. "I just... I just feel like I have to try, you know? I don't want to be too late," Steve wished he could be so optimistic. Even a day apart would kill him, nevermind six months.

"Is that crazy?" asked Robin. "To want to do this and then wait for her?"

"No," mused Steve. "Just don't hop on a plane and follow her. That would be crazy,"

Robin laughed. "Well if Eddie is following Sara-"

Her eyes went wide. Robin clamped a hand over her mouth as Steve's chest constricted.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I didn't-"

Steve held his hand up.

"It's fine," he lied. "When's the trip again? Gotta get gas, and food, you know?"

"Steve I-"

"When, Rob?"

Steve's stomach was lurching violently, caught off guard by the mention of his name. And hers. He rubbed the back of his hand over his forehead.

"Um, this weekend," said Robin quietly. "We'll need to leave Friday morning,"

"Ok," nodded Steve. "I'll be there,"

The drive was better than Steve expected. Robin was a good passenger. She could read a map and always had the snacks ready to hand him. Steve had never been to this part of Tennessee before, so he was happy when Robin directed him onto the final dirt trail.

Robin spotted it before he did, parked right between two of the three cabins.

"Oh," she gasped. "Steve, I...I didn't know, I swear, you have to believe me,"

"What?" mumbled Steve, looking at her before following her gaze.

Steve took a second before he realised what he was looking at.

"I didn't know," Robin repeated quietly.

Steve gripped the steering wheel hard. There was no mistaking it. Right there, loud and proud.

Eddie's van.

Steve slid out of the driver’s seat carefully. Argyle came towards them with wide arms and a wider smile.

“Welcome, Brochaco and Brochacette!” he said brightly. “Who wants to learn all about the wonders of the safe keeping of your woodland abode?”

Robin stepped forward and Argyle directed her to the middle cabin. Steve was glad, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to focus. His eyes were already darting around, trying to spot Eddie. Hoping he didn’t see Sara instead. Nancy ran towards him.

“Steve!” She yelled happily.

“I’m glad you came,” she said, hugging him.

Steve almost didn’t hear her. Over her shoulder he saw him. Sitting on a low camping chair around a small firepit, chatting quietly with Jonathan, was Eddie.

“Come say hi!” She pulled him by the arm towards the others.

Steve rapidly counted the chairs around the fire. Six. If anyone had brought a…plus one…there’d be seven. Or maybe they hadn’t expected Steve to join and the empty chair next to Eddie did have an owner?

“Hey man,” said Jonathan. “Sit, fire’s great,”

Steve considered the chairs again. Eddie hadn’t even looked up to great him, instead keeping his gaze on the fire. Nancy wandered towards the cooler to unearth a bottle of white wine, while Jonathan left in search of a lighter.

“She’s not here, just sit down,” said Eddie cooly.

Steve looked at Eddie with wide eyes. He still wasn’t looking up, but his jaw was set and his hand gripped the neck of his beer bottle tightly. Steve sat down in the chair next to Eddie feeling like a scolded pupil.

“How, uh,” started Steve. “How come?”

Eddie puffed a sarcastic laugh into his bottle as he raised it for a swig.

“You don’t care,” he said.

Steve couldn’t defend himself. Eddie was right, he didn’t care. Robin and Argyle returned, all knowledge of safely lighting the indoor stove passed on.

“Glad you’re here, my guy,” said Argyle, sitting down and leaning over to fist bump Steve. “Figured you might like a chance to be with the whole gang again, now that the Ed Man swung back for a visit,”

“Yeah, this is great,” said Steve, only mildly grinding his teeth.

Steve knew the chill down his spine had nothing to do with the chill of the late afternoon. He was trembling in Eddie’s presence, with half a mind to just jump in his car and peel out of there. Robin would understand, he was sure of it.

Truly, Steve didn’t know if he was happy or sad to see him. His stomach churned everytime Eddie spoke in conversation, as everyone’s voice got louder as the day grew darker and the beers flowed faster. At the same time, he could barely turn his head to look at him.

It was like he didn’t feel like he had permission to look at him. He belonged to someone else and Steve had made himself clear; he wanted nothing to do with it. The night was cool around them when groups broke off.

Nancy and Robin where huddled together, having pulled their chairs close and covered themselves with a blanket. Jon and Argyle where leaning back and looking at the stars, softly speaking through private smiles. Eddie and Steve were quiet.

Steve had picked the label entirely off his bottle and rubbed the remaining glue until it was smooth. Once or twice he thought he heard Eddie inhale in a way that would signal the start of a sentence, but nothing ever came. Eventually, Steve got up and walked away

He didn’t go far, just around the back of the cabins. It was lit nicely by the moon and he could see into the woodland around them. It was peaceful, and he felt his chest loosen slightly now that he was further away from Eddie.

Steve took a cigarette out of his pocket and fumbled for a lighter before realising he didn’t have one. Sighing, he leaned down on the fence and watched the darkness between the trees. He knew it should scare him.

After everything they’ve been through, a still and perfect blackness should make his skin twitch, but he just felt a sort of comfort in it. Steve watched a small mouse scurry between some fallen leaves, and wondered if it had somewhere warm nearby to sleep.

A crack of a twig behind him made Steve jump. He turned quickly to see Eddie rounding the corner of the cabin.

“Sorry,” he said flatly. “I’ll find somewhere else,”

“Wait,” said Steve. “You stay, I need to find a lighter anyway,” He waved his unlit cigarette.

Eddie rolled his eyes and approached Steve, lighting his own smoke before handing the lighter to him.

“Thanks,” said Steve, lifting it to his lips. He felt like his chest was about to wring itself inside out with how hard it was squeezing.

Eddie leaned on the fence next to Steve.

“What are you doing here?” asked Eddie after a while.

“Oh, uh?” said Steve. “Just wanted some time alone I guess?”

“Not here,” said Eddie, clicking his tongue. “Here, like, the cabins. You haven’t come anywhere for months,”

Steve swallowed. He didn’t want to say ‘I didn’t think you’d be here’. That would just be rude.

“Robin…” he said. “She asked me to come,”

Eddie hummed.

“How about you?” asked Steve. “I thought you were in Michigan,”

Eddie smoked quietly.

“I was,” he agreed.

“When are you... going back?” asked Steve in spite of himself. He should have been overjoyed to finally have some one on one time with Eddie after pining for it for so long, but he couldn’t let himself enjoy it, knowing it wouldn’t last.

Eddie didn’t answer. Steve took a nervous drag of him smoke and tried something different.

“Will Wayne go see you up there, do you think?” he asked. Eddie rolled his head around on his shoulder.

“No Steve,” he said almost matter-of-factly. “I don’t think he will,”

“Oh,” said Steve. “How, uh, how come?”

Eddie took a deep breath.

“No use going up there if…” Eddie hesitated. “If I’m not there,”

Steve’s brow furrowed.

“What?” He asked. “Why wouldn’t you be there?”

Eddie chewed the inside of his cheek.

“Changed my mind, I guess,” he said with a soft shrug.

Steve was confused.

“I don’t…” he said. “I don’t understand?”

“Me neither,” said Eddie, softening slightly. “Haven’t even told anyone else yet. I drove us up there and I just…” Eddie cleared his throat. “Drove right on back,”

Steve could feel his eyebrows touch at this point.

“But… you were so excited,” said Steve. “It was your fresh start. What…what happened? What do mean you drove back?” asked Steve.

Eddie breathed out heavily.

“It didn’t feel right,” he said. “I think I realised it right after we hit the highway. I was too caught up in it to see that it just wasn’t…right,”

Steve was quiet.

“I got lost in the idea that, I don’t know,” Eddie waved his hand around. “Someone wanted me, and I just kind of went with the flow. Didn’t matter where it was taking me,”

“But, you wanted to leave, right?” asked Steve.

Eddie shrugged again.

“Thought I did,” said Eddie. “But then all I could think about was Wayne being alone and I…wanted to be back in the trailer with him. I wanted Hawkins,”

“So…You’re doing long distance, then?” asked Steve.

Eddie hummed again, pulling a final drag from his smoke.

“Like I said,” said Eddie quietly. “I was too caught up in feeling wanted,”

“Oh…” said Steve. He wanted to comfort Eddie but wasn’t sure how. He didn’t want Eddie to be unhappy and it did sound like he’d had to make a tough decision, with tougher consequences.

“So you’re back in Hawkins again for good?” asked Steve. He didn’t know if he could handle seeing him everywhere again.

“Yeah,” snorted Eddie. “Back again,”

Steve held the burnt filter of his own smoke in his hand.

“Back in a town I have some fucking stupid attachment to,” continued Eddie. “Half the folks still think I’m a killer but hey, here I am,” Eddie let out a tight laugh. “Who wants me now?” asked Eddie into the darkness, offering the rhetorical question to the night.

Steve knew it wasn’t a question that needed an answer. Really, he did. But when Eddie dropped his hand back onto the fence, it was barely an inch away from his. Steve could practically feel Eddie’s body heat coming from it. His breathing got tight.

Steve stared at their hands, so close. Eddie’s words rang in his ears. I want you, he thought. I want you! Steve slowly shifted his hand to the side of his little fingers brushed Eddie’s. Eddie looked down when he felt it. Steve held his breath.

Steve lifted his little finger to rub to softly against Eddie’s.

“Oh…” Eddie whispered.

“Yeah…” Steve whispered back.

Argyle’s voice cut through the night.

“Steve? Eddie? Where are you? Did a bear get you guys? Do they have bears in this state?”

“Shit” muttered Eddie, pulling his hand away like he’d been burnt. He dropped his spent cigarette to the ground and shoved his hands into his pockets. “I…fuck,” he said under his breath.

He didn’t look at Steve as he walked quickly back to the main clearing.

Steve bent forward slightly and rubbed his hands over his face. He felt like such an idiot. What the hell did he expect would happen? What the fuck was he thinking?

Steve stayed behind the cabins a while longer until Argyle’s voice called to him again. He dried his face as best he could, hoping the darkness would hide what he couldn’t. He came back to the fire and assured Argyle he really didn’t have to fight any bears

Steve smiled at how relieved he and Jonathan seemed. Eddie was staring dead into the fire, the fingertips of one hand drumming over his mouth. Steve could barely look at him. He felt so stupid. Steve leaned down and kissed the top of Robin’s head.

“I’m heading to bed,” he told her quietly.

“Huh?” she asked, barely turning away from Nancy. “Oh, yeah, I’ll be in soon too,”

“Sure you will,” Steve teased with a wink.

He announced his departure to the others and got raised bottles from Jon and Argyle.

Eddie didn’t react. Steve didn’t expect him too. He retreated to his cabin, immediately crossing his arms against the cold when he entered. He stood in front of the large stove fire for a second and debated calling Robin in to light it for him.

After a few minutes of thought Steve decided to just brave the cold. He had a hoodie and long sweats he could wear in bed. He’d be fine, and there were enough blankets on the bed to heat him up quickly. Steve slipped into bed and huddled around himself.

Part of him wished he was in more of a mood to appreciate the beautiful bedroom he was in. Lots of plaid and carved furniture, exactly the type of place his parents would insist was dirty and filled with bugs. Steve knew he’d love it though, if he had the chance to.

It wasn’t so a much a decision of if he would drive home early by himself tomorrow, more so when. Robin clearly didn’t need a getaway driver and after that stunt he pulled with Eddie, Steve wasn’t sure how welcome he’d feel come sunrise.

Steve didn’t even know if Eddie would tell anyone. It’s not like the group would care that they were both men, but admitting a crush, or more than a crush, however subtly right after learning about a breakup? Robin was sweet enough to pull it off. Steve, maybe not.

At the very least, it felt like some sort of ending. Eddie’s reaction had been a definite Full Stop to any idea Steve might have had about his feelings being returned. He wasn’t sure he ever even thought they would be. He just couldn’t hold it back any longer.

Steve tried to convince himself that this was a good thing. That now he had to move on. He had no choice, especially if Eddie was back in Hawkins. He couldn’t avoid him forever, their paths would have to cross eventually. Steve wished they wouldn’t.

Steve buried his face in his pillow and pulled the blankets up over his head, closing his eyes. He’d have plenty of time to dissect everything all over again in his own head in the morning. If he was making the drive back again so soon, he needed some sleep.

Steve had just managed to coax himself into something close to sleep when he heard the front door of the cabin creak open. So Robin did come back, he thought. Maybe she’d be driving back with him after all. He followed her footsteps across the living area.

The sounds of shoes being kicked off and the stove being lit were welcome to his ears. The stairs squeaked, and the floor outside his room, before he heard his door open and feet shuffling across the floor. He pretended to be asleep as the bed behind him dipped.

Steve loved her, he did, but he couldn’t listen to her go on and on about Nancy right now, whether good or bad. They’d talk in the car tomorrow. The blankets rustled and pillows were shifted, before he heard a deep breath being taken.

“Steve?”

Steve’s eyes shot open. His own breath stalled in his chest, because it only now that he realised. That wasn’t Robin.

“Are you awake?” Eddie asked softly.

Steve barely allowed himself to breathe as he turned over in the bed. The room was dark, barely lit by the moon outside, but the outline of Eddie’s features was still unmistakable.

“Hey,” Steve said quietly, afraid if he spoke too loudly he might wake himself from whatever dream he was in.

“Hey,” Eddie whispered back. His expression was almost one of confusion or gentle uncertainty.

“It’s cold in here,” said Eddie when Steve didn't answer. “Lit the stove for you,”

“Thanks,” replied Steve dumbly.

Eddie hummed. His eyes landed on Steve’s hand, resting palm up on the bottom edge of the pillow.

Eddie slowly moved his own hand so his fingertips rested lightly in Steve’s palm.

“Oh,” Steve breathed. His heart thumped so hard he was sure Eddie must be able to hear it.

“Yeah…” said Eddie, just as softly.

“What-” Steve began, before Eddie cut him off.

“Can we wait?” he asked.

“Wait?” asked Steve. “What do you mean?”

Eddie sighed.

“Can we wait until tomorrow to talk about it?” he said. “Can tonight just be…this?”

He gently ran his fingertips over Steve’s palm again

Steve nodded, giving a little ‘uh huh’ sound. Eddie gave him a sweet smile in return, still looking at their hands. They stayed like that for a while, Steve watching Eddie like he thought he was going to disappear while Eddie tapped his fingers soundlessly.

“You scare me, Steve,” said Eddie. Steve almost didn’t hear him, too caught up in watching how the movement of the moon highlighted the different lines of his face to hear the whisper.

“I do?” asked Steve. “Is that…good?”

Eddie shrugged.

“I think so. Stuff like this is supposed to scare you, I think,” said Eddie. “It’s supposed to feel….” Eddie took a breath and Steve watched his eyes move around as he searched for the words.

Steve thought he might wait forever for him to find them.

“It’s supposed to feel like a leap, right?” asked Eddie. “Like you need to trust your gut. It’s not supposed to be easy right away. You have to…want to earn it, I guess”

“And that’s how you feel?” Steve asked him, full of hope. “About me?”

Eddie took a deep breath.

“Yeah,” said Eddie simply. “When you…Outside, earlier, it was like…I don’t know, like an electric shock. But a good one. One I’d never felt before,”

Steve swallowed hard when Eddie took a pause.

“I didn’t know what was wrong with…Sara, that whole thing,” continued Eddie. “Why I wasn’t able to go be with her. But then, I felt that shock from you and I knew. Right away, it was like I just knew what I was missing,”

Steve took a shaky breath.

“I’m scared too,” Steve admitted. “Mostly that I’m dreaming, but, yeah, I’m….me too,”

Eddie laughed quietly at him, before sliding his fingers up to lace loosely with Steve’s.

“You’re not dreaming,” he whispered, squeezing his hand ever so gently.

“So you’ll still be here in the morning?” asked Steve. “When I wake up?”

He felt small suddenly, the vulnerability creeping up his spine again.

“Pinky swear,” said Eddie, shifting his hand again to hook their little fingers together.

Steve smiled.

“We’ll talk in the morning,” said Eddie again in a whisper. “Get some sleep,”

“Okay,” Steve whispered back.

Eddie shuffled an inch closer until their knees knocked together, and Steve felt his breath on their still joined hands.

Eddie smiled at Steve once more before closing his eyes and settling into the pillow. Steve settled too, the warmth of the stove fire finally reaching the room and leeching into the blankets around them. Eddie’s breathing evened out quickly, his lips slightly parted.

Steve hardly dared close his own eyes, afraid that if he blinked too hard Eddie would be gone. But the feeling of their lingering promise, their fingers still curled around each other, kept him grounded. Steve let sleep take him slowly.

The last thought before Steve drifted off was of everything he wanted to say to Eddie in the morning, all the promises he wanted to make. It felt like a beginning now, instead of an ending. Steve fell asleep feeling, in the very best way, absolutely terrified.

#steddie #steve harington #eddie munson #steve x eddie #fluff #pining #getting together #poor steve harrington I really do torture that boy sometimes #seth writes #steve str #eddie stranger things #steve stranger things #steddie fic

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