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fandoms-in-law · 3 days

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Manual Mood Ring

Summary: To keep up popularity and the Harrington reputation Steve couldn't show many emotions. That didn't mean he didn't feel them, only that he didn't always recognise what feelings he hid. So he wore rings, swapped them out according to his moods. And a few people noticed them.

Authors note: It won the poll by 1 vote and honestly I'm glad about it. In typing the other fic up I realised how not finished it is. This has been a great fic to procrastinate work with over the last couple weeks, but I'm glad with where I finished it.

/\/\

Steve would never say, except to Robin, but it all began because of Eddie and curiosity. If the guys he'd been friends with at the start of high school had paid attention, they could've worked it out too, but none of them thought twice when the week after he noticed, and accidentally cause some bullying over, Eddie's rings, Steve came in wearing one of his own.

The ring, or rather rings, he wore weren't expensive, just simple things he'd spotted in a shop window, but somehow everyone thought it was a wealth thing when they noticed it and so far as Steve heard, nobody realised there were 6 different rings he'd swap out. They definitely didn't question when he swapped them either, not even Nancy.

Robin did know. She only admitted noticing them when Steve dragged her out to buy more after the Russians took his original rings and none of the government agents mentioned finding them. She was the one who asked about why he needed multiple rings when he'd only wear one at a time.

It didn't help the assumptions they were dating when Robin insisted on taking his hand to check which ring he was wearing every time they met up after the explanation that he used them as an indication or self check-in of his mood.

/\/\

Eddie knew Steve Harrington wore a ring. When he started to the gossip in Hawkins High said his father insisted on it due to a tradition but if that was the case then the ring was too plain in Eddie’s opinion.

Then he noticed Harrington changing rings after getting a question wrong in class and was certain the rumour was wrong, even if he couldn't figure out the actual reason for it straight away. After he'd seen that first swap, it was too clear for him to notice the times that the ring got changed, especially since he decided to try and figure out why Harrington would do that.

Spotting Harrington's ring enough to tell the differences in it wasn't easy in school, especially outside of their shared classes, but a theory soon grew in Eddie's mind of them being some sort of manual mood ring. This was only backed up when he visited Scoops Ahoy once or twice over the summer.

Before the fire Eddie even thought he was close to knowing what emotions some of the rings might indicate, but they all changed after that, not even one remained the same as before and, thankfully for Eddie's curiosity, the new ones had more noticeable differences.

With all his curiosity over Harrington's rings, it confused him to realise the kids he'd brought into Hellfire seemed to know nothing of them. Once Mike even commented ' Steve would be cooler if he just wore rings like Eddie's.' as if he wasn't already wearing one constantly. Eddie could spot it glinting on Harrington's finger when he picked them up afterwards, not hidden at all.

From paying attention to those lifts and Harrington's expressions and reactions to the brats gave Eddie some clues on what colour or general shape of rings matched good or bad moods, even if he never saw the detailing on them.

Except for one.

Eddie saw one ring in detail once. Hellfire had an extra club meeting that apparently none of the kids Harrington gave a lift to had mentioned to him until he came storming through the school half panicked. Even after confirming they were safe Harrington made everyone move along the table so he could sit next to Eddie and listen until the end.

The ring that time was in a woven pattern, made of silver and Eddie was certain it meant fear or stress. It had to, given how Harrington only looked away from his kids to watch the door or, for some reason, analyse the ceiling for damage and suspiciously eye the lights.

Who knew getting an answer about one of the rings meanings could give Eddie so many more questions?

/\/\

Survival and fear were the only things going through Eddie's mind. He didn't know what happened to Chrissie or if it would happen to him next. He didn't know if he was trying to hide from that or from the town he was sure would blame him.

He definitely wasn't calm enough to recognise any of the voices yelling for him and dived into the boat as they got closer.

The conversation of the group looking for him was heard but barely understood as Eddie tried to get ready to jump up and fight or run through the hard jabs from an oar he thought was mentioned.

It wasn't the oar or the gaze of the man he pinned that broke through Eddie's fear when he decided to get out.

The hand holding the oar wore a silver woven ring. It wasn't polished and definitely showed signs of tarnishing in the indented areas and it echoed how he felt. He knew the ring and what emotion he was certain it meant.

And he knew that other rings were kept in the back pocket from classes where they'd get swapped out. Those are what he reached for now, still pinning Harrington with one hand which made it harder to separate the bronze ring that tended to be worn if he'd be joking when picking the kids up.

“Guess you're not here to have a go at me, or this would be worn.” Eddie mutters eventually into the silence that had fallen in the boathouse.

“I wouldn't do that. Dustin would never talk to me again if I did that. And how do you know anything about my rings?” Steve's words tumbled past each other, but seemed more confused now, instead of the panic he'd shown when first getting pinned.

“What rings?” Dustin demanded, somewhere behind Eddie.

Steve glanced over, “Forget the rings actually. What happened? We want to help.”

/\/\

Steve hadn't changed his ring in days.

Eddie glanced at it each time they came to give him supplies, came to try and talk him into staying with one of them despite how they'd need to hide him from parents, every time he got the change to.

It was still the silver woven effect ring.

He could only hope he'd live to see another ring take its place and was beginning to suspect Steve was hoping the same thing. A few times he'd been caught looking at the hand wearing the ring, but Steve never said anything, only brought his hand back to the pocket with the rest of them.

“You got the bronze ring wrong.” Robin commented on one of the few moments everyone else was distracted. “It's not when Steve's truly happy or whatever you think.”

Eddie glanced at her, gaze returning to Steve straight away. “What is it then?”

“Forced positivity. It's when he's struggling to believe we want him here so tries to reach out subtly for most of them.” She explained.

“And you?”

“Check his rings when I first see him so give him reassurance as needed. Although you might've changed its meaning now.” Her words sounded slow as if she was musing on the idea. “We'll see after Vecna's defeated.”

Eddie wasn't quite sure what to make of that but Robin was already over with Steve again, catching up with whatever they were working on. At least being in hiding gave him lots of time to think through her cryptic comments for breaks from panicking.

/\/\

“That's my ring.” Eddie stated. He'd been staring at the hand since waking up, originally cause it was clinging tightly and then as his memories filtered through the medication clouding his brain, to see if Steve was still stressed out. How was he meant to understand seeing his own ring being worn by Steve?

Steve's chuckle was watery, and there were tears in his eyes when Eddie looked up. “Yeah, mine now. Glad you're awake finally.”

Somehow that was what made him realise he had none of his rings on at all. “Where are the rest? What does my ring have the honour of meaning?” They felt like dumb questions but Eddie was scared to ask the more serious ones.

“Dustin's got them and your pic necklace. He'll be here as soon as visiting hours start along with at least a few of the other brats. Not sure which are seeing you first today other than him. Wayne's at the trailer salvaging what he can. Added me as an emergency contact so you wouldn't wake up alone.” Steve offered, thankfully guessing what he'd want to know first. “As for the ring, I don't know. I've been a mess, unable to figure out what I'm feeling so it's currently a question mark ring.”

That felt like a familiar feeling as Eddie blinked. He had no clue why things would need salvaging from the trailer at all. “What happened?”

The explanation carried on through the kids arriving, Dustin trying to push the rings onto Eddie and being stopped by nurses not wanting the jewellery in the way, and plenty of interruptions and additions. It covered how the attack that had left him in an induced coma to heal had only partly succeeded and everything that had come after and ended with Steve pushing his hair back into place sighing, “Thankfully most of us decided against sleeping through it all. Vecna is gone now and we're just waiting for people to wake up and heal.”

“And get Steve to explain how he's worn a ring so long without us knowing.” Dustin insisted, glaring at said man.

Eddie grinned, shaking his head alongside Steve. “It's not the king's fault if his friends don't pay attention to him. After all, I'd never spoken to him before all of this and I knew about the rings.”

“Lies.” Robin called, appearing in the doorway. “You spoke to him precisely 7 times as I never served you when you came into Scoops.”

Steve tilted his head, thinking before he shook his head at her. “Nope. He just pointed and handed over the money. I spoke to him before it all, but not the reverse. Such an unsociable customer.”

“You couldn't get Eddie Munson to talk to you? That board needed more tallies under you suck.” Robin teased, coming over and smiling at Eddie. “How are you feeling?”

For a moment it was silent as Eddie didn't realise the Steve and Robin show had finished with a question to him. “Oh, I'm – Honestly I feel like I died and this is a bizarre form of purgatory. Could be hell from the pain levels but you're all being too nice for that.”

/\/\

Robin loved Steve's rings. She saw them as a small rebellion against his parents rigid views of gender as well as a good idea for someone who wasn't often allowed to express his emotions.

Even before she knew what they showed, back when they were just co-workers and former classmates, she paid attention to the rings and the ways Steve swapped them out. She knew the original set of 6 almost as well as she knew the ones she'd helped Steve find to replace them.

And she knew they definitely shouldn't be in Nancy Wheeler's jewellery box, still bagged with a label from the US government stating they had been goods confiscated by the Russians.

When she saw them it wasn't sensible to mention it. They were still dealing with Vecna and trying to find out more about him, but she remembered and once everything was over, and all that was left to do was healing, she wasn't going to stay silent any more.

“You know, Nancy, I've had a question for a while.” She stated, off hand, but laser focused on getting answers.

It was just her, Steve and Nancy for the moment so seemed like the best time to bring it up without anyone else interfering.

Nancy didn't seemed concerned either, just smiling. “Which is?”

“You never had anything to do with the Russians during the Starcourt fiasco, right?” Robin didn't immediately mention the rings, knowing just bringing up any of the events was likely to get the guard up of all of them.

Guarded eyes now looked at her, and beside her, Robin knew Steve was trying to catch her eye to silently ask what she was doing. “No. You know I was researching for the paper or with the kids basically the entire time.” Nancy agreed.

“Okay. So why, when we were trying to figure out info on Vecna, did I find a bag of items labelled as things the Russians had confiscated in your jewellery box?” Robin still didn't mention the rings, but knew Steve would immediately think of them.

After being given his keys back he'd tried asking about them but been told nothing else was found. Both of them had watched the government agent then go to talk to other members of their group but assumed that wasn't regarding any other items.

Nancy narrowed her eyes, but stood, going over to the jewellery box to get the bag. “Because the government agents said they'd found them and they seemed most likely to belong to me.”

Robin nodded, holding her hand out for the bag. “So little miss reporter got handed some items she knew definitely weren't hers and instead of say, asking any of the people who had actually been in the Russian base if they knew whose they were decided to keep them for herself and never question the origins?” She challenged, reaching out to take them when Nancy showed no sign of handing them over.

“I recognised them. I've tried remembering why I recognise them so I could return them.” Nancy insisted.

“Again, why didn't you just ask me, ask Steve, Dustin, Erica, if any of us knew who these rings belonged to?” Robin challenged, Steve's hand coming to rest palm up on her shoulder although he remained silently watching the scene.

Nancy glared, “Because I should know whose they are.” She snapped. “If I could just-”

“Pay more attention to the people around you, you'd know.” Steve interrupted when it looked like Nancy would go into a rant about her memory to try and justify not asking. “The reason you'd recognise these is I was always wearing one of them the entire time you knew me.” His voice was calm, but Robin could feel the tension in him, and a glance over at him showed his current rings had been swapped. She didn't think he'd go back to using the set she held even as she put the bag in his hand.

For a moment it looked like Nancy would scoff before she narrowed her eyes on Steve's hands, as if only just realising he still wore a ring. “But why would there be 6 of them?” She asked. “Only Eddie wears that many or more at a time.”

“Because I swap them out when I feel like it.” That wasn't the explanation Robin had received and she doubted the full one would be offered right now. “Thanks for returning them finally. I'm more annoyed that even when I asked specifically about the rings those agents didn't mention them to me at all.”

“Oh.” Nancy deflated as she realised Steve wasn't going to yell at her. She seemed not to notice Robin's gaze was still hard. “Yeah, sorry I didn't remember or, as Robin rightly said, ask whose they were earlier.”

At that Robin leant forward again, knowing her smile was colder than she'd normally direct at friends. “Please do ask if this happens in the future, because Steve shouldn't have had to replace his rings for you to delay solving a mystery this long.”

Nancy nodded, “I will. Are you two sure you aren't-?”

“Best friends and protective friends at that. You might be pretty but you aren't Stevie.” Robin reaffirmed, before sighing and trying to let her annoyance go. “Shall we put a film on or something?”

Steve hopped up, going to the stairs to listen for where Nancy's parents might be. “Probably not a film. I think Ted is still watching something, unless you're about to suggest going back to mine.”

“Funnily enough, Dingus, I was.” Robin agreed, also getting up. If she hadn't wanted to get him his rings back she'd have suggested going there to hang out from the start but now that was done she would happily swap hang out locations.

/\/\

Perhaps he'd just been young, but Steve had never thought he'd have to get more rings, after finding six of them. Emotions had seemed simple to him, nothing like the tumult he'd been going through and while six rings had stretched before now he was learning that getting more was necessary.

He didn't question how, in getting those original rings back, he knew that one already meant heartbreak and grief, while the rest weren't needed any more. It just seemed reasonable; an escalation of the swap from the ring saying everything is good to saying his world was crashing before he lost them, to now having its hopefully final meaning be grief.

Then there was Eddie's ring, the mixed feelings ring, or as Steve still thought of it, a question mark ring. He hadn't meant to claim it, but when taking the rings off so the hospital didn't dispose of them he hadn't been able to let it go, even to hand it to Dustin. He'd covered by swapping it out with the stressed ring and repeating that Eddie wanted him to wear a different ring.

Honour: A word Steve had only ever heard directed to him jokingly, but Eddie used for his ring being worn. It boggled his mind a bit to realise how sincere the other was being with him. A lot of things did when it came to Eddie, like the fact he'd called Steve a good person out of nowhere and without prompting. Most people just complained about or insulted who he used to be and when he tried talking with Robin about it she'd got mad at herself before repeating how good a person he was now. That hadn't helped his bewilderment, just added another cause for it.

“Dingus, why are you glaring at your rings and a notebook?” Robin asked, draping over his shoulder and bringing Steve's mind back into Family Video and the slow work day they were trying to keep busy through.

“I need more of them but don't want to go around with even more rings in my pocket. Or know how to label what feelings they'd be for.” He grumbled.

She leant closer, forcing Steve to bend with her so she could see the notebook better. “Yeah starting from scratch is dumb. Write what you have rings for already, Your terms not mine or anyone else's, and see what you think is missing after that. Then see which stand out as unlikely to be worn often. Those could live in your car or wallet or something instead of your pocket.” Saying this she moved to his side and laid the rings out on a clear page of the notebook.

As Steve considered the idea Robin wandered off to check on the only customer. It was a pretence he knew, but one he's grateful for, even as the biggest necessity in his list becomes evident.

There's nuance, and different rings for sadness, anger, confusion, embarrassment, heartbreak, but only 'good' and 'trying to see positives' for good emotions. Good was one he barely knew how to quantify now and 'trying to see positives' didn't actually feel good to wear. But Steve wasn't feeling constantly bad, he knew that. He felt hopeful, amused, warm, and loved; like these friends were a real family.

Plus the question mark ring was where good and bad emotions were fighting in him.

“Do you think Eddie will come ring shopping with us?” He called out, settling on the four emotions he needed new rings for and looking around the store for the first time in a while.

“I think I can fit that in, yes Stevie.” Eddie replied, leaning on the counter opposite him. Robin was stood beside him looking over at Steve in amusement.

He shifted a little, looking between them, expecting to get teased. “You've been here how long?”

“Couple minutes, was going to block the page to say hi but you looked so adorably focused.” Eddie shrugged. “Are these all your current ring meanings? You've still not told me-” The words broke off as he read the list, fingers tapping over empty spots noted for new rings

Robin had started snickering, needing no words to tease once Steve met her gaze, but stopped in confusion at Eddie's reaction. “Sure they are. He's decided he needs to show more emotions than that now.”

“Like more positive ones, you mean?” He asked, a sharp gaze stabbing at her. “Little Miss Platonic, why haven't you told him to get more or change all the meanings so he doesn't only have negative emotions to show sooner?”

“What?” The demand was when Steve realised their focus might be surrounding him but it didn't currently involve him. “When did those change?”

He blinked at them, seeing a tussle break out for the notebook and wondering what Robin meant as he glanced as the ring on his finger now, bronze, looking for positivity, then back to her. “They didn't?” He asked, trying to remember what he'd told her they meant. He'd probably described situations which made him change to each ring he was replacing after Starcourt since describing his feelings isn't easy without them. “What did you think they meant?”

Instead of saying anything she snatched the pen to start writing her understanding of the rings down, Eddie's eyes getting wider as he read them. “That's – That's some difference.”

“Did I explain when I'd swap to wearing them before?” Steve asked, unable to read upside down and just getting frowned at as Robin made it clear he had and she didn't like the meaning mix-up it had apparently caused. “You still know how to help anyway.” He tried to reassure, hoping to lessen the glare.

“Just how pissed should I be at Nancy?” Robin demanded instead, angrily gesturing to the embarrassment ring. “How much didn't you say when I thought you might date her again?”

Both Steve and Eddie stepped back from her anger as Steve frantically tried to remember what he'd used to explain that ring and how it involved Nancy. “You literally said you didn't need to know that story.”

“Apparently I do now if just her visiting your workplace has you feeling embarrassed enough to change rings over it.” Robin insisted. “So, story-time please Steve. What happened with Nancy Wheeler?”

/\/\

“Did you argue with Buckley?” Jonathan asked, sitting down beside Nancy and taking in the glare levelled at them.

She looked over as well but soon looked away. “The rings were Steve's. She found them but didn't seem this mad then.”

For a moment he just nodded, before straightening to look for Steve. “I didn't imagine the rings he used to wear then? I guess between you giving them back and now we've been spoken about. Makes sense I think.”

“What does?”

“Steve's best friend being pissed when he told her what happened between us three. I did wonder if she knew anything beyond the rumours.” He explained, waving when Steve emerged from the kitchen.

Nancy stared, trying to understand how Robin's anger came from that, even as she smiled at Steve coming over.

“You two okay? Your move back to Hawkins going well?” Steve asked, relaxed, a ring shaped into a shield on his hand.

“We're good, are you?” Jonathan asked, but carried on without pausing for a reply, “Realised that we never apologised for everything during that Halloween. I thought you'd broken up honestly, until Dustin said you were taking flowers to Nance when he asked for help.”

“I'm good and thank you. It's all history now and I'm pretty sure there was no coming back from that argument. I'm sorry for everything bad I did back then too. Some fault on both sides, I think.” Steve hurried to accept the apology but followed Nancy's gaze when she looked back over to Robin. “And Robs will calm down soon enough. She just got the meanings of some of my rings wrong and is mad about it.”

“What meanings do they have?” Nancy asked, glancing back at the ring he currently wore. “Eddie too? He did the hand hold thing too today.”

His nose scrunched but he looked amused, “Yeah but also no. That's cause Henderson tried using Robin's ring checking as evidence I'm dating her and Eds wants to see if he'll insist the same for someone else doing it. I'm preparing for anything Robin does to me to get copied or escalated for a while.”

“You're cool with that?” Jonathan challenged, looking shocked at the thought and Nancy could remember their fight from years back, wondering if that was why.

“Robin would kill me if I wasn't. Plus it means my empty home is a lot noisier with laughter now.” Steve mused. “Yeah, I'm pretty happy about Eddie's game.” As he finished speaking his hand dipped into his back pocket, a practised gesture that seemed absent enough to be unnoticeable as his ring was swapped out while he looked around the gathering. “I'd better check the kids aren't causing trouble over there.”

There was silence between them for a moment as he headed away. “So that's the first time I've actually seen that happen.” Jonathan eventually commented.

“No wonder. If he hadn't just mentioned his ring I'd have missed it.” She agreed, wondering why Steve would hide the gesture but do it so openly. It was more evidence that she hadn't known him as well as she thought.

/\/\

Dustin was getting frustrated. He'd thought it was a blatant lie when Robin said she was checking Steve's ring each time she took his hands upon greeting. Then he'd thought maybe it was valid but still an excuse after noticing them was what started calming Eddie down in the boat-shed.

Now Eddie kept waiting behind Robin as she checked Steve's rings, draping himself over the side of him left free when they watched movies. It was getting honestly difficult to get a hold of either of them separately and Dustin didn't trust it.

“Why are you leading Eddie on?” He accused one of the few times Steve picked him up without the other already in the car.

“I'm not, but thanks, really flattering view of me you have there.” Steve huffed.

Dustin narrowed his eyes, “You're straight Steve.” He stated as if he was being dumb. “Why are you accepting his flirting when you aren't into him? Are you going to hurt him?”

Steve rolled his eyes. “One, that's not for you to question for me. Neither of us are going to get hurt. Two, Eddie checked and keeps checking we both know where we stand in this. Three, thanks for winning me that bet.”

“Bet? What bet?” He demanded but they'd pulled up in the trailer park and Eddie was already climbing in.

He'd clearly heard the question and leaned over Steve's seat, pulling his hand up to check the ring while asking, “Yeah Stevie, what bet are you telling Dustin about?”

“One I won cause he got in telling me off for leading you on.” He smirked, taking his hand back to pull off again. “Seatbelt.”

“As if I wouldn't follow you anywhere, Big boy. Keep leading.” Eddie remarked flippantly before swatting at Dustin, “But talk about clouded vision, Shithead. So when Robin does it they're dating but I do it and I'm being led on.”

Dustin spluttered for a moment, but Steve's smirk got sharper, “So that's me and Robin one each, you none. Lucas could be anyone's but I think you have a shot at Mike.”

/\/\

Robin helped Steve find it, the final ring he’d buy for himself hopefully. She’d helped with everything else in his realisations since Eddie’s game began and was trying to make him share his feelings with Eddie now.

The ring had been both Steve’s way to delay that admission and his hope that Eddie would bring the conversation up for him. If only because he had no intention of advertising the feeling it meant at all.

It should have worked too, except he was never wearing the ring when Eddie first arrived, never able to get privacy when the change was noticed by the other and didn’t see how it could change with their kids all wanting attention constantly. He almost felt like his crush was doomed to silence and Robin’s teasing over it but refused to accept it, adapting instead. He started swapping rings when even slightly feeling besotted, hearing Dustin raving over something Eddie had done or a song reminding him of the other. Steve even started practising demanding private moments and dragging Robin off during her greetings, just waiting for Eddie to question this new ring.

“Is it my turn to ask for a private chat, big boy?” Eddie asked, finally seeing Steve’s latest ring worn as he arrived.

Everyone else was filing through the house to the kitchen or Steve’s pool and barely glanced their way as Steve tugged Eddie upstairs, blush only noticed by Robin as they went.

“You like my ring then?” He asked only after they were alone. It was partly to delay the admission, but mostly a genuine question. When looking for this ring he’d specifically wanted something that reminded him of Eddie’s rings and the coiled serpent design seemed fitting.

/\/\

Eddie for the first time in a while didn’t know what to say. He wanted to ramble about how much he liked it and wanted a similar one for himself; wanted to interrogate Steve on this new ring when he’d been resolute on pairing rings up if he found an emotion missing from their meanings in the future; wanted to ask if it was a way to get his attention.

It was mostly the last of the list actually, but that felt too vulnerable to say.

“It’s metal, but why? You said you didn’t want to get any more after our shopping spree.” He asked, holding back all the words trying to tumble out.

Steve fell backwards onto his bed, heaving a sigh and making Eddie wonder if he’d asked the wrong thing. “Because a crush isn’t as simple an emotion to indicate and I didn’t want you to make similar errors to Robin if I paired it up with other rings straight away.” He muttered to the ceiling.

Hope flickered to light where it had dimmed at the sigh. “A crush? On who?” There was a guess, especially with how Dustin had been distracted from his questions the week before, but he wanted to hear it for himself.

“You.” Steve said, rolling onto his side and watching Eddie as he stood just beside the door, never having moved since they came in.

He moved now, taking the hand and brushing his thumb over Steve’s ring. “That explains why you weren’t wearing it when I wasn’t around at first, but not why you’re wearing it now.”

“Will mentioned you earlier, some of the chats you’ve had with him over Mike.” He hummed.

“Your love for those kids is cute.” Eddie grinned, kneeling on the bed beside him. “It also doesn’t say what you want to happen now. You seem plenty happy with me copying how Robs treats you but are you wanting more than that?”

Everything in Eddie was screaming to just ask for more, or lean down and kiss Steve, or do something other than gently prying more details out from the gorgeous boy rolling around on the bed.

“Maybe you could kiss me too sometimes, see how we feel about going further when my house isn’t full of everybody else.” Steve smirked up at him, as if reading the desires on his face. “Oh and invitations to either your band practices or performances. I want those too. Who knows maybe the Corroded Coffin boys could just fit in with this chaotic family of ours over time.”

“Yeah?” Eddie asked, leaning so their lips were millimetres apart. “Want to join our families? You already thinking of marriage, big boy?”

Steve leant up for a small kiss, “Forever with you sounds like torturous bliss. Where do I sign up?”

“I think you already have.” They both grinned into the deep kiss Eddie pulled him into then.

#stranger things #steve harrington #robin buckley #eddie munson #steddie #nancy wheeler #platonic stobin #dustin henderson

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lavenderstobins · 23 hours

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stranger tweets part 8

[part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4] [part 5] [part 5.5] [part 6] [part 7]

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munson-blurbs · 12 hours

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Hopper minutes after a giant machine explodes .5 feet away from him:

Steve, Robin, and Nancy minutes after being choked by Vecna's vines:

Meanwhile... Eddie minutes after a few lil bat nibbles:

#in conclusion #he's either coming back #or this was shitty writing #no one's ever died from lack of nipple #eddie munson #jim hopper #steve harrington #robin buckley #nancy wheeler #stranger things

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rogueddie · 3 days

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Steve having the accidental friendzone moment but, thankfully, he says it to Robin instead of Eddie, who winces at how he phrases it. She uses it to worm a few favors from him for the next month, especially when Steve and Eddie start dating and Eddie admits that he'd been worried that Steve only saw him as a friend and they'd never be anything else.

#stranger things #steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie #robin buckley #chaostrio

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dykelips · 3 days

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stranger things text posts, pt 2

enjoy, it's all queer and silly and i still have more to post lmao :")

#stranger things #steddie #eddie munson #steve harrington #robin buckley #shitpost #gay eddie munson #gay steve harrington #lesbian robin buckley #nancy wheeler #ronance #steve x eddie #robin x nancy #stranger things textposts #stranger things shitpost #memes #st textposts #text post

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asexualasshat · 3 days

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I just think that at some point following S3, before S4, Robin brings up the concept of zines. About how she heard of them vaguely, and kinda knows how to get her hands of them, but can’t have them delivered to her house because she’s not ready for the prospect of her parents finding them. So Steve, naturally, offers to have them mailed to his place. It’s not like his parents are home, so it’s a no brainer. And a month or two later, the first zine arrives. He never opens them, saves them for Robin. It delights her. She talks about them with Steve. And months pass. More zines arrive and are mailed back. The events of S4 happens, and Eddie is quite literally dragged out of hell. And everything isn’t fine but it’s okay. And one day Steve is at his place, alone for once, and he’s awfully bored. He’s all up in everyone’s business, yes. But he does not touch private things. And the zines? Those are for Robin. She can share what she likes with him, but they’re for her. Except, he’s terribly horribly bored and for once, he’s alone. And the zine that came in the mail 3 days ago is sitting on his desk. And it can’t hurt to take a little look, right? So he does. And he recognizes some things that Robin had told him about, but other things are new. Perhaps they didn’t resonate with her, so she didn’t feel the need to add them to her already hours long ramblings. But as Steve is reading, something starts to click. And at first it’s just a ‘huh, that’s interesting’ and then it’s a ‘oh shift’ now he’s gone from ‘I’m trying to be a supportive ally to my best friend so I’m gonna educate myself’ directly to “Robin, we need to talk. I read your zine and now I’m kinda gay”

#and then they’re gonna delve into a whoooole lot of Steve’s crushes he’s apparently had on guys before and the man is shook #anyway I’m not super educated on 80s gay culture or exactly how zines work (I literally only figured out I was kinda into women like 3 #months ago) but I do think it’s inevitable that they’d become a little informed and involved in it #stranger things #steddie #stobin #platonic stobin #steve harrington #robin buckley #eddie munson

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plistommy · 24 hours

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#I saw this at X as challengers meme #LMAOO #THIS IS SO THEM #ROBIN IS DEFINITELY NOT A MORNING PERSON #steve harrington #eddie munson #robin buckley #stranger things #steddie #stranger things 4 #edits #my edits #incorrect quotes #meme #the hellfire club

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dwobbitfromtheshire · 2 days

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Eddie: Nance, who's the better kisser? Steve or Jonathan?

Steve: *smirks* Yeah, Nance, who's the better kisser?

Nancy: Hmm, this requires some research.

She leans forward and kisses Steve. She pulls back and kisses Jonathan.

Jonathan: Well?

Nancy: . . . I still need some more data.

She climbs into Steve’s lap and kisses him, kissing him longer before doing the same with Jonathan.

Robin: Okay, you're literally just making out with them.

Nancy: No, it's very important scientific research.

Chrissy: *grinning* I'm definitely learning a lot.

Eddie: *cackling* Maybe it's Steve and Byers who need to find out.

Argyle: *nodding* They are the subjects.

Robin: She's just feeling them up in front of us.

Vickie: Let her work, babe.

Steve and Jonathan shrugged before kissing each other.

Steve: Definitely Jonathan.

Jonathan: It's definitely Steve.

Eddie: All three of you assholes are together, aren't you?

Nancy: *giggles* Yeah.

Robin: Steven Robin Harrington, I've been trying to set you up for weeks!

Steve: *grins* I know.

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batty4steddie · 2 days

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Chapter Six: The Drive Eddie Munson, Robin Buckley, Steve Harrington, Dustin Henderson, Max Mayfield, Lucas Sinclair & Nancy Wheeler Stranger Things 4

#eddie munson #robin buckley #steve harrington #dustin henderson #max mayfield #lucas sinclair #nancy wheeler #stranger things #gifs by me

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imfinereallyy · 1 day

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I wonder if you look both ways (When you cross my mind) pt. 3

a nice long update for ya ♡ part 1 part 2

cw: internalized homophobia and projecting internalized homophobia (from an oc)

🐝･ﾟ･ﾟ·:｡･ﾟﾟ･✦ʚɞ

June 1996, Chicago

Steve's first steps into his living room are not met with silence and sunshine; in fact, he is met with two surprises.

The first being Eddie Munson still in his apartment.

Steve rubs the tired out of his eyes, squishing his palm into his lids in hopes of shaking out a morning delusion. He is proven unsuccessful..

His second surprise is that Eddie is awake, staring at Steve in high alert, blankets folded neatly (he must have scrounged around for them in the night, not that Steve minds), sitting patiently as if he has been waiting for hours for Steve's arrival.

If the second surprise hadn't happened, Steve might have excused the first. See, Eddie, in all the years he had known him, had been anything but an early riser, usually choosing to sleep the day away. So if he had been asleep still, Steve might have let him being in his apartment slide.

Steve ponders how he doesn't really know Eddie anymore, so he shouldn't actually be surprised.

Eddie clears his throat, "So, how about that talk?"

Steve has to resist shutting his eyes to relish in the sound of Eddie's deep timbre. His voice has grown scratchy over the years—from singing or cigarettes, Steve can't be sure. It feels like coming home, either way, to have his voice brush over him.

Instead, Steve clears his throat back. "Don't have time; maybe try again in another five years." He moves to the kitchen to start making their morning drinks—hot coffee with cream for Robin and an iced dirty chai for Steve.

When Dustin had been working at a cafe back when he was in college, he made Steve try all of their new drinks. Surprisingly his favorite became a dirty chai—something which Robin finds hilarious.

Steve grabs the chipped green mug from the cabinet and begins pouring Robin's coffee. It had already been hot and ready in the pot, which probably meant Eddie had prepped it for him. Steve doesn't comment.

Eddie huffs through his nose, "C'mon Stevi—Steve. It's ten in the morning on a Saturday. You can't tell me you're busy right now."

Steve has to resist slamming Robin's mug down on the counter, already having being put together after the 1994 incident, he doesn't want to face her wrath.

Gently placing it on the counter, Steve turns. "Actually, I have somewhere to be at twelve, not that you need to know that. And don't act like you know what's going on in my life, Munson."

Eddie smiles, a little laugh escapes him. God, it is like a fucking drug after years of being sober that laugh. Steve wants to beg him for another hit, even though he knows it's bad for him.

With the smile never leaving his face, Eddie raises his hands. "Okay, okay. You're right."

"Why are you smiling? This isn't funny." Steve huffs.

Eddie's face softens, "Sorry, just even though you're mad at me. You're talking to me, and shit, sweetheart. I would take that over silence any day. It's nice to hear your voice."

Steve has to force himself to keep his shoulders tense, wanting to sag into Eddie. He's still mad at him, furious even. But some part of him agrees deep down, this is nice.

He can never let Eddie know that.

"Fuck off, Munson. I have shit to do. I'm sure you're too busy anyway."

Eddie shakes his head, hair falling in front of his face. "No, trust me I have nothing else going on. The band is on hiatus. And even if we weren't, trust me when I say this is exactly where I am supposed to be right now."

Steve can't help the snort that comes out of him, "Funny you're asking me to trust you, asshole. That went out the door with your bags five years ago."

Eddie flinches back, "Okay, I deserve that one."

Steve doesn't mention to Eddie how he knows his band has been on hiatus for over a year now. How he's kept up on the band, even after Eddie left. How he is curious why they went on hiatus at all, they have two successful albums, and supposedly were working on their third, when suddenly they all decided it was time for a break.

Peak of their career, and they chose silence. Normally, a horrible career move, but it seems it makes the rock community want them even more.

Steve can understand that partially. When it comes to Eddie, you can't help but want more, even when he disappears without a trace.

"I got to go get ready. Seriously, Munson. I know you think I don't mean it when I say leave. I think you're stuck on the Steve from five years ago, and how the Steve from then wouldn't really mean it. But this is the Steve now. And Steve from now means it when he says, get the fuck out. Go find someone else who could actually use your presence, like Dustin. God knows the kid deserves a phone call."

Eddie opens his mouth to protest, but doesn't get to chance to say his peace, Steve's already on his way back to his bedroom with their drinks in hand.

🐝･ﾟ･ﾟ·:｡･ﾟﾟ･✦ʚɞ

Steve is running late.

It's not his fault, he has a fucking ghost haunting his living room, and it takes him ten times longer to work around it. Robin tells him to cancel his lunch, but Steve doesn't, even though she's right.

Robin's always right.

Steve can't help but feel a little smug when thinking back to leaving his apartment, though. He looks good, wearing his nicest Levi's and soft white button-up. Steve had made sure to keep the top few buttons undone, showing off his gold necklaces that landed perfectly on his exposed chest hair.

For Drew, of course, not for Eddie.

Still, Steve knows he looks good. So when he leaves his apartment and Eddie doesn't even bother to try to talk to him again because he is just too busy staring at Steve.

Steve makes it to the restaurant only five minutes late. It would have been on time if it had been in his athletic prime.

Resturant, Steve realizes, is a bit of a stretch. It appears to be a cafe--but not one of those cozy ones with crazy colors and a fun name. No, this cafe is incredibly fancy. Everything is so sleek and high up, the name in an Italian word he'll have to asked Robin to translate later.

Steve looks around the cafe in a huff, realizing Drew is nowhere to be found. He is momentarily flooded with relief, knowing he has beaten Drew to the cafe.

Steve finds a table in a corner and waits. His brief relief is quickly swept away into annoyance as he sits there for minutes with no signs of Drew.

It takes another thirty minutes, before Drew is finally at the cafe.

"Sorry, I'm late, baby." He says breath even. Steve knows he was in no rush to be here on time. He doesn't move to kiss Steve, not on the cheek and certainly not on the mouth. Drew isn't one for PDA, or so he says. Instead, he smooths down his dark blue Armani suit and sits across from Steve.

"You know, you could give me a kiss. I haven't seen you in a week." Steve decides to move past his being late; there is no point in arguing. If it had been him, Steve is sure he would never hear the end of it.

"Sweetheart..." Drew whispers and brushes his hand against Steve's knee. Steve's lip twitches; he doesn't like it when Drew calls him that. "You know it isn't safe to do that."

Steve wants to throw Drew's hand off of him, but he doesn't. It's always like this between them, Steve wants more, and Drew pulls back. It's beginning to feel tiresome, this game between them. They have been dating for a year and have made no progress in public. Steve's lucky Robin gets to know, seeing as basically no one else in either of their lives knows about each other. For Steve, everyone knows of Drew but not his name. For Drew, Steve is almost sure no one even knows he's gay.

Steve wants to hit himself for the thought. It's unfair of him to put these expectations on Drew, everyone comes out at their own pace. He would be a hypocrite if he pushed him; it had taken him nineteen years to figure out he was bisexual. Took Eddie leaving for him to come out to anyone other than Robin.

It feels different somehow with Drew, though. Like this isn't him scared to come out, but more like Drew doesn't actually see a future with Steve. It had taken them six months to even label themselves as boyfriends, moving from late-night booty calls to watching a movie together in Steve's living room in the middle of a Tuesday.

Steve rubs his temples instead of smacking Drew's hand away. Steve feels tired of this cycle. He knows this is the best he's going to get when it comes to dating. With women, they often want him to admit that he was experimenting, wanting to shun parts of himself away. That or they are convinced he's gay. Well, he is, but it's more than that, and they don't seem to get it.

With men, it's the opposite problem. Either they need him to admit being bisexual is just something he used to make himself feel better, or they are only looking for a quick hookup.

Hookups are nice, but approaching thirty, Steve wants something real and is perhaps sick of finding out the man he brings home from the bar is married.

He knows this is the best he's going to get.

"Maybe if we met a cafe in my neighborhood, we could be a bit more affectionate. The one down the block has a rainbow flag and everything."

Drew scrunches his nose, "Why do that when we can get nice coffee like this?"

Steve doesn't point out that neither Drew nor himself has ordered coffee. Steve can't afford the coffee here, and Drew was late. "I think that's your way of saying where I live isn't nice."

Drew grabs his hand under the table, "No, babe, I don't want to fight today. I've missed you."

Steve feels bad; he has missed Drew. Despite their ups and downs (and Robin's grumbles), Steve does care for him. "You're right, I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it. Besides, I did want to have lunch for a reason." Drew smiles brightly. Steve can't help but stare for a minute. It's no surprise what hooked Steve the first moment they met at the club. He is a classic kind of handsome. Wavy brown hair cut to look proper, a shiny white smile, piercing blue eyes. Nothing about him is soft, he is full of sharpness that takes you from across the room.

He's the kind of guy Steve's parents would have loved if they were okay with Drew being a guy—if Steve was even talking to them at all.

"Oh yes, you've got me on the edge of my seat." Steve jokes.

Drew gives him a charming smile, "There's my funny guy."

Steve rolls his eyes.

"So I have a big question for you..."

Steve freezes up; oh no. Here it comes. The talk, the let's move into together speech. One he'll have to turn down. No one ever gets it. How he can't live without Robin. Literally and physically.

"....so Greg says there's an opening and I think you'd be a great fit."

Steve shakes himself out of his thoughts, "What?"

Drew levels him with a look. "A job? For you?"

Oh. "I already have a job."

It's Drew's turn to roll his eyes, "C'mon, Steve. A high school guidance counselor? You could do so much more."

"I like my job, Drew. We've been through this. Besides, you barely want to be seen together, and now you want to work together? I have no interest in working at a law firm."

Drew pinches his nose, "Just...just think about it, okay? I want to see more of you in any way I can."

Steve doesn't want to fight. The fight left him a long time ago. "Okay."

He doesn't mean it.

🐝･ﾟ･ﾟ·:｡･ﾟﾟ･✦ʚɞ

aaah im loving where this is going, also I swear it gets better soon and this has a happy ending!! also thanks for the love and support. This will probably be the last part where I will take tag requests for the series so please ask now, cause its getting too long. But parts will always be updated on the previous posts and my page!!

tag list!:

@stevesbipanic @withacapitalp @emryyyyy09 @brainfugk @blueberrylemontea-fanfic

@slv-333 @thetinymm @connected-dots-st-reblogger @helpimstuckposting @dreamercec

@goodolefashionedloverboi @stripey82 @little2nerdy @anne-bennett-cosplayer @resident-gay-bitch

@ghostquer @sourw0lfs @devondespresso @yesdangerpls

@lingermirth

@adealwithher @antonymeanonyme @stevah-hawcett @samsoble @mugloversonly

@stripey82 @anaibis @mycatsstolemybiscuit @flustratedcas @alfhitchblonde

@s0ft-strawberries @slavicviking @theheadlessphilosopher

@l1lpip @emmabubbles @arepaconchocolate

@thesuninyaface @hallo-spaceb0y @dykelips @bookbinderbitch @valinwonderland

#guys really i swear there is a happy ending #ive gone full blown story now #yal hyped me up its your fault #also im so excited for the next part hehehe #steddie #stranger things #steve harrington #eddie munson #robin buckley #my writing #platonic stobin #ficlet #angst #hurt comfort #i wonder if you look both ways (When you cross my mind)#ao3

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starshideurfics · 1 day

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New Fic Alert!

A few of my friends have been doing an omegaverse prompt fill event, and I claimed two prompts, so I have two fics to share!

A mate has been selected for you is an arranged mating fic based on a prompt from @lexirosewrites

Girls’ Night In is the closest I think I’ve come to actually writing pwp and was based on a prompt from the wonderful @itcanbepalped

#steddie #omegaverse #fanfiction #alpha eddie munson #omega steve harrington #mpreg #alpha robin buckley #omega chrissy cunningham

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strawberriesinmoominvalley · 2 days

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“They’re not coming back, are they?” Robin’s voice was quiet enough that Steve almost missed it over the ringing in his ears.

“I don't know,” he replied, and Robin gave him a look. “I don’t want to say it - but they should be back. They love their kids too much.”

a post season three rewrite where hopper and joyce never returned from the russian base. what started as a joke of being babysitters becomes reality as steve, robin, nancy and jonathan suddenly find themselves thrust into looking after all the kids as they navigate the grief from all the people lost.

it doesn't help that everything seems to be getting worse again, that the upside down may not be fully gone. it doesn't help that they can barely afford to look after anyone, let alone make sure the law doesn't get involved. it doesn't help that feelings between people in the group may be more complex than first thought.

they can't change the past but they can change the future. and hey, maybe this year is their year, right?

chapter seventeen: “The game over the summer is such a great starting point!” Will could feel his hands shaking. Everything was too hot and loud and God he couldn’t do this anymore. “But how about ‘it’s not my fault you don’t like girls’? How about that, Mike? How about you admit to everyone in this house you’re no better than everyone who bullied me? Because everyone can hear this conversation, I guarantee it!”

#stranger things #fanfic #will byers #el hopper #mike wheeler #max mayfield #dustin henderson #lucas sinclair #steve harrington #robin buckley #jonathan byers #nancy wheeler #argyle #eddie munson #byler

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joshlmbrt · 2 days

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YOU ARE ON THE LINE WITH … STEVE HARRINGTON! | ‘let my love open the door’.

CW; if you DON’T enjoy children - this whole theme has children in it, steve being absolutely dumb starstruck by you, a sad birthday for little emory :(, few mentions of pronouns - but i try not to use much (if it makes you uncomfortable, you can always change it to what ever pronoun you’d like! always try to make it inclusive to everyone), r is mentioned to have long hair.

‘You may now ask Mr.Harrington a question.’ It’s a robotic voice of a woman - though she sounds kind.

“Where did you guys meet?”

It’s Steve’s turn to receive a call, fingers scratching at the stubble that had grown out these past couple of weeks - his brown eyes lift and watch as you giggle with Emory, her brown curls bouncing as she jumps back and forth.

“Well…”

It’s 1996 and it's Emory’s 4th birthday. She had insisted (cried and begged Steve really) for a birthday at the Hawkin’s local skating rink.

She was always mesmerized by the flashing sign outside and the posters that were hung up outside the stores with cute colors and shapes.

Who was he to say no to his little girl?

Erica Sinclair and Robin Buckley had come through with helping with decorating the small corner the rink had provided when he rented a full day of skating, eating sugary sweets, and cool music.

Nancy and Jonathan make it in time, little Henry tugging at Jonathan’s hair, blue slobber shines over his mouth and some on his chubby cheeks. Jonathan winces, hand coming up and pulling his hand from his hair, nom nom noming jokingly, causing the boy to cackle.

“I brought the much needed goody bags.” Nancy grins, shaking the box with the tiny plastic bags that were filled with things that the other parents are going to have to worry about.

“Oh, the parents are gonna hate me.”

Nancy grins. “That’s their problem to deal with.”

Erica stands back and nods at Robin who was trying to attempt a straight face as she stands on the step ladder, but her hands and knees shake with nervousness. She’s quick to make her way down.

“Where’s Emory?” Nancy asks. Jonathan lets out a yelp when Henry latches onto his hair again. Nancy shakes her head, reaching for the hair snatcher.

Steve smirks a bit, shaking his head. “She insisted on getting ready at Max’s. So, Max is going to bring her when she’s ready to make an entrance.”

“Live music and entertainment is here!” Eddie Munson is next to step in, arms lifting over his head as he makes his way towards the corner where the group had gathered now.

“You are not playing here.” Steve is quick to shut down the idea.

Eddie frowns, arms dropping by his side. “Why not?”

“Some of the parents won’t like that type of music in front of their little ones.” Robin points out, walking over and grabbing the box of goodies Nancy had made.

“But Steve doesn’t mind.” He points towards Steve.

“That’s because he doesn’t really mind-”

“Unless I have to quickly correct him on words.” Steve calls from over his shoulder, checking the pizzas.

“He’s your friend. The others are not.”

“Ouch, Buckley,” Eddie dramatically places a ringed hand over his heart. “You wound me.”

She grins and closes one eye, mimicking a bow and arrow, fingers spreading when she ‘lets go’. He drops to the ground.

“Ew, get up,” Erica crosses over his legs. “The floors are disgusting.”

Eddie chuckles, lifting from the ground. There’s a tiny gasp that is heard from the door before little Mary-Jane covered feet are running their way over.

“It’s perfect! Perfect! Perfect! Perfect!” She jumps, arms lifting towards Eddie, who, with no hesitation, lifts her up from the ground - glitter from her tutu sticking to his black shirt as he walks around.

Her eyes are wide as she listens to Eddie speak, little fingers that are painted pink with a coat of glitter over them press into her chubby cheeks when she sees the present table.

“Can I have one, Daddy?” She’s quick to look at Steve with wide eyes, lips poked out into a pout.

“After cake, okay?” He promises, looking at her. He grins, taking in her appearance now. She had insisted on wearing fairy wings too. He wasn’t about to say no on her special day - all except for the present.

She huffs, arms crossing over her chest as she looks at the bags. “Sorry, princess. But I promise, after cake, we can open.”

“Can we eat cake first?” She peeks over at him.

“Yeah, can we?” Eddie wonders aloud. Steve narrows his eyes at him with no malice.

“No,” He says pointedly towards Eddie, who lifts his shoulders and one of his hands in a defensive manner. “We have to have something before that, okay?”

She sighs, pressing an elbow to Eddie’s shoulder, cheek pressing into her palm. “Ooooo….kay.”

“Oh, I think I see the birthday girl!” There’s a cheery, unfamiliar voice who catches Steve’s attention - his eyes widen when they land on you, in a stupid uniform you hated - khakis and a tucked in polo shirt.

But you got to wear skates on the floor - a rule for the workers only.

You maneuver gracefully, almost like you’re floating, but on wheels. OBVIOUSLY, STEVE!!!

Robin makes him stumble from her elbow knocking into his bicep, blinking dumbly as he looks over at the short haired girl. “She asked you a question.” Robin strains the words through a toothy smile.

He blinks again, lips parting as he slowly turns and looks at you, realizing that you’re suddenly in front of him. How long did he black out for? Why is he acting like a total idiot?

You laugh softly and he thinks the sound would be enough to melt an ice pop like it melts his insides and turns all sticky and mushy. “I was wondering if you need any help?”

He looks back at the table, the you, and back at the table again, scratching at his temple. You smile to yourself when you notice the brown and caramel locks and how some curl inward by his temple.

He’s handsome, anyone could tell when they immediately look at the male. Perfect hair. A good sense of style. Pretty eyes with pretty eyelashes. Freckles.

“I-I think we got it,” He looks back at you and you notice the way he gulps. “I…We are waiting for her friends and some more family to show up.”

“Sounds like fun! Let me know if any of you need anything,” You let him know your name before rolling away, hair following behind you.

“Dude,” Dustin startles him - he never realized that Dustin and Lucas had showed up. “You totally bombed.”

“I did not,” Steve scoffs. He then tries to backtrack, hands landing on his hips. “I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

Steve honestly wasn’t for sure why he, in Dustin’s words, bombed. He used to be so sure of himself when speaking to women he thought were attractive. But then you rolled in (literally) making his brain short circuit.

It’s weird to him.

“Sure you don’t.” Dustin walks over and places a unicorn bag by the other presents. Steve rolls his eyes when he notices how large the bag is. Uncle Duties, he had calmed before when he kept buying her small, random gifts that Emory keeps in the window sill and around her room. He couldn’t count the amount of times he’s stepped on a sharp D20 - whatever that is.

“Where’s Emory and Eddie?”

“She wanted to go wait outside for her friends,” Lucas says. “They’re both sitting outside on the bench.”

Steve nods, checks over everything once more, before walking past everyone and up the one step that leads towards the door. He pushes it open, stepping outside. “Whatcha doin’, lil Em?”

She swings her feet slowly, looking at the parking lot that was almost empty - save for the cars everyone showed up in for Emory’s big day and the workers inside.

“Waitin’ on everyone.” She fiddles with her fingers in her lap, eyes slowly blinking, lashes fluttering across her freckled cheek. Eddie is all aware of this situation, eyes quickly darting to Steve who looks over the parking lot.

There’s a small glimmer of hope when she notices a car pulling into the parking lot, sitting straighter as she smiles widely. Once it’s parked, she is slightly dejected when she realizes it’s Hopper and Joyce with El and Mike clambering out of the backseat and following behind with a couple of bags in hand.

“There’s the birthday girl!” Joyce clasps her hands together, making her way over and squatting down in front of her, pressing her finger towards her stomach, a small giggle escaping her mouth as she covers her tummy. “I love your fairy wings.”

“Thank you, Auntie Joy.” She turns slightly to show them off more. Eddie stands and maneuvers away from the group, nudging his chin so Steve can follow.

Steve glances at Hopper who waves his hand, motioning him to go on. He turns and follows Eddie behind the building - he’s being considerate of the others, pulling out a pack of Marlboro Reds. He offers one to Steve.

Steve glances around nervously before caving in and pulling a stick from the pack. He’s been stressed and this might do a little something to tide that stress over. Eddie lights him up first before passing it over.

“I don’t think anyone’s coming.” Steve blows out the smoke to the side, scratching at his forehead.

Eddie hums around the cartilage, before pulling it from his mouth. Smoke bellows through his nose. “I know that feeling - it sucks. But we can make it work,” He nods. “She already has a bunch of people here.”

“She was looking forward to spending some time with her friends outside of school,” He leaned against the wall, foot pressing flat against the brick. He shifts a bit from the uncomfortable feeling against his shirt. “Some of them even called and said that they would come.”

Eddie’s lips pull into a frown, nodding as he scratches at his cheek with his right ring finger and pinkie, opening his mouth to speak. There’s a squeak that cuts him off, both of their heads quickly turning and looking at who just came out of the back door.

It was you again - this time in run down black and white Chuck Taylors and a pack of Virginia Slims in hand. Steve’s eyes dart towards your hand before back at you. You quickly look at your hand as well, before bringing it around to your back, giving a nervous laugh.

Eddie smirks. “Didn't take you for a smoker.”

“I…I’m just…” You sigh. “I’ve been stressed. I just smoke half and always spray down and wash my hands before going back out.”

Steve chuckles a bit. “It’s fine,” He watches as you take a hesitant step forward with a small smile. You pull one out, slipping it between your lips and quickly lighting it. “I have a question.”

He doesn’t know what makes him blurt it out or what he’s even going to ask.

Your eyes flicker towards him, a small smile pulling at your lips when you pull the stick from your lips. He notices a small print of your lipstick around the white cartilage. “Yeah?”

Eddie glances between the two of you, eyebrow quirking in Steve’s direction when he seems to go dumb for a moment, stumbling over his words. Shaking his head, curls bouncing, he pats Steve’s chest, stubbing the cigarette against the brick and walking past the two of you.

Steve watches him past with a helpless look, lips parted as he huffs. You tilt your head.

“You seem like a nervous individual.”

“Huh?” You open your mouth to repeat but he catches on to what you say, wincing when he cuts you off - because he’d much rather hear your voice instead of his own. “Oh, wait. No, nevermind. No, I-I’m not a nervous individual,” His cheeks feel hot. Unless it comes to very pretty individuals.

“Thank you.” He blinks, staring at you.

“Did I say that out loud?”

You laugh softly, nodding. “You did.” He can’t help but notice how much prettier - if that’s even possible - you are when there’s a pink flush over your own cheeks.

“Sorry… I thought…I thought I kept that in my inner monologue.” He taps at his temple. You laugh loud now. It still melts his insides just like your small giggle he heard earlier and he finds himself smiling.

“So…” You have finally reduced to small giggles now. “You had a question for me, Steve?”

“You know my name?”

“I do. Your family inside was asking about you.” He curses under his breath because he legitimately forgot he was at the back of a roller skating building with a cigarette that singes his fingers. He quickly drops it to the ground, hissing and shaking out his hand.

“You okay?” You’re quick to step closer, dropping your own cigarette to the ground and taking his hand, inspecting the area. It wasn't a bad burn - not one where you take his hand in yours and pull it towards you anyway.

He stares at you, nodding quickly. “Yeah…Yeah, I'm okay.” Your eyes look up at him, noticing just how close you’ve gotten to this stranger. You drop his hand, backing away an inch.

You both stare at one another quietly before he’s quickly shaking his head and scratching the back of his neck that had turned warm.

“I was…I was wondering if you’d like to maybe…help? If not, that’s completely fi-”

“I’d love to help,” You smile softly. You have a small inkling of why he’s asking. “I can teach her how to skate.”

He smiles softly and nods. “She’d like that…yeah.”

“I’ll meet you inside then.” You wink, bending down and grabbing the cigarette that you’d dropped and burned out.

“See you inside.” He waves. He lets out a small huff when he hears the door shut, walking away.

“You didn’t bomb this time.” He yelps and jumps back as he looks over.

“Dustin. You’ve got to stop spying on me.”

Dustin grins. “You love it.”

🛼

Emory is passed out on the booth that has a crack down the middle. Eddie had gone out to his van and grabbed the flannel that he had in the front seat to cover Emory as everyone worked together to clean up.

Nancy and Jonathan had already left with Henry, Mike, and El. Hopper and Joyce had left because they turn in earlier than what they usually do, due to an early morning the next day.

All that remained was Robin, Erica, Dustin, Lucas, Max, Eddie, Steve.

And you.

You had stayed to help clean up, fairy wings that Emory had insisted for you to wear. You’d changed into your Chuck Taylor’s once again so your feet weren’t totally killing you tomorrow when you woke up.

“Alright, I gotta head back home. I have some homework to catch up on.” Dustin throws one last paper plate into the trash.

“Alright. Be careful.” Steve gives him a grateful smile, waving. He had a bit of blue icing on his finger.

“He’s my ride,” Erica points at him. Lucas and Max nod in agreement, yawning at the same time. “I call shotgun.”

“Was gonna let you take it anyway.” Lucas grumbles after her.

Dustin waves at Steve, following the group out. Eddie peeks over at you who sweeps up a small area. He nudges Steve’s shoulder with his, tilting his head slightly towards your way.

Steve glances at him before looking at you, then back at Eddie again. Eddie leans closer. “Get her number, or I will.” He whispers, walking off towards the booth where Emory lies, still snoozing away.

Steve could not let that happen, because when Eddie puts on a charm, it actually works.

He clears his throat, running a hand through his messy hair and walks over. “Hi.” He watches as you jump and spin around quickly.

“Hi.” You smile softly once you realize who it is.

“I…I have another silly question.”

Your interest is piqued and brows lift as you tilt your head. “What’s your silly question?”

“Could I - and please, feel free to completely laugh in my face and tell me to go - could…could I get your number, maybe?”

“Maybe?”

He thinks about that and shakes his head. “No…no, maybe. Just… could I get your number, please? I could take you out for dinner one night - as a thanks.”

You smile. “I’ll be back.” You walk past him, leaving him to quickly spin and watch you as you walk towards the counter, grabbing a pen and a post-it note. He smiles wide, watching as you walk back and hand it over.

“Call me tomorrow because I’ll be passed out as soon as I get home. Emory knows how to party.”

Steve laughs almost too loud, covering his mouth. It was a silly joke and he didn’t know why he laughed that hard.

“You like Enzo’s, right?”

You smile. “I love Enzo’s.”

“Alright. You… Me… Friiiii-” He pauses when you shake your head slowly at the mention of Friday. He squints his eyes. “Sattttturday night?” He finishes when he sees you nod your head in conformation at the mentioned day. “6:30?”

“Enzo’s. You and I. Saturday night. 6:30. Sounds like a date.” You smile at him softly.

“Sounds like a date.” He echos with a smile of his own.

“That sounds like an absolute movie.”

“It was. Definitely was,” He says. “This is also a cliche, but when we kissed, I swore I could feel the sparks between us.”

“Was it hard being a single dad?”

“Yeah. It was hard, you know. But having special people… finding someone special who will stay with you for a long time, I think I’m a pretty lucky guy.”

‘Your time with Steve Harrington is about up!’

“Well, thank you, Mr.Harrington. I hope you have a wonderful day.”

“Thank you.” Steve says, dropping the phone onto the receiver, standing from the chair and walking into the kitchen. He grins and leans against the doorframe.

When you notice him looking at you, you send him a wink and a kiss.

He does the same.

— @joshlmbrt 2024

🛼 thanks for reading. reblogs, comments, feedback, & requests are welcomed & deeply appreciated!

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