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imfinereallyy · 1 year

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Father Figures

pt. 2 here, and full version on ao3 here

The first time James Edward Hopper meets Steve Harrington is when Steve is thirteen years old. It is back when he is still pushing everyone to call him Chief Hopper, or at the very least James to sound more professional. It is mostly a lost cause, as he has just returned to Hawkins after his daughter Sarah's death and most people can't help but call him Jim and Hop in familiarity, in sympathy.

It didn't mean they didn't take him any less seriously though. In fact, his cold, grieving demeanor gave him quite the reputation around town. Made assholes like Lenny Byers and troublemakers like the little twerp Munson turn in the other direction when they see him. So Jim doesn't try to push the professional name too much. He knows people around here respect him.

They respect him enough to follow his word, they respect him enough to turn a blind eye when he takes an extra pill or two.

Jim doesn't think too deeply about his reputation until he meets Steve Harrington for the first time.

He gets a call from Benny. It's directly to his line at the station, instead of a general 911 call. He doesn't think much of it when he answers, most likely it was a non emergency from an old friend from high school. That's the only reason people call him most days.

"Chief Hopper. Make it quick."

"Jimmy." A deep, worried breath comes from the phone.

Jim immediately straightens. "Benny, what's wrong?"

Benny usually only calls for a laugh, or to invite him out for a drink. The guy doesn't care about too much, or ask too many questions. Hearing concern in his voice was alarming, to say the least. "Listen, Hop, there is a kid here. And normally I don't care, cause business is business, but it's two in the morning, Jimmy. And despite the kid wearing the most expensive pair of sneakers I have ever seen, he only has two dollars on him for a meal. He got all skittish when the plate landed too loudly. And I don't know..." Benny takes a deep breath before he continues. "...I just don't want to be at fault if this kid's trouble and some fancy parents come looking for him."

Jim can tell Benny wants to say something else, he doesn't push though. Jim Hopper tries to never ask too many questions.

"Alright Ben, I'll be there in ten."

———

When Jim arrives at the diner, Benny notices him and nods in the direction of the corner booth. And there, sitting with his head low and scarfing down a plate of fries is Steve Harrington.

Jim has never met the kid personally, but he knows his parents. Cold, calculating, and pretty much owns half of Hawkins. Jim is starting to understand why Benny has called him.

Jim slides into the booth across from the young boy. He's prepared to take the kid by the back of his shirt and drag him out of there. He doesn't need these kids to be causing hard-working people any trouble. But when Jim makes a thump in the booth, the Harrington kid's face snaps up in fear, and Jim's plan for an angry monologue just drops.

Because there, on Steve Harrington's jaw, is a bruise the size of Indiana itself. Jim's face remains gruff, but his body language softens. "Hey, kid. What are you doing here so late?"

Steve's posture remains stiff and small. "Sorry sir, I was just hungry and it was the only place open. I wasn't—I wasn't trying to cause trouble."

It's then, for the first time, Jim thinks that his reputation isn't one of respect. Instead, his reputation might something worse. Fear.

"Didn't think you were. Just wondering what a rich kid like you, is doing on this side of town, at this time of night." Jim doesn't say it like a question, just fact. He tries not to take it too personally when Harrington turns his bruised side in on himself.

"Would have uh—gotten something from home but we—I didn't have any food left. And by the time I was able to eat, everything else was closed."

"Able to eat—kid what are you rambling about. Let me call your parents to pick you up." Jim makes his way to stand but Steve grabs his wrist to pull him back.

"No! I mean—" he clears his throat "—not necessary sir. My parents left for a work trip tonight. I uh—don't have a number for you to call them anyway. They call me instead, they never have a solid line to contact. Nothing bad happens in Hawkins anyway, so it isn't something to worry about." The last line sounds practiced, like it is something repeated to Steve religiously enough it's become his own mantra.

Jim is starting to put it together. The waiting all day to eat. The bruise on his jaw. The lack of money for food. God, the kid probably walked six miles to get here.

Jim isn't stupid, he can connect the dots. But Jim also knows when not to push things. When not to rock the boat. When sometimes, even if it pains him, helping someone would be a lost cause. He thinks of Sarah briefly.

It's even worse when that lost cause is just a kid.

Jim decides maybe the best thing he can do for Steve at that moment is to ignore the obvious problem and offer him a bit of kindness. "Well, I can't have ya here this late. Could look bad for Benny. And we don't want to get Benny in trouble do we?"

Steve shakes his head immediately. "No Sir."

"Didn't think so. Why don't I drive you to the station? Don't worry I'm not arresting you. But we got a nice cot there, and you can get some rest. Then I'll drive you back in the morning when I clock out. Cause I'm still on duty and all. Can't be driving you back Loch Nora quite yet." Jim doesn't mention how he can see bags under Steve's eyes. He doesn't mention how it would be quicker to his house than to the station either. Jim maybe, just a little bit, wants to keep an eye on him. Even if it's only for a short time.

"It's okay I can walk—" Jim levels Steve with a look "—actually that sounds great. Thank you, Sir."

Jim nods with finality and starts to stand. "Oh and kid? Enough with that sir crap. I ain't Mr. Harrington." He almost says I'm not your dad. But that felt wrong somehow, giving Harrington senior that title.

"Okay, sir—I mean Hopper. Okay, Hopper."

---

As the years go by, James Edward Hopper keeps an eye out for Steven James Harrington (Yes he looks at his file for his full name. Yes, it makes him feel some sort of way he has his name as his middle name and not his father's. Richard would make a horrible middle name anyway). At first, it's drive-bys to see if anyone's home. Giving the kid a ride if he sees him walking. Swinging by a basketball game or two, to see how he's playing.

Then it turns into busting his ragers. Hauling him in for the night not to arrest him but to sober the kid up. Pulling him over for driving while intoxicated with that dumb Hagan boy.

Jim wants to be mad, he does. He even yells at Steve sometimes. But he can't find in him to be mean to him, not really. Not when he's pretty sure the only thing Steve has consumed in days is alcohol. Not when even though he has gotten much bigger, and the bruises are less visible, Steve never ceases to flinch when Jim grabs him.

So mostly, Jim either just drives him home or brings him in, giving him a sandwich and bed for the night.

Around when Steve is sixteen though, things get worse for Jim. He becomes more frustrated, with Steve, with his job, and with this town. He takes more pills. He neglects his job. He forgets Steve.

Then the Upside Down happens for the first time. Jim tries to better himself for Joyce and the kids. He mainly though does it for El. His second chance, his new reason for trying, his daughter.

Jim knows it's okay to get a little lost in taking care of her. That it's a good thing, and she deserves his full attention.

He does feel a bit of guilt though, after round two of the Upside Down. When Steve Harrington sits in Joyce Byer's living room, looking like he went ten rounds with a semi.

The kids are all over him (including Mike which shocks the hell out of him). Dustin is trying to stop the bleeding on his face, Lucas is holding ice against his head and even El, who Steve met for all of five minutes, is sitting beside him on the couch, holding his shoulder up. There is a look in El's eyes as she stares up at Steve. Like she can see through him, like she knows him. Like she understands him.

Jim feels his heart break a little.

He approaches Steve in a crouched position. "Hey kid, I think we better take you to a hospital. You look like shit." He is sure there is a better way to say it, but Jim Hopper is a blunt man and that was never going to change.

The redhead, Max, snorts. "That's honestly the nicest way to put it."

Steve glares, Jim can't decide if it's at him or the kids. "No. I'm okay."

Dustin shouts, "Steve you are most definitely not okay. Hop's right you look like shit—"

"Language."

Dustin ignores Steve, "—and that's just externally. Who knows what's going on internally."

"C'mon kid, I can drive ya." Jim moves to help him stand.

Steve bursts with anger and pushes Jim away. "I said no. And you're not my dad."

Jim's jaw tightens and he resists the urge to scream back: and thank god for that.

El speaks before he can yell back. "You're hurt." It's soft, it's demanding and it's so very El. Jim watches Steve crumble back into the couch.

His voice is rougher than before, but much more gentle, "No hospitals."

"Okay. At least let Joyce look at ya. She used to be a nurse." Jim puts a hand on his shoulder, careful not to jostle him.

"Okay, Hopper. Okay, Hop."

———

After that, for a little while, Jim tries to look out for Steve again. It's harder this time though. He's more independent and harder to catch sight of. When he does see him, one of the gremlins is around him, and he can't check-in. And Hop has El, and he can't neglect her in favor of Steve. He tries to balance it out, but in the end, Steve isn't his kid.

Jim finds a small loophole though, which is El herself.

He worries about her every she since she ran away and he didn't even notice. And he knows Steve, like him, has a soft spot for the kids. So under the guise of babysitting, Jim gets Steve in his cabin once a week. So someone other than Joyce or Jonathan (or horribly, mike) is spending time with her. Sure, he's not there to keep an eye out for Steve himself, but it's the closest he's going to get.

Besides, biological daughter or not, El is just like Jim. She has a habit of collecting strays. If it's not going to be him looking out for Steve, he can't think of anyone better for the job than his little girl.

———

After Starcourt, somewhere in a Russian prison, Jim thinks of Steve.

Every day, Jim thinks of El. Misses her. Longs to hear her laugh even longs to hear her yell back at him. Every day, Jim thinks of his daughter and mourns what could have been. But Jim knows she's being taken care of. Knows Joyce and the boys will love her, and take care of her. Make sure she knows nothing else but kindness.

He worries though, between those moments, about how there is no one there for Steve.

———

Months later, in Hawkins Memorial, Jim Hopper finds Steve Harrington in a hospital chair next to Eddie Munson's comatose body.

Jim has a lot of questions but doesn't get any of them out because suddenly Steve Harrington is right in front of him, sucking in a harsh "Hop," and then collapsing in Jim’s arms.

Jim holds him close, says nothing, and cries silently with him.

———

During the summer that follows, James Edward Hopper notices a change within Steven James Harrington. Despite the obvious PTSD the boy suffers, and the scars that litter his body, Steve is visibly happier than Jim has ever seen him. He laughs more, he openly cries more, and he loves more.

Steve's now living with Robin in a tiny two-bedroom downtown. He comes to family dinner with the entire party every Sunday. He shares a cup of tea (no more beer for either of them) and a cigarette every Thursday evening on the Byers-Hoppers front porch.

Most noticeably, the biggest difference Jim sees in Steve is Eddie Munson.

Jim once again isn't stupid. And despite being an ex-cop isn't a bigot (he couldn't find himself back at the force, the corruption is too much for him. And he himself, was never very good at his job). So he can easily come to the conclusion that Steve has a massive crush on Eddie Munson.

Dear. God.

It's not that he has a problem with Eddie being a boy, but it's the fact that out of all people he can choose from, Steve had to go and fall for the twerp who used to trip over his laces when running away from Jim for the third time.

Jim feels, after all the years of neglect that Steve faced, he could do so much better.

Steve is happy though for once, and Jim doesn't say anything at first. But it becomes so painful to watch. The lingering touches. The longing gazes. The nicknames (sweetheart, honey, dear god did he just say big boy—).

Nothing ever comes of it though, it's August and neither of them has done anything but pine. And Jim seems to be the only one who notices.

At first, he thinks it's cause everyone is being kind, and giving them room to explore themselves. But with everyone making jokes about Robin and Steve (from the kids) or Steve and Nancy (from Eddie), it seems like no one notices the excruciating flirting between the two.

(Except for maybe Robin, but Jim isn't quite sure Steve and she aren't one organism. He doesn't count her)

Still, Jim ignores it though. He has learned his listen from Mike and El. Getting involved makes everything worse.

That is until, the second week in August right before family dinner, when he finds Steve and Eddie early, sitting on the couch, with Eddie dabbing the blood off of Steve's face.

"What happened?" Jim is over on Steve's other side in an instant.

"Nothing Hop, it's stupid." Steve tries to shrug off, and he looks towards Eddie briefly.

Jim's vision, for a brief brief moment, is filled with unclear rage. It's enough to consume him and makes him impulsive. Jim can't help but think he got it wrong. Maybe the two are together, and Steve had fallen into a bad relationship. He knew that Eddie was trouble, but he didn't think about it being that kind.

And though he is being irrational, and being for once a little stupid, no one can really blame him when he hauls Eddie up by the collar and into his line of vision.

"Munson, did you put your goddamn hands on my kid?"

Jim can hear Joyce, El, and Will (the only other people in the house) all run out into the living room at the sheer volume of Jim's voice.

Steve sits frozen, Joyce and El yell at him to "put him down, oh my god."

And Munson? He starts to ramble.

"No. No! I would never, ever hurt anyone. Haven't we learned this by now? I can barely kill a spider. I have to put them in a cup and put them outside." Eddie chuckles nervously, waving his hands around frantically.

Jim's grip tightens and pulls him closer. He's pretty sure his vibrating at this point.

Suddenly though, Eddie becomes deathly serious. As if he just realizes what Hopper has said.

"Hop, I would lay down my life before I ever hurt Steve. There is no one in this world that deserves kindness more than him. And if I ever do hurt him, whether it be emotionally or physically, I give you full permission to beat me up. Hell, I'll probably throw myself at your fist."

Jim doesn't let go but stays silent as he listens.

"You see, Steve here decided to pull a you when some jerks wouldn't leave me alone at Family Video today. They were throwing around a bunch of slurs. Nothing I haven't heard before. And even though I could handle myself—“ Eddie gives Steve a look “Steve here always has to be the hero and decided to defend my honor. And of course, it just had to turn physical. And Steve decided to take on three guys on his own. Got to say though, he held his own. It was kinda hot honestly—"

Jim hears Steve choke a little beside them, startling him out of his frozen state.

"—And he only got a cut on his forehead from one of the dickwads class rings. I'm a little worried he has another concussion though. Believe me, Hop when I say, I am just as pissed at those guys as you."

At the end of his speech, Eddie calms down and even holds eye contact with Jim. He still doesn't let go of the twerp, despite being considerably less angry. Well, at least at Eddie.

It's Steve though that finally gets him to let go. "Dad, please put Eddie down."

Steve says it like it's nothing. Steve says it likes its the easiest thing in the world. But to Jim, to Jim it's the best thing he's gotten since El.

Instantaneously, Jim drops Eddie back on the ground and scoops Steve into a bone-crushing hug. "You got to stop scaring me like this kid. Can't lose you again."

Steve's almost his height now, so he tucks Steve's head into his shoulder and lays his head on top of his hair. He hears a muffled, wet "I'm sorry" against him.

Jim chokes back tears as he says, "No, no you got nothing to apologize for. Just be more careful. Okay?"

Steve releases himself from his hold and looks at him. "Okay, Hop. Okay, Dad."

Jim ruffles his hair without jostling his head too much. He thinks he would do anything for his kids. Including pushing along this nightmare of a pining contest.

"And if you like him I like him too."

"Huh?" Steve says confused.

"Eddie here. If you like him, then he's okay by me."

Steve goes to stop Jim, but he's already one step ahead. "But if he hurts you even in the slightest, you're watching me dig the grave I'm going to bury him in. Understand?"

Steve blushes from head to toe and nods frantically, knowing if he protests it will only make the conversation longer. The room is silent until Eddie speaks.

"Don't worry Hop, I'll dig the grave for you." Eddie's voice, despite the threat, is filled with delight, wonder, and hope.

My work here is done Jim thinks as he gives the boys one last nod and leaves the room.

And if later, if Jim sees Steve and Eddie holding hands at the dinner table he doesn't comment on it. And if he sees Eddie give Steve's knuckles a light kiss, and whisper something that almost looks like "I love you", he only smiles at the two boys. Because if one more person loves his boy, it's a win for him.

Because James Edward Hopper, thinks his son Steve deserves that and so much more.

———

okay I spent waaaay too much time on this (as per usual) but I wanted to dive in a little more on Steve and Hoppers relationship (and how it impacts Steve and Eddie). I feel like a lot of fics makes them distant friends (which is canonically correct I guess) or surrogate family with no explanation. And I like the idea of them slowing building a father son relationship. Really leaning into you choose your family. I know people have mixed feelings about Steve calling him Dad (honestly sometimes I too think it’s cringey) but sometimes I love it and that boy deserves a good father figure. Even though steddie doesn’t come in until the end, I think it all really blends together nicely. Also in my head either the boys are both out to each other, is at least it’s heavily implied or is a known safe space they are in. We do not support outing people in the house. It’s probably a one-shot, but maybe I’ll add more snippets later on. For now it felt like a good place to stop.

As always I hope you enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed writing it. I just zoned out for like two hours as I wrote it. It kinda made me emotional I’m not going to lie.

part 2 here and the full version on ao3 here

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chirpsythismorning · 3 months

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Just remembered that Will sat on the icebox in the van for the 30 hr ride back to Hawkins

#byler #stranger things #that willelmike dynamic in the van after the monologue needs to be studied under a microscope #like why couldn’t we see the aftermath of his monologue???#what happened??#when will sat on the icebox did el and mike look confused??#did they offer to leave room for him to sit there but he declined politely like no that’s okay…#followed by the next 30 hrs of awkward #I know the vibes were OFF #that’s the reason they only let us be confronted with them by the time they arrived in Hawkins #they needed to shift the mood to confusion about Hawkins’ state #bc they could not reveal what the vibes were like before that #no but the prospects of el hugging all of them after saving max #and it’s like emotional and they’re all so relieved she’s alive #but then shortly after that when they’re planning going back to Hawkins #she’s distant again #maybe it’s with everyone so they just brush it off as her needing time to process everything #but it’s still suspicious because…#why are things with her and mike still feeling very off #and then that’s when they’re getting into the van and then will just adds to the awkwardness even more by sitting on the icebox 😭#I also noticed 2 pillows on the backseat so it’s likely that’s where byler slept in s4 during their shenanigans #so I’m guessing that where el and mike slept while Will slept on the floor 😭#no but seriously they could not show any of that without giving it all away #the angst and heartbreak and confusion and regret would have been so loud 😅

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lunabug2004 · 2 months

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Why the Troy and Angela Situations Should Not Be Compared (+ Why Mike's Reaction Is Valid)

One of the things that gets my blood boiling as a Mike defender is when people try to compare the bullying/El's reaction to said bullying between the Troy and Angela scenes. They are not the same thing, not even close! Yes, they're both cases of bullying, but two very different levels of extreme.

Yes, I understand that words can hurt just as much, if not more, than a physical weapon, and Mike understands this too, that's why he tries to connect with El the morning after. But in the real world, one without monsters or powers, the one they believe they're living in at the time, violence is almost never the answer, it only makes things worse, as it did. Mike also understand this. Now, yes, it took him a minute to figure out that El didn't quite understand this yet, but he works to fix his mistakes as soon as he does.

Now, let's look at season 1's incident. Troy is threatening to cut Dustin with a knife if Mike doesn't jump off the quarry cliff. Two lives are in immediate and direct danger in this situation. El, literally at the last second, saves Mike as he's falling, so that's one problem fixed and one less life at stake. By this time, yes, Troy has moved away from Dustin, but he is still holding the knife! And then he aggressively steps towards El, threatening her with it, so she snaps his arm and makes him drop it. This is self defense, as well as defending her friends from a dangerous situation.

In season 4, Angela publicly humiliates El. Yes, it's awful, and yes, she deserves the smack that she gets for it, but it's nowhere near as bad as what Troy was doing. Angela isn't putting any lives in immediate danger, she's not brandishing a weapon! Legally, El smacking Angela is assault, because at the point of the roller-scate-smack, the ordeal is done with, and there was no physical harm done. I'd like to add that I'm aware of El falling, and that she may have been hurt, but technically no one touched her, so it still isn't technically self-defense (I may be wrong here, pls correct me if so). This is a very unfortunate situation, and I feel terrible for El, as should everyone, but I'm a firm believer that when it comes to bullies, you shouldn't fight fire with fire, and Mike seems to carry this belief as well, as he repeatedly tells the boys to just ignore their bullies in s1. @foodiewithdahoodie has an old post (can't find it irl, but it's stuck in my brain) in which they say El treats Angela, a normal girl who is not a serious threat, with the same extreme hostility she shows the UD monsters, and I completely agree with this. El is flawed, and Mike's not a bad person for reacting to those flaws, that just happen to include unnecessary violence, the way a normal person would.

Anyways, what I'm getting at here is that these two situations are completely different (again, Troy has a literal weapon, two peoples' lives were being actively threatened!) and Mike's reaction in both circumstances were completely valid! In season one, he was seconds away from death, and so when El saved him and made the threat go away, he was eternally grateful for her defense. In season 4, he tries so hard to get to her when he realizes what's going on despite having just found out she'd been lying to him for months, and he was even completely on El's side, trying to find and comfort her, until she hit Angela, then he believed she went too far (she did), so he made that known. He's never been one to sugarcoat when he disagrees with certain behaviors, and he doesn't start here, he tells it like it is: Angela doesn't look fine. It also is just a lot to process, so it doesn't surprise me that it takes an overnight thought-session for him to figure out where he went wrong, and again, he tries to make it up to her! To connect with her, bringing down some of his walls in the process! She just disregards his experiences, then brings up him not saying ILY, so he gets defensive and puts back up his walls, and they never get to continue this conversation! (This is an analysis for another day in and of itself tbh)

To reiterate, it just irks me when people compare these scenes to try and make Mike out to be a bad person, when they are nowhere near the same situation! His reactions being different makes total sense, esp when adding the shock-factor of it all! I'll stop talking now cuz this could go on forever and I lowkey feel like I'm just repeating myself now.

Pls tell me your thoughts on this!

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beaulesbian · 2 years

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Listen, the truth is, the last year has been weird, you know? And I mean, you know, Max and Lucas and Dustin, they’re great. They’re great. It’s just… It’s Hawkins. It’s not the same without you. And I feel like maybe I was worrying too much about El, and, I don’t know, maybe I feel like I lost you or something. - Mike to Will in s04e04

#if mike gets vecna'd i want this song to start playing bc its the representation of him feeling like he lost will #and that could be one of his worst fears and nightmares #plus its bowie and iconic!#byler #mike wheeler #will byers #stranger things #byleredit #stranger things s4 #stranger things spoilers #byeler #mine #gif:byler #theres always the distinction between will and mike and the rest of their friends ok #the way the ending of s3 was framed as mike already missing el was incredible when you rewatch it after s4 bc you see all the other things #he looked back at wills house and then he needed his mom's hug the same way after he thought will died in s1 #he just keeps losing will and i want it to escalate until he needs to shout what will truly means to him so he will stay!!#i live for these parallels ;_;

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gavidaily · 1 year

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Barcelona vs Real Madrid 02.03.23

#gavi #pablo gavi #gaviedit #gavigif #fc barcelona #fcb #el clasico #barcelona vs real madrid #a mi????#he really cant stay out of trouble huh #at least nobody tried to take his hair off this time #no gavi and lewy hug today :(#how was your watching party during this match cause i was on the edge the whole time #vini deserved a card so many times #thank god for our defense araujo te quiero!!!!#kounde <3 <3 <3 #i love ansu he needs to find himself and step up his game 😭#gavidaily's mvp goes to: tie between araujo and kounde #*matches

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flowercrowngods · 10 months

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i need someone (steve) to take one look at mike wheeler after being told that this kid readily walked off the quarry at twelve years old, and see past his walls and his bullshit and see the kindness and bravery that lies beneath the trauma and depression (and puberty). i need someone to take one look at him and see that he’s not doing fine at all — and hasn’t for a while.

#i have this thing in my drafts where steve finds mike at the quarry after dustin told him mike essentially jumped down there #and all steve hears is ‘my friend was ready to die at 12 tears old’#‘my friend was deeply depressed before trauma even got to take a hold of him’#and steve thinking years ago ‘when i first liked a boy i came here too. thought about jumping’#and mike just. looking at steve and suddenly falling apart because yes sure he did it for dustin but he also just. wanted to.#has been wanting to. and then will was gone and people always say bad things happen to boys who like boys and mike has been feeling guilty #back then yes but also ever since. it never stopped. just like his love for will didn’t stop. and asking steve if everything is his fault?#for liking will and then liking el only to fall for will again #and steve hugs him and tells him that he’s going to be okay and that the world ending isn’t mikes fault at all.#and that if he ever thinks about jumping again?? he needs to tell steve and they’ll find a way out.#idk it’s like. very heavy to think about but please i need. i need more steve and mike bonding #and this has probably been done before bc it’s been years but yeah. uh.#internalised homophobia internalised biphobia and impressionable kids who think all the wrongs of the world are their fault #yknow yknow the usual

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noreen-seee · 9 days

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I can't stop thinking of him every time I listen to this song

#kon el superboy #dc fanart #conner kent #kon el #superboy #dc comics #clark kent #superman #digital art #fanart #He needs a hug

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harringroveera · 1 year

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Eleven: *crying*

Billy: It’s okay, El, you’ll learn how to do that on the inside when you get older

Steve: …

Steve: Billy, are you okay?

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nicxxx5 · 9 months

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max and mike got close when the byers left for california. they found comfort in each other being the same person, different font. dustin and lucas knew because they'd see them hanging out but never told anyone or intervened because they could see how the two had bonded and that their hang outs were their thing. when the cali crew gets back mike is very distraught about max and will and el are a little confused.

when the group arrived back in hawkins, they knew they were most likely in to receive unfortunate news left and right. they were still unprepared for the news about max. they knew el's fight with henry hadn't gone as smoothly as they had hoped, but the condition max was in was still difficult to comprehend. however, her condition wasn't the most surprising thing the cali group faced upon their return.

after dustin delivered the news mike, el and will quickly made their was to the hospital. although arriving to hawkins and catching up with some of their friends and family incredibly briefly was enough to make anyone's head spin, that didn't mean will and el didn't notice mike's face become sickly pale and look as though he was about to vomit when hearing about max. of course hearing that their friend was left with severe broken bones and in a coma after being possessed by a serial killer in another dimension would be hard on anyone, but from what they recalled of the two's relationship, mike's reaction was a little more than they were expecting.

as they approached the hospital mike appeared to seem more and more anxious. this confused the siblings even more but argued to themselves that hospitals probably made mike anxious after all that they've been through as they did to them. also the situation they were approaching was not one they ever anticipated them having to deal with.

when they finally found the room max was being treated in they entered and were greeted with the sight of lucas and erica sitting by max's bed side while lucas read to her. they embraced each other, relieved to be together again after the past week. while el approached max's bed side the boys hung back to give her space.

mike had begun to look as though he was about to collapse. his skin was white as a sheet and damp, and his hands were shaking as if someone had hooked him up to a live wire.

out of the corner of his eye will caught mike's current state and knit his eyebrows together in concern. "mike? are you okay? you look sick?"

mike didn't even glance his way. his eyes were locked on max's frame. "i-...i-" he looked like he was trying to swallow a rock.

their interaction gaining the attention of the others in the room, el, lucas and erica turned to look at them.

"mike?" although things had appeared tense on the ride down to hawkins, el was still concerned for him. she stood up from her place at max's side.

mike, his mouth opening searching for words and his eyes darting around the room, finally shook his head. "i can't- i can't. i need to go. sorry. i'm sorry." and he turned for the door.

bewildered by his friend's actions will turned to him. "mike what? mike what's wrong? mike wait!" he moved to go after him.

"wait."

will stopped and turned to look at lucas. his friend had a look on his face that clearly meant he knew something will didn't. "give him some space. this is probably really hard for him. i wish we could have warned you guys." lucas sighed.

el and will shared a look, telepathically agreeing that their was something they were missing.

will turned back to his friend. "yeah, i mean this is really hard for all of us. but for mike to run out like that? i don't get why he would..." he trailed off struggling to find the word to sum up mike's actions.

lucas sighed again and his eyes trailed off. "yeah, well, mike and max...while you guys were gone and the rest of us in hawkins were struggling to move on and adjust to high school...mike and max became...surprisingly close."

will raised an eyebrow. "what do you mean?"

lucas sat with his hands folded in his lap. "i mean that they'd hang out together. more often than they'd hang out with dustin and i" he look away "a lot more often than max and i."

el and will looked at each other surprised by what they were hearing but didn't say anything to allow lucas to continue.

he looked back at them and continued "i don't think they knew that we knew. i mean, it's not like it's wrong for them to hang out. it was just a little strange considering how much they'd argue since day one, so i guess we were at least a little surprised. but we never said anything because we didn't want to make things awkward and those two were already dealing with enough shit, more than the rest of us i think looking back on it."

"what do you mean?" el asked this time.

lucas sighed "i mean out of those of us left here in hawkins i think they had lost the most after what happened at starcourt. even though he was a piece of shit, max watched her brother die, then her step dad walked and i don't think she's talked to her mom since that summer because her mom is either at work or passed out from drinking."

he turned and looked at el "i think you leaving took a toll her too." el looked up at him, surprised at this acknowledgment. "i know you two got pretty close last summer and i think she missed you and having a friend she could talk about stuff with that she couldn't with us guys" lucas half joked because he knew there were somethings that were talked about girl-to-girl that couldn't be talked about girl-to-boy, even girlfriend-to-boyfriend.

lucas turned will "and mike lost you." will's head shot straight up and his eyes went wide. lucas continued "i know we're the party but...you and mike were different. you were always close in a way that you weren't with dustin and i. i mean, all he ever did every day since you left was complain about he could never get through when he tried calling your house in california because the line was always busy."

will stared at lucas as if he didn't believe what he was hearing, and honestly he didn't completely believe it either. after third wheeling his sister and mike's relationship, only actually gotten through to him a handful of times on the phone and received no letters, it was shocking to hear that mike apparently tried calling him every day.

lucas continued on "my point is is that i think because they lost so much so close to them and because they're more similar than the two of them would probably ever admit they gravitated towards each other and started hanging out on their own, especially when they were having bad days. i remember on days where max seemed more withdrawn than she already was, or days were mike was quieter but simultaneously more irritable than usual, i'd look over and see max's skateboard outside the wheeler's garage, or sometimes mike's bike outside max's trailer when i'd try to go and see if i could get her to talk to me"

"dustin said he'd sometimes see them together out side at lunch or walking to and from school together. neither one of us said anything because i think as strange as it was i think we were both at least glad" he paused for a second "maybe even relieved, that if they wouldn't talk to us, they at least had each other they could talk to. so yeah i think that's probably why mike ran out. i think this is a little harder for him than he might lead on."

as he finished speaking will and el turned and looked at each other, processing the information they were given but still surprised but what they were just told. neither one of them had realized just how much their friends' dynamics had changed while they were away.

finally will spoke "wow...i never thought i'd hear of the day where mike and max weren't at each other's throats throwing insults" he offered partly as a joke but also as a way to express his disbelief to the situation at hand.

lucas chuckled "yeah, like i said man, we were surprised too but it seems that they're able to help each other out. definitely in a way that i'll never understand and honestly i'm a little nervous to try."

will and el both laughed at lucas's attempt to throw in a joke when suddenly the door opened slowly.

mike peaked his head around the door then walked in, almost timidly, with his arms full of what looked like some snacks.

he cleared his throat and looked around the room "hey," he said "sorry. i- um-...hospitals you know, just, kinda make uneasy, and um, i guess see max- uh-"

"it's alright man" lucas cut him off sensing his struggle

mike glanced at him briefly "right. i- uh, got some snacks before i came back, because i figured we haven't had much since we got back," he looked at will and el. then he turned to lucas and erica "and i figured you guys are probably hungry as well and i don't know how long you've been here without eating, so, uh yeah, here-" and he started passing snacks around.

he passed out some chips and candy. mike got to will and handed him a bag of reese's pieces. "i got you these because i know they were your favorite and uh, i- uh, hope they still are" mike said to him awkwardly as he handed him the bag with a slightly shaky hand, looking to and away from his face.

will took the bag and he smile at mike "they are mike, thanks." and he began opening the bag.

mike let out what seemed almost like a sigh of relief and he went to go sit in an open chair that happened to be by max's bedside. he looked over at her and a look of longing and despair came over his face. it was a look you'd see on someone who just lost something incredibly valuable to them.

no one said anything though. they just let the two of them be, because that's how max and mike worked with each other.

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peligrosapop · 4 months

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Roles reversed

#fc barcelona #fermin lopez #raphinha #bro missed everything and needed a hug and a kiss #fermin el novio mode confirmed

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imfinereallyy · 1 year

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Father Figures, pt. 2

I swear it was a one-shot. But then my hand slipped and "oh oops there's Wayne". You can access part 1 here. This is rated m btw. The full version will be available on ao3 (my first time posting on there...) which is linked here. Anyway, enjoy :)

The first time Wayne Allen Munson meets Steve Harrington is in a hospital room. Sure, he has seen and heard about the kid in passing. It was hard not to in a town like Hawkins. With the kind of money his old man has and the pretty face his mother parades around, the Harringtons become a sort of household name. Especially in Wayne's household.

See, Wayne may not be much of a talker, but his nephew sure is. Especially when he gets angry about something. And boy did Steve Harrington make his Eddie mad. During Eddie's first time around with Senior Year, Steve's name comes out of that boy's mouth so often that if not for that tone of his, he would have thought the kid had a crush on him.

Actually, Wayne regretfully asks at one point if he does have a crush. Wayne finds out pretty quickly that Eddie doesn't, which isn't the problem nor why he regrets asking. The problem is apparently at that very moment in time, Eddie hasn't exactly come out to Wayne. The boy shakes so much that Wayne is afraid that Eddie might cause an earthquake. Wayne has to calm Eddie down and explain very carefully he doesn't care, he's his kid no matter what. Eddie cries, and asks "Dad, what made you think to just casually bring that up?"

Wayne shrugs and simply says "Didn't think it was a secret."

Eddie lets out a wet laugh. Wayne doesn't mention how it's the first time since Eddie showed up on his doorstep that he calls him Dad.

His heart swells.

So, with absolutely no crush in sight god Wayne he's an asshole, Steve's name is brought up quite often.

"Steve Harrington just parades himself around like he's a king."

"Steve Harrington just stands there while Tommy continues to be a piece of shit. Worse, he acts like he's bored."

"Girls just hang off of Harrington, he's even got Nancy Wheeler on his arm now. What a prick, thought she was smarter than that."

"Looks like Harrington got the shit kicked out of him by Byer's. You gotta love Karma sometimes."

Wayne watches Eddie frown at the last one before saying, "Kinda gotta back Steve up on the pictures though. That was creepy."

Eddie shakes his head then continues to rant "But smashing his camera? Dick move. Doesn't understand what it's like to be poor."

Wayne is still not completely convinced it's not a crush.

Wayne Allen Munson seems to know all about Steve Harrington before he actually has the chance to meet him. None of which he has learned makes Steve seem all that good.

Imagine Wayne's surprise when he finds the Harrington boy next to his son's hospital bed.

"What're you doin' here?" Wayne asks, startling Steve from his chair. Wayne watches as he hops up from the ground, straightening himself out.

"Sorry sir, I was just uh, keeping him company. The kid's families won't let them out of their sight and Dustin wanted him to have a familiar face with him if, sorry when he wakes up. Because we weren't sure we were allowed to grab you yet. So I volunteered to stay with him, seeing as I don't have a job anymore, and well I sort of feel responsible for Eddie now. And, god I am hanging out with Robin too much because I am rambling. Sorry, Sir. "

Wayne raises an eyebrow at him. He has seen Steve around town before, hard not to in a small place like Hawkins. Eddie points him out once, scoffing at his perfect hair and holier-than-thou attitude. Wayne originally is prepared to yell at him. The sight of a boy who looks very much like the very ones who hunted his Eddie down just a few days ago ignites something protective within him. Hearing this boy ramble though, flustered and making himself hopelessly small in front of Wayne, makes him hesitate.

"Boy, I don't know half-em names you're sayin' right now. I do recognize that kid Dustin though, ya know him?"

Steve nods his head up and down, "He's like my brother sir. Our brother." He looks down towards Eddie's bed.

Wayne avoids looking at his boy and chooses to look directly at Steve. "Well, he's a good kid. Came to me when Ed was missing, at the school. Told me he was a hero, and that he'll be missed. Guess now it was probably cause he wasn't sure if he was gonna make it and didn't want to get my hopes up. Don't know what made him change his mind either when he found me again today, told me they had him here."

Steve's face softens as Wayne talks about Dustin. Wayne pushes on, "If that kid trusts you, I don't got a reason not to trust you either. Well, until Eds here wakes up at least. He can tell me otherwise."

"Okay, Sir." Steve makes his way to move around Wayne and leave. Wayne grabs him by the wrist to stop him, and Steve flinches. Wayne decides to file that away for later and lets him go.

"No need to leave kid. And stop calling me sir. I'm not your old man. "

Steve's lips lift a little bit like Wayne just brought up an inside joke he isn't a part of. "Okay, sir—I mean Wayne. Okay, Wayne."

Steve and Wayne sit side by side next to Eddie. It's then Wayne finally looks down at his kid. He can't help but the rush of tears that come up at the sight of him. He is paler than usual, curls flat and dirty, tubes coming out of every part of him.

"My boy." He chokes.

Steve thankfully stays silent as Wayne weeps. They sit for a while in silence before Wayne asks, "You gonna tell me what happened?"

Steve, who Wayne doesn't point out has bloodshot eyes, says "You going to believe me?"

Wayne simply returns "I'm willing to try."

So Steve tells him. Tells him everything that has happened over the last week. Tells him of monsters and other worlds. How it isn't the first time, how it is hopefully the last. How scary it is for them. How Eddie is stupid but incredibly brave. How Eddie barely makes it. How Steve will be the first to yell at him when he wakes up.

Wayne listens carefully through the whole thing and can't help but think of how fond Steve sounds when Eddie's name comes up. This isn't the boy Eddie once spoke of. Albeit, it has been a long time since Eddie's spoken his name. Wayne isn't used to tigers changing their stripes though. It's a pleasant surprise he doesn't comment on.

Wayne rubs his thumb across Eddie's hand. "How did he get out? If he was practically dead?"

"Oh, I carried him Sir."

Wayne's head snaps to Steve. "What?"

Steve shrinks a bit, "Sorry I mean Wayne. Sorry I didn't mean to disrepe—"

Wayne cuts him off, "Dammit kid, I'm not mad at that. I'm not mad at all. It's just—you saved him. You carried him out of what I can only understand is what I think hell is, and you didn't think to mention that when I first saw you?" Wayne looks at Steve for a moment. Really looks at him. He's in clean jeans and a polo, but that's where his old persona ends. When Wayne looks at him closely, he can see the dark bags under his eyes, the purple bruising all over his body, and the angry red scar around his neck. Steve looks exhausted, physically and emotionally. Steve looks like a boy, desperately trying to be a man. He looks like a soldier after war.

"It's not a big deal. I did what anyone else would do."

Wayne shakes his head. "Steve. That's just the thing, I'm pretty sure no one else woulda done that. And even if they would, it doesn't make what you did any less important. So, thank you."

Steve's eyes mist a bit when Wayne says "it doesn't make what you did any less important." He looks away from Wayne and just nods.

"Okay?"

"Okay, Sir. Okay, Wayne."

---

When Eddie wakes a few days later, after a night of breathing on his own without the tubes, he interrupts Steve and Wayne's conversation on the Chicago Cubs, and says "Dad?"

Wayne is up in an instant, crowding his boy's face. "Oh, Eds. I am so glad yer alright. You scared me."

"Mmm sorry," Eddie mumbles nuzzling Wayne's chest. He then looks up towards Steve, who is watching the interaction between the two men. "Harrington?"

Steve leans forward on his elbows, and chokes out "I told you not to be cute."

Eddie giggles, his tears reflecting Steve's "Sorry big boy, can't help what you're born with."

Steve looks up at the ceiling with a wet laugh. It eventually turns into a deep sob. The only other time Wayne witnesses Steve break like this over the past few days is when he's reunited with Hopper. "You shithead, you're not allowed to be funny right now. Don't. Don't do that again. Okay? You really scared us." Wayne can hear Steve's unspoken you really scared me.

Eddie's tears are rushing down his face now. "I'm sorry Steve. I'm so sorry."

"You didn't do anything wrong. Just—next time, don't let there be a next time. Okay?" Steve's not making much sense to Wayne as he leans his head on Eddie's bed face down.

Eddie seems to get it though. He hesitantly strokes Steve's head with his fingers. "Okay, Stevie. I promise. Now, get some sleep. It's your turn, I've had enough."

Steve's shoulders sag as he gives in. Wayne shares a look with Eddie, and Wayne knows right there they have the same thought.

They've collected another stray.

———

When Eddie is home, Steve becomes a regular occurrence in their newly acquired government-funded house. He helps a lot the first month especially. Takes Eddie and the Mayfield girl to and from physical therapy. Cooks dinner on the nights Wayne works (which is most nights) and makes sure to have leftovers specifically labeled for Wayne. Keeps both Wayne and Eddie company when one of their stress becomes too much for the other. Steve's even there on the nights the nightmares get bad. Spends his time on the couch until Eddie wakes up screaming, and calms him back to sleep so Wayne doesn't worry about him at work. Or so Wayne can get a full night when he's off.

Steve's there so often enough, that when one night he isn't, Wayne's concerned.

"You're going to pace a hole into the floor boy." Wayne looks at Eddie in their living room from the couch. Wayne doesn't tell Eddie he's concerned too. Doesn't think it would help much.

"I'm sure he's just held up, or got plans Eds. Not like he was plannin' on coming here tonight."

Eddie stops and faces Wayne, biting his thumbnail instead. "Sure we didn't have plans. But Steve's been here every day for the past month Wayne. And when he hasn't he's called. I haven't heard from him in like 22 hours—" Wayne doesn't point out that Eddie did the actual math "—and that's weird. He doesn't do that. We don't do that."

Eddie's anxiety starts to seep into Wayne's. He can't help but think of the worst-case scenario. Car accident. A run-in with that Andy kid. His mind even jumps to when Eddie was in the hospital, and his stomach sinks. Wayne can't help it, he has grown attached to Steve.

"Why don't we call some of yer friends, yeah? Maybe they've seen your boy."

Eddie is so incredibly distressed and doesn't even rebuke Wayne calling Steve his like he usually does. "Yeah okay, good idea."

As Eddie reaches for the phone though, there is a light knock on the door. Eddie rushes to answer it.

"Steve thank god I was wondering—Oh my god sweetheart what happened?" Eddie drags Steve in and places him on the couch. It's then that Wayne sees him.

There on Steve's jaw, is a bruise the size of Indiana. Steve's eye is swollen, and he is breathing heavily while clutching his ribs. Wayne remains frozen and Eddie frets over Steve.

"Stevie, who did this? Where does it hurt? What can I do?"

"Eds I'm fine."

Eddie looks like he's about to yell but restrains himself. "You are most certainly not fine. Do not give me that look Harrington—"

"Oh I'm Harrington now."

"—Yes you are Harrington right now because only a Harrington would be this stubborn and ridiculous. Now tell me what happened and tell me what hurts."

Steve's resolve loosens slightly, and his head falls onto Eddie's shoulder. He lets out a painful whine, "My stomach. It—fuck—it hurts so bad Eds."

Eddie brushes his fingers through his hair and whispers to him gently. "It's okay baby, I got you."

Wayne realizes three things at once.

One, Wayne isn't sure Eddie has called Steve that before. He calls him names across the board. But baby isn't one of them. Wayne knows for a fact the two aren't together yet. They have been dancing along the line for a few weeks now. Wayne thinks about pushing the timeline along, but the boys don't seem to be there quite yet. This seems like a step in the right direction.

Two, in the past month and a half Wayne has gotten to know Steve, he realizes that the boy doesn't do well around older men. He flinches at every sudden movement Wayne makes, and won't even let him give him a pat on the back let alone a hug. Also in that time, Steve has barely gone home. Knows his parents didn't visit him at the hospital, but did come home two weeks later to make sure nothing is damaged from the earthquake. Assholes.

And three, Steve avoids the question as to what happened. Eddie seems to let it slide. Wayne doesn't give the same courtesy.

"Who did this?" Wayne says abruptly, startling Steve who seems to realize Wayne's presence only now.

"Wh-what?" Steve shakes.

"I'm not mad boy. But I'm not stupid. I know this ain't a what but a who. And I think we can both conclude who. But I'm going to ask you anyway. Who. Did. This?"

The last of Steve's resolve crumbles as Wayne puts a gentle hand on his shoulder. It is as if he hadn't known a gentle touch from a father before. Maybe he hasn't.

"My dad. He uh, we got into a fight last night. Found out how much time I was spending here, with Eddie, with the kids. He started saying how I was spending time with the wrong people. I tried to just nod and go upstairs because it was just easier to ignore him than fight him sometimes. Like what's he going to do right? He's only here a couple of days a year. But then he mentioned Robin and he called her a slur, and that said her kind was an abomination. And oh god I don't even know how he found that out Robs is going to be pissed she's been so careful—"

"Babe." Eddie squeezes Steve's hand.

"Right sorry, he just was going off about Robin. And it just set me off, I just lost it on him. How dare he talk about her that way? And I just told him that if he's got a problem with her, then he's got a problem with me too. And God Wayne, the silence that came after. It was like all the words had been sucked out of the room. Next thing I know he's grabbing me by the jaw and throwing me on the floor. And he just starts kicking me, screaming about how I am no son of his. I didn't know what to do. My mom just watched it all. I just laid there... I should have fought back—I—" Steve trails off trying to collect himself.

"When he was done he sent me to my room and told me to think about what I'm doing to this family. I just laid there all night and all day, just waiting for them to leave. I had to wait til they left for dinner tonight to get out. I can't—I can't go back there. Me and Robs were planning on moving in together next week, we made a deposit on this two-bedroom downtown, but I don't think I can spend another week there, and oh god, all my stuff is there. What have I done." Steve puts his head in his hands.

Eddie is crying with Steve by the end of it. Neither he nor Wayne comments on how Steve just came out to the both of them. It doesn't seem important at that moment. Wayne crouches down to eye level with Steve.

"You did nothing wrong. There is nothing wrong with you. You did what you had to do to survive, and even if you didn't it still wouldn't be your fault."

Wayne stands back to his full height. "Now, you can stay here until you and the bird girl have your place. Do not fight me on it. Anyway Steve, I know it's difficult right now. But I'm going to need you to let me know what you need from your house."

"What, why?"

Wayne just sighs, "I know you ain't stupid. Just tell me."

Steve seems hesitant but tells Wayne anyway.

He nods at both his boys when he speaks next. "You two stay put. I'll be back soon."

Steve and Eddie both look like they want to fight Wayne on it. Steve wants to stop him from leaving at all, and Eddie probably wants to stop him from going without him. They both smartly stay silent.

"Okay, Uncle Wayne."

"Okay, Wayne."

———

Later, Wayne comes back with three duffle bags and bruised knuckles.

Steve hugs him without a second thought.

———-

A few days pass and the three of them are in the kitchen when Eddie asks. "Did ya tell hop?"

Steve snorts in his coffee. "Hell no."

Wayne can't help his curiosity as he watches the both of them across the table.

"Steve, you have to tell Hop. He's going to find out anyway." Eddie pushes as he puts an ungodly amount of sugar in his coffee.

"No I don't. He'll just flip out, there is no good reason to tell him."

Eddie puts his hands on his hips. It reminds Wayne of Steve the past couple of times he's seen him around the kids. "I can think of one good reason. He's practically your dad. And I'm pretty sure your Dad would want to know what your old man did to ya."

Wayne can't help but hum in agreement. He knows if Eddie's old man comes around, he wants to be the first to find out.

Steve looks at Wayne briefly before saying, "No he's not. He's just like that with everyone."

"No, he's not. With El? Yea, that's his daughter. Maybe even Will. But not with anyone else. Except you. Why do you think I'm afraid of him?"

Steve gives him a look, "Cause he's an ex-cop Eds."

"Please that doesn't scare me. Didn't scare me when he was an actual cop either."

Wayne isn't sure that's entirely true. He remembers a very specific incident of Eddie tripping over his laces to get away from Jim.

Eddie carries on, "No, he scares me 'cause he's your dad, and I know he'll hang me by my toenails if I so much as make you cry. So yea, I think you should let him know. Besides, we both know he's going to be way more pissed when he finds out from literally anyone else. And we both know he will because you told Robin, who definitely told Nancy, who probably told Joyce, and you can see where I am heading with this."

Steve throws his head back and groans. "He's going to full government name me when he finds out."

Eddie lets out a manic giggle, "Ooo, you never told me what your full name is. Now you gotta tell me, Stevie."

Steve gives Eddie an exasperated look, "It's Steven James Harrington."

It's now Eddie's turn to groan. "Of course, you have his name. Well, I guess it's better than Richard. Hop must love that. Was kinda hoping you had my name or something."

Wayne makes a mental note to talk to Jim himself. Knows Steve will avoid it. But Wayne's got to make sure someone is looking after Steve when he can't. Wayne's been meaning to thank the man anyway. For all his done for Eddie. And now, for all he's done for Steve.

"Want me to make you feel better Eds?" Steve says with a smirk.

"Please. I'm not sure if I can go on any further with the torture of knowledge that contains your middle name."

"Hopper's middle name is Edward."

The scream of joy Eddie lets out nearly punctures what's left of Wayne's hearing.

———

By midsummer, the boys are an item. They haven't said anything to Wayne but he can tell. One day, the boys come back from their friend's weekly dinner holding hands. So they didn't have to tell Wayne. Not really.

It is just that, Wayne has gotten to know Steve Harrington over the past few months. He has gotten to know him as "Friend Steve" and "Brother Steve", and even after one intense game night, "King Steve". Wayne has a feeling though that "Boyfriend Steve" is different. As much as he likes the boy, his kid comes first. Wayne feels he needs to give Steve a talk.

The problem is he can't really give him a talk if neither of them has really told him. He has made that mistake once with Eddie, assuming, he won't be making it again.

So Wayne waits. And waits. And waits. And just as he is thinking he might never get the verbal confirmation from the two, he gets the image clear as day of what the two are on a Tuesday when he gets to go home early from work.

It's just not in the way he expects or wants.

Wayne can't really blame the boys. They didn't know Wayne would be coming home early, it was a surprise to Wayne himself. So they probably didn't think that anyone would be coming around the Munson household on Tuesday at midnight.

That doesn't make the situation any less scarring.

See, Wayne Allen Munson wasn't a god-fearing man. He can't be with what his Eddie had been through. But he can't help but think this is some sort of cosmic punishment when he gets home and hears moaning.

Wayne stands there in the foyer as a loud, "Yes baby just like that" and "Oh god, harder" and even the unfortunate "You're so tight, it's like you were made for me."

Wayne thinks god might be laughing at him. Wayne can't really go upstairs and stop them. They are both adults and he feels that having an image of what they are doing would be substantially worse than the noises.

Wayne decides to put some earplugs in (which thankfully cut off the noise, since his age made him half deaf anyway), sat in his armchair, and waits it out.

About an hour later (jesus an hour later) Steve comes downstairs to the kitchen in only his boxers. He doesn't seem to notice Wayne. His head is in the freezer when Wayne decides to clear his throat loudly.

Steve slams his head in fright and whips around with an icepack in his hand. "Oh shit."

"Oh shit is right."

All the color drains from Steve's face. "How much did you hear?"

Wayne appreciates that Steve cuts right to the chase. "Enough." He knows he can explain to the boy that he didn't really hear that much, and the earplugs are firmly in his hands as evidence, but he decides to torture Steve.

Just a little bit, can't have him too comfortable.

"I'm so sorry Mr. Munson, I—"

Wayne cuts him off. "No need to apologize, just as long as you boys are being safe that's all I care about. No that ain't what I want to talk to you about."

Steve visibly swallows as he sits across the counter from Wayne. "What about then?"

"Look, I'm awfully happy for the two of you. It's about time you boys got your shit together—"

Steve lets out a small laugh at the comment. Wayne continues. "—but I need to make things clear with you Steve. You hurt my kid, I hurt you. Eds has been through a lot. Not just with the whole spring break situation. I mean his whole life. He bounced around from place to place until he landed on my doorstep. He's used to giving his all, and not getting much in return. Eddie loves with his whole chest, and he doesn't know how to do it any other way. You better make sure you're worthy of it because I am not sure anyone is...including me. You're pretty damn close though, I know it. I can see it. You're a good person. But that boy is my whole world. I know where to hide a body if need be."

Wayne expects Steve to cower in fear, but instead, he smiles softly at him. "Don't worry. I'll dig the grave myself. I'll try my best not to hurt him, sir. I can't promise much, but I can promise I'll love him every day without fail."

"You tell him that yet kid?"

Steve shakes his head, "No. I think soon though sir."

Wayne nods feeling satisfied. "Good, and enough of this sir crap I thought we've been over this."

"Okay, Wayne."

"Better. Now, who's the ice pack for? You or him, because I don't want to have to grab the shovel outta the shed tonight."

Steve's blush spreads from his cheeks all the way down to his chest. "Uuuh, for me sir. I mean Wayne."

"Good. Go grab my son for me now will ya?"

Steve stutters, "Wh-what? Why?"

"Just go grab 'em."

Steve runs upstairs and brings down a smug-looking Eddie. Wayne's sure Steve gave him the rundown of what he heard, and Eddie doesn't appear to be ashamed like Steve had the smarts to do.

Little shit.

"Sorry Wayne didn't know you were home. Was that what you wanted to talk about?"

Wayne looks from Steve to Eddie, before narrowing his eyes at the latter. "Nope. It's your turn."

"My turn?" Eddie's confident face turns confused while Steve's flashes surprise.

"Yea kid your turn." Wayne contemplates for a second what to say, but knows in the end that Eddie will get the message loud and clear from one sentence alone.

"You hurt him—" Wayne turns to point at Steve, before facing Eddie again "—I hurt you. Got it?"

All the color drains from Eddie's face. That's the reaction he is looking for.

"Got it." Eddie grabs Steve's hand to make his way back upstairs. Before they are completely out of sight, Steve catches Wayne's eye. The boy looks softer than he did before. He looks like he wants to say something but settles on,

"Goodnight Wayne."

"Goodnight Steve."

———

Steve doesn't ask Wayne about that night until months later in October. Wayne is on the couch with a beer when Steve walks in (he has the key Eddie gave him in September). "Eddie's not here right now. Think he's running late with band practice."

"Oh I'm sorry. I can come back later." Steve stands awkwardly in the doorway.

"Don't be silly come sit. I'm just watching the game. It's no cubs considering they didn't make it far, but it's still a good game."

Steve nods and makes himself comfortable on the couch. Since spring break, Wayne and Steve have built a friendship of sorts. Steve still shows signs of apprehension in the first few seconds, but the conversation becomes an easy flow after a while. They usually talk about sports, cars, or cooking. All stuff Wayne enjoys but Eds won't show the slightest interest in. It's nice, to have someone to share this stuff with.

Today they mostly talk about the game on tv and Eddie's habit of running late. It's after a particularly funny joke about Eddie being late to his own birth that Steve asks, "Hey Wayne, can I ask you something?"

"Ya just did kid."

"God, you sound like Eddie."

Wayne chuckles, "Sure Steve. Shoot."

"Why did you talk to Eddie too? About the whole, hurting each other stuff? I mean Eddie's your kid, and I'm just the guy who gets to spend time with him." Steve waves his hands around, it reminds Wayne of Ed.

"Well, I love ya both," Wayne says easily while he takes a sip of his beer, like it isn't hard to say. And it isn't really. It was quite simple to Wayne. Just like Eddie, Steve might not be his kid by blood but he is close as he can come.

"Oh." Steve takes a deep breath, as if he is holding back tears, and says "Thanks, Wayne. I love you too."

Wayne almost mistakes the pain as Steve's voice as reluctance. The happiness that shines in his eyes says something else. Says he doesn't hear that from fathers very often. Says he hopes Wayne means it.

He does mean it.

Eddie walks in the doorway to find the two men silently staring at each other, and Steve close to tears. "Well hello there my lovely family how are—Wayne what did you do to Steve? Did you yell at him? I promise the bruise on my face was from dropping a wrench while trying to fix the van. Nothing else." Eddie pulls Steve up and squishes his face between his hands. "What did he say to you, baby?"

Steve shakes his head and laughs lightly at Eddie's antics. "Nothing bad. Promise. Happy tears."

"Happy tears?"

"Happy tears."

Eddie stares at him for long moment before deciding he believes him. "Okay. Okay. I relent." He grabs Steve's hand and throws a wave at Wayne. "Let's go upstairs though, I have to tell you about practice and how Gareth brought a boy with him! And you'll never believe what boy it was! It was our little baby Byers himself..."

Wayne hears Steve's gasp and Eddie's giggle as he continues on up the stairs. Wayne can't help the warmth that settles in his chest.

Because Wayne Allen Munson is lucky to have two wonderful boys. And he is even luckier that his two boys love each other. Because they deserve that and so much more.

———

Okay, it’s a lot I know. I just couldn’t resist. I wanted to write Steve and Wayne too. I think this one is less sad and more funny but I think that kind of speaks for the kind of relationship the two of them would have. Also it contains much more steddie than the last one. I’m thinking about maybe writing a part 3 with Steve’s relationship with the kids and how he’s their father figure? But for now it ends here. Also this took me like two days to write? I’m sorry for any mistakes or rushed parts. I am one woman show. Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed :)

Also I have finally posted on ao3!!! Can’t believe it, I’ve been so nervous about it especially because I am still without a beta. But this felt long enough to put there and I wanted to be able to share with more people.

access part. 1 here and ao3 here

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chirpsythismorning · 1 year

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Something that confuses me, is redditors logic of Mike's behavior? Specifically when it comes to the painting it just doesn't make sense to be fully convinced Mike can't possibly return Will's feelings?

For starters, they insist that Mike was uncomfortable with Will at the airport because he could sense Will's feelings for him and so that's why he couldn't hug him (as to not lead him on), and also panicked when he saw the painting bc he realized that he was probably the girl Will liked (according to El's letter). By their logic, Mike was obviously just uncomfortable with Will's feelings for him and the fact that he made a painting for him (with romantic implications) and that's because he does not return those romantic feelings whatsoever...

If we then apply that same logic to the van scene?... What the actual fuck is going on there then?

We got almost 5 seconds of Mike just staring at Will while he isn't looking as he's grabbing the painting, followed by Will handing it to Mike who looks confused like, For me? Are you sure? very visibly nervous, only to finally open it and look more relieved and happy than we've ever seen him, arguably in the entire show...?

Mind you, this is at a point when Mike fully assumed the painting is for a girl someone Will likes, right?

I repeat! According to their logic, Mike is under the assumption that this painting is for someone Will likes, and Mike is now currently finding out that it's for him and he is relieved???

WHY WOULD MIKE BE RELIEVED THAT WILL'S PAINTING IS FOR HIM, IF WERE BEING GIVEN A SCENARIO THEY ALREADY BELIEVE HAPPENED AT THE START OF THE SEASON, WITH MIKE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE WITH IT??

AND WHY DID MIKE LOOK HAPPIEST BEFORE WILL SAID EL'S NAME? WHY DID HIS SMILE LITERALLY FALL AFTER WILL SAID EVEN EL, ESPECIALLY EL?

AND WHY DID MIKE LOOK MOST EMOTIONAL WHEN WILL WAS DESCRIBING THEIR RELATIONSHIP OVER THE LAST YEAR PERFECTLY, USING WORDS MIKE ALREADY USED WHEN HE MADE UP WITH WILL EARLIER IN THE SEASON???

#byler #stranger things #like... it just doesn't add up #either mike wanted will's painting to be for him or he didn't #and by their logic #mike doesn't like will and already knows about wills feelings for him and is trying to let him down easy #they assume the van scene is mike letting will down...#but...? where in that scene does mike look uncomfortable with the prospects that this is for mike specifically and from will specifically?#bc i would argue that he looks most uncomfortable at the points when will says el's name...#basically they need to understand previous scenes properly to even come close to understanding the van scene #you need to understand that mike didn't hug will at the airport bc he's scared of making his feelings obvious #then when he sees the painting he's experiencing a moment of hope that will brought it to give it to him #but then suddenly will is implying it isn't for mike #and now mike is being dubbed a knock off for the rest of the day and proceeds to be a self pittying idiot when his dominos fall (his words)#and so that is why when he gets the painting and thinks its from will at first and isn't for a girl but for mike... he looks relieved #bc that's what he was hoping for in the fucking first place #wake up ppl

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morganski-19 · 3 months

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I Don't Know Which Way's Home

Chapter 10: Neglect

ao3 link, Part 1, Part 9

cw: brief discussions about food/appetites, discussions of child abuse (if it wasn't obvious from the chapter title)

December 1983

“Did you hear?” Mary whispers into Julie’s ear as they walk down the hall. “There’s a rumor going around that a girl is seen walking around the woods over by Denfield.”

“It’s just another ghost story,” Julie dismisses as she gets to her locker, switching out her textbooks.

“Well, duh.” Mary emphasizes. “I was just telling you because you live right by those woods. You might see her.”

Julie turns to her best friend with a blank expression. “I don’t believe in ghost stories. Especially ones that are made up by middle schoolers. You know they’re just messing with people. Probably to get poor kids to a place where no adults could see to throw rocks at them or something.”

Mary sighs and leans against the lockers. “You’re right. But like, let me know if you see any ghosts or something.”

“Yeah sure,” Julie says sarcastically, not believing the latest rumor. Ever since that kid came back from the dead, it’s a constant thing. Apparently, there were a few other unexplained disappearances and deaths during the same week. It all started a giant conspiracy that something was wrong with Hawkins. Something bad.

Obviously, there was something sort of wrong. A kid did go missing, and a few other people died. This is a small town, things like this just don’t happen. At least not often. But when they pulled that kids body out of the lake and then he showed up in person, alive, a few days later. That made this more unique than the run of the mill kidnapping or murder. It made it a ghost story.

Julie felt bad for the kid, she saw him getting picked on just for being alive. Not his fault that he got kidnapped, or that the sick fuck who did it decided to fake his death. He didn’t deserve to be branded just because he lived. But something was off with Hawkins, and everyone knew it. Or they were fine living in their own delusions that this small town is just like every other one in America. Perfect, conservative, and peaceful. Even if it was anything but.

When Julie gets home, she stares at the woods through her bedroom window, rolling her eyes when she thinks for a second that maybe she should go in and see what the rumor was about. It’s stupid really. It’s all just fake. She’s not gullible like that.

But then just as she turns away, there’s a small flash of something moving in the woods. Against her better judgment, she believes in the rumor mill just a little bit. The figure comes back, just a little beyond the tree line. What looks like a girl Julie’s age, wearing a ratty old dress and a coat too big for her.

Eyes catch Julie’s through the window and the girl runs away. Looking all too real to be ghost. Juile grabs her coat from the front door as she runs around the trailer, right to the tree line to see if she can find the girl.

“Hello,” she yells into the woods. “Is someone there?”

She feels stupid, of course there wasn’t anyone there. The echo of her own call being the only response signifying that. But for a second it all seemed so real. She didn’t seem like a ghost.

Something was wrong with Hawkins, and Julie knew that. Maybe one day she’ll figure it all out.

. . .

Present Day, December 1986

Steve pulls himself awake, drenched in a cold sweat and heart pounding. Lungs heaving with quick, short breaths as his body stays in its panic. Eyes darting around the room to find something, anything to show him that it was fake. That it wasn’t real.

The nightmare still wrapped around his chest, right where the scars litter his torso, making his breaths feel constricted. Making his body feel tense. There’s nothing here to loosen it. Nothing to break him free. Nothing to show him that this isn’t real.

Phone. Steve can use the phone. That works wherever he is, here or there. It might not work well, but it will work just enough. He grabs it as the tears still fall down his face. Dialing the only number that he can think of. The only one that might break him out of his spell.

Because he just needs to know their alive. That he did save them in this universe, instead of leaving them to die. That they were still here.

The phone rings for what feels like an eternity. Only echoing the anxiety running through his veins. Each second without someone on the other line only proving to him that they are really dead.

“Hello,” Eddie’s groggy voice comes through the line.

“Eddie,” Steve says with breaks in his voice. Any other words getting stuck in his throat.

There is rustling over the line before Eddie talks again. “I’m coming over. When I hang up, call Robin so you have someone to talk to, ok. You remember her number?”

“Yeah, yeah. I know her number.” It’s a stupid question to ask in any other circumstance. But reality is shifting an uncertain right now, numbers aren’t the most important to think about.

“Good. I’ll be there in ten. I’m here Steve, I’m alive, you’re alive.”

Steve takes a few long, heavy breaths. “You’re alive,” he chokes. “I’m alive.”

“There you go, sweetheart. I’ll see you soon.”

The line goes dead, and Steve’s heart can’t help but pick up again. He stares at the numbers on the phone, typing in each digit of Robin’s number carefully. When the line rings again, he’s stuck in the same loop of waiting. The same damn loop of waiting.

“Buckley house,” Robin’s says half asleep.

“Rob,” is all Steve can get out again.

“Steve.” Her voice awakens with concern. “How bad is it, do I need to come over?”

Steve shakes his head, feeling how tense his muscles still are. “No, no. Eddie’s coming over. Said to call you while I waited for him.”

“Well don’t give him the credit, I made the system. How bad?” she asks again.

“There’s nothing here to tell me this isn’t real.” His eyes shoot around the room again, finding nothing that reminds him of his home.

“Shit,” Robin whispers. “I thought this might happen. But it’s ok. It’s not real, Steve. Your mind is playing tricks on you. You’re in real Hawkins, in your bedroom. Julie’s right across the hall, and Eddie’s on his way. And I’m right here. Not physically, but that doesn’t matter. Do you understand?”

Her words slowly work their way into his head. Not enough to fully calm him down, but something to start slowing down the beating of his heart. “Yes.”

“Ok, good. Do you want me to keep talking?”

“Yes.”

Robin fills the silence of his room, his house, with a bunch of mundane nonsense. Mixed in with affirmations that he’s ok. But anything to get his mind away from where it is. To break the cycle of thoughts that keep replaying in his mind. Slowly his breath starts to calm, but his guard it still up. He doesn’t know what can pop out and get him in the dark. Doesn’t know what dangers are still there.

He hears the front doorknob rattle before it opens and shuts. Hears the soft footsteps up the stairs. The shadow of Eddie as he enters Steve’s room and closes the door behind him. Steve crumbles into him as he sits on the bed, letting Eddie take over.

Eddie carefully takes the phone from Steve’s hands, pulling away his fingers from where they’re holding it in a death grip. “Hey, Rob. I’m here now. Yeah, I got him. I’ll call you when he falls back asleep. Yeah, talk to you soon. Thank you, bye.” He awkwardly reaches over Steve to hang the phone back on the receiver.

Pulling Steve so he’s resting on Eddie’s chest, right over his heartbeat, he starts the routine. Calming words, naming what’s in the room that’s different. Repeating over and over again that he’s alive. That Steve’s alive. How they’re safe in right side up Hawkins, not the upside down. Slowly but surely bringing Steve back from his nightmares, back from his fears. Grounding him in reality.

The tightness in his chest slowly relieves and the beating of his heart slows to match Eddie’s. With every breath Eddie takes, Steve takes one, holding it as Eddie holds it until exhaling. Focusing on the sensations in Eddie running his fingers through Steve’s hair, rubbing a hand in circles on his back. His mind slows, and everything finally relaxes.

“Thank you,” Steve finally says.

Edde presses a kiss to the top of his head. “Anytime. Do you want to talk about it?”

“It wasn’t even that it was bad. It was normal. There was just nothing to bring me out of it.” Normally he could see the plaid on his walls, trace the lines with his eyes around the room to see the differences. To see that there weren’t vines. But they were gone.

The plaid was gone.

Steve sits up again, the panic he was just relieved from finding its way back under his skin. Eyes darting around the room to the plain walls, everything changed. He changed it. Steve changed it. Without permission. Just because he wanted to.

“Steve, what’s wrong?”

What are his parents going to do when they come home to see this? What punishment is he going to face? What can he still face? He’s an adult now, not a child. There’s not much that they can do. But that didn’t matter. It never mattered.

“The walls. I changed the walls.”

Maybe they’ll ship him off to some college that they paid his way into. Maybe they’ll force him to work for his dad’s company.

Maybe they’ll finally kick him out.

“Yeah, we painted them two weeks ago.”

He can’t afford to get kicked out. Not now. Not when Julie depends on him, depends on him for having this house. He can’t lose her too. Not when he’s done so much to keep her in his life. In his home. What is going to happen to her if he no longer has a home for her to live in?

“I wasn’t supposed to change them. Not without permission.”

His heartbeat pounds in his ears again. Mind reversing back into the memories of his childhood. Hearing how the drawings were ripped off the walls. Shame gaping a hole in his chest, remembering his mother’s scolding. Fear bubbling underneath his skin that was long forgotten or learned to ignore.

A warm hand envelopes his, Steve almost flinching away. But it warms his cool hands, slowly bringing him out of his head. Slowly, his eyes blink awake, and his body relaxes. The adrenaline retreats and his ears stop ringing. He can hear again.

“Steve, you’re ok. Nothing’s going to happen to you,” Eddie’s voice registers. The soft tones calming Steve more and more.

The room widens from where it was closing around him. His breath deepens. In and out. In and out. His eyes close, centering himself again.

“Not while I’m here, while Robin’s here. We’re not going to let them hurt you again.”

Steve’s eyes flicker open, looking around and naming what he sees. The curtain. The desk. The picture frame on the desk. The open closet door. The dresser. The shirt hanging out of the dresser. The walls. The walls that he painted. The walls that he now loved.

Squeezing Eddie’s hand, he turns away from where he was looking, finding the comfort in Eddie’s eyes. Feeling so lucky that he can look into them and feel this way. To feel this loved. How sad he was in a time where no one ever looked at him like this. How lonely he was then, and how full he feels now.

Eddie takes his free hand and runs it along the side of Steve’s neck, thumb tracing his jawline. Leaning in to press their foreheads together, taking a deep breath that Steve mirrors. Steve’s hand finds Eddie’s side, fingers playing with the hem of his shirt. They sit there for a long time as the moon light streams in through the open curtain. All that was once wrong feeling right again.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Eddie whispers into the silence.

Steve takes a deep breath, running the hem of Eddie’s shirt between his fingers. “There was a day when I was in elementary school. I don’t remember what grade exactly, but I had brought home an art project that I loved. I wanted to hang it in my bedroom, so I got the tape and did it myself. My parents were actually home then, and my mom came into my room. She saw the picture, and ripped it off the wall, ruining it. Only things she approved were supposed to decorate the house.”

Eddie presses his lips into a thin line, no doubt keeping a million thoughts he really wants to say in his head. Steve would let him though. He was never able to truly say what his parents were like, not really. Typical asshole parent talk was normal for teenagers, but this was a different level that was almost unspoken. It was kept a secret, but Steve didn’t like secrets anymore.

But instead of saying anything, Eddie pulls Steve into a hug, cradling his head against his chest. Holding him in a way that no one ever did, Steve letting himself just melt into it.

“I hate your parents,” Eddie says with a kiss to the top of Steve’s head.

“I hate them too,” he whispers into Eddie’s chest. “I hate them so much.”

. . .

Julie walks over to her lunch table, seeing Max and Jane returned to their spots. They’ve been eating with the boys the last few days, and it was pretty clear the reason was because of her. She yelled at them after all. Well, not physically yelled, but definitely snapped. She was mean, meant to be mean.

It was out of a place of hurt, she knew. Last week was rough, to say the least, and that day especially. Everything around her felt like an attack, when really it was just her looking for things to fire at. And so, she shot at the only two friends she’s had since the ninth grade.

Now it was her time to apologize.

“Hey,” she said while placing her lunch down on the table. Pulling out food, stomach grumbling at its contents. Actually hungry for once, wanting to eat.

“Hi,” Jane said with a smile, but she always did that.

Max nods in her direction, but says nothing, going back to eating her food. Julie takes a bite of her sandwich, letting the silence ruminate around them. Uncomfortable silence. One that means there’s something that’s been left unsaid.

After a few minutes, she’s done replaying what she wants to say in her head. Can’t help but feel like it’s not enough, but it’s something. Julie’s done a lot of something in the past few months, nothing ever feeling real or right enough. Life feeling just a little less full than it once was, because it was true. But as she finishes a normal sized sandwich for the first time in weeks, and still feels hungry enough to eat a small bag of chips and an apple, something might just be right enough.

Right enough to take a few steps forward before taking a step back again. Progress was progress, but it wasn’t linear. At least according to the pamphlet that she was given in the first few days of her mother’s death. Then, nothing felt like it could have gotten better. That the first big hill of progress could never be reached. And while she still doesn’t think that it has, there are little bumps along her path that shouldn’t go unnoticed. Days where the world feels lighter, and the sun in a little brighter.

But before she can even say anything to make up for the lows of last week, Max starts talking.

“Look, I’m sorry for bringing up your mom a few days ago. You’ve gone through a lot, and it wasn’t really our place to, so I’m sorry. We can forget about it and just go back to normal.”

Julie is taken aback, taking a second to think of a response and scrapping whatever she was preparing before. “I was actually going to apologize for snapping at you.”

“You were going to apologize to us for that,” Max says, appalled.

“I mean, yeah,” Julie shrugs. “You guys were just trying to help, you didn’t deserve me being mean just because I was having a bad day.”

Max sits back in her wheelchair, crossing her arms and looking at Julie with her clouded eyes. She opens her mouth to say something, but Jane cuts her off.

“I do not think you need to apologize to us. When I thought my dad had died, it was a lot. And I was angry. Max was angry when Billy died, too. We understand. We are just sorry that we brought it up at a bad time.” She stares at the cookie in her hands, breaking it apart in small pieces as she talks.

“I didn’t know that your dad died,” Julie says softly, not quite sure what else to say.

Jane presses her lips together. “He didn’t really die, I just thought he did. You know Chief Hopper, how he disappeared for almost a year, and everyone thought he was dead. He is my father.”

“I’m sorry, that must have sucked.”

“When Billy died, it was different,” Max says quietly. “He made my life a living hell. I wasn’t sad that he died, really, I was sad that he died while we still hated each other. I wondered what it would have been like if we had become friend, real siblings. He saved my life that night of the fire, and I couldn’t help but feel guilty that I didn’t try to save him back.”

A tear rolls down her cheek, Max quickly brushing it away. Jane grabs Max’s hand and gives it a squeeze. Two friends who have gone through more loss that Julie realizes. Pain that mirrored hers in a way. Pain that she understood, like they understood hers. And while Max lost a brother that she hated, and Jane got her father back, that didn’t diminish the grief that they felt.

“What I’m trying to say,” Max continues, “is that we know what you’re going through. Like actually know. Even if it is different. So, while we’re not going to force you to, you can talk to us about this.”

Maybe Julie did want to start talking about it. More, at least. With someone other than Steve, even though that helped a lot. Talk with people who knew what it was like to lose family, to lose people they loved. Julie finally felt ready to talk about it.

“My mom died in the beginning of October. Car crash. I was in foster care until three weeks ago when I moved in with Steve.”

While the pain is still there, still pinches at her heart like it always does, a sort of relief is paired with it. Like someone else knows, someone else that Julie trusts. Another person she doesn’t have to fake it around. The weight on her chest lifts just gently, giving her some relief.

“I am sorry,” Jane says.

“Me too.”

“I think the worst part about it is that I don’t even know what caused it. She was sober, and it was October so there wasn’t any ice. The police think there was something in the road that caused her to swerve. And a part of me doesn’t want to know, but the rest of me does.”

Jane reaches across the table and places her hand on top of Julie’s. Comforting her with a gentle look. “I know.”

For the first time, Julie isn’t angry at someone saying that they know. She isn’t angry, and she isn’t crying. She let people in because she wanted to, because they would know.

And it felt good.

. . .

Steve is sitting in the manager’s office making the next round of schedules. Fitting everyone in, scheduling people for more days than he should normally because they still haven’t filled his old position yet. It’s just been sitting idle with no one to take it.

He thought about asking if Julie wanted it, she had said that she wanted to get a part time job sometime in the future. But she’s going through enough right now to get a job on top of it. And she doesn’t need one right now, he still has access to his dad’s card so as long as it’s not something super suspicious, it’s fine. That’s the thing though, eventually he won’t have access to it.

And while he always knew that and has been saving up for that day for a while, it’s still burning a hole in his mind. Especially now. Especially when he has to care for someone other than himself. If it were just himself, he could move into a shitty one-bedroom apartment no problem and be fine. But with Julie, he needs at least two rooms and a nice enough place to keep his custody.

That’s not a bad thing, not for him. He’d do anything to keep custody of Julie, that much he knows. It will just take a little bit more work. And a large chunk of money that he has saved.

Robin knocks on his door, letting herself in. “You’re going to hate me.”

“I can’t change your shifts again just because you’re my friend,” he grumbles without looking up from the desk.

“I prefer the term platonic soul mate, for one,” Robin crosses her arms. “And two, why?”

Steve sighs, turning the chair to look at her. “Because it’s deliberate favoritism and I could get fired for it. I can’t lose this job, Rob, you know that.”

“Fine. Oh, wait hold on.” Robin runs into the employee lounge and comes back with a sheet of paper. “I do actually have to change my availability. I got my class schedule from the community college yesterday.”

Steve takes it and places it in his to do pile. “Thanks.”

The phone on his desk rings.

“Family Video, Steve speaking.”

“Hey, it’s Julie. Nothing bad, I swear. I was just wondering if I could go over to Max’s after school.”

Steve smiles a little to himself. “Yeah, yeah that’s fine. Eddie should have room in his van to take you, I can call him if you want though.”

“Max is on the phone with him now. We’re good.”

“Good, call me when you want me to pick you up, ok.”

“Ok, thanks.”

“It’s no problem, I’m glad you guys are getting along. I’ll see you later then, ok. Bye.” Steve turns to Robin with a proud face.

“Julie, I’m guessing.”

He nods. “She’s going over to Max’s house after school.”

Robin’s face lights up. “Oh my god, that’s great. I knew they were like school friends but not like friend friends.”

“Me either. I’m glad though. It’s good for her to talk to more people her age.”

“You’re one to talk,” Robin picks up a folder and hits him gently on the head with it. “When I met you all of your friends were middle schoolers. But she’s doing better?”

“Better’s a good word for it.”

Truth was, she is doing better. Last week was rough, but she took the weekend to take care of herself. Talked to him more about it, which he liked. He even saw her doing some work on the kitchen table instead in her room. Which isn’t a lot, but she wasn’t closing herself in one place anymore.

It was starting to feel like her home too. Because it was, he knew that. But she was starting to believe it, let it be her home. Her things started to scatter themselves around the house. Her shoes at the front door, hair ties across all the surfaces, her cassettes on the table. Textbooks and regular books, a small pile of VHS tapes in front of the tv. Everything made it her home, their home.

Home finally started to feel like Steve thought it should always supposed to feel like. Like there was a family that lived within the walls, a warm energy pulling you in instead of a cold void. Love actually being there. He started to like going home at the end of the day, because he knew he wouldn’t be alone anymore.

“There’s still going to be days that are hard, next week probably, but she started talking to me about it, so that’s good.”

Robin smiles. “Good.”

She pushes off the desk and heads back out to the store, leaving Steve to get back to his work.

. . .

“Sorry my house is a bit of a mess, we’re still getting used to living here,” Max says as she rolls into her small house. “We can go to my room, it’s down the hall.”

There is a lit lamp right in front of the turn for the hallway, Max stopping right past it before turning and heading down the hall. She turns into her room, another lamp next to the doorway. Julie follows her, Jane next to her.

“I can still see light, that’s why there’s so many lamps. It can sometimes be really annoying, but it helps me move around the house without help.” Max explains.

Jane walks over to Max’s bed, holding out her hand for Max to grab, stabilizing her as she lifts herself out of the chair and onto her bed.

“You can put your stuff down anywhere,” Max says after situating herself on her bed. Jane places her bag at the foot of the bed, Jane placing hers next to it. She sits down next to Jane on the bed, just waiting.

It’s been a while since she’s hung out with friends before. Mary had moved away in the ninth grade, and while they tried to keep in touch, it didn’t work. Different time zones suck when it comes to trying to keep friends, and letters are nice, but not like the real thing. And there was never really anyone after that. So, Julie doesn’t really know what to say.

“So,” Jane starts, shifting herself to lean against the wall. “How is living with Steve?”

“Pretty good. Different then what I’m used to, but not bad.”

“That’s good,” she smiles.

“Which one of the guest rooms did you take,” Max asks.

Julie laughs. “What used to be the pink flower room. But we painted over it a few weeks ago. It was so gross.”

Max widens her eyes and moves her head to look at El, having the same expression, Jane reaches over and squeezes Max’s hand. “Yeah, I remember is being pretty gross when I stayed over there a few times. He let you paint over the wallpaper?”

“Yeah,” Julie nods. “We painted his room too.”

“His room too?” Max questions, taking a second to think to herself. “And he was ok with it?”

Ok wouldn’t be the right word. Grew to like the idea is more of what really happened. Or at least what she thought.

“Not at first, but then he was.”

She knew that it had to do with the way his parents were about the house. How controlling they were over what it was decorated with. But she didn’t think they knew. He didn’t seem to share it with people other than Robin and Eddie, and just now starting to with her. She assumed that he wouldn’t share that with the kids. With how reluctant he was about sharing it with her, it would make sense.

In the time she got to know Steve, she noticed a pattern. Taking care of other people before taking care of himself. Letting her paint her room and only deciding to paint his when Julie said something. Taking Robin’s shift even though he has a headache. Always making her food before his. Having odd hours at work to pick up or drop people off at school.

While there was nothing wrong with some of those things, it made her think how long he would go to make other people happy. Especially with his parents. Their expectations of him were unrealistic, unattainable. At least from she knew. How long has he killed himself to appease someone who didn’t care? How much longer would he have done it if she didn’t come along and block the path he was so used to walking on?

Jane reaches over and grabs Max’s hand, drawing a shape on her hand. Talking to her without speaking, like Steve and Robin sometimes do with their eyes. Max making a facial expression that Julie can’t read, but Jane can. Max takes a deep breath, leaning back on her headboard.

“We’re not supposed to tell you this, because it’s not our place to tell you. And we’re still not going to say a lot, but it feels wrong for you to not know,” Max starts.

Jane nods along, agree with Max. “We want you to know something about Steve that he would not tell you. He does not want you to worry about it.”

“We said we know Steve because he used to look after us sometimes, and that’s true, but it’s a bit more complicated. You know the fire, and the earthquake that happened in the past two years.”

Julie nods her head, not quite sure where this conversation is going. “Yeah.”

Max takes another breath before continuing. “We can’t tell you everything, but the short of it is that we were all there those days. At the mall during the fire, and right where the earthquake started. And because of that, we all get pretty bad nightmares.”

“Especially Steve,” Jane adds. “I remember before I moved to California, I was scared that a new home would affect my nightmares. Make them worse. He told me what helps him when he has a bad nightmare. He said it was the plaid wallpaper, it reminds him that he is at home, and not wherever his brain told him he was.”

Julie’s mouth opens to speak, but the words get caught in her throat. She remembers a few nights ago, she woke up in the middle of the night and heard someone come through the house. Robin and Eddie had keys, she knew that, so she peaked out her door to see who it was, finding Eddie going into Steve’s room. It was weird, but the two of them were acting weird when Julie was around anyway. She thought it was because of that, not because of this.

Was Steve panicking across the hall from her and she didn’t even notice. Did he think this would happen when she suggested he paint his room too? Did he go along with it just because she said to, or did he really want it?

She thought she was helping him. Helping him break the reigns of control his parents trained him into. But she actually just ended up hurting him in the end. And he didn’t even say anything.

“It’s not your fault you didn’t know,” Max says, somehow reading Julie’s mind. “He would never had told you this. There’s so much he doesn’t even tell us. Especially about his parents.”

“Bad people,” Jane whispers.

Max nods. “Yeah, they’re dick heads. But he’ll never say it outright. He’ll say that their shit, and that his dad’s an asshole, but just like any other kid. It’s when he slips up and tells you something bad that you really see how his parents really are.”

“He’s told me,” Julie says quietly. “A few times, never a lot. Just that his parents were never around, and he was never allowed to change his room. That he doesn’t see his parents as family anymore.”

It’s heartbreaking when she says it out loud. Realizing then how similar they really are. Two kids that lost their parents. Her through death, and his by choice. Somehow his feels sadder than hers, because he had to make the choice to not view them as family anymore. Julie didn’t choose to lose her mom, Steve chose to lose his parents. Never really having them in the first place.

“That’s more than he ever told us,” Max says, some unrecognizable feeling lacing her words. “Not even Dustin and they’re the closest out of all of us. The kids anyway.”

“We are glad that he has someone around all the time now. That house was empty. Cold”

Julie knows what she means, feeling the emptiness crowd around her when Steve isn’t home. How something so large can feel claustrophobic when there’s no sign of life there.

“I am too,” Julie says.

When she and Steve were first getting to know each other, she remembers feeling helpless that she needed someone she barely even knew. She had nothing, and he was the only thing that she had left. It started to feel like Steve needed her too, that she was giving him something that he always wanted.

Now she knows that the feeling was true. Steve needed her as much as she needed him. A family because theirs wasn’t around anymore. The sad fact of both of their existences. And it’s heartbreaking.

. . .

“You want to come over for dinner?” Steve asks as his and Robin’s shift ends.

“Sure.”

The drive is silent, Steve’s thoughts mulling about in his mind. He’s been thinking for the past few days, about everything. About his parents, and his childhood. The list of wrongdoings in the folder Sarah gave him sitting on his desk. Resting open, with a pile of paperwork next to them. The question of what he’s going to do pressing down on his chest.

“Steve,” Robin breaks him out of his thoughts. “Are you ok?”

Steve takes a deep breath, feeling anything but ok. “Can you ask me that again in a few minutes?”

Out of the corner of his eye he can see her face fill with concern. She reaches out and grabs his arm, comforting him in a way that so few people can. Filling the void of his childhood where touch was foreign, only making him want to break down right here and now.

“Of course.”

When his house appears past the bend, clouds start to fill him mind. Fill his eyes. As he pulls up the driveway, he can feel the dread weigh down him limbs. The knowledge of what he wants to share already weighing on him.

Robin rushes to his side, lacing her fingers with his and taking on some of the weight. The first person that ever made him feel like family only proving more why he has to do this. Why the dam needs to finally break.

Silently, he leads her up to his room, pointing to the files on his desk before sitting on the ground. Knees propped up and elbows resting on them, back leaning on his bed. Watching as Robin’s eyes bug out as she reads, flipping through lists of evidence, and all the paperwork to prove it. Everything he never had the ability to say all in once place, telling him that he could fight and win.

He could tell the world that he was neglected as a child, he just needs someone to hold his hand during the process.

“Steve,” Robin softly says, breaking the silence of the room. “There was so much more than I knew.”

All he can do is nod his head, drawing his knees closer to his chest and wrapping his arms around them.

No one ever held his hand when he was young except when he was learning to walk. After that, it was too much. The nannies were told to never let it happen, and his parents never did either.

There was a day he went on some errands with his mom. A large dog was walking towards them, and as a kid there’s nothing scarier that a large dog. Especially when they are never around any pets. So, Steve reached up and tried to grab his mom’s hand, but he was swatted away. He was left to face the dog alone.

Left to face the world alone.

Until the kids, and until Robin. Until Nancy and him became better friends, and Eddie came along. Until Hopper started checking in more and Joyce and Claudia invited him over for dinners. Until Julie showed up on his doorstep and gave him a chance to build the family he was deprived of as a kid.

Steve was truly alone until the age of eighteen, when he was what the world considers an adult. But right now, he’s still the child that cried when his parents left the day before his tenth birthday. The kid that cried and no one came to scare away the monsters under his bed. The kid that is still here waiting for them to come home.

Robin sits next to him, pressing her side close to him, letting him know that he’s not alone. He’s not alone anymore. She says nothing, waiting for him to speak. For the words to get dislodged from his throat where they’ve been trapped for years. Waiting to be spoken into reality.

“The last inspection I had with Julie’s social worker, Sarah,” Steve starts, choking on his words. Vision blurry. “She said that with what she knew, I could sue my parents for neglect and probably win.”

“She got all of that from one conversation with you?” Robin’s voice is soft, but heavy. Comforting in a way without taking away from the conversation.

He shakes his head. “The first page is what she had, the rest is what I added.”

“And all of those other papers?”

“Evidence of paying nannies, their trips, hotel stays. Everything to show that they weren’t here.”

Robin leans her head on his shoulder, wrapping one of her arms around his. “Have you decided what you want to do?”

“Can’t you just make it for me,” Steve breaks.

Her eyes fill with tears, blinking them away so she can be the strong one instead of him. But the heartbreak is visible on her face. The same heartbreak that has been living in his chest for years.

How could the people who created him make him feel like this? How could the people who were supposed to love him leave him all alone?

“As much as I want to, I can’t. If it were up to me, your parents would be dead in a ditch, and I’d steal you away and lock you in a room so I could love you like they never could forever. But this, this has to come from you Steve.”

Of course it did. He knew it did. But it shouldn’t even had been a question in the first place. Parents were supposed to love their kids. What did he do to make them not love him?

Before a few months ago, he would have let this go. Just went about his life knowing that he was never going to talk to his parents again and move on. It would hurt, but no more than it did before. Now, it’s like the hurt has so many more layers, and it’s all because of Julie.

Julie showed him, in a way, how easy it was to stay. How easy it was to try. Steve might not be her parent, but he’s taking care of her like one. Providing her a home, with food, with safety. Basic necessities but it’s so much more. A shoulder to lean on when she cries, conversations after school, saying goodnight before going to sleep. Laughs, and smiles. Bad days and good days. He’s here, and so is she. And it’s so fucking goddamn easy.

He couldn’t imagine having a life where he looked her in the face and decided that it would be a good idea to leave for two years. To say any of the things that his parents said to him. Because she’s not a disappointment, or a failure. He’s proud of her for just existing, and it wasn’t hard.

Why was it so hard for his parents to love him? To be proud of him for just existing. It wasn’t easy. Steve’s faced death in the face four times now, and each time left him battered and bruised more than any person should. Scars litter his body and mind, but he’s alive. But just because he didn’t get into college, because he works a retail nine to five, he’s a disappointment. He’s a failure just because he’s Steve.

Not Steven Harrington, Richard Harrington’s son. Just Steve.

Steve was finally enough for himself, so why wasn’t it enough for them?

“It hit me the other day, when I was talking to Julie about her mom. She’s the age I was when my parents officially left for good.” He swallows a lump in his throat, trying to just get these words out. Tears escaping from his eyes and rolling down his cheeks. “I look at her and think that I could never leave her. That I would always want to be a part of her life. How could my parents look at me then and think that they didn’t want to be around me anymore?”

He takes a shaky breath. “I was just a kid,” he cries. “How do you leave a kid like that?”

Robin lets out a shaky exhale, tears forming in her eyes fast than she can blink them away. Crying for Steve in a way that he could never really cry for himself. Having the same questions that he is now, and coming up with the same blank answers. There’s no excuse, and he knows it.

“I’m so sorry,” is all she can say through her tears. “I’m so sorry that you had to go through this.”

When he opens his mouth, all that escapes is a heavy sob. Robin pulls him into a hug, holding him as he breaks. Crying for his childhood that never happened, and for the teenage years that were lost. For the adult that is mourning the time that never was. For the experiences that never happened. The love that was never there.

The family that wasn’t provided and he had to build himself.

The nights where he cried out for someone that never came.

The times where he reached out and was just pushed away.

The bruises he had to nurse himself because he had no one to come home to.

The hospital stays where no one sat at his bedside.

The parties that he threw for attention that was never given, only to make him emptier in the end.

The broken feeling that came to him night after night, questioning why no body wanted him.

Steve cries over everything.

Time moves at a pace that he can’t figure out. He feels stuck in a loop or rushed through an afternoon at the same time. When the pool of his tears finally empties, and his throat and mouth is dry, he just sits there in Robin’s embrace. And she lets him. Comforting him in a way that he always wanted to be, the thought only setting him spiraling again.

But throughout it all, she holds him. Rubs a hand up and down his back while the other arm holds him steady in place. Keeping him upright when all he wants to do is crumble. If he does, she’ll be there to pick back up his pieces and reassemble them. Keep him together as he falls apart.

This is what familial love is supposed to be like. This is what he’s always wanted. And what he wants to give to other people someday. What he hopes he already is.

“I want to do it,” he finally says. “I want them to know how much they hurt me.”

“We’ll bring them hell.”

We’ll, because Steve isn’t alone anymore. He doesn’t have to traverse life by himself anymore. Not even this. It might be his fight, but not one he fights alone. Not anymore, and not ever again.

. . .

Julie enters the house, Jane’s brother dropping her off, so she didn’t have to call Steve to pick her up. She doesn’t know what to do about the conversation she had with Max and Jane earlier, or if there is anything that she should. All she does know is that Steve might be hurting in his own way, and she wanted to be there for him as much as he is for her.

She finds him in the kitchen, putting away some food into the fridge.

“Hey,” he says, a bit shocked. “Wasn’t expecting you. How was Max’s?”

“Yeah sorry, Jane’s brother Jonathan gave me a ride home, I forgot to call to tell you. But good, it was nice.”

Steve smiles. “Good, that’s good. I’m glad you’re getting to know them. They’re good kids.”

“Yeah.” She’s trying think of what to say without bringing it up. Doesn’t want to start a whole thing, but it feels wrong to say nothing. Especially with what she knows.

“Did you eat, there’s some leftovers from what I made for dinner. I can heat them up for you, if you want.”

“Thank you,” Julie says, the words feeling right in her mouth. “Not for the food, but for everything. I know that this hasn’t been easy for you either. So, thank you.”

Steve looks at her with a soft expression on his face. As if those words meant something more to him than just a simple thank you. “You’re welcome,” he says. “I’d do it again if I had to.”

Julie smiles, walking up to give him a hug. Home finally feeling like a home again. Two siblings, that might have just met a few months ago but it didn’t feel like that anymore. They were family. Real family.

Part 11

Tag list(let me know if you want to be added or removed): @homoerotictangerine, @mugloversonly, @thesuninyaface, @imyelenasexual, @anaibis, @ilovecupcakesandtea, @brainsteddielyrotted, @jackiemonroe5512, @eddie-munsons-missing-nipple, @goodolefashionedloverboi, @cinnamon-mushroomabomination, @lolawonsstuff, @writingandmushroomdragons, @stevesbipanic, @sierra-violet, @steddie-as-they-go, @dauntlessdiva, @mousedetective, @the-daydreamer-in-the-corner, @zombiethingy, @connected-dots-st-reblogger, @that-agender-from-pluto, @allyricas, @cheddartreets, @devondespresso, @crypticcorvidinacottage, @queenie-ofthe-void @chronicpainstevetruther, @cheddartreets, @theupsidedownrealestateagent, @acidbubblegummie, @sirsnacksalot, @l0st-strawberry, @helpimstuckposting, @strawberry-starss, @freddykicksasses, @italianwhore1, @i-threw-my-name-out-the-window, @rageagainsttheapathy, @nuggies4life, @ape31, @whimsicalwitchm, @chrissycunninghamfanblog, @michellegilligan, @hippielittlemetalhead, @bridget-malfoy-stilinski-hale, @jaytriesstuff, @confused-stripes, @faeb1tch42069, @marklee-blackmore, @hel-spawn, @genderless-spoon, @mamafaithful, @estrellami-1, @starryeyedpoet17 @i-amthepizzaman, @lilpomelito @melonmochi

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lesbians4yoohyeon · 1 year

Text

they probably thought this would be the last time they would ever see each other... little did they know that the next time they do, it's in max's hospital room where she lay in a coma after she died, right in front of el.

#stranger things #elmax #heartbreak? oh you mean the elmax goodbye hug?#this hug breaks me everytime #the way they're crying and hugging each other so tightly :(#those few weeks were the best weeks of their lives #those few weeks where they could finally be their real selves #because they knew they could trust each other not to judge each other #yeah.. i'm gonna need a full 9 episodes of elmax in s5 #i love pain #i need them back #elmax please come home #max mayfield #el hopper #elmaxisms

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lily-drake · 1 year

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Part 4 of timinette siblings with Kon and Bart coming over and bonding?

Maybe they were on an off-world mission of something and they video-called him

A second Anonymous person asked: If you make a part 4 (you do not have to) for the sibling Tim and Marinette, I think its time we see some protective big brother Tim moments don't you think? Stepping in when he spots a guy crowding his sister to suing Lila and Alya when he discovers the bullying, and the blog. Helping Mama Sabine bring evidence to the school board over the mistreatment of Mari, maybe his reaction to hearing Damien calling Mari a 'harlot' or 'tramp' (Tim totally goes to Luka for 'how to be best big bro' advice)

So I’ve decided to put them together. Enjoy!

Siblings Don’t Stand Back and Watch, They Always Get Involved

First <> Previous

Tim absolutely ADORED his sister. She had done so much for him and he could never thank her and her their parents enough. Tim had gone from hating who he was and feeling like a tool to be used and tossed away to knowing that he was loved and needed not for his intellect and what he could give, he was needed because he existed and they enjoyed spending time with him. They were all so supportive of him and his choices, and he almost cried when they said it was okay if he didn’t want to talk some days and just silently stayed with him. No interrogation, no forceful tactics, not even a hint of manipulation, they just loved and cared for him.

He had explained all of this to Cass during a lunch they had together while Marinette was at school. She had smiled brightly at him and said,

“Happy for you Little Brother. They good for you.”

Her tone was gentle and he could hear and feel the joy and love that she felt for him. Once he was finished retelling everything that had happened since they had seen each other in person he asked her about her time in Hong Kong and about all of the different things she had done and learned there. He loved the way her eyes lit up as she signed out all of her experiences. The way she moved her hands with such excitement and the swiftness showed just how much she loved the new city she called home.

After they finished their lunch Cass asked if they could surprise Marinette at school. Now that Tim thought about it, he’s never actually been to Marinette’s school before, and it had been months. He quickly nodded and they headed to Collège Françoise Dupont to surprise their little sister at her school. Once they got close enough to the school they could hear a loud commotion which worried Tim.

“Look at Maritrash!”

“Where are your bodyguards now, huh?”

“Not so invincible now, are you?”

“I can’t believe she would do that to Lila!”

“What happened to the sweet girl we once knew?”

Tim and Cass made eye contact for a moment before both rushed through the crowd and through the school in search of the small bluenette. He had heard things here and there about how cruel some of the people here could be, heard about the girl that could twist anything, but it seems that it was extremely downplayed if this was what was happening during their lunch hour.

They shoved their way toward the center of the gathered mass of students to see Marinette in the center, food completely covering her, and every time she took a step toward the crowd in hopes of an opening to escape, she was pushed back and something else was thrown at her. And near the center watching what was going on with a face full of sorrow, but eyes full of gleeful malice and Tim snapped.

“Marinette!”

He yelled while rushing towards her which caused her gaze to snap towards him. He quickly pulled her to his chest which caused her to start shaking, her breath spiking slightly, his shirt becoming damp. He needed to get them out of Paris and quickly before Hawkmoth got the opportunity to use her rightful emotions against her.

“Cass, I need you to call Kon.”

He yelled over the cacophony of people yelling and shouting profanities toward him. He couldn’t focus on that right now though, he had to stay vigilant and protect his sister. She was priority number one at the moment. He wondered where the others were, but then recalled that Chloe, Adrien, and Kagami were on a business meeting with their parents out of the country. It didn’t help that Kagami and Luka were out in different schools, but that didn’t explain where Juleka was, and he couldn’t find her in the crowd at all. He could feel things begin to hit him, but that didn’t matter because they weren’t hitting Mari.

Bang

The entirety of the school froze and turned toward where the noise had come from. Teachers began to pile out of the room with looks of fury and outrage even before they noticed the crowd of students, but once they did their looks made even Tim shiver in fear.

“So you think it’s funny to trap the entire faculty in the boardroom just so you could cause havoc? Well you’ve all got another thing coming to you.”

The girl with sinister tear filled eyes spoke, clinging to another student.

“M-Marinette did it! We tried to get her to-to stop, bu-”

“I’ve heard enough from you Rossi! After a similar stunt was pulled we were able to get the camera footage sent directly to our phones, we know exactly what happened, and so will your parents.”

At that the girl paled, and Tim felt a vindictive satisfaction. There was a small yank on his sleeve and he looked to the side to see Cass pulling him towards the doors. Kon must have arrived.

“Hey, I have a few friends that want to meet you. Follow me.”

He whispered softly into her ear. She nodded wordlessly and let herself be pulled along as they traveled past all of the students who were still being yelled at by the teachers and staff. Once they made it to the stairs Kon ran up to them and looked all three of them over, slightly panicked.

“What happened Tim?”

“Can you take us to the tower? We need to get out of here quickly.”

Tim urgently replied.

“Lila might become Akumatized.”

Marinette murmured against his chest. Tim ran his fingers through her hair and whispered,

“It’ll be you if we don’t leave now.”

Tim gently pushed her towards Kon and looked him directly in the eye,

“This is Marinette, take her first and make sure she’s safe.”

Kon nodded and waited till Marinette came towards him before he picked her up and left. Tim slowly clenched his fists and took in long slow breaths before relaxing them again. He needed to be level headed right now, he needed to tell their parents about what happened. Sabine had told him all about how she, Tom, and many other parents protested against the school to the school board and how, because of that, the school had gotten new administration and a stricter zero-tolerance policy. They needed to know about this.

Cass placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, grounding him, keeping him present. He carefully placed his hand atop hers, taking one last calming breath before giving her a small nod.

“I need to go tell Tom and Sabine about what’s happening.”

Cass gave a serious nod and once Tim released her hand they made the quick walk to the bakery.

To say Sabine was upset would be the understatement of the century, she was enraged.

“I knew it! I knew that it wouldn’t be enough. We are either transferring to homeschool or to a new school completely. Kagami said that the school she attends gives out scholarships, I just know Marientte would be able to get one with her designs. She is never going back to that Hell Hole ever again!”

Sabine yelled as she paced anxiously around the apartment flat. She made a quick turn and looked Tim directly in the eyes, her face softening as she did so when Tim flinched back.

“Sorry dear. Thank you for saving Marinette. Please make sure that she’ll be okay for us.”

Tim nodded.

“Of course. You’ve all helped me so much, and I’d do anything for her.”

Sabine pulled him into a tight hug that he quickly returned.

“I’m so proud of you Tim. You truly are one of the greatest souls to be on this Earth.”

Tim could feel his eyes water, but he quickly pushed them back feeling Cass’s gaze on the two of them. He could feel the soft smile she was sending the both of them. Sabine pulled away a few moments later only to leave a gentle kiss to his temple.

“Tell Marinette that she can stay with your friends as long as she would like. It will take some time for me to complete the transfer process, but it will happen.”

Tim nodded, his eyes showing a determined fierceness.

“Of course.”

Tim felt his phone buzz. Kon was back.

“Be safe. I love you Tim, and please tell Marinette that I love her too.”

Tim nodded shyly, still unused to the open shows of affection.

“I will.”

A pause.

“I love you too.”

It wasn’t the first time he had told them that, but the words still felt foreign on his tongue. Sabine softened a little more, placing one last kiss on his temple before she stood up and left. And with that, Cass and Tim left the small apartment to meet Kon who was waiting for them right outside.

“How is she?”

Tim immediately asked. Kon stared at Tim in shock, his heartbeat was through the roof.

“She was very distraught, but Cassie is taking care of her right now.”

Tim let out a sigh of relief.

“That’s good, Cassie should be able to help her. Alright, I need you to take us.”

Kon raised a brow, he had so many questions, but from the panicked look on his friend’s (practically brother’s) face, he knew that he wasn’t going to get them until this was resolved. He bent down slightly, letting Tim climb onto his back before he scooped Cass up and they flew to Titans Tower.

________

Marinette paced around the room like a caged animal. There was so much that could go wrong, and she was stuck here unable to do anything. Cassie and Bart watched her with concerned eyes. Kon had only given them the briefest rundown of everything, saying that this was “a friend of Tim” and that he had asked for him to bring her here.

“She doesn't seem very crash.”

Bart stage whispered as he snacked on a bag of potato chips. Cassie rolled her eyes at her friend,

“No, she doesn’t.”

Marinette wasn’t paying attention to their words though, she wasn’t even aware that they were talking. All she could do was listen to the thoughts in her mind telling her that something bad would happen and it would be all her fault. That because she was gone she would not be able to help or save her people if there was an attack which would make her the worst and most useless hero in the world! Then she would lose her Miraculous, Chat would demand that she pass on the guardianship because of how irresponsible she was, Tim would abandon her when he realized how useless of a sister she was and-

Warm arms wrapped around her causing her racing mind to pause.

“I need you to breathe Mars, I know you’re scared, but everything is going to be okay.”

Marinette sucked in a deep breath, she wasn’t even aware of how shallow they had been, but now that she thought about it she had been seeing small black dots in the corner of her vision.

“That’s it, you’re doing so good now. I’d never leave you Marinette, you and the others, you’re the last bit of family I have left. Even if you weren't, you're still my sister, and that means everything to me.”

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she needed to fight them back, she couldn’t have strong emotions, those emotions would attract,

“It’s okay to cry now. You’re not in Paris, if you need to cry I’m right here.”

She heard a door slide closed behind her, they were moving. When had they even started moving? Her body was gently moved down and she could feel herself sitting on her brother’s lap, her head resting against his chest letting her hear the steady beating of his heart.

Thump thump,

Thump thump.

It was a steady rhythm, soothing in more ways than one. Gentle fingers brushed through her hair and the dam broke as tears fell down her cheeks and sobs wracked her body. It wasn’t fair. She had done everything right, she was kind, patient, tried her best not to cause a scene, she forgave others, she helped them even when they didn’t like her, she had done everything right! So why did they all hate her then? What had she done, what was so bad about her, what did she do to make others hate her so much?!

“You didn’t do anything. It’s all on them, you are so good Marinette, far too good. They don’t deserve you, I don’t deserve you. But we’re going to get through this, we’re going to do it together. I’m not going to leave you to suffer on your own, I’ll stand by you, I’ll be your shoulder as long as you need me.”

Marinette clutched onto her brother, letting her hands fist around shirt. Marinette didn’t know how long they were there, how long she spent ruining his shirt with her tears and snot, it could have been a few hours, minutes, even a day. Despite that fact, Tim never once left her, always either rubbing her back, running fingers through her hair, humming, whispering comforting words, and just being the comforting presence that she needed. It made her heart warm and helped to silence the sobs and slow the tears. Tim loved her, he was here for. She had Adrien, Chloe, Kagami, Luka, and her parents too. She wasn’t alone. Marinette slowly lifted her gaze to stare at her brother where he gave her the softest most loving smile she’d ever seen on him.

“You feelinging any better?”

He asked. Marinette nodded, wiping the tears away with the back of her hand. Tim leaned backwards and grabbed a box of tissues from some corner of the room they were in.

“Thank you.”

She whispered hoarsely, using the tissues to wipe her eyes and a few more to wipe her nose. Now that she was thinking a little clearer she began to look around the room. A mess would be an understatement, but a pigsty would be an overstatement as well. She could tell it was a form of organized chaos, papers scattered across the floor, boards covering each of the walls with red strings wrapped around them, pens were scattered everywhere on the desk as well as stacks of manila folders filled to bursting with different papers, and when she looked up there was another board up there, this one was empty though, which was strange. It kind of looked like her room, except it was mostly paper rather than bolts and scraps of fabric.

“Is this your room?”

She asked, sniffling slightly. Tim blushed a little in embarrassment as he too looked around his room.

“Yea. It probably looked a lot worse before. I have no doubt that one of them was nice enough to clear out all of the trash and coffee mugs. I’ll be doing the dishes for a month.”

He replied, grumbling the last sentence. Marinette let out a small hum, leaning into the warmth that was her brother. So who are your friends? Tim smiled at that before he let out a long sigh.

“The one that took us here was Kon, he’s the one that we saved from that lab I told you about. The blonde is Cassandra Sandsmark , though we call her Cassie. She’s an Amazionian fighter, Wonder Woman’s sidekick, I think you too would get along really well. Probably too well.”

He mumbled. Clearing his throat he continued,

“The last one, the one who’s going to absolutely talk your ear off, is Bart. He’s a speedster from an apocalyptic future that is living here. So if he says something you don’t know or understand, there’s a high chance we don’t know either.”

Marinette giggled at that, causing time to smile as well.

“Your-er, Mom,”

She snickered again causing him to roll his eyes.

“Mom told me to let you know that she is going to try to transfer you to Kagami’s school. She’s probably already called her by now to ask her about scholarships and admissions. I’ll help of course, you deserve the best.”

Marinette sniffled again at that. She would be leaving her old school then. It wasn’t technically a bad thing, but it was still a foreign concept in her mind. That she would be able to leave and escape the cruelty there. She still had two years of school left and she had a feeling that they would be well spent at Kagami’s school, even if she did have to wear a uniform. She had once asked Tim why he wasn’t in school, she had learned that he had actually skipped three grades and instead of graduating, like he should have, got an online GED. He said that it didn’t matter to him since he “was running Bruce’s company before he even graduated”. Sabine and Marinette had not been thrilled to hear that.

“Can I meet your friends?”

Tim smiled at that, he knew she was just trying to change the subject but he would let it go. She deserved a break anyways.

“Yea, I can also get you some water since they’ll probably be in or near the kitchen anyways.”

With that marinette slowly stood up, Tim followed after her though he stretched his legs first before he opened his door and began his tour of his home-away-from-home.

__________

Tim watched from the sidelines with a smile as he watched his friends/family talk with Marinette. He had no doubt that they would all get along, but it was still a relief and a weight off his shoulders to truly see it happening. He watched Kon whisper something in her ear, Marinette glanced at him for a second and Tim felt nervous. The next thing he knew Marinette burst out laughing and Tim was blushing despite the fact that he had no idea what was said. He glanced over at Kon to see if he could get a hint of whatever story he was telling but only got a sly smirk and sideways glances from a chuckling Cassie. He didn’t know if he wanted to know what story they told her. They had so many stories, most of which he didn’t even remember due to his sleep deprived state that it was frankly concerning. For him at least, they seem to enjoy holding these stories over his head whenever they need something.

Slowly, Tim approached the group, his family, and hesitantly asked,

“What exactly did I miss?”

Kon shook his head and placed a finger to his lips, smug smirk still firmly in place. Marinette’s eyes glittered with mirth as she followed suit and shook her head.

“Sorry Tim-Tam, can’t say.”

“And why not?”

He asked, crossing his arms and lifting a brow to look at all of his team members. Bart zipped right next to him, causing a small breeze in the room before rushing out,

“It’s a secret story. Maybe one day you’ll be able to find a way to unlock it in one of your side quests.”

Cassie snickered as Tim pouted. He honestly hadn’t played one of his open world adventure games in a while. He mostly played any version of UMS with Marinette and her their family. Tim sighed, dropping his hands to his side casually enough as Bart placed an arm around his shoulders. He could tell that there was some sort of trap here, they were holding out on something but he couldn’t tell what yet. The kitchen was clean (that was a first); Kon, Cass, and Cassie were all gathered near Mari; and there was nothing that could be considered suspicious on the counters. There was just a bag of flour, one on his side of the counter and one in hers.

…….

Oh no. Tim could tell that Marinette knew that he figured out what she planned to do. So with almost inhuman speed she lord the bag and threw a handful of it at Tim. He quickly closed his eyes as the dusted wheat hit him square in the face. Quickly reaching for his own bag he began to throw flour at her, only missing and hitting Cassie instead. The fight went on for a while, everyone getting involved until they were all white as ghosts. Marinette and everyone else was laughing, he knew that this was her idea. Probably revenge for the last time he initiated this same kind of fight. It was worth it though. She was happy, she wasn’t worried about a thing, and hopefully she can accept his friends. Let them be a part of their small found family. Tim never liked standing on the sidelines before. But just watching her, seeing her happy like this even if it wasn’t fully him that made her smile like that. Maybe he could make an exception for his dislike, but only if he could see her like this more often.

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