Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Steve hated the summer, it made his scars itch. They had healed fully; some of the skin still puckered where the field stitches were messily done, but they healed. But the heat made them burn like they were still fresh, like the tiny rows of teeth were still ripping at his flesh, pulling chunks from him. He had to stop himself from clawing at them. He still had nail marks adorning his ribs from the last nightmare. 

Pulling the t-shirt over his head that he was pretty sure was Eddies, Steve walked out of his bedroom and down into the empty kitchen. After the ‘earthquake' his parents were home less than they were before, not that Steve minded. He had very little patience for his parents, not after all the shit he had gone through, but his dad still had a temper. In all honesty, he couldn’t take another hit to the head; the migraines were bad enough now.

Sticking a piece of toast in his mouth, his eyes flicked to the clock, it was a little past nine, he had been awake since four, he didn’t have to be at work until half ten.  He didn’t know if it was the nightmare or the sticky heat that woke him up, he personally wanted to choose door number two.

Coffee in hand, Steve lounged on the deck chair in his backyard, the sun reflecting off the pool casting a rainbow of colours across its surface, it was still early enough in the morning for the dust to be kicked up by the slight breeze. Steve would give anything to be able to get back in that pool, but after Barb, he’s never been able to set foot back in it.

The kids loved it, not that he blamed them, Steve loved that his kids loved spending time here, being free. Being them. At the public pool, they couldn’t do that without the judging stares off others. The pitying stares at Max, God she hated it. If the middle finger was anything to go by, she let them know she hated it. 

He couldn’t remember a time that he didn’t think of the kids as his. Maybe it was after the Demo-dogs. Or the Russians( one to many hits to the head on that one). Or Vecna. Or how after everything, even though they probably didn’t need him anymore.

They still came to him.

Many nights they had spent huddled in the living room, personal space be dammed as they settled down to watch a movie, or play a game, and on the odd occasion that he hosted D&D, after a particularly gruelling session. They stayed close. Limbs always touching in some way.  Pinkies linked as they slept.

The grown ups, Nancy, Robin, Jonathan, Eddie and himself made sure that the kids were well looked after. After everything they had gone through, they made sure that they had the stability around them. If they wanted to crowd into his personal space, he let them, even if sometimes it felt like he was suffocating.

Steve snapped out of this thoughts as a particularly strong gust of wind blew dust into his eyes. Digging his thumbs in his eyes  to remove the dust, he stood and walked back into the house. Cleaning the cup and leaving it on the drying rack. 

Slipping into a pair of his sneakers, Steve grabbed the keys off the hook and left the house, it was already easier to breath. Climbing into the BMW Steve stated the car, the opening bars to a song that he  couldn’t name, you’re uneducated Stevie, played off one of Eddie’s cassette tapes. Funnily enough, the noise kept his head quiet.

Pulling into Family Video, Steve cut the engine and let his hands rest on his thighs, there was a dull ache behind his eyes, but he reached over, grabbed his vest and shuffled himself way to the store. 

“Well, you look like shit" 

“Nice to see you too Robin" Steve muttered as he pulled the vest on.

Robin was sat on the counter in the mostly empty store, maybe two or three customers at most moved around, looking at titles of movies that they probably weren’t going to rent.

Steve hopped over the counter, punched in and lent with his chin rested in his hand.

“Wanna talk about it" Robin asked softly.

“What’s there to talk about. Same shit different nightmare, Rob" he muttered out.

Robin sighed and slid off the counter, her shoulder leaning against Steve’s, a warm weight against him, keeping him grounded. A subtle reminder that she’s there. She’s okay.

He pushes his shoulder against hers, as a thank you.

They stand like this for an ungodly amount of time, idly talking, eating the candy that they’ll probably never pay for. The bell above the door jingles and the person who walks in makes the tightness in Steve’s chest loosen. 

Eddie Munson.

Said dark haired man is dressed in a band tee, dark ripped jeans that showed the muscles in his thighs, and his faithful Reeboks, his hair pulled onto the top of his head in a messy bun, tendrils of hair falling out, sticking to his face and neck.

Silver earrings dangle from his ears, and his rings tink together as he wiggles his fingers in a hello to Steve and Robin. 

Now, Steve knew that Eddie is an attractive man, he had come to terms with his sexuality a while ago, at Scoops after being beaten in the face, high as a kite. Robin came out to him, and he to her. Bisexual she called it.

Now Eddie sauntered over, leaning on the counter, Steve’s eyes were instantly drawn to his hands, the rings specifically. No-one, especially Steve realised it had become a thing, until Eddie had started automatically placing his hand out so Steve could play with his rings.

“I thought you weren’t working today pretty boy" Eddie asked, Steve tried not to preen at the nickname.

“Needed the money" Steve replies, he wasn’t lying he did. The real reason; he didn’t want to be alone with his thoughts, the things that plagued his nightmares. Each day that came the water at the bottom of the Quarry looked more welcoming. 

Steve rubbed his finger over the horns on the devil ring that Eddie wore on his middle finger, the dull tips pressing harshly into the skin.

He could feel Eddie’s eyes on him but he refused to look up, until there was a hand on his chin, forcing him to meet the dark pools. 

“You sleeping okay, sweetheart?” Eddie asked, hand moving to his cheek, thumb caressing a purple bruise under his eye.

Again, Steve suppresses a shudder, “Like a baby Eds" Steve replies softly.

Steve knew that Eddie knew that he was lying, could see it in the brown Bambi eyes, but the metal head said nothing just let out a small hmm.

Eddie dropped his hand and said, “Oh the kids wanna have a D&D session tonight, but it’s too hot in the trailer. I was wondering, if you would so kindly lend us band of geeks your humble abode?” Eddie asked, Bambi eyes on full display.

Steve heard Robin snort behind him, “what’s in it for me?”

“The company of you’re nine favourite people"

“Nine" Steve asked confused until he followed Eddie’s eyes locked on Robin.

“No, nope not happening Eddie" Robin squeezes out through her flailing. 

“what you don’t wanna spend time with us, I’m hurt Rob's” Eddie places his hand over his heart, feigning hurt.

Robin spluttered “ its-no- you see I have plans"

Both men were now looking at her, identical looks on their faces, “With Vicki”

Now both men wore matching feral grins.

Robin groaned.

Of course Steve couldn’t say no the brats, so here he was nursing a beer as he placed one at Eddie’s side. A large hand grabbing his in a gentle squeeze as he walked back to the sofa. Sitting down, he picked up the copy of The Hobbit that Eddie had borrowed him.

And surprisingly he enjoyed it.

His ears were tuned in to Eddie, his voice animated as he described the surroundings of their latest adventure, hands flying about in every direction .

Every so often he could hear the kids screaming or yelling when something didn’t go their way, or when someone rolled bad. 

He’d began to drift off maybe three hours into the session, but he could still hear small bits of the conversation happening.

“He doesn’t sleep much does he" El asked, eyeing the sleeping Steve on the sofa. He could feel her eyes on him.

“He’s too busy worrying” Lucas replied, Steve could tell he was chewing at his thumb.

“But he doesn’t need too, we won remember" Dustin, of course.

Before the others could chime in, Eddie stopped them. “ look, that boy over there” Eddie points  “doesn’t know how to not worry. But he worries cause he loves you little shit heads alright.  Just cause we won, doesn’t mean it stops" Eddie paused, “just let him look after you brats okay. He needs it"

Hours later Steve jerks awake, his heart pounding in his chest. His automatic reaction is to reach out for his bat. But he knows its upstairs beside his bed.  His brain is still half asleep and he panics because he cant see the kids. His kids. There’s a warm weight on his ankle, so he shifts, leaning up on his elbows his eyes lock on Eddie’s hand resting there, the weight welcomed. It grounds him enough for his brain to focus on the extra noises in the room.

The kids are sprawled on the floor, all touching on some way. And Steve can breath again, The kids are safe his brain supplies for him.  There eyes locked on the T.V, Steve can feel eyes on him so he shifts his to meet Eddie.

“Impromptu sleep over" Eddie mutters, thumb stoking the skin on Steve’s leg. “Figured you might need it"

Steve could feel his insides turn to goo. He sat up and stretched, his back popping after his nap. His eyes bounced off each of the kids heads, just an extra check to be safe. He stood and stepped between legs and over bodies as he made his way to the kitchen. 

There were pizza boxes on the table, so Steve grabbed a slice, shoving it into his mouth. Pulling open the fridge, he grabbed a coke, popping it open he took a mouthful. And it was plucked out of his hand by Eddie.

“enjoy your nap" Eddie asked.

“Yeah, it’s been a long day" Steve muttered around a mouthful of pizza.

“For someone who slept like a baby, you slept for hours” Eddie eyed him.

“Not now Eds ” Steve sighed.

Eddie put the can on the side, “yeah, I think we’re going to do this now Stevie. You look like you haven’t slept properly in weeks man, even the kids have noticed. What’s going on. Talk to me” he said as he walked closer to the other man.

Steve could feel his chest tighten, his pulse picked up and his palms begun to sweat. How could he tell Eddie that on a good day he felt like stepping off the edge of the Quarry because he couldn’t stop seeing shadows where there wasn’t any. 

That on some nights when he couldn’t sleep he drove by the kids houses just to make sure they were safe, that the little lights he had bought them were on. 

That some of the scars on his body weren’t from his trips The Upside Down, that he had caused them by clawing at his own skin after he’d screamed himself raw.

So he just blinked at Eddie, “ Just nightmares Eds, Upside down shit. You know what it’s like"

Eddie nodded, leaning against the counter top, his body heat warming Steve’s arm, “Yeah i do pretty boy. But you know you can talk to me right. Fuck having to be the strong one, the hero. Fucking lean on me man" 

A lump in Steve’s throat made it ache, he didn’t mean too but he just come out with it, “ do you ever feel like your loosing your mind?”

Eddie stiffened slightly as he saw the far away look in Steve’s eyes. The way his hand trembled slightly.

Eddie takes said trembling hand in his and pulls the other man out of the kitchen and up the stairs, it’s easy to find Steve’s room, Eddie softly leads Steve towards the bed and gets him to sit down.

Placing a soft kiss in the mane of hair, Eddie leaves the room with a soft “ill be right back" 

Within thirty seconds he’s back.

Steve feels his hands shaking against his thighs, they won’t stop. He feels Eddie’s hand In his, and his fingers instantly find the rings. 

They sit in silence for what feels like a life time, until Steve breaks it.

“I can’t remember the last time I slept more than four fucking hours a night Eds" Steve whispers “ I sleep with the fucking bat at my side in case he comes back. I know he’s gone, we got him, but I can’t fucking sleep” tears burn in his eyes, “when the kids, You, Nance, John or Rob aren’t here, I feel like i can’t breathe"

A sob echoes in the room, Steve’s entire body shudders at the force of his sobs. The words catching in his throat making him choke

“Steve, you’ve got to breath" Eddie pleads as he catches Steve as he lurches forward, “baby, you’ve got to breathe for me"

Eddie watches as Steve struggles to pull in a breath, so he takes his hand and puts it over his own heart.

“Follow my breath, that’s it, good boy" Eddie praises.

When Steve can finally breath again, he knows that  he looks a mess. His face blotchy, eyes swollen, probably some snot too. But Eddie doesn’t seem to care as he cradles Steve’s face in his hands and wipes his face with his thumbs. And Steve leans onto the touch.

“the kids are safe, there downstairs, wrapped around each other like baby koalas. Nancy and Jonathan are at the Byers having a movie night. And Robin is probably freaking out about being on a date with Vicky” Eddie said softly, “and I’m right here and I’m not going anywhere pretty boy” 

Thumbs continue to stroke his cheeks, “ most days I want to step off the edge of the Quarry, just to get some rest" Steve admits into the room, and Eddie tries to keep his panic down “ I’d never do it of course, I couldn’t, fuck I-I feel like I’m going crazy Eds.” 

Steve pulls away from the warmth of Eddie’s hands and falls back against his bed, but Eddie isn’t having that. He crawls on top of Steve , his body caging Steve against the bed, the other boy doesn't even flinch, surprisingly (Eddie will think alot about that later) “promise me you’ll never do it" Eddie pleaded.

“Eds-" said man cuts him off, “ Promise. Me" Eddie demands, teeth gritted.

Steve blinks up at the man above him, every fibre in him wants him to be good for Eddie. “ I promise”

Satisfied, Eddie settles next to Steve and they lie in silence. It doesn’t last long when they hear Dustin shouting for them, obnoxious as always.

They look at each other and they share a small smile,

“his tone right" Eddie laughs out.

Steve giggles, his chest feels lighter. There’s something there between him and Eddie but right now he’s too tired to figure out what it is.

He knows that the conversation isn’t finished very far from, you know with talk of wanting to step off the quarry and all, but for now there both content

Chapter Text

Steve eventually made it back downstairs, his body aching he settled around the kids , as if they knew Steve was sad, they didn’t mention it, they all just piled close . El settled into his left side, her body curled into his, her hand curled into the fabric of his shirt. Steve rested his hand on her head, fingers softly playing with the curls that had eventually grown back. 

The others had migrated closer, Dustin sat at his feet, his body taking up the space between his legs, his head a comforting weight on his knee. Mike and Will sat close together, Mike lent on his right leg, and Will added they extra weight by leaning on Mike. Lucas sat next to Dustin, on the outside of his left leg, hand curled around his calf, eyes focused on the T.V. 

Eddie sat on his right, with Max all but sprawled over his lap so her head could rest in Steve’s, her glasses skewed . Eddie’s hand was playing with the hair on the back of Steve’s neck, nails scratching softly at his scalp. With his kids and Eddie surrounding him, he felt safe, warm.

It felt like it was too early for him to be awake, his body was too warm, and his arm was dead,  a body next to his own; It wasn’t unusual for him to wake up with one of his kids press up against his side. Now he had to figure out which one it was. Slowly, Steve peeled his eyes open, blinking the sleep out of them, his eyes focused on the mane of red hair in his vision. He let out a content sigh and tightened his arms around the sleeping Max. Her head was resting on his shoulder and her arms were in a death lock around his arm, knees tucked into her chest, she looks peaceful  he thought as he brushed hair from her face. 

Shuffling feet pulled his attention from Max, Dustin shuffled back into the room, still half asleep, holding a cup of coffee out to Steve. Said man struggled to sit up, but he manage to dislodge the sleeping redhead, who shuffled into the sofa cushion and he settled into one of the most uncomfortable sitting positions he had ever been in , rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. 

He reached out and took the cup from the other teen, “Thanks kid" Steve said softly, taking a sip.

Dustin stood somewhat awkwardly, shuffling from foot to foot. “spit it out man" Steve muttered into the cup never stopped him before Steve thought fondly.

“Are you okay?" Dustin asked softly.

Steve melted at the sad look in the younger eyes, “ I’m fine Dust" 

“But, you- you don’t sleep, you’re always worried. You were crying yesterday Steve, crying" Dustin all but screeched, if it wasn’t for the still sleeping Max he probably would have.

Steve really didn’t want to get into it right now, it was too early , he’d had two sips of coffee for fucks sake. So he rubbed a face with a deep sigh, shuffled away from Max, and stood being careful to not wake her on fear of death.  He walked over to Dustin, placing a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it softly he crouched so he was eye level with the young boy, ignoring ache in his legs.

“Look, I have some things going on right now, shush no questions” Steve said and Dustin’s mouth closed with an audible click, “and every once in a while it gets fucking overwhelming, and last night it did.” Steve paused, he could see tears pooling in Dustin’s eyes.

Steve placed the cup on the floor and cupped the still soft cheeks, “ but having you, the other shit heads around makes it easier okay buddy” squeezing the cheeks softly, “ I promise I’m okay" lies his brain supplied.

Dustin nodded into his hands, they stayed like this for a minute more; Steve softly petting the wet cheeks with his thumbs. They  eventually made their way into the kitchen, Eddie and the others busy making breakfast and a mess, turned when the two walked in. Dustin broke off to the others, quickly wiping at his eyes. 

Eddie beamed at him and Steve couldn’t help smile back, he walked over to the other male and the metal head slung his arm over the broad shoulders and pulled him into his side,

“Good?” Eddie asked into the mop of hair.

Steve nodded, leaning into Eddie’s side and watched the kids argue over the food, “ Well talk about it later” Steve offered.

A grumpy Max joined them ten minutes later with, “ Why are you all so fucking loud in the morning" 

Which made them turn the volume up ten fold.

Steve felt like his empty, desolate house was finally a home.

Eddie offered to drop the kids off, to let Steve relax. Just look after yourself for a change man. So he  showered, scrubbing his hair thoroughly; nails scratching his own scalp, he let the water burn his back, it was probably too hot but that’s how he had it now he hates the heat.

Towel wrapped around his waist, he wiped the condensation off the mirror and grabbed his razor and saving cream, he lathered his face and begun the meticulous motions of shaving his face.

Dark eyes caught the round cuts on his ribs where his nails had dug into the skin, grazes from his nails dotted about the area where he had clawed at his own skin, unintentionally, made him wince, he sighed and continued shaving. Once finished he rinsed his face and shuffled into his bedroom.

Dropping the towel, he grabbed the sweats that he laid out on the bed and pulled them on, forgoing the underwear, he grabbed the towel and flung it into the basket.

He left his hair product free, leaving it loose and to air dry. Pottering around the house, he tidied up the aftermath of the kids and Eddie, with a smile gracing his lips. 

When the other had left, he pressed a soft, barely there kiss to his cheek, and jogged after the kids with a wave over his shoulder. Steve’s cheeks burned for an obscene amount of time. The Party didn’t question anything, just stood with soft smiles.

Steve never had to explain his sexuality to the kids, or Nance, or Jonathan, Joyce,Hop, Eddie,  they just kind of accepted it, they accepted Robin and Eddie too(the three came out to each other while Eddie was hospitalised, freaks right) . The odd comments, I mean Leia is hot, but Han Solo, damm, at group movie nights, they didn’t bat an eye, just laughed.

He could never express the gratitude that he felt for his group of friends, his family. Emotion bubbled in his chest, building until it felt like it would burst. Like it would bubble over pulling all his organs out of him, turning him inside out. Bleeding him dry

They were all trauma bonded in a way that no-one else would ever be able to contemplate. They had seen things that were only shown in movies or described in D&D. They had lived through traumatic injuries, held each other together in the middle of nightmares, survived comas and the devil incarnate and came out closer than ever. 

And Steve tried not to be too co-dependent on the others. He really did try. 

In all honesty they all did. 

He saw the way Will would get that far away look in his eye and his hand would instinctively reach for the back of his neck, only to be stopped by Mike or Dustin or whomever was closest to him; squeezing it in understanding.

He saw how Hop and Joyce's eyes would linger on the entire party when they were huddled in the Hopper-Byers living room, when Joyce had got too anxious about not seeing her kids for a few days You’re my kid too Steve, you too Eddie now shush And how Hop’s eyes would scan each of their faces, eyes searching, waiting. 

Nancy and Mike still bickered but there was no heat behind their words, it was their way to check in with the other. Making sure they were safe. Nance told him once how some nights she would wake up with Mike asleep sat against her bed facing the door with her favourite song in the Walkman. He had held her as she cried.

El, Max and Lucas spent an ungodly amount of time together when they weren’t with the party Steve taking the trio wherever they needed to be. Always talking, El playing with Max's hair; always braiding it. Lucas would jokingly push the glasses back up Max's nose, but sometimes the smile didn’t reach his eyes; guilt clouded them, making him look older than he should. And Max would stroke his cheek until it went away.

Himself, Eddie, Jonathan and Robin would spend sleepless nights at the Quarry getting high( it took a few weeks before he and Robin would participate. Aftermath of the Russians) , sat in the back of Eddie’s van with the doors open, just watching the sky turn from dusky orange to black; the stars twinkling at them. Sometimes they would talk; spill their guts. And Steve would just listen. Comfort when they needed it.

Now Dustin, Dustin he tired to hold everything together, making sure the rest were okay. Carrying the rest of The Party’s emotions on his shoulders. Sometimes his eyes would linger on Eddie like the man would disappear. His eyes would bounce from his friends, just watching. He would catch El's eyes and they would share a knowing smile. If his friends hugs lingered on bad days, he pretended not to notice. But was forever grateful.

Steve had noticed all this in the six months since Vecna had tried to rip Hawkins in half, and failed. In six months his house had filled with the kids comfort foods, books, comics, D&D items  strewn around the living room, one too many times Steve had stood on a set of dice, cursing up a storm, shoving them in a draw after he'd pulled them out of his feet.

They all had clothes in the guest bedroom, adults included; for nights they didn’t want to be alone. When the nightmares were bad enough for them to question if they'd actually won 

They each had a key, he had given them out declaring his home a safe space, my parents are never here anyway he had said, his heat crumbling a bit.

Steve blinked himself out of the spur he had got himself in, brushing the now dry hair from his eyes. He made himself a cup of tea, walked to the living room and settled on the sofa with the copy of The Hobbit; continuing from chapter 3.

Robin didn’t announce her arrival as she used the key Steve had given her, she let herself in closing the door behind her. Her shoes made a dull thud as they hit the wall as she kicked them off. Sock covered feet led her to the living room where she found Steve nose deep in his book.

She found it endearing how he had took it upon himself to learn about Hobbits and Mordor( He had read the Lord of the rings books previously), just because his kids(and Eddie) loved them. How he learned how to play D&D just so he could surprise Hellfire. She remembers it with a small smile. Steve and the gang told her the rest.

Four months ago

Steve stood at the counter of Family Video with his nose stuck in a thick binder. His brain ached with how much information he had taken in, in the past few weeks.  He had decided that it would have been a good idea to surprise Hellfire, and participate in a session. 

He had already finished his character sheet. 

He felt the book being pulled down and his eyes met Robins, “Can I help you Buckley?” He asked.

“You’re reading a D&D book" she replied.

“How perceptive of you" Steve replies, sarcasm lacing every word.

“Don’t be a dick, why?” she groused, pushing his head.

He shrugged placing the book down, open so he didn’t loose his place , “I thought it would be a nice surprise you know. Them kids have gone through literal fucking hell and back and so has -" he tapered off.

Robin smiled, “ that’s very sweet Steve the kids will shit themselves . But are you sure you’re not doing it for Eddie too” she teased.

Steve felt his neck burn as the red spread up his face, “ fuck off Rob" he spluttered. 

She cackled “ Oh my god it is!, you’re learning to play D&D for Eddie fucking Munson" she wheezed, “ this is fucking brilliant”

And if Steve tried to ignore her for the rest of her shift, she didn’t care.

If Steve said he was nervous it was an understatement, he heart beat wildly in his chest as he eyed the clock, it was five to four and Hellfire were due to arrive at four.  Under his jacket he wore his own Hellfire t-shirt. A gift from Eddie 

Steve had set up Eddies throne, and all his equipment, and his place at Eddie’s right hand side. It took less than a minute for him to hear the gaggle of kids, plus Eddie to arrive. 

They all hugged him hello, including Erica who hated physical touch, raided his fridge, and took their seats.

“There’s another place, we have a new member Eddie?” He asked and said man looked at the spot confused.

“Not that I’m aware of" 

Steve took it upon himself to stroll over to the empty chair, taking off his hoodie and throwing it, revealing his Hellfire shirt and sat, he slid his character sheet over to Eddie and watched as them Bambi eyes got even wider.

“No fucking way" Eddie breathed out. Astonished.

Steve reached into his pocket and pulled out his own set of dice. 

The table erupted in exited screeches and yells.

“Steve Harrington, you never cease to amaze" Eddie had whispered, his eyes locked onto his.

“Well let’s get on with it Dungeon Master, our adventure awaits” 

Steve saw the glint in Eddie’s eyes, it matched his own. He grinned.

Present day

Steve’s eyes flick from the page and his heart leaps into his chest “ Jesus fucking Christ ! Robin” Steve yells, his voice echoing in the empty house. Throwing the book towards his best friend.

It falls short.

She laughs, “ well if you weren’t such a big nerd you would have heard me come in”

Steve just waves a hand at her as she walks over to the sofa and plops down, “ how was game night?”
 

“Eventful you know how they are, very fucking dramatic” Steve says, avoiding her eyes as she raises an eyebrow, questioning.

 “how was your date with Vicki?” Steve asks deflecting.

A blush rises in Robin’s cheeks and Steve grins, “details Rob” Steve all but sings.

And if Robin spluttered like a idiot, Steve just grinned. He was great full for her company. They spent the rest of the day hanging out, watching movies and eating pizza, Steve paid of course. Steve had kissed her cheek when she left, the sun slowly setting, the warm summer breeze brushed his skin as he watched her disappear down the street. 

Steve closed the door and was now alone in his museum of a house. He sighed and made to pick up the book. He could do with loosing  a few more hours with Hobbits and Dwarves.

If Steve jerks awake  at 4.30 in the morning with a yell, it’s  no one’s business. His entire body shakes, so much his teeth chatter together, making his jaw ache; copper on his tongue. His breathing comes in ragged breaths, making his chest ache; like his lungs were too heavy  . Tears ran unabashed down his face, he swipes them away roughly.  The scratch marks in his arms stung as he clenched his fists, the muscles pulling the skin taught. He can still feel Vecna’s fingers around his neck; nails breaking his skin, the vines holding his arms and legs in place. The screams of the kids echo in his ears as they fought against the Demo-everythings. His kids dying. 

It feels like The Upside down goo sticks to his skin; sinking into his pores, into his veins. The clock dings in his ears.  He can still see Eddie bleeding out, Nance and Robin’s mangled bodies in his peripheral. Jonathan, just gone, his eyes dead. The images burnt behind his eyes.

“it’s not real” Steve whispers to himself, willing himself to calm down.

Vecna’s voice in his head. 

You did this, Steve.

You couldn’t save them.

You’re the cause of there suffering.

Let me free you.

Yelling, Steve threw himself from the bed, his foot knocking into the bat, the nails cutting into the skin; he hardly acknowledged it. He knew later he would berate himself for not cleaning the blood from the carpet, but right now he need to check on his family.

His hands shook as he grabbed a hoodie(one of Eddie’s, unintentionally)  and shoved it over his head, his feet shoved into shoes; the cuts stinging. His stomach rolled as he bolted down the stairs, mouth watering as he shoved down the need to puke out his guts on his mother’s pristine stairs. 

Grabbing the keys so hard they dug into his palms, it grounded him for a second. He left the house, the door slamming behind him. 

He forces himself to breath before he drives, to clear his head. He already knows his routine. He’ll start with Will.

By the time he makes it to the trailer park, the sun is starting to rise, painting the sky in soft peaches and purples and his heart is returning to its normal rhythm. Max’s light is on, they were all on. Steve could finally breathe.

His fingers tapped on the wheel as he eyed the other trailer in the park work the light on, Eddies trailer. 

Without realising, he had cut the ignition and had made his way over to Eddie’s trailer, in the back of his mind, Steve knew that Wayne was at work, so he knocked.

Ten.

Twenty.

Thirty seconds passed before the door opened, and revealed Eddie dressed in a loose shirt and a pair of loose sweats. He looked like he hadn’t slept much either. His hair a mess, bruises under his eyes.

They each shared a exhausted smile "Coffee" Eddie asked

Eddie stepped aside at Steve's small, shy nod the door closing with a quiet click. 

Chapter Text

Birds had begun chirping outside as the kettle boiled. A few minutes later, a ringed hand passed over a cup(a black ceramic mug covered in hand painted ghosts  that would eventually become Steve’s) to a patiently waiting Steve. With trembling fingers, Steve took the cup and cradled it softly; letting heat warm his hands.

Taking a sip, Steve let the liquid burn down his throat, the heat blooming in his chest. His eyes bounced over Eddie, he looked just as tired as he did.

“Nightmare?” Steve asked softly. 

Eddie nodded taking a sip of his own coffee, wincing as it burnt his tongue, “ Yeah, you?" he replies softly.

“Mine was Vecna, again. He’d got Nance, Rob and John.” He paused his voice trembling, “ the kids were fighting the Demo-everything’s and they were losing and I couldn’t move” tears stung in his eyes until they tumbled over, “ you were bleeding out and I couldn’t save anyone, I fucking got everyone killed" 

He releases the cup and presses the palms of his hands into his eyes, trying and failing to stop the tears. He can feel his nails digging in to the skin on his forehead. His head snapped up when he felt hands circle his wrists, pulling his hands away.

“Were all alive, sweetheart" Eddie says softly, thumbs rubbing the soft skin of Steve’s wrists, “ you drove by their houses and the lights were fucking on. Your kids, your friends are safe” 

Steve forced himself to breath for what felt like a hour, until he managed to get out, “M'sorry Eds” he said as he pulled his hands free, wiping his eyes, “ You had a shitty night too, and here I am fucking dumping on you. Are you okay?" suck it up Harrington the voice whispered.

Eddie eyes the boy in front of him, it baffled him how quick Steve could go from having all his walls crumble into dust, resting at his feet. To them being shoved back up, messily held together with glue and duck tape. He could still see the slight tremor in the others hands, so he reached out and Steve’s fingers automatically found the rings, the devil one specifically. Eddie smiled softly. always the hero.

“I’m good, darlin’” Eddie said softly. And Steve felt a blush beginning to rise in his cheeks, he really has to stop that. 

“No you’re fucking not Eds, you said I could talk to you, the same goes for you" Steve said, just as soft.

Eddie sighed, his eyes still locked on the stained table of the trailer, flecks of paint and dents from his childhood stared up at him. 

“I died. Surrounded by them fucking bats” Eddie started, “ then I woke up, I was alone. I was covered in my own fucking blood, covered in upside down shit" he can feel Steve’s fingers stroking the back of his hand, “ I called for you all, like you did to Dustin, hoping, praying that you’d come. But you didn’t, I was alone" 

Steve stiffened, heart racing as he listened to Eddie. “ I was starving, I’d felt hunger before yeah, but nothing like this" Eddie looked up and met Steve’s eyes, “ I wandered and Vecna found me. He uh, he did something to me, changed me” the deep voice trembled.

“He sent me topside, and I” his throat clicked “I killed you. All of you" 

“Oh Eddie” Steve said softly, his voice broken.

The metal head bit his lip hard enough to bleed, to hold in the sob that wanted to break free. He hadn’t felt Steve’s hand leave his until he felt them in his hair, holding his head, cradling it.

Eddie wrapped his arms around Steve waist burying his face in Steve’s stomach.

“You’re alright Eds, I’ve got you. Your safe” Steve whispered unto the quiet room, stroking the matted hair on Eddie’s head. He let the man cry.

Eddie eventually  pulled way, his face swollen and eyes sore, shaking fingers scrubbed at his eyes, trying to rub the exhaustion away.

Steve let his hands drop to his sides, and Eddie looked up at him. Bambi eyes were red and bloodshot, still sparkling with unshed tears, Steve slowly placed his hand on Eddies cheek; the stubble scratching his palm as he stroked his thumb across his cheekbone.

Leaning into the touch, Eddie let out a yawn that cracked his jaw, “ man I’m fucking exhausted” 

Steve let out a small hum, “yeah, I should probably head home”

Eddie swallowed thickly, he really didn’t want to be alone right now, and, he figured Steve wouldn’t want to be either.

“Or you could stay" Eddie suggested, hopeful.

And Steve couldn’t bring himself to deny Eddie his company, not with the way his eyes were still wet and his voice was thick with emotion;  with the last stroke of his thumb he took a step back and said, “I’ll be on the couch if you need me”

A hand gripped his wrist , rings digging into the flesh slightly and heat spiked in Steve’s stomach, fuck off not now, he looked at Eddie, “ I do have a bed Harrington” 

Steve smirked, rolling his eyes , “ So forward Munson, you want in my pants or something” 

Eddie stood and laughed pulling Steve closer with a small tug of his wrist, although his face was probably red, blotchy he smiled softly, voice dripping in something, the words rolled off his tongue , “ Oh baby, don’t tempt me”

Baby, fuck me Steve’s thoughts ran a way for a second, or ten. 

Something heated passed between them, their gazes locked and molten heat passed though each of their veins, butterflies heavy in their stomachs, dry lips were licked and the two sets of eyes followed each movement.

The room became charged with electricity as the boys took steps closer to each other until there was only a few inches between them. Feet knocking together. 
 

Eddie could feel Steve’s pulse under his fingers; beating like a humming birds wings.

Steve’s fingers had found their way to his waist, curling into the fabric of his shirt. 

Eddie wanted to fuck it and kiss Steve, but also didn’t want to ruin the friendship they had built, but with how Steve was looking at him, he thinks the other won’t mind much.

Eyes locking again, both boys slowly lent forward, the gap between them slowly becoming smaller. Their breaths mingled, warm between them. Eyes hooded.

THUD 

Steve and Eddie jumped apart like they had been burnt, flushes adorned both of their cheeks as they shared heated looks, Eddie cleared his throat,

“That would be Wayne, time to sleep yeah" voice rough.

Steve just nodded and followed Eddie as he turned to walk to his bedroom, I almost fucking kissed Eddie. I wanted it. Fuck fuck fuck.

Once they reached the bedroom, Steve used to the clutter , he  kicked off his shoes and without a second thought yanked off the hoodie and threw it on the pile of clothes, it was Eddies anyway. Steve could feel Eddie’s eyes burning into his naked chest, he fought against the conscious movement to cover his scars as he collapsed onto the bed beside him.

He fucking gorgeous Eddie thought as he looked at Steve. The things i would do to you pretty boy his brain added very explicit pictures for him. He could feel Steve’s eyes on him.

“Sleep Eds” Steve mumbled, face pressed in to the pillow. Brown eyes slowly disappearing behind his eyelids. 

Eddie smiled softly, “ As you command” 

Steve snorted, eyes already closed, “ dickhead”

Soft snores filled the room, and as Eddie settled, he felt his body slowly fall asleep, he knew that they would have to talk about the almost kiss, but right now, Eddie was warm and he finally felt safe.

Minutes later he joined Steve in a deep sleep.

When Steve eventually woke, his body was drenched in sweat. Not from a nightmare, no from the giant ball of gas that floated in the sky that had turned Eddie’s room into a greenhouse. 

He was lay on his front, his face still pressed into the pillow,  his arm was slung over Eddie’s waist where his t-shirt haf risen in his sleep; sweat had pooled where they were touching.

Groaning Steve sucked in a breath; the humid air burning his lungs, he pulled his arm away from Eddie, the skin damp. The movement caused Eddie to stir, the man stretched, groaning as his back popped. 

“fuck me it’s too hot" Eddie grumbles, voice thick with sleep.

Steve grunted in a reply, he was not a morning, or afternoon person in this case.

They lay in silence for a while, bodies slowly waking; sweat slowly building in the nooks and crannies, Steve slowly sat up. 

“W'time is it" Steve mumbled.

Eddie looked at the watch on his arm, “two" he replied, sitting up. His hair plastered to the side of his face pillow marks on his cheeks.

Steve probably didn’t looked any better, he looked at Eddie and smiled softly, “Sleep okay?”

“Like a fuckin baby" Eddie grinned, “ You wanna shower first, m'sure I’ve got some shorts you can borrow”

Steve nodded and both boys pulled themselves from the bed and shuffled out of the room, Steve headed for the shower room while Eddie stopped to talk to Wayne.

“Eddie, Steve” Wayne acknowledged both boys. Steve grunted and waved at the older man.

Wayne laughed and turned to Eddie, “ not a morning person  then" 

Eddie shook his head, “ we both had a rough night" Eddie supplied. 

Wayne’s eyebrows furrowed on concern, “ you both okay?”

Eddie sighed and sat across from Wayne at the table , “ honestly, I don’t fucking know" he rubbed his face, “ one day its better, then the next its fucking bad"

Wayne nodded in understanding, he knew some of what went on, he didn’t understand it. But he knew.

He reached over and grabbed Eddie’s hand, “ yaknow you can talk to me, either of you. I might not get it. But I’m a good fuckin listener”

His eyes burnt as he looked at Wayne, “ I appreciate it Wayne, Steve will too, I think"

With that Eddie stood, he can only take so much of a heart to heart after only being awake twenty minutes. He reached for the two cups from last night and made him and Steve a coffee each. 

While the kettle boiled, he shuffled back to his room dug through his clothes for probably the only pair of shorts he owned. With an excited hum, he grabbed the shorts and a tee that he had made into a tank top himself and walked to the shower room. Knocking on the door he got a grunt on the other side.

Opening the door, his mouth went dry and his brain short circuits ,as he eyes the outline of Steve behind the curtain.  Closing the door behind him, He’s naked his mind supplied for him. He cleared his throat, “ got some clothes for you Harrington,  you’ll have to go commando tho, I ain’t sharing underwear with you"

Steve laughed, “ you just want my dick to touch your shorts"

Eddie laughed with him, “ya got me figured out Pretty boy, clothed are on the side. Coffee will be done in ten"

“Thanks Eds"

Eddie leaves him before he does something stupid like joining him in the shower and shuffles off for the coffee.

Steve walks into the living room towelling off his hair with one hand and the other reaching for the cup Eddie was holding out for him, taking a sip he swallowed it with a sigh.

“I could kiss you" Steve muttered around the cup. Both boys froze. 

“I’m just gonna-" Eddie pointed to the shower and scuttled off.

Wayne snorted from where be was sat and Steve’s eyes snapped to him, “are you two ever gonna stop pussyfooting around each other or what?”

Steve spluttered around the cup, “ I don-" 

“Don’t try and bullshit a bullshitter, I see the way ya look at each other, I ain’t blind" Wayne cut him off with a grin.

“I don’t wanna fuck it up" Steve eventually said.

Wayne stood and walked over to Steve, placing a hand on his shoulder, “ Take it from an old man who waited too long, there ain’t no way you’re going to fuck up whatever you two got going on. That boy cares for you, just as much as you do him" Wayne paused, looking Steve up and down,

“he don’t let anyone wear his clothes Steve. No-one, not even past flings” Wayne finished.

Steve felt his heart flutter as he looked down at the clothes he was wearing, his cheeks burned as he looked back up to Wayne,

“ Got it, sir" Steve said softly.

“ Just Wayne kid” the man muttered turning and grabbing his keys, “ now I’ve got some errands to run, let Eddie know for me yeah"
 

Steve nodded and watched as Wayne left.

Now he was on his own, he has a chance to freak out slightly, his heart thudded so hard in his chest, it felt like it was going g to break his sternum. Steve wasn’t stupid, he knew how he felt about Eddie had come to terms with his feelings while Eddie was in the hospital.

He had spent the most time sat in the uncomfortable plastic chairs, his own wounds still healing. He had argued with doctors, pissed off government agents who wanted the other woken up to grill him. He had broken his hand decking one of them for trying to stop the morphine. 

And when Eddie had eventually woke, it felt like the band around his lungs had snapped, like he was taking a breath for the first time in weeks. Eddies voice had been fucked but it was the sweetest voice he had heard, that you Big boy and Steve laughed, tears rolling down his cheeks.

Then the flirting had started and the casual touches. The invading his space to the point where Eddies smell lingered on him. How his hands would slide across his waist so he could pass, or across the bottom of his back, sending electricity zipping down his spine.

Big boy

Pretty boy

Sweetheart

Darlin

Baby

Each time Steve had to suppress a shiver at those names, his whole body lighting up, his whole body flushing; going soft and lax. 

Steve was too wrapped up in his head that he didn’t hear Eddie behind him until he felt arms slip around his waist and a head on his shoulder. Cold rings caressing the skin under the borrowed tank top.

“Whatcha thinkin about, love” Eddie asked in his ear.

“You" he answered honestly, turning in Eddie’s arms, his own brown eyes searching Eddie’s.

Steve gently placed the cup down, his hands slowly moving up Eddie’s still damp, tattooed arms, to come to rest on his neck, hands coping his jaw.

Thinking fuck it Steve said, “ I’m going to kiss you now, you can either punch me or-"

Eddie didn’t let him finish, “oh baby, I ain’t gonna punch ya" Eddie replied, voice deep, sultry, “ I’m going to ruin you” he finished with a growl.

At Steve's whimper, Eddie grinned.

Chapter Text

It was a clash of teeth and the angle was wrong, but it was perfect.

Eddie’s hands tightened on Steve’s waist, pulling the younger man close. Steve whimpered and tilted his head slightly, lips sliding against each other.

Eddie pulled back, breathing heavily. His hands leaving Steve’s waist to knock Steve’s arms  out of the way so he could grab his pretty face. One hand cupped the back of Steve’s head; fingers buried themselves in them perfect locks.

The other rested on the side of Steve’s neck, his ringed fingers just under his ear, palm resting on his Adam’s apple; he felt every swallow, his thumb just under his chin, pressing hard enough to tilt Steve’s head up.

Leaning in, Eddie nipped at Steve’s bottom lip, drawing a slight hiss before he soothed it with a swipe of his tongue, he closed the gap, re attaching them at the mouth. 

Steve’s arms were limp at his sides as he let Eddie take over, his brain turned to mush as Eddies tongue swiped at his lips and he let him it. It was wet, messy and perfect. 

Steve ended up with his back pinned against the counter Eddie’s thigh between his; a constant pressure on his steadily hardening cock.

Eddie was no better as his fingers tightened in Steve’s hair, he rolled his hips slight, swallowing Steve’s whine.

They broke apart to breathe, foreheads pressed together, hot breaths mingled.

“ You alright pretty boy" Eddie asked, voice thick with lust, eyes blown.

“ Fucking fantastic” Steve grinned.

They panted, just resting together. Eddie pressed one last, soft kiss to Steve’s swollen lips and he took a step back, much to Steve’s dismay.

“Hey, whe-" Eddie shushed him.

“Relax baby, I ain’t goin anywhere. An as much as I’d like to flip ya over and fuck you against the sink" he paused with a lewd grin, Steve felt his ears burn, he had to fight down a moan, “ I think we should talk, discuss things yeah”

Steve nodded and Eddie held out his hand which Steve took without a second though.

They sat across from each other, with fresh cups of coffee between them.

“So, what do you want this to be Stevie?” Eddie asked after a sip, “ you want this to be a one time thing, a friend with ben-"

“You, I want you Eds. I want you to be my boyfriend" Steve said quickly, cheeks flushing.

Eddie grinned, “ You my boyfriend pretty”

“Yeah eds, m'yours” Steve replied. Again with the fucking nicknames.

Eddie has to choke down the possessive growl at Steve announcing that he was his.  He swallowed thickly and said,

“an I’m yours baby. Now, on a serious discussion. You know what im into right” he said softly, brow raised slightly.

Steve nodded looking at his cup, and embarrassed flush working its way up his neck, “ yeah I do Eds”

“and you’re sure okay with that, if not I’m totally one hundred percent down for vanilla sex with you, no pressure baby" Eddie rushed out.

Steve met his eyes and smiled, “ I didn’t say I wasn’t down for your kinky fucking Eds, so take a breath , I just don’t know what I’m fully into. Other than hair pulling and choking”

“ I can work with that” Eddie said grabbing one of Steve’s hands, “ we can work it out together yeah?”

“Yeah” Steve grinned again and swallowed, “I uh-“ Steve cut himself off, suddenly nervous.

“hey, safe space remember” Eddie said softly.

“I want us both to be tested, before yankow” Steve said, flailing his other hand around, “ I uh, saw the hickies Eds” his eyes sad.

Eddie winces, he had gone out of town for the weekend a few weeks ago, to get his tattoos added too, and he had hooked up with an old friend . He hadn’t even tried to hide them. Or the nail marks on his back, which he had been sure that Steve had also seen, at his pool . Well Fucking shit

“Steve, baby if i wouldda known, i-" Steve cut him off.

“Its fine Eddie, you didn’t know. But it doesn’t matter now, were together. No-one else matters” his hand tightened on Eddies.

Eddie pulled his hand away and stood, making his way around the table to stand in front of Steve, mirroring his position from earlier on, and took his boyfriends( fuck he’ll never get used to that) face in his hands and said,

“I promise only you, and we’ll go get tested whenever you want"

“Tomorrow?” Steve asked hopefully.

“Eager are we princess” Eddie said playfully, squeezing Steve’s face.

“ Well I would really like your dick in my mouth as soon as possible” 

Eddie let out a wounded noise, his hand moving to Steve’s hair, tugging slightly, “Behave” 

“ Yes sir" Steve said playfully.

And Eddie froze, arousal flooded though his veins like red hot lava, his skin flushed, white noise appeared in his ears for a split second and he took a step back from Steve, breathing heavily. 

His voice was think when he managed to get out, “ You’re playing with fucking fire princess. And once we get the all clear, you’re going to beg me to stop" his eyes locked on Steve, who was breathing a little heavier. His face was flushed, cheeks dusted in pink. Mouth open slightly.

Oh

Oh

“Promise" 

“Oh, I promise”

They managed to keep their hands off each other long enough to make it out of the trailer, they ventured into town, strolling next to each other like Eddie hadn’t just sucked a possessive hickie into the side of his neck twenty minutes ago, which was very visible due to it being hotter than Satan’s asshole  outside. 

Eddie hair was pulled up out of his face, baby hairs still clung to the back of his neck with sweat. His shirt clung to him and he had sweat in places that he didn’t know he could sweat, but he was walking side by side with his boyfriend  and he couldn’t care less. 

Despite not being out long, the sun had already started turning Steve’s shoulders pink, so they made their way back to Steve’s. Entering the house, the air-conditioning blasted them with freezing air and both men let out a sigh as it cooled their over heated skin. 

Eddie looked at the pool and said, “ wanna go for a dip"

Steve stiffened, shoulders under his ears; neck to toes stiff. He had stopped half way into the kitchen, eyes locked on the pool outside the patio doors,

“ Steve baby" Eddie said softly moving around to cut Steve off from his view of the pool. Slowly, he reached out and tentatively placed his hands on the pink shoulders,

“I’m gonna need you to let that breath out Stevie” Eddie said softly.

And Steve did, with a gasp. Dots swam in his vision as he sucked in the cool air to his lungs. His entire body was locked stiff as his eyes met Eddies,

“I can’t” he choked out, his tongue too thick for his mouth, “ the pool isn’t safe”

Eddie took Steve face in his hands, “ you’d never let our kids in there if it wasn’t safe"

“I can protect them from the outside” he breathed, “ I can get them out. S'why I never get in, I haveta be fast"

Thumbs stroked Steve’s cheeks softly, “I used to love swimming, I’d spend hours in that pool. Then Barb got killed in that pool. And every time I look at it, my whole body seizes up and I can’t move” Steve breathed, “ Im on edge the entire time the kids are in that pool, but I can’t take that away from them"

Steve voice shook and lodged in his throat, his hands had somehow made themselves lock around eddies wrists. He would give anything to be able to even dip his feet in the cooling water, he’s tried multiple times, but he would get to the edge and back the fuck out.

On one occasion he got drunk and found himself looking at the bottom of the pool, eyes tracking the small waves as the water lapped at the sides; and he stepped in. 

He almost drowned himself that night, water had filled his lungs and he had flailed about, smacking his head off the tile, he managed go pull himself out. He was admitted to the hospital a week later with pneumonia.

Eddie tapping his face brought him back, his breathing had somewhat turned to normal, “ it one of the many fucking reasons why i don’t sleep" he closes his eyes, “ I see her face, her hands reaching for me, pulling me under. And I don’t fucking blame her. I got her fucking killed because I was too busy fucking Nancy” He opened his eyes to meet Eddies,  they were soft, understanding.

“ I started going to the quarry a few months after my first stint with The Upside Down. I used to stay far from the edge you know" his fingers flexed on Eddie’s wrists, he licks his lips, the cool air suddenly too dry,

“ I’d gradually get closer, kicking the rocks over the side. Listening to them break the surface. And then I remember getting so close to the fucking edge, that I could see the rocks tumbling down” he paused, swallowing heavily.

Eddie listened, taking in every word that Steve said, and he could already feel what was coming next. He could feel his heart thudding in his chest, so hard Steve could probably hear it.

“ that was the first time I thought about stepping over"

And Eddie’s heart stopped. He couldn’t imagine a world without Steve in it. By his side. He couldn’t imagine never feeling Steve’s skin under his hand, never kissing him again. Never hearing him laugh at Dustin or tell the brats off. Or bicker with Robin.

To never hear his voice again. There could be no other torture for Eddie to endure. 

Yanking Steve into his chest, he felt the tip of Steve’s cold nose  on his neck and he tightened his arms around him.

“ I’ll never fucking let you take that step, ever” Eddie hissed into Steve’s hair.

“I know Eds, I made a promise remember” Steve mumbled into Eddie’s neck and tightened his arms around the others waist, slipping his arms under the t-shirt, fingers digging into the bottom of Eddie’s back.

“I know sweetheart, I know”

Dustin hesitated at the entrance to the kitchen his backpack slipped from his fingers, his heart was in his stomach and tears pooled in his eyes, he had caught the tail end of the conversation and his heart had broken. Splitting into two before tumbling into his stomach. He felt like he was going to be sick, his brother was hurting so so bad .

Swallowing thickly he shuffled into the kitchen and Eddies eyes caught his,

“Dustin" 

Steve’s entire body snapped around to him, and Dustin could see the tears pooling in Steve’s tired eyes. As he knew that Dustin had heard, he stumbled forwards and collapsed to the floor, the sound of his knees hitting the tile echoed in kitchen.

“You promised” Dustin said, his voice wet, “ you promised you were okay"

Steve took Dustin’s face in his hands, “ I know, I know I did Dust"

“You lied”  it came out broken.

“I know" Steve’s voice broke as Dustin lunged at him.

Eddie watched as the two embraced. His eyes stung and his heart ached. They stayed like that for a while, whispering, Steve apologising.

When they broke apart, Steve looked to Eddie and said,

“Will you call the others, I think i need to talk to our family" Steve said softly.

Eddie nodded and made towards the phone, he stopped and brushed Steve’s hair from his face, desperately trying to ignore that Steve was on his knees before him, chill the fuck out man, with your horny ass.

“Of course baby"

As Eddie walked to the phone in the dining area, a grin broke out on his face as he heard from the other room, As Dustin screeched, 

“BABY?!”

Chapter Text

 Steve paces the living room like a caged animal; gnawing at his fingernails as his eyes bouncing from Eddie to Dustin and back. Eddie had rang the others, all of them.

There not going to want you now Stevie boy. The voice hissed.

He felt sick. Like there was a heavy ball of anxiousness waiting to rip though his stomach and fall to the floor. He wasn’t supposed to be like this, he wasn’t supposed to be weak. He wasn’t supposed to be a disappointment. He was supposed to be strong , he had fought against things that shouldn’t even exist ;with a fucking bat of all things. With his bare hands and teeth.

He was King Steve. Or he used to be. He tried not to think of what his life would be like if he was still King Steve. He probably wouldn’t have Dustin and the other brats. He defiantly wouldn’t have Eddie. His Eddie. Sweet. Soft. Caring Eddie. Eddie who held him trough his panic attacks, who made him feel safe, wanted. Eddie who even though he probably had the worst fucking nightmares imaginable, still listened to him ramble and comforted him while he cried. Who held his cracks together with ducktape and glue.

Steve flinched as there was a knock on the door. His entire body went stiff and his eyes locked with Eddies. “Its okay sweetheart" he said softly, squeezing Steve’s hand as he walked past the scared man to open the door.

The rest of the party filed in, including Joyce, Hop, Nancy, Robin and Jonathan. The kids settled on the sofa, all but sitting on top of each other. The adults made themselves comfy on any free surface they could find, curled around each other, eyes filled with concern, and Steve could feel those eyes on him, burning into his flesh. Soft murmurings of his name.

A cold sweat broke out over him, his heart rate picked up into a steady thump thump thump. He could feel his hands trembling at his sides as he looked at their faces.

You’re such a disappointment Steven. The voice hissed, sounding way too much like his dad.

His breathed hitched and he felt like he was drowning, his head filled with white noise, his ears ringing. His lungs screamed at him to breathe. He tried to suck in a breath but it lodged in his throat ; catching making him cough. He didn’t want to disappoint them, any of them.

His chest ached like Vecna himself had ripped his sternum from his chest, pulling his ribs with him as he went. His head span and he could feel his eyes rolling. Until cold metal touched his face and his eyes refocused and they locked on Eddie’s. The hands felt like too much at first, the cold metal burning into his over heated skin, Steve tried to pull his face away with a undignified noise; but they held firm.

“Stevie sweetheart, you need to breathe” Eddie said softly. Steve opened his mouth to reply but nothing came out other than a pained breath. “ I know, I know you’re fucking scared" Eddie whispered, “ you’re terrified of what they think right?” Steve managed a small nod.

His chest constricted so hard he thought his ribs would break. “well I can tell you right now, they won’t judge you, or pity you" Eddie stroked the wet cheeks softly, “ they love you. The kids fucking worship you. You’re Joyce and Hop's kid for fucks sake. They just want you safe"

“There’re gonna think I’m weak" Steve choked out, “ that m'broken"

There was another set of hands on him, small and dainty Joyce. Steve turned his head, Eddies hands following. Joyce’s eyes were glassy; red rimmed, her voice watery as she spoke, “ oh my baby. You’re not broken. You’re brave, and strong and have a heart of fucking gold" she gripped his arm. “What ever is going on, you can tell us baby"

His breathing still shaky, he pulls in a breath that feels like his lungs are filled with nails. “ It started after I learnt about the upside down and what really happened to Barb"

He preceded to split his chest in half and held his heart in his hands. He told them about the sleepless nights and how the shadows morphed into the things they fought. How he still slept with the bat beside his bed, his body coiled ; ready for a fight.

He choked on his tears as he told them that his migraines could get so bad that he would hallucinate, he would see his father and his taunting words calling him a disappointment and a good for nothing, a fuck up.

His whole body shook like it was trying to break him apart as he told them that he never wanted to be King Steve that his parents wanted him to be. They decided everything for him, and how he was afraid of them. ( he saw Hop stiffen out of the corner of his eye, hard jaw set)

He told them that after the Russians, he couldn’t stand ice-cream anymore, or the sound of a carrousel. His eyes locked on Max's as he choked out that he was sorry and how guilty he felt over Billy I should have noticed I’m sorry.

He begged them to forgive him for being too late to stop them from getting hurt , for being too weak to keep them safe from Vecna.

Steve clutched at Eddies wrists, nails probably digging into the flesh, he eventually got to the point that he was dreading. His throat closed up again and he sucked in breaths through his nose. “I started driving out to the quarry when I couldn’t sleep. I would just throw rocks over the edge, standing as far back as I could.” His eyes bounced from each person in the room, “ eventually I got closer, until I could see the rocks ripples in the surface, my feet hanging off the edge. And I just had a thought, of what it would be like to just fall, to be free " Gasps filled the room, choked off sobs echoed in his ears. “ but I’d never do it I promised, you have to believe me. I promise"

Steve begged hysterically. His whole body collapsed, Eddie going with him. Bodies crowded around him, multiple pairs of hands touching him in some way, grounding him. Enough time had passed for Steve’s entire body to seize up, his eyes ached and his face felt raw.

No-one had said anything, sniffs and hiccups could be heard echoing in the living room. Hands carefully pulled him up off the floor, his entire body protesting against the movement. He was pulled away from Eddie, a distressed whimper leaving his throat( he would be embarrassed about this later) but he was pulled to a strong, firm chest. The scent that hit his nose was entirely Hop.

The tears started again, a hand was in his hair and soft words were gruffly whispered in his ear. “You’re safe kid, I’ve got you" Hop whispered carefully. Steve gripped onto the flannel shirt, trying to Bury himself in Hop’s comfort.

Steve let out a broken “Dad” and Hop held him tighter.

“We’ve all got ya kid. You don’t have to do this alone you know" Hop stroked his hair, his gruff voice watery “ you’re too stubborn for your own good. I love you, we all do. And seeing you like this, it’s killing us”

Steve sniffed, “I didn’t want to let you down"

Hop pushed him back slightly, moving his strong, calloused hands to Steve’s face, “ you haven’t let anyone down kid. You’ve gone through shit that no kid should have to go through, you’ve got shitty parents, but ya didn’t let it shape you ” Hop paused, “ you took on six kids like they’re your own, and you love them unconditionally”

“Yeah" Dustin piped up, his voice watery, Steve looked at him, “ you’re the best goddammed babysitter we could ask for"

There was a chorus of agreement, from kids and adults alike. Steve let out a watery laugh as Hop was pushed out of the way, and he has six pairs of arms wrapping around his waist. Holding him tight; holding him together.

His eyes locked with Eddie’s and they shared a soft smile.

The Party didn’t want to leave Steve, the adults either. It took a bartering of Eddie staying with him for them to go home. He was crushed in numerous hugs, a smack to the back of the head off Robin, next time talk to me dingus followed by a rib cracking hug. And the house was eventually quiet.

Eddie took Steve in his arms and asked,” You okay baby?”

“I feel like I’ve wringed myself dry, I’m fucking exhausted” Steve muttered into Eddies chest. All the crying had left Steve with sweat sticking to his skin, he felt awful.

Humming,( like Eddie could read his mind) Eddie let Steve go and grabbed his hand and led him upstairs to Steve’s room (again, not mentioning how bland it was, there was nothing of Steve in that room), and pulled him into the bathroom attached.

“You, are going to run yourself a bath. And I am going to cook you some food" Eddie began, “ then we're going to bed, we're not going to think about the upside down, or quarries or anything evilesque , okay”

Steve just blinked his raw eyes and nodded. Eddie pressed a soft kiss to Steve’s sore, bitten lips and said, “ good boy"

Brown eyes watched Eddies back as he walked away. His skin was warm, his blood felt like hot liquid syrup running through his veins, his head was fuzzy as he ran his bath ; tipping an obscene about of bubbles in said bath. He stripped and stepped into the hot water, hissing as it burnt his feet.

Sinking into the liquid heat, Steve settled against the bath. Taking a deep breath as the heat sinking into his bones, washing away the exhaustion of the day, rinsing away the rest of his emotions. The room was silent, the soft lapping of the water filling the silence as Steve closed his eyes and sank further into the water, letting the bubbles cover the skin on his neck; the hickie throbbing slightly.

Eddie sucking that hickie onto his neck felt like a life time ago. Everyone had taken what he said better than he thought they would, be thought that they would disown and abandon him at the drop of a hat, leave him to deal with his tears on his own.

His father’s scathing voice whispered in the back of his head, Harrington men don’t cry.

Steve let out a soft laugh “ we’ll this one fucking does"

There was a knock on the door, and Eddie entered holding a bowl of pasta, kicking the door behind him, he walked over to the side of the bath and crouched down, sitting eye level with Steve.

“I couldda got out you know” Steve said, opening his eyes.

“Nah, you ain’t doing anything other than relaxing Pretty boy, now open wide" Eddie finished as he held a fork full of chicken pasta up go Steve’s lips. They chatted between bites, nothing to heavy( they laughed about Dustin’s reaction to Eddie calling him baby, they’ll tell the others eventually) Eddie would press kisses to Steve’s lips, cheeks, face; any place he could reach.

Eventually the pasta was gone and Steve was falling asleep. Eddie left as he told Steve to finish up, returning a few minutes later with a pair of sweats and one of his own Metallica t-shirt. Eddie was lounged on Steve’s bed when the other came out of the bathroom, towelling off his wet hair. The brown haired man joined Eddie on his own bed, curling into the others side.

A strong arm came around him, pulling him closer ; a kiss pressed to his forehead. He went to speak but Eddie shushed him.

“ You don’t need ta say anything, you sure as hell don’t need to fucking apologise” Steve let out a disgruntled noise, “ i know you Stevie. You wanted them t’know , now they do" Eddie paused to brush the damp hair away from Steve’s face, his eyes locking with bloodshot brown.

“Right now, ya need to fucking sleep. An ill be here to keep you safe and fight off any monsters that come for you yeah" Eddie smiled softly at Steve’s eye roll, “ Now sleep pretty pretty”

Steve’s body warmed again, his brain went like goo and his body relaxed, “ I really like it when you do that"

“Do what" Eddie asked grinning.

“Give me nicknames"

“I know you do baby, and I’ll give you as many as you want. Now I won’t tell you again, sleep" Eddie said gently.

Steve’s body complied for him, be good for Eddie his brain supplied as it shut down. Eddie felt Steve’s body go lax and his breaths eventually even out.

Eddies heat had broke when Steve laid his heart out to the others, although he had know before, it hurt knowing how much Steve hurt. How much guilt he held for things that were out of his control. He knew that Steve was more worried about them leaving him abandoning him, leaving him behind like his parents.

Over the past months, Steve had let slip some things about the Harrington’s. About how much of a hard ass his dad was, that he wasn’t afraid to smack his son around when he didn’t get the response he wanted. How his mother was a mean drunk, then pretended to be a loving mother the next morning. How from the age of 10 they left him alone in the museum of a house.

Eddie instinctively tightened his arms around Steve as he shuffled in his sleep, and Eddie sighed. His brain was too fried to think about anything else right now, he needed to sleep himself. So he curled Steve closer to himself, slotting his leg between Steve’s and let his eyes close, the final thought that seeped into Eddies brain was,

I’m so deeply fucking gone for this man

Chapter Text

Steve and Eddie woke slowly, their limbs were sleep heavy and soft. They were in a cocoon of warmth and comfort, wrapped so tight around each other that they didn’t know where the other started or ended. 

Eddie presses soft kisses to the freckles that were splashed across the back of Steve’s neck and shoulder; he made sure to pay particular attention to the scar on his neck. He nuzzled the soft hair on the back of Steve’s head, his nose filled with Steve’s sleepy scent. The expensive shampoo he used and the salt of the sweat that had begun to build while under the quilt.

A wave of possessiveness flowed through him as he realised that he was the only person to see Steve like this, all sleep mussed and soft. His perfect hair plastered to the side of his face; eyes puffy and crusted with sleep. Dribble dried in the  corner of his mouth; wet patch on the pillow. His limbs like goo and still sleep warm.

Steve turned slowly, burying his face in Eddies neck, his lips resting just in the juncture when neck meets shoulder, the warm metal of his necklace pressing into his lips slightly. He could feel Eddies fingers running up and down his back, he sighed softly.

“Good morning baby" Eddie said softly.

“M'nin" Steve mumbled into the skin.

They laid like this for a while longer until Steve’s stomach rumbles, causing them both to laugh.

“C'mon princess, let’s feed you" Eddie says as he pressed a kiss to the main of hair, and reluctantly pulls away.

Leaving the warmth of the bed, just to be met with gross sticky warmth is not how Eddie liked to start his day. The warmth he got from being wrapped around Steve was nice. Like waking up on a winter morning kind of nice.

But this heat had him opening the patio doors so there was a soft breeze entering the kitchen, it was to early for the air-conditioning yet, they wouldn’t feel the benefit of it later. 

He was alone for about twenty minutes before Steve joined him, still soft from sleep, hair a mess and clothes skewed. He’s fucking beautiful and all mine.

Eddie knew that his pupils were all but in the shape of hearts as he looked at Steve.

Said man slumped onto the stool, head resting in his hands. A cup of coffee slid into his vision and he grabbed it happily.

“Thankyou baby" He said over the rim of the cup as he took a sip.

Eddie quickly whipped up some scrambled eggs and toast for the two of them, Eddie sat across from Steve and said after a bite,

“you doin okay Darlin?” he locked eyes with Steve.

“I feel better now I’ve told them" Steve started after a minute, “ but I’m still fucking scared man" he looked at his plate, “ like, realistically I know that everyone ain’t going to abandon me. But that small fucking voice in my head, that sounds way too like my dad, is telling me that they will, that you will"

Tired eyes met soft eyes, “ I don’t know how to rely on other people Eds. I’ve looked after myself since I was ten. I’ve had to hide every fucking emotion around my parents, especially my dad. He’d rather slap me a bout and call me a fucking fag or a fairy for showing any hint of emotion" 

Murderous intent flooded through Eddies veins, it burnt so much that he shoved the plate away from him, the food in his stomach turning to ash as he listened to Steve talk.

“ I just thought I hid it better" Steve finished softly.

“You know having emotions doesn’t make you any less of a man right?" Eddie said softly.

Steve snorted around his cup, “ I know that Eds, just when you have it literally fucking beaten into you, kinda hard to forget”  Steve sighed, “Harrington men don’t cry"

Eddie tried not to think of a terrified Steve as a kid, cowering in his bedroom trying not to cry. His fingers crack as he clenched them hard enough for his nails to bite into the palm of his hand. If he ever met Steve parents, he might actually go to jail.

They sit in silence for a while, neither of them eating or drinking, just looking at each other. Steve doesn’t know how much time passes before he breaks the silence.

“We still gonna go get tested today" he asks softly.

Eddie grins, “ of course sweetheart”

Once they’re both dressed, Eddie presses a ring into Steve’s hand. It was his favourite; the devil . Said man looks at it and smiles softly,

“You giving me your ring Munson” he asked playfully

Eddie grins, dimples out in full force, “ damn fucking straight I am, want you to wear it on your ring finger baby, so everyone knows you’re mine”

Steve slips it on without a second thought, the metal heavy on his finger. Flexing his fingers, the metal bites into the skin slightly, its a welcomed pressure.

Eddie takes said hand and presses a kiss to the ring.

Steve grins and pulls away from his boyfriend( his heart skips a beat at the thought ) and lunges towards his wardrobe. He rifled through the clothes before he grabs a jacket, its a black varsity bomber  jacket with the tiger embroidered on the back. And where the jacket would rest over his heart, there was SH embroidered. Embarrassment suddenly floods through him, this is a stupid idea, he probably won’t fucking wear it anyway.

Shuffling over he holds out the jacket, eyes not meeting Eddie’. He feels the fabric being tugged away from him, then his face is being nudged up,

“You do realise, once its cold. I’m never taking this fucking jacket off right" Eddie whispered.

“Really, it’s stupid you don-"

Eddie cut him off with a kiss, just a soft press of lips against his and he let out a small sigh, pressing himself closer. Eddie wrapped the hand still holding the jacket around his waist, the teeth pressing into the bottom of his back as the dark haired man deepens the kiss.

A noise leaves Steve’s throat as Eddie’s tongue swipes across his bottom lip, He can feel Eddie’s tongue swipe on the roof of his mouth and his knees go weak as the man sucks his tongue into his own mouth. 

Steve grips Eddies shoulders, trying his best to adhere himself to the other man. He could feel the press of Eddies muscles on his, his half hard cock against his thigh; and Steve was fairing no better. 

Eddie pushes them back against Steve’s desk, his Jean clad knee slotting between Steve’s, putting the smallest amount of pressure on the half hard cock had Steve whining in the back of his throat. He makes the prettiest noises. 

A grunt leaves Eddies throat as Steve shifts his leg and his thigh bruises against his own rapidly hardening dick. He knows they should stop because he was half a second away from throwing Steve on the bed and taking him apart noise by noise. So with the strength of Satan himself, he pulled away.

Eddies breaks them apart gasping for air, and the hand not holding tightly onto Steve’s  waist grabs his jaw gently holding him in place so Eddie can trail his eyes up from the spit slick lips to lust blown brown eyes; he  whispers, lips so close to Steve’s; he’s sure he can feel every word said.

“Don’t fucking call this stupid. This is the best fucking gift anyone has given me. And I can’t fucking wait to wear it" he trails his lips to Steve’s ear, whispering, “I can’t wait to show everyone who I belong to, who I get to cherish, to fuck, to ruin”

Steve’s knees go weak and a moan rips from his chest. “ we better go get tested. Now. Or I ain’t gonna wait Ed”

Eddie nipped his ear, his voice dropping dangerously low“ Oh you’ll be good baby boy , and you’ll wait because I promise, you’ll be begging me for a break"

If Steve had to escape to the bathroom for ten minutes before they left, it was no ones business. And If Eddie cackled as he waddled off, well he can go fuck himself.

Steve never used to be afraid of needles. That was until his first run in with the upside down, then his second; breathing in the ash caused havoc on his lungs. Everyone who went into the tunnels were hospitalised with an infection. They ran test after test; took one too many vials of blood.  Since then, needles are a no go. 

It takes the nurse a whopping thirty minutes for her to find a vein and enough blood for them to run the reverent tests, she says it’ll take five days. It’s now a Tuesday.

He waves Eddie off when the man makes his way towards him, his face pinched in concern. His leg wiggles as he sits and waits for the other man to be done. And like the over achiever Eddie is, he’s in and out in ten minutes.

They go and eat; Steve paying of course you made breakfast so suck it up Munson, they wander around the shops, buying things that they don’t necessarily need but they can; a government pay off comes in handy sometimes. They walk close enough so their fingers brush together every so often. Soft, knowing smiles shared.

They enter the stationary shop and the cool air hits them in the face, cooling the sweat that had built on their skin. They wander the shop; Eddie filling the basket with notebooks and pens. Hilighters bounce off the bottom of the basket as the Dungeon Master throws them in without a care. 

Steve shuffles idly behind the older man, not overly fussed over pens and note books, by the time they check out, Eddie has spent an ungodly amount of money on paper. 

Duel sighs echo through the Harrington household, as bags are dropped on the floor and shoes are kicked off. Steve’s scars itch something ungodly, it takes all his might not to claw at the scar on his neck. The ones on his stomach burn and ache. He tells Eddie that he’s going to shower, he needs to cool off.

While in the shower, he can hear Eddie on the phone, probably talking to Wayne. The cooler than normal shower makes his skin crawl it should be hotter , but he needs to cool down the still sensitive skin. Once he’s cooled down, he dresses in a pair of his basket ball shorts and grabs his Hydrocortisone off the side and shuffles down the stairs to Eddie. He could apply it himself, but right now he didn’t want to touch his own skin.

He wanted to rip the irritated skin off his own; he wanted to claw at it until it bled. So he didn’t trust himself to do it. So Eddie it was. 

Eddie hears Steve before he sees him, the quiet pat pat pat  of his feet on the wooden floor as he makes his way down the stairs and into the kitchen. He looks up as his love walks into the kitchen holding a tube of cream out.

“I can’t touch them" Steve says as an explanation.

Eddie just hmms and takes the tube off him. Steve stands and waits, a hiss leaving his lips as Eddie’s  cold fingers caress the heated scars,

“Are they always this warm" Eddie asks as he carefully spreads the hydrocortisone .

“I usually don’t notice, but the heat makes them fucking itch and i can’t stand to touch them" Steve whispers out. 

A shiver runs through Steve as Eddie slowly presses his fingers to his neck. He can feel his pulse pick up, thudding under his skin. He swallows thickly, his skin tingles and he closes his eyes. He gasps as Eddies lips touch the sensitive scar; its just a ghost of a touch. 

Steve doesn’t know how long it takes for Eddie to eventually move away, but he eventually opened his eyes, and big brown Bambi eyes state right back at him. Eyes that twinkle like there is a galaxy residing in them and Steve had never been so in love. 

It rests on the tip of his tongue, ready to fall into the space between them. As he opens his mouth to tell it to the world, there’s a frantic knock on his door.

The two men speed towards the door, Steve yanked it open and a sobbing Robin is in his arms.

“They know" she sobs, her breaths catching in her throat “ My parents know about Vicki”

Steve holds his best friend tighter to his chest, as Eddie closes the door, and a ring hand rests on her back, her sobs echo through the house

Chapter Text

Robin sits in the far corner of the sofa, a mug if tea held to her chest; her body curled on itself, like she was trying to make herself as small as possible. Silent tears ran down her cheeks, collecting on her chin. She hadn’t said anything to the two boys, she just let Steve lead her to the sofa, and numbly took the cup off Eddie.

Steve looked at his best friend and his heart broke, his tongue felt heavy in his mouth ; he wrung his fingers, the joints cracking. Eddie ran a soothing hand down his back, he tuned his head to look at said man.

“I don’t know what to do" Steve whispered.

“Just be there, that’s all she needs right now” Eddie replied, placing a kiss on Steve’s temple, “ look ima go back to the trailer for a bit, let you two talk”

Steve wanted to protest obviously. He was so far out of his depth he felt like he was drowning. He would take a Demogorgon over a broken friend any day. So he just nodded and stepped away from the other, Eddie squeezed his hand and reluctantly pulled away from Steve.

Robin looked up from the cup as the door clicked shut, her eyes locked with Steve’s and her lip trembled,

“they’re going to kill me, send me away" she whispered.

“Oh Rob" Steve rushed towards his friend, settling next to her; pulling her close.

“you didn’t see their faces, they looked so hurt, so disgusted. I didn’t get them chance to say anything, I just fucking ran" Robin whispered.

Steve stroked her hair, “How did they find out”

“Fucking Jason and his cronies” she hissed out, “ I just got back from seeing Vicki. They were sat at the table holding a fucking Polaroid of us kissing" a sob caught in her throat, “ that fucking pig stalked me, took my picture, gave it to my parents and outed me and i ran to the safest place I knew” 

Steve grabs the cup before it hits the floor and he all but throws it on the table, he all but pulls Robin into his lap as he holds her close. 

Red hot anger floods through him, he can feel his skin prickle. The hairs on the back of his neck stand rigid. Breaths become harder to take as his lungs constrict, Murderous intent rolls off him in waves, it would probably send people scattering if they could feel it.

He wanted to snap Jason’s neck, pull his miniscule dick off through his mouth, pull each of his organs out and feed them to him. Not to mention the others, he would cause them pain they never felt.  But Steve took a deep breath and held Robin closer.

“You can stay for as long as you need Rob" Steve whispered into her hair.

Robin just held Steve tighter. 

It took a week for Robins parents to turn up. Steve answered the door, his body blocking the entrance.

He could feel Eddie behind him, he knew the other wore a scowl and had his arms crossed. Eyes fixed on Robins parents.

The Party had arrived a few hours earlier, keeping Robin busy, as were Nancy and Jonathan.

“Mrs Buckley, Mr Buckley. Can I help you" Steve asked, voice tight.

“Is Robin here?” Mrs Buckley asked softly, “Can we talk to her, please?”

Steve eyed the parents, “ That’s not my choice, it’s up to her" protective instinct rolling off him. He felt Eddie hand grip  his shoulder, the rings digging into the flesh , he leans in and whispered in his ear, “ she said to let them in" 

Silently, Steve steps to the side and the Buckley’s shuffle in, heads down ;eyes to the floor. 

He knows that the Buckley's can feel the eyes of everyone in the house on them, waiting for them to say something wrong.

Robin locks eyes on his, she looks exhausted, “ can you give us a minute” 

They all reluctantly leave the kitchen and shuffle into the living room, Steve is the first to speak. Pacing the room, he can feel the others eyes following him. It makes his skin prickle.

“ I wanna find Jason and ring that pricks neck" he hisses out through his teeth.

“Were all with you on that one Steve, but we can’t” Nancy says, always the voice of reason.

“We can go to Dad?” Will says softly. All eyes look to him, “ he’ll help right, it’s harassment. He still harasses us, and Eddie”

Steve’s eyes snap to Eddie and they narrow slightly, “ I can handle Jason and his cronies baby” Eddie says softly.

The others don’t react to the pet name, “ Dustin” Steve says softly, eyes locking on the youngers causing him to squirm.

“ He waits for us after Hellfire. Just says stupid shit, we’re alright” Dustin blurts out and the others groan.

“Look, like Will said, we can go to dad" Jonathan adds.

Steve sighs, “Just cause Dad is accepting of us, doesn’t mean the rest of the force is" he feels Eddie slide behind him, pulling him close, “ they won’t care that Rob is outed, they’ll side with Jason, we can’t do anything about it right now. But when we do, we do it right" 

Eddie can feel the others eyes in them; pressed a kiss to Steve’s neck and says “me and Steve are a thing now, problem?” 

There’s a chorus of of course not’s  and  fucking finallys when Robin comes into the living room, holding both her parents hands.

The Party stiffens collectively preparing for a fight  and Robin smiles softly, “ were fine guys, were having Vicki over for dinner tomorrow, they want to meet my Girlfriend” 

The grin that takes over Robins face brings tears to Steve’s eyes, there’s light back in his best friends eyes and his chest feels lighter. He disentangles himself from Eddie and launches himself at Robin holding her tight.

Robin holds Steve as tight as he can, “Thank you" she whispered into Steve neck as he lets go. He can feel Robins parents eyes on him, it Mrs Buckley who talks first as she takes his  hands,

“Thankyou, for taking care of Robin. I will admit we were shocked when we got that picture” she pauses and looks at her daughter, “ but nothing would ever stop us from loving her. It doesn’t matter if she loves a boy or a girl, as long as she’s happy" 

Steve’s smile is a bit watery as he smiles at them, “ she’s very lucky to have you” he squeezes Mrs Buckley’s hands and excuses himself.

The bathroom door slams as Steve tries to control his breathing. Tears burn in his eyes making them ache, he was happy for Robin, he really was. He would give anything anything  to have parents that would love him no matter who he loved.

But he knew that would never happen, he knew that if his parents found out that he was with Eddie or even had Gay friends, they would kill him. Like literally kill him. His chest constricted as the tears spilt over .

He heard the door shut downstairs, guilt fills him as he didn’t see Robin off but he couldn’t bring himself go to back downstairs, he couldn’t surround himself with the loving parents of his best friend.

The metal of his ring clicked off the sink and he lifted his hand and pressed the horns with his other hand. The metal bit into his skin, grounding him again. His lungs still burned as he sucked in air, he hadn’t even realised that he was panicking.

He felt pathetic, his best friend had had the best outcome, her parents accepted her, but here he was having a panic attack over the fact that his parents would never love him enough to accept who he was. 

He had come to terms that something was wrong with him. You’re pathetic Steven.  You can’t even be happy for your friend without making it about you.  Vecna should have killed you.  The voice hissed in his head.

A whimper echoes in the bathroom, bouncing off the walls as Steve slides to the floor with a thud.

Ten sets of eyes snap to the ceiling as they hear a dull thud. They know that it’s Steve, Eddie goes to stand but Jonathan stops him.

“I’ll go, you just keep the brats occupied yeah" 

Jonathan takes the stairs two at a time until he gets to Steve’s bedroom. He hates that there’s nothing that screams Steve3’ in the bedroom, no personal items other than the group picture that he took himself, a small smile tugs at his lips.

He makes his way to the door and opens it slowly.

His heart crumbles slightly at the sight of Steve, the man had slowly gone to a person that he couldn’t stand, to his brother. 

Jonathan walked into the bathroom and slowly lowered himself onto the floor next to Steve, their shoulders pressing together. 

“You okay" he asks softly.

“Yes, no I-" Steve sighs, “I don’t know. I’m happy for Robin, like over the fucking moon for her. But at the same time" he stops, sentence trailing off.

“at the same time you want what she has" Jonathan finishes.

Steve just nods and let’s his head rest against the wall, “ I would give anything to have parents that love me for who I am"

Jonathan snorts and nudges Steve’s shoulder, “ you do dumbass, just cause they ain’t blood, doesn’t mean they don’t love you like a son.” The two lock eyes, “ you’re basically my brother Steve, don’t ever forget that"

A lump lodges it’s self in Steve’s throat and he tries to swallow past it, a tear leaks down the side of his face, followed by another and he cant stop himself from breaking the damn.

“Y'know, my dad actually said he would kill me if he found out I had friends that were gay or if I was." Steve whispers into the bathroom, “ I was ten, Tommy stayed over and we slept in the same bed. He waited until Tommy went home until he beat the living shit out of me , he cared more bout the Harrington name being sullied over his own son" 

A ranged breath falls from his lips, “I’m terrified that he’ll come home and find out about Eddie, I’d let him kill me before any harm fucking comes to him, to any of you"

Jonathan takes his hand and squeezes it tightly, “Listen to me cause I’m only gonna say this once, if your dad does come back, he won’t lay a finger on you. Or Eddie ; anyone. And with how Hop fucking despised your dad, I’m sure he’d like to throw the first punch"

Steve let’s out a watery laugh and laces his fingers with Jonathan’s, “I love you, yaknow”

Jonathan smiles and bumps his forehead with Steve’s, “I love you too, brother” 

That’s how Eddie finds them twenty minutes later, eyes closed leaning into each other for comfort

Chapter Text

The days passed quickly after Robin went home. Steve and Eddie still spent an ungodly amount of time together; which was mostly interrupted by one of the brats asking for something. And due to the guilt that he was riddled with, he could never say no to them; especially when one of his kids came to him after a nightmare or if they were sad.

First it was Lucas, Steve was waiting for him after basketball practice, the team had come out of the gym, laughing while roughhousing. They has split off from each other, going to their respective cars; and Lucas’ smile dropped. His face blank. Void of any emotion.

Steve lent against the car, waiting for Lucas to approach him, when the younger did, he could see how tried the other looked, his heart constricted. He carefully reached out and placed his hand on the side of Lucas’ face.

“You doing alright kid?” Steve asked softly.

Lucas nodded against his hand, “Yeah, just a tough practice”

Steve knew that he was lying, deflecting. Dropping his hand, Steve tried not to wince as he knew that Lucas had probably learnt that off him. Asshole.

They got in the car and drove in silence, once they reached the Sinclair household, Lucas just muttered a quiet thanks and got out the car without another word.

Finishing the rest of his errands seemed to take forever, he didn’t have that much to actually do. But his mind wouldn’t stop floating back to Lucas. One of his kids was hurting and it hurt him more than any Demo-bat bite ever would.

His hands can't keep themselves still, they shake as he picks up the plate to put it back in the cupboard, his stomach aches as the food that he ate hours ago rests heavily in the bottom of it. His mind can't help but go to the worst-case scenario of that Jason and his cronies had got to him, again.

Taking a deep breath so deep that it makes his lungs hurt. He almost jumps out of his skin when the door slamming echoes through the house, his whole-body freezes when he sees the exhausted Lucas, he has a backpack slung over his shoulder, when his tired eyes meets Steve’s and a quiet, can I stay here for a few days. Leave his mouth, Steve pulls him into a tight hug, and if he can feel Lucas’s exhausted body shake with quiet sobs, he just holds Lucas tighter.

They each sit on the sofa, Steve holding a cup of coffee and Lucas holds a cup of hot chocolate, they’ve been sat in silence for the past hour, but Steve refuses to force the other to talk, his father did that enough with him.

Eventually Lucas takes a breath and speaks, “I keep seeing Vecna kill Max” Steve looks at Lucas, “we don’t get him in time and she dies and I can't save her. I see her bleeding out every time I close my eyes and I can't stop it, she doesn't blame me, but I blame myself, I never stopped.”

Steve takes the cup from the trembling fingers and places it on the table. He slides over to Lucas and slides his arm over his shoulder and pulls him close. Lucas leans heavily into his side, soaking up the comfort from him. His small body trembles and Steve presses his lips into Lucas’s hair,

“I can't promise that the nightmares will stop, I still get them, you know I do. But you have every one of us here to support you and help any way we can” He whispers in to his hair, “I promise that no one blames you, especially not Max. You got to her; you saved her. And kicked Jason’s ass in the process”

That gets a chuckle from the younger boy, “My parents try you know, but they don’t get it, they never will” Lucas whispered.

“Yeah, I know. You know you’re welcome to stay for as long as you need, as long as your parents know where you are” Steve says softly.

“They know where I am, they always do, they know that I'm safe with you” Lucas says into the quiet room.

So, Lucas stays, they move effortlessly around each other, neither of them bothered by the close proximity that they sometimes have or the invasion of space.

A few days pass and Lucas seems to be sleeping better, the first night he stayed he woke Steve screaming, it takes all of thirty seconds for Steve to reach the spare room and wake the other. Lucas sobs in his arms until he falls into an exhausted slumber.

Will is the next to come to him, Steve would question, in years to come why Will didn’t go to Jonathan, but he would never turn the young Byers away. The young boy looked upset, like he had spent countless nights wake, crying. So, the first thing Steve did was wrap him in a tight hug and held him close, his hand cradling the back of his head.

He calls Joyce and Hopper, letting them know that Will was safe and sound and that he wanted to stay for a few days. His heat filled with warmth when Hop said he loved him, I love you too Hop, and he put the phone down.

It takes longer for Will to talk to him, it's almost three days before Will speaks to him. He had heard Will talking to Lucas late at night, talking in hushed voices, and whispered laughs.

Steve is sat in the love seat in the Living room with Eddie wrapped around him like a second skin, the metal heads face is shoved into his neck when Will shuffles into to the room. He’s biting his lip and the look on his face looks like he’s scare, terrified even.

Steve pulls away from Eddie and sits forward in the chair, and once Eddie sees Will he moves from the chair and sits on the table, leaning on his knees, eyes on the young boy.

“You okay Will?” Steve asks softly, like talking to a spooked animal.

The air is thick in the room, the tension is slightly suffocating and as usual, Steve feels so far out of his depth it's not funny in the slightest. As the two adults wait, Steve can't help but play with his ring and he and he can see Eddie doing the same.

“How did you both know you liked boys” Will asks softly. His voice watery and sad.

“For as long as I can remember really” Eddie says softly, his wide eyes locked on Will, “I especially knew when I made it to high school” His eyes flick to Steve, “There was this boy a few years below me, he looked so sweet and kind. Turns out he was a huge asshole, but I still had the biggest crush on him”

Wills eyes locked on him and they looked watery, “Did you ever talk to him”

Eddie shakes his head, “Nah, we both ran in different circles, his friends didn’t like mine, cause we were different, we were nerds and they were the jocks. He never did anything cruel to us though” Eddie paused and laughed, “He actually stopped Tommy from breaking my nose”

Steve felt his body stiffen slightly, he turned his head to look at Eddie but the other was already looking at him, and Eddie smiled at him softly, “He had the most fucking ridiculous hair that I just wanted to mess up, but I couldn’t bring myself to talk to him and I pined from a distance. Turns out all it takes is for a super powered monster trying to rip the world in half for him to notice me”

Steve’s tongue feels too big for his mouth and his heart is pounding way to hard in his chest for him not to be having a heart attack, He forces himself to look back at Will and swallows thickly,

“I uh kinda always knew I liked both boys and girls too. I denied it for a long time though” Steve says softly, “I first knew I liked boys because I had a crush on Tommy. I thought he hung the fucking moon, turns out he was just a massive asshole, not that I was any better” He flicks his eyes to Eddie, then back to Will.

The younger is looking at him expectantly, waiting for him to finish, “but then there was this sweet, quiet boy a few years above me, Tommy and the others always used to go after him, and then one day the quiet boy turned into an outspoken boy and he made me laugh. I used to find it funny that he wore a shirt with the devil's face on it cause he was far from the devil”

Wills eyes widen as they bounce from the two adults in front of him, “wait, you both...” he trails off.

“Yeah, the world works in mysterious fucking ways doesn’t it” Eddie says softly.

Will nods and wrings his fingers so hard he looks like he’s about to pull them out of the sockets, “Does that mean Mike might like me one day, too or is there something wrong with me”

And Will says it with so much hope and pain in his voice that tears fill Steve’s eyes. He lunges himself off the chair and pulls Will in to his arms and holds him so tight he worries that he might break him. He can feel Will crying against his chest and he can't help the tears that fall from his own eyes,

“Sometimes, you'll love someone who’ll never love you how you want them too, and it'll hurt, it'll hurt so much you feel like it’s the end of the world and like you can’t breathe” Steve manages to get out, and he feels Eddie slide behind him, holding them both.

Will continues to sob into him, “But one day I promise you, that you'll find someone that you love, and they’ll love you back and it will feel like you can breathe again” Steve nudes him back slightly and takes Wills tear stained face in his hands, “You survived the end of the world four times, I promise you'll survive this, you'll get your happy ending”

The three of them stand like this for a while until Will yawns, “Go get some sleep little brother, you know where we are if you need us”

Eddie and Steve watch Will shuffle off, they can hear Lucas’s You deserve better than Mike anyway and the door closes.

Steve turns in Eddies arms and he’s pulled close to the other, “First heartbreaks fucking suck” Eddie whispers.

“Yeah, they do” Steve whispers back, voice watery.

They stand like this for a while, until Eddie breaks the silence,

“So, you thought I was sweet” Eddie mutters.

Steve laughs, “Fuck off, you thought I had stupid hair”

“You still do” Eddie laughs back.

Steve leans back, his arms still locked around Eddie’s waist and says, “Despite the fucked-up things that Vecna did, I'm really glad I found you Eddie”

Eddie doesn’t say anything he just leans in and kisses Steve, softly and filled with as much loves as he can.

Dustin let’s himself into the house at seven pm on a Thursday night, he shoves himself between Steve and Eddie where they’re sat on the sofa, not a word muttered. He just presses himself close and closes his eyes. The two men share looks of confusion over the now sleeping boys head.

Eddie carries the sleeping boy to the guest bedroom and deposits him next to the sleeping Lucas and Will. The three seem to migrate towards each other in their sleep.

The kids sleep in late; they migrate downstairs around one in the afternoon. The three of them are all still sleep warm and sleep mussed when they sit down at the table, eyes still partially closed as the chew on the waffles that Eddie had made them. The kids seemed to have slept better being at Steve’s, not that Steve could fathom why they felt safe at his home, he never did.

Lucas and Will migrate towards the pool as the day hits its peak in heat, but Dustin stays in the house looking miserable. Eddie joins the two others in the pool, Steve settles on the sofa next to Dustin.

“You ever going to tell me what's wrong?” Steve asks softly.

Dustin side eyes him, swallowing thickly, “Just a nightmare”

Steve hums but stays quiet, he knows Dustin will talk eventually, he always does. The clock in the hallway ticks and Steve tries not to flinch at each second going by.

“You both died” Dustin whispered,” Eddie died first, cause of them fucking bats, you carried his body out of the upside down, back to his uncle” He paused taking a shuddering breath, “We had his funeral, and you were okay at first, you started smiling again and laughing. Then you went radio silent. We couldn't find you, you were declared missing” his voice broke, tears steadily streaming down his cheeks, “ Hop found you at the bottom of the Quarry”

Steve’s heart broke, shattering in to a million pieces and falling to the floor as Dustin curled into himself and sobbed. Steve wrapped his arms around the boy he loved like his own child.

He wished that the young boy had never heard the end of his conversation with Eddie. He ran his hands through Dustin’s hair, holding him impossibly tighter.

Eddie shuffled in, hair dripping and his heart broke as he heard Dustin’s sobs, he quickly wrapped his hair in a bobble on the top of his head and fell to his knees in front of his two boys; hands hovering.

“Hey, what happened” Eddie whispered softly.

Dustin tried to speak but his sobs cut off his words.

Eddie shushed him softly, hand finally resting in Dustin’s curls. And the three sat like this for what felt like hours until Dustin’s tears stopped.

When Dustin eventually pulled his face from Steve’s chest, Eddie reached out and placed his hands on Dustin’s cheeks and rubbed the tears off the red cheeks and waited for Dustin to talk.

“You both died and I cant stop seeing it so I need to be close for a few days, please”

So Dustin stayed, and his two kids became three.

And then his three became six.

El, Max and Mike all turned up at the same time. It had been about ten days since Lucas had decided he wanted to stay, the kids each went home to check in with their parents but they always came back.

If Steve wasn’t at work, he was shredding his throat shouting St the kids. He was in the middle of yelling at Dustin when he was joined by three more of his exhausted looking kids, before they had chance to talk, he sent them all for naps and for the first time in ever, they followed his instructions without argument.

Eddie takes Dustin, Will and Lucas out shopping to stock up on D&D supplies Were planning a 12 hour session Stevie. Steve had just rolled his eyes and sent them on their way Buy me a new set of dice then . The kiss that Eddie pressed against his lips was full of promise.

Max was the first to wake up, she shuffled down the stairs, her cheeks still red from sleep, her baby hairs stuck to her forehead with sweat. Steve was in the kitchen when he felt her settle against his back; glasses digging in to the skin, he continued to wash the plate he was holding.

“Me and mom keep fighting" Max muttered in to his back, a sigh leaving her body that seemed to come from her toes, “She wants to move out of Hawkins. I don’t. You’re all fucking here; Billy is here. This is my home. I think she might leave anyway" She finishes on a whisper.

Steve quickly dries his hands and turns, taking her face in his hands, “ If you ever wake up and she’s gone, you fucking come here, do you understand. Even if she comes back, you come here" Steve all be hisses out, he’ll never have one of his kids feel abandoned, not like him, “Promise me Maxine"

Max smiled slightly, Steve was the only one who could get away with calling her Maxine “I promise”

They stayed like that for a while, Steve softly stroking her cheeks with his thumbs and Max closed her eyes and let herself soak in the comfort that she never really had.

Mike and El come down a hour later, they don’t look at each other as they sit on either side of the table, Steve places a bowl of pasta down in front of El and the young girl grabs it and shuffles outside to the patio.

Steve eyes Mike and says, “You two good?”

Mike glares at the bowl like it had personally offended him, and grunts out, “ We broke up"

Steve waits for Mike to continue, knowing its hard for him to talk. Time ticks by, Max sits with El outside and Mike has nearly finished his food before he talks again.

“She figured out I liked some else. Were still friends” Mike started, looking nervous. His eyes flicked to Steve and back to the table, “ the other person I like is a b-boy" he stuttered out.

Steve let out a quite oh and stood. He settled next to Mike and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and the skinny boy lent into the touch, “ Does this boy know you like him"

Mike shook his head, “Probably not, I’m a fucking asshole to him, he probably thinks I hate him"

And it dawned on Steve, in that split second it took to register, Will his mind supplied and he gently tugged the shoulder that he was holding, so Mike would look at him,

“Mike, I think you should talk to Will" Steve said softly.

Mike stiffened, his entire body going ridged, eyes filling with tears. Steve pulled him in to a tight hug, and Mike curled in to him, sobs shaking his entire body.

“Shh, it's okay, breathe Mike it's all okay” Steve muttered into Mikes hair. Once the other had managed to calm down, he pulled away embarrassed.

“Hey, none of that, just talk to Will, I'm sure he’ll understand” Steve said softly.

“Yeah, sure he will, all I did was be an asshole to him the entire Vecna situation, even before that I was an asshole” Mike scoffed.

Steve rolled his eyes, these fucking stubborn kids, “Listen to me Kid, talk to him, trust me, he'll listen”

Mike looked at him sceptically, “Promise”

“i promise” Steve said, finality in his words. With a nod, Mike stood and joined the girls outside.

The house was plunged into chaos when Eddie and the others returned, bags full of D&D gear in tow. Dustin and Will rambled on at a thousand miles a minute and Eddie just looked at them like they hung the stars.

Steve’s insides always seemed to turn to goo when Eddie looked at his kids with such affection, he knew that Eddie would kill for them kids (hypothetically, maybe) and would protect them at any cost. Which is why he brought up the Jason situation when the kids were settled for the night.

“Eds, can I talk to you a sec” Steve said softly as to not to take away the kids' attention on the movie in front of them.

Eddie nodded and pulled himself from the middle of El and Max, ignoring their grumbles about being comfy.

They walked into the garden and settled on the patio chairs, looking over the pool. A soft breeze cooled the sweat that had stuck to their skin throughout the day, the heat was slowly decreasing but it was still way too hot.

“Anything from Jason?” Steve asked, eyes not leaving the rippling water.

Eddie grunted, “Yeah, asshole cornered the kids after Hellfire last week, didn’t get chance to do anything tho”

Steves neck almost snapped, the muscles twanged as he narrowed his eyes at Eddie, “why didn’t you tell me?” he all but hissed.

“It didn’t seem important, the Kids were fine” Eddie replied leaning forward in the chair, “Y’know I'd never let anything happen to them kids right”

Steve breathed; the unintentional anger that had flowed through him dissipated in an instant at Eddies uncertain voice,

Steve nodded and reached out for Eddies hand, “I know, I know Eds. I can't help but freak out when it comes to those brats y’know”

Eddie took Steves hand in his, running the tips of his fingers over the soft but scarred knuckles, “ I know baby, but you do realise you're probably going to have a heart attack before you're fucking thirty right”

A breathless laugh left his lips as he smiled softly at Eddie, “Yeah, probably. But I can't help but worry. They're good at fighting monsters that shouldn’t be real, but the ones that are sharing classes with them, they can't fucking fight them. Especially not Jason who has this whole backwards fucking town backing him on every move” his chest heaved, anger bubbling towards the surface.

“They don’t stand a fucking chance, even with El’s powers, which she can't fucking use without outing herself by the way, what're they going to do, roll a fucking dice and hope it grants them extra strength?” Steve hissed out through his teeth.

He doesn’t realise that he’s pacing until Eddie is grabbing his hands, grounding him, “ Look Jason needs to go" Steve finally gets out.

Eddie looks at him like he’s lost his mind, “ you mean like kill him"

“if it gets him out of our lives” Steve says hesitantly.

Eddie laughs, “ now I know you’re not being serious, you’re just stressed the fuck out, and you need to breathe and relax a bit yeah"

Steve nods and takes a deep breath, the warm air fills his lung, it makes him feel like a hot air balloon and gross but it helps. He looks at Eddie and smiles softly. He reaches forward and cups his face,

“You’re right, of course you are" Steve says softly, “I wish Vecna had got him instead of Chrissy”

Eddie laughed softly, pulling Steve into a hug,” Yeah me too" he whispered into Steve’s hair.

Steve can’t sleep, because of course he can’t. He pulled himself from Eddies arms at two in the morning, his entire being screaming at him to stay in Eddies arms and just sleep.

His brain had been running a mile a minute, unable to shut off for even a second. So here he sat outside, a blanket wrapped around his shoulders as the cool air whipped across his skin.

A small hand pressed against his shoulder and he knew it was El, he used to jump at the small touches that the kids used to press on him, now he welcomed them.

“Steve, you are sad" El said softly.

Steve looked at the young girl, she looked just as tired as he.

“I’m just tired” Steve admitted.

El settled next to him, shoulder to shoulder, “ Do you still think about the quarry?”

Normally he would lie, be defensive but he couldn’t; not with El, “Sometimes, not so much anymore” he said truthfully.

El nodded, “sometimes I wish Henry had killed me too" she whispered out, “ or I got pulled into the upside down with him"

Steve sat up, his back stiffened, “ El I-" he didn’t get to finish as she cut him off.

“ I dream of it sometimes, the quiet. How people would still be alive if I went with Henry" her eyes are locked on the water in the pool, “ I feel guilty because I couldn’t save them. I dream of their deaths all the time. It doesn’t go away"

Steve takes her hand and she looks at him, “ you’re just a kid that had too much pressure put on her shoulders, the people that died” he pauses taking a breath, “it wasn’t your fault, it was all on Henry and always will be on him"

She opened her mouth to argue but Steve didn’t let her, “ no, I’m not letting you blame yourself for something that was completely out of your control. You were forced in to something that you didn’t want, and for a second you were a normal kid when you lost your powers" he squeezed her hand tight, “ I know that’s all you wanted and you gave it up to save us, to keep us safe”

Tears trickled down her cheeks as she listened to him, with his other hand he swiped the tears away softly with his knuckles, “Now all anyone wants you to do is be a kid okay. Be stupid make mistakes, just be a kid”

El just nodded vehemently tears rolling at an alarming rate down her face and Steve pulled her in to a hug; a tight one.

By the time El went to bed it was five am, so Steve did the only logical thing and stayed awake. Once the others had finally woken, Steve had been to the grocery store, unpacked , cooked breakfast and thoroughly cleaned the kitchen. His body was coming over the other end of being exhausted, he was getting a second wind.

The kids and Eddie dug in to the full breakfast buffet he had made, Steve’s shoulders felt lighter as his kids looked more well rested then they had when they arrived.

Lucas, Max and El openly laughed. Mike and Will shared soft smiles, blushes adorning their cheeks. Dustin and Eddie bickered over how a D&D one shot had ended. And Steve felt light.

Eventually the kids went home, to their actual homes, and Steve’s nest was empty again. The house was quiet but the residual love that was left behind warmed him.

Eddies arms slid around his waist, pulling him tight to his chest, “ Its quiet"

Hmmm Steve let out, “ it is"

Eddie pressed a soft kiss to his neck, there was a rustle of paper and a letter was held out in front of him, “ I found this , I think you should open it" Eddie whispered in his ear.

His hands shook at he took the letter, ripping it open his eyes scanned the printed words,

Dear Mr Harrington,

Your recent test results have come back Negative

His brain didn’t soak in the rest of the letter as his heart began to thump in his chest, there was another letter pressed into his hand,

Dear Mr Munson,

Your recent test results have come back Negative

It was Eddies letter. They were both negative for everything.

Oh

Oh

Fuck me.

He could feel Eddies teeth sink in to his neck, sucking a bruise into the skin, pulling at the sensitive flesh.

Pulling back welly, Eddie growled into his ear, sending goose bumps down his arms and a shiver down his back, a whimper left his throat as his brain picked up a single sentence,

“I bet you’ll sound so pretty when I make you come"

Chapter Text

Steve’s heart thudded so hard in his chest he honestly thought he could feel it bouncing off his sternum. He could hear his own blood thumping through his veins.

Fuck

Fuck 

FUCK

He tried to swallow but his mouth was suddenly dry, like Sahara desert dry. He could feel sweat prickling on his hairline and nervousness bubbled under his skin making his breath hitch in his chest.

Fingers flexed on his waist and he sucked in a breath, “Eds" Steve breathed as panic bubbled in his chest.

Eddie slowly turned him around, hands gentle on his face “ shhh, its okay. There’s no rush” Eddie said softly.

“but-" Steve tried.

“no baby, there’s no pressure, if it takes six months for us to get to that point, or six years. There’s no pressure okay" Eddie said just as softly as he did before.

Did Steve feel pathetic about freaking out over having sex with Eddie, yes. But he was so so grateful to the man that he had slowly but ever so surely fell in love with. He had never felt as safe as he did when he was with Eddie.

Never in his life did Steve think that he would love someone again; not after Nancy. Not after he had spent the weeks following wallowing in booze and prescription pain meds after Jonathan hand turned his face into ground beef. Only getting out of bed to use the bathroom.

His head wasn’t on straight after the whole Demogorgon situation, then his girlfriend leaves him for the quite nerd. He fell off the rails. He was good at hiding it at first, using the meds to cope. But then his doctor cut him off, he was using too many apparently.

So he slowly learned to live without the meds, the first few days were agonising, his stomach cramped so hard he threw up the morsels of food he had in his stomach until his throat burned with his stomach bile. His sheets were always soaked with his own sweat, and the shakes; he would shake so hard he thought he would break apart.

Sometimes it hurt to breath, but then it passed and one day it didn’t hurt. He had gotten past one of the hardest points in his life and he survived it. He survived it so he could meet Eddie.

Speaking of Eddie, the man was watching him with large Bambi eyes and Steve couldn’t help himself as he wrapped his arms around Eddie’s neck; pulling him tight to his own body.

Strong arms slid under his shirt, the cold rings goosepimpled his hips as they slid around his waist to hold him.

“I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I’m so fucking glad you’re mine" Steve breathed into Eddie’s neck.

One of Eddie’s hands slid up his back to cup his shoulder to pull him ever so close, “I’m lucky to have you baby, so so fucking lucky"

The two just held each other, rocking slightly, just loving each other, and Steve felt the overwhelming urge to say it, to put it out in the universe.

The shorter man pulled back slightly so he could see Eddie’s face, the dark haired man smiled softly at him,

“I love you" Steve all but blurted out and the soft smile turned into a full blown grin that split Eddies face into two.

“I love you too Steve, so so much" Eddie breathed out.

The two fell in to soft, airy giggles that rested between then as Eddie rested his forehead on Steve’s.

Over the next weeks, Eddie made a point to drop I love yous at any given point of the day, even if the others were around, Steve remembers the first time Eddie said it around Wayne. And how the older man’s face had lit up like Christmas morning and then he proceeded to tease the ever living shit out of the two of them.

The kids just roll their eyes at them, and of course Dustin gags. But Steve couldn’t be happier, more content. 

On his weekly visit to the Hopper-Byers house hold, Steve could feel Joyce staring at him. He looked up from the potato he was peeling,

“What" he muttered out.

“Nothing sweetie, you look happy" Joyce replies softly.

Steve smiles to himself, and looks at the person he considers his mom, “ I am, I really fucking am"

Joyce reaches over and strokes his cheek softly, “ That’s good baby, I think you might want to go save your man from your dad" she says and nods towards the window.

Steve looks out the window to see a terrified Eddie nodding his head vehemently. Steve rolls his eyes and places the potato down, “Seriously, how old am I sixteen? Fucking hell"

Dropping the pot towel Steve rushes to the back door, yelling as he opens it, “Dad seriously...”

Eddie sits at the table later that night , his and Hops conversation runs through his head, he lets out a deep breath and closed his eyes.

Hop presses a cold beer into his hand as they make their way on to the back porch, Eddie takes a sip and let’s the cold beverage cool him from the inside out, his fingers flex on the cold glass as Hop clears his throat, and Eddie can feel his heart lodge in his.

“what’s your intentions with my kid" Hop asks, voice gruff.

“I wanna spend the rest of my life with him, I wanna show him how much he’s loved and how much I love him” Eddie manages to swallow even though his throat is bone dry, “ I wanna show him that he’s worth everything, and worth all the love I want to give him. And even in this bumfuck of a town, I wanna show him off, tell the world Steve Harrington is mine to love” Eddie looks at Hop, “I want to love with him, fight with him and for him, I’d kill anyone that tried to do him any harm, cause no-one will ever get to hurt him again. I wanna go to bed together after an argument, no matter how angry we are at each other, but I promise to never fucking raise my voice or hit him, he’s had too much of that .”

Eddie takes a sip of his beer, continuing after a second “ I want to spend my days teaching him D&D even though it could take days, I wanna sit on the sofa arguing about how unrealistic Star Wars is and let him put his cold fucking feet on me” Eddie can feel his eyes watering, “ I want to show him how smart he is and that he’s nothing like his fucking awful parents said he is. Because man is he fucking smart, so much fucking smarter than people give him credit for. He’s been so unloved for his entire life so I wanna spend the rest of fucking mine loving him, sir.” Eddie finished, swiping at his cheeks to remove the tears that had fallen.

Hop had to fight back his own tears, so he stayed quiet for a second; taking a deep breath, “ I’m glad he found you Eddie, I really fucking am. After the whole Nancy situation he fell into a bad place. Obviously his parents didn’t care” Hop hissed out. And Eddie grunted in agreement to Hop's hiss, “ I’d give anything to keep that boy safe from any kind of harm, but we both know what he’s like" Hop let out a small laugh.

Hop turned to Eddie and place his hand on the youngers shoulder, fingers digging in slightly, “ that being said I know you’re a good man Eddie, Wayne raised you well, and I know you love Steve, But just know if you do anything and I mean the smallest thing to make my boy feel unloved, the pain I will inflict on you will make the Demo-bat bites feel like a walk in the fuckin park. You hear me" 

Eddie nods his head vehemently, a sweat breaking out on his skin. His throat closes up slightly as he tries to take a breath. His head snaps towards Steve as he barks at Hop,

“Dad, seriously, I’m an adult, I’m not sixteen, fucking hell” 

Hop grinned at Steve sheepishly and Eddie felt his spine decompress three inches as he moved away from Hop and  pulled Steve to himself, tucking the slightly smaller man into his side. He feels Steve relax into him, and he knows that this is how he wants to stay, forever.

Eddie jumps when he feels Steve’s hand on his shoulder,

“You okay baby?” Steve asks softly.

Nodding, Eddie grabs Steve’s hand and squeezes it softly,

“Yeah I’m good gorgeous, wanna get ready for bed?”

Steve hums and let’s his fingers caress the back of Eddies neck as he moves away. He listened as his love shuffled up the stairs, knowing that it would take less than a minute for Steve to exchange his shirt for one of his band tees and fall into the bed, smashing his face against the pillows as he waits for Eddie, and Eddie didn’t like to make him wait too long.

And as Eddie predicted; Steve was face first in the pillows, dribble forming on his pillow. Eddie out a small laugh as he prepares himself for bed. He brushes his teeth and pulls his hair into a bun and falls into bed next to his love. 

Eddie pulls Steve close to himself and Steve let’s out a content sigh as he let himself melt into Eddies chest.

It wasn’t until a couple of weeks later that the bubble was popped. It started off as a regular day, the mornings were becoming more bearable as August was close to rolling into September, the heat of the day didn’t kick him in the teeth until around midday.

Steve was pulling a load of washing out when he heard the door open.

Shuffling towards the noise, Steve felt his body shut down in anger, his skin prickled; hairs standing on edge. His boys, were ruffled and streaked in dust and a bit of blood. El and Max were ruffled and dusty but looked unharmed. But Eddie, his sweet Eddie was sporting what would become a nasty black eye and a bust lip.

Blood caked his knuckles; resting in the divots of Eddies many rings, Steve was proud that he gave as good as he got.

“what happened” Steve but out as he gently shifted Will’s face from side to side. He walked into the kitchen, the others following as Mike muttered out, 

“Jason happened" 

Steve slammed the door on the freezer harder than he meant to, the whole unit rattled. Taking a deep breath, he pressed the bag of peas into Eddie’s hand, he pointed to the chairs and his kids sat and Steve began to fuss over them. And for once , they let him.

They thought he had calmed down in the hour he was fussing, but they were wrong. He had bundled them in the car, the kids were squished next to each other (not that they really minded) and Steve drove white knuckled to maybe, potentially murder Jason and his bitches.

“Steve baby you don’t need to do this" Eddie tried for the umpteenth time.

“Yeah, I really fucking do. He hurt MY kids. He hurt you. Enough is a fucking enough” Steve hissed.
Steve stopped the car with a squeal of the tires, his eyes locked on Jason and his little bitches playing basket ball. Clicking off his belt, Steve throws open the door; the others scrambling put behind him, Steve pops the trunk and pulls out his trusty bat.

Stalking towards Jason, Steve feels his shoulders lock as he lazily twirls the baseball bat. Once he reaches the edge of the court, the ball flies towards him. He swings.

The nails pierce the skin of the ball, the air leaving it in quiet hisses. Jason yells out to him and Steve ignores him in favor of pulling the now flat ball off his bat.

Throwing the flat ball to the side, Steve stalked forward towards Jason, the others seen the bat and backed off, but Jason wasn’t that smart.

“The fuck you want Harrington” Jason hissed out, and Steve smiled.

Steve stopped in front of Jason, leaving half a foot between them and he pressed the nailed bat to Jason’s chest.

“I want you to leave my kids, and Eddie alone” Steve all but hissed, and Jason made the mistake of laughing.

“I’ll leave the mini freaks alone, but the murderer, go fuck yourself" Jason laughed out.

Sucking his teeth, Big fucking mistake ,Steve removed the bat and held it out to Eddie, “hold this for me baby"

Eddie took the bat and watched as Jason’s eyes widened ad Steve lunged at him. 

The two hit the floor, Steve planted on Jasons chest, Jason’s head bounced off the tarmac as Steve slammed his fists into the others face, he could feel his knuckles split as they caught Jason’s teeth. The man below him caught him in the side of the head, causing his ears to ring.

Another fist caught him in the mouth, flooding it with blood. Spitting it out Steve pinned Jason’s arms by his side with his shins and grabbed Jason’s jaw tightly.

“listen here you prick, cause I’m just going to say this fucking  once. You come near my kids, near Eddie again and I’ll fucking kill you. You think Eddie is crazy, well you ain’t fucking seen nothin yet” Steve hisses.
He snaps his head up, blood coating his teeth; running down his chin, “ that goes for you fucks too, understand”

He looks back down at Jason, “I didn’t hear you Carver"

“I understand" Jason managed to get out around the grip on his jaw.

“Good, you best run along then" Steve said as he pulled himself up off the floor. His body aching, not feeling the jabs Jason had gotten to his ribs.

He passed Eddie(Eddie had never been so turned on in his life )and his kids, leaving Jason bleeding on the floor, his own blood dripping down his fingers, leaving a trail behind.Once they reach the car, the adrenaline wears off and his knees wobble as he lowers himself into the passenger side.
Eddie automatically gets into the drivers side and proceeds to take them home.

“Steve” Dustin says softly.

“Yeah buddy" Steve replies tiredly.

“You actually won a fight"

The car erupts in laughter. Steve laughing the hardest eve though it hurts his ribs. That little shit.

When Eddie cleans his hand later on,( after he dropped all the brats home) both shirtless, Steve cause his was covered in blood spatter, and Eddie because he didn’t want to get anymore on his. Steve hissed as the warm soapy cloth was pressed against the broken skin; he was lucky he didn’t break his hand.

Once his hand was clean, Eddie pressed a soft kiss above the broken skin, drawing a soft smile from Steve. Eddie softly dabbed at the split on his loves lip, a bruise forming underneath.

There was a bruise forming on the corner of Steve’s eye that would eventually bloom into blacks and purples; matching Eddie’s own. 

“That was pretty fucking metal you know" Eddie said softly and  he rinsed the cloth, the water turning pink.
Steve laughed softly, “ it was, wasn’t it" 

Eddie hmmed dropping the cloth in the sink, “ you didn’t have to do that yaknow"

“Yeah I know, but something just snapped and I couldn’t take the thought of one of you getting seriously fucking hurt. Maybe now that little prick will stay away. If not. I’ll keep my promise” Steve replies.

Eddie presses a kiss to Steve’s head and leads him from the bathroom. They fall into Steve’s bed, Eddie pulling the other to his chest tightly. Steve relaxes into him, letting out a content sigh.

“M'sorry I freaked out about having sex with you" Steve whispered into the darkness.

Eddie snorted behind him, “ Steve”

“yeah”

“Shut up" Eddie said softly, “ like I said, no pressure. I love you”

“I love you too" Steve replied sleepily.
Eddie listened to Steve’s breath even out and his own body started to relax. He knew they would be awake at the ass crack of dawn, but right now he was content. 

Yeah, this is forever Eddie thought as his brain finally quieted down.

Chapter Text

When Steve woke, he felt warm and his blood felt like molasses in his veins. He blinked slowly as his eyes adjusted to the still dark room; he yawned so hard his jaw clicked, followed by a zap of pain that shot up the side of his face. Suddenly registering the aches in his face, Steve slowly and gently pulled himself from Eddies arms.

His right eye still blurry as he eyed the clock, a small groan left his lips; it was 2 am.

Slipping out of bed, Steve reached for the glasses that he sometimes begrudgingly wore. Over the years, Steve had taken one too many hits to the face; most of the damage to his right eye. The subsequent damage had caused scarring on his eye, meaning that on the odd occasion, he had to wear his glasses.

It wasn’t that he hated them, he just want used to having them; he’d had 20/20 vision his entire life. Steve knew that if he didn’t wear his glasses for at least twelve hours, a migraine would soon follow.

The bathroom light flicking to life cast a yellow glow over his still slumbering boyfriend, he’d left the door open a crack, just in case the sleeping metal head woke up. Slipping his glasses on, his right eye finally adjusted and he wished it hadn’t.

The right side of his face was mottled with purples and blacks ;the darkest of the bruising on his temple. His eyelid had swelled slightly; yellow like an unripe apple, the bruising spread across his brow bone.

His lip was angry and red, crusted over with dry blood as it has reopened over night; a single line of blood trailed from his lip, disappearing under his chin.

Like the sadist he is, he pokes the bruising, a small hiss leaving his lips, Steve drops his hand and reaches for a cloth; his hand aching at the movement.

Eyeing up his hand, he can see that his knuckles had swelled enough to resemble dough balls, they would probably be the same consistency too; if he were to poke them.

The butterfly stitches were crusted with dry blood, Steve huffed a breath through his nose as he knew it would be a bitch peeling them off. But first he needed to clean his face.

Filling the sink with warm soapy water, he drenched the already blood stained cloth. Gingerly, he dabbed at his lip biting back curses as the soap stung the cut serves you right.  Once the blood was cleaned, he threw the cloth away, he had enough around the house to not have to worry about replacing it.

Eyeing the soapy water, then his hand, Steve’s eyes flicked back towards the slumbering Eddie as he took a deep breath.

This is such a bad idea he thought as he plunged his hand into the soapy water. 

10

20

30

Steve’s eyes watered as it took all of 30 seconds for the splint knuckles to sting, it took 45 for him to yank his hand back out, hissing through his teeth as the butterfly stitches peeled off, taking the damp scab with it. 

Bright red blood dripped into the water as it rolled down his hand, dripping into the water; separating into the ripples. 

If the shriek that Steve let out echoed through the bathroom and made his ears ringed happened, no-one would ever know. 

Eddie held his hands up in front of him as Steve shrieked and whirled around; bloodied fist cocked and ready to throw.

“Fucking hell Eddie” Steve managed out once he caught his breath, “ did I wake you up?” he asked after a brief pause.

Eddie blinked owlishly as he dropped his hands, his head tilted to the side, a small; tired smile on his face, “ You look sexy in your glasses, you should wear em more for me" his voice was thick with sleep.

A shiver rolled down Steve’s spine, starting from his scalp and ending at his toes, goosebumping his skin as it went; he sucked in a breath through his nose, “ As much as I wanna continue this conversation, I’m bleeding and you’re just about awake Bambi"

Again, Eddie blinked owlishly and his eyes eventually saw the blood on Steve’s hand; now he was awake.

“The fuck happened” Eddie grunted.

“I was cleaning it and the scab came off, I was trying not to wake you" Steve said softly.

Taking his hand, Eddie moved them back towards the sink, not that they had moved far and grabbed another cloth from under it. Dipping it in the water, he began cleaning his loves hand; like he had done previously.

“Y'didnt wake me, I needed to piss, didn’t notice you were gone until I came in here and got distracted by your reflection” Eddie mumbles.

“Distracted because of...” Steve trailed off.

“You’re glasses” a blush burnt at his cheeks.

Steve let out a soft laugh, “They do it for you Munson” Steve teased.

Eddie paused his cleaning and locked eyes with Steve’s; his pupils so blown that Steve felt like he was looking in a starry sky. They held promises, and were shined with lust and want.

Steve felt his skin prickle and he swallowed thickly as Eddie said, “Just wait till you’re healed and ask me that question again”

All Steve could do was nod because he couldn’t trust himself to not let an embarrassing noise leave his mouth. While they fell back into silence, Steve caught Eddies black eye and fought back a hiss.

The others eyelid looked as if he had coated it in black eyeshadow, hues of purples and blues began to come through as the bruising moved out. Red, broken capillaries stared at him from under the pale skin, the outline of the Hawking’s High signet ring could be seen, having left HH  branded into Eddies temple. 

Now his skin prickled new found anger, and as if Eddie could sense it he gently tugged Steve’s fingers, bringing his attention back, “You got ’im baby, this’ll fucking fade" he gestures to his face, “ But I think Jason will carry around a few scars, a not so friendly reminder to not fuck with Steve fucking Harrington”

Steve let out a small laugh at Eddies grin and nodded softly, the man softly presses the last butterfly stitch down and said,

“Let’s go back to bed yeah, it’s too fucking early" 
Steve just silently followed Eddie as he turned back towards the bathroom, and before Steve could close the door Eddie sprinted past him, slamming it closed, a muffled I forgot I had to pee, came from behind the closed door. Steve’s laugh echoed through the bedroom as he navigated his way back to the bed in the dark, his ribs pulled as he pulled off his glasses and lay back down.

Settling in, he felt Eddie slip behind him, pulling him close to Eddies own chest. His breath tickled the short hairs of Steve’s neck and their breathing synchronised, limbs became soft as sleep slowly over took them. Rough lips pressing to the back of his neck was his last thought as Eddie tucked his face there..

He didn’t remember much after that.

“Holy shit, what happened to you two idiots" Robin yelled as they walked through the doors of Family Video.

Steve had an afternoon shift and Eddie wanted to loiter before he headed back to the trailer to head out for the weekend with Wayne to help his uncle with work. As the weather had begun to cool, but not enough for a jacket, Steve’s polo’s had been replaced by long sleeve t-shirts, and Eddie... still dressed the same, his trusty Hellfire t-shirt suited all weathers apparently.

“Stevie boy here beat the ever loving shit out of Jason Carver, and won” Eddie replied proudly.

Robins jaw dropped so hard Steve was worried that it would dislocate, “You" she pointed at Steve, “ Beat up Jason Carver”

Steve nodded slowly, his glasses sliding down his nose, “ I’d had enough of that prick” he said as he ducked under the counter, “ he went after Eddie and the kids. After what he did to you" Steve paused, knuckles cracking in his left hand,( his right too swollen to bend his fingers, he hoped he didn’t need a tetanus shot) he took a breath, “ enough was enough"

“Is he still alive" Robin asked carefully. Steve rolled his eyes so hard the muscles twanged, “yes, unfortunately”

“That the reason your wearing your glasses?” Robin asks softly.

Steve nods,” Eye is a bit sore, ill be fine" Steve promises.

As the day drags on, Eddie eventually leaves; Steve takes his break early so he can be held by the other man for as long as possible.

Eddie presses a soft kiss to his sore lips, Steve wants nothing more to deepen it, to suck Eddies tongue into his mouth, but Eddie refuses, gotta let that lip heal baby, so instead he peppers kisses along his jaw and face instead.

“I’ll be gone for a few days at most, I’ll call you when we’re heading home" Eddie says softly as they part.

Steve can feel himself beginning to pout, “ I’m going to miss you" 

Eddie smiles, “I’m gonna miss you too, but I’ll be back. And if you’re good, I’ll bring you back a present”

Steve laughs and brushes a lock of hair out of Eddie’s eyes  “ Sure thing hot stuff. You best get going before Wayne comes and gets you"

Eddie does leave eventually, with a soft “I love you" and a lingering kiss. Steve is on his own.

Steve fiddles with the devil ring on his middle finger for the rest of the day. He knows he’s being ridiculous, he survived without Eddie for years, he can do it for a few days. A few customers ask him about his face and he waves it off. A few girls flirt with him and it goes over his head but it makes his stomach churn.

The ache in his eye progressively gets worse as his shift drags on, every so often he digs his thumb into the socket to take the pressure off, all it does is make him wince.

Robin slumps against the counter as Steve locks the door behind the last customer of the day, the store is humid and smells like a sweaty locker room. Unfortunately the two are stuck there late due to it being a stock and clean day.

They both look at each other with defeated expressions, “ coffee" Robin says and Steve grins.

They spend the next three hours counting stock, making sure all the Videos are reminded and the store is clean. Robin tried not to heave as she scrapes chewing gum from the underside of the counter, Steve actually does.

“Go away" robin hisses through her teeth, and Steve raised an eyebrow, “ We both know if you fucking puke I will, then we’ll be stuck here cleaning our own vomit off the floor when all I really want to do is go home and have sex with my extremely hot girlfriend, so please go away"

Steve snorted and held his hands, “ ill leave you to it then" 

Sinking into a boiling bath at quarter to eleven at night was not how Steve wanted to end his night, he would rather be sinking I to bed with Eddie, but for now, the bath would do.

He’d been without Eddie for less than a day and he ached for his boyfriend. He missed Eddies slightly calloused fingers caressing his skin as he pulled him closer, into the surprisingly firm chest.

He missed the smell of the other man, cheap aftershave and the hints of weed that seemed to linger even after a shower, he missed the gruffness of Eddies voice when he had just woke up, and especially when he would whisper promises in his ear.

Heat burnt in his stomach as he reminded himself of Eddie’s promises to ruin him, to break him. The water sloshed as he took himself in his hand, a groan ripping from his chest as he flicked his thumb over the tip of his own aching cock. He knew he would be dripping  with precum if it wasn’t for the water.

He imagined the hand as Eddies, the rough skin on the palm of the others hand creating friction on the sensitive skin on his cock. Tightening his grip slightly, Steve’s head fell back against the rim of the tub as he slowly moved his hand, his palm stroking the tip with every pass. He knew that water was a poor substitute for lube and he would probably be sore later but he couldn’t stop.

He could hear Eddie’s voice in his head,  look at you, getting yourself off to my voice. What a dirty boy.

Use your other hand baby, take you’re heavy balls in your hand and imagine it’s me. Let me give you pleasure.

So Steve did, his breath had started to become laboured, sweat rolled down his temples and waters sloshed over the side of the tub as his hand sped up,

Now I know how much you want to come, and I can’t wait to see you fucking come baby. 

Steve’s fingers brush his own entrance as he moved his hand too far back and a whine leaves his throat,

My needy baby, you gonna finger yourself for me, get yourself ready for my cock 

Eddie’s voice rang in his head as he slipped the tip of one of his own fingers into his entrance, the burn setting his nerves alight . It was all it took to send him over the edge, with one last stroke upwards, his balls contracted and his eyes snapped open,

“Eddie” Steve came with his lovers name on his lips. Come coating his chest in white pearls. He continued to stroke himself to the point of oversensitivity. 

His chest heaved and his lungs burnt, his ribs aching something fierce . His limbs were like lead as he cleaned himself and climbed out of the bath. He didn’t bother to dress, he crawled under the covers and slept dreamless for the first night in weeks.

The weekend went slow and the weather begun to cool, his hand had continued to swell to the point of even brushing it against something cause excruciating pain. Joyce all but man handled him to the emergency room.

He needed a tetanus shot.

Joyce held his hand, her nimble fingers stroking the back of it softly, “keep your eyes on me baby" 

And Steve did, he could feel his body break out in a cold sweat as he caught a glimpse of the needle. His body went rigid as it pierced his skin, into the muscle.

Then it was over. 

Breathing deeply, he was handed a prescription for antibiotics as a precaution. Luckily his hand wasn’t broken, just deeply bruised, he had to go back to his doctors in two weeks time to have it checked on.

Joyce drove him home, fretting the entire way, “ would that have to do with an extremely bruised Jason Carver walking around”

Steve’s head span so fast his neck cracked, “uh maybe”

She laughed, “ The little bastard deserves it. He went to Hop to try and file a report” 

Steve blinked at her, “ what did dad say exactly?” He asked.

“He basically told Jason to get fucked and to get out of his office before he added a few of his own bruises” she muttered out.

Steve’s laugh echoes through the car.

Wayne and Eddie don’t actually come home until Wednesday, Eddie had called him letting him know that the work was talking longer than expected. They spoke for the rest of the night.

By the time Wednesday rolled around Steve couldn’t wait to get his hands on his boyfriend, the ring and the t-shirt only did so much to keep the nightmares away. And there was only so much jerking off Steve could do before he made himself too raw to touch.

Steve met them at the trailer at a ridiculously early hour and all but launched himself into Eddies arms, the other caught him and held him close, his nose shoved into Steve’s neck, just breathing him in. 

Wayne left them to it as his two boys held each other close. When they eventually pulled apart, Eddie took Steve’s face in his hands and pressed a soft kiss to the mostly healed lip,

“fuck I missed you" Eddie whispered against the soft lips before him.

Steve just sighed into the kiss, “ I’m glad you’re home. But if you want to chill for the day I can come back tomorrow" 

“Not a fucking chance, m'gonna shower then were going back to bed, I really need to fucking hold you, so take that fine ass inside and ill be in, in a sec kay”

Steve nodded and pressed another kiss to Eddie’s lips and pulled away, walking towards the trailer.
Wayne pulled Steve into a crushing hug once he made it in the trailer, returning it almost instantly, Steve leaned into the embrace.

“Eds told me what ya did, an I appreciate ya beating that little fuckers face in" Wayne gruffly said into his hair.

“Was kind of therapeutic actually” Steve replies, which sets them both off in laughter.
 

They pull apart and Steve shuffles to Eddies bedroom, kicking off his shoes, he all but collapses into the bed. He must have dosed off because he wakes to Eddie pulling him onto his chest.

A content sigh leaves his throat as he settles into his loves chest, the arm around his shoulders pull him close and lips are pressed to his hair. They don’t speak, they just soak each other in, the two had never been happier to be wrapped around each other.

Steve’s soft snores fill the room and Eddie isn’t far behind him.

Chapter Text

Eddie woke and he was surprisingly cold, it took him a few minutes to register that Steve wasn’t with him.

He lay for a few minutes, letting his body wake up; he stretched, his back cracking drawing a quiet moan from him.

Pulling himself from the bed, Eddie shuffled towards the door , he heard the muffled voices of his love and Wayne.

“You alright kid" Wayne asked softly.

“Yeah, actually not really. Richard called, he and Linda are coming back to the house” Steve said softly.

“The fuck they coming back for" Wayne all but hissed.

“Not me obviously” Steve muttered out.

Eddies heart broke into tiny pieces at Steve’s soft, broken voice. He really doesn’t know how much he’s loved. 

“There’s some documents that they want in attic, and I need to be there to let them in, they lost the keys apparently “ Steve all but sighed

Eddie sucked in a breath and walked out of his bedroom and drapes himself over Steve’s shoulders, pressing  a kiss to his cheek.

“Want me there with ya" Eddie asked softly.

“Yeah please" Steve breathed out, not caring that

Eddie has heard his conversation with Wayne.

“you know If they say anything I’ll fuck em up right" Eddie says.

Steve let’s out a small laugh, “I can handle them, I won a fight remember” 

Eddies laugh vibrates against his back and Steve feels content. He’s never felt so loved.

It takes almost a month before Steve’s parents turn up, so much so, Steve has forgotten that they were coming.

It was early September when they arrived, the temperature had cooled, frost covers the grass most mornings; the air crisp.

It’s late afternoon when they arrive, Eddie and Steve are bickering in the kitchen while the kids, Joyce, Hop, Nancy, Robin and Jonathan all look on with different fond expressions on their faces. 

There’s food on the table and more in the oven waiting to be served, is family dinner night and it was Steve’s turn to host.

“You’re a lying sack of shit Munson" Steve yelled.

Eddie laughed, “ You fell asleep half way through the session baby cakes so you wouldn’t have seen it anyway”

Steve’s mouth dropped open, “I did not fall asleep" he hisses out , hitting Eddie with the pot towel.

Eddie lunged at him, fingers digging into Steve’s ribs, pulling squealing laughter from him.

They didn’t hear the door go until, Richard was stood in the kitchen door way, face pulled into one of disgust,

“Well, isn’t this homely” 

The laughter stopped.

Steve’s body locks up and his blood turns cold in his veins, yeah, he had prepped for this very moment in his head . Told them to get fucked and get out of his house because it is his house. 

But in this very moment he cant even bring himself to breathe. His lungs are so heavy, that it takes Eddie pinching him for him to suck in a breath. 

His lungs burn, they ache as he pulls in a staggered breath. He feels like he’s ten years old again and he cant bring himself to meet his dad’s eyes. Steve can feel them burning into his skin; leaving charred flesh in there wake.

“I didn’t know you were coming" Steve manages to get out. His throat felt like it was closing up.
He could hear Joyce ushering the kids outside, the door clicking shut, it broke through the white noise in his ears.

“We did tell you Steven" His mother snaps out.Steve flinched, he could feel Eddies hand tighten on his hip; just in his parents view.

“Yes, you did. Just not when" Steve snaps back, Eddies presence at his side making him brave.

Richards eyes narrow at Steve’s waist where Eddies hand rests and he prepares himself for a tongue lashing, “ I see you lost another fight, Steven, what was it this time, defending this fag?” 

The squeak of five chairs against the floor echo in the room as the other adults stand, Steve can feel the tension rise in the room, anger so thick Steve can taste it.

Steve’s body locks up for a different reason, anger floods through him, he though he had felt anger before but nothing compares to the anger he feels now. It’s visceral, burning through him, singeing his nerve endings leaving them raw.

His knuckles crack as he clenched his fists, and he takes a step towards Richard as his body vibrates,” Don’t you ever, fucking insult someone in MY house again" 

“Don’t talk to your farther like that Steven” Linda screeched.

Steve laughed, “ Not my father, he’s my dad" Steve said and pointed towards Hop. He could feel Hops smug grin.

Steve feels Richards hand brush past his chin as he reached for the collar of the shirt he was wearing; but it didn’t make contact.

Eddies hand was wrapped around Richards wrist in a bruising grip, his rings digging into the flesh, at his side, Eddie was seething to the point where Steve could feel his boyfriend vibrating.

“Try that again and I’ll break your fucking wrist” Eddie hissed out, squeezing Richards wrist for extra emphasis.

Steve couldn’t help the grin that formed on his face, “ now if you could kindly get the fuck out of my house or I’ll have the chief of police escort you" 

Eddie dropped Richards wrist as the man’s face went red,” yyour ouse, this is my house boy" Richard spat out.

“Wrong, its mine. You see I did some snooping in your office and found Grandad Harrington’s will” Steve started, he watched the colour drain out of Richard and Linda’s faces.

“Grandpa left this house to me. And a very nicely padded out bank account for when i turned of age" Steve paused tilting his head slightly, “ and guess what Richard I’m of age" 

Linda’s mouth opened and closed like a fish, trying to form words. Richard just blinked at Steve before his face morphed into one of rage.

Eddie nor Steve were fast enough to stop Richards hand from wrapping around Steve’s throat before he was pulled nose to nose with his sperm donor.

“Listen here you little shit-" 

THWAK

Steve’s forehead connected with Richards nose and the crack echoed in the kitchen. Linda screeched as he tried to stop Richard collapsing to the floor. Blood poured down his face, staining his expensive shirt.
 

Steve stumbled back into Eddie as lights flashed behind his eyes, the room spun slightly and the middle of his forehead throbbed. There was a commotion behind him and five sets of hands were on him, there was a sudden cold burning on his head and his eyes locked on Joyce,

“you okay baby" she asked softly, hands pressing the towel filled with ice to his head. 

“Never better Mom” Steve said softly, “ Hop, get this piece of shit out of my house"

“My fuckin pleasure" Hop said gruffly from behind him.

There was a scuffle and Linda was screeching obscenities at them and Hop hauled Richard not so delicately out of the kitchen.

There was silence until the buzzer on the oven went off making them all jump. It had taken all of fifteen minutes for him to do something he wanted to so since he was ten years old. He  threw his so called parents out of the house and embarrassed them.

Steve broke into a fit of hysterical giggles causing the others to look at him in concern,

“You okay Stevie” Jonathan asked.

Steve continued to laugh until the laughter turned into sobs. Sobs of utter relief. He was free. Free from the nasty words and harsh fists, free to be himself.

To use his home how ever he wanted. 

Joyce wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close, he let his body fall against hers.

The kids shuffled into the room, there eyes bouncing from the blood on the floor to a crying Steve and they panicked.

“what happened” Came a mix of voices, Dustin’s screech being the loudest.

Steve managed to pull himself together enough to get out, “ M'fine just ‘appy” he mumbled against Joyce’s shoulder.

The party let out a collective sigh.

Eventually food was served and laughter echoed in the house again. Steve now had a new bruise forming in the middle of his head, but it was worth it knowing that Richard was walking sound with a definite broken nose because of his weak son..

As Steve looked around the table at the people he considered family, his heart had never felt so full, and  if he noticed that Hop's knuckles were bruised no-one mentioned the smile on his lips.

Chapter Text

The months had begun to turn colder, snow had begun to fall and Steve begrudged pulling the cover over the pool, the brats insisting that the heated pool was warm enough for them to still play in it For the last time, no Dustin. Eddie had just laughed at the youngers pout while helping Steve pull the cover over the pool.

Richard and Linda had tried to press charges against Steve for head-butting Richard, but Hop had just laughed the two out of his office. Steve had panicked of course but Hop had managed to calm him down by telling him that they didn’t have a leg to stand on as it was self defence on Steve’s part. The bruise had faded but sometimes he still got a random bout of pain shooting through his forehead.

The cold air bit at Steve’s face as he lent against his car waiting for the Party to finish their D&D session.

The kids (and Eddie) had all but begged Steve to play, but despite wanting to the building migraine had stopped him. 

It had been building for a few days, it had started as a dull throb behind his eyes that Steve has put off as eye strain, he had had his nose stuck in a book the weekend before. But it had continue to build, the pressure building behind his eyes to the point were they felt like they were going to burst. 

Pressing his frozen thumbs to his eyes, Steve let the cold soak into the aching muscles. White dots appear and he opens his eyes as the doors pop open and the kids and Eddie fall out. 

Steve watches as Max rubs at her eyes too, I feel ya kid Steve thinks as the yells bounce off the inside of his skull, causing white hot pain to shoot down his nerve endings.

 He tried to hide the wince but Eddie being Eddie he noticed, “You okay baby" The other asked softly. His ringed hand carefully pushing Steve’s hair back.

“Just a headache" Steve lied. Flicking his eyes away from Eddie’s, so the man couldn’t see the lie.
Somehow Eddie ended up driving, Steve rested his head against the cold window, the cool glass dulling the throbbing in his temple. Every so often his stomach would roll, forcing him to swallow mouthfuls of saliva.

Steve all but bolted from the car once they reached home, his feet carried him to the bathroom where he proceeded to throw up every morsel of food that he had managed to eat this morning.

Flinching as a cold cloth was pressed against the over heating skin of his neck, Steve rested his head against the seat of the toilet.

“Just a headache huh” Eddie muttered softly.

Steve grunted out an apology.

Eddie let out a soft laugh as he softly brushed his hand though the thick locks. 

Steve heaved again as white-hot pulses of pain flashed behind his eyes, his ribs ached as his muscles constricted around his entire torso. 

Eventually his heaving turned into dry heaving and he went completely blind in his right eye. Sweat stuck to Steve’s forehead, stray hairs sticking to the skin that irritated him more than he wanted to admit.

Gently lifting his head after his last bout of dry heaving made his neck ache, he panted as he tried to catch his breath, spit hanging from his lips. His ribs ached worse than before and the bottom of his back had cramped so hard his sciatic nerve twinged making him wince.

Eddie pressed a cold flannel to the back of his loves neck, the other hand rubbed soft circles in the middle of Steve’s back.

“You think you can get to bed?” Eddie asked softly.
Steve let out a small moan which Eddie took as yes.

As slowly as he could, Eddie pulled Steve up, letting the younger rest his exhausted body on him.

Together they shuffled towards the bedroom, the only light coming from a sliver of moonlight that made it through a crack in the curtains.

Eddie knew Steve’s room like the back of his hand, so eventually he managed to get Steve sat on the bed, and pressed a bottle of water into one hand and migraine tablets into the other.

“Take them even if you can’t keep them down love" Eddie said gently as Steve’s hesitation.

With a shaky hand, Steve took a sip of water and slipped the pills between his lips and swallowed gingerly.

“One more sip and you can lie down baby" came Eddies voice barely above a whisper.

Steve compiled even as his stomach cramped. He felt Eddie take the bottle off him and softly nudge him to get him to lie down.

Steve’s head sank into the pillow and Eddie placed another over his exposed ear; covering the rest of his face knowing he liked it as dark as possible and as quiet as he could get it.

The bed dipped beside him and there was a heavy weight in his waist, a ringed hand slid under his shirt and fingers softly rubbed circles into his aching stomach. Steve felt his body relax and Eddie pressed a kiss to the back of his neck.

He doesn’t remember much after that.
 

When he woke he couldn’t tell what time or even what year it was. He was sweaty and his mouth was dryer than it had ever been, Eddies forearms stuck to his stomach where they had wormed their way under his shirt. The rings that were usually cold were now hot and again, stuck to his skin. He threw the pillow that was over his eyes across the room, ignoring the objects that it had knocked over clattering to the floor. 

Steve shifted, and tried to pull Eddies arms from around his stomach but the older man pulled him tighter to himself. And Steve being the good boy that he is, ignored Eddies cock pressing into his ass.

Pulling harder at Eddies arms, Steve managed to dislodge himself from his boyfriend and blindly lead himself to the bathroom. The florescent light burnt his eyes as they were assaulted, he caught his reflection in the mirror and snorted. 

Half of his hair was stuck to his face, the other hand was stuck up like he’d just had three rounds of kinky sex, soon  he thought as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. The pillow marks were red and angry in his face, with the added drool lines he looked stunning, snorting to himself again, Steve splashed cold water in his face hoping that it would take the puffiness away.

After brushing his teeth and going to the toilet, Steve could feel the ache in his eyes, it wasn’t a migraine ache. It was the aftermath, his eyes felt bruised and raw, each blink felt like hot pokers behind his eyelids. He knew that it would pass, he would take this over the migraines anyway.  Walking into the bedroom he grabbed his glasses off the bedside table, trying not to disturb his sleeping partner.

Shuffling down the stairs, flicking on the light Steve caught the clock on the wall, it was 3am on Thursday. He had slept for nearly twenty four hours. His stomach grumbled and he realised that the last food he had eaten was Tuesday night. 

Not having the energy to cook, Steve grabbed a box of cereal out of the cupboard, and sat at the table hunched over the box like Gollum over the One ring.

And that’s was how Eddie found him twenty minutes later.

Eddie shuffled down the stairs rubbing at his eyes as he entered the kitchen, he spotted Steve at the table hunched over a box of cereal, a snort of laughter left his throat and Steve slowly looked up, wordlessly holding out the box, Eddie sat across from Steve, hand reaching into the cheerios.

“How’re you feeling baby" Eddie asks around a mouthful of dry cereal.

“My head feels like a bruise but I feel better" Steve said softly, “thank you for looking after me" he adds.

“You don’t need to thank me, sweetheart, I don’t like seeing you in pain" Eddie says just as softly.

He takes the hand that is adorned by his devil ring and brings it to his lips in a soft kiss, “I love you" 
Steve smiles so softly if Eddie blinked, he’d miss it, “I love you too, you big sap" 

Eddie grinned and leaned over the table; Steve met him in the middle for the sweetest but softest kiss he’d ever had. He could feel Eddie grin against his lips as he kissed him once more before sitting back down.

They sit in silence for a while slowly making it through the box of cereal, they do eventually move but they both feel like they have molasses running through their veins, making their body’s slow and sluggish. Steve dressed in a pair of sweats and one of Eddie’s band shirts that had made it into his wardrobe, even though they weren’t leaving the house just yet.

Steve was feeling a lightly sensitive after his migraine, so anything to do with Eddie was being worn. They do eventually leave the house, to go get food, neither of them wanted to cook they just wanted an easy night so pizza it was. They could have ordered in, but they need the fresh air, and as Eddie promised he wore Steve’s jacket.

Seeing Eddie in his jacket, Steve couldn’t help the bubbling of lust that built in his stomach. Steve thought that Eddie had forgot about his promise to wear it once it got cold, and Steve really liked seeing Eddie dressed in his clothes. Loved it even. Of course, Steve raided Eddies wardrobe more often than not that he had forgotten what belonged to him and what was Eddies.

Steve tried not to shiver as the cold bit at his cheeks, he subconsciously walked closer to Eddie as the man was a walking space heater , he was always warm, it was the best thing at night when Steve could put his cold feet on Eddies legs or press his cold fingers into Eddies ribs, the other yelling into the night about how cold Steve always was.

Eddie ordered the pizza, Steve doesn’t even realise they they’ve made it to the pizza shop until he’s blasted in the face with the smell of cheese and cooking pizza dough. Eddie pays despite Steve all but yelling NO. Pizzas in hand they head back to the house.

Shivering from the cold, Steve pulls off his jacket and flings it on the back of the dinning room chair as Eddie places the pizzas on the table, they decide against plates because they have hands, and neither of them can be bothered with cleaning any plates.

They eat and watch crap T.V and Steve has never felt so in love. Eddie let's Steve warm his feet under his thighs as they snuggle under the blanket.

Once showered, Steve leans against the door with butterfly’s fluttering in his stomach, threatening to burst from his mouth as he looks at Eddie’s back as he pulls his shirt over his head revealing the scars from the battle with vecna. And Steve Loves him

“Eddie" Steve mutters and the man turns with a quiet hmm. Eyes sparkling, face soft.

Steve loves Eddie’s face and without a second though he says, “Take me to bed Eds"

Eddie’s heart skips a few beats and a slow breath leaves him, and he smiles softly, “As you wish, my love”

He walks over and gently takes Steve’s hand, pulling him towards the bed

Chapter Text

Steve could feel his stomach clench with nerves, his palms begun to sweat, and he was pretty sure that a sweat had broken out on his top lip and hairline, he was pretty sure that he could feel each follicle on his scalp releasing a bead of sweat. Steve released a breath that he had been holding for way too long when Eddie sat on the edge of the bed and pulled him between his open legs.

Warm hands touched his waist and Steve felt his heart rate finally slow, “Hey” Eddie said softly causing Steve to look at him, “You’re safe”.

Steve nodded slightly, “I Know, just nervous” Steve replied honestly, caressing Eddies face softly, resting the palm of his hand on the warm cheek.

“At your pace remember, no pressure I promise” Eddie replied into the quiet of the room, pressing a kiss to the palm of Steve’s hand.

Minutes seemed to have passed before Steve finally felt confident enough to settle himself into Eddies lap and press a soft kiss to Eddies waiting lips. Steve’s hands tangled in Eddies soft locks, tightening slightly when Eddies hands ventured to his ass, squeezing softly drawing a moan from his throat, Steve found himself slowly grinding against Eddie, his hips moving on their own accord.

Eddie moaned softly as he felt Steve slowly grinding against him, slowly adding more pressure as time slowly went on, Eddie pulled back from Steve’s lips and attacked his neck, wanting nothing more to mark up the skin In front of him, to leave marks of his teeth in the soft flesh of Steve’s neck.

Eddie sucked on Steve pulse point, drawing blood to the surface, grinning to himself knowing that as soon as Steve notices the bruise tomorrow he’ll rip Eddie a new one, Eddie continued to suck on the bruise that he was making, hiding his moans in Steve’s neck as the younger continued to grind against him.

Steve was lost in his own head, he could feel Eddie biting and sucking on his neck, and he could hear himself letting out small moans as the friction of his grinding had started to rapidly harden his cock, he could feel a damp patch forming in the front of his joggers,

“Eds, Stop chewing on my neck like a fucking chew toy and kiss me” Steve demanded, yanking on Eddies hair, pulling him away from the impressive bruise that he had made. The move made Eddie groan deep in the back of his throat.

Steve grinned, “You like your hair being pulled Eds?” Steve asked breathlessly, which ended in a yelp as his back hit the bed and he was pinned down by Eddie, knee pressed into his aching cock and hands around his wrists, both breathing heavy.

Eddie rests his forehead on Steve’s, both panting sharing the same air, breaths hot between them, a blush rests high in Steve’s cheekbones and Eddie loves it,

“You look so cute when you blush” Eddie says.

“Fuck off” Steve bites out and Eddie laughs.

Steve opens his mouth to say something else, but it’s cut off by Eddies mouth on his and his tongue brushing past his teeth. They make out like teenagers in their first date and Eddies body slowly lowers itself so his lying on top of Steve, cocks aligned. Steve breaks away to gasp as Eddie grinds against him, the friction sending shocks of pleasure through his body, you’d think I was a fucking virgin Steve though as Eddie continued to slowly grind against him, Steve’s legs instinctively coming up to rest at Eddies hips pulling him closer.

Eddie kisses him again and Steve tries to pull him closer, their chests sticking together with the sweat that had begun to pool beneath them, Steve’s fingers pressed into Eddies back, he was pretty sure that his fingernails were leaving dents in Eddies skin, but the other didn’t seem to mind.

Eddie could feel Steve’s hips rising to meet his grinding and he forced himself to stop, drawing a whimper from Steve, leaning closer to Steve’s ear, he whispered,

“If you’re going to come, its going to be on my cock”.

The full-bodied shiver and whine that left the perfect human under him almost made Eddie regret his decision to stop, almost. Eddie reluctantly pulled himself away from Steve and let himself look at the man beneath him.

Steve was lay under him, his hair fanned out on the pillow beneath his head, his chest heaved, and a sheen of sweat cover his chest, neck and face. The bruise that he had sucked into the crook of his neck bloomed a dark red, making him lick his dry lips at the thought of marking the rest of the skin before him up, hidden just for him.

Steve eyed him, “What you looking at?” Steve whispered.

“You, you’re gorgeous and all mine” Eddie replied causing Steve to look away.

While Steve was looking away, Eddie reached into the bedside cabinet and grabbed a half empty bottle of lube and dropped it on the bed beside Steve’s legs.

 Eddie could Steve lock up slightly as his eyes found the lube, and Eddie gently grabbed his jaw, making Steve look at him,

“Tell me to stop and I will” Eddie said softly, Steve was his priority, not getting off. He knew that this was all new for the other man.

Steve swallowed thickly and wet his lips,” I trust you Eddie” Steve said softly, his voice seemed loud in the quiet room.

Eddies heart swells at the trust in Steve’s voice, like its important for him to know, and Eddie does know because Steve would never have let it get this far if he didn’t trust Eddie. So, Eddie leans back down, completely ignoring the lube and kissed Steve softly, and Steve’s hands cup his jaw softly as they kiss.

The kiss stays gentle for all of thirty seconds before Steve is pulling Eddie closer again, hips trying to seek the delicious friction that he felt before, he feels Eddies hands rest on his hips, his thumbs hooking around the waist band of his joggers, and despite his nerves, Steve lifts his hips in silent invitation for Eddie to pull them down, and he does.

The joggers land somewhere behind Eddie, neither caring as one, Eddie is looking at Steve like he had never looked at him before, like he wanted to devour him and two, Steve was fighting every instinct to cover his aching cock that was leaking onto his stomach.

Steve could feel his cheeks heat in embarrassment, he had been naked around girls before they were intimate, but this was different, it was Eddie, he was in love with this idiot and all he wanted to do was cover himself up and hide. Eddie caught his hands as they went to cover himself,

“Hey, don’t hide yourself from me, let me see you” Eddie said softly.

“Let me see you too” Steve replied, and Eddie smiled softly before stripping off his own set of joggers.

Steve swallowed thickly as he eyed Eddie in all his glory, scars from his battle with Vecna a dusty healed pink against his skin, the black of his tattoos hidden by a dusting of hair on his chest, his cock pink and flush stood proud away from his body, twitching in the cool air of the bedroom, a string of precome leaking from the tip, that’s not going to fucking fit, Steve panicked internally as Eddie shuffled towards Steve on his knees.

“Lift your head for me” Eddie said to Steve and the other did with a look of confusion on his face, “I’m gonna put this under your hips, it’ll make it easier, trust me love” he said as he grabbed the pillow, tapping Steve’s hip with a soft lift, he placed the pillow under the bottom of Steve’s back, tilting his hips slightly.

Eddie pressed a gentle kiss to the centre of Steve’s chest, slowly working his way down, this tongue swiped across Steve’s nipple making the man cry out, Eddie latched on, abusing the flesh under this tongue and teeth, he could feel Steve hands in his hair, tugging on the strands making him moan around the sensitive nipple in his mouth. He switches to the other one, eventually working his way down Staves chest, sucking and nipping at the flesh, pulling small whines and moans from Steve.

He eventually reaches Steve’s cock, leaking heavily, dripping into the neatly cut pubic hair, Eddie bites the very inviting hip bone causing Steve to jerk and yell in pleasure, he likes biting, noted, Eddie thought as he stretched on arm out to grab the abandoned bottle of lube, Eddies eyes met Steve’s,

“Stop staring at it, if you’re going to suck it, the suck it” Steve tried to demand.

“So, demanding Princess” Eddie laughs as he flicked his tongue out and over the tip of the cock before him.

Steve bit his lip to stop the yell of pleasure leaving his throat as Eddies mouth took in his cock, his hands instinctively finding themselves in Eddies hair. As the warm, wet heat enveloped his aching flesh, he was distracted enough that he didn’t feel the coolness of the lube until he felt the slight pressure at his ass, and his body tensed up, again.

Eddie let Steve cock fall from his mouth as he felt Steve’s body lock up, his head snapped up and his eyes travelled up Steve’s heaving chest to his eyes,

“Say the word and ill stop, do you want to stop?” Eddie asked, moving away slightly.

Steve shook his head, “Use your words baby, I’m not going to continue if you don’t talk to me” Eddie said to the head shake.

Steve swallowed, “I don’t wanna stop, it just felt weird” Steve said, sitting up on his elbows, “I trust you with this Eds, promise, I love you”.

“I love you too, wanna keep going?” Eddie asked.

“Eddie, get your fingers in me so you can fuck me, wanna come on your cock” Steve almost bit out as his cock twitched painfully.

What felt like hours later, Eddie was working him open with two fingers when he crooked them just right and Steve’s yell of pleasure echoed through the room, his voice cracked and the veins bulged in his neck as he bit his lip hard enough to draw blood as Eddie attacked his prostate with vigour, Eddie took this distraction upon himself to add a third finger, Steve tensed up momentarily until the pleasure took back over.

Steve felt like he was about to combust, it felt like electricity was zipping up is spine each time Eddies fingers brushed his prostate, his heart fluttered beneath his ribcage, his mouth dry as he sucked in breaths between his yelps of pleasure, his hair stuck to the sides of his face with sweat as he tried to bury his face in the pillows to hide his noises, which Eddie was quick to put a stop to, Don’t hide them noises from me pretty baby, and Steve being unable to deny Eddie anything he didn’t despite his embarrassment.

Eventually, Eddie deemed his love stretched enough to take him, and he withdrew his fingers, causing a distressed whimper to leave Steve, Eddie ran a comforting hand down his right thigh, which was covered in bites and bruises which Eddie had spent the past hour marking the smooth flesh up.

“Shh, I’m not stopping, just getting to the best part”

Eddie said softly, biting off a hiss as he slicked himself up with lube, giving himself a few strokes to take the edge off. Slowly he shuffled into the V of Steve’s legs where they had fell akimbo off Eddies shoulders, and gently lined himself up.

Steve’s eyes locked on Eddies as he felt the tip of the others cock at his entrance, Steve slowly hiked his legs up, tilting his pelvis slightly, smiling softly at Eddie as he the other lent his weight on his left hand, resting just above Steve’s shoulder.

“This will feel uncomfortable, if it gets too much tell me and I’ll stop, okay?” Eddie said softly, resting his forehead against Steve’s sweaty one,” Promise ill tell you” Steve said back. And Eddie slowly began to push in.

Steve sucked in a sharp breath as the blunt pressure off Eddies cock began to enter him, the slight sting made his eyes water as the other slowly entered him, Steve was cursing Eddies thickness as the burn seemed to go on forever. An unconscious pained noise left his throat and Eddie froze,

“I’m okay, I’m good” Steve breathed out, “Keep going baby”.

After what felt like a lifetime, Eddies hips finally met his and they let out duel moans, Eddies was because he could feel Steve fluttering around him and Steve’s was because Eddie had nailed his prostate as he was finally fully seated in him.

They both were breathing heavily against each other, Eddie pressed soft kisses to anywhere he could reach on Steve’s face, letting the other get used to having a dick in him.

Eventually, Steve began pressing kisses to the scars on Eddies neck, sucking on the sensitive flesh, slowly rotating hips, breathy moans coming out of him as he could feel Eddie moving inside him.

Eddie begins to thrust shallowly, drawing small moans from the man beneath him, eventually he begins to pick up the speed of his thrusts, nailing Steve’s prostate on every thrust.

Steve knows that his isn’t going to last long, he can feel his and Eddie’s sweat mixing together on his chest as the other cradles his head in his arms as he thrusts into him. His throat aches from the yells of pleasure that are leaving him, he knows he will be embarrassed about the noises he was making later but right now he couldn’t care.

Eddie could feel Steve’s fingernails raking down his back, the metal of the Devil ring sinking into his skin, their breaths mingled with each other as they tried to kiss between moans, it wasn’t long before he could feel Steve’s body lock up beneath him, his voice cracked as he yelled Eddies name and he came over both of their stomachs, his body tightening almost painfully around him.

Steve’s body felt oversensitive, white noise appeared in his ears as he came down from his orgasm, he could feels Eddies thrusts picking up speed, the tip of his cock abusing his over sensitive prostate. He wrapped his entire body around Eddie and whispered in the others ear,

“come in me Eddie, I wanna feel it. Wanna feel it leak out of me, come for me baby"

And Eddie does, its almost painful as he sinks his teeth into the meat of Steve’s shoulder his hips pressing into the other as far as they’ll go, drawing a pained moan from Steve.

A full minute passes where they just breathe against each other, sweat sticking their bodies together, eventually Eddie’s cock slips from him, his oversensitive body shivers as Eddies come follows.

Eddie rolls to Steve’s side, his eyes locked on the other, Steve can feel the other staring at him and turns his head,

“What?" Steve asked, still slightly breathless.

“Nothing, your gorgeous, perfect” Eddie replies, grinning.

“shut up" Steve muttered, cheeks flushing, gently shoving Eddies face away 

Slowly Eddie moves from the bed and into the bathroom, and grabs a flannel, drenching it with cold water, he cleans himself off, rinses the flannel off and with clean water wetting the cloth, he walks back into the bedroom and gently cleans off Steve’s stomach with the warm cloth,

“Lift your hips and roll over, love" Eddie says softly and Steve does without question.

Eddie removes the pillow and gently cleans between Steve’s legs, making him hiss in pain.

“M'sorry love, but you’ll thank me in the morning" Eddie says and presses a kiss to the bottom of Steve’s back.

They eventually settle for the night, Steve wraps himself around Eddie, his head resting on the others shoulder, his hand resting on Eddies chest, the other playing with the Devil ring.

They both drift off slowly, with soft I love you's muttered between them.

And if Steve wakes up in the morning on a fowl mood and cusses Eddie out, that’s no ones business

Chapter Text

Steve woke slowly the next morning, his head rested heavily on Eddie’s chest, said man was gently stroking his back with the tips of his fingers making him shiver. Steve softly rubbed Eddie’s chest, alerting the other that he was awake,

“Good morning princess" Eddie said softly into the mane of hair as he pressed a kiss into it.

Steve hummed softly, “G'Morning Eds”

“How’re you feeling?”

Steve turned slightly, wincing as the bottom of his back twanged, “Good, achy but good"

Eddie smiled softly, “You stay here, I’ll go run you a bath, you’ll need it"

Steve grunted as Eddie slipped from the bed, Steve ogling Eddie’s naked body as the other walked to the bathroom. Steve listened to the water filling the tub and he stretched, and sat up, which was a mistake as pain flared in the bottom of his back as the pressure from him sitting compressed his spine.

Eddie walked back into the bedroom and stopped as he felt Steve’s glare on him, “I’m sorry?” Eddie said trying not to smile.

“You better be, you and your stupid cock” Steve hissed as Eddie walked over to him and gently helped him stand, holding to other close as they shuffled to the bathroom.

Steve settled in the bath while Eddie used what was his parents shower. Steve rested his head on the back of the bath, letting the steam fill his lungs and the heat sink into his bones. For the first time in a long time, Steve realised, he slept without a nightmare. He laughed to himself guess all I needed was a good orgasm he thought as he grabbed the soap and the flannel that Eddie had left out for him.

Half a hour later they were both clean and dressed, Steve had taken some ibuprofen for the ach in his back, he stood at the stove frying some bacon when the front door clicked shut, and Max walked in with a backpack hanging off one shoulder and red rimmed eyes.

Steve stopped what he was doing and walked over to the red head, cupping her face gently, “Max what happened?” he asked stroking her cheeks softly.

“She left" Max managed, her voice cracking.

Eddie walked up beside her, “ Who left Max”

“Mom, she left last night while I was asleep, just left a fucking letter” Max hissed, fresh tears running down her cheeks, “so I came here like you said"

Pulling Max to him, Steve held her tight and her skinny arms wrapped around his waist as she sobbed into his chest.

Before Steve could say anything he watched as Eddie called Hop.

Max sat on the sofa with a blanket tucked around her shoulders, freshly showered and dressed in one of Steve's hoodies that was probably Eddie’s at one point, but it was soft and comfortable, and a pair of joggers. Her knees pulled to her chest, she watched as the three men spoke.

Steve was mad, he hadn’t felt this kind of anger in a while, not since laying Jason out. He knew that parents abandon their children every day, look at him. But Max’s mom, he never thought that she actually would. He knew that Susan was struggling still being in Hawkins, hated being here, he thought that she would drag Max away kicking and screaming if she had to, not just abandon her.

Eddie held Steve’s shoulders to stop him from pacing up and down the hallway, looking at Hop he said, “You been able to find her mom”

Hop shook his head, “no not yet”

“She’s staying here with me, us" Steve said to Hop. His eyes drifting back to the young girl sat curled up on his sofa.

His chest ached as he shuffled over to Max, who instantly leaned into him as he sat next to her.

“Do you know where she would go?” He asked Max.

“She uh, has a sister in California. She’s probably gone there, she was happy there" Max said into her cup.

“You know you can stay as long as you need right" Steve said into her hair.

“Even if it’s for good?” she asked, scared.

Steve turned so that he could look at her, he took her face in his hands and said, “if that’s what you want, this is your home Maxine"

Her bottom lip wobbled and she buried her face in his chest with a quiet okay.

And that’s how he and Eddie acquired a teenager.

They all fell into a routine quickly, Steve or Eddie would drop Max to school on the way to work. One or the other would try to help her with her homework, Eddie usually with English and Steve would try with maths but they were both as lost as each other.

They began annual movie nights once a week, obviously the rest of the crew would join them, each of them picking the movie for that week.

Hop had been trying to locate Max's mother but there was still no luck, Max had been with them for 3 months. When Max had a bad day she would just leave a note saying With Billy so that they knew she was safe, she was always back before dinner time.

Six months had passed and Steve and Eddie were lay in bed next to each other, listening to the quiet noises of the house when Eddie broke the silence with probably the craziest thing he’d ever said,

“You should adopt Max"

Steve was sure he almost gave himself whiplash, “What?” he choked as he snapped his head to the side.

Eddie looked at him with the softest eyes, “You’re practically her dad anyway"

“Yeah but so are you” Steve said softly, his heart breaking slightly.

Eddie smiled softly, “and as soon as the day comes that it’s legal for her to have two dads, she will" Eddie promised (and he kept that promise)

“do you think she’d want that, I mean her mom is still alive, what if she wants her back” Steve said, worry lacing his voice.

Eddie turned onto his side so he could face his love properly, Steve followed, and grabbed Eddies hands, “ Her mom left that kid six months ago, not a single call or fucking letter. That selfish bitch doesn’t get to be called a mother, not any more. Max loves you, the worst thing she can say is no"

Steve nodded gently, took a deep breath and said, “you’re right, well talk to her tomorrow”

Eddie placed a soft kiss on Steve's lips, smiling softly against them, “tomorrow”

They spoke to Max that morning, and she didn’t say no. So Steve rang Hop and asked him how he went about adopting El and the Byers kids.

“Yeah hop, she wants me to be her dad,  Eddie too when it’s legal” Steve said into the receiver, twisting the cord around his fingers, “she said when not if, I wish I had her optimism”

They spoke for a while more, Hop agreeing to help him with the adoption process.

It took another two months before they were in front of a judge, Steve dressed in the only suit he owned and Eddie in the only fancy shit he owned too. Max went all out, she dressed in a pinafore, white top underneath, white tights and buckled shoes, showing her to be the perfect child, she was; even if she looked ridiculous.

Eddie sat behind Steve, wanting nothing more than to be sat beside him, holding his hand, signing the paperwork stating that he was also Max's dad. But this would have to do, for now.

Steve’s leg bounced nervously, the fiddled with the ring on his finger, “stop panicking” Max all but hissed, Steve looked at her,

“I’m not panicking, you’re panicking” Steve hissed back.

“You’re forehead is shiny with sweat, your panicking” Max pointed out.

Steve swipes at his forehead, his hand coming back damp, he stuck his tongue out at Max, “you’re a child" Max grinned.

As they were bickering, he could hear the other people belonging to his clan file into the court room. Steve turned to see his overly extended family dressed in the best clothes that they owned. Joyce was clutching papers in her hands, ready to jump in to her kid’s defence, ready to tell the judge that Steve will be the best dad.

Hop sat stone faced, the only thing giving his anxiousness away was the bouncing of his leg and the gnawing of the inside if his lip that he didn’t think people could see him doing.

Jonathan and Nancy were sat close together, heads pressed close whispering to each other. Nancy wrung her fingers together, a nervous habit she never seemed to be able to drop and Jonathan fidgeted with an invisible piece of lint on his pants .

Now the Brat pack were actually sat silently, shoulders pressed together, fingers clenched around each other’s in a death grip so tight their fingers were turning white and the proceedings hadn’t even started yet.

Now Eddie, Eddie only had eyes for him and Max, those big brown bambi eyes stayed locked on them both, fingers fidgeted with the rings on his long fingers, twisting and pulling at them, probably causing blood vessels to pop as he pulled the rings on and off his fingers.

Steve turned fully so that he could lean on the banister, discreetly taking Eddies hands through the bars,

“Hey, you okay?” Steve asked softly just so Eddie could hear

Eddie nodded softly, “ Yeah, no” he laughed softly, “I dunno, just nervous. I wanna be sat on that side with you”

Steve squeezed those sore fingers, “maybe one day, but you having my back is enough”

Eddie held onto Steve’s fingers for as long as he could before the judge entered the room.

Steve had never felt so stressed in his life. Facing a Demogorgon, easy, Vecna he could do in his sleep, but this, having some random stranger look into every aspect of his life made him want to throw up. His leg jiggled under the table, his knee almost knocking into the wood. He looked back at Joyce and Hop, both of them giving him small but encouraging smiles. They all stood as the judge took his seat. They watched as he scanned through the file, it was thicker than it should be for someone Max’s age, and what felt like a lifetime later the judge spoke,

“Miss Maxine Mayfield to the stand please”

Max's head snapped to Steve, he could see the panic in her eyes, “Hey, it’s okay, just answer with the truth okay” Steve said softly, squeezing her hand.

Max's shoes squeaked on the floor as she walked towards the stand, her flingers flexed at her sides, her palms sweater than when she had first stood up to Billy. Adrenaline flooded her veins as she fought her fight or flight instinct and right now, she wanted to run, not because she didn’t want Steve to be her guardian, she wanted nothing more, but because she didn’t want to mess it up in anyway. She didn’t want to accidentally out Steve and Eddie, she would never forgive herself if she messed that up, outside their little bubble, Steve and Eddie were just best friends and roommates. She focused on her braids bouncing against her shoulders as she walked up the two small steps that lead to the rather uncomfortable looking chair, flattening the skirt of the pinafore to the back of her legs she sat, and waited for the judge to address her. What felt like an hour passing, he eventually did.

“Miss Mayfield, Do you know why you’re here today?”

Max nodded, “ Yes sir”

“And why is that?” the judge asked.

Max fought to not roll her eyes “Because Steven Harrington is petitioning to become my legal guardian because my mother abandoned me”

The Judge nodded, “Okay Max, before we begin, I need to tell you about a piece of information that I received this morning okay”

Max nodded again and the judge looked at the paper he was holding and what he said sucked all the air out of the room,

“Your mother has filed a petition banning Steven Harrington from becoming your legal guardian due to his violate behaviour and recurrent mental health issues, she’s here to fight against his guardianship”

An entire room of heads turned as Susan Mayfield walked into the room.