Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Original Idea

Alpha Eddie and Omega Steve who slowly fall in love over email.  Eddie plucks up the nerve to ask if Steve wants to swap scents, see if they’re compatible before they buy plane tickets to see one another. 

Steve gets Eddie’s hellfire shirt first, when he tears into the vac sealed bag the scent sends him straight into heat. 

Steve’s package got lost in the mail going via Kentucky, twice for absolutely no reason at all. But it’s lucky because when he gets a call from an unknown number he’s coherent enough to hear the wrecked growl of his Alpha after he’s come his brains out. 

Continued 

Steve never planned on falling in love, he certainly wasn't ready to find his truemate, well, Steve might have panicked a little. He knew that Eddie was cool, and kind, and he really wanted to visit him, but until the moment he opened that package with Eddie’s shirt it still all felt like something unreal, something he could talk himself out of at the last minute. 

It wasn’t ghosting if you’d never met right?

The way his heat had ripped through him, how it had ignored the fact he was taking heavy duty suppressants, left Steve shaken. The heat was hard on him, his body craved it’s mate and even fucking himself on his favourite knotting dildo with his weighted blanket slung over his shoulder, still left him feeling desperately alone.

He’d never wanted to need someone like he needed Eddie; he felt vulnerable and raw. But now it was so much bigger than Steve, it was cosmic alignment and fates and the universe being a dick because he wasn’t ready. He wasn’t ready. 

Except 

Except

When Eddie called, when Steve heard his voice for the first time it was like every anxiety he had melted away, this Alpha was different from all the others, this was his alpha. 

“Hello, Sweetheart.” Eddie’s voice sounded like nectar to Steve’s ears. 

Steve felt terribly shy, his face flaming as he replied, “Hi, uh, may I call you Alpha?” Steve didn’t know what made him ask, the tendrils of his heat still wrapped him in a warmth he wasn’t used to. 

Steve felt himself smile when Eddie groaned, it sounded as if Eddie had dropped the phone and Steve could hear the alpha’s heavy breathing and muttered curses. 

“Oh sweetheart, you need to warn a guy before you drop something like that on him.” Eddie sounded like he was smiling and it warmed Steve’s heart. 

“Sorry, Alpha,” He paused, started to purr when Eddie coughed, his breath caught in his throat. 

“So, truemates.” Eddie replied. “That’s a thing.”

Chapter Text

Original Idea

Just made myself feel sad about omega Steve who has never been given what he needs as an omega. His parents are both betas, Steve is some weird throwback gene and they don’t bother to provide him with omega comforts. 

comforts like nesting materials, soft clothing for their sensitive skill, family scented items for nesting, they never scent him on his pack gland they never touch him, cuddle him. 

When he starts to get enough allowance to go shopping he buys himself soft clothes in pretty colours, and a blanket, it’s the softest thing he’s ever touched in his life and he spends hours rubbing his face over it. He packs it in his bag for school every day because he’s scared his parents might throw it away if they find it. 

Omega Steve Harrington carries his nest in his backpack

Continuation

What if Steve doesn’t meet an alpha until he’s been living out of home, his collection of nesting materials has increased a little but he still has no idea what he’s doing. His instincts have been suppressed so much it doesn’t come easily to him.

Meeting alpha Eddie who slips into his life with easy touches, who makes Steve jump when he goes to scent Steve’s pack gland and worries he’s upset Steve but Steve just asks how to do it. Steve’s seen others scent there, seen it on tv on the sitcoms but he’s scared he’ll fuck it up and Eddie won’t like him anymore

Eddie who has to brush a tear from his eye before cradling Steve’s head and guiding him to Eddie’s pack gland and Steve turning to absolute jelly in Eddie’s arms when Eddie’s nose slides against his neck.

Steve and Eddie are sitting together a little closer than is strictly suitable for friends, but Steve’s been inching his way closer to Eddie for months now and he thinks they are moving to be more than friends, it’s while watching a cheesy movie that Steve’s head falls to Eddie’s shoulder and he starts purring.

They take things slow when they start dating, steve loves spending the night with Eddie in the alpha’s nest. The first time he kneads the edges of Eddies nest making lil biscuits into the fabric Eddie cries again 

The morning he went out to pick up breakfast and comes home to a naked omega rolling around in his nest, pushing his scent into the blankets as a way of claiming his alpha, Eddie can’t hold the growl back.

Steve discovers so many things about himself and starts to feel so much better, he’d soften a little, getting some omega fat on his thighs and belly. the dark circles under his eyes vanish. 

He’s falling in love with himself as much as he is with Eddie

Chapter Text

Uncle Wayne is an omega. He was widowed before Eddie came to live with him, his presence was as much a balm on his soul as it was a place for Eddie to feel at home, he raised Eddie as his own.

He was raised by the strongest omega there was, and learnt how smart and resilient omegas were. Wayne gave Eddie age appropriate bio/sex ed books with real terms from a young age, he also taught Eddie to nest and never let him get away with anything because of his secondary gender.

So Eddie grew up a very liberal alpha, something uncommon in the 80s.

One night Eddie comes home really distressed and tells his uncle how his boyfriend Steve doesn’t have a nest. Wayne grabs the keys and Eddie’s arm and drives him down to the store where they pick up a whole cart of soft items.

Wayne drives right over to Steve’s house, when they enter Wayne pushes past Eddie and takes Steve in his arms holding him to his chest. He just strokes a hand through Steve’s hair and tells him he’s sorry.

Steve doesn’t know whats happening he sees Eddie and begins to relax, he scents Eddie on Wayne and the scent of family helps him settle until he starts to listen to what Wayne is saying, he’s repeating he’s sorry over and over, and that’s when Steve breaks apart and starts to sob.

When he stops crying Wayne pulls away and kisses him on the forehead, wipes his tears away. He curses at Eddie to stop standing there and go fetch the bags while he has Steve lead him to his bedroom.

They task Eddie with unwrapping everything as Wayne teaches Steve the basics to building a nest.

Chapter Text

They see each other on New Year's Eve, it’s a house party, a friend of a friend for both of them. Their eyes meet across the room, even though the scents of too many bodies fill the room they can scent one another as if they are standing side by side.

They have to shoulder their way through people, people are crammed in as the music is cut off and someone grabs a microphone and begins the countdown. When they are finally standing in front of each other the rest of the room seems to fall away. It’s only the two of them now, they are meeting their true mate for the first time.

As the countdown hits zero, Omega Steve offers his wrist for Alpha Eddie to scent. Eddie takes his hand with gentle hands, running his nose over the sensitive skin, his tongue slips out and laps lightly over Steve’s pulse point, and Eddie’s eyes spark red.

Eddie offers Steve his own wrist to scent, Steve noses his bracelets aside, without breaking eye contact Steve slowly scents Eddie, then rubs his cheek over Eddie’s scent gland officially marking himself with his alphas scent.

When Steve’s eyes spark gold, Eddie grabs his face and kisses his mate for the first time.

Chapter Text

Steve who is stared at in the streets, people talk in hushed tones around him and openly shun him because he “went and got himself pregnant”

Steve who’s boyfriend had promised he’d pull out and there was no chance he’d get pregnant if he could just fuck Steve without a condom. And when his boyfriend didn’t pull out in time, knotting them together and almost passing out on top of Steve as he began to panic. The boyfriend who called Steve a slut for getting pregnant and wanted nothing to do with him besides tell Steve to fix it himself.

Steve, who is left to deal with it on his own, as he gets to watch this stupid alpha graduate, go to a good college and marry a “decent” omega.

Steve tries to keep the pregnancy a secret, just keeps telling himself he will work something out he just needs a bit more time. And when it’s too hard to hide the bump under oversized sweaters he has to tell his parents. He is desperately sad and scared and needs help but they just kick him out, he has his car and the clothes he managed to pack into a small bag as his father cursed him out calling him a slut and a whore while his mother couldn’t even look him in the eyes.

Steve has to live in his car while he tries to get enough money to put the down payment on rent at the trailer park. He is scared and lonely, his back aches and he’s desperately tired but he keeps working, saving money when he can. It’s the worst when he needs to decide between fuel for the car or food. He worries continuously about if he’s harming the baby, he’s always so cold, he’s not eating properly and working so many hours.

He will sit in the car rubbing a hand over his stomach, telling the baby that everything will be alright, that he’s got it all under control and they are safe, that the baby is loved, more than it could ever know. And the whole time tears run down his cheeks because in his heart and soul he wishes more than anything that someone would hold him and tell him those same things.

When he has the money to move into a trailer he’s able to relax just a bit, telling the baby “I told you we’d be ok”. They have warmth, even if he can’t afford to heat the place overnight, a roof over their heads will be enough.

When Steve goes into labor he drives himself to the hospital, he has a small bag of items he could afford to take with him, pays for the car to stay in long stay parking and staggers into the emergency.

It’s a girl, placed into his arms at five past midnight and Steve cries as he holds this tiny piece of him in his arms, alone in the hospital room and he can’t help how hard his heart aches at how much he could love someone so much. And he whispers into the thick dusting of black hair “I told you we’d be ok.”

Steve has to go back to work right away, he’s still sore and weak but the bills need to be paid. He has a sitter that is flexible with time and he can just afford it if he cuts back on food for himself. He gets formula for the baby just in case his milk isn’t nutritious enough for her. He keeps slogging on, rocking the baby to sleep at night as he drifts off in the chair by her crib.

The day he meets Eddie he just got off a 12 hour shift, he had to pay the sitter extra money that he didn’t have because his boss wouldn’t let him leave, he picked up take out on the way home unable to even think about standing and making dinner. It’s raining the dirt outside his home has turned to mud and when he’s getting the baby out of the car he drops his dinner, it’s scattered everywhere, there is no rescuing it.

Steve screams “FUCK” and just can’t anymore, with baby tucked against his chest he falls to the mud back against his car and cries. He’s a hiccuping gasping mess, with a baby that won’t stop crying because she’s tired and hungry

Eddie who has seen the Omega coming and going, seen the long hours they work and the exhaustion that is obvious in everything they do. He’s watched them and wanted to say hello, make friends but always been too shy, he pokes his head out the door and sees all this and his heart breaks.

He goes over to Steve, kneels in the mud “Hey, hey, come on now, no use crying over spilt milk, I just put mac and cheese in the microwave how bout you come over.”

“I’m Eddie by the way,” The alpha ducks and laughs since he was offering to feed a stranger, without introduction.

Steve who only recognises Eddie from his dark hair and the glimpses he’s seen through the curtains, who is so exhausted and the alpha scents good, and he’s offering food which honestly he’s so fucking hungry so he takes the offered hand but winces when he gets up and his pants are muddy and stuck to his ass. Steve introduces himself and the baby with a sad smile, pushing away the fallen tears from his face

“How about you go in and get changed, see to baby and i’ll bring food over in about 10?” Eddie suggests, and Steve thinks he could fall in love. It feels like the first nice thing someone has done for him since he found out he was pregnant so he agrees.

Letting the alpha into his house and into his life was probably the best thing he’s ever done. Life seems to feel lighter with Eddie around. It’s a friendship that blooms slowly into a romance and into the life that Steve had always dreamed for himself. A life filled with love, laughter and family.

Steve rocks in a chair, his feet up and a pillow behind his back, taking the pressure of his aching heavily pregnant body. A toddler is passed out on his chest as Steve whispers into her hair, “I told you we’d be ok,”

Chapter Text

Ya’ll wanna hear about Alpha Eddie’s nest? You see when he arrived at his uncles trailer all those years ago he had one bag with him, his parents didn’t have much to give him but they were sure he had a couple of things that scented of them when he left.

Uncle Wayne saw what the boy had and decided he’d get him started on making his own nest. Just like an omega kid Eddie’s age, they would start constructing their nest, little by little, adding special items to it over the years so that when they came of age their nest would be a perfect space of comfort and safety. So Omega Wayne showed his alpha nephew how to start, giving the kid something of his, from his own nest.

By the time Eddie had his first rut he had a big comfortable nest that scented of home.

Chapter Text

After everything happened it didn’t take long for the pair to become a trio. Billy and Steve both agreed that Eddie was the missing piece, he’d proven himself time and again, a real good alpha, one that didn’t make Billy’s hackles rise. That was a rare thing, and one they both understood meant a hell of a lot.

It felt like the natural progression when they invited Eddie into their bed, and their hearts. After Steve’s next heat they moved in together, their nest expanding to fit three. Even Billy was surprised when he allowed another alpha to sleep at his back but Eddie took on the role of caretaker in their nest. One he fit into naturally.

Even still, at times there were beasts even Eddie couldn’t fight off. They all bore their scars from Vecna, some worse than others, some not as visible as the scars that had begun to silver on their skin. Some things that might never truly heal.

It was Billy’s cries that pierced the night, Steve must have burrow himself off in the nest’s wall, he was in preheat and alpha’s were “too stinky and hot” for him at these times. So Billy was curled up on himself, when he began to scream. His body spasmed where Eddie touched him, and Billy started to chant “No. no no no no nonono,” his voice cracked and raw.

Eddie shot up immediately moving away from Billy, he looked over to Steve who was sitting on his knees watching Eddie retreat. They all had nightmares, although they were far less often these days, they still came. A lot of it was from Vecna or the Russians or any of the horrors the upside down wrought on them, but not all of them.

Billy’s nightmares tended to be different, Billy’s scars ran deep, carved into his soul, and no amount of safety and protection Eddie provided could keep Billy from them. Eddie learnt early that the scent of an alpha only made things worse, it hurt to stand back and watch as one of his mates went through hell but he held himself still and watched their omega work.

Steve crawled forward with an omega purr in his throat and all the calming scent he could muster. He lay down close to Billy but not touching. The touching would come until after, now they focused on calming the alpha. Billy would scream so much Eddie could feel the tears in his eyes begin to overflow and his heart clench. It was nights like these Eddie wished he could kill a man, he dreamed of ripping Billy’s father’s throat out.

Tonight Billy reacted to an unseen boot, his cries turned to whimpers and he sounded so small. Eddie started to sing, the only thing to work when Billy was so lost to the nightmare, the first lines to Mad World filled the room, Eddie’s deep voice cracking over the words as he fought to keep himself together. The time seemed to stretch out before them, Steve so close Billy would feel his breath dance across his face, his scent full of love and protection, and Eddie’s song surrounding them.

Billy’s eyes opened wide, his body going rigid, he was unseeing at first and Steve trilled, reminding his mate where he was, the seconds stretched out before Billy frantically pulled Steve to his chest, his nose burrowed in Steve’s neck and he cried. The sobs wracked his whole body, making him sound so broken, he’d apologise to the darkness, beg forgiveness when none was needed and Steve would hold him tight and let Billy fall apart in his arms. When the tears stopped, Billy croaked out Eddie’s name. The alpha coming up to Billy then, stroking a hand through his hair guiding the strands out of his face so he could look up at Eddie.

Eddie smiled down at Billy, blinking slowly allowing the alpha to see there was no threat, a small dip of the chin from Billy and Eddie would lay down and wrap himself around his mate. After one of these nightmares, when the phantom hands had been pushed away and his mind firmly back in the nest with his mates, Billy needed touch.

He needed the firm claiming touch of an alpha he loved, an alpha he trusted with his life, one he would bare his throat to without a single hesitation. Eddie covered Billy’s back, because he was their protector, he would fight the monsters so Billy could find peace enough to sleep.

Chapter Text

Steve attends a boarding school for omegas, he loves it there. He’s surrounded with people like him, unlike in Hawkins where he’s one of the only omegas in the city. His parents, both betas didn’t know what to do with him when he presented so they shipped him off to boarding school and Steve couldn’t be happier.

His roommate and best friend Robin is one of the best people he knows, she is dorky and funny and so smart. For a small time Steve thinks he has a crush on her, but soon he realises this is what it feels like to have a friend, a best friend.

One thing Steve doesn’t really understand is having a crush. He’s fairly sure it's just something people say, they hang pictures of handsome alpha’s in their dorm rooms and write love hearts on their folders encompassing their names. He never understood practicing your signature with your crush's last name. And why people loved alphas so much, they were stinky and brash and huge and Steve just doesn’t get it.

That was until halfway through the year when a new student arrived. His name is Eddie and suddenly Steve /gets/ it. Eddie is charismatic and funny and so cool that Steve can barely string a sentence together when they are in the same room. He can’t bring himself to do more than stare at the omega from across the room, he makes sure he’s positioned in home room so he can watch Eddie as he chews on a pencil and twirls his brown curls around his finger as he puzzles out his homework.

Steve has no idea what this feeling is as his stomach swoops and his cheeks flush every time he thinks of the boy. But still, Steve doesn’t get the courage to speak to him more than a hello in the hall or if they are grouped together in sport. It’s not until one night, Steve is walking back from the bathroom around midnight when Eddie bumps into him going the opposite direction. Eddie has a wicked grin and a mischievous glint in his eye. Somehow he convinces Steve to join him on a trip to the kitchens for ice cream.

Steve never breaks the rules, he suffers from good girl syndrome and it’s chronic, but Eddie moves with such confidence that it’s impossible to not get caught up in the moment. That's how he finds himself eating ice cream straight out of the tub, sat on the floor in the kitchen shoulder to shoulder with Eddie Munson. They hit it off immediately, Steve can’t believe how cool Eddie is, he knows a little bit about everything and always has a new fact to tell Steve about, a book rec or a record he just has to listen to.

Over the year the friendship blooms and Steve begins to think that maybe this is what he’s been feeling. It's similar to how he feels about Robin, except its deeper and more intense and Steve can’t look away from Eddie’s lips. But it doesn’t matter because omega’s can’t date other omega’s, that's not how life works. Steve is eventually going to fall in love with an alpha and have a baby and be a good house omega, that’s how these things went. Yet still his heart aches when they aren’t together, Eddie is the first person he thinks of when he learns something new, damn Eddie even has a collection of rocks that Steve gave him because they reminded him of Eddie.

It isn’t until Steve goes home for Christmas that he finally understands.

Steve is home alone, his parents have gone to some fancy work dinner and Steve is bored. So he’s snooping, he knows he really shouldn’t but he’s a teenager who barely knows his parents and he’s always wondered what his dad keeps in his desk drawers. Under a bundle of papers Steve finds a magazine. His cheeks heat and he knows he should close the drawer and walk away but he’s curious so glancing at the topless omega on the cover he tentatively flips through the pages.

The pages are filled with omegas, men and women in various stages of undress and to his shock they are kissing. On one page two omegas are draped over one another, hands disappearing between their legs, their lips plush and shining wet with spit, slick shines between their thighs. Steve slams the pages closed, his heart is hammering in his chest so hard he can hear the way his blood is rushing through his ears. He takes a deep breath and opens the page again. Mouth agape as the pieces fit together in his mind.

Steve has a crush on Eddie, it's more than a crush if he’s being honest, the feelings he's been ignoring, chalking up to a strong friendship make more sense now. And then there is Eddie, the small touches and times spent scenting one another, the way Eddie’s face lights up when Steve laughs, the way Eddie’s hands cup his face when he’s sad.

Shit.

Eddie has been flirting with Steve all year.

When they return to school the whole campus is packed with returning students and family members. Steve is dropped off by his father’s driver, his head on a swizzle as he searches for Eddie. When he finds him he sees he’s with two men, Eddie must have spotted Steve at the same time, waving him over. Steve is introduced to Eddie’s Uncles. Wayne and Benny, who. as Steve shakes hands with he realises they are both omegas.

He’s never felt so awkward in Eddie’s presence, it’s like everything has suddenly changed, the energy between them feels different now and Steve is once again stumbling over his words like he did when Eddie first came to school. It isn’t until the afternoon when the parents have left and the students are unpacking in their dorms that Eddie catches Steve in the halls. He looks worried, and maybe Steve has been avoiding Eddie like a coward. So when Eddie pulls him into a janitor's closet and asks him what's wrong, all Steve can do is say “I’ve been an idiot” and pull Eddie to him, pushing his lips against Eddie’s. It’s a messy kiss, turns out neither of them have kissed anyone before but what they lack in experience they make up for in enthusiasm.

Eddie pulls back, eyes flashing with that spark of mischief, he cups Steve’s face in that way that makes his heart feel whole and says “About time, Harrington.” before going in for another kiss.

Chapter Text

People think touch comes naturally but when there is no one to show you, when you live your life without it then it becomes this unattainable thing just out of reach, something you yearn for but never seem to know how to ask.
Everyone thinks Steve's fine, sure he wears a lot of scent blockers but maybe he's just sick of being objectified, or whatever, he's fine so nobody worries about him.
and then the shit goes down, again and again and again and Steve is fine.

He's not fine not even close, his scent has dimmed to almost nothing, when he's not with his friends hes alone and his body is starting to fail him.

It starts like a cramp, his body seizing up and he's unable to relax. he wakes night after night his body seizing unable to uncurls his limbs as the pain sears through him, he passes out before he's able to move and thankfully he's relaxed by the time he wakes again. That is until today, he wakes in his bed and he can't move, its worse than in the early hours of the night before, the pain doesn't stop every nerve ending feels on fire.
It doesn't stop, Steve's stuck in his bed, he hears the pone ring once, that would be Dustin wondering where he is, he was supposed to drive them to school, it rings again then goes quiet. He's scared, he's alone and no one knows he's unwell and he still can't move. He pisses himself, only realises when the bed gets hot and then cold and he begins to shake. his limbs feel disconnected from him now, the pain has dulled to a throb which he's sure isn't the good sign he wants it to be.

the sun goes down and he begins to scream, the pain comes in waves now, he's only managed to twitch a finger in the last what 12 hours, he cant be sure but its pitch black and steves never been so cold before. if he screams loud enough the neighbours will hear, someone will call the police, god he hopes they will.
the sun comes up and Steve's lost his voice, his teeth wont stop chattering the bed is soaked and so is he.
the phone rings
it stops
it rings again
it stops
the sun goes down
Steve thinks he might die.
he passes out into a blissful silence woken when he hears a loud bang.
it comes again, sounds like a hammering on the door Steve tries to call out but all that leaves his mouth is a rasping breath
and then there is a smash and Steve dares to hope.
The scent of alpha reaches him first his and he whines, sounding so pathetic he wants to cry but he has no tears left. he has nothing left.
"Steve?"
he knows that voice
"Holy shit, Steve!"
Hopper's face comes into view, the alphas scent feels like water washing down his throat he gasps pain free for just a second before its comes crashing in again and he screams and passes out.
He comes too and he's wet and warm and oh god he can move, he experiments his arms ache gods they ache so bad but his hand moves he becomes more aware hes fairly sure he's in water he can't open his eyes yet they're too heavy he knows he's laying on someones chest, he enjoys the way it rises and falls, when he moves his chin the hair under his cheek tickles.
"You feeling alright there, kiddo" The deep voice vibrates over Steve's skin and he tries to reply, his voice still spent he nods again
"i've got you, omega, you're alpha's here now"

Chapter Text

Steve knew two things to be true, one- that he was a shame upon his family and two - being a male omega was the mark of the devil.

He’d been told this since birth, every memory laced with these facts and Steve had watched it proven to be true time and again. Steve was a great shame upon his family and his mother, to have birthed him, there was no sin greater. Steve was taught to atone before he even knew how to tie his shoes. Steve spent a lifetime on his knees praying to a god who saw only evil when he looked upon him.

He was given no comforts in life, he believed if he gave way to sin then he could bring about the end of times. Steve wanted to try chocolate but he wasn’t evil, he couldn’t do that to the world.

When Steve’s first heat hit he was so scared, he was home schooled and knew nothing of an omega’s cycle. He ran straight to his mother begging for help as slick ran down his legs and he craved something he couldn’t name. It hurt so bad, and he didn’t understand. His mother tied him to his bed, grasped the family bible to her chest and prayed by his side for two days.

Steve wasn't allowed a nest, that was a comfort afforded to clean omegas. His mother had been a clean omega- chosen by god- before Steve came and soiled her. Steve was just a stain upon his family.

His mother still had a nest, it was only right and fitting since Steve’s father as head of the home, deserved the comfort. He would look in at his mothers nest when he could, stolen glances, wishing to reach out to take a piece and take comfort in the scent of family.

Steve never got to touch though, the door was locked when his parents were not home, and he was alone a lot in that large empty house. The older he got the more he had to repent, the more his body changed, softening and blooming, it was only more proof he hadn’t prayed hard enough, that he was breaking rules.

Steve thought he knew all the rules, was good at following them to the letter but he must not know them all, it didn’t matter how hard he tried he kept losing.

His parents started leaving him alone for longer periods, Steve’s father always working and his mother, done with her dirty secret at home went to live a life not weighted down by the blight that was her son. He was sent him to public school then.

High school was so much more than he could have imagined, he was shy at first everything so new and strange, people acting like this was real life, like they didn’t have a the weight of sin laying on their shoulders.

Then Steve actually started to make friends, first was Robin, a sweet beta that had a sharp whit and even sharper tongue. Then there was Tommy and his girlfriend an alpha pair that Steve couldn’t even begin to understand, who were both a bit brash but Steve loved how easily they swore, it made him blush bright every single time. Nancy was Steve’s first omega friend, he had his first sleep over at her house, his heart hammering in his chest when her beta boyfriend Jonathan climbed through the window with a movie and snacks.

And then there was Eddie, an alpha who somehow subverted every societal norm and still command the room. Steve blushed bright red every time the alpha looked his way, Robin swore Steve had a crush, but Steve wasn’t sure. There was no way an alpha would want someone like him, no matter how often Eddie seemed to hang around when Steve was there. Even as he made friends and learned more about the world, he was still the stain upon his family.

Steve learned to forge his mothers signature to join sports teams, he knew it was wrong but he wasn’t hurting anyone, surely it wasn’t the worst sin. Steve felt out of his depth for every minute of it, continually waiting for the other shoe to drop and yet it didn’t. He found he was good at sports, his friends were so encouraging, his couch put him in the game early and the fact he was an omega never seemed to work against him.

Of course when his heat his mother returned, calling in to school for him then strapping him down to his bed and leaving him to ride out the pain alone. Steve was always so aware of her presence so close but nowhere in reach. When his heat was over his mother left, barely a word spoken, no indication of when she’d be back.

Somehow this time it hurt so much more, now Steve knew what connection felt like, he’d seen his friends with their families, saw the touches and the way they scented one another, he saw comfort asked for a given freely. The stark comparison to his own life hurt like a knife to the heart.

As his friendships bloomed it also came with gifted nest items. A common practice among friends was to share scented items for one anothers nests. Steve took these items, treasured them and began to slowly assemble a nest. Hidden in the base of his closet he surrounded himself in the scents of his friends. His most treasured item, a shirt from Eddie, his scent felt like coming home, if Steve was honest he was obsessed with Eddie’s scent.

He went to the mall and bought a couple of blankets and a body pillow that was so soft Steve never wanted to let go, letting himself give in to the need within him, a need he hadn’t realised he’d had. What he thought was just a constant state of unease from holding the sin of the devil turned out to be his inner omega in pain. He bought a bunch of cheap shirts that he pushed into his nest for a couple of weeks before he was able gift them to his friends. The joy he saw when they received the gifts made Steve question everything his mother had ever said.

And the way Eddie’s nostrils flared and eyes darkened did things to Steve and had him running to the bathroom when he felt wetness pool between his legs. Robin had followed him, talked him down from a panic attack as he curled into a ball on the filthy floor in a bathroom stall

Steve started to question everything his mother had claimed, because surely people wouldn’t want the scent of evil in their nests, and yet they eagerly took his offered items.

Questioning his mother’s words like this was ultimately a mistake because Steve started to relax, he became careless at home. Leaving the door to his nest open, letting items spill out as he stretched out in his nest. He started to scent mark the house, it was all unconscious actions but finally his omega was allowed some comfort and naturally that comfort spilled into every aspect of his life.

The day Steve had finally let Robin scent him, he’d melted into the touch as the beta rubbed her cheek against Steve’s, it was nothing more than a comfort and friendship, nothing sexual about it. Steve felt bouant as he drove home, he’d never imagined how amazing holding someone elses scent on his skin could feel and he couldn’t wait to get home and roll around in his nest, sharing that scent so it would last longer.

The way his whole world came crashing to a halt when he drove up to his house. His father’s car sat in the driveway, the lights in the house shining through the windows and when he glanced to his bedroom window his stomach dropped. The light was on, and he could see the silhouette of a person standing in the room.

Steve opened the door, shrinking in on himself when he heard the lines of scripture falling angrily from his mothers mouth. He thought he might be sick when he heard the sound of shredding fabric, blindly running up to his room, falling to his knees when he saw what was happening inside.

His mother was destroying his nest, her sewing shears rending it to shreads as she tore into the fabric. Her words tumbled into tongues compelled by the spirit spitting and baring her teeth as Steve shook and cried bent over in supplication, neck bared and utterly helpless.

That night his mother spilled rice across the hardwood floor in the cold kitchen, pushed Steve to his knees and watched while he prayed the entire night. His legs had gone to sleep hours ago, the pain that struck like needles into his knees and shins by the end the pain came in waves as he swayed on his knees fighting sleep, repeating the prayers until the sun came up.

Steve was sent to school with no sleep, it was Eddie that saw him attempt to hobble his way into the school, it was Eddie that ushered him into the back of his van with little effort. Steve was barely a shell of himself, his scent dulled and mind clouded in a fog of fatigue and pain. Steve didn’t speak, only pulled the leg of his pants up and allowed Eddie to help pick the rice from his skin. They didn’t go to school that day, instead Eddie drove out to lovers lake and let Steve curl up into his side and sleep.

Steve wakes with a fright shooting upright and unsure where he is until Eddie’s deep purr comes from behind him and Steve turns to see Eddie relaxed back against a pile of blankets in the back of his van. He knows he has to go home, his thoughts are still sluggish his head still full of fog but his body has stopped aching and some part inside of him feels so much more at ease than ever before. He’s never slept so easily, even if he was sleep deprived the level of comfort he feels right now is so overwhelming he doesn’t really know how to process it.

Eddie drives him back to school and Steve’s car, Steve doesn’t think twice when Eddie leans in to scent him, Steve melts into the touch and whines when Eddie pulls away. Eddie promises to be here tomorrow, that Steve can get through this. Steve doesn’t let himself linger on the reality, that Eddie is in no position to promise those things, instead he holds the promises against his heart and dares to hope.

When he gets home though all of that disappears. His mother and father were sat at the dinning table with a priest. The shreds of Steve’s nest lay on the table along with forged notes and what looks like the contents of his gym bag. When he gets close enough he see’s the three of them scent the air.

Steve arrives scenting so thoroughly of an alpha that even his father begins to shout, his mother prays rocking back and forth and the priest, he has a look of danger in his eyes, a look that has Steve’s hindbrain in a panic, a look that promises pain.

Eddie waits for Steve the next day and next and the day after that, he waits every day for a week, before he dares to drive past Steve’s house. A for sale sign hangs in the yard and the place is dark. Steve’s friends do their best to search for him, but they are young and their resources are limited. It doesn’t stop Eddie from waiting just an extra few minutes every morning, search the car park for any sign of Steve.

It doesn’t stop Eddie from travelling the country, moving from job to job searching, always searching for the chance that he might see that brown haired omega that could have been his.

Chapter Text

Steve is in love with his alpha, he has the perfect life. He's living the dream, he dotes on his alpha, he keeps a beautiful home and dinner is on the table by 6pm every night.

Everything is just how it's supposed to be.

That is until Steve finds out he's pregnant. He's so excited, he can't wait till his alpha gets home, running up to him with the test in hand and happy tears in his eyes.

But he doesn't get the response he was expecting, instead of dropping to his knees and kissing Steve's still flat stomach, his alpha flies into a rage. He never wanted children, he screams, especially not with him.

Steve feels as if the winds been knocked out of him, he holds a protective arm over his stomach, backs away in fear. Begging for his alpha to change his mind, that surely he doesn't feel that way?

His alpha relents, says he over reacted but as the weeks go by he gets more and more distant until one night he doesn't come home. he's gone for three days before he returns. Steve's been in a panic, his distressed scent fills the house and his alpha coughs and scrunches his nose.

Instead of comfort, Steve is met with his worst nightmare, his alpha breaks their bond and kicks Steve out. he's kind enough to find him a home at the trailer park and give him a couple of grand before officially breaking their bond.
Steve manages to keep it together for one whole day, he unpacks his clothes and the couple of personal items his alpha let him keep, before he collapses into his bed.

He has barely any nest, his alpha didn't allow him to take his scent when Steve left. His body aches, he feels sick and sweaty and he can't stop shaking. His stomach cramps and he begins to panic, he can't lose this baby, not after he's lost everything else.

He stays curled up in his bed and prays. Steve doesn't know that his body is sending out pheromones, seeking out the closest available alpha to come and soothe him. His body knows it will lose this baby, going into a mock heat in a bid to find a alpha.

Eddie is drawn to the trailer by the scent, he's full of concern and there is nothing that can stop him from breaking into the trailer.

When Eddie finds Steve, scenting heavily of rejection sickness, pain and most certainly pregnant, Eddie flies into a panic. He runs back to his trailer, gathering an arm full of blankets and pillows from his nest and bringing them back to Steve. The strange hint of heat in Steve's scent doesn't call to Eddie, there is no way he'd have sex with a stranger, especially when they are so clearly unwell.

Eddie doesn't even know this omega's name, so he does the only thing he can think to do and surrounds Steve with his nesting materials deeply saturated with his scent then curls up behind Steve and holds him.

Eddie tells Steve who he is, explains he has no need to worry
that Eddie will only hold him and scent him, that he promises to get Steve through this.

Eddie stays with Steve for 5 days, during this time Steve isn't able to speak. Eddie manages to get Steve to eat and drink but it's clear the omega is working on instinct alone as his body and mind work through the rejection.

Wayne found Eddie after the first night he didn't come home. He curls up with Steve when Eddie needs a break, but Eddie is never gone long. A strong trauma bond has taken hold of him and the ache when he's not at Steve's side hurts.

On the 6th day Steve finally wakes. He feels spent, but the aches and cramps that had consume him were gone and now and he's surrounded in the most amazing scent.

There's a noise from the kitchen that catches Steve's attention, and then an alpha walks into his room. Eddie swears and almost drops his coffee.

Steve pulls the blanket up to his chin, eyes wide and heart rabbiting in his chest until he realises the scent on the blanket is the same as the scent pouring off this alpha.

Steve knows in his core that this alpha saved his life and the life of his child. They spend the day talking, getting to know one another. Eddie continues to hold Steve when he sobs as he tells his story. Steve clings to Eddie when he can't find the words to thank him.

When the trauma bond fades they find true attraction. As Steve's pregnancy progresses so does their relationship. Eddie moves in a week before Steve gives birth. With Wayne and Eddie by his side for the birth of their baby girl. Steve finds his truly perfect life

Chapter Text

This was all Eddie’s fault.

His stupid alpha just had to pull Steve onto the dance floor, and just had to hold Steve close and whisper stupid dirty words into his ear, and rub circles over his mating scar just the way that Steve loved. Eddie knew exactly what would happen when he cupped Steve’s ass and dug his thumbs into the dimples on his lower back massaging him as they swayed together, dancing hips to hips. And then Eddie had to get hard in his jeans, his cock trapped there and so close and oh god Steve could feel the heat radiate against his hips.

And then Steve’s hands were in Eddie’s stupid hair and he was tugging the stands just so, Eddie’s moan was right in his ear, a sound that shivered down his spine and pooled in his core.

“Fuck, Eddie,” Steve’s head was spinning, from the alcohol and the heady scent of arousal filling his nose as he burried his face in Eddies neck and took huge breaths. He could taste Eddie on his tongue as he lapped at the alpha’s scent gland, Steve’s legs nearling giving way when Eddie growled, turning his head and capturing Steve’s lips in a heated kiss.

That’s when Steve knew Eddie wasn’t playing fair, how could he be when he devoured him so. As he licked into his mouth, his tongue sweeping over his teeth, a hand firmly gripping the back of his head. Steve had no option but to melt into it, let Eddie lead the way pushing the kiss further, nipping at Steve’s lips driving him wild with his stupid mouth.

“Alpha. Bathroom. Now” Steve couldn’t wait any longer, he was a simple omega and he needed his mates cock, right the fuck now.

They were sloppy as they made their way to the bathroom, Steve stopping to push Eddie up against the closest wall slotting his leg between Eddie’s and moaning when Eddie ground against him.

Steve didn’t take notice of the state of the stalls, fumbling at the lock while Eddie’s hands unbuttoned Steve’s fly and pushed his jeans down to his ankles, Eddie didn’t bother doing the same, only unzipping his fly and pulling his cock out. Steve leant in for another kiss, wrapping one arm around Eddie’s neck, the other around Eddie’s cock. He was wet with pre which Steve used to ease the way as he jerked Eddie off.

Eddie’s hands were busy, he had one gripping Steve’s ass, and the other, as Steve pulled out of the kiss and gasped for air, found its way between his legs sliding through his folds. Eddie teased his fingers at his pussy, pushing them in and curling them for the briefest press at the sensitive spot inside him, before he pulled his stupid fingers free.

Eddie sucked them into his mouth, his eyes ringed with red as he lapped at the slick.

“Jesus, Eddie, fuck me already.” Steve’s breathing was heavy and his body thrumbed with arousal.

Eddie didn’t need telling twice, his hands were rough on Steve’s hips as he was turned around to face the wall, Eddie pushing down on his lower back, making Steve arch and tilt his hips back. Steve’s hands landed on the wall in front of him, holding himself still as Eddie slid his cock through his slick soaked thighs. Eddie draped himself over Steve’s back, soft lips nibbling behind his ear, something about the way Eddie’s breaths stuttered drove Steve crazy.

He pushed back, impatient, reaching behind him to grip Eddie’s hip and encourage him forward. This time Eddie’s cock caught, pushing at his entrance until he was sliding in, in one slow movement. He stopped when he was fully seated, circling his hips to grind into Steve.

“You better fucking move,” Steve bit out around clenched teeth, he’s hot and his cunt is pulsing, begging for his alpha. “Don’t you fucking knot me,”

Eddie chuckled darkly, one hand coming to rest at Steve’s throat as the other took a firm grip of his hips, his fingertips digging in and Steve hopes he’ll be bruised tomorrow. Eddie finally pulled out, far too slowly and Steve whines, Eddie laughs again, just the head of his cock still enveloped in Steve’s wet heat. Eddie’s lips land on his neck, the alpha sucking a bruise over Steve’s scent gland before he slams into Steve.

It’s a brutal pace, the need that overwhelms them, coupled with the bathroom stall and the semi public nature of this spurring them on. Steve is pushed hard against the wall, his head is turned to the side, his cheek pushed against the stall wall. He’s trying to be quiet, trying to hold back the moans, but Eddie seems determined to punch out the most desperate sounds from Steve.

The sound of wet skin slapping together echos in the room, and Steve would feel the flood of embarrassment when he hears someone walk in and fucking applaud them as they take a leak, if it weren’t for the fact Eddie was pushing him stupidly fast towards his orgasm.

He reached down to take his cocklet in hand and whined when the contact made his pussy clench as Eddie’s cock pushed against his g-spot with unnerving precision, and “Oh shit.” Steve’s orgasm ripped through him so fast he’s unable to warn Eddie who’s fully seated when Steve bares down and clamps around Eddie’s rapidly inflating knot, locking them together.

Eddie’s teeth clamp down on Steve’s neck as his alpha’s orgasm is forced from him, his hips continue to move in little circles grinding up into Steve and pulling another orgasm from him with a pitiful whimper.

When he comes down, Eddie is rubbing small circles over Steve’s belly, he tries to move only to remember they are locked together and he groans. Suddenly aware of his surroundings, pulling his face from the wall and seeing nothing but grime and graffiti that makes him want to douse himself in hand sanitiser.

Eddie groans when his knot tugs at Steve’s cunt, another load pumping into him.

“Sorry,” Eddie whispers, “You kinda took me by surprise,”

Steve can only laugh as Eddie comes again. This wouldn’t have been a problem if Eddie had knotted his fist, he’d have come once and his knot would go down without the continued stimulation, but Steve couldn’t stop himself from milking every ounce of come from his alpha if he tried. No, they were stuck like this for the next 20 minutes, give or take, which was going to get real old, real fast considering they were standing up, Steve with his pants around his ankles, the zip of Eddie’s fly now uncomfortably rough against his ass.

When Eddie’s knot finally goes down, Steve is left to crab walk over to the toilet, sitting down on the dirty seat with a defeated look as he waits for enough of Eddie’s come to drip out of him so he can pull his pants back up. Eddie knows better than to laugh, crouching down in front of Steve, coaxing his mate to look up at him and placing kisses all over Steve’s face until he’s giggling and radiating that happy omega scent that drives Eddie crazy.

Steve can’t stay mad at Eddie like this, and by the time he’s able to pull his jeans up he’s forgiven his alpha and ready to go home so they might finish what they started. What he wasn’t ready for was the applause they were greeted with when they got back to their table and friends. Steve stuck his middle finger up and his tongue out, grabbed his jacket and left Eddie to say goodbye, as he felt his cheeks heat with embarrassment

Chapter Text

’m having whumpy a/b/o Steddie thoughts. Eddie lives, Steve has ptsd

I’m thinking about Omega Steve. After the Russian’s he so lonely and touch starved, he’s forgotten how to look after himself; he's just surviving day to day, week to week. He’s always been good at pretending everything's alright. He's fairly sure no one has noticed, and even if they did he has no idea how to be vulnerable in front of someone else.

After everything that’s happened all he’s been through and he can’t keep it together. The others, they have a nightmare or two but Steve is falling apart. He can’t understand what's wrong with him, why him?

He threw away his nest one night when the world wouldn’t stop screaming and all he could smell was his fear everywhere, it had seeped into the fabric until no amount of washing could rid it.

Since then he sleeps on a threadbare sheet, in his childhood bed a throw blanket wrapped around his shoulders. it hurts to be comfortable, it hurts to be alone.

And then it happens again. And when Steve finally gets back home he never wants to be touched again, it’s all he can do not to tear at his skin at the thought of those vines wrapping around him cutting off his air. He finds himself waking gasping, screaming, tearing at his neck night after night, drenched in sweat.

His cycle had already stopped, but now Steve begins to notice his scent deadening, he’s losing weight, the softness over his hips and stomach melted away.

When Alpha Eddie finally gets out of hospital he checks up on Steve, and the act, and the mask he puts on, doesn't work on Eddie. He’s not obvious about it, about seeing straight through Steve, he’s thankful for that. But he’s not letting Steve ride on his bullshit. He’s persistent and his huge brown eyes see past it all.

This isn’t one of those stories when an alpha walks in and fixes everything overnight.

Steve’s never met an Alpha like Eddie, he doesn’t scent like the ones he’s known, he’s softer around the edges, he doesn’t barge through the world, he moves with it. He’s gentle and caring and deeply protective. He isn’t shy with his touches, which he gives as freely as his friendship.

And that’s all it is between them at first, a friendship, a small quiet space that Steve starts to crave. Eddie’s company is easy in a way that Steve’s never known. It's not long before his mask completely drops, it’s the night Eddie knocks on his door. He’d never been to Steve’s house, but Steve hadn’t picked up the phone in too many days, and Eddie was persistent.

Steve looks tired and unkempt, nothing like he usually does, Steve doesn’t have it in him to smile and tell Eddie to leave, that he’s fine he’s just been tired is all. Instead he shrugs and holds the door open letting Eddie inside.

The first thing that strikes Eddie as odd is how cold the house seems, the second is the complete lack of any scent. Eddie’s been fairly sure Steve was using scent blockers but now he’s not sure about anything.

“How long?” Eddie asks, the words out his mouth before he can stop. Steve knows what he’s talking about, can see the utter shock in Eddie’s face, the way he looks stricken and pale as all the pieces slot into place for the Alpha. Steve can hardly talk, his throat feels like it’s closing over and he just can’t do it anymore, he has nothing left.

His knees buckle and Eddie is there catching him in his arms and holding him as he falls apart. He doesn’t know how long it’s been since he fell into the alpha’s arms, his throat feels raw from screaming and his eyes feel puffy. His hands are cramping where they grip Eddie’s shirt and it’s dark outside.

Eddie doesn’t say anything, gives Steve the room to find his voice, if he wants to. He just helps guide the omega to his room. Except then Eddie sees how Steve’s been living and sees the mattress on the floor with a couple of bits of fabric for comfort he can’t help crying.

“Let me take you home,” Eddie can’t let Steve stay here a moment more, and Steve didn’t realise how much he didn’t want to be here anymore, he didn’t want to be alone anymore.

Eddie takes him back to his trailer, Steve is surprised when it smells like family. He didn’t realise Wayne is an omega, the way his scent hugs Eddies as close as a mother and childs does. It makes him whine with need. Eddie knows, he gathers Steve into his arms and takes him to his room.

“You have a nest?” Steve is shocked, he can’t move, afraid to mess it up, spoil it with his fear and sweat and emptiness. But Eddie is purring and wrapping Steve in comfort and protection as he gently guides him into the nest of fabrics. He falls asleep wrapped in Eddie’s arms.

He still wakes screaming, scratching his nails across Eddie’s arms, cutting him, making him bleed as he sees the vines and the snow and the horror. But Eddie doesn’t leave. He lets go, he gives Steve space but he stays and starts to sing, his voice cutting through the screaming in his ears until he finds himself in Eddie's nest, alive and safe.

Steve doesn’t leave, at first he waits for Eddie to take him home, and then he waits to see if he will tell him to leave. And then he doesn’t think about it. He lives with Eddie in his home with his uncle and it’s the first time he’s felt like he belongs somewhere. Not for who he was or what he did none of that mattered at the Munson's home. They wanted him there and that was it.

Steve’s scent returns slowly, his body relaxing for the first time in so long. He has more good nights than bad now and when he gets lost in the past unable to see, Eddie knows just what to do to guide him home.

They kiss for the first time after Steve joins Eddie at DnD with the kids and the hellfire club. Steve has been falling for Eddie for months now, but seeing him up there leading the campaign it broke one of Steve’s last barriers. One moment Eddie was laughing reenacting one of his favourite moments of the night as he went to open the trailer door and then Steve’s pulling him around and walking Eddies back up against the door, his hand fisted in the alphas shirt as he pushing up onto his toes closes his eyes and kisses the alpha.

They take everything slow, kisses and more intimate scenting, then touches moving, exploring and threatening to tease. Steve starts to get slick again, he;s gained back the beautiful omega softness now and when they eventually moved below their clothes Eddie becomes instantly obsessed with it.

The first time Eddie sucks a bruise into the skin of Steve’s thighs, they both freeze, Eddie didn’t ask and Steve flinched. They hold each other's gaze until Steve let his head drop back and he moans. After that Steve’s thighs and soft tummy are constantly covered in love bites.

When Eddie is the one to bring up Steve’s cycle, Steve sighs in relief. Eddie knows its hard for Steve to open important conversations, they didn’t know when but he would go into heat, and the doctor (because Eddie insisted) warns it may be much more intense having been gone for so long.

They make love one night before Steve’s, it’s gentle and sweet and everything Steve could have dreamed of. Eddie knows how to touch him, where he craves it and where to stay away from. It breaks that final barrier, the biggest one in Steve and he finally believes he deserved this.

When Steve’s heat hits, Wayne goes away for the week leaving them the trailer and their privacy. Steve’s never felt like this before, in a nest that scents of home with someone who loves him with everything and who he loves back. They both know things will change now, even in the frenzy of heat they know this is more than just pheromones, their bond is solidifying and they may not cement it with a bite this time but they will within the year