Archive of Our Own

By the second week of November, Steve has his own dedicated toothbrush and towel at Eddie’s, as well as a bathroom drawer full of his trade secrets - hair products. Eddie has been coming around the library and Steve the record shop, just to say hi and spend a little time together (not counting the one time they’d closed up Corroded Coffin early and thoroughly defiled Eddie’s back office desk).  

Eddie still hasn’t said anything outright to Steve, but Steve can see his late-night confession in the way he’s reluctant to let go of his hand, the way he painstakingly crafts espresso drinks and delicious breakfasts in bed for Steve, and the way he takes care of him after a scene, so unbearably tender. 

It’s wonderful. Steve finds himself biting back all those things he swore he’d unpack later - his own (overwhelming, L-word adjacent) feelings for Eddie. He’s playing chicken, both with himself and Eddie, and he knows it’s only a matter of time before one of them lets something slip. 

That week, the second week of November, Joyce Byers calls Steve. 

“Hey, hon. How are you?” She greets him warmly. Steve smiles - it’s been awhile. 

“I’m great, Joyce. How have you been?” Steve taps the speakerphone button with his nose, hands covered in flour. He’s surprising Eddie with a loaf of sourdough bread later - one of those things you think is a lot more complicated to bake than it is. 

“I’ve been good,” Joyce laughs. “Really good, actually. You know Jim Hopper?” 

“El’s dad? Yeah.” Steve says. “What about him?” 

“We’re engaged.” Joyce can barely contain her excitement. 

“Joyce!” Steve exclaims. “Holy shit, congratulations! Oh my god, I had no idea you were even dating!” 

“I know, honey, I’m sorry. I should have called you earlier. You know how it is, life gets in the way. But I’m making up for it by inviting you to Thanksgiving at our new place.” 

Steve stops cold. Jonathan Byers would be there. It’s his family, after all. And wherever Jonathan goes, Nancy fucking Wheeler is sure to follow. They haven’t spoken a word since Steve managed to find his current apartment and left their old place together so Jonathan could move in. She hadn’t said as much, but that’s exactly what happened. Steve had seen it on Instagram, watched himself be replaced by the newer, less damaged model in real time. 

Nancy had sworn she hadn’t actively cheated on him, but there was clear, stark evidence of emotional infidelity. And he hadn’t been sure he believed her about the other part, either. 

But Joyce, Joyce is such a sweet, maternal woman. The closest thing to family that Steve has, if he’s honest with himself. And Will, Christ, that kid has been through so much shit. He’s had such a hard time with trust and anxiety after the accident, and Steve knows Will looks up to him. 

“Will would love it if you came,” Joyce says quietly. 

“How could I say no to you, Joyce? I can’t wait to see your and Jim’s new place!” 

“Yes!” Joyce exclaims. “Oh, Steve, that’s so sweet of you. I’m so glad you’re coming.” 

“It’s completely my pleasure! Should I bring anything?” 

“Soooo,” Joyce says slowly. “It’s none of my business, I know, but I heard from Will who heard from Dustin that you’re seeing somebody.” 

“I’m going to kill that little shit,” Steve sighs. 

“Bring him! And whatever you both feel like drinking.” Joyce says cheerily. “I want to meet him.”

“Ah, thanks, Joyce. I’ll see if he’s available, we haven’t talked about holidays yet actually. Are you sure there’s nothing else I can bring?” 

Steve badgers her into letting him bring homemade pumpkin pie and hangs up with her. He sighs heavily and goes back to his sourdough. How the fuck is he going to go about this with Eddie? Just casually ask him to come to an unfamiliar holiday to meet Steve’s weird pseudo-family and oh, yeah, his ex girlfriend and the guy she left him for are going to be there? Fuck. 

“What are you thinking about, my little culinary cutie?” Eddie comes up behind Steve that evening, sliding his arms around Steve’s waist as he stirs some sauced tofu absentmindedly in one of Eddie’s nice Le Creuset pans. 

“Mmmm, daddy…” Steve leans back into Eddie’s embrace and lets himself be held. Eddie’s wearing a new fragrance, or one Steve hasn’t smelled before, and he breathes it in as Eddie kisses his neck. 

“Don’t stop stirring,” Eddie warns as he sways them back and forth gently. 

“Right,” Steve manages, with herculean effort, to return his attention back to the dinner he’s making. 

“I asked what you were thinking about, love.” 

Steve hopes Eddie can’t feel him freeze against him for a split second. Love . Jesus, Eddie’s going to be the death of him. 

“Thanksgiving, actually.” Steve figures now is as good a time as any to talk about it.

“What about it?” Eddie asks carefully. 

“Joyce, you know, Will’s mom? Will, from the D&D group of kids at the library?” 

“The one you used to babysit for?” Eddie lets Steve’s waist go and sits down at one of his kitchen island chairs. Steve pouts for a second at the loss of all that Eddie pressed up against him, but understands that he needs to focus on cooking right now. 

“Yeah, that’s the one. She and El’s dad are engaged and they want me- well, actually, they want us to go to Thanksgiving at their new place.” 

“Aw,” Eddie intones while chopping up the green onions Steve had left on the cutting board. Fuck, he’s perfect, Steve thinks. 

“I realized we haven’t really talked about holidays or anything yet, and I don’t know too much about your family outside of your uncle who you’ve mentioned. I just thought we could talk about what we want to do. Or if you even want to spend holidays together.” 

“Stevie,” Eddie fixes him with a disparaging look. “Of course I want to spend holidays together, don’t be a shithead. My uncle Wayne is working Thanksgiving this year, so I promised him that I’d see him for Christmas. I was actually thinking of bringing him out to the city to stay with me ‘cause he lives in the suburbs and never takes a vacation much less spends time in Chicago. Does that sound okay to you?” 

Steve’s heart fucking melts. 

“You don’t have to ask me-” 

“Yeah, I do, Stevie. You’re my boyfriend and we’re in this together.” 

Steve sets his spatula down and kisses Eddie. Eddie wraps his arms around him and kisses back, grabbing a handful of Steve’s ass. 

By some miracle, Steve doesn’t burn anything and produces a reasonable spread of Maangchi’s spicy braised tofu and green onion salad with some rice. Eddie is thoroughly impressed by Steve’s culinary skills and compliments him liberally on every piece of their dinner. 

“Thanks,” Steve can feel himself blush. “I, uh, got really good at cooking as a kid.” 

The unspoken sadness behind that clearly doesn’t escape Eddie, whose eyes soften and he reaches for Steve’s hand. 

“Me too,” he volunteers. Steve’s eyes snap to him. He stays silent. Eddie doesn’t really talk about his childhood either, and Steve wants to be as respectful as he can. “I mean, probably not as good as you, but I would cook for me and Wayne a lot. He worked at a chemical plant, ten-hour shifts, and I’d make us breakfast and dinner. I make a mean brisket. Grandma’s recipe.” 

“I’m gonna need you to make that sometime,” Steve rubs his socked foot against Eddie’s leg. “Can I ask something? It’s totally okay if you don’t want to talk about it.” 

“Sure, baby. I’m an open book.” Eddie says, but he fidgets with the ring on his left index finger and Steve knows to keep an eye on that. 

“Did you live with Wayne for your whole childhood?” 

“Uh, no.” Eddie sighs. “My parents died when I was real young and Wayne took me in.” 

“Eddie…” Steve says softly. “I’m so sorry.” 

“Don’t be,” Eddie shakes his head and smiles a little ruefully. “They weren’t great people, or so Wayne tells me. Addicts. It was a pretty fucked up situation.” 

“Oh, god. I’m so sorry, holy shit.” Steve squeezes Eddie’s hand. 

“It’s really okay, baby. Wayne raised me and I’m so fuckin’ glad he did. He’s all the family I’ve ever needed.” 

Steve stands up from where they’re sitting at the kitchen island and wraps his arms around Eddie.

“You turned out pretty great,” he says against Eddie’s face and presses a kiss to his cheek. 

“You too, honey. I’m so impressed by you. This food? Incredible.” Eddie punctuates the word with a wet kiss to Steve’s neck, and Steve laughs. He sits back down and resumes eating. 

“Thank you,” Steve says, and it’s not just about the compliment. 

“Anytime,” Eddie smiles. 

“I do want to be honest, though.” Steve says a little more seriously. 

“I’d prefer it if you were.” Eddie straightens up just a little, fidgeting with that ring again. 

“About Thanksgiving.” Steve takes a deep breath and just says it. “My ex might be there - Nancy. And her boyfriend. Who’s Joyce’s son.” 

“The older one?” Eddie says, surprisingly unperturbed. 

“Yeah, Jonathan.” Steve says, clenching his hands together, fingers interlaced. “She, uh, dumped me for him.” 

“Oh, angel,” Eddie says, genuinely upset on Steve’s behalf. “Honey, is this going to be awful for you?” 

Steve shrugs but avoids Eddie’s eyes. 

“I don’t know, but I want to go. Joyce is… I don’t know, kind of like an aunt to me? She and Will are the closest thing I have to family.” 

“Then we’ll go.” Eddie says simply. “And I can calm you down if you need it. If it gets so bad you need to leave, just say the word.” 

“Are you sure you’re okay with that?” Steve asks softly, picking at the last dregs of his tofu. 

“You think I’m scared of a girl from Indiana?” Eddie scoffs. “Don’t worry, ‘cause I can already see you worrying. I’ll be perfectly polite and try not to interact with either of them, but if she starts shit, you rest assured I will finish it.”

“That’s hot,” Steve says before his brain catches up with his mouth. 

“What, you think your daddy wouldn’t protect you? Even from them? I don’t care what the situation is, I won’t let anyone hurt you.” 

Steve inhales sharply. God, to hear Eddie talk like that about him is practically intoxicating. 

“You’re so good to me, daddy.” 

“And you’re so good to me, honey. Let’s get these dishes in the dishwasher and then if you’re extra good, I’ll let you blow me.” 

Steve is already up, rinsing his plate into the sink. 

The Monday before Thanksgiving, Eddie takes Steve out for brunch, as both of them happen to be off work that day. They go to a breakfast place Steve’s never been before, a restaurant with an expansive menu and a chic, Parisian feel. Steve lets Eddie order for him and they play footsie under the table as they stir their coffees and wait for their food. 

“I have a little something for you, honey.” Eddie breaks the comfortable silence between them and slides Steve a little velvet bag. 

Steve is completely caught off guard, and he looks at Eddie curiously as he reaches for the bag. 

“You didn’t have to get me anything.” 

“I know,” Eddie smirks. “Maybe I want to spoil you, so sue me.” 

Fuck, why is that hot to Steve? The thought of Eddie doting on him, spoiling him with presents and treats. Steve’s face flushes and Eddie runs the toe of his boot up Steve’s leg. He knows exactly what the fuck that did to him. Steve knows the sadistic bastard is filing that reaction away to exploit later. 

“You really didn’t have to do this,” Steve faux-protests as he opens the bag’s drawstrings. Out falls a thin silver cuff bracelet. Eddie picks it up from the table and he clicks it open and holds it out to Steve. Steve offers his right wrist without question and Eddie clicks the bracelet closed around it. It’s snug but not restrictive, and Eddie doesn’t let go of it. He puts his finger over what looks like a raised design on the bracelet, and the entire middle section of the bracelet rotates as he pushes it. 

“It’s to help with anxiety.” Eddie says as he spins it. “I thought you might want to wear it to Thanksgiving.” 

Steve tangles his fingers into Eddie’s and squeezes his hand hard, lost for words. 

“I know,” Eddie says, smiling at Steve with a fondness that makes Steve’s chest ache. “I know you can’t say what you wanna say to me right now. But I know. You can tell me later.” 

Steve just nods; he doesn’t trust himself to speak without crying. Their food is delivered, Eggs Benedict for Steve and an omelet for Eddie, and it breaks the mood enough for regular conversation, but Steve doesn’t let go of Eddie’s hand. 

After they’re done eating and they get into Eddie’s car to drive back to his place, Steve practically climbs over the armrest to kiss Eddie senseless. 

“Thank you so much, daddy.” Steve breathes between kisses. 

“You are so welcome, princess.” Eddie smiles against Steve’s mouth and gives him one final kiss before he scoots him back into the passenger seat. 

Steve does his best to put Thanksgiving out of his mind at work the next day, repeatedly telling himself that Eddie will protect him no matter what happens and twisting his bracelet until he actually believes it. Robin texts him a gif of a girl drinking a margarita with the caption ‘us tonight?’ and Steve immediately smiles and texts back HELL YES. 

They hit up their favorite Mexican restaurant after both of them are off work and immediately order guacamole and two margs. 

“I’m sorry I’ve been kind of MIA lately,” Robin begins. “I picked up some extra shifts at Roscoe’s and I, uh, actually met someone.” 

“ROBIN!” Steve exclaims. “I’m so happy for you! What’s their name? What do they do? Tell me everything!” 

Robin does. Her name is Ella and she’s a software developer by day and a mommy domme by night - terrifyingly knowledgeable, whip-smart, and intimidating. Robin has pretty much been putty in her hands from day one, when they met at a munch. She’s not Ella’s only sub but she is her only partner, and Steve can tell that Robin’s really, really happy. 

“She sounds amazing,” Steve says, and means it emphatically. 

“She really is,” Robin sighs. “She makes my brain make sense. And she’s so hot, Steve.” 

Robin flicks open her phone and shows him a photo of Ella. Steve’s jaw drops. She looks maybe five years older than Robin at most, with stunning red hair and frankly enormous breasts. She does her makeup like a social media makeup artist and she's covered in tattoos.

“Robin, she’s gorgeous.” 

“I know!” Robin crows and takes a sip of her marg. “I have no idea what the fuck she’s doing with someone like me, but I’m just content to be with her in any capacity as long as she’ll have me.” 

“Someone like you, you mean a successful, hot reference librarian and bartender?” Steve sasses her. 

“Shut up,” She punches his shoulder. 

“Nah,” Steve grins. 

“So, how are you?”

Steve takes a long drink of his margarita. 

“Like, so good? But also nervous? There’s just a lot going on?” 

“Spill.” Robin says. “I smell some fuckshit going on here.” 

Steve sighs and fills her in on everything - his graduation-triggered breakdown, Eddie’s late night confession and their game of Feelings Chicken, learning more about Eddie’s childhood, the bracelet, and finally Thanksgiving. 

“Dude,” Robin sits back against the booth. 

“Yeah,” Steve drags his hands down his face. 

“That’s a lot. For sure. But you’re gonna be fine. You’ve got me and Eddie in your corner, you know that, right?” 

“Rob,” Steve says, touched. 

“For real, it’s just Thanksgiving. Joyce and Will want you there. And probably some of Will’s Dungeons and Dipshits friends will be there. And Eddie will be there. Probably wrapped around you overprotectively.” 

“You’re right,” Steve exhales, feeling some of the tension leave his shoulders. 

“And hey, if it sucks, you can always scram and come over to mine for Friendsgiving with Ella and some other people from the scene.” 

“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” Steve grins and Robin holds up her glass, prompting Steve to cheers his against it. 

A gust of warm air that smells like spices and cooking food envelops Steve and Eddie as Joyce Byers throws her door open. 

“Steve!” She pulls him inside, wrapping him in a hug and squeezing him. She lets him go and pulls Eddie into the same treatment, swinging the door shut behind them. 

“And you must be Eddie! So nice to meet you,” Joyce steps back. 

“Joyce, I presume?” Eddie holds out a bouquet of fall flowers and a bottle of Merlot. 

“Steve, I’m going to steal your boyfriend,” Joyce says as she accepts the gifts. “Eddie, thank you so much. That is so sweet of you, seriously. Take your shoes off, both of you, and get comfy.” 

“Let me give you this first,” Steve produces his homemade pumpkin pie with a flourish and Joyce makes a thrilled noise. 

“Steve! Oh, honey, that looks incredible. Let me get it to the kitchen,” Joyce stuffs the bottle of wine under her arm and takes the pie, scampering off toward the kitchen, where the sounds of cooking and Jim Hopper cursing spill out into the hallway. Steve and Eddie hang up their coats and Steve takes the opportunity to admire Eddie’s outfit - he chose a black sweater with a frayed hem and cuffs, and he looks like an alternative model. He left the bandanna at home and is sporting a slightly less skinny cut of black jeans, opting for Chelsea boots instead of his usual terrifying goth pair or his Docs.

Steve had asked Eddie to choose his outfit that morning, hating how much the nerves were making choices paralyzingly difficult. Eddie had taken that opportunity to give Steve yet another gift - a beautiful, soft sweater in a rich dark red, just a little oversized in the way that Steve loves, so the sleeves hang over his palms. Eddie had paired it with a simple pair of dark wash jeans and some of Steve’s library-appropriate dress shoes. Steve had actually enjoyed looking in the mirror and seeing himself in an outfit chosen by his daddy. He wishes he felt as secure now as he did a few hours ago. Steve moves to join the rest of the attendees of the evening and Eddie catches Steve’s arm before he ventures out of the foyer. He pulls him back against his chest and puts his arms around his waist. 

“You need daddy to calm you down a little?” He whispers into Steve’s ear. 

“Yes please,” Steve whispers back. Eddie takes his hand and clenches it hard around Steve’s wrist that’s wearing the bracelet. 

“I put that there for a reason, honey. If you feel anxious or upset, I want you to think about me grounding you and twist that bracelet while you breathe, okay?” 

“Yes, daddy.” Steve breathes and Eddie squeezes once, just a hint of pain where the metal bites into Steve’s wrist, before he lets go. 

“I’m ready,” Steve smiles, just a little tight around the edges, and walks out into the hallway. 

“Steve!” Lucas Sinclair, in a sweater very obviously picked out by his mother, almost bumps into him, seemingly on the way to the bathroom. 

“Hey, man!” Steve waves at him. 

“Are you Eddie?” Lucas asks the man himself. 

“Guilty as charged,” Eddie grins. 

“Nice to meet you, man. The others are in the living room and I think Will is setting the table.” 

“Thanks,” Steve says as Lucas speeds off. 

Steve braces himself as Eddie takes his hand and they turn the corner into the living room. Sat on the couch are Max and El, looking at Max’s phone together. Dustin is laying sideways in an armchair, shockingly not wearing his hat for once, playing something on his Nintendo Switch. Lucas’s little sister Erica is sitting on the floor coloring a coloring book on the coffee table. Conspicuously missing is Jonathan Byers, as well as Nancy and Mike Wheeler, and Will is apparently setting the table in the dining room. The living room smells like a festive scented candle and everyone’s heads swivel as Steve and Eddie enter. 

“Steve Harrington!” Dustin immediately tosses his Switch onto the coffee table and Erica makes an annoyed noise. “And I told you he’d bring Eddie.” he snipes at the girls on the couch. 

“Hi, Steve and Eddie,” El says sweetly. Max just waves at them both. 

“Hey, guys,” Steve waves to all assembled. “We’re gonna go grab drinks and be right back.” 

They cross the hallway into the dining room and find Will laying out cutlery carefully next to all the place settings, wearing a sweater and straight-leg jeans. 

“Hey, Will!” Steve says, and Will looks up from his meticulous work. His expression goes from one of melancholy and puzzlement to pure joy. 

“Hey! You came!” He says, and Steve’s heart breaks. He steps forward and pulls the teenager into a quick hug. He’s gratified to feel Will return the hug for a second before they both step back. 

“Why wouldn’t I? You think I’d miss an opportunity to hang out with you and eat your mom’s cooking? Fat chance.” 

Will grins, mollified. 

“Her mashed potatoes are to die for,” he says. 

“True,” Steve laughs and turns to his left, gesturing toward Eddie. “Will, this is my boyfriend, Eddie.” 

Will’s eyebrows raise unconsciously as he looks at Eddie, who gives a little wave. 

“Nice to meet you, Will. I hear you’re a fan of Artemis Fowl, maybe the best series of all time.” 

Will looks positively delighted and laughs incredulously. 

“Dustin told me you were cool,” he says approvingly. 

“You have no idea,” Steve says conspiratorially. 

“I’ll let you two talk behind my back for a minute while I grab us some drinks, okay, honey?” Eddie says, a hand on the small of Steve’s back. 

“Thanks,” Steve smiles at him as he heads into the kitchen. 

“So,” Will says and sets the last of the cutlery down. “I didn’t know you were…” 

“Bi?” Steve supplies. 

“Oh, okay, cool. Didn’t want to assume.” Will says easily and god, Steve wishes everyone were like this. Chill and polite, prioritizing respect. “That’s awesome.” 

“Aw, thanks. Yeah, it’s always kind of been a thing, but I was pretty in the closet when I was dating Nancy.” 

At the mention of Nancy’s name, Will’s face darkens. 

“Oh, sorry.” Steve says. “Did I say something?” 

“No,” Will half-sighs. “Sorry, I don’t mean to be a bummer.” 

“You haven’t done anything, bud.” Steve says. “What’s on your mind?” 

“It’s stupid,” Will looks down at his feet.

“Your feelings aren’t stupid.” Steve says firmly. “If you don’t want to get into it, I totally understand. But if you do, you can tell me, whatever it is.” 

“It’s just…” Will picks at the skin on the side of his thumbnail. “Jonathan’s at Nancy’s for Thanksgiving.” 

The relief and heartbreak that course through Steve are both strong, but his sadness for Will wins out. 

“I just feel like he can’t be bothered anymore.” Will says, and looks at Steve. His big eyes shine a little with valiantly held-back tears and his brows are furrowed together in a way that seems far too adult for his young age. 

“Will,” Steve says softly. “Just with Thanksgiving? Or is it other stuff, too?” 

“Yeah,” Will lets out a shaky breath. “It’s not just the holiday. Ever since he moved in with Nancy it’s like I don’t exist anymore. He barely ever replies to my texts and he never sends me music recs. He used to do that all the time - we even have a blended playlist on Spotify.” 

Steve is silent for a moment as he tries to find words in the face of the face-heating, heart pounding anger that sweeps through him. Sure, it’s tied to Nancy a little bit. And to his own problems. But it’s mostly on Will’s behalf - a fiery, righteous indignation that after all this kid has been through with his dad and probably being ostracized at school about that, not to mention being a neurodivergent nerd, one of the very clearly important parts of Will’s support system has seemingly stopped having time for him. 

The way Steve would have started an actual fistfight with Jonathan fucking Byers if he was the same person he had been in high school. 

Instead, he takes a breath and uses Eddie’s bracelet, twisting the design inside the sleeve of his sweater. He tries to push past the desire to fix this situation, knowing that’s probably not what Will needs right now, and think about what he would want someone to say to him if this were him. 

“Pardon my French, but that fucking sucks. I’m so sorry, Will. That sounds really hard.” 

“Thanks,” Will mumbles. “It’s okay.” 

“It doesn’t have to be,” Steve says with the most restraint he’s ever managed to summon. “You’re allowed to be upset about it.” 

“I just feel like I shouldn’t be making such a big deal out of this,” Will sighs, and Steve is floored by deja vu. This must have been exactly what it was like for Eddie to hear Steve be dismissive of what happened with his parents. 

“No,” he says firmly. “You deserve better and it matters.” 

Will just looks at him for a second before something solidifies in his eyes and he nods. 

“I do. I matter.” 

Steve could fucking cry. 

“Yeah, you do, bud. And thank you for trusting me enough to talk to me about this.” 

“It helped.” Will admits. 

“I’m glad,” Steve ruffles Will’s hair and Will makes a wounded noise before re-styling it with his own hands. “Hey, if you ever have any good music recommendations, Eddie keeps telling me I gotta expand my music taste beyond the Top 40.” 

“Oh, I got you.” Will says confidently. 

“Thank god,” Eddie chimes in, having just returned from the kitchen holding two glasses of white wine and handing one to Steve. “Someone else with decent music taste I can talk to.” 

“Eddie owns a record shop,” Steve reveals. Will lights up like a Christmas tree and the two of them start talking about genres Steve has never fuckin’ heard of in his life. He excuses himself and sidles back into the living room to probably get his ass kicked by Dustin at some video game. 

Jim Hopper sits at the head of the dining room table, presiding over a veritable banquet of delicious Thanksgiving food. Steve’s mouth is watering just looking at everything - there’s the turkey, resplendent in its golden brown glory as it sits in front of Jim, at least three different kinds of potatoes including Lucas’s mom’s sweet potato casserole if he understands correctly, garlic-sauteed green beans, crispy roasted brussels sprouts, fresh sweet corn, canned and fresh-made cranberry sauce, a veritable cauldron of stuffing, and cornbread muffins that Joyce tells everyone El made herself. The girl of the hour preens and giggles. 

Joyce sits on one side of Hopper, next to Steve, who’s next to Eddie and across from Will. Eddie’s socked foot curls around Steve’s ankle and Steve turns to look at him, smiling. 

“Well,” Jim says, and stands up. “Thank you all for coming tonight, especially if you’ve already eaten at your own homes.” Lucas and Erica smile at that. “I’m not one for speeches or grace or anything like that, but I just want to say that you all are here ‘cause you’re part of our family too and we’re thankful for you.” 

Steve’s eyes start to sting and he reaches for Eddie’s hand under the table. Eddie immediately digs his fingernail into Steve’s palm and Steve’s heart rate slows as he feels the slight edge of pain. 

“Anyway, that’s enough of that.” Jim attempts to hide a sniffle and Joyce is beaming up at him. “Cheers to family and to this huge spread. Let’s dig in!” 

Everyone clinks their glasses together and Steve angles his wine glass toward Will’s water glass specifically. He half-smiles at the younger boy and Will returns it. 

The food is every bit as good as it looks and the conversation is lively. Joyce politely and comically interrogates Eddie about his job, his life, and what bands he’s played with. He earns immense street cred in the teenagers’ eyes as he reveals his side gig of playing for anyone who needs a guitarist and tells them that he’s been lucky enough to play the Aragon Ballroom with Bring Me the Horizon. Will’s jaw is practically on the floor. 

“Steve, your boyfriend is too cool for you,” Max says. 

“Believe me, I know.” Steve feels himself blush a little as he looks at Eddie fondly over his plate. 

The conversation turns to school and how all the kids are doing in their various subjects. They complain about some teachers and revere others, and Steve feels warm and content drinking his wine and holding Eddie’s hand under the table as they both react to the kids’ diatribes where appropriate. 

Well. He feels almost content. Will is pretty quiet during most of the dinner conversation, and Steve just watches him as he looks like he wants to jump in but stops himself and sits back in his chair several times. It’s not that he’s being ignored, Steve realizes. It’s that he’s second guessing himself - he doesn’t think anyone wants to hear what he has to say. 

Fuck. The anger, previously set to simmer, is threatening to boil over again. He looks over at Joyce and he can tell she sees it too - the way Will perks up and then slumps back down a little. 

“Hey, Joyce, do you want me to get the pies ready?” Steve murmurs to her, a hand on her shoulder. 

“I’ll come with you.” She says, meeting his eyes. 

They excuse themselves into the kitchen to prepare the pies. Joyce opens a cabinet to find a cooling rack and immediately gets into a fight with two of them that are hooked into each other, stuck together. She manages to get them apart and tosses them onto the counter in frustration, bringing a hand up to her mouth. Something tells Steve that this isn’t just about the baking implements. 

“I love Will’s friends, you know I do.” Joyce starts. 

“I know you do,” Steve affirms. 

“I don’t think they’re bad kids. I just think they’re all really… confident. And they sometimes have trouble making space for people… who aren’t as confident. In their conversations. And really, I’m not upset with them.” Joyce wipes her eyes fiercely. “I’m upset with Jonathan. He would always ‘hold space,’ as Will’s therapist would say, for him in conversations. Make him feel heard and important.” 

Steve has to remove his hand from Joyce’s shoulder and twist his bracelet repeatedly. He’s furious. 

“Will told me a little about it,” Steve says. “It’s really hurting him, isn’t it? Jonathan pulling away?” 

“Yeah,” Joyce sobs out like she can’t help herself and claps her hand over her mouth. Steve immediately abandons his bracelet and wraps his arms around Joyce, who buries her face in his sweater and shakes with silent tears for a minute. She eventually pulls back and scrubs at her face, brushing at her undereyes to rid them of mascara crumbs. “Ugh, sorry. It just breaks my heart to see him like this. He idolized his brother growing up and Jonathan was always so ridiculously sweet to him. They had such a good relationship, and now he won’t even return Will’s texts. The one person who probably matters the most in his life. After all Will’s fuckin’ been through…” 

Joyce trails off, staring into the middle distance and probably lost in memories of the car crash and the devastation it had inflicted on Will. 

“And I feel bad too,” she says eventually. “I didn’t raise Jonathan to behave like this. And I sure as fuck didn’t raise him to be the other man.” 

Oh, fuck. That hits Steve like a punch in the gut. 

“I’m so sorry, Steve.” she turns to him again and reaches out a hand. Steve accepts it and she squeezes Steve’s hand. “I couldn’t fucking believe they did that to you. I overheard Dustin, Mike, and Will talking about it the other day - you know how it is, they always think they’re being quieter than they are - and I clearly never heard the whole story. I wish I’d heard it earlier, honey.” 

“You gotta stop taking responsibility for stuff that has nothing to do with you,” Steve squeezes her hand back for emphasis. “Jonathan’s behavior is not a reflection of you as a mother and what he and Nancy did as grown adults is not your problem.” 

“Ah, I know,” Joyce sighs deeply and busies herself with the pies. “I just hate that there’s nothing I can do to fix any of it, you know?” 

“You invited me here tonight.” Steve says slowly as he removes the foil from his pumpkin pie and places it in the oven. “You did that for Will and for me. Doesn’t seem like nothing to me.” 

“Steve,” Joyce pulls a fond face. “Thank you. Really.” She slides her pecan pie into the oven to warm alongside Steve’s pumpkin pie. 

“As for Jonathan,” Steve can’t help that his voice darkens. “I don’t know what to say other than that I’m sorry. And that I’m always here for you and Will.” 

“You make a great big brother.” Joyce says softly and pulls Steve into another hug. 

Everyone is lounging in the living room as Steve brings the last slices of pie in and hands them to Max and El before excusing himself. 

He heads through the kitchen and out onto the far corner of the covered back porch. There’s a very gentle snow falling and it seems to muffle the city’s noise. Steve starts crying into the palms of his hands. It’s all too much. It’s the words big brother, it’s the way Will’s eyes shone as he talked about Jonathan, it’s the frighteningly unfamiliar level of spite and anger that curls around his stomach and makes him restless. 

This is nothing like what he had expected - he’d expected to feel small, vulnerable in the face of Jonathan and Nancy’s scrutiny, not seared through with rage and deeply emotionally touched on Will and Joyce’s behalf. 

He hates this. He hates seeing the few people in the world that he cares about, no, loves, in pain. He cries harder into his hands, muffling his sobs, and the back door to the house opens a crack. He freezes in place, holding his breath. 

“Steve?” Eddie’s voice hisses into the night. Steve thinks about it for a second. Really considers staying silent and letting Eddie keep searching just so he can be alone with this. But he remembers Eddie, standing in his kitchen and reassuring Steve that I can calm you down if you need it.  

He takes a deep breath. 

“Daddy?” his voice sounds a little pathetic even to his own ears.

“Oh, honey,” Eddie says, all concern and sweetness. He closes the door behind him and doesn’t turn on the porch light. Good. Steve doesn’t want the harsh fluorescence to further exaggerate this tableau. “Come here, daddy’s got you.” 

Steve fucking crumples into Eddie’s arms. Just being held and smelling the comforting ambery musk of Eddie’s perfume helps immensely. Eddie brings Steve’s right arm up to rest on Eddie’s chest and he closes his hand around the bracelet, making an indent in Steve’s arm with it. Steve’s breathing evens out - he doesn’t feel the need to cry anymore.  

“Thank you, daddy.” 

“What’s got you so upset, honeybun?” Eddie murmurs into Steve’s hair. 

“Jonathan fucking Byers.” Steve spits and steps back, swiping harshly at his eyes with his sweater sleeves. “Turns out that him and Nancy not being here is maybe worse than them being here,” Steve says contemptuously. “Oh my god, I could kill him.” 

“I overheard a little of your and Will’s conversation,” Eddie says, slightly guilty. “Sorry about that. But I assume that’s what this is about?” 

“Oh, yeah.” Steve says scornfully. “It’s worse than that, though!” And he launches into an explanation of Will’s struggle with self-doubt and confidence in conversation and relationships, what Joyce had said to him in the kitchen, and his voice catches on the words big brother at the very end. 

“That is a lot.” Eddie says, whooshing a breath out. “That’s a lot to carry, sweetheart. No wonder you’re upset.” 

“It actually helped to get it out,” Steve says. “And I want to say I’m sorry for having an emotional breakdown at Thanksgiving and for burdening you with all of this but I know you won’t let me,” Steve rushes the last part of the sentence out as Eddie’s hand is already sneaking up the back of his neck. Eddie smiles a little and lowers his hand back down to the small of Steve’s back. “So let me just say thank you for being there for me and I’m really fucking lucky to have you.” 

Eddie pulls Steve to his chest and holds him there, one hand around his waist and the other cupping the back of his head. 

“I’m so proud of you.” Steve hears Eddie say quietly, voice a little shaky. 

“Daddy?” Steve pulls back, alarmed. “Are you okay?”

“I love you,” Eddie says, eyes shining, like he can’t stop himself. “I’m in love with you.” 

Steve is stunned. He blinks once, twice, three times and fucking launches himself at Eddie, kissing him like it’s an alternative to breathing. 

“I love you,” he says into Eddie’s mouth. “I’m in love with you too, daddy.” 

“Baby,” Eddie touches their foreheads together and just holds Steve there in the dim streetlamp glow as snow gently swirls around them. 

They barely make it inside Eddie’s townhome before Steve flings his coat off, scrambles out of his shoes, and practically attacks Eddie. 

“Down, honey,” Eddie laughs at Steve’s attempts to kiss him while he’s still snow-dusted and wearing gloves. “Give me just a minute.” 

“Noooo,” Steve whines. “I’ve been good all night.” 

Eddie fixes him with a Look that warns of what’s coming if Steve pushes the envelope even further. A part of him kind of wants to, just to see what Eddie would do to him, but he resists the urge and steps back, letting Eddie hang their coats up and take off his boots. 

“You’ve been so good,” Eddie says, stepping close to Steve and caressing his cheek with his palm. “So good at making it through something really tough. So good at calming down for daddy. Not to mention you’re a regular domestic goddess - that pumpkin pie?” Eddie laughs incredulously. 

Steve’s cheeks flame at the compliment with the sting of humiliation in its tail. Before he knows what’s happening, a slap to the face catches him out of nowhere, making him stumble. 

“Manners,” Eddie says, gentle but dangerous. 

“Th-thank you, daddy. For the slap and the compliments.” 

“That’s better.” Eddie half-smiles, satisfied. “Do you want daddy to take you to the bedroom?” 

“Yes, please,” Steve breathes. 

They stumble upstairs, kissing haphazardly and almost dry-humping on the landing, before finally making it to Eddie’s bedroom. Eddie immediately takes the duvet off the bed, having learned from past mistakes, and lays down a cheap but gorgeously plush throw blanket instead - comfortable and machine washable. A win-win. 

“How do you want me, daddy?” Steve asks. 

“Sweater off and on your knees, baby.” 

Steve obliges, stripping his sweater off. He sinks down to his knees on the Turkish rug and puts his hands behind his back so he’s not tempted to touch Eddie without being told to. 

“You look so fucking pretty on your knees for me,” Eddie says, tipping Steve’s chin up. 

“Thank you, daddy.” 

“Good boy.” Eddie says, and undoes his pants, pushing everything down his thighs. He’s half-hard and Steve immediately leans forward with an open mouth but doesn’t make contact. He looks up at Eddie. 

“Fuck,” Eddie looks down at Steve and grips his cock as it hardens fully, tapping the head of it against Steve’s cheeks and dragging it against his chin but not putting it in Steve’s mouth. Steve sits there obediently, mouth still open, and looks at Eddie with pleading in his gaze. 

“Beg me for it,” Eddie buries his fingers into Steve’s hair and rubs his fingertips against Steve’s scalp soothingly before pulling on a handful of it. 

“P-please, daddy,” Steve stutters at the familiar shock of pain. “May I please have your cock in my mouth? I really, really want it. I’ve been so good…” 

“Okay, sweetie,” Eddie relents and smears the head of his cock against Steve’s lips before pushing it inside his mouth. “God, your mouth is so hot and wet for me…” 

Steve makes a choked-off noise as Eddie keeps feeding him his cock. It hits the back of his throat and he steels his abs so he doesn’t gag right away, breathing through his nose. 

“I’m gonna give it all to you, okay, angel? If you can’t take it, tap my leg twice.” 

Steve just stares up at him and does his best to relax his jaw even further. 

“Fuck, princess,” Eddie moans as he pushes his cock fully into Steve’s throat. Steve clenches both his thumbs inside tight fists behind his back and does his best to fight against his gag reflex, eyes starting to tear up. He fights it for as long as he can, but when Eddie starts to move he makes a horrible retching noise and Eddie pulls his cock free. Steve coughs and gasps for air. 

“T-thank you, daddy.” Steve chokes out. 

“Are you thanking me for shoving my dick down your throat, baby?” Eddie sneers at him, just a little. “‘Cause that’s what a good little slut would do. Are you my slut?”

“Yeah,” Steve nods dumbly against the tension of Eddie pulling his hair. “I’m your slut, daddy.” 

“Then you’re gonna take it again.” Eddie says, and doesn’t feed it to Steve this time. He pushes into Steve’s mouth and pulls him forward by his hair until he’s forced to take it all the way into his throat, his nose meeting Eddie’s pubes. Tears pour from Steve’s clenched-shut eyes and he gags and moans. 

“I’m gonna fuck your mouth, kitten.” Eddie growls and Steve has to press a hand to his own dick as it throbs. Eddie starts moving and thankfully doesn’t breach all the way into Steve’s throat again - his gag reflex is much more manageable when Eddie fucks his mouth and doesn’t force him to take all of it. Steve reminds himself to relax his jaw as much as he can and lets the spit bubble up and slick Eddie’s cock up as he fucks it into Steve’s waiting mouth. Spit spills down Steve’s chin and Eddie curses. “Fuck, baby. You’re doing so good, letting daddy use your mouth like that.” Steve flushes as he hears the words, feeling that familiar floating, tingly feeling. 

“Do you want daddy to fuck you, princess?” Eddie asks as he takes the head of his cock and rubs it against Steve’s cheek, smearing his own spit into the skin there. 

“Yes please, daddy.” Steve nods, feeling lightheaded. 

Eddie pulls him to his feet with a hand around his throat. He makes Steve take off the rest of his clothes before laying him down on the plush blanket. Eddie takes off his pants and underwear and climbs into bed, kneeling over Steve and sucking on his left nipple. 

“Can I ask you for something?”

“Does my pretty princess want a special present?” Eddie croons and bites down. Steve writhes underneath him and moans in pain. 

“Yes, daddy, can you please come in me?” Steve gasps as Eddie soothes the bite with his tongue. Eddie immediately raises his head and meets Steve’s eyes, pupils blown dark. 

“Use your words, honey. Tell me exactly what you want.” 

“Oh,” Steve moans as Eddie kisses gently at his neck, making goosebumps bloom down his arms. “I want daddy’s cum in me. Not in a condom. And…” 

“And?” Eddie asks incredulously. “So demanding,” he chides.

“I want it to hurt when you fuck me.”  

“Princess,” Eddie breathes, reaching down and grasping at the base of his dick to keep himself from getting too close, just from what Steve’s asking. “Are you asking me to fuck you with no prep? Just a little lube on my raw dick? Until I come in you? Get you all messy?” 

Steve’s cock jumps and leaks pre-cum onto his stomach, he’s so ridiculously turned on. 

“Please, daddy. Please, I need it to hurt.” 

Eddie bends down and kisses him hard, sinking his teeth into Steve’s bottom lip.

“It’s gonna hurt, baby, but I’m gonna make you mine.” 

Steve’s cock throbs against his stomach and he thinks he actually might pass out from how badly he needs it. 

“Yours, daddy,” he nods. Eddie climbs off him and grabs a pair of cuffs from his cabinet, the same blood red as the sweater he’d given Steve. Steve resolves to ask him later if he bought those specifically for Steve, to match, but he’s so far gone right now that he can’t think straight. 

Eddie fastens the leather cuffs around Steve’s right wrist and loops the chain connecting them through a metal ring at the base of the headboard. He buckles the other cuff around Steve’s left wrist and pulls on the chain to demonstrate the degree of restraint. Steve tests it out - he can barely move his arms. He’s pinned there, completely at his daddy’s mercy. 

“If it’s too much, I want you to safeword.” Eddie says seriously. “Or use your stoplights.” 

“I will,” Steve promises. Eddie slicks himself up with lube from the bottle in the nightstand. 

“You want daddy to hurt you now?” Eddie says, teasing the head of his dick against Steve’s hole. 

“Please-” Steve starts, and Eddie pushes in. It makes Steve fully stop breathing. His eyes fill with tears. 

“Oh, princess,” Eddie uses Steve’s favorite  patronizing, pitying, poor baby voice. “It hurts so bad, doesn’t it?” 

Steve gulps in a lungful of air and lets out a sob, tears spilling over. It hurts so fucking bad. How had he thought he could do this? Eddie’s dick is fucking massive and it’s only partially inside him - but it’s splitting him open. He squeezes his eyes shut and braces himself against the pain, openly crying.

“My poor baby,” Eddie croons as he keeps pushing in slowly, and Steve sobs, whole body shaking, face and chest on fire. 

“D-daddy, it’s ripping me apart!” Steve howls. 

“You said you wanted to belong to daddy.” Eddie grips Steve’s hair and pulls. It works a little as a distraction from the stretch and burn. 

“I d-do,” Steve whimpers. “Wanna be yours. But it hurts so bad.” 

“My sweet princess,” Eddie puts the poor baby voice on again and shoves the rest of the way in, hips pressed against Steve’s ass. Steve wails, thrashing against Eddie and pulling at the restraints. It hurts so fucking bad that Steve’s seeing stars, having a hard time breathing. It feels like he’s being speared like a pig on a spit. 

“Daddyyyyy,” He sobs brokenly. “You’re hurting me so fuckin’ bad!” 

“Princess, look at me,” Eddie commands. Steve feels him grab his chin and force his head into place. He opens his eyes and tries to focus on Eddie’s handsome face. “I want you to know how fucking pretty you look right now, letting daddy hurt you like this. You’re perfect for me, you beautiful boy. You cry like an angel and your lips are so pink and precious…” 

Steve sniffles and Eddie starts moving his hips ever so slightly, dragging his dick against Steve’s prostate. Pleasure starts to warm through Steve. 

“You’re mine, pretty baby. You belong to daddy, tied up in my bed and full of my cock.” 

“Yours, daddy,” Steve sounds completely wrecked, blinking up at Eddie through his tears. 

“Mine to hurt,” Eddie adds a little more lube and thrusts sharply. Steve’s dick hardens halfway - it had gone soft for a moment from the intensity of the pain, but the pleasure that spikes through him at Eddie’s movement renews its interest. “Mine to fuck.” Eddie fucks into him again and Steve moans. “Mine to fill up with my cum.” 

“Your cock feels so good in me raw,” Steve pants as Eddie fucks him in earnest now. 

“Fuck, that’s hot,” Eddie groans. “The first time you’ve had a raw cock, huh? And you took it without any prep for me, baby, you’re incredible.” 

Steve blushes and laughs breathily, tingly and floating and awash with pleasure. 

“I love the way you blush like that,” Eddie says and sinks his teeth into Steve’s neck. Steve’s cock throbs where it’s trapped between their stomachs. “I love the way you flush all pretty all the way across your freckles and moles and down into your chest.” 

“Daddy,” Steve tears up again, but this time it’s from how sweet Eddie is being with him. Eddie pulls Steve’s head to look at him via a hand cupped around his cheek. Steve feels a tear drip down into Eddie’s hand as he meets his eyes. 

“I love you,” Eddie says, tender and soft. 

“I love you, daddy,” Steve gasps and his eyes flutter shut - he’s coming, shuddering against Eddie and coating both of their stomachs with his cum. 

“Oh, fuck, princess, the way you feel right now,” Eddie groans, grabbing Steve’s hip and pounding into him until he bottoms out, coming deep inside him. 

Steve lets out a pathetic moan at the feeling of Eddie coming in him - it’s searing hot and wet and filthy and Steve absolutely loves it, feeling Eddie’s dick catch in it, slicking him up as he pumps into Steve in little jerking motions. 

“I want you to come in me every time,” Steve rasps out as Eddie stills on top of him. “Feels so good, daddy.” 

“You’re like a fucking dream come true,” Eddie pants. 

“Wet dream,” Steve laughs weakly and Eddie kisses him just to kiss him.