Arlo: *sneeze's.*

Chapter one - An opportunity

A continuation of my previous Bryce graduation post.

(uploading here before ao3 (@Arloooh), I suggest not looking at my other bryce graduation post if you don't want to be spoilt!!)

-

You see, it all happened almost ten years ago to the day. It was like any normal summers day in school, bright uniforms and freah air, until unique monique and her stupid boyfriend exchanged vows (a fart machine) and became official. Boyfriend and girlfriend. And boy was it a sight to see, no longer was Bryce the main act, but these two losers who hugged like they were happy. /happy/. Something Bryce hasn't felt in years, not since she ripped her own heart out for Bobby only for the boy to empty his lunch all over it. She stormed away that day, stabbing Bobby's dad and stomping on what was left of her now broken heart, in two with glitter spilling out like some stupid analogy she'll get later in life. 

But that was then, and now is now. And today's graduation day. 

God has she had waited years for this. Having her heart ripped out only to have a shittier one put back in by "Dr" Paul from down the street, the /mortician/. But looking across the crowd that was once her playing game, pawns to put into place, she can't help the inkling of pride she feels knowing she won't be just like her mom. That she isn't just anothet high school dropout who swindels cash for a living. She's a top grade student who may have finessed a thing or two to get here, but she's finally here and that's all that matters. Not caring for the people that are around her. Sure, Cindy's a nice girl, pretty hair and straight teeth, but she's just a freind. She's no Bobby. 

Fuck. Bobby. 

It's been almost ten years, and even without her own heart to feel, she still can't get over what she did. What she's done. To the boy who, for a short ammount of time, she truly loved. But she's not sure she can call it that anymore, not sure she deserves to yearn for him after doing something like that. No matter the sleepless nights she's had week after week, or the notebooks full of apologies and dreams she could have lived out with him. With bobby. With... her Bobby.

-

Putting on a practiced smile, she shakes her head and follows the crooked line of soon to be previous classmates. Not bothering to look out for dear ol ma'. She's probably off swindeling princaple Higgans for cash anyways, she can’t keep her eyes off a cash cow when she sees an opportunity like that appear dressed in tight suits. 

There's filtered out chatter and banter around her as she walks in line, the speakers going off shutting down her day dream real quick. "Five minutes till showtime everyone! I hope you've got your disposables ready! And no /flash/, thank you." God. As if that entitled old dustbag has even seen a camera, you can't turn off the flash, prick. Not even that fancy camera mom stole could turn off that damn flash. Whatever, I'm almost up anyways.

Just a couple more people and here I am, shit, that really is alot of people. 

Looking over the crowd of graduates and parents alike, Bryce smiles. Truly smiles. Shes proud of what shes done, dredging her way through school after falling off her high horse all those years ago, but still remaning the powerful women she is now. Scanning the crowd, she looks for her mom, for the sliver of hope that she'll find her looking up and smiling back at her, smiling back with pride. But as she looks across the vast crowd, she spots a fermilliar smile by the bleachers and oh my god- 

Who knew seeing him would cause this rickety old heart to finally fail, ten years did me good huh..

Hey!! Just a heads up that my asks/questions are open if anyone's wanting me to write little post/ficlet or situation (as in "sam comes the the realisation that he's not so straight after all because of this, ect..) about any BRCU characters :) but I gotta say, I really do have a softspot for Arlo, Sam and Worstthrust :D

And maybe I'll expand some into full fics because God knows this community needs more :')

Securitywaiter hints on Ness' instagram wink wink? Hmmm??

The new chapter of Five Nights At Sparky's is going to put me in an early grave... ITS SO GOOD???

<SPOILERS!! BELOW CUT!!!>

POOR NESS IS HAVING A PANICK ATTACK ON THE EMERGENY ROOM FLOOR, NO SHIRT ON, QND MIKE GOES RIGHT INTO COMFORTING NESS WHILE HE JUST IGNORED THE BLOOD GOOPIMG PUT OF THE DEMON CUPCAKE BITE IN HIS LEG???? (Still love Carl tho)

I AM DECEASED. ON THE FLOOR, IN A PUDDLE OF MY OWN TEARS, SOBBING. I CANT DUDE, I LOVE NESS SO MUCH😭😭

SEEIMG THIS POOR LITTLE GUY AND HEARING HOW HE HAD HIS FIRST PANICK ATTACK ON HIS TENTH BIRTBDAY BECAUSE HE'S TOO SMART FOR HIS OWN GOOD, I CANNOT. I DONT KNOW HOW I FINISHED THE CHAPTER WITHOUT TEARING SEVENTEEN HOLES IN MY WALL. MIKE IS SUCH A SWEETHEART?? AND NESS??? GIVING A COVER STORY PURELY SO MIKE DOESNT GET REPORTED FOR ENDANGRING ABBY?? OHMYGOD😭😭

ahem, so, I love them☹

Angst idea 😈💕

Steve cutting off the party after he continuously is attempting to show hints he’s not ok emotionally and needs someone but keeps getting brushed off. With the passive “oh we all feel like that” “is it really that big a deal still” “so? We survived right” “oh just let it go” all about hinting he’s still not ok from the upside down but the others have each other, everyone has someone. So Steve just starts closing off and it starts with not coming to things all the time, then doing the bare minimum of driving the kids, and just going to work on a loop until he stops all that too. Robins been off work now too since she’s packing for college with Vickie. So literally no one notices until Eddie does….

Hehehehe ideas Lexi ideas 😈 was gonna do anon but fuck it

This ask is over a month old because I’m so goddamn behind on these, but here we are! Some angst with a dash of hurt/comfort for my favorite lil angst gremlin💛

Steve Isn’t Coping

It starts small.

Being around his friends and the kids doesn’t sound as fun anymore. It’s feel draining and like maybe he should’ve stayed home and wallowed in bed instead.

He still shows up to things for a while, determined not to let anyone see that the world feels like a heavy burden resting on his shoulders alone. He’s strong though. A leader in the group. The brave and fearless one. Cracking isn’t allowed.

So Steve agrees to driving The Party places and he shows his face here and there as much as feels necessary so that nobody finds out.

But it’s hard. Getting dressed is hard. Taking a shower is hard. Being around people who love him and think he’s indestructible is so fucking hard.

And Jesus Christ, he actually does try to speak up a few times about what he’s feeling. It comes out in the way he asks that the lights stay on during movies, too afraid of the things that hide in the shadows now.

Instead of understanding, he’s met with laughter by some of the kids. With being brushed off or minimized for his worries.

“Steve Harrington, slayer of demodogs and demobats, scared of the dark? Yeah, right… Good one, dude.”

He covers his watering eyes with his own chuckles. They’re probably right and he’s just being a baby.

Despite this failure, Steve tries again when he asks the older teens if they ever think about how different everything would be if the upside down hadn’t opened up. He confesses that he’s afraid and that he still jumps at loud noises sometimes. He talks about how he’d change it all if he could.

Again, he’s pushed aside with, “That’s all in the past now. Let it go, Steve. Dwelling on it won’t help anyone.”

Steve tries.

He tries and tries, but nothing works.

Then he stops showing up, stops answering his phone when the kids ask for rides, stops going to work until he gets a message on his answering machine telling him that he no longer has a job. Robin might’ve noticed, but she’s days away from leaving for college and things have been going so well for her that he’s been extra careful when she’s around.

Steve dreads the day that she leaves and he’s all alone again, but he wants her to be happy.

He hardly sees anyone else, to the point that when he hears a knocking on his front door, he just assumes that Robin forgot her key at home and he opens the door without checking who it is.

Eddie of all people is the one standing on his front step, looking concerned and even a little agitated. Steve hasn’t the faintest idea why he’d be at his house now that he’s finally graduated and working at the new record shop in town. They hardly see each other except in passing interactions. Still, he allows him into his home.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Steve flinches at the accusatory tone, crossing his arms on his chest for some illusion of safety.

He knows exactly what’s being asked, but he can pretend. Just a little while longer, just until Robin is away from Hawkins and can stop worrying about him. He can be normal.

“I don’t know what you mean, Munson. I’m fine.”

Eddie scoffs, coming closer and gently gripping Steve’s shoulders, his gaze bouncing all over the place as he studies Steve intensely.

“You look like shit.”

“Gee… thanks, man.”

He rolls his eyes, releasing Steve to place a hand on his lower back instead as he begins leading them both to the couch in the living room like it’s his house.

“It’s not like you can deny it, Steve. You look like you’ve not slept in forever and you quit your job. I’ve been trying to figure out what your deal is for weeks. When you didn’t show up today, I figured there had to be a good reason and it seems I found it,” Eddie explains, further confusing him.

“Show up to what?” Steve asks, slumping into the couch as the exhaustion he was ignoring takes hold of him.

Eddie’s arm wraps around his shoulders, pulling him closer into a side hug that feels too nice to pull away from. This is more physical contact than he’s had in weeks and it seems to hush the buzzing in his brain.

He seems to hesitate before replying, “Robin’s going away party.”

No.

Oh God, no.

How could he possibly miss something so important? His best friend is leaving for college in two days and Steve was more interested in crying in his bed than showing up for the one person who’s never let him down.

Fresh tears spring to his eyes and Eddie quickly pulls him into a full hug then, shushing him softly and starting to rock them back and forth slowly.

“Hey, you’re okay, sweetheart. Robin isn’t upset with you, she’s just… she’s scared, Stevie. We all are. This isn’t like you.”

Steve nods into Eddie’s shoulder, not sure how to even respond to that. He’s a disappointment and a failure, unable to cope with things like everyone else seems to so easily. He feels weak and like the title of hero belongs to anyone but him.

“I’m so scared, Eddie,” he confesses with a broken sob. It all comes pouring out then. “I’m scared of everything and I can’t even sleep without all the lights on and my bat next to my bed. I can’t tell Robin because she has to go be her own person and I don’t want to hold her back from that, but I’m alone. I’m so alone now.”

A gentle kiss being pressed to his forehead manages to surprise him, but he still doesn’t pull away. The action is so loving and affectionate, full of comfort from someone he’d never imagined getting it from.

Now that he has it though, Steve doesn’t want to go without.

“It’s okay not to be okay.”

That pulls another sob from him.

“I don’t want to be broken anymore. I want to be normal, Ed.”

Eddie’s voice comes out shaky, but honest when he tells him, “If you’re broken, then so am I. Stevie, I haven’t slept in the dark in months and I never let my guard down anymore. I don’t think we can go back to normal with all we’ve been through, but… if you need someone to hold you for a while and help you sleep, I think I can do that.”

Steve allows himself to melt completely into the embrace, finally letting his body relax fully and he’s rewarded with more kisses to the top of his head.

“I wouldn’t want to be a bother,” he protests half-assedly.

Instead of being told that he’s not an inconvenience or that Eddie doesn’t mind having to deal with him, the man says confidently, “I want to be the one to hold you, baby. I want to take care of you and show you how much you matter to me. Broken or whole, you have my heart, Stevie.”

Steve has every intention of returning the favor.

That’s the night he starts to feel again, the night that the numbness begins to fade away and he falls in love once more.

We all know that Bryce was heartless, in all senses of the word, but I think what people fail to notice is how hard the constant work affected her in the long term. I mean, yeah, she's money hungry and wouldn't stop if there was a literal baby in her way, but she has a heart now, her own heart.

Those 30 years of constant upping the anti while working, working, working, and not to mention the /literal/ heartbreak over bobby, has eaten away at any energy and life she's got left. Now she's got Bobby alive, and she's finally seen as a hero again, all the while she finally has some time to rest after 30 constant years of increasingly harder work; but god she must be tired. You can physically see it in her face. You can see how worn down she is between the two pictures, and you KNOW it's not just because of age. Stress ages you ten times faster and god does Bryce have a story to tell.

OH. OHH I LOVE

Fnaf movie. But everyone except William is a muppet

(Inspired by that one saw post I would take them but I can’t find it 😭😭)

the fnaf movie really was a win for bisexuals. we got:

-sad pathetic wet cat short king who's actually a single mother

-evil dilf who's canonically gross and stinky and calls himself daddy

-perfect angel woman who has never done anything wrong in her entire life fighting through the horrors™

-matpat

This is actually how they met trust me I asked them

Plus a lil bonus doodle

Cuz I keep joking about Mike looking scraggly

stop this is so cute😭

They’re so cute like actually I’m gonna scream