god how lucky can a simple man be?
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We Made Universes Out Of Bitten Lips And Broken Hands by Atalia_Gold
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
22 Jun 2024
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Summary
And Steve wanted to help Eddie, too.
Munson. Not Eddie.
“What’d you do to your hand?” Munson was frowning down at Steve’s bruised and split knuckles.
Steve flexed his fingers, tucked his hand away. “What’d you do your face?” he asked pointedly, glancing at Eddie’s – fuck, Munson’s – slightly-black eye.
Munson remained tight-lipped, and Steve called it a draw.
*****
Steve is working with the Wild Horse Inmate Rehabilitation Program. He's good at his job, exceptional with the horses, and makes sure to keep a healthy detachment from the inmates he works with...
...until Eddie Munson.
Series
- Part 1 of god how lucky can a simple man be?
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Eventually, Eddie pulls away, takes his own hat from his head and plonks it on Steve’s.
Steve chuckles, adjusts the brim, his other hand resting on the small of Eddie’s back.
“Black's not really my colour,” Steve murmurs.
Eddie looks at him, brown eyes blown wide. “You kidding?”
Steve shrugs, unable to hold back a small smirk at the way Eddie’s staring at him like he’s about to eat him.
Series
- Part 2 of god how lucky can a simple man be?
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“Eds, I’ll be ok. Just need a little rest, and then I can get up to help unload the feed.”
Eddie shakes his head.
“No way. You’re staying here for the day.”
“But -”
Eddie’s hand tightens around Steve’s.
“No!” Eddie’s voice wavers. “You’re really sick, and I’m worried, and if you won’t go to the doctor then you’re at least gonna stay right here and let me look after you.”
*****
Steve's sick, and not used to being taken care of. Eddie shows him.
Series
- Part 3 of god how lucky can a simple man be?
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“It’s ok to be worried, you know that, right?”
“I’m not worried.”
Robin scoffs.
“I know your worried face better than my own, dingus.”
“Fine,” Steve mumbles. “I’m worried because he was so nervous about it. And I know that if anythin’ goes wrong, he’ll blame himself, and he always puts so much pressure on himself to be perfect at that job. Like…like he doesn’t think he deserves it, or somethin’.”
Robin nods slowly.
“I guess it’s tough, always feeling like you’ve gotta…make up for something.”
*****
It's Eddie's first time at work with Ozzy, and Steve's doing his best to be calm about it.
Series
- Part 4 of god how lucky can a simple man be?
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They reach a gully. It’s not huge, but it’s fairly steep and the ground is slick mud now, with a stream of rainwater carving a path through the bottom of it. There’s several deep gouges in the mud at the top where there’s been some sort of struggle, where hooves had skidded and slid and scrabbled for purchase.
Steve’s lying motionless down below.
Eddie flings himself from Scoops’ saddle, slip-sliding his way down, caution out the window as the only thought going through his head is getting to Steve.
*****
When Steve doesn't return home during a major storm, Eddie heads out to find him.
Series
- Part 5 of god how lucky can a simple man be?
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but i could see for miles, miles, miles by Atalia_Gold
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
24 May 2025
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Summary
Claudia drops Dustin off before work, waving to Steve as she passes by on the driveway, and then the kid’s running up to Steve’s side.
His face falls a little as he sees where Arwen’s standing, and the mess of wires in the middle of the paddock.
“…oh,” he says simply.
Steve nods. “Yeah, oh.”
“I guess we gotta fix that again?”
Steve sighs and pushes himself off the gate. He takes off his hat, shoves it on Dustin’s head, watches the kid hide a smile.
*****
Steve and Dustin fix a fence, work with a new mustang, and talk about deadbeat dads.
Series
- Part 6 of god how lucky can a simple man be?
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darlin', speak to me but don't you say a word by Atalia_Gold
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
06 Jun 2025
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Summary
Steve turns the pages slowly.
Gently, he brushes his fingers across the paper.
It’s their letters.
*****
It's Steve's birthday, and Eddie gives him a gift.
Series
- Part 7 of god how lucky can a simple man be?
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For a long moment, Billy looks at Eddie.
“Munson,” he says finally, dipping his head.
“Hargrove,” Eddie replies.
*****
Billy gets a new job, and a second chance.
Series
- Part 8 of god how lucky can a simple man be?
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the way you know me, love me, pull me through by Atalia_Gold
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
04 Jul 2025
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Summary
They wait for Fred in silence, until they finally hear the rumble of a car in the driveway, and Steve waves the vet over to the paddock.
Eddie locks eyes with Steve, panicked.
“Hey, it’s ok,” Steve assures him. “I’m here, alright?” He reaches down, squeezes Eddie’s hand until he nods.
*****
Ozzy's injured. Steve looks after her and a stressed Eddie.
Series
- Part 9 of god how lucky can a simple man be?
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you got your friends on your left and your right by Atalia_Gold
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
26 Jul 2025
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Summary
“Ya see that bull over there?” Steve points to the corner of the room, Eddie’s hand shooting out to steady his glass.
“Mmm,” Eddie hums, not really looking.
Steve grins at him, leans in close, hot breath on Eddie’s ear and god Eddie’s weak for him.
Can anyone blame him? He’s got a lapful of sloppy, grinning Steve Harrington.
“I’m gonna ride it,” Steve breathes into his ear.
*****
Eddie lovingly wrangles a very drunk Steve.
Series
- Part 10 of god how lucky can a simple man be?
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Steve pats him on the back, then slaps the top of his helmet under the guise of annoying him but really he’s making sure it’s secure on Dustin’s head. “Honestly, you’ll be fine, ok? I’ll stay right here, I’ve got her.” He holds up the rope encouragingly.
“…ok,” Dustin decides eventually, resolute. He slips a foot into the stirrup, leaning across the saddle and Arwen’s back. “It’s ok, just stay there, you’re alright,” he murmurs quietly to the horse. “Please don’t kill me,” he adds in a rush as he settles himself quietly into the saddle.
*****
A first ride, and a last ride.
Series
- Part 11 of god how lucky can a simple man be?
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it's been a long year, and all of our book's pages dog-eared by Atalia_Gold
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
09 Oct 2025
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Summary
“How bad is it?” Eddie asks him, nodding his head towards Steve’s shoulder. Before Steve can answer, he adds firmly, “And don’t you dare tell me it’s fine.”
“It…” Steve sighs, and slumps further into his pillow. “It kinda hurts, yeah.”
By now, Eddie’s fluent in cowboy language.
Kinda means a lot.
*****
Steve takes a fall at work, dislocating his shoulder. Eddie takes care of him.
Series
- Part 12 of god how lucky can a simple man be?
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Summary
Steve takes a moment to lean back against the bench and watch his boyfriend. Drinks in the sight of him, socked feet sliding across the floorboards, one of Steve’s worn hoodys swamping his thinner frame, smiling back at Steve with a glint in his eye as he sways along to Wham!’s Last Christmas.
He winks.
Steve laughs, swipes an arm around him as Eddie shimmies past him, drags him into a kiss just because. Because it’s Christmas, because he’s so in love with Eddie that he’s almost sick with it, because he never thought he’d be this happy in all his life.
*****
Steve and Eddie have a peaceful, perfect Christmas.
Series
- Part 13 of god how lucky can a simple man be?