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The second Eddie opened the door he heard yelling.
"Gods and goddesses above and below, Nancy! Do you need my hearing aids? Because I said wormwood!"
Eddie quickly closed the door behind him so the whole neighborhood didn't hear. Conversations in their house tended to either lean toward the magical or sexual when they got that loud, and Eddie didn't need the gossip.
"I said I was sorry!" Nancy yelled.
"This is your fault! You were the one who said I had this innate magic ability and wanted to train me! That it would be fun! So I said sure, train me up!"
The thump that came from the kitchen told Eddie that Steve had stomped - a cute habit he did when he got particularly angry.
"I should have stuck to my simmer pots! They kept my house calm and peaceful. They were safe!" Steve continued.
"Don't forget your soundproof spell!" Eddie called. "Which is in full force, by the way!"
"Eddie?" Steve called. "Come help me - and don't freak out."
Eddie made his way through the living room to the kitchen, got to the doorway and froze.
"I can't move," Steve muttered.
"Holy Rapunzel, what happened?" Eddie took in the scene before him - Nancy standing by the backdoor with her arms crossed and Steve by the stove where a cauldron sat smoking. But Steve's hair… fell down his back to puddle in a pile on the floor. A pile that reached the back of Steve's knees.
"Nancy's been helping me train," Steve said.
"Right, you mentioned something this morning about 'witch class'," Eddie said with a soft smile.
"Right, Well, I was working on a sleeping potion for you," Steve continued. "To help you with the nightmares."
"Downright sweet of you, baby." And it was - although everyone suffered from nightmares after the closing of the Upside Down, Eddie's were particularly vicious given his near death. "Making some for yourself too, right?"
"Yes, me too." Steve still suffered from his own nightmares involving underground bunkers and Russians.
"Good." Eddie crossed the room and leaned in, giving Steve a sweet kiss.
"Anyway, I asked Nancy for wormwood and she gave me cedarwood and …"
"Rapunzel," Eddie said. "I mean, at least you're not locked in a tower?"
"Funny," Steve muttered.
"I made a mistake, and I'm sorry," Nancy said.
"I know." Steve sighed. "I'm sorry for yelling, but -"
Eddie saw Steve start to lean back and got behind him, taking Steve's weight and wrapping his arms around Steve in a gentle hug.
"You were right to yell," Nancy said. "I fucked up - I need to pay better attention during potion making. What if I'd handed you hemlock or belladonna? I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you." Nancy paused. "Maybe we could try a reversal?"
"Maybe you guys should stop the magic for the day," Eddie suggested.
"I agree," Steve murmured.
"Probably just be quicker to cut it," Eddie replied.
"Yeah," Nancy said. "I, um -"
"I still want to study," Steve murmured. "I want to learn to harness my power, be a better witch."
"I promise to pay more attention," Nancy said. "I love you, you know."
"I love you, too," Steve replied. "Witchy besties?"
"Witchy besties," Nancy repeated, giving Steve a hug before practically running to the front door.
"Here, let me help you." Eddie released Steve from the hug, bent over and lifted Steve's hair into his arms. "Fuck, baby."
"Oh my god, that feels so much better," Steve groaned. "It grew so fast and it's so heavy."
"I'm so sorry, baby. Come on, let's get to the bathroom and we'll take care of it."
Eddie followed Steve to the downstairs bathroom, Steve's hair carefully cradled in his arms. Sometimes it still blew his mind that they were a couple - Steve and Eddie, Eddie and Steve. Sharing a house, a bedroom, a bed. Their relationship sometimes felt like a snowflake falling that started an avalanche but it worked for the two of them. It worked really well for the two of them.
In the bathroom, Steve flipped on the light and then sat down backwards on the toilet seat while Eddie carefully arranged the pile of hair behind him.
Eddie pressed a kiss to the top of Steve's head before rummaging around under the sink for some scissors. He kept an eye on Steve, watching his boyfriend carefully as he idly stroked a lock of hair, wrapping it this way and that around his index finger.
"Can I try something?" Eddie asked.
"As long as it's not weighing me down, go for it," Steve said. "Impress me with your hairstyling skills, sweetie."
"You are going to be impressed," Eddie said. "I was cutting my own hair long before you wooed me with your crafty hair care wiles."
"Crafty hair care wiles," Steve giggled. "Among other things."
"Plenty of other things, baby." Eddie pressed another kiss to the top of Steve's head before starting to snip at his Rapunzel-length hair. "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, there goes your hair."
"Very funny," Steve replied. "That make you my prince?"
"Your prince with the shining shears," Eddie said.
With some quick snips, Eddie removed the bulk of Steve's hair, leaving it at about mid-back. With the weight and bulk of Steve's hair now in a huge pile on the bathroom floor it had a bit of a wave and curl, so Eddie played around some more, adding in some long layers and grinning when Steve's hair fell in gentle waves around his shoulders.
"Done?" Steve asked.
"Yeah," Eddie murmured.
"Feels lighter," Steve said. "Can I see?"
"Of course, baby." Eddie ran his hands through Steve's hair, fluffing it a bit. "Close your eyes and I'll take you to the mirror so you can see."
Eddie helped Steve to his feet, put Steve in front of the mirror and stood half behind him.
"Can I open?" Steve asked.
"Yeah." Eddie watched Steve's face, saw a flash of emotions in his eyes when he saw his hair and smiled gently. "Downright pretty, baby."
"Pretty?"
"Mmmhmm. My pretty Steve."
"But … men aren't supposed to be pretty," Steve whispered.
"Says who?" Eddie asked. "Men can be pretty, women can be handsome."
Steve swallowed and shook his head.
"Oh baby," Eddie whispered. "Talk to me."
"I can't," Steve whispered back.
"Would it help if I tell you that nothing you tell me will change how I see you?" Eddie said, pressing a kiss to Steve's temple.
"Nothing? Promise?"
"Not one fucking thing." Eddie gave Steve a smile in the mirror.
"Even if I don't know what I need to tell you? It's … I feel something, but I can't put words to it." Steve's voice was so soft, so meek, Eddie almost didn't hear him.
"Okay," Eddie said gently. "When did this feeling start?"
"I think it's always been there," Steve mumbled. "Long as i can remember."
"Let's go upstairs," Eddie suggested. "We can clean up the magic mess later."
"Okay."
Eddie tucked Steve against his side and led the way from the bathroom through the living room and up to the second floor. After, well everything, Steve had found himself gifted the house he'd grown up in by his parents free and clear. His parents had decided not to return to Hawkins, but Steve? Steve couldn't leave. And when Eddie had moved in, the two of them had done a lot to turn the Harrington house into the Munson-Harrington abode. A lot of the decor had been taken down and sold, rooms repainted, new furniture brought in. His parents hadn't even come back to get their clothes and jewelry.
But Steve had carefully packed his mother's stuff up in garment bags and boxes and tucked them away in the guest room closet.
"Are you feeling drained at all?" Eddie asked once they reached their bedroom. "That surprise magic had to have been pretty draining."
"I'm a bit tired," Steve admitted.
"Do you want a bath, maybe?" Eddie suggested. "Relax a bit?"
"Can we talk first?" Steve asked. "I feel like you know what I'm feeling."
"I don't know," Eddie replied. "But I think I have an idea."
"And?"
"And I think we should talk about it in the bathtub," Eddie finished.
"Eddie!" Steve stomped, then jumped when the bathroom light turned on.
"Mmmhmm, bath," Eddie said.
"Fine."
Eddie pressed a kiss to Steve's hair and led the way into the bathroom where he immediately started to fill the tub with hot water and bubbles.
"Bubble bath?" Steve asked.
"Yep." Eddie put his hair up into a bun and then started stripping, glancing over his shoulder and giving Steve a small smile. "I appreciate you wanting to help me sleep, baby."
"I know we're not relying on magic," Steve said. "But I know sometimes your nightmares get really bad. And I just thought you could use a small magical assist."
"Yours too, baby." Eddie turned to see that Steve had stripped as well and offered him a hand. "I like that you're finding your power, Steve. Finding yourself."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." Eddie leaned in and gave Steve a kiss. "Come on, let's put your hair up before you get in the tub."
"My hair, right." Steve murmured.
"We can cut it shorter if you want," Eddie offered as he carefully put Steve's hair back into a French braid and then a bun a the nape of Steve's neck.
"N-no," Steve whispered. "I think I like it like this."
"Okay, baby." Eddie pressed a kiss to Steve's hair then went to turn off the water. "In we go."
Steve was quiet at Eddie helped him into the water, scooting forward to let Eddie slip in behind him. Eddie didn't push, just laid back and let Steve snuggle against him in the bubbles until Steve was ready to talk.
"What am I feeling, Eddie?" Steve asked softly after a few minutes.
"I think your magical journey has opened some other doors," Eddie replied. "And I think you're going on more than one journey into yourself."
"Vague," Steve muttered.
"I don't want to freak you out," Eddie admitted. "Because I could be wrong."
"But you don't think you are," Steve said.
"No, I don't think I am," Eddie replied softly. "Why didn't you throw your mom's things out or give it away? You practically burned your dad's shit in the backyard but you tucked your mom's things away in the guest room."
"I don't know," Steve replied slowly.
"Can we try something?" Eddie gently rubbed Steve's back as the bubbles started to dissipate.
"I trust you," Steve murmured.
Eddie just smiled and pressed a kiss to Steve's hair before draining the tub and helping Steve out, wrapping a towel around his own waist before getting a towel around Steve.
"You take such good care of me," Steve whispered. "So lucky to have you."
"Nah, I'm the lucky one," Eddie replied, rubbing Steve's shoulders through the towel before tucking the towel around Steve's waist "Come on, field trip."
"Huh?"
Eddie grinned and led the way from the bathroom, the bedroom and down the hall to the guest room. Eddie flipped the lights on and went to the closet, pulling the door open to reveal Steve's mother's wardrobe.
"Eddie," Steve whispered.
"They're not going to bite," Eddie said gently, reaching out for Steve's hand. "Come here, baby."
Steve carefully crossed the room and stood next to Eddie in front of the closet.
"Pick your favorites," Eddie murmured.
"Eddie," Steve whispered again.
"I know you have favorites," Eddie said with a soft smile. "So, let me see them."
Eddie watched Steve's face and the range of emotions that crossed his face before he approached the closet and started going through the various garments. Eddie remained quiet, watching his partner with a grin as Steve looked through the clothes and selected a gold dress with a high neck, wide shoulders and a long pleated skirt.
"Beautiful, baby," Eddie said. "You should try it on."
"I - what?"
Eddie caught the dress as it dropped from Steve's hands, carefully laying it over his arm and giving Steve a soft smile.
"I didn't stutter, baby," Eddie said. "Do you want to try it on?"
"But -" Steve licked his lips and swallowed. "But I'm a boy. Boys don't wear dresses."
"Says who?" Eddie asked softly. "The mean voice of your dad in your head telling you to be a man? The one that says boys don't cry? Ignore that voice, baby." Eddie tucked a lock of hair behind Steve's ear and gave him a smile. "Be you. Try on the dress."
"Okay," Steve whispered meekly.
It was on the tip of Eddie's tongue to call Steve his 'good girl', but Steve wasn't ready for that just yet.
"Come on, let's to back to the bathroom."
Eddie led the way back with Steve following him - once back in the bathroom Eddie offered Steve the dress, watching as Steve dropped the towel and took the dress. Eddie was patient, watching the emotions playing across Steve's face as he looked at the dress until he finally unzipped it and stepped into it.
"Turn for me, baby," Eddie ordered softly, waiting for Steve to turn before zipping the dress up and rubbing his back through the dress. "Do you want to see?"
"No - yes … yes."
Eddie pressed a kiss to the back of Steve's head and directed him to the full length mirror on the back of the bathroom door.
"Look at you, baby," Eddie praised. "So fucking beautiful."
"I …"
The reflection in the mirror wasn't Steve … couldn't be Steve. The gold made Steve's hair almost glow, the long pleated skirt hid some things, yet managed to give Steve the appearance of hips. The shoulder pads helped to give Steve the illusion of a waist and the high neck hid his Adam's apple
"You are stunning, baby," Eddie murmured, fluffing Steve's wild waves around his shoulders in the mirror.
"Is this … this is right," Steve whispered. "Why … how is this right?"
"I think all the magic training with Nancy unlocked something," Eddie murmured. "Something you'd kept hidden from everyone, including yourself."
"But you saw it." Steve turned from the mirror to face Eddie. "You saw it."
"I did," Eddie agreed with a small smile. "Maybe because I love you so much and I can't ever keep my eyes off you."
"Romantic." Steve sniffed. "But … it's not wrong?"
"Of course not!" Eddie said. "It's not wrong, it's you."
"I love you so much," Steve whispered.
"Love you, too, Stevie," Eddie replied.
"Stevie?"
"Don't like it?" Eddie asked. "We can find something else if you want."
"No … no, I like Stevie. It's cute," Stevie whispered. "I … I feel like it's still missing something."
Eddie stepped back as Stevie rushed past him and sat back down at the vanity. Eddie stood behind her and watched in the mirror as she reached for the comb and scissors - and with a bit of combing and a few quick, decisive snips, Stevie gave herself a thick fringe above her eyebrows.
"Damn baby, you look downright stunning," Eddie whispered.
"Just wait." Stevie gave Eddie a smile in the mirror before covering her face with her hands.
Eddie heard her whisper under her breath and watched as Stevie's hands glowed as gold as her dress for a brief moment; then Stevie lowered her hands to reveal a full face of perfect makeup.
"Damn, baby," Eddie whispered.
"Nancy worked real hard on this one," Stevie said. "Wanting to save time getting ready for dates."
Eddie held his breath as Stevie stood and turned to face him; he took a moment to really take it in, this new vision of his life partner and smiled.
"I wanted to call you my good girl earlier," Eddie whispered, then grinned when Stevie blushed and ducked her head shyly. "And you like that."
"Yeah," Stevie whispered. "This … this feels so fast."
"Is it?" Eddie asked. "You've been holding this for years, baby. I think … I think it's time for you to finally breathe."
"Damn it, you're going to make me cry." Stevie sniffed and put her hands on her hips.
"No matter where this journey goes, I'm with you for it all." Eddie smiled and pulled her close, wrapping her in a gentle hug.
"Is this why I'm so good at the magic?" Steve whispered in Eddie's ear.
"Maybe," Eddie replied. "Because I know Dustin has been trying to hard to learn and he's completely inept at it."
Stevie gave a little giggle, then hummed as Eddie gently rubbed her back.
"So, how about," Eddie murmured, "You wash your face and I'll help you braid your hair back? Then we'll both get into some pajamas and crawl into bed and cuddle until we fall asleep. Tomorrow we'll go through your mom's things and keep what you want, then go for a big shopping trip to get you a whole new wardrobe."
"Really?" Steve asked, already pulling out of Eddie's embrace to wash her face.
"Really," Eddie replied, leaning against the doorjamb to watch her and waiting for her to be done washing before moving back behind her and carefully, gently braiding her hair back.
"Where'd you learn to braid?" Stevie asked softly.
"Nancy and her little sister Holly," Eddie admitted. "Holly wanted to learn and so I was the guinea pig while Nancy guided and it stuck."
"You're a good man, Eddie," Stevie murmured.
"I try," Eddie replied, securing the end of Stevie's braid with a hair holder. "Ready for pajamas?"
"Yeah. Can I -"
"You can wear whatever you want," Eddie interrupted. "Old Hawkins High gym shirt or a negligee, I don't care, baby."
"Thank you, Eddie."
Eddie smiled as Stevie turned around and pressed her lips to Eddie's in a quick kiss before she practically skipped off into the bedroom to get changed. Eddie followed along and watched Stevie change as he pulled his own pajamas on - the gold dress was carefully hung in the closet and then Stevie grabbed one of Eddie's threadbare Hellfire t-shirts and a pair of shorts, got dressed and then crawled into bed.
"I do love a girl in her boyfriend's clothes," Eddie murmured as he climbed into bed with Stevie.
"Eddie?" Stevie asked as she snuggled into Eddie's chest. "What about … what about everyone else?"
"Well, I'm pretty sure Nancy and Robin already knew," Eddie said softly. "The younger girls probably suspect."
"And the others?" Stevie whispered, head pressed to Eddie's chest.
"It doesn't matter," Eddie replied, rubbing Stevie's back gently. "You're family and they love you. They might not understand, but I guarantee they will love and support you. No matter what."
Stevie was quiet for a few minutes and Eddie let the silence linger, not pushing or prodding.
"Thank you," Stevie murmured after a few moments.
"For what, baby?" Eddie asked softly.
"For seeing what I didn't, and for helping me see it."
"Anything for you, my good girl," Eddie whispered, hand trailing down to massage Stevie's ass gently.
"Yeah … we're going to explore that, too."
"Mmmhmm," Eddie hummed. "But we're on this road together, Stevie."
"I like the sound of that," Stevie murmured. "Together."
"You and me, Stevie-girl," Eddie whispered, holding his girl close as they both drifted off. "Together forever."