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/1\
The first time Steve knew what the need to hoard felt like was because of Tommy. They'd been friends for years and in that time Tommy and the Hagan's had gifted him plenty of things, hoping to get Steve's favour. It would be like that with everyone, Steve believed, just because that's how dragons were viewed.
This gift was different, silly, cheap and nothing to do with his scales, the horns on his head or the stereotypes about dragons his parents spent so long forging. It was a gift that acknowledged Steve as just a boy, a friend of Tommy's and he had to treasure it; everything in him was screaming to.
That was an overwhelming need in him so Steve did, not realising then that he'd just started his hoard. After all, he'd already got one of those in the form of a large box under his bed filled with the gifts the Hagan's, and many of Steve's other friends families had gifted him over the years. Except that box was one he'd happily give to his parents if they hadn't abandoned him here age 8 when they worried about him stealing from their own hoard. The notebooks Tommy gave him Steve would kill anyone trying to take.
/2\
For years after that Steve hoard remained so small, remained just the notebooks that he treasured but slowly began to realise the words inside them were cruel, or at least judgemental. It was still precious to him, but had an extra reason of wanting nobody to see them after trying to be a nicer person for Nancy.
Nancy was the next person to give him something that became part of his hoard and probably would never realise that.
At the time Steve had expected the headband to be the first of many little things, artefacts of their relationship and lives together, but instead it remained a lonely headband reminding him that they did look after each other in the time they had.
Perhaps it was odd to keep a headband given just so they could do facemasks together, but it was also an acceptance of his idea. It told Steve that he didn't have to be the 'man in charge' constantly with Nancy and he had to keep that.
An acceptance like that felt vital to him.
/3\
There were times after that that Steve wondered about items, about whether he could have them for his hoard. He'd realised that it was the protective instinct he had that made the hoard his, not the value of it as he'd assumed was why his parents made theirs the way they did.
Taking things from Nancy or after that break up Dustin felt wrong, even if they'd left things at his house or in his car he'd make sure to return them later.
Until Scoops Ahoy and breaking in to the Russian base occurred, nothing more was added again.
When the plan was made and Hopper was trying to keep everyone in the same timing for there plan Steve pointed out his watch, like his car keys, had been taken by the Russians. Erica didn't let anyone get frustrated or even decide one taken from the shops in Starcourt would work before she was taking hers off and strapping it to Steve's wrist.
“I'll be with Dustin on whatever hill he's talking about. You might have to come back here. I get pizza next week on top of free ice cream for life.” She demanded, returning to telling everyone what's best for them.
Steve did try to return it, first once everything was over and then again when he, Robin, Erica and Dustin were having the pizza. She refused to accept it back so it became part of his hoard and he couldn't be happier about it.
/4\
The Byers left Hawkins and Will donated all his DnD stuff. Steve heard that a hundred times in various ways from Dustin; incredulous, upset, confused and finally proud. The kid decided it was the perfect idea to give Will's things to Erica.
Except that didn't explain Steve's handful of dice, given to him by Will. If he'd understood why or what was happening, Steve would have immediately taken them to his hoard, but instead he just stared at Will.
“In case Dustin succeeds in getting you to play.” had been the explanation given. It was a simple reason and possibly not the most personal as Steve sometimes wished the things in his hoard were, but it still made the dice one of his treasures.
/5\
The Buckley's knew Steve. They'd met him shortly after Starcourt was burnt to hide what actually happened there and had mostly welcomed him into their daughter's life. Neither had done more than just confirming he was a dragon but wouldn't steal from them.
That was why when Robin came in a few months later rambling about how it wasn't her idea or choice but this was for him Steve didn't get annoyed. Instead he read the note included with the cufflinks and smiled. He laughed a little when adding them to his hoard, finally it had something his parents would add to their hoards as part of it.
Steve could see that this was more expensive than Robin or her family ever usually got, but also see that they'd tried to pick something he'd like. It wasn't gold, but silver, and while there was a gem, most of the design and bits that looked like gems were glass, in colours Steve had worn when picking Robin up or hurrying over because one of them had had a nightmare and needed to know the other was alive.
It was the fact he'd been so ready to rush over for the smallest things that actually made the Buckley's buy them. Their note mentioned wanting to thank him for everything he was still doing and how worried they'd been when Robin befriended him in the fire that he wouldn't stick around after it.
Part of him had wanted to visit Robin's parents and say they shouldn't have spent so much on him, but he knew that would offend them, had made mistakes similar to it in the past. Instead he wrote a letter thanking them and checking that they hadn't put stress on their finances for the gift, explaining his concern as one he'd seen his parents encourage their acquaintances to do so when young and never wanting anyone to do that for him. He wasn't even sure if that was a lie or not.
/\
“Robin says you actually do have a hoard, Harrington.” Eddie stated while they lounged together on the sofa. “Not sure I believe her since there's nothing anywhere in your house.”
Steve shrugged, “It's not big. You've contributed to it once though.”
That got Eddie scoffing, “Nothing I have is worth anything, let alone enough to be part of a dragons hoard.”
“Don't expect me to conform to my parents style of hoard, Munson. The vest you told me to burn has been in my hoard since then.” Steve corrected, quietly and trying to use the type of phrasing Eddie did in his table top cafeteria speeches to call out the stereotypes Eddie was thinking in without doing so directly.
“So the richest kid in school, literal dragon, doesn't have a hoard that focuses on wealth? What on earth are you hoarding for my vest to get included?” Eddie frowned, genuinely trying to understand Steve rather than ready to argue more about what he knows of dragons.
For a moment Steve thought before standing up and holding a hand out to pull Eddie up too. “You like making puzzles for the kids to solve in that game of yours. Why don't you treat this like one of them?” He suggested, leading the way up to his room once Eddie was standing too.
“You're showing me it?” Eddie asked, eagerly following but looking at bit bemused.
“Yeah, I trust you. Might as well see what connection you'd make between them.” He reasoned, only hesitating a moment before puling the suitcase he'd got for them all. A thought flashed through his mind of those notebooks Tommy had given him and all the things written in them. “Just don't read the notebooks too much.”
Eddie was leaning over next to him, curiously looking in the case but not reaching for anything. “They look old. Who gave you them?”
“Tommy. Just cause I said not to read them, doesn't mean I'm stopping you from actually picking the stuff up. You just can't take any of it.” Steve reiterated, plucking the headband from it's place next to the books and handing it to Eddie.
He got a glance between the headband and himself. “Would be sweet if you followed the admission the books are from Tommy by saying this is from Carol but to guess the rest, this is from Nancy, watch probably Erica but I wouldn't put it past Mike or Dustin being shitheads. The dice could be from any of the boys, but I'm betting Dustin. Only thing I'm not sure of is the cufflinks. I might have said the Wheelers but that doesn't seem like them.”
“You're certain they're all gifts?” Steve asked curiously.
“You're parents aren't here, but my vest got put in your hoard already so yeah. These are things people have given to you. I can't wait to see what other things I give you end up in here.” Eddie decided, nodding as if that made his words more accurate.
Pulling the vest out was easy, except for Steve's hands shaking at the mention of getting more things for his hoard. Robin hadn't said anything like that when she saw it, just called him a sap. Nobody else had cared enough to ask about his hoard, or maybe thought it was more private than Steve treated almost anything. “I guess that is accurate, but I've been given a lot of things that never made it into here. Everyone wants a dragon friend for the things superstitions say we'll help with, no these are gifts that have some meaning or story between the gifter and me.” He explained, adding “Even if it's getting dragged to a hell dimension and my body being too distracting for the man with pretty eyes.”
It was a risky tease, or would have been to direct at any of his old friends, but Eddie had called him big boy and liked getting in his space. If a little courage to step closer together was what was needed then Steve was ready to do so.
“So I should find something sweeter to give you on our first date? Also what did Tommy write to insult me? Don't tell me that's not one of the things included in those books you don't want me looking at.” Eddie met him there, just as eager for their relationship to begin apparently.
“When are you taking me on this date then Eddie? Maybe I'll let you read what was written about you then.” Steve spoke quietly, letting the moment become more intimate.
“Soon.” With that word Eddie's lips met his, sealing the promise of their first date between them.