Work Text
Steve woke up groggily. He looked around to see the floor a few inches below him under the mattress he was laying on, and his severe lack of clothes. A soft groan pulled his attention to his left to see the curly mess of dark hair atop the pillow next to him.
How did I get here again?
Steves face scrunched as he thought back to the previous night before curling in on himself with embarrassment.
It started about two weeks ago, no scratch that, a month ago, no you know what why don't we just start it from the beginning. The first time Steve met Eddie. Eddie had held a broken bottle to Steves neck and threatened him. Rightfully Steve was scared shitless and made a fool of himself so bad he couldn't get rid of the teasing for weeks,(he would still be targeted to this day from time to time) but something about the way Eddie just fell, defeated, after realizing he was with people he could trust, hit Steve in a way he had never really felt before. It was almost pity but it was almost something else, something he couldn't explain.
The next week or so was a train wreck, obviously. What with the whole "Dark sorcerer from another dimension killing teens to open a gate from the upside down but also turning out to be the first of Brenner's experiments to create kids with fucking superpowers." But they made it through, if barely. Eddie was almost killed by the weird bats in the upside down, and had to be practically
dragged
back to the gate. Robins paranoia over rabies was no help as Steve and Nancy struggled to get a bleeding Eddie and a heavily injured Dustin through the gate on the trailer ceiling, but by some miracle they did it. Maybe the same miracle that allowed their plan to work, resulting in the death of Vecna with only massive amounts of emotional trauma to both El and Max. And everyone else.
What was really the hard part was the week after that. Vouching for Eddie put a target on everyones head, one that only went away with a lot of false alibis and a hell of a good lawyer. Also some help from Dr. Owens and friends. Eddie just
barely
graduated, but couldn't even walk the halls of Hawkins High without the glares. Jason had backed off and had even started to tell others off who started to talk shit, one hell of a beating plus a long explanation from Lucas seemed to convince him not to burn Ed at the stake in front of the whole town.
Hawkins wasn't really the same though, El and Hopper were living back in their cabin in the woods, and the Byers were back in town, but tensions were high. Mike and El, Nance and Jonathan. It felt only a matter of time before things fell apart for
both
the seemingly unstoppable power couples. Steve felt he might have had a little to do with that due to his hints(not very discreet though) toward Nancy. But once Jonathan was back in the picture he backed off. He had really only gone for a second chance due to the remarks and pressure(?) from Dustin and Eddie, but something about it didn't quite sit right with him so he backed off.
Robin seemed to be doing well. Vickie had apparently broken up with her boyfriend and things were looking up for Robs chance at a relationship. Lucas and Max were also doing better than ever, and of course, Hopper and Joyce had finally gotten together(everyone with eyes could see it coming). Eddie and Jonathans weird friend Argyle had immediately hit it off and in no time 'corroded coffin'(what kind of band name is that) had a crowd of five drunks
and
one high pizza guy.
Things seemed to be alright for Hawkins. The graduation season came and went and before he knew it Steve was stuck in the beginning of summer. Hot and sticky with nothing to do but think sorta summer. Yeah. Think. What was there to even think about? College? No, his job at Family Video was enough to keep his dad from kicking him out from disappointment, and he couldn't leave at a time like this. He, Rob, Nance, and the others agreed it was best to probably wait a bit, if they went at all. Fun? No the mall got destroyed last summer leaving all the residents to congregate at the one place left, the pool. Romance? Oh hell no, he'd had enough of that to last years. Friends? Mmmmm yeah that was ok. Robin had set up "Friday night movies" with the older teens, even though she and Steve literally worked at a movie store. The others seemed to like it, probably no one wanted to be alone too long after what happened. Steve knew that he didn't enjoy the eerie silence. Eddie seemed ecstatic to have people to hang out with other than his D&D nerd friends. He had been spending a lot of time around Steve, the two had talked a bit in the upside down while everything was happening but after things calmed down it seemed the two really had the time to become friends. Eddie would show up while Steve was at work and bug him and Robin endlessly(mostly Robin). He'd find where Steve lived and throw rocks at his window before running away, sometimes even ding dong ditching him when Steves parents weren't home, which seemed to be often recently. Who knew where they were, at least Steve had the house to himself days in a row. Once Robin had learned this she started having those movie nights at Steves. He was pretty sure Robin just wanted an excuse to get to Steves pool.
The presence of a pool also enticed Eddie, Jonathan, Nancy, and Argyle to make themselves at home in Steves definitely not equipped for six college aged kids home. But it was good to put the pool to use, and before Steve knew, his house was the others second home. Eddie was always prepared to run straight to the backyard whenever he passed by Steves street. Argyle was too, but more in the "would jump in with my clothes" way. Steves house was probably the only viable option for Eddie
or
Steve to go swimming, what with the matching "attacked by demon bats" scars. These were quickly noticed by Steve, he had been sulking over his own for a while but forgot instantly when he saw the scars on Eddie. They were worse. So much worse. It looked like he was ripped apart with a chainsaw and sewn back together by an amateur Dr. Frankenstine. His skin was scarred so bad it was probably never going to go away. If Steve was lucky the rips on the sides of his stomach would be mostly unnoticeable in a few years, but with Eddie it was all over. It wasn't even contained to his sides. It was all over his front as well. Pale and textured in a way that looked still painful. Another thing Steve had noticed was Eddies tattoos. He had way more than Steve figured. He had seen the ones on Eddies forearms but there were quite a few that weren't visible until Eddie wasn't wearing a shirt anymore. He was also more fit than Steve had anticipated, and he looked almost....
Shit.
No no no no no
SHIT.
No. Hell no. This was not happening. Thats not...
normal.
Wait no it
was
but, but not for STEVE. Yeah, it was normal for people like... ROBIN. Wait "People like" that sounds wrong. Ugh. No he was not going to do this now, he was not going to have either of those conversations with himself. And he was definitely NOT going to think anything out of the ordinary about that weird freak Eddie Munson. He was just... um... uh... SOMETHING. BUT NOT LIKE ANYTHING WEIRD. Just put it out of his mind, nothing was weird, it's fine...
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The next two days were unproductive. Rob and Steve remained undeniably bored as a lack of customers or visiting friends made work seem twice as long. And if theres one thing Steve didn't want at a time like this, it was a lack of distractions. Distractions kept him away from his thoughts. Kept him away from his
feelings
. Steve shuddered at that word.
What feelings? There's no feelings. I FEEL NOTHING.
Ah yes, denial.
Robin turned to see Steves angrily confused face, but before she could make some quip at Steves misery the door to the video shop flung open with a ring. Steves head swung up, begging for something to pry his mind off of whatever was going on, but luck was unkind to him today.
"Hello~ people! Rob. Steve. How are we doing on this
fine
evening." Eddie leaned on the store counter like he was in his kitchen at home. That was a thing he liked to do. Make himself unnecessarily welcome anywhere and everywhere.
"It's 1:25 dingus." Robin leaned in toward Ed, encouraging his nonchalant behavior.
Steve grumbled something incomprehensible and shuffled off to the back room without so much as an excuse. Or a hello.
"WHAT? NOT HAPPY TO SEE THIS WONDERFUL FACE HARRINGTON?" Eddie yelled at Steve as he walked off, only causing Steve to pick up the pace.
In all actuality Steve couldn't tell if he was happy to see Eddie there or not. It felt like he shouldn't have been, due to three consecutive days of scowling at the mere
mention
of his name, but another part of him almost instinctively cracked a grin at Eddies dramatic greeting. Steve didn't know how he felt about that.
UGGGHH. This sucks. Is this what it was like for Robin? ...Do I TELL Robin?
Yeah, no that wasn't happening. If he didn't even know what was going on there was no way in hell he was telling the one person who would do nothing but tease him endlessly. That one person also being the only person he might of had a
chance
at talking about this with.
But thats just how things were for Steve 'king of Hawkins High' Harrington. Confusing, unreliable, and all around annoying.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Steve avoided practically everyone the next few days. Confrontational conversations from Robin avoided with excuses of work, and meet-ups with the others canceled last minute for 'family stuff.'
"Alright I'm calling an intervention."
"What are you talking about?" Robin looked at Steve with a typical 'annoyed Robin' face, and although Steve could probably guess what it was about he decided to keep playing the fool at least a little longer.
"Whatever this is! You have been talking to no one the past week and I mean
no one.
And there is no way in hell this is 'family stuff.' Your parents haven't been home since like, the 6th."
Steve fell in his chair miserably, hiding his face in his arms on top of the counter in the store. The shop was empty enough to be the perfect moment for Robin to stage her intervention.
"Ugggghhh."
"What the hell is going on Steve?"
"....mmm dunno..." Steve mumbled, unprepared to explain a weeks worth of confused thoughts and half realizations.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'DUNNO'? OH MY GOD YOU ARE
THE
MOST HELPLESS MAN I HAVE EVER MET."
"I dunno okay? Its hard to explain."
"Well we got
all day Steve.
Start explaining."
Steve glanced up at Robins face. He hadn't seen her this annoyed since their days at Scoops Ahoy. And he'd never seen her this angry. He wasn't getting out of this one. Robin could somehow read him like a book, meaning no excuse would fool her. He was surprised she hadn't already figured out what was going on herself, but Robin Buckley never ceases to advert expectations.
"Guhh... so there
may
be this person I like." Steve sighed into his hands, refusing to look Robin in the face.
"And this is a
problem
?"
"Yes."
Robin sat down on the other stool behind the counter, this was not going to be a short conversation.
"Well why's it such an issue? Who is this girl?"
"Thats the problem...it's not a
girl
." Steve felt his stomach turning into a knot. Robin was definitely the only person he could tell this too, but still.
"WHAT?"
"Shhh shh shut up!" Steve glared at Robin before darting his eyes around the store. The only people to drop by today had left but you could never be to sure when telling someone the one thing you could not let anyone find out about.
"
What do you mean it's not a girl.
" Robin growled at Steve. It was a whisper but it still freaked Steve out.
"What else would I mean?"
"Oh my god. Ohhh myyy GOD. Oh god no. My gay is rubbing off on you." Robin stood up to start pacing around.
"What?" Steve also stood up from his chair, albeit with much less 'realization moment' energy.
"IVE CORRUPTED STEVE HARRINGTON, HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN."
"Out of all reactions this is quite the opposite of what I expected."
Robin spun around and practically charged at Steve with a speed unexpected from a normal human being.
"
WELL WHAT IN THE HELL DID YOU EXPECT.
"
"I... I DUNNO!" The yelling argument Steve and Robin were engaged in was shortly interrupted by the sound of the store door opening. They both turned to see the exact topic of conversation walk through the door, although Robin didn't know.
"Now what is going on in here? Fight between co-workers? Very unprofessional."
"Can it, Munson." Steve leaned away from the counter, an attempt to put as much physical space between him and Eddie without suspicion. He couldn't, however, stop the embarrassed red that grew around his ears. This was quickly noticed by Robin who gave him a glare that almost said '
Wait
for real? Him?'
"Cold, you'll break this poor mans heart." Eddie dramatically put his hand on his chest to exaggerate his point. "Anyway, we still on for tonight? Movies at my place?"
"Yeah, if
someone
doesn't back out like he's been doing the past week."
Steve turned to defend himself but could barely find the words.
"I haven't- I'm not- I- ...fine. Yeah, whatever I'll be there." Steve turned his back to the two of them angrily. He wouldn't have been able to come up with an excuse so he didn't bother before he made the situation worse for himself.
"Great, see you both tonight." And just like that Eddie was out the door and speeding off to who knows where. Steve leaned on the counter to watch him drive off. Normally Eddie stayed at the store longer than that. Even if he didn't have any good reason to be there.
Steve sighed and slumped back down onto his chair on the other side of the counter.
"You're kidding right?" Robin looked over at him with an expression halfway between shock and disappointment.
"Why is it you are shocked when I tell you something but at the same time you always seem to know everything?"
"SERIOUSLY? EDDIE MUNSON? OH MY GOD."
"I know, I know."
"No, no you don't know." Steve turned to look at Robin with confusion.
"What the hell do you mean, 'I don't know.'"
"What I mean is, you could not have picked a better guy to be your first gay crush."
"
What?
He's Eddie Munson for gods sake, the dude's a weirdo." By this point Robin had completely lost Steve, he was a clueless person who could not put two and two together which resulted in many socially embarrassing moments of Steve being a complete dumbass.
"Look the reason me and Eddie seem to get along so well is because were cut from the same cloth, Steve."
"Wait is he..?"
"Oh most definitely." The look on Robins face was one of sheer excitement, it almost looked like she was about to tell Steve some ridiculous manipulative plan to take over the world.
"Did he tell you?"
"No, but with that man, you can just tell."
"Really because so far your count for finding others like us is 0 for 2."
"This is different okay, he's an outcast, he's a punk, all his friends are also outcasts, and do I need to get started on his style." Robin began pacing around listing off reasons, counting on her fingers. Steve just watched sitting behind the counter, slowly realizing she was probably right.
"Wait, his style? What does that mean?"
"Have you seen what he wears. Have you seen the
rings.
Along with the other accessories, too. And even if we ignored everything else have you seen the way he
acts.
Yeah no way he's straight. And he's like totally into you."
"WHAT?"
"No totally, he's been checking you out since like the moment he met you."
"No he hasn't!" Steves face was turning bright red, he was too embarrassed to think about what Robin was saying and instead opted to act oblivious(not that he was capable of not being oblivious).
"Dude, do you remember that time you straight up started striping to jump into the lake to find the gate? While you were trying to show of and get Nancys attention-"
"I wasn't-"
"LET ME FINNISH. While you were doing whatever, I happened to look and see Eddie
absolutely
looking you up and down. And then that time he gave you his vest. He
could
have given you his jacket, which actually had sleeves and would have been better given the situation but
nooooooo.
He totally just wanted to see you in the vest. And he flirts with you like,
all. The. Time.
"
The longer Robin talked the more embarrassed Steve became. He started thinking about all the times he and Eddie hung out. Especially when they were alone. He had never thought any of his behavior was
weird
but thinking about it this way, it was hard not to pick up on things he hadn't realized before. How close he stood, his tone of voice,
the fricking eye contact
(eye contact is in fact very non platonic).
Steve mumbled incoherently and curled in on himself in his seat. "So what do I do?"
"What do you do? You ask him out dingus!"
"I can't do that!" Steve was glad no one was in the store to see his current crisis, it was far too embarrassing.
"Oh my god you're acting like a 12 year old with his first crush."
"...technically
is
a first crush."
"You're literally Steve Harrington. You've been on more dates than
anyone
in this town. You could probably get more than half the girls in a ten mile radius without a voice crack. Just suck it up and
ask him out.
"
"It's different thoughhhhh." Steve whined as Robin yelled at him, it was hypocritical of her to get mad at him, considering how long she spent using every excuse to avoid asking Vickie out, but embarrassment prevented him from bringing this point up to her.
"Fine, whatever, if you don't want my help I won't help." Robin crossed her arms and turned away from Steve. In any other situation Steve would apologize and bug her until she started paying attention to him again, but part of him didn't want her help with this situation. Instead the two sat there in silence for about three minutes until Robin finally started to ask the questions he had predicted from the beginning.
"Sooo... when'd you realize?"
"Earlier this week."
"And how did you realize?" Robin looked over at Steve with a smirk, and Steve turned red thinking about the exact situation of
how
he realized.
"That's not your business." Steve grumbled, annoyed at Robins teasing.
"Okay, then this, why
him
of all people. It's just so unexpected."
"If I had a choice don't you think I would have picked
anyone else
."
"Fine but you HAVE to tell me what you like about him."
"No, I-"
"Steve, pleaseee." Robin grabbed onto Steves arm as she begged Steve to tell her. "My best friends first guy crush, I have to know about this, it's my duty as an emotional support lesbian. And it's your duty to tell me as an emotional support himbo."
Steve ignored the term Robin used to describe him, although he didn't know what it ment, to talk about the more important matter.
"Hold on, best friend?" Steve was not giving up this opportunity at teasing Robin.
"More like my only friend."
"Awwww Robin thinks I'm her best friend, that's so cute."
"IT'S NOT LIKE YOU HAVE ANY FRIENDS EITHER."
"Best frieeend. Heh heh."
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
After work Robin decided to invite herself over to Steves house. Apparently going over to the house of someone you liked was a very big deal, even if it was a group gathering and you've been there hundreds of times before.
"Why is it such a big deal?"
"This is gonna be your first time speaking with him for longer than two minutes since you realized, you're gonna freak out and embarrass yourself." Robin was digging through Steves closet, thinking far too much about the situation.
Steve wasn't actually that worried, he figured everything would probably be pretty much the same as before. Especially because Eddie didn't realize, but Robin simply refused to accept that fact.
"Why are all your clothes dumb?"
"First of all, they aren't. Second, why do you care so much what I wear?"
"Steve there is no way you are just telling me about your crush on
Eddie fucking Munson
, and expect me not to do everything in my power to get you two together." Robin ignored Steve and continued to search for anything remotely presentable.
"You literally said you think he's hella into me so why do I have to change the way I dress?"
"YOU CAN'T EVEN BECAUSE ALL OF YOUR CLOTHES ARE THE SAME STUPID SHIT!" Robin threw what she was holding defeated. It was one of the many semi plain shirts he had, now that he was thinking a lot of his shirts were the same.
"It's already 6 we're supposed to be there so hurry up with whatever this is and
let's go
." Steve stood up and started shoving his thrown about clothes in his closet. He felt odd since work had ended and didn't want to make things worse with worrying about being late(even though he already was).
"
Fine
, but we're going shopping for you some time next week." Robin helped Steve shove the rest of his clothes in his closet and the two got in Steves car.
Robin pulled down the mirror to look at herself as she got in the car, and Steve gave her a look like she was the most annoying person ever.
"Do you really have to do that now?" Steve grumbled as he started up the car and pulled out of his driveway. Robin did this almost every time Steve gave her a ride, it almost made her seem narcissistic.
"Would you rather I had done it at your house and made us even more late?" Robin snickered as she flipped the mirror back up and turned her attention toward the silent stereo in the middle of Steves dashboard.
"Literally every time-" Steve was cut off by the sound of blasting music coming from the radio, Robin rushed to turn it down before either of their ears bled.
"Jesus, what the hell." Robin flipped through the radio stations, looking for one that she enjoyed.
"I gave Eddie a ride the other day, he always turns the music too loud."
"And you haven't turned on the radio since?" Robin found a song she liked playing and sat back in her seat as Steve continued down the road.
"My car trips are literally just my house, work, and your house."
"Poor hermit Steve, he's really gone downhill since he graduated." Robin teased Steve with a fake sympathy and grinned at him, persistent on pulling his attention from the road.
"Haha, very funny, at least I
had
a social life unlike some people I know." Steve took his opportunity to get a dig at Robin as he pulled into the trailer park. There were two other cars, along with Eddies van next to the Munsons trailer, meaning Nancy, Jonathan, and Argyle were already there.
Robin flung the door open before Steve had a chance to put the car in park, and was about to run up to the trailer before stoping dead in her tracks, as though she had remembered something.
"WAIT. Before we go in what are you gonna do while we're here?"
"What?"
"Seriously. I swear to god if you don't find a way to inconspicuously flirt with him I will personally see to it you get a funeral in the next two days." Robin pointed her finger in Steves face angrily before getting out of the car and slamming the door. Steve preferred it when he was Robins wingman.
Steve sighed and was about to exit the car too but froze. He felt something weird boiling in his stomach, like someone was holding him at gunpoint. It wasn't about going over to the trailer, no, he wasn't worried about seeing the others, this was something else. Steve felt the hair on his neck stand and shivers went down his arms. He couldn't move. It only lasted a moment before Robin yelled at him to hurry up, which caused him to run to catch up with Robin, ignoring the obvious signs of something wrong.
Robin and Steve hadn't even gotten to knock on the door when it swung open to reveal a grinning Eddie with a few familiar faces behind him. Eddies hair was in a ponytail, it had been most of the summer. It was probably hot and annoying to deal with long hair during the summer, but Eddie had never complained once. Nancy and Jonathan were in view behind him, sitting at the kitchen counter that was visible from the door, and Argyle was digging through the fridge.
"Well, well. Look who finally decided to show up." Eddie smirked as Steve and Robin took the open door as an invitation inside, Robin went for the couch first thing and flopped on it loudly, drawing Nancys attention.
"You can blame her for that, I don't think she even knows how to read a clock."
"Do you know how to read a clock Steve?" Nancy waisted no time attempting to embarrass Steve as she sat down next to Robin on the couch, abandoning Jonathan and Argyle at the kitchen. "What took you so long anyway?"
"Steve and his dozen replicas of the same shirt. It's so sad, he has no different clothes and he thinks thats just okay." Robin complained to Nancy, expecting her to sympathize with the mountain Robin was making out of a mole hill.
Argyle took the discussion of lack of fashion sense as his cue to chime in and also started heading away from the kitchen "Dude that is sad, how are you supposed to be the party king with no party king clothes?"
"Ok ok, we get it Steve is a hobo, now can we please get to the movies because I have some excellent picks and would like to waste no time." Eddie heads over to where his TV is set up and grabs a movie off a pile as the rest of the others gather around the small area.
The rest of the night went well for the most part, they watched movies, ate, joked at the expense of each other(mostly Steve). A few hours in though, that sickening feeing in Steves stomach wouldn't go away, and he tells the others he has to leave. Family stuff he 'forgot' about.
"Steve what the hell?" Robin ran after Steve as he walked over to his car.
"What."
"You're just gonna bail? You don't have any 'family stuff' and you're my ride home." Robin doesn't understand. She got through everything unscathed, not like Steve. Robin was able to move on and forget about it. Not Steve. It plagued his every thought when not distracted by something else. Any snap of a twig, any silence too long, any movement from the corner of his eye. And the nightmares.
God the fucking nightmares.
No Robin didn't understand at all.
"I-I just gotta go, okay Robin? You can probably get a ride from Nance." Steve gets in his car before Robin can respond. If he stays any longer he'd break down then and there. He can't look her in the eye, he
can't
.
He barely gets halfway to his own home before he has to pull over. His hands are clenched on the wheel to try and keep himself steady, but it doesn't help at all. His entire body is shaking and tears are forming in his eyes. He can't breath. He can't think.
He can't do anything
.
It's a few minutes before he pulls himself together enough to get back to his house. The first thing he does is puke in the first floor bathroom. He can't do anything. Can't do anything at all. He just sits. Sits and does
nothing
. Useless. Just like his parents think. He can't do anything. He can't help anyone, keep the people he cares about safe. He's just useless. Useless,
pathetic
, Steve Harrington. Peaked at fucking high school.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
He's able to pull himself to his room. To lie on the slightly more comforting surface of his bed, rather than cold and dirty tile floor. He can't move. He just lies there. Tries not to think. Minutes pass. Then maybe an hour. Steve can slowly start to feel his body go back to normal.
Functional.
Then the phone rings. And another wave almost hits him.
Please don't be Mom or Dad. Please don't be Dad. Please.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Steve?" It's not his parents. It's actually a voice he recognizes well. Though he can't tell if this is the exact person he wants to talk to or if this is exactly who he hoped he didn't
have
to talk to.
"Hey Eddie, what's up?" Steve tries to steady his voice, hide the recent panic.
"Are you good? You left in a hurry and seemed a little out of it." Steve can't see Eddie from the other side of the phone, but he can almost imagine Eddie leaning against the wall, probably multitasking the phone call with something else. Typical Eddie fashion.
"Yeah, just something I forgot about." Steve sighs and rubs the space between his eyes. He doesn't want to talk about it, but he doesn't think there's really anything else that
can
be talked about.
"...You sure?"
Steve knows he's a bad liar. He's probably gonna have to tell Eddie what happened.
"I don't wanna talk about it."
"Does it have to do with.. uh... the uh..."
"The upside down and stuff?" Steve finishes the sentence for Eddie. There really isn't a good way to describe what all that 'stuff' is without talking about everything.
"Yes that. Is that it?"
"I suppose so."
"You suppose?" Eddie had been on the phone for a little while now but he hadn't even tried to joke once, he seemed to already know what was going on.
"It's nothing, it's stupid."
"You want me to hang up, or...?" Eddie was cautious with his words. Like if he said the wrong thing the whole world would fall to shit.
"You can stay. I guess... I guess I kinda need someone to talk to." What Steve
needs
is a distraction that doesn't make his heart rate rise.
"Alright, well good thing because I think Dustin was planning on trying to bother me tonight and I
so
need an excuse not to talk to that little shit."
"Well don't let him think that if he can't bother you he can bother me." Steve laughs a tiny bit as he slides down the wall to sit on the floor.
"Was that a laugh? I think I heard a laugh."
"No I'm just dying from an asthma attack."
"...Wait, for real?"
"...No. I don't have asthma." Steve hoped that Eddie was joking. Steve had talked about the different sports he had played enough for there to be no possible way for Eddie to think he had asthma unless he wasn't paying attention. Or unless he was just really dumb.
"Wait, yeah, that wouldn't make sense. Sorry, the daily amount of required idiocy hasn't been used up yet."
"
Pfft.
You're so dumb."
Steve and Eddie talk on the phone until late. It's mostly Eddie talking to Steve, about his latest D&D campaign, a new album, but neither really mind Steves silence. Eddie probably likes just knowing there's someone willing to listen to him talk about whatever for hours. And Steve just likes hearing Eddies voice. It's comforting, but not in a soft way. In a way that when Steve hears it, he knows one way or another he's going to laugh.
By the time Steve finally hung up the phone he could barely keep his eyes open long enough to go back to his room. The second he's there he flops down on his bed face first and falls asleep instantly. The sick feelings gone by now. Now he just feels...better.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
"So you bailed out on me because you had a panic attack? Why didn't you just say so?" Robin was following Steve around the video store as Steve put VHS tapes back on the shelfs.
"It's a little hard to
talk
when you literally feel like you're gonna stop breathing in two seconds."
"Well are you alright now?"
"Yes... I've delt with this a few times before." Steve considered not telling Robin, but if it happened again it was probably better she knew.
"
WHAT.
You never told me this!"
"Well for the most part it all happened the year before I met you. I had to deal with those freaky monsters more up close." Steve remembered how close the demogorgan and those dog-
things
had gotten to him. By now he had almost died about a dozen times but back then... he had nothing but a stupid bat to defend himself and others from those monsters.
"We literally fought a giant pile of melted people and rats exactly a year ago." Robin looked at Steve like he had just said the dumbest shit ever.
"From a safe
-ish
distance! And with fireworks. Normally I'm protecting a small legion of toddlers with a piece of wood."
"Ah yes, Steve the babysitter."
"Ughh. Speaking of which I think those little shits are gonna show up to bug us today. Ed said something about them wanting us to see if we had that new horror movie in shop yet." Steve wasn't even sure that movie was out of theaters yet, but when it came to movies Steve and Robin were eventually the ones to get asked about it.
"Ed?" Robin grinned at Steve with curiosity. "Did Steve perhaps get a late night phone call? Or did he
make
a phone call!"
"Eddie called me. He noticed I was acting weird."
"Aww he cares." Steve turned his head as his face started to go red, but Robin continued to ask questions. "Did you tell him what happened?"
"No but I think he knew. He kinda just talked about whatever for a while and I listened... it was...nice."
"That's the gayest shit I've ever heard."
"
Robin
."
"What! You said yourself he knew, and then he just happens to know exactly what to do to comfort you in your time of need?"
"My time of need?"
"Yes, anyway the phone call itself is more proof he obviously likes you back so for the millionth time
ask him out
."
"Robin, I literally told you yesterday."
"And? I swear to you on my life, if you ended up asking him out the
worst
that could happen is him not wanting to date you because this town is filled with small minded bigots and he's a outcast as it is."
"Which would be very valid reasoning." Steve covered his face with his hands. It seemed the longer he spent accepting this the more he found reasons there was no way in hell it would work.
Robin noticed that her attempt at optimism had the opposite effect and quickly tried to fix it. "BUT- Eddie does not at all seem to care about public opinion
so
it's unlikely that would even be the case."
"Oh crap."
"What?"
"Eddie might not care about public opinion, but I do. At least if word gets to my parents." Another reason added to the list.
"So just, don't tell anyone you don't want to. In public it would just be seen as 'weirdo Eddie hanging out with the now weird Steve' not 'Are they a thing?'" Robin looked at Steve like she had the answer to any problem in the world. At times it seemed like she did.
"I am glad the store is empty enough to have talks like this, but if this continues we'll probably be out of a job."
"Yeah, you're right."
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
"What the hell are you doing at my house."
Steve looked out his open front door to see the familiar face of Dustin Henderson staring back at him. The
only
reason Dustin would be at his house is if he wanted something.
"I need a favor."
"No."
"I haven't even said anything yet!"
"And I don't want to hear it! Every time you ask me for something I end up miserable and you never return the favor. I'm not doing it."
"Oh come on, Steve I just want a ride to go see Susie."
"Your girlfriend out in
Utah
? Hell no."
"
Please
, this is the only time I can go all summer and my mom said I can go if someone will give me a ride." Dustin looked desperate, he was most definitely going to guilt trip Steve into driving him. "This is for the sake of love!"
"First of all, gross. Second, just go on a plane."
"Well my mom said it was only ok if I went with Mike, Will, Lucas, and Max and there was no way she was paying for that many plane tickets."
"Then even more, no. I'm not driving five kids halfway across the country for like, two days." Steve was about to shut the door in Dustins face, but Dustin shoved his foot in the way.
"Actually, it would only take one day because I got Eddie to agree to go too if I got a second driver. One of you drive the first half and the other drive the second. 12 hours each and we get there one day."
The mention of Eddie being on this road trip in hell intrigued Steve a bit, but he was not telling Dustin that. "Well where the hell would we even stay genius. You're bringing seven people to Utah."
"Susies dad apparently won the lottery and is bringing all her siblings on a trip except for her and her oldest sister and Susie convinced him to pay for three hotel rooms for four days for us to drive up there. It's literally the best chance
ever.
"
"What's in this trip for me."
"Her older sister's supposed to be hot."
"Hell no."
"...I could give you my allowance for a month."
"Which adds up to...?"
"$50."
Steve had worked a lot of extra days at the video store the past year, so taking a week off would not get him fired. 50 bucks to drive a few kids around and hang out with the person Robin was consistently bugging him to find a reason to hang out with? He'd take that chance.
"Deal, but next time I ask a favor back, you shut it and agree."
"Thank you, Steve!" Dustins voice was shortly drowned out by Steve closing the door in his face. He hoped his parents had no plans to come home soon, maybe if they called before he'd tell them. And he had to now take a week off work. This had better be worth it.
"WHAT."
"Yup, six whole days of dealing with those little shits, plus Eddie."
"Six whole days of leaving me here,
alone.
" Robin frowned as she flopped over the counter. The store was still super empty.
"Hang out with Vickie, or something."
"Wish I was getting payed 50 bucks to go on a road trip with her."
"I'd
pay
50 bucks to go on a road trip
without
those children."
"In other words you'd pay to go on a trip with Eddie
alone
." Robin grinned at Steve. Robin had taken this whole incident as a chance to endlessly tease Steve.
"...
shudup
..."
"YOU'RE NOT DENYING. HE IS
NOT
DENYING."
"SHUT UP!"
"Anyway, so two days on the road and four in Utah? And you said only 3 hotel rooms for seven people."
"Yeah?"
"So assuming the children will spilt the rooms, two in one, three in the other..."
"Oh
.
" A very important factor of this trip was only just brought to Steves attention.
"Oh indeed Steve."
"...Is this a good thing or a bad thing."
"I dunno, I always figured sharing a fricking hotel room with your big fat crush was a good thing." The day Robin stoped being sarcastic was the day the apocalypse begins.
"Don't phrase it like that." Steve mumbled to himself as Robin sighed in disappointment at Steves dumbness.
"Anyway, if you agree to not embarrass yourself and at least make progress on your situation, I promise not to burn the store down." Robin smiled at Steve and he couldn't tell if she was joking or not.
"
Please don't comit arson without me. I need the stress relief."
"Ok, we can burn the store down together when you get back."
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Soon enough it was time for the road trip, and Steve didn't know if he was gonna be sick or not. There were no problems with him taking the week off so he didn't have to worry about that, which was good. He was not excited to sit in a car for a whole day though. They had to take Eddies van since there were so many of them. Steve and Eddie got the drivers seat and shotgun due to being both the oldest and the drivers. Eddie had decided to drive the first half, which gave Steve the perfect opportunity to put on some headphones and pretend he was anywhere but there. He hoped he could sleep a little since he'd be driving when it was dark.
"Hey Steve." Steves attention was pulled away from the window to the seat next to him.
"What?"
"Doesn't this remind you of that time we drove that trailer?"
"You mean that time you
stole
a trailer, and made me drive it?" This situation did not, in fact, remind Steve of that, but it was likely Eddie was simply trying to get Steve to stop acting like a 13 year old emo kid.
A voice was heard from the back of the van, "You guys stole a trailer?" Will looked to the front of the van with a confused face, Mike sitting next to him equally lost.
"Yeah, Eddie hot-wired it." Dustin took this opportunity to brag about Eddie, as though Eddie doing something cool somehow made Dustin better.
"Did you guys not hear about that? What other stuff hasn't been brought up?" Eddie used the front mirror to look behind him at the kids, Steve had no doubt Eddie could, and probably has, driven blindfolded, but he still didn't feel great about how little Eddies eyes stayed on the road.
"Theres probably a ton of stuff you don't know, concerning the little details, so don't start that conversation." Steve attempted to bring a stop to the conversation, but Dustin butted in.
"Yeah, like how Steve got the shit beat out of him by Russians last year."
The entire car was quickly filled by yells of confusion and surprise, it seemed many people were not told this fact. Steve would have liked it to stayed that way, but of course Dustin had to say something. Fricking Dustin.
"You got beat up by
Russians
?!?"
"Keep your eyes on the road dude."
"Yeah, and drugged. He was so weird."
"Oh I
HAVE
to hear about this!"
The next while of the car ride was filled with tales of Steves stupidity, but after Dustin had told every embarrassing thing he could remember it eventually switched to tales of Steves heroics. He had saved almost everyone in that cars lives at least once, so they at least owed it to him to make him sound cool. Eventually other people were brought up, like a recap of every cool thing the people they knew had done. Both Nancy and Mrs. Byers were brought up quite a few times.
Dustin continued to bring up points, even though he had talked the most already "Oh you guys totally should have been there when Eddie played his guitar to distract those bats in the upside down, it was so cool!"
"I was kinda busy trying to not die, sorry." Max chimed in only every once in a while to say something sarcastic or embarrass someone, one of the reasons Steve thought she was the most tolerable.
"Why do you have to bring that up so much? It's depressing." Max glared at Mike in the seat behind her. Mike always seemed to not want to talk about the past too much, unless it was about El or Will. Even then he only brought up the moments he found cool.
"Well maybe it's better to think of sad or scary moments in a funny way." Everything Will seemed to say sounded a little too serious, but it often made Mike shut up, which was a plus.
Steve sighed and turned away to let the kids continue their odd, philosophical conversation. They had been driving for a few hours by now, he'd probably ask to stop at the next gas station. He could barely feel his legs at this point and needed to get out of the van.
Eddie took the distraction in the back seats as an opportunity to talk to Steve. "So... what's your plan when we get to Utah?"
"
Sleep
." Steve laughed as he said this, and Eddie also gave out a sort of half chuckle.
"Well I plan to find the run down fast food joint and see if it compares to Hawkins."
"Is that what you do at every new town? Find out which place has the best 'worst fast food'?"
"It's very important information, you never know when I'm somehow out in Utah and need to find the worst food for the best price." Steve laughed, and for the first time the whole drive Eddie barely managed to keep his eyes on the road more than ten seconds. Barely.
The drive went by faster than Steve expected and before long he was the one behind the wheel and the entire van was silent. He wasn't sure if everyone was actually sleeping or if a few of them were, and the rest just didn't want to wake them up. Steve could feel his eyelids growing heavy, but they'd be there soon enough and he could stay awake that long.
He did his best to keep his focus on the road, unlike Eddie. It was obviously harder to drive at night, and the further west they got the worse other drivers became. The first hour of his portion of driving was filled with anger and road rage, the whole car was silent during that time, scared of what might happen if they made him more angry.
Steve looked behind him in the mirror to see the kids sleeping in the back rows of the van. Then he looked to his right to see Eddie sleeping. The position must have been undeniably uncomfortable, the seatbelt was digging into his neck and his knees were attempting to balance on the chair sideways, as his feet hung over the edge. Eddies back was leaned up against the door, and his head hung in front of him. He slept with his mouth open.
And
he snored. Not loud, but still. It was probably from sleeping in a position that would not only make anyone sore the moment they woke up, but could not have provided any productive sleep.
Steve had woken everyone up once they were close to the hotel they were supposed to stay at. He needed someone to tell him where the hell he was going. Eddie delt with getting rooms, which probably wasn't the best idea, leaving the punk looking one to deal with a social situation, but it worked out. It was decided without much thought that Lucas and Max would share the first room, Will, Mike, and Dustin would share the next, and Steve and Eddie would share the third room. And as promised, the second Steve got into the room he flopped down on the closer of the two beds and fell asleep immediately.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Steve Harrington had never really liked Christmas. Sure the gifts were nice, and the time off from school was better, but for as long as he could remember it was never that appealing. That was until recently. The Christmas he had spent with Nancy was the only one he could say he particularly enjoyed, and he expected to not be able to say that again, but Christmas of 1985 exceeded expectations.
For the first time, he had actual
friends
to spend the holidays with. Ones that cared a little more about Steve being there than just finding the biggest house to have a party at. This year, though, he not only had friends to spend the season with, he had someone else. He had a boyfriend. Eddie Munson.
"Robinnnnn..." Steve groaned as he flopped over onto Robins bed, the two had gotten their Christmas break off work two days early, and decidedly used the time attached at the hip.
"What." Robin was fully ignoring Steve, her attention held by a couple of cassette tapes she flipped through, probably trying to find Christmasy music.
"I don't know what to get him for Christmas."
"Eddie?"
"Yeah." Steve sighed into his hands, how could he be a good boyfriend if he can't even think of a gift for Eddie?
"I dunno, get him like, music or something. Something other than the metallic screeching he likes to play." Robin seemingly found a album she was content with and shoved it into her stereo.
"Some of his music isn't that bad."
"Gay."
"
Robin.
"
"I'm just telling the truth!"
Steve rolled onto his back and threw his arms into the air angrily, "I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THE TRUTH I NEED TO GET HIM A GOOD GIFT IN THREE DAYS!"
"
Fine,
we'll go to the store, I wanted to get something for Nance anyway." Robin shut off the music, obviously annoyed that they had only listened to the first seconds.
"...Okay but that still doesn't solve my problem of not knowing what to get him."
"STEVE."
There was already a laid out plan for the week. Everyone collectively decided a party at Steves house on the 24th was the best idea, without even asking Steve first, but he didn't mind. His parents weren't supposed to be home again this year, so he wouldn't have to deal with ugly side eyes and rude remarks on his choice of company. Mrs. Henderson refused to allow Steve to spend the 25th alone and practically threatened Steve into spending Christmas as the Hendersons. Robin obviously wanted to spend a planed day with Steve before they had to go back to work. And the rest of the week would be specifically reserved for spending well deserved time with Eddie.
He just hoped his gift wouldn't be a massive fail. Robin had consistently tried to convince him it was fine, but Steve wasn't so sure. The party was in two days and his nerves were horrible. He almost wanted to just cancel and hide in his room all day Christmas Eve. But obviously, that was not an option.
Steve was pacing around his house, desperately trying to convince himself that everything was okay and in place when the doorbell rung the first time. He opened the door to see Robin wrapped up in winter clothes holding a stack of wrapped presents.
"Who are you supposed to be? Santa?"
"Very funny, Harrington, let me inside I wanna put these under the tree." Robin stepped into Steves house without waiting for his response, something she did quite often.
"Pick out a movie to put in or something, I need to distract myself." Steve fell on the couch, without much consideration to if the shift due to his weight would scratch the wood floors. His father wouldn't be home to notice anyway.
"You good?" Robin looked over at Steve with the slightest bit of concern as she took off her coat. Ever since she found out about Steves panic attacks she made it her personal mission to prevent them before they even happened. He hadn't even had one in months but it was nice to know she cared.
"Yeah, but the more I think the more I want to grab that bag from under the tree and toss it."
"Don't, it's perfect. Eddie will love it, just like I am going to love whatever cookies you made this year." Robin started trying to go toward the kitchen, but Steve grabbed her by the arm before she could.
"Wait until other people are here first-" Just as Steve said that, the doorbell rung again.
"Other people are here, you answer, I eat." Steve sighed as he pulled himself off the couch, at the door was the familiar faces of Mike, Will, Dustin, and Lucas, also accompanied by their apparent designated driver Nancy. The kids barely said a 'hello' to Steve before making their way into the house, probably to join Robin in eating everything before anyone else could.
"Hey Nance." Steve closed the door behind her as Nancy stepped into the house.
"Hi Steve, thanks for letting us have the party at your place. I don't know what I'd do if I had to have another party for ten at our house." Nancy gave Steve a warm smile as the two of them chatted. Steve had expected things to be awkward between them for at least a while, but both had seemed to let the past go and were extremely content in their friendship.
"No problem, not much of a point in having a huge house if it's being lived in by only one person." Steve had ment it as a joke, but he could see the sadness behind Nancys eyes once he said that.
It wasn't very much longer until the doorbell rung for the third time and Steve opened it to see the last of his guests for the evening. Max and Eleven had been spending a lot of time together, and Eddie living so close to Max made the carpool situation obvious. Max and El both said quick hellos to him before rushing inside to great the others. Eddie was left in the doorway grinning at Steve. He had a hat pulled over his head that made his hair stick out wildly underneath it, it was funny in a cute way.
"What's that look for." Eddie stepped into the house like he lived there, he kinda did.
"Merry Christmas Steve." Eddie glanced around quickly before giving Steve a quick kiss on the cheek. God Steve was never going to get used to that.
"Merry Christmas to you too, how's Wayne doing?"
"Oh he's good. I think he's happy that for once I have someone other than him to spend Christmas with, he's getting sick of me I tell you." Steve and Eddie laughed as the two of them made their way to the kitchen, as everyone else decided food was much more important than sitting down.
"Mike, stop eating everything."
"I had like, two cookies! Robins had ten!"
"Robin is an adult and if she experiences the consequences of her actions that's her fault."
"Wow, okay. Thanks Nance." Robin shoved another cookie in her mouth.
"Of course!" Nancy responded sarcastically before dragging everyone away from the kitchen into the living room. Always the party mom.
Steve sat down on the couch, and Robin and Eddie sat on either side of him. Nancy sat down on a chair as the kids dug through Steves movies to find an acceptable one to watch.
Dustin looked over at the couch to see Robin resting her head on Steves shoulder. "Are you kidding me?"
"What, dingus."
"You act like this but you guys refuse to date!" Steve and Robins faces both scrunched in disgust, but neither moved. Eddie laughed from beside Steve, and Nancy looked over almost in understanding. Steve would have to ask about that later.
For a while the group just sat there, watching movies, talking and joking. Eventually someone brought the plate of cookies into the living room, and in about ten minutes the entire plate was gone.
"Could we please open presents now?" Dustin groaned as the other kids nodded in agreement.
"Jesus, how impatient are you?" Steve lifted himself off the couch, much to Robin and Eddies disappointment, as he had become both of their pillows.
"Give Dustin his gifts first, I want him to have to just sit here while we enjoy ourselves." Robin had found herself a new pillow in Eddie, and the two were curled up closer than Robin and Steve had been.
"That's a great idea, Dustin, here you go."
"No, I don't want mine first."
It took a while for everyone to open their gifts. Robin had gotten Steve a yellow sweater, replacement for the one he lost at Lovers Lake during the spring. Steve had gotten her a few oversized sweatshirts so she would stop stealing from him.
Eventually Eddie handed Steve a small bag. "It's kinda small, but you'll like it." Eddie flopped down into the couch behind him, and Steve reached into the bag to see what it was.
He pulled out a small metal keychain. It wasn't just a regular keychain. It was a small metal version of his bat with the nails in it. Eddie had probably made it himself.
"Dude, did you make this?"
"Yup, took forever, but yeah." Eddie looked very proud of himself.
"That's so cool. Now my gift looks dumb."
"Steve, oh my god." Robin groaned at Steve, and Eddie began to laugh.
"Gimme it and I'll decide that for myself."
So Steve gave Eddie his gift. He had made him a mixtape, one with music other than the stuff Eddie listened to. He also gave him a small scrapbook with pictures Steve had taken on multiple occasions(and a few from Robin). The last thing he had gotten Eddie was a necklace he had found. It was a chain but on it was a bat. Once Robin saw that Steve had picked it out she went on for about an hour about how perfect it was. And it definitely was perfect. Eddie hadn't wasted a second before putting it on and showing off to everyone else there.
"We should probably get going, merry Christmas Steve." Nancy practically dragged the boys to her car, she probably wasn't to excited about driving home so late in the middle of winter.
Robin also decided she should get going, "I'm gonna bring Max and El, they wanted to go over to Els place." Steve was pretty sure Robin just wanted an excuse to drive more, she had gotten her license recently and she was always looking for an excuse to drive people places.
Which left just Steve and Eddie. No one asked questions, which was good, and as Steve closed the door after watching Robin drive off he felt two arms hug him from behind.
"Hi there."
Eddie said a muffled 'hi' back, his face shoved in Steves shoulder. Steve turned around to face Eddie and brushed the hair out of his face before kissing him on the forehead.
"Got you something." Eddie handed Steve another small bag, similar to the one the keychain was in. Steve reached in the bag and pulled out a piece of mistletoe before laughing.
"If you wanted to kiss me you could've just asked." Steve held the mistletoe above their heads teasingly before pulling Eddie in for a kiss. It was a bit awkward, considering he was holding things in both hands, but he loved kissing Eddie. He loved Eddie.
Eddie pulled back, much to Steves disappointment, before grinning at him. "There's something else in the bag."
Steve looked at Eddie confused, before reaching into the bag again. What he found in there was metal. He pulled it out of the bag to look at it. It was a key.
"Is this..."
"For the trailer. I figured it'd be easier if you don't have to knock every time." Steve just stared at Eddie, who looked back at him with the softest expression ever. He felt like he was about to cry.
Before Eddie got the chance to try and break the awkward silence with a 'do you like it?' Steve had pulled him into another kiss, practically throwing the two of them off balance.
"
Thank you.
"
It was the best gift Steve had ever gotten.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Steve woke up to the sound of annoyingly loud talking in the hall. He had slept in his clothes...
gross
. He sat up on the bed and looked around the room to notice a lack of a certain person. Steve was surprised Eddie could've gotten ready and left the room without waking him up, he always assumed Eddie would've been loud at any time of day.
He debated opening the door to his hotel room to see who was outside(it was probably Dustin), but the overwhelming feeling of filth caused him to go straight to the bathroom to take a shower. By the time he was done the chatter in the hall had stoped, so he stepped outside to try and find the others. At the same time the door next to his opened up and he heard the arguing of two familiar voices.
"It's been long enough, I don't care that we only got here four hours ago, it's already 1 and I want to go see the person I showed up here for!"
Jesus, four hours? It had not felt that short.
I suppose any sleep after an all nighter feels like a full night.
Lucas practically ran out of the room after Dustin, probably one of the only people here who was conscious of the existence of others.
"Dude, he just drove twelve hours straight in the middle of the night, let the man sleep!" At that same time Dustin saw Steve, who was now standing rather awkwardly in the middle of the hallway, and marched at him angrily.
"Okay, you're up, now let's
go.
"
"Go where?" Steve smirked at Dustin, it was hilarious to see him this angry over nothing.
"OH MY GOD!" Steve heard the snickers of others behind Dustin, and saw the heads of Eddie, Mike, and Max peak out into the hallway from the room. It seemed everyone had been gathered in one place and they were all waiting on Steve.
"Okay, okay, fine. But can I get something to eat before we get there?" It was less of a question and more of a statement, but Dustin grumbled an angry '
fine
', and started down the hallway. The other kids went to follow him, but Steve waited a moment to follow them.
"Took you quite a while Harrington, you typically a heavy sleeper?" Eddie grinned as he and Steve walked. The kids couldn't go anywhere without them, but at this rate Dustin would convince Max to get behind the wheel and drive off without them.
"No actually, the reason I actually woke up this morning is because those dipshits were being so loud in the hallway." Actually admitting the fact that it was the sound in the hall that woke him up, and not Eddie sorta confused Steve, considering he was in fact a light sleeper. It also seemed to confuse Eddie, judging by the look on his face. Steves better judgment tried to convince him he was wrong, but some part of him thought... maybe Eddie had tried to be quiet on purpose while getting ready this morning. Maybe he wanted to make sure he didn't wake Steve up.
Even if that was the case, thats just being a halfway decent person. That doesn't mean anything.
"Huh, that's weird because I actually tried to wake you up this morning and you chucked a pillow at me all while somehow staying asleep." Eddie snickered at Steve while Dustin yelled at them to hurry up.
Oh.
"Oh." Steve wasn't sure, but he thought Eddie was joking.
"What, no sorry?" Yeah, no Eddie was definitely joking.
"I've done some ridiculous shit that I don't remember, but I'm pretty sure I didn't throw a pillow at you in my sleep."
"Oh no you definitely did," Eddie leaned in towards Steve as they walked, as he did a lot.
Jeez, no regard for personal space.
"But I
definitely
need to hear some of this 'crazy shit'."
"Ask Robin, she's probably heard all of it by now. I'd bet she has every crazy story about me written down somewhere." Steve laughed, he kinda wished Robin was here, but if she was she'd be bugging him about Eddie.
"Oh, well-"
"HURRY UP! What could you two be talking about that's holding you up anyway?" Dustin pushed them out the door toward the van. That kid could not sit still for a second.
"Robin."
"Ugh, Steve you talk about her yet you refuse to date her. What is wrong with you."
"Dustin, I've told you a million times me and Robin are just friends. Platonic with a capital P."
"Yeah, yeah, and I've told
you
a million times LET'S GET GOING."
"
Christ
, okay okay."
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
By the time Steve actually found his way to the house, with help from Mike and Will because apparently they'd been there before, Dustin looked like his head was about to blow. Eddie insisted he jumped out of the van before it even stopped moving.
The kids were all...somewhere. Probably trying to learn why exactly this girl from Utah decided to date Dustin in the first place. Steve and Eddie were talking with Suzies sister, Eden. She was pretty nice, she and Eddie seemed to really hit it off, which might have bothered Steve if not for the fact that one of the first things Eden asked about was Argyle of all people.
"How do you even know him in the first place?"
"He showed up with two of those kids and some other guy one time, can't remember what for. He was cool though."
"I don't remember anyone mentioning this, did Jonathan mention this?" Steve turned to Eddie. God there was a lot that not everyone was caught up on. He felt like at some point they might just need to get everyone who knew together to go over everything from the beginning.
"Don't remember Jonathan saying anything, but I think Argyle mighta told me once. Or I could be making shit up, most of the time when I talk to that guy one of us is high."
"That dude's always high."
"That's why he's so fun to hang around." Eddie grinned at Steve, as though he had just won the argument of the century. It was funny.
"So... why exactly is it you two are the taxi service for five kids."
"Uh..."
"Well..."
This was problematic. How do you come up with an excuse as to why you are co-parenting a small legion of teenagers with someone you've been through
literal hell
with?
"Steve's pretty much
the
Hawkins babysitter at this point. Shit happened few months back and we were friends with the same people and pretty much like, saved the world together." Eddie looked very confident in his cover up story. Steve was ready to smack the shit out of him.
"Right... anyways, do you guys drink?"
So that was pretty much how Steve ended up shoved in the back of Eddies van with Eddie and Eden. All three of them varying levels of high and drunk. Beer led to smoking which led to weed which led to Steve being eternally grateful Dustin would not be asking to go back to the hotel any time soon.
"Dude... the kids are gonna kill us."
Eddie snickered and slowly pulled himself up from the floor of the van, "Yeah, yo Eden, where's your bathroom. I gotta take a piss."
"Uhh... next to the kitchen, you can find it yourself."
"...thanks, so helpful." Eddie hopped out of the van and walked to the house. Or he could have walked elsewhere, Steve wasn't paying enough attention.
"So...
Steve.
"
"Yeah?"
"What's goin on with you and Eddie?"
Steve almost choked on his own spit. Was he being that obvious? Crap.
"Heh, you like him."
"I don't even know you and I already have to deal with a girl bugging me about it, you have no right to say anything." He figured Eden was like him and Robin. Or at least she would be cool about it. She seemed cool.
"You're not denying."
"...No."
"You two really are those kids parents."
"Heh."
The loud sound of the van door caused Steve to sit up. The back door had been opened and Steve was facing the front so he had to turn around too. There was Dustin, along with the other kids, followed by a grinning yet guilty Eddie.
The first to speak was the one Steve assumed was Suzie, "Again, Eden! What is this?"
"You have fun with all your nerd shit, I have fun like this."
"Steve, what the hell man." Mike was the one to get mad at Steve.
"Her- her idea." Steve pointed at Eden as he stood up.
"Snitch."
Max grabbed Steve and pulled him out of the van, practically causing him to fall over.
"One of you better be sober within two hours or I'm driving us back."
"NO-"
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Sure enough, in two hours Eddie was able to drive everyone back to the hotel. After they had gotten food and all the little shits finnaly shut up and went to their rooms for the night, Steve threw himself onto his bed, face first.
"Uggghhh..."
Eddie laughed at his misery.
"That from dealing with the kids, or the weed?"
"Both. I swear to god everything I encounter on this god damn trip is going to give me a headache."
"Does that include me?"
Steve turned his face to look at Eddie, pausing before he answered. "Oh most definitely."
Steve figured that after a day like that he'd be able to sleep easy. He wasn't. Steve woke up to the sound of frantic breathing and restlessness.
"Eddie?" It was barely a whisper, Steve didn't want to make him panic any more than he was.
"Uh...um, yeah?"
"...Are you alright?"
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." Steve continued to stare at Eddie. He wouldn't look at him, he was definitely
not alright
.
"You wanna talk about it?" Eddie glanced at him. Progress.
"...Nightmare."
"The upside down?"
"Yeah." Steve stood up, and walked around the room, looking for something. When he sat back down it was next to Eddie rather than on his own bed. He handed Eddie a bottle of water.
Eddie chugged the whole thing, and normally it would have made Steve laugh, but now was not the time.
"How do you...just go back to normal. After it all?" Eddies hands gripped the empty plastic bottle, deforming it with an ugly sound.
"...I don't now." It was true, no matter how surprising to others who heard. Most would think since the King Steve persona held up after '83 that everything was fine, that none of it got to him. All of it got to him.
"She was
right there
," right, Chrissy.
"She was right there and I couldn't do
anything
, Steve. Steve, I- I just
ran.
" Steve could see the tears forming in Eddies eyes, and it made something in Steves chest sting.
"Anyone would have."
"You didn't."
"I did at first." Steve thought back to the house, to the demogorgon. As much as he hated to admit it there was a solid second where he would have been fully willing to just leave them there. Jonathan and Nancy. He wasn't going to do that ever again.
"But you came back."
"So did you." Eddie was able to actually look at Steve now, he hoped that ment something good.
Eddie sighed and his head fell onto Steves shoulder. Steve tried not to have an internal freakout.
"I'm just glad it's all over," Eddies voice dropped to a whisper, "
god I hope it's all over.
"
"It is. It's over." Some part of Steve felt like he was lying. Maybe to himself, maybe to Eddie, but the soft sleepy breathing that followed after Steves reassurance made it worth it. Steve didn't dare to move, and soon enough he felt he eyelids grow heavy