Chapter Text
There was a static sound, then a ringing in his ears, then he coughed.
Eddie could breathe again.
—I’m sorry Dust- i couldn’t keep my promise
—shh, just hang in there i hear them coming, we’ll help you
The younger boy was crying, even after the horrors he had experienced in all those years before he had never seen someone so close to him die.
The pain on his hip and tiredness on his arms did not compare to see the life slowly abandon one of his best friend’s body.
Eddie smiled.
—tell him i’m sorry
—stop talking, keep your strength
Dustin knew it didn’t matter, he didn’t know what promise he talked about.
He was confused, crying and screaming for his older friends, incapable of doing anything that could actually be helpful, it was a nightmare in real life.
Just seconds after he heard voices next to him and someone took Eddie’s body from him.
—This wasn’t supposed to happen. Eddie, baby please hang on we can- you’ll be okay
It was Steve. Eddie’s Steve.
Now he was crying but Eddie had a smile on his face
—Don’t cry pretty boy, we kept our promise
Steve was shaking his head and holding him close.
—Please stay with me, I'm scared to go alone.
—Eddie, please don’t go i- i will do anything, just please don’t leave me.
The curly haired man lifted his hand to touch the other’s cheek with a sad half smile.
He didn’t want to leave, but he didn’t have a choice.
—Can you do me a favor?
Steve looked at him with tears in his eyes and nodded as he saw the older man take off his necklace as carefully as possible.
—Steve, I need you to keep this safe, it’s uncomfortable to wear if I fall asleep.
Steve’s brain was working full speed, how long would it take for someone to treat him and save his life, how to move him from the upside down to the real world, anything to help eddie would fail and he knew it because his breathing was slowing down and the neck of his shirt was covered in blood he must’ve coughed.
—Please don’t die on me Eddie, i swear i will never forgive you.
Eddie shook his head no, slowly and wearing a sad smile he held the peak necklace in between Steve’s and his hand intertwining their fingers together.
—I’ll take a nap, okay? — His voice was breaking. —can you hold me until I fall asleep? I’m very tired, please sweetheart.
The younger boy nodded yes and leaned down a little to kiss his forehead.
He knew there was nothing they could do but be with him one last time.
—i’m sorry I couldn’t help you, I should’ve stayed with you.
But both of them knew it wasn’t time for regrets and the girls needed the help too, Eddie didn’t resent him but Steve wasn’t sure if he would ever be able to forgive himself.
—just..can i have a goodbye- uhm goodnight kiss?
Steve leaned in to join his lips with the other man.
It was slow, careful, soft, intense, deep, bittersweet and totally crushing for both men. It should've been different.
It was supposed to happen when the battle was won, once they were back home in that stained couch Eddie slept in once they fell from down there but instead they lost the battle, they were still in the upside down and one of them was dying.
It was not fair and it was not pretty and it was not what they deserved.
—Anything for my hero.
They were both crying during the kiss, blood, sweat and tears made it wet and messy but the boys made it sweet, loving, slow and it burned.
They felt the flames surrounding them and only one of them came out alive.
Eddie’s hand fell from Steve’s and his body became heavier.
Dustin cried and screamed when Eddie’s hand hit the ground, Robin and Nancy were hugging him carefully and trying to calm him down.
Steve wasn’t handling himself any better.
He was sobbing over Eddie’s chest holding him tight against his body and almost cutting his palm with the peak by holding the necklace too tight in a fist.
His lover was gone.
After almost an hour they were able to take steve away from the body so they could go back home after burying their friend as best they could in the alien place.
Steve put the necklace on and kept it as a reminder.
To him, Eddie was the realest love he ever felt, nancy was a supposed to happen relationship but his love for her was not romantic, it never was. Eddie gave him more in two weeks and a couple of hours the best romantic experience ever and he would never forgive himself for not being able to keep him alive.
It was his fault, he could’ve done so many things to keep him alive but he wasn’t smart enough to think about then on the spot and now he deserved the guilt, the suffering and the pain.
He should’ve just given him the letter.
He wrote it the moment he realized he was falling for the older man.
Eddie, i love you.
I’m sorry if i read anything wrong but i think you like me, i’m not good with words but i like you too.
Will you go out with me after everything ends?
Steve.
It was more of a note than a letter and it was in his car, he backed off scared before making a fool out of himself.
He deserves feeling like shit.
He’s burning out like everyone, he’s done but he was gonna still jump into the fire and fight because that’s the least Eddie deserves.
Eddie won’t come to his arms ever again but Steve would carry him next to his heart all the time.