Chapter Text
“How is he?”
Wayne had barely opened the door when the kid on the step began to speak, he blinked blearily at the mass of curls - Dustin, his mind supplied - and wondered what was wrong with the kids in Eddie’s nerd group. It was eight o’clock in the damn morning and they’d had a late night, why the hell was he standing there as though it was an appropriate hour?
“Look, Kid-”
“I know, I know,” Dustin said quickly, cutting him off, “I was an ass, I shouldn't have gone along with what Mike was saying or tried to play it off like a joke. It was an asshole move, I just want to apologise.”
“It’s eight o’clock,” Wayne informed him, revelling slightly in the look of shock that appeared on the kid’s face as he quickly pulled up his sleeve and stared at his watch.
“Huh, I thought my Mom was just a bit late doing her hair this morning,” Dustin said, still not quite registering that his knock had dragged Wayne out of his warm bed.
“Yeah, well, Steve and Eddie are still asleep so…” Wayne trailed off, letting the obvious dismissal hang in the air.
“Right of course,” Dustin said, “I don't mind waiting.”
Just like that, Dustin let himself in without a second thought, making his way through to the living room as though he lived there. He looked far too comfortable as he plonked himself down in Eddie’s spot and took a sip out of the glass of water that Steve had abandoned on the small side table the previous night.
“They might be asleep for a while, it was a late night,” Wayne said, hoping the boy would take the damn hint.
“That’s alright, I’m used to waiting,” Dustin said, “Lucas is terrible for sleeping in, y’know? There are only so many times you can stand twiddling your thumbs before you learn to keep yourself entertained. So, really, is Steve ok?”
“I don't think he would want me to be discussing him with you while he’s not here,” Wayne said.
“He wouldn't mind,” Dustin protested, “it’s Steve .”
“What’s that meant to mean, Henderson?” Eddie’s sleep-filled voice asked from the doorway, “what exactly does him being Steve have to do with his personal business being kept personal.”
“N-nothing, I didn't mean anything by it,” Dustin stammered.
“Listen, Steve is currently in the shower, he hasn’t realised you’re here yet and I’m going to keep it that way,” Eddie said.
“What does that mean?”
“It means that I want you to go away and gather your friends and have a chat with them,” Eddie said, “it means I want you all to form a proper, genuine apology, it means that if I ever hear any of you talk to - or about - Steve as though he’s any less than amazing, you’ll all be out of Hellfire for good.”
“You can't do that!” Dustin argued.
“I can and I will,” Eddie promised, “I’ve had enough of you guys making fun of Steve for losing fights that he only ever gets into to protect you guys, I’m fed up of watching him love and support you guys only for you to turn around and call him stupid or crack jokes about him working at the Video Store rather than going to college.”
Dustin’s shoulders drooped as Eddie’s words hit home, “we messed up,” he admitted.
“Yeah, you did and you guys were so ignorant to the pain you were causing him as you all spoke to him like he was nothing more than the butt of the joke,” Eddie said, “so go, and come back when you're all ready to apologise properly.”
The boy left after that, looking every bit like a kicked puppy, if it hadn't been for the fact that Wayne had been there when they’d found Steve - how he had seen the broken look on his face and heard the thick silence as he couldn't quite from words - he may have felt bad for the young lad who didn't seem like a bad kid.
“Was that too harsh?” Eddie asked his Uncle after a few moments of silence, the soft pitter-patter of water bouncing off the tiled walls filtered through the thin walls.
Wayne considered the question for a moment, his mind filling with the image of Steve sitting on the edge of such a steep drop while being so out of it, “no, I think that was wholly appropriate.”
“I just want them to apologise properly, ” Eddie admitted, “Steve is too good, he would forgive them instantly even if they didn't say anything. Mike could walk in here right now and ask for a lift to the arcade and Steve wouldn't even stop for breakfast, he’d just grab his car keys and say ‘let’s go’ and I know it’s because he’s such a genuine guy but…”
Wayne watched his nephew trail off, one of his hands nervously twisting his hair into his mouth - a gross habit that he’d never been able to get rid of.
“It makes it easy for people to take advantage of him,” Wayne finished.
“Exactly,” Eddie murmured, “part of me thinks he’s trying to repent for something, but he’ll never admit it. This town isn't good enough for him, it’s just using him and making him think he deserves less. It’s not like his parents ever made him think he was worth anything, fuck, they barely even stuck around while he was growing up.”
Wayne sighed, his boy had a point, “right, here’s the plan,” he said, “we’re going to make sure that he realises that everything his parents have said to him wasn't true. It’s going to take time and patience but he needs to believe that he’s worth loving because I don't ever want to see him sitting on a ledge ever again.”
“You’re telling me,” Eddie muttered, his eyes seemed haunted as he remembered how they’d found his boyfriend the night before, “do you- hm, do you think he would’ve jumped?”
Wayne wanted to immediately deny it, he wanted to reassure his boy that Steve would never do anything like that, but the truth was… the same question had been flitting through his mind all night, keeping him awake. Would Steve have eventually jumped? How much time had they truly had to spare in finding him? Would he have still been sitting there if they had been an hour later?
“I don't know, Son,” Wayne said truthfully.
Eddie’s eyes closed and he let out a breath through his nose, “I was afraid that’s what you’d say,” he admitted.
“Look, whether he would have or not, he didn't,” Wayne said, “so now we have plenty of time to talk to him and figure out what’s going through his head.”
Eddie nodded, “I know he denies it all the time and tries not to show it, but whenever those kids make fun of him or call him stupid, it really hurts him.”
“It would anyone,” Wayne agreed, “now, go put some damn clothes on, alright? I don't hear the shower anymore and we both know you won’t ever live it down if he’s finished getting dressed before you.”
“Aint that the truth,” Eddie muttered.
---
Eddie returned with Steve in tow, the latter having towel-dried his hair leaving it in soft, messy curls around his face.
“It’s blasphemy,” Steve was muttering.
“What’s blasphemy?” Wayne asked.
“Oh, uh, nothing, Sir,” Steve said, automatically taking a step back as he realised Wayne was in the room. He knew it was instinctual behaviour and that the fear of being found at the quarry the previous night was probably playing on Steve’s mind and making him feel as though he was going to get into trouble so he didn't take it personally.
“Steve here-” Eddie ruffled the still damp curls, “-thinks it’s bad that I don't blow dry my hair.”
“Or own a hairdryer,” Steve muttered.
“Well, shit, if that worries him, don't tell him about when you were twelve,” Wayne said, knowing that it would mean Eddie would have to tell Steve all about that clusterfuck.
“Wayne, why?” Eddie pleaded.
At the same time, Steve seemed to perk up curiously, “what did you do?”
“Why do you think I did something?” Eddie asked with mock offence, Steve merely raised a single brow at him, “alright, fine, I used to wash my hair with a bar of soap.”
“A… a bar of soap?” Steve repeated.
“He liked the way it felt,” Wayne said with a shrug.
“That’s so bad for your hair, Eddie, Christ, how do you even have decent hair?” Steve asked, “you either have the best luck or the most resilient freaking hair in the world.”
“He gets it from me,” Wayne said, running a hand through his balding hair, pleased with himself when Eddie looked at him in sheer horror before grabbing the ends of his long curls as though that would stop him from ever going bald.
“Will you still love me when I’m bald, Stevie?” Eddie wailed dramatically, throwing himself at his boyfriend.
Steve glanced over at Wayne with a panicked look, as though he was expecting some slurs to be thrown their way for their outward display of affection towards one another - when Wayne considered the Harrington parents, he realised that was probably exactly what Steve was expecting. So, he merely shook his head fondly at his nephew and rolled his eyes, pleased when he saw Steve’s shoulders relax slightly.
“Hm,” Steve said, turning his gaze away from Wayne, eyes softening as they met Eddie’s, “I suppose so, by that point I’ll probably be balding too.”
“Blasphemy,” Eddie hissed, “the gracious, golden locks of Steve Harrington can never fade.”
“I’m not a blond,” Steve said with a frown, “do we need to book an eye test?”
“Golden because of their worth, Pretty Boy, not their colour,” Eddie said, ruffling Steve’s hair.
“Can’t say I blame him for being confused there, Eds, that was definitely not clear,” Wayne said, sticking up for the younger boy who positively glowed with the backing.
It was probably the first time a parental figure had actually had his back, even if it was merely over a joke such as this. With that sobering thought, he knew it was time to talk.
“Right, who wants a coffee?” he asked, both boys nodded as he had expected they would.
---
Wayne was sitting opposite Steve and Eddie as though he were being interviewed by them. Steve knew something was up, that much was obvious by the way he had nervously tidied the clutter on the kitchen table and the way the coffee in all of their cups had small ripples from the movement of him continuously bouncing his leg. He was anxious and probably a little afraid.
“We love you, Stevie,” Eddie said gently, “stop getting yourself lost in that noggin’ of yours, we just want to help.”
Steve smiled, it was a tight one that didn't reach his eyes but that didn't make Eddie or Wayne’s returning ones any the less genuine.
“Look, I didn't mean to worry anyone,” Steve said, “I’m sorry.”
“Darling, I want to worry about you,” Eddie said, before screwing up his nose, “wait, shit, that came out wrong. I don't want you to be in any situation where someone should be worried about you but if you ever are I want to be there for you, alright?”
Steve blinked blankly at him, “uh… alright?” he agreed.
“Son, that made no sense,” Wayne said bluntly, Eddie merely nodded, likely already having suspected as much.
“I don't really know what you were trying to say there, Eds, but I do know that I won’t put you in a situation like last night again, I promise,” Steve said.
“Why were you up at the quarry?” Wayne asked, bringing up the question that had been going through his mind all night.
“It wasn't intentional,” Steve admitted, “I went home first but then I couldn't stop thinking and the house was too big and cold so I went for a walk and just… ended up there. It wasn't a conscious thought or anything, I mean if I’d been focusing on where I was headed I would have changed course because I hate that place. I was just walking and thinking.”
“Were you planning to jump?” Wayne asked.
He hated to have to ask, but the truth was he just wasn't sure. He couldn't confidently say that Steve hadn't been planning to swan dive off that ledge. The thought was enough to make his stomach flip and nausea roll through him, he didn't want to hear the answer but he had to know. He had to.
“What?” Steve asked, seemingly genuinely shocked, “jump? Where?”
“Off the ledge we found you sitting on,” Wayne said, “did you have any plans to jump off it?”
“No! No way,” Steve said adamantly, “I couldn't do that, I have to look out for the kids and I have Eds and Robin.”
It didn't escape Wayne that all of Steve’s reasons were other people, when would he consider himself to be worth staying alive for?
“Why didn't you come to me?” Eddie asked.
Steve swallowed, looking as though he was holding back tears as he avoided both Munsons’ gazes and stared into his black coffee, he mumbled something, his words lost to Wayne but apparently decipherable to Eddie whose face hardened.
“Why would you say that?” Eddie asked.
“Wait, I missed that,” Wayne said.
“He said ‘because Mike was right’,” Eddie repeated as Steve continued to stare into his mug, “which is complete and utter horse shit, there is no way that I would ever agree with anything Wheeler said, never mind his bullcrap opinions like this. He needs to grow the fuck up and realise that the world doesn't revolve around him”
“He’s a kid, Eds,” Steve said.
“No, he’s a teenager and he’s old enough to know right from wrong,” Wayne said, “being young doesn't give him a free pass to hurt anyone he wants and ignore the repercussions.”
“No, I know, but-”
“Steve,” Wayne said sternly, cutting him off, “you’re allowed to be hurt, and yeah, you’re also allowed to defend your friends, but I won't allow you to put yourself down like this, you don't deserve what he said to you.”
“How do you know what he said?” Steve asked.
“Dustin,” Eddie explained, “he wanted to see you, he told us what had happened and the shit Mike had spouted to you.”
“I just… I didn't expect it, that’s all,” Steve said, “I know it’s true, but I didn't think he would just say it like that, not in front of everyone else.”
“Why do you believe him so easily, but not me?” Eddie asked.
“Because what Mike said made sense,” Steve admitted, “I wasn't a good person in high school, Eds, I was a dick to everyone. I only cared about my reputation and trying to make sure that it was good enough to please my mother and father, I don't even know if I was cruel to you and I keep wanting to ask but I don't know if I could bear the answer if it’s yes.
“I know I’m not good enough for you, I never seem to be good enough for anyone, no matter how much I try I just end up hurting people or making them cry. I was a shit boyfriend to Nance and I’m heading that way with you. You deserve someone who makes you smile and laugh, not someone who has you driving all over town for hours on end because he went missing without leaving a note or calling first. It’s no wonder Nancy and Jonathan got together before we even broke up, she deserved better than me. You deserve better than me.
“You deserve someone that isn't scared of his mother and father and can be with you out in open without worrying about whether someone will tell his parents and sign him up for a thrashing. You deserve someone who isn't an embarrassment, someone who the kids actually think you belong with, because it’s obvious that I’m not good .”
“Shut up, Steve,” Eddie hissed, “you stop talking about my boyfriend like that.”
“Or what, Eddie?” Steve asked and Wayne could see how he was masquerading as angry in an effort to hold back the tears and trembles, “will you dump me? Maybe that’s for the best.”
“I’m not gonna dump you, Darling,” Eddie said, obviously spotting what Wayne had, “I’d be insane not to realise what a catch you are.”
“You need to get out of that house, Steve,” Wayne said finally.
“Huh? Out of here?” Steve asked.
“No, Son, out of your parent's house, it’s obvious that their beliefs and abuse are killing you,” Wayne said, “I don't want to watch you become a shell of yourself as they rip you to pieces and make you feel like you deserve the cruel comments and constant beatdowns. I… I don't want to find you on a ledge that you’re actually planning to jump off.”
“I appreciate the sentiment,” Steve said, “but I really don't have any other options; I work a dead-end retail job, I’m on minimum wage and there’s no way I’d manage to afford anywhere in Hawkins and I’m not ready to go further away yet.”
Wayne didn't miss how Steve looked at Eddie as he mentioned not wanting to leave Hawkins, it was obvious who was keeping him in the town.
“I’m not saying find your own place,” Wayne said, “I’m saying move in here.”
“Here?” Steve asked, his face so genuinely confused that it was heartbreaking. Did he really think he was so worthless that no one wanted him around? Stupid question, the answer was so painfully obvious.
“I get to wake up to my pretty boyfriend every morning?” Eddie asked with a grin, “I’m definitely in, come on Stevie, say yes, please.”
“I…” Steve hesitated, “but… why do you want me?”
“Because we love you and you're family,” Wayne said, “I’m not letting my family go back to a place that’s destroying them.”
“Oh,” Steve said softly, tears glistening in his eyes.
“Ok?” Eddie checked.
“Yeah, I’ll do it,” Steve said, “but I’m going to have to tell my parents.”
“I’ll be with you every step of the way,” Eddie promised.
Steve let out a bitter laugh, “at least this should be the last time I have to deal with them, as soon as they find out I have a boyfriend and I’m planning to live with him, I’ll be disowned for sure.”
“Their loss is our gain,” Wayne said, standing up and dumping his now empty mug in the sink, “and for what it’s worth, Son, they never deserved you in the first place.”
---
Wayne registered the voices and rings of the bicycle bells before the THUD THUD THUD sounded on the trailer’s front door.
“Eddie, wake up,” Wayne said gently, reaching out to shake Eddie’s shoulder, his nephew grumbled slightly, tightening his grip on Steve before blinking blearily, “I think that might be the kids. Wake Steve up, I’ll get the door.”
The sleepy haze in Eddie’s eyes instantly vanished as his Uncle’s words registered.
“Steve, Darling, wake up,” he said gently.
Wayne took his time going to the door and then once he got there he stood jangling the keys for a few moments so the kids would think he was searching for the right one and stop their inane chattering and constant knocking. He kept the lie going until he heard the voices of Steve and Eddie conversing clearly, no longer muddled by sleep.
“Fuck,” Wayne muttered as he opened the door. He was going to need a bigger living room.
“The twerps told me what happened,” Steve’s chatty friend - Robin? - said immediately letting herself in, “so I’m here to make sure their apology is good enough.”
She flounced past him towards the living room where he heard a “Robs, no! Oof!” come from Steve.
“We’re also here to make sure their apologies are good,” Max said, her arm linked with a willowy girl with short hair’s arm.
The girl nodded before indicating to the horde of disgraced teens with her chin, “mouthbreathers,” she muttered in disgust.
Wayne liked her.
“Alright, you two can head on in,” Wayne said to the girls who eased past him and raced off to find their friends, before he turned to the others, “ you lot are getting one chance to head in there and make things right, if any of you say anything to hurt him or make him feel as though this was his fault, you’ll be out of my home faster than you can say ‘my bad’, got it?”
He was met by several nods and murmured agreements before he led the boys through the trailer. They weren't getting the freedom to walk through on their own. They’d hurt Steve, he wasn't going to let them barge into the place that was supposed to be a safe space for Steve and Eddie.
It seemed as though Eddie had filled Steve in on what was happening if the wary expression on his face was anything to go by as he stared over Robin’s head at the group of boys shadowing Wayne.
“Hey, Guys,” Steve said softly, breaking the silence that had been slowly thickening under Max’s furious glower.
“Hey, Steve,” one of the kids said, stepping forward, “are you alright?”
“Yeah, Will, I’m all good, I promise,” Steve said, smiling down at Robin and Eddie who were lounging together in a mess of tangled limbs. It didn't look comfortable, but Steve looked more relaxed than Wayne had ever seen him.
“That’s good,” Will said with a smile, “I’m sorry for not speaking up in your defence, that was really shitty of me. I know how it feels to be called names, I remember how much I hated being called ‘Zombie Boy’ and how much I wished someone would’ve stepped in and defended me. No one did that for me until you and I let you down, I should have repaid the favour.”
“You know I can never stay mad at you, Baby Byers,” Steve said with a soft smile, “you always were my favourite, don't tell Dustin.”
Dustin spluttered at that but it was clear from the small grin on Steve’s face and the way Will rolled his eyes and snorted that this was a running joke amongst them.
The tall, dark-skinned boy stepped forward next, twisting his hands together in front of himself nervously.
“You were right,” he said, “when you started to help me with basketball, you warned me that there would be times when I’d be led into a group situation where the easy thing to do was to go along with it, but the right thing to do was to stand against the group, even if it meant standing alone.”
“Lucas…”
“I didn't even stop to consider that we -” he gestured to the small group in Wayne’s living room, “- would be the toxic ones, I should have done the right thing, Man, I’m sorry.”
“I forgive you,” Steve said.
“You're up,” El said, glaring at Mike.
Wayne could have sworn that this kid was somehow a threat, she exuded an air of danger that he didn't want to cross and he’d been in the army .
“I just… I guess I was so used to ribbing you while you were with Nancy because I felt like it was my job as her brother that I forgot to stop,” Mike said, “I don't know when I started to take it too far but at some point I did, maybe it was after you guys broke up and I thought you deserved to be punished for that? Or maybe it was when you and Eddie became friends and I didn't want you to steal the coolest person I knew, but still, it wasn't fair of me to put all of that on you and I’m sorry.”
“I can be friends with multiple people,” Eddie said, “in fact, I am friends with multiple people, but I’m not friends with bullies.”
“I’m not a-”
“Think carefully about that one, Wheeler,” Eddie said, “I know how much shit you’ve given Steve for who he was in high school but I would like to remind you that he acknowledged that and changed, are you going to change? Or are you going to let this become who you are?”
“I- yeah, I want to change,” Mike said, “I think I was jealous.”
“Jealous?” Steve sounded genuinely surprised.
“Well, yeah, everyone in the group adores you and thinks the sun shines out your ass-”
“Careful, Wheeler,” Eddie warned.
“Sorry, I was just trying to say that everyone adores you, you're everybody’s favourite person and Dustin is constantly trying to be your favourite, it just annoys me sometimes and makes me jealous,” Mike said, “this group would survive without me, but it wouldn't survive without you, so when I met Eddie and he seemed to genuinely think we were all important to Hellfire, I was upset that you were stealing him away.”
“I wasn't trying to come between anyone,” Steve said honestly, “if I knew that’s what I was doing, I would've backed off in a heartbeat.”
“No,” Eddie interrupted, “you weren't coming between anyone. What me and you have is special and it’s completely different to the relationship I have with the kids, therefore there’s no competition, no reason for anyone to back off.”
“But the kids-”
“The kids are your priority, I know that, but you’re mine,” Eddie said, “and I’m not letting you go because of some teenage jealousy. I’d shut down Hellfire completely before I gave you up.”
“You can't do that!” Mike argued.
“I can and I would, Wheeler, don't try me,” Eddie said.
Wayne knew he was speaking the truth, even though he had founded that little nerd club and brought all of these people together through it, he would rip it all to shreds just to make sure Steve was happy.
“Yeah, I know,” Mike said quietly, “I didn't mean to argue, of course, Steve comes before Hellfire.”
It was heartbreaking how much surprise was clear on Steve’s face after hearing that, did he really think the kids would choose their club over him? The answer was obvious on his face, of course he did.
“I really am sorry,” Mike said once more, no hint of a lie on his face as he looked at Steve.
“I know you are,” Steve said, “and I know it’s not all on you. We have been through a lot and I think we all forget that I was your older sister’s boyfriend before I became the group babysitter, that definitely shakes up our dynamic a bit.”
“Yeah,” Mike said softly, “not that I should use that as an excuse though, because I’m not, I really am sorry and I won’t treat you like that ever again.”
“I appreciate that, Mike,” Steve said.
And then there was one left and every eye in the room turned to look towards the curly-haired boy, who had always dubbed himself ‘Steve’s favourite’, expectantly.
“Steve, I’m so sorry,” Dustin said quickly, “I don't know why I went along with it, I should have spoken up and tried to defend you.”
Steve sighed, his hand seeking Eddie’s between them on the sofa for support, “look, Dust, I know you weren't trying to be cruel or anything, but you gotta realise man, that when everyone tells you that you’re stupid or useless or a burden, it kinda begins to fester and grow in your mind that maybe people are right, but I… I didn't want you guys to think of me like that.”
“I don't,” Dustin said quickly, “I would never.”
“But you did.”
And wasn't that the kicker, even if Dustin didn't truly believe what Mike had said, even if he thought the exact opposite, going along with the ‘joke’ had done just as much damage.
“I know,” Dustin said, hanging his head, “I’m so sorry, Steve, really I am.”
“I know you are, kid,” Steve said, “I know.”
“You’ve supported me through everything,” Dustin continued, “you helped me with my hair for the dance, you stayed at mine when Mom was out of town because I didn't wanna be alone, you drove me to Camp Know Where, you believed me about the Russian signal, you’ve stepped in front of Demodogs for me… I shouldn't have made you feel like you weren't the best big brother I could’ve ever asked for.
There was a lot to unpack there and so many words that made no sense to Wayne, he would have needed a shit ton more context to even begin trying to figure out what the kid was talking about. But, it didn't matter because apparently, it all made sense to Steve, who shoved Robin off from where she was sprawled over him and held his arms out for Dustin to jump into.
“I’m sorry,” Wayne heard Dustin say, the words muffled into Steve’s chest.
“It’s alright,” Steve said, “I’ve never had a little brother before but I’ve heard that they’re meant to be pains in the ass.”
It wasn't all better by any means and Wayne knew that they had a long road ahead of them in order to make Steve feel well and truly good enough, but they were all willing to put in the work, and the first step was getting Steve out of that house that was trying to kill him.