Chapter Text
Eddie wakes up on the floor, cold and shirtless. His blanket sticks to the front of his chest, making him peel it off in a grotesque manner.
“Eugh…” Eddie grimaces.
He stands and walks to the bathroom, splashing water on his face and chest before slipping on a clean tee. He leaves the bathroom, the door creaking ever so slightly. Steve is gone from his bed. Eddie sniffles and wipes his eyes, sighing.
Steve is downstairs cooking bacon, the sizzling and popping ringing in Eddie’s ears.
-
Eddie slips down the stairs and into the kitchen. Steve turns to Eddie, his hair unstyled and tousled to the side. “Mornin’.” He nods.
“Mpmh.” Eddie slumps against Steve’s shoulder for a brief moment before lifting his head and hoisting himself up on the counter. He faces Steve as he cooks the bacon, which he seems extremely focused on.
Eddie examines Steve’s outfit; A pair of faded white boxers, now a light cream or beige color. Regular socks that he would wear on the daily, and a hot pink shirt with Madonna on it. Eddie snickers.
“What?” Steve asks, confused.
“Why do you, Steve Harrington, own a hot, neon pink Madonna shirt?” Eddie points to the fabric, which is worn out and used. He must love this shirt.
“Because, I, Steve Harrington, am cool—and cool people listen to Madonna.” Steve eyes Eddie, staring at his own shirt.
“Uh-huh.” Eddie nods, looking away for a moment before looking back.
“Hey, why are you wearing one of my shirts..?” Steve asks, pulling a piece of bacon out of the pan and dabbing it with a piece of paper towel, the oils soaking up.
“Sorry—what?” Eddie looks down at his shirt—SHIT—he was wearing one of Steve’s shirts. “OH! I-Uh. I must’ve grabbed the wrong one. I-I was in a rush and grabbed the closest black shirt so-“ Eddie explains quickly, turning away.
Steve only smiles and soaks up the oil on more bacon pieces. “It’s almost 10am, I’ll be headed over to Robin’s to pick her up. We’re going to the lake—test the waters. She says I need to get over my fears. Ever since I was…” He pauses, remembering that night when he was dragged under into the depths of Lovers Lake. He felt like some nights he couldn’t escape. Like he couldn’t breathe. He still can feel the water pouring in through his nose, the air leaving his lungs, the tentacle pulling him down—or was it technically up..? Then he was choked out by demo-bats and bitten until Nancy, Robin, and Eddie showed up and saved him. “You know.” Steve finishes his sentence, going silent.
“Hey, you are brave. I can come with if you’d like. I know i’m still hated forever in this town but at least I was proven innocent.” Eddie rested a hand on Steve’s shoulder, steady a reassuring.
Eddie went to court once he came back, Jason’s parents said that he killed Jason, but Lucas went up as a witness and said that Eddie wasn’t at the scene of the crime when Jason died. He made up some story of why he was breaking and entering and then Eddie was a free fucking man! Lucas is one hell of a guy, even if he flaked on a few campaigns.
“Thanks.” Steve nodded, placing the pan in the sink. “It’s nice to have someone who understands.
-
Eddie and Steve redid the bandages and left for Robin’s at around 9:45, arriving at 9:52. Then they rode over to Lover’s Lake, and it was silent. The military had only left one space open to the public since there was the gate in Lover’s Lake, and nobody but Robin had the guts to fully swim. No one in town wanted to risk being taken away to the Upside Down.
“Steve, it’s okay just try dipping your feet in—see how it feels.” Robin nods, encouraging Steve.
“Are you sure?” Steve asks.
“I swear on my entire BLOODLINE just trust me!” Robin smiles, giving Steve a thumbs up.
Eddie sits on the dock, sunglasses and headphones on. Metallica blasts through his ears as he nods along, tapping his fingers on the old wood. He stares out across the lake to Rick’s house where he stayed for a while. Also where he saw Fredrick—or whatever his name was—die from Vecna. Was his name Fredrick? Or was it Patrick? Who knows…
“Eddie… Eeeddieee…” Robin yells and snaps at him, her fingers clicking loudly. Eddie pauses the tape and hangs the headphones around his neck.
“Huh?”
“I said, are you going to try and swim or just listen to music and zone out? Go ahead because I support you fully, but you need to try new things again! You’re a free, innocent man! And you need to act like it! Now quit de-socializing and dip your feet in.” Robin gives Eddie a look. “Puh-lease.”
“Fine.” Eddie sighs, slipping off his sandals and staring at the murky water. He pauses a moment, hesitating.
“You got it, go ahead!” Robin quietly encourages, lying on her floaty tube. “I’m right here.” She nods.
“You got it, Eds, just one foot at a time.” Steve smiles from the shore, standing with his feet fully submerged, the water up to his ankles and almost past.
Eddie nods and inhales a shaky breathe before slipping his feet into the cold water. Cheers and clap break out from Steve and Robin.
“See? I told you you’re amazing!” Robin grins.
“You really are—truly.” Steve laughs.
Eddie looks at Steve and feels his cheeks heat up. “You too.”