Work Text:
Eddie Harrington, was a 17 year old kid. His father, Steve Harrington had been a worker at a guitar shop. Handling guitars and selling them off to a ton of different kind of people, Metal Heads, Band members, Pop lovers, Country people, and just some people who had been looking to start. Eddie always looked at his father as a respected man. He was someone strong, but it was rather funny, one of his dads friends told him this was never how they pictured Steve to turn out. Apparently he was a huge jock in High School, and everyone knew him. Eddie doubted it, until he was shown pictures, it was rather cute. His dad in the 80s against the person he is now.
Beside all of that, Steve had been wanting to move, move back to where he had grown up, Hawkins. Eddie was beyond excited to know where his dad grew up, as well as meet some of his friends he told him about. Apparently he had many friends. Kids younger than him though, calling himself the babysitter. Eddie always laughed at that.
At the time, it was a Sunday morning, Steve and Eddie had been packing up the house. Steve had told Eddie to go clean out a closet that was in the hall way, and Eddie did what he was told. Exicted he started to go through it. Clean it up. It was always dirty, which was funny to him. Shoes had been stacked up to a point to where when Eddie cleared them out, he saw a box. He tilted his head and reached out and grabbed the box. It was rather heavy, but it had his name written on it. He made a confused face and opened it.
Upon reaching in, he pulled out a some letters, some pins, and a picture. Then a vest. He opened it up and looked at it. “Whoa.” It was a very old vest, at least to him. Straight outta the 80s. It still had original pins from Metallica, and Black Sabbath, even a W.A.S.P pin. It made Eddie smile a little. He then grabbed the picture and opened it up. It was a picture of his dad and a guy, under it, it said ‘Eddie Munson’ which made him tilt his head. His dad never told him about a person named Eddie Munson before. Which was strange, he figure his dad told him everything. He even knew about the weird kid that beat him up in school. But this Munson guy seemed important, if he had a whole box dedicated to him.
He stood up and slowly walked over to his dad, who had been clearing some drews. “Eddie, I thought I told you to go through that closet, and that was pretty fast for you.” Eddie had nodded, “yeah…sorry…I just found this, um, who’s Eddie Munson?” Steve stopped in his tracks. His face, just becoming still and sad. Which made Eddie tilt his head. Steve turned and looked at what his son had in his hands and slowly reached over and took the photo Eddie held out to him. He slowly turned it and held it with both of his hands.
Eddie. Eddie Munson. He hadn’t heard anyone say his name in so long, not after…not after what happened. He sighed and looked at his son. “Can you please clean out the rest of the closet.” Eddie then nodded and sighed and put the vest down and turned his heels. Steve had then took a seat and looked over the photo.
Eddie. Eddie. He repeated it to his self. Munson, Eddie. The man he named his son over so he wouldn’t forget his name. The man he…the man he loved. Steve rubbed his thumb over the picture.
Yet so still in a picture, Eddie Munson was still the most prettiest man he had ever laid his eyes on. Looking at this picture, just reminded him of how he smelled, cigarettes, and some beer. Yet he was still so sweet to him. The way his smile shined always, his eyes so bright that it was hard to look away. His hands, the softest thing ever, the hand that used to hold his hand. The hand he had to let go of, as he was dragged away from Eddie. His chest, the beating heart, and the one that slowly faded as he laid in his chest one last time. The Eddie Munson who Steve loved more than anything.
Steve had breathed out. He wished he could remember his voice, the way his laugh was. But as years went by, he forgot. After years. He hid Eddie away, he hid the memories of him. He didn’t get why, maybe he was scared. Maybe it was the days of letting go. But here he was, going back home.
Eddie had came back over and looked over his dad, Eddie tapped at the counter. “Hey…you ok?” Steve sniffled and looked up at Eddie and nodded. “Yeah, just…brought some memories back.” Eddie nodded, looking down and glancing at his dad. “So…who was he?” Steve just smiled. “He was…my best friend. More than a best friend I guess…” Eddie had got a sadden look in his face. Was. He was his best friend. He was no longer living. “Why did you never tell me about him?”
Steve had just stared at the photo. “Well. I guess it was just hard. But, I talked about him more than you know. He never really went away.” Eddie got confused, tilting his head again. “What…do you mean?”
Steve had looked at him. “I named you after him. Eddie M. Harrington. I started to sell guitars, he played the bass. Hell he was good at it too…and…I suppose I just grew you up on his memory, the songs we listened to. The concerts we all saw together…I guess it was all the memories I wanted to share with him…” Eddie had tapped the counter. Steve had tears in his eyes which made Ed come over and sit next to him. He sat next to him, leaning his head against his shoulder.
“I wish you told me about him sooner, seems like he was a hella cool guy.” Steve had giggled. “He was. He really was.” Eddie had smiled, looking at the photo. “Well…then I guess I can thank him for giving me the best dad I could ever have. It seemed you really loved him…” Steve had just smiled and wiped away his tears. “Yeah…I really did. I really did…” Eddie had sighed, wiping away his own tears. And then wiping his dads. “It’s ok Dad. Life moves on, and I’m sure he’s still next to you. Everyday. I mean, I’m sure he’s proud of you.” Steve just made small laughs. “Proud of me? I’m sure he’s laughing his ass off at me. He probably never saw me showing my kid Metallica at the age of 9.” Eddie laughed.
“Well. I’m glad you showed me it.” He hugged his dad, who always hugged back. Then patted his shoulder and walked off, picking up the vest. “Oh, um, where do you want me to put this?” Steve lifted his head and looked over it. “Put it on” Eddie looked at the vest and then at his dad, then put it on. Steve had smiled, those tears still falling down. “Keep it. It suits you.” Eddie had smiled, “really?” Steve nodded. He then looked down at the vest. “Thank you dad.”
He walked off. Steve then looked at the photo, getting up and placing it against the counter. Those words filled his head. Keep it. It suits you. It was those words Eddie spoke to him, before he died.
But now he was realizing it was ok. He always had his Eddie with him.
Forever and always.