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Chapter Text

Eddie knew who Steve Harrington was. Hell, everyone in Hawkins High knew about the almighty king who fell from his golden throne and was banished from his own kingdom. It was a story worthy of its own campaign, not that Eddie had thought about writing one for the Hellfire Club. 

The thing was, the stories about the infamous ruler didn't quite match with what he heard from the one and only Dustin Henderson. The kid was something else, if he had to say so himself. He had brains for days and an incredibly weird sense of humor, but he was a nice child. He had worked his way to his heart (after kind of rescuing him from the hands of illiterate bullies) with too much enthusiasm and knowledge.

Either way, from Dustin´s perspective, the jackass Eddie knew about was a mother hen with stupidly perfect hair and a heart three sides too big for his chest. He couldn't believe any of that bullshit even if he smoked all the weed he kept in his lunch box. It was just impossible for someone to change so much in so little. Also, he may or may not be jealous of the way the kid idolized the other. It made his stomach twist uncomfortably.

“And then he gave me his scarf because he said, and i quote “you are going to catch a cold, dipshit, and I´m, for the love of God, not gonna take care of you again”

“You gotta be kidding me, Henderson” He said while dropping a bunch of fries onto his mouth. Mike stopped playing with his food and rolled his eyes. This wasn't the first time those two had had that conversation. In fact, it was beginning to get old.  “You can't expect me to believe Harrington told you that”

“But he did! Ask Lucas!” 

All eyes were on him in a second. Lucas stopped his hand mid air, where a spoon full of chocolate pudding was making its way over to his mouth, and glared at Dustin. He was starting to regret not sitting with the basketball douchebags for once.

“Well, Sinclair?” 

“He did.” Eddie dropped his head dramatically on the table, letting out an exasperated sigh. “Dude, Steve really goes around telling us to dress warmer and giving us rides. Dustin is not exaggerating.”

“Yeah, he's worse than a mom.” added Mike. He hoped that statement could end the conversation for the rest of lunch. It didn´t.

“I just can't believe it! How did an asshole like him end up adopting 3 kids?”

“He didn't adopt us.” murmured Wheeler. Dustin, on the other hand, just waved that comment off, clearly not agreeing with it. He also said something about them not being three but six. It didn't make any sense.

“He sure did, Wheeler. At least it sounds like it” 

“We'll just have to show you!” Said Henderson suddenly, startling all of them. He shut his mouth, embarrassed from his outburst. “I mean, If you don´t believe us, we just have to show you that he does in fact take care of us and that he is no longer a jerk.”

“Are you setting up a challenge, Henderson?” he asked with a maniac smile, actually considering agreeing. 

“Yes?”

“Alrighty then! Let's see the new ex-king of Hawkins!” It could be fun, he supposed. He would not only see if what the kids had been saying was true, but he would also be able to say 'I told you so' if what he saw didn't convince him enough. It was a win-win situation. “What's the deal?”

“The deal?” Lucas asked, forgetting all about the rest of his lunch in order to understand what had Dustin gotten them into now.

“Yeah, Sinclair. A challenge has to have a deal. What do you guys want if you win?”

“Eh…” Mike didn't have a clue. What the heck did they want? Dustin had to learn how to keep his fucking mouth shut. His lack of self control was going to be the death of them. However, he had to agree with him on this one. He was tired of Eddie believing Steve was still an asshole. Even if they didn't have the best relationship out of all of The Party, he had to admit Harrington was their protector, and a pretty great one at that. 

“Come on, guys! I don't have all the time in the world. I have shit to do!” It wasn't true, but they didn't have to know that. He was just starting to get bored of the situation and wanted to pressure them into saying something. Anything . He wanted the attention on him again.

“If we win, Mike gets to prepare the next campaign.”

Silence filled their table once those words left Henderson's mouth. The rest of the club looked at Eddie with fear in their eyes, actually scared of his reaction. He had to admit it. That statement had made his blood boil. He was the only one who had the right to make campaigns for the Hellfire club, but he also wasn't the type of guy to back out of a challenge, specially if he knew he was going to win.

With a Determined look on his dark eyes, he got up and made his way towards the kids, who looked at his imposing figure with something akin to terror. He smiled, patting their backs and sitting between them.

"Okay, kiddos. If you guys win, I'll let little Wheeler here prepare next month's campaign." He squeezed their shoulders, bringing them even closer. "But! If I win , you'll have to get up on the roof dressed as your characters from D&D and scream as solemnly as you can: 'We, the wronged ones, deserve this punishment for insinuating our one and only master was not truthful. The ex-ruler of this kingdom is still and will forever be an asshole, and we should not trust rich people who once humiliated the freaks'."

He smiled sickenly sweet at the three, expecting their refusal. It was a surprise when they gave each other firm looks that clearly meant they were going to win the bet.

"Deal" 

Eddie eyed the stretched hand in front of him and, faking calmness, shook it. 

"Deal"

"What are the rules anyway?" said one of the guys from his band. Eddie shrugged, not knowing what to say. Did this challenge need rules? He supposed it did. He didn't even know what he had to do. He wasn't going to change his mind just by hearing about the dude. It was obvious it hadn't worked before. It was what got them into this mess.

"Eddie has to spend a month being friends with Steve without giving away it's a challenge. This way he will be able to see we were right and Mike can start making up the story for out next game"  

"Right. Like he's gonna be my friend just because I say so" 

"Dude, Steve's super friendly. You will have no problem getting close to him. We will talk to Robin too so she can give you a hand if you want."  Henderson knew what he was doing, the little shit. He sighed, getting up again and bowing, like a jester would to royalty.

 "Sure, your highness. Where can I find him after school?" he asked, rolling his eyes at the smile the kids gave him.

"At the video store" they simply said. Thank God Hawkins was a small town and they only own a video store or he was screwed. He nodded and, picking up his things, saluted his club and went to his class, the sound of the bell behind him along with the chatter of those little bastards.

He was gonna win this. There was no way he would like Steve Harrington. Not in a million years.

Chapter Text

Eddie glared angrily at the glass door of the video store the infamous king worked at. Why was he there again? Oh right, that stupid bet with those little manipulative shrimps. Sighing, he took a step closer to the entrance and grabbed the cold metal handle. He was starting to regret being so easy to convince. It only took the prospect of a good challenge to get him riled up. He was sort of disgusting if he had to be honest with himself.

“Hey dude, are you gonna get in or are you just gonna stand here looking like a total loser?” 

Turning around, he let his eyes travel down the body of his new companion. The girl had short wavy hair and a look that declared his presence wasn´t welcomed. “So you must be this Robin that Henderson mentioned” He bowed, smiling up at her. “It's so not a pleasure to meet you”

“Likewise.” She replied, disinterested. After a minute of only staring, Robin crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. “Listen up dickhead. I´m only doing this because, apparently, every single fucking person in Hawkins is a sucker for Dustin. This doesn't mean I agree with your stupid squemes, especially when it comes to my best friend´s wellbeing.” She took a step closer to him, backing him until his back was resting on the door. Her index finger adorned with silver jewelry pointed to his chest in an accusatory manner. “This also doesn't mean I'm not gonna kick your ass if you hurt Steve. Do you understand me, Munson?”

“Crystal clear, sweety.” he answered, actually scared for his health. He raised his arms in an attempt of showing surrender, a thing that made Robin finally back off.  

“Good. Now come on, we wasted enough time of my shift already and Steve is not gonna let it slide.”

She passed him and opened the door, not bothering to hold it for him. He clenched his fists and sighed, opening the door again and stepping in. The first thing he saw was the amount of neon lights the establishment had decided to put on display. The second, the prettiest eyes he had ever laid eyes on. They were bright and coloured with curiosity, covered in long lashes that made them even bigger, if that was possible. Something twisted inside of him and paralized him in the middle of the store. He had never seen Harrington up close, too busy avoiding popular guys like him to care about how they looked, but oh man. This supposed jerk was the most gorgeous guy he had ever seen. He was going to enjoy this month even if his idea of him didn't change at all.

“Welcome to Family Video. Can I help you?” 

Holy shit, even his voice was amazing. Why had God decided to give him all the best qualities? Now more than ever he couldn't believe this douchebag had changed. Nobody was that perfect.

“Eh.. yes! Yes you can, kind sir.” He said, faking a British accent and getting closer to him. He dropped his elbows on the counter, startling the great ex-king. “I was wondering if you knew a kiddo whose last name is Henderson. You know, with curly hair and a peculiar way to drive you up a wall?”

“I might have an idea who you're talking about” he mumbled, exasperated. His expression suddenly changed to one of pure terror, making his eyes impossibly wider. “Did something happen to him?”

“No, no. He's all good.” he said, feeling the weird need to appease the other man's worry. “I mean, I´m here because of him, but he's still the little dumbass we all know.”

“Cool.” Eddie was kinda thrown back by this behavior, but he didn't dare say anything about it. He was there to get to know the new Steve Harrington and check if he was still the asshole he remembered. He wasn't going to be fooled by a little worry. It could be fake. Maybe Henderson had contacted the guy first and told him about the bet and now he was faking being nice so those bastards could win the challenge. “So what does that dipshit want?”

“Well, this is kind of embarrassing actually.” He had to start putting on a performance. “Has he ever talked about me? Eddie Munson at your service, if it wasn't clear.” He stretched his hand, expecting a shake.

“Steve Harrington.” Eddie was surprised to know Harrington´s hands were rough, like he had been working all his life. It didn't quite go with his rich image. “I´ve heard about you, yeah. The leader of the club those dipshits go to play their dragon´s game, whatever it's called.”

“Dungeons & Dragons”  Eddie answered easily, surprised the comment didn't bother him as much. “I´m glad the King of Hawkins knows a peasant like me.”

Silence filled the video store after those words left his mouth. Eddie licked his lips, a nervous tick he had developed with time, and let out an awkward laugh, trying to bring back the calm atmosphere from before. “Either way, Henderson said that, since we´re co-parenting, we should hang out. I didn't agree at first, but that kid is something else, I tell you. If I didn't know he would waste his brains, I would have told him to be a salesman.”

Steve seemed to get out of his trance at that, sharing a little smile that melted Eddie´s insides. This couldn't be true. Maybe he was under a spell or something. There was no way this man had he wrapped around his finger this fast. He had to be strong. Maybe he needed to get laid in order to focus on winning this bet. He couldn´t be this distracted by beauty.

“Co-parenting, eh? And who´s who?” 

“Please, Steve. Everyone knows you are the mom.” Said Robin from where she had been stacking candy on the counter, hearing their conversation. 

“Thanks for your input, Robin, but I don't remember asking you” 

“Maybe I just don't care, have you thought about it?” Steve rolled his eyes, moving his attention towards Eddie, who had been watching the exchange with amusement. it didn't matter if one had threatened him minutes ago or that the other was the subject of an incredibly petty bet, their friendship was interesting to watch. 

“Whatever.” his bright brown eyes twinkle with fondness and deep inside of him, Eddie decided he wanted that same look directed at him. He slapped himself mentally and got comfortable on the counter. “So Henderson wants us to hang out. If you are up to it I don´t care. It will be nice to have more friends my age.”

“His only friends are fifteen years olds, it's kind of depressing.”

“Are you fifteen, Robin? ´Cause I wasn't aware. Why aren't you at High School?! Your mother is gonna be so disappointed in me, making her only daughter skip class!” Eddie let out a laugh when the blonde girl flipped her friend off and turned to the candy bars waiting to be stacked. “Just ignored her. She's jealous I'm gonna change best friends.”

“Nobody but me and those shrimps are able to put up with you, dumbass.” Steve was still smiling, but some of the light that had brightened his eyes had left with that comment. He cleared his throat in an attempt to bring his attention back to him. 

“I'm up to it, dude. Why don't you come with us to tomorrow´s campaign? We can hang out later, grab some beers or something.”

“Oh God, now I don't have one, but two people wanting me to go to one of those things.” Steve said, rolling his eyes playfully. “I don´t know, man. I don´t understand a thing about the game. You really want me there?” those eyes were going to be the death of him, he was sure of that. Especially if he was giving him puppy eyes without even knowing it. He shrugged, trying to seem interesting.

“Sure, man. It´ll make Henderson happy too. It's A win-win, don´t you think?”

“Okay, then.”

“Great, dude! See you at the Wheeler´s at 6 pm!” 

Eddie mentally high fived himself. He was going to win this bet. He would put one of his weirdest shows on and scare the living hell out of Harrington. Those little shits better prepare their customs. 

Chapter Text

“What do you mean you invited Harrington to our campaign?” Eddie threw Gareth a warning look, already exhausted despite only being 4 pm.

When he decided to invite the well-known ex-ruler of Hawkins, he hadn't thought about all the consequences it would bring to their group full of freaks. It had been a spur of the moment thing, a once in a lifetime situation (totally not related to how his eyes had shined with the neon lights, yeah). Now he had infiltrated the enemy into their kingdom, only for it to be contaminated by snobbish behavior. In no time they were going to be having parties in climatized pools and drinking martinis out of clean glasses.The thought made him shudder.

“For the ninth time, Gareth. If I want to win this bet, I have to show he's still a douchebag. What's better than inviting him to play something he hates with people he can't stand?”

“I still don't get it. Why do we have to suffer because you decided to challenge fifteen year olds?”

“I didn't challenge them. They challenge me. It's not the same!” They were making their way towards the Wheeler's house early in order to prepare everything for the intense night they had ahead of them. Henderson usually joined, but he was so excited by the prospect of having Harrington there with them, that he had called Mike saying he was going to fill Steve´s character sheet and that he would arrive with him. This led Wheeler to call him saying they didn't need to wait for his friend and, as a consequence of this change of routine, Gareth was being a complete asshole. He was hating Gareth with all his might in this instance. 

“Whatever works for you, buddy.” Oh, he really hated him. He was going to kill his character today, he was sure of that. He would make some kind of spell up and demolish him. It was a game driven by imagination, he could do whatever his heart desired and look cool doing it. He could also be petty and take revenge. ”And we're here.”

“And don't I Thank the Gods for that!” 

“You´re crazy, dude.” he answered while knocking on the white wooden door. A couple of minutes later, Wheeler´s older sister opened, looking rather displeased to see them. He gave her a military salute, smiling as cheekily as he could just to tease her. 

“If it isn't my favorite Wheeler!” Nancy rolled her eyes, taking a step back from the door and letting them in. “Aww, c´mon Nancy. I thought we had something special!”

“Mike´s in the basement. You know the way.” 

Gareth shrugged and started walking towards what Eddie baptized “The Cavern of Horror”, looking at the girl with what could be called total unrequited love. When he was about to do the same, minus the love thing, the bell rang, making Nancy roll her eyes and go attend it. Great was his surprise when he saw the one and only Steve Harrington there, smiling awkwardly at the girl and lifting a bag full of groceries, Henderson behind him.

“Hey Nance.” 

“Steve, Thank God you arrived.” she said, her eyes softening around the edges; a completely different look than what he was used to. “Holly is in the living room playing. My mom will be here around six so you just have to take care of her for a couple hours. I'm sorry to ask you this but I don't trust Mike when he´s with his friends and you are the only one I know capable of actually making Holly listen.”

That was new information. The guy also took care of toddlers? Disgusting. He still couldn't believe it.

“Don´t worry about it.” he answered, putting the bag on the counter and starting taking things out. “Henderson and I had to come either way.”

“Yeah, Eddie invited Steve to play! And Steve actually said yes. Isn't it amazing?” Damned Henderson and his attitude. Now all eyes were on him. He wiggled his fingers as a form of greeting, avoiding looking at Nancy, whose face contorted in distrust.

“Amazing, yeah.” murmured Harrington, running a hand through his hair. Eddie had to clear his throat in order to not drool. He definetly had to get laid, what the actual fuck.

“Well, Wheeler. I'm a nice guy. What can I say?”

“Sure, whatever.” grabbing her purse she walked towards the entrance of her home and opened it, glaring at him for a couple of seconds. She knew something. She had to know something. He hoped Mike hadn't said anything to her by accident. "Emergency numbers are on the fridge, although you already know that. Have fun."

And with that she left, leaving them in complete silence. Eddie walked around the kitchen completely lost, not knowing what to do or why he didn't want to go downstairs and prepare the craziest story he had ever made for their guest. He could only watch as Harrington took groceries out and started putting them in their place. He moved like he belonged there, and Munson didn't know what to think of that discovery.

"I didn't know you babysat toddlers." 

"There's a lot you don't know about me, Munson." oh God, his little laugh. Eddie thought he was going to cry. "I'm like the official babysitter of Hawkins."

"That 's true! But we're your favorites, right?" He nodded, smiling briefly before ruffling Henderson's curls, the fondest look adorning his features. Eddie looked away, feeling like an intruder. 

"Why don't you guys go downstairs? I still have to take care of Holly." 

"But we have to finish your character sheet!" An idea to get closer and see change had presented itself in front of Eddie, and he wasn't about to throw it away. 

"Yeah, dude. You can't play without a character." He took a step towards him, leaning on the counter where Steve had been preparing a heart-shaped sandwich, a fact that threw him off. He couldn't keep his mouth shut. "What the hell are you doing?"

"What?" 

“This?” He asked frowning, pointing at the sandwich. Steve´s face coloured with embarrassment, a beautiful shade of red that made him look completely adorable. It went up his ears and down his throat. Eddie couldn't help comparing him with a tomato. A cute one, he had to give the guy some credit. 

“Ah… It was out of instinct.” Henderson laughed, biting down the bread that was left. “Holly only eats food in shapes.”

The kid didn't have to look at him smugly. He already knew that if Harrington hadn't been there He would have said I told you so. He rolled his eyes and took a step back so Steve could go to the living room where Holly was. Maybe it was also out of instinct, but he followed him. Something in him twisted when the ex-ruler gave Wheeler´s little sister a smile that brightened his whole face, murmuring something to the child that had her giggle while offering her the sandwich. 

“So… why don't we start with your sheet, Harrington?” He said, trying to distract himself from the scene. “Have you already chosen a race?”

“He hasn't chosen anything! I´ve been trying to get him to choose but he just dismisses my attempts! I seriously don't understand why I try anymore.” Dustin sat down, crossing his arms. Eddie tried not to laugh, but one look at the other adult in the room made him break. They really looked like his parents.

“Don't worry, Henderson. He will have his sheet in no time. Maybe not complete, but with enough info to play.” 

Harrington gave him a grateful smile and grabbed Holly´s hand, who had been trying to get his attention by grabbing his hair. He played with her fingers while the kid ate, not caring if they were covered in peanut butter. Eddie was starting to think he had been sent to a different dimension. 

“Let's start with the race then.”

“I think he should be a human! He doesn't fit in any other race, unless he wants to be a dwarf.” Steve took his attention off Holly and glared at Dustin, who just laughed. Eddie frowned, not really picturing him in that role.

“Nah, dude. He's obviously an elf”

“An elf? Like Legolas?”

“I knew you were listening when we were talking about Lord of the Rings!” Henderson exclaimed. “But why an elf? He doesn't fit any of the traits. I mean, how is he going to be graceful? He trips over air.” 

“Well, Henderson, have you seen him? He's the definition of a pretty boy. Someone would say he looks otherworldly.” Eddie shared his trademark smile, the one that had won the hearts of a few boys over the years. Maybe he was homophobic, that would help his cause a lot. 

“Oh God, you are cheesy.” He said, rolling his eyes. “ I still think he should be a human. You don't know him like I do.” Auch, that stunk. Why? He didn't know. 

“Guys, whatever is good. I´ll just be a human so we can get this over with.”

“Great! Then you´ll be a damaran.”

“What the heck is that?” He was watching his language in front of the child. That was cute. 

“At ethnicity. They can be found in the northwest of Faerûn.” He and Henderson said at the same time. 

“Yeah, sure. Okay.”

“Now we should choose a class.” proclaimed the youngest player. “There are four classes: cleric, fighter, rogue and wizard.”

“I wanna be a fighter.” said Harrington with stars in his eyes. Henderson snorted, finding something funny. “What's so funny, dipshit?

“How are you gonna be a fighter? You suck at fighting.”

“That's not true, dickhead! I've won fights”

“Billy almost killed you, Jonathan kicked the shit out of you… You want me to keep going?

Silence. Holly´s laugh. Someone climbing the stairs. Eddie´s world upside down. Had he heard right? Did Steve Harrington almost die at the hands of Billy Hardgrove? The greatest douchebag he had ever had the displeasure of meeting? 

“Why are you all here instead of downstairs with us?” Said Wheeler. He eyed Steve and nodded in acknowledgement, receiving a wave full of peanut butter. Mike´s face contorted in disgust. “Steve? You came early.”

“Your sister needed a babysitter.” he shrugged. 

“Whatever. You guys coming or what? We already set up the table.” 

“We haven't finished Harrington´s sheet.” Was the only thing he could say. “We´ll be there in 10 minutes.”

“And I´ll stay here with this little demon until your mom comes home.”

“Sure. Just hurry up.” and with that he left. He didn't seem to be enthusiastic about this bet. But he knew Wheeler. He had something prepared for tonight to change his mind. 

“If I'm not a fighter then what?” back to the conversation.

“A cleric!” 

“A cleric? What the fu- frick.” he wasn't so good at containing himself in front of children. At least he had managed to make Harrington laugh even though he didn't understand why it made him giddy.

“Yeah, like, our healer. We don't have one and he has shown The Party he's good at taking care of us.” Before the other could say anything, Henderson added. “They´re also warriors and can cause lots of damage. It's perfect for you! You can even be wise sometimes!”

“First of all, auch. Second of all, you look too excited to say no, man.” And again that fond smile. Eddie was starting to regret this challenge deep inside of him. If this man really had changed, and by the looks of it, he had, he was going to hate himself. But he wasn't going to surrender yet. He was sure he could get some dirt on him to convince the kids.”Then I´m a human cleric, whatever that means” 

“Cool, let's keep going!”

It didn't take them 10 minutes. Not even an hour. They spent until Karen came back and ushered them to the basement, not without thanking Steve with a smile and some money. 

Eddie had never been this excited to play Dungeons and Dragons. Maybe it had to do with warm brown eyes and a little smile full of playful interest. He was screwed.

Chapter Text

The night hadn't been anything like Eddie had expected it to be. For instance, he had had a great time, a thought that hadn't crossed his mind since the bet had started. Better than that, he had been able to see Steve Harrington out of his field of knowledge, confused at all times but trying hard to please them. Henderson and his friends had even been more outspoken than ever, complaining about everything and whining at Steve when they failed, like a child would to his mother. He had even gone to get them some snacks when the night had started to fall. Was this guy for real? Gareth had invited him to the next game! When he had been the first one to despise the idea of preppy boy Harrington coming! He definitely was in another dimension.

“Nah dude, I prefer not to come. This is too difficult for a dumbass like me.” 

“You were pretty good for your first time, Harrington, don't beat yourself over it.” They had decided to finish for today when Sinclair had started to yawn and Henderson couldn't keep his eyes open for more than 5 minutes. They had disagreed, of course, but one look at Eddie and they went silent. He felt like a parent and honestly, it wasn't a bad feeling. He was just worried because he couldn't even take care of himself, how was he going to take care of other people?

“C´mon, I´ll take all of you home.” Declared Steve, grabbing Henderson by the arm when he was about to trip with one of the steps of the stairs. 

“Henderson and Sinclair are staying here. You don't need to do that, man.” 

“No way I'm letting you guys walk alone at this hour. You are definitely getting in the car.” It was an order. And oh, didn't Eddie find that attractive. 

“We´re not children anymore, Harrington.” Gareth said, hiding a yawn with the back of his hand. Jeff nodded, assuring them he would be just fine walking home. Steve didn't even care, he just waved the comments off, a thing he had seen Henderson do more than once, and climbed up the stairs. He heard him saying goodbye to Mrs Wheeler quietly, who told him something related to the grocery bag he had brought. 

When the kitchen welcomed him, the brown haired boy had the same bag he had bought over under one arm, while the other was holding the door open for his clique. His stomach rumbled, full of bats.

“Such a gentleman, aren't you, Harrington?” Eddie said, letting his friends go first towards the car. “You do that for lots of girls, I'm sure.”

“Sometimes I do it for boys too.” He murmured, closing the door behind him. Was he flirting? Because he was doing a horrible job at it and he loved it. He had heard hundreds of stories about casanova Steve Harrington before, but real life was completely different. Either way, for all he knew the man who was currently opening his car door and getting in was as straight as a ruler. “Where to, losers?”

He started driving, following the directions of the guys in the back seat . When only Eddie, who had called shotgun the moment they had been close to the car, was left, Steve looked at him for a second and averted his gaze, the tips of his ears reddening. 

“What's wrong, Harrington?”

“Nothing, it´s stupid. I´ll drive you home.” Eddie took his hand, avoiding the other male to start the engine and continue driving. When Steve looked at him with surprised eyes and a little tremble of the lips, he dropped it, feeling his entire face hot. He cleared his throat.

“C´mon, man. I´m not gonna eat you. Unless you want to, of course.” Oh god, teasing him was fun. Harrington breathed in and out, still red in the face. Moonlight was making his eyes shine brighter than the stars and he was beginning to feel dizzy from the tension that had planted itself in the interior of the vehicle. “I'm just kidding, dude. What´s so stupid you can tell me? You´re talking to the king of stupids. Can't graduate high school even though he's been a legal adult for a couple of years.”

“Hey, man. Everyone has their own rhythm. You´ll get there eventually, just wait.” and didn´t he need to hear those words. An overwhelming feeling of crying made its way over to his chest, but he wasn't going to start weeping in pretty boy´s car after only knowing him for two days.

“Thanks, man. But you´re still avoiding the topic.”

“Fine.” Steve swallowed, tapping his fingers anxiously on the steering wheel. “You said we could get some beers after playing when you invited me over to Wheeler´s house, so I bought them to go to the Quarry and drink there.”

Oh. He had totally forgotten about that. Did that make him a douchebag? He was too focused on trying to prove the other hadn't changed. This bet was making him even more stupid.

“I totally forgot, dude.” He lifted his hand, silencing the other´s protests.” But I'm up to it. Let 's go!” And wasn't it worth it for obtaining a smile.

They drove in complete silence up to the Quarry, where Steve parked his car and put on the radio. Then he got out, opened the trunk, took the bag full of beers he had bought and sat down on the hood, Eddie following his every move.

“Cheers.” He said while offering him the drink and clinging them together. He gulped down half of it, the metal head not much behind. “I put them in the freezer. Mrs Wheeler didn't even say anything when I took them out.”

“She seems to like you.”

“Every single mom of those dipshits likes me. I don't even know what I did for that.” He lifted his head, looking at the star covered sky with eyes full of emotions. 

“Sometimes It only takes being yourself for people to like you.”

“You should have told me that when I was a bully. I would have appreciated it.”

“You would have punched me.”

“Yeah, most likely.” he laughed, even though the sound was empty. His eyes had not yet let the sky. “I´m sorry.”

“How so?” 

“For how I treated you back then. I called you things I'm disgusted to say out loud now.” So that's why he had been apologizing. Well, this was a first. “But I was a douchebag who had douchebag friends and couldn't stand being alone.”

“Hey, man, all is forgiven. Don´t worry about it.” Did he know about the challenge? Or was he being genuine? It felt real, and he really wanted it to be. It was the first apology he had ever received from a bully.

“No. It wasn't okay. I would understand If you like, don't want to forgive me.” Oh dear lord . Where did this man come from? 

“Man, you are the first person who has apologized to me for calling me things. Some had made me worse things than calling me names. You are forgiven.”

“Okay.” It was so quietly said, that something in Eddie felt like breaking. “Munson?”

“Yeah?” Steve took his eyes off the sky and looked at him. The beers had been forgotten long ago, but Eddie could only see how the stars reflected in the eyes of the other boy. It was like stargazing in chocolate ponds. 

“You're not a freak.”

And if the world had stopped at that moment, it was matching his heart. Because after years of being called Eddie “the freak” Munson, of beatings and slurs, someone had finally said it. Said the only thing he had ever wanted to hear since he was little. That he was not a freak. 

“You don't know that.” he whispered.

“Maybe I don´t, but I believe it.”  Harrington said confidently, looking again at the sky. “Everyone is a freak in their own way.”

He was not going to cry. He was not going to cry. But he felt so overwhelmed. So full of relief. Because he was not a freak in the eyes of someone. That was enough.

“I think being a cleric really suits you. You can be wise sometimes.” Eddie needed to change the topic. If they kept having this talk he was going to break down and he was not going to do that in front of Steve Harrington. Even if he was the reason he was about to sob.

“Please tell Dustin that. He keeps saying I can't do shit.”

“Dude, that's just in front of you. He has you in an altar, I swear. Sometimes I even get jealous.”

“Well, I sometimes get jealous too. He talks nonstop about you.”

“Shut up. That 's not true!”

“Oh, but it is!” they laughed. The tense atmosphere was going away, and now there was only beautiful and comfortable silence. They took another sip from their beer, enjoying the view of the starry night. 

That's when Bonnie Tyler came on the radio and Steve started to mouth along some of the lyrics. That made Eddie completely lose it.

“Seriously, dude? Bonnie Tyler?”

“What? She has great songs, let me tell you!” He looked embarrassed. Eddie Munson couldn´t enjoy that expression more. 

“Are you holding out for a hero, Harrington? Cause´ I can be your guy.”

“You´re so funny. Honestly. I don't know why you don't become a comedian. Everyone would love you.”

“I thought I was the sassy one in this relationship!” Steve laughed. A full honest to God laugh that made him stop in his tracks. That was what Heaven sounded like? Was he dead? He had never heard Harrington let out a laugh like that. 

“Now you're not. I took that place from you.”

“You can take whatever you want from me and I would thank you.” He had said that. Oh God, he had said that. He was dead. This is the part where Steve gets up, calls him a queer and punches him. It was going so well! Why did he have to say that!?

But Steve didn't look sickened. He was averting his gaze, but he wasn't about to punch him in the face. That would make him win the bet, but he wasn't really thinking about it now, not when he had that conversation with the ex-king. He was more scared of not hearing that laugh ever again.

“I retract myself. You sure are stupid.”

“Hey!” It was okay. Harrington was okay. He was okay. They could keep drinking.

As he took a gulp of his drink, he decided to look at the sky. It was a beautiful night, he had to admit it. But it was even better reflected in the eyes of a brown haired guy who was proving to him he had indeed changed. 

They spent hours in the dark listening to the radio and sharing conversations. Eddie was starting to feel what a friend was. It was perfect.

Chapter Text

It had been a week since Steve had met Eddie Munson. A week full of laughter, sleepless nights and exchange of music. A week since he had started to feel things he was not supposed to feel for any male. 

But, how could he not feel something ? Eddie was charming in a way no one he had ever met was. He was kind, funny and treated him like a person, not like a dethroned king who once fallen, didn't fit anywhere. It was just surprising how two people so different, fitted together so well. 

“What's wrong with you, dumbass? You´ve been watching the same spot for almost 10 minutes.” Robin said, waving a hand in front of his face in an attempt of breaking the stupor he had fallen into. Steve jumped in his place. He had forgotten he was at work for a moment.

“Nothing.” He was not going to start explaining his inner conflict in the middle of his shift, even if he knew Robin wasn't going to judge him. At least not hard. “I'm just tired.”

“Yeah sure. If you don't wanna tell me it's okay, just don´t lie to my face.”

“I am tired, Robin.”

“Of doing what? Flirting with pretty girls? How difficult it must be being Steve Harrington!” He sighed, looking at his hands like they guarded the secrets to his misery. He knew Robin was joking, at least he liked to think she was, but those comments didn't hurt less. Everyone thought he had an easy life just because he had a wealthy family. They didn't know about the loneliness of an empty mansion, the unspoken disappointment of parents, the hatred of a school, the fear of new discoveries, the nightmares that came with fighting monsters.They didn´t know a thing about him.

“I didn't sleep well.” he opted to say. Robin´s entire demeanor changed, making him tense. She was going to keep asking now. He should have kept his mouth tightly shut.

“Did something happen? Did you have a nightmare?”

“No, no. I was just thinking.” 

“And you didn't hurt your head?” 

“Very funny, Robin. Seriously, you are hilarious.” he said sarcastically, not in the mood for jokes. He hadn't really slept well, unable to stop thinking of Eddie and how his heart beated faster everytime he saw him. Not even Nancy had made him feel this way in so little time. He was scared, confused and kind of embarrassed, even if he knew there was nothing wrong with it. He felt completely and utterly lost.

Robin frowned and entered the counter, placing herself next to him while offering a Twinkie. Steve took it quietly, opening the wrap and taking a bite.

“C´mon, Steve. What´s wrong? You´re not even answering my jokes with more jokes.” 

“It 's nothing.”

“It must be something if you're this moody.” Could he really say it? But what if it wasn't true? If he was confusing attraction to something else? He had never had a male friend who treated him like Eddie. Maybe that's what having friends felt like. “Steve, It's okay. You can talk to me.”

“I think I might be developing feelings for a guy.”

Family Video fell silent. They could only hear the music coming from the movie Robin had decided to put on today and the claxon of a car far away. Steve cleared his throat, suddenly very aware of what he had said in a public space.

“You know what? Forget I said anything. It's not that important.”

“Steve Harrington, If you dare leave this topic here after dropping such a bomb in my direction I will hunt you down and kill you with my bare hands.” He shuddered, not once doubting her words. “Who´ s the unlucky one?”

“I'm not gonna tell you. You´re gonna make fun of me.”

“Steve, I´m always going to make fun of you. That´s what best friends are for.”  She was kind of right, but he still couldn't say it outloud. If he did, it would become real, and he didn´t know if he was prepared to face it. “I swear I won't laugh.”

“It 's Eddie.” he mumbled, looking away. But he didn't hear any laugh, just that tiny sound Robin used to do when she was surprised. “I just can´t get him out of my head, Robin. I'm so confused all the time. I'm scared to like him, scared that the kids would hate me if they find out, scared for everything. But he brings me so much joy and I don't want it to end because of my stupid feelings.”

He was not crying. Or maybe he was, he just didn't care. Arms full of freckles embraced him and he just broke. It had been so long since he had been hugged this way. Since someone had cared about him openly.

“Steve. Look at me.” He couldn't do it. He was supposed to be the strong one, the protector. But now he was succumbing to the pressure of love. Or whatever it was he was feeling. He felt miserable. Useless. “Steve, please. Look at me.”

“I can´t.”

“Yes you can. Just lift your head and show me your eyes.” He did. Robin was looking at him with so much understanding. She wasn't going to judge him, tell him to man up. She was by his side. “It 's okay. You can like Eddie. There's nothing wrong with that.”

“I know. But not everyone does, Rob.” 

“Tell me about it, dude.” Steve let out a laugh, cleaning his wet face with the back of his hands. “At least we can be social pariahs together!”

“That´s a nice way to put it. We can live in the woods and hunt animals to survive.” They shared smiles, the mood improving after being so down. 

“But wait. I thought you liked girls.”

“I also like them.” He said confidently, frowning at the realization. “Does that make me weird?”

“Of course not, idiot. You´re still you, no matter who you like. Besides, there are people out there who also like boys and girls.” That was possible? He wasn't weird for that? Could he lift some of the pressure from his shoulders and actually breathe? “It´s called bisexuality.”

“So I might be bisexual? This is too complex for me, Rob. I was happy being your straight best friend.” She laughed, punching him in the arm with unnecessary force. He yelped, hitting his back with the counter and almost falling down. Robin´s laugh became higher. 

“Well, you are not so straight anymore.”

“Yeah, because that blow messed my back out, you brute.” When she was about to kick him in the shin, the bell above the door rang, making them forget all about their conversation and start working. It wasn´t until Steve lifted his head, that the sudden tension vanished. 

There in front of him, was the subject of his turmoil.

“Hey, man. What´s up?” Eddie, who had been receiving glares from Robin without Steve noticing, smiled widely at him and came closer, dropping himself on the counter, like he had been doing for the last week.

“Hey, Harrington.” he greeted him. “I was taking a walk around here and thought, wow, I haven't seen pretty boy since yesterday, I have to swing by the store. And here I am.”

“I thought we were going to hang out tomorrow with the kids?”

“Yes, but I missed you, dude.” He could feel his face starting to heat, so he coughed, trying to distract the other from noticing. “Aww, are you embarrassed, darling?”

What the actual fuck ? Did Eddie just call him darling ? He had to be dreaming. He heard Robin scoff behind him, but he ignored her as best as he could.

“Of course I´m not.”

“Either way, I was wondering when you ended your shift.” 

“Why?”

“C´mon, Harrington. So we can hang out!” His heart was going to explode. The metal head wanted to go out with him and even came to get him. His stomach was upside down.

“Um, I get out at 7 pm. There´s still 3 hours left, man. We can see each other tomorrow.”

“Nah, I´ll wait.”

“You aren't going to wait here, Munson.” was all Robin could say, taking one VHS´ off Eddie´s hands. “You always stay here and watch movies without paying. There's a cinema down the road, just go there.”

“But then I have to pay!”

“Well, I don´t care!”

“Robin, chill out.” Steve said, putting an arm around her shoulders and putting her close to his side, as far away from Eddie as he could. “But she has a point, Munson. If Keith finds out you stay here and don't even pay he's gonna kick us out. I´ll pick you up tomorrow, I swear.”

“Fine, but just because you´re asking.” He came closer to him, eyeing the two of them and, without warning, ruffled Steve´s hair. Then he ran away with a cry of “See you tomorrow, darling!” and slammed the door.

“Are you sure you have a crush on this guy?” Robin asked, suddenly exhausted.

“Yeah, definitely.”

He couldn´t be more sure. Eddie Munson was starting to settle himself in his heart and he wasn't trying to stop him. He actually was looking forward to it.

Chapter Text

Eddie Munson was a person made from regret. He regretted not standing up for himself when bullies came his way, being a coward, running from anything that had some meaning in his life. He regretted and regretted but never did something to stop the feeling from consuming him, and he was not going to start now. Not even when someone else was involved. Not even when he knew he would make them hate him. Because, what was one more person added to the list? He could deal with it, he always dealt with it.

But as he saw the burgundy BMW that belonged to the ex-king of Hawkins entering the motor home place where he lived, he thought he wouldn't be able to deal with the rejection reflected in those eyes that had captivated him from the very first moment.

“Max, I want you out in 5 seconds or you are staying here!” Called out Harrington, running a hand through his chocolate hair. He knew who he was calling. Max Mayfield. The girl who had moved there when the tragedy of Starcourt happened. She didn't talk much and was always walking around with her walk-man in her pocket, her face clean from any expression. She looked so lost all the time, like she also regretted something. Or a lot of things.

“I'm coming, you control freak!” the red head yelled back, slamming the door and stomping his way over to the older boy. Steve gave her a half smile and opened his arms, letting her go to the car. When she was next to one of the back seat doors, he tossed her his keys.

“I´ll be there in a second, gotta get someone first.”

“Yeah, I know. It's not like I haven't seen you here more than once picking your boyfriend up.” Steve blushed, opening his mouth to say something but opting to keep it close. If he said a thing about it, Max would only make it worse.

“Whatever.” and then he walked to Eddie's motorhome. The metal head checked himself out in the dirty mirror of his bedroom, nodding when he didn't find anything out of place. They were only going to the arcade, but he still wanted to look presentable. It didn't have to do with a certain beauty he was crushing on. “Munson! Get out, I still have to get like 3 more children!”

“Beauty takes time, Harrington!” he said while opening the door. He smiled cockily, crossing his arms and leaning in the doorframe, admiring the other boy´s flustered features. “Although you already know that.”

“I was born this way.” Steve answered while signaling his face, trying to outsmart him. Eddie laughed. 

“Are you guys gonna keep flirting or are we gonna go?” 

“Are you gonna keep being moody or do you want to stay here?” The brown haired boy asked, obtaining an eye roll from Max. However, he walked to the car and got in the passenger seat, starting the engine, Eddie behind him. He was about to open the co-driver door when Steve stopped him, an apologetic smile on his face. “Sorry, dude. If Dustin sees you here he's gonna throw a fit and I really don't want to deal with that.”

“Got it.” He jumped on the back seat, as far away from the red head as he could. The kid didn't say anything.

“Hey, Max.” asked Steve after a while, driving to Mike´s house, who lived closer. “Do you want to pick the music?”

Eddie was surprised. The other adult usually left whatever radio station was at the moment, preferring talking to him over listening to music. Maybe It was a tactic to get the girl speaking, or to get her in a better mood. 

“Do you still have that ABBA tape hidden in the glove box?” 

“Maxine Mayfield!” Yelped Steve, the tips of his ears getting redder by the second. Eddie barked out a laugh, finding absolutely funny the concept of an ex-ruler listening to that type of music.”Why did you say that!?” 

“You said I could pick the music.” She shrugged. “And I'm in an ABBA mood today.”

“I hate you.” he grumbled, but he did get the tape out and put it in the compartment, the start to Dancing Queen filling the car. Eddie hid his smile in the back of his hand, tapping along to the music. It wasn't his cup of tea, but he could enjoy ABBA, especially if Steve was gonna nod and mutter the songs along. “Could you be a darling and go get Wheeler?”

“Are you asking me or the girl?” Eddie asked, absorbing every little gesture Harrington made. 

“Whoever wants to go. I don't mind.” He was asking the kid. If he wasn't he wouldn't be blushing right now.

“Then he goes.” answered Mayfield, getting comfortable in her seat and sending a smart-ass look his way. She liked her already. 

“Then I go.” And that's what he did. He got out of the car, walked his way to the Wheeler´s door, rang the bell and waited until the aforementioned and Sinclair got out. “Let's go, little shits, or every good game is gonna be taken.”

“Like I care.” answered Mike, entering the car and sitting next to Max. Lucas stood next to the copilot's seat, not knowing what to do.

“Max, get in here and sit next to me. I´ll talk to Henderson.” The entire car felt silent, except for Money, Money, Money trying to fill in the quiet. The red head did what she was told awkwardly, while Lucas sat where she had. “What's with those faces?”

“Dustin is gonna kill you.” Mike said matter of factly.

“You literally didn´t let me sit there when I asked and I´m an adult. ” 

“I´m not letting Max be squished by all of you.” he simply answered, letting the conversation die. Another ABBA song played as background sound while Steve drove to the Henderson´s, Sinclair making disgusted faces all the way, along with Mike.

“Why are we listening to this shit?” asked Wheeler when Harrington stopped, sending Sinclair to retrieve Dustin.

“Because I like it and it´s my car. If you have a problem with ABBA then you can go by foot, dickhead.” that made the preteen shut up, but not without mumbling some incoherent things about how he couldn't wait to drive.

When Dustin reached the car, he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Max in his seat. However, he didn´t say anything and just dropped himself half on top of Sinclair, who tried to push him, to no avail. Steve drove, muttering the lyrics to the song that was on, Max imitating him. Eddie thought it was like watching an older brother and a little sister comforting each other through music, and his heart melted.

They arrived at the arcade 10 minutes later, all of the kids getting out as soon as the car was parked. But before any of them could go and lose themselves in a spiral of neon lights, music and shooting, Steve stopped them, his hands on his hips.

“Do all of you have quarters?” he asked. The kids showed him their hands full of coins as he dropped some more in them, especially in Max´s. “Good. If anyone gets lost just wait next to the car and I´ll come back looking for you, got it?” The preteens rolled their eyes and ran, not wanting to hear any more directions from their protector. “I haven't finished!”

“Do I get quarters too?” Eddie asked, smiling smugly at him. Steve huffed. “I'm a kid at heart, I want to play!”

“Another kid to take care of, great!” he said sarcastically. However, he got out some more coins and dropped them in his hands, looking away and entering the arcade. The metalhead almost died on the spot due to adorableness. 

“Harrington, wait up!” He passed an arm around his shoulders trying to stop him from walking so fast, which made them get closer. Eddie could smell Steve´s cologne, something between vanilla and wood, a thing that made him weak in the knees. He was down bad for this man. “Got ya.”

“Got me.” Steve murmured, nervous. His breath caught in his throat while looking at the hazel eyed man next to him. He could count every single freckle, beauty mark, and lashes. He was even prettier up close.

“Has anyone told you you are incredibly pretty?” Eddie, your gay is showing. Stop this instant before someone hears it.

“You're just mocking me, Munson.” 

“I´m not! Why would you believe that?” Steve looked at him, their noses touching with the unexpected movement. They parted ways, unable to look at each other right now. “You are a pretty boy, Harrington. I think I´ve told you before.”

“Someone I knew used to call me that. And he definitely wasn't saying it because it was true.”

“Well, I´m not him, Am I?” he asked, gaining strength and eyeing the other, who was passing a hand through his hair. “I'm serious, man. I'm not joking. You are insanely pretty.”

“Shut up.” Steve murmured, blushing until his whole face was red, his ears and neck included. These were Eddie´s favorite moments. When he would make Steve blush and the other would get shy because he was used to being the flirt, not receiving compliments that really meant something. “I guess you are not so bad yourself.”

“Steve Harrington thinks I'm attractive? Now I can leave this world in peace.”

“I said you weren't bad!”

“It's the same!”

“You guys are disgusting.” Both of them jumped. Max and Dustin where there, looking at them like they had murdered their entire family. “Absolutely disgusting.”

“What do you guys want?” Eddie asked, a little annoyed his time with Steve was being interrupted.

“I'm taking Steve to the karaoke machine.” Max simply said, grabbing Steve´s hand and leading him to where the microphone was. “Stop whining, you are coming whether you like it or not.”

“I don't even know how to sing!”

“Yeah, keep lying to yourself.” was the last thing Eddie heard before he was left alone with Dustin, who was looking at him expectantly. 

“What?”

“Spill it out.”

“I don't have anything in my mouth.” he said, confused. Henderson rolled his eyes and grabbed his wrist, taking him to the parking lot. “Henderson, you are scaring me.”

“Spill it out!”

“I don't have anything to spill!”

“Do you still think Steve´s a douchebag who hasn't changed?” Oh, so that's what he wanted to know.

“I don't know. He could be lying.” he said, not believing himself. “I need more time to get close to him and confirm it.”

“You both have been joined at the hip for a week! How do you not know!?”

“You don't know a person in a week, Henderson. It takes time!”

“Whatever you say.” Dustin was not believing him. He had that face on. The one who was judging him really, really hard. He hated it. “There's only three weeks left until this bet finishes. I hope that's enough time for you to get your shit together.”And then he left, entering the arcade again, the coins Steve had given him in one hand. 

Eddie sighed, letting out a frustrated growl. He certainly was a person of regret. In his life he hadn´t regret anything more than accepting that stupid bet, althought it was also the cause of him getting to know Steve.

However, the need to tell him was not enough to stop him. Because he knew that once the truth was out, those angel eyes were not going to look at him the same. He could wait a little more before losing him. Before Eddie would get out of his life, like he seemed to always do with everyone he loved. 

He didn't want to lose Steve Harrington, but his actions were not going to help him. Once again, he wasn't going to do anything to change himself. 

Eddie Munson was a person made from regret, and he was going to keep it that way until he broke another heart apart from his own.

Chapter Text

Another week had passed since the most terrifying discovery of Steve Harrington´s life and he certainly hadn't been panicking every time he had been close to Eddie. He really had not panicked back in his empty house when he came back from the arcade that night, where the metal head and ex-known freak had told him he was incredibly pretty. Or maybe he had, but only a little bit. 

But no one had ever told him he was pretty and meant it, he had the right to panic! All that flattery he was used to didn´t mean anything. Those who had done it in the past were only subjects to his old self, the one he didn´t want to come back to because he knew if he did, it would consume him.   

Knocking on the entrance of his expensive cage brought him out to reality. He got up from his bed, where he had been lying for an entire hour looking at the ceiling and listening to the radio, and went down the stairs. He opened the door and was tempted to close it when he saw Eddie Munson there, with his cocky smile and mischievous eyes. It just caught him by surprise, okay? Had he invoked him by thinking about him too much? 

“Such a great reception, Harrington!” Eddie whistled, checking him out from where he stood, a bag in his left hand. “I didn´t even know shorts could be this short.”

“What are you doing here?” he asked instead, ignoring the other´s comment but trying to hide behind the door. God, was this embarrassing. 

“Can´t I come visit my very good friend at his hell of a mansion?” 

“That's not what I meant, Munson.”

“Yeah, I know. I just love teasing you!” He said, pushing him out of the way and entering his house, stopping in the middle of the living room. Steve sighed, closing the door and crossing his arms, feeling exposed. “I actually came to see if you were free tonight.”

“At what time?”

“Around 10 pm, more or less, but you gotta go earlier.”

“Go where, dickhead? You´re not making any sense.” The metal head looked at him pleadingly, like he didn´t want to say it because he knew he was going to say no. “C'mon, Munson. I don´t bite, unless you want me to, of course.”

“You think you´re so funny using my own phrases on me.” Eddie replied, smiling proudly at him before looking away, scratching the back of his neck while color spread through his cheeks. “You know I have a band, right?”

“Yeah, so?”

“Well, we got a gig in the town next door and I was wondering if you would like to come.” 

Steve went still, surprised by the other´s request. Was he really asking him to go see him play the guitar he treated like a girlfriend? Probably hear him sing some choruses too? He was going to faint. He felt like the main character of a romantic movie. 

“Sure, man. I get out of work at 7 pm. I have enough time to get ready and go wherever this gig is.” 

“Cool. Cool. ” He could see him let out a breath of relief, his whole face lighting up by the smik Eddie gave him. “Then here you have.” Steve took the bag he had been eyeing since the other had interrupted his self deprecation and opened it, finding a piece of black fabric inside.

“What 's this?”

“Just take it out, dude.” Eddie answered, rolling his eyes. The brown haired male took the fabric into his hands, finding out it was actually a T-shirt that read: The Corroded Coffin, with a guitar getting out of a, you would never guess, corroded wooden coffin and a skull on the side. The letters reminded him of a horror film. “It 's for you. To wear it there so everyone knows you are my groupie.” 

“I haven't been to one of your concerts in my life, asshole.” he said, good-naturedly. “How am I going to be a groupie?”

“Nobody has to know that. It'll be our dirty little secret. I'll even be nice enough to let you meet the rest of the group, maybe get your T-shirt signed. What do you think?”

Steve looked at the piece of fabric that was actually making his stomach flatter and then at the man who made his heart beat faster. Seeing the hope in the other´s dark ponds gave him an immediate answer. He hugged the black t-shirt tighter to his chest, as if trying to protect it from prying hands. 

“Do I have to make a banner asking you to make me yours on the stage?” He asked jokingly, regretting it the second the words left his mouth. Contrary to his own beliefs, Eddie just looked at him as if the words were engraved on his skin.

“Only if you want to, that is. You can also throw your underwear. Whatever suits you best.” 

“I think I'll stick with wearing the t-shirt and screaming your name when you come on stage.”

“That's also a very valid option, sweetheart.” There he was again with the pet names. 

“Can I bring Robin with me?” He asked, shy. He didn´t want to go alone and embarrass himself in front of his crush, even if his best friend would shame him at any time she could. Eddie´s face was still smiling, but his eyes lost some of the playfulness they had shown before.

“Sure, man. You can bring whoever you want.” After stating that sentence, he went to the door and bowed, smirking up at him like he had been doing his entire visit. “By the way, you have a map on the bag so you know where you have to go. See ya later, alligator!” and then he left, leaving Steve in the middle of the living room still clutching the dark fabric and smiling like a complete idiot. 

He sighed, ruffling his already messy hair, and climbed the stairs to his bedroom, where he spent two hours getting ready for work because he couldn't stop getting distracted by the t-shirt that laid on his mattress. It was just there . Reminding him about Eddie everytime he looked at it. He was going mad.

After getting dressed, he grabbed his keys and got in his car, driving to Family Video with a smile too wide. Robin frowned at him when he saw him enter the store, weirded out by this sudden mood. 

“Have you been drugged again?” she asked as soon as he was by her side, grabbing a broom from the staff´s closet and starting to clean. “You're too smiley for my liking.”

“Can´t I just be happy?”

“Stop pretending and let it out, dingus.” Steve laughed, dropping the act of actually cleaning and jumping on the counter, getting comfortable. Robin did the same.”What has your panties in a twist?”

“Eddie invited me to a gig he has next town, tonight.” Robin seemed surprised, if the way her already wide eyes widened. “He even went to my house this morning and gave me a T-shirt to wear there.”

“ Jesus Christ. You´re like the good girl who gets the bad boy in those horrible teen movies we watch.” 

“ Dude .”

“Don't dude me, dude.”

“Whatever.” he said, thinking about how to bring the topic to his best friend. “Hey, Rob?”

“Yeah?”

“Would you come with me?” They fell silent. Robin looked at her friend with conflict in her eyes, not knowing what to do because she knew too much. “Please, Rob. I don't want to go alone. I would feel so out of place.”

“Fine.” she answered, forgetting all about her worries due to the sunny smile Steve gave her. “But I'm taking Nancy.”

“It´s concerning how well you get along with my ex-girlfriend.”

“You are the common factor of our blossoming relationship.” Steve laughed, getting off the counter when he heard the jingle of the bell above the door. “Time to work.”

The hours passed too fast, a thing Steve appreciated most days, but not when he was about to go see his crush play with his metal band. He said goodbye to Robin, not before agreeing an hour to leave and pick Nancy and her up, and left for his house, where the first thing he did was take a shower. When he stood in front of his bed, his hair damp and his feelings running high, he took the t-shirt and took it to his nose, where he inhaled the pure essence of Eddie Munson. Cigarettes and soil. 

He signed, putting on some tight jeans and said t-shirt and trying to style his hair the best he could. When the clock struck 9:15 pm, he left his house again, in search of his friends. Nancy smiled at him when he picked her up, getting herself in the back seat, knowing Robin would call shotgun as soon as she saw the car. 

“i didn´t know you were friends with Eddie.” The girl said when the blond was already with them, too focused on choosing what music to hear. She was eyeing a David Bowie cassette Jonathan had given him when he left for California, deciding if it was the best for their ride.

“Yeah, we started hanging out some weeks ago.”

“That 's nice.” That tone meant it wasn´t. Steve had spent too much time figuring out Nancy´s expressions. He knew she wasn't thrilled with the idea of Eddie and him being friends.

“Yeah.” he opted to say, not wanting to start an argument he knew was coming. Robin put the cassette on and started nodding along to Lady Stardust , ignoring them but eyeing him from time to time. 

“I also didn´t know you liked this kind of music.” she said, referring to Eddie´s band.

“Are you trying to say something, Nancy?” Her questions were putting him on edge. She was implying something underneath all that chit chat. And he hoped it wasn't what he thought it was.

“No, It's just weird you two are so close and that you actually agreed to go to something you don't like.”

“Well, he's my friend and he invited me. I don't see the problem.” Silence. David Bowie on the radio. Robin tapping her fingernails anxiously on the window. Oh, it was coming. 

“What I'm trying to say, Steve, is that these are things people do when they like someone.”

Steve almost stopped the car. Almost being the key word. However, he lifted his hand and smacked Robin on the back of her neck, gaining a yell from her and a giggle from Nancy. He was going to kill Robin Buckley one of these days. Definitely soon if she kept saying things to Nancy about him.

“I can´t believe you told her, Robin!” 

“I didn´t say anything, you asshole! I would never!”

“Wait, tell me what exactly?” Steve eyed his best friend and then directed his eyes to the rearview mirror, where Nancy had her hands on her lap, waiting for an answer. “If it is that you like Eddie, I figured it out. Robin didn´t say anything.”

“What?” he couldn't believe it. How had she known? He thought he was being subtle about this whole thing! “I don't like Eddie, that's ridiculous.”

“It's okay, Steve. I don't mind if you also like boys.” The aforementioned made a frustrated sound and kept driving, surprised by his ex-girlfriend´s deductive skills. “Robin truly didn´t tell me, Steve, I swear. It's just that you were acting weird and I connected the dots. You´re kind of easy to read”  She asnwered, laughing a little. Steve didn´t know what to say, so he felt silent. They were almost there. He could drown himself in sorrow when the music started. “ However, I do mind that you like Eddie.”

“Eddie is cool, girls. I don't know why you two don't like him.” 

“He's not my cup of tea” Answered Robin, shrugging.

“Thank God is mine, then.” Both of his friends laughed, deciding to drop the topic and concentrate on the music and the road.

Half an hour later they were parking in a bar next to what looked like a hundred motorbikes. Steve swallowed, straightening his t-shirt and getting out, Nancy and Robin not too far from him. They entered the place, receiving a couple of glances and got closer to the stage. He pinpointed Eddie next  to the other guys from the Hellfire club, but he didn´t approach him because they were preparing to play. He looked drop dead gorgeous to his eyes. His heart skipped a bit.

After talking to the girls for a couple of minutes about the people around them, the lights started to dim and a guy with too many piercings grabbed the mike, looking just about bored. He tapped it two times before nodding and eyeing the large crowd in front of him.

“Thanks for coming.” he said, with a monotonous voice that bored Steve to death. “We have the pleasure to have one hell of a group tonight. And now, without further delay: the Corroded Coffin.”

The crowd erupted in applause, Steve too, obtaining a laugh from Nancy and a fake gag from Robin. Eddie took his guitar and caressed it before putting it on his shoulder. Then, he started to search the crowd for a familiar face, until he found it. The smile he gave him made his entire face burst into flames. How could someone look that happy to see him? No one ever had been that enthusiastic about his presence. It made his heart expand in his chest.

“Are you ready to break your necks?” Gareth said into the mike, making some people laugh. Eddie was still looking at him like his sole presence was a blessing to the concert and Steve seemed like he couldn't look away either. “Then let's start with the madness!”

And then they were playing and Steve wasn't able to look away from the hands full of rings that cherished the guitar. Not even when Robin told him they were getting drinks. Not even when the songs started to change. There was something magical in the way those fingers moved through the strings. It was captivating.

It wasn´t until the singer said they were taking a break that he came back to reality. He looked away, embarrassed, and moved around dancing people to the counter, where he searched for any of his companions. When he didn´t see blond wavy or curly brown hair, he just sighed and asked for a beer. When he was about to pay it, a strong hand stopped him, giving cash to the bartender. He looked up, finding deep green eyes and a captivating smile. 

“Hey. I hope you don't mind me paying for your beer.” the guy said, leaning on the bar, still smiling. 

“Of course not, man. I actually appreciate it, thanks.” he answered, kind of uncomfortable. Was this guy flirting with him? This had never happened to him before. The guy was handsome, he couldn't deny it, but he also wasn't Eddie, so his interest was not there. However, he couldn't avoid feeling flattered about getting a man like that getting interested in his person. 

“Cool! I´m Adam, by the way. What's your name?” 

“Steve.” he didn´t know why he was being so awkward. He was a lady´s man! It seemed he was actually shy when guys were involved. 

“I´ve never seen you here, Steve.” Adam said, getting a little closer. “I've actually never seen you in one of these concerts. Trust me, I wouldn't have forgotten a face like yours.” He blushed, not knowing what to say.

“My friend´s in the band and he invited me, so here I am.” 

“Which one is your friend?”

“The guitarist.” he replied, trying discreetly to look for Nancy and Robin, but to no avail. They weren't visible with so many people around. Suddenly the guy came even closer to him, whispering in his ear. He was now freaking out, not used to this at all.

“Hey this might sound weird but do you wanna go outside? Talk a little more comfortably?” 

Not really. He didn´t want to go. He was about to say that when a familiar figure came into view. He let out a breath he didn´t know he was holding when Eddie passed through some people until he was right by his side, pulling him close by the shoulders, an intimidating look in his eyes.

“Sweetheart!” he said, smiling at him. “I thought I lost you. Could´t find you with so many people here.” 

“I came to get something to drink, dude.” The guy was backing out a bit, looking between both of them, like he was trying to figure something out.

“Nice, that's great.” What was with Eddie? He seemed angry all of a sudden. “Well, you should come with me now. I found Buckley and Wheeler.”

“Thank God, I thought I would have to go alone tonight.”

“That could have been arranged, honey.” Oh God. That guy was a total creep. Eddie hugged him closer, a fire burning on his dark eyes.

“Yeah, too bad he's with me, asshole. Now, if you excuse us, we have more important things to do.” And then Munson started to drag him, the arm around his shoulders running down until it was on his waist, a secure weight there. Steve swallowed, suddenly very aware of their proximity.

But instead of going where his friends were supposed to be, Eddie took him out, where the starry night reminded him of that night full of beers and truthful forgiveness. He looked at the metal head, who hadn't let go of him yet.

“Eddie?”

“You look amazing with my shirt on, darling.” see? The way he was using pet names was enough to make him weak in the knees. It was nothing like the guy from before, who had made him completely and utterly disgusted.

“Not more than you playing guitar.” he answered, feeling the hand on his waist tighten. Steve took advantage of the situation and leaned on his side, thanking the few inches of height difference.

“I saw you in the crowd. That's why I played better than ever.”

“I thought about throwing you my underwear, but it was too much trouble.” Eddie laughed quietly, not wanting to disturb their moment.

“I would have loved it.”

“Then I'll think about it for next time.” 

“You want to come again?” he asked, eyeing him with a soft smile on his face.

“Yeah, dude.” he blushed, suddenly feeling shy. “I mean, if you want to.”

“Of course I want to, sweetheart. It's always nice seeing you.”

“Nice.”

“Nice.”

And it was nice . The two of them together under the stars, hearing each other's breathing and enjoying their proximity. Eddie turned him around minutes later, when the sound from the inside of the bar was beginning to quieten, implying the show was about to start again. He looked at him with something akin to determination and suddenly he was kissing his cheek, running inside after doing so.

Steve grabbed the place where the other´s lips had been seconds ago and felt his whole face reddening. 

He was falling in love with Eddie Munson. He hoped this wasn´t as bullshit as Nancy had thought their relationship was.

Chapter Text

It took three weeks into this new and extravagant friendship for Steve Harrington and Max Mayfield to admit the unacceptable to them: they hadn't seen Star Wars.

It had been a rather uneventful day when it happened. After hours of deciding what to do in their designated meeting place (The Wheeler's basement), they had decided getting ice cream in the ice cream parlor down the street was the best option to spend the day without dying of heat. After getting their belongings, they had left the house, not without Karen making them take Holly, who was clad in a fisherman's hat and too much sunscreen for her liking. 

The kid had looked at Steve with a pout and had raised her hands, indicating he wanted the older to pick her up. Eddie hadn't been surprised when he had done it. Everyone knew Steve Harrington was a sucker for little kids.

"I still don't understand why you just don't go to your brother, little demon." The Ex-ruler had said playfully, tickling her tummy. Holly, who never let down an opportunity to humiliate her brother, just shrugged and pointed to the preteen who shared her same blood with her eyes lit up.

"Mike 's dumb. You're pretty." 

"That's what I've been telling him, tiny Wheeler. You have good taste!" Eddie raised his hand and lifted it in front of the toddler, who high fived him with a giggle. Steve pushed him away, his face crimson red from the compliments.

"Don't teach the kid those things, Munson." 

"C'mon, sweetheart. She's right either way!"

"Could you two stop putting my sister against me?" Mike asked, already exhausted by their banter. He approached Harrington and extended his lanky arms in an attempt to get Holly to go with him, a thing that obviously didn't happen. The girl just stuck her tongue out and adjusted herself in Steve's arms, making a point to his brother. Mike rolled his eyes. "Brat."

"Wheeler, that's no way to talk to your sister!" Eddie replied amused, gaining a smile from the group of kids. 

"Can you two shut up?” asked Max exasperated behind them, with her earphones on her shoulders. She gave Steve her backpack and got out a new cassette, not without rewinding it for later and nodding to him in thanks. “You're noisy.”

“Well, this is a free country so I don't really have to listen to you.”

“Such a clever and not used before comeback, Mike. You almost made me proud.” The girl answered, Dustin roaring with laughter at the face his friend had made at the comment. Steve only sighed, already tired for the day. 

Holly petted his hair, trying to console him. He smiled.

“Just shut up, all of you. We´re here.” and even Eddie had to admit he was thankful for it. He liked the kids, but they were a handful. He didn´t know how Steve managed to keep them in line, at least most of the time. “Now go and get your ice creams, shitheads. Munson and I will look for a table.”

“Yes, sir!” And that's how both of them had been sitting at a table, one in front of the other, with a toddler who wouldn't stop asking for ice cream and waiting for 4 pre teens who couldn't stop arguing about the best flavor. “These kids are nuts, man.”

“You tell me.” Answered Steve, his cheeks flushed because of the heat and his eyes shining thanks to his yellow t-shirt. Eddie couldn't help but stare. He was pretty. “They're coming. I´m gonna get something for Holly. Do you want anything?”

“A Chocolate Milkshake, with extra whipped cream and a cherry.”

“I knew you were another child.” He said, making Holly giggle and say something about how she wanted one too. Steve just nodded to whatever the kid was telling while walking to the counter to get served.

Meanwhile, the others sat down together, their ice creams in hand and their discussion still on. He should have left with Harrington. He didn´t want to hear their petty discussion, even if he was the king of them.

“I´m telling you, you can´t be Han Solo, Mike.” Dustin continued, licking his cookie dough cone. “You're nothing like him.”

“What do you mean I´m nothing like him? I´m his spitting image!” 

“Yeah, Dustin. Mike´s as arrogant and cocky as Solo. Of course they're the same!” Lucas added, smiling at Max, who just turned her head to the other side while biting down his vanilla ice cream.

“But he just wants to be Han because he gets Leia. And El can´t be Leia.” the other argued. “I love El, but she's more like Yoda or something.”

“El isn't Yoda, dude. Why the fuck would you even say that?” Mike started, aggravated by what they were saying of her girlfriend.

“Mike, just think about it. She kinda sounds like him, she's really strong with the Force and she's nice in a weird way!” Henderson explained, pointing every argument with his fingers. Eddie snorted, finding the situation amusing.

“Who the hell is El?” he asked instead of adding something to the conversation. Lucas pointed at Wheeler and made kissy noises, Dustin joining him. “Oh, I get it. Why so quiet about your little girlfriend, Wheeler?”

“It's none of your business.”

“She´s in Cali with Will right now.” His friends supplied.

“So that's why you're so moody all the time!” He said, laughing. Mike flipped him off, embarrassed. “Either way, dude. You can't be Han Solo just because you want a girl. That 's sad.”

“Besides, Leia is Max. End of discussion.” Lucas ended, obtaining a nod from himself and Dustin and a groan from Mike. The girl stopped looking out of the window and glared at them, although more with confusion than with fury.

“I don't know what you guys are talking about.” 

“Max, c´mon. You´ve seen Star Wars!” The table felt silent. Eddie watched the scene with betrayal, making room for Steve, who was coming with a child clinged to his right leg, two ice creams and a milkshake. He took his treat and smiled sweetly at Harrington, who looked away and sat Holly in the middle. “You´ve seen it, right?”

“No, I haven't.” Their faces contorted in one of pure shock. Only the sound of the youngest making a mess of her ice cream could be heard. “What, douchebags? Stop looking at me like that.”

“I just can't believe it!” Dustin replied, still in awe. “We're watching the trilogy tonight.”

“What are you guys talking about?” Steve then asked, cleaning Holly´s mouth with a napkin. The child smiled, thanking him.

“Max hasn´t seen Star Wars. We gotta show her what she's missing.”

“Are those movies the ones about space, fights and all that crap?” he asked. Eddie fell on the table dramatically, along with Dustin. Even Mike looked at him like he was crazy.

“We're definitely having a movie marathon tonight.” Eddie declared, passing an arm around Steve´s shoulders and squishing Holly at the same time, making the child laugh. “We have to teach these lost padawans the way of the Force.”

And that's how they ended in Family Video renting the three VHS with Steve´s employee discount and walking back to the Wheeler´s, where Mike asked Karen if they could stay the night. One look at Steve was all it took for her to say yes.

They got comfortable where they could, the kids opting to sprawl on the floor with a bowl of popcorn while Eddie dragged Steve to the worn-out couch, as close to him as possible. Max decided her fate by choosing the loveseat, where she stared at the TV like it had done something to her.

Then Dustin got up and put the tape, clearing his throat and opening his arms trying to give emphasis to his words.

“Well, good night, young padawans! Tonight we are here to introduce the Force to some lost children that want to find their way into greatness. So, without further ado, we are going to show them the adventures of our one and only Luke Skywalker. May the Force be with you!” 

Eddie repeated his last words, as well as Lucas and Mike, even though the latter would be too embarrassed to admit he had done it. The film started with nothing else to comment, everyone looking at the screen. However, it was just impossible for Eddie to watch the movie when he had what could be considered the love of his life only inches apart from him, focusing as much as possible on the plot to notice him staring. 

Steve was trying to understand what was happening for them. It made his stomach flutter in his chest, too full of love to even comprehend it.

It wasn´t until Harrison Ford took the scene that he felt Steve shift by his side.

“What's wrong?” he asked, concerned. Then he took in his flush image and hid a laugh. “It's your first time seeing Harrison Ford?”

“What?” Steve whispered back, not retrieving his eyes from the TV. “No, dude. I´ve seen Indiana Jones, I´m not that lost.” 

“You sure lost yourself in his eyes.” That got the other to look at him, only to push him away hiding a smile. Eddie got up from his lay down position on the couch and got even closer to his crush, trying the old fashioned trick of yawning to put an arm around the other's shoulders. 

When Harrington didn´t say anything and even got comfortable on his chest, he knew he had won in life.

“Princess Leia is definitely Max.” Steve said, pointing at the girl, who flipped him off. He replied with the same gesture, obtaining a smirk from her. “She has an attitude, I like it.”

“Which one am I?” he asked amused, completely ignoring the film. He was going to take them back to his trailer and watch them tomorrow. He could enjoy them better without the distraction of a pair of beautiful eyes. 

“You're definitely Jabba the Hutt.” 

“Excuse me? Are you trying to be funny? Because you´re hurting my feelings, princess.” 

“You look like him, Munson. I don´t make the rules.” Steve was trying not to laugh to not bother the kids, but he was failing miserably, especially when Eddie had decided he needed to be taught a lesson and started to trickle his sides. “Stop! Henderson is gonna murder us, douchbag.”

“You just have to take back what you say, because I'm definitely not Jabba the Hutt, I'm Han Solo.”

“Why are all of you so obsessed with being him? I want to be Luke.”

“You are Luke, Steve.” Henderson said matter-of-factly, joining their conversation out of the blue. Eddie nodded, approving the imaginary cast, while Lucas and Max shushed them, actually paying attention to the film. “You always want to help, are kind of naïve, and are probably the only one who will fall in love with a girl he just met who in reality is…” 

“Is what?” he asked, confused. 

“That would spoil everything. I´m keeping quiet.” and all of them focused again on the movie.

They had seen the first one already, commenting on it a little between them and asking their new padawans what they had thought of it. Max hadn't said anything, but she had liked it. At least that's what her eyes were showing. Steve, on the other hand, didn´t want to say a thing about his opinion until he had seen the other two. Henderson looked at Eddie and smiled. They both knew the film had gotten Harrington interested.

“Let's keep going!” Lucas hurried, stuffing his mouth with popcorn, which made Mike groan with disgust. 

Henderson put the second one and they watched in silence. Eddie was focused on the scene in front of them: Han Solo had just rescued Luke from the agonizing cold and was opening the tauntaun, getting the blond in so he wouldn't freeze to death, when Steve got close to his ear, whispering something. 

It made the hairs in the back of his neck stand in alarm and enthusiasm. 

“Those two sure are close.” the brown-haired man said, seeing as they were being rescued by the rebels and taken into the compound. “Too close.”

“What are you implying?” Asked Eddie, trying to see what he meant.

“I don't know, dude. They're just very suspicious.”

“Han and Luke?”

“Yeah, just look at them. I swear to God that if Leia wasn't there they would be kissing.” To say the statement didn´t surprised Eddie would be lying. Why was Steve, the straightest man he knew, pointing that out? 

“Are you okay with that?” he asked then, curious. More for himself than anything. Could he have a chance?

“With what?”

“With two guys kissing.” They fell silent. Eddie stared at the TV, unable to look at the other´s eyes and see rejection. Steve just laughed, hiding the sound with the back of his hand. “What's so funny?”

“You think I would point that out if I was disgusted by the idea?” Well, that was true. “I don't really mind. Anyone can love who they want.”

“That's good to hear.” he murmured, feeling brave and putting the other closer to him. 

They stayed like that for the entire movie, even when Steve raised his hands in the air incredulously, his breathtaking eyes huge with confusion. Even Max, who had been still all the film, was shocked.

“You're telling me Darth Vader is his father?” Steve asked, surprised, too shocked to say anything else.

“What the hell is this?” contributed Max to the commotion, deciding to change seats and sit with the other kids on the floor, where she could watch more closely. Lucas made some space for her and offered some of his snacks, beaming at the red-haired girl when she took a bite of a chocolate bar. “I don't get it.”

“Me neither!” Eddie laughed, enjoying their reactions. He felt the same when he was little and his uncle had shown him the films for the first time. “And now they have to get Han Solo from the fucking mercenaries! How are they going to do that? The guy has been frozen in carbonite, what the fuck.”

“You'll have to see in the next one.” Henderson said, waving the VHS in front of his friend, who just nodded impatiently. 

“And what's with Leia? Does she like Han or Luke? I'm so confused.” 

“Just watch the movie, shithead.”

“Henderson I swear to God, if you call me shithead one more time I'm gonna start charging you for Gas”

“Get it. I'll shut up.” Eddie laughed, grabbing a soda from the refrigerator in the basement and sitting down next to Steve again, the other getting closer without him having to do anything. It was comforting.

The third movie went about the same. Now the comments were more frequent, especially in some scenes, but they were having the time of their lives. Even Mike, who usually just stayed out of the conversation, joined in with the joy a fifteen year old was supposed to have. It was nice.

What was not nice was the hour they finished the marathon. 6 am. Jesus Fucking Christ .

“I can't believe they're siblings.” Max mentioned, yawning, eyes closed. Steve nodded, exhausted, but got up from his seat next to him and turned off the TV, taking Henderson´s cap out of his head in the way and ruffling his hair, so he could be more comfortable. Lucas was sprawled in the middle of the floor already sleeping, Mike next to him hugging a pillow. Harrington grabbed a bed sheet that was lying around and covered their bodies, saving them from the morning chill. He did the same with Max, not without accommodating her so her neck and back wouldn't hurt when she woke up. 

Once he was satisfied, he threw himself at him, letting his head rest on his shoulder. He brought a bed sheet with him too to cover them with it. The scene was cozy, and Eddie's heart couldn't believe how lucky he was to be able to enjoy it.

“Sleep tight, Skywalker.” he whispered in the other´s hair, delighted by the smell of Steve Harrington. 

“You too, Han Solo.” the other murmured with his eyes closed, too tired to register he was pressed to Eddie´s side, which was warm and made his entire system shut down.

When he woke up, Steve was practically on top of him, his head on his chest and his arms around his middle.

Eddie Munson was indeed the luckiest person alive at the moment.

Chapter Text

Steve was genuinely confused about Eddie's music taste. It was just so different from his own preferences. 

Where one punched you with its loud noise, the other caressed you with its soft melodies. Where one had musicians covered in leather and clothes as dark as the night itself, the other had as many colours as the rainbow, makeup changing their expressions. One made your heart throb behind your ribcage, the other relaxed until you fell asleep. Even the emotions they showed to the listeners were nothing alike. Adrenaline came from most of Eddie's ones, while Steve's could go from one feeling to another in mere seconds.

That's why although trying to understand it and even go as far as attend a metal concert where Munson was one of the members, that type of music didn't make him feel anything. Well, sometimes a dull headache.

"Harrington." Steve rolled his eyes, trying to divert the attention so his creeping smile couldn't be seen. "Is so nice to see you."

"We saw each other yesterday, dude." 

"And that's too many hours without your presence!" Robin groaned from her position in the Romance Section. He didn't know if it was because of the awful movies they had received yesterday or because of what Eddie had just said. "Either way, I came here to give you a little something, and to bother Mrs Buckley here."

Robin flipped him off, obtaining a laugh. They had been getting along better this past week, or that's what he wanted to believe.

After the whole exchange, the metal head got out from his vest pocket a cassette, his smug smile turning almost shy. Steve glanced at it, his warm eyes filled with curiosity.

"What 's that?" he asked, trying to get a look at what was written in the case.

"A mixtape." The other replied, still not showing him the full object. "It's for you."

"Oh." Steve was paralyzed. It was the first time in his life someone that mattered to him had given him a compilation of songs. "Thanks, Eddie."

It was also the first time Steve had used Eddie's name in his presence. He felt his cheeks grow pink, enjoying how the other male's did the same. 

"Don't need to thank me, man." the curly haired man said while waving the weird atmosphere off. "I just needed to show you what good music sounded like." 

"I will still stand by Madonna's side on this, Munson." 

"That's because you haven't heard Tommy Iommi's guitar solos. You will change your mind soon." 

"Sure." he said sarcastically, receiving the tape from Eddie's hands, blushing a lot more when their hands brushed each other. His face felt on fire when he decided to remember the kiss the other had given him on the cheek a week prior. "Thanks again, man."

"No need." Eddie smiled, averting his eyes. 

"Are you free tonight?" he asked then, his heart speaking instead of his mind.

"Uh? Yeah, why?" was the flirtatious Eddie Munson nervous? That was new.

"Do you wanna go to the Quarry? I can give you an opinion about your mixtape there, if you want." 

"Yeah, that sounds great!" Munson replied, still not looking at him, embarrassed. "See you there at 10." 

And then he left, almost running away from Family Video and leaving Steve and Robin looking at each other confused.

"I knew you usually spooked your dates but this is on another level."

"I didn't do anything, did I?" he asked, questioning their interaction. He glanced at the tape on his hands and turned it around, breathing in as he read what was written on the surface. 

Robin, the annoying little shit she could be when she wanted to, took it from his hands and read it out loud, laughing.

" Metal songs that remind me of you ." she said, eyeing the songs inside. "Aww, that 's gay."

"Robin, could you please not say those things in public?"

"What? The word gay? You take all the fun from life, Harrington." 

"I just don't want people to come at me with torches and pointy things."

"Did you finally watch Frankenstein?" Robin asked while giving him the cassette back, a smug smile on her freckled face. "Now you're gonna get all paranoid."

"I assure you, Rob, after the shit we've been through, Frankenstein is the least of my problems."

"Don't underestimate the power of a fictional monster, Stevie Boy." He rolled his eyes, stretching his arm and catching his friend's elbow, pulling her close so he could put her in a headlock and ruffle her hair. "Stop right this instance, Steve!"

"You deserve this treatment after calling me Stevie Boy! That's something only a douchebag would say."

"I heard Eddie call you that the other day!" 

"Eddie is different!"

"I'm your best friend, I deserve special treatment too!"

And that's how they kept their shift, full of friendly teasing, banter and movies.

When Steve got out of work and drove Robin home to make sure she was safe, he made his way to his own house, where he got into more comfortable clothes. Then he sat on his bed and stared at the poster he had on the wall in front of him, Madonna smiling at him with what could be called mockery.

She was laughing at him for delaying the inevitable: listening to the cassette he held in his hands with care. He sighed. He still had 3 hours left until he had to meet Eddie, he could do this.

"You just have to listen to it, Harrington. Don't be such a loser." He said to himself, the words echoing in his empty room. "You can pay him back by doing one for him."

He then got up and walked determined to the radio, putting the tape inside and exhitantly pressing play.

A guitar startled him. It wasn't what he was expecting at all. It sounded pained, lamented, but also melancholic. He heard the lyrics much clearer than other metal songs he had listened to and what he heard made him smile, flustered.

" I'm a prisoner of your eyes , uh?" If only Eddie knew that his eyes were the ones that made him lose himself. That they were a lake and he was the poor man that always drowned in them, never learning his lesson.

He took the radio and sprawled on the bed, listening to the rest and actually enjoying them. He was touched. Not only had Eddie chosen songs whose lyrics he could relate to, but he had tried to go for more gentle melodies because he knew he didn't like loud noises. 

"You are going to be the death of me, Eddie Munson." 

Closing his eyes, Steve let himself feel the music, the emotions those well-selected songs tried to show the listener, and tried to imagine how Eddie must have felt while choosing every single one. They were accurate and some of the lyrics made him feel exposed, like his deepest thoughts were on a silver plate, ready for everyone to look at them and laugh. 

Especially the penultimate song. 

Even its name was concerning: Cries in the Night. 

“ Yeah, I'm trying to get away, get away from it all, I stand and scream; I'm not gonna crawl. ” he murmured along with the melody, actually feeling his eyes start to water. “Uh, maybe metal songs can have more than one emotion.”

After finishing the mixtape, he changed clothes, trying to look presentable (even if they only were going to exchange opinions, he wanted to look his best. It was Eddie who he was going to see, after all.) Once the clock in the hallway struck 9:30 pm, he grabbed his keys and left his house, anticipating their meeting. 

Hanging out with Eddie Munson had become one of his favorite activities, other than babysitting his kids, only if he had to be honest with himself.

When he arrived at the Quarry, the curly haired male was already there, pacing from one place to another with a frustrated look on his face. However, every trace of said frustration faded away when he lifted his head and saw his car parking. 

“Nice of you for showing up, Harrington!”

"It's literally 10 pm, Munson. I'm never late, never early." he said shrugging, hopping on the hood of his car and expecting Eddie to do the same. However, the other stood in front of him, close enough to touch him but not doing it yet.

"Sooo, did you listen to the mixtape?" the metal head asked, averting his eyes. 

"Yeah, I did." he answered, doing the same. 

The air was tense. Steve didn't know why it was so awkward between the two of them since this morning, but it was starting to make him feel extremely nauseous. What if Eddie regretted his decision of giving him the tape? What if he had realized Steve Harrington wasn't worth it ? 

"Did you…" Eddie trailed off, swallowing nervously. "like it?" 

That was a question he could answer without feeling his world fall apart.

"Yeah, dude! I was actually surprised. I thought you gave me another one by accident or something"  that seemed to relax Eddie, because his shoulders weren't tense anymore and he was smiling smugly, like he always did.

"I spent an embarrassing amount of time going through my tapes to see which ones you would enjoy." Steve laughed, feeling something warm and extrangelly familiar settle on his chest. "I also might or might not have been specifically looking for the ballads."

"Do I give off ballads vibes?" he asked, amused.

"Well, I'm not the one who has like 4 mixtapes on his glove compartment titled: Ballads that actually make me cry ." 

"I do not have that there! They're at home because if Henderson finds them out he's gonna make fun of me for the rest of my life!"

"So you do have 4 tapes titled ballads that actually make me cry." 

"I hate you." They laughed.

The atmosphere changed to what he was used to: calm, warm, a feeling of being home that Steve had only ever felt in the presence of his children and Robin. 

Eddie, now more relaxed and back again with his flirty personality that made his heart jump behind his ribcage, got closer than before, finally touching him and putting his hands on his knees, his body in between his legs. 

He was going to have a heart attack. He was going to die here, in the middle of nowhere, with the man he had fallen in love with between his legs, looking at him like he was the most beautiful artwork in the art gallery. His breath caught on his throat.

"Did you listen to the lyrics?" Eddie asked, looking at him with intensity. Steve nodded, starting to feel nervous. "Did I get them right?"

"What?" his brain was shutting off. He was having an aneurysm and in the myst of being unconscious, he was dreaming about this. This just couldn't be real.

"You read the title of the mixtape, right?"

"Yeah. Metal songs that remind me of you ." 

"Did I get them right, then?" He was getting closer. 

They were not about to kiss. They were not about to kiss, right? Because he was actually going to faint if that was the case. 

"You did." he murmured, feeling hot all over. He thanked the beautiful night above them for hiding the color of his cheeks.

"Good."

And then he was pulling out of the intimacy of their position and looking at the sky like the touch had burned. Steve was having none of it. He wanted to feel the warmth of the other again. 

"So, you're a prisoner of my eyes, eh?" he asked, gaining a long stare full of emotions that had been conveyed in the songs he had been listening at his house. 

" God , I hope that wasn't too cheesy." 

"No. It also reminded me of you, you know?"  he said, feeling brave for once. "You have beautiful eyes, Munson."

"Well, the man with the prettiest eyes I've ever seen can't say that in my presence." He was close again. Thank God for his boldness.

"I can and I said it."

"You're a little shit, you know that?"

"Robin says that too." he answered, smiling amused. "But at least I'm a pretty one, right?"

"The most breathtaking one." Eddie said, mere centimeters away from him. Anticipation bubbled inside of him. 

And then he was pulling away again and going to his car, turning the engine on and taking out one of his cassettes from the glove compartment. Steve stayed there for a few minutes, a little disappointed but also glad. He might have been delighted by the idea, but he also wanted their first kiss to be emotional and more meaningful. 

Not for nothing they knew him as a hopeless romantic.

"What are you doing with my car, Munson?" he asked, now curious, trying to forget the previous moment.

"I'm trying to find a song."

"Why?"

"Because I wanna dance with you." 

That was all it took for Steve to fall in another trance while Eddie looked for the song he wanted. He hopped off the hood and stayed in the middle of the Quarry, looking at the waves that stirred the ocean.

"Ah! got ya!" a soft melody invaded the quiet place. Eddie got out of the car with a huge smile, running to him and offering a hand, standing like a lord would in a ball. "Would you do me the honor of granting me a dance, my lord?" 

Steve laughed, as happy as he had been in a long time, and mimicked the others' bow, taking his offering hand.

"It would be a pleasure."

And then they were fooling around in the Quarry, listening to the soft voice of a singer he didn't care to recognize at the moment. Both going round and round, grabbing their hands, enjoying the proximity of their bodies.

At one point of the night, they started to slow dance, like they were the only ones invited to the party and their song had just come in.

It was perfect.

Steve had never felt this way and after looking at the easy smile that decorated Eddie's lips, as well as the twinkle of his dark eyes, he knew the other hadn't felt that way either.

He was starting to like Metal a little too much.

Chapter Text

Mike hadn't thought about it for a while. This unspoken issue that involved every person of the Party has been hidden in the back of his mind since the beginning, next to the nasty comments he didn't want to dig into until necessary. 

So, why was he having nightmares about it? 

Sleep was becoming a difficult topic, replaced by sleepless nights filled with fatigue and bags under his eyes. He didn't know what was happening to him.

It wasn't until the seventh day in bed tossing and turning, that he gave up. He needed to talk to someone about it or he was going to become insane. But, who was the best candidate for this sort of awkward conversation? His mum wouldn't know what to say, too focused on her outings to really care for his well being. Nancy was out of the question because even if she wanted to be seen as the toughest girl in Hawkins, she still had a soft spot for Harrington. She would go absolutely nuts and chew his ear off with her nagging. His dad? No, thanks. That would be a complete disaster ending in slurs about being too sensitive or something. 

But there was still someone who he could talk to, who had always listened to him without judging him for his bad decisions, who had been a constant in his life since the very beginning.

Will Byers.

Without thinking of the hours of difference between both places, he got out of bed and ran to the telephone, where he dialed the Byers phone number. After two minutes of agony where he had started to bite his nails out of anxiety, a groggy voice answered his call.

“This is Will. Who 's this?” 

“Hey Will. It's me, Mike.” that seemed to wake the other kid a little. He felt kind of bad for waking him up at whatever hour it was, but he really needed to get this off his chest and get some useful advice. He was not called Will the Wise only because of his character.

“Mike? It 's 3 a.m. Has something happened?”

“No! No, everything's fine with the upside down, don´t worry.”

“So there is something wrong with you, then.” He sighed, actually surprised and relieved that his best friend knew him so well. “What is it? It better be good, it's been ages since you called.”

“I called the other day, Will.”

“No, you called Jane.” not me . 

He didn´t need to say it, he could hear it in the silence that had fallen upon the kilometers that separate them both. 

“You´re right, I´m sorry.”

“It 's alright.” no, it wasn´t. They had known each other for years, building a friendship that had made him move oceans and mountains just to know his best friend was still alive and he couldn't even call him. “Back to your problem. What is it?”

“I can't sleep.”

“Are you having nightmares?” Mike hated how small Will´s voice sounded. He must be remembering those nights where he was the one looking at the ceiling, unable to close his eyes without fear consuming his existence. 

"Yeah, but It's not about the upside down, I promise."

"Mike, just tell me. I can't help you if you keep going in circles."

He wanted to tell him. He did . But now he was afraid of sounding stupid. What kind of person had trouble sleeping because of guilt? His father would certainly think he was a pussy. 

"I… "

"Mike, I swear I'm not going to think your problem is stupid or that you are stupid for feeling the way you are feeling." 

"I know." 

"Then start talking or I'll hang up." Mike let himself smile tiredly, feeling comforted by the teasing tone of his friend. He had missed this. Them . 

"Okay." He breathed in, gaining some confidence. Then, he sat on the floor, the spiral wire of the phone around his bony fingers. "It started a week ago. I think I'm feeling… guilty? yeah, that."

"And you are feeling guilty because…?"

"Because all the Party is lying to Steve and nobody seems to care."

"Okay." Will shift in his place, the static making him take the receiver away from his ear. After a moment of silence, the sweet tone of the other's voice filled his senses. "What are you lying Steve about?"

"About a bet we made with someone."

"So you're feeling guilty because you haven't told Steve about a bet. Does this bet involve him in some way?" Mike nodded before realizing Will could not see him. However, the other must know him too well, because he kept talking. "What is the bet about?"

"Well, Eddie, a guy we have become friends with, didn't believe Steve had changed from his King persona, so Dustin, who's very defensive of Harrington, told him we'll just have to show him that Steve had indeed changed." 

"C'mon Mike, you can keep going. It 's okay." 

"Yeah. Okay." He inhaled, breathing out an air he didn't know he was retaining. "Eddie assumed Dustin was challenging him so we made a deal. Eddie had to become friends with Steve for a month without the other knowing to show Steve had not changed, and the month is like a day away and I can't hold it anymore." 

Will remained silent. Mike looked at the ceiling, imagining it was full of stars and he was drawing constellations with his friends on a summer night. 

"Why can't you hold it, Mike?" 

"Because Steve likes hanging out with Eddie too much and is even starting to go out with us and joining us for movie night every weekend and I haven't seen him so happy since he was with my sister." he said without breath, feeling weird about saying what he was really thinking. 

"I knew you cared about him, you idiot." was all Will said, laughing quietly from the other side. Mike blushed, feeling exposed.

"I don't care about him!" he said, not believing himself anymore. "Okay, maybe a little, whatever. It's not my fault he's not as bad as I thought." 

"Well, I'm not going to say I agree with your choices here, because I don't. Betting on someone is wrong, especially if it is someone you know and care about." Mike felt himself getting smaller, the guilt starting to consume him faster due to his best friend stating the obvious. "And I also am not going to say Steve is going to forgive all of you that easily. He might not care about the bet that much, but all of you had played with his trust, and trust is a difficult thing to gain back." 

"I know." he murmured, guilt eating him alive. 

"I think you should tell him soon. I mean, you should have done that the moment you realized he was starting to enjoy hanging out with Eddie, but I'm not going to judge the Party's bad decisions." Will said, sighing. "But you know? We do have a Party member who is always saying that friends don't lie."

Mike laughed, even though it was empty. Tomorrow he was going to talk to all of the boys, Eddie included. This had to end now. 

"I also know that."

"You sure know things and don't do them." The other said smiling, making Mike let out a real laugh. "I hope I helped."

"You did, man. Thank you."

"No need to thank me. Just…" 

"Yeah?"

"Call more?" 

And then Mike felt like the worst person to ever exist on the planet, because Will didn't deserve that. He should be calling as often as he called Eleven, sharing ideas for D&D and laughing at stupid jokes, just like before. 

"I promise, Will the Wise."

"I'm glad, Guilty Mike. Goodnight."

Then both said their farewells and hung up, leaving Mike determined to do what was best not only for himself, but for the guy that had helped them without asking for something in return. For the one that loved them unconditionally even if he wasn't able to say their names because then he would show he was attached. 

For the one who was like the father most of them didn't have.

Chapter Text

When Dustin Henderson woke up that morning, the last thing he thought he would see at his front door at 7 am was Mike Wheeler looking paler than usual.

Maybe a newspaper that the kid down the street had thrown from his bike in a hurry to finish the town or one of his mum's cats scratching the door trying to get back inside. 

Definitely not Mike.

"Mike? What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk." Was the only thing the other said before pushing him out of the way and entering his house like he owned it. 

Dustin took the sight of his friend in. He looked exhausted: dark bags under his eyes, pale skin that glowed yellow in the light and a haunted look that made him seem smaller than he was.

"Okay." he replied, going to the kitchen and offering the intruder a glass of water, which he drowned in an instant. "Why are you looking like shit, dude?"

"Maybe because I feel like shit."

"What happened?" he said expectantly.

"We need to talk." His friend sighed. "I can't do this anymore."

Dustin sat next to him, worried. Mike was someone who had trouble expressing his feelings verbally nowadays, preferring actions over words. So, having him making an effort to actually communicate like a human being was shocking. Whatever was troubling his mind, it had to be important.

"Hey, it 's okay. You can tell me, I swear I won't laugh."

"We have to stop this, Dustin. Like, right now . We can't keep lying about it."

"Slow down, man. I don't understand what you're saying."

The black haired teen got up, frustrated. Throwing his arms in the air, he looked at Dustin with dark eyes full of too many emotions, a glimpse of sorrow and guilt that was suffocating him. He looked away.

"We must tell Steve. About the bet, about why we did it and who knows about it. We also have to apologize, immediately. Before I go nuts ." Henderson stopped on his tracks, taken aback by all the information. Mike, who claimed to hate Harrington every single time he was mentioned, was feeling guilty for keeping a secret from him? As if the morning couldn't get any weirder.

"Hold your horses, Mike. Jesus Christ. "  He said while getting up, coming face to face with one of his older friends. "Why do you want to apologize now ? The bet ends today and I'm sure you've noticed Eddie and Steve have become sort of best friends because of it so, I don't know why we should tell him. Let's just forget all about it so you can start on your campaign." 

"You don't get it, Dustin!" 

"No, I actually don't get it! Care to explain why the fuck are you so affected by this?" 

"We're playing with Steve's trust, man. We've been lying to him for a month and have created a friendship over a lie! What do you think Steve is going to do when he finds out?"

"Nothing? He would understand."

"The fuck he would!" Mike yelled, exasperated. "Do you really believe he's going to be okay with it? And you're his best friend?"

"Hey, Mike, I don't know what's gotten into you but you have to calm down."

"I can't calm down, Dustin. I haven't slept in a week because of how bad I feel. I've even called Will hoping he would be able to help me! And let me tell you, he did. He opened my eyes and now more than ever I know what we've been doing is wrong."

The room fell silent. Mike had a point, he really did, but what was the use of telling Steve now? They had won the bet already, three weeks ago to be exact If his suppositions were right, and his friend was going to be able to create a wonderful campaign that would put Eddie to shame. But now he was feeling guilty for whatever reason he couldn't understand.

They all knew Steve wasn't an asshole, Eddie and him had obtained a hell of a friendship and they wouldn't be humiliated at school because of the consequences. What was the problem?

"I still think we don't have to tell him. Everything turned out great, everyone got something out of this and no one was hurt in the process!"

"No one was hurt because the subject of this bet doesn't even know it's a bet! I thought you cared about Steve!"

"Don't you dare say I don't care, Wheeler! Steve is one of my best friends, he's part of the Party and it's because I know him that I know telling him about the bet is not worth it!"

"You're just saying that because you know he's going to be mad at all of us if he knows!"

"He's not going to be mad, I already told you!"

"Dustin, for fuck's sake. Just think about it from a different point of view. The bet is not important itself. It's the context of the bet that´s harmful. Imagine all your friends, the people you care about and think they care about you too just got worked up and challenged a random person to befriend him to prove him wrong. Don't you see the problem there?" 

He did. Of course he did, he wasn't as emotionally constipated as Mike, but he didn't want to admit that he hadn't thought of the consequences when accepting the deal a month ago. Steve wasn't going to get mad. He was going to be furious . 

He sat down, exhausted. 

Mike sat next to him, suddenly very quiet. His energy had run out.

"We were trying to prove Steve wasn't an asshole and then became the assholes ourselves."

“Yeah.”

“What should we do, then?” Dustin asked, eyeing Mike from his place on the sofa. His friend sank on the comfy surface and rubbed his hands on his face a couple of times, trying to wake up a little. 

“We tell him.”

Dustin thought about it. 

They would tell him, of course. There was no way that, after the scolding he had just received, they wouldn't do it. But Eddie had to be there too. 

If they were going down, they would take everyone with them.

“Okay. We must tell Eddie. Then, we can go and look for Steve. I think he has the day off today.”

“Dude.” Mike murmured, kind of terrified.

“What?”

“If Steve has the day off, Eddie is most definitely going to be with him…”

“Shit.” They were screwed.

They needed to talk this through before saying anything! They couldn't just go to their friend, look at him and say: “forgive us, Eddie started being your friend to prove you weren't a dickhead and every fucking person in Hawkins seemed to know except you.”

"We could… I don't know, steal Eddie for a while. Then return and talk to Steve."

"That's the only thing we can do right now."

"Let's go"

And then they got up and left, stopping in front of Lucas' house to recruit him for their journey to forgiveness. The boy had been reluctant at first, but after some blackmailing (Erica wasn't the only one who knew about his dirty secrets) he had agreed. 

Now they were riding their bikes to every single place they could think of. 

Steve and Eddie never stayed in one. 

They liked adventure, new winds, fun. One place was a limit, and they loved freedom.

After looking for them for an hour, Dustin found them near the old Byer's house. They were sitting close to each other, their knees touching, pinkies intertwined, murmurs that filled the silence. It was such a sweet scene. 

And they were going to destroy it with a punch of reality.

"Hey!" he yelled, getting closer. They put some distance between them, embarrassed. "What are you guys doing?"

"Not much, just something called mind your fucking business, dickhead." Steve replied, making Eddie snicker. Dustin swallowed, very aware of the fact this scene could disappear with only a few words.

He didn't like it one bit.

"Very funny, yes. Anyway, I would love to keep hearing what you call comedy but I need to borrow Eddie for a second."

"I swear the weed isn't mine."

"What?"

"Nothing. I'll be back, love." he said, getting up and ruffling Steve's hair, which made him hit the metal head's arm and obtain a whine. When they were far away from Harrington and the other's had arrived (a thing that made Steve very suspicious.) Eddie spoke again, eyebrows furrowed. "What's this all about?"

"Today's the end of the bet." Mike and Dustin said in unison, startling the older one. "We need the verdict."

"Eh…" 

"Admit that you lost, that you like Steve's company and that you judged him without knowing so we can get to more important matters." Lucas murmured, eyeing Steve from his place. Their assigned babysitter gave him a lazy wave, staring at his nails, bored.

"Okay, I admit you guys were right." Munson said, sulking. "You better prepare one hell of a campaign, Wheeler, because this is a one in a timeline situation."

"I don't care about the fucking campaign right now!" Mike exclaimed, too loud for their taste. However, Steve was now playing with the grass, still unaware of their conversation. "We need to talk about what we're going to say to Steve."

"I'm not following, Wheeler. What do we have to say to him?" 

"Another damn idiot!" 

"Mike, shut the hell up, Jesus ." The basketball player whispered. "Do you want him to know just because you can't keep your mouth shut?"

"Guys, what the fuck is going on?"

"We have to tell Steve about the bet, Munson." Dustin finally said, taking his cap off and running a hand through his already messy hair. "We can't keep lying to him."

"There is no need to tell him now." he answered, his big eyes shining with determination. "What good would it do? You guys won, I admitted I was a fool and I got something great out of this. He doesn't have to know."

"But he does. What if someone tells him after we decided not to? He would hate us more."

"Please guys. We can't tell him about it. I'm begging you, for fuck's sake ." Eddie was getting impatient. He was grabbing the long strands of his dark hair and pulling hard, in an attempt to not scream in frustration. "You can't tell him. I can't lose the only good thing I have in my life right now."

"Eddie… we started this out of a lie. He needs to know."

"And what do I tell him? Hey, dude, It wasn't because I actually wanted to spend time with you for Dustin's sake why I went to your job a month ago. Actually, we were betting to see if you were still an asshole and I had to be your friend for a whole month to see If that was true. If it weren't for this bet I would have never approached you."

"It 's that true?" No. No. No . 

They turned around, terrified. Steve Harrington was looking at them with his jaw clenched and unshed tears in his eyes. All of them froze on the spot, unable to say or do something.

"I said, It's that true ?" he asked again, his voice breaking while pronouncing the last word. 

"Steve…" Dustin said, raising his arms like he was talking to a wounded animal. Maybe he was. The look on his friends eyes was the same as an animal who had been hurt by his master and then tossed away in the rain. "It's not what you think."

"No?" he said, running a trembling hand through his hair. "Because all I can hear in my head right now is that I'm a fucking bet ."

"You are not!" Eddie said, trying to get closer to him.

"Don't you fucking dare, Munson. Don't you fucking dare lie to my fucking face like you have been doing for an entire month!" 

"Steve, please, listen to me."

"No, I don't want to hear any more of your shit." The forest felt silent, like an spectator who was waiting for the tense part of a scary movie to end. "All this fucking friendship was a lie . Was any of the things you said even real? Did you actually mean any of that?"

"Of course I did!"

"I can't fucking believe you!" he exclaimed, wiping away a tear that had dared to slip. "I can't believe any of you because you all fucking lied to me!"

"Steve, please…" Dustin tried again.

"Shut up, Dustin. Just, shut up." It was heartbreaking, seeing someone you love hurt because of something you did. "The bet isn't the worst part. Hell, if you had told me after a week I wouldn't have even minded." He breathed in, trying to stop the shaking of his voice. "The problem is the people I trusted with my life , have been lying to me!"

"We're sorry, Steve." Mike said, his eyes as wet as Steve's. 

"But I guess I deserve it." He replied, wiping another tear. " My past is never going to go away, is it? Everyone is still going to call me King Steve and hate me for who I was, even if that wasn't entirely me, just bad influence."

"Steve, don't say that." Eddie pleaded.

"Why not? At the end of the day I'm a fucking bet. Who knows how many people have lied to me or come close to me because of the same."

"Steve, that's not true. You're so much more than your past." Lucas said, hurt.

"Well, I guess you still want to lie to me." He laughed, the empty sound filling the silence. "I don't want to hear it. I… I need to be alone. I can't do this right now" 

And then he was running to his car, chanting how everything was bullshit and how he was a fucking bet, starting the engine and driving away to an unknown place.

They all saw him leaving with their hearts broken and guilt consuming their souls.

Chapter Text

Bullshit.

Bullshit.

Bullshit .

It was all bullshit.

Every single thing in his life was bullshit .

His parents, his friends, his lovers. All of them were bullshit . 

He was bullshit . He was the greatest bullshit of them all! He was a shiny new toy that people bought, just to toss away once they knew how uninteresting he was.

"A fucking bet. All of this was a fucking bet." he kept chanting, driving to nowhere, the idea of betrayal consuming his every thought.

How could he be so stupid ? No one had ever wanted to be his friend just because. Even in his days as King people came to him searching for something. Company, power, recognition, lust, whatever their souls desire. They left once they had obtained it.

It seems like the kids and Eddie were the same.

"Bullshit, all bullshit ." He said while stopping abruptly in the middle of the road, just to slamp the steering wheel as hard as he could, trying to feel something . He wanted his hands to physically hurt. That way his mind could focus on another thing that wasn't the lies . "I'm fucking bullshit. They're fucking bullshit."

But his feelings for Eddie Munson weren't. 

And that hurt too much. Because it was Nancy all over again. It was believing that someone loved him for who he was, his past buried six feet under, next to his mistakes. It was believing he could be someone people wanted to be with, wanted to take care of, wanted to keep safe. 

And then reality had decided he had to know the truth. 

"I can't do this anymore…" 

He hated the tears. They made him feel weak . A Harrington couldn't be a pussy. Or that's what his father used to say while he sobbed due to his beatings . "You have to be a man"

"If you could see me now, old man, you would be even more disappointed."

He started to drive again. Family Video wasn't too far away and all of his senses were screaming for Robin. She would help him. She always did. She understood him like no other had ever had and would certainly know what to do.

He must've blacked out, because he didn't remember arriving at his destination. He didn't really care, too focused on not tripping with his own feet, mentally and physically exhausted. It was surprising how too much in your head could affect your body.

The door opened with a jingle and Robin lifted her face from her magazine with a lazy movement. It soon changed when he saw him, with his eyes red from contained tears, his hair a mess. 

"Steve?" she said, freeing herself from the counter and running to him. Her hands roamed all over his face, his body, searching for injuries that weren't on the outside. "What happened? Are you hurt?"

"Yes." 

Robin took his hand and led him to the staff's room, where she made him sit on the worn out couch while she looked frantically for the first aid kid. Steve could only look at his hands, trying to contain the tears he didn't want to let out. 

"Okay, Steve. Where does it hurt? I'll try to fix it." 

"You can't fix it, Robin." he murmured, pointing at his chest, still not making eye contact. "No one can't right now."

"Your chest hurts?" she asked, confused, not getting the meaning of the sign and ignoring his comment. "Let me look at it!"

"No, Rob. I'm not physically hurt." His giggle made his friend stop dead on her tracks. It was dark, self deprecating. It was the sound of loss, betrayal, hate. "It's my heart that has been broken."

"I don't understand, Steve. Please explain it to me so I can help you feel better."

"It turns out I'm just a fucking bet, Robin. They were all laughing at me for a month . How could I be so stupid?" 

He let out a sob. He couldn't help it. It hurt so much , he wanted it to stop. His chest was on fire and he couldn't even breathe properly, the air not wanting to enter his lungs. Why couldn't he breathe? The air was rig ht there , he just had to inhale it.  Breathe in, breathe out. That's all he had to do, god damnit!

"Steve, I need you to look at me, okay? You have to breathe."

He did it, but all he could see was a blurry version of his best friend. He couldn't focus. What was happening? He was scared. 

"Steve, look at me, please. Breathe in, breathe out. That's it, great." was he really doing it? his chest still felt on fire and he couldn't see shit. But Robin sounded panicked, so he tried to do it for her. "Great job, c'mon. You can do this. Breathe in, breathe out. In, out."

After some attempts, his eyes finally made out Robin's figure. His chest also relaxed, but the pressure from his discovery still stayed there. Suffocating him.

"Thank God. I thought you were going to faint." He tried to speak, but his throat was dry, so he kept his mouth shut. "Are you better?"

He shaked his head. Of course he wasn't. It was all too much for him. He wanted to disappear.

"I know. It 's okay. Can you explain what happened to me again? I didn't understand you at first."

"I'm a fucking bet." he croaked, letting out another sob. "Eddie and the kids had been lying to me for a month. The first man I fell in love with was playing with me. It's all the same bullshit, Robin. I'm a fucking idiot."

He wasn't expecting to see dread in Robin's eyes. Maybe surprise, hate. Not dread and remorse. She took a step back, falling on her back.

"Robin?"

"They told you?" What? No . She couldn't have known. She couldn't . She was the only person she could trust right now. She couldn't be doing this to him. Not her. Not the one he had proclaimed his soulmate. 

"What? You knew ?!" He exploded. This was enough. This was too much to handle, too much to absorb. "I can't believe this shit. You fucking knew and didn't care to tell me?!"

"Steve, please." She said, her eyes glossy. He couldn't care. Perhaps in another time. When he wasn't being stabbed by every person he thought he could trust with his life. "Dustin asked me to help but I didn't agree with the idea!"

"I don't care , Robin. That's more reason to tell me!"

"I know!"

"No! You don't fucking know! Because if you knew, you would have told me! Because if you knew, you would have known how this would end!" He couldn't breathe again. Fuck. He was not going to start hyperventilating. Fuck everything. Fuck Robin, fuck Eddie, fuck the kids. Fuck the day his fucking parents decided he needed to be born. "I'm leaving."

"Steve, you can't go out like that!" He was already at the front door, being followed by a terrified and crying Robin who was startling the few customers that were looking for a movie to watch tonight. Fuck them too, with their perfect life, their wholesome friendships and their cute partners. 

He couldn't breathe again.

"You don't have the right to worry about me now, Buckley." he murmured, and then ran to his car, starting the engine and driving away, Robin's screams echoing in the wind.

He was going away right now. Away from Hawkins, the betrayal, the fake people. Away from unrequited loves, bets, sorrow.

He was going to drive until his eyes couldn't keep open, until he decided enough was enough. 

Then he looked at the glove department and opened it with fury. The tape Eddie had given him was mocking him, with its songs that he could relate too much to. He was tempted to throw it out the window and see how it cracked in the pavement, millions of tiny pieces scattered all over the road, like his heart was on his chest. He put it away again, resigned.

He was still so in love with Eddie Munson that his already broken heart couldn't do that to the memory of his love.

He kept driving, the silence his only companion, along with the pieces he didn't want to pick up.

Chapter Text

It was his fault.

It was his fault .

It was his goddamn fault.

HIS FAULT .

He yelled, exhausted, looking around at the mess that was once his room. 

He didn´t have the energy to clean it. 

He could only think of an idyllic future destroyed by harsh words of reality. A reality he had forgotten about, distracted by the beauty of lies.

“Eddie?” Worry had filled his uncle´s tone since yesterday, when he had come home in the middle of the night with a bottle of cheap whiskey and blurry memories dancing cruelly in his mind. “You have to eat something.”

“Not hungry.” he murmured, rolling on his bed so he was facing the wall full of posters. Ozzy Osbourne´s eyes sent a questioning look his way, like he was asking why he was being a pussy. He deserved it.

“You know I'm really bad at this emotional bullshit, son. But, if something is bothering you, I want you to know that you can tell me, okay?”

Fucking Hell. 

Now he was crying. Pathetic .

“I know.”

“Good.” Awkward silence filled their home, followed by the shuffle of nervous feet. “You sure you can stay here alone today? I can call in sick, ya know?”

“No need. Just go.” 

“Okay.” he knew his uncle was deciding what was the best choice, even if that meant completely ignoring his words. After some minutes of wondering, Wayne sighed behind the closed door and left.

He was now alone with his thoughts and his bad decisions.

Eddie Munson always knew he was a person made of regret, and now more than ever he was regretting being so fucking selfish. Deciding to accept a bet that involved another person, as much of an asshole you thought he still was? How could he have thought it was a good idea? 

Especially after getting to know the real Steve Harrington. The sweet, ever-caring, kind of dumb Steve Harrington. 

The only guy in Hawkins who accepted being everyone's father because he didn´t want the children he cared so much about to grow up like he did. An asshole searching for attention and hating it once he realized the way he had obtained didn´t suit him at all. 

The only one who worried about everyone but not for himself, who was trapped in a golden cage that burned his skin every time he so much dared to touch it. 

The only way of getting a taste of freedom was being with his children. Those who made him forget about the loneliness of an empty family. 

He had also been included in that freedom for a while. And oh boy wasn't it beautiful. It was the only time where he could see Steve´s real smile, the one that made his eyes squint with pure joy and twinkle with uncontained happiness.  

The only time he could hear him talk and talk about what he liked, what he was afraid of, what he would do once he was away from monsters in the form of common human beings. 

Each second of those moments had been breathtaking because it showed the real Steven: The new ABBA lead singer, the Bonnie Tyler enthusiastic, the Basketball cheerleader, the extremely allergic to books librarian, the new learner movie fan, the tired babysitter. 

All of that were the pieces that created the love of his life´s soul. And he adored every single one of them.

“I'm such an asshole.”

Did he really want to lose all of that without fighting for it? Was he going to run away like he did every time he was afraid of something? He had to conquer the battle. 

Life was just another campaign created by a mysterious Dragon Master. He just needed to roll the D20 and hope.

Insistent knocking on his door shattered his daydreaming and stomped on his determination, bringing him back to the brutal reality. It was loud and urgent, desperation flowing with every knock that landed on the plastic surface, a thing that made him move from his place and drag his feet through the carpeted floor, almost falling twice before opening.

There, soaking wet due to the unexpected rain, was Robin with her face full of tears, mascara running down her coloured cheeks. She didn´t waste any time before grabbing him from the front of his smelly t-shirt and landing a bone-cracking punch on his jaw. 

“What the fuck Buckley?!”

“Shut the fuck up!” she yelled, rage illuminating her blue eyes. “It´s all your fucking fault, Munson! Every fucking thing is your fault and now I can´t find Steve and I swear to God, asshole, if we don´t find him by the end of the day I´m going to torture you until you beg me for forgiveness!”

She couldn't find Steve? What?

“What do you mean?”

“Just that! I will start by putting headphones on you and make you listen to Wham! on repeat for days and…”

“No, Robin! About not being able to find Steve!”

They fell silent. The air became colder and his heart started to beat faster, to the point of suffocating him. He had to be okay. God fucking danmit, please let him be okay. 

“I went to his house this morning because I needed to talk to him and make sure he was okay after having two fucking panic attacks, but his car wasn´t on the entry way where he always leaves it and everything was closed. I think he didn´t go home yesterday and I'm about to have a fit of hysteria right here, Munson.”

She was hyperventilating and he was going to do the same any second now. Steve didn´t go home last night and he was awfully distressed after finding everything out. Something could have happened to him if he was driving. What if he was in the middle of nowhere unconscious and hopeless, thinking he was unloved? He was going to puke.

“We have to find him. Now.” Was all he said before putting his shoes on and running to Max´s trailer. It wasn't his best idea if he took into account that the red haired girl didn´t know a thing about the bet and was propably going to murder him, but his mind only cared about Steve and his well being, so he let his fear behind for once. “Max, open the door!”

“Why are you yelling so fucking early in the morning?!” the girl answered, opening the door, her hair sticking out of a messy braid. Her annoyed expression changed as soon as she saw their faces. “What happened?”

“Steve.” Robin said, containing her tears again. “We can't find him.”

“What?” Real panic crossed her face, memories of her lost brother consuming her every thought. “What do you mean?”

“He has disappeared. His car is not in the entryway and no one knows a thing about him since yesterday.”

“What the hell happened yesterday anyway? I saw the guys and they were devastated.”

“Long story short, Eddie and them bet that Steve was not an asshole and to prove that, Eddie had to become friends with him for a month. The month passed and Steve found out.” Robin explained quickly, too jumpy for her liking. They were losing time. Steve could be wherever by now and they wouldn't be able to find him.

Max´s eyes changed emotions. Shock was the first option, then confusion, disgust, rage. Her hateful gaze landed on them with so much intensity Eddie thought he was in Hell itself.

“You did what?”

“Max, I know you´re mad. Trust me. But please, yell at me later when we know where Steve is.” he begged, tears starting to form in his eyes. 

He was desperate. He needed to know Steve was okay, even if he didn´t want him in his life anymore.

“Let´s go.” 

They started looking everywhere after contacting the rest of the Party. They asked neighbors, friends, classmates. Whoever came their way. 

But he was nowhere to be seen. And every single one of them were getting crazy.

“Where the hell is he?!” asked Mike to the sky, pulling his hair. Nancy, who had joined their search and had been extremely quiet the entire time after finding out, took his hand out of the dark strands with enough force to get some with her. “Ouch!”

“Shut up, Mike.” she said, sitting down on the couch of their house´s living room, her face a blank canvas. “Now, everyone sit down.” They did without much thought. “Let's start by thinking where he could go. Has he ever talked about a specific place?”

“Not really.” Dustin answered, exhausted. “Maybe I can call Suzy and ask her if she can track a car.”

“That's a good idea. Let us know what she tells you. The rest is going to split into three groups. One is coming with me to the town next door, the other two are going to keep searching here. We will meet here in a couple of hours.” Nancy said, clapping her hands and making the groups. 

Eddie went out with Dustin, Max and Lucas and kept searching, his voice getting hoarse from straining it so much. 

But it didn´t matter one bit. The pain from walking around the town for hours, the sore throat, the stomach growls due to lack of food in almost 24 hours and the hateful glares from Max didn´t matter at all right now.

Steve was the only thing on his mind at the moment. 

Chapter Text

The sky was covered in a cloak of bright stars, the Moon protecting them with her serene light while watching over the mortals that slept soundly under her gaze. 

Joyce Byers looked out of the window of her new two store house tiredly, holding a mug of hot tea in her hands and wishing the dreadful feeling that was sinking in the pit of her stomach would disappear so she could  go to sleep like everyone seemed to be doing. 

Her eyes drifted to the clock above the stove, closing tightly shut when she realized she only had a few hours to get some rest before getting up and starting preparing everything for one of their busy mornings. 

Why couldn't she go to sleep? The pills she had been prescripted after spending days paranoidly awake had been doing their job properly for months. Why had they decided tonight was the night they should stop helping her overcome her insomnia? 

“This is getting ridiculous.” she murmured, exhausted. Yawning, she took a sip of her now luke-warm tea and waited until Morpheus decided to pay her a visit.

It was somewhere between 5 am and sunset that she heard a knock on the door, startling her out of her daze. Confused and scared all of a sudden, she wrapped the blanket she had grabbed hours ago around her frame and took a knife from one of the kitchen drawers. It was too early to be the newspaper boy and Jane was still in danger.

“I know you´re behind the door, ma´m. I swear I'm no harm. I´m just here to drop this kid.”

A kid? All of her children were in the safety of their beds, hopefully dreaming something not related to the monstrosity of the unknown. 

“He says he knows you. His name´s Steve?” the stranger offered behind the door, waiting patiently for her to open. Her world suddenly collapsed. Steve? As in Steve Harrington? What was he doing kilometers away from Hawkins, unable to speak to her and accompanied by a total stranger that by the tone of his voice had been taking care of him for some time? 

She opened the door without a second thought after her discovery. A tall middle aged man presented himself in front of her, dirty blond hair and brown eyes full of relief. Behind him a truck, huge enough to have trouble fitting their residential street and in the passenger seat, the worn out body of an adult young enough to still be a kid. Steve.

“Oh God. What happened to him?” Joyce ran to the vehicle, her worry incrementing with every second her eyes laid on the other´s body. “He looks beat.” 

“I don't really know, ma´m. He's not that much of a talker, let me tell you that.” the man shrugged, taking his cap out of his head and twisting it between his fingers. “I found him in the middle of the road, his car smashed in a tree. I tried to take him to the hospital but he said he was fine so I brought him where he asked me to.”

“My poor boy.”

Between the both of them, they took him out of the truck and dragged him to the couch, where he curled up on himself, shivering slightly. Joyce wrapped her blanket around him and stared at his face for some time. Steve had a scratch on his left cheek which, after some consideration from her medical knowledge, turned out to only be that. However, he would need some stitches on his eyebrow if the bloody gauze she was seeing was any indication of its state. She still needed to see what his body looked like but he seemed to be physically well overall. 

The bags under his eyes told her another story she needed to hear when the troubled boy woke up.

“Thank you so much for bringing him here.” she told the man once Steve was settled. He just smiled and shaked his head, glancing over at the younger boy and sighing.

“No need to worry. Just… Please, take care of him. He looked so broken when I picked him up. He didn´t even care about the blood going down his eyebrow. He only stared at his car like life had tormented him again.”

Joyce felt her eyes water along his words, but she decided there were more important things to do before letting her feelings show. After saying her farewells, she closed the door and dropped her body on a chair next to the sleeping teen, caressing his forehead with the greatest adoration she could muster. 

This kid seemed to really need some care at the moment.

A couple of hours after the unexpected event, Jonathan Byers came down the stairs, messy bed hair and a yawn on his lips. He went straight to the kitchen to start making breakfast for his siblings with a tiredness that only a young adult could own when he stopped dead in his tracks. 

“Mum?” the younger asked, confused. He remembered hearing some noise in the deep silence of the night, attributing it to another sleepless day for his mother. It seemed that tonight a lot more than not being able to close her eyes had happened. 

“Oh, Jonathan.” She murmured, still caressing what he knew were Steve Harrington´s chocolate locks. “Did you sleep well?”

“Did you sleep at all?” The answer came. She had visible bags under her eyes and they were unfocused, like she didn´t even know where to look. He eyed the sleeping body of his friend (could he call him friend? They were close, at least in the monster hunting field, but they hadn't had a real conversation apart from when he apologized for his behavior back when he was still called a weirdo.) and came closer, freezing on the spot when he saw the dried blood on his cheek. “What happened?”

“I have no idea, sweetie. A man just appeared and dropped him here, saying he had had a car accident.”

“Why did he come here without calling?” Anything made sense. “Getting here takes around 2 days without stopping and he looks like he hasn't rested in a while.” 

“Maybe he needed someone.” Did he? Last time he saw him, Steve Harrington had everything a guy his age could want, specially people to come to when he had trouble. Or maybe he didn´t know anything about the lost boy who now laid on his couch. 

“I'll make breakfast.” he replied, too tormented by his thoughts.

Did Steve really have the life everyone had assumed he had? He had been a douchebag back then, hated by a lot and admired by a lot more. But that was only facing the public. What happened behind the walls of his magnificent mansion? He had never thought he could feel lonely surrounded by so many people. Maybe they were just a distraction for something that consumed him inside.

“Am I dreaming or is Steve really on our couch?” Will voiced, tone still filled with tiredness. 

“I think we are not dreaming, Will.” answered Jane next to him, confused.

“Steve really is here.”

“He is, kids. Try to lower your voice a little. He needs to rest.” Joyce got up and, with a final caress, went to kiss each of her children´s cheeks in their usual good morning ritual. 

Will gave their intruder another look before sitting down at the kitchen table, waiting for Jonathan to finish their breakfast. He kind of knew why the boy in their living room was there. At least, he thought he knew. 

His friends were the ones to blame for Steve´s devastation.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” He looked at his mother with something akin to guilt in his eyes. It wasn't his fault, of course, but he knew about the bet. He could have done something to prevent putting Steve in danger. He didn´t deserve all the pain he surely was going through. He knew a little too much about feeling like no one liked him. Especially those who proclaimed with smiles on their faces they were his friends. 

“I think I know why Steve is here.” 

The room fell silent. Jonathan turned the stove off and handed them their plates, sitting next to him and looking at him like he kept the secrets of the universe in a little box under his bed. Jane, who didn´t understand anything about what was going on, suddenly looked serious. Was she feeling what he could feel by only looking at the skin full of constellations that belonged to the broken man on the couch? 

“He´s very sad.” Jane murmured, now staring at the sleeping form of their protector. “Someone made him very sad.”

“Our Party made him very sad.” Will completed, looking down. It was such a cruel joke to play on someone who's heart was made of gold. He was trying to change and people couldn't forget a past that he hated himself. He recalled those years where people stared at him and whispered zombie boy when he walked by. 

“I need you to explain, honey. So we can help him.”  

But how could he explain without tearing up? He had felt bad when Mike had called him in the middle of the night, haunted by hurting someone else's feelings. Seeing their victim now was even worse. 

“Mike, Dustin and Lucas made a bet with their new friend,” he explained, his family not understanding where he wanted to go with those words. “About if Steve was still an asshole. Their friend had to be his friend for a month to see if he had changed or not. And well, I guess he finally found out. ”

Jonathan saw red. He may not be Steve´s friend. They may have started with a broken camera and blood splattered on the dirty pavement of an alley, but no one deserved to be treated like that. Especially someone who had tried with all his might to erase and fix his past and had managed to do it.

“That 's bad.” Jane answered instead, playing with her hands. She knew what it was like to be judged and played with. Not a single soul had tried to know her in that awful school. “Steve is good. He has helped us. Mike has hurt him just because and I don't like that.” 

“You´re right, honey. What your friends did was awful. Now we have to be there for Steve. He needs to know we are on his side, okay?” 

They nodded, looking at the aforementioned with sadness in their eyes. 

A conversation was due when their guest woke up and tried to pick up the pieces of broken heart he had been leaving in the way. But they would be prepared to help him. 

They knew a little too much about heartbreak and sorrow. They could take another member in and help him obtain the happiness he had thought he had lost.

Chapter Text

Darkness.

Suffocating darkness that wrapped around him like the endless sea and drowned him, making him struggle until his lungs gave up and his body went limp, lifeless.  

Light.

A celestial brightness filled with sounds of joy that led him through the misery and made him come back to the world of the living, where humans could show kindness to those in need. 

Steve Harrington opened his tired eyes after such nightmares, his heart aching with the lost memories of a night full of panic. Looking around the unknown room, he came across big brown eyes that radiated curiosity and some emotions too difficult to interpret with the throbbing headache he was sporting. 

Closing his eyes again, he wished all his life was just a bad dream. 

“Mom made you food. You have to eat.” said the voice attached to vigilant dark eyes. “Wake up.”

What could he say? Who was this voice that kept distracting his body from joining Morpheus in his palace in the sky? He was so tired, his eyes couldn't stay open for more than a few seconds. And this voice wanted him to keep them open until he had eaten! That was just ridiculous. 

“Steve, wake up.” It was annoying. He didn´t want to wake up! He was exhausted. Why couldn´t it just let him be? “It's going to get cold.”

“Shh.” he managed to let out, his voice hoarse from days without a word. Soft hands patted his head, tracing the long strands of his hair and untangling the knots in the ends. 

“Jane, honey, maybe you should let him rest a little more.” 

“But He has to eat, mom.” the voice said, sounding almost angry. “He is tired. Food helps.”

It does help, he supposed. His stomach was suddenly making noise in an attempt to catch his attention, demanding something that would end his dizziness, and the smell of whatever was made just for him was making his mouth water. He opened his eyes once more, trying to distinguish anything that made him know where he was, but his head was killing him and the light that had saved him from falling into deep desperation was now the cause of his suffering.

“The light” he murmured, turning around on the soft surface to block the brightness of the World. “Off, please.”

It hurt too much to even formulate a sentence. The sweet voice of the other unfamiliar person in the room talked again, but he was too gone into the pain to notice how the lights started to disappear. 

“Steve, sweetie, It's okay. They're gone now.” 

They were . He turned the other way, opening his eyes for the third time since he had woken up. The smell of food was still calling him, and he made an attempt to get up, only to fall again on what he could now tell was a couch. Quick hands were there to help him sit and a spoon full of something warm entered his mouth, spilling a little on his already dirty polo shirt.

They stayed in silence for a few minutes, until he decided to look up. Joyce Byers gave him a motherly smile, too far from the cold stares he was used to get from his own mother, a thing that made his stomach curl in a way that wasn't meant for hunger. Beside him, in an uncomfortable looking chair, was the girl with superpowers that so many times had saved them all. She was the one with the captivating eyes that had challenged him to eat like it was the most important matter at hand. 

He took another spoonful of soup, enjoying the taste. He had made it. He had reached the only way out of his living nightmare, where every single person he had ever trusted had played with him like he was a rag doll ready to be thrown out. 

“Is it good? I helped.” Eleven, or Jane as she was being called now, said with a small smile, proud of her accomplishment. He nodded, trying to give a smile of his own. “Jonathan did it all, but I added the carrots.”

“It's delicious, thanks.” he enjoyed the brightness of her eyes, the simplicity of her happiness. 

“When you finish, you should take a bath. Jonathan gave me some clothes that might fit you just right!” Joyce said, the smile never leaving her tired face. He thought he was going to cry. Was this what kindness really felt like? Someone who didn´t run away when they saw you at your worst, but rather stayed there when you were trying to pick up the pieces and glue them back together. “And after that, we need to talk about you, if that's alright.”

He nodded. How was he going to deny her anything? She had let him enter her home without questioning him, without asking for something in return. 

Finishing his soup, he got up. Jane took his hand the second his feet touched the floor and dragged him up the stairs, a small reassuring smile on her sweet face. When they reached the bathroom door, they stopped, their feet shuffling on the carpeted floor, nervous. 

“Steve?” she asked, looking at him like he was a fragile object and she was afraid of touching him.

“Yes?”

“I'm here if you need anything.” And then she was letting go of his hand and running downstairs, the sound of his heart his only companion. 

Those words had more than one meaning. They meant she was there not only to help him, but to be there when he couldn't hold his feelings anymore and needed a shoulder to cry on. He let out a self deprecating chuckle. She was only 15. She couldn't put such pressure on a child that had lived in a world full of people who wanted something she was afraid of. In a way, they were more alike than he liked.

After taking a shower and wincing at his reflection on the mirror, he went downstairs, surprised to see Will there with them. The kid had grown so much since the last time he had seen him, it made him a little emotional. 

“Hey, honey. Sit down here with us.” Joyce said, taking a seat at the table next to her children. He sat in front of her, gaze scared of flickers of emotions in the other´s eyes. When had he become so afraid of the World? He used to live with such confidence. Maybe he had never had it. Maybe all his life really was an act. “So. Are you ready to tell us what happened, Steve?”

Was he ready ? What if they thought he had overreacted and decided he needed to go back to a place he couldn't even bring himself to call home anymore? But they didn´t know how he felt. What the taste of bile felt like when hearing words that changed entire universes. 

Either way, he owed them an explanation. It was the least he could do after being treated like he belonged somewhere. 

“I left home in a hurry.” He started, not really knowing where the story began. “I drove my car for miles without resting.” Swallowing, he touched his eyebrow. “I-I didn´t know what I was doing, Ms Byers. I was just so tired of everything.”

He didn´t want to cry, but the memories of those days were tearing him apart and it felt so nice to be heard by someone who actually wanted to. Not by people who had played with him for days just to see if he still was his fake self. 

He let out a sob. 

God, he was pathetic.

“There was a bet I didn´t know about. People who I thought were family had bet about me. To see If I still was like that stupid 16 year old that you met what feels too long ago. And I couldn't take it . They were all laughing at me for so long and I was a complete idiot because I really felt like they loved me, Ms Byers. I thought they wanted me for who I am, forgetting a past I´m not proud of myself. But I was wrong . And I-it hurts so much. I just wanted to get away from it all. To not see them for a while until I can breathe again.”

“Wh-What happened while you were trying to come back, Steve?” Will asked, sounding distressed. His eyes were lit with unshed tears that wanted nothing more than to escape their prison. 

“I zoned out. I was in no shape to drive but I did it anyway because I couldn´s stay there anymore. I don't know what happened to be honest. One minute I was driving and the other I was outside my car, bleeding. It didn´t hurt, or maybe the adrenaline didn´t let me feel pain, so when Jacob appear I just asked him to take me here.”

They didn´t say anything. He was crying now, overwhelmed by so many emotions he couldn't manage at the moment and no one was making a sound, which scared him senseless. He had fucked up. They were going to send him back to Hawkins after taking care of him for a day and he would have to deal with people he was not ready to face yet. 

But none of that happened. The three of them just got up, sharing his tears with the same intensity and caressing his skin with a love he wasn't used to. 

“You can stay here as long as you want, baby.” Joyce said, enveloping him with her arms and bringing his tired body over to her chest, where he could hear the quick beat of his heart. 

“It would be cool to have another brother.” Will managed to get out in between sobs, his face resting in his shoulder blades.

“They lost, not you.” Jane said finally, embracing his left side and staining Jonathan´s shirt with her snot. 

They stayed there, together, until Jonathan came back and joined the hug nervously, whispering nosenses to three pairs of ears.

Steve couldn't help but enjoy the veil of affection that had fallen upon them.

Even if he didn´t know how long it would take for them to see how broken he was.

Chapter Text

Nancy was pissed. Well, that wasn't exactly what she would call the burning sensation in the pit of her stomach, but there was nothing close to the rage she was really feeling, so she settled on that adjective until further notice. 

Steve had been missing for a whole week now, and she had promised herself she wasn't going to lash out at his brother or any involved in the atrocious challenge until he was back to their sides, but it was becoming too difficult to not snap at her mother, who had been asking where Holly's usual babysitter was. Holly herself wasn't being much help, whining about not having seen Steve for a long time and missing his heart-shaped sandwiches.

She was going to kill Mike. In the most gruesome way she could think of.

"I just don't know where that boy is. All the mothers are worried, Nancy. Mrs Henderson has tried asking Dustin, but he didn't know either." 

"I don't know, mum. I wish I knew." she said, her shoulders tense with the hours of unknown whereabouts. She really wished she knew where Steve was. All she wanted to do was hold him in her arms and tell him everything would be okay, even if she wasn't sure of that.

She just wanted to see his eyes full of stars again. 

"I miss him." Tears fell from her little sister's face with an agony not meant for a six year old. Nancy scooped her in her arms and breathed in the sweet smell of her strawberry shampoo, whispering how she also missed him with all her heart.

It was weird thinking about it. They had gone through so much, hurting each other in the way. He was her first kiss, her first time, her first heartbreak, her first disappointment. He had been a lot of firsts for her and she knew she had been a lot of firsts for him too. 

The face he wore that night at that disastrous party had confirmed it. 

She had been his first love, but he hadn't been hers.

Nancy sighed, cleaning lonely tears from her face and letting go of Holly, who ran off to the basement in search of adventure, forgetting all about her grief. Sometimes she wished she could be a child. They felt more strongly, but didn´t focus on blaming themselves for their feelings until their lives came to an end. They just moved on as fast as the flutter of a butterfly, letting all the hard feelings go. 

It was not the time to dwell on past mistakes. The only thing she could do now was keep looking. The friendship she so much desired could wait until Steve was found.

The phone ringing got her out of her stupor. Slowly, she approached the sound and picked the device up, pronouncing a polite welcome to the person on the other line. 

The voice of his boyfriend brought her to tears in an instant, all the façade she had built up trying to be strong disappearing after just a soft hello. Jonathan tended to have that effect on her. She could finally crumble under the pressure of the world and let all of her worries out, because he would be there murmuring comforting words and holding her tight until she could breathe again.

Oh, how she loved him. 

“Nance, It's okay.”

“It's not okay, Jonathan. Nothing is okay.”

 Steve was still missing. He was alone in the darkness of his own mind. The path to get out of that desolated place was a hard one and he wouldn't be able to do it without help. 

“Nancy…” he hesitated. Was it the right thing to tell her about Steve? He didn´t know if she was involved, but someone should know where the new acquaintance of the family was. Her mother had encouraged him to tell Nancy, knowing for sure she couldn't have taken part in the bet. He turned his gaze to their sofa, where Steve was trying to understand Will´s rambling about some scientist he was working on for school. He looked so confused, but he was still trying to pay attention to his brother and ask questions when he knew they were needed, and a wave of affection caused a tsunami in his heart and took away every single prejudice he had had about the man he once had detested.

He didn´t want anything else to hurt him, and he didn´t know if telling Nancy would do just that.

“Wait a second, please.” he said instead, leaving the phone on the kitchen table and making his way to where Steve was. “Steve, has Nancy taken part in this?”

“Wow, straight to the point, I see.” the brown-haired male answered, fidgeting with his bony hands. He inhaled and exhaled a couple of times before actually saying something, his mouth suddenly feeling like a desert. “I don´t know. I haven't talked to her a lot after, you know, breaking up so… she could have or could have not been a part of this.”

“Would you mind me telling her where you are?” 

Silence. Will rubbed Steve´s back trying to give him comfort, like his brother used to do every time something was bothering him. He knew it was hard to talk about feelings, especially for someone who had never done it before for fear of being punished or yelled at. His father thought feelings made people weak. He was pretty sure Steve´s father thought the same. 

“It's okay, Steve, don't worry. They don't have to know if you are not ready for it.” he said after a while. Harrington looked at him with big broken eyes, glossy with unspoken emotions, but clear determination was one of them. He smiled a little.

Looking at Jonathan, Steve bit his lip, nervous. “You can tell her. But, could you ask her not to tell the others just yet? I don't want them to come looking for me.”

“Of course. I'll be right back.” 

He almost ran to the phone, apologizing immediately once the device was on his ear to his girlfriend, who appeared to have calmed down even when he could still hear the sadness in her voice. 

“Jonathan, what's wrong?”

“Do you know where Steve is?” he said instead, feeling bad right away when Nancy took a sharp intake of air, choking after the abrupt question. “Sorry, I didn´t mean for it to come out that way. You okay?”

“Why are you asking that?”

“Because I know what happened, Nancy. And I know Steve has been away for a week and none of you know where he is. And knowing you, I´m pretty sure you´re having a bad time about it.”

“How do you know?” she asked, scared of being judged by the only person that kept her sanity in a world full of madness. “I didn´t know myself until after, Jonathan. I swear I didn´t know.”

“I believe you, Nance.” Jonathan sighed, suddenly exhausted by all the emotions bottled up inside of his chest. “I know where Steve is, Nancy, but you have to promise me something.”

“Whatever you say, Jonathan. I just want to know that he's okay, please.”

“You can´t tell the others, okay? Steve doesn't want them to know yet.” Nancy frowned. How did Jonathan know what Steve wanted? Did he actually find him? Was Steve really out of harm, with someone who could help him not follow his own demons to a deep pit of his own despair? 

“Okay, I won't tell. Where is he?”

Jonathan inhaled and exhaled, suddenly nervous. He wanted to tell her, hell, she was the love of his life, the only person that saw him for who he was, that loved a freak obsessed with a camera who was always alone with his own head. Who was so afraid of losing his little brother again that consumed whatever his new friend gave him in an strange attempt to forget those nights full of nightmares that were followed by sleepless nights in search of his missing sibling. The little kid who was growing in height but not in mind, scared of everything but brave enough to fight evil. He wanted to be brave too. He needed to be, not only for him, but for those who were now under his wing. For Will, for Jane, for Mom, for Nancy and now for Steve too.

“He´s in Cali with us, Nancy.” he said, scared but also determined. “He´s staying with us until he picks up all the pieces of his heart he left at Hawkins and is ready to go back.”

He didn´t know what to expect now. Was she going to break up with him for keeping this a secret? He loved her, but Steve needed his help too, and he didn´t want to break him more than he already was. He needed to look out for his family and it was clear Steve had been a part of it since he had come exhausted and bleeding, needing a place to be himself and forget the betrayal. So he waited for an answer patiently, his gaze distant.

“Thank you.” Jonathan blinked away his stupor and burrowed his eyebrows, confused. “Thank you for taking care of him, Jonathan, when we weren´t able to do so. I know he´s in good hands now.” The tension disappeared from his shoulders. Jonathan let out a crooked smile, relieved by the answer, feeling braver than before.

He had fought monsters, but feelings were worse than fangs and fire. They made the powerful fall, killed innocent people, letting them live in an empty vessel of what they used to be. They were harder to fight because humans were accustomed to hide them, watching everything combust in a ball of miscommunication and fright that ruined their lives.

Feelings were terrifying but he had been courageous enough to stand up to them and win.

“He is.”

“Can you ask him if I can tell Max? She´s… She´s not okay. She needs to know, please.”

He looked at Steve, who had his eyes fixed on him. They were glossy, apologetic, afraid. But they were also inviting, like a home-made meal full of all your favorite dishes. He nodded, understanding the message, feeling proud of him for trusting him, trusting them.

“You can tell her, Nance.”

That was all he needed to say before she said goodbye and hang up, feeling better than she had after all this mess felt on her shoulders.

Steve was safe.

Steve was safe.

That´s all she needed to know. That´s all Max needed to know.

They were going to be okay. And maybe, after some time, they were going to see him again, strong as he was, his heart repaired but scarred.

Chapter Text

It had been a difficult week for Max.

The rage she was feeling kept mixing with her sorrow, creating an intricate pattern of guilt that was trying to eat her alive. The image of Steve with his sweet smiles and caring nature made her dizzy, waking up in her the desperate need to go out there and find him, make sure he was safe, hurting, but still with her.

She hadn´t left her room since that day her friend went missing, but she didn´t really care. She hadn´t left her room much since Billy got out of her life, so there wasn´t much difference.

And that was the thing, wasn´t it? It was like Billy all over again, the only variation being one was alive and the other wasn´t. Or at least she hoped with all her might that Steve was alive, because it hurt like hell to think that this time she had found someone that cared about her enough to not leave her, but that ended doing exactly that, leaving her alone again, hugging her knees hard enough to leave marks.

She knew it wasn´t fair. She wasn´t the only one in pain, but she couldn´t help it. She felt so lost without him. So uncared-for. Steve was the only person that had gone through her walls with patience and care, not minding her tantrums, her insults, her fears. He had been there every step of the way since losing herself and she was so grateful, but the words wouldn´t leave her mouth and sometimes she hurt him. But he still stayed.

And now he was gone and she had fallen again.

A knock on the door of her room made her stop her train of self-deprecating thoughts. She untangled herself and went to open it, expecting her mother to be there with a tentative smile and a plate of pre-cooked meals, but found Nancy instead, eyes red and puffy from tears and a small smile that showed a joy not suitable for the situation.

“Nancy?” she asked, her voice hoarse from crying and screaming. She had been doing that for some time. It helped her let go of the wrath, of the regret. It was painful, but that pain was so welcome in her life right now. At least she could feel something different. It made her feel like herself again, at least a little. “What are you doing here?”

“Steve is okay, Max.” Had she hear correctly? Maybe it was an hallucination coming from exhaustion. She didn´t remember the last time she had had a full meal, the trays her mother bought her forgotten on the trash. “He´s in California, with the Byers.”

“Steve is okay?” Nancy nodded.

And her whole world collapsed and the tears began to stream down her face full of constellations because Steve was okay. He was alive, and had wanted to tell Max where he was. He had trusted she wouldn´t say a thing, he still tought she was worth it. He had left Hawkins to look for the kindness he showed everyone but no one showed him, not because he had grown tired of her.

It was so relieving.

“I know, Max. I know.” maybe she did, maybe she just said it to calm her down, but she felt understood for once. “He´s alright, at least physically.”

“Do you think I could talk to him?” she hoped the universe was on her side for once. She really needed to hear his voice because, even if Nancy didn´t have a single reason to lie to her about such an important matter, she was still scared all of this was a dream she didn´t want to wake up from. “Please, Nancy.”

“i don´t think that´s a good idea, Max.”

“Why?” she demanded, getting away from Nancy´s arms, insulted by her refusal. She had said that she knew. If she knew then she would understand how every single second without another brother was agony enough to throw her into a pit of desesperation.

“Because Steve needs time, and if you call him and tell him how much you´re hurting, he´ll be back in a heartbeat. And you know that´s not fair for him, Max.”

“You don´t know shit!” she screamt, furious again. Nancy took a step forward, trying to grab her arm, but she moved away like her touch was poison and she was afraid of dying. “You keep telling me you know but if you did you would let me call him!”

“Max!” she finally caught her, trapping her in a cage of flesh and bones that was too difficult to escape from. “I do understand you. I also want to talk to Steve. Don´t you think that the first thing I thought after hearing where he was was wanting to hear his voice? But he doesn´t need that right now. He needs us here, trying to solve this chaos so when he comes back, the only thing he needs to worry about is to heal himself.”

She knew that, okay? But she was only a mourning teenager whose emotions were getting the worst of her. She was going through a bad time and even if she knew, she still wanted to do it. Needed to do it. She was selfish that way.

“Please.” she never begged. She was tough, made of independence, fights and abandonment. But she was tired.

She was so tired of everything, especially of Billy´s ghost. She had hated him. God, she still hated him. He had been an awful step brother in her eyes and in the eyes of everyone else, but she still felt like she owned him.

And then Steve had come and showed him what a real brother felt like, so different from Billy that it was funny. Now her brother was away again, away from her touch, from her sight. And she couldn´t do anything to try to bring him back. She was tired of feeling.

“Go away.” she said then, turning around and abruptly taking the tears away from her cheeks with the sleeves of her sweater. “I want to be alone.”

“You´ve been alone enough.”

“It´s the only thing I know how to do.”

“Then let´s be alone together. But don´t close yourself to the world again.”

Max nodded, more exhausted than she had been all week. She accepted Nancy´s hand and let herself be led to the living room, where they sat together and watched some silly TV show until they fell asleep.

It was nice, having another girl on her side. Since El had left for California she had felt alone, even if she wasn´t. The boys were nice, but they never wanted to do what se liked. She couldn´t talk with them about what was eating her alive because none of them talked about feelings, too scared to be seen as weak. She couldn´t even go shopping, tired of Mike´s insistent complaining about every single detail.

Maybe she could trust Nancy with Steve.

Maybe she didn´t have to carry the burden all by herself, the fury of other people´s actions.

Maybe, just maybe, she was right and Steve was better away, where he could start to heal until he came back, even if that meant she was left alone again.

She could do it for Steve.