Work Text:
It was late, three am according to the digital alarm clock on the nightstand beside his bed, you were sleeping peacefully. Hair strewn around the pillowcase under your head and your soft breathing the only other sound in the trailer besides the scratches of pencil against paper as Eddie scribbled out ideas for his next and possibly final campaign depending on the grades for his finals.
The two of you had spent hours sitting in the living room of the trailer while Eddie's Uncle had been at work going over flashcards and notes you'd made especially for Eddie so he would be able to graduate this year. Given everything that had happened with Vecna and the Upside Down you both felt as though you were owed a break.
Music played softly through one earphone from the tape in the Walkman on the desk as Eddie worked. He'd been restless, unable to sleep, lying there staring at the ceiling and wondering if this really would be his year. That he would finally be able to take you out of Hawkins and make something of himself, to throw the label of 'freak' behind him and start over.
He heard the shifting of bedding from behind him but didn't register that it might mean you'd be awake, that was until he heard you call his name,
"Eddie?" the long haired boy turned around and felt his heart squeeze at the scene in front of him. You'd worn one of his old Hellfire shirts to sleep and it was even a little small on you so it had crept up your middle while you slept, "what are you doing?"
"It's ok sweetheart, go back to sleep" he said softly, "I'm just working on some notes"
You blinked wearily at him and rubbed your eyes against the light on his desk. This was exactly what Eddie had wanted to avoid when he'd decided to use his restlessness for something productive instead of disturbing you.
He smiled and turned back to his work but was instead met with a pillow to the back of the head. Turning again to ask why you'd thrown such a deadly weapon at him Eddie was instead met with your scowling features, although the effect was somewhat dampened by the fact that you had a little trail of drool on your chin and pillow marks on your face,
"It's three am, the campaign can wait. Come back to bed" you said, voice scratchy with sleep, "I'm cold"
Eddie laughed lightly to himself. There was no way you could be cold on such an unseasonably warm May night and he knew you were just using it as an excuse to get him to abandon his work,
"Princess - "
"Now Eddie"
The scowl on your face had been replaced with what could only be described as an adorable pout which honestly he was defenceless against which you knew all too well,
"Psychological warfare is it?" Eddie laughed again, "well I suppose the freshmen can live a little while longer"
Clicking off the lamp and stopping the tape in the Walkman Eddie made his way back over to the bed shucking off his grey sweatpants as he went. When he finally did climb back into bed beside you he found himself pulled tightly into your embrace with your fingers in his hair,
"It's gonna be fine. I promise. You're going to graduate this year I know it"
"How do you know that?"
"Because I'm going to make sure of it one way or another"
"That sounds vaguely like a threat sweetheart"
"It is. Now go to sleep. Moron"
Eddie had nothing to say to that. It was true that once you had set your mind to something there would be no changing it regardless of what anyone else tried to do. With that comforting thought and the sensation of your fingers running through his hair, nails scratching softly along his scalp and the feeling of your breathing it wasn't long until Eddie found himself unable to keep his eyes open any longer and instead sank into a peaceful sleep and dreams of a new life with the person he loved most in the world.
No more Freak. Just Eddie. A new man for a new life.