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Chapter Text

"Okay, so you're telling me that they all get headaches, start hearing things, and start seeing things?" Steve Harrington asks, worrying his fingers through his hair. He doesn't get paid enough for this shit, and the stressing over these kids was going to give him an aneurism one day.

"Yes!" shout the kids, all of them pacing back and forth in the loungeroom, at a loss for what to do. Max has her headphones in, resolutely replaying Kate Bush again and again, praying that they can stop Vecna before her Walkman dies. Lucas is attentively watching as she methodically fiddles with the play button, hoping that Vecna is done with her now.

"Right. Okay. Cool, yeah no worries at all. One question. How do we stop him them, dipshits?" At that all the kids stop pacing, glancing back and forth between one another. Steve can feel the stupid idea brewing before his eyes and they all make eye contact before resolutely putting a piece of paper on the table.

Sighing and running his hands through his hair one last time, Steve leans over at the crayon to-do list, reading through it and attempting not to show how he feels about it. It's a list made by kids who think this is still Dungeons and Dragons. Kids who still think that everything is going to be okay. It's wildly simplistic.

The Gang's Plan to Stop Vecna and Save the World (again)

1. Get the whole group together

2. Figure out who Vecna is targeting

3. Distract the demobats

4. Go to Vecna when he's killing someone

5. Put a stake through his heart

That's it. Five steps. There's so much distance in between each step that it makes Steve's heart ache looking at their faces when he turns around.

"Guys, this is barely anything. We don't know where everyone is, we don't know how he's picking targets, we don't know how to distract the demobats, and we don't even know if a stake will kill him. What is he? A goddamn vampire? I hate to break it to you, but this plan doesn't even cover half of what we need it to!" He takes a deep breath in, reeling in the blind panic of letting these kids go off without him somewhere.

"Just. I'm worried, okay? This is bigger than anything we've faced, and we don't even have El here." All the kids look downwards in shame then, remembering that their biggest weapon was in fact, not even in the state. Steve continues.

"Look, okay, let's do the first step, and then we can re-evaluate all the other ones when we're together, alright?" At this glimpse of hope, they all grin at one another, the energy palpable. But Steve can't help the sinking feeling in his chest and a headache forms behind his eyes.

Probably just from world-ending events.

The gang piles into Steve's car, and as the engine revs into gear, they all have a sinking feeling that this is the last time any of them are going to be the same. But there's no time to dwell on that, because Vecna is bound to strike again, and soon, judging by the lack of murders.

The radio drawls in the background and the kids share their favourite songs and brainstorm their favourite memories to use if they have to fight Vecna, and not for the first time, Steve's chest feels like a cement sledgehammer hit it. Reminding him that these kids have gone through so much already, and that they're bound to go through more by the end of the week. It hits him then, that he doesn't really have a favourite song, always listening to what the brats wanted to in the car, or sitting in silence.

He hasn't been able to stand noise since last year, after the noise that clouded his head from the Russian drug he and Robin had been given. Ever since then, constant noise set him on edge and he started to space out. So, he drove in silence most days, just enjoying the fresh air and relishing in the fact that he was somehow still alive.

Alive and about to go see Eddie Munson at the cabin by the lake.

Eddie.

The manic dungeon master, the metalhead, Dustin's hero and the current suspect for the towns murders. The guy that Steve couldn't get out of his head, ruling it up to jealousy that Dustin had another role model. But deep down Steve had always known that his type was ambitious, curly hair people with an attitude, guy or girl, it didn't matter. But in 1980's Hawkins, Indiana, that was a fact you kept very much to yourself.

Not that it mattered, meeting anyone at the moment was rough for Steve. Not only because life felt so much bigger after the upside down, but because how could he dump all his problems onto another person. Who would possibly sit through nightmare after nightmare, panic attack after panic attack and still love him? No, Steve was perfectly happy forming his friendships and going back to sleep alone.

But would he ever get to go back to sleep after this?

Jesus, that was a dark thought, even for him. It doesn't matter how he feels, he needs to keep these goddamn rug rats safe and out of harms way as much as possible. Which was becoming increasingly difficult as they continually decided to spread out and get out of his eyeline.

It wasn't all their fault, and he understood it, really. When you see the things they all have, you form a bond to one another, and it meant that it was easier to risk yourself to save them. The problem was that they were all kids , just kids who were trying to stay alive. And goddamn if that didn't hurt Steve in ways he couldn't even picture.

But now was not the time for such speculation, as he hears the walkie talkie crackle to life and everyone in town replied that they were on their way to the cabin. He can hear Dustin asking if everyone is okay, and Eddie responds.

"Nah man, pretty damn far from okay." And right then and there, Steve decides he's one of the group, and needs to be protected. Eddie didn't have a choice, he couldn't walk away from this, and Steve would rather burn than let someone face this alone and afraid. It was his biggest flaw, according to Robin. Alongside his flirting, apparently.

Chucking a hard left and ignoring the shouts of 'what the hell?' and 'slow down, Steve', Steve took the back trail to the cabin, winding down dirt roads quickly to avoid being spotted. Finally, they pull up to the cabin and Eddie is leaning in the doorway, chewing on the end of his hair, half cast in shadow. Eddie the Banished seemed a fitting title for the lurking figure.

Steve barely managed to get the car in park before Dustin was launching himself at Eddie, pressing his face against his chest and hugging as hard as he could. And from the front seat of the car, Steve could see Eddie's face soften and crumple a bit as he glanced to the sky, taking a shaky breath before pulling Dustin back, making some joke the kids laughed at. Smiling softly, Steve shuts off the car and watches for a moment, imagining the life they could all have.

Tick, tock. Tick, tock.

The floor beneath Steve seemed to swallow him up as the sound of a grandfather clock clanged through him, causing his teeth to buzz in his skull and sending painful waves through his head.

"C'mon, Harrington." He whispered to himself, "Chin up, gotta watch out for everyone, deal with this later." And so that's exactly what he did, shaking his head slightly, Steve pulls himself out of the car and walks up to the cabin doorway. Ignoring how the sound of the leaves crunching left hollow echoes in his head, and how the shrill laughter of the kids ragging on Eddie felt like a bullet to the skull. Glancing back upwards, he saw Eddie tilt his head in a question. Brushing him off, Steve simply clapped him on the back, assured him he was going to be fine, and went inside to wait for the others.

It was Nancy who got there first, bursting in through the front door like gunfire and talking immediately.

"I think I'm starting to have a plan, it's a shot in the dark but it just might work. Do you remember Victor Creele? He was convicted of murdering his whole family but he always claimed it was demons? Well, I read up on his case file and the pictures match Chri-." Steve jumped up, grabbing Nancy by the shoulders and slowing the flood of information, acutely aware that Eddie had gone still at the mention of Chrissy.

"Why don't we talk about this when everyone's here, okay Nance?" He implored, ducking his head to make eye contact and let her know he wasn't being intimidating, only accommodating. She nodded sheepishly and then stepped out of the doorway, putting down the groceries she'd picked up for Eddie on the way in. Steve dropped his hand from Nancy's shoulder like it burned, and stalked to the kitchen, intent on feeding the rascals before any sort of fight went down.

He opened the fridge and saw that it was despairingly empty, the white hum mocking his idea. Sighing, Steve instead reached into the cupboard and promptly dropped whatever he'd just picked up.

Sitting there, in the corner of the cupboard, was the cold rotting body of Barb. She was distorted and sunken, her bones having been broken and entangled in vines. Steve took a small step back, a whimper lodged in his throat as she tilted her head upwards, white eyes fixing on him.

"You killed me, Harrington. If you weren't so stuck in your own head, maybe you would've noticed me being murdered in your own backyard." Steve just stood there, his feet frozen to the floor as Barb stood up, pieces of her skin flaking off and sticking the tiled floor and mouldy walls.

"Poor King Steve," she mocked, "it must have been so hard to finally win over Nancy Wheeler." Steve began shaking his head, counting from one to ten and back again furiously, certain that this was a vision. The back and forth of the others in the loungeroom had faded to a hum, and the lights above him began flickering, sending his thoughts into a tailspin. He knew it was his fault, but he was only seventeen, right? Barb surely didn't think he actually killed her. Right?

"Always so selfish, can't see past your own two feet," she pointed a him accusingly, "and you've never been able to save anyone that mattered, Harrington. What makes you think this time is different? Look at me, Steve-O. Really look at me. I'm dead, and my parents buried an empty casket because you couldn't keep it in your pants. I'm dead, because of you , how long until its Lucas rotting in the pool? Or Nancy? Or Dustin?" At Dustins name, she smirked, and touched a finger to her nose.

No, no way, it couldn't get Dustin, right? Steve silently begged that his kids would stay in the loungeroom until he dealt with this. Barb began dissolving, decomposing before his eyes and glaring at him like she really hated him. Steve kept holding eye contact as the vines controlling her body slid away and disappeared like nothing had even happened.

"You okay there, Harrington?" A cautious voice asked, finally breaking the trance Steve found himself in.

"Yeah, of course, man. How are you holding up?" Steve deflected, glancing over his shoulder at Eddie's concerned face before wiping a hand across his own. His fingers faltered at his nose, feeling something warm and wet running down to his mouth. Shit it must've caused a nose bleed. Moving back towards the cupboard, Steve quickly wiped away any evidence and looked back over at Eddie, who was still frowning at him.

"Oh you know, as good as expected being suspected of murder and finding out monsters exist. So, great I'd say." Steve chuckled at that, assuring the dungeon master that he would get used to it, and that they were all here for him. The two locked eyes, and Steve couldn't shake the feeling that he'd done a terrible job or hiding how shitty he was feeling.

* * * * *

Steve was doing a terrible job of hiding how he felt. Eddie could tell that something was up the second Steve pulled into the driveway, his face pinched together and eyebrows furrowed. He knew what Steve Harringtons face looked like, everyone at their school did, but this wasn't the Mighty King Steve, no, this was Harrington. The guy that Dustin never shut up about, the fighter that Mike's character was based on, and the man Lucas said was like a brother to him. But something was wrong.

Eddie had been watching from the background, quiet as ever, participating with the kids just enough that no one really paid any attention. He noticed when Steve took a sharp step back from touching Nancy, and he noticed how Nancy leaned into it. He may be panicking and scared shitless, but he was always observant. So when Steve went to get a snack and took a few minutes too long, he decided to investigate. None of the kids noticed, and Nancy was too busy scrawling something on her notebook to see anything.

Tip toeing into the kitchen, Eddie watched as Steve stared horrified into the corner, just outside of the cupboard.

"Steve?" He asked gently, hoping maybe he was just spaced out. But when Steve began to quietly beg and shake, looking like someone had just summoned the Devil right in front of him, Eddie stepped in. Waving a hand in front of his eyes, Eddie could feel the panic rising in his chest. Harrington knew what was going on, Harrington had it all together, why the hell was he spaced out in the kitchen right now?

Eddie watched as Steve looked at the ground, and shook his head as though nothing happened. Maybe he just had a bad memory pop up? Dustin said they'd done this a bunch, and Steve had been alone with Russian interrogators for hours last year. It had to be that, he was just stressed and had some messed up form of PTSD.

"You okay there, Harrington?" He asked cautiously, leaning forward and balancing on the balls of his feet, hands twisted behind his back like a school girl asking out her crush. And when Steve deflected, Eddie deflated. Of course Harrington wouldn't bear his heart there and then to the freak he'd only just met. He probably didn't even remember him from high school.

Twisting his hair around his finger, Eddie watched as Steve piled up on any snack he could find and began sharing them out to the kids. He watched as he handed one to Nancy and then was pleasantly surprised when a snack was extended to him. He raised an eyebrow questioningly, and at his hesitation, Steve tucked the snack into the front pocket of Eddie's vest, patting it twice when he was done and throwing the last snack on the counter.

And that shouldn't have been as nice as it was, and poor Eddie's heart decided then and there that it wanted Steve Harrington of all people.

It didn't take long after that horrifying realisation that Robin walked into the cabin, immediately going to Steve and hugging him, tucking her head under his chin and then making sure he wasn't bruised or hurt. He tsked and pushed her away, only to shove the snack in her chest. But he never grabbed one for himself, Eddie noticed, watching as he longing stared at the now empty box of the last snacks in that house.

"Alright everyone," Steve started with a sigh. "Let's start planning."

And so they did.

Chapter Text

This was all too much for Steve, who really just wanted to go to bed. As everyone began shouting their ideas across one another, the headache clanged through him with such force that he dropped down onto the couch in a huff, causing everyone to stop and look at him in a hurry. He waved them off.

"Aright. What I'm hearing is a load of horse crap." He began and shushed the room when they all offendedly began talking back.

"Shut up. You all know we have nothing on Vecna. So, what's the first step when it comes to fighting something?" He looked out at the group, making the face of an expecting parent when you've done something wrong. Hands-on his hips and head tilted to the side, hair still managing to fall perfectly over his face.

"You research it, dipshits. Nance, you said you had something on Creele? Go check it out with Robin. Dustin, you mentioned gates? Do you think we could find these and see what they're like? Lucas, you said the basketball team was searching the town for us, what are their moves, where have they been?" And just like that the tension fled the room as everyone realised it was okay, Harrington had a plan, like normal. Steve looked up expectantly at everyone as they all sat in silence, reeling at the first reasonable thing said all afternoon. Steve ran a hand over his face, and for a split second let how tired he was feeling show before taking a breath and shoving it all back inside.

He pointed at Nancy and gestured for her to go first, bowing over the table like he was handing her the stage. She gave a little smile and then dove into her Victor Creele theory. It was odd, he decided, to be nice to Nancy after everything that had happened between them. He had decided to forgive her long ago, after all, she was only seventeen, and he really didn't feel like it was fair to hold a grudge when he was such an asshole back then. But it still didn't stop the feeling of hurt deep in his chest whenever she looked at him or talked at him.

Something about Nancy left him open, left him raw at the edges. And it took him months before he realised that she was his first serious relationship and that the reason it hurt was simply that she hurt him. He could still remember the smell of the punch as she told him it was all bullshit, the slow realisation that she and Jonathan were together together the day after the fight, and how much that had hurt Steve because he thought they were still talking about it. But she had made her decision, and he had bigger things to worry about.

That was, until he didn't, and it all came crashing down on him that Nancy had cheated. He tried to confront her about it one day, but she'd reminded him he was an idiot, and that they had been over long before then.

"It's because you are an idiot, Steve." He whipped his head up to Nancy in shock, only to notice everyone else had left the room. Shit, Vecna.

"You're so dumb, and you believed I loved you? God, what a stupid thing to do. How could anyone love you, Steve? You're an asshole." Steve tried not to let it hurt as much as it did, knowing it was only Vecna trying to weaken him and take over, but that he was only in the lounge room. With his kids, with the real Nancy, with Eddie. He had to get out of the or risk them all worrying when they already had to worry about Max.

Nancy's hand jerked out and landed on his chest, pushing him down into the couch with more strength than the real Nancy could ever muster. She leant forwards, her hair trapping the air between their faces as Steve desperately tried to get up, to move, to do anything.

"You're unlovable, Steve. Always doomed to be the second choice, you know that? I never wanted you, I wanted to be popular, same with Robin, same with Dustin, same with all of them. We're only around you because of what you can give us, Steve. But never for you. Why would anyone want you?" She smirked and leaned in to kiss him, grabbing his chin when he looked away. This was just a vision, he had to fight Vecna, right? How did you fight this?

It was Nancy, he couldn't hurt her back, even if he tried. But she was still kissing him and still telling him how little he actually meant as a person, and she was tempted to keep him around for the popularity and sex when they started dating. Steve's eyes well up with tears as he tries to break free, slowly suffocating, but he feels a hand on the back of his neck.

Warm, calloused, and decidedly not Nancy's hand. And it grounds him as he pushes Nancy off, snarling in anger at her and taking a deep breath.

"Let me go you psycho creep, I won't go down this easy." And the next time he opens his eyes, Nancy is asking Robin if she'll go with her to interview Creele, and Eddie Munson's hand is resting on the back of his clammy neck. Steve watches as they climb into Nancy's car and drive off, and Robin smiles easily at Nancy, softly, and for a split second he swears Nancy smirks back, and that's all it takes. Bile rises in the back of his throat as he pushes upwards, ignoring the shouts from his friends as he staggers to the bathroom before dropping to his knees and vomiting.

He can feel hands gently holding his hair back and a voice shooing the kids back to the loungeroom, and he's so grateful that he could've kissed them, if not for the projectile vomiting. It takes a few minutes of soothing soothing noises and soft strokes across his forehead before Steve collapses bonelessly onto the cold tiles, pulling his legs towards his chest and wiping the spit off his face. Eddie continues to murmur softly to him as he offers a wet washcloth.

Steve gratefully takes it and wipes his face, ignoring the smear of blood across the cloth. It'll come out in the wash.

"You wanna talk about why you're not telling anyone, big boy?" Eddie asks carefully, and oh so sweetly, and Steve can't stop the wobble in his voice as he replies.

"They're already worried about Max, Eddie. And they need someone to be reliable and have a plan, they need me to be okay. How could I ever take that away from them?" Steve turns his pleading eyes to Eddie's face, and goddamn he's never been so happy to see them crystal clear.

* * * * *

Eddie was already on high alert when it came to Steve Harrington, but he was learning so much about this man in such a short amount of time. Steve had a bond with all of the kids and had made a point to talk to all of them individually while people settled into the lounge room. And Eddie watched as each of them slowly relaxed after talking to Steve, and how the energy in the room reached a gentle simmer after he was done.

And then he has to be good at planning too, of course. Simply commanding the room and bending everyone's attention to his will as he directed the group without hesitation. So this was the Steve Harrington his little Hellfire Club was obsessed with. He could see why.

But then he noticed it, the second Nancy got up to talk, Steve simply retreated into himself, and everyone in the room forgot him in place of where he directed their attention. Eddie slowly got up to stand behind Steve, so that Nancy didn't have to spin around to talk about Creele, but that was when he noticed it. Everyone else was watching Nancy, and leaning towards her, so when Steve's gaze slipped into a glassy stare, Eddie was the only one to notice.

Coming up behind him, he placed a hand on Steve's shoulder, hoping to ground him, but it was pretty clear that this wasn't just a flashback. Eddie could practically feel the electricity and fear rolling off Steve, but he didn't want to make a scene. Instead, he moved his hand to the back of Steve's neck, ignoring how that made him feel, ignoring how clammy he was, and instead squeezing softly to ground him. Bring him back to reality.

Eddie could feel Steve begin to tremble beneath him, and felt him begin to rise, so Eddie did the only thing he could think, and simply pushed him back down. And it worked. Steve's muscles loosened and he let out a breath, sinking back into the couch as Eddie could feel his heartbeat racing under his fingertips.

He lets Steve go and worries his hair between his fingers, staring at the skull eyes on his ring and debating how to bring it up with Steve, did he tell Robin? No, Steve kept it secret for a reason, right? Steve always had a plan. So Eddie would just talk to him.

Seems the universe had a different idea, because as Robin and Nancy smiled at each other in the car, Steve gagged and dashed towards the bathroom, Eddie reacting quickly and following him.

He found Steve kneeling on the tile, vomiting and crying into the toilet, and as he gathered Steve's hair off his face, he glanced back and the terrified faces of the kids who had followed him. They were all freaking out and looked on the verge of a breakdown. Shit.

"Hey, hey guys? I think you should give him some space, yeah? Go back to the loungeroom and start planning the stuff Steve talked about, okay? So that when he comes out you guys can show him what you've done." At this, the kids all nod slowly, glad that someone was calm and collected.

Holy shit, he was not calm and collected, Eddie was internally freaking the fuck out at Harrington puking after almost being Vecna'd. Eddie began carding his fingers through Steve's hair and brushing them along his forehead, almost without thinking about it. He almost stopped in a panic but Harrington leaned into the touch and it seemed to calm him, so Eddie dutifully continued, all the while murmuring in the background to keep Steve grounded.

It took a few minutes, which felt like hours to Eddie, until Steve leant against the bathroom wall, curled in on himself and trembling. And goddamn if Eddie didn't feel like he was intruding on a personal moment. But instead, he offered a washcloth and chose to ignore the blood streaming from Harrington's nose. It was now or never, and he wasn't going to let Steve keep going on like this.

"You wanna talk about why you're not telling anyone, big boy?" Eddie asks carefully, and oh so sweetly, and he notices when Steve's voice involuntarily wobbles.

"They're already worried about Max, Eddie. And they need someone to be reliable and have a plan, they need me to be okay. How could I ever take that away from them?" Steve turns his pleading eyes to Eddie's face, and goddamn he's never been so happy to see them crystal clear. This man, this boy was so ready to let himself be hurt if it meant protecting those damn kids.

"Stevie, this isn't okay. What happens if you don't come out of the next one? We need to move faster and figure out a plan tonight. That's what? Two visions in two hours? Judging by that you've only got a day left." Eddie can't help the rising panic in his voice and is startled when a hand wraps itself around his own. Of course, perfect Steve Harrington is comforting him right now, when he's been targeted by Vecna.

"I know, Eds. But what else can I do? I've just gotta make it through this and it'll be okay. I'm always okay, Eds." He says, tiredly. And for a split second Eddie wishes he could hold Steve until everyone backed off a little.

"You know, when I was little," Eddie started and was nearly taken aback at the intensity in Steve's gaze as he turned his attention to Eddie's story.

"I was terrified of the dark. I had the reoccurring dream of a boogieman hiding in the shadows, and if I turned the light off, he would get me." This wasn't a fun story, and Eddie didn't know why he was telling Steve, but he felt like he'd just watched Steve offer up something personal, so he was going to level the playing field.

"My parents had long since left, and it was just my Uncle Wayne and I never wanted to be a burden, so I didn't tell him." Steve was watching him with such intention that it took Eddie's breath away, he'd never been paid attention to like that. Not even when the little brats hung onto his word during a campaign. Eddie forced himself to look back at Steve, to lean into the tension building between them.

"He figured it out, of course. Right after I'd fallen asleep at the dinner table after staying up for over 72 hours. And he sat me down and told me that it was always okay to be afraid. Because being afraid is what makes us human. And when I asked him how I was ever going to be brave if I was afraid, he just laughed and told me that bravery only existed because of fear. What's there to be brave about if you're never scared, right?" Steve was so still that Eddie thought he was in another flashback, but the clarity in those eyes staring at him assured him that he was very much so present. Watching, waiting for Eddie to talk, not so much as even interrupting.

"That one's always stuck with me. And Steve, you're so goddamn brave." At this, Steve's attention began to crack, his bottom lip wobbling as he glanced at the sky, fists tightening around his stomach as he curled further into himself. Despite the worry, Eddie pressed on.

"Vecna isn't prepared for someone that knows how to be brave, Stevie. He's prepared to weaken you easily, but you've already fought him off twice with no help. And now you've got me to help you out, we'll figure this out, okay?" And Steve was trying so hard to keep it together, and Eddie could feel his heart hammering in his chest. He was just nice, to King Steve, and now he was about to be rejected. Instead, Eddie watched as Steve's face crumpled almost in slow motion.

First, his eyebrows pushed inwards, followed by his eyes tearing up, and his lip trembled and Eddie could tell he was trying so hard not to cry in front of him, and it made his heart hurt. Eddie reached outwards, letting his hands touch Steve, first his knee, and then bringing a palm up to his face. And dear god he hesitated when Steve visibly flinched away, the panic crossing his eyes pouring ice into Eddie's veins. But he let his hand over, and Steve held out for all of ten seconds before leaning into Eddie's touch.

It took a second to realise that Steve was talking, and Eddie had to ask him to speak a bit louder, making sure to throw a 'sweetheart' at the end there that made Harrington blush.

"No one's ever held me just to hold me before." The small admission looked like it pained Steve to say, and Eddie's heart clenched up so hard in his chest he thought he'd flip inside out. No one? King Steve was always surrounded by girls wanting to sleep with him and guys wanting to be him. How had no one simply held his pretty face before? Eddie lets his fingers gently stroke Steve's face, relishing this moment of peace and quiet, but his fingers catch on many small scars across Steve's jawline. He tilts his head and his stomach lurches when Steve lets him move his face, when Steve willingly trusts him to do whatever. Eddie taps the scars and raises an eyebrow, almost missing the sad smile on Steve's face.

"First guy I, uh, well. There was this guy, we used to be...friends? He beat me within an inch of my life the night El shut the first gate." Eddie visibly flinched, Steve had been beaten up before? Eddie listened as Steve's words got quieter, softer.

"He never apologised. And when the Russians came into town, well, it was all over for my face. I watched him die that night, you know?" Eddie shook his head, reeling with the implications of what Steve was saying, what he was admitting to.

"It was Max's older brother, so I let her hold him as he. Yeah. But those scars have never faded, and now every time I shave, I'm reminded of him." At this, Steve leaned even harder into Eddie, as though this touch wouldn't last, as though it was the final time someone would ever hold him. And Eddie obliged, reaching the other hand up to Steve's face and simply holding him, admiring the view.

"It's not all that it's cracked up to be, Eds." Eddie paused his ministrations, utterly confused over where this was going.

"Having parents, Eds. Sometimes they're there too much and not enough. You got lucky with your uncle." Steve said, voice sluggish as though he was sleeping. But his eyes flashed open after finishing that sentence and he apologised profusely to Eddie, holding his hands and repeating 'I'm sorry' over and over until Eddie just hugged him.

Eddie had no idea why he did it, only that it felt right in the moment. And the second his chest met Steve's, Steve stopped breathing. There you go again, Munson, wrecking the one thing you were building. And Eddie was about to pull away and save himself the heartache before Steve wrapped his arms around it, holding him like he was something precious he never wanted to let go of.

"Alright, big boy. I think we ought to get back to your kids, right?" And Steve groaned good-naturedly before using Eddie to pull himself upwards, swaying a little once he was on his feet. Eddie simply watched, fascinated more and more by Steve Harrington.

The two of them went back out to the loungeroom, and Eddie managed to step in front of Steve as all the kids rushed up to him in a gaggle of worry and stress.

"Are you okay, Steve?"

"Holy shit, man, what's going on?"

"Are you dying?"

"Should you be walking around?"

"Do you need to go to a hospital?"

And Eddie noticed as Steve slowly pulled himself back together, and felt immensely honoured that Harrington had let his guard down in front of him.

"I'm fine, dipshits. Just had something bad for breakfast, now, can we get onto the rest of the plan?" That answer seemed to satisfy the kids, who grabbed him and dragged him to the couch to get his approval of their plan. Eddie simply hung back, but when Steve leaned back to grab his wrist and pull him into the discussion, Eddie finally felt like he belonged.

Chapter Text

"Alright, so we can use Hopper's old cabin as a safe place, yeah?" Lucas nodded furiously at Steve, and for a second Steve was overcome with how proud he was of this kid.

"Yep, we already looked there, so the team won't think to go back, perfect safe spot!" Lucas practically preened as Steve gave him a fist bump and told him he was awesome. Steve could see it coming together, and he let himself hope just a little bit. He might actually get out of this one. Steve watched as Eddie peered at their plan, constantly fiddling, and he hoped some more. That whatever was happening between him and Eddie could grow. It would be nice to have a friend his age, for once. All of his hated him now.

Shaking his head, Steve continued to watch as Eddie helped Dustin place pins on the map of locations of gates, so far they had only found two, the one in Eddie's trailer, and the one by lovers lake. Lover's lake was right near this cabin, so he watches as Eddie puts a big circle around it and marks it with an 'x'. Just as Steve stepped back to admire how far his little group had come, Nancy and Robin burst back in, panting and giggling.

Robin ran straight to Steve, practically glowing and informed him that Creele was cursed by Vecna and they knew where he would be hiding out. At the Creele house. And Steve's chest hurt as he watched Robin gaze at Nancy, completely enamoured as Nancy informed the rest of the group. They decided to scout the gates first and figure out what they did, and how to cross them, while the kids rested up and told their parents they were safe.

Steve let Robin and Nancy use the phone to call around, he had no one to call anyway. Instead, he was just watching Eddie find anything they could use as a weapon and swinging jokingly at Dustin. And for a moment Steve felt at peace, at least if he died, Dustin would have a role model to look up to still. He could be replaced. Shaking the thought from his mind, Steve took charge.

"Alright you little shits, you stay here and rest up, alright? I've set up trip wires so if anyone comes near, you'll know and wake up. It's gonna be a long day, so please for the love of god get some sleep." The kids all nodded at Steve, and he was yet again reminded that these kids looked up to him, he couldn't tell them he was next on Vecna's list. Instead, he found himself walking over to Eddie and leaning into his space, making sure he was okay.

Steve couldn't tell you why he did it, only that he liked being near Eddie. The first person to hold him like he meant something more than what he could give, the first person he'd almost admitted both of his biggest secrets to. And he hoped that the blush forming high on Eddie's cheeks was something good, not something embarrassing.

Nancy, Robin, Eddie and he left the kids, walking towards lovers lake.

"Hey-o, Stevie." Eddie starts, coming in close next to Steve as they walk. And it takes all of Steve's self-control not to glance down at his lips as he talks.

"How are you? Genuinely, man. I'm worried." And the care and concern in his voice forces Steve to be honest. How could he possibly lie to Eddie?

"Not perfect, but so far I'm pretty certain everything is real, so I'll hold onto that." Steve smiles grimly, and watches as Eddie's face morphs into the same expression. They had to do this, and they had to do it tonight, no matter what.

* * * * *

The boat rocked from side to side with all four of them in it, and they stopped almost at the heart of the lake, and the compass finally settled. Eddie couldn't help but notice that Steve had chosen to sit next to him, across from Robin and as far away from Nancy as possible. Eddie was honoured, really. Harrington himself chose to sit next to him, and so it was Eddie that Steve grabbed onto when the boat rocked.

Eddie grabbed him back, the two holding each other's arms as the water settled.

"What was that?" Robin asked, her voice high-pitched and shrill with fear.

"Echolocation." Steve started, awkwardly looking downwards when everyone turned to look at him shocked.

"It was like a soundwave to locate prey, see where everything in the lake is?" He offered, only making eye contact with Eddie, who simply smiled and gave him a thumbs up. That little smile earned a grin in return and a proud look crossed Steve's face. Eddie was so caught up in Harrington's stupidly perfect face that he didn't notice the tentacles surrounding them until suddenly he was being jerked backwards and into the water.

Pure fear filled Eddie's veins as he struggled against the glowing tendrils of mass that gripped him, dragging him down and down, and towards some glowing pulsing thing on the ocean floor. Eddie's heart jumped into his throat and he screamed, fighting tooth and nail to stop this, but then he noticed another body next to him. Nancy, struggling too. Then Robin, and finally Steve, who was reaching out with one hand to calm them all, but it only took Eddie a second to realise that his other hand was gripping onto a tendril wrapped around his throat.

At Steve's pained expression, Eddie fought to reach him, but before he could, the tendril was dunking them through the gate and it was the Upside Down.

Eddie had only heard stories of this place, and none of them did it any justice. The air was thick with copper and decay, the sky a mottled deep bruised purple and red. And worst of all was the decrepit remains of their town, wreathed in vines and shoots, pulsing and thrumming with a pulse that threatened annihilation. Eddie only got a second to take this in before he heard Robin scream.

"Steve!" Whipping around, Eddie saw Steve being dragged across the ground, his shirt ripping upwards in the process as the tendrils wrapped around his throat further and started pulling him towards the Upside Down Creele house on the hill. Running on adrenaline, Eddie began sprinting after Steve, barely noticing that the two girls had followed, and Eddie could see the whites of Steve's eyes, full of fear as the tendrils didn't loosen.

Pushing his limbs further than he had before, Eddie could feel the air beginning to corrode his lungs, but he kept pushing anyway, voice cracking as he saw Steve begin to slump, unable to stay conscious any longer, and the sob from Robin only fuelled his adrenaline. The second Steve passed out, the vines dumped his body on the floor, but he was still so far away, and so small in the middle of the expanse in the Upside Down. And then something dove towards Steve and crashed into him.

Whatever it was, it woke Steve up, who began screaming in agony. Eddie begged his body to move faster as another dove towards Steve, and Steve swung it away from himself. As he got closer, Eddie recognised bats, but these had long tails and were wicked fast, and Eddie couldn't do anything as Steve was being choked by one of the tails, the creature lifting him upwards and two dove for his sides. The scream that Steve let out then was unlike anything Eddie had ever heard, but he was so close he could see the blood pouring from Steve's abdomen.

Eddie readied that baseball bat Steve insisted he carry, thought this one was void of nails, and swung at the bat holding Steve in the air, it went silent with a splat, and Steve was back on the ground. In a display unlike anything Eddie had seen, Steve tore the bat off his side and bit into it, tearing the thing's throat out in a spray of black blood, before ripping the second off and slamming it against the floor until it stopped moving.

Eddie couldn't believe it, Steve just killed two of those things with his bare hands and was still standing. But as he looked closer, he saw the panic in Steve's face, and the absolutely blind fear oozing from his body.

"Stevie? You okay there?" Eddie dropped the bat and walked towards Steve slowly, worried about scaring him. Steve took one look at Eddie and launched himself into a hug, causing Eddie to stumble back a step. But Steve was there, alive, and hugging him, and bleeding out Eddie noticed, pulling a hand back covered in dark blood.

"Oh my god, we need to get out of here, now!" Eddie screamed, just as the two girls managed to get there, Robin gasping at the state of Steve, bloodied and worn. Nancy firmly looked away, and instead began planning.

"There's a gate in your trailer, right, Eddie? If we can get there, we can get back out." The gang looked at each other, Robin still trying not to cry, and Steve tucked in under Eddie's arm. Eddie just nodded.

"The school is just over there, maybe we can steal some bikes, get there faster?" Robin offered, and Eddie wanted to thank her so badly because Steve was shaking under his arm and the blood was beginning to seep into his jeans, anything that could get them out of here faster. But worry gripped Eddie, how on Earth was Steve supposed to bike all the way from the school to his trailer? But as Nancy and Robin began walking, he decided they'd figure it out later.

Right now, he had to help Steve. Poor Steve, whose neck was blooming in colours of magenta and black and who was trying so hard to stay upright. Eddie just looped an arm under Steve's shoulder and helped him walk. No time to think, no time to worry, only time to move and get out of here and away from those freaky bats. So Eddie hauled ass to the school, holding onto Steve, who he felt gripping his jacket limply.

Eddie had seen the way the kids look at Harrington, and there was no way he was going to face Dustin with the fresh corpse of his favourite person. So Eddie grit his teeth and moved faster, taking more of Steve's weight as the two girls pulled ahead of him and started collecting bikes, their faces pinched in worry. He could hear Steve slur something in his ear but in this panic, Eddie couldn't hear him.

This was absolutely insane, and if he hadn't seen Chrissy's body snap in mid-air, Eddie would never have believed what was happening to him. In all honesty, some small part of him still thought that he was having a bad trip, some crazy, highly detailed, elaborate, creative trip. But he knew he wasn't, this was real. As was the warm blood pooling under his fingertips from Steve's torso, caking his fingers in crimson and spilling with every movement.

He only had to make it a bit further, bike back to his trailer and meet up with the kids so they could kill Vecna once and for all. He'd seen the group work together already, and surprisingly he felt good about their chances. They might actually get through this, but it was afterwards that worried him. Shaking his head slightly, Eddie cleared his thoughts and focused on the bleeding boy in his arms, who he could hear grunting and gasping painfully.

The girls were handing them bikes, and before Eddie could complain, Steve grabbed a bike and kicked off, everyone scrambling to follow him. Eddie had no idea how he did it, his torso gleaming with so much blood it looked black, and his hair a mess. It was strange to see his hair a mess, Eddie realised, he'd only seen it at school where it was always perfectly styled up. He supposed when the world was ending, your hair routine came up as the last priority. God knows Eddie hadn't been taking care of his hair, choosing to let it go a bit wild. It seemed appropriate.

Eddie pushed ahead, trying to navigate the upside down and find his trailer, the vines and darkness throwing him for a loop until he recognised an intersection and took off with fervour. They were relying on him for this, and no way was he going to let the group down. He'd always been Eddie 'the freak', and finally, for the first time in his life, he felt like he'd found his people. Any freaky things about him were seen as perfectly fine with these people, who had seen literal demonic creatures and an entire other dimension. It was as comforting as it was thrilling.

And in the middle of it all was King Steve Harrington, the perfect rich boy, and it was still difficult for Eddie to wrap his head around the fact that he was actually a good dude. But all thoughts about Steve's increasing importance in his life dwindled away as they reached his trailer and clambered inside, panting and leaning on their knees.

His hands were shaking. His hands never shook. They were always steady, something he'd shown off with pride when he played the guitar or stick and poke tattoos. But here he was, hands shaking and breath coming in gasps and a laugh bubbling in his throat.

Eddie looked up at everyone and saw his own expression mirrored in their faces. Scared shitless but also high on adrenaline and cautious hope. Everyone except Steve, who had his head down and was taking deep breaths, each inhale causing a glug of black blood to ooze from his sides. Eddie nearly jumped when Steve's gaze jumped up to his, full of agony and also a threat. One that Eddie took seriously as he held his hands up in sarcastic surrender.

He felt a flutter low in his stomach when Steve's face melted into one of relief and he grinned at Eddie, eyes slightly crazed and teeth bared. Eddie violently beat away the feeling growing in his stomach and grinned back, raising an eyebrow in question, a check-in. Are you okay?. It drove him mad when Steve waved off his concerns and instead straightened, walking towards the gate. It made him furious, actually, a feeling that Eddie was unfamiliar with.

He was used to frustrated, used to annoyed, but true anger? Eddie was rarely ever truly angry, having learnt that anger only showed people what areas to poke at again. Yet here he was, angry that Steve was just moving on to the next step and ignoring the alarming rate at which he was losing blood. How did everyone around them not notice that Steve was half in his own head? How had none of his friends noticed that he was cursed by Vecna right alongside Max?

He took a deep breath when he noticed the shakes in his hands weren't from fear anymore but were instead from anger. Robin and Nancy followed Steve, Nancy still deep in thought and Robin flitting around Steve, trying to figure out a way to talk to him and patch him up, but unsure of what words to use. Eddie frowned at the caution, and at the gut feeling he had that Robin was used to having to ask to help Steve.

* * * * *

His sides felt like they were on fire, the flames dancing along his hips and dancing up towards his ribs, licking away the skin and nerves there. Steve realistically knew that he wasn't on fire, but every breath and every movement caused another stream of boiling liquid to seep out of his body and onto his skin.

Just another few meters.

Just another few minutes.

Just until they got through the gate.

Then, and only then, would he let Robin bandage him. Because of course Robin would, and Steve didn't trust anyone else to physically help him. But his thoughts caught on a certain dark-haired dungeon master and his open arms and understanding eyes. Eddie wasn't what he was expecting, but he supposed that being thrown into the Upside Down and Vecna would tone down anyone's personality. Because the soft, caring man he'd met wasn't the bold, crazy Eddie that he'd heard so much about.

Not that he was complaining, the hands on his face were the single most comforting thing Steve had ever experienced, and the painful way his chest clenched when Eddie was around had caused a panic deep in Steve. He knew that Robin liked girls, knew that boys could like boys, but he didn't want to admit that the first man he'd looked at that way was Eddie fucking Munson of all people. He also didn't want to think of his mother cutting words or his father's heavy fists at the idea that their perfect child could like another man.

Not that it mattered, Eddie was too cool for this town, and he would take off the second he could, Steve's name nothing more than a painful reminder of all the worst moments of his life. He also knew that this line of thought would only fuel Vecna, but he was already cursed, what's one more torment on top of that?

His brain helpfully supplied him with the alarming screaming of 'this hurts' when Steve cleared the gate in the ceiling, looking up and finding the floor of Eddie's trailer, but Steve brushed it off.

Only a few more steps.

Only a few more seconds.

Only until everyone was back on the outside.

Bracing his core, Steve gestured towards the gate, and Robin took up his offer, placing a foot in his cupped hands and letting out a gasp when her head reached the other side of the gate. Steve watched her hands grab the edge of the gate and she let herself flip, hanging onto the ceiling for a second before allowing herself to drop onto the floor, grinning up at Steve. He gave her a thumbs up and she ran off to get Eddie's mattress and some sheets to tie into a makeshift rope.

Chapter Text

Steve allowed himself to breath for just a second, trying to get the pain in his sides under control. He could feel Eddie's eyes on him, had been feeling them on him the whole time. It was flattering, and probably just trying to keep the only other guy his age alive. But then a rope was in his face, and Nancy was climbing out. He could feel himself beginning to get light-headed, the blood loss finally catching up, but he had to get through this.

He feel himself stumble, but there was a hand on his chest and hair next to his face. It felt like a million years before his eyes caught up with his brain and let him look upwards to find Eddie's concerned gaze, ringed fingers splayed across his chest to keep Steve upright. He felt his lips quirk into a smile and a slurred thanks as his brain piped up with a quiet 'handsome' and Steve shoved that thought away.

Not that it helped when Eddie held the rope and offered Steve a hand, and his heart gave a pathetic lurch in his chest. Fuck. This was really not the environment for him to be thinking about his sexuality. Although, maybe it was the perfect time, as the stress of the situation seemed to take the panic out of his realisation that maybe he liked guys. It sort of seems inconsequential in the grand scheme of things when you're facing down your death clock, and it had less than 24 hours on it.

Steve didn't even have the energy to thank Eddie as he climbed the rope, letting his body be pushed through the portal and landing on Eddie's mattress, and pain flared up through his side. Fire climbing through his lungs and stealing the air, burning up his throat and peeling his skin off where the bats had bitten him. He could feel himself roll off the mattress and kneel on the floor, breath wheezing as waves of pain screamed up and down.

He was distantly aware that he was groaning, whining even, the noise forcing its way out of his throat and past his clenched teeth. He held a hand out towards Robin, fingers reaching for her. She would know what to do, he vaguely thought, she always did when Steve was hurt. Even when the pain went deeper than his skin, the fist and finger shaped bruises searing deeper than burst blood vessels, cementing themselves in his memory, she was there, hands gentle as she helped him.

She would know what to do.

He let out a whimper when he felt her fingers grasp his hand, and he tried to open his eyes past the pain in his sides, vision blurred. She was sad. Why was she sad?

"Are you okay, Robbie? Why'r'you sad?" He could hear his speech slurring, and he frowned when she laughed at him, shaking her head. He could see her mouth moving, but couldn't bring himself to focus on her words, but when she gestured someone towards Steve, he tried to tune back in.

Eddie, she was asking Eddie to carry Steve into his room and get the first aid kit. Shit, he must be worse than he thought. He could feel the rough hands of Eddie pull him up and into his chest, and he tried to come back into his head. Robin was sad. Eddie was carrying him to his bedroom. He's been bitten.

Max is cursed.

He's cursed.

All his kids are in danger.

Yep, that did it. Steve felt fear jolt through his body and he stood upright, still leaning on Eddie but taking some of his own weight. There wasn't enough time to wallow in pain and pity, he had to get the blood to stop pouring out of his body and he had to get back to the kids. He heard Eddie mutter something about 'idiot' and 'self-sacrificing' but then he was in Eddie's room and Eddie gave Robin the first aid kit. She was still sad, but she looked determined.

He was glad she was his best friend, and if there was such a thing as soulmates, he was certain she was his platonic one. Robin shoved Eddie out of the room, and Steve felt guilty about the rush of calm he felt at just being with Robin. He cracked a grin, he knew the perfect way to wipe that sad look off her face. She gave him a confused look but started cleaning his torso, and his vision almost went white for a second. He took a deep breath. Robin wouldn't hate him.

"Can people like girls and boy, Robbie?" His voice was softer than he wanted, he wanted to be confident and swaggering and wipe the fear from her face, make her happy again. Instead, she paused, her breath hitching before she tentatively began cleaning the bites again, apologising whenever he flinched in pain. And dear lord it hurt, each touch felt like a hot branding iron, but the idea that Max was a sitting duck, waiting for Vecna to take her was all Steve needed to push through the pain.

He didn't want to press, but as the silence crept on and on, Steve began to worry he'd offended Robin. She probably thought he was invalidating her, seeing if she still liked men.

"I'm sorry, Robin. I didn't mean it for anything with you, it's just been a rough few days and-" He cut himself off with a hiss and Robin pushed and the antiseptic burned into his skin and he let out a yelp, ready to ask what it was about before she started talking.

"You think you've had it rough, Steve?" She scoffed, and Steve's heart fell through the floor. Of course Vecna was using Robin to get to him, because Steve didn't know if he could defend himself against her.

* * * * *

He heard Robin scream, and Eddie dropped what he was holding to bolt to his bedroom, all jealousy from Steve and Robin being alone together in a room fleeing his body. He saw Nancy's face pale in fear and follow him. He didn't care about the crack his doorframe let out as he burst into the room, and felt the world grind to a halt at the sight.

Robin was screaming, her face covered in tears and she tugged on Steve's legs, trying to pull him down.

From where he was floating in mid-air, and Eddie's brain froze, the image of Chrissy's body crumbling before him blurring his vision. He got a good look at it right now, his brain obviously having wiped some of the details of Chrissy's death to protect him. But his brain wasn't protecting him now, no, it was screaming at him to do something.

But his feet felt stuck as he saw Steve's eyes, white and bloodshot staring at nothing as his body hovered, and he could see his mouth begin to open in a scream. Nancy was now holding his other leg and yelling at Eddie to help. The image of the two of them desperately holding onto Steve, alongside the mental conjuring of Dustin sobbing over Steve's crushed body, spurred Eddie to take action.

He stood on his bed and spun Steve to face him, grabbing his face with his hands and pulling him in, and Eddie tried not the balk at the sight of his hollowed eyes and gaping mouth. He moved a hand to the back of Steve's neck, it worked last time, maybe it would help this time. As he did this, he leaned in and touched their foreheads, trying to remember anything.

Music! His eyes widened, but he didn't have a walk man, and Steve's jaw was reaching his limit, and Eddie knew he wouldn't be able to turn anything on in time. But Robin was crying into Nancy's arms, who looked like she was about to vomit, so Eddie took a breath and did what he could. He sang.

He wasn't entirely sure what song it was, something he'd heard Steve play in the car and continue humming when he got out, it might have been Wham! or Duran Duran, but Eddie wouldn't pretend to remember. Instead, he kept their faces together and sang quietly to Steve, fingers gripping his face and the nape of his neck, praying to anyone that would listen to not kill someone else in front of him, especially not Steve, who he knew he'd grown dependant on already.

Steve's jaw stopped opening, and instead snapped shut so violently that Eddie nearly stopped singing, grateful that his voice didn't even waiver. Instead, he lowered the hand from Steve's neck and wrapped it around his waist, pulling him into Eddie's front as he stood on his bed, pulling him into an embrace that Eddie would only realise later that made it look like they were lovers.

He kept the hand on Steve's face and kept singing to him, eye's widening when he heard the kids pull up. He glanced at Nancy and Robin who were drying their tears and fearfully looking at Eddie. He waved them to the kids, they didn't need to see this. He kept singing and felt Steve twitch in his arms, mumbling under his breath, at this movement, Robin and Nancy did as he said, and left, believing that Eddie was saving Steve.

He didn't know if it was working, but he kept singing, kept holding onto Steve, and kept praying.

Please, let this save him. Please.

Chapter Text

"You think you've had it rough, Steve?" She scoffed, and Steve's heart fell through the floor. Of course, Vecna was using Robin to get to him, because Steve didn't know if he could defend himself against her. He pushed her away, aware enough now that it wasn't Robin, and he wasn't actually hurting her. But it still hurt something deep in his heart to see her stumble away from him, face splitting into a malicious grin.

"The mighty King Steve gets one taste of what the world has to offer, and crumbles beneath it?" She gestures, and it's so Robin-like that his breath catches in his throat. Vecna couldn't imitate her that well, right? He felt his arms pushing him back against Eddie's wall, sheets slipping under his sweaty palms as a plea left his lips. Not Robin, he couldn't do this.

"You're pathetic, you know that?" Flinching backwards, not-Robin stalks forwards and pushes Steve into the wall, her hands spread across his chest. "You're friends with a bunch of children because it's the closest you've ever had to a family. That's pathetic and weak, Steve. You haven't had it rough, you've had it brilliant, and you've still managed to be bull-headed enough to ignore that and play the victim."

This couldn't be real, could it? Steve shook his head, trying to dispel the image, but Robin's hands remained firmly on him, and he felt the icy grip of panic grab him. He had had it brilliant, he knew that, but Robin had never made him eat his own shorts over it. Maybe she should be. Maybe he should listen to his best friend, she knew him the most.

This was pure, undiluted fear coursing through his body, Steve thought. And it was suffocating him.

The feeling of dread started in his heart and curled outwards, creeping just under the surface of his skin and running its bruising grip along every inch of him, taking his air, taking his blood, taking his everything in its wake. It left a cold, empty, all-consuming feeling in its path, and Steve felt his lungs close off as the fear captured his breath in one fell swoop, and he choked. Robin was smiling sarcastically at him, her lip pulled up and back in a mix between a grimace and a snarl.

"You're nothing to us, nothing! We have families, we have people who love us, what do you have, King Harrington? I'll tell you what." Steve can feel a scream building in his throat and she sits back and holds her arms wide, spinning like she owned the space. "You have everything people like me always wanted."

And then she lunged at him, fingers grasping and gripping and the scene changed. With a thud, Steve was on the ground of a hazy red space, debris and chunks of rooms floating around him. It was like time didn't exist here, the bricks and mortar disintegrating slowly, the dust particles leaving a trail across the sky, tracing its path.

This was what Max saw.

And then his eyes landed on Vecna, the looming figure stalking towards him with an arm flung out. Steve scrambled backwards, his brain trying to piece together the words to describe Vecna, but all he could conjure was a feeling of abject horror and cosmic aversion, his bones and blood singing that this was wrong on an atomic level. Vecna wasn't supposed to exist, he wasn't supposed to be here.

But he was, and Steve felt a surge of electricity encompass his bones as he was thrown into a solid wall, Vecna snarling softly at him. Out of the corner of his eye, Steve could glimpse the corpses of Vecna's victims, and he was reminded that Eddie had to watch that happen. It was like thinking about him manifested his voice, because suddenly there was Eddie, singing soft lyrics to a top 100 song, his voice echoing around the chamber and causing it to rumble.

The sound knocked Steve's panic away, his focus snapping back into reality as he saw what was happening. Vecna was trying to drown him in fear, and it had nearly worked. But over in the distance was a hole in Vecna's space, softly illuminated, and Steve saw Eddie's bedroom. Another rumble shook the room and Vecna let Steve fall.

Steve ran.

Blood pumping in his ears, mind screaming at him and heart thumping too fast, Steve ran for all he was worth. Pushing his arms to go faster, faster, faster, and praying all his years as an athlete would pay off at this moment. It felt final, the penultimate second where Steve either made it or didn't and dear lord he was going to make it. There was no other option in his mind as he pushed his legs to move faster towards the scene ahead of him.

And he felt nothing stop him. No racing vines. No surge of electricity. Just...nothing.

As Steve leapt for the scene of Eddie's room, he spun and saw Vecna smiling at him, and as he snapped back into his own body, Steve couldn't help but feel like he'd still managed to lose something to Vecna.

There was a second of weightlessness as Steve felt his consciousness return, and he was dropping down without control, with no time to brace for the floor. But the floor never came, and instead, Steve was wrapped in the scent of nicotine and weed, and he felt the rough denim of Eddie's vest holding him in place as he fell onto Eddie's front, arms instinctually coming to wrap around Eddie's waist as he felt strong hands hold onto him tightly.

He heard the soft chanting first, a series of 'oh my god, holy shit, thank god' and 'scariest shit of my life, you asshole' before Eddie was holding him away and looking at him frantically, fingers resting along Steve's jaw as he turned his face this way and that, eyes wide and whole body shaking. Steve tried to breathe in and panicked when he couldn't, the release of adrenaline and the come down from such an event causing him to fall face first into a tailspin.

Tears blurred his eyes at what had nearly happened, feeling the pain of his jaw being stretched too far and the fear in Eddie's face as he watched him carefully. He could still feel the crackle of Vecna around him, smug and encompassing, reminding him that they weren't done here yet. Steve shakily opened his mouth to tell Eddie what happened, but all that came out was-

"You sang for me?" His voice was soft and cracking from the effort of talking, and Eddie was laughing and pulling him into a hug again, and Steve felt himself relax into it. The first comfortable hug he'd had in years. Eddie felt safe, he felt secure, and something in Steve recognised that and fell on it desperately. Steve wound his fingers into Eddie's shirt and pressed his face into his chest, trying to find comfort in his warmth.

He heard small, high-pitched voices coming from the kitchen and heard Robin telling the kids that Eddie was just cleaning up a scrape Steve got. He knew the kids wouldn't have heard it, but he noticed the distinct wobble in Robin's voice that told him she was afraid, so very afraid, and trying to play brave. He'd heard the same voice when the Russians were interrogating them. Steve indulged himself for a moment in the surprising comfort of Eddie before pulling back, wiping a shaky hand across his face to dispel any evidence of what had happened.

Eddie was watching him, eyes tracing every movement and his hands tightened on Steve's hips as if to keep him there. But there was no resistance when Steve stood, a dizzy spell sending him careening forward onto Eddie, who stood quickly and caught him once again.

"I can't." Steve started, doubling over when a sharp sting hit his exposed (but clean, he thankfully noticed) bites. "I can't let them see me like this, Eddie, please." He could hear the fear in his own voice, hear the tremble as he bore his heart to Eddie, who had all the power in this tiny room. He felt Eddie tighten his grip to an almost painful extent and saw him screw his eyes shut.

"Goddamn it, Steve. You nearly died! Don't you think they deserve an explanation, sweetheart?" Steve nearly started crying again at the anger in Eddie's voice, especially after being left emotionally vulnerable by Vecna, and Steve couldn't help the flinch at the tone. Something in it distinctly reminded him of his parents, and with no energy left to remember his friends were good, Steve just sank into a kneel where he stood, resting his head in his hands.

God, why was he kneeling in front of Eddie? Eddie, who had done nothing but help him so far. Who had been nothing but kind and caring. And here he was, kneeling in front of him like he used to do in front of his father, and cringing when his body wouldn't listen. He could feel the sharp intake of breath above him, and he braced. For what, he couldn't tell you, but some deep part of his subconscious had taken over.

Then Eddie left, and Steve stayed in that kneeling position, heart racing and thoughts searing through his brain before he heard Eddie open the door and call out.

"Don't worry ducklings, your mom is fine, I just need to finish cleaning and bandaging him and then I'll bring him out to you insufferable little shits." Steve knew that tone, it was the indulgent dungeon master tone, the tone he took up with the kids when he was mucking around. His brain wasn't working, still caught up in the image of Robin calling him pathetic and nothing like she meant it, so it took a second to register that Eddie was crouched in front of him, hands out, reaching for Steve.

He knew he was staring at Eddie with wide eyes and fear, sharp, gasping breaths filling the air in the room, but Eddie didn't move, waiting patiently for him. It seemed Steve's body was working on auto-pilot for him, and he stuck his trembling hands into Eddie's waiting ones, gripping tightly as Eddie ran a soothing finger over his knuckles, rings cold and grounding. Eddie tugged him upwards, and Steve didn't get it.

Where was the yelling? Where was the aggression? Why was Eddie making him stand up?

Eddie answered none of these questions, and instead sat Steve down on his bed and took a step back. Steve didn't know what overcame him, but suddenly his hands were reaching out for Eddie and a low keen left his throat, desperate for comfort, for one person to not leave him there. He shook like a leaf when Eddie returned immediately, concern crashing across his face and he held Steve's hands.

"I wasn't lying to your little gaggle of children, sweetheart. I do need to finish bandaging you up, Robin only managed to clean them." Right, the bites. Steve had totally forgotten. He needed to get it together, and quickly. At this rate, they needed to kill Vecna tonight, and some sinking part of him knew the best plan. The hardest part was going to be convincing Robin, Nancy and Eddie, and then hiding the true intention from the kids.

It was going to be a nightmare, but he would rather it be him than Max, and the idea of Max having to face Vecna alone solidified his decision. Taking the first deep breath since this morning, Steve collected himself and waited for Eddie to bandage him. Which he did, calloused fingers deftly running the gauze around him until he tied it off with a quick knot, fingers dancing over Steve's skin in a hurry.

Steve knew that Eddie was worried about him, but this was what he did, he had no real future, but these kids did. He had to get them back home and make sure they all made it through. Almost like he could hear Steve's thoughts, Eddie's fingers tugged on Steve's waistband to pull him upright, their faces inches from each other, and Steve only just noticed that his breathing had calmed down.

"Steve." Eddie began, and Steve felt his heart clench at the use of his name like that, coming out of Eddie's mouth when it was usually seeping honeyed pet names. "We have to do something tonight, or you're going to be the next human pretzel." Eddie's voice was tight with worry, creasing his face into a sculpture of anxiety and stress that Steve found himself wanting to smooth back out into a smile. It wasn't fair for someone else to be dragged into this mess, yet here Eddie was, right in the middle of it.

Steve nodded and straightened his back, shoulders cracking and neck stiff, but he knew he looked like his usual self when Eddie sighed and stepped back. He could see Eddie fiddling with his rings and chewing on the ends of his hair.

"I've got a plan, Eds. I just gotta make it through most of tonight, and then we can kill him, okay?" Eddie nodded slowly, letting Steve lead the way back into the loungeroom, where he saw all eyes in the room turn to face him instantaneously. Creepy.

* * * * *

This was bad. Incredibly, awfully, horrendously bad. Yet Steve was walking back into that loungeroom like he had no concern in the world, hugging the kids when they rushed him and reassuring them all that he was okay, and that he'd just gotten a small bite taken out of him. They frowned at that, Max and Dustin staring at the ring of purple around his throat before Steve was commanding their attention again, walking into the middle of the room, right near the gate.

Eddie watched as Nancy resolutely avoided looking at him, instead cleaning her gun and pocketing rounds of bullets, but Robin was staring at Steve with barely hidden heartbreak on her face. It bought a sense of frustrated calm to Eddie when he realised someone did care this much about Steve, he had people in his life to confide in. And not for the first time, Eddie wondered about his Uncle Wayne.

Was he ever going to see him again? He knew Steve was right, that he had gotten lucky with Wayne, and Eddie missed him already. If this wasn't some supernatural shit, Eddie knew that he would've called Wayne for help already, and he would give anything to be able to tell him that he didn't kill Chrissy or any of the others, and he certainly wasn't trying to kill golden boy Steve. But he trusted this group, and despite the fact that Steve had a serious issue with sacrificing himself for others, Eddie trusted his plans. That was until he heard the rundown of tonight's mission.

"Erica, Max, and Lucas. You three will be at the Creele house, monitoring the lights, and you'll let us know when Vecna is in a trace, got it?" Steve had a hand on his hip, and a finger pointed at them, eyes locked with Max in some sort of argument. She went to open her mouth and Steve shushed her, saying all complaints could come at the end. This wasn't the part of the plan Eddie was worried about, in fact, this part was great, keeping the kids safest.

"Dustin and Eddie, you two are going to distract Vecna's bats with those illegal fireworks Eddie has in his bedroom." Eddie whipped his head up to stare open-mouthed at Steve, he was barely conscious in his bedroom, what sort of weird observational shit was this that he knew about the fireworks? He could see Steve grinning at him, and Dustin muttered vague comments about safety and only doing one illegal thing at a time to Eddie. Again, this part of the plan was fine, Dustin would be reasonably safe, and Eddie knew he would do anything to keep him out of harm's way. He'd never admit it, but Dustin was one of his favourites.

"Robin, Nancy and I are going to go into the Creele house in the upside down, and we're going to kill him." Steve hesitated then, gears churning in his head as he made firm eye contact with all the older kids in the room. A silent threat, and a quiet plea. "I know how to distract Vecna's subconscious, which will render him prone, and you guy's in the Creele house will let us know when it's worked." Eddie felt rage rip through him and he almost went to tear into Steve.

But Robin's hand on his shoulder gave him the second he needed to remember that the kids didn't know and that this was the only way to protect Max. Steve was staring at him now, eyes soft and a tired smile on his face. He looked like he knew that making it out of this was going to be rough, nearly impossible. It only took Eddie a second to realise why he'd chosen to take Nancy instead of him. Not once had Nancy stayed behind to cater to Steve, she was always planning, always a step ahead, and Eddie knew that she was going in his place, because when push came to shove? Nancy would kill Vecna before she comforted Steve.

It was a solid plan, Eddie had to admit, even if he viscerally hated it, and judging by the protests from the kids, they hated it too.

"That's ridiculous, Steve. I literally have a link with Vecna already, it makes sense that I would be the one to distract him." Max was standing in front of Steve, glaring up at him with her headphones still on, anger tracing the lines of her face. Steve didn't yell back, he didn't even respond yet, he just put a hand on her shoulder and tugged her into a hug, effectively silencing the room. It gave Eddie a sense of vertigo at how interconnected all these people were, constantly in rhythm with one another, a well-practised dance that they knew. It took a moment for Eddie to realise that he too, had gone silent, already tuned into the wavelength the group shared.

It was nice, he thought.

"Don't worry about it, mad Max." They both slipped out of the hug, and Max smiled at the nickname. "I promise I have a way into there that doesn't involve you giving up your memories, okay?" They stared at each other for a long while, and Eddie held his breath. He wasn't sure what he was hoping for, neither option was great, but when Max caved and nodded at Steve, Eddie wanted to scream at the world. But there was no chance to scream as everyone began moving, getting into place for the plan.

The kids ran off to find what they needed as the older ones in the group converged in the kitchen, Eddie already knowing that he was allowed to be privy to this meeting. They discussed the finer details together and tuned the Walkie-Talkies, no one was willing to talk about Steve when everyone was around. Well fuck everyone, Eddie thought bitterly.

"How are you going to get out, Stevie? I don't know if you've noticed, but you don't exactly have a favourite song." He could hear the snark in his voice and nearly regretted it when Steve's gaze dropped to the floor. Someone had to bring it up, and Nancy and Robin were too busy planning to think about Steve. Steve shrugged, and Eddie could feel the wave of an anger-induced monologue rear its head, Robin's mouth opening to do the same.

"I'm trusting you guys to kill him before I get to that point." The anger inside Eddie washed away, leaving him empty and wanting it back. Craving it back, because the feeling of worry that was caking his senses was so much worse and so much harder to control. Their voices were hushed, trying to keep the kids unaware of this part of the plan, but even Nancy was looking a bit sickened at the idea that Steve's life was on the line.

There wasn't enough time to plan, not enough time to say goodbyes, and it felt like the world was forcing his feet forwards as the kids waited in the loungeroom, ready to go. But no one said goodbye, they only shared a grim nod as Max, Lucas and Erica rode off, and the rest ventured back into the Upside Down.

One chance, that's all they had. And they were going to make it count.

Chapter Text

They were standing around Eddie's Upside Down trailer, huddled together closely, watching the walkie-talkie on the table like it might burst into flames, and Eddie wasn't entirely certain that it wouldn't. It crackled to life with a burst of static, and everyone jumped at the sudden intrusion of sound, and Eddie felt the worry in his stomach begin to curl upwards. All the times people had bullied him, or shoved him, all the worry over passing his exams and the pressure of writing the campaign, all of them felt insignificant in the face of this. Eddie knew that he would gladly be shoved into lockers and have slurs yelled at him forever than to have to watch Steve leave, and know that it might be the last time he sees him.

He'd thought about Steve before, sure. Everyone at their school had at some point, but never like this before, never with worry encasing his heart and fear curling in his gut. He'd learnt so much about Harrington in such a short amount of time, and they'd already been through so much that Eddie knew he was screwed. He supposed that this was the trauma bonding he'd heard Dustin mention in passing earlier, but it felt deeper.

They locked eyes as Max informed them that everything was set and ready to go at the Creele house, and Nancy, Robin and Steve shouldered their weapons to leave. Nancy was staring into the distance where the Creele house lay atop the hill, and Robin was glancing between her and Steve, biting her fingernails even shorter than they already were. But Eddie was focused on Steve, who was looking at Dustin and himself like it was the last time he would, drinking in their appearance like a dying man. Which, Eddie supposed, he sort of was.

"Don't try to be cute or heroes or something, okay? You guys are just the decoys." Steve was staring at Eddie, a deep, desperate sort of begging tone lacing his voice and his mouth pulled into a worried line. He knew that the words were said as though they were for Dustin, the kid who still thought it was one of Eddie's campaigns, and that everything would be okay, the kid who thought Steve had some magic trick up his sleeve. But Eddie knew that he was saying it to him, don't mess around, don't follow me, let me die. At that realisation, Eddie felt something inside him shrivel in fear and revulsion, the image of Steve dead causing him pain.

Dustin was joking with Steve, assuring him that he could get to play hero this once, and Eddie felt such a deep affection for the kid it was staggering. He was here, watching his role model, his hero, the guy that Eddie knew he saw as a dad, walk away into imminent danger with a half-cocked plan and handmade weapons. It struck Eddie then, how seriously fucked the situation was, and he knew then and there why Steve chose him to stay with Dustin.

Steve and Dustin were close, everyone knew that, but hearing it and seeing it were two different things. Dustin was Steve's kid, even Mrs Henderson had jokingly said it one night when Eddie had to drop Dustin off instead of Steve. Mrs Henderson was shocked to see him, laughing and telling him that 'Steve was basically the father Dustin never got to have' and how grateful she was that such a nice boy was taking care of him. At the time, Eddie had scoffed and restrained himself from telling her how much a dick Steve was in high school, but now he was relieved he held his tongue.

But seeing the way Steve protected him? That was something entirely different, and Eddie knew, deep in his heart, that Steve had given him the most important job. He'd chosen Nancy to go with him because Nancy would get the job done, but he'd chosen Eddie to keep the one thing that deeply mattered to him safe. Dustin. God, this boy was so willing to die for his kids that he gave himself such a slim chance to survive, but loaded the kids with ample opportunity, almost guaranteeing that they were okay.

Steve was still watching him, waiting as Eddie figured it out, and when Eddie slowly matched his gaze, face gaunt at the knowledge, Steve smiled and his shoulders relaxed slightly.

"Absolutely. I mean, look at us. We are not heroes." It was a dumb line, Eddie knew it, but it was the only way to comfort Steve and keep Dustin in the dark. There was something pulsing between them, a tension that wasn't there before, something that Eddie hoped was what he thought it was. Affection. Trust. Hope. Steve nodded and turned around, and Eddie's feet jolted him forwards before his brain could stop him, reaching out to hold Steve and tell him that it would be okay. All that came out was-

"Make him pay." Pay for all the harm he caused Steve, all the bullshit Eddie was accused of, all the things Max had to re-live, all the crap that Dustin and Lucas had to worry about. Make him pay and please come back to me. Steve just looked at him, half smile and none of that famous Harrington swagger. Eddie wasn't part of the masses anymore, Steve didn't need to pose for him. Make him pay and come home.

And then they left.

It was hell, waiting for the walkie-talkie to crackle to life, to let Eddie and Dustin know that they were at the Creele house in the Upside Down and were ready for the distraction. Dustin and Eddie had rearranged the fireworks again and again, setting them up and timing them to get the most amount of distraction for the group to kill Vecna. They had five minutes, which could be hours for Steve. Eddie shuddered at the idea of Steve having to endure psychological torture for hours while he prayed his friends would be okay. The walkie-talkie turned on, and Eddie eagerly leaned over Dustin to listen for the message.

Steve, Nancy and Robin were waiting. All they had to do now was light the fireworks so the bats left and Steve could open himself up to Vecna, and then wait. Eddie was not looking forward to the waiting. He knew it would be hell, knew it would take all his self-restraint, but he knew that Dustin was relying on him to keep calm.

Eddie and Dustin perched on the roof of his trailer, Eddie gripping his lucky lighter and Dustin holding onto the walkie-talkie like it was a lifeline. Eddie watched him as he informed the group they were about the set the fireworks off, and in a move that shocked Eddie, Dustin rested his head on his shoulder, letting himself slip up that brave façade for a second. It made Eddie's heart ache as he bought a trembling arm around the kid's shoulder, giving him a quick squeeze and smiling when Dustin pulled back, looking more sure in himself.

He had to keep Dustin safe, and he had to make sure Robin and Nancy got enough time to save Steve, so without any more hesitation, Eddie clicked open his lighter. The fuse sizzled quietly as he and Dustin slid off the roof and waited out the front of his trailer, watching the sky. The first firework went off with such a boom that he pulled Dustin down into a crouch without realising, tucking him under his arm and shielding his head.

The sound of wings started in the distance.

Ten seconds.

The second firework exploded in a shower of yellow and green, raining down shimmers onto their forms.

A cloud of black was approaching, the roar of wing flaps growing.

Ten seconds.

The third firework exploded, shooting off more sparks that lasted longer, just like they had planned.

The bats were only 30 seconds away.

Ten seconds.

The next firework went off, and Dustin screamed into the walkie-talkie that they were ready.

Nancy told them Steve was sitting away from them, eyes closed as he whispered to Vecna under his breath.

Ten seconds.

Another firework exploded, this time in a shower of red that blended into the sky.

The bats were so close now that Eddie could feel the wind pick up.

He heard a sob over the walkie-talkie as Robin started crying, Nancy telling them that Steve was starting, and Eddie knew that his eyes were white and wide, but they couldn't tell the kids.

Eddie grabbed Dustin as the next firework exploded, shoving him through the door to the trailer as the bats began throwing themselves into the walls, the entire room shaking with the force. He grabbed Dustin's hand and held it, grounding himself as he felt his heartbeat in his throat. They were really doing this, distracting demobats while Steve let Vecna inside his mind. Eddie and Dustin stood hand in hand, facing the door and waiting. Eddie could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins, lighting his senses on fire.

So much so that when the walkie-talkie crackled to life again, he didn't need to lean in, he could hear it perfectly well. Max told them quietly that the lights in the house were flickering, and that Vecna was in Steve's head. A few seconds later Nancy was back on the line, voice quiet and strained as she said that Steve was in, still keeping the kids in the dark. Eddie felt his hand tighten around Dustin's as the fireworks continued to go off.

They just had to wait now, wait and hope that Robin and Nancy killed Vecna. The roar from the bats and the fireworks was filling Eddie's head, worry and fear spilling out and over until he felt like he was drowning, the only thing keeping him sane was Dustin's small hand in his. So sure, so set in their plan that he wasn't even shaking. Some part of Eddie knew that he had to talk to Dustin about that, maybe tell him the same story he'd told Steve, but that was a problem for later.

Because right now, by Eddie's count, they only had four fireworks left, 30 seconds between each to keep the demobats here. Heart racing, Eddie led Dustin to the gate and helped him climb up, just like they'd planned, but a thought was sticking in Eddie's mind. There had been no updates, and they only had two minutes left to kill Vecna before Steve was going to die. He saw Dustin's horrified face and sent a silent prayer to whoever might be listening.

This was a dumb idea. So dumb that he might never live it down. But time was ticking, and Dustin was asking what was wrong. Eddie knew that if it was anyone else going toe to toe with Vecna, he would reconsider this option, but it was Steve. Steve. And so he had to do something. The noise was still so loud, so loud that it drowned out his thoughts and he turned and walked back towards the door, promising Dustin that he would be okay, and threatening him with a character death in the next campaign if he so much as thought about following him.

Another firework had gone off, and Eddie was grabbing his shield and makeshift sword, the metal shining red in the glow of the Upside Down. He tightened the bandana around his head and steadied himself. Steve had said no crazy shit, no hero moves, but Eddie knew that it would only take a few minutes and he'd be back inside, and everyone would be okay. Only a few minutes of hearing Dustin cry out his name, and yell down the walkie-talkie that Max, Lucas and Erica had to get there immediately.

Taking a deep breath and shoving the fear down his throat as the final firework went off, Eddie began counting. Thirty seconds, no more, no less. Thirty seconds and he was pushing the door open, sprinting into the night as he screamed for the bats to follow him. It seems that the adrenaline finally cut off his fear because inside his head was silent. The hurricane of worry and stress soothing into an oasis of still water, waiting calmly for what he did next. This was the eye of the storm, and Eddie was plunging head-first into it.

The roar of the bats filled his senses once more, but his mind was quiet, thinking of the stolen glances between him and Steve. Thinking of the way Dustin jumped up and down when he was excited. He could feel them swooping closer and closer. This might be it, Eddie thought, this could be the way I go. But it would be worth it. He couldn't go back into town, no way, he was still wanted for murder. This was the only way.

But as the first bat latched onto his side, agony ripped through his oasis and he screamed. It was white hot and sharp, slicing through his concentration and forcing him to his knees. Shit. Another swooped down, and Eddie tried to deflect, but it sliced along his cheekbone, and he felt a warm wave of blood flood down his face. He couldn't control his thoughts as a whirlwind of memories wept through him, dark nights playing D&D, hot summers with Uncle Wayne, band practice in his friend's garage. He didn't want to die, oh god please I don't want to die.

He felt his consciousness slip into something dark as pain rippled through his body. He could vaguely hear the screams of all the kids, and he hoped they stayed safe. His vision eased into blackness as the screams dissolved into something deeper, someone older, a scream and then begging. It felt like he was swimming through a heavy syrup as Eddie pushed to find the sound at the end of his subconscious.

Chapter Text

Steve knew how dangerous his plan was, and how this could very well be the last time he ever laid eyes on any of his friends. But it would be worth it to keep them safe. To keep everyone safe really. He knew he was staring at Eddie, but considering it might be the last time they saw each other, Steve figured he could indulge himself a bit. Eddie would never find out how Steve saw him, so the longing glances would never be questioned.

Steve had never met someone so brave and caring, someone who was so vibrant and viscerally themselves that is scared others, but there was Eddie, standing side by side with Dustin and watching him as Max informed them that everything was set and ready to go at the Creele house. A heavy dread settled in his gut as they gathered their weapons and went to leave, but Steve couldn't tear his gaze away from the two in front of him.

Dustin was basically his kid now, Mrs Henderson having made him Dustin's emergency contact at the start of the year. He drove Dustin everywhere, was the first person he confided in and was the guy who helped him remember when his assignments were due. Hell, when Dustin was sick a few months ago, Steve was the one who stayed home from work to take care of him, despite the fact that Steve needed the cash to buy groceries. So to turn around and leave him, knowing that he didn't tell Dustin he was Vecna's latest victim, knowing that Dustin would hate him for it, well. It hurt.

"Don't try to be cute or heroes or something, okay? You guys are just the decoys." It was the best he could come up with, casual enough that Dustin wouldn't notice, but meaningful enough that hopefully Eddie would. They had to go, but Steve lingered a second longer, begging Eddie to figure it out. So when Eddie's horrified eyes latched onto his, he couldn't help the way he relaxed and smiled. Dustin was safe. Good.

"Absolutely. I mean, look at us. We are not heroes." There was a charge in the air as they stared, perhaps for a second too long, something Steve knew Robin would give him shit for later. If there was a later. But Steve trusted Eddie, he cared about him, and he made sure to channel all that into his stare. It must have worked because Eddie was stopping him as he turned to leave.

"Make him pay." Steve felt like the world was tilting on its axis at Eddie's tone. Maybe his longing stares weren't as subtle as he thought, because it sounded like Eddie was asking him to come back to him, come back to Eddie specifically. He offered a small smile, just a Steve smile. None of that Harrington bullshit he shoved down everyone's throat, no. Eddie deserved more at this point. Steve felt his heart clench up, so before he could spin around and call off the plan, Steve set his sights on the Creele house and began walking.

They all walked in silence, the knowledge of what was about to happen weighing heavily on them. Robin was right by his side, her shoulder practically attached to his, and Steve knew why. He was the only person in this shithole of a town who knew her, really knew her, and there was a chance that might disappear tonight. Blissfully, Nancy was pulling ahead, eyes focused on the prize, doing exactly what Steve needed her to do.

The Creele house wasn't as far away as he expected, and as they walked up to it, that feeling of wrong, wrong, wrong permeated his bones again, and if the look on Robin and Nancy's faces was anything to go by, they felt it too. Nancy looked at him once and only once, just as she told Dustin and Eddie that they were there. It was too much for Steve, and he glanced away. He couldn't handle it right now, he had bigger problems.

They stood silently and watched as fireworks exploded in the distance, the pretty colours illuminating the sky and luring the bats from behind them out into the town. For somewhere so horrible, it didn't take much for it to be beautiful. Steve took a shuddering breath and went to sit by himself, he couldn't even bring himself to say goodbye as he did so. Saying goodbye was final, it was a full stop in the conversation. Maybe it was foolish, or maybe it was hopeful, but Steve couldn't stand the idea of stamping such a statement on the situation.

He had to try and get back at least, try and fight Vecna. It was sort of calming, closing his eyes in a place like this. Letting the sounds of the Upside Down trickle into his ears and settle him, allowing a moment of peace before what was inevitably going to hurt a whole lot. He heard Nancy tell everyone that he was starting, and he was so grateful that they were keeping the kids out of his plan. They already had so much to worry about, he didn't need to add his shit on top of it.

He could deal with it, he always had. But they were so young, and it only made sense to protect them. Steve made $3 an hour and had no future, he could live with the fact that he might die if it meant knowing that all of them had a chance to live. The thought filled him with a bittersweet feeling of pain and heartache, something that Steve latched onto, letting it fester and grow, letting it consume him. If Vecna wanted anguish, Steve was going to drown him in it.

It didn't take long for Steve to feel something shift beneath him, but it still took a few seconds to allow himself to open his eyes.

He was back in Vecna's mind, the smoke-filled room swirling around him as he stood up, red mud squelching beneath his sneakers. It was deathly silent here, only a vague ticking sound, but Steve knew better than to expect it to be that easy. Vecna's smug face flashed across his mind and his heart lurched, trying to escape out of his mouth. With a heavy swallow, Steve gagged his fear and began tip-toeing through the mindscape, weary of any movement.

He felt like he was falling in this place, with everything crumbling around him, a sense of vertigo threatened to overtake him. He reached out to touch the dust and hissed when his fingers bruised at the sensation. He shook the pain from his hand and felt a chill creep up his spine, the hairs on the back of his neck standing upright. Soft laughter echoed around him, and Steve braced for Vecna, braced to see that scarred face.

But it wasn't Vecna who stepped out of the shadows, no. It was a boy from school. Someone Steve hadn't thought about in years, Jimmy, he thought his name was. Jimmy stepped forward and laughed again, lethal and low, his face screwed up in a sneer.

"Pathetic Steve Harrington, who knew the King of Hawkins High would ever fall this low?" Steve knew who he was. He was the only kid Steve had ever bullied, ever actually insulted aside from Jonathan. He'd called him trash, a nobody. Guilt dropped into his stomach like a stone in a lake, and the ripples pooled outwards until it consumed him. Steve knew that this was coming, he'd done a lot of harm when he was King Steve, and it made sense that Vecna would use it against him.

He went to apologise, but Jimmy grabbed his shirt and pulled him close, fist bunching the fabric and spit flying from his lips. Steve could feel himself starting to shake, and he knew he was too weak from the bat bites to fight him off physically, but he'd never been any good at fighting his mental demons either.

"You're not sorry, you're only one step away from being that guy again." Steve's breath faltered. "I know you miss the fame sometimes, how easy everything was. You know what we all think?" Jimmy gestured outwards and Steve felt himself shrink in fear as four more people stepped out of the shadows, their bodies accumulating out of smoke and debris as they surrounded him. He knew he'd done bad things, knew he wanted life to be easy again, but he wouldn't trade what he had now for anything.

No way would he give up what he had with Robin, or the kids, even if it meant he'd be adored again, it wasn't worth it. So why did it hurt so goddamn much when Jimmy shoved him to the ground? Steve could feel the blinding panic creeping up on him again, could feel the way that it wrapped around him and pulled him down. The pulsing threat of death loomed over him as he tried to stand back up, only for Jimmy's foot to connect with his side.

"We think you should have to pay for what you did to us." Every word felt like a knife to Steve's heart, words he'd thought about himself. "This is the only way for you to atone for your sins, Steve. How else could you ever expect to deserve your friends?" It was so easy to forget that this was Vecna, that this wasn't real because as Jimmy's fist connected with the side of Steve's face and pain blossomed, Steve thought it was real.

There was a ringing in his ears as he scrambled backwards, his sides screaming at the sudden tugging and his heart beating painfully fast, the sour tang of guilt and self-pity rising in his throat. He did deserve this, he knew that, but he had to find some way to delay Vecna from killing him.

The idea struck Steve so suddenly that he wasn't entirely sure it was his. It would satisfy two of his deepest, darkest urges in one fell swoop.

Steve grinned, baring his blood-stained teeth at Jimmy and let the boy hit him again, feeling the pain crackle along his jawline. He would lean into it but not let up, let Vecna think that Steve needed to be beaten black and blue, let him believe that Steve wanted this and that it was the best way to get him. If he did this, Steve would be able to delay his death a bit longer and give Robin and Nancy the chance to save the kids.

And some small, hidden part of him jumped in joy at the knowledge that he was finally getting the chance to atone for the wrongs he'd done in high school, that he was finally going to get what he deserved. As another figure held Steve up by his hair, this small part of him cheered at the sting, and it thrummed in happiness when another fist hit his face. This was what he deserved. But Vecna played smart, and the figures started to hesitate.

Eyes flying wide open and grin dropping, Steve's brain lagged as it tried to conjure some way to keep this going, this wasn't nearly long enough. That's how Steve found himself tripping upright, leaning towards Jimmy and begging him, begging him not to stop.

"Please, Jimmy. I was awful to you in high school, I deserve this. Don't you want revenge?" Jimmy's face split into a haunting grin as his eyes glowed a deep red, and he swung his fist again, this time straight into the side of his ribs, pain splashing from the bat bits and the crack that followed. Steve could hear himself scream at the sensation.

Maybe this was how he died, at the hands of all the people he'd hurt. It seemed poetic somehow, cosmically fitting. He had to keep going, just for a little bit, just to buy them enough time to kill him. But as Jimmy swung again and Steve screamed, his knees buckled slightly, and all his willpower went into staying upright.

Wrenching his eyes open wildly, Steve took stock of where everyone was, spinning slowly when he realised he was surrounded on all front, withnowhere to escape to.

There.

A little way over, Steve saw a figure crumpled on the ground, metal gleaming on its fingers and black hair awry-no. No, no, no, no. All sense of martyrdom vanished as Steve watched Eddie Munson sluggishly sit upright in Vecna's subconscious, rubbing his sides absent-mindedly as he tried to come to. Steve took a staggering step his way, a plea perched on his lips to keep Eddie safe, but Jimmy was grabbing his shoulder and spinning him around before bringing his knee into Steve's stomach.

He dropped to the floor as all air left his lungs, and Steve screamed again, the sound tearing itself out of his throat and echoing around this place, reverberating back on itself and causing his ears to ring at the pitch. He braced for another hit as his heart pumped too fast, wheezing through spasming lungs as fear seeped into his bones. Then a gentle hand was touching his face, and Steve felt the figures leave. Steve felt his bottom lip wobble at the sweet touch and knew that this was going to be the hardest part.

Because he'd let himself slip when trying to run towards the figure of Eddie, and Steve knew that he was stupid enough to believe he'd somehow ended up in here with him. In that one wrong move, Steve had revealed to Vecna what actually mattered, and now he could feel the steel of Eddie's rings on his jaw as he tilted his face up. Steve slowly opened his eyes to find the clone of Eddie in front of him, no longer sluggish and in pain, but preternaturally still and calm, his face a cold mask of the one Steve had come to know.

"Oh, babe. You really thought that I would ever love you?" Not-Eddie laughed softly, the deep timbre of his voice surrounding Steve. "You're the same guy I knew at Hawkins High, and now you expect me to like you? No way, babe. I've seen all of you, and I don't want it." The venom-filled voice dripped into Steve's bloodstream and bubbled along his bones, bringing fear and deep heartache.

It wasn't like he ever expected Eddie to like him, much less love him, but a dream is a dream and sometimes your heart wants the wrong guy. It had only taken up until a few months ago for Steve to realise that all those awful things his father used to say about him were real and that he was what his parents feared. He hadn't left the house for days after that until Robin had talked some sense into him. But the sting from years of fear and repression would never fully leave, it was branded into the inside of his skull like a tattoo.

He let not-Eddie manhandle him upright, let him press close and lean in, and Steve felt his resolve begin to crumble even more as not-Eddie tightened his hand on Steve's jaw to the point of pain. In another universe, in another time, Steve might have fantasised about a moment like this, their bodies close, Eddie's hands on his face, but this? This was not what Steve wanted. But maybe it was what he deserved.

For seventeen years of his life, he'd been the worst type of person, and had stood by as his friends bullied the other kids at his school. Steve used to feel better than them because he never participated, but as time went on he began to realise he'd been even worse. And when it was finally turned on him, and he was left alone, Steve knew he deserved the silence. He'd revelled in being above it all, so he revelled in being beneath it.

It had been a long time coming, Steve thought vaguely as Eddie's words filled his head, a long time coming and well deserved, some retribution from the universe. The things he'd seen, and the things he'd thought. Sometimes Steve couldn't bear to be in his own skin, wanting desperately to claw it off, to shed it and start anew. But the kids needed him to be protection, so he took the hits with a deep sense of satisfaction that paying with his skin and blood would somehow make up for it. It never seemed to satisfy the itch.

"I could replace you in a heartbeat, babe. Dustin would be better off with me as his hero anyway, don't you think?" He did think it, often actually, ever since Dustin began ranting about Eddie. "I'm smarter, I have the same interests, I'm the same age as you, and I have a future. Why wouldn't Dustin be better with me?" Not-Eddie was grinning in his face, manic glee written on his face as he pressed into Steve's space, stealing his air and his warmth, leaving him breathless and cold.

Steve could feel Vecna winning this battle as a tear dripped from his eyes, stinging the small cuts on his face. Just as not-Eddie opened his mouth in a sneer to say something else, he was ripped away from Steve, leaving him to stumble forwards, gasping. Head reeling from the sudden change, Steve looked up and saw not-Eddie dissolve into smoke as another Eddie stood in front of Steve, hands outstretched to protect him, back turned.

"Eds?" The sound was weak and wet, gargling through the blood pooling in his mouth, and Eddie turned to face him. Steve's chest tightened as he realised that this was actually Eddie, his Eddie.

"How? What-What are you even doing here?" He shouldn't be here, because if he was here, it meant something had gone wrong, and someone was hurt, and Vecna was winning, and he could now target Eddie. Steve could feel his thoughts spiralling out of control, dipping lower and lower towards a crash landing of a panic attack, but real-Eddie was standing in front of him, shrugging and reaching for Steve.

"I was being attacked by bats and poof" Eddie flicked his hands in the air. "I was watching you get ragged on by Vecna's goonies." Steve felt Eddie cut himself off at the next question, because asking meant acknowledging that he had seen one of Steve's visions for himself. It left Steve feeling raw and open in a way he never had before, someone just watched one of his most vulnerable aspects get used against him, but he was still here, eyes darting around the space to watch out for Vecna.

Steve shoved himself into Eddie's arms again, craving that feeling of comfort that it managed to bring, and he felt Eddie curl his fingers in his hair and around his neck, holding him close. This was what he wanted from an embrace, not what the non-Eddie was doing earlier. Suddenly, Eddie went still in his arms and gently shoved Steve backwards. Hands feeling empty and cold, Steve went to re-initiate before he noticed the vines circling Eddie's ankles.

Their horror-filled gazes met each other as Eddie was yanked backwards, sliding through the red ash towards where Vecna kept his victims, and Steve was running after him. A perfect juxtaposition to his earlier escape. He couldn't let Vecna get Eddie, he just couldn't. So Steve ran as hard as he could, watching in fear as Eddie reached out towards him, fingers splayed wide and grasping. Steve forced his legs to move faster and faster, begging his lungs to take in more air as Eddie continued to get pulled towards Vecna.

He heard Eddie cry out as Vecna held him against a wall, vines trapping his limbs, and Steve pressed himself harder to reach him and get him down. He watched as Eddie's eyes caught on something in confusion before widening, but Steve didn't have time to think about that as he careened around the corner to get next to Eddie and-

Dad.

Steve skidded to a stop, nearly toppling backwards as he saw his father step out from beside Eddie, suit freshly pressed exactly the way he liked it, grey hairs smoothed back and polished to professionalism. Eddie began to struggle against the vines as Mr Harrington took a step towards Steve, balancing a cigarette in between his fingertips delicately, using it to gesture a ring of smoke, and Steve started shaking.

Of course this was Vecna's final push, as if everything else wasn't bad enough, this had to be his final stop. A strangled sound left his throat as his father looked Eddie up and down, and Eddie frowned at the movement, eyes darting between his father and him, confusion etched into his face. At the noise leaving Steve's throat, his father turned heel to face him head-on, eyes stern and voice gruff, each movement punctuated perfectly.

"I always knew you were a good-for-nothing queer, boy." Steve closed his eyes as Eddie let out a noise of anger.

Chapter Text

"I always knew you were a good-for-nothing queer, boy." Steve closed his eyes as Eddie let out a noise of anger. His father's common words circled in Steve's mind and clanged through his head, nagging him and repeating back and forth over and over. This was a well-practised dance, and Steve knew how to keep his dad away from Eddie, away from his friends and away from all the things Steve actually cared about. It would be easy to distract him into getting angry over something Steve had no emotional attachment to.

His father strode forward, the cloud of smoke circling around his head and adding to the air of superiority, and Steve got a glimpse of what his life might have been if not for his friends. A cold, hard, angry man. He could've been his father. The thought sent a violent shudder down his spine as Steve shuffled his feet on purpose. Keep his gaze away from Eddie, keep his father distracted. Steve allowed himself one look at Eddie, and nearly regretted it.

The vines were holding him upright and something in the air was dampening his voice because he was screaming and struggling against his restraints, spit flying from his mouth as he silently yelled at Steve's father. Steve watched as Eddie saw him fidget, and gave Eddie a sad smile once he noticed what Steve was doing.

* * * * *

Eddie screamed himself hoarse at the apparition of Steve's dad, curse words and creative insults flowing from his mouth and falling on empty ears. That one sentence had sent him reeling, and so many things about the one and only Steve Harrington made sense at that moment. These damn vines were tight and weren't budging, despite Eddie's attempts, and he was forced to watch as Steve shuffled and fidgeted, keeping his dad's eyes away from Eddie.

Eddie felt awful at the relief that bought him because when Steve's dad had looked him up and down, an ice-cold chill had spread down his spine at the threat in those eyes. He found himself wishing to never see Mr Harrington again, lest he is glared at like that in person. The guilt at that relieved feeling only grew when he saw Steve's blanched face and hopeless posture, shoulders and eyes downcast as his father strode towards him, cigarette smoke filling the air with the smell of nicotine. It was nearly comforting.

He let himself stop screaming once he realised it was getting him nowhere, and instead settled on watching, eyes focused on Steve's face, ready to provide as much support as he could from up here. Confusion swelled throughout Eddie's body when Mr Harrington held out a hand, and Steve's face paled even further as he shakily extended an arm. The feeling of bile rose in Eddie's throat when Mr Harrington took a breath in of his cigarette, the end glowing faintly before he bought it down on Steve's exposed forearm.

Eddie wished Steve would scream, wished he would punch his father in the face, would look at Eddie, would do something other than stare at his simmering flesh with a heartbroken expression. It took a moment for Eddie to realise he'd stopped moving against Vecna's restraints and was instead only staring in horror at the scene in front of him. He'd heard all the children mention Steve's parents in passing, and had gotten the sense that they all knew they weren't the best, but nothing could have prepared him for this.

Mr Harrington looked at Steve bored as Steve's face started to tinge green and sweat beaded on his forehead and upper lip, a dizzy sort of look crossing his face. And Eddie began praying to whoever could help to please let Steve defeat this and come back to his friends. At Eddie's sudden compliance, the vines around him loosened slightly, and he kept silent at this fact. Perhaps he could use it later.

But later wasn't coming soon enough as Mr Harrington took another inhale of his cigarette and extinguished it on the floor, rolling up the sleeves of his blazer meticulously. There was something so chilling about the calm manner in which he measured out the length of the fold, keeping the rest of his attire perfectly in check as Steve held his forearm, eyes glassy with tears as he watched his dad roll his shoulders and point at the floor.

Eddie's heart shattered in his chest when Steve kneeled below Mr Harrington, still staring at his forearm in despair, looking picture perfect to the way he kneeled in front of Eddie earlier. Oh god, was that why he kneeled? Because Eddie scared him? Reminded him of his father? The thought left a bitter taste on his tongue, there was no way he was anything like Mr Harrington, this man was a true-blooded psychopath.

"Boy, I knew you were going to be a disappointment to this family from the moment you were born." Surely this was all Vecna, right? No way had Mr Harrington ever said that to Steve, no parent would ever say that to their child. But Steve's look of hopeless acceptance suggested otherwise, and Eddie thought fuck it. It didn't matter if the vines were loosening slowly, he had to get to Steve soon.

"I raised you better than this, and yet here you are, wasting air and throwing out nineteen years of money spent on you." Eddie watched as Steve curled in on himself further, shrinking under the weight of his father's words. "You're no son of mine." The words struck Eddie's heart, and he threw himself against the vines, letting a groan of frustration escape when they tightened automatically, but it did something because Steve's gaze was jerking up to meet his.

Eddie kept his breathing under control as he clearly mouthed out the words to Steve. 'This isn't real', and pride flooded his senses when Steve gave him a shaky nod and took a deep breath. A grin spread across Eddie's face as Steve stood up, his father taking a small step backwards and faltering in his ministrations.

"You know, Vecna, you play the part well." Eddie could hear that King Harrington swagger creeping into his tone again. "But he's just some deadbeat asshole, and you know what?" Mr Harrington's form shimmered and began seeping into the floor as Steve's eyes widened to the point of being slightly crazed. He walked forwards and over his father's melting body, speaking loudly into the open space and getting closer to Eddie.

"You're just some asshole too." Whether it was the words Steve was using or their friends on the outside, something caused Vecna to hesitate and the restraints around Eddie let go of him, dropping him into Steve's waiting arms. Eddie opened his mouth to say something, to perhaps comfort Steve, but Steve was on a roll, dragging Eddie away from the centre of Vecna's power and pulling him towards a light in the distance.

Eddie followed closely, impressed by the aloof insults Steve was hurling into the abyss as they jogged away, the red dust beginning to dissolve and crumble as a sense of urgency crept into the air. The slow build of pressure crept up the back of Eddie's throat, stifling his sense of taste and smell as he began to feel light-headed. He gripped Steve's shoulder at the same time as Steve grabbed his hand, both of them looking at one another in fear.

Something was happening, and it was causing the two of them to panic as dizziness permeated their bodies, and Eddie only had a moment of blind fear when he saw the two of them dissolving before he was dunked into darkness.

His legs felt detached from reality as his body become non-corporeal, and he felt hands slapping his face. The world rushed in at once, light stabbing Eddie's eyes as the sound of four young voices shrieking pierced his ear drums. He sat upright in a swift motion, ignoring how his entire body screamed at him to lie back down, fire lancing up and down his stomach in a smothering attempt to get him to relax.

His heartbeat was throbbing in his ears as the hands grabbed at his shoulders, pushing him downwards, but he still couldn't see as he hurtled upwards and the world tilted beneath him. Wrenching his eyes open, Eddie saw the worried faces of Max, Lucas, Dustin and Erica standing over him, Lucas with an arm around Erica who was staring horrified and disgusted at Eddie's stomach. But Max and Dustin were kneeling next to him, their hands pressing into the pain, forcing it to reach up and wrap around his head in agony. Eddie groaned at the sensation and heard Dustin apologising.

"Holy shit. Holy shit, Eddie, you idiot. You nearly died! If Max hadn't found spare fireworks your ass would have been grass, and Vecna would have mowed it." The words were coming out of Dustin's mouth too fast and Eddie groaned again, not entirely understanding the sentence but getting the tone. He did something reckless and Dustin was pissed at him. Eddie took notice of himself and looked down, gagging at the sight of blood and viscera painting his stomach a crimson mural.

Max and Dustin's hands were holding gauze into the wounds, but it wasn't enough to stop the oozing of blood and all of Eddie's thoughts stopped at the image. He nearly died. Henderson was right. Still in a daze, Eddie let the kids wrap his stomach, adding his own pressure to the wounds long enough for them to stop seeping through the bandages as Henderson sat down and put his head in his hands and Max leant over and plucked the walkie talkie out of his hands.

"He's awake, the dipshit, but bleeding out. How far away are you?" At the reminder that Robin, Nancy and Steve were still in the Upside Down, a jolt of adrenaline-fuelled fear caused Eddie to stand up and lurch towards the gate as the kids all shouted at him. The feisty red one was in the way, her finger firmly in his chest as he hissed at him. Her headphones were down, Eddie noticed quietly, and no one was panicking in a 'Vecna is still alive and trying to kill us' kind of way. More of a 'we have a grown man bleeding out in the middle of the loungeroom' sort of way.

He let Max push him onto the couch, but didn't let her get far.

"Woah, woah, woah, Red. What happened? Did Steve make it?" Her head whipped to Eddie so fast he nearly toppled over again before she strode over and leaned in.

"I don't know what you lot kept from us, but don't think that because you nearly got yourself killed that your exempt from the biggest shit talking you have ever experienced, got it?" Eddie internally kicked himself, of course they hadn't revealed what Steve actually did, he would want to keep his ducklings in the dark for was long as possible.

But a small sense of cautious hope was rising in Eddie, maybe they had done it. No one was crying, no one was begging, and no no one was planning. Maybe they'd actually managed to succeed. He let himself wallow in the wonder of potential success until Robin came flying through the gate, covered in dirt and grime, a grimace on her face when he rushed to Eddie to check he was okay. Eddie ignored her and instead used it as an excuse to get Robin to help him upright as Nancy flew through the gate, a manic grin on her face and pockets looking suspiciously empty of bullets.

And then came Steve and the whole room held their breath as he flopped through the portal and landed on the mattress, staying down for a second before the kids rushed over to help him up. It was only then that Eddie let himself breathe, but the relief was short-lived when he saw Steve.

He was limping, his face covered in bloody tear tracks that had dripped down and pooled on his collarbones, and Eddie could see the swelling of the bruises he'd obtained in Vecna's subconscious manifesting on his skin. He was cradling his arm close to his body, and Eddie thought it would be due to the burn until he noticed the hand sitting at a right angle, skin mottled purple and lumps of bone spread unevenly across the surface, matching the bruising on his ankle. Worst of all was the slack jaw sitting slightly off-centre, blood and drool dripping from it as Steve whined at the kids fussing over him. They had walked him back like this?

Eddie turned to chew out Robin but the words died on his lips at her horrified expression, she clearly hadn't realised how bad Steve was until just now. The kids all noticed at the same time and took a sudden step back and Dustin began to tremble. That shake hit Eddie like a sledgehammer to the stomach, because Dustin wasn't afraid of these situations, but here he was, shaking at the sight of Steve.

"Please tell me you didn't keep this from me, Steve." Dustin was pissed, righteously pissed, his voice high and pinched in distress. Eddie winced at the pained noise Steve made when he tried to reach for Dustin and he stepped away, another dark drop of blood seeping from Steve's slack jaw as he tried to move it. Dustin was shaking his head, hands gesturing manically around the room as he began pacing, ignoring how the dark liquid kept pooling out from between Steve's lips as he tried to move, but his body just wouldn't let him.

The sight was so viscerally painful that Eddie was frozen in place, as was everyone else because no one thought to stop Dustin on his rant.

"Your grand plan was to face Vecna alone? And what, just hope that it all worked out? Why didn't you tell me? I thought I was your best friend." Dustin's voice cracked and Steve took a step forward to comfort him before his ankle buckled and sent him kneeling on one leg in front of him, eyes wide and jaw grinding as he tried to talk to the angry kid. At the sound of Steve's dislocated jaw snapping back into place, and the way Steve's eyes rolled back into his head at the pain, Eddie stepped forward.

He understood Dustin was angry, but there were currently two of them here who needed serious medical attention, and Steve was already in a shitty place, he didn't need Dustin's guilt trip on top of it. A memo that clearly everyone else got because Nancy was on the phone to Hopper (who Eddie thought died last year?) and Robin was checking all the kids, whose eyes were fixed on Steve's prone form. They were all standing huddled together, arms around one another, and even little Sinclair was silent for the first time, no sarcastic comment spilling from her mouth.

"Henderson now is not the time. Harrington and I really need a hospital." Eddie tried to rest a hand on Dustin's shoulder, but he shoved past him and walked outside, leaving Eddie feeling like a hole had been punched through his chest. That one hurt. He could see the tears on Dustin's face and shame coloured his cheeks, the kid had nearly lost the two people he idolised in one day, neither of them having told him their plans. Eddie got it, he really did, but Steve was still unconscious and bleeding, and he was feeling suspiciously dizzy.

Turns out, he didn't have to feel bad for too long, because as he bent down to check on Steve, his sides barked in pain, and he felt the sweet embrace of sleep sweep over him, drowning out the sounds of everyone crying out his name.

Chapter Text

The next time Eddie opened his eyes, it was to the sound of methodical beeping and the stinging smell of antiseptic and the blissful absence of fear. He could vaguely hear two beeps, running almost simultaneously, but as consciousness slipped into his head, one of them picked up slightly and Eddie groaned at the noise. His head felt like it was swimming in thick gunk, slow and pulsing in beat to the beeping as Eddie forced his eyes open and squinted at the harsh white lighting above him.

"You alive over there, Munson?" At the sound of Steve's tired and slurred voice, Eddie felt the sweet feeling of relief churn through him and he started laughing. Dull pain spiked in his stomach, but he ignored it in favour of tilting his head to the side to find a bed next to his own, and Steve Harrington sitting up in it. They were alive. They actually made it. Steve was staring at Eddie's hands, a soft smile on his face, which was mottled with red and purple bruising, his tight jaw obviously being the source of the slurring.

In some sick, twisted way, Eddie thought Steve looked the best he ever had, because he was alive and smiling, breathing and real and alive next to him. Closing his eyes, Eddie leant back into the pillows of the hospital bed, savouring the joy that was warming his bones, they had won, and no one had died. Neither of them spoke a word, Eddie just relishing in the sound of Steve's even breathing and the beeping from the heart monitors signalling that they were okay.

They both nearly died last night. Wait. Was it last night? Eddie had no idea how long they'd been in there, it could have been days, weeks. The idea of leaving Dustin high and dry like that forced Eddie to open his eyes again and tilt his bed up, sitting the same way Steve was. Something was wrong with Steve, aside from the obvious, because he refused to make eye contact with Eddie despite the fact that Eddie was staring directly at him. Was he ashamed of what Eddie had seen? A million questions were churning in his head, and just as he went to open his mouth, the door swung open and two people in suits came in, followed by another two in military uniforms.

Eddie watched as they entered, and noticed how Steve slowly turned his head towards them, tilting his head to the side to hear what they had to say. They looked important, and with a sinking feeling, Eddie realised he was still wanted for Chrissy's murder. He could hear the heart rate monitor pick up on his panic as he felt all the blood leave his face, he was willing to get down on his hands and knees and beg these people to reconsider, but before anyone could make a move, the taller of the two put their hand up to silence him.

"Edward Munson and Steven Harrington." Both Eddie and Steve cringed at the use of their full names, the words leaving a sour tang on their tongues. "We are from a special division, somewhat akin to the FBI or CIA, and we deal in matters like what you both experienced last night." They knew about the Upside Down, Eddie thought giddily, he might be able to avoid murder charges and have the government release the statement that he was innocent. Hope bubbled in his chest as the agent continued talking.

"I'm Agent Sierra, this is Agent Tango. We've met before, Steven." Eddie's head snapped to look at Steve, who was awkwardly waving at the agents with his good hand, the other arm bandaged tightly to his body, and worry flooded Eddie's body when he actually looked at Harrington for the first time. He went to take stock of Steve's condition, but Agent Tango cleared their throat and continued.

"Jason Carver was seen fleeing Hawkins last night after an altercation with Lucas Sinclair, leaving Lucas with a concussion and Maxine and Erica with quite the scare. It seems he admitted to the murders of Chrissy, Fred and Patrick, as well as attempted murders of Maxine Mayfield, Lucas and Erica Sinclair, Edward Munson and Steven Harrington." Pure shock and awe flooded Eddie's system and he felt tears pool in his eyes. "You are hereby cleared of all charges placed on you, Munson, and are free to continue your life in Hawkins with a perfectly clean record and your G.E.D."

At this, Agent Tango stared at him and Eddie understood what they were offering, an entirely new start. No murder charges, no drug charges, nothing on his records about fights from school and a passing grade to graduate. He decided to let the tears fall, spilling over and down his cheeks as the agents continued to stand in the doorway, shoulders back and presence filling the room. Eddie normally would have been shitting himself, but after facing Vecna, he didn't know if he'd ever be afraid of anything again.

"You two are to remain in Hawkins Laboratory and Medical Facility until your injuries are stabilised. Seeing as though we don't know what those bats were carrying, we have elected to keep you in the same room to monitor progress. Please note that your destruction of the dimension you have labelled 'The Upside Down' caused an earthquake in Hawkins, thus, please ensure that you inform people your injuries were from Jason Carver and the effects of said earthquake. This knowledge does not leave your group, do you understand?" Eddie and Steve nodded quickly, and the agents turned to leave, informing them that his Uncle Wayne would be in soon to visit, and then they would slowly allow the rest of the group to come say hello. They paused at the door to let Eddie know that his uncle had been debriefed, and another weight lifted off his shoulders at the knowledge.

The world felt like it was spinning too fast as Eddie tried to keep up with everything that had been dumped on him. So much had happened over the course of a week that he felt completely unrecognisable like he'd just had ten years' worth of experiences before being thrown back into where he was before. Eddie didn't get long to gather himself before the door was creaking open and his Uncle Wayne was shuffling in.

The second Wayne locked eyes with Eddie and muttered a quiet 'oh, son', Eddie burst into sobs, everything crashing down on him all at once. He felt Wayne sit on his hospital bed and wrap him in a hug, and Eddie sobbed into his shirt, desperately clinging to the comfort of his uncle. The smell of wood and pine needles soothed him, but his chest felt jagged and raw, and everything was so overwhelming, and whatever pain meds he was on when he woke up were starting to wear off.

Wayne didn't ask Eddie anything, or demand answers, he simply held Eddie silently and let him cry it all out. And as Eddie pulled back, rubbing the snot and tears from his face, he actually felt better. Lighter. Like he'd needed to get that breakdown off his chest in order to move on. Wayne had a hand on his shoulder still, almost like he was afraid that Eddie would disappear again, or get hurt, and his other hand lightly touched the bandages covering Eddie's entire stomach.

At the reminder of them, Eddie glanced down to look at himself, there were small cuts here and there along his arms, but any of the damage from the bats was covered by pristine white gauze and bed sheets. At the realisation that he was only wearing hospital-grade pants, Eddie began to squirm uncomfortably, but Wayne only chuckled and pulled up a bag from the floor. Eddie grinned and let out a whoop of joy when he saw a bunch of his clothes shoved into the bag, alongside his Dungeon Master Guide, The Hobbit and tapes from his collection. He was struck suddenly with such a deep affection for his uncle, and he pulled him in for another hug, allowing himself to get lost in talking.

It felt like a few minutes of talking and getting his uncle up to date as Eddie waved dramatically and recounted the entire adventure, apologising when Wayne's face got paler and paler at each piece of information, but his uncle never disputed him, and only offered what he could when Eddie choked up on an explanation. But before he could really let his uncle know how grateful he was, a nurse walked in and let them know it had been an hour, and there were other people to visit them. Eddie felt disappointment creep into his eyes as Wayne stood to leave, but not before promising to be back the day after next.

Eddie sorted through his clothes and threw on a Corroded Coffin band t-shirt, determined to feel more like himself by the time the kids got in here. He re-shoved everything back into the bag except for a pair of loose black pants and slid off the bed to get dressed, wrapped in his head still, trying to sort out and place all the events on a timeline. The nurse let him know that the kids would be there in 15 minutes, and to make sure to drink plenty of water and stay in bed as much as possible. She said that while glaring at Eddie who was shuffling towards the bathroom in the corner of the room, smiling guiltily as he went to change pants.

Splashing his face with cold water was a great idea as Eddie felt himself come to a bit more, calming his racing thoughts and steadying the constant ebb and flow of emotions he'd been subjected to this morning. Embarrassment flushed his cheeks when he realised Steve had been silently sitting there the entire time that Wayne had been there, but a quick reminder of what Eddie had seen in Steve's curse vision caused all embarrassment to drain. He and Steve were friends now, he guessed, and good friends judging by all the things they now knew about each other.

So when Eddie creeped out quietly and found Steve staring dead ahead at the door, it concerned him. He waved a hand slightly and felt the concern increase when Steve didn't even bat an eye. Oh god, they hadn't killed Vecna, he was still alive and now Steve was in danger again. Eddie dropped the hospital pants on the floor and practically launched himself on Steve, kneeling on top of his waist and hands coming to grab his face.

At the movement, he saw Steve's eyes widen and he flinched backwards into the bed, arm coming to grab onto Eddie's shoulders as his eyes frantically flitted around. Eddie froze in horror as Steve's gaze settled somewhere near his chin, eyes wide and unfocused. Steve was shaking, fingers in a bruising grip on Eddie's shoulder as short, painful gasps escaped his throat. It wasn't until Eddie noticed his jaw trying to move that he recognised Steve was talking.

"Eddie? Eddie are you still here? Oh god, where are you? Please, please come help me. Eds?" His voice was small and unsure, begging quietly and understanding ricocheted around Eddie's head as he loosened his grip on Steve's face and began apologising profusely. God, he felt like such a dick for not noticing.

"Holy shit, sweetheart, I'm so sorry! I saw you staring at the door and you didn't see me and I panicked and thought Vecna-" Eddie was cut off by Steve letting out a hoarse laugh as he leant forwards into Eddie's shoulder, fingers loosening and instead wrapping around his neck to hold him close, and Eddie noticed how they were sitting. He had a leg on either side of Steve's waist and was sitting in his lap, and Steve was wrapped around him, head pressed into his shoulder as he laughed again, a more wet sound this time.

Eddie looped his arms over Steve's shoulders and pulled him closer, fuck what anyone thought. They'd been through enough shit together, they were allowed to hug it out. As Eddie's heart rate returned to normal, Steve let out a wince at the contact on his broken arm, and Eddie swore again, finally allowing himself to really look at Steve. Guilt churned in his gut when he remembered that he'd left Steve sitting here while he had time with his uncle. But he supposed Steve's parents had come in while Eddie was asleep, although they mustn't have bought him clothes like his uncle because Steve was still shirtless and in those itchy hospital pants.

But his state allowed Eddie to see the damage, and boy did it look awful, like something Eddie could never have even described in a campaign. Steve's wide eyes were cloudy and surrounded by bruised skin, the side of his face swollen and shiny at the smattering of bruises across it. The bruising continued from the left side of his face all the way down his jaw and shoulder, disappearing under the wrapping of his broken wrist. Vecna had managed to snap the entire left arm, judging by the bandaging and the cautious way Steve was holding it close. His jaw wasn't so swollen anymore, but it was a dark blue, nearly black colour, making it look like he had dunked the bottom half of it in mud. Eddie couldn't see the damage from the bats that surely matched his own, but the amount of white gauze on Steve's torso let him know that they were both going to have a difficult time healing.

But what was really concerning Eddie was the way Steve's good arm was gripping his bicep as his eyes continued to search, and as Eddie began talking, Steve angled his right ear forwards, giving Eddie a glimpse of the way the burst blood vessels wrapped around the back of his neck as well.

"What's the damage, big boy?" He tried to come off light-hearted, but the serious undertone in his voice betrayed him, and Steve looked downwards, his hand still gripping onto Eddie's bicep. Eddie gently reached up and held it, bringing it in between them and holding it between his own two hands, and he felt Steve relax underneath him.

"Doctors called it post-traumatic visual loss, said it was similar to optic neuritis. They reckon it's only temporary, but for the foreseeable future, I'm not gonna get to see your pretty face." The flirting was a weak way to hide the fear in Steve's voice and they both knew it. "My ankle and wrist are shattered, got a lot of metal pins in there now, but they'll be fine. Bat bites, no one knows, we're gonna have to figure that out together, Eds." Steve hesitated then, feeling the way Eddie stiffened above him. But after some gentle encouragement, he finished his assessment.

"They said it was the concussion, maybe, but I can't hear out of my left ear anymore." Steve's lips pressed together in a tight line as he tried to suppress tears, and the urge to hide him away from the world in Eddie's arms until he was better almost overwhelmed the metalhead. Instead, Steve nodded towards the door and reminded him that the kids would be in soon, and Eddie was technically on bed rest as well. Concern over Steve blossomed in his chest and consumed his thoughts as Eddie went back to bed. At least they were rooming together, and Steve wouldn't be left alone.

The painkillers were wearing off and Eddie could begin to feel the itching burn of the bites on his stomach, and the way the small cuts all over him stung sharply. God he would give anything to smoke a joint right now, but he figured that the hospital might not be so accommodating. It was only a split second, but Eddie could see what the next few weeks entailed, a shit tonne of pain and a lot of relearning how to use his shredded muscles.

Thankfully he didn't get to dwell on it, because Max, Lucas, Erica and Robin were piling into the room in a cacophony of noise, each of them shouting over the other as Eddie watched Steve look down at his hands, trying to hide his unfocused gaze from the kids. Robin hung back by the door, arms wrapped around herself and unusually quiet as the kids crowded close, Erica telling them how stupid they both were, only to have Lucas match it by saying they were glad everyone was alive. The two bickered back and forth as Max stood at the foot of Steve's bed, headphones loose around her neck and mouth pressed shut tightly.

After a quick hug, Lucas and Erica left, saying their parents had been waiting to pick them up, but they'd be back by the end of the week. Lucas hesitated at the door, despite Erica's loud complaining, and he looked back at the two of them.

"Thanks for keeping my friends safe, but please never do that again." And then he turned and left, Eddie feeling like he'd taken a chunk of his heart with him. Lucas was always the less insult-y one, more willing to tell you how he actually felt, but at this moment the scared tone he adopted threatened to cause another breakdown on Eddie's part. The room fell into a tense silence as Max waited by Steve's bed, her knuckles white on the frame where she gripped them, and Robin was slowly shuffling over to Eddie's bedside, gently checking his stomach but refusing to make eye contact. The silence was nearly unbearable, and Eddie went to talk but was, yet again, interrupted.

"Why won't you even look at me, Steve?" Max was crying, Eddie realised with a start, tears falling from her eyes and she stared at Steve, who continued to look at the bedsheets, fingers twisting holes into them. Max walked forward and stood next to Steve, a sob shuddering out of her chest before she silenced it with a hand. At the gesture, Eddie felt himself reach out to Robin, who quickly held his hand but didn't look at him. That was fair, he supposed, everyone was really angry with the both of them.

"You didn't even tell me that Vecna cursed you, and then you had to play the stupid hero and sacrifice yourself." Steve was crying now too, eyes wide and looking directly downwards as his fingers began to tremble. "One brother already died in my place, and you thought it would be a good idea to do that to me again?" The admission looked like it hurt Max, and Steve looked up then, and Eddie was impressed with how accurate his aim was as he stared only slightly to the left of Max's eyes.

He held out his good arm, a silent peace offering, and Max threw herself on him, burying her head into his chest as she curled up on his lap and cried. Eddie had to bite his tongue at the surge of overprotectiveness that reared its head when Steve winced at the movement, but once his arm circled around Max and he closed his eyes, Eddie let himself relax. God his stomach hurt like a bitch now, all the movement forcing ripples of agony to lick up his spine and chest.

It felt too intimate, and soon enough Robin was facing Eddie, retracting her hand and shoving it into her armpits as she crossed them again, and when Eddie finally made eye contact she looked furious. He supposed they needed to talk about it, and with Steve comforting a crying Max, now was as good of a time as any, he supposed. Even if a cocktail of emotions was brewing inside Eddie's body, so fast and all-consuming that it threatened to send him spiralling.

"Steve mentioned that you ended up in his curse vision." Eddie nodded slowly, letting his head fall back as exhaustion threatened to send him to sleep. "We think it's because Vecna was feeding on Steve's death, so when you started dying in the Upside Down he just sorta...latched on and bought you in." It made sense, considering how weird everything else was, and seeing as though Eddie was in a fair amount of fucking distress as he was dying, it was reasonable to assume that he would just start feeding Vecna with it. But why on gods green Earth was Robin telling him this? Was this really the most pressing matter she wanted to discuss?

"Eds..." Her voice trailed off as she glanced over at Steve, settling herself next to him on the hospital bed. "This one's hit us all pretty badly, none of us have seen Steve that bad before, and it's thrown us all out of whack. No one really knows what to do from here, we're all just stewing in anger because it's the only emotion that makes sense right now. But I'm-I'm really worried about Stevie. He's always so tough but apparently I was wrong because Vecna decided to try and make his bones soup less than 48 hours ago, and now he's in hospital with you and his parents aren't even coming home to see him, so Hopper is breaking into his house, and I don't know what he's going to do. I guess what I'm asking is can you please take care of him?"

She was talking so fast that it reminded Eddie of Dustin's rants, and he had to pause for a second to process everything she was saying. Eddie was going to have to start keeping a notebook on him to keep tabs on everyone's shit, because oh my god people really loved shoving a bunch of information on him all in one sitting and expecting him to just deal with it.

"I mean, of course take care of yourself, you have literal holes in your stomach, you looked like some bloody, gross swiss cheese." Eddie groaned at the mental image, but Robin was on a roll now, her whispered voice trying to stay quiet. "But please look out for him, he's stubborn as shit and he seems to really trust you for some reason." She was biting her fingernails again, Eddie noticed vaguely, and as all the information seeped into his brain, he felt his eyes start to grow heavy. Who knew nearly dying would be so exhausting? There were only a few more visits though, and then he and Steve could rest.

It was like the thought of Steve roused him, because Max was climbing off him and wiping her eyes furiously, still looking like she was a second away from punching somebody. But she turned to Eddie and nodded at him once, and he understood. That was all the thanks he was going to get from her, she didn't even know him, unlike all the others. He nodded back, inhaling sharply when Robin strode over to Steve and touched his face gently, yanking her hand backwards when he flinched violently.

"Stevie, are you blind?" Her voice was cracking and horrified, and Eddie watched helplessly as Max and Robin's mouth fell open at Steve's paling face. Steve tried to glance between them, but in his panic his eyes fell too far away from their faces to be considered fine. Robin's hands were on his face again, and he flinched and shuddered when she moved him so that he was looking at her. Max was reaching out to him, a hand on his leg as she watched Robin's ministrations.

"Please don't be mad at me anymore." Steve's voice was small and soft, and something about it caused Eddie's heart to flip flop around in his chest in pain. He desperately wanted to reach out and hold Steve, but his body was so tired and leaving the bed felt impossible. Robin and Max don't reply, too shell-shocked at the knowledge that this adventure had a consequence, that not everyone made it out completely whole. Steve was blinking, trying to dispel the tears forming in his eyes at their silence, and it was Eddie who spoke up.

"They're not mad at you, sweetheart. I think they're a little in shock right now, so if either of them wants to pipe up and calm Steve the fuck down so he doesn't think you're pissed at him?" Eddie glared at the two girls, who immediately comforted Steve, apologising and tripping over their sentences, and Steve offered a small smile in Eddie's direction. They doted on him for a minute or so until Robin cursed and grabbed Max, telling the boys that they had to run, her mom was there to pick them up.

They scrambled out of the room, and Eddie's stomach gave a weak protest of pain, leeching the last of his strength as he fully relaxed into the pillows as silence filled the room. Steve quietly sent a 'thanks' in Eddie's direction and he waved it off before remembering Steve's eyes and then told him not to worry. Eddie forced himself to look at Steve, who was sitting still and staring straight ahead, looking lost in the bed.

"Why don't you lie directly backwards onto your pillows and get some rest, pretty boy? I'm gonna catch some z's before we have to face the wrath of Henderson." Eddie watched as Steve nodded and slowly lowered himself, lying slightly diagonal across the sheets. Eddie wanted to comfort him more, but his eyes had other ideas as they shut themselves and he slipped into a deep sleep.

Chapter Text

Eddie woke up to the feeling of a soft hand on his forehead, the touch light, and as he slowly opened his eyes, he saw a woman standing over him, her face screwed up with worry as she checked his temperature. She hadn't seen him open his eyes yet, because she turned around and murmured something to the man behind her, a man that Eddie recognised. That was Hopper. Ex-police chief thought-to-be-dead Hopper, standing in his hospital room and looking gaunt but very much so alive. The woman turned back around and offered him a warm smile when she noticed he was up.

"Hey-a, hon. How you feeling? The nurse said to keep an eye on your temperature, so I was just checking. I hope I didn't scare you." Eddie shook his head slowly, leaning into the motherly warmth this woman was offering. She was so kind and calming that Eddie found himself wanting her to stay in here with him. His own mother had never really been around, and while Wayne was incredible, Eddie never experienced tender care like this. Didn't explain who she was though.

"Joyce," Hopper started and pulled her back a bit before offering his hand to Eddie, who shook it (acutely aware that it was a very limp handshake on his end). "Munson probably doesn't know who you are, do you, kid?" Eddie shook his head, a little grateful that Hopper had bought it up, but also a little sad that her hand wasn't on his forehead anymore. Hopper's voice was low and quiet, and Eddie glanced over at Steve to see him still fast asleep, good hand wrapped around a spare plate for safety.

The room got tense as they all stared at Steve for a second before Joyce was fussing over him again, straightening his shirt and smoothing down his hair, making general tutting noises as Eddie sat still, relishing in the gentle touches. This was weird. Good weird, but still weird. He made eye contact with Hopper who sort of shrugged and gestured at Joyce as if to say 'she's just like this, sorry, kid'. Eddie shrugged back, letting him know he was more than okay with the doting.

At that, Hopper smiled and grabbed a coffee cup from the table, offering it to Eddie with a warning that it was only hot chocolate, and that the doctors said no caffeine until they knew how Steve and Eddie would react. Eddie felt like this was more bizarre than the Upside Down, Hopper and Joyce (who he still didn't really know) were fussing over him and making sure he was okay, and Eddie could feel the low sensation of comfort and warmth spread through his body. Maybe they actually were okay.

He heard Steve groan, and Joyce kissed Eddie on the forehead before moving to Steve. It sent Eddie reeling, the warmth from the gesture lighting up his brain and waking him up fully. No one had ever treated him this kindly before, and for the first time ever, Eddie found himself wanting a mom, especially if they were like this Joyce. Eddie hoisted himself up further to watch Steve, his eyes carefully checking over the boy in the bed next to him.

Joyce was doing the same with Steve, but she was only hovering, not touching him as he came to. The nurses must have told them about Steve's vision then, because she and Hopper hung back until Steve had rubbed his eyes and sat upright, gaze falling blankly ahead of him while he yawned. He let out a gruff 'Eds?' and Eddie felt his heart soar at the knowledge that he was the first thing on Steve's mind when he woke up. Instead of replying, Hopper spoke up.

"Hey, kiddo, Joyce and I are here." He said it with a paternal smile, a sad but proud look on his face. "We've been told everything, no need to worry about it." Steve grinned then, mouth stretched wide and ignoring the way his jaw creaked at the movement, even when everyone else in the room cringed at the obviously painful sound. His fingers reached out to the sound of Hopper's voice then, eyes alight with joy as he made grabby hands, and Eddie thought it was the most adorable thing ever.

"Hop?" Hopper let out a shaky breath and took Steve's hand, holding it tight as he gently ruffled Steve's hair, letting him know that he was here. Steve preened under the gesture and held onto Hopper's wrist tightly as he asked for an update on everyone, heavily emphasising the everyone. And this was how Eddie learnt about the rest of the gang, Hopper filling Steve and him in on all the details of what they'd been doing, informing them that all the other kids were tired from the flight and would come to visit soon because they didn't want to tire the two of them out so quickly.

Eddie watched in fascination as Joyce fussed over Steve and Eddie, constantly flickering between the two of them and then around the room, placing little cards and flowers around that the boys had been sent. She flitted from one thing to the other while Hopper filled them in, and she didn't stop until the hospital room looked a little more welcoming and a bit more homely. She placed the last card beside Eddie and gave him a small smile and a wink, leaning in to tell him the decorations were just so he felt better because Steve wouldn't even notice.

Jesus H. Christ this woman was like the mom of the millennium or something, and Eddie quietly thanked her, praying his voice wouldn't crack from the emotion he was feeling. She pinched his cheek and went over to sit next to Steve, firmly telling Hopper that the debrief was done and that the kids needed them now. Eddie nearly laughed at how quickly Hopper nodded, giving Steve's hand one more squeeze. He and Joyce exchanged glances, and Eddie peered forward to try and get in on it. All he got was a sad smile from Hopper as Joyce brushed the hair out of Steve's face and asked the dreaded question.

"Are your parents coming back this time, honey?" Her voice was light and soft, all mom as she continued to brush Steve's hair out of his face, her fingers dancing around the bruising. She was staring at Hopper as she asked, and Hopper was frowning as he pinched the bridge of his nose in preparation. Eddie watched as the two silently complained about Steve's parents, their eyes going wide and then squinting as they pulled faces at one another. It was fascinating to watch them communicate about Steve right in front of him, and jealousy rose in Eddie's chest before he beat it down with a mental baseball bat.

"Nah," Steve started, trying to keep his voice casual. "They called before Eds woke up the first time, they extended their stay in New York for another few months." Joyce kept her hand steady as she took a deep breath, looking between Eddie and Hopper with an expression of fury and indignation, and Eddie was right there with her. Robin had mentioned Steve's parents weren't home, but Eddie had assumed they'd at least be coming back soon, not that they would extend their stay away.

"Kiddo, how long have they been gone this time? Did they even ask you if you were alright?" Hopper was rubbing a hand down his face, the other on his hip and a bone-deep weariness draping off him. This sounded like something he'd dealt with before, and it made sense. If what Eddie had seen in the vision was only a portion of Mr Harrington, of course Hopper would know about it. But Hopper was stealing suspicious glances at Eddie, and Joyce was looking upwards, trying to blink tears out of her eyes.

Steve was looking downwards again, hand still in Joyce's as he mumbled under his breath.

"It's been four months or so, and nah, they didn't ask." Steve's gaze flickered up for a second before settling down again, and he jerked his head in Eddie's direction. "Eds knows about most of it, he's safe, you can talk." Pride bloomed in his chest at Steve's admission, that was two things he'd already done today that got Eddie's heart racing in a non-friend sort of way. But the pride withered and died quickly when he processed what Steve had said. Four months.

They had been gone for four months, and Steve was okay with it? Hot anger coursed through Eddie's veins as the image of Mr Harrington holding the lit cigarette to Steve's forearms flashed across his brain, and Eddie swallowed thickly. Hopper was leaning forwards, hands over his mouth and eyes wide as he comically looked at Steve in shock, letting his emotion get the better of him while Steve couldn't see. Joyce was still brushing his hair back, and she was murmuring under her breath quietly.

They all sat together for a while, Joyce coming back over to comfort Eddie as Hopper sat next to Steve, and Eddie watched as Steve tucked himself into Hopper's arms, poking at his ribs and complaining that he wasn't as comfortable to hug now. Joyce was smoothing Eddie's hair, gently braiding it off his face as they talked about treatment for Steve and himself, and Joyce opened a notebook full of instructions from the nurses on how to care for the two of them.

A feeling of peace washed over Eddie as he relaxed into the dynamic, letting someone take care of the two of them, and when they got up to leave it was dark outside, and the nurses came to kick them out. With another hug from each of them, Steve and Eddie waved as they left, and Eddie watched Steve's face crumble into distress, fingers twisting into the blanket as he vaguely shuffled his eyes around. Eddie was too tired for another emotionally draining talk so instead he did something probably stupid.

Sliding off the bed and bracing a palm against his stomach, he unlatched the bed and started wheeling it next to Steve's, pushing down the barriers between them. Steve had his head tilted in Eddie's direction, and once again, pride swept Eddie off his feet that Steve was just letting him do whatever he wanted, no questions asked. So Eddie pushed their beds together, making one bigger one, and then he collapsed back into his, hands pressing into the pain radiating from his gut with a groan.

He felt a cold hand dance along his collarbone and looked up to see Steve biting his lip as he tried to figure out where he was touching Eddie, his frown melting into a smile when Eddie's hand grabbed his.

"I moved our beds together, sweetheart. Figured you might want to know someone was there. And also I." Eddie hesitated at offering up this piece of information, but Steve's wide eyes were looking in his direction and so he continued. "I would like to know you're there, and okay, and that I'm not alone." Steve smiled at him and squeezed his hand, face filled with affection and trust. Eddie gently sat back, leaning their beds on an angle so they were upright, but not fully, and he gently tugged Steve down onto his chest.

Steve gladly fell into the embrace, fingers gripping into Eddie's shirt and relaxing when Eddie's arm looped around him. An idea formed in Eddie's mind. It was still early and they had time to kill, and he figured they both needed something not so draining to do. He began shuffling through his belongings as Steve snuggled closer, hand holding onto Eddie for dear life.

"Eds?" Eddie hummed in response, still shifting through his bag. "Thank you. For everything. I don't-I don't know what I would've done if you weren't here." Eddie found what he was looking for and pulled it out, leaving it next to him as he wrapped Steve in a hug, pressing his lips into Steve's hair. They stayed like that for a moment, reassuring each other that they were both alive and okay and that they had one another.

A slow smile was forming on Eddie's face, and he could tell Steve could feel it growing against his hair, so when Steve let out a questioning hum, Eddie laughed a little.

"You ever read The Hobbit?" Eddie grabbed the book from next to him, the cover worn and dirty from years of reading and re-reading, pages dog-eared and tea stains throughout. But it was still legible, and it was still his favourite book. Eddie already knew the answer, Dustin had complained to him many times that Steve refused to pick up a book, and wouldn't even look at The Hobbit. Which is why it didn't surprise him when Steve shook his head against Eddie's chest.

"How 'bout I read it to you? You can stay right there, and we'll read together until we sleep, and then we'll both be here in the morning." The last half of that was unnecessary, but Eddie wanted to say it out loud, mostly for himself. He needed to know if Steve was okay with it and if he felt the same level of attachment to Eddie as Eddie did to him. But it still shocked him at how quickly Steve was nodding against him and smiling up softly, eyes alight with joy. Eddie squeezed him tighter before getting ready to read, but Steve was fidgeting slightly, and when Eddie asked him what was wrong, the answer was just as surprising.

"I would love that, Eds. I've never been able to finish a book, the way the words move hurts my eyes." Eddie felt himself go still at that. "Dustin said it was dumb that I couldn't read, so I never asked for his copy of the book, but I've always wanted to know what the kid was rambling about." Eddie let out a breath and pressed another kiss to Steve's hair, unable to restrain himself from touching the boy curled in his arms. He could tell that admission made Steve uncomfortable.

Of course it would, everyone had called Steve an idiot at some point over the past week, and more than once the D&D group had teased him about not being into 'nerd' stuff, but Steve had let it all bounce off his skin. But here he was, letting Eddie see another piece of himself. So Eddie decided to be gentle with it, and store it away for tomorrow when they weren't so raw about being alive.

"Glad I can be of assistance, your highness." Steve's entire body relaxed at that, and he turned his head further into Eddie, fingers tracing soft circles over the bandages on his stomach, careful to avoid pressing down too hard, and Eddie smiled.

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with in it to down on or eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort." Eddie began, feeling himself slip into the familiar comfort of the words, one hand coming to rest around Steve as the other flicked through the pages, the two of them clinging together.

* * * * *

Steve's senses were filled with nothing but Eddie, and Steve found himself leaning into the sensation desperately. He knew something was wrong last night when he crashed back into the ground, gasping for air and sobbing into Robin's waiting arms, only hearing her repeat that it was over and that Vecna was dead. He remembered running on his ankle, thinking that they just had to get back and that it was nighttime.

But when the nurses woke him up this morning and told him what had happened, Steve had gone quiet, not letting them talk to him anymore. He sat in his bed, the shadows and shapes of the room around him slowly shifting, looking like a smoke-filled box, it hurt his head to try and get them to focus, and he couldn't tell what was what. So he sat in his bed, staring downwards at where he knew his hands were and tried to stay still, feeling so incredibly lost.

Losing hearing in one ear put him off balance, so he couldn't even listen out for where people were, relying solely on one ear and trying to remember how his friends looked. It was incredibly lonely until Eddie woke up.

And now here he was, good ear over Eddie's heartbeat, listening as it sang that Eddie was alive and breathing, and arm tracing up and down what felt like gauze. Steve let himself get enveloped in Eddie, feeling his hair tickle the side of Steve's face, his breath tickle the shell of his ear, his hands anchoring him to the ground, and for the first time since waking up, Steve felt like himself again. And then there was the book.

Eddie was reading to him, his voice low, putting on different accents for the characters, making sure to stick to the ones that made Steve laugh. Steve knew his eyes were open, but he was staring into an endless abyss of nothing ahead of him, so he tucked his face into Eddie's chest and breathed in the smell of antiseptic and weed that was still somehow on Eddie's skin. His body ached, and his face and jaw felt like they were being run over by glass, but leaning into Eddie, and feeling that reassuring arm wrap around him, it felt okay for the first time.

Eddie was still here, even after seeing all the worst parts of Steve, he was still here, reading The goddamn Hobbit to him for Christs sake. And it left Steve feeling exposed in a way he never had before, tentative and so fragile with this new thing between them, but as Eddie kissed the top of his head again, Steve let himself hope that Eddie wanted to be here as much as he did.

Chapter Text

Steve woke slowly to the sound of Eddie snoring, and the comforting feeling of an arm wrapped around his shoulders, but other than that, he knew nothing. It was still disorienting, and he supposed it would be for a while until he got used to opening his eyes to nothing but shadows. He kept his body still, not quite being able to grasp where and how his limbs were situated, and so he relaxed into Eddie, letting him overtake his senses yet again. There was something so calm about it.

Until he heard a pointed cough and tensed up, fingers bunching into whatever item of clothing of Eddie's he was holding onto, and he felt Eddie jerk awake, wrapping both his arms around Steve's shoulders as he pulled them upright. Steve could hear the both of them inhale sharply at the pain radiating from their bodies, painkillers completely worn off now. Steve still wasn't entirely sure what was happening, so he clung to Eddie, and buried his head further into what he assumed was his neck, keeping his eyes closed for a moment longer.

He could feel Eddie running a finger up and down his spine as he groaned into Steve's hair, muttering about surprise wakeups and desperately needing a sleep-in. And then he did something so sweet, keeping his head tucked into Steve, he began describing what was going on, using all those descriptive skills as a dungeon master to paint a picture of the room. It fell into place in Steve's mind, and he felt infinitely better knowing where he was.

The room was small and currently decorated with cards and flowers, which explained the floral scent Steve had picked up on yesterday. They were currently in the exact middle of the room, beds pushed together and the bathroom to the left of them and the door in front. Steve was currently curled into Eddie's side but was only a movement away from lying straight on the bed and staring at the person in the doorway. When Eddie got here, he sighed, and Steve pried his head out of Eddie's neck to situate himself normally, still leaning heavily into the other boy, who simply looped a grounding arm over Steve's shoulder.

"Henderson, it's like. 7 in the morning, how did you even get here?" Eddies voice was deep and rough with sleep, rumbling low in his chest, and Steve could feel the sound travelling from Eddie's lungs out of his mouth, the vibration ringing next to Steve's head. So that's where his head was currently sitting. Panic reared its head as what Eddie was saying clicked into place. Dustin was here. His kid was finally here. But the sour taste of the words Dustin had said crept into his mind and Steve found himself screwing his eyes shut and shaking, pushing himself into Eddie, who quickly wrapped him in a hug.

He couldn't do this first thing in the morning, he wasn't prepared to face Dustin. Everyone was okay, but Dustin? Dustin was too important. He could faintly hear himself saying that on repeat as Eddie shushed him and began rocking them back and forth, snarling at Dustin as he tried to get closer, and Steve heard Dustin angrily tell Eddie to fuck off. A high keen left his lips as he turned and buried his face into Eddie's shirt, because not being able to see Dustin was causing his heart to break.

* * * * *

Eddie was still half-asleep when Steve began freaking out, but at seeing the look of pure terror on his face, Eddie snapped to attention. He wound both arms around the shaking boy and started trying to comfort him, letting him know that Dustin wasn't that mad. Which was made instantly worse by Dustin simply looking Eddie dead in the eye and telling him that he was still pissed, and to fuck right off with his assumptions. Steve was pressing his face into Eddie's chest in an attempt to escape, and Eddie felt his heart break as Steve started to talk.

"Eds, please, I can't do this right now. Dustin is my kid, he's my kid, he's too important, I have to see him. I can't see him. Eddie, I can't see Dustin, how can I apologise if I can't even see if he's okay?" Eddie wrapped himself tighter around Steve, bringing his legs up to cacoon him in safety as he glared at Henderson over the top of Steve's head. He wasn't even mad at the kid, in fact, he was desperate to see him and over the moon that Dustin was here.

Eddie had been waiting for Dustin to come around so he could finally apologise and try to make it up to him and tell him how he really felt. He pretended to be flippant with the kid, but Dustin was really important to him. Although right now, as Dustin tried to reach out to Steve with a horrified look on his face, Eddie could only snarl at him, pulling Steve even closer to protect him. It felt like he was back in the Upside Down again, the pressure of the situation reaching a peak until Dustin took a step back, hands up as he slowly inched away.

Eddie felt himself relax around Steve, and when Dustin was a safe distance away, he tucked his face right near Steve's and began talking him into speaking with Dustin, and how Dustin was mad about what happened, but he wasn't angry enough to do anything. It took entirely too long, and Eddie felt feral with the desire to keep Steve safe, an after-effect of having gone through what they did. Eddie finally understood why everyone in their group was so close now because the way he needed to make sure Steve was okay was overwhelming.

Steve slowly pulled away, getting his breathing under control, and Eddie carefully watched his every move, eyes occasionally flitting over to the scared Dustin in the corner, warning him to stay quiet. Finally, Steve nodded and sat upright, leaning shoulder to shoulder with Eddie and eyes wide and vacant where they scanned for Dustin. Dustin, who slowly stepped forward at Eddie's beckoning. Dustin took a breath and Eddie braced himself.

"I'm still pissed at the two of you, but I get it. We would've-I would've talked you out of it, and then where would we be? Doesn't excuse the fact that you two are the biggest idiots in Hawkins, but from now on you have to keep me in the loop, got it?" Eddie nodded alongside Steve, who was still trying to focus his vision on Dustin. Eddie watched as Dustin cocked his head and walked forward, squinting as he leant forward and then eyes flying wide as he took a step back.

He looked at Eddie and gestured to his eyes, asking Eddie if what he was seeing was correct. Eddie nodded, relief flooding through him at Dustin's perceptive nature, and how the kid had chosen not to draw attention to it, instead asking Eddie. It was surprise that overtook him next time, when Steve was the first to speak next.

"I'm sorry, Dustin. I really am. And I promise to try and make it up to you." Steve's face was so open and genuine that it physically hurt Eddie to look at, and judging by Dustin's sad expression, he felt the same way. "I can promise you a one shot session of D&D?" Steve offered gently, and Eddie watched as he grinned when he heard Dustin begin jumping up and down excitedly, and that was all it took. Dustin climbed up onto the bed with them and they launched into an explanation of D&D.

Dustin explaining the nitty-gritty details of the rules, and Steve turning his head towards Eddie to hear the layman's explanation, easily summarising all the key points back to them. After an hour of intense lore and rule explanations, all three boys were grinning as they talked, easy banter passing between them, and Eddie felt the hole in his chest begin to repair itself in their company. He was worried that when Dustin walked out some deep form of irreparable damage had been done, but now that he was back, it was like he never left in the first place.

Turns out Dustin came prepared with a printed character sheet for Steve, which had his name scrawled in the top corner of it already. He began describing the different parts and Steve nodded along, a smile gracing his features as he reached out a hand toward Eddie. Eddie, of course, took it immediately, and then stuck his tongue out at Dustin's toothy grin in their direction.

"Can I be a druid?" Steve asked, and Dustin fell backwards in his excitement, giggles streaming out of his mouth as he and Eddie chanted a chorus of 'yes', Eddie dancing on the bed, Steve's hands still in his. Steve was smiling wide now, genuine and joyful at his friend's antics, arms waving loosely in front of him from where Eddie was swinging their locked hands around.

Eddie pulled out the DM Guide and he and Dustin poured over it to help Steve fill out his character, and as he and Dustin leaned together to talk about it, Eddie felt a sense of peace reach him. Despite the situation, and everything that had happened, would he really trade any of it? Sure, he couldn't sit upright without support for more than 10 minutes, and Steve looked more purple than flesh-coloured, and all of them were heavily traumatised, but they were still here.

Eddie almost couldn't believe it as he looked from Dustin's giddy expression to Steve's, and then at his and Steve's locked hands. Running a gentle finger along the ridges of Steve's split knuckles, Eddie felt a tug in his stomach when Steve's eyes darted to where he was sitting, manic grin softening into an affectionate smile, which was then accompanied by Steve asking a question and drawing Eddie into his and Dustin's excitement.

Yeah, he wouldn't change anything.

When the nurse came in to check their vitals, she didn't even blink at Dustin's presence between them, merely making sure everything was in order before informing the two of them that their bandages would be getting changed soon. Eddie felt a disappointed scowl grace his features, the idea of bandages tugging on the constant throb of pain from his stomach? No thanks, he'll pass.

Dustin was also grimacing, but Steve just kept talking about D&D, asking the right questions and catching on surprisingly quickly. Something Eddie certainly hadn't expected. While D&D wasn't an easy game to get into, it certainly wasn't too hard, especially if you had a DM that knew what they were doing and could help you through. But Eddie had heard from all the little members of Hellfire that Steve was a bit slow on the uptake, even if Eddie had a sneaking suspicion it was something else.

"You've been holding out on me, Steve!" Dustin said, face split into a wide grin. "Where have these brains been every time I gave you a copy of the guide?" Dustin was shaking his head, looking down at Steve's character sheet as he filled in the final details, and Steve shrugged above him, the joy on his face dimming slightly. Fuck, why did that make Eddie so sad? With an internal groan, Eddie knew why, but this was not the time to bring it up, so instead he answered for Steve.

"I'm pretty sure Steve-O here had dyslexia, Henderson. Words are his sworn enemy, and will do anything to escape his keen eyes." He was wiggling the fingers of one hand at Dustin dramatically while keeping his tone light, and the other that was still holding Steve's hand was squeezing gently, letting him know it was okay. To Dustin's never-ending credit, he just nodded and suggested that he'd just read the parts Steve needed to him from now on.

Eddie watched as Steve's face twitched, his lip wobbling and eyebrows furrowing at the genuine offer being handed to him. God, this kid was fucking amazing. No wonder Steve loved him so much. Eddie had heard brief mentions from Henderson that it was only his mom that lived with him, and that Steve drove him everywhere instead. Eddie had always thought it was weird, but honestly? He kind of understood now why Steve would want to be around Dustin.

The kid balanced every interaction ridiculously well, and aside from in the Upside Down (which Eddie had already forgiven him for, it was stressful), Dustin knew the right thing to say, the right way to say it, and was so genuine about it that it managed to smooth over everything. He was weirdly intelligent for a kid his age, and Eddie found himself aligning with Steve's urge to protect him.

They talked on, Dustin letting them know that his mom would be back in another hour. The air felt light, airy and comfortable, and Eddie relished in this moment of peace. Until another goddamn doctor walked in and told Eddie to take his shirt off. Jesus, the doctors here had no bedside manner. Eddie grumbled but did as he was told, pressing Steve's hand into Dustin's to make sure Steve knew he wasn't alone before slowly inching his shirt off and scooting forwards.

Oh my god, this was fucking awful.

Every movement of the bandage caused a sharp, blistering pain to erupt all over his stomach, sides and back, and Eddie could feel himself begin to shake. He could barely breathe, every minuscule movement of his lungs causing agony to rip into the now exposed wounds on his stomach. He felt a small hand grab his, and he nearly wept at how fucking sweet Henderson was. Because he was sitting on the bed, one hand holding Steve's and the other holding Eddie's, face pale and bloodless as he stared in horror at Eddie's body, but he didn't say a thing.

The doctor was making comments about the progress of healing, saying that it was good. Eddie latched onto the knowledge that in a week or so he could start physical therapy to strengthen his core and back muscles again and get him walking properly and not so wobbly. Eddie risked a glance down and blanched at the sight. His stomach was a mess, red bite marks everywhere, and a few skin grafts over the worst patches. There were thick black stitches scattered across his stomach, holding his organs inside, and Eddie was once again hit with the very real knowledge that he did, in fact, nearly die.

Dustin must have seen something on his face, because that tiny hand was squeezing gently, and Eddie dragged his eyes away from his destroyed skin to see Dustin smiling sympathetically at him. Steve was looking in Eddie's direction, offering a look of unconditional support and affection. Looking at two of the most important people in his life, Eddie felt on top of the world. As long as he had Wayne, Steve and Dustin? Well, he could do anything.

Including heal these goddamn itching, painful, annoying bat bites that had eviscerated his ability to move properly.

The doctor replaced the bandage with a new one and moved onto Steve, and Dustin gave his hand back to Eddie before standing up and taking Steve's other hand, giving him something to hold onto. Steve let out a quiet 'thanks' at the gesture and gripped their hands tightly, and Eddie could feel his worry grow at Steve's barely concealed fear.

Eddie couldn't imagine not knowing what was going on around you all of a sudden, so he rubbed circles onto the back of Steve's palm and tried to offer what little support he could. It hit him then, what they were going to have to talk about eventually. Nearly dying together clearly forged a bond, Eddie had already felt it with the rest of the group. And arguably he and Steve had experienced the most together this time around.

For crying out loud, Eddie had been in Steve's curse vision, he'd literally seen all the worst parts of Steve. And Eddie had offered up some of the most vulnerable parts of himself to Steve already, but what they had was tentative and new, and Eddie didn't want to fuck it up. He didn't want Steve to think this was some sort of fucked up trauma thing where Eddie was going to latch onto him like the kids did.

No, Eddie knew he wanted more, and he was fairly certain Steve wanted more, but they shouldn't dive headfirst into this. No matter how much Eddie craved it. Because yeah, literal Steve Harrington was holding his hand. Steve The Hair Harrington was refusing to let him go. King Steve Harrington wanted to engage in Eddie's interests.

It felt surreal, and if he hadn't have bonded so tightly with Steve, Eddie would never have expected this. Hell, if you had have told him a week ago that this was where he would be, he would've spat in your face and denied it. But with Steve's perpetually cold hand pressed into his, and the room decorated with gifts from their friends, and D&D equipment scattered across their shared bed, Eddie knew it was right. It felt like an apology from the universe for all the shit they'd been through. It was the world offering them something good, something that both of them needed.

Eddie was brought out of his thoughts by the tightening of Steve's hand when the doctor grabbed his face and shone a light in his eyes, dropping his chin abruptly and scribbling down some notes. Steve looked lost, eyes wide and searching, mouth shut tightly. Eddie could feel that feral, protective urge rise again, and had to beat down the image of him kicking the doctor out.

Thankfully, Steve's bites looked okay, painful and raw, but okay. They hadn't gone deep enough to cause muscle damage like Eddie's, and for that Eddie was grateful, as was Steve, who relaxed when the doctor muttered that under his breath. The doctor didn't even say goodbye as he left, and Steve sat there perfectly still and waiting until Dustin let out a sigh and said something along the lines of 'what a douche', and both Eddie and Steve laughed, the tension in the room dissipating effortlessly.

Dustin looked at his watch and swore, and Steve grumbled at him for it, but Dustin was frantically hugging the both of them. He said goodbye into Eddie's ear in the hug, and hesitated before pulling away, letting Eddie know that all was forgiven, and he was glad he was alive. Something shifted inside Eddie and he knew that everything was back to how it should be. But Dustin was tripping out the door and waving, saying his goodbye's out loud to Steve while he exited.

"Bye, dad!" Came his high voice from the doorway before it was being slammed shut, and Eddie watched as Steve froze in place, smile slipping slightly as his eyes widened at Henderson's words. Dad. Dustin had called Steve dad. Eddie knew the kids father wasn't in the picture, and it made perfect sense to him that he would see Steve as a dad, but judging by Steve's panicked expression, he hadn't been expecting it. Which let Eddie know Dustin had never done it before.

Curse the little brat for leaving Eddie to deal with the fallout of such a last second bombshell. Because Steve's face was pointed at the door, hand still slightly outstretched from where he was waving it, a stricken look crossing his face.

"Sweetheart?" Eddie let out gently, shuffling himself backwards so he could lean against the bed, because his stomach was positively screaming at him, and his muscles felt like jell-o. Eddie wanted to wrap himself around Steve, press in close so they felt like the same person, but he didn't think his stomach muscles could handle the pressure.

Instead, Eddie gently pulled Steve back onto his chest, heart clenching at the easy way Steve relaxed into the touch, burying his face in Eddie's neck once more, warm breath tickling his collarbones. Eddie kept holding Steve's hand, watching as he rested their joint palms on Eddie's chest, and Eddie bought his other hand to Steve's head, gently carding his fingers through his hair as Steve took deep breaths.

* * * * *

Dustin had called him dad.

His kid, his kid, his kid, his kid.

That was all that was chanting through Steve's brain. Dustin was his. kid. Steve pressed his nose further into Eddie's neck, hoping that it didn't make him too uncomfortable. But Steve needed the grounding right now, because his body felt like it was trying to float away, his brain stuck on Dustin saying 'dad'.

It was borderline too much, too fast. Emotional whiplash of Vecna's curse straight to one of the best days Steve had ever had. He was curled up into Eddie for Christ's sake, something that his aching heart informed him was only going to further solidify the way he felt about the man. But they had talked with Dustin all day, and the way Eddie handled the kids random outbursts of energy and excitement was akin to the way Steve could do it, the two of them balancing perfectly, keeping the conversation going for hours.

Steve was happy, he realised with a jolt. Somehow, despite everything, he was happy. Dustin was okay with him again, he was holding Eddie's hand all day, and he finally got to understand why the kids loved D&D so much. Steve forced himself out of Eddie's neck to instead attempt to face the man, clouded vision throwing him off again and forcing him to rely on touch to navigate where Eddie's face would be.

He had a headache, and it was blossoming horribly behind his eyelids, so similar to the way they developed when Steve tried to read. It was eye strain. Of course it was.

"Thanks again, Eds." He could hear Eddie look down at him, and felt the ends of his hair tickle Steve's cheeks. "For everything. I really-I really appreciate you being here." Steve knew he'd just backed out of a major confession, but they had only just survived, and he didn't want Eddie to think he was rushing into something because he was vulnerable and wanted someone there. Eddie meant more than that to Steve, and Steve knew it would take time to get him to realise it.

"I'm glad you're okay, Steve-O." Eddie was pressing a kiss into the top of his head, the touch sending sparks down Steve's body. He was so sensitive to touch now, having to rely on it almost entirely in replacement of his vision, that the soft touch had lit him up from the inside. "I was worried for a bit there, man. But I'm really glad you're here with me."

Happiness nestled it's way into Steve's chest, the warm feeling wrapping around his heart and settling at the words. He closed his eyes and curled further into Eddie, almost apologising until he felt the older boys arms circle around him and hold tight, a slightly shake, just enough to let Steve know that Eddie probably needed the contact as much as he did.

They fell asleep reading again, and Steve decided that maybe this fight had been worth it, maybe the suffering had been so that he could end up here, with Eddie.

It was a nice thought, at least.

Chapter Text

The next few days were filled with a flurry of activity, and Eddie was Steve's touchstone. Steady, sure, and so, so comforting to have there. Everyone knew it at this point, that he and Eddie's hands never separated, they were practically glued to one another. The nurses had suggested separate rooms at once point, commenting about how well they'd been healing, and both Steve and Eddie had fallen into a blind panic.

They had tangled their limbs together, hiding their faces in one another's shoulders and held on, breaths coming short and sharp, the only thought circling through their heads was 'god no, please don't take him away'. It was Dustin that had finally managed to calm them down, reassuring the two that no one was going to separate them, and they could stay together if they wanted. Steve felt a bit embarrassed about the display, but it didn't stop him from being extra touchy the rest of the day, something that Eddie reciprocated, much to Steve's delight.

So yes, everyone knew they were inseparable. What you said to one could be said to the other, and it was easy to see how close the two had grown. Eddie had firmly taking root in Steve's heart, and his brain had made it's own folder labelled 'Eddie Munson', and if the 'i' in Eddie was dotted with a heart, well, Steve would rather die than admit that. It made sense to Steve, they were each others support systems, always there.

Of course, they weren't the only support systems either boy had, mostly because Steve knew it would be irresponsible to intrinsically link the two of them like that. Irresponsible and unhealthy, so he made sure to have people visit all the time, made sure that they both kept little parts of their lives separate from one another, but that they always managed to find a way to be back in each others arms at the end of the night. Despite what everyone thought, Steve wasn't completely stupid, and he wanted to do this right. Wanted Eddie and him to work.

Because, yeah, it was obvious to anyone who spent more than three minutes with them that the two loved each other. There was something in the air between them, something that they had talked about, because Steve was terrified that Eddie was going to leave the second he got better. It was a major fear for Steve, that people only needed him for what he could give, and some awful part of him thought Eddie would do the same.

Instead, they had talked, and they had decided to get to know each other while they were on bedrest, and once they got out and back into the real world, Eddie was going to take Steve on a date. When he said that, Steve could feel his entire face and chest burn red, and he was filled with such a deep desire for Eddie that he had shoved his face into Eddie's chest and whined about how unfair it was. It made sense, of course, so they decided they wouldn't take the next step until they were back to normal, just to make sure. But Steve was certain, he could feel it in his bones. And in his metal pins now too, he supposed, that Eddie was what he wanted.

Which was how he found himself growing closer to Wayne Munson, and today was his day to visit. Eddie was reading the ending to The Hobbit next to him, curled up on Steve's lap while Steve braided his hair. He'd gotten good at that, despite the fact that his vision wasn't back yet, but he knew it soothed Eddie, so he had learnt. He heard the door click open and smiled in it's direction, the signature smell of pine needles and wood letting him know it was Wayne.

That and the way Eddie launched himself upwards to hug Wayne, to which everyone laughed. It was a practiced routine considering Wayne was here every second day now. As per routine, Steve shuffled himself off the bed and grabbed his probing cane, letting the cracking sound of it fill his senses as he waved to the two boys, exiting the room.

He would be back with a nurse in about 20 minutes, the nurse carrying coffees for all of them while Steve learned to navigate the world of shadows and cloud. A familiar sense of fear crept into his lungs as he left the room, something he felt whenever he was alone in the world now, with half his senses still recovering. It was the fear that he would never get over the feeling of uncertainty in his own body, his own surroundings. But he respected Eddie's privacy and knew that he deserved some alone time with his uncle before Steve crashed the party and they got to talking about nothing again.

So off he went on his usual trip, thanking all the nurses that let him know exactly where he was at all times.

* * * * *

Steve left through the door and Eddie found himself smiling fondly at the boy. He knew that Steve was something special, something precious that he was never going to let go of. But of course he'd agreed to wait until after they were out of hospital, because Steve deserved more than a sick bed romance, he deserved dates, and dinners, and milkshakes, the whole cheesy nine yards that Eddie would normally refuse to do. But Steve was the exception, and Eddie had a sneaking suspicion that Steve would always be his exception.

But he was eternally grateful for these 20 minutes with just Wayne, because he missed his uncle and his home, and he loved the feeling of security and protection Wayne bought with him. They talked for a while, just catching up as Wayne described their new house to him. The one thing Eddie would ever thank the government for. But something was different today though, because Wayne was looking around nervously, his usual slow demeanour cracking slightly and Eddie felt dread slip into his stomach.

"You know I love you, right, son?" Wayne started, and Eddie nodded, fearful of where this was going. "And I know you love that Harrington boy, despite whatever pact you two have about waiting. Which I wholeheartedly agree with, by the way." Where on earth was this going, Eddie wondered. Wayne never danced around a topic, he was direct and precise, mostly because he hated small talk. But here he was, talking small with Eddie.

"Spit it out, Wayne, you're scaring me here, man." Wayne chuckled and ran a tired hand down his face, looking towards the ceiling and letting out a small prayer. Okay, something was definitely wrong. Wayne never prayed unless it was something horrifically wrong. Eddie twisted his hair between his fingers, gently tugging on it to ground himself, and he felt Wayne's calloused hands grab his wrists gently.

Wayne was watching him carefully, and that wary gaze set of all the alarms in Eddie's head.

"Your boy will always be welcome in our home, Eddie." Wayne was smiling softly at him, and Eddie felt elated that he liked Steve. Of course he liked Steve, Steve was Steve, everyone liked him. And Steve loved Wayne, always listened to his stories and hung off every word, and Wayne indulged the other boy constantly. Eddie loved it, seeing two of his favourite people get along so well.

"Thanks, Wayne, I really appreciate-" Wayne was shaking his head, and Eddie paused. Worry gnawing in his gut at the way Wayne was trying to formulate a sentence.

"The Harrington's arrived home this morning." The world froze for a split second before starting to spin furiously, tilting this way and that as Eddie felt his lungs try to take a breath, the image of Steve kneeling below his father in the Upside Down searing into his brain. His throat closed at the imaginary pressure of vines creeped along it. Eddie could vaguely here Wayne saying his name, but through the panic induced fog Eddie couldn't focus.

The room felt too small as the walls began to creep inwards and Eddie felt his limbs turn to lead. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't move.

The world careened inwards, laughing at Eddie's panic.

The bed beneath him turned to water, waves pushing him off balance.

His stomach opened up again, oozing and screaming and crying.

His throat threatened to closer forever and oh god he was dying.

Hands.

Calloused hands.

There was pressure on his back, a warm body, and Eddie took a shuddering breath, forcing his eyes open. Eddie didn't even realise he closed them. He looked up and saw Wayne fighting off an expression of pure terror and hopelessness, limbs wrapped around Eddie the way he knew would calm him. Wayne looked lost and desperate as Eddie apologised profusely, ears turning red. Wayne slid out from behind him and sat on the side of the bed, a hand on Eddie's shoulder and the other on his knee, eyes carefully watching.

"It really was that bad in there, huh?" Wayne said, voice tight with worry and fear, and Eddie nodded, rubbing his face violently to chase away the feeling of dying. Wayne nodded with him, and changed the topic quickly, Eddie eternally grateful for the fact his uncle didn't linger on the fear in his eyes. They talked until Eddie stopped shaking and decided he had to ask Wayne.

So he did, he asked what Wayne knew about the Harrington's, because Eddie had never breathed a word of Steve's upbringing to him before. He wouldn't do that to Steve, and Steve still hadn't told anyone else, aside from Robin.

"I know his father, Eddie. Known him my whole life, and word gets around quick. No one was charged with nothing, but when you're as rich as the Harrington's, you can get away with murder, and it never even reached Hopper. So I'm just letting you know, your boy is always welcome." Eddie felt like he was dangling off a cliff, floored with how much his uncle had managed to figure out.

Seriously, fuck Steve's dad.

Eddie leant in to give Wayne a hug when the hospital door opened and Steve stumbled into the room, hands held outwards for balance and Eddie saw that his probing cane was nowhere to be seen. That was until he saw the looming presence of Mr Harrington enter the room, and suddenly it felt far too small, and he was far too close, and Eddie saw the broken cane held in Mr Harrington's hands as Steve hunched in on himself in the centre of the room, eyes frantically searching and hands shaking.

Wayne stiffened beside him and angled his body in front of Eddies, the movement causing Eddie's chest to bloom with warmth, but the feeling was soured by Mr Harrington pushing into the room and scoffing at the joint beds, quickly shoving them apart and pushing Steve towards one. Steve's body moved without warning, and Eddie watched as his face paled and eyes widened, and he let out a sharp yell when his hips met the front of the bed and he fell on it, hands gripping the bedsheets desperately.

"Quit mucking around, boy, and sit down. We have things to discuss and your mother will be here soon, you don't want to disappoint her further by being a cripple, do you?" Eddie watched as Steve's face crumbled and he tried to right himself, but he was facing away from his father and Eddie could see his hands trying to figure out where he was exactly. It broke his heart, and he could tell it angered Wayne, who stiffened in front of him and a look of fury washed across his features.

Mr Harrington briefly looked over at the two of them and Eddie felt panic crawl up his throat at the sight, causing him to duck further behind Wayne, who brough an arm back and around to push Eddie behind the shelter of his back. The two men nodded at each other and Eddie hoped it was a nod of 'I'm not going to do anything to my kid while there's another adult here', but he couldn't help the feeling that Mr Harrington didn't give a single shit.

Steve was panting on his bed, cheeks flushed and shaking, but he went unnaturally still when Mr Harrington's hand grabbed his jaw, still bruised, and pushed it towards the doorway. Eddie could see tears well in Steve's eyes at the pain, and he heard Wayne beginning to snarl under his breath, still in front of Eddie, between him and Mr Harrington.

Steve's father stood next to him and dropped a firm hand on his shoulder, ignoring the way Steve jumped at the contact, and the room fell into silence. Waiting for Mrs Harrington to enter, which she did a moment later, talking loudly into a very expensive looking mobile phone, the kind that Eddie had never seen in person before. No one he hung out with was rich enough for that bullshit.

She wandered into the room, barking orders into the phone and raised a hand at Wayne, not even looking at him as she hung up and sighed heavily. She glanced around the room and cocked her hip, arms crossing as she took in the sight of Steve.

"Really, Steven?" She started, and if Eddie wasn't gripping onto Wayne like a lifeline, he had the sneaking suspicion that his uncle would have launched himself at Mrs Harrington for the tone. "The police station has been calling us daily for over a week now, we have important places to be. What's wrong with you anyway?" She was writing in a little notebook, not even looking at her son while she talked, which is how she didn't notice Mr Harrington manoeuvring Steve's jaw to look at her.

Steve was sitting still, spine perfectly straight as he tried to supress winces whenever his father grabbed his jaw or pressed down into his bad shoulder.

"Nothing, mom, just-." He started, voice small and wavering, cracking on the word 'mom', but she cut him off with a huff.

"Then why are we here, Steven? Nothing's wrong with you, our house is a mess, the bins haven't been taken out, and the lawn chairs are outside like you want them to crack and fade." Her phone rang and she sighed out a harsh goodbye, throwing a house key at Steve, which hit him in the chest. She paused and watched him for a second, disappointment flashing across her features as she muttered under her breath and left, picking up the phone and continuing to talk into it.

Holy shit, she was terrifying. Wayne obviously agreed with him because he relaxed slightly when she left, but he was still pushing back on Eddie, standing between him and Mr Harrington. Eddie understood, of course. Steve's father was influential, and Wayne couldn't just jump in to protect Steve from something like this, he had to bide his time. Choose the right moment to step in and ruin Mr Harrington. It still hurt when Wayne stayed still at Mr Harrington's ministrations.

Steve was still just sitting there, face perfectly blank as his eyes shone with tears that he refused to let fall in front of his father. Who was, at this moment, pulling Steve upright and making him stand in front of him, uncertain and off balance, not quite sure where he was standing exactly. He was walking in slow circles, eyes devouring the way Steve flinched slightly when he leant close, and smiling whenever Steve looked around like he was trying to see what was happening. It was sickening.

"We're not sure when we'll be back next, but make sure the house in taken care of, Steven. Man your age should be able to take responsibility for something as simple as cleaning." Mr Harrington leaned in to Steve's space, pushing him off balance further and crowding him away from his bed even more, delighting in the way Steve hesitated when stepping back, knowing that it was disorienting him further. Then Steve did something unexpected, and the scene of him in the Upside Down took root in Eddie's mind.

"It's not my fault the earthquake happened, sir." Eddie could've cheered in pride at Steve standing up for himself, but the sad way in which Steve said it cemented the thought in Eddie's mind. He knew it wasn't going to end well, and it wasn't even pushing back on anything they said, it was just stating a fact that his parent's knew. The use of the word 'sir' made Eddie's heart clench in his chest in a small, painful way.

Mr Harrington had a hand on Steve's waist before any of them could blink an eye, pressing deep into the bandages there and calmly shoving Steve backwards, smirking softly when he heard Steve cry out in pain and fall onto one knee, his twisted ankle giving out at the sudden pressure. That was all it took for Wayne to jolt forward and stand in front of Steve, and for the first time in his life, Eddie saw fury on his uncle.

Wayne looked like an angry god standing in front of Steve's crying figure as his arm wrapped around his torso, spots of blood starting to seep through the white, but Wayne wasn't looking at Steve. He was glaring at Mr Harrington, drawn up to his full height as a finger pressed into his chest, and Eddie watched in satisfaction as Steve's father took a step backwards at the sight, literally putting him on his back foot.

"You lay another hand on that there boy, Harrington, and I'll make sure you can never use it again, got it?" His uncle's voice wasn't raised, it wasn't even tight. It was silken and level, the threat lingering in the air, and Eddie could feel the tension growing as Mr Harrington sneered down his nose. It shocked Eddie to see Mr Harrington uncertain, because Wayne's threat was deadly and intimidating and true, and Steve's dad could feel it.

Without a word to Wayne, Mr Harrington scoffed and walked over to the door, rolling his shoulders as if he was still in charge, but everyone in the room knew who had the power here. As one last cowardly blow, Mr Harrington looked at Steve and scowled.

"I've always said it, boy, you're no son of mine. I expect all your things to be gone by the time we get back, or we'll burn them." Then he turned tail and left in a flurry of movement, leaving a cold, dead stillness in his wake. Wayne was trembling in rage, fists balled together as he watched Mr Harrington stride down the hallway.

Eddie felt like the world had turned to syrup around him, sluggish and resistant, and he blinked and the beds were back together, blinked and Wayne was helping Steve up, blinked and Steve was shaking in his arms, blinked and his uncle had to leave. Steve still shaking in his arms, their breaths the only sound in the room as the two held each other.

* * * * *

He was dying, that was the only thought that crossed Steve's mind as he tried desperately to scoop back his leaking thoughts, trying to stack and assemble them in a way that made sense, but nothing was making sense. He didn't know where he was, only that he heard his fathers voice and suddenly he had no support and was being pushed around, lost in a sea of noise and touch, not knowing what was happening.

It was like he'd been tossed out to sea on a stormy night, because he couldn't tell where was where, or what he was doing, only that everything was uncertain and he was being pushed inside a room and his dad was finally stopping his harsh movements. Steve hunkered in on himself, breathing coming in short gasps as he desperately begged for the roaring in his ears to subside so he could try and figure out where he was. Cautiously, Steve reached his fingers outwards and felt a jolt of panic when they reached nothing, his cloudy vision suddenly becoming suffocating and debilitating in a way it hadn't been before.

He could hear his father scoff and the grating noise of metal wheels before a hand was on his back and he was being pushed forward, the world tilting and spinning at the movement, sending Steve into a freefall until his hips met the edge of a bed and he gripped the sheets. Steve could feel the blood draining from his face and tried again to try and see, widening his eyes and begging for his vision to come back miraculously right now to avoid this feeling of helplessness. He could feel the texture of the sheets as his body collapsed into them, craving a feeling of stability in amongst the storm swirling around Steve.

He really wanted Eddie right now, Eddie would know what to do. His hand would be in Steve's already, voice gentle and soothing and he calmly explained where they were. Steve tried to calm his breathing, he was touching a bed, so it only made sense they were in the hospital room. But that idea caused a tidal wave of fear, because it meant Eddie was here. It meant Wayne was here. It meant that Wayne was going to see him finally, and he wouldn't want Steve around his nephew anymore. Oh god, his fucking dad was going to ruin everything good in his life.

"Quit mucking around, boy, and sit down. We have things to discuss and your mother will be here soon, you don't want to disappoint her further by being a cripple, do you?" The word cripple clanged through his mind, something he'd never even thought. No one had said it, hell, Steve hadn't even conjured that word and associated with himself before, but now it was looping through his mind. He tried desperately to right himself, feeling along the edge of the bed to orient himself.

Steve could feel himself beginning to panic, cheeks burning in humiliation and fear when a hard hand grabbed his jaw and pain sang into his face, causing his teeth to ache and drool to puddle in his mouth at the sensation. Steve froze, trying to make sense of what was going on when he felt the hand direct his head towards what he assumed was the door. Steve could feel tears threatening to spill as the pain in his jaw grew, a sour tang filling his senses and the fear that he might vomit on his dad crossed his mind, but he shoved it down and went still.

If that was where the door was, Steve might be able to construct an image of the room, but the whirlwind of emotions and thoughts in his head made it impossible to ground himself in reality. The hand on is jaw moved to his shoulder and Steve internally cursed himself for flinching away, knowing that his dad would use that against him later. Steve sat as still as he could, waiting for his mother, and soon enough her voice crept into his ears. Of course she was on the phone again.

"Really, Steven?" He grimaced at the use of his name, and prayed that Eddie would be safe from his parents, that Wayne would protect him if things went South like they usually did. "The police station has been calling us daily for over a week now, we have important places to be. What's wrong with you anyway?" Steve made a mental note to tell Hopper to stay out of it, he didn't need to bug Steve's parents about his wellbeing he was fine. Although he was sure he didn't look it as his dad kept pressing into his jaw to move his head and his fingers left bruising marks on his bad shoulder.

The pain was circling around his head now, making him fell lightheaded and dizzy, borderline high, and Steve tried to push through it and reassure his mom, try to convince them to leave him alone. She was spewing her usual lines at him, and Steve felt himself slip further and further into the recess of his mind, trying to escape the pain that was radiating from his fathers grip and the hurt that was stemming from his mothers words. He felt something small and metallic clang against his chest, and his world slowed.

Shit. His dad said to keep it from his mom, but if she threw something at him and he missed? Fuck. This was bad. He felt his features melt into their usual bored expression, fighting with himself. Some part of him wanted to slip away entirely like normal, let his parents do what they had to and quietly pick up the pieces later, but another, stronger part was starting to grow. A part that told him his parents were wrong, a part that told him Eddie was here and in danger, and Steve could feel himself calming down.

That was until his father tugged him upright and all semblance of location flew from his mind, leaving him uncertain and wobbly on his feet. He could hear his father circling, laughing and jeering at his obviously afraid stance. It was so lonely, he realised all of a sudden. To have lost his vision and to not know where he was, to not have the comforting touch of Eddie to remind him that he was alive.

His father was telling him to take care of the house, and anger reared it's head. Frenzied and feral, like an animal in a cage, and Steve found himself snapping at the sense of danger. His dad was in his space and Steve lost any knowledge of where he was, what the room looked like. He hesitated when stepping back, knowing that if he did, he would lose the mental image of where the bed stood, he would lose the last thing he was holding onto. But his father pushed, and he sank back, but not without one final swing back.

"It's not my fault the earthquake happened, sir." It happened so quickly, but there was a hard hand jabbing into the healing bites on his side and agony rushed through his body, firmly pulling him back into his own mind as his leg buckled and Steve landed on the floor. He didn't know where he was. He didn't know where his dad was. He didn't know who was around. He didn't know if he was going to survive this round with his dad. Pressing a hand into the sharp pain in his side, Steve tried to calm himself, but it was no use, panic had taken its place in his body and he was unable to get rid of it.

Then he heard the most wonderful sound in the world, and Steve was certain nothing would ever sound as great as it again.

"You lay another hand on that there boy, Harrington, and I'll make sure you can never use it again, got it?" Wayne. Wayne was sticking up for him in front of his dad. Voice laced with a heavy threat that Steve knew his dad would take seriously. He heard the door open and began to hope, surely it couldn't be that easy? Of course it wasn't.

"I've always said it, boy, you're no son of mine. I expect all your things to be gone by the time we get back, or we'll burn them." The room went cold in his absence, and the sentence settled over Steve's shoulders like a heavy blanket. He didn't have a home anymore. He didn't know where he was, he didn't have a home, and he was in pain. He distantly heard the sound of the beds going back together and Waynes soothing voice saying Eddie's name. Eddie. Eddie had to see it, again.

He heard himself whimper.

There was someone standing in front of him, and Steve tried to push aside the pain to listen.

"C'mon, kiddo. Let's get you up there with Eds." He nodded and felt Wayne pull him upright, and Steve couldn't resist winding his fingers into Wayne's shirt, grounding himself in the presence of another person, feeling his racing heart settle as Wayne carefully checked over him. He was shaking. Why was he shaking?

"Don't worry about your dad, I'll take care of it, son." His heart cracked open at the sentence, and he let the tears fall, breaking into sobs when Wayne carefully pulled him into a gentle hug, a fatherly hug. It lasted for a blissful second before Wayne was guiding him to Eddie, and Steve instantly wrapped around the boy, both of them slotting together in their own perfect way, and the panic in his chest finally subsided.

He heard Wayne leave, and Steve wound his fingers into whatever part of Eddie he could get a hold of, and he felt Eddie pull him impossibly closer, trying to merge their bodies into one to reassure the other that they were okay. Steve couldn't bring himself to talk, and indulged in the urge to just stay here, wrapped up in Eddie's arms, feeling safe and warm and loved.

Eddie held back even tighter, and Steve shut his eyes, letting the voluntary darkness soothe him in Eddie's presence.

Chapter Text

Steve's parents kept good on their word, and didn't return, for which Eddie was eternally grateful. It felt like both he and Steve took five steps back in recovering after that visit, and Wayne had obviously spoken up to the group, because the next morning there was Lucas and Erica waiting, and when they left, El and Max were there.

For the next two weeks, someone was always in their room during visiting hours, usually in the same pairs as normal. Lucas and Erica, because their parents drove them together, Max and El, because Max's trailer was on the way to the hospital from her cabin. Will and Jonathan came together, which was always a weird visit, the tension in the room thick, thankfully Eddie and Will got along brilliantly, and Eddie had a vision that maybe he wouldn't be a forever DM eternally.

Mike and Nancy visited together, and if Eddie thought Jonathan and Will was bad, this was even worse. But again, after two weeks they were tentative friends with each other, the previous tension seeping away. Robin usually came with Dustin, the two of them having gotten quite close after Steve and Eddie weren't around to hang out with them. Eddie's personal favourite pair was Hopper and Joyce, mostly because it was comforting to have the two adults in the room, talking to them normally, and keeping them updated.

The first time they visited had been tense, with Hopper being the chief of police, and Wayne having told him about Steve's dad. All it took was Joyce saying 'oh honey' and the room fell into a comfortable frenzy of warmth and love. Wayne always visited alone, but Eddie preferred it that way.

Steve was always within reaching distance, and they still held hands almost constantly. The only times they were apart was for Eddie's physical therapy, and on this particular day, Eddie was walking back into their room with a skip in his step. He'd been officially cleared to be discharged, and at the rate Steve's vision was improving, he might be on the way to coming home too. Eddie knew that while he was at physical therapy, the doctors were testing Steve's eyes to see if they could be healed, and El was lending a helping hand today. It made him hopeful.

So when he walked into the room being spotlessly clean with their bags packed on the bed, confusion swept through him before panic. Where was Steve? Why was everything packed? Who had been in here? Before he could really panic, Steve walked out of the bathroom, new probing cane in front of him, and he locked eyes with Eddie, face splitting into a grin.

Wait.

He locked eyes with Eddie.

Eddie could hardly believe it, but Steve was walking directly towards him, eyes trained on his face, and it took a moment for Eddie to realise that Steve was crying, and worry grew in his chest. But Steve just walked up to him and threw his arms around Eddie, dropping his cane and letting Eddie hold him close before whispering excitedly in his ear.

"I never thought I'd get to see your pretty face again, Eds. And goddamn are you more handsome than I remember." Eddie felt the blush creep across his cheeks as he and Steve laughed, joy ballooning in his chest at the sentence, and his brain helpfully supplied him with the words 'Steve things we're pretty and handsome'. He felt like a cat preening at the praise, but judging by Steve's loving smile as he pulled back, that was the intention.

"Holy shit, sweetheart, it worked?" Steve let out a wet laugh, bordering on a sob, and just held Eddie's face, looking at him.

"Mostly, I have to keep the cane, and there are these massive blurred patches that are never going away, but yeah. It worked." And Eddie would take it, because the careful joy in Steve's face was so tender and so fragile that it made him ache. They both laughed and hugged again, Eddie relishing in the fact that he got to hold Steve Harrington in his arms.

Eddie carefully untangled them, making sure not to knock the arm that Steve still had in a cast, and just looked at Steve. He was happy, eyes finally focused, if a bit jittery, with a grin across his face and tear tracks down his cheeks. Something wicked unfurled in Eddie's stomach at the realisation that he and Steve could finally go on a date, and finally move on from the flirting and hand holding boundary they'd set up. Steve raised an eyebrow at his expression and Eddie had to supress a laugh.

"If we're going home, does that mean I can take you out to dinner, pretty boy?" Fascination swirled in Eddie's mind as Steve went red and nodded, biting his lip to keep his grin in check. He really was one lucky guy to have survived Vecna, repaired his stomach muscles, and hooked Steve in such a short amount of time.

The two of them leant on one another as they walked out of the hospital, face splitting smiles adjourning their features and an air of pure happiness surrounding them. Eddie could hardly keep his hands off Steve, just wanting to be near him, to be certain that they could go back to normal. Steve was using his probing cane still, gently running along the ground in front of him, and Eddie let his curiosity bubble upwards.

"So what do you see, Steve-O?" Eddie couldn't keep the glee out of his voice, and he was grateful when Steve just smiled at him and indulged in his antics, leaning further into his side as they waited out front for Wayne to come get them.

"At the moment it's mostly fuzz still, there are dark spots here and here." Steve held his hand out in two different spots, motioning the area of darkness that remained. It shocked Eddie with how much of his vision was still gone, he had sort of assumed that El had fixed it all. "And things are mostly blobs of colour. Doctors said it might come and go tomorrow, but after that El reckons it'll be perfect. Well, the dark spots will become blurry patches and those'll stay forever but aside from that." Steve trailed off, voice betraying the fact that he didn't want to worry Eddie.

Eddie, of course, worried, but more in a general kind of way, not specifically over this. He trusted Steve, and trusted him to tell Eddie if something was actually wrong. It had taken a long time, but they worked on it while they were in the hospital, both of them had had to learn how to ask for help from the other, and tell them what was actually wrong. Eddie hated it at first, but it felt hypocritical to expect Steve to keep him in the loop if Eddie refused to do the same, so he begrudgingly worked on it as well.

Eddie thanked his lucky stars that he did, because it really made things a lot easier when they were both honest with each other. It still scared him, how much Steve knew about Eddie. But weeks locked in a room together where the idea of letting the other person go more than a foot away from you will have that effect, and Eddie wouldn't change it for the world. Even if it felt like offering his heart on a silver platter and begging Steve not to break it.

Eddie was frightened of how much he had come to care about Steve, and what scared him more was how okay with it he was. Eddie gladly handed this information over to Steve, and was so willing to listen to Steve do the same. It should have sent him running in the other direction, but it had only served to bring them closer, and the thought of it made Eddie wrap his arm around Steve and hold him just that fraction tighter.

They were going back into the real world, where they couldn't be this close all the time, and Eddie didn't know how he'd take it, in all honesty. A kernel of fear sparked in his stomach, he'd have to do things without Steve nearby, where he couldn't check that Steve was okay. Luckily he didn't have to dwell in the thought long, because Wayne was pulling up in his van, and waving the boys over, smirking at their intertwined hands and arms.

Steve faltered for a second as his grip tightened on Eddie, and Eddie felt his heart plummet at the movement, watching as Steve blinked furiously for a few seconds before relaxing again. Shit. Turns out the doctors got something right, and Steve grumbled about losing his sight for a second as he tugged Eddie to the van, his grimace melting into a grin as he greeted Wayne.

They both slid into the backseat, Wayne giving Eddie a smirk and a roguish wink at the movement and Eddie glared back at him, cheeks flushed with embarrassment when he and Steve locked hands in the backseat, feeling like he was a child again as Wayne looked at him through the rear view mirror. He'd have to let go of Steve's hand eventually, but for now, it was still firmly placed alongside his.

Wayne drove into Steve's neighbourhood, and pulled into his thankfully empty driveway, and Eddie nearly called off the whole thing at the gaunt look on Steve's face as he stared at what used to be his home. But before he could, Steve was thanking Wayne, saying he'd be out in a minute, and he kissed Eddie's cheek.

Fuck.

Fucking fucking fuck, fuck.

Eddie felt his entire face bloom red as Steve waved and bounded inside and Wayne started laughing in the front seat. Trying to get words out, Wayne took gasping breaths, holding his sides from laughter as Eddie sank into his seat, hands coming to cover his face. Oh my god, he felt like he was fifteen again looking at his first crush. Wayne's hysterical laughter wasn't helping as Eddie groaned and told him to shut up, half-heartedly kicking the back of Wayne's seat.

"Sorry, son, but I could fry up a whole Sunday breakfast on your face right now. Your boy really has you whipped, don't he?" Eddie groaned again and sank further into the car seat, some part of his brain cheering when the movement didn't tug at any sore muscles in his stomach. Wayne continued to tease him and Eddie continued to protest in the back seat, dramatically flopping around and covering his face, gladly leaning into the distraction his uncle was offering him. Something to latch onto that wasn't worry about Steve packing his things and bringing them to the Munson residence.

The teasing tapered off into talking about their home, and how Wayne had set up the plan. He said he'd left the whole top floor as Eddie's, as long as Eddie left the ground floor for him, and Eddie felt excitement beginning to bubble in his chest. Of course his uncle would want the bottom floor, going in and out of work at strange times, always exhausted from the labour and probably not wanting to climb stairs at any and all hours of the day. Which was a massive fucking score for Eddie, who now had basically an entire house to himself. And Steve of course.

* * * * *

HIs house felt foreign to him, like a relic from decades ago that he shouldn't be touching, and all of his fathers words came crashing into Steve's mind. He took a deep breath. Steve just had to pack some clothes, a few personal items, and then go back to the Munson's, where Wayne was letting him stay. He felt untethered without Eddie by his side, and his hand was cold and useless as it brushed along the wall, providing a guide for the few seconds where his vision dipped out.

It was incredibly confusing navigating the world again, especially with large chunks of it missing, and spots of blurred colours getting in the way, but Steve knew his house like the back of his hand, and could navigate it easily, even with the occasional blind moments his eyes threw his way. El had explained it as rewiring in his brain, helping his connections hook back up, and she said that it would take a bit of time for it to be familiar again, so sometimes the connections would fall loose. Steve was certain that this was not medical, and by the slightly confused looks on the doctors faces, he knew that they had no idea what she'd done, so Steve just rolled with it.

His room felt like the rest of the house, cold and uncaring, even if his draws had been ransacked like normal, and his wardrobe was scattered across the room. With a sigh, Steve started folding, filling two backpacks with clothes and then stacking anything else in his suitcase. His parents always did this when they came home, rifle through his shit and confiscate anything that they didn't like. This time round it was a David Bowie tape and a Queen poster, and he could see his walkie talkie broken in the corner.

Tears welled in his eyes at the sight, of course they would take his primary means of communicating with his friends away. But it didn't matter as Steve pulled back the corner of the carpet under his desk, loosening the floorboard there and relaxing when he saw all his actual possessions still untouched. Pulling out boxes of photos, tapes, movies, gifts from the kids, and stacking them all carefully in his suitcase.

He didn't have much else. His parents took it all at some point.

Shouldering the bags and carefully walking down the stairs, Steve tried to collect himself. He didn't know why he still hoped his parents would change, but it was disappointing every single time they did it. He should know better, but his parents had always been his weak spot. Weak enough that he nearly died at the hands of Vecna, and if Eddie hadn't have been there...Steve didn't want to think about it.

Instead, Steve thought about the way Eddie looked as he jumped out of the van to grab his bags, wild hair all over the place, rings glinting in the sunlight and teeth bared in a vicious grin. He was like a walking fire, always burning, always wild and always warming. But he never burned Steve, and Steve gladly reached out and gripped his hand when it was offered, feeling all the tension from being back at his parents house seep out of him at the touch. He saw Eddie frown at his bags, and didn't have the energy to get into it. Steve knew he'd have to come back eventually to break into his parents locked bedroom and retrieve the bin of confiscated goods. Normally Steve would have to earn those things back, but screw his parents, he'd just steal them.

They got in the car and Steve made a show of groaning when Wayne clicked one of Eddie's tapes in, Eddie's face lighting up in joy. God he was so whipped by this boy. Eddie began miming playing guitar in the backseat to Steve while Wayne hummed the melody up front, and Steve pretended to be annoyed, it was a game he played with Eddie frequently. Steve loved Eddie's music, and despite the fact that beforehand he was an ABBA kind of guy, something about Eddie's passion and endearing never ending energy for metal and rock had permeated his brain. Not that he would ever admit that to anyone, that was just too embarrassing, the knowledge that Steve Harrington liked Eddie Munson's taste in music.

It was a good drive home from there, windows open, music blasting, Eddie's hand in his and Wayne quietly humming along in the front seat. It was terrifying, the idea of going back to work and facing all the people of Hawkins, knowing what he'd nearly sacrificed to save them, but it was all worth it when he looked at the way Eddie grinned at him, free and full of love. Yeah, Steve could get used to being back in the real world. Especially with the knowledge that he now got to officially date the one and only Eddie Munson.

Life was good.

Life got even better when they walked inside, hand in hand, and were greeting by all of their friends cheering at them. Steve let go of Eddie's hand at the sight of his bandmates standing awkwardly off the side, and instead wrapped his arms around the first wave of kids bounding up to him. It was a round robin of hugs and well wishes, happiness in Steve's chest growing to a bursting point as his cheeks ached from smiling so much. He was finally home, and healing, and his friends were all alive and okay.

Steve watched out the corner of his eye as Eddie showed off his new scars to his friends, and smiled warmly when they all told him how badass he was. Gareth, he thought it was, pulled Eddie into a hug, and Eddie gratefully hugged back before they went on some tangent about a new album that was being released soon. Steve let himself get pulled into conversation, eagerly enjoying having everyone in the one room finally, rather than the two person limit the hospital had imposed.

He let all the kids try out his cane, and after an hour of excitement he found himself wandering over to Eddie, fingers mindlessly grabbing onto his jacket as Steve's vision blacked out again. And then didn't come back immediately. Trying to take a deep breath and smile at where he remembered Gareth and Jeff were standing and desperately wishing the kids would drop his cane back. He could feel the two boys tense in his presence and Eddie's grip tightened on his arm in retaliation, but Steve knew now was as good a time as any.

"I'm sorry for the way I was in high school." Steve felt the entire room quiet slightly, and started praying his vision popped back in soon, because if he wasn't looking at the two then this apology was going to suck ass. "There's no excuse for the shit I said, but I hope I can make it up to you at some point. Cause yeah, I was uh, I was a dick." He smiled sheepishly and waited for a response.

Turns out the response wasn't going to be from Gareth or Jeff, but was instead from Eddie's fingers on his face, and Steve cursed when he flinched slightly, blinking furiously again to try and conjure up some sight. Blissfully he could see light beginning to creep into the corners of his vision, and Steve knew it would be back in five minutes or so.

"Sweetheart, can you see anything right now?" Steve shrugged and tried to wave it off, but Eddie was insistent. "Jesus Christ, Stevie, Gareth and Jeff can suck it up for an afternoon for fucks sake, god, you're allowed one day to be alright." Eddie was pulling him to what he assumed was the couch and sitting him down, and he felt his cane in his hands and Eddie's ringed fingers on his face, trying to see if he was alright.

Steve felt like he'd been shoved in the deep end all of a sudden, back to no vision and Eddie was angry with him. Steve tried to calm himself, but even after all the things he and Eddie had talked about, visions of his father came flooding into his brain, and he latched his hands onto Eddie's, very quietly asking him if he could make sure they had some space.

He heard Eddie sigh before telling everyone to fuck off for a sec and they'd be back when Steve's vision returned, and then he felt the couch dip next to him. He took another deep breath and decided that he and Eddie were close enough to talk about this, so with a hushed voice Steve tried to explain what he was thinking.

"I'm sorry, Eds. It's just. I could tell they were uncomfortable, and I really want your friends to like me, and I was an asshole in high school so I thought if I could apologise it would be a good first step. But my eyes decided to cark it right then and I really don't want you to be mad at me." It all fell out in a big rush, words spewing out of his mouth and Steve mentally groaned at the fact that it sounded like he was possessed by Robin for a minute there. He felt uncertain without his eyes, and he hated it.

He was Steve fucking Harrington for crying out loud, he's survived his father, Russian torture, the Upside Down, all the times he'd saved the world. But this one time. This time was different, and it frustrated him that he wasn't bouncing back to normal instantly. He wanted to be the confident, cool guy that was suave and could swoon Eddie with a sentence, but instead he was gripping onto his hands and apologising for trying to apologise.

It was like Eddie could feel his annoyance, and he sighed. The sound echoed in Steve's ears, and without a visual aid to see Eddie's face, he panicked.

"I know what you were trying to do, and I appreciate it. Really. But also, Gareth and Jeff will love you, you just have to give them some time. Just like you gave me time. I'm just annoyed that you thought you had to do it right now instead of enjoying being around your friends, pretty boy." Steve felt himself nod, and begin to calm down at Eddie's words. It was an unfortunate habit he knew he had, needing to make sure everyone else was comfortable before him. Blinking again, some of the dark spots cleared, and Steve looked at Eddie, who just smiled at him.

He saw a flicker of movement to the side and looked up at Gareth, who was standing above him with his arms crossed, trying to be intimidating, but the look of worry on his face really made the whole thing fall flat. He could practically feel Eddie glaring at Gareth from next to him on the couch as Gareth checked Steve could see him. Steve nodded and Gareth prepared himself.

"We're holding band practice tomorrow at mine, Eddie is gonna be there." At this, Gareth glared at Eddie as if to say 'yes, you will be there'. "Why don't you come around and hang out, Eddie might not be telling us what's up between you two but I'm not blind, Harrington. Come to practice, and we'll see where it goes, got it?" Gareth was still frowning, trying to be scary, but he was still flitting his eyes to Eddie and Steve joined hands and then carefully back to Steve's eyes.

Steve nodded and Gareth nodded back before awkwardly sliding back over to Jeff, who was firmly ignoring Steve's presence. Steve let out a surprised laugh and looked at Eddie, who was affectionately shaking his head at his friends. Steve let himself enjoy being next to Eddie again before Robin rushed over, arms flailing as she skidding to a stop in front of them, tongue poking through her teeth as she gestured for them to stay put.

"I got you a job with Steve and I at Family Video, I thought it'd be good for all of us to work together and seeing as though you're graduated now I thought you'd want a job. Unfortunately, because Keith really really hates Steve, your orientation is tomorrow. Same for you Stevie, Keith said he needs to make sure you can still do stuff, pretty sure he just wants to rub it in your face that he's technically your boss." He had to look slightly to Robin's left to fully see her, manoeuvring his gaze around the dark spots there.

Eddie was thanking Robin profusely and Steve joined it, slowly turning it into a game of who could come up with the most dramatic and least serious ways to express their gratitude. Eddie won, of course, and it was made even better by the fact that Robin was full belly laughing, hands on her knees, wheezing kind of laughing. Steve wanted to keep that look on her face forever, especially after seeing her so worried about him in the Upside Down. And while he would love to keep their friends here forever, he was exhausted, and it was getting dark, so the kids would have to go home soon.

After another round of hugs (and some awkward handshakes with Gareth and Jeff), everyone slowly trickled out until it was just Wayne, Eddie and Steve leaning on the kitchen bench. Eddie had practically laid himself over Steve, draping his torso along Steve's back and pooling his arms around his shoulders to rest a chin on his head, facing Wayne. Steve felt himself settle at the contact, and let himself completely relax as Wayne took a swig out of his beer.

"I know you're aware, son, but just to really get it through that thick skull of yours, this place is always open to ya. You're Eddie's boy, and there's a bedroom upstairs for you, and I don't expect no complaints about taking up space. Your dad may have kicked you out, but I ain't gonna let you sleep on the road, ya hear me?" Some unknown feeling surged in his chest, the same feeling that he got when Hopper silently offered him and icepack at the police station on nights where his dad got a bit too rough for Steve.

He thinks its respect, or maybe affection, maybe even a little bit of pride and a sense of acceptance. But whatever it was, Steve was grateful for Wayne, and made sure to tell him such, regaling him with thank yous and gratitude until his ears turned pink and Eddie was laughing.

They may have to face Keith and the band tomorrow, but for tonight? Life was good.

Life was really good.

Chapter Text

Why the fuck was he here again? He should've just continued to be a drug dealer rather than put on this egregious uniform and wait awkwardly in the back room of Family Video while Keith insulted Steve and threw an information pamphlet at Eddie. Robin was grimacing behind Steve and mouthing at Eddie to just put up with it for a few minutes and he'd leave.

That's if Eddie lasted that long with the way his annoyance was rising at Keith's harsh words. Jesus, he knew Steve was a bit of a prick in high school, but Keith was really going in hard. Judging by Robins winces, this was worse than normal, but Steve just had a blank, bored look on his face, nodding absent-mindedly to Keith's antics.

Then just like that, Keith spun around and told Robin to train them both before leaving, the bell at the door telling them he'd completely gone home.

What the actual fuck had just happened?

Their morning had started off perfectly, mostly because they had both had screaming nightmares that night and ended up in Eddie's bed, wrapped up in each other like normal. Trying out separate rooms on the first night was a less than ideal idea, they weren't going to do that again. But the bonus had meant that they'd both been in need of extra affection this morning, and had spent the whole time unpacking and sorting out their rooms.

It worried Eddie about how little Steve had, and how he had hesitated before slowly uncovering wrapped boxes of pictures of his friends, polaroids and drawings, carefully holding them close to his chest. Eddie had excused himself to go organise his tapes, recognising that Steve was struggling with him seeing the photos, which worried Eddie. He didn't know why, especially when Steve had later excitedly tugged him in is room to show him the wall full of them, even full of random doodles the kids or Robin had drawn, he'd even caught a napkin with a cartoonish sketch of Steve on it up on the wall.

Now was not the time to unpack whatever issue Steve had with those pictures, so Eddie had just told him it looked wonderful. And then complained about how Steve didn't have nearly enough pictures of them on his wall, grabbing Steve's polaroid camera and pulling him in for a picture. It was a good picture, and Steve had stared at it, smiling faintly, for a solid minute before sticking it in his wallet. Not on the wall. In his wallet, and Eddie had to restrain himself from kissing the boy stupid.

So yes, it was a good morning, right up until Keith had seen them walk in and told Eddie to go put on the work uniform, and Eddie decided today was not the day to push that. But secretly he knew that within a week he'd be back in his clothes, and he'd just keep the vest on to appease Keith. He was not going to wear a red and yellow striped polo to work each day, he simply couldn't bear the idea of parting from his usual monochrome wardrobe. Even if Steve had gone a bit flustered when he walked out in the polo.

Robin excitedly pulled him out into the store and started explaining the sorting system, before tugging him over to show him how to rewind the tapes and repackage them. Eddie had asked about the customers and Robin told him he could deal with them later, Steve had it. So for the next hour he and Robin went over the in's and out's of the store until Eddie had nothing but films stuck in his head, feeling a little dizzy from the speed at which Robin tossed him information. Not that he was complaining, once this quick two hour orientation was over, he and Steve got to go to band practice, and had they would have the entirely of tomorrow together before their full time shifts started.

Somehow Robin had convinced Keith that he and Steve were both good enough to cover the week day full time shifts together, with the only exception being Tuesdays, where Steve would take the morning and Eddie the afternoon half. It worked out nearly perfectly, and Eddie had a sneaking suspicion that Hopper had gotten involved to make sure it had turned out that way.

After a tour of the break room, he and Robin headed back out to meet Steve, and Eddie hung back for a second to admire the boy. He was leaning easily against a shelving unit, holding out two tapes to a young kid and explaining the differences, asking the kid about what other movies he liked. He made a show of thinking as the little kid giggled, his mother smiling fondly in the background, and Steve offered him the first tape, winking as he rung it up. The kid skipped off happily and the mother thanked Steve, telling him he was a better man than his father was.

Eddie expected it to trip Steve up, but instead Steve stood up straighter and thanked the woman, making some suave joke about hoping that was the case, and that he was trying, and they bantered back and forth for a moment before she jogged off after her child, leaving Steve a tip. Woah. Watching Steve interact with the real world shouldn't be as attractive as it was, but it was so fucking good to see him happy and back out of the hospital that Eddie felt a rush of love for him.

Restraining himself from draping his body over Steve's, stealing his personal space like he loved to, Eddie instead wandered over and checked in on him. The radiant smile Steve gave him took his breath away, and Eddie knew that coming here today was a good idea. Steve looked comfortable, a bit more of his old self creeping in as he talked small talk and recommended movies. Eddie could get used to this.

* * * * *

It was good to be back at work, back to some sense of normalcy, even if Keith was more of a dick than normal. And it was good to see Eddie falling into his role at Family Video so effortlessly. It felt far too soon to be leaving, but Steve knew Eddie had band practice and had been excitedly playing his tapes all morning in preparation. He knew Eddie hated that he had to drop Steve at his parents house one more time, but Steve needed to get his remaining things, and then he would just walk to Gareth's, it was only about ten minutes away if you cut through the park nearby and hopped a few fences on some abandoned property.

Steve carefully showed Eddie the path he would be taking, just in case Eddie wanted to check up on him, and Steve had complied, knowing the fearful look in Eddie's eyes. It was something that they all still had after saving the world, the need to know where people were going, to have someone know your exact location in case you went missing. It warmed his heart when Eddie continued to repeat his path back until he had it memorised, letting Steve out of his van with a frown and confirming the time he would be at Gareth's. Exactly an hour from now. Steve wouldn't need any longer.

A sliver of fear crept into Steve's heart when Eddie turned the corner, but he knew that at some point they were going to have to be apart from one another, and it was good to start that habit now. It still sucked major ass though. That fear only grew as he entered his house, and Steve quickly checked that his probing cane was still attached to his belt loop, folded neatly in case he needed it. He already had a few times this morning, his vision swimming in and out at random moments, each time it went black causing Steve's heart to race in panic.

Eddie timed them, and Steve nearly kissed him when he informed Steve that there were two lengths of blackouts, ones that lasted a quick 30-45 seconds, that a few steady blinks could clear, or the ones that lasted 28-33 minutes, and that required the cane to come out to help. It still freaked him out, but knowing that Eddie had counted for him, and knowing that there was only so long it could go on, Steve felt sure of himself. He could do this.

Scrambling up the stairs and ignoring the way his hands shook on the railings, Steve reached his parents bedroom door, locked as per normal. Thankfully for Steve, he knew that this was a cheap lock, only installed to dissuade him from breaking in. Up until this point it had worked, Steve far too afraid of his dad to even risk looking at the lock, but it worked in his favour now. Steve gave the knob a hard shake, right as he pressed into the bottom corner, and grinned when he heard a click.

Cheap locks, and more of a psychological barrier than a physical one. Even though his parents weren't home, Steve still tip toed through their room, eyes scanning for the box that he knew they kept his possessions in, and there! It was shoved into a corner, a pillow thrown on top, and Steve knelt in front of it, almost disbelieving in his own bravery at doing this.

Inside was what he was looking for, a sketchbook, his pencils, a locked box full of his most treasured photos, and a folder with all the kids information on it. What? He worried about them, and since he found out he was their emergency contact on school records, he figured he should keep a running tab on them. There was also the small toys he'd been given from the kids, things they'd given him when they won at arcade games. And also his nail bat. He really missed that one. He knew why his parents took this stuff, it was all the personal things he was attached to, things that really meant something to him, and it broke his heart that he'd had to win back these items time and time again.

He locked the door behind him and carried the box downstairs, blinking furiously against the tears threatening to spill. Placing the box at the bottom of the stairs, Steve let himself have a moment to pull his thoughts together, trying to push back the tears until after band practice. Pressing his palms into his eyes, Steve calmed himself down, letting out a deep sigh before opening his eyes.

To darkness. Complete clouded darkness.

He blinked, and blinked again, counting carefully to thirty. The forty five. Nothing.

Ah, fuck.

He sighed and unclicked his cane, letting it fall onto the floor as he tucked the box under one arm and started walking. He didn't really need the cane in his house, he'd been here his whole life, and knew it like the back of his-

The cane knocked into something and Steve froze, mentally calculating his steps. This was the edge of the loungeroom, bordering on his kitchen, there shouldn't be anything there. Steve took another breath and tried to take a step back, but in his panic mis-stepped and his hip hit something soft, mind going blank at the feeling. That was a couch. His couch wasn't here.

Steve gently put the box down, but it caught the edge of something and the contents spilled onto the floor, Steve dropping to his knees to grab them, but his head hit the edge of something sharp and he cursed curling downwards into a ball. He was on his knees, body folded in half and hands on his head, hunkered down and desperately trying to map the room.

These things shouldn't be here, why were there things here? He tried to breath but all that came out was a hoarse whimper. His goddamn parents must have moved the furniture around, and Steve cursed aloud, of course his mother would do something like this after figuring out he was out of hospital. Thirty minutes. That's how long Eddie said this would last. He just had to wait thirty minutes.

But he didn't know how long it had been, and he didn't knew where he was in own house. Steve tried to recount where he had been, but those blank patches laughed at him, reminding him that he didn't know which way he was facing, or which way he had walked. Fear, deep and guttural bloomed in his stomach and Steve pressed his body closer to the floor, arms wrapping around his stomach and forehead on the floorboards, a high keen escaping his lips.

Thirty minutes.

He just had to last thirty minutes.

* * * * *

Eddie swung his van into Gareth's driveway, pushing down the worry over Steve as he and Jeff cheered at his arrival, already playing around in the garage, setting up amps and the like. Oh, he was going to enjoy this. His face split into a grin as he slid out, bowing at them and kicking his heels together as he entered, thankful he'd changed back into his own clothes.

They fell into an easy rhythm, songs flowing from the group of them effortlessly, and Eddie finally felt back to normal, his fingers flying along the fretboard while he and his friends screamed the lyrics to their favourite songs, thankful that Gareth's driveway was a fair way away from the street, so no one would interrupt them. But Eddie couldn't help his gaze from flitting out into the street after every song, excepting Steve to wander up with a grin any second now.

After nearly an hour had passed, Eddie got worried, and his playing got sloppy, missing the occasional half note and not bending the strings properly, causing the whole song to slip out of tune for a beat. Gareth stopped playing abruptly and Eddie slowly peeling his face from the driveway to look at his bandmates who were both smirking at him exasperatedly and letting their instruments slump. Eddie apologised and went to play again but Gareth interrupted.

"Seriously, Eds, just go find him. My mom left snacks in the house, I'll go grab 'em and you find Steve. I swear to god if you two don't make a move any time soon I'm going to throw Jeff's bass at your face." Eddie sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck and thanked the two of them, grateful when they didn't tease him further at the speed in which he put down his guitar and went to his van.

Gareth and Jeff were smarter than anyone gave them credit for, and while they didn't know the full extent, they figured out that he and Steve's injuries weren't from the earthquake. While they were thinking more along the lines of government experimentation, Eddie knew they understood why he was so worried for Steve, and he was forever grateful they let him take a break to find Steve.

Eddie drove along the trail Steve had pointed out, eyes scanning the area for a flash of the awful uniform he knew Steve would still be wearing, but he saw nothing. Fuck this, man. This was so unfair that Eddie knew fear this intimately, and so frequently. Eddie thought he had experienced enough fear for one lifetime, and prayed that Steve was alright.

He pulled into Steve's driveway, and noticed that the door was still ajar. He let out a breath, Steve must still be inside.

He was inside, and the scene that Eddie walked into broke his heart.

Scattered across the floor were more photos, alongside expensive coloured pencils, the tips having been broken as they rolled across the floor. He could see sheets of paper scattered around and noticed arcade prizes littering the room, concentrated at the base of a cardboard box which was tilted to the side. Steve was next to it, curled into the floor as his breath hitched, probing cane sitting innocently away from him as he cried.

Eddie's words caught in his throat when he saw all the kids details scribbled on the pages, home addresses, contact numbers, allergies and the like scrawled in Steve's god awful handwriting. He picked them all up carefully, alongside all the small plastic toys, each with initials labelled on the bottom. Childish hearts drawn on next to D.H, M.M, L.S, M.W, W.B and the number 11, and his heart clenched at the sight. These were all things the kids had given Steve, why hadn't he bought them back the first time.

Eddie knelt down beside Steve, whispering his name softly, and his heart ached when Steve looked up at him imploringly, eyes wide and unfocused as he continued to count under his breath.

"one-thousand-five-hundred-and-seventy-one, one-thousand-five-hundred-and-seventy-two..." Eddie did some quick mental maths, thanking D&D quietly as he figured out what Steve was counting. Seconds. 1,578 seconds he'd been on the floor. Twenty-six minutes. He let his hands dance across Steve, checking to make sure he wasn't injured, and breathed a sigh of relief when he realised he was okay.

"Stevie, you okay there, sweetheart?" Steve nodded as he continued to count quietly, slowly un-scrunching himself and leaning on Eddie heavily, hands grabbing onto the ends of his leather jacket. "It's alright now, big boy, you can stop counting, I'm here." Steve relaxed and let the words wobble off, rubbing a tired hand on his eyes. What caused this? Normally Steve was excellent with losing his vision, able to adapt in an instant.

"My parents moved the furniture around." Steve waved a hand pathetically. "I panicked and lost where I was, dropped my box and thought it was some fucked up retribution for breaking into my parents bedroom." He laughed a little, eyes still wet, but was fully relaxed in Eddie's arms, and at the sight Eddie felt himself relax. If Steve wasn't scared, he didn't have to be. But something was catching in his brain.

"You broke into your parents bedroom? Why?" Eddie barely got the sentence out before Steve was explaining, and pride bloomed in his chest at how easily Steve offered the information.

"Every time they come home they go through my shit and confiscate what they find, put in a box in their room and make me earn it back. The usual stash under the floorboards was fine, but they found all this shit under my mattress this time round." Eddie didn't think it was possible, but here he was, hating Steve's parents even more than before. How any two people could have children and then treat them this badly was beyond him. At least when his parents decided they didn't like him, they gave him to Wayne before they really fucked him up. The wound barely stung anymore, Eddie having accepted long ago that he got lucky with Wayne.

Eddie just pressed a kiss into Steve's hair and helped him up, repacking the box while Steve rubbed his eyes and cheered, his vision obviously returning. They held hands all the way to the van, and after Steve convinced Eddie to go back to band practice, they held hands on the way to Gareth's as well. When he pulled into the driveway, Steve was pumping himself up, but didn't look afraid, only shooting Eddie a look of pure love before sliding out of the van and waving hello awkwardly.

Eddie ran out behind him and slipped his hand back into Steve's, ignoring his startled and questioning expression at the movement. But Gareth had already given him the go ahead, and Eddie kind of just wanted to have Steve's reassuring touch right now as he spun Steve around in front of Gareth and Jeff, bowing at him and gesturing dramatically, grinning when his friends rolled their eyes and Steve laughed in confusion.

"Steve, meet the members of Corroded Coffin; Gareth and Jeff. Gareth and Jeff, my..." He hesitated only for a second. "boyfriend, Steve Harrington. Officially no longer a douchebag, and honestly kind of fucking awesome. Don't make it weird." He pointed a finger at the two who rolled their eyes again and just shrugged, asking Steve if he played any instruments, and in a daze, Steve mentioned that he used to take piano lessons as a kid.

Eddie tugged Steve in close and hugged him, smiling when Steve relaxed into the touch.

"Boyfriends, hey?" He was smirking at Eddie, and Eddie felt a flutter of nerves and love kick around in his stomach. "I think I oughta take you out to dinner tonight then to really cement that. Wouldn't want to be a bad boyfriend to the one and only Eddie Munson, would I?" Fuck Steve, Eddie thought as his ears burned in embarrassment and Steve laughed when he pushed him away, hands coming up to cover his cheeks when Jeff wolf whistled at his blush.

"Oh fuck all of you so hard. This is so unfair." Steve only laughed at gave Gareth a tentative fist bump when the younger boy offered it, a hopeful smile on his face at the offer. Maybe letting Steve be friends with his friends was a bad idea, as it seemed everyone was intent on embarrassing the shit out of him in front of Steve. But watching Steve slowly loosen up around Gareth and Jeff, and then watching him beam when Gareth said he was 'actually sort of cool' was worth it.

As they got into Eddie's van, both of them grinning, stomachs sore from laughter, it was Jeff that spoke up.

"Come around next time, Harrington. Maybe I'll bring my old keyboard, you can play synth on some of the lighter songs." Steve's face split into an excited buzz and he gave Jeff a thumbs up, and all Eddie could think was that he looked like an excitable puppy, all quick movements and easy smiles. Jeff flipped the rock-and-roll sign of the horns at Steve in response, and Eddie nearly kissed Steve then as well, when he changed his thumbs up to that, ignoring Gareth's laughter in the background.

At the image of Steve leaning out of the van window as Eddie pulled away, and carefully listening to the bands Gareth and Jeff were suggesting, an idea zipped into Eddie's brain. He was going to run and D&D OneShot for the whole group, and they were going to get to kill Vecna. He grinned at the image of them all rolling to kill the fictional recreation of the latest Upside Down monster, and he knew it was perfect. Maybe he'd even get little Byers to co-DM with him, start to teach the kid how to run a full blown campaign, not for kids.

Oh, yeah, he would have it ready by the end of the week.

Chapter Text

Life fell into a sort of chaotic organisation that week, Eddie and Steve trying to keep their heads above water as they started to survive in the real world. Eddie was frantically pulling together the last few stats for his one-shot session as Steve sat on the end of his bed, reminding Eddie to be quiet whenever he started muttering spoilers. Steve was still uncertain about reading, and now that there were blurred patches and black outs on top of the dyslexia, he rarely read anything. He claimed to be endlessly embarrassed when Eddie read to him, but they both knew it was something the other enjoyed, but right now Steve was right, Eddie was muttering layer moves under his breath, which would've ruined the surprises for tonight.

Eddie could see Steve watching him, enamoured by his every move, and when Steve noticed his staring, he slight pink rose to his cheeks and he ducked his head into the covers. He could see Steve carefully shuffling through cue cards of his druid spells, but Eddie knew that in the moment he wouldn't be able to read them. Instead of worrying, Eddie tugged Steve over to him so they were sitting face to face on the bed and preened at the look of love on Steve's face. Apparently he was still embarrassed at being caught staring at Eddie because he tried to distract him.

"So create or destroy water is an alteration, right? And I need to be able to speak and move my hands to use it?" That was the final straw for Eddie, who surged forward, a hand on Steve's cheek as he pressed his lips into Steve's and closed his eyes. The kiss felt electric and Eddie could feel himself leaning forwards into Steve, who thankfully was doing the same, and Eddie felt gentle fingers carding into the back of his hair as Steve's other hand pressed into his knee.

Holy shit.

Woah. He was kissing Steve Harrington, right after Hawkins Golden Boy had been talking D&D to distract him. He could die a happy man.

They pulled apart panting slightly, and Eddie pressed their noses together, looking up at Steve in adoration and seeing the same expression reflected back as Steve's eyes flickered back down to his lips. Eddie grinned and pressed up into Steve's space again, stealing his breath and wrapping himself around the younger boy, joy sparking in his chest when Steve did the same.

"You are going to be the death of me, sweetheart." Eddie could hear his own voice echo in his ears, breathy and rushed, and filled with so much fucking love he could've laughed at himself for it. But Steve was giggling against his lips, hands coming to rest on Eddie's face like he was something to be treasured, and Eddie couldn't help himself from stealing another kiss.

That was until the doorbell rang and downstairs was filled with the cacophony of young voices excitedly yelling for Eddie and Steve, and he heard his uncle gruffly trying to get them all to sit at the table and wait. Steve pressed one more kiss to Eddie's lips before he was being dragged down the stairs and into the wall of sound from the kids, easily slipping back into the role of Dungeon Master.

Wayne left and Eddie turned off half the lights, only leaving a few candles and the one in the loungeroom on so they could still read, and as they settled in he stood up and welcomed everyone. In a heartbeat he had turned on the dramatic switch, and began his introduction, adding flare and humour when needed, and trying to ignore the way he was automatically aiming to impress Steve, who was sat on his left, staring at Eddie with a loving smile. God, he was so distracting.

They'd decided to put him there so his good ear was to Eddie, as he knew that all the kids would wave to get his attention if Steve needed it. The way the kids had accepted Steve's new disabilities was flawless, and Eddie knew that Steve felt so goddamn grateful for them. They all made sure he was looking at them before speaking, and each of them had an individual plan for if his vision dipped out, which it still did frequently. El continued to apologise for not fixing it entirely, but Steve always waved her off, saying she'd already done such a good job. Eddie knew he meant it, but there was always something bitter on his face when his eyesight stopped working and he was forced to use the cane. Hopefully tonight would offer another good memory, Steve deserved more of them.

"You have entered the Upside Down, and the screech of a thousand Vargouille flying around you as you approach Vecna's lair. You're filled with fear, the stench of this crooked place permeating your senses. This. This is where we begin our revenge, my friends." Eddie grinned and they fell into the campaign, Eddie resurrecting Vecna again and again just so the party could kill him over and over, and as the night went on, the group relaxed into laughter. Coming up with ridiculous and embarrassing ways to destroy the villain, and Eddie knew it was the right choice.

The sun set as they played, pizza being delivered halfway through and some of the other, older kids popping in throughout to have a swing at the imaginary Vecna, but it was time for the last round, and it was Steve's turn. Steve had been tentative, quiet, had let the kids have the big blows, but Eddie could see the gears turning in his head and wanted Steve to show off that brain of his.

"Ozzy," Because of course that's what Steve had named his bat-obsessed Druid. "It's your turn in initiative, Vecna is looking fucking rough. What do you do?" And Steve's lips curled into a smirk, and Eddie could feel a giddy sort of joy fill the air as the kids turned to him, expecting another cantrip, but Eddie knew what level spell slot he had left.

"Well, since you asked so nicely, Munson, I need to clarify a few things with you." Steve was still smirking and the room teetered on the edge of tension, and Eddie felt electric as he locked eyes with Steve and bowed for him to continue.

"I'm within range to cast create water, right?" Eddie only nodded, having no idea where this was going. Evidently neither did the kids, who had begun to lean towards Steve, curious as to what he was about to say. Eddie could feel the sarcastic comment perched on Henderson's lips and prayed the kid would hold it down long enough for Steve to have his moment.

"Now, Eddie," Steve began, fiddling with his cue card nervously "If I were to cast it at, say, fourth level, how many gallons would it be?" Eddie was still confused, the tension in the room growing thicker and thicker in anticipation.

"Well, Ozzy, you would be creating around forty gallons, where are you casting this spell, sweetheart?" He could see Dustin readying his comment, and Lucas preparing to yell while Mike was already frowning. But Eddie knew that face, and he knew Steve had them all where he wanted.

"You would classify the lungs as an open container, right?" The room went still before erupting into shouts and curses, Eddie having dropped back into his chair with a flop, mouth wide open and grinning, nodding enthusiastically as the kids crowded around Steve shouting. Dustin was cheering his creativity while Mike and Will were just grabbing onto one another in awe, El and Max looking confused but excited as Lucas just screamed nothing at the table.

Holy shit, Steve Harrington had just blown his mind yet again.

"I absolutely would, pretty boy. I'd file it under suffocation damage." And it clicked then, why Steve chose this approach. Retaliation for the line of scarring around Steve's neck, a way of repaying the damage he had sustained. He could see Steve smiling faintly amongst the kids, a hand gently coming to rest against the still red scar tissue that would stay forever.

Yeah, this killing Vecna over and over thing was a great idea. Especially once the kids left and Steve had pressed him into the wall and kissed him stupid, the both of them laughing in elation as they stumbled to Eddie's bed, grinning against each other's skin.

* * * * *

The bliss couldn't last forever though, as Eddie jolted awake at the sound of pounding on his front door, arms already wrapped around Steve in an effort to keep him safe. Even though Eddie knew that Steve was absolutely more capable of kicking ass than he was. They groggily pulled apart, slipping on sweats to go and answer the door, and Eddie grinned at the bright line of hickey's on Steve's chest. Yeah, last night had been really good.

Steve just scoffed at his gaze and gently kissed his nose, pulling Eddie downstairs to see what was wrong, not even bothering to put on a shirt. No one they didn't know knocked on the Munson door, so they weren't too worried about the bed hair and obvious morning after bliss. And Eddie quietly took a mental screenshot of Steve with his tousled hair and still swollen lips, looking absolutely perfect despite the loud clanging.

Steve threw open the front door, hand on his hip ready to chew out whichever child it was, which is why dread raced through Eddie when Steve took a step back, hands automatically straightening out alongside his posture, face going pale. Eddie practically ran the rest of the way to the front door, too late to shut off the words that were coming from outside.

A litany of slurs and insults were pouring from Mr Harrington, who stood in their doorway, looking more dishevelled than Eddie had ever seen him. His shirt was untucked, mismatched socks and messy hair, spit flying from his lips as he continued to rage at Steve, who took a step back into Eddie's waiting arms, allowing his boyfriend to hold him upright. Eddie felt anger rise in his chest at the sight of Steve's terrified face, and he didn't even think before pushing Steve behind him and shoving Mr Harrington backwards.

Some part of him smirked when the older man stumbled, and Eddie steeled his nerves as he came back, pressing into Eddie's space, spewing horrific words at the two of them. Eddie only snarled and pressed a finger into the mans chest, pushing him backwards and refusing to give an inch. This asshole had ruined so much of his boyfriends life, and he refused to let it go on any longer. So Eddie stood toe-to-toe with the most influential man in their town, and let his insults roll of his skin like they were nothing.

Because to Eddie, they were nothing, Steve's dad was nothing. And all those shitty, preschool insults didn't hurt him because Eddie didn't give a single, flying shit what this douchebag thought about him. And he made sure that Mr Harrington knew it by the way Eddie stood protectively in front of Steve, face screwed up in anger at the deranged man. The screaming from Steve's father was cut off by a cool voice sliding into the conversation, one that Eddie was eternally grateful for.

Not because Mr Harrington's words were wearing on him, no, Eddie genuinely thought Mr Harrington might have started trying to kill him if he went on any longer. And judging by Steve's frantic grip on Eddie's hand and waist, he was afraid of the same.

"Harrington. I thought we discussed the meaning of your restraining order at the station this morning, or did you forget the most important part of it?" Hopper, slowly walking up the door, hand casually on his firearm as he approached the situation, all smug charm radiating from his as he came to stand next to the men, giving Eddie a quick once over to make sure he was okay. Eddie only pulled Steve in closer behind him, eyes still warily on the senior Harrington.

"Steve isn't under your jurisdiction anymore, Harrington. And you're not allowed within 30 feet of him at any given moment, so unless you want a pair on handcuffs around your wrists, I'd suggest pissing off now." Mr Harrington's wide eyes flited between Hopper and the boys, anger causing him to flare his nostrils as he debated his choices. Eddie felt Steve trying to pull him away, but Eddie wouldn't budge, determined to show this asshole who really was the bigger man here. So something about Steve made him a bit protective, so what?

Eddie could hear the screech of tires as another car pulled up, and suddenly Eddie didn't have to stand in front of Steve, because his uncle Wayne was on Mr Harrington's other side, nodding once at Hopper who lit up a cigarette. Hoppers posture was clear. 'You don't leave, Munson can do whatever he wants and I'll arrest you afterwards'. Mr Harrington bore his teeth in a frantic and hostile manner before conceding a step, the tension in the air immediately fleeing at the admission that he was going to leave. Even Steve's death grip on Eddie's waist had loosened, obviously sensing the back down from his dad.

The four of them stood in the doorway, huddled close as Mr Harrington stumbled to his car, face drawn in anger and refusing to look at them as he drove off. Hopefully for fucking good this time. Wayne ruffled Eddie's hair as he walked inside, letting out a sigh and inviting Hopper in, who obliged, giving Steve a pat on the shoulder.

It took him and Steve a moment to collect themselves, and Eddie found himself swivelling so they were face to face, and then pulling Steve into a tight hug, so so grateful that he was okay. Steve was holding onto him in the same way, and Eddie felt like this was final. If what Hopper was saying was true, then maybe he and Steve would be okay.

"God your dad's a dick." Eddie laughed into Steve's shoulder, the reality of the situation finally catching up to him and replacing the weird protective calm that had flooded his senses earlier. Steve tugged Eddie into a brief kiss, smiling into it at Eddie's comment.

"When we get married, Munson, I'm so taking your name." The world spun around him at Steve's words, and Eddie felt like he was floating on a cloud of bliss as Steve led him back into the kitchen. Neither Hopper nor Wayne commented on the hickeys, or the held hands, or even the burning blush stamped across their faces, but they did exchange knowing smiles with one another.

Maybe things could be okay.

And okay they were.

Chapter Text

Eddie could feel Steve's soft gaze on his face as he concentrated, holding Steve's hand gently between his own and his tongue poked out from between his teeth like it always did when he was concentrating. Eddie really did try to ignore Steve's fond expression, but one glance upwards broke his focus and he was leaning in for a kiss, smiling against the stubble that refused to leave Steve's jawline, no matter how recently he'd shaved.

Steve obliged him, smiling softly when Eddie chastised him and went back to work, the brush leaving perfect streaks of black nail polish on Steve's fingernail. Just the one. He directed Steve to blow on it, and twisted the cap of the bottle on as Steve listened before slouching against Eddie, back pressed into his front and head tucked under his chin. Eddie let his arms wind over Steve's shoulder and felt love bloom in his chest when Steve laced their hands together, showing off their little agreement.

It was only 1994, and they weren't legally allowed to get married yet, but when Steve wanted something he got creative. Eddie felt Steve's cold hand lay on top his own, the singular black nail on his left ring finger lining up to Eddie's yellow one on the same hand, the only nail that he didn't have painted black. They didn't have wedding rings, mostly because they were so goddamn expensive, but also because it didn't feel right. This did.

A little code just for the two of them, having that nail reserved in place of a ring, so when their hands joined, the colours finally fell into place. Just like they did.

Steve angled his head up to kiss Eddie again, and Eddie let himself relish in the feeling of having Steve in his arms, the sound of the city outside their apartment fading into the background as they held each other. A brief moment of pure peace and bliss in their hectic lives, between all their friends coming to stay and work and studies, they had come to appreciate the slower moments. Steve's eyes focussed and unfocused slowly above him, and Eddie waited for his vision to come back, quickly glancing over to his cane to make sure it was in reach. Just in case.

Eddie brushed Steve's hair back to kiss him again, fingers catching on the hearing aide now permanently situated in his ear. He was unconsciously cautious of the aide, fingers avoiding knocking it, knowing that any movement close to it made Steve uncomfortably shiver. Steve's gaze settled on unfocused and Eddie made sure to pepper him with gentle kisses, continuing until Steve laughed quietly against him, their hands still wrapped together to show off their nails.

Eddie's hand brushed against the raised white line at Steve's throat, and the thought of Vecna didn't even cross his mind anymore. There had been no more supernatural bullshit, no more world ending events, just he and Steve being allowed to live in peace. As the doorbell rang and Steve smiled against Eddie's lips, the world felt right again.

Yeah, kissing Steve Munson was never going to get old.