Chapter Text
6:00pm sunday, march 30th, 1986
Eddie shut the cabinet as softly as he could in order to not make such a ruckus. He turned over his left shoulder with the pills in his right hand and a glass of somewhat cold water in his left, his heavy feet carrying him over to his room. With the door slightly ajar, he pushed it open with his shoulder. Seeing Steve staring at the posters that littered his trailer home wall.
“Come on pretty boy, I have some pills for you to take,” the flirtatious nature flowing with ease from his lips. The brunette turned, making eye contact with the pills, a look of surprise on his face. “Gosh those are fucking massive Munson what the hell?“
Steve sits up a little more, his back against the pile of pillows and the headboard. “Look, you don’t have to take the ‘massive’ pills but if you want your headache and pain to go away, they’re your best shot Stevie.” Eddie makes his way to the other side of the bed, placing the contents on the nightstand. He moves back, letting himself fall onto the chair that’s been his makeshift bed for the past week.
A week ago, if anyone would have told him that he would be nursing the town's precious King Steve back to health after defeating a monster that was tormenting the town, he would have laughed and told them to join Hellfire with that bizarre imagination.
But of course here he was, doing exactly that.
The past two weeks have been hell-ish, quite literally. He truly thought his life was going to shit when he was being framed for the murder of Chrissy and was on the run. On top of that he then gets roped into helping defeat Vecna, and now he has Steve Harrington in his bed.
After riding the bike and having the demobats chase him, they thankfully began dying off. Eddie was beyond happy that the other’s had impossibly perfect timing or else he would have been completely done for. He was sure they had won when he saw those evil creatures start dropping like flies around him. The amount of pride that swelled up in his body made him forget that he needed to check up on his friends. Dustin’s yelling woke him from his trance and after making sure the younger teen was secure in the trailer with his sprained ankle. He made his way to Henry Creele’s mansion.
The metal head’s knees buckled when he met up with the other teens, the sight before him made his stomach twist. Nancy and Robin had Steve hanging off their shoulders. It was plain as day that his wounds had reopened and were in a far worse condition than before.
Without a second thought, his feet ran toward the trio. His mind slips on congratulating them on killing the damn thing. The girls let Eddie in between them, allowing him to lift Steve into his arms bridal style. A metal head carrying a king.
As they made their venture through the upside down, his lips whispered all the things that came to his mind. Reassuring Steve that he would make it out alive, and Eddie was never one to lie.
Eddie looked back up at the current Steve sitting in front of him, head tilted back swallowing his medicine.
As much as Eddie wanted to believe that he had no bond with this man in his bed, he truly believes that he would be lost if Steve hadn't made it.
“How’s Max doing at the hospital?”
“Squirts’ doin great. Lucas has been helping her get back on her feet yanno, walking around more with her mobility stick.”
Steve’s head hung low, “That's good.”
The look resting on his face was one Eddie had grown familiar with these past few days.
“Hey, haven’t we been over this? It’s not your fault, no one blames you. Who in their right mind would.” Eddie puts his hand on Steve’s knee, a beat of silence passes by. “We all know it was Vecna’s fault.”
“I know.”
Eddie wasn’t the best at trying to fix a solemn mood, but still, he racked his brain to think of anything that could lighten the mood.
“Dustin’s ankle is doing better too! He hates being on house arrest, says it’s boring and all. But he’s doing better, still making sure to check up on us adults.” Eddie fiddled with his jacket zipper. “That kid’s upset that he’s stuck at home? Have you seen the nerds room? Gadgets galore, I mean in every corner and he’s still managing to be bored. Tch”
That earned a chuckle from Eddie, making Steve feel slightly proud of himself.
Steve rubbed at his neck, the pain still lingering. “How’s the healing looking Munson?”
“Not too shabby Harrington, gonna walk out of here with a sick ass scar. Ready to make all the girls swoon now that you’re a bad boy huh.”
He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, as he plastered a smirk on his face. Lifting his eyebrow in a suggestive way.
Steve laughs it off, quickly looking away. Not without a slight blush creeping onto his face, Eddie not noticing.
“Yeah right,” was whispered under Steve’s breath.
“What’s that Stevie?”
“Uhm- you still have that cream? For the wounds?”
Eddie’s smile dropped a little, knowing that’s not what the other man said. “Sure thing man.”
Eddie once again makes his way out the room, heading to the restroom. Steve sat up a bit more, wiping his palms onto the sweats he was borrowing from Eddie, even though he begged the man to drive to his house to grab a pair of his own.
Steve was nervous, hell he was feeling many things but currently he was feeling nervous. There were loads of things that his pretty little brain could be worried about. Such as how Lucas and Max were healing. Or about how Dustin was coping with seeing Steve almost die. Gosh he needed to talk to that kid. He should be concerned with how Eddie, Lucas, and Erica were fairing after Jason got arrested.
But no.
He was worried about how his heart sped up every time that the curly haired metal head walked into the room.
Steve has had many close male friends at this point in his life, most notably Tommy. He understands the bond close guys tend to have with one another. Which was not how he felt when Eddie was in close vicinity.
He was used to the whole talk about chicks, complaining about the things that suck in life, and maybe kicking back a beer or two. He was sure he could do that with Munson as well, as soon as he healed up completely. But the past few days with him had been more meaningful, much more raw than he had been with people before. Not only that but playful and witty. He never had to navigate on eggshells around him.
He didn’t know if it was the fact that what they just went through would bring any two people closer together, a bond that would be hard to replicate without that experience. For instance, his relationship with Robin was definitely strengthened by their fiasco with the Russians, among other things.
Or if it was something deeper, which made Steve worried beyond reason.
“Got it!”
Eddie came jogging into the room, sitting back into the seat and popping open the cream, “Um? Your neck right? That’s where you want it?” He squeezed a small coin sized bit onto his fingers and looked up at Steve.
He shook his head to stop himself from staring too long, “Y-yeah. I can do it though, so you um- you don’t have to do that.” He points to Eddie’s hand where the cream sat patiently.“Nonsense. What kind of nurse would I be if I made my precious patient do my job?” Eddie feigns a little, his free hand resting on his chest as if he was offended.
With no response prepared, Steve just tilts his neck allowing space for Eddie to apply the substance. Eddie stands above Steve, his free hand resting on Steve’s other shoulder for stability as he carefully applies the medicine. Careful not to get too close to the wound in fear of making him wince in pain. As much as Eddie would love to hear a noise like that from Harrington, this was definitely not the way.
Being too focused on his application, he didn’t notice how close he was leaning into Steve’s personal space until he heard a throat clear.
He jumps back to some extent, unprepared for the sudden noise. A witty apology ready on his lips to save face but Steve beat him, “So um, was Robin gonna stop by today?”
He leaned back, “Yup” popping the p and wiping the excess cream onto the back of his pants.
Steve raises an eyebrow, “Do you know when?”
“Little lady said she was getting off at two sooo,” Eddie looks at the clock sitting on his nightstand. “Your queen should be arriving any minute, your highness.”
And with Eddie being one with theatrics, he took a bow.
He anticipated a laugh from Steve lips but all he got was the sounds of disgust. Worried that his patient might actually be throwing up, he jumps into action only to be met with Steve fake gagging.
“Mnm Nope.”
“What’s wrong Harrington? Did I hit a nerve? Another Nancy on our hands?”
With all the jokes that they’ve been throwing back and forth this past week, Eddie wasn’t prepared for the look that Steve shot him.
“Look, Me and Robin. Totally platonic dude. Just…”
Eddie wasn’t stupid, far from it actually. He could tell that the two were practically attached at the hip. They meant a lot to each other, hell Robin had also been camping out at his place since this is where Steve was stationed for the being.
He thought he had read the situation right, but clearly he hadn’t. And he wasn’t an ass to keep poking at it.
“Off limits. I get it.”
“Yeah dude let’s leave that one off limits?”
He just nodded and stood awkwardly, rocking on the heels of his feet. “I’m just gonna go wash my hands, don’t wanna rub my eye and get medicine in it yanno.” An awkward breathy chuckle following. He didn’t even wait for a response, he went straight to the kitchen without looking back. With the sink water running and soap in his hand he heard Steve yell from his room. “I’m gonna hit the hay for a few, Um-wake me when Robin shows?”
“Sure thing big boy!” He yelled over the running water, letting his body relax and taking a deep breath. Eddie was exhausted, he felt the sweat build up in his hairline as he moved to sit on the couch after drying his hands. Swinging his legs to rest on the tiny coffee table they had.
Not only was Eddie trying to act like everything he just went through was completely plausible and normal but he was also juggling with emotions he didn’t really want to admit to. It seemed as though the week went on, the others were slowly returning back to their default settings.
Everyone but him.
The group had told him that they’ve been through something like this before and to multiple degrees but there was no explanation for the people he was interacting with now.
How could Robin simply go back to working the register at Family Video, how could the kids go back to school like they hadn’t almost just died. How could they act like the wounds they are branded with were from rough housing too hard and not from evil dimension demons.
Every waking moment for Eddie was like whiplash.
Why wasn’t he understanding?
At nights when Steve was fast asleep from the loads of pain killers he throws back, Eddie would sit there on the chair staring at the vent located above the bed. Every time he would close his eyes he would see the red and grey clouds littered with the very things that almost ended his life. He can hear the sirens of the cop cars that were searching for him after Chrissy’s horrific passing. The sound of leaves crunching as Jason stalked around the shed.
And as the nights went on, he seemed to be getting worse.
The only thing that kept him grounded in reality were the people he was now surrounded with. If it wasn’t for his new found friends…
‘Are they my friends?’
He reached into his front pocket, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. Slapping the pack onto his palm he opens it and pulls one out, tossing the pack on the table. Sparking one up and placing it between his lips.
Eddie looked up in contemplation, considering all the shit that they’ve been through. That’s enough in his book to consider them friends. And he sure hopes it was enough for them. Without having Steve and Robin around he was sure he would have gone off the deep end. Dustin calling on the walkie-talkie and taking visits to see the kids in the hospital helped with the bad thoughts. Took his mind off the fact that he wasn’t getting better, but he didn’t matter. The kids did.
He flicked the ash onto the tray placed on the table. His mind drifted off. He thought about how strange it was that Steve “The Hair” Harrington was willing staying in his trailer with him. To be fair, he wasn’t in the best condition to leave but the fact that he stayed here and took up Eddie on his offer to help him made Eddie’s stomach flutter.
That was another thing Eddie thought about a lot.
He knew that he had no chance with Hawkins precious king, if anything he only felt like this due to the intense roller coaster he went through with man.
He almost saw this Steve die, that has to do something to the brain right? There was no way this crush would fully form, Eddie has found many people hot and never formed a crush on them. So hopefully history repeats itself. What he did really hope for was that he would keep Steve in his life, even just as a friend wouldn’t be too shabby.
He let his eyes drift shut as he continued to smoke, just relax and let his brain turn to white noise. It wasn’t weed but it was better than nothing at this point. He knew he had to restock up soon, but he didn’t really want to leave Steve alone unless completely necessary. Not to mention, but many people weren’t too keen on seeing him roaming around town as a free man.
He didn’t know how much time had passed when he heard a knock on his door, a couple minutes, twenty, maybe an hour? He snubbed the butt out leaving it on the ashtray, and opened the door letting his weight rest on it. “Welcome aboard Buckley!” His arm opened, welcoming her into his humble abode. “How is he?” She asked, looking towards the room. “Wow, no greeting? I’m wounded babes.” Once again acting as if he was stabbed in the heart, a fake pained face for show. “Yeah yeah. Sorry. I just-” She continued to look back and forth between Eddie and his room. Finally settling on the older man.
“It’s almost been a week now and he still isn’t walking much? Don’t you think it’s time we take him to the hospital?”
“Woah woah hold on there Buckley. Look. I know I’m not the best nurse in Hawkins but Stevie’s all stitched up. Correctly. Mkay. No botched jobs coming from these hands. He didn’t have much damage, just lost a lot of blood. Which means” he drags on the s hoping that she would finish his thought.
All he received was an exasperated looking Robin.
“Which means that he’s going to be weak and tired. I’m sure he’s just not up to walking yet. He didn’t lose the ability to do so if you’re worried. Plus our King Harrington was persistent, annoyingly so if I may add, on not going to the hospital. And I trust his choice.” He held up his palms in defense ready for her to talk back. She looked him up and down. Cocking an eyebrow up and she sighed, “Gosh I hate when you’re right.” As soon as the words left her lips a quirky smile formed on his. “And that is exactly why,” she pointed to his cheesy smirk, “but promise you’ll at least try to get him to move around more?”
“Aye Aye Captain!” His hand went to salute her.
She dropped Steve’s car keys onto the small kitchenette counter and moved to walk toward the bedroom. Except Eddie moved to block her way. “Can I please see my best friend? I have some juicy gossip about Becky that Stevie would really love to hear.” His curly hair shook along with his head, “No can do Captain Buckley. You see, Stevie didn’t have a good night last night. So let’s just let him sleep for a while. Yeah?” Her shoulders dropped, “Are the nightmares back again?” The sentence was barely over a whisper but Eddie heard it loud and clear.
“Huh no. Um like I said his body is healing. I guess the painkillers started wearing off. Poor thing was tossing and turning, groaning all night.”
Robin chewed on her nails as he spoke.
“Oh okay, then yeah. I’ll let him sleep.” She took steps back and maneuvered her way to the couch that Eddie was previously sitting on. As she made contact, now fully seated, she let out a big breath she didn’t know she was holding in. Eddie followed her lead, deciding to sit on the loveseat in the corner. Robin's hands rested on her face for a while until sliding off, threatening to ruin her makeup. “Penny for your thoughts Buckley?”
“Gosh work is brutal without Steve.”
“I bet, who’s supposed to flirt with all the clueless movie babes now?” Eddie didn’t think much into his cheeky comment, it wasn’t exactly a secret that Steve used his job to flirt with as many girls as possible. The few times he has gone into Family Video he has the pleasure of witnessing countless of these moments. Some of them are somewhat successful but the majority of them are almost painful to watch.
But he didn’t miss the moment on Robin's face of what seemed like pure fear, her cheeks red just a tad. Being able to sense that he had stuck a cord, the mood being shifted into something foggy and thick. Mentally cursing himself for being off his game today. Quick on his feet he walked toward the small television, he pulled up a bin of tapes and moved them toward his company.
“Wanna watch a scary movie Buckley?”
She once more quirks and eyebrow up, “Really know how to make a girl swoon huh Munson?” Taking this as a yes he places the small bin in her vicinity, letting her take her pick from the collection.
“Not really my area but I try.”
He made his way back to his loveseat, back turned to Robin. Missing the way she looked up at him, her body visibly relaxing. As Eddie plops down into the seat asking, “So what tickles your fancy huh? Carrie? Halloween?”
He’s a bit taken aback when she holds up the cover for Texas Chainsaw Massacre. He felt the smile spread on his face, “I think you just became my new favorite person Buckley.”
She chuckles and stands up to insert the VHS into the television. He offers to make popcorn, which she excitedly said yes to and the pair watched the movie waiting for Steve to wake from his sleep. Volume of low, careful not to wake Steve. As Eddie sat there in the company of Robin, his heart grew warm thinking about how he could get used to being this close with his friends forged in battle. It made him feel a bit more safe in the town of Hawkins.