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After defeating Vecna everyone was, to put it nicely, fucked up. Having faced nothing of that intensity before, it was safe to say that they all had left with a little more trauma than they would have liked. The kids were always jumpy, the adults a lot more cautious; all of them always on edge to say the least.
So, they found comfort in the smaller things. Obviously group movie nights filled with popcorn and board games were always fun, but it was more about the people who it was spent with.
The events that took place caused the party to become closer, if that was even possible. Everyone had become connected and found comfort within each other. Mike and Will. Lucas and Max. Robin and Nancy. Steve and Eddie.
However, just because they had each other doesn't mean that it's all just rainbows and lollipops. Even with his name cleared, many people still viewed Eddie as an outcast. A satanic weirdo. A freak.
That didn't stop the party from including him, though. They all cared about Eddie and nothing was going to change that. People may think that Eddie is downright awful, but that's just because they don't know him that well.
They don't know how he rambles on for hours about DnD, making wild gestures with his hands as he explains his stories. Or how excited he gets when he hears his favorite song and taps his foot along to the beat. They don't know how much love he has for the kids and how caring he can actually be.
Steve knows, though. Steve knows a lot about Eddie.
With the stress and anxiety that came with facing Vecna, Steve had opened himself up to Eddie. In return, Eddie had let Steve see the more vulnerable side of him. The side he couldn't show the rest of them because he thought they would think differently of him if he wasn't always his loud and extravagant self.
They let the other see a different side of them and prayed that they understood. That they would finally get it and they wouldn't be alone.
And that's just what happened.
Steve and Eddie formed a bond out of understanding and trust. It wasn't the same as the bond between Eddie and Dustin, or Steve and Robin, but something bigger.
Steve loves Eddie. He loves Eddie's laugh and smile. The way his eyes get brighter when he talks about what he's passionate about. The way he can light up any room he walks into. He loves the smaller things as well. How Eddie plays with his hair or his rings when he's anxious. How his jaw clenches slightly when he's angry. Loves the way they endlessly tease each other about the most random things. And he especially loves how he curls up against him whenever he's tired.
Eddie also loves Steve. He loves the way Steve acts like a mother hen to the kids. The way he denies having a favorite child even though it's obviously Dustin. He loves when Steve rolls his eyes out of fondess and laughs at his stupid jokes. He loves how Steve will fuss over his own hair even though it will always look good. How he will listen to Eddie ramble on about DnD even though he has no idea what he's saying. Eddie really loves when Steve will rake his fingers through his hair and give him a massage when he sees that he's tense.
Sure it sucks having to hide this part of them. No one wants to hide their love, but it's better than being beaten just because of who they are. Plus, with Robin's relentless teasing and the power to annoy the kids with their kissing, it becomes more bearable. Besides, Steve and Eddie are completely infatuated with each other and that's all that matters.
__________
It's Steve and Eddie's typical date night. They drive to a small diner to eat, pick up some snacks from a gas station, and head to Eddie's (new) trailer to watch whatever shitty movie Steve picked up from Family Video earlier that day. Steve would like to take Eddie to the movies and a nice restaurant, but with people thinking Eddie started a cult and all it's easier to just stay in rather than face their dirty looks.
Neither of them mind, though. They both enjoy the other's company and they're able to do a lot more together in the privacy of their own homes.
Usually, Steve or Eddie would spend the night and they would go to bed curled up against each other. However, Steve's parents are arriving the next morning and it would be easier to head home now than try to rush later on.
As he pulls his shoes on by the door, Eddie walks up to him and wraps his arms around his neck.
"I wish you could stay the night," he whispers.
"I do too, but it'll be easier to leave now and you know it."
Eddie groans. "Just because I know you should go now doesn't exactly mean I want you to."
"It's not like I'm going away forever," Steve chuckles. "I'll probably see you sometime tomorrow. And if not tomorrow then the day after it."
"Hm, okay. Well I'll see you later, baby. Drive safe." He places a soft kiss to Steve's lips as he softly pushes him towards the door.
"M'kay, love you Eds."
"Love you too."
__________
As Steve drives off he feels a bit lighter. Eddie seems to have that effect on him. He radiates a positive energy, laced with affection and safety. No matter how many times Steve sees Eddie, he will always feel a little better afterwards.
Steve sometimes has a hard time believeing it. Even after everything that they've been through, Steve can't believe that he actually got Eddie Munson. That Eddie is his. He still gets somewhat giddy at the thought of it.
Of course, this feeling gets stomped out as he pulls into the driveway. As he slowly parks the car his breaths get shallower. They're not supposed to be back yet.
His father's car sits in the driveway and Steve has to wait a few minutes while his breathing returns to normal. Maybe they're already in bed. He knows it's wishful thinking. It's barely half past eleven, and he knows they're gonna be up.
So, he puts on a calm expression, gets out of his car, and slowly approaches his front door. He can already see the light in the dining room and knows what's about to come. As soon as he enters the house he can hear his father's booming voice.
"Steven, get in here."
Steven.
He hates when he calls him that. He doesn't even remember when he started calling him Steven. His name is Steve. Just Steve. There's never been an 'n' at the end. Obviously, his father's not around long enough to know that.
Steve enters the room slowly, his footsteps barely make a sound on the hardwood floor. He sees his father sitting at the head of the table, his mother on his right.
"I thought you weren't supposed to be in until tomorrow," Steve states.
"We caught an earlier flight," Ronald replies.
Steve hums in acknowledgment and his father gestures for him to sit. When he does he looks Ronald right in the eyes and immediately regrets it. They aren't cloudly like they usually are. They're dark, like he knows something that he shouldn't. It fills Steve's gut with worry.
"Where were you at tonight?" his father asks.
"Uhm...I was out with some friends," Steve says calmly.
"You were out with friends?" Ronald asks suspiciously.
"Yes, I was."
"You know, Steven, I don't like liars," his father states firmly.
"I'm not lying."
"We got a call earlier tonight," his mother interjects. Steve is sure his heart stops beating as he faces her.
"It was Ms. Patrickson from next door. She saw you at a diner with that boy, Edward." His mother says his name with disgust lacing her voice. Steve knows he's done for. He can see it in their eyes.
"Tell me son," Ronald says, "Why is my son hanging around that murderous freak?"
"Eddie isn't a freak," Steve says, raising his voice slightly. "And he's not a murderer, either. He's innocent."
"That doesn't explain why my son, a Harrington, is anywhere near a fag like Munson!" his father shouts.
"Don't call him that! Eddie is my f-friend!" Friend, Steve thinks, Eddie is so much more than that.
"I don't care what that boy is!" Ronald shouts, standing up from his seat. "You shouldn't be going anywhere near a queer like him! He could rub it off on you and people will talk!"
Steve's blood is boiling as he stands up as well. "It doesn't matter who Eddie likes! He is my friend and I'm not going to stop hanging out with him just because you tell me to! Why the hell do you even care who I hang out with?"
"Because you're a goddamn Harrington and you need to fucking act like one! I didn't raise my son to be a fag!"
That's when Steve breaks. Ronald never cared about Steve. He only cared about his reputation. Not his family, but what people thought about his family. He was never even home. His mother always got a nanny while they were away for up to three weeks at a time. And when Steve finally was old enough to drive they would leave for months on end. Not a single letter, call, or a care in the world. They only cared when he did something that could destroy their name. And he is sick of it.
"YOU DIDN'T FUCKING RAISE ME AT ALL!" Steve shouts. "YOU GUYS WERE NEVER THERE! YOU DON'T GIVE TWO SHITS ABOUT ME ONLY ABOUT YOUR STUPID REPUTATION! YOU CAN'T JUST WALTZ IN AND ACT LIKE YOU CAN CONTROL ME, LIKE YOU OWN ME JUST BECAUSE I RISK HURTING THE HARRINGTON NAME!"
That's when he feels the first burst of pain. Right on the left side of his face. Shit. Steve's really screwed now.
"YOU SHOULD BE THANKING ME YOU UNGRATEFUL SON OF A BITCH!" Ronald yells. "I GAVE YOU THIS LIFE, STEVEN. I SHAPED YOU INTO WHO YOU ARE TODAY! I GAVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU COULD HAVE EVER WANTED!"
"OBVIOUSLY NOT! I WANTED PARENTS WHO WERE THERE! WHO ACTUALLY PAID ATTENTION TO ME AND CARED ABOUT ME! WHO KNOW MY FUCKING NAME! IT'S STEVE, NOT STEVEN! BUT YOU DON'T CARE DO Y-" Steve abruptly gets cut off by a sharp pain in his side, right on my scars, shortly followed by another on the underside of his chin.
He falls to the ground and can feel blood pooling in his mouth. He knows he's crying but he can't stop no matter how much he tries. He's kept those words in for so long.
"Now you're crying like a damn baby. Get your ass off of my floor!"
Steve shakily places his hands underneath him and tries to stand. Ronald's foot connects to his side, effectively smashing him back on the floor.
"If you think you're so big and strong then get up!" Ronald shouts, stomping on Steve's back. "Get up, Steven! Get up!"
Steve's vision is blurry and he spits blood on the floor. His head is cloudy and he can faintly register Ronald yelling in his ear. He feels a hand grip his hair and pull him up. Steve wishes he stayed with Eddie.
Eddie.
Steve's boyfriend. The one this whole fight started with. Steve needs to fight for Eddie. He needs to prove that he cares about Eddie and that Ronald can't boss him around, no matter how hard he tries.
While Ronald holds up his head, yelling in his ear, Steve is able to get his knees underneath him. He swings his fist wildly and makes contact with something. Ronald lets go with a grunt and gives Steve enough time to scramble to his feet.
"So now you want to fight huh Ste-"
Steve cuts Ronald off by punching him in the face, causing him to take a few steps back. Steve quickly looks around the room and sees that his mom is nowhere in sight. Typical. He makes a mad dash towards the door as he hears Ronald yell,
"IF YOU RUN OUT THAT DOOR DON'T YOU EVER STEP FOOT INSIDE MY HOUSE AGAIN!"
Running out the door was one of the easiest choices Steve had ever made. He's suprised that he was able to start his car, let alone drive it.
_________
He doesn't remember much of the drive. His vision was still a bit blurry and he coughed up blood every few minutes. He knew exactly where he was going though. Steve's not exactly sure what time it is when he pulls up to Eddie's trailer but he knows that it's really late (early?).
He quickly exits his car and frantically bangs on the door. His breathing has most definitely speeded up again and his hands are shaking in front of him.
When no one answers he starts to panic and he feels his eyes welling up with tears. Steve let's out a frustrated grunt as he pounds on the door again and prays that Eddie can hear him. After a few seconds he hears shuffling and a couple of grunts coming from inside before the trailer door swings open and reveals a tired Eddie.
"Who the fu-" Eddie cuts himself off when he realizes it's Steve waiting on the other side. His eyes widen as he quickly pulls Steve inside and takes in the sight.
Steve's hands are shaking and his back is hunched a bit. His hair is mussed up and he has a bruise slowly forming near his left eye. His mouth is covered in blood and tears are running down his face.
"Steve, what happened?"
Instead of answering Steve launches himself at ends and tightly wraps his arms around his waist. He buries his head in Eddie's neck and sobs. Eddie brings one hand up to Steve's hair, slowly combing through it while the other runs up and down his back.
"It's okay, Steve. You're safe. I've got you."
They stand in Eddie's living room for over ten minutes just holding one another, slightly swaying from side to side. Eddie continues whispering sweet nothings into Steve's ear while his breathing slows and sobs die down to soft sniffles.
When Steve pulls back Eddie looks at him with a gentle smile. "Want to tell me what happened to you, Stevie?" Eddie asks softly.
Steve shakes his head, muttering a quiet not yet. Eddie intertwines their fingers and kisses Steve's knuckles. "Let's at least clean up your battle wounds, alright?"
Eddie walks towards his bedroom and makes Steve sit on the bed. He quickly runs to the bathroom to grab a wet rag and sits next to Steve. Eddie carefully cleans the blood from Steve's face, pressing a gentle kiss to each injury. When he's finished, he grabs a pair of grey sweats and the biggest shirt he can find.
"Put these on, they're more comfortable."
Steve puts the clothes on the mattress and faces the bed as he removes his shirt. Eddie sucks in a breath as he sees Steve's back. Its mainly covered in red splotches, one or two bruises forming on the middle of his spine.
"Steve-"
"Not tonight Eds," he whispers. "Maybe tomorrow just--not tonight, okay?"
Eddie gently kisses Steve's temple and whisper a soft okay before he climbs back into bed. Once Steve changes, he gets under the covers and wraps himself around Eddie. Both hands around his waist, one leg slung over Eddie's.
Steve lifts his head to meet Eddie's lips in a chaste kiss. When he pulls back there are a few stray tears on his face. Eddie uses his thumb to brush them away.
"Hey, you're okay, Steve. I've got you."
Steve lightly shakes his head. "I-I love you so much, Eddie," he states quietly.
"I love you too, Steve," he says, voice filled with affection. Eddie pulls Steve's head into his chest and gently combs his hair. He hears Steve let out a sigh of serenity as he lets himself rest against him.
Eddie may not know what happened, but Steve will tell him. He always does in the end. Because he feels safe with Eddie. And even though he doesn't have anywhere to live right now, Steve knows he'll be okay. Because Eddie will always be by his side. He'll be his rock, his shoulder to lean on, someone who will always listen to what he has to say.
It might not make sense to others, but in Steve's mind, Eddie is home.
~fin~