Chapter Text
Eddie
Eddie was dead. He was pretty sure about that anyway. His memory was a little fuzzy, but he remembers his arms and legs being pinned down by bats, then just a red hot pain in his stomach.
Then nothing.
Nothing until now that is. He was still in the Upside Down, lying right where he died. Lighting was streaking across the red sky, thunder roaring in his ears, a sound he wanted to forget, but it really solidified that fact that he really was alive. He wasn’t sure how he was alive, if he even really was. Maybe he was a ghost or something. He tried to look at his hands, but didn’t see anything. It was like he was just a thought drifting on the wind.
Then he saw his body. It was underneath him, like he was sitting on it, and holy shit. He was covered in blood, his stomach ripped open. His body was looking at the sky, dried tears, blood and dirt staining his face. It filled him with a feeling he couldn’t name, something that made him want to throw up. He couldn’t believe that Dustin had to see him like that.
Dustin.
Eddie started to panic. How long had he been dead? Is Dustin safe? Eddie walked? Floated? He moved around trying to find any sign of Dustin or the others, but he didn’t. He wasn’t sure how they got out, if they did, but he hoped they were ok. He needed them to be ok.
He had moved to be inside his trailer, not seeing the gate that was there earlier. Hmm. Maybe they had succeeded after all. Maybe Eddie really was just doomed to haunt the Upside Down forever. Fuck.
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Steve
The longer he sat there, the more he thought he was going to lose it. Steve read the instruction manual over and over again, but god damn did they make it difficult to just put together a fucking desk. He threw the manual on the floor and stretched. He was surrounded by moving boxes and had to snatch his outstretched arm back before he knocked one over. He and Robin had just moved into their own place and they were more than happy about it, as now 23 and 21 year olds, they would die before living with their parents for another year.
Living with Robin was easy, they both still worked at Family Video. The kids, now seniors, still came over to annoy the hell out of them. The only thing that was still in shambles is both of their love lives, they were both still painfully single. Though, they actually pretended to date just to make things easier on each other. The kids all knew that they weren’t dating, but it just made things easier in every other aspect of their lives.
Steve thought about genuinely giving up on putting this desk together, but decided against it and got back to work on it. It took him only a couple hours and a huge headache, but he finally got it. He pushed it against the wall, and stood back with his hands on his hips, admiring his handiwork.
He looked down at his watch and noted the time, half past 7pm. Robin was at work so he had the place to himself for about another hour before the store closed. Good. He went to his room and flopped on the mattress that was just lying on the floor. He was exhausted from putting together that damn desk. Before he knew it, he was fast asleep.
Steve didn’t dream very often, and when he did, they were nightmares. And he kept having this same nightmare over and over. It was about Eddie’s death. How he died in Dustin’s arms after trying to be the hero Steve knew he wasn’t. Now Steve didn’t know Eddie too well, so he wasn’t too beat up over his death… or that’s what he told himself. When he ran up to Dustin and saw him screaming Eddie’s name, his heart dropped like a bowling ball. He peeled Dustin off, just enough to see Eddie’s wounds and knew that it was too late. The bats had ripped him open, blood waterfalling out of the deep wounds. He was already dead.
Steve woke up with a gasp, covered in sweat. He suddenly remembered that it was the 3rd anniversary of Eddie’s death. He had this nightmare every year and he fucking hated it. It wasn’t even that scary, it just filled him with a sense of guilt every time it happened. And that was arguably worse because Steve had a lot to be guilty about. He had to literally drag Dustin out of the Upside Down. Dustin was beating his chest, fighting him about not leaving Eddie there, but what could they do? More bats were going to come any time and to be honest, Steve didn’t want to end up like Eddie. He had a taste of the bats and was not a fan of them.
After they got out, they had to kill Vecna once and for all and that was a lot more work than it needed to be. Steve couldn’t really tell you much about it, exhaustion and trauma still clouded his memories 3 years later, but eventually they killed Vecna and tried to go back to their normal lives. As if any of them even knew what normal was anymore.
Dustin wouldn’t talk to Steve for weeks after. Steve didn’t really blame him. He and Eddie were close and Steve had dragged him away from one of his father figures, laying there dead in a literal hellscape. When Dustin did talk to Steve, it was because he was crying and needed someone. Steve hugged him, petted his hair and did his best to soothe him. Steve didn’t really know what to say, just knew that one of his kids was hurting and it was his job to help.
Eventually, Dustin came to terms with everything. He started to grow his hair out kind of like Eddie’s. He also listened to the same music as him and whenever he listened to Master of Puppets, tears always slipped down his cheeks, quiet sniffles interrupting the music. Steve didn’t mind any of that, if it helped him cope with the death of a father figure, then it helped him cope.
Dustin and the other kids were seniors now and wow was it weird to see how grown they were. It made Steve feel a little old, but that’s just what happened when your children grew up. He still drove them around everywhere and they still annoyed the hell out of him, some things never changed.
Steve stretched and looked at his watch. It was only a little after 9pm. He got up and went out of his room to find Robin, who should be home from work now. He searched the whole house, but didn’t find her. Weird. The phone was set up, so if she had called, Steve would have woken up. He tried not to panic, she was an adult and could do whatever she wanted. She would be home soon, or she would call to let him know where she was.
He decided to unpack some boxes to distract himself. He started with the bathroom, the easiest room in Steve’s opinion. Once done, he moved to the kitchen. Which was harder. The boxes were heavier and there were more of them. Some of them were filled with dishes, some with food. Once done, he was actually getting nervous now. He thought about calling her, but he didn’t even know where she would be so he didn’t know who to call. So he slipped on his shoes. He was wearing some jean shorts and a yellow tank top, being spring break and all.
He grabbed his keys and was about to head out the door, when it swung open in his face, almost knocking him out. He jumped back, hands shooting up, “Woah!”
There, in the doorway, stood Robin and Dustin. They were breathing hard, Dustin looked like he had been crying. This freaked Steve out, he shot forward, grabbing Dustin’s face with his hands, “What happened? Why were you crying? Are you ok?” He started moving Dustin’s face back and forth, looking for wounds, but not finding any. He sighed, “What the hell is wrong with you two? Where have you been, Robs?”
Robin cleared her throat and grabbed Steve’s arm, dragging him to the kitchen. Her face was pale and sweaty, her eyes wide and pupils blown. “What I am about to show you is insane. I– I’m not even sure what’s happening, I just know what I’m looking at.”
“You’re scaring me Robin. What the hell is going on?” Steve’s heart was picking up and the only thing he could think of was that someway, somehow, Vecna was back. And that terrified him. He couldn’t handle a repeat of that shitshow. But, Steve nodded his head anyway. Even if something awful was about to happen, he was going to protect those he loved. No questions asked.
Robin studied his face, her lips pursed. She eventually let go of his arm, her nails leaving little crescent shaped marks in his skin and led him back to the living room.
And there stood Eddie Munson.
Steve’s first reaction was to fall on his ass. Very graceful. He was looking at Eddie. And he was alive. He was wearing the same outfit he had on when he died, the bottom half of his Hellfire tee was shredded, showing his stomach that was covered in light pink scars.
Eddie just stood there, not saying anything, but looking at Steve, his face unreadable. Eventually, Steve stood up and walked over, placing his hands on Eddie’s cheeks. Steve felt his warmth, felt Eddie’s heartbeat under his fingertips that rested on his neck. And then Steve hugged him. Just wrapped his arms around his neck, a laugh escaping him. “What the– How?”
Eddie hugged him back, laughing too, “I don’t know. I really don’t. I just woke up lying on the road where I died, but in the real world. I didn’t know what was happening and the first person I thought of was Dustin. Scared the shit out of him when I got to him though.”
“I almost killed him. Again.” Dustin chimed in from beside Eddie.
Steve pulled back and checked Eddie out once more. He was alive. Really and truly alive. And he stunk. He smelled like the Upside Down and blood. Steve pinched his nose, “I’m going to talk to these two,” he gestured with his head to Robin and Dustin, “And you’re going to take a shower before you stink up my brand new house.”
Steve got Eddie a towel, a change of clothes, a pair of sleep shorts and a basketball t-shirt and showed him to the bathroom that was down the hall, “Feel free to use anything here. There should be an extra toothbrush in the medicine cabinet.” Steve placed a hand on Eddie’s shoulder, “I’m not sure what’s going on right now, but I’m glad you’re here. Dustin missed you more than you know.”
Eddie smiled, that big bright smile Steve hadn’t gotten to see in such a long time, “I can tell by the haircut. I’m flattered.” Eddie placed the back on his head like a damsel fainting and grinned as he shut the door.
Steve ran his hands down his face, shaking slightly. He wasn’t sure what he was feeling right now. His heart was racing, his brain full of thoughts and questions. But for now, he was going to try and get at least part of the picture from Robin and Dustin. He walked back to the living room and looked at the two, “What the fuck just happened? We had a funeral and everything!”
Robin nodded, “I know! I know! I’m freaking the hell out myself! I just bumped into Dustin as I was walking home and he was crying. I got scared that some bad stuff went down, but then Eddie just popped out of the shadows and bear hugged me. I almost pissed myself.”
Dustin laughed, but did his best to explain, his hands visibly shaking, “I’m not too sure myself, but Eddie just knocked on my bedroom window. I genuinely thought I was seeing a ghost or hallucination so I ignored him until he wouldn’t stop fucking knocking. Then I realized he was real and alive and– and,” His voice started to shake, tears slipping down his face, “He told me that he had woken up in the Upside Down, but he was like a ghost or something, and saw his own body. He wandered around for a while but then everything went black. Next thing he knew, he was here.” Dustin wiped some tears away and sniffled, “He still thinks it’s ‘86 though. He asked me when I had gotten so tall.”
Steve ran a hand through his hair and held his hand up, “Wait wait. He thinks it's 1986 still?”
Dustin and Robin nodded.
That was 3 years ago. Eddie died exactly 3 years ago. Steve thought for a moment, screwing his eyes shut. Then it hit him like a brick wall, “Holy shit. What if, when he died in the Upside Down, he got like, stuck or something? And then when we killed Vecna for good, and destroyed the Upside Down, which was technically 3 years in the past, Eddie got like brought back somehow? Like a weird version of interdimensional time travel?”
Dustin thought about this for a moment and nodded, “I mean, it sounds like a plausible explanation. Even if it’s a little hard to believe.”
Robin snickered, “I think a big red muscle man that can kill you from inside your own head is a little hard to believe. I mean, Eddie technically died in the past and when that dimension got destroyed, everything that happened there reversed itself in this world right? All the gates closed, the demogorgons disappeared. It’s not hard to believe if you think about it.”
The 3 of them talked about it some more, all coming to the conclusion that Vecna’s death must have reversed Eddies. None of them were going to ask too many questions, all glad that he was back.
When Eddie came out of the shower, they all smiled at him and he looked like a deer in headlights, “I got soap on my face or something?” He wiped his face, trying to find the soap that was there.
“No. You don’t. We’re just happy you’re here. I’m happy you’re here,” Dustin said.
Eddie smiled now, and ruffled his hair, “My dear Henderson, I am glad I am not dead anymore. Very weird experience.”
Steve made him sit on the floor next to them, “Explain. As best you can. If you’re up for it.”
Eddie nodded and did so. He explained how he woke up, a ghost or something, drifting around looking at his body. He stayed that way for a while, time was hard to judge down there, but he guessed a couple days, his body in the same state it was when he died. Then suddenly his memory goes blank and he wakes up laying in the road in the real world. When he was done, they all stared at him, trying to make sense of what he told them.
Dustin was the first to speak, “It took us two days after Eddie died to kill Vecna for real. What if when your memory goes dark, that’s the 3 years that went by here? Until the Upside Down caught up with the real world?”
“Woah woah woah,” Eddie waved his hands in the air, “3 years? It’s 1989 right now?”
They all nodded.
“You have got to be shitting me.” Eddie fell back on his hands, tipping his head back. “This is insane!”
They all nodded again.
Everyone spent the next couple hours figuring out what to do with Eddie. After all, he had been dead for 3 years. He couldn’t just walk up to the rest of the group with a big smile on his face. Nancy would probably shoot him. They all decided on the easiest answer, set Eddie loose in the woods, dirty him up real good, give him a couple cuts, and “pretend” to find him. That way it would just look like he had gone missing after the “earthquake.” And since Hopper was chief again, no one was too liable to question anything.
Eddie agreed to the idea, not too happy about having to get some fresh cuts though. He yawned as he complained.
“How about we all get some sleep. Henderson, call your mom and tell her you’re staying over with me. Eddie, you can sleep in my room.” Steve got up off the floor.
Robin went to bed, tired after her shift. Dustin called his mom, who didn’t ask too many questions when she found out that it was Steve that he was staying with. Eddie followed Steve to his room, and stood in the corner awkwardly while Steve rifled through the unpacked boxes for another pillow and blanket. The room had a dresser on the left wall, at least 20 boxes piled throughout it, and the bed in the right corner. Well, just the mattress for now, the bed was still in a box leaning against the dresser.
“You mind sleeping on the bed with me? Sorry it’s on the floor. I haven’t put it together yet,” Steve pursed his lips.
Eddie yawned again, “I don’t care where I sleep, Harrington. I’m just exhausted.” He swayed slightly to prove his point, rubbing his eyes.
Steve made the bed, and slid in first, opting to sleep next to the wall. Eddie got in next, and it didn’t take but 2 minutes before he was asleep, snoring quietly. Steve looked at the man sleeping next to him and shook his head. He was still confused, and probably always would be, but Steve could live with that as long as Eddie was alive.
He fell asleep with a smile on his face, for the first time in at least 3 years.