Chapter Text
Hawkins, Indiana. A small town to any outsider, but to those who reside, is a hell hole. Eddie Munson, the proclaimed town satanic freak, knows that more than anyone. He scarcely made it out of the upside-down alive; even if he did, he was wanted for murder. He had to go into hiding for a short amount of time, while the gang worked with the local police station. Or more accurately, tipped off the local police station. A report soon came out about the Autopsy. The Sheriff told Eddie that in any normal case, the victim would fight back. Why wouldn't a young woman about to be murdered, not fight back? It didn't make any sense. The pathologist looked into Chrissy's fingernails, and no trace of Eddie Munson was found. There was no trace of his DNA anywhere on her body, meaning he did not do it. Not a thorough investigation, Eddie knows this but is more than happy not to be a wanted criminal anymore. Though, that does not mean the townspeople like Eddie Munson. He can live with it though, he has never needed their approval. Though, being hated where you live did not have many perks. He hasn't completely understood what had happened. There is another dimension under his feet? What the shit. No one exactly made a full recovery.
Eddie was in the hospital for weeks. Trying to be a hero meant facing the consequences. He remembered thinking of Beowulf from English class. God, he hated reading that, it was impossible to pay attention. But in those moments he laid on the hard ground, bleeding out, he wondered if he would be remembered as a martyr. A beacon of hope built in his honor- not likely to happen, but in those dying moments he wanted to be remembered as someone important. A hero. A fucking hero. The kids brought some joy into his life while he was in the hospital. They would sit around his bed with their dice and character sheets... Eddie loved them for it. It made the days go by faster, and the hollow room feel more like home. His uncle was there too, constantly when he wasn't working.
Steve Harrington made it his full-time job to care for the kids. Those gremlins got themselves into so much shit, and he had to be there with them. No one else would understand. He's been there since the beginning, and Steve had an obligation. His kids were fine; as okay as they could be. They had each other. He loved taking care of them, but he had barely made it out this time. The numbness and scar tissue on his side will forever remind him of that. Steve was no stranger to pain. He has gotten his face beaten too many times to count. Billie Hargrove fucked him up. The repeated blows to his face and eyes, god. He can barely see out of his right eye now. Not bad enough to not be able to drive, but sufficiently enough to affect his day-to-day life.
This most recent adventure, though, messed him up. Steve struggled to be able to care for himself. Some days it was far too painful to walk, and he lived alone... He would lay in his bed and just cry because he was so frustrated. Why cant he move. Why is he so pathetic. Jesus Christ others have it worse get up and move. But his body wouldn't listen. He could only lie there, and cry as his body would not move. Robin came by on the hard days. Dustin came by too, every once in and while. He would bring movies that they could watch for hours. Steve appreciated what the kid had done for him. The first few months were hell. Not like you can take time off for fighting killer bats from a hell dimension. Readjusting had been hard, but he had responsibilities to uphold. He and Robin continued working their jobs at Family Video.
The bell at the door is what pulls Steve from his thoughts. "Hello, welcome to Family Video wha-" Steve looks up from what he was [supposed to be] working on. "Oh, hi, Eddie..." Steve smiles barely.
At the main doors stood Eddie Munson, "Harrington," he greets, "Robin in today?"
Steve ignores the dismissal of his greeting. He ignores the disappointment that he feels. Sure it was rehearsed for every customer, but Eddie did not seem in the mood to talk. "She's working today, but she's on her lunch break... I can go grab her?"
Eddie gives a sharp nod of approval, "Thanks."
Steve trots towards the break room rubbing his hands down his face. jeesh, that was awkward. Had he and Eddie not bonded at all? Before knocking, he stopped to look at the "SUPER TOP SECRET (Employees Only)" sign Robin bought.
"Steve. For your sake, I hope that there is a dog or the place is on fire because I am trying to eat my lunch." Robin yelled from inside.
Steve couldn't help but audibly laugh, "Cut the crap, Robin. Eddie is here, and he asked for you."
Steve pressed up against the door, "Ebwee?" Robin replied, with a mouth full of food.
Steves's shoulders were shaking with laughter, with earned him a strange look from Eddie across the store. "Yes Robin, and I don't think he wants anything to do with me. So please, for the love of everything good in the world, come out here and see him."
The breakroom door whipped open, and Steve almost fell over. "Christ, Steve, you owe me. I get a longer break period after this." She struts passed him towards the counter to see her friend.
Steve rolled his eyes at Robins's dramatic threats and walked back to the counter to do his work for the day. Robin takes Eddie around the store to help him find a movie. They have become good friends, and Steve was happy for them. He settled against the counter and began manually entering their supply of films into a small database for the store. Steve did not particularly enjoy typing all day. Staring at a screen for hours screwed up his vision. His eyes would have trouble focusing on objects or letters after a bit. It was almost like there was a delayed effect. He would develop migraines too, but those were less common. Robin and Eddie talked and looked around for a good fifteen minutes while Steve worked. Steve glanced up from the screen and Jesus- the walls were falling? the shelves and movies were waving? Steve took a shuddered breath, and his heart started to pound. This feeling always freaked him out, it was like an out-of-body experience. It looks like the world is falling apart right before his disillusioned eyes. He breathes deep again, head in his hands, resting on the counter.
His short break was interrupted by Robin, ironic. "Steve? you okay?". He hummed, the rumble coming out a bit broken, "Yeah, I'm okay. I'll be okay. I just had to look away for a second..."
Robin nodded in understanding; Steve got this way at work sometimes. Feeling dizzy and nauseous is not easy to hide. "Okay Dingus, I have to run to the back for a quick second. I'm letting Eddie slide away with a movie we don't have out to rent yet," her eyes narrow, "keep it hush hush, 'kay? Can you ring him up while im back there?"
Steve's vision is still blurry, but he can't say no to Robin? "I can handle it, no worries Rob." He gives her the best smile that he can muster, which must not be too convincing. She winces slightly, "Sure, whatever you say. I'll be super fast!" She's gone as fast as she came.
Eddie walks up towards the counter, movies in hand, and steve rubs at his eyes one last time. Looking down at his hands, he has... four, wait no, three fingers? Damn it, he knows he has five fingers on each hand, why can't he just see them clearly-
"You okay there, Harrington?" Eddie asks concern showing on his face. Steve looks up from his hands and swallows, his throat is so dry- God. "Yeah," he winces and clears his throat, "-yeah, I'm all good."
Eddie gives him a look of "really?", but does not press any further. "Did you and Robin find anything good?" Steve asks to change the subject. Eddie nods a reply, "Yeah, most of these were her pick. Personally, I would never watch My Fair Lady or Dirty Dancing willingly, but hey!"
Steves cracks a smile, "No one puts Baby in a corner, right?" he cracks a joke about Robin (because you dont put her in a corner), but Eddie just stares at him with this look- so the joke didn't land. Steve clears his throat again, of embarrassment, "How have you been, man? I haven't really seen you since... everything..."
Eddie looks a little surprised, but Steve can't really think of a reason why. Did he have something on his face? "Well, Harrington, I suppose I have been okay. Or as okay as a wanted used-to-be-murderer can be." Eddie supplies an answer to his question. Steve winces; he wants Eddie to be okay. He cares. Dammit, he cares a lot. He is not who he used to be, Steve Harrington cares about others. He cares about his friends. Steve decides that small talk is not working, "I-" he swallows, "you don't deserve that Eddie, I'm sorry." Steve feels embarrassed. He should have known that Eddie wasn't okay. Who would be okay in his shoes? God, he's such an idiot.
He turns towards the computer to ring Eddie up, and-
He almost falls over. He cannot make out a single thing on the screen. Why is he falling? Wait, is he even falling? Is the room spinning? He's breathing out of his nose, and his body temperature increases. Jesus Christ, why is it so hot. He feels like he's losing consciousness. Black clouds are filling his vision, it's so foggy. He can't see. He can't see anymore. His vision is being taken over by a black haze. He feels himself shaking and his breathing- God when did breathing get so hard. His lungs feel so heavy. He must be gasping for air. A whine builds in the back of his throat, God, this must look so good. Eddie watches him as he struggles to use a computer. Steve is such an idiot. He sighs shakily, moves his shaky hands, and that whine finally escapes his lips- a betrayal from his own body.
"Steve-" Eddie's voice becomes solemn and gentle,
"Oh God, Steve, I am so sorry" Robin rushes in. Eddie jumps back from where he was about to reach out. Robin quietly shushes Steve, trying to calm him down. He's shaking so much, "shh, Steve it's okay," she handles his trembling hands with care. "Eddie, can you hang here for a sec'?"
He nods. What is happening? What did he do to Steve? Robin holds one of Steve's hands and holds onto his shoulder as she leads him to the break room. She sets him down gently while his breathing is still labored. Steve is looking straight up at the ceiling, trying to see something. "Steve, bub, it's okay. I'm right here with you," she consoles. Caressing his face tenderly, trying to ground him. Steve's mouth feels like cotton, "Rob'n, I can' see." he gasps, "I don' know what's happen'n to me."
"I know bub," Robin sighs, "You're not alone Steve, I am right here with you. I've got you."
Minutes pass, and Steve's erratic breaths come to a steady halt. He keeps his eyes shut, and Robin turns off the lights for him. Giving him rest from the fluorescent and artificial light. She held onto his hands until they stopped shaking too. "Hey bub, I will get you a cold towel and head back on the floor. Okay? Will you be alright if I leave?"
Steve nodded, "Yeah, I'll be okay, for real this time." His head was pounding. He vaguely hears running water, but then he feels the static cold from the rag now on his face, "Thank you" he mumbles. He felt so bad for Robin. She always gets stuck with taking care of him. He should be able to care for himself.
Robin smiles, "It's no problem bud, I'll check back in a few, okay? If you need anything, anything, Steve, hollar."
Steve grumbles in response, too weak to give a verbal answer. He knows Robin is gone with the click of the latch on the door. He keeps his eyes closed, too scared to open them. What if he still can't see? Steve knows he is being paranoid, but breaking down in the middle of his shift is really bothering him. Poor Eddie. Steve realizes he must have been so freaked out, especially after Chrissy. He was so good at messing everything up.
He sits alone in that dark room for what feels like hours, before Robin checks in on him again. "Hey Steve, It's been about twenty minutes. How are you feeling?" He hums, "Better."
Robin sighs a laugh, "Good, now, can I get you to open your eyes for me? Just want to make sure you are okay."
Steve nods and removes the rag from his eyes and forehead. What if it's still black. What if I can't see anymore? What good does that make me? I can't help the kids, I can't drive the kids- They'll forget about me-
"-Steve! breathe with me. It's okay, you're in the break room with me right now. You are safe with me, and nothing is going to happen to you, okay?"
Steve winces, breathing deeply before attempting to open his eyes. The pressure on his eyelids releases, and he slowly opens his eyes. Robin is here, Robin is safe, I am safe...
The lights are still off, but Steve can see Robin's Blue eyes, and she smiles. "There he is!" her tone turns teasing, "my wittle handsome boy!"
Steve's face flushes, "Shut up, nerd" he laughs, hitting her arm. Robin just smiles at him, "I'm glad you're feelin' better. You kind of scared Eddie back there,"
His smile falls, "Wait, shit, really? Is he okay? Do I-"
Robin cuts him off before he can ramble too much, "Steve chill, he's fine. He was just worried about you, that's all. I'll let him know you're feeling better when I see him later."
Steve just nods in reply. He didn't think Eddie would be so worried, but watching a breakdown probably reminded him of Chrissy's death. He hums looking at the clock above her head on the wall. It was past close.
"My mom is here to pick me up, but I just want to make sure you will make it home alright."
Steve considers what she's offering, but brushes it off. This has happened before, and after a break from the real world, he is usually good to go. "I will make it home just fine and dandy, don't worry your pretty little head."
Robin dramatically rolled her eyes smacking his arm and calling him a dick under her breath. Steve pretends to not hear it. Robin had already closed the cash drawer and figured out the deposit for Keith, so they were ready to leave. Steve owed Robin big time.
Robin left, and steve sat behind the wheel of his car. He knew he would make it home safe, he just needed a few more minutes to himself. The drive home was virtually easy, but he took the backroads home. Just in case something did happen, he wasn't on the main road. His home was an easy five to ten minutes away. The radio was quiet for the drive so he could concentrate on his surroundings. What had even happened today? Why did he break down at work? Sure he sometimes has trouble looking at screens, but he has never panicked over it... He shrugged to himself, "add that to the list of, "ways that im fucked up," he snickered to himself before frowning.
As he pulled into the drive, he couldn't wait to be asleep. He was so exhausted. Unlocking the door and stepping into the house, Steve noted how cold it was. No one is here to take his pain away. Throwing his keys onto the table, and trudges up the stairs into his room. He can't even bother changing before the exhaustion overtakes him.