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The first thing Eddie noticed when he came back into consciousness was the pain he was in. He used all the energy he had in him to open his eyes. He blinked a few times to adjust his eyes to the room. There was a soft light on the opposite wall, barely lighting up the room. Across the room, asleep in chairs, was Dustin and Steve. Eddie couldn’t believe his eyes. Steve Harrington was there at the hospital to be with him, Eddie “the freak” Munson. His heart sank with guilt. Dustin and Steve had been here, for who knows how long, waiting for him to wake up. He remembered his Uncle, hoping he was okay.
Eddie breathed in, the air scratching against his throat. It was dry and raw. He looked over to the night stand, hoping for some sort of liquid. He sat up and slowly reached over and grabbed the water bottle that was sitting on the table. He tried to open the bottle, but the IV in his left arm had weakened it. He struggled for a moment before looking up at Steve again.
“Harrington.” He whisper-shouted, careful not to wake Dustin. No answer. “Harrington.” Steve stirred, but stayed asleep. “Steve Harrington. Steve. Stevie. Steve-O. King Steve.” Nothing. He huffed. “Harrington!” He raised his voice slightly. Steve opened his eyes. He blinked a few times. A soft smile formed on his lips.
“Welcome back.” He said softly. “How was your nap?” He chuckled, getting up carefully so as to not wake Dustin. He walked over to the bed, his arm crossed.
“It was great.” Eddie said. Steve hugged him, a bit too tight.
“We thought you died, man. You were out for a few days.” Eddie held his breath. King Steve Harrington was hugging him and he liked it. Steve ended the hug and sat next to Eddie on the bed. “How are you feeling?”
Eddie let go of the breath he was holding. “Like shit. Can you open this?” He handed Steve the bottled water. Now that Steve was closer, he noticed he was wearing Eddie’s battle jacket. He cracked open the bottle and Eddie practically chugged the entire thing.
“Woah! Dude, slow down you’re gonna choke.” Eddie finished the bottle and coughed to clear up his throat. He flashed a joking smile at Steve, who gave him a disappointed mom look. “Try not to die again. I don’t think I could deal with Henderson crying on me anymore.”
Eddie chuckled. “So someone cares about me. Did he drag you here?”
“Yes… but I also wanted to see if you were okay. We had something going there and I didn’t want to lose it.” Steve smiled.
“Awe, Harrington likes me.”
“Unfortunately. I have a soft spot for freaks.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“I should probably tell you about the whole wanted for murder thing.” Steve said, shifting his position so he was across from Eddie. “So, you know Chief Hopper? He’s not dead, and he’s working on clearing your name.”
“He’s not dead?”
“It’s a long story, but he knows about the Upside Down and knows you didn’t kill these people.” Steve placed his hand on Eddie’s leg. “Only people approved by Hopper are allowed to visit. Me, Henderson, and your uncle who are the only ones.”
“Hey, uh, Harrington?”
“Yeah?”
“Can you get me something to eat?”
“Eddie, it’s 2 in the morning. The hospital cafeteria closed hours ago.”
Eddie closed his eyes, clutched his hands to his chest, and fell back on the bed. “Harrington, I’m starved! I haven’t eaten in days, and all I ask is for one thing to eat! And you’re denying me!” He opened one of his eyes, hoping he had convinced Steve to get him food.
“You’re so dramatic.” Steve sighed, standing up from the bed and swinging around his car keys. “Fine, I’ll go get you some snacks to hold you over until the cafeteria opens. What do you want?”
“You choose. I’m not picky.” Eddie smiled. “Thanks, big boy.”
“Shut up.” Eddie laughed. Steve waved his hand as he walked away. And just like that Eddie was alone in silence again. He could only hear the sound of his racing heart. He had always had a tiny crush on Steve Harrington throughout high school, but back then Steve was a douchebag. Now, he was kind and caring and extremely attractive.
Eddie looked over to Dustin, who was still peacefully sleeping. He snored, and Eddie chuckled causing a sharp pain in his abdomen. He clutched his stomach. “Those bats really got me.” He winced as he breathed in. “Shit, shit, ow!” The pain slowly faded back into the rest of the pain he was feeling. He closed his eyes and tried to relax his body.
——
“Here.” Steve handed over a bag of chips that he had just opened for Eddie. “Since apparently you can’t do anything now.”
“Thanks, Stevie.” Steve rolled his eyes.
“Is there anything else you want me to do, your majesty?” Eddie chuckled.
“There should be a hair tie in the pocket of my battle jacket-“
“You can put your own hair up, Munson.” Steve said, tossing Eddie the hair tie.
“Come on, Stevie. You asked me if I needed anything else.” Eddie said, popping a small chip in his mouth.
Steve grabbed the hair tie off of Eddie’s lap and sat behind him. Steve combed through Eddie’s messy hair with his fingers. He was thankful Steve couldn’t see his face. He brushed his hair behind his shoulders and gathered it into a ponytail. He wanted to tell Steve to keep combing his hair.
“Steve…”
“Hmm?” Steve acknowledged, clearly very focused.
“Nothing.”
Steve wrapped the hair tie around Eddie’s curls a few times. He tugged lightly on his hair to tighten the ponytail. Eddie’s mouth dropped open slightly and he just stared at the wall.
“Earth to Eddie.” Steve stood in front of him waving his hand in front of his face. Eddie hadn’t even noticed him get up. He blinked and shook his head dramatically.
“I guess I just got lost in my head, Harrington. It’s very scary up there” Eddie chuckled. He wanted Steve’s hands in his hair again. He couldn’t let his imagination go wild.
“Yeah, remind me to stay out. I don’t even want to know what thought was having you make that face.”
“You think so low of me, Stevie. It’s nothing too scary. Unless you can’t handle scary things.” Eddie said, his eyes trailing to Steve’s lips.
“Okay then, what is this not so scary thought?” Steve crossed his arms over his chest.
“Sorry, Stevie, that’s my personal business. For Eddie’s eyes only.” Eddie smiled innocently.
“Why did you even act like you were gonna tell me what you were thinking just to not tell me?”
“Because I love messing with people. Especially King Steve himself.”
“You’re insufferable, you know that?”
“I get reminded on a daily basis.”
“No wonder you and Henderson get along so well! You’re like the same person, only you’re-“
“Shut the hell up!” Steve and Eddie shot their gaze to where the voice came from. It was Dustin’s voice. He had been woken up. “Can you two shut the hell up and go back to sleep?”
“Sorry, Henderson.” The two said in unison. Eddie rolled up his chips and set them on the nightstand. Steve reached over Eddie, giving Eddie a reason to stare. Steve flicked off the light and headed back to the chair he was sitting in.
“Go to sleep.” Dustin said, pulling the brim of his hat over his eyes. He drifted back to sleep.
An awkward silence hits the room, Eddie could sense that Steve was still awake.
“Goodnight, Stevie.”
“Goodnight, Munson.”