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Steve breathes out feeling it catch in his throat before falling to his knees next to the curly hair he’s always ruffled. A choked noise next to him causes his head to whip to the side before staring into a pair of teary brown eyes. Something about those teary eyes is the thing that breaks the dam inside his chest causing him to give a choked sob.
“First Max now Dustin? I can’t do it. I can’t.” He babbles almost like Robin which under normal circumstances would make him laugh, but he can’t right now.
“Stevie, you’ve got to breathe.”
He shakes his head with breaths coming out choppy as he tries not to let any of his emotions be seen. The others are going to need him to be the strong one meaning he needs to shove this down, but he can’t.
Cool hands bring him out of his thoughts looking into the warm brown eyes he’s come to be familiar with since he came back. The gentle touch causes a wounded noise to slip past his lips which makes those doe eyes widen. Before he can even think about it, he’s wrapped in a hug allowing him to bury his face in Eddie’s chest.
“We have to…we have to bring him back. I refuse to leave him here, Eds.”
“We will. We’ll bring him home sweetheart, I promise.”
The small cracks that had been slowly leaking since he ran into the Byers’ home to swing a bat finally cracks wide open. He sobs for the kids’ lost childhood, for his own lost childhood, and now the loss of his brother and sister.
Eddie keeps a tight hold of Steve letting him cry out his tears for everything that’s left this giant fissure inside of him. When the tears and sobs finally stop, it’s only so that Steve can pull Dustin into his arms so he can brush a gentle touch over the young boy’s face and into his hair. The sobs start up again as if holding Dustin’s cooling body suddenly force’s Steve to realise that this is real and not one of the many nightmares that he’s had over the years.
Eddie sweeps them into his arms putting his wings around them as he buries his face in Steve’s hair allowing himself to start mourning as well. He knows the others will start to worry about where they are, but all he can focus on right now is his boyfriend and their child.
~~~
The group finally makes it to where they left the other three since they didn’t make it to the rendezvous point, leaving them to fear the worst. Robin feels sick seeing Eddie’s wings out obviously curling around something in a way to shield it.
“Munson, where are Steve and Dustin?” Hopper calls out causing Eddie to hiss.
“Eddie please where is Steve and Dustin?” Robin knows her voice is shaking but she doesn’t care.
“Right here, but stay quiet. Stevie’s sleeping now.”
“Let us see them, then,” Hopper calls out, causing Eddie’s wings to tremble.
“He doesn’t want any of you to see him like this. The kids don’t need to see Dustin like this. Take them through the portal. We’ll be right behind you.”
“Like hell! What’s wrong with Dustin? He’s our family. We have a right!”
“No!” Eddie’s voice booms out across the expanse separating them.
“Mine. My kid and Stevie’s! Not yours.”
“Everyone else go. Only Steve and Dustin can get him out of a mood like this. Plus, Steve won’t hide from me.”
“This place could close up at any moment, Buckley.”
“So go so we can get them out!” She snaps out before moving towards Eddie who tightens his wings still protecting Steve and Dustin.
“Eddie, you know that I won’t judge Steve for anything. If Dustin needs help, then let me see him to make sure he gets the help he needs.”
Her heart breaks hearing the low keening noise that Eddie gives, putting a hand to her mouth knowing without him saying what has happened. She hiccups trying not to sob knowing that Steve was the one who probably found Dustin which is why he’s sleeping. Her breath shakes in her lungs before she slowly comes forward and Eddie lets his wings unfurl knowing that Robin at least can help Steve in a way that he can’t.
“Fuck, not Dustin too. Fucking hell this wasn’t supposed to be how today went.”
“Don’t blame Stevie,” he chirps out, causing her to give him a stern look.
“I don’t blame either of you. The both of you would die before you let any harm come to your kids. Let’s get both of them home.”
~~~
Steve wakes up in time for them to go into the portal and she notices how silent he is, but can’t really blame him. Dustin and Max were his kids whether he’ll ever admit that or not. So, now he’s lost both of his kids. Her and Eddie stand at his back when he picks Dustin up allowing the kid’s head to lull against his shoulder almost looking like he’s sleeping.
A scream rings out and Eddie’s hand tightens on Steve’s shoulder giving him some silent support as Ms. Henderson comes forward. Wayne looks to Eddie noticing how the two boys look so unmoored from this world before Ms. Henderson is in front of Steve. Everyone in the know about what’s really going on feels off-kilter hearing the sob that wrenches itself from Steve’s chest when Ms. Henderson stands in front of him.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Oh dear, don’t you dare apologise. I know that you tried everything to keep Dusty safe. Come here.”
She wraps both Dustin and Steve in a tight hug as Eddie gives a soft keening noise drawing Wayne to his boy. He lets his boy fall into his arms burying his face in his shoulder. He can’t hear the tears falling from Eddie’s eyes, but he can feel them in the way that Eddie’s whole-body shudders under the weight of the grief hitting him finally.
“I’m sorry, Ma. I promised you I’d bring him back safe and…” he chokes out causing Robin to stumble forward.
“Steve, you stop right there. Don’t you go blamin’ yourself for this. Dusty wouldn’t want you to do that.”
Robin wraps her arms around them feeling the way that Steve’s body shudders as he tries not to sob. Ms. Henderson just runs her hands through his hair knowing that ever since Dustin first brought him to her home that Steve is her son just as much as Dustin is. She presses a quick kiss to his forehead causing a sob to rip from his throat before Wayne makes his way forward with Eddie just a step behind him.
“Son, can we take him? You got him home so now it’s our turn to take care of him.” Wayne gently asks of Steve the blow softened by the fact that Eddie puts his arm around his shoulders.
Wayne gently waits for Steve’s arms to uncurl allowing them to slip Dustin from his arms before he ends up heavily leaning into Eddie’s side pulling Robin with him. It’s obvious to this found family that Eddie is the only thing keeping Steve on his feet causing the kids to sniffle knowing Steve has been hiding his pain from them this whole time. It’s only a matter of time before Steve’s legs go out from under him due to the grief that seems to just keep slamming into his body, but he’s not alone. His boyfriend easily picks him up and when they move towards his house-because of course the Harrington’s skipped town during the earthquake and left him the house they had no need for-with Steve’s platonic soulmate right on Eddie’s heels.