Archive of Our Own

 “Make him pay.”

Coward.

You just couldn’t tell him, could you?

Eddie had tried. He had tried a million different things. Ignoring it, accepting it, fearing it, loving it. He had tried to stop it, to fight it, to let it envelop him, and let it kill him. In the end, nothing was satisfactory enough to be an ending.

And now he was faced with the possibility that he had spoken to Steve for the last time — and he hadn’t done the thing he had sworn to do all along, after everything. Because in the end, Eddie liked to run.

Eddie curved his arm around Dustin’s back and shoved him. “Go! Come on, run!”

They went tumbling through the trailer, feet slipping as both men hoofed it towards the gateway to the Right-Side-Up, boundless panic seizing their already stressed minds. Eddie shunted Dustin ahead of him, swearing silently to himself that if one of them had to die, it would not be the latter.

They finally managed their way to the makeshift-rope tied from bed sheets. Eddie helped to hoist his friend up onto the cordage, shouting something unintelligible about life or death and telling him to hurry. Once Dustin had passed through, he shouted down to Eddie to get a move on and follow him.

Eddie grappled onto the rope. But as he did, a sort of coldness enveloped him. A feeling that seemed to pulsate throughout the Upside-Down; through every vine, seizing every eyeless bat, shuddering through every sleeping demogorgon. Desperation.

Eddie ignored it — that chilled, despondent feeling, coursing through every life form in that wretched place. He wound his hand around the bed sheet, beginning to lift himself from the ground with his eyes on the non-paranormal world above him. Home. His job was done, and he was free to go.

Suddenly, a feeling so intricate that he could barely feel it washed over him. A cold tingle, then a rolling heat, like when your body tries to save you from some initial shock or fear. He pushed it down and continued to climb. Then—

“Eddie.”

The man froze. That voice was familiar — dear god, it was too familiar. His mouth went dry. It’s not possible. There’s no way that’s possible.

He turned, and it was possible. A figure separated from the sucking shadows, making Eddie’s throat clot in mortification.

“Steve?”

Steve’s expression didn’t shift, not a single ounce of emotion washing over it. He only continued to approach Eddie apprehensively, but not unsurely, like he had sought this out. He had sought Eddie out.

Eddie choked in shock. “What are you- what are you doing here?” He stuttered, bewildered at the very notion that his friend had sought his company, and seemed to be hesitant about something.

Steve paused — not long enough for Eddie to speak up, though. “You were projecting earlier.”

Eddie was confused. “Projecting- what?” His words came out in puzzlement. “What are you… why-”

“Earlier.” Steve repeated, face shifting to be foreboding. It wasn’t a look that Eddie had ever seen on Steve. “You projected onto Nancy, didn’t you?”

It took him a moment. Then the realization dawned on Eddie like the dive of a thousand demobats. “You… you don’t mean—”

“You wanted to tell me something, too. Before all this—” He waved a hand vaguely, “— happened. Before we killed Vecna.”

Eddie sputtered. “Vecna’s dead?” Thank god. “We did it?”

Steve ignored him once more. “What were you going to say, Eddie? I know it wasn’t just, ‘make him pay’.” He stepped closer still. “What were you really going to tell me?”

Eddie’s throat closed in. He felt as if his circulation was cut off from all the lightheadedness he was experiencing. 

His mouth opened and closed a few times, as if he was going to speak, but Steve seemed to become increasingly annoyed at the fact that he wouldn’t formulate a response.

“You’re in love with me.”

Even Eddie couldn’t deny that he was caught red handed, and therefore could not be blamed for his unsure silence. He was stunned, jaw tightened and a pit opening in his stomach, causing an ache. He felt like fighting the bats was an easier feat than facing this situation.

“Steve, I—”

“Be honest, Munson.” His teeth glinted from behind his moving lips, but he wasn’t smiling. He wouldn’t smile, because this wasn’t something at which to smile. This was a sickening thing, a stomach-wrenching task that Steve asked of him: honesty. How long had it been since Eddie had done that?

At last, Eddie decided that Steve deserved to know. Hey, if the rejection hurt too much, there were always the bats, right? Or perhaps not, perhaps Vecna’s alleged death was shared amongst the entire upside down. Maybe that shared desperation he had felt earlier was Vecna’s demise? A possibility. There was always some possibility.

“Shit, Steve, I’m sorry.” Eddie dipped his eyes from his friend’s, the shame too overwhelming.

There was no response. The quiet of the realm he was in, and the faint humming of the portal above him. Strange. He thought. I can’t feel the thrum of it anymore.

“Eddie.” When the man did look back up, Steve was much closer than before, barely a foot away from Eddie himself, gaze locked on his friend.

(That’s what they were, right?)

Eddie could feel his heart rate stop. He could feel the heat of Steve’s heavy breaths, and the tension between the two. His breath caught in his throat.

Steve’s palm was warm. Eddie knew that because suddenly, the former’s hand was sliding onto his cheek, thumbing it idly and slowly. Eddie trembled, and he knew it. He felt a new feeling rush through, only this time, it wasn’t from the Upside-Down. This feeling was theirs alone. Hesitation.

Steve began to lean in closer, causing Eddie’s heart to pick up in speed, and mimic the other. Steve began to mumble something right as their lips touched.

“Eddie, how could you ever believe that I could be as cruel,” he paused, hand coming to the other’s chin to lift Eddie’s head slightly.

“As to love you back?”

Eddie’s eyes snapped open, but he realized he didn’t recognize this face before him.

This isn’t Steve. It’s a trap. It’s a trap.

“No.” It was as if Steve could hear his thoughts. “It’s real, Eddie. All of it. Maybe all of this could have been easier if you had told me straight up.”

Steve chuckled lowly, something about his voice becoming different. “But no, not this time. Not ever. Because you are a coward, and for that you’ll never know if we could have been something.” His lips pulled back to reveal his teeth, but still, he didn’t smile. “You really don’t know how to do anything but run, do you?”

He tried not to let it get to him. It’s an illusion. Don’t listen to him, he’s wrong.

“Do you disagree? Or would you prefer to tell me about your parents?” Eddie’s blood went sluggish in his veins, and he could hear it coursing through. “Your mom never loved you, your old man wound up in jail, and your greatest fear is to end up like them.”

Steve began to back Eddie into a wall, past the portal, past where Dustin’s voice could reach. But Dustin hadn’t cried out once to Eddie. It’s a trap.

“Everyone you’ve ever met always leaves you, except for your dear old uncle Wayne. But you know he doesn’t need you. You need him, and one day he’s gonna leave you like everyone else, and all you’ll have are your stockpiled drugs, your stupid guitar, the murder accusations that you could’ve stopped, and those broken, slavering memories of who you once thought were your friends.” Eddie’s back hit the wall sharply, causing him to inhale quickly as well, the weight of those words dropping onto his head. “Poor Chrissy, who could’ve been saved if you had just been more considerate and noticed she was suffering. The disapproval from your parents being a warning that you blatantly ignored, hoping that maybe one day they would forget their hate, or else be content enough with who you are. How you are.”

Steve spat upon the floor before Eddie, a grimace facing the other once Steve looked back up at his terrified face. “But you know the old saying, ‘Once a freak, always a freak.’” Steve did smile then, but something about him wasn’t Steve. “Especially if this freak is a clingy, cowardly,” He said each word slowly, pausing after every one to grin dementedly at Eddie, seeming to tower above the man now. “Doting, idiotic, self-loathing fag-”

Before he could say more, Eddie heard a muffled slam, and as if he was an illusion, millions of bats went screaming through the image of Steve, and straight towards Eddie.

Desperation, hesitation. Biding his time.

<> <> <>

Steve was running as fast as he could, and he didn’t plan on stopping.

They had just killed Vecna, burned and shot him down, leaving him time only for an allotted last breath.

Now that the adrenaline rush had passed, Steve’s thoughts had cleared, and panic had seized him. He hadn’t hesitated, simply ran out of the demonic Creel house and directed himself to the trailer park, not even stopping to catch his breath in his haste.

The Upside-Down was always ominous, but now that the cracks had spread into Hawkins itself, the already-polluted air seemed to worsen in quality.

He had ditched Robin and Nancy, who had, last he’d seen them, been trying to hug without it being apparently gay. He assumed that they were following him now, as this place was no walk in the park, but he didn’t care enough to even look back.

There were no signs of any bats in the trailer park, but neither were there any sign of Dustin and Eddie, which made Steve’s pulse return to a more normal rate. They had most likely escaped through the portal, and the bats had searched somewhere else for them, dying off in the select area they had been in last.

What Steve hadn’t noticed before was the beaten-open trailer door to Eddie’s.

He threw himself into the trailer, bat raised, ready to fight whatever might be in there. It was a good instinct, as a weakened bat launched itself at him. He swatted it aside with his weapon.

The first thing he noticed were the corpses. Quite a lot of them, littering the trailer in a thousand bat carcasses. A few bats dragged themselves around, dying, until at last, they slumped in on themselves in defeat.

Steve was then left to the horrifying image of Dustin and Eddie, the younger boy cradling what seemed to be a lifeless version of the older. Steve felt a tremor of terror run through him, and he shot over to Dustin, falling similarly to his knees.

Steve’s throat clotted, and tears pricked at the corners of his eyes. Eddie’s body was mangled in a similar pattern to Steve’s, only a lot worse. His sides were torn into, flesh mauled and ripped. He had coughed up quite a bit of blood, and his face was slack without emotion or a smile. His breathing was existent, but slow and shallow, ragged breaths that lead to the conclusion that he was unconscious and definitely dying.

Hands shaking, Steve fumbled to grip Eddie as well, attempting some relief for Dustin, who was burdened with, yet unbothered by the weight. It gave no emotional relief, however, as Dustin continued to sob out drowning cries, and their near-silence made it all somehow feel much worse.

“What- what happened? Henderson, what happened?” Steve’s voice was revived, quickly spitting out breathy inquiries.

Dustin shook with another sob. “I- I don’t know! He was climbing out, I know he was, but he dropped down and turned and-”

Steve braced the boy with a look, his arms occupied by the unconscious figure of their friend. “Henderson, you need to tell me what happened.”

Dustin broke down in a half-hearted scream, no malice, only terror. “It was you!”

Steve paled, puzzled beyond measure. “What?”

Just then, Robin and Nancy burst through the open door, obviously shaken by Dustin’s shriek. They hadn’t even gotten a word out before they caught sight of Eddie, and the gravity of the situation dawned on them. “We need to get the fuck outta here.”

Steve’s arms, already looped under his friend’s body, scooped Eddie up and bolted towards the tether lolling out of the demonic ceiling. Everyone was talking, but Steve could barely hear them, ears buzzing with white noise as he seemed to pointedly ignore the others plotting around him. He began to attempt a climb up the rope, but Eddie couldn’t cling onto him, so it was a futile attempt.

Everything seemed unreal, a switch flipped in his brain. He couldn’t process what was happening, only live in it like he was moving through molasses. He didn’t notice that he was supporting Eddie with one hand instead of two, and he only realized that his body was functioning once the cool rush of air blasted his freshly-made scars around his torso.

Sure, his scars were a day old, but it still wasn’t a pleasure to feel their presence be known. Before his hands could come to his conscious control again, he had stripped off his clean bandages and knotted them around Eddie’s wrists, which were now looped around his neck.

No one had perceived Steve’s actions, though, giving him just enough time to start up the makeshift rope. His brain seemed to clear, then, and he heard a stifled gasp from Dustin. He seemed to have been surprised, but wasn’t planning on stopping Steve, or giving away what Steve was doing, for that matter. But it was no use, as Nancy soon caught sight of him attempting his way into the portal.

“Steve- Steve, wait!” She jogged over to the man, who blatantly ignored her. “Wait, we have to come up with a plan first!”

“Fuck ‘a plan’!” Steve shouted, higher up than before. “I’m getting him to a fucking hospital, is what I’m planning to do. I’m not just gonna sit here and let him die!”

Robin and Dustin joined Nancy at the bottom of the rope. “Steve, Eddie’s still a wanted guy. If we-” Robin’s hand swished through the air in one swift, horizontal movement. “- walz on into a hospital, or even into public, we’re all fucked!”

Steve still didn’t pause, coming closer to the exit. “I don’t give a shit. We’ll figure something out! It’s our only option.”

“Steve, Robin’s right-”

“Shut up, Wheeler!” Now he paused, muscles drawn taught in his arms like bridge cables, supporting not only his, but also Eddie’s, weight. “I’m not giving up on him!”

He wouldn’t have realized it if the others’ faces hadn’t shifted to be soft and shocked, but a few stray tears fell haphazardly from his place in the air all the way to the cold, stone-like ground. Crying? I’m not crying, am I?

“Steve-”

But Steve had already braced himself for the landing, and thrust himself through the gateway, into the Right-Side-Up, landing with a painful “oof!” onto the pre-prepared mattress they had been using for in-and-out travel to either side.

He heard a gasp that sounded suspiciously like Robin’s before he groaned, understandably from the impact, and from the fact that his arms were occupied during the fall, grasping Eddie tightly.

Speaking of which, the unconscious man grunted in a way that sounded almost lamenting, but his eyes stayed screwed shut, clinging to Steve for a split-second that gave the other hope. “Eddie?”

Eddie didn’t answer, only shuddered in pain, still comatose in the situation. That was all Steve needed to be spurred on, however, and didn’t even think to wait for the others. Eddie could keep Dustin safe even when senseless, Steve trusted those two women to keep him safe in much easier circumstances.

Steve dragged Eddie out of the trailer, and hefted him into the passenger’s seat of his car, throwing himself into the front seat. He then thrust the key into the ignition, and turned it, the car sputtering as it attempted to start.

Robin came hurtling through the front of the trailer. “Steve!”

“No, Robin!” He huffed, un-turning and twisting the key again, the windows already down due to their use of it earlier. “I’m not gonna sit and listen to whatever idea you and Nance came up with, not this time. I’m gonna get Munson to a goddamn hospital, and I don’t care what legal shit they’re gonna throw at me, because I’m not scared! I’m not, and I never have been, and I never will be! I can’t be, because someone has to hold it together! And if I lose one more friend due to that asshole and his little monsters, I’m gonna go fucking insane!”

This time, Steve had realized he was crying. But he made no attempt to wipe away the tears that rolled down his cheeks, and instead frustratedly wrenched the key clockwise and counterclockwise again and again, trying desperately to start the damn car.

There was a clunk sound from the outside of his door, and the car spluttered to life, surprising Steve. He glanced over, out of his window, where Robin stood, leg coming down from booting his car to assist his cause.

Her stare was dead serious. “Let’s go get him help.”

Robin hopped hastily into the backseat, and the two of them veered off into the night, tires screaming, leaving a shocked and confused Dustin and Nancy behind, shouting something unintelligible out to the others as they drove away. Eddie’s car was still an option, as the keys were in the trailer, and his tires (somehow) hadn’t yet been slashed in the time that they had left it at their destination, so they could easily chase after the two if they only wished so.

Normally, Steve would be more worried about his friends that he had just previously left behind. He would get distracted, and perhaps even turn back to retrieve them. But Steve had lost enough people to let another die, especially since this situation included someone actually quite close to Steve, rather than a second-hand acquaintance or else someone he had passed once on the street.

Eddie actually meant something to Steve.

He wiped his eyes with his bare knuckles, not bothering to scrub the wet laden on his hand away on his clothes. This prompted Robin to pull her sleeve over her palm and rub his dampened cheeks, attempting to provide some comfort. Steve was appreciative, but didn’t give the action even a smile. His mood had clicked into a more serious tone, unwilling to release the tension, as they were chauffeuring Eddie’s dying body to a nearby hospital.

When they arrived, Robin held the door for Steve as he fumbled to lift Eddie into his arms bridal-style. They rushed into the clinic and made for the front desk.

The hospital didn’t seem to be chock-full of people that night. Sure, there were a few, but since it was late, most of the visitors were either resting in the lobby, or staying overnight with a loved one in their respective room. There wouldn’t be many witnesses who spotted Eddie, bloody and battered as he was, or Steve and Robin assisting him.

The secretary woman was shocked to see two young adults bolting in urgently on a Wednesday night, a mangled man in the taller’s arms, but for all of her alarm, she wasn’t panicked.

“What happened to him?” She managed calmly, yet the determination was firm in her eyes. The realization would hit Steve later: this wasn’t the first time she had dealt with this sort of thing.

“He- he was-”

But Robin quickly spoke over him. “An animal attack, a buncha rabid bats. We need assistance immediately.”

The woman seemed to catch a glimpse of his face then, scanning over him, then pressing a button on her desk. “Send someone out, we need assisting doctors. Emergency situation.”

If she recognized Eddie at all, she didn’t seem afraid. She seemed almost like… she genuinely wanted to help them. It embarrassed Steve to have that thought. Of course she wanted to help them. Why else would that be her chosen profession?

Soon enough, uniformed employees of the hospital rushed out of the swinging doors, a stretcher carted along with them. They plucked Eddie from Steve’s arms, placing him on said stretcher, and beginning to wheel him off. Steve tried to follow, but was promptly stopped by the front desk lady, who reached an arm in front of him.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but we can’t let you follow yet. Maybe when the doctors have helped him out, okay?” She smiled sympathetically, trying to provide comfort to the man. “For now you’re just gonna have to wait.”

Steve was usually very, very good at holding up his unemotional facade, but at that moment, he couldn’t do it anymore. He just couldn’t. He fell apart in the woman’s arms, sobbing and clutching her in a hug as if she were a long-term friend of his, surprising the poor lady.

She hugged him back, and led him to a nearby chair, taking one next to him and opting to hold his hand instead of being smothered in a hug, and letting him cry out all of his pent up stress. This went on for a while, Robin allowing the lady to comfort him, and filling out paperwork for Eddie instead, the prior claiming to be Eddie’s sister.

After what felt like hours, the doctor finally emerged from behind the doors and called out; “Munson?”

Steve and Robin both perked up, the woman still comforting Steve silently, hand clasped to his, and rubbed a thumb along it. Steve barely noticed her presence now. “Yes, over here!”

The doctor approached them quickly, but not urgently, not stirring up a panic. He inhaled and waited patiently for their attention, which was all they were giving him.

“Would you wish for the good news first, or the bad news?”

Steve’s blood chilled, but he remembered what Eddie had said once again. “Bad news, always.”

The doctor inclined his head. “Alright, then. Mr. Munson is unfortunately very, very badly injured, and we had to induce a coma.” Steve sucked in a breath, a hiss passing through his lips as he did so, louder than he had meant it to. “But it should only last a few days, a few weeks at the most.”

Nancy, who had arrived with Dustin about two hours previous, interjected. “And the good news?”

“Well, your friend is very lucky. He is not in a terminal condition, although he would’ve been if you hadn’t come here immediately.” He nodded to Robin, who had told the staff a de-paranormalized version of what had happened. “There’s, miraculously, no discernible damage done to his organs, but there will be some nasty scars. In short, he’ll live.”

A collective sigh of relief passed through the group, all squeezing each other tight with hugs. Dustin spoke up after a moment. “Can we see him yet?”

The doctor smiled warmly at the boy. “Unfortunately, only family can see him as of now, but you should be able to in a few days.”

Steve turned to Robin. “Take them home, I’ll stay here with Eddie, in case he wakes up.”

Robin mumbled back unsurely. “But-”

“No, Robs. I need to be here. It’s alright, I promise.”

Robin hesitated, lips pursed slightly as if she wanted to protest once more. She then sighed smally. “Okay.” She relented, standing.

Dustin, who had been near enough to overhear their exchange, glanced up at Steve urgently. “I’m staying too.”

Steve stared right back at him. “No, you’re going home. Sleep and recuperate. You can come back tomorrow. I’m not gonna make your mom worried.”

“Your parents aren’t home? They’ll be worried too!”

Steve chuckled bitterly. “Trust me, Henderson, if they were home, they wouldn’t even notice, much less give a shit. You’ve actually got people waiting for you to get home. Go back to them. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Dustin was adamant, but he could see the words changing something behind his eyes. Dustin’s mouth opened, then closed, then opened again, but he didn’t speak. Finally, he nodded, yielding to Steve’s wishes.

As the group departed, Steve rose and began to walk forwards, heading towards the door. The front desk lady stopped him. “Sorry, sweetheart, but the doc said only family is permitted to visit currently.” She held him by the shoulders, offering an earnest smile. “Why don’tcha head on home and get some rest, hm? Come back tomorrow, we’ll take good care of him.”

Steve shook his head. “No, I’m family, I need to see him.”

She seemed disbelieving, rightfully so, and shook her head. “Again, I’m sorry, but only family and spouses are allowed to-”

“I can’t leave him alone! I need to be with him.”

“Sweetie, I get that you’re concerned, but you can’t see him yet. I’m sorry, that’s just how it has to-”

“I’m his- his-” Steve lowered his voice, panicking as he jumped to the first idea that came to mind. “I’m his boyfriend, and I can’t be without him. Let me see him, please.”

She froze, eyes wide in shock. From the looks of it, she wasn’t angry, or disgusted, or even hateful, she just seemed genuinely surprised that Steve would’ve admitted that to her, a complete stranger, so quickly. Maybe he really was desperate.

But Steve didn’t care if rumors got around. By his claim, he had any legal right to see Eddie now, but that wouldn’t stop some people who could get offended by that something being seen as ‘unnatural’, and it certainly would open a whole new possibility of hate crime against Steve, for something that was untrue. It was dangerous, but Steve was determined to see Eddie. He knew how it felt to be alone.

She stood there for a moment, before turning to the doctor, who was discussing something farther away at the front desk with a coworker. “Hey Sean?”

The doctor glanced up, attention leaving the conversation. “Marie?”

The pause was deafening, terrifying Steve more than he thought possible. Her neck stayed twisted back towards Sean, waiting as if to say something more.

“Let him in, he’s a brother-in-law to Mr. Munson. He’s legally permitted through.”

Steve was caught in shock, mouth threatening to fall agape. He just stared at the woman, who was still gazing at the doctor.

The doctor shrugged. “Alright, he’s in room 113. You can let him through.”

She nodded, then turned back to Steve, hands sliding down to his biceps, almost as if she were positioning him there on purpose, which Steve supposed she was, because her eyes met his, and something gleamed in them.

“You’re brave, honey. I wish that my wife and I had that confidence, too.”

He didn’t think it possible, but lo-and-behold, Steve’s eyes widened even more. He was like a deer caught in headlights. She patted his arms twice before turning and leading him to the doors, scanning a keycard before entering the premises. She held the door for Steve. “Come on through, don’t keep him waitin’.”

Steve did as prompted, stepping through the propped doors and making his way down the hall to find Room 113. As he did, however, he felt a pang of guilt and reconsideration. He knew how hard it was to be a queer person those days, always hiding and being unable to marry the ones you loved, and was wondering how Eddie would react if the secretary mentioned what Steve had said to him. Would he be mad? No, Eddie didn’t get mad often, and if he did, it was for a reputable reason. Eddie would probably smirk and flirt with Steve as if he was perfecting a revenge, flustering the other in the process.

Once Steve had reached Eddie’s claimed room, he paused. Hesitation . He didn’t feel it often, not in his normal life, not even when he was fighting hordes of monsters. But suddenly, doubt was inflicted upon him, washing over him like a sickening tidal wave. Maybe Eddie would be upset when he woke up? A horrible thought nipped at the back of Steve’s mind; “What if he never wakes up?”

Despite himself, perhaps in spite of himself, Steve pushed open the door, and entered a room designated for a singular patient, that patient currently being Eddie. Eddie looked better than before, sides gnarled as they were, but now wrapped in clean bandages, and draped in a hospital gown. He had a few bandaged areas residing on his face, but he otherwise looked peaceful, and more normal than before, when it had been bloodied and lifeless, although his face still kept its slackness. Strange as it was, Steve had never seen Eddie’s face so emotionless. He was an expressive man, obviously enough to anyone with ears or eyes, but his previously dead-expressioned face was now appearing more sleep-like, as if he were only napping, instead of being in an indefinite coma.

Steve found two armless chairs adjacent to the bed, and opted to sleep there for the night. He supposed that some of the other doctors and nurses would come to their own suspicions of Steve’s relation to Eddie, as brother-in-laws didn’t often care so much about one another. But Steve didn’t care. Fuck it, he concluded.

He firstly removed his jacket, testing the spring of the squishy cushions on the chairs, then coming to judge that they were hospitable enough for his weary bones, and he next removed his shoes, preparing to slip under his windbreaker and fall asleep. As he began to shift down, a knock echoed from the door.

“Come in.” He allowed, turning and straightening back up to see who the visitor had been.

A nurse stood in the doorway, clutching a clipboard and pen loosely in her hand, as if it were a blanket she carted around for a friend. She smiled sweetly.

“Mr. Harrington?”

Steve waited, but inclined his head. “I’d rather you call me Steve, or Stephen if you’re feeling formal.”

Her smile perked up a tad more, as if she meant to laugh at this jest, but only kept her mouth closed. “Well, then, Stephen, is there any injury you may have, considering you were presumably with Mr. Munson at the time of the…” She lifted her clipboard and tapped the pen to her lips idly, scanning the documents. “Rabid bat attack?” She finished finally, quirking a curious brow at Steve, genuinely concerned.

Steve’s brows shot up in a stunned manner. “Oh, uh, well, not discernibly, no. I do have a history of head trauma, though.”

The nurse’s brows followed Steve’s, now. “Do you?”

He nodded, suddenly sheepish that he had said too much. “Yeah, a lot of…” he tried to come up with a believable excuse other than the truthful ‘tortured by Russians’ story. “School fights. I wasn’t the most reserved kid in high school.” Okay, it wasn’t a full-on lie.

She nodded. “I understand. My sister’s kid is the same way.”

She walked towards Steve with her clacking heels, inspecting his eyes closely. “Would you mind if I took a look? If you do have any concussions, we wouldn’t want you falling asleep right now.”

Steve swallowed, but nodded. He hadn’t hit his head during this endeavor, although it couldn’t hurt to get it checked out. If he did have any traumatic brain issues, it would be great to catch it in the earliest stages.

After about twenty minutes of poking and prodding, checking pupils and scheduling brain scans, she deemed him fine enough to rest, and bid him farewell. He laid down, even more drained and exhausted than before.

He switched off the fluorescent overhead lights and crawled underneath the provided jacket, opting to lie on his enfolded arm instead of remaining pillow-less. It took him a while, turning onto his side to watch Eddie possessively, although he managed to convince himself that it was because the man was unconscious. Perhaps that wasn’t the case, however.

When Steve awoke, Eddie didn’t. Yet, despite his aches, the latter proceeded to stay over continuously, never leaving Eddie’s side for more than a couple of hours. He always returned.

Now, you see, Steve didn’t talk openly to many people regarding his personal life, as he believed it was “unimportant” and “selfish” for him to confide in others, when those such most often dealt with worse situations. The only people to whom he confessed were Robin and sometimes Dustin, and even then, they didn’t know everything .

He didn’t know why he started confiding in Eddie, as unconscious as he was. Perhaps it was to start conversation in that empty room? That was obvious enough. Without Eddie’s interjecting demeanor, every space felt so barren and denuded of joy.

Maybe he trusted Eddie?

Shit, he barely knew the man. Sure, he’d saved his ass a few times, and in favor Steve was recompensing, but he knew enough to want to rescue Eddie. He cared enough not to wish to see him die.

So he spoke to him. Every day, nightly, even. Although he couldn’t respond, Steve felt as if Eddie could hear him, and would have listened even if he wasn’t comatose.

He spoke about his father, his mother, his invisibility to his parents and how they didn’t care enough about him to even remember to feed him properly, which he discovered when he was seven, and all about the tortures he had endured throughout the past few years with those little shitheads that he loved so dearly.

He listened.

Not like he had a choice, but still. Eddie listened.

It was around the sixth day of Eddie’s coma, marking almost a week of a dragging, smoggy, depressional weight that followed the party from room to room. Dustin was waiting for his mom to pick him up from his daily visit at the hospital, when Steve decided to confront the boy about his words a few nights previous.

“Mind if I ask you something, Henderson?” He leaned back in the padded, uncomfortable chair adjacent to Dustin’s.

Dustin nodded. “It’s a free country, Steve.”

A pause established itself as Steve recalled the claim that had gnawed at the back of his mind for the past week. He inhaled slowly. “When I asked you what happened… to Eddie,” -at this, Dustin shifted upright to meet Steve’s gaze, squirming uncomfortably- “You said that… regarding whatever happened, it was me.”

Dustin sighed. “I’m sorry. In retrospect, that wasn’t the most reassuring thing to say, I just…”

“So it wasn’t true? I had nothing to do with it?”

“No,” Dustin met Steve’s gaze with an intensity that the man rarely saw. “You definitely had something to do with it. I know what I heard.”

Steve stuttered out a response. “But- I was nowhere near him? I- how could I have done something?”

“I dunno, but he was talking to you, and it didn’t sound like you were being friendly.”

Steve’s eyes widened. “You heard my voice? Like, speaking?” His tone was low and urgent.

Dustin shook his head. “All I heard was Eddie responding.”

Silence enveloped them, leaving only the noises of beeps and unintelligible conversations, of secretaries retrieving calls and busy feet wheeling cots and medical equipment this way and that. Steve drew in a slow, steadying breath.

“Tell me everything.”

And so forth began Dustin’s rant, his concerning tale, spilling from his lips the moment he was prompted to do so. “He started climbing the rope, but his eyes rolled back like… like Max’s did when Vecna took her, but it was different . He was different.” Dustin swallowed thickly, in anticipation. “He could move, and talk, and do all that normal shit, but he was in a different headspace. He wouldn’t bring his eyes back down to look forwards, or up, or sideways, or fucking anything , y’know?”

He took a deep breath, blinking back inevitable tears. “He started talking to… someone. Maybe it was Vecna, it had to be Vecna, that bastard , but he wasn’t talking to me. It was you .”

He reiterated the dialogue that had been bouncing around in his head mercilessly, barely giving any leeway for the boy to sleep, to do simple tasks, even. “You must’ve been cutting him off a lot, ‘cause he was just dead staring in horror at the end of it all. I don’t know what you were saying, what Vecna made your illusion say, but I think that you eventually backed him into a wall, where I couldn’t see, and when I finally could see, the bats had burst through and fucked him up.”

He pressed his palms to his eyes as slouched forwards on his elbows. “We could’ve been safe, he would’ve been fine, if Vecna hadn’t-” his breath hitched. “Maybe I could’ve saved him, I dunno. It’s probably my fault.”

Steve’s eyes widened, and tiny alarm bells rang throughout his head, the ones that alerted him whenever one of the kids needed support. He leaned forward and enveloped the younger boy in a hug from the side, holding back tears of his own now. “No, you couldn’t have done anything , Dustin. I mean that. You did everything right. ”

Dustin hurtled into his arms, squeezing back tightly and allowing a few stray tears to fall. They held this comforting position until rolling tires sounded and a car horn beeped, signaling that Ms. Henderson had arrived to pick up her son. Sniffing slightly, Dustin wiped his eyes and thanked Steve, bidding him a farewell that would only last until the next day, when he would come and visit once more.

Steve rose and waved to the fumbling woman, concerned over her son’s tears prior to her arrival, and waited until both Dustin and his mother had departed, slowly but surely, as that was how Ms. Henderson drove. Steve headed back inside and sat down on his respective chairs, once again met with the unbearable silence that Eddie was now unable to fill in his unconscious state. He chuckled unhappily into his palm as he sat idly, unsure of what to do.

“You know, Eds, I don’t know how you do it.”

Do what? Steve imagined Eddie would respond.

“How you’re so brave, so okay with all of this shit. We threw you right in, and you just fuckin’ adapted to it, started leading it, even.” Steve folded his hands in his lap, each clasping the other loosely. “I know I told you not to be a hero, but I now see that for you, it’s unavoidable.”

His gaze fell upon Eddie’s resting face. “You were our hero all along.”

Steve hung his head. Shame filled him suddenly, quickly, as he remembered something unaddressed. “I know what I used to be, who I used to be, but I swear I’ve changed. I don’t just sit around and watch Tommy H. and Carol torment innocent people. I… I wish I had changed back then, back when you were the victim.”

“You know, I used to get so worked up about you. I didn’t see why the fuck you stayed neutral with me, not a malicious glance or mean thing you ever shot my way, almost like you knew that I was trapped , stuck in not knowing myself, something you’ve always seemed to have down.” Steve was on a roll, letting his thoughtless words tumble forth. “I used to think about you, just looking at me and staring blankly, and thought, ‘Well? Why doesn’t that freak just hit me, punch me? Kick me, or hug me? What the hell does he want from me, or more importantly, what doesn’t he want from me?’ ”

“And then one day, you did it. You smiled at me . Even after Tommy had slugged you across the face, you merely looked over and smiled at me. Why? Why didn’t you hate me? I was friends with those assholes, and just watched as they tore you apart. So what’s the whole deal with you not hating me?” Steve snapped his gaze back up to face the other, still bed-ridden and unmoving. “Why did you have to make me like you so much ?”

Steve froze, shocked. He hadn’t said that, had he? From the way he was clasping his mouth, it appeared that he had. But it was purely platonic, the thing he had said, right? There was absolutely no way he had said that.

He could barely form a sentence, dry-mouthed as ever. “I’m so sorry, Eddie, if the illusive fake-me said anything horrible to you, it’s not true. I care about you, and I need you to stick around, okay? The kids, they need me and you. I can’t parent them as a one-person team. I need you here.” He grasped Eddie’s limp hand, still warm from the blood flow in his veins. “I love you.”

And there it was, something he could never say to the Eddie that could hear, could speak, and could reject. He still was unclear if that was a friendly, normal thing to say to your attractive, unconscious friend, but he knew that it was true enough. He pressed Eddie’s unadorned knuckles to his lips and kissed his hand, hoping that maybe, just maybe , that would get through to Eddie. Hope.

“I’ll be here when you wake up.”

<> <> <>

Eddie wasn’t sure how long he’d been out.

All he remembered was blacking out, and then the muffled, yet clear and memorable voices of his friends. He was in the hospital, he knew that. He also knew that Steve had been with him the whole time.

He barely remembered being saved, pulled out of that netherworld, and trying to cling to life for his friends, but knowing that he would be lost without them. He needed them.

So hearing Steve say that he needed him too made something change. Especially that I love you that Steve was not careful enough to keep from slipping.

Eddie didn’t want to entertain the thought that maybe Steve was just emotional? So he let himself simply enjoy the confession, whether or not it was a romantic one. He didn’t want to embarrass Steve by showing that he had heard him.

But as Steve leaned over his lazing hand and sobbed, he wished he could have willed his fingers to twitch. To show him he was there. But he couldn’t, couldn’t manage anything besides his regulated breathing and the promise of coming to in the next few days.

That must’ve been what willed his body to wake up.

He awoke when Steve hadn’t, the other’s head slumped against his own chest, still gripping Eddie’s hand tightly. As he slowly awoke, he wondered if it was all a dream. But alas, the fluorescent hospital lights greeted him with a faint glow, not being needed in the early morning light.

He groaned, attempting to move, and did so, but was weakened by his current state and the fact that he hadn’t exercised his muscles for a week. He managed a sort of roll to his side, and weakly squeezed Steve’s hand.

It appeared that Steve was, indeed, a light sleeper, because after a small shake of their interlocked hands, his eyes opened groggily. He murmured something unintelligible, then seemed to realize what was happening. He stood up and lurched forwards, clasping Eddie’s hand with both of his own, eyes wild. “Eddie?!”

The man smiled. “We meet again, Harrington.”

Steve paused for a moment, bottom lip trembling slightly, then surrounded Eddie in a tight hug, almost crushing the life out of him. Eddie chuckled and hugged him back.

“Fuck, dude, careful of the bites.”

Steve slid backwards, surrendering. “Oh, shit, sorry.”

“It’s cool, man. Doesn’t matter.” Eddie laughed, eager to hug Steve again. He attempted to initiate the hug, but was having trouble leaning forwards, so Steve met him halfway.

“I was so fucking scared that we’d lost you, and Henderson was so worried and-”

To Eddie, this rambling was blurring into white noise, all he had truly heard was Steve’s concern. His smile was unfaltering, eyes winding up into the other man’s relieved face, still ranting about the party’s fears and frets.

“- And I told him everything was gonna be okay, but I was- we were all-” Steve stopped, quirking an eyebrow at Eddie, still grinning like a goat. “What? Why are you smirking at me like that?”

“You were worried about me?” He beamed jeeringly.

Steve flushed red, though whether from embarrassment or frustration it was unclear. “Did you not hear anything else I just said?”

“Not really, no.” Eddie admitted, shameless as could be.

Steve huffed. “Stop smiling at me like that, Eds. You’re way too cheerful for someone who just broke through a coma.”

Eddie smirked wider. “What, does my absolute giddiness turn you on, Stevie?”

Steve pressed Eddie in the chest gently, teasing him back. “Maybe, who knows?”

Both men laughed minutely, and as they tapered to a fading stop, they gazed starrily into each other’s eyes. The older lowered his brows, quizzical. “You alright, Steve?”

He didn't shake the trance, even as he answered. “Yeah, just glad to have you back.”

Eddie scoffed. “You look like you wanna kiss me.”

He did shake the trance, then. Blinking and flushing red in the face, turning away. “You wish, Munson.”

After the whole ordeal of calling in doctors, deciding to wait to tell everyone, since they wouldn’t be able to visit if they weren’t immediate family, and finally getting the paperwork processed, both men were exhausted.

Yet there had been something bothering Steve about which he needed to confront Eddie. Once he mustered up the courage to ask the latter, Eddie had fallen asleep.

Tomorrow, Steve told himself. I’ll ask him tomorrow.

He didn’t ask him the next day. Or the next, for that matter. Finally, it had been three days, and Eddie was discharged from the hospital. They both sat on a bench, heads tilted skyward, sort of gazing up idly.

That’s when Steve knew it was that time.

“Hey, Eds?”

“Yeah, Steve?”

He paused. “What happened that night?”

The next moments stung, the silence sharp and alarmed. Eddie took an inhale, dragging and nervous. He closed his eyes.

“You deserve to know, but I’ll warn you, it won’t be pretty.”

Steve turned his head to the other. “I just want the truth.”

Eddie nodded, and folded his hands, pale fingers interlacing with the slightest tremble.

“We were escaping the gate, climbing up the rope, and I got Dustin through, so I scanned the area and started climbing through next. But the moment I did, I heard someone call my name. I couldn’t believe that I recognized that voice, since you shouldn’t have been there, the bats would’ve torn you apart, but there you were.”

“I was in disbelief, utter shock. But you just started moving closer and calling me out on things that I didn’t want to answer.”

Steve interjected quickly, halting Eddie from his painful story. “What was I saying?”

Eddie hesitated, locking eyes with Steve as a depressionable look passed over his face. “That I was in love with you.”

If Vecna had opened a gate directly in front of Steve right then, he couldn’t have been more shocked than he was when Eddie said that. He paused, lips parting slightly in bewilderment. “Is… is it true?”

Eddie turned away, continued on with the story. “You started approaching me, saying these things, accusing me of projecting onto Nance earlier that day. And then you sort of… went to kiss me.”

Dead silence, dragging with Eddie’s rare shame. “And it distracted me for long enough, until you started demeaning me. All I got was cold betrayal, even if it wasn’t true. It- I knew it was fake, then, but you knew- Vecna knew how to just… dig right into the trauma, y’know?” A quiet passed them, leading into the cloudy afternoon air. “Then the bats came, and here we are.”

It was uncomfortably comfortable, if that makes a sort of sense. They felt safe together, being horrified and confused and straight-up astonished, but the roiling guilt that was hanging over Eddie was unbearable. He couldn’t take it anymore.

“I’m sorry.” He muttered, hoping, but not caring if Steve could hear him or not. “I really am, I tried to shut it down, but it’s true. There’s your truth.”

He sighed, continuing. “I’m not ashamed of who I am, Steve. I love myself for it, everyone who has an average intelligence can see it. But I’m sorry that it had to be you.” He scoffed a dry, humorless laugh. “You know, I was actually excited to become your friend? And that went to shit real quick, huh?”

Steve’s gaze stayed adamant on Eddie as the man turned to face him with his form, not with his eyes, though. “It was nice while it lasted.”

Steve decided enough was enough, leaning forwards and grabbing Eddie by the collar of his shirt, pressing tightly to his chest and kissing him. Passionately, like he was making up for lost time. Maybe he was.

Once Eddie overcame his shock, he pushed back into Steve, kissing back and sealing their lips even tighter, if possible. This was right, Steve knew it. This was for what he had been holding his breath, Eddie had been worth the wait.

Their lips were slotted tightly together, but soon from both lack of air and mutual elation, they found their actions becoming sloppier, intertwining tongues and practically merging unitedly with every motion of their bodies, molded together. Finally, they had to break the kiss, however wonderful it had been. They still required air to live.

And inhale they did, panting and gasping as if they had been nearly drowned. Both men kept their foreheads pressed together, tilting their chins towards their chests to make way for the other’s breathing, heavy and weighted with hesitational impatience.

Eddie spoke first. Chuckling, he mumbled, “I assume this means we’re still friends?”

“If friends fall in love with each other, then yes.” Steve laughed breathlessly, surprising Eddie, yet not enough to manage a physical reaction from the man. He wrapped his hand around Eddie’s back of his head, pulling him in closer and allowing Eddie to do the same.

“Oh, Eddie. You have no idea what you do to me.” Steve smiled, eyes still drooping together in passioned exhaustion. “You’ll never know how much I love you.”

Eddie scoffed, pulling Steve’s chin up suddenly, eyes locking onto one another’s’. “Oh, I think I have a pretty good idea.” He chirped before pressing their lips together again softly, less aggressive, yet more passion-filled, like a couple who’d known each other since grade school, or two best friends married in both name and heart. It felt… at home. It was right.

The following weeks returned to normal.

Finally, everyone could breathe without worrying about Vecna, or about the others dying, and whatnot. Everyone was overjoyed to have Eddie back, Dustin most of all, and they finally were able to introduce the Byers to Eddie.

Will, Robin, and Eddie all seemed to be bonding over something that Steve could assume was a subject in which both adults were well-versed. After their long chats at random diners and post-D&D sessions, Will always seemed giddy and more confident. To be honest, Steve felt the same as of recently.

Both Steve and Eddie had recognized the fast feelings between each other, and finally cut the tension by agreeing to be boyfriends. Sure, it was on the down-low, as society wasn’t so accepting of them as Robin and Nancy had been, but they allowed themselves lots of PDA when they were around the kids. It was no wonder that Max caught on first, and as followed, but of course Dustin was the last to figure it out.

Will had explained it to a confused Mike, who seemed surprised until he shrugged. “Figured as much.” They supposed he wasn’t quite as idiotic as they had expected.

The day came about four weeks later, when Dustin came storming up to Steve’s door, stubborn and determined to get an answer out of Steve, although the man didn’t even know the question that Dustin withheld.

He opened the door, peering out at the boy, serious gaze latching onto Steve’s. “Hello?”

“Let me in, I have to ask you something, and I want you to answer honestly.”

Steve scoffed, taken aback. “Uh, no, not right now. Kinda busy.”

“Busy with what? It’s eight-AM, Steve!”

Steve’s brows lowered. “Exactly. Why are you here so early?”

Dustin huffed, as if the answer was obvious. “This is important. Just lemme in, whatever you’re doing, it can’t be that bad.”

He pushed the door open, catching Steve off guard enough to delay his reaction, and shunting past Steve towards his living room.

“No, no, Henderson, get out! I didn’t even invite you-”

“Oh, come on, Steve. You’re basically my mom, it’s not weird for me to be entering your house unannounced.”

“Yes it is!” Steve tried to stop Dustin with an arm, but the boy ducked under it. “Just, dude, lemme tidy up first!”

“I’ve seen worse.” Dustin was reaching the entrance to the living room.

“I don’t think you have-” Steve protested back, an unamused, exasperated laugh behind it.

Dustin made it into said room, and was immediately greeted by Eddie, sitting on the couch in a makeshift sleep-shirt that read ‘Metallica’ in bold, fading letters across the front, and boxer shorts underneath it. He stopped dead in his tracks.

“Morning, Henderson?” He offered unsurely.

Dustin turned to Steve, now flushed in the face with his worn irritation and embarrassment. Shock definitely riddled his own face. “Busy, huh?”

“Shut up.”

Eddie cleared his throat to call attention. “What’s going on?”

“I had a question for Steve, but he wouldn’t answer.” He paused. “Wait a second, why are you here? Did you guys have a sleepover, or something?”

Both men locked eyes. “Or something.” Steve scoffed, glancing away hastily.

Dustin looked between them. “Alright, Eddie can be here for this, just don’t interject.” He pointed a finger at Steve. “Do you like Robin?”

Steve couldn’t help it, he burst into laughter. “What?! No!” His laughing fit died down slowly. “No, no. We’re not into each other like that. She… it’s just not possible.”

“Really? Because you and Eddie keep bonding over something, always giggling around her and shit.”

This time, their gazes met for a prolonged amount of time, pure astonishment and growing humor blooming on their faces. “I’m sorry?” Eddie interjected.

“I know you like Robin. I’ve seen the knowing glances you two give each other.” Dustin narrowed his eyes at Eddie. “All that conniving about certain things, seeming so happy around each other. You’re totally head over heels!”

Now Eddie almost burst into a fit of amusement. “Henderson, you’re a smart kid, but that has got to be the dumbest thing you have ever said.” He snickered, pressing his ring-adorned knuckles to his smirking lips as he usually did for an assortment of reasons.

“If Eddie liked Robin, I think we’d all be disturbed.”

“No,” Eddie cut in, snorting. “Steve, if Robin liked me , I’d straight-up get her a therapist.”

Both men laughed, confusing Dustin in the process. “So, you don’t like Robin?”

“Henderson,” Eddie chuckled, meeting Dustin’s puzzled stare. “I like men.”

Dustin blinked. “Dudes?” Eddie offered, waving his hand vaguely, then pointing to himself. “Gay? I’m gay.”

“Ohh,” Dustin nodded, dazed. “That explains a lot.”

He spun on his heel, facing Steve incredulously. “That still doesn’t explain you . What’s up with you and Robs? Are you guys dating?”

Steve crossed his arms. “What makes you think Robin’s even in my league?”

“I dunno! Stupid people do stupid things!”

Eddie snorted, to which Steve shot him a death glare, shutting him up smugly. “Ouch, Henderson.”

Dustin rolled his eyes. “Like we didn’t all know you’re a dumbass.” Steve once again glared at Eddie, preventing him from showing amusement at the comment. “And besides, you’re dodging the question.”

“What are you even asking?”

Dustin sighed, pinching the area between his eyes in frustration. “Are. You. Dating. Robin?”

“No, Henderson. He’s dating me.”

Dustin twisted towards Eddie. “Oh, ha-ha.”

Eddie quirked a brow. “I’m being serious, Dusty.”

It was like the period at the end of a sentence. Dustin’s face was blank with shock, jaw slightly slack. “No way.” He muttered, pronounced as if every letter was lowercase. “You’re lying.”

Eddie smiled, shaking his head. “Nope.” He grinned, adding a pop on the ‘p’. “Serious as Stevie is about his hair. We’ve been together since I was released from the hospital.”

Dustin whirled back to Steve. “You like guys? I thought you only dated chicks!”

“Demeaning word, Henderson. Controversial.” Eddie remarked from behind Dustin, who blatantly ignored him.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You were mostly oblivious. We didn’t tell anyone, they all just figured it out.” Steve shrugged.

The boy slightly resembled a kicked puppy, hurt plain on his face, however he tried to hide it. “But, why didn’t I get to know first? I’m the closest to you guys!”

Both men felt a slight guilt, though it wasn’t necessary. “Well, Dustin, you know it’s not necessarily safe for us to be open about this, now is it?” Eddie reminded gently, being as kind as he could be with him.

Dustin nodded, looking a little less upset. “That is true, I suppose.”

The silence was clear for a moment, slightly uncomfortable, until Steve surrounded Dustin in a hug. “Thanks for not being shitty, or whatever.”

Dustin laughed. “Least I can do.” Then he gasped and pulled away from Steve, eyes wide in horror. “Wait, so why is Eddie here so early in the morning? Did you guys-”

He covered his mouth, brows lowering in realization. “JESUS CHRIST. Oh GOD, STEVE!” He spun around to face Eddie. “Gross, man! Really? Really ?”

Eddie, on one hand, was too stunned to speak, caught somewhere between bewilderment and riotous laughter. Steve stuttered before reaching for Dustin. “O-okay, dude, it’s not what you think it is-”

“I don’t wanna even think about it. Please, allow me to suffer on my own.” The boy jerked his shoulder away and strode out of the room, defiant.

The silence that stretched in between the two men was prolonged, before Eddie spoke. “You think Henderson’s gonna be chill about it?”

As if on cue, a dry retching noise echoed from Steve’s front door, as if the boy had gagged for extra effect. Steve rolled his eyes, unimpressed. “Yeah, he’s gonna be fine. Leave him to his repulsion.”

“Ah, big words, Harrington. Where have we been learning them?”

Steve stepped over to him to smack him on the arm. “Oh, come on. I’m not as dumb as you think I am.”

Eddie laughed, grasping the man’s hand. “I’d still love you all the same for it.”

He couldn’t help it, he smiled down warmly at his boyfriend, lounging and smug as he was. There was always some sincerity in him, at all times, through his sarcasm too. It was something Steve never thought another person could understand, could relate to with himself.

He bent down, pressing a kiss to Eddie’s lips, genuine happiness, for the first peaceful moment of serenity in four years. They both smiled into it infectiously.

Footsteps became increasingly audible as Dustin entered the room again. “Okay, okay, I think I’m ready to forgive-” He halted immediately, exclaiming disgustedly. “EW! GET A ROOM!”

Dustin shielded his eyes, but Steve groaned and turned to him, placing his free hand on his hip. “This is my damn house, Henderson. I do what I want here.”

“Yeah, I can see that.” The boy grimaced, removing his hand from his face and shuddering. “Eugh.”

Eddie scoffed. “Nice to see you too, Dustin.”

“Oh, don’t give me that.” Dustin huffed, crossing his arms. “You’re just as bad as him.”

“The fuck did I do?”

The boy ignored him, turning to Steve. “So, are you gonna feed me or what?”

Steve sighed, biting back a smile. “I suppose so. Into the kitchen you go, ya’ headache.” He swatted after the boy, who turned and directed himself over to the counter nearby.

As Steve stepped forwards, a hand caught his own. He looked back, meeting the gaze of the man who sat cross-legged now on his couch.

“I love you, but I can’t let you cook. You’ll quite literally burn the place down.”

Steve scoffed incredulously. “Excuse me?” His grin, if anything, widened.

Dustin chimed in. “ Please , Eddie. He may be able to flirt his way out of situations, but he can’t cook for shit.”

“Hey! Respect your elders, you butthead!” Eddie shouted back. “This doesn’t concern you!”

“My personal malnutrition due to being poisoned by your boyfriend is surely my business.”

The two men looked at each other, silently communicating the same thing. Eddie stood.

“We’ll get him back, don’t you worry.” He muttered, smirking at Steve as he passed him and entered the kitchen.

Steve breathed a laugh, watching the two argue, then, about what Dustin should eat. Eddie’s argument wasn’t winning, but he was stubborn enough to shut the boy down. He negotiated pancakes into the mix, which Dustin bitterly agreed upon. The man was smug in his victory, but he hid it well.

Steve wondered, then, if he could ever possibly regret getting involved in the supernatural shit that went down four years ago.

The answer was no. Easily, simply, no. He couldn’t imagine anything better than this.