Work Text:
Wayne knew what would happen if they were caught. He fucking knew… so… so he ignored it. The tension between him and Benny.
Benny, his best fucking friend who worked just as hard as him. Both had after school jobs and both had families to take care of.
Benny, with his baby sister.
Wayne, with his sick mother and shit stain younger brother.
If either of them were caught…if they did what they wished…
Wayne huffed as he loaded his truck up, snapping a glare at any of the alpha that tried to come near him. He wasn't ashamed of being an omega, it was something he took pride in. His mama always told him how strong he was.
But he hated the entitled fuck faces at his job. Being one of the only omega at the farm had its disadvantages.
"Wayne!"
The man looked up and grinned a bit as Benny walked up, little Sally holding his hand.
"Ben. How are you two?"
Ben rolled his eyes before picking up Sally. "We're okay. Sally saw your truck and wanted to stop by."
Wayne felt his heart warm and he looked at Sally. "Is that right, sweetheart? You wanted to see little old me?"
Sally nodded and reached for him, which Wayne easily took her from Benny. Even at three years old, she never talked, never had. Both figured she'd never talk which worried them greatly.
If she presented as an omega….
Wayne nuzzled her and smiled at Benny. "I might just steal her away."
"Oh? She's basically my pup, she'd always come back to me."
There it was, the tension again.
"Anyway, mom wants you to stop by after work, she has some stew for your ma." Benny smiled at him, something a bit softer, a bit sweeter.
"All right. I'll see you then." Wayne can feel the stares. He handed over Sally and nodded to Benny before turning around and getting back to work.
Benny didn't walk off immediately. Wayne listened but there were no footsteps for a moment before there was a sigh.
Something small… almost sad. Definitely longing.
And Wayne almost turned around. But he couldn't… he couldn't risk that.
Couldn't risk them.
He forced the whine that was trying to escape him back and ignored them.
Benny's retreating footsteps sounded loud to him… sounded damning. As if it had been his last chance.
It hadn't been…
Benny and he had played this game of back and forth for years. Long after they grew up, long after Sally left state and long after Wayne's mother passed.
Benny opened his diner and Wayne took a job at the plant and every morning after work, he'd stop in as one of the first customers of the day.
Wayne could tell Benny always wanted to say something, hell, he did too. But even without the people they had to take care of…
Some could tell though.
Most sympathetic, most of them where omega.
Some though…
Wayne’s broken a knuckle or four defending Benny, and he knew how Benny had banned a good few people.
Benny was a friend Chief Hopper after all, which meant those bans where strictly upheld.
Then there was Old Sam… who was one of the older alpha in Hawkins. One of the oldest, in fact.
He had been sitting outside the diner one day, not too long before Eddie moved in, and stopped Wayne as he was leaving.
Old Sam exhaled the smoke from his cigarette and sighed. "You need to do something, kid."
Even at Wayne's age, being called kid by Old Sam felt more like an endearment of some sort. Old Sam had always called him kid and always would call him kid. It was a beloved and comforting thing normal for him.
"You and Benny. I've tried talking to him but you two are as stubborn as they come. You still have some time. Don't lose him, Wayne."
And Wayne? Wayne thought on it. For a week. Maybe if they were careful. Maybe if Wayne quit and started working with Benny.
But then Eddie came along. A tiny skinny little thing. Distrustful and cautious.
Wayne needed the money from the plant. He didn't have time for a love life anymore. He had a pup to take care of.
And as Eddie grew, he knew he kept making excuses why he couldn't be with Benny.
But then….
But then….
He'd always be thankful Hopper waited until Eddie was out of the trailer to tell him.
Hopper caught him as he stumbled and helped him sit down. The alpha stayed by his side the entire time, held him and scented him until Eddie had come home.
To which the younger omega freaked out, trying to cuddle and scenting Wayne as Hopper explained what was going on.
Wayne knew Eddie had a very vague idea of what was going on between the two but neither ever talked about it.
And after Wayne had finally gotten Eddie to go to bed, he sat on the couch. He sat there, staring blankly at his beer and wondered if it had been his fault.
Had he waited too long? Was it all too much for Benny? Had the waiting and dancing finally drove Benny to snap?
Wayne would always be ashamed of that night, because it was the only night he broke out his whiskey, the only night Eddie ever found him drunk.
Eddie had given up his bed that night for Wayne; had slept on the floor next to him and did everything he could for him the next morning.
That day was the first time in years Wayne had made a nest, right in his living room.
And then Sally knocked on his door.
The alpha let out a sob seeing him and all three ended up in his nest, Wayne introducing her to Eddie. It was one of the few times he ever heard her talk.
Sally let Wayne plan the funeral, and both had gone through his small home.
It nearly killed him. Because everything he had ever left with Benny, mostly clothes, pillows, and blankets, sat in a guest room.
It took three days before Wayne could step foot back into the house.
He doesn't know how he stayed calm during the funeral. Sally, Eddie, Old Sam, and Hopper all stood by him that day. And for a while afterwards, there's just a blank in his memories. One moment he's staring at the casket, the next he's staring at Eddie.
Eddie who's hair is a bit longer, and had a black eye but he's standing at the stove cooking dinner and talking about his day and how there will be enough leftovers for his lunch for work.
Wayne blinked as Eddie turned to look at him before freezing, eyes wide.
"Wayne?" His voice was small, scared, and hopeful.
"Shit… shit, Eds-"
Eddie was in his arms before he could finish, sobbing as he buried his face in Wayne's neck.
"You left me… you left me, Wayne. And I didn't know of you'd come back!" He wailed, clinging to the man.
Wayne clung to him, one hand gripping the back of his head. "I'm sorry… so fucking sorry, pup…" Wayne held him close, both scenting each other.
He missed so much in a short time and he would never forgive himself for that.
And over the next few years, things slowly fell back into a semi-normal routine. Even with the weird fuckshit that was happening around town.
Then Starcourt happened, Hopper died and it was as if a rug was ripped from under him.
Old Sam stayed with him - them - then. For someone so old, he moved around pretty well. Eddie liked him well enough too. But he eventually went back home and it was just the two of them again.
And then Spring Break of 86 happened.
And his Eddie, his pup was hunted down.
And then the earthquake.
And suddenly he was being brought to the hospital in a government car.
Eddie was in surgery. And stayed in surgery for ten hours. And sure, he recognized the names of some of the pups that introduced themselves, but his main worry was Eddie.
Until he head screaming.
It wasn't his pup, but it was an omega, an extremely distressed omega.
"I NEED TO SEE HIM!" the boy roared.
Wayne was curious, he couldn't see behind the doors but-
"EDDIE!"
Wayne stood up quickly along with everyone else.
A beta girl rushed past him only to be grabbed by the guards.
"Let me go! Ste- STEVE!" The girl struggled as the older pups started yelling at the guards.
It was chaos. Complete chaos.
Until
"HEY!" a very familiar voice echoed and Wayne snapped around to see Hopper standing there.
Then there was more chaos until the man roared "QUIET!"
It was then Wayne was let in on everything. Absolutely everything.
Benny hadn't killed himself. It wasn't his fault… he hadn't done that…
But he had still waited too long… much too long.
The moment he was able to see Eddie, he found the other omega.
The boy, Steve, was sitting next to the bed, a second bed next to them, holding Eddie's hand as if he had been something precious to him.
He hadn't noticed Wayne yet, the man frozen at the door. He watched as Steve kissed Eddie's hand.
"You promised me a date… you promised… so you gotta wake up… please wake up…"
Wayne felt something bubble up inside of him before he moved to the omega and sat next to him.
Steve looked at him, startled. And then the tears started again. "I tried, Mr. Munson.. I told him not to be a hero, I told him to run. I-I-"
Wayne pulled him close and Steve collapsed into him, sobbing.
"Why didn't he listen to me? He's supposed to be here, why didn't he listen?!"
Wayne let out a quiet sob and held Steve close, rocking him. "He'll wake up. He's a tough pup. He's strong. He'll wake up."
Steve gripped onto him, nodding and Wayne hesitated before scenting Steve, the omega whining weakly. Steve slumped even more, sighing.
"Come on, pup. Go lay down. I'll wake you up. I promise."
"But-"
"No. Go to sleep. You both need rest."
It took a bit more to get Steve in bed and even longer for the pup to fall asleep.
Wayne held Eddie's hand the entire time and once he was sure Steve was asleep, he spoke.
"You just couldn't do anything easy, could you?" Wayne whispered weakly. "You never have…. Eddie… Eds…" Wayne sighed. "Why did you have to take after me?"
Wayne groaned as he walked into the Harrington house, still not used to living here even after being here for a few months
But it was a nice home. There was warmth in it, after the Harringtons signed it over to Steve.
It felt like a home.
"Hey, pop!"
Wayne looked up as Steve poked his head out of the kitchen.
"I'm making a full breakfast. What do you want?"
Eddie's head popped out, his face red and eyes blown and he KNOWS the two were going at it before he walked in.
"Just some eggs for me."
"Eggs and toast, got it."
Wayne rolled his eyes before he took off his boots.
"Morning, Mr. Munson," Robin mumbled as she passed him, still in her pajamas.
He chuckled, long given up making her call him Wayne.
It was a calm morning.
Not so calm in the afternoon.
Wayne stood at the grill with Hopper as the pups, but younger and older, ran around the backyard. Eddie's small pack in Corroded merging with the Party's pack easily.
But as he looked around, he stopped at the sight of Eddie, gently leading Steve into the pull, the omega hesitant, even to this day.
Eddie never let go of his hands as he led them chest deep before he pressed his forehead to Steve's. Wayne couldn't hear them, but Steve nodded against him and Eddie smiled softly, pecking his lips.
Robin teased gently and some of the pups gagged but no one seemed put out by the two omega; all happy for them, in fact.
And Wayne felt something tug at his heart. Because maybe, he had been braver, that could have been him and Benny.
Maybe, if he had followed Old Sam's advice, he'd have Benny by his side.
He wasn't bitter that Eddie was getting the happy ending he wanted. But all he could think about was all the wasted time.
He wouldn't get his happy ending because his happy ending died in 1983.