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For many years, the fire and anvil were Wayne Munson’s only love. He had been put on this earth to mold and bend its elements in order to create tools for those who tend the fields. Rarely in all his years as a blacksmith had he done more than repair sickles, horseshoes, and wheels for the carts of his fellow common folk. He was a worker for the peasantry. Something he felt was a good use of his time, regardless of how little it paid. Thus, Wayne had found weapon smithing and repair to be an unnecessary avenue to pursue. That caliber of weaponry was for those who could afford it. The royals and the knighthoods all had their own personal smiths. Wayne could always make an Ax to chop a tree, but he’d be damned if he ever forged a sword for battle.
Regardless, if a little boy wanders into Wayne’s forge teary-eyed with a bent-up play sword? Wayne is suddenly the most qualified swordsmith in the damn realm. The kid can't be older than five or six, maybe a year younger than his brother’s kid, with big hazel eyes and fluffy brown hair. The clothes he wears indicate that he is of noble stock, yet he is incredibly polite and shy as he asks Wayne for help. He explains that he bent his sword playing in the woods when he wasn’t supposed to, and he couldn’t bring the sword to the family smith because his father would punish him. The older man wants to argue that he would probably benefit from the lesson, but the fear in the kid’s eyes when he mentions his dad has him taking the toy and asking for the kid's name. He tells Wayne his name is Stephen.
Thankfully, the bend will be easy to hammer out with some high heat and quick strikes. Wayne beckons the boy to sit on a barrel near the forge as he begins to work. Stephen is quiet at first, probably taught to be, so Wayne starts asking him questions about his hobbies and friends. The man can easily admit that he’s gruff, his little niece had called him out on it plenty, but he could be gentle if he set his mind to it. After some prodding, the kid opens up quickly, telling the man all about his friend Tommy (who sounds like a little shithead) as well as his interest in sword fighting and jousting. He wants to be a knight, he says. He wants to slay monsters and help people. In turn, Wayne tells him about how the forge works. He talks about his brother’s own kid, how precocious and smart she is for her age, and how much she loves plants and music. There’s no doubt that Eddie would find young Stephen boring, but she was simply at that age where all boys were stupid to her.
After about an hour, Wayne finishes the sword. It’s passable enough for a toy, but he can’t say he’s not proud, especially with the way the boy looks between him and the sword with that childlike awe. Stephen digs around in his pockets and pulls out a few gold coins to give him, but Wayne just waves it off. Tells him that so long as he becomes the brave kind hero he wants to be, he’ll have more than paid Wayne back. Stephen smiles big, promising with a cross over his heart, before running off.
It isn’t until hours later that Wayne notices the coins left next to his tools. It isn’t until 3 years later that Wayne finds out that Stephen is Stephen Harrington. Son of Lord and Lady Harrington, the wealthiest nobles in Hawkins and the most promising young squire in the royal knighthood. Destined for bigger and grander things, the boy would fade to the back of Wayne’s mind as he returns to his simple existence, but he would always remember the sweet kid with a good heart that just needed some simple kindness.
Fourteen years would pass before Wayne and Stephen would cross paths again.
—
The afternoon sun is warm as it beats down on the canopy covering Wayne’s forge. It had been a busy morning, busier without Eddie’s help, the younger Munson having swanned off out the door to pick herbs in the forest. He dumped the last red hot hay fork into the barrel of water before setting it aside to wipe off his brow. It’s times like these that he would love to bring on a second set of hands. Eddie offered to help him more often than not, but the kid just wasn’t made for smithing work, bless him.
Wayne goes to drink from his flagon as the telltale sound of armor comes clunking into earshot. He sighs, the knighthood these days had really fallen off in terms of keeping the peace if you asked him. The fresh faces out of training were often too big for their britches and liked to throw around their rank and status to cause problems for the common folk. More often than not, Eddie found himself at the end of those situations. Munsons aren’t known for just laying down and taking abuse, and Wayne’s respect around the village only stretched so far. All that said, Wayne tried his best to avoid the knights if he could, but sometimes it was inevitable.
“Whatever problems you have with us you take up with Sir Hopper. Town business goes through him and you know it.” Wayne rattles off like nothing, having gone through this several times before.
“Oh! Um, I’m sorry?” The approaching person sounds confused, “This is a blacksmith right?”
This causes the older man to turn. There, shifting from foot to foot and looking very nervous, is Sir Stephen Harrington. He’s grown into a fine young man, tall and broad-shouldered with a very impressive head of hair, but Wayne thinks he still has the same big, sad, brown eyes of the little boy he helped out all those years ago.
“Yes,” Wayne replies, “This is my forge.”
“Oh good,” Stephen sighs out in relief, “It’s been so long I was worried that maybe you wouldn't be around anymore. You see I was hoping you could…”
As the kid continues to talk, Wayne takes in his appearance. He’s not wearing the standard armor kit of the Knighthood. Instead wearing the grieves, shoulder guards, and bracers, and then a chest guard and thick leather tunic. He looked more like an adventurer than a royal knight. Stephen also is regarding him with that same level of politeness from years ago. A quick look at the boy’s side reveals the purpose of his visit. An ornate sword, tarnished from use, sits on his hip with the handle bent out of place. The Harrington insignia glared in the afternoon sun.
“I don’t do weaponry,” Wayne grunts on autopilot. He winces a little bit as the kid’s face falls and his shoulders slump.
“Right. Right, sorry, I just thought…”Stephen rubs his eyes tiredly, “Well I suppose it doesn’t matter. Sorry to bother you, sir.”
Damn, Wayne doesn’t think anyone has looked more like a kicked puppy than this kid does right now. He’s heard plenty about Sir Harrington from the whole town. Eddie especially loved to talk about too-good-for-it-all Steve with his rich parents and handsome face and his many maidens vying for his attention while his little “friends” harassed Eddie and his people endlessly. Hardly the hero a 5-year-old would dream of being. Looking at him now though, Wayne still sees that sad and alone little boy from before, looking for kindness in a world where Wayne knows he’s not getting it.
“Hold it there, Stephen,” Wayne calls out to him. The kid stops and turns to him, “Is it just the handle that's busted?”
He blinks, before sliding his sword out of the sheath and presenting it to Wayne, “Yeah! Uh yes, the handle.”
Wayne looks it over, it’s similar enough to some of the tool handles that he’s worked with in the past that he could get it back into working shape, “I’ll have to hammer out the family crest is the only problem.”
“Really?” the boy lights up before reigning it in slightly, “I mean that’s perfectly fine. I need the sword more than I need the decoration.”
Interesting. The older man nods, taking the sword over to the forge so that he can get to work. He figures that Stephen will have some things he has to do about town, so he calls out behind him, “I’ll have ‘er all fixed in about an hour, Sir Harrington.”
“Ok!” Wayne startles as the kid’s reply is far closer than he anticipated. He turns to see Stephen sitting on the workbench near the forge watching him, “Also please, call me Steve.”
The older man nods and returns to his work. Steve, to his surprise, begins to try and chat with him. He asks about his work that day and if he’s been out to see the jousting tournaments. Wayne politely answers his questions, pleased at how friendly the young man is.
“How is your niece?” Steve asks eventually, “You mentioned her before, is she-”
“Don’t have a niece no more.” Wayne replies sharply, “She’s gone.”
Steve is obviously taken aback by the tone change, “I-I’m so sorry to hear that Wayne.”
Wayne takes a measured breath. He shouldn’t have snapped like that. He’s protective and he knows it. He’s always been protective of Eddie. When Eddie had come to him years ago, parents nowhere to be found, Wayne took him in with no questions asked. He loved his nephew, even when he had disappeared into the woods for a year only to come back more boyish than ever before. When he told Wayne that Eddie was now short for Edward and not Edith. That was Wayne’s boy, no matter what the folks around town thought of him, Eddie would always have his Uncle to go home to.
Steve can’t have known any of that. Probably doesn’t even know Wayne’s surname. So he apologizes, “Sorry, kid, you’re fine. It’s ok that she’s not around anymore…My nephew is just as smart and fiery as he’s always been.”
A look of understanding passes over Steve’s face as he nods along. They’re silent for a while, only the tink tink tink of Wayne’s mallet filling the air. Wayne looks over at Steve, he looks perfectly content. His eyes are closed and his head is leaned against his hand in his lap. None of the rigidness of knight training is present in him. Eventually, Wayne’s curiosity gets the better of him.
“I’m surprised you came to me for this.” Wayne does his best to sound nonchalant, “The Knighthood’s private forge coulda fixed this no problem. Maybe even could’ve gotten you a new sword.”
Immediately, Steve’s posture becomes uncomfortable, “That's…not really an option to me anymore seeing as I withdrew from the knighthood…”
Wayne pauses his work to stare at the boy. The son of the most affluent family in Hawkins withdrew from the knighthood. He was shocked that he hasn’t heard anything around town about it yet. He’s sure that Steve’s father has not taken the news well at all. He can’t help but wonder, “Now why would you do something like that?”
Steve sighs like he’s been holding onto this a long while, “I wasn’t keeping my promise.”
The smith regards him curiously but then he remembers. He promised he’d become a brave and kind hero who helped others and asked for little in return. Wayne doesn’t know much about Steve’s life aside from rumors, but based on those and Steve’s response he’ll say that none of it is far off. The boy before him looks so dejected and closed off like he’s past redemption despite being just shy of 20.
“Well, son, there’s still plenty of time for that,” he plunges the hilt into the water barrel, “And the next step to that is having a serviceable weapon.”
He hands the sword off to Steve, who is rooted to his spot with a faraway look in his eyes. This boy has no business looking as burdened as he does for how old he is. Wayne can’t help but wonder what has been happening to him, but he obviously needed to hear what Wayne had said.
“Thank you, Wayne.”
He nods, “Of course kid, now go on and get out of here. There’s still a lot left to do.”
Steve nods, “Of course of course, here’s my payment for your work. Then I’ll get out of your hair.”
Wayne does allow Steve to pay him this time and leaves him with, “Come back any time, Steve, and I'll sort out your weapon, ok?”
The boy nods sheepishly and waves him goodbye before heading down the path toward town. Not but 5 minutes later, Eddie comes into view, his basket full of plants and his guitar sitting on his back. He looks perplexed and flustered, a telltale pink dusting his cheeks. He greets Wayne and sets down his basket to perch on the work table.
“Why on earth did I see Sir Harrington on his way back from out here?” Eddie asks, combing a hand through his unruly locks.
Wayne hums in response, acting aloof because he thinks it’s funny how it riles his nephew up, “Who Steve? You saw him?”
Sure enough, Eddie’s eyes bug out of his head, “Saw him? I about ran him over! Also since when are you on a first-name basis with Sir Stephen Harrington?!”
“The boy came out for some help with his sword, that's all.” Wayne explains, “No funny business.”
Eddie doesn’t look like he believes him but concedes nonetheless and goes on to chatter about his day. Privately, Wayne thinks that Eddie and Steve could get along if they weren’t so different.
—
The next time Wayne sees Steve comes far sooner than he expects. He had been in town earlier chatting with Sir Hopper, head of the town guard. The man had asked Wayne for a favor. Apparently, one of his newest charges had gone and damaged his sword in an…interesting way while out on patrol in the woods. Ever since Steve’s first visit, Wayne has been refreshing his knowledge of swordsmithing and Hopper was hoping that the other man could help him out. The kid only had the one sword and neither he nor Hop could afford to get a new one.
It had been a slow day otherwise, so he was just waiting for Hop’s kid to come by basically. He has Eddie bopping around the forge today, not working but keeping Wayne company and playing his guitar. Most of the time, he’d go into town or go look for herbs to sell to the healers, but he seems more than happy to drape himself all over Wayne’s workstations and serenade his dear Uncle with his silly tales. Wayne knew it was partially to do with Sir Hargrove being present in town. That young man was a real piece of work.
Eddie is singing about a one-eyed giant when the shrill sounds of children’s voices are heard down the path. Wayne’s back is turned to the path, but whoever Eddie sees makes him choke on his lyrics and make an awful sound with his instrument. The older man turns and sees none other than Steve Harrington coming up the way, brows pinched in frustration as four kids orbit around him. The kids, two girls, and two boys, are all talking at Steve and at each other so fast and loud that they could hear them from 100 feet away. Finally, Steve stops and plants his hands on his hips.
“Hey! You brats need to settle down! I don’t need you causing a racket for Mr. Munson when he’s being nice enough to do me and Hop a favor. So best behavior, got it?” The boy belts out in a stern yet hilariously motherly tone. Wayne can’t help but look over at his nephew, who seems unable to peel his gaze away from the other boy.
The kids for their part, groan and roll their eyes at Steve, but do continue down the way with him in a more subdued manner. Eddie straightens up and adjusts his collar and hair quickly. Wayne raises a brow at him.
“What are you doin’ boy?” he asks him.
Eddie startles. Caught out, he scowls, “Don’t worry about it, old man.”
The approaching group appears to have noticed the pair. The two boys cheer as they see Eddie, running down the path towards him. They must be some of the kids that listen to Eddie in the town square. Steve seems to stop in his tracks as Eddie slinks out from under the canopy. A flush graces his own features as he straightens out his tunic. Interesting. Wayne sees the girls watch their companion with confusion, but Steve’s eyes never leave Eddie as he comes forward.
“Steve!” the curly-haired boy shouts, “You didn’t tell us Eddie would be here!”
The boy shrugs in response, “I didn’t know he would be here either, but i guess it would make sense that Mr. Munson was your uncle.”
Eddie, keen to make a scene, gives Steve mock applause, “What an astute observation, Sir Knight! And here I thought you were all hair and no brain.”
Steve flushes with embarrassment. Wayne decides it’s time to swoop in before this gets more out of hand, “It’s good to see you, kid. What brings you out my way?”
“Oh!” Steve chuckles sheepishly as if he forgot why they came out here, and drags his gaze away from Eddie, “Sorry, Wayne. Hopper sent me out here so you could look at my sword.”
Huh. “I didn’t realize you had joined the town guard.”
Steve nods, “Hopper has been kind enough to take me on. We’ve been uh…dealing with the infestations of creatures in the woods.”
“Steve saved us!” the curly-haired kid butts in again, “It was so cool! He saved us from a hellhound that attacked us in the woods.”
“You guys shouldn’t have been in the woods in the first place!” Steve lectures, tiredly.
“A hellhound?” Eddie interjects, sounding amazed, “You took down a hellhound?”
This time, Steve smirks proudly, “I took down three.”
One of the girls rolls her eyes, “Quit bragging.”
Steve just sticks out his tongue at her. It’s nice, this time around Steve looks more at ease and comfortable.
“Why don’t you show me your weapon and I’ll see what I can do.” Wayne chuckles.
The ex-knight seems apprehensive, but pulls the pack off of his back and pulls out…
“What the hell did you do?!”
Eddie and the kids cackle loudly at his uncle’s outburst but how could he not?! Steve has presented his sword to be repaired and the damn blade has been curled into a loop!
Hopper owes him BIG TIME.
“Eh heheheh” Steve laughs nervously, hand rubbing the back of his neck, “the uh, hounds were really interested in playing tug-o-war…”
Wayne sighs heavily but puts on a brave face. He could fix this…probably. Can’t be any different than when Benny’s iron door handle got wedged and twisted by a heavy wardrobe falling on it.
“You can tell us all about what happened while I work this…bend out,” Wayne suggests, gingerly taking the sword from Steve.
The kids cheer and even Eddie gets situated so that he can listen to Steve recount his battle in the woods. Sidling up beside the other boy to strum his guitar quietly. There are several moments where Steve obviously gets distracted by the playing and other times where Eddie hams it up much to the delight of the kids, but overall it's lighthearted. The story itself, from what Wayne could gather in between detangling the blade, was not. Steve, Hopper, and the other town guards were investigating the disappearances in the woods. They were frustrated with the Knighthood’s lack of urgency in taking care of things so they went off on their own. Turns out the woods surrounding Hawkins were crawling with creatures that were attacking anyone passing through. They had tried to take one of the kids' friends and had killed one of Lady Wheeler’s handmaids. That was why Steve got involved and subsequently withdrew from the knighthood. Steve had come across the kids when they wandered off into the woods in search of their missing friend. With Steve, and eventually Hopper’s help, they were able to find him and bring him home.
“I must say, I’m impressed Sir Knight,” Eddie grins at Steve from behind a piece of his hair, “You sound like a real hero these days. I’m sure all of the maidens can’t get enough of you.”
Steve just scoffs, “It was the right thing. The people who were supposed to be doing something weren’t so I found the people who were. It was the right thing and I don't regret it at all.”
Eddie looks on thoughtfully, “I suppose it was.”
“We’ve still got a lot of work to do.” Steve gets up and heads over to Wayne. It’s been about two hours at this point, but he was able to straighten out the blade and re-sharpen it, “There are still pockets where the creatures are coming out, we have to find them and close them.”
“Gods above,” Wayne mutters, turning to his nephew, “I want you to stay out of the woods until they get this sorted out.”
“What? No way!” Eddie protests, “I have to go collect my herbs for the market!”
“I won’t hear none of it, Ed. We can scrape by for a while if it means keeping you safe.” Wayne says with a tone of finality. Sure, the extra income was helpful, but the thought of losing his nephew was too much to bear.
“I could go with him.” Steve blurts out. They all look at him in surprise, “I mean I could accompany him and watch his back while he gathers. I couldn’t go all the time but-“
Eddie cuts him off, face flushed with embarrassment, “I don’t need a babysitter! I’m not a child.”
Wayne can’t help but roll his eyes at the boy’s dramatics, “No one’s saying you are. It’s an awfully kind thing Steve is offering right now and I’ll tell ya that I won’t see you go out there on your own. I won’t lose you like I did your folks, Eddie.”
All the fight rushes out of the kid at the mention of his parents. Wayne doesn’t like to play that card, but it’s important that Eddie knows the gravity of the situation. He lets out a big sigh before sliding up into Steve’s personal space. Steve doesn’t move away, but he does get flustered by Eddie’s attention.
“You’ll take good care of me out there, won’t you Sir Big Boy?”
One of the girls watching the whole exchange with interest mutters out an ‘Oh my god’ while the other kids try to press her for an explanation. Steve for his part lights up like a firework and begins to mutter out assurances and brush off Eddie’s fluttering eyelashes. Wayne chuckles, his boy has always been a little charmer, and Steve is falling right into his web. If Steve is half the hero everyone sees him as he’ll take the challenge in stride.
—-
The young Sir Harrington was around quite a bit after that. Eddie, despite his need to go against authority, stayed out of the woods until Steve came ambling up the path. He always chatted with Wayne while he got the forge fired up for the day. The pair of boys would leave together and be gone most of the day. In the beginning, it was a little dicey. One or both of the boys would come stomping out of the woods with red cheeks and furrowed brows, sometimes still bickering with each other. From what Wayne had gathered, Steve was too stern and protective for Eddie’s liking and Eddie was incredibly good at uncovering Steve’s insecurities and faults. So the two just took turns pissing each other off all day. Yet, Steve still showed up to accompany Wayne’s boy into the woods. Lord knows why, perhaps out of some sense of penance, but Wayne suspected that there was something else simmering between the two. He worried that their respective egos would keep them from seeing it.
Then it happened.
It was late one evening, so late that Wayne had closed down the forge and started on dinner, and he was up pacing around the cottage he and his nephew shared.
Eddie and Steve had not returned yet.
They had always come back before the sun went down because the monsters patrolling the forest became more active at night. The only ones allowed out past then were the town guard. Wayne could only assume the worst for his boy the longer the night stretched on. Hopper had once described to him what the creatures looked like. Almost human-like bodies with heads that opened like petals, canine-adjacent critters that were the same, and the bats… Wayne shuddered, pulling on his coat and grabbing a mallet. Screw the curfew, he was going to get his boys.
Thankfully, he didn’t have to go far before he heard Eddie’s voice calling out. However, his nephew’s cries for help spur Wayne through the trees. Just a little beyond the tree line of the cottage, Wayne finds his nephew. He’s crying, covered in blood, but most of it seems to belong to the man whose head lies in his lap.
“Dear god,” Wayne breathes.
Steve lays still where Eddie cradles his cheek, his other hand pressing against a large gash on his side. Aside from the biggest wound, his clothes look shredded beneath his armor. His eyes are barely open and he’s breathing incredibly shallow. At his hip lies what was definitely once his sword, the tip of the blade now seemingly half melted and gone. By the gods.
“Wayne…” Eddie sobs. The boy himself looks disheveled but otherwise unharmed.
Wayne is already moving to Steve’s side as he asks Eddie: “What on earth happened?!”
“The fucking Knighthood,” Eddie spits, “That shit Hargrove and his buddies were harassing me and Steve…Steve stepped in. Hargrove got Steve with his blade and it attracted one of those demogorgons. Those cowards ran off when it attacked us!”
Eddie and Wayne managed to get under the other man and lift him, carrying him back toward the Munson cottage. They got Steve inside and laid him out on one of the beds before Eddie began removing his armor.
Suddenly Steve groans, the first sign that he’s still alive besides his shallow breathing. Eddie rushes to him, smoothing back his sweaty bangs,“This isn’t how i imagined you’d get me out of my clothes, Munson.”
“Stevie, I’m so glad you’re alive still but please stop talking.” Eddie sniffles as he goes rummaging through his herbs, he comes back with a healing salve that Joyce had given them.
“You sure I'm still alive?” Steve smiles, delirium settling in his smile, “Because you look like an angel to me.”
He tries (and fails) to lift a hand to a shocked Eddie’s face but is only able to lift his hand an inch off the bed. Eddie turns to look at Wayne, flustered and incredibly distraught, “He's lost his mind!”
Wayne would laugh if the situation were less dire, “We have to get the healer. That remedy will keep him until we can get Joyce here.”
“I’m not leaving him,” Eddie says sharply, “He…it’s my fault that he’s hurt.”
“Oh Ed,” Wayne sighs, “I wasn’t gonna ask you to. I’ll go, you keep him cool and clean him up a little til I get back. He’ll be ok, I promise, but I gotta go now.”
Eddie nods, going to collect some water and cloth as Wayne takes off toward town. He got to Joyce’s home only to find Hopper and his kid already there looking for Steve. Then, they were all on their way back to Wayne’s. The kids aside from Hopper’s daughter El were instructed to stay home until they could guarantee that Steve would be ok. It was well into the evening before they were able to get Steve stable. Eddie was beside himself, holding tightly to Steve’s limp hand and muttering how this was all his fault. It took the combined effort of Wayne and Hop’s little girl to calm him down. The older adults decide it’s too risky to move Steve so he should remain at the Munson cottage until he could move around again. Joyce and Hopper promised to check in often before heading back off to fill in the others.
“You should have seen it, Wayne,” Eddie chuckles softly, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone swing a sword like Steve does. It’s almost like he’s trying to do damage with every part of the sword but the blade.”
Wayne eyes the melted mess that was Steve’s sword sitting on the dining table. He already knew well enough that he would be fixing it the best he could. There was no other way he could think to repay Steve for protecting his boy.
It's two days later when Steve comes to. Wayne had forced Eddie into town to pick up some food from the market. He has just stepped into the house to clean his face of soot from the fires when he hears the sounds of someone groaning and stirring from the bed nook where Eddie sleeps. Wayne rushes to get some water and a rag before hurrying to Steve’s side.
“Easy there, boy, Stay down.” He urges Steve back into a reclined position, “We were beginnin’ to worry you’d sleep forever.”
“Mmgh…” Steve grunts, pained, “What the hell happened?”
Wayne wipes the sweat from the boy’s face, “You had yourself a nasty run-in with one of them creatures the other day. You and Eddie, you got hurt pretty bad.”
Steve gasps loudly and tries to sit up again, “Eddie! Where is he? I’ve got to-”
“Woah woah, slow down son,” the Smith eases him down again, “Eddie’s safe, he’s in town with Jim and his kid. He’s alright.”
The boy looks up at Wayne desperately, but starts to calm down, “He’s ok? He’s safe?”
Wayne nods, floored by how harried Steve had become, “That’s right, Steve. You protected him. You kept him safe and brought him home. He’s been out of his mind worrying about you.”
Steve settles back against the pillows with a relieved sigh, “Good. That’s good…I’m glad he’s ok.”
After letting Steve drink some water, Wayne couldn’t stay quiet, “I can’t even begin to thank you for taking care of my boy, Steve. He’s the only thing I’ve got worth anything in this world besides the forge.”
The knight waves a hand as if to brush off the praise, “I was just doing my duty-”
“None of that now,” The man persists, “Eddie told me about the Knighthood too. You stood up to more than just a monster in actual form, Steve. That isn’t part of the duty and Eddie knows it too. So thank you.”
Steve is quiet for a long while before he nods, “Maybe you could repay me by fixing my sword for me.”
He chuckles like it was supposed to be a joke, but Wayne just chuckles back, “Boy it took me one whole day just to reform the blade. I got her in working order though, so you best be careful next time.”
Wayne laughs again at Steve’s wide-eyed stare of surprise and timid nod when all of a sudden the door swings open. Eddie comes trundling in with a very full basket in his arms.
“Wayne, they didn’t have the cheese you-” His nephew looks up and gasps when he notices Steve sitting up and alert in bed. He almost drops the basket as he flies across the room and to Steve’s side. He grabs him around the shoulders and crushes his head to his chest. Steve grunts in discomfort but doesn’t move.
“Oh thank the gods you’re ok,” Eddie whispers hoarsely, pulling away and holding Steve’s face in his hands. They stare at each other for a few seconds, Steve smiling sheepishly with a red face before Eddie lets go and socks Steve on his uninjured shoulder.
“OW! Fuck!” Steve shouts.
“Edward Munson!” Wayne chastises.
“Don’t you EVER scare me like that again, Harrington!” Eddie bellows, “There will be Hell to pay! You big dumb hero!”
“If this is how I’m to be repaid, I’ll let the damn thing eat you next time!” Steve fires back, but there’s no heat behind it. Then quietly he adds, “I’m sorry for scaring you, but I’d do it again if it kept you safe.”
Wayne sees the color flush Eddie’s face as he wordlessly picks up the rag and holds it to Steve’s chest to wipe away more sweat. He thinks back to Steve’s delirium and all of the passes he had made at his boy. He thinks of the sketches that Eddie had been making as he sat at Steve’s bedside. It’s too soon to say anything to either of them, but Wayne can see the spark between them slowly becoming a flame.
—
Things shift again after that fateful week. Once Steve heals enough, he’s back to his knightly duties. He would go out to fight monsters and Eddie would sit at home and worry, only to come back just fine. These duties apparently also include training up a few of those kids that always seem to be trailing behind him. Sometimes they’ll even come out and practice their swordsmanship in the clearing near the Munson’s forge. He gets a glimpse of what Eddie was talking about before. Steve wields his sword in a very…nontraditional way. It would almost be fitting for a different type of weapon. Wayne knows Eddie thinks so too based on the increasing number of sketches involving spears, swords, and tools of that manner.
Speaking of his kid, Eddie has begun trailing Steve more as well. The pair of boys bickering and joking with each other to amuse the children. Wayne can see it though, the lingering touches and longing glances when the other is occupied. Steve will still come by to take Eddie into the woods, just the two of them. Eddie waiting patiently for his knight to come to the window and beckon for him. Returning late into the evening whispering quietly to each other. Steve hangs on every word as Eddie tells a story, always having a hand on his back when it seems he might fall. Yes, Wayne was certain they were smitten with each other. He reckons it’s only a matter of time before Steve comes to him about courting. Hopper thinks so too, based on his groaning about dowries and ceremonies when Wayne visits him in town.
Then, Steve is called away to investigate a disappearance. A girl from town had gone to pass through the forest on a trip but had not returned. Only her belongings and scorched earth were left behind. The town guard could only presume it to be a dragon. A dragon would mean trouble for the nobility, so the Knighthood was to be dispatched to look for the thing. Since Steve had begun to make a name for himself as a heroic fighter for the town guard, his father Lord Harrington had commanded him to join the search. Wayne had scoffed at this, cursing that man for not seeing all the good Steve had been doing for the town unless it was good for him. Steve, ever loyal to protecting the people, agreed to go.
Eddie, Wayne, and the rest of their little group had seen Steve off at the edge of town. Eddie grabbing his hands and whispering for him to be careful. Despite the jeering of the men from the Knighthood, Steve and Eddie shared a scorching look before Steve nodded and they took off. The next few days consisted of Eddie’s nervous habit of pacing around their cottage and tuning his guitar while he tried to convince Wayne (read: himself) that Steve was going to be just fine.
On the third day of this, Dustin had come running down the path declaring that the Knighthood and Steve were just about to get back into town. Eddie was bolting towards town before the kid was halfway finished. Wayne had work to take care of so he chose to stay behind and finish his tasks knowing that the boys would most likely return together.
Except they did not. Eddie returned alone with a pinched look on his face. When Wayne asked, Eddie recounted to him that Steve had returned with the girl in his arms, but was immediately whisked away towards the inner district where the nobility lived. The boy hadn’t even had time to say hello to him. Wayne assumed that it was because of the Knighthood and assured his nephew that Steve would be by as soon as he could.
But then a day passed. Then another, and none of them had heard from the boy. Rumors began to circulate about town, that Steve’s father had reinstated his birthright and that he was going back to the Knighthood. That he and the girl he rescued had become inseparable and were almost assured to be married. Wayne wasn’t sure he believed all of that. Hopper seemed just as certain, as he was very involved in the whole affair. Eddie however, the sweet sensitive thing he tries not to be, lets the rumors get to him. It was just like before Steve started coming around. Eddie stomping back to the cottage and complaining about Sir Harrington, but this time there was a bitter twinge of heartbreak as well. The window shutters stayed closed, and the sour notes of sad songs could be heard from Wayne’s place at the forge. Poor kid, he’s not sure what’s going on, but Steve better come by soon and clear it up. Wayne can only take so much of the caterwauling.
It’s another day before Wayne hears the familiar clank of armor coming down the path. This time accompanied by a near-constant stream of chatter. Wayne looks up from his anvil to see Steve breaking the treeline. Beside him is a girl with cropped auburn hair talking animatedly with her hands. This must be the girl Steve rescued from the dragon. She’s pretty, if not a little rough around the edges, the edges of her skirts tucked up into her belt to reveal her muddy boots and no jewelry or decoration adorning her wrists or neck. Unsightly for a lady of higher standing. Plus the way Steve looks at her, amused and fond, is no different than how he regards the children or even him. It definitely holds no candle to the looks he’s given his nephew. Yes, he hasn’t even met this girl yet and he knows that what lives between them is nothing more than friendship.
Steve notices Wayne looking and waves to him, then he looks around as if he’s searching for something. Eddie is home, but he has once again sequestered himself inside the cottage for the day to mope so he has not heard the pair approach.
“Steve my boy,” Wayne greets serenely, “I was wondering what happened to you. Thought the old money had gobbled you up again.”
Steve chuckles sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck, “They sure tried, I’m sorry for the prolonged silence.”
“No need for that, son. You were sorely missed,” Wayne eyes the closed shutters of the cottage, “But it is awfully rude not to introduce me to your fine lady here.”
Said fine lady snorts as Steve flushes a little, “Oh yes! Well this is-”
“Robin Buckley, sir.” The girl cuts him off, thrusting a hand at Wayne with a nervous smile, “A lady I suppose, but not to be referred to as one, and certainly not Steve’s fine lady. We’re just friends.”
Wayne blinks at the sudden spew of information but simply barks out a laugh and takes her hand in a hearty shake, “Good to meet you, Robin. I have a feeling you and my boy would get along just fine.”
Steve lights up at the mention of the other boy, “Is Eddie around by chance?”
As if summoned, the window shutters fly open to reveal his nephew. His hair is askew and his shirt is unbuttoned, “Uncle, would you rather porridge or stew with the lamb tonight?”
“Eddie!” Steve calls out breathily, gazing at the boy as if he was dressed for a ball and not an absolute mess.
Eddie’s eyes widen at the sight of Steve, then he looks over to where Robin stands by Wayne. Robin wiggles her fingers in greeting. Eddie’s face twists up into anger as he looks back at the other boy with a red face. With an incredibly damning “HMPH!” Eddie slams both of the shutters closed loudly, startling the group outside. Inside the cottage, Wayne hears cursing and banging followed by a muffled “UNBELIEVABLE” before things go quiet.
Steve turns to Wayne and Robin in wide-eyed confusion. The old man can only shrug.
“There’s been, uh…rumors ‘round town about you and her.” he gestures to Robin, “And we hadn’t heard from you in days.”
“Ohhhhh, Dingus you’re in trouble~” Robin sing songs at her companion.
Steve’s shoulders sag as he looks despairingly back at the window. He looks lost for a moment before standing up tall and steeling himself. He marches over to Wayne and Robin and inclasps his sword from his belt, handing it to her.
“Would you please sort this out with Wayne here? I, uh, this is a bit of a priority.” Steve jabs a thumb at the cottage.
Robin replies, “Go get your boy” At the same time Wayne utters “Godspeed, kid.” As Steve retreats to stand by the window sill. The smith gestures for Robin to follow him to the forge.
“Ok, let’s see what he’s done this time.” Wayne grunts.
“Steve spoke really highly of you,” Robin smirks, “Said you always manage to sort him out well.”
Wayne rolls his eyes as he grabs the sheath, “More like in the only smith in town willing to put up with his- WHAT IN GODS NAME IS THIS?”
Just when he thought he’d seen it all, Steve was back to surprise him yet again. The whole side of the blade was gone. Replaced by a sizable yet easily identifiable bite mark. Wayne could make out every single teeth indentation. He can only imagine what kind of face he’s making because Robin is bursting into a fit of laughter on his workbench.
“I know! I know! I wouldn’t believe it either if I hadn’t watched it happen!” She wipes a tear from her eye, “I’ve never seen anything like it!”
“Unbelievable!” he crows in a nearly identical tone to his nephew earlier, “This boy has too much faith in me!”
He says this as he dutifully brings it to the fire to heat the metal, shaking his head all the way. Robin peeks over his shoulder to watch, “I honestly don’t know what he’s doing with a sword. He swings the damn thing like a barbarian. He’d be more suited for a club. Maybe even a mace.”
“I don’t get why the Knighthood would let him get away with that,” Wayne grunts, moving the heated metal to the anvil to begin pounding away at it. At this rate, the sword was going to be so thin that if anything else happened to it, it would be better off repurposed for something else.
It’s quiet for a few minutes, save for the muted sounds of Steve trying to speak to Eddie through the closed window before Robin speaks.
“He’s been dying to get out here, you know.”
Wayne pauses his work momentarily to let her know he’s listening and urging her to continue.
“Steve was the one to find me and defeat the dragon.” Robin explains, “Those useless dicks from the Knighthood didn’t find us until after the fact. Then when they got back to town, Steve and I were immediately taken to the Harrington Estate.”
She spits in distaste at the name, Wayne can relate.
“After the healer looked us over, Lord Harrington was boasting to everyone about his hero son who slayed a dragon and saved a maiden.” Robin made a face, “He started making all of these plans for Steve to be reinstated to the Knighthood and be given his lordship back. He was even making plans to talk to my father about giving me to Steve as a wife. Which was awful for both of us by the way. There was a banquet and yet…All Steve could talk about was getting back to town. He told me about Hopper and El, who had taken him in as family. He talked about his little gaggle of squires who drive him nuts but who he loves so desperately. He told me about you and the kindness and patience you’ve shown him over the years…”
Wayne can’t help but smile fondly at that, the girl gives him a toothy grin back, “He told me everything about his life, but above all else, I think he talked about Eddie the most.”
Her speech is interrupted by the cottage’s window shutters banging open. They look over to see Steve perking up, only for a boot to come flying through the window directly at his head before they swung shut once more. The smith and the girl wince, but Steve does not falter.
“All he could talk about was how badly he wanted to be back here, to his real family.” Robin continued, “It was quite literally this morning that Steve told his dad to essentially go fuck himself. We stopped at Hopper’s before immediately coming here.”
To say that Wayne was proud of Steve for standing up to his dad was an understatement. The boy deserved better than to be treated as a convenient brag for a father to boast about. Steve was an incredible young man and loved too passionately for that love not to be given to him as well. The fact that he’s found that with all of them is something Wayne isn’t going to take for granted.
“You’re a good friend for sticking by him like this.” Wayne offers.
Robin beams, “I know it hasn’t been very long, but I think he might be my best friend. I owe him not only my life but for introducing me to his lovely friend Lady Nancy. So the least I could do was come here to meet his beloved…though I’m not sure how that’s going to play out now.”
They look over to see Steve with his forehead planted against the wood of the sill as he bangs on the window.
“Eddie is a very sweet boy,” Wayne amends, “He’s also sensitive to being abandoned, but I know he loves that boy just as much as Steve loves him. Steve’s just gonna have to work for it a little.”
“I can see that.” Robin mutters before she gets an idea, “How would you feel about escorting me back to town Mr. Munson? Maybe give them some alone time?”
Ah, she’s clever. Wayne nods approvingly as he finishes smoothing out the dents in the sword and sends it into the water to cool it off, “I’d say that’s a fine idea, Miss Buckley.”
She grins, “DINGUS! Mr. Munson is gonna walk me back to town! Good luck!”
The only acknowledgment they get is a weak thumbs up.
Later that evening, as Wayne returns from his trip, he sees the window shutters open. Eddie is not in the cottage when he walks through the door, but a glance out the window explains why.
Eddie and Steve sit side by side on a boulder with their backs to the house facing the woods. Steve’s arm is stretched behind the other boy’s back, a facsimile of holding him as Eddie rests his head upon Steve’s shoulder. The intimacy causes Wayne to turn away with a soft smile. He looks at the table and sees more of Eddie's sketches. One sticks out to him. Wayne pulls it out and thinks back to what Robin had said:
“He’d be more suited for a club. Maybe even a mace.”
Well. It’s about time he started thinking about Eddie’s dowry anyway.
—
Wayne does not get the chance to present Steve with his creation the way he had intended.
All hell has broken loose in Hawkins. The thing that created the monsters in the woods, a powerful wizard named Vecna had begun possessing people in the city in order to use their bodies to open more gates to let his hellish monsters through. The skies were red and the air was acrid.
Worst of all, his dear sweet nephew was caught in the middle of it all.
The Knighthood was accusing Eddie of being an agent of Vecna. Eddie had been the last person seen with Lady Chrissy Cunningham before she was possessed and killed. They accused Eddie of luring her away so that Vecna could more easily take her. The knights were demanding his head. None of the villagers thought it was true, they all knew Eddie was harmless. Regardless, his Nephew was missing and Wayne was beside himself with worry. Hopper had asked him to stay at the cottage instead of going out to look for his boy in case he was followed. He promised to handle it and bring Eddie home. Steve, Robin, and the kids were also nowhere to be found. Wayne could only pray that Eddie and Steve had found each other.
It was two days of going out of his mind when there was a knock on the door. It swung open to reveal Steve. He looked tired and bruised, a pained look in his eye as he stands before Wayne in full plate armor.
“Wayne-” Steve chokes out.
“Where is he?” Wayne begs, “Where’s my boy, Steve?”
Steve blinks back tears but stands tall, “He’s been taken. By Vecna.”
The older man chokes out a sob. How could this have happened?
“I’m going to get him back Wayne. On my life.”
When Wayne looks at him this time, there’s fire in his eyes. The man who stands before him is Sir Steve Harrington, the disgraced son of Lord Harrington and the hero of Hawkins. This is the man who would move mountains for the people he loves, and he looks ready to go to hell and back to rescue his nephew.
It’s time for Wayne to steel himself as well. He takes a deep breath and stands up, brushing past the boy towards his forge, “Not with that sword you ain’t”
Steve follows behind, obviously confused as the older man heads to the back racks. His intended target is a beautiful mace. The head of which is adorned with thick heavy spikes. The base was shaped with two grips a good length apart as to maximize damage when swung. The bottom nob is fashioned into a sculpture of a flame. He presents it to Steve, who looks down at it in awe.
“What is this?” Steve whispers.
“The first and only weapon I’ll ever make.” Wayne replies holding it out to him, “Based off of one of Eddie’s designs. Seems like I wasn’t the only one who thought you were working with the wrong equipment.”
“Wayne,” Steve begins, no doubt planning to refuse such a gift.
“Do you love my boy Steve?”
The boy looks up at him, unsure for all but two seconds before he easily responds, “More than anything, Sir.”
Wayne nods, “I know. Which is why you were going to get this anyway. Now please take it and bring our boy home.”
Steve looks down at the mace and nods. He takes it from Wayne’s hands. The second he’s got his hands around it, Wayne can see the change. Steve’s arms ripple as he hefts it with the ease and grace of a trained fight of his status should have. He hefts it over his shoulder and looks back at Wayne. Eyes filled once more with fiery resolve.
“It’s either his return or my life, and He and I have still got life to live,” Steve utters as he walks back towards the hellscape.
—
Wayne knows the battle has ended when the ground begins to shake and rumble and the sky lights up once more. After several minutes though, everything settles and the world is quiet. The sky clears and the rain falls. Wayne gathers supplies and stumbles to town, hoping for news and to give aid to those who may need it.
He’s helping right an overturned cart when he sees figures approaching the town. Dustin, El, and the rest of his little friends come limping back, all of them leaning on each other in some way. Behind them are Robin and another girl, both of which are covered in dirt and grim from head to toe. They’re running and calling for Joyce or a healer though neither of them seems hurt. The reason though becomes apparent, as Steve comes tearing into town, new mace bloodied with use and strapped across his back. Because in his arms…
“EDDIE.” Wayne cries as he rushes forward.
Yes, in Steve’s arms is his boy, covered in blood oozing from numerous cuts and bites on his body. His head lolls against Steve’s shoulder as he grits his teeth in obvious pain. His breathing is labored but god damn if he isn’t alive. He turns slightly and gives Wayne a bloody smile.
“Hey old man,” he grunts.
“Eddie, please stop talking,” Steve begs, “Save our strength while Nancy gets Joyce.”
“What the hell happened?” Wayne breathes through the panic.
Eddie giggles deliriously, “We saaaaved the woooorld! Yippee!”
He reaches up to boop Steve’s nose before promptly passing out. Luckily, Joyce is on them in seconds and they’re moving him indoors. Once they get the bleeding to stop, Eddie stablizes. Its clear that there’s going to be quite a bit of scarring.
While Eddie sleeps, Steve recounts the battle to Wayne. Vecna had framed Eddie and then kidnapped him in order to use his suffering as the final sacrifice to keep the gates open permanently so he could take over the realm. They were able to free Eddie and distract the creatures protecting Vecna long enough for Steve, Nancy, Robin, and El to get close enough to attack his body and mind. Eddie was part of the distraction team and was attacked by the demobats while trying to buy the others more time. Luckily, Steve was able to break away and get back to the others and fight off the remaining bats before they could get to Eddie’s throat. Once Vecna was defeated, they all rushed as quickly as they could to town with the boy’s bleeding body.
As Eddie was still technically wanted, the Knighthood eventually came marching into town looking for him. They were stopped in their tracks very quickly however by Steve’s friend and former flame, the incredibly affluent and scarily competent Lady Nancy Wheeler. She and Hopper single-handedly shamed the Knighthood as well as the nobility for their witch hunt of Eddie with words before they even provided any proof of his innocence. No wonder Robin was infatuated with her.
Eddie woke up two days after the battle and cried in Wayne’s arms. He told him about watching Chrissy die, about being hunted, and about Vecna capturing him. All Wayne could do was hold him and assure him that he did good, that he was loved, and that he was safe now. It felt so similar to when Eddie had first come to him as a child. To think he almost lost him again.
Eventually, Eddie was able to go home with Wayne. He was still under strict orders to stay in bed most of the time, but he was allowed visitors and to walk around a little. Wayne was working in the forge once again when Steve comes walking down the path. He’s dressed in his regular clothes today, with no weapon present, but with a wrapped package on his back. He looks up at Wayne as he nears, there’s determination in the set of his shoulders.
Wayne gives him a knowing smile, which causes the boy to lose his cool a little. Face red, he clears his throat and makes for the front door of the cottage before disappearing inside. Wayne, ever nosey, drifts to the window to listen in.
“How are you holding up?” Steve asks.
Eddie sighs, “Stir crazy, as I’m sure you can imagine. The wounds are beginning to itch.”
“That means they’ll start scarring soon.”
“Oh goody,” Wayne can hear the sarcasm in his voice, “Guess I’ll have to get by with just talent instead of talent and looks.”
Steve hums,” Hm, I wouldn’t say that. You’re still plenty pretty.”
“You don’t have to butter me up, Stevie.” Eddie giggles, “I’m just being dramatic.”
“You? Dramatic? Why I’d never accuse you of such a thing.”
There’s some shuffling as Steve presumably sits down on the bed beside Eddie.
“I’ve brought you something,” he says.
“Oh?” Eddie replies delightedly, “What will you present to me, my dear knight?”
There’s some more shuffling and then the sound of cloth unraveling. Eddie gasps.
“Steve…”
“I know you lost the other one during the battle,” Steve explains.
“I can’t take this…”
“Please, um, it was going to be yours in the future anyway.”
There’s a pause. Wayne thinks back to the mace and what he had told Steve when he presented it to him.
“Hopper and I wanted to present this to you…as my dowry. In response to my acceptance of Wayne’s mace.”
“So you’re saying-” Eddie whispers.
“Eddie, I’m in love with you. You make me so incredibly happy and I never want to be apart from you. Will you let me make you happy in return?”
There’s a quiet sob from the room, “Steve you already make me so so happy.”
“Sooooo does that mean that-mmmph!”
Wayne can’t help it, he peeks in the window to see Eddie and Steve sitting on Eddie’s bed, a shiny new guitar squished between them as Eddie kisses Steve soundly. The other boy gingerly moves the guitar so that he can twist and lay Eddie down on the pillows as the other snakes his arms into his hair as he hovers over him. Eventually, they part.
“I accept.” Eddie whispers, “I accept your dowry and your love, and I return it. I love you so much, Steve.”
The other boy laughs joyously, leaning down to kiss all over Eddies face until they’re both giggling like lunatics. Wayne steps away from the window, heart bursting for the two of them.
They marry the following summer in a clearing in the forest surrounded by their friends and loved ones. Wayne continues to work as a smith but never makes or fixes another weapon. His stint as a swordsmith began and ended with the kind boy who had wandered into his forge one fateful night and decades later walked out his son-in-law.