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Steve shifted the bag of ice cubes over his ankle and shivered. Both his and Eddie’s bat bites had mostly healed, but Steve’s ankle was still swollen and bruised from where the bat had grabbed him. And somewhere through it, Eddie had come down with sniffles and a terrible cough.
Dinner had been quite the sight with Steve’s leg elevated on one chair and lozenges next to Eddie. There was a pile of growing tissues on Eddie’s side of the table, and the man had paused between bites of casserole to cough into his sleeve.
“Shit, Eds, you want some tea?” Steve lifted his leg and grabbed his crutches.
“Stevie, nah, don’t worry about it. Got cough drops,” Eddie managed, unwrapping one.
Steve slowly elevated his leg again. “What a pair we are.”
“Yeah, my shitty lungs, your fucked up ankle.” Eddie’s voice was hoarse.
“A miracle they left us alone together.”
“Yeah I was convinced Dustin was going to fight Robin for the couch.”
“She would’ve won.”
“My money would’ve been on Henderson. That kid can make a case like no one I’ve heard of. You know he got me to steal chocolate pudding for him once?” Eddie revealed.
“God, he’s told you about the chocolate pudding, too? And about Lunch lady Phyllis?” Steve rolled his eyes.
“Sure did. Had me snag like seven cans of ‘em for our campaign.”
“That sounds like Henderson,” Steve agreed. “You think she’s still there considering the kitchen’s basically a soup kitchen now?” Steve volunteered there a few times because it was easy to lean against the doorframe as he handed out soup bowls.
“Dunno. Doubt they’ll even open the school for classes again,” Eddie responded. “Not that I want…” He trailed off and paused. “I was supposed to graduate this year.”
Steve looked up at Eddie. “Shit, I didn’t even think of that, Eds. You think they’d send out honorary diplomas?”
“Don’t think that’s on the top of anyone’s priority list right now,” Eddie laughed dryly, shaking his head. “Maybe I was never supposed to officially get out of that hellhole.”
Steve suddenly was unsure if he was talking about high school or the Upside Down. His heart sank.
“I have nothing against doing a graduation here,” Steve mentioned. “Will could draw up a diploma and Henderson and Wheeler can write all the official stuff on it. Maybe add some of that D&D game stuff on there.”
“On my diploma?”
“Yeah, being Dungeon Master is a big deal, at least according to Henderson.” Steve shrugged. “Like you said, kid can make a case.”
“He does,” Eddie agreed. He brightened slightly. “Dungeon Master Eddie Munson does have a nice ring to it.”
“I’ll have Will do it in that fancy script, too,” Steve added.
Eddie laughed along. “Thanks, Harrington. Even the sentiment means a lot.”
“Course,” Steve said easily. “But I won’t be able to keep Henderson from officiating the ceremony.”
Eddie laughed again. “Truly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”