Work Text:
"Steve."
The world was blurring at every word.
"Steve, we have to go."
Robin's pale, bony, shaking hands gripped at the collar of his jacket. They looked so much like Eddie's.
"Steve-?" Her hand still laid on his shoulder, almost scared.
"Dustin, help me carry him up."
Nancy's head whipped around at Steve while Dustin's hiccuping sobs caught in his throat for a minute. "W-What?"
"We have to get him back up, hurry up and help me-"
"We're not doing that." Nancy stared at his back as his hands fidgeted around Eddie, like staring at him would get him to stop.
"Steve, we're not doing that!"
"Dustin, help me."
"No you're not fucking helping him!" Nancy swatted Dustin's hand away from getting any closer. "We don't have time for this!"
"You're gonna let him die?" Steve whipped back at Nancy this time. His hands laid on Eddie's bloodied vest, fingers brushing against frayed threads. Would it be too late to wear it one more time?
"I'm gonna make sure we get back to the others!" He let out some form of a frustrated snicker. She really did still think she was all that. She still had that same Nancy look. That same look she gave when she acted like she was right. Like she was shocked that no one was listening to her. For all the shit he missed about her, that was one thing he was glad to be rid of.
"We really should go, Steve-" Robin's fingers slipped away from his jacket now. Something about it made him wanna drag her down and replace her with Eddie's body. It also made him want to cry.
To cry right there over his dead body.
His lifeless eyes.
His gaping mouth, filled with nothing but blood. Soaking through his teeth. It still reeked of bats. That overwhelming stench of heat and rotting metal.
Harrington swore he could still hear him breathing through that thick slush of flesh suffocating his gullet.
"He's gone, Steve."
He let go of Eddie's deluged vest.
He pulled Eddie's bandana over his eyes.
It never would've worked out anyways.
It was time to go home.