Archive of Our Own

Steve definitely does not shriek like a girl.

Oh, who’s he kidding? He does. But he thinks it’s justified considering his past and the fact that a bat fell practically in his lap.

He jumps up and stares at the bat on the ground, blinking when it squeaks. “Hi,” he says, then immediately feels stupid. But it’s not like the bat is going to judge him, so he keeps going. “Christ, you scared the hell outta me.” He peers closer, notices it’s struggling, and crouches to look even closer. “Aw, buddy, did you hurt your wing?” He thinks for a few seconds, then runs inside and grabs a large Tupperware container and a dishcloth. “Don’t bite me, please,” he warns it. “I’ve been bit by enough bats in this lifetime. I’m just trying to help you.” He places the Tupperware down and carefully drapes the towel over the bat, scooping it up and gently placing it in the Tupperware, which he carries inside.

He sets it down on the counter and scratches his head. “Okay,” he says, “now what?”

The bat surfaces from the towel and squeaks at him. “I don’t even know what you eat,” Steve continues. “Or what kind of bat you are. I think the only bats I know are fruit bats and vampire bats. And demobats, I guess, but you’re clearly not that.” He thinks for a second, then grabs an apple and cuts a cube out, dropping it into the Tupperware.

The bat shrinks back into the towel, then steps back out when the apple clearly isn’t meant to hurt it. It sniffs it carefully, then squeaks again—this time with happiness, Steve thinks—and nibbles at it.

“Okay, you’re kinda cute,” Steve admits. “And you’re probably not some kind of hybrid fruit-vampire bat.” He takes a breath. “Dustin’s never gonna forgive me, but I trust you, okay?” He sticks his finger into the Tupperware. The bat sniffs it, licks the tip, and climbs on.

Steve’s heart melts. He helps the bat sit on his palm, then grabs the apple cube and sets it on his palm with the bat. “What the fuck do I do with you,” he mutters.

The bat sneezes. Steve sighs. “I guess I’ll figure it out. At least I know you like apples.” He gently scratches the top of the bat’s head. The bat makes a sound like purring, then does its best to scramble up Steve’s arm until it can get to his shoulder. It perches there and noses at his hair, like it’s trying to pet him back.

Steve sighs. “I’m gonna have to get a lot of library books.” He checks the time. “For now, though, it’s back in the bowl for you. I’ve got to go to work.” He carefully reaches a hand up. The bat chitters and latches on, which makes Steve’s job easier. He pets the top of its head once more before gently placing it back in the Tupperware. He looks for a moment, then smacks his forehead. “Water. You need that to survive.” He finds a medicine cup and fills it with tap water, putting it in one corner of the Tupperware. “Okay. Anything else?”

The bat chitters up at him. “Yeah, I think that’s it, too.” He sighs. He feels like he’s been doing that a lot lately. “I guess I’m going to the library after work?”

The bat purrs again, then dives back into its towel cave. Steve stands there for a minute, then nods to himself, grabs his keys, and walks out the door.

He walks into Family Video, sees there’s only Robin, behind the counter with her vest on, and announces, “I think I just adopted a bat?”

Robin chokes on a Skittle. “Only you, Steve-o.”

“It’s nice,” he offers. “It didn’t bite me. It ate the apple I gave it, though.”

“And again I say, only you.” She shakes her head. “You gonna bring your genius spawn into this?”

“Dustin? After what he went through, when Eddie-” he shakes his head with a grimace. “I can’t do that to him.”

“Oh, but it’s fine for you?” Robin challenges. 

Steve takes a breath. It only shakes a little. “We can talk about it,” he says carefully. “But not at work. Please, Robs.”

“Okay. Then you’re driving me to your house after this shift.” She cracks a smile. “I want to meet it.”

Steve snorts, shoulder-checks her. “Sure. But only if we can pick up some ice cream on the way there.”

“Like that wouldn’t happen,” Robin scoffs, “of course we are.”

“Cool,” he says, and they get to work.

The third time he tells a customer, “Yes, ma’am, I completely agree, R-rated movies are completely unnecessary and from the devil himself,” he makes eyes at Robin, across the store, who has to slap a hand over her mouth in order to not burst out laughing.

After the customer leaves, Robin marches up to him and slaps his bicep. “Screw you, dingus, you know the old ladies in this town hate me!”

Steve smirks. “Sounds like a you problem, Robbie.”

“Fuck you,” she says, “maybe I won’t come over after work, how about that, you’ll have to go home alone.”

“Yeah, but you wouldn’t get to see the bat.”

“Oh, goddammit.”

Steve snickers, and she gives him the evil eye.

The rest of their shift is, blessedly, quiet. They’re clocked out in record time and are soon on their way to Steve’s house.

He’s a little worried, weirdly. Like he’s not sure if the bat is still gonna be there, even though its wing is mangled and it can’t fly.

Or maybe, he thinks, the bat’s injuries were too severe. He thinks, if that’s the case, he’ll bury it somewhere. Give it a little gravesite, maybe even a headstone.

He thinks, as he pulls into his driveway, that he’s probably overthinking.

He soon finds out he was overthinking. The bat is still there and squeaks at him when he appears. “Hey, little buddy,” he says, smiling. “I brought someone who wants to meet you.”

“Okay,” Robin says, “If this little guy gets better, we’re getting you a cat. Or a dog. Or a- a lizard, I dunno, but you desperately need a pet.”

“I like Pomeranians,” Steve offers.

She looks at him. Specifically, his hair. Deadpans, “Of course you do.”

“Oh, fuck you.”

“Mm, no. You already tried.”

“Oh, fuck you!” But he’s laughing, and she is too, until suddenly the bat squeaks and they both look down at it.

It stretches its wings out, and Robin coos. “Oh, poor thing! Have you given it a bath?”

“Uh,” Steve says, “no? Do bats get baths?”

“He’s got a busted wing, dingus, you at least clean out the wound, or did you learn nothing from the demobat bites?”

The bat squeaks loudly, and they both look down at it. It’s shivering, and Robin coos again. “Okay, I’ll get the water set up. We need soap, too… do you have anything that won’t make you tear up?”

Steve blinks. “Uh… maybe? You can check under the sink in my bathroom. Unless you want to hold the bat, and I’ll go check?”

Robin eyes first the bat, then him. “I’ll go check on the soap. The little guy’s cute, but I don’t think I trust him yet.”

Steve smiles. “Him?”

She levels him with a flat look. “I saw his dick, Steve, it’s a he. And no, I don’t appreciate seeing a dick any more because it’s on a bat instead of a human.”

Steve snickers. “Okay, you go look for the soap. I’ll handle the bat.”

Robin runs off, and Steve bends over, so he’s closer to the bat. “Hi, buddy,” he murmurs. “I’m gonna ask you not to bite me again, please.” He slowly, carefully puts his hand in the bowl. The bat looks at it, sniffs it, then climbs on again. “Thank you,” Steve tells him. The bat sneezes three times, in rapid succession, and Steve blinks. “Whoa, you okay there, buddy? What’s making you sneeze?” He pets over the bat’s head with the index finger of his other hand. The bat sneezes again and scampers up Steve’s arm, latching onto his shirt sleeve. “Oh,” Steve whispers. “Is there something on my hands?” He carefully sniffs his fingers. He smells vaguely like plastic, from handling tapes all afternoon, but he doesn’t think it’s too strong. Maybe bat noses are more powerful than his. That would make sense. “I’ll get a really mild soap,” he tells the bat. “So you don’t sneeze. And I’ll wash my hands before I pick you up, next time. Unless it’s an emergency.”

“Are you talking to the bat?” Robin asks a second before she appears. “Like it can actually understand you?”

Steve sniffs. “And who’s to say it can’t?” He fires back. “I think his nose works better than mine. He keeps sneezing because of my hands. I just smell a little bit of plastic from the tapes.”

Robin hums. “There’s probably some sort of perfume transferred too, plus who knows how many other smells from the homes they come from.”

“Oh,” Steve says. “Yeah, that makes sense. I wanna wash my hands before I handle him any more, though.”

Robin smiles at him. “Sweet. I found a little bit of soap that claims to be tear-free, but if you’re gonna look after the little guy for a while, you might need more.”

Steve hums, grabs the bottle. “You’re probably right. I think he needs a name, though, not just little guy.”

Robin hums. “Batman.”

Steve snorts. “Batman isn’t actually a bat.”

“Okay, then you come up with a better name.”

“Well.” He can feel his cheeks redden. He doesn’t look at her as he washes his hands. “I was thinking Ozzy?”

“I didn’t think you knew who Ozzy Osbourne is.”

Steve blushes even deeper. “I don’t, really. When we- you and Nance were talking, so that left me and Eddie, and- he mentioned it. Something about biting a bat’s head off onstage? So.”

“So… can we talk about it now?”

Steve sighs. “If we have to.”

Robin sighs too. “I just want you happy, Steve,” she murmurs. “I know it’s gonna be hard after what we went through, but you barely knew the guy.”

“Well,” Steve says weakly, “I barely knew you and I knew I wanted you in the rest of my life.”

Robin stills. “Oh, Steve.” She sniffles. “Really?”

He nods, keeps his eyes on the bat, who he carefully brings under the running water. Robin had also thought ahead and grabbed a washcloth, so he pumped some soap onto one corner and rubs it over the bat’s back, then front, then ever-so-carefully over its wings. The bat squeaks, so he pulls away for a second—until he calms back down—then goes back, gently patting along its injured wing until he’s sure it’s been thoroughly cleansed. He then drops the cloth into the sink and lets the water run over the bat until it runs clear. “Towel?” He murmurs, the only word they’ve spoken since he started washing the bat.

She disappears for a second, sliding back into the kitchen and handing it to him. As he puts the bat back into the bowl, Robin quietly says, “He looks like an Ozzy.”

He smiles at her, a small, unsure thing, and she bumps up against him, arm-to-arm, and offers Ozzy her finger to smell. “Hey, Ozzy,” she whispers.

Ozzy licks her finger, and she giggles. Steve smiles and pushes his hand in alongside hers, gently scratching the top of Ozzy’s head.

Ozzy melts in it for a second, tilting his head to give Steve a better angle, before suddenly clambering onto Steve’s hand. He chuckles and keeps petting him with his other hand. “What,” he murmurs to Ozzy, “you just wanted a better position? Didn’t wanna be stuck in that bowl any longer, huh?” Ozzy chitters. “I know, it’s so boring in there, how dare I try and nurse you back to health.”

“Oh my god,” Robin whispers, “Steve, he’s a cat.”

Steve grins at her. “Right? Sweetest bat I’ve ever met.”

“The only bat you’ve ever met.” She slaps her hand over his mouth before he can open it. “Inter-dimensional bats don’t count.”

He licks her palm, then grimaces when she does. “Ew, Robbie, why are you salty?”

“Why would you lick me?” She fires back.

“You put your hand on my mouth!”

She opens her mouth like she’s going to respond, then shuts it with a shrug. Steve’s obsessed with her.

They both look back down at Ozzy, who’s still on Steve’s hand, holding onto his thumb. Slowly, as they watch, he climbs down onto Steve’s palm, chittering at them.

“Oh,” Steve whispers. “I think we were being too loud.”

“Oh, shit,” Robin whispers, petting Ozzy’s head with a careful index finger. “Sorry, Ozzy.”

He allows her to pet him for a moment, then he races back up Steve’s arm to perch on his shoulder again.

Robin blinks. “What the fuck, is he part parrot, too?”

“I’m going to need so many library books,” Steve tells her.

She nods. “All the library books. I’ll help.”

“Cool,” he grins, “right now?”

“If Ozzy’ll let you go.”

Steve gives her a look, then reaches his hand up. “C’mon, Ozzy, back in the bowl for a bit. I can take you out again when I get back.”

Ozzy looks at his hand for a minute, then climbs on, squeaking at Steve when he’s back in the bowl. “See, you made him upset,” Steve tells Robin, who rolls her eyes.

“He’ll survive,” she says dryly, but Steve sees her petting him before they leave.

They find all the books on bats they can, deciding to check them out and bring them back to Steve’s house. Once they get back, they spread their loot over the kitchen table. Robin starts organizing while Steve goes to get Ozzy.

“Okay,” she says when he gets back, pointing to each pile. “They’re organized first by color, then by shortest to longest, because how the fuck else are you supposed to organize these.”

Steve shrugs, because he really doesn’t know, either, grabbing a book from the pile closest to him—purple—and cracking it open. “I’d like to find out what kind of bat he is, first.”

Robin grabs a yellow book. “Okay. Any specific identifying marks?” Steve blinks, then carefully takes Ozzy from his shoulder, cupping him in his hands between him and Robin so they can study him. “No,” she decides. “Or not that I can tell, at least, I’m not a bat specialist.”

Steve smirks. “No, but give you two hours with these books and you could be.”

She shrugs and turns back to her book, so Steve does, too.

They find out he’s a little brown bat. “But they’re insectivores,” Steve argues. “He ate an apple earlier.”

Robin shrugs. “Did you offer him an insect?”

“Uh,” Steve says, because that’s actually a good point. He makes a face. “Do I have to catch insects for him now?”

“You can probably get crickets at the pet store. They sell ‘em for lizards.”

“Ew,” Steve says, but immediately starts mentally budgeting for them anyways.

“Wanna try and catch something first? See if he actually does eat insects?”

“Are you offering?” Steve grins.

Robin looks at him, then at Ozzy. “I mean,” she says, “there’s bugs in the grass, right? Can’t we just… put him in the grass? See if he finds something he likes?”

Steve looks at Ozzy. Ozzy looks at Steve. “Sure,” he decides. “Do we have to give him another bath after?”

“Depends on how dirty he gets, I think.” She hops up from her chair with a grin. “C’mon! Even the Harringtons have bugs in their backyard, we can just go back there.”

Steve snorts. “Don’t tell my dad. He doesn’t need to know he’s got bugs on his property.”

Robin snickers, bouncing from foot to foot as she waits by the back door. “Come on, dingus, let’s test it!”

Steve follows her, and they walk outside together. He puts Ozzy down in a patch of grass and steps back to wait.

Ozzy looks at him, takes a step away, looks back at him, then takes several steps away.

For a few minutes he just stands there, looking around. Then he suddenly focuses, takes a few more steps, and pounces.

Steve and Robin lean in. He’s caught a grasshopper and is happily eating it.

Steve sighs. “I’m gonna have to buy crickets.”

“Only for a little bit,” Robin consoles him. “Until his wing’s better.”

Steve can see she’s right. Even that little bit of action is causing Ozzy to favor his torn wing. “Okay,” Steve says, scooping him up after he’s finished eating. “We’re going back inside. You can catch your own food when your wing’s healed.” He pets a finger over Ozzy’s head, and Ozzy trills in response.

Robin snickers at Steve. “Always the damn babysitter, huh? Isn’t that what you said?”

Steve snorts. “Yeah. I don’t mind it too much this time, though.” He scratches Ozzy’s chin, grin growing when Ozzy purrs.

“Y’wanna go back in? Find out everything we can about him?”

Steve hums. “Sure.”

He follows her in, they research until Robin’s parents call her home, and Steve takes Ozzy—and the bowl—upstairs. “I don’t think you can do much damage out of the bowl,” he tells Ozzy, “but forgive me if I don’t completely trust you yet.” Ozzy just blinks at him.

The next day goes remarkably similar. Robin doesn’t come over, but Steve takes his time looking through more of the books. “Did you know you’ll probably only live for six and a half years?” Steve asks him. “That’s not very long.” Ozzy sneezes. “Hey,” Steve says, “that’s nothing to sneeze at,” then proceeds to laugh until he gets side stitches. Ozzy watches, looking mildly concerned but mostly like he’s judging Steve.

Each day goes by much the same way. Sometimes Robin comes over, sometimes she doesn’t. Steve buys more crickets than he ever wanted to, and Ozzy eats well.

Well enough, in fact, that one day when Ozzy stretches out his wings, Steve blinks. “Oh, hey! Your wing is looking better!” He exclaims happily. He gently maneuvers Ozzy’s wing, looking around, then grins and pets Ozzy’s head. “Whaddya think, wanna try and fly a little?”

He puts Ozzy on the table and takes three steps back. “Come on,” he encourages. “Come on, Ozzy, you can do it!”

Ozzy stands at the edge of the table, squeaks, then flaps his wings and takes off. It takes him a second to catch his balance, but he lands on Steve’s hand for a short minute before taking off again. Steve follows him through the living room to the kitchen, where he attempts to avoid the sliding glass door but isn’t quite successful. Steve lunges to catch him, and only barely succeeds. “Oh, man,” he breathes, petting Ozzy‘s head. “You okay there, little buddy? Did you hurt yourself?”

Ozzy squeaks pitifully and curls into his hand. Steve chuckles a little. “I think maybe we’ll be done with flying for today.” He puts Ozzy on his shoulder, rubs his head, and heads into the kitchen to start on dinner.

Three days later, El shows up with Will in tow, eyes wide. “He’s here.”

Ice crawls up Steve’s spine. “He?”

“Not Vecna,” Will says quietly. “Eddie.”

The ice disappears, nausea taking its place. He leans against the doorjamb. “What?” He asks weakly.

“Yes,” El says.

“Can we come in?” Will adds.

Steve numbly moves aside.

“Thank you.”

Steve nods at him and follows them into his house. Finally, he finds his words. “Eddie?”

“Yes,” El says, looking around. She glances at Will, who takes over explaining.

“He was too hurt for El to find for a while. She wasn’t sure and didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up, but he’s healed enough by now that she was able to track him here.”

“Here?”

“Definitely,” Will nods. “She tracked him four separate times.” He glances at Steve. “She had to be sure.”

“I’ve been here the whole time,” Steve argues. “Wouldn’t I have seen him?”

El zeroes in on something. “You did. You just didn’t know it was him.” She picks up Ozzy, and Steve blinks.

“Ozzy?”

Will pauses, glances at Steve, and smiles. “That’s what you called him?”

It isn’t really a question, so Steve gives him a half-smile and a shrug.

“Eddie,” El answers him.

Steve looks from her to the bat. “Eddie?”

Eddie squeaks.

“Holy shit,” Steve says weakly. “Eddie?”

Eddie flies to Steve’s shoulder, squeaking, and nuzzles into his neck. Steve lets out a shuddering breath. “I never thought-”

“He doesn’t blame you,” El says. “He’s grateful you took care of him.” She wipes a trail of blood from her nose and smiles at Steve. 

“I need to sit down,” Steve says. “Or- call Robin. Something. I don’t know.”

“Call Robin,” El agrees, nodding. “She has the alcohol bombs.”

“Molotov cocktail,” Will adds helpfully. “We shouldn’t need her. We might need your bat, though. Just in case.”

“You’re acting like we have to go back into the Upside Down.” They don’t answer. He sighs and pinches his nose. “We’re going back into the Upside Down. Okay. Sure, why not.” He makes his way over to the phone and dials.

“-got it!” He hears Robin yell distantly, then closer, “Hello?”

“Ozzy is Eddie.”

“You’re gonna have to run that by me again.”

“El and Will are here. Ozzy is Eddie. We’ve gotta go back into the Upside Down.”

Robin giggles, then starts laughing hysterically. “Only you, dingus,” she says affectionately when she calms down.

“Robbie,” he mutters, “how soon can you be here?”

Ozzy—Eddie—nuzzles into his neck again, squeaking a little. Steve absentmindedly rubs his head.

“Fifteen minutes if my mom doesn’t catch me and make me fold laundry.”

Steve snickers. “And if she makes you fold laundry?”

“Next Tuesday,” is her prompt answer, making Steve laugh.

“Okay. See you in fifteen.”

“Yup. Bye, dingus.”

She hangs up, and Steve turns back to El and Will with a sigh. “Okay. Explain, please. What’s the plan for when we get back down there?”

El nods to Eddie. “This is his soul. His body is still down there. He is in a coma. There should not be anything dangerous down there, since everything was killed with Henry, but I do not know what could happen when his soul re-enters his body.”

“Christ,” Steve mutters. “And how do we get his soul back into his body?”

El tilts her head. “We do not. He does.”

“Okay,” Steve agrees. “Sure. Should we call anyone else?”

“We will tell Dad on our way,” El decides. “For backup. But we will be fine."

Steve nods, and they all fall silent. A few minutes later, Robin arrives. She zeroes in on Steve, offering him a smile, before turning her gaze to Eddie. “Dude.”

Eddie squeaks in response, flapping his wings and almost falling off of Steve’s shoulder. Steve catches him.

Robin levels him with another look. “Dude.”Eddie squeaks at her again, flying over to her only to sit on her head. “Eddie. Get off my head.” A final squeak, and Steve’s giggling now. Robin’s got the pissiest look on her face as she’s trying to look up at Eddie. Eddie had actually stomped his foot with his last squeak, like a toddler, and is now studiously avoiding eye contact with everyone.

Steve finally calms down. “Eddie,” he calls softly. “Will you please get off of Robin’s head?”

Eddie squeaks angrily one last time, but does, flying over to Steve and landing on his head. Steve just sighs. “Should we go?”

“Yes,” El nods. “Will you get your bat?”

“Right.” He walks to the stairs. “Okay, buddy- uh, Eddie- you gonna stay on my head the whole time?”

Eddie squeaks, gently tugging on a few strands.

“Sure. You just might get jostled on the stairs.”

Eddie squeaks again, so Steve shrugs and starts up the stairs. “You’re probably gonna have to get off when we get up there,” he tells Eddie. “The bat’s under my bed. I’m gonna have to crawl halfway under there to get it. I don’t want you getting bashed.”

Eddie does dismount when they get to Steve’s room, flying gracefully to his bed and waiting while Steve roots around underneath it.

Soon enough Eddie’s back on his head and they’re all on their way. Their first stop is Hopper’s cabin, which is where El says he’ll be.

She’s right. He’s sitting outside smoking, eyeing the car and releasing a sigh so big Steve’s pretty sure he felt it.

“Harrington,” Hopper says, “anyone wanna explain why there’s a rodent on your head?”

“Technically bats aren’t rodents,” Robin pipes up.

Hopper looks at Steve again. “A bat.”

Steve shrugs. “It’s Eddie.”

Hopper looks dolefully at his half-smoked cigarette. “Munson.”

“Yeah.”

Hopper sighs again. “El. Explain.”

“It’s Eddie,” El agrees. “It’s his soul. His body is still down there. In a coma.”

Hopper pinches his nose. “And you want to go down there to put his soul back in his body.”

“Yes. You are backup.”

Hopper raises a brow. “Am I now?” He asks, but stands anyways. “What gate?”

“Trailer park,” Steve supplies. “It’s the closest to him.”

Hopper nods, shepherds El and Will to his truck, and follows the Beemer to the trailer park.

They stand in front of the Munsons’ old trailer. “Well,” Hopper says, “here goes nothing.”

He pushes open the door and leads the way into the trailer, pausing when everyone is inside to look up at the ceiling, where the gate was. The trailer ceiling is warped and cracked, and as they watch, El manipulates the gate into opening.

It starts as a faint red glow that soon grows as the ceiling is torn apart. It opens like a mouth, and Steve shivers as it starts looking like something out of his nightmares.

“That’s never not gonna be creepy,” Robin mutters next to him, hand clutching his tightly. Eddie clambers down his head to his shoulder, holding on to a few locks of hair. He nuzzles Steve’s jaw.

“Yeah,” Steve belatedly answers, squeezing Robin’s hand and petting Eddie’s head.

Hopper secures a rope from somewhere and tosses one end in. Everyone clambers in, one after another, until they’re all standing in the Upside-Down version of the Munsons’ trailer.

They can see Eddie’s body from where they’re standing, and Steve’s breath hitches. “C’mon,” Robin whispers. “Let’s get him back in his body.”

They walk out, eyes peeled for anything else, but the area is devoid of life. Steve kneels at Eddie’s side, Robin to his left. Eddie shifts, and Steve hesitates.

“Wait.” He puts his hand up to encourage Eddie to climb onto it. “Just- just in case. Um. You-” he pauses, controls his breathing. “You’re a good dude.”

Eddie nuzzles into his hand, squeaks, and flies down to land on his chest.

There’s really no other word for what happens. He melts into his body, flowing out and over and into his body, until suddenly everything is still again.

“Please,” Steve whispers, clutching Robin’s hand hard enough she has to tap his hand to get him to loosen his grip. “Please,” he whispers again. “C’mon, Eddie-” 

A violent gasp interrupts him, and when he looks to Eddie’s face he sees brown eyes staring back at him, wide and wild. “That was freaky,” Eddie whispers.

“Holy shit,” Steve murmurs, letting go of Robin’s hand to start patting Eddie’s torso and neck, checking for damages. “Holy shit, dude, are you okay? Anything hurt?”

“I’m- I’m okay, I think-” Eddie begins to pat himself down, as well, disbelieving grin growing on his face. “I’m okay. I’m fine. Steve-”

“Eddie-”

“Holy shit,” Eddie laughs, and sits up to pull Steve into a hug. He grins at Robin. “Buckley.”

She grins through her tears. “Munson.”

He looks up at El, Will, and Hopper. “Supergirl. Baby Byers. Chief.”

“Chief of you crackheads, maybe,” Hopper grunts out, clearly relieved. El waves, and Will steps forward. Eddie taps out of the hug with Steve to pull Will into a hug. “You did good,” he murmurs. “You and your sister both.”

“What do we think about continuing this reunion topside?” Hopper asks.

“I’m all for it,” Eddie grins, accepting Steve’s hand up, then just as suddenly yelping and collapsing onto Steve. “Legs,” he says in explanation. “Apparently you can forget legs.”

“You’re probably gonna need some kind of physical therapy,” Robin starts. “Most people who end up in long-term comas need something. I mean, you’re laying there, day after day, not using your legs. You’re gonna lose muscle.”

Steve swings an arm around Eddie’s waist, and Eddie briefly loses all his words. “Okay,” is what he says. Robin gives him the Look to end all Looks, and he knows she has his number. He just grins at her in response as he loops his own arm over Steve’s shoulders.

“So,” Robin says. “Who volunteers to tell his uncle?”

“Oh shit,” Eddie mutters.

“And Dustin,” Steve adds.

“Oh shit,” Eddie whispers, horrified. “Okay, wait, full honesty, how is he?” Steve shakes his head, grimacing. Eddie winces. “That bad?”

“Worse, I think. Claudia’s got him eating again, but…”

“Shit.”

“Just about.” Steve sighs, thinking. “You’ll need a place to lay low while we figure everything out.” He cracks a grin Eddie’s direction. “Sick of me yet?”

“You? Never,” Eddie grins back, delighting in the faint blush making its home in Steve’s cheeks.

They make it back through, Hopper hoisting Eddie up, Steve on the other side to break his fall. He snickers after he catches him. “Did you just fall for me?”

“Just?” Eddie grins back, swinging his legs down but leaving his arm over Steve’s shoulders. “Oh, no, you have me mistaken, big boy.” He leans in teasingly, murmurs, “I fell for you a long time ago.”

Steve meets his gaze, eyes flickering down for a second before he quirks his lips up in a smile. “Let’s get back to my place,” he murmurs. “Call Wayne and Dustin. Probably the other rugrats too. But then…” Steve glances down his body, shrugs a shoulder. “We’ll see.”

“Oh.” Eddie blinks. “You’re really good at that. Okay.”

Steve snickers. “I’ve had practice.”

“Nah,” Eddie says lightly. “I think it’s just you.”

Steve offers him a smile, but doesn’t comment, just turns to Hopper when he crosses over and El closes the gap. “Was Eddie legally declared dead?”

“He was.”

“But I was too,” Will says. “And you brought me back. So you can bring Eddie back, right?”

Hopper sighs. “I can, but the people in this town still blame him for what happened, even with the cover story.”

Quietly, Eddie says, “The people I care about know the truth.” He shrugs. “I can take being shunned by the idiots who live here. I’m not saying I’d want to live here forever, but at least until I can get settled. It’s okay.”

Hopper looks at him for a long minute, then nods. “Harrington. You’re taking him home with you?”

“Yes. We’ll call everyone who needs to know.”

“I’ll tell Joyce.”

“Thank you.”

Hopper nods, and everyone begins to walk away, El and Will with Hopper, and Steve, Eddie and Robin together. “I think I might head home,” Robin says lightly. “Steve, wanna drop me off?”

He does, then continues on to his house, getting Eddie inside and to the phone. “Wayne first?”

Eddie nods. “I think you’re gonna have to talk to him. If I try, he’s gonna think I’m someone impersonating me.”

Steve nods and dials the number Eddie gives him. “‘Lo?”

“Hi, Mr. Munson. This is Steve Harrington.”

“What can I do for you?”

“There’s something you need to see. Can you come over?”

Wayne’s smart, so it’s only a second before he says, “that boy told me he’s dead.”

“He was.”

“Was.” Wayne clears his throat. “I’ll be there in fifteen.”

The line goes dead, and Steve looks at Eddie. “Dustin?”

Eddie shakes his head. “You should go pick him up.” A familiar gleam fills his eyes. “Maybe pick up everyone… if I could get paper, some of my minis, I could have a one-shot ready…”

Steve chuckles. “Should I call Wayne back?”

Eddie shakes his head. “He won’t know what I’m talking about, and anyways, he’s already left.”

“Do you need the minis before you start? I’m willing to bet the kids have some you could borrow.”

“You’re a genius! Yeah, that could work. Obviously I’d prefer mine, but for my first time back, as a surprise, it’ll work.” He springs up from his chair, takes a step towards the kitchen, then falls.

Or he would, if Steve hadn’t jumped after him. “You sit,” he tells him. “I’ll grab what you need.”

Eddie shakes his head. “I need to practice, get some strength back. Get me to the kitchen, I’ll lean on the counters.”

Steve does, then says, “if you’re looking for paper, it’s in the office.”

“Damn,” Eddie says, turning around. “Okay, where’s the office?”

Steve leads him there, Eddie using the wall the whole way. Even that little bit of movement helps, and he’s able to cross the room to the desk without Steve’s help. “Do you have any blank sheets? Like for drawing, or-” Steve opens a drawer. “Printer paper, okay, yeah, that works. And a notebook, maybe?”

“I’ve got one in my room.”

“Find me a pencil first?”

“The drawer in front of you.”

Eddie opens it. “Ah. Perfect. Okay, yeah, notebook, please?”

Steve nods and runs out, and Eddie grins, staring first at the pencil, then at the paper. This is gonna be fun.

By the time Steve gets back downstairs, Eddie’s made it back to the table. “Notebook.” He sits next to Eddie. “What are you drawing?”

“A map. I’ll have a small-scale version of the whole thing, whereas the players get to see more of the map as they progress.”

“Oh, cause they don’t know what’s going on.”

“Exactly,” Eddie nods. “It makes it more immersive.” He suddenly pauses, looking at Steve. “Wait- we said after Wayne and Dustin, we-”

Steve puts a hand on his forearm. “It’s okay,” he promises, smiling. “We’ll both be here after. We have time, now.”

“And if I don’t want to wait?” He catches Steve’s hand in his own. “We don’t have to go all the way right now. But… maybe a kiss?”

Steve grins. “I could do that.”

Eddie snickers. “I’m so glad that’s amenable to-”

Steve kisses him, and he loses all train of thought. His eyes slip shut and his hands come up to cup Steve’s cheeks. He opens his eyes with a shaky breath when they pull apart, and licks his lips. “Again?” He breathes, and Steve smiles as he leans in again.

They pull apart to the sound of a knock at the door. “Wayne,” Steve murmurs, stepping away. “Uh. Can we- can we talk about this? Later?”

Eddie catches his hand before he can move too far away. “Of course. Fair warning, though, Wayne’s probably gonna clock us within five minutes.”

Steve chuckles, continuing to walk backwards as he speaks. “Then what do you want to be?”

“I’ll take whatever you give me.”

“Funny. That was my line.”

Eddie carefully stands, using the back of the chair to balance. “Boyfriends, then?”

Steve grins, nods. “Boyfriends,” he parrots, then spins on his heel and strides to the front door to let Wayne in.

“Where- Eddie,” Wayne gasps, sagging against the doorframe for a moment, then just as quickly turning to pull Steve into a hug. “Thank you,” he whispers, then again is gone just as quick, halfway across the room on his way to Eddie.

They collapse into each other, Eddie whispering, “Pops,” into his shoulder, and Steve shuts the door and decides that water sounds like a fantastic idea right now so they can have some time alone.

A couple of minutes later, Eddie calls him out, laughing. “What did I tell you. He clocked us in five minutes.”

“Boy, you think I ain’t had your number this whole damn time, you’re a fool.” Wayne grins at Eddie. “I had ya soon as you’d come back home from the mall talkin’ ‘bout the ice cream-”

“Okay!” Eddie yells, waving his hands in front of Wayne’s face, his own face beet red. “We get it! Thank you! Where’s your off button!”

“If that costume worked on you, I think you’d be the first. And trust me, I tried.” Steve leans against the wall, considering look on his face. “Actually, I do think I still have it somewhere.”

“Spontaneous combustion,” Eddie promises him. “You hear me? I will burst into flames.”

Steve grins. “Sounds like a dare.”

“Christ,” Eddie whispers. “Steve, I just came back to life, I cannot have you trying to kill me again this quickly.”

Steve laughs as Wayne thumps the back of Eddie’s head with an, “Oi!”

“Ow!” Eddie replied, frowning and rubbing at his head. “You too, old man.”

“Old man,” Wayne scoffs. “You gonna start payin’ me rent, then?”

Eddie pouts. “Have I told you lately how amazing you are?” He suddenly straightens with a frown. “Wait, do you actually- I can-”

Wayne waves him off. “I ain’t ever needed a cent of yours, boy, that ain’t about to change now.” He ruffles Eddie’s hair with a fond smile. “Why don’t the three of us go sit down?”

They do, and Wayne sighs. “Alright. First things first, how long y’all been together?”

“Um,” Eddie says.

Steve leans back, squinting at the clock in the kitchen. “About fifteen minutes. Officially.”

“Fifteen-” Wayne puts his head in his hands for a minute, then looks at Eddie. “Dumbass.”

Eddie’s mouth drops. “What did I do?”

“Nothin’, and that’s the whole damn problem!”

Eddie gapes at him, then shuts his mouth and turns away, pouting. “Eddie,” Steve tries, but he’s smiling too wide to sound serious. “Eddie.”

“What.”

“How long have you liked me?” Eddie glances at Steve, then looks away, pout turning from playful to almost sad as he wraps his arms around himself. “Eddie?”

“Since your first year of high school.”

Steve giggles. “Y’know something?”

“What.”

“I think it’s sweet.”

“I’m not sweet.”

“You definitely are.”

“You’re a marshmallow, son.”

“Wayne! Whose side are you on?”

Wayne snickers. Steve extends a foot to poke Eddie’s thigh. When Eddie looks at him, he smiles. “Hi.”

Eddie breaks immediately, smiling and fighting back a blush. “Hi.”

“Hi,” Wayne deadpans. “Ed, you’re technically dead, yeah?”

“Yeah. Um… Steve offered to let me stay here. For the time being.”

“He can’t be out in public,” Steve reasons. “And my parents are gone for the foreseeable future. Prague, then Milan, then somewhere in Greece…” he shakes his head. “I’ve lost track and I don’t really care. But they’re out of the picture. Hopper’s working on fixing the legal aspect of his death. He did it for Will Byers already so it should be easier this time, but there is still the whole matter of people thinking Eddie… well.” He tilts his head. “So Hopper’s also working on an alibi.”

Wayne nods. “He ever gets to be too much, you just give me a call.”

Steve smiles. “I think we’ll be okay. You’re welcome to stop by whenever you like.”

“Think I’ll take you up on that,” Wayne nods, then checks his watch and sighs. “Not now, though, the town mighta broken in two but work don’t ever stop.” He slaps his hands on his thighs as he stands. “Eddie, stay alive, will ya?” He pulls his nephew into a hug, then just as suddenly turns to Steve, pulling him into a hug, too. “And Steve. Thank you.”

“Well,” Steve says, “it wasn’t purely selfless.”

Wayne chuckles and ruffles his hair, then sees himself out. Steve looks at Eddie. “Campaign? The sooner you finish, the sooner the party can come over.”

Eddie winces. “Okay, so technically it’s a one-shot, since the storyline starts and ends in one night, but you’re trying and I’m going to kiss you for it,” he says, and does, planting a loud “mwah!” Right on Steve’s lips.

Steve giggles and pushes him away. “Okay, your one-shot, then, how long do you think you’ll need on it?”

Eddie hums. “I think you could probably head out to round up the twerps in about twenty minutes.”

“Anything I can do in the meantime?”

“Just sit there and look pretty,” Eddie winks.

“We should probably talk about that, actually.”

Eddie looks confused. “About… you being pretty?”

Steve snickers. “No, about us. Are we gonna tell them?”

Eddie hums. “Well, Will already knows, but he won’t tell anyone besides El, and she won’t tell, either.” He shifts to face Steve more fully. “Do you want to tell them?”

Steve worries his lip. “I don’t know. I don’t- I don’t really want to hide, necessarily—not that we can be open, I know we can’t—but-”

“You want something that’s just yours for a minute,” Eddie finishes gently.

“Yeah, exactly.”

“Okay. We can do that. You ever change your mind and wanna tell them, we can do that, too, just let me know.”

Steve nods. “What if one of them says something?”

Eddie snickers. “I think the only person we need to worry about is Red, and she’s not one to squeal.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Steve chuckles, then nods to Eddie’s papers. “Okay, finish that so I can go pick them up.”

Eddie grins at him and continues drawing his map before grabbing a new sheet of paper and scribbling things down. He hums, chews on the end of the pencil, taps his fingers, and looks up at Steve occasionally. “Number between one and twenty.”

“Uh. Fourteen?”

“Great. Thank you. And… number between… one and ten.”

“Four.”

“And between one and five.”

“Two.”

“Beautiful.” Eddie grins at Steve. “Who needs dice when I’ve got you?” Steve grins back, and Eddie glances down at his papers again. “Okay, I’ve got plot ideas, dialogue, and a character. I’ll need to fine-tune a few things, but you should be good to leave now, if you want. Two things before you go, though.”

“Sure.”

“First is, should I be out here when they get here? Or should I hide while you break the news?”

Steve worries his lip. “I’d say stay out here. They don’t need that kind of surprise right now.”

“Works for me. Now the second thing.” He begins to grin. “A kiss before you go?”

“Always,” Steve promises him, and leans in.

After they pull apart, Steve sighs. “Thirty minutes,” he tells Eddie. “You’ll be ready?”

“Right here and waiting,” Eddie nods, so Steve grins and walks out.

He gets to Dustin’s first and knocks on the door. He’s waylaid by Claudia but manages to persuade her he has an idea to help Dustin. “Dustin?” He asks, knocking on the younger boy’s bedroom door. “You in there, dude?”

“Go away, Steve.”

He doesn’t. Instead, he opens the door. He’s met with a pillow to the face.

“I said go away!”

“I heard you,” Steve says mildly. “But I’m also not leaving until you get in the car.”

“Then you’ll be waiting a long time.”

“Dustin, please. I can’t explain, not right now, but if you ever trusted me before, trust me now. I need you to come with me. Please.”

“I trusted you with Eddie! I trusted your plan to keep him alive!”

Steve bites back the twin tornadoes of anger and sadness that roar in his chest, in his head, that block out all sound for a minute. He takes a deep breath. It only shakes a little. “Dustin. I can’t explain. I need you to trust me. And I’m not leaving until you get in my car.”

“I don’t trust you,” Dustin murmurs, sitting up. “But if it’ll get you to shut up, then fine.” He pushes past Steve, and Steve has to take another couple deep breaths. He looks around and spots Dustin’s familiar dice bag, snatching it on his way out.

Dustin’s buckled in the backseat by the time Steve gets back out to his car. He’s looking out the window and only briefly looks over when Steve gets in.

The next stop is the Sinclairs, and Steve thinks they should’ve worried about Erica figuring them out, too. They’re less trouble than Dustin was, and grab their dice bags with only a raised eyebrow from Erica. Then it’s off to the Wheelers, where Mike gives him some shit, but not as much as he’s used to from the teen, even after he tells him to bring his dice bag.

Max is next, sitting on her front porch like she’d been waiting for him. She eyes the gaggle of kids in the backseat. “What’s going on?”

“There’s something you need to see.” He narrows his eyes at her. “You never played Dungeons and Dorks, did you?”

“Nah, just hung with El while the dorks in question did.”

“What would you two do?”

She shrugs a shoulder. “Nails. Just… talk. Hang out.”

“Y’got nail polish?” At her nod, he jerks his head. “Go ahead and grab some.”

She narrows her eyes at him, but does, walking back out a minute later with three small bottles in her fist, which she shakes in Steve’s direction.

The last stop is the Hopper-Byers household, where El and Will are waiting for them. He hops out before they can get in. “Will, go grab your dice. And do you have a mini he can use?”

Will’s eyes light up, and he nods before dashing back inside.

“El, Max is bringing some nail polish. Do you want to grab some, too?”

She shakes her head. “She knows what I like.” A smile plays on her lips. “Do they know?”

He shakes his head. “He’s planning a one-shot for them. While he’s busy with that, I’m gonna get the rest of his friends—the Corroded Coffin guys—and invite them over.”

El grins at him. “I think he’ll love that.”

“I hope so.”

Just then Will returns, waving his dice bag high in the air. “Got it! Let’s go!”

Steve grins at his enthusiasm and follows them to the car. Soon enough, they’re all at his house. Before he unlocks the door, he tosses Dustin his dice bag. “You’re gonna want this.”

Dustin fumbles the bag, drops it in his lap, picks it up, and looks questioningly from it to Steve. “What-”

“Let’s go!” Steve says, unlocking the doors. “Everyone inside.”

Everyone piles in, trying to ask Steve questions, but he just shakes his head and corrals them further inside with a smile.

“Welcome, weary travelers!” Eddie’s voice booms out. He comes around the corner carefully, leaning on the wall, but standing up straight and grinning.

“What the fuck,” Mike whispers, leaning against the wall.

“Holy shit,” Lucas agrees, stumbling against the couch, eyes wide. “…Eddie?”

“In the flesh, Sinclair.” He bows, then smiles warmly when he stands up again.

Lucas takes a step forward, then another, then practically throws himself at Eddie in a hug. “Hey, Sinclair,” Eddie murmurs, holding on just as tight.

Mike looks to El desperately. “Is this real?”

“It is,” she nods.

“Holy shit,” Mike says again, scrambling up to join the hug.

The only one who hasn’t moved is Dustin. When Mike and Lucas pull away, Eddie limps over to him. “Dustin.”

“I watched you,” he whispers. “I watched you die.”

“I know,” Eddie whispers back. “I’m sorry.”

“You died.”

“I did. For a little bit.”

“You died,” Dustin says again, and this time Eddie pulls him into a hug.

“I’m here,” he whispers into his hair. “I’m here. I’m so sorry. I never should’ve let you see that.”

Dustin pulls back, teary-eyed and red-faced and completely serious. “I’m glad you did. You didn’t run. But you-”

“I know. That’s what I’m sorry about. I’m glad I didn’t run, too.”

He pulls back and grins as he wipes a hand down Dustin’s face, cackling when Dustin bats his hand away.

It makes Dustin laugh too, though, which was Eddie’s entire purpose, so he wipes his own face and leans back to grin at everyone. “Anyone else?”

Max approaches him and punches his arm. “That’s for dying, you bastard,” she says. No one comments on her sniff, or the quick hug she pulls him into.

“Dying was a bitch move,” Erica agrees.

“Erica!” Lucas complains.

“What? Just the facts.”

Eddie laughs, and they all crowd into the dining room.

Once they’re all immersed in the game, Steve slips out, winking at El as he leaves.

Gareth’s house is closest to his, and Mrs. Emerson answers the door.

“Hello,” she says, wary but pleasant. “I’m afraid Gareth isn’t going to be much of a companion at the moment.”

“That’s okay,” Steve says. “I’d like to speak to him anyways, if I may.”

“Of course, dear. I’ll put in a good word with Father Robert, too, if you can get him out of his room. That act would deserve sainthood.”

Steve chuckles. “I don’t know about sainthood, but I’ll see what I can do.” He knocks on Gareth’s door as she walks off.

“Come in.”

He smiles as he walks in. “Hi, Gareth.”

Gareth narrows his eyes at him. “Harrington.”

“If I asked you to come with me, and promised to make it worth your while, would you?”

“The fuck?”

“I know it sounds cryptic,” Steve laughs, then sobers. “And I know you probably don’t trust me. You have no reason to. But I swear it’ll all make sense if you come with me.”

Gareth narrows his eyes at him. “You sound like the government,” he informs Steve, rolling off his bed and onto his feet.

Steve makes a face. “Um. That’s the last thing I want to sound like? If that helps at all?”

Gareth snickers. It doesn’t meet his eyes. “Lead the way, I guess.”

Steve grins at him, and together they walk out to his car. He vaguely knows where Jeff lives, knows it’s on the same street as the Sinclairs, but doesn’t know which house it is. Gareth raises an eyebrow when Steve asks him, but eventually tells him.

Steve bounds up to the door. Jeff is the one to answer this time, looking tired but otherwise mostly okay. “Hi,” Steve says. “If I asked you to trust me, would you?”

Jeff stares at him for a minute, then shrugs, turning to grab his keys before gesturing for Steve to lead the way.

Freak is the last one. Steve doesn’t know where he lives, and is only vaguely aware that Freak probably isn’t his actual name, but thankfully the other boys know where he lives and are willing to direct him.

“Um,” he says, when a knock on the door results in a woman sneering at him.

“Whaddya want?”

“I- I’m here for, uh. For Freak?”

She sighs and rolls her eyes. “Boy! You gotta Prince Priss here for ya!” She barely gives him time to answer before she’s bellowing, “Arthur!”

“Jesus fuck, Ma, what?” He yells back, somewhere inside the house. He’s at the door in the next minute, nudging her out of the way. “Your beer’s by the couch.”

She scoffs, but goes, and Freak lets out a sigh. “I’m sorry about her.”

Steve shrugs, small smile playing at his mouth. “She’s pretty right about me. I am dressed like a Prince Priss, even if I don’t know what exactly that is.”

Freak snorts, glancing behind Steve at his car. Sharp eyes narrow in on Steve. “This is about Eddie.”

“It is.”

“Wait here.”

He runs off and is back within a minute, feet hastily jammed into shoes and keys clutched in his hand. “Let’s go.”

Steve stops him. “Tell me to drop it and I will. But I understand having asshole parents. My house is open if you ever need to get out.”

Freak stills for a moment, then nods. “Thank you.” After a pause, “let’s definitely drop it, though.”

Steve chuckles. “I can definitely do that.” They walk to his car together, and Steve ignores all their questions as he begins to drive. When he gets to his house, he cuts the ignition and turns to them. “Please try not to rough him up too much.” He smiles at their confused looks and leads them inside.

“Motherfucker,” Jeff swears, and Eddie looks up, wide-eyed, before breaking into a grin.

“Holy shit!” He stands and moves towards them, stumbling a little, smile never faltering. “How-”

“Your friend Harrington,” Jeff answers, smiling a little. “Speaking of?”

Eddie shrugs a shoulder, crooked grin in place. “What can I say?”

“You can start with the fact that you’re alive,” Gareth says, pulling him into a hug. “How the fuck, dude?”

Eddie chuckles. “I, uh. Can’t say, actually.” He pulls back with a shrug. “Y’know how some things, the past few years, have stunk of government?”

“Like the Byers kid-” Will waves a hand, “-and the mall, and-”

“Yup,” Eddie nods. “Same difference.”

“Well shit,” Gareth says, and everyone agrees.

The older boys sit in on the session, ribbing the other players, until Eddie starts tripping over his words. He finally stops with a sigh, rubbing a hand over his face. “Okay, who put sleeping potion in my water?” He grins at everyone, but even that is tired, and everyone starts packing up, glancing at each other.

Steve looks around with a sigh. “I’ve gotta go in shifts again,” he says. “Pipsqueaks, with me.” He herds the kids out after they say goodbye to Eddie and starts driving them home.

The Hopper-Byers are first this time, and Will and El disperse hugs when they leave, with promises to hang out soon. Next are the Sinclairs. Erica fist bumps Max and Lucas waves to everyone. Then it’s Max, who doesn’t even turn around, just throws a peace sign over her shoulder. Mike is next, and last is Dustin, who hesitates before throwing himself over the center console to hug Steve. “I’m sorry,” he whispers, and Steve’s eyes burn as he returns the hug.

“I know.”

“I do trust you.”

“I know.”

“I shouldn’t have said that.”

“I know.” They pull apart with a laugh, and Steve fondly ruffles his hair. “Get inside, kid. Eat some food. Quit worrying your ma.”

Dustin gives him one last hug then runs inside, and Steve gives himself a minute before he puts his car in reverse and carefully backs out of their driveway.

When he gets back home, he sees Eddie and the rest of the Corroded Coffin guys sitting on the couch, talking. Eddie’s trying his best, but Steve can tell he’s fading fast. “You guys ready to go?” He asks when there’s a lull in conversation.

Jeff nods, stands, and claps Eddie on the shoulder. “Glad you’re not dead, dude,” he says, prompting a round of laughter.

“Me too,” Eddie grins back.

Everyone says their goodbyes, and Steve hangs back while they file out to his car. “Head upstairs,” he suggests. “Take a nap. I’ll be back in a bit, and I’ll even figure out dinner. I’ll wake you when it’s time to eat.”

Eddie scrubs a hand over his face and nods. “Thanks. Might take you up on that.”

Steve snickers. “Goodnight, Eddie, go sleep.” He walks out before Eddie can reply, and he’s smiling as he gets in the car.

He starts driving and notices Jeff, in the rearview mirror, looking between his friends. Finally, he sighs. “If you two are gonna be too pussyfooted to say anything, fine. I will. Harrington, you’re a good guy, but Eddie’s ours, and if you hurt him there won’t be a body left to find.”

Steve chuckles, flicks on his indicator to turn. “Noted. You’re good friends.”

Freak looks at him. “You don’t seem as scared as you should.”

Steve taps the steering wheel. “The things that happened these last few years,” he says quietly. “The ones that stink of government, as Eddie put it. I’ve been involved since the beginning.” He turns, slows down, looking for Freak’s house. Freak silently points ahead, and he nods in thanks. “I can’t say much. I’ve signed more NDAs than I think are legal. But the, uh. The mall. Starcourt. There were Russians underneath, trying to- well. That part isn’t important anymore. But they tortured me for information I didn’t have. I’ve faced things worse than my worst nightmare.” He parks, smiles softly at Freak. “I do believe you. I believe you’ll protect him at all costs. Just know I will, too.”

Freak studies Steve’s face for a minute, then nods. “See you ‘round, Harrington.”

Steve sends him a goofy salute, and sees the smile he tries to hide as he turns away.

He drops off Jeff next, and Gareth last. He stops Gareth before he can get out of the car. “Eat something, dude,” he suggests. “Come out of your room once in a while. Your mom’s worried about you.”

Gareth twists his lips, then nods and walks inside.

Steve sighs, puts the car into gear, and heads home.

He walks in to find Eddie passed out on the couch and huffs out a laugh. He gently shakes Eddie’s shoulder, smiling when Eddie blinks his eyes open and smiles. “Hey, Stevie.”

Steve’s smile grows. “Stevie, huh? Hey, Eddie. Wanna head upstairs, maybe? Sleep in a real bed?”

Eddie’s eyes flicker shut as he hums. “Sounds good.”

“Eddie,” Steve sing-songs. “You’re falling asleep again. You gotta get up if you wanna sleep in a bed.”

Eddie hums, turns into Steve’s hold. “‘M tired.”

Steve’s heart melts. “I know. C’mon, Eddie, let’s get you to bed.”

He pulls Eddie off the couch, ignoring Eddie’s groan, and leads him upstairs. He leads him to his bed without thinking about it, tucking him in and turning to leave when Eddie grasps his hand. “Stay,” he murmurs, already falling back asleep.

Steve does. Laying there, Eddie’s soft breath whiffling over his ear, he decides dinner can wait.