Chapter Text
The holiday cabin they rented was peaceful, but cozy. Set up like college dorms with two twins to a room. The original plan was for Eddie and Argyle, Robin and Steve, and Nancy and Jonathon to share. But on the heels of their break up, Nancy and Argyle switched. Steve hated it, he sat up the night before wondering if Eddie was “helping” Nancy with her break up. Then hated himself for it. Even if they were, it wasn’t his business. But the anxiety ate at him all night until, the sun barely peaked over the horizon, leading him here.
The snow fell in big flakes as Steve cooked breakfast, his stare distant as the rest of the house got up. His mood didn’t improve much and he was fully pouting when Eddie and Nancy came into the kitchen together. Nancy was wearing Eddie’s jacket. No one else seemed to be giving them strange looks, but Steve felt petty.
“Is that Eddie’s jacket?” He asked innocently. He noticed Jonathon’s head snap to stare at the pair. Eddie barely reacted beyond a nod, but Nancy bristled slightly.
“So what if it is?” She asked with that tone that Steve knew meant he was walking on thin ice.
“Just...wondering that’s all.” He said nonchalantly and looked away. But not before he caught Eddie’s eye on him.
“You think we were bumping uglies or something last night?” Eddie asked, calling him out with a knowing smirk that stripped him raw.
“Ew!” Nancy shouted before Steve could respond, as she shifted away from Eddie. He pretended to look offended for all of two seconds before he burst out laughing. Steve wanted to know what was so funny about that but before he could ask, Eddie spoke.
“Dude, she’s my cousin!” He shouted still cackling. He wiped his eyes as he explained, “her dad, my mom, siblings, man.” Steve stared in shock at Nancy, who started laughing right along with him.
“You’re cousins with the freak and you never told me?” He asked harsher than he meant to; the two sobered immediately. Nancy with a mean glare on her face and Eddie with a resigned sigh.
“The second you think I’m fucking your ex I’m resorted back to freak huh?” He didn’t even sound mad, just hurt. He pushed back from the table without a word, stomped up the stairs, and slammed the door of the room. It was barely a minute later that Eddie was bounding down the steps and out the front door, car keys in hand. His van roared to life but didn’t move. Likely he was sitting in it to keep warm but the snow made it hard to drive anywhere.
No one said a word as they watched Steve sit in his guilt. “I shouldn’t have said that. Or asked about the jacket. I’m sorry.” He whispered to Nancy.
“It’s not me you need to apologize to” she said back with a flick of her hair. “I didn’t tell you, because Eddie asked me not to tell anyone.” She sighed. “He didn’t want anyone to judge me because of who he was, the only reason Mike was in hellfire is because he was already different.” She stood, grabbed their plates, and turned away. “I didn’t want to hide it, but he made me promise.” She walked away to the kitchen.
Jonathon followed Nancy without a word as did Argyle. Then it was just Robin...and Robin had questions.
“Why did it matter if they were?” Robin asked. “Like, I guess it might matter to Jonathon, but why you? I thought you were over Nancy.”
“I am!” Steve sighed. “It’s not that I didn’t want Eddie to sleep with her. I didn’t want her to sleep with Eddie.”
“Because he’s a freak?” Robin raised an eyebrow. Steve turned angrily toward her, ready to defend Eddie, before he realized he didn’t have a leg to stand on. He deflated and bumped his head to her shoulder.
“Because I was jealous.” He leaned up to look at his friend. “I think I’m in love with Eddie.” He admitted. He was ready to be grilled and reamed for it, but instead Robin just rolled her eyes.
“I know Steve. Now, go out there, apologize, and explain.” She pointed out the front door.
“But…” Steve asked but she slapped her hand over his mouth.
“Shut up and go!” Steve nodded and bolted outside, forgetting his jacket and shoes in his haste.