Chapter Text
Steve had known that sooner or later this would happen. He’d expected it as soon as Dustin managed to stop raving about Eddie enough to name the other members of Hellfire instead of mentioning the names of their DnD characters.
He still didn’t feel ready to leave his home and see Gareth Emerson waiting for him, hand half raised as if he’d been debating about knocking.
“You saved Eddie’s life.” Gareth stated, glaring at Steve less vehemently than he had in years.
Steve took it as a hopeful sign, stepping forwards and closing the door since he did still need to head out. Eddie had asked him to hang around if the entire party ever gathered at the Munson’s new trailer, wary about people holding onto the mob mentality against him. “Because he never deserved death and that place had already taken too much. Also Dustin and his ropes.” He smiled heading towards his car and gesturing in what he hoped would be understood as an invitation.
Gareth followed, waving at the car on the road beside the Harrington driveway. “Ropes?” He asked, climbing in beside Steve.
“Hard to explain, even harder than what actually happened during the earthquakes.” He commented, knowing that anything other that a flat refusing to say more would be taken in similar ways.
“Looks like you should try doing both.”
Pulling off, Steve shook his head, “Not without Eddie. Some of that you should hear from him.” He put the radio on then, not loud enough to discourage conversation but enough to make it comfortable if they didn’t talk further.
Surreptitiously he also looked at the connection between them, biting back a smile seeing it a pale pleasant colour for the first time in years.
~
The drive over to Eddie’s hadn’t been entirely quiet. Of course Gareth was going to question more about the friendship they once had and how abruptly it ended. Steve was only surprised that he didn’t push more after he claimed to be the one to blame for it.
Eddie however knew nothing of their shared history and opened the door excitedly only to pause hanging out of it for a moment, “Hey Gareth… and Steve?” He looked between them in confusion. “When did you two get close enough for Steve to give you lifts places?”
Gareth shrugged, heading to get himself a drink as he replied, “’Bout ten years ago, had an argument we never talked out.”
“You’ve hated him the entire time I’ve known you.” The comment was said while gesturing and staring at Steve, apparently hoping to make him explain more.
“Ask Steve. He’s claiming guilt for it but not explaining more than saying it’s a long story.” Gareth rolled his eyes, leaning on the counter.
Steve gestured out the door, exclaiming, “It is! And the kids are here! They do not get to know it.”
“You mentioned Dustin and ropes before;” Gareth stated flatly, unsurprised when said boy hurried through, “Doesn’t he already know it?”
“Nope.” Steve crossed his arms, pressing his lips into a thin line after replying and staring at Dustin’s curious look.
The question was easily predicted, “What do I have to do with rope?”
“Nothing, unless it’s in your game I bet.” He scoffed, looking at Eddie curiously to see how he was reacting to anything that had been said so far, especially since he’d helped prevent everyone demanding answers when he had to explain to Hopper, Joyce, and Murray. “You trying to capture someone? New friend? Enemy? Rope could be useful for that.”
Disappearing back into the living room after deciding whatever Steve was hiding wasn’t currently interesting, Dustin called back, “You’re so weird Steve. No, we don’t need to tie anyone up right now.”
“Noting that idea for getting an ally to them involved though.” Eddie decided, tapping his chin in exaggerates thoughtfulness, following him through with Gareth just behind him.
Steve smiles, backing away as the game is focused on and soon underway.
~
For all the times that Steve had tried to explain what he could see and do, facing Gareth made this feel like the most difficult attempt. Suggesting Gareth and Eddie come over to his home the day after DnD so he actually could have time to explain did not make it any easier to face.
He might be relatively certain of getting believed and certain that while neither Gareth or Eddie were known for patience they would let him explain in his own time, he also knew starting with the reason he was explaining anything was probably the best idea.
Bluntly stating “I can see the threads that connect people to what they care about. Gareth and I were friends until I cut the thread in the middle of an argument,” was not the way to explain.
“You cut the thread? Just like that?” Gareth challenged, before frowning as he realised that sentence wasn’t something he understood.
“I was eleven!” The protest was automatically given, “I didn’t know anything about it really. And I tried to fix it, tied it back together, attempted to start again.”
“And it took, didn’t it?” Eddie broke the staring contest between them, watching his friends attentively.
Gareth shook his head, sounding dismissive as he simply said, “Eddie.”
“No. You’ve always held a grudge against Harrington. Me, I never liked any jock but saw them as all the same, only got personal against Steve because you hated him specifically and he was king for a while.” Eddie explained. “You could never see him as nothing to you.”
Gareth’s expression twisted at that being pointed out, “How do they even form anyway? Like how can anyone even see that stuff?”
With that question Steve focused on trying to fully explain what he could do, what he’d learnt about his powers since then and how it appeared to him. He couldn’t say that he wasn’t grateful for the phone ringing.
“Steve, can you get to Family Video?” Robin asked as soon as he answered it, quickly adding, “Keith left early and a rush has hit.”
He was already grabbing his car keys, used to jumping in to help when their boss decided to neglect the store rules over shifts, “Sure Robin.”
Gareth followed him out as he headed for the door, loudly protesting, “Where are you going? That can’t be all the explanation!”
Steve didn’t glance back, “Work. Robs needs help.”
“And we’re not important enough-” The angry words were interrupted by Eddie’s hand and chuckle, having realised how close the pair were.
“Gareth! We’ll wait till tonight. No campaign is good if all the info is given at once.”
From inside his car, Steve called back, “Thanks Eds.”
“But what about-” Gareth glared, gesturing as Steve drove away, wondering what Eddie would say to calm it, as well as if they’d still be at his when the shift was over.
“He said Dustin makes connections from rope so how thick must his connection to Robin be? Those two are closer than anyone.”
~
Steve had only taken Robin with him to Jemima’s shop a few times, but knowing that he still needed to finish explaining meant he made a detour to it on the way to dropping her home.
“I need sage and nettles. Probably a stick of willow too.” He mentioned as an explanation
Robin climbed out with him, thinking for a moment before asking, “Who are you clearing the air with? That’s what you usually want those things for, isn’t it?”
He’d only mentioned the charms he did and what was used in them a few times so he nodded to agree while answering, “Gareth.”
“Eddie too?” She confirmed, a gleam in her eye.
Steve shook his head, scrunching his nose a little in confusion at the mention, “Nah, he seems okay with everything I’ve been able to explain so far.”
“You’ve not got to being a witch yet then?” Robin surmised, smirking.
He was stopped from crossing his arms, or placing them on his hips by the ingredients he’d already picked up. Jemina rarely chatted with him if there were other people around, but he was sure she was listening to the conversation to gossip about it later. “You’re the one who told me to start with seeing connections between people and shit before witchcraft.”
“And I stand by it but the witchcraft is what’ll get the bigger reaction from Eddie. You want me to help?”
“Yes.” Back at home he was glad to have Robin there, especially given the dramatics Eddie pulled off at seeing him make a charm and use it to start explaining witchcraft and how it worked with his natural powers.