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Ever since all of the events in the upside down, everyone has been devastated.
All of the people that were close to Eddie were devastated. Including Dustin, Wayne, the d&d club, and Steve.
Steve was the worst of all of them.
He couldn’t get out of bed most of the time. He’s always thinking about Eddie. The way his boyfriend looked when they all found Dustin by Eddie’s side, crying.
Eddie was all bloodied, eyes open and not moving.
That’s when he knew he was gone. He would never get Eddie back. The only person that he really loved, the only person who made him feel loved.
People kept visiting Steve, comforting him even when they’re as bad as him.
He just wanted to be alone in his room all of the time. He wants to cry by himself, curled up in a ball.
He can’t even get up to shower anymore. He can’t even eat.
It was so hot in his room, but he wasn’t going to get up to turn on the air conditioner. He physically couldn’t.
He hadn’t slept in days. All he did was stare at the ceiling and think about how he could have done better, how he could have protected Eddie, how he could have protected any of them.
Now he is gone. Eddie is gone.
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Today, Steve finally decided that he would try to do something, anything to get his thoughts off of what had happened.
He took a long, hot shower and got changed appropriately to the cold weather. He was in a maroon sweater, and it was surprisingly clean.
He didn’t bother to do his hair, but he was proud of himself for just showering, and wanting to get out.
He decided that he wanted to go on a drive to skull rock even though it’s late, about 8 pm. He often likes to drive at night, because it somehow calms his thoughts and anxiety.
When Steve got there, he got out of his car and walked to the nearby bench.
The feeling of the cool breeze on his skin was calming to him. The sound of the crunching leaves beneath his feet, and the sounds of crickets.
He always tries to calm himself down by thinking of things around him and using his 5 senses.
But at skull rock, even with everything that calms him down, he still thinks of Eddie.
The feeling of his soft hair against his finger tips, the smell of faint weed and the type of body wash he uses, the way his pretty doe eyes looks into his own, and the way his voice sounds..
He felt tears well up in his eyes as he thought about him again. No matter where he was, he couldn’t get over him.
The grief he held for Eddie. He started sobbing again, but at least he was alone here. It’s peaceful for him.
He slowly calmed down again, wiping his tears and his nose.
He was shaking when suddenly, he heard the sound of rustling leaves behind him, and it made him become aware, tense. He grabbed his flashlight and stood up to look around.
All he saw were the trees surrounding him, and then a twig snapped.
He whipped his head back and yelped as he got pounced on by something.. someone.
“Jesus Christ!”
He panicked, moving his arms around frantically, trying to push the thing off of him.
His breathing became heavy and he finally looked up, gripping the shoulders of the creature.
It was dark, but he saw a face.. one like Eddie’s.
But it wasn’t Eddie, right?
It was practically growling. He can see glowing eyes, big bat-like wings and fangs.
It was trying to get at his neck. It seemed possessed.
His heart was pounding. He could barely breathe.
He studied the face of the thing on top of him, and he felt himself being weaker, tears filling in his eyes again. Eddie is gone, he had to remind himself of it. He isn’t here anymore.. but this.. looked just like him.
For once, he hoped this was a god awful dream. But as he struggled, he couldn’t hold it anymore and he felt a sharp pain in his neck, making him groan in pain. He was in shock, not knowing what to do.
He can feel his own blood being sucked into the creature's mouth, and he felt himself being weaker and weaker.
“Eddie..”
He mumbled, trying to keep his breathing steady as he lost blood.
A few seconds later, it stopped.
He took in a sharp breath as the teeth came out of his neck.
He heard a voice, no more growling.
“Stevie.”
And then Steve blacked out.
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Steve woke up slowly, feeling a small sting in his neck. He still felt weak, a little hungry and tired. When he finally blinked open his eyes, he realized that he was now in his own house.
Was it a dream?
He thought to himself. But then he really felt the pain in his neck and it made him shiver, he could feel that it was wrapped up to stop the bleeding and he started to panic again.
How the hell was he home now?
He looked around his room and saw a small plate of snacks there that he definitely didn’t put there. But he grabbed it and ate some anyway. He was so drained. He needed energy, especially if he wanted to know what the hell was going on now.
He heard a noise from the en suite bathroom, and he stood up almost too quickly, feeling light headed as he did.
Steve stumbled as he grabbed his nail bat from where he hid it under his bed. The panic in him grew again as he walked towards the bathroom door and opened it quickly.
He saw that thing he saw earlier, and in the light of the bathroom, he can see more clearly. He wanted to cry again. This is not possible. And this thing is in his house??
“What the hell are you?”
He asked, stumbling over his words and holding up the nail bat.
It was looking at itself in the mirror, looking scared, even of itself.
It looked away from the mirror and over to the man, and he smiled. It showed his fangs.
“It’s Eddie, don’t you remember?”
He asked with a nervous chuckle.
“No. You aren’t Eddie. He is dead. And you just.. bit me. What the hell are you?”
He repeated himself, and tried so hard not to break down in tears. It couldn’t be true.
It just stared at Steve, its mouth opening and closing as if trying to speak.
“But I am.”
He practically whispered.
“I don’t know what happened to me, man. Something came over me. I don’t know how I’m alive. All I know is that I’m a monster now, and I know I am.”
He said it in a panic. He needed him to believe him. because it really is him.
“I can hear things better, and when I’m hungry, sometimes it’s not for regular food. Something came over me. I was possessed. I need you to believe me, Steve. I can’t lose you.”
He was starting to cry, and Steve was still skeptical, panicked, and he wanted to believe him at the same time.
He furrowed his eyebrows and his hands shook anxiously by his side.
He was in shock, and he was so scared.
“You died.. I saw you dead in Dustin’s arms.”
And finally, he couldn’t hold it anymore and he choked out another sob and dropped the bat in his hand before walking to the long haired man. He believed this was Eddie. But it was hard to believe... something just drew himself towards him.
“I know.”
Eddie’s voice was shaky through his own tears, and he moved a little closer to Steve. Seeing that he didn’t step back, seeing that he wasn’t terrified anymore, he gently wrapped his arms around him and shoved his face into his shoulder, trying to keep himself together, but now both of them were crying.
Steve didn’t care about the way Eddie smelled now, like blood and sweat. It wasn’t a pleasant smell.
“I’m a monster.”
He knows it. He bit Steve for gods sake. He came back from the dead like a zombie, but he wasn’t a zombie. More like a vampire, and it scares him. He doesn’t want to hurt anybody else.
Steve’s arms wrapped around Eddie, being careful of his wings, which were actually cool as hell.
“No, Ed’s.”
He pulled away from the hug for a moment to look him in the eyes. But Eddie couldn’t, and he understood that. Eddie was never really that good with eye contact anyway.
“I believe you.”
Steve’s voice was soft again, and it didn’t change.
“I’m just trying to process the fact my boyfriend is a metal ass vampire.”
He moved one of his hands to Eddie’s cheek to wipe away the tears that fell down his cheek
“And that you’re alive. Eddie, I kept seeing you gone in my dreams. I couldn’t sleep because of it.”
Eddie just stared at him for a moment, and then down at his neck which he patched up once he got them here.
”I’m sorry.”
He says quietly and he wraps his arms tightly around him again, not wanting to ever let go.
“Something is gonna happen if I get like that again. I can’t help it.”
Steve nodded and pulled away again, just to lean in and tilt his head to the side to gently press his lips against Eddie’s, something that he missed. He missed Eddie, his soft skin and his lips against his own.
“We’re gonna figure something out. In the meantime, you’re staying with me until we can tell anyone else about you.”
He stayed close to Eddie, scared to let go.
Eddie couldn’t disagree with him, because he knew it was for the best.
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They both calmed down after a while, after they comforted each other.
Steve made Eddie take a bath to help him wash all of the dried blood off of him, and it took a while to take the mats out of his hair.
The wounds on his sides somehow disappeared and healed quickly. Faster than most wounds would heal, but it still left scars, horrible memories from the past. Eddie was only gone for about 2 weeks. He thinks it’s because of the whole vampire thing.
They both lay in silence for a while. Both facing each other, one of Steve’s arms was around Eddie’s waist and the other held the back of Eddie’s neck, keeping him close to him.
Eddie’s face was nuzzled into Steve’s chest, listening to his heartbeat. And it was dangerous. What if Eddie turned again? He doesn’t know how long he can go without, well, feeding.
One of Eddie’s big wings was around Steve, as if he was protecting him or something, and he liked the thought of that. Plus, him having these new features are cool.
Steve was tired, and he was still thinking that this wasn’t real, like it was a dream.
Then suddenly, he heard Eddie speak up, voice muffled in his own shirt.
“Are you scared of me, Steve?”
He asked, his voice genuine and nervous.
Steve just sat there in silence for a little bit, thinking.
He wasn’t scared of him. He was just scared of what would happen. Could he control Eddie if it happened again? Could he find blood for him or just let him feed off of him like he did last time?
He shook his head and smiled softly, even if Eddie couldn’t see it with him hiding his face.
“No, sweetheart. If I’m being honest, I think it’s cool. You have wings and fangs, and you basically have super powers now.”
He knew Eddie was smiling now, which made him happy.
“Didn’t think you’d still want me considering the fact I’m.. this now. I'm not even supposed to be here.”
Eddie mumbled.
“Don’t say that, Eddie.”
He said while moving one of his hands to Eddie’s face, tilting his head up so that he wasn’t nuzzled into his chest anymore, making him look at him so he knows that he’s serious.
“You are supposed to be here. I want you here, okay? I love you.”
The last part honestly just slipped out. He’d never said it to him, not before he was dead.
But he didn’t regret it. Not at all.
Eddie didn’t look him in the eyes, but Steve can see the tears that welled up in them.
He wanted Eddie to take his time, and he did. He was just trying to find the right words when there were these overwhelming emotions that he felt. That they both felt.
“I love you too.”
Eddie finally said, and he leaned up and pressed a soft kiss against Steve’s cheek, and then his lips.
Steve smiled against his lips, eyes fluttering shut.
It was a quick kiss, but it was perfect. All of this was perfect. He had Eddie back, and he was okay.
Sure, he had to figure out how to deal with a vampire boyfriend still, but everything was still okay.
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