Chapter Text
Steve POV
Monday, September 16th, 1985. 4:21pm.
One hour, twenty-one minutes.
That's how long Steve has been waiting outside this god forsaken school. The rush of nostalgia followed by the sickening reminder of who he once was when he thinks about Hawkins high had passed, and now he was just stewing in his growing annoyance with the three neurosciences he was asked to collect. He's fiddled with the radio, flipped through the magazine Robin had left in the glove box, picked at the loose thread on his work vest and checked his hair in the rear view mirror at least six times already. How long could this club take? Just as he had run out of patience, about to exit his car and storm through those front doors to yell at Dustin (if he could find the kid), a group of varying ages of nerds wearing the same “HELLFIRE CLUB” t-shirt came tumbling out the front door. Tripping over each other and red in the face, grinning massively from ear to ear. His eyes finally landed on the two out of the three boys he had waited far too long for and pushed half of his body out of his window, one hand on the top of his car for balance and the other slamming the horn as fast and as hard as he could. All their heads turned to his direction, but he didn't care. He also didn't care that Mike and Dustin's face grew redder by the second, he actually found it funny.
“HENDERSON, WHEELER! YOO-HOO!!!” he yelled like a madman, waving his arm around as he gripped the steering wheel. He stifled a laugh when he saw Mike pinch the bridge of his nose, Dustin turned to the others to either change the subject as fast as he could or make fun of Steve in some way and the rest of the boys giggled. When they made no effort to start making their way to the car Steve had so gracefully driven to this run down place of education to bring them home, he decided to yell again. “YOUR PARENTS ARE WAITING FOR YOU, CHILDREN!” At this point, Mike was grinding his teeth and dragging his feet to the car and the other boys were practically doubled over laughing. His attention turned to Dustin, who was trying his best to defend himself and Mike after being humiliated by their babysitter. That's when he saw a hand from one of the older boys reach down and ruffle his hair before gently placing his hand on his shoulder, turning him around and lightly pushing him, encouraging him to go. Odd. They seem close.
He assumed the boy was Eddie, from what Dustin had described, and talked about. The big, curly, dark, long hair that framed his face, the silver rings that seemed way too clunky to be convenient, the skinny ripped jeans and way too many chains. In Steve's opinion, the guy didn't seem like a good influence. Not because he was jealous of how close he and Dustin were with Dustin only being in high school for a few months, which he wasn't. He wasn't jealous. But because Eddie had this - aura of trouble everywhere he went. When he was still in school, he didn't even know Eddie's name. He was just known as a freak, and was referred to that way by his so called “friends” Tommy and Carol. God, he was glad to be rid of those two. There had always been rumors of him drug dealing, that the strange horror movie centric designed lunch box he carried with him everywhere contained weed. Steve knew nothing about it, he'd always smoked but it was always provided by Tommy, and now, Robin. Still didn't trust the guy.
His train of thought was broken by the sound of his back door opening and his car being filled with the whiney voices of the two frustrated boys. “Dude! What was that ?!” Mike squealed, already on the edge of his seat, punching Steve's arm. Dustin kicked the back of Steve's chair when he had climbed in after Mike, like the toddler he was. “Seriously, Steve. We finally have cool friends. It'd be nice if they didn't see us as kids!” Steve turned the key and as the engine came to life he rolled his eyes at the boy's comment. “You are kids. The both of you. Also, I'm cool.” The boys in the back shared a look and ignored the comment. Pretending not to be entirely offended, he changed the subject. “Do you know how long I've waited for you two ? Where is Lucas, anyway?” Max was at home, she had been since 12pm. Her councillor permitted her to go home early on Mondays. Dustin crosses his arms, leans back in his seat and looks out the window. Taking the hint he didn't wanna talk about it, Mike speaks up. “He walked home with his basketball friends an hour ago,” he said, sounding a bit exhausted. Hearing Lucas should be home, safely, Steve started pulling out of the parking lot. The other group of boys, the remaining “hellfire club” , wandered off somewhere behind the school. “He skipped another session?” Steve asked, when they were on the road. “Third time this week.” Dustin finally speaks, his voice laced with poison. He could tell they were both frustrated, sad. But they could never truly be mad at Lucas. It was endearing, how much they cared for each other which is why it hurt Steve so much to see them growing apart. “Okay,” he begins at the first red light. “Have you been to any of his games ?” The boys share a look once more, and they both sink into their seats, almost in shame. “No.” They mumble in unison. “Guys,” Steve starts again, but he doesn't have to continue because Mike throws his hands up and Dustin sighs. “We know! We know. We all need each other's support. But he's been… different. Since August.” Mike rambles to a very still car, as rows of houses fly by them. Steve takes a breath and thinks of his next response. “I'm sure you've all been different, you all almost died, guys. If you reach out, he'll take your hand.” The car grows silent after that, as if they're letting the words settle.
Dustin nervously speaks up as Steve pulls into Mrs.Hendersons driveway, his house is before mikes on their route. “Our campaign finale overlaps with his big game. We don't know what to do.” Mike nods his head as his leg starts bouncing anxiously. Again, Steve thinks of his answer. “Can't you reschedule? It's just.. a fantasy story thing.” He braces himself for the word vomit that is the explanation of d&d every time Steve dares to besmirch its name. Instead, he's met with silence. They really must be in deep thought. In one swift move Dustin grabs his bag he had carelessly thrown on the floor beforehand and opens the car door before sprinting across his front yard, forgetting to close the car door behind him. “Henderson! God…damn it.” He yelled after the boy, but he was already inside and long gone. Without prompting, Mike reached over to close the door. “Right wheeler, let's get you home.” Steve glanced at the rear view mirror, at Mike's leg still bouncing up and down, then down to the dash board.
“4:45”. he's so late to his shift.
Keith's gonna kill him.
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Eddie POV
Eddie puts out his cigarette on the side of the trailer and shakes out his arms, squeezing his eyes tight and yawning before quietly heading inside. He got home only 5 minutes ago, but 5pm was around the time Wayne takes his nap. Normally, he's so exhausted he just passes out on the couch, and he wanted to smoke before walking in far too loudly, possibly waking up his uncle. He cleans his boots on the welcome mat, throws his bag down beside the door and cracks his knuckles, neck, and jaw. He feels so stiff, he should probably sleep too, but he has to study for his finals. He's so sure he's going to pass this time. So, so sure. Luckily, his uncle Wayne remained snoring loudly on the couch, splayed out, TV still on. Eddie huffs and turns off the TV before fixing the blanket that had fallen off of the man in his slumber.
He gets through the rest of his nightly routine in auto pilot. He enters his room, changes into his comfortable clothes (grey sweatpants that were originally Wayne's and an extremely oversized, worn out band shirt), takes off his jewelry, puts his hair in a bun, heads into the kitchen to make himself a small snack to energise himself enough to focus on numbers and words. While he cuts up an apple, his mind starts to reminisce on the day he just had. Getting picked on to answer a question in maths and getting it right, Gareth laughing so hard at something his drink came out of his nose, Dustin saying something inherently funny and being made fun of for the rest of the day, mike rolling a 21 first try and strangest of all - “The King” Steve “The hair” Harington, being the younger members of Hellfire's chauffeur.
Now that was unexpected. And from what he saw and overheard from the rest of the conversation and bickering, not only was he just their ride, they seemed to be friends. Eddie chuckled to himself and shook his head in disbelief. Steve. The guy who used to make fun of and practically torture Eddie everyday of high school when they went together, was hanging out with the new generation of freaks.
That wasn't fair, actually. Now that Eddie thought about it, Steve didn't really say anything to him, and when he did, he'd always look around for the approval of his peers. It honestly just showed how insecure he truly was. He always avoided eye contact during the name calling. Always seemed apologetic when Tommy threw a punch Eddie's way. Not that that counts for anything. He still stood there and watched. Eddie shook his head, as if to shake the thoughts away, and threw away the core of the discarded apple. He didn't want to sour his thoughts, especially towards someone who the kids seem to like. Though, he still wasn't sure Eddie entirely trusts Steve. What if he hadn't changed? Why was he hanging out with frea-
“Edward.” A gruff, tired voice came from the couch. Munson snapped his head around to find his uncle now sitting up, blanket around his shoulders. “Your apple is browning.”
Eddie tiredly smiles and puts the pile of apple slices into a bowl before heading over to the couch and sitting down beside Wayne. The older man yawns, and finally looks at Eddie. “How was your day?” He mumbles, low and quiet. Eddie offers him an apple slice, Wayne takes one. “Good. Had one of our final campaigns today. Mike's still got a good roll.” he replies, mouth full with half a slice. Wayne replies with a small, faint smile and nod.
“How was your nap?” Eddie questions with a giggle. Wayne grabs another piece of apple and chews on it slowly. “Okay. Shift starts later today, I can help you with studying, if you'd like.” Eddie just hums in response. They sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes, both eating from the same bowl. “You'll never believe who I saw today.” Eddie says finally. The older man doesn't give a verbal reply, just raises his eyebrow and eyes Eddie suspiciously.
“Steve. As in, “the hair” harington.” Eddie finishes as he continues to munch on the final apple slice. Wayne's eyebrows shoot up. “That punk? Wasn't he one of Tommy's goons?” Eddie, who is now up and standing at the kitchen sink, washing the bowl they had just eaten from, laughed at his uncle's wording. “Yeah, and you'll never believe what he was doing.” He heard from behind him bones cracking and leather squeaking.
“Making kids who are slightly weird lives miserable?” Skipping over the fact his uncle had just called him ‘slightly weird’ (which he is definitely going to tease him about later) he replied: “Picking up the kids. Mike and Dusty.” He turned around and leaned on the counter, drying off his hands with a tea towel. Wayne leaned on the small, round dining table opposite him and crossed his arms across his chest.
“No way.” He says in a monotone voice, but he can tell the disbelief behind that mask. “Yes way. I don't even think it's a babysitting job, like, he's not getting paid. They're genuinely his friends.” Wayne scoffs and shakes his head in distrust, and takes the tea towel from Eddie's hands to let it dry on the counter. “The day Steve Harrington is friends with kids like them, is the day pigs fly.”
His uncle pulls out one of the two chairs surrounding the table, as Eddie grabs his bag from where he had previously discarded it and makes his way over to the table. “Well, I'll let you know if I see any soaring pork. I intend to investigate.” he proudly declares while slamming his bag down on the table. Wayne rolls his eyes playfully and opens Eddie's bag to take out his notes for that day. “Alright, Ed. Now, let's focus.” Eddie nods abruptly and looks down at the numbers in front of him.
Eddie was 13 when he got into his first fight. Well, it wasn't really a fight, more of a jumping. By none other than Tommy H and Steve Harrington. While Tommy did more of the heavy lifting, Steve still landed a few hits. Eddie ended up with most of the injuries, but Tommy's bloody nose and Steve's bruised lip shows how Eddie fought back. They had called Wayne, as he was Eddie's soul caregiver and he arrived slightly on edge and worried. He had hugged Eddie tight then, and fought hard for his place in the school. He looked at the children's parents with such hatred. Eddie guessed with the amount of times Eddie had sobbed about the bullying, he remembered Steve's name. Not surprising. Wayne was always listening, there for him when no one else was.
But he really did mean it when he said he'd investigate, maybe Harrington really had changed.
He swore he saw the man wearing a “family video” vest.
Maybe he'd start there.