Work Text:
2nd Person Readers POV:
Today is the day you've been dreading, the day where you're meant to play DnD with your boyfriend and a few members of his Hellfire Club.
Eddie had been begging you for ages about joining in on a session and you've always been reluctant. Sure, you love watching them play as Eddie always seems so in his element, free in a way you wish he always was- but watching and playing are two different things.
You love the club to the moon and back. They always find joy in teasing you by saying you're like the club's own cheerleader. They never mean this in a malicious way, they just think it's funny how you're so content to observe and silently (or not so silently) cheer them on from the sidelines.
Mike, Dustin, and Lucas are set to play in Eddies newest game, which in Eddies opinion, is the perfect opportunity for you to finally step up and join the party.
This is where your issue now lies.
Sitting in front of you is a character sheet that Dustin so graciously created for you, it's covered in all the stats, attack points, and health points one could ever need to play the game. The intricacy of it all causes your head to spin.
There are seven varying sided dice sprawled across the table, each meant to be used to showcase different actions. You were so sure you understood what was happening when you were meerly on the sidelines, but now that the moment has arrived and you're set to play... nothing seems to make sense anymore.
Eddie is across the table from you gearing up to begin his dramatic storytelling that you normally can't get enough of, now it seems to immediately fill you with dread. The rest of the club is chatting excitedly, attempting to guess what characters and plot twists could be waiting for them just around the corner. The boys try including you in their conversation, though they quickly give up when Mike mutters something about you not paying them any attention anyways so why bother.
Eddie must pick up on this comment since he pipes up from behind the board he's been carefully setting up, "watch it Wheeler, Y/N is just studying their character sheet, aren't ya sweetie?"
You give your boyfriend a shaky smile mumbling a "totally" to show your acknowledgment.
Your lackluster response causes Eddie to frown, that's all it takes for him to spring up and quickly make his way over.
Upon reaching you, he places a hand against yours and whispers, "what's going on?"
"Nothing, nothing, don't worry about it. You were right, I'm just studying that's all."
Your words come out shallow even to your ears, though thankfully Eddie doesn't choose to question you further.
"Okay that's fine... just let me know if something's wrong... please."
He pats your hand once before standing with a flourish, his previous concern carefully masked as he now starts to address the rest of the club.
"Fellow Hellfire members... Let us begin..."
Slight Time Skip:
You are so beyond screwed. As Eddie gets more into the story... so do the kids. You usually love this part since you get to see some of the people you cherish most- experience joy altogether, now though you constantly feel like you're missing out on a very funny inside joke.
The numbers begin blurring in your head, the stats on the page feel like meaningless gibberish, and Eddie's carefully crafted language doesn't even register anymore.
In the beginning of the session Dustin and Lucas were helping you out, pointing to specific things on your character sheet and even telling you what each dice does when you'd forget. Though as the minutes ticked passed, their frustration with you visibly grew.
Less of, "oh this dice is for attack" and "this bar is for your health" and more of, "Y/N this is clearly not a weapon you can use" and "you obviously don't have enough skill points for that".
Eddie was there at every turn to defend your honor and even try his hand at explaining things to you yet even that seemed to upset the club.
Now you sit at the table with your head down, wishing you were anywhere but here.
Mike's voice shakes you from your rapid-fire thoughts, "Y/N? Y/N! Oh my god Y/N! It's your turn, pay attention!"
Your head snaps up to look at Mike with a hurt expression coating your face.
"Sorry Mike, no need to be rude about it."
You catch Lucas scoffing from beside you.
Eddie also seems to catch this since with narrowed eyes he snaps out, "What's your problem Sinclair?"
Lucas clears his throat looking entirely uncomfortable as he retorts, "look, Y/N clearly doesn't know what they're doing and it's ruining the whole game. I'm sorry Y/N, but this sucks."
His words cause your breath to catch; you feel as if you've been dunked in cold water. You were well aware you've been annoying them throughout this whole game- and you know Lucas claimed to be 'sorry' but that doesn't make his words sting any less. This whole thing was only you trying to do something nice for Eddie... clearly it wasn't meant to be.
The loud slamming of a book startles you. Out the corner of your eye you see everyone at the table jump slightly. Peering up through your now wet lashes gives you quite the sight.
You don't think you've ever seen Eddie as livid as he looks at this very moment. He's standing now, with crossed arms and a deep glare set in his eyes. He's looking at the boys as if he's about to murder all three.
"What gives you the right to talk to my partner that way huh?"
When no one responds he spins to get closer to Mike.
"Huh Wheeler!? What gives you the right?" His voice is laced with fury though he keeps it as calm as possible.
Mike awkwardly shifts in his seat before mumbling, "uhh... nothing... nothing does."
"THAT'S RIGHT! None of you have the right to do that! I invited Y/N to play with us because they're always here sitting on the sidelines watching us anyways and if you can't respect your humble cheerleader then we're not gonna play at all!"
His chest heaves as he finishes his rant and without giving the boys a chance to reply, he's carefully grabbing your hand and pulling you up. "Come on sweetie, were done here- and don't even think about playing again unless you grovel to Y/N"
His last few words are directed at the stunned, sheepish, Hellfire Club- then you're promptly led outside.
You immediately turn to question your boyfriend.
"Eds why'd you do that? I know I was taking forever... I understand their frustration."
Eddie's eyes soften and he slowly pulls you into his arms, his response is a soft murmur in your ear, "they had no reason not to be more patient with you, especially since you're always their kind spirited cheerleader. Yes, you were struggling but that's okay and was completely expected by all of us, that game can be a lot for a first-time player. Them losing sight of that and lashing out at you was in no world okay. Also, next time... let me know when you need more help, okay? I can be there for you more, let me be your knight in shining armor, yeah?"
He pulls back when you nod against him, giving you a bright smile.
"Now let's get out of here, they can apologize some other time, right now I want you all to myself."
You can't help but finally smile, allowing yourself to be dragged further away from your sorrows, knowing that whenever you're ready a couple Hellfire members have some serious groveling to do.