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Steve's words echoed in Eddie's head. "Don't be a hero." He had laughed it off. Eddie Munson, a hero? No one would think that.
But then the bats were swarming, and Dustin was right there, and Eddie Munson was a small town drug dealer who hadn't managed to finish high school. If anyone failed to make it out of this alive it was going to be him. Dustin was going to live.
And so he had failed to listen to the instructions, and been swarmed. He stopped being able to fight them off.
He didn't know how he made it out of the upside down. There was a hole in his memory, and he wasn't sure if he ever wanted it to be filled back in. He wore the evidence of what had happened in the patchwork of his body. That was horror enough for him.
The first few days had been blurry, as Eddie had faded in and out of awareness, but Steve had been there the whole time. He was his own mess of bandages and stitches but he was conscious and upright and apparently glued to Eddie's side.
"How's everyone else?" Eddie finally managed to ask. "Did we win?"
Steve's lips pursed into a flat line. "We lost," he said. "But everyone lived." He turned away from Eddie, looking out the window. "Max is in a coma. Henry opened the portals."
"Dustin?" Eddie asked. speaking was still difficult, and his throat was dry. Steve stood, and helped Eddie into a more upright position. He picked up the water from Eddie's table, and held the straw to Eddie's lips so he could drink. He set it down when Eddie pulled back.
"Dustin's fine," Steve said, setting the water back down.
"Worth it, then," Eddie said, letting his head fall back onto the pillows. If Dustin was unhurt, it was fine that he was.
"No, it's not worth it," Steve hissed, suddenly filled with a fire that Eddie had never seen from him. "I told you not to be a hero. I told you you were going to get yourself hurt. And now look at you. You're held together with staples and glue."
"No you didn't" Eddie said quietly, interrupting Steve's rampage.
"What?" Steve said. He was breathing heavily through his nose, and Eddie was reminded of a dragon, blowing out smoke. He fought back a smile.
"You told me I would get myself killed," he said. "And I didn't. I followed instructions."
"I hate you, Munson," Steve said, shaking his head.
Eddie smiled. "I don't think you do, Harrington."