Chapter Text
April 16, 1986
When Eddie woke that first morning in Steves house, he was confused for a second before remembering where he was. Right, his new home for the time being. Because his old home was gone. Split in half when a demon from an alternate dimension ripped the town apart. And yes he knew Henry/Vecna/One wasn't really a demon, but whatever still fits. Wayne had gone to the trailer a few days after the earthquake to salvage what if anything he could find. Nancy and Robin going with to help him. Nancy looking through what used to be his room had miraculously found his guitar. (His real one not the Upside Down version) When she had handed it to him yesterday he had actually cried. Again. God his emotions were still all over the place. He hugged her, not knowing what to say. She just smiled and hugged him back.
He knew he was never going to be able to repay these people for everything they had done for him. They barely knew him (with the exception of Dustin of course and Max who he was neighbors with) and they still helped him, believed him when he thought he was going insane ( he had held a broken bottle to Steves neck for Gods sake, his mind lost in terror after what he had seen.) They had saved his life and now given him back his most precious possession. How do you even begin to say thank you for all that. And the funny thing was that he knew none of them even expected or needed thanks, Not doing any of it for praise or recognition just wanting to help, and knowing no one else would do it. Or could do it. They were tied to this supernatural world in a way Eddie was still trying to figure out. He could see it in their eyes. The quiet fear that almost immediately turned to steel resolve and the almost exasperated resignation when he told his story about Chrissy.
He glanced at the clock and was surprised when it said 7:30. He went to bed at 10 last night and pretty much crashed. Robin had stayed last night after the party broke up. To keep an eye on Steve he guessed. They had sat on the couch together quietly talking with the tv on low. She had told him a little about what Steve had gone through but he was pretty sure that was only the tip of the iceberg.
Wincing, he got up. Body still a little weak from 3 weeks in the hospital. He shuddered slightly thinking again how close he had been to dying. As he lay there in the Upside Down. Bleeding out. Terror and pain warring with each other in his body. The last thing he remembered was Dustin's tear-stained face. And then waking up in the hospital two weeks later. His body shutting down to protect itself from infections and blood loss.
Coincidentally it was again Dustin's face he saw when he woke up. Looking tired and heartbroken. A look that should never be on any 14 years olds face but especially not this one. This kid who loved so hard and so fiercely. Sarcastic and funny, spewing curse words that would make a sailor blush with a temper to match. Who hugged him sobbing into his chest when he woke up. Overwhelmed with emotions berating Eddie and telling him how scared he was, how Eddie could never do that again. How Dustin couldnt lose him. It was a lot.
After he went down the hall to the bathroom, which was all his apparently, he wandered into the kitchen. He was surprised to see Steve standing there scrambling eggs. Robin next to him sitting on the counter. Robin saw him first. “Morning Eddie” she said. Steve turned to look at him with a smile. And oh he had glasses on. Seeing that made something glitch in his brain. God damn it was really unfair how good he looked. Shaking his head and burying such dangerous thoughts he strolled further into the kitchen.
“Hey man morning. How did you sleep”? Steve asked. “Really good actually. That bed is super comfortable. How are you feeling, you looked kinda rough yesterday”. Eddie said. “Um does that happen a lot? The migraines? He asked not wanting to be nosy but actually genuinely concerned.
Steve turned off the stove and faced him fully. “Not all the time no but enough to be a really annoying part of my life. I have a Traumatic Brain Injury, and it comes with a lot of shit” he said grimacing.
“Shit for real? What happened? Eddie asked the worry in his voice making it soft.
“You remember Billy Hargrove, he was a Senior with me last year” Steve asked. And oh yes he remembered him. Swaggering around the school as the new top dog. Mean, arrogant and with a temper that could go off at any time over anything. Eddie tried to steer clear of him and his kind for the most part. He also remembered the stories going around that fall. About Hargrove stealing King Steves crown after Steve had come back to school after two weeks his face a mess of bruises and then the near constant presence of Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers after that.
Steve then told a tale of racist assholes who threatened children, (like literal 13 year olds, seriously Hargrove?) and fought dirty. Smashing a heavy plate over Steves head. Of a red headed spit fire who had saved his life by sedating said racist asshole by jamming a needle in his neck. Of tunnels and demon dogs, and a magical little girl. Of hospital stays and mall fires and evil Russians. A tale of a man who with the swing of a bat had found his purpose in the care and protection of 7 children who had imprinted on him like ducklings. Of 3 teenagers who he loved with all his heart and two adults who were better parents to him in two years then his real ones had been his whole life. And a list of side effects that were actually insane for someone who was only 18 years old.
“Jesus man that's a lot. I'm so sorry you have to deal with all that,” Eddie said. “But you tell the story really well in case you were wondering. Felt like i was right there with you.” He said. As a storyteller himself, that was a very important skill to have. He wondered what new tales he would have to tell with these people that had accepted him, saved him and made him a part of their weird mixed-up family without a second thought. He couldn't wait to find out.