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Dustin was idling. Usually he'd come right out and say whatever was on his mind, even ignoring others around just to say what was needed.
This time however, he'd been unnaturally quiet all day, and Hellfire was letting out.
And Dustin hadn’t gotten up yet.
Eddie eyed him, slowly taking the boy in. Mike and Lucas were already gone, but Dustin was only half packed up. They'd all given each other some meaningful look.
Come to think of it, Mike and Lucas had been strange too. Not as easily identifiable as Dustin’s strangeness, but certainly not normal.
Eddie sucked in a breath.
“So, Dustin.” Eddie started slowly, noticing a bit of relief flicker over Dustin’s expression.
“Did you… need to talk-?” Eddie asked, eyebrows raising a bit.
Dustin hesitated. Actually honest to god hesitated. He gave a slight nod, then, lips pursed into a thin line. “So… you know our friend Steve?”
Eddie huffed. His eyes rolled a bit. “No, never heard of him.” He snarked, before wincing when he saw Dustin’s expression. This was serious.
Eddie frowned.
“Did he… hurt you guys-?”
Dustin’s eyes widened. “What-?! No! Why would you think that?!”
Eddie raised his hands in defense. “I don't know! You seem so- weird right now, I just-”
Dustin did relax a bit and give a soft sigh. “I think something's just… wrong. With him… and he won't talk to us. And I know he thinks we're just kids but-”
Eddie raised a brow, watching Dustin carefully. “... Why are you telling me?”
Dustin gave him a little glare. “I’m getting to that!” He snapped, crossing his arms.
Eddie had to take a breath before he snapped back.
Dustin’s expression faltered. “... I know our club is… a school thing. But can Steve sit in during games or… something? I'm just… worried. He always picks us up and he's shaking or his eyes are red or… like he's been crying in the car. And I don't know what to do.”
Eddie blinked owlishly at Dustin a few times. Okay. So normally he would have said hell no. A (former) jock in the presence of his poor sheepies sounds like a nightmare.
But also… that was familiar. That sounded like a sheepie that Eddie would adopt, if it wasn't former King Steve.
Eddie groaned a little and rubbed his face. “He says anything, does ANYTHING, and he's out. Plus you roll with penalties until I graduate.”
Dustin looked so relieved, sagging quickly. “Oh god, thank you.”
Eddie moved to speak, but Dustin was already shoving everything into his backpack and calling out to his friends.
“He said yes!”
Mike and Lucas burst back in and thanked Eddie as well, looking so relieved…
Eddie wondered what he was getting himself into.
He didn't have to worry until the next week, at least. Eddie was seated in his throne as he watched everyone file in, before squinting a little when Steve Harrington idled at the door.
Dustin was trying valiantly to tug the guy into the room, but Steve looked… unsure?
Eddie expected disgust maybe, or eye rolls, but instead… Steve just looked out of his element. Nervous, maybe?
Gareth, Jeff, and Grant were all eyeing him suspiciously, which probably wasn't helping.
Eddie felt a bit smug when he noticed Steve see the looks, before the feeling died out when he saw Steve flinch.
“Henderson-” Steve started, shaking his head a bit.
Mike was glaring at the other members of the club. The sound of his pencil snapping caused everyone to look over.
Mike slowly stood up, looking over at Steve before back at the older members of the club.
“Don’t look at my Party member like that.”
Steve’s cheeks took on a delightful pink tone, but he glanced away.
“Mike, it's okay-”
Mike glared at Steve now. “Quit letting people be shitty to you just because you used to be shitty like 3 years ago.”
Steve hesitated, eyes wide. He finally whispered, “Language…” before turning his face away. His hand moved to brush his fingers through his hair.
Eddie clicked his tongue. Fuck. No way was he feeling bad now. He hadn't even done anything!
“Eddie!” Gareth practically whined at him, but Eddie shook his head.
“Uh… I mean… shit. I think maybe you guys were bullying our new club member.”
That didn't go over well.
Steve quickly shook his head, as the older members started to protest. “I can't play!”
Eddie scoffed. “What? Why not?”
Steve looked infinitely more uncomfortable. Instead of answering, he turned to Dustin. “Dustin, why are you doing this…”
Dustin flinched.
“Hey! Dustin didn't do shit!” Eddie yelped, standing up.
Dustin shook his head at Eddie. “No! Stop it. Okay. Okay. Steve. Come talk to me outside. Promise you won't get offended.”
The two left the room, and Lucas was… very uncomfortable with the vibes it seemed.
Eddie looked over to the two still there and narrowed his eyes, gesturing wildly to the door.
Mike sighed. “Steve probably thinks Dustin brought him here just so he could be made fun of for not being able to play.” His voice held no emotion, scowling down at the table.
“What, does mommy and daddy Harrington have a rule about it?” Grant blanched.
Lucas crossed his arms. “No, Steve has brain damage and struggles with keeping up with things like that!” He hissed. Lucas seemed genuinely angry now.
And okay. Okay. That was a lot.
Mike gave Lucas a withering glare, and Lucas looked sheepish.
“Shit- shit don't tell him I told you-” Lucas looked at the older teens with wide eyes, shrinking into himself.
“Brain damage-?” Gareth whispered, eyes wide.
Eddie hid his face with his hair, wincing. Okay, so that probably explains the whole 180 personality. And why the kids were so fiercely protective. And why Steve was worried he was being made fun of.
“When the hell did that happen?” Eddie muttered.
“No questions.” Mike snapped. Which was strange. Mike was always prickly, sure, but he was never like this with Eddie before.
Steve was a line that Eddie was unfortunately crossing, it seemed. And he understood the protectiveness, if literal brain damage was a part of the equation.
So Eddie put his hands up to placate the boy.
The door opened again, and Dustin coaxed Steve to sit at a desk off to the side. “There we go. Tell me if you need anything.”
“I'm not a child…” Steve mumbled, looking awkward and a bit upset.
Dustin kissed his teeth and sighed. “I know. Sorry.”
Eddie had a feeling he apologized for that a lot, if this was how Steve reacted. He wondered if it was a see-saw, one minute making fun of Steve and forgetting he had brain damage, and the next over correcting and treating him like he was made of glass.
Eddie wanted to help him find a middle ground, suddenly. But he was also worried maybe he wouldn't know that middle ground either.
Steve folded his hands into his lap, eyes darting around a bit. He seemed so… nervous. Eddie never thought he'd see that expression on his face before.
The campaign continued, with Steve showing interest after a while. He even moved to Dustin to whisper questions to the boy, which he happily responded to.
Eddie could hear the questions, mostly, and they were… genuine. Asking for clarification of the story, asking what the different numbers meant and how you could tell if it was a good roll.
And maybe Eddie would have made fun of someone for that, but also… maybe literal brain damage was a fine enough excuse.
Especially when Steve repeated a question, but Dustin patiently responded yet again.
Mike was watching everyone warily. Like a cat about to protect its kitten, in a way.
Lucas was trying to keep his focus, but the expression on his face showed he was still thinking about how he outed said brain damage. He looked impossibly guilty the entire time.
Steve seemed to be getting more comfortable, though he warily looked at the older members of the club. They weren't glaring at him anymore, but that seemed to make Steve more nervous.
When the meeting wrapped up, Steve looked ready to book it. He picked at his shirt, clenching his left hand into a fist as he waited for the boys to pack up.
Or at least, Eddie thought he was just waiting. He looked awkwardly over the other, frowning. “You good, Harrington?”
The younger boys quickly snapped to look at Steve, before they relaxed.
“Don't worry.” Mike said, as Dustin moved to stand with Steve now. “They're like, mild seizures? He’ll be okay, we know what to do.”
“Seizures?!” Eddie yelped, eyes wide.
Jeff was staring at Steve with wide eyes, barely breathing. His head tilted. “Isn't there like… postictal state after? Will he be able to drive you guys?”
Lucas looked a bit surprised, before he nodded. “He can. He's driven with concussions before, he's never gotten in a wreck.”
“Well.” Mike said, before Lucas seemed a bit flustered.
“I think that was more deliberate, we’re talking about accidents.”
Mike snickered, before looking relieved when Steve gave a soft noise.
Dustin helped him sit back down. “Sorry Steve, did we make you too nervous?” He asked gently.
“What do you mean?” Eddie asked, blinking in surprise.
“Stress can make them happen sometimes…” Lucas said slowly, giving a nervous smile.
Steve gave a distant sounding hum, which Dustin took as a sign to start leading the man out.
“Let's get you some water, okay? Don't worry, we can wait a bit before you take us home.” Dustin soothed, which made something curdle in Eddie’s gut.
Steve clearly wasn't in any position to be driving, so why were they letting this happen? Making some weird excuses about Steve driving with a concussion?
Eddie wondered if Steve would agree, or if he was so out of it that he'd just automatically start driving. Eddie didn't like the guy, but this whole thing was starting to paint a picture. Not only that, but his sheepies were going to be in that car.
Eddie shifted, glancing at the older members of the club. They looked just as concerned.
“So… Steve drives like this often?” Jeff asked slowly, prodding.
Lucas grimaced. “Uh, I don't know. Once or twice.” He said dodgily. “The only other driver we could call is Nancy and-”
“Eugh.” Mike cut the boy off. “I'm not dealing with that awkwardness. I'm sure it'd just send Steve into a second seizure anyways.”
“Max?” Lucas offered, lips curling into a slightly mischievous smile.
“That would definitely send Steve into another seizure.” Mike deadpanned.
Eddie chewed his lip, before jumping when Gareth bumped their shoulders together.
“I'm not sure we can all fit in the van.” He said.
Eddie chewed on a strand of his own hair now, eyebrows furrowing in thought.
No one else had a car- except Steve, but that was another problem. He doubted the man would be happy leaving his Beamer in the parking lot of the school.
Or letting anyone else drive it. That shit cost more than a year of rent at the trailer park, he was sure.
Eddie’s van was big, sure, but eight people was a bit much. Maybe he could at least tail Steve’s car and make sure the other didn't crash?
“Hey.”
Steve’s voice startled Eddie out of his thoughts, making the metal head whip to look at him in the doorway.
He looked exhausted and shaky, but not as bad as before. Hell, he spoke.
Steve smacked his lips a little. “You got any Tylenol before I head out?” He asked wearily, a wavery smile on his lips.
Eddie pursed his lips. He wanted to yell at them for being so careless. Steve clearly wasn't okay. Driving sounded like the last thing this guy needed!
“Yeah, here.” Jeff, the traitor, said as he pulled out some Tylenol from his backpack.
“You sure you're okay?” Eddie blurted. “Look, I can't fit everyone in my van but I can figure something out with you. You don't seem okay.”
“I'm fine, Munson.” Steve said, like a liar.
Eddie crossed his arms. “Harrington, you look like a stiff breeze would blow you over.”
“Oh yeah?” Steve asked, looking down at himself. “I think I still look as fit as I used to.”
“That’s not-!” Eddie cut himself off, cheeks heating up in some sickly mixture of frustration and embarrassment. “I’d rather not hear that my sheepies were in a car accident.”
That did the trick.
Steve looked nervous now, eyes flicking over the three boys.
“Eddie! He's perfectly capable of driving!” Dustin squeaked.
Mike gave Eddie a look, eyes narrowed. Somewhere between a glare and a searching look.
Lucas looked sheepish, rubbing the back of his neck.
Steve shifted awkwardly, biting his lip. “I have work tomorrow.” He said. “I can't leave my car here.”
“Okay, well- at least let me like, tail your car until you're done.”
“What.” Steve blinked owlishly at Eddie, before his eyebrows furrowed.
“You drive slow and I'll make sure if you start drifting to honk until you pull over or something, make sure you don't crash or- yeah.” Eddie rubbed his arm now. That was a bad idea actually. He wasn't sure how that could help.
Mike didn't seem to think that was enough either, giving Eddie an incredulous look.
Steve exhaled slowly, sliding to sit down on the chair closest to the door. “Rob needs a driver's licence.”
Dustin crossed his arms. “I'll get one.” He promised. “As soon as I can. Yeah?”
Steve gave a noncommital hum.
“We have to get home.” Lucas finally cut in. “Are we gonna do that… plan, or what?”
Eddie glanced at the older members of Hellfire, who looked unsure.
“It's not great but it's better than letting them head off with Harrington like that.” Gareth relented.
Steve didn't react.
Mike sighed. “Okay. Steve, it's that or Nancy.”
Steve flinched slightly, hesitating. “Claudia’s at work?” He asked Dustin.
Dustin looked perturbed. “That's why you pick us up, dude.”
Steve pressed a hand to his head. “... Okay. Munson can tail us and- and if something goes wrong, we have people who can… yeah.”
With the plan in motion, Eddie felt a little better. He followed everyone out of the school, standing at the exit to watch Steve herd the kids into his Beamer.
“You're gonna make this into your new project, aren't you?” Gareth asked from behind him, voice dry.
Eddie jumped and felt his cheeks pinken slightly, crossing his arms. “Am I supposed to ignore it?”
Gareth thought for a second before heading to the van. “Guess not.”
Eddie was screwed. This year was going to be so fucked up.