Work Text:
There were many things that Eddie regretted in life.
But the thing he regretted most was Steve Harrington.
Well, no, that's not quite right. Because he didn't regret Steve. Sure, Steve had his issues, but he had been trying, really trying to be a better person, a good boyfriend. He had been trying.
No, Eddie didn't regret Steve. He regretted what he had done to Steve.
All because he had thought he was giving the boy a taste of his own medicine. Hell, even his friends had agreed.
It was a stupid bet. All to hurt Steve like he hurt others. But that was the thing… Steve had never done to anyone what Eddie had done to him.
All Eddie had to do was make Steve fall in love with him… and then break his heart.
It had been after the infamous breakup, Eddie offered a little comfort here and there until he had a grip on Steve.
Eddie had to be honest, Steve tried so hard in their 'relationship' to be there for Eddie. He'd try to follow what Eddie talked about though it often left him confused. That had annoyed Eddie, only adding fuel to the fire. But Steve would pick up his favorite foods, movies. He'd buy little things that reminded him of Eddie.
He still remembers the day he broke Steve's heart. Because the face he made was forever burned into his brain.
'Who could ever love someone like you, Harrington?'
Eddie regretted those words the moment they came out of his mouth. He, and his friends who had hidden nearby, had watched as something broke in Steve. The tears in his eyes, the way it was obvious he was fighting to not break down.
Steve had turned on his heel and walked off, but he hadn't been far enough when the sobs hit.
Eddie and his friends had heard the beginnings of his cries and all had been deeply unsettled.
None of them felt good about what happened. So it became a banned subject. Everything to do with Steve Harrington was banned.
Though, every so often, one of them would catch him talking with some kids or Jonathan and Nancy. And once did Eddie ever see Steve willingly go with Billy Hargrove.
It had been a bit after graduation, he had been doing a bit of selling in Los Nora when he caught a glimpse of Steve being walked into his house by Billy, the other's hand resting low on his back.
And Eddie had felt sick. Because he knew how Steve felt about Billy. He knew about how Billy nearly killed him.
Then the mall had been finished and Steve started his job there and so it gave more reasons to stay away.
And then it burnt down. And his group had seen the aftermath of it. Of Steve. None of them spoke of it, but they all knew that whatever happened… it wasn't just a fire.
But now? Now he didn't know where Steve was working. That was the wild card.
So walking into Family Video, neither him or Gareth had expected a candy bar to be thrown at them so hard it bounced off the window next to them.
"Get the fuck out." The words were hissed and Eddie looked up to see Robin Buckley standing there with Keith, the manager looking at her in horror.
"Buckley-" Keith tried.
"If you don't get the fuck out, I'll banned you both myself!"
"What the fuck?! We haven't even done anything! Unless you actually believe we're a damn satanic cult!" Gareth growled.
"I know exactly what you did. And if you come near me or Stevie, I'll make sure you'll regret it." She slammed her hands on the counter with a hateful look.
Eddie paled and felt like he couldn't breathe. "You know-"
"Of course I know! I know everything you did to him! I know what you said to him! YOU BROKE MY SOULMATE, MUNSON!" She bellowed out and rounded the counter. "So get out! Get out and don't come here when either of us are working! You hurt him enough!"
Eddie stumbled back, eyes wide.
"Listen, Buckley, you don't know what happened-"
"Munson asked Stevie out as a bet, and purposely broke his heart," the words were whispered dangerously. " 'Who could ever love someone like you, Harrington?' Right? That's what you said to him?"
Gareth was pale and he backed up with Eddie.
"He may have been an asshole, but he has never done anything to deserve what you did to him. You broke him, Munson. Now live with the fact you're just like the people you claim to hate. You're a fucking bully." And with that, Robin slammed the door on them, both standing outside the store.
Both could see her storming back to the counter, shaking.
Soulmate. She had called Steve her soulmate.
Eddie wanted to puke. Were they together? When did that happen? When did Steve tell her everything?
Eddie stumbled back to his van and climbed in, shaking. He never acknowledged Gareth as he climbed in and neither moved until Eddie let out a sob.
Gareth pulled him into his seat, holding him as he sobbed, the younger hiding his tears in Eddie's hair.
"What did we do… what did we do to him?"
Gareth offered no comment, just held him.
It took a few minutes for Eddie to compose himself. He moved back into his seat, taking shaky breaths before starting the van.
"I'm taking you home… I think I need to talk to Wayne…"
"Are you sure? You… you know what he's going to say…"
Eddie only nodded and pulled out of the parking space. It didn't take long to drop Gareth off, and before he knew it, he was sitting in front of Wayne, the man frowning as he waited for Eddie to talk.
_______
"I did something bad… a while back. Really bad… and I know you're going to be disappointed in me… because I hurt someone… on purpose…"
Eddie stayed quiet as Wayne sighed deeply. "Why don't you start from the beginning?"
So Eddie explained what they had done, all while forcing himself to look at Wayne. He needed to see his uncle's expression.
At the end, Wayne looked more disappointed than he ever had and Eddie forced himself to stay in his seat.
Both stayed quiet for a long time and Eddie knew his uncle was trying to form the words that wouldn't be too harsh.
A knock startled them and then a "Munson?"
Eddie knew that voice. Knew it well. After all, it had told him "I love you" just some time ago.
Eddie hopped up and rushed to the door, almost ripping it open. And there stood Steve, though he refused to look at Eddie.
"Ste-Harrington? What's-?"
"Robin told me what happened. I'm sorry about her, you're not being banned from the store."
Eddie stared at Steve blankly.
"Look, she's going to keep yelling at you all even after I told her to stop so here." Steve pulled out a folded piece of paper. "Here's our schedules so you don't have to guess."
Eddie was hesitant to take it. His hands shook as he took the paper though he never looked at it. No, his eyes were focused on Steve. How dark his eye bags were, how he wouldn't look at him. And Eddie felt the tears well up.
“I’m sorry about her, really. So maybe- Eddie?!” Steve sounded alarmed as Eddie fell to his knees, Wayne's shout of Eddie echoing.
"I'm sorry… I'm so fucking sorry," Eddie sobbed. He tried to wipe his tears away. “I regret it… I’ve regretted what we did to you the moment it happened. You didn’t deserve it… You didn’t deserve it.” He continued to sob as Steve knelt down in front of Eddie, grabbing his wrists.
“Munson… Come on… Your uncle is about to have a heart attack.” Steve helped him stand again.
Wayne his way over, taking Eddie from Steve, rubbing his back.
“Steve…” Eddie spoke weakly.
Steve pulled himself away, hugging himself. “I… appreciate the apology. But I can’t accept it. What you did was extremely not okay. You hurt me.”
“I know. I can’t make up for what we did to you…”
Steve nodded, more to himself than Eddie. “Look, there’s some kids that will be starting freshman year soon… they’re big fucking nerds… just… just watch over them, alright?”
Eddie blinked, tears still clinging to his lashes. “You want me to…?”
“Yeah,” Steve cut in, finally looking at him, though only for a second. His brown eyes were tired, almost hollow. “You don’t get to make it right with me, Munson. But maybe you can make it right with them. They deserve someone who’s not gonna rip them apart for fun.”
Eddie’s throat ached. He wanted to say I’m not that person anymore, but the truth was, he didn’t know if Steve would ever believe him. Maybe he didn’t even believe it himself.
Wayne’s hand squeezed his shoulder, grounding him.
“I’ll… I’ll do it,” Eddie said, voice cracking. “I swear I’ll watch over them. All of ‘em.”
Steve gave a sharp nod, like that was all he needed to hear. He turned on his heel and made it halfway down the porch before Eddie blurted out- “Steve!”
The other boy froze, shoulders stiff. Slowly, he glanced back.
Eddie’s hands were trembling at his sides. His chest hurt with the weight of everything unsaid, everything ruined. “For what it’s worth… I didn’t mean it. That day. Those words. I never meant them.”
Steve’s jaw clenched. His lip trembled, but he bit down on it. “Doesn’t matter if you meant it or not,” he said quietly. “I believed you.”
And with that, he walked away into the dusk, leaving Eddie standing in the doorway, tears streaming silently down his face.
Wayne tugged him back inside gently. “Son,” he muttered, voice gruff but steady, “sometimes sorry ain’t about getting forgiveness. Sometimes it’s just about doin’ better after.”
Eddie sank into the couch, clutching the folded schedule Steve had given him like it was a lifeline. His chest ached, but for the first time in a while, the ache came with something else… resolve.
He couldn’t fix what he’d done to Steve Harrington. But maybe… maybe he could be someone better for the next kid who needed him.
And maybe one day, when Steve saw that, he wouldn’t just see the boy who broke him.
He’d see the man trying to make it right.