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The room was peaceful, well as peaceful as Eddie’s room could be. The sound of his guitar was blaring through his amp and the rain outside was slamming itself against his window. His hair was held up by a scrunchie he stole from some girl in the corridor and his hands were thrashing against his guitar as he tried to play what he was feeling. His mind was full of only one thing and that was unfortunately Harrington. Harrington and his stupid hair and his stupid shirts and his stupid lips and… his mind trailed off, he strummed a final cord and then placed his sweetheart back on the wall.

In a half assed attempt to kick Harrington out of his head, he grabbed his Walkman and put his Black Sabbath tape in. He placed the headphones over his ears and let the music calm him down. The music felt like a blanket around him, his only comfort when he was alone. He listened to it on repeat for what felt like hours until he heard the walkie-talkie that Henderson had given him crackle to life. He threw his headphones off and grabbed it.

“CODE RED,” someone screamed.

“Who’s talking?” Eddie asked, trying to hide the panic in his voice.

“It’s Robin, wait Eddie?” Robin asked.

“Yeah Buckley. It’s like 11 at night.” He replied.

“Steve’s missing. He was staying over at mine coz it was movie night, but he’s gone.” She shouted.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, Eddie, I think I know when my best friend’s gone missing!”

Eddie shouted his approval as he hastily grabbed a flannel and threw it over his Black Sabbath top. He grabbed his car keys and the walkie-talkie that he’d dropped while putting on his flannel. He then ran out of his trailer. He ran to his van and put the key in the lock. The door opened, he took the key out and then put it in the ignition. His van crackled to life, and he pulled out of the driveway. As he drove out of the trailer park, he picked the walkie-talkie back up.

“Buckley, you there?” He said into the walkie-talkie.

He was answered with no reply. He turned a tight corner and his heart tightened. Harrington better not have gotten into some shit before he could tell him what been repeating on a loop in his head whenever he thought about him. As he turned another corner, he heard Robin’s voice through the walkie.
“I’m here. I’ve searched my whole house, but I can’t find him and his car’s still here, so I don’t know where else.” She rambled on, her breathing getting more rapid.

“Robin, take a deep breath. I’m going to come to yours and we’ll figure it out from there,” He said, trying to keep his voice calm so he didn’t show what he really felt.

He turned into Hawkins, and drove through the town, looking out the window for any sight of Harrington. He eventually turned into Robin’s street where he saw her pacing up and down her driveway. He pulled into her driveway and jumped out of his van, leaving it running. He grabbed her by the shoulders and breathed in and out, hoping that she would follow his lead which she did.

“Ok, now Buckley, where could he have walked?” Eddie asked as calmly as he could.

Robin stood there, her heart beating at a thousand beats a minute, and thought of all the places Steve could have gone. As she thought, Eddie started pacing and after a minute, he looked at her expectantly. A light bulb must have gone off in her head because she ran around to the other side of his van and jumped in. He followed suit and also jumped in. He looked at her for an answer.

“The quarry, it’s like 5 minutes from here. He said that he used to go there after his dad would… well, hurt him.” She said quickly.

Eddie knew not to push as he could tell from the way Robin now couldn’t make eye contact with him that Harrington hadn’t wanted anyone else to know. He pulled out of the driveway and as he skidded down the road towards the quarry, he placed his hand on Robin’s knee to let her know that he understood. He did wish that Harrington had told him that detail himself though but there was no time for regretting right now. He turned into the road – if you could call it that, it was overgrown with weeds, and it hadn’t been finished originally – that led to the quarry. They pulled in through the busted gate and he parked his van.

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Robin jumped out and started shouting Steve’s name. Eddie jumped out as well and also started shouting his name. They both ran in opposite directions through the parts of the quarry that weren’t health and safety violations. Eddie ran towards a pile of rocks and was going to turn back to find Robin when he saw what looked like one of Harrington’s jackets, huddled up against one of the rocks. He ran towards what he hoped was Harrington’s alive body. He shouted for Robin, but she mustn’t have heard him otherwise she would have been there already.

Eddie practically dived down to where he could see Harrington. He ripped Harrington’s jacket off his body and saw that his chest was still rising and falling. He grabbed his wrist and checked his pulse. It was still going strong, but he knew from experience that hearts could give up so quickly. Once he’d made sure that Steve was still alive, he noticed that he was shaking just as much as the unconscious Steve in front of him and he didn’t know why. Steve was just a jock that he’d gone through high school with and… fought the world with and… had his life saved by, but he was still just Steve Harrington. He shouted Robin’s name again and all of a sudden, she was next to him, and they were carrying Steve back to the van.

Once they were in the van with Steve safely in the back, Eddie pulled out of the quarry and started driving to the hospital. Robin shouted directions and he sped down the streets. His heart was going faster than his van and he couldn’t think of any reason as to why he felt this way about Steve. He’d felt something similar to this with other guys, but no one was like Steve. He slammed on the brakes once they were in front of the hospital. Robin jumped out and ran inside to find someone to help.

Left outside, Eddie ran around to the side of his van and threw the door open. He climbed inside with Steve and hoped that Robin had found someone.

“I can’t lose you, Steve.” Tears started falling from Eddie’s eyes, “I need you or I don’t know what I’ll do.”

Robin ran back outside, followed by two nurses with a stretcher. She peeled Eddie away from Steve and let the nurses take him inside. The two of them ran inside after them and tried to follow down the hallway but were stopped by a nurse who told them that Steve was going to need to be seen by a doctor first as he could be hurt. Robin, who had been inconsolable less than an hour ago, led Eddie, who had been the calm one but was now sobbing, to a chair in the waiting room. Once Eddie was seated and slightly calmer, Robin found a phone and called Hopper who said he would call Joyce as they were the only actual adults who would understand.

Eddie sat on the plastic hospital chair and pulled his red flannel closer around him. He wished that he’d brought his Walkman so he could try to ignore what was going on. He didn’t even notice when Robin sat back down next to him and put her arm around him. He knew that she knew why he was a complete mess, even though he couldn’t quite figure it out yet.

“When did I start calling him Steve?” He said under his breath.

“You know, I didn’t think that you’d be this clueless, Eds,” Robin said to the space above him.

He sat up and turned to look at her. His hair had fallen out of its ponytail and was now mostly blocking his view, but he could still make out that signature Buckley grin.

“Clueless?” He asked, quietly.

Robin leaned in like how you would when you’re about to blow a little kid’s mind.

“You’re in love with him.” She whispered, not because it was bad but because they were living in a town where some peoples job’s may as well be to spread rumours.

Eddie pulled his hair back and quickly pulled it back so it so it would stay out of his face. He stood up out his chair. He raised his arms and groaned. He hadn’t meant to fall in love with Steve “The Hair” Harrington but here he was. He turned back to Robin and a wicked grin crossed his face.

“How long til Chief and his girlfriend get here coz if I’m not by Steve’s side in the next 15 minutes, the town may accuse me of murder… again.”

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Robin stood up and with a totally innocent smile, she walked over to the reception desk and slammed her hand on the bell repeatedly. Eddie joined her and they stood there, shouting for assistance until Hopper and Joyce ran inside the waiting room, followed by the Party, Max, Eleven, Nancy and Johnathan.

Robin and Eddie turned to face them. The tough facades they’d been wearing in hopes of people paying attention to them dropped and they collapsed into Hopper and Joyce’s arms. The adults pulled them both in a hug and then all the other kids and young adults joined in until Dustin broke it apart and looked up at Robin and Eddie with a slight frown.

“Where’s Steve?” He asked quietly.

“In some room. Nobody’s told us what’s going on,” Robin answered quickly as Eddie was too scared to talk coz he didn’t want to reveal his feelings about Steve just yet.

Joyce’s face went from scared to furious within the span of five seconds. She stormed over to the reception desk and slammed her hand on the bell. She started shouting for a nurse. Hopper looked at the kids like he was thinking of stopping her, but he took one look at Robin and Eddie’s shaking bodies and knew that whatever they’d seen when they found Steve had rocked them to their cores and he wasn’t going to let their nights, well mornings now, get any worse so he joined Joyce at the desk.

Eddie watched as Hopper and Joyce shouted for the nurses on graveyard shift to come immediately. He felt himself be led back to the chairs but by the kids instead of Robin. She was led back to the chairs as well. He instinctively reached out for her hand, and she took it. After a few minutes of Hopper and Joyce’s shouting, a nurse joined them at the desk. Eddie leaned forwards as he’d heard about how Joyce could rip into someone, but he’d never seen it in action.

Joyce stood at the desk as a nurse finally turned up. She slammed her hands down on the wooden desk and stared right into the nurse’s soul.

“Steve Harrington, where is he?” She asked with an eerie calmness.

Hopper took a step back. There was no way that he was stopping her now.

“Are you his mother?” The nurse asked.

“Who gives a shit if I’m his mother?” She threw her arms up in the air, “Right now, I have two kids over there who have been falling apart since they brought their closest friend to this ridiculous hospital and none of your colleagues have paid attention to them.”

The nurse smiled a practiced smile and started rattling off something about confidentiality that Eddie hated the sound of. He stood up out of his chair to the confusion of all the kids except for Robin who also stood up. All signs that he was exhausted and had been crying disappeared as he walked over to the desk and leaned up against the counter. Robin stood behind him with an evil grin. Joyce and Hopper took a few steps back, slightly scared of what Eddie “The Freak” Munson was going to do.

“I’m going to tell you something, Nurse” He looked down at the nurse’s nametag, “Miller.”

He leaned in and tapped his fingers on the desk.

“Steve Harrington is the most important person in my life right now and I’m really hoping you recognize me,” he whispered.

Nurse Miller’s mouth contorted into a circle, and she jumped back a step.

“Thank you! Now I’m Eddie freaking Munson and if you don’t tell me and everyone else here what’s going on, my wanted poster will be of use coz I will murder everyone who stops me from seeing the love of my life,” he screamed, finally losing it, slamming his hands against the desk.

Everyone’s jaws dropped in shock except for Dustin, Johnathan and Robin. Dustin had figured it out already – friends don’t stare at other friends lips as much as Eddie stared at Steve’s – and Johnathan had always known that Eddie had it bad for Steve – Eddie looked at Steve like how he’d looked at Nancy – and Robin, well, she’d spelt it out for him.

Hopper regained his composure and stepped back up to the reception desk. He didn’t bother to smile but instead pulled out his badge.

“I didn’t want to but,” He shook his head, “You and your small-minded colleagues have left me no choice.”

“Right this way,” Nurse Miller opened the gate and allowed the group through, “He’s asleep.”

She led them down the hallway to a room that would be holding Steve. Eddie and Robin pushed to the front of the group and rushed inside. Everyone else stood at the door – Dustin tried to push through, but Mike and Lucas gripped their arms around him because he was a bit louder than what Steve could probably handle – while Eddie and Robin stood by the side of Steve’s bed.

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Steve’s eyes fluttered open, and he looked up at the two standing by his bed. He was high on something so when he saw Eddie, he blew him a kiss. Eddie’s cheeks blushed bright red, and he smiled.

“What happened?” Steve asked with a wonky smile.

“You dingus! You left my house, and I didn’t know where you were and you were at the quarry and Eddie found you and he confessed his love to you and I was so scared you were going to die,” Robin shouted until she broke down sobbing, next to his bed.

Joyce entered the room, kneeled next to Robin and consoled her. Eddie looked down at Steve who was already looking up at him.

“You love me?” Steve asked, his mind getting clearer.

“That’s what you got from that? Yes, I love you, Stevie! But you still fucking scared me and Buckley and everyone else for that matter. What were you thinking?” Eddie screamed, his arms waving through the air.

Hopper quietly closed the door, realizing that Robin and Eddie might have some more things to say that might resemble the cursing of sailors and he had a group of kids behind him.

“Do you have anything to say? You can fucking come to us, you know. You don’t have to fall unconscious to get someone to ask if you’re okay.” Eddie screamed.

Robin started to calm down and she stood up. Joyce stepped backwards and mouthed ‘you’re on your own’ to Steve.

“You are lucky you’re in need of hospital care coz otherwise I’d be putting you in a fucking hospital bed!” Robin screamed.

Steve kept trying to talk as both Eddie and Robin kept screaming various threats that were littered with various swear words until eventually he just sighed.

“Would you both shut up?” Steve shouted.

Eddie and Robin did what he asked but they were not happy about it. Steve took a deep breath and looked at the two of them.

“First of all, how about we don’t scream at the one in a hospital bed and second of all, I didn’t want to scare either of you, but I was freaking out.”

“Why?” Robin asked with pursed lips.

“My parents are back in town.” Steve replied, bluntly.

Robin’s jaw dropped in shock, and she started muttering apologies, but Eddie just stood there with a slightly confused look. He knew that Robin had said that Steve’s dad had hurt him, but Steve’s an adult now so why would he be scared enough to go back to his childhood hiding place.

Joyce sighed and left the room, leaving the door open. She let the kids, Nancy and Johnathan in the room and then pulled Robin and Eddie out. She led them to the waiting room and sat them down on the chairs. Hopper stood up from a chair and walked over to them. Joyce whispered in his ear what Steve had told them and then walked back down to Steve’s room to watch the kids. Hopper took a deep breath and then crouched down in front of Robin, who was now shaking, and Eddie, who was just really confused.

“Hey kiddos, what do you know about Steve’s parents?” He asked quietly.

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“Uh, he hates them, and his dad used to hurt him, and no one could stop them because his dad knew how to hurt him so that bruises wouldn’t show, and they most likely paid everyone to not talk.” Robin said off the top of her head.

Hopper looked over at Eddie as though he expected him to say something, so he did.

“He’s an adult so why’d he freak out so much?” Eddie asked as innocently as a fully grown man with tattoos could.

Robin turned to him and tried to smile.

“He lives in their house.” She replied.

Eddie sat there for a few minutes before fully comprehending it. The cogs in his brain were turning at lightning speeds.

“Oh.”

“Yeah,” Hopper and Robin said in unison.

“Oh shit,” Eddie said slightly louder.

Robin nodded and smiled weakly. She looked back to Hopper.

“What are you going to do?” She asked.

Hopper stood up and put one hand on his hip and the other against his forehead.

“I’m going to make sure his parents can’t get to him here and then find him somewhere else to stay.” He said with a sigh.
Eddie stood up and cleared his throat.

“I know what you’re going to say but hear me out,” he ran his hands through his hair and took a deep breath, “He can stay with me.”
Hopper looked at him like he was about to say no but then stopped himself.

“Before you say no, I’ve got my own trailer now and I’ve got locks so the angry mob can’t get in and I’ve got a job at the mechanics so I’ve got money if Steve can’t work coz of you know, his parents,” Eddie said at a speed that could rival Robin.

“Kid…” Hopper took a deep breath as he looked between Robin and Eddie, “I mean, you did just confess your love to him so sure. You can take care of him.”

Eddie let out the breath that he’d been holding in, and he immediately turned around and ran to Steve’s hospital room. He pushed through all the kids who were then ushered out by Robin and Joyce. Finally, it was just him and Steve.

Steve looked at Eddie and smiled curiously. He nodded towards the chair next to his bed and Eddie took the hint. He sat down next to him and then turned towards him.

“You can stay at my place.” Eddie said before giving Steve a chance to talk.

Steve smiled and then sat up. He took a deep breath and then leaned over. Eddie’s heart started beating faster than it had been when Steve’s life was on the line. Steve kissed him on the cheek. Eddie’s jaw dropped in shock, and he immediately leaned towards Steve and kissed him on the cheek. Steve’s smile got wider, and he looked at Eddie like he was the most handsome dude he’d ever seen.

“Eds, you don’t have to. I’m an adult and I can take care of my…”

Eddie kissed him on the lips and Steve didn’t know what to do so he just kissed him back until he pulled away.

“Yes, you are an adult, but you are not alone, and I am not letting your parents hurt you anymore,” Eddie said to get him to shut up.

“So, Steve, you staying at Munson’s?” Robin said from the door.

Both Eddie and Steve’s heads whipped around to face her. Steve nodded quickly and Robin nodded back.

“How long have you been standing there?” Eddie shouted as he jumped up from the chair and chased her out of the room.

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Steve hummed some song to himself and waited to see if anyone would come into his room. He didn’t expect Hopper though, but he walked in anyways.

“So kid, nurse says you should be allowed out in a couple of hours. You apparently just hit your head on the rock,” He patted Steve’s arm, “They were concerned about all of your scars from the upside down though.”

Steve’s breathing sped up as he realized that he was in a hospital with scars that looked like lethal injuries. Hopper patted his arm again and smiled.

“I convinced them not to worry by flashing my badge and sweet talking,” He groaned slightly, “So they won’t bother you about those. Now I’m going to go to your house and force your good for nothing parents to let me get your stuff.”

Steve nodded as Hopper stood up. Hopper was about to leave when Steve cleared his throat. He turned back to face him.

“Thanks for everything, Jim.” Steve said quietly.

“Anytime, kid.” Hopper said before leaving the room and closing the door so Steve could get five minutes of peace.

Steve took in a deep breath before finally letting his mind mull over what had happened in the last, - he looked over at the clock which now said 3 am – 4 hours. He had scared the living daylights out of Robin and Eddie, confessed his love to Eddie who also confessed his love to him, kissed Eddie and agreed to live with him all while being mortally terrified of his father. So, in conclusion, he’d done everything that his father hated in 4 hours except for wearing makeup but he was pretty sure Eddie could fix that.

Eddie sat down on the waiting room floor after tackling Robin to the ground so that he could think over what had happened. He had found Steve unconscious and rushed him to the hospital with Robins help of course. He had threatened a nurse with murder and confessed his feelings towards Steve in the same breath. He had then threatened Steve alongside Robin and then kissed him twice without Robin. He then found out about his love’s shitty childhood and then invited him to stay with him and he’d said yes.

Fuck.

He said yes.

Steve Harrington, the hottest guy Hawkins has ever seen, said yes to living with him, Eddie “The Freak” Munson, the biggest social outcast since Will who supposedly came back from the dead.

As he was finishing getting his thoughts in order, Nancy and Robin came over and sat on both sides of his chair. They just sat there for a few minutes, staring into the sides of his skull. He laughed nervously until Nancy cleared her throat.

"Steve is one of the best guys I have ever known,” she said calmly.

“So, you better not hurt him, or we kill you and the kids will help us bury your body,” Robin said with a sweet smile.

All the kids looked at Eddie and nodded with sweet, innocent smiles. He nodded back and pursed his lips. He’d never felt more scared in his life, and he’d fought demobats and almost died.

“I promise that I won’t hurt him, well in a bad way, I can’t promise that I won’t hurt him in a good.”

Nancy slapped her hand across his mouth. He licked it and she dropped it as quickly as she’d put it there.

“What does he mean?” El asked Max.

“You remember the good screams I talked about,” Max replied.

“Max, be quiet,” Nancy said before she could continue.

Max looked at her with a death stare that could actually kill someone and El just went back to her magazine. Eddie took advantage of that to leave the room and go see Steve again.

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Eddie walked down the hallway, his hands shaking but not like how they’d been when he’d found Steve up against that rock, dead to the world, instead they were shaking because he was excited and nervous at the same time. He found Steve’s door and knocked. Steve shouted to come in, so he did. He walked in and immediately sat down. He looked at Steve and everything felt okay coz Steve was right there and he was still okay.

“Okay, why are you looking at me like I hung the moon?” Steve asked as he sat up.

“No reason, big boy,” Eddie replied.

Steve smiled and looked at Eddie with his big eyes.

“Now why are you looking at me like I hung the moon?” Eddie said sarcastically.

“You didn’t hang the moon?” Steve clutched his chest, “This relationship is built on lies!”

“Calm down, Stevie.” Eddie sighed, “I’m the drama queen in this relationship.”

Steve burst out laughing, and Eddie joined him. They laughed until Hopper knocked at the door. He walked inside and smiled at the two boys who had been through so much.

“I’ve got a police car so we can get you to Munson’s, Steve, and I’ve got a change of clothes for you as well. I also got all the stuff from your house and it’s already at Munson’s place.”

Hopper placed the clothes on the end of the Steve’s bed and then left.

“How long has it been since he left?” Steve asked as Eddie was blocking the clock.

“Like an hour,” Eddie shrugged, “You mustn’t have much stuff.”

“I do not,” Steve replied with a dramatic air to make it seem less depressing.

Eddie stood up and walked to the door. He smiled and then closed it, leaving Steve alone with his thoughts. Steve sighed and then climbed out of bed. He had to admit that he had sorta been hoping that Eddie would have offered to help him get changed but then he realized that he would have plenty of opportunities to get changed in Eddie’s presence now that he was living with him. He took off the hospital gown and then pulled on his change of his clothes. Once he’d put on the clothes, he realized what he was wearing. Hopper must have grabbed the first clothes he saw and just put the rest in a box or something because he was wearing Eddie’s vest. Steve sighed and knew he couldn’t hide so might as well wear it. He walked out of the room and down the hall. In the waiting room, everyone was waiting anxiously. Robin was the first to notice him and she promptly tapped Eddie on the shoulder who burst into a huge grin. He ran over to him, pulled him into a hug and before pulling away, whispered “Nice vest” into his ear.

“Nice flannel,” Steve whispered back.

Everyone else walked over one by one and hugged him and whispered threats jokingly and sweet little things about how they were happy he was okay, but he just wanted to leave with Eddie. Joyce eventually patted him on the shoulder and then carted all the kids outside to where her and Nancy’s cars sat. Nancy offered to take Robin home and she said yes coz she loved Steve and everything but spending time with her girlfriend beat him every time.
Eddie took a deep breath and returned to Steve’s side. He gripped Steve’s hand and smiled at Hopper who then walked out of the hospital. They looked at each other and then walked out of the hospital, ready for whatever happened next.

Chapter Text

Hopper parked the police car in front of Eddie’s trailer and Eddie parked his van around the side. Steve climbed out of the police car and waved goodbye to Hopper who really needed a nap. Eddie joined him at the door.

Eddie smiled at his Stevie and then opened the door. With a dramatic bow and a nervous smile, he welcomed Steve into his new home.

Steve looked around, saw the bed, immediately jogged over to it and flopped down onto it. Eddie stood at the door and crossed his arms. He sighed and took the phone off its hook.

“Uh Steve, I’m gonna come join you, but I need to call in sick to work,” he said in Steve’s direction.

Steve shouted his approval and then proceeded to look at all of Eddie’s cassette tapes. Eddie smiled. He’d never had someone, who he was romantically involved with, want to stay in his space and just exist with him. He dialled the number and took a deep breath. He hated making phone calls, they always reminded him of the one he made to his uncle after his parents… Well since then, he hated phones, but he really needed to call in sick so he just listened for Ms Tyler.

“Hawkins Mechanics, this is Ms Tyler speaking,” she said.

“Uh hi Ms, it’s Eddie,” he said into the microphone as he held the phone up to his ear.

“Oh, hey Eddie. What do you need?” She asked kindly like how she always did.

“Fuck,” he said under his breath.

“What was that, Eddie?” She asked.

“Oh, uh, yeah. I need today off and tomorrow as well if that’s okay,” he said quickly like a little kid who’d just been told off for talking.

“Sure, Eddie. Is that all?”

“Yeah.”

He hung up and put the phone back on the wall. He took a deep breath and hit his hand against the wall. He hated being scared of something like a phone but that’s just how his life went. He walked over to the bed where Steve was still going through all his tapes. Steve patted the spot next to him without looking up and he sat down next to him. He looked over at what the tape Steve was currently looking at was.

“That’s my band’s recording,” he said, pointing to the cassette.

“Really?” Steve said, finally looking up.

“Yeah. You should come see us some time… sweetheart,” Eddie replied, drawing out the sweetheart.

“Uh yeah, sure.” Steve put the cassettes down, “I’m going to sleep.”

Steve rolled over and gripped the blankets. He breathed in and out, trying to stop his cheeks from burning. He failed miserably. Eddie leaned over the top of him – he could feel his breath on his neck – and kissed his shoulder. He sat up, pushed Eddie aside and ran to his boxes of stuff to find clothes. He tore through his stuff while his breath grew faster, and his cheeks went an unnatural shade of red. He could feel Eddie’s eyes on him, and he tried to ignore them. He had known it wouldn’t be easy moving in with the biggest flirt Hawkins has ever seen but he didn’t think it would be this hard. Before it had been hard to ignore because he didn’t know why he felt butterflies when Eds called him handsome or metal but now he knew Eds was flirting with him so why was it still so hard? And it sucked because he didn’t know how to deal with it. No one ever flirted with him, that was his job.

Eddie tilted his head as he watched Steve tear through his belongings. He could see that he was getting worked up, so he stood up from the bed and slowly walked over to him. He kneeled down next to him and placed his hands on his shoulders. Steve instinctively tried to throw him off, but he just tightened his grip. He started rubbing circles into his shoulders and after a little bit, he felt Steve loosen up and relax. Eventually Steve leaned backwards, and he was there to catch him. They sat like that for a while, just the two of them.

“How about we get up now?” Eddie said, once his feet started going numb.

Steve must have started to fall asleep because he startled awake and made his hands into fists. Eddie sighed and put his hands on Steve’s.

“You’re okay, sunshine,” he murmured.

Steve turned his head and smiled.

“Oh, hey Eds. Did I fall asleep,” he mumbled.

Eddie nodded and pushed Steve off of him. He took the hint and stood up. He took Eddie’s outstretched hand and pulled him up and into a hug. They pulled apart and he looked down at his stuff which was now strewn over the floor. Eddie leaned over and grabbed some piece of clothing. He then walked off and Steve’s eyes wandered after him.

“Stevie,” Eddie threw some clothes at Steve that he’d grabbed from one of his drawers, “You can get changed anywhere.”

Steve looked at the clothes he was now holding. They were his pyjama shorts, but the shirt was Eddie’s. He smiled to himself and then walked over to the bed. Eddie was in the corner, changing out of his jeans into red flannel pyjama pants. He didn’t even bother to try and make it seem like he wasn’t watching. Eddie was hot and he was hopelessly in love.

Eddie felt Steve’s eyes on him as he pulled his pyjama pants up. He giggled to himself as he took off his flannel and his t-shirt. He could feel Steve’s eyes looking up and down his back at the bandages and the tattoos. He turned around and almost expected for Steve to glance away but he didn’t.

Steve had changed into his blue pyjama shorts and Eddie’s Hellfire shirt and was now just watching Eddie. Eddie turned around so he just made eye contact and laid down. He watched intently as Eddie walked over, trying to commit what he looked like to memory just in case.

“I sleep shirtless, that okay?” Eddie said as he grabbed the covers from the bottom of the bed and pulled them up over him and Steve.

Steve nodded, his eyes still transfixed on Eddie. He didn’t want this moment to end.

“It’s like 5 am so we’ll sleep for a while but then we need to talk about everything,” Eddie said, looking at Steve like he was scared he would run out of there but also like he liked feeling Steve's eyes on him.

“Eddie, I’m fine. I’m not going to run out on you,” Steve said, his doe eyes staring down at Eddie’s lips.

Eddie shook his head and chuckled. He leaned in and kissed Steve gently. Steve’s eyes lit up and he kissed back. After a minute or so, Eddie pulled away and hit the light switch.

The room went dark, and they could only see slight silhouettes of each other. Steve pulled Eddie into his arms and Eddie wrapped his arms around Steve. The birds started to wake as they finally fell asleep in each other arms.

Chapter Text

Steve opened his eyes and rolled over, hoping to see Ed’s brown eyes but instead he was met with the pillow. He raised his arms above his head and yawned, his eyes wandering around the room in a half-assed effort to find his Ed.

“You’re cute when you’re sleeping,” Eddie said from the doorway where he was holding two cups of coffee.

Steve blushed and sat up in the bed. He did grabby hands for the coffee and smiled when Eddie walked over and handed it to him.

“You ready to talk, big boy?” Eddie asked as he climbed onto the bed.

Steve remembered what Eddie had said very early that morning and he groaned at the thought. He hated talking about stuff, it just wasn’t something that he did. Eddie tapped him on the shoulder, and he turned slightly to look at him.

“Mhmm, I guess,” he mumbled, much to his own displeasure.

Eddie didn’t seem to notice his annoyance and if he did, he ignored it. Ed’s put his arm around him and kissed him on the cheek.

“So, I was thinking we could maybe start with your parents,” Steve sighed, and Eddie smiled a half smile, “Now, Stevie, I’m not going to push you but if we’re going to be boyfriends, it’d be helpful to know.”

Steve felt his cheeks go red at the mention of the b word. He’d sort of just assumed that they were boyfriends, but he hadn’t really thought about it. He took a sip of his coffee and then a deep breath.

“Uh well, my parents suck.”

Eddie looked at him expectantly. He felt encouraged so he took another deep breath.

“My dad used to hit me with anything in his reach.” He looked forwards, too scared to look at Eddie’s face, “He hit me because…”

He couldn’t bring himself to keep going so he just took another sip of his coffee and let the tears fall. The tears that he’d been holding in, since he’d heard of his parents arrival, fell and they fell in his coffee and onto Eddie’s shirt. Eddie started to rub circles on his back.

“You don’t have to tell me yet if you don’t want to,” Eddie whispered.

Steve took a deep breath and smiled.

“No, I want to. Uh, my dad hit me because I wasn’t doing well in school and because I stole my mums make up once,” He took another breath, “And because I looked at boys too long.”

He let out a sigh of relief. Eddie took a deep breath in.

“He hit you,” Eddie got off the bed and stood with his free hand on his hip, “Because you looked at boys.”

“Yeah, it sounds bad when you say it like that,” Steve said as he wiped away the tears.

“It is bad, Steve,” Eddie said with a slight smile as he sat back down.

They both sat in silence for a few moments until Eddie cleared his throat. He put his coffee down on his bedside table and took a deep breath.

“My dad used to hit me as well,” He sighed as he remembered the long nights where he would cry himself to sleep after being made into his fathers punching bag, “My mum did sometimes, but they were just slaps compared to him.”

Steve tilted his head and smiled weakly.

“Now, you are going to tell me more, preferably about the boy part,” Eddie said with a cheeky smile.

Steve chuckled and took another sip of his coffee. He leaned on Eddie and breathed out.

“Uh, the first time, we were out at some café and there was another boy sitting near. I can’t remember what he looked like, but I remember he had the cutest smile and my dad hit me with his hand so I stopped looking,” Steve said and to his confusion, Eddie was smiling.

“Uh, Eds, I don’t think my dad hitting me is something to smile about,” Steve said with a confused smile.

“Was the boy’s head shaved?” Eddie asked impatiently.

“Yeah, I think so,” Steve replied, not quite sure where this was going.

“That was me. I remember you looking at me and you stopped after I smiled back and I thought that I did something wrong,” Eddie rambled on until Steve cleared his throat.

“So, you were the reason I thought guys were cute,” Steve said with a loud laugh.

Eddie nodded as he picked his coffee back up and started drinking from it again. Steve was still laughing so he just listened and finished his coffee. Steve’s laugh was better than all the drugs he’d tried, and he could get high on it for the rest of his life. He couldn't have imagined feeling this happy when he was younger.

“So, you wanna talk about anything else?” Steve said through laughs.

“Yeah, I need to tell you something,” Eddie replied, crossing his fingers that he wouldn’t regret this.

Steve nodded as he sat back up and took another sip of his coffee. Eddie sighed and put his now empty mug down. He cleared his throat.

“My parents kicked me out for being gay,” he looked over at Steve and when he saw that he wasn’t weirded out, he continued, “My parents saw me kissing a boy, so they told me to pack my things and leave and they were sober, so I left.”

Steve leaned over, kissed him on the cheek and then nodded for him to continue.

“I found a phone booth and called my uncle who you know. It took him around 3 hours to get to me. Those were the longest 3 hours of my life. I hate phones now coz they remind me of sitting on the side of the road with only a backpack and the clothes on my back,” He said, looking at Steve after every sentence.

Steve pulled him into his arms, and they once again sat in silence. Usually both of them hated silence but when they were in each other’s arms, everything felt okay. Their moment was interrupted by a knock on the door. They pulled apart and looked at each other with matching confused expressions.

Eddie stood up and walked over to the door. He opened it and there stood Robin and Dustin. They both stormed past Eddie and stared at Steve who stared back, his eyebrows raised.

Chapter Text

“What the hell?” Dustin shouted with his arms crossed.

“Is that Eddie’s shirt?” Robin said with a smirk.

“What the hell to you too and maybe!” Steve shouted back.

Eddie walked around Robin and Dustin and sat down on his bed. He sighed and rolled his eyes.

“You haven’t called anyone!” Robin shouted, quickly remembering why she was there.

“I don’t have to,” Steve pinched the bridge of his nose, “I’m a grown man.”

Dustin and Robin both huffed and pouted.

“Oh, stop pouting,” Steve said with a wave of his hand.

Eddie leaned back and waited for someone else to talk. He wasn’t sure what the time was, but it felt like morning, and he was not a morning person.

“Why do you guys even need me to check in?”

“Something could have happened,” Dustin said as he ran his hand through his hair.

“Dusty, I’m fine,” Steve jumped off the bed and put his hands on Dustin’s shoulders, “I’m here and I’m fine.”

Dustin nodded and took a deep breath. Robin smiled and you could practically see the cogs moving in her head.

“Oh um, everyone’s meeting up at the Wheelers,” she said with finger guns.

“When?” Eddie said from his spot on the bed.

Robin and Dustin’s heads whipped around to him as though they’d forgotten he was there even though they were in his trailer.

“Yeah, I’m here so when?” He asked again.

“5 tonight!” Dustin replied with his usual chirpiness.

Steve nodded and patted Dustin on the back. He pushed Dustin and Robin to the door and then shouted that they would be there as he closed the door. Eddie got off the bed and joined his Stevie at the door. He hugged him from behind and placed his head on his shoulder.

“We’re going?” He murmured.

“Yeah,” Steve said back.

“You know, it’s hot you taking control like that,” he said in his usual flirtatious tone.

“You implying something, Munson?” Steve said as he untangled himself from Eddies arms and walked over to his stuff.

“And if I was?” Eddie said as he plopped back down on his bed.

“I wouldn’t be complaining,” Steve started going through the mess he’d made that morning, “I mean, you might be complaining.”

“I do not complain in bed,” Eddie clutched his chest and fell backwards, “I’m astounded you would think otherwise.”

Steve chuckled and then found what he was looking for, his yellow sweater, some random polo shirt and his favourite blue jeans. He threw them over his shoulder and stood back up. He looked around for a clock and when he found one, it said 4:00pm.

“Oh shit, we’ve only got an hour.” Steve said as he pulled off his shirt.

“Oh, that’s a good view,” Eddie said as he sat up.

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” Steve replied as he pulled his polo on.

“Do I have to get changed?”

“Well, you ain’t going shirtless so wear something nice,” Steve walked over to Eddie’s drawers and pulled out his jeans, “That’s a start.”

He threw them at him and then took off his shorts which got a very happy reaction from Eddie. Pulling on his jeans, he chuckled to himself. He wasn’t used to all the attention Eds gave him but oh boy, did he like it! He pulled on his sweater and then turned to Eddie who was now sitting there in just his jeans. He took a deep breath in and out then walked back over to Eddie’s drawers and rummaged through his shirts until he found a nice black one. It had some band name on it, but he didn’t know who they were, so he just threw it at Eddie.

Eddie took the shirt and pulled it on. He smiled to himself, Steve had thrown a KISS shirt at him, which felt pretty ironic as they’d been doing plenty of that. He stood up from his bed and walked over to his desk where all off his rings and other jewellery. In that moment, he realized he hadn’t been wearing any due to the day being pretty rushed, so he started putting them all on. He could feel Stevie’s eyes on him, so he started putting them on slower and once he’d put them all on, he turned around and grabbed Steve’s hand and pulled him into his embrace. He kissed him messily and then dipped him and kissed him again.

“What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?” Steve asked as Eddie pulled him back into a standing position.

“I may have snuck a little bit of coke during that whole screaming match,” Eddie replied with his cute smile.

Steve tried to look mad, but he just couldn’t be mad at Eddie with his cute hair and his cute little brown eyes. He smiled and pulled Eddie in for another kiss. They kissed for a bit with their arms around each other waists. Eddie pulled away and grabbed a cassette. He put it in his cassette player and Queen started to play. Steve broke out into a full-on grin, and he bowed and held out his hand.

“May I have this dance, Prince Eddie?”

“You may, King Steve.”

Steve cringed and then twirled Eddie and they started to dance. Eddie dipped Steve once again and Steve pulled him in for a waltz, really showing off his rich boy side. They danced and sung until Steve looked at the clock once again and saw that it said 4:50pm.

“We gotta go,” he practically shouted as he looked around frantically for his shoes.

Eddie picked up his sneakers and threw them at him. That then caused him to remember that he was also shoeless, so he started frantically looking around for his.

“Looking for something?” Steve had Eddie’s boots in his hands, “Come and get ‘em.”

Eddie ran at him and slammed his whole body into him. Steve didn’t even move, he was like a tree, a really handsome tree. Eddie smiled and slammed his fist into his stomach. Steve still held the shoes in his hands, above his head.

“Give ‘em!” Eddie slammed into him, “I need my boots!”

“Say please,” Steve said with a smirk.

“Please Stevie,” Eddie said with his puppy dog eyes and a bit of a smirk.

Steve smiled and dropped the boots. Eddie picked them and hopped around while putting them on. Eventually he got them on, and they ran out the door. Eddie ran around to the driver’s side of his van and Steve ran to the passenger side. They both climbed in, and Eddie pulled out of his driveway and onto the street. Steve looked through the cassettes in Ed’s van and found a Black Sabbath one.

“Hey, this is that band you were talking about after the demobats.”

“Yeah, Stevie. Put it on.”

Steve put it in the player and one of their songs came on. He looked over at Eddie who was tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, and he smiled. He never would have imagined that one day, he’d been sitting in his first guy crushes van and be utterly in love with him. Little him would have gone crazy over the idea that he’d finally be happy in a relationship and that it would be with a guy and that the guy was Eddie. He chuckled to himself, then leaned back and enjoyed the ride.

Chapter Text

They pulled into the Wheeler’s driveway and Eddie pulled the keys out of the ignition. Steve hopped out and ran over to his side. He opened the door as he was ever the gentleman. They walked up to the door together, loosely holding each other’s hands. Steve took a deep breath, looked at Eddie, who smiled, and knocked.

The door opened and there was Mike, wearing a frown like usual. He turned around and huffed.

“They’re here!” He shouted as he pulled the door back enough so they could walk in, not far enough that it wasn’t a squeeze though.

Steve rolled his eyes and walked in, pulling Eddie behind him. Robin ran up to them and smiled.

“You’re late.”

“And you’re just as annoying as you were an hour and a half ago,” Steve replied with a roll of his eyes.

“Dingus.”

“Love you too.”

Eddie let go of Steve’s hand and looked around. He’d heard about the Wheelers house, but he’d never been inside due to the whole being a freak thing and then being accused of murder and then almost dying. The house looked just like how he imagined it with the family pictures and the flowers in a cute little vase on the table. He traced his hand along the wall with its floral wallpaper and pictures of meadows and waterfalls. He felt out of place in this house that felt like something out of a fairy tale. He went over to the couches and sat down on one, smoothing out his jeans. He looked over at the other couch and made eye contact with the kid there.

“Hey.” He waved at the kid, “What’s your name, kid?”

The kid looked up from his drawing and his eyes widened. Eddie waved again and he seemed to realize he was meant to introduce himself.

“Will,” He smiled and looked quizzically at Eddie, “Who are you?”

Eddie made some noise of recognition and nodded at him.

“I’m Eddie and you’re the Byers kid, right?” Will nodded and Eddie’s mouth broke out into a smirk. “Wheeler talks about you all the time.”

“He does?”

“Well, yeah. He says you played D&D and,” Eddie leaned over and looked at his drawing, “that you draw. He wasn’t lying.”

“Thanks, it’s a dragon from one of my old campaigns.”

Eddie leaned back and his mouth opened in shock. Will stared at him and shook his head like what was there for him to be shocked about.

“He didn’t say you were a dungeon master though,” Eds finally said.

Will nodded and they talked for a few minutes about DnD and Mike and everything in between. Eventually Eddie stood up and walked off to find Steve. He wandered the house, eventually bumping into Lucas and Dustin who were wrestling on the floor. He kicked Lucas and shouted at Dustin then kept walking. He found the staircase to the basement and walked down. He was met with the very unusual sight of Steve and some other teenager talking quietly with their heads almost knocking together.

“Hey Eds,” Steve said, looking up for a moment.

The other teenager nodded, acknowledging his presence, and then went back to talking in whispers. Eddie wanted to know what they were talking about, so he walked over and sat on the floor with his knees to his chest.

“So, you think Will is,” Steve made weird hand movements, “And that Mike is as well.”

The teenager nodded and then looked at Eddie weird. Eddie looked back at him with a weird face.

“It’s ok, he’s fine.” Steve said, gesturing in Eddie’s direction.

The teenager let out a sigh of relief and leaned back on the couch. He smiled at Eddie as though they weren't strangers.

“Have we met?” Eddie asked of the teen as he was still confused by what just happened.

“Oh, uh Eds, this is Jonathan Byers,” Steve said as Jonathan waved.

The three of them sat there in silence until Eddie remembered he hadn’t introduced himself.

“I’m Eddie Munson,” he said with an awkward smile.

“Yeah, I know who you are. I was at the hospital and all the boys talk about you. I just wasn’t sure if you were ok coz we live in Hawkins so you never know.”

Eddie nodded and then frowned. He looked up at the two of them who hadn’t resumed their conversation.

“Will’s gay if that’s what you were talking about.” He looked at Steve then at Jonathan and they didn’t object so he kept talking, “I don’t know about Mike though but I’m pretty sure he’s at least a bit gay.”

Steve and Jonathan looked at each other and then looked at him with shock written all over their faces. Jonathan looked up at the ceiling and Steve looked over at Eds. He stood up and smoothed out his jeans. He then sat back down and looked around awkwardly.

“What?” Steve finally said even though he looked like he’d understood.

“Will’s way too invested in Mike to not like him and well…” Eddie smiled and laughed to himself, “Mike talks about Will all the time as well.

Steve leaned back and Jonathan leaned forwards. The air felt stuffy, and the room felt eerily quiet, but Eddie’s smile grew wider. He leaned back on his hands and watched them thinking. His mind drifted to how he’d felt about Steve before last night. He couldn’t believe that it had only been a day, it felt like he’d been Steve’s lover for months. Before last night, he’d crushed on Steve, just like everyone else, but Steve had always felt so unattainable as he had been the King of Hawkins High School and he seemed so… straight. He sat for a moment and his mind wandered back to Will. He must feel like how he felt, so lost and alone and so very much in love with a guy who doesn’t look anything but straight. He sighed and went to stand up just as Steve took a deep breath.

“Thanks, Eds and uh, yeah. We were talking about that.” Steve smiled and stood up from the couch. He held his hand out for Jonathan and helped him up.

As the three of them were walking to the stairs, Robin flew down the stairs, followed closely by Nancy who was shouting for her to be careful. The boys stopped walking and Steve and Jonathan both looked at each other with tired faces as if they were saying what now. Eddie looked at them and smiled, mentally noting that he would have to ask Steve about Jonathan later.

“Truth or dare upstairs!” Robin shouted as she fell against the wall, her smile wide. She was always happy but having all her friends under the same roof after such a terrible night made her year. Nancy popped up from behind her and smiled at the boys. She echoed what Robin had just said but in an inside voice and then pulled her up the stairs.

The boys all looked to each other, chuckled at the girls and then walked up the stairs. They were in for a long night and hell, did they know it.

Chapter Text

Hey, I'm sorry for not updating for ages. I've had writers block and lifes been really annoying. i'm planning on having a new chapter up soon. So see you all soon!

Chapter Text

Nancy and Robin were already sitting on the couch when the boys came into the living room. Steve sat on the other couch and Eddie laid down next to him and put his head on his lap. Jonathan sat on the floor, cross legged. “Where are the kids?” Steve asked, his motherly side showing. Nancy nodded towards upstairs and then leaned her head on Robin’s shoulder. Jonathan pulled out a candy cigarette and smiled. “So, we gonna play truth or dare or not?” He said as he jokingly took a long drawl.

Eddie lifted his head and stared at Robin. “Rob, truth or dare?” He asked. Robin stared back at him and tilted her head in thought before deciding on truth. He sat up, causing Steve to frown. He rolled his eyes and laid back down much to his boyfriend’s delight.

“Who was your first crush?” He asked from his comfy spot.

Robin scratched her chin and smiled.

“I don’t know. There was this really cute girl when I was younger. I think her name was Barb.”

Nancy looked at her girlfriend with wide eyes. Steve looked over at her as she must have been remembering her best friend whom the Demogorgon stole. He smiled sadly and cleared his throat.

“Jonathan, truth or dare?”

Jonathan looked up at him suspiciously. He then laughed and chose truth. Steve asked him the same question that Eddie had asked Robin. His jaw dropped slightly but he covered it up with a laugh.

“This is awkward coz um, I think it was you, Steve.”

Steve’s jaw dropped. He stared, dumbfounded, at the stoner who was sitting only a few feet from him. He couldn’t even comprehend what had just happened. He knew that he was likely Tommy’s first guy crush but being Jonathan’s first crush in general was different. He knew Jonathan liked guys, sometimes getting high after a long week reveals things and they’d ended up in the same bed with no memories of the night before every so often, but this was something new. Eddie flicked him in the chin and brought him back to earth.

“Really? Like I knew you’d liked me, but I was the first one?” He said as calmly as he could even though he could feel his hands shaking and his head throbbing.

Eddie looked up at him and his jaw dropped. He sat up and looked down at Jonathan. He then looked over at the girls who were practically daring him to interrupt the little moment, and so he decided to keep his cakehole shut.

“You don’t have to say anything else, Steve. Emotions are weird and you’re going to freak if you think about it for any longer. I promised myself I wouldn’t do that to you, but I just did...I’m sorry. Anyways I’m with Argy now and I will not be the reason you descend into another spiral so hug your boyfriend and take a deep breath.” Jonathan said softly as he pushed himself off the floor and walked in the direction of the kitchen.

Steve took a deep breath as instructed and pulled Eddie back onto his lap but then his brain caught up with him and his jaw dropped again, somehow even lower than before.

“Argyle?!”

He pushed Eddie off him and stomped after Jonathan into the kitchen. The girls and Eddie were left in the living room with various looks of surprise on their faces. Robin stared at Eddie who was now on the floor and burst out into laughter. Nancy followed suite and laughed as well. He just looked up at them with his eyes wide.

“You didn’t know about them, did you?” Nancy asked in between her laughter.

Eddie shook his head and Robin laughed even harder. She shook her head and fell onto her girlfriend who immediately wrapped her arms around her. “They were never officially together but they did get drunk and high together quite a bit at some point and that led to other stuff…” Robin said while still laughing. Eddie sat himself back up and his eyebrows rose. “That was not what I expected… so that guy’s Jonathan, right?” He asked with a nervous smile.

Nancy nodded as she started to stroke her girlfriends hair. Robin was closing her eyes, so she signalled for Eddie to be quiet. She knew that Rob didn’t sleep much due to the nightmares so she encouraged it all she could.

Nancy smiled as she repositioned her leg so it wouldn’t go dead. “He just came back from Cali so I would expect that you wouldn’t know him. I would have thought that you guys would have run in the same crowd though.”

Eddie shook his head and glanced towards the kitchen. “How many guys has Steve liked before me?”

“I’m not sure.” Nancy smiled sympathetically. “Maybe a couple?”

Eddie stretched out his legs and ran his hands through his hair. He knew that it made sense for Steve to like other guys, but it still hurt. Steve had made it pretty evident that Eddie was his first choice but there was still this voice in the back of his head telling him that Steve would come to his senses and realize that he wanted someone who wasn’t broken and hurt, someone who wasn’t him. He came out of his little spiral once he heard clicking.

“Hey Eds, what you doing?” Robin clicked again. “Steve and Jonathan are getting drinks and they wondered what you wanted. Steve said you liked beer, but Jonny says you seem like a vodka type of guy.”

Eddie looked up at Robin who was rubbing her eyes. “Beer’s fine.” Robin shouted out his reply to the kitchen, and he smiled.

Nancy looked over at him with and tilted her head. “What are you thinking about, Eddie?” She smiled.

Eddie looked up at her and sighed. He knew this was a great time to ask his questions because it was the first time all day that Steve wasn’t attached to his hip. He still questioned if he should ask them though because what if Nancy thought it was weird. He didn’t want any of them to think he was weirder than he already seemed. But he wanted to know.

“Uh, Steve, he's traumatised but I don't know what about.”

Nancy pondered his question for a moment before she made the decision to wake Robin up. Robin stirred and sat up all while Eddie’s hands started to shake. The two girls shared a look which Eddie couldn’t interrupt. It must have meant something like lets tell him because Robin started talking after it.

“Well, you know that his parent’s basically abandoned him after abusing him for like his whole childhood.”

Eddie nodded and Robin looked to Nancy.

“Well, he’s been through a lot, I guess.” Nancy started to count on her fingers. “He’s been beaten up by Jonathan and Billy, drugged and tortured by the Russians, hurt emotionally by me and eaten by demobats. I think I’m forgetting something.”

Robin clicked and poked Nancy’s leg. “He’s losing his hearing and I think he can’t see very well out of his left eye.”

The whole time that the girls were talking, Eddie’s jaw dropped lower and lower to the point that when Steve and Jonathan walked back in with alcohol, he just stared at his boyfriend with absolutely no expression.

Steve mustn’t have noticed because he just handed the girls their identical bottles of some fruity alcohol as Jonathan handed Eddie his beer. Steve sat down next to his boyfriend and looked up at the girls who were both trying to gesture for him to look at his boyfriend. Jonathan took advantage of the empty couch and lied down. After a few minutes of awkward silence, Eddie tapped Steve on the knee.

Steve turned to his boyfriend and smiled his iconic Harrington smile. He looked as oblivious as always and Eddie almost regretted what he was about to do. But he powered through.

“Steve, my love, my beautiful muse, the light of my life.” He smiled insanely as he grinded his fist into his palm. “What the actual fuck?”

Chapter Text

Steve’s smile dissipated and he looked to the girls for guidance. They shrugged so he looked to Jonathan who followed suite and shrugged. He took a final deep breath before turning back to his stunning boyfriend. He smiled weakly and looked right at his boyfriend. “What did I do?”

Any anger that was brewing in Eddie’s heart disappeared when Steve looked right in his eyes and asked what he’d done. Steve Harrington who had apparently been a punching bag for many people asked him what he’d done. He didn’t ask what the girls told him, he just asked what he’d done. The whole time he’d known him, he’d been nothing but perfect, but here he was asking what he did. Eddie sighed and placed his hand on Steve’s thigh. He watched as Steve’s eyes lit up, but it faded within moments. He looked to the girls and then to Jonathan. He decided right then and there that he would love this man for the rest of his life. He stood up and pulled him off the couch.

The two of them walked down the hallway and to where the staircase was. Eddie pulled Steve down onto a step, and he moved him to face him. He stared into Steve’s brown eyes and sighed.

While Eddie was having a moment or something, Steve started to overthink. Whenever people pulled him aside, it was because he’d done something wrong. His heart started to race, and his palms were sweaty. He wanted to talk but as he stared petrified into Eddie’s eyes, no words came out. All he could think was that Eddie mustn’t have noticed and that maybe he didn’t care. He felt tears forming in his eyes and he tried to stop them by blinking them away, but they just came back stronger. He’d been so so strong for the past few years, and he hadn’t broken down no matter what happened. The kids needed him too much. He didn’t expect what happened next.

“I love you so so much, Steve Harrington. You are the toughest guy I know but its time for you to be safe now,” Eddie said with a sweet smile.

Steve started to talk but Eddie placed his finger against his lip and shook his head.

“No buts. I know your parents are back in town and I’m going to deal with them, okay?”

Steve nodded silently. That was not what he’d been expecting but it did mean that he knew what do now. He smiled mischievously and moved his hands up to Eddie’s hair. Ed’s eyes widened as he pulled him in. His lips met Eddies and a gasp escaped Eddie’s mouth.

Eddie had kissed lots of people before, but Steve Harrington made every kiss feel like his first. If he believed in a guy up above, he’d pray that he felt like this every time his Stevie kissed him for the rest of his life. But he didn’t believe in some dude up above so instead, he just kissed Steve back and tasted the beer and lip gloss. He wished this moment would last forever but he didn’t have time for that right now. He went to pull away, but Steve pulled his hair and he felt butterflies in his stomach. He knew he had to do this, so he pulled away and jumped up from the step. Steve looked at him like what the fuck.

“We’ve got very important things to do,” was all Eds could say before he ran back into the living room where Jonathan was telling Robin about stupid things Steve did when they were in high school. Nance was the first to look up at him. She smiled and then raised her eyebrows at his almost panicked expression. Robin and Jonathan looked up when they realised that Nancy wasn’t laughing anymore. Eddie licked his lips and held his hand up. He pulled himself together emotionally and smirked like the DM he was.

“Can someone wake the kids up? We’re gonna teach Stevie’s parents a lesson or two,” He said as his voice filled every part of the room and charisma practically dripped off him.

Nancy jumped up from her seat and she pulled Jonathan up with her. They ran up the stairs and Robin just sat on the couch, staring up at Eddie. Younger her never would have thought that Eddie “The Freak” Munson would be planning what sounded like a fight with the parents of Steve Harrington, the guy who had become her brother.

Steve stumbled into the room, holding his head. Robin immediately jumped up and walked over to him. She whispered something in his ear and his eyes lit up. He looked over to Eddie who had found a piece of paper and was scribbling all over it.

Eds looked up and saw Steve and Robin staring at him. He looked back down at the paper and then back at them.

“Can one of you call Hopper and Joyce please? They’re gonna want to know why the Harrington adults are running through the streets screaming.” He said with a smirk.

Steve’s jaw dropped as he started nodding. He ran over to where the house phone was and called Hops. Robin walked over to Eds and smiled.

“You’ve given him hope so you better fulfill your promise.” She said kindly.

“Oh, I will, birdy.” He replied as he finished writing whatever he’d been writing.

Just as he did, Nancy and Jonathan ran down the stairs with all the kids behind them. Lucas and Dustin started shouting and Max and El ran to Robin and started whispering in her ears. Mike and Will held hands and stood quietly though anyone who just glanced at them might think they were talking telepathically because every glance they shared seemed to mean a hundred words.

Eddie walked over to Steve and asked for the phone. Steve hung up on Hopper and walked over to the kids that had become his closest friends, his confidants, his back up, and most of all, the ones he’d sworn to protect with his life. He took Dustin’s hat and messed up his hair. He looked over to Mike who smiled, and he knew exactly what that smile meant. They’d finally said it. He’d been waiting for that day for two years.

Eddie walked back over and took Steve’s hand in his. He raised his other hand in the air and the room fell silent. Everyone looked to him, and he smiled once more. He finally knew what he’d been preparing for the whole time he’d been DMing. He was ready to protect the love of his life.

“We are going to teach the Harrington parents a lesson. They don’t get to hurt our Steve, my Stevie anymore. They will leave our town and never come back. I’ve called up my friends and now we just have to get over to the Harrington house. I will explain the plan once we get there,” he said as though he was leading his battalion into war which he sorta was.

Everyone murmured their approval and grabbed their things. Dustin pulled his hat back on. Lucas tied his bandana. Mike handed Will his flannel and Will handed him his bomber jacket. Max pulled El’s hair into a ponytail. Nancy jogged over to the kitchens and grabbed keys. She threw Eds at him and Jonno’s at him. Robin pulled her into a kiss and Mike pretended to vomit. Eds pulled Steve into a kiss just to rub it in. The two couples pulled apart as Jonathan said something under his breath about how Argyle was a great kisser. The mismatched group of kids and young adults walked out the door. Eds pulled the door close and everyone clambered into cars and pulled out of the driveway, ready to wreak havoc on Steve’s asshole parents lives.

Chapter Text

The sky was pitch black. The few clouds seemed to have disappeared as soon as the three cars raced through the night. The Harrington house was outside the towns boundaries, so they had some time to kill. The music was loud, but their shouting was louder. Max, El and Lucas were screaming at the top of their lungs to Bad Reputation in the back of Nancy’s car. Mike and Will sat in the back of Jonathan’s car and held hands as they screamed to Should I Stay or Should I Go. Steve and Eddie screamed with Dustin to We’re Not Gonna Take It. Normally the more sensible young adults wouldn’t want music to be blasting but tonight was a special night. Tonight, the Harringtons paid for hurting the best babysitter Hawkins has ever seen.

As they got closer to the Harringtons house, the music quieted down. They’d all fought monsters before, but those ones weren’t real. They were real in that they had flesh and blood, but they were still just nightmares in a way. They played Dungeons & Dragons with those monsters. Steve’s parents were just monsters who decided to hit their kid and that felt way eviler. They weren’t a Demogorgon that was being controlled by Vecna. They were assholes who hated that their son was gay. They weren’t the Mind Flayer that oozes evil. They were motherfucking jerks who decided that they could take all their anger out on their own fucking child. This was real and everyone currently sitting in those three cars knew that. They had fought and killed to protect each other, and they wouldn’t hesitate to fight again. They were family now and his “family” wasn’t needed anymore. He was protected and his parents were about to find that out.

The house came into view and Steve braced himself. That place had been his home but as soon as those people who said they were his family came back, the whole building reeked of anger and disappointment. Before the spontaneous business trips that went for months, he’d never felt like he lived there. He’d felt like a guest in his own home, and he hated that. He didn’t have that with Eddie even though he was a guest. What he had with Eddie was home. His love for Eddie and Robin and Nancy and Jonathan and his kids would always overshadow what little love he had left for his parents.

Eddie looked over at his boyfriend as he tensed up. He moved his hand from the steering wheel to his Steve’s knee. He squeezed it just to say that he was there. He looked behind at Dustin who’s face was solemn. He wondered how much they all went through before he joined them. He wondered what they’d gone through even before they fought monsters and nightmares. He knew Dustin’s dad was out of the picture which was why he attached to Steve, and he knew that Steve needed a family, so he attached to Dustin and then him. After he gave Steve’s parents the beating they deserved, he’d give Dustin a well-deserved hug.
The cars all stopped on the road outside the Harringtons. Eddie got out of his van and walked over to Gareth’s car which was sitting on the curb. He knocked on the window and Gareth rolled his window down.

Steve watched as Gareth and Eddie talked for a few minutes. Dustin must have noticed his contemplative looks because he leaned forwards.
“Steve, its going to be okay, yeah? Eddies gonna beat your parents up and Robs will probably punch them a few times and everyone will be cheering them on. You won’t have to talk at them if you don’t want to,” Dustin said all in one breath.

Steve turned around and took a longish look at Dustin. He’d protected this kid. He’d driven him to the Snow Ball. He’d helped him with his girl problems. He’d done what Dustin’s dad should have done. He did what his dad should have done for him.

“I know, kiddo. You know what, I love Eddie and I would much rather sit back and let him take charge but right now, I have to say some choice words to my asshole parents. You coming?”

Steve climbed out of the van, followed by Dustin. He went around to the back where he’d stashed his bat. He grabbed it and started walking towards the house that had once been his safe haven and was now just an empty house. The house could be put on the market tomorrow and his parents wouldn’t have to change shit. They’d just have to pack their bags and leave. His bat dragged along the ground and everyone else in the cars stuck their faces against the windows. Dustin looked behind and motioned for everyone to get out of their cars. They all clambered out and stood in shock as Steve took his sunglasses out of his jeans pocket and put them on. He adjusted his sweater and flung his bat over his shoulder.

Eddie was still talking to Gareth but then Jeff’s jaw dropped. Eds turned around and watched as his boyfriend sauntered up to the door. He smiled and told his bandmates to get out of their car.

Hopper and Joyce pulled up as Steve was walking. They both smiled and got out of Hop’s car. They’d been waiting for the day that the worst parents Hawkins had ever seen met their son who had a boyfriend and the trust of everyone he cared about. The Harringtons had only hurt their child and now that very child was their karma.
Steve’s hands shook and he wanted to drop the bat and run and scream. He wanted to run into Robins arms and feel Eddie’s hands on his shoulders. He wanted to listen to every band that Eddie loved. He wanted to feel alive. He wanted to feel safe. Nobody would judge him if he ran back to the van and rocked back and forth. Nobody but himself would judge him. So, he kept walking.

He walked all the way up to the doorbell. He remembered that night where his dad locked him outside because he talked back. He remembered how he’d rung that godforsaken doorbell over and over again. He smashed the doorbell. He walked over to the window. That window had never once let in natural light. A curtain had always blocked it. Even when he was left alone in that house, he’d never opened the window in fear that the light would make him wish for a childhood filled with love and warm cookies and hugs that smelt of his mothers perfume and his fathers aftershave. He smashed the window.

He smirked as he heard frantic footsteps from the back of the house. He twirled the bat around and looked back at the people who had become his new family. He saw shock, pride and so many other emotions that he couldn’t explain. He practically floated over to the other window.

Does reminiscence and nostalgia have an opposite? What do you say when you’re remembering memories that aren’t fond, memories that have scarred your brain tissue, memories that caused you to flinch when held softly?

Steve smashed the other window and remembered how he’d stare through it when his father hit him over and over again with a wooden spoon. As he finished smashing it, the door opened and out tumbled his parents. He looked them up and down and a smirk crossed his face.

“Welcome back, jackasses.”

Chapter Text

His parents looked at him in shock. This was their son, but this wasn’t the scared child they’d abandoned all those years ago. This young man stood in front of them in a yellow sweater and sunglasses with a bat adorned with nails over his shoulder. They’d expected a boy who was happy to see them again. They’d expected a boy who would finally just accept that their life was his to live now. This young man didn’t look like he was here to accept his life as the next Harrington. This man was glancing down at the group of people who were on their front yard. Steve, their son, was covered in scars and his hair was a mess and he looked nothing like them. He was nothing like them.

“I don’t want you here,” Steve said with a fire that he hadn’t got from his parents.

His parents were weak people who’d peaked in high school. His dad had been a bully and his mum was a cheerleader. They were the ultimate high school sweethearts, and he was nothing like them. They had walked over people to get what they wanted. Steve was nothing like them. He was brave and protective. They were cowardly and hid behind lies and contracts. He cared about his friends and his family that he’d found all on his own. They discarded people once they were no longer helpful or needed. Steve had found his purpose and he’d found the love of his life and he wasn’t just going to bend back over and let his dad walk all over him again.

“I’ve got a boyfriend and a family. You’ve overstayed your welcome. So, leave,” Steve said with a neutral tone even though his heart was thumping, and his eyes kept glancing down to the garden where his real family stood.

“You are a disappointment, but you can still join me and be a distinguished businessman. I’ll ignore the part where you said you had a boyfriend,” his dad said as though he was talking to a potential business partner.

“No, you won’t ignore that. You can’t call me a disappointment and say you’ll just ignore who I am. I am Steve motherfucking Harrington, and that name is no longer associated with you here. I kiss boys and my best friend kisses girls. Her names Robin by the way and my boyfriends name is Eddie. You remember Wayne, right? You hated him in school because he was actually smart instead of just being a daddy’s boy who teachers were scared to give a D to. Well, I’m dating his nephew,” Steve said with pride that he’d almost forgotten about.

“Son, we can forget all about this if you just promise to leave it all behind,” his father continued but with a shake in his voice now.

Eddie walked up to the stairs, followed by Robin, Nancy and Jonathan. The kids lingered behind and Hopper and Joyce held hands as they all watched Steve get ready to rip his parents a new one.

“No, I don’t fucking want anything to do with you. I’m not King Steve anymore if you even bothered to notice,” he took off his sunglasses, “I’m the best damn babysitter this town has seen, and those kids down there are my family. Those friends of mine right there are my family. Hopper and Joyce who you two looked down upon are closer to parents than you are. I grew up and I did it without you, so you don’t get to walk back into my life now. You get to leave.”

Eddie had walked up to Steve’s side and placed his arm around his hip. He wasn’t expecting what happened next. Steve’s dad went to talk again but Steve flipped him off and pulled Eds in for a kiss. Everyone on the yard cheered. Eddies friends screamed from back at their car. Robin whooped and flipped Steve’s parents off.

Mr and Mrs Harrington looked at the man who they’d abandoned all those years ago as they finally realized that this was what it felt like. This is what it feels like to be cast aside by someone who you thought you could rely on. So, they looked at each other and decided to change tactics. They were powerful people. They hadn’t worked this hard just for their good for nothing son to ruin everything.

“You will stop all of this nonsense!” Mr Harrington shouted.

Mrs Harrington nodded along and tapped her foot.

“We won’t put up with this. You are our son, and you will stay here with us, and you will follow in your fathers footsteps,” Mrs Harrington added.

Steve looked at them with shock and then he started laughing.

“I-I bashed your windows in and kissed my boyfriend and pointed out every person in my life who is important to me and you-you,” He leaned over and took a breath, “Still want me?”

Mr Harrington stiffened, and his eyes said everything.

“You’re desperate?” Steve asked as he choked back tears.

Mrs Harrington didn’t nod but she might as well have.

“Well fuck that. I was desperate my whole life. I wanted to be held like how my friends were held. I wanted to be hugged and tucked into bed at night… but all I got was looks of disgust and beatings,” Steve said as he felt the tears rolling down his cheek.

Everyone watched him as Eddie wrapped his arms around Steve’s waist.

“I wanted a family, and you wouldn’t dare give me that, so I found my own. I found them all by myself. I am me. I am not you. I will never be you. You don’t get to ask me to become a part of your life because you clearly never wanted to be part of mine so fuck off to Antarctica for all I care. I just want you to know that if you stay here and refuse to leave, I will make you leave. This is my home. You don’t deserve it.” Steve said with confidence that he’d had when he was younger.

Mr and Mrs Harrington stared at him blankly.

Steve raised an eyebrow and smirked.

“You heard him, fuck off,” Eddie said.

“Yeah, fuck off.” Robin echoed.

Steve smiled and it was the first time he’d felt entirely at peace for years.

The Harrington parents walked quickly off the porch and to their car. They sped down the road, never to return. Their son was no longer theirs. He was his own.

Hopper would tell the kids about how they’d looked like they’d seen monsters like the ones in closets for years. Robin and Eddie took Steve’s hands in their own and they walked off the porch. Steve’s eyes were red, and his hands were going white, but his heart finally wasn’t aching. He felt like he was in his own body and his mind wasn’t fighting everything he did.

He hugged Dustin and it felt right. He kissed Eddie again and it felt perfect. He spun Robin and Nancy around and smiled at the idea of not being worried about his reputation. He kissed Jonathan on the cheek and whispered something along the lines of i liked you too a lot. Jonathan may have blushed. He hugged Hopper and Joyce, and they told him to come over for dinner soon. He was attacked by hugs from every side. Max gripped onto his side. Mike hid under his arm. Will held his hand and squeezed it kindly. El hugged his other arm. Lucas hugged him from the back. Dustin ran back over from where he was talking to Eds and hugged him from the front. He felt a love that he hadn’t felt for years. He let himself love again. He didn’t need any approval. He didn’t need a reassuring nod. He just felt again.

Everyone separated again and people made their way back to their cars. Plans were made between the kids as they walked. Gareth shouted that Eddie and Steve weren’t excused from the Star Wars marathon the next day. Steve held Eddie’s hand with pride.

“I thought you guys were going to teach my parents a lesson,” Steve whispered in Eddie’s ear.

“I don’t think you needed our help. You did a pretty good job all by yourself,” Eddie whispered back.

“I did, didn’t I? Makes you wonder what else I could do a pretty good job at.” Steve said before he ran off towards Eddie’s van.

Eddie stood there for a moment before it clicked in his brain, and he ran after his boyfriend into the next chapter of their lives.

Childhood wounds never do fully disappear. You might always flinch when a hand is raised against you even if that hand was coming in for a hug or high-five. But if the right people hold you and watch those bright cartoons with you and eat ice-cream for breakfast with you and run around empty fields with you and maybe even kiss you goodnight, the wounds may just stop aching and your smile might finally feel like it’s yours again. Those right people can help you live again, and you’ll be you again. You won’t be your parents. You’ll just be you.