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Chapter Text

Dustin was already a little irritated. Steve was late to pick him up and made him the late person to be picked up from school. He couldn’t just walked at that point.

Just as Dustin was about to start walking, Steve’s car pulled in wildly into the parking lot almost hitting Dustin if he hadn’t moved out of the way. Dustin shot Steve a glare and hopped into Steve’s passenger seat.

“What the hell, Steve!” Dustin yelled, putting on his seatbelt.

“sorry.” Dustin was too caught up in his own anger he hadn’t even realized the slur lacing Steve’s tongue. Steve pulled off violently which had gripping to the side of the handle in the car. It was silence for most of the ride until Steve started to pick up the cars pace. A little too much.

“Steve?” Dustin questioned, tilting his head in confusion at Steve. Steve didn’t look at him instead Steve continued to press back down on the gas, pushing Dustin into his seat who went wide eyed.

“Steve, Steve stop!” Dustin yelled, full on panicking now. Steve was driving way too fast and it had Dustin feeling kind of nauseous.

“Your scaring me!” Dustin yelled in attempt to make Steve stop, who which still decided not to listen. Dustin starting yelling at Steve once more when he started to swerve.

“Steve! Please! Stop, you’re going to crash onto something.”

“Not gonna hurt you, Henderson..” Steve said sluggishly which Dustin heard this time. His fear only spiked more and Dustin felt his heart drop to his stomach. Steve was drunk.

“Pull over. Pull over!” Dustin shouted working on Steve’s door handles to jump out the car if necessary. Steve’s strong hand gripped his arm, pulling him back.

“Ste-“

“I’m just kidding, Henderson..” Steve slurred, letting his feet move from off the gas a little. Dustin just closed his eyes and gripped his seat. Once Dustin felt like they were slowed down enough, he opened his eyes and let out a big exhale.

Dustin refused to look at Steve and focused on outside and well. He only talked once the rest of the ride.

“Where are you taking me?” Dustin asks.

“Thought a had a hellfire meeting tonight..” Steve slurred.

Oh great, Steve thought they had a meeting which was only on Friday’s. Today was a Tuesday.

“yeah yeah I do.” Dustin just wanted out the car.

“M’kay.”

/

Steve pulled out to Eddie’s trailer and Dustin immediately hopped out, practically running to Eddie’s door and knocking. Unaware that a stumbling Steve had followed him until a cold hand touched his shoulder. Dustin flinched. It wasn’t that he didn’t feel safe around Steve. It was that he didn’t feel safe around Steve right now.

Eddie opened the door with a grin at Dustin and then his smile dropped at the sight of Steve. Eddie could easily tell he was drunk. Eddie pulled Dustin inside but stopped Steve before he could come in too.

“You need to leave.” Eddie stated.

“wha..no i’m gonna stay, take Henderson back home.” Dustin shuddered.

“Im gonna take him home and you are going to go to your house and rest your problems off.”

Steve looked offended before straightening up to his full height, barely.

“You-you think i’m not capable enough of taking him home?” Steve said accusingly, pressing a finger to Eddie’s chest.

So he was a angry drunk, good to know.

“Steve, leave.”

“Henderson, come on.” Steve called, peering around at Dustin who was silently crying. He never seen Steve like this.

“Don’t.” Eddie said, Dustin knew it was directed at him.

“Come on, Harrington. Go home. I’m sure you’ll see him tomorrow.” Eddie said sarcastically.

Steve glared at him and hesitantly walked back over to his car. His car roared to life as he got in and hit the gas, pulling off obnoxiously.

Eddie immediately went inside his trailer and hugged Dustin who just cried into his chest. “I know.”

Eventually Dustin had stopped crying and found a spot on Eddie’s couch who sat to him. The two sat in silence as Dustin stared at the floor and Eddie watched him. Eddie broke the silence.

“You uh wanna tell me what happened?”

Dustin gulped. “Uh..Steve picked me up from school and he…he started to drive really fucking fast and I told him to stop but- he wasn’t listening to me, Eddie. I was so scared and I-“

“hey hey.” Eddie said grabbing Dustin’s shoulders causing the younger boy to stare up at him.

“You’re okay. You’re with me now, alright.” He said softly. Dustin pouted.

Eddie felt something flare up in him. Yeah he had been jealous of Steve and Dustin’s friendship but this anger fueling inside of Eddie right now wanted to murder Steve. He put Dustin’s life in danger, what if he had crashed? What if he had hurt Dustin? What he had killed Dustin? Eddie gripped the couch.

“Why don’t you uh stay here tonight? I’ll give your mom a call, hmm?”

“Okay. Thanks Eddie.”

“Of course man.” Eddie said ruffling Dustin’s hair.

Dustin fell asleep on the couch while Eddie played the guitar for him. Uncle Munson had came home shortly after.

“Hey Eddie-who the hell?”

Eddie put a finger to his mouth and smiled gently. “This is Dustin. The little shit i’ve been telling you about.” Eddie said whispering as he made his way over to his uncle.

“Ohh that kid.” Wayne said his face dawning in realization. “Looks like a good kid, he alright?”

Eddie’s face grimaced and his uncle looked at him strangely.

“Eddie? Is the boy-is Dustin okay?”

Eddie was wondered why his uncle seemed so concerned over the kid he literally just met. Maybe it was just Hendersons lucky charm to draw older father figures to him.

“His uh friend Steve was driving drunk with him. He’s a little shaken up, let him sleep here.”

“His friend, Steve? Driving drunk? Jesus, how old are these kids friends.”

“Steve-he’s 19. Not too far from me.”

“Kid definitely knows how to attract older males, I’ll tell you that.”

Eddie smirked. “yeah yeah he does.”

“Let the kid sleep and uh Eddie?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t call the boy a little shit.”

Eddie chuckled softly. “You got it, Uncle Munson.”

Uncle Munson disappeared into his room in the back of the trailer. Eddie watched as Dustin slept. His hatred for Steve becoming overbearing at this point.

/

Steve must’ve lost his mind because Eddie heard a soft knocking on his door and opened it to find Steve. Eddie rolled his eyes and stomped outside not before peering at a sleeping Dustin.

“The hell do you want, Harrington?”

“Listen, I know it’s late. It’s like what, 12 in the morning right now? I-I just wanna talk to him.”

“He’s sleeping.”

Steve’s face softened and he sighed. “Could you maybe-“

“You better not be asking me to wake him up because if you are, hell no. I’m not letting you see him.”

Steve glared at him then, stepping closer menacingly.

“You can’t keep me from him, Munson. He’s my-“

“He’s what? He’s not anything to you because you couldn’t even be responsible enough to not drink and drive with Henderson getting in your car. You could’ve hurt him. Got damn it Steve, you could’ve killed him! So yeah, i’m not letting you see him.”

Steve’s face deepened in hurt.

“Tell him i’m sorry, at least. Please.”

“Get your shit together, man.” Eddie said.

Steve looked down and then tried to peer around Eddie at Dustin. He got a good look of the sleeping figure on the couch and smiled softly before he slowly walked away on his own guilt.

Eddie did feel bad for turning Steve away like that but Dustin didn’t need to see him right now. He’d see him when he was ready and Eddie would be right there.

Chapter Text

Dustin woke up slowly. His eyes still trying to adjust to the bright sun that was now beaming in the living room of the trailer. Dustin’s eyes finally adjusted and he looked to Eddie who was sleeping soundly on one of the kitchen chairs. Dustin checked the clock to see it was only 7 in the morning.

Dustin sighed while slowly and quietly making his way to the bathroom and doing his business. As Dustin was slipping out of the bathroom, Eddie’s uncle just had to be walking out out of his room.

“Hey kiddo. Dustin, right? It’s what-“ Uncle Munson looked to his clock. “7 am. What are you doing up?”

“Couldn’t sleep anymore.” Dustin said.

“hmm, you hungry?”

Dustin nodded eagerly as his stomach rumbled answering for him even if he hadn’t done so. Uncle Munson laughed as he walked past him ruffling his hair. Why did everyone like ruffling his hair?

“okay.” He said as he entered the kitchen. Dustin followed him.

“We got bacon, eggs and some grits..any of those sound good to you?”

“Can I uh..can I have them all?”

Uncle Munson smiled cheerily. “Of course you can.” He pulled the contents from out the fridge and set them on the counter. Dustin watched intently as Uncle Munson started whipping things together. Uncle Munson caught him looking. “You wanna help?”

The smile that found itself in Dustin’s face could light up the whole world and he practically stumbled over his own feet going to stand beside Uncle Munson who just smiled down at him. “You must know how to cook.”

“Something’s.”

“Really? Like what?”

“I know how to make Pasta and once my mom let me make steak too!”

Wayne smiled cheerfully at how eager the kid was too share what he cooked to him. Dustin reminded Wayne of Eddie when he was younger. Yet, Wayne couldn’t help but wonder why anyone would want to put a child in harm’s way.

“Maybe one day you can come over here and show me how to cook steak myself.”

“Really?”

“Of course kiddo, why not? You seem like a great cook.”

Wayne was caught by surprise when little arms wrapped around him, Wayne couldn’t help but hug him back. Eddie woke quietly and softly to the sight of his Uncle and Dustin hugging in the kitchen, he smiled and rubbing his eyes softly while standing up.

“what’d I miss?” Eddie said as he groggily made his way towards the kitchen.

“Oh nothing special. Kid here was just telling me how he cooks.”

“Ooh so I have a chef friend? what do you cook?”

“I cooked Steak and Pasta before!”

Eddie’s face deepened in surprise. Wayne found it amusing.

“I know right, I said the same thing.” Wayne said laughing slightly.

The three of them stood in the kitchen for a good thirty minutes talking about the most random things and bonding over nothing. Eventually, Uncle Munson headed out and told the two he had to get to work. They both nodded.

“So uh..about yesterday..”

Dustin started fidgeting with his food. “you know it’s okay if you don’t wanna-“

“I can try. I don’t think he meant to drink and drive, I just- maybe he’s going through something? Steve would never hurt me intentionally..I was just scared.”

“Yeah..hey listen maybe I can call him over?”

“Yeah yeah sure.”

Eddie smiled softly, ruffling Dustin’s morning curls and headed towards the phone, dialing Steve’s number based off Dustin’s memory.

“Whose this?” Steve’s voice was deep, he must’ve fallen asleep.

“Munson. Dustin wants to see you.”

Eddie immediately heard shuffling on the other side of the phone which sounded like Steve putting clothes on.

“Uh great, i’ll-i’ll be there in 15.” Steve commented, throwing the phone back onto its hook.

Steve was out of the house in no time and he was at Eddie’s in record time. Steve didn’t waste a second before hopping out of the drivers seat and practically pounding on Eddie’s door.

“Woah Harrington, how fast did you get dressed?”

“You don’t wanna know.” Steve said exhausted. Steve looked over to Dustin with a apologetic yet fond smile on his face.

A bit of Steve’s anxiety toned down when Dustin smiled softly back at him, throwing a piece of bacon his way.

“hey-“ Steve protested in a bit of a chuckle. Steve smiled in thought of how Dustin still always saw the best in people, despite their mistakes or their wrongs. Something Steve couldn’t find himself man enough to do.

“I’ll leave you two, too it.” Eddie commented as he disappeared into his room.

The pair sat in silence for a while before Steve finally decided the best words to start off with.

“Dustin… look, i’m really sorry. I-I should’ve have done that. I could’ve hurt you or even worse gotten you killed. It’s something I’ll never forgive myself for but..I want you to know I’d never hurt you intentionally, okay? I was fucking stupid and I deserve everything you felt towards me. Rather if it was you being scared, angry and hurt at him.”

“It’s okay, Steve.”

“No it’s not, Dustin. It’s really not.”

“Do you wanna talk about it? About what happened to you know..make you drink?” Dustin asked warily.

Steve eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “..what?” Dustin asked slowly.

“How do you-how do you do it, Henderson?”

“Do what?”

“See the good in people. How do you forgive so easily even when the person has done so wrong?”

“I don’t know..maybe because at the end of the day they’re still a person? And..when people are bad people it isn’t usually them. Well, I mean it’s them but they’re not born that way, they’re taught. So you can’t particularly blame them..maybe they just need that right guidance and they’ll be okay again.”

“Like me?”

“Like you.” Steve gulped, that was a tough pull to swallow.

“Not you now of course… but you know, High School Steve. Dick bag, Steve. That one I had first met, I mean now look at you, you’ve changed Steve. Which means deep down everyone has the power to do it. Sometimes..sometimes I think about Billy. I think of how he was such a fucking asshole but finally seeing things in their true light made him change in the very last second. Sometimes all it takes is that push.”

Dustin takes in a breath. “And..I know you’ll never drink like that again..at least not with me around. You’ll never let that moment from yesterday go and it taught you something, how to never let happen again so you’ll continue to be that great person you are.”

Steve was in awe. And so was Eddie, who was secretly listening it. This kid was too damn smart for the tender age of 14.

“I-thank you, Dustin. I don’t really know what to say.”

“That’s okay too. I forgive you.” Dustin said beaming.

Steve smiled too and hugged Dustin who immediately wrapped his arms around Steve. Dustin felt a wetness in his shirt.

“S-Steve, are you crying?”

“What?” Steve pulled back and wiped at his eyes furiously.

“You are! Never in a million years would I ever think I’d see Steve cry!”

“You tell anyone, I will murder you. That goes for you too, Munson.” Steve says playfully as Eddie steps from behind his room entrance.

“We’ll see about that, Big boy.”