Chapter Text

Chapter 1

STEVE HARRINGTON. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Eddie thought he would never feel like he really belonged in a group of friends again. After everything that happened last year, it’s kind of hard to come back from the whole town thinking you’re a murderer. He had a rough couple months after they finally defeated Vecna. He couldn’t seem to pull himself back from there. He woke up every night convinced he was still in the Upside Down. He could still feel the demobats tearing at his flesh. Still hear the concerned yells of Henderson as he tried to reach him in time. And he still remembered how it felt to think it was the end, head cradled in Dustin’s lap. He doesn’t remember much else from that night. He knows what people have told him. He succeeded in keeping the bats away from the rest of the group until they, with the help of Max and El, managed to kill Vecna. Nancy, Robin, and Steve found him with Dustin, who was convinced he was already dead. Steve, apparently not willing to accept that as truth, carried him back to the gate and they managed to get him back to Hawkins, and to the hospital where he very narrowly avoided death. He has scars all along his abdomen. Scars that feel like they’ve ripped back open in every nightmare he has.

On one particularly bad night, Eddie had gone for a walk around town to clear his head. He hadn’t even realized the neighborhood he ended up in until he heard a familiar voice call his name as he passed a house.

“Munson!” He turned to see Steve sitting on his porch steps in nothing but a pair of pajama pants. “Can’t sleep either?” He called and patted the spot on the step next to him. Eddie walked up to the porch and sat down.

“No, I don’t get much sleep these days, really.” He said, leaning back with his arms against the step behind. 

Eddie’s gaze drifted to Steve’s bare stomach, seeing similar scars as his own. “I dream of them.” He gestured to Steve’s scars, hoping he would understand without him having to voice it out loud.

Steve picked at one of the scars, staring at it in disgust. “Me too. And you.” Steve said, his eyes snapping up to meet Eddie’s. “How you looked when we found you. Trying to stop the bleeding. Carrying you back. I thought we lost you, man.”

Eddie dropped his eyes from Steve’s, unable to handle the intensity he found in them. “I don’t think I ever really thanked you, for that. You saved my life, Steve.” Eddie said, his voice fading to a whisper.

Steve chuckled and nudged him with his shoulder. “That technically wasn’t a thank you either, you know.”

Eddie smiled, fidgeting with the rings on his right hand. “I guess I still owe you one, then.” He got up and headed down the walkway, not knowing how to convey how much it meant that Steve had done that for him. For someone he barely knew. As he reached the sidewalk Steve called out to him again.

“Hey, Munson. Why don’t you come by the video store tomorrow? Robin and I are both on shift. You can hang around until we get off and then we can all do something.”

 Eddie stood there for a minute, gathering himself before answering. “That’d be great, man. Thanks.”

“That one still doesn’t count, Munson! See you tomorrow.” And with that Steve had risen and gone back into his house. Eddie walked back to his trailer feeling less alone than he had in a very long time.

__

Since then, Eddie has been spending a lot of time with Steve and Robin. At first, it was just visits to the video store once or twice a week when he saw Steve's car in the parking lot. He would browse the movies and listen to Steve and Robin bicker about who had to sort through the returns. As time went on, he got more and more comfortable around them. Not that Steve gave him much choice. He was constantly trying to include Eddie in the conversation, asking him his opinion on things, roping him into his teasing of Robin. Steve made Eddie feel less invisible. It was at the point now where he genuinely thought of them as his friends. They understand what he went through, but never push him to talk about it if he doesn’t want to. They've become his safe place. When he's with Steve, and Robin, he doesn’t feel like a freak. He doesn’t feel quite so broken.

Today is a day he's particularly happy to have them in his life. Eddie spent the night waking up from nightmare after nightmare. Though nights like this are fewer and further apart now, they never get less terrifying. Never stopped feeling so real. He finally pulled himself out of bed around 2pm. Groaning to himself when he realized the time. He was supposed to meet Harrington at the diner for lunch. He's late, again.

He hears a knock on the front door of the trailer and hurries to the living room, hoping to avoid waking up Wayne, and pulls the door open. Steve leans against the door frame, an annoyed grin on his face.

“You know, Munson, if you keep standing me up like this, I’m going to start taking it personally.” Steve pushes himself off the door frame and passes him.

Eddie blushes as their shoulders brushed each other, embarrassed he’d made Steve wait on him again. “Sorry man, I overslept.” Eddie shuts the door and follows Steve into the living room, taking the chair across from Steve, who had plopped onto the couch.

“Overslept, or didn’t sleep?” Steve asked, concern plastered across his face.

Eddie leans forward, elbows on his knees, fidgeting with his rings, and looking down at his feet and muttering “You know how it is sometimes.”

Steve rises and comes to kneel in front of him, putting his hand on Eddie’s shoulder. “Next time that happens, call me. Or come to my damn house. You don’t have to deal with that alone.”

Eddie raises his eyes to meet Steve’s gaze. “Okay. I know.” His voice wavering on the verge of tears.

Steve slaps his shoulder and stands up. “Good. Now let's go eat. I'm starving.”

 At the diner Eddie orders fries and water. His side business hasn't been...a little slower than usual. Apparently, no one wants to buy drugs from a murderer. Go figure. He still has some regulars. But he isn’t exactly swimming in extra cash these days. Steve rolls his eyes and proceeds to order two burgers, fries, onion rings, and cokes.

“You didn’t have to do that, Harrington.” He doesn’t like assuming Steve will pay for him when they eat out like this. He doesn’t even really know why he does it.

“I know I didn’t have to. I wanted to. Plus, what use will you be to me later if all you’ve eaten is a puny order of fries? You’ll be wasted after one drink and then I’ll be stuck as the babysitter, as usual.”

Eddie grinned at that. “So, this was for purely selfish reasons then.” gesturing to the food being placed on the table in front of them.

“Obviously.” Steve said as he popped a fry in his mouth, his grin reaching his eyes.

After lunch Steve drives Eddie back home. "Alright, Harrington. I'll see you tonight for the party." Eddie hovers with his hand on the door handle but can't bring himself to get out of the car and spend the next few hours alone in his room.

Steve seems to notice his hesitation and turns off the car. "I was gonna stick around. Thought you could pay me back for lunch by letting me smoke with you."

Eddie reaches over, squeezing Steve's shoulder. "You've got it, Stevie."

Eddie goes to get his stash while Steve makes himself comfortable on the couch. Eddie comes back, joint hanging from his mouth, grinning cockily. He sits down next to Steve and lights up, inhaling deeply before passing it to Steve whose fingers brush his, sending a shiver down Eddie's spine. Something he was very pointedly ignoring. As Steve exhales he leans back on the couch, stretching his arm across the back, behind Eddie. Eddie leans back as well, already feeling lighter from his first drag. They sit like that for a while, not talking, just passing the joint back and forth.

Eddie breaks the comfortable silence first, asking Steve if he wants to watch a movie.

“Sure, but none of that horror crap you love. I have enough nightmares as it is.”

Eddie chuckles. “You’d think with all the real-life horror you’ve lived through the movies wouldn’t bother you anymore.”

Steve grabs his chest in feigned offense. “They don’t bother me, Munson. I'd just rather not watch a bunch of blood and guts in my free time.”

Eddie pats Steve’s knee reassuringly. “Sure, sure.” he says as he gets up to pop in The Goonies.

“See, this! This is a good movie.” Steve gestures to the TV, a huge grin on his face.

Eddie returns to his seat, and leans himself into the corner of the couch, settling in to watch the movie, eyes feeling heavy.

Eddie wakes up feeling overly warm, but more rested than he has in a long time.

He cracks his eyes open and is met with a strong jawline. Eddie shoots back, embarrassed.

"Heeyy sleepyhead. You feel better now?" Steve seems completely unphased by the fact that Eddie just took a nap on him.

"Yeah, actually. Sorry about that." Eddie blushes and fidgets with his rings. Steve pats his shoulder with that cocky grin of his.

 "I'm just glad you got some sleep." Eddie grins back at him, meeting his eyes and feeling a shiver he's becoming very familiar with.

 He tries to let it go again, shifting the focus to the rest of the evening. "We should probably get going. Robin will be expecting us soon."

"You guys are late." Robin says as she climbs in the back of Steve's car. "How can we be late if you never told us a certain time to be here?"

Steve's face scrunches up with frustration as he turns to look at Eddie. Eddie can only laugh.

Robin leans up between the seats and frantically mumbles "Vickie is going to be at the party. I need you guys to make sure I don't do anything stupid."

"Impossible." Eddie and Steve say at the same time, causing them to burst out laughing.

"Assholes." Robin smacks them each on the arm and throws herself against her seat to pout.

They pull into the drive of what Eddie can only describe as a big fucking house. Steve had mentioned who was throwing the party earlier, but he wasn't really paying attention. It doesn't really matter. It's probably someone who still hates him and thinks he's Satan incarnate. But he doesn't care. Steve and Robin would make it a good time. And these rich assholes always have good booze.

The three of them make their way into the party, Eddie ignoring the stares and whispers pointed in his direction. Steve leads them through the crowd to the kitchen and starts making them drinks.

"Robin, ladies first." Steve passes her a cup that she drinks deeply from, her eyes scanning the crowd. "And for you, good sir." Steve hands Eddie a cup before pouring his own.

They push their way into the living room and find a corner to claim and Eddie spots Robin's source of anxiety across the room. He takes a big gulp of his drink, and nudges Steve to get him to look at Vickie. Steve grins and grabs Robin’s arm.

“You were right, she came.” Steve says as he steers her to face in the right direction. Robin’s face drops in fear.

“Oh no. I’m not ready to talk to her yet. I need another drink.” And she side-steps out of Steve’s grasp to make her way back to the kitchen.

Steve holds his arms out in disbelief. “Robin! Come on, this is ridiculous.”

She waves a hand behind her and disappears into the crowd. Eddie is laughing and shaking his head when Steve turns back to him mumbling something along the lines of “Coward.”

Eddie leans in so Steve can hear him better over the music. “Ahh, let her go. She’ll be fine after she has another drink.”

Steve rolls his eyes at that. “Oh sure. She always makes better choices when she’s drunk. Remember when she saw Vickie at the last party and went to ask her to dance only to chicken out and ask the guy who turned out to be VICKIE’S DATE to dance?”

Eddie takes another sip of his drink, grinning into his cup. “She’ll get there in her own time, man.” Eddie looks up and catches his eye, a slight blush sweeping across his cheeks.

Steve nods. “Yeah, I guess she will.” he says, trailing off at the end and dropping his gaze to the floor. He downs the rest of his drink, and goes to get another one, leaving Eddie alone to guard their spot.

As soon as Steve is out of view someone comes to stand in front of him. He looks up and groans, rolling his eyes as he sees who's looming over him.

“Jason, come on man. I’m just here to have a good time with my friends. Just leave me alone.”

Jason steps even closer to him, hatred clear on his face. “No one wants you here, freak.”

Eddie takes a small step backward, hands raised in surrender. “I’m not trying to start anything with you, okay man?”

Jason shoves him roughly, Eddie’s calves hitting the edge of a table behind him and sending him onto his back, the remainder of his drink spilling every and soaking into his shirt.

“Get the fuck out.” Jason says in a disturbingly calm cadence.

 Before Eddie can even respond someone is pulling the back of Jason’s jacket to get him away from him. Eddie grins as he spots Steve behind Carver, always coming to his rescue.

 “Fuck off, Carver.” Jason turns back like he’s going to go after Steve and Eddie springs up to get in between them, trying to seem as menacing as they all assume he is.

Robin appears at Steve’s side frantically whispering that it’s not worth it and tugging on his arm. Steve, taking in the room and realizing how many of Carver’s minions are in attendance as well, nods his head and turns to follow her out. He reaches behind him and grabs Eddie’s hand to pull him along with them.

The whole way out of the house, all Eddie can focus on is the feel of Steve’s hand on his. Which is ridiculous considering the situation they're in. Carver and all his cronies are keeping their distance but making sure their presence is known. Once the three of them reach the car Steve drops Eddie’s hand and pulls out his keys, heading to the driver's side door.

“Woah, woah. Let me drive. I didn’t even finish my first drink.” Eddie says, waggling his fingers in front of Steve to get him to drop them in his hand.

Steve rolls his eyes, but obeys, walking around to climb in the passenger seat. Eddie gets in and starts the car but turns so he can see both of his friends before he drives off. “I’m sorry guys.”

They’re both already shaking their heads.

“Eddie, it's not your fault.” Robin says as she reaches out to grab his arm.

He grins at her, trying not to make the night more awkward than it has already become.

Steve turns to fully face him, grabbing his shoulders and pulling him closer, looking him directly in the eye before saying “Jason Carver is a dickhole. Do not ever let him make you feel bad about yourself. Do you hear me?” He emphasizes the last part by giving Eddie’s shoulders a shake.

Eddie nods, unable to form any words. Steve reaches up with one hand to cup the side of his face gently before giving his cheek a playful smack.

“Good.” Steve, seemingly satisfied, leans back into his seat.

Eddie sits, stunned for a moment before turning forward and driving away from the disastrous party.