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"Fuck," Eddie mumbled shakily, running a clammy hand through his bangs as he looked down at his boxers.
This must be some kind of sick joke, some kind of 'haha got you!' played on him by the universe just to mess with him a little more.
He would have give anything for this to all be a dream, to wake up in his bed at home, warm, comfortable, laughing about how silly he was.
How his cycle went away when he started testosterone, right? Wrong. Hell, at least if he had started there, he could dig into the old box of tampons he kept in the cabinet under the sink, probably collecting dust at this point. But, alas, he never was quite so lucky.
Eddie could feel himself trembling as he went for the toilet paper, sinking feeling in his gut like he might just puke, stuffing the one ply over the bold red stain, "Shit," he hissed, not looking longer than he had to at the sight, screwing his eyes shut so tight he was seeing stars.
He pulled his pants up, cringing at the uncomfortable feeling, not only between his legs, but now seeping into his lower back as the tail end of a sharp cramp attacked his spine. He thought about how he should have noticed sooner. The pain in his abdomen, the more frequent headaches, the, for back of better words wettness in places he wasn't known for being that overly... well, wet.
But, no, it had to have just been something he ate, right? And a little extra discharge never hurt anyone, but of course not. So, now here he was in the Hawkins High mens restroom standing on his tip toes in front of the mirror, neck awkwardly craned backwards as he tried to assess whether or not his jeans took any damage.
Just as Eddie was about to give himself the 'OK' the door to the bathroom slammed open, Eddie hearing a quick mumble of "freak" before the random jock positioned himself at a urinal. And it was probably just the hormones coming out, probably, but he felt like he could cry.
"Freak", yeah freak was just about right. And if there were people who didn't think of him as a freak before now, well they sure would if they found out about this. Quickly, Eddie slung his backpack over his shoulder, grabbing his lunch box to make a bee line to the lunch room.
As he walked down the hall he felt like everybody was staring at him, hell, when were they not? But this felt different, this felt like a knowing stare like they they knew what he was hiding, his secret. Self consciously, Eddie crossed his arms over his chest, binder suddenly feeling suffocating, more so than usual.
And if he wasn't about two absences away from truancy he'd have probably left, but he couldn't afford it. Not this late int he school year, not when '86 was supposed to be his year. Bullshit of him to think he could have even a week, let alone a whole year.
That's when it hit him. He stopped in his tracks, causing a few people behind him to curse him out as it caused them to run smack dab into his backside.
He didn't have to go all the way home, there was a payphone outside of the school, if he could get someone to answer he could have someone quickly bring him some new underwear before next period and he'd be golden.
Shit, but who could he call?
Wayne was at work, Robin was here, so was Nancy, and he didn't exactly know anybody... wait... no. He scrubbed a sweaty palm down his face. He would have to be damn near desperate to call Steve fucking Harrington to bring him new underwear, but that's just what he was, desperate.
"Jesus Christ," he muttered, spinning on his heel to march his ass outside, "Jesus H. Christ, Munson." It was crazy, really, fucking stupid, but he didn't have another option. Hell, maybe if his luck took a turn saving Steve's life would make up for the fact that he was trans. At least maybe Steve would spare him the slurs and just hang up.
Eddie pushed through crowds of people congregating in the halls during their lunch period until he slammed into the set of double doors at the end of the hallway, the smooth spring breeze that rushed his body easing his nerves just the slightest bit.
It was only a few more steps until he was face to face with the payphone, backpack on the concrete as he dug around for quarters in one of the pockets. Thankfully he had a few, but not a lot, so he would somehow have to convince Steve not only to bring him a pair of underwear, but also formulate an explanation as to why he needed said pair of underwear.
He was fucked, so royally fucked.
Here goes nothing, he thought as he pushed in his first quarter, dialing Steve's number that he only knew because of his middle school days calling Steve in hopes that it would be him to actually pick up, so he could tell some lame one off joke and hang up-
"Harrington residence, this is Steve," Eddie couldn't help but roll his eyes at the almost automated intro.
He quickly shook his hands in an attempt to rid himself of any nerves before speaking, "Thank god it's you, Steve, it's Eddie, I shit-" he stumbled, trying to form what he was supposed to say inside of his head, "I mean I didn't shit, but I really need you to do me a favor." He silently cursed himself as a beat of silent passed between them.
"... Okay?" Steve sounded skeptical, but he was listening and that's all Eddie cared about, "I know it's gonna sound really fucking crazy, dude, but..." he trailed off, feeling tears of embarrassment prick the corners of his eyes, "I need you to bring me a pair of boxers up to the school ASAP, please."
He was sure that Steve could hear his desperation, but of course that didn't mean Eddie was free from his smart assery first, "You sure you didn't shit yourself?" The curly haired teen let out a dry chuckle that slowly faded into a wet sob, head bowing to that it would be hidden from any other students that might happen to be wandering.
Suddenly Steve dropped his tone to something more soft and gentle, dare Eddie say comforting? "Damn, Ed, 're you alright?" And before he could even catch himself Eddie was laughing again, but this time like a maniac, like Steve had just told the best joke of all time.
"Yeah, yep, I'm perfect, Stevie, just peachy, really," he spat, "Real great day, actually, went to take a piss, looked down and I'm fucking bleeding from my crotch, that sound like I'm "alright" to you?" In Eddie hadn't meant it to sound so harsh or to come out with the truth, but he couldn't hold it in anymore, needed to let it all out, even if only in a hushed whisper, but, honestly, he did feel a little better.
"Really?" And much to Eddie's surprise Steve sounded... excited? "Man you're so lucky, I've been stressing over my period for months. Hell, I didn't even know guys could get periods until Robin told me, and now I'm a fucking mess, but congratulations!"
Silence fell between them again. What? The the puzzle pieces connected in his mind and he cracked a small smile. Of course Robin tricked him into thinking men got periods too, fucking little genius.
"Yeah, yeah, thanks," he just accepted, noticing his time was running out, "So, can you bring me a pair or not?" He wasn't even worried about any products yet, figured he could sneak some out of the basket int he girls restroom or pray he ran into Robin or Nancy, or hell even Chrissy Cunningham because apparently they were, like cool now?
Steve responded with haste, "Totally, all I've got are briefs, 's that okay?" Eddie's head raced, not even thinking before hand about how the underwear he was going to wearing was Steve's.
Apparently he dwelled on the thought far too long, "Hello?" Steve mused into the phone, "Eddie-"
"Mhm, yep, that's perfect, meet me by the football field," Eddie got out just before the line went dead, finally letting out a breath he hadn't even realized he was holding.
He couldn't believe he really just asked Steve Harrington for a pair of his underwear and he said yes. Maybe he really did get rabies in the Upside Down.