Chapter Text
Saying life after defeating Vecna was…weird, was an understatement. After having gone through the, frankly traumatic trial to prove his innocence.
Eddie honestly wasn’t sure he’d have gotten to the truth- well mostly, can’t exactly tell them a monster; in another dimension did this, by invading their minds and then telekinetically breaking their bones- no, not The Truth, but the truth that Eddie, was in fact not a murderer. Thank you very much.
Eddie shivered at the memories that surfaced, squeezing his eyes shut, hugging his arms around himself for a second, and tugging his blanket a little tighter.
“Breathe in, breathe out” Eddie muttered lowly, practicing. Shaking his head hoping to, quite literally, shake the memories away.
In all honesty, he was grateful to Dr.Owens, without him Eddie may as well have rolled a Nat 1, with a certainty of death. Eddie's mouth pulled onto a tense smile that was more a grimace than anything else ‘is signing my death certificate with my own blood, a bit too dramatic?’
Eddie snorted bitterly, settling down further into his blankets, before reaching over for a couple of his rings. Sliding them back onto his fingers to fiddle with.
He could almost hear Henderson’s voice ‘No shit, Drama Queen!’ which softened the edges of his smile into something more genuine. It also, kinda, sort of made him consider maybe throwing that into a D&D script to see how accurate he was of Dustin’s reaction with the bonus of what the other could pitch in. Honestly, Eddie ruffled his hair with a yawn, stretching his arms above his head with a groan, it might be a 50/50 chance between Dustin or Erica getting their say in first.
Eddie snorted at the thought, never a dull moment with the gremlins, that's for sure,
He blinked up at the darkness. Death was simpler. Eddie reasoned mutely, hands back to twisting his rings. Simpler than trying to explain to the Hawkins townsfolk, he hadn’t compelled Satan himself to brutally murder several people, that’s for sure. It left a bitter taste in his mouth, one that, if he let himself linger on it too long; it would fester and rot.
What Eddie found not just weird, but downright baffling was that a certain Steve ‘The Hair’ Harrington AKA King Steve, was sticking by him throughout the entire trial.
He was convinced the other would have just left him be and went back to his normal life with the others. Well, as normal as they could all go back, that is.
He was Eddie “The Freak” Munson after all.
That hadn’t exactly changed. Even if he’d found that Steve wasn’t quite the arsehole he assumed he’d be in the Upside-down.
How fucking Metal, he was when he went feral, and tore into a demo bat with his fucking teeth because Jesus fucking Christ. Eddie dragged a heavy hand down his face releasing a heavy breath, he deserved the title ‘King’ after that display.
Eddie wasn’t naïve enough to think this would magically make them all best friends. Shared trauma? For sure, brothers (and sisters) in arms kind of thing? Sure, but friends?
That’s a lot more than he realistically expected, even if Steve wasn’t a douchebag, Eddie wasn’t gonna push his luck. Good things don’t exactly happen that often in his experience so tolerating him for the kids he expected and yet...
Yet, for some reason, Steve had been there for him.
Robin mentioned it might have something to do with him seeing Eddie almost lifeless, in a distraught Dustin’s arms. Covered in familiar bites that Steve knew from experience. Thankfully, they’d managed to get him back to Hawkins to get some proper medical attention. Now, only having two gnarly scars on his hips as a reminder.
Eddie ran the pad of this thumb gently over the uneven scar tissue, a small grin tugging the memory of his time in the hospital into focus.
“Look we match.” Eddie had laughed from his hospital bed. Poking Steve with an obnoxious grin.
Steve, who’d been a frequent occupant of the chair next to him, just rolled his eyes in response with a fond smile that still made Eddie’s chest hum, at the thought; Eddie wasn’t quite sure Steve knew how to play guitar, but Jesus fuck did the guy know how to pull at your heartstrings; and hell... Eddie was glad he was alive to see that smile directed at him.
Eddie threw an arm over his eyes with a heavy sigh, tugging at his blankets again hoping maybe he'd manage to get some sleep that night.
- - - - - - - -
The trial was almost 2 months ago. Now, mostly healed if only a little tender here and there, and officially an innocent free man.
Eddie was sitting with Steve and Robin outside of his new trailer, another thing he had to thank Dr. Owens for, the old one having been destroyed by Jason and the rest of his arsehole friends. Truthfully, Eddie was a little thankful. Not having to live in the same trailer, looking at the same room, the same ceiling that..that, yeah no. Eddie wasn’t exactly unhappy with the, albeit unintentional, result of Carver’s warpath.
Eddie had his legs up on Steve’s lap despite the others' protests, finally giving in when Eddie gave him a lopsided grin and the best pleading look he could muster a move he’d definitely seen the kids pull a few times. His grin only grew as Steve caved, shifting to get more comfortable but careful enough not to hurt himself or Steve. Again, still Tender.
“Suck up,” Robin muttered but both boys decided to ignore her.
“So Eddie,” Steve tilted his head, loose hair falling a little over his forehead and eyes “how’s it feel to have a diploma now?” Steve had distractingly begun tapping on the leg forced upon him, playing slightly with the loose fabric of Eddie’s ripped jeans.
“Fucking amazing dude! I can’t believe I actually managed to pass that stupid English class.” Eddie's hand waved flippantly, tapping the lip of his beer against his cheek.
“ Especially after almost dying and having that damn trial but" he paused dramatically, before throwing his empty hand out with a flourish, tilting his head down reminiscent of a bow "I did it!"
"I mean, only barely but I did it!” He laughed, throwing his hands above his head, careful not to spill his beer as he cheered “Oh Yeah! ’86 baby!”
“Woo, woo!” Steve and Robin cheered with him, genuinely. Clinking their own bottles with Eddie’s. It was the last place, with the last people Eddie ever imagined he'd be with less than a year earlier, and despite the road that led them here; it wasn't a bad place to be, all things considered.
“However,” Taking a swig from his bottle, Eddie laughed again. “what am I actually meant to do now?”
“I mean.” Robin hummed in consideration, sipping her beer. “Since Keith is leaving Family Video. I’m sure there’ll be a spot opening up?”
Steve made a noise in agreement as he looked over at him. “We can put a good word for you," Steve reached over poking Robin in the cheek "Robin's–" He yanked his arm back with a triumphant laugh before she could swat it continuing in a teasing tone.
"–amazing at that.”
It wasn't mocking though, Eddie could tell, had been on the other side long enough to know that. He could see in the fond look in Steve's eyes, the real sincerity in what he'd said.
Steve nudged her playfully in warning before ruffling her hair, with a stupid grin on his face.
A grin that stayed there, wrinkling the corners of his eyes even when Robin swatted at his chest in retaliation huffing "Dumbass!"
Eddie watched them over the lip of his beer, a warmth settled in his chest as he watched them bicker playfully. Eddie from a year ago would never believe him. Eddie might've even laughed right in the face of anyone who'd come up with this, or ask what they're smoking…and who from cause wow, rude honesty.
Steve jammed his thumb in her direction, eyes back on Eddie, grin sharpening into a smirk. “She’s the sole reason I actually managed to get the job.” He chuckled, sticking his tongue out childishly at Robin to which she returned wholeheartedly.
Steve’s hand returned to Eddie’s legs, gently rubbing, circles that were admittedly oddly soothing and heart strumming-ly terrifying at all once, on Eddie’s ankle absentmindedly. Eddie may have survived the Upside-down, Vecna, the Demobats, the trail, and finally high school, but Eddie was beginning to wonder if he could survive Steve “the oblivious flirt” Harrington.
Eddie downed his beer.
It was a while later, when the wind got sharper, biting through their clothes and knocking some of the empty beer cans and bottles into the chair legs that Steve figured they should head inside.
Steve hauled himself up, arms stretching over his head with a groan, twitching when he stretched a little too far; his bites, although mostly healed, were still tender and pulsed as a reminder.
Eddie had, at some point, got up. He was one of those people who spoke with their whole body. So to do so he had to free Steve from being his glorified footstool, to properly illustrate his stories theatrically, definitely tipsy. Not that, that would stop Eddie, silly accents and all. Steve chose to ignore the weird sense of loss that followed him; fingers tapping and pulling at his own jeans without Eddie's to mess with anymore.
It was fun though, all things considered, and made it a lot easier to keep his focus on what Eddie was saying. When he was so dedicated to keeping your attention with every move he made, and every inflation of his voice.
Eddie was truly a great storyteller, Steve had thought during one of his tales. Still breathless and wiping tears from the corners of his eyes after Eddie had himself and Robin bent over and gasping between laughs. If only his teachers were half as good at keeping his attention.
Not that it matters, given Steve had lost them both by this point, a little more than just tipsy, in a debate about some book Steve had zero idea about. Nerds.
Eddie gasped, bringing Steve's focus back from his thoughts. Eddie leaned back an affronted hand against his chest "I cannot believe–!"
"I know right!" Robin grinned and leaned forward over her crossed legs. She'd moved from her chair to the floor at some point, for what reason, Steve had no idea.
Steve rolled his eyes with a sigh "Hey, we should probably wrap up–" He crouched grabbing a few of the cans to throw out "–or at the very least head inside."
"Aww"
"Boooo!"
Steve rolled his eyes. Oh, yeah definitely more than tipsy.
"I don't know about you but I'd rather not stay out here until dark," he said, spinning on his heel and heading for the trailer door "But if you want to stay out here in the cold–" looking over his shoulder with shrug "–then who am I to stop you?"
"Have fun in the dark!" He said cheerfully.
"Wait noo–!"
"Steveeee!"
"What?"
"Don't leave us!" Robin pouted, voice slurred.
Steve snorted, from his place on the steps. "Come inside then."
Eddie was the first to stumble to his feet, Robin at his heels "Fineeee."
Once the babysitter always the babysitter Steve shook his head, rolling his eyes fondly as he headed inside first.
It wasn't so bad, he supposed. Setting the empty cans on the counter to be dealt with later. It wasn't like he was obligated to drive tonight, Eddie offered to let them crash for the night. Steve used to be way more of a party and get shitfaced kind of guy in high school, but after his time in the Russian base under the mall.
Steve frowned, listening to Eddie and Robin giggling from the couch fade as he went back out for the rest of their cans and bottles.
When the Russians drugged them, Steve remembers feeling almost delirious, like pulling an all-nighter; running on adrenaline and stupid amounts of coffee to finish that essay due at 8.00 am the next morning but on steroids.
They'd been giggling then too, everything had felt so deliriously funny. It didn't feel like that anymore. The memories felt suffocating, heavy and terrifying.
His head was ringing, pulsing from each blow to the head, to the chest. Knocking the breath right out of him. Making it hurt to breathe.
God, he couldn’t breathe. Fuck.
Fuck.
Crouching in the dirt now, eyes squeezed shut 'breathe breathe breathe' Steve repeated desperately tugging at his shirt uselessly.
"Fuck" Steve chocked out in a broken wheeze.
He gasped wetly gritting his teeth in hopes of getting control of his breathing back. It hurt to breathe just like back then in the Russian base, with Robin.
Robin.
Oh, God. Where was Robin?
The wind was cold, ruffling his hair and clothes. Tugging the hair on his neck and arms to stand to attention. Steve shivered.
It whistled loudly in his ears, shaking the trees around the trailer park. Steve turned, crossed-legged on the floor now looking at Eddie's trailer, the light was on inside. Robin was inside.
She was inside drunk, with Eddie.
In Eddie's trailer.
Safe.
They were both safe. Steve was safe.
Steve presses a hand to his own chest and focuses on the rise and fall of his chest. In, out, in, and out. Keeping his eyes on the trailer.
He hopes they're too drunk to realize he isn't back yet. In, out. He hopes Max didn't see him. Eddie's new trailer was still fairly close to Max's place.
In.
Out.
Steve took a deep breath in as he finally got his bearings back, running shaky hands through his hair and back down his face. Exhausted.
Why did it have to happen now? Can't he just have fun with his friends?
Right, friends. Who are still very drunk. He sighed and hauled himself up. He tugged his shirt up to rub the remaining tears from his face, before finally collecting the rest of their trash and hearing back into the trailer.
They'd pulled out the sofa bed but that was about all they could manage before falling asleep on it haphazardly. Steve snorted, tugging Robin carefully away from the edge she was bordering on falling off of. Robin mumbled incoherently but eventually rolled to a safer position and settled. After making sure Eddie wouldn't suffer a similar fate, he'd fallen asleep with his back pressed to sofa cushions so he was fine, hair a wild mane around him but fine.
Steve got to work taking off their shoes. setting 2 glasses of water on the side table and aspirin just in case, before grabbing a blanket to throw over them like the good friend and babysitter he was.
Steve kicked off his shoes and collapsed into Eddie's bed. He figured he probably won't mind, letting the exhaustion from his panic attack set in as he fell asleep.