Now that I have finished Supernatural, it is time to start a new show to ease my addictive personality and autistic mind. I have therefore decided to start Supernatural over from the beginning and pretend like I’ve never seen it before (again)
why is it always smut? why not angst with endings that just leave you thinking abt them for weeks, why not hurt/& comfort, why not autistic readers, why not readers that aren’t constantly coded with features of a wht person why not freak!readers why not…
Summary: Neither of you want to be at the party in the first place, but it turns out pretty fine. Things are said.
Warning: None.
A/N: Multi-chapter slow burn. Henderson!Reader.
< Click here to find previous chapters >
When Lindsay called you this morning and told you she wanted to go to a party….you had assumed she was joking.
Who could blame you? The two of you are not regulars at the house parties some of your school mates throw. Oh, you usually hear through the grapevine which house is hosting for a given night, but you don’t actually go.
Newsflash: she hadn’t been joking.
You’d shown up at Noah West’s house a few hours ago. Lindsay has already made multiple beers disappear, and she is in the living room mingling and laughing with a small group.
Good.
Cool.
That’s great.
She’d said she wanted to “get out of the house” and “let loose,” which is probably normal, right? Healthy, even? (Okay, maybe you aren’t suppose to consider chugging a beer healthy, but she’ll be alright.)
That’s why you are here.
And by here, that means you are playing wallflower. You’re tucked away at the edge of the room near a hallway that leads to a bathroom and, ultimately, out to the garage. It has allowed you to have a glimpse of who is coming and going, and there’s a quick avenue to slip away if you want to.
(It is possible you’ve over-thought the entire situation and your placement in it, but honestly it’s better to be safe than sorry.)
A fresh flash of sound bounces in down the hallway, signaling the garage door has opened – there’s two beer pong tables in action out there. You glance toward the sound out of habit.
Then you do a double take when you process the familiar flurry of curls and distinctive leather jacket.
“Henderson!” Eddie looks as surprised as you do; he even forgets to make your name into any sort of pun.
“Hey,” you feel relieved to see him.
“Hey,” he mocks while he looks you up and down. Almost like he’s assuring himself you’re there. “You didn’t mention you had weekend plans – the hell?!”
He laughs a little, though it’s a happy thing. Surprised but glad. You can tell.
“Oh, and you did?” you figure fair is only fair.
Eddie rolls his eyes at this sound logic.
“I’m here on business,” he stage-whispers.
“...really?”
He gives you a skeptical look.
“Come on…”
Riiiiight. Okay, yeah. That makes perfect sense once you have a second to consider.
Your classmates might not want to hang out with Eddie, but they’ll buy off of him. Of course they will. Somehow you just hadn’t pictured that means he’d show up at one of these parties.
“Oh”
Eddie chuckles.
“Look…speaking of – I better go find West. He said he’d be out back,” his gaze travels toward one of the sliding doors. There is a bonfire going in the backyard. “You’ll wait right here?”
“Sure”
You don’t tell him you haven’t moved far since taking up this spot.
You watch Eddie pick his way easily through the crowded living room. Along the way he notices Lindsay and pauses briefly. He cocks his head and glances back at you with a subtle point of his finger.
You nod.
He nods back like he gets it. You figure he does – he always seems to.
Then he’s sauntering across the patio to fetch the host. They walk away from the people around the firepit and turn their backs. Their arms move and bump a bit.
It’s a brief exchange, and you aren’t sure which of them looks more pleased with themselves when it’s over. You hope it’s Eddie. Knowing that these people don’t actually want him here, you hope Eddie overcharged. Or tacked on a delivery fee. Or…just something.
Logan West and his friends don’t deserve Eddie, that’s for sure.
“You okay?” Eddie is back soon enough, chin tilted just so.
“...yeah.”
You’d gotten caught up in some resentment, and your face must be doing something strange. But Eddie takes your answer at face value and gives it up. He twists and throws himself up against the wall beside you so the pair of you can survey the room together.
“So…Lindsay’s going through, uh, a whole thing, isn’t she?” he watches her swaying to the music.
“Yeah,” you cringe. “Afraid so…”
He’s never asked before. Just accepts it when you mention she’s stressed or that she needed a girls night, etc. Not for lack of caring, you think. He’s just someone who understands that shit happens. He doesn’t need the gossip for proof, which you appreciate because Lindsay is pretty private.
“...sucks.”
“Mmhmm…but I’ll keep an eye on her,” you shrug.
You don’t mind too much. Obviously you’re not excited to be here, but you’re always willing to help Lindsay out. That’s never the question.
“I get it …and it’s your lucky night. Now you’ve got another friend in here who isn’t a douche,” he juts his thumbs at himself.
“Seems presumptuous that the guy who invented the Douche Chart gets to rank himself…”
And, thus, you spend some time engaged in hushed conversation about what guests are or aren’t the absolute worst.
“You want a smoke? I have a little leftover…” Eddie reveals once the pair of you have lapsed into companionable quiet.
“Not tonight, thanks …I’ll go outside with you, though,” you doubt Lindsay needs to literally be watched every second.
She’s currently kneeling by the coffee table where people are starting to play Flip Cup.
“Nah, just offering ….can I get you a refill?” he makes his next offer and gestures at your empty Solo cup.
You haven’t been drinking from it in quite some time.
“I don’t think so…”
“Just want the rest of mine?” he wiggles his, which is less than half full at present.
“Thanks, I’m alright…”
“No you’re not — this party blows,” Eddie scoffs.”I know you’re not a party girl, but if you want to really test the waters, I’ll take you to a better one some time…”
You pretend you’re not charmed as hell by the idea of him taking you to a party.
“Oh? You think you know where the good parties are?”
“Well, obviously,” he holds out his arms to grandly indicate himself. “The secret is to go literally anywhere that’s not full of seventeen year old fucks who only care about sports and teasing their hair and going to the mall or…what the fuck ever,” he waves at the frivolity around you.
Uncharacteristically, he’s keeping his voice down.
Maybe he’s doing that for you. Or, alternatively, maybe you’re self-centered.
“...and where would I find such a party?” you egg him on.
“You head out of town,” he tells you, and you both laugh. “Go where people don’t know you and don’t assume much. It’s like a fresh slate…gotta find the college parties where everyone is trying to get over their shit,” his hand gestures get more exuberant.
You snatch his elbow to stop the waving around.
Eddie snickers at you.
“You’d make out great in a place like that…” he finishes.
You mull that over, and you’re not sure how you feel. How exactly did he mean that comment?
“...so you’re worried I’m, like, lonely and innocent?”
Why had you said it like that? Why had you asked at all?! You’ve only had one measly beer, for Christ’s sake!
Because it shouldn't matter – you know it shouldn’t. It doesn’t matter if he thinks that. And, yet…you find you don’t want him thinking that you are needy. Or out of touch. Or. Just. Niave, or something.
“No! ….or…um. I don’t know?” he hedges with a side-eyed glance and a shift of his weight. Kind of like he’s not exactly happy with this trajectory, either …which comforts you, honestly. “I’m just saying. You could pull in the right crowd, ya know? Like. If you wanted to, obviously.”
Hmm. That feels …more complementary than patronizing, maybe.
“I’d pull, huh?”
Your sly look seems to make his shoulders relax.
“Yeah. Yeah, a college crowd would be good for you, I think. Better than…” he trails off and nods his chin at the living room.
You briefly study those assembled, and you have to hope Eddie is correct.
“A college crowd…” you echo him and are happy to find this doesn’t make you squirm like most college topics do. “Is that what you do? Find your fresh slate at college parties?”
“I’ve gone out with Rick, yeah. No one really questions you on campus…”
You have never met of even seen ‘Reefer Rick’ but you’ve heard about him around town.
“Hmm…and do you pull while you’re there?”
You shouldn’t have asked that, either! You do not want to know. Except for the part of you that sort of definitely does…
Eddie coughs in surprise, and he blushes. Shifts his weight around.
“Me? Um…huh, I…well,” he shrugs. “I get more interest than in Hawkins, I guess.”
“That’s good”
“Is it? I mean, yeah,” he chuckles at himself.
“Yeah…”
His discomfort has you smiling.
“...I’m going to go grab a refill. You sure you’re good?” Eddie points at your cup again.
“I’m sure”
He heads off to the corner where a keg has been set up. Then you see him take a detour to the kitchen. There’s a spread of various snacks there – maybe he’ll bring back some chips or something. Or you could abandon your post and just go join him to grab a plate….
“Hi”
You jerk in surprise when someone stops beside you.
“Hi…”
Jake Matanski. He’s a grade below you, but you know him. A little, at least. Not enough that you would have expected him to bother to come say hello, though.
“You don’t want to come play?” he uses his beer to point at the game in the livingroom.
“Oh. No, not for me…”
Your eyes glide to the kitchen and find Eddie watching across the counter. He gives you a little smile, then flashes a thumbs up, followed by a thumbs down. Are you supposed to indicate one or the other to him? And how, exactly? Ugh.
“Aw! Why not?” Jake laughs despite the lack of a joke.
“Well, uh…no drink,” you wave your empty cup.
“Oh!” he nods quickly – maybe too quickly. “We can fix that – come on!”
Jake heads for the keg, and you automatically take two steps to follow…but you don’t even want to, right?. And he’s not paying attention, anyway; he’s already winding past the couch…
So you have an out!
You hustle to the kitchen instead.
“Wow – quite the ditch act,” Eddie starts clapping. “Five stars.”
“Excuse you. What happened to coming right back?” you kick his ankle.
“How was I supposed to know you weren’t having fun…”
You echo his words mockingly, to which he only laughs a little more.
You ignore it and start rustling through a nearby cooler for a Coke. You hadn’t noticed the alternative drinks earlier.
“So…turns out it’s kind of like a repeat rFriday night in here,” Eddie gestures to the chips and candies all poured out into separate bowls.
“And I didn’t even have t-–”
“Hey – lost you!” Jake pops into the kitchen, faltering in surprise when he spots Eddie. “Hey…”
Eddie lifts his cup in salute.
Jake doesn’t return the gesture. He flickers his gaze back to you. You rase your can in a similar fashion, which he also doesn’t react to.
“I came to find a drink – I don’t really want more beer...” you explain.
“Sure! Cool. Yeah. There’s whiskey around here somewhere if you want. I’ll–”
“I’m good”
He makes a face but ultimately shrugs like ‘cool-man-more-for-me-then!’
“So are you coming?”
“No. I’m good,” you repeat this part.
Jake makes a face of ill-comprehension. Sways in his feet. Then he looks to Eddie.
“...I think she’s good, dude,” Eddie shrugs like he’s clueless.
“Lindsay said you’d want to come join...”
Hah.
Welp, she’s drunk.
“That’s nice of her, but I’ll pass…”
“Um…yeah. Alright. Alright…”
Jake lingers for a few more awkward moments and then shuffles away with a handful of snacks. A little trail of M&Ms drop behind him.
“Do you think you broke his heart?” Eddie asks with faux-concern and blinks wide eyes at you.
“Oh I’m sure”
He shrugs and kicks the dropped M&Ms out of his way.
“Never know …couldda been true love…”
“You’re hilarious”
You watch in the other room as Jake returns to the group none the worse for wear. He is a nice guy …drunk and clueless at the moment, but generally nice enough anytime you’d crossed paths. Maybe you should’ve at least participated in a little more conversation with him ….but he’d been ruining your ultimate plan of going unnoticed at this party. You’re normally so good at it.
Well. Mostly.
Your eyes slide to Eddie, who is an exception.
He’s eyeing the living room, too, while he munches on some BBQ chips. You make a mental note to get some at Bradley’s next week…is that silly? How you’re keeping tabs on what he likes so you can make him happy?
That’s pretty normal friends stuff …it just doesn’t feel like friend stuff. Not with Eddie.
You’re still having very non-friend feelings…which. Yeah. Is ridiculous considering he’d essentially just told you how and where to go to pick up guys. Other guys. Like you needed the advice. Which you probably do, but that’s a whole different thing … …he’s not supposed to have noticed that.
“I’m not, you know,” your defensive thoughts flare to life before you’ve thought it through fully. “You know,” you continue when Eddie turns a confused look at you. “Lonely and…”
Eh.
Do you want to repeat it?
Too late.
A slow smirk grows over Eddie’s face.
“...lonely and innocent?” he finishes with a smile.
Ughhh. This suddenly feels like a conversation that does require that weed after all …but you’d started this.
“Mmhmm”
You stare at each other for a minute, and you know you’re blushing.
“Well? Do tell, She-nderson,” Eddie cocks a hip on the counter and leans in. “Color me fascinated.”
“There…was a guy…”
Shit, now your story feels childish.
“...from Hawkins?” he pulls a scandalized face.
“No”
“Ah. Makes sense…” he waves his hand all go-on-go-on.
“...this feels stupid now.”
“Bullshit,” Eddie throws up his hand. “Get me hooked just to leave me dangling — spill.”
You laugh.
“Alright, yeah – he’s a family friend. Or, you know, the son of a family friend,” you clarify. “We’ve gone on small trips with them for years and would go camping together a couple times every summer…”
“Summer Love?” Eddie beams, and you worry he’s on the verge of a musical number, so you squash the notion.
“No. Not in love…just…”
“Summer lust?” he nods like this is just as good.
“A little. Also …curiosity?” you laugh. “We…wanted to see what the big deal was?” you try to explain the general infatuation that had come over both of you.
“That’s …scientific,” Eddie is trying to suppress a snicker, which is gentle of him.
“Sort of, yeah,” you go ahead and laugh. “We figured we were friends and trusted each other. So it was…nice.”
Well. Maybe not at first. It had been awkward and mechanical and you’d laughed in each other’s faces. And aso gotten flustered…and a little embarrassed, honestly.
But then the two of you had figured out how to make it fun.
“...nice is good,” Eddie’s smile feels genuine, not mocking or condescending.
You’re still blushing, though.
Because this story is true and, yeah sure, maybe it means you’re not “innocent” …but that still doesn’t mean you know what to do with the boy in front of you.
If he even wants you to do something with him…
Sometimes you think he does. The way he looks at your sometimes. The way he’s so interested in what you say and what you do. The way he so easily includes you… but that’s just it. It’s so easy for him. Like it’s habit. Like he’s just a nice guy and maybe you’re overthinking the whole thing. Just seeing what you want, that sort of thing.
“Yeah,” you agree to get back out of your own head. “It was.”
“So? – what happened with Romeo after?”
“Romeo,” you scoff. “He went to college last Fall…”
“And are there love letters stashed under your pillows?”
“No. He didn’t even come home over the summer, so no camping trip …he stayed on campus to take a class. And spend time with a girl…”
“Aw, booo. Horrible ending!”
“Shhh….it was just an experiment,” you shush him. “Besides…” your cheeks flame afresh.
“...what?”
“Nevermind”
“What?! No. Tell me … … did you not get to have an orgasm?” he asks with some seriousness.
Good! Your cheeks can’t get any hotter now!
“No, I know how to – ugh!” you slap his arm.
Eddie doesn’t bother to jump out of the way.
“What? I had to guess! Come on…”
“...his dad walked in on us the last time.”
Eddie’s responding laughter is sudden and loud…and entirely expected. You flap a hand at him to make him pipe down.
“Well, that’ll ruin it, huh?” he continues chortling.
“Pretty much….”
Only after Mr. Prince caught you did the pair of you have trouble making eye contact. It was probably for the best Chris had stayed over at OSU….though admittedly you were a tad disappointed at the time. Kind of.
“What did your mom say? Wait – how does she still trust you so much?” Eddie sputters.
“...no one told her.”
Mr Prince had been stern but ultimately flustered and too embarrassed to say anything to your mom or, as far as you now, his own wife.
Eddie cackles a little more.
“...always a surprise, HendHerSon…”
You roll your eyes.
“No offense,” he adds, smile wide.
“Whatever…”
But you’re a little pleased, all things considered. Lindsay knew that story, naturally, but it was kind of fun to share an illicit secret with Eddie.
“...what about you?”
Eddie blanches, “what about me?”
“Your first time ….come on. Are we not sharing?”
He snorts.
“I didn’t agree to that”
“Lame, Munson…”
He sighs and scratches at his chin. Studies you…and suddenly you feel inadequate. Like your story is boring and…well, it kinda is. It definitely isn’t rock-and-roll.
Eddie sighs again.
“It was fun…but not as sweet as yours…”
Sweet feels like it should be a diss, except his tone ensures that it’s not.
“Well…as long as it was fun”
He barks a short laugh.
“It was”
You’re happy to see he’s pink in the cheeks.
The two of you fall quiet, then. Maybe because there’s not a lot of tame places for the conversation to go at the moment….
You do end up outside with Eddie a while later so he can have a smoke. The cold of the night and the fact that the bonfire has been ill-tended has sent more people inside, so it’s not very crowded.
In other words, it’s perfect.
The music inside is still audible. In fact, Eddie is bopping to it right now and softly singing some of IntoThe Groove.
“I thought you only liked Corroded Coffin’s version…”
“Prefer,” he emphasized. “ I prefer ours….but I don’t live under a rock..”
Eddie bops a little more enthusiastically just, you think, to prove a point. He even jostles your shoulder with his.
“Cut it out,” you laugh him off and, involuntarily, your eyes dart toward some of the other people on the patio. They don’t appear to be paying attention.
“Screw them,” Eddie mumbles, but you hear him just fine.
“Yeah…” you feel a little foolish he’d spotted you.
“Their opinions aren’t shit,” he shimmies closer, his chest pressed to your arm.
“I know that”
“Then who cares what they think? Fuck them,” Eddie is oddly quiet but insistent. “They don’t matter.”
“I know. I…” you consider how you feel about a majority of your classmates these days. “It’s not that I want them to approve of me or like what I do….I just don’t want them to notice me either way.”
It’s easier that way. You’re happier; certainly calmer.
…does it also prove you’re a giant loser?
And could Eddie even understand? Eddie who lives out loud and shoves people’s banality in their face if offered a chance…
Hmm.
Eddie makes a considering face and leans out of your space to take a drag of his cigarette.
“...there’s a difference,” you tell him.
“Yeah,” he nods slowly. “I get that… …you should be seen, though.”
There he goes! There he goes just being himself and saying things so casually like his words don’t hit you straight in the chest.
You should be seen?
You should be seen …what a flattering and somehow terrifying sentence he’d managed to string together.
“Oh yeah?” you realize you have to say something, and that’s all you manage.
“Mmhmm…” Eddie catches your eye. “You’re endlessly fascinating. I’m always trying to tell you…”
And what should you even say to that?
Luckily you don’t have to figure it out.
“You know,” Eddie seems to forget the music as he relaxes into the corner of the house where you’re hiding from the breeze. “Sometimes I have this crazy idea… …”
“Okay,” you lilt your tone like a question so he knows he’ll need to be more specific.
“No, like…it might be legitimately crazy,” he shifts closer at your side and keeps his cigarette dangling down by his leg. “Incredibly wild, even…”
You snort.
“Alright. And?”
“And if it’s crazy…that’s fine. Tell me so. Be brutally honest,” Eddie leans back so he can smack himself in the chest. “I’ll be able to take it…”
“...getting a little nervous,” you confess even though, over all, you figure this is going to be something silly.
“No, no – no nerves,” he shakes his head, ruffling his curls. “Just honesty. Promise?”
“Sure”
“Promise?” he holds out a pinky.
“Yes,” you laugh and loop your finger into his.
He squeezes tight and uses the hold to make you lean in ever so slightly.
“Sometimes …I think that I really want to kiss you…”
Oh.
Your heart swoops in excitement, and you somehow feel frozen…like you’re found out. Seen.
…and apparently this feeling takes too long to process.
“...you’re freaking out,” Eddie leans back with a little nod.
He’s still smiling, but there’s a tilt to his eyes that isn’t usually there. For as much as you always feel Eddie can read you so well, you have to admit you’ve gotten good at reading him, too.
He’s worried.
“I’m not!” you hurry to assure him. “Or maybe I am” – (you totally are!) – “But in a good way …”
“...yeah?”
“Yeah”
“Oh thank fuck,” his shoulders loosen. “You had me going,” he sighs and lifts his cigarette for a last little drag before tossing it to the ground. “Not crazy?” he glances up to you.
“No…not crazy…”
He tries poorly to contain a grin. You smile back.
And all he does is watch you.
Which is fine….
But confusing?
“Do you…” you snort and roll your shoulders.
“What?”
“...are you not thinking about it right now?”
Because that swooping feeling hasn’t left your chest, and you are very much thinking about it.
“Kissing you?” he chortles. “No, I’m thinking about it…I think about it a lot, actually,” he laughs a little more. “But I can’t right now.”
Oh?
“...you can’t?”
He chuffs and crosses his arms.
“Right after I asked permission? No. It was kind of lame, if you didn’t notice. I can’t just go on and kiss you tonight…”
You laugh to keep yourself from complaining.
“It’s gotta be better than that. Gotta build the anticipation, ya know?” he grins along.
Doesn’t he know the anticipation has already been building? For weeks? Months, probably…
“Besides. Uh. Kissing the school Freak in public isn’t the best way to keep people from noticing you…” he eyes you carefully through his hair once he tells you this.
And. Yeah.
Maybe he’s not wrong.
But Eddie’s the exception.
“...you’re not a freak,” you tell him instead.
His smile curls up higher on his face, but his eyes dart away. Bashful. He does that more than one would think. You should probably say something more. Something reassuring. Should double-down on your assertion that he’s more than just some outcast in your eyes or –
One of the sliding doors to the patio opens, and someone stumbles out back. You look over, and of course you recognize Lindsay. Of course it’s her right now.
“Hey,” she takes a step in your direction, one hand on the glass door for stability. “I don’t think I feel great…”
Shit.
.
So. Miss Lindsay has the world’s worst timing!
Eddie shouldn’t be annoyed. He knows that, okay! It’s good she came and found a friend, blah, blah, blah.
But shit was getting good with you out on the patio! Hell, the whole night had been a gold mine of quiet laughter, telling stories, and you choosing him…so sue him if he’s salty for it to end so abruptly. Gah!
Annoyance aside, he’d helped you get her out to your car, and now he’s following you home to make sure you can get her inside, too. You’d tried to tell him he didn’t need to, but Eddie knows a thing or two about drunk people and he knows Lindsay isn’t going to be in any better shape in 20 minutes.
Indeed. She isn’t
Eddie half-carries her up the front steps and steadies her while you unlock the door. She’s shuffling and mumbling all the way through the livingroom and down the hall despite you ‘shhhh-ing’ her.
Eddie wonders if Lindsay has ever had a hangover before because woooo-boy, she sounds like she’s going to tomorrow.
Soon you’re all piling into your room.
Your room!
It’s a riot of color, and Eddie fucking loves it.
He helps you deposit Lindsay on the bed and then starts surveying the place.
Not that he’s been picturing your bedroom (lie! He totally has) but he’d expected a soft place where you could be quiet and focus. Not because you’re boring or anything…just because you like calm and ease.
Joke’s on him.
He should’ve known. The room makes so much fucking sense because it’s filled with your art. Paintings. Drawings that look like they’re filled with colored pencil – others with markers. Sketches. Some collages. There’s a flimsy easel in the corner with some kind of work-in-progress on it. Your desk houses a clutter of sketches along with your math textbook, and he recognizes some of your “inspiration photos” propped up.
Including the two he’d taken!
Which is fucking weird because they aren’t great. He can feel his cheeks getting warm, and he twists a lock of hair and forces his eyes to look elsewhere…
A painting of a vase filled with blood red roses that appear to be melting catches Eddie’s eye, and he’s not even a flower guy.
‘There’s beauty in the macabre and morbid, too,’ you’d once told him.
Yeah.
“Eddie can you grab the trash can…”
Ah shit.
He’d been mostly ignoring you talking Lindsay into going to sleep, but she’s sitting back up now and you have a hand on her shoulder to keep her from listing sideways. Eddie snags the small garbage by your desk and shoves it in front of her.
“M’fine…”
“Take a few deep breaths just in case,” Eddie advises.
“M’not gonna be sick…”
Oh she’s going to be at some point.
No doubts there.
“Just in case, Linds…”
“I’m not!”
Awesome. An argumentative drunk.
“Shhh….”
“I jus’ wanted to have fun,” Lindsay throws her hands over her face.
…or maybe a weepy drunk?
“You did, Linds…”
“I did?”
“Totally”
You manage to get her to start those deep breaths, then.
“Hey, what’s g—” the door to your room creaks open. “Eddie?”
Dustin is standing in the doorway in sweatpants and a Gremlins t-shirt looking utterly bewildered to see his friend in his house after midnight.
His eyes go wider once he surveys the rest of the room.
“What the hell? Is she… …drunk?” he takes a guess with less than his usual confidence.
“Shh!” you shush him with an angry wave of your hand.
Eddie yanks Dustin into the room by the sleeve and closes the door quietly behind him.
“Yeah, dude – just be cool,” Eddie leads by talking softly.
“Sure, yeah,” Dustin schools his face like this is, in fact, old hat.
Except for the way his eyes keep darting back to Lindsay in surprised interest. Little Henderson is precious like that sometimes.
“She’s fine”
Which, of course, is the moment Linday finally hurls into the trash can that she was so confident she wouldn’t be needing..
“Aw – sick! Ugh, s–”
Eddie clamps a hand over Dustin’s mouth before you have a chance to angry-hush him again. Just to be safe, he hustles him out the door and across the hall to the other room with a light on.
“What happened to playing it cool?” Eddie chides as he closes the door behind them.
“Vomit is gross,”Dustin defends himself. “Why do people even drink?”
Woof. That feels like a conversation fraught with landmines.
“...I dunno, man.”
Dustin scoffs.
“Were you drinking?”
“I had a beer”
Or two. But that’s not Freshmen level business.
“...were you guys at your place again?”
Now that Dustin isn’t distracted by drunk Lindsay, his eyes are narrowed and he’s looking a little too shrewd for Eddie’s liking.
Ugh.
“Nah, not this time. I just ran into them…”
“Ran into them where?”
“Whoa, what’s with the inquisition?” Eddie tries to brush him off and starts getting a good look around.
Unlike your room, this one is about what he’d have expected. Lots of nerdy tchotchkes Eddie wouldn’t mind a second look at. Some photos. Some shit that looks like it’s made from Erector Set pieces.
“Ran. Into. Them. Where?” Dustin insists.
“Just some party out at Loch Nora,” Eddie sticks with the truth.
It’s easiest to keep straight. Besides, it’s actually kind of hard to lie to Little Henderson. He’s a stickler for the details. Best to only bend the truth if necessary.
“Ew – with those kids?!” he goes full judgmental.
Hah!
“Aren’t you still in love with Harrington? He’s, like, King of the Fancy House Brigade,” Eddie reminds him.
“He’s different,” Dustin jabs a finger into the air.
Ugh.
“So I hear…”
And Eddie still can’t quite make that compute, honestly. You’ve backed up your brother’s claims, but it’s just not right. Not natural. It doesn’t fit.
“...so what were those two doing at a party anyway?” Dustin gets back on track like he is wont to do.
Little fucker.
“Nothing. I don’t know. Just hanging out…”
“...did you invite them?”
Oh, that’s rich! And is there an accusation in Little Henderson’s tone? Eddie isn’t sure how to feel about that. Not for nothing, but Dustin generally acts like he likes Eddie more than you (it’s a crock, but he goes out of his way to give the impression).
“Nope. Total coincidence”
Dustin is looking him over. Scrutinizing. Then he eyes the door like he wants to barge back across the hall and check this against your story. He doesn’t. He’s too busy thinking, apparently. Calculating.
In lieu of further questions Eddie keeps perusing.
A large Walkie Talkie by Dustin’s bed catches his interest, an–
Dustin clears his throat.
“What are your intentions with my sister?”
Come again!
Eddie spins to find Dustin is wearing a stern face now, and he has both arms crossed over his chest. Ooookay. Mission failure. Definitely left him to his thoughts for way too long.
“Christ…”
“I’m not stupid, you know”
Yeah.
Yeah, okay. That’s fair.
He’s not stupid. Maybe Eddie should’ve been expecting this. Actually. Scratch that. He sort of had been expecting some sort of fuss after Dustin found out you were hanging at his place with him and the guys. He’d assumed it would be something along the lines of “Ew, man – why?!”
He hadn’t expected an actual interrogation. Nothing…protective? Is that what’s going on here? Because Eddie could take Dustin – easy. Surely Dustin myst recognized that.
“I know you aren’t, but –”
“Good,” Dustin cuts him off. “Because I see what’s going on. And…well. Y ou know how much I like you and respect you…”
“C’mon, dude,” Eddie appeals with a sigh. “Don’t say anything that’s going to embarrass us both…”
Please. Just no.
Don’t do it.
Dustin thrusts out a palm before Eddie can protest further. Glares up at him.
“This is my job…now are you going to shut up?”
Ugh.
Fucking fine.
“Sure”
“Thank you. Now. As I was saying,” he plows on in a very Dustin-ly and self-important fashion. “I like you…and you are much cooler than her, so frankly I don’t know what you’re even thinking…”
“We’re–”
“But,” Dustin overrides again. “Family. Ya know?”
Uh. Sort of.
“Yeah”
“Good. Because she’s still my sister, and boring or not – I choose her”
That’s actually pretty cute.
“...over me?” Eddie can’t help but heckle. “Over D&D? Over Hellfire?”
Dustin looks pained about it, truth be told.
“Yes…which is why I’m telling you to be nice. That’s all I ask. It shouldn’t be too fucking hard.”
“Jesus Henderson…”
Going hard now. You know…by Freshie standards.
“Things don’t work out?” Dustin shrugs theatrically. “Fine. Young love. C’est la vie…”
“Now we’re in French?”
Maybe Eddie has rubbed off on the little dingus too much.
“Just be nice about it,” he ignores Eddie entirely. “Because if you disrespect her or hurt her or make her cry … …I will have to make you disappear.”
Eddie waits, but Dustin seems perfectly serious about this declaration.
Which is some harsh shit.
Eddie raises an eyebrow.
“...you know I could beat the snot out of you, right?” he checks because it feels imperative to have that highground.
“See, you’d think so…but I’m a scientist,” Dustin smiles innocently. Too innocently. “Which means I could do it – if I wanted to. You wouldn’t ….even…see. It. Coming.”
Whoa.
“Damn…”
And, ya know. It’s not like Eddie is quite buying it, but still. Respect for even going there.
“Science,” Dustin wiggles his fingers in a tah-dah way.
One last flourish.
“...for the record, I do respect her,” Eddie throws that on the table. “I like her a lot, and…well. I don’t know what we’re doing yet, b–”
“Ew, don’t,” pretense falls and Dustin pulls a face.
Eddie grins.
“What? Isn’t that what I’m supposed to say after that?” he waves his hand at Dustin. “The Shovel Talk, or whatever?”
“I dunno,” the younger boy shrugs. “My first one…”
“Yeah? You practice it, big guy?” Eddie ruffles Dustin’s hair.
He grumbles.
Eddie takes that as a “yes” and he’s not sure why he feels a little proud.
“...did I do okay?”
Ugh! This dork is the best. The absolute actual best.
“Yeah”
“Yeah?” he smiles wide.
“Uh-huh…started off a little warm and fuzzy there, but you pulled it together. Got fuckin’ dark…”
Dustin chortles and Eddie can’t help joining him.
“Seriously, tough,” Dustin’s proud glee disappears without warning. “Don’t be a dickwad.”
Eddie wavers, too.
“I hear you…”
“Cool,” Dustin’s smiling again.
“...we good?”
“Yeah. Totally.”
“Good. Now. Tell me – is this Little Susie?” Eddie inches toward the photo on Dustin’s desk.
Dustin doesn’t mind, and they kill a few minutes talking about her and some little radio they’re trying to repair together long distance.
Eddie excuses himself once the radio talk winds down. It’s late and he should probably just make sure you girls are good and head out.
He knocks lightly on your door before letting himself in.
“Hey,” you come to meet him near the door.
Music is playing quietly, and Lindsay is curled up on the edge of the bed in a hoodie she hadn’t been wearing earlier.
“She’s alright?”
“Mmhmm – thanks for distracting Dustin…”
“Sure, sure”
Eddie shoves his hands in his coat pockets. He wants to keep inspecting every inch of your room, but it’s definitely time to bail. Besides, e might get an invite back if he keeps playing his cards right.
“It’s weird,” you whisper, and he finds you watching him. “That you’ve never been in here before…”
“I was just thinking that,” he grins.
“I’m so comfortable at your place, and this is only your second time over…”
Something warm seeps through Eddie’s chest when you say this. Nevermind that he could have guessed you like his place since you keep coming over…it feels grounding to hear. Like this evening is natural.
“Well, I’ll be back,” he promises. “...and I like your room.”
Your eyes alright, and you nibble at your lip to try hiding the smile.
“Thanks...”
“Is your mom gonna flip about…” he casts a last glance at Lindsay.
“I don’t think so,” you look over at her, too. “I was safe and drove her home. She might lecture a little, but…she feels for Lindsay. And she’d kind of rather be a soft place to land instead of another adult me and my friends need to hide from. You know?”
Soft place to land.
No wonder you have a knack for spotting those.
“That’s good…”
Then you’re ushering him out, and Eddie tries not to think it’s a bummer.
“Thank you for helping,” you speak at a normal volume once you’re both outside on the front stoop.
“Ah. Yeah…wasn’t anything…”
He’s met far more annoying drunks. Plus, he’ got a little insight into your world for his trouble. Not much to complain about.
“Sure it was …I’m glad you happened to be out tonight.
Fuck but so is he.
Who knows when the right moment would’ve come up to confess this crush he’s harboring. In a way…he thinks he’d known you would be on the same page. The looks you share. All those conversations. It just felt like there had to be something more. Right?
He just hadn’t wanted to risk a chance he’d been projecting. Seeing what he wanted just because he’s so into you. Getting caught in his thoughts, of which he has so many
“Me, too,” he smiles. “All the gin joints in all the world, or something, huh?”
“Look at you – that’s not even a horror flick,” your smile is playful.
“Ha-ha,” he mock-laughs along. “I’m more sophisticated than I look.
“Yeah, I guess you are…”
Ooof. The way you’re looking at him, your eyes crinkled and biting at your lip again… he could frame that.
Nope! Don’t be weird.
“Well I guess I’ll get g–”
Before Eddie can back off of the front step, you lean in …loop a finger in his wallet chain …and tug him forward. He looks down to watch you do it and obeys your light pull easily.
Then his vision is all clouded up in you.
You step forward to meet him in those last inches. You’re craning up. Your face is right there.
In his space.
In his air.
He knows what’s coming.
Somehow your lips on his still manage to feel like a surprise.
You bump against him, so Eddie flattens his hand against your back to steady you before his mind even wraps around the facts.
You are kissing him.
On the mouth.
Not the hair or hand, which he had snuck in before. Half-joking moves. Cheap. Fucking bullshit in comparison.
You are warm and soft and – fuck.
He’s not even kissing you back?!
Eddie’s circuits come back online, and he presses into you just before you retreat. He follows your warmth when you lean back to stand flat.
Your eyes look big this close up. They’re dancing.
“...that was okay?”
“Was it okay?” his eyes widen.
What a… what a ridiculous question! Why would you ask? Maybe his stupid face is doing something it shouldn’t.
“Well…I hoped it wouldn’t be lame as long as I was the one to start it,” you grin.
Lame.
Oh! So you’ve got jokes right now.
Eddie drops his forehead onto yours and heaves a breathy chuckle.
“Not lame…”
“No?” you beam.
“Uh-uh..”
You tilt your face up to steal another kiss – only it’s not stealing, right? Eddie is ready this time and moves with you to slot his mouth against yours. When your lips part, he licks in. Eager now.
(Well. Eager always.)
You hum in response…a moan, maybe. Are you moaning?
Jesus H.
He tightens his arm around your back to haul you closer and clenches his fist into your sweater. His other hand is cupping your jaw. Keeping you close.
So close.
He knows you can’t get carried away on your front porch of all places, but damn. Damn it, there’s no such thing as close enough.
“Definitely not lame…” you mumble against his lips, ducking your chin just enough to catch a breath. Two.
Eddie is sure he has no need for such trivial shit as air. So he only nods mutely and tilts your face back to kiss you more.
You’re smiling. He can feel it.
He smiles back despite this most serious business.
“Eddie…”
“Hmmm?”
“...you were leaving. Remember?”
“You stopped me”
You laugh. Then your hands wind further around his waist, lighting his spine on fire as your fingers crawl up, up, up…
Yes, this is totally your fault.
The porch light flashes on and off several times, and you both jolt.
“...tell me that’s Dustin and not my mom…” you squeeze your eyes shut.
Sure as shit.
He can see Dustin’s face pressed up to the window. He points to Eddie, then drags a finger across his neck.
Eddie smirks because it’s hard to find Dustin’s warnings at all intimidating when he’s busy being so fucking delighted. Besides, he is being respectful – you’d started this; he’s just reciprocating the gesture.
“...kiss me again and he’ll go away.”
You snicker as he pushes his hand up your jaw and into your hair, but you let him tug you in for the kiss.
Probably a last kiss.
For now, that is. Eddie has big intentions to pick this up again ASAP.
If the warm slide of your tongue against his made his nerves funny, it’s nothing to the way you suck a little on his lip when you pull away. That zings straight to his gut …and lower.
Oh yeah.
Real big plans.
“Christ. You’re gonna kill me…”
“Never,” you whisper.
Hah. Sure. Tell it to his hardon, babe.
He has half a mind to shove one of your hands to the crotch of his jeans to prove it. To make sure you know just what he’s going to die from …but that’s just his dramatic side talking.
Think of other shit, dirtbag.
Of Vecna.
Of Lucas’s basketball team.
Of Jake Matanski trying to get you a drink…
Yup. That does it
“So you say,” Eddie keeps his disagreement simple as he lets his hands slide from around you.
You crank your neck to quickly check over your shoulder for Dustin, but he’s already disappeared.
“I’ll kill him slowly when I get inside,” you promise when you turn back around, all innocent eyes even as you vow retribution.
You haven’t removed your hands from him yet, and you sadly realize it now. You step back. Some heat leeches off of Eddie when you do.
It should be illegal.
“Nah, don’t – it’ll fuck up my campaign, ya know?”
“That’s what you’re worried about?”
Eddie laughs because: fuck no!
Buuuut he doesn’t think he’s supposed to mention Dustin’s little chat – at least, not yet. Not unless it becomes trouble. Dustin’s threats had been at least half funny, but there had been a true sentiment behind it all…and Eddie is pretty sure he respects it.
“Well...you kissed me again, so it’s not like he fucked this up or anything. I think we can let him live.”
“...this, huh?” you grin.
Eddie nods and takes that first step off the porch now.
“This…”
They can hash out the details of that later. For now, he’ll just drive home thinking about your mouth. And your other soft parts all pressed up against his front.
“Goodnight”
“Night”
If he maybe, possibly does a little hop-skip to his van, well. That’s entirely his business.
is anyone else tired of reader always wearing damn skirts😭😭😭ALWAYS SKIRTS like i get it easy access yk but my self conscious ass would never actually wear a short skirt🤦🏻♀️yall my thighs are too big to be wearing a fucking short skirt it would just rise and my ass would show🙄guess i gotta write more inclusive fics myself🙏
When I was younger, aliens invaded. And I was alone. And I was terrified. But then I saw you, fighting aliens with a stick and a string. I saw you jump from that building even though you can’t fly, even though you don’t have superpowers. And I thought, “If he could do that, then I didn’t have to be scared”. You showed me that being a hero isn’t just for people who can fly or shoot lasers out of their hands, it’s for anyone, who’s brave enough to do what’s right, no matter the cost.
annaxmalina
dededos
kianamaiart
yousharknotpass
prguitarman
