the hereafter
chapter 5 | 15.5k | rated e
[chapter 1 | chapter 2 | chapter 3] [chapter 4]
relationship: steve harrington/eddie munson chapter tags: relationship study, hurt/comfort, 1980s queer themes
summary
A journey through Steve’s relationships with himself and the most important people in his life: a lesbian, a know-it-all kid et al., his ex-girlfriend, a DM (whatever the hell that is), the DM’s uncle, and everyone else who seems to have wormed their way into his life since 1983. (Or, how getting trapped in Hell on Earth with Eddie “The Freak” Munson puts every other relationship Steve has ever had into perspective.)
chapter excerpt
They end up at the quarry. Steve is alright with the quarry. It's one of the only places left in Hawkins that wasn't affected by the earthquake or used as a portal to a hell dimension, so it's not so bad of a spot, all things considered. He parks on the dirt alongside the road and quits the engine, immediately letting in the sounds of rushing water. He cracks open the door to get some air in, but it's blazing hot outside, making him break out into a sweat faster. He pulls back in, grimacing at the wave of heat, to ask if Eddie wants to get out and head closer to the water, but he almost knocks into Eddie's forehead. "Jesus, man," he breathes, his heart leaping into his throat at how close Eddie is. He does a quick once-over without really thinking: catching Eddie's eyes and lips. He sees how Eddie is leaning over the middle console, his hands jittery as they try to figure out where to rest. He blinks. "Did you take me out here to make out?" Eddie straightens, the car moving under them with the force he puts into it. "Uh, maybe?" Steve grins. A part of him wants to tease, or maybe suggest Lover's Lake or Skull Rock, but then again, neither of those places leave a great taste in his mouth after everything. Besides, he's made out with plenty of people parked alongside Lover's Lake or up against the stone of Skull Rock, but he's never kissed anyone at the quarry before. "Well?" he prods, raising an eyebrow when Eddie's attention snaps back onto him. "What are you waiting for?"
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