There's something wrong, Steve can feel it in the air.
He's developed a sixth sense for danger in recent years. Sometimes its just too quiet, too still and he gets antsy.
Today is one of those days.
Eddie was supposed to meet him after school. They were going to drive to pick up dinner before sitting down for a cram session for the test Eddie had coming up. School had gotten out 15 minutes ago and Eddie usually left early.
Steve gave it about twenty more seconds before he snuck into the school.
He jogged the familiar halls of Hawkins High, his head on a swivel as he searched for a hint of long hair and longer limbs.
He heard him before he saw him.
That in itself was rare, Steve's hearing was iffy on the best of days, but he was especially attuned to the sound of his boyfriend's distress.
He found him curled up in a hallway, his hand across his belly, wheezing.
Steve was beside him in seconds. He dropped to his knees with no hesitation. The sudden movement startled Eddie and he flinched away.
"Hey, hey, its just me baby, its just me."
Steve had to force himself not shove away the anger boiling in his belly. They’d just gotten Eddie to the point where he didn't flinch when someone reached a hand toward him too quickly. He'd finally gotten to experience touches that didn't seek to hurt him and Steve had delighted in watching him flourish.
All that progress stripped away by some asshole lashing out.
Eddie looked up at the sound of his voice and Steve nearly lost his death grip on his anger. One of Eddie's eyes was swollen and bruised and his lip was sporting a cut and bruising too.
Gently, Steve reached out for him, only two fingers extended so as not to spook Eddie. They were trembling where he touched him, right under his chin, though Eddie was shaking too.
In the calmest voice he could manage, Steve asked, "Who did this to you?"
Eddie glanced away. He knew Steve well enough to know what he was thinking. Steve could see him wrestling with the part of him that didn't want Steve in harm's way, versus the part that wanted so badly to be protected.
Steve wiped at the tear tracks on Eddie's cheeks with his thumb while he thought. Eddie let himself lean more into the comforting touch, his eyes drooping shut.
"Mitch Brummel and his gang of apes." Eddie muttered, "There were fucking six of them and they're all goddamn giants, I tried to--"
Steve hushes him, reassures him it wasn't his fault in the slightest, and even insists on carrying him to the car. Steve listens while Eddie tells him what happened in full and why, but in the back of his mind he's planning.
Because if there's one thing Steve Harington is, its protective.
The next day he divides between nursing Eddie (he said he was alright but he also wobbled on his way out of bed, and he enjoys being doted on so Steve insisted on doing it regardless) and making phone calls.
Steve learned a long time ago, sometimes the best way to hurt someone wasn't physical. It was rare that he took this route but he tended to get vicious when Eddie was hurt. He'd fought off a flock of interdimensional bats for the man, a few shitty jocks was nothing.
It took three hours to call around to the parents, pastors and girlfriends of Mitch and his crew and drop every bit of dirt he'd ever learned on them. Having a last name people knew and trusted made it almost too easy.
When Steve had finished, he'd gone out to grab them food from the nearby McD's, but first he took a little detour.
This time on a Saturday, Mitch Brommel was at the park, oggling women exercising. Like a creep. If he weren’t so classically pretty Steve was sure he'd be the town freak instead of Eddie.
Well, Steve would be helping with that soon.
He walked up to the brick wall of a man, a guy he wouldn't ordinarily be crazy enough to pick a fight with, and before the words "Hey Harington" could even leave his mouth, Steve's knuckles were connecting with his nose.
It hurt like hell but he felt Mitch's nose break right along with his own middle knuckle. That was enough to dull the pain.
"Listen here, Bitchel. If I ever see or hear about your hands on Eddie Munson again, I will tie you down and break every single bone in your hands and legs. Gonna be hard to get a varsity scolarship after that." Steve drew himself to his full height, despite being a head shorter than Mitch, the man was doubled over clutching his nose so they were at eye level, "Do I make myself clear?"
Mitch made a noncommittal noise and took a swing at Steve. For once, it was a body shot. Hurt, and definitely winded him, but Steve had long since learned how to fight through pain.
He brought up his knee, smashing it into Mitch's solar plexus. He repeated this when the bully doubled again, before snatching him by his short hair to make sure he was looking at him.
"What part of that did you need me to go over again, its an easy thing to do."
"Why the fuck do you care what happens to that freak, Harrington?" Mitch sneered through the blood, "He your boyfriend or somethin'?"
Maybe it was because he said it like an insult. Like Eddie was something to be ashamed of rather than one of the best people Steve had ever met. Maybe it was the adrenaline.
Whatever the cause, Steve replied with "Yeah, actually, he is."
The look of shock on Mitch's face was Hallmark Moment worthy.
"Not that you're going to remember that. I'm going to concuss you real good, and trust me details get foggy after one of those."
Before Mitch could reply again, Steve was bringing his face down onto his knee.
The guy went out like a light.
He wouldn't remember why later when asked, but Mitch Brommel refused to go anywhere near Eddie Munson ever again.
blakekathryn
pixelskylines
dailybridgerton
jbbartram-illu
annaxmalina
stormborns
