“It was very reckless of you,” nancy says it pointedly, but the slight wobble in her smile shows it’s nothing more than a little soft chastising. “But yeah. You did good, Munson.” she pats his hand, shaper grin on her face, “Bought us more time so we could throw a flaming thank you gift Vecna’s way.” and then… then she sobers.
“Max, she’s… she’s comatose. Hasn’t been responsive the last couple days,” it’s takes a lot in her not to burst as she describes it. She didn’t know Max all that well, but she’d secretly taken up the mantle of big sister for her along with El. So if she doesn’t come out the other side okay… Nancy fumbles with his blanket, tearing at the frayed edges. “But she’s still with us. Doctor’s said her vital signs are promising, so,” she fears she sounds too clinical about all this, but it’s all she’s got against the onslaught of feelings she’s got about the situation. Eddie’s words lift her out of it, makes her eyes water to the point where one single tear slips heavy down her cheek.
Hopes Eddie has the grace not to call attention to it. “Not that brave,” a chuckle leaves her lips, wet and struck with gratitude. “But, thank you. …You’re pretty brave yourself, you know. Don’t know who else would’ve done what you did and made it out okay.” Okay maybe being an overstatement, but still. She watches him take in his surroundings for a bit. Reaches for the remote to turn up the tv in the corner as she explains, “An old friend of ours did us a favor. Said it’d be safer if we laid low for a bit,” it wasn’t the smartest decision but she looks down and bites her lip on reflex, assessing the damage. “Guess you’ve joined the scar club like the rest of us,” gesturing towards the ones that litter the metalhead’s body.
Eddie grins, smile wide and almost euphoric as she praises him. Despite the pain, he only seems to care now about the success of the mission. “Sounds fucking gnarly. Man, I wish could’ve seen it!” he exclaims. he stops short of saying he wishes he had been there; he’s not that self-destructive. Sometimes, people got hurt, and now, that meant more than simply handing in your character sheet. He swallows nervously as she describes Max’s status. “Shit...” He mutters.
He bites the back of his bottom lip, a tight frown settling onto his face. His gaze drops and he notices her fumbling with the blanket. A hiss of an inhale and he reaches across the bed to place his hand on hers. He can’t recall any time before that he’s touched her and yet, at this moment, he can’t imagine not reaching out to her. “Hey--we’re almost 10/10, and it sounds like she’ll be ok,” he tries to reassure her, as though she isn’t the one who just updated him.
Eddie looks down at his bandaged gut and he doesn’t think he’d call himself okay at the moment but he’s not about to show Nancy any hint of fear now. The laugh hurts his gut as he chuckles in response to the idea that he’s braver than her. Shaking his head, he insists, “Nah, fuck that. I didn’t have the dangerous job. I get half xp at best.” She likely won’t know what that means, not unless she pays attention to her brother’s nerdy rambling. His eyes widen as she explains the set up. “Shit Wheeler! Guns in your bedroom, friends with weird hide outs; I greatly underestimated you.” A slight heat rushes to his cheeks as he realizes his hand is still on hers and he pulls away. “Sorry.”
