Steve Harrington x Eddie Munson
what to expect: angst lmao, slight allusion to smut but it’s pretty small
A/N: this came to me while listening to Ghost’s cover of “Stay” with Patrick Wilson (they use it in the credits of the last ‘Insidious’ movie), i heard it and could picture Eddie and Steve so clearly with it. highly recommend you give it a listen!! this whole thing was a bit of an escape for me since i’ve been so busy lately. and while we all know how things go in the Upside Down, i decided to leave the ending as ambiguous otherwise i would’ve cried a bunch. AND gif credit goes to @acecroft
If this world is wearing thin
And you’re thinking of escape
I’ll go anywhere with you
Just wrap me up in chains
Eddie couldn’t believe his ears. “You’re telling me the most sought-out ladies’ man of Hawkins High is lonely? I don’t see it.” Steve’s shoulders fell as he grumbled. “I’ve never…connected with any of them, ya know? Why do you think I haven’t actually stayed with anyone?” Eddie thought about what he said. Really, he understood. Eddie never truly felt a pull to anyone either. He had some nice hookups here and there, but no one was worth seeing another time.
“Well if it helps, our dear little town probably isn’t the best place to find love, or whatever, anyways.” He grinned at Steve, happy to see a small smile breaking out on his face. “You’re not wrong. I might have better luck somewhere else. Somewhere with less close minded people.” Two instances of common ground with Steve Harrington in the span of five minutes? Not a chance. “When have you dealt with close minded people? You’re not a so-called freak.” Eddie noticed Steve’s gaze stick to the ground. “I mean, not that it’s impossible. Like we agreed, there’s plenty of shitty people here.” Steve quirked a brow and nodded. “I just meant cause you were, ya know, before graduating.”
Steve looked up at Eddie, a secret swimming in his eyes, not yet ready to come out of hiding. “I also hated who I was. I was a dick. I wasn’t myself. It was all…bullshit. Everyone just ate it up because it didn’t make them uncomfortable.”
Eddie felt the unspoken truth behind Steve’s words. He also felt how nervous Steve was to even say such an ambiguous statement.
“I understand.” Steve’s eyes brightened just a fraction. Was he hopeful? Was he relieved? Did he really realize what was being said? Eddie had no idea, but he knew he needed to keep that light in Steve’s eyes. “Tell ya what, after all this is said and done, we can just go. Anywhere you want. We’ll find a place for you.” For both of us. “I-yeah, yeah okay. That sounds nice.”
In the silence of your room
In the darkness of your dreams
You must only think of me
There can be no in between
Steve tossed and turned on the couch next to Eddie’s room all night. His mind was plagued with visions of Eddie disappearing. He wasn’t a stranger to calling the Munson boy “Freak” in the past, thinking he was an outcast for a reason. In a way, Steve was right. Eddie was an outcast, just not in the way he perceived. Getting to know him over the last few days, Steve grew to understand that Eddie was one of few people who truly saw him. Someone he connected with. Someone he didn’t want to lose.
Eddie held himself in a bed that wasn’t his own, wishing he could just sleep. He didn’t know if he’d get to go back to his trailer again but he was finally out of the boatshack. And yet, his eyes wouldn’t close. He stared at the wall, deep in thought. The conversations between him and the Harrington boy played over and over in his brain. He was a clueless asshole in school, Eddie taunted him more than once for being referred to as “King”. Apparently he actually had a heart, a fragile one. But he’s still just as clueless. Eddie laughed to himself, the sound echoing in the otherwise empty space.
When your pride is on the floor
I’ll make you beg for more
“Damnit, Harrington. This would go a lot smoother if you sat still.” Steve winced. “It would go a lot smoother if you were actually being gentle, Munson.” Eddie narrowed his eyes. “Wanna patch yourself up?” Steve kept his mouth shut. “That’s what I thought.”
Steve winced a few more times, trying his best not to move too much. Eddie focused on wrapping Steve up after his wounds were clean. “Is everyone else okay?” Eddie nodded. “We were scared out of our minds, still kinda are, but we’re alright.” “...Thank you.” Eddie adjusted the final wrapping and nodded. “Of course. I mean, we can’t have our dear king Steve dying on us before the real battle starts.” If Steve didn’t know Eddie was joking, his glare could have very well killed him. The tiny smile underneath betrayed his fake annoyance at the title.
“I can’t believe you went headfirst like that without thinking of any threats on the other side.” Steve could tell it was a compliment of sorts. He knew Eddie meant that he was brave, the Munson boy having told him more than once before that he was always one to run away. But he couldn’t let go of the words “without thinking”. He wasn’t thinking. Again. He made a stupid choice. Again.
“Do you think it was a dumb move?” Do you think I’m dumb? Eddie frowned. He knew what Steve really meant. He knew how Steve felt about himself. “Honestly? If I had the courage you do, I would’ve done the same thing.” Steve tilted his head and scratched the back of his neck. “Ya know, I’m not as brave as you seem to think I am.” Eddie rolled his eyes. “And you’re not a coward like you claim to be.” Eddie looked up and blinked. “W-what?” “You talk about running from your problems, but you forget to acknowledge the part where you continue going back, facing them again and again. You could’ve dropped out, but you’re still going to school, you’re still working towards graduating. You could’ve left town, finding an escape elsewhere, away from Jason and all the other players who hurt you. But you go back every day with your head high and live your life. You’ve chosen to stick it out in a place you’ve never really felt you belonged and made it your own. You–” Steve didn’t get to finish his sentence. Eddie’s lips covered his with a kiss that filled his very soul.
Steve started to kiss him back just as Eddie pulled away, leaning his forehead against Steve’s. “Please tell me I haven’t been reading this all wrong.” Steve’s only response was to pull Eddie in for another kiss. The two felt each other’s smiles on their lips.
Steve broke away first for air. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.” Eddie’s lips maneuvered down to his neck, speaking between kisses, “I think I have a pretty good idea.” Steve used one hand to hold himself up against the table from before and the other ran through Eddie’s hair. Eddie left one more kiss on his shoulder before leaning back just enough so he could see Steve’s face again. Thank God. The light in Steve’s eyes was brighter than ever.
“I told you you’re braver than you give yourself credit for.” Eddie rolled his eyes and laughed at Steve’s words. His eyes flicked down Steve’s body, making sure the wrapping was still intact and there wasn’t any blood seeping through. “Hey, I’m okay.” His eyes flicked down a second time and noticed Steve’s pants. “You sure, Stevie? Cause I can think of at least one part of you that could use more of my attention.” He grinned when Steve’s face turned pink. He didn’t expect anything, but he enjoyed teasing the Harrington boy.
Steve surprised Eddie when he leaned in to kiss him again, whispering “please” against his lips.
You’d better hope and pray
That you’ll make it safe back to your own world
You’d better hope and pray
That you’ll wake one day in your own world
The boys trailed after Dustin and the girls through the Upside Down, keeping their eyes out for anything that might swoop down or sneak underneath them. “You still wanna get out of here after this is over?” With me. Eddie looked at Steve, reading his face. “Of course I do. There’s nothing I’d rather do more.” They exchanged soft smiles and kept walking.
The party reached its destination to split up, everyone looking between each other with worry. They went over the plan and nodded at each other. Nancy and Robin exchanged glances, Dustin hugged Steve harder than he probably should have in his recovering state and saluted the girls.
Steve Harrington looked into Eddie Munson’s eyes, full of hope and fear at the same time. Not caring what any of the other party members may say, the two held each other’s faces and met with a kiss. Short but filled with words that both were afraid to say out loud, “You better come back to me,” “I promise I’ll be okay.” They pulled back at the same time, each taking their own deep breaths.
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