Brittany spreading a nasty rumor about Reader and it destroys her. Eddie gets wind of it and goes into super protective mode. I need this man so angry that he punches a wall or something.
I loved this request the moment I laid eyes on it 💜
Warnings: bitches, mild violence, bullying
Words: 4k
[As You Wish masterlist]
In your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie, hey, hey
What's in your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie, hey, hey, hey, oh
Your head bobs up and down to the tune, one sneakered foot resting against the side of your car. The driver’s door is cracked open as you lean back, arms crossed casually across your chest as you await three o’clock.
The Hawkins Elementary School parking lot is decently packed, most of the cars are familiar, thanks to your daily pickups of Ryan and Luke. Some faces here and there are new, but you’re able to recognize different family members or other adults trusted to pick their kids up from school.
A silver Toyota pulls into the parking spot between you and a decrepit maroon minivan. The door opens, and a woman with a blonde pixie cut steps out. She’s not familiar to you, but the woman standing outside the minivan is. Apparently, she’s also familiar with Pixie Cut.
Pixie Cut looks at you over her shoulder, a little too long to be a casual glance, but you think nothing of it. Then, the woman closes her car door and sidles up next to Minivan.
“That her?”
Her attempt at whispering failed miserably. Gossips in the school parking lot are nothing new, though. You know far too much about the marriages of some of these adults. Sometimes it’s hard to look Ryan or Luke’s friends in the eye when you know one of their parents is about to divorce the other.
“Yeah, that’s her.”
Though this whisper was much quieter, you’re locked in now, so you strain to hear it.
“God, does she drive like that?”
“I hope not, but who knows? That’s why I didn’t park right next to her. You’re brave.”
The words cause your spine to stiffen and your eyes to widen. They are obviously talking about you. But what the hell are they talking about? How do you drive? Are you a bad driver? You’ve never even gotten a speeding ticket. Your top teeth gnash into your bottom lip as you eavesdrop on the rest of their conversation.
“Please,” Pixie says with a scoff. “If anything happened to this thing, I would just have Donny go get me a new one.”
No, don’t move on to Donny, you think. What the hell are you saying about me?
“Think there’s any in the car?” Pixie asks.
“Wouldn’t be surprising. Don’t most of those junkies always have that shit on them?”
You almost choke on your own spit. Most of those what? Your eyebrows furrow together as you fight to keep your composure. If they know you’re onto them, there’s a good chance these clucking hens will stop talking.
“I wouldn’t know.”
“I mean, at least keep it to your own time, you know?”
“I guess some druggies just can’t help themselves. And can’t help themselves from stealing someone’s husband.”
They titter together as you see a familiar SUV pull into the parking lot. You clench your fists together, nails digging into your palms in an attempt to keep the tears away. It is not successful.
Luckily, or not, depending on whether you really wanted to hear more or not, the women move away, walking closer to the school. The tears spill over, falling down your face in a steady stream. Through your blurry vision, you look for the friendly face that drove the SUV.
“Steve?” Your voice is hoarse; barely above a whisper. But somehow he hears it.
His head swivels in your direction, throwing you that charming smile of his before he sees the tear tracks down your cheeks. Immediately, he stalks over to you, face pinching up in concern.
“Hey, what’s going on? Are you okay?” He looks you over, trying to see if you’re injured in some way.
Words fail you, so you shake your head. Steve is evidently at a loss. He runs his fingers through his hair, and somehow, his anxiety gets you to speak.
“D-Do you know those two women over there?” You nod your head in the direction they went.
Steve cranes his neck to see around the sea of vehicles in the parking lot.
“Who?”
You sniffle and wipe your nose on your hoodie sleeve before you reply.
“The one w-with the short blonde hair. A-And the one with the brown bob.”
“Uh…” Steve squints, trying to get a better look. “I don’t know the brunette. The blonde is the mom of one of Natalie’s friends. Sharon, I think. Why?”
Desperate to get rid of the tears, you tuck your hands inside the sleeves of your sweatshirt and wipe off your face.
“They were just here,” you say, gesturing to the minivan two spots away. “Talking about me. S-Saying horrible shit.”
“To you?” Steve raises his eyebrows.
“No.” You shake your head. “They were trying to whisper, but I heard them. Or maybe they wanted me to hear, I don’t know. But they called me a junkie and a druggie.”
“What?” Steve’s posture tenses, and he crosses his arms across his chest.
You’re only able to nod as the tears start again.
“They were, like, wondering if I drove high. If there were drugs in the car. And they s-said I stole someone’s husband.” Obviously, the “someone” is Brittany, but the last thing you need is to say her name out loud.
“What the fuck?” Steve spits. He shakes his head, his arms dropping to his sides. He looks fidgety, unsure what to do with all the anxious and angry energy that’s built up inside of him. “Hold on, I’m going to go talk to them.”
“No!” You reach out and grab Steve’s right arm before he can take two steps in the direction of the school. “No, Steve. I don’t want to start anything with them.”
“Hey…” Steve sighs softly and squeezes you to his side in an approximation of a hug. “I’m not going to bring up what you heard. I’m just going to see if they’ll share their shitty gossip with me, so I can get the whole story of whatever fucked up lie they’re spreading. Okay?”
“B-But, how do you know they’ll tell you? They know you’re best friends with Eddie.”
Steve grins, slipping his hands into his back pockets.
“I can be very persuasive when I try,” he says. “I’ve been known to charm everyone from crying babies to old crones.”
You can’t help the small laugh that bubbles out of you. Though you’re still not crazy about it, you nod anyway.
He heads off in their direction, and you hug your arms around yourself, trying to keep as calm as possible. It feels like he’s over there for a lifetime. You expect the school bell to ring any second, feeling like that much time must have gone past by now.
Eventually, he heads back in your direction. You let out a sigh of relief—until you see his face. His handsome features are tight, fury set into every line. The way his jaw is clenched has the fear racing back in.
“What did they say?” you badger as soon as he gets close enough. “Did they tell you anything?”
The fact that he won’t look you in the eye makes your stomach drop.
“S-Steve?”
His head twitches to the side, resembling a muscle spasm, but clearly a sign of the anger he’s holding back. As much as you admire his restraint, you need him to drop it. Fortunately, one look at your distraught face has Steve spilling.
“There’s a fucking rumor going around,” he says, teeth clenched as if this physically pains him to speak of. “That you…” He pauses and clears his throat. “That you do d-drugs. Mostly coke, I gathered.” He stops, but you know there’s more. One hand comes up to rub at his jaw while the other rests firmly on his hip. “And that you have them just lying around, letting the boys be exposed to it all or even fucking doing it in front of them.”
Your hands come up to cover your mouth. Out of everything they could’ve said, accusing you of putting the boys in danger is the worst possible thing.
“I…” You’re stunned speechless. A few deep breaths do little to calm you. “I would never.”
“Hey, I know that.” Steve reaches forward and pulls you in for a hug.
Part of you thinks there will be a rumor about you having an affair with Steve now, but the other part of you needs a hug so badly that you don’t care.
“M’pretty sure you’ve said you’ve only done pot, what? Twice?” He lets out a terse huff of laughter.
“Three times,” you mumble against his chest.
“Oh, you stoner.”
Despite the turmoil eating you from the inside out, you manage a small smile.
“I, uh,” Steve starts as the two of you part, “I think I know where the rumor came from. Or rather, who it came from.”
There’s only one option. Who else on this planet has the motive to smear you this horribly? Only the she-devil herself could be behind this.
“Brittany.” The name is a growl that vibrates your chest.
“Yeah,” Steve sighs. He shakes his head before adding, “But I sure as shit set those women back there straight. And if any of us catch wind of this again, I’ll sic Nancy on them.”
“Shotgun and all,” you say, one corner of your mouth quirking up.
“Exactly.”
The school bell rings, both of you turning your heads towards the old brick building. Steve rests a hand on your shoulder and tilts his head to the side.
“You gonna be okay?”
“Yeah.” You quickly wipe your face to erase any sign of tears.
“You’re gonna tell Eddie, right?”
“Of course.”
“Good,” he says. “Don’t worry, Kid. I know that’s easier said than done, but it’ll be okay.”
Normally, you’d protest at the nickname, but you just nod; you feel like a bobble head at this point.
Steve heads back to his car, and only moments later, your two favorite boys run up to you.
“Freedom!” Luke cheers.
“Hi, I—are you okay?” The concerned frown on Ryan’s face is almost enough to get you bawling again.
“Yeah,” you reply in a breathy tone. “All good.”
Before either of them can say anything else, you grab each of them and pull them in for a tight embrace. You hug them against your body, and though they’re surprised at first, it doesn’t take long for them to hug you back.
The moment the doorknob jangles, you push yourself up from the couch. You hate to bombard your boyfriend as soon as he gets home, but you’ve been nothing but a bundle of nerves ever since you got back. It’s hard, because you know this is going to ruin his day. But he would feel even worse if you didn’t tell him and he found out some other way.
“Hey, baby.” Eddie tosses his keys onto the counter before turning to look at you.
“Hi.”
The warble and low volume of your voice would be enough to tell him something was wrong, but the devastation on your face more than takes care of it.
“Whoa, whoa, what’s going on?” He’s immediately in front of you, cupping your face gently in his hands.
“The boys are fine,” you rush to assure him. The panic in his eyes churns your stomach. “They’re playing in Luke’s room.”
“Okay, good.” Eddie nods, but the urgency is still front and center. “What about you? Are you okay? What is it?”
“I didn’t get hurt,” you breathe out harshly, shaking your head the best you can in his grip.
“Then what is it? What you’re not saying is starting to scare me more.”
“I just…” You take a deep breath and close your eyes. “Can we sit down? And please calm down, you’re making me w-worse.”
“Right, got it.” Eddie’s worry is boiling over, but he tries to compose himself as the two of you take a seat on the couch.
You’re tilted towards one another, his knees bumping against yours as he eagerly waits for you to speak.
“There’s a, uh, rumor going around a-about me,” you finally manage.
Dark brows furrow together in confusion. “I don’t understand. A rumor? Where? What is it?”
“As far as I know,” you say, your voice steadier than you feel, “it’s going around some parents at the boys’ school. I-I heard moms talking about me today.”
Eddie’s hands slip into yours, giving them a small squeeze of encouragement. He’s about to ask you what they said, but he knows you’re getting to that and he doesn’t want to put any unneeded pressure on you.
“Apparently,” you start, “it’s being s-said that I do drugs. Or, c-coke at least. And that I just—” Here, you’re forced to stop, a small sob sneaking out. The way your face crumbles breaks Eddie’s heart. He used to live with drug addicted parents; he knows the tragic reality of it. And he knows you know this too, so he silently wonders if that’s part of why you’re hesitant to tell him everything. “They’re saying I just leave the drugs lying around in the open.” You fling one hand out to the side, gesturing to the greater living room. The very thought of there being lines of coke set out on the coffee table is enough to make you nauseous. “That I…” This is the hardest part to say; the most vile aspect of it all for you. “That I do the drugs in front of the boys.”
The words light a fuse, a ticking time bomb growing inside of your boyfriend, the explosion imminent.
“They…” Eddie swallows thickly, poorly attempting to keep his composure. “The rumor is that you do drugs…in front of the boys?” He licks over his lips and drops his eyes down to his lap. Rage radiates from his every pore as he squeezes his eyes shut.
“Yes,” you all but whisper, unsure if you’re really meant to answer or not.
Slowly, Eddie rises to his feet and runs a ringed hand over his mouth. The tension in his body would be frightening if you didn’t know it was in your honor. His hands fall to his hips as he begins pacing back and forth in front of the couch.
“S-Steve showed up,” you add softly. “He went to talk to the moms. To find out what they were saying. And he told them off, he said. But he—”
You bite your lip, cutting yourself off. The last piece of the puzzle is the hardest one to deliver to Eddie.
He pauses his pacing and raises his eyebrows at you.
“Hmm?”
It’s difficult to gather your nerve, but you take a deep breath and get it out there.
“Um, Steve also had an idea of w-who’s behind it…”
There’s no need to speak the name—you both know.
Eddie tucks his lips in and squares his jaw. The fuse is running out, the bomb is about to go off.
“Jesus Christ!” Eddie swipes at the coffee table, sending a tissue box and two television remotes flying across the room.
You clench your hands together in your lap, eyes filling with tears.
Eddie runs his fingers through his hair, ignoring a tangle his pinky snags on. He stalks closer to the front door. You’re wondering if he’s going to leave when you see him draw his arm back, like a coil getting ready to spring forward. His fist is clenched, his knuckles white.
You take a gasp in, hoping to get something out before he makes contact, but he’s too worked up. Eddie's fist slams into the wall right next to the door, smack dab between the doorframe and a picture frame with a photo of the boys as toddlers. The wall dents beneath his fury, showing a dime-sized hole as he pulls his hand away.
“THAT FUCKING C—”
Two sets of footsteps come down the hallway, shutting Eddie up.
“Daddy?” Ryan asks timidly.
Eddie keeps his back to his sons, not wanting them to see him so revved up. He hangs his head and presses his thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose. He hopes he’s blocking them from seeing the damage he caused as well.
“Boys,” he says, as gently as he can manage, “go to your rooms. Everything’s fine.”
Neither boy believes him. Ryan looks towards you, Luke following his lead, and you give them a small smile. You nod your head at them, silently telling them to listen to their father. The two of them give each other a look before shuffling back towards their rooms.
“I’m gonna fucking kill her,” Eddie seethes. The lower volume is somehow worse than the screaming.
“Come here.” You stand up and gently tug on his arm that he used to punch. His hand reluctantly unfurls and you can see the scratches and scrapes his outburst caused, all caked with drywall, plaster, and green paint. You sigh and nod your head towards the hallway.
Eddie sits on the edge of the bathtub as you pull out the first aid kit. Luckily, it’s just been restocked so you’re able to get some bandages. Most of the last box had been used up by Luke from the time he tried to jump down the steps at Wayne’s trailer instead of walk. And the time he tried to do a dive roll. And the time he didn’t believe the sign that said the geese would bite.
You take a seat on the lid of the toilet and grab the washcloth to clean off your boyfriend’s hand. Neither of you speak, the whirring of the air conditioner the only sound cutting the silence. One large bandage is able to cover the worst of his lacerations, but you add a little medical tape to make sure it stays in place. You know Eddie—he’d try to peel that thing off without you noticing.
“Are you okay?” Eddie finally speaks, his voice barely above a whisper.
You nod your head and wipe at your nose with the sleeve of your sweatshirt.
“I will be.” You sigh and rest your elbows on your knees. “At first I was shocked. Then outraged. Now it feels more like hurt. And a little scary.”
“Scary? What, scared of me?” Eddie’s brow furrows.
“No, no.” You reach out and slip your hand into his uninjured one. “Scared that the boys will hear somehow. Scared that someone will actually call child services, believing it. Scared I’ll be stuck with a reputation of someone who would do something so heinous. I mean, thank God this didn’t happen during the custody battle.”
“Yeah,” Eddie says with a sigh. “Surprised she didn’t think of this one then.” He leans forward and rests his forehead against yours. “The boys know what the truth is. And anyone who knows you knows it as well. It’s gonna be okay.”
You give him a watery smile.
“I thought I left this gossip bullshit behind in high school,” you say.
“I guess some mean girls never stop being mean girls.”
“I love you,” you tell him.
“I love you too, princess.” Eddie gently cups your jaw. “So much. I hate that this is happening.”
“Yeah, I gathered that when you put your fist through the wall.”
“Well,” he says, tilting his head to the side, “I figured it was better than putting it through someone’s face. Which is what I want to do.”
“Am I petty for wanting to get her back in some way?”
“Oh God, no,” Eddie says. “I’d love to see you get a little petty. We can scheme together.”
You chuckle softly and press your lips against his.
“Her sons love me more than they love her,” you say. “I think that’s a good start.”
The next day, Eddie insists on leaving work early so he can pick the boys up from school. He makes sure to stop off at home first though, grabbing his leather jacket and black combat boots. Adult women want to act like mean girls in high school? Eddie’s all too happy to bring out his old high school persona as well. The Freak is making a comeback.
Eddie made a point of asking Steve if he knew who these women were that had been talking about you. He was able to generally describe them, but he could give Eddie definitive answers on the cars.
His eyes scan for a silver Toyota or a beaten down minivan as he enters the parking lot. Immediately, he spies the vehicles parked next to each other with women that fit the descriptions Steve gave him. And lucky for him, there’s a parking spot right across from the minivan.
Eddie careens his pickup into the empty space. He checks in the rearview mirror and still sees the ladies standing there. It’s been a while since people thought the Big Bad Eddie Munson was intimidating; now it’s time to see if he can get that vibe back.
The keys jingle as he yanks them out of the ignition and throws the truck door open. He makes a big show of slamming the door closed behind him. Black chunky boots carry him to the back of the truck, facing the opposite direction of where the kids will be coming from—but facing the gossipers head on. He leans against the tailgate, slipping his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket.
The cold set of his jaw would be enough to make anyone look twice. And these ladies were definitely looking. Eddie meets their eyes when they dare look over, but he never speaks a word. Just watches.
A few minutes go by and Eddie yanks a carton of cigarettes out of his pocket. He hasn’t been a smoker for a while now, but he thought it would help the look. The filter rests between his plush lips as he lifts his lighter to the other end. He refuses to inhale, not wanting to start the addiction up again, but he knows you’ll be questioning him on the smell tonight either way.
Once Eddie sticks the pack and the lighter back in his pocket, he shrugs the leather jacket off. Beneath he’s wearing an old Megadeth t-shirt he’d cut the sleeves off of years ago. He hangs the jacket over the tailgate and resumes his position leaning against the truck. Now, both of his tattooed arms are on display as he crosses them over his chest.
The ladies look unnerved now. They’re clearly talking about him with the way they keep sneaking nervous glances. Good. Let them be nervous.
The only movements Eddie makes are to lift the cigarette to and from his lips. He blows the smoke out of the corner of his mouth, keeping his gaze straight ahead. He had taken the bandage off of his hand, letting the world get a glimpse of his bruised and cut up knuckles. Let the ladies make of that what they will. The more uncomfortable these women look, the happier Eddie becomes.
Part of Eddie feels like a panther, stalking its prey. Just waiting and watching. In this case, the prey doesn’t need to know that he’s not going to pounce; the threat of it is enough. As long as they know Eddie could do something, he’s winning.
The bell rings and the women look relieved. Eddie stays still for a few more moments before tossing the cigarette down on the ground and snuffing it out with the toe of his boot. No need for the boys to catch him in the act—they’ll probably ask about the smell too.
“Daddy?”
Luke runs around to the back of the truck, grinning when he sees his father.
“You’re here today!”
Ryan follows behind his little brother and gives their dad the same smile.
“Hey, Rugrats,” he says. “How was school?”
“Good,” Luke says with a shrug.
“At lunch, Jerry poured chocolate milk on Bryan’s head,” Ryan tells him.
“How come?” Eddie asks as he grabs his jacket.
“Cause Bryan called Jerry a poop head.”
“Well, sounds like Bryan got what he deserved.” Eddie makes sure to speak up even though he knows the ladies can hear him. The boys head to the side of the truck, but Eddie gives one long last look at the parking spot across the way.
“He’ll learn that running your mouth is one way to get what’s coming to you. Some people just don’t know when to keep their goddamn mouths shut.”
