Steve really hadn't thought much of Eddie when they first met. He was loud, obnoxious, and strange. The only thing he knew was the kids liked him, so he couldn't be that bad. Saving the world together completely changed his view on the rocker. He had sacrificed himself to demobats and vecna to get them out of there. He was nearly eaten alive before Steve and Nancy got to the gate and pulled him through.
Steve fell onto the ground of Eddie's trailer, and soon felt Eddie's weight falling on him. Robin was trying to help hold some of the now unconscious Eddie, but awkwardly dropped him.
"Oh Steve, I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
"Robin, not now." Nancy interrupted as she climbed her way through. Steve had rolled himself and his friend out of the way before Robin caught Nancy neatly in her arms. Before Robin could swoon, Nancy had hopped up and was pulling Eddie off of Steve.
"Shit, he's bleeding a lot. We've got to go to the hospital." Steve gritted his teeth as he lugged him to the car. By the time they got to the ER, Steve had also passed out in the back from blood loss.
Steve felt lucky, he had a few transfusions and a lot of antibiotics and was out within a few days. Nancy and Robin hadn't even had to spend the night, though they did stay with Steve and Eddie, taking turns switching between the boys rooms and getting each other food.
It took weeks for Eddie to get cleared from the hospital. Steve had made sure the first thing he did when he was released was check in on Wayne. He'd stop by and cook him dinner or bring him takeout to make sure he was eating. He'd go to Eddie's hospital bed, usually when he was sleeping, and made sure to fill his water and give him an extra blanket.
When Eddie came home, he stayed away. He wasn't sure where they stood, and he was too nervous to ask. They hadn't hung out before all this, so why would they now?
He managed to avoid seeing Eddie or Wayne for about 2 weeks. Robin kept telling him to just call, or stop by, it wouldn't be weird. He couldn't shake the feeling that Eddie would look at him like he was crazy for being at his house.
Robin was once again trying to convince Steve to at least call, when Steve looked up to the entry bell at Family Video. In walked the curly haired, tattooed boy he'd been trying to avoid. Steve quickly turned around, looking for a place to hide.
"Wait, no, Steve, come on" Robin rushed out in a whisper, but Steve cut her off with a shush as he ran into the aisles to stock movies.
"Hey Robin, just you today?" He could hear Eddie talking at the front counter. Steve hurried into the romance section, hoping Robin wouldn't bail him out, praying this section wouldn't be what Eddie would watch. He waited a moment, and when he didn't hear any more talking he assumed Eddie had left.
"Robin, I really thought you-" Steve started but was cut off by Robin's guilty face.
"Hey, Stevie." He heard a deep voice behind him. He froze, not sure what to even say to the man behind him.
"Just wanted to tell ya, well, can I talk to you?" Eddie continued. Steve turned his head and nodded before following Eddie out the back door to the alley behind the store. Eddie immediately lit a cigarette, taking a long drag before just looking at Steve.
"My uncle said you were stopping by, while I was in the hospital." Eddie finally spoke, looking at his boots.
"Yeah, uh, I just wanted to make sure he knew you were gonna be ok. I know you said he works nights and figured he wouldn't have time to check on you." Steve tried to explain away his interest in Eddie's life, and begged he wasn't blushing.
"I appreciate it, man, really." Eddie clapped a hand on Steve's shoulder. "Nancy told me you stopped by the hospital a few times at first, too."
Steve felt his face get hot. There was no way he wasn't blushing now.
"Why don't you come back over sometime? My uncle says you make a mean lasagna." Eddie bent his head to make sure Steve was looking him in the eye. Steve chuckled and nodded. Eddie murmered something like "great" before waving bye and walking away, cigarette dangling from his lips.
Summary: It has been years since the fall of Overwatch. Many agents had disappeared or had been killed. Genji himself had travelled to Nepal, leaving the debris of what used to be a family. He had been content with not knowing what had really happened, to move on. That was before he gets an offer that he might not be able to refuse.
Word Count: 3,066
Fandom: Overwatch
A/N: I wrote this in like a day so I'm sorry for any mistakes. I don't know where this idea came from, I kinda just pulled it from out of nowhere and had to run with it. And like,,,not happy with this and it's all over the place but. I haven't posted in forever and this was the first thing I actually finished. Hope you enjoy it!
Genji used to hate mediation. Despised it, actually. It was a simple, well-known fact by many who knew him.
What was he supposed to do for the whole time? Organizing one's thoughts to only flow and not focus was extremely difficult and took patience, something that he rarely had. Having zero patience for anything, most of all meditation, had carried over from his past life more than anything else.
It took a long time to get into the rhythm, to finally appreciate it. Zenyatta was a big cause for that, but once he had started getting good at it, it felt good. He had started to feel at peace with it, to feel confident in himself.
This is why, when Hanzo had shown up at the monastery a few months ago, months after their original reunion, Zenyatta had suggested that Hanzo participate in the group meditation with both of them and the rest of the monks. Genji remembered all of the times he had spotted Hanzo meditating under the sakura tree in their garden and quickly agreed to the idea, leaving Hanzo looking totally helpless. The fact that he probably only recalled a time where Genji couldn't meditate or focus stung him more than it should have, and he was determined to prove him different.
You could tell that Hanzo was hesitant, about the offer and everything else. He still acted cold and snapped easily, always pausing before doing something or quick to lash out. They walked on thin ice together, but Genji noticed that it had started to become easier the past few weeks. Hanzo was starting to smile just a little bit more, his sarcasm coming back bit by bit. It was hard, and it was frustrating, but slowly, after so many years, Genji was finally getting his brother back.
They were all currently meditating right now, most of the monks gathered in the main room of the monastery. He pondered the difference in Hanzo from the past and present, allowing the thoughts to form but never grabbing them, only letting his fingers brush against the surface. When that had satisfied him he thought back to the first day he had gone for a walk on the beach back in Japan after meeting with Hanzo, the freedom that had been so sweet to taste finally being given to him.
The salty wind tossed his hair this way and that, the sand warm beneath his metal toes. He could not exactly feel it the same, but he knew and understood what it was supposed to be like. It would have to be good enough. The waves tumbled and splashed over each other to the shore, Zenyatta standing in them looking as peaceful as ever. The birds called out their beautiful songs, the sun warm in its graceful touch, lighting up everything underneath its gaze-
THERE IS SOMEONE BEHIND YOU DANGER THERE IS DANGER THERE IS SOMEONE-
His eyes snapped open and he jumped up, startling the rest of the monks out of their meditations. Heart pounding madly he withdrew his shurikens from his knuckles, ignoring the whispers around him as he took in his surroundings-
There.
He snapped his hand out, just catching the dagger as it became so close to his face he had to go cross-eyed to look at it. Stunned silence hushed across the room, all eyes on the weapon. There was a sound of footsteps behind him, coming nearer. He almost lashed out, restraining himself from reacting at the last minute because 'Hey, Hanzo, I was a little on edge and your footsteps startled me so sorry for stabbing you.' does not seem like a good step towards repairing their relationship.
"Come out!" Hanzo barked, appearing next to him with a small blade. Genji briefly wondered where he got it.
A flash of purple to their right. He turned to face it, moving to a pose that would allow him to quickly throw his shurikens or run. Neither was ideal, but he would do what would have to be done.
A woman was there against the wall, half her face and body covered in shadows and the other lit from the warm candles. But even though she was half-hidden she was still recognizable. His heart sank.
Genji knew her.
She worked with Talon.
"A guest. Who you are?" Zenyatta asked once he rose from the floor and settled into his usual lotus position. If you didn’t know him well then it would be believable to think that he was fully calm. The woman walked closer to them, revealing her full self. Shades of purple, pink, and blue covered her head to toe, electronics covering numerous parts of her head and clothes. Even her hair was purple, and Genji would have found it amusing had it not been who it was.
"You can call me Sombra. I have an offer for you," she stated calmly, somehow not bothered by her position. Genji tossed an uneasy glance to Zenyatta, who folded his hands in his lap.
"May I ask about this offer?" Zenyatta hummed, his orbs dancing around his shoulders, meaning he understood the warning Genji had been trying to give. Sombra smiled, shaking her head.
"An offer for him," she pointed directly at him, and Genji felt his blood run cold. What could she want with him? Sure, he had been - and was - enemies with Talon, but he hadn't fought them outright in countless years. For one of them to appear out of nowhere to come after him now was unlikely.
But it was odd for them to send someone to face him alone. He didn't sense any other agents hidden from his sight, but that didn't automatically mean they weren't there. He'd have to be careful.
"State your business," he said, even if his mouth ran dry.
"I have information on the fall of Overwatch."
It was as if there had been a blanket put on them. Everyone froze, staring at the women in front of them, unmoving.
"Let us go somewhere more private," he said after a moment, the air becoming too thick to think let alone breathe or digest her words. Someone grabbed his wrist, light enough for him to break free but firm enough to be forceful. Genji turned to face Hanzo, whose lips turned down in a deep frown.
"She works with Talon," Hanzo hissed in his ear, sending a distrustful glare to Sombra. "Please do not-"
"It is fine, brother," he assured, squeezing his hand gently. He decided to ask Hanzo how he knew she worked with Talon later, "We will be but a moment."
Hanzo didn't look happy but he nodded and stepped away. Genji could feel everyone's stare on their backs as he led the two of them to the garden, but Hanzo's was by far the most intense. He wasn't worried about leaving the monks, knowing full well that both Zenyatta and Hanzo could take care of any stray agents.
"Pretty good security you got for a monastery," Sombra commented once they were out of earshot, running her fingers across the walls, "makes me wonder what you're hiding."
"We are not hiding anything."
She hummed, bringing a finger to her chin, "This Iris seems to say differently."
He would not play this game with her. "Is this a part of the deal?"
Sombra only grinned.
He led them through the few halls and large entrance to the little garden which was thankfully empty. He turned to face her, tossing his shurikens in and out of his knuckles, both a nervous habit and a warning.
"What do you want?"
Sombra rolled her eyes, mumbled something in Spanish that Genji knew Reyes would have washed McCree's mouth out with soap for, and pulled out a tiny black drive, twisting it so it shined in the bright moonlight.
"Everything you'd ever need to know is on here. Anything about yourself, Overwatch, even the mysterious Reaper that's been prowling about," she said, smiling smugly. Genji scowled.
"What's the catch?"
Sombra laughed, leaning on his shoulder, "Whatever do you mean? Can't a friend help out a friend?"
Ah. So that's what she wanted.
"A favour for a favour," he clarified, shrugging her off. She leaned back, placing her hand on his shoulder instead.
"Favour for a favour," she confirmed, inspecting her nails. She almost reminded him of Moira.
"And what exactly is this favour you want me to do for you in return?"
"Well, that's the question now, isn't it? I don't have anything for you." She held up one finger. "Yet."
This was a dangerous offer. He shouldn't be considering it. Genji turned away, her hand slipping off his shoulder and crossed his arms. The drive could likely be a fake and he would be indebted to someone who should be his enemy. This could be his destruction, destroying everything he and many others worked so hard and so long on. Who knows what could be on there, what could happen if he agreed to the deal.
...On the other hand, if the drive was real, Sombra had said it contained information on many things - things that could help him and the other split members of the fractured Overwatch. Information that could piece back the true story of the past and what really happened besides guesses, cover-ups, and his own blurry memory.
It was dangerous, but if what was being said was true, he could not give up this opportunity.
"Favour for a favour," he said quietly, keeping his voice even as he turned and extended his hand. Sombra grinned again but this time with more teeth, placing it in his palm carefully.
"I'll let you know when the time comes, amigo." She said, moving away and stretching. Just when he thought it was over she jumped up in front of his face and tapped the middle of his helmet where his nose would be.
"Boop," she cackled as he jolted back before she disappeared in a flash of purple, leaving him alone in the cold air of the garden. His hand felt heavy, the weight of what he had done sinking in. He glanced down at it and sighed.
"Was it worth it?" he muttered into the night, but not even the wind answered him.
Feeling empty he headed back the way he came, weaving through the huge halls. The main hall was deserted when he arrived back there, so he headed out to the main courtyard in his search for either his master or brother. He had no idea if he was going to tell them about what had happened, but he didn't want them to worry if he didn't find them soon.
He rounded the ginormous entrance to spot two familiar figures, and he smiled slightly, jogging over to catch up to them. He made sure to make his footsteps noticeable, and they both turned to face him as he neared.
"Welcome back, my student," Zenyatta greeted warmly, though Genji could tell he was concerned. He was glancing around the courtyard, though he did it more openly than Hanzo, who was trying to act a bit more stealthily. "May I ask what happened?"
Genji opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again. It didn’t matter in the end, considering he couldn't even get a word out.
"You took the deal," Hanzo butted in just as he was about to speak, and Genji snapped his gaze over to him. Hanzo was staring at his left hand, where you could slightly see the tip of the drive peeking out of his fingers.
No point hiding it now.
"Yes. I could not give this opportunity away. Not for what it's about, nor what's on it."
"Genji…" he trailed off, eyebrows furrowed. Genji tightened his hand, hiding it further behind his back.
"You don’t get to judge me on this," he said, a little harsher than intended. Hanzo's eyes widened in surprise and even Zenyatta seemed to stiffen before they both nodded, Hanzo's eyes fluttering shut like how he used all those years ago when he had been disappointed in him. Some things never changed, he supposed.
He shifted, regret washing over him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so harsh. But you don't understand." He looked down at the small device, his shoulders slumping. "You would have done the same."
"We don't understand," Zenyatta said smoothly, floating to his side and placing a cool hand on his back with enough weight for Genji to feel it through his armour. "Maybe we never will. But we will support you on your decision, even if I hope you understand where we come from as well and try to listen. However, if you feel this was for the best, then that is all there is to it."
Genji nodded, but through the privacy given by his helmet he pressed his lips together. That's the thing, he wanted to scream, I don't know if I did the right thing.
Zenyatta was staring at him curiously, tilting his head as his orbs chimed sweetly.
I don’t deserve you.
Zenyatta would have waved it off like he did every other time, with reassurances Genji sometimes still doubts he deserves and a tone he could only describe as amused.
"Let's go inside," Zenyatta suggested, already guiding him gently to the village gates. "It's getting late."
Hanzo trailed behind them as he and Zenyatta walked side by side to Genji's little apartment in silence. The few monks and villagers were watching them with unashamed curiousness as they walked by, and Genji knew that it was likely almost everyone knew about the incident at meditation today, even if it was currently about one in the morning. He had learned quickly that, while peaceful and friendly, gossip still ran through the area like a wildfire.
He almost bumped into Zenyatta, who had stopped at the doorway of his apartment, having let his thoughts roam free. He apologized quietly, a little confused on how they had arrived in what seemed to be too soon, but slid the door open and headed inside.
The photo of him and Hanzo as teenagers was the first thing his eyes settled on, just like every other time. It had been a huge step to put it out on his dresser, to look at it and be content instead of boiling with anger just like he had when he found it on one of the last raids on the Shimada Castle.
But just because he had accepted one memory did not mean he could bear all the others. There was still one more photograph tucked away in the drawer, hidden from his view. The one of him and McCree, arms wrapped around each other with as much smiles as they both could muster at the time. McCree had always been like a ray of sunshine despite it all, and his beaming smile proved it, while his was small but no less genuine.
He missed that stupid cowboy. He hoped he was well.
He settled down on his mattress, though he had no intention of sleeping tonight. The hard drive was still held tightly in his grasp, and he would not be able to sleep until he saw everything it had on it. Both Hanzo and Zenyatta settled down silently as well, ready to forget this incident at least until morning.
Genji stubbornly waited to make sure Hanzo was asleep, fighting the instinct to close his own eyes and rest. His brother's face was peaceful and his two dragons - somehow - were snoring obnoxiously in a ball next to him. Soba was the only one missing from the picture, having not come out of his tattoo yet. Zenyatta was in the corner, powered down for the night, and Genji was not worried about waking him because once he was out even a hurricane could wake him. Funny, considering he was an omnic, but he guessed even omnics liked their sleep.
He crept out to the balcony overlooking the mountain, the sharp cold breeze slapping his face viciously. He shivered, drawing himself in as he sat on the edge, his feet dangling over the edge of the balcony, the drive held tightly in his hand. With a deep breath, he pulled out his old communicator, the one equipped with the best tech, and plugged in the drive.
He lost track of time of how long he sat there, searching and scanning every piece of text, video, and diagram. It was overwhelming, how much data was on there.
File: The Cowboy
File: The Sniper
File: The Angel
File: The Sparrow
Then he found it. What Sombra had hinted at earlier.
File: The Reaper.
Genji sucked in a breath, held it. He had a feeling this wasn't going to be pretty.
He was right, in the end. It had not been pretty, and he knew he was going to have nightmares for countless nights at the horror he just saw. Tears slipped through his eyes, spilling over his cheeks as he scrubbed his face to get rid of them, choking on his breaths.
He struggled to control his breathing, heaving in breaths like he was drowning. Eventually, after what felt like hours, he calmed down enough to be able to think a bit clearer, though the tears still didn’t slow. He turned his head slightly to acknowledge the presence that had been standing stiffly in the doorway for the past few minutes, a flush of embarrassment flooding his body.
"I know you're there," he mumbled, hiding his face with his hands. Hanzo tensed, and just when Genji thought he was going to leave he surprised him by settling down next to him, fidgeting with his fingers.
"I did not want- I didn't mean-" Hanzo stumbled then growled. Genji sniffed, wiping his eyes delicately. "What I'm trying to say is...I'm here for you."
"Thank you," he choked out, a warm feeling in his chest. Hanzo glanced up at him with wide eyes and nodded, looking away as he cleared his throat. They didn't speak or move for the next few hours, content with each other's presence.
This was a disaster, Genji knew, but he swore to do anything in his power to fix it.
He would fix it, fix him, or he would die trying.
Just as Gabriel Reyes had once been willing to die for them.
Nancy let Steve sleep while she got ready for her date with Robin. He seemed comfortable on her bed, she always did have the better mattress of the two of them. Before she left, she made sure to leave a note for when Steve woke up.
'Steve- set your frq to Eddie's adults- only (kids def listen in) tty when you're ready :) -Nancy'
She set the note on her nightstand with Steve's radio and laid a blanket over him before heading to Family Video. Robin was behind the counter when she walked in, looking through a stack of movies.
"You're looking good. What movie do you want to watch?" Robin called from her stack.
"I don't know, Cinderella, maybe?"
"Hey, everything alright? You took a while. " Robin asked as she continued rummaging through the tapes.
"Yeah, I went to check on Steve and his parents are home and it took a while. " Nancy responded awkwardly enough for Robin to take note. She stood up and leaned on the counter between herself and Nancy.
"Okay, what's wrong? He never talks to me about them." Robin was trying not to pry, but Steve was always so reserved about them. She'd never thought to ask Nance. She looked at her girlfriend as she took a deep breath. "I thought they liked you?" Robin prompted.
"They like me fine, they don't like Steve." Nancy finally huffed out. She looked at the floor, unsure if she should continue. When she had first found out how poorly the older boy's parents treated him she wanted to tell the whole town. Steve had to beg Nancy to keep it a secret.
"I don't like you keeping things from me," Robin leaned to catch Nancy's eye, "but if you really for some reason can't say it, I won't force you."
"It's just, I mean you had to have noticed all the, his scars. And like, his hearing?" Nancy stuttered out what she could, trying not to make herself cry or feel like she was betraying her ex. Robin could hear the strain in her voice.
"Nance, is this something other people don't know?" Robin asked carefully, grabbing her partners hands across the counter. Nancy took in a gaspy breath and nodded.
"He made me promise not to tell anyone. I couldn't, I don't want to make his, I don't know, what would happen to him." She got out between breaths.
"It's okay, hey, I know, so it's not just you anymore. We can help him out." Robin felt herself scrambling to comfort her. Nancy and Steve always talked happily about their time dating if it ever came up, stating mutual differences as their reason for not working out. Robin knew they loved each other.
"No! You can't tell anyone. Steve made me promise." Nancy started panicking, "you haven't met his dad but he's tall and-"
"Woah woah, Nance, I'm not gonna tell anyone." Robin quickly interrupted her spiral, "I mean we can check on him and convince him to get like glasses." The smaller woman immediately sat down on the chair behind the counter and huffed at Robin.
"He's fine, and it'll be fine. He's at my place sleeping now. Are we going to eat?" Nancy took a deep breath and changed the topic. There was no point getting worked up over Steve's parents, they'd be out of town again soon enough. Robin gladly dove into a discussion about which restaurants in town were the best to eat at, referencing a chart she had made while working that day.
"You're an absolute nerd." Nancy chuckled when Robin pulled out the chart and started explaining it.
"There's nothing wrong with wanting to make sure you like where you're eating." She replied.
"I was just thinking the diner." Nancy said and Robin shook her head. She smiled and listened quietly to her girlfriend as she rambled about the different pros and cons of each place. If Robin ever decided to focus on something, no matter how random, she would be on it for hours. It was always cute. Robin kept talking but stuttered when Nancy reached for her hand.
Steve woke with a start, flashes of demobats, vecna, and demogorgons replayed as he fought to catch his breath. Eddie, Barb, Nancy, Robin, Dustin, were all stuck to the ceiling when he shut his eyes. /they're not there/ Steve thought harshly to himself /they made it out, we made it out/.
As the panic edged away he realized he was still in Nancy's room, the golden light of the evening sun coming through the window. Steve found the note Nancy had left for him and switched his radio on.
"This is Harrington, seeing what's up, over." Steve laughed as he spoke into the receiver. When it wasn't an end of the world scenario, it made him feel childish to be using a walkie talkie.
"Hello, Hair, this is Eddie the Revived, you should come over, over." Eddie's voice rang through clearly, making Steve smile. He got up, grabbed Eddie's jacket and ran downstairs to get his keys and head over.
Eddie was standing in the center of his small living room, debating how he was going to get Steve to talk. He had beers out, a bowl packed, and joints rolled and hell, he could get something stronger if that's what Steve needed. Nancy had said after Steve left the other night that she was worried about him. Eddie could remember more than a handful of times Steve had come to school with bruises or strange limps in years past.
"Someone needs to talk to him." Nancy had said the second Harrington had pulled out of the park.
"Wheeler, we've all been through it since the world ending. You've been through just as much as he has." Eddie sighed, thinking Steve would just want to be left alone.
"You don't know anything about his parents, so I'll give you a pass, but he's been through a lot more than you think." She bit back. Eddie didn't bother trying to argue with her about it, they were both drunk and Robin was asleep on Nancy's lap anyway.
But now Harrington was coming over. Nancy had radioed saying she checked on Steve and she didn't want him alone too long, and asked Eddie to try talking to him. So here he was, trading out the beers once again with cold ones from the fridge as he waited nervously for Steve. What were they even supposed to talk about?
Eddie was broken from his thoughts when he heard Steve park in front of his house. He tried to look casual as he opened the door to greet his friend. Steve had a smile on his face but it wasn't enough to hide the exhausted look in his eyes. Eddie handed him a beer as they sat down together on the couch.
"Is it uh, just us?" Steve tried not to sound too interested in the idea of hanging out with Eddie alone, even though the thought was making his palms sweaty.
"Yeah, for now. The ladies may stop by when they're done bumping at Family Video." Eddie laughed as he kicked his feet up on the coffee table. Steve chuckled awkwardly and glanced at the TV. Did Robin tell him she was dating Nancy? "Feel free to pick out whatever." Eddie invited him after a moment.
Steve moved over to the piles of tapes beside the television and in boxes next to the couch. He was surprised at the variety in Eddie's collection. Horror movies, action he expected but there were also a ton of westerns, rom coms, and even some chick flicks. Maybe some were Wayne's? After carefully examining a few options he settled on The Breakfast Club, pressing play before going back to his spot on the couch.
"Good choice" Eddie flashed a smile at Steve that made him melt. He was suddenly very aware of how cold the beer was in his hands, and quickly set it down so he didn't drop it.
They sat in relative silence for the first 20 minutes of the movie. Eddie couldn't think of a way to try and get Steve to talk. He couldn't just be like "Hey Steve, Nancy says you're traumatized and need to talk to someone" right? Still thinking it over, he reached forward and grabbed the bong off the table to start it before handing it off to Steve.
"So, what's been up lately?" Eddie finally forced out after a few passes of the piece. Steve stiffened slightly, taking another hit while he thought of what to say.
"I've just been, you know, house sitting for my parents and, uh, yeah, not a lot going on but, busy... kinda." He fumbled over his lie and felt himself blush, when he glanced at Eddie he couldn't read his expression. Fuck, it wasn't working.
"Steve, I'm gonna level with you. Nancy, Robin, we're all worried about you, man. I'm not gonna try and force you to open up or whatever. If you want to sit here and just watch TV and smoke that's cool. But I'm also here, Steve, and I'll listen to you, and nothing will leave these walls." Eddie leaned forward with a serious look on his face, making sure Steve was paying attention. There was less than a foot of space between them now. Steve couldn't decide what to do next. Some small part of him wanted to lean forward pull Eddie to him and shut them both up. There was so much he wanted to ramble about, but what if Eddie decided he was crazy and never talked to him again? What if this ruins his one good thing right now? He can't lose the Munson's. Wayne's trailer had become Steve's safe place, but he was worried that would be ruined if he started talking.
"Hey, Stevie." Eddie placed his hand on Steve's, pulling him away from the spiral. "If you're going to freak yourself out about spilling your guts to me, don't do it. It's just that Nancy mentioned you needing to relax."
"Of course she did." Steve half sighed as he tried to relax a little. It was sweet of Eddie to try and take off any pressure to talk. He sat quiet a moment while he thought, pulling his hand away.
"It's not that I don't want to talk." Steve finally admitted, causing Eddie's head to snap in his direction. "I really just have no idea where to start, Eds. Sometimes I'm pretty sure I made half of it up. Like I'm lying." He continued to stare at his hands in his lap. He couldn't bear to see the pity on Eddie's face.
"I'm not worried about how much of it you're sure is true. " Eddie replied evenly, "I just want to hear how it's been for you, saving the world so many times. It doesn't even have to be in order." Steve finally glanced up and saw nothing but serious sincerity on the boy's face.
"Can I get another beer?" Steve shyly asked, feeling himself smile at the wave of acceptance he felt. Before he could get up, Eddie had jumped up and grabbed the bottle. He came back with two cold beers and a Batman lunchbox, opening the drinks first.
Steve noticed quickly the lunchbox was Eddie's stash container. He studied Eddie's ringed hands as he pulled out a few baggies and a grinder to refill the bowl. One was white and off to the side, and Eddie didn't actually touch it while he was packing. The other was a small amount of weed.
"I have some other stuff here. If you're interested." Eddie mumbled as he started to roll a joint with the extra product in the bag. Steve tried not to make a disgusted face, it wasn't that Eddie had them, he knew Eddie was a dealer. It was just...
"I don't really uh, consume, most of the time. Not since the Russians really." Steve shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Eddie immediately placed the not-weed back in the box and closed it with one hand.
"My bad. I don't have to have that around." He immediately apologized without looking up from the paper he was rolling. Eddie didn't even seem to notice how strange Steve felt with all this. With him it just felt casual.
"It's cool, it's just they kinda gave me and Robin something and it was not a great trip." Steve tried to lighten the mood. It was not working
"That sounds, fucking terrifying, honestly. You've been interrogated by Russians?" Eddie finally broke his cool demeanor, setting the joint on the table and turning to face Steve.
"Yeah, under the mall. In a secret bunker where they were opening a gate to the upside down." He replied.
.
"That's fucking crazy!" Despite this being traumatizing to Steve, they both seemed to laugh at how wild the thought was.
Steve found himself telling Eddie details he had never dared repeat to himself about the StarCourt fight. At first he tried to stick to the lighthearted things, like how he and Robin fell over while tied to chairs. Every now and then Eddie would stifle a face and ask a question, causing Steve's description to get a little darker.
"Well, you know, I was only seeing out of one eye and hallucinating at this point, but it's funny-"
"Steve, why could you only see out of one eye?" Eddie interrupted, trying to sound calm but failing.
"Oh, they beat the shit out of me." This time instead of laughing, Steve felt his voice crack. Something about Eddie's expression finally broke him. "I-I thought I was going... I was sure it was over." He took in a shaky breath as he felt Eddie's hand on his shoulder.
"You're a tough mother fucker, Harrington." He said as he watched Steve run a hand through his hair.
"Eddie?"
"Yeah?" Eddie reached for the joint he'd rolled and pulled a lighter out of his pocket.
"Can I stay here tonight?"
Eddie blew smoke out and handed the joint over.
"Anytime."
I was asked to tag @hazeleyedwoman on my last chapter. Hope you enjoy!
Note: thanks everyone for reading, just a heads up this chapter does contain physical abuse. Steve's parents are shit. The section is marked with **** on either side if you wish to skip over those paragraphs. Reminds me of the song by imagine dragons, if anyone cares lol.
Steve didn't go home after leaving Eddie's. He tried not to go home most nights if he could help it. Instead, he walked around the Hawkins suburbs, kicking cans and rocks. He waited until the sun was up to head back to Eddie's for his car.
To Steve's surprise, Eddie was outside smoking a cigarette as he walked down the pathway to his trailer.
"Up early Harrington?" Eddie questioned around his cigarette as he took off his coat and put it around Steve's shoulders.
"Something like that, you don't have-" He tried to protest, but could feel the warmth from the coat already seeping into him.
"You're visibly shaking, Stevie. Were you out all night?" Eddie looked concerned, and Steve hated it. He hated making people worry about him. First Nancy, and now Eddie.
"Well, you know I just... I don't sleep much, these days." Steve was trying so hard to be casual, and he knew he was mumbling.
"Yeah, me either. I tend to see things that aren't there." Eddie admitted, hoping to coax Steve into talking more. None of the group had brought up the upside down or anything related to it since they killed vecna. It felt like no-mans land, like it was off the table for fear of triggering anyone or causing further trauma.
Steve locked eyes with Eddie, dark circles highlighting the dullness in his eyes. "Yeah, me too, sometimes."
They nodded at each other but stood in silence. Steve was the one to break it first, mumbling about needing to get home. Eddie stopped him and ran inside to get the keys for Steve's car and a radio.
"Here man, you should uh, get a hold of me next time you can't sleep. If you want." Eddie shrugged as he handed it to Steve. He could definitely see a smile creeping up on his pretty boy face.
Steve had hoped to beat his parents home. There was no way he didn't look like crap, and smell like weed and beer. He groaned as he pulled into the driveway behind his dad's SUV.
**********
His dad muttered something in the other room as Steve walked in the door. He tried to beeline up the stairs to his room, only to be cut off by a blow on the back of his head.
"I asked where the hell you've been, boy!" His father barked over the ringing in Steve's ears. He raised a hand to strike again.
"Out, I've just been out. With friends." Steve flinched back.
"You smell awful, what you can't be bothered to shower?" He grabbed Steve by the collar of the coat Eddie had lent him and dragged him upstairs.
It wasn't the first time he'd forced Steve into a cold shower, but his dad had only gotten angrier when he saw the stitches lining Steve's body, berating him for ruining the business deal he'd been working on. Apparently his mom had been hysterical after hearing Steve was in the hospital and was admitted alongside that Munson freak. He reminded Steve that all he ever did was cause trouble, and some day he wouldn't get him out of it. Steve just sat on the floor of the shower and watched the water drain, trying not to react.
Finally, the older man seemed to have tired himself out and left the bathroom. Steve waited a few minutes in the cold water before slowly reaching up and shutting it off. He was freezing, and couldn't tell if he was still crying. He slipped as he was getting up and felt pain shoot through his back at the reopened wounds.
****************
I'm fine, it's fine. Steve thought over and over as he wrapped himself in a towel, pushing back thoughts of the last time his father had gotten so angry. He nearly killed him after he found out about Barb.
Steve walked quietly to his room and got dressed. He didn't dare go downstairs for fear of seeing his parents again, just laid on his bed and stared at the God awful wallpaper.
Nancy stopped by that afternoon. Steve's parents always liked her so they didn't have any problem letting her in. She came in and closed the door gently behind her, an all-knowing look sweeping her face as she saw Steve curled up on the comforter.
"Hey. You okay?" She sat down by his feet, being careful not to touch him. Steve didn't look at her. She's worried again, shithead. He felt awful, but pulled himself upright to sit beside Nancy. She reached a hand out to touch his back, but pulled away as Steve flinched.
"Did they.." Nancy stopped herself as she saw Steve's shoulders start to shake. She'd seen more than anyone the mark his parents had left on him over the years. Robin knew some, but Nancy had stitched him before, had redressed countless wounds.
"Your mom said they're leaving tomorrow morning again. How about you spend the night with me?" Nance offered. Steve couldn't bring himself to turn it down. It was way better on her couch than out all night, or with his parents. He packed a bag and Nancy didn't even question him when he decided to go out the window. She just followed.
When they got to Nancy's they were greeted by Karen and a plate of snacks, which Nancy grabbed and then rushed upstairs behind Steve.
"Steve, you're bleeding through this shirt." Nancy sighed as she closed her bedroom door. She made him take his shirt off and lay on her bed while she assessed the damage done to his back.
"So, it was fun at Eddie's the other night." Nancy tried smalltalk as she pressed disinfectant to all of the bleeding spots. "You haven't been out often."
"Yeah I just. I didn't know we were all still hanging out or whatever." Steve said between bites of Mrs. Wheeler's cookies. At least Nance could feign that this was all normal.
"I mean, yeah, Eddie and Robin are cool, right?" Nancy couldn't help the raise in her voice.
"Of course they're great, I know how much you like Eddie." Steve replied and flashed a small smile at Nancy. She paused before she moved on to bandaging the cuts so they wouldn't bleed through his shirt.
"What are you talking about?" She laughed. Steve thought she seemed nervous.
"Oh come on Nance, you were flirting so hard with Munson last night. When did you break up with Johnathan anyway?"
"Steve, it's been since before the most recent world ending. I was flirting with Robin." She grinned at Steve's stupid face as she said it. Of course he wouldn't remember, his memory was shit lately.
"Wait are you telling me...? You can't break Robin's heart," Steve immediately dove into a spiel about how Nancy needed to be sure because Robin didn't deserve to be experimented with unless she consented but they needed to be honest and-
"Hey, it's been months for us. I thought you would've caught on before?" She tilted her head to one side. "I know you've been flirting with Eddie." She added, raising her eyebrows at him.
"What? No way, that's not flirting." He felt himself turn red. He didn't stand a chance lying to her.
"Okay." She threw up her hands in mock resignation "whatever you say. But you should talk to him more. He'd let you stay there."
"What, can I not stay here?" Steve felt a lump in his throat.
"That's not what I said. You guys just have more in common than you think." Nancy sighed. She helped Steve into a clean shirt. He slept all afternoon on her bed.
The next Friday Steve cooked up a casserole and headed to Eddie's house. His parents were never home, so he didn't bother to tell anyone where he was going.
Walking up to the door of Eddie's house, Steve could hear laughing inside from a few different people. Wasn't it just supposed to be Eddie and Wayne? This was the day Eddie told him to come over. Steve swallowed and knocked. The door opened and a wall of smoke hit Steve in the face.
"Oh shit, hey, Harrington." Eddie greeted him with a smile. Steve chuckled nervously as Eddie motioned him inside. He walked in and through the haze of weed and tobacco he could make out Nancy and Robin sitting on the couch next to each other.
"Steve brought munchies!" Eddie exclaimed behind Steve, thrusting his fists in the air.
"Oh my God, please tell me it's your lasagna." Nancy spoke in a drawn out voice, leaning over the open seat of the couch to look at Steve better.
"Yes, please God let it be lasagna." Robin poked her head out from behind the other woman.
"No fair, everyone else has tried this but me?!" Eddie feigned anger with a grin on his face. Steve turned around so they wouldn't see how flustered he got when they complimented him, and walked to the kitchen. He knew where the oven was from his time hanging out with Wayne.
"Want a beer, Stevie?" Eddie opened the fridge behind where Steve was fussing with the oven and cracked it open.
"Thanks. Did Wayne get stuck at work?" Steve asked as he took a drink.
"Yeah he picked up a shift. I thought you wouldn't mind us all having a movie night." Eddie hid his smile behind a piece of his hair, nervous Steve would decide to leave. Instead, the jock just smiled back, going into the living room. Eddie raced around him and grabbed the spot on the other side of Nancy, leaving Steve in their recliner.
Steve tried not to notice how close Robin, Nancy, and Eddie looked on the couch together. Nancy was in the middle with her feet up on the coffee table. Robin and Eddie on either side of her had beers and their free arms around Nancy. He did his best to swallow his pang of guilt. Had they been hanging out together these last few weeks? He should've known, no wonder Robin kept telling him to call Eddie.
He continued to sit and sip his beer. They were watching 'Friday the 13th' and Robin and Steve couldn't stop hiding when anything happened. Eddie occasionally yelled out as well, jumping off the couch. Nancy seemed unfazed.
When the timer for the lasagna went off, Eddie got off the couch and followed Steve into the kitchen. He noticed Steve throwing out his empty bottle, so he went ahead and opened another for himself and his friend. Hoping Steve thought he went in there for a drink instead of just a chance to talk to him.
"I was gonna serve you guys in the living room. Unless you wanted to come get it yourselves." Steve blushed as he took the beer. It made Eddie smile.
"I'll help you take out the ladies plates." Eddie offered. Steve reached for the paper plates before Eddie could even think to tell him where they were. Steve dished up lasagna and garlic bread-Eddie had no idea where he got it from-for everyone and turned to hand two plates to the rocker.
"Damn Harrington, you sure seem at home." Eddie mumbled under his breath. Steve didn't even turn around. Did he not hear him? Doesn't matter, he thought, I like that he's comfy here.
Steve led the way into the living room, handing a plate to Robin as he returned to the recliner. Eddie made a big flourish as he gave Nancy the food. Then Eddie ran and grabbed their beers, setting Steve's on the coffee table near him. He alternated between eating and rolling joints, forming a small pile as they switched the movie to 'Chicago'.
"It's a bunch of fine ladies in lingerie killing their husbands. Of course I own it." Eddie had retorted when Nancy picked on him for having a musical.
"Well I like it better than whatever the hell happened in 'Texas Chainsaw'." Robin shuttered as she pressed play on their movie.
"So, Steve, did your parents like freak when you came home from the hospital?" Eddie tried to speak clearly since he was across the small room. Robin and Nancy stiffened. They'd never thought to mention Steve didn't really talk about his parents.
Steve seemed unfazed, flashing a small smile and looking from Eddie to his drink. "They, uh. Haven't been back... since before." He picked at the label of his beer uncomfortably. Eddie's smile dropped.
"Didn't someone call them?" Eddie tried to hide the rage he felt. Steve had almost died, how could they not worry about their son?
"Yeah they, they did. They're just really busy and, ya know, they have business things to do." Steve tried to sound lighthearted. "They'll be back in a few days." He added.
A knock at the door interrupted anything Eddie could try to say. He got up and opened the door for Johnathan and Argyle. They came in as Eddie grandiousely gestured them to enter. Nancy glanced at Johnathan but they didn't exchange more than a nod. Had Steve missed a breakup? Eddie spoke to them quietly in the kitchen. Steve noticed Nancy scoot over into Robin's seat, reaching toward Steve to get his attention and drawing him away from figuring out what Eddie was doing.
"I'm still here, if you wanna talk." Nancy spoke low and serious. "I know that your parents can be a shitty topic."
"Thanks Nance, but it's okay." Steve tried to smile at her. She knew him too well, and could tell it was a lie. He didn't want to talk to her about it, not right now. She didn't need to hear about how he hadn't really been sleeping, or showering, or how he missed coming to Wayne's because at least there he had a reason to eat.
Nancy dropped it as Robin sat down beside her, flinging her arm back around Nancy's shoulders. Steve swore he saw her blush. Now that he thought of it, it had been a while since Robin mentioned who she currently had a crush on.
Eddie returned to the couch as Argyle and Johnathan exited the trailer. Were they holding hands? Steve couldn't be sure through the smoke and without his glasses. Eddie lit up a joint and got up to hand it to Steve.
"Wow, what happened to left is-" Robin started but was cut off by Nancy elbowing her in the ribs. Steve took a drag and passed to Nance. Eddie positioned himself on the arm rest next to Nancy and Steve tried not to be jealous that he hadn't sat by him.
They kept smoking and drinking long past the end of 'Chicago'. Talking about school and their stupid jobs. Eddie and Robin did most of the talking, making jokes back and forth. Every time Robin cracked a joke, Nancy laughed. After a while she was pretty much curled into Robin's side. Is she, flirting? Steve locked eyes with her and she smiled, seemingly knowing she'd been caught and not caring.
"Well, I think it's time to turn in. Ed, can we crash?" Robin asked after they had run out of joints.
"Of course, would you like my bed?" Eddie offered, winking at the ladies. Nancy rolled her eyes and giggled. Giggled? Now she was definitely flirting.
"Nah, we'll keep to the couch." Nancy answered. Steve got up and grabbed them blankets and pillows from the closet, too busy trying to figure which of his friends Nancy was interested in to hear Eddie behind him.
"You really have been here this much?" Eddie chuckled, making sure Steve could hear him. They both felt their faces turn red. "Why didn't you come back?"
Steve stood rigid. He had wanted to apologize, or tell Eddie he had been busy, but he couldn't think of a good enough excuse. "I just guess I didn't want to bother you." Steve played with the edge of one of the blankets.
"You are never bothering me, Harrington. My uncle Wayne fucking loves you. You can hang out here." Eddie awkwardly muttered. Looking up at Steve, he wasn't sure if he'd caught his whole sentence.
"I'd better get home. My parents will be back in the morning." Steve shrugged. Eddie nodded and took the bedding from Steve, walking to give it to the ladies on the couch while Steve got his jacket.
"Steve, is that all you've got? It's cold out there." Nancy said in her mom voice. Steve looked at them and said something along the lines of "it's fine" before letting himself out and walking home.
Eddie turned to Nancy and Robin as soon as the door shut behind Steve.
Summary: You’re five years old, and you meet a boy. He's small and doesn't talk much, and he has the brightest blond hair you think you've ever seen. His smile could light up the room, even though he doesn't do it often
You’re five years old, and it’s the start of a very long and complicated road.
You wouldn’t have it any other way.
Word Count: 2,728
Fandom: Henry Danger
Dedications (Tags): This is my first time posting something on here and I didn’t want to bug anyone with tags lol. If you would like a future tag just let me know! <33
A/N: I was re-watching the finale and I was trying to put myself in Jasper and Charlotte’s shoes. I ended up really emotional and writing this out as a result. It’s really different from my usual writing style, and I’m actually really unsure about how good it is but I’m gonna post it anyways! It’s in second person if anyone doesn’t like reading in that pov.
Picture this: You're five years old, and you meet a boy. He's small and doesn't talk much, and he has the brightest blond hair you think you've ever seen. His smile could light up the room, even though he doesn't do it often.
You promise yourself that you’d try to make him smile as much as possible. You’re young and carefree, picked on by most kids, but this boy doesn't seem like most kids.
This kid seems different, in all the good ways.
~~
Picture this: You become fast friends with the boy. He's still small and quiet, but he's not afraid to stick up for himself or others. You’ve always known it, but others didn’t.
Not until another boy, with mischievous eyes and a mean left hook stood over you, your cheek burning as tears threatened to fall.
The boy - your friend - jumps in front of you. He tries to swing at the mean boy, face set with raw determination and rage.
He doesn’t get far, and the mean boy gets a few more bruises on you two before he gets tired and moves on. He leaves you and your new friend lying on the ground, covered in scratches and marks that were definitely going to be sore the next day.
He rolls his head over to look at you with a toothy grin, blond hair disheveled. You look at each other before you both laugh, and the defeat doesn’t feel as bitter as it should.
The boy's name is Henry Hart, and he is your best friend.
~~
Picture this: You and Henry have both grown older and you both meet a girl, with beautiful curly hair and a laugh that sounds like music to your ears. She loves school and learning as much as you love your buckets, and she has a strong urge for adventure and fantasy. Life is never dull around her. The three of you become quick friends, so quickly that it feels like you've never not known each other, and you all feel unstoppable.
The girl's name is Charlotte Page-Bolton, and together the three of you are stronger than ever.
~~
Picture this: You have an idol, and his name is Captain Man. He’s Swellview’s hero, he never gets hurt, and he’s the coolest guy you think you’ve ever seen.
Charlotte and Henry both tease you for it, but you can tell they're both as star-struck by him as you are. Who wouldn’t be?
Then one day he gets a sidekick. You’re a little jealous of him, but you know that he’s just as cool. He reminds you of Henry, in a way. The way he holds himself, the hidden snark, even his blond hair looks strikingly familiar if you sweep Henry's bangs back.
But you know it can't be him. The three of you don't keep secrets (minus Nemo, Charlotte's beloved fish, but you don't talk about that.)
Henry would've told you if he was Kid Danger, so it can't be him. Obviously.
~~
Picture this: You're feeling left out.
Charlotte and Henry have been running off and ditching you together for a while now, and you're starting to question your worth to them. You try asking questions but they always dodge them, and you always end up alone.
You don't know why they've started acting like this, don't know when, but it only gets worse as the days and months go by.
Piper, as much as you don't mind hanging out with her, isn't the same as them. She doesn't like hanging out with you.
You miss your best friends.
~~
Picture this: Henry, one of two best friends, the person that has stuck by your side from the very beginning when he could’ve easily walked away, was Captain Man's sidekick.
Your best friend was Kid Danger.
And you couldn’t have been prouder.
You understand why he couldn't tell you. It stings a little, how he didn't tell you but told Charlotte, but you understand.
You're so proud of both of them and you tell them so when everything has calmed down, after the threat of you having your memories erased and the excitement washes away.
(It warms your heart that Henry was so willing to quit his job every kid dreams about. All for you. But you don't tell him that.)
~~
Picture this: Henry has super speed.
He saves your butt, sure, but your best friend is now moving so fast you can only see a blur.
For a moment you wonder if he's been struck by lightning in Schwoz's lab, but that's just all of those superhero comics getting to you.
Henry has super speed and you have a lot of questions.
~~
Picture this: It's so quick, but all of a sudden Henry doesn't have super speed.
(It's really called super fast reflexes, but you call it super speed in secret. Henry does - did - things with it that weren't technically reflexes. Reflexes don't let you complete a 10,001 puzzle in a blink of an eye.)
It's gone, and in its wake is a boy who is left lost and confused. He had grown so used to it that he felt empty without it, and there was nothing he could ever do to get it back.
It was simple: lose his power, save the world.
You try to cheer everyone up, but you haven't always been the best with words, even if Henry still gets the message.
Ray gives the three of you the weekend off, and you automatically suggest a road trip. Swellview is just too cramped, too self-centered, too much for three hurting teens. You, Charlotte, and Henry all hit the road with no destination in sight. Despite knowing you were all due back at the end of the weekend, you all decide to stay, if only to pretend you don’t have any responsibilities.
It’s one week since you were due back when Ray and Schwoz find you three in a small, basic hotel room near Hiddenville. They’re both furious, but they don’t lecture you this time. They tell you they were worried sick, more concerned that something bad had happened than angry at being gone so long, and make you promise that if you ever decide to skip town you need to tell them.
The tight hugs the give after is what seals the deal. You promise as you all hug back that someone will be told.
It’s enough.
~~
Picture this: You're much older now. You've just graduated high school and are starting to pave the way for your future. All of your other friends do too, all except for one. He’s stuck, probably has been for a long time, and his world feels as if it’s crumbling from around him.
~~
Picture this: Your world is crumbling from around you. Literally.
The ground is being ripped apart beneath your feet as one friend tries desperately to save another. You can only stand there, not sure of what to do, already being done with your task.
Your friends' lives are at risk and all you can do is stand there, useless.
~~
Picture this: Henry tells you to run. He tells you to run from the debris that is falling around you and Charlotte. He sounds desperate, and it hurts, deep in your chest, that you can’t help him. But you’ll respect his wish.
You promised him years ago you would follow him to the end of the world and back when you were both young enough to not have a care in the world. That was before you met Charlotte, but you promised her the same thing after a long night of star-gazing.
You can still remember how the light reflected in her warm eyes, so full of life and joy. So different from the panic-filled ones you’re looking at right now.
Henry wasn't a boy any longer, just like you and the girl. You’re all almost out of your teens, almost adults.
Almost. But not yet.
You pick up Charlotte and throw her over your shoulder as she cries Henry’s name, your legs pumping as fast as they can as the floor caves under your feet.
None of you will be adults if you don’t make it out in time.
~~
Picture this: You make it out of the cave, out of danger, and you finally set Charlotte down on the sidewalk, far away from the wreckage and anything familiar. You both sit down silently, and it finally hits you.
You’ve lost him. The golden-haired boy, with a bright smile and too brave soul. It’s unfair, so unfair, because all he’s ever wanted to do was help.
Charlotte must’ve realized it too because she lets out a painful sob that shreds your already fractured heart to pieces. You wrap your arms around her to provide whatever small comfort you can in your own grief, and you both sit there, crying as you hold tightly onto each other, as if the other was going to disappear too.
~~
Picture this: It takes you three hours to dig him out.
It looks like something from an apocalypse movie. The ground is scorched and ripped apart, the grass burnt in some places and still on fire in others. The blimp is scattered every which way, the smell of smoke nauseating and unforgivable.
You’ll never forget it, no matter how much time passes. No matter how much you want to.
Piper finds half a red mask about an hour in, and after you shed a few more tears you get back to work searching.
Henry is still out there somewhere.
You still have a best friend to find.
Charlotte and Schwoz find him in the end. They cry out for everyone to help them and you're immediately there, helping to heave a nastily heavy piece of blimp off Henry’s body.
The five of you get it off in no time with a little effort, a bright green light blinding you all momentarily before it’s gone and in its place is a familiar blond-haired boy.
He’s unconscious and covered in scratches, but his chest still rises and falls. Ray leaps towards him and checks for a pulse, crying out in relief as he finds one. It should be impossible, but none of you are willing to look the gift horse in the mouth.
You cry once more that night. Henry was alive, Charlotte was ok. Your best friends are safe and you thank any higher being that may be listening.
Schwoz takes everyone to a place he has been working on for a while to rest and be checked over. The Man's Nest, he calls it. It’s not anything like the Man Cave, but it’s not all that bad.
You pretty well stumble into the new base, both mentally and physically drained, Charlotte and Piper right behind you. Ray carries Henry in bridal style before placing him on a bed that Schwoz wheels in next to the couch. You and Charlotte stay by his side the whole night, snuggling up to each other on the couch even though Piper, Schwoz, and Ray are still up and about, doing something you were too tired to care about.
You figure the world can wait until tomorrow, because you aren't going to move anytime soon.
~~
Picture this: You wake up, far away from your childhood home, tangled in between two bodies as the rain hits the window with a steady rhythm. You’re older now, more experienced, and wiser.
None of you know if you'll be staying here forever, but you don't worry about it. You’re all building a home here, between being vigilantes and regular people. It’s nice, but it doesn’t really matter to you anyways.
Anyplace will be home for you if you're by their sides.
~~
Picture this: You're in Canada, and you finally realize it.
The three of you are up there visiting some of Charlotte's distant family members for the holidays before you head back to Swellview for a visit.
The three of you are ice skating on a pond. Well, Charlotte is, you and Henry kind of just shuffling around as she laughs at your complaints of burning ankles and wobbly balance. The ice is slippery but sturdy, and the cold makes your face sting, but it's not as bad as you both complain it is.
Not until Henry ends up slipping and losing his balance, jerking his body to find anything to grab onto to save himself. Unfortunately, that something is you, and with your guard down you end up toppling on top of Charlotte. The three of you tumble to the hard ice, howling with laughter as the shock melts away.
The three of you lie in a heap, laughing despite the cold that starts to seep into your clothes. Both Henry and Charlotte's cheeks are flushed, their eyes sparkling with joy.
And that is when you finally, truly realize that you want to spend the rest of your life with them.
~~
Picture this: You wake up, and you're alone.
You didn't go to bed alone. In fact, you know you went to bed with Henry and Charlotte at the same time last night after coming back from patrol.
This is the first time this has happened, actually. Even if someone had to get out of bed early for whatever reason, they always woke the others to let them know.
They haven't left each other without saying anything since they were still living in Swellview. Blame it on the paranoia, on past experiences, or just to know that someone knows you're gone.
You're instantly filled with dread. It's still early, only 8 am in fact, and the room is still dark. There's noise coming from outside the bedroom and you're suddenly on autopilot as you creep off the bed and out of the room. You stumble into the little kitchen/living room area in only your boxers, pulling out your sleeping gum and cell phone. You'll fight in your underwear if you have to, as long as they're both ok.
You didn't know what you were expecting, but the two people you were looking for covered head-to-toe in flour was not it. All three of you freeze, like deer in headlights. Their faces turn sheepish after a while as they notice your gum in hand, but you wave off their apologies, questioning why they were up so early baking.
There's all kinds of foods, including pancakes, muffins, and a large, beautifully iced cake with balloons and hearts on it. 'Happy Birthday Jasper!' was written next to a smiley face in Charlotte's slanted handwriting, and you laugh in both relief and affection. It was supposed to be a surprise, they tell you. It still is in a sense, because you had forgotten all about it between the adrenaline-rush that is patrol and your morning search. You give them both a kiss in the cheek in both apology and thanks, getting a kiss from each in return.
The day is spent laughing and simply enjoying each other's company as the world keeps on moving.
~~
Picture this: You're sitting on the couch in the cozy Man's Nest, next to Henry, Charlotte, and Piper. Captain Man's new team is running around all over the place, excitedly sharing their latest adventures since the last time you all were in Swellview.
The Danger Force kids are growing up too, faster than you would like. They're reaching their late teens, early twenties, as lively as ever and not looking like they’ll stop the hero business anytime soon.
(You want to tell them you’re proud of them, but for now, you’ll let them continue their stories.)
Ray and Schwoz are standing in the background with crossed arms and fond looks. They’re getting older too, despite their protests. You turn to get a better look of them, and you're surprised to see something akin to...pride in their faces.
Ray catches your gaze and rolls his eyes, grinning. You smile back, knowing the fourteen-year-old boy you once were would’ve laughed in your face if you told him where you’ve ended up. He wouldn’t understand, not like you do now.
~~
Your life has changed dramatically over the years, but you wouldn’t trade it for the world. No matter where you are, where you go, Charlotte and Henry will always be your home, and you'll forever treasure the friends you've found along the way.
Not me realizing one of my steddie fic chapters got eaten by the void 😭 but on the bright side I didn't love how it was written anyway so ig I get to try again.
