It’s a cool night as Steve exists his car, a soft thud announcing his arrival as he shuts the door behind him. His eyes glance over the outdoor lights he’s placed along the perimeter of his house illuminating much of the driveway and the surrounding forests, an early warning sign for anything that might come crawling from the shadows the lights aren’t able to breach. There’s a dull buzz from the lights as he passes by, old wires beginning to show their years of constant nightly use. Despite how mundane the act is of approaching his house, his muscles are tense as he walks up the path to his door. He holds a still-hot pizza box in one hand and a few bags of various supplies slung around his arm. He grips his keys in his opposite hand, far too tightly, as if he’s nervous they might slip from his hand. Metal teeth dig into his palm. His jaw clenches. It was always nerve wracking to head into his home late at night, but everything had gotten far worse since the ‘earthquake’ that tore through Hawkins. Since the deaths. The near deaths. Steve fights the urge to glance over his shoulder as he slots the key into the lock, a soft click as he twists it. The door barely makes a sound as it opens, well-taken care of hinges. Anything imperfect would’ve been replaced.
He’s quiet as he enters, the rustling of paper bags and his own footsteps the only hint to his arrival. It’s not until he shuts and locks the door behind him does Steve finally call out,
“ Munson, man, you awake ? ”
Wouldn’t be too surprised if he was asleep. Painful wounds mixed with the boredom he was positive Eddie felt being practically ‘couch-ridden’ while he heals must make sleeping the hours away seem like a great idea. A reply comes from the living room, however, and Steve is relieved to know he won’t have to disturb the poor guy to force him through the ordeal of another bandage change. Every day, the same routine, as equally unpleasant as the last. He slides off his shoes, kicking them to the side before he heads into the living room, his eyes glancing from the TV towards the other man resting himself on the couch.
“ I got dinner. Pepperoni, cheese. Classic. ”
He gestures with the pizza for emphasis, offering a half-smile before he sets it down on the coffee table. It’s a slight attempt at an apology for what he has to do. Steve lets the bags slide off his arm, full of fresh gauze and cotton pads. Devices of torture, honestly, for the two of them. Steve’s injuries were way less drastic, but he been forced to go to the hospital all the same. Thankfully, at least, he was able to ask the staff there about proper wound care, giving himself a refresher on what he learned during his first-aid classes.