Steddie Fic | Little_Annie | Ao3
Chapter two in the link ⤵️
Steddie Fic | Little_Annie | Ao3
If you haven't read Ch.1 yet, click here ⤵️
Steddie Fic | Little_Annie | Ao3
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It was good.
It was
Eddie had been home for a little less than a month. Doing what? Steve didn't know. Not as much as he'd like to anyways. It's not like he could keep up his gatherings or calls with Wayne, not with Eddie back to living in the trailer. On the rare occasion that Wayne was home while Eddie was at school and Steve wasn't working or volunteering to distract himself, then yeah they could get together or at the very least Wayne would call with an update but recently those updates were few and far between.
Delivering care packages through town and volunteering at some of the remaining relief shelters provided some solace, be it a veil of illusion or not but that was short lived anyways, Hawkins recovering in record time and Steve's own energy levels dwindling. Grief does that to a person he's discovered.
Oftentimes in idle moments between work and chats with Wayne he found himself in the same spot he'd remain for months to follow. Sulking in his bed, wishing things could've been different. More times than not it was accompanied by the quiet hum of Eddie's cassettes and the lingering comfort the man's clothes held as they draped over his figure.
It'd only been maybe a handful of times that he'd seen Robin or Dustin. On all accounts it was thanks to their own persistence. Robin climbing through the window of the kitchen, falling rather unceremoniously to the linoleum floor with a huff or Dustin's incessant knocking.
He hadn't meant to shut everyone out, but he couldn't handle the reminders of Eddie that clung to them. Especially Dustin. It was heartbreaking to see him and watch him grieve in the same way Steve only could behind closed doors. But it was in those times that he'd realise it wasn't only him who'd lost Eddie. Dustin was beside himself and as unfortunate as that may be, it only helped to add to Steve's plan.
After his most recent call with Wayne, whispered words through the line before Eddie got home from band practice, they had a solid plan. Well the start of one anyway. But it was something nonetheless and goddammit did Steve hope it'd work.
It's with a flimsy idea of a plan, high hopes and Dustin Henderson at his side, that Steve was currently lingering in the grocery store, knowing Eddie to hopefully show his face as per his earlier conversation with Wayne.
Though Dustin didn't know the full gist of the plan, he knew the idea was to win over Eddie once again, be it for the sake of himself and Hellfire and not one sad and grieving Steve Harrington.
They were in the cereal aisle, Steve behind the cart and Dustin at his side, the kid being uncharacteristically quiet with a worrying expression on his face, though he'd try and mask it anytime he actually did speak.
Weird Al shirt and a gummy grin, the kid tosses a box of Honeycomb cereal into the cart with an annoying clang, "You sure about this?" He asks
"No," Steve simply states, because he's really not sure about this. Not just the plan, but his capabilities on remaining normal for the moments to come. He hasn't seen Eddie in over a month and his heart aches for the man. He's not sure he can restrain himself from tackling Eddie in a flurry of kisses in the middle of the grocery store.
Well, that, or having an absolute breakdown.
"Oh, well that's great Steve," Dustin sneers, all attitude, "really convincing. Great pep talk."
But before Steve can retort he hears the familiar stomp of combat boots, jingle of a chain and hum of a beautiful voice.
Steve's heart hammers in his chest and suddenly everything around him fades. Dustin's still talking but Eddie's still humming, he knows it's him without a doubt, occasionally whispering the words to a song Steve only knows because it's one of Eddie's favourites. He's one aisle over but without even seeing Steve knows exactly where Eddie stops and reaches out for a case of Yoohoo with a childish smile on his face. He knows what Eddie does next before the sound of a metal cap snapping clips through the air. He can picture him, an open bottle of Yoohoo in hand, downing half the bottle before he tilts his head to the side and acts as if he's contemplating grabbing another case of six. And Steve knows he does.
A breath shudders from his chest, attention being pulled back to reality by a flick to the arm by Dustin as he hisses, "Act cool, if we're going to make friends with him we have to be cool."
Steve scoffs, looks down at Dustin's shirt, "Yeah, cuz' Weird Al's cool."
"You take that back." Dustin takes offence, a hand to his chest, mock gasp. Theatrics learned from the very man they're trying to win over.
"No." Steve shrugs, inching the cart forward, hoping to bump into Eddie at the end of the aisle.
"Obviously it's cool, Steve." Dustin scoffs, egregious, "Out of the two of us, only one is in a loving relationship and my friend," he pauses apparently for some effect, not knowing his words just crushed a sliver of Steve's heart, "-that one is not you."
Yeah it's not, Steve thinks to himself, Dustin's words kind of hitting him like a dagger to the heart. Yeah it's not. Steve Harrington, single, alone, unloved. Tears sting his eyes and he's all but winded when the handle of his cart jams in his gut with force.
"Shit man, I'm so-" the deep voice Steve's grown to know so well cuts off and he finds himself staring at its source. Silence in his breath, tears in his eyes, he can't bring himself to say anything even as Dustin's finger digs into his side and prompts him to say something, anything, but he can't. "Harrington." Eddie continues, almost breathless, his tone not as venomous as Steve expected it to be and as his eyes search the face of the man he loves, he can't help but notice the blush on his cheeks.
All Steve can manage is a pathetic nod, even as Dustin shoots him a glare.
"Sorry about my friend here," Dustin states, leaning forward to whisper, "he's gotten hit in the head a few too many times and sometimes it shows." Steve would scoff if he had the ability, but currently he doesn't so he lets Dustin take the reins, "Hey you're uh, you're the guy who runs Hellfire at Hawkins High right?"
Oh and to see Eddie's eyes light up, Steve's pretty sure his heart skips a beat or several.
"Yeah kid," Eddie beams, looking between Steve and Dustin before his smile grows wider, "you play?"
"Do I play, he says," Dustin huffs to himself with a smile, puffing his chest out with pride as he continues, "Eddie the Banished, the most diabolical DM on this side of Indiana's state lines, yes I do play and I assure you, I can beat any campaign you throw my way!"
While Dustin continues to boast about his skill and his character that Eddie himself helped create, Steve can't help but remain silent and watch the interaction unfold. Well that's until Eddie speaks and he realises Dustin's mistake.
"H-how'd you know my name?"
Dustin stammers, because yeah, in Eddie's mind they've never met before and there's no logical reason why some random kid grocery shopping with Steve Harrington would know his name.
While Dustin continues to flounder, Steve has no choice but to pull up his bootstraps, "I um," god, he thinks, it's hard to be so close and not be able to hold him, "I told him about you," he scratches the back of his neck, trying so damn hard to look Eddie in the eye without crying, "uh, we had third period English together last year."
"Oh," Eddie blushes further, cheeks darkening, a dimple beginning to dent his pink skin and Steve might melt right into the floor because fuck did he miss that.
With that thankfully Dustin regains some vigour, shooting his hand out to Eddie for a shake, "Dustin Henderson by the way!"
Eddie struggles to pull his eyes from Steve, eventually taking the kid's hand with a smile, formally introducing himself, "Eddie, Munson." His eyes flash to meet Steve's for a moment before his cheeks darken impossibly more, "If you ever wanna join a campaign kid we're always looking for new recruits. Meet Wednesdays at 4pm in the drama room of Hawkins High."
Dustin beams, Steve can see the excitement radiating from the kid, "Yeah?!" He nearly screeches with excitement, "I've got a few friends who play too, can I bring 'em with me?"
"The more the merrier kid." Eddie says as he flashes Steve a smile, forcing a blush to creep across his cheeks.
Dustin punches the air with a triumphant, "Fuck yeah!" Only to be instinctively pinched by Steve and scolded with a hissed, "Language."
Arriving back at the trailer, Eddie didn't quite know what to think. The burning in his heart for Steve Harrington seemed a little more aggressive than normal. Like yeah, the guy's hot, always has been. There's always been something magnetic about him. Has always been some sort of interest to him but today, at the grocery store, that was something different. He doesn't know how to quite explain it. He didn't feel his usual disdain for the man. It felt diluted, greatly so, like he'd rather smother the man with love than slap him for being equally parts douchey and painfully beautiful.
And that damn kid he had with him. Did Steve Harrington babysit? Babysit nerdy kids with gummy smiles and Weird Al shirts? Was that a fucking thing? Jesus Christ, if that fuckers good with kids that's just another nail in the coffin.
Dropping his groceries to the floor of the kitchen, paper bags and glass jars clambering on the linoleum, Eddie shouts through the trailer, "Uncle Wayne, I'm back!"
Shuffling down the hallway, Wayne appears, an indecipherable expression on his face, "How was grocery shopping kid?"
Had the wind knocked out of me by a beautiful man, Eddie thinks to himself
"Fuckin weird." He says instead, "Literally ran into Steve Harrington and some kid whom I'm assuming he babysits," he shakes his head, disgusted with himself over the fact that he's never really managed to get over the honey eyed jock, "cuz that's just fuckin peachy."
Wayne snorts, digging through the bags of groceries, "Ran into him eh? What, ya ram the poor boy with your cart or somethin'?"
"Yeah actually! And he's still too fuckin' pretty. I'm sure I was blushing like a damn fool." Eddie huffs, crouching down to help his uncle sort through the groceries.
"Oh so you're still in love with the boy?" Wayne asks, eyeing Eddie curiously, watching as he pulls a chunk of hair across his face to cover his blush, "What is it Ed, going on three years of a crush on that boy?"
"N-no. Not in love with the guy! He's just nice to look at, that's all." Eddie says the last words in a hushed tone, avoiding Wayne's knowing gaze while he shoulders past to put his chocolate milk in the fridge.
Whether Eddie wants to admit it or not, Wayne's no stranger to his long term crush on Steve Harrington. Yeah the guy's a douche, but there's always been something about him. Something Wayne would hear about while the other boy was still attending Hawkins High. 'Steve Harrington this, Steve's Harrington that, Steve Harrington's eyes and oh my god Wayne, Steve Harrington's ass in gym shorts, fuck I might actually have to start going to class.'
"Sure, sure boy." Wayne smiles, those past conversations running through his mind, "So, yous saying if the Harrington boy asked you out you'd say no?"
"I'm not dignifying that with an answer, old man." Eddie huffs again, still avoiding his Uncle's eye because that's not even possible, not in this realm of possibilities anyways. Steve Harrington asking Eddie Munson out? Yeah right. Why not dwell on that a little more and let his heart break for the relationship he'll never have.
Boys like Steve Harrington don't like other boys, let alone other boys like Eddie 'The Freak.' They don't like boys who come from the poverty line and broken homes, boys who listen to heavy music and protest society, boys who play fantasy games and reread the Hobbit several times a year.
Boys like Steve Harrington have a future ahead of them. White picket fences, a beautiful wife and a dozen well behaved kids. A job they hate but make enough money to keep them coming back. Expensive vacations and family trips. Looking down on people like Eddie and Wayne, sitting high on their thrones looking pretty as they spit on the peasants down below.
Boys like Eddie Munson are doomed for failure, doomed to fall through the cracks of the very society they hate; to be lost to the world. If not to be hate crimed or killed for who they love, then to fade into nothing, the memories of their past fading in the minds of those that once knew them. Boys like Eddie Munson live in a trailer park and end up in jail more times than they can count.
Boys like Eddie Munson aren't worth wanting.
"Sure, sure." Wayne's words interrupt his internal struggle, "He's a good kid I think. After the whole… uh… earthquake deal he was a big help in the community, fixin' up houses and delivering care packages to old folks and stuff."
"I'm sure he was just a knight in shining armour Wayne," Eddie half shouts, denying the possibility of Steve Harrington being a good guy, sneaking down the hall with a pack of smokes and a bottle of Yoohoo.
Steve's home now, ass sat on the couch, staring at a blank TV, liatening to the nothingness around him. He'd managed to bet the groceries put away and Dustin booted out on the Henderson front steps before making it home to wallow.
He's alone as usual, wearing one of Eddie's shirts yet again and trying not to cry. What's new?
But as he's sitting there wallowing in self pity the phone rings, an annoying wail coming from the kitchen. Everything in him wishes it was Eddie calling but he knows it's not. It probably never will be again.
Steve struggles to reach the phone but manages to peel himself off the couch and pick up the receiver just before the last ring.
Steve leans against the wall, crossing his arms over his stomach, tucking the phone between his shoulder and ear, "Hello?" He says confused, voice cautious
"Hey Kid." A gruff voice comes from the other end of the line, deep and gravely
"Wayne?" He smiles, can't quite help it now, that man's like the father he never had and well, it helps that he's the only connection to Eddie that he has left, "How's he doing?"
Wayne chuckles from the other end of the line a rustling follows like the phone's shifting or the man's getting comfortable, "He's doing just fine… Listen boy I've only got a few minutes, Ed's over at the neighbours helping Miss Carlson bring in groceries. Just wanted to let you know it sounds like your plan's already workin'. Poor boy was blushin' talking about you when he got home from the store today."
Steve's stomach flips, a rush of hope flooding through his veins, "Was he?" He asks, almost breathless
"He sure was." Wayne says with a hint of a smile in his voice, "You know boy, he ever tell you he's had a nasty crush on you since his sophomore year?"
"No," Steve whispers, out of the months he'd spent with Eddie that hadn't actually come up. There was mention of a previous crush, but never something of such a great length. Maybe he has more of a chance winning his man back than he thought.
"Oops," Wayne huffs a laugh, "Well you ain't heard it from me, but ya know now and apparently," the man drolls with a chuckle, "he thinks you're painfully pretty."
Steve couldn't help but snort in response, that was something Eddie had told him often, 'Steve Harrington, you're so beautiful it hurts,' 'Stevie Sweetheart, you my love are a painfully pretty little thing.'
"Oh and kid,-" Wayne interjects, interrupting his train of thought, "-I forgot to mention, he doesn't remember the day he woke up. Says it's all blurry, thought I was the one who kissed him. Doesn't remember you being there at all. I suppose the drugs they had 'im on play a big part in that."
Thank God. That might make things a bit easier if Eddie doesn't remember him kissing him. Might make Steve out to not be as fucking crazy as it would if Eddie remembered the moment "The Hair" kissed "The Freak."
"Well that's a bit of a relief. Christ, at least he doesn't remember that." Steve chews his lip before sadness creeps back into his tone and he quietly says, "If only he remembered the last year though."
With a matching tone, Wayne sighs, "I know, kid. I- I know ya love him something fierce but there's nothing we can do about that now other than helping you win him over again."
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