"C'mon Eddie" Steve says exasperated, they've been at this for a couple of days at least "Hopper already explained it to you" he tries to plead but Eddie is dramatically holding to the seat of his van like his life depends on it.
"I refuse to let my baby go, Steve" he yells at him, tugging himself even further into it.
Steve can only sigh, he knew this was going to happen. He told Hopper as much when he brought the issue in the last meeting.
"Eddie, you can't keep your van, people will start to question how or why it's been seen around" he tries to look for his face, reason with him "Do I need to remind you that you're not supposed to be alive?"
Eddie turns at that but his eyes are starting to water and Steve is pretty sure he is resisting the urge to pout. It's kinda cute.
"How can you ask me to get rid of her?" he says again "What if they told you to get rid of your BMW, huh?"
Steve knows, he completely understands. If it was him and his car, what Eddie is doing would be seen as understandable in comparison.
But, between keeping Eddie safe and the van. The van has to go.
"C'mon Eddie, it's either you doing it yourself or Hopper coming next week to do it" Steve tries again, putting a hand on Eddie's shoulder to try and sooth him.
Eddie sniffs loudly, looking at the floor of the van before he cleans his face and let's go of the seats "Yeah, ok, I- I will" he lets out, defeated "I just, I need a minute ok, I promise I will, Steve"
Something churns in Steve's heart with how hollow Eddie sounds "Yeah, as many as you need, I'll wait inside" he says and pats lightly where his hand was resting on Eddie's shoulder.
"This sucks" Steve says as he enters the station and sees Robin preping the broadcast.
"Hi to you too, sunshine" she jokes, not really looking away from her work "I'm guessing it didn't go well with Eddie?" she munches on her pencil absentmindedly.
"Quite the opposite" he let's himself fall in his designated chair "he finally agreed to let her go"
"O-key" she says elongathing the vowels, finally turning at his direction to discern what are his feelings about this "but isn't this good? isn't it what you wanted?"
"I wanted to keep him safe not break whatever spirit he still has" Steve groans.
"Kinda the same, Dingus, we're finally going to stop getting people sneaking around this place or his uncle´s asking about why we still have it" she let's her chair spin "Nancy said we've had close calls with Murray's deliveries and all, we can't have people around, for his safety and everyone else's"
"I know, I- fuck I know but," he sighs "you should've seen him. I mean, I understand, he can't tell his other friends he is alive, he is confined to the station, he can't even go see his uncle, barely able to write to him and the last posession or reminder or whatever he has is his stupid van" he throws his arms in the air.
Robin limits herself to let him work it out, a tight but soft smile in her face.
"I wish there was something we could do about it" he says finally as he rubs his face tiredly.
"Maybe there is?" Robin provides, getting his attention.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know, just, maybe we haven't thought of all the possible options"
"If there were other options Hopper or the others would've think about it already" he slumps his shoulders.
"I don't think they are looking for options to make Eddie feel better, Steve, just what is easier right now" Steve listens attently.
"Ok but, even if there is, I don't think I'm the best equipped to look into it, I mean, maybe I should tell Nancy or- "
"Bullshit, Steve, you're brilliant and if there's someone who knows about cars is you!" she cuts in, her eyes twinkling with confidence "I'm sure you will figure it out"
And well, Steve does.
Eddie says goodbye to his van the next day and he looks like such a mess that Steve almost bares the plan then and there but he holds off. He doesn't want to give him false hope.
It takes more than a week but he finishes it.
He tells Eddie they should hang outside the station when the night broadcast is over, like they've done a million times because that's the only moment Eddie can go outside. Eddie accepts without as much enthusiasm as Steve wanted but he hopes this will animate him enough.
He takes him outside, where the van used to be parked and watches as Eddie realizes there's something big in there, covered by a tarp.
"Steve, what's that?" he says slowly. Unsure.
"I think you should look for yourself" he answers, giving him space to walk closer to the thing.
Eddie slowly, as slowly as Steve has seeing him move ever, tores the tarp off. Revealing a van, a van now decorated with the colors and logo from the station. Eddie's van.
Eddie doesn't say anything at first, just eyes running all over the vehicle. Steve has a moment to think maybe he fucked up, maybe he should have told him, asked for permission.
Then, Eddie lays a hand on it, ceremoniously. Turning for a moment to look at Steve "Is it- Is it really her? It's my van, isn't it?"
"Yeah- yes, It's her" Steve let's out in breath he didn't know he was holding.
Eddie rest his head too against the van and murmurs something softly.
After a couple of minutes he turns, finally grinning at Steve "Thank you, Steve" he says before finally sparking to life again, janking Steve to hurry him into showing him the interior.
Steve obliges, explaining the changes they had to do, the modifications and the forged papers Murray got to make it "legally" another vehicle for the DMV.
Once they've been over everything, like an hour later, they sit at peace at the front seats. Some snacks and half a beer sitting between them, the same way they did since Eddie started living in the station. Evenings like this that started just so he could sometimes feel free in the comfort of a familiar place.
"You know" Eddie speaks up, Steve turning to him as he rans his hand over the console "when Hopper told me I had to get rid of her, I did feel sad about losing the last thing I had left of life before this" almost dying, having to lay low, facing supernatural creatures Steve gets it.
"But, what really made me break was after, when I realized I would lose this, this space" he says, looking back at Steve. His gaze traveling all the way between them to his eyes.
Steve feels his ears ringing and his hands getting clammy.
"There's not a lot of privacy when you live like a fugitive being safeguarded by the freaking chief of police in his secret base, everyone at every hour has something to do at the station or there's meetings and..." he looks away for a moment, a light blush creeps into his face "and sometimes I just want to be alone, with someone I care about" he looks at Steve through his lashes.
Cute. Steve can barely think that as he reaches for Eddie across the console. Stopping just a bit away from his face.
"I know, Eddie" his heart is racing and if Eddie puts his hand on his chest he would feel it for sure "I haven't find it easy to make a way to be alone with you either with everyone cramming this place all the time"
Eddie's grin takes place and grows in his face at the admission. Eddie softly bringing Steve in for a kiss that he let's him take away.
The next day the kids and everyone are outside looking at the new van. Dustin, Lucas, Robin and the others are rounding it and opening to see the inside.
Some faces are in awe of the work, others, like Nancy, are knowingly looking at Steve who is almost detached of the whole thing watching from afar as they entertain themselves with the van.
"You did all this?" Mike ask, very attentive.
"Yeah" Steve answers simply.
"The paint, the interior?" Jonathan adds to the question.
"The stripping of the paint and that yes, but I got someone to actually put it professionally" he turns to look at them "The interior 100% me, though" he brags because, he deserves it, he did a good job.
Both guys stand at his side as they look back to the van not sure what they are feeling at Steve's demostration of ability.
"For Eddie?" Will's voice sound a bit unsure as he gains their attention. Steve, Jonathan and Mike turning to where he was, beside Steve.
Steve at first looks taken aback but the smile creeps on him "Yes, Will, for Eddie" and he winks.
Will smiles back and he walks to the van to look at it better. Mike running behind him with Jonathan close behind.
"Did all that for little ol' me, Harrington?" Eddie asks, leaning into his space.
"Shouldn't you be in the basement hiding, Munson?" he barks with no intention to bite at all.
"Umm, yes, but I couldn't miss bragging to the kids about the gift that King Steve gave me" he jokes, the glint in his eye shining with mirt.
"Not King Steve" he turns to look at Eddie "Your boyfriend Steve"
Eddie's smile stays but the blush covers his face completely "You're not fun to play with, Stevie" he hides in his shoulder.
"I know" he laughs and gives him a little tug.
"Steve!" They both turn to see Dustin poke out of the back of the van "why did you put pillows and blankets in the back? we need a seat here to control the antenna, not a den" Dustin yells.
"God this kid's tone" they both say exhasperated, looking back at the other and laughing.
