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Young Love
People always say that young love doesn’t last long. Steve doesn’t know how anyone could say such a thing. If they knew what he’d found at eleven years old, they’d all be jealous.
Hawkins Middle School wasn’t known as the most romantic place in the world, but it’s where he met the love of his life. And if they didn’t last forever, at least they had for now.
Steve pulls his love close to him and presses an innocent kiss to the dark curls that reach just under his chin. “I’ve decided that you need to either fail seventh grade this year or eighth grade next year. That way we can start high school together in three years.”
The shorter teen gives a fond chuckle. “Because you don’t want to be without me for a whole year? You know we can still be together outside of school. And besides, that’s a long way off.”
Steve smiles sadly. “You won’t want to be friends with someone in middle school… You’re going to make cool new friends in high school and forget all about me.”
“You know that won’t happen, Steve. I’m not like you. Charismatic and charming? That’s all you, Harrington.” Steve likes the way his last name is said. It sounds more like a term of endearment than just his surname when it’s said by the person who means more to him than anyone else ever has..
Steve protests nonetheless. “You’re the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me. Those popular kids are jerks. I don’t want to be popular, I just want you.”
“I love you, Steve.”
Steve fights hard not to let his tears fall. This is love. It may be young, but it’s real. The realest thing he has ever felt in his short life and Steve can’t help but think how the rest of his life will have to measure up to this.
Heartbroken
“I… I think I’m a boy. I tried so hard to fight it. But I don’t think that I can keep pretending.”
Deafening silence ensues as the couple processes the shocking words coming out of their child’s mouth. It was a long summer of self discovery and new ideas.
“We can’t allow that. You’re our daughter, you’re just confused, honey.”
If the sound of a heart breaking was audible, their house would be shaken with thunderous noise.
The Essentials
“We think it’s best if we move. This town has clearly given you some bad ideas and we need to get away.”
Desperate protests begin to fall from young lips onto deaf ears.
“This isn’t your decision to make. Children should be seen and not heard. Now go pack a bag, our flight leaves in a few hours.”
Small hands carefully pack the essentials into a suitcase. Clothes, shoes, a worn copy of the Hobbit bookmarked with an old valentine, a bat necklace from a gumball machine that was paid for by a boy with kind eyes and big hair. No time to say goodbye to the one person who means everything. Only enough time to grab the essentials.
Sanctuary
Wayne wakes up in the middle of the night to a soft knock on his front door. He pulls on a robe as he makes his way to the door and carefully unlatches the chain. A small body barrels through the entrance and latches itself to his legs.
He begins to utter a name in surprise, not expecting the preteen to be at his doorstep in the middle of the night. Wayne is cutoff by the crying child. “It’s Eddie now. Please call me Eddie.”
Wayne nods, getting onto his tired knees to pull his nephew into his arms in a comforting hug. “What’s going on? Where are your parents?”
“I can’t go home, Uncle Wayne. P-please don’t make me go home with them.”
The old man makes soothing noises while he rocks the small body clinging to him. “Why can’t you go home?”
“They want me to be a girl. But I’m not a girl. I’m a boy. I’m Eddie.” Eddie’s tears come harder now and Wayne makes a silent plea with God to take care of this hurting child.
“Okay, Eddie. You can stay with me.”
Wayne doesn’t understand what happened between his nephew and his sister and brother-in-law, but he doesn’t need to know. This boy is his responsibility and he will do anything to protect him.
A Fresh Start
“What if someone finds out? I don’t want to be the town freakshow.” Wayne’s heart breaks at the fear in his nephew’s voice. He gives him the best advice he can muster.
“Give them something else to talk about and they won’t dig deeper. If you make yourself stand apart for a different reason, they’ll never know.”
Eddie takes this to heart. On the day that Eddie and Wayne move back to Hawkins, he decides that Eddie “The Freak” Munson is easier to swallow than any of the other names that could be thrown his way. If he gets teased for liking metal music and playing D&D, so be it. Better than being harassed for what’s between his legs.
He starts Hawkins High School with heaps of unearned confidence, long flowing hair that he can hide behind, a new first name (Eddie picked it out himself, thank you very much), and a new last name (courtesy of Wayne).
The insults hardly hurt when the voices hurling them at least use his chosen name and pronouns.
A Glimpse
Eddie makes it though his freshman year mostly unscathed. He has a reputation that makes most people avoid him. Eddie has a small group of close friends and they start a D&D club where they can be freaks together. He’s content with this.
It isn’t until he catches a glimpse of Steve Harrington at the beginning of his sophomore year that he even remembers why he was so afraid to move back to Hawkins last year.
They say that young love doesn’t last, but it turns out the afterburn hurts more than the initial flame.
Just the sight of those big eyes and overly styled hair makes Eddie feel like a child again, something he hasn’t been in a long time.
He longs so badly to talk to Steve. To shake him until he remembers what they shared on the playground. His heart still holds out hope that Steve is the same sweet boy who always treated him with gentleness and love.
All it takes is witnessing one interaction between Steve and his new best friend, Tommy, for Eddie to lock away any remaining hope he had.
Steve is a jerk. Something happened between junior high and high school to make him mean. He has a new title now. Steve’s royalty and Eddie feels like the joker in this court.
Jealousy
In all the years of watching Steve from afar, Eddie has felt a lot of emotions. Primarily sadness and hurt, but occasionally anger. Never jealousy. Not until Nancy. Steve never treated any of the girls special for longer than it took to get his dick in their mouth or his hand up their skirt. But she’s clearly different.
Eddie’s caught off guard the day that he walks down the hall and sees them wrapped up together against Steve’s locker. He holds her so gently and Eddie’s heart breaks.
Eddie told himself that he gave up on the idea of Steve years ago. The boy had never looked at him twice from the time they started attending Hawkins High together. Nothing would ever come of such a dangerous daydream.
But still. Eddie remembers a time when Steve held him like that. When they talked about a future together and all the things they’d do when they grew up. Steve’s giving her the same wonderstruck look that he used to give Eddie.
Eddie had laughed when he failed his senior year and they ended up in the same grade. Sixth grade Steve would’ve been so pleased. Too bad he doesn’t even acknowledge Eddie’s existence anymore.
Upside Down
Eddie isn’t sure if he hit his head or smoked some bad weed. Nothing about any of this makes sense. His life has always been complicated, but never like this.
One day, he’d been a senior (for the third time) at Hawkins High, town freak, and DM for Hellfire. The next day, he’s fighting demobats, on the run from the law, and hanging out with Steve Harrington again.
That’s right. After not having a single conversation with Steve in almost seven years, they’re now running around with a bunch of children trying to protect the town from mayhem and destruction.
Eddie is scared to even talk to Steve at first. When he does, it’s biting sarcasm and jabs about his high school title.
But what surprised Eddie the most is that Steve’s changed. He’s not the jerk from high school who wore his crown with honor and bullied nerds. Steve’s a protective mother hen who babysits the young teens. He’s brave and self-sacrificing.
When they talk about everything, Steve is so kind to him. He’s comforting when Eddie panics about the absolutely fucked situation they’re in.
Eddie can’t help but realize how Steve is like he was when he was younger. It hurts his heart, but he stayed away from Steve for years. Now that Eddie can talk to him again, he can’t make himself pull away.
When Eddie and Steve are walking through the upside down, Eddie prods Steve about getting back together with Nancy. Steve laughs it off and explains that he and Nancy are just friends and that they’ve moved on.
Eddie believes him, he seems sincere. Until Steve’s in an RV talking about having six kids and all the plans he had for his future since he was young.
He can’t help but confront Steve before they gear up to fight Vecna. “What was all that about? I thought you said you were over her?” Eddie attempts to sound light about it.
Steve seems confused. “Who? Nancy? I wasn’t lying, I’m absolutely over her, Eddie.”
Eddie is too nosy to let it go. “Then who were you imagining having six little Harringtons with?”
“Oh. Uh, I mean. There was this other girl once. Back in junior high. It sounds silly now because we were so young. But I thought I was going to marry her. We planned our future together on the playground… She moved away without even saying goodbye.”
Eddie’s heart clenches tight in his chest. Steve still thought about him all these years later. He turns away from Steve, squeezing his eyes shut to stop the traitorous tears.
He could get through this. They’d defeat Vecna and go back to life as usual. Eddie would never have to talk to Steve again. Wouldn’t need to be reminded everyday of the life he could’ve had.
Everything goes quiet except the blaring sound of a grandfather clock.
A Choice
Eddie knows what’s happening before Vecna’s version of Steve even opens his mouth.
“God you’re so pathetic, Munson. You disgust me. Too much of a pussy to tell me the truth about who you are.”
He knows it isn’t Steve saying these things, but Eddie still begins to sob. This is his worst nightmare.
“I’m sorry, Steve. I’m so sorry. I love you so much. But I knew you’d never see me the same if I told you who I was.”
The scene around him changes into a red nightmarish scape. The same one Max had described to them. His time was running out then.
Vecna stood in front of Eddie with a hand outstretched. “Come with me willingly. We both know you don’t want to be alive. It will be quick and painless.”
Eddie actually hesitates. What kind of life awaits him even if they do defeat Vecna? He’s wanted for murder. Eddie will still be a loser who can’t graduate high school. Steve will never love him back. There’s not much left.
He begins reaching a hand out, accepting his fate when the intro to Master of Puppets begins. It’s loud and it echoes through this distorted world.
Eddie looks beyond Vecna to the portal opening to the real world. He sees his friends yelling for him. Steve is crying and screaming. He cares. It may not be in the way that Eddie longs for, but Steve cares enough to be upset if he dies. That would have to be enough for now.
He gets up and runs. Eddie runs with every ounce of life he has in him. Back to the world. To life. He chooses to live today.
Waking Up
When Eddie wakes up, it’s slow. He becomes aware of a distant beeping and the distinct smell of antiseptic cleanser. Bright lights fight through his closed eyelids. And he feels warm. Specifically his right hand.
He struggles against whatever medication is in his system to dull his pain (he’s done enough drugs to know when he’s been numbed). Eddie’s vision is blurry, but he can make out the sight of someone folded over in a chair next to his hospital bed. Said person is gripping his hand with far too much strength for someone who appears to be knocked out.
“Steve?” His voice is hoarse and Eddie looks around for some water. His throat burns, but he tries again anyway, louder this time. “Steve? Are you awake?”
The other boy uses his free hand to wipe at his eyes as he untangles himself from the chair, sitting up to look at Eddie. “Oh my god, you’re awake. Jesus Christ, we thought we’d lost you, Eddie.” Steve is crying and holding Eddie’s hand with both of his now, as if he’s afraid to let go.
“Can’t get rid of me that easily, Harrington. It takes more than Vecna to kill Eddie Munson.” He tries to lighten the mood for both their sakes before diving back into something more serious. “So what the hell happened?”
Steve hesitates, looking nervous. “A lot. You and I were talking when Vecna got you. Robin and I had to break back into your trailer to find your music. When we finally found it, you were starting to float already. We got it turned on, but Vecna had you pretty deep in his spell. H-He broke your arm, I’m so sorry. I know it’s better than being dead, but we should’ve been faster and you’d be okay.” Steve’s full on crying again by the end of his explanation.
Eddie looks at his other arm, suddenly realizing it’s casted from elbow to wrist. Those paid meds have to be pretty good for him to not notice a broken arm.
“That’s okay, Stevie. I’ve never broken a bone before, it’s kinda metal.” Steve snorts at that and Eddie smiles, happy to ease the other boy’s guilt a bit.
A comfortable silence falls between them for a moment. Eddie knows what he wants to say, but he can’t seem to force the words out without feeling nauseous.
They both attempt to break the silence at the same time.
“Eddie, I-“
“Listen, Steve, I need to tell you something-”
“Actually, do you mind if I go first? I need to get this off my chest and I’m afraid if I wait any longer, I’m going to chicken out.” Well, now Eddie’s intrigued. Might as well hear what Steve has to say since he probably won’t speak to Eddie ever again after he’s done confessing.
“Sure. Go for it, big boy.”
Steve stares a hole into Eddie’s hand, not letting go of it and refusing to meet Eddie’s eyes as he speaks. “I don’t know how it happened. I know we never spoke in high school or anything, but you’re really a cool guy. And I’ve enjoyed getting to know you. You’re funny and sweet and you care so much… I’m sorry, I’m rambling. I swear I’m getting to the point. Eventually.”
Eddie feels a smile breaking out on his face. Steve is so cute when he’s flustered, although he still isn’t sure why he seems so nervous.
“I spoke to Robin about this and she was pretty sure you liked boys. She also says there’s such a thing as being bisexual, where you like girls and boys. Which I’m pretty sure I am? Because I like you. God help me, I really like you, Eddie. And I’ve never dated a boy before, but I want to try. With you. So… so what do you think?”
“Yes, you have.” Eddie corrects without thinking.
“Sorry, what?” Steve’s confused face is even cuter than his flustered one.
“You have dated a boy, Steve.”
Steve gives a self deprecating chuckle. “I’m pretty sure I would remember if I dated a boy before, Eddie.”
Eddie reaches under the collar of his hospital gown, grinning when he found what he was looking for. He pulls the cheap bat necklace out from underneath. Eddie has worn it for years under his clothes, keeping it close to him as his own reminder of the past.
Steve looks like he’s seen a ghost as his eyes fix on the necklace. “W-where did you get that?”
“From you. About seven years ago. From a gumball machine at the arcade.” Eddie waits for his words to sink in. He knows when they’ve penetrated Steve’s thick skull when he looks away from the necklace to lock on Eddie’s face.
Steve’s eyes bore into his own, searching for confirmation of Eddie’s words.
He finally snaps out of the trance he’d been in. Steve lets go of his hand, standing up to pull Eddie’s uninjured side into a full body hug.
Eddie doesn’t think he’s smiled this hard in years.
Soft lips press to the top of his head. Comforting and gentle, just resting there.
He overestimated Steve’s composure as he hears the younger boy start crying again. “I missed you so much. I’m so sorry I couldn’t see you standing right in front of me.”
“I missed you too, Stevie. I’m sorry for hiding from you, I just couldn’t risk it.” They’re both crying now. Steve doesn’t let go of him though.
“I love you. I know we barely know each other as adults, but I’ve loved you since I was in sixth grade and I never stopped loving you. I was so worried when you moved away, but I couldn’t find out where you went or what happened. I’ve thought about you every day since.”
Eddie pulls Steve down to lay on the bed next to him, cradling Steve with his good arm while the younger boy buries his head into Eddie’s neck.
“It’s okay, baby. We’re okay now. Nothing else matters. If everything we’ve been through has led to this moment, then it’s worth it to me.”
He strokes fingertips over Steve’s face, guiding him closer to his own. Eddie presses a firm kiss to tear soaked lips. He tastes like love with a dash of hope.