Chapter Text
Chapter 1: The Deal
Steve Harrington – the designated driver. He had always been the one to drive everyone around. Right now he was driving the kids around. Dustin sat in the front seat, as he always did. “Shotgun!” he would yell, even though everyone knew it was his spot. Steve glanced over at Dustin, who idly chatted with Lucas and Mike in the back. Will was getting ready to go back to California with Joyce, Nancy, Jonathan and Ell, and Steve glanced at the empty middle seat. He missed that damned kid, even though he hated driving them around.
Summer was right around the corner, the events of Spring break still fresh in all of their minds. The whole damned thing with Vecna had really torn Steve apart this time; the fear of losing the kids, losing Nancy again, the fear of losing his best friend Robin, even Eddie Munson, especially after he practically saved everyone with his stupid guitar. Steve found himself waking up almost every night in tears, covered in sweat with his whole body shaking. It was all still so fresh – but life goes on. It doesn’t matter if it was only two months ago, life has to go on. The kids are playing D&D again, Steve is back to work. This was the worst part of it all, Steve thought. The sense of fake normalcy and everyday life after almost dying for what? The hundredth time? It’s insane, that’s all.
And now the kids were going to hang out with Munson and his gang. Steve felt a pang of jealousy then, his stomach knotting at the thought of the kids having way more fun with Eddie Munson than him – but what could Steve offer, other than driving around? He didn’t really have any hobbies, he liked to drink with Robin every now and then, but other than that he didn’t really listen to any specific music, he didn’t play video games, he didn’t read, do sports anymore. Nothing. It was like he had no personality, and Eddie had way too much personality. Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington’s replacement. But he understood. Eddie was kind, brave, compassionate, talented. Even a little handsome, he would admit. Steve felt like he was the upgraded version of himself, with quirky, nerdy addons that the kids just found more interesting. Steve was so jealous. So jealous!
As Steve pulled up to Hawkins High, he expected the kids to jump out with their usual rushed “bye!”, but the kids stayed in the car. Steve, confused as hell, just looked at them all. Intense gazes peered back at him, and he chuckled a nervous little laugh. “What is up with you freaks?” he joked, leaning back in the seat. “We have a proposal for you.” Dustin said, his voice serious. He held his hands in his lap, as if he was some evil mastermind in a bad horror movie. “And…?” Steve said, encouraging Dustin to go on.
“We want you to join Hellfire Club.”
“Absolutely not.” Steve answered, almost immediately. “Not happening guys, sorry to break it to ya, but I don’t even know what D&D is and it seems way too complicated for me. Also it’s… not my thing. Look at me.” Steve gestured towards himself, raising an eyebrow at Dustin.
“No, but it could be your thing!” Mike chimed from the back, leaning forward. “I think you’d like it.” Lucas joined Mike, nodding. “Yeah Steve, Eddie even said he could teach you.” He added.
“Munson? No way.” Steve said, shaking his head in disbelief. “I don’t need to spend more time with him than necessary.” Steve crossed his arms, to further show he is not budging. Dustin just sighed, seeming disappointed. It hurt a little, Steve had to admit that much to himself, but it still wasn’t really enough. Dustin was dramatic. He was about to get out of the car, taking off his seatbelt and opening the door. “You don’t need to pick us up,” he said, “I can get Eddie to drive us home.”
“What?!” Steve exclaimed, “But I’m the driver!”
Dustin ignored him and started walking towards the school, hands in his pocket. He was really disappointed. Lucas gave Steve a hard slap on the side of the head, “Come on dude! Not cool!” he said, obviously upset. Steve just groaned, turned, and looked at the two remaining kids. “What the hell, man?” he just said, a little confused at how dramatic they all were about this. Mike shook his head and glanced at Lucas, who just nodded. “We kinda miss you.” Mike then said, his voice barely above a whisper. “You’re a good friend and Dustin came up with the idea to maybe have you join Hellfire so we could spend more time together.”
“Yeah! It took so long to convince Eddie to let you come too. Please, just come with us today? Just to see what it’s all about?” Lucas added, a hopeful look in his eyes.
Steve hung his head a little. He did miss the kids too. He wanted to get to know them properly, without the influence of the Upside-Down. Because that’s how he got to know them; by killing inter-dimensional beings of pure horror. Steve had gone from bully, to boyfriend, to babysitter, to driver. But he never felt like the kids looked up to him in a… friendly way. The only one he could truly consider a real friend would be Dustin Henderson. And now, now that everything is over, how will Steve continue to take care of him? He truly, and honestly, considers Dustin his little brother. And what to do with Eddie? Eddie Munson, the guy the kids got to know in a normal, natural way. A way that didn’t include killing monsters. The kids got to know Eddie first, then fight the big bad with him. Steve got to know them after. There’s a difference there – real chemistry, one might say. And Steve was jealous; oh so jealous. And now Dustin was walking away, disappointed and sad and he would probably complain to Eddie – who definitely already hates Steve because of their years together at this very school. Steve never touched Eddie Munson, but Tommy H. did, and Steve laughed. Tommy would pull Eddie’s hair as he walked past, or shove him into lockers, or whisper disgusting things, just loud enough for Eddie to hear. But Eddie Munson always kept his chin up, and stayed true to himself. Steve found it threatening. And now? After the whole Upside-Down thing? He still did. He was still himself. He was still fun, kind, and caring, and he helped the kids get their minds off of things by continuing to host Hellfire Club, creating a healthy routine for them. And what did Steve do? Drive them around, maybe to the arcade if they asked nicely, or to and from club when he wasn’t working. At work, Dustin would usually come and bother him, but lately he didn’t do that as much. All Steve had was Robin, and thank God for Robin, she was probably the only person able to keep Steve from moping in his usually empty house all day. But she too, had found more friends, and as summer vacation was getting close, she was getting busier with band practice and Vicky. If he doesn’t join Hellfire now, will he just be forgotten?
“Sure. Fine. Whatever.” Steve gave in, getting out of the car. The kids shared a “Fuck yeah!” in the backseats before they leaped out of the car, jogging towards the entrance. Steve hurriedly locked his car and started jogging after them. “Hey shitheads, slow down! I don’t even know where this stupid club is!”
He followed the kids into the club room. The lights were off, except from a few candles scattered on top of some desks pushed up against the wall, and some candelabras scattered around the table in the center of the room. The dark red curtains were closed, and a strange, but comforting smell permeated the room. Incense? Robin had talked about wanting to get some, but her mom was very against it. “It’s not very Christian.” Robin had said, mimicking her mom’s voice. The kids were already gathering around the table, and Steve just stood awkwardly by the doorway, not knowing where to put his hands, so he just put them in his pocket, where he played with some loose change and a chapstick. Dustin turned after Lucas whispered to him and finally noticed Steve. “Steve!” Dustin shouted, and he rand over to him to give him a hug. Steve returned the hug, a little embarrassed. “Yeah yeah, don’t get your panties in a twist. I just thought I would see what this whole thing is about. Curiosity only.” He said, patting Dustin’s head before pulling out of the hug and stepping further into the room, feeling a bit more welcome.
“Look who showed up!” a voice came from behind Steve, and he flinched when he turned to see Eddie Munson with his arms outstretched. He gave Steve a polite bow after flashing him a smug smirk. “We have been expecting you, Harrington.”
“Thanks, I guess?” Steve answered, moving aside so Eddie could enter the room. Eddie slipped past him, a bit too close as usual, before moving to the very end of the table. Steve inspected the table then, and saw that it was full of knick-knacks, small figurines and lots of lined papers, pens and eraser and even more dice. He walked around the table, picking up a 20-sided dice. It was black with red numbers. He rolled it around his palm. “Toss it.”
Steve glanced over at Eddie, who sat in a chair a bit too grand, behind a screen of some sort. The screen read “Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Dungeon Masters screen.” A grand title for a seemingly grand role. Steve shrugged and did as Eddie commanded, tossing the dice. It landed with the red 20 facing up. “A nat 20, huh?” Eddie grinned, standing up and peering at the dice. “Is that good or bad?” Steve asked, feeling a bit dumb. Eddie leaned over the table, looking right at Steve, his big round eyes bearing an intense gaze. “Very good.” He drawled, grinning as he bit his lip. “Luck only lends; it never gives. It lends you a bit more than others, I think.”
Steve frowned, confused. “What the hell does that even mean, man?” he asked, and Eddie only gave him a lopsided smile and a shrug in response. The rest of the members of Hellfire Club came into the room then, closing the door behind them and stopping when they saw Steve. “You showed up, huh?” Gareth said, hands on his hips. Jeff nodded in acceptance. “Enjoy, man. Heard good things about you. I haven’t quite forgiven you yet for stealing my lunch money in grade school, though.”
The two boys shared a laugh, and Steve realized they were joking about it – but he still felt bad. He glanced at Eddie, who had a blank gaze. He was seemingly deep in thought, and Steve felt his stomach drop a little. He hoped Eddie didn’t remember some vile thing Steve, Tommy and Carol had done to him and his friends.
“Boys,” Eddie then said, snapping himself back to reality. He outstretched his arms, and everyone took this as a sign to sit down. They were swift with it, and Steve looked around him deciding to retreat in a corner to sit on a bench, carefully pushing a lit candle aside. “It’s time.” Eddie continued, “We have some fun and quite possibly fatal things in store, but first we need to welcome Steve The King Harrington over here.” Eddie turned to Steve, who just gave an awkward wave and a faint “Hi.” He felt a little uncomfortable.
“As you all get set up with your shit, I’ll introduce him a little, ‘kay?”
The members just nodded and did indeed start to set up their shit, pulling out papers and books from their bags, collecting the randomly strewn dice in various colors from the table. Eddie walked over to Steve, who again just sat awkwardly. “Get a chair, Harrington, and sit next to me. I’ll show you what I do as a Dungeon Master.” Eddie said, and as he did so, pointed a foldable chair on the other side of the room. Steve sighed and hopped down, jogging over the chair, grabbing it and jogging back. He plopped it down next to Eddie and slumped down, regret creeping up his spine as he thought about sitting here for a few hours just listening to Eddie Munson talk about made up stories and shit. Whatever. It was for the kids. It was for Dustin.
Steve glanced at Dustin then, who caught his gaze and grinned, giving him two thumbs up. Steve smiled then, the regret crawling back where it came from.
“So, what do you do? Why do you have this large ass cardboard screen covering all your shit?” Steve asked, waving a hand over a notebook, some dice, and a guidebook of some sort. It was open on a page about “The living dead”. “And what’s the liv-“
Before he could finish his sentence Eddie slapped a hand over Steve’s mouth. “Spoilers, Harrington. Shut your blabbering mouth before I put a gag on you.” Steve’s eyes widened, and he raised an eyebrow at Eddie. The cold feeling of Eddie’s rings on Steve’s lips sent a shiver down his spine. The curly-haired man took his hand away, tilting his head at Steve. “Shush, okay? Let me do the talking.” His voice was low, almost suggestive, and Steve suddenly felt a spark in his chest, and a blood rushing to his cheeks. He tore his eyes away from Eddie immediately, deciding immediately to ignore what the fuck that was.
“So I’m the Dungeon Master. My role is to pull the strings of the story, and their job,” Eddie started, stretching an arm towards the rest of the group, who was actively discussing something related to the game. “Imagine me as the master of puppets!” Eddie looked at Steve expectantly, then sighed when Steve didn’t react. “Oh come on, Harrington. Master of puppets? Metallica?” Eddie let out an exasperated sigh. “What?” Steve asked, and Eddie did nothing but quint at him. “What?!”
“Uncultured swine.” Eddie just replied, a pitiful look in his eyes. Steve just gave Eddie a fake smile. “Okay, so you’re a puppet master. You pull the strings. So you control the story?”
“Almost. The members have great influence. My job is to accommodate their actions, and to throw danger and death their way. My goal is to kill them. Their job is to kill whoever I decide is the big bad.”
“So it is a competition in a way.” Steve mumbled, nodding. He understood a little. Not too much. Nothing, actually.
“Yeah, it is. Just sit back, relax and watch. You’re not that stupid, you’ll get it as we go along.”
Steve just nods, crossing his hands and leaning back in his chair, watching Eddie intently. Eddie seemed to fix up some last things behind his screen, before he stood up abruptly, slamming his hands on the table.
“Hellfire Club.” He started, and his eyes widened. “Welcome back. Let’s just dive straight into it, ‘kay? I spent a little too long babying Harrington.” He shot Steve a quick glance and a wink, which Steve didn’t really register properly first, and when he did, it was way too late to retaliate. Damn it, he’s so quick with it.
“You all successfully managed to breach the front gates of the sacred city – past the holy guards and their winged watchdogs, past the witch burnings and prisoner camps. You saw some terrible things you decided to leave alone – lives lost for the greater cause, yes? Prisoners left prisoners, because well… Saving them would be detrimental to your stealth mission. Well done, travelers. However –“ Eddie leaned forward and lowered his voice, his eyes intensifying as he looks everyone in the room – including Steve, right in the eyes. Oh man, Steve thought to himself, the intense gaze Eddie gave him making him feel nervous. This was kind of intense. He brushed his hair back as he met Eddie’s gaze. “–The worst is yet to come.” Eddie then continued, “Once inside the gates, you all see the city for what it truly is. Remember, this is the City of God, the God of truth, love and…”
“Justice,” Dustin said, excitedly tapping his pencil on his lips, as if in deep thought.
“Exactly. Justice.” Eddie nodded with a satisfied smirk, “Before you is a street, packed with stalls, with what seems like a bustling community. But with a closer look, they all seem… off.” Eddie tilts his head at the last word, leaning forward even further. His voice turns to a low growl. “They shamble as they walk, and when you tune your ears into the many, many conversations, you realize they aren’t saying a thing. They’re gurgling. Moaning. Weeping.”
“Holy shit they’re corpses…” Mike whispered.
Eddie let out a satisfied chuckle, scrunching his nose as he smiled. He bit his lip, glancing down at Steve for a brief moment, who fixed his gaze on Eddie’s mouth. “They’re dead.” He whispered. Steve had shivers run down his spine. Suddenly Eddie stood up straight, his arms spread out wide. “They are simply reanimated corpses! They are puppets.” He sit down and picked up his pencil, chewing the little eraser in anticipation. “What will you do, Byers?”
“Our informant! We need to find her!” One of Eddie’s friends said. “Yes, but where in all this is she? Does anyone have her note?” Lucas chimed in, and as he said that, Mike excitedly ruffled through some of his papers and pulled out a stained note. Wow, Steve thought, they even have props? “Here. It says she’s at the inn by the Lions. Lions is capitalized, by the way. It might be a riddle.”
Steve let out a sigh of relief. Not relief that it was over, but relief as in “my god that was intense and I can relax now.” He still had no real clue what was going on. Steve glanced over at Eddie, who was taking notes in his little lined notebook. He was listening to the kids arguing about what to do with the “Lion” thing, and taking notes. He was listening intently, actually. Full focus on the kids. Steve felt like he was punched in the gut. He can’t really remember when he gave the kids this amount of attention after the whole Vecna thing. Do better, Steve, he thought to himself. Eddie sat up a little, watching the kids. Steve studied his profile, his round nose, his prominent brows and especially prominent jawline. He followed the contour of his face with his eyes, and landed on his lips; slightly parted, red and a little swollen from his excessive lip chewing. As if on cue, Eddie licked his lips and started chewing on his bottom lip, and Steve felt his face warm up again. “Hey uh-“ he whispered, and leaned a little closer to Eddie, “So are you just the storyteller or…?” Eddie’s chewing stopped and he smiled a genuine big smile before turning to Steve, leaning in a little too. Steve backed away a little, but Eddie’s firm gaze and warm smile brought him closer again, as if they were magnets. “Yes and no,” Eddie whispered, and Steve had to lean in even more to hear him properly. He tried his best to keep the intense eye-contact Eddie challenged him with, but he found it hard. His stomach felt heavy, and his palms started sweating. He squeezed his own arm in comfort as he kept them crossed over his chest. “I am the writer, the director, and every single person and entity they meet – I am their friends, enemies, sometimes even lovers. I am the villain and the victims. I am everything.” He wiggled his fingers dramatically in Steve’s face, who responded with a small laugh. “I think I kinda get it.” He whispers back. “You,” he started, pointing at Eddie, finally feeling comfortable again, “are in charge of the story, but they shape it. So that’s why you’re taking notes – to accommodate them.” He referred to what Eddie had told him earlier, and Eddie tilts his head, nodding. “Good boy,” he whispered, “Points to Steve Harrington who so diligently follows my lesson.”
Steve swallowed hard, unsure what had suddenly made him freeze a little. He shook his head with a nervous chuckle, before leaning back in his chair, repeating the phrase “Good boy” in his head over and over, trying to shake off that weird tingling in his neck. Eddie’s just teasing, like he always is.
The game soon resumed its flow, and as the kids ventured into the Holy City or whatever, Steve couldn’t really pay attention unless Eddie was the one speaking. Lots of dice was thrown, numbers being added, things were written down, health was taken and given, just a lot of things Steve could not for the life of him understand, so Steve observed Eddie’s every move instead. He even tried to read his notes. There was just one single candle lighting the back of Eddie’s dungeon master setup, but Steve could never decipher that messy, scribbly handwriting even with good lighting and a magnifying class. It just looked like random doodles. Steve wondered then, if Eddie was only held back in high school because of his shitty, albeit charming, handwriting. Steve’s stomach dropped a little then, as he realized this time he was probably extremely behind because of his involuntary involvement with the Upside-Down, not because he got bad grades. He hoped Eddie Munson would graduate this summer. By the end of the session, Steve Harrington was fidgety, nervous, but a little amazed at the intensity of it all. D&D wasn’t just a stupid game, and Steve had no fucking clue how Eddie or the kids were able to keep track of it all.
As the kids were packing up their things and Steve making sure they didn’t forget anything, Eddie approached him. “How was it?” he asked earnestly. There was no intensity in his voice, it was just a soft, honest question. Steve smiled, taken aback. It reminded him of their conversation in the Upside-Down, where Eddie had randomly opened up to him. He seemed like a sensitive man, with a big personality. “Honestly, it was kinda cool.” Steve smiled, and Eddie’s eyes lit up. He grinned at Steve, and gave Dustin a look. Dustin too, was smiling. “Hats off to you, Munson. You’re good at the whole… storyteller thing. Very theatrical.”
Eddie laughed a short, but genuine laugh. “Why thank you, King Harrington. Would you care to join us on our next adventure, once this one wraps up?”
Steve took a deep breath, sighed and shrugged. “I don’t know man, I still don’t quite get it. All the dice and the math and the combat and all that – I have no idea how any of it works.”
“I can teach you.” Eddie suggested, his expression shifting from that soft one, to the intense one. Steve realized then it was probably excitement he saw in Eddie’s face. “Private lessons with dungeon master Eddie Munson.” He continued, smirking at Steve. Steve chuckled, the pressure put on “dungeon master” obviously an innuendo. He was teasing again, being a dickhead even. “I don’t think that’s a good idea Munson,” Steve challenged, “What will you do, I wonder? Chain me up?” His tease good a good chuckle from Dustin, but Eddie just kept smirking, leaning down and putting his hands in his back pockets. As he did so, he kept looking at Steve directly in the eyes. “Would you like that, Steve Harrington?” He whispered.
Even though Steve asked for this to happen with his reciprocated teasing, he was not prepared to feel his heart leap into his throat. His ears and cheeks were warm, and he broke Eddie’s intense stare, smiling and running a hand through his hair. “I’m down to learn a little.” He admitted, looking at Dustin, who was beaming with joy. Eddie stood up straight, nodding. He seemed satisfied. “Great. You free tomorrow evening?”
“I get off work at 6.” Steve answered, “If that works for you, then sure.”
The kids started to file out of the room, Dustin excitedly telling Mike and Lucas the news of Steve being willing to learn. They started to speculate on what character he was going to make. Steve started to follow, and he even found himself waiting for Eddie has the locked the clubroom. They walked outside together. “I have an idea,” Eddie stated, and Steve gave him an expecting look. “Yeah?”
“Well, it’s a Saturday night tomorrow. How about we just… hang out too? Get to know each other maybe? For the kid’s sake, of course. After my very informing and totally well-planned lesson, we could watch a movie and have a few beers.” Eddie suggested, and Steve wasn’t immediately opposed to the idea. If Eddie had just asked him any other day, he would have refused. But, as Eddie had mentioned: for the kids. If Steve and Eddie got along, the kids would be overjoyed.
“Sounds good man. I’m just unsure what I’m gonna do with my car if I drink.” Steve said. “Might have to limit myself if I want to get home at any reasonable hour.”
“I could pick you up from work and drop you off on Sunday?” Eddie suggested yet again. Steve raised his brows, images of himself passed out on Eddie’s couch flashing through his mind. A cup of coffee and a cigarette for breakfast doesn’t actually sound too bad. “Why not, man. Vacuum your couch, though. That shit’s got to have weed in all the cracks.”
Eddie laughed, and Steve looked at him, and started laughing a little too. Steve was happy he could joke around freely with Eddie, as he really didn’t feel like he could do that before, with all the Upside-Down and Vecna shit. Maybe this D&D session was an important step not only for Steve to get back in contact with Dustin, Lucas, and Mike, but maybe he could make a genuine, true friend, as well.
“I’ll take the kids home.” Eddie said, giving Steve a pat on his back. “I’ll see ya tomorrow, King Harrington.” Steve rolled his eyes and fished for his keys in his pockets. Eddie jogged to the car, giving Dustin a playful slap on the back of the head. “Careful with him!” Steve yelled, “and stop calling me King Harrington!”
“Make me! I dare you!” Eddie yelled back as he hopped into his van, the kids waving their goodbyes to Steve. He waved back, and as they all were inside with their seatbelts on (hopefully), loud music blasted from the van as they sped out of the parking lot. Steve shook his head and just closed his eyes for a moment, lost in thought.
Eddie Munson, huh? Not a bad guy, for sure. Kind, funny, even though he’s a little intense at times. Steve found himself excited to get to know him. He cast aside the fact his heart was a little jittery around Eddie. It was probably because Eddie was… so chaotic. Steve was probably just nervous, and not used to the energy Eddie brings to a room. It’ll pass. They just have to get to know each other.
Steve got into his car and felt the urge to blast some music. He opened the glove department and a number of tapes fell out, 90% of them Robin’s. She had to come get them soon. He picked up a random one. Tears for Fears. He plopped it in and “Everybody wants to rule the world” started playing. He remembered Robin showing him this song a year ago.
“This song does something to me, dude.” She had said. “I feel like it fits you as well.”
As Steve drove home, he realized he did really like it. He wondered what Eddie would think of a song like this.