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The worst has happened. When Steve woke up the next morning, his bed was empty. He could've sworn that Eddie was there last night. Maybe he dreamt of Eddie's return, he was pretty exhausted last night. His brain was throwing up all sorts of warning signals to Steve as he blearily looked around his room. The empty spot beside Steve was still warm, and it smelt…like Eddie.
He's here— Eddie was here, somewhere. Somewhere within these halls of the Harrington household, a wild Eddie Munson lay. Waiting patiently for his host to wake up. How sweet. But how long as Steve been out? How long has been alone? Not that Steve needs to helicopter parent Eddie, but let's be honest, this wasn't exactly a normal occurrence, even by Steve's standards.
"Never thought that you would be, standing here so close to me. There's so much I feel that I should say, but words can wait until some other day." came a voice, matching the pace of the music that swelled around the lower levels of the home. Rasputin, huh? Looks like someone got into Steve's records. Throwing on a pair of black sweat pants and a t shirt, Steve stumbled out of his bedroom to the dark hall.
Wandering down the hall, Steve noticed strategically turned on lights through the halls, this was smart, Not all the lights were on, but enough to illuminate the path downstairs. It made this house feel less— prison like.
"Kiss me once, then kiss me twice, then kiss me once again, it's been a long, long time."
"Haven't felt like this, my dear, since can' remember when, it's been a long, long time." Steve echoed back, announcing his presence as he stepped into a…less than ideal kitchen. There was pancake mix sitting on the counter, box popped open and a bowl of batter. Dry pancake matter dusted the surface and Steve damn near was about to have a heart attack. What really got Steve was the fact that a half asleep Eddie stood at the stove, wearing his apron for cooking, his clothes, god why did he look so good surrounded by Steve? And why did Steve like it.
"Harrington! You're awake! Just in time too." Eddie beamed, teeth pulling back to show off those sharp canines once more. So Steve didn't imagine that, okay good. He's beginning to question what's real and what's fantasy.
"I see that you found the record player." Steve chuckled, looking over at the vinyl spinning round and round. He smiled to himself, looking over the stack that laid beside the player. A collection of sorts, gifted to him by his grandpa. Not all older Harrington's are asses, just his father. His Grandpa Hugh was actually a really decent guy.
Grandpa Hugh was a rough loving man who had a gentle side that seemingly only Steve could pull out. Maybe it was the big baby blues Steve had, reminded him of Steve's dad. Or maybe it was the childlike grin he'd always used to get when Grandpa Hugh showed up, because he always would show up when little Steve needed company the most. When his parents had been gone for a few days and the loneliness was setting in. It's like he had a sixth sense when it came to Steve.
Steve remembered visiting his grandpa when he turned 17, it was a few weeks after his birthday actually. He had gotten a call from his aunt, grandpa was dying. And it was natural, no sickness, nothing of that sort. He'd done his life's work, he'd lived a life and now he was tired. He remembered the clinical smell as he walked into his grandpas house, the silence that followed him through the halls. So this explains everything, why Hugh always showed up for Steve; he was alone too. And Steve had never thought of that before seeing as his grandma had passed away before Steve was born, he always just assumed his grandpa filled his time another way, and in some ways; he did.
He remembers the smile on Grandpa Hugh's face as he pointed over to the stack of records, each vinyl holding a memory for the two of them, and he remembers being told they're his. Steve got the player and his Grandpa's collection.
"Stevie?" Eddie called out, snapping his fingers in Steve's face, which caused him to jump.
"Hm?"
"Are you back with me now?" Eddie hummed casually, as if Steve's minor distraction was perfectly normal. Maybe it was to Eddie, Steve would have no clue.
"Oh, yeah I'm here, sorry…"
"Don't apologize, I do it all the time. Just as long as you come back to me." Eddie chided back. Come back to me. Why did those words echo in Steve's head and why did they cause his chest to tighten. A huge signed flashed in Steve's brain then, I'll always come back. He wanted so desperately to say that, but now the moment has passed, it would be weird if he said anything now.
Steve hummed to himself as he moved around Eddie to get to the cabinets, despite the curious look he got. Reaching up above the stove, Steve grabbed a bag of chocolate chips, jiggling them in his hand as he moved to grab two plates then. He was on a mission, to hide the blush forming over his cheeks. Ever since Eddie had gotten here, Steve has been nothing but fucking weird at all times. Nervous was a better word. He was waiting for the ball to drop, for him to sit up in his bed like it was all just a dream, because no way Eddie just survived that shit.
"Hey— you're leaving me again." Eddie suddenly said, one hand holding onto Steve's cheek to ground him. The brunettes focus shifted back to Eddie, eyebrows furrowed for a moment while his brain reconnected the dots.
"Yeah— sorry, guess I'm still a little tired." Steve brushed off, shrugging as he walked over to the table, setting the plates down in a silent manner
"Steve…"
"Yeah?" he hummed, whipping his head around to face Eddie once more. He's learning quickly that Eddie wants him to look at him when Steve speaks in his direction. And he was right, because the moment his eyes hit Eddie, he saw Eddie's lips twitch up into a tiny smile.
"You keep leaving me, mentally. And I can tell that it's not just being tired, so what is it?" he asked softly, stepping forward in a cautious manner that Steve could only describe as a person walking up to an injured and scared animal. Was he really being that skittish? Steve was on edge for sure, but he was convinced it wasn't that obvious.
"Eddie, I don't know what you're talking about." Steve lied, turning back to the table. He could've sworn that Eddie was still standing in the kitchen next to the freshly made pancakes, but when Steve took another breath in, he immediately felt a body standing close to his. Eddie's body.
"Don't lie to me sunshine, what is it?" he asked, putting a hand on his hip, and if that didn't feel like a mock towards Steve's stance, he's not sure what is
"It's just— you…you died, Eddie." Steve muttered.
"What do you mean, I'm right here?" Eddie grinned, motioning to his fully intact body.
"Yes, I can see that, but you died. I was there." Steve muttered back, his own gaze had fallen to the floor like he was a puppy being reprimanded. Maybe it was because of how close Eddie was standing to him.
"What do you mean you were there?" Eddie whispered, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and Steve felt one hand lift his chin up so that he had to look at Eddie.
"Dustin— he had told us what happened… so I went back in to find you, but… I was too late. You— You had already lost too much blood, and— and I couldn't save you, you j-just kept telling me to look out for your sheep, and I…"
"Shh okay hey, shush, I'm here okay? I didn't know you were there… I don't… I really don't remember much after I left Dustin at the gate… I didn't know you were there."
"I felt you die! I watched you die, Eddie." Steve suddenly shouted, "I c-can't just forget that like you can. I can't get your face out of my head, like you… you were happy or something. I can't get that look out of my head. So forgive me if I'm acting a little weird. I've seen weird shit but never someone coming back to life."
"Okay— Okay I get it, Steve. Listen, there's a lot I have to answer for, especially to you, now that I know, but can't we just sit down and—"
"No. No we can't just sit down and eat, last night you asked me to just be happy you were back, and I did that. And now, I find you making pancakes for us at 8 in the morning, I think you're awake enough to provide me at least whatever information you do have." Steve snapped. He'd gotten to his limit of just being happy. Just be happy you're alive, just be happy we got out. How could he just be happy about any of what they went through. Sure they survived, but that shit is etching into Steve's skin physically now and he's not sure how many more surprises he can handle.
"Okay…fine… I'll tell you, but I want you to sit down first, because it's… probably going to shock you." Eddie sighed, his gaze set on Steve's own angry one. Fine, he could sit, since Eddie seemed so worried about whatever he was about to say.
"I've been… alive for a while."
"What."
"Let me finish— I've been top side for about a month now, I swear it's only been a month. And I do have a reason as to why it took me this long to come back." Eddie muttered quickly, perhaps he was driven by the increasing level of anger Steve was displaying. He's been alive for months and he's just now coming back. Now.
"Remember how I said I wanted to wait to tell the party because… I felt weird? That's still true. I wanted to wait longer to see you as well, but I saw you in your backyard last week, just…sorta sit there, even when it started to rain you didn't move, and I knew that if I didn't come through soon…that I might miss my chance to ever come back…"
"What does me have to do with why you feel weird?" Steve asked, his gaze had softened up just a tiny bit after seeing Eddie take the seat next to him. Their knees were bumping into each other and Steve watched as Eddie fiddled with his rings. Whatever it is must be pretty big, because Eddie didn't seem to want to look at Steve, at all.
"I'm different… I feel different. I mean— so when I climbed out of the gate, I ran. I ran as fast and as far away as I could, but Steve, I ran faster than I have ever ran in my life, and… I didn't get as tired, I mean…fuck I think I ran for like 15 miles without tiring out. And that freaked me out. That and the fact that I could…I can… I can smell blood."
And then there was silence, not a fearful silence, but Steve had no words. Blood? He can smell blood? That was oddly specific, how does—.
"How do you know you can smell blood?" Steve asked softly, his head tilting as he peered over at Eddie.
"It… it has a sort of sweet metallic scent to it. It's easy for me to spot out. But— yeah I can smell blood. And like— my hearing is impeccable, which threw me for a surprise because before I came back, I had 'acute tinnitus' as the doctors say. But now, my hearing is perfect, if not better. I don't get it…" Eddie paused, and Steve glared.
"You're not telling me something." Steve mumbled, still holding that narrowed look.
"What? No I'm not, not at all." Eddie scoffed, covering up the crack in his voice with a fake cough.
"Yes you are. I have a little sister, and I take care of 6 middle schoolers in my free time, Eddie, I know when someone is lying to me." All it took was one warning glance from Steve and Eddie crumbled.
"Okay. Okay— the blood thing. When I smelt it the first time, I went absolutely nuts. Feral actually, that's the best way to explain it. I need it for some reason. And when I got to it I—." Eddie had trailed off then, shame written all over his face. Whatever he had done, Steve knew he wasn't proud of it.
"What did you do…" Steve asked softly, moving one hand to tilt Eddie's chin up. Just like he had done. If Steve was going to be forced to look at Eddie, Eddie will have to do the same.
"I found the person who was bleeding and… I…drank."
"You drank?"
"Their blood, I drank their blood Steve." Eddie sighed. Now Steve definitely wasn't the brightest bulb in the pack, but wouldn't that mean—.
"What like a vamp— wait are you a vampire?" Steve asked, and please forgive him if there was a hint of humor in his tone. He just found it hilarious. Seeing as he thought Vecna was a vampire, and here Eddie is, quite literally a vampire. But there also was genuine confusion in his words.
"Yes? No? I mean… yeah I think so. Let's see— the super speed, super endurance. I drink blood, that's the makings of a vampire." Eddie shrugged. Steve had fallen silent, calculating what this all meant. Not that he had many brain cells to work with but wouldn't that mean that Eddie has to continue to drink blood to survive? Sure he doesn't know a lot about D&D or fantasy stuff but vampires are pretty mainstream.
"Steve? Please say something." there it was, the worry again.
"I mean— what do you want me to say? It… honestly makes a lot of sense." Steve shrugged. It honestly wasn't the weirdest thing, like he keeps saying. Weird shit happens in Hawkins all the time.
"What do you mean it makes 'sense'?"
"Eddie, cmon. I watched you die. I held you in my arms while watching you die. It makes sense that you'd be less than human after coming back to life. I mean…ever since I came back from the upside down, I've been super cold. Like…the life left my body, but I'm still here."
"Wait are you a vampire too?" Eddie asked, his eyes widening.
"What? No— no not that I know of. I'm just… not the same. So it makes sense that you wouldn't be the same." Steve whispered. Everything made sense now. Why Eddie wasn't torn up, why he looked healthy as a horse, why he just seamlessly melted back into Steve's life, it all made sense.
"So you're not scared?" Eddie asked, "I mean, Steve I drank a guys blood, isn't that the tiniest bit scary?"
"Oh that shit's terrifying, Eddie, but I have a feeling that if you were a threat to me, you wouldn't have casually walked up to me last night, you would've attacked me." he laughed. If Steve was in any danger, he would know. Or maybe he wouldn't, Steve's always had a sort of blind spot when it came to Eddie. It's like the moment those brown eyes landed on him, every thought process Steve had just vanished. So maybe he wouldn't see it coming.
But that's the thing right? A good predator would never let their prey see it coming. Poor Steve is just a blissfully unaware doe standing in front of a hungry wolf. A wolf in sheep's clothing is more than a warning, it's a death sentence.
But the look in Eddie's eyes, the fear they held. He knew that Eddie was scared, who wouldn't be? Waking up in an unknown world with…powers you can't explain? And less that ideal side effects. It would make anyone scared. But Steve had to make sure Eddie knew. So he took one of Eddie's ringed hands, which forced Eddie to look at him again.
"Eddie. I'm not scared of you. Okay? You're still the huge goofball who hotwired an RV so we could get away. You're still the same Eddie who followed us down into the gate, and the same Eddie that Dustin is gunna love." he smiled softly. And then it dawned on him, how… sappy those words word. And even though it wasn't meant to be that way, they were intimate. Because Steve understood Eddie's fear, he probably wondered if he was too different to fit back into the party. Would they accept him again? That wasn't the question, the question was why wouldn't they?
"Are you sure— what if they—."
"It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, Eddie. You are still you. So what you can run super fast, so what that you could probably lift my car with your pinky finger, and so what that you drink blood, I've told you multiple times, we have seen stranger things." Steve sighed. Looking at Eddie, and the way his eyes darted back and forth, like he couldn't decide if he liked Steve's left or right eye better. Which Steve oddly found adorable.
But then it happened, and it was quick, like it wasn't even there. Eddie closed the distance between them and for a split second, Steve could've sworn he felt Eddie's lips on his own. The thrill, the sharp jolt that ran up Steve's spine was…exhilarating. Sure, after Robin came out to Steve, he toyed around with the idea. Was he bisexual? Bi-curious? Steve wasn't exactly sure. But bisexual definitely wasn't the label he'd put on it.
Steve's always liked girls, always. From little on. And hell, there was certainly a reason his name as known among the girls at Hawkins High. No he didn't fool around with … well any one of them, it was only Nancy he ever did stuff with. But the things he could say, the things he could do, he could catch girls, hook line and sinker. He could get any girl he wanted with a smile and a wink, and he did. All to please his family.
Because he had to be perfect, he had to be normal. And part of being normal was liking girls, at least for Steve. But thing was… the only girl he'd ever felt a connection with was Nancy, and even then, it felt like she knew his soul, but wasn't meant to know his body, just like he wasn't meant to know hers. And honestly? He was okay with that.
Nancy would probably agree, but their one time together was enough to know, Steve always liked girls, but he couldn't love them. Not the way they were meant to be loved. So when senior year came and went, he hardly bothered to get dates or any of the sort, because it felt wrong. Being with girls felt wrong on a level he wasn't okay with.
But that— whatever Eddie just did, if they could call it a kiss, that felt…right. So what did Steve do? He did exactly what Eddie did and quickly pecked Eddie's lips back. For a moment, they just stared in shock at one another.
"Did you just kiss me?" Eddie finally said, breaking the silent stare between them.
"Yeah— but you kissed me first!"
"I mean yeah, cause I wanted to, but you didn't have to kiss me back…" Eddie whispered, his tone was soft, scared, just like his eyes. But Steve was filled with confidence, with courage. So he leaned in once more, this time pressing his lips firmly against Eddie's. He'd kissed enough girls to know how to kiss, but this felt different.
Thousands of sirens went off in Steve's mind at that moment. Green light, that means go. Collect $200 as you pass, but go. And Steve went. His fingers moved upwards from Eddie's jaw into his curls, which earned Steve a tiny little whimper from the other. He liked that. That's good, right?
It must've been a good sign because not thirty seconds later he felt two large hands suddenly grab the back of his thighs and hoist him up as Eddie stood from his chair. A tiny squeak came from Steve as his legs were positioned around Eddie's waist, and by the look in Eddie's eyes, he knew that they weren't finished.
"Eddie?"
"Yes, pretty boy?" the curly haired male purred.
"You're holding me… like you're going to take me somewhere but you're not moving."
"Oh— right yeah, I mean I wanted to take you upstairs…"
"But what about the pancakes?" Steve asked, and boy was he nervous. Go upstairs meant go into his room. And going to his room meant…
"The pancakes can wait, Stevie." Okay— yeah, the pancakes could wait. They would have to. Because the way Eddie was looking at him felt like a wolf staring down an oblivious doe. And Steve, poor Steve was the doe.
Doe Steve and his big bad wolf, this was definitely going to be an adventure.