Max called a few hours later and the boys set out immediately. Sure enough, the yard was empty when they pulled up to Eddie's trailer. Eddie was nervously jiggling his leg until Steve parked the car. They both practically leapt from the car, wanting to go as quickly as possible. The front door was unlocked and they burst through, beelining to Eddie's room. Steve wasn't really sure what he could do to help so he just hovered near the doorway, keeping an eye out for any movement outside. Eddie grabbed his backpack and threw some clothes in haphazardly before pausing to gaze longingly at his guitar in the corner of the room. Steve cocked his head to the side, confused.

"What's up, Eds?"

"I—I'm worried he'll ruin it. It's, like, my most prized possession."

Okay, that's an easy one to fix.

Steve shrugged and marched over to the guitar, picking it up off its stand.

"So it comes with us then."

"Are you sure?" Eddie asked.

"Of course. It's not like it takes up a lot of space. And even if it did, it's important to you. That's all that matters."

"It just feels like an overreaction. Stupid, really." Eddie admitted.

Steve scoffed and moved back to his position at the door, still carefully holding the guitar. Eddie melted right into the ground. He bit his lip and shook his head, fighting a smile.

"Well, that's everything, then."

"Okay. You'll be back in just a few days, babe." Steve reassured him. Eddie nodded and walked past Steve, swinging his backpack up onto his back. Steve began to follow him, but he froze so suddenly that Steve bumped into his back. Eddie was staring out the window, where a blue car had just pulled up.

"Oh, fuck," Steve muttered before pulling Eddie behind him and moving to open the front door. He handed the guitar to its owner.

A man got out of the car who very vaguely resembled Eddie, but mostly he looked utterly run down. He was balding and he had a lived in five o'clock shadow. His eyes were ringed in dark circles and his face was almost waxy. He looked like a drug addict.

He probably is.

Steve pulled Eddie down the steps by the hand, not caring whatsoever how it looked. His priority was protecting Eddie, who seemed to have shrunk into a smaller version of himself. Steve hated it. He hated what this man turned Eddie into. He glared at the man, willing him to say anything at all to antagonize Steve. The man obliged.

"And what the fuck is this?" He spat at them. Behind him a ways, Max Mayfield had come out of her trailer looking concerned, but she kept her distance. Her gaze zeroed in on Steve and Eddie's clasped hands, and her eyes went wide with understanding.

"We're leaving." Steve said, trying to keep his cool. Max took a step closer to the confrontation.

"Is this your little boyfriend, you fucking queer?" Eddie's father tried to look around Steve at his son. Steve took several steps forward, still keeping Eddie in tow.

"You can speak to me. Not him." Steve said, raising his voice just slightly. He was taller than Eddie's father and he was so angry it felt as if he'd grown to one hundred feet tall.

"You're fucking sick. Both of you," the man spat again. He jerked his body toward Eddie trying to scare him. Eddie flinched back. Steve dropped Eddie's hand and shoved the man so hard he stumbled back several steps, falling onto the hood of his car. Max started running over to the gathering, unsure of what she could do to help, but knowing that whoever this man was, he was not welcome and was hurting her friend.

"Hey Harrington!" Max called, waving her hands over her head as she approached.

"Max, don't—" Steve started.

"Who is this guy?" Max asked loudly. A few other neighbors had come out of their trailers now. "I've never seen him here before. He looks like bad news." She was practically yelling now.

"Yeah, he's bad news," Steve replied quietly.

"Is he why Eddie has been covered in bruises the last week? So he beats up kids?" Max was really giving a performance now. Multiple people were now glaring at Eddie's father, still propped against his car.

"Yep, that's the one," Eddie confirmed, matching Max's volume. Steve was still seeing red and didn't have any patience for this nonsense. He just wanted to beat the shit out of the guy.

"Maybe you should go." Max said, turning to Eddie's dad. She really did look scary, for a young teenage girl. "We don't like people like you here. Really ruins the neighborhood." Max kept a straight face, bringing her arms out wide to display the trailer park in all it's glory.

Eddie's father looked absolutely infuriated. He wouldn't be taken down that easily. Luckily, all they really needed was the distraction Max had provided. Steve put his hand on Eddie's arm and pushed him toward the car. As they passed by Eddie's father, he straightened up and spit for a third time, this time hitting Steve's shoe.

"Fucking queers—" he said, only loud enough for Max to hear. Steve spun around and slammed his fist into his boyfriend's father's nose, fully launching him into the air and back onto the hood of his car, where he slithered down to the dirt clutching his nose. Steve shook his hand out.

Shit. This just finished healing from Paul, too.

"Max, get in the car with Eddie." Steve ordered, holding the back door open. Max obeyed immediately. Her work was done, and Steve was terrifying. Eddie jogged over to the passenger side and slipped into the car. Steve drove out of the trailer park muttering incomprehensible profanities to himself. Eddie looked back at Max, whose eyes were wide, mouth slightly ajar. Eddie winked at her before turning back to Steve, grabbing his freshly injured hand and examining it gently. Eddie pressed a kiss against the red and raw knuckles. Steve looked over at him, eyebrows high.

"You really think she hasn't figured it out, yet?" Eddie said, almost laughing. Steve couldn't believe the good mood he seemed to be in. Max seemed to feed off of this energy, as she spoke for the first time.

"Don't insult my intelligence, Steve."

"What the fuck is wrong with you two?" Steve spluttered. Eddie and Max looked at each other for a beat and then both started laughing. Steve shook his head and pulled into a parking lot to stop the car and stare at his two companions.

"There's just something about seeing the guy who beat you up your entire life take one in the face that just feels—" Eddie sucked in a breath. "—fucking great."

Max pointed at Eddie and looked at Steve. "I like him, Steve."

"Oh, good. I was waiting for you approval." Steve couldn't help himself. His lips twitched slightly. Eddie beamed.

"So, like… what is this?" Max said, waving her hands in their general direction.

"I'm just his latest conquest," Eddie said, putting a hand under his chin and gazing at Steve. Steve rolled his eyes and took a deep breath.

"He's my boyfriend, Max. Is that— can you accept— are you okay with that?" Steve fumbled over his words. He hadn't said that out loud to anyone. Max thought for a few moments. Then she turned to Eddie.

"Is he treating you well?" She asked. Eddie brought his head back in shock, blinking a few times.

Should have known with Max.

"Y—yes?" Eddie replied, too surprised at her reaction to crack a joke. Max crossed her arms over her chest before nodding once.

"Okay. Then it's fine." She said to Steve.

"Why is everyone in my life so insufferable?" He mused to himself. Eddie immediately pouted and shoved Steve's arm. "Okay, everyone except you." Max bit her lip, trying not to smile at Steve's obvious affection.

"So is that why you abducted me?" Max asked, arms still crossed.

"Uh.. yeah? Why else would I?" Steve answered.

"I don't know. To hang out. Aren't we friends?"

Steve grimaced. "Suuure."

"Hey, I have an idea," Eddie piped up.

Uh oh.

"We should have a meeting of the circle of trust." He said, nodding to himself. "Go pick up Dustin and Robin please, Stevie." Eddie leaned over and kissed Steve on the cheek. Steve was pretty sure that was his favorite nickname yet, so he didn't utter a single word of objection before putting the car back in drive and indulging the whims of his boyfriend.