5 days earlier...
Eddie's uncle was working another double, so Steve and him had the entire trailer to themselves. Steve was currently lounging back on Eddie's unmade bed, sipping a cold beer, and watching Eddie play his guitar for him. He was currently in the middle of trying to learn one of Metallica's newest songs, which had just come out almost a week or so ago. Eddie had shown Steve the album, asking if he had listened to it yet. Not much of a metal head, remembering the only heavy rock songs he really ever listened to was whenever he was with Billy, shrugged and said not yet. Eddie grinned, putting it on, and explained with enough excitement as a kid on Christmas, that he was bound and determined to master the song before anybody else. He raved about the band members, the hidden meanings in the lyrics, and how he hoped to kick off one of his band's shows performing this.
Steve listened, watching in utter amazement as Eddie fastly played the guitar with fluid motions. His fingers moving at a frantic rate up and down the strings, and only every once and awhile, would softly swear under his breath, check the crumbled up music sheet he had laying on the edge of the bed, and then continue. Finally, he made it through doing it all the way without making one single mistake, his facial expressions selling Steve completely, who lost it once Eddie finished the last note, and stood back sweaty, and out of breath. Steve put his beer down, and shot up clapping, grinning like an idiot. Eddie blushed a little before Steve ran his hands through his hair, looking completely shocked.
"That was amazing Eddie!"
Eddie shrugged, and took his guitar off, kissing the neck of it, before hanging it back up.
"I made a few mistakes, just need practice."
"I thought it sounded amazing. I mean didn't you say that song just came out?!"
Eddie blushed even harder, giving a half smile before grabbing a new tape, and putting it on. Dio's Rainbow In The Dark started to play over the speakers before Eddie smiled at Eddie and plopped down on the other end of the bed.
"Yeah..."
Steve smiled, and reached over rubbing Eddie's jean clad leg.
"You really are a fucking rock star you know that? You're so talented."
"Keep buttering me up Harrington. Flattery works on me as you know."
Steve grinned, and leaned forward, taking some of Eddie's T-shirt, pulling him forward, and he gently kissed him. He smiled through the kiss, before nuzzling his nose with his.
"You know it."
They both smiled and kissed a little bit more, before Steve turned over, and laid back, putting his head up against Eddie's stomach as he stared up at the ceiling.
"How long have you been playing?"
"Um...since I was a kid. Ten or so."
"Did you take lessons?"
Eddie began to gently stroke Steve's hair.
"Umm, no. Couldn't afford them. Just really got into metal, and slowly taught myself how to read music. Funny I can do that, but give me a history or math final and I blow it."
Steve smirked.
"You should teach lessons yourself. You're amazing."
"Ugh, not so sure. I can read music, but it's kinda hard to explain how to do it to somebody else. Guess as cheesy as it sounds you just have to get lost in the music and have fun."
Steve smiled, glancing up at him. These past few weeks had honestly flown by for Steve, and even though they had really just started sleeping together, Eddie and Steve had been sneaking around making sure they could see each other as much as possible. He knew this was fast, but he hadn't felt this happy or alive since before the night of Starcourt happened. If they couldn't see each other, they would either talk for hours on the phone, or Eddie would swing by the video store, pretending to look for videos, all the while shamelessly flirting with Steve as Robin looked on amused. It seemed so weird that Steve now sorta viewed Eddie as his boyfriend, but he really couldn't think of any other word for what was happening to them. Around Eddie, he could just be himself, lay back, and relax. He felt safe, and somehow that awful depression that had swallowed him whole this past year was slowly starting to fade away. Not that long ago, he had taken Eddie's ring, faintly in the back of his mind already knowing what he truly intended on doing with it. He knew that to anyone else he was being foolish, and rushing way too fast into this. But, he didn't care. He knew for certain he loved Eddie, and laying just like this felt like Heaven.
The night before they had left The Hangout. Eddie wasn't performing, but they figured it was far enough out of town that really nobody they knew wouldn't spot them, and question why they were together? They had sat in a back booth, listening to a few local bands play, drinking beers, and enjoying themselves. By the end of the night, they left and walked behind the bar into the darkness, and slipped around the large cabin-like building, and stood in the shadows for a second, before heading to Eddie's van parked near the dumpsters. Here, due to the buzz of the beers, Steve didn't care, and took a quick look around, before he tugged on Eddie's arm, causing him to stop and look at him. He was wearing an Iron Maiden T-shirt, leather jacket, and jeans, and to Steve at this exact moment he looked like the hottest thing on the entire planet. He watched Eddie pop a cigarette into his mouth smiling as he stared at Steve. Steve smirked, reached forward, plucked the unlit smoke from Eddie's mouth, and covered his mouth with his. Eddie, caught a little by surprise by this, gave a very pleased groan through his mouth as Steve deeply kissed him, cupping the side of his face, as he gently pushed him up against the building.
"Fucking faggots."
They heard a voice say, and instantly they jumped back. An older drunk biker walked by them, shaking his head, and looking at them disgusted.
"I should have known this place was for queers."
He hissed, looking at Steve and Eddie as if they were trash. Steve's face instantly fell, and he glared at the man.
"What the Hell did you just say?"
Eddie sighed, and gently took Steve's shoulder.
"Come on, he's not worth it."
The biker chuckled, ignoring the glaring anger that was showing in Steve's face.
"Yeah, better listen to your little girlfriend mister."
Steve completely lost it, and pulled away from Eddie's hand, and stepped forward, getting right into the biker's face.
"Apologize right now asshole."
The biker didn't look the slightest bit scared, and laughed in Steve's face, his breath sour smelling of booze.
"Screw you fairy."
Steve, no longer thinking, almost on instinct planted his feet, just as Billy had taught him, and watched his closed fist fly out and punch the unsuspecting biker right in the face. The biker, caught off guard, fell backwards, hitting some trash cans, nose bloody, and dazed. Eddie's eyes widened, before he stepped forward, standing next to Steve who glared down at the man. Before he could say anything, Steve knelt forward, and grabbed a handful of the biker's greasy salt and pepper colored hair. His eyelids fluttered open, dazed as blood continued to trickle down his nose and onto his lips.
"Apologize to him right now." The biker blinked, head slightly swaying, before he looked up at a very nervous Eddie staring down at him.
"Sorry..."
Steve then roughly let go of the biker's head, letting his head whack the trash cans behind him, before the biker slumped over, knocked out. Steve took a second, heart hammering, before he stood up, and turned towards Eddie, ready to see his horrified face staring back at him. Instead, he was greeted by one of Eddie's surprised grins, before he laughed.
"My Knight in shining Members Only Jacket."
Steve cracked up, before the cool night hair stung his hand. The skin hadn't broken, but they were swollen and red. Eddie saw this, and lifted his hand, closely examining it, before leaning down, and gently kissing the sensitive skin. Steve closely watched Eddie, before he lifted his dark brown eyes to his light ones. He smiled.
"Don't take what these hicks say to heart. We get bikers, and truckers who swing by every once and awhile thinking we're all freaks. I'm sure..."
He motioned down at the knocked out man laying against the trans cans.
"Won't be coming back anytime soon. Here..."
Eddie dug into his pocket, and produced his black bandana with the skulls on it, and gently wrapped it around Steve's hand. Steve closely watched him the entire time, and couldn't believe how hard he was falling for him. Eddie smiled, snaking his arm around Steve's waist, as the two made their way towards his van.
"Come on, let's go put some ice on that left hook."
Both laughed, arm in arm as they hurried towards the van. Laying here, thinking back on what happened, Steve knew he would go absolutely crazy if anyone tried to touch, or bully Eddie. He knew he got plenty of shit at school for being different, and he himself had been guilty of calling him a freak. Now, he honestly felt he would have the same kind of rage inside of him that Billy had, which often had been the source of jealousy during their relationship. With Eddie, he knew he couldn't be like that. Eddie wasn't property, but as God as his witness...he was going to make sure he was protected...if it was the last thing he did.
Present
Steve was still puking when Dustin and Max hurried in. Confused, Robin stood behind the counter, as the kids jumped over, and told her they needed the store's phones. Steve stopped dry heaving, long enough to wipe his mouth, and stare at the two kids, who eyed each other. Max didn't look so happy to see him, but Dustin looked up at Steve with a mixture of pity and worry.
"You heard the news?"
Steve, about to grab his keys and race to the trailer park, used the back of his arm to wipe his mouth as Robin came over with a can of 7UP for him. He eyed the news, but saw it was on a commercial. "What?" Max took a deep breath, before she stared up at Steve. "It's about Eddie. We think he might be in trouble." Steve felt his stomach drop, and resisted the urge to vomit again.
Later...
Steve knew there was no way in Hell that Eddie could have killed Chrissy. No longer caring that his relationship with him was getting aired right out in the open, he knew for certain Max had already known about them, and that Dustin had probably already been filled in by her. He explained that Eddie said he had some business to attend to, which everyone knew meant selling weed. It seemed almost impossible that Chrissy Cunningham, the queen of Hawkins' High would do drugs, let alone buy them from Eddie...but it was true. Steve told them that he had mentioned he couldn't wait to tell him about who he was selling to, and that they had plans on meeting up last night, but Steve ended up falling asleep and never heard the phone or the doorbell ring. Max explained about what she saw last night, and the lights flickering. Right away an awful feeling of dread swallowed Steve whole, as he sipped on his soda, slowly trying to relax his stomach, before Dustin and Max explained they were planning on calling around to see if anyone had seen Eddie?
Steve at first wanted to take his car and go look for him, but the group convinced him this way was better. They asked Steve where were some of the places he often liked to go and hang out. Steve wrote them down quickly, as Robin, Dustin, and Max went to work. Feeling helpless, he made a few calls himself, trying to sound casual, before drawing his attention to the news. He felt as if his blood had been replaced with ice water. The very thought that something might be back in Hawkins scared him to death, but what made it worse now was that Eddie was involved. He knew Eddie, and just like the others knew he wasn't capable of even hurting so much as a fly. People may have been scared of him, thinking he worshiped the Devil over some stupid fantasy game he played, or the way he dressed...but the truth was, Eddie was one of the kindest, most gentle people Steve had ever been lucky enough to have encountered. The entire time they worked, always annoyed whenever a lone customer would come in needing help, Steve would think of the ring box in his pocket, and how he had originally planned on asking Eddie to marry him tonight. He only prayed he hadn't split town, and was someplace safe. Hating that he didn't know what was fully happening, he continued to pace, starting to feel sick to his stomach again.
That's when he heard Max.
"Hey Steve?"
Steve turned, and saw Robin and Dustin looming over the store's computer. Looking back down at Max, it was just them in the store. Max sighed, and crossed her arms.
"I...wanted to apologize about Thursday. I should have tried to talk to you. I guess...I was kinda upset and shocked, that's all."
Steve sighed.
"Max..."
Max shook her head.
"We have bigger fish to fry right now. I don't know Eddie well, but I'm sure he's not a killer. I..."
She lowered her voice and looked at him.
"I know you loved Billy, and...the guilt we've been carrying. I guess...what I'm trying to say is...I'm glad you found somebody, and I'm sure we'll be able to figure this all out and...help him."
Steve felt as if he was talking to an adult instead of some young teenager. He knew her relationship with Billy had been complicated, but deep down inside they really did care for each other, and after he was gone had missed him terribly. Steve sadly smiled, before he nodded.
"Thanks Max."
Max gave a small uncomfortable nod, before she leaned in and gave him a stiff half hug, before once Robin and Dustin jumped up with a piece of paper.
"We think we know where Eddie is!"
Steve and Max looked at each other confused.
Later that night...
They had locked up the store, really not caring since Keith was away for the weekend. They had followed the address to Eddie's supplier, Reefer Rick, who lived almost on the outside of town right on the edge of Lover's Lake. Steve remembered the night Eddie and him had first had sex together after dareing each other to jump into the freezing cold water naked. That seemed like a million years ago, as he focused on driving, trying to tune out whatever theories Dustin was spluttering on and on about. All he wanted was to find his boyfriend, and wrap his arms around him. This damn town had already taken one love of his life away. He would be damned if it took another. By the time they found the cabin, it was nightfall, and they all pounded on the abandoned cabin's doors for what seemed like a lifetime. They shined their flashlights, as Dustin got on Steve's nerves, shouting for Eddie or Rick.
That's when they noticed the boathouse, and all carefully climbed down the gravel driveway to it. Robin went first, slowly pushing the door open.
"Hello? Is anyone home?"
The place was dark, with lawn and fishing equipment hanging off the walls, along with boxes piled up. The mouth to the boathouse was open, showing the gentle lapping water of the lake at night as crickets chirped gently in the distance. The boat, covered up with a blue tarp, was tied in the center, gently bouncing from the small waves that lapped in and out. Steve walked up, shining his flashlight up, and looking around.
"What a dump..."
He muttered under his breath as they all looked around. Steve didn't see Eddie anywhere, but was getting a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach. He remembered those damn creatures, and if something fishy was happening again, that might mean another gate that opened...resulting in these things spilling out. Maybe that's what killed Chrissy? Wishing he had his trusty bat with him, he took a boat oar, and approached the boat and gave it a whack. Dustin looked at him as if he was crazy.
"What are you doing?"
"Just being safe..."
He continued poking at the tarp, as Dustin shot him a look.
"Just take the tarp off!"
"If you're so brave you take the tarp off."
Steve said as he circled around, continuing poking at the boat, before Max noticed some empty beer bottles and candy wrappers on the workbench near the fishing poles.
"Look, somebody has been here."
Robin looked. "Maybe he heard us...got spooked and ran" Dustin continued following Steve as he kept poking at the boat.
"Don't worry. Steve will find him with his oar."
Steve continued moving his way around the other side of the boat.
"I know you think you're being funny Henderson, but considering everyone in this room has almost died a million times I don't find it..."
Before he could finish, a dark shadow filled the room, as the tarp fell off, and something lunged at him. Steve didn't even get a chance to scream, as he saw a blur of hair, and a set of frightened dark brown eyes as he was roughly pushed against the metal wall of the boathouse. Everyone screamed at Eddie to stop and wait, before he saw Eddie staring at him, holding a broken piece of a beer bottle. Steve's eyes widened, before it registered in Eddie's face who was actually standing there in front of him. One hand was roughly digging into Steve's shoulder, as the other held the broken glass up against his throat. Dustin was screaming at Eddie to stop, but already Steve saw Eddie's frightened expression change to complete desperation as he looked at Steve. His eyes were filled with tears, and he was shaking all over.
"Steve?"
Steve gulped and nodded, not fearing the broken glass against his throat, just hating seeing Eddie like this. He looked like a frightened child, his face dirty and sweaty. Eddie stared at him, before he dropped the broken piece of glass, and grabbed Steve harder than he had ever grabbed him before, wrapping his arms tightly around him, and burying his face into his shoulder and he began to sob. The others stood back stunned, as Steve put his own arms tightly around Eddie's shaking body, silently thanking God for finding him.
Later...
Steve held onto Eddie, still feeling him shake gently against him. They had asked Eddie what happened, and large fat tears rolled down his face, and he struggled to speak.
"You...won't believe me."
Max calmly stared at him as the others sat down around him.
"Try us."
Dustin had run back to the car, and brought his canteen for Eddie to drink out of. Steve gently stroked Eddie's hair, trying his best to soothe him, ignoring the others closely watching him. Once Eddie was calm enough, still sitting against Steve, holding him tight he spoke about what had happened the night before. Steve had never seen Eddie ever look this scared before, and it broke his heart. Finally, after getting a drink of water, he sat next to Steve, his hand tightly squeezing his leg for comfort, as his dark brown eyes gazed down, still glazed with tears, as he recounted what had happened. He explained how Chrissy Cunningham had approached him early Friday morning asking if he sold weed? At first Eddie thought it was a joke, until he saw how freaked out she looked...like she hadn't been sleeping, and seemed like something was really bothering her. They arranged to meet after school at the clearing near the track path to do some business. He told them that Chrissy seemed really scared, but never said over what. At one point she mentioned she felt she was losing her mind, and then asked if he sold anything stronger? Eddie sighed, looking a little embarrassed and told the others how they had planned on meeting up after Hellfire and the game.
He would drive her to his place to get what she wanted, then he would drive her back. As Steve listened, he wondered briefly what else did Eddie honestly have that was stronger than the weed he sold? Then he remembered the coke they did the first night they ever hung out, and the pill that made him head to the world the night before. Listening, Steve allowed Eddie to continue squeezing his leg, his fingers digging into him, as his own arm was snaked around Eddie holding him close. He hated to think this, but after seeing the news report this morning...he never thought he would be holding his boyfriend again. Eddie talked about how they got there, and after he came back from his room, he came back to find Chrissy almost in a trance. At first he thought she was joking, then panicked thinking maybe she was having a seizure or something.
"Her eyes were weird looking...cloudy...almost rolled up in her head. I screamed and screamed her name, even shook her and nothing would wake her up. Then...she lifted up into the air all by herself...and just sorta hung there and..."
He shut his eyes, rocking back and forth, his hand digging harder into Steve's leg as he struggled to speak. Steve tightened his grip against Eddie's waist, pulling him as close as he could get against him, letting him know that it was okay as Eddie struggled to go on.
"They...started to snap. Her eyes man...it seemed like something was inside her head pulling. I didn't know what to do...so I...I ran away. I...just left her."
He stopped, before looking up at them, and at Steve, before shaking his head.
"You all think I'm crazy right?"
Dustin shook his head.
"We don't think you're crazy..."
"NOW DON'T BULLSHIT ME MAN! I KNOW HOW IT SOUNDS!"
Eddie began crying again. Steve held him close, hating that he couldn't bring him any comfort. Max shook her head.
"We're not bullshitting you."
Robin nodded in agreement.
"We believe you."
Eddie sighed, still visibly upset. Dustin sighed and sat forward.
"Look, what I'm about to tell you...might be a little difficult to take."
Eddie, who's cheeks were still shinny with tears, stopped shaking and looked at them.
"Okay..."
"You know how people say Hawkins is cursed? They're not...way off. There's another world. A world hidden beneath Hawkins. Sometimes...it bleeds into our world."
"Like ghosts and shit?"
Max stared at him.
"There are worse things than ghosts. Monsters. They killed a lot of people here, the government has just covered it up...since they were responsible for a lot of them coming into our world. The mall fire? That really wasn't a fire. That was them. One of these monsters killed my brother."
Eddie looked shocked, and eyed Steve, who sighed and stared down, and just nodded. Dustin went on.
"These monsters from the other world. We thought they were gone...but they came back before. That's why we needed to find you."
Max nodded.
"If they are back again...we need to know."
"That night, did you see anything?"
"Dark particles maybe?"
Eddie shook his head as Dustin went on.
"They would almost look like dust. Swirling dust."
Eddie shook his head again.
"No man, there was nothing you could see...or touch."
"You know, in the end I tried to wake her...but she couldn't move. It was like she was in a trance like I said or something."
"Or under a spell?"
Eddie lifted his eyes.
"A curse."
"Venca's curse."
Steve now finally spoke, looking at Dustin.
"Who's Venca?"
"An undead creature of great power."
Eddie looked at him.
"A spell caster."
"A dark...wizard."
Eddie shut his eyes, new tears escaping through his closed lids, and he let go of Steve's leg, which he was certain probably had bruises in the shape of Eddie's fingers, and buried his head in his hands.
"Jesus H Christ..."
Steve brushed back Eddie's car, no longer caring that the others were right there, and gently kissed his cheek, before gently squeezing him.
"Shhhh...it's okay. We're gonna figure something out. That's why we're here. That's why we want to help."
Eddie continued crying, rocking back and forth, as Steve nuzzled against Eddie's face, holding him...not feeling this helpless since the night he watched Billy die before his very own eyes.