87- A New Addition
Summary: Dustin and Mike try to convince Eddie to let El join Hellfire.
Requested by: hopelessly_devoted_to_stranger_things
Eddie knew the moment the two boys entered the drama room that the day was going to be long.
It was a couple weeks before summer break, before freedom.
Well, at least for everyone else. Eddie would be going to summer school to be able to graduate.
Finally.
He wouldn't have to deal with freshman anymore.
Except these ones of course.
Wheeler and Henderson. Along with all their little friends.
If it was anytime before spring break, Eddie would have banished them from the room as soon as their feet crossed the threshold.
But they had been through crap, some scary crap, so Eddie welcomed them with a small smile.
"What do you want?" he asked bluntly. Hey, sure they'd been through stuff but that didn't mean Eddie had to completely change his demeanor.
Eddie looked up from his campaign plans to see Henderson urging Wheeler to speak.
He sighed. "Listen, you have 5 seconds to explain to me what's going on before I banish you."
"We were wondering if we could bring someone new to the next campaign." Mike explained.
Eddie hid his surprise well, not looking up. "Uh-huh. Who?"
There were some harsh whispers before Dustin sighed. "El."
Unfortunately, Eddie couldn't hide his surprise this time. Jerking his head up, Eddie looked at the freshman suspiciously. "Why?"
"Cause she wants to." Mike stated. "And we want her to play. Have since- well, since '84."
"Then why hasn't she played?" Eddie questioned.
"At first, we couldn't even see her to teach it to her." Dustin responded. "And then, she was obsessed with Mike and nothing else-"
"Hey!" Mike interrupted.
Dustin shrugged. "Well, it's true. Then the whole Starcourt thing happened along with Hopper's dea- disappearance. Then she moved. And whenever she visited, she would just hang out with Max if we did a campaign."
Eddie bit the inside of his cheek. "While I would love to have a new sheep, the next campaign I'm planning is for the big boys. Sorry guys."
"Wait!" Wheeler said. "That's fine she doesn't have to participate in this one but what about the next one? We can teach her before and you can plan an easy campaign."
Eddie sat in thought for a moment.
The moment proved to be too much for the freshman, because they both yelled, "Well?!"
Rolling his eyes, Eddie made his decision. "Fine. But this is the only time that I'm going to slow things down alright? So if any of your other little friends want to join, now would be the time."
Wheeler and Henderson whooped and hollered, then charged forward giving the dungeon master a hug.
"Thanks Eddie!" they both cheered.
Eddie huffed a laugh. "You're welcome. Now go, I'm trying to plan."
The freshman scurried off, both planning on how to tell El.
Eddie shook his head, he couldn't believe he just did that.
He'd gone soft.
Sitting down, Eddie started planning the next campaign for the newbies.
Maybe there would be a telekinesis character in it.
Eddie shut the door of his van and nearly jumped out his skin when he turned and saw El.
"Jeez, buzzcut, you scared me." Eddie grabbed his chest.
El had visited Eddie in the hospital a couple times and agreed on a new nickname for the girl.
Buzzcut.
Only Eddie could call her that though.
And despite her hair growing, making her no longer have a buzzcut, Eddie still used the nickname.
"What's up?" he asked.
"Help." she stated.
Eddie tried to push down the flare of panic. "With what?"
"DND."
Taking a deep breath, Eddie felt relief trade with panic.
Gosh, he'd gone soft.
"I thought the boys were helping you. I'm planning a beginners campaign, don't worry."
El shook her head. "They're all fighting about which character I should be. I barely got a 5 minute lesson."
Eddie closed his eyes. "Those idiots."
Opening his eyes, he studied El for a moment.
"I would say you're a mage." he told her.
"That's what Mike says. But Dustin is trying to convince everyone I'm a bard cause of my magic." El explained.
"Hmm, no. The magic I could see but you aren't great with words. No offense."
El shrugged. "None taken. Now that we have that settled, can you help me with the rest?"
Eddie squinted. "Can't the boys do that since they're not going to be fighting anymore?"
"Yeah, but I can just hear another one coming soon enough."
Eddie sighed. "You're right. Fine. Come on, buzzcut."
El squealed. "Thanks Eddie!"
"Yeah, yeah."
Yep, Eddie Munson had officially gone soft.
AN: Hope you like it, hopelessy_devoted_to_stranger_things! Requests are open!