#don't tell me steve doesn't know reefer rick

[strangersteddierthings]

What's Eight Plus Seven?

Part One🦇Part Two🦇Part Three🦇Part Four🦇Part Five

Alright y'all. We had the hurt, let's get some comfort started.

-

Steve leans against his door, expecting Eddie to follow him upstairs to continue their argument because Eddie's never been one to back down from an argument as far as Steve can tell, so he's using his weight to keep the door shut. It takes about five minutes of just leaning against the door before he hears a few light knocks on the door. He pretends he didn't hear them and soon starts to hear Eddie monologue-ing on the other side. He thinks he hears a 'sorry' and an 'I fucked up' but he doesn't really tune in until Eddie says something about cancelling Hellfire.

Spinning quickly, he yanks the door open and says, "You better not fucking cancel!"

"What? Don't you, like, want me out of your house?" Eddie looks startled and sounds confused.

"What I want is for the kids to get to play Dungeons and Dorks for an afternoon, just getting to be kids and fight against monsters that can't actually kill them," Steve says as he goes to put his hands on his hips (a move that Robin calls his Bitch Stance) but realizes he can't while still holding a book, so instead he folds his arms across his chest, cradling the book to his body.

He waits for Eddie to call him out for saying dorks instead of dragons, but Eddie just blinks at him, quiet for a moment before he says, "Oh. Uh, okay then. I'll just, uhh, I'll be back closer to noon, then. For the game."

"Don't you have prep to do?" Steve knows he's trying to pick a fight now but he's angry, and sad, and hurt underneath it all. Also, he doesn't understand the change in Eddie suddenly. Ten-ish minutes ago Eddie had shouted back I wasn’t exactly wrong, was I? You were a jock, a bully even! Where is that anger now?

"No. Not, uh, not really," Eddie says, avoiding meeting Steve's gaze, face turning a very light pink. "I was- I mean, yes, there was prep, but I did a majority of that already and what's left will take maybe three minutes so..."

Steve's confused now, still trying to cling to his anger. "But you called and asked if it was okay to come early specifically for that reason."

Eddie doesn't respond right away. He turns around to walk to the wall opposite Steve's door and thump his forehead against it. Steve is perplexed by the behavior (but he's been perplexed by Eddie since finding him at Reefer Rick's) so he just watches in silence as Eddie heaves a sigh and turns around to slump against the wall, facing Steve once again. He runs a hand through his hair, then drags that hand back forward and down his face. "Yeah. I did do that."

"So, what, you lied? Why?"

"I just wanted to hang out," Eddie whispers, like it almost hurts him to say out loud, which is such a weird thing to hear because it makes Eddie seem small in a way Steve's never seen him. Even during spring break Eddie was never small or quiet; his fear manifested as shouting, for fuck's sake. It chips away at the last of Steve's anger. He's long past the days of kicking someone when they're down.

"You... wanted to hang out," Steve repeats before heaving a sigh of his own, long-suffering man that he is. Maybe it is time to bury the hatchet and actual deal with this. If nothing else, it'll result in Steve being less defensive around Eddie when everyone hangs out, like for movie night or BBQs. Also, he knows that Dustin will never let him know another day of peace once he learns that Eddie and Steve don't get along as well as he wants them to so he says, "Listen, I think we've got some shit to hash out, or whatever, so that should probably be done or, like, things are going to be weird when we all hang out, but I can't do that right now, man. So, stay or go, just make that game happen at noon. I'm going to stay up here."

Eddie nods, weirdly sullen and quiet again, as he says, "Yeah. Umm, maybe after the game? If you're feeling up to it."

"Sure. After."

Eddie raps his knuckles against the wall behind him twice before pushing off and heading back towards the stairs. He pauses to look over his shoulder and say, "If you wanna watch, or listen in, or something, I don't think anyone will mind." And then he's heading down the stairs.

Retreating back to his room, Steve tosses the book onto his bed before flopping face first next to it. He groans into his comforter before reaching for the book. He props himself up on his elbows and stares down at the cover before opening it to see Christopher's handwriting on the inside cover.

It's been years since he thought about Christopher and even longer since he's laid eyes on the books. He was so sure his mom had just gotten rid of them. All this time, they'd been right where he left them, shoved just far enough back to be out of sight on the shelf. His last link to Christopher.

That's not true, Steve scolds himself. His cousins, Amber and Robert, are still alive and in Washington. His grandparents still live on that farm in Michigan. Steve just hasn't seen them since the funeral.

He hadn't gone back to the farm the summer after freshman year, or any year since. His parents thought he was old enough to stay home for a whole month in the summer alone now, instead of paying to ship him off to his grandparents. Steve's old enough now to know that was why he'd spent a month every year out on the farm; so his parents could go off on longer work trips. Once they'd decided Steve was old enough to stay alone for the summer, that quickly reached other seasons and by the time Steve was a junior, the were gone more than they were home.

He doesn't even remember when he last spoke to them in person. He thinks the last phone call was right after Starcourt. It was just to make sure Steve got to job hunting, since his place of employment had burned down and the bills wouldn't pay themselves. Which is true. He doesn't have to pay rent, but all the utilities are in his name now.

Jesus, he doesn't want to be thinking about them.

He goes back to the book, flipping through the pages absently. Halfway through the book he finds a couple folded pieces of paper tucked close to the spine. He doesn't have to open them to know exactly what they are.

It's the character sheets he'd made.

He closes the book back atop them and rolls over to face his ceiling. He wants to call Robin, but the phones are downstairs and he doesn't want to go down there just yet. He also kinda wants to cry. To get rid of all these emotions about Christopher, and Freshman First Day, and Eddie.

Fucking Eddie. Who haunts Steve's thoughts more than he'd like because despite the grudge Steve has been holding, Eddie has been fun to be around and so good with the kids, especially Dustin. Fuck, after having watched Dustin break down when they thought he was dead- but he'd had a pulse. It was weak but it was there.

After Eddie'd been cleared of the charges and the months rolled on into summer, they'd spent lots of time together as a group. Steve will admit he tried to avoid Eddie as best he could (he knows he's petty, okay) but could still see how he blended smoothly into their group.

If this Eddie had been the one he met on Freshman First Day, instead of the dick that mocked him, they might very well be friends now.

That's the crux of it all, Steve thinks. That he wouldn't mind being friends with Eddie if not for that bottled up grudge he'd been holding onto. He can't bring himself to let it go and Steve's not even sure why. Thoughts and feelings aren't something Steve processes quickly, and it usually helps to talk it out with Robin. She lets him stumble through his thoughts, and doesn't mock him for messing up, or mixing up, words.

Goddammit, if he's really going to try talking this out with Eddie, he's going to have be open and honest and maybe a little vulnerable and he doesn't know if he can do that.

But he'll have to. For better or worse, he can't just keep Eddie at arms length. They need to either come to the conclusion that they can be friends, or not, and then go from there. (Also, he knows that Dustin will never let him know another day of peace once he learns that Eddie and Steve don't get along as well as he wants them to.)

In the end, Steve's not sure how long he just stares up at the ceiling but a sudden shout breaks him from his trance. It sounded like Dustin. Hellfire must have started.

Steve leaves his room to go lean against the half wall of the hallway, so he could look down to the dining table where everyone has gathered to play. No one notices him, so Steve sinks to the floor and turns, so he can lean against the wall, closes his eyes, and listens in.

The room below is filled with noise. Shouts of excitement, and groans of pain, and sighs of relief. Dustin yells at his dice when it rolls a Nat 1. Mike curses up a storm over a barely missed perception check that makes the party fall into a surprise round. He hears Lucas whoop happily and then what sounds like him taking several victory laps around the table.

He used to be an imaginative kid, able to easily conjure castle, and knights, and dragons in his mind's eye. Listening to Eddie describe a new location, or NPC, or monster makes it easy to bring that part of himself back. Eddie is descriptive and uses so many voices that Steve would be embarrassed to even attempt. But because Eddie is being descriptive, so is everyone else at the table. Erica has adopted an accent of some sort for her character. Dustin and Will go into great detail describing what they want their character to do. The older members of Hellfire do the same, and one of them is using an Irish accent that if he used while talking to Steve, he'd would think it was his first language.

Steve's not sure how long he sat there, long enough that they've taken a snack break and are back at it again, before he decides he might as well watch, too. He gets up and goes downstairs. There's a pause at the table when he wonders in and plops down on the couch. He makes eye contact with Eddie and offers a small half smile. Eddie grins back, and starts back into the game, pulling everyone's focus.

Watching is interesting. He gets to see the Party jab at each other, or lean over and whisper about something. It's nice, to see them being kids. Having fun.

They end around five and Steve is surprised at how quickly five hours had passed.

"So, Steve, how was watching your first DnD game?" Dustin asks, pausing on his way to the door to do so.

Steve considers teasing him, but he goes for honesty instead. "Pretty interesting. It might not be my last time observing. I gotta see you get killed sometime, right?"

"Rude, Steve. Rude," Dustin is grinning though.

"Tell your mom hi for me, and let me know when she's making pork chops again. I'd like to crash that dinner."

Dustin rolls his eyes and shakes his head but he hugs Steve before leaving. Between all the older Hellfire members, they all have rides home that aren't Steve or Eddie.

Speaking of the latter, he's slowly packing things away at the table. Clearly killing time so it won't look like he's intentionally staying after everyone's gone.

Soon, the house is empty again.

"So, I'm not sure... how to start this conversation," Eddie admits to the silence. He's still at the table, standing behind where he was previously sitting, fiddling with a die. "But, I'm sorry. For that day. You were right, you know? When you said I was lashing out at you first."

"Thanks. For the apology," Steve stands from the couch and moves to the table, toying with the tablecloth instead of looking at Eddie. "I, uhh, I'm not sure where to go from here, either? I spent such a long time angry at you. For pointing out all the things I'm bad at in front of everyone there. For making me feel like an idiot."

"I know. I'm sorry."

Now Steve looks up at Eddie. "You say that, but like, why? Are you sorry because what you did was shitty, or because you want to be my friend now?"

Eddie blinks, apparently thrown by Steve's question.

"Because, like, you were pretty dismissive of Lucas before Spring Break and he helped save your life. So, it's like, are you okay with being shitty if the people you hurt aren't people you like? 'Cause I used to be that way, and I'm not going to be friends with someone who is."

"Yeah, no, you're right," Eddie nods. "For all that I scream about conformity, and how stupid it is, I've been rather quick to dismiss everyone outside my own... group. I held rather close to that nerds verses jocks crap for too long. Lucas is a jock, but he's also a nerd, and so very loyal to his friends. And you- you're really fucking awesome."

"I am," Steve interrupts with a cheeky grin.

"Ass. But yeah, you're pretty awesome, and I've been feeling all fucked up today because, we could have been friends, couldn't we? In high school. If I'd just let you take the damn flier and kept my mouth shut."

"Hey, that's not all on you," Steve says. "I would have still joined the basketball team, and the swim team. And, like, I was so desperate for any shred of attention from my parents that I would never have picked Hellfire over sports meetups. I could have joined and still ended up a bully by sophomore year."

"Well, I didn't help-"

"I made those choices, Eddie. And it doesn't matter because it's in the past. So, like, we can just move forward. Start over, or whatever."

Eddie looks him up and down before giving one sharp nod, then breaking out into a wide grin, sticking his hand out for a handshake. "Hi. Name's Eddie Munson."

Steve laughs, reaching out to shake Eddie's hand. "Steve Harrington."

"Great, pleasure to meet you. Do you wanna hang out? We can play 20 questions. Get to know each other."

"Sure," Steve chuckles, extracting his hand from Eddie's. "Let me order some pizza first."

First time hanging out with Eddie alone. Guess they'll find out if they can be friends after all.

[captainlunaxmen]

The Lady and the Lord

Chapter 6

Eddie munson x fem!reader

This is a repost since the old blog doesn't work anymore. 🥰

Chapter summary: the gang, finally, has to go to Eddie and with him they go find the gate.

Chapter warnings: spoiler season 4, mention of harassment, some flirting... if you want.

We're finally heading to Eddie, to bring some food to him and... yeah, the news.

"Not to be a wimp, but can I sit in the car for this? 'Couse this is gonna total and royally suck" Robin complains from the back seat.

I'm sitting in the front with Nancy as she drives.

"It'll be fine" Nancy assures her.

"I just can't stand to see those dull eyes of Eddie's break again. I really, really can't " Robin admits.

"Yeah.. I know" I sigh.

"At least he can drink himself into feeling better" Steve states, making me roll my eyes.

"That's what my mom does" Max mutters.

"Why don't we just give it a trial?" Robin rambles. I still don't understand if Robin's rambling is cute or... concerning. I share a look with Nancy, that makes me guess we're thinking the same thing.

" 'Eddie. Uh, good news first this time. We got you some Dustin-approved junk food and that six-pack you requested. Oh yeah and we found Vecna. Only the bad news is that he's in that other darker, much scariest dimension that we told you about, and the gate's closed, so we have no way of getting to him. Like he's entirely shut off to us, so basically you're screwed. And no, no, I know you were already screwed, but now you're doubly, triply screwed"

"Wait, wait. Maybe we put it like that" Lucas stops her.

"Maybe if Y/n said it, it wouldn't hurt so much" Dustin suggests.

" 'we're one step closer to finding Vecna' that's what we say. That's what's important" Nancy proposes.

"Exactly" I agree. "There's no need for him to worry about this now."

"See, Robin? Positive spin can make all the difference." Steve teases earning an annoyed "uh-huh" from Robin.

"Oh shit"

Arriving at Reefer Rick's house we see people gathering around some reporters...and the police.

"Oh my god, they didn't find Eddie, did they?" I mutter.

We get out of the car quickly, thankfully all the people is more interested in finding out what happened than in our arrival, so we manage to sneak around the house and listen to the police chief talking to the reporters.

"... a little after midnight reporting a homicide here on the lake. Officer Callahan here and myself arrived first on the scene. We made our way to the shore of Lover's Lake about ten yards from that house you see behind me. It was there that we found the victim, an 18-year-old senior from Hawkins High, Patrick McKinney. His limbs, his body, it was disfigured. There was an eyewitness on the scene, we've also identified a person of interest. Eddie Munson. We encourage anyone with information to please..."

I turn everything off, I stop pay attention... how could they think that... on what proves?

I feel myself getting rigid and, instantly, Robin notices and grabs my hand to support.

"Dustin, can you hear me? Wheeler? Y/n..?"

Eddie.

Oh thank god.

"Eddie. Holy shit" Dustin grabs the radio and we all turn around to listen closely "are you okay?"

"Nah, man. Pretty.. pretty goddamn far from okay" Eddie says.

"Where is he?" I ask, biting my nails out of nervousness.

"Where are you?" Dustin asks him.

"Skull Rock, uh.. do you know it?"

"Yeah, that's near Cornwallis and..."

"Garrett, yeah. I know where it is" Steve cuts him off, instantly rushing to the car. I quickly follow him.

"Hold tight. We're coming. We're coming." I hear Dustin assuring Eddie.

We've been walking for hours now, following Dustin's compass through the woods. All, while constantly hearing Steve and Dustin bickering. Is it the right way? It's not. I'm telling you it is.

Ugh.. I only care about finding Eddie, I don't care who's right.

"Dude, I'm telling you, you're taking us the wrong way." Steve complains for the millionth time.

"It's north. I'm positive I checked the map." Dustin, again, defends.

"You do realise Skull Rock, it's a super popular make-out spot?" Steve asks.

"Yeah, so?"

"Yeah, well, it wasn't popular until I made it popular. All right? I practically invented it." Steve explains proudly. "We're heading in the wrong direction"

With that Steve starts to walk in a different direction, followed by a complaining Dustin and me rolling my eyes.

"Yeah.. well, that's not exactly the most romantic spot to choose and make 'popular' " I joke as we walk, so I can think of anything else for a moment.

"Correction: it's not the most romantic spot to have your first time at" he says holding up his fingers.

"Yeah, tell me about it. It was your idea, if I recall correctly" I tease back.

"What... wait... what?" Dustin asks, clearly taken aback.

"You didn't know? I thought Stevie here told you anything about him" I say with a chuckle.

"No way" he laughs.

"What's so funny, Henderson?" Steve seems offended by his laughing.

"Nothing... just... can't imagine you two.. oh god this is crazy" he says between laugher, I wrap an arm around his shoulder as we keep on walking.

"We kind of had a deal" I whisper to him and he lets out a giggle that makes Steve turn his head and glare at us, and we just laugh.

"I want to know everything" Dustin laughs.

"Oh no no no, you're not gonna know shit, Henderson" Steve warns him.

"Aaww poor Stevie." I mock him "I'll tell you about it some other time" I tell to Dustin.

"Ah ah ah, no you won't, honey" Steve says.

"You can't always be present, you're gonna turn your back one day" I jokingly tease him.

"Can't wait" Dustin says between laugher.

"I hate you both" Steve mutters.

"You love us" we say at the same time.

Finally, we arrive at Skull Rock and Steve can be all cocky and proud about being right.

"Bada bing, bada boom. There she is, Henderson. Skull Rock. In your face, man. In your stupid, cocky little face."

"Doesn't make sense" Dustin says looking down at his compass.

"What's wrong?" I ask him.

"Yeah yeah. Even with it staring you right in the face, you can't admit it. You just can't admit that you're wrong, you little butthead" Steve replies, still proud he found the place himself, I roll my eyes, ready to tell him to shut up when a big thud behind us stops me.

"I concur." Eddie stands up, in front of us. "You, Dustin Henderson, are a total butthead"

Thank god he's okay.

"Jesus, we thought you were a goner" Dustin immediately walks to hug him.

"Yeah, me too man" Eddie replies.

When his eyes meet mine, I instinctively go to hug him too.

As I wrap my arms around his neck, his are around my waist in no time.

"I'm sorry" I whisper to him.

"Don't worry about it, m'lady" he whispers back.

He just holds me to him, afraid I might disappear any moment.

" 'm just glad you're here" he adds.

We let go of each other when we hear Steve clearing his throat, loudly.

"Should we leave you two alone?" Robin winks at me and I feel my cheeks burning instantly.

"Can you tell us what happened?" Dustin asks.

As he eats the food we brought to him, he told us about Jason and the others finding him, his attempt escape on the boat and about Patrick too.

"When I got to the shore, I tried calling you guys, but, uh.. my walkie was busted, man. Drenched. So, uh, I did the thing that I do now, apparently. I ran" he lets out a chuckle, to hide something deeper, I'm afraid.

"Do you know what time this was? The attack?" Nancy asks.

"Yeah, no, I... I know exactly what time it was." He answers as he quickly takes off his watch "my walkie wasn't the only thing that got soaked."

He throw the watch at Nancy who reads "9:27"

"Same time our flashlights went kablooey" Robin adds.

"Which means what, exactly?" Steve asks.

"That surge of energy was, apparently, Vecna attacking Patrick" I tell him.

"Well, we're one step closer. We know how Vecna attacks." Robin states.

"And where he attacks from" Lucas adds.

"So we just need to sneak into his lair in the Upside Down and drive a stake through his heart" Max suggests.

"If he even has a heart" Robin comments and I nod.

"A stake? Is he like a vamp- is he a vampire?" Steve asks confused, once again.

"It was a metaphor" Max replies with a sigh.

"Bullets should work on him, right?" Eddie chimes in.

"I say we chop his head off" Lucas suggests

"I just might second you on that one" I say.

"Yeah, I'd say all of the above, but we can't do any of that-" Nancy starts.

"Unless we find a way to get in the Upside Down... yeah" I finish for her.

"We need El to get her powers back." Max says hopeful.

"Everything was, like, way easier. We had this girl. She had superpowers-" Steve starts to explain to Eddie, but he stops him.

"Superpowers. Yeah, you mentioned her." He then his eyes starts to follow Dustin, who's been walking up and down for the past minutes, mumbling to himself. "Hey, uh, Henderson's not, uh, cursed, is he?"

"Cursed? No, no, no. He's fine" Steve answers" mental? Absolutely"

"Boom!" Dustin exclaims all of a sudden, startling us all.

"Bada.. Bada.. boom" he says more quiet, pointing his finger at Steve" I was right. Skull Rock was North."

"Seriously? You're serious?" Steve asks, quiete annoyed.

"Mh-hmm" Dustin humms, sure.

"This is Skull Rock. Okay?"

Dustin just humms in response again.

"You're totally, absolutely, 100% wrong. Right now."

"Yes" Dustin says" and no"

"For fuck's sake, Dustin. What is it?" I snap.

"This worked correctly when we left the Wheeler's. It was correct when we got in the car on Curly, but it started to slip the further east we went" he explains "Now it's way off. When I was leading us here, I wasn't wrong. The compass was"

"So you're using faulty equipment. You're still wrong" Steve says exasperated.

"Except it isn't faulty. Lucas, you remember what can affect a compass?" He turns to look at Lucas.

"An electromagnetic field" Lucas answers promptly.

"Yep"

"I'm sorry, I must've skipped that class" Robin says, visibly confused.

"In the presence of a stronger electromagnetic field, the compass' needle will deflect towards that stronger power." I recite, and an idea pops in mind "so.. there's either a huge magnet somewhere in the woods or.."

"There's a gate" Lucas finishes for me.

"Exactly" I say.

"Wait.. why?" Robin asks, once again.

"These gates to the Upside Down, they like.. creates this electromagnetic power around them, so if the needle points in another direction, that isn't North, there's a big chance that it's a gate" I explain.

"But we're nowhere near the lab" Nancy points out.

"Maybe there's gate somewhere else... there must be" I suggest.

"Yeah, a gate that we don't know about" Dustin has clearly the same idea. "It'd have to be smaller. Way less powerful"

"Snack-size gate" Robin says and I nod with a smile.

"How? Why?" Steve, for a change, is confused.

"No idea. All I know is that something is causing this disturbance, and the last time we've seen anything like it, it was a gate. And I hope it is because then we'd have a way to Vecna. And a shot at feeing Max from this curse" Dustin explains, before starting to walk away.

"Where are you going?" Steve calls for him "Hey hey hey hey. Eddie's still a wanted man. We can't just go hike in the woods"

"This little steel capsule might be the key to saving both Max and Eddie" Dustin replies, then he refers to Eddie "what say you, Eddie the Banished?"

We all turn around to look at Eddie waiting for his answer.

"I say you're asking me to follow you into Mordor, which, if I'm totally straight with you, I think it's a really bad idea. But, uh, the Shire... the Shire is burning."

Dustin excitedly jumps on spot and Eddie stands up.

"So Mordor it is"

With that we start to follow Dustin through the woods.

"What is Mordor?" Steve asks me.

"Oh my god.. Stevie you need to read more" I laugh at his lack of fantasy knowledge. "I'll let you borrow my Lord of The Rings copy."

I pat him on the shoulder as we follow the others, Eddie turns around and slow down to catch with us.

"You read it?" He asks me, pleasantly surprised.

"Of course I did" I smile at him. "Who do you think educated those kids, uh?"

"Oh yeah? And here I thought you couldn't be more perfect" he says with a teasing tone.

"I'm... full of surprises" I say, surprised of myself.

"Oh.. oh I'm sure" he says back.

"I'll.. uh.. I'll see if Dustin needs anything" Steve jogs towards Dustin, leaving me and Eddie behind.

"So... can I ask you something?" He leans a bit closer.

"Uh.. sure."

"Do you remember the other day, when I bumped into you, at school? After you walked out of the gym" he asks.

"Uh... yeah" unfortunately I do.

"What.. happened?"

"N-nothing" I reply with a shrug, avoiding to look at his face.

"It didn't look like nothing to me" he tells me with a reassuring chuckle.

"No, uh... really nothing to worry about" I try to smile at him to convince him, but he doesn't give up on the subject.

"Those assholes bothered you, didn't they?" He guess.

"Uh... no..it's just-"

"Didn't they?" He repeats, cutting my excuse off.

"Yeah... but nothing.. too bad"

"Mmhm. You don't fool me, m'lady." He gently nudges me. "Was it Jason?"

"No.. "I sigh "Andy, I think his name is. He, uh... flirted with me... quite insistently."

"What..?" He asks, his tone irritated.

"He, uh.. he whispered some shit into my ear.. held me to him by my waist.. yeah. That's it" I tell him.

"What a prick... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring that up. Never thought that would be it" he apologises.

"Oh no. It's okay, really." I genuinely smile at him and he smiles back.

"That's not how one should treat someone like you" he says casually.

"Someone like me?" I ask confused.

"Someone who's... how can I say it?... someone as cool as you" I saw him winking at me when I look at him. I turn my face facing forward again, cheeks warming up quickly.

"Someone" he continues "smart... sweet... badass... beautiful"

"I... I'm not.. really" I nervously laugh at that.

I'm just a distraction, I remind myself... or convince myself.

"Oh, but you are, M'lady." he stops and I do too.

He turns to me.

He gently put a hand under my chin, making me look up to him again. His gaze falls to my lips and I feel my cheeks getting warm, instantly.

Then, he starts to lean down.

"Guys!" Steve screams snapping us out of the moment. "C'mon!"

"What a timing, Harrington" Eddie complains.

"C'mon, my lord, let's go, before mommy gets mad" I tell him as I start to walk again.

"Yeah.. let's go, m'lady" he walks beside me, cursing Steve under his breath.

We walk and walk and walk following Dustin and his compass until it gets dark.

At some point he starts to run in the direction the compass points towards and we obviously follow right behind him.

"Something's happening" he mutters.

"Yeah, could you maybe share it with us?" I say, trying to keep up with him.

"Dustin? Can you slow down? Dustin?" Eddie tries too.

"I think we're getting close" he say turning his head to us

"Careful!" I almost yell as Eddie promptly grab him by the backpack.

"Yeah, watch your step, big guy."

"Oh man" says a breathless Steve "you gotta be shitting me."

"Yeah. I thought these woods were familiar"

"Lover's Lake" me and Robin look at each other.

"This is confounding" Dustin comments.

"There's a gate in Lover's Lake?" Max asks.

"Whenever the Demogorgon attacked, it always left an opening. Maybe Vecna's the same way" Nancy suggests.

"Yeah, only one way to find out" Steve declares.

"Going in" I mutter.

Eddie goes to uncover the boat he, apparently, used to escape.

"Guess it'll do" Steve sighs.

They grab it and carefully drag it to the water.

Robin's the first one to walk in, followed by Eddie.

Nancy climbs in too.

"Wheeler" Eddie offers his help.

Then I follow.

"M'lady" Eddie gently grabs my hand to help me climb in.

"Thanks" I softly say as I sit with Robin, who gently nudges me and offers me a warm smile, to which I playfully roll my eyes.

Just as Dustin gets closer to come in too Eddie stops him.

"Hey, hey, hey, you trying to sink us? This thing holds four people tops, okay?" He tells him, Dustin just stands there with a stunned expression glaring at him.

"It's better this way, okay? You guys stay here with Max. Keep an eye out for trouble" Nancy tries to ease the situation.

"You keep an eye out" He says back, earning a glare from Nancy, I'm sure. "It's my goddamn theory"

"You heard Nance" Robin chimes in.

"Who put her in charge?" Dustin asks irritated.

"I did" she answers, calmly.

"Me too" I add. "C'mon, Dusty, give Nancy the compass. C'mon"

With a pout he reluctantly gives Nancy the compass and stands back so we can finally go.

Steve throws the backpack to Dustin and starts to push the boat in the water, taking advantage of thale moment and jumps in with us.

"You said four!" Dustin exclaims.

"Sorry" Steve fake-apologies.

"Bed time at nine, kiddos" Robin yells. "Miss you already"

"You're so mean" I tell her, giggling.

I'm about to take one oar, but Eddie beats me.

"I got this, beautiful" he winks and takes the oar.

"Think I can't do that?" I challenge.

"No" He quickly replies "no.. I.. I didn't mean it like that"

"Relax man, she's messing with you." Steve pats him on the shoulder "You'll realise she can be a real tease when she opens up" Steve tells him and I glare at him.

"That's not true" I defend.

"It's true. And don't make me start with the sexual jokes" Robin blurts out.

"Robin!" I exclaim.

"Sorry" she whispers.

I hide my face into my hands.

"No need to be embarrassed, m'lady, I don't mind" Eddie sweetly whispers.

"Yeah yeah let's focus on the task at hand, uh?" I say, seeking support from Nancy and Robin.

"She's right." Nancy says eyes fixed on the compass.

After a few minutes of rowing on the lake, Nancy stops them.

"Slow down, slow down, guys"

The compass is flickering, all crazy.

"Guys, what's going on?" Dustin asks from the radio. "C'mon guys, talk to me, what's going on?"

"Uh, Dustin" Robin grabs the radio "your compass has gone from wonky to wonky with a capital 'Aah!' "

In the meantime Steve's taking off his socks... what..

"Steve, what are you doing?" Nancy asks him.

"Somebody's gotta go down and check this out. Unless one of you four can top being a Hawkins High swim co-captain and a certified lifeguard for three years, then.. it's gotta be me. No complaints, all right?" Steve simply states, standing up straight.

"Hey, I'm not complaining." Eddie shrugs. "I do not wanna go down there"

He take out of his pocket a plastic bag, empty the content on the boat and wrap the plastic around the torch.

As Steve takes off his shirt I notice Nancy, not so subtlety, staring at him. I look at Robin who already has a grin on her face and looks at me raising both eyebrows as to say "see that too?" And I nod.

Eddie hands the torch to Steve wishing him good luck.

"You better come back up in one piece, or I'm gonna kill you" I tell him.

"Thanks, honey, always so sweet" he says sarcastically and I glare at him.

"Steve?" Nancy says "be careful"

And finally Steve jumps into the lake.

Nancy immediately looks at her watch to time him.

I take a deep breath leaning a bit backwards, my leg starts to bounce and I fidget with my rings a lot.

He better come back up soon.

I remember visiting him while he still worked at Scoops Ahoy. He convinced me to come over as much as possible so he wouldn't feel so, as he said, miserable.

"Hi, honey" he greeted me as I come into the shop.

"Hey, Stevie" I smiled. "All good?"

"Yeah, yeah, slow day." He shrugged.

"I see" I commented looking around at the empty table "Well, how about I buy something then? So you'll earn your money honestly."

"What would I do without you?" He theatrically told me.

"Become a dickhead all over again?" I replied.

"Wait wait wait... I was never a dickhead to you" he defended.

"Oh never? Yeah.. sure, Harrington" I winked.

"Fine" he sighed " what flavours?"

"Just chocolate please, Stevie"

He prepared my cone as Robin came out from the back.

"Hey there" She smiled.

"Hi" I quietly said with a small smile.

She went to clean something on the counter as Steve handed me my cone.

"You need to stop being this nervous around people" he sweetly whispered.

"It's not that easy" I told him.

"I think you two could get along well" he told me "you both enjoy tormenting me."

"It's not that easy" I repeated.

"Okay" he came around the counter to get closer to me, wrapping an arm around me "Listen, I won't force you to talk to anyone, you know that. But I'm sorry, I just don't understand why you feel so nervous to talk to... well.. anyone. You're amazing. You're smart, you're funny, you're kind. No reason to feel insecure. Believe me"

"I do believe you, but everytime I'm in front of someone I...freeze" I explained.

"No need with Robin, at least try with her. She's actually very chill, no judgment from her" he suggested.

"Fine.. fine you win. I'll... put some effort.. tomorrow" I agreed starting to walk away.

"Oh no no, today, honey" he said moving me, with his arm still around me, towards Robin.

"Where we at, Wheeler?" Robin's voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

"Closing in on a minute" she answers, I can tell she's tense, we all are.

"C'mon, Steve" I whisper.

We all wait and wait and wait, tension getting harder to stand, the more we wait the more I want to jump in myself.

Suddenly, though, Steve emerges from the water startling us.

"Oh christ" Eddie yells.

"I found it" Steve declares.

"You found it?"

"I found it. Yeah. I found it." Steve confirmes, panting and grabbing the boat.

"Dustin, you are a goddamn Einstein. Steve found the gate"

"It's pretty wild. It's more a snack-size gate than the mama gate, but still, it's pretty damn big" he explains, but as soon as he finishes the sentence he's briefly dragged back into the water.

He emerges again, confused only to be dragged all the way back in again.

"Steve!"

We all yell.

"What the hell was that, man?" Eddie yells.

"Really, what happened?" Robin asks.

"Fuck fuck fuck" I mutter looking at Nancy staring at the water, I know exactly what she's thinking, the same thing I've been thinking all this time.

She stands up ready to jump in, but Eddie stops her.

"You're not going in there, are you?"

"Just wait here." She says "you too" she looks at me and then dives in.

"Nancy!"

"No Nancy!"

I stand up too.

"Hey hey hey, no what are you doing?"

"Don't even think about it"

Both Robin and Eddie tell me as I'm taking off my jacket and shirt, remaining in my top.

"Oh c'mon, you don't actually expect me to stay here while they're down there." I reply.

"She told you to stay here too" Eddie tries.

"Yeah? Well... I don't care" I take a deep breath and jump.

I swim following Nancy down to this red-ish light, and through the gate.

[warlordess]

Ooooh mind telling us about the stobin paranoia one? Or the country club meet cute?

Oh gawd, oh gawd; my dumbass critical anxiety (on top of being exhausted after working 32 hours in two days; tbh it's mostly that second thing) kept me from answering this until now.

I do want to remind whoever, including OP, that I don't really have anything more than bare bones synopses for any of the ideas I mentioned. Also, i haven't talked up a thing I've created in so long that I don't know if I remember how.

That being said, another Steddie acquaintance, @ataliagold (go read their Steddie things maybe?? They're very good, gimme just the right amount of yummy whump) asked me about both of these in PMs so I have shared a little bit about each and they liked both concepts a lot, which gave me some courage.

So, anyway, as for the Stobin paranoia fic, which I've wondered if perhaps "paranoia" is too strong a word but eeeh... Basically, it takes place right after Starcourt (maybe like the week following or so). It's pretty well-established that Steve and Robin were still at least a bit high and hopped up on truth serum during The Bathroom Talk, not to mention the memory blurring is probably even more effed up by Steve's 74th concussion in three years (lol... sorta), so Steve gets it in his head that he somehow forced Robin to come out to him and, knowing how important safety is for a hidden queer person, especially in a place like Hawkins, he starts spiraling and isolating from her. He doesn't deserve to have his person if he has to manipulate them into divulging their secrets to him after all, she's far better off without the resident douchenozzle, Steve Harrington, invading her space and privacy and having any intimate (platonic) expectations of their relationship. While he's all in his own head about that, Robin starts coming around to check on him, only to realize she's being ignored. This causes her to eventually start spiraling too - of course the great King Steve couldn't handle being friends with a fucking dyke, of course he would snub her after the smoke and fog cleared and he remembered that she'd spurned his advances, what a load of crock, she should have known better - thus their newly formed super bond starts having holes drilled into it... Anyway, the fic is about that whole misunderstanding and them trying to work through it. I just love that kinda trope 'cause I'm the worst.

As for the Steddie country club meet-cute, it starts off similarly to a couple other fics I've read here Eddie is forced to go straight (financially only) after Reefer Rick is arrested and his supply dries up and the cops have hounded him and Wayne enough times and etc. He ends up employed at the semi-local country club predominantly as a caddy. Decent pay, some tips even, enough downtime while standing on the sidelines and aimlessly following his current client around that he can think up some future campaign ideas... and, early on, another perk introduced is his good-looking apparent coworker (who he unfortunately crosses paths with while coworker is being reamed by one of the more infamous club members). He and Steve pass each other a few more times and begin engaging, closing some distance until it's unfortunately revealed that Steve is NOT his coworker and is in fact closely related to the rich fucker that was seen yelling at him on day one. He had a good excuse for being in uniform that first time but has obviously decided to lie in order to fuck with Eddie every day since.

Well, anyway, those are the general premises of those particular fics. I feel like I gave too much away but also like I didn't really say anything at all. Lol.

[alwaysbabysitter]

Quick question yall: how come no one is playing reefer Rick? 

[goggles-mcgee]

Okay, if you can't tell the Steddie and overall ST brainrot has a GRIP on me.

But like, can y'all imagine if Gareth is super worried for his friend, knows all his spots that he goes to when stressed and just wants to know his friend is okay because he knows Eddie would never kill anyone. So he goes to Reefer Rick's at the same time as everyone else and like that throws everything off.

Dustin is trying to get Eddie to make Gareth leave but Gareth is Eddie's Ride-or-Die. He ain't going anywhere kiddo.

So Gareth is there for everything, he makes sure Eddie doesn't die. They both get a little fucked up yeah but they had to protect Little Henderson, who apparently is basically King Steve's child. Which that was something he could have never guessed. King Steve turning into Mama Steve a mother of 6 or 7 children...and apparently his best friend is coparenting those children.

Him and Robin Live Slug reacting to Eddie and Steve flirting and being oblivious.

Gareth and Eddie losing their damn minds together over the shit they saw and learn about from The Party.

Of course Jared (the friend who completed their trio), as soon as he's able to come back to town as his dad sent him to his grandmas in Indianapolis when everything started, rushes to check over his friends and ask what the fuck happened. Eddie and Gareth want to tell him so bad but like the government did make them sign NDA's and like they haven't run it by the Party but look Steve was visiting Eddie and Gareth at Eddie's new trailer and he can give permission right?

Eddie: "Stevie. Sweetheart. Doll. Jared is the other 50% of my impulse control. We have to tell him! I don't care if we signed NDAs."

Gareth: "You know....I actually don't remember signing an NDA. Like I did go into surgery and came out but like I don't remember any Feds."

Steve: "...what?"

Gareth: "No I'm serious! Like unless I don't remember because I was on the good stuff, no spooky Men in Black. Maybe they didn't realize I was part of it? I mean my injuries were bad yeah but Eddie's were way worse. Harrington you get 2nd place for injuries."

Jared: "...what?"

Eddie: "You know you may be on to something Gar!"

Gareth: "You know how much I hate that nickname but continue."

Eddie: "Your injuries looked like they could have been caused by falling debris from an "earthquake" or perhaps some overzealous jock cult members who were known to be going after Hellfire members..."

Jared: "I am so confused."

Steve: "So you didn't sign an NDA."

Gareth: "I did not!"

Steve sighing loudly: "Eddie, Gareth, you two SWEAR he can keep a secret?"

Eddie: "Seeing as Jared has known I like dick since freshman year and hasn't said anything yeah Babe."

Jared: "Babe!?"

Gareth: "Do not ask."

Steve sighing even more: "Technically...I guess we're not breaking any agreements if Gareth tells uh...Jared? Jared everything. I'll let the kids know."

Jared gets adopted into the Party next. Hopper is just shaking his head near tears, why do they keep multiplying!?

[dameronology]

I’ve been dying for a pov where fem!reader is the one that dives in the lake and gets attacked but the demo bats and Eddie being the protective boyfriend he would be would immediately jump in and save you then panic when he sees what they did to you 🫶

oh my goshhh yes the angst (also apologies for how long this took me to write work has been kicking my butt)

once again i went off on an absolute tangent w this lmao i kinda delved into the stuff a little before batgate too hope u don't mind i just LIVE for protective eddie ngl

warnings: language, mentions of injury

eddie munson, as he has proclaimed several times, tends to run from things. he ran from most of his homework in 1984 hence why he's now a super senior; he ran from jason carver in the eighth grade when he stole his animal crackers and he ran, rather ironically, from the gym teacher last week when she chased him from underneath the bleachers with a half-smoked blunt in his hand

he even tried to run from his feelings for you at first. it was mostly fear because you're golden as fuck and the best thing that ever happened to him and honestly he was just scared of hurting you

but this is eddie munson we're talking about, who regularly trips over his own fuckin shoe laces. even in a metaphorical sense, because whilst sprinting from said feelings he skidded and fell on his ass for you and realised that actually, letting himself fall in love with you wasn't the worst thing in the world

that was two years ago & now you're eddie's entire fucking heart. he might feel a bit lost about the future sometimes but he knows it's gonna be ok when you're by his side

getting tangled up in all the upside down shit was beyond what either of you could have ever imagined; honestly his reaction at first was to run, but he knew as you & the others came after him, he didn't have to anymore

you stayed with him at reefer rick's from the second you found him; half because he was a wreck and needed you there, but also because people are dying left, right and center, and he is hellbent on keeping an eye on you

eddie is glued to your hip the entire time. he's clingy at the best of times but now, he won't sleep without both his arms wrapped tightly around you and he wakes up periodically in the night to check on you

and despite the fact he's arguably more traumatised by this entire thing, eddie is constantly asking if you're ok; asking about how you're doing with recent revelations and putting on a brave face to hide his own worries

everything becomes a lot more real when you have to go out with steve, robin & nancy to find the gate. you're both kind of involved now, right? and you're deadset on proving ed's innocence so you're gonna find this fucking monster

eddie doesn't like the idea of you coming with them and getting hurt. he likes the idea of leaving you on shore even less. sometimes you gotta pick the lesser of two evils

it's like you were gonna listen to him anyways. eddie has never been able to tell you what to do

so you get in the boat with them; eddie takes the seat beside you, large hand protectively spread out on your thigh and dark eyes scouring the water ahead of you for any danger

when the compass starts going wonky with a capital "aah!" you're kinda over the whole thing and before anyone can stop you, you've lost your shoes and jacket and you're jumping in the lake

you're too quick for anyone to stop you

eddie is less then pleased when you resurface a few minutes later, announcing that you've found the gate

"why would you do that?! are you fucking insane?! why?!"

before you can argue, you're being dragged back under

even though eddie had said before that he was only brave when it came to d&d, he's diving in right after you. shoes on, jacket on, he doesn't give a shit

an unambiguous sign of true love indeed

he goes down and down after you, not really caring if the other three follow you (they do btw once they all have a moment of "what a chaotic couple")

eddie is basically kicking his way through the gate, blindly beating the shit out of every demobat he's seeing

because like HELL are they gonna get away with hurting you

he's blinded by pure, white rage really. also a little bit of fear, but that just manifests itself in said rage

eventually, when you're finally free of the bats' grip on you, eddie is on his knees by your side, one large hand holding your head and the other checking your pulse

"please tell me you're alive. jesus christ, please say you're alive because if you're not i'm going to-"

"- i'm alive!" you manage to cough out, "just about"

he's taking you in his arms in seconds, pulling you gently into his chest and holding you there, calling you a dumbass and a fucking idiot but one that he loves so fucking much it hurts me right now

robin & steve take a step back for a moment, but nancy - being nancy - is proactive, tearing up her jumper and wrapping it around the wound on your side

eddie sheds his leather jacket, wrapping it tightly around your shoulders

the entire time that you're walking through the upside down, he's got an arm around your waist and one hand holding where your cut is in order to keep pressure on it

and he lets you ride the back of his bike !! no way in hell is he making you cycle in your condition

whilst the other three are communicating with dustin & erica, eddie is ransacking the upside edition™️ of his trailer for any medical supplies

of course there are none but it's sweet that he tries

he insists on going through the gate first so that you don't have to just land straight on the mattress

even though he falls flat on his ass, he manages to catch you

eddie munson will always be there to catch you

[prttyt0ni]

Babysitter (ch. 1) || E. Munson x female!oc

©prttymunson (if you want to translate, please contact me first)

pairing: Eddie Munson x female oc words: 1,923 introduction oc Name: Ramona Murphy age: 20 (1966) gender: female height: 5"6 (167cm) eye color: grey hair color: light brown

synopsis: Ramona Murphy is Robin's best friend. She kidnapped her and then begged her to keep an eye on Eddie "the Freak" Munson, who supposedly killed Chrissy Cunningham at Reefer Rick's residence at Lover's Lake.

a/n: I actually wanted to go for y/n, but i decided on an own character as "y/n" since it feels more natural to me to use a name instead of "y/n y/l/n". you're of course 100% free to use your own name, pronouns, and visual appearance as Ramona Murphy if you want to. also, since i've already written nearly 2k words, i decided on an actual ff with multiple chapters. I'm always open for feedback or any suggestion for improvement enjoy :> toni

Ramona POV.

Finally home! After giving what felt like dozens of hours of private lessons I finally arrived home and laid down on my bed. Soon after the phone started ringing.

"Hello?" I ask as I answer the phone. "Hey Ramona, Robin here. Would you mind coming to Family Video? I really need you to do me a favor!" Robin burst out as soon as she heard your voice.

"Well, I-" I respond before getting cut off by my best friend. "Great! See you in 10!" she said and hung up. "Curse you Robin Buckley for exactly knowing my address!" I yell through the house before getting my jacket and driving to Robin's workplace in the deep of the night.

narrator POV.

Ramona arrived at Family Video in exactly 10 minutes, just like Robin said. She turned off the engine and went into the shop soon after.

"Great that you're here." the girl heard both Robin and her co-worker Steve, with whom Ramona had algebra in sophomore year, say before they pulled the young adult out of the store and into the back of Steve's car.

"Yo, what the fuck is that supposed to be, you know my car is still in front of Family Video's, don't you?" Ramona asked angrily since she basically has got kidnapped. "Don't worry about that Ramona, just... trust us," Robin said stressed out. "You saying this that way surely doesn't make me trust you! Why can't I just follow you in my own car instead of you kidnapping me or something?"

"It's more save this way. Steve will bring you your car as soon as possible, okay?" Robin tried to explain what stressed Ramona out even more.

"I STILL FEEL LIKE YOU'RE KIDNAPPING ME SO I'M NOT SURE IF I WANT MY KIDNAPPER TO DRIVE MY CAR" she yelled at Robin in stress. "Listen, Ramona. You've known me ever since I first shat my pants. Do you really think I would kidnap y-" Robin tried to calm Ramona down, but she cut her off: "I mean, you never know–"

"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!" she yelled annoyed, quieting down everyone, even the radio. "The point is, you're the only one I trust, without having to worry it might go wrong." Robin continued and Ramona finally agreed on being kidnapped.

"Wow, Robin. I've never expected you to love me this much, I think I'm gonna faint!" she replied teasingly, acting as if she was about to faint, soon after Robin calmed down a bit to annoy her even more. Steve and Robin looked at themself and Robin said "See... it'll be fun" smiling at Steve

"Wait, what will be fun? Hello? Talk to me! Where are we driving?!" Ramona started yelling again stressfully. "Jeez, Ramona! You'll know when we're there! She's worse than all the kids combined." Steve said in annoyance.

"Listen Harrington, if you got kidnapped and didn't know where the fuck you're going, would you stay all calm and goofy and chill?" Ramona asked the male, leaning over to directly look at him from the side. Steve didn't say anything at first until a quiet "good point" left his mouth and he turned left into the woods.

"Oh wow. Now we're heading into the woods... and you still want to tell me this is no kidnapping?" she asked again stressfully. No one answered so she decided to look out of the window, hopefully spotting something familiar (which was harder than it sounds since it was in the middle of the night).

"Wait, are you driving me to Reefer Rick's place? What the fuck is going on here?" she asked as soon as she recognized the way. "Is she always talking this much?" Steve asked Ramona's best friend. "Nope, only when she's very, like very, stressed out"

Steve stopped the car and the three of them went outside. They were at Lover's Lake, in front of them; Reefer Rick's residence. "I knew you were dragging me to Reefer Rick's, but... why are we here?" Ramona asked. "Just follow us!" Robin said, grabbed her by the wrist, and pulled her to the shack directly at the lake.

She opened the door fastly and everyone inside flinched as if their lives were about to end. Ramona took a closer look at who was there and noticed Max Mayfield, her neighbor Dustin Henderson and Eddie "the Freak" Munson. She started chuckling. "What the fuck am I doing here?" she asked herself. "Robin? Why am I here?" Ramona asked her best friend looking at her in slight disbelieve as if she was about to cry.

She started to explain everything to her from the Upside Down and what it is, to all the monsters, to Chrissy and Vecna. "And that's where you join the game. Could you please, please, please, please, please stay here with Eddie?" Robin asked and did the best puppy eyes Ramona as ever seen on her.

Ramona's chuckle turned into a laugh. "What am I supposed to do? Play the babysitter for Eddie "the Freak" Munson?"

"No, Ramona, just... accompany him. You know, in case something happens." Max stood up and made her way to the young adult. "Jeez, fine, but I can't guarantee for anything." she finally capitulated after basically everyone begged her to stay.

As they all left to... actually, no idea why they left... do... spooky stuff? Anyway, Ramona turned around on their heel to face Eddie. As the two of them looked at each other the whole shack was filled with silence. "You know, you don't have to be here if you don't want to, Murphy." Eddie suddenly said.

"No, Robin asked me to do it, so I'll do it. Also, my car is still at Family Video and I really don't want to go there alone in the middle of the night." Ramona replied stubbornly and leaned against one of the tables.

"What are you scared of ghosts?" Eddie laughed, making fun of the girl.

"If you're so brave Munson, how about you go get my car? Don't forget to say hi to that Vecna dude from me!" Ramona replied teasingly with a sarcastic smile on her face and threw her keys to him. "Witty... I like that," he said with a grin on his lips as he put the keys into his pocket.

And then silence again. Ramona walked around the shack to take a look at what she had to deal with for god knows how long. "So, uhm? What do you usually do around here?" she asked while she inspected the dirty shack with disgust. "You know, hide.." Eddie started and chuckled. His chuckle faded away as soon as he noticed that Ramona surely wasn't amused. "Okay, Captain Obvious, what else?" she asked again. This will be... interesting.

"No need to be passive-aggressive. You know, I can't do much around here since going out isn't really an option, but I play my favorite songs" he continued as he jumped towards some strings on the other side of the shack and started using them like guitar strings and hum a song that sounded very familiar to Ramona.

"Creeping Death Metallica," Ramona said with a smile on her face and left Eddie shook. "You listen to Metallica?" he asked in disbelief. Ramona nodded and Eddie faked a heart attack which frightened the female. He stood up fastly and started laughing. "Jesus, Eddie! Do that again and the next heart attack won't be faked," she said, supporting herself with the column next to her, but laughing as well.

"Sorry, I just don't believe you listen to Metal," he said, looking her straight in the eyes, still in disbelief. "I do indeed. There's much no one knows about me," she answered with a smirk on her lips. "Wow, I. That's like super cool, Ramona. You don't seem like that at all."

"Don't judge a book by its cover" Ramona said and Eddie repeated it shortly after.

The two of them continued talking a bit about basically nothing, but for them, it was everything. They sat on the ground facing each other. "How come I've never noticed you?" Eddie asked in suspicion. "I can't tell you because everyone has noticed me at least once," Ramona replied and both of them started chuckling.

Ramona looked at her watch. "Holy shit, it's already 2am. We should go to sleep," she said, stood up, and looked for a place to sleep. "You got a key to Reefer Rick's house or do we have to sleep in here?" the girl asked with a disgusted expression. "Nope, no key. But i can try to break in." Eddie suggested and the two made their way up to the backdoor

Eddie crawled onto his knees to exactly face the keyhole, asked Ramona if she got a hairpin, shoved it into there, and moved it around a bit until the door was open. "m'lady," He said as he held the door open for Ramona to enter. "m'lord, she replied and made him a curtsey before going in.

It was as dirty in there as it was inside the shack, but at least it was warmer and safer. Ramona looked around to get to know the environment. "Okay, there is a bed upstairs and the couch down here, where do you want to sleep?" she asked when she came down from her inspection, only to find Eddie in the kitchen eating something that was either expired or simply disgusting. Still, Ramona was slightly hungry as well. "Yo! Eating without me? How fucking dare you!" she said, walking towards the male and taking a look at what Eddie was eating. "Oh ew... never mind."

"Fuck you, it tastes better than it looks!" he said to justify himself. Ramona took a look through the kitchen; dirty dishes everywhere, half-eaten cans on the dining table, and not a single kitchen counter was usable. "Ew... this needs to be cleaned up..." Ramona said after a while with the same disgusted face she had looking around the shack. "Okay princess, not everyone cleans their house so that you can eat off the floor," Eddie said with his mouth half full with whatever canned food he was eating. "Well, they should be. Also, it's disgusting to talk with food in your mouth," she replied in disgust as to what Eddie decided to mimic her, which resulted in him getting Ramona's jacket thrown at him. They both started to laugh.

"So, Eddie..." Ramona started. "Where do you want to sleep? Upstairs or downstairs?" she asked while letting down the curtains.

"You decide," he said before continuing to eat. "I don't care, actually." she did care actually. She hoped she could sleep on the bed since it was more comfortable than the couch.

Then suddenly, Eddie remembered something. "Weren't you supposed to watch after me?" he asked with a teasing smile. "I'm not here to please your mommy issues, Munson," Ramona replied wittily. Eddie chuckled. "But what if someone breaks in when we sleep and kills me... or sacrifices me to the devil," he suggested sarcastically, hoping that Ramona agrees with sleeping in the same room. Now was her time to chuckle.

"Jesus, fine. I will come with you." she gave in because she was that tired, she couldn't even look straight anymore. "But if we both get sacrificed at a satanic ritual then, I'll haunt you in hell and torture you for the end of all days," Ramona added, waiting for Eddie at the stairs. He finished his midnight snack and rushed to the stairs.

[hearmeoutno]

Chapter 6: The Dive

Buckle up for 2.9k words about 2 freaks in the forest and then 2 freaks in the water. Enjoy!

___________________________________

(0:55)

"Where were Eddie and Mackenzie when this happened?"

Jason is sitting in Reefer Rick's house, a towel around him and shaking from the cold water.

"Wha... Wait, what?"

"Eddie and Mackenzie? You said you saw both of them near the lake."

"Eddie, he... He was in the... in the boat, like I said. Mackenzie I think she euh... she was just walking along the shore but euh... she took of running."

...

(Original dialogue)

"Did you get it?

Eddie comes back from his mission to a Walkie Talkie, proudly holding up his catch.

"Of course I did Mackie, what do you think I am? A rookie?"

Both are smiling, finally they can get back into contact with the Hawkins crew. they can almost taste the supply of beer and cigarettes.

"Thank fuck for oblivious builders!"

"

...

(9:26)

"Not to be a wimp, but can I maybe sit in the car for this visit? 'Cause this is gonna totally and royally suck."

"It'll be fine"

In a packed car on your way to 2 wanted freaks isn't a fun ride, but it sure is an adventure.

"I just can't Stand to see those dull eyes if Eddie's break again. I really, really can't. Plus I don't want my clothes to smell like smoke! It's so hard to wash out."

"At least Eddie can drink himself into feeling better."

"That's what my mom does"

Way to kill the mood, Maxine.

...

(11:16)

"We have also identified two people of interest. Eddie Munson and Mackenzie Ryans. We encourage anyone with information, to please come forward"

Maybe there's no good news this time

...

(Original dialogue

"Hey Eddie, try to contact them, will you? I'm fucking starving. Tell them to hurry the fuck up."

"Yeah, have patience."

Eddie grabbed the Walkie Talkie, pressing the button.

"Dustin, can you hear me? Wheeler?"

"Eddie, holy shit. Are you guys okay?

"Nah, man. Pretty... Pretty goddamn far from okay. Mack fucked up her whole leg or so meth-"

Mackenzie limps to Eddie and grabs the radio out of his hands.

"No I probably sprained by ankle, my knee is practically non-stop bleeding. Hey can you guys bring pringles? And hurry the fuck up?"

"Where are you?"

"Wow, thanks for the sympathy Dustbin, we're at skull rock, hurry."

"Hold tight, we're coming. We're coming!"

As Mack puts the radio down, she sees Eddie sitting with his head in his hands.

"Sorry, didn't mean to rip it off you like that... Hey are you okay?"

"No Mackenzie, of course I'm not fucking okay! Look at us! We just slept under rocks in between empty bottles and cigarette buds. We just stole a radio from a building site. You can barely fucking walk and our only weapon is a kitchen knife!"

Mack leans her head against the rock while Eddie is doing his speech. She knows he's not okay, she isn't either, but at least she keeps up a good spirit!

"I am fucking know Edward, but don't just wallow in self-pity. If you wanna survive you're not making it by complaining. We need to focus on either getting out of the situation or dissapear completely. I rather choose the former, so we can still have a normal life but you're not making it any easier now!"

Eddie goes to sit at the opposite side of Mack, silently judging every single word she just said and straight up giving her the silence treatment.

...

(31:32)

"You just can't admit you're wrong, you butt head."

Mack jumps down behind Steve and Dustin, not such a smart idea with her ankle, but finally seeing someone else that mopey-Eddie is worth the pain.

"The hair is right, Chewbacca. Total butt head."

"Good I thought you were a goner"

Dustin gives Mack a hug. Even though it doesn't seem like it, Mackenzie and Dustin are actually pretty good friends. Whenever Eddie decides he doesn't like school that day, her and Dustin talk about all sort of things and hang out practically all day. Sometimes she even drives him home after she stays and watch Hellfire.

"Eddie's right there, if you miss him. Wouldn't surprise me if you don't."

She smiles as she points to the rock construction and examines Steve's face to see his reaction to Eddie being alive. Rather, more relieved and happy that she thought he'd be. But hey, she told Eddie Steve was into him!

"You got the goods Wheeler?"

"Right here, Ryans"

Nancy hands Mack the bag, and she starts ruffling through the bag while Robin sets the six-pack next to her. She grabs 2 beers and the Marlboro's, and limps over to Eddie. She sits down next to him and opens his beer before handing it him.

"Hey sorry about that thing earlier"

Lighting her cigarette she can finally get her nicotine intake up.

"Oh fuck yes! Wheeler you're a savior!"

Who knew that nicotine withdrawal could make you almost orgasmica-like scream when you get the kick back.

Eddie takes a swig of his beer, and another, and then another before looking at Mack who is laying on the floor, cigarette hanging out her mouth.

"It's okay, you were kind of right. But that's the most recognition to being right I'll ever give you."

Mack sits back up, patting Eddie on his back and smiling.

"That's the real Eddie, glad to see you're back."

As they're laughing together, friendship restored, Steve keeps looking over at Eddie. He doesn't know what that guy is doing to him, but hell would he lie if be said he didn't love it. If he didn't love him.

...

(39:31)

"When I got to the shore, I tried calling you guys, but, uh..."

"Walkie Talkies aren't good swimming vests."

"Yeah basically. And then uh, I did the thing that we do now apparently, we ran."

"Technically I ran first though Ed, see we had an escape plan to meet here. Me going by foot and Eddie being the sailor he was meant to be."

As Eddie and Mack were telling their story, again, Dustin keeps pacing left and right.

"Do you know that time this was, Eddie? The attack?"

"Yeah, no, I... I know exactly what time it was. My Walkie wasn't the only thing that got soaked."

He throws his watch at Nancy who *gracefully* catches it and reads the time.

"9:27."

"Same time our flashlights went kablooey."

"Which means what exactly."

"That coincidence, Steve-o, isn't always a coincidence. But that it can be... I have no idea I was just trying to make a joke but it's going nowhere is it?"

"No not exactly, good try though, Mack."

Looks like Steve woke up from his staring contest, with Eddie's body, with some sass.

"It *means* that that surge of energy was Verna attacking Patrick."

"Well, we're one step closer. We know how Verna attacks."

"And where he attacks from."

"So now we just need to sneak into his lair in the Upside Down and drive a stake through his heart."

Wait, is Verna a vampire? Whatever, Mack can't focus on the group bickering around her. All she can think of is why the fuck Dustin is still pacing! Like can, he stop for 5 seconds.

"Right, yeah, okay Velma, great discovery, but Dust there for the love of Bowie stop walking around it's making me seasick!"

"Boom! Bada... bada... boom. I was right. Skull rock was north."

"Chewie were trying to stop a vampire slash monster slash D&D villain here, no time for petty revenge!"

Steve rolls his eyes and sighs, getting ready to scold Dustin.

"This is Skull rock. Okay? You're totally, absolutely, 100% wrong. Right now."

"Yes. And no."

"Oh my God."

Steve covers his face and sits down next to Eddie. He's really not in the mood for some stupid argument right now.

"This worked correctly when we left the Wheelers'. It was correct when we got in the car on Curlt. But it started to slip the further east we went. Now it's way off. When I was leading us here, I wasn't wrong. The compass wrong."

"Dustin, dear, you're telling me that a contraption that's been around longer than all of us combined, a contraption that uses nature, physics and science is wrong. How can a compass be wrong if you're not actively rubbing it between magnets, breaking it in the process?!"

"Except it isn't broken Mack. Magnets do affect a compass by giving off a stronger electro magnetic field. So the needle will deflect towards that power. Either there's some super big magnet here, or..."

"There's a gate"

"Sinclair we're in the middle of a forest! What's the purpose of a gate here? And Dustin, you lost me at magnets."

"But, we're nowhere near the lab?"

"But what if, somehow, there's another gate? A gate that we don't know about. It'd have to be smaller. Way less powerful."

"Snack-size gate."

"How? Why?"

"Okay why are we talking about gates and fences, what the actual fuck."

"No idea how, Steve. All I know is that something that is causing this disturbance, and the last time we've seen anything like it, it was a gate. And I hope it is because we'd have Verna. And a shot at freeing Max from this curse"

Mack stands up, cursing at the pain shooting up her already bandaged foot, and leans on Eddie's shoulder for support.

"Okay what the actual fuck is going on. We're talking about magnets, and gates and labs and who knows what and somehow that's related to Verna? Someone for the love of god explain!"

"Remember that other world under Hawkins? That gates are these slimy things you go into and then you're in the Upside Down, or that other world."

"Thank you, Buckley! Finally! So euh... what now?"

"You guys are still wanted, we can't just give for a hike in the woods!"

"This steel capsule might be the key to saving Eddie, Mack, and Max."

Mack looks down to Eddie who she's still leaning on.

"What say you Eddie the Banished?"

"I say you're asking me to follow you into Mordor, which, if I'm totally straight with you..."

Mack slightly snickers at that last sentence, imagine Eddie being straight. But yeah anyway.

"I think I'd be a really bad idea. But, uh, the Shire... the Shire is burning."

As Dustin is happily jumping up and down, Eddie stands up while keeping his arm under Mack's to give her some support.

"So Mordor it is."

"Hey I'm not fucking walking this, Stephen I hope you have a good back."

"What is Mordor?"

Steve mumbles while helping Mack on his back. Eddie running back to grab the Walkie Talkie and his flask.

...

(57:05)

"Dustin? Can you slow down? Dustin?"

Mack has now transferred back and forth between Eddie and Steve's back, her ankle is getting better but who would enjoy a free piggyback over walking?

"I think we're getting close."

As Mack steps off Eddie's back near the shore, Eddie prevents Dustin from falling in.

"Watch your step, big guy."

"Oh man, you gotta be shitting me."

"Did we just run around Lover's Lake the whole day?"

"This is confounding. "

"There's a gate in Lover's Lake?"

Mack sits down, ready to just give up on life honestly.

"Whenever the Demo gorgon attacked, it always left an opening. Maybe Verna's the same way."

"Yeah, only one way to find out."

Eddie leads them to the boat he escaped him, luckily still in one piece knowing his excellent sailor abilities cough, cough.

"Easy. I... I said easy man."

"Sorry, handsome."

Mack smiles at Eddie's pathetic attempt at shooting his shot. But hey, its it's definitely an attempt.

Robin uses Steve and Eddie as a railing to get in the boat and so does Mack. Eddie and Nancy follow soon. Dustin tries to get on too, but Eddie stops him.

"Hey, hey, hey, you try to sink us? This thing holds four people top, okay?" (Just imagine they have a bigger boat)

"It's better this way, okay? You guys stay here with Max. Keep an eye out for trouble."

"You keep an eye out! It's my goddamn theory."

Yeah, he's not taking any of this.

"Dustin c'mon, you're giving me a headache dude. Just listen to Nancy."

"Who put her in charge?"

"I did."

"Yeah Robin did dude, listen to your elders."

Mack and Robin high five, they became much better friends while Mack was on Steve's back. She is so chill!

"Compass."

Reluctantly, Dustin gives Nancy the compass and stands there looking at them with a major frown, then Steve throws a backpack at him.

"Hey, there you go."

"Ow... You said four!"

"Sorry."

As they drift away Mack is feeling like annoying some people.

"Don't forget, bedtime at nine and don't forget to brush your teeth!"

Mack and Robin laughs as Dustin gives them the finger. Robin stands up and waves at him.

"Miss you already!"

...

(1:03:34)

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down. Slow down, guys."

Eddie and Robin stop the boat, and they all look at the compass, which is turning around like crazy.

"That guy's really having a party huh?"

Dustin's voice can be heard over the Walkie.

"Guys what's going on? Come on guys, talk to me."

"Robin you answer."

"Uh, Dustin, your compass has gone from wonky to wonky with a capital 'aah!'"

Steve starts taking off his socks and shoo while Mack is snickering at the noise Robin made.

"Woah Stevie, I appreciate the offer but I'm not really into that. I know a friend that may be interested."

"Mack, somebody's gotta go down there and check this thing out. Unless one of you four can top being a Hawkins High swim co-captain and a certified lifeguard for three years, then... it's gotta be me. No complaints, all right?"

"Are you always this cocky? I mean I guess there's gotta be a reason why haring's in your name, right?"

"Haha, very funny Mack."

Steve stands up to continue undressing whole Eddie nervously looks away.

"Hey, I'm not complaining. I do not wanna go down there."

As Steve takes off his shirt, how can Eddie NOT look at him like come on! This is torture for the boy! He *tries* to distract himself by wrapping Mack's flashlight with a plastic bag for Steve, but it doesn't exactly work.

"Go get 'em, Tarzan. And don't break my flashlight, how else would I survive?"

"Hey, good luck"

Eddie says as he hands Steve the flashlight, taking a quick glance and lighting a cigarette, and that's when Robin takes his lighter.

"Gross."

"Come on Rob, give us at least something! We're the ones wanted for murder!"

"Mack you can't keep using being on the run from the cops as an excuse!"

"Oh fuck off Robin"

And just like that, Steve is down. Everyone's sitting there and waiting anxiously for Steve to return.

"Is now a bad time to tell you guys I can't really swim?"

"And just when I thought you can't be stupider Mackie."

"Hey we're all gay here, can any of use even swim?"

"We're... all gay here? I- I'm not, not that I have a problem with it of course."

Mackenzie awkwardly looks at the water, of course Nancy isn't gay what the fuck was she thinking. But, Robin does look her in the eyes and nodding with a wink afterwards. Relieved, Mack sits back up, looking at the few stars in the sky.

"Where we at wheeler?"

"Closing in on a minute."

"Okay..."

Steve practically jumps out the water, out of breath.

"Oh Christ!"

"I found it."

"Steve where's my flashlight?"

"You found it?"

"I found it yeah. I found it."

"Stevie don't tell me you lost the flashlight!"

Robin grabs the Walkie, relieved that Steve is alive.

"Dustin, you are a goddamn Einstein. Steve found the gate"

"It's pretty wild, it's more of a snack-size gate than the mama gate, but still, it's pretty damn big."

Right when Mack was about to smack him across the face for losing her flashlight, he gets pulled under water.

While everyone is yelling for Steve, Eddie and Mack are losing their goddamn mind!

"What the hell was that, man?"

"Nancy, really, what happened?"

"Jesus!"

"We're gonna, we're gonna die, WE'RE ALL GONNA FUCKING DIE!"

For some reason, Wheeler is gonna dive in like it's a hot summer morning!

"Wait! You're not going in there, are you?"

"Just wait here.

"No, Nancy!"

"I'm telling you we are doomed!"

Everyone seems to want to die tonight because Robin is moving to sit on the edge of the boat.

"What are you doing? She said wait."

"Yeah, I heard her."

"She's in charge!"

"Are you kidding me? I made that shit up."

AAAAA Robin's gone. As Eddie and Mack are screaming in anger, not even making sense, the boat starts rocking back and forth.

"I'm telling you Munson, if I drown I'm taking you with me you fucking ass ho-"

Splash, both of them in the water. Mack takes out her trusty kitchen knife and after a slight panic attack, she swims down after Eddie. Or rather, she swims to her death after Eddie. To her death into an orange glowing earth hole.

________________________________________

Another long one for you guys, thank you so much for reading this far.

wanna know what happened before? Here's the other chapters! :)

Ready for more? Well you're lucky I don't know how to cope with loss!