#eddie and max

[loveinhawkins]

When Lucas Sinclair starts to apologise for missing The Cult of Vecna, Eddie initially thinks that he’s hearing things.

Well, actually, the first thing he thinks is something along the lines of ‘what the fuck are you talking about?’

It takes him almost a solid thirty seconds to even vaguely remember his campaign; the last day of school before Spring Break feels dreamlike, as if it happened to someone else, as if he just watched everything through a fogged-up window.

“Jesus, Sinclair. I’ve got an ongoing list of folks who owe me an apology since, like, sixth grade, and trust me, your name’s not on there. Can pretty confidently say it never will, okay?”

Eddie sees Steve tilt his head ever so slightly from where he’s walking just ahead of them, like he’s listening in. Spots his faint nod of approval.

Eddie can’t decide if he resents it or finds it endearing—kind of gets the ridiculous feeling that Steve’s vetting him on behalf of the kids.

“Okay,” Lucas says, and he’s smiling, but there’s a sort of sombreness to it, too. “Still, I should’ve—”

“Hey, hindsight’s twenty-twenty,” Eddie says, firmly cutting off whatever self-critical bullshit he was about to hear. He knocks his shoulder against Lucas’s, adds a dry, “Like, I would’ve been a dick about it no matter what.”

Lucas laughs, but it’s muted. Then he takes a deep breath, and Eddie suddenly realises that he must’ve been using the apology to get himself started, to work himself up to what he really wanted to say.

“I’m… I’m sorry about… about Jason and… I thought I’d thrown them all off the trail, but—”

“Oh, don’t—don’t worry about it, man,” Eddie says faintly.

There’s a flash of Jason in his mind’s eye, the savage twist of his lip as he ran into the lake; he thinks of Lucas lying to his face, the danger of him being found out, and feels sick.

“Seriously, you could’ve told them… y’know. Wouldn’t have held it against you.”

Eddie doesn’t mention that him getting caught still feels inevitable, like he’s just waiting for the walls to close in.

But right now, at least, he can breathe a little easier. The shire might be burning, but there’s people leading him through it. He’s not alone.

Lucas looks appalled. “What? No, I couldn’t—I couldn’t do that to you.”

It’s said with such conviction that Eddie has to fight through a sudden tightness in his throat—doesn’t really know what to do in the face of such undeserved loyalty.

He settles on saying, “So, how was the game?” which is embarrassingly inadequate, but a genuine question nevertheless; the past few… Jesus, however long it’s been, he’s been in permanent need of a distraction.

Steve slows his walking pace—to anyone else it might’ve seemed subtle, but Eddie’s used to noticing such things. He somehow gets the feeling that Steve is no longer scrutinising him, not exactly; his posture’s relaxed and open, his forehead free of frown lines.

It’s more like he’s simply curious about Eddie’s behaviour. The way his eyes drift over, then down to the forest floor, then back again silently seems to say what are you thinking?

Or maybe Eddie’s projecting because he asks the very same question whenever a muscle jumps in Steve’s jaw.

“Oh, um…” Lucas says hesitantly. “I was on the bench for most of it, so—”

“Quit being modest.” The quiet whir of a tape being rewound; Max Mayfield comes up to Lucas’s side. “He made the winning shot,” she tells Eddie pointedly. “It was a buzzer-beater.”

“Oh, holy shit. Well done, dude.”

From the way Lucas is staring at Max with wide eyes, it’s obvious that he’s barely registered what Eddie’s said.

“How do you know that?” he asks. “You… you weren’t at the game.”

“I, uh.” Max looks down for a moment, fiddling with the headphones around her neck. “I listened to it on the radio.”

Lucas smiles so brightly. There’s an earnestness to him; Eddie spotted it a mile away, ever since that first day back at school, when all the new freshmen were anxiously lining up to get lunch.

Max softens—her arms are still folded, but she drifts a little closer to Lucas as they walk, all studied casualness.

(Oh, Eddie’s been there before: forced to run track in middle school Phys Ed, and the only saving grace was ‘just so happening’ to run at the same pace as any boy who’d smile at him.)

Eddie catches Steve’s eye, and this time Steve gives him a very deliberate expression, nodding fondly at Max and Lucas.

Look at them, he’s saying with his eyes, as if he and Eddie are on the same team, as if Eddie at all deserves to be let in on whatever shared history Steve has with these kids.

Eddie kicks at a stray twig. You’re not going to get a lump in your throat about this, damn it, don’t be stupid.

“S’gonna be historic, Sinclair,” he says. “Last time the Tigers won a championship was, uh, lemme think… twenty-two years ago.”

Lucas stops in his tracks.

“I know that,” he says, eyes shrewd, “but why do you know?”

Eddie raises his hands with a grin, it wasn’t me, officer. “What, I can’t repeat a few years without retaining a little school knowledge?”

“Oh,” Lucas says, and it’s like Eddie can see him mentally replaying every cafeteria speech. He grins back. “So you’re a hypocrite.”

“Maybe,” Eddie says. He glances further afield, where Dustin is animatedly explaining something to Robin and Nancy. “I know you’re not gonna give me shit for it, though.”

“Huh, guess you don’t really know me,” Lucas says, and Max snorts.

Eddie smirks. “And it’s, like, doubly historic since the last person to score a buzzer-beater was—”

He cuts himself off, because Steve abruptly turns to him, like they’re in alliance, and draws a hand sharply across his neck.

But Lucas is already hooked. “What? Who was it?”

Eddie gives Steve a helpless shrug. Sorry, man.

“I’m looking right at him,” he says.

Lucas rounds on Steve. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because,” Steve says, flustered, “that was your thing, Lucas, I didn’t wanna be all…”

He trails off with a vague hand gesture, and Eddie thinks he somehow gets what he means—smiles at the thoughtfulness of it.

“That makes, like, no sense,” Lucas says vehemently. His eyes practically have stars in them. “Damn it, we shoulda got a photo.”

Steve laughs in surprise. “All right, noted.”

“I mean, Wheeler works for the school paper, right?” Eddie says. “They’ve probably got old issues. Hey, Sinclair, you could have, y’know, side-by-side photos. Yours and then…” He waves a hand at Steve. “Ancient history.”

Steve rolls his eyes. “Ancient, sure.”

“Oh, Lucas,” Max says, batting her eyes excessively, “I’d frame a picture of you. Pray to it every night.”

Lucas blushes. “Shut up,” he says, elbowing her gently; Eddie thinks that it’s the first time he’s heard Max Mayfield laugh.

Steve’s watching over them again, and his eyes go pensive when Lucas mumbles something like, “I wouldn’t mind a frame.”

The expression Steve has is something Eddie’s only seen once before, and it was on Wayne’s face. Eddie had privately dubbed it the ‘found something for your birthday’ look when he’d noticed it: him and Wayne on a road trip, Eddie not so secretly mooning over the secondhand acoustic guitar in the shop window.

“Your picture should be bigger, Sinclair,” Steve says, sounding both teasing and sincere. “My shot didn’t win a Championship Game.” In an undertone, he adds, “As Brenda so helpfully reminded me.”

Oh, Eddie’s not letting that go.

“Do mine ears deceive me? Did you take a date to a high school basketball game?” Eddie cackles. “You sure know how to woo ‘em, Harrington.”

“Hey,” Steve says defensively, “she could only make that day. Told her I had non-negotiable plans: it was either the game or it was a bust.”

Huh, Eddie thinks, that’s actually… really sweet.

Lucas looks torn between being embarrassed or touched. “You didn’t need to do that, Steve.”

“Sure I did. C’mon, you thought I was gonna go to every match and then miss the Championship?” Steve’s eyebrows furrow. “Where was Erica, anyway?”

… Ah.

“Mea culpa,” Eddie says. “She was, uh, at Hellfire.”

Lucas scoffs. “It’s fine,” he says. “Last time she was at a game, she kept shouting that she loved my tactics.” He looks out into the middle distance. “I was on the bench the whole time.”

Steve chuckles. “Yeah, I missed her being there.” He’s sporting a smile that’s somehow the perfect balance of fond and mischievous; it, quite frankly, has no business looking as attractive as it does. “We had, um, alternative commentary for every game. That kid should have a radio show.” He comes closer, adds in another aside, “Would’ve made the date more bearable if she was there.”

Eddie stifles a laugh, has a moment of respectful silence for Brenda.

Max and Lucas cut in front, keep walking until they’re almost out of earshot; Eddie hears Lucas faintly say something that sounds like, “Was I totally tubular?”, soon drowned out by Max’s laughter.

There’s a short silence.

“Thanks, Eddie,” Steve says suddenly.

Eddie blinks at him, quickly turns his genuine confusion into a bit. “What for, Harrington? My devastating wit? Devilish good looks?”

Steve shakes his head. He smiles for a moment, in on the joke, but then he looks over at Lucas and Max again, and… there.

A muscle jumps in his jaw.

“It’s just… they’ve got a lot to carry, y’know? So…” He shrugs. “Thanks.”

It’s said so quietly, so without fanfare.

Eddie’s hit with the realisation between one footstep and the next: that he’s earned Steve Harrington’s trust.

It feels… weighty.

But Eddie doesn’t mind it; he doesn’t think it’s going to crush his ribs. If anything it feels like they’re sharing a load.

“Don’t gotta thank me for that, Harrington.”

Steve smiles, pushing back his hair; Eddie’s brought back to the moment he did the very same on the basketball court, just as the ball sunk through the net, and Eddie decided fuck it, wholeheartedly embracing his hypocrisy as he jumped up and down with the band kids.

I cheered so goddamn loud for you, Eddie thinks.

He doesn’t say it.

But he keeps walking next to Steve. Feels a little young, a little bit like he’s running track—checking his pace just so he could see a boy smile at him.

[sabbathbloodysabbeth]

Ok so I’ve talked a lot about hoh steve harrington but what about Eddie Munson with a cane. Like after everything he still needs help walking and the cane has been doing that perfectly. (Later on when Ozzy starts walking around with a Cane he feels even cooler) he’ll walk around with a ugly as cane for a while, until the group gets him a better one. And when he has it? Everyone regrets it because he’s constantly swinging it around trying to look cool (he does) and he’s started to jokingly smack everyone in the ass lightly when they aren’t walking fast enough for him. Just with a small “smack” and “move it old man, I’m on the move and you’re about to eat my dust, Henderson.”

But boy he doesn’t hold back for anyone. When Max is home and in a wheel chair, he’ll take any chance he gets to lightly tap her wheel and whisper excitedly. “Race you to kick Lucas’s ass.” And their both zooming to get to the poor kid. (They both think they are fast but in reality they are moving half the walking speed, but it’s doing wonders for their strengths) ((and by kick ass Max runs Lucas’s toe over or Eddie “accidently” smacks him in the shin with the cane.))

Then there’s the thing with Steve. Eddie knows if he acts it up enough he can get the guy to carry him where ever his heart desires. And boy does he love it. Steve caught onto his antics a while ago and now doesn’t even have to be asked to pick him up. Though there’s a few things that he’s started to do himself. He’s started to call Dustin and Eddie “limp and limper” when they are together. Laughing when he gets a dirty look and grins amused when they aggressively come for him. Though Eddie doesn’t need the cane forever, he starts to just have it for decoration.

And when Steve pulls his back doing something? You bet your ass Eddie is forcing him to use the cane. He finds it hot. Though he still has some difficulties raising his leg higher then a few inches but it’s more then what it had been. And because he’s been a little handicapped he starts to guilt trip Steve into taking care of himself as well. With soft comments like.

“You know harrington, if I had the chance. The opportunity to get something to prevent this I would. Like do you think glasses could make my toe see better so it stops bumping into things?”

“I get the hint Eddie I’ll go next week” is grumbled back.

And no one is more excited about steve getting hearing aids then Eddie. Who’s swinging and bouncing up and down and nearly tackling the guy to see them. They aren’t cool, but he’s sure he can make them amazing. (By amazing he steals Steve’s hearing aids for like two days just to paint little bats on them to match his cane)

Just- ahhh so many ideas

[eddiemunsonrulesmylife]

I commissioned my favorite artist @mardyart and I feel so grateful 🥹💖✨

Max & Eddie are my favorite ST characters (it’s basically a tie but I tend to give Max the title of fave bc of seniority 😂) and I soooo would’ve wanted them to interact more. I have this whole thing in my mind about them bonding over music so when presented with the opportunity to commission @mardyart , I of COURSE had to jump!! And just!! look!! at!! them!! I am sobbing 😭

Mardy, I already said this to you but I am BEYOND thrilled with your illustration, really. This makes me so deliriously happy 🤩

btw, they are currently doing some Valentine’s Day commissions !! Not sure how many spots are left but go snag one!! And in case it’s too late, definitely put your notifications on for whenever they open more!! 💕

(PS: I’ve been working on my own mini-comic of these two that I hope to finish in the next month or so!)

[feral-jackdaw]

Don't tell anyone

Day 3 of #steddieweek2023 - Discover

“I knew it!” the redhead girl exclaimed, inserting herself into Eddie's trailer. “I fucking knew it!”

“Wha- hey, language!” Eddie admonished, to which Max responded with a are-you-serious look. And she was right, Eddie was the last person allowed to complain about anyone's choice of words.

“Do you really think I'm stupid?” she asked. Eddie still had no idea what she was talking about. “You thought I wouldn't notice Steve's car parking outside everyday for the past week?”

Oh, so that's what it's all about, Eddie realized. Shit.

“It's not what you think it is,” he replied, once again earning a look of disapproval from Max. “Oh come on, do you really think I'd have any chance with a guy like him?” he tried again.

“Eddie. I've seen how you act around each other,” Max pointed out. “Like two morons who have a huge crush on one another but neither has the courage to do anything about it,” she sneered. “I'm glad you finally worked it out because I was starting to think I was going to have to intervene.”

“Just don't tell anyone, please,” Eddie gave in.

“Are you kidding me? I'm calling Erica right now, she owes me 10 bucks,” she announced before running back to her trailer, leaving Eddie in a total disbelief. Well, maybe at least him and Steve won't have to worry about telling the others about their relationship anymore.

[thecommonthreads]

Stranger Things: Dead End (Fan comic) Part 3

Part 1 and Part 2

[sky-neverending]

"Hey Steve? Do you think we'll find anything cool at the beach?" Dustin asked from the backseat of Eddies van.

Steve turned to look at him. "It's the beach. You'll find sand and water," he said.

Groaning, Dustin kicked at the back of Steve's seat. "There's like... shells and stuff too, dumbass."

"And sea pickles." Max chimed in, pulling off her headphones for a moment. "We should look for some of those."

Eddie raised his eyebrows. "Is that a thing?"

"Of course it's a thing," Max said.

"I don't think it is," retorted Eddie.

"It's a damn thing you idiot!"

[mikhardwheat]

Max and Eddie: Detention is a Family Gathering.

Eddie: okay, I won't ruin the school property anymore, I've learn my lesson, guilty as charged, never happening again

Principal: well, that's it, Munson, you can go now

Eddie: bye, see ya later

Principal: didn't you just sa-

He walks out of the principal's office, locks eyes with Max.

Eddie: no

Max:

Eddie: you can't do that again, Red

Max: but it's funny

Eddie: it was

Eddie: for the first three times

Max: Steve and Robin have shifts, Nancy is tutoring today

Eddie:

Eddie: okay, let's go

He turns around and goes to the principal office. Door opens, principal looks at him in question. He slowly moves away from the doorframe and principal immediately sighs.

They both sit down, Eddie's face is now clear of any emotion.

Eddie: what this little innocent lady could've possibly done wrong? whatever you have to say, it wasn't her fault, I'm sure

Max's knuckles are visibly bruised, there's still blood on her bottom lip and she struggles to keep her laugh inside, when principal sends them both an unimpressed gaze.

Principal: Mr. Munson, I would like to see one of Max's real parents or legal guardians for this meeting

Eddie: I'm the only one available at the moment

Principal: I insist on the matter.

Eddie: I am her emergency contact, and I am here. let's just discuss the issue so we all can go home

Principal: we've already discussed it three times in two weeks, and there was no improvement in Max's behavior, these conversations clearly do not work

Eddie: so what to we do

Principal: parent or guardian, Mr. Munson.

Eddie:

Eddie: I'm not sure if that's a good idea

Eddie: but what can I say... Max, call Steve, would ya?

Max: he's working

Eddie: principal here wants to see a responsible adult who can take some action, since I'm not capable, apparently, so give 'em a responsible adult

Max: Steve isn't a-

Eddie: just do it already, I'm not waiting here til the morning

Max: fine

It takes exactly 7 minutes for Steve to enter the principal's office. He still is in his uniform, breathing uneven - as if he was running. He should've used his car to get there.

Steve: good evening?..

Principal: Mr Harrington?

Steve: that would be me, yes

Principal: and your connection to Max is..?

Steve: I'm her brother. is... is everything okay, what did you need me for?

Principal: please, sit down, there's a lot to discuss

Steve sits down, looking at Max and Eddie beforehand. There is no guilt in those eyes. Eddie's mouth twitches as he tries not to giggle.

Principal: it's the forth time we happen to meet with Max in my office, second one this week

Steve: forth time???

He looks at Eddie again, but he avoids the eye contact, pretending to be interested in the wall's ornament.

Principal: her behavior is questionable, at last. she initiates lots of fights - mostly verbal, but there are physical ones too

Principal: she almost broke a boy's arm today

Steve notices Max's knuckles, and even though his expression seems thoughtful, both Max and Eddie could tell he is, in fact, angry.

Steve: who was it?

Principal: please, elaborate?

Steve: the boy you mentioned to provoke Max?

Principal: Mr. Harrington, I assure you, nobody provoked anyone

Steve: if there was a fight, there was a reason for it too. Who is this "boy" and why isn't he now here, with us?

Principal: I assure you, Jason doesn't need to be here, he wasn't the one to initiate the fight. we're talking about Max's predisposition towards violence

Steve: Eddie, do you know the Jason guy?

Eddie: probably? isn't he the one from the basketball team?

Max: yeah, he's the one

Steve: any idea where can we find him?

Eddie: not sure

Steve, turning to principal: do you have his address or his parents' phone numbers?

Principal: we do, but we're not allowed to share private information of our students

Steve: you are, if there's an emergency

Principal: there's no such thing as emergency-

Steve: didn't you previously say we should do something about Max's behavior?

Principal: you sure can talk it through

Steve: we did that already, you mentioned this meeting to be the forth one

Principal: they were in presence of Mr Munson, yes

Steve: and he can't be silent for more than a minute, so it clearly didn't work.

Steve: and I want to talk to a boy who presumably is the reason why I had to leave my job in the middle of the shift and waste my time here. Let me contact his parents or do it yourself, I don't care.

Steve: you can't expect her to be teached a lesson if she's the only one to be punished for her actions. either I see other kids who were included or I take her home and you don't call me here ever again, and are dealing with Munson instead

Principal:

Principal: I won't call Jason's parents, Mr. Harrington, you should-

Steve stands up.

Steve: then we're finished here. hurry up, kids, I'm driving you home

Steve: thanks for your time

He opens the door, Max and Eddie go through it without a question, principal is left alone in his office.

[biboomerangboi]

Pre spring break I just know Max was pissed and grieving because she was living across from some other guy who dressed like brother too much and played his music just as loud and all she wanted to do was forget so she played every tape she could find just as loudly to drown him out and Eddie is convinced Max has a woeful taste in music but really she was just pocketing tapes from Steve’s car.

[nhasablogg]

Mad Max And The Week Long Tickle War part 7

Fandom: Stranger Things

Characters: Eddie, Max/Lucas

Summary: Eddie gets back at Max and Lucas decides it’s time for his own revenge.

A/N: The final part of my collaborative project with @hypahticklish and @lesbian-byers! This has been so much fun and has led to some lovely new friendships. I’m so grateful they decided to join me in this idea and I hope you all enjoyed this week and the fics!

Words: 787

← What happened yesterday?

(Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4) (Part 5) (Part 6)

Eddie found Max on his front steps that morning, like most mornings, the two of them sharing the chilly sunrise-laced air together; trauma-bonded for life and not minding in the slightest. At least they had this, just an ounce of normalcy. It was foggy that day, the warmth of the previous day having been replaced with a cold night, leaving the town blurry and confused, autumn not having fully gripped them all properly just yet.

“Hey,” she said, all casual if it wasn’t for the way her lips twitched, showing signs of her remembering exactly what had happened the day before. Eddie found it silly that she didn’t even consider him getting revenge, and he sat with the knowledge vibrating in his body, knees pressed to his chest.

“Hello,” he replied, tilting his head at her in greeting.

“I barely recognized you now that you’re not giggling,” she said, still not fully grinning. Eddie had to give it to her. She had a good poker face.

He huffed. “Oh, ha ha, very funny.”

She smirked. “I bet I can make it even funnier.” “You know, that’s what I wanted to, uh, discuss.” He flicked his hair back. “How much time do you have?” It was Sunday, not too early, the town church-bound and thus the trailer park empty. Eddie hadn’t expected to find her there that morning, sitting with her shoulder resting against the railing. Not that she’d ever mentioned being a church-goer, but people tended to use their weekends for other traditions.

He was part of hers, he realized, just like she was part of his.

“I’m actually waiting for Lucas,” Max said, something soft finding her voice, her facade finally cracking a bit, all puppy love, all giddy fondness.

He decided to not comment on it. “Oh, this will be quick.”

Perhaps she sensed it. Perhaps she sensed Lucas approaching. Whatever it was, Max gripped the railing to heave herself up, but Eddie grabbed her arm before she could.

“Oh no,” he said, a grin tugging at his lips. “Not so fast.”

Panic flickered across her face. “Eddie.”

“Do you want to do this out here or inside?”

“Eddie.”

“Mm, outside it is.”

“No, no!” She grabbed his forearm. “Not here-”

“Too late.”

He could hear Lucas laughing at them as he approached, having just rounded the corner when Eddie started dancing his fingers over Max’s side. Her shriek was uncharacteristically loud and high pitched, desperate enough for Eddie to momentarily pause, wondering if perhaps he was crossing a line.

“Get her knees, they’re worse,” Lucas said, appearing in Eddie’s line of vision.

Eddie turned to grin at him. “I’ll save them for you.”

“Oh, I do need to get her back for earlier this week actually,” Lucas said, and soon he was sitting with them on the stairs, perched awkwardly on his knees in a way that didn’t seem too comfortable. He seemed happy anyway, reaching for Max who wasn’t necessarily thrashing as much as she was squirming quietly, her laughter and protests the loudest part of this.

Eddie kept tickling, squeezing the flesh in a way that made her jerk with each press to her nerve endings. Lucas seemed less picky about actually staying at her knees, maybe because they were easy for her to move out of his reach over and over, until he finally went for her thighs, her ribs, at one point nearly climbing over her to get her neck; all playfulness, all familiarity in his movements. Eddie had heard that this all had started with Max tickling him, and he could imagine her grinning down at him, Lucas’ laughter more quiet than hers, his eyes squeezed shut as opposed to her wide open ones right now. Two opposites finding each other.

“Stop it,” she said through a laugh, Eddie moving up to worm his fingers beneath her arms only because it was an easy spot that didn’t require him to do much, leaving the labor of making her giggle in ticklish anticipation to Lucas who was dotting all over her. His voice was playful when he asked her what was wrong and Eddie realized this was his moment more than his own.

Eddie backed off first, finding he’d gotten sufficient revenge for the previous day, but Lucas remained, nimble fingers over her abdomen while she gripped his wrists. A synchronized dance of some sort. Back and forth, side to side, with Lucas always making sure Max didn’t accidentally bump her head on the railing.

“That’s for yesterday,” Eddie said as he stood, unsure if she heard him and not caring to repeat himself. “You kids be safe.” And he went inside with Max’s laughter following him, accompanied by Lucas’.

[silverflameataraxia]

Just saw someone say that Eddie died a hero and that Max didn't.

Interesting take because I fully recall both of them offering themselves as bait and choosing to sacrifice themselves, not only to save their friends and family, but also to save the random people in Hawkins that they've never met and would have probably never met.

Only real difference is that Eddie knew for sure that he was going to die when he chose to stay in the Upside Down, and Max knew she might die, but hoped her friends would kill Vecna first.

Either way, both died heroes.

(And yes, I'm well aware that Max isn't dead, but that doesn't change the fact that she did, in fact, die.)

[loveinhawkins]

Thinking about what might’ve happened if Dustin and Eddie both made it through the trailer Gate; if the door held and none of the bats followed them.

-

They get a momentary reprieve, dizzy with relief.

And Hawkins splits open.

“Jesus Christ,” Eddie screams, and he throws himself over Dustin as the living room is rent apart, shields him from chunks of the ceiling and trailer roof raining down; after one final shudder, everything goes eerily still.

They breathe.

“Max,” Dustin gasps. Scrabbling out from underneath Eddie, he reaches for his walkie, desperate, “Lucas, do you copy? Lucas! Do you goddamn—”

There’s a click and then the horrible sound of Lucas sobbing—trying and failing to get words out.

Eddie’s stomach plummets.

Through the fear and horror, it dawns on him that he needs to step up to the plate—that he’s in charge—and he has to act now.

“We’ve gotta go,” he says, thinking fast. He pulls Dustin up with him, adds, “Leave the walkie here,” jerking his head up to the grotesquely expanded Gate, “so they’ll have it when they get back.”

He’s thankful beyond words that Steve left the keys in the RV.

It’s a tense, silent ride broken only by Dustin sharply saying, “Watch out,” whenever they get too close to a chasm in the road.

Eddie can hardly comprehend what he’s looking at. He remembers saying the shire is burning. Now it sounds like a prophecy fulfilled.

When they reach the Creel House, he drives up onto the grass until the RV is hidden as best he can manage amongst the bushes and thorns.

Erica’s running out of the house by the time they reach the front steps, a walkie in her hand; Eddie’s eyes land on her skinned knees, and his stomach drops all over again.

“Hey, are you hurt, are you hurt?” he babbles, already knowing the answer—but he means is there more than this? I’m here, I’ll help you, I’ll help you.

His hands land on her shoulders, squeezing tight, and Erica—this sharp-tongued, funny, kind kid—breaks down in tears.

“I called a-an ambulance,” she stutters out.

“Hey, you did great. Shh, you did great.” Eddie hugs her far too briefly, but there’s no time. He presses the keys to the RV into her hand. “It’s hidden, hey, see that bush down there? Lock yourself in, keep radioing for the others. Hey, look at me. It’s gonna be okay.”

She nods, eyes shining.

No-one should have to be this fucking brave, Eddie thinks.

Dustin follows him through the house, up the stairs, jumping over the cracks until—

Max in Lucas’s arms, her eyes closed, blood running down her cheeks.

Eddie’s breath catches in his throat, but he can’t falter now; he pushes back vivid images of Chrissy, of Patrick, and falls to his knees next to Lucas.

“Her—her bones,” Lucas gasps, “I shouldn’t have m-moved her but the ground—Jason, he…”

Eddie follows where Lucas’s eyes darts to, across the cavernous gap in the floor, sees the mangled remains of—

“Jesus.” Eddie swallows through a wave of nausea.

“I hurt—I hurt her,” Lucas whispers.

Eddie puts a hand on his back. “No, you—you did what you had to, man. You saved her, Sinclair, you hear me?” He places two fingers to Max’s throat. Waits. Exhales deeply. “Pulse is still… okay, okay.”

“What?” Lucas tries to check, too. His hand is shaking. “But I—I felt—”

“Trust me, she’s—”

A wail. Sirens, rapidly approaching.

Eddie’s gaze flickers over Lucas and Dustin: their eyes are glassy with horror. It’s not hit them yet, what’s about to happen, and that’s fine. That’s how it should be.

It’s Eddie’s job to know.

The paramedics arrive first.

Eddie moves back. Gives them space.

He doesn’t miss the way their faces pale as they spot him.

“She has a pulse,” he says calmly. “Broken limbs. And her eyes, um, I don’t know what exactly…”

More sirens.

“Eddie,” Dustin says suddenly. Sharp, urgent. “Eddie, what are you doing? You need to go.”

Eddie smiles sadly. Shakes his head.

Footsteps pounding up the stairs. At first it seems to take forever, and then it speeds up all at once; Eddie’s being pulled roughly until he’s standing, handcuffs cutting into his skin, and Dustin is screaming.

“They didn’t know anything,” Eddie finds himself saying. Lucas’s expression shatters; Dustin just looks furious. “I swear, they didn’t—”

“Eddie, stop.” Dustin sounds close to tears. “Stop, stop—” He grabs at Eddie’s arm, only to be pushed aside by an officer. “He didn’t do anything!”

“It’s okay,” Eddie says. He tries to catch Dustin’s eye, but he’s already being dragged out. “It’s okay.”

And it’s funny, just an hour ago and this would’ve been one of his worst fears realised. But now he barely feels it.

A hand clamps over his skull, pushes him into the police car.

The view out the window blurs as they speed away—black cut through with a burning red.

Eddie closes his eyes.

He wishes he could’ve…

He thinks of Steve, Robin, Nancy. Wants them to know he tried to protect their kids for as long as possible. Tried to buy them time. He did his best.

No, Eddie The Banished isn’t a hero, he thinks.

He simply did the only thing he could have done.

[igotthejob]

this is every fanfic i read

[lavenderstobins]

stranger tweets part 14

[previous] [next]

all previous parts: [part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4] [part 5] [part 5.5] [part 6] [part 7] [part 8] [part 9] [part 10] [part 11] [part 12]

[feral-jackdaw]

Lost and Found

Wayne Munson has been searching everywhere for his nephew. Ever since the earthquake hit, all he could think of was whether Eddie was alright. But the boy was nowhere to be found.

Eventually, Wayne headed for the place he least expected him to be. The trailer park.

After arriving at their former home, he quickly started to hope that Eddie wasn't actually there, or at least hadn't been during the earthquake. For some reason, the trailer park seemed to have been even more affected by the disaster than the rest of the town. The ground was covered in deep cracks, and multiple trailers were completely destroyed, including theirs.

From the corner of his eye, Wayne noticed someone on his right. But before he could even start having any hope, he recognized his former neighbor, the young Mayfield girl.

“Max, what are you doing here?” he asked.

“I'm... I... didn't know where else to go,” the girl stuttered, her eyes chained to the ground. "I can't find my mom," she continued.

“Come on, we can look for her together,” Wayne suggested. A part of him wished he hadn't said that. He was supposed to be looking for Eddie... but he can't just leave the girl alone in here, can he?

“No, it's fine, I-” Max stuttered, backing away a few steps. “Just come with me, please,” she pleaded, stepping inside her trailer.

Wayne followed her and just froze in spot at the sight in front of him. His beloved nephew was right here. Curled up on the couch, covered in bandages, either fast asleep or unconscious... but most definitely alive.

“I tried my best to patch him up,” Max spoke. “But I didn't have that many bandages, and there wasn't enough antiseptics-”

“Max,” Wayne interrupted. “You saved him. You saved Eddie,” he reassured. “We'll worry about everything else later, but first let's get you both out of here, okay?”

part zero

[thecommonthreads]

Stranger Things: Dead End (Fan comic) Part 4

Parts: 1, 2, 3

The final chapter coming next week or the week after.

[sky-neverending]

max and eddie being close is so important to me. it’s. it’s so important. i think that they would have such a bond between them, such a sibling dynamic that i wish i saw more. like i love max and steve, don’t get me wrong, but max and eddie!!! i love them!!!! i need them more!!

eddie and steve are like Max’s dads and it’s SO cute and I NEED IT!!!! legit. like they are such a trio, and they work so well on their own and together. it’s honestly one of my favorite things to write because the banter between max and eddie is on point and i love everything about them.

like- i have a wip where eddie lives and plays scrabble with max, dustin, and steve (my little family omg) and makes the pieces braille for Max (cause she’s blind from vecna) and it’s a little found family moment and everything is perfect and. i love them.

max and eddie sibling truther right here. i will never shut up about them. ever.