Chapter Text
The Spring of 87’
Steve Harrington was always in pain. After years of taking hit after hit, he started to lose count of how many concussions he had withstood. Chronic pain rung throughout his whole body. Countless doctor visits led to inconclusive results. No matter how much it hurt, he had to make it to work at Family video. After defeating all of Hawkins’ monsters Steve Harrington has to report to work at a video store. How stupid is that. He sits on the edge of his bed for a minute, cursing himself for getting a job and the world for still spinning.
Steve hears a clock chime throughout the halls of his home. A chill runs down his jagged spine. Vecna had been defeated almost a year ago now, but his mother’s grandfather clock still rang every morning at 6 am. Steve daydreamed of destroying that clock every day of his life, it only being a reminder of what happened last spring and the fact that his parents still vacate the house more than they live in it. As the clock struck its last chime Steve tried to stand up to get ready. The bat bites along his sides feeling just as fresh as they did the moment it happened. He feels his neck and winces as fiery pain bursts from the red ring around it. Thank fuck that hellhole is closed for good.
He picks up his home phone from his bedroom wall and dials robins number without having to think twice. Following a set schedule they have created together. He holds the phone by his ear with his shoulder as he gets dressed. Robin always picks up on the fourth ring.
Ring .. ring .. ring .. *click*
“Hellooooo?” Robin answers through an audible smile.
“Hey Buckley. I’ll be there in ten to pick you up. You better go pee before you get in my car.” ,he giggles.
“ That was one time you dingus, stop making me laugh then! I’m hanging up on you!”
“ Robinnnnnn I’m sorrryyyyy I’ll never open my mouth again.”, steve says in a pathetic voice through his smile.
“Promise?”
“Cross my heart and hope to die”
“ Alright you’re off the hook this time Harrington. Pick me up a bear claw for consolation and I’ll consider allowing you to speak again.”
“You’re so gracious. See you in ten.”
“ See you.”
Steve sets the phone back on the hook. Before he leaves he needs to grab a coat, it’s a freezing cold spring in Hawkins. He shuffles through the coats thrown around his room. None of them match his outfit, and if Steve Harrington can complement himself on anything it’s his style. Leafing through coat after coat he comes across a denim vest, covered in pins and faintly stained red with blood. He couldn’t… But it matched his outfit so well… Steve felt his cheeks get warm. He should give Eddie back his vest. Steve had been wearing the vest so often it made its way into his outfit circulation. Wearing it on days he would see Eddie, just to see his cheeks turn red as he pulled his hair to his lips. Steve didn’t know why he did this, why did he want to see him get flustered. He decided not to think about it more or he would get a crushing headache. Thinking never did Steve any good anyway.
Steve pulled the ragged vest over his shoulders and stepped out the door. Wearing Eddie’s vest skyrocketed Steve’s confidence for some reason. He picked up Robin’s donut and drove his usual route to her house. When he pulled into the driveway Robin ran out almost skipping. A big smile plastered across her face. Robins mom waved from the door. Steve waved back. Robin’s mom, second to Dustin, was a determined believer that Robin and Steve were dating. But while Dustin was annoying and pushy, Robin’s mom was subtle in her ways. Robin hopped into the passenger seat and snatched the donut as Steve drove off.
“ Steven Marie Harrington you are truly an angel.” Robin says as she tears into her bearclaw.
“Hurry up and finish it dude. Keith’ll crucify us if we’re late a fourth time in a row.”
“ Don’t rush me, bossy. A bearclaw is meant to be savored, Keith can kiss our asses.” She said as she flapped her hand as if to wave keith off.
“Keith can make out with our asses.” Steve said through a smirk.
Robin let out a ginormous cackle and almost choked on her donut. Steve hit her back laughing trying to help her stop coughing.
“STEVE!! Do not make me laugh right now I’m going to die in your car. You do not want me to die in your car, I would ruin your lucious leather seats.And then you’d have to dispose of my body and the cops would catch you. And then I would be dead so I couldn’t bail you out. And then you’d be stuck in there for the rest of your life. Just because you made me laugh to death” ,she rambled through small laughs and a few coughs.
As they pulled into the Family Video Steve spots a familiar van in the parking lot. His stomach flips. That catches his mind. Eddie hops out of the van and stalks over to Steve’s car. He’s wearing his usual but today he’s sporting a shorter than normal shirt. Just below the hem his scars show, matching Steve’s placement almost exactly. Steve’s eyes linger too long and he has to tear his eyes away before he starts thinking too much. Robin hops out of Steve’s car and tackles Eddie in a hug. Steve suddenly becomes aware of his nervousness and the pit forming in his stomach. Maybe it’s just from the bat bites, he thinks. Steve steps out of his Cadillac and Eddie looks up from his conversation with Robin. Eddie smiles wide and then looks down at Steve’s outfit. His smile becomes bashful and he raises a strand of hair to his lips. He meets Steve in the middle as he walks over to them and grabs both of his shoulders.
Looking Steve up and down Eddie smirks as he talks, “Looking good Harrington who’s your stylist? He’s probably super hot.”
Steve blushes hard. Why is he flustered over Eddie Munson. “Funny you should say that Munson. I only accept fashion advice from those kind of people.” Steve feels stupid as soon as the words leave his lips. Why did he even say that.
He winces expecting a laugh or a playful jab to come his way but he looks up to see Eddies eyes blown wide open. His cheeks stained bright red. He’s never seen Eddie taken by surprise like this before but he supposes this is what it looks like. It makes Steve’s stomach flutter(again, probably just the bat bites). Eddie struggles to come up with a response, stammering and blushing harder than Steve’s ever seen. Did he say something weird? He feels embarrassed but Robin butts in just in time. She really is his best friend.
“ Well Steve and I need to go into work before Keith has to start kissing our asses. Are you coming in to rent anything or are you just being a loiterer as usual.”, she smiles as she slaps Steve on the back.
Eddie regains his composure. “ Um, yeah actually, just a small question. What’s a code red?”