carry home, my little soldier
Word Count: 19.3k
Archive Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence
R: Mature
Pairing: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson
Characters: Eddie Munson, Wayne Munson, Steve Harrington, Dustin Henderson, Robin Buckley
Tags: Found Family, Eddie Munson Lives, Gay Eddie Munson, Post-Stranger Things 4 Vol. 2, Fix-It, Presumed Dead, Blood and Gore, Survival Horror, Blood Loss, The Upside Down, Eddie Munson in the Upside Down, Dustin Henderson Needs a Hug, Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington Friendship, Bad Parent Al Munson, I Love Wayne Munson, Canon-Typical Violence, Post-Canon Fix-It, Grief/Mourning, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Grieving Dustin Henderson, Protective Wayne Munson, Protective Steve Harrington, Vecna is Defeated, Smoking, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Confessions, Angst with a Happy Ending, Happy Ending, One Big Happy Family, Survivor Guilt, Panic attacks
'I love you man.' Were the last words Eddie Munson whispered. Well that's what he thought before he awoke red bolts of lightning striking across the dark clouds of the Upside Down. Vecna was dead which was a good thing, but that also meant, no gates. How was he going to get out? And would the screeches in the distance become a problem?
or the one where; Eddie gets left behind then writes goodbye letters to his loved ones in their favorite books. And maybe, just maybe there was a sliver of hope of getting home.
Beta Reader: Knormalizeknitting <3
Art link and credit: https://archiveofourown.org/works/54785884 by Artgroves
Fic link and credit: https://archiveofourown.org/works/54782281 by Miserablekings
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What if an AU where Steve actually didn’t graduate, but he’s pretending he did and that he just didn’t get into any colleges because if his parents find out he’ll be out on his ass. He’s eighteen, able to intercept any messages the school does happen to send home, and after Starcourt he changes his emergency contact to Robin’s parents or something.
But it starts with being called into the principal’s office to receive the news. He’s an athlete and the school’s golden boy, so the principal tries to give him an out. He’s a good kid, just obviously got derailed in his studies sometime during junior year… maybe by drugs. Is he *sure* he wasn’t pressured into buying anything by Eddie Munson?
At some point the principal tells Steve point blank that if he sells The Freak out, he can graduate and not have to repeat. All of this can just go away.
Steve still says no, he didn’t get anything from Munson. He’s barely ever talked to the guy. (He’s not even lying—Tommy always took care of that stuff back when Steve still threw parties, albeit with Steve’s money.)
He doesn’t know that Eddie is in a chair just outside the door waiting for his own special “you flunked” audience.
-
Eddie is chewing rabidly on his hair because he knows that if he were offered this deal he would’ve sold King Steve out in a second, and it’s making him feel like a complete shitstain.
He is not offered that deal, which is why he uses his longest sewing needle to puncture a sloooow leak into all four of Principal Higgins’ tires less than an hour later. But this means… he only has a few months of summer break to decide if and how he should thank Steve for not throwing him under the bus.
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Part one
Steve has so many questions, especially once they get in Eddies van. Everything is different- from the shops to the people. Even the trees look different. He wants to know why.
"We already told you," Dustin sighs. "Time has passed, fashion has changed, whatever."
"But why?" He leans forward, jabbing his finger at one of the shops. "Why did they change the colors?"
"I don't know!"
Dustin doesn't yell, not like his father would. He doesn't do anything other than groan too, encouraging Steve to keep asking questions. He even dares to stick his tongue out when he finally starts complaining, asking Steve to shut up.
By the time they pull up outside a small, wooden cabin, Dustin looks ready to strangle him.
It's kind of funny.
"Alright," Eddie finally speaks up. "Let's go."
He quickly jumps out, jogging around to catch Steve as he steps out, throwing him over his shoulder. He laughs when Steve yells, trying to kick him.
"Don't be a brat, Harrington!" He cackles.
"This is why you aren't cool like Robin!" He yells back, twisting around so he can tug at his hair. "You're a meanie."
"Ow, dude, not the hair!"
Someone clears their throat, making Eddie stop walking. Steve tries to wriggle around, trying to see who it is, but Eddies jacket blocks his view no matter what.
Someone snaps their fingers, after a moment, and Eddie gently lowers him back onto his feet.
The man standing in front of the cabin door looks stunned, when Steve turns around. He blinks at the group for a second, before silently pointing to Steve.
"We don't know," Robin answers. "He's been like this for a while."
"Let me guess; parents aren't home. Again."
"They're busy!" Steve defends.
The man snorts, shaking his head. "That's what you always say, kid." He steps aside, nodding towards the cabin. "Come on, she knew you were coming."
Before Steve can step inside, following the group, the man stops him with a hand on his shoulder.
"Kid," the man clears his throat as he crouches down. His hand is gentle on his shoulder. "You doing ok?"
"I'm fine."
"Steve. This is probably very confusing and scary, I know, but you need to trust us. We want to help you."
Steve scuffs his feet on the floor, grumbling, "yeah, I know."
"So if you're not ok, you can tell us."
"Yeah, I know."
The man stares at him for a moment, before nodding. "If that changes, let us know, ok?"
"Ok."
"Good. Come on."
The inside of the cabin is cozy. Cluttered. Lived in.
"Hello Steve!" A young woman greets. Her hair is shorter than his, Steve notes. And she has a nice smile.
"Hello."
"I am Jane, but you can call me El." She offers her hand.
He shakes it automatically, a little surprised when she doesn't let go. "El?"
"That is what my friends call me." She gestures towards the two pillows set out on the floor, in front of the TV. "I am going to find out what has happened to you. It won't hurt."
"Uh, right. What- uh..." He looks to Robin, who nods encouragingly. "What do I do?"
"Sit with me."
She gently tugs him over, sitting on one of the pillows. She smiles at him when he hesitates, waiting, patient.
He keeps quiet, looking to the others when she pulls out a blindfold.
"It helps her think," the man explains.
Steve nods, even though he doesn't understand what that means.
For a moment, nothing happens. They sit there, almost silent- the static from the TV starts to grate his ears, especially with how close they're sat. But the others look tense, impatient, so Steve tries to stay where he is. He tries to behave.
Until he spots blood.
"She's bleeding!" He points out.
He goes to jump to his feet, but a hand quickly lands on his shoulder, pushing him back down.
It's Robin.
"It's ok, she's ok, it's just a nosebleed," she says. "It's harmless, really. She knows what she's doing."
Robin stays next to him. She even lets him hold her hand when he reaches out for her.
It's not long, after that, until El lifts the blindfold off. She looks confused.
"Well?" Dustin snaps. "What is it? Is he ok? Did someone do-"
"Hey," Eddie gently interrupts, leaning over to bump their shoulders together.
"He is ok," El says, once Dustin relaxes a little. "But I... don't know how this happened."
"How do we change him back?" Eddie asks.
"I can't, I'm sorry. But it is taking too much power to sustain itself."
"Wait, wait, wait," Robin rubs at her forehead. "So, you can't change him back but, what, eventually he will on his own?"
"Yes."
"How long will that take?" Dustin asks.
"I am not sure. Maybe a week? Two?"
"And until then he's just stuck like this?"
"I am sorry, Steve," El says, turning to him. "When it is weaker, I might be able to help?"
"That's ok," Steve quickly reassures her. "I will be ok. I know how to take care of myself."
"What?" El tilts her head, confused.
"Kid, you're staying here," the man says.
"No, Hopper," Robin cuts in, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "I'm gonna take care of him. He's, like, my soulmate! And he likes me!"
"Woah, hold on," Dustin says. "That's not fair! He's my family!"
They continue to argue for an hour. It's mostly playful, but Steve kind of likes it. He's never had anyone fight over him before.
"He is staying here," Eddie finally speaks up, when it looks like the man- Hopper- is about to explode. "Neither of you two have thought of a single excuse for your parents. And you can't leave him in that big house on his own. He's safer here."
"Oh, fuck," Robin suddenly jerks upright. "What the hell do I tell Keith?"
tag list for those who asked;
@songbird-garden @str4wb3rry-guy @badcaseofcasey @lioniheart @irethsune @starry-eyedlune @newtstabber @messrs-weasley @vesme @penny00dreadful
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