Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The first thing I did when my eyes opened was throw up onto the ground, dark brown, clotted blood splattering across the cold, lifeless sidewalk. I sputter and cough, large chunks making their way onto the ground.

When the blood finally stops foaming at my lips I feel my arms give way, falling onto my back with a cry of pain, it feels like my body was ripped apart, my legs are numb and feel like knives. My fingers twitch as my eyes clench shut to hold back the tears clawing their way at my eyes.

How the fuck am I alive? This should be impossible...

I hear footsteps ascend towards my limp body, my breathing goes erratic

Shouldn't have jinxed it, Munson, now you are really going to die.

When the footsteps stop next to my ear, I slowly crack open an eye, a fuzzy figure standing before me...it looks familiar. Once my vision clears up, I notice who it is...

"holy shit...California? 's that you?" my voice is raw and hoarse as my eyes settle on Billy fucking Hargrove. Who supposedly died last year in a fucking mall fire.

"Still using 'California' as my name, Munson? How the hell did you get down here anyway?" his voice lacks the usual venom that he projected towards me in school.

"well....got dragged into this shit cause of a fake murder charge. Shredded my guitar to Master of puppets, and got, well I thought, I got killed by those fuckin' bats." I tell him, laughing before blood spills from the corners of my mouth again and I cough up blood onto the floor.

"what about you though California? Didn't you die in a mall fire or something?" I ask, raising an eyebrow despite the pain that rings throughout my skull.

"of course, they covered it up with a mall fire. I'll explain later Munson, you look like shit." he opens a car door, it seems to be the only working vehicle in this shit hole. He starts the car and comes back to me, picking me up effortlessly and laying my body in the backseat.

"...what the fuck. Why am i not dead?" I question out loud, Billy backs the car up and starts to drive.

"I asked the same thing when it happened to me Munson"

"take me home. My trailer is right there..." I point to- where my trailer was, now it's a huge gap.

"what the fuck...?" I ask Billy shrugs

"i'm not sure. Maybe it leads to the surface." he guesses as I take my walkie-talkie out of my back pocket.

"dammit. It's dead" I groan, he drives to the split, it goes up, almost like a slope perfect for driving on.

"ready Munson? This is gonna be some real dirt- biking shit," he says, excitement in his voice

"wait- you dirtbike--?" my comment is taken away when he speeds up it, the car jumping almost 10 feet in the air before landing on the ground with a screech dust clouding up around the car.

"California. I'm going to need you to drive. Cause, I'm still wanted for murder." I tell him, he nods and starts driving down a familiar path, to Steve Harrington's house.

My head spins in a wild game of roulette as I try to wrap my head around this...

The car stops and I look up to see Steve Harrington come out of his house with a--- is that a nail bat??

When Billy steps out of the car, Steve drops the bat on the ground and rushes inside, Billy comes to my side and opens the door, he reaches out to help me up and gets hit on the back of the head with a chair.

He falls limp as Steve pants, finally, his eyes drift up from Billy's limp body to me.

"Eddie?" it comes from his lips quietly, I nod small, and crack a smile at him before coughing up more clotted blood from my lungs.

Before it, all goes black.

Chapter Text

I wake up to a soft cocooning warmth, a blanket wrapped around me tightly, it's a plain blue color that is a bit rough on the eyes if i'm being honest. The walls are devoid of life, as though happy memories were sucked away and only left with a stale scent and dullness.

My fingers twitch as I hold the blanket tighter, the creaking of a door makes my ears twitch as I look over, my hair falling into my face as I can see Steve between the messy dark strands.

"hey eds...I thought you were hungry, so I got you something to eat. How are you feeling?" I'm shocked that he didn't immediately ask me how I was alive...

"i'm...alright. Bit confused but, isn't that usual?" I joke, giggling, he chuckles softly

"I missed your jokes Eds, it has been...really tense" Steve exhales and sits next to me on the bed, his hand cupping my cheek.

"how....how are you alive...Eds?" I blink owlishly at him and just shrug

"i really don't know Stevie" I'm able to finish that sentence before I'm hugged tight, my face in his neck as he pets my hair.

"you don't know...how much I've missed you, Eddie...I thought I lost you for good..." his voice trembles as he says this, I slowly wrap my arms around him, my hands splayed flat on his lower back as I inhale his musky scent that I have missed...

Cedarwood and Lavender...such a sweet but brash combination that I love.

Just as soon as the hug started, he pulled away, cupping my face in both of his big hands

"Never, do that again, you hear me, Munson? We aren't heroes. You are not one, and I'm not either. But, you had to go and be heroic. While I love that about you, I really do, you put yourself in danger Eds. Never again. Do you understand?? I'm not losing you again." I now notice the tears rolling down his sunkissed face as he stares at my pale skin.

I cup his cheek with my right hand and lean in, softly kissing the mole next to his lip and nuzzling my head into his neck, hugging him tightly.

"I understand, I'm sorry Stevie...I just...I guess when, I saw you be so, fucking awesome, biting off a demo bats head and shit that...I dunno...I could also be cool. I thought I could really be heroic, some metal shit ya know? I did not realize how much it would hurt you..." a tremor goes in my voice as tears fog up my vision, thoughts of Steve and Dustin crying over my 'dead' body, bleeding out and torn to shreds.

Feeling Steve's arms around my waist grounds me back to reality as he noses in my hair "I know...I understand Eds, I just...I can't lose you. I love you so much. It was so hard, seeing your dead body, knowing I could never kiss you, or hold you again...all because, you wanted to be a hero. I love you no matter what, and so do all the shrimps. Hero or not, you're Eddie. And that is all that matters to us. Okay?" I choke on a sob hearing those words, the floodgates opening as I begin to soak his shirt sleeve with my salty tears.

Steve makes soft 'shh' sounds, petting my hair and scratching my scalp in the way that he knows I enjoy, my body seems to become like jello in his arms as I go limp, soft sniffles and a few stray tears coming from myself.

"I didn't mean to make you cry Eds...here, you should eat something" he reaches over and pulls out a grilled cheese from behind him, on a tray with a bowl of tomato soup.

He helps me sit up and sets the tray on my lap, smiling softly at me.

"if you need help, just ask okay? I'm right here" his arm wraps around my waist as he massages my hip, my fingers are already coated with grease as I pick up the grilled cheese and take a bite, the ooey, gooey-ness of the cheese making me moan in satisfaction.

"oh god... it's soooo good!" I exclaim, a mouth full of grilled cheese muffling my words slightly, Steve laughs

"chew baby, you are gonna choke" he jokes, rubbing up and down my waist as I chew, the entire sandwich is gone in what seems like a second as I devour it and the soup, a sated smile on my face.

He strokes my back and takes the tray, getting up from the bed with a whine leaving me from the sudden lack of his touch, looking up at him.

"it's okay babe, I'll be right back" he stays true to his words and comes back a few minutes later, sliding back into bed and petting my hair.

I can feel myself being lulled into another deep sleep but I fight it off, choosing to bask in Steve's warmth as I burrow into his chest, listening to the beating of his heart.

I choose to block out the obnoxious ringing of the phone next to Steve's bed, he reaches over and picks it up, talking to whoever is on the other end.

"I took the day off Rob. No. It was an emergency." he groans "no Robin, I'm not dying. Because I just didn't feel well. Sue me. Yeah yeah. You too Dingus." he puts down the phone, shaking his head.

"The nerve"

All of a sudden, I hear a loud crash from downstairs

"STEVE HOLY SHIT!!"

Chapter Text

Steve's eyes go wide as he looks over at me

"let him come in Steve, I miss the shrimp" he sighs and nods, getting up from the bed and going downstairs.

"STEVE, WHY IS BILLY IN YOUR DRIVEWAY??!" Dustin yells, I can imagine his face

"calm down Dustin, I'll explain, come upstairs, I got something to show you"

"I swear to god if its a girl, Billy is passed out in your driveway and if you are showing me a girl I will shove my foot so far up your ass-" Steve opens the door and lets Dustin in

Dustin stops talking and stares at me as I give a small wave

"hey Henderson..." the words are taken from my throat as he tackles me in a hug, I cough violently and Steve has to get him off

"you got to be more careful kid, hes still very hurt" I cough up a dark blood clot onto my fist and groan

"fuuuck, I thought I was done with that" Dustin's eyes go to the blood clot on my hand and I can see his face go pale

"I would take you to a hospital, if ours wasn't full" Steve commented, scratching the back of his neck.

"I need to tell your uncle." Dustin blurts out

"he-- he would want to see you" I sigh and nod

"call him later shrimp, right now, you can ask questions, and I'll try to answer, okay?" he takes a deep breath

"First, why is Billy Hargrove in the driveway, passed out? Second, how are you alive? Third, are you a vampire? Fourth, how did you get out of the upside-down? Fifth, do you have super powers like eleven???" He rambles, I press a finger to his lips to shut him up

"one question at a time Henderson. First of all, Billy is there cause Steve knocked him out with a chair, second, I have no clue, third, I hope not, fourth, Billy drove a car dirtbike style and got us out from the split, and fifth, no, I do not. Did I get all the questions shrimpy?" he nods and I take the finger off his lips

"so...Billy did something nice. For you?" he asks in disbelief

"Trust me, kid, I was as shocked as you, he even carried me in the car like a gentleman. Maybe his year or two in the upside down have done him good." Steve holds my hand

"Is he a better gentleman than me???" he asks, slightly offended

"of course not Stevie" I kiss his cheek and squeeze his hand.

Footsteps come up the stairs and the door swings open, Billy is panting, his white tank top with one-year-old blood on the front and a giant scar from how, I'm guessing, he 'died'.

"Where is Max," he asks, panting softly, the front of his mullet curling over his eye.

"would you first, like a shirt that isn't broken?" Steve asks, a joking tone in his voice as he sets my hand down on the bed

"yeah, sure whatever. But, where is my sister?" Steve takes out a t-shirt from his closet and gives it to Billy

"Wow, you used to be adamant that she was 'only your Step-sister' thats new" he comments, Billy furrows his eyebrows and takes off the ruined shirt, putting on the t-shirt.

"thanks. Now, answer my question. Please." Steve exhales and fidgets with his fingers

"well...Max is uhm..in a coma. Vecna got her. The doctors said she..will be blind. Permanently. And, that she may never walk again." Steve says, Billy stares at Steve before he purses his lips, sitting down on the floor and putting a hand over his mouth, I notice a tear slip down his cheek.

"fuck...I just. I wanted to make things right. I was the shittest fucking brother. And, now she may only remember me as that shitty person." his voice breaks as Steve kneels next to him, a hand on his shoulder.

"hey man, Max, she may be stubborn but, she's a forgiving kid. Yeah, you were shitty, but, so was I. All you have to do is, show you are better. And, stay that way. Plus, it is not only Max you need to apologize to. You need to apologize to Lucas too. That shit was not cool." Billy exhales.

"I...never meant to be that hateful. It's just, that I care about Max, I always did. But, I never knew how to show it. Man, I was never shown care or, how to treat someone you love. And, I took out all my bigoted beliefs that my dad had on Lucas. Cause, I have had a lot, and I mean, a lot of soul searching. And, I realized there were so many things I never knew about myself from my personality to my sexu--" he cuts himself off.

"billy, are you gay?" I ask, a soft tone to my voice. He stares at me, and that's all I need.

"Hey, it's okay if you are. Steve and I are dating. There is no bigotry here. I can promise you that. We accept you, Billy. And, it's a great thing you have grown as a person." he takes a deep breath, nodding

"I want to go see my sister. If I can." Steve nods, helping him to his feet.

"Maybe we can take Eddie there too...he needs medical attention," Dustin says, helping me sit up.

Steve nods, hooking an arm under my legs and another under my back picking me up bridal style, Billy wiping tears from his face, following us down the stairs.

"Hey, by the way, I picked up your guitar" Billy brings up, I give him a smile and a thumbs up through my pain.

When I'm sitting in the back seat carefully I stroke Steve's arm, he kisses the back of my hand and closes the door, Billy sitting in the front and Dustin next to me, not without some arguing from Dustin though.

"can not believe I have to sit in the back" he grumbles, buckling his seatbelt.

"Billy is older than you. No arguing shrimp" Steve says, starting the car and backing out of his driveway.

Chapter Text

The car rumbles to a stop, my body lurching forward slightly with a stab of pain in my abdomen, I hiss in pain making Dustin's eyes flick over to me in worry.

"i'm alright kid, just sore." I reassure him, a hand on his shoulder with a soft smile, he smiles but I can tell he saw right through my lie.

Steve picks me up and carries me inside, Dustin and Billy trailing behind me, the nurses look up and their eyes widen when they see me, I cough up another blood clot on accident, but it seems to make them rush, helping me to a room while another nurse calls the police, I am still wanted for murder after all.

They have to cut off my hellfire shirt and jeans, despite my disapproval, that shirt is my pride and joy...thankfully I have a second one. No dungeon master only has one.

The jeans I only had one of though.

They help me into the scratchy hospital gown, staring at my injuries in shock. I'm completely missing a nipple. Yes. A nipple. It fucking sucks.

Once I'm layed down in bed, Steve barges in, sitting next to me.

"how bad is his condition?" he asks, the nurse stares at him blankly.

"only family get to know that. Sir." she looks at me "What are your parents numbers?" she asks me, green eyes staring into my soul.

"uhm i don't live with my parents, but I can give you my uncles." I tell her, she nods and takes our a piece of paper, I tell her my uncles work and home number.

She leaves the room and Steve looks at me.

"oh my god Steve. I'm missing a nipple. Those fucking bats ate my left nip!" I exclaim "I'm also missing like- chunks of flesh but like- my nipple man!!" I put a hand on my forehead dramatically.

He laughs and holds my hand tight "Sorry Eds. At least you still have one nipple" he says, trying to lighten the mood.

"says the man who still has both of his nipples." I mutter, crossing my arms with a pout, he kisses my knuckles softly.

"well, I'm sorry I still have two nipples Eds. But, you are still just as adorable" I huff, a traitorous smile growing on my face as his nose rubs my temple from kissing my cheek.

My body leans into his warm touch, head under his chin as he rubs my back a soft sigh leaving my mouth. I can hear his heart beat and the rise and fall of his chest due to even breathing.

My eyes slip closed as I fall into a deep sleep..

---

Steve carefully lays the older boy on the bed, tucking him in, the metalheads hair spread about like a halo around his head, his face peaceful.

The door opens, the nurse standing in the doorway, a stoic look on her face before an older man pushes into the room, panic-stricken.

His eyes settle on Eddie and tears fill his eyes, he grips a guitar pick necklace around his neck, Steve can instantly recognize it as Eddie's pick.

The older man, who Steve knows as Uncle Wayne sits next to the sleeping Eddie a hand grabbing Eddie's.

Wayne's eyes come to Steve's, the nurse closes the door as she leaves.

"is he okay?" Wayne asks Steve, voice trembling.

"yes, Mr.Munson, he is, as he will tell you, missing his left nipple and a few chunks of flesh but...hes alive." Wayne nods, sighing in relief.

Meanwhile,

Billy is being lead to Max's room, the nurses looking at each other in confusion, this man has been dead for the past year and a half and he has appeared, alive.

A brunette Nurse opens the door a crack "hey kids, someone is here to see Max. I hope you don't mind him intruding. He says he is Max's brother"

Billy can hear the confused muttering turn into awe-filled silence as he is let in the room, hands in his pockets as he can feel the teenage group's eyes boring into his soul.

He sits in an open chair next to Max, staring at his little sister, both arms and both legs in thick casts and eyes shut as she breathes in her perpetual dream state.

He looks around the room, he knows every one of these kids, despite them now looking completely different.

A boy with a black wolf-like cut who he knows as Michael Wheeler, younger brother of Nancy Wheeler.

A darker-skinned boy who he knows as Lucas Sinclair, and his younger sister Erica.

The one who has not changed his hairstyle, which is unfortunate, is Will Byers, younger brother of Jonathan Byers, his hair still in that godforsaken bowl cut. Poor kid.

The last kid is Jane Hopper, or Eleven, her hair is buzzed close to her scalp, much different than the wild medium length hair he had associated with the teenage girl.

Lastly was Max, red hair and freckles and Billy could always recognize.

"how the hell are you alive." is what breaks the silence, from Lucas.

"if I knew, I'd probably write a book about it. But, I have zero clue. Sorry Lucas." Billy shrugs and takes his sisters hair out of the ponytail it was in, setting the hair tie on the bedside table.

"since when did you care about Max. You hated her." Lucas spits, his voice full of venom, which he can understand.

"thats not true. I never hated Max. Its difficult to explain." he puts it simply, his voice even as to not show the absolute terror he am in from seeing his little sister in a coma.

"we will understand whatever your bullshit excuse is. We saved the world four times. Just spit it out." he sneers

"....fine. Just because I am sticking with this new attitude I have developed. My mother abandoned me when I was young, left me with my alcoholic and abusive father, my mother did not love or care for me, and neither did my father. When he met Max's mother, I felt something that I did not know I could feel for Max. I care for her, but was never taught the proper way to care, so I did it the only way I knew. Which was being rude. But everything I did was in her best intention, even if it never seemed that way. I always kept her far away from my father, even if that meant me taking the brute of his drunken rages. I was jealous of Max as well, she only got the nice version of my father, the version I wish I had but never did. And, what I did to you, that is not excusable. I took out my father's bigoted thoughts onto you, and I should never have. I apologize Lucas. I never meant to get that way, and, I'm trying to do and be better." Billy takes a deep breath after that mouthful

The kids stare at him, awestruck.

"....I forgive you. But, one condition. You can't be mean to Max anymore. Got it?" Lucas says, his eyebrows furrowed as the protective boyfriend he is.

"I understand. I wasn't going to be rude anyway. That ruins the entire thing of me becoming a different person" Billy laughs.

The room falls silent once again, the only thing they can hear is the beeping of the EKG monitor hooked up to Max.

Everyone's eyes are on Max, watching her even though she won't be waking up anytime soon...

Chapter Text

My chest rumbles with laughter at something Uncle Wayne had said.

"so, you and Harrington, huh?" I can sense the playful tone in his voice as the corners of his mouth quirk up in a smile, laugh lines creasing at the sides, and the Duchenne marks on the corners of his eyes.

I can feel my face become hot as I struggle to catch my tongue "w-well uhm-- yeah-- yeah, me and Harrington" I groan internally at how fucking stupid I just sounded. There's a reason I failed senior year three times.

Wayne gives a singular courteous nod "listen, kid, I don't care who you date. As long as he's good to you and for you. And, from the conversation I had with the Harrington kid yesterday while you napped, he seems perfect for you. I'm happy for you kiddo" his hand rests on my knee as tears well in the corners of my eyes, I wipe the one that begins to fall with my right index finger.

"Jesus Wayne, always the sap." I joke a laugh tearing its way from my throat before I clear my throat.

"I'm glad you like Steve. He's...he's something. I really think I'm in love uncle Wayne..." Those last words leave my lips shakily but a smile grows on my face, Wayne's eyes show pride and love.

"I'm glad. You deserve it Eddie." despite the cords in my way, I hug my uncle tight

"I love you dad" it comes from my mouth before a second thought.

"dad?" I can hear the wobbling in his voice, emotions breaking through.

"You are the most I've ever had to a father...I want to call you dad...is that okay?" I ask, my lips trembling as I look at him, a finger tucks a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

"of course it is son..." I feel hot tears spill down my cheeks at the endearing word.

"t-thank you dad" I stutter out, my bottom lip quivering as I sniffle

"you're welcome son" his fingers cart through my hair slowly, taking out the tangles.

"I don't think I've been this happy in a long time..." I say honestly, my eyes drifting along the stark white walls of the hospital room and then onto Uncle-- dad. His beard a soft gray color with speckles of dark brown.

"me either son" I see his lips spread into a smile

"also, did you see how strong steve is?" I ask, laughing "how could I pass that opportunity up?"

"as long as if he is strong enough to take care of you, I really don't care" his smile stays, loving eyes on me.

"aww...he is, don't worry" "thats good"

"can you believe I died? I shouldn't be alive...its a fucking miracle" I change the subject, wanting to be this happy forever.

"i know...i know...a miracle of god" Wayne says, his cross necklace shining, I can see my guitar pick necklace under it

"yeah...god knew it was my year I guess, I hope I'm close to getting my diploma" my eyes drift.

"you are Edward. I can feel it. You are graduating this year" he says proudly, I smile and nod.

"I wish I could stay here forever, but I have work Eddie. I'll be back tomorrow morning, alright?" I nod, wishing him a good night as he leaves the room, the door closing behind him. Leaving me alone.

A yawn slips past my lips as I rub my eyes with the backs of my hands, smacking my lips together slightly before shuffling onto my side for a more comfortable position.

It doesn't feel like I fell asleep, but when I woke up, Steve was just coming into the room, his uniform has some dust on the top, probably from deep cleaning.

"hey stevie...how was work?" I ask, a smile growing on my face, he smiles softly back, sitting down next to me in the chair.

"it was alright Eds..I'm sorry I'm so late, my the person who was supposed to take over my shift came three hours late. How was your day?" his hand comes to mine, softly squeezing.

"Its okay sweetheart, and I had a good day, me and Wayne talked for a while before he had to go to work, and I slept, a lot. Feels nice" I say looking him in those eyes, they are focused on me with love deep setted in them.

"that sounds good, no other visitors today?" he asks, bringing my hand up to his lips to softly kiss my knuckles.

"nope, the little shits haven't shown up today and Billy is with Max. Just been me, myself, and I. I was a bit sad that you missed reading time though."

"I am too, I love reading time with you." he brushes some hair behind my ear and presses a kiss to my forehead, he takes my Lord Of The Rings book and opens it up where we left off.

"wait...before you start, could we cuddle?" I ask, he sets the book down, taking off his vest and brushing some dust off his shoulders before laying in bed next to me, my head resting on his chest as I cling to his side, feeling the warmth of his body radiate through mine and his addictive smell filling my nose.

He begins reading, I'm not even paying attention to the words as I am on the rumble of his chest everytime he speaks my eyes struggling to stay open as the mixture of everything with the beating of his heart begin to lull me back to sleep.

I fell a kiss on the top of my head and him continuing to read as sleep wins the fight against my willpower.

In my dream...I can see the bright red lightning flashing before me, a whirlpool of black dust swirling in front of me as if it were a tornado.

Slowly, it morphs into a hand, reaching for me, I can hear screams from inside, noticing that inside the hand are a million different faces, all screaming in agony.

And I'm about to become one of them..