#and the way steve got mauled by bats way before eddie did and then KEPT. GOING. but no one is mentioning that

[grandwretch]

i so badly want one of those fic examinations of steve's relationship with joyce and hopper but solely through eddie's pov like hear me out

steve and eddie chat a lot in the upside down (and later in the hospital, when they learn hop is alive). steve has taken charge of filling eddie in on the rest of their of-age crew without the kids butting in. he never mentions his own parents, but he talks about the rest of the party's a lot, especially joyce and hopper. eddie knows what it's like to desperately want someone to be your parent and trying to hide it from his own childhood, when he would try to be cool about wayne dropping him off at his dad's house. steve obviously adores joyce and hopper, thinks the world of them and legitimately looks up to them.

eddie isn't sure what he expects from a cop who came back to life and the world's most determined housewife, but he's excited to meet them as someone steve loves.

cue eddie's horror when he realizes that neither of them really feel much for steve rather than annoyance and vague distrust. that joyce trusts will with eddie, an accused murderer, in a heartbeat and still hesitates to leave him with steve. that hopper brushes off every ounce of steve's hero worship and joy.

he tries to broach the topic with steve, gently, and is heartbroken when steve genuinely has no idea what he's talking about. and not because he's oblivious, but because steve thinks that's what he deserves. he thinks that's the parental love that someone who was an asshole in high school needs, because that's what would make him a good person. he needs people to call him out constantly, obviously, because why else would they keep doing it? why would nancy? at least they're here. at least they're not ignoring him. at least they're not forcing him into a box. they just want him to be better.

like, this is the man who thanked a girl for calling him bullshit and telling him she never loved him. he doesn't Know that's not how you're supposed to handle things. no one ever taught him that.

and now eddie's gotta figure out how he can teach steve how to be loved the right way without outing himself and his huge crush on his love-starved dork of a friend.

#shut up az #steddie #i just had the flash of eddie in a hospital bed staring up at hopper and the way he talks to steve in horror #like hopper saying something off the cuff about how he's not surprised there was so much collateral with steve in charge #and eddie thinking about steve always putting himself in harm's way #and the way steve got mauled by bats way before eddie did and then KEPT. GOING. but no one is mentioning that #no one is mentioning that steve was the first one of their group physically hurt by this. #and steve is just nodding like he agrees and eddie doesn't want to be rude bc these ppl are obviously Important to his friends #and then Mike comes in later and says something Mike-y and Eddie snaps at him #then he has to apologize because Mike is a stupid kid who loves Steve in his own way #and Eddie shouldn't blame him for the behavior of adults who should no better just because Mike is an easier target #anyway Eddie doesn't know how to have parents right either so he ropes Jeff and Lucas and Gareth and Robin into OP: Teach Steve Self-Worth

[schrijverr]

Stitching Up a Mask

Eddie patches up Steve in the bathroom after they’ve come back from the Upside Down and sees a little behind the mask of protective Steve, who is so strong for everyone else.

On AO3.

Ships: pre- Steve x Eddie

Warnings: descriptions of a wound being patched up

~~~~~~~~~

Eddie has been watching Steve in fascination this whole ride. Sure, he’s been mostly distracted by running and hiding for his life and different dimensions filled with monsters. However, Steve has been the craziest of it all.

The inkling of interest has been older than these past few days. With Steve changing back in Eddie’s first senior year and staying changed when Eddie did senior again, only to hear all about it when the man is gone in Eddie’s third time senior.

Because it doesn’t make sense to Eddie’s brain.

He wasn’t lying when they were walking to that cursed forest. Steve being nice shouldn't make sense, yet it’s all he has seen.

Steve is the one driving these kids around as they try and clear Eddie’s name. He’s the one to look out for Eddie when the others forget he’s wanted. He’s the one diving in first with no one questioning it, because he’s the protector. He’s the one taking out bats with his teeth and carrying on with the injuries dealt. The one who’s fondly annoyed at Dustin yet so delighted when he sees those kids on the other side of the portal.

All in all, Steve is just fucking nice and caring. He looks out for everyone and they all know it, looking at him whenever something dangerous is about to happen, because Steve is the rock they can rally behind.

It’s especially noticeable in how they all fall apart when Steve isn’t there, but with Nancy trying to wake her as they run around like headless chickens looking for a song.

Luckily, Nancy is let go and they can all go and regroup in Max’s trailer. Her mother is not home and it’s not an active crime scene with a pulsing portal in the ceiling. All pros.

Again, Steve’s caring side comes out again. He’s covered in filth and grime, but he’s ignoring it as he gently leads Nancy to a seat, before demanding the kids tell them what happened between them diving and coming out the portal, while Nancy recovers.

Once he learns they had been taken by police, he scolds them as he he checks them all over for injuries or upsets. He lingers by Max, double ensure that she’s fine.

And it’s at that point that Eddie remembers Steve is injured. Badly. All throughout, he has kept the battle vest Eddie gave him (which looks criminally good on him, but Eddie digresses) in such a way that hides the bandages. He has also been upright and solid, only wavering slightly.

“Hey, Red,” Eddie calls out. “You have some first aid?”

“A bit, yeah. Why?” Max replies. “Who’s hurt?”

Before Eddie can answer, Steve says: “Just a bit of a scrape, but best to not let it get infected. Is it in the bathroom?”

“It is,” Max confirms and Eddie watches as the kids finally notice the bandages, but don’t freak out, trusting blindly that Steve can’t be that hurt, or will be fine to move on if he is.

Then Eddie finds himself dragged to the bathroom, which is something he has fantasized before with Steve, but not in this context. And also not something he should be thinking about right now, so he pushes it down and squeaks: “What’s happening?”

“Sorry,” Steve says, sounding genuine. “I just wanted to have a quick talk before you did something stupid and told those kids what happened down there. And I could use a hand.” It sounds like the latter part hurts to admit.

“Why is that stupid?” Eddie asks, confused. “You just got mauled by bats, dude. You need serious medical attention. That’s important information.”

“Yes, for me and the other older teens to know,” Steve says, gently, like it’s known information. He obviously sees that Eddie doesn’t fully get it, so he explains: “The kids know I get hurt, but I pull through and they never know how bad it is. I don’t want to worry them. They have enough on their minds and I can still fight. I don’t need them doubting me.”

“That doesn’t sound healthy,” Eddie points out, still a bit hung up on the fact that Steve always gets hurt and apparently doesn’t seem to care about what that means for him, just thinks about the kids and not worrying them.

“Eh, worked so far,” Steve shrugs, collapsing on the toilet with a groan.

The noise distracts Eddie from his worrying about Steve’s mental attitude, realizing how easy it for Steve to pull attention away from him being hurt.

Hurriedly Eddie throws open cabinets as he looks for the first aid, relieved when it’s easy to find and the insides are relatively well stocked. Max has been preparing for something like this happening. The fact makes Eddie’s heart ache a little.

When he turns back, Steve has shrugged off the battle jacket and is finally looking a bit of how he must be feeling. He’s grimacing and breathing heavy, cradling the soaked bandages around his middle.

Eddie kneels down in front of Steve, trying to be normal about it, and puts down the first aid kit on the floor next to him. Then he turns and inspects the bandage, wincing: “Oh yeah, that’s caked on there. We’ll have to soak it off.”

“Fuck,” Steve groans.

“I know,” Eddie says, sympathetic to what Steve is about to go through as he gets up and pops his head out of the bathroom and calls out: “Anyone have a water bottle?”

Dustin is the one to come bring it, trying to peer around Eddie with a little concern on his face as he asks: “Is Steve okay? He didn’t loose another fight, did he?”

The kid sounds very casual about it being common for Steve to loose fights, forcing Eddie to remember how long they have all been doing it and how long they have been playing certain roles in the team.

A part of him wants to tell Dustin he’s about to preform mini surgery on Steve in a bathroom and he’s freaking out about it, however, he doesn’t want to betray Steve’s trust. Not even for Dustin. So, he gives a tight smiles and says: “Nah, he won a fight. Real Ozzy moves. Very metal. I’ll tell you about it later. Thanks for the bottle.”

Then he shuts the door and locks it, not wanting prying eyes.

Steve is still just sitting on the toilet, breathing evenly as he is compartmentalizing. In different circumstances, it would be fascinating how Steve manages to keep himself under control, the discipline he has.

However, not not. Not as Eddie sits down again and pours water over the bandages, letting them sit and tugging every so often to check if they can come off alright.

It’s not going to be perfect and when Eddie pulls it off, the wounds open again, the crust that formed pulling off again. Above him, Steve can’t stop a few of the small noises from spilling out, letting out a soft: “Ah- Ah- ughhh.”

“I know, I know, I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Eddie murmurs, not really conscious of what he’s saying until he’s done and looks up, meeting Steve’s big eyes.

They stare at each other for a second. Eddie feels the heat creeping up his own cheeks the longer it drags on. Steve isn’t blinking just looking and Eddie can’t get a read on what he’s thinking. If it was normal, the straight guy would have punches his head in my now. However these days have been anything, but normal.

He decides that Steve’s sides, which are actively bleeding, instead of his own slip up. So, he turns and gets some cotton balls and disinfectant, as he says: “Oh, sorry about that.”

That snaps Steve back, finally blinking. Eddie thinks, here we go, but Steve surprises him by matching his blush and going: “It’s okay. I mean-” His eyes grow wide as if he didn’t mean to say that. “I mean, if it helps you concentrate,” which is a shitty save, but Eddie will allow him to get away with it, just so they can move on.

It’s just a new oddity of Steve. Being normal about Eddie calling him sweetheart. Okay. New information. Good to have.

Eddie is not at all freaking out a little about the fact that Steve seemed to like Eddie calling him a pet name and comforting him. That’s something he is normal about. A pretty boy making little noises and reacting well to Eddie being a source of comfort, while also being the one hurting him, both knowing it’s for Steve’s own good.

God, he’s fucked.

To distract himself from it, he focuses on the wounds and the actions. The wounds are gross, oozing blood slowly and covered in gunk. Disinfectant alone won’t be good enough.

So, Eddie leans back and pulls out a towel, mentally apologizing to Ms. Mayfield as he soaks it under the tap. Before he turns back to the wounds. He starts cleaning around them, so that nothing can fall in again, then moves to the wound itself.

The first time, Steve lets out a small scream, before his hand comes up and he’s biting his knuckle and looking at the door. Even in agonizing pain, thinking about the kids out there, who might hear him.

“Just a little longer, you’re okay,” Eddie says, on time to refrain himself from using another pet name.

It is partially for himself, Eddie can admit that. He has never been quiet and he hates it when he makes anyone feel upset or unwelcome, so he has to verbalize something to make sure the other person knows he also doesn’t like hurting him like this.

However, he can’t help but note how Steve unclenches a little at the words. Giving a small nod and holding on to the end.

Eddie moves on to the disinfectant, warning Steve: “This is going to hurt. You okay or need a moment?”

“I’m okay,” Steve grits out, looking like he isn’t ready at all.

“It’s not a bad thing to need a moment,” Eddie tells him, giving him a look. “It’s just us and I won’t judge. You’re allowed to take a minute to breathe.”

“Maybe a second would be nice,” Steve admits softly.

“Okay,” Eddie smiles. “Just tell me when you’re ready, Stevie.”

They sit in silence for a second. Steve leaning back against the wall and breathing, while Eddie walks through what needs to be done.

The wounds aren’t bleeding that badly anymore, but he doesn’t know if just binding it will be enough. There’s a stitching kit, but Eddie isn’t sure if he’ll be able to stitch Steve up without vomiting over the wounds, which he thinks will be counterproductive.

Before he can decide, Steve says: “You can go now.”

“Alright. Just hold on,” Eddie tells him. He puts one hand on his shoulder and hands him a washcloth. “You can bit on this. Shake me if it gets too much.”

Steve nods and puts the cloth in his mouth. With that done, Eddie sets to cleaning. The hand on his shoulder holds on hard, Steve’s knuckles turning white. A stream of whimpers and whines make it past the cloth in his mouth, but he’s holding on.

All throughout, Eddie keeps up a stream of comforts, not really hearing himself as he babbles. “You are doing so well for me, sweetheart. So good. Just a little longer. Almost there. Hold on a little more, sweetheart. Yes, just like that. Good job.”

When he finally stops the blood soaked cotton balls, Steve practically moans in relief.

Eddie feels bad to break his moment, but tentatively he says: “Do you- Do you think these need stitches?”

“Fuckkkkk,” Steve groans, banging his head against the wall behind him, which is all the answer Eddie needs.

“I know how to sew, but I don’t know if that translates to stitching,” Eddie admits.

“It’s better than anyone out there knows,” Steve replies, placing his faith in Eddie’s hands without question, despite the fact that anyone other than uncle Wayne never trusted Eddie a day in his life before now.

Before he can get emotional about it, they’re saved by incessant knocking on the door and Dustin yelling: “What’s going on in there? You’ve been there for hours.”

They lock eyes and Eddie freezes up, unsure of what to say. However, he has a front row seat to Steve taking a deep breath, before calling back: “Shut up, it’s taking a little longer than expected, nothing to get your panties in a twist about.”

“Well, hurry up,” Dustin yells back, sounding less concerned than before. “Nancy saw something and we need to make a plan.”

“You focus on that and we’ll focus on this,” Steve shouts. “Now fuck off, Henderson.”

Dustin does as he’s told without question and Eddie watches Steve deflate the moment he does. The confident pose melting away as he lets out a little hurt noise.

Eddie doesn’t comment on it. It’s not his place. He just has a lot of thoughts about Steve hiding how he’s hurt, how he deflects and worries about everyone else and not letting anyone worry about him in turn. Once this is done, Eddie is going to check in on him every day and make sure he’s recovering and okay.

However, for now, all he can do is disinfect the needle and pull the thread through it, before turning to the wound and praying it will be okay.

“You ready?” he asks.

Steve puts the washcloth back in his mouth and his hand on Eddie’s shoulder, before nodding determinedly.

“Alright,” Eddie breathes out, not very convinced off himself, but starting anyway.

The needle going in and out of Steve’s flesh is nauseating and Eddie has to keep swallowing to keep everything down as he pulls the flesh together. Just trying to turn off his mind as he struggles through the first one, getting the hang of it by the end.

Once he’s done with the first one, he looks up to Steve, blushing a little as he remembers that he’s literally on his knees between Steve’s legs. To deflect he asks: “You doing okay, Stevie?”

Steve hesitates, before nodding.

“You hesitated there, are you sure?” Eddie asks, because he’s not putting a needle back in a man who hesitated. He wants to be sure Steve is doing okay, because he’s been holding on like a champ in an almost unnatural way.

Embarrassed, Steve spits the cloth out and whispers: “Can you talk to me again?” as a bright flush paints his cheeks.

Eddie knows his eyebrows are creeping up his face in surprise, but he can also see that Steve is about to take it back and play it off. And that is the last thing Eddie wants. He wants Steve to ask for things, to be as comfortable as possible.

It’s a bit insane how much Eddie cares about Steve after only a few days, when before now he had a mild jealousy of him and maybe also a small crush. But he just can’t help it. Steve is an insanely nice and good guy, and Eddie is weak. Weak. Weak for this bighearted boy, who is hiding his hurt form all his friends with only Eddie to comfort and help him.

So, he quickly says: “It’s okay. I can totally do that, sweetheart. You ready for the next one? Already one down, three more to go.”

“Yeah, let’s go,” Steve replies with a shy smile, putting the washcloth back in.

He starts on the second bite with Steve whimpering above him and gripping his shoulder in a death grip. The sight of the wound still makes Eddie nauseous, but he fights through it and says: “We’re almost halfway through. You’re doing so good. I know it suck, but you’re doing amazing. Just breathe. It’s okay. You’re okay.”

Before moving onto the third bite, he confirms it’s okay again, getting a nod back from Steve, who switches hands on his shoulders as to not be in the way.

Again, Eddie talks, the one thing he’s good at. “Come on, sweetheart, that’s it. Just hold on. Good job. Doing so well for me, so well. Almost done with this one and then it’s only one more. You can do this. I’m here. You’re okay.”

They repeat the routine for the last bite. At this point, Steve is close to breaking and Eddie is certain he’ll have bruised shoulders, but he doesn’t complain.

Steve is breathing heavily, chest heaving as he keens in pain and clenches his eyes close, trying to writhe away from the pain, while also trying to sit still. Eddie couldn’t do it if he was in Steve’s position, he’d be crying on the ground and passing out, but Steve stays in the moment and continues on, until finally Eddie says: “Okay, done.”

Then it’s as if strings have been cut. Steve slumps forwards, bracing himself on his knees and letting the washcloth fall from his mouth.

The position reveals the road rash on his back from where he was dragged by the demobats over the ground. Eddie had nearly forgotten about it, but now softly asks if he can clean it with water.

Tiredly Steve nods and he seems almost too exhausted to be in pain any more. He just sits there and takes it with only hitches in his breath.

Once all the wounds are clean, Eddie sticks some gauze over the bite, before rewrapping it in clean bandages. Sitting back and admiring his handiwork once it’s done. “Well, that could have gone a lot worse.”

Steve chuckles, then lets out a soft groan. He smiles: “Don’t be funny. That hurts.”

“Sorry,” Eddie winces.

“Nah, it’s okay,” Steve assures him, turning a bit shy. “It’s nice that you’re here. Nice to laugh afterwards.”

Eddie smiles, their faces are so close now and Steve’s eyes are filled with this soft fondness and a tinge of vulnerability that makes Eddie want to do something stupid. He’s saved (or cockblocked) by Dustin knocking loudly again and yelling: “I’m going to break this door down now. Did you die in there?”

The worry is clear in Dustin’s voice and Steve perks up with a frown, reapplying the confidence from before as he yells back: “We’re just done. Don’t break the house, dipshit.”

“Just come out!” Dustin pleads.

“Yeah, I’m coming,” Steve rolls his eyes. Then he takes a deep breath and pushes himself to his feet, taking a moment where he leans against the sink for stability, before letting go and nodding to himself as he stands by himself.

It’s a bit like watching a sick transformation. Steve has put himself upright and now he’s rolling back his shoulders and putting his head up. A picture of easy confidence. The last part is the jacket that goes back on, alongside an easy grin.

Eddie watches Steve, armor back on, as he opens the door and puts a hand on his hip: “What was so great it couldn't wait any longer?”

And just like that he’s protective warrior Steve again, instead of the small bit of human Steve that Eddie saw in the bathroom just seconds before. If Eddie hadn’t seen him put on the mask and shift, he wouldn’t have guessed the amount of pain Steve must be in right now as he gets swarmed by talking children.

It makes Eddie wonder what other things Steve is hiding. If maybe, just maybe, Eddie has a chance with the other. The way Steve reacted to him talking gives him hope, but he knows this is not the time.

So, Eddie puts on his own mask, one he has been forced to embody and be comfortable, because anything else would be dangerous. Then he follows Steve out.

All of this can wait until after they’ve dealt with this Vecna creep. They just have to survive this and then Eddie can try and dissect Steve with all his layers. Then Eddie can figure out if there is a maybe between him and Steve.

Until then, Eddie will just watch Steve in fascination. Steve, who is somehow the craziest between all the running and hiding for his life and different dimensions filled with monsters

~~

A/N:

I quickly wrote this just to have something to post, sorry for mistakes it is late xp

#rr writing #tw: injury #stranger things #steddie #stranger things fic #steve harrington x eddie munson #steve x eddie #eddie munson #steve harrington #st season 4 #stranger things 4 #steddie fic