Chapter Text
Eddie got used to listening in on the jocks conversations whenever he passed them in the halls. It helped him find people locked in lockers and let them out. Today it was the janitor's closet. “Yeah I locked that son of a bitch in the janitor's closet” Billy Hargrove had said. He was laughing with Tommy Hagen, because of course he was. Technically, there were two janitor closets in the school, but Eddie assumed it was the one closest to them at the time and spun around immediately to go find out. He walked up to the door and leaned his head against it.
“Anybody in there?” He asked. “I can pick the lock for you.”
“Um, yeah?” A voice replied with a sigh after a few seconds. It sounded like Steve Harrington, but that couldn’t possibly be true. Eddie picked the lock and opened the door. It was indeed Steve. Eddie squinted at him as he sat there on the floor. Steve stood up, gave Eddie a quick thanks and pushed past him out the door.
“Hey, wait, what the hell’d you do?” Eddie asked, but Steve just kept walking. He tried to think about it. When did the jocks start bullying each other? Steve had seemed, at least slightly nicer since last year, and he and Billy didn’t seem like they really got along like the rest of the jocks usually did but Eddie still just couldn’t believe it. They were supposed to be a tight nit group of bullies, but they were turning on each other? And Hagen was fucking laughing!? Tommy Hagen, Steve’s best friend!? Or ex best friend? He did suppose they had a falling out the year before.
Over the next week he kept a close eye on Steve, as much as he could anyway. Billy bumped into his shoulder a lot in the hallways, there was not even a chance it was an accident since Steve actively tried to walk around Billy if he noticed him being there like he expected it. But he never said anything and he never fought back. Something was definitely off. Guess the new kid was ambitious, Steve was the “king” after all, and if you want to be at the top, dethroning the old king was probably the most effective choice.
Eddie had made a reputation of standing up for the bullied. And Steve was definitely being bullied. However Steve also was a bully, a bullied bully, but a bully nonetheless. Morally he was supposed to step in, try his best to help. But Steve was a bully, and he didn’t help bullies, did he? Eddie decided to just keep watching him for another week. Steve wasn’t actually bullying anyone anymore, he even told one of the other jocks, Jason, to “knock it off” once. That was kinda a good sign? That way if he were to step in he wouldn’t be helping a bully, since Steve apparently wasn’t a bully.
More importantly, Steve also wasn’t eating at lunch, if he even entered the cafeteria. There were way too many days Eddie couldn’t spot Steve in the cafeteria, and he didn’t like it. But even on the days he did show up, sitting at the end of the Jock’s table he didn’t even get a lunch, he just sat there rolling his eyes of laughing every now and then. And the laughs never even looked real. Billy also threw food at him sometimes and Steve just brushed it off like he didn’t care. Eddie had to step in, even for someone like Steve Harrington he couldn’t ignore not eating. Damn it.
It was a Wednesday, on week three of stalking Steve Harrington, that Eddie decided he would act. Steve was not in the cafeteria, once again, so Eddie told his friends he had to go to the bathroom and he left the cafeteria. He walked around the halls looking for Steve. Eddie had a reputation of herding lost or hurt sheep but Steve Harrington, really? He had to be out of his mind. But the guy needed it. Or he needed food in the very least. Eddie sighed when he finally found him, he was sitting on the floor with his back leaning against his locker.
“Hey man,” Eddie held up a hand, “What’s so bad about the cafeteria that you’re hiding out here?” Steve looked up at him with annoyance written all over his face. That or he was just uninterested. “They’ve at least got food there.” He added and Steve sighed.
“So what are you doing out here then?” He asked and Eddie almost facepalmed for not thinking this through. He couldn’t just tell Harrington the truth, that he was looking for him. Or worse, had been stalking him for two and half weeks.
“I’ve been sitting too long, I desperately needed a walk.” Technically it wasn’t too big of a lie? It was definitely nice being able to move as he looked for Steve. Sitting still was always pretty awful. “So, your turn, since I asked first.” Eddie sat down across from Steve, and leaned against the lockers on the other side of the hall. Steve dropped his head into his knees.
“I’m just not really that hungry, so what’s the point in sitting in there?”
“Hanging out with your friends?” Eddie suggested. And he heard Steve let out a quiet and sarcastic laugh he knew he wasn’t supposed to be aware of. That confirmed his suspicions about the jocks outlawing him. Great. Yeah, Eddie definitely needed to be involved.
“Yeah, I guess, but they won’t miss me much for one day.” Steve shrugged and lifted his head to smile at Eddie like it was a joke.
“Right, except, you haven’t sat in the cafeteria for a week.” Eddie responded as casually as he could manage and watched Steve’s eyes widen. He almost looked scared to be called out on it.
“Stalking me, Munson?” Steve raised an eyebrow at him, and adjusted his face to look teasing.
“I wouldn’t call it stalking, I don’t follow you around.” Which was a complete lie, but Eddie smirked back at Steve regardless. Steve was struggling to keep his face calm. Eddie would find it funny if he wasn’t officially worried about him. Damn it Harrington. He took a deep breath. “Look man, I sure as hell don’t like you but I’ve kinda made it my mission here to help out the bullied and you’re being bullied.” Steve laughed.
“Drop it, I’m fine.” He smiled back at Eddie, almost sincerely if only Eddie hadn’t had so much practice recognizing fake smiles and Steve hadn’t used the word fine, the word of bullshit.
“Yeah that’s bullshit,” Steve wrapped his arms around his knees but Eddie continued, “Nobody fine ever actually says they’re fine. In fact, I’m pretty sure there’s an acronym for it going around? Freaked out, insecure, neurotic, emotional? I don’t know the definition of neurotic but, yeah.”
“Yeah, well, I’m actually fine.” Steve scoffed and rolled his eyes. Perfect, the guy he was trying to help was now annoyed with him.
“Whatever man, I’ll see you around.” Eddie stood up and walked away. He headed back to the cafeteria but the bell rang the second he got there so he didn’t eat either that day, just his luck.
He decided it was probably best to leave Harrington alone for at least a week, he didn’t want to push him away after making literally no progress and have it get worse without him being able to help. But that next Tuesday he watched Billy shove Steve into the lockers as he passed and decided that he’d end it a day early and walked over to Steve.
“You good?” He asked, looking him over.
“I’m fine.” Steve replied. “Or good, or whatever people who are actually fine say.”
“Right. Just- right.” Eddie sighed and kept walking. This was probably going to be his hardest mission.
That Friday he tried again since Steve didn’t show up to lunch, again. This time he told his friends he was helping a lost sheep before he left with his food, they all rolled their eyes but he ignored them. He’d been doing this ever since his sophomore year, they had to expect it. Steve was leaning against his locker again with his head resting on his knees and his arms wrapped around his ankles.
“Still fine?” Eddie asked.
“Yes.” Steve hissed without lifting his head.
“Okay, eat something then.” Eddie sat down in front of Steve and placed his tray between them. Steve slowly lifted his head. He looked disgusted as he stared at Eddie's chicken.
“I’m good.” Steve put his head back on his knees.
“When’s the last time you ate?” Steve’s head bolted back up, he looked almost scared again. But he quickly adjusted his expression into a smile.
“You know what Ed, I feel like you're forgetting a pretty big detail here, I am a bully. So you’re not ruining your vow to help the bullied or whatever by ignoring all this, okay? Cause I am a bully.” Steve snapped at him.
“Yeah, here’s the problem with that, Stevie,” He threw in the nickname out of spite, since Steve had called him ‘Ed.’ “You were a bully, you’ve been quite a bit nicer this year.”
“Oh, my bad, let me fix that,” Steve rolled his eyes, and then shoved Eddie's left shoulder lightly with a muttered “freak” before asking “That good enough for you to leave me alone now?” Eddie frowned back at him. He probably should’ve expected a response like that.
“Answer the question first, when was the last time you ate?” Eddie tried again.
“I really don’t get why you care.”
“You’re avoiding it.”
“Two days ago.” Steve grumbled.
“Yeah, sorry, one shove is not good enough.”
“It wasn’t just a shove.” Steve argued. And Eddie smiled.
“There’s nothing wrong with being a freak Stevie, it’s fun, I’d be more insulted if you called me normal.” Steve laughed at that, lightly, but not sarcastic. That technically was progress.
“My bad,” Steve shoved Eddie again, even lighter that time. “Normie.” Eddie laughed.
“Aww sweetheart, now you’re just trying too hard.” And Steve laughed too. That was good, he might have actually dented a wall that time. Steve shook his head and took the apple off Eddie’s tray and took a bite. He definitely dented a wall.
“Is that good?”
“Yeah, thanks.” Eddie smiled at him. “You know, you could sit at my table if you’re just avoiding Billy.” Was that too much? It was only a dent. But Steve nodded. Not ruined, good. Steve ate the whole apple and Eddie devoured his chicken and mashed potatoes before the bell rang. “I’ll see you around, gotta return this to the cafeteria” he gestured to his tray before grabbing it and standing up. “Bye Harrington!” Eddie waved with his free hand and gave the boy a smile before walking off.
On Monday Steve did walk into the cafeteria and over to his table. Eddie realized he probably should have warned his friends but he didn’t really think Steve would show up. But, he did, and the rest of the table all shot him worried looks before turning their heads back to Steve, the jock, ex bully, who had sat down at their table of freaks. With all their eyes on him Steve looked a bit uncomfortable. Damn it, he really should have warned them.
“What the hell?” Gareth asked.
“Guys, this is Steve Harrington.” Eddie smiled at his friends.
“Yeah we know.” Jeff snapped back.
“Yeah,” Eddie placed his elbow on the table and pressed his face into his hand.
“I-I can go,” Steve stuttered.
“No, you’re fine.” Eddie grumbled before looking back up at his friends, “He’s the sheep.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Gareth sighed.
“Yeah, I’m gonna go.” Steve stood up but Gareth, who he had sat next to, grabbed his sleeve.
“If Eddie’s cool with you, we’re all cool with you, sit.” Gareth tugged lightly on Steve’s sleeve and Steve sat back down. “But I swear to god if you hurt him I’ll kill you.” He added, lot letting go of Steve’s sleeve.
“Got it.” Steve nodded and gave Gareth a thumbs up, which left Gareth with a confused and annoyed look. He rolled his eyes as he let go of Steve’s sleeve.
“So, back to Hellfire,” Jeff looked at Eddie, “What were you saying about postponing!?” He continued, swinging his arms out as much as could while still leaving his elbows on the table. He even widened his eyes for empathies. Eddie’s smile dropped.
“Oh, right, I almost forgot. Yeah Mrs. Click said we couldn’t use the Drama room this week because she’s having her class do a presentation and doesn’t want anything messed up, so we’re going to have to wait till next week.”
“Oh, fuck.” Gareth dropped his head onto the table, then looked back up at Eddie. “Yeah, we’re re-enacting some stupid historical event.” Gareth mocked the two last words before dropping his head onto the table, again. The thump his head made was louder than the first one despite it being less of a drop. Steve was staring at him with a concerned expression. Daniel laughed lightly, whether at Gareth's pain or Harrington's face Eddie couldn’t tell.
“You okay?” Steve asked, poking Gareth’s shoulder.
“Mhm.” Gareth muttered, not lifting his head.
“Well, uh, you guys could use my house if you want?” Steve offered. Gareth lifted his head off the table and they all stared at Steve silently with wide eyes. “So you don’t have to postpone.” Steve added, rubbing the back of his neck. “Uh, what’d you do anyway?”
“Wow, invited over before he even knew what he was getting into.” Jeff laughed. “We play D&D dude. Dungeons and Dragons.” Steve nodded. “Do you even know what that is?”
“Yeah, some nerd game where you fight monsters like the demogorgon.”
“I love how he says ‘nerd game’ like an insult and then correctly names a monster like he knows what he’s talking about.” Gareth laughed.
“The kids I babysit play it.”
“Ah, defensive. It’s okay if you’re a secret nerd Steve, we won’t judge, we’re all nerds.” Gareth teased. Eddie expected that to be the moment he decided none of this was worth it and storm off but Steve smiled just back at Gareth, like he wasn’t insulted.
“No, I’ve never played. Not that Dustin hasn’t tried to get me to.” Steve sighed. “They just talked about that one a little bit and I guess I remembered.” He shrugged.
“Alright.” Jeff nodded. “Are we still invited over?”
“Yeah, of course.” Steve smiled at him. Jeff’s eyes widened again.
“Really? It’s just that most people think it’s the devils game, there’s like articles about it and everything, and no offense but I doubt your parents are any different.”
“Yeah, probably, but they left for a two week trip a week ago so they won’t be here all week, so whatever day works for you guys is fine by me.”
“Wednesday. At four.” Eddie replied.
“Great.”