Two days after they failed to defeat Vecna, after Max died and came back, after Eddie died—and didn’t. Two days after they were forced to leave his body behind in the Upside Down because everything had gone to shit, a bright yellow pizza delivery van that looked like it’d been through its own apocalypse pulled into the Wheeler's driveway. Jonathan, Mike, Will, and El finally made it home to Hawkins with the help of a friend. On day three, Max woke up. She’d have a long road to recovery, but the doctors seemed fairly confident she’d walk again. Though, no one could be sure how much of her eyesight would return, if any. The same day, in a twist no one saw coming, Joyce showed up, fresh off a plane from Alaska after escaping Russia—yes, Russia—with a miraculously alive and mostly well Jim Hopper. And four days after the world both did and didn’t end, the ghost of Eddie Munson appeared in Steve’s living room.

This summer they were eighteen, part of the graduating class of 1999, on the brink of college, and finally old enough to be hired as full fledged counselors with paychecks and days off and everything. Not that it paid much, but Steve wasn’t in it for the money. He was in it for the love of the place. Sunset Lake Camp had become a second home to him over the last decade of his life, his real home, and the people there like family. Robin was mainly in it for Steve, excited at the prospect of getting to spend the entire Summer with him for once instead of the single session, two short weeks, she was used to—all her folks had been able to afford each year growing up. It was poised to be the best summer of Steve’s life. Then he met Eddie.

Against all odds, Steve Harrington saved Eddie Munson from certain death. And Eddie doesn’t think he’ll ever be able to forgive him for it.

“Fuuuck,” Eddie cursed softly, raising himself up to sit on the edge of the bed. “Okay, yes, I…” A thrill ran up Steve’s spine, anticipation already making him reach for the waistband of his briefs until Eddie’s voice, deeper than he’d ever heard it, made him freeze. “Wait.”

Along with the money, of course, came a change of plans for the day. After a quick stop at the bank to make the single largest deposit he’d ever made, Steve dropped Robin off at home, putting their mission to find gainful employment aside for the day. If they really were both leaving Hawkins, and Steve even sooner than her if he had anything to say about it, there really was no point anymore.

Was she serious? Steve swallowed a laugh, shooting her flat look and a single raised eyebrow.  “Okay, jeez, poor choice of words,” she mumbled, defensively. “But, you know what I mean. He loves you, of course he’ll agree to run away with you and live happily ever after.” “It’s not running away if we’re grown men, Rob.”

“Promise—me,” she growled through gritted teeth. “Eddie hasn’t even agreed to this yet,” he hedged, mostly just to rile her up some more. Scoffing dramatically, she fell back into her seat with crossed arms. “Oh, please. When has he ever been able to say no to you?”

GIF by meghanofdragons

Eddie’s eyes raked up and down his body hungrily, a low groan emanating from deep in his throat like a warning, “Steve.” “Tell me,” Steve said again, quiet as a whisper, as he let his fingers play along the hair on his lower stomach. He felt so exposed, but so safe at the same time under Eddie’s reverent, watchful gaze. “Please?”

Steve jumped back, shooting Eddie a sad reluctant smile before shouting back, in an effort to keep the little shit firmly on the other side of the door for just a few more seconds.  “Keep your shirt on, we’re coming!” He wished.   Eddie did look particularly wrecked, panting as he still leaned heavily on the small square shelves behind him, an obvious bulge even in his loose, slightly baggy shorts.

“You guys coming, or what?!” Dustin’s voice called out from just beyond the cabin door, much too close for comfort, interrupting their good morning kiss which had accidentally evolved into a toe-curling make out session against the wall of cubbies. Though, could you still call something that happened every time your lips met an accident?

“Tell me,” Steve purred, letting all the longing he felt leak into his tone, just as he would have made Eddie feel it through his kiss if he could have. He tossed the covers aside, revealing his mostly naked form, save for the thin white briefs he wore and the fresh bandages on his sides. “Talk me through it. What would you do to me right now, if you could.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” Eddie whispered, reaching out to hover his hand just above Steve’s cheek, warming it, and making the rest of his body shudder, suddenly aching with need. “Just because we can't touch the usual way, why would that ever mean it wasn’t real?” The impulse to surge forward and capture Eddie’s lips was intense, but Steve managed to hold back. This would be a delicate dance to learn, but he was sure they could figure it out together.

Steve sucked his bottom lip into his mouth. It was a fair thought, and this was uncharted territory, but even if it was just a crush, as Eddie had called it, even if they got together and one day it fizzled out, Steve couldn’t imagine regretting any time spent with him.  “The only thing I regret is not getting to know you better when you were alive. Not being able to touch you now... yeah, it kills me. And I know we could never have a normal relationship, that it’ll never be real, but I want this—you, in whatever way I can.”