Work Text:
Dustin Henderson was a genius.
Kind of. There was that time he tried to keep a baby demogorgon as a pet.
So when Dustin started muttering "oh shit, oh fuck, shit shit shit" at lunch Mike and Lucas started to look around the cafeteria nervously. They were most likely going down with Dustin for whatever he did.
"What's up with Henderson," Gareth asked on behalf of the older Hellfire members present.
Mike pointed at the speedwalking dirty blond coming up the middle of the cafeteria. She had an orange c clamp in her hands, a red flannel tied over skinny jeans with a well worn Blondie t-shirt on.
Eddie Munson who was abnormally quite glanced back and forth between the siblings before speaking up as the older Henderson reached the group.
"Lady Viola what such pleasure has brought you here to our guild on this fine day"
" Dustin in your nerd opinion, is this how you pictured the Shire reading the Fellowship," completely ignoring her welcome, and plopping the c clamp down in the middle of the table.
Inside the clamp were indeed the four books that make up the Lord of the Rings trilogy and prequel. She plopped in a spare seat next to Jeff and Eddie waiting for the "certified nerd" opinion. Finally processing the greeting and taking note of the boys she now sat with.
"Hi Eddie, art project you know," the metal head had grown accustomed to her delayed responses. They weren't official but he had taken her on a few other dates since the arcade.
"Oh stopped by Family Video, Keith told me that he fired Kevin from the arcade for what you did," Viola spoke, glancing at how intense her brother and his friends were studying her handy work. Eddie flushed.
It wasn't his finest moment but if there was ever a girl he would take a punch for, Viola Henderson was definitely her.
"He clearly started it," Eddie replied with faux confidence.
Viola chuckled, remembering being teased about her comment. Them laughing and very obviously and shamelessly flirting at the pinball machine. Kevin approaching with his dimb accusations of Eddie bothering her, then swinging on Eddie. The date got cut short and Eddie ended up on the Henderson couch with a bag of frozen peas on his face. Steve had left a bit before they had arrived but Dustin wasted no time restarting movie night.
" I think it just needs more flowers," Lucas was the one to interject spinning the clamped books around to get a census.
"Shit Vi, this looks better than what I pictured reading the series," Jeff praised.
"It definitely looks better than the movie."
"Eddie you should have her draw scenery for you" Peter and Gareth chimed up.
"What about you Eds, you dig it," Eddie's eyes scanned over the art. He was honestly surprised that she read Tolkien to begin with.
"Sinclair is right, just a few more florals," he pointed at a few spots with his pinky, breath catching as Viola leaned into him to get a better view. She smelled so good, like a fresh baked apple pie.
Viola produced a pencil and brought the project closer to her sketching a few lines and veage shapes before turning back to the seven males.
Her marks were dark enough to see but not so dark that it would be hard to paint over. She had earned nods of approval and stood taking the books with her.
"Thanks nerds," she flashed a peace sign and proceeded to hurry back the way she came.
"Oh thank fuck, I thought she noticed I ruined her car seats," Dustin all but banged his head on the table. Dustin had in fact ruined her car's backseat this morning. His pen had busted in his backpack soaking through the bottom of the bag and leaving a huge black ink puddle. Granted his history textbook and copy of The Scarlet Letter was also ruined as well as his homework for said classes, but say la vie.
It was a week later that Viola approached the leader of Hellfire after school. He was about to open his van door when the eldest Henderson took pleasure of leaning on said door.
"I never properly thanked you for taking that punch for me," Eddie took the bait and leaned against his van. Eyebrow cocked, rubbing his jaw with a smile.
"No, I cannot say you did. Not even a kiss to make it feel better," his tone was light and playful.
"Here, I assumed you liked these types of books. They're very D&Dish, but I got to say its a pretty epic love story too," she handed Eddie a box. Wasting no time he lifted the lid and was greeted with the painted books he had seen last week. It was probably the nicest thing that anyone outside of his uncle had done for him.
"There's more," Viola urged him to keep digging. Next to the books were hand sculpted minis that looked alot like the Hellfire clubs characters. At the bottom of the box catching the little bit of light it was getting was an evenstar creation.
"Where did you," Eddie's voice broke with astonishment.
"I had Dustin explain everyone's characters to me so I can make them. You're the DM so its easier to give to you to give to them,"
Eddie held up the pendant, he knew he himself wouldn't wear it. Wasn't his style, but the act of giving it to anyone. He stopped himself, she probably didn't know the full meaning of gifting the evenstar.
"Oh that, I take a jewelry class down at Ball State one a week, dual credit class and all. It was my favorite part. Arwen and Aragorn. What did she say, 'I would rather spend one lifetime with you, than face all the ages of this world alone,"
Eddie's mouth went dry. Worse than any cottonmouth he had ever experienced. Viola Henderson had this effect over Eddie, one where his mind went blank, mouth went dry, and pulse went up. So not thinking it through fully, Eddie dropped the box, grabbed Viola by the neck, thumb bruising her cheek as he pulled her into a heated kiss.
When Eddie pulled away he rested his forehead against hers.
"Sorry I should have asked"
Viola giggled, pecking his lips again.
" Aragorn didn't say that"