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Steve is laying in Dustin’s arms, blood flowing from giant bite marks.
It’s the first time he’s been at peace in a long time.
Steve ignores Dustin’s cries of anguish, ignores the prodding hand all over his body trying to stop the river of blood.
He’s going to die.
He begins to smile.
“Dustin.”
The word is no more than a gasp out of Steve’s mouth.
And even when Dustin looks down at him with the most heartwrenching eyes, Steve’s smile doesn’t drop.
“Steve! Steve, you’re gonna be okay-“
“I get to tell him”
The sentence takes everything coming out of him but Steve’s face is absolutely drenched in love as he says it.
Love for the curly haired guitar player.
The one who got away.
But Steve's gonna catch up to him.
“Steve, Steve you're not making any sense! Tell who-“
“Eds.”
The name is spoken like a prayer.
Steve doesn’t notice everyone going quiet, doesn’t notice Dustin’s bewildered expression that quickly turns into gut wrenching realization.
Doesn’t notice Robin's face of heartbreak and dawning understanding.
“I’m gonna see him.”
Steve also ignores the way that it’s getting harder to speak, ignores the blood coming out when he coughs. Ignores the slurring of his words.
“Ima get to love him.”
Dustin’s sobs turn into screams, screams for losing the two people he believed where his parents.
Robin's quiet tears turn into murmured apologies into Steve’s hand, for not understanding sooner.
Steve just smiles.
There’s a smile on his face when the TV screen finally goes black.
As the static fades nothing matters.
Not as he holds out his hand, heart filled with hope to find the ring covered match.
~~~
They find Eddie 18 months later.
They find him curled into a little ball, hiding in the upside down version of the radio station.
There’s sobbing, there’s laughter, lots of hugs.
And even Eddies laughing like a maniac with the brightest smile ever plastered on his face. He gives Dustin a noogie when they finally meet again.
It’s the first time Dustin has smiled in months.
They walk back to the radio station, happy for the first time in forever.
Eddie notices the change pretty quickly.
He’s an observant guy.
He notices the way Henderson can’t seem to look at him for longer than five seconds.
He notices the way that everyone seems to have a thunderstorm above their heads, their smiles bright but still somehow wrong.
He definitely notices the lack of a certain polished mop of brown hair.
Eddie doesn’t question it though, he knows they’re gonna explain everything to him when they get back.
But his plans were set back when they got back and all the children suddenly exploded out the front door, all of them with blinding smiles on their faces.
Like his homecoming is the one thing responsible for their joy
But even as Eddie smiles, and cries, and hugs all of them so tight, he can’t stop thinking about why he didn’t see him along with them.
He’s probably just out on patrol, or a supply run.
It’s okay, no need to worry.
But then Eddie starts to worry.
They’re officially in the station now, everyone surrounding and coddling him. Making sure he has a cup of tea that’s the perfect temperature and blankets galore.
Ah and yes Vickie you have to check him out again for the 100th time.
After 30 minutes of coddling without explanation Eddie is done.
“Where’s Steve?”
He assumes that’s a good sentence starter, it can get them talking. Something to lighten the mood and finally get some explanation.
He also really want to know, so the question wont hurt.
He definitely didn’t expect everyone in the room to freeze.
Okay so not a good sentence starter.
Eddie’s still curious.
“I mean I thought he would be with the kiddoes since he is the residential babysitter.”
He continues rambling when he looks up and all he's met with are pitying stares.
“I mean basically their dad now, I'm the mom of course yall better not have stolen that title from me while I was gone-“
“Eddie.”
Oh.
Dustin is crying.
Matter of fact, almost everyone’s crying.
Shit did he mess up? I mean he knew he was rambling but maybe he hit a soft spot or-
“What? Why’d you say my name like that kid?”
Dustin is still looking at his feet, silent sobs wracking his body.
Eddie feels like he should go to him but suddenly a weight settles in his body that makes it so he can’t seem to move.
“Henderson.”
His voice is wobbly.
When did it get wobbly?
Dread sinks further in his stomach as he hears more people around the room break into tears.
He doesn’t expect the look of grief on Dustin’s face as he turns around to look at him.
That amount of grief shouldn't be allowed on a child's face.
Greif.
Oh.
Oh.
“Henderson.”
His voice is shaking hard with unshed tears and he knows the others notice when he gets pitying looks all around the room.
There’s so much grief in their eyes.
Eddie can’t move.
Silent tears pour over his cheeks as he stares out into nothing.
“Steves not on patrol, is he?”
Dustin’s face cracks into a million pieces, he can only seem to shake his head.
And even though Eddie knows he needs to hear someone say it.
He cant believe that he's - that Steve.
“Please, please just say it.”
The words are a soft whisper of wind in the thick air.
Dustin’s expression is nearly to the point of no return as he whispers.
“He only ever wanted to follow you.”
Everything seems frozen after those words.
Oh Stevie.
And that’s the moment when Eddie breaks.
He sobs, he screams, he cries, he mourns, he denies, he does it all.
He doesn’t notice the shaking pair of arms surrounding him.
He doesn’t notice anything except the beating of his heart.
The heart that only ever belonged to one.
“I never got to tell him.”
Dustin sobs.
“I only ever wanted to tell him.”
The arms around him squeeze tighter, trying to convey all the sadness, and warmth, and love.
“He only left so he could tell you too.”
Eddie's screams grow louder.
So they sob and grieve.
They love.
And the only regret Eddie will ever have is not being there.
For not being there on the other side of the TV screen.