Chapter Text
“Only ten minutes to go, and the night is ours,” Robin declared.
Steve looked from her to the door, moving closer to it to peer outside and double check that no stragglers were coming to rent last minute movies.
So far so good. The parking lot remained blissfully empty, and the buzzing neon sign in the window was just begging to be turned off.
“Nine minutes,” Steve said. “I think—”
Just then, a screeching noise interrupted him and the quiet of the night. A van was peeling into the lot, coming to park only a foot away from the front door, diagonal across two spots.
“Oh for fuck sakes,” Steve groaned. “Can we have one night where we leave on time?”
Robin sighed. “Maybe they’ll be quick.”
“Anyone who’s an asshole enough to come in this close”—he pinched his thumb and finger together—“to closing time, is definitely not going to be quick. They’ll want me to read the back of the case to them and tell them what every single movie is about. As if I know.”
“I’d offer to stay and close up and let you go,” Robin said, “but you’re my ride home, so it looks like we’re in this together.”
“Beautiful.” Steve turned back to the door to see exactly who was about to come crawling out of the loser-cruiser. Whoever it was exiting the passenger side wasn’t tall enough to clear the door. Maybe it was a cute girl that would make the extra effort worth his while, or—
“Henderson?”
Steve recognized that curly-headed brat anywhere. But that wasn’t his mom’s van.
“Who the hell…” Steve muttered.
“Who’s he with? Who’s he with?” Robin chanted. “Guesses? Older girlfriend? Uncle?”
“Definitely not girlfriend. As far as I know, Suzie’s the same age…can’t drive. Could be uncle, but that doesn’t seem like an uncle’s ride.”
“Does he have a dad?”
“I’m sure he has one, but I doubt that’s him.”
“You have no imagination.”
“Either way, that little bastard is not renting a single thing. He can forget it. No way he comes in here this late and gets to leave with something.”
“He needs to learn his lesson,” Robin agreed. “We did tell him the last time he pulled this that next time we wouldn’t be as forgiving.”
“Exactly. It’s his own fault.”
“Unless he’s not here for movies,” she said, a worried expression crossing her face. “Maybe something’s wrong and he just wants to talk.”
That had happened before, so it momentarily had Steve concerned, but he got over it.
“Nah, look at him.” Steve gestured. “He’s smiling too much.”
“I’m telling you, he’s got an older girlfriend.”
The unknown driver turned off the headlights, leaving Dustin hidden by shadows as he waited.
Steve heard the driver’s door open and close, but he couldn’t quite make out who it was. He found himself anxious while the pair headed to the door, their low chattering barely audible. He took refuge behind the counter next to Robin.
“Hey guys,” Dustin greeted as soon as he opened the door. The string of bells attached to the doorframe clattered against the glass of the door violently.
When he saw who was at Dustin’s side, it all clicked into place. The boy had said he was part of a new D&D club at school, a club lead by an “awesome, totally cool badass with amazing hair”. Steve thought that sort of described him, but that was besides the point. He’d asked Dustin who exactly it was, and all he’d said in response was a cryptic, “you will see in time.”
He would have never in a million years guessed that who he’d be seeing was Eddie goddamn Munson.
And Robin went to school with them both, and she had never mentioned it. It was either a conspiracy, or she was extremely unobservant.
“No way,” Steve called out. “It’s less than five minutes to closing.” He glanced at Eddie once and immediately turned his focus back to Dustin. “I told you no more coming in last minute.”
“But Steve,” Dustin started, a pleading tone beginning to colour his words.
“Don’t ‘but Steve’ me, kid.” Steve pointed at him. “By the time your ass picks something out, it’ll be past closing. Sorry about your luck.”
“Oh come on, dude, this is life and death,” Dustin defended, hustling up to the counter.
Eddie followed leisurely, reaching them a moment later.
“No way. We already counted the register,” Robin said.
“You won’t even have to use money,” Dustin said in a rush, reaching to pull off his backpack. “I’ve got like ten coupons for free rentals. All you have to do is take the card and let me take a tape.”
“I don’t know,” Steve said. “Seems like a lot to ask. Doesn’t it, Robin?”
“Yeah, definitely seems like a lot to ask, Steve.”
Dustin threw his head back. “You guys don’t understand, it’s—”
“Life and death?” Steve smirked at Dustin.
“You know,” Eddie said, speaking for the first time, “correct me if I’m mistaken, but standing here arguing about it takes a lot longer than just…I don’t know, letting us rent the tape.”
“What he said,” Dustin said triumphantly, the contents of his backpack now spread around him. He clutched a crumpled coupon in his hand and slammed it onto the counter.
Steve and Robin glanced at each other.
“This is between you and me, Henderson,” Steve said. “Munson has no jurisdiction here.”
Steve looked to Eddie again, only to find his nearly black eyes already boring into his. Completely unreadable, although if Steve had to guess, he’d say that Eddie was pissed off. For the three years they’d been in school together before he graduated, Eddie had always seemed pissed off. It was sort of his thing. Along with tearing down pep rally posters, and disrupting basketball games by playing metal through the PA system. Delinquent.
“Jurisdiction? Are you crazy?” Dustin was starting to get heated. “We’re about to start our autumn campaign, and—”
“Don’t explain yourself to them, valiant one,” Eddie said. “They obviously don’t understand the sacred game.”
Steve snorted. It had been a while since he’d seen Eddie, but he still talked the same way. The only thing different about him was that his hair was a bit longer, and he had black liner around his eyes. Looked kind of weird, but good. Kind of. It suited him.
“Oh, I understand D&D all right, but what does it have to do with you guys renting a VHS?”
“None of your business,” Eddie said at the same time as Dustin said, “Research.”
Steve crossed his arms.
“And besides,” Eddie added. “If you truly understood D&D, you would understand why we need the tape.”
“Exactly,” Dustin said. “See, and we already know what tape we want.” He grabbed Eddie’s wrist and held it up to Steve’s face, so he could see his watch.
“9:58,” Eddie said without even looking. “Are you gonna hook us up with A Nightmare on Elm Street, or do I need to tell Keith that you aren’t serving customers. Because I will, and then your asses are grasses.”
Like Keith would do anything. The guy was a total space case.
Steve squinted at Eddie’s watch, his eyes flicking down a little further to the rings embellishing his fingers, and then even further down to his black, chipped nail polish. Way more rings than any one person needed. Didn’t he play guitar? Wouldn’t they just get in the way? And—
“Your highness,” Eddie prompted. “I’m about to turn into a goddamn pumpkin over here. What about you?” He turned his attention to Robin. “Have some sympathy for us mere mortals. All we want is to rent one little VHS. Can you find it in your heart to defy Harrington? Robin, isn’t it? Such a noble bird, very fitting for a beautiful creature such as yourself. What do you say?”
Steve raised his eyebrows. He’d hit on dozens of girls and never called one a creature. Did that work for Munson? Too bad he was totally barking up the wrong tree…
Robin smiled, but shook her head. “I am nothing if not loyal to my counterpart.”
Eddie’s shoulders slumped. “Admirable and pretty.”
Steve rolled his eyes.
“Come on,” Dustin urged. “I’ll do anything you want! Steve. Please! We need it.”
Eddie’s dangling wrist showed 9:59 now. He was curling and extending his fingers like they were claws. God, he was strange.
“Come on!” Dustin started jumping up and down. “I’ll clean your room! I’ll get some of those cookies you like. My mom just baked a whole bunch for our party! I’ll walk your dog.”
“I don’t have a dog.”
“Then I’ll get you one.” Then when Steve didn’t answer, “Two dozen cookies!” Dustin’s voice was starting to screech in desperation, a lot like Eddie’s van.
“Okay, okay. Jesus Christ,” Steve agreed.
Robin smacked him on the arm. “You’re weak!”
“Those cookies are fucking awesome,” Steve said. “I’ll give you one.”
“Make it two,” she accepted.
“But!” Steve pointed at Dustin. “I want one more thing or no dice.”
“Name it,” Eddie said without hesitation.
“Wait,” Dustin said, his smug expression evaporating. “Wait, no.”
“It’s too late,” Steve said. “Your fearless leader sealed your fate.”
“Uh oh,” Eddie said. “What did I condemn you to?”
“You gotta sing the song.” Steve held up his hands. “Them’s the rules.”
“Oh what song?” Eddie whipped his head to Dustin. “What song?”
“Steve. No. Please. Don’t do this to me.”
Eddie brought his hands up to his face in excitement, his rings glinting under the fluorescent lighting. “What song?”
“Go get your stupid tape,” Steve said, pointing vaguely in the direction he thought it was, “and then you’ll see.”
The ride back to Dustin’s house was heavy. Eddie took mercy on the kid once they pulled into his driveway.
“You know, your voice isn’t actually bad,” Eddie said. “I mean, definitely a low blow to make you belt it out like that against your will, but bright side is, we got the tape.”
“At what cost,” Dustin bit. “That was humiliating.”
“That’s what you get for being friends with King Steve,” Eddie said in a warbly voice while he wiggled his fingers. “Guy’s a douche.” Always had been, always would be. It was no wonder why he hung around with all the freshmen—they didn’t know any better. Although, Robin and him being close was an outlier since Eddie knew for a fact she was a band geek. Hmm. Maybe there was something else going on there, otherwise Steve wouldn’t be giving her the time of day. He never had before when he was actually in high school. All of his senior friends probably ditched him and now he had to slum it with all the peasants who were still in Hawkins, lest he be completely friendless.
“Easy,” Dustin said. “It was douchey to make me sing, but he’s not a douche.”
Dustin’s words broke him out of thought and made him aware that he was clenching his fist at his side. He hated that he let Steve get to him. They’d never even spoken, but they didn’t need to. Something about Harrington just rubbed him the wrong way. So cocky and coiffed like he thought he was hot shit, girls and guys hanging onto him and onto his every word when there was nothing but air between his ears. All he knew how to do was rip his shirt off and bounce a basketball up and down the court. Shallow.
“How could I forget,” Eddie said. “He’s your hero.”
“No he’s not.”
Eddie inclined his head. He imagined that sounded like a lie even to Dustin. “Well aside from the fact that you bring him up in conversation every chance you get, tonight, you insisted on coming with me even though Erica was perfectly willing, and I noticed you didn’t look at Robin once while we were there. Now, I’m shit at math to be honest with you, but I know what two and two equals. You have heart eyes for Harrington.”
“And just because you don’t think he’s a douche, doesn’t mean he isn’t one,” Eddie added. “He could’ve given us the tape as soon as we got there, but in his sadistic endeavour to embarrass you, they didn’t even lock up until quarter after.”
“It all could’ve been avoided.” Eddie shook his head. He was glad it hadn’t been avoided, though, because hearing Dustin sing was surely to be the highlight of his weekend. He would never admit that, though. Harrington did not need to be egged on.
“Do you think less of me?” Dustin asked.
As Dungeon Master, he should have said yes, but he didn’t have the heart to hurt him like that. He understood Dustin on a deeper level.
“Quite the opposite, in fact. You did what you had to do for the welfare of the party despite your fear, and that’s commendable.”
“Thanks,” Dustin said, his face brightening. “I mean, yeah, we needed that tape, so I really didn’t have a choice.”
“That is true.” Eddie ran a hand through his hair. “However… You did have a choice when you invited Harrington over to watch the movie he so begrudgingly allowed us.”
“What? He’s my best friend,” Dustin said. “He comes over all the time.”
“What you do in your alone time is your business, my dusty friend, but what you do on the party’s time is all of our business. Especially mine.”
“He won’t even show up. It’s already super late, and he said he had a date, or something…” Dustin trailed off and Eddie knew immediately why when a pair of headlights shone in his side mirrors and reflected back into his eyes like a thousand suns. The same car that was parked in Family Video’s lot only ten minutes before.
Eddie’s stomach flipped. Being around Steve made him nervous like he hadn’t been a long time. It was easy to forget the way he used to feel in junior year when Steve commanded the school now that he was a senior and had no one looking down on him. He remembered now like muscle memory.
And really, he cared very little about what people thought about him; they could call him freak or weirdo or loser all they wanted, but he knew their opinions were meaningless. Water off a duck’s back. Something about Steve made his opinion worth more, though, which made zero fucking sense because he was shallow and vapid, and Eddie knew that for a fact, but still... A part of him feared that Steve might think those things of him, and if Steve thought it, it might be true. He’d never heard Steve say anything to that effect, and he’d never attacked him like some of the other guys in his grade, but his silence was complacence, in Eddie’s opinion. And since Steve had the power to sway everyone’s opinion, his silence was worse than any of his minions’ actions.
“You were saying?” Eddie pursed his lips at Dustin. Steve must have run through his date pretty quickly if his evening was already free. Prick. Eddie debated just locking himself inside the van and refusing to go in and play nice, but he was in the mood for some Freddy and some serious campaign plotting. Horror movies made the best references for new, advanced monsters. Steve could fuck off.
“Evening, boys,” Steve said, tapping on the window with his knuckle. “We can start the movie now. I’m here.”
Yeah, he could definitely fuck off.