[ It's really hard to maintain a mediocre of composure when Steve's looking at him the way he is, and tells him that he's desperate to save him. It triggers something in Eddie's chest, a dull ache that he can't quite name. He's sure it's just because Steve Harrington is a badass, just like Dustin had told him he was, and he takes anyone dying on his watch personally.

And apparently Eddie keeps failing him, regardless of what he does. Eddie thinks he'd be pretty desperate too. He tries to imagine having to watch Steve die over and over again and feels a chill move down his spine.

But then Steve says he's a hero and Eddie barks out a laugh before narrowing his eyes at him. ] I'm definitely not a hero, Steve. If you haven't noticed all I've been doing for three days is running. [ He'd run from Chrissy, from the law, from Jason, from the Upside Down. And now he was marching into it again so that he could stare Vecna straight in the face and then promptly run the other way at any sign of danger.

He sighs and shakes his head, reaching out to pat Steve on the shoulder. ] I already told you, you saved your own ass. The only reason I jumped into that lake after you was because the girls shamed me into it.

[ And okay, maybe that's not the whole truth either, but considering how worked up Steve is, he doesn't think he needs to give him any reason to doubt that he will run and hide and free him from this instant replay of his death. ] So, relax. I promise, we'll end it this time. No dying on your watch.