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[It had been an awkward few weeks here for Felix as he kept to himself and tried to adjust to the little town of Hawkins, Indiana of the planet Earth. A planet he'd never actually been to in all honesty and now here he was, in the past, with nothing to his name, not even a birth record because he wasn't born yet. Or on this planet for that matter.
He kept a running tally of supplies he either pilfered or worked discreetly for and stayed hidden while he devised a plan to get himself situated. Creating a life from scratch was no easy feat, but this was not necessarily the first time Felix had had to do it. Point in case: he still went by a moniker rather than his given birth name.
Felix kept to himself by camping in the woods on the outskirts of town. It wasn't that hard for a survivalist like himself. He'd had worse situations while in the war and this was fine living by comparison to some months of that heinous conflict. The problem came when the rumors began to circulate. A small, podunk town like this spread rumors like wildfire to alleviate the boredom. It didn't take long for it to become the talk of the town: the monster in the woods. Some called it a ghost, others a shadowy beast.
The rumors were more lighthearted than the ones that circulated about murder and mayhem, hell and it's minions, but due to past events in the town's history the government authorities weren't taking it lightly. Felix had been avoiding the government agents for the past week now. They were bumbling fools compared to him and his military training in espionage and survival skills. He out-maneuvered them at every corner. It was almost laughable. If it hadn't been so annoying.
This evening as the sun began to sling low on the horizon and the shadows grew dark in between the trees, Felix heard them long before they got close. He'd set up alert-traps and at least one of them had gone off, making an awful amount of racket to inform him that he had visitors. He didn't like visitors. He gathered his things, put out his campfire, and disappeared into the shadows.
By the time the teenagers got to the encampment it simply looked like an abandoned campsite. The ashes of the fire were smoldering but only if one looked carefully enough to notice the dousing dirt was recently placed. The smell was impossible to get rid of on quick notice though. Felix was gone, out of sight, never to be found--but not far off. He watched as his campsite was set upon and his eyes settled on one figure in particular leading the tiny little pack.]
He kept a running tally of supplies he either pilfered or worked discreetly for and stayed hidden while he devised a plan to get himself situated. Creating a life from scratch was no easy feat, but this was not necessarily the first time Felix had had to do it. Point in case: he still went by a moniker rather than his given birth name.
Felix kept to himself by camping in the woods on the outskirts of town. It wasn't that hard for a survivalist like himself. He'd had worse situations while in the war and this was fine living by comparison to some months of that heinous conflict. The problem came when the rumors began to circulate. A small, podunk town like this spread rumors like wildfire to alleviate the boredom. It didn't take long for it to become the talk of the town: the monster in the woods. Some called it a ghost, others a shadowy beast.
The rumors were more lighthearted than the ones that circulated about murder and mayhem, hell and it's minions, but due to past events in the town's history the government authorities weren't taking it lightly. Felix had been avoiding the government agents for the past week now. They were bumbling fools compared to him and his military training in espionage and survival skills. He out-maneuvered them at every corner. It was almost laughable. If it hadn't been so annoying.
This evening as the sun began to sling low on the horizon and the shadows grew dark in between the trees, Felix heard them long before they got close. He'd set up alert-traps and at least one of them had gone off, making an awful amount of racket to inform him that he had visitors. He didn't like visitors. He gathered his things, put out his campfire, and disappeared into the shadows.
By the time the teenagers got to the encampment it simply looked like an abandoned campsite. The ashes of the fire were smoldering but only if one looked carefully enough to notice the dousing dirt was recently placed. The smell was impossible to get rid of on quick notice though. Felix was gone, out of sight, never to be found--but not far off. He watched as his campsite was set upon and his eyes settled on one figure in particular leading the tiny little pack.]
( For Steve, it's as if he never left Hawkins. That's how it had been designed all along, which should have been a comforting thought at the time. After all, how isolating it would have been to be the only one amongst his friends aware of the existence of orbs.
His regret should have been erased, but something went wrong. Instead, Steve is thrown back into 1986 before Spring Break, with no idea of what's to come. He is blissfully ignorant, living under the assumption that with the collapse of the Russian bunker and the destruction of the Mind Flayer, the Upside Down is no longer a threat they have to worry about.
Except there is another threat, apparently. It's not unheard of for urban legends to start for one reason or another. Which is exactly what Steve assumes it is when he and Robin decide to take matters into their own hands to investigate. Mainly because he knew if he didn't, Dustin would and he is sure as hell not letting that kid near anything potentially dangerous.
Which worked for all of about ten minutes, because of course Dustin ended up following on his bike anyway, and where Dustin went, so too did Mike and Lucas. So it was the five of them that reached the recently extinguished campfire. They don't get much in the way of campers, and certainly not this time of year, so Steve with his flashlight started investigating more thoroughly. All the while the hairs on the back of his neck start standing, as if feeling something familiar about this situation. Maybe it's just because his mind is equating this with him leading the party through the tunnels back in 1984, because otherwise what else could it be?
He's about to give up on this when he hears something. Maybe it's a twig snapping, but it puts him on edge and without giving it much thought, automatically reacts by grabbing his bat from the bag hanging off his shoulder, raising it to hopefully deter whatever or whoever happens to be nearby from attacking. )
Hello? Who's there?
His regret should have been erased, but something went wrong. Instead, Steve is thrown back into 1986 before Spring Break, with no idea of what's to come. He is blissfully ignorant, living under the assumption that with the collapse of the Russian bunker and the destruction of the Mind Flayer, the Upside Down is no longer a threat they have to worry about.
Except there is another threat, apparently. It's not unheard of for urban legends to start for one reason or another. Which is exactly what Steve assumes it is when he and Robin decide to take matters into their own hands to investigate. Mainly because he knew if he didn't, Dustin would and he is sure as hell not letting that kid near anything potentially dangerous.
Which worked for all of about ten minutes, because of course Dustin ended up following on his bike anyway, and where Dustin went, so too did Mike and Lucas. So it was the five of them that reached the recently extinguished campfire. They don't get much in the way of campers, and certainly not this time of year, so Steve with his flashlight started investigating more thoroughly. All the while the hairs on the back of his neck start standing, as if feeling something familiar about this situation. Maybe it's just because his mind is equating this with him leading the party through the tunnels back in 1984, because otherwise what else could it be?
He's about to give up on this when he hears something. Maybe it's a twig snapping, but it puts him on edge and without giving it much thought, automatically reacts by grabbing his bat from the bag hanging off his shoulder, raising it to hopefully deter whatever or whoever happens to be nearby from attacking. )
Hello? Who's there?
[Felix watched as Harrington searched the woods nearby. He waited till the young man had wandered too far away from his peers, till he was out of sight and alone. Then he made some noise to lure the searcher just a little further.
It was probably an ill move to strike so soon without a plan, without knowing the full stakes, without having tested the waters. He had no way of knowing how Steve would react to him. The orb had been clear about how the deal worked but Felix had broken his and demanded an alternate route; it had left him with forewarned consequences and a slew of memories he had refused to relinquish as part of his new deal. Now he had to figure out whether Steve had been affected or not. Did Harrington remember anything or nothing at all of his time aboard the Ximilia with its crew. The mercenary should have proceeded with more caution. But that had never been Felix's strong point. Act first, think later or never at all. Besides this could be hella fun for him if done right.
And maybe a little part of him refused to think what it would be like to be forgotten by the one person in his new life who had grown to mean so much to him. How that would affect him.
Felix chuckled softly as he saw the spiked bat lifted and held in Steve's grip as the young man moved cautiously forward. The ex-marine knew it would give him away but he couldn't help himself. The sight was just too funny for some reason. As Steve reacted to his laughter, Felix slipped back into hiding and carefully sneaked round the man while his attention was drawn to Felix's previous position. He came up close to Steve from behind and whispered.]
What are you going to do with that, huh?
[His voice was soft, and what's more it was muffled due to the black balaclava pulled over his head and covering his mouth. It was part of the reason behind the rumors--spotting him even briefly left much to the imagination. His face covered and his lithe body encased in the undersuit of his armor like a second skin of black and gray scales, it was no wonder the rumors described him as a demon of the forest.]
It was probably an ill move to strike so soon without a plan, without knowing the full stakes, without having tested the waters. He had no way of knowing how Steve would react to him. The orb had been clear about how the deal worked but Felix had broken his and demanded an alternate route; it had left him with forewarned consequences and a slew of memories he had refused to relinquish as part of his new deal. Now he had to figure out whether Steve had been affected or not. Did Harrington remember anything or nothing at all of his time aboard the Ximilia with its crew. The mercenary should have proceeded with more caution. But that had never been Felix's strong point. Act first, think later or never at all. Besides this could be hella fun for him if done right.
And maybe a little part of him refused to think what it would be like to be forgotten by the one person in his new life who had grown to mean so much to him. How that would affect him.
Felix chuckled softly as he saw the spiked bat lifted and held in Steve's grip as the young man moved cautiously forward. The ex-marine knew it would give him away but he couldn't help himself. The sight was just too funny for some reason. As Steve reacted to his laughter, Felix slipped back into hiding and carefully sneaked round the man while his attention was drawn to Felix's previous position. He came up close to Steve from behind and whispered.]
What are you going to do with that, huh?
[His voice was soft, and what's more it was muffled due to the black balaclava pulled over his head and covering his mouth. It was part of the reason behind the rumors--spotting him even briefly left much to the imagination. His face covered and his lithe body encased in the undersuit of his armor like a second skin of black and gray scales, it was no wonder the rumors described him as a demon of the forest.]
( it’s as if steve blinked and found himself in hawkins again — actually, no, that’s exactly what happened. one moment he was moping around the ship and the next he was staring down at nancy in his arms as she woke from her vecna trance.
the exact moment he’d left.
he’s lucky no one finds his over-the-top joy at nancy’s return to consciousness odd. to them, he’s appropriately relieved that she’s okay. they have no idea he hasn’t seen any of them for months with no hope of ever seeing them again.
the next moments are a whirlwind. he sits rigidly next to eddie on the couch as nancy recounts her experience with vecna. they steal some poor couple's winnebago. they head to the war zone to buy guns and clothes and whatever else they need for this half-baked plan. steve's thoughts undulate between two things the entire drive — that they have to do better this time, and that he needs to talk to eddie alone. he hasn't picked up on any cues that this is his eddie, but that might not mean anything. or it might mean everything.
when they reach their destination, it occurs to steve that this might be the only chance he really has to be alone with eddie, so when the others try to drag him in, too, he staunchly refuses with a sweeping gesture from his head to his toes. )
You think I can go in there looking like this? Come on. Just grab me some shoes, alright? ( he’s actually pretty sure a place like the war zone doesn’t give two shits if you walk in barefoot and shirtless, but that doesn't matter. he makes sure everyone’s out of the winnebago and the door is shut tight before he finally spins around to face eddie.
he doesn’t say anything at first, not as he slides into one of the seats across from eddie. he doesn’t know what to say. )
Hey. Um. You holding up okay? ( is what he ends up going with, but the look on his face says something more like please say you remember. please tell me you made it back, too. )
the exact moment he’d left.
he’s lucky no one finds his over-the-top joy at nancy’s return to consciousness odd. to them, he’s appropriately relieved that she’s okay. they have no idea he hasn’t seen any of them for months with no hope of ever seeing them again.
the next moments are a whirlwind. he sits rigidly next to eddie on the couch as nancy recounts her experience with vecna. they steal some poor couple's winnebago. they head to the war zone to buy guns and clothes and whatever else they need for this half-baked plan. steve's thoughts undulate between two things the entire drive — that they have to do better this time, and that he needs to talk to eddie alone. he hasn't picked up on any cues that this is his eddie, but that might not mean anything. or it might mean everything.
when they reach their destination, it occurs to steve that this might be the only chance he really has to be alone with eddie, so when the others try to drag him in, too, he staunchly refuses with a sweeping gesture from his head to his toes. )
You think I can go in there looking like this? Come on. Just grab me some shoes, alright? ( he’s actually pretty sure a place like the war zone doesn’t give two shits if you walk in barefoot and shirtless, but that doesn't matter. he makes sure everyone’s out of the winnebago and the door is shut tight before he finally spins around to face eddie.
he doesn’t say anything at first, not as he slides into one of the seats across from eddie. he doesn’t know what to say. )
Hey. Um. You holding up okay? ( is what he ends up going with, but the look on his face says something more like please say you remember. please tell me you made it back, too. )
( Well, at least the sound Steve hears is human. That tends to point strictly in the Not Upside Down related category, which is what Steve was hoping to find. But that still doesn't exactly ease his mind, because humans are just as capable of being horrors than legitimate monsters are.
His eyes follow to where he heard the laughter, but he can't spot him like this. It isn't until Felix is right up beside him that he realizes he's fucked. He shivers in what he tells himself is terror and not because of anything else.
He could spin around and see if he can somehow take the stranger by surprise, but there's no guarantee that Felix isn't armed. He's more likely to get himself injured in the process, and he has too many people to protect right now. )
Well, I had planned on using it to ward off anything that tried to get too close, but I guess I didn't account for, uh, well, this.
( His voice has a worried edge to it, and is made all the worse by the chattering of his teeth, considering how cold Indiana can get in the winter. )
Who are you and what are you doing in the middle of the woods?
His eyes follow to where he heard the laughter, but he can't spot him like this. It isn't until Felix is right up beside him that he realizes he's fucked. He shivers in what he tells himself is terror and not because of anything else.
He could spin around and see if he can somehow take the stranger by surprise, but there's no guarantee that Felix isn't armed. He's more likely to get himself injured in the process, and he has too many people to protect right now. )
Well, I had planned on using it to ward off anything that tried to get too close, but I guess I didn't account for, uh, well, this.
( His voice has a worried edge to it, and is made all the worse by the chattering of his teeth, considering how cold Indiana can get in the winter. )
Who are you and what are you doing in the middle of the woods?
( by some miracle, eddie doesn't get thrown back to the exact moment he was pulled from. it's disorienting as fuck, but luckily he didn't get thrown into some alternate timeline so it's relatively easy for eddie to play along.
the shitty part of it all is not knowing whether it's just him here that's aware of what happened. did steve manage to get sent back as well? or was he being given a chance, now, to change his destiny? that would be pretty fucking cool, but it could be just as likely that this is meant to trap him for all eternity. maybe the captain found a way to torture him by making him go through this again and again and will use the negative energy or whatever it is.
until they get to the war zone, and instead of going inside, steve stays behind. that causes eddie's eyes to widen tremendously as he lets himself hope. this isn't eddie changing the trajectory, this is steve. )
Jesus fucking Christ, I'm hanging on by a thread, man. ( he wants to hope so much that this is the steve that's been with him on that damn cruise ship, but a tiny part of him reminds him that maybe this is the steve from his own timeline that also got sent back after eddie died. maybe this steve doesn't know how he feels at all.
so he plays it safe, for now. even though his hand is itching to take steve's right now, itching for some kind of anchor to ground him and reassure him that it's all going to be okay. )
How are you doing, though? Those, uh. Those look gnarly, maybe we should stop somewhere for some clean bandages.
the shitty part of it all is not knowing whether it's just him here that's aware of what happened. did steve manage to get sent back as well? or was he being given a chance, now, to change his destiny? that would be pretty fucking cool, but it could be just as likely that this is meant to trap him for all eternity. maybe the captain found a way to torture him by making him go through this again and again and will use the negative energy or whatever it is.
until they get to the war zone, and instead of going inside, steve stays behind. that causes eddie's eyes to widen tremendously as he lets himself hope. this isn't eddie changing the trajectory, this is steve. )
Jesus fucking Christ, I'm hanging on by a thread, man. ( he wants to hope so much that this is the steve that's been with him on that damn cruise ship, but a tiny part of him reminds him that maybe this is the steve from his own timeline that also got sent back after eddie died. maybe this steve doesn't know how he feels at all.
so he plays it safe, for now. even though his hand is itching to take steve's right now, itching for some kind of anchor to ground him and reassure him that it's all going to be okay. )
How are you doing, though? Those, uh. Those look gnarly, maybe we should stop somewhere for some clean bandages.
Yeah, I'm good.
( steve answers too quickly and glances down at his filthy, bloody bandages with a grimace, so his reassurance probably isn't all that convincing. the pain had been something like background noise this entire time but now that he's actually focusing on the bites, he remembers how bad they actually hurt.
but he devises a plan to suss out whether or not eddie remembers the ship right then and there. it’s messy. it really isn’t all that clever. it’ll be kind of weird to try and explain away if eddie doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
it’s also the best steve’s got right now, so he’s going for it. )
Actually, there's this girl who works at the pharmacy, maybe she can help out. Her name’s Clarke. You know her?
( steve answers too quickly and glances down at his filthy, bloody bandages with a grimace, so his reassurance probably isn't all that convincing. the pain had been something like background noise this entire time but now that he's actually focusing on the bites, he remembers how bad they actually hurt.
but he devises a plan to suss out whether or not eddie remembers the ship right then and there. it’s messy. it really isn’t all that clever. it’ll be kind of weird to try and explain away if eddie doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
it’s also the best steve’s got right now, so he’s going for it. )
Actually, there's this girl who works at the pharmacy, maybe she can help out. Her name’s Clarke. You know her?
Did I indicate in any way that we were gonna take this as a question for a question? [He leaned in marginally closer.] Because I believe I'm the one in charge here.
[For emphasis he poked Steve in the back with two fingers almost as if he were holding a gun. But if the kid fell for that he might be disappointed. On the other hand, if he didn't cooperate Felix might still be disappointed. Impressed, but disappointed. As it was currently the mercenary was faintly proud of the younger man for keeping his cool. Although the chattering teeth did ruin some of that effect. He almost wanted to laugh but that would either ruin his effect of intimidation or make him sound insane.
As Felix spoke his next words he reached around Steve to grab at the bat's grip, attempting to gently pry it from Harrington's hands while he was being compliant. Again, emphasizing that he was in charge here and felt nothing in this tricky encounter.]
Why do you want to know? What are you doing out here? Isn't it past your bedtime or something, kid?
[For emphasis he poked Steve in the back with two fingers almost as if he were holding a gun. But if the kid fell for that he might be disappointed. On the other hand, if he didn't cooperate Felix might still be disappointed. Impressed, but disappointed. As it was currently the mercenary was faintly proud of the younger man for keeping his cool. Although the chattering teeth did ruin some of that effect. He almost wanted to laugh but that would either ruin his effect of intimidation or make him sound insane.
As Felix spoke his next words he reached around Steve to grab at the bat's grip, attempting to gently pry it from Harrington's hands while he was being compliant. Again, emphasizing that he was in charge here and felt nothing in this tricky encounter.]
Why do you want to know? What are you doing out here? Isn't it past your bedtime or something, kid?
( at first, it doesn't seem like there is any sort of tell that this steve knows everything eddie has been through. he sticks to a neutral expression even though he feels as if he's hanging by a thread.
but then steve mentions clarke and eddie's head snaps to the side, eyes fixed on steve's to try and suss out if he heard that correctly. no fucking way. )
Clarke...Griffin? ( eddie supplies with wide, hopeful yet concerned eyes. he wants to believe that this is his steve, but he's careful not to give himself away, lest he be just making himself look insane, or cursed by vecna. )
but then steve mentions clarke and eddie's head snaps to the side, eyes fixed on steve's to try and suss out if he heard that correctly. no fucking way. )
Clarke...Griffin? ( eddie supplies with wide, hopeful yet concerned eyes. he wants to believe that this is his steve, but he's careful not to give himself away, lest he be just making himself look insane, or cursed by vecna. )
( and that's all it takes. the carefully constructed wall steve had built in an attempt to keep up this façade comes crumbling down and he's closing the space between them, moving to join eddie where he sits. )
You remember, ( he manages before he's pulling eddie into a desperate kiss. he'd just spent the last two weeks in a miserable spiral, positive that eddie was lost and suffering and there was nothing he could do to save him. now here they are, with a second chance and no explanation as to why. this shouldn't even be possible.
you can never go home, they'd said. you can never go home because you'd never left it. if you even tried, you'd be obliterated. steve had been filled with a hopelessness like he'd never known these past two weeks. and now...
he breaks the kiss just so he can get a look at eddie properly, his hands cupping either side of eddie's face as he looks him over. they're both filthy. they smell. it's definitely a far cry from their cushy existence on the ship, torture aside.
steve doesn't think he's ever been happier. )
You were gone. I thought he sent you to the Nothing. I thought — ( he stops, too choked up to continue. he doesn't want to cry, not when the others could come bursting back in at any moment, but he'd been so certain he would never see eddie again. this whole thing is a risk they're going to have to get used to but steve can't part from eddie just yet. he wraps his arms around him tight, buries his face in eddie's neck, and allows himself to shed a few tears of relief, just this once. )
You remember, ( he manages before he's pulling eddie into a desperate kiss. he'd just spent the last two weeks in a miserable spiral, positive that eddie was lost and suffering and there was nothing he could do to save him. now here they are, with a second chance and no explanation as to why. this shouldn't even be possible.
you can never go home, they'd said. you can never go home because you'd never left it. if you even tried, you'd be obliterated. steve had been filled with a hopelessness like he'd never known these past two weeks. and now...
he breaks the kiss just so he can get a look at eddie properly, his hands cupping either side of eddie's face as he looks him over. they're both filthy. they smell. it's definitely a far cry from their cushy existence on the ship, torture aside.
steve doesn't think he's ever been happier. )
You were gone. I thought he sent you to the Nothing. I thought — ( he stops, too choked up to continue. he doesn't want to cry, not when the others could come bursting back in at any moment, but he'd been so certain he would never see eddie again. this whole thing is a risk they're going to have to get used to but steve can't part from eddie just yet. he wraps his arms around him tight, buries his face in eddie's neck, and allows himself to shed a few tears of relief, just this once. )
( If there is any disappointment here from Steve, it's pointed towards himself. Maybe he really had bit off more than he could chew here, but it's not like he could rely on the police officers left in the force to evaluate this problem since they didn't know about the Upside Down. With Hopper gone, with Joyce across the country, it fell on him to keep everyone safe.
And now look at him, he's gone and probably got himself killed. He feels the fingers at his back, and shrinks in defeat, not pausing to consider if those felt like the barrel of a gun or someone faking him out. If he just thought a little bit more he might be able to compare it to the time he actually did have a gun pressed into his back. )
First of all, I'm not a kid, I'm nineteen. And what am I doing here? Making sure you're not terrorizing my kids, that's what.
( He does let Felix take the bat from him, though. He's not that stupid, even if a small part of him maybe does have a death wish. As if something is missing from his life that he can't quite put a finger on. )
So what, you gonna kill me now? They're gonna find you eventually, probably even faster if you kill me.
And now look at him, he's gone and probably got himself killed. He feels the fingers at his back, and shrinks in defeat, not pausing to consider if those felt like the barrel of a gun or someone faking him out. If he just thought a little bit more he might be able to compare it to the time he actually did have a gun pressed into his back. )
First of all, I'm not a kid, I'm nineteen. And what am I doing here? Making sure you're not terrorizing my kids, that's what.
( He does let Felix take the bat from him, though. He's not that stupid, even if a small part of him maybe does have a death wish. As if something is missing from his life that he can't quite put a finger on. )
So what, you gonna kill me now? They're gonna find you eventually, probably even faster if you kill me.
Jesus, you're not even twenty yet?
[You're making him feel old here, Steve. Also a bit like a cougar. Could guys be cougars? Fuck. He didn't want to think about what the male version of that might be called.
He almost laughed again at the rest of what Harrington said. He refrained again for the same reasoning though. Instead, he took the bat and hooked it under Harrington's chin, gently prodding with it as he took a step back, forcing Steve to turn with the motion of the bat or get spiked on one of the nails. His choice but Felix hoped for the smart move. So far Harrington had been quite compliant.]
Kill you? Come on, Stevie boy, don't talk like that. I'm not going to kill you. That would just be disappointing...
[You're making him feel old here, Steve. Also a bit like a cougar. Could guys be cougars? Fuck. He didn't want to think about what the male version of that might be called.
He almost laughed again at the rest of what Harrington said. He refrained again for the same reasoning though. Instead, he took the bat and hooked it under Harrington's chin, gently prodding with it as he took a step back, forcing Steve to turn with the motion of the bat or get spiked on one of the nails. His choice but Felix hoped for the smart move. So far Harrington had been quite compliant.]
Kill you? Come on, Stevie boy, don't talk like that. I'm not going to kill you. That would just be disappointing...
( Steve rolls his eyes at that. Granted, he doesn't yet realize that Felix knows who he is, has met him before. That the two had managed to become close in the face of such a strange hardship as being stuck on a space station together.
He's about to protest when he goes cold, freezing in place. Stevie boy. How the fuck? )
You know my name.
( The way he says it, it's clear there's fear behind his words. Is Felix with the Russians maybe? Or with the lab, it's possible, they managed to create a fake body to fake Will Byers's death. )
How do you know my name?
He's about to protest when he goes cold, freezing in place. Stevie boy. How the fuck? )
You know my name.
( The way he says it, it's clear there's fear behind his words. Is Felix with the Russians maybe? Or with the lab, it's possible, they managed to create a fake body to fake Will Byers's death. )
How do you know my name?
( the moment steve pulls him into a kiss, eddie just immediately melts into it. when he realized he was no longer on the cruise ship, he had assumed the worst, that he had lost everything good that hat come out of that. not that he wants to give the captain any credit for what he and steve managed to build during their time together.
now eddie is kissing him back like both their lives depend on it. and while a part of eddie worries this is just his imagination, that he's going to wake up in the nothing or some bullshit, he is going to cling to this while he still can.
and blatantly ignore the fact that they still have to figure out how eddie is going to avoid the whole dying thing.
again. )
I'm here. Steve, I'm here, it's me, I'm real. ( he says it just as much for his own benefit as for steve's. he keeps a tight grip around steve, rocking them both a little bit gently as if that's going to calm them both down from their emotionally charged reunion. )
I can't believe it. How's this even fucking possible?
now eddie is kissing him back like both their lives depend on it. and while a part of eddie worries this is just his imagination, that he's going to wake up in the nothing or some bullshit, he is going to cling to this while he still can.
and blatantly ignore the fact that they still have to figure out how eddie is going to avoid the whole dying thing.
again. )
I'm here. Steve, I'm here, it's me, I'm real. ( he says it just as much for his own benefit as for steve's. he keeps a tight grip around steve, rocking them both a little bit gently as if that's going to calm them both down from their emotionally charged reunion. )
I can't believe it. How's this even fucking possible?
( steve is so overwhelmed by the rush of emotion he's been bottling up since finding himself back here in hawkins that he doesn't immediately clock what eddie's saying. but as he starts to come back to himself, eddie's words begin to register, and he has to ask himself — how is this possible?
obliterated. that's what they'd said would happen if he ever found his way back to hawkins. he'd be obliterated and that would be that because he isn't really steve harrington anymore. he's a copy set off on a diverging path from the original.
and yet, here he is.)
I don't know, ( he says at last, pulling back and squaring his shoulders as he wipes his eyes with the back of one hand. the others could come bursting back in at any moment, he reminds himself. as difficult as it might be, they have to try to keep it together.
his gaze wanders over eddie as if he might spot something, a clue of some sort of indicate if this is real or just another trick of the ship, but there's nothing. just eddie. )
It has to be real. I talked to Nance on the way here and she was just — ( he shrugs. ) You know, normal. Like, there's no way he could fake this much, right? That would be crazy.
( he feels a little like he's grasping for any shred of proof that this isn't the ship. in reality, he's pretty sure the captain could construct whatever kind of world he wanted only to jerk the rug right out from under them again. )
Maybe he got, like, I don't know, bored or something. Sent everyone back. ( it could happen, he tells himself. no — it did happen. obviously. otherwise they wouldn't be here. ) I mean, think about it. There's no other explanation.
( he states it firmly, with such confidence he almost believes it. )
obliterated. that's what they'd said would happen if he ever found his way back to hawkins. he'd be obliterated and that would be that because he isn't really steve harrington anymore. he's a copy set off on a diverging path from the original.
and yet, here he is.)
I don't know, ( he says at last, pulling back and squaring his shoulders as he wipes his eyes with the back of one hand. the others could come bursting back in at any moment, he reminds himself. as difficult as it might be, they have to try to keep it together.
his gaze wanders over eddie as if he might spot something, a clue of some sort of indicate if this is real or just another trick of the ship, but there's nothing. just eddie. )
It has to be real. I talked to Nance on the way here and she was just — ( he shrugs. ) You know, normal. Like, there's no way he could fake this much, right? That would be crazy.
( he feels a little like he's grasping for any shred of proof that this isn't the ship. in reality, he's pretty sure the captain could construct whatever kind of world he wanted only to jerk the rug right out from under them again. )
Maybe he got, like, I don't know, bored or something. Sent everyone back. ( it could happen, he tells himself. no — it did happen. obviously. otherwise they wouldn't be here. ) I mean, think about it. There's no other explanation.
( he states it firmly, with such confidence he almost believes it. )
[Felix paused and tilted his head to one side as he stared at Steve in mixed interest and curiosity. His beady brown eyes were the only thing visible beneath the balaclava and the undersuit of his armor. They held an unidentifiable emotion within them that may have looked suspiciously like disappointment--smothered quickly by white hot fiery anger. That, too, faded with a hard blink and eased into amusement.
He knew it was likely. They had all known in the end that undoing a regret would bring them back to the point where the regret could be undone, and leave them without memories of their time gathering the orbs. Felix also knew that there was some sort of price to be paid for breaking his deal, and maybe even an additional one for creating a new one. The orb had probably agreed simply for all the chaos the new deal would bring.
Felix knew all this and yet it didn't make this moment any easier to swallow. He hid his anger and disappointment (and hurt) behind the light of amusement, but beneath the shine of his eyes there was a world of repressed emotions swirling in the mercenary's head. He smiled beneath the mask, pulling the edges of it up slightly with the expression.]
Oh, I know a lot about you, Steve Harrington. Things that would make you blush, things that you'd never expect someone to know about you, things a stranger couldn't possibly know.
[But he wasn't a stranger. Hadn't been, at least, while they were stuck together on that space station. The problem now lay in how to prove that--or find another way to regain Steve's trust and interest. Start all over again. Fuck.
Felix lowered the bat. His voice dropped into 'that was just a joke, duh' range.] You work at the video store and, like any good employee, you wear a name tag. And I have a thing for names and faces.
He knew it was likely. They had all known in the end that undoing a regret would bring them back to the point where the regret could be undone, and leave them without memories of their time gathering the orbs. Felix also knew that there was some sort of price to be paid for breaking his deal, and maybe even an additional one for creating a new one. The orb had probably agreed simply for all the chaos the new deal would bring.
Felix knew all this and yet it didn't make this moment any easier to swallow. He hid his anger and disappointment (and hurt) behind the light of amusement, but beneath the shine of his eyes there was a world of repressed emotions swirling in the mercenary's head. He smiled beneath the mask, pulling the edges of it up slightly with the expression.]
Oh, I know a lot about you, Steve Harrington. Things that would make you blush, things that you'd never expect someone to know about you, things a stranger couldn't possibly know.
[But he wasn't a stranger. Hadn't been, at least, while they were stuck together on that space station. The problem now lay in how to prove that--or find another way to regain Steve's trust and interest. Start all over again. Fuck.
Felix lowered the bat. His voice dropped into 'that was just a joke, duh' range.] You work at the video store and, like any good employee, you wear a name tag. And I have a thing for names and faces.
( all eddie could think of was the possibility that the captain had made a grave error that let them go home. or he was full of shit the whole time. both are preferable to finding out this is just a new hell for them, a new form of torture.
it's still not ideal, though, because they're still faced with the impossible task of dealing with vecna, saving max, saving hawkins, and clearing eddie's name somehow. it's a damn shame he and steve can't just fuck off, but he adores those kids too much to abandon them now just to save his skin. just seeing dustin's face again broke his damn heart as he remembered being held by him in his final moments, before waking on the cruise ship.
and he would do it again. except now he has something to live for, a reason not to give up and sacrifice himself. )
I don't think this his all his doing. Sending us here, it feels like an accident. Do you think...they found a way to free us?
( it's a nice notion, anyway. he hopes everyone else was able to be freed. he might miss some of them, but so long as he's got steve here, that's really the most important thing, right? )
Of course, none of this matters if we don't figure out a way to defeat Vecna that doesn't end in my death.
it's still not ideal, though, because they're still faced with the impossible task of dealing with vecna, saving max, saving hawkins, and clearing eddie's name somehow. it's a damn shame he and steve can't just fuck off, but he adores those kids too much to abandon them now just to save his skin. just seeing dustin's face again broke his damn heart as he remembered being held by him in his final moments, before waking on the cruise ship.
and he would do it again. except now he has something to live for, a reason not to give up and sacrifice himself. )
I don't think this his all his doing. Sending us here, it feels like an accident. Do you think...they found a way to free us?
( it's a nice notion, anyway. he hopes everyone else was able to be freed. he might miss some of them, but so long as he's got steve here, that's really the most important thing, right? )
Of course, none of this matters if we don't figure out a way to defeat Vecna that doesn't end in my death.
( The moment Felix started blathering about knowing things about Steve, he felt the color drain from his face. A chill passed over him and he started to curl in on himself, as much as he could from a standing position. How would that even be possible? Did he talk to his former friends or something? Does he know his parents?
But then Felix points out where he works, and Steve relaxes a little. Although he hasn't seen Felix's face, it's possible. They get a lot of customers on a daily basis, and Steve isn't as good with names and faces. He's also had a habit of being completely oblivious outside of the occasional pretty girl that comes in and flirts with him. )
So you've been by the Family Video. Cool, cool, cool.
( His eyes strain to look at the bat, his fingers itching to pick it up again, when he feels a wave of something strange hit him all at once. Like that feeling of deja vu, where he swears he must have dreamt something similar to this once because that's the only explanation for why this feels so damn familiar. )
Well if that's all, can I have my bat back? I'll let you go since you're not...anyway just be careful man, yeah? These woods can be dangerous.
But then Felix points out where he works, and Steve relaxes a little. Although he hasn't seen Felix's face, it's possible. They get a lot of customers on a daily basis, and Steve isn't as good with names and faces. He's also had a habit of being completely oblivious outside of the occasional pretty girl that comes in and flirts with him. )
So you've been by the Family Video. Cool, cool, cool.
( His eyes strain to look at the bat, his fingers itching to pick it up again, when he feels a wave of something strange hit him all at once. Like that feeling of deja vu, where he swears he must have dreamt something similar to this once because that's the only explanation for why this feels so damn familiar. )
Well if that's all, can I have my bat back? I'll let you go since you're not...anyway just be careful man, yeah? These woods can be dangerous.
Yeah, maybe. ( he doesn't sound convinced. it feels odd that the issue would be resolved so abruptly, with no fanfare whatsoever. it feels even odder that eddie would land at an earlier point in his own timeline. what about chrissy? if they'd all been sent back home then, what, she just went back to being dead? that's pretty messed up. unbelievably cruel and tragic, yeah, which falls in line with everything else related to that ship, but still. why would eddie get a second chance, but not her?
it's terrible to think about, so good thing eddie changes the subject... to something just as bad. the color seems to drain from steve's face as he stares at eddie in stunned silence, then shakes his head. )
No, ( he says, voice sharp. ) That's not happening so don't even — ( he cuts himself off with a frustrated sigh as he scrubs both hands over his face, running them up through his hair. ) Look, nobody's dying, got it? We know what to expect, and we've got this asshole exactly where we want him. It'll be easy. In, out, done.
( the upside down will just be one very ugly smudge on the hawkins timeline. gone for good. )
Then you and me? We'll be free. We can do whatever the hell we want.
it's terrible to think about, so good thing eddie changes the subject... to something just as bad. the color seems to drain from steve's face as he stares at eddie in stunned silence, then shakes his head. )
No, ( he says, voice sharp. ) That's not happening so don't even — ( he cuts himself off with a frustrated sigh as he scrubs both hands over his face, running them up through his hair. ) Look, nobody's dying, got it? We know what to expect, and we've got this asshole exactly where we want him. It'll be easy. In, out, done.
( the upside down will just be one very ugly smudge on the hawkins timeline. gone for good. )
Then you and me? We'll be free. We can do whatever the hell we want.
( eddie doesn't feel very confident, but steve's insistence that they're going to find a way to defeat vecna, and that eddie will live to tell the tale, is almost enough to calm him down. he knows he won't believe it until he sees it, but steve does have a point. they do know what to expect. eddie has been through all of this before.
which means they just have to change things just enough to make sure they all win this time. )
I like the sound of that, free. ( he smiles, though there's still a sense of nervousness to it. still, he knows they have to try to get past all of this. if they do nothing, then the whole world will just end up going to shit. )
Right, well, there's still a bunch of shit that I don't know about. I only know what happened that led to my death, but I have no idea what happened with everyone else. I have no idea if you guys even succeeded in killing Vecna this way. What if we manage...Steve, I can't live in a world where I'm alive but you're not.
which means they just have to change things just enough to make sure they all win this time. )
I like the sound of that, free. ( he smiles, though there's still a sense of nervousness to it. still, he knows they have to try to get past all of this. if they do nothing, then the whole world will just end up going to shit. )
Right, well, there's still a bunch of shit that I don't know about. I only know what happened that led to my death, but I have no idea what happened with everyone else. I have no idea if you guys even succeeded in killing Vecna this way. What if we manage...Steve, I can't live in a world where I'm alive but you're not.
Hey champ. I know you're still thinking through the whole college thing. As an alumni that has donated enough to MIT for them to let me name a project B.A.R.F., I wanted to remind you that it's an option and the deadline for applications is Friday.
No pressure, though. Does that feel like pressure? NYU is great too. They have a garden named after my mother. She was into horticulture.
No pressure, though. Does that feel like pressure? NYU is great too. They have a garden named after my mother. She was into horticulture.
( On the one hand, it is nice to have someone who wants to see him go to a school where he'll be challenged and actually enjoy his time. As opposed to his dad, who had been trying so very hard to guilt trip him into just getting an MBA from Cornell like he did, using legacy as an in.
He really can't wait until he can move out. )
Okay, but now I'm dying to know, which came first, the acronym? Did you try to reverse engineer that name?
I'm thinking of staying local, though. ( Definitely doesn't have anything to do with a certain pact he made with a certain brunette back before they broke up.
Nor does it have anything to do with the city needing its friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. ) NYU looked really cool when I toured the campus, though, so there is that.
He really can't wait until he can move out. )
Okay, but now I'm dying to know, which came first, the acronym? Did you try to reverse engineer that name?
I'm thinking of staying local, though. ( Definitely doesn't have anything to do with a certain pact he made with a certain brunette back before they broke up.
Nor does it have anything to do with the city needing its friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. ) NYU looked really cool when I toured the campus, though, so there is that.
Of course I did. It took me two days.
Local is good too. [ Especially if it means he can keep better tabs on him and his slinging adventures. Not that he's going to admit it, that sounds creepy. Like he's more emotionally invested in a kid who superheroes after school than he should be. He's not Steve's dad. Cool mentor, maybe.] I'll have Friday add a dry cleaning pass to your internship package. No laundry. Trust me, that's going to save you hours.
Local is good too. [ Especially if it means he can keep better tabs on him and his slinging adventures. Not that he's going to admit it, that sounds creepy. Like he's more emotionally invested in a kid who superheroes after school than he should be. He's not Steve's dad. Cool mentor, maybe.] I'll have Friday add a dry cleaning pass to your internship package. No laundry. Trust me, that's going to save you hours.
Edited 2023-07-09 03:29 (UTC)
Two days? ( As if it didn't take him over two weeks to finally land on Spider-Man or his superhero alter ego. ) Not bad.
Dry cleaning, huh? ( On the one hand, he kind of wants to give the whole normal college experience a try. But also, no laundry? Kinda nice to think about. ) Well, I mean, if you're offering...
Dry cleaning, huh? ( On the one hand, he kind of wants to give the whole normal college experience a try. But also, no laundry? Kinda nice to think about. ) Well, I mean, if you're offering...
Nope. That's not happening either, ( steve insists, just as sharp as before, though he can't help but feel as if he's lying this time. it's not as if he has any intention of dying but if it comes down to it? he'd save any one person on this mission even if it meant sacrificing himself. he has a feeling eddie knows that, too.
still, with any luck it won't come to that, and after all they've been through they deserve one good thing. just one. ) Look, we've got this, man. That asshole thinks he's got Nance running scared, right? He's not gonna see any of this coming. Seriously. We just have to make sure you and Henderson make it out alright and we're golden.
( it's so, so easy to say. far less easy to believe. steve is terrified. )
I swear, Eddie. ( he reaches over to take eddie's hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze as much for himself as it is for eddie. ) Vecna's the only creep dying tonight.
still, with any luck it won't come to that, and after all they've been through they deserve one good thing. just one. ) Look, we've got this, man. That asshole thinks he's got Nance running scared, right? He's not gonna see any of this coming. Seriously. We just have to make sure you and Henderson make it out alright and we're golden.
( it's so, so easy to say. far less easy to believe. steve is terrified. )
I swear, Eddie. ( he reaches over to take eddie's hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze as much for himself as it is for eddie. ) Vecna's the only creep dying tonight.
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