Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Hey Munson! I’m talking to you!” The shrill voice cut through the night air like a knife. 

Eddie was walking home, thanks to his van being out of action. Usually he would have easily caught a ride with Billy or Chrissy but that wasn’t exactly possible right now. It wouldn’t have been so bad if not for the first drops of a summer cloudburst starting to fall.

The rest of his shift had been as much of a disaster as he thought it would be, with neither of his friends talking to him, and the Alpha pack (and Tommy) sneering at him every chance they got. Somehow, Steve stayed totally unaware of what was happening. He’d found himself a nice small table that he could sit at by himself and tap away on his phone while he enjoyed the rest of the game. He came to the bar order from Eddie just like he always did and it didn’t seem like any of the tension of the night had reached him at all. The guy was impressively disconnected from whatever was going on around him. Eddie half wondered if he’d ever get a chance to ask what kind of meditation techniques that took. It must be a huge reason why he was able to successfully remove himself from his high school self. Steve didn’t even notice when Tommy and Carol ended up all over each other in the corner. Eddie wouldn’t be surprised if their recoupling was thanks to bonding over holding a knife against his poor tires.

Eddie couldn’t decide if it was better to run or to stand his ground against the taunting behind him. He kept walking, but replied over his shoulder. Eddie didn’t stop to see if he knew any of their faces but he was sure he could name exactly who was there. 

“It’s raining, dickhead,” he called, crossing the street. “I’m not stopping to chat right now,” 

Eddie’s pace quickened as the cackles got louder. Closer.  

“Not even to your Alpha’s buddies ? ” 

The laughter from the pack grew. Eddie had just made up his mind and was about to start running when someone kicked the back of his shoe, sending him to the ground in a heap. His backpack burst open on impact. The contents scattered around him, a book skidding out sideways as he helplessly watched it come to a halt in a puddle on the side of the road.  

“You boys remember college?” one of them said. “We all got hazed, right?” 

“Oh yeah,” another agreed. “Real rough, too,” 

“That’s what happens to Alphas, Munson,” Carol was standing directly over him now. “They get hazed. They get pushed around and made tough . Maybe you should feel what that’s like? It might finally get into your thick skull that you’re not supposed to court one. Stick to Betas and Omegas, hmmm? ”  

“You jealous, Perkins?” asked Eddie from the ground. He wished he’d just kept his mouth shut when Carol’s shoe came up to rest on his chest. 

“You had your chance to end this,” spat Carol. “This is your own fault,” 

Eddie didn’t try to get up when Carol stepped away. He knew what was coming. He curled into a ball and tried to remember what Wayne told him when he was being bullied in elementary school. Protect your head and your neck, son. If you feel something break–  

Eddie didn’t get any further into the thought before a kick landed against his stomach. Another followed to his legs, and third against his back.  A sharp pain through his ribs tore a howl from his throat. 

There was yelling above him. The pack were egging each other on and laughing. One lone voice joined the fray repeating something that sounded vaguely like stop but Eddie didn’t chance looking up to see who. He could barely even hear them over the rush of blood in his ears.  His instincts were screaming at him to submit. The snapping and snarling of Alphas over him was sending his Omega into overdrive and he was fighting with everything he had not to just lie belly up, neck exposed, and let them have him. 

Eddie had a moment of clarity where he thought that this was really how he was going to die. He’d lie in his coffin with Carol Perkins’ shoe print on his chest. He wondered if they’d even bring his body back to the trailer. Probably not. Most likely he’d be left here, half dead or already there, for Wayne to come and find. 

The kicks slowed down as a bright light came rushing towards him. Eddie opened his eyes, sure that this was the tunnel that religious people always told him about. He was almost relieved. The blare of a car horn brought him back to earth as tires screeched a few feet away from him. The pack moved away quickly, shouting things at each other that Eddie couldn’t catch as he got his knees underneath him and scrambled away from the spot he’d been curled up in.

“Watch him! Watch him!”

Eddie looked around as best he could to see who was watching him, but everyone had their backs to him now. Typical, they beat the fuck out of him and then forgot about him immediately. 

Eddie stumbled to his feet as he watched the scene in front of him unfold. The taste of blood in his mouth was making him feel nauseous. The smell of Alpha in the air was making Eddie’s brain stutter. His Omega was screeching for him to run away and find a safe space, get back to his nest, leave . 

The car’s headlights lit the street up and framed everyone like a boxing ring. The doors were wide open, the keys forgotten in the ignition. 

Billy had a knife, that much was immediately clear by his stance. The pack that had been attacking Eddie split in half. Some ran away, the rest circled Billy. Even though he was outnumbered, Billy looked confident. Steve was standing away from them, moving slowly around the edges of the group and towards where Chrissy was frantically trying to get her phone from her purse to call the police.  The sleeve of his jacket was torn. 

“Thought you guys wanted a fight?” jeered Billy, daring the pack to come closer. Every time he shuffled forward, they all moved back. 

“Just walk away, Hargrove!” called Andy. “This isn’t for you!”

“Oh, but I want it!” yelled Billy, lunging forward. Andy cried out and stumbled backwards, avoiding the slash of Billy’s knife. More of the pack turned to run now, leaving just Andy, Carol, and Tommy and two others that Eddie recognised from the car the night they walked through Steve’s neighbourhood.

Billy backed away from them, pocketing his knife while they shot nervous looks at each other.

Eddie wiped his rain soaked hair from his face as he searched the ground for his ruined book. He still had the words RUN! NEST! HOME! LEAVE! on repeat in his head. His Omega had barely even registered Steve’s presence in its frantic attempt to convince Eddie to get out of there. He dropped back to his knees and fished it out of the puddle, letting himself cry as he watched the water drain from the pages. 

“Don’t fucking touch him!”   

Eddie looked up at the yell, just in time to see Tommy darting forward towards Steve. He was right next to Chrissy now, handing her his phone.  

Tommy connected hard with Chrissy and shoved her with enough force that she was flung backwards, hitting the ground so quickly and roughly that she bounced on contact. Her dress was instantly splattered with dirt, and Eddie would bet that her hands were scuffed from trying to catch herself as she fell. Chrissy yelped high and loud, immediately bursting into tears. 

“Dumb bitch,” hissed Tommy. 

Billy was on him in an instant.  

Tommy was pinned hard under Billy, who had his teeth bared and was snarling so much he was drooling. Tommy whined pathetically as Billy straddled him to keep him trapped. He wound his hand around the back of Tommy’s neck, scruffing him in place. Carol was screaming, trying to get one of the pack to attack Billy to save Tommy. None of them moved.

“What the fuck did you just call her?” Billy growled, barely an inch from Tommy’s face. Steve helped Chrissy up quickly. “Say it again, come on,” 

Tommy was frozen in fear.  

Chrissy ran to Billy and wrapped her arms around his neck from behind, trying to pull him away. Her dress was ruined, a clear rip up along one of the sides. Eddie felt an ache in his heart for her. She was so excited to wear it for the first time. The blocker patch on her wrist was falling off, torn up from dragging on the ground when she fell.  

“Billy!” she shrieked. “Please Billy no , come on, the cops are on their way, we need to leave,” 

Billy’s eyes were lit up like a fire as he glared down at Tommy, who was whimpering like a pup. The remaining members of the pack around them started to disperse the second Chrissy mentioned the cops.  

“You ever so much as look in her direction again,” said Billy, spitting down onto Tommy. “I’ll rip your throat out, you hear me?” 

Tommy nodded. Or, maybe Billy was using the hold on his neck to make him nod. Either way, when Billy stood up, Tommy scampered out from under him on all fours before straightening up and running away as fast as he could, him and Carol following his pack into the rainy darkness. 

Billy spun around and grabbed Chrissy, lifting her with one arm under her backside. It brought them face-to-face with Chrissy’s feet dangling a few inches off the ground as he started to walk back towards his car. 

Eddie watched as they left, the helplessness in his veins replaced by the steady thrum of loneliness. Billy was pressing her wrist to his chest, trying to wrap the bare skin in his shirt to hold the damaged patch in place. Billy was speaking too low for Eddie to pick up on what he was saying, but Chrissy’s trills were loud enough to reach him. The street lamps around them lit up yellow in Chrissy’s eyes as they went. She was crying and as much as he wanted to run after them, Eddie knew that he was at risk of Billy attacking him. His inner Alpha was clearly in control now, and knowing that the reason she was hurt was because of something Eddie did, even if he was now an Omega in distress too, Billy wouldn’t hesitate to continue to protect Chrissy.  

The headlights of Billy’s car blinded Eddie once again as the car spun around to drive away. Eddie sniffled as he held his book in his hands. He sighed, flipping the soaked pages as if it would suddenly repair itself and magically be dry again. The rain was heavier now, a summer shower turning in a full on downpour. Eddie thought it was fitting that this was how his night ended. Bloodied, humiliated, and soaking wet, when it started with him losing his closest friends. It was exactly what he deserved.  

“Eddie?” Steve’s voice was soft, hesitant in his greeting. 

Eddie looked up to see Steve standing not more than an arm’s length away from him. He was gently tugging at the bracelet, Eddie’s bracelet, around his wrist. Eddie couldn’t quite read his expression. Steve almost looked embarrassed, his eyes darting around towards the direction the pack, Steve’s old friends, had run after attacking Eddie and then setting upon Billy.  

Eddie stood up again, spitting blood on the ground by Steve’s feet. The rain washed it away quickly.  

“It’s you, isn’t it?”  asked Steve.  

Eddie scoffed and hauled himself to his feet. 

“So you did know,” said Eddie, rolling his eyes. He was staggering a little, the pain in his ribs making it difficult to stand at full height and not curl over into himself.  

“I had an idea. Your uncle owns the garage, right?” said Steve, taking a step forward. Eddie took one backwards. “But I didn’t know for sure, not really,” 

“Enjoyed watching me sweat the past few weeks, huh?” asked Eddie, spitting again. “Liked seeing me get all roughed up? Never had you pegged as that type, ”

“No! No that’s not…” Steve ran a hand over his face. “That’s not–”

“So, what?” questioned Eddie, narrowing his eyes. “Everyone else knew exactly who I was but you were in the dark? Blow me, Steve. I’m not an idiot,” 

“Please, I–” started Steve. He stopped when a car drove by, his back tensing. Eddie thought for a second that maybe it was one of the pack who came back to finish the job, but whoever it was just kept driving. “I didn’t know for sure,” 

“Say I believe you,” said Eddie. “I should just believe you were happy to have your old buddies out on the hunt for someone you didn’t even know for sure was the one sending you shit ? ” 

Eddie’s inner Omega was in turmoil. Steve was right in front of him, their alpha was right there! So why weren’t they going to each other? Why were they speaking to each other like this? Why didn’t their Alpha protect him! Where was he when they attacked! 

“Eddie please,” said Steve, he was practically begging. “I didn’t know about any of this. I promise. This type of thing, it gets… It’s a joke, it’s locker room shit that's never real ,”

“Feels pretty real to me, Steve,” said Eddie flatly. 

“I would have stopped it right away if I knew,” said Steve, almost pleading. “Tommy text me saying they were following you and I… That’s why I’m here, I came to stop them, I tried to stop them, I would never–,” 

Eddie cut him off by spitting another mouthful of blood on the ground, most of it landing on Steve’s shoe. Steve watched as it flowed through the small stream that had started in the rainwater towards the gutter. Eddie noticed the scuff on his cheek for the first time. 

“I accepted all your gifts,” mumbled Steve. “Does that count for anything here?” 

Eddie laughed, looking up towards the sky and letting the rain blur his vision.  

“Gifts?” he sneered. “Yeah, sure. That’s why we’re here, right? We’re on number four now, so here,” Eddie threw his book at Steve, hitting him in the chest. Steve fumbled quickly to catch it and looked at the cover.  

“It’s my favourite, Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy ,” continued Eddie, a mocking edge to his tone. “Keep it, looks like I’ll need to buy a new one anyway,” 

Eddie turned away and started to limp away from Steve. Steve walked after him.  

“What if I accept?” asked Steve, voice shaking. “Eddie? Did you hear me? I said I acc–” 

Eddie wheeled around to face him. Steve had to stop quickly to avoid crashing into him. 

“You want number five?” said Eddie, his voice raising. He spread his arms wide. “You want your last fucking gift? Well here the fuck I am!” 

Steve was holding Eddie’s book close to his chest. It was difficult to work out his expression, between the low light of the streetlamps around them and the hammering rain. Eddie saw Steve’s eyes move up and down along his body, taking in his ripped jeans, the chains he wore on his belt, the frayed edges of his jacket sleeves, right up to the hair plastered to his bloodied face in the rain. When he didn’t reply and just chewed his lip, Eddie gave a sarcastic laugh. 

“The reality of it kind of sucks, huh? Oh shit, right?” teased Eddie. “You might actually have to get to know me if you accept me. Might even have to spend time with me. I’ll save you the trouble of rejecting me. See, this, staying quiet?” Eddie waved a finger between them. “This’ll do, this works,” 

Eddie hoped Steve would tell him he was wrong, but it wasn’t happening. Steve opened his mouth once or twice as if to speak but no words ever came out. He never got to hear if Steve was going to actually say anything, because another car came by and this time, they stopped.  

Billy rolled the window down and barely looked at Eddie, his eyes dark as the night around them. 

“Get in,” said Billy. His voice was mostly a growl, his Alpha still at the forefront.  

Eddie hesitated, unsure if it was safe or not. Billy’s scent was almost overwhelming and although it didn’t smell dangerous, Eddie was still aware he would be alone with a pissed off Alpha who’d just been in a fight and been around a distressed Omega. Chrissy was nowhere to be seen, he must have dropped her back home before coming back around for Eddie.

“I said get in the fucking car, Munson,” repeated Billy sharply. “Or do you want to walk home and let that pack find you again?” 

Eddie looked back towards Steve. He was standing close enough to him that Eddie could see the way Steve’s nostrils were flaring at the miserable scent that he was giving off.  

“Still have nothing to say?” Eddie asked Steve. Steve just looked down at the book he was holding. Eddie clicked his tongue and opened the car door. “Got it,” 

Eddie dropped into the passenger seat and slammed the door. Billy sped off down the road almost immediately.  

“Put your fucking seatbelt on,” said Billy, his voice low. 

*

“What the hell happened to you?”

Wayne grabbed Eddie and pulled him through the door of the trailer. Billy was already gone, he barely stuck around long enough to watch Eddie make it up the front steps. 

Eddie sniffed back tears and held on to his uncle’s shirt.

“I’m sorry,” whispered Eddie. “I’m so sorry…”

“Hey now,” said Wayne, rubbing Eddie’s back. “What’s going on?”

Eddie steeled himself.

“I lied, Wayne,” Eddie cried. “I lied and you were right, I’m so sorry,”

Wayne tensed in Eddie’s hold. 

“Lied about what?” he asked, but it was clear he already knew. He stepped away from Eddie and held him by his shoulders. 

“It was a gift,” said Eddie softly, sniffing. “The coupon, it was a gift for an Alpha,”

Wayne’s head dropped between his shoulders. 

“Where’s your van?” was all he said, grabbing his keys. 

Eddie hiccuped. 

“It’s in the lot at work,” he told Wayne. “They slashed my tires and then–”

“I’ll be back soon,” said Wayne flatly as he opened the door. “Go to your room and try get some sleep,”

“Wayne please just listen,” Eddie pleaded, pawing at his arm. 

“I said go to your room!” Wayne snapped as he left. 

The door closed behind him and Eddie sank to the floor, cold, wet, and alone. 

Eddie couldn’t even think about Steve right now. He was full up with thoughts of what Wayne would say when he got home, if he said anything. The embarrassment would probably tarnish his reputation even more than having his gland removed. Would he even let Eddie live here anymore? Maybe if he got his own gland removed it would soften the blow enough for him to be allowed to stay. He didn’t want to spend too long thinking about whether or not the people of Hawkins would let him exist peacefully after this, even if Wayne did. 

He crawled further into the trailer and curled into himself against the kitchen cabinets. He tried to stop himself crying because each sob shot through his sore ribs like a fire, but the pain felt something like punishment. 

He was still in that same position, hands tangled into his own wet hair, clothes soaked, when Wayne returned an hour later. 

“I thought I told you to go to your room,” Wayne said gruffly, throwing his keys on the table. 

“Wayne…” whimpered Eddie, looking up at his uncle. “Please…”

“No, Ed!” shouted Wayne. “I can not believe you were so dumb! What were you thinking?”

Eddie started to cry again. It reminded him of being chastised as a child for breaking a window. 

“I wasn’t…” he all but squeaked. “I wasn’t thinking, I’m sorry…”

“You think this shit’s a game, boy?” demanded Wayne. “Look at yourself! I warned you!” 

Wayne was towering over Eddie, his hands flying wildly as he yelled. Eddie reached out to try grab the bottom of his jeans, but Wayne pulled his leg out of reach.

“Please, please,” whined Eddie, hiccuping through his words. “I have nothing left, I need you, please,”

“What were you thinking?” Wayne continued. “I told you what could happen, I told you about Lynda and what she did to me! I didn’t bring that up for a good time , boy! You think it’s fun for me to talk about that? ”

“No,” whimpered Eddie. He could only make out Wayne’s outline through the tears in his eyes. 

“I need you to look me in the eyes, Eddie,” said Wayne, softly now but through gritted teeth. “I need you to look right at me and tell me that you regret it,”

Eddie looked up at Wayne but couldn’t open his mouth except to let out soft cries. He wanted to say yes, yes I regret it all and I’ll never think about Steve again I swear, but he couldn’t do it. His Omega was nestled behind his ribs, shaking, but crying out for its Alpha. For Steve. 

“Please…”  sniffled Eddie. 

Wayne’s face was like thunder. He looked like he was about to speak again but instead waved a dismissive hand over Eddie and walked away,  towards Eddie’s room. Eddie tried to call after him but the words got lost in his throat. Instead he let himself dissolve back into loud sobs. He wrapped his arms around his knees and held them tight to his chest, resting his forehead down on his legs. Eddie could hear Wayne opening and closing drawers and his closet doors. 

It sounded like he was packing. He was packing up Eddie’s things to tell him it was time to leave. Eddie pressed his forehead harder into his knees. He thought the pain in his ribs might burst out through his skin but he didn’t care. He deserved to feel it. He deserved to suffer. After everything Wayne had done for him, this was how he repaid him. He didn’t blame his uncle for not wanting him around anymore. It would be the last straw for just about anyone. Even people like Wayne had their breaking points.

Eddie felt a warm weight land on top of him. 

He lifted his head to see Wayne crouching down in front of him, fussing with a blanket to get it around his shoulders. 

“You’re a goddamn mess,” mumbled Wayne. His face was completely blank. 

“What are you doing?” Eddie asked meekly.

“Cleaning you up, what's it look like,”

Wayne shimmied Eddie’s jacket off while keeping the blanket around him, a fleece one that Eddie usually kept folded away until winter, before producing a towel and ruffling it through his hair. Eddie tightened the grip he had around his knees. 

“Gonna catch a cold,” said Wayne, more to himself than Eddie. “I’ll grab some cough syrup tomorrow”

Eddie let Wayne run the towel over his head and use the corners to dab the blood off his face. Eddie stared at Wayne with wide eyes while his uncle focused on wringing out the soaked ends of his hair. 

Wayne shifted himself to sit fully on the floor before pulling Eddie towards his chest, holding the blanket tight up around his neck. Eddie remembered being held like this when he was younger. Wayne would bundle him up on sick days and rock him back and forth while cartoons played in the background. It always made Eddie feel safe. The effect was the same now. The soothing scent that emanated from Wayne instantly stilled the static in his bones.

“Your van’ll be towed out here soon,” Wayne told Eddie, smoothing wet hair out of his face. “You’d better say thank you to Benny soon as you see him, he didn’t appreciate me calling in on him at this hour to ask him to do it. You’re lucky he’s got a soft spot for you,”

“I will,” sniffed Eddie. He was shivering hard despite the blanket. 

“We’ll get you off to bed soon,” said Wayne quietly. “Just relax now,”

“Bed?”

“Once you’re all dried off. ‘Less you need a doctor?”

“My ribs hurt, maybe, I don’t know,” said Eddie.

“Here, let me feel,” muttered Wayne, snaking his hand under Eddie’s t-shirt to press against his torso.

Eddie hissed at the sharp throb it sent through him. Wayne’s hands still being cold from being outside didn’t quite help.

“You’re ok,” Wayne told him. “Nothing you won’t heal up just fine by yourself,”

Eddie bit his lip.

“Are you going to kick me out?” he whispered.

Something that sounded like half a laugh was breathed out onto Eddie’s forehead.

“No, son, I ain’t kicking you out,” said Wayne, starting to sway them. “We got more to talk about, but nothing that can’t wait till you’re healed up,”

“You’re not mad?” asked Eddie tentatively. 

“Oh I’m furious,” said Wayne. “But that's not gonna be good for either of us right now, so I’m gonna make sure you’re better before I tear you a new one for lying to me,”

Eddie let out a wet laugh. He thought he felt Wayne smile against his forehead too. 

“I’ve lost everyone, Wayne,” said Eddie again quietly. “I don’t want to lose you too,”

Wayne sighed heavily before answering.

“Take more’n that to shake me loose,” said Wayne, holding him tighter. 

Eddie was crying again.

“I don’t know what to do,” admitted Eddie. “No one is on my side anymore,”

Wayne rubbed Eddie’s shoulder through the blanket. 

“They’ll come around,” he said.

*

The knocking on the door had been consistent for at least the last twenty minutes. Eddie had no intentions of leaving his nest for any reason, even if his stomach was screaming for food, and whatever dickhead was trying to disturb him wasn’t helping.  

The knocks got louder and sharper as more time passed. Eddie groaned, and eventually hauled himself out of bed. He pulled on a pair of pyjama pants so he wouldn’t get arrested for flashing whoever was bothering him, but to hell with finding a shirt. They’d just have to fucking deal with the sorry sight of his bruised up body.  

“I’m fucking coming jesus christ shut the fuck up!” Eddie yelled as he hobbled down the hallway towards the door.  

His injuries had healed well. His ribs were no more bruised than the rest of him, deep blue patches already giving way to blotches of green. Mostly the lingering soreness from a swift kick, courtesy of Carol, that was landed on his ankle was the biggest thing bothering him now. Eddie’s Omega had lain dormant for days, refusing to stir for anything. It was sad, and that made Eddie miserable. 

He ripped open the door, expecting to see one of his and Wayne’s nosier neighbours, probably demanding an explanation for why Eddie’s van was towed home and now hadn’t moved in a few days. Instead, he was met with the sight of frilly pink clothing, and Chrissy Cunningham’s bright blue eyes staring back at him.  

“Eddie,” she whimpered, taking in his bruises. 

“What do you want, Chrissy?” asked Eddie. Eddie wasn’t wearing any blockers and he was aware his scent was plum-rotted by now, but Chrissy didn’t react.  

“I’m so sorry,” whispered Chrissy. “I didn’t… I didn’t think you’d get hurt, I thought it would all blow over and you’d stop being so stupid ,” 

“Apology accepted,” said Eddie dully, moving to close the door.  

Chrissy held her hands out to keep it open.  

“Eddie, wait!” she pleaded. She took a deep breath. “Can I start that again? I’m… I’m trying, ok? To understand?” 

Eddie glared at her.  

“You just called me stupid,” said Eddie. “How is that understanding?” ” 

Chrissy smoothed her hand down the front of her dress and closed her eyes briefly, muttering something to herself. She opened them again and Eddie saw that she was holding back tears. 

“I’m so sorry for how I acted,” she said. Eddie got the impression that she had rehearsed this in the mirror before coming here. “I got caught up in my own beliefs and forgot that yours are different, and that that’s ok,” 

“You sound like a hallmark movie,” mocked Eddie. 

“I should have been excited for you, Eddie,” said Chrissy, letting a tear fall and dropping the practised facade. “I should have been so happy for you wanting to find a mate and helping you figure out how to be safe about it but… I told Billy not to offer you a ride that night, they were able to follow you because of me . I feel terrible and…” Chrissy sniffed hard, and Eddie saw her flinch at the scent he was giving off. “And now you’re sick and you’re hurt, and I should be helping you through it!” 

“It’s not your fault I got my shit rocked,” sighed Eddie. “You didn’t know what was going to happen,” 

“Billy knew!” Chrissy almost shrieked. “He knew something would happen and he insisted we go find you when we left the bar. I didn’t even think about it!” 

“Billy’s an Alpha, he knows how they think, it wouldn’t be hard for him to guess,” said Eddie, holding his ribs. He was feeling the strain of standing for so long. “Neither of us would get it,” 

“But I’m your best friend ,” whimpered Chrissy, crying openly now. “I should have been worried enough to care, but I wasn’t. So much has happened over the past few days, everything is changing and I’m just… God, Eddie, I’m just seeing things so differently now… I can’t believe I spoke to you like that, I can’t believe I hit you,” 

Eddie felt himself thaw at the sight of Chrissy’s tears.  

“It’s okay, Chrissy,” he said, propping himself against the doorframe. 

“Really?” she asked wetly, her big eyes swimming.

Eddie sighed again. He couldn’t deny that a big part of what he was feeling right now was down to Chrissy. Her rigid belief in the courting system, as outdated as it was, made his head spin. It was the one thing they had never spoken about seriously in their entire friendship, instead just skirting the issue and changing the subject whenever they got too close to an actual conversation about it. It was both of their faults, he thought, that it got to this point before they had to confront what the other truly thought. Now though, with her standing on his doorstep asking for forgiveness, it was hard to keep a shutter down against her. 

“It will be,” he promised, reaching out to hold her hand. “We’ll be alright, we’ll work on it, ok?”

Chrissy let out a sound of relief. 

“I have to get to work but what if I come by tonight?” she offered. “I can wash your hair out for you? You might feel a little better?”

“That sounds nice,” he admitted. “Wayne, uh, Wayne’ll be here though and he’s still kind of pissed at me for lying,”

“We’ll talk to him together,” she said, launching forward and hugging Eddie tightly. It was painful on his still tender body and he could only imagine the way she’d stink afterwards, but it didn’t matter. He buried his face into her neck and enjoyed holding her close. “He can be mad at me for slapping you instead,”

Chrissy left in a flurry of promises of what snacks and shampoos she’d bring by later.

Eddie couldn’t deny he felt lighter after speaking to her. They had a ways to go to repair their friendship to the point that it was, but Eddie got the sneaking suspicion that they’d skip a few steps once and fall right back into their old groove before long. He filled a glass of water at the sink and gulped it down, remembering Wayne’s advice to stay as hydrated as possible to sweat out the beginning stages of rejection sickness.

There was more knocking at the door. Eddie looked around quickly. Chrissy didn’t come inside, she can’t have forgotten anything? Maybe she thought of another snack she wanted to bring over later.

Except it wasn’t Chrissy standing on the step outside the door when he flung it open. It was Steve.

“What do you want?” asked Eddie. His Omega was wide awake now and bouncing around in his chest.  

“I’ve been reading your book,” said Steve softly. “I... I went to the store and bought a new copy, the rain kind of, uh, wrecked the one you…gave me. You can have the new one when I’m done, if you want?” 

Eddie surveyed Steve quietly, trying to ignore the self conscious thoughts in the back of his mind over being shirtless in dirty pyjama bottoms.  

“You read it?” said Eddie suspiciously. “Didn’t think it’d be your kind of thing,” 

“It’s not,” shrugged Steve. “But… But it was a gift, right? I figured I should give it a shot. I liked it. It was funny…” 

Eddie’s eyebrows rose.  

“You liked it?” Eddie found himself looking over Steve’s shoulder for onlookers, making sure this wasn’t some sort of joke. 

“Yeah, the sad robot was my favourite, I think,” said Steve, nodding. “Does it have a happy ending?” 

Eddie leaned heavily against the door.  

“For most of them, I guess,” he answered. “Depends on who you’re rooting for,” 

Steve nodded again, looking down at his feet.  

“I’ll keep reading,” he said, looking back up at Eddie. “I want to see how it ends,” 

Steve looked Eddie right in the eye as he spoke, sending a jolt through his skin.  

“Glad you liked your last accepted gift,” said Eddie with an eye roll.  

“I never really knew how courting worked,” said Steve quickly. “Before all this,” 

Eddie scoffed. 

“Sure,” he mocked. “I’m sure mommy and daddy Harrington never exchanged diamonds and cars and told you all about it,” 

Steve snorted. 

“My parents’ marriage is a business arrangement,” said Steve. “My grandpas practically sold them to each other for stocks and shares,” 

“Good for them,” said Eddie sarcastically. 

“Not really, they hate each other,” Steve continued. “But, look, my point is, they never signed me up for culture class. I never…” he ran a hand over his stubble quickly. “I went to health class to learn to pop a knot safely, I went to biology class to learn about what’d happen if I didn’t, but I never went to cultures so I never learned–”

“You never learned about courting,” Eddie finished for him, stunned.

Steve shrugged again. 

“They told me that there was no point,” he explained. “They said that if someone wanted you, they’d go get you. This whole thing about, who courts who and what people expect, that uh, kind of all passed me by, I guess,”

“You’re kidding, right?” asked Eddie, still in disbelief. “I know you watched Tommy and Carol do that stupid fucking fifth gift reveal at prom,”

“I just figured they wanted each other, like I said,” said Steve. “Besides, Tommy always bought Carol’s lunch so that kind of blurred the lines on what was a gift and who bought what for who, for me, I think,”

“Jesus Christ Steve that…” Eddie almost scoffed. “Is tragic, I mean I can’t lie to you. Your parents seem pretty toxic, man,”

“They are,” Steve agreed, nodding. “So whenever anyone started talking about courting I just, I dunno, tuned out? Whenever we talked about it at home, about my parents I mean, it was with the words ‘as per the contract’ at the end, you know? But at least now I know why so many people asked me for body pillows after we went on a date,”

Eddie snorted, remembering the Omega ladies at brunch who listened to their friend’s story of Steve Harrington not knowing how to court. At least he’d been honest about it? Eddie could see why they didn’t believe it though.

“You really never put two and two together on that one?” asked Eddie, raising a suspicious eyebrow.

“People know my family has money,” shrugged Steve. “Figured it was just people wanting me to buy them shit,”

It made sense, in a way. Courting was so old fashioned that it would have been easy for someone who didn’t care about it, or who had been told there was no point caring, to just let it go over their head entirely. It wasn’t something that people even spoke about in friend groups over the age of twelve when they stopped planning their dream weddings through dress up games on the internet. 

“I heard someone say you checked baseball results while you guys were knotted,” Eddie told him, still thinking of the brunching Omegas. 

“Fuck,” said Steve, holding back a laugh. “I guess no one knows how to have a one-night stand these days, huh? Are you about to tell me everyone thinks I let them down?”

“Not everyone,” said Eddie honestly. “Definitely a few ladies who probably held a fake funeral for you when they didn’t get anything though,”

Steve did let out a small laugh at that. He shuffled on his feet briefly. 

“Speaking of, uh, gifts, I uh… My friend, you know Robin, said…” Steve cleared his throat again. “Well we talked on the phone and she said the fifth gift needs to be done in public for it... For the reveal to count, or something,” 

“We were in public,” said Eddie flatly. “Right in the middle of the street,” 

“Are outside and public the same thing?” asked Steve, trying to give a small smile.  

Eddie’s brow furrowed.  

“I guess not…” said Eddie slowly, confused.  

Steve put his hands into his pockets and shuffled his feet.  

“When are you going back to work?” asked Steve.  

“You’re not serious?” said Eddie with an incredulous laugh. “You cannot be fucking serious? I’m drowning in the smell of my own rejection here and you want to do it at my job? So it counts? Steve, tell me you’re fucking with me?” 

“I never rejected you,” said Steve plainly, running a hand through his hair. “I should have said something, but I never rejected you,” 

Eddie noticed for the first time that Steve was still wearing his bracelet. His heart jumped and his Omega sang.  

“Will you be back this weekend?” asked Steve.

“Sunday,” whispered Eddie, sure that it wasn’t entirely him who gave the answer. “I work on Sundays...” 

Steve nodded as he stepped backwards, moving towards his car. 

“I’ll see you Sunday, Eddie,” said Steve, shuffling his polo shirt and lifting the locket out from where it had fallen away under the fabric. 

Eddie thought he might melt.

*

“It sounds to me like he’s going to accept you,” said Chrissy, combing through Eddie’s wet hair. 

They were sitting crossed legged on his bed. She had come over after her shift as promised, armed with scented candles, bubblegum body scrub, and three different types of detangling brush. Eddie was nervous to tell her about Steve’s visit, but she took a huge gulp of the strawberry milk she brought from home and steeled herself, before she told him to tell her everything. To her credit, she really did try her best not to react too overtly to anything. 

“What if he just wants everyone to know that he’s rejecting me?” moaned Eddie. 

“I don’t think he’s like that,” said Chrissy. “He told you that he’d just been having…” she took a deep breath. “ Meaningless sex up until now, right? So if he was wearing all the gifts then that means something,”

“I guess…” Eddie sighed. “It just doesn’t feel real, you know? Like, Steve Harrington accepting me? Who even thought that might happen?”

“What did you think would  happen?” asked Chrissy. 

“Honestly I thought he’d get the tire and refuse the locket,” Eddie told her. “I was totally ready to play it off as just doing a favour,”

“He was telling everyone about getting that in the mail,” recalled Chrissy. “He thought it was really unique,”

“I stole that,” said Eddie, flinching when Chrissy gasped. “It was an accident! That pack where sniffing around and we had to leave fast. Billy bought some pens for his sister and we ran out of there,”

Chrissy hummed.

“What?” asked Eddie.

“Oh!” said Chrissy quickly. “Nothing, nothing, just…thinking,”

“I’ll go back and pay for it,” said Eddie with a eye roll, earning a giggle from his friend. 

There was a small knock on the bedroom door before Wayne pushed it open. 

“”Scuse me,” he said. “I was just thinking about heading off to bed, I’m wondering if Miss Chrissy needs a ride home later or if I’ll be fixing an extra plate at breakfast,”

“You’re staying, Chris, right? Or you can call your dad later if you want?”” Eddie asked, turning to look at her over his shoulder, but she was already on her feet. 

“Actually Mr Munson–”

“Wayne,”

“Sorry, Wayne, um…” Chrissy fiddled with the fabric of her skirt and walked slowly to stand right in front of him. “I just, I just wanted to say that I recently, um…”

She looked down at Eddie. His eyebrows were raised into his hairline, totally confused at what was happening.

“I didn’t realise how extreme I’d gotten in what I thought was the right life path for an Omega,” she said, looking up at the ceiling as if to remember a script she’d written for herself. “And I’ve recently been thinking a lot about what right means and about what is really good or bad, and it’s just, it’s been a lot, right? With everything with Eddie and with, god, with so much, and everything is so brand new but, um, oh, I”m getting off topic,”

“Don’t hurt yourself,” said Wayne, gentle but teasing, with a raised eyebrow of his own.

“What I’m trying to say,” said Chrissy, fixing her ponytail. “Is that, Mr Munson–”

“ Wayne ,”

“Wayne, right, sorry,” she shook her shoulders a little. “Is that if I ever made you feel uncomfortable or, or maybe upset you, or anything like that, with something I’ve said then I just want to say sorry for that. I’m trying to be better now and I promise, I’m seeing a lot of things in a super different way,”

“You practice that?” asked Wayne, crossing his arms. 

“Yes, sir, a little,” admitted Chrissy, nodding. “And if I had been a better friend to Eddie and been able to hear about his…choices…sooner then I would have talked him out of lying to you, I swear, so, so, you should be mad at me for that, not him,”

“Chrissy,” whined Eddie from the floor, covering his face with his hands. 

The side of Wayne’s mouth was lifted in a half smile.

“Thank you Miss Chrissy, that’s very big of you to say,” said Wayne. “And I’m glad you’re taking another look at things. Might do you good to broaden those horizons a little,”

“I think so too, sir,” said Chrissy, her cheeks glowing pink. 

“I’ll keep being mad at him for lying, if it's all the same to you,” said Wayne, leaning forward like they were sharing a joke. “Won’t do him no harm to keep doing those extra chores around the house for a week or two,”

Chrissy giggled and nodded.

Wayne winked at her before pulling the door closed and going to his own bedroom. When they heard his door click closed, Chrissy fell to the floor again in a heap.

“Oh my gosh,” she said, flinging her arm over her eyes dramatically. “I’m so glad that went well,”

“That was insane,” said Eddie, still wide eyed with disbelief at what he’d just witnessed. “Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?”

Chrissy laughed again. 

“I’m still right here,” she said. “Just better now,”

“I won’t disagree,” said Eddie. “Seriously, what’s been going on with you the past few days?”

Chrissy kept her arm over her eyes but that pink flush was still visible on her face.

“Not everything is a black and white as I thought,” she said gently. “I see that now, those blurred lines between what I thought was clean cut,”

Eddie rested his hand on her knee.

“I’m glad,” he said truthfully.

"Me too," smiled Chrissy.

*

Eddie leaned back against the bar and took a breath. 

The bar was busier for brunch than it had been in months. Chrissy was bouncing around the floor like she was on cloud nine today and her good mood was definitely rubbing off on all the patrons. She had a new pen, with a giant pink costume crystal on the top and clump of matching feathers bursting from the sides. Even Billy seemed to be brighter than usual.  

The Alpha pack had begun to file into the bar. Tommy was flying back to wherever he came from the next day so they were having some goodbye drinks before he left. It put Eddie a little on edge, but the way Tommy and Carol were sitting close and shooting nervous glances towards Billy every few minutes helped to soothe him slightly. They were only ordering off other waitresses too, ignoring Chrissy completely. 

It wasn’t until Eddie noticed the tell-tale sheen of blocker balm on Billy’s neck that he started to put together the pieces of a puzzle he didn’t even realise was in front of him.  

That pen was familiar. His jaw practically dropped open when he realised where exactly he recognised it from. Eddie sidled up beside Billy and swiped a finger over his neck.

“What the fuck is this?” he asked, rubbing the substance between his thumb and forefinger.

“Quit it,” Billy snapped, though his words lacked heat. He rubbed his hand quickly over his neck to respread the balm. “That shits expensive, I only got a small tub to see what strength I need,”

“Why are you wearing it?” teased Eddie, narrowing his eyes and wiping his hand on his shirt. 

“Felt like it I guess,” said Billy with a shrug. The tips of his ears turned red. “No big deal,”

“No big deal,” parroted Eddie. 

He nodded towards Chrissy, who was talking animatedly with someone about the daily drinks specials, the pen swinging around in her hand while she did so.

“She got a new pen,” said Eddie, aiming for natural. “Maybe she went to that store in the mall that you were in,” 

Billy hummed and didn’t react.  His gaze was locked hard onto Chrissy.

“Or maybe,” continued Eddie, rubbing his chin with his finger. “Someone gave it to her? One of those Alphas from the football table or–” 

“Shut…” said Billy slowly while still looking towards Chrissy, cutting him off. “Your fucking… mouth,” 

Eddie grinned at the hint of a smile that was playing on Billy’s lips. Eddie couldn’t help but bounce up and down a little and if his body was in any way able, he'd be doing a damn highland jig. 

“I fucking knew it!” Eddie hissed excitedly. Chrissy was the type who would accept an anonymous gift and right now that was the only way Eddie thought she might be courting Billy, of all fucking people. “Does she know it’s from you?

“Gave it to her myself,” said Billy, nodding softly. “Well, not totally, she still likes traditions… But I made sure she saw me put it with her stuff before work a couple days ago. She knows what my handwriting looks like too, so the note would have given it away anyway,” 

“You wrote a note too?” Eddie couldn’t believe it. “What did it say?”

Billy shrugged. 

“Usual stuff,” he said. “Intention to court, would she do me the honour, blah blah blah,”

“And she accepted it, just like that?” asked Eddie.

Billy pushed his lips out into a pout to cover the smile that he was fighting against, and nodded again.  

“Came and found me like an hour later,” said Billy. “Waved it right in my face when she was writing up an order. Said she likes the pink ink,” 

Eddie was stunned. 

“I’m happy for you, man,” he said. “I literally can’t believe it, but I’m happy for you,”

“I can’t believe it either,” said Billy, smiling properly now. 

Chrissy turned and saw them looking at her. She returned Billy’s smile and wiggled the pen at him before ducking her head to finish writing her order. 

Eddie was about to open his mouth to tease Billy some more about his choice of blocker balm when heads turned towards the door. That usually meant only one thing. 

Steve Harrington has just walked in. 

He idled in the doorway for a second before making his way to the bar. Eddie’s Omega was pounding against his ribs so hard that he thought it might throw him over the counter any second now.

“Eddie,” said Steve lightly, also nodding at Billy. “Hey,”

Billy took a half step sideways to give Eddie some room. Chrissy had approached the bar now too to hand in an order docket. Billy moved quickly to take it, their hands lingering together as they touched.

“Hey,” said Eddie, his mouth immediately dry. 

Tommy appeared beside Steve and slung an arm over his shoulder. 

“Hey, glad you made it, come on over here man,” he said to Steve, gesturing towards their table. “I’ll buy you a beer,”

Steve shook Tommy’s arm from around him.

“Actually,” said Steve, not looking at Tommy. “I’m here for Eddie,”

Eddie’s heart might have stopped if not for the impromptu CPR his Omega was giving him. 

“Why?” Tommy demanded, his tone suddenly harsh. “What are you doing, Steve?”

Steve’s eyes were fixed onto Eddie’s. Eddie thought he could spend hours picking out all the different tones of gold and green in them, if Steve would let him. 

“I’m here to accept his fifth gift,”

Eddie had never understood the idea of hearing a record scratch inside his own brain before. Steve’s words rang in his ears. Tommy’s face was like stone. Chrissy squealed, bringing the attention of some other patrons while she clapped her hands lightly together. 

“You’re accepting him?” asked Tommy, disgusted. 

“Yeah,” said Steve, still staring into his eyes. “I’m accepting Eddie’s courtship,”

Tommy looked back to his table. Eddie wondered what that conversation would be like. The pack would have to leave him alone now. Cops would turn a blind eye to Omegas being messed with for courting like Eddie had, but once it was accepted it turned back into regular old harassment and assault. 

“If he still wants me?” asked Steve, his smile faltered slightly. 

Eddie became aware that he hadn’t moved or blinked in a while.

“Yes!” Eddie almost yelled. “Yes, uh, I do, jesus, really? I do, fuck,”

Steve’s smile widened again. 

“Great,” he said. “What time do you finish up?”

Eddie didn’t get a chance to answer. 

“Now!” shrieked Chrissy. “He’s finished now,”

“What?” said Eddie. “No, I can’t, it’s too busy, I–”

“He’s done now,” said Billy, pushing Eddie towards the door to the staff corridor. “He’ll meet you in the carpark,”

“Wait!” protested Eddie.

“Eddie,” said Billy firmly but with a grin. “I did not spend weeks dealing with your bullshit for you to stay here instead of letting yourself be accepted. Now fuck off,”

“Bye Eddie,” said Chrissy in agreement.

Despite order dockets spilling across the bar, Eddie couldn’t find it in himself to argue any further. He thought his Omega might reach up abd choke him if he did. He let himself be pushed, his mind still floating with the words I’m accepting. His Omega was swimming in the feeling. It was like the best high he’d ever had multiplied by a million. Billy pressed Eddie’s backpack into his hands and held the door open so he could go out to the parking lot. 

Wayne had fixed up Eddie’s van at the garage, putting on four new tires and adding the cost onto the rolling total of all the other free work he’d done for his nephew over the years. 

“Hey,”

Eddie saw Steve walking towards him like a vision in navy linen. He’d never seen a polo look so good. The silver of the locket and the bracelet shone in the sun. 

“Hey…” said Eddie, tugging a piece of hair over his face. He suddenly felt shy. 

“You wanna go talk somewhere private?” asked Steve, looking around at the handful of people who had apparently followed him to see a real life Alpha acceptance. Eddie couldn’t even be mad, he probably would’ve wanted to come watch too. 

“Uh, yeah,” said Eddie, willing his brain to start working. “We can go to my place?”

“Sounds great, I’ll follow you,” said Steve, reaching out to squeeze Eddie’s hand before retreating to his own car. 

Eddie fumbled with his keys as he tried to open his van. He was shaking. He drove home practically on auto pilot, his muscle memory taking over to get him through the intersections on the way home while his Omega chittered so wildly that Eddie thought the noise must be bursting out of him.

He couldn’t help but keep checking his rear view mirror to see if Steve was still following him. Eddie was sure that he’d look up at one point and see that he’d changed his mind and turned off, driving at top speed towards Loch Nora instead of Forest Hills, deciding to bury himself in his own backyard instead. But he was there every single time, hair fluttering in the breeze of the open car window and sunglasses on, nodding along lightly to the radio. 

When Eddie pulled up in front of his trailer, he stood out of his van and put his hands in his back pockets while he waited for Steve to park. He was still half expecting three more cars full of Alphas to peel in behind him, but as he hopped out of his cars and ruffled his hair, it hit Eddie that it really was just the two of them.

Steve walked to stand in front of Eddie, hands in his own pockets too. 

“So…” said Steve.

“So…” repeated Eddie. 

Neither of them said anything for a long moment. 

“You live with your uncle, right?” asked Steve. 

“Yeah, uh, he’s not here though, he’s working,” Eddie told him.

“How did he react to…” Steve cleared his throat. “All this?”

Eddie kissed his teeth and looked around. 

“Better than expected, I guess?” said Eddie. “He’s more pissed off I lied though, so I can deal with that, you know?”

“That’s great,” said Steve, nodding gently. “I’m glad,”

“Did you tell your parents?” Eddie asked.

“I tried,” laughed Steve. “As soon as I said the word courting they just kind of switched off, so I don’t think they care too much about it,”

“That’s…good?” offered Eddie, unsure how to react. 

“It’s the best I could hope for,” said Steve, rolling his eyes with a smile.

Eddie bit his lip as he smiled at Steve. At his Alpha.

“So…” said Steve again.

Eddie laughed and twisted hair in front of his face again. 

“We have a lot to talk about,” said Eddie. “Should we order lunch?”

“Sounds good,” said Steve. “I’m buying,”

Eddie laughed.

“Deal,” he said, noticing some of his neighbours had started to peek out of their windows. Word sure did travel fast. “People might get the wrong idea, me coming home with a handsome Alpha,”

“Not really the wrong idea,” said Steve, noticing their audience and nudging Eddie gently with his elbow. 

“Guess not,” agreed Eddie, feeling himself blush.

“But hey, how about we give them something to talk about?” asked Steve.

Eddie raised his eyebrows in question. Steve stepped forward and closed the gap between them, reaching up to cup Eddie’s jaw in his hands. His skin was warm, his large palms resting across his skin, his thumbs brushing softly over Eddie’s cheekbones.

“I accept you, Eddie,” Steve mumbled, before pressing their lips together. Eddie rested his hands on Steve’s waist and pulled their bodies together. They fit together perfectly, from the way their feet rested next to each other to the way Steve’s nose pushed gently into the skin of Eddie’s cheek. 

Their mouths moved slowly together in the kiss. It was a sweet, chaste thing. Nothing could rush them as they stood in the warm afternoon sun. Eddie didn’t know if it was the heat of the day or the heat of Steve’s body that flushed through him. His Omega was calmer than he had ever felt it, as if now that it had found a mate it could rest. No other thoughts existed in Eddie’s mind except for everything Steve and the way it felt like they were an extension of each other in this kiss, like they were two halves of a whole that had been looking for one another all along. A tear or two fell from Eddie’s eye, the overwhelming happiness inside him finally bubbling to the surface.

Steve pulled back, leaving a tingling feeling on Eddie’s lips after him. He nuzzled their noses together delicately. 

“Let’s go inside,” said Steve, kissing Eddie’s nose quickly.

Neither of them moved, still looking at each other and holding one another close.

“My Omega…” Steve whispered. It felt like a call directly to Eddie’s heart.

Eddie couldn’t help the light mewl that built up in his throat.

“My Alpha…” he answered.