The Break (An Eddie Munson Story)

Chapter 18: He Deserved It

A/N: So, with regards to the release for Volume 2 on July 1st. I'm going to avoid mentioning spoilers in this book. Whatever happens in the cannon will not impact the trajectory of this story's narrative.

Content warning: Mentions of fighting, injuries and neglective parents.

*****

"Y/N!" his calls echoed down the vacant halls, reverberating off of the scuffed, cream walls, which had seen better days.

Following in his hurried footsteps, the sound of Nancy's heels joined in with the cacophony of the brunet's shouts. "Eddie, you have got to stop shouting." she hissed, understanding his distress but knowing from too much previous experience that, panic would only exacerbate the situation, not aid it.

His pace did not falter, so consumed with the task of locating you and a million 'What Ifs' running through his mind at high speed. "What if it's really bad, Nancy? What if they need to go to the hospital? "

He really was spiralling, she observed, recognising the familiar wide-eyed look for fear, that she had witnessed a multitude of times upon Steve's own features. Nothing she could possibly offer as a reassurance, would have any calming effect upon the Eddie. "We don't know anything yet, so just try to focus on the here and now-" all the same, she still attempted to placate him, knowing that if you could see them now, you would appreciate the effort.

"I don't have health insurance and their parents have probably cut them out of their family payment plan."

"I can call my parents and get something sorted out, that's not an issue right now, Eddie. We don't even know how bad things are yet."

"But you admit that this is bad, right?"

"If Y/N is in the nurse's office, then it's not great but whatevers happened, we can handle it."

"We gotta get them graduated, Nancy. This town, the people- it's going to wear them down until there's nothing left and I'll be damned if I let that happen."

"They'll graduate, we'll make sure of it but let's just find the nurse first and-"

"I swear, if someone has laid a finger on them, I'll-" the threat died on his lips, as he pushed open the door to the nurse's office. At the sound of the creaking, you looked up from your spot on the worn gurney, coming face to face with those rich brown eyes, that were filled with so much relief and fright for your wellbeing. Despite his earlier shouting, as the sight of your bruised and bloodied face, your name came out more akin to that of a whimper. "Y/N..."

"Eddie?" you could hardly believe that he was stood before you. You had been hoping that any moment, someone would get a message to him about where you were but you had doubted that anyone cared or liked you enough to approach The Freak of Hawkins High. Apparently, there was at least one kind soul in the school.

"Y/N," he rushed towards you, dropping to his knees in front of you. "Hey, hey, I'm here, baby. I'm here. Fuck." his hands awkwardly moved to touch your face but seeing as there was no safe patch of skin for him to caress, without potentially hurting you, Eddie reached for your hands, which was when he noticed your bruised knuckles."What the hell happened to your face? Are you okay? Does it hurt?" he chastised himself for asking such pointless and glaringly obvious questions but he was at a loss for what to say, his brain glitching at the sight of your injuries.

Tears poured from your swollen eye, causing clean tracks through the dried blood that caked your cheeks. "I'm really sorry, Eds." you choked out an apology, voice strained with emotion. "I didn't...I didn't mean for this to happen."

"Oh, hey, hey. Don't cry, sweetheart. You don't need to apologise to me." he cooed, noticing Nancy had produced a pocket-sized packet of tissues from her purse, he gratefully took one from her and handed it to you, not trusting his hand eye co-ordination to wipe your tears.