freaks ✾ eddie munson

5

We hopped out of Steve's car with bags of food for Eddie.

Dustin kicked open the door, scaring Eddie in the process.

"Jesus!" He held out a broken bottle in front of him.

"Told you to knock, or something." I nudged him.

"Delivery service!" He said with a smile.

Eddie stared at us, panting and calming himself down after Dustin scared the shit out of him.

We handed him the bags of food, letting him select something to eat. He picked up some cereal and Yoo-Hoo, before sitting down inside the boat. He must have been starving, because he started to smush the food into his face.

"So, uh. We got some good news and some bad news. How do you prefer it?"

"Bad news first, always." He spoke through the cereal in his mouth while taking a sip of his chocolatey beverage.

"Alright, bad news. We tapped into the Hawkins PD dispatch with our Cerebro, and they're definitely looking for you."

"And almost 100% convinced you murdered Chrissy." I add and they nod.

"And the good news?"

"Your name hasn't gone public yet." Robin says.

"But if we found out about you, it's a matter of time before others do, too. And once that gets out, everyone and their shallow minded mother is going to be gunning for you."

"Hunt the freak, right?"

"Stop calling yourself that." I mouth to him.

"Exactly."

"Shit."

"So, before that happens, we need to find Vecna, kill him, and prove your innocence."

"That's all, Dustin? That's all?"

"Yeah, no, that's pretty much it."

"Easier said then done." I say.

"Listen, Eddie. I know everything Dustin is saying sounds totally delusional, but like Sage said, we've actually been through this kind of thing before."

"I mean- they have, a few times. And I have once. Mine was more human flesh based and theirs was more smoke related."

"Can't forget those damn demogorgons." I add to her statement.

"Right, but bottom line is, collectively, I really feel we got this."

"Yeah, see, we usually rely on this girl with super powers. But, uh.. those went bye-bye, so.."

"So we're technically in more of the.."

"Brainstorming phase." Max says.

"Brainstorming."

"There's nothing to worry about." Steve and Dustin laugh at each other.

"You guys are making it worse." I say.

And suddenly we hear police sirens.

"Shit, shit!"

"Tarp. Tarp, tarp!"

Eddie gets under the tarp and we run to the window to get a look outside. Police and fire trucks zoom past us.

"Let's go." Steve says.

"What? We're gonna follow them?" I say.

"Yes, Sage! We need to know if it has anything to do with Vecna."

They all start to run outside and I follow.

"Wait, guys."

They turn to look at me with confused expressions on their face.

"I'm going to stay here. Talk to Eddie, make sure he's okay. I think you guys really freaked him out."

Steve sighed.

"Can't talk you out of this, can I?" He asks and I shake my head. He walks up to me and hugs me tightly.

"Stay safe, please."

"I will, I promise." Everyone runs to Steve's car, following the sound of the sirens as I walk back into Reefer Rick's shed/shack/whatever it was.

I open the door and Eddie remains under the tarp.

"It's me, Eddie, it's fine." And he resurfaced.

"Why are you still here? Where is everyone else?"

"They left, I decided to stay back, with you." I said, sitting by the boat.

"Are you worried about me?" Eddie teased.

"Maybe a little."

He smiled and I returned the favor.

"You could've left with them."

"I know, but I thought I should stay and keep you company." His face lit up and he started to shift his body in the boat.

"Come." He says.

"What?" My face scrunches up with confusion.

"Come sit with me." He pats the empty space of the boat, signaling for me to get up and lay with him.

I lay next to him with his arm resting beneath my head.

"Thank you for staying."

"Of course."

"Can I tell you something?" He asks.

"Anything." I say with a smile.

"I'm really glad you're here. I'm really trying my best not to show it but I'm scared as shit right now. And when you guys leave me... alone, in this shed, It's terrifying. Every little sound puts me on alert mode." He confesses and my face drops.

"Eddie... I'm so sorry.." I move my body to a position in which I can hug him. He adjusts himself into the hug and puts his arms around my body.

"I think.. I think I l-"

I look up at him when he pauses.

"Yes?"

"Never mind. It's not important." He replies.

"If you say so." I say before grabbing the walkie Dustin had given me.

"Hey, guys? Any news?"

I wait, and just as I'm about to give up, they reply.

"God, Sage. We were right, it was Vecna." Dustin spits out.

"Hi, Sage." I hear distantly in the back, recognizing Steve's voice which I choose to ignore.

"It was one of Nancy's friends, Fred." He continues and I ask if she's doing alright.

"Pretty alright, I think. She has some sort of theory and went to the library with Robin. But, uh.. we're sitting outside of Ms. Kelly's house right now. Max has some sort of plan."

"Right."

"Want us to come get you? Or are you fine staying with Eddie for a bit?" He asks.

I look down at Eddie to see him looking at me expectantly. "I'll stay. Don't want to get in the way of your plans." I smile.

Steve must've grabbed the walkie, because he's the next voice I hear.

"Okay, listen. You and Munson better not do anything, alright? Please, Sage. Be careful." His mom voice really comes out sometimes.

My face grows hot. "Yeah, yeah. Bye Steve. And Dustin." I discreetly look back at Eddie to find a smirk plastered upon his face.

I lay back down onto Eddie and I feel him start to play with my hair.

"Surprisingly for a little boat, it's kind of comfortable." I say.

"Maybe because you're with me." Eddie suggests.

"Right. That's gotta be it."

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