Nancy thinks they have at least a few weeks until Vecna makes any big moves based on how long it should take for the Demodogs to exit their pseudo-puberty and be ready to fight, which means a few more weeks of paralyzing dread and uncertainty and inscrutable nightmares and feelings of irrational jealousy and sadness whenever Steve does anything alone with Nancy or treats him painfully platonically around the others.
It's good that he's aware of his own irrationality, he knows, but maybe not so good that he's feeling so much of it, not when it isn't how he usually feels at all.
He thinks it's just the stress, though, the feeling of the Upside Down calling him constantly, the fear of what his role is in all of this, the knowledge that Vecna changed him for a reason. The name Kas, which keeps him up at night flipping through his D&D books like they'll tell him anything he can use. They don't.
The others do their best to help, not just Steve: Beyond getting to play his meticulously-crafted D&D campaign with a very enthusiastic Dustin, Will, Mike, and Lucas, Jonathan brings him great records to listen to, Argyle brings him great weed to smoke, and Robin brings him great company in the form of her (and sometimes her and Vickie, who's really adjusted to all of this apocalyptic doom-and-gloom like a champ).
Robin's probably the easiest to be around of any of them, leaning against Eddie's side on the couch and chattering about literally everything but Vecna stuff, which is immensely appreciated. She gets really into things, movies and shows and everything else, giving Eddie endless fun-facts about things like 18th century piracy and the history of roller skating and how to speak Russian, and Eddie will let his eyes close and listen to all of it, falling into bouts of laughter whenever she starts making things up to make sure he's still listening.
She's also the only one who knows about him and Steve (Vickie, too), which she finds hilarious considering how "completely and entirely unsubtle" they both are.
"Steve literally has new hickies, like, every few days. And every time you're vampiring around or controlling the rats he holds onto you like he's afraid you'll disappear! And he goes to hang out with you every night! And he's the one who gives you his blood!"
Eddie has his hands over his face. "I know, I know, but that doesn't actually mean anything."
"They know about Vickie and I, Eddie, it's not like they're unaware that non-straight people exist."
"Steve is figuring it out." He says, dropping his hand down to pull at the threads of the rug. "And I respect that he needs time. Even though my Vecna-PMS makes me feel weird about it."
"It's good of you to give him time." She says sagely, petting a hand down his arm. "But if it's really eating at you it could make you explode."
He leans his head on her shoulder and reaches for the joint they're sharing. "I know. It just...makes me wonder if it isn't because I'm a dude, if it's because I'm...me. Like, he's The King with this stupid reputation, or whatever, someone who didn't even look at me when we were in school together."
"Oh, Edward," Robin says, "I promise that's not why. He sucked in high school, I won't disagree, but...there's no way he feels that way now. He's obsessed with you."
"Doesn't feel that way." Eddie mumbles, feeling vulnerable.
She reaches up to pat his head. "Then tell him that."
