The Freak and His Queen [Eddie Munson x Chrissy Cunningham]

It's Over

Trigger/Content Warning - Some violence

Eddie was released from the hospital at the end of spring break, just in time for school to start again. He was still sore, his wounds were taking a long time to heal, but he was alive. The bats had almost been the end of him but El, a girl he'd never met, had saved his life. She'd gotten to Vecna in time, fighting the monster in her mind from across the country, and Dustin and the others had hauled him out of the Upside Down. Eddie had lost a lot of blood, he'd lost consciousness before Steve, Robin, and Nancy had reached him, but he'd survived.

The whole gang had come to visit him in hospital. Everyone including El. He hadn't known how to thank her. She wasn't what he'd expected, either. She was so young. Too young. And like Max, she had that haunted look about her. The two girls reminded Eddie of Frodo and Sam, bearing the weight of being the ring bearers. But, it was over and they had won. They would all have to find a way to move on.

When he'd regained consciousness the police had questioned him and he'd told them what he'd been told to tell them. The interrogation was more of a formality than anything. The government agents working with Dr. Owens had already straightened things out. The story was there had been a serial killer in the area and he'd used airborne hallucinogens in the vicinity of his victims before he killed, causing anyone exposed to the gas to see strange, unbelievable things. The government agents had assured the Hawkins police that the killer had been caught and that justice would be served. A press conference had been held too, while Eddie was still recovering, and his name had been cleared. No one really believed he was responsible anymore, not really. But Eddie knew there was still a lot of suspicion towards anyone different in the world.

So, Eddie was nervous about going back to school, but if he was going to graduate, which he very much wanted to do, now, he would have to go back. And besides, he needed to see Chrissy.

***

On the first day back from spring break, Eddie found Chrissy at her locker between periods. Her golden hair was swept up in her signature ponytail. She was wearing a denim skirt and a soft-looking green jumper. All of his senses felt like they were on high alert, alive and vibrating just being near her again. So much had happened since the last time he'd seen her. Now he knew what she'd really been through, and even more than he had that night, he longed to make it better. "Hey Chrissy, can I talk to you for a second?"

Chrissy turned at the sound of his voice and looked at him. Her big eyes widened, and she said his name. "Eddie." Her voice almost a whisper. He smiled at her, nervously.

"You're ok," she said, relief in her voice. Real relief. "I was so worried. When everyone thought it was you. They were hunting you Eddie, it was awful. I tried to tell the police and Jason and everybody that it couldn't have been you, but nobody listened."


"You did?" Eddie was surprised. As far as he'd known only his uncle and his bandmates had stood up for him. All of his other friends had been busy saving the world with him. It had taken a handful of intimidating government agents and a press conference to talk the police and town down and clear his name.

"Yes," she said.

"You didn't have to do that." He couldn't help it, he took a step closer to her. 

"I'm just glad you're ok," she said. "It's so horrible what happened to those other kids. I keep thinking..." Chrissy trailed off, her eyes glimmering. Her voice trembled when she spoke again. "It was supposed to be me," she said quietly.

"No," Eddie said quickly. "Don't think like that. What happened, it wasn't your fault, Chrissy."

She looked at him when he said her name. Her face open, trusting, even as her eyes brimmed with tears. "Listen, that's what I wanted to tell you," he said. He hadn't really thought about what he'd say to her. He couldn't tell her the whole truth, obviously. He just wanted her to know she was safe.

"Look, I can't really explain how I know any of this so you're going to have trust me. It was just like you said that night. There was someone, a monster, and he was getting inside people's heads, he got into yours, you were right, but he's gone now. He's really gone. I know that for sure. I just can't tell you how I know."


Chrissy stared at him. People around them were beginning to take notice, Eddie realized. The Freak talking to Chrissy Cunningham, Queen of Hawkins High, was something that should not be happening in an ordinary world. Just a little over a week ago it would not have been happening, but the world wasn't exactly ordinary anymore, was it?

"I swear to you that the thing that hurt you is dead and it's never going to come back. We're safe, I promise," Eddie said.

Chrissy took a deep, shuddering breath. "I was so scared, Eddie," she whispered. "I've been so scared. Every time I'm alone, every night when I try to sleep... I keep waiting for it to come back, for it to get me." The tears that had been welling up in Chrissy's eyes spilled down her cheeks and Eddie couldn't bear it anymore. He pulled her into a hug and held her. "I know, Chrissy, I know. I'm so sorry. You've been so brave. I promise you, it's over now."


"Hey Freak, get your hands off my girlfriend!" Eddie heard Jason's unmistakeable voice behind him. "Chrissy, are you ok? What did he do to you? What did you do to her?!" Jason yelled. He grabbed Eddie by his collar and slammed him into the lockers. Eddie groaned, his entire body ached where the bats had bitten into him. He could feel some of his wounds opening as he stretched to keep his toes on the ground.

Eddie put his hands up in surrender. "Nothing man!" he said.

"Jason, leave him alone!" Chrissy shrieked. "He didn't do anything!" But Jason never listened. He raised his fist and punched Eddie in the face. Chrissy flung herself at Jason's back, startling him, but he shoved her off. He pushed Eddie to the ground and Eddie, dazed from the first punch, fell hard, hitting his head. Even as stars burst in his vision, Jason kicked him in the stomach and Eddie gasped in pain. He curled up into a ball. He was pretty sure his body couldn't take another beating so soon. "Jason, stop it!" Chrissy was still screaming, but Jason kicked Eddie again and again.

It was Nancy and Robin who came to his rescue, followed quickly by Lucas and Max. They dragged Jason away from Eddie while Eddie fought hard not to pass out.

"Eddie," he thought he heard Chrissy crying, but it could have been any one of the girls. Dustin appeared, crouching at his side.

"My guardian angel," Eddie croaked, and Dustin laughed, trying to mask his worry.

"We should get him to the hospital," Max spoke from somewhere above him.

"Is that really necessary?" Eddie said. His voice sounded faint in his own ears.

"Hospital," Nancy said firmly, kneeling at his other side. She examined his torso all business-mannered and her fingertips came away bloody.

"Who am I to argue with the great Nancy Wheeler," Eddie tried to joke and ended up coughing.

"Easy, Eddie," Dustin soothed.

"Let's get him up," Nancy said. She and Dustin helped him to his feet. Robin, Lucas, and Max were standing in a ring in front of them, a barrier between him and Jason. Jason had stepped back. The sight of Eddie covered in so much blood seemed to have shaken him.

"I didn't do that..." he said, sounding unsure.

"Yes, you did," Nancy spat at him. "Get a hold of yourself!"


"Asshole," Robin said, nastily. Jason took another step back, putting his hand out protectively in front of Chrissy.

Chrissy. She was huddled against a locker, tears streaming down her cheeks. She didn't look away from Eddie when his eyes found hers. Don't cry, he wanted to tell her. He had been trying to make her feel better, not worse. He did his best to smile at her, willing her to know that he'd be ok, then he let himself be led away, back to the hospital, just like doctor Nancy ordered. 

Author's Note:

Eeek! Thanks for making it this far! There's more to come and I think we're getting into the good stuff now.

I did my best to veer Eddie away from *spoilers* his death in the show, while still giving him that formative experience of battling Vecna and befriending the gang. How do you think I did?

I hope everyone's having a nice week!