Oneshots - Steve x Eddie [Stranger Things]

all of my pain and all your excuses

cw: mentions of past abuse

☆

"Not everyone had Steve's perfect childhood, Dustin." Robin responded to the fifteen-year-old.

"You know, it's not all sunshine and rainbows growing up with wealth and comfort." Steve explained to Robin before taking a sip of his beer.

"Oh, come on! You must've enjoyed your childhood!" Robin said, not believing him when he explained everything to her.

"Nope. Considering they first left me alone when I was eight 'cause they figured I could reach the stove. And each time it would be longer and longer. My dad pretty much confirmed that those business trips were to get away from me, told me right to my face. Other kids would talk about stuff they did with their mom, or with their dad, and I could never join in those conversations. My dad has stated his very strongly negative opinions of gay people multiple times which is why I can't ever tell him or my mom. I'm pretty sure they just up and left this time anyway. King Steve was what my dad told me I was supposed to be, but I hated myself so much when I was like that. For my sixteenth birthday, when I was given that BMW you all seem to like riding around in, they couldn't even be bothered to show up. I was given the car, the keys and a note reading 'Happy Birthday Stephen, sorry we couldn't make it' by my dad's assistant, Alberto. They don't even know about anything that happened with Starcourt Mall, or the demodogs, or the demogorgan, or Vecna. They don't even care that I come home bruised and bleeding, they couldn't even care enough to notice the scar on my neck. If I did tell them the truth, they wouldn't care or tell me that I'm making it up. My dad has hit me on multiple occasions, mostly whenever I failed a test because I 'would never be good enough for the family business' and when I couldn't get into college on a basketball scholarship, and he's disowned me twice-" Steve cut himself off with a sob tearing itself from his throat. He hadn't even realised that he was crying.

It felt utterly pathetic.

☆

An arm wrapped around his waist and a hand cradled his head, holding him close. He could smell Marlboro Lights, cheap cologne and his own eucalyptus shampoo that had obviously been stolen.

Eddie.

"E-Eds." Steve sobbed into his shoulder, ashamed that he was crying so much over something so stupid.

"Hey hey hey, it's okay, sweetheart. I promise you're okay. I've got you. Let it all out." Eddie whispered softly, dragging his fingers through Steve's hair softly.

"Steve... I had no idea it was like that... if I knew, I wouldn't have brought it up. I am so sorry." Robin apologised sincerely.

Everyone in the room had been stunned into silence, mostly from shock, although Dustin was still laughing a little because of Steve's full name being Stephen.

"Sweetheart, listen to me, yeah? John Harrington is a poor excuse for a father, and should never have taken that responsibility in the first place. I don't have anything to compare to, but I know that you deserved so much better than that." Eddie said softly, fixing some of Steve's hair, tucking a little behind his ear. "Henderson, quit it." Eddie switched up extremely quickly and scolded Dustin for sniggering.

"Steve?" Nancy started. "Was it always this bad? Even when we were together?" She asked curiously, wanting to know how much she'd been unaware of.

He nodded against Eddie's shoulder, squeezing his waist tightly, not wanting to let go of his lifeline, his saving grace, his everything.