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The next morning, Eddie wakes up feeling strangely well-rested, almost settled. He's normal again when he looks in the mirror, which also helps, and he wonders if maybe he was hungry. He's never needed to do something like that before, though...not ever. The thought of the deer's rolled-back eyes, its blood scattered throughout a quarter-mile of forest, the knowledge that it had been terrified when he did what he did...it all threatens to overwhelm him entirely, but there's a second layer of feeling, a thrumming kind of contentment, which is so, so much worse.
Steve is incredibly reluctant to go to work, giving him a lingering kiss and promising to be back as soon as possible. "I told Garfield to do a better job at watching you." She screeches from the windowsill, flapping over to snap at Steve's face some more, clearly enjoying the way he flails his arms at her to try and protect himself, before she settles onto Eddie's shoulder. He leans his head into her, comforted by the coldness of her skin.
Steve pauses in the doorway, looking guilty. "And we're going to have to...talk about this with everyone later. Jonathan's off work today, so he's going to come hang out."
"You mean come watch me?"
"...Yeah. But it'll also be to hang out."
Jonathan shows up twenty minutes later, a stack of records in hand and a little wooden box in the other that Eddie immediately recognizes, and he realizes that he's actually pretty lucky that Jonathan's the one who's been tasked with babysitting him. Jonathan just gets it, knows that all Eddie wants to do is smoke (indica only, these days), and listen to music. He doesn't even ask what's wrong, just waves an awkward hello to Garfield and plops onto the couch, looking at him without any expectation.
Eddie doesn't say anything, just digs out his box of tapes, which has become divorced from the rest of their organized collection. Jonathan leans forwards, reading them over his shoulder.
"Steve mix 2?" He asks, pulling the tape out from the jumble. Eddie grabs at it, pulling it away and holding it protectively to his chest.
"Nope, no peeking. For Steve's eyes only. Once it's done, at least."
"...Right. Did I spot Lips Like Sugar?"
"Shut up."
Jonathan pulls out another one. "Vampire Breakdown Mix?"
Eddie sighs. "Yeah, that's for the, uh. You know,"—He waves a hand over himself—"ongoing vampiric breakdown."
"As opposed to a normal breakdown?" Jonathan asks.
"Right, well, that's what you mere mortals have. A vampiric one has more blood and tears and drama."
Jonathan gives him a look. "Right. I hope you know that you're not the only one who feels...fucked up all the time."
Eddie thinks of Will sitting next to him, his youthful face twisted in self loathing. "I know. Have you...are you checking on Will?"
Jonathan swallows, dropping his gaze. "Yeah, he's...you know. You need to teach me some of your pep-talks, though, he's always...lighter after he talks to you."
"Ah, it's just nerdy stuff. I've had a lot of practice with that kinda thing."
"Well...whatever it is, thank you. He's so...messed up over everything, over stuff with Vecna and with—"
"Mike?"
"Yeah. Mike. It's nice to know that there's more than just me looking out for him."
This is more earnest than Eddie is used to getting with Jonathan, but he smiles, feeling slightly okay for the first time since last night. "Of course."
