Peanut Butter Without the Crust -

Ch.6 Guitar Strings do Break

Moving from the bathroom to the bedroom wasn't as slow as it was before, Steve still shook and took a few stumbling steps that caused him to grab onto Eddie but he was walking better too. The room was the same as it was before except for the pull out mattress leaned against the closet door which was courtesy of Wayne. 

Settling Steve on the bed the Alpha took time to gather whatever he could for the other, they didn't know what he was but there greatest guess was that he was an Omega so he wanted the younger boy to have plenty to nest with once the drugs in his system wore off and he left survival mode, his instincts would come back full swing then. 

Shoving things into his closet so the pull out mattress would lay flat Eddie took a single pillow and blanket letting Steve have the rest. Keeping his lamp on per Steve's request, he couldn't blame him for being scared of the dark. With the two settled into bed, Eddie on the floor mattress and Steve on the bed the silence encompassed them slowly. 

Steve filled it moments later with a shaky voice and a tighter clutch on the pillow he was holding like a stuffed animal. "C-c-could we, we have n-noise?" 

"Noise? Like background noise? Sure Pretty boy" Pulling himself up from the floor with a tired groan he shuffled through his crate of cassette tapes, he didn't much like the quiet either so the request for background noise was a relief for them both. Humming softly he looked over at the younger boy "I only really have rock music, but I got some glam rock that you might like" 

Fussing with his cassette player Eddie smiled as the old thing finally popped open and he could switch out the tapes. Placing in the glam rock he smiled a little wider and turned the volume down so it was only a low hum instead of the blaring wall shaking loud it usually was. Soon the voice of David Bowie filled the room as the pair settled back into their beds. 

Steve fell asleep first, sleeping like the dead in a bundle of blankets with all four limbs wrapped around what had to be the world's flattest pillow. Room filled with David Bowie and either Eddie or Wayne coming in to rewind the tape when it had finished it's loop. The first night was peaceful till three am. 

It seemed almost like clockwork that when the clock struck three Steve shot up screaming like he was dying. Eddie was too his side in an instant his Alphan instincts on high alert and his scent pouring out in droves trying to calm the trembling teen. Wrapping him in as many blankets as he could as he tried to find the source of the others pain. 

"Shh, Shhh honey it's ok, it's ok cry all you want ok? I just need you to tell me what's wrong alright?" The alpha was panicked himself, pained for the younger boy as he held him close. Grateful that he wanted to be held, smothered in touch. Though Steve did not speak but simply cry into Eddie's shoulder, holding him and clutching onto the blankets as if they too would disappear if he let go. 

When Wayne entered not even a few minutes later, glass of water in hand he nodded solemnly and sat beside the ones he deemed still pups. "He's breakin' survival mode, he knows he safe" 

"They why is he hurting? Why is he distressed and in pain? Shouldn't he feel better?" Eddie knew he was shouting, voice raised more than it should be for having someone so close but he couldn't help it. 

With a knowing look the older Alpha handed over the glass of water "You both need to drink. I'll explain but I gotta ask somethin', how'd you know he's in pain? Distress can be visible but pain ain't always and you ain't even lookin' at him right now" 

"I can smell it" He spoke in a 'duh' kind of tone. He knew they were all sleep addled but he didn't think his uncle was yet senile. "He smells like gone off honey and you know that fancy tea you got as some kind of gift from Mrs.Byers and you didn't brew it right so it smelt real bitter and gross? And theres more but I can't name it" 

Pushing the glass gently so either one of them will drink the older Munson nods softly only letting up on the gently nudging when Eddie places the glass to his lips "I can't smell him yet, it means he's already pack bonded with ya pup. That somethin' else you smell means he's most likely Omega." 

"That doesn't explain why he's hurting" His voice sounded almost like a whine as he pressed the half empty glass to Steve trying to get him to stop crying long enough to drink. "Why is he hurtin' Uncle Wayne?"

The scarred voice dripping with the Appalachian accent calling him Uncle Wayne brought memories of when he'd first brought Eddie home, the small just at presenting age teen who was so scared of everything because of the way his parents had treated him. Reaching forward and resting his firm hand on the others shoulders he spoke letting his own scent rise in potency to calm his nephew like he'd done so many times before "He's going to be okay son, the pain is temporary, fighting the instincts for probably years he didn't experience since his body's soul goal was survival" 

He wanted to hug the young man tight but he knew if he did anymore that put a hand on his shoulder he could upset the basically representing Omega in his nephew's lap. Eyes following as the now empty glass was moved to the upturned crate of a night stand he nodded contently, happy they had at least hydrated some. Ever the parent he stayed with the pair through the night even as they both fell asleep in each others embrace. Wayne didn't know what was to come but all he knew was he was damn glad that he took the boy in.