A/N - This chapter was inspired by the song Toothpaste Kisses by The Maccabees. Let's just imagine that Eddie got out of the Upside Down with a couple of scars and a warrant out for his arrest, okay? For this one, reader is Max's older sister, and this is set a couple of weeks after the end of Season 4. I hope you all enjoy it.
You let out a soft grumble as you pulled your car up in front of Hopper's cabin, eyeing up the rain that was falling so heavily that it was obscuring the front door, barely a few feet from where you were parked.
Taking a deep breath, you readied yourself for the charge, grabbing the groceries from the passenger seat and flinging your door open, dashing for the shelter of the covered front porch.
The door had swung open as you approached, and Eddie had stepped out, offering you a soft smile.
"Hey," he started, leaning against the doorframe, trying his hardest to look casual. Eddie, bless his heart, had been struggling with living in isolation. Sure, he'd never had a huge group of friends, and he had spent plenty of time alone in the trailer as a kid when Wayne was working, but he wasn't used to being alone for this long, nor this often. "That weather, huh?" he added softly, drawing a chuckle out of you as you handed him the grocery bag, stepping back to wring the rainwater out of your t-shirt. Shit, even in that short journey from the car to the porch, you'd been totally soaked through, the cold seeping into your bones.
"The roads down by Lover's Lake are already flooding," you told him, reaching up to wipe the lingering water from your face. "If this keeps up, half of Hawkins'll be under a good few inches of water," you added, offering up a soft smile. "I know you usually smoke the Old Golds, but the stores are totally out now that we're on lockdown," you pressed on, nodding to the bag in his arms. "The guy at the store said Camels were the closest match, so I picked those up instead-"
He nodded, swallowing around the lump forming in his throat. "I don't like the idea of you driving in this," he finally murmured, nodding out towards your car, the rain pelting the paintwork, raindrops bouncing off haphazardly upon impact. "You can barely see through this shit," he added.
You shrugged slightly. "Couldn't just leave you out here to starve, could I?" you hummed, your voice soft as you sent him a small smile. "Besides," you started again, hesitating for just a moment. "Mom is working tonight," you finally confessed. "And Max is-" your words trailed off into nothingness, and Eddie had understood immediately.
Before Max's run-in with Vecna, before you'd really known Eddie as anything other than your loud, obnoxious neighbour, your home had always been pretty lively. You had spent almost all of your free time with Max, whether you were home or somewhere in town. And now, with Max in the hospital, and your mom refusing to admit that anything had changed, your home didn't really feel like it was yours anymore.
"Did you want to come in?" Eddie hummed. "I've got some dry clothes; Harrington brought me some stuff from Goodwill, and Jonathan brought over some hand-me-ups," he pressed on. "Robin brought over some movies," he added softly, offering you a small smile, the corner of his lips tipping up ever so slightly.
"I-" you hesitated, taking in a shaking breath, holding it for just a moment before releasing, your lips turning up to match his smile. "I got a pack of Oreos," you hummed, nodding at the bag again. "If I stay, you have to share," you pressed, watching his smile grow.
"Oreos? You're spoiling me, Sweetheart," he teased, immediately moving inside, holding the door open for you to follow him. "Wheeler only ever brings me health foods. She's got me living like a man-sized pet rabbit over here," he added, drawing a snort of laughter from you as he dumped the bag on the counter, immediately digging for the snacks you'd mentioned. "Shit, chips too? You really are my favourite carer, you know that?" he told you, holding them out in your direction.
