snow on the beach by taylor swift but i take it literally.
steve takes eddie to a beach for christmas because eddie has never seen the ocean, never has seen a large body of water and eddie wants to see it. he’s been ticking off a list he wrote down the moment he woke up from his medically induced coma from being eaten by rabid, demon bats.
eddie munson almost died, and he hasn’t ever done anything good or remarkable in his life. he’s never seen the ocean, never been in a big rollercoaster, he hasn’t graduated, he hasn’t done anything to repay wayne for the life he has given him.
there’s probably 40 things on the list. here’s a few:
1. graduate high school, fucking please ✔️ (eddie did graduate. with the help of buckley, wheeler, and the whole fucking party. steve served cookies and drinks.)
2. thank uncle wayne. give him a hug for fuck godness sake. ✔️ (eddie did, from the moment he woke up from the coma, he cried and thanked him for everything he has ever done. wayne is his dad, through and through.)
3. thank dustin and give him the campaign of his life. ✔️ (eddie also did that, not only for dustin but for the rest of the party.)
4. go to one of lucas’ basketball games. you owe him one. ✔️ (eddie did, he went to every last game with steve even though people looked and stared but who the fuck cares? sinclair has the talent for shooting balls into baskets, and the smile he gave eddie the first time he came is worth every glare.)
5. thank the bald headed, super powered girl who came for you in the dark space. ✔️ (eddie met el. he thanked her for his life, but she just thanked him for helping her friends. eddie would like to think they’re friends now.)
6. thank everyone who believed in you when you were in the run. ✔️ (he did. he thanked wheeler, buckley, harrington, the kids. and they just smiled at him. told him, it’s okay. that he’s one of them. eddie would never confess but he had some tears on his eyes. BUT ONLY because of the dust.
7. ride a big rollercoaster. ✔️ (eddie did that too. steve made a big day out of it and then drove the whole party to the nearest amusement park.)
8. have your first kiss. ✔️ (yes, he did that too. it’s from robin fucking buckley. because they’re both gay, and both haven’t had their first kisses and they were drunk and high out of their mind. never again.)
9. go see a beach.
10. cook something that won’t kill a living human being. ✔️ (eddie did, he cooked pasta with steve’s help. it was pretty good and the party loved it.)
11. learn how to skateboard. (they’re almost there, max is still teaching him how to.)
12. dye your hair. or some shit. do something to your hair.
13. take a fucking hike. go see the fucking mountains or something jesus christ. ✔️ (he did. it was horrible. he’s just happy he can tick it off now.)
14. fall in love.
15. knit something. maybe some gloves.
16. get out of hawkins. get out of this shit hole.
17. go visit chrissy cunningham’s grave. apologize. i don't fucking know. talk to her. just go.
18. get a pet dog. ✔️ (he adopted the trailer dog. wayne wasn’t happy when hetfield peed inside their brand new, given by the government, house)
there’s about 20 more items in the list. some done, some still on going, some not gonna get done until a few years later.
steve finds the list november of ‘86. he knows there’s a list, the kids annoy eddie into letting them join and help him do some of it. he wants eddie to tick off number 14, only if it’s with steve. but that’s him being delusional. he wants to grant one thing for eddie for christmas.
so for christmas he drives eddie to the nearest beach, it’s not as big as any california beach, but it’s a beach, with some kind of body of water. it starts snowing halfway through the trip and when they finally arrive to the beach its full on snowing.
still eddie is happy. steve watches as he plays with the snow and sand, running and jumping around like a little kid. they could’ve swam but its too cold, steve promises that they’ll come back in the summer with kids. steve takes out some sandwiches and some hot chocolate he made. it’s warm enough that they can watch the snow and the water on the back of eddie’s van, doors open.
there’s a shimmer of glow in eddie’s eyes when steve finally tells him, “merry christmas, eddie. i hope this ticks one more thing on your list.”
eddie takes out the list out of his pocket, already crumpled and lines permanent from being folded, “would it be okay if i tick two things off?” steve feels like he’s being lit from within, as he nods.
“i guess.” steve answers. eddie smoothes down the paper on his knees, takes out the pen he always brings with him.
steve watches as he crosses out 9. go see a beach.
eddie looks up at him, and it’s almost too beautiful, almost like something steve has only seen in a movie. there’s snow behind him, coming down without sound. eddie’s wearing a black sweater, his cheeks red and his eyes twinkling like stars.
“would it be okay if i tick off number 14?” eddie barely whispers, like he’s afraid he’ll jinx it.
“are— are you sure?” steve whispers back, like anything louder would wake him up from this weird, but fucking beautiful dream.
eddie smiles at him, bright, wonderful, alive and moves closer to finally kiss him.
steve knows the feeling of being stopped by time, he knows it well from grandfather clocks ticking away. he thought that was it. but steve didn't know it could be so wonderful, as eddie kisses him and as time stops around them. if somebody ever asks, steve will tell you that kissing eddie would be the closest feeling to what he thinks flying would feel like.
eddie checks of number 14. fall in love.
he should’ve checked it off the moment he woke up from coma, asked for a piece of paper and pen and steve harrington got him a whole notebook and a box of colored pens.
296 notes
·
View notes