Out from ruins once possessed

[the_freak]

Who: Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington, Albert Wesker
What: Collecting Radioactive Samples for Wesker
Where: Temba Green 22 ✧ Laboratories
When: Early/Mid Month
Warnings: TBD



"So- when he gives me my shit, I say we hike out to some clearing and smoke under the stars," Eddie mused as they walked, though hiking didn't seem so appealing in the moment. Why'd this place have to be so far away? "You know, that way we don't have to worry about Max walking in on us or anything?" Not 'cause he thinks she has a delicate constitution or anything, but because he's not sure he trusts his non-sober self to refuse her if she asked to join. And he had a feeling Harrington would object to any of his nuggets seeing him messed up.

He pulled up the map again, attempting to orient them and make sure they were still heading the right way. "Should be just around here if I'm reading this right."

Comments

[the_freak]

"...I have a few cigarettes?" Not the same. And not wholly appealing right this minute, but it's something. Wesker didn't bring those painkillers he asked for, unless they were part of whatever he injected them with. They'll have to wait to see if that's the case.

He smiles and perches on the edge of Steve's bed. "If he wasn't some kind of super dude I think you might've had him. It was touch, Harrington."

[farrahfawcetts]

"If you smoke a cigarette right now, I'll kill you." The smell alone will make him jump out a window.

When the bed dips, Steve opens his eyes and offers Eddie a grateful grin. There is no possible way he'd have been able to take on Wesker but it is still nice to hear a compliment.

"Dude is a dick. I'll get him next time. Just need some more push-ups."

one day i'll stop randomly leaving off my suffixes

[the_freak]

"Heh," Eddie grins, and plays up like he's considering it, just to tease. He thinks he'd be sick if he actually tried. That and Tae would find out some how and suddenly appear to smack it out of his hand for daring to smoke in the hospital. Honestly, maybe he should try, just to see if she'll rescue them.

"Oh tooootally," he agrees with a laugh, "You almost had him. And uh...you know, before everything with Chrissy at least- I could count on one hand the number of people who've tried to fight for me, so uh...you know...it was nice. Is all." He shrugs. Totally casual.

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve looks at Eddie and for a moment his headache is a shade underneath miserable. Maybe because he is focusing so much on Eddie and what he just said. It's heartbreaking considering everything that happened.

"Yeah, well. You deserve that, you know. To have someone fight for you." He shifts up in his bed so he can look Eddie in the eye a bit better. The headache comes back with the change of position but it's worth it. "Don't take that as an incentive to start shit... but you'll always have me watching your back. Okay?"

[the_freak]

"..." Eddie stops himself from protesting, even in jest, and allows himself to smile. "Same," he promises with a faint laugh, "You know- for whatever that's worth." He's not the best fighter.

"...how weird is it that this isn't even weird?" he asks to change the subject, gesturing to their current set up- both of them from total opposite ends of the social ladder, sweaty, miserable, naked apart from a towel and some blankets. And no where near the weirdest shit they've been through.

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve chuckles, even though it hurts. "Yeaaah. Your definition of 'weird' sort of changes after all of the shit we've seen. And then getting kidnapped by aliens? I don't think we will ever think anything is weird ever again."

He kicks his foot out under the blanket so he can hit Eddie's thigh with friendly affection.

"For whatever this is worth, I wish it never would have been weird. You and me being friends. I probably would have been a better person a lot earlier if I was with your crowd." He pauses and finally: "I'm sorry, by the way. About whatever me or my friends did to you and yours. I really am."

[the_freak]

"Heh." Eddie leans into the hit with a smirk. "I dunno. We're pretty selective, you might not have made the cut, even if you weren't a douche," he teases, trying to take some of the seriousness from the conversation.

"I know. You keep saying," he notes with a small smile, but he nods his head. "...we gave some of it back," he acknowledges, "...I know you're not that guy anymore, Steve. You don't need to keep trying to make up for that stuff. We're good."

[farrahfawcetts]

"It's still true," Steve grumbles, through a smile despite his tone. "And you should absolutely give me more shit for this. You're letting me off easy." He can't say he minds though. Not when it means this easy friendship can stay the way it is. Steve can honestly say the whole kidnapping thing is a lot easier with Eddie here with him.

Having him back just in general is just... just overall great.

"And I woulda made the cut. I'm persistent, Munson. You can only hold me off for so long."

[the_freak]

"You want me to give you shit?" Old Eddie would have enjoyed that, getting to finally have it out with King Steve. But they've both changed... "Blame Henderson for hyping you up all year."

"Yeah? You think you would have been freak enough?" He looks Steve over with mock appraisal, not that he can see much of him in the dark.

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve is tired, sick, and enjoying the distraction that Eddie is providing. That has to be the reason that he leans forward and smirks.

"I think I could surprise you, Munson. More of a freak than you know."

[the_freak]

That draws a surprised laugh, and Eddie cants his head curiously, squinting through the pain but grinning, likewise glad for the distraction.

"Is that right?? Care to give me an example?" he challenges.

[farrahfawcetts]

"I need to have some mystery..." Steve's own head tilts a little to mirror Eddie's. "I've only been here for a week. If I give away all my secrets, you're gonna get bored with me. Go hang out with the kid and his yellow lightning rat or the 40 year old dude."

He nudges Eddie again with his toe, lighter than before. "You'll just have to find out yourself."

[the_freak]

"...lightning rat?" Momentary distraction because- what? He has not had the pleasure yet.

There's a tired smile, and Eddie reaches to give Steve a pat. "...I'm glad you're here, man. Not...here here, but...you know."

[farrahfawcetts]

He's sick, tired, and feeling sort of floaty now, maybe from the drugs he was injected with. Maybe just from his body giving up on the pain and flooding him with some serotonin just to offset it all. Either way, he feels somewhat confessional as he lets out a sigh and lets his eyes drift off to stare at the middle distance.

"I...am kind of glad I am here here, honestly." He sighs again, almost ashamed of himself. "Everything at home was so heavy. So...awful. And then in one weird kidnapping, there's no more Upside Down... You and Max are alive and in one piece."

He looks down at his lap.

"That's shitty, isn't it? Everyone else is still there and dealing with things. It's shitty to be glad to have a break when they don't..."

[the_freak]

"Nah man, I get it," Eddie assures, "And uh...you know, if what some of them say is true- no one's going to be dealing with anything without you. You'll just slide right back in when you left from. So don't...you know...don't feel bad, or whatever. You deserve a break."

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve's eyes open and catch on Eddie's. The fact that he doesn't want to address hangs over his head like a guillotine; if he goes back where he left off, Eddie is dead. Max is in a coma and Eddie is gone. And the worst part is, Steve might not even remember he'd seen him at all.

"I'm...not in a hurry. Even with the radiation and whatever... I am fine staying here for awhile."

[the_freak]

"..." Eddie gets it. He definitely gets it, and that silence stretches out for a minute, Eddie nodding.

"Yeah...yeah me too," he says finally, smiling and very pointedly ignoring that leaving here means the end. "...I should let you sleep."

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve feels acutely the temporary nature of this moment. Of Eddie, all together. They both know what happens if one of them disappears and goes home. They both know this is borrowed time they're getting as a gift. Time Steve would never have had, back at home.

"Stay here."

He's not sure where that comes from. When he's sick he can sometimes get a little clingy and childish, if his parents are to be believed. Still, the bed is big and they've both been injected with some strange shit and Steve is feeling morose and lonely, even with no reason to be yet.

"Just. I mean. You don't have to. I just... If you get sick or anything from the shot, I might not wake up. But..." He shrugs one shoulder, uncharacteristically bashful having shown his hand for what he wants. "It's fine. Just a thought."

[the_freak]

Those two words seem to hold a whole other weight, and Eddie swallows, blinking uncertainly before Steve falls over himself to explain away, and Eddie tries to stop him by shaking his head.

"No, that's um- that makes sense-" he agrees, trying not to sound as anxious as he feels. It's not a big deal. Friends do this sort of thing.

[farrahfawcetts]

The relieved grin that comes over Steve's face is the smile a sigh would have. "Yeah?" He doesn't know what he's checking for: if his reason made sense or if Eddie was sure. Either way he's not actually waiting for an answer.

Steve shifts on the bed, making room for Eddie to lay down next to him. "Don't short the sheets. You might grab the towel."

[the_freak]

"Yeah." Re-securing his own sheet as best as he can, Eddie snorts softly, a playful smirk on his face like Steve's just given him an idea. But he's careful as he moves to lay down.

He can feel the heat coming off Steve, probably thanks to that fever, and he feels very hyper aware of where each of their limbs lay. "This good?"

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve smiles as he settles next to Eddie, not nearly as concerned with where his limbs are. Closing his eyes, he lets out a small hum of contentment and relaxes inch by inch.

"Yeah. S'nice. I never usually have anyone around when I'm sick. Robin maybe once or twice. It's just nice not being alone. 'Sides, easier to check on you. And we can both take Wesker down if he comes back."

[the_freak]

"Really?" Eddie frowns lightly, once mentally adjusting that image he's painted over the years of 'King Steve' and his perfect life. "...Wayne's usually pretty good about it when he's around. Makes the best pancakes when I've got a hangover. It's just the box stuff. Nothing special. But he does it good."

He touches the back of his hand to Harrington's forehead. It's hot. But apart from that he can't really tell much. Is it too hot? How do you tell? "Maybe it's just our fevers and he's actually totally chill?" he muses doubtful, giving a sleepy smile.

[farrahfawcetts]

"My parents weren't home a lot. My mom flew home the one time I had Chickenpox because the school called, but that was probably the last time. No pancakes then either. I think she bought some soup... Can't remember. The fever was pretty bad."

Speaking of, Steve's head is warm but Eddie's touch is cool. Refreshing. He complains with a wordless noise as it is taken away but knows better than to ask for more.

"If Wesker is chill after this all passes, I'll eat my shirt. No way."

[the_freak]

"Were you just home alone or did you have one of those nannies or something?" That's a thing rich kids have, right? Eddie knew Harrington's parents weren't around at lot. Everyone knew- that's how he was able to have so many parties. But Eddie never really thought about how that might have been a thing when he was a kid too.

He smiles in amusement at that noise, and silently flops his hand back down to 'bonk' him lightly, laying it there like a cooling cloth.

"I kinda wanna see that."