Work Text:
"Please come out.. I'm sorry I scared you."
Eddie knew there was something off about his friend today. He knew what it was, too, but Dustin didn't say anything, so Eddie assumed he didn't want to talk about it. Since the day the two had met Eddie had been able to tell when Dustin was feeling not quite himself, and he never minded it. It was different, at first, but Eddie adored Dustin-- he would do anything for the kid.
Scaring Dustin was a complete accident. He just got too caught up in one of his speeches, (or rants, really) and he hadn't seen the nervous and distant look in the kids eyes before it was too late. He just slammed the table a little to hard and Dustin was in tears.
He was clearly embarrassed about the reaction, muttering hushed curses and apologies under his breath as he made a bee-line for the bathroom. Dustin never liked people seeing him cry. (It always makes him feel awkward.) Besides, he knew he was going to slip the second the tears started, and he was feeling like too much of a nuisance recently to ask for help.
Eddie always had an uncanny ability to read people-- really dig down into their core-- so, of course, he already knew that. The part he wasn't all that good at was knowing where to go from there. He could do and say things that would lead people to a certain reaction, he knew that, but this time it was different. His friend was in a vulnerable state, so Eddie had to be careful.
The older male frowned when minutes past and there was no response. He didn't want to have to force his way in, but the longer he waited, the more real that possibility became. He knew his friend needed him, even if Dustin was too stubborn to admit it.
"Okay--you're not coming out..," Eddie mumbled to himself, digging a Bobby pin out of his jeans, "So I'll just have to come in there." He announced, picking the lock with ease and swinging the door open.
Dustin looked up at him with his big grey-blue tear filled eyes as his lip quivered. He felt bad for making Eddie worry about him; the older boy always seemed to have something he was worried about recently, and Dustin didn't want to be added stress in his friends mind. Even though he knew Eddie had said he didn't mind taking care of him, (in fact, he had said he enjoyed it) he couldn't help but be nervous.
"Oh, buddy-- c'mere.." Eddie said softly, moving to hold the now crying teen in his arms, "you look so sad, hon, it's not natural" He mumbled, scooping up the smaller boy and bouncing him on his hip. A now very regressed Dustin wailed loudly as he was carried to Eddie's bedroom. He couldn't help it, he was just so tired. He had actually lost Eddie, and it was the worst thing that had ever happened to him. Sure, he was back now, (and only some-what dead,) but that didn't change the fact he had still watched one of his closest friends die. Not to mention the stress of all the more 'supernatural' things the whole party was dealing with, things none of them could talk about. It felt like hell to keep everything inside, but there was nothing he could do.
Eddie paced the room for a good few minutes, softly bouncing Dustin on his hip and shushing him until his cries turned into sniffles. The older male sat on the edge of his bed, cradling the baby in his lap, gently running his hands through the others curls.
"Its alright buddy, I'm here now, okay?," Eddie cooed, softly kissing the top of Dustin's head, "I got you a new bottle a few days ago, let's go try it out, yeah?" He murmured into the curls, watching as the smaller boy curled one of his little fist into Eddie's hair. Eddie decided to take that as a yes as he stood up with Dustin placed securely back on his hip.
Before heading into the kitchen, Eddie made a quick stop by his dresser, opening the bottom drawer where he kept Dustin's baby stuff. Eddie grabbed his pacifier, clipping it to Dustin's shirt and popping it in his mouth, cooing at him.
"You look so cute buddy! Here, hold this for me." Eddie said, handing Dustin a bottle with cute little cartoon elephants on it. The smaller boy giggled, leaning his head on Eddie's shoulder while he was carried to the kitchen.
Minutes past before Eddie could manage to actually get milk in the bottle, and even longer to get it in the microwave. It's usually easier then this, but this time Eddie has to do it all one handed. Dustin would absolutely not let the older boy put him down, even tearing up if Eddie stopped paying attention to him for too long.
Usually it wasn't like this. For one, Dustin was normally a bit older. Not by much, but old enough to be hopping and running around outside, really just getting into all kinds of mischief. He never talked much, either having his pacifier in or simply not being able too. Dustin would always beg Eddie to let him go outside to look for frogs or worms or rocks-- anything he could collect-- and he would line them up and sort them into groups until he was satisfied. Eddie thought it was kind of strange (kids typically didn't play like that,) but he was kind of strange himself, so it never bothered him.
After collecting the now warm bottle, Eddie made his way to the couch with a very squirmy Dustin wiggling around in his arms, trying and failing to reach out for his bottle. He had spit out his pacifier at some point, leaving it hanging from his shirt by the clip while he whined.
"I know, I know.." Eddie said softly "you're too little to do it on your own, let me help.." He cooed, shuffling them both onto the couch with Dustin in his arms, gently pressing the bottle to his lips. The smaller boy made a pleased noise in his throat, curling his hands around Eddie's larger ones over the bottle.
They stayed like that for a few minutes, Eddie softly stroking Dustin's hair and feeding him while the other boy seemed to be on the verge of falling asleep. Dustin's hands wandered away from his caregivers as he rubbed his eyes. He fussed quietly, moving his head away and pushing against Eddie, signifying he was done with the bottle for now.
Eddie pulled back, shuffling himself and Dustin to where they were cuddling on the couch, the younger boy laying almost completely on top of Eddie. Dustin yawned, snuggling his face into the metalheads chest and bringing his pacifier back up to his mouth.
Today had been exhausting for Dustin, truthfully. The bullying had gotten much worse since Eddie's 'death', and he had been pretty much the sole target. He was lucky things hadn't escalated to the point they usually did, but that didn't mean it wouldn't happen tomorrow.
Dustin looked up at Eddie with his shiny blue eyes. Eddie stared back at him with his mischievous brown ones, grinning so big you could see his fangs, and gently kissed Dustin on the forehead.
It was a small gesture, one that the older boy had done millions of times, but it was enough to make Dustin feel safe. Something he hadn't felt since God knows when. Feeling safe in a town like Hawkins is rare, but comforting. Dustin giggled and cooed around his pacifier, eyes fluttering shut as he fell asleep.
Eddie smiled, pulling a fuzzy blanket over the two of them, muttering a soft "I love you too, buddy."