Steve Harrington who just stops talking.
It's not something that he does consciously, it just happens.
No one takes his opinions seriously. The kids dismiss his suggestions, sometimes there's an ironic retort after he says something. He starts talking to someone just to realize halfway that the person isn't paying any attention to what he's saying at all; they are just standing there, waiting for Steve to be finished so they can go.
And you see, Steve's grandma passed when he was barely twelve, but he remembers clearly what she used to say to him, "Do not waste your words with people who can't even bother themselves to listen. They don't deserve to hear what you have to say."
So little by little, Steve stops trying.
He listens, agrees when it's needed but never contributes to whatever discussion is happening. After a while, keeping his thoughts to himself becomes second nature.
But then Vecna happens, and suddenly Steve is friends with Eddie Munson, who never seems to shut up. Even after everything is over, and Eddie is stuck on a hospital bed recovering from his countless injuries, he just never runs out of things to say.
It's cool. Steve likes Eddie, likes listening to his rambles and rants, likes when he puts Dustin in his place and knocks that attitude out of him with a snappish answer because Dustin really needs to watch that tone of his. Even if Steve doesn't say much, Eddie's incessant talking is kinda comforting.
When Steve's visiting one afternoon, however, this dynamic changes. It's just the two of them in the hospital room. Steve's pulled the plastic white chair closer to Eddie's bed and he's been listening to his friend as he munches on the strawberry cupcake Steve brought him and rambles about school and about having to go through a fourth senior year because he missed finals and failed again.
Eddie is mid-rant when he suddenly stops. A small tired sigh leaves his lips, shakes his whole frame and he chews the cake absentmindedly for a moment, until he turns towards Steve and asks, "What do you think I should do? Should I even go back? Do I really need this diploma, or am I just being a stubborn fucker here?"
And Steve stops. Freezes completely because that's the first time someone honestly asked for his opinion in ages and Steve is just not used to this anymore.
He opens his mouth to ask if Eddie means it, but closes it immediately because it's obvious that he does. Eddie is looking expectantly at him, his eyes focused on Steve and giving him his full attention, waiting for Steve's answer as if it's something important to him, something that matters.
Maybe it does. Maybe Steve finally has someone in his life worthy of his words and thoughts.
"I think that a diploma could make your life easier, depending on what you plan on doing afterwards, can open some doors to better jobs, but I don't think it's, like, necessary. If you don't want to go back, then don't. Especially if you're going to go through with that idea of using the money the government gave you to open your own garage. You don't need a diploma for that."
Eddie answering smile sends warmth all through Steve's bones. "See? That's why I like talking to you, Stevie, you always help me think more clearly."
It's hard to breathe with the tight lump suddenly lodged in his throat, but Steve manages it.
[Now with fic by @dreamsteddie]
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