#is just devastating

Tommy knows this because his dad is a dentist. His grandpa was a dentist and his brother is a dentist, and Tommy is currently at school studying to become a dentist.

There are only two constants in this world: Hagan boys grow into dentists and Steve Harrington is utterly and completely terrified of the dentist.

He knows this because he has been witness to the complete meltdown that has happened before appointments. He has watched Mrs Harrington drag her son into the chair for everything from cleanings to braces.

And he also knows that the only way to calm Steve down is to hold his hand. Tommy knows this because that was his job.

Steve never had an appointment that Tommy wasn’t present for even after he got too old to cry, even after they had their falling out.

Tommy was there.

With all the change - with graduation and college, with the earthquake and Carol moving out of town with her sister - he welcomes the stability. It’s good to know that some things don’t change.

He’s working the summer at his dad’s practice, familiarizing himself with insurance forms when Steve comes in. Tommy’s been waiting for this since he saw his name on the schedule this morning.

He tells himself that it has nothing to do with Steve or with holding his hand and all to do with bragging rights. Tommy’s not the one working at the video rental, right? Tommy’s not the one that was left behind.

Tommy doesn’t even get to say anything because his dad’s coming to the window asking, “No Mr. Munson this time?”

What?

“He’s coming,” Steve answers like that’s normal. Like it’s a part of the script. “He’s looking for a parking spot. Your lot is still the worst, Mr H.”

Steve and his dad chitchat but Tommy barely hears it, watching through the glass in the front door as Eddie ‘The Freak’ Munson walks in.

He watches Eddie follow Steve back. He watches him take his spot and wince through the bone-crushing grip Steve keeps on his hand. He watches as his dad calls, “Tom, come in here and tell me what you see.”