Work Text:
The roof of the Munson trailer probably wasn’t exactly the place that most other people would call romantic.
With its aluminum groaning if you stepped on too hard. There was a TV antenna that leaned at an angle suggesting that it had survived about every single storm that hit through Hawkins.
There was that faded metal that still held that warmth from the autumn sun during the day, and would become cold as ice the moment that sun started to fade behind the trees.
To Eddie it was perfect, the quietness of it all, because nobody ever glances up towards the tops of trailers. Because from his trailer rooftop he could see just how peaceful the town of Hawkins really was. There wasn’t screaming children, no judge-mental stares, no whispers about ‘The Freak.’
Just early morning sunrises
The evening sunsets
The stars.
And you.
Eddie had never been good at expressing his feelings, or his emotions with other people, at least not in the way that others around him had.
Eddie wasn’t invested in writing love letters, and couldn’t stand the thought of being in the middle of a crowded room and making some grand old speech in declaration of his love for you. The words he felt might be trapped and caught somewhere between his heart and lips.
Instead Eddie watched, and learned everything he could about you.
What your favorite candy was by an offhanded comment that you had made nearly six months prior while waiting in line at the movie theater. He made sure that he carried an extra hoodie in the back of his van because you always thought it was going to be warmer than it ended up being during the cold October evenings.
Whenever the two of you watched a movie rented from Family Video, he would secretly at the start of each movie steal the blankets, not because the overheating furnace wanted them, but because he knew that an hour into the movie you’d end up complaining about how cold you had gotten.
Then he’d have a reason to wrap the blankets around your shoulders, and pull you close to his chest. Love was for Eddie easier to show in his actions. Words on the other hand, yeah those were fucking terrifying to him.
Which is why, while nearly every single person in Hawkins was getting ready for some new annual halloween party, Eddie wasn’t getting ready to sell weed, instead he was standing on the roof of his trailer pacing back and forth. Talking to himself. “This is fuckin’ stupid.” He said to nobody, as he adjusted the blanket again. “No,” he muttered to himself.
Then he moves the little lantern, “Jesus that just makes it worse.” He crochet down now, slowly has to not dent the metal roof and made a simple adjustment to the pumpkin and then watched as it rolled away. “Fuckin’ traitor.” He groaned. Eddie was able to catch the roll away pumpkins before it met its fate on the ground.
Getting everything prepared, and perfect had taken nearly three hours in the evening setting sun. With the help of one of Wayne’s old extension ladders, Eddie had been able to hull most of the items up to the top of the trailer.
Blankets
Pillows
That battery powered lantern
Some of those orange fairy lights you had commented about when you and Eddie had taken a trip into Indianapolis. He had strung them around the TV antenna and the pipes that led out of the bathroom. There was a battered old record player that was plugged into an extension cord that was plugging into the wall in Eddie’s bedroom.
A picnic basket that was overflowing with all different types of candy, a bowl of popcorn, some caramel apples that he had bought at a nearby fundraiser because told him that if he had tried to make these here at the trailer it would have turned into a huge mess, and a huge thermos that was filled with hot apple cider.
He had even asked his uncle if he could borrow his old telescope not because he knew shit about the stars up in the sky, but because you looked up at the sky like it held something magical for every person in Hawkins.
Eddie also wanted to feel that magical feeling too. The finishing touches that Eddie put to everything was in the middle of the area. An old sheet, white, that was spread beneath the roof underneath the blankets.
It was covered in the tiniest hand-painted ghosts. Every one of them is showing off a smile, but every single one of them is different in nature. Eddie looked down at his hands, and then his fingers were still covered in white paint. “You better appreciate this.” He said to the ghosts on the sheets.
There was a knock from the inside of the trailer, and then your voice folate through the screen door. “Eddie?” You shouted into the evening october air. Eddie felt his stomach do a twist, “Oh… hell.” He whispers, before he was hurrying down the ladder and nearly missing the last rung.
By the time he did make it down to the ground, you were standing there with an oversized sweater beneath your fall jacket, your cheeks already growing pink by the simple chill in the air. You smile when he finally makes his way in front of you. “There you are.”
“Hi.” Eddie said as if the boy had just run a ten mile marathon. “Why are you nervous?” You asked, already able to sense that something was wrong. “I’m always nervous, sweetheart.” He tried, but all he got back with a simple shake of your head. “No.” You said your eyes were narrowing at the older man in a playful way.
“What are you hiding?”
“I’m not hiding anything!” He nearly shrieked.
“Eddie?” You say softly, knowing that his resolve will slowly break. “Maybe… okay I'm hiding a little something.” Wide eyes look back at Eddie. “I knew it.” You say crossing your arms over your chest, pulling your sweater with it. “You just refused to tell me where we are going.” Eddie hums in agreement. “And you told me to wear boots.”
“Yep.”
“And I also was told not to wear my costume.” Eddie nods, “This is all correct, sweetheart.” Still standing there you look towards Eddie, “You know it’s just rude to tell me not to wear my costume, cause I looked damn right adorable."
Eddie smiles, “I’m sure you looked beautiful.” Your pout slightly, “You haven’t even asked what I was going to be dressed up as.” Your bottom lips wobble just a little, but Eddie takes your hands in his, “What were you planning to be dressed up as?” He asks with sincerity in his voice.
“A witch.”
He gasps dramatically, “So I’ve been dating a witch this entire time!” He says playfully, “You have.” You answer with a sly wink. “That just… everything is explained now.” With pinched brows you look at Eddie, “What does that mean?” You ask him, he shrugs his shoulders, and you laugh.
When the laughter has calmed down, you look around, “So…” Eddie rubs at the back of his neck nervously, “I need you to trust me, sweetheart.” You smile at him, “I always trust you Eddie.” The sentiment makes his heart go warm, those three simple words have him nearly breathless. He swallows, “I need you to close your eyes.” He says, still holding on to your hands.
You follow him without a hint of hesitation. “There’s no peeking.” Eddie demands, “I won’t, I promise.” You hear Eddie scoff, “You always peek.”
“No I don’t.” Your voice filled with shock.
“You most definitely do, sweetheart.”
“I just want you to know that I’m deeply offended by this.” You say dramatically, “As you should be, sweetheart.” Carefully Eddie guides you around the back of the trailer, with one of his hands resting on the lower part of your back while the other holds your hand.
When you reach the ladder, you peak. Opening just one eye. “Eddie?” You ask, “No.” Is all he says before he’s trying to reach around and put his hand over your eyes. “Did I just see a ladder?” Eddei groans, “Maybe you did, maybe you didn’t.”
“Are you making me climb onto your roof?” You ask, "Potentially now stop guessing” he mutters to himself, “Eddie you are so unbelievable” You squeal, “Please?” He begs, you take a moment and look up at him, seeing the anxiety written on his face. “Okay, Eds.” You say softly.
It’s one careful step at a time, the two of you climbing onto the roof of his trailer. The autumn breeze is cooler up on the roof, and you can see the leaves getting drifted away all through the trailer park. Somewhere in the far off distance, there are children laughing as they run from house to another with pillows cases and decorated candy baskets in their hands.
Music is playing from halloween parties that are happening all over Hawkins, “Keep those eyes closed now, sweetheart.” Eddie reminds you, "I'm trying.” You whisper, Eddie leads you a little longer until he reaches the fairy lights, and whispers into your ear. “Ready?”
You hum, and nod. “Open your eyes then.” You open your eyes slowly, and then they go wide. There are lights that are strung up, a blanket that covers most of the rooftop, pillows that are piled up high, next to an old telescope.
There’s a pumpkin, candy, hot apple cider, and records.
With everything glowing in the clear october setting sun. You simply stare at the display in front of you. “Eddie…” Eddie doesn’t stop to think anything more then you must hate it all, “I know the roof is a little ugly…” But you’re quick to cut the man off, “No…” Still Eddie continues on, “That antenna probably looks super weird too…” “Eddie!” You shout this time, “And that fucking pumpkin tried to escape earlier.” He rambles on.
You turn on him so quickly that the sheer movement has him stopping completely. “You did all of this?” You ask him. Eddie just gives you an awkward shrug of his shoulders. “Yeah…” “For me?” You ask, “Well…” You watch as he kicks his boot against the roof, “I figured that everyone else would be doing loud music, and lots of drinking.”
“And you?”
“I wanted…” The words die on his tongue for a moment. His eyes meet yours. “…you.” He says finally finishing his thought. Your heart melts in your chest, “You wanted me all to yourself.” Eddie gives you a crooked smile, “I always want you, sweetheart.”
His words come so naturally that he almost doesn’t even realize that he’s spoken them. There’s a light blush that creeps up and covers the tops of his cheeks. You smile so brightly that Eddie nearly looks away, “That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me, Eddie.”
“Oh, c’mon be serious with me.”
“I am serious, Eds.”
“It’s just a roof, sweetheart.”
“It isn’t and you know it.”
You slowly turn in a circle on top of the roof with Eddie standing beside you. “You remembered my favorite cider.” He hums, staring down at the blanket. “And you bought those caramel apples.” You say pointing towards them. “That’s because you love them.”
You smile, and the ghosts catch your eyes, “You even painted these little ghosts.” His brows go high on his forehead, “I can see the paint on your hands still, Eds.” He smiles and looks down at them, “They’re kinda goofy.” Eddie says laughing, “They’re adorable.“ You counter.
“They’re us.” Eddie mumbles.
“They’re us?” You ask barely catching what Eddie said. “This one is definitely you.” You say point toward a ghost that is a little wild, and messy. “And this one…” You pick another one that wears a little tiny crown made out of autumn flowers. “This one is me.” You say with a tiny smile on your lips.
Eddie can’t help but laugh, “Okay… maybe.” For the next few hours, the two of you just live in your own little world above Hawkins. You share your candy with Eddie, and wrap yourselves up in the blankets that Eddie brought up.
You both take turns looking through the telescope despite the simple fact that neither of you know what the hell you’re looking up at. “I’m ninety-nine percent sure that’s Jupiter." Eddie says. “Eddie, seriously.” Eddie looks over his shoulder, “What?” He questions.
“That’s the moon.” Eddie opens his mouth to say something else, but lands on “I knew that.” You shake your head, “No you didn’t.” He dramatically clutches at his heart with both hands. “You’ve wounded me, sweetheart.”
It’s later when the record player is playing, and you're resting against Eddie’s shoulder. Below the two of you Halloween continues to carry on. Above you the stars stretch endlessly in every single direction. “You know.” You murmur. Eddie hums, encouraging you to continue. “I'm really glad that we skipped that party.” You admit. “Yeah?” He asks with some child-like wonder in his voice. “I think this is way better.” Eddie smiles but not that you can tell, “…me too.” Eddie says sheepishly.
Silence seems to settle between you. The silence is comfortable, and easy. That is until Eddie starts to get in his head. You notice the shift in the air, “What are you thinking about, Eds?” You ask, and you can suddenly sense the gestation in his body. He sighs heavily. “I’ve never really…” He starts to play with his fingers nervously and spins the rings on his fingers. “I’ve never been really good at sayin’ important stuff.”
“Eds you don’t have to be.”
He shrugs, “I kinda do.”
“You don't." You argue.
“No I really do.” You sit up now, facing Eddie. The fairy light reflects softly on his face, and he looks terrified, more scared than you had seen him when he faced whatever the hell Hawkins had thrown his way. “I’ve fought literal fucking monster.” You blink, “I’ve seen things that shouldn’t exist straight into their faces.’
His voice is quiet, and small.
“I’ve stood there pretending that I wasn’t scared one bit.” He laughs softly, “I usually was.” You reach for his hand gently. “But none of them…” His thumbs brushes over the tops of your knuckles. “Scare me that way that this right here does.”
“What?”
“Loving you.” He admits. You feel your breath get caught in your lungs, “I know the monsters, I know how to fight those things. What I don’t know is how to survive you deciding someday that I’m too much, or hell I’m not enough.” His voice cracked at the end.
“Too loud, too quiet.” “Too weird, and obsessive.” “Too broken, and unfixable.
He laughs bitterly, “I;m more afraid of you breaking my heart…” His eyes finally meet yours. Brown eyes are so full of love, and hope but also of sadness and fear. “… Than I could ever be of whatever monsters are still underneath this shitty town.
The world all around you seems to stop, even the distant sounds of kids screaming and playing, the music from parties fades into the background on it all. The only thing you can hear is your heart beating hard against your chest.
You cup Eddie’s face in your hand softly, and gently as you can. “Oh, Eds.” He breathes out, “I know it’s a lot.”
You smile, “You big sweet idiot." “I just…” Eddie swallows hard, “I love you.” He admits. The words come out almost like a confession.
Fragile, terrified, but true.
“I love you so much that it’s honestly scarier than anything else that’s ever fucking happened me, sweetheart.” The tears that come blur your vision. “Eds, you don’t have to earn my love.” He nods, “I know that.”
“You don’t have to build rooftops.” You say softly. “I know.” Eddie mutters, not truly listening to you. “You don’t have to paint little ghosts for me.” You continue. “I know, sweetheart.”
“I already chose you, Eds.” He blinks, “You did?” He asks with brows raised up to the sky. “I choose you every day.” There’s a single tear that escapes down his cheek. You wipe it away with the pad of your thumb before leaning forward and pressing a kiss to his lips.
It’s long, and slow. Full with every answer he had ever hoped for. When you finally pull away, you rest your forehead against his. “I love you too.” You admit. The words are soft and they settle every fear that had been rising in his chest.
Below the porch lights start to blink on as children continue to run around the trailer park. Above you the stars glitter. Wrapped up together beneath the warm blankets, Eddie realizes that maybe for the first time he’s the right way to say what had been living in his heart. It’s not perfect speeches, it’s not a grand declaration in front of crowds.
It’s fairy lights, painted ghosts, a rooftop under the stars, and the quiet truth that mattered the most. Because well monsters can fight but love you. Loving you enough to risk the thought of losing you. Would always be the bravest thing Eddie ever did in his entire life.