Work Text:
Never Enough Tattoos
Lucas could see the boat rocking slightly as Eddie was the one to stand up, shrugging out of his denim vest, leather jacket, and finally tugged his Hellfire shirt over his head, tossing them into the boat.
“When did Eddie have so many tattoos?” Lucas said aloud, asking Dustin next to him. “Isn’t he only like twenty?”
“Right?” Dustin agreed. “They’re cool but I tried convincing him they won’t look as good as he gets older and will lose the attention of any guys he likes.”
“Do you really believe that?” Lucas asked, using the binoculars to look between Eddie, Steve, Nancy, and Robin. “I’ve seen some people who have them in old age and they look fine, plus, Eddie’s never been open about his dating life, so we have no idea how many men actually like him.”
Dustin chuckled at that. “Maybe we know someone who likes him.”
Lucas lowered the binoculars, shaking his head. “Just because you and El were painfully obvious about your crushes on Nancy, doesn’t mean anyone else.”
Dustin shrugged, reaching for the binoculars. “We don’t know that. But they need to hurry up, we’re sort of on borrowed time here, Max and Will are in danger every second we delay.”
They heard leaves crunching behind them and turned to see Mike walking over. He took the binoculars from Lucas as he mumbled, “Let me see,” and held them up to his face, staring straight ahead at the boat. For several long moments that felt like eternity, the three boys didn’t say anything.
Dustin and Lucas were sharing bewildered glances as Mike still continued to look.
“Mike, what are you-” Lucas started to say, but was interrupted by Mike hissing “Shhh!” He snapped his mouth shut, really not sure what to do.
Finally, after what felt like forever, Mike lowered the binoculars, nodded once, handed them to Dustin, and walked off without another word. Dustin and Lucas watched him go, mouths open in shock and a little disbelief.
“Did… did he just…”
“Yeah, I think so."
They lapsed into silence as Dustin lifted the binoculars, watching as Eddie dived in.
“You know I’ve seen Max do that,” Lucas admitted. “With Steve.”
“El’s done it with Nancy,” Dustin added in a mumble, then slowly lowered the binoculars as the gears in his brain turned. “Do you think Will has a thing for Eddie too?”
Lucas laughed. “Are you kidding? He can’t even hold a conversation with Eddie, but I think he’s done with it with Mike.”
Dustin rolled his eyes. “They’re so obvious, it’s painful.”
“I HEARD THAT!” Mike called through the trees, and Dustin and Lucas had to clap their hands over their mouths to resist bursting out laughing. Dustin looked back at the older group; Eddie had swum back up, and had his arms over the edge of the boat, talking with Steve, Nancy, and Robin.
Rapid footsteps approached from behind, and Mike ran up. “We’ve got a problem, we need to go!” he said urgently, looking over his shoulder as they heard voices, and flashlights began to shine through the trees.
“No,” Dustin hissed as the four crouched down. “Eddie’s just found the gate, they can’t be found, and what if they try to get us to tell them where Will, El, and Max are?”
Mike just shook his head. “Alright… Follow my lead, and whatever you do, no matter happens, do not crack.” He then straightened up and waved a hand through the trees, calling out, “Hey, hey! We’re over here!”
“Mike!”
“Just come on!”
Mike then took off running through the trees, and Dustin and Lucas scrambled to keep up.