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(Saturday 12th August 1988)
It was a warm summers evening as Hopper drove his patrol car around Hawkins. The sun had nearly set and dusk was starting to fade. He turned his car down the dirt road that led to the lookout over the quarry. It was always a nice spot to relax in for a while and watch the as the light faded and the stars came out. It was also a local ‘makeout spot’ for the young people of Hawkins and it was always mildly entertaining to find parked cars up there and disturb the local teenagers from their makeout sessions.
He had been young once, and it was a rite of passage to be caught by local law enforcement and sent on your way with a stern comment to be home by curfew… he was upholding local traditions by doing this.
Ahh, perfect… he thought to himself as he turned the corner around the trees and saw a parked car at the edge of the quarry. An absolute cliché, complete with steamed up windows. He made sure the headlights were on high and flicked on the siren, just to sound once, he didn’t want to scare the kids to death. Just warn them, to give them a chance to make themselves decent.
He parked his patrol car and got out with a smirk, looking over at the parked car in the low evening light. Only to pause, the smirk dropping from his face, he recognised that car. It was a very familiar BMW.
He let out an exasperated sigh and rolled his eyes heavenward, wondering what he had done in a past life to be punished like this. Now normally, he would go and rap on the front window of the car (not looking inside, obviously) and tell the occupants to make themselves decent and get out of the car. In this instance he honestly thought about just getting back in his truck, turning around, driving away and never speaking of this again to anyone.
See, he knew exactly who was inside that BMW and whilst he loved the pair of them, he absolutely did not want to risk seeing them in a compromising position. He was going nowhere near that vehicle until he knew both occupants were fully dressed and presentable.
He leant back on the grill of his truck with his arms cross, it only took a few moments for the back door of the BMW to open and as predicted, a ruffled looking Eddie Munson sidled out of the back seat. He lounged between the car frame and the open door, with a smug smile on his face as he drawled, “Heeey Hop, how’s it going?”
Hopper squinted at him, something about Eddie looked… off. But he didn’t know what. His long hair was tied back in a ponytail, but that wasn’t it. Since Haley had learnt how to grab things, Eddie had taken to tying his long wavy hair up, to keep it out of the way of tiny, grappy hands. Haley loved to latch onto her father’s hair. So, it wasn’t his hair that was throwing Hopper, but something was definitely different, regardless of his slightly rumpled appearance at being caught.
Anyway, it was irrelevant that something seemed weird about Eddie, Hopper was annoyed. Whether he cared about these culprits or not, they shouldn’t be out here and risking being caught for indecent exposure. Also, they aren’t teenagers sneaking away for a few hours of privacy before curfew, they were adults that should know better. He frowned at Eddie in irritation, “You boys have a house. I know, because I helped paint it.”
Eddie grinned back at him, because that boy was, and always will be, shameless, “We do, we do have a house. But we also have a fourteen-month-old and a Robin there as well…” he trailed off, before giving Hopper a sly look, which instantly made Hopper suspicious as he continued, “Besides Hop, have you and Joyce never tried to recapture your youth? Relive some old high school days?”
Before Hopper could even open his mouth to retort a strangled noise came from inside the car. “Eddie!” Steve hissed, and his scarlet, scandalised face appeared as he crawled out of the backseat. He stood up next to his boyfriend, looking mortified at Eddie’s smug face.
Hopper glowered at Eddie, but it didn’t seem to have much effect if his his guiltless, smug grin was anything to go by. Hopper switched his gaze to Steve, who at least had the decency to look embarrassed at being caught. Steve’s hand was rubbing at the back of his neck as he awkwardly started to talk, avoiding eye contact, “Hey Hop. Sorry, about this…”
Hopper squinted at him, now that he was fully out of the car, he could finally take Steve in fully and… “What the hell are you wearing?”
Steve was in blacked ripped jeans, that quite frankly, looked too small on him. His black top may have once been a T-shirt, but the neck and arm holes had been cut and stretched so that they were hardly covering anything. The blue denim vest over the top was covered in sew patches and totally not Steve’s style and oh… he was wearing Eddie’s clothes.
Hoppers eyes widened as he suddenly realised what looked so wrong about Eddie, he was in a preppy polo shirt and sensible khakis, not a rip or bit of leather in sight.
“Don’t answer that!” Hopper cut them off before either of them could answer, “I don’t wanna know.” He screwed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose. He really was being punished, seeing as he now knew this bit of information about Steve and Eddie. Two boys he loved like sons.
“Aww Hop, don’t you think Stevie Boy here looks good as a metal-head?”
Hopper dropped his hand and raised his head to glower at Eddie, his frown deepening as he took in Eddie’s expression. He looked positively gleeful at tormenting Hopper. Scratch Hopper’s earlier thoughts, he hated Eddie Munson. The man was a menace.
“Eddie, stoppit!” Steve exclaimed, batting at his boyfriend with his hand, his cheeks a scarlet red. It had no effect on Eddie who continued to grin at both of them.
Hopper let out another heavy sigh, this wasn’t getting them anywhere, “Look, if you two wanted some alone time, just drop Haley off at our house. You know we don’t mind babysitting and then you can do whatever you want at home. Or go for a night out in the city! But don’t be here, doing something illegal! How would it look if I arrested my newest Officer less than a week after he earned his badge?”
Hopper was watching Steve’s face carefully as he spoke, it took Steve a second to register what he had said as he blinked at Hoper a couple of times before his face went through a multitude of emotions, confusion, alarm, realisation and then a blinding grin, “I passed?”
Hopper couldn’t help but grin back at him, truly happy at the news. Steve had deserved to pass all of his officer training, he had been working so hard and had been committed to becoming the best Officer he could be. When Hopper had seen the official looking parcel arrive in the post at the station yesterday, he had been so proud of him.
“Yeah son, you’re officially a fully fledged Police Officer of Hawkins. Your graduation ceremony will be in a few weeks…. Admittedly, this isn’t quite the way I pictured telling you, but I’m still proud of you, you deserve it.”
Steve’s face lit up in a smile as Eddie grabbed him in a big hug, “Steve, love, I am so proud of you. I knew you could do it!” He got out as he pressed kisses all over the side of Steve’s face.
Steve giggled and twisted in his arms to hug Eddie properly, “Thank you for believing in me,” Hopper heard him murmur quietly.
Eddie had a soft smile on his face as he squeezed Steve back, “Always,” he whispered back.
They stayed in each others’ arms even as they pulled back to look at each other before Steve turned to Hopper with a smile, “Hop…”
“C’mere kid,” he stepped forward and opened his arms wide as Steve moved to hug him, Eddie releasing him from his hold and regarding the both of them with a smile.
“Congrats Steve. I’m proud of you.” Steve squeezed him tighter as he spoke before whispering back, “Thank you Hopper. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
He lent back to regard Steve, “You would have done, but you don’t have too,” after everything Steve had been through and overcome, he deserved the world. Hopper was so proud that he got to witness him come into his own and guide him going forwards.
“Right, I’ll see you on Monday and we can finish the official paperwork and you can get you your badge. Now go home, the pair of you!” He gave them both a stern look as Eddie came up to them and put his arm around Steve’s shoulders, nuzzling the side of his head.
“Sure we will Hop,” Eddie dismissed him before murmuring into Steve’s ear, “Hmm, an officer of the law… are you gonna put me in your back seat and drive me home…?”
“Stop it. I mean it!” Hopper scowled at them, these kids were going to put him in an early grave, he started to walk back to his car, “I’ll be driving back this way in 30 minutes, you two had better not be here!”
As he opened the car door he heard Eddie’s deep voice mutter, “There’s a lot we can accomplish in 30 minutes…”
“10 MINUTES! I’ll be back in 10 minutes!” He shouted back at them, resulting in Eddie throwing his head back and cackling.
“Oh c’mon Hop, you’re no fun!” He hollered back.
Hopper flipped him off as he got back into the car and slammed the driver’s door, looking back at them to see Steve with his head in his hands and Eddie’s affronted looking face, “Rude! See if I bring you any donuts on Friday!” Was his parting shot as Hopper drove away. He couldn’t help but crack a smile, happy for the pair of them and especially for Steve, having accomplished what he had.
He only hoped that he didn’t catch them in any other Hawkins’ makeout spots in the future.