Chapter Text
Eddie slumped back in his chair, frustration lining his face as he desperately sought inspiration. He absentmindedly played with a strand of hair, nervously nibbling on it in anticipation. The weight of his responsibility as Hellfire's dungeon master pressed heavily upon him, and he longed for something extraordinary to ignite the final chapter of his campaign. His mind raced, but every idea seemed idiotic and overused.
With a sigh, Eddie leaned back even further, stretching his body in a feeble attempt to alleviate the mounting pressure. Three long years he had spent as the dungeon master, and while he wore the title proudly. The empty room echoed with memories of the countless quests he had embarked upon with his friends. Just last week, Dustin had convinced "King" Steve to join them in their after-school adventures, albeit as an observer rather than a participant. Eddie chuckled at the memory of gang's annoyance with Steve's incessant questions.
Eddie's phone buzzed, catching his attention. Opening it, he found a sweet text from Billy.
Billy: Hey lovely, how's the campaign going?
Eddie couldn't help but grin, feeling warmed by the pet name. He chewed on his lower lip, quickly texting back.
Eddie: I'm a bit stuck :( I've been staring at it for too long. Maybe I need a break from the campaign to clear my head. Miss you.
Eddie blushed and quickly closed his phone, gathering his guides and spirals to pack them up. Meeting Billy online several months ago had been a blessing. Their connection was instant, fueled by their shared love for metal music, D&D, as well as their rebellious spirit to be free. It was Billy who truly saw Eddie for who he was, an omega masking as an alpha, and the man accepted him completely.
As he was about to leave the classroom, his phone rang, and he couldn't help but chuckle when he saw Billy's FaceTime request. With his backpack securely on his shoulder, Eddie locked up the classroom and swiped to accept the call.
Billy: "Well hello beautiful," Billy whistled, a seductive smile spreading across his face. "Heading home?"
Eddie's face reddened at the compliment, a deep blush burning his cheeks. They had exchanged I love you weeks ago, revealing their deep feelings and acknowledging the potential for something more. However, the bitter reality remained that Billy lived thousands of miles away in California. Even though Eddie had resigned himself to cherishing whatever connection they could have, the thought of never being able to see Billy in person stabbed at his heart. He quickly shook off the overwhelming sadness, forcing a bright smile to mask his inner heartbreak.
"Yes! I'm starving," Eddie replied with forced cheerfulness, struggling to hide his sadness. "I didn't have lunch today, so the hot pockets back home are practically calling my name." He let out a laugh, desperate to maintain a cheerful facade. But the concern in Billy's eyes couldn't be ignored.
"Why didn't you eat, baby?" Billy's voice softened with genuine worry.
Eddie swung open the door of his van and hopped inside, tossing his backpack onto the passenger seat. He carefully placed his phone on the dash mount, ready to hit the road. "Ugh, Jason was such a jerk," he casually complained, searching for his keys and failing to notice the flicker of anger in Billy's eyes. "He ‘accidentally’ knocked my lunch out of my hands, like, seriously?" Eddie shrugged, dismissing the incident with a nonchalant wave.
Billy's protective instincts instantly flared up, his gaze filled with fiery determination. He couldn't help but adore how fiercely Billy stood up for him - it made Eddie feel safe and cherished. "That guy is lucky I'm not there," Billy remarked, a hint of venom seeping into his voice.
Eddie still unaware to his boyfriends agitation was thoroughly amused by his own absurd train of thought. "You know what, maybe Jason secretly has a crush on me," he mused, his laughter bubbling over. "And this whole mean guy act is just his way of seeking my attention. Can you imagine? The jock and the freak, what a pair that'd make! The entire school would be in for a surprise!" Eddie's playful teasing echoed.
Eddie's laughter slowly died down, and he glanced over at Billy, suddenly noticing the heavy silence that hung between them. His heart sank as he saw the sadness that filled the alphas soft blue eyes. “Billy..babe.. I-I didn't mean any of that," Eddie stammered, his voice filled with remorse. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment, regret washing over him. "I was just kidding... Please, believe me when I say that the only person who truly has my heart is you. I promise."
As Eddie spoke, the sadness in Billy's eyes gradually faded, replaced by his familiar, warm, and loving smile. "It's okay, darlin'," Billy softly reassured him. "I know you were just joking. Still pisses me off that he kept you from eating though"
Eddie omega couldn't help but be relieved by Billy's understanding and forgiveness. The corners of his lips reached for a genuine smile. However, underneath that smile, a flicker of unease remained. As magical as this felt, Eddie couldn't help but feel like it was too good to be true. He held onto a fear that the older man would wake up one day and see Eddie the way he saw himself, nothing. The tension was temporarily eased, but the nagging fear of Billy leaving never truly disappeared.
The sound of someone calling to Billy off camera drew the alphas attention. ”Alright baby, well I gotta head to practice now. Gonna try out some new songs. Oh! Don’t forget the package I sent you should arrive today” His admiration for Billy's incredible kindness flashed across his face as he nodded. "I'll call you later, okay?" Eddie sought assurance in Billy's nod and waved at the phone as the call disconnected,
Arriving home Eddie trudged up the steps of the trailer, the journey feeling more monotonous than ever. Each step he took seemed to deepen the longing that tugged at his heart. This place, a suffocating town, to leave behind and move with Billy. The thought danced through his mind, tempting him with the possibilities of a life far away from here. 'Maybe Billy would even welcome the idea,' Eddie mused, hope flickering in his eyes.
Lost in his daydreams, Eddie arrived at the familiar front door, only to realize that it had been left unlocked. Still lost in thought he chalked the door up to his own forgetfulness and carelessly dropped his backpack onto the counter, his mind still day dreaming of his California love.
An angry growl from his stomach pulled him back to reality, reminding him that he hadn't eaten all day. He quickly prepared himself two hot pockets, their delicious buttery scent wafting through the air as he placed them on a plate. With a heavy sigh, Eddie settled down at the table, his mind still tangled in a web of longing and uncertainty.
Eddie pulled his backpack over and retrieved his headphones and portable player. He clicked play, flooding his ears with the mixtape Billy had curated just for him. As the first notes blared to life, he began to relax, each bite of his hot pocket accompanied by the rhythm of the music.
Unbeknownst to Eddie, a mischievous figure had slowly emerged from his hiding spot in the bedroom. Dustin, adorned with a shit eating grin, crept closer and closer to the unsuspecting older boy. With a sudden burst of energy, Dustin screeched Eddie's name right beside him, causing the older boy to lose all sense of balance. Arms flailing, Eddie toppled backward, crashing harshly onto the floor and rolling a few times in an attempt to regain stability.
As confusion washed over him, Eddie snapped his eyes upward, a mix of panic and concern rushing through his veins. He braced himself for a confrontation with a potential intruder, but instead was met with the sight of a hunched-over Dustin, laughing so hard that tears streamed down his face.
"Sorry, Eds, couldn't resist," Dustin shrugged, his eyes dancing mischievously. Eddie's grin turned sinister as he lunged at the younger boy, causing them both to crash onto the ground. With a victorious smile, Eddie plopped himself down on Dustin's chest. "Consider this a punishment for your clear act of insubordination," he scolded, pretending to be filled with fury.
Dustin squirmed under Eddie's hold, his arms flailing as he tried to free himself. In the midst of their playful scuffle, Dustin suddenly froze, sniffing the air with curiosity. "Hey, don't even think about it, Henderson. I do have hygiene standards" Eddie maintained his dominant position atop Dustin, refusing to budge. “Were you with an omega earlier?" the younger boy asked, scanning the room with a puzzled expression.
He playfully poked at Eddie's chest as he teased, "Is that the secret crush you've been hiding from us?”
The dungeon master cleared his throat, his eyes darting around nervously as he stood up quickly. "Yeah, you caught me red-handed," he admitted, taking a few steps back. Dustin pouted, taking another whiff of the air. "Whoever she is, she has a pretty scent, no Suzie but still pretty" he exclaimed, trying to lighten the mood and snap his friend out of his trance.
Eddie blushed, crossing his arms and nervously rocking on his heels. "Well, she's...shy, so let's just forget about it," he mumbled. "Anyway, Dustie-buns, why did you ambush me? Is there a reason behind this?" Eddie grinned mischievously, giving the Cheshire Cat a run for his money. Dustin's jaw dropped at the nickname. "Who the hell told you?" he cried, realizing that Eddie would exploit the nickname to his advantage. Eddie giggled, waving his hand in the air as if mimicking a flying bird. Another scowl flashed across Dustin's face as he crossed his arms and pouted. "Steve invited everyone over for movie night, and I asked if you could come, so here I am.”
Just as Eddie was about to reply, he received a text message with Billy's distinctive tone. He missed hanging out with the kids, but he cherished every moment he had with Billy. With their busy schedules dividing their time between practice, work, and school, they didn't have many opportunities to talk. He had already promised to give Billy a call.
"Um... I actually have plans, Henderson," Eddie said, bringing his hand to the back of his head and looking away. Before Dustin could start whining, a sudden realization hit him. "Oh, I see. Plans with that omega who always smells so good, right?" He winked at Eddie, trying to tease him.
Eddie sheepishly grinned and nodded, wary of revealing the truth. "Alright, I'll let everyone know you were busy. Be sure to let your friend know she smells amazing. Someone with a scent like that must be really attractive," Dustin smiled, winking once more before stepping out of the trailer. “Before I forget there was a huge package for you, left it on your bed. Bye Eddie!” He yelled before slamming the door.
He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding and brought his hands up to his face, chuckling as he rubbed his forehead. The kid would be the death of him.
The reminder of the package sent a surge of excitement through him, causing him to bounce down the hallway to his bedroom. A soft blush spread across his cheeks as he caught sight of the gift perched on his bed.Unable to contain his joy, he quickly snapped a photo of himself holding the box with a silly grin before sending it off to Billy. “Look what I got! It’s not the hand of my foe is it?” he laughed, reveling in his own humor.
Without wasting a single second, he swiftly tore away the wrapping paper, revealing a beautifully carved, dark wooden chest. Delicate carved vines adorned the lid and sides, the words "For my beloved..." were lovingly inscribed on top. His heart fluttered with anticipation as he carefully unlocked the lid, but his excitement was interrupted by the chiming sound of a FaceTime call from Billy.
Billy's sheepish grin melted Eddie's heart, sending a delightful giggle through his lips. His confident alpha, now slightly nervous, made Eddie's affection for him swell. Billy cleared his throat, mustering up the courage to speak. "Okay, so I've been planning this in my head, and your gifts are part two of this plan," he explained.
Eddie's eyes widened with awe, trying to hold back tears of happiness. No one had ever gone above and beyond for him like this. He nodded eagerly, urging Billy to continue.
"The new song I've written... it's dedicated to you, my baby. Would you let me play it for you?” Eddie's eyes welled up with tears, and he hastily wiped them away with the back of his jacket. "Yes... of course," he choked out. Billy scooted his chair back, ensuring that Eddie had a clear view of the man he had fallen so deeply in love with. With his guitar resting against his chest, Billy began to serenade his beloved slowly and tenderly.
~ Follow You ~ Bring Me The Horizon
Eddie found himself transfixed by the man standing before him, unable to tear his gaze away. He had always loved Billy, they had grown from friends to lovers. Billy constantly told him that he loved him, but this moment felt so much more significant. "Billy... was that really for me?" Eddie struggled to say, his voice choked with emotion. The alpha gently set down the guitar and brought the phone back up to his face, nodding in affirmation. "I love you so much, Eddie. I’m sorry that I can't be there in person to do this." As confusion clouded Eddie's face, Billy nodded towards the forgotten chest. Placing his phone against his pillows, allowing Billy to watch, Eddie carefully lifted the lid.
A delightful aroma composed of notes of nutmeg, bergamot, smoke, and vanilla gracefully enveloped Eddie's senses. Placed alongside a separate beautifully wrapped gift, there sat a cherished jean jacket, meticulously folded. Unable to resist its temptation, Eddie naturally brought it to his face, gently inhaling the intoxicating scent. It was the unmistakable fragrance of his alpha, a scent that exuded love and protective warmth, soothing his very core. A contented purr escaped Eddie's lips as he contemplated the significance of the gift. Was Billy asking to court him, Eddie “The Freak” Munson? Eddie’s gaze shifted towards his phone, a tender smile gracing his lips. “Don’t stop angel, theres more”, the alpha encouraged.
With a firm grip on his alpha's jacket, Eddie snuggled himself inside the oversized garment. A tinge of sadness tugged at his heart, wishing for Billy's presence. Concealing his face, Eddie delved into the box, uncovering a meticulously wrapped gift in a lush forest green paper. Unfolding it with anticipation, he let out a gasp in surprise. There was no mistaking the intention behind Billy's gift. Gently placing the paper aside, Eddie admired the enchanting double-row collar. He was captivated by the slender black band, its touch sending a shiver down his spine. The silver necklace attached to it was adorned with a stunning face down crescent moon pendant at its center. Overwhelmed by emotion, Eddie dared to utter, "Billy...is this...are you asking...?" Fear of assuming too much tinged his voice, leaving the question hanging in the air.
“Eddie, my breathtaking beauty, my angel, my love, my omega, will you give me the honor of courting you”. Eddie's heart fluttered with excitement as he clung to his now most prized possessions. Chewing on his bottom lip, his eyes met the alpha's, a mixture of emotions fighting to be expressed. "Yes...yes, a million times. I want to be yours, alpha." With trembling hands he raised the collar to his neck and secured it with ease a rush of nerves washing over him as it locked.
Eddie took his lunch tray and made his way towards his table. He saw Dustin, Robin, Gareth, and Mike immersed in a lively discussion. Smiling to himself, the cool metal of the pendant on his chest was a loving reminder of his courting. Consumed by his own love struck thoughts, Eddie failed to notice the foot that suddenly tripped him, causing his tray to collide with the chest of none other than Jason Carver.
Eddie cursed under his breath, frustrated at missing yet another lunch. This was the second day in a row. Meanwhile, Jason's smile vanished as the pizza slipped from his shirt to the floor with a squish. Without warning, he lunged at Eddie, gripping his shirt and hoisting him off the ground. Their faces hovered dangerously close together. "You frea..." Jason's anger seemed to dissipate abruptly, transforming into a curious expression as he leaned in and gentle breathed in the scent at Eddie’s neck.
"Hey, you royal dipshit, kindly unhand me!" Eddie hollered, yanking Jason out of his enchanted stupor. He was ever so gradually eased back onto solid ground.
His omega instinctively took a step back, a wave of alarm washing over him. Eddie couldn't quite understand why. In the distance, a teacher's voice shouted for their attention. "Saturday detention for both of you!" The teacher approached, positioning himself between the two boys. "Jason, I expected better from you. You're a star player and a model student. What a disappointment," he sighed, then turned to Eddie. "And you, Mr. Munson, don't be late.”
Eddie nervously crossed his arms and glanced over at the Hellfire Club. Dustin locked eyes, smiling and shaking his head. Eddie gave an ‘ops’ grin and shrugged his shoulders knowing their plans were postponed. It wasn't unexpected; Eddie had a habit of getting Saturday detentions. However, he held out hope that he might have been good this week and escaped punishment. Ignoring the teacher's lecture on being a "model" citizen, Eddie's attention shifted to Jason, who was fixated on him with an unsettling smile. It felt as if Jason was studying him, akin to a predator stalking its prey, his omega whimpered.
A wave of nervous tension raced through his body in response to that unsettling gaze. Eddie instinctively averted his eyes, feeling a sense of unease wash over him. He and Jason had their fair share of heated arguments, but this was something entirely different. "What's his deal?" Eddie wondered to himself as he swiftly turned and walked away, no longer able to withstand the intensity of Jason's stare. In the distance, he could hear the teacher calling his name. "Yeah, yeah, I'll be there on Saturday, you don't have to keep reminding warden," Eddie scoffed, offering a mock salute before exiting the scene, leaving the two behind.
Taking his seat next to Dustin, Eddie received a lackluster shove. "Eddie, we've rescheduled this campaign three times now!" Dustin whined, giving him a look of disappointment. Eddie pulled him into a tight hug, gently patting his head. "I understand, Henderson, but fear not! Our postponements were not in vain! I vanquished the king's right-hand man, for what is a king without his lackeys?" Eddie chuckled and dramatized his hand movements as if relaying an epic tale.
"Yeah, well, we can still have the campaign Saturday evening at Steve's place once your out. He said we can all crash there and play all night!" the eager beta declared, a grin stretching from ear to ear.
"Ah, yes, staying at King Steve's castle. I'm surprised he didn't cancel immediately when he found out 'The Freak' was coming," Eddie smirked.
"Steve's not like that, you know it. He’s changed," Dustin replied, rolling his eyes at the dungeon master.
"Sure, Dustie-buns, I bet he likes me as much as Robin 'likes' Vicky over there," Eddie quipped, taking a sip of Dustin's coke and winking at his lovely birdie.
Eddie found himself on the receiving end of Robin's deadly projectile, an empty paper lunch bag. Her glare had a language of its own, declaring, "Silence or suffer!" Unable to resist a comeback, Robin chimed in, “Such a lovely collar I mean necklace, Eddie." She flashed a mischievous smile, fully aware of the chaos she unleashed. Opening the floodgates, the rest of the group began bombarding Eddie with questions, leaving him no chance for escape.
The group erupted in a frenzy of excitement. “Is that a mating collar?” ”You're dating?! Why didn't you say anything?!" The interrogations rained down on poor Eddie like a relentless storm. Overwhelmed, he slammed his hands on the table, causing a resounding crash. Nervously scanning the group, he yelled, "Shut up! It's just a necklace, you morons. Drop it!" The dungeon master, hoping for a swift end to the chaos, mustered a weak smile and quickly looked away.
Suddenly, a prickling sensation crept up his neck. He reluctantly turned around, only to lock eyes with Jason, eyes still burning with curiosity, that smile never leaving his face. Dustin, ever observant, whistled beside him, clearly noting Eddie's discomfort. "He looks happy," Dustin remarked.
"Thank you, Sherlock Holmes!" Eddie sarcastically responded, bowing dramatically to Dustin. "What would we ever do without your incredible deductive skills?"
Eddie desperately tried to focus on the group's conversations, attempting to ignore the unrelenting gaze that Jason had fixed upon him.