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candied-cae · 1 year

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And Who Are We At The End Of The World? - Please, Be Gentle with My Breaks - II

Chapter 17/? - - - Read it on AO3

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Word Count: 7,561

Summary: There's a difference between being broken and having a few breaks. But a lot of these kids and been dealt a lot of blows, and not just from physical monsters of the Upside Down. There's still a lot of stuff hidden just under the surface that they haven't been able to show just yet.

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The next morning, everyone in Hellfire had stopped by the hospital for a visit.

It was a very busy room that Thursday. And the nurses warned the whole slew of them to take it easy on him. Eddie might’ve been on the mend, but he was supposed to destress and let his body take care of itself while it began to cover over wounds with scabs to one day become scars.

That’d been an idea to wrap his head around.

Scars. Big ones.

Not just little lines of them from scrapes or spots from embers or other sorts of accidents. But real, big scars. The kind that showed a war had ravaged his body, or something like one. Which was the easiest way to imagine what he’s been through anyway. So, big scars were in store for him. Acted less like something small to point out and tell the story of; and more like a bold accessory - more similar to his own tattoos, more obvious, in that regard - but ones he couldn't really tell the truth about.

However, the gang gathering around him was a welcome distraction to the thought of his flesh trying to piece itself together and with baby fresh skin. With the wrong color and texture compared to the rest of it.

Dustin showed up with a small box of things he’d effectively stolen from the Munson trailer that morning. A couple tapes he grabbed, a player with headphones, a tattered blanket from the floor of his bedroom, a couple books, and his D&D notebook. A few general things Wayne recommended would help Eddie survive all the time spent in the sickbed until he was sent on his way home.

Lucas had wandered in with a similar assortment of wares for Max. A blanket off her own bed, studio pictures she’d taken with El, some of her comic books, and he brought in a stuffed tiger she won and gave to him last summer. She joked that it was going to keep an eye on him and make sure he didn't go messing around with monsters again. Maybe it could watch out for her this time. They were all things that he knew had no real way of making her wake up sooner but even so, he secretly hoped they might help. Somehow.

Mike started making jokes about bringing over some bean bag chairs from his basement to make the hospital room more welcoming to guests. Bruce readily agreed that the stiff, small chairs provided were really no way to treat the people coming by the entertain him. Dustin pulled out a bag of chips from under the blanket and said they should all bring in snacks if they were really going to hold a one-shot there and make themselves at home. Eddie quickly made grabby hands at him and demanded to be given some first as the oldest and hurtest among them.

He also added that if they wanted to treat him, they could’ve snuck him the metal lunchbox that he usually deals out of. Let Eddie make himself a roll, or two, while he was in medical lockdown. That’d really relax him and make him feel at home more than some nicknacks or an old rag. He did pause a second to tell Erica she wasn't allowed to do any drugs until she was a grown-up, though. Before Jeff decided to be the one to tease him and ask if he really thought getting busted for smoking pot in a hospital right after he avoided a murder charge was the best idea.

They’d all started casting in suggestions for the kind of campaign they’d wanna do if Eddie was gonna write the whole thing up himself. Some wanted more puzzle aspects with things to figure out and solve. A few wanted more NPCs to interact with that weren’t just for hiring, fighting, or dying. A side comment was made about maybe not loading the battlefield so much that everyone dies as a way to close the session, they all laughed at that. Eddie swore he wouldn’t take it easy on them.

“What’s the point of fighting if you know you’ll win?” he’d asked.

“Actually getting back to the tavern to brag about it for once. Getting to say I settled down with the pretty barmaid when the adventuring day was done. Maybe.” Gareth argued back.

Josie looked at him doubtfully and asked Gareth how sure he was any character of his stood a chance with a woman, fictional or otherwise.

They all started barking laughs after that. More friendly insults flew around the room, the ones they've all already said a dozen times to each other and knew didn't hit any soft spots. Just the kind to rile them up, earn a few pointed glares and spur the next round of hits.

All the Hellfire members had a good dose of fun during their visit. But after a couple hours, Eddie started feeling pretty worn out. The guests all excused themselves and made sure everyone made it home while Eddie got started re-reading The Hobbit, since Henderson thought to include that in his care package. The familiar lines lulled him into a comfortable nap tucked in under his own blanket pretty easily. The items from home made the sterile room feel a little bit less alien. He didn't even get fifty pages into it - the company hadn't even reached the elves of Rivendell - before his eyelids were heavy. Soon he was putting the book back on the table and rolling his head away from the sunlit window to catch a few z's. But when he woke back up again, it wasn’t to an empty hospital room that felt a little too big.

Steve was back again. He’d been sitting in the chair with pursed lips. Slightly lost in thought while his fingers picked at the pages of the stack of books on the bedside table.

And he figured this was technically the third time he’s woken up with Steve Harrington by his side. Including the CPR incident, of course. As much as he was trying not to think about it. For his own sanity. Of course.

“Don’t get a paper cut,” Eddie cautioned as he pushed himself to sit up in the bed.

Steve startled slightly. Yanking back his hand with a finch, eyes snapping to Eddie before he shook his head. “No need to scare a guy…” he muttered under his breath.

“What? I was just watching out for you. Unless you were looking to steal a sleeping man’s literature, then I’d have to gut you. For the honor of my beloved books, you know.”

“Was just stopping by to pass along a message - a few of ‘em - on my way to the store.”

“Alright then, proceed.” Eddie nodded.

Steve began to count off the many points on his fingers,“ Well, firstly, Claudia wanted to ask if you had any allergies - I think she wants to bake you a fruit pie. If you had any preferences. But then Dustin said you were snoozing, so it’d probably be easier to ask your uncle. So he said you don’t really like pies, then he thought that you’d probably want new clothes until you get out of here. Since the old stuff is gross and ripped up now, and those hospital gowns really suck. But he was about to head off to work, so I said I could run some over.” Steve nudged a grocery bag by his foot at the mention,” And El wondered if you had a trick that grew your hair out long. If there was anything that worked fast. But I think Erica said her mom knew something she’d make for her, so I guess that’s taken care of. Oh! And your uncle wanted the keys to your van so he could check it over? Said you had a long drive coming up he wanted to make sure it’d handle okay.”

“Okay, wow- tell everyone to chill out about me, would ya? Alrighty, so… no major allergies, but yeah, fruit pies aren’t really my jam. But that’s usually because Wayne makes ‘em, and I think he skims when he reads dessert recipes so they all come out mushy. But Lady Henderson could probably make an apple that doesn’t rot in the Munson family refrigerator.” Eddie snickered to himself.

“I’ll pass that along.”

Eddie swung his legs over the side of the thin mattress, and dug a hand into the plastic hospital tote he’d been handed back, rooting around his belongings,“ And I’ll gladly trade you my keys for some clothes since you’re the little postal boy running my deliveries today.”

Steve passed over the bag he’d brought and pocketed the key ring while Eddie giddily broke for the bathroom. Dropping comments about wearing something that didn’t leave his ass hanging out as he slipped behind the heavy door. He was happily greeted by the sight of an Ozzy tee with bleach stains at the top of the bag. He’d nabbed it from a thrift shop in Indy a while back since he still hadn't been able to buy merchandise from a show himself. A little nod from Wayne about the tickets he and the other Corroded Coffin members had saved up for and been waiting to go to for months now. And now the affair was almost in reach, and he nearly missed it bleeding out in another world.

But instead, he tugged the shirt on along with a pair of loose pajama pants, already feeling worlds more comfortable than he had in a while. Alive and breathing. With exciting plans so close he could almost hear the buzz of the speaker system kicking on. Could almost feel his friends jostle around him while the music starts. It was the first time he’s actually gotten to put on some of his own clean clothes and think about upcoming plans in almost two weeks. And those two weeks in particular felt like years. He emerged from the bathroom feeling like both a new man and a little bit more like who he was before he traveled to another plane of existence, twice. And still, Steve was sitting in that damn chair.

“Were you waiting for the fashion show, or was there something else?” he asked.

Steve shrugged a second, like he was pretending he wasn't even sure himself,“ There mighta been another thing I was told to share when I dropped by.”

“Well?” Eddie dropped into the chair next to Steve instead of taking to his hospital bed,” Do you always like holding out to build suspense, or are you gonna share it already?”

Steve’s hand slipped into the pocket of his jacket. And then he pulled out a small golden tin. “Village Moisturizing Lip Lickers Lip Balm” it read with sweeping letters. Wild Cherry flavor.

Eddie’s mouth fell open for a second before quickly snapping shut again.

What was that supposed to mean?

And why did it look like Steve was holding it out for him?

“I’m sorry, what’s this about? This you telling me my lips are crusty after you kissed me awake like little Snow White?”

“CPR,” Steve corrected.

“Tomato-Tamato,” Eddie waved him off and placed a hand over his heart,” Point being, I don’t think an insult is a very nice present after all I’ve been through.”

Steve rolled his eyes and slid the top of the tin back. The container jutted out from under the cover like a matchstick box, and what Eddie saw inside was not some bright red lip gloss like he expected. Instead, it had been cleaned out and now held two thinly rolled joints in the case.

“Don’t judge a man for how he hides his stash when he’s so kindly sneaking you some drugs, maybe,” Steve suggested while Eddie looked down with glazed-over eyes. Almost like he was looking at a little bit of handheld heaven. “Henderson mentioned you had a certain special request.”

“I apologize- I apologize so much.” He corrected with clasped together hands,” Thank you. Thank you dearly, Steve Harrington, for this generous gift. I owe you my life for this immense kindness you found fit to bestow upon this humble man. Now, do I get them both or-”

“Don’t be greedy. I have it on good authority that this is top-shelf stuff right there. California quality. I planned to try it myself too.”

“Oh, so we’re having a smoke sesh together then? Thought you had a job to get to.”

“Eh. I don’t think any of us are betting on the reopening tomorrow being all that 'grand.' I got the keys to the place anyway. I can just stop by after-hours to finish looking over and sweeping up shop. Could hang around here for a bit. Unless you have some business you need to get to and want me to just take mine on the road.”

“Nah, nah. You’re welcome to stay. Plus I don’t think I’ve got a lighter on me so…” Eddie all but batted his eyelashes at him.

Steve couldn’t believe it,“ How does a dealer not have a lighter on him?”

He spoke sorrowfully,“ The one I had in my jeans took a dip in Lover’s Lake. She hasn’t sparked for me since.”

“Alright, alright.” Steve hummed, plucking out one of the rolls and placing it into Eddie’s eagerly awaiting fingers. In the second he spent pulling out his own, Eddie had already placed his between his lips expectantly. Brown, doe eyes wide open and stuck on Steve, waiting impatiently, almost starry with childlike glee. He looked silly to be that excited for a little pot.

“Geez,” Steve shoved on his shoulder as Eddie seemed to just keep leaning closer and closer in anticipation,” Make yourself useful and crack open the window.” He told him as Steve sat back to snake a hand into his pocket for the light.

The window only went halfway up - probably some policy or other about patient safety - but it gave them a few inches of screen they’d be able to blow the smoke out of, so it was enough to not stink up the room too badly. It didn’t take long to get themselves situated with each of their blunts burned at the ends. Steve struggled to remember the last time he’d lit up in the middle of the afternoon. It wasn’t even 3 pm yet. Most weeks around that time he's picking up Robin from the high school, and if his car even smells like cigarettes she'd pinch off her nose and groan about the stench.

Eddie, on the other hand, was no stranger to a little mid-day high.

Most days - when he wasn’t a wanted man on the run, that is - he liked to get a little baked. With or without any of his buddies, it usually slipped him into an easier state of mind. Made movie-watching, channel surfing, or songwriting just a little more entertaining. The thing was… he hadn’t really gotten any action over the last two weeks, his lungs took a bit of a beating in the last few days, and he’s just slept for the last few hours instead of responsibly sipping on the water by his bedside like was recommended. So, while he usually has no problem taking down the smokey sweetness and ignoring the irritation it brings with it, his constitution had taken to rolling with disadvantage on this particular occasion.

“Thank you, Dustin Henderson.” He spoke quietly into the embers like grace before a meal.

Then he sucked in a deep drag like he was so used to doing and immediately felt the prickle settle into his throat. His cheeks soon went red as he put all his efforts into keeping the toke down without hacking it up like an inexperienced little preteen. But in just seconds, the seal of his lips failed. In a fit of sputtering coughs, ashy breath blew away from Eddie, and those previously wonderstruck eyes were holding back tears.

And, had that been all of the event, Steve probably wouldn’t have laughed very much. Maybe a little, he was a drug dealer after all, but it wasn’t lose-your-mind funny.

The thing was, as Eddie’s body fought against the unwelcome feeling, it pulled at the still too-fresh stitches on his sides. He instantly yelped out and threw his hands down in an attempt to soothe the broken but healing skin. He barely caught the roll tightly pinched between his lips, nearly dropping it in his sudden jolt.

He looked ridiculous. Face red and scrunched up, eyes watery and mad, arms crossed and holding himself, joint precariously about to fall. Now that? That was a sight that reached “fucking hilarious” in Steve’s book. Since it was painted over someone you’d think could handle his shit better.

Steve quickly placed his own hand over his mouth, trying to hold back the laughs like how Eddie had just tried to hold back his wheezing.

“What-” he’d been interrupted by more coughs,” What the fuck are you- giggling at over there?” Eddie asked him angrily through the struggle.

And that was it.

The dam broke, and all of Steve’s laughter suddenly poured out of him. Like a tsunami rushing over a quaint coastal town, he was loud and cackling in a way that shook him so hard that he started feeling a similar strain on his own matching stitches. Eddie’s face screwed up further, and he started to kick away at Steve and his chair to separate them if he was going to be made fun of like this.

And then Steve felt the yank on his sides as he tried to bend away and out of reach. He copied Eddie’s pose to hold onto his still sore wounds.

“Don’t mock me!” Eddie yelled at him, assuming it was part of Steve’s joke.

Which was somehow only funnier.

“Stop! Stop it! The nurse is gonna kill me if I make her do these again!” Steve cried out as he pushed himself away, trying to dodge Eddie’s barrage of socked feet before someone actually caused some damage.

That made Eddie finally start to laugh in response. And before they could control themselves, they were both laughing so hard they cried. All the while wincing and swearing it wasn’t funny. Insisting that it hurt, and it was all the other’s fault, and they really needed to grow up, and have they no shame.

It took a while for the two to wind down. It was funny the way they just fell into the funnies so suddenly. Kind of felt like they’d really needed them. There was so much stress hanging around everything all the time. The opportunity to just laugh couldn’t be wasted. And they could only thank their lucky stars that all their yowling and cackling didn’t call a nurse or someone to check on them and catch them red-handed.

Eddie would eventually re-find his tolerance, so he and Steve were able to burn through their lit joints in something closer to peace. Eddie reiterated that he hasn’t had a fit like that in a long time. He could handle a bit of marijuana, but he was on his deathbed just a couple days ago. He deserved a pass.

Steve sighed. It wasn’t like he was judging him much over that part or anything. He hadn’t even smoked much himself recently. Since Robin hated cigarettes so much he just had less time to himself where he’d be able to without complaint. Plus, being alone with it isn’t the same as sharing the high with someone. And that circle he used to have that would crowd together at parties to get crossfaded didn’t exist anymore.

“So, what song did you pick?” Eddie asked as they worked through their inhales more smoothly.

Steve covered his eyes with the palms of his hands. Rubbing over his face in annoyance while a groan erupted up out of him.

“Ugh, which little asshole told you to ask me about that one, huh?”

“What? None of them? Nancy’s on my case about picking one, so I was asking around. Geez, didn’t know that was a sore subject for you, your majesty.”

Something in Steve objected to the title. But he pushed it down and moved on. Giving up the name of his worst-kept secret because even if he didn’t say it, there were about a dozen other people with the answer.

“Oh? Miss Bonnie Tyler is what does it for you?”

“What? You got a problem with her?” Steve came to her - and his own - defense.

“No. Not at all. Bonnie can rock, man. Just… not what I was expecting from all of that.” Eddie said with a motion to the man sitting across from him.

Steve challenged him,“ I thought your whole thing was about how assumptions about people are wrong? Especially in my case after your epiphany in the woods.”

“Look, I’m not a perfect person, alright.” Eddie shrugged and gave himself over to the idea,“ But sure, The Hair likes Bonnie and Footloose, noted.”

“What do you need with a list of my likes and dislikes?”

“Oh, it’s for my super evil satanic ritual. I’m gonna steal your soul and sell it to the highest bidder. It’s gonna finance my everlasting youth and ticket to fame, don’t you know?”

"Didn't realize I fetched such a high price."

"I assure you, I'll be getting top dollar. Might even hold an auction, let the demons enter a bidding war to lay claim to your fate."

“Ha ha.” Steve mocked with a flat, unimpressed tone. "Well, make it even."

"What?"

"Since you're collecting a list on me, give me the dirt on you." Steve reasoned and looked back to the table of paper he was peaking at earlier.

"What do you want to know?"

"What about this?" Steve picked off the top book from the stack," Tell me why this matters to someone."

And before Eddie could brace himself, his own copy of The Hobbit was being thrown at him. He barely caught it, not being a jock like Harrington and Sinclair.

"Have a little respect for a guy's literature!" he cried, cradling the words of Tolkien to his chest like he needed to protect them from further threat.

"Is it any good?" Steve asked. And he wasn't really being a jerk with the question. He seemed a little curious, but in the way that someone who doesn't like to read is only half-interested.

"Is it any good?" Eddie ridiculed. "Yeah, it's good. It's great. It's a staple of the genre, a legend of the bookshelves-"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah- It's a classic, a must-read before you die, it'll fundamentally change you with the moral of the story. Sure, someone can say that about anything."

"Well, The Hobbit is the real deal."

"Convince me. Why do you like it?"

And Eddie was off to the races. A smile stretched across his face while he crossed his legs up in the chair. He started by commending the style of the writing. It was a simple, easy read. Something good for newbies to read and get into the fantasy world Tolkien built for the first time without getting overwhelmed. It was a prequel to the big trilogy, something to tell you where some of the pieces came from by following a smaller adventure. And the way it was written... it was written like it was meant to be read to someone. It was built for storytelling. Which Eddie loved to do.

"It's homey. And, I mean, I've buzzed through it a few times myself, and some of these lines just warm me up each and every go-through. Only part that sucks is that since it's such a foundational part of getting into fantasy, everyone I know with any sort of interest has already read it. One day, I'm gonna find someone I can read it to for the first time. Watch them discover it with my voice leading the way."

Steve shook his head. Reading was never a fun subject for him, so trying to make that some kind of expression of love just didn't seem like something anyone could really enjoy. Maybe he was a little stuck in his ways, but books were a headache. He was pretty sure about that. And, if he needed to deal with a hardcover headache, he'd rather take it from a lump on the noggin than spend hours looking over neverending lines of print.

Their Californian gifts had started working their magic though…

Purple Palm Tree Delight. What a thing it was.

He wouldn't say it was making him more agreeable to the idea of Eddie cracking open the book and lecturing at him, but he was in a better mood overall. More comfortable. Less on edge. Maybe a little too honest.

Steve was soon sat all lax in the uncomfy chair. Slumped down in it until his head could rest along the low back. He rolled that head, now feeling lighter than it had when he walked in, over to look at Eddie and snickered.

“I'll tell you a secret,” he offered, his shoulders hiking up to shrug slightly before he closed his eyes and muttered,” I already finished everything up at Family Video.”

“What?” Eddie’s head craned to the side.

“I wasn’t stopping here on my way over there. I stopped here on my way home.”

“Why’d you say otherwise then?”

“Don’t know. Didn’t wanna seem like I was betting on hanging around too long.”

“You brought a guy weed while he was stuck in his sick bed and ‘didn’t wanna seem like you bet to hang around’? What’s that about?”

“Who wants to seem desperate?” Steve posed the question at him, before dropping some of the advice he picked up from always wanted to seem like he's got everyone's approval,” If you always act like you’ve got somewhere else you can be, then it’s easy to run off when it feels like the welcome's expired. It's not as much of a rejection that way. Just you getting to your plans.”

Eddie understood it when it was spelled out for him like that. But that's never been the way that his world worked.

“Well, thank you for sticking around anyway.”

“Yeah…”

Steve seemed like his mind was going somewhere. But Eddie didn’t know how to follow it, wherever it was trekking. Steve's mind was unfamiliar territory. So he asked about his neighbor. Eddie’s eyes shifted over to where she was laid out, sharing their room, but not their conversation.

“Has Red always been as badass as she was last week?”

Steve’s whole expression softened when Eddie looked back at him. He set his hazel-y gaze onto her. Clear fondness was written on his face as he considered the question.

“Yeah. Pretty much.” Steve paused. Remembering.

“She was always kinda crazy, as much as I saw. You sorta have to be to follow a kid you just met - one who swears up and down that monsters are real - out to a junkyard past sundown where another kid is saying they’re making a trap for one at. The same night we beat back demented, freaky hound-things, she apparently drugged a real demon, took my bat, and nearly smashed his family jewels under the spikes. Told him to get lost and leave her and hers alone. And I got to get scared shitless while she slammed the gas in his car and nearly drove us all off the road.” Steve would sometimes swear he still felt dizzy from that delirious wild ride.

“Her step-brother?”

“Yeah. Him.” His voice went lower as he continued,” First day I met her and she was beating back a two-legged monster. All on her own.”

Eddie looked back at her, wondering how much more hell she's lived through than he has. And she was still kicking.

“She’ll be fine.” Eddie decided.

“She will.” Steve agreed.

Time stretched on from there in easy conversation. Before they really knew it, the hour had flown by, and the clock would soon hit four. Steve was about to be sent on his way by the seemingly incredibly punctual nursing staff. So he smacked his hands on his legs and stood up from the window seat.

The daze of Purple Palm Tree Delight was already slipping away, so he figured he’d be fine to drive without sitting in the parking lot for a sobering nap.

“I’ll head off and drop these keys with your old man.”

With a nod, Eddie stood up behind him,” Well, since you’ll be running into him later anyway, might as well drop off the rest of this mess too.”

He picked up the plastic hospital bag that was effectively dirty laundry. Messy Warzone vest, tattered Hellfire shirt, black ripped jeans, and the jewelry he’s honestly been feeling sort of naked without. With that thought, though, he figured there couldn’t possibly be any medical harm in him putting back on just his necklace and favorite ring while he waited to be released.

“Just let me grab…” he’d started while he ducked his head down and picked through the sack. But he soon fell silent as his eyes raked over the contents.

Steve gave him a second before it seemed like Eddie wasn’t just quiet out of focus. “What’s up?” he asked, watching the man fuss about his belongings with growing nerves.

Immediately, Eddie grabbed onto the bottom of the bag, turning it over and dumping the entire contents out onto the hospital bed. Dirty, bloodied clothes littered it, but he just shoved past them and touched the bits of silver shining back at him through the grime. Worst part was, it wasn’t all there.

His mother’s engagement ring was gone.

And there weren’t really words for the way that felt.

He might describe it like his stomach hollowed out, or like the ground beneath his feet vanished, or like he was instantly drenched in ice water. He might say that it felt worse than blacking out or hearing his voice crack over a microphone. Could even think about all the other things he would’ve happily given up before that ring.

But he couldn’t say any of that to Steve Harrington. Even if they just spent the better part of an hour giggling and getting pretty damn candid with one another. That ring - his mother - that just wasn't something he talked about. With anyone. Period.

So instead, he froze. His hands pressed heavily into the covers, and he started to curl his finger and dig into the clothes with the anger, and the shame, and the feeling like, suddenly, he didn’t know what he was doing anymore. In just a second, he felt lost. And it was all he could to try and stave off the oncoming tears. The ones trying to boil over, and not over something as surface level as an itchy windpipe.

“Everything cool?” Steve tried again.

And Eddie snapped back up. His face no longer aimed down at the remaining objects thrown out before him. He reined himself back in enough to survive the next few minutes, his fist holding onto the chain looped through a red guitar pick. As if he could even pretend that was all he’d been looking for. He tucked the rest of it back into the bag and handed it over quickly.

“Fine.”

That was all he really trusted himself to say.

And, as if that ending didn’t just flip the last hour they spent together on its head, Steve decided it wasn’t his business. So he took the offer with an attempt at a casual smile.

“Sounds good. I’ll pass it along.”

And he was gone.

The nurse made a face at them when she got to Eddie’s door to dismiss the visitor. Even though they’d been careful to blow all the smoke out the window and dispose of the evidence, the smell of weed stuck out from the otherwise chemically clean hospital. But she let him walk anyway, so Steve went out the door and climbed back into his car.

The passenger seat of the Beemer was full of cassettes and vinyl records from the group for Mikhail to pour over when he got back. He made mental notes to call Claudia and let her know apple pie was the request while he pulled out of the parking lot. Heading toward the edge of town to make a detour so he could hand over the rest of Eddie’s belongings to his uncle.

Steve buzzed the main entrance of the power plant when he arrived. In just a minute Wayne was opening the heavy metal door and greeting him with a friendly expression behind tired eyes. And in those eyes, there was a brief flash of recognition. One not so dissimilar to the way the nurse had looked at him on his way out of Eddie’s room. With a quick quirk of his nose, Steve was pretty sure he smelled the marijuana on his clothes.

But Wayne moved past the notice without comment,” Thanks for making the run for me, son.”

“Sure. I’d say any time, but this was my last day off before Family Video will have me all but chained to the store until we get more hires.” Steve huffed and handed over the bag.

“I feel that. Things are running ‘bout the same over here.” he yawned and took Eddie's stuff,“ And how’d he seem? I won’t be able to go by myself except for a bit tomorrow morning.”

“He’s all good. Needs to make sure not to mess with his stitches too much, but good.”

Wayne smiled fondly,” Yeah, he was always one to pick at scabs when he was little, so that tracks.”

Steve weighed the thought with a light chuckle,“ I don’t know if he’s picking 'em, but he was kicking at me, so he needs to watch that he doesn’t pull them undone overexerting himself too much.”

Wayne cocked his head to the side looking at him,“ He was kicking at you?”

Steve simply answered,“ Long story.”

“Right… Well, thank you again. For the keys and whatever you did that made him worked up enough to kick at you.” Wayne studied him for a moment and added,” But you mighta deserved it, all I know. You a troublemaker?”

“All I did was laugh! I swear!” Steve insisted.

“Hmmmm… maybe so.” he didn't act as if he bought it,” Why don’t you get on home now, ‘fore someone starts to worry about you.”

“Okay. But if you need anything, let us know. We’re all watching out for each other.”

“How ‘bout I call you when we got a place to move back into - one that's not tore in half - and I’ll put you to work hauling boxes. Till then you can relax.”

There was another small chuckle to come from Steve as he was about to head off. “Yes, sir,” he told him. But he turned back around right before Wayne had shut the door to get back to work.

“Actually, I did have a question,” he added.

Wayne looked back at him and stepped out of the doorway,“ Yeah?”

“Eddie was fine while I was there, for the most of it. But, at the end, he got kinda quiet. It was after he looked through his bag and pulled out the necklace. But maybe something was missing?”

Wayne’s eyebrow drew up, and he started combing his hand through everything. It didn't take long for a look to come onto his face. A knowing kind that said he'd pinpointed exactly what it was. Still, he checked with Steve,“ You said the only thing he took out of the bag was his necklace?”

“Yeah, with the red pick.”

“Not one of his rings?”

“No,” he was sure of it,” He just left the three of them in there and handed it over.”

Wayne nodded slowly and looked past Steve. Something like regret or a kind of mourning sat in his eyes. “That explains it…”

“What?”

“He has four rings.” Wayne corrected. “These big ones, he likes them, 'course, but the other one is the important one. He lost one of these and he mighta just been annoyed, but… the other was his mom’s.”

Those last words left Wayne like he barely realized he said them out loud. Maybe he hadn't meant to. It was a wistful thing, spoken with a soft sorrow to believe the news. Mostly just to say it to himself.

But he had said it out loud and just a few feet away, so Steve heard it.

“Oh…”

Steve couldn't exactly imagine how it felt. To picture his mom's engagement ring… it wasn't something that filled him with happy feelings. It… it usually stirred something in the pit of his stomach whenever he saw the large stone glint under harsh lights. To watch it twist between her fingers any time finances became the topic of conversation. It seemed to be a nervous habit of hers that always caught his eye with a sharp gleam.

But the way Wayne spoke of Eddie's, it meant something good to him. And it was gone. After such a terrible thing, he lost something important.

“He never takes that thing off, so if it wasn’t on him when he went into the hospital and got put in this sack… then it’s lost.” he resigned himself to the fact.

“Or maybe it’s in the RV.” Steve offered, trying to find hope.

“Or deep in the woods, or out in the street, or maybe it's stolen…” Wayne argued against the optimistic approach,” There’s really no way of knowing for sure, kiddo. But that- yeah, that would sour his mood.”

Wayne sat with the knowledge a second before he looked back up at Steve and excused himself,“ Uh, thank you for mentioning it. I’ll check in with him as soon as I can. You have a good one now.”

Steve didn't really know what else to say,“ Yeah, you too. Sorry.”

“Not your fault. Things just happen sometimes. Can't do anything about it.”

And the door shut behind him while Wayne’s eyes stuck to the bag. Like, perhaps if he just looked a second longer, the ring in question would appear for him. Because thinking of going back to his boy and telling him that he was right - it was gone, and he couldn't get it back - it almost broke his heart all over again.

Before Steve went home, he stopped by the trailer park. It wasn't completely planned. He more so just found himself there to the thought of Eddie alone in that hospital room looking at his unusually bare finger. He unbuckled from his car in front of the Munson's place. Stepped up the stairs and let himself in through the unlocked door, past the police tape. He walked into the living room and looked over the carpeted floor for the shine of misplaced jewelry.

If it fell off of Eddie's finger when they flipped through the mini-gate, it would've landed there. That's what he figured.

The room around him was covered in mugs and baseball hats, most of which had been knocked off the shelves and hooks. Scattered onto the edges of the room, around the mattress and scraps of torn sheets. They'd all really made a mess of it in their rushing around. He knelt down to the ground and combed his fingers through the short shag, tugging the rope out of his way. But there was no missing ring in that trailer, in or out of hiding.

He came out of the small home and looked across the driving lane. The Jameson's RV had been returned and parked back in their lot a couple dozen yards away. He did mention that place to Wayne when he thought about where a ring could've gone. It could be in there if it was thrown off his hand sometime between the Upside Down and the emergency room. He hadn't thought to look for it when the police let them get back their stuff. Didn't know it was missing back then, of course. But now that he was on the hunt, that was the next place to check.

On his way over, he watched the gravel under his feet for if the ring was lost when Eddie was loaded up, but there was no sight of it down there either. As he turned the corner around the front of the vehicle, he saw the couple lounging in fold-out chairs. Just like they had been when the kids took their mobile home in the first place.

Okay. Steve just needed to ask them if they might've seen a ring somewhere in there since they got it back. Couldn't possibly be too awkward. Surely. They'd understand.

The pair looked up at Steve as he approached. He pulled on his nicest expression and threw up a hand in a quick greeting. They seemed to study him for a second. Not placing his face easily.

“Hi there. Uh- I'm Steve-”

But that was about all it took for their eyes to darken at him.

Mr. Jameson spoke up first,“ How dare you-”

Immediately, Steve fell into apologies,” I know, I know. I'm sorry. I really didn't plan to bother either of you at all. Especially not after… everything. Um- but I needed to ask something. Real quick. Any chance-”

“You don't need to be askin' us anything after what you and those hooligans did-”

“I know. And I agree, and I am really, really sorry. But-” There was a slight stutter to his breath as he tried again,” if there's any chance that the two of you might've seen a ring laying around. One of us just found out it's lost and-”

The fire in the woman's eyes blazed with insult,“ Are you accusing us of stealing-”

Steve tried to signal surrender. “Absolutely not, ma'am-”

But she rolled on through, pointer finger raised to keep him silent,“ If we'd seen anything in there that wasn't ours, we would've handed it over to the police to give back. I don't know what kind of people you think we are-”

“I swear I wasn't assuming-”

“But we're good people. Not the kind to steal a good, honest person's home and drive off with it without an ounce of respect. Knocking over trash, wasting their gas, making a mess of their things with no regard for the people it belongs to-”

“Again, I'm so sorry-”

She raised her voice following the interruption,“ But I cannot believe, after all we've been through since then, that you'd show back up here and try to extort us.”

Steve's eyes almost bulged out of his head at the suggestion. He frantically shook his head,“ No, no, no-”

“So now what?” her husband picked up,” You gonna call Powell with your rich kid connections, tell him you left valuables behind? See if they'll strip our RV and hand you whatever jewelry they might find in there for you to pawn off? Catch your thrills that way?”

“No! I would never. I swear. I just- I already looked around, and this was the last place I could think of where it could've fallen, so I thought I should ask-”

“I think you best get, boy. And I don't ever want to see you 'round here again, or we'll be the ones making a call to that police station.”

“I- I understand. I'm sorry to interrupt your evening. Have a good night.”

Steve scampered away from them pretty quickly. Not stopping or slowing down until he got into his car and closed the door. With his hands firmly on the wheel, he checked the mirrors to make sure there wasn't a disgruntled pair hot on his trail. Though neither of them seemed to follow him away from their property.

He let out the breath he was holding.

“Shit.”

He wasn't sure exactly why he felt so desperate to find that ring for Eddie. Surely he or his uncle would be able to look around for themselves. And, he knew that it wasn't exactly his fault. He didn't see it and kick it away without knowing what it was or anything. But if Eddie was wearing it before Steve picked him up and hiked him across the Upside Down and back to their own Hawkins… and if Steve was careless or something, let his arm flop around or whatever, and that was when it fell off… in that case, it did feel a little bit like his fault.

To think about that whole evening looking back, maybe he shouldn't have let Eddie volunteer to hang back by the trailer with Dustin as the distraction. Maybe Steve would've been faster at outrunning the bats, or maybe Eddie wouldn't have gotten strung up by vines, and maybe Vecna would already be dealt with, and Eddie wouldn't have lost his ring, and Max wouldn't be stuck in a coma, and…

The possibilities swirled around his head long after he'd driven away from the trailer park, made it back home, and excused himself for a shower. Steve's messed up a lot of stuff in his life. Maybe those past few weeks were just the latest mistake he's made so far.

#Finally - I've completed my required work as a fanfic writer under the Steddie Tag #I wrote a Steve and Eddie smoking together scene #There were a lot of small stuff in this chapter I have been wanting to get into the story forever #A ton of little seeds I've planted to revisit as the couple develops 😈#I'm also so happy I got to visit a little on the Hellfire dynamic as a whole for this chapter!#BTW - we're gonna get a little taste of them driving up to Indy for that Ozzy Osbourne concert twitter uncovered happened back then #But that's a little bit away #For the next chapter - the last 'be careful with my breaks' part - we're going to turn our eyes somewhere else #On to some other party members that have some stuff to face...#Next chapter #we're taking a closer look at Stobin and the lingering affects of surviving so many traumatic experiences.#See ya there 😘#Steve Harrington #Eddie Munson #Steddie #Steveddie #Steve x Eddie #Nancy Wheeler #Robin Buckney #Ronance #Robin x Nancy #The Fruity Four #Stranger Things #Stranger Things 4 #Stranger Things 4 spoilers #Stranger Things 4 volume 2 spoilers

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joshlmbrt · 4 months

Text

FRIDAY THE 13TH. ST CAST x r

characters; steve harrington, eddie munson, jonathan byers, nancy wheeler, robin buckley, jim hopper.

!!!!!W; PLEASE READ BEFORE CONTINUING! based in the 80s, inspired by FRIDAY THE 13TH, steve & eddie will wear a crop top and cut off levi’s - trust!, this one is sort of long, breaking into a old campsite, violence, blood, someone sacrifices themselves for you because of looooove - ooooo, murder.

soundtrack; house of the rising sun - the animals, smells like teen spirit - nirvana, creeping death - metallica, for whom the bell tolls - metallica

an; really fun to write their dynamic and a long one!! let me know if you like longer fics or shorter - and if you enjoyed this one!!

SHOWINGS. | MOODBOARD.

FOREST HILLS TRAILER PARK.

You climb out of Nancy’s car, groaning at the heat. The knitted top and shorts you had put on were no help.

“Why didn’t you put on different shoes?” Robin lifts her brows, eyes looking at your brown boots.

You pout. “These matched. Hopefully Eddie’s air conditioner is working.” Making your way towards the homemade wooden porch - one Eddie broke one night and had to fix - you yank open the door and step inside.

Luckily it was working. You let out a sigh and plop down on the worn flannel couch.

You hear a whistle. “Well, hello.” Eddie stares down at you, grinning.

You open an eye and peek up at him, lifting a brow. “What do you want?”

“I’m offended you think I want something.”

“You only compliment me when you do want something.”

“This time I don’t want anything. Promise.”

You narrow your eyes at him, humming slightly before closing your eyes, counting down in your head.

Andddd…. 1.

“Can you cut a couple of these tops for me?” He holds up the selection of tops.

“Knew it,” You grin, sitting up. “Give me some scissors.”

He nods, dropping them onto the coffee table, walking towards the kitchen, opening a drawer. Nancy and Robin steps inside the trailer.

“Oh, it is working.” Robin sighs, sitting in front of the cool air, letting out a sigh as it blows onto her skin. Nancy sits next to you.

Eddie hands you the scissors. You grab them from his hands. “Where do you want me to cut it?”

“Across here,” He makes a line straight across the stomach of the shirt. “And here,” He points to the sleeves. “But only two shirts with cut off sleeves.”

“You got it.” You nod, cutting into the fabric.

The door opens, Steve groaning as he drops the bags down to the ground. “I really hope the air in your van is working. It’s like a million degrees out there.” Steve walks towards the refrigerator.

“Checked it the other day,” Eddie says, eyes glancing over a magazine, reebok foot resting on the coffee table. “It works just fine.”

“You said that the last time.” Jonathan says, sitting next to Robin, sighing as the air hits his face. Steve makes his way back, sitting on the arm of the couch next to you.

You glance over at him, smiling softly before quickly looking down. Eddie’s eyes watches the both of you, smirking behind the magazine.

“I swear on my life, it’s working!” Eddie shuts the magazine, rolling it up as he stands. He hits the top of Steve’s head.

“Nance, Robin, you’re up front with me.”

“I get motion sickness in the back.” Jonathan frowns.

“Then go to sleep?” Eddie lifts his brows. Jonathan sighs, shaking his head. You fold the shirts, standing and handing them over to Eddie. “Everyone ready to go?”

“You have the cooler packed?” Steve asks.

“And the bag with food and snacks?” You tilt your head.

“You both think so little of me.” He presses a hand to his chest.

Steve rolls his eyes, standing. “Because last time you said it was packed-”

You cut Steve off to finish. “You carried the bag and it was empty. The last time you said you had it in the van, ready to go and definitely packed-”

Robin cuts you off this time. “You had left all the food and drinks here.”

“And camping was your idea.” Nancy points out, standing. Robin and Jonathan stand as well.

Eddie rolls his eyes, grabbing the keys to the house and van. “Well, excuse me for being a bit scatterbrained and wanting to have fun with my friends.”

“Steve and Jonathan should double check.” Robin says. Eddie frowns and stares at her.

“Just to be sure. It doesn’t hurt,” You shrug. “Besides. I have to use the bathroom.” You walk past Steve.

“Hurry up. It’d be a shame if you were left behind!”

“Would be such a shame.” You look back at him, before stepping into the bathroom.

⛏

The road was bumpy, your hand landing on top of Steve’s for a mere minute. You glance at your hands, blushing and pulling it away quickly.

Steve smirks a bit, pretty eyes peering at you through his lashes.

The van stops abruptly, the side of Steve’s head smacking into the hunk of metal. The back door opens, Eddie standing with frazzled hair from the rolled down window - because the air did not work like he said it would - grinning.

“Hopefully it wasn’t too bumpy and Byers didn’t puke.”

“He slept the whole time,” Steve grumbles, hopping down onto the ground. He holds his hand out to you. “When we leave, I drive.”

“Sounds like a plan. I want to sleep on the way back.” He takes his bags, walking away. Steve rolls his eyes, grabbing his bags and one of your own.

“I can carry it, Stevie.”

“No. It’s okay,” He smiles. “I got it.”

“You have got to be kidding me, Munson!” Robin exclaims from the front. You and Steve both share a look, walking around to the front.

“What?!”

“Are you- You’re not seriously thinking about breaking into a summer camp are you? A shut down one at that!”

“Oh, stop being so silly, Robin,” He rolls his eyes, walking towards the chained gate. “You should know I’m not thinking about it,” He drops his bag down to the ground, unzipping it. “I already thought ahead to it.” He pulls out pilers and showing them to her with a grin.

“I’m not sleeping in there. There could be… I don’t know, people- serial killers hiding in there!”

He cuts the chain open with a grunt, watching as it unravels to the dirt ground, pushing the gate open with a creak. “Well, I have blankets in the van if you’d like to sleep in there, alone.”

“What do you guys think about this?” She turns to you, Steve, and Nancy. Jonathan soon joins, scratching at his head as he yawns.

“Oh, wait,” He looks at the chosen campsite. “This is cool.”

“What?!” Robin throws her arms up.

“Oh, come on, Rob,” Nancy grabs her hand. “It could be cool! We’ll all be together, the vans right here if anything happens-”

“Yes. Because that makes me change my mind.”

“All I’m saying is, we can make a quick run for it. It could be cool. You’ll be sad if you missed out.” She shrugs, walking towards Eddie.

Robin sighs and turns to you and Steve. “What do you two think about this?”

“Well… It’s crazy, but…”

“But….?” She lifts a brow.

“It’s just a one time thing.” Steve shrugs.

She sighs and shakes her head. Leaning down, she grabs the bag from the ground. “Okay. But I’m telling you, if there is some crazy, serial killer here, I’m leaving you all to die.”

Eddie chortles. “So great you think highly of us.”

⛏️

A bit of cherry juice drops down your arm, your other hand wiping it up with a napkin. Your eyes stay trained on Steve - who looked particularly good in the cut off green faded Hawkins high shirt and Levi cut off jeans - tossing the baseball towards Jonathan.

He holds his hand up, Jonathan pausing and tossing the ball into the air. Steve lets out a heaving breath, hunching over as his hands rest on his knees, hair sticking to his forehead that was slick with sweat.

Eddie was lounging out on the blanket, Robin snickering everytime she placed a rock in his hair without him noticing.

“You’re drooling.” Nancy leans up, wiping at the corner of your mouth.

You roll your eyes, swatting her hand away. “No, I’m not.”

“You so are,” Eddie says. “And my eyes are closed.” You roll your eyes, pulling your legs up to your chest.

“Who’s ready to eat?” Steve asks, making his way towards the four of you, Jonathan behind him.

“Me! I’ll start the fire.” Eddie sits up, a bunch of rocks falling from his head. He narrows his eyes at Robin.

She laughs.

⛏️

“Have you ever heard the reason why this place closed down?” Eddie asks, wiping some marshmallow from the corner of his lip.

You groan mentally while Robin voices it, tossing her head back. “If i’m sleeping out here, Munson, I do not want to be hearing no spooky stories,” She stares at him now, pointing a finger at him. “We are in the middle of nowhere. In the woods. And no one knows where we are.”

“What’s camping without a scary story around the fire?”

“Start without me,” Jonathan says, standing from his spot. He grabs the flashlight. “I gotta go to the bathroom.” He turns it on, Robin squinting as it hits her face. He turns and walks towards the wooded area.

“This better not be a planned scare, dingus!” She calls after him, before looking at Eddie. “It better not be.” Eddie smirks, humming. “Well… hold on to your socks, Buckley.” She grumbles as she takes another bite of a graham cracker. You and Steve share a look, a small smile on each of your faces. There’s a snap somewhere in the distance.

“Eddie, I swear-”

“I didn’t plan nothing,” Eddie sighs, dropping the smirk. “Probably Byers playing some sick joke or something. Anyway, I’m going to start the story,” He clears his throat. “Picture it, Camp Redwood 1975-”

“What is this? Golden Girls?” Steve lifts a brow. He caught the show with you at times.

Eddie narrows his eyes at him, effectively shutting him up. Steve leans back on his hands, shoulder brushing with yours.

“As I was saying, it was 1975, camp counselors would always come two days earlier - to figure out what they were doing and where everything was - and the last day they had without any sticky fingered gremlins with snotty noses, they would always have a little camp out themselves, throw a little party without any of the adults knowing,”

“Of course.” Robin mutters. Nancy nudges her shoulder with her own.

Eddie smirks, the fire reflecting off of his eyes, highlight his face in a glow. His eyes trail over everyone one by one. “It was going to be fun… Until, they were-”

There’s another snap in the distance, causing him to stop, eyes shooting up and looking towards the sound.

“Eddie,” Robin grits. “I swear… I’m too young to die.”

He rolls his eyes, standing and dusting off his pants. “Again, it’s probably just Jonathan playing some sick joke. I’ll go see.” He walks towards the trees. He stops, letting out a chuckle.

“See,” He looks back at the group. “I was right. It was-” He stumbles back when he feels a weight drop into his front. He grunts, hands shooting out and gripping the boys shoulders. “Anddd it’s time for you to slow down on the beer.” He chuckles.

You slowly stand to your feet, tilting your head when Jonathan chokes on a cough, something spilling from his mouth and onto Eddie’s arm.

Eddie makes a noise, stumbling back from him. His eyes widen when he looks down at his arms before looking up at Jonathan again.

The boy falls to his knees, more stuff slipping out of his mouth. You step closer, eyes widening when you see what it actually is.

Blood.

Jonathan looks up at you. “Help m-” He’s choking on the words, more blood spilling at his mouth. Your eyes drop down towards the sharp end of metal poking out of his chest.

You let out a scream, watching as it slips from him when he falls to the ground. A man - 6’1 in a dirty mask - stands behind him, arm lowering to his side. Eddie’s hand grabs your wrist, pulling you away.

“Go!” He yells. You run a different way, eyes burning with tears as your legs burn. You slide in behind a cabin, breath coming out roughly. Your hair sticks to your forehead from sweat.

You flinch when you feel something drop onto your skin. You peek up at the sky, feeling more droplets fall onto your skin before the rain slowly becomes a downpour.

A hand wraps around your mouth. “Shhh… It’s me, it’s okay.” Steve whispers in your ear. You pull your face away from him, glancing up at him.

“W…Where’s everyone else?”

Steve’s brows pinch together, eyes closing. “Nancy… she, uh-”

You let out a shuddering breath, shaking your head. “No… No, she’s not dead.”

“I’m sorry… I tried to help her, I couldn’t. He grabbed her before I-” He stops, hearing a snap next to the cabin. His hand slips into yours, gripping tightly.

“It’s me! Don’t scream.” Robin holds her hands out in front of her.

You let out a breath, walking towards her and wrapping her in a tight hug.

“Where’s Eddie?” Steve whispers.

“I have no idea… But we need to run to the van. Maybe he’s already there.” Robin pulls away from you. You both nod.

Steve peeks his head out, eyes checking to be sure everything was clear. “Okay… It looks clear, but he could be hiding… I’ll go first.”

Robin’s hand grabs yours. You squeeze once, walking in behind Steve, hand gripping onto the wet material of his top.

You feel her hand slip from yours. Before you could turn, there’s a choked sound coming from her mouth and a squelching noise as she falls to the wet ground.

You turn, eyes widening at the sight of her clutching her throat, chest heaving.

Steve lets out a breath, pulling you along. “No! Steve! We can’t just-”

“We can’t save her! We’re too far out from a hospital! We need to make it back to the-" He stops, eyes glancing over your shoulder, face dropping. He pulls you out of the way in a quick movement, gasping when the metal slices deep into his chest.

Blood soaks the back of his shirt, his knees buckling from underneath him. You let out another scream, your ears ringing.

Steve turns his head. “Run.” He chokes out. A dirty boot comes up, pushing his chest away from the sharp metal. Your eyes stare at the blood dripping down into the dirt, slowly trailing to Steve. There’s a dirty footprint from the boot and blood trailing down his stomach.

Your eyes finally snap up, staring at the masked man. You turn and start to run, your boots rubbing at the tender skin of your ankle.

You glance back checking over your shoulder, hair sticking to your chin. You scream when you bump into something, hands gripping your shoulders.

“Hey! It’s okay! You’re okay!”

You stare up at the man, letting out a shuddering breath, tears mixing in with the rain. “He- Their all dead! He killed them!” You sob, eyes finally landing on Eddie laying on the ground by the van.

He was going to leave you all.

“Who? Who was it?”

Your hand comes up and rests on your forehead as you squeeze your eyes shut. “I-I don’t know! He had a mask on!”

Hopper nods, patting your shoulder as he turns to Callahan. “Let’s go check. Call for backup,” He turns to you. “Stay here.” He pulls his gun from his holster. You nod, turning and watching as he steps into the camp ground, guns and flashlights pointed straight in front of him.

“Chief! Watch-” It was too late. Three gunshots ring out, echoing through the woods, another round being released.

You shake your head, turning and running as far as you could, checking behind your shoulder to be sure you were alone.

⛏️

Thighs and quads burning, hours pass, the sun was slowly raising, rain still down pouring and soaking through your clothes - the material sticking to your skin.

You wanted to scream.

You were alone.

Your friends were dead.

You walk along the side of the main road, eyes squinted, arms crossed, as you stare at the raising sun in the horizon.

‘NO PLACE TO HIDE.’

⛏️ ST tags; @officerrrfriendly, @ali-r3n, @lavendermunson, @queercodedcharacter, @halflifejess, @whisperingwillowxox, @keerygal, @alltoomay, @hazydespair

⛏️ thank you for reading! comments, reblogs, requests, likes, & feedback is encouraged, welcomed, & deeply appreciated!

#cherry writes ✿#steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x you #steve harrington x fem!reader #steve harrington angst #steve harrington fanfic #joe keery x reader #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson x fem!reader #eddie munson angst #eddie munson fanfic #joseph quinn x reader #nancy wheeler x reader #robin buckley x reader

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headkiss · 2 years

Text

i miss you, i’m sorry

pairing: steve harrington x reader

summary: inspired by the gracie abrams song. you and steve had been best friends since you were little. when he got with nancy things changed, but he’s determined to make it right.

word count: 5.9k

warnings: angst, smut, fluff!!

a/n: this is my first time writing smut so it’s not very good BUT i’m happy with the rest of this fic and i hope u guys are too :)

༄

It was Halloween and instead of being at Tina’s party—that you weren’t invited to—with everyone else in your grade, you were laying on your bed staring at the ceiling. Ankles crossed and hands resting on your stomach, overthinking and restless.

It’s not like you even wanted to go to the party; a bunch of drunk people around that didn’t care about your presence one bit weren’t all that enticing. You just wished you were with a certain person who was definitely attending said party. But you didn’t really want to think about that.

Steve Harrington had been your closest friend for as long as you could remember. You met as kids, becoming ‘best friends forever’ in the first five minutes of knowing each other. Up until a couple of months ago, that had stayed true, a promise unbroken.

The two of you grew up together, going through life as a unit, knowing the other would always be right there. When you were younger, the idea of losing him seemed so impossible that you had never even considered it.

He would climb through your window when things with his parents were tough, needing someone’s affection when theirs was so absent from his life. You would let him in without hesitation, often leaving your window unlocked just in case he came by and when he did, you welcomed him by lifting the corner of your sheets, giving him the okay to lay next to you.

Countless nights were spent with his hushed voice confiding in you, your eyes and ears focused on him to make sure he knew you were listening. Your parents knew about these sleepovers, but they also knew enough about Steve’s situation to know that he needed someone, and they were happy to see the two of you remain so close throughout the years.

Whenever school dances came around you would opt to go together, preferring to avoid the whole task of finding dates. That changed when high school hit and he became ‘King Steve,’ reigning popular boy of Hawkins High. Despite his sudden popularity, he remained by your side when he wasn’t with his asshole friends. And you were the only one he would make sure they didn’t say a word about.

But then, he started dating Nancy Wheeler, and the dynamic between you and him fell apart. He tried at first. Tried to stay close to you. But, eventually, he just drifted away. All of his spare time was spent with Nancy and it was like he completely forgot about you.

No more nighttime visits through the window. No more study sessions that would end up in movie nights when you both got frustrated. No more drive thru dinners. No more Steve.

Losing him affected you more than you let on. He was your person, your best friend, and he abandoned you like it was nothing. You never realized that he was your only close friend until he was gone, and you were left with nobody to talk to.

You’re brought out of your thoughts when you hear tapping on your window, and you know there’s only one person it could be.

After Steve’s fight with Nancy at the party, he didn’t know where else to go. He knew you were upset with him, and that you had every right to be. But when he found your window locked, it still hurt. Knowing that you had locked it to keep him out. He was the only one who would rather use a window than a front door.

He knew he had a lot to do for your forgiveness, but he wasn’t concerned about that at the moment, he just needed the comfort you provided. The safety of your room, with your sheets, and you in it. He needed his best friend, even if you hated him at the moment. You were the only one he could really open up to about this.

When he knocks on the window once again, you get up and walk over to unlock it. You turn away from the window right away, leaving Steve to open it and climb through on his own. Once he’s inside and the window’s shut, you turn to look at him. He’s nervous, shifting back and forth on his feet, eyes wandering around your room. He clears his throat to speak but you beat him to it.

“What are you doing here, Steve?” You’re upset, and confused, and you need him to explain himself but you don’t even know if you want to hear it.

“Nancy and I had a fight, I… I didn’t know where else to go.”

“You haven’t spoken to me in months, and now you’re just back? What am I supposed to think?”

“I’m sorry, I am, and I can explain but I just- I don’t know how and I needed someone and you’re the only person I have.”

“So now that Nancy’s mad at you, you need me?”

“Please. I promise I’ll explain everything in the morning. Please can I stay here?”

You’re not proud of how fast you accept this. But if he promised to explain himself, is letting him stay really all that bad? You don’t think so. This is Steve, he may not be your Steve anymore but, maybe he could be. If he keeps his promise.

Instead of replying, you lay back down on your bed, under the covers this time, and hold up the corner for him just like you used to.

His breath of relief is audible at your acceptance. He toes off his shoes and takes off his jacket before laying down next to you, already feeling calmer. The two of you are on your sides facing each other, cheeks pressed into the pillows.

This position is so familiar for both of you. You’ve done this so many times but now it’s different. There’s a distance between the two of you that was never there. Still, despite this distance Steve has the urge to hold you, just like he used to. To wrap and arm around your waist and pull you into him. To feel your warmth and fall asleep in it. He guesses at this point, it can’t hurt to ask.

Your name is spoken softly into your room, “can I hold you? I know I messed up but,” his voice cracks, and your chest hurts at the sound. “I always sleep better when you’re with me.”

You decide it’d be too hard to really talk to him at the moment, or to deny him, so instead you turn around and face away from him. He takes this as a rejection, though, and when he doesn’t wrap his arm around you like usual you peek at him over your shoulder.

“I thought you always liked to be the big spoon, Harrington,” you say before laying back down and scooching yourself closer to him, grabbing his arm and letting him take the hint to do the rest.

He smiles softly and pulls your body into his, as close as possible as if a cuddle could bridge the gaps in your relationship.

You close your eyes and try to push the racing thoughts out of your head in order to get some sleep. You think you could be dreaming, because you don’t believe how Steve ended up back here so suddenly.

Unlike you, Steve feels completely at ease. Maybe it’s the alcohol in his system or maybe it’s just being around you again, but he swears he’s never felt calmer in his life. He falls asleep quickly, surrounded by your scent.

You can tell when he’s fallen asleep, his grip around your waist relaxing the slightest bit, soft puffs of air hitting the back of your neck in a steady rhythm. Maybe it’s him or maybe it’s just exhaustion catching up with you, but you fall asleep shortly after him, drifting off with the sleepy thought that you finally have your boy back.

In the morning, Steve wakes up before you. He’s disoriented at first, confused as to how he ended up in your room. It comes back to him quickly. The party, his fight with Nancy, climbing through your window because he needed your comfort, promising to explain things to you in the morning, falling asleep with you in his hold.

Before he knows it, he’s panicking. He promised you an explanation but he doesn’t even know if he has one to give. He needs time to think of it. Time to organize his thoughts and unpack what Nancy had said to him the night prior.

‘Like it’s great. Like we’re in love with each other and not other people and we’re partying’

In love with other people? Steve was in love with Nancy as far as he knew. So why on earth would she say that as if they were both harbouring feelings for other people. She was drunk. She didn’t know what she was saying.

He had to talk to Nancy before he could even begin to figure out what to say to you. He knew he did. As carefully as possible, Steve removed his arm from its position around your waist, untangling his legs from yours trying his best not to wake you. Once he was successfully out of your bed with you still sleeping soundly, he put his shoes and jacket back on, grabbed a sticky note and pen from your desk, and wrote you a note. Before climbing all the way back out the window, he spared a glance back at your sleeping figure. Hair spread across the pillow, sunlight peeking through and shining on your face. With his heart racing and hands shaking, for reasons he didn’t even understand, he climbed the rest of his way out of your window and into the early morning air.

You woke up a few hours after he had left. Eyes fluttering open and limbs stretching out before you realized he was gone. At first, you thought you had dreamt the whole night, but the rumpled sheets on his side of the bed proved otherwise. So did the note left on your nightstand.

‘I know I promised I’d explain in the morning. I’m sorry I can’t do that. I’m gonna figure this out. Please let me talk to you when I’m ready. - Steve’

Wait for him? Again? He left you there after you let him back into your life with open arms in a single night. And now he wanted you to wait around for an explanation you should’ve had by now? No way. He broke your trust again in such a short amount of time, you couldn’t let him do it once more.

For the next week, you completely avoided Steve at school. Not that it was difficult. He wasn’t even trying to talk to you. You were so lost about what happened. Was he just drunk? He didn’t seem to be overly intoxicated. Maybe he just needed someone, not you in particular. And maybe he knew that it was almost impossible for you to say no to him, even after everything.

Steve felt awful about leaving you the way he did. With nothing but a small note and a broken promise. But in his panicked state that morning, that was the best he could do. He spoke to Nancy the same day he left your house. She showed up to his basketball practice and demanded an explanation.

“What happened last night?”

“Really Nance? Okay let me sum it up for you. You got drunk, said I’m bullshit, that we’re bullshit, that we’re both apparently in love with other people blah blah blah and, oh yeah! Your new boyfriend Johnathan took you home. That about cover it?”

She was taken aback by his outburst, but she felt awful about how the night had played out, “Steve, I’m so sorry. I was drunk.. I didn’t know what I was saying!”

“So you’re not in love with him?” Her lack of response was all the confirmation he needed. “Okay, then you should go be with him, not me. I’m bullshit anyways.”

“This is for the better, Steve. You can be with y/n. I know how you feel about her anyways.”

“Woah woah woah. What are you talking about? She’s my friend, or.. she was.”

“You should really figure this out. She loves you, I can tell. You love her too, even if you don’t know it.”

With that, she walked away, leaving Steve even more confused than he was before. In love with you? No way.

Steve loved you, he had for most of his life, through runny noses and first-grade jitters, through the awkward middle school phases, through the fear of starting high school, even through his absence in your life. But in love with you? He was in love with Nancy, wasn’t he? You were his best friend—not at the moment but he was determined to fix that—and he felt love for you but was it ever more than platonic? Looks like there’s another thing for him to think about.

He’d never been so confused in his life, and he couldn’t talk to the one person in his life who would know what to say, because that person was you. He knew that the longer he took to sort out the mess that was his head, the less of a chance there was to get you back into his life. Which only added to the stress he was feeling surrounding the whole situation. He was an idiot for letting you slip away the first time, for not making an effort, for getting swept away by his romance with Nancy. But doing it again? When he’d convinced you to let him explain after cuddling with you as if nothing had ever happened. He was so stupid.

You tried your best not to think about him. Though that proved to be impossible. Everything reminded you of him and of your friendship. That one table in the library where you’d force him to get his homework done with you, the phantom sounds of tapping on your window, the vending machine that he somehow always managed to get snacks from for free. You couldn’t escape him no matter how hard you tried.

The worst part is, you’d been in love with Steve for a long time, and despite what had occurred recently, you still were. All you wanted was for him to realize you’d been right there all along. That you always would be, even when he hurt you the way he did. He would always be your Steve, even if he didn’t know that, and you would forever be his.

You spent your days counting down the hours until you could go home. Until you could put on your comfiest sweats—which may have previously belonged to Steve—and lock yourself in your room. Hiding under the sheets, heartbroken and embarrassed. Embarrassed you had let him back in so quickly, that you ignored everything he did because all you wanted was to be held by him. Every time you thought about what happened, how he left you that morning, your eyes would fill with tears. You’d press the heel of your hands to your eyes, never letting them fall. You were afraid that if you started to cry, you wouldn’t stop.

Your main distraction of choice was watching cheesy romance movies, which didn’t really help. Watching all those couples live their happily ever afters while you were sulking in your room over an unrequited love was definitely counterproductive. But you had nothing better to do.

Days continued to pass by slowly, and before you knew it, it was December. You and Steve had spoken very little since Halloween. The only time you interacted was when you were both somehow babysitting the crew of kids in the midst of an interdimensional battle. The only time you’d speak to each other was if the safety of the group was in question, other than that, it was like usual.

Maybe you were ignoring the way he always placed himself between you and the danger at hand, whether it was a demodog or the absolute asshole that was Billy Hargrove. Maybe you were ignoring the way you felt his gaze focused on you whenever you were in the same room. You did notice the way he’d look away as soon as you would face him. But you’d always turn away before you could see his cheeks turn pink, blushing every time he was caught staring at you.

But, after the whole upside down situation was taken care of, everything with Steve went back to the way it was before. No words spoken at all, never being caught in the same area unless you happened to share a class. By then, you had given up waiting for Steve’s ‘explanation,’ convinced it was never actually going to happen. Maybe that note was his way of saying goodbye. Leaving you on a cliffhanger, a comma and not a period. Like maybe he wanted to rub it in a little. Make you hold onto hope when it was pointless.

Little did you know Steve was still sorting out his mind. The chaos with the kids and the upside down surely didn’t speed things along, they derailed everything he had already planned to say to you. He couldn’t stand the thought of you being involved in it, but there you were. He didn’t even think about what he was doing when he’d push himself in front of you, like protecting you was in his nature.

After everything, you had taken Max under your wing, becoming the older sibling figure she deserved in her life. Just like Steve had with Dustin. When the middle school Snow Ball was announced, you volunteered to take Max, considering her ‘brother’ couldn’t be bothered and her mom was busy. You were happy to do it, to see the kids have a good night after all the terror they had to deal with.

That brought you here, in the Hawkins Middle School parking lot, watching her go inside before finding a proper parking spot for your car. A few minutes later, the notorious BMW pulled into the spot next to you. Great.

As soon as Steve saw your car sitting there, he knew he had to take the opportunity to talk to you. He was well aware of how much explaining and convincing he had to do. But he had to try. He had finally sorted everything out, the gate was closed, and he was in love with you.

He got out of his car and knocked on your passenger window. You simply looked at him through the glass and then turned away. Now he wanted to talk to you? Well that time had passed.

He knocked again, pleadingly, “please, y/n, let me in. I know I messed up.. big time. And I know I have a lot to explain. I’m going to, if you just let me, please?” His voice was muffled, but you heard every word. You chose not to react, keeping your head forward, acting like he wasn’t even there. He had to get your attention somehow, so, here it went.

“I’m in love with you.”

That got you. Your head whipped around to look at him through the window. You knew you shouldn’t, that he was probably saying it just so you’d listen to him, but you unlocked the car and beckoned him inside with a tilt of your head.

He climbed inside as soon as you let him, clumsily falling into the seat next to you and shutting the door. The silence was so thick, impatient. You were not about to start talking first. That was his job.

“I’m in love with you, y/n. Everything that happened when I was with Nancy was a mistake,” he thought about how she was the reason he realized his feelings for you, “well, maybe not everything, but I’ll explain that.”

You were so lost with what he was saying. He was talking so fast, rushed, afraid that you were gonna turn him away before he could finish. The only reply you could muster was a shake of your head. He continued, pushing forward.

“No, listen to me. I was so caught up in Nancy that I let you think you weren’t as important to me. But you’re more. You’re the most important, actually.”

“Why are you saying this now? You promised me this would’ve come weeks ago, Steve.”

“I know, and I’m so sorry. So sorry. But I panicked. That night, at Tina’s, Nancy was drunk and she said a lot of shit that I had to think about.”

“I don’t understand..”

But he kept going, hoping that, maybe, if he could tell you the full story you would understand. You would believe him when he told you he loved you, because he did.

“She told me I was bullshit, that our whole relationship was bullshit because we were in love with other people. I was so freaked out because I didn’t even know I was in love with someone other than her. Turns out she was right, though.”

He was looking right into your eyes during the last part. Convincing you to listen, to really pay attention because he had so much to tell you.

“So then I took time to sort out my feelings, y’know? I wanted to give you an explanation that morning, really, I did. But I couldn’t. I wanted it to be clear. And it wasn’t then.”

“I would’ve understood if you told me that. But a note and an empty side of the bed, Steve, really?”

“I know. But I was freaking out, I wasn’t thinking straight. And then, when I did figure it out, that stupid upside down shit had to interfere.”

You couldn’t believe he was sitting there next to you actually explaining everything. You convinced yourself he was never going to talk to you again. And yet, here he was. His eyes shining, focused on you and your reaction to every word he was saying.

“When all of that happened, when we somehow became babysitters—which we were pretty damn good at, by the way—I was so scared that you’d get hurt that I couldn’t focus on really talking to you. I just wanted to keep you safe. It’s stupid, I know but-”

“It’s not stupid, Steve. I wanted you to be safe, too.”

He grinned at that, happy to hear that you, to some level, felt the same as him, “yeah? Guess we were in the same boat then, babe. Anyways, um, that kind of brings us to now? I think. I miss you, y/n. And I’m sorry.”

You looked down at his hand that was resting on the centre console of your car, deciding to grab it. Lacing your fingers together, a sign of truce, of acceptance. Steve’s heart was pounding in his chest, and you holding his hand only made it beat harder. But, he had one more thing to say.

“I meant what I said before.”

“What part, Steve?”

“The part where I’m in love with you. I have been for a really long time, I was just too fucking stupid to see it.”

You couldn’t help but smile, teary-eyed and giddy. Your Steve was sitting there, right next to you, hand in yours, telling you he loved you. You had imagined it happening so many times, and now it was.

“I’m in love with you too, Stevie.”

Stevie. A name only you called him. He missed hearing it so much and he was never taking it for granted again. As soon as you uttered that nickname—not to mention the fact that you loved him too—he knew he had a real shot with you. To make this real. He was so happy in this moment, feeling hopeful and complete with you.

“I’m gonna make it all up to you, babe, I swear. Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.”

“How about you stop talking and kiss me now?”

He didn’t need to be told again. He took his free hand—the one not holding yours—and gently cupped your face. Running his thumb along your cheek once, then twice, before leaning in and kissing you. This kiss was a long time coming.

You kissed him back as soon as his lips were on yours, completely lost in him. Steve kissed you as if he was trying to apologize with his actions, to convey that he truly did love you. You believed him, of course. His lips were soft, but his kiss was firm, convincing yet pliant. A push and pull full of emotions that had you pulling yourself over the console and into his lap. Thighs on either side of his, now sitting slightly higher than him, hands on his shoulders.

When you climbed into his lap, he pulled away, looking at you in such awe it left your cheeks feeling warm under his intense gaze. His hands were now resting on your waist, thumbs brushing your sides softly as you looked at each other.

Then, you were kissing him again, hands moving to bury themselves in his hair, which was as soft as ever. Both of your movements became frantic, heated. His hands pushing your shirt up to feel your bare skin. The kiss became wandering hands and dancing tongues, pulling hair and a panting breath before diving back in.

When you pulled away to catch your breath, Steve took the time to kiss your neck, using a hand to cradle your head to the side to gain more access. He was everywhere, all around you at once. The feeling of him sucking a mark into your neck had you grinding on him. Feeling him through his jeans and moving your hips to get yourself as close to him as possible.

“Fuck, I love you,” was spoken into the skin of your neck when Steve felt you start moving over him. Even through the layers of clothes, it was the best thing he’d ever experienced. Because it was with you.

He imagined scenarios like this time and time again in his head, but nothing could compare to the real thing. To the feel of you all over him. Your hands in his hair, panting and gasping because of his lips on your neck, grinding on him because you needed it. Needed him. He was completely encompassed by all things you and he was in awe.

When you let out a whimper into the quiet of the car, windows beginning to fog, he knew he had to do more than kiss you. To prove to you just how much he cared. How he was never going to mess up like he did. The two of you were so glad you had parked in a secluded spot in the lot, not giving yourselves away because nobody was near.

Steve’s hands slid up from your sides all the way to the underwire of your bra, pulling away from your neck to look at your face and how you were reacting to him, to his hands and his mouth.

“Can I touch you?”

You were arching into him, body begging for him to do something, “yes, please.”

He didn’t hesitate after that, his hands moving to your chest. He was tentative at first, afraid that if he went too fast, you’d disappear. But, when he didn’t see any hesitation on your end, he went for it. Squeezing your tits and moaning at the feeling of them in his hands. Surging forward to kiss you again and swallow every single sound coming out of your mouth.

You couldn’t believe this was happening. When Steve moaned as he was touching you, you were done for. He moaned and you didn’t even have to do anything. His thumbs brushing over your nipples through your soft-cupped bra had you moving over him faster, desperate for anything at all. You pulled away from his kiss, too out of breath to keep up the rhythm. Resting your forehead against his, you couldn’t help but notice how he looked in this moment. Cheeks flushed and messy hair, kissed lips and eyes dark with want.

“You’re so pretty, Stevie.”

“You think so? Well you’re prettier. Pretty, pretty girl. Look at you.”

Even his words had you whimpering, “please. Do something. I need it.”

“What is it you need, pretty. C’mon, tell me.”

You huffed impatiently. He was such a tease, a smug look on his face at your reaction. More than satisfied at his ability to rile you up. To have you flustered and needy all for him.

You were whining now, “Steve. Touch me.”

He was quick to fulfill your request, his hands moving down your body to the waistband of your jeans. Unbuttoning and unzipping them before teasing his fingers along the lace edge of your underwear. Fingers featherlight and cheeky.

You were way too turned on to wait any longer, so you grabbed his hand and pushed it under your waistband, guiding his fingers exactly where you needed them.

“Someone’s eager.”

“Shut up and do something.”

“I was getting there, pretty.”

He slipped two fingers down to your entrance, coating them with the wetness that had gathered there before moving back to your clit. Rubbing and moving just right.

“Did you get this wet for me?”

“You already know the answer to that.”

At your remark, he moved his fingers back down and pushed them inside of you, quickly but in the perfect kind of rush.

“Fuck, Stevie. Baby-”

“Mmm, call me that again and I’ll make you come. I’ll make it so good for you.”

He was thrusting his fingers now, manoeuvring his hand so his thumb could brush your clit on every stroke. The air in the car was thick, condensation on every window. It was full of unspoken words and hushed promises. Full of the new future for the two of you. Full of ‘I love you’s.

“Please make me come, baby.”

“Holy shit. You’re so hot. All mine.”

The thought of you being his, for real this time, amazed you. After so much time full of longing and pining and friendship that you never thought could've been more. You were truly, fully his.

You dipped your head back and kissed him again. Moving your hands from his hair to his belt, undoing it with shaky hands. Then undoing his jeans and pushing them, as well as his boxers down to free his hard cock from its confines. Pulling away from the kiss you moan because, fuck, he was really good, then spitting on your hand and kissing him again as you started to jerk him off.

“Oh my god. Fuck me, y/n.”

The kiss was messy now, the both of you panting and moaning so much that you were barely able to keep a steady rhythm. Simply keeping your mouths close together, breathing in every single sound you could. Like that would make you closer somehow, like you would fully become one.

“I’m so close, baby.”

“Gonna come for me, pretty? Go on, I can feel you squeezin’ me.”

As if his words were magic, your orgasm hit you. Shaking in his hold, eyes falling shut at the intensity. His name leaving your mouth over and over. As you came down, you reached for the lever on the side of the seat, pushing it as far back as it would go. Then, you sunk onto your knees onto the floor of your car.

After you pulled yourself off his fingers, he stuck them in his mouth, tasting you off his fingers. Then you were on the ground, ready to suck him off. He was in shock. You, his favorite person in the world, his beautiful best friend who he was in love with, who was in love with him, on your knees for him. What a dream.

You took him into your mouth, working him with your tongue, and your hand. You wanted him to feel the way you did. To come because of you.

“Shit, pretty. Keep doing that.”

You hummed against him, the vibrations getting him even closer, and when you took him down your throat, he just couldn’t hold it anymore.

“Gonna come.”

And he did. Hard. Hips jerking forward as he came into your mouth, you swallowed every bit of it. You wanted him in every single way you could have him.

“Damn. Get up here.”

Steve pulled you back up into his lap, kissing you softly. He had to convey to you how much it all meant. That this wasn’t just a hookup to him. This was everything. He knew he still had a lot of making up to do, but he wasn’t going to let this chance go to waste.

You pulled away from him, fixing your pants, him doing the same to his. You were nervous now, not knowing what to say after what happened, but you needed to try. For him, for yourself. You moved back into your seat, creating a small distance just so you could focus on talking to him. If you stayed too close, he’d distract you and you’d probably end up with his dick in your mouth again.

“This doesn’t mean you’re fully forgiven, Harrington.”

“Yeah I know. I’m gonna make it up to you, pretty. I swear.”

You could feel the weight of his words, feel that he really meant them. You had never pictured your love for Steve coming out this way, but you were glad it did, that you made it through a difficult time with him. That he confessed first, knowing you needed to hear it from him before you could ever muster up the courage to tell him how you felt. He knew that, and he was the only one that knew you well enough to read you so well.

“Hey, Stevie?”

“Yeah, pretty?”

“I really am in love with you. So much it’s crazy. I have been for a long time but I just couldn’t say it. So thank you. For saying it first. For coming back to me.”

“I’ll always come back to you, y/n. I go wherever you do. You’re never gonna get rid of me now. I love you too much to let that happen.”

“Never?”

“Never ever.”

You were holding hands on the centre console again, his thumb running over your knuckles subconsciously. You didn’t even realize when that had happened, like the two of you simply gravitated towards each other. A simple touch, but one of a lover.

“Let me take you on a date, pretty.”

“I’d really like that, Stevie.”

All of a sudden, you noticed students starting to exit the school. You hadn’t realized you and Steve spent the entire dance talking—and maybe doing some other things—but you weren’t complaining. The end of the night was significantly better than the beginning. Steve back in your life, in love with you.

“Guess it’s time to get the kids home, huh? Henderson’s never gonna let me hear the end of it if he finds me in your car. He’s already been on my ass enough.”

You laughed softly, glad that Dustin and Steve had such a dynamic relationship. “Yeah Max is probably gonna kill me if she knows what went on in here while she was gone.”

“I’ll get outta here. So that date? How’s Saturday sound? I’ll pick you up at seven?”

“Sounds perfect, Stevie.”

He quickly kissed you one last time before getting out of the car and climbing into his, giving you a rushed ‘see you then, pretty girl!’ before shutting the door.

You couldn’t wait.

#steve harrington x reader #steve harrington #steve harrington fic #steve harrington x you #steve harrington fanfic #steve harrington imagines #steve harrington x y/n #stranger things #stranger things fic #steve harrington fluff #steve harrington requests #steve harrington one shot

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radiosteve · 1 year

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Something, Everything

Summary: You and Steve Harrington were best friends, and then you were more, and then you weren’t. When it seems like the world is about to end for the fourth time will you be able to set aside the past to help save your friends?

Note: I haven’t posted on here in a super long time, but I’m kind of back! This story is inspired by Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren, which I highly recommend. I’ve changed a lot of the details from the book (especially the timeline) but the basic premise is still there. I just wrote this for fun and it ended up being kinda long. I hope you enjoy!

Warnings: 18+, no use of y/n (reader is referred to as Honey), smut, unprotected sex, dry humping, friends to lovers to enemies(?) to lovers, language, some cannon divergence, fluff, angst, death, slowburn, naked photo.

Pairings: Steve Harrington x reader, some Eddie Munson x reader

Word count: 16.6k

It all started the night Will Byers went missing. Well, actually it started fourteen years ago, but that cold day in early November 1983 kickstarted the chain reaction that brought you here. Face to face with the one and only Steve Harrington. Your ex-best friend, your ex-almost, your ex-something, your ex-everything.

When you were startled awake by a phone call from your best friend Jonathan Byers asking if you knew where Will was, you instantly knew something was up. You skipped school, sticking by his side as him and Joyce continued their desperate search for any trace of Will. So when Nancy Wheeler squeezed her way in, bringing up monsters without faces and her friend Barb, you tagged along hoping like hell for any sign of Hawkins’ missing persons. You tried to ignore the part when Nancy said Barb was last seen at Steve’s house, and where Nancy so happened to be when Barb went missing.

It wasn’t until after Will’s funeral, when Lucas pulled you aside and told you about the girl they’d been hiding in Mike’s basement, that you got split up from Nancy and Jonathan’s monster hunting. After you were all briefly reunited in the middle school gym, the new dynamic duo secretly slipped away again, carrying out their plan while you stayed unknowingly with the kids. By the time the people from the lab were taken out and the dust settled from Eleven destroying the demogorgon, and seemingly herself, Will had been found and the world felt a little less upside down.

Jonathan caught you by the arm, pulling you into Will’s hospital room before you could join the others in the waiting room. With a quick ‘what the hell’ look and a mutter about Steve Harrington and nail bats and fire, you gladly took your seat across the room from Will’s bed until he woke up. You managed to avoid Steve again that day, something you had gotten really good at since that one day the previous year, but that bond that formed between you all that week was something that couldn’t be severed. It didn’t matter if you hadn’t seen him at all or that he only jumped into it at the last second. There was now a select group of people that understood why Hawkins was so different from other small towns and that group now contained the both of you.

When Halloween rolled around you took the kids trick or treating while Jonathan went to Tina’s stupid party. He didn’t even try to convince you to go with him. Knowing Steve would be there was enough to keep Jonathan from even thinking about asking you. But when Jonathan and Nancy came up to you with their plan to get justice for Barb, you were all in. When you all finally got back to Hawkins, noticing the romantic shift in the air between your two partners in crime, all hell had seemingly broken loose. And when none other than the devil himself came tramping out of the woods followed behind Dustin, Lucas, and the new girl Max, you knew for sure that nothing good could follow.

Despite going to the same school, you had managed to narrowly avoid Steve the past few years. You were in upper level courses while he barely coasted by in the lowest classes possible. It was the first time you had seen each other in nearly two years and it was like the wind had been knocked out of your lungs and spilled out onto the pavement below. He looked like he was about to say something when Dustin finally opened the gate and Chief Hopper came speeding out, effectively saving you from having to talk to Steve. Even back at the Byer’s house you found ways to keep him away. When Eleven came to the rescue, Will was no longer possessed, and the gate was closed, you managed to come out of it all without exchanging a single word or even sparing a passing glance. What you didn’t know was that he pestered Dustin with questions about you on the daily and when he dropped Dustin off at the Snowball that year it took all his willpower to tear his eyes off of the glimpse he got of you through the window.

By the summer you had gotten a job at the record store downtown, running over to the Hawkins Post to visit your favorite couple on your lunch breaks. It didn’t take long to recognize a few regulars at the record store, one of which being Eddie Munson, who so charmingly explained to you one day why he had to repeat his senior year a third time. He was cute, and a good way to take your mind off a certain hairspray obsessed boy that you heard got a job at the new ice cream place in the mall. So you and Eddie became about as casual as causal can be. He even had you pressed against the wall in the record store’s break room when Nancy came barreling in spewing nonsense about exploding rats and chemicals.

It wasn’t until you were dragged all across Hawkins and nearly killed a few times that you ended up in the mall and saw Steve Harrington’s beaten and bruised face for the second time since sophomore year. Even you had to admit that despite the blood and vomit stains, he looked damn good in that sailor outfit. But even as Steve drove into the side of Billy Hargrove’s car, saving you all from being driven into head on, you still couldn’t let go of the pain he caused you at the end of sophomore year. And when the dust settled and Chief Hopper was thought to be dead, you couldn’t help but avoid him again, slinking away to comfort Max and El.

Having no money meant staying in Hawkins and going to community college instead of all the out of state schools you had been accepted into. Nancy stepped up, filling as much of the Jonathan sized gap and becoming your best friend when he moved off to California. You told each other all your secrets, including both of your history’s with Steve. By the time spring had rolled around Eddie had become almost as much of a constant in your life as Nancy. Despite never saying those defining words, you somehow still found yourself curled up against him most mornings. It was because of how close you had both become that you woke up to a frantic phone call from Dustin about Chrissy Cunningham and Eddie and Reefer Rick’s.

As soon as you opened your car door and stepped out onto the pavement, you instantly wished you never picked up the phone. You silently curse yourself for ever entertaining the idea of monster hunting back in 1983 because now you’re stuck with Steve Harrington and this time there’s nowhere to run. Your eyes trace along his figure while you close the distance between you and the others. He’s changed a lot, although you suppose that you have too. His chest fills out those dumb polos a lot better now and his arms are definitely bigger too. His hair is still the same, although maybe a bit longer, but the stubble above his lip is new. You’re pulled from your silent stare by Robin pointing to the boathouse.

Following along quietly, you can’t help but notice Steve’s eyes flickering over you the same way you had done to him. Even as he jabs an oar into a tarp covered boat, his gaze still catches on you. It isn’t until Eddie has him pinned against the wall with a bottle to his neck that Steve snaps his focus away from you. As everyone shouts at Eddie to let Steve go, he doesn’t listen until he hears your voice.

“Eds, please let him go. We just want to help,” your calm words bring both Eddie and Steve’s eyes to yours. Eddie gives a slight nod, slowly releasing Steve. As much as you know you should rush to Eddie, you find yourself sliding in front of Steve. “Are you ok?” Steve swears that he can feel his heart stop for a second. The last time you ever spoke directly to him was now almost three years ago, and god did he miss the sound of it.

“Yeah, I’m alright,” Steve finally managed to barely get out after way too long. You nodded, finally listening to the little voice in your head telling you to get the hell away from Steve and check on Eddie. It isn’t until you’ve crouched down beside Eddie, placing a gentle hand on his arm that you’re reminded of something.

“Are you ok?” your voice rang out into the roaring sound of the classroom. It was the first day of kindergarten and before you sat a red in the face, wailing Steve Harrington. He looked up at you long enough to stop crying for a minute and take you in. You were dressed in a pair of well-loved overalls with a striped t-shirt that was clearly way too big stuffed underneath them. As Steve wiped the tears from his eyes he realized that he hadn’t answered your question.

“I’ve never been away from my mom for this long. I- I miss her,” he squeaked out before fresh tears began to well in his eyes. Your eyebrows furrowed as his face turned red again.

“Is your mom your best friend?” you sat down in front of him now, crossing your legs so that your knees just barely touched his. Steve thought about it and then slowly nodded his head. “My mommy’s my best friend too. Why don’t we let our mommies be our best friends at home and then we can be each other’s best friends here?” you shot Steve a small smile and noticed that his tears had suddenly stopped.

“My mommy calls me Stevie, so if you’re going to be my best friend you have to call me Stevie too,” Steve sniffled out, wiping his nose with his hand.

“Well then you have to call me Honey since that’s what my mommy calls me,” you held out your hand for Steve to shake.

“Ok Honey.”

You’re dragged from your thoughts by the sound of Eddie’s unsteady voice as he explains what happened the night before. Eddie’s shaking hands find their way into yours as he tries to calm down. There’s a flicker of a frown on Steve’s lips that he quickly corrects as he eyes Eddie’s hand enclosed around yours. Despite all of Steve’s nagging and prodding, Dustin never disclosed the nature of your and Eddie’s relationship, knowing it would do more harm to Steve than good. Steve’s gaze lingers on you for a moment longer before he hears talk of spells, curses, and Vecna.

“Who’s Vecna?” you can’t help but find his eyes as a now frightened Dustin slowly explains. And you know with each word that spills from his lips that your spring break just got hijacked by freaky monsters and gates and the Upside Down.

After a while, the rest of the gang takes off on a grocery run, leaving you to stick behind with Eddie. He watches you from the corner of his eye as you walk around the boathouse, silently picking through everything littered around the place. You’re caught off guard when his arms wrap around your waist from behind and his nose buries itself in your neck.

“I really wish I’d taken you up on your offer to come over and watch a movie on Friday instead. Then we wouldn’t be in this mess,” he says, placing a gentle kiss to your cheek before you twist your way around in his arms to face him.

“Well, maybe you wouldn’t be, but I can guarantee I would’ve been dragged into this one way or another. We’re kind of like a club now except our meetings only really take place just as the world’s about to end.”

“Sounds like a fun club,” the sarcasm drips from Eddie’s words and he leans in, slowly closing the distance between your lips.

“Super fun,” you meet him in the middle, soft lips dancing across his, making him groan as he pulls your body closer. He keeps kissing you as his hands find their way to your ass, giving it a quick slap that causes you to jump a little. Eddie pulls away slowly, just enough to see your face clearly.

“So, you and Harrington?” the question hangs in the air even as your eyebrows furrow and your head shakes side to side.

“What about me and Steve?” you search his face for any sign of what he means, but Eddie’s always been pretty good at hiding his true feelings behind those big doe eyes.

“I know you two have a history. Clearly I have no idea what actually happened because you’re very secretive,” you open your mouth to argue but he cuts you off. “No, no. You so are. Maybe not about most things, but you are about him. I know we’re not technically dating, but I just want you to know that I’m not the jealous type,” now you’re definitely confused.

“What are you even talking about?” a small giggle escapes your lips while Eddie’s eyes widen into saucers.

“All I’m saying is that if you and Harrington want to make goo-goo eyes at each other from across the room it won’t bother me,” now you’re fully laughing, and Eddie pulls you tighter to him while a grin breaks out across his lips. “What’s so funny, Honey?”

“Steve and I were not making goo-goo eyes at each other. And honestly you saying you’re not jealous only makes me think that you kinda are jealous,” you manage to stop laughing but you can’t hide the smile etched across your face.

“You wish,” Eddie pulls you in again, gently cupping your cheeks in a smiley kiss that’s quickly interrupted by the sound of the door slamming open. The two of you tear apart and Eddie grabs for his glass bottle again, pulling you behind him. It only takes a second for you both to realize it’s just the others returning from the store with food for Eddie. You don’t miss the way Steve’s gaze lingers on Eddie’s protective hand on your wrist as he files into the boathouse with the others.

Eddie goes to town munching on the food Dustin graciously handed him while they explain that the cops think he killed Chrissy. Eddie shoots panicked glances your way and Robin tries to comfort him with words but ends up making it worse. Even Steve jumps in and despite your hard glare, he and Dustin do nothing but add on to the sense of hopelessness that now fills the air. It isn’t until you all hear sirens in the distance that they finally shut up and Eddie jumps back under the tarp in the boat. You rush to the window, not noticing Steve close behind, and see the cop cars blowing past Reefer Rick’s house. As you peer up at Steve you know that there’s something else going on.

You slide into the back of Steve’s BMW with Dustin and Max on either side and Steve hits the gas until you see the red and blue lights approaching in the distance. Being in the middle seat means you're the last out of the car and the last to notice Nancy surrounded by police officers. She offers you all a small wave as your feet carry you forward, past the police barriers, and into her arms. Nancy lets out a small sigh of relief and squeezes her eyes shut at the feeling of your embrace. The others catch up and you move your way into the trailer park, sitting at a picnic table close to Eddie’s trailer. A place you’d been a thousand times, now crossed off with police tape.

Nancy talks about Fred, Dustin talks about Venca, and you do everything you can to ignore the lingering gaze of Steve Harrington. Your attention snaps back as Max makes the connection between Fred and Chrissy and everyone heads back towards Steve’s car. You follow Nancy as she keeps walking away from the others until you hear Steve’s voice and turn back around.

“Where are you guys going?” Steve’s question is directed at both of you, but his eyes only flicker over to you.

“There’s just something I want to check out first,” she says pointing over her shoulder towards her car.

“And I’m not letting her out of my sight with all this going on,” you speak up next, glancing towards Nancy to avoid looking at Steve.

“No way it’s too dangerous. There’s safety in numbers. You guys need someone to…” he trails off, turning to throw his keys to Robin. “I’ll stick with these two, you guys take my car and go check out the shrink,” Steve heads over to you and Nancy before Robin chimes in about not having a license. Steve squabbles with them all before Robin makes the executive decision that she’ll join you and Nancy instead.

Nancy explains her discussion with Wayne Munson and his thoughts on Victor Creel during the drive to the library. While you go along with Nancy’s hunch, knowing she’s usually right, Robin questions each and every detail of the theory. You can tell Nancy’s getting annoyed as you wait for the keys to the basement archives, stifling a laugh when she turns to you with ‘help me’ eyes.

The three of you search through newspaper after newspaper and you try to tune out Robin as much as you can. She’s nice enough but she talks way more than you remember. Nancy, clearly unable to put up with anymore of Robin’s babbling, goes downstairs to look for more newspaper reels, leaving you with a curious Robin.

“So, Honey…” her voice echoes through the now silent room as you set down the book you were looking through about D&D lore and Vecna.

“Why’d you call me that?”

“Everyone calls you that.”

“No, my friends call me that,” Robin opens her mouth in faux shock, bringing a hand to her chest.

“Are we not friends? Wow, you’d think saving the world from a human flesh monster and burning down a mall with someone bonds you for life, but I guess I was wrong,” you can’t help the small smile that crosses your lips at Robin’s theatrics.

“Alright, we can be friends,” a smile lights up Robin’s face and you mirror it back.

“Good. As your friend, you have to answer all my questions. Why doesn’t Nancy like me?” your smile drops from your face and your hands start to fiddle with the pages in front of you.

“Nancy likes you just fine.”

“I’m not an idiot.” Her eyes bore into yours. “Plus, what’s that thing the kids all say to each other? Friends don’t lie?” you curse Mike Wheeler under your breath for his stupid insistence on honesty.

“She probably just doesn’t like you because she thinks you’re dating Steve and she has other ideas of who she thinks Steve should be with,” it comes out pretty hushed and embarrassed, but Robin hears every word.

“I’m not with Steve. Not in a million years. He is so far from my type. I’d rather let the human population die out before being with Steve,” Robin’s words flood out in a rush of reassurance.

“You’re not a very good wing woman, you know that?” a smirk graces your lips as Robin’s face flushes. “And you don’t have to worry, I know you’re not with Steve.” Robin raises her eyebrows silently asking you ‘how.’ “Unfortunately I know Steve Harrington well enough to know when he’s interested in a girl and he’s not interested in you.”

“Do you know Steve well enough to know that he’s interested in you?” your breath hitches in your throat and your eyes meet hers.

“Yeah, I do,” you choke out, your mind stopping with the wisp of a memory.

“You’re so predictable, I really don’t get how she didn’t see right through you,” Steve puts the phone down and turns to you at the sound of your giggles bouncing throughout the room.

“I have no clue what you’re talking about, Honey,” Steve’s tone is serious but the smile stretching his lips says otherwise.

“Stevie, please. You use the same moves on every girl. If I had a deeper voice and your dumb polo I could pretend to be you, ask a girl out, and she’d never know the difference,” Steve steps closer to you. You’re sitting on his bed folding the laundry he left in a pile on top of it.

“Hey my polos are not dumb and I am not predictable,” he sits down on the bed next you, nearly knocking over the pile of sweatshirts you just folded. Steve grabs a shirt from the pile as you laugh at him again.

“You so are. You’ve been asking girls out the same way since third grade. We’re almost eighth graders now, you really should switch it up,” you snag the shirt from his fingers when you notice he can’t fold for shit. “Plus I can easily tell when you like a girl.”

“No, you can’t,” there’s something different about his voice now as he pulls his attention towards you. You brush it off, continuing your focus on his laundry.

“I totally can. You make up excuses to be around her, you laugh at all her jokes, especially when no one else does, you constantly nag everyone to tell you about her when she’s not there, and you get all moody when she’s with other guys.” you cross your arms over your chest and plaster on a satisfied smirk when Steve’s mouth drops open slightly. “See told you I could tell.”

“You do realize that you just described how I am with you, right?” the question hung in the air, and you found your jaw dropping just like Steve’s.

“Stevie,” it comes out as a whisper. Steve’s eyes shift from your eyes to your lips as you take a shaky breath. “Are you- do you like…” Steve silently nods, too afraid of what would happen if he tore his gaze from you. Your heart thuds in your chest and the world falls quiet around you. You’d harbored a crush on Steve ever since you figured out that boys do not indeed have cooties. It bothered you that he asked out other girls and never you, but it wasn’t your place to butt in. You were happy with as much of Steve as he was willing to give you.

Just as Steve was about to lean in, the phone rang, filling the silence. Without tearing his gaze from yours, Steve reached behind him, grabbing the phone from the nightstand and holding it to his ear. With a quick ‘Harrington residence’ and a muffled response from the other end, Steve handed you the phone. You held it up to your ear, hearing your dad’s quiet voice through the receiver. This pulled you out of your trance, tearing your eyes from Steve, until they fell on the folded clothes before you.

“Can you come home sweetie? I picked up an extra shift and need you to take care of your mom for a little. I can leave you a little money to order a pizza for dinner,” you agreed, hanging up after a promise of being there in 10 minutes. Steve’s gaze roamed over you with a sadness you hadn’t really seen before.

“I better get going,” you spoke softly, getting up from your place on the bed. The moment was gone. You’d both brush it under the rug like nothing happened. You wish something happened. Steve wished something happened. You collected your things scattered around the room and pulled on your shoes. Reaching out for the doorknob, you turned back, catching Steve’s sad eyes. “Bye Stevie, see you soon,” with that you left, heading downstairs and through the door, out to your bike waiting for you in the grass.

“Honey?” Robin snaps you from your trance and you jump a little in your seat. “I said, Steve never told me what happened with you two, but whatever it is, he seems really sorry. Like down on his knees pleading, crying, snot bubbles dripping down his face, sorry,” you scrunch your nose at the image.

“Are you always this descriptive?”

“Only when I’m nervous,” Robin gives you an awkward smile as you shrink back into your chair. What the hell is taking Nancy so long?

“No need to be nervous, Robs. And no need to try getting Steve back into my good graces. Our history is, uh well, history. I’ve moved on from it,” she eyes you wearily, trying to read your expression.

“Moved on enough to be with him again?” you shoot her a glare and she backs down. As you open your mouth to talk, she interrupts you. “I know about you and Eddie. Steve doesn’t, but I do. And I know that you're not really dating so don’t try to make any excuses. If you could just hear him out it could clear this whole thing up and you can live happily ever-” Robin’s sentence is interrupted by Nancy bursting back into the room and you’ve never been more thankful to see her. In her hand she holds the slides for the Weekly Watcher, making you even question her a bit. After scrolling through page after page, Nancy finally stops on a story titled “Victor Creel Claims: Ancient Demon Killed Family.”

“I know that I should’ve learned my lesson by now, but from this point on I’ll never question you again Nancy Wheeler,” you chime in, leaning over Nancy and Robin’s shoulders. Between the three of you, you manage to connect the dots between the ancient demon the article described and Vecna. Rushing out of the library, Robin radios to the others, finding out that they broke into the school. Nancy speeds over to the school as fast as she can and you catch up to a very freaked out Max describing her vision and her corresponding symptoms. Your hand reaches out for hers and she’s about to let you take it before a noise echoes through the empty school hallways.

Following Steve and his trusty lamp, everyone piles into the hallway, coming face to face with an out of breath Lucas Sinclair. He explains that the basketball team is on a manhunt for Eddie and Dustin. You’re all about to shuffle back out to the cars and head to the Wheeler’s when Nancy stops with an idea, grabbing Robin’s arm and pulling her back.

“What are you doing,” you stop, turning to face them as the others keep walking. She gives you a look, one you know means that you’re not going to like what she says.

“Go with Steve and the kids. I’ve got a plan and I need Robin,” she urges you forward, and Robin shoots her a look that you can’t quite read.

“I meant what I said, Nance. I’m sticking with you.”

“Go Honey, we’ll be fine. Plus, I think it’ll help for Max to have you with her,” you want to argue with her, but like usual Nancy’s right. You pull her in for a quick hug before chasing after the others and sliding into the back seat of the BMW next to Lucas. In order to keep your distance from Steve, you head up to take a nap in Nancy’s bed once you get to the Wheeler house. It isn’t until much later that Nancy and Robin show up in the Wheeler’s basement explaining their plan to talk to Victor Creel.

“Please don’t leave me here with him again. Nancy, I can’t take it,” you plead, following her up to her room. She purses her lips as she roots through her closet trying to find an outfit for Robin.

“Come on, Honey. It's been three years; you need to at least learn how to be civil with him. I know he hurt you and that he’s got his flaws, but I really do think he’s changed. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to give him a second chance,” she pulls out a shirt, looking it over before shoving it back on the rack and continuing her search.

“Geez you sound like Robin,” you mutter under your breath and she shoots you a tight lipped look.

“Who sounds like me?” Robin steps through the door, immediately drawn to the cassettes on Nancy’s nightstand and all her other little knick knacks littered throughout the room.

“I was telling Honey to suck it up and stay with Steve,” Nancy glances over her shoulder at Robin messing with her stuff.

“Oh yeah, totally. I think he’d throw a fit if you didn’t. He’d probably complain about being stuck as the babysitter again and we’d never hear the end of it,” Robin moves over to Nancy’s music box, letting out a squeal as a tiny ballerina pops up.

“Maybe you can find it in your heart to at least listen to his explanation of what happened. You never did give him a chance before,” Nancy’s eyes dart between you to Robin, who is still rooting through her stuff.

“This is just because you don’t like Eddie,” Robin snaps her head up, clearly intrigued by your assertion. You feel guilty bringing him into this argument. With all the craziness surrounding you, you’d nearly forgotten about the frightened Eddie left all alone at Reefer Rick’s.

“I like Eddie just fine. It’s you that doesn’t like Eddie, otherwise you would actually be dating at this point. Although he doesn’t really seem like the type to settle down,” Nancy shrugs, handing Robin a frilly blouse and skirt that causes Robin to scrunch her nose. You open your mouth to protest but you’re quickly cut off by Nancy’s glance towards her bed. “Did you sleep in my bed this morning?” you shoot her a guilty smile before making an excuse about checking on Max and sprinting downstairs.

After Nancy and Robin leave, you join the boys in awkwardly watching Max hunch over a desk for a few minutes before she gets up to pass out her letters. Your heart breaks with each word that trickles from her lips and the feel of worn paper between your fingers. Max argues with Steve about going to the cemetery until you chime in.

“If you won’t take her I will,” all eyes shift to you, holding out your hands for Steve’s car keys. He gives you a pleading look to reconsider before giving in and heading out towards his car. You give Max a playful nudge and she flashes you a grateful smile. When you get out to the car Max slides into the back, leaving the only empty seat upfront, next to Steve. He looks at you when you get in and you swear you can see the hope in his eyes.

Following a pitstop at Max’s house, the drive to the cemetery isn’t too long, but you can tell everyone is pretty restless by the time you get there. Max argues with Steve about going to Billy’s grave alone and you, once again stick up for her before sliding back into your seat in the car. Steve opens the door, following suit while Dustin and Lucas make up an excuse about needing fresh air and get out. You’re about to grab the door handle yourself when Steve’s voice cuts through the silence.

“Honey…”

“Don’t call me that,” you stare straight ahead, almost too afraid to look at him. Steve takes a second to hide his shock, his face returning to its normal shade after its flush of scarlet at your words.

“I honestly don’t think I can call you anything else,” his voice is quiet and it makes you finally turn your head to him. You realize that he’s nervous, more nervous than you knew Steve Harrington was capable of being. Even in the face of demodogs and other dimensions, Steve had never seemed this overwrought. “I just want to talk, please. I’ve wanted to explain, tried to explain, ever since that day, but you’ve never let me. Just, please, let me,” he sounded desperate, and if you were any less stubborn, you might have actually let him.

“Now’s not really a good time, Steve,” he shifted back in his seat, processing what you said. Steve. Not Stevie. Steve. He wondered if maybe Vecna had cursed him and all of this was just some long, drawn out nightmare. But here you are, sitting in his car, looking more beautiful than he remembered, and he knows this is real. He wants to say more, but the words get stuck in his throat. Steve feels like he’s about to choke when you look past him, eyes landing on Max, sitting stiffly in front of Billy’s headstone. “Somethings wrong,” you throw open the door, calling for the boys and running towards Max. Her haze covered eyes make you recoil back for a second before you grab her shoulders, shaking them as hard as you can.

“What’s wrong?” Lucas nearly plows into you, trying to look at Max himself. You regret not listening to Steve and letting her go by herself. Steve shouts at Dustin to radio Robin and Nancy while you keep trying to break Max out of her trance. After a minute Dustin shouts something about music and favorite songs, throwing Max’s Walkman and cassettes on the ground in front of you. Sorting through cassettes, Lucas hands Steve a Kate Bush album, clicking it in, putting the headphones over her ears, and clicking play. Everyone stops for a second as the faint sound of Running Up That Hill comes from Max’s ears.

You think it might be working for a second until Max’s body starts to rise from the ground, no matter how hard you try to hold her down. A scream rips from your throat as you watch what could be Max’s last moments. You think back to the girl in the Mike Myers mask on Halloween a few years ago as tears brim in your eyes. Losing hope with each passing second before you hear a gasp above you and Max tumbles down from the sky. Lucas wraps her in his arms and you all reach out to hold her in some way.

As the minutes pass and everyone’s breathing returns to normal you realize that in the chaos of the moment your hand found its way into Steve’s. With one glance his way you can tell he’s more than aware that you’re holding his hand and will do anything to keep you from letting go. It takes every fiber of your being to hold back a small smile at how easily you can read him. His hand is warm, but you remember that his body has always run on the warmer side. You can’t help but find yourself getting caught up in a distant memory.

The Snowball hadn’t originally seemed like it was going to suck, but now that you were here, it definitely sucked. Brent Majors had made a big deal of asking you to go with him in front of the whole school at lunch. So you reluctantly agreed, wishing Steve had mustered up the courage to ask you first. He ended up asking Kat Connors to go with him, and despite the fact that she would’ve rather gone with friends, she accepted.

Steve arrived first and was immediately ditched by Kat who got sucked into her group of friends by the punch bowl. With a sigh, Steve plops himself down at an empty table and begins staring at the clock, willing the night to end. He loses himself in the hands of the clock until he hears the gym doors slam open, you emerging behind them. Steve’s breath catches in his chest, the same way it had a million times before, as he takes in the way you sparkle in the beautiful purple dress that your mom picked out for you on one of her good days. It isn’t until his eyes find your arm linked with Brent’s that his heart drops.

When Steve finally catches your eye you shoot him a wide smile and a small wave. Brent drags you past Steve, over to a table across the gym that was already packed with Brent’s friends. After about twenty minutes you realize that Brent has no intention of dancing with you so you get up and excuse yourself. Steve is still staring at the clock, trying his best not to look over to Brent’s table, when you sit down in the empty chair beside him.

“It seems that both of our dates are absolutely against dancing with us,” you speak up, nodding your head over to where Kat still stood engulfed by her friends.

“It appears so,” Steve breathed out, leaning back in his chair. He turns towards you, finally getting a chance to look at you up close.

“It’s as if they come from a town where dancing is illegal or something,” you joke, provoking a smile to appear on Steve’s lips. His lips that you now couldn’t stop staring at.

“That would make a great movie.”

“Are you kidding? That would make an excellent movie,” you smile now, seeing Steve break out of his stupor. “Come on,” you get up, holding out your hand for Steve to take. He gives you a look before you continue. “Let’s show ‘em how to dance,” Steve rises to his feet, gently taking your hand as you pull him towards the dance floor.

The two of you dance circles around the other kids, clearly enjoying yourself way more than all the others. You’re having so much fun with Steve that you completely miss the death stare Brent sends him from across the room. As the night winds down the songs start to slow. When one slow song in particular comes on, Steve grabs your hand and pulls you close. You sway back and forth, enough room between you for the chaperones to not intervene, but not enough for you to not feel the heat radiating off of him.

“Your hands are warm, Stevie,” a confused smile etches itself onto Steve’s lips, leaving you to scramble for words. “It’s not a bad thing. I mean all of you is warm. You’re always warm,” you feel heat rush to your face and your eyes dart around the room, landing anywhere but Steve.

“Thank you, I think,” he laughs at you now and you can’t help but join. “It’s a good thing that I’m always warm because you are always cold. You need someone to warm you up,” the smile still lingers on his lips, and you can’t help but look at them. Overcome with the closeness of the moment, you take a leap and say something bold.

“What if I said my lips were cold?” you ask, hearing Steve’s breath hitch despite the loud music.

“I guess I would have to warm them up for you,” Steve shakily breathes out, eyes shifting over you. He leans in slowly and you do too. When your lips collide it’s soft, softer than you envisioned it. And as much of a joke it had been, Steve’s lips really were warm. You find yourself lost in the feel of Steve’s mouth on yours, not wanting to ever pull away, until you hear a throat clear behind you. One of the chaperones stands behind you, clearly embarrassed to witness your kiss with Steve.

“Three inch minimum please,” the woman speaks authoritatively before turning on her heel and walking back to the side of the gym. You turn to Steve again and find him already cracking up. It doesn't take much for you to join him.

When the air settles around you and the sun starts to fall behind the trees, Max stands on shaky legs, heading back to the car. No one is in the mood to talk anymore. Even Dustin keeps his mouth shut. The only thing you hear besides the car engine is the faint sound of Kate Bush’s voice coming from Max’s headphones.

Back at the Wheeler’s basement, Steve falls into an armchair, curling into himself and falling asleep as you sit on the floor beneath him. Nancy and Robin arrive shortly after, reading the room and quietly joining the silence. After a brief conversation about setting up shifts to watch over Max, you find your eyelids growing heavy. You lean back into the space by Steve’s legs, catching a glimpse of Robin and Nancy’s shared look at the sight. Too tired to care, you let your head lull to the side as sleep washes over you.

Nancy’s hushed words spoken into the walkie talkie wake you a few hours later. The warmth radiating from your shoulder pulls your attention from her. Steve’s leg is pressed up against your right side and it seems as though you’d fallen asleep against it. Sitting up properly now, you shift away from Steve, caught off guard when Nancy shakes Dustin awake next to you, frantically asking about Max. Pushing yourself to your feet you quickly follow them upstairs, finding Max at the table with Holly.

With a mumble about a shower, you head upstairs making a beeline for the linen closet, and pull out a towel. You head to Nancy’s room, finding the toothbrush you left there last time you stayed over and setting it with your towel on the bed. Just as you lift your sweater over your head, Nancy’s door swings open, making you scramble to cover your chest with your arms. Steve stands in the doorway, mouth hanging open in surprise as his eyes stay glued to your chest.

“Steve, what the hell?” you shout, knocking him out of his trance.

“Shit, right. Sorry,” he blurts out, averting his eyes to the ceiling. You quickly shove your sweater back on while he continues. “Max and Nance found something so we’re leaving,” he glances back at you now that your shirt is back on.

“Found what?”

Getting out of the car you find yourself staring up at Victor Creel’s creepy ass house. Breaking in was easy, fighting the chill that runs down your spine as you walk in was not. After a look around, you break off into groups, quickly following Robin and Nancy to avoid being paired with Steve. You can hear his displeasure in being partnered with Dustin again from his voice echoing up the stairs. Exploring the house sets your nerves on edge and it’s only amplified when Steve bursts through a door beside you, running into you and mumbling something about a spider before pulling the door shut. A giggle rises in your chest when you catch sight of the array of spiderwebs littering Steve’s hair.

“You got something,” Steve quickly turns his back to you, angling his head to grant you better access to his hair. Robin and Nancy walk past you reaching to grab a spider web from Steve’s locks. They both shoot you a look while Steve tries to brush off the comment Robin makes about spider eggs.

“So, you two are like friends now?” you hum in agreement. “That’s cool, that’s cool. Maybe when this is all over Robin will finally wear you down enough to let me explain what happened,” you stiffen behind him, plucking the last spider web from his hair. Steve turns to face you, clearly a little disappointed at you shutting down at the mention of your shared past. He’s about to say something when you hear Max and Lucas call for you all downstairs.

Standing in a half circle, everyone watches the lights flicker, making the connection that Vecna must be in the house. Splitting up again you spread out trying to find where he’s moved on to next. Robin finds Vecna first but it’s Steve who’s flashlight leads you all the way upstairs to the attic. The flashlights start to pulse and shatter with intensity, scaring the shit out of everyone. Shaken and scared, you all file back into Nancy’s car heading off to finally shower and get some sleep.

In the morning Nancy drives you to your house to get some clean clothes since your car is still over parked at Reefer Rick’s house. After a quick shower the two of you head back to her house where the others are waiting. When it’s time to pile back in the car to deliver Eddie more groceries and bad news, Nancy stops you from getting in the front seat. She points to the trunk where Steve was already getting in, trying not to make it obvious that he was watching you. With a sag of your shoulders and a dramatic eye roll, you climb into the trunk with Steve, making a point to keep as far from him as possible in such a tight space. You swear you see Nancy smile to herself through the rear view mirror. Best friend my ass.

Robin does what she does best and rambles on about all the bad news to tell Eddie, doing a bit to distract you from how Steve’s eyes haven’t left you once. Noticing that Nancy has started to slow down, you peer through the windows, seeing the news vans and cop cars. The group hops out, hearing enough of Powell’s speech to know Vecna claimed another victim and Eddie's name was released to the public as the prime suspect. Just then Eddie’s voice cracks through the static of the walkie talkie, telling you all to meet him at Skull Rock.

Back in the car your thoughts race over Eddie. Poor Eddie who’s now witnessed two of Vecna’s murders all while being chased by the police. You can’t help but shift restlessly in the trunk and it’s sure as hell doesn’t help that Steve’s leg keeps brushing against yours. Overcome by anxiety you lean up a bit to look at Nancy through the rear view mirror again.

“Nance, can you maybe drive a little-” your sentence gets cut off as Nancy takes a sharp left turn towards the woods, throwing you into Steve’s lap. Your head hits the window and you let out a moan as your hand shoots up to cradle it. “Faster,” you finish, slowly realizing you’re now practically laying on top of Steve. His eyes are blown wide looking up at you with a hint of lust and recognition. It’s then that the memory resurfaces, making you want to curse under your breath and scramble back up.

After the kiss at the Snowball, everything seemingly went back to normal. Neither you nor Steve were brave enough to bring it up, meaning that you continued to push down your feelings and stay friends. Now you sat on his bed, reading a book while he paced around the room.

“I still can’t believe you wouldn’t let me see you on your sixteenth birthday,” he huffs, stopping at the edge of the bed to glare down at you. You groan, placing an old receipt in between the book’s pages and closing it in your lap.

“I told you Stevie, Mrs. Byers planned out a whole thing and you don’t like Jonathan so I figured you and I could just hang out another day,” Steve, who had returned to his angry pacing, stopped again.

“I don’t dislike Jonathan,” he defends and you let out a laugh. “He just spends a lot of time with you. Time that you could be spending with me,” you roll your eyes at that, about ready to pick up your book and go back to reading before Steve starts talking again. “Why would Mrs. Byers even plan out stuff for your birthday?”

“Because I’m extremely likable ,” you shoot Steve a cheesy grin and he fake laughs in response. “And I’m pretty sure she felt bad since my parents forgot. She just wanted me to enjoy my birthday,” Steve’s face changes at your words. His eyebrows furrow, eyes growing wide and glassy while his lips part. He takes a seat next to you on his bed, offering you his hand, which you gladly accept.

“Your parents forgot your birthday?” his voice is soft and unbelieving. That’s something he’d expect from his parents, not yours. You nod slowly, feeling a burn in your throat.

“I mean, it’s not their fault really. Dad is working crazy hours to try and pay off mom’s medical bills. I don’t think he knows what day it is normally, let alone on my birthday. And with mom-” your throat clogs a bit, trying not to cry as you cast your gaze down at your lap. “With mom we’re just lucky enough if she remembers to put clothes on in the morning. I didn’t really expect her to remember,” you finally look back up at Steve, his hand reaching up to brush a stray tear from your cheek.

“Honey, I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize your mom was getting that bad,” you nod again, not trusting your words. A moment of quiet stretches between the two of you. The feeling of warmth from Steve’s hand comforting you as much as his presence. “You know what?” he stands up slowly pulling his hand from yours. “You’re right, it’s probably a good thing I didn’t come to the Byer’s for your birthday. You probably would’ve spent too much time doing stuff with Jonathan and I would’ve gotten jealous. I mean boring stuff too, like reading,” he reached forward grabbing your book from your lap.

“Stevie! Reading is not boring! Give that back,” you shift onto your knees, trying to get the book from Steve’s grasp. He jumps off the bed, standing just by the side opposite you and waves the book in the air. In a split-second decision, you leap from your spot, tackling Steve onto the ground where he still manages to hold the book out of your reach. Steve flips you over so you’re pinned beneath him as you continue to flail for your book.

A smirk graces his face at the sound of your giggles. He has you caged in with his limbs and despite your squirming, it’s impossible to escape. You try to move up and get the book but you stop at the feeling of your hips brushing against Steve’s. He stops too, stunned into paralysis as the book drops from his hand above you. You lock eyes with Steve, feeling your face heat up, completely forgetting the now abandoned book. As you go to stutter out an apology, Steve mimics your action, grinding his hips into yours slowly. You can feel that he’s already hard after one or two brushes against each other. A gasp escapes your lips and you close your eyes in pleasure.

“Tell me to stop,” he breaths out above you, clearly feeling as good as you are. Steve looks down at you and you peel your eyes open to meet his.

“I don’t want you to stop, Stevie,” he smiles, continuing the motion as the two of you grind against each other, fully clothed on the floor of his room. You both let out moans and gasps as Steve steadies his pace. “Faster. Please, Stevie,” Steve’s heart pounds as he picks up the pace for a few more strokes.

“Shit, fuck,” he breaths out, quickly standing up and bolting towards the bathroom. You lay confused on the floor, still breathing heavily as you turn your head to look over at the bathroom attached to Steve’s room. Scrambling to your feet, you make your way over to the door, giving it a soft knock.

“Stevie, are you ok?” you’re met by silence when it finally clicks into place. “Shit, did you just-” the door swings open, revealing Steve wearing a new pair of sweatpants while his other pair sits crumpled up in a corner.

“Yeah,” his voice is still breathy and his face is flushed. “It was the way you said it that tipped me over the edge,” he takes you in, with your messy hair and heaving chest.

“Said what?” you ask, confusion overtaking your expression.

“Faster.”

“Shit, are you two ok back there?” Nancy’s question hangs in the air and you can hear all the others turning around to see you still laying on top of Steve. You quickly move up, retreating back to your side of the trunk as your face burns with embarrassment.

“We’re fine, Nance,” you call back, avoiding all eye contact with Steve, who can’t seem to tear his gaze from you now. After another minute or two Nancy stops the car and you waste no time in getting out. You try to ignore the sight of Steve’s deflating shoulders as you scramble as far away from him as you can. Moving deep into the woods, you hear Dustin pick a fight with Steve over which direction leads to Skull Rock.

“You do realize that Skull Rock is like a super popular make out spot, right?” you trail a bit further behind the two of them with Nancy and Robin beside you.

“Yeah, so what?”

“Yeah well it wasn’t popular until I made it popular,” Steve says, making you roll your eyes in response. You’re more than familiar with the rumors that spread throughout the school of King Steve taking girls up to Skull Rock. The rumors only started after you stopped talking to Steve and they only made you hurt more. Steve leads the way, much to Dustin’s dismay, and shortly after you all arrive at Skull Rock. There’s no sign of Eddie until Steve says something about Dustin being a butthead.

“I concur, you, Dustin Henderson, are a total butthead,” Eddie jumps down from a nearby rock, and you all turn to look at him. He hugs Dustin first before his eyes fall onto you. Eddie practically sprints towards you, wrapping his arms around you and spinning you into the air. A laugh escapes you when he sets you down, leaning in to give you a quick kiss.

“I’m glad you’re ok. Sorry it took us so long to get back to you,” your arms fall from around his neck, trailing down towards his hands.

“Don’t worry Honey, you’re here now and that’s enough for me,” Eddie pulls you back in for another kiss and you hear a throat clear behind you. Dustin stands watching you both with a face of disgust, while Steve tries to pretend he didn’t see anything. It doesn’t take a 20/20 vision to see the angry red splotches on Steve’s skin and the slight glassiness in his eyes.

Eddie dives into the bags of junk food Nancy hands him and starts to explain the previous night’s events. You can’t help but notice Dustin’s incessant pacing behind you. Nancy connects the dots between the lights in the Creel House and Vecna’s attack on Patrick when Dustin starts shouting and rambling on about magnets and a gate. He leaves it up to Eddie who, after a Lord of the Rings reference, agrees to start the search for the gate to the Upside Down.

Eddie has his arm wrapped around your shoulder the entire trip through the woods, whispering dirty words in your ear to make you giggle. The sun fully sets by the time you reach Lover’s Lake and Dustin’s compass goes crazy. Nancy determines that Vecna must leave an opening behind from his attacks, similarly to the demogorgon. Eddie and Steve pull the hidden boat over, helping Robin in before Eddie hops in offering Nancy a hand. You step over the motor, stumbling a bit and Steve grabs your back to steady you. Eddie eyes him wearily as you mutter a thanks and take a seat next to Nance. Eddie stops Dustin from getting in the boat, which doesn’t stop the flood of protests before Dustin eventually hands over his compass.

“Sorry,” Steve shrugs towards Dustin, pushing the boat away from the shore and settling in next to you. Robin and Eddie paddle out towards the middle of the lake when the compass starts to go crazy. They slow to a stop as you all peer over the edge of the boat. The kids radio out and Robin updates them while Steve starts to strip off his socks, determined to be the one that dives down. After a small fight you all give in and Steve stands, taking off his shirt. An audible gasp escapes your lips at the sight of shirtless Steve and all but Steve’s head turns your way. It’s almost too dark to see the shared smirk Robin and Nancy shoot each other, but you still notice. Eddie tosses Steve a flashlight before he dives down and Nancy counts the seconds on her watch.

After what feels like way too long, a breathless Steve pops up grabbing the side of the boat. He rushes out words of a snack size gate as something tugs him down for a second. He grips the boat harder, sparing one last look your way before he gets pulled under. With a shout of his name, you leap in after him, pushing through the water as fast as you can until you find the glowing gate. You break through, adjusting to the dim light of the Upside Down while you look for Steve. He’s a few yards away, being attacked by a bunch of bats. You pick up an oar from the boat on the ground when you see Nancy, Robin and Eddie appear from the gate as well. Wasting no time, you swing the oar as hard as you can, taking out a bat at Steve’s side.

“Hey Stevie,” you say breathlessly, before swinging the oar again to smack another bat out of the way. Nancy, Robin and Eddie all attack the bats around you with whatever they can find as well. Eventually Steve is able to get up, tearing the bat from around his neck with his teeth. He spits out blood before meeting your eyes again, and for something that shouldn’t be hot, that was really fucking hot. Nancy starts for the woods when the bats start to swarm the gate and the rest of you follow.

Huddling under Skull Rock, Steve starts to sway, tripping into the side of it. You reach your hands up to balance him and he tries to brush you off, claiming he’s fine despite the blood loss. You set him down and remove your flannel, leaving you in just your tank top and overalls. Robin rambles to Steve about rabies as you rip the worn fabric and tie it tightly around his waist, covering the bat bites. He stares down at you, chest heaving and eyes wide.

“Too tight?” you ask, trying not to sound as nervous as you feel to be this close to Steve.

“No it’s perfect, thanks,” he sends you a soft smile that you can’t help but reciprocate. You help him stand as Eddie and Robin throw questions at the rest of you about the Upside Down and how it works. Nancy comes to a quick conclusion that you all need to go to her house, retrieve guns, and kill the bats to get back home. Steve takes a step closer to you, reaching over to wipe some blood from the bat fight from your face. You freeze, wide eyes looking up at him as your breath hitches in your chest. The moment is interrupted by Eddie launching his denim vest at Steve’s face mumbling something about modesty.

The ground starts to shake beneath your feet and Eddie tries to lunge toward you but Steve wraps his arms around you first, pulling your back flush against his chest. Steve backs into the rock behind him, holding it for support until the shaking subsides. The echo of the bats rattles through the air, reinforcing the idea of needing guns. Steve slowly retracts his arm from around you, letting you move away from him. Despite the distance you’ve purposefully created between the two of you for the past three years, you find yourself not wanting to pull away from him. You feel safe in his arms. The way you once did. The way you always did. You catch Eddie’s eyes on you and Steve before he quickly redirects them away.

“What are we waiting for?” Steve says, bringing out the flashlight from before and clicking it on. The rest of you follow him as he leads the way through the woods to Nancy’s house. As you all keep walking, Steve ends up falling into step with Eddie a little ways behind you, Nancy, and Robin. You can’t hear them from how far away you are, but it’s nearly eating you alive wanting to know what they’re discussing.

“What do you think they’re talking about back there?” you break through the silence the three of you created. Nancy and Robin quickly glimpse back at the boys then turn their attention back to you.

“You. Definitely you,” Nancy replies with a small smirk on her lips.

“Oh shut up,” you give her a playful shove and she giggles.

“I’m serious though. I mean they only have two things in common. Their love for Dustin and their love for you,” you stumble over your own foot at Nancy’s words, making Robin laugh. You shoot her a glare before Nancy goes on. “And since Dustin’s not here I think it’s safe to say they’re all about you at the moment. They’re both clearly jealous of each other,” you open your mouth to argue that Eddie’s not the jealous type but Robin interrupts first.

“Seriously, Steve looked like a kicked puppy when Eddie kissed you earlier and the way Eddie threw his vest at Steve definitely had something angsty behind it,” your gaze trails over to the boys behind you, taking in the sight of Steve and Eddie’s faces while they talk animatedly back and forth. They stop walking for a minute and the ground begins to shake again. The force of the earthquake slams you into a tree, knocking you on the ground. Nancy takes off before the shaking stops, heading for the edge of the tree line where she can see her house. Eddie hooks his arms under yours, pulling you up from behind and the rest of you take off after her.

The Wheeler house, a place you’d been to a million times, looks frighteningly different, covered in vines and in such low light. Nancy rushes upstairs, followed by Robin, Eddie, and Steve in front of you. Steve stops halfway, turning his head towards the dining room, catching your attention too. You and Steve share a look, hearing Dustin’s voice echo from that direction and run back down the stairs. Steve calls out to him, progressively getting louder with each try. The others hurry downstairs and you try to explain while Steve continues shouting for Dustin like a crazy person. Nancy brings up Will and the lights, fiddling with light switches that won’t work.

“Guys,” everyone turns towards you as you point at the now shimmering chandelier. They gather around while you stick your hand into the shimmering air, igniting the air around it in a soft light. The others join in, feeling the tingling sensation that it brings when you touch the light.

“Does anyone know Morse code?” Nancy’s question is met with a chorus of no’s until Eddie shifts to look at her.

“Wait, does S.O.S. count?” you all turn towards Eddie, hopeful for the first time since you dove after Steve into Lover’s Lake. It only takes a minute or two for Dustin, Lucas, and Erica to notice your signal for help. Talking back and forth on Holly’s Lite-Brite, you all come up with a plan to meet at Eddie’s trailer where there will hopefully be another gate. The five of you rush outside, grabbing the bikes from the Wheeler’s garage.

“Wait, there’s only four,” you point out, everyone hopping on a bike but you. Steve turns to look at the back wheel of his bike, noticing that his bike belonged to Mike.

“Mine’s got pegs on the back that you can stand on. Hop on,” he motions you over and your desire to get out of the Upside Down overrides your reluctance to be near Steve. Putting one foot on the first peg, you grab Steve’s shoulders for support, lifting the other foot next. “Hold on tight, ok?” you nod and Steve lifts his feet from the ground to start pedaling as the others follow. You wrap your arms around Steve’s torso, doing your best to avoid the bat bites on his abdomen. Even bloody and shirtless in the Upside Down, Steve still radiates warmth, keeping you comfortable now that you don’t have your flannel to wear.

Steve’s out of breath by the time you get to Eddie’s trailer, coming to a quick stop in the grass. He helps you off and drops the bike down, following closely behind as you burst through the door. The gate is bright and red as something starts moving beneath it. Suddenly, whatever it is bursts through causing you to jump back, right into Steve’s arms. He moves you behind him, slowly approaching the hole that now covers most of the ceiling. You inch up behind him with Nancy at your side. Dustin’s hat is the first thing you see, making you burst into a bright smile at the sight. You notice the others share a similar look of relief.

The kids bring out Eddie’s stained mattress and you can’t help but catch Eddie’s embarrassed glance your way, knowing that you’re both very aware of how some of those stains got there. Dustin throws a rope made of tied bed sheets through the gate, finding that it defies all laws of physics and holds in place. Robin goes first, falling onto the mattress below. Eddie looks around at you, Steve, and Nancy before moving to go up next. He flops down, being pulled up by the kids. Nancy’s about to go next when she freezes up next to you. You and Steve share a look before looking back at her, seeing foggy eyes and a blank expression.

“Nancy?” you place your hands on her shoulders, trying to shake her awake. “Nancy, come on, wake up. Nancy!” you shout panicked with Steve next to you, looking equally worried. The others start scrambling, trying to find a cassette tape in Eddie’s trailer that has a song on it that Nancy would actually know. Suddenly, Nancy gasps awake, and you pull her into your arms as her legs give out beneath her. “We’re right here, Nance. You’re ok now. It’s ok,” tears spill from her eyes and you pull her into a tight hug. When she calms down enough to climb through the gate, you help, giving her a boost from below. You go next, catching Steve staring at your ass from the corner of your eye as you climb the rope.

Once you’re all back right side up, everyone sneaks over to Max’s trailer, not wanting to stay so close to the gate. Nancy heads for the bathroom, needing a minute alone to pull herself together after being trapped in Vecna’s mind prison. Eddie grabs your hand asking Max if he can use her room for a minute.

“As long as you don’t do anything gross in there,” she gives him a glare and he responds with a fake gasp, hand shooting to his chest.

“When have I ever done anything gross?” Eddie asks in mock offense.

“I mean look at your mattress for one-” Max begins but you cut her off with a promise that nothing will happen in her room. Eddie pulls you in, careful not to touch anything considering how you’re both covered in goo from the Upside Down. He looks nervous, fiddling with his hands as he looks up at you. You are about to speak up and break the silence when he starts.

“No, no. I talk, you listen. Ok?” you nod, meeting his gaze. “When we started hooking up, that was all we intended for it to be. Then we became friends and started hanging out even when we weren’t looking to hook up,” he pauses, searching for the right words.

“Eds,” you begin, but he holds up a hand to silence you.

“Honey, I’m not one for relationships, you know that. And I’m also not one to get in the way of one,” you’re thrown off. When he started talking, you were sure he was going to ask you to be his girlfriend, but now he’s pulled a total 180. “I don’t know what happened between you and Steve. Hell, I might never know, but I see the way he looks at you. More importantly, I see the way you look at him,” he gets quiet, eyes searching your face and waiting for your impending push back.

“But I like you, Eds,” you choke out, not realizing that you started crying. He lets out a breathy chuckle, holding your hand in his. Eddie’s hands were always ice cold. You’d always thought it was because of those metal rings he wore, but you could never tell.

“I like you too, Honey. So much,” he breathes out a shaky breath, looking down at his shoes and you notice a tear streak through the dirt caking his face. “But you love him,” he looks back up at you and you swear your heart stops beating. “Do you even realize what you called him earlier?” you shake your head, not following. “Stevie. What you used to call him. Back when you were friends. Back when you-” Eddie stops, slowly dropping your hands. “Go get him. Go be happy again. Then I can be happy for you,” he gently cups your cheeks, pulling your head forward to press a kiss to your forehead before leaving you alone, standing in the middle of Max’s room.

After taking a minute to pull yourself together and wipe the tear streaks from your cheeks, you step back into Max’s living room. All eyes land on you as you settle on the floor next to Robin. She notices your red rimmed eyes and places a comforting hand on your knee. Letting out a breath, you lay your head on her shoulder and she gladly lets you. Nancy emerges from the bathroom. Sitting in a chair that gives you all a good view of her. She describes what Venca showed her, putting two and two together to realize that Vecna is only one person away from fulfilling his master plan.

Max tries to call the Byer’s, but she’s met with a busy signal again. Nancy becomes hell bent on going back in and killing Vecna, and after a rambling of protests all around Max speaks up, offering herself as the bait. Your heart breaks, realizing how much she’s grown in the time you’ve known her. She’s different now, you all are, but she’s taken more hits than some of the rest of you. Reluctantly, you all agree, forming a plan to get weapons and take down Vecna. Eddie hot-wires his neighbor's camper, throwing Steve into the front seat to drive. Nancy rushes into the seat next to him while the rest of you hold on to anything you can find. You get thrown onto the bench in the back, falling in between Max and Dustin as Steve maneuvers out of the trailer park in the direction of the War Zone. The road stretches and the boys in the back keep a steady conversation.

“I wish Will were here. He’d be able to spy on Vecna for us and make this a million times easier,” Dustin says looking at the trees passing by out the window.

“I’m glad he’s not here. Poor kid has already been through enough. He doesn’t need to go through this shit too,” you speak quietly, looking up from your hands in your lap to find Lucas, Dustin, and Max staring back at you. “We could use Mike though. One conversation with his sassy ass and Vecna would be ready to abandon Hawkins for good,” a smile creeps onto Max’s lips, knowing her distaste for Mike’s attitude.

“What would you know about Mike being sassy? He’s hasn’t been rude to you ever since he developed a crush on you back in third grade,” Dustin chimes in, causing your eyebrows to shoot up to your hairline.

“Wha- so just because he’s not here you’re gonna spill all his secrets? Some friend you are,” you joke, still freaked out by the idea of a young Mike Wheeler crushing on you.

“No, I’d tell you if he were here too. Like this,” he stops talking, eyeing Lucas across the aisle. “Lucas has had a crush on you since second grade,” Dustin receives a pillow to the face thrown by Lucas.

“Dustin’s liked you since fourth grade. Ever since you started helping Will draw out our D&D characters,” Lucas smirks back at Dustin until Dustin tackles him to the floor. You look over at Max who is laughing at the two wrestling each other. Getting up, you move to the front, hanging over the back of Nancy’s seat.

“What are they doing back there?” Steve asks, looking in the rear-view mirror to see Dustin and Lucas still rolling around on the ground.

“Dustin told me that Lucas likes me, then Lucas told me Dustin likes me and now they’re fighting I guess,” you gesture over your shoulder and Nancy turns to see what you’re talking about.

“That’s weird, I’m pretty sure Mike has a thing for you too,” Nancy says, shifting back in her seat to look up at you.

“Seems like you’ve got some competition there little Stevie,” Robin calls out from her seat behind you and Steve’s face turns beat red. The War Zone appears on the right much to Steve’s luck, effectively ending the conversation. Nancy decides that you, her, Steve, Robin, Erica, and Max should all go in to pick out weapons. You file out of the camper and through the glass doors, overwhelmed by the amount of people crowding the aisles. You beeline for the crossbow section, filling a cart with a new crossbow and as many arrows as you can get your hands on. Robin runs past you as you fill your cart, Steve trying to catch up to her.

“Is she ok?” you ask when she runs through the doors leading outside and he gives up chasing her.

“She’ll be alright. Just saw someone she knows,” he reassures you, looking at the stuff you’ve piled into your shopping cart. You look up, eyes scanning the room to see what else you need when you spot a familiar face.

“That makes two of us,” Steve glances towards you, finding your eyes wide. He turns to see who you’ve spotted but you grab and turn him towards you, trying not to pull the person’s attention your way. “Brent Majors,” you whisper and Steve stares at you in shock.

“No way. That asshole’s here?” you nod, glancing back over in Brent’s direction. Just then Brent’s eyes shoot up, locking with yours.

“Shit,” you try to duck behind Steve, but Brent still sees you and starts heading your way. Panicked, you pull Steve closer. “Kiss me,” you plead, Steve freezes in your grasp.

“What?”

“Brent’s coming over here. He’s always been jealous of you, especially after the Snowball, and maybe if you kiss me he’ll get the idea and-” Steve cuts you off, slamming his lips to yours. It’s better than you remember. Warm lips encasing yours as his chest presses flush against you. Hands trailing down your sides until they find your lower back, pulling you as close as physically possible. You don’t want to pull away, but you’re also painfully aware that you’re now making out with Steve Harrington in a weapon supply store at what very well might be the end of the world. Your hands gently push his chest back when you hear a throat clear beside you. Erica stands next to you with a small look of panic on her face and Brent Majors is nowhere to be found.

“We gotta go,” she gestures over her shoulder to Jason and his basketball goons rifling through the shelves. You nod, quickly pushing your cart over to the checkout area and getting out of the store as quickly as possible with Steve following behind. Steve bursts through the camper doors helping you throw everything you bought inside and making sure everyone else is back and seated before driving off. You end up parked in a field, all the others split off into groups as you stand alone near the trees, testing out the crossbow. Aiming for the tree branches, you shoot over and over, hitting them perfectly almost every time. Your mind keeps trailing back to Steve. The feel of his lips on yours, all the soft touches from the last few days, what Eddie said earlier. Giving in to your racing thoughts, you head over towards the camper where Steve sits with Robin making Molotov cocktails.

“Can I talk to you?” you ask, Steve’s head shooting up to look at you. He nods right away, turning back to Robin.

“You’ll be alright doing this by yourself, right?” Robin nods and Steve stands, opening the door to the camper for you to step inside. He follows behind you, closing the door and sitting next to you on the bench in the back. You close the curtains, shielding the bright sun from your eyes. “Look, I know that you’re mad about everything and you have every right to be, but please let me explain,” he starts, careful to put some space between you.

“No. Not yet. I have to tell you something first,” you look at him, his soft caramel eyes searching over you.

“Ok, tell me,” he says, nodding his head. So, you do.

After the incident on the floor, something had changed between you and Steve. You weren’t quite dating, or at least no one had explicitly said so, but you also were definitely more than friends. No one really knew what was going on between the two of you, but you sort of liked it that way. It was almost as if it was just you and Steve in your own little world. He had his head resting in your lap, letting you lazily trace your fingers through his hair. There were only two more weeks left before the summer, not that you could tell based on the weather. It was too hot outside to do anything. Even the thought of walking the few feet between Steve’s house and the pool in his backyard made you sweat. So you stayed inside, enjoying the A/C and lounging around. Steve had fallen asleep about ten minutes ago, looking so peaceful and calm in your lap. You lean down, placing a small kiss to his lips, making his eyes shoot open.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake-” you’re cut off by Steve pulling you down for another kiss. This one is deeper, more passionate than the peck you initially gave him. Steve shifts beneath you, sitting up and pulling you to straddle his lap. His kisses are warm and fiery, lighting a heat in you that only his touch could bring. Steve tugs on your shirt and without a second thought you lift it up over your head, revealing your bare chest. His eyes widen at the sight and his shirt comes off next, joining yours where it now lays on the floor. You grind into his lap, chasing the same feeling you had that day on the floor.

“Stevie,” you whimper, his hips snapping up to meet yours. His eyes swim with lust and love, finally about to feel you in a way he’s wanted to for so long.

“Baby, Honey, I’ve wanted to do this for so long,” his words come out in breathy moans beneath you. Steve’s fingers coming up to play with your nipples. “I don’t wanna rush though. Wanna take my time with you,” he continues thrusting against you and you let out a loud moan.

“I know Stevie, but I need you. Need you so bad right now,” Steve stops grinding up into you, so unbelievably turned on. You sit up, removing your shorts and panties, allowing Steve to do the same. Now you sit, completely naked on your best friend’s lap. A small giggle escapes your lips at the thought, a giggle that Steve returns, feeling the exact same way as you. He pulls you closer to him, cutting off the giggles with his lips against yours. His fingers reach down to your entrance, teasing around the outside before gently dipping in. A gasping moan pulls from your chest as Steve pumps his fingers in and out of you a few times.

“You’re so wet for me already, baby,” his lips latch onto your neck, relishing in the sound of your moans.

“Stevie, feels so good, but I need you in me,” Steve nods, slipping his fingers from you and taking them in his mouth to suck your juices off. He groans at the taste, popping them from his mouth and lining himself up with your entrance. Steve enters you slowly, sinking you down onto him as you wrap your arms around his neck and press your chest to his. You both moan as he bottoms out, wasting little time before Steve starts to pound into you from below.

“It’s like you were made for me, fuck,” Steve moans out and you clench around him. He increases his speed, thrusts getting sloppier, but you couldn’t care less. You’re on the edge of your orgasm, about ready to tip over. “Fuck, I love you, Honey,” Steve rushes out, giving one last hard thrust before spilling himself into you. The combo of Steve’s orgasm and his words pushes you to the edge, letting out a gasp of Steve’s name as he pulls you back a little from where you cling to his chest. His eyes watch you as you reach your peak. A whole range of emotions rush through him at the sight, but mainly lust and love.

“I love you too, Stevie,” you finally say when you’ve come down from your high. He pulls you back into him, wrapping you in a tight hug before leaning back to give you a bruising kiss. He’s still buried deep inside you as he dips his head, littering your chest with hickies. You laugh through your moans, pulling him back up after a few bruises bloom in order to kiss his soft lips again. Eventually, Steve lifts you off of him and you whine at the emptiness. He lays you on his bed about to get up to grab a washcloth to clean you up when he stops. He grabs his Polaroid camera from his nightstand, holding it up to you in a question. You give him a nod and he kneels over you on the bed, taking a picture of you in your fucked out state. Your chest littered with hickies, hair a wild mess, and legs spread out with Steve’s cum leaking from between them.

“I’m so saving this for later when you're gone,” he says, shaking the photo when it pops out from the camera.

“You gonna keep it with your stack of Playboys?” You ask teasingly and he’s taken aback.

“What Playboys?”

“The ones under your mattress,” you pause, leaning up with your elbows. “You know, there’s the one with the picture of a girl in it that kinda looks like me? That page is super sticky by the way, you might want to get a new one,” Steve laughs at you, leaning down to press his body back onto yours.

“I’ve got my new one right here,” he waved the photo over you, leaning in to give you a peck on the lips.

“So romantic,” you respond through his lips, smiling as he gives you kiss after kiss before hopping up to go towards the bathroom.

About a week and a half later there were only three days left before the end of the school year. Pushing through the school’s front entrance, you immediately spot Steve at his locker with Tommy and Carol. You were never a big fan of either of them but got along with them fine enough for Steve’s sake.

“Hey Stevie,” you say, joining them at his locker. His eyes soften when he sees you and he wants nothing more than to kiss you, but he knows Tommy and Carol would tease him for it, so he doesn’t.

“Hey Honey, was just thinking about you,” Tommy wears a shit eating grin as he speaks and you know that it can’t mean anything good.

“Really? What a coincidence then,” you reply, trying to get out of this conversation as quickly as possible. It’s then that you see Steve looking at Tommy as inquisitively as you feel.

“Well you see, ever since I saw this little number it’s been hard not to think of you,” Tommy holds up a Polaroid picture in his hand and you don’t even have to look at it to know what the picture is of. You reach out, grabbing the photo as quickly as you can, looking around to make sure no one else saw. “You finally came through, King Steve. After years of talking about getting her in the sack, you finally did. Kinda sucks for her though, seems like she’s developed some feelings for you,” Tommy lifts his hand for a high five and Carol belts out her witch cackle beside him. You back away, tears springing in your eyes when Steve turns to you.

“Honey, I didn’t-” Steve begins, but you don’t hear the rest. You take off down the hall and out the doors, running directly into Jonathan.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Jonathan asks, seeing the tears in your eyes. You choke out a sob asking him to take you home. Jonathan’s car is pulling out of the school parking lot when you see Steve burst through the front doors, Tommy and Carol snickering behind him. Jonathan pulls up to your house, making you promise to tell him what happened when you feel better before letting you out of the car. You notice your dad’s car is still in the driveway, which confuses you since he should already be at work. Stepping through the door you hear a small sob coming from your parent’s bedroom. Your heart drops, already knowing what you’ve walked into. Fresh tears form in the corners of your eyes when you see your dad laying with his head pressed against your mom’s chest. He hears your footsteps and lifts his head.

“She’s gone, sweetie. In her sleep last night,” your dad sobs out, snot bubbles and tears spilling onto your mother’s nightgown. And that was it. It was too much. Steve and your mom, both gone all at once. After that day you couldn’t think of Steve without thinking of your mom. So, it just became easier to not think of Steve at all. You avoided him, slinking through the shadows at school. Hiding from the hurt that the memories brought you. Insisting on not seeing him again, not even a glimpse, until that night outside the lab when the world nearly ended for the second time.

Steve’s quiet when you stop talking, processing everything all at once. Taking in the information that you’ve had to sit with for nearly three years, while he’s only known it for about a minute now.

“I didn’t know,” his voice is quiet, attention directed towards his hands in his lap. You’d both inched closer somehow while you had been explaining. “I mean, I knew your mom died, but not until a year and a half later. Not until Nancy told me. And even then, she didn’t tell me that it happened that day,” Steve’s eyes meet yours, tears brim his lashes, clearly feeling guilty in some capacity.

“We didn’t really have a funeral for her. Didn’t post an obituary either. If we did then that would’ve made it real, I guess. Dad and I couldn’t really handle that. So, we had her cremated and kept her name out of the paper,” your voice is quiet, but calm. You’ve grown with time, learned to live with loss no matter how much it still aches from time to time. Steve clears his throat, one tear slipping down his cheek. You wipe it away gently, moving your hand back down to your lap.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispers and you shrug, as if to say ‘it’s not your fault’. “About the photo,” Steve begins, not really sure how to bring it up. “I didn’t give it to Tommy, I swear. I’m pretty sure he found it the weekend before when we had that end of the year party at my house, remember? Him and Carol went up to my room to-” he stops clearly disgusted at the thought. You let out a small laugh at the look on his face, which blooms into a smile at the sound he missed hearing so badly.

“I figured. Well, not at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I knew you never would've done that,” Steve nods, inching the slightest bit closer, hoping you wouldn’t notice. You did.

“And the stuff he said about me that made it sound like I only wanted to sleep with you, that wasn’t true. I loved you, so so much. I still love you, Honey,” he looks worried as the words spill from his lips, but he keeps his gaze locked with yours.

“I figured that out too. I knew you cared too much about me to just want sex and nothing more. We were practically dating at that point anyway,” you stop, knowing Steve was still waiting to see if you’ll say those three little words. Those barriers you’d built up so long ago to keep Steve out, slowly crumbling down. “And I love you too, Stevie,” Steve smiles, at what you said, at your voice, at the nickname, at your cute little overalls, at you. He surges forward, crashing his lips to yours in a kiss that could set off fireworks in the sky, burn down a brand new mall, save a boy from being possessed, fight monsters, and kill an evil wizard from another dimension. It was everything you’ve felt for the last three years and everything else beyond that. Steve pulls back reluctantly, his chest heaving and his hands on your cheeks.

“Eddie,” he breathes out. “You’re with Eddie,” you shake your head and his eyebrows furrow.

“We were just hooking up, but don’t worry, he told me to go for it,” you say, and Steve gives a small nod before pulling you back into another searing kiss. Clothes are stripped in a hurry, Steve’s hand roaming your body.

“God, I’ve missed you so much,” Steve whimpers, pulling you on top of him, just like before. It’s better than the first time. The two of you are more experienced now since you’ve both slept with other people, but you’re still just as in love, if not more. Steve fits perfectly into you, hitting you just right with every thrust. It doesn’t take long for you to both hit your highs. Coming down in a fit of giggles when a loud knock rattles the door.

“Hey, if you two are done, we’ve got a town to save and a telekinetic to kill,” Robin’s voice filters through the shut door. You share a look with Steve, bursting out into laughter again, getting up to get dressed again. You open the door as Steve sits in the driver's seat. Everyone files in with the weapons and you take the seat across from Steve. He sends you a wink before he takes off, driving away from the field. Max, Lucas, and Erica get dropped off at the Creel house first and Steve continues driving until you get to the woods next to the trailer park. You all go over the plan again, leaving the camper to enter Eddie’s trailer and go into the Upside Down the same way you came out of it no more than 24 hours before. Once you’re all through the gate, everyone goes outside the trailer and Steve stops, giving you, Dustin, and Eddie a lecture about not being heroes. He pulls you to the side so the others can’t hear.

“I still don’t feel good about you staying behind. You should come with us, these two can handle themselves,” Steve looks worried at the prospect of leaving you.

“Are you kidding? They need all the help they can get,” you say, hearing a soft ‘hey’ from Dustin. Ok, so maybe they’re not quite out of earshot.

“It’s just, I just got you back. I don’t want to lose you again.”

“You won’t, Stevie. I promise,” you pull him in by his shirt, kissing him passionately. A few wolf whistles sound off beside you, but you couldn’t care less, flipping them off before you pull away. “Good luck,” you push him back towards Robin and Nancy, the goofy smile on his face from your kiss slowly returning to his more serious expression from before.

“Make him pay,” Eddie calls out to Steve, who nods in return, giving you one last look and setting off towards the Creel house. You, Dustin, and Eddie make quick work of boarding up the trailer and setting up Eddie’s amp. Eddie starts playing Master of Puppets by Metallica, a song he hasn’t shut up about since it first came out. Eddie’s killing it as you and Dustin both listen along, keeping an eye out for the bats. When they’re close enough, the three of you barricade yourselves in the trailer. It seems to work at first but they start to break through. Dustin jumps through the gate and you’re about to as well when Eddie takes off muttering something about buying more time.

“Eddie!” you shout following after him as he bursts through the front door, grabbing a bike and peddling away quickly, drawing the bats away from the trailer. You take the crossbow from your back, unloading arrow after arrow into the bats swarming around him. Dustin pops up behind you, swinging his staff at the bats surrounding the two of you, protecting you both while you protect Eddie. A bat knocks Eddie off his bike and others start to swarm around him. You and Dustin creep forward as Eddie stops running away and tries to defend himself. Eddie gets pelted to the ground, a bat taking a bite out of his side before you can shoot it. You take out the others that swarm around Eddie as he keeps trying to smack them away. Suddenly in some kind of miracle they all drop to the ground. Dustin sprints over to Eddie with you close on his heels. He’s still sprawled out on the ground, but not bleeding too badly.

“I’d offer you my flannel to cover that up, but Stevie beat you to it,” you offer him a hand to sit up which he gladly accepts, placing a hand over the wound with a slight wince.

“It’s not too bad, could be way worse,” he removes his bandanna from his head, pressing it to the wound and standing all the way up. “Is it too late for me to take back what I said about you and Harrington earlier? The sight of you with the crossbow has me all hot and bothered,” you give him a light shove as Dustin gags from beside you.

“Shut up, Munson,” the boys are about to follow you back over the trailer when the ground starts to shake. They both grab onto you, trying not to fall as the ground cracks open, right through the trailer. From then on it’s all a blur. Between Steve, Robin, and Nancy meeting up with you, explaining what happened with Vecna, going back through the gate that now stretched across town, getting Max to the hospital, and finding a better hiding spot for a now patched up Eddie, it all floods together. It isn’t until two days later, when a van with a surfboard on top pulls up in front of Nancy’s house that everything begins to clear up a bit. Out of the van comes Will, Mike, Eleven, Jonathan, and someone else that you don’t know. You wait your turn for Jonathan to hug Nancy before getting over to you. Will’s next, squeezing you tightly and you realize how much he’s grown since you saw him last. El throws her arms around you and your hands find her freshly shaven head. She laughs when you tell her that you’ll figure something out to help her hair grow out faster. Mike approaches you last, enveloping you in his long arms.

“You know,” you say when he pulls back. “A little birdie told me you’ve got a thing for me. Better not let El find out. I’d hate to see what she’d do to you now that her powers are back,” his smile falls and his face is overcome with anger.

“Dustin!” he shouts, going over to the boy, berating him loudly. You laugh while watching them argue back and forth. Steve comes up next to you, slinging his arm around your shoulder and letting out a chuckle.

“You had to tease him about it?” Steve smiles over at you and you place a hand on his chest.

“Will looked a little upset and I can guarantee he’s the reason why, so he kinda deserves it,” Steve laughs, rolling his eyes and placing a kiss on your lips. When the reunions are done, you pile into the car with boxes full of donations. You, Steve, Dustin, and Robin enter the high school gym, quickly dropping off the donations and finding places to help out. Robin is making pb&j’s and Dustin is talking to Wayne Munson while you and Steve sort through clothes. You hear Robin talking to a girl at the sandwich station and it all clicks.

“Oh,” you breathe out, Steve’s eyes following yours. “I get it now,” you grab for the shirt Steve is trying, and failing, to fold.

“Get what?”

“A few days ago at the library. Robin kept going on and on about how you’re not her type and that she’d rather let humans die off than be with you,” you nod your head towards her and the other girl. “I get it now and you definitely aren’t her type.”

“She really said that? Some wing woman she is,” Steve mutters and you chuckle at him, pulling his face towards you to place a soft kiss on his cheek. It’s then that you hear murmurs erupt over by the big windows. You wander over with Steve and Robin close behind you. What looks like snow falls from the sky, but you’ve seen this stuff enough to know it’s not snow. Steve’s hand finds yours, squeezing it tightly in his warm grasp. You look at him and he looks back at you. His expression says all the same things that you're thinking. That whatever’s next, you can make it through. Together. You can do anything as long as you have Steve beside you. Your best friend. Your boyfriend. Your something. Your everything.

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bug-fics · 11 months

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I need posh boy old money king steve turned hero to fall in love with the (and i mean this affectionately) the most grubby slob of a girl ever. Like imagine clean, put together Steve “the hair” Harrington with the type of girl who sleeps in her makeup, has acne, lives in a trailer park, is like missing a front tooth from fucking around with her friends or like from eating shit on a skateboard, just a greasy, grungy, stoner, dude bro type girl.

The switch from being in love with princess Nancy wheeler, to flirting with these cute preppy girls at work, to befriending and falling for this walking garbage pile who is super sarcastic and bitchy, burps in ppls faces as a joke, never has her shoes tied, wears dirty wife beaters and flannels with ripped up patchy jeans that have grass stains on them.

I’m TIRED of soft clean small preppy characters who get emotional and are so shy and quiet. I just feel like the dynamic would be so fun and Steve would have like a moral dilemma like he did when Dustin convinced him he had a crush on Robin.

They would meet through Eddie or Robin and she’s just like the walking loser and at first Steve is like off-put bby her behavior bc like gross but like finds himself falling for her or something idk I didn’t think that far ahead but I need more diverse readers bc all of them are pink frilly preppy shy girls or soft bookworms which are great but like… JUST THINK ABOUT NEW DYNAMICS!!

as a writer (I rlly can’t call myself a writer) I try to make reader loud and confident and outgoing bc every other reader fits in the soft girl aesthetic. I need bitchy, messy, dirty, adventurous, loud, just grubby girls! Dirty bed sheets, trashed rooms, scuffed shoes, ketchup stains idk it doesn’t even have to be a Steve fic literally any fic in this fandom could have this type of dynamic bc reader personalities are lacking in diversity lowkey and I love grubby

OMG LIKE IMAGINE NANCY X GRUBBY READER!! Fuck Steve this, this right here would be such a hilarious dynamic and I NEED it. Nancy is like the opposite of what I described she’s pretty, and clean, and headstrong, and focused. With like a dirty adhd tomboy gf (ronance but grubbier) like it’s so perfect.

Even Robin with a gf who like has no concern for her own safety and Robin is spitting facts about how the mold growing on the cups on R’s bedside table could result in life or death sickness or something idk it would be so perfect

I LOVE GRUBBY DIRTY GIRLS I’m tired of unrealistic cleanliness in fics girls are gross and it’s ok

#stranger things x reader #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington #eddie munson x reader #robin buckley x reader #nancy wheeler x reader #🪲 blurb #johnathan byers x reader #stranger things fic #stranger things blurb

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samgelina-jolie · 1 year

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DARK SONNET by Neil Gaiman

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mrspellcaster · 2 years

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THE BEE AND HER FLOWERS

- Steve Harrington x Nancy’s childhood bsf F!Reader

summary: reader is nancy’s childhood best friend that is returning to Hawkins after a few years. Hawkins is slightly more handsome than she remembers word count : 2.9k

warnings: intermediate mommy issues for reader (mom disappeared), karen wheeler <3, me pushing my ronance agenda, angst for a moment, swearing, use of “baby” non romantically, just pretend with me here

a/n: thank you so much for the love on the first chapter of this series it truly makes me so happy i can’t express my appreciation, i’m sending everyone all my love and good wishes. thanks for reading !

1/3 2/3 3/3

That same Wednesday in August you met Steve you also found out your new home was adjacent to Max Mayfield’s. It was your assumption the reason you hadn’t noticed the fiery haired girl with a temper to rival yours, was because she, also like you, was an unsanctioned member of the Wheeler household.

You liked her. She was bright, fierce like Nancy with a similar level of composure. Max also had a similar dynamic with her mother as you and your father, with the parent always working but a pair inseparably tied together by loss and love.

The next morning you again found yourself at the Wheeler residence.

At this hour you decided it would be better to use the front door, which just as you assumed was unlocked.

You closed it gently behind you and caught sight of curly blonde hair, bigger than you remembered, bouncing around the kitchen. Karen Wheeler.

She turned around at your quiet hello, so very beautiful and so very happy to see you.

More quickly than you would’ve thought possibly she has you wrapped in her arms. “Oh my dear!” She rocks you side to side. “Nancy told me you were coming back and I am just so glad to see you.” She leans backward to look at you, “And good gracious aren’t you gorgeous.” You turn sheepish under her fawning eyes.

Karen’s eyes shine as she places a delicate hand on your cheek,”I know your mother would be so proud of you.”

There it is.

Karen Wheeler was one of the few people who knew of your mother’s disappearance. Of course when you and Nancy had become friends your mothers’ bonded, you’d both made sure of it.

Your mom was always the unconventional one. A self proclaimed medium who you whole heartedly believed in. Who you knew loved you and saw you. And maybe that wasn’t anything magic beyond a mother’s intuition but she was everything to you.

Her break came in the form of many visions. Children hurting, hurting others, some great unknown evil. Pain in Hawkins, a terrible danger looming overhead, or perhaps underneath.

She couldn’t take it. Not in the town she decided to call her home, where she decided to raise a family, to raise you.

You remember the night she came into your room when you were sleeping. It was too dark to tell but you knew from her voice she was crying. She had whispered I love you over and over again, I’m sorry.

You always wondered what would’ve happened if you’d done more than sleepily tell her you loved her back. Your father never let you blame yourself, when you went downstairs the next morning he hid his tears and within the next month you moved to the city.

Mrs Wheeler took another long look at you then swiftly turned around to dab at her eyes. There was a brief pause as she collected herself, placed her hands on the front of her apron, then she decided to go back to the eggs she was frying. “Breakfast will be ready in a second if your hungry. Nancy hasn’t been down yet so I think she’s still sleeping but she shouldn’t mind you waking her. The boys are still asleep in the basement.”

You hope your voice is half as grateful as you feel right now. “Thank you Mrs Wheeler.” Its a moment where you wish you were better with your words, but at her look you understand she sees exactly how you feel.

You get up a few stairs before you hear her voice again,”Baby I hope you already know but this house is your home whenever you want it to be.”

The love you see in her, the patience and kindness. What a woman. “Thank you Mrs. Wheeler, you’re too good to me.” Her laugh is like music.

When you reached the top of the stairs you were hit with a wave of immense deja vu, so much you felt like staggering backwards. The hallway you ran up and down over and over as a kid, the door leading to your safe space, the carpet where you scrapped your knees.

You knock firmly on Nancy’s door and hear her groan, “Leave me.” In your head you can imagine her face half buried in a pillow and are met with that exact sight as you open the door.

Gently you close the it behind you, Nancy lifts her head, all bedhead and rumpled clothing at the soft noise. She gives you a tired smile and places her face back into the pillow, “Beee.”

There’s a beat before she rolls over to make room for you on the bed and your comfortable enough to climb under the covers next to her.

You look around her room, the Tom Cruise poster you got her, the still pink walls, her dainty bed frame. A large sigh escapes you and Nancy turns her head to peek one eye at you. You fill the silence as you stare at her ceiling,”I missed your mom.”

“I know. She missed you too.” She comes to rest her head on your shoulder. “Not as much as me though Bumblebee.” You snort a laugh. “How are you feeling? About being back and all.”

Another big breath. “I don’t know how to describe it. I know it’s stupid, but it was easier to imagine my mom stayed in Hawkins when we moved. Like she would always be here on the other side waiting for us, for me.”

Nancy takes your hand and you huff away the your heartache. “Anyway, tell me why was Steve Hairy Harrington in your basement last night?”

You feel her hushed laughter on your neck, “It’s “the hair” Bee.”

“Oops.” You couldn’t care less.

She chooses her words carefully, “It’s not- I’m very grateful for him you know? He’s been very helpful with the kids always watching their backs making sure they’re safe. It wasn’t any bodies fault we broke up, there were things, big things we couldn’t have expected or known how to deal with. But he’s a friend, he’s always gonna be a friend to me.”

An inexplicable weight on your chest is lifted, you try not to think about it. You push her lightly,” So what I’m hearing is Nancy Wheeler is on the market.”

She is silent for a moment and you look down to find her blushing furiously. You turn so suddenly you knock her head from your shoulder. “You have a crush! Nance that’s the best news I’ve gotten since they decided to make a sequel to a new hope!”

You didn’t know it was possible for someone to turn so red, but there was a sadness, a shame in her eyes that made your heartache return tenfold.

Your voice becomes much quieter, softer. “Nance?”

She looks up at you with big watery eyes. “Do you think you could ever hate me?” Your heart breaks into a million pieces.

You wrap her in your arms and hold her tightly to your chest with a tone of voice that leaves no room for doubt. “Never. I could never hate you Nancy, not now not ever.”

“Even if I liked girls?” Her voice is so quiet.

“Oh baby no, I will always love you, always. I love you so much, I would walk through hell for you. Fuck I would fold paper 8 times for you.” She laughs, it’s watery, and you can’t help but hold her tighter. “You’re my best friend Nance, I’d probably still have your back even if you killed someone.”

She holds you tighter back. “I love you.”

You smile brightly at her, “I know. What else is new?”

Nancy shoves you gently with her shocking strength and counts off a ridiculous list, “I shoot guns, I’m probably on a government watch list, I fought a giant monster made of flesh and bones.”

You laugh and she smiles at you. Again her voice goes quiet, “The girl from the basement yesterday, Robin.”

“She’s gorgeous.” Now probably wasn’t the right time to say you’d clocked them as soon as you saw them in the same room.

Nancy’s head falls back dramatically on her pillow. She sighs dreamily, “Isn’t she?”

“I think she likes you too.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I saw the way she was looking at you Nance.” The way they both blushed under the others stare, the way they spoke each-others names.

You’re smiling at each other so brightly, a battle of two suns.

Nancy’s expression turns more playful, an eyebrow raises, “And I saw the way Steve looked at you.”

You bite your lip to keep your expression neutral. “Isn’t that like girl code or something?” For some reason you can’t meet her eyes.

She’s laughing at you, “You guys are like my best friends. What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t want to see you happy?”

You turn back to her, “Nance, I think he’s the prettiest boy I’ve ever seen.”

Nancy smiles smugly,” And he’s a great kisser.”

You whack her with a pillow.

————-

The second time you see Steve Harrington you’re sitting on the top of your house. He was pulling into Max’s driveway in his pretty maroon BMW and you spotted Robin in the passenger’s seat.

You watched them bicker about something animatedly before Robin noticed you, abruptly stopped talking; Steve didn’t. You watch her say his name, once twice until she got his attention, and his eyes followed hers straight to you.

His mouth opens slightly and you’re betting what little money you have the sound that escaped him was a soft, “Oh.”

You climb down using the back porch and see Max at the same time locking her door. She takes off her walkman when she hears you call her name.

Steve rolls his window down when you both reach the car and places his elbow on the frame. “Hi- Hey! It’s good to- It’s good to see you! Here, where you live.” You lean over him with a hand on the roof of his car when Max climbs in, and he blanks. “At your house.”

Robin slaps him on the shoulder

and he yelps. “Smooth.” He glares at her and she raises her hands in defense,”No seriously Romeo, I think this is some of your best work.”

Steve frowns and tries again, “We’re gonna drop Max off at the arcade on our way to work. You should stop by, to see us sometime, If you want, no pressure, I just, you know, would like to see you. But don’t feel like you have to-“

“Okay I will.” His big eyes blink up at you and your easy response.

Maybe you were wrong. In the daylight his eyes looked more hazel than the brown you’d first thought they were. You think it would be nice to spend a long time picking out the different shades in them.

“I’ll be seeing you, Steve.” You lean in closer to the window to say your goodbyes, “Bye Robin, bye Max.”

You take a step back. It takes him a minute but at both Max and Robin’s responding waves he says bye back airily. Steve wonders when he got so breathless.

His car pulls out slowly, stuttering on the turf road and you watch as it disappears behind a corner, out of sight, heavily in mind.

————

Steve hasn’t stopped pacing for the past 30 minutes. Not since he invited you to Family Video, his job, where he works.

Or maybe he didn’t invite you, maybe he did the opposite, maybe he was too insistent on the idea that you did not need to come. Maybe he should’ve been more selfish, left it at he wanted to see you. Curse his big dumb heart.

Robin’s guess was that your definition of sometime was different than his; which in his head he could make sense of, his heart on the other hand couldn’t.

It was 5pm, their shift started at 11:45. That had to mean you weren’t coming “sometime”, now was sometime wasn’t it?

But Steve was just as afraid you would show up. That you would see him and his five a’clock shadow, him too tired and restless for his usual charm. He tried to make peace with himself that you weren’t coming, and that was okay, and his heart had no business aching quite as it was right now.

Still when the store’s bell rang he nearly broke his neck only to greet a hobbling elderly couple.

The second time the bell rang Steve was turned around, organizing the same few tapes for the twelfth time that day, he didn’t want to turn around. He didn’t want to turn around to see someone that wasn’t you.

Whoever it was they rang the desk bell, something Steve was unaware they had and he was forced to turn around. “Hi. Welcome to family video-“

You.

“Hi.” You. Smiling at him so beautifully. Steve thinks the room has grown ten times brighter, he wonders if the weather can explain it, maybe the clouds opened up for a moment to bathe you in a halo of light. Probably.

Steve wasn’t lying about the vest, if it’s possible you think it makes him even more handsome, it compliments his skin tone, his warm eyes.

All the air leaves him in one rushed breath, “You’re here.”

“I’m here.” You look down at your hands you’ve placed on the counter. “I’m sorry it took so long- I, I took uh, Mike’s bike here and I wasn’t exactly sure where here is.”

“No, no I’m just- I’m glad your here.” And you smile at him so brightly he feels his heart flutter in his chest.

Robin comes out of the back room,”Steve are you still pouting she’s not-“ Her eyes widen into saucers when she sees you. “You’re here.”

You nod still smiling,”I’m here.”

She sighs in relief, “Thank god I was afraid Steve was gonna start crying like a baby.” You laugh, and Steve rolls his eyes but the tips of his ears redden.

That’s his favorite sound he thinks, your laugh. He thinks it’s a shame he went most of his life without hearing it.

Robin comes around the counter to wrap you in a quick hug. “Let me know if you need anything, or just want a break from this idiot.” You nod again and watch her return to the back room.

“You see how mean she is to me?” Steve tries to keep a straight face but your smile is so contagious he can’t help himself. He shakes his head still grinning. “Here I want to show you something.”

You follow him as he leads you to one of the few isles. He’s warm, you feel it radiating off him in waves. You like standing next to him, it feels like the right place for you to be; a moth to his flame.

Neither of you are sure who’s fault it is the two of you end up standing so close together. And neither of you want to move away.

Your shoulder brushes his arm every time you breathe. He smells so good, something fresh and clean and woody and undeniably Steve.

“I thought you would appreciate this.” You look away from his face, hoping he didn’t notice your staring. He did, it’s half the reason he’s blushing so hard.

The Science fiction isle, it’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen in your life, or now maybe the second. Blade Runner, The Star Wars trilogy, ET, The Terminator, Back to the Future ..Weird Science?

You pick up the tape, squinting to read the back synopsis.

Steve’s already looking at you when you look up at him, staring at you so intensely you feel warmer than you should inside the air conditioned store.

He cocks his head playfully offended,”Don’t tell me you haven’t seen it.”

You bite your lip and dark eyes follow the movement, “I haven’t seen it.”

It’s hard for him to pull his eyes away from your mouth. But he does, only to take the tape from your hands, big warm fingers brushing yours, and hold it next to his head.

“This, this is peak cinema. It’s a classic I don’t know how you haven’t seen it.”

You take another look at the cover, “Peak cinema huh.”

“You gotta trust me on this one.” Something flickers in his eyes. “Or you don’t. You could come over and watch it sometime if you want.”

“You must really want me around Harrington.” Steve likes the way you say his name, likes the way you’re grinning at him.

He leans over you, grinning back,”Maybe I just want to prove you wrong.”

Hot breath fans over your face, Steve can feel yours on his neck. Neither of you mean to go quiet, but neither of you can think to speak when you can hardly breathe.

A large crashing sound comes from behind the counter and the spell is broken. You take a step away from Steve and he wants to chase you, chase your warmth.

Robin stands there sheepishly and nobody is safe from the embarrassment.

Her voice is a few pitches too high,”Did I hear someone say movie night?”

part 3

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aurumbelis · 2 years

Text

𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬.

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Reader x Nancy Wheeler

Word count: 862

Warnings: smut, smut, smut (minors DNI). Afab! Reader, threesome (mentions of Nancy being dom and Steve being a soft dom, whilst reader is sub even if dynamics are mentioned to change), masturbation and oral (fem receiving), edging, dacryphilia.

Frilly pink covers were thrown to the ground in order not to stain them. Instead, a towel sat under your naked figure whilst you were open legged for both of their pleasure. Head on the pillow next to Steve’s. In the meantime Nancy was laying down, head in between your legs but not diving down on them. Pressing small, calculated kisses to one of your thighs, while her fingernails traced the inside of the other one, approaching your sensitive pussy, because God, they had been playing with you for hours (or at least it felt like hours), and they hadn’t let you orgasm not once. Even if you cried, and you did, whilst looking at Nancy, who showed no mercy, and then to Steve slightly making the pout on your lips more prominent, tears staining your cheeks and all that you got is “you know today I’m only following orders princess”.

You loved and hated them right at this moment, Steve’s head dipping down to you as he starts peppering wet and slow kisses to your cheek, your chin, your jaw, back up… He never failed to relax you with his kisses, he always did it when Nancy was being particularly hard on you because he knew how frustrated you could get, that’s why his lips seemed to only want your skin.

Like a silver lining of hope, Nancy’s finger pads traced your inner labia, with a touch so feather like it made you ache even more. She made a little more pressure, up and down and did she have the ability to avoid your clit when she wanted to, and it was pure torture how she spread your arousal all over you, getting her fingers soaked and with those “Steve”, his head lifted from your collarbone up to look at Nance, who held up her drenched ring and middle fingers up to him. He did not hesitate in separating from you to indulge in the sweetness that were your juices, because you tasted like heaven to him and with Nance not letting him fully taste you, he took all the opportunities that he could take sucking her fingers clean of you as he let out a loud groan “So fucking sweet, and all for us”. With fingers wet from his saliva, she inserted one carefully inside of you and clearly one was not enough nor for you or for her, so another one followed both of her delicate fingers knuckle deep in you, making that adored motion hitting that spot so perfectly every damn time.

Your breath already worked up from mere seconds of action, Steve’s lips and tongue now working over your chest. “Steve, make it hurt a little, won’t you?” her words were said with such a gooey tone even if they just indicated more punishing for you. Steve followed her instructions, your nipple was on his mouth, and he took the chance to bite it, not hard, it was a nice and pleasurable bite as his bites always were, playful and pleasing. He made your breath hitch and a big grin played on Nancy’s lips as she looked at how your chest rose and stayed there for some seconds. Her fingers did not stop in their work, and she finally put her mouth to accompany them in their task. A small kitten lick to your clit was enough to dampen the towel a bit more. The sounds coming out of you were again less timid, as her tongue started to lightly go up and down, her lips so close to you now. And they closed on your clit, capturing it with a light and soft force, making you almost scream the profanities that were coming out of your mouth.

“You’re the most beautiful when you scream for us, princess” Steve muttered against your skin, sometimes just things that were generic for him, and other times he just “so angelic looking”, “sound and taste like heaven”. Nancy hummed at Steve’s words as to say, “what he said and much more”. It was unbearable because you were so close to the point of no return, but you had already been there four times in the past two hours, and you had to return to being denied and frustrated. So you made a big effort to open your eyes for just the smallest moment to look at Nancy. “Nance, please. I’ve been good” she chuckled at your words, her fingers still working as she separated herself from your clit “I know you have been good princess, so good for us” she then looked to your left, to a very hard and hot Steve “You think I should let her Steve?” he smiled at her, a little surprised at her question “I’ve been trying to convince you since the second edge Nance, you didn’t budge” he shrugged his shoulders and he continued now pressing his lips against your cheeks.

“I’ll be good to you, but just because you’ve been such a patient princess” She dived back down onto your legs, and before resuming the sucking on your clit she said, “you can let go princess, loud and beautifully like only you know”.

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candied-cae · 1 year

Text

And Who Are We At The End Of The World? - Please, Be Gentle with My Breaks - 1

Chapter 16/? - - - Read it on AO3

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

Word Count: 5,204

Summary: There's a difference between being broken and having a few breaks. But a lot of these kids and been dealt a lot of blows, and not just from physical monsters of the Upside Down. There's stuff hidden just under the surface that they haven't been able to show just yet.

More ST Fics

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“And in a shocking turn of events, there’s a new story coming from southern Indiana to explain the strange occurrences that have been captivating viewers in recent days. With Hawkins’ own Nancy Wheeler running it.”

The news reporter spoke from behind the studio desk. Lifting up a copy of the very newspaper she was referring to as she read,” ‘The Truth to the Hawkins’ Murders: Eddie Munson’s Impossible Innocence.’ This article explains the convoluted web that led the small-town community to believe one of their own was guilty of a crime he was actually only a witness to. Edward Munson, Eddie, a senior at the high school who runs his own club and plays guitar in a local band, was the victim of a city-wide manhunt as the citizens looked to find justice. His crime? Wandering a little off the beaten path - or being sort of strange, by most folks’ standards - argues Nancy Wheeler.”

An image of Nancy, the school picture taken for the yearbook, appeared on the screen.

“The teenager herself is an honors student, the head of the school paper, and considered one of the town’s most promising young minds. She describes her own investigation, during which she questioned the suspect, his guardian, police officers, and even serves herself as one of many alibis accounting for Eddie Munson’s whereabouts while he was in hiding. She even writes a profile on the subject with comments from local figures including teachers and even the returned ex-chief of police, Jim Hopper, who many believed to be dead until today. Wheeler details the testimony she passed on to the police that they went on to verify against physical evidence. And, as of just earlier this morning, that testimony and the findings in the field have been used to officially strike Eddie Munson as a suspect in the crimes. The current Police Chief, Powell, explained the department’s side of things in further detail during their press release this morning, which we’ll run momentarily, but if you’re looking for more background on what exactly happened, per the people themselves, look no further than a local newspaper stand or try the collections bins outside the Hawkins High School to read these students’ own accounts of what has to be one of the worst Spring Breaks anyone’s ever had. Now onto the footage from this morning’s release…”

Following the mention of Nancy’s article, they played the news team’s recording of Powell outside the police station. Many camera crews had gathered and questions were being thrown at him from every direction. By the end of his statement, there was a little more clarity on “what really happened.” At least as far as the general public was allowed to know about.

The good news rang through thousands of homes that morning. There would still be some objections, of course. People would point to him being a known dealer as proof that he was no good. And Chrissy’s parents didn’t like the truth that she’d been looking to buy drugs that Friday night. Jason’s didn’t like the idea that he’d been the volatile one instead of the town freak. Patrick’s parents had been heartbroken to hear he’d gotten swept up in something too fast and turned on when he tried to walk away.

Most of the popular folks and those close to them didn’t want to accept the “slander” against the people in their inner circle.

But at the end of the day, it was just a couple dozen people and their opinions. Legally, Eddie was home free. The cops closed the case. And if anyone wanted to cause him any real trouble on their own… well, they had a Party that regularly kicks interdimensional ass they’d have to get through first. And they’d be hard-pressed to find lawyers to push a case like this one. Safe to say, it wouldn’t be very easy for anyone to harass him or do worse, if they were so inclined. He had people watching his back.

And one of the households that caught the news running that morning had been the Wheeler’s.

Ted was reclined in the living room in front of the TV while Karen whisked around the kitchen getting breakfast laid out. Holly and Amber were giggling back and forth on the couch between whispers and pointed fingers. Holly sat between Nancy’s legs while the older sister braided her long blonde pigtails, with promises made to the guest that she’d be next, of course. Amber’s parents had been downstairs on the phone all morning, still talking to family and insurance, making plans for how they’ll come back from their share of the disaster.

As the reporter referred to her article, Nancy could hardly believe it. Even when she said her name, it still didn't seem real. But then her picture appeared, and Holly turned around in her hands to look up at her sister, matching the face on the screen to the one sitting behind her. Nancy smiled and scrunched up her nose, leaning in close to her face and swiping little butterfly kisses between the tips of their noses as the girl erupted into further fits of laughter. And that felt real. Holly saw it too.

"Did they say 'Nancy Wheeler'?" Karen called from the kitchen, pride painting her voice.

Ted didn’t say anything.

He watched the news, cast his gaze her way, and continued watching. Didn’t say “sorry” for assuming she didn’t know what she was talking about. Ted Wheeler didn’t really do that sort of thing. But he saw it.

"They did! They did!" Holly sang joyfully instead.

And maybe Nancy felt smug as she tied off her hair band and tickled her sides before the girls switched places.

They did. They said her name, said she was right, and people knew about it. Ted knew just like the rest of them, even if he wasn’t going to admit it.

From the days of “Nancy Drew” only being allowed to run lunch orders to having her name recognized by a real news organization… the latter was a way better feeling.

She did that. While not exactly all on her own, she did that with her own two hands. There wasn’t anyone who told her what to do along the way, no one to steal the credit for the story she hunted down. She found the truth, and even if that wasn’t exactly what she could publish, with what she could she helped someone who deserved it.

She’d thank Robin, of course. And also Steve, Hopper, Powell, Jonathan, and Argyle. Vickie too, she supposed. They all helped make it happen.

But before any of that, she wanted to show it off to the person it was all about.

She ate breakfast with their household carefully crowded around the dining room table. After Mike wandered down from his bedroom sporting a messy bedhead and joined them, that is. But afterward, she’d decided that she needed to see the subject of her biggest story yet.

Nancy arrived at the hospital to find Eddie comfortably laid out in his bed, flicking the channels on the tv with an expression of mild boredom on his face. She slipped into the room quietly and threw down the paper onto his chest. Perching herself in the chair next to him before he’d even looked over to see who came in through the door. His eyes fell to the thin stack of paper on his sternum. Setting down the remote and picking them up with a quick look over the title. A grin spread across his face.

He’d caught the news story before he started looking for more entertaining television, and now he had the real thing right in front of him.

“So there it is…” he mused, a finger running under his name in big, bold print.

“There it is.” Nancy echoed, watching the way his eyes ran down it, taking it all in, not yet reading it word-for-word.

“It’s smaller than I thought it would be. It’s such a big deal, thought it’d be like twenty pages long.”

“If I made it that long and no one would read it,” Nancy told him. It was a big story with so many moving parts to overlap just right. It could’ve easily been longer. But even the few pages it took up between the pictures felt like quite a lot.

“I don’t know…” Eddie hummed, flicking the corner of the paper,” Suspect of a triple- quadruple- whatever murder seems like a pretty interesting read. I think you coulda gotten away with padding it out a little. I mean, was there even room to mention my sick, lifesaving guitar skills?”

“Oh yeah, don’t worry, we squeezed in an ad on the back for your little band.” She nodded.

Eddie’s eyes lit up and he quickly flipped the paper over in his hands. Disbelief and shock colored his voice as he started,“ You did not-”

Nancy couldn’t help the teasing chuckle at his disappointed expression when he met the end of the article, no real mention of Corroded Coffin,“ You’re right, I didn’t.”

“Ohhhh…” he dropped the paper onto his lap,” That was a mean, mean trick, Wheeler.”

“I needed the laugh.” She sighed, her eyes catching on his IV before she asked,“ How’re you feeling?”

“Patched up. Not really looking forward to duking it out in the next big battle, but I would like to get back to my leisurely days in the Shire at this point. So, bring on the army. Let’s get ‘er done.”

“Well, we still have prep to do. We’re going to try to do a better job than we did last time.”

“What’s the plan?”

“We’re still putting one together. I’ve been told Murray is making a mess of Steve’s spare bedroom with papers pinned along every wall trying to sort something out. But before we can do any of that, we need to make sure you’ll have your back covered. Need your favorite song.” She nodded, once more reaching for the notebook tucked in her purse with the rest of the list.

“Oh. That makes sense.” Eddie only barely nodded in turn.

“It does. So, hand it over. We need everyone geared up with headphones to make sure our big bad doesn’t get anyone else like he did…”

A quiet came up between them. Max had just been moved into Eddie’s room that morning before her mom had to go to her job. Eddie told Susan he’d keep an eye on her, along with all the other people who’d probably stop by over and over again until she woke up. Nancy took a peak past him at the girl in her bed. “Make sure he doesn’t get anyone like he did Max” was the sentence that went unfinished.

“Favorite song, huh…”

Nancy bristled and looked back at him, clicking her pen to refocus,“ Yes? What’ll be yours?”

“I don’t know…” he mumbled into his hand,” How does someone pick just one favorite song anyway?”

“Just, whatever seems right for you.” She gave a light wave of her hand.

“But there’s so much that would go into a decision like this, Nancy!” he burst out.

“Okay, Eddie, it doesn’t need to be that big of a deal. You can have a couple different options on the lineup, I’m pretty sure we’re all gonna squeeze as many of our favorites on our own tape as we can. But we do need your best guess to make sure someone can help you if they need to.”

Eddie remembered the fear that hit the seven of them when Nancy just stopped answering. They scrambled and panicked and yelled through his trailer, without any clue what to use to help. Feeling so helpless and terrified. Thinking they were about to lose one of their own, right when they thought they were safe. It was up there with facing down the tornado of demobats as being one of the scariest moments of his life.

He knew it was important to pick one. But knowing it was so serious made it even harder to choose. Because what if he got it wrong?

“But, I mean, do I want to pick one of my favorites that I’ve loved for a long time? Like should I pick something from my childhood- is nostalgia gonna help me in this case? Or one I’m really into right now? And this is going to be my soundtrack for charging into war, so maybe I wanna pick one that has a good vibe for that. Or is it more important that it’s something that’ll bliss me out, rather than rev me up? Or-”

“Eddie-”

“Okay! What about- What songs did everyone else pick? How’s the team mixtape shaping up already?”

It didn’t really make sense. What everyone else was going to listen to didn’t really matter for what he should decide on. The “team mixtape” didn’t need to mesh well together.

Nancy shook her head with the thought, but began to answer him anyway,” Well, your little mini-me said he liked ‘Highway to Hell’ because of the cassette you lent him.”

And as if that was the most important topic of conversation - not finding his own savior song - Eddie’s head cocked to the side slightly.

“He did?”

“Yeah? Is something wrong with that?”

He wondered to himself,“ No, I just… I know he’s still getting into my stuff, but I didn’t really peg him for that one. At least not as, like, a favorite or anything.”

Nancy shrugged and continued,“ Well, Dustin and Lucas made more romantic picks. Stuff that reminds them of their girls, of course.”

“Alright, fair enough for those two lovesick nerds, and what’d you choose, Wheeler?”

His whole face quirked up into a strange expression when she answered. Like even more than he didn’t believe Mike Wheeler really liked the AC/DC track, he didn’t believe Nancy Wheeler really liked ‘Take My Breath Away.’

He eventually asked her to clarify,“ You mean that love song from Top Gun?”

“Yeah. What? I like Tom Cruise.” She gave a joking huff and continued when his face didn’t really settle,” Okay, now what?”

“I don’t know. Guess I was just expecting something else.”

Eddie considered it to himself. Sure, Nancy Wheeler, the one he saw around the halls of the high school, would like a love song aimed at her favorite celebrity crush. But Nancy Wheeler, the one that led a campaign through desolate wastelands and commanded her team to make it back home? Twice? Was it really just a slow, drawn-on love song that made that girl feel… alive? Or fulfilled? Impassioned?

He wasn’t sure he bought it. And maybe he should have, because they’ve barely interacted before he was on the lam. But, in the time he’s spent near her since, in the time he’s had to see her exist in a different way than she usually did… well, he became sure that there was more to her than that.

“Maybe you don’t know your Wheelers as well as you thought.” She hummed,” Well? Have you been inspired?”

Eddie picked back up the newspaper and thumbed at the front page. Under his name was a picture of him. Blown up from the ones they’d taken of all the Hellfire members at the beginning of the school year to advertise the club. It wasn’t the one where he tried to look tough, it wasn’t the one where he tried to look wild, it wasn’t even the one where he’d been smiling so stiffly for five minutes that his cheeks hurt because no one would stay still for a clear shot.

It was the one where he turned to the side, looked at Jeff making a dumb face, and laughed so hard he had to brace himself on Bruce’s shoulder. His whole face was getting red because he couldn’t even breathe.

It was a good one. Genuine laughter and joy instead of the character he often played up. “The Freak” was someone he’d grown to know pretty well since it was given a name. But sometimes it felt like he lost track of the other stuff. Sometimes it felt like he barely knew the real guy printed on that page. What was that guy’s favorite song? He honestly wasn’t sure.

Nancy followed his gaze to the image of his own open mouth smile, eyes scrunched up by his flushed cheeks. And in some strange way, she knew what sort of thing he was feeling. Because maybe she knew how it felt to be so unsure of who was really smiling in all her pictures.

“Well…” she broke the silence that had bloomed between them again,” I guess if you need a little longer to figure it out, we don’t plan to waltz back into the Upside Down tonight or anything. But you can’t procrastinate. Because, if Venca comes back before we’re ready for him, you’re not going on the battlefield without a lifeline.”

“Aye, aye, Captain,” he gave her a stiff salute, which she returned with another roll of her eyes.

The two of them ended up chatting a little longer. Nancy had only really planned on stopping by for a bit and then heading off to help the rest of the gang fix up Hop’s cabin, but she found it surprisingly easy to talk to Eddie. They hadn’t really spoken at all before Spring Break, and they hadn’t had any time during to see how well they got along... but turns out, they did.

Plus he did need to know the school’s plans. There were calls rung around town about starting classes back up on Monday. That was news he was a little less eager to hear. Compared to an article trying to repair public opinion of him, returning to the halls of Hawkins High School wasn’t an exciting thought.

He let out a groan and scrubbed his hands down his face,” Shit… I was kinda hoping they’d just call the whole year a wash and let everyone graduate anyway…”

“Come on, it’s just a couple more weeks to push through, and then we’ll all be out of there. Should be way easier than saving the world as an extracurricular.”

“For you, it might be. I’m sure with your stellar grades you could practically check out for finals and still pass just fine.”

“Well, that’s exaggerating a little bit-”

“Whereas, I’m going to have to bust ass between demon fights to even scrape by.” Eddie dramatically slumped back into the bed,” Fuck, man. This next month and a half are gonna be so awful, I’ll actually be able to say it was worse than hell on Earth.”

Nancy looked at him wallowing in his woes for a second before she wondered,“ So why don’t we get through it together?”

Very quickly, Eddie sprang back up a few inches,“ What?”

“Well, I’m still waiting for your answer on what your favorite song is, and it’s always easier to study with someone else there. More fun too. So, surely we can pull each other through finals and safely into graduation.”

“I feel like you’re signing up for the lion’s share of pulling, Wheeler.” Eddie pointed out.

She just raised an eyebrow at him,“ Are you saying no?”

“No! I am not saying no. Nancy Wheeler helping me drag myself through Ms. O’Donnell’s end-of-year essay sounds like way better odds than I was previously rocking with.”

“Oh… you’re stuck in Ms. O’Donnell’s?” Nancy’s voice pitched with pure sympathy. The woman was pretty well known as the one English teacher to avoid getting assigned to if students wanted to pass their classes and have any kind of social life over the last quarter of the year.

“Yup.” Eddie popped the “p” and knocked his head to the side,” I tried to get ‘em to move me into Mr. Fitzpatrick’s instead - you’d think on a third go around they could throw a guy a bone - but the front office still put the witch on my schedule anyway.”

“But you’ll get through it this time,” Nancy assured him. And there was just something about seeing Nancy Wheeler declare such a thing. She seemed so sure about it that he just kind of had to believe her.

But Eddie still shrugged,“ If I don’t, you can just let me bleed out on the battlefield this time. No, siree, I’ve been swearing for years now that I’m going to flip off the principal when I walk across the stage, so Eddie Munson isn’t coming back at all if he can’t shove it to Higgins at the end of all this bullshit.”

“Deal.”

It was a little bit morbid. To joke about leaving him for dead the next time considering it was such a close call to get him back at all. But it was funny, and Nancy needed the laugh. Somewhere along the way she ended up saying the "thank you" she’d thought about when she was sure it was over for them. For giving Mike a safer place to be a freak, where he wouldn't get hurt. Eddie laughed and said he didn’t do much. He was just some guy who prowled the halls for the other nerds he could snatch up.

Nancy named it a noble calling.

They both laughed some more.

Nancy ended up at Hop’s Cabin with the rest of the crew to get to work later.

She’d been set with Jonathan to work on covering up the empty windows - they planned to get the glass replaced down the road. The kids were mostly unpacking the house of all its items and broken furniture, throwing it out into the clearing in front. El was organizing the things that survived, and Will swept out the dusty, dirtied floors. Argyle had apparently spent much of the morning wandering around the wooded vicinity and exploring the local foliage. But since then, he’d taken t looking over the scrap pieces and making claims like “Yeah, yeah, I could make something work with this…” Seeming to think he was going to rebuild a whole family’s worth of home decor from the trimmings left behind by the meat monster.

Murray was sitting on a box, tugging at wires and making notes of the setup running through the house. Fussing over the electrical while Hopper worked on getting running water out of more than just the kitchen sink. And by the time Robin and Steve finally rolled around after looking over things at Family Video, most of the working day was done. Excuses of well-worn backs from cleaning up the store and figuring out how to run the place filled the air as they leaned against the wall and watched Joyce and Jim bicker about if the shower pipe was actually rusted stuck or just not being wrenched hard enough.

As the sun began to set around them, folks made their goodbyes and started heading back for home again. The boys had plans to go call the other Hellfire members and visit Eddie and Max the next morning. Erica vowed she’d be there too, but Will and El said they’d help Steve and Robin finish sorting the tapes on the shelves and mailing back the ones corporate was supposed to send a list for. And they'd carry all the supplies they were going to buy at Radio Shack for Murray’s idea of combining radio comms with the cassette players. Dustin also wanted to get in on the action with developing, much to Murray's protest.

When Steve and the rest of his houseguests drove up towards his house, there was already another car in the driveway. Two people stood outside on the concrete, their backs to the street, looking up at the house number over the front door while holding a map out in front of them. They both turned around as soon as they heard the beamer and pizza van begin to roll into their usual parking spots and not merely pass the house on the corner lot by.

The taller of the two had to be in his thirties or forties. Short, dirty blonde hair and a defined mustache over his lips, dressed in loose-fitting jeans, boots, and a peach-colored tee-shirt that said “Grand Canyon, 1986” over his slightly muscular build. The shorter of the two was clearly a teenager. He had a curly mop of lighter blonde and was leaner. Sporting light wash denim shorts and a black long-sleeve top, printed with a stylized landscape of, assumably, the Grand Canyon in shades of terracotta orange and red.

The two of their eyes watched him pull into place before they looked at the car behind him. Hopper rolled down his window and shouted out “THERE YOU TWO ARE!” in joyful greeting. The older man’s lips immediately curled into a smile. Haphazardly closing the map and throwing it into the seat of their car, stepping up to those just arriving.

“Almost thought you’d given us faulty directions, American. No one answered the door.” He’d said, thick Eastern European accent on display as he approached.

Hop climbed out of the van and fired back,“ I have a life now that I’m out from behind bars, don’t you know?”

As the stranger laughed, they closed the distance with a quick hug. The kind where they both smacked a hand on the other’s back before they parted. Kind of like old friends, but more like brothers of war. Which is closer to what they were to each other, in some sort of way.

“I take it you made it over okay?” Hopper asked him, casting a look at the boy standing just behind him.

“Oh, yes, it was a smooth drive from California,” he assured,” No speeding, no policemen. But perhaps we made a stop or two along the way. We are first-timers to the country, after all. Said we should ‘see the sights’ while we had chance to.”

“Didn’t think defeating monsters beyond all conceivable horror was a good enough reason to get here as urgently as possible?” Murray questioned the man with crossed arms and a judgmental tone.

“What? If the monsters ended up no big deal, figured you’d have the problem all cleaned up by time we arrived. Otherwise, you’d still be in trouble, and I help out now. You all look fine as I last saw you, so first option?”

Hop scoffed,” Like it’d be that easy.”

Eventually, they all run through the necessary introductions; Dmitri and Mikhail to Steve, Will, and El. They all helped unpack what was really Joyce’s car that’d been stuffed with more clothes and personal effects for the journey across half the country. Boxes and bags were loaded into the house along with a tour to the second guest bedroom that the father and son would be sharing in the meantime, while Karen’s provided lasagna started getting reheated in the oven.

They ran through updates about what had been figured out over the last few days and gathered around the dining room for dinner.

Maybe about twenty minutes into casual getting-to-know-each-other topics, Steve thought about music.

“Oh, we’ll need to make sure we have songs for you two too. Nancy’ll want to know-” but then a thought occurred to him that he hadn’t really considered before,” Wait… did you guys even have music over there?” Joyce, Jim, and Murray had mentioned all the sorts of stuff their smuggler had at the warehouse - peanut butter being treated like a controlled substance seemed ridiculous - so how much did they have?

Immediately, Dmitri’s expression fell. He set his fork down on the plate and put his hands together. He was quiet for a moment, but when he spoke again it seemed like his accent was heavier, more sullen than it had been just a minute before.

“Oh no. In Soviet Union, we have no songs. Only national anthem.” He’d said, English more broken and stunted than Steve had heard from him throughout the evening.

Next to him, Mikhail piped up.

“Only national anthem,” he repeated from his father,” Is only song I ever heard in whole life. They made sure, for propaganda to take. Only fascist tune, otherwise peasant revolt.”

Steve was stunned to hear such a thing,“ Wow… that’s…”

But then Dmitri and Mikhail’s grim faces began to break under the pressure. Smiles bubbled up and broke through the surface as they both started snickering.

“Wait a minute…” Steve narrowed his eyes.

“Yes, little American, that was a joke.” Dmitri admitted as the rest of the table fell into laughter around them,” We had music back there. They only tightened up on such things in recent years. I myself much enjoyed The Beatles. Had many albums back home. Mikhail always said I played them too much-”

“Because you did-” the boy tried to point out.

“And you liked tempting fate, nearly trying to get in trouble. He liked the rebellious things. Always running off or sneaking away to some secret concert in those- those rock revolutionaries' circles. Lucky he never actually got caught at any.”

“I am quick on my feet,” the kid said with a hint of a cocky attitude.

Must’ve performed that stunt enough times that he thought he was invincible, but his dad knew much better than that. Dmitri ruffled his hair and told him not to act like a big man when he was still a child. Mikhail rolled his eyes and shoved his dad’s hand away.

They seemed good. Steve hadn’t admitted the thought to anyone, but he’d been a little worried. Russians in their town again, one that used to be a prison warden… it could’ve been familiar. People talked about that kind of stuff, soldiers being shellshocked and triggered even after they made it home. Even if Steve was safe in his house, surrounded by people he knew wouldn’t just let something happen to him, it could’ve made the memories too fresh again. Brought back nightmares he thought he laid to rest.

But, thankfully, so much between Dmitri and Mikhail was different from the bowels of the Starcourt Mall. He met them outside, basked in the warm sunset glow, wearing touristy clothes and smiling with sincerity. It wasn’t like being trapped, inside cold walls and dim lights, surrounded by uniforms and cruel expressions. Steve wasn’t starving and covered in drying blood. Steve wasn’t alone, or thinking that someone was going to die because of him.

It was very, very different. And that made it all the easier to be in. To laugh and joke, because it didn’t feel the same.

And while they might’ve not been able to find the same artists Mikhail had enjoyed back there, they started making plans to get him some stuff to listen to by musicians they had playing in the States. Maybe Eddie’s tapes would be making all the rounds, or maybe he’d like the kind of songs some other member of The Party held on to. They’d just have to explore.

So Mikhail was assigned the homework of playing through tapes like a wine tasting, and Dmitri was going to help with things around the house and Hopper’s cabin.

#This is going to be 'please be gentle with my breaks' part 1 of 3!#We're taking a minute to focus on all of our older teens - letting them bond - and exploring some of the deeper parts of them #And we're kicking it off with some more of that Eddie & Nancy blooming best friendism #I just love their dynamics so much and have SO MANY plans for them #And a shoutout to one of my irl besties for the “we only know the national anthem” joke #She said it while I was telling her about my plans for this fic and it was so funny I had to put it in.#And we'll continue to see some more of the Russians in the background!#Btw - I'm roughly picturing Jeremy Sumpter in Peter Pan (2003) as Mikhail #If that's helpful at all #Next chapter is going to be another Eddie-centric one #But with Steve instead!#Steve Harrington #Eddie Munson #Steddie #Steveddie #Steve x Eddie #Nancy Wheeler #Robin Buckney #Ronance #Robin x Nancy #The Fruity Four #Stranger Things #Stranger Things 4 #Stranger Things 4 spoilers #Stranger Things 4 volume 2 spoilers

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