The Choice is Yours, Steve Harrington
When Steve Harrington starts getting threatening texts from an unknown number, he tries to take matters into his own hands. Little does he know that every choice he makes could have major consequences.
His choices matter, and so do yours. So, what’s it gonna be?
(An interactive modern day AU! by @steviesbicrisis and @hairstevington)
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Ugh. Hargrove.
The guy was just - he really sucked, and Steve wished he was fucking gone. Now he was threatening Henderson? No way. Steve was going to settle this once and for all. Billy wasn’t going to mess with him anymore, he’d make sure of it.
Of course, Dustin was at the stupid concert. Steve really wanted to avoid it, but obviously he would do anything to protect his friends. He headed off to the Fairgrounds, practicing his speech to Billy the whole drive.
Listen to me, asshole. You’re gonna stay away from me and you’re definitely gonna stay away from my friends, or else. Got it?
By the time Steve got to the concert, it was winding down. People were pouring into the parking lot and speeding away in their cars. Steve knew that the kids planned on sticking around afterwards in hopes of meeting the band, so he figured they’d still be there.
It was kind of scary, being there alone at night. Robin was around somewhere, though, so that gave him some peace. He could probably just say her name three times and she’d appear beside him.
He continued looking for his friends as the place emptied out, feeling chills down his spine with every passing moment.
And then, he heard Billy’s voice. He sounded angry, as always. Steve followed the voice, puffing his chest out and trying to make himself look as intimidating as possible.
“Hargrove,” he said once he rounded the corner. Billy was alone, and he smiled the moment he realized it was Steve approaching him.
“Harrington!” he cheered wickedly. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” Steve rolled his eyes.
“You’re gonna leave us alone,” Steve demanded. “Me, Dustin, my other friends, all of us.” Billy smiled, fearlessly closing the gap between him and Steve until their faces were inches apart.
“Or what?” Billy teased between gritted teeth. “What are ya gonna do to me, Steve? You think you could take me down?”
Steve swallowed. Something about Billy always brought out his worst, most violent urges. Truthfully, Steve knew he wouldn’t win in a fight with Hargrove, and yet - he threw the first punch.
Steve’s fist clocked into Billy’s jaw. He laughed in response, then tried to hit back, but Steve dodged it. He was doing well at first - keeping up, at least - and then Billy got the upper hand.
Steve fell to the floor. Billy got on top of him. There was punch after punch after punch, and then everything went black.
When Steve came to, his ears were ringing and his head felt like it was going to explode. He’d failed. He’d come here to protect Dustin, and now who knew where he was or if he was safe? Steve sat up, and that’s when he saw that he still wasn’t alone.
Billy was on the floor across from him, sitting up with his back to the wall. He wasn’t moving. Steve couldn’t see much in the dim light, so he used his phone to get a better look.
Oh.
Oh, shit. There was blood everywhere, all stemming from stab wounds to the stomach and cuts on his arms.
Billy was dead.
Steve jumped backwards, falling over and skittering across the floor to get as much distance from the body as possible. This wasn’t happening. No, this wasn’t - who could have done this?
His shaky hand went back to his phone, which he’d dropped on the floor upon his discovery. He picked it up to call the police, because that’s what he knew he was supposed to do next. Even in his shock, he knew that’s what he had to do.
He dialed 9-1-1, and then his phone buzzed.
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The Choice is Yours, Steve Harrington | Ao3
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The parallels between the character arcs of 15 year old Nancy and 15 year old Mike are real.
First off, we have the socially 'acceptable' relationship. Nancy started dating the popular, conventionally attractive, wealthy jock, even though they don't really connect very well. Mike dates the girl he's closest to, having felt that subconscious need to attribute closeness to a girl as romantic feelings. Even taking things at face value and ignoring the possibility of comphet Nancy, there's a lot of similar feelings going into this for both of them. There's this pressure to desire a relationship with this type of person. There's this disconnect between what they actually feel and what they choose to accept.
Second, though directly related, is the need to change themselves to fit in. They fall to peer pressure. The way this presents itself is different, as Nancy falls into the popular crowd while Mike falls into the outcast crowd. Mike may not want to be popular, but he conforms to Eddie's restrictions and judgments just as readily as Nancy did. Neither of them are as fine with things as they pretend to be.
Third, these patterns of behavior distance them from their best friends. Lucas resents being stuck in a box, and wanted his friends to be there to support him. Mike has always been the glue of the Party, the one who was a really good friend when they were all kids. Yet, he was acting different. It was pushing his friend away as he tried to keep all of them within the same box he was placing himself into. Barb was scared of where popularity would take Nancy, of how much it would change her. She knew Nancy wasn't acting like herself, and she could see how continuing down that path would force them apart. Nancy pushed her into an uncomfortable situation because she was unwilling to separate what was good for her friends and the unhealthy box she was trying to force herself into.
Fourth, "I love you" is a very difficult phrase. Both of them say it at some point because of expectations, but both of them also struggle with the concept as a whole. The family trauma is strong with these two.
Last, but not least: no matter whether you ship Nancy with Jonathan or Robin, it directly parallels Byler. Either both the Wheeler kids were avoiding their growing crushes on a Byers boy, or they were both attempting to force themselves to be straight.
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