Chapter Text
When everything had quieted, Steve had called you that night from the Byers place. He hadn’t a clue who else would have picked him up at 2 am, his parents were out of town, and his friends were on holiday. But he called you, since you had been there when he’d gone through all the shit from last year.
But finally the nightmare was over. That kid, Eleven, had closed the whatever gate, and all the kids were safe. Everyone was waiting at the Byers apartment, cleaning up cuts, nosebleeds, and the wrecked apartment. Billy Hargrove had driven off with Max and his car, giving Steve a glare before doing so. And so the rest of the kids waited, huddled around what was left of the kitchen table. The adults were in the living room, placing various calls and talking in hushed voices. Jonathan and Nancy were up in Jonathan’s room, leaving Steve to wander around the rest of the place. Every once in a while he heard a car drive up, and he’d go to the nearest window, trying to see if it was you, and when it wasn’t he resumed pacing.
When you had gotten the call your heart had started racing and you gasped when you stepped in the apartment and saw his face all bruised. Someone else had cleaned out the dried blood, taping bandages over the worst of it, Joyce probably, but you couldn’t help running a hand over them, wincing.
“Hey. You came.” Was all he could say.
“Of course I did. Let’s get you home.” You glanced around, taking in the damage and the huddled groups. Mike, Will, and Eleven were the only ones left, and Mike waved a small goodbye to Steve as he followed you out the door.
The car ride was silent, Steve staring absently out the window.
“So what- what happened to you?” Your eyes darted over to him.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Try me.” You rolled your eyes. “I’ve heard all about those weird kids and what they did last year.”
“Hey! They’re not weird.” Steve raised his voice, giving you a hard look. “They’re just kids. And they’ve been through a lot.”
“Like what?” You countered. “Tell me.”
Instead Steve shook his head and was silent the rest of the drive.
When you pulled up to his house, he murmured a brief “thanks” and got out. You watched him walk to the door, then turn around and beckon to you. A little confused, you joined him.
“Can you- not mention this. Like ever. To anyone. This-” He gestured to you, then your car. “This did not happen.”
“Yea of course. Secret’s safe with me. One condition though.” You crossed your arms.
“What?” He sighed.
“One day when you’re not on the verge of collapsing, you explain to me what the fuck happened tonight and what part you had in it.”
“Yea whatever. Goodnight (name).” He didn’t even look at you as he left you alone on his stoop.
~~~
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The next day Steve wasn’t at school. A combination of curiosity and worry had prompted you to drop by his house that afternoon. No one else was home, and you knew Nancy wasn't going to check on him. It wasn't her responsibility anymore.
You knocked twice with no answer, then walked in yelling for Steve.
“Fucking hell I'm right here.” He sat up from his position on the couch. “Everything ok?”
“I’m checking if you’re ok.” You walked over to him, dropping your bag on a chair.
“I’ve been- great. Absolutely fantastic.” He flung his hands up in the air.
“Are you sure-? you weren’t at school.” You raised an eyebrow.
“Yea- yea- I'm all good.” He rubbed his temple and it was then you noticed how deflated his hair was. “Not much sleep and I just couldn’t go and see them- together-” He made a face, then looked like he regretted it.
“I guess the worst part is that she seems happier.”
Your heart crumbled to rubble at how small and vulnerable he seemed. Here was King Steve, as Billy Hargrove had called him, sitting in his house alone, looking on the verge of tears because of some girl who'd dumped him. Though to be fair, Nancy Wheeler wasn't just “some girl”.
“It’ll be ok Steve.” You murmured. “You’ll find someone else, someone better.”
“Yea but it hurts.” He shook his head. “It fucking hurts and I don’t know what to do about it. And on top of that I get attacked again by those fucking demodog things.” He visibly shuddered. “Everything was fine, I was going to fix things with Nancy and then it was all like ‘come on Steve I’ll explain on the way’ and suddenly I'm stressed as hell and then I’m keeping track of 4 kids and we’re all about to die and then I try to keep them safe and they don’t LISTEN!”
Your eyes darted to the corner, where you finally noticed the empty beer bottles and cans, thankfully none of the bottles were broken.
“Alright Steve-” You stepped forward, grabbing his wrists to keep him in place. “It’s ok. I’m sure the parents of every one of those kids appreciate that you got their children home safe and in one piece. I’m sure even Nancy appreciates that you kept her brother safe.” Steve nodded along to your words.
“You did a good thing Steve, several good things.”
“Then why can’t I sleep?” He tore out of your grip, running hands through his hair again. “Dammit I can’t stay asleep for more than half an hour without waking up because I feel like those- those things are coming after me again and I can’t do anything to stop them and they’ve killed the kids and there’s nothing I can do and-”
“Steve,” Your tone was gentle as you took a seat beside him. “Take a deep breath.” You coaxed him into lying down, and you ran fingers through his hair.
“Whatever those things are, they’re not coming after you or the kids anymore. You’re safe here. You’re safe here with me.” Your voice was low, and you managed a smile even though questions burned your lips.
Steve stared blankly up at you, but soon closed his eyes and let himself be lulled to sleep by the combination of your calming words and the feeling of your fingertips running over his scalp.
You couldn’t just leave him like this, so you gave your parents a quick call, saying you were at your friend Sarah’s house, then set to work.
By the time Steve woke up, the beer containers were disposed of, the dishes were clean, and you had ordered a pizza, the arrival of which was what finally woke him.
“What- what’s going on?” He wasn’t hungover, but he felt like shit.
“I’m sorry-” You set the pizza on the table. “I didn’t feel like leaving alone while drunk so I- I cleaned up a little. And this is for you.”
“(Name), you didn’t have to.” He joined you at the table, glancing from the pizza to the empty sink.
“Don’t worry about it.” You shook your head and resumed the paper you were writing. “Someone should have checked in on you. And Nancy obviously-”
“Let’s- not mention Nancy.” He took a piece of pizza. “And thank you for this. Thank you for- for being here. I didn't know who else to turn to.”
“It’s no big deal. We’re friends, even if we have gone different paths” You smiled up at him.
“Yea.” He smiled back. “That's one way of saying it.”
Steve managed to draw you away from your work long enough to watch a movie with him, which turned into several movies. He didn’t remember who had moved first, but he’d wrapped an arm around your shoulder, then you moved to lean against his chest. By the third movie the two of you were a tangled mess of limbs, and your head was tucked under his chin.
The third movie ended, and you sat back, detangling yourself from Steve. A thick silence fell over you, the air seemed solid.
“You going home?” He asked, his voice quiet.
“I-” You faltered. You didn’t want to. “If you want me to I will.”
“I don’t want you to.” Steve shook his head. And when he saw your raised eyebrow he backtracked. “Ok not for the reason you think. I just don’t want to be alone. You’ve been, absolutely amazing. And I actually feel tired, maybe with you here I can sleep through the whole night.”
“It’s ok. I can stay on the couch. My parents will just assume I slept over Sarah’s house.
“Clothes-” Steve gestured at your outfit. “You’ll need clothes-”
“I’ll leave a little early and go home and change before going to school.” You shrugged.
“Alright then.” A smile broke across your face, at his agreement, a smile Steve returned. “Another movie?”
“Why the hell not.”
You fell asleep on Steve, your head tucked in the crook of his neck. He switched the tv off, then shifted slowly, trying not to wake you. He hesitated for a moment before placing a small kiss on your temple, his small way of thanking you for everything. You were warm against him, and he found himself drifting off.
And every time he woke from nightmares, he’d hold tighter to you, a reminder that it was all over and that he was ok.