Chapter Text
“I don’t know,” Steve hummed, tapping his knuckles against the cool tile of the kitchen counter. “I was thinking about getting a two-bedroom.”
“Well, Mr. Harrington,” The real estate agent cleared her throat, flipping her bleached blonde hair over her shoulder. “None of the apartments in your price range have two bedrooms.”
“Right,” Steve nodded, his eyes scanning the rest of the kitchen and living area. It wasn’t big, not by any means, but it was nice. There was a nice sized kitchen, along with an area large enough for a fairly large dining table. The living room was also fairly nice, definitely big enough for any shenanigans. The bedroom wasn’t too bad either, with its large window and bathroom with good sized shower and bath. “Okay, well, I need to think about it.”
“I suggest that if you get a two-bedroom you have your roommate pitch in,” The realtor turned to him, giving him a judgemental look. God, he didn’t know apartment hunting was going to be this frightening.
“Uh, well, they’re too young to have jobs and they’re not going to be staying here full time…” Steve mumbled, chuckling slightly under his breath at the mere thought of the entire party permanently living with him. The lady lifted her eyebrows again, giving him another one of her abundant judgmental looks.
“They’re kids,” Steve added, which he realized immediately sounded worse. “My siblings. I want them to be able to stay the night whenever they want.”
“Uh, right,” She nodded. “Well, you can always get a sleeper couch?” She suggested, clearly annoyed at the fact that he was wasting her time. Frankly, Steve thought that was a bit rude. It was his life-changing decision, he should have as much time as he wanted to decide whether or not he wanted the apartment.
“Honestly, Katherine,” He prayed that was her name because he didn’t remember. “It’s the best one so far, and I really like the height of the walls.” He had literally no idea what he meant by that, but he was trying to act professionally. Was there a professional way of renting an apartment? Hell, he had no idea.
“I think it’s really speaking to me,” He continued as she glared at him, tapping her pencil against her clipboard. “But it does need some work.” He didn’t know what work needed. He should have asked Hopper to come with him.
“Right, well,” She looked around the apartment. “We can discuss pricing when we get back to my office.”
“Excellent!” He grinned at her. “You know what, Katrina, I had my doubts, but I like you!” She stared at him, murder evident in her eyes.
Finalizing the purchase of the apartment was surprisingly easy, Steve realized that the actual moving in would be difficult. Hopper had helped with the moving of furniture from his family’s house to the apartment, but the furniture he had in his bedroom was not nearly enough to fill an apartment, even an apartment on the smaller side.
“I can’t afford new furniture right now,” Steve said helplessly as they pushed the bed up against the back wall of the bedroom.
“No one can afford furniture when they get their first place,” Hopper laughed, sitting down on the edge of the mattress. “You’ll get there soon enough.”
“I want to be able to...” Steve paused, sighing. “Host guests.” Hopper chuckled, raising his eyebrows at the teenager.
“The kids?” Hopper questioned, amused. “Really?”
“Yes!” Steve groaned, exasperation clear in his voice. “Their parents hardly ever let them all have sleepovers anymore since there’s so many of them and they’re getting so big, and you know how Mike’s family is, I want to be able to have somewhere he can go when things get bad home.” Hopper looked at him with admiration.
“You really love those kids, huh?” He asked warmly.
“They’re my friends,” Steve mumbled.
“Yeah, yeah,” Hopper nodded. “Okay, here's what I can do for you,” he leaned back, looking at Steve with newfound respect.
“I have some extra furniture from my old place,” he said. “Since I’m moving in with Joyce I can give you what I don’t take with me.”
“Really?” Steve grinned, throwing an arm around the older man. “Thanks, dude.”
“Get off me, kid,” Hopper groaned.
“Woah, Steve, your apartment looks like shit.” Dustin mused, laughing.
“Shut up, Henderson,” Steve rolled his eyes, pushing Dustin lightly. “You wish you had your own place.”
“Nah,” Dustin shook his head. “You gotta pay rent and shit.”
“Whatever,” Steve laughed.
“I like it!” Will turned to Steve excitedly. “The walls are big.” Huh, apparently that was a thing people look for when looking for somewhere to live.
“Uh... right?” Steve looked at him.
“For painting… or whatever,” Will chewed on his lip, turning away. “I don't want to ruin your walls.”
“No!” Steve shook his head. “It's cool, dude, your art is amazing, I'd totally let you paint my walls. And we can always paint over it so the owners’ don’t get pissed.”
“Really?” Will smiled. “I swear it'll be good! I've been getting better with paint-”
“I already said yes, don’t make me change my mind.” Steve laughed and Will rolled his eyes, continuing to stare at the walls. the blank wall as if he was already picturing what to paint onto them. Which, to be fair, he probably was.
“Dustin you need to check out this bathroom, it’s so big!” Lucas yelled, prompting Dustin to remove himself from inspecting the oven to hurling himself through the apartment and into the bathroom.
“Uh, Mike,” Steve looked over at the younger teenager now that everyone was distracted. He didn’t have a lot of one on one time with him, not as he had with the others, but he did care for the kid. Mike was one of those kids that would do anything for his friends, and Steve respected that more than anything. “You know, you can come over whenever things get rocky at the parentals’ place.” They didn’t exactly talk about this much, but Steve knew things weren’t perfect at home. He’d met the Wheelers. He knows they can be distant and somewhat neglectful, especially with Nancy off at college and their heads wrapped around Holly.
“Oh,” Mike looked up, nodding. “Right, sure, thanks…” He mumbled, looking away sheepishly. Steve sighed and leaned down, lowering his voice.
“I mean it, Wheeler,” Steve said. “I know what it’s like having a family who isn’t all there, if I find out something happened and you didn’t come over here I’ll kill you.”
“Alright, alright,” Mike laughed, shaking his head. “I’ll come over here if shit hits the fan at home.”
“Good,” Steve nodded, pulling away. “Or I’ll have your head, I mean it, Wheeler.”
“Thanks, Steve,” Mike says, quietly. It was more of a whisper, only meant to be heard by Steve, but the two words held so much sincerity and emotion that the older teen was genuinely close to tears.
“Yeah, whatever, dork,” Steve answered back in reply.
Steve huffed, heaving the large wooden table through the door. He groaned, setting it down onto the floor in the middle of the living room, before turning around.
“Thanks for the help.” He pouted slightly.
“Shut up, asshole,” Robin laughed. “You wanted to do this thing yourself.”
“Still,” Steve chuckled then motioned his arms forward in big motions. “So, what do you think?”
“I think I don't understand why you got this huge ass table,” Robin mused. “You planning on having dinner parties, Harrington?”
“It’s for the kids’ campaign,” Steve mumbled, now pushing the table into the dining area.
“Campaign?” Robin asked, hoping onto the kitchen counter, raising her eyebrows at him. He laughed slightly, turning towards her.
“For the Dungeon and Dragon game…” Steve shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. “I thought it’d be a nice table if they had somewhere to play.” Robin’s eyes lit up and she stared at him.
“D&D?” She asked, leaning forward. “You guys play?”
“Uh, well, they do,” Steve mumbled. Of course, Robin played that game, she was a mega nerd. God, all of his friends were mega nerds. How did that even happen? “I don’t.”
“Why don’t you?” Robin fake pouted, swinging her legs off the counter.
“Because that shit’s for nerds, duh.” Steve laughed, looking at her.
“Who’re you calling a nerd, Mr. Babysitter Extraordinaire,” Robin shook her head. “Plus, D&D is fun .”
“C’ mon, Rob, you know I’m too dumb for that kinda stuff,” Steve said, shrugging. He had tried to get into the game before, with the kids, but he just didn’t understand it. Especially with the kids yelling over each other to try to explain it to him.
“How many times do I have to tell you you’re not dumb, Steve?” Robin huffed, crossing her arms.
“Just as many times as you call me a moron.” Steve cracked a smile.
“You are a moron, but you’re not dumb ” Robin stated like it was a known fact.
“Wow, Rob, that makes total sense!” Steve said sarcastically.
“You know what I mean,” She leaned forward. “You’re kinda ditzy but you can do anything you put your mind to, especially play D&D.”
“Maybe you can teach me?” Steve suggested. “I’m sure you’re a way better teacher than the kids.”
“Oh, of course, I am,” Robin agreed, nodding. “But it’s gonna cost you.”
“You want me to pay you to teach me how to play a game?” Steve asked incredulously. She made the exact same salary as him, why could she possibly need money? He was the one with rent to pay.
“It’s a simple payment,” She nodded. “I want in.” Steve blinked.
“In on what?” He asked questioningly.
“I wanna play with you guys,” Robin said.
“With us?” Steve looked at her as if she was insane. He had no grasp of why anyone would want to play this nerdy ass game with a bunch of kids. “You mean the kids ?”
“Yes, of course,” She nodded. “It’ll be fun.”
“You really are a dork, huh?” Steve looked at her, shaking his head in mock disappointment.
“You love it.” She said, confidently.
“Yeah,” He nodded, sighing, then slung an arm around her shoulder lovingly. “For some reason, I do.”
Steve looked around the apartment, sighing softly with a sound of relief. He finally had his own place. He finally had somewhere that was entirely just his own. His entire life people had told him that he was always going to be the spoiled rich kid who lived off of daddy’s money. He honestly had started believing that himself, but he was now confidently able to say that wasn’t the case. He had a mean streak in the past, that was true, but he always strived to break away from his douchebag father. He wanted to make his own income with his own job and his own place. Although it’s still not perfect, Steve finally had that.
He smiled at that prospect, shaking his head slightly from the unbelievability. His life was really looking up. Sure, he didn’t have all the things that he thought he needed growing up: money, a girl, and popular friends. What he had was better, though. He had amazing tiny friends who he cherished with his whole being. He had the absolute best friend in the world. He had a good support system with Hopper and Joyce in his corner. And now he had this apartment.
It’s like everything was falling into place and as Steve Harrington pushed a spare sleeper sofa fit for a young teen into his very own apartment, he realized that he really did have everything he’d ever need.