Chapter Text
Steve has done a lot of thinking ever since... then. He has plenty of things to mull over that would safely last him several years. He’s only begun to wrap his head around everything. That being said, he’s already realized enough things to turn his life completely on its head.
For one, monsters and other dimensions are real. Creatures don’t need faces or a normal body live and kill people. But that’s not important enough for everyone to know, apparently. No, he has to keep that tucked away inside him for the rest if his life. He has to smile and grin with his jock persona at school after a night filled with terror and flashes of images of the thing. It’s a little disheartening, to say the least. But he can’t do anything about it.
Nothing he does or say will change it. He could shout on the rooftops until he’s blue in the face, but the government will still cover up everything, and he’d be written off as a lunatic before being taken out behind the shed. He tries not to go down that path. He has the rest of his life to focus on, and he was hardly the most involved person in that whole incident.
This brings Steve to the second main thing he has to think about now, and that would be the people around him. The grounds there haven’t just shifted; they were terraformed. Some connections were forged in iron and some burned fabulously. He’d never be caught dead with Tommy or Carol now, but, on the other hand, his bond with Nancy has deepened, and he’d actually, maybe, consider himself a... friend of Jonathan Byers.
Or that’s what he would like to think. His ties with both of them have subtly adjusting. For a lack of better words, his relationship with Nancy is dimming. He’s not in denial; he has no point to be. Neither of them are really upset about it. It’s not like a breakup, this is just a natural path or so it feels. They wound down from a fiery couple to a pair of calmer, steadier ride-or-die friends. Steve’s not going to lie and say he doesn't miss her kisses or her body as they become rarer and rarer, but he still gets to see the best parts of her.
It was such a natural and slow progression that they never really even talked about it before it was final. It wasn’t until Jonathan made a remark about Steve and Nancy being together and dating followed by both Nancy and Steve starting to correct him, did they even realize. The former couple had a long talk later that day and worked it out. They’re still going to be friends, but that’s all. They also decided too not be loud about it. They would just do what they were going to do, and if someone asks, they can say they’re not dating. They did make it a point to tell Jonathan later that week though. He was concerned that something bad had happened and that they wouldn’t want to see each other again, but after an explanation, he was cool with it. That was just over a couple of months ago.
The memory of that day brings Steve’s mind back to the person he’s almost always thinking about anyways. That stupid Jonathan Byers.
Steve’s whole philosophy on the guy had went on its head, as it tends to after you fight a faceless monster in said guy’s living room with your then girlfriend. Nancy would insist on including Jonathan in various things that the couple did. Steve wasn’t sold on him yet, but he was willing to give it a try. Soon enough, it wasn’t Nancy asking Jonathan to join them. At the time, Steve didn’t understand Nancy's questioning gaze on him when he offered an invitation.
Steve finally understood about a week before the ‘break-up’. The three of them had come over to Steve’s for a study session (Read: 25% studying 75% dicking around), and in the blink of an eye it was time for them to go. Steve was in his kitchen replaying a joke Jonathan had said in his head and laughing into the empty house. Steve couldn’t help just smile fondly on the memory, despite it being a couple hours old. He stupidly grins at how Jonathan covers his smile with the back of his hand, or how his eyebrow quirks in the same way every time he’s confused about something in his work, or how-. Steve had cut himself off there.
He about dropped his glass when he realized that he thinks Jonathan is... cute. He’d never thought that he had looked bad even before everything, but now he watches the boy with the same look of adoration and affection that someone watching a kitten run around would have.
Nancy confronts him about it a week after the breakup. Steve wasn’t really worried about her knowing per say, she’s always been accepting, but he’s worried about how obvious he was. That being said, it is Nancy. She basically just gave him her blessing and wished him luck.
This brings Steve to the present day, where Steve can hardly be in the same room as Jonathan without staring at him and marveling at how adorable and amazing he is. It’s a little odd, now that he thinks about it, just how preciously cute he thinks the other boy is. Whenever he thinks of Nancy, even when they were dating, he tends to think of her as hot or smokin’ and not really cute, but he’s the opposite way for Jonathan. Even in his, uh, more interesting thoughts about the boy, Steve can only seem to focus on his cuteness.
Steve shoves those thoughts away for now. He has to focus on getting ready for going to the movies with Jonathan and Nancy. It starts in just over an hour and Steve is the one picking up the other two. It’s just some recently released horror flick that Steve doesn’t really care about, but the others seemed excited about it, so he won’t complain.
He’s pulling his shoes and jacket on when Steve’s phone rings.
“Hello?” Steve says as he puts the phone to his ear.
“Hey, Steve. It’s Nancy.” She sounds rushed and somewhat out of breath. “I got some bad news.” Steve’s curiosity is piqued, and he stays quiet. “I can’t come to the movie.”
“Oh.” Steve says disappointed. “Why?”
“There’s a family situation, and, uh, I have to deal with that.” She says quickly.
“Is there something serious? Should I come over?” Steve’s mind is supplying him with horrible images of the upside down.
“No, no. You and Jonathan should still go have fun!” Steve would be happy to leave it at that, but he hears something distantly.
“Get off the phone, the movie’s starting!” Steve recognizes Mike’s voice.
“Wait, ‘movie’?” Steve questions.
“Oh, ignore him.” Nancy says lightly. Something clicks in Steve’s mind.
“Are you trying to get me alone with Jonathan?” Steve asks dryly.
“Well... yes.” She admits.
“Oh my god...” Steve buries his face in his hand.
“What? I’m helping you!” She says almost smugly. “It’s not like you were going to make any moves!” He would love to disagree, but he can’t.
“Do you have to ‘help’ like this?! Practically taking him on a date?” Steve about screams.
“Just think about it,” She says soothingly, “You’ll be alone with him in the back of the dark theater where no one will be looking or paying attention...” Steve is certain that his face is turning beet red.
“Stop it. It won’t be like that if we go.” He about pleads.
“Okay, okay, I’ll quit.” She giggles, “But he’s been looking forward to seeing this movie and he’d be very sad if you cancelled it.” She says slyly. Steve sighs.
“...I’ll tell you about it at school.” She cheers.
“Good. Have fun!” With that she hangs up.
Steve groans and leans against the wall. He’s done some one-on-one activities with Jonathan before, but never something so blatantly date like. He’s not sure if he’s going to survive, but it’s better than the alternative. Steve can see and hear it. If he calls up Jonathan and tells him it’s off, Jonathan would be like,
“...Oh, well, that’s a shame.” In his little quiet voice trying to hide his disappointment. Steve can just about see his expression fall and lose that little spark in his eye that’s so rare. He’d go on about how it’s alright and not Steve’s fault.
Even just thinking about that possibility makes Steve want to scream. The last thing he wants is for Jonathan to be upset. He’s already endured so much. He’s dealt with his family and money issues without complaining and he’s dealt with people like pre-upside down Steve all his life. Steve wants him to have every moment of happiness he can, and if that’s at Steve’s expense, that’s fine.
Steve is practicing his explanation on why Nancy isn’t coming the entire ride over. He feels like he’s messing up his hair with his sweat by the time he pulls up to the Byers house. Jonathan is already half-way out of his door talking to someone inside. A few seconds later, he closes the door and walks up to Steve’s car with a shy wave. He gets in the passenger seat and says a quiet hello with a small but vibrant smile. Steve is certain he’s going to die.
Jonathan is predictably dissatisfied when Steve tells him Nancy isn’t coming, but the awkwardness Steve expected isn’t really there. There is still some and Steve has to carry the conversation mostly, but he doesn't mind. Jonathan doesn’t seem fazed by the fact he’s going to the movies with another boy, luckily.
They show up to the theater and order their tickets. There is a moment at the snack bar where Jonathan is looking through his wallet and back up to the prices. Steve hangs back with him, pretending to still be deciding what he wants when he casually asks Jonathan what he wants. Jonathan responds and Steve goes up and buys both his and Jonathan's food before the other boy can stop him. Steve waves it off, saying he was planning on buying for the 3 of them anyways, which is a lie. Jonathan huffs and rolls his eyes, but thanks Steve.
Steve is just glad he had enough cash on him, but seeing the other boy’s face light up when he gets his sour candy and popcorn is more than worth it. As they’re walking to their seats, Jonathan says he hadn’t actually had that candy in a very long time and missed it. Steve’s heart glows even more with pride.
Now the hard part begins. Steve has to sit shoulder to shoulder with Jonathan in a dark movie theater during a horror movie perfect for couples. There are actually a few couples in the audience in front of them, but Steve doesn’t recognize them. As the screen starts to play, Steve can’t focus on it, but he never expected he’d be able to. His goal now is to make sure Jonathan doesn’t notice him staring. The other boy is just so adorable when he’s completely sucked into the movie. He leans forward with wide eyes, mumbling under his breath at the characters, and he flinches when a jump scare happens, and Steve can’t take his eyes off him.
During the climax of the movie, there’s a big build-up to what is apparently the best scare in the movie. The other people in the theater scream and Jonathan himself gasps and jerks backwards into his seat. He grasps onto the nearest thing on reflex, which just so happens to be Steve’s wrist. Steve’s mind comes to a screeching halt. The warmth of Jonathan's hand bleeds into Steve’s skin. It only lasts for a few seconds before Jonathan realizes and lets go with an apology. Steve can only stutter out something along the lines of ‘It’s okay’.
The movie ends relatively soon after that, and before they know it, the pair are walking back to Steve’s car. Jonathan is talking about the movie and some of the actors and actresses in it, which he knows well, and Steve just listens with a dopey smile. Jonathan quiets down as he gets into Steve’s car. They have to wait for some people to clear out before they can go. Jonathan glances to Steve.
“Hey, uh, thanks.” Jonathan says meekly. Steve turns to him, but Jonathan is looking out the windshield with pink dusting his cheeks.
“What for?” Steve asks.
“For, uh, letting me come with you.”
“What do you mean ‘let you’?” Steve asks with a raised eyebrow.
“Well... I kinda figured you wouldn’t want me to come if Nancy wasn’t here.” Jonathan admits. A deep sadness claws at Steve’s heart at the resignation in his voice. Steve turns back to look at the road as he’s finally able to leave.
“No, definitely not.” Steve says with a laugh, “Believe it or not, you’re actually decent to be around, Byers.” Steve doesn’t much like calling Jonathan ‘Byers’ anymore; it’s too reminiscent of before, but it’s comfortably familiar. Steve spares a glance at the other boy. He’s grinning up at Steve. They lapse into a comfortable silence.
When he pulls up to the Byers household, they exchange a few simple goodbyes. Jonathan gets out of the car and Steve watches him disappear into the old building. If asked later, he would say it was to make sure he got in alright, but he may or may not have been more captivated by how the boy’s belt cinches his already small waist, emphasizing his hips.