Chapter Text
Steve Harrington has always had a magnetic air about him. It’s a known quantity by everyone who takes the time to know him. An anomaly the Party is determined to properly test some day. That is, soon as they can convince the older boy.
Ask his parents about it and you’d get one of two responses. The first, and more positive, being a claim towards the Harrington family's “natural charisma,” or how he takes after one of his parents. At which point you’d likely wish to leave as the two stare at each other in a truly lewd display of affection. On the off chance you catch them in a crueler more vindictive mood, you’ll receive a rant along the lines of, “to stupid to do anything right, damn trouble magnet!” So on and so forth.
The average citizen of Hawkins will give a generic response in relation to his looks, before they walk away with a far off gaze, confusion coloring their expression.
His friends all have their own opinions, theories, but they all share one vital factor. The boy is too damn soft for his own good.
—
When Nancy Wheeler and Steve Harrington broke up, in Freshman and Sophomore year respectively, they stayed close. Keeping up study sessions, having lunch together, going to movie premieres with each other. Even having sleepovers in his big empty house.
There wasn't a single soul in Hawkins who didn’t question their arrangement. Rumors circled like wildfire the first few months. The unsubtle whispers of strangers and friends alike followed wherever they went. Eventually the comments faded, though they’re never truly gone.
The one person who never bothered to worry about them was Nancy’s new boyfriend. One Johnathan Byers. Of course he was curious when they first got together, several months after the initial breakup. Who wouldn’t want to finally know what was going on between the two. He got his answer fairly quick.
—
Johnathan pulls up to the large house at the end of Sycamore avenue. He’s technically two hours early, but his mom got the day off and said she would take care of Will.
“I can see how badly you want to go see your girl and her little shadow. You’re practically buzzing. Just be back in time for dinner.”
He smiles at the thought, before hopping out of his car walking around the back. Steve had said once he forgets to lock the back door more often than not. Johnathan is more than a bit concerned when he finds the door is, in fact, unlocked. He sighs as he steps inside, making sure to lock up behind him.
Looking around the bottom floor he can see rumpled blankets, and pillows tossed around the living room. The cushions have been moved to the floor in a big square. There are a few bowls near the edge, with barely any crumbs left to tell what was in them. A mostly empty liter bottle of coke, laying on its side.
Johnathan leans down to pick up one of the blankets. It’s fluffy and soft as can be. Pale blue and purple flowers litter the edge of a mint green background. The thing has a heavy, lavender and cherry scent. He’s a bit surprised. Johnathan thought he’d seen all the blankets in the house. When the dynamic duo makes a pillow fort, they tend to go all out.
Just as Johnathan goes to put the strange blanket down, he hears a loud thud from above him. Worried he runs to the stairs.
“Nancy! Steve! That you up there? Is everything ok?”
As he gets closer to Steve's bedroom he hears something.
Is that… giggling?
“Stevie no, bein’ silly. At’s tha wrong box, crayons go here, see?”
Crayons?
Johnathan takes a step forward.
There’s a soft hum followed by shuffling.
“Yeah! Good job Stevie, ‘ats the right one!” The voice is definitely Nancy, and she’s talking to Steve?
He puts his hand on the door, carefully pushing it open. He can't say he was expecting the scene before him. That doesn’t mean he's terribly surprised either.
Steve Harrington has never had an organized room, not by most people's standards. Right now though, all of that has been pushed to the side. Instead of the usual clothing, and half finished projects, there’s a half circle made out of Steves bedding. The curve almost seems to be protecting its inhabitants. Nancy is sitting crisscross on the floor, Steve's head in her lap as she gently pets his hair. Both are in pajamas, looking startled to see Johnathan in the doorway.
After a moment, recognition flashes in their eyes. Along with that flash Steve looks scared out of his mind, on the verge of crying. Nancy glances at the clock on Steve's bedside, and looks almost angry.
“Johnny you’re early! You didn’t call, it's rude!” Her voice is higher than usual.
As her arms curl around Steve, he lets out a soft whimper.
It takes Johnathan a moment to really process everything. Nancy's tone, soft objects surrounding them, the drawings scribbled in crayon at their feet. The smell. The sweetness of heavy cream is strong in the room. It’s the same scent he's been taught about in health class. One he didn’t think he’d ever come across in Hawkins of all places. One that means, sitting in front of him, Nancy Wheeler and Steve Harrington are in littles in their head space.
“I- um, I’m sorry? I shoulda,” he shuffled looking at his feet. “I shoulda let you know, wanted to surprise you…”
“Mmm…” Nancy glares, taking a moment to glance at the boy in her lap. “Least you ‘pologized.”
“Ca- Can I sit, maybe?” Johnathan gestures into the room.
Steve's eyes light up as he starts reaching towards…
“Baket! Mmm! Mmm!”
“You mean this?”Johnathan holds up the fluffy blanket.
“Mmm, mhmm!” The little nods.
“Ok,” Johnathan holds the blanket out to Nancy.
After a moment she shakes her head, patting the spot next to her.
Johnathan hesitantly steps into the room. Careful not to step on any drawings. Before draping the blanket over Steve, who tucks a corner into his mouth, giggling. Nancy gives him a smile as he sits in the spot she pointed to, giving him a soft pat on the knee.
“This is really pretty,” he says, picking up one of the papers in front of them.
“I did that one!” Nancy pipes up, “it’s lav-end-er, like Stevie.”
“Oh really, you did really good.”
“Mhm, and Stevie did this one. It’s ‘upposed to be cherries…” Nancy shuffles playing with the other littles hair. “He says I smell like cherry cream soda, is-is that ok?”
“Uh, yeah? Why woul- oh, oh wait you mean…” Johnathan takes a moment to think before putting an arm over Nancy's shoulder, his other hand going to the top of Steve's head. “Nance, Stevie, I want you both to know something. I need you to pay close attention. Being a little is nothing to be ashamed of. You don't ever have to be afraid to tell me something like this, ok? Never ever, do you know why?”
Nancy shakes her head slowly, both littles looking at him with watery eyes.
“It’s because I love you, both of you so, so much. I want you to be happy alright, and I know this is part of who you are. Which means it's more than ok, Miss Soda-Pop.” Johnathan finishes planting a kiss on the tops of their heads.
“Thank you Johnny,” Nancy mumbles, tucking her head against his shoulder.
“Tank ‘ou Johmny,” Steve says around his blanket. He gently tugs Johnathan's hand in front of his face, and starts playing with the other boy's fingers. Steve pauses to look him in the eye for a second, before he looks away, gently kissing his knuckles.
Johnathan smiles at the littles actions.
“You don't need to thank me. I really am sorry that I scared you two.”
“Wasn’t scared Johnny! Had ta protect Stevie.”
“Oh yeah, well you did a very good job.”
That night Johnathan learnt several things. You don’t have to be a Caregiver to give care. Nancy is strong willed in all circumstances. Steve is happy as a clam as long as he has some form of physical contact. He also discovered that he is now one of eight people who knows about Nancy’s status, and one of the four people in town who knows Steve’s.
—
Over the next year the three of them become an inseparable unit.
Others join the trio from time to time of course. Nancy’s friend Barb, who knows about Nancy but not Steve. Who tends to fawn and worry over them all. Sometimes it’s Tommy and Carol who seem to enjoy causing problems on purpose. Though they’re just as likely to pull everyone out of any trouble they cause.
It’s nice. They’re happy. They’re safe.
The week Will disappears is a blur. Johnathan takes care of his mother as she grows frantic. He drives the path his brother should have been on, walks it, runs it. He makes posters, asks around. He’s distracted.
While at school Steve asks Nancy if they’re still going to hangout, and Tommy, hearing this invites himself over along with Carol. When Barb finds out she tells Nancy it’s a bad idea.
“The chaos twins, plus Steve, who is easily influenced at the best of times. Also, at this rate you are going to slip, sooner rather than later. I’m just being honest.”
She’s right of course, Nancy’s been putting off her regression in favor of helping Johnathan when she can. Though she’s more worried about Steve slipping, it had already been a while for him before Will happened. So when Nancy insists on going, Barb agrees to join them.
They play loud music, get tipsy, people get thrown in the pool. It’s fun. Eventually Tommy and Carol wander off to some dark corner of the house. Around the same time Steve starts to get extra spacey. Nancy tells Barb she’ll only be a minute.
“Stevie here had a bit too much to drink. I’m gonna make sure he’s at least dry before falling asleep… he- he might get clingy though, so if you wanna go home you can.”
Barb says she’ll wait for a bit before heading out, just in case.
Barbra Holland doesn’t show up to school the next day.
When Nancy starts pulling away Steve feels lost. He tries with all his might, to get his best friends to take a break, to stop leaving him behind. He doesn’t even realize his subconscious won’t let him regress.
He’s not the most subtle with his bad mood, taking it out on Tommy and Carol. He gets snippy. Eventually they’ve had enough.
While Tommy means well he’s never been the best with words, his grades are a prime example. When he confronts Nancy and Johnathan his point is fairly simple, “stop being assholes, and pay attention to the people around you!”
It devolves into a shouting match.
Steve doesn’t know exactly what’s said, or when he joined in yelling. He just knows it stops when he gets in his car and drives off. It takes hours for his daze to wear off, guilt taking its place. He wants to apologize. Tommy and Carol can be handled before school, so he goes searching for Nancy and Johnathan instead.
He finds them at the Beyers house. He also discovers monsters are a very real threat in Hawkins. They manage to fight off the creature for a while. As it turns out, Nancy is one hell of a shot, Steve is excellent at dealing blunt force trauma, and Johnathan can set truly terrifying traps. At least until it decides it has other places to be.
The couple says they need to get to the school. By the time they get there it’s surrounded by ambulances, and other vehicles with bright lights. Soon enough everyone’s shuffled in different directions to be prodded, and questioned by various adults.
By the end of the whole ordeal, there are at least two more people who know about Steve's status. Sheriff Hopper and Joyce Beyers. Hopper, because he's the one who wound up explaining what happened to the teens when they arrived at the hospital. Also acting as Steve's guardian with his parents being out of town. To say the boy was acting spacey would be an understatement.
As for Joyce, she’s a good mother. Once it's been made clear her youngest boy, still shaken and traumatized, is also half regressed, she can’t help muttering worries outside the door. She’s stopped by a fluffy haired boy, she recognizes him as her eldests best friend. He's speaking softly. Offering advice for dealing with a scared new little. The look in his eye helps her put two and two together, a bit insistent, a bit scared, all trusting.
Their night ends with a full check up, long explanations, several NDA’s, and tearful reunions.
There’s no forgetting what happened, and most of them don't try to. Old friendships are mended. New ones are formed. Tommy and Carol take a little convincing, but soon enough they relent, accepting apologies, giving their own in return. The two even laugh, when they realize Steve has gained a small group of preteens who seem to always be hovering in his general vicinity. By the time Christmas rolls around everyone has adjusted nicely.
Steve ended the year on a fairly high note. Though the following semester and summer are a bit more tense than he’d like to admit. He’s excited for what the next year has to offer.
He really shouldn’t be so surprised when it goes to hell in a handbasket. After all it’s Hawkins. Where statistics don't matter, and reality blurs.