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Currently, they’re hiding out in Hopper’s old cabin. Lucas said it was a place Jason Carver, and consequently the whole town, had already checked so he figured they wouldn’t check again. Steve had been very proud when he heard about Lucas leading them there as a fake out. And since basically the whole town was trying to hunt them down and the kids had run away from the police, it felt like a pretty safe bet to essentially hide out in the woods.
The cabin was in shambles, untouched since last summer. It felt like he was entering a tomb. Steve had visited a couple times, mostly to look after El when Hopper couldn’t, before he started working. The last time he visited was when El asked him to come with her to pack up some of her stuff since she’d be moving. He was honored she had asked him but at the same time being back there so soon after Hopper had died had been a bit painful for the both of them.
Turns out being back there now, almost a year since Hopper died, was just as painful. But he elected to ignore it and focus on the fact that they had no plan.
It’s in the middle of a very tired brainstorming session that they hear a gunshot.
Everyone jumps and freezes, waiting for a rain of gunfire to follow. But there’s nothing. “What the hell was that?” Steve asks.
No one replies until Max gasps and whispers, “The tripwire! Hopper had a tripwire set up outside.”
“That hasn’t been set off by now?” Dustin asks.
“Well It’s a good thing it hasn’t, gives us a head start.” He says before standing up and fighting the wave of dizziness that comes with.
“Steve, sit down, you’re hurt!” Robin whisper-yells. She was just helping him change his bandages, she knows damn well that he’s still bleeding.
He’s about to fight her on it when a voice rings out from outside, “Really? Boobytraps? Come out here and face me like a man!”
“Jason.” The kids say at the same time.
Bout of nausea now gone, Steve creeps over to a window and peaks out through the curtains. Sure as shit, Jason Carver. The new king of Hawkins High, the god fearing, satanic panic believing, convinced that Eddie Munson’s going on a murder spree, Jason Carver. But just Jason Carver. “He’s alone.” Steve confirms.
“Probably wants to kill me himself.” Eddie mutters.
“We’re not letting that happen.” Nancy says, earning a chorus of nods from everyone else.
Steve, meanwhile, reaches for his bat, where it was propped up against the wall. Dustin had grabbed it from his car when they escaped from the Wheelers (side note: how was he supposed to get his car back?) and had brought it all the way here. He passes it through his hands a couple of times, getting used to the feel again.
“Steve, what are you doing?” Robin asks carefully.
He shrugs, already heading towards the door, “I’m gonna go kick his ass.”
“Steve!”
“Do not kill a man!”
“You can’t fight him like this!”
“I’m only gonna scare him!” He says, and then when he sees their disbelieving looks amends, “And maybe throw a punch or two, we’ll see.”
“Don’t do this man, let me go out there.” Eddie steps up.
“Fuck that.” Steve scoffs, “What and let him kill you? Not happening.”
“I brought him here! I don’t want him going after you guys too.”
“Yeah.. The whole town thinks we’re all in a cult so I don’t think they’d stop at just you.” Dustin says, “And besides, we’re in this together, with or without an asshole like Jason Carver hunting us.”
Steve gestures to Dustin with the bat, “Exactly!” Eddie backs down, albeit not happily.
“You’re still hurt, Steve.” Robin points out unhelpfully.
“Fake it 'til you make it, you know?” He says before turning around and opening the door.
No one stops him.
He stands on the porch of Hopper’s cabin, bat at ease in his right hand. He’s still wearing just Eddie’s vest and his jeans, entire stomach wrapped in bandages and covered in filth. Certainly not his best look but he hopes that coupled with the blood crusted bat he makes for an intimidating sight.
His suspicions are confirmed when he sees Jason’s cocky look slip off his face. His eyes widen briefly but he recovers and just looks pissed. Understandable, Steve thinks.
“Steve Harrington?” Jason asks.
“Jason Carver.” He says, “What’re you doing here?”
“Looking for the freak.” Jason spits, “He here?”
“If he is?”
“I’m going to kill him.” Jason admits, “That evil fuck killed Chrissy and Patrick, he deserves what’s coming for him.”
Steve sighs, “You don’t seriously think that? I mean you saw it, no one could do that to a human being, especially not when your suspect is treading water and the victim is ten feet in the air.”
“I know what I saw.” Jason growls, “Eddie Munson is goddamn devil worshiper, who knows what he’s capable of and-” He cuts himself off, “Are you wearing the Freak’s jacket?”
Steve smiles lightly and only nods in response.
“Are you protecting him?” Jason asks, “Are you defending a goddamn murderer!?” He yells, “What, did he brainwash you?!”
“You could call it that.” Steve says.
“I don’t want to hurt you.” Jason grits out, “But they deserve justice.” And then he runs up, trying to push past Steve and make it to the door.
Steve simply raises his bat and blocks him, “Listen man, It’s sweet that you cared about them so much, I commend that, really I do. But killing Eddie? Doesn’t that make you just as bad as him?” He’s making a play for the humanity he hopes Jason still has in there somewhere. He knows what it’s like to be blinded by rage but Jason seems to be pushing too far gone.
“Get out of my way.” He snarls.
Steve just sighs. He’s tired. “Alright,” he says, and then pushes Jason back with the bat, making him stumble down the steps. “Let’s do it your way, then.” He makes a show of swinging his bat while Jason charges at him. At the last second he ducks down low and trips him with it.
Jason falls and Steve taps the ground with the bat like he’s about to step up to the plate. He’s really not in the mood to actually fight so he’s hoping to just tire Jason out but that plan goes right out the window when Jason comes back from the ground with a decently sized rock that immediately makes contact with Steve’s head.
For a second he thinks he sees stars but he recovers because this is his forth concussion and really, he’s used it by now. He dropped the bat in his daze but that’s fine because he thinks he could get charged for attempted murder if he hit someone with it. Plus he’s a much better fighter than he used to be.
Jason seems startled at his quick recovery and then just as startled when Steve’s fist meets his face. It sends him spinning but on the turnaround he reaches for Steve’s waist and manages to dig in right where his wounds are, making Steve scream.
He grabs Jason by the shoulders and pushes him up against a nearby tree. The pain gives him adrenaline and he musters enough strength to land a few punches.
One.
Two.
Three.
Jason lets go of where he’s squeezing open wounds so Steve throws him to the ground. He runs to grab the bat because fuck this guy, attempted murder charges be damned, but Jason’s suddenly pulling him backwards by the neck. His mind flashes briefly to similar events from earlier tonight but he’s quick to elbow him in the gut and then very narrowly avoids a weak punch that gets thrown in his direction.
He returns it with a punch of his own that actually lands. He hears a crack.
Steve picks up the bat. In the moment that he’s crouched he sees Jason gear up to kick him and half rolls, half crawls, out of the way before it can connect. He jumps back to his feet, practically runs a circle around Jason, and then pushes him backwards with the blunt, top part of the bat.
Jason’s breathing heavy now, still angry looking, but he stands in place. Looks like the tiring him out tactic may have worked after all. They’re facing off now, only Steve has the bat up and ready to swing full force. He watches the gears turn in Jason’s head as he looks between Steve and the bat.
“Don’t.” He warns.
Jason does not heed the warning.
Jason charges again. Steve takes one swing at him and feels the nails pierce his skin and get stuck. He uses his foot to push Jason away and tear the bat from his skin.
Jason finally, finally, goes down.
Steve breathes a sigh of relief.
He approaches Jason cautiously, wanting to make sure that he’ll be fine. He looks fine enough so he places the bat on Jason’s chest as if holding him down and crouches beside him.
“Sorry about that.” He says but there isn’t any remorse in his voice, “Here’s what’s gonna happen. I let you go and you run far, far, away from here alright? You’re gonna leave Eddie and the kids alone, you’re gonna call of your stupid little witch hunt, and you never gonna tell anyone this happened, got that?”
Jason doesn’t respond. Just glares at him.
Steve holds the bat in attack mode again, letting it loom above Jason, “Got. That?” He asks again.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
He stands and holds the bat at his side again. And because he’s a gentleman, he helps Jason up. Jason, surprisingly, accepts the help. The second he’s on his feet though, Steve pushes him off into the direction he came, “Get the fuck out of here.”
He stands there, watching and waiting until Jason disappears into the woods and out of sight. He holds his confident stance until he can no longer see Jason at all.
And then he lets the facade crumble. He hunches over, and puts a hand to his wounds. Even through the bandage it comes away bloody which is just great. He takes a breath but it comes out in a wheeze.
The second he turns around the door to the cabin bursts open and he’s pretty sure everyone spills out, rushing over to fuss over him. He lets them.
Once safely back inside and once everyone is sure he won’t die on them Dustin cheers, “That was awesome! Second fight won!”
“Thanks, Henderson.”
“That was pretty cool.” Max admits, “That guy’s a douchebag, he deserved it.”
“Yeah,” He agrees, “Not sure if any of my words actually made it through to him but he should leave us alone.” he turns to Lucas, “Sorry man, I know he was your friend.”
Lucas waves him off, “Max is right, he’s a douche. I mean, I liked being a part of that crowd but Jason was just.. Too much. I’d pick you guys any day.” That prompts some relentless teasing from the rest of the kids that distracts them from the rest of the conversation.
“Thanks for that.” Eddie says, “I can’t believe you actually went out there and fought him so.. I didn’t have to.”
“You’d think the people in this town would know not to go after anyone Steve Harrington cares about by now.” Robin laughs.
Nancy chuckles a bit, “They’ve never seen him in action. This’ll probably help.”
Steve shrugs, “I do wish people would stop screwing with my friends. Mostly so I stop getting concussions”
“We’re friends now, Harrington?” Eddie asks, looking cocky, but his meek voice betrays him.
Steve reaches up and knocks his shoulder, “Damn right.”