Chapter Text
Honestly, after dealing with the apocalypse like three times, Steve had stopped imagining his future. What was the point when he was going to die in the middle of nowhere? But somehow they survived, ragged and broken, but they did.
Yet, he didn’t see himself becoming a teacher a few years later. Now that was the surprising part.
It wouldn’t have been possible, if not for the amazing people he had in his life, he still feels he doesn’t deserve good things, deserve them but he’s grateful nonetheless. When Robin shared her plans of moving away from Hawkins to anywhere else, Steve was… saddened by the revelation, afraid to be alone again, and afraid to lose his best friend. But then she asked him to come with her, that they would figure shit out and Steve could barely process. His self-worth wasn’t exactly at its highest, aside from the abandonment issue, he didn’t think he could do well outside, what would he even do? It was impossible. If he left behind the huge Harrington mansion, money his parents provided, and his dumb brain, could he even survive? So yes, at first he refused when Robin pleaded for him to come, saying it was scary alone but it could be better with a friend. But he was scared to take another step, to start over, to fail like he always has- to be a disappointment all his life. What would he even do? He has no experience, nothing, just trauma, and paranoia thanks to the Upside Down.
He knew he had nothing to stay for. His parents never cared, the kids left for college and even those he knew- or used to- didn’t stay for longer.
Robin didn’t relent, she kept on pestering him for answers, and Steve was a pushover when it came to people he cared for, so came clean, and told her everything that bugged him, that he’d only hold her back. That talk ended with a sharp smack on his back and a tight hug. Robin didn’t say anything after, while Steve was thankful, he felt dread inside at the knowledge that Robin might have given up on him, but he was a big boy, he can take it.
Probably.
Then Hopper was suddenly knocking on his door, with the phone number of someone he knew in Chicago who needed help with their newly opened Kindergarten. Steve just stared, confused out of his mind, silently taking the number but couldn’t understand what just happened. It didn’t make sense. When Joyce forced him to join them for a dinner, Robin already sitting at the dining table when Steve stumbled in, did he realize he was set up. Apparently, she had discussed with Joyce and Hopper about the whole moving out and employment scenario and the parental figure had come up with a pretty good solution.
With all the encouragement he received, he decided- wouldn’t hurt to try, right?
So, Robin and he moved to a small town, she didn’t know what she wanted so she applied for a general course, taking time to know what is out there for her to pursue. It wasn’t gonna be easy they knew, but slowly, it seemed like it’d work out. Steve took two part-time jobs despite her protests (they even had a big fight over it), he wanted Robin to focus on her studies rather than thinking about how to pay the next bill. Honestly, it wasn’t that hard after a year. Once they settled in, Robin realized art was something she truly enjoyed, even making progress while Steve decided to take small courses for teaching, just to help out Mr. Ben who was the most kind to him throughout the time, always looking out for him like Hopper and Joyce had. He was the reason Steve even got the job at the school he is currently teaching.
At first, he was just a sub, had filled in a two-week absence of the PE teacher- the kids loved him so much- and with Ben’s insistence, he was allowed even without proper qualification. He wasn’t the best at academics, yes, but sports was one of the areas he flourished in (especially with such a good practice he had with all the running around with monsters (…yay), plus teaching kids came easy to him. So that’s that.
So yeah, he works in a kindergarten and teaches P.E in a small school in Chicago.
It’s been nice, fulfilling even, nightmares still persist, and paranoia is his best friend but he guesses, this whole chapter would never really go away and he’d just have to deal with it. He lives better now, does better, and has frequent contact with Joyce and Hopper, while Dustin calls him twice a month, the other kids from the party don’t so much- but Dustin provides him with all the needed updates. He earns enough to get by- not too well, but well enough- aside from his non-existing love life, everything is better than expected so Steve doesn’t complain. Can’t afford to.
He really thought there will be no more big surprises for him after all this, he really did. So of course, it’s Henderson who disrupts his life. Then again, what is new?
“Steve, please”
“Henderson” Steve sighs, he really needs to learn how to say no to this idiot “You know that’s not my type of thing. I don’t even listen to loud music anymore plu-”
“Robin’s coming”
“What!?” he turns to Robin who’s giggling at her phone, probably texting that redhead she’s currently crushing on, “Were you going without me to whatever dumb shit Dustin is sending us to?”
“HEY TRAITOR, YOU SAID YOU WOULDN’T SNITCH!” Robin yells from where she’s sitting, smiling sheepishly as Steve glares at her, there’s a ‘we will talk about this’ look and then he turns back.
“Come on, Steveee, it would be fun!”
“I do not trust the idea of fun you seem to have, Henderson. And why do you even want me at an event you and the kids are going to? Don’t you like- hate all the adults now?”
“Because Steve my guy, my man” Dustin chuckles “It’s been a while, we met last Christmas at Mrs. Byers home, and also, they miss you too, they are just too… teenage-y to tell you”
“Right, I believe you” Steve deadpans, Will at least bothers to talk, the others- not really “I am no-”
“New York, free suite, free food, for a week”
“No- wait, really? A whole ass week? What the hell is this event? And in New York?”
“Why did you think Robin agreed?”
“I thought she was being a little shit” He replied thoughtfully, ignoring Robin’s loud ‘Hey! I heard that!’. To be honest, it seemed like a good deal, and yeah it has been a while since they all met up just to hang out.
“You need to live a little, Steve, a whole week of free vacation- even you wouldn’t miss it”
“Alright, what’s the catch?” Because he is suspicious. He might be an idiot but he knows things like these just don’t fall into his lap, he knew Dustin was up to something. “And how the hell did you manage to get something high profile like this? You are not doing anything wr-”
“Oh my god, mom, chill out, will you? Even my mother doesn’t nag as much as you”
“Don’t be cheeky with me, you doofus” he is embarrassed, even after so long, whenever these kids call him mom, he just becomes so shy- they have called him dad too but he nags too much for a dad, apparently. Somehow, this name for him seems like an honor, like trust, like contentment. Like he has been there for them when they needed him.
“And fyi, a friend of ours got us the tickets to this concert, I begged them for extras so don’t make me regret it, I lined up my pride for you” Steve rolls his eyes at that, god, when did he learn to be so dramatic? “Plus it’s a small concert so there’d be only a hundred or something people.”
“Whose concert?” Steve is about to give in, they all know, it’s obvious in the way he sighs before accepting his fate “And are there any adults coming?”
“Steve. We are eighteen. Just shut up and pack your bag. Robin has already booked two flights for New York and I will pick you both up from the airport. The party is going a day before.” Steve realizes Dustin is being evasive, he has conveniently skipped all the details, he doesn’t know where he is going, why he is going, who’s gonna play, who’s paying- literally nothing. And by the looks of it, he is almost sure Robin is in on it. He sighs again, why bother? He will go along with them anyway.
“Hende-”
“Cut it out, man” Dustin sounds serious, and worried, Steve goes in alert mode, “You need a break. You work too much. Even Robin has a job now. Can’t you just take it easy and enjoy?”
“You have been talking to Robin, huh?” Steve isn’t upset, he almost feels fond, a little floored that Dustin still cares for his well-being. He hates to admit but he is shit at taking care of himself, always preferred taking care of others anyway.
“Sorry” he whispers like he expects Steve to scold him.
“Alright, alright, I will come. Robin’s giving me a stink eye from the corner” Steve says “When?”
“Next month, and no excuses because she confirmed you can take leave from your jobs as you don’t take days off”
“You’re all up-to-date, huh, Dusty Bun?”
“Steveeeee”
“Okay then, I will see you next month”
“Yes! Bye mom, say hi to Robin for me, love you!”
“Love you too” And beep. A week of hotel and beer? Yeah, he could look forward to it. He slips to where his best friend is lounging, her phone is on the table and she’s grinning at him. Steve pushes at her playfully before almost draping on top of her.
“You’re so whipped”
“Not a word, Buckley”
“We need to go shopping”
“What’s wrong with my wardrobe?”
“Steve” Robin starts, says like she cannot believe he is even asking that question “You aren’t rich but you still manage to wear preppy clothes. And it’s a concert. We are not going there with you wearing a damn polo”
“Hey! I own other things-”
“We need something wild and slutty”
“No”
“Wild and sexy”
“Robs-”
“Wild and pretty. Non-negotiable.”
“Why do I even bother?”