Work Text:
1989
Since the Munson & Mayfield family returned from vacation after Winter Break, El has become a regular fixture in their home. Sure, she came over plenty before then too, but the girls’ time was always pretty evenly split between their house and the Hopper household. Now though, it’s been a little over two months and the girls almost never head back to El’s to hang out anymore. Steve might not have noticed the change quite as much if the girls had holed themselves up in Max’s room like they usually did, but they’ve started hanging out downstairs with Steve and Eddie more often too. Eddie chalked it up to the girls feeling nostalgic about their last few months of high school and the round of 18th birthdays that just came and went for The Party, but Steve can’t ignore the nagging feeling in the back of his head that it’s something more. He’s caught El watching him and Eddie a few times, a curious look on her face as if she’s trying to unravel some mystery, but as soon as he acknowledges her, El looks away just as quickly.
Steve has tried asking Max a few times if everything is okay at home for El, if there’s anything going on. Max alternated between pretending she didn’t know what he was talking about to ignoring him outright, but finally admitted that El is working through some stuff right now and just needs girl time. It takes all of his self restraint, but Steve leaves things alone after that. Max knows that she can come to him or Eddie about anything, and Steve feels confident that if it were serious that she would talk to them. Eddie tells him, yet again, not to worry and Steve figures that will be the last any of them talk about it.
A few weeks later, El is standing in the doorway to the kitchen with glassy eyes and shaky hands, quietly waiting until Steve looks up from his pot of sauce and almost drops the spoon upon seeing her.
“Hey kiddo, what’s wrong?” Steve asks her, turning off the burner and going towards the trembling girl.
“Can I talk to you, please?” She asks quietly in her slightly stilted and formal tone.
“Of course, come grab a seat.” Steve motions to the breakfast bar stools and takes one for himself, waiting as El does the same. “So what’s going on? You know this is a safe space, right?”
“I know.” El assures him, “Max has reminded me many times.”
“Is everything okay at home?” Steve has to ask, but he can’t imagine it being something at home. Hopper and Joyce have been like surrogate parents to him and everything has seemed fine when they’ve been over for family dinner.
El nods while frowning. “Yes, but no. Home is fine. But… Will is not fine. And Mike is not fine. And now I am not fine. You are a boy who likes other boys, how did you know that you liked them? The boys.”
Steve is reeling from the abrupt topic change but does his best to roll with it. “Well, you know when you start liking people and you just get that feeling? Like the ‘butterflies in your stomach' feeling; the one that tells you that you want to be more than just friends with someone. Well, when Eddie joined our group I started getting that feeling like every time he was around. It was new, and I was kind of confused at first, but I thought about it a lot and realized that whatever I had thought about myself in the past didn’t really matter because I knew what I wanted then, and it was him. Does that make sense?”
El’s nose scrunches, her face showing all the complicated questions going through her mind. “Sort of. So you only like Eddie now? And yet still girls?”
Steve blushes lightly. “I won’t lie to you kid, you’re almost an adult now. I have definitely realized in the past few years that I find guys attractive, like in general. I do still appreciate women too, though. It’s called bisexual. Learning that term helped me a lot in figuring myself out. But I’m with Eddie now, he’s my everything, and I don’t want to be with anyone else because I have him.”
El’s face falls. “And being with someone else would be wrong. Yes?”
Steve feels terribly out of his depth with this whole conversation. He wishes Eddie were there, dismayed that they don't have some sort of emergency bat signal he could set off to summon the man. Not sure where the conversation is going, Steve proceeds with caution. “Well, it wouldn’t be good for us, Eddie and me. We both want to be monogamous, that means only being with one another.”
“Mon-og-a-muss.” El pronounces carefully.
“Yep, monogamous. It’s what Eddie and I both want, so that’s what we do. That doesn’t mean it’s right for everybody. Some people are together but still see other people because that’s what feels right for them. There’s no right or wrong options in relationships or sex, it’s all about what feels right to everybody involved.”
El looks lost and on the brink of tears, she takes a heavy sigh but still doesn’t speak.
“El, can I ask why you want to know all of this? I’d love to help you more, but I can’t unless I know what’s going on. Is this about you having feelings for someone new?”
El shakes her head. She’s quiet for only a moment longer while she gathers the courage to speak. “Will is in love with Mike. And I think Mike loves Will too. And I love Mike. And Will, but differently than I love Mike. I just want everyone to be happy, but I feel like I am the one keeping us from being happy.”
“Oh kiddo.” Steve’s heart breaks for the girl and he pulls her in for a long hug. Steve gives El back a few pats while she cries quietly on his shoulder, waiting until she pulls back to compose herself before he continues. “That’s a hard situation to figure out, especially at your age. I think you need to talk to the guys about it though. If you can get everyone to open up about their feelings, then you can talk about what all three of you want. And if that’s for all of you to be together, then that’s completely okay. And it doesn’t have to be romantic between all of you either, don’t force yourself into something you’re not completely comfortable with.”
“Will is like Eddie, he only likes boys. And I do not want to do the things I do with Mike with him. Though he might be nice to kiss, but only if he is also kissing Mike. I think I would like for him to kiss Mike.” Her eyes take on a dreamy, thoughtful look.
“Ohhhhkay. Enough of that, too many details kiddo. I’m sorry, but yeah, you guys need to figure that out between the three of you. And if you need help starting the conversation or have questions about things, Eddie and I are both here to support you guys.”
“I will make them talk about things.” El resolves. “Thank you, Steve. Max is right, you are a very good dad.”
“Thanks, El.” Steve gives her one last hug before she leaves, trying not to let his face show how much her “very good dad'' comment affected him. It hits him hard in the chest though, knowing that Max really does see him as a parent and not just a slightly older kid who bosses her around because her mom bailed. He’s always wanted a family, and while he still thinks it might be nice to have a bigger family someday, raising Max over the past few years has been the greatest honor of his life. Steve composes himself and goes back to the stove to turn on the burner and finish their dinner, hoping that everything works out for El and their friends.
It’s two weeks later that Steve gets his answer. Hopper drops off El, Will, and Mike for their weekly D&D night, the trio being the last of the kids to arrive. Eddie and Steve are sharing the oversized recliner, leaving the sofa and loveseat free for the others as they enjoy pre-campaign pizza in the living room. There’s only a single seat left on the sofa and somehow El and Will manage to squeeze themselves into it, propping Mike up on their laps while they share slices of pizza from the same plate between the three of them. Mike diligently ensures Will and El both get their turn for a bite and in between gives sweet kisses to the person not currently chewing.
They’re all cuddly and beaming when Dustin finally clears his throat, breaking the spell the room has been under while observing their friends’ new dynamic.
Mike, always the brasher one out of the group, shoots a glare at Dustin. “You got a problem with something, Henderson?” He challenges.
Dustin’s eyes go wide, “No!” He yelps, “Not at all. Just.. that’s new.”
El looks over to Steve with a grin before proudly announcing. “Yes, it is new.” She looks so proud and happy in that moment, like a cat who got the cream. Meanwhile, Will is blushing so brightly it extends from his cheeks down his throat, and Mike looks like he would fight god himself if anyone so much as says one negative word towards them.
“Looks like they figured it out.” Eddie whispers to Steve with a smile.
Steve nods, the happiness he feels for the kids clear on his face. “Yeah,” He agrees, “Looks like they did.”