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The life of an adult sucks. It's always about work, work, work. Damn capitalism. Lately, work's been taking a toll on Steve and Jonathan. They barely spent time together. But worst of all, they barely had time with their daughter.
Elizabeth is quite the independent 15-year-old girl, but still. In Steve and Jonathan's eyes, she's still their little girl. And sometimes they like to take her to school and get her home. It may seem like a small thing, but to them, every little second with their girl counts. And today, something rarer than the blood moon occurred; Steve and Jonathan both were allowed to leave work early—Jonathan finished all his assignments at the newspaper, and Steve did all the paperwork at the PD. Which means they can both go pick up their daughter. And Steve has a chance to show off his shiny new BMW X5 to everyone. Please don't ask how much it costs. Jonathan was not happy when Steve told him. But hey, Steve Harrington, Hawkins' most handsome police officer, is entitled to a fancy chariot—that was Steve's reasoning to Jonathan.
Steve parked his car in front of the school building, and his and Jonathan's eyes lit up like bright stars once they saw their daughter approaching.
"Hi, Dad! Hi, Daddy!" Elizabeth hops into the backseat, setting her backpack down. She leans forward in her seat, giving her dads two kisses on the cheek.
Steve smiled and patted her head. "Hey, Lizzie!"
"Had a good day at school, baby?" Jonathan smiled warmly at her.
"Meh. It's school, so kinda blergh." Elizabeth replies with a shrug, buckling up. "Jacob invited me to a party at his house tonight, but I already said I'm not going."
"What?" Steve raised an eyebrow. "You're not going to a party?"
His tone was surprised, whereas Jonathan seemed pleased.
"Smart choice, Liz. Parties are just filled with dumb teenagers drinking and smoking a bunch of crap and endangering themselves and others." Jonathan never bothered hiding his distaste for such things, alcohol and cigarettes, and he's more than pleased that his daughter is a responsible teenager with a functioning brain.
Elizabeth nods at her father, sticking her head through the front seats. "Yeah, I'm not in the mood to smell alcohol and smoke all night. Besides, I can have way more fun at home."
"That you can." Jonathan smiles and gently pats her hair.
Steve, meanwhile, was still in a state of shock. A teenager not liking parties? He hasn't heard that one since... Well, since his husband was still his boyfriend in high school some 20 years ago.
"You're skipping a party? But you're a teenager, Liz! You're supposed to go to parties and have fun!"
Jonathan rolled his eyes at his husband. "Oh, please, Steve. Why would she need to go to a party? She has us."
"Yeah, but you can't keep her locked up at home forever, Jonathan! She's 15! She needs to have fun."
"Steve, you know as well as I do that the kids at those parties are just going to make bad decisions with that alcohol... And all the other crap they use." Jonathan retorts immediately.
"So? They're teens! You can't treat Lizzie like a baby. She should go to the party! It's normal for a teenager."
Jonathan's eye twitched. "Steve, don't say that like Liz's not normal."
Steve winced at Jonathan's scolding tone. Damn, he and his mouth. He really needs to use his brain more often. Jonathan continues.
"You were a teenager, too. Do you even remember the parties you went to? The things you did? You're remembering them with rose-colored glasses. Teens make dumb decisions. Ones that can cost them a lot."
Steve was still not having it.
"Name one bad decision of mine, Jonathan!"
"Nanc—"
"NOT THAT ONE!"
"Dads." Elizabeth rolls her eyes. Oh, her dads are so extras sometimes. She calls their attention from the backseat, chastising them both.
Steve and Jonathan glanced at her with different expressions; Jonathan smiled warmly at her, whereas Steve seemed mildly annoyed at having his conversation with Jonathan interrupted—he's sure he could win that argument. He couldn't, by the way.
"Watch that tone, Elizabeth."
"Yes, baby?" Jonathan cuts Steve off, turning to the teen girl with a fond smile.
"You're arguing aimlessly again." She replies, rolling her eyes slightly.
Steve scoffed, offended.
"No, we're not!" He grips the steering wheel tightly. "I'm merely pointing out the fact that you're a teenager and it's normal for teenagers to go to a friend's house. And I am right. You both know that."
"Again with the 'normal' bullshit, Steve?" Jonathan rolled his eyes, grunting under his breath. "Liz doesn't want to go. You can't force her."
"Dad, you're seriously mad I'm not going to a damn party?" Elizabeth sticks her head through the seats again, glancing at Steve with a raised eyebrow. "You know that usually it's the opposite, right? Usually, parents get mad when kids go to parties."
Steve paused at Elizabeth's logical argument, but alas, he's Steve Harrington, and he doesn't back away that easily.
"It's the principle of the thing, Liz. You're supposed to go to the party. You're supposed to socialize like a normal teenager. Not just lock yourself in your room, play video games, and do girly things like... Painting your nails and braiding your hair."
"I don't mind staying at home and doing all that."
"And I like it when Liz does girly things." Jonathan complements with a smile, glancing down at his hands. There's still faint dark blue-colored polish in his hands from his and Elizabeth's previous "fun night" from last Saturday.
"Not helping, Jonathan," Steve grumbles under his breath, glaring at his husband, who just smiles back and shrugs in response. He sighs and glances at his daughter through the rear mirror. "That's not the point, Liz. You need to go out. Meet people. Make friends. Have fun."
Jonathan rolled his eyes and sighed. His husband can be as hard-headed as a Pachycephalosaurus sometimes. Elizabeth shares his views regarding Steve.
"I have friends, Dad."
"Yeah, well, you could have more. You're supposed to be popular, Elizabeth." Steve didn't even seem to hear himself say those words.
Jonathan rolled his eyes for what seemed like the hundredth time. He had never been fond of Steve's popular-girl attitude.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes as well and turned to Jonathan, giving him a "Is your husband for real?" look. Jonathan sighed and shrugged.
"Ignore him, baby. You know your Dad can be a bit... Dummy."
"HEY!" Steve protested. "She needs to listen to me. I'm the father here!"
"You're one of the fathers." Elizabeth corrected him, and Jonathan nodded along.
Steve glowered. "Don't get sassy with me, young lady—and don't encourage her, Jonathan!"
Elizabeth and Jonathan rolled their eyes once again and shared a look, mentally conveying a plan. They smirked and nodded in unison while Steve had his attention on the road.
"Fine. I'll go."
"Wait, what?" Steve was absolutely not expecting that.
Elizabeth smirked and nodded, crossing her arms and leaning back against the backseat. "Yeah, I'll go to Jacob's party! I'm gonna get drunk and smoke and use drugs..."
"H-HUH?"
"And talk to boys! Find a cute boy, talk to him, kiss him, go upstairs—"
"STOP IT!" Steve's eyes popped out like a cartoon character's. He was horrified, to say the least. Yes, he wanted Elizabeth to go to the party, but the mere thought of her doing all those things, his sweet little girl... It sent shivers down Steve's spine. Suddenly, he doesn't find parties all that good and fun anymore.
Meanwhile, Jonathan was trying really hard not to laugh.
"But, Dad!" Elizabeth feigned a petulant whine. "You said you wanted me to go to the party!"
"Not to do those things!" You're not doing anything of that! Especially the 'boys' part! And the drinking! And... Everything else too!" Steve's eyes were wide as saucers, his overprotective side taking over at full force. It was so funny and sweet. His husband can be so hard-headed, but also so protective and caring. No wonder Jonathan is still in love with him after all these years.
Elizabeth could have stopped there, having succeeded in her task, but she wanted to press a bit further. "But, Dad! I'll be careful." Elizabeth pouts and bats her eyelashes. "I promise to wear protection—"
"NO!" Steve shouted, almost loud enough to break the car's windows. He was absolutely mortified, pale as a ghost. "You are not doing anything of that, Elizabeth! Not even over my dead body!"
Jonathan discreetly put his hand behind the car seat for Elizabeth to high-five him. "Mission accomplished, baby." He mouths, winking at her.
As they got home, Steve jumped out of the car and opened the backseat, scooping Elizabeth in his arms, bridal-style, making her yelp in surprise. Steve was not taking any chances now.
Jonathan stifled little giggles at the scene. He followed after his husband inside the house, smiling at the sight of Steve acting so parental and overprotective. It's cute. It makes Jonathan feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
Steve set Elizabeth down in the living room, hands on his hips and frowning at her.
"You are not going to that party, you understand, young lady? Not that party. Not any party. And certainly no boys until you're... Until you're older than your grandma Joyce!" He said firmly. "No chance, missy! Not even over my dead, rotting corpse, Elizabeth Marie Harrington-Byers—!"
Elizabeth cuts him off by lunging forward, wrapping her arms around his torso, and burying her face in his chest. "Love you, Dad."
Steve was stunned, looking at Jonathan with the most confused expression ever as the situation took a whole 180 turn—he was just scolding her five seconds ago, and now he's getting hugs and snuggles. His expression softens after a few seconds, his heart melting. He returned the hug, holding her tightly, as if afraid she's gonna vanish into thin air if he lets go.
Jonathan watched, smiling lovingly at them. He knew Steve's tough exterior and hard head were no match for Elizabeth's cuteness. They both have a soft spot for their baby.
"I think our baby outstarmeted you, babe. Again." He smirks, placing his hand over Steve's shoulder while his other hand goes to pat Elizabeth's hair.
Steve grumbled under his breath. "Shut up, Jon." He said, a hint of fondness in his voice.
Jonathan chuckled once more. "You're too soft, babe."
"No, I'm not!"
"Yes, you are!"
"No!"
"Dads." Elizabeth sighs. Here they go again.