Work Text:
Steve parks up at the drive away to Y/N Byers house. He sees her and El on the porch swing hugging with tears in their eyes. She softly kisses El on the forehead as Will walks out calling her to come inside...seeing Will who just looked like he stopped crying. Y/N looks up with a forced smile running down the porch to Steve as he gets out of his care concerned and slightly scared.
"Hey..."
She took a deep breath, her voice barely above a whisper, eyes glossy. "Y/N?"
His brows pulled together instantly as he stepped closer. “What's wrong? Why are you and El crying?"
His voice softened, panic already creeping in.
She swallowed hard, her hands shaking slightly. "Mom... she's... we're moving."
"What? Where? To Mike's place?" He let out a short, nervous laugh, like he was hoping praying it was a joke.
"Lenora.." She looked down, avoiding his eyes.
"Where is that?" He was already shaking his head, like he didn't want the answer.
"California.." Her voice cracked at the end.
"What? Why?" His tone sharpened, frustration mixing with fear. "Why would you? why would she?"
"Steve, really? We lost Hopper... Will and El are a mess...
She wiped at her face, shaking her head. "It's not safe to be here with them anymore."
Steve exhaled hard, running a hand through his hair, pacing once like he was trying to think of literally anything to stop this. "Then don't go." He blurted it out, turning back to her. "Move in with me."
"Steve..." She looked up at him, caught off guard.
"No, I'm serious." He stepped closer, voice urgent. Grabbing her hands together to his chest. "You can take the spare room...hell, you can take my room, I don't care. I'll figure something out."
He gestured wildly, already planning it in his head. "It'll take some convincing, yeah, but we can make it work. I can drive you to Lenora, like, once a month or something every week if you want—
"Steve..." She reached for his arm, stopping him.
He froze, looking at her like everything depended on what she said next.
"I can't leave my family behind... especially Mom and El." Her voice softened, breaking a little.
Steve's expression fell, his shoulders dropping as the reality finally hit. "God... this is really happening.." He looked away for a second, jaw tightening. "When are you leaving?"
She took a shaky breath. "In a week..."
"I'll be up for the summer! Or-you could come over for the summer!"
Steve let out a small, disbelieving huff, shaking his head. "Y/N... it's only September."
His voice was softer now, but heavier. "I know..."
She pressed her lips together, trying not to cry again. “It's so damn unfair..."
She looked back at him, eyes searching. “Will you wait for me?"
Steve didn't answer right away. He just looked at her really looked at her like he was trying to memorize every detail.
Then he stepped closer, gently taking her hands. "Y/N... it took me..."
He let out a small, breathy laugh.
"...and a demogorgon attack with a baseball bat full of nails...a busted up face...and to be trapped in a secret Russian elevator..." his thumb brushed over her knuckles...to figure out how to tell you how much I love you."
His voice was steady now, no hesitation. “I will wait. He swallowed, eyes soft. “I'll wait as long as it takes."
"Oh, Steve..." She exhaled shakily, stepping into him. "I love you so much."
He pulled her in, one hand coming up to cradle her face, his thumb brushing gently under her eye where tears had fallen. For a moment, he just looked at her really looked like he was trying to hold onto this exact version of her forever.
Then he leaned in.
The kiss was soft at first... hesitant, like he was afraid if he moved too fast, she might disappear. But she kissed him back immediately, gripping his shirt tightly, like this right here was the only thing keeping her grounded. It deepened, still gentle, still careful, more of a promise than anything else. Something unspoken, something that didn't need words.
When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested together, both of them a little breathless. Steve let out a shaky exhale, his hand still holding her face like he couldn't quite let go. She quietly cried into his chest, slowly brushing the back of her hair with his palm, "I mean it... I'm not going anywhere."
And this time, when he pulled her back into him for another kiss, it was tighter, stronger, like he was trying to memorise exactly how it felt to hold her... before he had to let her go.