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Nancy Wheeler stood in the bathroom, vigorously scrubbing the blood from her hands- sobbing and shaking- tears staining her cheeks. How was she supposed to do this on her own? Her parents wouldn’t be out of the hospital at the very least…six months. Six months of taking care of her broken hearted brother. Six months of taking care of her sister who had been tortured by Vecna. She wasn’t a homemaker- how would she make ends meet? Nancy hadn’t even graduated high school yet, maybe she wouldn’t. The Wheeler house was in peril- where the hell would they live? Nancy let out a heartbreaking scream that turned into a cry.
Steve Harrington had been at the hospital to check on Max, she would make a full recovery- after everything with Vecna, that was such a relief. Losing El and Eddie weighed heavily on him, Steve ran a hand through his hair- almost running directly into Robin.
“Woah- slow your roll, Harrington. Talk to me.” Robin led her best friend to sit down on the bench, concerned.
“I- it’s nothing. Really. It’s just- the effects of everything. Today. The last four years.” Steve gestures vaguely around him.
“I get that.” Robin nodded her head, secretly wondering what Steve and Jonathan had talked about earlier.
“Rob, subtly isn’t your strong suit.” Steve raised a curious eyebrow.
“Okay- I’m not yelling. I guess I’m just wondering , about what you and Jonathan talked about.” Robin tried not to over explain but, she thought she did that anyway. Steve sighed, taking a hand through his hair.
“Nance.” Was all offered.
“What about Nancy?” Robin prompted, Steve needed to talk about this.
“Maybe- she’s too good for either one of us.” It was a weak excuse to his ears but, it was the only one he could come up with.
“Steve, you know that’s pure crap. You are good for Nancy, I’ve seen it all Spring. You haven’t even given her a fair chance.” Robin wanted to roll her eyes, but she didn’t.
“Robin, what if she’s better off?” Steve sighed.
“Let Nancy decide that.” Robin emphasizes her name.
“No, you’re right.” Steve sighed as the bathroom door opened, Nancy walked out and almost knocked Jonathan over.
“Jesus Christ! Would you watch out?” Nancy snapped at him, obviously agitated- Robin and Steve just watched it unfold, there was nothing they could really say.
“You stormed out of the bathroom like a bat out of hell.” Jonathan accused her.
“Really?” Nancy scowled at him.
“Sorry- I’m sorry! I wasn’t thinking. I’m used to saying the expression!” Jonathan held up his hands.
“Just- don’t slip up in front of Dustin. You’ll send him into more of an emotional free fall than he already is.” Nancy sighed, a million thoughts racing through her head.
“Jonathan- not the best talker. Is he?” Robin side glanced at Steve.
“Maybe worse than you.” Steve smirked as Robin hit his arm.
“Were you crying?” Jonathan asked, looking closer at her.
“Jonathan, I don’t cry.” Nancy scowled at him.
“Nancy, everyone cries.” Jonathan glances at Nancy.
“Jonathan, have you ever seen me cry?” Nancy questioned, crossing her arms.
“Well, no.” Jonathan had to admit.
“Then, I don’t cry. Don’t you think you would have seen me by now?” Her tone was snippy.
“She was definitely crying.” Robin blurted out.
“Never seen Nance cry.” Steve shakes his head.
“Nancy must hide it but, Jonathan is right- everyone cries. At least a couple of times in their life. With everything she’s going to have to deal with in the aftermath, I don’t doubt she is crying in secret.” Robin reasoned, which did make sense to Steve.
“You could be exactly right.” Steve nodded.
“I know I’m right, I’ve gotten to know Nancy very well throughout this whole process.” Robin was confident.
“Maybe you hide it.” Jonathan shrugged.
“Why in the world would I do that?” Nancy snapped at him, an unusual force behind her words. She slid down the wall until she was sitting on the floor, sitting on her chin on her knees as she brought them up to her chest.
“Mike- he just lost his first love. Do you have any idea what that does to a person? In such a horrific way? And Holly…she’s going to be traumatized from Vecna…for a long time. My parents are going to be here for six months, if not more- I burn microwaved pizza. How do I do this? The blood won’t come off my hands…no matter how much I scrub. I can’t sleep. The house is in shambles…I’m going to have to find some way to support us. I haven’t graduated high school yet. Fucking shit.” Nancy was in another world as she spoke, Jonathan and Robin looked at each other as Steve got up, sitting beside her and pulling her into his side- holding her head with his free hand. Nancy let out the same heart breaking noise from before in the bathroom- one Steve had never heard from Nancy before, which made him clutch her tighter.
“It’s okay- I’m here. I’m right here.” He murmured the words he’d said to her after Vecna tried to take her. Nancy clutched his shirt in her hand, needing something to hold onto- something to ground her. She knew that Steve would take care of her, no matter what talking stage they were in.