pairing: steve harrington x reader!herderson
summary: in the middle of the night, calling his younger brother seems like a good idea to ease the growing anguish in his chest.
warning: fifth season, explores the relationship between siblings, pregnancy, fear and anguish.
my fingers fumbled for the phone in front of me, while my eyes wandered over the window of the dark, silent room. it was the middle of the night, it must have been two or maybe three in the morning, and hadn't even closed my eyes yet, not a single yawn had escaped me, just a tug deep in my chest that was there like a constant.
i had left Steve with the other side of the bed empty, tiptoeing around the room making sure he didn't wake up.
turned my attention to the landline phone as if it were my lifeline, then with a trembling sigh I dialed the numbers I had memorized for so long.
dustin henderson, my younger brother.
ding.
ding.
felt like a dead weight on the sofa, my chest tight. dustin and i weren't at our best as brothers, but we couldn't blame him. he lost his friend, eddie, and then quarantine quickly set in. too much time at home, too much time in our own minds.
before could give up on what was doing, hang up the phone, and drag myself back to bed to watch the sunrise, the sound of his voice pulled me from my thoughts. a small, relieved smile appeared on my face in a matter of seconds.
"hello?" his voice was hoarse, and a little rough. had the agreement.
"dustin, it's me."
"...oh." it was spontaneous. could hear the slight rustling of his sheets; he was probably adjusting himself on the bed, his back hitting the headboard. "is everything alright? It's late at night."
scratched the back of my neck and nodded as if he could see, shifting on the sofa as well, holding the phone tighter against my ear. "everything's fine."
there was a silence, only our breaths could be heard, his light, mine heavy.
"how's mom?" decided to break the silence with the first thing that came to mind.
"she's fine, the quarantine somehow did her good."
A small noise escaped my lips, a kind of quiet laugh. the last time she was visited, she had crocheted cat-shaped things and even made matching outfits for the neighborhood cats. yeah, it's been good for her.
"are you okay?" dustin's voice came out almost serious, if it weren't for the sleepy tone. he was worried.
another silence settled in; fidgeting on the sofa wasn't enough anymore. wished a hole would open up and could sink in and never come out again.
since hadn't said anything, he insisted once more. "steve, did you do something?"
wrapped my fingers around the phone cord, twisting, pulling, and releasing. and again. and again.
"if he did something to you, I swear to God that—"
"no, he didn't do anything to me." interrupted him before he could get upset; his relationship with steve wasn't going well either.
"so what is it?" he was worried, but knowing dustin like the back of my hand, knew he was curious too.
without realizing it, my vision blurred and closed my eyes; it would be easier if couldn't see anything in front of me. if everything becomes pitch black.
"what if I went back home? my room is still intact, mom will surely welcome me with open arms, our routine would continue exactly as before—"
my mouth and mind couldn't control the words; just spat them out, wishing he would understand them, that could convince myself that...it could be like before.
"you're with steve. your home is with him now."
opened my eyes and regretted it instantly, because tears streamed down my face uncontrollably, my hand gripping the phone so tightly that the tips of my fingers were as white as ice.
dustin had noticed, of course he had noticed, his voice cautiously cut through the phone, "b-but you can come back whenever you want! this house will always be yours too, since, well, you were born first. but i don't understand."
with my free hand, wiped away the tears streaming down my cheeks. curled up in the small corner of the sofa, like a baby. a crybaby.
"you were so happy when you said you were moving into his house! and you've been there for months already, why now?"
maybe if went back to my old house, everything would be as it was before, everything would somehow be simpler, where the monsters and the upside down would just attack me. where would just be a girl fighting them. where would still be in high school, just a girl. like any other.
my hand dropped from my cheeks, hovering over my stomach, still couldn't believe it. didn't want to accept it yet. my fingers were just a mist over my belly – still haven't felt any sign of any bulge – never really touching it. because maybe this could end.
but knew it wouldn't.
"i'm just confused." my voice sounded broken, fragile.
"it's something new, and it's okay. You have two homes now, with people who love you." could feel dustin's tone waver a little on the 'love,' and a small smile amidst the tears shone on my face. he might have been playing the tough guy during these months, but adorable dusty would always be there.
"it's okay. i don't know what's going on there, but it's okay."
"...thank you." took a deep breath, my grip on my phone loosened slightly, mentally thanking him even more for still being there. by my side.
the call didn't last long after that. got up from the sofa and walked slowly to the bedroom.
steve was still there, sprawled out with his mouth slightly open. looked at him for a moment before stepping away from the door frame and finally entering.
the bed sank a little as my body lay down with my back to him. my gaze wandered around the room when felt a warmth and weight on my waist, so characteristic, so natural, so teve.
even asleep, he pulled me by the waist, my back pressing against his chest. couldn't see his face, but could feel his calm breath. it was as if he were missing me, even unconsciously.
one last tear fell down my face, not from anguish, not from fear. but from a possible maybe that everything would be alright. that i was home.
with a future before my eyes.
notes: i don't know why wrote that? should be studying.















