Shadow of Hawkins ~ Steve Harrington x OC
I refuse to believe this chapter is only 7k words, this one took me weeks to write and I was chopping it down thinking it was too long. I decided to make the dance a small chapter on its own so it isn’t apart of this chapter
The room falls completely silent.
Everyone — except Hopper and Maya — thought Eleven was dead.
Buried in grief and unanswered questions.
Standing in the doorway like she never left.
Mike is the first to move.
He rushes toward her like he’s afraid she’ll disappear again.
“I never gave up on you,” he says, voice shaking. “I called you every night. Every night for—”
“353 days,” Eleven says softly, cutting him off. “I heard.”
The words hit him like a wave.
His face crumples — relief, hurt, disbelief all tangled together.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were there?” he asks. “That you were okay?”
“Because I wouldn’t let her,” Hopper answers before Eleven can.
He looks at Eleven now, anger mixing with fear.
“The hell is this? Where’ve you been?”
She steps forward slightly, chin lifting.
“Where have you been?” she shoots back.
Mike turns on Hopper, fury blazing.
“You’ve been hiding her? You’ve been hiding her this whole time?!”
Hopper doesn’t respond fast enough.
“And you,” he says, voice breaking. “You knew? You didn’t tell any of us? I thought you cared about us!”
The accusation slices through her.
She just lowers her head, guilt flooding her chest.
She had protected Eleven.
But that doesn’t make it hurt less.
“Hey!” Hopper snaps, stepping between them. “Let’s talk. Alone.”
His tone leaves no room for argument.
He gestures sharply toward the hallway.
Mike glares one last time before following him.
They disappear into one of the back rooms, the door shutting hard behind them.
The rest of the group stands frozen in the aftermath.
Eleven is watching her. Not angry. Not accusing. Just… watching. Like she understands. And somehow that almost makes it worse.
Even with the door shut, they can hear Mike yelling. Muffled shouting. Hopper’s deeper voice trying to stay controlled. No one comments on it. They’re too distracted by the miracle standing in the middle of the living room. Most of them are just… happy. Relieved. Staring at Eleven like she might vanish if they blink.
“We missed you,” Lucas says first, voice softer than usual.
“We talked about you pretty much every day,” Dustin adds, grinning at her.
Eleven steps closer to Dustin and reaches her fingers toward his mouth.
“Oh!” He beams. “You like these pearls?”
He flashes an exaggerated grin and makes a weird clicking noise with his mouth.
Eleven jumps back slightly, startled.
Max steps forward carefully.
“Eleven?” she says gently. “Hey, um… I’m Max. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Eleven looks at her. Says nothing. Then, without warning, she walks past Max and straight toward Maya. Maya doesn’t hesitate. They meet in the middle of the room.
“I missed you,” they both say at the same time.
They hug tightly. Maya rests her chin on the top of Eleven’s head, holding her like she’s afraid to let go.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Maya whispers.
Eleven squeezes her once more before pulling back. Then she moves toward Joyce immediately.
Joyce’s face crumples slightly as she nods and begins explaining.
Maya stays where she is, watching. Steve steps up beside her.
“So that’s Eleven, huh?” he asks quietly.
She suddenly remembers — Steve never actually met her last year. They’d only talked about her after she disappeared. He studies Eleven curiously, like he’s trying to understand how someone so small could be responsible for so much.
The bedroom door opens. Hopper and Mike walk back into the living room. Mike’s face is red. Hopper looks exhausted.
“It’s time to come up with a new plan,” Hopper says. “Now that we’ve got her.”
“It’s not like it was before,” Hopper continues. “It’s grown. A lot. And that’s considering we can even get in there. The place is crawling with those dogs.”
“Demodogs,” Dustin corrects automatically.
Hopper stares at him. “I’m sorry, what?”
“I said, uh, Demodogs. Like Demogorgon and dogs. You put them together, it sounds pretty badass—”
Maya mentally face-palms. Again.
“How is this important right now?” Hopper snaps.
“It’s not. I’m sorry.” Dustin immediately clamps his mouth shut.
“I can do it,” Eleven says. Everyone turns to her.
“You’re not hearing me,” Hopper replies.
“I’m hearing you,” she says firmly. “I can do it.”
Silence lingers for a beat.
“Even if El can,” Mike says carefully, “there’s still another problem.”
“If the brain dies, the body dies.”
“I thought that was the whole point,” Nancy says.
“It is. But if we’re right about this — if El closes the gate and kills the mind flayer’s army…” Mike swallows. “Will’s a part of that army. Closing the gate will kill him.”
The words hang heavy in the air. Joyce’s breathing quickens.
“He likes it cold,” she mutters.
“It’s what Will kept saying to me. ‘He likes it cold.’ We keep giving it what it wants.”
Understanding slowly spreads across their faces.
“If this is a virus,” Joyce continues, “and Will’s the host, then…”
“Then we need to make the host uninhabitable,” Dustin finishes.
“So if he likes it cold…” Nancy says.
“We need to burn it out of him,” Mike says. “And we have to do it somewhere he doesn’t know this time.”
There’s a pause. Hopper’s eyes shift. So do Maya’s. They look at each other. Same thought. The cabin. Everything moves quickly after that. Too quickly.
Hopper turns to Joyce immediately, slipping into command mode.
“You take Will to the cabin,” he tells her. “You keep him there. You don’t let him see anything familiar. We burn it out of him there. I’ll take El to the lab. We close the gate.”
Joyce nods, already grabbing her keys. Jonathan is at her side instantly.
Nancy and Steve head outside to drag the old space heaters out of storage. Metal scraping against concrete echoes through the quiet night.
The house feels smaller now. More fragile.
Maya watches Hopper move around the room, issuing instructions, loading a shotgun, checking ammo. She steps toward him before he can leave.
He looks at her immediately.
“I can’t go with you,” she says quietly. “To the lab.”
He studies her face, searching for doubt.
“I’m staying here. With Steve. With the kids.”
It isn’t fear. It’s responsibility. He nods once.
No argument. No questioning. Just trust.
Steve comes back inside, slightly out of breath, brushing dirt off his hands.
“Joyce and Jonathan are getting Will in the car,” he says. “Nancy went with them.”
Maya nods. She doesn’t miss the flicker in his eyes when he says Nancy’s name — but it isn’t what it used to be. It’s complicated. But it’s not romantic.
Hopper walks over to Eleven, kneeling slightly in front of her.
“You ready?” he asks. She nods. He stands, then turns to Maya. For a second, he doesn’t say anything. He just looks at her. There’s so much he doesn’t say. ‘I should’ve protected you better. I’m proud of you. Be careful.’ He thinks. He pulls her into a tight hug instead. Maya closes her eyes and hugs him back just as tightly.
“You too, kid,” he says into her hair.
When he pulls away, his hand lingers on her shoulder for half a second longer than necessary. Then he turns. Eleven gives Maya one last look. A small nod. And then they’re gone. The door shuts behind them.
The house feels too quiet. Too empty.
Steve steps closer to Maya, lowering his voice.
“So,” he says softly, trying to lighten the tension, “guess we’re on babysitting duty.”
She lets out a shaky breath.
But neither of them feel like babysitters. They feel like the last line of defense. For five whole minutes, the house is quiet. The kind of quiet that feels temporary. Fragile.
Most of the kids are gathered in the living room, sitting stiffly, waiting for something else to go wrong. But not Dustin. Definitely not Dustin. No — he’s in the kitchen. With Steve. And they are making an alarming amount of noise. Cabinets slam. The fridge door opens and closes. Glass clinks. Maya follows the chaos. She steps into the kitchen and just stops. The fridge is wide open. Food is everywhere.
“What the hell are you doing?” she asks.
Dustin and Steve both turn toward her. Dustin looks at her like she’s the unreasonable one. Steve looks like a deer caught in headlights — clearly dragged into this against his better judgment.
“Preserving my scientific discovery,” Dustin says seriously.
Dustin continues clearing shelves out of the fridge, stacking containers on the counter without a second thought.
“Alright, it should fit now,” he declares.
Maya doesn’t even get a chance to ask what is supposed to fit. Steve disappears for half a second. He returns carrying a very dead demodog wrapped in a towel. Maya’s eyes widen.
Steve awkwardly tries to shove the thing into the now-empty fridge.
“Is this really necessary?” he mutters.
“Yes, it is, okay? This is a groundbreaking scientific discovery! We can’t just bury it like some common mammal, okay? It’s not a dog!” Dustin insists.
“All right, all right, all right,” Steve says. “But you’re explaining this to Mrs. Byers, all right? Christ. Help me out.”
“What am I supposed to do?” Dustin demands.
“All right, I got the door.”
Dustin grabs the fridge handle and forces it closed while Steve shoves the creature in the rest of the way. The door finally seals with a suctioned thud.
“Ew. Jesus…” Steve mutters, staring at the slime coating his hands.
Maya stands back, arms folded. Internally laughing. It is, objectively, disgusting. But watching Steve reluctantly assist Dustin in stuffing a monster into a fridge like it’s leftover meat is… weirdly hilarious. Steve looks up at her.
“I didn’t say anything,” she replies, biting back a smile.
Dustin points between them.
“History is going to thank me for this.”
“History is going to be confused why Mrs. Byers’ fridge smells like death,” Maya says.
Steve looks at her, then at Dustin. “She’s got a point.”
“You guys have no respect for science.”
Maya shakes her head, still smiling despite everything. For a brief moment — just a small one — it feels almost normal. Almost.
Then the house creaks. And the reminder of what’s really happening settles back in. The three of them walk back into the living room.
Max, Lucas, and Mike are already there. Mike is pacing back and forth across the room like a caged animal.
“Mike, would you just stop already?” Lucas groans, practically begging him.
“You weren’t in there, okay, Lucas?” Mike snaps. “That lab is swarming with hundreds of those dogs.”
“Demodogs!” Dustin yells immediately from behind Maya.
“The chief will take care of her,” Lucas says, trying to calm him, referring to Eleven.
“Like she needs protection,” Mike shoots back.
Steve sighs and steps forward, trying to mediate.
“Listen, dude. A coach calls a play in a game. Bottom line, you execute it. All right?”
Maya glances sideways at him. She can practically see the logic forming in his head. Hopper is the coach. They’re the players. Follow the plan. It’s actually kind of smart — Steve translating things into something he understands. Mike doesn’t appreciate it.
“Okay, first of all, this isn’t some stupid sports game,” Mike snaps. “And second, we’re not even in the game. We’re on the bench.”
“So my point is…” Steve stammers. “Right, yeah, we’re on the bench. So, uh… there’s nothing we can do.”
“That’s not entirely true,” Dustin jumps in.
“I mean, these Demodogs — they have a hive mind. When they ran away from the bus, they were called away. If we get their attention… maybe we can draw them away from the lab. Clear a path to the gate.”
Steve immediately shakes his head.
“Yeah. And then we all die.”
Maya nods slightly beside him. For once, Steve is absolutely right. Their job is to keep these kids alive. But she also understands the other side — the kids aren’t trying to be reckless. They’re trying to protect their friends.
“That’s one point of view,” Dustin shrugs.
“No,” Steve says flatly. “That’s not a point of view, man. That’s a fact.”
Suddenly Mike’s eyes light up.
Before anyone can react he sprints out of the room.
Too late. Everyone rushes after him. Mike runs straight to the wall where Will’s massive tunnel map covers the living room and dining room walls. He points to a spot.
“This is where the chief dug his hole,” Mike says quickly. “This is our way into the tunnel.”
He traces the lines on the map.
“So here — right here — this is like a hub. You got all the tunnels feeding in here. Maybe if we set this on fire—”
“Oh yeah?” Steve cuts in. “That’s a no.”
Mike ignores him completely.
“The mind flayer would call away his army. They’d all come to stop us. We circle back to the exit.”
“Guys,” Steve says louder.
“By the time they realize we’re gone… El would already be at the gate.”
Everyone finally looks at him.
“This is not happening,” Steve says firmly. “No, no, no, no, no. I promised I’d keep you shitheads safe, and that’s exactly what I plan on doing.”
He points toward the couch.
“We’re staying here. On the bench. And we’re waiting for the starting team to do their job.”
He looks each of them in the eye.
“Does everybody understand?”
Mike crosses his arms. “This isn’t a stupid sports game.”
“I said does everybody understand that?” Steve repeats, voice firm. “I need a yes.”
Before anyone can answer—
An engine suddenly revs loudly outside the house. Everyone freezes. They all turn toward the front door. Maya feels her stomach drop. Something — or someone — has arrived.
“It’s my brother. He can’t know I’m here. He’ll kill me. He’ll kill us.” Max’s voice is sharp with panic.
Then— The music outside cuts off. Silence. Heavy.
Steve and Maya look at each other. They don’t need to say anything. Same thought. Same instinct. Protect the kids. They move at the same time.
The night air is cold when they step outside. Headlights cut across the yard. Billy leans against his car like he owns the place.
“Am I dreaming,” he says, straightening slowly, “or is that you, Harrington?”
“Yeah, it’s me,” Steve replies. “Don’t cream your pants.”
Billy smirks, stepping closer.
“What are you doing here, amigo?” he asks.
Then his eyes slide to Maya.
“And you’re here with Maya Hopper… the slut of Hawkins High.”
Something in Maya tightens— But Steve snaps before she even can.
“Don’t call her that,” he says sharply. “In fact, don’t even look at her.”
Maya blinks. That… she didn’t expect.
“And I could ask you the same thing,” Steve adds. “Amigo.”
Maya can’t help the small smile that pulls at her lips.
“I’m looking for my stepsister,” he says. “A little birdie told me she was here.”
“Huh,” Steve shrugs. “That’s weird. I don’t know her.”
“Small? Redhead? Bit of a bitch?”
“Doesn’t ring a bell,” Steve says easily. “Sorry, buddy.”
Billy tilts his head, eyes narrowing.
“You know… I don’t know, this whole situation, Harrington…” he mutters. “It’s giving me the heebie-jeebies.”
Maya rolls her eyes slightly. Seriously?
“Oh yeah?” Steve says. “Why’s that?”
“My thirteen-year-old sister goes missing all day,” Billy says, stepping closer. “Then I find her with you. In a stranger’s house. And you lie to me about it.”
“Man, were you dropped too much as a child, or what?” Steve snaps. “I don’t know what you don’t understand about what I just said. She’s not here.”
Billy’s gaze flicks past them— Toward the house.
Steve doesn’t even finish the sentence before Billy shoves him hard.
“I told you to plant your feet,” Billy says coldly, stepping toward the door.
Maya moves without thinking. She plants herself right in front of him. All five feet of her.
“Out of my way.” Billy snarls
Her voice doesn’t shake. Billy looks at her like she’s nothing. Then he shoves her aside. She hits the ground hard, pain shooting up her side. The door slams behind him. For half a second, everything is still. Then—
“Shit,” she breathes, pushing herself up. She turns immediately, scrambling toward Steve.
He groans, sitting up. They look at each other—
“Are you okay?” They say it at the same time.
“I’m okay,” Maya says quickly.
But neither of them moves. For a second— They just… look at each other. Too close. Too aware. Steve’s expression softens, something unspoken flickering there. He leans in slightly— Like he’s about to do something he hasn’t thought through. Maya doesn’t even realize what’s happening. She just reacts.
She stands abruptly breaking the moment.
“We should get in there and help them,” she says quickly, reaching her hand out to him.
Steve blinks, snapping back to reality.
“Yeah,” he mutters, taking her hand.
She pulls him up. And just like that— The moment is gone. They both turn toward the house—Where chaos is already unfolding inside. They burst back inside and everything is already chaos. Billy has the kids backed into the corner of the living room.
“You’re so dead, Sinclair! You’re dead!” he yells.
“No,” Steve’s voice cuts through sharp and sudden. “You are.”
He steps forward and swings. His fist connects hard with Billy’s face. Billy stumbles, letting out a low groan.
“Steve!” Maya and Dustin shout at the same time.
Billy hunches over for a second— Then he starts laughing.
“Looks like you got some fire in you after all, huh?” he mutters. “I’ve been waiting to meet this King Steve everybody’s been telling me so much about.”
“Get out,” he says, stepping right into Billy’s space.
“Yes! Kick his ass, Steve!” Dustin yells from behind them.
“Murder the son of a bitch!” Dustin shouts.
Maya barely registers the noise. Everything is moving too fast. Billy swings. Steve blocks, barely. The fight explodes. Fists. Shoving. Crashing into furniture. The sound of something breaking. Maya’s heart is in her throat. Then— CRACK. Billy smashes a plate over Steve’s head.
And that’s it. She doesn’t think. She just moves. She lunges into the fight. Grabbing. Pulling. Trying to get Billy off him. It barely makes a difference. Billy doesn’t hesitate. He shoves her hard, striking back just as easily as he does Steve. The fight spills from the kitchen into the living room. All three of them tangled in it.
“Holy shit!” Mike shouts.
Billy gets Steve down. Pins him. Punch after punch— Steve’s head snaps back. Again. Again. Maya’s chest tightens in panic. She throws herself onto Billy’s back, trying to drag him off.
“Get off him!” she shouts.
It’s not enough. Not even close. Steve’s body goes slack. A horrible sound leaves his chest and then nothing.
“You’re gonna kill him!” Dustin yells.
Billy reaches back, Grabs Maya and throws her off him like she weighs nothing. She hits the ground hard, air knocked from her lungs. Pain radiates through her side, her arms, everywhere. She tries to push herself up but she can’t. Everything feels heavy. Distant. Billy stands over them. Breathing hard.
“No one tells me what to do!” he snaps.
Maya blinks, trying to focus. Steve isn’t moving. Panic spikes through her. Then— A movement behind Billy. Max. She steps forward. And jabs a syringe straight into his neck. Billy freezes.
“The hell is this?” he slurs.
“You little shit—what did you do? What did you do?!”
His body starts to shake.
The sedative kicks in fast. Billy stumbles and drops to the floor. Max doesn’t hesitate. She grabs the nail bat. Raises it. For a second, it looks like she might actually swing.
“From here on out,” she says, voice shaking but strong, “you leave me and my friends alone. Do you understand?”
Max slams the bat down into the floor between his legs. The sound echoes through the room.
“Say you understand!” she screams. “Say it! Say it!”
Then he goes limp. Unconscious. The bat clatters from Max’s hands. Silence.
“Let’s get out of here,” she says.
Maya groans from the floor. Pain pulses through her body, but she forces herself to move. To sit up. To breathe. Her head spins—but her mind is clear. They’re not stopping. She can’t stop them. And part of her… doesn’t want to. She looks over at Steve. Still. Unconscious. Her chest tightens.
“Steve…” she whispers, crawling toward him despite the pain.
She reaches him, shaking slightly, brushing hair back from his face with trembling fingers.
“Come on… don’t do this right now,” she mutters under her breath.
Behind her, the kids are already moving. Getting ready. Following the plan. Maya swallows hard. She’s in pain. She’s exhausted. She should stay here. She should rest. But she won’t. Not when they’re all walking straight into danger. Not when Steve is down. Not when this isn’t over. She presses a hand to the floor and slowly, painfully starts to push herself up.
“Give me a second…” she breathes.
Because whether she’s ready or not, She’s going with them. Maya refuses to leave Steve behind. There’s no argument, not really. The second someone suggests it, she shuts it down.
“We are not leaving him here,” she says, firm despite the pain in her voice. “Not with Billy. Not like this.”
The kids hesitate but they listen. Together, they haul Steve into the backseat.
“Wait,” Maya says once they’re all in. “Steve and I aren’t in any condition to drive. We can’t go anywhere.”
“I can drive,” Max says from the front.
Maya immediately shakes her head.
“I don’t agree with that—”
Too late. They’re already moving. Max and Lucas in the front. Mike, Dustin, Maya, and Steve crammed into the back. Steve is sprawled across all of them, unconscious weight pressing into Maya’s side. Every bump in the road sends pain shooting through her. She doesn’t complain. She just holds onto him.
About halfway there Steve stirs.
“Nancy?” he mumbles, barely conscious.
Maya freezes. Her chest tightens sharply. That one word. It cuts deeper than anything else tonight. Because she’s right here. Holding his hand. Making sure he’s breathing. And he still says her name. She swallows hard, pushing the feeling down. This is not the time.
Steve groans, reaching for his face.
“No, don’t touch it,” Dustin says quickly. “Hey, buddy… it’s okay. You put up a good fight. He kicked your ass, but you put up a fight. You’re okay.”
Steve exhales shakily. Then everything clicks back into place.
“Maya!?” he blurts suddenly, panic cutting through the fog. “Is she okay?!”
Maya squeezes his hand tighter.
“I’m right here,” she says softly. “I’m alright.”
He exhales, tension leaving him just a little.
“You’re gonna keep straight for half a mile, then make a left on Mount Sinai,” Lucas says.
Steve frowns. “What’s going on?”
Then he looks up. Sees Max driving.
Maya almost laughs despite everything.
The kids immediately start arguing—Max defending herself, Lucas giving directions, Dustin chiming in—
Maya tunes it out. She focuses on Steve.
“It’s okay,” she says quietly. “Just breathe.”
“They were gonna leave you behind,” Dustin adds.
“Yeah,” Maya says, still holding Steve’s hand. “And I wouldn’t let that happen.”
Steve looks at her for a second, really looks, but the moment is broken by chaos again.
“Oh, my God!” he shouts. “Whoa, whoa, whoa—what’s going on?! Stop the car! Slow down!”
“Everybody shut up! I’m trying to focus!” Max yells.
“Oh, wait, that’s Mount Sinai. Make a left,” Lucas says.
The car swerves hard. Everyone in the backseat slams together. An elbow drives straight into Maya’s side. She cries out sharply. Pain explodes through her.
“Whoa!” Dustin yells as the car jerks to a stop.
“I told you,” Max says. “Zoomer.”
Steve and Maya both groan.
They all pile out of the car. Except Maya. She stays in her seat, one hand clutched tightly to her side, breathing shallow. Outside, the others are already moving. Getting ready. Talking. Planning. She closes her eyes for a second. Just one second. Trying to steady herself. The door suddenly opens. A hand gently cups her face, lifting it.
“Are you okay? What’s wrong?”
She leans into him immediately, pressing her face into his chest. He rests his head lightly against hers.
“I feel like I can’t move,” she admits quietly.
His eyes drop to where her hand is gripping her side.
“Show me,” he says softly.
She hesitates, then slowly lifts her shirt. A deep, angry bruise spreads across her ribs. Steve’s expression tightens just for a second before he smooths it over.
“It’s not that bad,” he lies gently.
Maya knows he’s lying. She can feel it.
“You’re not coming with us,” he says.
“I’m not letting you take care of those kids yourself,” she shoots back. “We promised.”
“You’re in too much pain.”
“Steve,” she says, pushing herself up despite the protest in her body, “I’m going.”
She steps out of the car, unsteady but determined.
“We are the babysitters. It’s our job.”
He watches her for a second then follows. Because he knows he’s not going to win that argument.
Dustin steps in front of Steve, handing him the nail bat.
“Steve, you’re upset, I get it,” he says seriously. “But the bottom line is, a party member requires assistance. And it is our duty to provide that assistance.”
Dustin continues, unwavering. “I know you promised Nance that you would keep us safe. So… keep us safe.”
Steve grips the bat. Nods once.
One by one, they climb down into the tunnel. Maya last. Slow. Careful. Every movement hurts.
“Holy shit,” Steve whispers once they’re all down there.
“Yeah,” Mike says. “I’m pretty sure it’s this way.”
“You’re pretty sure, or you’re certain?” Dustin asks.
“I’m 100% sure. Just follow me and you’ll know.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa—hey, hey, hey,” Steve cuts in, stepping forward. “I don’t think so.”
“Any of you little shits die down here, I’m getting the blame. Got it, dipshit? From here on out, I’m leading the way.”
And just like that He takes charge. They start moving. Slowly. Carefully. Steve stays close to Maya, one arm steadying her, letting her lean on him like a crutch. She doesn’t argue this time. Doesn’t pretend she’s fine. Because she isn’t. But she’s still here. Still walking. Still fighting. And neither of them are letting the other fall.
The kids move through the tunnels with a mix of awe and pure disgust. The walls pulse faintly. Wet. Alive. Breathing.
“Guys, come on. Keep moving,” Steve says, voice low but firm.
They keep going. Step after step. The air gets thicker. Hotter. Harder to breathe.
“Shit! Help! Help! Help!”
They all rush back. Steve pushes past everyone, moving first, faster.
“What happened?” he demands, crouching beside him.
Dustin is freaking out, wiping at his face.
“It’s in my mouth! Some got on my mouth! Shit!”
There’s a beat. Steve just stares at him.
“You serious?” he says flatly. “Very funny, man. Nice. Very nice.”
He stands, shaking his head.
“Jesus, what an idiot,” he mutters, already walking off.
Maya follows him, a small huff of breath leaving her despite everything. The others fall back in line behind them.
The tunnels seem endless. Twisting. Closing in. And with every step Maya feels worse. Her side burns. Every breath sharp. Every movement heavier than the last. But she keeps going. She doesn’t say anything. Doesn’t slow them down. Steve notices. Of course he does. He keeps glancing back at her, checking. Making sure she’s still there. Still standing. Every time their eyes meet, she gives him a small nod. I’m okay. Even when she isn’t.
Eventually The tunnel opens up. An alcove. Branches splitting off in every direction like roots. Steve looks around.
“All right, Wheeler,” he says. “I think we found your hub.”
Mike steps forward immediately.
They move fast. Pouring gasoline over the walls, the floor, the thick, pulsing vines. The smell is overwhelming. Sharp. Dangerous.
Once it’s done, they all retreat back into the tunnel they came from, crowding together. Too close. Too tense. Waiting.
“Light her up,” Dustin says.
Steve flicks the lighter once— twice— then tosses it. It lands. Then fire erupts. It spreads fast. Hungry. Crawling along the tunnels like it’s alive. Steve stares at it for half a second, then exhales.
“I am in such deep shit.”
Maya can’t help it, She smiles. Even now. Even here.
Then Steve snaps back into action.
He starts pushing them forward.
The fire roars behind them. The tunnels react. Shaking. Screeching. Alive. They run. Or at least— They try to.
Maya stumbles, pain flaring violently through her side. Steve is there instantly.
“Hey—hey—come on,” he says, grabbing her, keeping her upright.
She leans into him without arguing now. No pretending. Just surviving.
The kids rush ahead, panic fueling them. Behind them The fire spreads faster. The tunnels scream. And whatever lives inside them, Feels it.
They reach the spot where Dustin fell And stop dead. A Demodog blocks the path. Low. Growling. Tense. It steps forward slightly And the light catches it. Yellow markings.
“Shh. Stop,” Dustin whispers.
“Dustin, get back,” Max says immediately.
Before anyone can stop him, He steps forward. Alone. Maya’s breath catches.
“Dustin…” she whispers under her breath.
Steve tenses beside her, ready to grab him if this goes wrong.
“Hey,” Dustin says softly. “It’s me. It’s me. It’s just your friend. It’s Dustin, all right? You remember me?”
Dart snarls. Everyone flinches.
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry,” Dustin rushes. “I’m sorry about the storm cellar. That was a pretty douchey thing to do.”
No one moves. No one breathes.
“He’s insane,” Lucas mutters.
“Shut up,” Steve snaps quietly, eyes locked on Dart.
Don’t spook it. Don’t ruin this.
Dustin slowly pulls something from his pocket.
“I’ve got our favorite,” he says gently. “See? Nougat. Look at that. Yummy.”
“Here, all right? Eat up, buddy. Come on… come on.”
He tosses the chocolate bar. It lands. Dart pauses. Sniffs. Eats.
The tension breaks just slightly. Dustin steps back slowly.
Steve doesn’t waste a second.
“Let’s go, let’s go!” he urges, waving everyone forward.
They move. Fast. Careful.
Growling. Not just one. Many. Behind them.
“They’re coming!” Mike shouts. “Run! Run!”
They run. No hesitation now. No holding back.
Steve and Maya fall to the back of the group automatically. Protecting. Watching. Making sure every kid gets out first. Maya’s side screams with every step. Her breathing turns uneven but she doesn’t stop. She won’t stop.
“There! There!” Lucas shouts.
Steve grabs it, shoving the kids toward it.
One by one, They climb. Hands grabbing. Feet scrambling.
“Come on! Hurry up!” voices overlap, panicked and loud.
Maya braces herself against the wall, trying to stay upright. The sounds behind them get closer. Louder. Too close.
Soon,It’s just three of them left.
“Oh, shit,” Dustin breathes.
Steve grabs him, trying to push him up.
“No!” Dustin clings to the rope. “I’m not leaving you!”
The screeching is right there now. Around the bend. Seconds away. There’s no more time. No more options.
Steve looks at Maya. Maya looks at him. And then, They both pull Dustin in. The three of them wrap around each other. Holding tight. Waiting For it to end. Maya squeezes her eyes shut, pressing into Steve.
But then. Nothing. No impact. No pain. The sounds rush past them.
They open their eyes. The Demodogs don’t stop. They run straight past. Like they aren’t even there. Like something else matters more. The three of them just stare. Breathing hard. Alive.
“Go,” Steve says, voice shaky. “Go, go, go.”
This time Dustin climbs. Fast. Then Maya. Slower. Every movement hurts, but she forces herself up. Steve right behind her.
Cold air. Real air. Silence. The good kind. They made it. They all made it. Maya stands there for a second, trying to process it. Everyone’s alive. Then she looks at Steve. Wow. He didn’t die. A shaky breath leaves her.
She walks straight over to him and hugs him. Tight. No hesitation. No holding back. Steve freezes. Hands hovering awkwardly in the air. Surprised. Eventually. He melts into it. Wrapping his arms around her. Pulling her close. Resting his head gently against hers. Neither of them move. For a moment. Everything else disappears. No monsters. No fear. Just this. Just them. They stay like that longer than they should. Not long enough. Maya finally exhales softly.
“I need to go to Eddie’s,” she says quietly, still holding onto him.
Steve stills. Just slightly. Like something cracks. After everything, That’s where she wants to go.
“I need to see Dani,” she adds, barely above a whisper.
And it clicks. Of course. Her daughter. Steve’s grip softens. His thoughts settle.
“Hey…” he says gently. “How about we take the kids back to the Byers’ first—”
He pulls back just enough to look at her.
“Then I’ll take you to get her. We can grab your car too—get the car seat.”
Maya nods against his chest. A tear slips down her cheek. She doesn’t wipe it away.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
And for once She lets herself lean on him. Just a little longer.
The drive back to the Byers’ house is quieter this time. Not silent—but quieter. The adrenaline is wearing off, leaving behind exhaustion, shaky breaths, and the kind of silence that comes after something you don’t fully know how to process yet. The kids talk in small bursts—Dustin rambling about Dart, Lucas arguing back, Max chiming in—but it’s softer now. Like they’re all running on empty.
Maya sits in the passenger seat, her head resting lightly against the window. Every bump in the road sends a dull ache through her side, but she ignores it. Steve drives beside her, one hand on the wheel, the other occasionally hovering near her arm like he wants to check she’s still there—but doesn’t quite know how.
When they pull up to the Byers’ house, the porch light is still on. Safe. Steve parks, and the kids pile out, slower this time. No rushing. No shouting. Just tired relief.
“Everyone inside,” Steve says, slipping back into that protective tone like second nature. “Go, go.”
They listen. Maya watches them go, making sure each one gets through the door before she even thinks about moving. Old habits. Protective instincts. She doesn’t realize Steve is doing the exact same thing beside her. When the last kid disappears inside, she exhales.
“They’re okay,” Steve says quietly.
“Yeah,” she nods. “They are.”
Then she turns to him. “Eddie’s.”
Steve nods immediately, already reaching to start the car again. “Yeah.”
The second drive is even quieter. No kids. No chaos. Just the low hum of the engine and the soft glow of passing streetlights. Maya feels heavier now. The adrenaline is completely gone, replaced by exhaustion and the lingering pain in her side. She keeps her arms folded loosely over herself, like she’s holding everything together.
Steve glances at her a few times.
“You sure you’re okay?” he asks finally.
She nods, even though it’s not entirely true. “I just… need to see her.”
“That’s fair,” he says softly.
He doesn’t push. He just drives.
They pull up outside Eddie’s trailer, the place quiet and dim. Maya is already unbuckling her seatbelt before the car fully stops.
“I’ll be right back,” she says.
Steve nods. “Take your time.”
She hesitates for half a second—like she might say something more—but then she just gives him a small, grateful look and heads inside.
The trailer is warm. Softly lit. Quiet.
The second Maya steps in, the familiar smell hits her—home, in a way she didn’t expect to miss this much.
Eddie is sitting on the couch, exactly where she half-expected him to be. A blanket draped over his lap, one hand resting protectively over Dani, who’s curled against his chest, fast asleep.
He looks up the moment the door closes.
“Maya—” he starts, immediately sitting up straighter. “Jesus, I was—”
He had t seen her in days. He stops when he really looks at her. The bruises. The exhaustion. The way she’s holding herself.
His expression shifts instantly. “What happened?”
Maya doesn’t answer right away. She just walks over, slow and careful, like if she moves too fast everything might fall apart.
“Is she okay?” she asks quietly, eyes already on Dani.
Eddie softens immediately, glancing down at the baby. “Yeah. Yeah, she’s good. Slept most of the night, every night. Ate like a champ.” He gives a small, relieved smile. “Didn’t even cry.”
Maya lets out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.
“Can I—?” she asks, gesturing gently.
“Yeah, of course,” Eddie says, already carefully shifting Dani into her arms.
The moment Dani is against her, Maya melts.
She pulls her close—too close, almost—burying her face into her hair, holding her like she needs to prove she’s real, that she’s safe, that she’s here.
Dani stirs slightly but doesn’t wake.
And just like that, everything else—the tunnels, the fear, the fighting, the pain—fades into the background.
“She’s okay,” Maya whispers, more to herself than anyone else.
Eddie watches her carefully.
“You’re not,” he says gently.
Maya lets out a small, breathless laugh. “I will be.”
He stands, stepping closer, his voice quieter now. “Did someone do this to you?”
She shakes her head. “Just… a lot of things at once.”
He doesn’t look convinced—but he doesn’t push.
Instead, he reaches out, hesitating just slightly before brushing his fingers carefully along her arm. “You scared me,” he admits.
Maya looks up at him then.
“Don’t be,” he says quickly. “Not for that.”
There’s a beat. Then Eddie glances toward the door. “You didn’t walk here, did you?”
There’s a flicker of something in Eddie’s expression—something quick and unreadable but it’s gone just as fast.
“Of course he did,” Eddie says, nodding once. Not bitter. Just… acknowledging.
Maya adjusts Dani slightly in her arms, still holding her close.
“I should probably get her home,” she says softly.
Eddie nods, but there’s a quiet reluctance there. “Yeah. Yeah, okay.”
He grabs the small bag Maya left earlier, handing it to her without being asked.
“She’s got everything in there,” he says. “Bottles, blanket… the shirt I got her too.”
Maya smiles faintly. “The Hellfire one?”
“Obviously,” he says, a hint of his usual grin returning. “Gotta represent.”
She laughs softly—tired, but real.
“Thank you,” she says, meeting his eyes.
“For… this,” she gestures between him and Dani. “For taking care of her.”
Eddie shrugs, suddenly a little shy again. “Anytime, I mean, I am her dad, it was nice just being the two of us for a while, hasn’t really happened before, it’s usually the three of us.”
Maya lingers for just a second longer. Then she turns and heads for the door, Dani still held tightly against her chest.
When she steps outside, Steve is still there. Leaning against the car. Waiting. He straightens immediately when he sees her and then his shoulders visibly relax when he spots Dani safe in her arms.
“Hey.” Maya walks over, adjusting Dani slightly as she reaches the car.
Steve opens the door for her without a word. She pauses before getting in.
“Thank you,” she says quietly.
He shrugs a little. “Told you I’d get you here.”
She gives him a small, tired smile—and this time, it lingers just a little longer. Then she gets in the car, Dani safe in her arms. And for the first time all night, Maya finally feels like she can breathe.
Steve drives to the cabin. The drive quiet, no words spoken, none need to be said.
Steve looks towards Maya. She is still awake, just holding tightly onto Dani in her arms. They didn’t end up picking up her car but they figured if they got pulled over then well her dad is the chief of police he’ll deal with it.
Maya directs him down the dirt road to the cabin and he pulls up outside.
“You ok to get out or do you need help?” He asks her
“I’m ok” she says “do you want to come in?” She asks quietly.
Steve begins nodding, his mouth not able to move in that moment until a quiet yeah escapes his lips.
He jumps out and runs to her door before she can even open it and grabs Dani from her so she can get out, once she’s out he hands Dani back to her knowing she’s not going to want to let go, especially after what they had all been through and the fact the she hadn’t seen her for a few days.
Maya opens the front door with one arm. Hopper and eleven not home yet. She walks to her room and Steve follows behind her.
She lays down on her bed with Dani still held close. She gestures her head to Steve and tells him to join her.
He stands at the door hesitant. Did she just ask him to get into bed with her?
He slowly makes his way to her bed and lays down. He wraps his arm over the two girls hesitantly.
“Steve” maya says sternly “just hold me” she adds
He gets the all clear and holds them both tighter.
It’s not like they are doing anything wrong. They aren’t under the covers together and her bedroom door is still open so that if hopper gets home he doesn’t go crazy. Well last not as crazy as he would if she had a boy in her bed with the door closed.
They both fall asleep. The baby laying between them.
The cabin is quiet when they arrive. Too quiet.
Hopper pushes the door open slowly, Eleven just behind him, both of them still carrying the weight of everything they’d just done—the gate, the heat, Will screaming—
—but it all fades the second Hopper’s eyes land down the hallway.
A sliver of warm light spilling out.
He frowns, noticing the unfamiliar car outside finally clicking into place in his mind. His grip tightens for half a second—protective instinct kicking in—but he doesn’t rush.
He reaches the door and nudges it open just enough to see inside
Maya is asleep on her bed.
Dani tucked safely against her chest.
Steve Harrington is right there beside them.
One arm wrapped around both of them like it’s the most natural thing in the world. His head tilted slightly toward Maya’s, his body angled protectively without even realizing it. Still asleep. Still there.
Not moving. Not taking advantage. Not anything.
Hopper watches for a long moment.
There’s a dozen reactions he could have.
Drag Steve out by the collar.
Make a whole speech about doors and daughters and teenage boys.
Because what he actually sees isn’t trouble.
Maya—his little girl, who hasn’t really been a little girl in a long time—is finally sleeping without tension in her face. No stress. No fear. No weight pressing down on her.
The kid looks like he’d take on the whole world for them.
Behind him, Eleven lingers in the hallway, watching silently.
She tilts her head slightly, studying the scene the same way Hopper is—but without all the complicated thoughts. To her, it’s simple.
“They’re safe,” she says softly.
Hopper glances back at her.
“…Yeah,” he mutters. “They are.”
He steps forward just enough to gently pull the door in closed a little—
Leaving it open three inches.
I really love the end of this chapter. Their little moments 🥰
I thought about their first kiss being in the tunnel when they think they’re going to die, but I’ve also thought about it happening in so many other places so I don’t know when it will be. I also don’t want it to drag out too much longer. What do you guys think?
