-Steve harrington throws a party just for you, yet you could care less
VECNA'S CURSE
-you get cursed by Vecna and Stevie Nicks is the only one who can save you.
COME BACK TO ME
-you’ve been in a coma for months after being cursed by Vecna, but Steve never gives up on you. He talks to you every day, sharing his life and his heart
BATHROOM BREAK
-high school is messy, but Steve makes it feel like it’s just the two of you.
FAMILY DINNER
-Steve survives dinner with your family
DEAD VAN
-a dead van and Steve Harrington make a cold night feel like high school all over again.
IMPORTANT CAPTIAN STUFF +18
-Steve's "important captain stuff" gets interrupted by a very confused Robin. What was supposed to be a quick finish in the backroom turns into a mall-wide embarrassment.
TOO BIG +18
-You and Robin are having a conversation where you confess your boyfriend’s… thing is too big
LEFT BEHIND
-the Upside Down took everything Steve harrington loved… or did it?
I GET WET AT THE THOUGHT OF YOU +18
-your dad gives you and Steve one rule to stay five feet apart at all costs, but you don’t hear his car pull into the driveway.
COACH STEVE +18
-you and the baseball coach fuck against your desk
FAKE DREAMS
-steve didn’t know he still loved you… not until you were gone, and now you only exist in his dreams.
FAMILY KIDNAPPERS
-your boyfriend kidnaps your family, and you come back at the wrong time.
In which your boyfriend kidnaps your family, and you come back at the wrong time.
warnings: cursing
“Woah, wait, wait,” Steve says, stopping short. “Vecna wants Derek Turnbow? As in my girlfriend’s little brother?”
“The one and only,” Robin replies.
“Whole family’s a menace,” Lucas mutters, already regretting it.
Steve freezes. Slowly, he turns, eyes narrowing. “Excuse me?”
Lucas’s face drains of color. “Wait. Shit. I—uh—I forgot.”
Steve crosses his arms, his stare sharp enough to cut. “Yeah. Maybe try remembering next time, genius.”
Lucas rubs the back of his neck, awkward and guilty. “Right. Sorry. Totally forgot she’s… you know… part of it.”
Steve exhales hard, dragging a hand through his hair. Lucas’s words barely register. All he can think about is you. About how close this puts you to danger. How unfair it is.
You weren’t like your family. Not even close. You were warm, steady, easy to be around. The one person in Hawkins he wanted nowhere near this mess.
“Guys, stop,” Nancy says, firm. “We need to focus. Steve, we need your help. You’re the only one who can get close enough. You need to go in there.”
Steve lets out a sharp, humorless laugh and starts pacing. “And do what? Knock everyone out? Including my girlfriend?”
His voice cracks despite his attempt to keep it together. “Let me remind you, she doesn’t know any of this. No gates. No monsters. No Vecna. Nothing.”
He freezes mid-step. “Shit,” he mutters.
“She’s not even home tonight,” he adds, quieter now.
The room falls silent.
“She’s at a sleepover,” Steve continues, shaking his head. “She called me earlier. So it makes zero sense for me to just show up at the Turnbows’.”
Will frowns. “Wait… isn’t Lucas’s sister friends with Tina?”
Robin blinks. “Who’s Tina?”
Steve gives her a look. “My girlfriend’s sister. You’ve seen her, like, a million times.”
“Ohhh,” Robin says, grinning. “The little evil girl.”
“Hey,” Steve snaps. “Tina is… nice if you get to know her.”
“Yeah, sure… nice,” Lucas scoffs. “She’d kill a million puppies just to make a fur coat.”
“Hey!” Steve fires back. “I got an idea,” Robin suddenly says cutting Steve off, sitting up straighter. “But we’ll need Erica.”
This was supposed to be a fun night.
A sleepover. Snacks. Movies. No drama.
You sat on the floor with a blanket wrapped around your shoulders when your friend nudged you, smirking.
“So,” she teased, “Steve’s parents cut him off? Guess even Harrington money can’t fix everything.”
Your stomach dropped.
“That’s not funny,” you said, low and firm.
She laughed. “Relax. I’m joking.”
“No,” you snapped, standing. “Don’t talk about him. You don’t get to make fun of that.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re overreacting.”
“Overreacting?” You stepped closer. “I’m not sitting here while you joke about something like that. It’s mean.”
She opened her mouth, but you shook your head. “I thought tonight was supposed to be fun.”
You grabbed your blanket, your bag, every snack you’d brought, and headed for the door.
“Where are you going?” she called, panic creeping in.
“Home.”
“You’re overreacting!” she shouted after you.
The walk back felt endless. Your bag was heavy, but it wasn’t the weight of your things. It was the anger still burning in your chest. The guilt for trusting her with something that wasn’t hers to joke about.
“God, you’re stupid,” you muttered to yourself.
When you reached your house, you stopped cold.
Steve’s BMW sat in the driveway. A massive antenna stretched from the top, something you had never seen before.
“What the hell…?” you whispered.
The car was empty.
Then you looked at the house.
Every light was on. Shadows moved inside.
Your heart kicked painfully against your ribs.
For a split second, you considered turning around. Going back. Pretending you hadn’t seen anything.
But you didn’t.
“Steve?” you called softly, your voice shaking. “Is that you?”
No answer. Just noise.
The house didn’t feel safe anymore.
“I can’t believe I just helped take my girlfriend’s family,” Steve mutters, pacing in tight circles. He drags his hands down his face, fingers catching in his hair like he’s trying to pull himself out of this nightmare. “What the hell am I even doing? How did it get this far?”
Nancy steps closer, steady despite the tension crackling in the room. “Steve. I know this feels wrong. But we don’t have a choice. We’re doing this to stop something worse.”
Steve shakes his head. “to stop something worse? this is worse she could breakup with me!” His voice sharpens.
Nancy places a hand on his shoulder. “I get it. But right now, we’re the only ones who can stop what’s coming. We have to think bigger than ourselves.”
He exhales shakily. “I just don’t want anyone hurt. Especially her.”
“No one will,” Nancy says, firm. “Not if we do this right.”
Dustin shoves a chainsaw into Steve’s hands. “Here. Cut the floor open.”
Steve stares at it like it might bite him. “This is insane. Absolutely insane.”
Still, he flips the switch.
The chainsaw roars to life, deafening in the quiet house. He follows the outline they’d marked, jaw clenched, heart racing. The moment he finishes, the floor collapses inward, crashing into the basement below and sending wine bottles shattering.
They move fast. Too fast. Rug back in place. Staples biting into the edges. Evidence hidden just barely enough.
Then the front door opens.
Steve’s blood turns to ice.
And then he hears you.
“Steve?” you call softly. “Is that you?”
Jonathan leans close, whispering, “I thought you said she was at a sleepover.”
“I thought she was,” Steve whispers back, panic flooding his chest. “I didn’t know she’d come back this early.”
Your footsteps get closer.
One wrong move and you’ll see everything. The chainsaw. The basement. The truth.
“Stay calm,” Steve mutters to himself. “We can fix this. We just need to—”
“Steve?” you call again. “I saw your car. I know you’re here.”
You step into the living room.
The mess hits you instantly. Chairs knocked over. Scratches in the walls. Things scattered like a storm tore through.
And then you see him.
Steve stands there, pale and wide-eyed. Hair a mess. Hands shaking. Like he’s already bracing for impact.
“Steve…” Your voice tightens. “What the hell happened here?”
Before he can answer, voices carry up from the basement.
“Everything’s done!” Mike calls.
“Yeah,” Lucas adds. “We’re ready to kill that fucker.”
Your stomach drops.
Your eyes fall to the rug. The basement beneath it. The sounds coming from below.
“What?” you whisper. “Who is down there?”
Steve’s face crumples. He opens his mouth, then closes it. Whatever this is, it’s going to hurt.
“Why is my house wrecked?” you demand, voice shaking. “Who is in my basement?”
You step closer. “Where’s my family?” Panic rises fast. “Steve, where are they?”
He swallows hard, unable to meet your eyes. “Baby,” he stammers, voice breaking, “I’m so, so sorry.”
He looks helplessly to Nancy and Robin.
“We… need to tell you something,” Nancy says, tight.
“Tell me what?!” you shout. “What is going on? Why is everyone here? Why is my house destroyed, and where is my family?”
“Just listen,” Robin rushes out. “It’s about something dangerous. He—your brother—he’s in trouble.”
Your head snaps toward her. “What? My brother? What are you talking about?”
Before anyone can answer, the lights explode in a blinding flash.
Your knees nearly buckle.
“It’s here!” someone yells from below.
Chainsaws roar. Metal crashes. Everything moves at once.
“Steve, get her out of here!”
He doesn’t hesitate.
Steve grabs your hand, his grip firm, grounding. “Come on,” he says, urgent.
You hesitate only for a second, staring at the chaos swallowing your home. Fear wins.
He pulls you outside, never letting go.
“Steve,” you whisper, breathless, panic creeping in. “What’s happening?”
He doesn’t answer. His eyes scan the darkness, his body coiled tight, ready to fight anything that moves.
The cold night air hits you, sharp and real. You breathe, shaky, but you don’t let go of his hand.
“I’ve got you,” he says quietly, looking down at you. “Okay? I’m not letting anything happen to you. Not tonight.”
You squeeze his hand back, leaning into him.
Your house is chaos behind you. A nightmare you don’t understand yet.
But right now, with his hand in yours, you feel safe.
steve harrington x reader, dustin henderson x platonic! reader.
in which! steve didn’t know he still loved you… not until you were gone, and now you only exist in his dreams.
warnings: angst, character death.
You had known Steve Harrington before the crown ever touched his head.
Before the hair, before the parties, before everything.
You knew him when your knees were always scraped and your fingers were sticky with melted candy. When he traded you half his peanut butter crackers at recess because you didn’t like the crusts on your sandwich. When he laughed too loud and too free, like nothing bad had ever happened to him yet.
But High school snapped that apart.
Steve changed. Or maybe he didn’t change at all. Maybe he just became who everyone else wanted him to be. Sports. Popularity. Girls hanging off his arm everywhere he went. King Steve.
Then there was Nancy Wheeler. And that hurt worse than you thought it would. You didn’t even hate her. You couldn’t. You were friends with her. You babysat Dustin all the time, and he was always at the Wheeler house, which meant you saw Nancy a lot.
You saw them.
You saw Steve and Nancy walking down the halls together. You saw him kiss her at her locker like it was nothing. Like it was normal. Every time it happened, your chest ached so bad you thought it might cave in. You hated that you felt that way. You hated her for a little while even though you knew it wasn’t fair.
You wished it was you.
You’d wished it was you since middle school.
You wished something would just click in Steve’s head and make him realize you were right there the whole time.
And somehow, it did.
After everything with the demodogs, Steve got closer to Dustin. You thought it was weird at first, but it was kind of sweet too. And because of that, you and Steve found your way back to each other. It felt like no time had passed at all.
Only now, instead of sharing snacks, you were cleaning blood off each other’s hands. Instead of worrying about homework, you were fighting things that shouldn’t exist.
Steve brought you coffee in the mornings. He kissed your cheek before class. He held your books even when you told him he didn’t have to. You went to Enzo’s on dates and sat in the same booth every time. It felt safe. It felt right. You loved him more than you knew how to say.
Then it all fell apart.
You didn’t even know when it started. Little fights that turned into bigger ones. Insecurities that wouldn’t shut up. You felt like you’d never measure up to Nancy. Steve felt like you deserved better than him. Someone who wasn’t always tired, always working, always coming home hurt.
The breakup wasn’t calm. It wasn’t mutual. It was messy and painful and it just happened. Once the words were out, you both knew there was no fixing it.
But there was still Dustin.
Dustin looked up to Steve like he hung the moon. After the demodogs, Steve was everything to him. When you and Steve got together, Dustin had been so happy. Telling him you broke up felt cruel. So you made a deal.
You stayed friends.
Only for Dustin.
No fighting around him. No snapping at each other. No showing how bad it hurt. You smiled and pretended everything was fine. And for a while, it almost worked.
Then Hawkins started going to hell again.
Three months after the breakup, it was supposed to be spring break. Instead, you were in the Upside Down again, chasing Vecna and hoping you’d make it out alive.
You sat outside the stolen RV, watching Dustin and Eddie mess around with their weapons, laughing like nothing was wrong. You let them have that moment. None of you knew what was coming. None of you knew who wouldn’t make it back.
You couldn’t die without telling Steve the truth.
You needed him to know you still loved him. That you never stopped.
So you went to find him.
but that’s when you heard him. He was inside the RV with Nancy. You heard him talking about his dream. About the kids. About the RV. About how Nancy was always there.
It felt like something ripped straight through you.
You walked away before they could see you. There were bigger things to worry about. Killing Vecna. Saving Max. Saving Hawkins. Saving the world.
“You should come with us,” Steve said later, standing outside Eddie’s trailer in the upside down.
“No,” you said, shaking your head. Your eyes burned. “I’m not leaving Dustin. I promised his mom I’d protect him. And you’ll be okay, Steve. You’ve got Nancy.”
“Please,” he said quietly. His voice cracked.
“Just go i’m going to be okay,” you told him. “We need to finish this.”
He looked at you like he wanted to say something. Like the words were right there, clawing out of him. But he didn’t. He just nodded and left.
“You okay?” Dustin asked.
You forced a smile. “Ready for the most metal concert ever?”
The concert was insane. The demo-bats weren’t.
You got Dustin out. You watched him climb the rope. You watched Eddie follow. Then you cut it without thinking twice.
They came fast.
You ran. You fought. You did everything you could. Until they grabbed you. Until their tails wrapped around your throat and arms and legs. Until you couldn’t breathe.
You screamed, you did everything you could but then everything went quiet.
“NO,” Dustin cried as he ran to you, dropping to his knees beside your body. He grabbed onto your jacket like if he let go, you’d disappear.
“Hey,” he said fast, panicked, hands shaking. “Hey, you gotta wake up. Please.”
“Did I do it right?” he asked quietly. “I climbed fast. I didn’t freeze.”
“You did perfect,” you told him softly. “I’m—i’m proud of you.”
That was enough to make him sob harder.
“You you weren’t supposed to die” he said. “it wasn’t supposed to end like this.”
You reached for his hand. He grabbed it tight with both of his.
“S-Steve,” you said softly. “tell— tell him i’m sorry.”
Dustin shook his head. “for what? sorry for what.”
Your breathing got shaky. Thin. Hard.
“f-for how everything ended i never, i never meant for it happen like that”
“no no you’ll tell him yourself”
you tried to shake your head you tried to tell him steve didn’t need you anymore he didn’t love you anymore but you couldn’t saying that out loud hurt more than what was happening to you right now.
“please don’t leave me,” he whispered. “i need you here.”
“I love you, Dusty,” you said. “You’re my favorite kid.”
Your hand slipped from his.
“No,” he said. “No, wait.”
He shook you gently, then harder. “C’mon. Please.”
Eddie knelt beside him, hand landing on his shoulder. “Dustin…”
Footsteps echoed.
Steve was running. He didn’t understand what he was seeing at first.
Then he saw you.
He froze. “Is she hurt?” he asked, like maybe the answer could save him.
Dustin turned, not feeling the strength to talk. Steve dropped to his knees, next to you.
“No,” he whispered. “No, no, no.”
He touched your face and it was too still, and too quiet.
“baby this— this isn’t funny,” he said. “You can stop now.”
but you didn’t move, your eyes didn’t open your chest didn’t rise, and that’s when it all hit him.
He realized he’d been holding it all wrong. He realized he’d thought he moved on. He realized he thought he didn’t still… care. That he didn’t still love you.but he realized it too late.
“Oh my god,” he whispered. “Oh my god.”
He pressed his hands to his face. “I didn’t know. I didn’t know until now i’m sorry i’m sorry.”
“I was supposed to stay,” he said, voice shaking. “I was supposed to be here. I should’ve never left.”
Dustin crawled close, gripping Steve’s jacket. “She said— she told me tell tell you she was sorry,” he whispered. “for how everything ended.”
Steve pulled him into his chest like he couldn’t hold himself up alone.“ i messed up fuck fuck i messed up”
He looked back at you praying that you’ll wake up praying for a miracle to happen, just for anything to happen.
The ground started to shake. Cracks under their feet.
Robin was yelling for them to move.
Steve didn’t want to. He couldn’t. He kept looking back at you not wanting to leave you.
And that’s when he realized some love doesn’t disappear. You just don’t know it’s still there until it’s already too late.
“You’re awake,” Steve murmured, rubbing his eyes and stretching. “I thought I lost you.”
You smiled at him the way you always did when he was being ridiculous. Soft, teasing, full of warmth. “You always say that,” you said, brushing a loose strand of hair from his forehead.
“You know you promised me and the kids you’d make breakfast today.”
Just then, footsteps ran down the hallway. Too many, too fast. Steve groaned and you giggled.
“They’re up early,” he said.
You stood up and held out your hand. “Come on. I’ll help you.”
He looked at you and asked quietly, “You’ll stay?”
You turned back to him and furrowed your brows. “Of course, baby. Always.”
Steve woke up suddenly. He felt like he was falling. He sat up in bed and ran his hands over his face. For a moment he smiled. It had been a nice dream.
Then he remembered. It was only a dream and you were gone forever.
summary : in which! you and the baseball coach fuck against your desk 
warnings: smut
The final bell rang and the classroom exploded into noise. Chairs scraped hard against the floor as your students rushed to pack up, notebooks shoved into backpacks that barely zipped.
“Alright, guys, that’s it for today!” you called, raising your voice. “But don’t forget—there’s a final test. Guys!”
No one listened. They were already gone, the door swinging shut behind them and leaving the room too quiet. The air smelled like chalk dust and pencil shavings. You leaned back against your desk and let out a slow breath, rubbing at your temples.
I’ll be lucky if half of them remember this by Friday.
“Knock, knock.”
The voice was low and rough. You looked up to see Steve Harrington leaning against the doorframe. That easy grin was on his face, but his eyes were dark, tracking you in a way that made something hot and sharp twist in your stomach.
“Hey, Coach,” you said, your voice a little throaty. “Shouldn’t you be heading out already?”
“Probably,” he said, pushing himself off the frame. closing the door behind him and turning the lock, the click echoing through the empty room. “But I had a concern to discuss. Heard my players say your class is brutal. Said you’re kinda terrifying.”
He walked closer, stopping right in the space between your knees. You had to tilt your head back to look at him. “Had to see for myself,” he whispered. “But honestly… I just wanted you to myself for five minutes.”
His hands found your waist, pulling you flush against him. You breathed in his scent as your hands bunched his shirt. Steve’s gaze dropped to your lips. “You look beautiful,” he murmured.
“well you look handsome” you whispered.
Steve didn’t answer. He leaned down and caught your mouth in a kiss that was heavy and deep. His tongue slid against yours, tasting of mint and heat, while his hands slid down to lift you slightly, pinning you against the edge of the desk.
“F-fuck, Steve,” you moaned. The sound was too loud in the quiet room.
His palm moved fast, pressing firm over your mouth. “Shhh,” he whispered, his eyes hungry. “Someone is still in the hall. And I’m not done with you.”
He slid his other hand down past your waist, pulling your pants and underwear down and tossing them onto a chair. He pushed your legs wide and slid two fingers inside you, deep and sudden. You gasped against his palm, your back arching.
“You think you can be quiet here?” he whispered, his fingers circling your clit. You were so wet, and the friction was perfect. You nodded in desperation, your head hitting the desk as you laid yourself down.
“Good,” he murmured. He grabbed your waist and lifted you up again, sitting down in your heavy desk chair and pulling you onto his lap. He battled with his belt, pushing his pants down to his thighs. He was hard and hot against your skin.
He gripped your hips and guided you down. You let out a shaky moan as he slid all the way inside you. “Move for me,” he whispered. “Ride it.”
You started to move, lifting yourself and sliding back down. The chair creaked with every motion, making your heart race. Steve threw his head back, his eyes closing as you found a rhythm. He met every downward stroke with a thrust, making you see spots.
“That’s my girl,” he rasped. “Don’t stop.”
The tension in your stomach was about to snap. You leaned down and kissed him deeply as the feeling became too much.
“I’m gonna—” you moaned into his mouth.
“Do it,” he rasped. “Come for me.”
He gave one last, deep thrust and held you there. Your body shook as you hit your peak, the pleasure rolling through you in waves. A second later, Steve groaned into your shoulder, his body stiffening as he came inside you.
You both slumped together, breathing hard. Steve wrapped his arms around you tight, kissing your temple while you waited for your legs to stop shaking. You felt so warm and safe in his arms, the quiet of the room finally settling over you.
You pulled back just a little bit to look at him. His hair was a mess and his eyes were still hazy.
"I love you," you whispered softly.
Steve smiled, that real, sweet smile that always made your heart melt. He reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear.
"Yeah? I love you too, babe," he said, his voice tender.
He pulled you back into his chest, holding you close for a long moment. He let out a tired, shaky laugh against your neck.
“i love my job,” he whispered.
—
i actually wrote this soo fast so sorry if it sucks
STEVE AS A COACH AND A SEX ED TEACHER HELLO??? also the eleven ending, her and mike deserved to move to those 3 waterfalls together also robin, jonathan and nancy?? they left hawkins, which i don’t blame them, dustin is leaving for college, AND STEVE GOT HIS RV. like ughh and mike became a full time yearner now no doubt
in which! your dad gives you and Steve one rule to stay five feet apart at all costs, but you don’t hear his car pull into the driveway.
warnings: smut, no p-in-v, just fingers, making out, getting caught.
The cabin was stifling, the heavy summer air clinging to everything, but you and Steve didn’t seem to notice. He was pressed close to you, his lips hovering at that familiar spot on your neck that always made your breath hitch. You exhaled shakily and threaded your fingers through his hair, completely undoing the effort he’d put into it with half a can of hairspray. He didn’t even flinch.
"Fuck, Steve," you gasped out, the words muffled against his shoulder.
He grunted and his hands started to roam. They were calloused and warm as they slid over your skin. He was teasing you, moving slow and getting agonizingly close to where you actually wanted him. You were losing your mind and you couldn't take the slow pace anymore.
"Steve, please, just fuck me. I need you right now," you pleaded, your voice breaking.
He let out a low laugh against your skin and his breath was hot. "You're not being quiet, baby," he whispered, and his voice vibrated deep in his chest. "Let me remind you there's kids literally in the next room."
He was right. El and Mike were just on the other side of the wall. Your dad had that insane five feet apart rule for you two, while Mike and El got away with a three inch door crack. It was total bullshit, but usually you tried to play along so Hopper wouldn't lose his mind. He wasn't home today though, so the rules were out the window.
You both tumbled back onto the bed. Your hair was a complete disaster and your lips were stinging from how hard he had been kissing you. Steve looked down at you with dark eyes and a flushed face.
"You're so wet already," he moaned, and his fingers grazed you just right.
"I get wet just by the thought of you," you replied, and that was all the invitation he needed.
He pushed two fingers inside you and hit exactly where he needed to. You couldn't help it, and a loud, sharp moan ripped out of you. It was way too loud for a house this small.
The muffled conversation in the next room stopped instantly.
"What the hell was that?" Mike’s voice came through the wall. He sounded confused and annoyed.
"Fuck," Steve whispered, and his eyes went wide. He immediately smashed his lips against yours to stifle the next sound. You felt your eyes roll back and your body arched into him as he kept moving, your moans swallowed completely by his mouth.
The room went deathly silent as you and Steve froze. You could hear the floorboards creak in the hallway, and the sound of small, hesitant footsteps stopped right outside your bedroom door. Steve didn't move his mouth from yours. He stayed perfectly still.
A soft knock came at the wood.
"Are you... okay?" El’s voice was small and cautious.
Steve pulled back just a fraction, his lips still brushing yours as he held his breath. He looked down at you, his other hand staying busy. You bit your lip, trying so hard not to make a single sound.
"Are you... hurt?" El asked after a moment.
Steve cleared his throat, trying to make his voice sound normal. "Everything is fine, El," Steve called out, his voice cracking just a little bit. "We just... we dropped a heavy book. Go back to Mike. We're busy."
There was a long pause. "Not hurt?" she asked again.
"Not hurt, El. Promise," Steve said. "Go on. Go listen to your music."
You heard her feet shuffle away. "Okay," she murmured. A second later, her footsteps faded.
Steve let out a massive sigh of relief. He leaned down until his forehead touched yours. "That was too close," he whispered. "If she had used her powers to open that door, I’d be a dead man."
He moved his hand back down, his fingers finding their rhythm again. He moved closer, his weight pressing you further into the mattress to keep the springs from squeaking.
"Shh, stay quiet for me," he breathed, his voice barely a ghost of a sound against your ear.
He started moving his fingers again, but this time it was slow and deliberate. Every time you felt a gasp building in your chest, he would lock his lips over yours, drinking in every sound you tried to make so the hallway stayed silent. The tension was even worse now because you had to be silent.
You gripped the bedsheets until your knuckles turned white. You wanted to scream his name, but he kept his mouth crushed against yours, swallowing every whimpering moan.
"You're doing so good," he whispered against your lips. He was breathless too, his forehead damp with sweat. "Just like that, baby."
He picked up the pace just a little bit, his movements fluid and confident. You arched your back, your toes curling against the sheets as the feeling built up. You let out a muffled cry, but Steve reacted instantly, kissing you deeply to swallow the sound.
"your almost there baby," he murmured against your mouth, when he felt you squeeze his fingers, his own heart thudding wildly. "Don't make a sound."
“God” Steve leaned in close and a cocky, breathless smirk tugged at his mouth as he felt you peak. "No, not God, baby. It’s Steve."
Steve’s fingers were moving faster now, his lips right against your neck as he moved. You were arched back with your fingers tangled in his hair, completely lost in the heat of the moment.
That Neither of you heard the tires of the Chevy Blazer on the gravel outside. Neither of you heard the heavy boots on the porch or the front door unlock.
You were biting your lip to stay quiet while Steve moved, his mouth ready to cover yours at any second. He leaned in close to whisper sweet things to you, but then the bedroom door flew open and hit the wall with a loud bang.
"Harrington... Get off her."
The voice was quiet, so quiet that you barely heard it. Steve jumped so high he nearly fell off the bed. He scrambled to his feet and turned a shade of white you had never seen before. You sat up fast, trying to pull up a blanket to cover yourself with shaking hands. Your heart felt like it was going to jump out of your chest.
Hopper was standing in the doorway, his face a deep shade of red. His hands were curled into fists at his sides and his chest was heaving. He looked like he was about to explode.
"Dad, wait—" you started, but he held up a hand to silence you.
He turned his eyes on Steve, who was fumbling with his clothes and looking for any way out. "I told you. Five feet. Door open. I gave you one chance, Harrington."
"Chief, I can explain, we were just—" Steve stammered, his voice cracking.
"I don't want to hear it." Hopper stepped into the room, looming over him. "I want you out. Now! If I see your face in this house for the next month, I’m putting you in a cell."
Steve didn't need to be told twice. He grabbed his jacket off the floor, not even stopping to put it on. He scrambled past Hopper, nearly tripping over his own feet in his rush to get to the front door.
"I'm going! I'm gone!, i love you!" Steve yelled as he sprinted through the living room.
You heard the front door slam shut so hard the walls shook, followed by the sound of Steve’s car engine roaring to life and his tires screeching as he peeled out of the driveway.
Hopper stood in your room for a long moment, staring at the empty doorway before looking back at you. He pointed a finger toward the kitchen. "Kitchen. Chair. Now."
—
a/n: hiii, i would love for you guys to send requests please! i’m lowkey on a writers block :(
In which! the Upside Down took everything Steve harrington loved… or did it?
Warnings: This story contains graphic injury and blood, death or near-death, monster attacks and body horror, psychological trauma, grief, and despair. It features intense angst, emotional breakdowns, and scenes of torture and manipulation by Vecna. Reader discretion is advised due to depictions of violence, suffering, and emotional distress.
Steve Harrington had survived a lot of things.
Broken bones. Bloody knuckles. Monsters with too many teeth. He had survived watching people he loved get hurt. He had survived the Upside Down ripping pieces out of his life and expecting him to keep standing afterward. He had learned how to push through pain. How to keep moving even when he was terrified. How to protect everyone else first and deal with himself later. But this was something he had never prepared for.
The Upside Down felt louder than usual, like it knew what was coming. The sky churned red and black above you, clouds twisting in on themselves, ash drifting down like snow that burned when it touched skin. Every breath tasted wrong. The ground felt unstable beneath your feet, cracked and uneven, like it was alive and shifting. Steve stayed close to you as you moved, shoulder nearly brushing yours, his body angled just slightly in front of you without realizing it. He kept glancing around, his empty hands curled into fists, senses stretched thin.
Instinct. Protect you first. Ask questions later.
He heard the sound before he saw them. A sharp, rising screech that cut straight through the air and made his stomach drop. Steve looked up just as the demobats burst through the clouds, dozens of them pouring out at once, wings slicing the air, bodies jerking and snapping as they dove.
“Run!” Steve shouted.
You ran. Ash kicked up beneath your feet as you sprinted, lungs burning almost immediately. Every breath felt too shallow, too fast. The ground dipped and cracked under you, like it wanted to trip you and drag you down. Steve stayed close, glancing back every second, arms up to shield his face, trying to track too many moving shapes at once. The first bat slammed into Nancy and sent her sprawling across the ground. Robin screamed her name, swinging her arms wildly as another bat swooped low. Steve barely had time to react before one crashed into his chest, teeth snapping inches from his face, the impact nearly knocking him off his feet.
They were everywhere. Too many to count. Too fast. You tried to swat them away with your bare hands, but their skin was oily and cold. One clipped your shoulder hard enough to spin you sideways. Pain flashed white across your vision. You stumbled, barely catching yourself. Steve turned just in time to see two other bats diving your way.
“NO!”
He lunged, reaching out with both hands to grab them, but he didn't reach you in time. Their claws tore into your sides. You screamed as you hit the ground hard, the breath knocked clean out of you. The world tilted violently, red sky spinning as pain exploded through your body. Steve was beside you instantly. He dropped to his knees, his hands pressing to your side without thinking. Blood soaked through his fingers almost immediately, warm and terrifying.
“No, no, no,” he said, his voice breaking into that high, desperate pitch it got when he was losing control. “Baby... Please.”
The bats kept screaming overhead, shadows flickering across the ground. One slammed into Steve’s back and he grunted, the weight of it nearly crushing him, but he didn't move. He hunched over you instead, using his own back as a shield, his hands still trying to stop the bleeding. Nancy skidded to a stop a few feet away, horror written across her face as she took in the blood and the way Steve’s hands were shaking. Robin froze beside her, eyes wide, hands trembling.
“That’s a lot of blood,” Robin whispered, her voice sounding small and hysterical.
Steve didn’t look at them. He couldn’t. All he could see was you. Your skin already looked too pale. Your breath came uneven and shaky, each inhale a fight. Your fingers clutched at his jacket like it was the only thing keeping you tethered to the world.
“Steve,” you whispered. “I don't want to die.”
His throat closed instantly. He looked at you with that raw, vulnerable expression he usually tried to hide.
“Hey,” he said softly, lowering his head until his forehead pressed against yours. “No. You’re not dying. You hear me? I’m right here. I’ve got you.”
A broken sob tore out of you. “I’m scared.”
“I know,” he whispered, his voice shaking even as his hands stayed firm. “I know. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
Nancy turned away, her jaw tight as she scanned the sky for more bats. Robin covered her mouth, shoulders trembling as she watched Steve hold you like the world was ending. And for him, it was. Your breathing slowed, each inhale sounding more strained than the last. Steve felt it. The way your grip weakened. The way your eyes struggled to stay open, lashes fluttering like you were fighting sleep.
“Baby please... stay with me,” he pleaded, his voice cracking. “Look at me. We’re getting out of here. Remember? Hawkins sucks but we’re leaving it together. You promised me six kids and a camper van, remember? You promised.”
You smiled faintly, barely there. “I meant it,” you whispered. “I always meant it.”
Your hand lifted shakily to his cheek, thumb brushing over his skin like you were trying to memorize him. Steve leaned into the touch without thinking, tears spilling freely down his face.
“I love you,” you said.
The words shattered something deep inside him.
“I love you,” he choked. “Please don't leave me.”
Your eyes stayed locked on his as your hand slipped from his face. Then nothing. Steve made a sound that didn’t sound human. It was a jagged, broken noise that tore out of his chest as he pulled you against him, rocking slightly, like holding you tighter might fix it. Like he could force your heart to start again if he just didn’t let go.
“No,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “No, no, no! You promised me! You promised we’d get out of this. You can't just leave me here. Not like this. Not like this.”
Nancy dropped to her knees beside him, her hand hovering over his shoulder but too afraid to touch him. Robin was crying openly now, her hands over her ears to block out the screaming bats.
“I’m so sorry,” Robin said through her sobs.
Steve didn’t answer. He couldn’t. He just held you. Because Steve Harrington had never imagined a life without you. And now the Upside Down had taken the only future he ever wanted. Nancy’s voice cut through the noise, quiet and desperate.
“Steve. We have to go. They're coming back.”
He didn’t move. He couldn’t feel his arms or his legs. Everything was numb except your cheek pressed against his. Cold. Almost cold. The kind of cold that came with blood loss and felt like death if you didn’t know better.
“W-what? I’m not leaving her here,” he cried out, his eyes snapping up to Nancy's with a look of pure agony. “I can stay. I can’t leave her alone.”
The bats screamed overhead, closer now, wings beating violently.
“Steve that’s insane! You'll die too!” Nancy said, looking at Robin for help.
“Steve, please, come on,” Robin begged, reaching out to grab his arm. “We have to move or we're all dead.”
“So what?” he snapped, finally looking up at them. “You don’t care. You’re just gonna leave her here in the dirt like she's nothing.”
Eddie paced nearby, his hands in his hair, eyes darting between the sky and Steve.
“Steve,” Eddie said desperately. “We can't carry her. We're out of time. They're dropping like flies out there.”
Steve looked back down at you. Your eyes were closed. Your skin was pale but not gray. Your body felt heavy in his arms. Blood still seeped out, slow and warm against his hands. Too much blood. Your breathing was so shallow it barely looked real. The bats screamed again. Your chest lifted. Barely. A shallow, broken breath that rattled instead of filled. A thin bubble of blood formed at the corner of your mouth and then stilled. No one saw it. Your fingers twitched once. Not enough.
Robin grabbed his arm. Nancy pulled at his shoulder. Eddie was shouting now, telling them they had to move. Steve fought them for half a second, his boots kicking at the ash, but he was exhausted and broken. Then the sound of wings swallowed everything. His hands slipped from you.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, forehead brushing your hair. “I’m so sorry.”
They dragged him away. Your body was left where it fell. And Steve Harrington walked away with your blood on his hands, believing you were gone.
After a few minutes, maybe hours, maybe even a few days, you wake because it hurts to breathe. Every inhale drags like fire through your lungs. Your chest rises unevenly, every breath sharp and heavy, like your body can’t remember how to do this anymore. The red sky twists above you, blurring and spinning. Ash sticks to your cheek. Cold creeps in through your clothes, through your skin. You try to move but you’re too weak. Your body doesn’t respond the way you expect it to. The only thing you can manage is a small twitch of your fingers. You blink hard, trying to clear the blur from your eyes, trying to find him. Trying to feel safe.
He isn’t there.
“Steve?” you cry out his name, but your voice barely exists.
You turn your head as far as you can. The ground around you is empty. Twisted vines curl from the walls and trees. No voices. No footsteps. No one calling your name.
“Robin?”
You try to sit up. The pain slices through your side and you collapse back down before you can even catch your breath. A strangled sound escapes you as your hand presses to the wound. You can feel it seeping through your fingers. Warm. Sticky. Relentless. You curl in on yourself, small and unprotected. It feels like you’re disappearing. The Upside Down breathes around you, low and steady. A growl echoes somewhere far away. You clutch yourself tighter, chest lifting again, shallow and trembling.
And then you feel it. Not a sound, but a vibration. Deep. Slow. Heavy. It moves through the ground like something massive is getting closer. You freeze, pressed against roots and cracked earth. The trees lean in, wrong and close, like they know how fragile you are. Something shifts nearby. Limbs too long, moving wrong. Wet sniffing that makes the air around you change. Your stomach drops when you feel it brushing your foot, making you flinch.
And then it strikes. Pain explodes as it slams into you, knocking the air from your lungs. Something coils around your body, lifting you off the ground. You claw at the dirt but it’s useless. Roots tear at your skin. The pain blooms in violent waves. You cry out. Your body goes heavy. Every nerve feels like it’s on fire. Your vision blurs. The trees crowd in and the red sky spins above.
Back at the Wheeler house, the basement feels too small, too heavy. Steve stands near the door, shoulders tight, fists clenched so hard his knuckles ache.
“We’ll go back,” Steve says, voice low but fierce.
“No,” Nancy says immediately, her voice firm. “Steve, we can't.”
“She’s alone,” Steve snaps, turning on her. “I can’t leave her there. You saw the look on her face. I can't leave her.”
Lucas tries to stay calm, but his voice is shaking. “Steve... she’s gone. You saw it.”
“Don’t.” Steve shakes his head, his eyes widening with a flash of anger. “Don’t say it like that. Don't talk about her lik-.”
“Steve, you can’t just go back for a dead body,” Dustin says, his voice thick with tears. “It's suicide.”
“She’s not just a body, why does nobody understand me!” Steve yells, pacing the small space of the basement. “She was everything to me, do you get that? She’s the only girl I ever loved! The least I can do is bring her home!”
Dustin flinches at the volume of Steve's voice. “Steve...”
“She spent all her life thinking people didn’t care. And I... I left her there. I didn’t stay. I let you guys drag me away while she was cold and alone!”
“Steve, we did everything we could,” Robin says, stepping into his line of sight. “We would have all died if we stayed. You know that.”
“No!” he screams. “No, no, we didn’t. It wasn’t enough. We just left her there. Like she didn’t matter. Like nobody cared. She was scared and now she’s alone. And that’s on me. That’s my fault.”
Robin steps closer, trying to put a hand on his shoulder. “Going back now won’t fix it, Steve. It won't bring her back.”
“Yes, it will!” Steve yells, shaking her hand off. “Because then she won’t be alone! She would’ve gone back for me. She would’ve gone back for every single one of you. And we... we just walked away.”
Eddie shakes his head, leaning against the wall. “That’s not how this works, man. The gate is crawling with those things.”
“What would you know?” Steve snaps, his voice raw. “And why does it feel like I’m the only one freaking out? Why does it feel like nobody’s scared that she’s still in there thinking we just left her to rot?”
Max’s voice cuts through the tension, sharp but small. “Steve... she’s dead, okay? She’s not thinking anything.”
Steve freezes. He looks at Max like she's a stranger, his face twisting with a mix of disbelief and fury.
“Right.” He nods slowly, his voice going cold. “Whatever. Thanks for the help.”
Max swallows hard, realizing she pushed too far. “Steve come on, I... I didn’t mean it like that. I just... I don't want you to die too.”
Before anyone can stop him, Steve storms toward the stairs. The room falls silent behind him.
Steve sits on his bed back home. Maps covering everything. Tunnels. Circles. Notes. But he can’t see through the tears. All he wants is to wake up. To find you there. Breathing. Alive. He laughs quietly and brokenly as a memory of you hits him.
Before gates and monsters and the end of the world, Steve used to invite you over every single day during the summer. Didn’t matter if his parents were home or gone. Your bike always ended up in his driveway, you always showed up.
You were sitting next to him on his bed, legs touching, eating cheap takeout and laughing about literally nothing. His room smelled like food and clean sheets and summer. You and Steve had only been dating a few months. Junior year was coming up. Everything still felt easy. Normal.
“You know, I’m leaving Hawkins,” you said, totally casual.
Steve almost choked. “What?”
You smiled at him. “Not without you. I mean, someday. Somewhere warm. Somewhere like California.” You gasped, already dreaming.
He laughed. “Yeah? do you want to have our kids there?”
“Oh, I’ll have all the kids you want there,” you said, leaning in to kiss him. “ i promise.”
Steve looked at you and something scary hit him all at once.
Because he could see it. All of it. A life. A future. You.
Now all he had were memories and a town he couldn’t get out of.
The Upside Down didn’t take Steve Harrington.
It took the one thing he loved more than his own life.
And no matter how many monsters came after that, nothing ever hurt like losing you.
—
lowkey i don’t know if any of this made sense but i hope yall liked it
In which! You and Robin are having a conversation where you confess your boyfriend’s… thing is too big
Warnings: There is discussion of sexual stuff, explicit innuendo, and over-the-top panic. Robin loses her mind. Contains strong language, mature themes, and chaotic comedic freakouts. Reader discretion advised
The blue light of the TV flickered across the living room as the credits rolled. You shifted on the sofa, glancing toward the stairs to make sure your parents were still safely out of earshot before leaning in toward Robin.
"Look, I know you don’t want to listen to this because, obviously, it’s Steve... he’s your best friend," you sighed, running a hand over your face in frustration. "But ugh, Robin, he’s just... he's too big."
Robin’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. She choked on a handful of popcorn, coughing violently before staring at you in pure, unadulterated shock.
"Jesus! What?!" she hissed, her voice cracking as she looked frantically between you and the ceiling. "I—I don't need to know that! I really, really don't need the mental imagery of Harrington's... attributes. let me remind you me and him are platonic with a capital P, remember? My brain is currently trying to eject that information like a faulty VHS tape!"
You bit your lip, feeling the heat rise to your cheeks, but you didn't back down. "I’m serious, Robin! I didn't think it was a thing people actually... dealt with. It’s a genuine problem."
"A problem? A problem!" Robin stage-whispered, her hands flying around in frantic patterns. "That is a 'you' problem! That is a 'Steve' problem! That is a 'please-God-let-vecna-take-me-now' problem! I am the keeper of his secrets, sure, but I drew the line at his chest hair grooming habits. This? This is miles past the line. The line is a tiny dot to us now!"
She grabbed a pillow and hugged it tightly to her chest, staring at the blank TV screen as if searching for an escape route. "Does he know? Does he know that you know that I now know? Wait..." She squinted at you, her brain working overtime. "On a scale of—actually, no. Stop. Don't answer that. I’m putting up a mental lead wall."
"I'm so, so sorry, Robin, but I can't talk about this with Nancy because... you know... that's weird. But ugh, you know how they always say it 'always fits'? Well, it does. And it feels so good from start to finish, but the next day... I can barely walk, Robin."
"Nancy? No! God, no! Don't bring the Wheeler into this!" Robin hissed, her voice reaching a frantic, vibrating whisper.
As you continued, describing the logistical aftermath, Robin let out a low, pained groan. She slowly slid down the cushions until her head was resting against the back of the sofa, staring up at the ceiling fan in a trance of despair.
"The next day? Barely walk?" she repeated, her voice sounding faint. "I’m losing it. I’ve officially lost it. I am currently listening to a detailed medical report on the structural damage caused by Steve 'The Hair' Harrington. My life is a tragedy. A tragedy."
She suddenly sat bolt upright, pointing a finger at you, her eyes wide and slightly crazed. "And the 'always fits' thing? That’s a lie! It’s a total lie propagated by... I don't know, Big Romance! Clearly, science has failed us. Physics has failed us! If you're walking like a newborn fawn for forty-eight hours after a date, that’s not 'fitting,' that’s—that’s an invasion!"
She grabbed the bowl of popcorn and held it like a shield. "And I did not need the 'feels good' part. That’s the part that’s going to be seared into my brain during our next shift at the radio station. He’s going to ask me how last night was, and I’m going to be thinking about your... your mobility issues."
In which! Steve's "important captain stuff" gets interrupted by a very confused Robin. What was supposed to be a quick finish in the backroom turns into a mall-wide embarrassment.
Warnings: Explicit sexual content, sexual situations in a workplace setting, strong language, and awkward interruptions.
“Ahoy, sailor,” you said, smiling as you stopped in front of the Scoops Ahoy counter.
Steve was half-leaning over the register, clearly losing his patience with it. He glanced up, saw you, and smiled without even thinking about it. “Ahoy, beautiful lady,” he said easily. “Would you like to set sail in this ocean of flavor with me? I’ll be your captain.”
You leaned in and kissed him, quick and familiar. “Hey.”
“Hey,” he said back, softer.
“Excuse me. Nerd.”
You turned. Erica Sinclair was standing there, arms crossed. “Hi, Erica,” you said.
She rolled her eyes. “Can he stop flirting and give me my free sample?”
Steve sighed, already grabbing a spoon. You laughed under your breath. Steve shook his head but handed her the sample. “It’s fine,” she said after tasting it. Then she tossed the sample spoon into the trash. “Give me another one.”
Steve blinked. “What? No. You’ve already hit the free-sample limit.”
Erica rolled her eyes. “That’s not a real rule.”
Steve leaned back against the counter. “It is today.”
“Whatever,” Erica muttered and stormed off, disappearing into the mall crowd.
Steve exhaled, shaking his head. He glanced at you, eyes softening and darkening at the same time. "Wanna help me in the back real quick?”
You raised an eyebrow. “Help you with what?”
He smirked, leaning closer. “Uh… important captain stuff.”
You let him lead you around the counter and through the swinging doors. The second the doors shut, Steve didn't hesitate. He pinned you against the wall, his hand slamming against the surface next to your head. He crowded into your space, his body warm and solid against yours.
“God, you’re so beautiful,” he murmured, his breath hot against your skin.
He leaned in, his lips finally meeting yours. It started slow, a deep, tasting press, but it quickly turned hungry. He groaned into the kiss, his tongue sliding past your lips to claim your mouth. His hands roamed down your sides, his fingers digging into your waist before sliding lower to cup your ass. He squeezed firmly, pulling you flush against him, and you let out a soft, breathy moan that he swallowed whole.
You pulled back just an inch, your breathing ragged. "Steve..."
Without another word, you swung him around so he was the one against the wall now, and you sank to your knees. Steve’s breath hitched, his back hitting the wall hard as he looked down at you, his eyes wide with a mix of shock and raw desire.
"W-wait, here?" he gasped, his voice cracking. But his fingers immediately tangled in your hair, holding you there as you began to unbutton his uniform pants.
When you eased his pants down, he was so hard that he almost slapped against your cheek. He was thick and pulsing, radiating a heavy heat you could feel against your skin. A bead of pre-cum was already glistening at the tip, showing exactly how worked up he was.
As you took him into your mouth, Steve let out a low, gravelly sound that vibrated through his whole body. He went rigid, his knuckles turning white as he gripped your shoulders. You moved with a steady, rhythmic focus, looking up at him through your lashes. You used your tongue to tease the sensitive head, tasting the salty sweetness of his pre-cum.
"You're driving me crazy," he hissed, his eyes fluttering shut. "Don't stop... yeah, right there."
You picked up the pace, your hand gripping the base of him firmly. Steve was trembling now, his knees buckling as he leaned all his weight against the wall. He was so sensitive that every movement sent him closer to the edge.
"Slow down, slow down," he whispered, even though his hands were pressing your face closer. You didn't listen, sucking him deeper into your throat. Steve’s entire body went into a spasm, a loud, choked moan escaping his lips as he arched his back into the bricks.
Steve suddenly reached down and grabbed your shoulders, pulling you up from your knees until you were standing flush against him. You didn't stop; your hand stayed wrapped tightly around him, jerking him with a fast, slick rhythm. He crashed his lips onto yours, kissing you with a desperate, messy hunger, moaning directly into your mouth.
He was losing all control, his hips bucking into your hand. "I can't—I'm literally about to—"
THUD.
The door swung open. "Hey dingus! You aren't supposed to leave—"
Robin froze.
You scrambled back, your heart jumping into your throat. Steve’s eyes snapped open in pure terror. In a blind panic, he didn't even have time to pull his pants up; he frantically grabbed a stack of empty waffle cone boxes off the nearby table and held them awkwardly over his lap to cover himself.
"Robin!" he yelped, "I—we—it's not what it looks like! I dropped my... my keys! In my pants!"
Robin stood there, the stack of napkins in her hand trembling slightly. She looked at the boxes Steve was clutching to his crotch, then at you sitting on the floor, flushed and breathless.
"I'm leaving," Robin said flatly, her voice full of pure shock. "Im going back to the front. You have five minutes to get it together."
The doors closed. Steve groaned, closing his eyes and leaning his head back against the wall as he finally pulled his pants up and buckled his belt. He reached for you, immediately pulling you into a tight hug and burying his face in your shoulder.
"I was just about to finish," he whined, his voice a low, ”Please tell me you're staying until my shift ends," he whispered, his voice small and completely embarrassed. "I can't face her alone. She's gonna annoy me for the next ten years." You laughed softly, reaching up to adjust his crooked sailor hat.
"I'm staying," you reminded him, your voice a low, teasing hum as you rubbed his arm. You leaned in closer, your lips brushing his ear. "I'll be sitting at our booth. Just keep thinking about the drive home and what I’m going to do to you the second we’re alone."
He took a final, shaky breath to steady his pulse, then reached for the door. "Stay close. I don't think I can handle being more than five feet away from you right now."
In which! a dead van and Steve Harrington make a cold night feel like high school all over again.
Warnings: Slow-burn romance with flirting, mild tension and awkward moments, nostalgic high school vibes, minor angst, and no explicit content.
“Hey! Why isn’t the van starting?” Jonathan shouted from the back.“I’m trying,” Steve said, turning the key again. The engine made a sad little rattle and died completely. “Let me try.” Jonathan climbed over the middle seat, snatched the key, twisted. Nothing.
Steve threw his hands up. “See? Im not an idiot you know.”They sat in thick, annoyed silence. Jonathan picked at a loose thread on his jeans. Steve stared at the dashboard like it had betrayed him.
Then Jonathan perked up. “Wait. Do you hear that?” Steve frowned. “Hear wh—” “Tires. A car—HEY, A CAR!” Jonathan smacked Steve’s shoulder hard.
“Ow— Jesus, I'm going” Steve shoved the door open and ran out.
Your headlights washed over the empty road until you spotted the radio van pulled onto the shoulder, hazard lights blinking. Two guys stood beside it, one waving like his life depended on it.
You slowed, window rolling down as you approached. “Hey! Can you stop? Please?” the guy called out, breath fogging in the cold. Your pulse skipped when you finally got a good look at him.
Steve Harrington.
Older now, still annoyingly handsome, and somehow his hair looked perfect even in the cold night air. And that familiar warm grin—yeah, that hadn’t gone anywhere either.
Back in high school, you used to catch yourself staring at him without even meaning to. Your eyes always seemed to find him in a hallway full of people, like they were wired to. You never admitted it then, and you definitely weren’t about to admit it now… but some habits never really died.
“Uh—hi,” he said, stepping closer. “Sorry. We’re stuck. The van’s… dead.” You breathed out slowly. “Do you need a jump?” “Yes!” he answered immediately, almost too eager. “Yes, please.”
From behind him, Jonathan muttered, “Finally. A sane person.”
Steve shot him a look, then turned back to you with a sheepish smile. “If you can pull up in front… we can hook it up.” You nodded and drove forward. When you stepped out, he walked over—nervous, trying to look casual, rubbing his palms on his jeans.
“Thanks for stopping,” he said. “We’ve been out here forever.” “Yeah,” you said softly. “No problem.”
Steve bent over your hood, grabbing the jumper cables. Up close, you noticed how focused he was, how he kept checking the clamps twice like he was trying not to mess up. “You… uh… know how to do this?” he asked.
“um not really ill just keep an eye on you,” you said. “Just don’t blow anything up.”
He laughed, a quiet, warm sound. “No promises.”
You watched him work. Concentrated. Careful. A little clumsy in a way that made your chest tighten. “You’re saving us right now,” he murmured without looking up. “I can tell.”
He glanced up, caught your eyes, and for a moment he actually froze—then smiled, small and shy. The night felt strangely still around you.“How long will it take?” you asked. “Couple minutes,” he said, tightening the clamps. “Then. vroom vroom.”
You didn’t say anything, and he seemed to notice the way your jaw tightened, the way your eyes stuck on him. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a chocolate bar a Bopper and held it out.
“Bopper while we wait?”
Your fingers brushed his as you took it. He looked away fast, but you saw the little shift in his expression.
You unwrapped the chocolate slowly, and the soft light hit your face in a way that made Steve pause. Really pause.
“You know…” he said carefully, “I feel like I know you.”
You blinked. “You do?” “Um… yeah. Did you go to Hawkins High?” You gave a tiny laugh. “It’s the only high school around here.” His cheeks flushed, just barely. “Right. Yeah. That makes sense.” Silence settled between you—soft, not awkward. Almost… nice.
“I can’t believe I never tried talking to you,” he said quietly. Your breath caught. “W-what? Why?” “Well,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck, “I mean… look at you.” You felt your face heat, grateful it was dark enough to hide it.
“I, um—I’m gonna try starting it,” he said quickly, pointing at the van.“Go ahead,” you nodded. He hesitated like he wanted to say something else, then jogged back to the driver’s seat. The engine turned, caught, and finally roared to life.
Steve jumped out again, relief melting off him. He smiled straight at you. “Guess we’re good now.” You nodded again, but neither of you moved. Your car hummed behind you. The road was empty. The cold felt almost warm between you and him. “Thanks for stopping,” he said softly.
“It’s okay,” you murmured. “Anyone would’ve done it.” He shook his head. “No. A lot of people just drove by.” His eyes held yours, steady and warm. “You didn’t.” Your chest tightened. “Well… you looked like you needed help.”
He nodded once, eyes not leaving yours. “Still. I’m glad it was you.”Jonathan yelled from inside the van, “STEVE! Let’s go!” Steve didn’t look away. Just smiled, small, crooked, annoyed the moment was ending.
“Maybe I’ll see you around?” he asked. You swallowed. “Maybe.” He backed up slowly, eyes on you until the last second, then climbed into the van. The headlights flickered as it pulled away, leaving you standing there with a half-eaten chocolate bar and a heart beating way too hard for someone you hadn’t seen in years.
warnings: family dinner, nerves, teasing brothers, strict dad, soft moments, hand holding, mild tension, Steve being nervous, reader comforting Steve
“So when are we meeting this boyfriend of yours?” your dad asked, leaning back in his chair.
Dinner is loud and messy. Your mom’s bustling around the kitchen, clanging pans, stirring rice and beans. Your brothers are arguing about something stupid, elbows hitting the table, voices rising and falling. You sit somewhere in the middle, fork hovering, stomach twisting in nerves.
Your oldest brother snorts. “You really don’t wanna,” he mutters. You glare at him. He doesn’t care. “Mom,” you whisper, eyes on her, pleading. She shrugs, hands up. “Sweetie, I can’t help if I haven’t met him yet.” Your brother mutters again. “He’s a total asshole. Trust me, you don’t want him here.”
You almost dropped your fork. That was the biggest lie ever. Steve’s whole King Steve act was just that, an act. Deep down, he was soft, sweet, and smarter than half the guys your brothers called friends.
“It doesn’t matter,” your dad said, cutting through the chatter. “We’re meeting him tomorrow.” “Tomorrow?” You choked a little, because seriously, tomorrow? “dad, that’s way too soon.” “You’ve been with him long enough,” he said, voice firm. “We’re meeting him. End of story.”You slumped back in your chair while your brothers all gave little grins.
Later, your room is dark. Posters blur into shadows. You lie on your bed, fingers twisting the edge of the blanket, curling it, letting your nerves spin. The phone sits on the nightstand, cord coiled like a snake. You pick it up, heart hammering. “Hello? This is Steve,” his voice comes, serious, cautious.
“It’s me,” you whisper. “Oh hey, baby. How are you?” Warmth slides through his tone, teasing, soft, the kind that makes your chest ache.“I’m… okay. I need ask you something.” You bite your lip. “Yeah? What is it, baby?” He sounds tense. Nervous.
“My dad… he wants to meet you.” A pause. Then a laugh, low, surprised, nervous. “Wait… what?” “Tomorrow,” you whisper. “I know it’s soon. He… doesn’t know how to wait.”
He chuckles again, soft, shaking. “Hey… that’s fine. I’m excited. No more sneaking through your window for me.” You smile, shaking your head. “Are you sure?” “Of course, baby. I’m sure.” “ by the way how was school? I didn’t see you after.”
He laughs, low, teasing, a little dangerous. “i had basketball practice after angel, but other than that you know it went pretty good, i skipped first period. Had a hot make out session with this girl.”
“Steve!” You groan, laughing.
“I mean… wow. She’s just… wow,” he says, voice softening. “Every time. Blows my mind, and a few other things.” “Steve!” You laugh harder, shaking your head. “Come on,” he says. Laughs against the line. “You know I’m right.”
“Maybe we can ride together after school? To your place?” His voice tilts hopeful. “Yeah,” you say. “Just have to tell my brother first.”
The next day when the last bell hits and the hallways spill chaos. Lockers slam. Sneakers scrape tile. Voices rise and fall. You push through, stomach tight, heart hammering.
He’s at the edge of the lot, leaning against his car. Sun hits his hair just right. That grin. Wide, cocky, daring you to come closer.
“Hey baby,” he says. His voice slides over you and it burns.
Before you can answer, he’s close. His hands slip to your waist, pulling you against him. Lips brush yours. Soft at first. Then hard. Hungry. Fingers tangled in his hair. His hands grip your sides. Heat blooms in your chest and spreads low. Pulse racing.
The world disappears. There’s only him. Only the warmth of him pressed into you. Only the taste of him.
Then a voice cuts through. Sharp. “Really? Right here?” Your chest freezes. Older brother. Arms crossed. Glaring. Steve straightens but keeps holding your hand. A small nervous grin touches his lips. “Hey man,” he says.
Your brother rolls his eyes. “I don’t know why you two always gotta do that out here.” “It’s not like we’re gonna fuck in front of everyone,” you snap.
“Yeah, well, sure looked like it,” he mutters, shaking his head. “Whatever. I’ll see you at home.” He’s gone before you can say anything. Steve exhales, hand running through his hair. Pale.
“It’s okay,” you whisper, thumb brushing his cheek. “He hates me,” he mutters, voice tight.
“He doesn’t. He’s just protective,” you say.
Steve mutters something under his breath, opens the car door for you. You slide in beside him, fingers brushing, small warmth against the hum of the engine. “Don’t worry,” you murmur. “You’ve got this.
Steve glances at you, nervous, cocky, soft all at once. He leans over and presses a quick kiss to your lips. The drive home is quiet. Not awkward, just heavy with thought. You watch him without him noticing. Fingers tapping the wheel, leg bouncing. Nervous energy spilling out in tiny movements. “You know they’re gonna like you, right?” you say, voice soft, low.
He lets out a short laugh. “Yeah. I’m sure your brother is already inside, bragging about me.” The house comes into view. Your brother’s black BMW gleams in the driveway, parked exactly where it always is. “It’s fine,” you murmur, reaching over to run your hand through his hair. Fingers brushing over soft strands, untangling little pieces.
Steve glances at you. Tension slipping from his shoulders, the nervous edge in his eyes softening. He smiles. Real, small, just for you. “You ready?” you ask softly. He rubs the back of his neck and lets out a shaky breath. “Yeah. I think so.” He does not sound convinced at all.
You give his knee a quick squeeze and open your door. He follows you out, moving a little stiff, like he is trying not to mess anything up before he even steps inside.
The moment you open the front door, the usual noise washes over both of you. The TV is too loud. Your brothers are arguing. Your mom is in the kitchen, opening and closing cabinets. Your dad sits at the table with the newspaper open.
“Dad,” you say, stepping aside. “This is Steve.”
Steve stands there with his hands in his pockets, trying to look polite without looking scared. His hair is perfect, but the rest of him is tense.
“Sir,” he says. “Thanks for having me.”
Your dad studies him for a moment, calm and quiet. “Welcome. Dinner is almost ready.”
Your mom pops her head around the corner. “Hi sweetheart. It is nice to finally meet you.”
Steve gives her a small smile. “Nice to meet you too.”
Your oldest brother appears next, leaning against the doorway. He has the same look he had in the parking lot: bored and annoyed for no reason.
Steve tries a small smile. “Hey.”
Your brother gives him a single nod. Nothing else.
You jab your elbow into his ribs as you walk by. He does not react at all.
Everyone sits, and dinner starts right away. The table is loud, plates are passed around, and silverware clinks against dishes. Steve sits beside you, back very straight, knee brushing yours now and then.
Your dad clears his throat. “So, Steve. Tell me about yourself.”
Steve holds his fork a little too tightly. “Im a senior in high school. I play basketball, i-i um im the co- capitán of the swim team. And I have been seeing your daughter for a while.”
Your little brother snorts and your mom shoots him a look.
She turns back to Steve. “How did you two meet?”
Steve glances at you. You give him a small nod.
“Well… we ran into each other at school,” he says. “I wasn't watching where I was going. She was. She still ran me over.”
Your brothers laugh. Your dad does not. Your mom tries to hide a smile. You nudge Steve’s foot under the table. He gives you a tiny grin. “And how are your grades?” your dad asks. Steve swallows. “Better this semester.”
“Better than what?” your dad asks. Your mom waves her spoon. “He is trying. That is what matters.” Steve looks down for a moment. His shoulders relax a little. Your oldest brother leans back in his chair. “He skipped first period today.”
You almost throw your fork at him. Steve clears his throat. “Yeah. I did. But it was not for anything bad.” Your dad watches him for a moment, then nods and takes another bite of food. Your mom jumps in with a new topic. Thank God.
Dinner goes on. Slowly, Steve relaxes. He even gets your little brother laughing about something that happened in gym class. Your mom looks pleased. Your dad even smiles once, which feels like a small miracle.
When everyone is mostly finished, your mom wipes her hands on her apron. “You two can step outside for a bit if you want.” Steve stands so fast he nearly bumps the table.
Outside, the air is cooler and quieter. Steve sits on the top step and pulls a hand through his hair.
“I swear I thought I was going to pass out,” he says. “You were fine.”
“That is not true.”
“It is.” He looks at you. The porch light makes his eyes look warmer, calmer. “Your family is no joke,” he says. “I know. But you handled them.” He laughs under his breath. “Your dad is terrifying.”
“He scares everyone.” Steve smiles and nudges your shoulder. You lean into him. He reaches for your hand like he has been waiting to do it all night.
“Thanks for staying next to me in there,” he says quietly. “You already thanked me.” “I know. Here is another one.” You rest your head against his shoulder. He squeezes your fingers gently. “They like you more than they act like they do,” you tell him.
He glances at the window and then back at you. Something soft settles in his expression.“Thats good,” he says. “Because I am not going anywhere.”
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