Losing You - Pt 4
steve harrington x henderson!reader, based on the first half of season 3 episode 2. i did some scenes and dialog directly from the show, but there is more than plenty of originality and creativity in here as well.
i know this isn't nearly as long as the other chapters, but bare with me. at least it's out!
TW: angst, fluff, kissing, reader is hurt by her evil baby brother and boyfriend
WC: 2k
PT 3, Masterlist
“Steve,” you giggled, perched atop the back counter at the Scoops Ahoy inside the brand new Starcourt mall. “Steve, Stop! You’re gonna leave a mark!”
“I’m sorry,” he sighed, pressing one final kiss to the crook of your neck, “I just can’t help it. You’re delicious.”
You laughed again, head falling back. Steve of course saw this as an opportunity to go back in. He kissed and nipped and licked at your neck, all in a playful manner. You sighed in faux annoyance, but your hands gripped at his back, wrinkling his sailor uniform. You loved his kisses, what could you say?
No one knew about you and Steve. Not yet. Well, one person did, but she wouldn’t tell. Steve’s new coworker, Robin, was well aware of your secret. You always came in after the kids snuck through the back, giggling and talking with Steve. She liked you, quite a bit, actually.
“You two are disgusting,” Robin commented. She only came in the back room for a moment, probably to grab a stack of cones. You and Steve shared a look of slight embarrassment, but neither of you could help but laugh. Robin rolled her eyes and shook her head, although you could see a small smile playing on her lips. She pushed her way back to the counter in the front of the store, leaving you and Steve alone and giggly, kissing away each other's smiles.
Steve was kissing your neck, the spot right under your jaw, when he started sniffing aggressively.
“Steve, what the hell?!” You laughed, but you were utterly confused.
“You must be an angel, I can see it in your eyes,” he teasingly sang to you, voice muffled by the skin of your neck.
“You smell so good,” he praised, kissing you once more.
You curled your fingers in his hair, softly smiling at him as he grinned at you. You were about to pull him back in, when a familiar voice took you by surprise.
“Am I crazy or do I hear Dustin?” Steve asked, taking a half step away from you. You pouted at the loss of heat and weight, so he helped you off the counter, pulling you into his chest.
“Oh shit, I completely forgot! I’m a terrible sister!”
“Forgot what? What’s wrong?” Steve tilted your head up, trying to read your expressions.
“Dustin came home today!” You sighed, exasperated. “I was supposed to make him pot roast!”
Steve couldn’t help but chuckle. “Pot roast?”
“It’s his favorite,” you mumbled.
“Well, how about we go say hi to him right now?” Steve gently suggested, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. You stared up at him, almost getting lost in his honeyed eyes and kiss stained lips.
“He can’t know about us,” you reminded Steve, who promptly sighed and began to pull away. You knew it made him angry – maybe even sad – to keep your relationship a secret, but it was so much easier than explaining to Dustin why his sister and best friend were spending so much time together.
“Steve, don’t do that. I already feel bad enough.”
“I’m gonna go see if that’s him,” he spoke, not leaving any more room for argument. You scoffed in disbelief. Did he seriously just walk away after guilt tripping you?
“Henderson!” You heard Steve yell, and for a split second you wanted to run into his arms, thinking that he was calling you, that he sounded so happy to see you. Your dreams of making up were dashed and divided when you heard your little brother's laugh.
“Henderson! He’s back”
“I’m back! You got the job!”
“I got the job, yay!” Steve and Dustin celebrated. You couldn’t see them, but you could hear all the wild noises they made in greeting and it made your heart sink. Dustin would be so mad if he knew.
“How many children are you friends with?” You heard Robin ask, her voice flat yet sarcastic. You couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled out of your mouth that made Dustin’s head snap towards the textured glass leading to the back room.
“Who’s in there?” Dustin asked, a huge grin still on his face as he came down slightly.
Of course, as it always worked out, Robin beat Steve to the chase.
“Your sister.”
Steve shot her a look, his eyes wide and his face covered in sudden anxiety.
“What?! What’s she doing here?” Dustin yelled in surprise, already pushing past Steve to get to the break room door.
Hurriedly, you hopped off the counter, wiped around your mouth to hopefully hide any smeared lipstick (even though it was all over Steve’s mouth already), and fixed your hair. You put on a fragile smile for your brother in part of the facade, desperately wanting him to know nothing.
Dustin called your name as he pushed through the door, coming face to face with you. You, who stood with open arms and a bright smile plastered on your face. You, who wrapped your arms around your baby brother tightly, as if hugging him would ease the pain in your chest you had from watching Steve’s mood take a complete 180.
“What are you doing here?” He asked incredulously.
“I stopped by to pick up an ice cream cake for you,” you lied through your teeth.
“Oh. I thought you were making roast beef?”
“Yeah, I was, but we might have to wait till the next pay check arrives, alright bud?” You solemnly told him, taking his cap off to brush his hair back in a comforting manner. It was partly true – the ingredients could get pricey and you really didn’t have the money for all of it. Then again, you could have been buying the ingredients while he was gone to spread the cost out. He didn’t bring it up, though. He simply nodded and gave you an understanding smile.
“I get it,” he replied, backing out of your arms entirely. “I’m gonna go sit with Steve, catch up.”
“With Steve? I’m right here,” you asked, confused and hurt.
“Yeah, well he just seemed really excited to see me,” Dustin shrugged like he wasn’t wedging his hands in the split Steve had created in your heart earlier.
“Okay,” you tried to smile, but it came out all wrong. Your voice was weak, and your lips couldn’t stay pulled up. Dustin either didn’t notice or didn’t care because he left without another word, going back to Steve, leaving you with poofy hair and unspilled tears.
You blinked back the drops threatening to fall as you desperately tried to calm yourself down. You felt terrible. Terrible that you forgot about Dustin coming home, terrible about lying to him, terrible for upsetting Steve, and terrible because both of them abandoned you after nearly making you cry.
After your eyes were dry enough to be unsuspecting, you joined Robin behind the counter just in time to hear Dustin telling Steve that kissing was better without teeth. You shuttered when you heard and suddenly you weren’t so sad to be missing out on their catch up session.
“So, does your brother know or what?” Robin asked under her breath.
“He has no clue. At least I hope,” you filled her in, keeping your voice low. She nodded once before serving the guy who was walking up to the counter.
“So do you really just get to eat as much of this as you want?” You heard Dustin ask Steve as he munched away on his banana boat ice cream sundae.
“Yeah. I mean, sure,” Steve told Dustin, leaning against the red booth with one arm slung over the edge of the sticky leather. “It’s not really a good idea for me, though, you know. I gotta keep in shape for–” he began to say the first letter of your name, but quickly cut himself off with a frantic shake of his head. “–for the ladies.”
“Yeah, and how’s that working out for you?” Robin called out with a teasing smile on her face.
“Ignore her,” Steve quickly told Dustin, who seemed rather interested in the new girl.
“She seems cool,” he said, and you stopped paying attention.
Well, tried to stop paying attention, because when you turned to start a conversation with Robin, you heard your brother yell something that sounded suspiciously like “I intercepted a secret Russian communication!” that had heads turning in shock and disgust, the room filling with gasps.
Robin quickly snapped your attention back to her, though. She started mocking the guy who she just served, and you laughed your ass off because, yes, he was a total douche.
Dustin talked to Steve until he was finished with his ice cream. After that, they both scurried off into the back room, neither one of them so much as sparing you a glance.
“Oof,” Robin commented. You kissed your teeth and put on an exaggerated smile before turning to Robin.
“Did I do something to him?”
“Who? Steve?”
“Yes, Steve. Because ever since Dustin got here, he’s been giving me the cold shoulder,” you rambled off, your voice thick with tension and worry.
“I don’t know,” Robin shrugged before picking up a sample spoon and scooping herself some mint chocolate chip. “Maybe he likes Dustin more,” she teased, though it didn’t seem far-fetched at the moment.
“You really think so?” You asked, worry clear on your face.
“What? No, I was just kidding,” she replied, picking up on your stress. “Listen, I don't really know Steve all that well, but I do know that he really likes you. When you’re not here, he doesn’t shut up about you. I highly doubt that you’re invisible to him just because your brother’s back.”
You nodded as your shoulders deflated, taking in her words when Erica Sinclair strolled into the Scoops Ahoy, her posse trailing behind her.
You and her were familiar with each other considering that up until last summer she needed a babysitter, and her regular was always bad at showing up. You were always one phone call away happy to help (and bring in some extra cash) when needed. You knew how this went, however. Her and all her friends asked for sample after sample until either Robin refused or Steve caved and gave them free ice cream. Not wanting to watch the life get sucked out of Robin, you figured it was time to try and get your way in with Steve and Dustin.
You walked into Steve pacing the room while eating a banana, and both boys listened to a recording. It was some Russian guy talking while music played in the background.
As confused as you were, you decided to try and sit down without making any noise. That plan didn’t work out, however. Both boys immediately jumped, Dustin rushing to turn off the recording.
“What are you doing in here?!” He asked angrily while performing upset hand motions.
You raised your hands up in surrender and tentatively explained that your feet were tired and you wanted to sit, which was a lie.
“Are there no open booths?” Steve asked genuinely. You stared at him with your mouth open, in complete disbelief that he didn’t even try to stand up for you.
You looked at both boys in the room, both who clearly didn’t want you there. Both who were content and peaceful until you walked in. Once again, both boys who hurt you.
You didn’t really know how to respond to their obvious eagerness to have you leave, so you closed your mouth and turned on your heel, walking back out. Whatever they were doing, you were gonna let them. You didn’t want to be around people who had no interest in you, either.
“Whao– where are you going?” Robin asked as you flew past her and out into the wild of the mall. Your eyes were red and glistening as your cheeks warmed up in embarrassment. All you wanted was to get out of there and go home.
Series taglist: @ladybug-polkadots, @ilovest3veh4rr1ngt0n, @dopeysunflowers
let me know if you'd like to be added / removed :)