@playindnd liked for a starter.
This had to be the absolute worst year in Steve’s life so far. Sure, being beat up and drugged by Russians was pretty bad, but this year had been worse. The murders, being pulled down into the lake and almost getting killed by some weird demobats? That had been bad enough already. But apparently, the Upside Down had taken a liking to trying to strangle him, and while they’d managed to get Vecna down, or so they’d thought at first, … he had still won.
Max was most likely dead, he had no idea really, and Eddie … he’d gotten hurt so bad. There had been no doubt in his head when he’d heard about their friend’s condition from Dustin, that he wasn’t going to leave him there on his own. So, Steve had gone to get him, pretty much carrying him towards the portal in the hopes to get him through in one piece so they could get him to a hospital. Sure, he was still wanted for murder, but … dying was worse right? They’d figure it out …
And then, then the portal had closed …
He had been there, looking up at his friends, calculating how to best do this when out of the blue it had just shrunk and vanished altogether. Staring up at it in disbelief, Steve had needed a few moments before gathering himself and knowing that right now, there was only one priority. Getting to safety, as far as that was possible in a world where every animal like creature tried to eat you, and making sure Eddie would be alright. And then, hopefully they’d find another way back to their own world.