“am i- are we too late?” PART 3 (finale)
steve harrington x reader
part 1 || part 2 || part 3
summary: steve and reader have been BEST FRIENDS for ages - they even work at the same place (scoops). reader is in love with him so she tells him at work. he turns her down. now they have to go to the upside down. but something happens to reader to make him rethink eveyrthing
info/warning: emotional themes, injury, blood loss, can be read with any pronouns as “you” is used, no y/n, puuree hurt/a little angst? and fluff!, mutuals pining at different times, steve being his oblivious self, times when steve thinks he’s being smart, NOT proofread! lmk if there are any mistakes :)
taglist: @littlemissvenom0 @g0ldenline @offbrandhandymanny @ehlareym @amirafloral @sexyvixen7 @mandylynn22
wc: 2k
my note: this was super super fun to write :) please send me more requests and i’d LOVE to do them :)
the hospital hallway smells like antiseptic and quiet exhaustion.
fluorescent lights buzz softly above the rows of pale walls and plastic chairs. somewhere down the corridor a machine beeps steadily and a nurse’s shoes squeak against the tile floor.
everything feels too bright. too still. too normal. like the world kept moving while something inside steve is completely shattered. he hasn’t moved from the chair beside your hospital bed in hours. maybe longer.
his elbows rest on his knees and his hands are clasped together so tightly his knuckles have gone pale. there’s dried blood still under his fingernails. he hasn’t noticed.nhe hasn’t noticed much of anything since the moment the doctors rushed you through the emergency doors.
machines hum quietly beside your bed. the slow rhythmic beep… beep… beep of the heart monitor fills the room. it’s the only thing keeping him breathing.
your arm lies weakly on the mattress. a thin hospital bracelet around your wrist. your skin looks pale against the white sheets. too pale. steve stares at your hand like it’s the most important thing in the world. like if he looks away something terrible might happen.
the door creaks open softly. robin slips inside carrying two cups of vending machine coffee.
she studies steve quietly for a second. his hair is messy. his eyes are red. he looks like he hasn’t slept in a year. she sets one cup beside him. “you should drink something” he doesn’t look up. “not thirsty”
robin sighs and sits in the chair across from him. “steve you’ve been sitting here for like seven hours” “eight..” his voice is hoarse. quiet.
robin watches him carefully. “you should sleep” he shakes his head immediately. “no”
his hand finally moves. reaching slowly across the bed until his fingers gently wrap around yours. like he’s afraid you might disappear if he lets go.
“what if she wakes up?” robin’s expression softens. “then she’ll see you looking like you fought a war” steve gives a weak humorless laugh. “feels like i did”
silence settles between them. the machines continue their quiet rhythm.
robin glances at your sleeping face. then back at steve. “d’ you know i’ve been waiting months for you two to figure this out?”
steve exhales slowly. “not really the timing i imagined” she leans back in the chair. “yeah well you both waited until a life threatening dimension monster situation to confess your feelings so honestly that tracks” steve runs a hand through his hair. his eyes never leaving you. “i almost lost her” his voice cracks slightly on the last word.
robin doesn’t joke this time. she just nods quietly. “i know” steve’s thumb gently brushes across the back of your hand. a soft nervous motion.
“she told me she loved me” his voice is barely above a whisper. “and the only thing i could think was that i didn’t deserve it” robin tilts her head. “that’s stupid” he lets out a quiet breath. “yeah” another pause.
then robin stands. “i’m gonna go find actual food” she grabs her jacket. “try not to spiral into emotional self destruction while i’m gone” steve nods absently. “no promises” she gives him one last look. then leaves.
the door clicks softly behind her. the room grows quiet again. steve leans forward slightly. his free hand brushing gently across your hair.
“hey” his voice is soft now. softer than robin’s ever heard it. “you’re missing the part where you wake up” he swallows. his throat tight. “that part would be really great right about now” the monitor continues its steady rhythm.
beep… beep… beep…
steve sighs quietly and rests his head against the edge of the mattress beside your arm. still holding your hand. hours of fear and adrenaline finally pulling at his exhaustion. his eyelids slowly grow heavier.
“you scared the hell out of me” he murmurs drowsily. “don’t ever do that again” his voice fades. sleep finally taking him. his head resting beside your hand. still holding it tightly. like he promised himself he would never let go again. the room stays quiet for a while. machines humming. night settling outside the hospital windows.
then, your fingers twitch. just slightly. barely noticeable. but enough. your eyes slowly flutter open. the ceiling above you feels unfamiliar. blurry. it takes a moment for your vision to focus.
then you notice the weight of something warm around your hand. you turn your head slightly. and there he is. steve. asleep in the chair beside the bed. his head resting against the mattress. your hand still clutched tightly in his. even in sleep his grip hasn’t loosened. his hair is messy. his face exhausted. but peaceful in a way you’ve never seen before. your chest tightens softly.
“st-steve?” your voice is weak. raspy. but it’s enough.
his head lifts instantly. like he woke up before the sound even finished leaving your lips. his eyes snap open. confused for half a second. then they land on you. awake. looking back at him. the relief that floods his face is immediate. overwhelming.
“oh thank god” he stands quickly nearly knocking the chair over. his hands gently cup your face like he’s making sure you’re real. “you’re awake”
your lips curve into a small tired smile. “hi”
steve lets out a shaky laugh. his forehead dropping against yours. “you’re unbelievable you know that” you blink slowly. “why?” his thumb brushes softly across your cheek. “because you nearly died and the first thing you say is hi” you smile weakly. “seemed polite”
steve shakes his head softly.
then without thinking he leans down and presses a gentle kiss against your forehead. lingering there for a second.
his voice quiet. full of something warm and terrified and relieved all at once. “don’t ever scare me like that again” you squeeze his hand faintly. “can’t promise that”
steve sighs. but he’s smiling now. soft. real.
and for the first time since the upside down everything feels okay.
three weeks later
a few weeks later the familiar bell above the door jingles as someone walks into scoops ahoy. the smell of waffle cones and sugar fills the air again. everything feels normal. almost. you lean against the counter carefully still a little sore but much better.
steve stands beside you in his ridiculous sailor uniform pretending to reorganize the straws. in reality he’s watching you. again. he’s been doing that a lot lately. like if he looks away you might disappear.
robin notices immediately. she groans loudly. “oh my god” steve glances over. “what?!”
she gestures between the two of you. “the staring”byou laugh softly. “what staring?”
“the constant googly eyes” steve scoffs. “i do not have googly eyes”
robin raises an eyebrow. “steve harrington you literally carried her through the upside down while crying and confessing your love”
steve immediately turns red. “robin!!” you hide a smile behind your hand. she continues casually. “it was very romantic actually”
“robin please stop talking”
“i’m just saying you could’ve confessed months ago and saved us all the trauma”
steve sighs deeply. but when he looks back at you his expression softens again. the teasing fades instantly. he steps closer. his hand gently brushing yours behind the counter.
“you feeling okay?” his voice is quiet. concerned.nyou nod. “i’m okay” his shoulders relax slightly. “good”
robin watches the entire exchange with a smug expression. “this is disgusting”
you laugh. “you’re just jealous”
“i absolutely am not” she pauses. then adds “okay maybe a little”
steve rolls his eyes. but then he turns back to you. his hand still holding yours. “so..” his voice softens slightly. “there’s something i’ve been meaning to do” you tilt your head. “what?”
instead of answering he gently lifts a hand to your cheek. his thumb brushing softly across your skin. his eyes searching yours like he’s still making sure this is real. that you’re really here. alive.
then he leans down slowly. this time the kiss is soft. careful. like something precious. but warm and certain all the same. when he pulls back he rests his forehead against yours again.
smiling quietly. “should’ve done that weeks ago”
you smile back. “yeah”
robin loudly pretends to gag behind the counter. “okay that’s enough romance for one shift” steve laughs softly. but he doesn’t let go of your hand.
not this time. not ever again.
EEEEKK ITS OVER!! i hope the finale was as you guys expected! tysm for all the love from this series:) i’m thinking of doing a joe keery smau!! they seem SO fun to do! what do we think? LMKKK :)
