“halfway happy”
seen from Canada

seen from China
seen from Philippines

seen from Malaysia
seen from China
seen from Ireland

seen from China

seen from Australia
seen from United States
seen from Australia
seen from United States

seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from India

seen from Germany
seen from Canada
seen from United States

seen from Philippines
seen from India
“halfway happy”
Morning 🌟
♡*:.。.You are in love.。.:*♡
In between surviving and fighting against monsters, something quieter starts to grow around the town. Maybe that's even scarier, but not bad. You and Steve rely on each other, and, just maybe, he is not that awful.
And so it goes.
Steve Harrington x fem!reader
cw: slow burn (ish); friends to lovers; they are lowkey two idiots in love and don't realize it; inspired by the Taylor Swift song (this was supposed to be a soobin fanfic); events go from the end of s2 to s3; cussing obvi; librarian reader but it's just mentioned three times I think; use of y/n but it's minimal; canon divergent (please excuse me mixing up things, I just realized that I wrote steve working at scoops while dustin is in town and not camp ooopslet's not be mean ok we are a beautiful family) and possibly out of character steve; maybe spoilers from past seasons but no s5 spoilers.; also oh dustin my precisous child, he is lowkey always interrupting them kind of idk how to put it (maybe i am too insecure about this but shhh);
word count: 6.8k
a/n: oh boy do I miss steve (might have cried thinking of him but shhhh); It's been a while since I wrote a whole ass story but this was fun. It was supposed to be a soobin fic, but I just miss steve so much, and this song fits him so well imo. Anywas, I was super excited to post this and maybe I'll write more about him in the future (I'll consider this story a social experiment). I kindly remind you all that English is not my first language; please excuse any mistakes (because I did not read this thoroughly after writing). Enjoy!!!
dividers from pawcify and kodaswrld
It all started at the Byers' house back in 1983, you remember it all too well. Killing a demogorgon was not an easy task and definitely not the safest idea of fun.
That being said, Steve Harrington was an asshole. Or at least you thought so.
He had no reason to help that night except for Nancy, but he stayed anyway. Even after their messy breakup in 84, he tried and once again was dragged down the rabbit hole. Somehow, that night, he got promoted from king Steve to the party’s babysitter along with you.
That year, after the demodogs and having his ass beaten up by Billy, he could’ve stepped back, gone back and mind his own business. But it ended up being deeper than that; he helped Dustin with the Snow Ball, drove him there and acted like an older brother to the kid. Back that night, he insisted on giving you a ride back home after the dance—despite neither of you making an effort to be on good terms during the early years of high school. For the first time you two talked. No witty banters or discussing how to survive. It was…honest.
Maybe Steve Harrington wasn't a complete asshole. He cared more than he should’ve, more than he showed at first. You saw right through him, and that was enough.
It was all about small talk at first. A quick greeting in the hallway in between classes, Steve asking for a pen in Spanish class, or even babysitting the kids on a day out.
By spring break in the following year, you two were already close. It was something unspoken, almost like the universe was dragging you closer each time.
With his parents always out, his place was declared the official hangout spot whenever Mike’s mom was done with their mess. And that was okay, you were all responsible enough…well, you were. Steve was always trying to play it cool. One of those days, you found yourself stuck in his house for the whole day. A movie marathon, Dustin had declared. And it was not like either of you had something better to do anyway. It was your turn to stay, and so you did.
“Wow!” you exclaimed, falling on the couch beside Steve. The coffee table that once held a fancy statue on top was now lined with comic books, campaign-related items, and movie posters. “How long are you guys planning on staying here?” Your eyebrows shot up, amused and trying to suppress a smirk. Steve looked around in plain horror. Sure, he had agreed on hosting movie night this week—a movie, singular.
“What?” Mike looked at the two of you, slightly annoyed with your remark, “We asked Steve if we could come over and he said yes.”
“Plus, it’s raining,” Lucas made sure to add.
“Yeah, for a movie and maybe a can of soda, and not…whatever this”, Steve gestured to the mess in front of him “is.” Almost as if he was looking for some comfort, his eyes trailed off to your face, and he sighed, “Can you believe it?”
“I don’t see a problem,” you shrugged, sitting crisscross beside Max, both of you giggling. “Are you telling me you don't like…” eyes roaming around their picks for the afternoon “sixteen candles? Footloose?”
“Those are all girls' films!” he defended.
“Oh, don’t pout, Stevie. Let’s see what we have here…Gremilins, ghostbusters, the–what the? Muppets take Manhattan? Nightmare on Elm Street? What a peculiar taste you guys have…”
Stevie. This one is new; no one has ever called him that before. And– hey! Why was he feeling so warm inside? Doesn’t matter. Steve rolled his eyes with a scoff, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “You’re all unbelievable.”
The rain made the Harringtons’ house go from a cold dungeon (Dustin’s words) to something cozy, resembling home. It was chaotic, sure, but never uncomfortable.
In between Lucas and Mike arguing about what movie they should watch and what food to order, you found yourself beside Steve on the couch, your shoulders brushing occasionally and little “sorry’s” whispered. If anyone paid enough attention, they would notice the way your breath hitched a little, or the way Steve spent most of the night running his fingers through his hair.
Neither of you moved. Not when your shoulders brushed again, not when they stayed that way a second too long. But you were somehow aware of the surroundings now.
“You don’t seem to mind the mess,” you leaned slightly closer just to whisper in his ear so only he could hear.
Oh, there it was. Steve shifted in his seat beside you, touching his hair again. He grew quiet for a moment, and the background noise faded. You expected a sarcastic remark, but his voice was small for the first time, honest.
He shrugged and glanced at you, muttering so only you could hear. “It gets too quiet, I guess. So I don’t care.”
Your gaze darted from the TV and fell on his face, really looking at him. Properly.
That was not King Steve, the Hair Harrington, or the babysitter. It was just…Steve. And you understood with just a simple answer.
Maybe it was just you and him allowing each other to become friends. Or maybe it was just spring doing its job.
“Hello?!” a voice interrupted the quiet you had built. Dustin was waving in front of Steve with an annoyed expression, and following it, Lucas added, “Are you ok? Dude, you are drooling.”
“You’ve been staring into space for a solid minute,” Max said, narrowing her eyes. Then she glanced between the two of you, suspicious. “That’s weird.”
“Stop tormenting Steve; he is disturbed enough already.” You winked at him. “Have you guys decided on what we should order?”
“Yeah, okay,” Dustin dragged out, clearly unconvinced. “Anyway, we decided on pizza. Again.”
“We didn’t decide. You are a controlling freak and a dictator.” Mike corrected from the opposite side of the room.
“Which, by the way, you didn’t object!” he argued.
“I–” Mike attempted to shoot back, but Steve was quicker, running his fingers through his hair as he cut the discussion. “Pizza it is. I’ll make the call, you,” he looked at you down on the couch, “make sure they don’t turn things into World War Three.”
Your eyes met Max’s and El’s, making the three of you giggle as Steve marched to the kitchen with Dustin and Lucas behind, now arguing about what movie they should watch first.
You ended up going from Ghostbusters to Muppets in New York, claiming that Nightmare on Elm Street would be too strong for El or Will after the previous events (Mike called you a wimp). After three movies in, of course Dustin was the first one to fall asleep, and the rest of the party followed him shortly after, leaving you and Steve in the quiet, dimmed living room.
Things didn’t change completely overnight. It was all about the small moments, the quiet ones where Steve thought that you or anyone was looking. But oh boy, were they paying attention. Of course they would notice his attempts. Steve was not a bad person, and he tried to prove that every day. But there was something more blooming; he just didn’t seem to notice, and neither did you.
By the end of senior year and graduation, things got even more chaotic between college applications and summer vacation (if it was even possible). The car rides to drop the kids at the arcade in his BMW, or you dropping them off at the mall for the movies, only to be found by his side on Scoops during his break. You always ended up next to him. Not on purpose, but it was funny that it was happening so often. And even Robin noticed, despite being only his coworker.
“Steve is not here,” she said one day, not even bothering to look up. Of course it was you walking into the ice cream shop.
“How the hell did you know it was me?”
“Please,” Robin rolled her eyes, you were asking such a dumb question. “It’s like a routine at this point. You stop by every day, might as well start working here with your boyfriend.” and she smirked, can you believe it?
And you couldn’t even deny it. It was true, you did stop by at any given chance before your shifts at the local library.
“You’re so cute, y/n. I’m just messing with you.” And what would you even reply? You longed for those moments, but that’s only because, surprisingly, Steve became such a great friend. So you only shot Robin half a smile, not denying or confirming anything.
“I’ll come back later. I wanna say goodbye to Dustin before he leaves for…whatever the hell that camp is.”
“Thought so. You are smiling because you know I’m right.”
“Goodbye, Robin!” You emphasised the first word and waved before leaving her behind with that annoying smirk.
That afternoon slipped into a complete blur; it was hectic, and your mind was a bit fuzzy. By the time you reached Starcourt, Steve and Dustin were waiting for you, bodies leaning on his car. They were giggling about something stupid, but the moment Steve realized you were there, his whole demeanor became soft almost instantly, like it was his second nature.
“Finally!” Dustin was the first one to speak up, “Do you have any idea of how long we’ve been waiting out here?”
“Oh, shush. Some of us have real jobs.” You looked at Steve with a mock expression, “I can always go back to the library…”
“Okay,” Dustin raised his hand with a sassy tone, which made both of you laugh at his expression. “This is literally emotional blackmail. I thought I was your favorite and that we were best friends. I leave tomorrow for camp, and yet you do this…”
“I thought I was your best friend.” Steve pouted and you rolled your eyes.
“And I don’t have a favorite, I love you six all the same.”
“Don’t care, I claimed myself as favorite,” he shrugged and hopped on the backseat of the BMW.
“Can you believe this kid?” you scoffed, pretending to be annoyed, suppressing the smile that was already taking place on your face. Steve’s heart did a little jump; he was excited to see you.
“Oh, yeah,” he smirked, “He’s the worst.” Steve chuckled; his eyes were soft, not in a distracted way, it was almost like he was trying to read you. You noticed and let it linger for a few seconds.
“Oh,” he cleared his throat and looked away, moving his body to get something in the front seat of the car, “I almost forgot. Robin mentioned you stopped by earlier, and I was not there. I got you this.”
“Ice cream?”
“You know it.” And of course Steve played it cool, like it didn’t matter. It was just ice cream anyway, ice cream which he made sure to get from scoops, even though it was his day off and he was not supposed to be there.
“Oh, thanks?” you looked down with your teeth sinking on your bottom lip. Why was it so hot? Summer had barely started. “But I want you to know that I stop by before my shifts just to see you in that ridiculous outfit and make fun of you in my head.” Steve let out a breathy laugh as he made his way to the car, opening the door for you and climbing into the driver’s seat right after. “What? It is a sight for sore eyes. I’m sure that…the ladies like it.”
And with that, Dustin gagged in the back, resting his chin on your shoulder with an annoyed expression. “Can you two, like, flirt after we are done with the arcade? Jesus, so disgusting…” he mumbled.
You two shared a knowing look, each with flushed cheeks due to Dustin’s remark.
The arcade was loud. Too loud. The floor stuck slightly under your shoes, kids shouted over one another, and everything smelled like sugar and something vaguely burnt. Just another summer in Hawkins.
Dustin was long gone by the time Steve parked, not even bothering to say a word.
“Yet he said he wanted to spend time with us before leaving.” You scoffed, pushing the door open.“Weirdo.”
Steve smirked; your brows were furrowed, and your nose all scrunched up. Steve huffed out a quiet laugh, stepping around the car to hold the door open for you. “He’ll be back when he’s hungry. Wanna play something?”
“You want to play?” you raised a brow.
“What? I will even let you win,” He leaned in slightly so you could hear him over the noise, voice low, teasing, and you shivered. Would he notice the way your breath hitched?
“Wow,” you scoffed, “You’re on, Harrington.”
“You sound way too confident.” he raised his eyebrows, body close to yours. Way too close.
“That’s because I am.”
You picked something simple, something you were familiar with. Playing it safe was always a good choice. Steve didn’t have to know that, though.
He paid without a word, leaning casually against the machine as you started, arms crossed, eyes fixed on you instead of the screen.
You could feel it.
You see, you were not bad. But it’s not like you were great either. The arcade was not your thing; you had only been there a couple of times with your friends. However, confidence was all about fake it until you make it.
You held your ground, at first. For a moment, you believed you could prove him wrong. You were getting cocky, and of course Steve noticed. He always did.
“Careful,” Steve hummed from beside you.
"What? I'm just being better than you.” You shot back, not looking at him.
"For now.”
You didn’t lose, not at first. Mario bros was not hard, and you were oh so sure that Steve would be eating dust. He was not a nerd, he was Steve.
Then he stepped in, cracking his knuckles.
“Can you beat me?” You stepped back with a smirk, letting him take place.
“Of course I can. Who do you think I am?”
“Quit the talking and play, Harrington.”
He was better. Annoyingly better.
You watched as he moved with ease, completely focused now. Until he wasn’t, because every time you leaned in just slightly, every time your shoulder brushed his, his rhythm slipped. Just a little.
Unfortunately, not enough to lose to you, apparently.
By the time you three called a night, Dustin was holding you two behind, clutching at his heart, gasping for air.
“What?!” Dustin snorted, stopping in the middle of the parking lot to catch his breath, “You lost?! Twice?! To Steve?! What games did you even play while I was gone?”
Heat rushed to your face almost instantly. Of course he would make it a big deal. Of course Steve would let him.
“Hey,” you grabbed Steve’s arm with a huff, all pouty, “I kindly asked you not to tell him.” And for an unknown reason, your fingers curled a little too tightly.
His skin was warm under your fingers, maybe warmer than usual. Again, it was summer, and it was definitely not a big deal. Your hand stayed there a second too long, enough for him to pay attention. Enough to make your cheeks flush.
Steve glanced down, just for a second, before looking back at Dustin. “I didn’t tell! He guessed. Kid’s smart, you should know that.” You glanced at him, and there it was, that stupid signature grin he was always trying to hide whenever you were close. Boy, did you want to smack it off.
“Okay!” you groaned, jumping into the car. “Yeah, I lost. But that’s on Steve! He kept distracting me and I couldn’t focus when it was my turn.”
“I was dis– can you believe her?” Steve looked at Dustin with eyes wide open, but the kid’s only reaction was to look between the two of you and smirk as he started the car.
Yeah, you did lose on Mario bros. Yes, you were pissed at Steve for beating you, even more for making fun of you with Dustin. But for the first time, he was having fun. The glimmer in his eyes gave it away (and it was so nice to piss him off as well), so why hold any grudges?
Your head rested against the seat and you closed your eyes, letting the wind cool down your cheeks. Dustin was rambling about God knows what on the back, while you offered small remarks on the topic. Little did you know, Steve was looking at you through the rearview the whole way to Dustin’s house, hands tight against the wheel. Every so often, he would look away from the road until his eyes stopped on you. It was…soft, almost careful.
And for the first time, Dustin didn’t feel the need to make a big deal out of it. Steve would find out sooner or later.
By the time the car was parked in front of the Henderson’s house, Dustin was quick to hop off, waiting for you to say goodbye. He was a bit dramatic while doing it, but you wouldn’t want it any other way.
“Take care of him,” he whispered to you, pointing at Steve. What is that supposed to mean?
“Steve is a lot of trouble, though.” You made sure to say it loudly enough for him to hear, and you two giggled at the way his brows furrowed. “See you, Dustin. Make good choices!” you made sure to yell as he made his way to the porch, giving you the middle finger.
The door shut. Silence settled in.
It was different now. Quieter.
Steve started the car, pulling away from the curb, one hand resting loosely on the wheel.
“Take care of him…” Steve scoffed, “What am I? Four?”
“You did get your ass beaten twice,” you smirked, already opening the passenger seat’s door.
“Wow. That’s,” he pointed at you, “a low blow.”
You snorted. Steve was not mad; on the contrary. If you paid enough attention, you’d see the ghost of a smirk threatening to show up on his face. Everything felt easy back then, just summer and all its shenanigans in the middle of June.
“At least you survived. I mean, Billy…that was definitely something .” You mumbled minutes after, already on the road as the car made its way to your house.
Steve’s eyes flickered to yours, fully now, something unreadable flickering across his face before he forced his eyes back to the road.
Something lingered inside the car on the way home. No smart remarks from Dustin, no Robin making blunt comments, and definitely not the whole group making not-so-subtle kissing noises whenever you two were around each other. Perhaps it’s just the loneliness, you thought. Everyone was so aware all the time, and now the taste of something calm around Hawkins felt off, odd.
At this point, you should expect that nothing would be like that forever. By the time July made its way into the town, the air felt heavier. Not due to the heat, but something else, none of you could quite name it yet.
As usual, you were in the break room at Scoops. Robin was making you company during lunch (or, more like, you making her company?), and, like second nature, you two were making fun of Steve and his lack of romantic skills with the girls.
“It goes on like this basically…the whole day, yeah.” She groaned, pointing to the ajar window, showing you once more Steve trying to ask a girl out. Something about it was off. What was that feeling so sudden and new you’d been dealing with ever since graduation?
“I’m getting second-hand embarrassment, make it stop!” You covered your eyes because it was true. All the high school appeal was not there anymore, and, unfortunately, you had to agree with Robin’s “You rule X You suck” board.
“Oh!” she jumped off her chair with a grin, already grabbing the board and opening the window. “This is my favorite part of the day. Watch.”
Robin opened the window fully, looking at Steve with an annoyed expression, and you followed right behind her, holding back a giggle. She added another stick to the board, looked at you, and then at Steve again.
“You know that means you suck, right?” She added.
“Yeah, I know. I can read.” Steve rolled his eyes, and you snorted. “It’s this stupid hat, I’m telling you. It’s totally blowing my best feature.”
“I don’t think it is, though…” You added.
Steve blinked twice at you, almost offended. “Why are the two of you teaming up against me?”
“No one is teaming up. I just said that maybe it’s not just the hat,” you suggested, leaning on the window with Robin. “Maybe you are trying too hard.” You settled on softer this time. “Are you sure you’re over Nance? That could…also be the reason you don’t succeed with those girls…”
Robin froze beside you, and so did Steve. You were not the one to meddle in his love life, no matter how painfully hard to watch it was. Either way, his eyes lingered on you, up and down, before he looked away. “No. It’s definitely the hat.” He cleared his throat.
“Steve, I just–”
“Dingus, three o'clock.” Robin interrupted you, pointing her head to four girls stepping into the shop.
“You know what,” he took off the sailor hat, “screw company policy.”
“Wow, a whole new man!” You rolled your eyes and left the back room, eyeing the girls on your way to a booth, Robin right behind you. Steve looked at you for approval, and when you gave him a not-so-excited thumbs up, he enthusiastically moved forward, raising his voice to greet them.
“Ahoy, ladies! I didn’t see you there.” And you cringed immediately. From the corner of your eye, you could see two of the girls gasp, but that was not enough for Steve to stop. “Would you guys like to set sail on this ocean of flavor with me? I’ll be your captain. I’m Steve Harrington.”
Robin almost banged her head on the table, rolling her eyes. You looked at him with pure disgust, begging for her to do something.
“I can’t do this any longer. Steve is embarrassing himself, and he doesn’t seem to care.” You covered your ears with disgust as he kept rambling to those poor girls.
“Okay! Jesus… Okay. He needs intervention. I'll go, pray for me.”
"You are very brave, Robs.” You clutched, and with that Robin slid out of the booth like she was about to step into a gun fight. Dramatic, but effective.
Whatever was happening at the counter was most definitely none of your business, but you couldn't help but peek through the fingers covering your eyes. Just in time, Steve flashed the girl at the very front a dopey smile; you didn't notice, but that was actually for you.
"Ahoy, welcome to scoops.” Robin pushed Steve to the side, cutting him off, forcing a Smile. "Forgive Dingus over here, it's his first day, and he's quite hungry now, so he's not thinking straight.” She muttered the last part, forcing him away from the counter.
"What? No,” he blinked, thrown off. “I got this. I was –”
You snorted from your seat, dropping your hands from your face as the girls giggled awkwardly. One of them whispered something to the other, and just like that, whatever slim chance Steve had completely evaporated.
Just like a sad puppy, he made his way into the back. You trailed off right behind him, slapping his shoulder for good measure.
“That was so performative.” You added, and the look he gave you could've been translated into many, many curse words.
"It's called charm.” He scoffed, running his fingers through his hair. Your eyes softened at his shoulders dropping a little. He frowned, glancing at you back and forth. "You think so?”
"You are trying too hard. You don’t even give them a chance to like who you are.” You tried again, gentler now. "Just… be yourself. I'm sure they'll like you for who you are.”
There it was again, that unsettling feeling that always seemed to sneak in when it was just the two of you. Steve went still for a second, but shot you with a comeback.
"What? You want me to tell the truth? That I am Steve Harrington, haven't gotten into college, and that my douche father is making me sell ice cream as punishment?”
You felt something twist in your chest, unexpected and sharp. The words hit harder than they should have.
Steve tried to hide it under a small joke, but you knew there was something more to it. It always did; you learned that over the past few months. You had seen Steve bruised, bleeding, exhausted… but this is the first time he felt small, out loud. To you.
Your mouth opened, but nothing came out.
Steve was not mad, but it would sting a little less if he were. He was looking at you, through you. Like someone who said too much and couldn’t take it back.
The fact that Steve was allowing himself to feel (maybe not the best feelings, but who said that emotions had to be great all the time?), even more in that stupid sailor costume at the back of an ice cream shop, shifted things. Every coincidence didn’t feel small anymore. It was…real.
But that was just you reading too much into things, avoiding what was really there, avoiding what you’d want.
Playing it safe was not always the smart choice. But holding Steve back sounds selfish, desperate.
“You think that’s all you are?” you said finally, quieter than you intended.
His hands came to rest on the edge of the table behind him, fingers gripping it like he needed something solid to hold onto. His jaw tightened, and for a second, you thought he would just brush it off.
He didn’t.
“What else is there?” he muttered, quieter now. Not defensive. Just… tired.
And that shouldn’t have hit that hard. Your chest tightened. It was raw, and it hurt because he silently believed it was true.
“Steve–” you approached him, before you could think better of it.
“No, seriously,” he cut in, but there was no bite to it. “Isn’t it true? My parents barely look at me when they are around, like I’m some kind of failure. I’m not King Steve anymore, which is not bad, but now it’s like…I don’t know, man. What’s in for me now?”
“You think some college letter decides who you are?” You tilted your head slightly, searching his face. “Or your dad?”
The silence that followed wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was full.
Steve let out a slow breath, looking down at the floor before dragging a hand through his hair, as usual.
“You care too much about me,” he muttered, like it was something to be ashamed of. “That’s… not normal.”
“Yes, it is.” You frowned slightly. “You just… don’t know what to do with it yet.” You hesitated, softer now. “Being cared for doesn’t make you weak, Steve.” A pause. “That’s kind of the whole point of… having friends.”
The word sat between you.
Friend. Safe. Easy. Not enough.
Steve nodded slowly. His mouth ran dry all of sudden; his brain fuzzy, almost like he forgot how to talk.
That was until the bell on the counter chimed. Loudly.
Too loudly.
From the inside, Robin’s groans could be heard. She was in despair, most likely.
“Dingus!” she called, making both of you flinch.
Steve blinked, as he had just been pulled out of something deep. “Yeah, yeah, coming!” he shot back, a little too quickly.
He hopped first in front of the door, a little too abruptly, if completely honest.
You trailed behind a second later, letting…whatever that was buried. Or at least tucked away for now, for good measure.
You looked at Robin, leaning against the counter. You hadn’t noticed him there, not until Steve started screaming for the whole shop to look, drawing attention to where you all were.
“Henderson!” He was excited. It was cute seeing him like that, almost like a puppy. “He’s back!” Steve stepped aside, and you finally saw Dustin. Not much different from three weeks ago, but his expression held something else.
They stood there in front of you, laughing and doing a weird handshake that you couldn’t quite name.
“You didn’t miss me?” He grinned, approaching behind the counter to hug you as well.
Your nose wrinkled, biting back a smile. “I don't know, man.” You let out a breath that sounded suspiciously like relief. “It’s been peaceful.”
And it was. Kind of.
And, you wished it had stayed like that for longer.
“Rewind.” You dropped a bowl of ice cream in front of him, taking a seat beside Steve. “You got a girlfriend?”
“And she’s hotter than Phoebe Cates?” Steve made sure to add, earning him a pinch on his waist from you. “I– I mean… wow! Proud of you, man! That’s…It's kinda romantic, don’t you think?” He looked over his shoulder, and you nodded.
Dustin seemed unfazed, though. There was something else that he didn’t want to tell yet.
“Do you really get to eat free ice cream all the time?” Dustin changed topics, looking directly at Steve.
“Yeah. I mean, sure. Although I try not to. Gotta stay in shape for the ladies.”
“Aw,” you cooed. “And how’s that working out for you, Stevie?”
There it was. That pout he couldn’t take off his mind, even when you were mocking him.
“Ignore her.” He glared. “Where are the others?”
You rolled your eyes, but your gaze flickered sideways. To Steve.
He was already looking at you.
And just like that, something shifted again. But it didn’t matter; Dustin was back.
“They ditched me yesterday, can you believe that shit?” Dustin grumbled.
“No way!” You gasped, leaning over to Steve’s side.
“No, it’s okay. They are going to regret it, though. None of them gets to share in my glory.” Dustin’s grin stretched, slow and secretive, like he was sitting on the best punchline in the world.
You leaned forward, resting your chin on your hand, curiosity getting the best of you. “Out with it, Henderson.”
You wished Dustin hadn’t intercepted that russian connection the day he came back. You wished he had just let it slide things for once, so all of you could have a boring summer in Hawkins.
But eventually, you would’ve dealt with monsters all over again, wouldn’t you? Except…maybe Steve and Robin wouldn’t get beaten up and drugged that way.
It doesn’t matter, because Steve himself was in the passenger seat of his own car, controlling everything inside him not to pass out or throw up again.
Miraculously, you were driving the BMW, glancing every second to your side, checking up on him.
The car jerked slightly as you took a turn too fast, tires screeching against the pavement. Your grip on the wheel tightened.
“Jesus, slow down,” Steve groaned from beside you, his voice weak, head lolled back against the seat.
“I’m sorry! I don’t exactly have a license, and I–I’m doing my best to get you home safe!” Tears filled your eyes, making Steve aware of things again.
He winced, trying to rearrange his position in the seat, one hand pressing against his temple like it might stop the world from spinning.
“Hey, hey,” Steve murmured, forcing his eyes open just enough to look at you. “Don’t–don’t cry, I’m not mad that you almost hit my precious car, see?”
That was definitely worse.
Your hands tightened on the wheel once again, getting more anxious as your house got into sight.
The streetlights blurred past in streaks of yellow, too fast, too slow; everything felt wrong. Your heart wouldn’t slow down, your thoughts racing ahead of you, circling back to him, always him. The hue of the lamps allowed you to see his face, swollen and covered in blood.
His hair was a mess, sticking up in places it never did. There was still a faint mark along his jaw, something darker blooming near his collarbone.
That did it.
Once the car was decently parked in front of your house, tears started rolling down your cheek. You tried brushing it off with a small wave, covering your eyes, but Steve knew better than that.
“Hey,” he slurred your name enough times until you looked at him, “I’m here. I’m alive, Robin’s alive. It’s okay.”
You glanced at him, just for a second.
“Y-you almost died, and I was not there…” The words came out uneven, catching on your breath.
Steve stilled beside you, but was quick to hide. Stupid, always looking out for others but never for himself.
“Someone had to help Dustin and Erica. It was not pointless, you did good. So good that I am here…well, kind of; my head is hazy and shit, but still,” he said after a second, softer now.
“Forget about it.” You wrinkled your nose, wiping a few tears. “Let’s get you inside, clean you up.”
The porch light flickered on automatically as you helped him up the driveway. Your arm stayed around him, his weight leaning into you just enough to make your heart race.
At the door, he fumbled with your keys one too many times. Your eyes rolled, but you smiled, gently taking it from him.
When the door clicked open, you two stumbled inside, helping each other into the dark and quiet. Steve stepped on his feet midway through the entry, almost falling. You guided him into the downstairs bathroom, leaving him alone, only to get the first aid kit and a pair of your dad’s old pajamas.
Your eyes searched him for any remaining cuts or bruises before you moved closer, quietly cleaning his face with a tenderness you couldn’t quite hide.
And he let you, of course.
Steve’s hands made their way to your arms, gently making you stop and look down.
“Did I hurt you?” Your voice was small, still shaken by previous events.
“Never. But you’re shaking a little.” He tried to joke, but the look on your face said something else, and the crease between your brows made him straighten his posture.
Steve called your name, taking you out of the haze.
“Don’t you wanna go to the hospital?” You blurted out, pulling back and walking away to dig further into the bathroom cabinets, needing something to do, something to not feel whatever was building in your chest.
“I don’t know. I already have a particular nurse taking care of me, man…”
“Steve.”
His hand found your wrist again, more gently now, thumb brushing against your skin like he was grounding himself, or maybe grounding you.
“Hey,” he said softly.
Much to your dislike, Steve’s eyes were soft, looking right through you, and that did it.
You moved to sit on the floor, right in front of him, and hugged your knees close to your chest.
For a second, neither of you spoke. If you did, feelings would be out of the bag.
“You’re always doing that,” you continued, quieter now but no less intense. “Acting like it doesn’t matter. Like you don’t matter.”
His jaw tightened.
“That’s not—”
“It is.” You cut him off, sharper than you intended. Then, softer, almost pleading, “It is, Steve.”
Silence fell again.
“You almost died, Steve. And I hate to make this all about me, but what would I do without you?” You swallowed, blinking quickly. “I can’t keep playing nurse. I hate it, and I hate you for getting yourself into situations like that.”
Steve watched you for a second longer, something unreadable settling behind his expression.
He didn’t push.
Instead, he just looked at you. Really looked.
And he waited until you were ready to talk again, because for the first time, he was unsure of what to do. You sat there, under the warm lights of the bathroom, the one highlighting your tear-stained cheeks.
“I just want you to come back in one piece.”
That got him.
You felt it before you even looked up; the shift in the air, the way his breathing changed.
“You care too much.” He mumbled, and you were not sure if he was just trying to play cool or if the truth serum was still in his system.
A shaky breath left you, something between a laugh and a sob, because, honestly, how could you not? Steve was not a selfish and stupid jock anymore, unlike what other people thought. He was Steve, the guy who was always sabotaging himself and trying to save everybody else but him.
Suddenly, everything stopped, and it was like you had no control over your mind or body anymore.
You didn’t mean to let it slip like that. You didn’t mean to tell him when you were not so sure yourself. Or at least that’s what you thought.
“Fuck, I’m in love with you. A-and I’ve been trying to play it safe because Nancy is my friend. You are my friend!” You covered your mouth way too late, realizing what you had done. “Please don’t make this weird.”
His eyes almost popped out of his skull with the confession, and you felt like a mouse being chased by a cat. Completely naked under his gaze.
Your hand still covered your mouth, as if you could somehow push the words back in, undo it, rewind the last ten seconds and pretend none of it happened. But Steve? He just kept staring at you. Not angry, or confused. Just still.
“Say something,” you mutter, voice muffled behind your hand.
He blinks, like that finally pulls him back.
“I–” he stops, swallowing hard, eyes flicking away from you for the first time since you said it. “You… what?”
Of course he’d make you say it again.
You let out a breath that almost turns into a laugh, dropping your hand to your lap.
“Don’t do that,” you shook your head, already pulling back emotionally, building the walls back up brick by brick. “I said it once, that’s enough humiliation for today.”
“Y/n, no…That’s not it.” Steve shifted, wincing slightly as he straightened up, one hand instinctively going to his ribs before he ignored it. “I’m not making fun of you. I just didn’t think…” he laughed under his breath, shaking his head. “I didn’t think you’d look at me like that.”
“Well, I do.” You looked up, knees almost touching his. “Can we just pretend this didn’t happen?”
“You don’t get it.” He tried to get up in his own, settling beside you on the floor. “I just– this? You? I never had this. And I don’t want to mess it up, you’re my friend.”
Your heart squeezed.
“This doesn’t help, Steve.” And for the first time that night, you laughed, and not because it was just Steve being stupid, but because the look on his face was real. If you had paid enough attention before, you would’ve noticed it long ago.
“I know,” he groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “I’m bad at this, okay? You already established that.”
Despite everything, you huffed a quiet laugh.
And that's what made him look at you like that again.
Soft.
Careful.
Like he was scared to say the wrong thing.
“You said I was too hung up on Nancy a few days ago, but that wasn’t true.” His voice dropped, quieter now, more careful. “I just didn’t know what I was looking for. I figured that…maybe I was looking for you in someone else.” He bumped his shoulder on yours.
Your knees brushed when you shifted, and neither of you pulled away.
“Do you realize how lame this is? You’re kind of an idiot.”
He huffed a laugh, eyes dropping to your lips for just a second before flicking back up.
“Maybe I could be your idiot?” he grinned.
You did the same, eyes flickering to his. You intertwined your hands with a nod, leaning your head against the wall.
“I’d like that. But maybe…let’s have that conversation again when you’re no longer drugged, or covered in barf and blood.”
Your fingers were still laced with his, your head tipped back against the wall, and Steve was looking at you like he was trying to memorize something he hadn’t realized he’d almost lost. It really took the end of the world to bring you together like this.
Silence settled again, but it wasn’t heavy this time. It was… careful. Like both of you were standing on the edge of something and trying not to tip too fast in either direction.
“I promise that as soon as the drugs leave my body for real, I’ll make a proper confession.” Steave leaned down, whispering in your ear. And you knew it was true, because that was Steve.
“I can’t wait.”
Taglist: @soobinieswife
there are so many books i want to read but the only thing i WANT to read is byler fanfiction 😞
rip byler you would’ve loved wolfstar
was it scary? was i scary? no, you were beautiful.
GRADUATION DAY PART 2
warnings: smut ofc!, age gap, slight public sex, cheating, cream pie and, oral!f!receiving.
Steve Harrington x Sinclair!Fem!Reader
a/n: hey y'all ik it's been a while and im so sorry! senior year is a lot! but this a continuation of graduation day from my valentines day event and this idea came from this comment. hope y'all enjoy this!
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one of my fav byler art..
not mine!!
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Eddie was never the same after seeing Steve in the scoops uniform