#anyway ultimately. steve realized hawkins is just a place where bad things happened. it is not a place that makes people (including himself)

[scoopstomyahoy]

thinking about a no upside down au steddie fic where steve and eddie run into each other years after moving away from hawkins, and eddie remembers steve and his fall from grace as king, and is kind of intrigued to see what kind of person he is now

and steve doesn’t remember him at all at first, because, look, eddie changed his hair again, and steve’s had a few head injuries (no upside down but i imagine he still went thru some shit with the party and with robin), and he didn’t really think about eddie in high school anyway, and he’s trying to forget about hawkins as much as possible (besides the kiddos, but they’re all moved out for college now, anyway) (obviously he lives with robin)

but steve is different now, happier, more open, flirts with guys, flirts with EDDIE, and eddie….. well, he wants to know more! and he tells steve he knows him from hawkins, and steve’s sunny little smile flickers a little, but he just apologizes for not remembering him and mentions he has some memory problems

and they get to know each other, and eventually as eddie tells him more (and maybe with the help of some yearbooks) steve remembers eddie. and. well. they like getting to know each other. and they like each other. and then they get together

eventually they’ve been together for a while, and eddie thinks he wants to maybe introduce steve to wayne, and he mentions he’s going to go back to hawkins for a long weekend (as he’s done a couple times) and this time he’d like steve to join him

and again steve’s sunny smile flickers a bit, but he says he’d love to meet eddie’s uncle, and… they go to hawkins. and it goes well— meeting wayne, at least, but steve seems a little on edge the whole time they’re there, tense when they drive in, fidgety when they go to the grocery store, et cetera. eddie thinks maybe steve is nervous about staying with the man who raised eddie, which is ridiculous, because wayne LOVES steve.

it’s not til they leave the town altogether that steve relaxes, and eddie realizes it wasn’t “meeting the parents” but rather going back to hawkins. and speaking of meeting the parents, steve didn’t ever bring his own up, even though eddie knew they still lived in hawkins. and the way steve glanced around whenever they went in public, like he was scared of getting recognized

and he asks about it, and steve doesn’t really want to talk about it, but he gives eddie snippets of it. people he wanted to leave behind in hawkins, memories that resurfaced, things he wants to forget

eddie goes back to see wayne sometimes, and the first time he doesn’t know whether to ask steve to come, so he just mentions he’s thinking about going to hawkins for some weekend and steve immediately starts making plans with him as if the invite is implicit. they go back to hawkins several more times, steve still tense and pent up the whole time they’re there

over time steve reveals more and more to eddie. everything that made hawkins hell for him, from the things he himself did in high school to the things people did to him. stuff tommy and carol and billy said to him. some of it is just typical high school bullshit (and oh, the nancy thing.) some of it is the tragedies steve went through, the horrors he had to protect his kids from. the injuries he sustained. more generally the homophobia that permeated the whole town, keeping steve from being himself. the lack of support in the indiana public school system for a high school senior who’s had two concussions and gone through incredible trauma.

his parents. the reason why steve’s mail is addressed to ‘steve buckley’ now, not ‘steve harrington’.

(that doesn’t come out until much, much later, and eddie is kicking himself for ever suggesting steve come back to hawkins.)

eddie, who hardly had an easy time of it in hawkins, is absolutely blown away by what steve had gone through in the same town, right under his nose. the entire persona that steve was trying to leave behind — the cool as a cucumber, unaffected, douchey mask he wore to hide all that he had endured. the head injuries. the emotional tragedies he had gone through. the way he had to be the rock for the kids even as he went through the same things as them.

he tries to tell steve they never have to go back to hawkins again, and steve is having none of it. he tells steve wayne can come visit them in their new city, and steve thinks that’s completely unfair to the man who had raised eddie, seriously, you’re going to make him come all the way up here?

and well i don’t know exactly what the ending is but steve is so stubborn about trying to love hawkins because it was eddie’s home and he wants to be able to go see wayne because wayne deserves to see his kid and eddie deserves to see his uncle and steve doesn’t want to be the problem :(

[hargrove-mayfields]

Day four of the Horror on Cherry Lane Challenge! Today’s prompt was Sunglasses!

Steve has a lot of secrets. Too many probably.

Most teenagers’ secrets are things like sleeping with the wrong people, smoking the cheap shit the jocks pass out, broken curfews and failing grades. He’s got all of those too, but Steve's secret runs much deeper than that.

His is the kind of secret that’d have men in black suits coming to take him away, or at this point, more than a decade after letting him go in the first place, putting a bullet in the back of his skull and calling it a day before any trouble comes up.

He’s been stuck in Hawkins all his life. Been fed the knowledge about the world off a silver spoon he didn’t ask for. His first five years of life are well forgotten to shock therapy and to the lab, where they intended to use him and the rest of the kids like him as weapons. Pawns in their big game of life.

But Steve was different. He could turn his powers off, make them undetectable by the machines they hooked him up to. They thought he was just a failure, so after so long, they wiped his brain with their very own cocktail of drugs and just let him go. Adopted him out to a middle aged dink couple who wouldn’t run their mouths about where their little bundle of joy came from as long as their pockets were lined with enough hush money, and that was that.

It didn’t take long for them to realize though, that he wasn’t as normal as they had been convinced he was. Not even knowing he was doing anything wrong, little Stevie would have outbursts, or small tantrums as momma always tried to convince everyone who told her Steve was too much for her to handle.

These weren’t just normal crying fits though. Anyone who got near him would be just as sad or scared or frustrated as he was. A single sob from that boy had enough power to crack the foundations of the family home.

Most kids when they have a cranky morning will get on the nerves of their parents, but Steve could disrupt the whole neighborhood without even realizing it. And that was his power.

They didn’t have a name for it, really. The range of what he can do is too broad, too undefined by anything else. There was a telekinetic girl, a pyrokinetic he’s pretty sure is dead now. But Steve was just special. Part of what made it so easy to go under their radar was this, but it also made him a risk.

The only reason he wasn’t immediately reported and given back to the bad men was the power this frail boy carried. It scared Ruthie and John, and they decided that they’d rather face the men at that lab again than a seven year old who could accidentally destroy them with his emotions.

So they kept him, and certainly kept their distance. They forced him into a little mold of how to behave properly and made him take pills to weaken his powers. They send him to behavioral therapy and make him act like he’s not a failed government experiment. A fact which he only learned a couple of years ago after his pills worked a little too well at messing with his memory that he forgot to take them, and memories came flooding back.

For the same reasons, Steve’s bored of being careful. Bored of following all the rules and being passive, just pretending he’s like everyone else so mommy and daddy dearest are safe. He starts getting a little riskier, testing what he can do, since this is the first time he’s ever really had control over his ability. He finds a link with other people and their emotions, something of an empathy power, but he doesn’t get far in his research, because his plan very quickly goes to shit when Billy Hargrove rolls into town.

Where to begin with Billy. That boy makes him feel all sorts of things he never even considered. The very first day he showed his unimpressed (but very impressive) face at Hawkins high, Steve cracks his windshield. Oops.

He was able to tap into that control and tone it down, but that reserve dwindled the more he’s around Billy, and from there it just spirals. Bending the basketball hoop on accident, exploding light fixtures, giving everyone in the school headaches. It gets to the point where Steve has to come to terms with the fact that he had a crush on Billy, and that he has to do something to get it back under his control before somebody gets hurt.

That and he doesn’t want to get caught now. He just got back into the swing of using his powers before Billy interrupted his calm. Going back there, or whatever else might happen, is the last thing he wants for himself.

He settles for a pair of ray bans.

It’s stupid, but when Steve was still young and all but popping his mommas brains every single time he cried, she was desperate to find a way to get him to stop. She started to notice he’d concentrate hard on one thing and another would happen, staring at a lamp until it shattered, looking into her face until her ears started to ring and pop. So she does what she can to break that subconscious focus. Puts a barrier between him and all that he’s hurting. A plastic, race car themed barrier, but it does its job, and it worked every time until they got him on meds. So now that he’s old enough not to just tear the damn things right off his face, he figures it’s worth a shot.

Because nothing had made him this emotional, this out of control since the day he found out the truth about his past. Billy is special, and the very last thing he wants is to lose control and hurt him.

He still feels like a dope walking into the school with a pair of shades on. Everyone starts to stare in that way he tries not to let remind him of the lab and the doctors standing in circles around him, prodding and waiting for a reaction. Steve thinks wearing sunglass inside is the least weird thing to happen in the halls of a highschool if Tina can come in with a perm high enough to touch the ceiling, but whatever. He’ll get over it.

The fact that nothing’s exploded from how on edge he is, mostly from wondering if his momma’s trick will work and not because of their judgement, is a very good sign.

Boldly, he decides to put it to the ultimate test, and approaches Billy.

In his head, he’s so focused on just going to talk to Billy, he has nothing planned to say to him, but he thinks he would’ve forgotten anyways, what with the lazy smile Billy flashes him when he notices him approaching.

Steve’s gaze quickly darts past Billy to check for damage to anything, the racing in his chest from just a look like that typically enough to at least crack a window. Maybe he’s not as confident about this as he thought, or maybe Billy’s just really good at making him flustered.

Doesn’t matter, because he’s at the other boys locker before he has time to process what he’s doing, “Lookin’ for somethin’ Harrington?”

“Oh, yeah, I was just checking for uh, my fans. Yeah, they follow me around everywhere, you know?” It’s bullshit, and it sounds more than dumb coming out of Steve’s mouth, but it makes Billy laugh, real low and raspy and that’s a win in his book.

“That what the little disguise is for?” Billy hums and taps his temple, clearly referring to the sun glasses perched on Steve’s nose.

“Oh these? No, I uh, wear these ‘cause of the uh.. because I wanna sleep in class and down want the teachers to know?” His answer comes as more of a question than anything, so he’s grateful when Billy seems to be more interested in his excuse than the subject at hand.

“Pfft, yeah right. I’ve heard you sleepin’ on the basketball bus. Ain’t no way your snoring doesn’t get you caught before your eyes do.”

Steve just waves him off, laughs with Billy even if his heart isn’t in it.

Billy closes his locker door, switching the subject as the scenery switches. It’s all a distraction to Steve, but he forces himself to look Billy in the face as the other boy asks him, “Seriously though dude, you okay? It ain’t like you to switch up your look. You’re not hiding anythin’ under the shades are you?”

“Nah. Just been thinking, I’m not the King because I’m not cool anymore, right? So I’m tryin’ to look a little more.. interesting.” Steve’s not a very quick or good liar, despite the military guarded secret that is himself and the little black number seven carved into his arm, and he can tell Billy doesn’t buy it.

He’s a good sport though, throwing an arm around Steve’s shoulders and assuring him with a little jostle, “Aw, Stevie, you're cool in my book. At least as long as you quit comin’ up with reasons not to hang with me, yeah?”

“Yeah, I- alright. I can do that. Sorry for flaking so much though. Didn’t realize until you said something.”

“S’Cool. Just meet me at the quarry after dark and it’ll make up for it.” Billy offers, obviously trying to play up the coolness neither of them apparently actually have, and Steve can’t help but call him on it. “It gets dark at like, four-thirty, five o’clock anymore?”

“Fine. Meet me at nine, pretty boy.” Billy smirks, dropping his voice to add knowingly, “And lose the shades. I think you’re much more interesting without ‘em.”

[whookami]

Okay, honestly, this is how I want shit to go down. (Warning, mildly spoilery for that most recent batch of bts photos of Steve looking like shit.)

It’s obvious that shit is going down in Hawkins, and at some point Steve, Robin, and Nancy are discussing things. At first Nancy and Robin started off very adversarial, with Steve having to keep peace between them (realizing also that he definitely has a ‘type’ and what it might say about him that he likes these super smart, feisty, large and in charge women, but that’s something for later consideration), but as the mystery deepens they are getting along amazingly, and both sort of doing that thing where they roll their eyes and treat Steve’s contributions to the discussion with fond tolerance. They’re coming up with what to do next, and while Steve has a suggestion, the girls both think it’s nothing and they want to go check out this cerebral high minded theory they’ve got that Steve doesn’t really get. He makes as if to go with them, for protection or whatever (but really, they’re his besties, and he doesn’t want them in danger by themselves) but they dismiss him and say it’s fine, they’ll just be doing research or something. Something that Steve’s be bored of in minutes.

Reluctantly, Steve watches them go. He’s kinda sad and lonely and Dustin and Max are off doing… whatever it is they’re doing at this point. Steve loves and respects Nancy and Robin and knows they’re smarter than him, but on another level… well, he also thinks that sometimes that works against them (Indiana Flyer, amiright?). His idea was something much more direct and to the point, and it kind of hurts that no one was willing to back him or even give his idea anything beyond a sort of ‘pat on the head, good boy, you’re doing a good job trying so hard, but the girls are busy speaking atm’ (the sort of heavy-handed thing the Duffers seem to think is girl power or being a girlboss or whatever). So, Steve leaves to check his idea, just wanting to take a peek and get out, but it goes wrong. Not only is he right, he has cut right through to the heart of whatever’s happening, or at least the human-villain component (or one of them? There’ll probably be more than one human baddie team, Americans and Russians and who knows what else.) Anyway, Steve is caught from behind, a garrotte coming down over his neck. He does the best thing he can basically do, and falls backwards, and gets dragged backward before he manages to roll off and get free from the rope around his throat. He scuffles with the guard who caught him, and manages to knock him out, but the alarm was raised before he beat the guy. Either in the original scuffle or as he’s running away, he’s stabbed or shot in the side, and he’s bleeding badly, covering his clothes. He has to run through the forest, but he’s a Hawkins resident and has an advantage over his persuers, remembering a small cave or hiding place from his childhood. He makes it there and hides til the searchers have passed before he doubles back as gets the hell out of there.

Because it’s Steve, he doesn’t go to the hospital, he goes to find Nancy and Robin and warn them about what he found, before collapsing. He’s covered in blood, both drying and fresh, dirty, covered in small cuts and bruises, and pale from blood loss. Both girls are incredibly worried, like to the point of angry and lashing out at each other, and then at themselves, realizing that their own efforts had amounted to nothing, and if only they had listed to Steve he might not be so hurt, and that he was right. He may not be as smart, but he’d seen something they’d missed because sometimes he’s able to cut through the details and catch details that they overthink. He probably dropped his wallet or something during the fight, so they can’t take him there, and if it was the American government he tangled with them taking him to the hospital is just as risky. By this point, Dustin and Max have shown up with Eddie, who offers his house, since he’s largely unconnected to past events and no one would search there.

At Eddie’s they strip Steve down, dress his wounds and hope for the best as they wait for him to regain consciousness. During that time Nancy and Robin have an intense and meaningful heart to heart about Steve, with Nancy in particular finally admitting that Steve wasn’t a bad boyfriend, that she was also at fault for went wrong between them, and that she wishes they’d been better able to retain their friendship after what had happened, but she and Jonathan had felt guilty and awkward about things, especially since Steve had acted so mature about them. Robin tells Nancy about her and Steve’s friendship, and how despite being a lesbian (which is the first time she’s admitting this to Nancy), she can’t imagine not having Steve in her life, as he’s the first person who ever made her feel so loved and seen, and losing him is unbearable. She had planned on asking him to move away with her to college and get a place together.

The girls both fall asleep with their heads on either side of the bed, hands clasped over top of Steve, all three looking very symbolically and literally connected. Steve wakes up and once they feel him kind of moving and shifting both girls jolt awake, and he makes some kind of tasteless teenage boy joke about how could he have slept through this obvious threesome, and it releases this uncomfortable tension that had built itself up between them. Finally, trying not to cry, they admonish him, but lovingly, and pepper him with a million questions, and worry over his injuries, and they apologize for not listening to his suggestions or taking him seriously and he is way too forgiving and doesn’t blame them, because this is Steve we’re talking about here, and they all give awkward bed hugs and promise to do better in the future. Steve tells them what he saw and they make a plan that involves stocking up on a lot of supplies and going into hiding someplace (dubiously) safe, preparing for the ultimately battle to come.

Bonus points if during his bad threesome joke, Steve says something along the lines of “only thing missing to make this more perfect is Jonathan,” at which point the original trio realize/admit they are all bisexual. The End, until season 5, where they become the most awesome poly foursome to kick monster ass and love each other eternally.

(Okay, I edited this addendum out where I rant about Stobin. That became a whole different thing, and I address my misunderstandings and idiocy there.)

[haileygarciasunshine]

Good in every bad

Pairing: Billy Hargrove x Reader

Warning: fighting, swearing, angst, fluff

Word count: 1,881

Summary: Y/N has knack, for seeing the good in everyone. After the events at Star court, Y/N, is convinced that there is good in Billy, now she just needs to prove it to her friends.

“Why do you always do this? How are you always seeing the good in people?”

Glaring at Steve you defended Billy, “I saw the good in you didn’t I?”

Both you and Steve were walking side by side, into the school.

Scoffing, he got defensive, “Yeah but I’m different!”

Rolling your eyes, at your best friend, you tried again, “How are you different? You were King Steve. Remember when you broke Jonathon’s camera?”

“Yeah, but I bought him a new one.”

“You did or Nancy did?”

“Nan- Hey! That’s not fair!”

“All’s fair, in love and war Steve.”

“Whatever.”

You had won the argument for the time being, but that didn’t mean that Steve would just drop the subject either.

“Why are you so hell bent, that Hargrove is a good guy anyways?”

Finally, arriving at your lockers, you groan at him as you opened your locker, “Steve.” Sighing in frustration, you knew he wasn’t going to let it go unless he got a satisfactory answer, “Because we’re all different people after what happened, and you know it. He could’ve had a hard home life. None of us know. Besides, we all gave chances, after the stunts you pulled.”

Steve let out a frustrated sound, “Yeah but....”

“But nothing Steve.” You hissed back at him in annoyance, “He hasn’t done anything since this summer, that otherwise contradicts my argument that he’s changed.”

“Hey, guys.” Jonathon and Nancy came up standing next to either of you. Robin shortly joined there after.

“Don’t even get them started, Nance.” Jonathon groaned rolling his eyes.

“They’re still having the same argument?”  Jonathon didn’t bother answering Nancy, before she piped in, “I agree with, Y/N.”

“I agree with, Y/N too dingus.”

Both Nancy and Robin agreeing with you caught everyone off guard, including you. After the initial shock, you smiled, and side hugged both of them.

“See. Even Nancy and Robin agree.”

 “Fine, let’s do this the party way. Majority rules.” Steve tried, “Who votes Billy has changed, and should be invited to the group?”

You, Nancy and Robin, nodded your heads. There was a loud sigh coming from Jonathon, before he nodded as well.

“Fuck. Seriously Jonathon? You were supposed to be on my side here.” Steve hissed in disbelief.

“I mean, Y/N, does have a point. We did give you a few chances.”

“God damn it, I will never live that down will I?” Steve suddenly commented with a hint of anger in his voice, “Fine, but I’m not going to be best friends with the guy.” Steve hissed, caving. 

Squealing in excitement, you threw your arms around Steve’s neck and gave him a bone crushing hug. After you pulled away, and returned to your previous position, standing next to Nancy, Steve said, “Besides, the guy probably won’t want to be friends with us.” You gave Steve, a death glare in response.

A few days passed since, the argument you had with Steve. You were too nervous to actually approach Billy, and ask if he wanted to be friends. Maybe you saw the good in everyone, but that didn’t mean that you had to be extroverted, and outgoing.

Thankfully, Max had invited Billy, to go to the newly, built movie theater with the party. Everyone was a bit hesitant to go to the theater, since the last time was at the now rebuilt mall, that everyone in the group happily, avoided.  

Everyone, agreed to see ‘Sixteen candles,’ even though pretty much all the boys in the group were against it, and didn’t want to see a ‘Chick Flick,’ movie. But they quickly stopped their protests after all the girls in the group reminded them that they always got to pick what the group did as a whole.

Max quickly pulled Billy along with a hushed, “Come on. It’ll be fine.”

Turning to greet Max, she wrapped her arms around you, before excitedly, bounding off to find Eleven. It wasn’t hard to pick up on Billy feeling out of place, his glances were around the room, all the while, he was shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

Going up to him you greeted him, “Hey, I’m Y/N.” You said offering him a sweet smile, while holding your hand out for him to shake.

He gladly, accepted your hand along with your kindness, before saying, “I know. We, uh. We go to the same school. I’m Billy.”

Chuckling softly you responded, “I know.” Giving him your innocently sweet smile. 

After, the group had accepted him hanging out with them at the movies, they had begun to invite him to hangout with group more often, Billy had gladly excepted the invitation.

Max was constantly, going on about how much Billy had changed even more, since this past summer. You had to agree with her, he had started becoming a lot kinder, and softer towards the party members, and had even begun smiling more often. He usually, didn’t talk with the group at school unless it was necessary, but one day that changed.

“Hey, Y/N.”

Turning in the direction of the husky voice, you were greeted by Billy, pulling you in for a hug.

“Oh, Hey Billy.”

He had caught you by surprise, talking to you and giving you a hug. Turning back to your locker, you gathered the books you would need for the rest of the day.

“Are you going to that weird dance thing that’s in Spring?”

You snorted before responding, “You mean Prom?” Light laughter flew from your lips, “I would like to, but I don’t know. Are you going to go to Prom?”

“Maybe.” He said nonchalantly, while shrugging his shoulders. 

Placing a hand over your heart, you turned towards the man that was towering over you, “What? Billy Hargove, might go to... Dare I say it? Prom?” Your voice came out in a teasing manner, but you were ultimately, shocked that he was possibly interested in going to a school function, that he normally wouldn’t be caught dead at. 

Both you and Billy shared classes together, that just so happened to be the rest of your day. He wouldn’t venture too far from you in the hallways during passing time, nor would he sit away from you in the rest of the classes.

Just as you were exchanging, books you would need to do homework for the weekend, Billy’s voice called you, “Y/N!”

“What’s up, Hargrove?” You asked as you put your bag on your shoulder, turning towards the doors to leave the building.

“Mind if I drive you home?”

Stopping in your tracks, you turned and gave him a suspicious look, “Alright....” You were hesitant, “But keep your hands were I can see them, at all times.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Max climbed in the backseat, but was pleasantly surprised, to see that you were sitting in the front seat, verses another anonymous face. 

“Y/N!” She yelled happily, throwing her arms around you where she could reach.

Chuckling at her excitement, you greeted her, “Hey Kiddo.”

“Long time no see.” She joked.

“Seriously! What’s it been, like twenty hours?” You laughed together. 

Pulling into the Palace Arcade parking lot, he got out to let Max out. 

“Be safe.” He yelled towards her.

“I always am!” She replied. 

“She’s a good kid, you know?” 

“I know she is.”

Over the next two months, you and Billy had grown close. So close, in fact, you had developed feelings for him. The only other person that knew, was Eleven. She often tried to give you advice but you never acted upon it, nor did you act upon your feelings for him.

Today, you were late getting to school, you had a car however it was a piece of shit, junk car. It barely got you from point A to point B. You had just gotten it back, from the auto body shop. It wasn’t until on your way to school, that one of the tires became flat. Thankfully, Hopper was able to come and get you to take you to school. Once, you walked in, you were greeted with a nauseating, sight.

Tina, was flirting with Billy. This made you groan outwardly, instead of in your head. Once you realized what had happened, you quickly, took off down the hall towards your locker. But not before hearing Tina say, “So Prom.... We should go together.” Jealousy, was coursing throughout your body. 

As soon as Billy heard the doors open, signalling that someone had come late to school, he was surprised to be met with you face, that last person he had expected to be late. Before the events of this past summer, Billy had noticed you. You were like a ray of sunshine, to everyone around you. Not only, were you someone who was kind to everyone, but you were smart. You never took anyone’s bullshit no matter how hard they tried. Over the little time, that he’s been in Hawkins, he finally figured out, why everyone gravitated towards you. You were someone, that made everyone feel like a somebody.

 He started to have feelings for you, back when he first moved here from California, but he wouldn’t admit that out loud. Billy knew you like the back of his hand. He was always protecting you from afar even before you were friends. That’s why he immediately shot Tina down, when she brought up going to prom together. If he was going to go to Prom, he was going to go with you. 

A few days passed, since Tina’s flirting with Billy. It was hard, trying to avoid him, but luck was on your side, since the school had one of those, three day weekends scheduled, for this week. Hopper was able to fix your flat tire, and get the guys at the station to drop off your car at the school, so you wouldn’t have to be waiting around for a ride from one of your friends. 

Once, the last bell sounded, you quickly made your way to your locker, before practically running out of the school doors. It took a minute, to find where the men had parked your car. Thankfully, it wasn’t too far from where you were currently standing. As you go to your car, you could feel someone’s presence. 

Turning around you were met with a strong chest, almost falling over, if a pair of stable arms hadn’t caught you. Looking up at him, his blue eyes, were twinkling, in a mesmerizing way. 

“Are you okay?”

It took you a second before realizing, he had said something, “Huh? Oh. Yeah. Fine. Thanks.”

You raised your gaze from his piercing stare, and watched your fellow classmates, file out of the school building. Realizing, he still had his arms wrapped around you, you tried to take a step back, only to be pulled back to your original spot. 

“Talk to me kid. What’s going through that pretty little head of yours.” He stopped short of sounding like he was begging. He was overwhelmed with worry, that he would lose you.

Silence.

“Please.” He pleaded softly, “Please don’t push me away.”

“I have to go.”

He nodded understanding that he had to let you go, he unwrapped himself from you, allowing you to go. Hoping that you wouldn’t shut him out.

[bright-molina]

a/n dedicated to my fav @stevie-harrington! I said I’d write this for you ages ago and here it finally is omg (also, again, not my gif) 

synopsis: After moving to Hawkins the very first person you meet is Steve, the cute boy at the ice cream place who’s a terrible mess with a bad sailor’s uniform. What could go wrong?

*

You had never loved anything more than you loved the Starcourt Mall. Not necessarily because you loved the mall itself, simply because it required you to do less work in cases like this. 

It wasn’t long ago that you had moved to Hawkins and you were in need of some new room decor. And also some friends according to your mother, which is the exact reason she had recommended you head to the new mall. That was how you found yourself standing at the entrance to an ice cream parlor. You could see through the large windows that it was almost empty, save for an older couple, the guy working the register, and the girl you could see sitting in the back. You let out a relieved sigh and swung open the door, a small ding signaling your entrance into the shop.

*

Steve screwed his eyes shut tight at the sound of the bell above the door ringing. His job wasn’t that bad at first but after about two days into saying ‘ahoy!’ to every single person who walked into the store he had had enough. The only thing that kept him going was the fact that every other Friday he got a paycheck. A small one, but a paycheck nonetheless. He braced himself before spinning around to face whoever it was that had decided to ruin his brief moment of peace and quiet before the rush of people came in. 

“Ahoy!” He practically shouted before crashing right into the once spotless counter. Saying he was taken aback would’ve been an understatement. He didn’t really know who he was expecting to walk into the shop at 10 am on a weekday but you were definitely not it. 

He fumbled to pick up everything he had dropped while struggling to form a coherent sentence. Ultimately he gave up and simply let everything fall victim to gravity. “What, uh, what can I get you?” He tried desperately to not look like even more of an idiot as he let the various jars spill onto the floor. His sailor uniform didn’t do much to help his situation.

A sympathetic smile made its way onto your face as you dodged some sprinkles that had gone rolling your way. “You look like you could use a minute.” 

“No!” He all but screamed at you again and once more cursed himself silently. It didn’t help that Robin was very obviously snickering from the back room. “It, uh, it happens all the time. I’ll clean it up later” 

An amused smile replaced the sympathetic one as your gaze left him and trained onto the menu hanging above you. “You must go through a lot of toppings then if they keep falling over.” You quickly glanced in his direction only to find his eyes focused right on you. 

“Just every now and then,” Steve shrugged easily but was internally screaming at himself. This was wrong. He had never had any problem when it came to flirting with anyone at all. And yet there he was, completely flustered just by the sight of you and not knowing how to recover. 

You gave a small laugh and glanced down at the freezer that housed the ice cream in an effort to hide the way you smiled. But Steve had already seen and he gained just a little bit of his confidence back. 

“How about that one?” You pointed at a random flavor and he, Steve as his name tag read, handed you a cup filled with much more ice cream than was probably customary. You tried handing him a handful of coins and he refused to take it. 

“It’s on the house,” He told you. “My treat.” 

“Well in that case,” You spoke before he could walk away. “You should join me if you’re up for it. I could use the company.”

“I think I’ll take you up on that.” He smiled at you before telling you he’d be back and walked into the backroom for a brief moment. 

Ten minutes later he was sitting across the table from you. “You haven’t been in Hawkins long, have you?” Steve might have only known you for fifteen minutes at best but he was sure of what your answer was going to be. 

“How could you tell?” You asked as you ate another spoonful of ice cream, still not quite sure what flavor it was that you had picked. 

“Well besides all the bags,” He spared a glance towards the pile of bags on the floor before looking back to you with just the smallest hint of a smirk. “I’d remember seeing you around.” 

“Would you now?” You were amused, to say the least. Steve was forward, you’d give him that, and you weren’t exactly opposed to his advancements. Yes, he did look absolutely ridiculous in that sailor's uniform and you were almost certain that you weren’t the first girl who had walked into the store that he flirted with but you couldn’t help being curious about him. “I bet you say that to all the girls.” 

“Not a chance,” His smile was more genuine this time. He had finally relaxed enough to actually keep a conversation with you and was feeling more in his element already. “None of them are you.” 

You couldn’t help yourself. Instead of swooning like he was probably expecting, you let out a loud laugh. Any progress that Steve had made was quickly thrown out the window. Your head was thrown back, your eyes crinkled, and your smile wide. He felt a sudden warmth in his chest and had to physically look away in an attempt to hide the way his cheeks flushed. 

“You are aware that that line was incredibly cheesy, right?” Your laughter slowly died down and a small grin replaced it.

“I realized after I said it.” Steve nodded before glancing at the clock. His fifteen minute break had passed and more people were starting to come in. Very hesitantly and with a heavy sigh he sat up straight in his seat. “I should head back there.” 

“If you must,” You stood from your seat at the same time he did, picking up your variety of bags in the process. “I gotta get going anyway.” 

He slowly started walking back towards the counter again and gave you one final grin. “You should come back sometime. I mean, if you want to.” 

“I’ll think about it,” You grinned and watched as he bumped into the countertop, swore, waved, and headed into the back room. When he was gone you dug out a pen and reached for a napkin. You scrawled out a note and left it by the register before leaving the parlor. 

*

“I think this belongs to you,” Robin was shocked that somehow, someway, you seemed to actually think Steve was somewhat charming. She held up the napkin that you had scrawled your note on and he quickly reached for it. 

Your note was short and sweet. You never asked but here it is. You had signed your name underneath the note and right below that was a slew of numbers he could only assume were yours. 

“I think this was a win,” Steve finally looked up from the note, smile still present, and tucked the napkin safely into the pocket of his uniform. 

“I’ll give you half a point,” Robin uncapped the black marker and walked over to the board. “You did literally make a mess everywhere.” 

“That’s not fair,” Steve tried arguing his point. “We had a very nice conversation after that and I only looked stupid like four times.”

“Tell you what,” Robin leaned against the wall and marked half of a tally mark under the ‘You rule’ section of the board, the only mark on that side whatsoever. “If she comes back within the next couple of days without you having to call her then I’ll give you the full point. Deal?” 

Steve thought for a few seconds before answering. He was sure that you had liked him as much as he had liked you. Maybe not as much but you definitely didn’t think he was a loser, which was a huge plus. Truth be told, he was really hoping you would come back, which is the only reason he agreed. “Deal.” 

*

You came back the next day. It was a little later and there were more people but you had come back. Steve was a little shocked that you had actually returned but he greeted you with a wide smile nonetheless. He took his break a little early just like the day before and joined you in a booth. The two of you shared a sundae and talked for as long as you could. 

The week that followed happened like clockwork. You showed up, sometimes early in the day and sometimes late, bought something off the menu, and then Steve joined you. That day, though, was different. It was closing time and you hadn’t come in at all. 

“You look like a lost puppy,” Robin rolled her eyes from where she was cleaning up behind the counter. Steve was mindlessly sweeping the floor and staring out the glass doors at the now empty mall. She knew that when he didn’t retort back that he had it bad. “You could always call her.”

“Won’t I look desperate?” Steve finally looked away from the doors and finished what he had been doing. 

“A little bit,” Robin confirmed but he had already made up his mind. It killed him to admit that he had only known you for nine days, a grand total of just a few hours, but somehow he missed you. He had already made a fool of himself in front of you, he really didn’t have anything left to lose. The second he got home he would call you and hope you answered.

*

You had spent the majority of the day consoling your neighbor over the break up she had just gone through. Earlier that day you had found her sitting on the front step of her own house near tears. She was torn and you couldn’t help but try to help her. By the time you had remembered about going back to the mall, it was too late. But it had been a day well spent. 

The very last thing you were expecting was for the phone to ring right before you headed to your own room for the night. Your brows furrowed as you walked towards it and hesitantly picked it up. 

“Hello?” You had no idea at all who could be calling so late at night. But when the person spoke you recognized them instantly. 

“Y/N?”

“Steve,” You let out a small laugh as you propped yourself against the wall. “I didn’t think we were gonna talk today seeing as I didn’t stop by and you haven’t called me until just now.” 

“Well, I didn’t have a reason to. You’ve come to see me every day,” He told you confidently and you could almost see the smile on his face. “Look, I thought a lot on the drive home and I, uh,” You could also hear the hesitation in his voice. “I missed you today.” There was a pause and for a brief moment, Steve was terrified that he had messed up. 

“I missed you too.” You finally managed to say through your wide grin. 

“Hey do you,” Steve cut himself off abruptly, not sure of his next words. It was now or never. “Do you wanna go out tomorrow? With me? Like on a,” He was nervous again and you admittedly found it endearing. “On a date?” 

“How does 3:00 sound?” You gave him your answer almost immediately. Somehow he had won you over in the midst of all his rambling over the past week. “Is that okay?” 

“It’s perfect.” 

*

You were sitting on your front doorstep the next day alongside Max, your neighbor that you had spent the previous day with. She had seen you that morning and insisted on helping you get ready. Now she was waiting alongside you before heading to the mall to meet her own friends.

“You never did tell me who your date was,” Max pointed out, noticing the way you smiled just the smallest bit. 

“We, uh, met at the mall last week,” You told her. “His name’s Steve.” 

Max gasped, having just had a moment of realization. “He wouldn’t happen to work at that ice cream place, would he? Has ridiculously good hair? Like honestly it’s shocking.” 

“Yeah,” Your brows furrowed and you looked at her surprised. “Do you...know him?” 

“You could say that,” Max briefly thought of all of the events that had gone down a couple months ago. She quickly pushed them away and turned towards you, laughing a little in the process. “I can’t believe Steve Harrington is your date!” 

“Can’t believe in a good way or a bad way?” You were curious, to say the least. Right before she could tell you though, a car pulled into your driveway and Steve himself stepped out. 

“Max?” He questioned out loud, confused as to why one of his kids was sitting right next to you outside of what was presumably your house. 

“I believe we have one more mutual acquaintance, Harrington.” She nudged your side and you laughed. You leaned over, a barely noticeable smirk replacing your smile. 

“Watch this,” You told her before standing up and walking towards Steve. Max did just that, watching the way Steve’s attention turned towards you and you completely. His look of confusion turned to one of utter bliss as you leaned up and hugged him. You couldn’t see his face but Max could and he looked happy. She had only ever seen him act cocky, confident, and usually annoyed. You pulled away from him and she couldn’t quite hear what you said to him next. She had to laugh at the way Steve Harrington of all people grinned, looked away, and honest to god blushed.

“Who would’ve thought?” Max shook her head as she stood up and walked towards the two of you. “I thought you were supposed to be a real lady’s man, Harrington.” 

“Are you kidding me,” You chuckled at Max’s comment then turned to look at Steve affectionately. “He was a mess the first time I walked into the shop.” 

“I think the phrase you’re looking for is a hot mess,” He left his arm wrapped around your shoulders, ecstatic on the inside when you didn’t protest or move away. “I mean, it worked didn’t it?” 

“I guess we’ll see by tonight, won’t we?” You teased, laughing when he rolled his eyes playfully at your comment. 

“Hey so,” Max started, looking at Steve and the keys in his hand. “Since we’re all friends here,” He knew exactly where she was going with that statement. “Do you guys wanna give me a ride to the mall before you head out on your date?” 

He hesitated before answering. He was nervous enough about your date as is and really didn’t want the added pressure of Max asking questions as they drove. But the combination of Max’s pleading eyes and your smile that said ‘why not?’ was enough to make him groan loudly and motion towards the car. 

“Fine, get in.” Steve sighed and Max immediately ran to the car before he changed his mind. 

“You’re off to a pretty good start already,” You told him as the two of you followed in the direction Max had gone. 

“Am I?” Steve asked, beaming as he stood on the opposite side of the car from you. 

“You are.” You confirmed with a smile. As you got into the car and listened to Max and Steve bicker back and forth you came to a single conclusion. Living in Hawkins was going to turn out to be just fine.