#{private}

It’s a wonder really, that Robin doesn’t know that the two of you are together. When you agreed not to tell Dustin, you also agreed not to tell Robin - who would certainly spill it to Dustin in three seconds flat.

The door in the back suddenly swings open, and Steve jumps away from you like your skin is scorching hot - like he’s just been burned by fire. His back clumsily hits the counter across from you, digging into his skin, and he groans a bit in pain.

Robin eyes the two of you suspiciously, before rolling her eyes teasingly - because you don’t give her enough credit, and she definitely knows what's going on. She ignores the two of you, picking up the remote to turn on the TV.

The change in tone shifts immediately when the news station pops up, talking about a teenager being murdered. At the revelation, Steve’s eyes trail over to you - nervous energy almost visibly rolling off him, and you can tell he’s silently asking you about Dustin.

“I saw him at breakfast this morning,” you tell him, easing some of the tension that was set in his shoulders.

“Max lives in that trailer park, though,” Robin joins the conversation, gesturing to where the crime took place.

“So does Eddie,” you add, swallowing thickly at the idea that either of them could be involved in this.

“Let’s not jump to conclusions here. When Dustin called me yesterday, he mentioned something about a D&D session with Eddie last night, and Max was with us at the basketball game. I’m sure they’re both fine,” Steve huffs out, placing his hands on his hips - trying to convince himself.

“It could have happened after that, dingus,” Robin replies a bit panickedly, but you're stuck on the fact that your brother reached out to Steve.

“Wait, Dustin called you yesterday?” You ask in disbelief, because as far as you knew the little twerp was icing him out as well.

If there was an award for holding grudges, Dustin Henderson would surely win it every time.

You’d seen the wrath that he could give to others - despite that innocent look he likes to give your mother, and you always thought ‘heaven help the person who wrongs my baby brother.’

You just never realized it was you who should have been heeding the advice.

It’s been about a week now with Dustin refusing to talk to you. The silence was unbearable - lingering in every room of your house, and your mom had been unsettled by it.

“Honey, does Dusty’s behavior seem odd to you?” Claudia Henderson was notorious for not knowing about the sneaking around that was happening under her roof, but God forbid Dustin was acting up, and she was suspicious as all get out.

You hated lying to your mom but didn’t want to admit that his withdrawn behavior was your fault, “I think he’s just overwhelmed with school. You know how hard freshman year can be.”

“But he’s got that Munson boy who’s been such a huge help to him. I thought things were better,” she shook her head, clearly perturbed at the thought that her baby boy was having problems.

You cringed at the name Munson, because if you had just listened to Eddie - you wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place.

Ever since Dustin had met Eddie, he was on your ass about you going out with him. Eddie being Eddie, encouraged it whenever given the opportunity.

“Just give him a chance,” Dustin would plead with you after you picked him up from a late night D&D session at Hawkins High.

“Yeah, Sweetheart, just give me a chance,” Eddie would grin wolfishly at you, making you want to slap the smile off his face.

The problem was that you were already in a committed relationship with Steve Harrington, and Eddie knew that. What was worse was the fact that you were in a secret relationship with Steve, and Eddie - despite his record at school - was smart as a whip and knew instantly that you’d been keeping it private from your brother.

When Eddie found you and Steve in the middle of making out at Lover’s Lake, you had begged him not to tell Dustin. Eddie clocked it right away - that you’d been keeping it quiet for a long time, but agreed not to tell, because he wasn’t what the kids like to call a snitch. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to give you hell over it.

Eddie was dangling it over your head - partly because he could be an absolute menace - and partly because he was a bit put off that you wouldn’t tell your brother. He kept warning you that it was going to bite you in the ass if you didn’t tell Dustin soon.

And really, you should have listened to Eddie. You should have. Because now, your brother is pissed beyond belief at the two people he loves most.

Not only did Dustin find out about you and Steve, but it was in the worst way possible too.

“Steve?!” Dustin gasped, eyes wide at the sight in front of him.

He’d caught the two of you in quite a compromising position on your bed. Thankfully fully clothed, but Steve was on top of you, hand hooked under your waistband - insinuating that things were leading somewhere else pretty quickly.

You knew you should’ve flipped the lock on your door, but you’d been in a hurry to kiss Steve after he showed up outside your window in that cute yellow sweater of his - smelling of your favorite bubblegum flavor of his that he chewed - with an equally adorable smile on his face.

“Dustin, get out!” you yelled, picking up a shoe off the floor and tossing it towards him.

He thwarted it away, storming into the bedroom. He glowered at the two of you with his arms crossed - looking like a displeased parental figure.

“When were you going to tell me?” he asked you angrily.

You huffed out a breath of annoyance, “We haven’t told anyone. That’s the point of keeping it private.”

“Dustin-,” Steve tried to cut in and diffuse the situation, but Dustin wasn’t having it.

“Shut it, Harrington. I’ve got a bone to pick with my sister before I even give you the time of day,” he seethed.

You rolled your eyes at his dramatics, looking over at Steve - red hue creeping up his neck. It curled around his ears and seeped into the tips of his cheekbones at being scolded by Dustin.

You gently pushed at Steve’s chest, signaling him to move. He rolled off of you with a sheepish expression, propping himself up on his elbows.

You slipped off the bed, buttoning your skirt back up - Dustin pretended to gag when he saw what you were doing.

You ignored him, turning to Steve, “Wait here for me, please?”

“Of course, Angel,” he replied easily - the pet name rolling off his tongue naturally.

Dustin visibly recoiled at it, and you grabbed his hand, dragging him out of your room and closing the door firmly shut.

You didn’t make it very far down the hallway, before Dustin was digging his heels in, unwilling to keep moving.

“Really? Out of all people, you choose to hook up with Steve?” He ground out, disapproval washing over his face.

“It’s not like that,” you argued.

Dustin snorted, “If it’s not a hook up, then what is it?”

“I, I’m pretty sure I love him, Dustin,” you mumbled, and a look of denial flooded his eyes.

“Steve’s my best friend, you can’t be in love with him,” he retorted.

You bite your lip anxiously, not sure what else to do but apologize, “I’m sorry, Dustin.”

“How long?” He dismissed your apology.

You faltered, trying to delay the inevitable, “We didn’t mean to keep it a secret for this long, it just sort of happened.”

Dustin clenched his teeth tight and repeated, “How long?”

You sighed heavily, giving in, “Since the night after everything happened at Starcourt.”

“Eight months?” He shouted, but there was hurt mixed in with the anger that made guilt eat away at you.

“I’m so-,” you tried, but it was too late.

He spat out, “Save it.”

Dustin stomped back to your room, threw open the door and called out, “Way to be a lousy best friend, Steve.”

He turned on his heel, pushed past you to grab his walkie before making his way outside. You were frozen to the spot - could feel the familiar sting of tears behind your eyes, and you didn't have to watch your brother to know he was getting on his bike to go to one of the boys' places.

A moment later, Steve awkwardly shuffled to the threshold of your room, leaning on the doorframe.

“That didn’t sound like it went well,” he said lightly, and you know he didn’t mean to - but it made the tears trickle over.

Steve hurried to you, tucked you into his chest and rested his head against the top of your own.

“Sorry, ‘m sorry, Angel. That was insensitive of me,” he apologized, holding you tightly.

“He was really mad, Steve,” you hiccuped, fingers clutching onto the soft material of his sweater.

“I’ll go after him,” he started to pull away.

You didn’t let him go, instead pressed yourself closer, “No, let him cool off. He’ll come around eventually.”

But it’s now been days, and Dustin still hasn’t cooled off - and then, shit really hits the fan when Vecna starts targeting the students of Hawkins High.

Steve notices the slipup about your brother contacting him and clears his throat, “Yeah, but just to ask me to be a dumb filler character or something.”

“A sub?” You give him the word he’s looking for.

Steve snaps his fingers, pointing at you, “Yeah, exactly. It didn’t mean anything.”

“It means everything. I didn’t hear from him, and he always asks me to sub,” you trail off, biting your tongue to try to stop the prickle of emotion building.

“Hey, Angel, I’m sure he was just-,” Steve’s cut off by the bell chiming, signaling someone has entered the building, and you turn to see your brother and Max.

“Hey, Steve,” Dustin calls from the front, striding in with Max not far behind. Dustin slows when he sees you on the counter and folds his arms.

“What are you doing here?” He glares at you, tone cold.

You shouldn’t be caught off guard by his hostility - he’s blatantly disregarded every time you tried apologizing - but learning that he’s been talking to Steve is like a shock to your system.

“Who peed in your cereal grumpy pants?” Robin asks him, jumping in to defend you.

Dustin narrows his eyes at her, “Why don’t you ask my traitor of a sister?”

“Dude, not cool,” Steve throws him a look.

“What’s not cool, is the two of you sneaking around behind my back for months!” Dustin yells, throwing his hands up in the air.

Robin sends him a deadpan look, “Really? You’re telling me a genius like you didn't realize these two have been lip locking?”

You choke on air at her words, Steve’s eyes widen, and Dustin’s jaw drops.

“You told Robin, but not me?!” Dustin cries out.

“What? No! How the hell do you know, Robin?” You swing around to look at her.

“The two of you aren’t exactly subtle,” Robin shrugs indifferently.

Steve’s mouth flounders, “How have we not been subtle?”

“Um, hello? You literally jump her any chance you get when you think I’m not looking,” Robin raises her eyebrows at him.

“Oh, gross,” Dustin complains, and Max has a thoroughly amused expression on her face.

Steve’s cheeks darken in a pretty pink blush as Robin ignores Dustin and continues, “Plus, I’ve never meant anyone who calls their friends ‘Angel’ platonically.”

“As much as I'm loving this discovery, we came here for a reason,” Max speaks up, elbowing Dustin.

“Right. Phones, we need phones,” Dustin demands.

“You know someone literally just died,” Steve looks at him incredulously.

“Phones, Steve. How many?” Dustin emphasizes.

“Two, why?” Steve shrugs.

“Tehcnically three if you count Keiths,” Robin chimes in.

“Perfect,” Dustin says, before launching himself over the counter - knocking over a pile of tapes Steve had just finished stacking in the process.

“Woah, hey, watch it man!” Steve yells, body moving in front of yours so Dustin doesn’t kick your shins in the process.

“Seriously, Dustin, what the hell?” You gripe.

Dustin pretends you don’t exist as he stations himself in front of the computer. He turns his head over his shoulder to look at Max, jutting his jaw in your direction, “Can you fill them in? I don’t want to talk to either of them.”

Max gives you an apologetic look, before explaining that they think it may have to do with all the other events that turn Hawkins into a circus show - the Upside Down. She goes on to tell you the plan to call Eddie’s friends to see where he may be stationed at.

“Let’s divide and conquer then,” Robin nods.

“Usual teams?” You offer, trying to extend an olive branch to your brother who usually joins you and Steve.

“Absolutely not. I’m with Robin,” Dustin declares, still refusing to look at you.

Steve notices you deflate at that, and now that you no longer have to hide it, he slips an arm around your back, pulling you in to kiss your temple - a quiet show of comfort.

“You should cut them some slack,” Robin tells Dustin, after they’ve made their fifth call with still no luck.

“Why? Aren’t you livid that they never told you?” Dustin implores.

“Not really,” Robin laughs.

“Why not?” He looks at her skeptically.

“Sure, it’s a little insulting that they didn’t tell me, but I think it’s also kind of sweet,” she says softly.

“Sweet?” Dustin asks in bewilderment.

“I mean, if you think about it. They both wanted it to be just theirs for a while. Plus, with how much it means to them, it’s probably a little scary telling people,” Robin elaborates.

“Why would it be scary?” Dustin asks, genuine curiosity starting to creep in.

“The last time Steve was in love he had his heart stomped on and crushed to pieces,” Robin clarifies, and Dustin ponders thoughtfully at the statement.

“And has your sister ever been in love before?” she continues.

“No, but she said she might be, with Steve,” his voice loses some animosity.

“Exactly. Falling in love for the first time or after a huge heartbreak can be scary - or at least that’s what I hear. So yeah, maybe they should have told us, but it’s a little understandable,” Robin shrugs nonchalantly.

“Huh,” Dustin ponders, and lets his eyes stray across the room to you and Steve.

“Just think about it,” Robin encourages.

Dustin already is - because you’ve got your head thrown back in laughter as Steve’s moving his hands wildly about. When you settle down, tilting your head - smiling widely, a lovesick expression sits behind your eyes.

Dustin blinks hard when he sees the same look on Steve’s face, realizing maybe he’s been a little too harsh - but it didn’t mean he was about to let up on you.

After the five of you found Eddie hiding out in the boathouse of Reefer Rick, hearing his story about Chrissy Cunningham's bones snapping at the seams further proved the theory that this was all related to the horrors your friends have witnessed before.

It had you wound up tight - irritated at the fact that Dustin still wouldn’t look you in the eye when it was clear all of your lives were in danger. With each new death, the less understanding of your brother's feelings you became, and the angrier you got.

You finally snap when Steve returns to you from the water gate - your favorite butter yellow sweater of his is gone, and he’s left shirtless besides Eddie’s vest; wounds in his side, huge red welt around his neck, bags under his eyes, completely covered in filth.

“What, what the hell happened to you?” You whisper, gently appraising him.

You stayed behind with the rest of the younger teens to keep an eye on Max, but seeing him in this state has you recognizing the jarring reality of the mess you’re all in.

You wrap your arms securely, but lightly, under Steve’s arms, holding onto his back - being mindful of the makeshift bandaging around his middle. At your hold, he nearly sags against you, exhaustion finally catching up to him - fight leaving his system.

“Dunno what they were. Bastard demobats, I guess,” Steve grumbles weakly, head leaning against yours - eyes closing tiredly at the feel of you carding your fingers through his hair.

“He could have rabies, you might not want to touch him,” Robin quips.

Nancy rolls her eyes, “He doesn’t have rabies.”

“Henderson, your boyfriend is totally metal,” Eddie grins.

You’re still holding onto Steve, but you turn your head to look at Eddie in confusion - ear pressing against Steve’s chest, can hear the rhythm of it as it thankfully still beats rapidly.

“Bit into one of the suckers, then had blood from the thing hanging out his mouth as he ripped another one clean in half,” Eddie makes a ripping sound, gesturing with his hands.

You pull slightly back to stare in astonishment at Steve, and he smiles wearily, “Probably don’t wanna kiss me for a while.”

But honestly, after finding out he was stuck in that miserable place and seeing him come back bruised and battered; you were genuinely thinking about it - not caring about the fact that his lips were definitely still stained red from the gore.

You laugh affectionately, moving your hands to his face and try to swipe away some of the grime that coats his skin.

Dustin scoffs loudly from where he stands against the trailer wall, pushes himself off and snarks out, “Kissing should be the last thing on either of your minds.”

Your blood boils at the lack of his sensitivity, and it’s your breaking point of playing nice with him, “God, Dustin could you cool it for like five minutes? Steve almost fucking died, and you still have a stick up your ass when I’ve apologized to you like a million times!”

Dustin rears back, eyes widening - didn’t expect you to dish it back.

“Angel,” Steve says calmly, grasping at the loops of your belt - trying to pull you back.

“No, Steve, you almost died,” your choke out brokenly, turning back to your brother, “He almost died tonight, Dustin. Your best friend almost died, and you’re too busy being a complete jackass to even care!”

“I care!” Dustin splutters.

“You have a funny way of showing it,” you lament, frustrated tears running down your cheeks.

“I just think it’s interesting that we’re at the brink of the end of the world, and the two of you can only think about sucking face,” he grumbles out.

“Oh my god, I love him,” you state the obvious, but Steve freezes, because it’s the first time he’s heard the words from your lips.

Neither of you had said it yet, but you both felt it - both demonstrated it in other ways.

Dustin’s shocked at hearing you confess it again, not realizing how serious you had been - despite Robin confirming his suspicions a couple of days ago.

“And I love you, you idiot,” you huff out, swiping furiously at your eyes, “and it’s killing me that you can’t even try to talk to me when one of us might seriously not make it out this time.”

You can see Dustin’s jaw working, chewing on your honesty, but he doesn’t respond.

“I can’t keep doing this. So, if you really can’t accept this,” you gesture between you and Steve, “then, I, I’ll stop seeing him.”

Steve makes a strangled noise of protest from his throat, goes to take a step closer to you, but you hold your hand out - silently asking him to pause.

You sigh in defeat, “But if that’s the outcome of all of this, then I don’t know you as well as I thought I did - because the Dustin I know can hold a grudge, but has never been this spiteful.”

Dustin looks down at the floor, and you swear you hear a sniffle from him before he darts out the front door of the trailer.

You bite your lip, torn between following him or explaining yourself to Steve - as you basically just admitted you’d break up with him for your brother’s sake if it came down to it.

Steve makes the decision for you, slides an arm around your waist and pulls you to his side that’s not injured. He presses a kiss to the crook of your neck and gently breathes out, “Come on, let’s go talk to him, together.”

Dustin’s pacing when you get outside, and your heart twinges when you see him wiping his face with the sleeve of his shirt.

“Dusty,” you call hesitantly, not wanting to push him - but knowing this needs to be settled now.

He turns at the sound of your voice, and his eyes flick between you and Steve.

Dustin’s willpower finally crumbles, heat fizzling out, “I’m scared.”

“Of what?” You ask softly.

“Of you getting hurt by this,” Dustin mumbles out, kicking at the dirt at his feet.

“You think I’d hurt her?” Steve asks, no judgement in his tone - just honest inquiry.

Dustin avoids looking at him, “No, not on purpose.”

You and Steve can tell there’s more to it that he’s holding back, and you remain quiet, providing him the space to filter his thoughts.

He addresses Steve, “You're my best friend,” and his eyes go a little glassy when he says, “Not Mike’s or Will’s or Lucas’ best friend. Mine.”

He looks back to you before continuing, “And Eddie’s got Gareth as his best friend, not me - which is why I tried setting you up with him and not Steve. I mean, have either of you thought about what happens if this doesn’t work out?” He asks in defeat.

You and Steve glance at each other, because it’s part of why you didn’t say anything in the beginning stages - not knowing if it was a fling or something more. The longer it went on for and the deeper your feelings grew, the less that question was asked between the two of you.

You’re about to respond when Dustin barrels on, “Because I have. I’m the one who loses both of you. If Steve hurts you, I lose him. And if you hurt him, I don’t know where that leaves me standing with either of you.”

“Dustin, our relationship wouldn’t have to affect yours. You’re family to both of us, and though I understand what you’re saying,” your cheeks start to heat on the verge of the admission, “Steve and I are like, really into each other.”

Steve places a hand on Dustin’s shoulder, “I should probably be telling her this first,” he turns to smile briefly at you, “but I think you need to hear it - I love her, man. I’m in love with her. And you’re the brother I never had. I can’t stand the idea of losing either of you, I wouldn’t risk it. I promise, things can go right if we all just give it a chance.”

“I’m scared of that too,” Dustin feebly replies.

“Why?” Steve tilts his head just slightly, causing a couple strands to fall across his forehead, and your fingers twitch to fix them.

Dustin seems to shrink in on himself as he confesses the underlying problem, “I’m afraid there’s not going to be any room left for me.”

You suck in a sharp breath at that, “Dustin, we could never forget about you.”

“How do you know that?” Dustin contends.

“Now that you know we’ve been seeing each other, can you think back on the last given months or so and recognize anything different?” You prompt.

You can almost see the gears turning in his head - reflecting back on the time that’s passed and if things were indeed different.

“Actually, no,” he realizes, expression perking up a bit.

Steve slings an arm around his shoulder, “That’s because we both love you, you little shit - and figured out how to keep our relationship separate from the one we each have with you.”

For the first time in a long time, you hear the blessed sound of Dustin laughing - granted it was a small laugh, but you’ll take it.

“We really are sorry,” you tell him truthfully, and Steve echoes the notion.

“Now can we please stop acting like each other's enemies when we have a real one that needs to be fought?” You plead, and Dustin smiles at you.

“Truce,” he concedes, and you throw your arms out around him while Steve ruffles the top of his hat.

You know things will need to be discussed further and know you’ll need to make it up to Dustin - because you really never meant to hurt him, but those are the unintended consequences of keeping it private.

After the makeshift molotov cocktails were made, you sat perched on Steve’s lap as he rested on the cooler underneath him - back pressed against the side of the parked RV. The two of you were staring out into the field as your friends created makeshift tools of combat in the absence of having the power of El on your side.

Steve’s arms are securely wrapped around you, hands traveling up and down your thighs, desperate for your touch in what feels like the imminent threat of danger.

Your head is resting against his shoulder, hands clutching onto the fabric of the new jacket he’d picked up from the weapons store. It’s rough, nothing like the soft material of your beloved sweater that’s been left behind in Lover’s Lake.

“I’m gonna miss that sweater,” you mumble, tilting your head to look up at him.

Steve presses a kiss to your forehead, “It was just fabric, Angel. I can get another one.”

You shake your head, “It won’t be the same.”

He chuckles under his breath, “What was it with you and that sweater?”

You pull back, wrapping your arms around his neck to draw yourself closer, “It brought out your eyes.”

Steve’s a little caught off guard by the comment, and his lingering gaze on you allows you to assess those eyes of his - a pretty mix of brown and hazel that looked like a pool of honey with that golden color on him.

He flushes a bit at your staring, highlighting the freckles and moles that dot his skin, and you can’t help but press your lips to his. You slot your mouth with his slowly, savoring the feel of his skin against yours.

Your lips part briefly, hovering over his, “Loved that sweater on you.”

Steve’s nose nudges yours, lips ghosting over your own - in no rush, because if the world is going to end tonight, he wants to remember this moment vividly before he dies.

“Think that sweater was bad luck, Angel. I was wearing it when Dustin caught us, and I was wearing it the night I got dragged into the underworld,” he jokes.

“Hmm,” you hum, “if it was bad luck, then how come I knew I loved you for the first time when you were wearing it?”

Steve’s hold on you tightens, sly grin forming easily, “Yeah?”

“Mhmm, you showed up at my doorstep with that pretty little sweater on and those matching yellow flowers, and I knew I was a goner for you, Steve Harrington,” you whisper, pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth.

Steve inhales deeply, “I’m in love with you, Angel.”

You continue to pepper kisses along his exposed skin, mapping out his jaw and down his neck, enjoying the sweet noises you’re pulling from him.

“I’m definitely in love with you too, Stevie,” you smile coyly at the nickname, knowing it makes him all flustered.

He whines at your teasing, hiding his head in the crook of your neck, turning slightly to look back out at the progress the rest of the crew is making.

Both of your eyes land on Dustin, who's messing around with the shields he and Eddie made together.

“We’ve got to make this work, Steve, for him,” you tell him honestly, reflecting on how clear Dustin had made it that he’d be devastated if things went south.

“If we make it out of this, Angel, I promise I’m going to love you for the rest of my life,” Steve mumbles against the column of your throat, pressing a kiss there lovingly - and you know he means it, can feel the weight of his words hanging over you.

Your hands brush through his dirty hair - coated with days worth of grit, but you don’t mind a bit because you’re so in love with him that it hurts to breathe sometimes.