#smart!steve

It takes him two years to complete the degree (and one more almost-apocalypse), because he does it in his spare time and only at night. It’s not exactly a secret, but he never tells anyone and they never figure it out. He almost gets caught once- he leaves a textbook out on his desk when Robin is over, and she spots it almost immediately. Instead of getting excited that he’s making something of himself, though, she immediately assumes that he’s sleeping with a student. It stings so badly that Steve just forces himself to smirk and goes along with it.

Once he’s graduated, it’s easy to get a job at the hospital as a night nurse. It takes exactly two nights for Hopper to figure out that he’s working there. A drunk driver is brought in to be looked over before getting locked up, and Steve just happens to be the one doing the check. It doesn’t take much to get Hopper to agree to keep what he’s learned to himself, but Steve feels bad for making him promise to keep the secret. It’s just easier when nobody knows.

It’s Vecna’s fault that Steve has to reveal his newly acquired skills, all because of Eddie freaking Munson. Steve’s seen him in the hospital a few times over the months he’s been a nurse, and he knows that Eddie’s seen him as well. He’s managed to avoid confrontation for a long time, and he figures Eddie’s pride won’t let him say anything about seeing him there. He’s wrong. The injuries are minor- cuts and bruises, mostly. Nancy has the worst of it with a sprained wrist that Steve has no clue how she got. She’s just holding it to her chest, being careful not to move it, and Steve’s been watching her but hasn’t offered his help yet because he’s sure she’ll turn him down. Eddie has no problem with speaking up.

“Wheeler, just let the nurse patch you up! We need you all in one piece to kill this fucker,” he tells her, gently shoving her towards Steve.

“You haven’t even graduated,” Nancy points out, looking unimpressed. Eddie’s eyebrows climb up his forehead, and Steve tries to catch his eye before he can-

“I meant Harrington. You know, the guy who literally works at the hospital? Wears scrubs and everything? I assume he’s licensed, or else the hospital is even worse off than I thought,” Eddie replies. By this point, everyone is staring between the two of them.

“Steve works at Family Video,” Robin chimes in helpfully, sounding so confused. Steve would agree with her, but he’s promised himself that he’ll never lie to her. He does work at Family Video… but he also works at the hospital. Lying by omission is still lying.

“Sure, during the day,” Eddie agrees easily. “But I know what I’ve seen. He’s a nurse by night.”

“Steve?” Nancy asks, voice soft but demanding. A time he knows from months of dating. She needs an answer, and she will not be letting it go.

“I got my nursing degree six months ago,” he confirms quietly. “I work night shifts at the hospital during the week, and some Saturdays.”

“Most Saturdays,” Eddie corrects with a casual grin. Steve kind of wants to strangle him… but it’s also a relief to not have to hide this side of himself.

“Most Saturdays,” he agrees with a sigh. “I like to help people. And it was your idea, Nance.”

“My- oh,” Nancy says, eyes getting wider by the second. “But that was years ago!”

“Yeah,” he agrees. “It took two years to finish, because I only did night classes. I’ve been patching the kids up since six months into classes. Nobody ever noticed, and I didn’t want it to be a big deal.”

“The textbook!” Robin says loudly, staring at him. “You weren’t sleeping with a student!”

“I was not,” Steve agrees carefully. “But it was easier to let you think so.”

“Steve…” Nancy says, and there are tears in her eyes. Steve is supremely uncomfortable, but he doesn’t know how to politely change the subject. Eddie has no problem with this, either.

“So let Nurse Steve take care of you, and we’ll keep planning! Andale!” He claps his hands, manic smile in place. He winks when he catches Steve’s eye, and Steve… Steve blushes.