#steve fic

Silence. Then - a sound. A soft, groaning noise, almost a whimper. "I need you to come over. Right now. It's - it's an emergency. A medical emergency."

Your heart skipped a beat. "Steve, are you hurt? Did something happen? Is it the Upside Down?"

"No! Nothing like that! Just - " he lowered his voice to a frantic whisper that vibrated with strain, " - just please come over. And maybe bring ice? Lots of ice? Cold things. Frozen things."

He hung up.

You stared at the phone, equal parts worried and annoyed, then grabbed your bag and headed for your car.

Steve's house was dark when you arrived, which was strange for 4 PM on a Saturday. You let yourself in with the key he'd given you two years ago with a cute, very you keychain attached - "for emergencies," he'd claimed, though mostly you'd used it to feed his mom's cat when they were away cause you loved that little furball.

"Steve?" you called, dropping your bag in the entryway. "Where are you?"

"Upstairs," came the muffled reply, thin and strained. "My room. Please hurry."

You took the stairs two at a time, concern overriding everything else. You pushed open his bedroom door and froze.

Steve was on his bed, fully clothed in jeans and a t-shirt, but his face was flushed a deep crimson that spread across his cheeks and ears. His hair was damp with sweat, plastered to his forehead in dark strands, and he was - oh God - he was holding a bag of frozen peas against his crotch with both hands, his knees drawn up, his whole body curled in on itself like he was in pain.

"Steve?"

"Don't look at me," he groaned, his voice cracking, throwing an arm over his face. His chest heaved with every breath, his t-shirt clinging to his skin. "I'm a monster. I'm broken. I'm - oh god - " he broke off with a whine, high and desperate, his hips bucking upward involuntarily, his hands pressing the frozen bag harder against himself.

"Why are you holding frozen vegetables to your - " you gestured vaguely, " - your area?"

He peeked at you from under his arm, his eyes glassy and slightly wild, pupils blown wide and black. "Remember Cheryl Matthews?"

"Vaguely. Cheerleader? Dated Tommy Hagan?"

"She gave me chocolates." He pointed with one trembling hand to a heart-shaped box on his desk, already empty, his movements jerky and uncoordinated like muscle spasms. "For Valentine's Day. Said she wanted to 'give me something special.'" He made air quotes, then winced, a full-body shudder running through him as he adjusted the peas. "I ate them. All of them. Because I'm an idiot who can't pace himself."

"Okay..." you said slowly, still not understanding. "So you have a stomachache?"

"I wish!" He laughed, slightly hysterical, the sound breaking into another whine as he shifted restlessly against the mattress. "No, Y/N, I - " he dropped his voice to a whisper that shook to your core, " - I can't make it go down. It's been two hours. I've tried everything. Cold showers. Thinking about my grandma. Math equations. Sad puppies - and nothing works! It just - " he broke off with a gasp, his head falling back against the headboard, his throat exposed and vulnerable, lined with sweat, " - it won't stop! It's aching, Y/N. It hurts."

Realization dawned. Slowly, horribly, hilariously.

"Steve," you said carefully, fighting a small smile, "are you telling me those chocolates were - "

"Laced with something!" he wailed, his voice cracking on the last word. "I don't know what! But I feel like I'm going to die, and I can't go to the hospital because they'll think I'm some kind of pervert, and I can't tell my mom because she'll kill me, and you're the only person I could think of who wouldn't - " he broke off, groaning, the sound low and wounded and needy, his hips rolling upward in a slow, helpless grind against the frozen bag, " - who wouldn't think I'm completely disgusting."

"Who wouldn't laugh at you?" you supplied.

He peeked at you again, his eyes desperate and pleading, wet at the corners with frustration or pain or both. "Okay, you're clearly laughing now, but I thought maybe - maybe you'd know how to help. Before I have to start thinking about amputation. Or jumping in the quarry. Or - oh god - " he gasped, his whole body going rigid, his knuckles white where they gripped the peas, " - please think of something to help me. Please. I can't - I can't stand it anymore. It won't stop throbbing."

You did laugh then - you couldn't help it, a sharp burst of sound that made him groan and cover his face again, his shoulders hunching with embarrassment. "Steve, I - this is - this is the most ridiculous thing that's ever happened to you. And that's saying something."

"I know," he moaned, the sound muffled by his arm. "I'm cursed. I'm actually cursed. Probably by a witch. Or a demon. Or - "

"Or Cheryl Matthews just wanted to mess with you," you suggested, crossing to his desk to examine the chocolate box. There, tucked under the velvet lining, was a small handwritten note: "Hope you enjoy these as much as I'll enjoy watching you eat them. Happy Valentine's Day! ;)"

You showed him. He turned an even darker shade of red, if that was even possible.

"She poisoned me," he said, outraged and breathless. "This is assault. This is - this is chemical warfare!"

"It's Viagra, Steve," you said, trying to be practical despite the absurdity of the situation. "Or something similar. You're not going to die. You're just... enhanced. For a while."

"How long is 'a while'?" he asked, slightly panicked, his voice rising.

"I don't know? A few hours?"

"Hours?" The word came out as a wail, high and broken. He dropped the bag of peas - finally - and you couldn't help it. Your eyes dropped down.

He was hard. Impossibly, almost painfully hard, the outline straining against his zipper, thick, obvious and there. You could see the shape of him clearly through the denim, the way it curved up toward his hip, the way it twitched slightly with his pulse. He noticed you looking and made a wounded noise, his hands flying to cover himself, his face buried in his pillow.

"Don't - don't look at it," he begged, his voice muffled and miserable. "It's obscene. I've been like this since my lunch break. I had to stand behind the counter at Family Video trying no to crumble. I had to keep pressing my hips into the counter between customers, Y/N. I couldn't walk properly. I had to wait until everyone left, closed up shop and then I ran home and I've been here ever since, trying to make it stop - "

He broke off with a gasp, his hips jerking upward into his own hands, a shudder running through his whole body. "It hurts," he whispered, and you realized he was actually trembling - not just embarrassed, but in real, physical distress. "It's too much. I can't - I can't think. I keep having these - " he broke off, his face screwing up with shame, " - these thoughts. About you. About people. About anything. And I can't make it go away."

You sat on the edge of his bed, careful not to jostle him, and tried to think. You were his best friend. You'd been his best friend since you were toddlers, since he'd chased you around the yard yelling cooties. You'd seen him cry over Nancy, seen him covered in Demogorgon guts, seen him do everything.

But you'd never seen him like this. Desperate, flushed and aroused, his body betraying him in the most intimate way, his usual confidence stripped away to reveal something vulnerable underneath. His hands were still pressed between his legs, but you could see the way his hips kept shifting, rolling, seeking friction he wouldn't let himself have.

And you definitely shouldn't be noticing how good he looked with his hair messy and his pupils blown wide, his chest heaving under that thin t-shirt, his mouth red and bitten where he'd been chewing his lip.

"Okay," you said, forcing your voice steady. "Okay. We need to get you comfortable. Those jeans are probably not helping."

"Can't take them off," he mumbled into his pillow. "Then it's just - there. Out. And I can't - I won't - I'll - " he broke off with a whine, high and desperate, his hips bucking upward again, " - I can't control it, Y/N. I touch it and it just gets worse. I tried, earlier, I thought maybe if I just - but it wouldn't stop, it wouldn't finish, and I was so sensitive it hurt, and I - "

"Steve." You reached out, touching his arm, feeling the heat radiating off his skin, the fine tremor running through his muscles. "It's me. We've been friends for years. I've seen you in swim trunks. I've seen you throw up at a party. I've seen you cry during E.T." He made a small sound of protest. "This is just... biology. Unfortunate, chemically-induced biology. Let me help."

He rolled onto his back, slowly, his movements careful and pained. He looked at you - really looked at you - and something shifted in his expression. Something dark and hungry that he'd never aimed at you before, not in all your years of friendship. His eyes dropped to your mouth, your throat, your chest, and he made that sound again - that low, wounded noise.

"Y/N," he said, his voice dropping an octave, rough and slightly dangerous, strained with effort. "You should probably go."

"What? No, I - "

"I mean it." He shifted, and you saw it - the full shape of him now, thick and hard against his hip, straining the denim. He was bigger than you'd thought, or maybe just harder, more desperate, the outline clear and obscene. "Whatever this is - it's making me think things. Want things." His hand moved, almost involuntarily, pressing against himself, and he gasped, his head falling back, his throat working. "And I can't - " he swallowed hard, his jaw tight, his whole body trembling with effort, " - I can't control it. And I don't want to - " he broke off, his hips rolling upward into his palm, a groan tearing from his throat, " - I don't want to scare you. Or hurt you. Or do something we'll both regret."

"Want what?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

He laughed, harsh and humorless, his hand still pressed against himself, kneading slightly, his face twisted with pleasure and pain. "You. I've always wanted you. Since sophomore year. Since you laughed at my terrible joke in the cafeteria and I thought - shit." His eyes met yours, dark and desperate and honest. "But we're friends. Good friends. And I didn't want to ruin that, so I never - " he gestured helplessly with his free hand, the other still working against himself, " - I never said anything. And now I'm drugged and desperate and I can't stop thinking about what you'd taste like, what you'd feel like, and you need to leave before I do something - fuck - " he broke off with a gasp, his hips jerking upward, his hand moving faster, " - before I can't stop myself."

The room went silent. Your heart hammered against your ribs, loud enough that you were sure he could hear it.

"Steve," you said carefully. "Look at me."

He did. His eyes were dark, glazed with arousal and something else - fear, maybe, or hope. His hand was still moving against himself, slow, desperate strokes through his jeans, and he didn't seem to realize he was doing it.

"I've wanted you too," you admitted. "Since you helped me with with my scrapped knees and you were so patient, so kind, even though I was frustrating and stupid and - "

"You're not stupid," he interrupted, his voice rough, his hand stilling. "You're perfect. You're - fuck - " he broke off, his hips jerking upward, his hand flying back to press against himself, " - you need to go. Now. I'm not - I can't be gentle right now. I can't be careful." He looked at you, his eyes wet, his face flushed and desperate. "I want to pin you down. I want to fuck you until you can't walk. I want to - " he broke off with a whine, high and broken, his head falling back, " - I want you so bad it hurts, Y/N. Literally hurts. And I don't want to hurt you."

"Then don't be gentle," you said.

You reached for him.

The kiss was desperate from the start - teeth and tongue, need, his hands tangling in your hair, pulling you closer, deeper, his mouth hot and hungry and starving. He tasted like chocolate and mint, familiar and new all at once, and you moaned into his mouth, feeling the vibration of his answering groan.

His hands were everywhere - rough and trembling, tearing at your shirt, your jeans, stripping you efficiently despite his shaking. He was whining into your mouth, small desperate sounds that vibrated against your lips, his hips grinding against your thigh where he was still trapped in his jeans.

"Off," he gasped, pulling back just enough to fumble with his zipper, his fingers clumsy and uncoordinated as you fumbled with your own clothes. "Please, I need - oh god - " he broke off with a gasp as he finally freed himself, his cock springing up against his stomach, thick and flushed a deep ruby red, the tip wet and achingly hard.

He was beautiful. Bigger than you'd imagined, curved slightly upward, a vein running along the underside that pulsed with his rapid heartbeat. He wrapped his hand around himself immediately, stroking once, twice, his head falling back with a groan that sounded like agony.

"Can't - " he panted, his hand moving faster, his hips bucking into his fist, " - can't stop touching it. Feels so good but it's not enough - need more - need you - "

"Steve," you breathed, reaching for him, wrapping your hand around his where he was stroking himself. He was hot - burning - the skin like silk over steel, pulsing and throbbing against your palm. He made a sound - high and broken, desperate - and his hand fell away, letting you take over.

"Yes," he whimpered, his hips jerking upward into your grip, his whole body trembling. "Yes, please, please - "

You stroked him slowly, experimentally, watching his face. He was wrecked already - mouth open, eyes squeezed shut, his chest heaving with every breath. A bead of wetness gathered at the tip and you swiped your thumb over it, spreading it down his shaft, making him slick and slippery in your grip.

"Fuck - fuck - " he choked out, his hips snapping upward, fucking into your hand with uncoordinated thrusts. "Too good - it's too much - but I can't - I won't - " he broke off with a whine, his hand flying to grip your wrist, stilling your movements. "If you keep doing that I'll - I'll finish - and I want - I need - " he looked at you, his eyes dark and pleading, " - I need to be inside you. Please. Please."

You nodded, breathless, and he was on you immediately - pushing you back against the mattress, looming over you with dark, hungry eyes. He was shaking - actually shaking - his whole body trembling with the effort to go slow, to be careful.

"Tell me," he demanded, even as he was already positioning himself, the tip of him nudging against your entrance, hot and wet, right there where you needed him. "Tell me to stop and I will. I swear - "

"Don't stop," you breathed, reaching for him, pulling him down into another kiss. "Please, Steve. I want you inside me. Now."

He pushed inside in one long, hard thrust - no teasing, no hesitation - filling you until you were breathless with it, until your back arched off the mattress with a cry that he swallowed with his mouth. He was thick, big - perfectly, impossibly thick - and he stretched you just right, the burn fading quickly into pleasure so intense it made your eyes water.

"Oh my god - " he groaned, his voice breaking, his forehead dropping to yours. "You're so tight - so wet - so perfect - " He pulled back slightly, just an inch, and thrust back in hard, making you cry out. "Can't - " he panted, his hips already snapping forward, seeking friction, seeking more, " - can't go slow. Can't be gentle. I'm sorry - I'm sorry - "

"Don't be," you gasped, nails digging into his shoulders, your legs wrapping around his waist to pull him deeper. "Don't be gentle. Move, Steve. Please - "

He moved. Started a rhythm that was hard and fast, each thrust snapping his hips against yours with enough force to move the bed. He was whining with every stroke - high, broken sounds that vibrated against your neck where he'd buried his face, his breath hot and damp against your skin.

"So good," he panted, his voice wrecked, his hands gripping your hips hard enough to bruise. "You're so good - so perfect - fuck - " He shifted his angle, grinding against your clit with every thrust, and you moaned, your head falling back. "Love you - love you so much - can't believe you're letting me - oh god - "

He pulled back to look at you, his eyes dark and wet, his face flushed and desperate. "Touch yourself," he begged, his voice cracking. "Please - I want to feel you come around me - I want to - " he broke off with a groan, his hips stuttering, his cock throbbing inside you, " - I'm close - I'm so close - but I want you to - "

You reached between you, your fingers finding your clit, circling in time with his thrusts. The pleasure built sharp and hot, coiling tight in your belly, and you were gasping, moaning, your free hand gripping his hair, pulling his mouth down to yours.

"Steve," you gasped against his lips. "I'm gonna - I'm gonna - "

"Yes," he whimpered, his thrusts becoming erratic, harder, needier. "Yes, please, come for me - now - "

You shattered. Came apart with his name breaking across your lips, your body tightening around him until he shouted and followed you over the edge, spilling inside you in hot, pulsing waves that seemed to go on forever. He kept thrusting through it, milking his own orgasm, whining high in his throat as he overstimulated himself, until finally he collapsed, careful to roll to the side, pulling you with him.

For a long moment, there was only breathing. The sound of his heartbeat under your ear, still racing but slowing. The smell of sex and sweat mixing with chocolate.

"Still hard," he mumbled eventually, his voice dazed and slightly horrified.

You laughed, breathless, reaching down to confirm. He was - impossibly - still thick and hot against your thigh, still pulsing with arousal, though slightly less rigid than before. "The drugs," you reminded him. "They last a while, remember?"

"Right," he said. Then, slowly, a smile spread across his face - wicked,delighted and ever so Steve like, even as his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "So... we have time for round two?"

You laughed, pressing closer, feeling him twitch against you. "You're insatiable."

"Only for you," he said, and kissed you - sweet and slow, full of promise. "Only ever for you."

You'd made it to round three before the effects finally started to fade, leaving Steve exhausted and covered in marks that you'd have to explain to Robin later. You lay tangled in his sheets, your head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat slow to normal, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on your back.

"So," he said eventually, his voice rumbling under your ear. "Best friends?"

"Best friends who have sex," you corrected. "Best friends who are probably dating now? If you want?"

He tilted your chin up, his eyes soft and serious, all the desperation gone now, replaced by something warm and certain. "I've wanted to date you for three years, Y/N. Of course I want it."

"Good," you said, and kissed him. "Then you should probably know - this was the best Valentine's Day I've ever had."

He laughed, loud and delighted and yours. "Even with the drugged chocolates?"

"Especially with the drugged chocolates."

Outside, February wind rattled the windows. Inside, two best friends who were definitely something more now made plans for pizza, movies and maybe, eventually, sleep.

But for now, this. Sticky skin and soft words and the lingering taste of chocolate on your tongue.

The boys had come to Steve desperate for his help and not the sort that required a drive down to the old range and a bat wedged with nails. It was the sort of help where they needed King Steve, the Steve that made Skull rock the place.

They needed his help with girls.

Steve dragged a chair from the kitchen island over, sitting himself down and leaning over to the boys. "Okay, so you like these girls. El and Max?"

Mike and Lucas nodded while Dustin cracked open his can of pringles he'd brought along for the ride.

"You want them to be your girlfriends, well, you've come to the right guy," Steve ran a hand through his hair, Mike and Lucas watching him do it. "I've got a few moves that can help you but you have to do exactly as I say. Got it?"

They nodded.

There was a crunch for Dustin that momentarily threw Steve off his game.

You had been painting your nails when the insistent knocking broke you from your careful task. It was a Saturday, the day where you weren't supposed to be bugged for anything- unless it was Steve but even then your boyfriend always called ahead.

You opened the door to find Max, El and Will.

"Hey?"

"Hi," they all greeted and promptly flooded in.

They took themselves to your family kitchen, sounding like they were making themselves at home. You were just thankful your family worked on weekends. You didn't want to have to explain why teenagers felt they were allowed to let themselves in.

"Do you have any ice cream?" asked Max.

"And any syrups?"

You found the three raiding the cupboards and the freezer, El pulling down bowls and getting spoons. "Why?"

Max pulled out the tubs you had. "Because we need your help."

"My help?" typically every time the kids came for help it wasn't an ice cream situation. It was a kill or be killed kind.

"It's the boys," Said Will.

El looked to you sheepishly but you sighed in relief and helped them find whatever they needed.

Because if the boys went to Steve Harrington, the master of dating then the girls went to you. The very one that retired Steve from his old 'playboy' ways and had him happily settled, besotted even.

"What do you need help with?"

"So you want to ask the girls out, okay, easy enough, right?" Steve asked them, having Mike and Lucas and Dustin in a line like they were army cadets.

"Yeah," said Lucas and Mike.

"No!" Steve snapped. "Wrong, not easy. One wrong move and they'll be laughing at you, friend-zoning you."

"Friend-zone?" Asked Lucas like even the Upside down was a preferable place to be then that dreaded zone.

"Yeah," said Steve, dramatically. "I've been there myself, not a good place to be."

They watched as he settled back on his stool, lost in some sort of memory.

He sighed to himself, shaking his head. "Alright look, I don't tell many people this story so if it gets out, I'll know it was one of you three and I'll make your lives hell, understand?"

They nodded.

Steve rested his hands on the tops of his thighs. "I too have been friend zoned, it's not a good look."

"You?" asked Lucas.

"What did you do? How did you get out of it?" asked Mike.

"Well, I pitied myself for an evening, I had to make these mistakes so you boys won't have to. But yeah. I moped. It hadn't gone how I planned but I knew y/n would be at a party that night-"

"Wait-" interrupted Dustin with a cheeky grin. "Y/N friend zoned you?"

Steve looked at him, not a trace of amusement on his face as he re-countered the faithful night. "Yeah, now do you want my help or not?"

Dustin blushed. "Sorry."

"Listen, I moped, I despaired but then it hit me, it didn't have to be that way. So I got in my car, drove to the party-"

"Who's?" asked Mike.

"Stacey's."

"Stacey M or Stacey V?"

Steve frowned at him. "Does it matter? Anyway- I marched in there, ignoring everyone that said hi, I only had my sights on her."

"Then what did you do?" asked Lucas.

Steve wet his lips as he remembered the night he first kissed you, telling you his earlier confession that you pinned down to just being 'great friends' wasn't what he was going for. He stood up, for effect. "I found her on the stairs, she looked miserable to be there but she clocked eyes on me the same moment I did. So I made my way up, pushing past everyone, wrapped my arm around her waist and I kissed her."

He was still proud himself for that kiss, and the ones that only got better along the way.

"Tongue?" asked Lucas.

Steve was surprised a second at his forwardness. "Yeah, duh. So my advice-" he levelled with them. "Take the lead, girls like it when you're in control. Have you guys tried anything yet? Like, asking them to go watch a film together or something?"

The three shared looks.

Mike spoke up first, swallowing back his nerves. "I asked El to the drive in cinema once, but then I remembered I don't have a car. Or drive."

Steve tried not to let his disappointment show. "Easy mistakes to make."

Lucas held up his hand like he was back in class. "I asked Max once if she was on her period?"

"Oh, Sinclair, tell me you didn't."

Lucas's face dropped, eyes widening in terror. "Is that bad?"

Steve threw his head into his hands. "Oh, Sinclair."

"Steve! Is it bad?!" he fell to his knees in front of him.

"It's bad," said Steve, nodding with a wince for his young friend and the misery he was going to face. "You're in the dog house. Not even the dog house, the kneel, the pound. You're being put down."

"How do I fix this?" asked Lucas, hands clutched up to Steve like begging to god. "Tell me Steve, how!"

"He didn't!" you gasped, dropping your spoon in the ice cream tub that laid between you all on your bed.

"Yeah!" said Max, re-counting the time Lucas had asked the dreaded- 'are you on your period or something?' "Has Steve ever asked you that?"

You chuckled at the very idea. "Oh no, no, no, no, Steve knows better."

"I wish Lucas did," grumbled Max.

"How'd you do it?" asked Will, speaking up.

You looked to him. "Do what?"

Will dropped his voice to a whisper like you were sharing a secret. "Get Steve to fall in love with you?"

You smiled to yourself, thinking about it.

All throughout high school Steve had been a tease but not just to you, to any and every girl in Hawkins High. It was like a test to him, how many could he have by the time he reached senior year. You were someone he could just never crack, you never gave into his ways and it started to catch his eye in the most infuriating ways.

By the time the both of you had been brought into this Upside down business Steve had changed, he cared in ways you hadn't thought possible for him. And when the King Steve persona was dropped you finally started giving into him and your own heart.

"Well it's easy really, to get a guy crazy about you," you said, leaning forward on your elbows, already lying down on your bed. "Give him a look, seem like your interested then look away. Drives guys nuts."

"Make them suffer," said Max.

You lifted your shoulder. "I guess, basically, yeah."

"What was your first kiss like?" asked El, eyes wide in wonder.

You grin broke into your cheeks, re-counting the awful party you'd gone to to make Steve jealous after shaming his pitiful attempt at asking you to be his girlfriend. After years of torture from playboy Harrington you needed him to see it wasn't going to be easy.

But he made it so when he turned up out of breath and hair damp from the rain outside. How his eyes were locked on yours as he pushed everyone out the way until he'd pulled you into a searing first kiss, a pull like magnets drawing you in together. It wasn't slow, it was a desperate plea, a last attempt.

By god, it worked.

"Woah," said El as you reencountered it all.

Will was grinning. "What do you even do after a kiss like that?"

"Oh c'mon," said Max with a playful roll of her eyes. "There's only one thing you can do after a kiss like that-"

"Max!" you lectured. "Don't be crude."

Only when El and Will were distracted over the chocolate ice cream did you catch her eyes and give her an approving nod that had her winking at you, a secret safe with her.

"So you chill out," said Lucas after more of Steve's teaching. "Hang out with the boys and act like you don't care."

Steve groaned, hands coming together in a loud clap. "Sinclair! Have you learnt nothing!"

Lucas gulped.

Steve took a calming breath and started again. "Okay, okay... you're not wrong. One way to drive girls crazy is to act like you don't care but more often then not it gets them angry and then they discard you. Learn from me, you take a chance, you tell them how you feel."

"How we feel?" asked Mike, confused by his own feelings.

"Yeah, you look her in the eyes and tell her how you feel," he said.

Dustin chuckled from where he sat watching, still with his pringles and a pillow in lap, getting himself cosy like he was watching his favourite disaster film. "Or get friendzoned."

Steve looked back to him with a pointed look. "I'll tell everyone about the Farrah Fawcett spray, huh, Henderson?"

Dustin's shoulders sank. "Sorry."

Steve returned his focus on Mike and Lucas. "Listen, El is a superhero but also she's new to this whole... life, thing, right?"

"Right," said Mike.

"So you want to be right with her, don't play mind games with someone who can literally see into your mind," he advised. He turned to Lucas. "And Max... well, Max is terrifying okay, she's had to grow up with Billy. She has to be terrifying, why mess her around. Give her something good."

Lucas clicked his fingers, understanding better. "Love."

"Sure, if you want, love," shrugged Steve. It was tough to remember sometimes these were a couple clueless fourteen year olds coming for his help.

Mike fell back onto the sofa, alerting them all. He didn't seem so sure of himself all of a sudden. "How do you know?" he mumbled.

"Know?"

Mike looked to Steve. "How do you know what Love is?"

Suddenly Steve remembered these were fourteen year olds, but maybe not so clueless. After all, they'd fought monsters, faced losing each other almost every day when they knew there was another dimension below their own. They lived fast when they knew they might not live at all.

"Well it's not always easy, but sometimes it is," said Steve, settling down next to Mike. "I knew I loved y/n when I had to go a day without her."

Mike looked up at him, the kind of way Steve imagined a little brother would look at him if he ever had one.

"She had to go out of town for a day, visiting some family and I genuinely didn't know what to do with myself," Steve laughed at the memory, of you calling him the night before saying you were heading out of town, your nana was sick. "All day I just waited for her to get back and it's not because I didn't have things to do. Heck, I had basketball practise, I had this barbeque my dad wanted me to go to. But I just wanted to tell her about it and I couldn't. That's when I realised I loved her. I'm pretty sure I'd loved her since I first met her, really but not being able to call or see her face, made it pretty obvious."

Mike listened and understood.

Love wasn't exactly pulsing in his house. Sure, he loved his family because he had to they were blood. But he'd never seen his dad offer to cook just because his mom said she was tired, but he could imagine Steve doing so for you without you even having to say the word.

"It's true you don't know what you have until you lose it," Steve added.

Mike knew then, just what love was.

"But Mike liked me in a dress," said El.

"Screw Mike!" said Max from where Will was painstakingly trying to paint her nails and to stop her moving.

"Yeah," he chuckled. "Screw Mike."

You had been looking in your wardrobe and boxes at the bottom that you had meant to take to Goodwill but never got around to. The girls were insistent that they could also ask the boys out, but they wanted to look right, jaw-dropping. "When was this?"

"When I snuck into school," said El simply. "He said I looked pretty good in a dress."

"Pretty good?" you checked.

El nodded and looked down to the jeans she wore, rolled up several times at the ankle and the checked shirt that looked like it once belonged to Jonathan. "And with different hair."

"Okay," you ditched the boxes and carefully guided El to your bed, the two of you sitting on the edge. "El, it doesn't matter what Mike likes you wearing. It matters what you like."

"What I like?" she asked, a small amount of confusion furrowed in her brows.

"Yeah. What you feel comfortable in. What you like. Hey, if that's jeans and a baggy shirt, wear the jeans and baggy shirts."

El fidgeted with her small hands in yours. "But what if, I want Mike to, like me?"

You squeezed her hands. She said everything in such a same tone, so simple as if the world was made to be that way. "Mike'll like you just the way you are. If he doesn't then we get rid of him."

"Get rid of him," nodded El.

You had the sudden idea what that meant to El, remembering just who you were talking to. You shook away that idea. "Okay, how do you like your hair? What do you like to do with it?"

El looked at the bits of her hair she could just about see. The curls expanding down to waves at her shoulder. "I like it... like this."

"Then we leave it like that and I'm sure Mike will like that you like it," you tell her with a smile. "Tell you what, you and Max go look through the boxes, see if there's any clothes you like. Anything you do is yours."

Max and El shared a look of equal excitement. "Serious?"

You nodded.

The two girls jumped up from their places and grabbed armfuls of clothes, running to the bath room in fits of giggles.

It left Will alone with nail polish smudged on his fingers.

You smiled and dropped down next to him. "You know, painting nails doesn't just have to be for girls you know?"

Will nodded, but seemed shy. "I know."

"Have you seen Bowies nails? They're crazy."

You pulled out a magazine from somewhere littered on your bedroom floor, luckily finding one about Bowie and splaying it out on the bed. The two of you flicked through, smiling and pointing out the colours.

"What's your favourite colour?" you asked him, already lining out the polishes you had.

Will didn't hesitate in pointing out his favourite shade. "Blue."

You took the nail polish and grabbed his hand, laying it out but you hesitated before putting brush to canvas. "May I?"

Will took a deep breath, not a nervous one, not one that told you he was being forced into it. He just wanted to ready himself to remember the moment. "Yeah."

The movie theatre glowed with the latest pic.

Two care were pulled up on the side, a familiar BMW and your own. It had all been arranged, Steve calling at yours to hear the girls in the background and set the plan into action.

Steve found you helping the girls and Will out the car and smiled at you though you couldn't see the crease to his eyes that could only happen when one was as in love with someone as he was with you.

He turned around to face the three in the back. "Right, tell me again, what are you going to do? Go- Lucas."

Lucas straightened to attention, the flowers in his lap. "I am going to apologise to Max and say she looks beautiful. Then I'm gonna give her these flowers."

"Good, good, Wheeler?"

Mike cleared his throat. "I am not going to ignore my feelings and be true to myself, and let El know how I really feel."

"Yes!" Steve cheered. "Dustin? Your action?"

"Not to make fun of my friends or hold it against them if the girls laugh in their face," he recited. "I am going to watch the movie and buy snacks with the money you gave me."

"Yes!" Steve looked at all three of his prodigy's happy.

You settled the engine in your own car, looking at Max and El in the back while Will sat up front with you. "Ok, remember, be yourself, don't let the boys treat you like crap, and if they do, tell them."

"Got it!" said Max.

You held up a pointed finger. "But don't-"

"Purposely hurt their feelings, yeah we got it," said Max. "C'mon."

The four of you got out the car and you watched as Lucas and Mike waited outside the doors for them, Lucas holding a bouquet of flowers that you could tell were not from a gas station.

Will followed quietly after the girls, looking down to his painted nails and smiling at them every now and then.

You even noticed Mike seeing them to, saying how he liked them before he focused on El and Wil met Dustin inside.

Arms wrapped around your waist, tugging you into a familiar hard chest.

"Well hey beautiful," Steve mumbled into your ear, rocking you slightly.

You tilted back to see him. "Hey, yourself."

Steve smiled as he leant down and kissed you, slow and sweet, dragging his lips against yours to keep you in place just that little more longer. "Mmh, I missed you today."

You held onto his arms still wrapped around yours as you looked at where Mike held El's hands and Max was taking the flowers Lucas held up to her. "I was busy. It seems you were to?"

"Yeah. I taught them everything I know," he shrugged like it was nothing but you could feel the swell of his chest, telling you how proud he was.

"Well if they went to the Steve Harrington school of treating a girl I'm sure El and Max are in safe hands."

You turned in his arms, wrapping your own around his neck and bringing him down to you. Your bodies were flushed as his lips moved against yours, without daring to sweep his tongue in- not in front of the children at least.

Steve's arms slowly fell lover and lower until his hands gripped your hips bringing you closer. "Hey, so-" he mumbled against your lips, not wanting to part. "We've got a whole hour and thirty to kill before the kids want picking up. I know a spot, dark, secluded, perfect for us."

“it wasn’t an idea,” steve shot back, wiping his own sweaty palms on his jeans. “it was a suggestion.” his blue t-shirt was turning darker in patches, sticking to his chest. “and i said: maybe the car is colder because we parked it under a tree.”

“do you know what maybe means?” he added.

“yeah genius, but didn’t you think about something called sun that moves?” you replied.

“okay okay, eat your ice cream. i don’t want this baby getting sticky and covered with vanilla.” he gave up, knowing he’d never win an argument with you.

“it’s hot and we’re eating ice cream, steve. i can’t promise anything,” you shrugged.

his eyebrows stayed furrowed, eyes locked on every little movement you made. he thought you didn’t notice, but he was already clutching a wad of napkins, ready to wipe away any drip before it could touch the leather.

you loved pissing him off. two years of friendship and you still never got tired of it. he was funnier when he got grumpy, and he was used to it. he’d act annoyed for a minute, then be laughing at your dumb jokes three minutes later.

this summer you’d both decided to find jobs. you and robin teased him endlessly about not needing the money, but he insisted. he wanted to prove he could do it without leaning on his parents. robin had already landed something at the supermarket but steve hated the uniform and the pay, so the two of you kept applying to new places every monday like clockwork.

somehow you’d ended up at the ice cream shop, and now you had to deal with steve’s neat-freak ass and his obsession with keeping his car extremely clean.

“relax your annoying ass. it’s not my fault your big mouth devoured your cone a second after we got out of the mall.”

“i’m not gonna say anything else, but i swear if you mess it up, you’re cleaning it,” he said, running a hand through his damp hair. wet brown strands clung to his forehead.

“i’m not cleaning anything. especially not so you can keep showing off to your failed dates. it gives me secondhand embarrassment,” you laughed.

“one: those are not failed dates. and two, you only say that because you’re clearly jealous.”

“oh my god, you definitely have heatstroke. you’re literally talking nonsense now,” you said, bursting into laughter.

“i’m not making anything up. you only say that when you don’t have an argument against me and i’m just noticing a pattern.”

your smile faded a little. he had never gone there before, even when you teased him constantly. the words made your stomach flip with a nervousness you didn’t want to name.

of course he was your friend. that was the title you gave everyone else. but you spent every day together, crashed at each other’s houses, shared everything. nothing suspicious.

still, when he said it, your brain short-circuited. the silence that followed stretched on for a bit too long.

you cleared your throat and changed the subject, desperate to save your own sanity. you didn’t notice the way he was staring at you the whole time, waiting for a real answer.

“stop talking and listen,” you said after an awkward pause. “we have to check this new shop near the park. molly just told me they’re hiring. i don’t know what for but—” you kept talking, dragging the little plastic spoon through the softening ice cream and licking it slowly.

steve wasn’t listening anymore.

his mouth was still slightly open, shiny and pink from the flavor he’d finished earlier. you felt a cool shiver run down your spine despite the suffocating heat. you cleared your throat, forcing yourself to look away before your thoughts wandered somewhere they shouldn’t. he was staring straight at your lips.

you kept avoiding his eyes, trying to focus on talking, until the melted cream started running down your arm. “oh fuck,” drops of vanilla slid onto your thighs. you reacted fast, licking every streak from your skin, then opening your mouth to catch the falling scoop.

your tongue passed over your sticky fingers, cleaning them, before finally circling your cold, sweet lips.

when you glanced up, steve wasn’t complaining about the mess. his eyes were fixed on you.

he turned his head sharply, tapping the steering wheel, then shifted awkwardly and looked out the window.

the silence stretched too long, again.

“what are you getting weird for?” you asked, finishing the last bite of the cone.

“i don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, staring straight ahead.

“you know what i mean. why are you suddenly quiet and not yelling at me for almost ruining your car?”

“it doesn’t matter. can we go?” he reached for the keys, but you stopped him. your hand, still a little sticky, wrapped softly around his wrist. “why won’t you even look at me idiot? i’m serious.”

he wiped his hands, and your eyes followed unconsciously.

that’s when you saw it.

the obvious bulge straining against his jeans. heat flooded your cheeks, hotter than the sun outside. sweat slid down between your breasts, but this time it had nothing to do with the weather.

you gulped and looked at him. his t-shirt clung to every line of his chest like a second skin. the few inches between you suddenly felt impossibly small.

when he finally met your eyes, his pupils were blown wide.

people would call you a liar if you said you’d never noticed how attractive steve was. how broad his back looked when he stretched, how his biceps strained against those tight shirts. knowing you’d caused this reaction in him made your head spin.

“steve…” you breathed. you quickly glanced outside. the street was empty; it was the worst hour of a summer afternoon. no one was stupid enough to be out.

“fuck, i’m sorry, i don’t know why—” he started, hands moving nervously, but you weren’t listening anymore.

you bit your lip, then moved without thinking. you straddled him, settling on his lap. the sound that left steve’s mouth sent shivers through you. his body burned under yours, skin slick with sweat.

you slid your hands down his damp chest. he tensed, hips lifting instinctively to meet you.

“shit,” he moaned softly. his hands settled firm and sure on your lower back, holding you close like he’d been waiting years for permission.

“what are we doing?” he asked, eyes dropping to your lips before finding yours again. “i don’t know—” you struggled, because he kept moving, pressing his hard cock right against your core. “you’re the one who had a little problem down there,” you teased breathlessly. he smirked, and you laughed, the sound shaky with want. “says the one on top of me right now.” his hands slid down to grip your ass, pulling you tighter.

you couldn’t wait any longer, so you kissed him, one hand cupping the back of his neck while the other slipped into his hair. when he pulled back for air, looking around nervously, you rolled your hips slow and deliberate. “someone could walk by and se—fuck.”

“we’re the only idiots trying to get heatstroke in the middle of the street, steve.” you kissed him again, deeper. that was all it took. he opened his mouth, tongue sliding against yours, turning the kiss messy and desperate. the salt on his lips mixed with the lingering sweetness of ice cream. your hips ground together, pulling soft, needy sounds from both of you.

“god, you feel so fucking good.” he murmured against your mouth. one hand stayed on your hip guiding you, while the other cupped the back of your neck, pressing your foreheads together.

his other hand tugged at your soaked tank top; you helped him pull it off and did the same with his shirt. your palms slid over his bare biceps, squeezing the firm muscles as you moved faster.

your lips brushed with every shared breath, every gasp. you clenched around the hard press of him, desperate for more. he thrust up harder, chasing friction. the heat started pooling low in your belly, almost burning.

steve set a rhythm, steady and deep, like he never wanted it to end.

“i’m close,” he whispered into your mouth.

“me too,” you breathed, blood buzzing under your skin.

he gripped your ass again, helping you move exactly how you both needed. “just like that… oh god.” his head fell back against the seat, neck exposed and shining with sweat. you kissed along his throat until the pleasure crashed over you. “fuck,” you moaned, hips stuttering as waves rolled through you. steve kept going, chasing his own release until his body tensed and trembled beneath you, a soft whine pressed into your ear.

you stayed like that, foreheads together, breathing each other in while the car windows fogged from the heat of your bodies. the tension melted away, and suddenly you both burst into laughter, giddy and a little dazed.

you left a small, sweet peck on his lips.

he kissed you again, slower this time, cupping your jaw gently while his other hand rubbed soothing circles on your sticky back.

outside, the sun kept beating down, but for once the heat felt perfect.

——————————————————————————

You and Steve have been steadily cleaning the thing out during shifts like these all summer. (And then guiltily re-filling it so you'd have something to give the kids who come in every now and then.) However, since you hadn't had a chance to buy more after your recent attack on the thing, you thought it was empty.

But there, at the very bottom, sits one lonely lollipop.

You risk a glance back at Steve, but his eyes are already pinned to the candy. You look at each other, then the jar, then each other again. 

And you both lunge in unison. 

His shoulder bumps yours, but your elbow digs into his ribs, forcing a grunt from him. His fingers are longer, so he reaches it first, but you pin his wrist against the cool glass with your own and pry it out of his hand. 

“Goddamn it,” he mutters when your fingers close around the candy. “It’s a mystery flavor one, too!”

You grin triumphantly and pull out your prize. “Nice try. Sucker.”

“You’re not funny.” He settles back against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest and frowning as you unwrap the lollipop. “Technically, I touched it first.”

“Well, technically...that doesn’t matter.” You brandish the stick, then pop the candy in your mouth. “ ‘Cause look whose mouth it’s in.” 

And he does. Look at your mouth, that is. You try to ignore the swoop in your stomach as the afternoon light catches in his mussed hair, making it look as soft as warm caramel.

“You know,” he says slowly, “we could call it even and just…share.”

You snort. “Share? You can’t share a lollipop, are you insane?”

“Why not? 

“It's juss—” You take the sucker out of your mouth to speak clearly. “Like…purposely swapping spit?”

He shrugs. “What’s wrong with swapping spit? You drink out of my water bottle all the time.” Steve’s eyes flick to yours. “It’s not any different than making out.”

Oh. 

How can he just…say shit like that?

As if kissing your coworker is a perfectly normal thought to have. Of course, it is a frequent thought for you. Okay, more like an all-consuming one, but—whatever. 

“At least tell me what flavor it is," he begs, taking a step towards you.

You hum, squinting up at him and twirling the candy in your mouth teasingly. “Kind of like strawberry, but less sour? Too tart for watermelon. I don't know, but it’s soooo good.”

His gaze drops to your lips. “You’re doing this on purpose.”

“What? Flaunting my win?” you say, voice full of false innocence. “I would never!”

He huffs a laugh, then his hand finds the counter behind you with a smack. Your vision fills with broad chest, and he presses you back against the ledge, so close that you have to tip your head up to look at him. 

“Careful,” he says. “I might have to revoke your water bottle privileges.”

You roll your eyes, then pull the lollipop out again. “Fine, Harrington. You want a taste that bad?”

His eyes drop to your lips. “So bad.”

You hold the candy up between you, but when he reaches for it, you snatch it back at the last second. 

He swallows hard as you slip it back into your mouth, twirling your tongue around the hard sugar and blinking up at him from under your lashes. 

When it clicks against your teeth, his eyes darken.

Suddenly, Steve grabs the sucker’s stick and pulls it from your mouth, and you’re not really sure who moves first, but a second later…his lips are on yours. 

Your breath hitches as his tongue presses against the seam of your lips, then dips inside, tasting the sweetness there, and—God, it’s everything you dreamed of.

Steve groans softly, his exhale hot against your cheek as his fingers spread over your lower back to pull you closer, making your vest whisper against his. Your hands fly to his shirt, gripping the fabric for support as the carpet beneath your feet seems to tilt. 

You could kiss him like this forever, actually. It’s syrupy sweet, the sugar on your tongue melting with the taste of him and creating this intoxicating, addictive—

Just then, the bell over the door chimes. 

You break apart instantly, chests heaving. Steve chuckles as your hands fly to your flaming cheeks, and you whip around, putting on your best customer service face for whoever just walked in.

The sucker lies forgotten on the countertop. Something for you to clean up later.

 “Oh, and by the way,” he whispers over your shoulder before turning back to the register. “It’s cherry.”

“Come here and just ride me, please” Steve begged at this point, caressing your curves to make sure you don’t go anywhere. “You are going to be the death of me ya’ know that” he kissed what he had in front of him, that is your chest.

You love to have that effect on him. From the moment you both met you knew he was giving everything flirting with you, trying to take you out on a date but Robin’s voice in your head repeating over and over to not fall in love with Steve ‘The Hair’ Harrington. But you are here for the summer and he already took you out for five dates and despite you tried to hate him, you couldn’t. Every single date was perfect, and he acted like a gentleman. He was dying to kiss you on every single date but he respected your times, and god it was worth it because tonight you couldn’t resist anymore and kiss him right outside the front door of the place you are renting, so that’s how now you both ended up having sex, ready for round 2.

—————

3 weeks ago

“Hi” Dustin greeted Robin so happily.

“Hi” Robin responded seriously.

“Is he here?” Dustin asked her if it was obvious why he was there. 

“Is who here?” she asked, still no emotion in her face. 

An answer was not needed when Steve abruptly stepped out of the back of the ice cream store. “HENDERSON!” he ran to hug his friend that spent some time out of town. 

Meanwhile the boys catch up, it was Robin’s lunch break so you step in to have lunch with her. 

“Let me grab my stuff, dessert is on me” Robin told you. Ice cream of course for dessert. 

“Hi” Dustin greeted you while you waited for Robin. “I’m Dustin”.

“Hi Dustin” you smiled at the kid. 

“Do you work here too? Dustin asked you because he doesn’t remember Steve talking about a second coworker. 

“No, I’m Robin’s best friend and I’m here for the summer” you also gave him your name. 

“Ohhh I see, so you know my friend Steve? He’s single by the way and- “ Dustin tried to achieve a date for his friend. 

But Steve grabbed him quickly and put his hand over his mouth to stop talking.

“Sorry about him, once you gave him the confidence he never stops talking” Steve apologies. “I mean- he’s right I’m single but you already knew that” Steve tried to hide his shyness.

Somehow, Dustin got free from Steve’s grab and just stood there watching how his friend was humiliating himself in front of you. 

“Yeah, Steve. I know, Robin told me that you are single because you can’t get over your high school girlfriend” you dropped the bomb at the same time that Robin was ready to leave. 

Robin grabs your arm to leave the boys alone. Before turning around you waved bye at Dustin in case he is not there anymore once Robin’s break is over. “Bye Dustin, nice to meet you” you said. “See ya’ later, Steve” while you winked at him and turned around to leave.

“Nice to meet you too!” Dustin said before losing your sight. 

Steve was standing there frozen and speechless.

“Damn dude, even people out of town know you are a loser just because a girl broke up with you” Dustin teased his friend.

“Shut up, I tried to flirt with her but Robin warned me to stay away from her” Steve told Dustin.

“I mean, I understand Robin’s warning because if you are still in love with Nance, Robin doesn’t want someone to break her best friend’s heart” Dustin explained to Steve. 

“Ugh, please stop with the Nancy thing. She’s happy with Jonathan and I’m happy like this, so I just said yes to Robin because I don’t want to lose her friendship” Steve confessed. 

Dustin suddenly slapped him. 

“WHAT WAS THAT FOR, HENDERSON?!” Steve put his hand where the punch landed. 

“Are you allergic to being happy? or you are just stupid?” Dustin looked at him dead serious. 

“WHAT?” Steve is still confused about what is happening right now. 

“Do I need to slap you again? or what? That girl is so hot that let’s face it she’s out of your league but she is beautiful and ALSO did you see the wink she gave you? Something tells me that you can win her heart, you just need to use your brain to talk to her and invite her on a date and explain to Robin and her that Nance is in the past otherwise everyone will be thinking that you love Nance” Dustin said once again dead serious. 

“Hey hey watch out your mouth talking like that about a lady” Steve refers to how Dustin said that you are hot. “Why do I need enemies if my friends say that I’m out of a lady’s league?” 

“I’m just being honest, she is too cool and too sexy for you. So flirt back with her only if it is not going to be someone to replace what you feel for Nance or otherwise with Robin we will punch you in the face” Dustin said. 

“You came back wiser from your camp” Steve confessed to his friend. 

“Of course, I’m a grown man now, even I have a girlfriend” Dustin said proudly. “Her name is Susie and I like her a lot”. 

Steve tried his best to keep listening to Dustin’s story about how he met Susie but his thoughts were in another place thinking about what his little friend told him. It was time to snap out of it and listen to his feelings but god he was so scared to get hurt again or rejected.

—

Next day, same situation except that Dustin brings El and Max to have some ice cream. You are back from Robin’s break, meanwhile Steve introduces you to the girls.

“Nice to meet you” Max smiled at you and El gave you a shy smile. You love kids, and they were so nice so you chatted with them for a while when they started talking about her boyfriends and how stupid men can be. Steve wanted to defend his gender but lately Lucas and Mike are not helping so he just stood there next to Dustin while you sat down with the girls with your ice creams. 

“I KNOW RIGHT! THANK YOU” Max exclaimed when you gave her advice that she already told El before. 

“Listen to me, girls. All I’m going to say is that you are smart, strong, young, cute so don’t let these boys steal your peace. Sadly, I’m not quite sure if they are going to realise what they are doing wrong but I hope they do” you advise them. 

Max thanked you for your words. “Thank god, we needed more girls in the group. Can you stay here forever and join us?” El asked you. 

You turned around to check on the boys. “Steve, how many kids are your only friends that you have?” laughing at him. 

“Ha ha, very funny y/n” Steve tried to look annoyed. 

“Steve is the best, he says that he’s like our babysitter and he’s really good at it but he’s our friend. Well, for me he’s my best friend. Actually, did you know he wants to have 6 kids?” Dustin again tries to pair his friend and get him a date.

“K’ Henderson, time to shut up” Steve just grabs the kid by the jeans jacket and walks out the store. “Robin, I’m taking my break see ya later”. 

“Bye, Steve! Thanks for the ice creams” you all said with El and Max. The girls really admired him and you find that cute. 

Once outside, “What are you doing, Henderson?” Steve asked his friend dead serious. 

“You mean like thank you, Dustin for rooting for me because that could be the love of my life?” Dustin tried to ease his mood. 

“Really? I really like her, Dustin. So, do you want me to tell her about all of this shit about the Upside Down and drag her into that hell and put her in danger?” Steve is trying his best to stay calm thinking about telling Robin and you about what is going on in this town. 

“They are going to figure it out anyways” Dustin tried to argue but Steve had a really good point. “Like El and Max said, we need more girls in the band. They are reckless, and also what if one of them has powers? You never know. Steve just ask her out, everything is okay right now don’t jinx it”.