Even Stranger Things

A Shift

For the last month, Steve has been driving over to One's before or after work-depending on which shift he had. At first, One didn't know how to react to Steve trying so hard to be in her life. She wasn't used to people spending time with her because they wanted to spend time with her.

"You're here later than normal," One chuckled as she opened the door. "The food is getting cold."

"Sorry," Steve laughed. "But I got a movie!"

"I have to ask," she sighed as he walked into One's house, "how much nudity is in this one?"

"None," he shrugged.

One crossed her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrows. Steve scratched the back of his neck, his face slowly turning red.

"Okay, fine," he sighed. "There's one scene."

"Well," One shrugged with a small laugh, "that's better than last week when it was almost five scenes, each longer than the last."

The two spent the night watching the movie and eating the food One made. One looked over and noticed Steve watching her instead of the movie.

"You okay?" She chuckled.

"Yeah," he said under his breath.

"You sure?" She teased. "You've been staring at me the past three minutes instead of the movie."

"Sorry," he stuttered as he turned his attention back to the tv. Barely thirty seconds later, he looked back at her. One laughed and turned towards him.

"You're doing it again, Steve. Are you sure you're. . ."

Steve cut her off as he leaned over and pressed his lips to her's. He expected her to slap him across the face, but she started kissing him back.

She wrapped her arms around his neck as he snaked his around her waist. As things sped up, Steve laid them down. Their lips moved in sync as One ran her fingers through his hair.

One let out a shaky breath when Steve broke the kiss and started kissing her neck. She closed her eyes tightly as her body filled with emotions she's never felt before. Her stomach was doing flips, she could barely catch her breath, and she burned everywhere that Steve touched her.

"Steve," she moaned.

"I'm sorry," he stuttered as he forced himself to pull his lips away from her neck. "I know we barely know each other. I shouldn't push you. . ."

"Steve," she cut him off. "My bed is bigger than the couch."

* * * * *

One woke up to the sun shining through her window. As she slowly woke up, she realized that she wasn't in bed alone. She looked over her shoulder, her face burning when she saw Steve asleep with his arm wrapped around her waist.

Her breath got caught in her throat when he tightened his arm around her waist and his eyes slowly fluttered open.

"Good morning," he whispered, pulling her closer to him.

"Morning," she giggled. One hesitated before rolling over so she was facing Steve. He reached up and moved a piece of hair behind her ear, his hand lingering on her face.

"Last night was amazing," he said, giving One chills.

"Really?" She asked before she could stop herself. She cleared her throat, sitting up and clutching the blanket to her chest. "I mean. . . Was it okay? Was I okay?"

Steve opened his mouth to reassure her, but she added one comment that made his heart dive into his stomach.

"I've never done it willingly."

"Willingly?" He repeated, his voice soft. He sat up when he figured out what she meant. "One, are you saying. . . Did they take advantage of you?"

Tears instantly started streaming down One's face. Steve reached over and caught one with his thumb, his hand still holding her face.

"I will never let anyone hurt you like that again."

His promise gave One goosebumps. She's never had someone protective of her the way Steve was. One leaned over and pressed her lips to Steve's. She felt him smile as he started to kiss her back.

As their lips moved in sync, Steve laid them back down. Before things could get as heated as they got last night, One broke the kiss.

"You're going to be late for work," she whispered.

"So?" Steve chuckled before pressing his lips back to hers.

"Steve," she mumbled against his lips. She gently pushed on his chest, making them break apart. "You have the opening shift today. And Robin is going to kill you if you show up late. Again."

"Fine," he sighed dramatically as they sat up. "You're trying to get rid of me. I get it."

"What?" One gasped. "No," she stuttered as she held the blanket tightly to her chest. "I wasn't. I just don't want to make you late again."

"One," he said gently. "I was teasing you."

"Oh," she said under her breath. Steve smiled as he leaned over and gave One a gentle kiss.

As they got dressed, One couldn't stop wishing that Steve would decide to call in sick to work and stay with her all day. The more she wished it, the more terrified she got. She wasn't familiar with the feelings that she was having toward Steve.

"When do you get off work?" She asked as Steve put on his shoes and grabbed his car keys.

"Four," Steve answered. "I'm covering the afternoon shift as well. Andrew got sick. Plus, I could use the extra cash."

He looked over at One and smiled. He walked over and grabbed her hands.

"Hey," he whispered. "I'll pick us up something to eat on my way back. I can get here a little after five."

"Make it 5:30," One teased.

"Okay," Steve said slowly. "I guess. . ."

"That way you can go home and change out of your uniform, sailor."

Steve looked over at One and glared at her. He could only hold his fake-angry glare for a few seconds before breaking. He laughed as he leaned down.

Before he could press his lips to her's, he whispered, "You got it."

* * * * *

Steve threw his car in park and got out. He grabbed the to-go boxes and headed to One's door. He knocked and waited for her to answer.

"One?" He called out. "You home?"

The longer it took for her to answer, the more concerned he got. When she didn't answer, he set the food down. He hesitated before finally opening the door.

"One?" He called out. "You weren't answering the door so I. . ."

Steve cut himself off when he saw One passed out on the ground.

"One!" He gasped as he ran over to her. He knelt by her side and tried to wake her.

"Come on," he stuttered. He put his fingers to her neck, trying to find her pulse.

"How the hell do you do this?" He grunted. He let out a sigh of relief when he felt her pulse weakly against his fingers. He reached up and ran his fingers through her hair.

"One?" He whispered. "Can you hear me? Come on, One. Wake up. Please."

When she still wouldn't wake up, he thought of one person who could help. Steve ran outside and unlocked his car, opening the passenger side door. He turned on his heel and ran back inside. He knelt down and gently picked One up bridal style. He looked down at her in his arms when she let out a pained moan.

"It's going to be okay," he whispered. "I've got you."