the unexpected | steve harrington

the massacre at hawkins lab

part three

There's no way this same place was Mike Wheeler's house; the same place that Daphne would pick up Dustin and his friends to take them out Trick or Treating; the same place that she would give them rides home.

No way, not here.

She felt like she was dreaming, that she had to be dreaming because this kind of stuff just doesn't exist.

Lightening surrounded them and shot through the sky with anger, but the group ignored it. Deep breaths as they continued their mission; trees and metalwork fallen around them.

"Jheez, what a hole," Daphne grimaced as she gets to the decaying house in front of her, a glare received from Nancy, "Obviously it's not a hole in real life— it's like, just all— I'll shut up."

Nancy opened the door, flashlights lighting up the way as Daphne stepped inside; vines grown all around the building, rotting it away.

"Might be time to get a maid, Wheeler," Robin continued the joke.

"Come on, I don't wanna stay here longer than we have to." Nancy hurried as she turned to run up the stairs to her room, although Daphne stayed downstairs to look around.

Steve stepped up a couple of steps, stopping in his tracks as he seen the brunette hovering around the house, her upper lip curling as she inspects the mould and mildew growing. Steve letting out an airy laugh in response.

"Hey, what you doing?" He asks as he hops down the stairs towards her, her head snapping up at him.

"Oh— nothing, just— this is crazy!" Daphne gushed at her surroundings, "I guessed that Nancy didn't need a million people in her bedroom." She explained herself, nodding in that direction.

"How are you holding up with— all of this?" Steve gestures with his hands as he spins slowly, "Not exactly the Ritz, huh?" He smirks at her.

"Hmm," She hums lowly as he continues to walk near her, following her to the kitchen, "No, not the Ritz," Daphne smirks at him, "I feel like I catch up, then I catch down."

"Catch down?" Steve wears a downward smirk as he stalks forward, both facing each other so their hips rest on the counter. "That's a new one."

"I'm full of surprises, Harrington." She pursed her lips as he nodded with a chuckle.

"Yeah, I'm kinda getting to know that." Steve almost whispered, the air growing thick around them.

Daphne could feel her chest tightening again, Steve running a nervous hand through his hair. He was never nervous. His eyes stalked from hers to her lips, then back up. Her lips parting as she felt the heat rise from her chest to her cheeks.

Steve was weighing up his options; he knew this was most likely the worst timing, to fall for a girl whilst the worlds falling apart, to be stood in the rotting kitchen of your ex girlfriend's home, but the pull towards her was saying otherwise.

Steve had a choice, to ignore it, and hope for a date when they get out of here. If they get out of here. Or to chance it, and go for it.

The Harrington boy was no stranger to pulling out the moves, but somehow this didn't feel as forced. He didn't feel the steps in his head being reeled off. He just felt.