the unexpected | steve harrington

the massacre at hawkins lab

part four

"Jesus, Daph, it's like watching Bambi learn how to skate!" Steve shouted from his bike as he watched the brunette wobble and continually fail to ride her bike in a straight line.

Steve had selflessly offered to hang back and keep an eye on Daphne as the rest rode ahead, they were also slowing to keep up with the pace of the two in the back.

"It's not like we have our lives on the line or anything, guys!" Robin shouted from ahead, Daphne looking up through her matted hair with a glare.

"I told you I couldn't ride a bike! It's— it's scary!" She huffed as her legs kept going from under her, the bike swaying from side to side. Steve barks a laugh at the girl, turning his head repeatedly to watch as she helplessly looks between the handle bars and the road ahead. "What the Hell are you laughing at Harringt- shit!" He laughs again as her handle bars swerve, her foot sliding off the pedal and quickly redeeming herself. "Stop laughing at me!"

"I can't-" Steve buckles on his own bike as he belly laughs, "I swear, this is the best thing I've ever seen."

"Harrington, I swear to Jesus, I will kill you." Daphne's head snapped up.

She hated every second of this. Daphne's not quite sure how she went her entire childhood and adulthood not being able to adequately ride a bike. But she did know that all the times her mom tried to teach her as a child, she couldn't ever be brave enough to actually ride it. Instead, jumping off just seconds after she realised her mom had let go of the back.

Dustin, on the other hand, was completely normal in the realms of riding a bike. Almost professional, some may say. And that someone would be Dustin, obviously.

"Okay, okay," Steve waved his white flag, "Do you want to get on the back?"

Daphne glanced to him, the small seat, and then thought about the rest of the miles that they had to ride.

"I would, but we both know we'd be sliced in two trying to share that little seat," Daphne nods towards the tiny seat which Steve, once again, bursts into laughter.

"That— that was way too visual,"

"Well, visualise it, Harrington, because it wouldn't be pretty," She puffed out some air to blow the hair out of her face.

"Yeah, thanks for that, Henderson," Steve smirks as they continue pedalling.

"Guys, what the shitting Hell is that?" Daphne swerves as she concentrates on the squealing bat-like creatures swirling around a house.

"Jesus H. Christ," Eddie grumbles from the front, Robin and Nancy trying to get a look as they pedal past.

"Just keep going," Steve reassures Daphne, "The sooner we're outta here, the better."

—

After what seems like an eternity, the group finally make it to the trailer park. Completely devoid of life, even creepier than usual.

The sign completely overtaken by vines and decaying mould, cars clamped by the same growths as the pitch black sky engulfs the scene in front of them.