To Hell and Back Again

Chapter Thirty-Five

The four walked silently through the red and blue jungle that was way too familiar to some of them. The trees looked more withered and broken then they did last time. It had a taunt to it. Like it was telling them it was a maze and they weren't going to be able to get out. Steve had Max's headphones on his ears, drowning out everything else. As much as he loved the memories attached to the song, he was going to have to throw the cassette away after how many times he had heard it. Robin walked beside Steve, turning her head every so often to make sure he was still alive. Eddie and Nancy were a couple feet ahead, chatting about plans. Eddie would turn on his heels, lock eyes with Steve, and feel a little safer about the whole plan. Robin looked over once again, to check and see that Steve was still walking. Steve noticed her constant glanced towards him and couldn't take it anymore. Steve removed one of his ears from the music, sliding the headphone behind his ear so it was still hearable but not constant. "What?" He held tightly onto the gun in his hand, staring Robin up and down.
"I just wanted to make sure you were still breathing, Dingus." Robin crossed her arms and straightened her back out while they continued walking. It'd been twenty minutes of walking. It was that phase where they all started to regret what they were doing and wanted to turn back. Especially, Eddie. He wouldn't be here if it wasn't to save Steve. He constantly felt like something was after him, his paranoia worse. He'd hear a bat and practically pass out from fear, but Nancy was there to calm him down. It was weird how close Eddie and Nancy had gotten. Especially because they had both seen Steve naked, which made it just a tad weirder. But Nancy was a good friend. She was the friend that Eddie needed. Eddie would get scared, his heart rate would increase, his breaths would get shorter, his head would feel spiny, and Nancy would be right there to hold his hand. Steve furrowed his eyebrows at the sight of his ex girlfriend holding his current boyfriends hand.
"So who is that from?" Steve pointed towards the purple and yellow spot on the side of Robin's neck. Her face went flush as she searched for a way to answer.
"A girl." She stared down at her toes, refusing to look at Steve. He elbowed her in the shoulder, knocking her over a bit.
"What girl, dumbass? Is it someone I know?" Steve stepped through the over grown, rotting plants below them, the smell left him feeling nauseous. He covered his nose with his sleeve as he left out a soft sneeze.
"It's just a girl! Okay?" Robin defended herself, leaving Steve a little startled but all he could do was laugh. Eddie and Nancy turned at Robin's voice being raised. They quickly realized Steve was laughing, meaning that Robin was pissed.
"Why are you so defensive?" Steve watched as Robin rubbed the side of her neck nervously. Her eyes shifted around, trying not to keep her eyes in one place. "That happened by choice right?" Steve's smile went away, his hand clenched at the thought of someone hurting Robin.
"What?" Robin's eyes glanced up at Steve.
"The hickey. It was consensual right?" Steve felt his heart sink into his chest. Robin furrowed her eyebrows.
"Yes, it was consensual!" Robin's face got more red.
"If it wasn't consensual then I'll kick someone's ass. Even if that someone was a girl." Steve clenched his fist, making strong eye contact with Robin. She bit her lip, searching for an answer.
"Steve, chill. It was consensual. It was hot." Steve nodded at her answer, feeling his hands unclench a bit. Eddie and Nancy slowed down. Eddie hooked his arm around Steve's, pulling him forward, away from Robin.
"What were you bugging Robin about?" Eddie looked up slightly so he could see Steve. Steve glanced back, making sure she was out of earshot.
"She's got a huge hickey on her neck and refuses to tell me who it's from." Steve kicked a rock as he walked beside Eddie. He looked down at his feet, making sure he didn't trip. "She tells me everything and won't tell me who gave her that giant mark."
"I have an idea of who it's from." Eddie snorted as he laughed. He kept his arm wrapped tightly around Steve's, his hand held on tightly.
"Who?" Steve whipped his head over. "You know who it is?" Steve was slightly offended.
"She'll tell you when she wants to." Eddie whispered towards him. Steve didn't like being the only one left out. He knew for sure that if Eddie knew that meant that Nancy knew. And if Nancy knew that meant that Steve was being replaced by his ex girlfriend. Very anticlimactic if he had a say but why would she tell everyone but him. He's her best friend. Steve turned his head to see Robin and Nancy laughing simultaneously. He shot his head forward.
"Holy shit." Holy shit was right. Steve couldn't stop glancing behind him. Eddie just nodded and laughed.
"They aren't hiding it very well. Just don't say anything until she decides to tell you." Eddie's hand fell off of Steve's arm. He picked up Steve's hand and kissed the top of it softly. "That was cute what you did with Max back there."
"Shut up." Steve continued to walk, keeping his head down. He listened to the sounds around them, the bats chirping, the groan of the rotting trees. Eddie shivered at the chirps. The sky cracked with lightning but there was no rain. Eddie's hand tightened around Steve's hand nervously. "Hey, you got nothing to worry about." His thumb rubbed over Eddie's knuckles. Eddie nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat.
"Will you carry me?" Eddie rubbed his leg dramatically. Steve looked down at his legs as they walked. He seemed perfectly fine. Steve let out a long dramatic sigh then stopped walking so Eddie could climb onto his back. "Keep up, losers!" Eddie yelled behind them, towards Nancy and Robin. Nancy let out a small laugh watching as the two boys messed around in front of them. Steve held onto Eddie's legs, the music blasting into his ears.