Nancy led the group through the darkened forest. Robin was by her side, holding an easy conversation with her. Steve held pace beside you in a comfortable silence, until he drops back to talk to Eddie.
But it was honestly nice to have some time alone as you walked.
Your eyes were surveying the woods surrounding you, finding a strange familiarity in it. You wondered how many times you'd walked this way during your time down here. Crossed this very same path without realising what it might mean this far into your future.
It felt weird to see it all again now, after seeing the far more beautiful mirror image back in the real world. It felt so desolate to you now. When you first got free of that lab, you thought this place was the most beautiful thing you'd ever seen; but now you know it's just because you'd never experienced true beauty.
Nothing could ever compare to the real world. To the real thing.
The same could be said for your attachment to Henry, you suppose. You were drawn to him and the kindness he showed you. The loyalty he showed you. So desperate for parents that had abandoned you that you were willing to take whoever chose you, no matter the cost or what they had done. It was everything to you. He was everything to you.
Until you met Steve. Until you felt what actual love was, not mindless manipulation.
Henry was kind to you so you'd help him. So he could use you. But Steve never wanted anything from you. He was kind to you because that's simply who he was. He loved you because of who you were, not because of what you could give him.
It changed everything.
So, being back here, you felt a little like a fraud. Like the life you'd lived down here was nothing in comparison to what you'd built for yourself now.
And, God, did you feel so stupid for ever believing you meant something to Henry. Or that he gave a damn about you. Because he didn't - he served only himself and his selfish whims. That was the real ugly truth.
Lost in your thoughts, you had lagged behind a little, just far enough away from Steve and Eddie that their voices occasionally drifted into your space, small snippets of their conversation bringing a smile to your lips.
"I'm just sayin', man. She didn't even hesitate to jump in after you. To shred a goddamn bat to ribbons to try and save you. It was as unambiguous a sign of true love as these cynical eyes have ever seen... So maybe quit being such a moron."
"I'm being a moron?"
"Yeah. I don't know what happened between you and Wheeler, but... If I had a girl like yours, I wouldn't even consider fucking that up."
"Well, I wasn't planning to." Steve snorts.
"Good." Eddie agrees. "Don't. . . 'Cause we're like besties now, y'know? We shared a boat together and two beautiful, romantic nights... Not to mention our shared trauma, that always brings people closer together, hmm?"
"Watch it, Munson."
Eddie laughs, loud enough that you almost turn around at his lack of subtlety. "Relax, Casanova. I'm just messin' with you."
You couldn't deny that it warmed your little heart to hear the fondness with which you were being spoken about. It was nice to know that Eddie had your back, especially considering the rocky start to what was turning out to be a sweet friendship.
The ground shakes again. You almost fall but strong and familiar arms catch you just in time and hold you in place. Steve. You relax in his grip as the world goes steady once more, letting out a shaky breath. Robin was calling out to Nancy, who had run off in the commotion.

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Surrender // Steve Harrington x Reader
FanfictionShe didn't know any better. Years of being raised by the evil entity that was once Henry Creel skewed her view of the world she once lived in. When Y/N is sent by him from the Upside Down to infiltrate those that so tediously continue to thwart his...