His Suzie {StevexBilly} (Harringrove) (Stranger Things)

The Creel House

The morning after Max's vision, everyone woke up at Nancy's basement. Everyone but Eddie.

~~~~
The night before, at the dock house

As Steve and the rest await for Nancy and Robin at Eddie's hiding place, bringing him back after his escape in search of food, Lucas gives Max some space as she puts her headphones on.

Lucas, catching Steve's shaking body and frightened expression, walks up to him.

"It happened right in front of me." Steve says as he looks at Max. "I failed her."

"She's still here. She's ok, she's with us." Lucas pats Steve.

"Has she said anything?" Steve's eyes finally meet Lucas' eyes.

Lucas, breathing unsteadily, "uh, no. And, I didn't wanna push it... If it was terror for us, I really don't think it was better for her. What she must've gone through... What she must've seen..."

Steve frowns, nodding his head away from Lucas' stare, because he could feel the tears coming.

Once he hears the specific knocking, Dustin goes to open the door and Robin comes in with Nancy. They first see Steve, and as Robin sees Steve's teary eyes she goes to him. Lucas steps away as Nancy also approaches Steve.

"Uh...." His voice breaks, "I... I really thought-- I..." He takes a deep breath as his fingers run through his hair, "I mean, it was looking exactly the way Munson said happened to his friend. I- I thought that was it..."

Robin takes a slow step towards Steve, but Nancy is quicker and goes to hug him.

"She's ok, Steve..." She faces him, "we're once step closer to figuring this out, ok?"

Robin's eyes drop to the floor before following Lucas who goes to sit with Max once again.

"Max...?" Nancy also goes towards her, Steve stays where he is.

Max pulls down her headphones, her bloodshot eyes can barely look at Nancy.

Max tells everyone what happened, not going into much detail, it was still fresh but it was still just as frightening, even out of the trance.

Dustin and Robin glance at Steve as Max mentions Billy. Nancy eyes are on the floor as she pays attention to what Max is saying, studying word for word, trying to catch a clue or anything that could potentially help. Lucas sits on the other side next to Max. He wants to hold her, at least her hand. But Max has been so distant from him for too long now that he doesn't know if it's ok or not to touch her.

"I ran and ran..." She sniffs, having ran out of tears, "then I woke up and dropped to the grass."

She looks up at Steve, wondering what he is thinking.

"Steve..." Dustin looks at him knowing what Steve is thinking.

Steve's sight is lost on the floor but he speaks, "he's not gone..." Max closes her eyes, swallowing, "he's still- he's still with us...!"

"Steve-" Robin's hand tries reaching him.

"He talked to her! He stands straight, "about me, he knew I was there!"

"Steve, for all we know, Vecna is the one making up all of this. Yes, he showed up, but--"

"Max didn't touch him." Lucas frowns.