Beyond the Battle: Action & Consequence (Steddie, Stranger Things)

Chapter 43: Coping and Moving Forward

They weren't exactly a sit in front of the TV and vegetate kind of family, but everyone was so wiped out from the day, that's that what everyone seemed to fall into. Steve and Eddie had an end each of one of the couches, his mom and dad were sitting close to each other on the second and Wayne had taken up residence in the armchair.

Steve didn't even realise he'd dozed off until the ringing of a phone woke him. He was halfway to it before he had even registered, he was moving.

"Hi, Robs," he said as soon as he picked it up.

For a second there was silence from the other end of the line, which immediately worried him.

"How did you know it was me?" Robin asked.

That brought him up short.

"No idea," he replied, because he was more worried about the tone of Robin's voice. "Not important right now. What's wrong?"

He heard Robin take a deep uneven breath.

"When we got home," she said, "we started talking. Mom and Dad wanted to know what happened, how, how I really got involved in all this. I told them everything. Once I started, I couldn't stop. I thought ... I thought it was cathartic, but now..."

She trailed off.

"It's okay Robin," he said in the gentlest way he knew how, "I'm coming to get you."

He waved at Eddie across the room, beckoning him over.

"I'm going to leave Eddie on the phone with you, okay?" he explained. "I will be there before you know it."

"Steve," was all that came back.

He'd heard Robin like this before, in the weeks after Starcourt. Sometimes it was just too much. Her parents might know now, but the whole party already had their coping mechanisms and he and Robin had been each other's for nearly a year now.

"I'm coming," he promised before handing the receiver over to Eddie. "Just talk, please," he told his boyfriend.

"Can do," Eddie replied as Steve grabbed his keys and the walkie that was sitting beside them.

"Steve, is there anything we can do?" his dad asked from the other side of the room.

"Not yet," he replied. "Maybe later. Thanks."

He headed out the door quickly. The drive to Robin's house was so familiar he could do it in his sleep. He probably broke several traffic laws, but he wasn't paying attention, so he wasn't sure. Pulling up outside of the Buckley residence, he was out of the car almost before the noise of the engine cut out.

The front door was already open. No need to climb in windows anymore. Mrs Buckley simply directed him towards the stairs. He found Robin sitting on the bottom step with the phone to her ear but face blank as if she was barely registering anything.

"Hey, Robs," he said, sitting down next to her and gently prying the phone from her fingers.

She leaned into him instantly as he wound his other arm around her shoulders.

"Eds, thanks," he said into the phone. "See you later."

"Bye, Steve," Eddie replied, and Steve put the receiver back on the cradle.

"Everyone's safe," Steve promised, even as Robin curled up against his chest, ear against his sternum.

He knew she was listening to his heartbeat. Sometimes all Robin could think about when she was like this was how they had been tied to chairs and she had had no idea if he was even alive. He would never stop her from making sure.