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

Chapter 45: Happy Talk

"Mom," Steve said as he leaned into his father's study where his mom was working at the desk, "do you have a minute."

After the press conference there had been a lot of chatter on the walkies and phone calls and the usual chaos, only with parents involved this time. His mom had invited the Buckleys to stay another night if they would like, which, after Robin had rambled about going home if they wanted in a clear sign she didn't really want to, they had accepted. They'd finally returned to their house after breakfast, at which point Steve had spent some time with Eddie until he had plucked up the courage to go and talk to his mom.

She looked up and smiled.

"Of course, Darling," she said. "What is it?"

His dad had disappeared off half an hour earlier after mentioning something about talking to Hopper, so Steve knew he and his mom would not be disturbed. He still walked in and shut the door behind him, however. As he made his way over to the desk all his carefully prepared opening words dissolved as his heart decided to beat so hard he could feel it in his toes.

"Um," he said with all the eloquence of a baked potato.

His mom gave him a gentle, questioning look.

"Yesterday," he finally said having to take a quick breath after just that one word, "at breakfast."

Light dawned in his mom's eyes, and she put down the pen she was using. Standing slowly, she came round to his side of the desk.

"Yes, darling," she encouraged, standing close, but not in his personal space and not reaching out.

Not pressuring him.

He'd faced down Demogorgons and Vecna, but just looking into his mom's eyes at that moment was one of the hardest things he had ever done. His heartbeat was rabbit-fast and his palms felt clammy and sweaty. If felt like the whole world was staring in on him.

"When you said," he started, voice dying for a moment, "did you mean..."

Words were incredibly hard.

"Steve," his mom said when he failed to say anymore, "I meant everything I said at breakfast yesterday. If your father and I ever gave you the impression we believed anything different..."

"No," he interrupted, because honestly they hadn't, he had just never really considered it, "no, you didn't."

He mentally kicked himself as he opened his mouth to tell his mom the truth and couldn't say it.

"Darling," his mom said, finally reaching out and, ever so gently, taking his hand, "you can tell me anything, absolutely anything, but," she paused for a moment, making sure she was looking in his eyes, "you don't have to, not until you're ready. That's not why I said what I said."

He took a deep shuddering breath.

"I'm bisexual," he blurted out and for a second, he thought he might faint.

A rush of adrenaline coursed through him and made his whole body go cold.

"Oh, Darling," his mom said, bringing her other hand up to cup his cheek, "thank you so much for telling me. I love you and I will always love you and it makes me so happy you have trusted me with this."

The tiniest, somewhat hysterical laugh escaped him at that, as relief made his legs feel weak. It was ridiculous. After everything his mom had said, how she had acted, it had been obvious she wasn't going to hurt him because of this, and yet hearing her actually say it made his head feel full of air.

"I'm also in love with Eddie," he admitted, since he was on a roll.

"Well, he is quite loveable," his mom said with a small smile.