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

Chapter 46: Epilogue

Summer was in full swing in Hawkins, Indiana, which meant only one thing, a pool party. Graduation had been late because of everything that had happened, but every senior who had returned had been given a passing grade no matter what. However, despite the fact he would have been passed anyway, Nancy and Robin had made sure Eddie did more than scrape through.

Steve had honestly been amazed how well Eddie did when he had two people tailoring his revision to the way he learned best. He was pretty sure Eddie had been more than a little surprised too.

The actual graduation had been weird because of how many memorials were included. Eddie hadn't carried out his plan to flip off Higgins but had worn one of the commemorative pins for Chrissy on his gown. Some of the basketball team hadn't seemed to like that, but Eddie had stared them down and dared them to say anything. It had been a moment to cherish.

Steve thought his boyfriend had looked so very handsome walking across the stage. He'd borrowed his dad's video camera to record the momentous occasion, along with Robin, Nancy and all the others in their group who were graduating too.

All of them were here along with the kids, enjoying the sun and the pool. There was still that weird mark in the concrete at the bottom of the pool, but the water was clear and fresh now.

All the older adults had decided to skip the chaos of teenagers and a pool by taking up Hopper and Joyce on an invitation to a more sedate grill out at their place. Steve could sympathise since the kids were screaming and playing like the teenagers and one not-quite-a-teenager that they were. Not a care in the world for once. El was even using her powers to cheat at several of the games being played, much to Erica and Max's delight and the boys' chagrin. Her antics made Steve laugh out loud, even as he kept a silent eye on her to make sure she wasn't damaging herself.

He was still exploring his own abilities, but since El seemed perfectly happy to open up to him, even sitting on a lounger just watching, he could keep a light connection, just in case. Not that she was pushing it. She gave him a bright smile every now and then.

Eddie was currently over by the grill talking to Jeff. Steve had had every intention of handling the grill himself, but when Jeff had arrived and seen it, the way Jeff's eyes had lit up had said it all. Turned out Jeff was a dab hand with fire and meat and had been utterly overjoyed when Steve had let him take over. The smells coming from that direction were divine and Steve's mouth was watering.

Gareth and Frank were heckling the kids from the sidelines of the pool. They had slotted into the group really well since the debacle in the spring and Steve was pretty sure Eddie had trained up Gareth to take his position of putting jocks in their place at the high school, since he was the only older one who hadn't yet graduated. Not that he would be alone, given that Dustin, Will, Mike and Lucas made a formidable backup. Which didn't even mention El and Max. Although Steve also had an inkling that El might turn out to be the sporty type given a little push.

Nancy and Jonathan were sitting on a couple of the loungers talking quietly. They'd had a bit of a rough patch after Jonathan had admitted he hadn't applied for the school he said he had, but they seemed to be over that now. Steve had kept out of it since it wasn't his business, but he thought they seemed happier for having been through a crisis that didn't involve the Upside Down and come out the other side stronger.

Nancy didn't seem quite so driven now. She was still focused, but there was a definite change in her that Steve was pretty sure was for the better. Whether it had been her near-death experience or just that the danger was finally gone, he didn't know. He was just happy for her.

Argyle was one lounger away from the couple, chatting animatedly to Robin about something Steve wasn't even trying to comprehend. Steve still didn't really understand Argyle very well. The guy came from California, had stolen a pizza truck from there, but didn't seem remotely worried about going back, or returning the truck. All Argyle had said when Steve had broached the subject was 'Oh, it's all cool, Brochacho, don't you worry." Argyle also seemed to have a never-ending supply of weed. He had become the go-to man these days around town, since Eddie had quit the business.