when you know, you know ; steve harrington

four ─ memories bring back

"Look for Imperial Panda and Kaufman Shoes," Robin instructed, her voice low as rain drizzled down the rooftop of Starcourt Mall. Dustin squinted through the binoculars, scanning the ground below with furrowed brows.

"They're with the whistling guy! Ten o'clock!" he shouted, pointing toward a man in a yellow raincoat.

Steve leaned in, brushing wet hair out of his eyes. "What do you think is in there?"

"Guns. Bombs?" Teddy offered casually, her tone almost too light for the seriousness of it all.

"Chemical weapons?" Robin chimed in, half-agreeing with a shrug.

"Whatever it is," Dustin muttered, "they're armed to the teeth."

Just a day ago, Teddy had stepped back into Hawkins, thinking she might finally catch a break—rebuild a life, even. But instead, she was hiding out on a rainy rooftop, spying on shady Russians with a nerd, a music store girl, and her ex-boyfriend. So... same old, same old.

"Great," Steve muttered, wiping water off his face only for more to drip down. "That's just great."

Teddy stifled a laugh, but her attention quickly returned to the man in the raincoat as he disappeared into a secured room guarded by men in black. Her brows pulled together. "Hey, what's in there?"

"Just more boxes," Dustin answered.

"Let me see," Steve said, reaching for the binoculars.

"Hang on, I'm watching," Dustin countered, keeping his grip firm.

"Lemme see it!"

And like the geniuses they were, the binoculars slipped from their grip and tumbled off the edge.

"Nice going," Teddy hissed, eyes widening as a guard looked in their direction. Without thinking, she grabbed Steve's hand and ducked behind the ledge, dragging the others with her. Her heart pounded.

"What happened?" Steve asked, breathless.

"He was looking straight at us," she whispered.

She didn't notice she was still holding Steve's hand. He definitely did.

"Well, if you hadn't—" Dustin started.

"I asked for it! You didn't hand it over," Steve shot back.

"Enough! Both of you," Teddy snapped, silencing them instantly. Robin smirked beside her.

"Damn."

"We need to move," Steve said, and no one argued.

As they rose, Teddy's cheeks flushed. She realized she was still holding Steve's hand. Gently, she pulled away, and he cleared his throat awkwardly. Rain continued to drizzle as they slipped out of sight, leaving the roof behind.

"Well," Robin muttered, "I think we found your Russians."

Teddy nodded, swallowing hard.

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖

"So how was meeting up with your friends, Damon?" Richard Sterling asked over dinner, chewing thoughtfully on the sandwich Teddy had made.

"Not bad," Damon said through a mouthful of food. "We went to the community pool. The lifeguard was such an ass—"

"Language," Richard cut in without looking up.

"Yeah, yeah," Damon muttered. "But he's friends with my friends, so I had to deal."

"And you, Dorothea?" Richard turned to her. "Hopper mentioned you were spending time with his adopted daughter."

Teddy flinched slightly at the word 'adopted.' "Yeah, Dad. Just catching up."

She didn't mention Russians. Or the rooftop. Or Steve. Definitely not Steve.

"Good. It's nice that you're reconnecting."

She let out a slow breath as her father stood up and gathered his things.

"And... are you seeing your old friend?" he asked.

Her heart skipped. She knew who he meant.

"No, Dad," she lied, keeping her voice even.

Richard nodded with what almost looked like relief before leaving for his shift. As the door shut behind him, Teddy collapsed back in her chair.

"Why'd you lie?" Damon asked, glancing up from his plate.

"You know why, Mony."

"Yeah, but... what if Dad's changed? What if he realizes Steve isn't bad anymore?"

Teddy stared at him, her smile fading. "That's not going to happen."

Damon watched her silently as she grabbed her keys.

"Where are you going?"

"Mall. Gotta grab some stuff before college."

"Can I come?" he asked, wide-eyed. "It's boring here."

"Next time, okay?" she said, ruffling his hair before stepping out into the warm evening air.

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖

"Steve! Hold on!"

Teddy's voice rang out through the air as she jogged toward the boy pedaling away on his bike. He stopped abruptly, turning with wide eyes.

"You came all the way here... on foot?"

She shrugged, a little breathless. "Yeah. Dad's at work. Mom's too busy gossiping with Joyce. I was bored... and then I thought of you."

Steve's ears turned pink.

"What about your brother?"

"Playing with cars. I told you—I was bored to the core. So..." she gestured to his bike. "Give me a ride?"

His eyes widened. "What if I mess up and you fall?"

"Then I get a bruise," she said simply. "But I know you won't let me fall."

Steve swallowed hard, a slow smile forming. "I won't."

He didn't.

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖

Now, sitting alone in her car in the mall parking lot, Teddy leaned her head against the steering wheel, tears silently slipping down her cheeks.

He was so close. Yet somehow, she'd never felt farther from him.

⸻

AHOY, FRIENDOS!
Didn't see you lurking back there!

Hope you loved this chapter of chaos, code-cracking, and unresolved teenage tension. Dustin is still the real MVP, but let's be honest—Steve and Teddy? They're giving slow-burn soulmates, and I'm here for it.

Until next time:
Stay safe, stay weird, and maybe don't chase Russians in malls.

With love,
Nanii <33