𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐀 ✶ Steve Harrington

14 | 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞

CHAPTER FOURTEEN,
you're still the same emmy to me.

⋆.ೃ࿔*

THE RESCUE MISSION was going according to plan.

It didn't take long for the Scoops Troop to finally reunite. The air was thick with tension, the kind that crackled and hummed like the static before a storm. This should have brought them all back to the urgency of their situation, but there was one glaring issue—something was seriously wrong with Emmy and Steve.

Usually critical and determined when it came to figuring out a plan, Emmy and Steve were now acting like completely different people. It was as if they'd reverted to being children, carefree and oblivious to the danger surrounding them. What should have been a strategic regroup quickly turned into a concerning display of immaturity.

The rest of the crew exchanged nervous glances. This was bad—really bad. They weren't out of the woods yet, and the looming threat of the Russians still hung over them like a dark cloud. Once they all got to the elevator (luckily, Dustin's idea of snatching the soldier's keycard proved to be useful), that's when it became clear that this plan wouldn't be effective until they figured out what was amiss with the teenagers.

Currently, Steve stood on top of a red dolly cart, balancing with exaggerated movements as if he were surfing, his arms outstretched for dramatic effect. Emmy stood behind him, laughing uncontrollably, joining in on the goofing off, her face lit up with enjoyment. The tension of the day had melted away in that moment of shared silliness, the two of them completely wrapped up in their playful antics.

"They seem drunk," Erica comments, observing their behavior.

Dustin shot her a glance, his eyebrows raised. "Why would they be drunk?" Most importantly, what the hell was wrong with them? If it wasn't alcohol, then what was it?

And that's when Steve lost his balance, wobbling precariously on the red cart before toppling off in a clumsy heap. He crashed onto the floor, rolling into a pile of boxes that had been haphazardly stacked in the corner of the elevator. The thud echoed through the small space, but instead of pain or frustration, it only fueled more laughter. Steve lay sprawled on the floor, his face scrunched up as he burst into uncontrollable laughter. Emmy, still in her spot, doubled over with her hands on her knees, laughing so hard tears formed in the corners of her eyes. The sound of their shared amusement filled the elevator, creating an odd contrast to the tense, high-stakes situation they were still very much in.

Immediately, Dustin rushed over to Steve, his face etched with concern for his friend. He placed his hand on Steve's forehead, feeling the heat radiating from him. "He's burning up," Dustin confirms, his voice tinged with worry.

"You're burning up," Steve retorts jokingly, though the weariness in his voice made it clear he wasn't entirely okay. He playfully ran his fingers across Dustin's shirt, drifting up towards his face.