𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐲

xi. both of you.

WHEN THEY got to the basement, James kept leading the way as he walks out of the staircase, looking down the hall. His hand was always touching the shotgun, as if he was ready, as if the lab would be infested with Demogorgons, or Demo-dogs, or Demo-whatever, he was just ready for it.

"Okay, that was too many stairs." Steve says, sighing. "Treasures are always hidden in the deepest depths of the dungeon." Dustin said as he walks with James in front of the Harrington. "What is it, a treasure or a magic shield generator? Keep your metaphors straight, dude." Steve said and the Henderson glanced back at him. "Analogy." He corrects.

When James approached the slightly open doors, he makes a face before pushing them open with Dustin. "Okay." Steve said quietly, walking in with the two. "Did not expect to find a daycare in this hellhole. That's a perk." He said, as James looked all around, at the rainbow floors and walls. He stood in the middle of the room, trying to imagine what life sheltered in here would be like. Eleven's childhood.

Steve laughs, "holy shit, Henderson." He spoke up, walking over. "You were right." He said as he approached the maze to pick up a silver ball from it. "Treasure." He said before tossing it over to the youngest. "Okay, you know what?" Dustin asked Steve. "What?" The Harrington said, still staring down at the creepy maze toy. "I think this is the perfect spot for you considering your arrested development." Steve finally turns around, aiming his flashlight right at Dustin.

"So while James snd I search the rest of the basement, why don't you stay here and play with your balls?" The Henderson tossed the ball back over to the Harrington who caught it swiftly. "Perfect." Steve said, "yeah. Finally, a plan I can get behind." He turned the other way.

"I can imagine." Dustin is walking away and James had zoned them out at this point, staring at the wall through the window that had no glass in it. "Yeah, good luck looking for your... treasure. I mean, shield generator. I mean, made up bullshit!" Steve exclaimed. "Thank you!" Dustin replied as the Harrington finally looked over at his boyfriend, "Jamie?" He says and the Hopper looked over at him. "I'm okay." He whispered as he glanced away, to the doorway, before looking back over at Steve. "I'm gonna go look around." He said before he leaves the room.

James walked through the halls, aiming his flashlight inside the rooms along the way as he looked through them. He sighed and went back around to the same room that he left Steve in, finding the Harrington was playing with a Rubik's Cube as he was seated on one of the furniture. "Don't know how you can even solve these so fast..." The Harrington whispered, hyper focused on the toy in his hands.

The Hopper approached him, his hands finding their way to his boyfriend's thighs as he watched him try to solve the Rubik's cube. "What's with you and Dustin?" He asked quietly and Steve sighed, his hands stopped fumbling with the toy as he raised his head to look at him. "He's been such an asshole. Particularly to me. And why? Why me?" Steve's voice cracked as he spoke and James frowned slightly.

"I don't know. Maybe... you two are just more closer than he and I are. Like, he actually sees you as a brother, and maybe I'm just the stupidly handsome boyfriend his brother has so he's nicer to me." James' words cracks a smile across Steve's face. "Shut up." He murmured, glancing away and the Hopper felt so sad by the look in his boyfriend's eyes. He didn't want him to feel so upset over this anymore.

"Give him time." He said quietly, stepping closer to the Harrington who nodded softly, raising his hands to wrap them around James. "Stupid toy." Steve murmured, tossing it across the room and towards the open doorway. The Hopper chuckled, softly rubbing his back as a way to comfort him as Steve closed his eyes, resting his head onto his boyfriend's shoulder.