✓ | 2. young blood [STEVE HARRINGTON]

sixteen.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN:
RECOVERY PROCESS

[ THE GATE PART III ]

❖ ❖ ❖

With Owens slumped against Hopper, and Thomas and Eleven leaning against each other for support as they exhaustedly trudged out of the shattered glass door of the lab, the last thing any of them expected was to hear voices coming from outside when they emerged from the lobby. Nonetheless, yelling broke the midnight quiet.

And Thomas knew instantly who it was.

"You dipshits are so freaking lucky we're not dead, because you can bet all your skinny little asses that if we were, I would kill — you — all!"

Steve. Of course.

A chorus of 'shut up's and annoyed groans followed Steve's shout, causing Thomas to grin. Mike. Dustin. Lucas. Max. His friends.

Mike spoke up, "Steve, honestly, you're totally just overreacting — "

"Over-overreacting?" Steve repeated, his voice raising until it reached an almost comical height of pitch. "Wheeler, being the ride-or-die boyfriend that you are – honestly, it's touching — " the sarcasm was palpable, "you almost killed me. And Dustin. Dead! As in the state of not being alive anymore!"

His hair could just about be made out through the darkness, poking out from where he stood in the open doorway of his car. Two of the kids remained in the back seat, chatting idly. One of the other kids had taken to pacing, stressed — Thomas assumed it was Mike — and the other boy — probably Dustin, considering the shadow of a cap atop the boy's head — simply stood on the either side of the car to Steve.

"Unbothered," Dustin pointed out.

Scoffing, Steve twisted his head to face him and drawled out, "Shut up, dude."

His eyes flicked to something behind Dustin's head, emerging from between cars and pillars supporting the lab's entrance. Thomas. Eleven and Hopper and one of the Doctors, noticeably limping and bleeding, the crimson liquid shining in the moonlight, accompanied him. Involuntarily, his eyes widened at the sight of his friend, who leant heavily onto Eleven as if he was injured.

The group were across the parking lot in a second, Mike grasping for Eleven and Max going to help Hopper with the Doctor and Thomas falling into Dustin, swallowed by a hug from him. Steve just stood awkwardly off to the side, giving the stranger a smile and Hopper a formal nod.