She didn't know any better. Years of being raised by the evil entity that was once Henry Creel skewed her view of the world she once lived in. When Y/N is sent by him from the Upside Down to infiltrate those that so tediously continue to thwart his plans, she ends up finding something with someone that she never could have expected. Will she betray the one who raised her, who helped her escape that horrific lab? Or will she help him burn it all to the ground? One thing was for sure. There was only one thing that might change her mind... She just doesn't doesn't even know he exists... Yet. ( Set from the beginning of S4 once flashbacks cease but reader has been part of prior Vecna plans. Reader is over 18/older than El to fit with Steve without it being weird and has powers; is 002 in this story so assume the bullies in the show were 003 upwards. Long-ish intro with flashbacks to try and make it make sense lmfao but only a few chapters. Please read TW's before reading and let me know if there's anything I missed. TW: Violence, brainwashing, death, both mental and physical abuse, manipulation, smut in later chapters, fem!Reader, angst )

"You've got a mean mouth and you're the rudest girl I've ever met." "God, I- you just- you just... drive me insane, and I hate you! I really hate you, Steve Harrington!" "Oh, you hate me? We're throwing that word around now? Okay, sweetheart, get this: I hate you too. So the feeling's mutual!" _________________________________________ Most people adore Steve Harrington, king of Hawkins High. However most people, according to Y/N, are stupid for ever falling for this act. Very few people have had chance to get close to Y/N since she moved into town and not that many actually want to get to know her better either - weird, mean, rude, and that's Steve Harrington being nice about her. But something strange is about to happen in Hawkins that will force the pair together, and if they hope to survive, they'd better put their differences aside. From unlikely circumstances, friendship will bloom, and what was once thought to be hatred may well get flipped upside-down. _________________________________________ Stranger Things rewrite that incorporates reader into the show. Slow burn enemies to lovers with eventual smut. Also on my AO3.