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voidskipper · 3 days ago

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WHERE THE SILENCE WARPS

Prologue

Locked away in a hidden facility, a girl with powers beyond understanding has known nothing but control and confinement. But when chaos erupts from within, an unexpected chance to escape surfaces—along with secrets she was never meant to uncover. As she steps into the unknown, one truth becomes clear: freedom comes with a cost she has yet to understand.

Your gut had never been wrong before. Living a life filled with needles and white-tiled walls, you learned quickly the only thing you could trust was instinct.

You had grown up in this place—HNL. You weren’t sure what it stood for; you only knew the badges said it. Men and women in white coats, clipboards clutched tight against their chests, guards shadowing their every move. The taste of metal. The hum of fluorescent lights. The static crackle of radios on the guards' hips. The sharp clack-clack of their polished black boots haunted your dreams.

You spent so long locked away in your padded cell you memorized the sounds—their patterns, like a grim symphony. One set of boots: just a guard. Two sets: a guard and a doctor, usually passing toward A-wing. Two sets, one faint and hesitant: Dr. Eikmo. He was the gentle one. Three sets: Dr. Brenner. The man who buried you in this corner of hell, far from any visitor’s earshot.

But tonight was different. A pressure, heavy and clawing, hung over the facility like a coiled storm. A tiger stalking its prey. Something was coming. Your palms itched, an ache deep in your bones. Maybe this could be the day—

WEEOOO— WEEOOO—

The alarms screamed over your head, deafening. The world plunged into darkness—and then bathed in an ominous, flickering red. The steel collar around your neck—the SDC—seemed to double in weight. Panicked, you clawed at the edges, fingers trembling as you brushed over the sensors you weren't supposed to touch. Every breath came sharp and fast. The noise. The darkness. The wrongness thick in the air.

“Breathe.” You tried to remember Dr. Eikmo’s voice. Deep breath. Calm down. But your heartbeat rattled against your ribs. Ding. The collar’s sensors awakened. BZZZTT! Pain exploded down your spine. You crumpled, screaming, fists slamming uselessly against the floor. Your whole body spasmed, twitching like a puppet with its strings yanked cruelly. The metal collar bit into your flesh, leaving the sharp scent of burning skin. You didn’t know how long you lay there, twitching against the cold tile. Minutes? Seconds?

Then–Bootsteps. Frantic. Dozens of them.

You forced yourself upright, muscles trembling. Pressing your face to the tiny reinforced window in the door. Two figures sprinted into view—white coats stained with blood and grime, wide eyes gleaming in the strobing red light. Dr. Layards leaned heavily against the wall, coughing, cradling his ribs. Behind him, Dr. Connors, sweat-slick and wild-eyed, dragged him forward.

"Connors! What about Nine?!" Layards gasped.

Connors barely looked at you. "Leave her! We don’t have the protocol to open that door!"

“But—” Layards hesitated, glancing desperately at your cell.

"That door's solid steel," Connors snapped. "She'll be fine."

You pounded on the glass, fists burning. “DON’T LEAVE ME!” Tears blurred your vision. You were real. You were alive. Why couldn’t they see you?

Another sound cut through the chaos. A roar—deep, guttural, wrong—ripped down the corridor like a blade through flesh. Both men froze. Connors’ face blanched. Layards stumbled. Without a second thought, Connors grabbed the other man's coat and dragged him away—away from you.

Gone.

You sagged against the door, throat raw, fists bruised, silent sobs shaking your body.

Breathe. Calm down.

It didn’t work this time. Your heart surged again. You felt it: anxiety, horror, betrayal—

Ding. BZZZZZZT.

The collar fired again, seizing every nerve in your body. You crumpled sideways, sliding down the cold wall. Everything burned. The acrid scent of your own scorched skin filled the air. Your mind frayed at the edges, black spots blooming in your vision. You barely registered the sound of a beep at the door’s keypad.

Click. The door swung open. You squinted against the flickering red glow—and saw Dr. Eikmo burst through, gun in one hand, terror written all over his face. "Come on," he rasped, dropping beside you.

You whimpered as he fumbled at the back of your collar, jamming a small key into the lock mechanism. The click of release was the sweetest sound you’d ever heard. The SDC fell from your neck with a heavy clang. You gasped in pain but felt lighter—free. “Thank you,” you croaked, voice thin and broken.

Eikmo didn’t answer. He yanked off his blood-streaked coat and wrapped it around your shaking shoulders. His hands moved quick and efficiently, trembling just slightly.

“Dr. Eikmo,” you mumbled, voice slurring. "What's happening?"

He dug into his pocket, pulling out a small folded square—papers. He opened your hand and pressed them into your palm, curling your fingers around them. “Your file. Copies. Keep it safe. Don't lose it," he whispered. His eyes darted to the door, then back to you. "You don't understand everything yet. This...this will help.”

You stared, dazed. File? None of this made sense.

“I need you to follow me exactly,” Eikmo said. His voice cracked, raw with urgency. "No powers. No matter what. You understand?"

Your throat felt thick. You nodded.

He moved fast, keycard in hand, swiping the inside lock. The panel blinked green.

This was happening. You were getting out.

Before he opened the door, you found your voice again. “Doctor…what happened?” The question came out broken, childlike.

He hesitated. Something flickered across his face—fear, regret, sorrow. "We pushed the little girl from A-Ward too far," he said hoarsely. "She opened a...rift. A gate between worlds. We pushed too hard. Now were facing the consequences." Before you could even react, Eikmo grabbed your arm, yanking you into the corridor.

The world outside your cell was on fire. Bodies sprawled across the gleaming floor, blood slicking the tiles into a grotesque mirror of the pristine halls you once knew. Red warning lights bathed everything in violent, shifting shadows. The stench of iron and smoke clawed at the back of your throat. The screams in the distance. A cacophony of agony ricocheting off the sterile walls. You stumbled, your bare feet slapping wetly against the floor as you struggled to keep up. Eikmo’s strides were wide, desperate. Your legs burned trying to match him—but you weren't trained for this. You had been locked away, contained.

The maze of corridors blurred together—twist after twist, endless white walls smeared with crimson fingerprints. Every heartbeat was a drum against your ribs. Every breath a razor in your throat. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Eikmo skidded to a halt at an unmarked steel door. He slammed his keycard into the scanner. BEEP. The lock clicked. He shoved it open with his shoulder, ushering you in, glancing back one last time. He turned to you, face grim. "This is a ventilation pipe," he said pointing to a hatch on the opposite side of the empty room, voice low but steady. "It was meant for maintenance or emergencies...chemical spills, that kind of thing. But instead of experimenting with chemicals," his voice broke slightly, "they chose to experiment on kids." He grabbed the heavy hatch wheel, straining as he twisted it open. The hinges groaned in protest, screeching against the silent red gloom. Beyond the door yawned a narrow black tunnel, pitch dark. A throat in the earth, swallowing light whole.

"You need to crawl through," Eikmo instructed, urgency sharpening his voice. "Don’t stop. No matter how tight it gets. Keep moving forward."

You swallowed hard, peering into the suffocating darkness.

"You'll come out in the woods, far from the facility. It's the safest way out. Trust your gut when you get there. Avoid the roads. Avoid police if you can. They might not be on your side."

You looked up at him, heart hammering so hard it blurred your vision.

He crouched down to your level, fierce and unblinking. "And listen to me carefully—do not use your powers." His words were carved from stone. "If you do, they’ll find you. They built machines to track you. Equipment designed to catch you if you broke free."

The thought made you instinctively draw your arms in closer. Hide yourself.

"Find people you can trust," Eikmo continued, softer now. "I’ll contact you when it’s safe."

You nodded, your fingers tightening around the crumpled file still tucked into his your coat. You turned your eyes toward the tunnel again. The black endlessness made your knees weak. Your breath caught. The fear clawed at your insides like a living thing.But then—Your gut stirred. It said move, go.

But still, you turned back toward Dr. Eikmo, heart clenching tight. "Thank you," you whispered, voice trembling at the edges. Tears stung your eyes—not from pain, not from fear, but from something deeper, something new. Gratitude. For the first time in your life, someone hadn't hurt you. Someone had helped.

Eikmo met your gaze, and for a moment, the cold, clinical mask he always wore crumbled. He looked at you like a father seeing a child walk free for the first time. "You're welcome," he said, the words cracking around the edges. He exhaled sharply and gave a small, shaky chuckle. "Just... don’t do anything stupid, alright?"

A distant crash echoed down the corridors—a door being battered open. Shouts followed, sharp and commanding, growing louder by the second. Eikmo’s head snapped toward the sound. His face paled. "That's the military reinforcements," he hissed, urgency slicing through the last of his composure. "You need to go, now."

You shook your head. Without looking back, you dropped onto your hands and knees, the cold metal stinging against your skin. You crawled forward, into the darkness.

Behind you, Eikmo sealed the hatch. The heavy clank of the door echoed down the pipe, sealing your fate. You were alone. But you were free.

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c0s-lettuce · 15 days ago

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your orbit

steve harrington x reader

synopsis: amidst a night of board games, junk food and extraordinary company, the only thing steve can think about is you.

→ or the deterioration of steve harrington's mind over the course of an evening.

word count: 4.1k

warnings/tags: fem!reader, set around s4 but no upside down, eddie and robin aren't subtle, steve just really loves you, childhood best friends to strangers to friends, one bed but not really ;)

a/n: i love ex bestie steve! i've been wanting to write for him for a while, so hope i did him justice. joe keery favourite white boy frrr. pls forgive any inaccuracies and thanks for reading <3

part two coming soon!

5 PM

Steve decided to take advantage of having the house to himself. His parents are gone for the week, as they so often are. So, he sent out a few invitations to some of his closest friends. A small get-together, he told them, nothing fancy.

Robin accepted, of course. And Nancy and Jonathan, too. Steve only told Dustin about the party, but he already knew that word would spread to all the other kids.

But Steve has a mini panic attack when he finds out you're coming. He isn't too sure where he stands with you these days. Your friendship has all but rekindled, but Steve is still wary around you, terrified of messing up again. You accepted the invitation, though. That's a good thing. Right?

As Steve waits for people to arrive, he takes out his only activities, a deck of cards and a single board game he received as a gift but never opened. He's relying on his friends with siblings and/or a healthier relationship with their parents to bring more things to do.

He sets out the snacks he bought. Chips and candy are laid out over the island counter in the kitchen, and soda is stacked in the fridge. Steve even sets aside a little stash of what he hopes are still your favourites. He also managed to get his hands on some beer, and there's money set aside for pizza later.

Soon enough, people start showing up. Robin arrives first, followed by Dustin, Lucas and Max. Then Nancy and Jonathan arrive with Mike, Will and El. Then you. And finally, Eddie.

The gaggle of children quickly bee-line for the snacks and games. Steve watches with disdain, knowing there'll be a mess to clean up after. But at least his other guests appear happy to see their gracious host, with you among them.

Steve pretty much shortcircuits when you arrive. You're dressed nicely, and your hair is all pretty. You lean in to give him a quick hug, greeting him fondly. He may as well have cancelled the night then because he's sure his heart stopped for a second.

He only snaps out of it when Eddie arrives, slapping him so hard on the back that it could've been an alternative to the Heimlich maneuver. Suddenly, the population of the house has gone from one to a dozen, and noise and energy immediately replace the prior peace.

Steve quickly realises that he's in for a long night.

6 PM

"So, what's the story between the two of you?" Eddie asks.

Steve blinks, caught off guard by the question. He turns to the other boy, who awaits his answer with a half-curious, half-smug expression.

"Nothing, man," Steve mutters, taking a sip of his beer.

"Nothing, huh?" Eddie smirks. "Is that why you're staring at her like she's the love of your life?"

Steve glares at Eddie, wondering who even invited him. Eddie is the newest addition to the larger friend group. Dustin is very fond of him. And from what Steve has heard, so are you. He's in a few of the same classes as you, and there's a rumour among the kids that you used to be in Hellfire for a semester in your sophomore year.

The thought of you being close to Eddie bothers Steve. He chases the feeling away with another sip.

"Come on, big boy," Eddie nudges him. "We're friends now. You can tell me."

He looks back at you. You're sat around the coffee table with the kids in the middle of a round of Uno. And you look so lovely. You always do. Even the way you're holding the cards is pretty. You're the perfect culmination of everything sweet. No wonder the kids are hogging you.

He looks back at Eddie, who's still regarding Steve with inquisitive and mischievous eyes. Steve considers acquiescing, especially since Eddie is willing to listen. At the very least, it'll give Robin a break from dealing with his usual sulking.

"We were really close in middle school," Steve begins. "Best friends, even. But then I started high school, and... well, you can probably guess the rest."

"Ah," Eddie nods, understanding immediately. "I see."

Steve continues. "We only spent a year apart. And she was so excited to join me. But then-"

"Then King Steve emerged, and you left her in the dirt," Eddie remarks.

Steve cringes at the wording but doesn't refute it. It's an accurate recount of what happened. He knew he was horrible, not just to you but to everyone. He regrets nothing more than abandoning you and letting his so-called friends pick on you. Meanwhile, he stood by, telling himself worthless excuses to justify how things turned out.

You and Steve remained strangers after he left his throne behind. And it probably would've stayed that way if he didn't become coworkers with one Robin Buckley, who had become your new best friend in his absence.

He remembers the days you would visit Scoops Ahoy, mostly to distract Robin and make his job harder. You would often give him quick glances and polite smiles, never going out of your way to talk to him. However, he would occasionally catch your eyes lingering on him.

Robin would tell him you were checking him out, insisting she knew how her best friend thinks. But he was convinced you were judging him for his dumb hat and sailor outfit. Nothing ever made him wish he could crawl into a hole and die more than that.

But suddenly, he was back in your orbit again. And he's never left since.

Turning his attention back to you, Steve watches you play your last card, earning a groan from a few of the other players. You stand up victorious, stepping away from the table to grab another drink from the kitchen.

Steve recognises this as the perfect time to approach you and say something other than the "hey" he offered when you arrived. But just as he's about to muster up the courage, the doorbell rings, indicating the arrival of pizza.

With a sigh and another slap on the back from Eddie, he turns away to retrieve the food.

7 PM

You fit in well with the others. Not that it's a bad thing. It's great, actually. It just reminds Steve how much time has passed and how things have changed. It makes him think of what could've been.

You being best friends with Robin makes more sense than hot chocolate on a rainy day. You're like two peas in a pod. You match each other's energy, and both have a sort of charming madness about you.

The kids obviously like you. Not that their criteria are that high. But it helps that you used to work at the arcade and would give them your spare quarters. Plus, the rumour that you used to be in Hellfire makes you seem like a legend in their eyes.

Even Max likes you. He could tell because you were the one she approached earlier, asking if she could have a beer. You laughed and told her no. She just pouted and accepted it. Steve knew if he told her no, he would've been left with an insult.

You aren't particularly close to Nancy or Jonathan. Still, Steve knew they respected you, which means a lot, especially from someone like Nancy. And, of course, Eddie is... Eddie.

Steve comes to the realisation that he's jealous of everyone at the party. They all have a place in your life, in your heart. He wonders if there's even room left for him. There was a time when he occupied all that space. And it's his own fault that changed. Still, he can't help but hope.

The pizza disperses and disappears quickly. As the others chase their dinner with more snacks and set up another game, Steve remains leaning against the wall. He's so deep in thought that he doesn't notice someone approaching him.

"Steve?"

He flinches at the voice. It's you.

"H-hey," he stutters.

"Hey," you reply. "You okay? You seem a bit... distraught."

Steve takes a second to respond but nods. "Yeah, yeah. I'm good, just thinking."

You tilt your head, sensing more to the story but not wanting to pry. "Alright. Just don't hurt yourself."

Steve chuckles nervously, both relieved and terrified that you're making jokes with him.

You point back towards the coffee table. "The others are about to start a game of Monopoly. Did you want to join?"

He looks towards the group, at Dustin micromanaging how Will sets up the board. At Max and El scheming their game plan, having already picked the token they want to use. And at Mike dragging over his reluctant-looking sister, an amused-looking boyfriend following behind.

Steve knew he ought to join in, having just been standing around all night. But the idea of playing a game about capitalism with a group of kids who took board games way too seriously doesn't appeal to him right now.

So, he shakes his head. "No thanks. You go ahead."

You glance at the others before turning back. "Nah, I'm good. I need a break from getting lectured by Dustin."

Steve snorts. "Yeah, that kid's got a mouth on him. You wouldn't believe how often he tries to give me dating advice."

"He gives you dating advice?" you ask, amused.

"Yeah," Steve answers. "Now that he has a girlfriend, he thinks he's unstoppable. A girlfriend he wouldn't even have if it weren't for me, by the way. I taught him everything he knows."

You laugh and shrug. "Well, maybe you could learn something, Steve. You know, the whole 'student becomes the master' thing?"

Steve lets out a huff. "No, no way. Besides, I don't need a girlfriend when I've got-"

You, he almost says. But he clears his throat and corrects himself.

"Uh, all of you," he states, vaguely gesturing to the party. "My friends, you know?"

His words make you grin. "Aww, Steve-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know," he mumbles. "Just don't tell anyone I said that."

He averts his gaze. His cheeks flush a bit, but he's holding back a smile. He's glad to have gotten that reaction from you.

You're about to tease him some more when Robin's voice interrupts, calling for your help from upstairs.

You sigh, looking back at Steve. "Duty calls. I'll leave you to your thinking."

You give him a cheeky smile before you leave, a smile that makes it seem like you somehow read his mind and found his thoughts amusing. He can only watch as you walk away again.

8 PM

Steve isn't sure how he got here, sitting next to you on the carpet. The Monopoly game was cut short after Lucas and Mike got into a heated argument. And now they've switched to The Game of Life, which hopefully won't cause any fights.

Not only did Steve get roped into playing, he got teamed up with you. You had been calling most of the shots during the game, but when you reached the marriage space, stuck a little pink peg next to the blue one and murmured, "That's us," to Steve... well, it all got a bit confronting for the poor boy.

He felt like a fool, sitting there overthinking two words that likely were said as a joke. Steve had realised a while ago that he loved you. A part of him thinks he always has, ever since the early days of middle school.

But being friends with you again after everything is more than he felt he deserved, so he doesn't expect you to return those feelings just yet. But then you go ahead and say something like that. So casually, too. "That's us." Married. Yeah, right. Either you're cruel, or there's hope for him yet.

Steve manages to calm his emotions a few moments later. But as the game progresses, he continues comparing his life to the little blue peg that was supposedly him.

Steve, in the game, has a college degree, a decently-paying job, a pretty pink peg for a wife (which you've claimed to be you), three peg children and his own house, all while avoiding any mid-life crises.

Steve, in real life, at the ripe age of nineteen, has no idea what he's doing. He's been through at least two quarter-life crises. College is definitely not happening. And he's working a retail job Robin got for him through bribery. At least it came with a better uniform. One which would probably help with picking up girls if the girl he actually wanted wasn't the one currently sitting next to him.

At least now, when you visit Robin at work, you also come to see him. You make eye contact, give him bright smiles, and actually talk to him. And he has to do everything in his god-given power to not lose his mind each time.

But it's not all for nothing. After all, you're a loyal customer of Family Video, and Steve always looks after his patrons (as long as it's you). If he knows you'll be visiting, he'll put on one of your favourite movies on the TV in the store.

He'll also research movies he thinks you'll like, lie and say they're unavailable if someone tries to rent them before he can get them to you. It earns judgment from Robin, but he doesn't care. As long as it makes you happy.

Soon, Steve vows, he'll take you out to see a movie on the big screen. It'll be just the two of you at the back of the theatre with a big bucket of popcorn. He'll pull some cheesy move on you. You'll laugh at him or roll your eyes. Or maybe you'll fall for it. Either way, it'll be perfect.

Steve only checks back into the present when The Game of Life ends. He glances around the table, relieved no one has noticed him daydreaming. Everyone's cars are in the retired space, and Steve catches a glimpse of you and him and your three kids again. But he looks back at the real you as you turn to face him.

Steve is no help as you sort out how much money you ended up with, too busy admiring you instead. You're focused, doing maths in your head and using his lap as a surface to lay out the notes and cards. And somehow, he falls even more in love with you in this moment.

9 PM

The party has diminished, with Nancy and Jonathan having gone home with the kids. Now, just Steve, Robin, Eddie, and you remain. Outside, dark clouds have gathered, showering Hawkins in light rain.

The four of you are finishing the night off with one last card game. You had won, of course. And now Eddie has recruited your help. He has his arm around you, his head pressed against yours, his deck hiding your faces as you conspired his next move.

If Steve didn't know any better, he'd assume you two were a thing. But he does know better. Eddie must be doing this on purpose, trying to make him jealous or something. And it was working. Steve supposed that's what he deserves for trusting Eddie with his deepest, darkest regret.

The card game turns into a one-sided glaring contest, with Robin having to nudge Steve whenever it's his turn. With your help, Eddie finishes second. Robin comes third, and Steve loses the game. But at this point, he isn't even upset about it because it means his suffering is over.

Eddie finally lets go of you, letting out a contented sigh as he stretches his arms above his head.

"Alright," he announces. "I'm calling it a night. You ready to go, Buckley?"

Robin nods. "Yeah, let's head."

The two stand and begin gathering their things.

Eddie looks at you as he puts on his jacket. "You sure you don't want a ride home?"

You shake your head. "I'm good, Eds. You take Robin. My dad should be here soon."

Eddie accepts your answer with a nod, and you catch the slightest hint of a smirk. But you ignore it as you and Steve walk him and Robin to the door. You give them each a hug before they leave.

Robin has an expression you don't fully comprehend as she hugs you back, somewhere between smug and amused. "See you later, nerd. Make good choices, okay?"

You furrow your brow, but she heads out the door before you can ask what she means by that.

As Eddie steps out after her, he looks back at Steve. "Hey, Harrington. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

He sends Steve a wink, who frowns at the implication of his words. You notice Robin is still giving you that look. You send her a raised eyebrow in return. But no more words are exchanged as the two go their merry way.

"God, they're weird," Steve mutters as he closes the door.

His comment elicits a chuckle from you, which elicits a flutter in his chest. He turns to face you, unable to help the smile that graces his features just by looking at you. But a mildly awkward silence follows as Steve racks his brain on how to proceed now that it's just the two of you.

"You, uh- you want another drink?" he asks.

You smile and nod. "Yeah, sure."

His own smile widens. "Alright. You sit back down, and I'll get us some."

Steve heads into the now almost empty kitchen, grabbing two bottles before finding you again in the living room. You're sitting on the couch, packing up the deck of cards. Steve is momentarily distracted by the way your hands move.

But as he approaches and hands you your drink, he decides to be bold and sits close to you, throwing an arm over the back of the couch. He doesn't even have a millisecond to regret it because he feels you lean into his touch.

Steve revels in the satisfaction.

10 PM

Eddie and Robin seem to have left just in time because the storm picks up only a few minutes after they leave. You and Steve sit and chat for a while as you finish your drinks, and you help Steve clear up the empty cans and scattered wrappers despite him ordering you not to.

But even after everything is cleaned, your father still hasn't arrived. Steve watches as you wait, looking at the time again.

"You're welcome to stay over if that's easier for you," he tells you.

You look over at him, considering his offer. "You don't mind?"

Steve shakes his head. "No, of course not."

He doesn't mind. He doesn't mind at all. In fact, he would prefer it. He's used to being alone for days at a time. But it's a bit harrowing going from twelve people to just one, especially in a big empty house during a storm. Yes, he definitely wants you to stay.

"Okay," you say, "I'll just call my parents and ask what's happening."

Steve nods as you walk over to the phone and call home. It rings for a bit before someone picks up.

"Hello?" your mother's voice greets you.

"Hey, mom," you reply. "It's me."

The pitch of her voice changes immediately upon hearing your voice. "Hi, darling! Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I just wanted to check if dad was still coming to pick me up?" you ask.

There's a pause before your mom groans. "Oh, I'm so sorry. We completely forgot. We had a lot of wine for dinner. I can go get him now."

"It's no big deal, mom," you interject. "The storm's getting pretty bad anyway. Steve said I could stay over."

Again, your mother's cadence changes, but you don't need to question why. You know she's always been a fan of Steve.

"Okay, darling," she responds. "That sounds like a good idea. You two take care, alright?"

You resist rolling your eyes, even though she's not around to see it. "Yeah, you too, mom. Bye."

Your mom bids you farewell, and you hang up the phone.

Steve, who waits patiently nearby, takes this as his cue to speak up. "You staying?"

You look over at him and nod. "I'm staying."

"Okay, great," Steve smiles. "You can take my room. I'll go in the guest bedroom."

"What? Steve, no," you say. "You don't have to do that. I'll take the guest bedroom."

"No, really," he insists. "It's cold and uncomfortable in there. Trust me."

"I'm the guest, Steve. I'll go in the guest bedroom," you respond.

"No, not happening," he states.

You frown. "I'm not letting you give up your room."

Steve crosses his arms. "Well, I'm not letting you stay in the guest bedroom."

There's a pause in the conversation as the two of you stare each other down, hoping the other will fold.

When neither of you do, you make another suggestion. "Alright. How about we just share your bed?"

Steve raises his eyebrows. "Uh, you- really? Are you sure?"

You shrug. "Yeah, I mean... we used to do it all the time as kids, right?"

It's true. You did. There were countless nights when you would pass out in bed together, having stayed up watching movies or spent the entire day in the pool.

"Okay," Steve agrees. "Let's do that then."

"Great," you say.

"Great," he replies.

Yeah... great.

11 PM

Don't freak out. Don't freak out. Don't freak out.

That's all Steve could repeat in his head. He's lying on his back, staring up at the ceiling while you're beside him. He forgot to factor in how the both of you have grown considerably since middle school, meaning there's less space between you now.

Don't freak out. Don't freak out. Don't fr-

"You know," you break the silence. "I forgot how weird your plaid wallpaper was."

Steve furrows his brow, his distress momentarily forgotten as he turns to look at you.

"It's not weird," he says defensively.

"It's pretty weird," you reply before looking at him. "But it's cool."

As your gaze meets his, he feels his nervousness rushing back. You look so soft and cozy in his bed, wearing his shirt. And you're smiling at him as if you knew the funniest joke in the world and you were about to tell it to him.

He lets a beat of silence pass before clearing his throat. "Did you have fun today?"

"Yeah, I did," you answer genuinely. "You?"

"Yeah," Steve replies. "It's nice having people around."

You nod in response, remembering how his parents would send him over to live with your family whenever they would go away. As much as he loved being able to spend time with you, you knew he hated being left behind.

"How long are your parents gone for this time?" you ask.

"Just until the end of the week," he tells you.

You nod again. "You've been faring up by yourself?"

He shrugs. "I don't mind it. They've been on my back a lot recently. Honestly, I needed the break."

"Right," you reply. "So not much has changed."

Steve lets out a humourless laugh. "Nope. It's been hell since I graduated last year."

You frown at his words. "I guess that's not surprising."

"Yeah, I don't know," he pauses for a second before continuing, his voice quieter. "Sometimes, I think they have a point."

You pause as well, trying to gauge what he's thinking. "You shouldn't let them get to you, Steve."

He sighs. "I know. But what if they're right, you know, about me?"

"They're not. I promise you," you reassure him.

Steve turns to look at you again, almost like he's searching for your sincerity.

You give him a smile. "You'll be alright, Steve. I know it."

Steve can't help but smile back. You sound so earnest that he's inclined to believe you. Besides, you're here with him right now. So, he must be doing something right.

You fall into a comfortable silence. There's barely any noise this late at night to disrupt it. After a few moments, you let out a yawn.

"Ugh, man. I'm so sleepy," you mumble.

"You should get some rest," he responds. "I still remember how grumpy you get in the morning."

You give him a deadpan look. "Gee, thanks."

Steve chuckles. "Just telling the truth."

Your feigned expression breaks as you laugh along, too. Steve cherishes every second of the moment before it fades away.

You yawn again. "Alright then. Goodnight, Steve."

"Goodnight, sweetheart," he replies.

The room falls silent again. Steve lets out a deep breath and closes his eyes. Despite the uncertainty, a smile still lingers on his lips. A million things could change tomorrow. But for now, at least, you're still by his side.

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