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Steve is doing his best to dodge the Mind Flayer and attacking when he can, all while watching everyone—especially the kids—to make sure everyone is safe. He jabs the spear Eddie and Dustin made into the Mind Flayer’s leg.
He checks on everyone again. Lucas is getting in some pretty good hits with his slingshot. Robin and Jonathan were doing some damage with the fire and Nancy was firing her gun relentlessly and Mike is right beside her. Dustin was near Steve, also using a homemade spear.
The fight continues.
Suddenly, one of the Mind Flayer’s sharp claws is advancing towards Dustin. Steve already sees it all playing out in his mind. Something bad is going to happen to Dustin. Steve is moving before he even has time to think it through.
Dustin turns to see the claw aimed and ready to pearce his chest, but he is suddenly pushed with a force so strong, it throws him several feet away from his original standing position.
Dustin, genuinely confused, shakes his head and darts his eyes over to the source of the push. Dustin’s heart drops down into his stomach so hard, that it physically hurts, as he witnesses the scene playing out in front of his eyes.
Steve is standing in front of the Mind Flayer with its claw buried so far in the center of his chest that it is protruding out of his back. Dustin can hardly stand to look, but can't tear his eyes away. Blood begins to pool over in Steve’s mouth as he stares up at his attacker with wide, scared eyes, gasping.
"No!" Dustin screams reaching out for Steve.
Everyone hears Dustin’s cry and looks over to see what happened. Looks of shock cover their faces as they continue to fight. No one can stop to do anything.
The Mind Flayer begins lifting Steve off the ground by its claw.
Steve lets out a gag and winces as he grips the leg with both hands, trying to take some of his body weight off of the claw. He can feel himself weakening. He doesn't know how much longer he can hold himself up as his muscles quickly weaken, and a tear makes it's way down his cheek. He hates that the drop gets away. He wants to look strong for the group. He tries to take a deep breath, but any movement in his chest causes the claw to move more.
"No!" Dustin cries, seeing how much pain this monster is inflicting on Steve. He runs over to him. "Steve!".
"Such a pity", Vecna’s voice rings through everyone’s minds.
"Let him go, you bastard!" Dustin screams, knowing Vecna can hear him.
"Don't be too distraught", his voice rings through again, "It will be just as easy to take your lives, as well". Steve’s eyes move to Dustin. Dustin can’t die. No one else can. They have to survive so they can win. Steve has made his choice, he just hopes that it pays off.
Suddenly, the Mind Flayer tenses and screams.
Eleven is standing behind all of them, her hands outstretched, nose bleeding.
Dustin smiles, feeling relieved that she has arrived, and looks back at Steve, who is still weakly struggling on the claw, squeezing his eyes shut, blood falling from his mouth.
As the monster continues to shriek, it throws Steve off its leg. He flies a ways before hitting the dusty ground.
That’s when Eleven flies into the Mind Flayer and disappears inside of it. The giant monster screams once more before collapsing. A calm stillness takes over, as they all stand staring at its form.
Dustin runs over to Steve as quickly as he can and drops to his knees before gently rolling the older boy over onto his back. He takes in his condition. It’s so bad.
Steve’s eyes are half open as he looks blankly at the pale sky above them. There is blood pooling around him and he is already so pale. Everyone begins crowding around them. Dustin doesn't know what to do, so he tries to talk to him.
"Hey Steve, can you hear me?" he says. Steve’s eyes open a little more as he looks around a bit. "Hey, right here, Steve", Dustin says, placing his face in Steve’s line of vision.
Steve knows Dustin is talking to him, but his voice is so muffled behind all the ringing in his ears. He eventually finds the kid’s eyes and tries to speak, but his mouth is filled with blood once again, he chokes and coughs, causing the blood to clear out through his slightly parted lips. He tries to speak again, "Henderson?".
"Yeah, Steve", Dustin places his hand on Steve’s head, relieved that he is still coherent. "It's me", he looks Steve over, "Why the hell would you do something like that, Steve? So damn impulsive".
“Is everyone o-okay?”.
“Yeah, Steve”, Dustin answers, tears filling his eyes, “We are all fine”.
"I don’t think I’m coming back from this”, Steve says quietly, a tear falling from the corner of his eye and into his hair line, already knowing the answer.
Dustin’s heart shatters. Steve knows how bad it is.
Robin kneels down beside them, “Steve, try not to talk. I know it's a challenge for you". She gently removes his hat and brushes his hair away from his face.
"El", Steve says, hardly able to remember what happened. Dustin looks back down to him quickly as Steve remembers. "Eleven", Steve says, "Sh- she’s in there alone". He winces from the effort.
"Steve, I don't even want you thinking about that right now, okay? You need to focus on staying alive. You hear me?". Dustin just wants Steve to be calm. He can’t stand to see him in anymore distress.
"You-you guys have to-to get in there", Steve says, “Sh-she needs you”.
“He’s right”, Nancy chimes in, “We have to save the kids”. She looks down at Steve, tears in her own eyes. She doesn’t want to leave Steve, but she knows the higher stakes.
They all look at Steve with wet eyes. Steve smiles.
“Go”, he says.
They all nod, smiling back at him, knowing that this may be the last time they see him alive, but they know what they have to do to carry out the plan that Steve came up with. They begin walking towards where Eleven disappeared.
Robin squeezes Steve’s hand, “I love you, Dingus”, she sniffs, more tears flooding her eyes. She bends down and places a kiss on his forehead before standing up and following the others.
“Henderson”, Steve says once it is only the two of them left.
“No, I’m not leaving you”, Dustin says stubbornly.
“D-Dustin”.
"Do you understand me, Steve?" Dustin doesn't let him finish, knowing exactly what Steve is trying to say, “I’m staying right here”.
Steve would generally argue with the kid, but he's too tired, so he just nods weakly, more tears filling his eyes.
That is a breaking point for Dustin. He starts to fall apart, but he won't let Steve see. He drops his head. "Damn it, Steve. We made a pact", he says, trying to pull himself back together. He lifts his head and looks at Steve, “Remember? You die, I die”.
“No, Henderson. You live”, is all he says.
As Steve’s breaths begin hitching in his throat, Dustin thinks of the time he has had with his brave friend—the very little time he has had. He thinks of the day he inserted himself into Steve’s quiet life and dragged him along to search for Dart. His life was never the same after that. Steve WANTED to help. He WANTED to continue to put his life in danger to help the group. He WANTED to become a part of something bigger. He thinks about how Steve always stuck around, even after Eddie’s death, and how he took the brunt end of Dustin’s anger. He thinks about how he went down into a Russian bunker because Dustin can’t mind his own business. He thinks about how he always protected the kids. He thinks about how well Steve balanced his personal life as well as this supernatural life. He thinks about how much Steve has always cared—cared too much, because now he put himself in a foreign world to fight for the better and to protect his friends. He cared too much and now he is bleeding out in Dustin’s arms because of that very flaw.
"Hen-Henderson".
Dustin is ripped from his thoughts by a soft, gentle voice. He looks down at Steve in his arms, and notices that he looks worse than he did 30 seconds ago. How could his condition have decreased so much within a minute?
"Steve, I know it's uncomfortable but we need to apply pressure", Dustin places a hand over the whole in the Steve’s chest, but he doesn't wince. "I know I'm making the pain worse, but-".
"No", Steve says, taking a deep, thick breath, "It's okay. It doesn't hurt anymore". Another slow tears escapes his eye as he realizes what that means. He places a hand over the kid’s.
Dustin freezes right then and there. That isn't a good thing. He knows that Steve only has minutes left. He pulls Steve closer.
"Dustin", Steve’s body has quit trembling and an eerie calmness has taken over. "I know what you're thinking", he says, thickly swallowing what liquid is pooling in his mouth. "And I'm sorry. I'm sorry".
"Stop it, Steve. Don't apologize, just stay with me", Dustin demands.
"I'm sorry", Steve whispers. His eyes roll back slightly as he closes his tired eyes. A strong urge to sleep wipes over him. He just wants to rest for a bit.
"Steve, don't", Dustin says, shaking him harder than he means to.
Steve doesn't open his eyes, but speaks, "Please be there for Robin". What will she do when he’s gone? His heart breaks for his best friend. Dustin bites the inside of his cheeks. Steve can only think about his friends at a time like this. He opens his eyes slightly, tears flooding them once more. "She’ll be alone. Take care of everyone. You little shits are always trying to get yourselves killed“.
Dustin snorts at that last bit, “We learned from the best”.
“Don’t tell people how it happened. Tell them it was peaceful”. Dustin can only assume he is talking about how Steve is dying.
"I'll tell them more than that. I’ll tell them it was brave and heroic—true Harrington fashion", Dustin smiles down at him, and he isn’t lying. Steve has done his name proud.
Steve needs Dustin’s word before he goes. "Henderson, I-I need you to promise me", Steve's voice cracks and he grips the kid’s hand, eyes burning into Dustin's. "When this is over, and you've won, take care of yourself. Don’t shut down again".
"Steve, I don't know. Vecna is-".
Steve cuts him off, "You will win", he coughs and his body begins to relax again, "You always do. You save people. You saved me". He has so much faith in this damn kid. He always has. He knows if anyone can save the world, it’s Dustin Henderson. Dustin's heart sinks lower, which he thinks is impossible. "Promise me".
"Okay, Steve, I promise".
“You better, Henderson”, Steve smiles, his teeth stained with red. Dustin hates how vibrant the red looks next to the his pale face. Steve’s smile fades as his eyes close and his body jerks.
"Steve, not yet", Dustin squeezes his hand, but gets no squeeze in return as the body in his arms jerks once again. Steve wants so badly to respond to the beg in the kid’s voice, but nothing is listening to his demands. He can’t even draw in a new breath, let alone grip Dustin’s hand to let him know that he hears him and that he wants to stay. Steve attempts to open his eyes, but again, isn't successful as his head falls back limply. Everything goes blissfully cold as he finally submits to the sleep.
"Steve!" Dustin snaps, holding up the older boy’s head and firmly shaking the side of his face. "Hey, Steve!".
Steve doesn't respond, his body gently jerks one last time and just comes to a complete stop.
"Steve?" Dustin looks down at his best friend, not wanting to accept what has happened. "No", he pulls Steve’s body closer to him, "No, no, no, no, no...". He begins to crack as he rocks the cooling body back and forth, and places his hand in Steve’s hair, "God, Steve. Steve, no. Come on, Steve. Don't-don't go". He quietly begins to hyperventilate before he breaks down and begins to sob.
Dustin knows that he needs to take a moment to mourn his hero, but he also knows that he needs to pull himself together, find the others, and kick Vecna in the ass, because he made an important promise to an important person.
And he intends to keep it.