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“Harrington, this has nothing to do with you. Why don’t you just go back to your castle?” Billy Hargrove taunted Steve Harrington, as Steve stood in front of the kids (Mike, Dustin, Lucas and Max.)
“I can’t do that.” Steve stepped more in front of the kids- he didn’t have much experience with kids but, he couldn’t let Billy harm them. Just as Billy grabbed Steve by the shirt- a loud noise came from outside, before a body came crashing through the wall. Nancy Wheeler lay on the floor of the delapatated Byers house, looking worse for wear. Fresh blood on her face, scrapes on her face, bruises on her arms- Steve had never seen her looking anything but prim and proper, not even when she had been fighting that monster last year with Byers.
“Never thought I’d see the day Nancy Wheeler was anything but a spoiled princess.” Billy had dropped Steve and, Nancy found the energy to make a disgruntled face.
“Fuck you, Billy.” Dustin and Lucas came forward and dragged her to the other side of the room. Steve had seen Nancy and Byers fight that thing last year, Steve had helped- accidentally.
“Thanks boys.” Nancy grunted, pulling herself up on the desk, putting her hands on top of it- breathing heavily.
“I really think you should sit down, Nance. You look fucked.” Mike looked at her- only a brother could say that.
“Get her on the couch!” Steve suddenly heard from the other side of the room, Steve pushed Billy out of the way- just in time to see Dustin carrying Nancy’s top half and Mike grabbing her bottom half- setting her on the couch. Steve went over to the kids, Nancy groaned.
“Where’s Jonathan?” Lucas wondered.
“This might come as a fucking shock because you’re kids but- Jonathan cares about himself first and foremost. Didn’t know that until tonight- when he told me that I was on my own. So, I tried to take on too many because I didn’t have anyone else- and I got fucked up. So, I don’t think he’s coming.” Nancy rolled her eyes. Steve could say a lot but, he wasn’t going to do that. She was already injured.
“Did you get them? Are they gone?” Dustin asked.
“For now. I’ve never killed one by myself. Jonathan is the one who knew how to kill them- these are like dogs, it’s not the same. I can’t fucking lay down, I have to do something.” Nancy went to get up.
“You need to lay the fuck down- or at least sit down. You’re already injured enough.” Steve’s voice came out commanding, to his surprise- Nancy didn’t argue with him- she just looked at him, and sat back down.
“Why did you listen to him but argue with me?” Mike wondered.
“Probably because he has better hair than you.” Dustin offered- Steve didn’t expect Nancy to lean her head back against the couch and laugh.
“It’s not worth the fight, I’ve argued enough tonight.” Nancy sighed.
“But, you love to fight. It’s the Wheeler birthright, Nance.” Mike did a double take.
“Well- I told Jonathan about himself and, that took out most of the fight in me honestly. Then, those dogs attacked and I got abandoned- so. I guess I’m just not in the mood.” Nancy admitted.
“You told him about himself?” Steve was actually impressed, shocked- you name it.
“I guess with Will going missing last year and everything- I completely forgot about the pictures. Then, for some reason it came back to me today and I got mad- told Jonathan about himself.” She limply shrugged- Steve looked at her, remembering the day he’d broken his camera and ripped the pictures up.
“I forgot that was actually stalker behavior, because he covered it up with this nice guy he plays so well.” She mumbled.
“You were going through a lot.” Steve shrugged his shoulders. When she didn’t answer, he glanced at her- she had completely lost consciousness.
“Shit- Nance. You need to wake up, you could have a concussion.” Steve shook her shoulders with no reaction.
“Nance- wake the fuck up.” Steve shook her harder.
“What happened?” Mike asked, alarmed.
“She passed out- but nance probably has a concussion. She can’t go to sleep.” Steve was freaking out.
“I have an idea!” Dustin held up a finger, running to the bathroom- they could hear water running.
“Your sister’s about to get a bath.” Max looked at Mike.
“Well, if it wakes her up.” Mike shrugged his shoulders. Dustin came back with a bucket of cold water, throwing it on Nancy. It splashed back on all of them, but there was a sharp gasp.
“What the- holy fuck!” Nancy was wide awake now, shivering. Steve placed his jacket around her shoulders, knowing how cold she got.
“Did I pass out?” Nancy glanced at Steve.
“Yeah- you did.” Steve sighed, his heart still pounding.
“Shouldn’t we get out of the Byers house?” Lucas wondered.
“Yeah, probably.” Nancy agreed.
“My car is not made for this but, you guys squeeze into the backseat as best as you can.” Steve sighed, the kids went out to the car- Nancy stood up from the couch, her legs buckling- Steve caught her before she could hit the floor.
“Come on, I got you.” Steve sighed, placing her arm around his neck and his arm around her waist, gently guiding her out of the house. Steve could feel her breathing hard as she leaned into him, they walked at what seemed to be a snail’s pace- but, Nancy couldn’t move any faster right now. Once they were all inside, Steve drove each one of the kids home- now, it was just the two of them.
“Thanks for…everything. I mean, the kids would have been fucked.” Nancy glances at him.
“Billy’s a dick- i wasn’t going to let him hurt the kids. Don’t have to thank me.” Steve met her eyes. Her eyes were exhausted - now they always were, he missed the girl that was excited to see him. That would make out with him in the bathroom. But, he still loved every version of Nancy- the girl who knew how to kill monsters and shoot pistols- who protected those kids.
“Now that the kids are gone- how are you really feeling? You can be honest with me- you know that. Right?” Steve sighed, wanting to know she was okay.
“I know I can- I just don’t always want to. But, I need to- this whole robot thing I’ve developed needs to go away.” Nancy nodded her head.
“I’m sure that it didn’t help that I was a little…over emotional.” Steve had to admit at times he’d told her that he loved her too much, been too affectionate when she was struggling to get through the day. Thought going back to leading a normal life would help her.
“No- don’t apologize. You were trying to help me- for the record, I didn’t think our relationship was bullshit. I just- felt like I was suffocating. Felt like I couldn’t tell you that, didn’t want to bring you down with me. So, in typical Wheeler fashion- I crashed. Hard. You didn’t make me uncomfortable Steve, I just didn’t know how to be a good girlfriend- reciprocate.” Nancy fidgets with her hands, Steve hovered over her hand/ asking permission to hold it. Nancy gave him a nod, Steve took her hand- it was cold/ shivering.
“I wish you would have told me Nance, what was bringing me down was my girlfriend was hurting and wouldn’t let me in. That hurt more than anything. Nance, you were never- never a bad girlfriend. You went through a lot, and I don’t understand- I never will…because it didn’t happen to me. But, I can try. Let me.” Steve kissed her hand lightly, Nancy didn’t even flinch/ like it was normal.
“I should have done everything differently. Okay.” Nancy knew that letting him in wouldn’t be easy but, she wanted him.
“Okay?” Steve asked, expecting more of a fight.
“Okay. I’ll do my best to let you in- talk to you. Like before.” Nancy looked at him. Steve knew things could never be like before, the monsters always loomed around the corners but- if he and Nancy could get back on track like before, it would be great.
“I’d like that.” Steve says.
“I hope you know that I do love you, I wanted to say it. The words were in my mouth but- I just stood there frozen. Like an idiot. I’m sorry.” Nancy sighed.
“You weren’t ready to say it, I shouldn’t have pushed it. I love you.” Steve couldn’t believe that he was basically finally hearing those words from her.