Just a Little Game- Steve Harrington x OC Henderson!Reader

Just a Little Game-Part 5

"The week is long, the silver cat feeds when blue meets yellow in the west. A trip to China sounds nice if you tread lightly." Robin and I translated together.

We high-fived proudly.

"Not that I'm doubting you, but are you sure?" Steve questioned, "it doesn't make much sense." He was stepping on eggshells.

"As sure as she is that you're an ass." Robin offered with a smile.

"Its most likely a code, Steve." You explained as you began walking towards the door.

Everyone else followed suit and you all finally exited Scoops Ahoy, exhausted but accomplished.

"Ry, do you have a quarter?" Steve asked as he crouched next to a small animatronic kiddy horse.

"Yeah..." she said handing it to him, internally questioning why she was sad over this man-child.

"You think you're tall enough to ride that?" Robin mocked him.

"Shhh, just listen." He said as the music began to play.

It was familiar, too familiar. That's when you connected the two but Dustin was already replaying the recording and Steve was right. It was the same music.

"Maybe they have horses like this in Russia?" Robin offered up not completely convinced on Steve's hypothesis.

"'Indiana flyer'? I don't think so."

Steve was right.

"This code, it didn't come from Russia. It came from here." Steve said as chills ran down your spine.

The trauma came flooding back. You had to get out of there, right now.

"Dustin, let's go." You said as you rushed out of the mall.

"Wait, Ry, it's okay." Dustin tried to assure her.

But it wasn't okay. She knew something was going to happen, she felt it and she hated it. Her stomach turned and her heart was beating so fast it hurt and she was barely keeping her breathing stable.

She turned to her brother, eyes red, tears threatening to fall, "no, Dustin, it's really not okay."

Steve looked at her, seeing all the cracks that she had covered so beautifully we're finally coming undone after the year of peace they had.

Robin looked at her concerned and confused. It was a big deal but it was just a coded message, it didn't mean anything.

Steve approached her, "let me drive you home." 

"Steve, I'm fine. Just. Don't even worry about it. Seems like you're doing a fine job of it already." Rilynne walked to her car, got in, started the engine and waited for her brother.

"She's not okay, Steve." Dustin explained before he got in the car.

As you pulled into your driveway, you noticed your mother's car was absent yet again. Great, her and Dustin were alone, again, tonight.

"Rilynne, everything is going to be..." Dustin tried saying again.

"I know Dust, I just need a minute. You go inside and get ready for bed. I'll be in, in a few."

You sat in your car thinking for 20 minutes and finally decided to get inside and get yourself ready for bed, even if you knew you wouldn't be able to sleep.

There was a light knock on the front door once you had finished your shower. Had you not been in the kitchen getting a glass of water you wouldn't have heard it. But you knew who it was, and you could only roll your eyes. Dustin was asleep thankfully but that still didn't mean you wanted to talk to Steve.

Yet, you opened the door for him anyway and invited him inside.

"Why are you here?"

"I wanted to check and make sure you were alright. That you both were okay." He looked upset and genuinely concerned. Steve had been there through the nightmares, the panic attacks and everything else after the gate closed. He saw your worst side and knew how traumatized you were. You both needed each other because as much as he tried to cover it up, he was scared too. Always.

"So, now you're concerned?" You question hotly.

She was right and he knew it. He also knew now wasn't the time to have this conversation but he still wanted to have it anyway.

"I didn't want to... I just... and you're you and I got... I'm sorry." He didn't know how to put it in words and it was kind of cute but it wasn't good enough. She wanted answers.

"That's not an answer Steve. We're not in high school anymore."

"That's the problem, Ry." He exhaled slightly frustrated.

"That we're not in high school?" You were very confused. High school was fun and all but being out of it was way better.

"No, I just mean, back in school I had so much more going for me. But now, I work in an ice cream store in the mall. You, you're going to go to Columbia in New York. Rilynne, you're going to be something great while I'm still here, doing this." He felt tired and ashamed.

Steve Harrington was actually insecure and worried about his future. It was attractive, the fact that he cared outwardly and was worried that he wasn't good enough.

"You stood me up because you..."

"Because I know you deserve better and I don't think I can give you what you deserve."

You smiled at him softly.

"You're an idiot." You whisper as you grabbed his face softly and guided his lips to yours.

"I didn't get into college, Ry." He finally admitted.

"You didn't get in this time. That's okay, you'll have me to help you next time you apply. If that's what you want."

"My GPA was horrible." It really was.

"You have a rich daddy who is a Columbia alumni. I think you'll be okay." You joked.

"Ry, he cut me off, completely."

"I'll take care of your dad, but you, you have to understand how amazing you are."

"If you don't believe it then no one else will." You winked, "and let me tell you, you're an amazing kisser." You breathed as you pulled him in again for another long kiss.

"I came over to check on you, not the other way around." He laughed.

"Steve," she swallowed, remembering everything from earlier, "it's them, I can feel it." Your body began shaking and your skin ran cold just remembering it all again.

"Hey, hey, it's okay, I'm here." He held her tightly trying to make her feel safe in his arms.

"Those Russians, they know about the Upside Down and they're here. The gate is here." You explained.

He nodded, "I know, I know. El closed the gate, you're safe." Steve explained softly as he stroked your hair as he held onto you.

"And what if they're trying to open it again?"