• The Best Hargrove • Steve Harrington x Reader •

Chapter Six

It felt like you had been walking for hours, days even. Your legs felt like complete mush. The walk was completely silent apart from some chit-chat here and there until Dustin finally spoke. "You have to admit, as a feat of engineering alone. this is impressive" he admired, trying to lighten up the mood. "What are you talking about? It's a total fire hazard, there's no stairs, no exit, just an elevator that drops you halfway to hell" Steve denied.

"They're commies. You don't pay people, they cut corners" Erica added. "To be fair to our Russian comrades, I don't think this tunnel was designed for walking. Think about it, they developed the perfect system for transporting that cargo" you explained. You had noticed that the tunnel felt more like a road but indoors somehow. "It all comes into the mall like any old delivery" Dustin agreed, hitting his arms against the sides of his torso.

"And then they load it up onto those trucks, and nobody's the wiser" Steve looks at you. "So you think they built this whole mall just so they could transport that green poison?" Steve doubted your statement. "I seriously doubt it's something as boring as poison.. it's gotta be much more valuable like promethium or something" you looked at Dustin and nodded in agreement. "What the hell is promethium?" Steve interrogated with a confused look on his face.

"It's what Victor Stone's dad used to Cyborgs bionic and cybernetic components" you blurted swiftly, leaving Steve with his confused look. He must not have understood a word you said as you spoke so quickly. "You're all so nerdy, it makes me physically ill.." Erica faked a gag and throwing up motion, putting her hands to her stomach and leaning forward. "Oh no no no, don't lump me in with them, I'm not a nerd, alright?" Steve argued. "Why so sensitive, Harrington? Afraid of losing cool points to a ten-year-old child?" you teased, trying to rile him up.

"No, I'm just saying, I don't know jack shit about Prometheus" "Promethium" Dustin corrected. "Prometheus is a Greek mythological figure but whatever. All i'm saying is it's probably being used to make something" he went on. "Or power something?"

"Like a nuclear weapon?" Dustin interrogated. "Totally" you agreed sarcastically. "Wow, okay, walking towards a nuclear weapon, that's great.." Steve sassed. "But if they're building something, why here? I mean.. Hawkins? Seriously? Of all places, I know we've seen some crazy shit happen together but still.." you turn to them and began walking backwards. "At the very best, we're a toilet stop on your way to Disneyland" you joked. "Maybe that's it..." you rambled on from there.

You turned to see Dustin and Steve had trailed behind you and Erica. "I'm sorry, is there something that little Stevie would like to share with the class?" you teased. Before you can joke any more, a man can be heard speaking Russian through the walkie, which meant you were close. No one wasted any time coming in close and listening. They were repeating the code. "Поездка в Китай звучит неплохо, если вы будете действовать осторожно... (a trip to China sounds nice, if you tread lightly...)" you repeated at the same pace of the man on the other side.

"It's the code" you looked up at the three people around you. "Wherever that broadcast is coming from--" Dustin started. "It's close" you smirk, finishing his sentence. Finally, you were getting somewhere! "And if there's one thing we know about that signal.. it can reach the surface!" you looked up at the ceiling.

"Let's go!" you all get up and start running towards the end of the tunnel.

___

The more you walked meant the closer you got, and the quieter you had to be. After a few more hours of walking, you all finally reached what seemed to be the main room of the Russian base. You had managed to sneak behind some sort of metal box or crate, which stopped anyone from seeing you. Steve lead the way, as always.. He made sure no one was in sight before allowing you all to move forward.