the unknown | steve harrington

chapter nineteen: no choice

"Stay behind me," Hopper seethed as he shook his head, completely loathed to be even entertaining the idea of these kids hot on his heels.

The four of them stalked through the halls, diving into rooms whenever they heard a footstep or fear someone was going to walk out.

It wasn't heavily armed, and it's a big place, which made it easier to get around unseen. But Hopper wasn't naive, he knew as soon as they hit the East Wing, where all of the activity was, there was a very small chance of survival. That was why he had Joyce cuffed to the steering wheel of his car; there was no way she was getting herself involved in this. He knew she would hate him, but better that than dead.

Hopper opened up a side door, silently motioning the three to go in after him, knowing he needed to give them their orders before they ran straight in blind. Daphne ran a shaky hand through her hair, bringing it to her mouth and nibbling on the skin around her nails.

"We get in there and it's a hotbox of activity, alright?" Hopper started, reloading his gun and rubbing a hand over his face. "They know we're here, they're ready for it, and I don't know what they want specifically but I'm sure as hell that I'm getting my little girl back," he warned.

Steve could see Daphne's anxiety spiking again, intertwining his fingers into hers as he pulled her into him lightly. Hopper couldn't help but feel a small amount of disgust fill his stomach as he watched the Harrington boy, the embodiment of an entitled pretty boy, use this moment to get closer to the Henderson girl.

"This guy?" Hopper pointed, unable to stop himself as he addressed Daphne, her mouth gaping slightly as Steve shook his head in disbelief. "Really, you can't do any better than this guy?"

"Woah, hey," Steve defended himself, "What's that gotta do with you?"

"You know, you're just—" Hopper shrugged, jutting out his bottom lip as he peeled out the doorway, "you know," Daphne and Robin felt a laugh gargling it's way up their throat as they tried to stifle it.

"No, I don't know— you know what, let's go over the plan," Steve mumbled, his ego taking a hit from the man he knows has never liked him ever since he was arrested for tagging a shop wall. Steve couldn't blame him, his dad was home that weekend and paid him keep his name off the records. Hopper was going to let him off anyway, but the extra cash helped buy a few more beers and fuelled his hatred towards the boy as he grew up into a high school untouchable. He's never really believed that he changed.

"Alright," Hopper chewed on a toothpick as he pulled out another gun, checking the bullets and reloading. "We get in there and you shoot anyone who comes at you," Hopper threw Daphne the gun, bending down and grabbing the knife from his sock and passing it to Robin. "Short straw," he shrugged and she gave him a tight lipped smile. "Now they're gonna have El in the laboratory, trying to reopen the gate—"

"But it collapsed with Vecna," Daphne interjected, but Hopper just smirked at the girl.

"You're gonna keep going down to this, I dunno, a double door thing, common room—" he shook his head, "it's where the kids were kept, and I'm damn sure that's where they're keeping your brother,"

"We can't run straight in there, we'll be dead before we step foot inside—"

"So you do have a brain," Hopper smirked, "you smoke 'em out," he threw a matchbox towards Daphne, "be creative, and then there's a shortcut to the pipeline, back down the corridor, use the staircase, basement level, you'll find it."

The three took in a deep breath as they nodded to him.

"And then what?" Robin asked, "We just go back to normal?" She laughed in disbelief.

"Then... You keep your damn heads down and stay the Hell away from this."

The four of them got back to stalking the halls, with Robin at the back given she didn't have a gun. They were all aiming, mirroring Hopper with terror writhing through their body. It almost knocked the air out of Daphne when soldiers rounded the corner, Hopper shooting without hesitation and Daphne jumping at each fire. Steve didn't hesitate to shoot towards anyone Hopper may have missed or not got to, unexpecting soldiers dropping around them. Steve didn't really have time to process what was happening, he was more so concerned about keeping Daphne safe.

Hopper soon found where he needed to be, and split from the three teenagers after silently pointing to the direction they needed to head to.

Daphne gulped as she continued further, seeing the double doors come into view and pushing herself into a room before anyone came out or rounded the corner, the other two following.

"Okay, we— we gotta smoke 'em out, right?" Daphne stuttered, looking towards Steve who finally let out a breath from the carnage they had left behind, Robin chewing her own fingernails and Daphne shook as she grabbed the matches from her back pocket. Steve placed his hands over her wobbling grip.

"Daph, whatever happens—"

"I love you," Daphne glanced up at him, her eyes welling at the shit situation they were in. "I'm sorry for not saying that earlier, and fuck— I'm so sorry for not giving in sooner, I shouldn't have wasted—"

Steve didn't care that Robin was watching from the other side of the room, rocking back and forth awkwardly on her heels as she both felt awkward but also felt the warmth beam in her chest as she watched them both.

"Don't you dare apologise," Steve half-laughed, shaking his head as he cupped her face, his thumb brushing away a blood splatter from her cheek, "How the Hell do we get ourselves in this, hm?"

Daphne let out a laugh, which immediately turned into a sob that managed to find its way out, tears brimming in her eyes.

Steve pulled her closer to him, pressing his lips to hers firmly and intensely. Yet another one of their end of the world kisses. But this time, Daphne and Steve both knew what they would miss out on. They had fully tasted it. They ached for it.

Daphne was Steve's everything. The girl occupied every single one of his thoughts, every single one of his dreams, and every future plan. The same could be said for Daphne. She couldn't imagine her life without him now. They deserved this.

"I love you," Steve confirmed, pressing another kiss to her forehead as she inhaled deeply.

"I love you," She repeated, sighing to herself as the relief fled her shoulder's. "God, I love you so much." She whispered as she gripped his T-shirt, pulling him in for an embrace.

Robin couldn't help but interrupt, her two best friends there as she stepped forward and placed her arms around them.

"I love you guys, too," She reminded them and Daphne and Steve choked out a laugh, opening up their arms for her to come in.

"I love you, Rob," both Steve and Daphne reassured at the same time.

So all three stood there, embracing each other, confessing their love. All the while knowing the very real risk that it would all be taken from them. But they had no choice.