American Heroes: A Stranger Things 3 Fic

Best Friend

As they wait to head up to the mall's roof at 9:45, Will, Dustin, and Robin theorize what the Russians could be hiding while Steve scoops ice cream to customers.

"Maybe it's a secret weapon," Dustin says. "They could be trying to infiltrate our government."

"But why would they be in Hawkins?" Will wonders.

Robin chews her lip. "Exactly. You'd think if they were trying to get to our government or something like that, they'd go to D.C, not some small town in Indiana. It just doesn't make sense."

"What if we're not the only town they're in?" Dustin suggests.

"It's still weird that they'd choose Hawkins of all places to go to. There has to be a reason for them to come here. Maybe it has to do with Hawkins Lab."

Will sits up straight. "What do you mean?"

Robin shrugs. "The lab covered up a girl's death after she died from their chemical leak. Maybe the Russians had something to do with it, or maybe the lab had something the Russians want."

"I think you might be onto something," Dustin says.

Will looks at him then gets up, heading to the door. "I need some batteries for my Supercom. Can you come get some with me, Dustin?"

Dustin raises an eyebrow but gets up anyway. "Sure." He looks to Robin. "We'll be back."

Robin waves them away, and Will leads Dustin out of Scoops. Dustin eyes Will suspiciously but doesn't say anything. When they're a few shops away, Will turns to him. "Do you think the Russians could be here because of the Upside Down?"

"I figured that's what you were thinking. We won't know until we go to the loading dock tonight, but it's definitely possible."

They go into a store and buy a pack of AA batteries, splitting it between the two of them. "Do you think we should tell Robin about the Upside Down and the whole Mind Flayer thing?" Will asks as they leave the store and head back to Scoops.

Dustin shrugs. "It's up to you. If we figure out that's the reason why the Russians are here, then definitely, but if not, we don't have to unless you want to."

Steve is still serving ice cream when they get to Scoops. Dustin and Will say hi, about to go to the back, but Steve stops Will before he follows Dustin through the door. "Hey, Byers. Wheeler and Sinclair came by here a couple minutes ago looking for you. Did you tell them you were coming here? Because I told them you left and that I didn't know where you were going."

Mike and Lucas were looking for him? Still? He doesn't know what to think of that. He's still angry at Mike, furious for what he said, yet the fact that Mike is looking for him makes him feel... what is it? Relieved? Hopeful? Whatever it is, he doesn't know what to do with it.

"They really seemed worried about you," Steve continues. "I don't know exactly what happened, but if they're trying this hard to apologize, I think they mean it."

Will wrings his hands together. "Steve, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, of course."

"If your best friend started dating some girl and before you know it, all he does is hang out with her instead of with his friends and starts ignoring you and acting like his world revolves around her, and he doesn't even let his girlfriend hang out with anyone else because they only spend time with each other, is it wrong of you if you got angry at him for that?" Will is out of breath by the time he finishes his question. His ears turn red the second he realizes what he asked.

Steve leans against the counter, contemplative. "You know, Byers, there was a time I was a bit like this best friend you're talking about. There was this girl I fell in love with and, at the time, all I could think about was her. It felt like my world revolved around her. Everything I did was because of her, even though I did some shitty things. I didn't think about anyone else's feelings but her's and mine until I realized I was being an asshole to a lot of people, including her."

"What did you do then?"

"I tried my best to make it right with the people I'd hurt. In the end, that meant letting the girl I fell in love with go."

"You're talking about Nancy, aren't you?"

Steve feigns shock before chuckling to himself. "Sometimes I forget you're a Byers, Byers."

Will rolls his eyes. "Alright, but what about the people you hurt? How did they forgive you?"

"I don't know that they have. But if this situation applies to you, it's bound to be different."

"I never said it had anything to do with me."

"C'mon, Byers. It's Wheeler, isn't it?"

"Huh?"

Steve crosses his arms. "This best friend. I'm guessing it's Wheeler, right? Is that what your fight was about?"

"Sort of."

"Well, like I said before, if he really cares about you, he'll come around." Steve nudges Will's shoulder. "And based on what I've seen, he has."

Will can't keep a smile from creeping up on his face. He nudges Steve back. "You never answered my question."

Steve furrows his eyebrows. "Which question?"

"Is it wrong to get angry at him for always making everything about his girlfriend?"

"You can't change how you feel about things, but if you tell him how you feel, I'm sure he'll understand."

Will takes a moment to think over Steve's words. He's not even sure what answer he was hoping for. "Okay, I'll try." Will opens the door but pauses before he goes to the back. He turns to Steve, smiling. "Thanks, Steve."

"No problem."