Chapter Text
When Steve slowly blinks his eyes open, he's faced with an unnaturally white ceiling. The fluorescent lights pierce all the way through his skull. It smells like disinfectant, and the bedsheets under his fingers feel off, rustling too loudly every time he shifts.
Only the weight in his left palm is grounding and comforting, warmth emitting from the skin wrapped around his fingers.
Steve turns carefully, rubbing the sleep from his eyes with his free hand.
Right next to him, on the chair facing the bed, is Robin, her head lying on the bed turned towards Steve so she could keep an eye on him before falling asleep.
It's still dark outside, so Steve decides to give her some rest. Robin looks pale, her hair is greasy, and she's got dark circles under her eyes. Her clothes are not bloody, though, so she probably went home to change at least.
The events of the prior night flood into his brain, hitting him like a train. Instinctively Steve lifts his arm to face his soulmark, his heart rate picking up. When he sees it's still prominently burned onto his soft skin, he lets out a shaky exhale of relief.
A bit of color has returned to it, settling on a dark gray. It's not black yet, but it's promising. Constrictions around his heart give way to tiny slivers of hope that Eddie is alive somewhere in this very hospital.
For the first time, Steve has time to actually take in the mark, what symbols are etched there to represent his soulmate.
There's a big chair in the center, black with details on the frame and velvet on the seat. It looks old but impressive. On the right armrest leans an electric guitar and Steve guesses it's a perfect match for Eddie's ‘sweetheart’. His most "prized possession," Eddie had told them all. Perched on the seat of the throne is a heart and it's so beautiful, Steve can feel his eyes prick with tears.
The heart looks like it's made of glass, the details so intricate it looks like it's reflecting the light. Wonderful and fragile. It shimmers and sparkles as Steve slowly turns his arm. His fingers itch to graze over it but he can't move without disturbing Robin, so he resorts to simply look at his mark in adoration.
I sparked. It's still there. Eddie is still there. And I have a mark!
Steve can't fight it off any longer. It's like a dam breaking, setting free all the feelings inside him. Tears are streaming down his face, blurring his vision, but he can still see the dark lines on his skin.
We made it out alive.
The proof is right there. A bit faded, but the color of the ink is slowly coming back. Clear indication that Eddie is getting better. It was a close call for a bit, when Steve wasn’t sure if they would make it to the hospital in time. He can still feel the faint beating of Eddie’s heart under his fingers when he held him in the back of the car.
But if he sparked too, why hasn’t Eddie said anything?
What if he doesn’t have my mark?
Or maybe he does but he’s unhappy with it. I’m probably not his first choice. Anyone’s first choice really…
A sob breaks free as his emotions take a turn south, and Robin is on him in a heartbeat, wrapping her arms around him tightly, holding him while his tears soak her shirt.
Slowly his whirlwind of emotions ebb away.
When he pulls back, Robin tentatively reaches out to wipe away his tears. Her glassy eyes meet his.
"Don't ever do this to me again!” her voice is shaking and upset.
"I'm sorry?"
"You passed out in the hallway. They said you lost a lot of blood and carrying Eddie out had ripped your wounds open again. And... And they wouldn't let me see you because I'm not family... but no one could reach your parents so I- ... I told them I'm your girlfriend cause they wouldn't let me stay and I couldn't leave you alone. And I... I needed to make sure..."
Now it's Steve's time to reach out. He takes Robin's hands and squeezes reassuringly, letting his thumb run over the back of them. He pulls her into another hug, holding her tightly against his chest.
"I'm okay", he whispers gently, "Thanks for staying."
"Always."
They both pull back reluctantly, not wanting to let the other or the comfort go, but it's easier to have a conversation face to face.
"So, what's my verdict? Rabies?"
Steve has to fight off Robin when she squats at him in retaliation after his teasing comment.
The fast movements pull at his torso and Steve winces. "Ahh!"
Both stop their little squabble instantly, Robin eyes him with concern.
"Stop moving, dingus. You'll pull the stitches."
"It's not my fault. You've been hitting me! With stitches!” he adds on mock scandalization, putting a hand over his heart, sinking back into the pillows of the bed. Steve definitely adapted to the theatrics of Eddie, even if they only spent a short time together.
"Well, you deserve it for being an idiot," Robin huffs and then slumps back into her chair.
"So? Stitches, huh? What about the others? And you? Are you hurt?"
Robin fills him in on the current situation.
Nancy went and fetched Max, Lucas and Erica that night. The Sinclairs are mostly alright, a few bruises, but they got off lucky given the fact Jason had shown up there. Max's situation looks a bit more dire. She broke multiple bones in her arms and left leg. Her eyesight was damaged, too. She's currently in a coma a few doors down the hallway.
Steve's stomach turns and cold sweat runs down his spine. He feels incredibly bad for being so caught up in his soulmate stuff he forgot about the kids. He has to remind himself that he got hurt too. Laying in a hospital bed is proof of it. He still feels like protecting them was his responsibility, and he failed them. It must have shown on his face because Robin is quick to reassure him.
"Doctor Owens is here. He says Max will make a full recovery. She'll probably need physical therapy once she's awake again, but it looks promising."
"What about her eyes?" Steve's voice is small and he doesn't really want to ask, doesn't really want to know.
"Doctors expect that some of her eyesight, if not most of it, will return.."
Steve lets out a breath he didn't even realize he was holding and brings his fingers up to the inside of his arm, finally able to dance his fingers along the gray mark. Robin's eyes track his motion.
Steve’s voice is a little shaky when he asks, "What about Eddie?"
"Last time I checked, he was still in surgery. They won't tell us anything since we're not family. Dustin said he'll try and find Eddie's uncle tomorrow. Or rather today."
Steve follows Robin's gaze outside the window. The sun is slowly rising, basking the sky in an eerie gray blue. They quietly watch it for a few minutes as the blue turns into orange, a pleasant change compared to the dark sky of the Upside Down.
"How's Dustin doing?"
"Stupid shit broke his ankle. He got a cast and Claudia picked him up a few hours ago while you were out like a light. He was pretty shaken but he'll be alright. Especially since both Eddie and you made it out alive."
"And you?"
"I'm just tired."
Steve chuckles lightly. Now that he knows everyone is alright, at least as well as they can be given the circumstances, he feels the exhaustion catching up to him.
He yawns and slumps back further into the bed, scooping over to make extra space besides him. Steve taps the mattress in invitation.
"Come here. Let's get some rest."
He yawns again and his eyelids grow heavier every moment.
"Not sure that's allowed,” Robin grumbles as she crawls into the small hospital bed, carefully perching herself alongside Steve.
"... don' care…"
Moments later his breaths even out and he snores gently. Robin nuzzles into his side, basking in the comfort of Steve's presence before she also drifts off.
It’s hours later when Robin’s mother comes by, concerned for her daughter and Steve. It’s always baffling how much Mrs. (“Call me Helen, please”) Buckley cares. The lady fusses a bit over Steve, scandalized that he got hurt. Again. She’s only satisfied when Steve promises he’ll accept her nutrient filled soup once he’s released from hospital and makes her daughter promise to look after him, as if Robin wouldn’t do that either way.
When they leave, Robin assures Steve that she'll check in on Dustin. There’s also a disaster recovery center set up at school and she wants to volunteer there.
The nurses come by to check on Steve’s wounds and confirm that the stitches are healing nicely, so he only has to stay for precautionary monitoring for the time being.
Now that he’s thriving on a cocktail of medication and he’s no longer running for his life, Steve feels his skin itch and an underlying discomfort with the remaining Upside Down grime on him. Sure, they got most of it off when cleaning and dressing the wounds and bites, but he still feels gross. Steve sweet-talks the nurses into helping him into the shower before they dress his wounds again. Carefully he washes off the last reminders of the hell dimension, letting out a pleased sigh when he can finally wash his hair.
They get him wrapped up again and Steve is slipping back into the bed, already feeling exhausted after a single task. He slips back into a dreamless sleep, drifting in and out with the unfamiliar noises of the bustling hospital.
It’s already afternoon when Nancy stops by to check on him. She announces herself with a firm knock, slipping in before Steve even has time to respond. It’s obvious she has had time to clean up and catch a breath, now looking put together as always.
“How are you feeling?”
Steve answers with a shrug, pulling the bandages around his ribs slightly.
“Jonathan called. El got her powers back and piggy backed from a restaurant cooler somewhere? Don't ask me what exactly that means. But they will all be here tomorrow."
Nancy looks tense and gets all the information out as fast as she can. Steve can do nothing but nod along.
"That's good. All of them coming back. And that El got her powers back, too. I'm glad."
“Anyway. There’s another reason why I wanted to talk to you.”
Curt as ever.
Steve motions to the chair which has been Robin’s residence, now vacant.
“Sure. Go ahead.”
“I wanted to discuss your… you know…”
Nancy points at her bare inner arm while she perches herself up on the chair by Steve’s bedside.
“My soulmark.” Steve finishes for her. “What about it?”
His tone might be a little more guarded and on edge than he was originally gunning for, but talking about love with Nancy Wheeler is sort of a sore spot for him.
“Does he- -”
“No. Well, I don’t know, to be exact. I’m waiting for him to wake up so we can talk about it. We both know about my track record when it comes to love.”
As soon as the statement leaves his mouth, he winces. He presses his lips together tightly in a failed attempt to keep the words in; to swallow down the bitterness that comes with it.
Steve didn't mean to be so rude, nor did he want to bring up the fateful Halloween years ago, when Nancy shattered his heart into tiny pieces. Not now, when he finally got around to pick them all up and glue them back together, all held up by the slight sliver of hope.
Out of the corner of his eyes, Steve sees Nancy fold her hands in her lap. She rarely fidgets around like that. She seems nervous.
“It’s good that you mention it actually. I came here to apologize. For what happened at Tina’s back then. I feel this talk is long overdue.”
That’s not at all what Steve expected. Not that he expected anything from Nancy’s visit, but least of all this conversation. He feels his stomach constrict, leaving him a bit queasy.
“Yeah. Probably.” Steve’s voice is hoarse and a little strained.
“Back then, I was hurting. A lot. And it felt like you weren’t trying. We didn’t really talk about what happened, trying to sweep everything under a rug, like the government did.”
Steve wants to argue. Wants to explain. When he opens his mouth, facing Nancy, she carefully holds her hand out to stop him.
“Let me finish, please. I was grieving, and I didn’t realize nor acknowledge you were grieving too. Our process was just different… It felt easier to lash out on someone than to deal with it. To find someone to blame. Someone other than me. So I pinned this on you. But it wasn’t your fault, and neither was our failing relationship.”
Deep down he knew that. Of course he didn’t mean for Barb to be taken by a Demogorgon. Or for Will to disappear. Or to shut out Nancy because they were both hurting and neither knew how to deal with it. But hearing it from Nancy, so directly, so bluntly, shakes something loose within. Before he knows it, tears are streaming down his face.
Man, I’m really crying at every little emotional event these days. What would Dad say if he’d see me like that? … not that he’s around…
“You know, when Jonathan called earlier, he told me he sparked with his friend in California.”
Steve doesn’t really know what to say. “I’m sorry.” He cringes at the implied question mark at the end of the sentence.
“Don’t be. Our relationship was actually crumbling, way before he called me about it. And I know it should hurt; breaking up like that, but it doesn’t. This grand concept of love, people write poems and songs about, I’m not sure I can grasp it.
“I know I loved Jonathan. Still do actually. And I loved what we had, too. But I’m not sure it was ever the same as you felt towards me. I’m not even sure I can feel this romantic love at all.”
“I… um, I’m sorry?” It feels hollow to just echo his words, but it’s a big admission and Steve doesn’t want to ruin this moment for Nancy.
“It’s pretty liberating to not pressure myself like that. I don’t feel like I need a soulmate. No one is out there waiting for me, trying to tie me down.”
When their eyes meet again, Nancy seems to realize what she’s said. “Sorry, that was really rude.”
“Nah, it’s fine.” Steve cuckles wetly.
Nancy carefully tucks his hand into hers, reassuring and friendly and warm.
“Steve, I’m sorry for the things I said back then. You deserve to be happy and I wish for your sake that Eddie has sparked for you,” she squeezes Steve’s hand like she wishes him luck, “you have so much love to give.”
“I don’t know…,” his voice still so unsure, shaky from all the crying.
“Steve,” Nancy tugs at his hand, catching his line of sight, blurred with tears, “you barreled into a door to fight an interdimensional hell monster for me. I don’t even wanna know what you’ll do for your soulmate.”
That feels like a lifetime ago.
Steve shakes his head in amusement. A laugh tumbles from his lips, and soon they are both giggling with how bizarre their situation is.
They chat a bit more, and when Nancy leaves, Steve’s heart feels a lot lighter.
After finally being able to get closure on the regrets of Steve’s first love, he shifts his focus on the person that, if the universe worked correctly, will be his last love - the loud metalhead who’s currently being treated in the ICU. Absent-mindedly, Steve caresses the mark on his inner arm, relieved that it constantly keeps up the dark gray. After the events of the Upside Down and the ink fading, he catches himself checking it a lot, but no one can blame him for being paranoid. Not with the reaction of the nurses and doctors, not when Eddie is still a wanted man.
Restless, Steve wanders through the hallways of the hospital, taking in the bustling and bumbling around him in these white walls. He’s still feeling guilty after his talk with Robin, and checks in with Max first. She’s not awake yet, and Lucas is out like a light, so Steve sneaks back out without rousing him.
When he makes it down the hall without anyone questioning him, Steve sneaks into Eddie’s room. Steve knows Eddie is alive, his soulmark is telling him that much, but really making sure, being able to check the beeping machines, seeing Eddie’s chest rise and fall, soothes a part of him that he wasn’t even aware of.
It’s only when he steps closer that he notices the metallic silver around Eddie’s wrist and the bedframe, which leaves a foul taste in his mouth.
Is it really necessary to handcuff an unconscious person?
A little lost, Steve is simply standing there, looking down at Eddie, seemingly peacefully asleep. His arms and torso are covered in thick layers of bandages. When the physical exertion starts to be too much, Steve brings one of the chairs in the room to the bedside so he can sit down closely to Eddie.
At some point he must have dozed off and jerks awake when a doctor enters the room.
“Mr. Harrington, I don’t think this is your room.”
“And I don’t think Eddie has to be cuffed, but yet here we are.” Steve shrugs while the doctor seems unbothered by Steve’s snarky tone. He steps closer and holds his hand out for introduction which Steve takes hesitantly but then grips tightly.
“I’m Doctor Owens.”
With the name, something clicks for Steve. Robin has mentioned him. That’s the doctor who was working with Will. And Hopper mentioned the man too when he talked about keeping El safe.
“You are that Doctor that knows? About it all, I mean.”
"Yes. I’ve been working with the government for a while and I’ve done research on what you call the Upside Down.”
“So you know Eddie did not kill these kids. You need to tell the police!”
Steve is back on his feet, gesturing wildly while Owens nods in agreement.
“I know, Mr. Harrington. I’ve already been in touch with the authorities. Matters are being handled right as we speak.”
Steve deflates after breathing a sigh of relief.
“I’m sure you’ve been concerned about Mr. Munson’s safety here, but I can assure you he’s under the best care. I understand that you want to keep your friend here company, but he won’t wake up in the next few hours, that’s all I can tell you. Please don’t neglect yourself. I’ve been informed you were hurt as well? Go back to your room for now. You can come back tomorrow, after resting and recuperating overnight.”
Owens says it like it’s a suggestion, but his tone indicates that there is no room to argue now. The most important thing is that they work to clear Eddie’s name.
It has to be enough for now.
Steve thanks the man and then trots back to his room out of necessity. He slips into the stiff sheets and stares at the ceiling until he feels heavy enough to get pulled under.