A/N: I don't own the Stranger Things franchise

In honor of Season 3, I've decided to write a Steve x OC fanfic. This starts around season 1, maybe a few episodes in :)I hope you enjoy!

Barefoot, she walked through the forest, her hospital gown clinging to her body as the wind blew against it. The sixteen year old girl that escaped from Hawkins Lab now wandered through the woods.

She glanced down at her wrist to see 009 engraved into her skin and sighed. She's always hated that tattoo. She hopped over sticks and roots, spotting a house in the distance.

Shelter, she thought. She stepped into the yard, eyeing a concrete hole in the ground with water filling it. She'd seen pools before, but wasn't sure what it was called. Then, carefully stepped up to the back door, tiptoeing to mask the sound of her feet.

She peaked into the windows to see the lights out and eyed around the front to see no vehicles in the driveway.

Opening the door, the girl stepped inside, closing the door behind her. No one was home, thank god. She crept around, looking for any sight of food. She stood in front of the refrigerator, swinging open the doors to reveal foods and drinks of all sorts.

The girl pulled out a Lunchables and a juice box, ripping open the plastic and shoving it down her throat. She hadn't eaten in at least three days and her stomach rumbled in hunger.

Nearly choking on her food, she continued to devour the snacks and drink. She was too busy enjoying the food to notice that Steve Harrington has entered his house.

"Who the hell are you?"

She looked up from the food in shock. She froze, maybe if she didn't move, he wouldn't see her. Her eyes were intense and frightened, her hands started to shake.

Steve saw the scared look on her face, the torn hospital gown, and shaven hand. It was the same look his mother had when his father yelled at her. Steve glanced down at the Lunchable, she just wanted some food.

"Hey it's okay, I'm not going to hurt you." He took a small step forward, but saw her tense up and stepped back into place.

"Why don't we sit down okay? I promise, I'm not going to hurt you," he talked calmly, trying to get her to trust him, but he had fury mixed in his eyes. Anger that someone broke into his house. She hesitantly set the food down and let Steve lead her to the dining table.

She took a seat, hunched over, the rain pulling her down. She didn't make eye contact as if she were afraid that in one movement that he would hurt her like Papa did.

"Can you tell me what your name is?" She held out her wrist for him to see the tattoo.

"Nine?" She nodded her head grimly.

"I'm Steve, and this is my house. Where did you come from?"

"Lab," she muttered as if it was a cuss word—well it was to her. His warm brown eyes tried to connect with hers, but Nine continued to look at her hands.

"Hawkins Lab?" Nine nodded her head, Steve could see that there was definitely pain connected to the Lab by the way she acted.

She shivered from the cold air and from being under his gaze. "Are you cold? Obviously, you were outside...at night, in the rain."

He stood up suddenly, but slowed down once he made her flinch. He took off his jean jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"Do you have a home?"

"A home?" She questioned as if she didn't know what the word meant. She didn't.

"A place where you live, where your family is," Steve explained, but wish he hadn't when he saw that sad look that she gave him.

"Hawkins Lab with Papa and the bad men."

"Do the bad men hurt you?" Her mind flashed to a memory.

"Kill it, Nine. Kill it!" Papa yelled. She refused, tears escaping her eyes.

"You're as weak as Eleven, no weaker." He nodded his head towards the all white cat. "If you don't kill it, you're going into the room."

No. She couldn't go back. Nine looked to the cat.

"I'm sorry," she whispered and stopped it's heart.

"Well done, Nine," Papa turned his back from her and looked to his team before she threw out her hand, sending him flying into the wall. His guards came running towards her, grabbing her by her arms and carrying her down the hall.

"No!" She sobbed as the dark room came closer and closer. They hurled her into the closet, hitting the stone cold wall and slammed the door.

"Yes. They hurt me." She finally looked Steve in the eyes.

The two of them stayed silent for a few minutes before Steve spoke up, "Do you need somewhere to stay?"

Nine waited a second before answering and then nodded her head. "Okay, just follow me," he said awkwardly.

Nine pulled the jean jacket close to her as it kept her warm through her thin hospital gown. She followed him up the steps of his beautiful house and what she assumed was his room.

"I'm just going to get you some clothes," he said quietly. He pulled a drawer out of his dresser, a shirt and sweatpants in his hands. "Um, here," he pushed the clothes into her hands.

Steve hastily walked out of the room to save himself the embarrassment. "Stop." Steve was halfway out the door when he stopped at the sound of her voice.

"Can you..." she couldn't form the words.

"I'll be right outside the door, okay?" She nodded and pulled off the hospital gown, slipping on the navy blue t-shirt and grey sweatpants.

"I'm done." Steve walked back into his room, "You can sleep in my bed tonight."

Nine nodded, she wasn't going refuse a warm bed. She laid down, pulling a blanket over her. She hadn't felt this warm in a long time.

"I'll be right down here if you need me," Nine heard Steve say.

"Thank you," Nine muttered. She turned to her back, looking up at the ceiling.

"Steve?"

"Mmm?"

"Where is your mama and papa?"

"Well actually I call them mom and dad, but they're away on a work trip, like always," he grumbled the last part.

"Oh. Steve?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

Nine closed her eyes, falling into the most peaceful sleep she's had in a while.

Ah first chapter done! I hope you enjoyed it and sorry if I get anything wrong I haven't watched the first season in a while oops.

I'll probably try to post once a week. Thanks for reading!

xoxo