Chapter 10:
Hopper walked back into the cabin to find Steve and Jane eating breakfast while watching TV. Hopper let out a small smile before switching to a neutral expression.
"Steve." He said. Steve turned around, smile slipping as he caught Hopper's lack of expression.
"What's up Hopper?" He asked, his voice still a bit hoarse.
"I went to see your parents." Hopper said bluntly. Steve winced.
"I bet they were overjoyed to see you." Steve quipped. Hopper gave a half smile before turning serious.
"I told them you were staying here." Hopper said. "Well, not specifically here but somewhere safe." Steve nodded.
"Thanks. But uh. I don't want to put you guys out or anything." He said.
"You aren't." Hopper said. "I also punched your father in the face." Steve's face was priceless. It looked like all of his dreams had come true. They probably had.
"Oh man I wish I was there to see that." Steve whined. Hopper grinned.
"Is he a bad man?" Jane asked, eyes flicking between Steve and Hopper.
"Very." Hopper said.
"He's a dick." Steve added. Hopper threw him a look but Jane frowned.
"Mouthbreather?" She asked. Steve nodded before turning back to Hopper.
"Look I can't exactly stay here. I don't have any of my stuff." He said hesitantly. Hopper hated to agree but the kid had a point. "I'll just wait until they go out on business and then get my stuff."
"That could be a while." Hopper said pointedly.
"Nah. One, two days at the most." Steve said. He grimaced. "I won't be winning any awards for best dressed but I can manage that."
"They don't stick around much huh." Hopper said evenly.
"Nope. They hate Hawkins." Steve said. "Probably because I'm here." He muttered. Hopper almost didn't hear him. Almost.
"Their loss." He said with a shrug. "Anyway, I've gotta go into work. Don't sit in front of the TV all day. You'll hurt your eyes. And eat something healthy." Steve rolled his eyes.
"Yes mother." He muttered sarcastically. Hopper snorted before heading back out.
The knock at the door came not long after lunch. Steve and Jane had been playing an intense game of Alphabet (where you get given a letter and have to give a word beginning with that letter for different categories). Steve cautiously approached the door. They had knocked the correct knock but still. He opened the door, coming face to face with Nancy Wheeler.
"Nance?" He asked, completely surprised.
"Wha-? Steve?" She asked. "What are you doing here? Where's Hopper?"
"At work." Steve said. He glanced past her to see Jonathan, Mike and even Will. Man, why didn't they just invite Dustin, Lucas and Max too.
"Mike!" Jane exclaimed happily.
"El." Mike said softly. He walked past Steve to give El a sweet hug.
"Uh. Do you want to come in?" Steve asked, finally processing that yes, they really were here. Nancy nodded, still a bit shell shocked.
"So." Jonathan started, eyes flickering uncertainly. "You come here often?" Steve blinked as he shut the door before he burst out laughing. He knew Jonathan probably meant was he at Hopper's a lot but that phrasing.
"Yes Jonathan. I come here a lot." Steve said, trying to breathe normally.
"Steve cooks and reads to me." Jane said happily. She pointed at the table. "We played Alphabet."
"Thanks Jane, now I sound like a live-in nanny." Steve quipped.
"What is a nanny?" Jane said, testing out the word slowly.
"It's what Steve is." Mike said, smirking at Steve. Steve glared.
"I swear Wheeler, one of these days." He muttered.
"Steve is very good Nanny." Jane said.
"Steve's a great nanny." Will said with a smile. Steve stared at the smaller Byers with confusion. He knew fuck all about Will if he was honest. He knew what the others told him but he didn't know the kid. He thought the kid was sweet, nice. The only sane one of the bunch.
"Mike, I see you've corrupted Will." Steve said. Mike rolled his eyes before pulling Jane and Will off to her room. A second too late, Steve realised he'd be alone with Nancy and Jonathan. They all sat on the couch, not saying a word. And that was how Hopper found them three hours later.