Steve trained hard over the next week with Eleven. He improved significantly with each session together. After one challenging session wherein he finally managed to push Eleven out of his mind, she gave him a big smile and a hug to match.
"I think you are ready."
"Ready? For what?"
She took him to Hopper, who eyed him contemplatively before asking, "Are you sure?"
"Yes. We are strong enough now."
"Can somebody explain what is going on?"
Hopper sighed and got out a map of Hawkins. Steve recognised the five points circled - the gates. "We need to close the gates, stop the creatures coming through. With their forces concentrated in one place-" he tapped the gate in the centre of town. "-we can take the fight to them."
"And close that gate too?"
"Not yet." Eleven placed her hand over the large circle and closed her eyes, frowning slightly. "Vecna is too strong. We close the small gates. We weaken him. We can fight him, and when we win, the last gate will be next."
"Okay… and how exactly do we close them?"
Eleven smiled. "I will show you."
Steve wasn't ready for their field trip to Lover's Lake. He'd hoped never to return, but there he was, out in the middle of the lake again. At least he was in a cop motorboat this time instead of a rickety wooden thing from Reefer Rick's boatshed. He eyed the black water dubiously, expecting vines or tentacles to rise any moment and drag them under.
Nothing happened, though. The water and the night were peaceful. Eleven came out to join him once they had reached the approximate location of the gate, sitting beside him to stare out at the water. "How deep is it?"
"Not far. Do we have to swim down?"
She smiled at his obvious discomfort. "No. But the closer we are, the easier it will be. We can do it from here, I am sure of it. With both of us."
"Yeah. Whatever you need. Just tell me what to do."
"Hold my hand." Eleven held hers out, so Steve took it. "Close your eyes and concentrate. Find the gate with me. I will guide you."
Steve did as he was told, reaching out and down into the depths to find the bright, pulsing beat of the gate. He could feel Eleven too beside him and let her take control, felt her heal the jagged edges with both of their powers, stitch the fabric of reality back together and close the gate. When the last piece dissipated, he opened his eyes to stare at the lake again.
"Holy shit," he breathed. "You did it."
Eleven shook her head and smiled. "We did it."
It took most of the night to drive around Hawkins and close the other gates. By the time the final one in Eddie's trailer was gone, daybreak was on the horizon. Steve trudged up the steps to his house, waving goodbye to Hopper, who only left once he was safely inside.
Steve had barely closed the front door before he heard footsteps on the stairs, and a wild-eyed, dishevelled Eddie ran down to meet him. "Hey, Eds."
"Where have you been?!" Eddie pulled him into an embrace, slamming into him so hard they fell back against the door. "You said you'd be back after a few hours!"
"Sorry. Eleven and Hopper dragged me into their plans."
Eddie pulled back to search his face. "You could have called first. I thought you'd been attacked or something on the way home. Seriously, Steve, don't go disappearing on me, not with how things are out there."
Steve suddenly saw how worried Eddie truly was and swallowed back his guilt. "I'm so sorry, Eds."
"Just… don't do it again."
"I won't." Steve hugged him tight, breathing in the familiar smell of citrus shampoo and cheap cologne. The smell of home. "You smell good."
Eddie laughed thickly against his shoulder. "Shut up, Stevie. You're just trying to soften me up."
"Maybe a little. Is it working?"
"No. Tell me where you went."
So Steve told him everything over breakfast, explaining how the four smaller gates were now closed. Eddie was at first confused, then pissed off he'd been left out, then worried about Steve again before finally, begrudgingly, accepting.
Steve understood that all too well. If Eddie went out around Hawkins all day without telling him… well, Steve would probably blow the place up trying to find him. He reached across the table to hold Eddie's hands. "Hey," he started softly, and for the first time since they had sat down, Eddie looked him in the eye. "I really am sorry I didn't tell you. It was a stupid thing to do, and it won't happen again, I promise. You're right. We can't go disappearing on each other."
"Damn right." Eddie managed a smile, flipping his hand so their fingers entwined. "Sorry for being harsh. I was just so- so worried about you. I know you've got superpowers now, but I can't help it."
"Neither can I."
Steve got to his feet with a sudden surge of need that Eddie understood because he got up too, pulling Steve in and kissing him with a fierceness he hadn't felt since their first night alone together. He needed to feel Eddie, warm, whole and alive in his arms. He needed Eddie so bad it was like a constant ache, one only satisfied in the few moments they could find alone together these days.
Everything felt so much quieter, lying in bed together, spent but clean from a shower. Eddie had pressed a kiss to his chest and mumbled how much he loved Steve as he fell asleep. He'd been up all night waiting, which only made Steve feel guilty all over again. He felt too wired for sleep, despite pulling an all-nighter and instead spent the time carding his fingers through Eddie's damp hair and staring at the ceiling, thinking about the upcoming battle.
He didn't expect it to come so fast, but Vecna's retribution was as swift as it was savage.
The sound of the radio jolted them both from their bubble, Dustin's voice echoing in from the hallway. "Code Black! Code Black! Steve, Eddie, are you there?"
Eddie fell out of bed, grumbling something about getting his hands on Dustin as he yanked on a pair of sweatpants and went to answer. It gave Steve time to wake up properly and realise how bad the situation was.
Vecna's presence was overwhelming. For a moment, Steve was afraid he'd crossed over into their world. It wasn't Vecna himself but so many monsters, so much of his presence Steve hadn't been able to tell the difference at first. And they were concentrating on one spot in particular.
"Dustin!" Eddie slammed into the room, eyes wide. "He says they're being attacked!"
Steve was already out of bed and pulling on clothes.
They hurried to Steve's car and towards the Henderson household. Halfway there, Steve had to pull over. "You drive. I need to check things out."
It was a mark of how worried Eddie was that he didn't object, only switched seats with him and drove without comment.
There were so many of them. Steve could feel the jumble of sparks like Christmas lights flashing in his mind. They were all flashing red.
Eddie missed the curb entirely, spinning the car halfway up the grassy front and ended up pointing back towards the street. He was gripping the steering wheel tight, knuckles white and eyes wide with panic. Steve didn't complain about the rough treatment, too preoccupied with staring at the dozens upon dozen of demodogs surrounding the house.
"Get inside," he said softly, tugging on his belt. "Eddie, get the fuck out of the car."
"Yeah, yeah." Eddie fumbled his belt off and almost fell out of the car. Steve yanked him upright, and they ran to Henderson's front door in time for Dustin to throw it open.
"What are you guys doing?!" They blew past him fast, and he slammed the door shut. "I told you to get help!"
Eddie waved at Steve as if it was apparent.
"Boys?" Claudia hurried over and swept them both up in a bone-crushing hug. "You shouldn't have come. It's not safe out there!"
"We noticed."
Steve went over to the window and shifted the curtain to peer outside. The demodogs had moved closer, barely shadows in the darkness. "We don't have long. Where's Robin?"
"Here." She hurried over to hug him. "I knew I should have stayed at yours."
"Guess you get your wish. We'll go there now. Grab your stuff and get ready to run."
They all jumped, and Claudia screamed at the sound of shattering glass. The sound of claws running down the hallway had Eddie moving across the room in a flash, slamming the door shut. A heavy thud and a snarl on the other side almost knocked him away, but he pressed back against the door. "Time to go!"
"Wait, Steve!" Dustin grabbed his arm as he moved to the front door again. "Mom's car is in the garage. It's much safer than yours."
"Fine, go. I'll distract them." He glanced at Eddie, who hesitated but then nodded, face set. "Wait for my signal."
"Steve?!"
He yanked open the door and ran outside again before anyone could stop him. Skidding around to the back of his car, he opened the boot to grab his trusty bat before sliding into the front. Taking a deep breath, he pressed the horn. Several demodogs outside the house turned to the noise, abandoning their pursuit.
He kept his hand pressed down as the garage shutters started to open. When the first demo dog hit the passenger door, he reached over to press the lock down quickly. Claudia's car backed down the driveway, ignored in favour of a louder target. Once it was on the road, Steve kicked open his door and got ready to run.
He dived out as one of the demodogs crashed into the windshield, and the glass shattered everywhere. Scrambling to his feet, he sent another one flying with his bat and took off down the driveway towards Claudia's car. Eddie grabbed him by the shirt and yanked him in, both of them falling backwards as Dustin slammed the door shut behind them.
"Go! Go!" He yelled to his mother.
Panting, Steve struggled upright and turned to watch as the demodogs destroyed his car. "Oh, someone's going to pay for that."
"Shit, shit," Eddie gasped, laughing breathlessly when Claudia tutted. "Sorry."
Robin turned to look at them from the passenger seat, face pale and strained. "That was too close. What happened?"
"We closed the gates, me and Eleven. I think Vecna's a bit annoyed about it." Steve looked around the car and swallowed thickly. "The others?"
Dustin glanced at him with a pained grimace. "The Wheelers, Byers and Hopper are all together. Lucas is with them too. They should be safe, but we can check when we reach yours."
"Yeah, let's do that."
Steve was worried his house would be surrounded too, but he sensed nothing as they drew closer. It looked just as they had left it that morning. Eddie waited outside with him as the others went inside, sitting on the porch in the gloomy light. "Sorry about your car."
"Man, I loved that thing. Better that than one of you, though."
"Yeah." Eddie sighed and leaned in to rest his head on Steve's shoulder. "How long do you think we have?"
Steve felt a sense of deja vu. Eddie had asked almost the same thing when he'd left the government facility after being resurrected. Steve's answer was an echo, too, "I don't know." Their hands met in a tight hold. "I don't know, Eds. But it's going to be hell when he comes."
