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Steve never once considered that he would be a target for Vecna. It simply didn’t make sense to him. As messed up as the thought was, he knew the people around him were much better targets than him, and so he funnelled all of his time and effort into keeping them safe from that same dark fate. He knew he had things in his past he regretted or felt pain over: his struggle with identity, his parents’ constant absence, the deep shame he felt over the actions of ‘King Steve’; but to think he would get targeted? The mere thought of it was banished from his mind.
Maybe he should’ve brought it up to one of the others when he first noticed the grandfather clock, but everyone was so deep in their plans to stop Vecna he couldn’t bring himself to bother them. He was the party’s protector, he kept them safe, not the other way around. Steve wouldn’t burden them like that. As much as he outwardly despised the title of ‘babysitter’, it was a badge he wore with pride, his party would never see him in a state of weakness.
That is to say, Steve was expecting Vecna’s control from the minute he stepped into the Upside Down again. He found himself not standing among the others in the grimy version of their world, but instead sandwiched between a thousand mirrors, each reflecting a moment of his past.
It was suffocating, in that space. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from his countless reflection’s as they pummelled his faceless victims.
“What kind of monster can’t even remember the faces of those he hurt?”
Steve spun around, trying to pinpoint where that voice came from. It sounded so familiar and– oh.
Oh.
Battered and bruised, eyes cast downwards, was Eddie. His mouth turned up in a sneer.
“Do you really think that what you do now makes up for the SHIT you put me through?” The reflection spat out, “I think you’re beyond saving, man. No amount of babysitting can ever undo the pain you caused.”
“Eddie, I swear there’s not a day where I don’t regret the way I–”
“Don’t ‘Eddie’ me, we aren’t friends. We don’t know each other, I’m just your punching bag, remember? ‘Hit the freak’, right?” He let out an empty laugh, “It would ruin you if Dustin found out about this, wouldn’t it?”
“I know, I know already– Shit. I know I fucked up, I can never be sorry enough and I get that. But c’mon can’t you see I’ve been trying? I don’t want to be like that anymore. If I could kill my past I would. He knows that.”
“Does he?”
Steve felt something change about the scene around him, it felt as though the walls were softening, and as he took a step to push against one of the mirrors he found himself stepping through to the other side with ease.
What met him was total darkness. Just pure empty space that surrounded him on all sides, not like the suffocation of the previous vision. He froze, only for a moment, before he started his slow march onwards into the inky black.
The next voice whispered directly into his ear, “Don’t you think you’re a little old for these schoolyard fights?” It was the voice of his mother, thick with false affection. It was after the first time he beat down a kid who looked at him wrong, he wanted a reaction from his parents. But this? The empty disdain? It made him feel as though his insideswere rotting.
The voices continued, bombarding him from both sides as he strode through the blank space.
“Steven, you can’t really think this will earn you respect. Can you?”
“It’s like he doesn’t even want to apply himself.”
“You know people expect better from the Harringtons, don’t you? Don’t lash out just because your grades are dropping.”
“Swimming? Is that really something you should be focusing on?”
“This again? Steven, why can’t you just apply yourself.”
“This is what’s expected of you.”
“What about college?”
“Don’t you care about this family?”
“After everything we’ve given you.”
“You’re nothing like–”
“A Harrington man–”
“Us Harringtons–”
“The Harrington name–”
“Steve Harrington–”
The voices built to a crescendo in his ears, he couldn’t escape his parent’s clear disapproval. He couldn’t block out their scrutiny with his hands, so he sank onto his knees almost ripping his hair out to take away from the voices that made his ears bleed. He let out a final screaming prayer as he squeezed his eyes tight.
“Everything you say is WORTHLESS. You don’t even know who I am, if you were ever actually around you would know my friends are more valuable than anything you have given to me. You are PATHETIC.”
And then it was silent.
His ears still rang as he sat up, bleary eyed from the tears that he had spilled. He scrubbed his face, even in this hellscape he refused to let anyone see him so weak. In his mind he thought it was better to face his certain fate with a brave face, to die without fear in his heart.
The setting was familiar to Steve, the black sloughing away to reveal the Wheeler’s basement. They had been down here recently, he recalled, and the Hawkins Party had met up to figure out the next step in the plan to defeat Vecna– it was half-baked at best, and relied heavily on Eleven’s miraculous appearance to shut the gates once and for all. But Steve believed in them. The kids were alright.
But they weren’t here. Before him, littered around, were the bodies of his beloved party. Even Erica, with her honorary status within the party, laid crumpled on the ground. Everyone was so broken and battered, each face sent a fresh wave of horror running through him as he could no longer find the strength to look brave.
His gaze wandered across the blood soaked ground, and rested on Dustin’s face before him. He lifted a heavy arm, only now realising the object grasped tightly in his own fist. He spared a glance, and felt bile build in his throat as he tried to comprehend the fact that he did this. The bat he had become familiar with over the past years was held poised and ready to strike again, dripping with fresh blood.
A Hand on his shoulder snapped him out of that vision, and he let out a guttural scream, already preparing for the next horror he would see.
He was back in the Upside Down.
Just like everything else he had seen, it felt so real. It truly felt as though he was back in the real world. Yet Steve refused to be caught off guard, he steeled himself against whatever fresh torment would be thrown at him. No doubt Vecna wanted him in this confused state of unreality, in the familiar way he hunted and killed his prey.
Here in this false place he had no way of determining the time, although he felt as though it was taking far longer to strike the killing blow. Was it that Vecna was getting weaker? Had the music truly hurt him in Max and Nancy’s escape?
Or was it perhaps that Vecna enjoyed torturing him more? Was his mind so broken that it was fun for the monster to exploit and manipulate?
“What is your game here?” He whispered aloud, his brow furrowed.
“Uh, Steve?”
He looked sharply up again, and was met with Eddie’s deep brown eyes. The man looked nervous, shifting his weight from one foot to the other as he pulled his hand back. Eddie stood alive, and uninjured before him. He felt his vision soften slightly, and an easy smile took over his face at the familiar sight.
“Earth to Harrington? You okay in there dude? If you keep spacing out like that I’ll start freaking out. I dunno if my singing will snap you out of it. You’d be screwed–”
He crushed Eddie into a hug, arms wrapping tightly around his bony frame.
“Woah, take a guy out to dinner first next time.” Eddie laughed under Steve’s heavy embrace. “Seriously, what’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”
“I just… forget about it. I’m just happy you’re safe.” Steve gave a weak smile and pulled away, “Where are we now?”
Eddie gave a few affirming pats on Steve’s arm before shooting him a confused look, “Did you hit your head or something? Jeez, maybe all the rumours about you being more hair than brains is true.”
“Please Munson, shoot me straight.”
“Same place we were five minutes ago, the Upside Down. Do you seriously not remember? After our lovely bonding moment back there? Man, I guess I should take back my compliment if you can’t remember.”
“A compliment?” Steve began. The last time Eddie complimented him was… the first time in the upside down. But that couldn’t have been right, that had been the previous day. Steve fiddled with the buttons on his vest– no, Eddie’s vest, the one thrown at him after he dived through the Watergate. Was he seriously back here again? Had the past twenty four hours been completely made up? Maybe that time could’ve been because of Vecna’s influence, and he had just thought it was real.
He shook his head, there was no point in worrying about himself right now. They were on their way to the Wheeler’s house, he didn’t have the time to stop now.
“It was that Fozzy thing, right?”
“The Muppet? No, dude. Ozzy. Osborn. But close enough, I guess. You’re lucky you’re so pretty Harrington.” Eddie took a few steps forward before turning back, “you ready to set off again? I don’t like the idea of us being so far behind Buckley and Wheeler, this place freaks me the hell out.”
“I didn’t take you to be the scared type, Munson. Is it not ‘metal’ enough for you down here?”
“Ha ha ha. Very cute, but I already told you. I’m a coward. The only reason I haven’t turned tail and ran is because I have a better chance staying alive with you guys.” He took another step forward, “Now seriously, can we walk now?”
At that, Steve followed along, picking his pace up just enough so he could walk side-by-side Eddie. He felt a warmth rise to his cheeks every time their knuckles would brush.
“I think you have good odds of survival with me, have you seen these muscles? They aren’t just for show!”
“Yeah, I’m sure they aren’t.”
Steve could feel himself letting go of the horrific visions he had just been plagued with, his focus now directed towards the boy walking close to him. Their steps match effortlessly.
They continued their walk in silence for a while after that, Steve grew slowly accustomed to the gentle touch of Eddie’s hand every so often, and he allowed his gaze to wander to the treeline beside him. Without Eddie’s idle chatter Steve felt his anxiety spike yet again. He felt watched, and it was almost as though he was walking in place.
His gaze honed in on the patterns of the trees as he passed them: fir, oak, birch. Oak, maple, pine. Then fir, oak, birch again. Over and over. It was… strange. And seemed controlled. Enough to make him doubt that this was reality. Maybe he was still–
“Steve-o, you know you don’t really pull off the dark and brooding type. You’re more of a mother hen, lighten up.” Eddie spoke lightly, grabbing onto Steve’s hand to slow their pace to a stop. “Seriously, I might just piss myself if you go all dark on me now.”
Steve couldn’t respond. In any other scenario, with anyone else, he would be fine. Utter some amazing comeback, or charm his way into the heart of the girl he was with. But now was different, his face was flushed as he stared down at his joined hand. Steve felt almost like the countless girls he had flirted with, all doe-eyed and with a million butterflies threatening to burst from his chest.
Somehow, this was worse than the other crap Vecna had pulled, because at least then he knew that he had no control over the situation. Here he had no idea how to act. He simply froze.
Eddie’s vest hung heavily across Steve’s shoulders, the weight was grounding and took his mind off of the burning contact between them. However it caused him to turn three shades brighter as he realised how he must’ve looked.
Eddie must’ve noticed, and he gently jostled their joined hands to snap Steve back to reality.
“Alright airhead, sober up. I’ve got some questions for you.”
“About what?”
Eddie gestured wildly around with his free hand, “this! Obviously. I’m new and freaked the fuck out. I can't remember why we’re here man!”
He snapped out of the trance he was in, entering his ‘helpful Steve’ mindset as they continued their walk. Hands still intertwined, yet the contact was no longer a bother for him.
“It’s those hellmouths, they keep splitting open when Vecna attacks. We can’t do much right now to stop them without El here to close them up, but we can pray Vecna doesn’t get any bright ideas and try to cross back over.”
“Jeez, that’s a lot. And El is…?”
“Right, I forgot you haven’t met her yet. She’s Eleven, basically Hawkins’ very own Superhero. I bet you two’d get along.”
“I’m sure we will.” Eddie smiled, the corner of his mouth twisting up in a smile. “One more question, Steve-o.”
“Yeah? Shoot!”
“Who’s Vecna?”
Steve startled back in confusion, but he couldn’t make it far as Eddie’s grip held strong to him. The air was suddenly freezing, and Steve found himself sweating as he planned out his next move. Movement on his arm snapped him from his plans as he felt the slimy tendrils of Vecna begin to crawl up his forearm.
He wanted to scream, curse, run away. Anything but continue to struggle under the firm grip of the monster before him. ‘You’re such a fucking idiot, Steve Harrington.’ He internally cursed, ‘there were so many signs. Why did you ignore them all for him of all people.’
Eddie’s face began to slough away, revealing the raw, wet tissue that made up Vecna’s ugly head. As if he could hear into Steve’s very mind, the beat before him smirked sinisterly.
“Of all things, this boy made you weak. I promise you, you will be saved soon. I must commend you, your willingness to give yourself up to me is… unprecedented. And the information you have given me is incredibly helpful. I promise your demise will be as painless as I can let it be.”
Much like Eddie’s visage, the backdrop of the Upside Down faded away and distorted into what could only be described as Vecna’s lair. It was more grim and vile than the place he had travelled through before. The air held a certain red haze, and combined with the coppery smell around gave the impression of a bloody fog permeating the atmosphere.
Looking around he could see the mangled bodies of Vecna’s past victims. He was lucky enough thus far to never see the result of Vecna’s curse, and the sight of his past classmates was enough to make Steve want to hurl. A strange wave of relief washed over him as he realised Max had been spared from the same fate, but that joy was crushed under the new knowledge that it would be him next.
He cursed himself yet again, there were so many opportunities for him to tell the others about the trouble he was in. To let them know his favourite song. He messed up every chance to save himself, he had nobody to blame but himself.
Steve was, ultimately, alone. He was not like the others, who naturally split themselves up into happy little pairings. Not like Max and Lucas, or Nancy and Robin. The closest ‘friend’ he was was Dustin! And, oh. Dustin. He prayed that someone covered his eyes when Steve started floating– which he can only assume that’s what his body, his real body is doing. Dustin was a good kid, and he doesn’t deserve to see what happens to him.
Nobody knew his favourite song, just judging by the fact he was still stuck in Vecna’s hideout. But he knew he couldn’t give up just yet, who knows how close they were to figuring it out. And if he could spare just a few more seconds to save himself, he would do it.
He felt the icy claws of Vecna begin to sink into the sides of his mouth, so in one swift motion he sunk his teeth into the rotting flesh and ripped as much of it away as he could. Eddie had said his fight with the Demo-bats was ‘metal’, he had to live long enough to learn how badass biting off Vecna’s finger was.
Vecna reeled back, writhing in agony as he nursed his mutilated hand. Steve used this to push Vecna backwards, and he did his best not to gag at the feel of the monster’s clammy sinewy flesh. He could only pray that he earned the Party enough time to start playing something. At this point he felt that even one of Eddie’s crazy metal songs would save him from this hellscape.
He felt less prepared without the comforting weight of his bat to fend off the attacks that ensued as he stumbled away, but that unnecessary weight would only slow him down and ruin his chances of escaping. His only defence was his teeth, and damn was he glad he took such good care of them. But Steve didn’t want biting to become his new ‘thing’ . It was bad enough being labelled the ‘Babysitter’.
He let that thought distract him for just a moment too long, what followed was a sudden sharp pain as something collided with the back of his head, and Steve slumped to the floor unconscious.
He couldn’t have been out for more than a few seconds, judging by how Vecna’s silhouette had only moved a fraction closer than when he had last checked. Still, his head pounded with a dull ache and his ears rang loudly, it took all of his energy to pull himself back up and shake the visual snow from his vision. His footfalls slowly picked back up to a jog.
A screeching noise cut through the haze, and he reeled from the sudden noise, head throbbing as it started up. There was no warning as a cacophony of notes sliced through the stagnant air in a desperate melody.
It was a little fast, a little out of tune, and a little too ‘metal’ for Steve to pick up on right away, but his eyes widened as he figured out the song that was playing. It was a song he could recognise anywhere, like a rock version of ‘Hazy shade of winter,’ or something. Steve loved that song since he was a kid, and it made him feel powerful.
That same feeling of strength coursed through his blood, and he felt his energy returning to him quickly. The pain in his head subsided and his fear melted away to relief. In the space not too far ahead of him an opening appeared, displaying the world he remembered last. He picked up the pace as he made it to the final stretch home, to safety.
A fuzzy feeling of anxiety bit at the back of his mind as he neared the gate. Sure, Vecna was too far away now to stop his escape. But… wasn’t it too easy? He was just being let go after that? It didn’t feel right. But he couldn’t stop now. Filing that thought away for when he was truly safe, he pressed on.
The sudden return to his body was not a pleasant feeling. It was as though he had hit concrete at terminal velocity, the air ripped from his throat as he fell to the ground.
Underneath him, to cushion his fall, was a terrified looking Eddie. And next to him his beautiful guitar. The pain, while lessened, gave way to the sharp ache in his bones from the running, and the possible-concussion that seeped its way from the inner world.
Without the needed adrenaline to keep his body online, Steve felt himself losing consciousness. He gave a shaky thumbs up to his saviour, and promptly passed out.