Chapter Text
Steve honestly had no idea how he’d managed to ride a freaking bike all the way to Eddie Munson’s place. It wasn’t all that far, but given the fact his stomach had just been gnawed on by a bunch of demobats, it was actually a pretty impressive feat.
Adrenaline really was one hell of a drug.
It wasn’t until they were standing in the living room, looking up into the ceiling gate at Dustin, Erica, Lucas, and Max that he began to feel the adrenaline ebb away.
As the knotted bed sheet dropped down, he felt relief. Pure and utter relief that they were about to escape the hell that was the Upside Down. What followed, however, was a heavy wave of pain and dizziness similar to what he had felt at Skull Rock.
Nancy, Robin, and Eddie were still looking up through the gateway in awe and elation. It wasn’t until Nancy felt a shift next to her that she turned. The smile immediately dropped from her face.
“Steve?”
He heard her, but it was like he was physically incapable of responding. His mouth stopped working as his vision clouded at the edges. He barely registered his back hitting something hard...a wall, a counter, or something...followed by a clattering around him.
Eddie turned just in time to see Steve back into a short bookshelf, causing it to tip and its contents to spill everywhere. His eyes were closed and he looked not even a second away from passing out.
“Hey, hey, hey, woah! Steve!” he rushed over and knelt down, looking him up and down, unsure of how to handle any of what was happening.
They needed medical supplies. That’s all he knew. And they weren’t going to get them in this shithole.
“Steve? Steve, hey,” Nancy said as she kneeled at his other side.
She put her hands on either side of his face and his eyes opened sluggishly. She was trying to get him to look at her but his eyes looked hazy and glazed over. He began to make a noise between a groan and an exhale, only for it to catch in his throat as his body gave a strong shudder.
The kids were arguing behind them from the other side, and Robin was desperately trying to calm them down. Seeing Steve in such a state undoubtedly sending them into a state of panic.
“ Bats? He got attacked by bats?”
“Like...like demobats or bats bats?”
“Why would he get attacked by regular old bats?"
“Rabies?"
“Do you not think before you talk?”
“Shit,” Nancy breathed, pressing the back of one hand to his forehead while the other remained on his cheek.
“What? W-what's wrong? What?” Eddie asked, voice edging on panic.
“He’s running a fever,” Nancy replied. “We need to get him out of here.”
“Erica, I swear I will suffocate you with one of Munson’s dirty pillows-” came Lucas’ voice.
“ Hey!” Eddie called out in offense.
“It’s okay, guys!” Robin called up through the gate. “It’s really okay, but can we please stop talking about rabies? Like, please?"
“ Okay? He didn’t look okay. He looked like he was about to die!” Erica snapped bluntly.
Robin closed her eyes and breathed deeply, trying to keep her own nervousness from her voice.
It wasn’t working.
“Once we get him up there...o-or down...whatever...he’ll be okay! Alright? Just-just hang tight!” Robin poorly reassured before stumbled over to Eddie, Nancy, and Steve. “Ooooookay, so what’s happening? What's the plan?”
“Same plan," Steve ground out as he started to sit up. "I’m-I’m okay...”
Eddie put a hand on his chest, “Dude, no offense, but you look like shit. Just slow down for a sec.”
“I’m with Munson on this,” Robin said. “You do not look good.”
“Gee, thanks,” Steve mumbled. “But in case you haven’t noticed, we’re still in the Upside Down. Can’t just take a breather here...”
“How are you supposed to...you need to climb, Steve,” Robin reminded him, panic and worry lacing her voice. “We need to figure out a different-"
“I rode a bike here,” Steve cut her off. “I think I can manage a little climbing. And besides, what choice do I have?”
Nancy bit her lip and nodded, “He’s right. We don’t have a choice.”
Steve gave her a tired yet grateful look, but her eyes were only filled with concern as they met his.
“Alright, let’s do this,” Steve said.
Eddie and Nancy held on to both of his arms as he stood shakily from the floor. Robin walked backward, ready to catch him if he fell forward.
Thankfully, Steve looked determined to get this over with. To get the hell out of there and back to their own world. He still looked woozy but his eyes no longer appeared disoriented and unfocused.
“Steve! Steve, are you okay?!” Dustin exclaimed as his friend came back into view.
“Never better,” Steve replied as casually as possible, looking up into four worried faces. “Nothing I’m not used to.”
“You’ve gotten the shit beat out of you by Jonathan, Billy, and some Russians, but I don’t recall them ever feasting on your flesh, you dumb dumb.”
Erica, Max, and Lucas looked at Dustin with disgust while Eddie looked at Steve in shock.
“Thank you for that walk down memory lane and lovely imagery, Dustin,” Steve said sarcastically.
“Alright, alright! Can we do this now, please?” Max spoke up suddenly. “You two can continue arguing when everyone is safe and sound back in our dimension. Yeah? Sound good?”
“Yeah, okay, yeah. Sorry,” Dustin nodded. “Test it out again, just to be sure!”
Robin pulled on the knotted sheets to confirm that their way out was indeed still taut and secure. Then the four looked at each other.
“Steve? You first,” Robin said.
“No, no, no. You and Nancy are going first.”
“Correct me if I’m wrong, Stevie Boy, but aren’t you the critically injured one?”
“I’m not critically anything,” he replied. “I’d feel a lot better getting you two out first. And besides I...need a minute.”
He was definitely playing on their sympathies by saying that, but as long as it got them out first...
He leaned a bit heavier against Eddie’s shoulder to sell it even more, other arm wrapped around his bandaged stomach.
The two girls caved.
Robin went first. She felt a little like a guinea pig because, after all, they didn’t even know for sure that this would work.
The world flipped and she felt her stomach do a somersault, not unlike the feeling of being on a rollercoaster. It was actually kind of fun.
She smiled as soon as her back met the stained mattress. She felt a little dizzy and disoriented, but it was easily dismissed knowing she was back in her own world.
Nancy grabbed the sheet and looked at Steve, still unsure.
“See you on the other side,” he said in encouragement.
She gave him a small, worried smile before she began climbing.
“You’re a liiiiiar,” Eddie sang under his breath.
“What?” Steve looked at him strangely. “You planning on trapping me down here or something?”
“Not about that,” Eddie met his eyes, smirk on his lips. “About needing a minute. That was a lie, Steve Harrington.”
“Oh. Well, yeah,” Steve replied simply, looking back up as Nancy landed on the mattress on the other side. “If it got them out first and safe then...who cares?”
Eddie hummed a small laugh, “Are you always like this?”
Steve furrowed his eyebrows, “Like what?”
“Do you always act so self-sacrificial? Or are you just trying to impress Wheeler?”
Steve snorted, “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re the one with demobat venom running through his bloodstream.”
That made Eddie’s smile fade as he looked at him with concern. All jovial teasing gone.
Steve noticed the change and turned his head to look at him. He swallowed thickly as he took note of the way Eddie’s jaw was clenched…and how soft his dark eyes had become.
Then he noticed how close their damn faces were.
“Hey! You two think you can continue flirting in this dimension?” Erica called out.
Steve gave a small cough and shifted away.
Eddie felt heat rise in his face. In that moment, he was actually thankful for the sinister darkness surrounding them.
“Okay...hop on.”
Eddie gave him an incredulous look, “What?”
Steve nodded at the rope, “Start climbing.”
“Oh no, no. You go first. You may have been able to trick those girls, but none of that’s working on me.”
Steve stared at him.
Eddie stared back, eyes hard and unrelenting on the matter.
Steve loosened his stance, “Fine.”
Eddie gave a curt nod, “That’s what I thought. You listen to Eddie-the-freak-Munson.”
Steve glared at him as he tested the rope with a couple tugs. Then he began climbing.
He tried his best to ignore the painful, deep tugging of his wounds…and really hoped he didn’t go crashing back down.
.
.
.
.
.