KAT

THERE WAS SO MUCH BLOOD. Someone up there really hated her.

But finally, after a million moments of watching Jonathan's knife slice through El's leg, unable to tear his eyes off the gore, that little pound of monster flesh was out of her system and trampled underneath Hopper's foot.

"Oh, hey, sweetie," Joyce came over to Kat, placing both hands on her face. "How are you?"

"Um-" Kat stammered, blinking a few times as Joyce fully slid over her vision of El's mangled injury. She hesitated at the sudden appearance of warm chestnut eyes and wrinkled but lively skin. "I'm good, thanks,"

"Ooh. I don't think so," Joyce said, making a wincing expression. "You look pretty shell-shocked. Steve!"

Steve, who was currently talking with the others about their master plan in not-so-hushed tones, glanced up, back down, before hesitantly padding towards the two. His hair was messy, back in its natural slightly-wavy texture that he hid every day with a blowdryer and a brush. The black eye bloomed over his cheekbone, covered with white splotches of the gel he'd messily smeared over it. He walked with a bit of a limp, since he'd heavily bruised the side of his left ankle during the ride in the Russians' cart. 

He was still the most beautiful boy Kathryn ever saw.

"Hey, Mizus Byers," Steve said, a syllable being punctuated by him dragging a hand over his mouth. "What's up?"

"Steve, be a dear and get Kat a hot drink, okay?" Joyce said, patting Steve on the back with one hand patting Kat's cheek with the other.

"Oh. Sure," Steve said, a small, dopey grin taking over his face.

"Wait- no, I need to stay for the plan," Kat said confusedly, pointing at the others, huddled together as they argued over the plan to infliltrate the underground base. El was still on the ground, making little noises of pain as Hopper pressed a wet paper towel to her leg.

"Er- you don't, actually," Steve cut in, mussing his hair. "We already decided most of the plan for the Russians. Sorry,"

"Oh, okay," Kat frowned, unable to drag her gaze away from the gore of El's wound. 

"C'mon, I could use a drink too," Steve said, placing a calloused hand on her shoulder as Mrs. Byers walked back to the others. Kat's hand instinctively brushed his, and she could feel Steve flash her a smile. 

They walked slowly, minding both of their sore joints as the left the fountain area. 

"Are you still buzzed at all?" Kat murmured to him, feeling the tips of her hair brush against his hand on her shoulder.

"No," Steve snorted. "Threw it all up. It's weird how you never got high,"

"Yeah, I thought so too," Kat rubbed her lip thoughtfully. "'cause they injected me with the same stuff. But I just got tired,"

"Hey, um-" Steve stopped in his tracks and came in front of her, looking her dead in the eyes. His brown eyes rounded in concern and awkwardness. "Er- when I was...off my rocker, kinda. I only remember 'bout a half of what I said or did. When- when I was with you, did I do anything?"

"Uh, did you do anything? You were blabbing a lot and when we took you back-"

"-No," Steve squeezed his eyes uncomfortably before looking upon her again. "I meant- did I do anything...to you? Did I- touch you weird, at all, anywhere?"

"Oh. Um-" Kat's mind flashed back to the elevator, where his lips were on hers and he was clutching desperately at her as if she would vanish in his arms. "No. Not really,"

"Great," Steve then grinned, relieved as both his shoulders sank a bit. "Let's go to Dunks',"

The Dunkin' Donuts in Starcourt Mall was a bit away from the rest of the food court, and the door to the back kitchen opened with a hard kick from Steve. 

"Should we be breaking in?" Kat said doubtfully, as Steve flicked on the lights. The kitchen tiles were all orange, pink, and brown, colors that clashed horribly together. Steel fridges and counters lined the small kitchen as Steve walked towards the fridge where the hot chocolate was kept in jugs.

"Really? We just escaped evil Russians in America and now you don't wanna get a free drink?" Steve paused, one hand on a jug of milky hot cocoa and the other on the fridge door.

Kat rolled her eyes. "Fine. I can pour it,"

"Nah-uh. Mrs. Byers said I'd get you a drink," Steve said with a small grin, his eyes twinkling. 

"And now you're being a gentleman?" Kat teased, crossing her arms as Steve poured two helpings into ceramic mugs and setting them both in the microwave.

"You know it," Steve winked awfully, before he beckoned Kat to come closer and watch the mugs spin around in the yellow microwave lighting. Kat could almost feel sparks come off of Steve when she was this close to him. Or maybe they were from herself. She thought back to the kiss. They really hadn't had proper time to enjoy it, think things through. Especially since they were tortured right after. The microwave beeped, and Kat's hand brushed Steve's as they both reached to open the door, before Steve swatted her hand away and took both mugs. 

He backed up to the stainless steel prep table behind the microwave, swinging himself up to sit over the edge as he put both mugs in one hand, using the other to give a few pats to the empty space next to him. Kat smiled, before sitting next to him. 

"Your bev, milady," Steve said cheesily, handing her the bigger mug. 

"Thank you, good ser," Kat said, blowing on the surface of her hot cocoa and watching the ripples scatter across the surface.

They sat in silence for a while, both taking turns sipping at their drinks at their own pace. Steve's legs are swinging gently back and forth, and Kat has taken to observing him. Kat's body was sore from the punches, but the heat of the hot cocoa was making her feel better. Its warmth spread all the way down her fingers and toes, and she could tell Steve was enjoying it too. 

"So. Are you ready for one more fight of our lives?" Kat murmured to him.

"Fight, really?" Steve's eyebrows pinched. "We're just going to be directing the adults from Dustin's hill,"

"Mm, I dunno about that," Kat said, and something stirred in her stomach. Her hands twitched and her hot cocoa shook in its mug as a chill ran down her spine. It was the same feeling she felt when Billy hit her, when she was dazed at Scoops a few days ago. "I think there's going to be more of a struggle,"

"Oh. Well, hopefully not, but I mean," Steve said uncomfortably. "You've never been wrong about this stuff before,"

Kat hummed, thrumming her fingers against her thigh nervously. 

"Hey," Steve said gently, and his larger hand was then covering her gloved hand. Kat could see all the little nicks and cuts he got from the scuffle, mostly scabbed over by now. "We'll be okay,"

"I know," Kat had to blink a few times.

His hand was so, so warm against hers. She could even feel it through the thin leathery material of her glove.

"The Russians didn't take this?" Steve asked, whisking his thumb over the glove's surface in one slight motion.

"I guess not," Kat murmured. "But I think they might've taken it off and put it back on,"

"May I?" Steve said, and Kat nodded, unsure what he was about to do. And he took her one hand in both of his own, gently tugging each finger out of its respective glove hole bit by bit. He pried the glove off her hand, taking her uncovered hand and observing it. All of Kat's childhood scrapes would dry paler and silverier, but the closed slash over her hand dried into a bruise-like purple. Lucas and theorized it may have been because it was a supernaturally inflincted wound. That disturbed her.

He held her hand up to the dim kitchen lighting, and as she watched, tugged it upwards and planted a small kiss on her knuckles. Kat looked away, a flush forming on her neck.

"Don't be embarrassed," Steve said, eyes rounded.

"I'm not-" Kat said a little defensively.

"I think it's cool. Like an eldritch, battle scar. It's sick," Steve said honestly, before assenting to her wishes and putting the glove back on.

"Thanks, I guess," Kat mumbled, before a call of 'Steve, Kat! Guys, we're meeting up!' echoed throughout the mall, and she sighed before sliding off the counter.

"Oh, man, now this!" Steve opened his arms dramatically. "This is what I'm talking about,"

Kat put her hands on her hips as she walked behind him in a significantly better mood. The blue car would've once been beautiful, except it was covered by multiple recent nicks and scratches. Her heart leaped at their new ride.

"Toddfather?" the comment was said in disgust, indicating at the back of the car.

"Oh, screw Todd, Steve's her daddy now," Steve hollered, about to leap into the driver's seat.

"No! No way," Kat cut in, scrambling in front of Steve. "Can I drive? Please?"

Kat flashed him a gorgeous smile, batting her lashes once. Steve hesitated, arms dropping. "But-"

"Thanks!" Kat said, and in a moment of spontaneity (she really needed some self-reflection), she gave him a quick peck on the cheek and skedaddled to the front seat.

The kids all piled in, Robin miming throwing up. Robin also stole the passengers' seat from Steve, evicting him to the back, where he shoved Dustin to not be in the middle seat. "Where are we going?"

"Weathertop," Dustin said crisply.

"And where's that?" Kat asked, starting the car and feeling a satisfying rumble.

"Uh, kind of hard to explain. I'll guide you," Dustin said, frowning.

"Alrighty," Kat said, pulling out of the mall's driveway.

The streetlamps around Hawkins became less and less frequent as they sped out of the mall to wherever they were going. Toddfather had exceptionally comfortable leather seats, and Kat felt herself genuinely enjoying the ride despite knowing the vehicle had been stolen.

"So are you guys...y'know. Doing the tango now?" Robin asked, pointing finger guns between her and Steve. They'd been on the road for a few minutes.

"Dude," Steve said.

"What tango?" Dustin interrupted, confused as Kat groaned inwardly.

"Ugh, what an idiot," Erica rolled her eyes and rested her head against her elbow, leaning against the door. 

"What? It's an innocent question!" Dustin exclaimed, offended as he turned on Erica. Robin snorted. Kat's face burned, rather wishing she could be in the backseat right now and not have to deal with Steve right in view of the car mirror.

"Fine. She means, are they boyfriend-and-girlfriend," Erica enunciates slowly, as if Dustin wasn't older than her.

"Oh. Wait, what? Are you guys together?" Dustin said in a burst of energy, frantically glancing between Kat and Steve.

"Dude," Kat groaned. "Can we maybe concentrate on the plan right now? Since we all could be dead by tomorrow?"

"Yeah," Steve said emphatically, accidentally making eye contact with Kat through the rearview mirror. Kat flashed him a small smile, not wanting things to be awkward. He returned it.

"Fine," Robin raised her hands. "But don't think you're out of this one, Miss Ladybird,"

"Hey! Only I get to call her that," Steve grumbled.

"-Make a left turn," Dustin said sharply and suddenly, making Kat lurch her eyes back on the road.

"What?"

"Left turn. Right now!" 

"Okay, okay, jeez," Kat said, annoyed as she pulled the car left. "Dustin, there's no grass,"

"Yeah, just keep going," Dustin said, looking down at his map. Kat glanced at Robin in concern.

"We're gonna ruin the tires," Steve complained to Dustin.

"I think impending death is more important than that," Robin replied. "Kathryn, go faster,"

Kat pressed on the gas pedal, and the car began accelerating. "Erm- Dustin, we're not gonna make it. Maybe another forty feet,"

Kat's back slammed into the seat as the car angled up. "Just keep going, keep going," was the reply, and Kat rolled her eyes in annoyance.

Finally, finally, after having to get out of the car, get Dustin's equipment, and make a two-hundred feet hike, the Scoops Troop finally got situated on Weathertop.

Kat glanced around them all. Dustin was crouched next to his wiring, slapping Robin's hands away as she tried to help. Steve and Erica stood together, watching and judging. Kat's chest twisted in nervousness. God, I hope we survive this.