↣ 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘖𝘧 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘓𝘢𝘬𝘦

There it lay, Lovers Lake.  They had reached Lovers Lake. Bailey trailed following Max as though he were her protector.  Ensuring her well-being. Steve stood there with his hands on his hips, gazing out at the lake.

"There's a gate in lover's lake?" Max inquired, shaking her head slightly; all other entrances to the lab and locations where the Russians were conducting tests have been sealed.  No discoveries were ever made in a lake.

"Wasn't Will's fabricated corpse discovered in a lake?" Bailey remarked while surveying the others.

"Only one way to find out." Steve addressed Bailey from behind, resting a hand on his waist to offer little comfort.  They were poised to enter a vast lake with a gate at its bottom.  Bailey experienced a modicum of apprehension regarding the situation.

Upon removing the covering from the boat, they observed that only a few individuals could enter it.  The elders expressed tentative agreement to participate. Steve and Eddie both nudged it gently into the water to facilitate their entry and maneuvering.

Robin entered first, laying both hands on Steve and Eddie's heads as she boarded the boat. "Yeah, I'm just gonna do that. Thank you."

Eddie entered the boat and extended his hand, which Nancy grasped as she ascended into the vessel.

Steve rose and faced Bailey, extending his hand, which Bailey accepted with a smile.  He entered the boat as Steve bestowed a brief kiss onto his hand.

Eddie abruptly halted Dustin as he tried to get in. "Hey, hey, hey, you trying to sink us? This thing holds three people tops, okay?"

"It's better this way, okay? You guys stay here with Max."

"Keep an eye out for trouble."

"You keep an eye out." Dustin derided." It's my goddamn theory."

"You heard Nance." Robin warned.

"Who put her in charge." Dustin inquired.

"I did." Robin reacted with pride.

"Compass."

Steve propelled the boat away and then boarded it, as it glided slowly over the sea.  The moonlight was the sole illumination they have on the lake.

"Bedtime at nine, kiddos." Robin shouted at them, her face beaming as she gestured with a wave.  They all merely glowered at her. "Miss you already!"

They proceeded towards the lake, observing the compass as they advanced.  Bailey was eager to immerse his hand in the water; yet, his uncertainty regarding the lake's inhabitants deterred him from doing so.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down. Slow down, guys." Nancy demanded.

"Guys, what's going on?" Dustin's voice inquired via the walkie-talkie. "Come on, talk to me."

Robin picked up the device. "Uh, Dustin, your compass has gone from wonky to wonky with a capital."

The compass began to malfunction.  Steve abruptly stood up and commenced removing his shoes. Bailey directed his attention towards him.

"Steve, what are you doing?" Nancy inquired.

"Somebody's gotta go down and check this out." Steve addressed as he pivoted towards them. "Unless one of you three can top
being a Hawkins High swim co-captain and a certified lifeguard for three years, then...it's gotta be me. No complaints, all right?"

"Hey, I'm not complaining." Eddie replied with a shake of his head. "I do not wanna go down there."

"Steve, you may injure yourself or a something  could go wrong."  Bailey intervenes in an attempt to prevent Steve from proceeding.

"I will be okay."  He murmured to him, transferring his yellow jacket onto Bailey's hands.  He bestowed a gentle kiss over his cheek.

"Hey." Eddie says grabbing Steve's attention. "Good luck."

Steve plunged into the water while Bailey clutched the yellow jacket in anticipation.  Attempting to alleviate his concerns.

"Where we at, Wheeler?" Robin inquired, gazing at Nancy, who was focused.

"Closing in on a minute."

"Okay."

"What is he doing? He ought to be up by now."  Bailey expressed his escalating concerns.

The water abruptly splashed, prompting Steve to hasten towards the boat, while everyone stepped away. "I found it." Steve gasped, gripping onto the boat tightly. " I found it. Yeah. I found it."

Robin grabbed the walkie-talkie as she started to inform the others. "Dustin, you are a goddamn Einstein. Steve found the gate."

"It's pretty wild. It's more a snack-size gate than the mama gate, but still, it's pretty damn big." Steve began to explain.  He attempted to elevate himself before being swiftly submerged in the water.

"Steve!"  Bailey shouted, he abruptly ascended before being forcibly restrained once more.  Bailey rose and immediately leaped in after him.  He was determined not to lose Steve.  Neither now nor ever．

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𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿'𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀

- Bailey going after Steve, Anyone else just find it odd how Nancy and Steve were just trying to fix something that's not right or even meant to be.

To all the people that have supported me closely- Tags: @norasnetflix @wrensofvizla @KleeAlise11 @kiesluverr

𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵e