↣ 𝘐𝘴 𝘐𝘵 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘐𝘵

"The Mind Flayer, it built this monster in Hawkins,to stop El, to kill her and pave a way into our world." Mike elucidated while surveying the group, while Bailey massaged his temple in an attempt to alleviate the intensifying headache.

"And it almost did, that was just one tiny piece of it." Nancy was inserted when Hopper glanced at her.

"How big is this thing?" Hopper redirected his focus towards Nancy.

"It's big." Jonathan murmured. "Thirty Feet, at least."

"It sorta destroyed your cabin." Lucas glanced at Hopper with a sense of shame.

"Okay, so, just to be clear, this...this big fleshy spider thing that hurt El, it's some kind of gigantic... weapon?" Steve remarked from alongside Bailey and Max, both of whom turned to him as he spoke. "But instead of, like, screws and metal, the Mind Flayer made its weapon...with melted people."

"Yes, exactly." Nancy nodded.

"I... Yeah, I'm just making sure." Steve frowned slightly. Bailey nudged him making him slightly smile.

"Are we sure this thing is still out there, still alive?" Joyce questioned as she looked around the group.

The odor was pervasive, enveloping them. They needed to devise a plan before everything, including themselves, deteriorated. A loud noise emanated from the door, prompting everyone to turn and observe the man gesturing with a stack of papers. He was unaware of the individual's identity, however their volume was remarkable.

Steve made eye contact and inclined his head towards one of the diminutive food stalls. He followed him discreetly as everyone else attended to their own activities. Steve began to search through the cupboards until he located what he sought. He abruptly turned to confront Bailey, visibly anxious. "Could you help clean my face slightly?" He inquired as he placed the first aid kit down.

Bailey acknowledged him with a nod, as Steve ascended onto the counter, and Bailey positioned himself slightly between Steve's legs, maintaining a respectful distance. He retrieved many items from the first aid bag. He faced Steve again and began to cleanse the blood from his cheek.

Bailey gently bit his lower lip while focusing on cleansing the dried blood from Steve's face. The boy before him was merely gazing at him. "Bailey?" Steve asked softly.

He merely hummed in response, encouraging Steve to proceed. "May I hold you?" he said. Upon observing Steve, the boy ceased his actions. This marked the inaugural instance of their eye contact.

"Yes, you may if you wish, but it is not obligatory." Bailey spoke incoherently until Steve took the boy's free hand and delicately placed it on his waist, where Steve's hand rested.

"Provided I have your consent, this hand will remain here and exclusively here." Steve whispered comments that nearly caused Bailey to release the fabric he was grasping. He instantly flushed crimson and averted his gaze.

Bailey felt a hand beneath his chin pull his face back toward Steve. Between the two, it was quiet; Bailey leaned forward and returned to wash his face as Steve merely watched him.

Steve had his plan; now was the moment he would tell the boy. "Bailey I need to." But a sharp cry cut off both of them.

"We have a plan, Steve. Bailey let's go." Dustin cried out, and Bailey quickly got off Steve. Steve grumbled inside in displeasure at Dustin.

"Oh, man, now this... this is what I'm talking about!" Upon opening the doors to the parking lot, a smile had progressively expanded on his face upon sighting the car.

"Toddfather?"

"Oh, screw Todd,"Steve chuckled. As he approached the driver's seat, he reverently traced his hand along the automobile. "Steve's her daddy now." Upon entering the front seat, he experienced an unparalleled level of comfort in this vehicle.

"Did you just talk to yourself in the third person?" Robin looked at him in disgust.

Bailey gazed at him in bewilderment; he could not fathom that this was the individual to whom he felt an attraction. He enters the car and secures his seatbelt as snugly as possible.

"Did you just talk about yourself in the third person?" Robin questioned.

"Did he just call himself daddy?" Erica asked in disgust.

"All right, where are we going?" Steve inquired as he ignored the questions.

"Weathertop" Dustin answered.

"Weather..what." Steve turned to Dustin confused.

"Just drive!"

𐬽𐬼𐬽

Bailey reclined his head against the seat, overwhelmed with fatigue; he had not seen his parents for several days, and everything was weighing heavily on his mind. He glanced at Steve, who was driving quietly although becoming increasingly impatient.

"Jesus, how far is this place, man?" Steve asked with annoyance in his tone.

"Relax, we're almost there." Dustin exclaimed as he shouted over the music.

"Suzie must be pretty special, huh?" Robin stated that Bailey glanced at Steve, inquiring about Suzie's identity, but he only shook his head. "I mean, if you built this thing and lugged it all the way to the middle of nowhere just to talk to her?"

"I mean, nobody's scientifically perfect, but Suzie's about as close to being perfect as any human could possibly be." Dustin's remarks regarding Suzie evoked a sense of warmth in Bailey; his demeanor was notably affectionate.

"She sound made-up to me." Erica remarked while gazing at Steve. "She sound made-up to you?"

Steve's silence resulted in an abrupt stillness within the vehicle. "Why are you hesitating, Steve?" Dustin questioned.

"I'm... I'm... I'm not! I'm not!" Steve stumbles at his words. " I think she sounds real....You know, totally, absolutely real."

"Left. Turn left."

"There's not a road here." Steve yelled.

''Turn left now!'' Dustin shouted. Steve exhaled in exasperation as he abruptly ascended the mountain. Bailey grasped tightly as Steve collided with a fence directly while driving. convincing him to genuinely believe they were destined to perish.

''We're not gonna make it!'' Robin articulated with enthusiasm. Steve persisted, advancing with increasing confidence as the automobile progressed, only for it to sputter and cease movement entirely. "Guess the Toddfather has its limitations.''

Dustin guided them to the summit of the mountain. Bailey observed everything regarding Hawkins while they manipulated the radio. It was slowly degrading even as it improved each year. At the beginning of the year, the mall was radiant and cheerful. It is now concealed with dark security.

"𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘥 𝘌𝘢𝘨𝘭𝘦, 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺? 𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘥 𝘌𝘢𝘨𝘭𝘦, 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘵, 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘚𝘤𝘰𝘰𝘱𝘴 𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘱, 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺?" Bailey oriented himself towards them while Dustin communicated via the radio.

"𝘠𝘦𝘴, 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺." Murray retorted.

"𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯? " Dustin asked.

''𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘥 𝘌𝘢𝘨𝘭𝘦.'' he muttered, growing increasingly irate.

"𝘊𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵. 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦, 𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘥 𝘌𝘢𝘨𝘭𝘦. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 20?" Dustin grinned.

"It is rather beautiful here." Bailey remarked while surveying the quaint village.

"It is." Steve responded, yet unbeknownst to Bailey, he was not observing the town. Steve was gazing directly at Bailey.

Steve recognized the chance and approached Bailey, while Robin observed the situation and promptly averted her gaze. A smile blossoming across her face. "Bailey?" Bailey pivoted to confront Steve. Bailey gazed up at Steve, their bodies positioned closely, rendering him speechless; her brown eyes captivated him, revealing everything he desired, all of which stood before him.

"Yes." Bailey remarked with a faint smile, while Steve, feeling anxious, grasped Bailey's hands and gently caressed them.

"I wished to tell you..." Steve momentarily diverted his attention before observing the malfunctioning of the Star Court Mall. His anxieties quickly dissipated. Bailey observed his expression before to turning to ascertain the object of his gaze.

Dustin attempted to communicate with others as they hurried to the radio, but only hissing sounds emanated from it while he repeatedly spoke. Suddenly, a monstrous roar erupted from the radio.

"Let's go." Steve, seizing Bailey's hands, asserted that their emotions could be postponed till later as he pulled him down the slope, with Robin trailing closely after.

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𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿'𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀

- Come on Steve..tell him.

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

𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵e