𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓 : 6.3k

☆゜·。。·゜゜·。。·゜★

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐄𝐃 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐑 did nothing to soothe Owen's nerves. All she could hear was her heartbeat in her ears, thrumming so loud that she could barely focus on anything else. Nancy was the first to speak once she realized that no one else had the guts to.

    "We got separated from them at the mall."

    Owen's breath hitched. "What do you mean?"

    "They said they were going to take, uh... Frank's car to Murray's. He parked closer to a different exit, apparently. The Mind Flayer dropped in right after we split up," Nancy explained, speaking as calmly as possible. "That was the last time we saw them."

    Owen slowly turned back around in her nonexistent seat. She wanted to scream and shout at all of them, demand to know why they even let them out of their sight. In her mind, it should've been them in this cramped trunk instead of her! They could have made it work, the four of them squeezed into the tiny space together. It had to have been better than all of the dreadful demises Owen's traitorous mind was cooking up.

    But she swallowed down her anger, aware that this wasn't the time to pick a fight. Jodi, Frank, and her brothers weren't anyone else's responsibility. Owen knew this, she really did. But it still didn't make the situation any easier.

    It was Steve's turn to place a comforting hand on her knee then. The warmth of his calloused palm was enough to temporarily snap her out of the hopeless spiral she found herself in. "I'm sure they're okay, Owen," he murmured. "If it makes you feel any better, we can be sure that they're not facing the Mind Slayer one-on-one. And Billy's out cold. You made sure of that." He pointed through the back glass as the monster trailing just a few paces behind them and although it was terrifying, Owen couldn't repress the tired chuckle that left her lips.

She didn't say it, but the sentiment actually did make her feel better. Minutely.

"It's Mind Flayer, Steve," she gently reminded him.

    "Oh, sorry. My bad," he scoffed, teasingly. "Wouldn't want to offend the Mind Flayer."

    "I mean, personally... I wouldn't want to. Just look at that thing."

    Shards of glass were lodged into the monster's back, catching moonlight as its talons' thunderous footsteps shook the car. Its legs bent and contorted unnaturally just to move forward, like it was having to overcompensate for its immeasurable size. It was a hideous display to watch, but Owen couldn't bring herself to look away.

    Suddenly, the radio in her hands crackled to life. A voice that she didn't recognize was the first to filter through the speaker. "Dusty-bun, do you copy?"

    And then a voice that was unmistakably Dustin's replied, "I copy, Suzie-poo. It sounds much better now, thanks."

    "Suzie," Owen and Steve said in unison. Owen's eyes lit up as they met Steve's, definitive proof of Dustin's dreamy camp girlfriend causing their jaws to hang open. "She's actually real. Like, totally, absolutely real," Steve gawped, tugging the radio closer. A wide, toothy smile tore across Owen's face as Steve cradled the walkie talkie between them, holding it to his ear like a conch shell just to listen in on the lovebirds' conversation. 

    "Okay, so listen... Do you know Planck's constant?" Dustin asked.

    "Do you know the Earth orbits the Sun?"

The corner of Owen's lips lifted in an amused smirk. Dustin and Suzie had only spoken two sentences to one another and she could already tell that they were made for each other. A dorky question answered with smug, but teasing, reply? C'mon... a match made in Heaven.

"So, I know it starts with two sixes, and then a... W-What is it?"

"Okay, let me just be clear on this. I haven't heard from you in a week and now you want a mathematical equation that you should know so you can... save the world?"

"Suzie-poo, I promise, I will make it up to you as soon as possible."

Suzie's angelic voice was surprisingly devious when she spoke again. "You can make it up to me now."

In fact, it even seemed to catch Dustin off-guard. "What?"

"I want to hear it."

"Not right now," Dustin practically begged.

"Yes! Now, Dusty-bun."

"Suzie-poo, this is urgent."

"Yes, yes, you're saving the world," Suzie replied, impatiently. "I heard you the first time, but Ged is also saving Earthsea and he's about to confront the shadow. So, this is Suzie, signing off."

"Wait, wait, wait! Okay! Okay."

Owen's eyes nervously flickered up to meet Steve's. God, he was so close it made her stomach drop. Yet, she was far too perplexed by Dustin and Suzie's conversation to ruminate on the way Steve's proximity was making her feel. Thankfully, Dustin's next move was so unexpected that she didn't have any choice but to focus on him instead.

Her eyes widened as Dustin began to sing the first few lines of that song from The Neverending Story. Steve's brows furrowed, confused about why they were being forced to listen to Dustin's acapella rendition of the song in the first place. "What the hell is going on?" Owen mouthed, in total disbelief.

Speechless for the first time in a very long time, all Steve could muster was an astounded shrug. Owen stared forlornly out the window, watching the Mind Flayer get increasingly close as the song built to its climax. She couldn't have felt more detached from reality than she did at that moment. If you would have told her a month ago that she would be in the trunk of a station wagon, dressed in a pirate costume and getting chased by a monster from another dimension, all while listening to a couple of lovesick teens serenade each other... She wouldn't have even laughed. She would have been seriously worried for your sanity.

When the song eventually trailed off, the entire car let out a collective sigh of relief. Then, true to her word, Suzie held up her end of the bargain. "Planck's constant is 6.62607004," she said, rattling off the obscure number like it was her home phone number.

"You just saved the world," Dustin told her with wonder wrapped around each syllable.

"Gosh, I miss you, Dusty-bun."

Her words were so innocent, so genuine, that it caused a lump to climb into Owen's throat. Suzie couldn't care less about saving the world. All she wanted was to talk to Dustin. That was all she wanted this whole time. It was all so devastatingly sweet.

"Are you about to cry?" Steve asked gently, his voice barely above a whisper. Owen hadn't noticed the tears forming in her eyes, too preoccupied with a million other things to realize how much this sappy conversation was getting to her.

Although there wasn't an ounce of judgment in his voice, she was quick to wipe her eyes and force out a laugh. "No. Oh my god, no. I was just thinking about, um... y'know... everything," Owen lied. This horrible lie was more than enough to set off Steve's bullshit detector, but he knew better than to call her on it. Instead, he just nodded like he knew exactly what she meant and tried to give her a moment to collect herself.

A strange lack of movement outside of the window saved Owen from any further explanation. The Mind Flayer had paused right in the middle of the road, making Owen frown. "Hey, do you think that's normal?" she asked Steve, her voice tinged with concern. When the monster abruptly turned and started back in the opposite direction, it was enough for Steve to get worried, too.

"It's turning around," he informed the group.

Nancy whipped around in her seat. "What?"

"It's turning around!" he repeated, loudly.

"Maybe we wore it out," Lucas offered, optimistically.

Jonathan shook his head. "I don't think so," he said. "Everyone, hold on!"

Against all odds, Jonathan turned the ol' station wagon on a dime. Sure, it sent everyone in the car flying against each other or the nearest window, but he did it. The tables had literally turned, giving them no choice but to follow the Mind Flayer back towards the mall. The energy shift in the car was enough to make Owen's heart feel like it was going to explode out of her chest. In a split second, they had gone from the lighthearted, musical reunion of Dustin and Suzie to... this. Owen couldn't shake the feeling that they were marching into battle — a battle she felt totally unprepared for.

☆゜·。。·゜゜·。。·゜★

    Every door of the station wagon swung open the moment Jonathan came to a stop in the Starcourt parking lot. A booming roar could be heard from within the mall, causing everyone to rush towards the entrance.

    "Wait! Wait!" Owen shouted, rounding the back of the car. "We've gotta have a plan, 'cause I'm not sure if we're gonna be able to take this thing down with just a couple of guns and copious amounts of blind confidence."

    "You are gonna do something with those superpowers of yours, right?" Nancy asked, her eyebrows raised in uncertainty.

    "Well, yeah," Owen said with a nervous chuckle. "But I'm not as practiced as El. I can't promise what'll happen when we get in there."

    "I think I have an idea." Lucas pulled his backpack around to the front and unzipped it, revealing a colorful collection of fireworks tucked within its confines. "How much you wanna bet the Mind Flayer hates fire just as much as the Demogorgon and those Demodogs?"

    It was a risk they had to take. Turns out, he had a more extensive stash in the car, scattered across the floorboards. The entire group took armfuls of the ammunition and bolted inside.

    The mall had turned into a wind tunnel in their absence, cool night air billowing through the corridors from all the new holes in the structure. Every light flashed and flickered as they followed the guttural screeches echoing from the food court. It wasn't hard to track down the Mind Flayer and from the looks of it, they found it just in time.

The monster loomed over Eleven as she laid weakly across the shattered tile floors. Billy was standing in between her and the nearest exit, his clothes scorched and stained with blood. How he had survived that car crash was beyond Owen, but that was the least of her worries right then. The Mind Flayer's mouth opened, baring all of those razor sharp teeth and allowing a thick tentacle to emerge from within its throat. It slithered closer to El, menacingly–

"Flay this, you ugly piece of shit!"

A multi-colored burst of sparks slammed against the Mind Flayer's back, sending it reeling and wailing in pain. From over Owen's shoulder, another firework was thrown directly into the monster's open mouth as it roared in pain. The explosion had it stumbling backwards and away from El, causing Owen's eyes to widen in amazement.

Holy shit.

Lucas's plan was actually working.

Borrowing Jonathan's lighter, Owen lit one of the many fireworks and sent it soaring over the railing. It whirled through the air and erupted against the monster's shoulder with a hot pink blast of light. Soon, the mall was filled with a display of glittery, kaleidoscopic bombs, all landing one after another. It was almost pretty, if not for the wretched stench of burning flesh.

"Sit on this, motherfucker!"

A voice from the lower floor managed to catch Owen's attention amidst all of the chaos. Through the flashes of light and heavy clouds of smoke, she could make out the shape of four people standing right in front of the Scoops Ahoy. A burning, cylindrical firework rolled beneath the Mind Flayer and exploded against its underbelly, giving it no protection from the attacks on any front. A particularly harsh swing of the monster's head cleared the smoke momentarily, granting Owen just enough time to make out the faces of her brothers and their two friends. Somehow, some way, they had their own stash of fireworks on the lower floor and they were hurling them at the Mind Flayer's feet.

Owen felt her eyes well up with tears — happy tears —once she had the confirmation that they were actually alright. She was going to beat the shit out of them later for ever thinking that splitting up the group was a good idea, but for the time being, killing the latest monster to ravage Hawkins was her number one priority.

When she looked back over to check on El, Owen noticed that Billy had fallen to his hands and knees. He was writhing and screaming, his head thrown back in pain. Dustin's words from the year prior echoed in Owen's mind: hive mind. All of this shit from the Upside Down was connected, and at the moment, this included Billy. So, everything that the Mind Flayer was feeling, he was feeling, too.

Owen watched from the balcony as El tried to take advantage of his distraction and crawl away, only for Billy's hand to dart out and grab her by the ankle. He forced himself to his feet and started to drag her back towards the Mind Flayer, swaying unsteadily as El clawed against the floor in an attempt to get away.

With a desperate desire to help her, Owen's open palm shot outward, sending a boom of seismic energy right below Billy's boot-clad feet. The shock of it sent him tumbling backwards and forced him to release his grip. But his recovery was surprisingly fast. He used his newfound position to roll over on top of El, pinning her to the ground and repeatedly bashing her head against the tiles.

"We're almost out!" Will yelled from beside the dwindling pile of fireworks.

"I know!" Lucas shouted in response. "Owen, you've gotta do something!"

Owen's eyes wildly snapped around the food court, trying to find some way to help. "O-Okay!" she nodded, swallowing thickly. She could hear the explosions slowing down, Steve yelling into the walkie talkie, the Mind Flayer's screeches of agony... all of it combined made it impossible to even think.

"Now, Owen!" Nancy cried out.

Without another thought, both of Owen's hands shot out in front of her, her eyes squeezed shut as the ground beneath the monster's feet tore open. She screamed ferociously through the exertion of power, feeling nothing but the immense pressure bearing down on her chest and mind. The entire mall shook and swayed as the group grasped onto anything they could reach, trying to steady themselves. Glass storefronts shattered as they twisted in frames and dust sifted down from cracks in the ceiling, all while the Mind Flayer fought against the caving floor below, desperately trying and failing to paw upwards against the soil.

In a final attempt to accomplish its mission before being swallowed up by the Earth, the Mind Flayer's fanged tentacle shot out of its mouth towards El, but Billy had placed himself right in between the attack, single-handedly holding the beast back. Owen was trying as hard as she could to remain focused, to keep drilling an even deeper hole to fully encase the Mind Flayer.

But she was only human.

She could feel her energy dwindling, causing her to grow weaker by the second. She gritted her teeth as her head began to ache, an excruciating protest against the level of strain she was putting it through. Her breathing had become ragged, blown out only as sporadic, wheezing puffs. Dark smears of blood rolled down her upper lip with a couple of stray droplets falling and staining the floor below. The shakiness in her legs came last, starting out as pins and needles before morphing into full-on numbness from her hips down to her ankles.

The earthquake ceased only once Owen fell to her knees, sharp pain blossoming beneath the skin and bringing feeling back with it. Of course, her body instinctively caught itself before her face hit the floor, shooting her open palms out just in time. Her throat burned, feeling raw as she gasped for breath, fighting against the throbbing of her ribs. Owen's bleary eyes looked up through the slats in the railing, watching helplessly as the Mind Flayer momentarily regained the upper hand.

Those sharp, unyielding tentacles shot out from every angle, stabbing into Billy's torso and draining the life out of him. An inky substance bubbled out of his throat, leaking down his neck and mingling with the blood that had soaked his white shirt. The last tentacle unfurled and punctured right through the center of Billy's chest, effectively putting an end to his tortured screams. He slumped into a heap of limp limbs as blood pooled around his lifeless body. 

As it seemed she did with all tragedies and atrocities, Owen couldn't force herself to look away from Billy. It felt surreal to see him like this: so powerless, so defeated. After all the fighting he had done in his life, it was finally over. But Owen couldn't bring herself to grieve over this. No, her eyes were dry. Her mind hadn't been infiltrated by remorse. Because this was how it was always going to end for him, wasn't it? If not a monster, then someone bigger, someone tougher, someone angrier. He had to have known that.

Suddenly, the Mind Flayer began to thrash within its pit. Its legs swung, crashing through pillars and slamming against the upper floor. Then, with an agonizing groan, it fell forward and collapsed against the edge of the chasm.

And then all was still.

The group held a collective breath, afraid that one wrong move could bring their world crashing down again. Owen peered down, finally assessing the damage she had caused. The first floor had almost been totally obliterated. Debris littered the area, with anything from shattered planters to ceiling beams laying amongst the rubble. Flames burgeoned around the monster's carcass, undoubtedly born from the sparks of all the fireworks. The silence made Owen's ears ring as she looked out over the catastrophic scene, only able to hear Max's muffled cries as she crumpled into Eleven's arms.

Steve was at Owen's side before she even knew he was there. He murmured something about getting her out of there as he helped her to her feet. She swayed precariously once she was upright, but easily allowed herself to lean against Steve's steady frame. His arm wound around her waist, his touch gentle against her aching ribs.

"Still got your sea legs, Captain?" he teased with the ghost of a smirk.

Her laugh in response was weak, but not forced. Steve's ability to make her laugh, even at the darndest of times, had to be a superpower in itself.

Owen looked up at him as they neared the exit, her observant, brown eyes studying him up-close. There was a smattering of dust in his perfect hair and the cut on his lip had reopened. He looked so worn down, but he was still making sure she made it out of the dilapidated building alright. "Steve, a-are you okay?" she asked.

Steve's heart swelled at the question. He did a double-take just to make sure she wasn't just messing with him, but when he met her gaze, there was nothing ingenuine lurking beneath the surface. The girl didn't even have the energy to walk herself out and yet, she was worried about him?

"Yeah, Webb. I'm okay," he nodded, the familiar nickname bringing a warm smile to Owen's lips.

Then, Steve looked down at Owen with the same unreadable look in his eye that he had been giving her since the day they met. Only this time, she recognized it for what it was.

    Fascination.

She only knew because she felt it, too. 

☆゜·。。·゜゜·。。·゜★

    Dr. Owens and a swarm of U.S. soldiers had met them at the door, flanked by a hoard of helicopters spread throughout the parking lot. Owen was too exhausted to even acknowledge him as they passed each other, but the short-lived look that they shared was enough for the both of them. Misty rain sprinkled dewdrops atop Owen and Steve's hair as they waded through puddles, staring in disbelief at all the firetrucks, giant military vehicles, and ambulances that had accumulated to assist with the destruction. Owen couldn't wait to see how Dr. Owens and his team were going to keep this big secret under wraps with all the new eyes on the scene. It would certainly prove to be a challenge for all those smarty-pants.

    Steve didn't leave Owen's side until she was being tended to by one of the many medics. He promised that he would find her again once he checked on Robin and all the kids — such a mom. So, Owen allowed herself to be swaddled in a blanket while they checked for fractures and cleaned the blood from her skin. It almost felt like she was being pampered after the last few days she had had.

    "Owen! You're okay!"

    Her eyes fluttered open as her younger brother's voice mixed the wailing of sirens; she hadn't even noticed that they had fallen shut. Gordon and Law were standing at the back of the ambulance with blankets of their own draped around their shoulders. Owen was quick to leap to her feet, nearly tumbling out of the ambulance with how fast she ran into her brothers' arms.

    "Holy shit, I was so worried about you guys," she breathed, her voice muffled against Gordon's shirt. Forgoing the sweet moment, Owen reeled back and delivered matching smacks against both of their shoulders. "But seriously, what the hell is wrong with you? I thought you guys were supposed to be smart!"

    Gordon was totally caught off-guard, his eyes wide as he recoiled. "What are you even talking about?"

    "You never split off from the group! That's, like, rule number one! You survive by sticking together," she scolded, hands on her hips and everything. "And what did you four doofuses do? Literally head to a different part of the mall while a flesh-eating monster was on the loose!"

    "We were gonna take Frank's car! What else were we supposed to do?" Law spluttered.

    Owen delivered a couple hard, slow blinks. "You don't take Frank's car. That's the whole point."

    "You make a fair point," Gordon said with a shrug. "But while we were hiding from this monster on a murderous rampage, I found this in the Scoops Ahoy break room..." From behind his back, he swung a very familiar messenger back into view. If she didn't recognize the worn material alone, then the Blondie, Iron Maiden, and Garfield pins that speckled it would've done the trick.

    "No way!" Owen gasped, admiring her tattered bag. She plucked it from his grasp and sifted through it just to make sure everything was still there. She felt like she could breathe again when she saw that her threadbare Coca-Cola wallet, her car keys, the latest book she had checked out from the library, and her Walkman were all right where she left them. Owen even popped the Walkman's deck open, spotting Steve's familiar handwriting on the front of the mixtape he had made her.

    "Yes way," he shot back with a teasing grin. "You can just send my Best Brother Ever Award through the mail."

    Owen's eyes lifted, a little waterier than before. "Seriously... I'm so glad you're both okay. A-And thank you for this, for thinking of me," she nodded, her throat tight. Lacking the energy to cry even more that night, she quickly redirected her attention over the boys' shoulders, trying to seem especially preoccupied. "Where are Jodi and Frank, by the way? I haven't seen them since–"

    Through all the pandemonium outside of the mall, Owen managed to spot the two in question, sharing a blanket in the back of an ambulance. And in the most serendipitous fashion, she spotted them just in time to see Jodi swiftly lean in and plant an innocent kiss on Frank's lips. Owen could feel her heart melt as she watched them pull away with bashful, but giddy, grins on their faces.

    "Y'know what?" Owen started, refocusing her eyes on Gordon and Law. "I'm sure we'll find them later."

    The Webbs lingered around the mall for a while after that, too afraid to go home and face their new, unspoken reality: Diana was dead. This was a fact that their dad didn't even know yet, something that none of them had any interest in divulging to him, either. All three of them had seen what their mother's death did to him. There was no telling what another loss like this would do and that scared them in itself.

    Their feet dragged heavily all the way to the car. It wasn't until Owen reached the driver's side door that she realized Steve had never come and found her again. She paused with her hand on the door handle, debating whether or not to go back to find him herself.

Of course, it didn't take her long at all to decide.

"Hey, heads up!" Owen tossed the keys over the roof of the car and into Gordon's hands. "I've... got one more thing I need to do. I'll be right back."

She turned on her heel and marched back into the thick of the rescue efforts, weaving between firefighters and helicopters. Her eyes scanned the crowd, searching for the boy in the sailor costume. Her steps stuttered to a halt the moment she laid eyes on him, sitting atop a gurney with Robin and Max. He still had his blanket on, but someone had bandaged him up and given him a pack of ice to hold against his eye.

"Steve Harrington!" Owen shouted over all the noise, immediately causing him to perk up and turn his wide eyes towards her. A smile pulled on the corners of her lips as she teasingly called out to him, "Were you gonna come find me again or what?"

He happily deserted the blanket and ice pack before jogging over to her, a chuckle on his breath. "Well, were you really gonna leave me here without saying goodbye?" Steve had stopped in front of her, that same twinkle in his eye even after all he had seen that evening. And along with it, that same rush of emotion that Owen had experienced at Weathertop sat heavily on her chest. Spending one more second keeping her feelings for Steve bottled up suddenly sounded like torture — and that's really saying something considering the fact that she had literally been tortured within the past twenty-four hours.

Her mouth opened, then shut, then opened again as she tried to find the right words. "I, uh–" she started, her tongue darting out to wet her lips. Her head lowered, unable to look him in the eyes if she was to continue speaking. "I'm sorry I left you hanging earlier when you told me how you felt about me," she mumbled, anxiously playing with her fingers. "Sometimes, it just feels like I'm this weird, unloveable thing that's been broken from, like, the very beginning. And most of the time, it's hard for me to grasp that someone would even... like me, much less feel attracted to me. So, when you told me you had feelings for me, I just couldn't help but feel like you were mistaken somehow. Like, you had forgotten who you were talking to or you were having a severe lapse in judgment."

Owen found herself nervously stealing a peek up at him. His honeyed eyes were staring at her earnestly, his busted lower lip tucked between his teeth. His attentiveness urged her forward, pulling the words from her mouth. "Maybe it's sad, but I think you hating me was a lot easier for me to come to terms with," she laughed, breathlessly.

"I never hated you," Steve interjected with a chuckle of his own. "I mean, did you insist on making my life a living hell for a while there? Yeah, sure. But I never hated you. I had just... never met someone like you before, I guess."

Owen smirked up at him. "Yeah, and I thought that I had met a million guys just like you before... but I was so wrong," she confessed. "You're kind and thoughtful and weirdly observant. You're constantly taking care of everyone else, even if it means putting yourself in danger. And even though you'd probably never admit it, you love those kids and I've seen you become this awesome role model in their lives. You're just... so easy to like."

Steve's head cocked to the side, his eyebrows pinched together as his eyes grew misty. "Owen, I don't think I'd be the person I am today if I hadn't met you," he admitted. "Seriously. Just knowing you made me want to be less of an asshole."

Owen shook her head, but a barely-there smirk still graced her lips. "Well, however it happened... We're all really lucky to know you, Steve," Owen murmured, growing more serious before she continued. "I feel lucky to know you."

For the second time that night, Steve was speechless. Had he fallen asleep on a gurney somewhere and started dreaming this very vivid dream? His eyes desperately searched her face, trying to commit every single detail to memory just in case he woke up a few seconds later. Everything from her rain-sprinkled hair, to the bandage taped beneath her jaw, to the warmth in her dark brown eyes. Although, in doing this, Steve forgot to talk — forgot how to speak.

"So... Wh-What are you saying?" he croaked, before hurriedly clearing his throat.

There was no going back after this. And maybe that didn't have to be a bad thing.

Owen pulled in a deep breath through her nose as her eyes lifted to meet his. "I like you, Steve," she said, her voice soft with affection. "More than I've ever liked anybody. And honestly, it's a little scary to actually say out loud, but... you deserve to know." She could practically see the nerves rush from Steve's body amidst her confession, replaced with the unabashed confidence that he was known for.

"Yeah?" Steve smirked down at her, his eyebrows lifting with intrigue. "You like me, Webb?"

But Owen could see right through this cool guy exterior, spotting the way his cheeks had flushed pink and his smirk started to widen into a toothy smile. She should've known better than to expect a mushy reply or waterworks, but the reaction still made her eyes narrow playfully. Making the quick decision to pull from the old Harrington and Webb book of never letting the other person have the upper hand, Owen rolled onto her tiptoes and propelled herself right into Steve's bubble, just to throw him off his game. However, all the events of the day may have fried her brain because she really didn't think twice before pressing her lips against his.

This choice seemed to have taken both of them by surprise, with Owen letting out an audible, squeaky gasp and Steve's body going stiff. Although, she was the first to detach, worried that she may have gone way too far, way too fast. After all, that was their first kiss — her first ever — and she did it just to try and wipe that annoying smirk off of his face!

Owen's wide eyes were looking anywhere but him, her ears starting to burn with the realization of what she just did. "I, uh– Sorry. I don't why I– I'll just–" She turned to make a speedy walk of shame back to her car when a hand wrapped around the bend of her elbow. Then, with a finesse that surprised her, Steve spun her around to face him again and dove right back in for another kiss.

This one wasn't nearly as short-lived and panicky as the first. This kiss was built off of all the longing stares, the repressed emotions, the vulnerable conversations, every ounce of frustration and tension, the miscommunication, and all of the surviving that had brought them right to that moment. And with the way Steve's lips felt against her own, Owen knew that it had all been worth it, that she would do it all again in a heartbeat if it meant that she would end up right here.

Steve's lips were softer than she had imagined them being, but they moved with a hunger that stole the air out of her lungs. For a moment, Owens arms hung stiffly at her sides. But this didn't bother Steve. Instead, his arms encircled her waist, with one hand traveling up her back to clutch desperately at the cheap costume fabric that hung loosely from her frame. Slowly, Owen began to melt into the kiss, her hands pressing against his chest and drifting upwards in search of something to tether her to Earth again. She eventually found refuge in his perfect hair, her fingers carding through the chestnut strands and messing it up completely. Not that Steve could possibly care when it was Owen's hands on him. 

The two of them pulled apart only to gasp for air, their lips lingering just out of the other's reach. Owen's arms hung lazily across Steve's shoulders as his hands slowly descended her back to settle around her hips. Even with their chests still heaving, Steve mustered enough oxygen to go in for a couple more, pressing his lips against the corner of her mouth and along her less bruised cheek.

He just couldn't help himself. Not when he had been holding back on doing exactly this for what felt like years.

When their eyes finally met, Owen and Steve found themselves unable to restrain their giddy giggles of disbelief. The mall was on fire behind them and all kinds of very serious, very professional-looking military personnel were running around them, but this was where they had decided to have their first kiss. It didn't make any sense, and maybe they didn't either, but that was more than okay.

"What... What are you doing after this?" Owen asked breathlessly, her eyes scanning over his face.

Again, Steve's lips curled into a smirk. "You askin' me on a date right now?"

Owen's eyes rolled at his antics. "No, dipshit. I wanted to make sure you were getting home safe," she muttered, her words lacking in their usual venom. "Y'know, to shower, eat, sleep. You're gonna need it after this Scoops shift from Hell."

Steve cast a look over his shoulder at the dilapidated mall. When he turned to face Owen again, his lips were pressed into a firm line. "At least we won't have to worry about clocking in tomorrow." Owen snorted and shook her head incredulously. But Steve's gaze had softened as he remembered her initial question.

She really was always looking out for him.

"I think... Dustin's mom is giving me a ride home," he finally answered. Steve's parents weren't even in town, so there was no way they even knew to come pick him up. He could've been missing for days and they wouldn't have any clue, really. He didn't dare dump all of this on Owen, though. Not after all she had been through in the past 24 hours. So, instead, he said, "How about I call you when I get back?"

Owen's lips twitched upward. "Sure, but please don't be offended if I don't answer," she said with ample amounts of caution. "If I even glance at my bed, I'll be out like a light. Honestly, at this rate, I may fall asleep in the shower."

Steve chuckled, but he knew that she was barely being hyperbolic about it because he felt exactly the same way. "Well, you deserve it. Y'know... after saving the world and all."

"We deserve it. Both of us... All of us."

Suddenly, from over her shoulder, Gordon's voice echoed through the parking lot. "That 'one thing' you had to do sure is taking a while!"

Owen and Steve whipped their heads around at the same time, feeling especially caught in the act when they spotted Gordon standing just a few paces away with his hands propped atop his narrow hips. He jingled the keys impatiently, the Betsy keychain making an especially loud ruckus.

"Okay! Okay!" Owen laughed, waving him off. She started to take a few steps backwards, slowly following him in their return to the car. Her eyes nervously bounced from the pavement back up to Steve, again and again, unable to commit one way or another. Her fingers laced in front of her as she awkwardly tried to figure out what to do with her hands.  "I guess I'll... talk to you in a bit?"

Meanwhile, Steve resorted to shoving his hands into the pockets of his sailor costume. "Talk to you in a bit," he echoed, trying to stifle the smile that threatened to overtake his face. He rocked back and forth from his toes to his heel, watching as Owen became further out of reach.

"Talk to you in a bit," Owen found herself saying once more just to make sure they were on the same page. "'Kay, bye!" Then she delivered a brief, shy wave and dashed back towards her car... for real this time. Once she was out of sight, Steve's head fell back against his shoulders, letting a gobsmacked chuckle escape into the smoky night air. He ran his hands over his face, only to wince when his palms pressed against a fresh cut.

An unpleasant, but necessary, reminder that he really wasn't dreaming after all.