Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Steve walked down the sidewalk, a scowl etched on his face. He had just gotten home from a double shift at the DX, only to get a beer bottle thrown at him and told to get out. He doesn't know what his father was angry about, he never does. It's always some mystery that he doesn't think even his dad could solve.

He feels a weight lifted off his shoulders though as he starts down a familiar neighborhood. He's walked this path a million times, knows it by heart. He walks up to the gate, gently pushing it open. He gets to the door, and for once decides not to slam it.

He lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding, and basically collapses onto the couch. He feels his anger seep out of him, replaced by tiredness. Steve shuts his eyes, planning to fall asleep and hopefully be up before the Curtis’ are.

Though that thought is quickly thrown out the window by heavy footsteps causing the wood flooring to creak. Steve doesn't open his eyes or try to look, he knows who it is. He knows everyone's footsteps, always makes sure to learn how to recognize them. A habit he picked up from when his mother was still alive and he'd have to figure out if it was her approaching or his father.

“Steve?” Darrel mumbles, sounding a bit peeved.

Steve doesn't comment on it though, he just assumes Darrel is having as bad of a day as he is. Guy works hard as fuck, 2 jobs, and has to raise his little brothers so Steve always gives him the benefit of the doubt.

“Hi Darrel..” Steve replies quietly.

“I swear you spend more time here than at your own house.” Darrel replies, sounding exasperated. Steve can assume he's shaking his head like he always does when he speaks in that tone.

Steve frowns, grumbling an apology. He tries not to sound too hurt by the comment since Darrel doesn't know about his situation at home, but it certainly hits. He hears Darrel sigh, then walk away. Steve falls asleep not long after.

He's gone before anyone is awake in the morning.

Chapter Text

It doesn't take long before his father kicks him out again, approximately a week. Except this time it's the middle of the day, thank god. Steve thinks about going to the Curtis’, but instantly decides against it as he remembers his comment from last night.

He has nothing to do, he's off work today, can't go to the Curtis’ house, can't go back to his house, doesn't have a clue where Two-Bit lives, sure as hell ain't going to Johnny's house, and will not in a million years go hang out with Dallas.

So he just walks around awkwardly, hoping to find something to do. And that something comes in the form of a beautiful car with nobody around it. Undoubtedly belongs to a Soc.

He grins, making his way over. He looks around, just in case anyone is suddenly there. But there's not.

By the time the Socs are back, he's long gone with the hubcaps.

Steve walks up to the DX, grinning wildly at Soda.

“Hey Soda! Got some hubcaps for ya!” He says, handing them to the blonde.

“Oh, these are nice ones!” Soda says, as he goes to grab money.

Steve just shakes his head. “Nah nah, just take ‘em. It's always an honor to steal hubcaps, especially from a Soc!” He nods at Soda, and quickly runs off. Sure he'd like to talk more, but Soda is working today and he'd rather not distract him and get him fired.

Chapter Text

The sun starts to set, and with it the temperature drops. Steve shivers a bit, the cool wind blowing directly in his face as he heads towards the lot. He sighs loudly in annoyance, crossing his arms. If anyone asks, he'll say it's to look tough.

Really though it's because he's only wearing jeans, a jean jacket, and gray tank top, and the wind is making him cold. He feels the goosebumps on his arms, and a scowl returns to his face.

Dammit he wants to go to the Curtis’ so bad, but Darrel is clearly tired of him being over there, so he just decides to suck it up and continue walking to the lot.

He quickly reaches it, and lays down to sleep. However he's quickly jolting back up when he hears unfamiliar voices nearby. He looks around, quickly spotting a group of 3 Socs.

Oh.

Oh no.

They also spot him, and he doesn't have a chance to run before he's being pinned to the ground.

“You're the little bastard who stole our fucking hubcaps!” One yells, punching Steve in the face, as he sits on Steve's chest.

Steve goes to hit back, but his wrists get pinned down by a second Soc. He opts to kick wildly, which only ends up with his legs being pinned down as well.

The first Soc hits him again, hitting his nose hard. He knows it's broken, as blood quickly starts gushing out. The Soc on top of him tilts Steve's head back, causing the blood to instead run down into his throat and into his stomach, which could get him sick. He rears his head forward, knocking it against the Soc's. The Soc on top of him scowls, punching Steve again. His head falls back, dazed. He feels hands clamp around his throat, his vision starting to go blurry.

Steve struggles against the Socs holding him down, though it's useless as he feels himself getting weaker due to the lack of oxygen. He hears someone scream, it's choked and hoarse.

He then hears a familiar voice, and nearly cries out in happiness.

But he doesn't, because he doesn't hear them approach. And the Socs are still on top of him.

He still cries though, he's scared. He feels himself going unconscious as black spots cover his vision.

And just as he feels he's about to go out, the Socs leave. He sees someone chase after them.. 2 people? He doesn't know, he just lays back, catching his breath and shutting his eyes. He hears someone speak up next to him.

Someone is next to him?

“Steve..?” It's a deeper voice. One that he recognizes. “Oh glory kiddo.. Please respond to me, or at least open your eyes..”

Steve wants to be relieved that it's Darrel but.. He remembers what Darrel said, the man is tired of him. And of course he has to go and get himself injured, and likely end up at the Curtis’ house again. He stays quiet, keeping his eyes shut. It'd require too much energy to open them anyways.

“C'mon.. Please be alive kid…” Darrel mumbles, sniffling quietly.

Hold on, sniffling?

Steve opens his eyes, brows furrowing together as he looks up at the older man. Who is crying.

Darrel Shaynne Curtis Jr. is crying.

Steve has only ever seen him cry at his parents funeral when he thought nobody was looking.

Darrel quickly wipes his face, trying to remove any evidence that he was crying. “Oh.. Thank god..”

“...darry..?” Steve mutters. He barely ever calls Darrel by his nickname, always saying it sounds childish.

Oh lord could he care less about that right now.

“Yeah kid.. I'm right here. You're okay..”

“...who was chasing the Socs..?” He asks, his voice sounding scratchy.

“Pony and Soda.. Glory Steve, you're lucky Pony was walking around past curfew.. He heard you scream, saw the Socs choking you and ran to get us.” Darrel pauses, looking Steve over. “Came running fast we could..”

“...sorry.” Is all Steve can manage to say in response. “Wait.. I screamed..?”

“Yeah.” Pony says as he walks back over, Soda not far behind. “Never heard you scream like that before..”

Steve's eyes flick over to Pony, then to Soda. Soda drops down next to Steve, looking at him with those big brown eyes. Steve sniffles, looking back up at the sky.

“Oh Steve..” Soda coos, picking him up. Steve has no fight left in him, and just lets it happen.

He doesn't remember much after that point.

Chapter Text

The next morning he wakes up on the couch in the Curtis's household, head and throat aching. He brings up his forearm to cover his eyes, not liking the lights being on.

He groans, and tries to sit up and leave only to be pushed right back down by someone walking by.
“No Steve.. Just stay, okay?”
It's Darrel again.

He sees the lights turn off, and moves his arm off his face.
“Oh.. Okay.”

“What were those boys doing choking you like that?” Darrel asks, sitting in his recliner.

Steve furrows his brows in confusion for a moment, before the memories from the previous night come flooding back to him.
“Uh.. I stole their hubcaps.”

“Hubcaps..” Darrel scoffs, and Steve thinks he's about to get yelled at. But the yelling never comes. He sits up, looking at Darrel. Darrel returns his gaze, and he looks sad. Not angry, not disappointed, just sad. “They were gonna kill a kid over some damn hubcaps..”

Darrel sinks back into his recliner, moving a hand to rub down his face.

“I'm not a kid..” Steve grumbles in annoyance.

“You are. You're just 17.. And those.. The guys choking you were fully grown adults. I recognized them, they were a grade ahead of me in high school. Some 21+ adults tried to choke a 17 year old child to death over some hubcaps..” He sighs, sounding even sadder than before. “I thought I was to late when I saw you laying there all limp.. Really thought I lost you kiddo. I ain't ever been so scared..”

“Scared..?” Steve pauses, realizing Darrel was saying that ‘I thought I lost you’ ‘I thought I was too late’ instead of ‘we’. “...what?”

“I was scared. Scared to death.. I-.. I didn't wanna lose you so soon after losing mom and dad.. I don't wanna lose you, period. Ever. You're a good kid..” Darrel says, looking at Steve again.

Steve doesn't know why Darrel is comfortable enough around him to share how he really feels, whilst not being comfortable enough to do that with his own brothers. Though if he had to guess, it's because Darrel realizes Steve is a lot better with emotions than anyone thinks, isn't stupid, so there would be no point in hiding it.

“Huh..” He mumbles, letting Darrel continue speaking.

“A-and what were you doing in the lot? Why weren't you at home?”

Steve shifts around a bit on the couch, biting his lip and quickly coming up with an excuse. “Dad got a girlfriend.. Wanted to give him some space.”

And Darrel buys it. He fully believes Steve's lie. “Okay.. Then you should've come over here.”

“I.. Didn't think you liked me being around.” He says, fiddling with the collar of his jean jacket.

“What?” Darrel stares at him, furrowing his brows. He looks up as Soda walks out, meeting his brother’s gaze for a moment, before looking back at Steve. “What makes you think that?”

“Last time I was here you said ‘I swear you spend more time here than at your own house.’.. And you sounded annoyed so-.. I assumed you were tired of me.” Steve explains, his eyes darting around the room to look everywhere except Darrel.

Soda gives Darrel a look. It's not angry.. Or maybe it is, Steve can't tell.

“I-.. I'm sorry.” Darrel drops his head. “Didn't mean it like that.. You're always allowed here, Steve. Don't ever doubt that.”

“Yeah Stevie.. I'll never get tired of seeing you here!” Soda exclaims, sitting on the couch next to Steve.

Steve lays back down, this time over Soda's lap almost like a cat. Soda reaches down and runs his hands through Steve's hair without hesitation.

“Okay..” Steve shuts his eyes. “Thank you..”

He falls back asleep.