[CALIBRATIONS] Holding hands as the walls come tumbling down...

[farrahfawcetts]

WHO: Steve Harrington
WHERE: Steve's Room
WHAT: Calibrations!
WHEN: 6/10-7/10
WARNINGS: Child abandonment, violence, and drugging


When you awaken, the first thing you notice is that the 'room' you are in is pretty small. Really fucking small. Because it's not a room as you might imagine it, but instead a car. You sit beside Steve as he drives, eyes on the road and expression grim. Outside the road is long and abandoned and dark. No lights except for the distant stars and the distant crack of lightning. He isn't driving toward that. He doesn't seem to be driving toward anything. His hands tighten against the wheel as he looks over and notices you there.

"Where to?"

And just like that the glovebox opens and out comes an old map of Hawkins. There are four circled areas: Starcourt Mall, Nancy's House, Will's House, and Home. He reaches for the radio and turns it up a little. The song is Tears for Fears, Everybody Wants to Rule the World. He hums as he drives along silently, waiting for your call.

Comments

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve is even more confused than before. "I'm surrounded by teenage geniuses every day so I guess it is hard to believe that. Maybe I could have been college material if my head didn't get banged around so much. Not by my parents," he's quick to point out. "I just had a lot of concussions."

He drums his fingers on the wheel and looks back at the road.

"Thanks, though. Really. It's nice to hear now and again."

[doubled_speed]

"If concussions kept you out of college then football would never be played at that level," Tommy argues with a laugh. "But seriously, man. World's more than just books. Some people are just smart at leading, or good at people."

[farrahfawcetts]

Okay. This guy is good. Steve likes him way better than the other Tommy in his life. "I seriously didn't hear that a lot at home," he admits. "I don't know that there's anything I'm super smart at other than killing monsters maybe, but...thanks. Seriously means a lot."

[doubled_speed]

Of course he's good. He's just amazing.

"I never heard it at home. But fuck home. And trust me, killing monsters is useful. That makes you a super hero."

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve blinks. A super hero. Like one of those assholes from the comics the kids read all the time. Him? It is quite possibly the best compliment he's received from someone he wasn't currently kissing. He doesn't even know what to do with it.

"Thanks, man," he says, voice thick. "I guess I could trust you to know something about super heroes."

[doubled_speed]

Dude, don't call him an asshole.

"You really can. The ones without powers, sometimes they're the best ones."

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve, honestly, has to blink his eyes to not tear up a little at that.

"We should hang out more. Outside of my brain," he says with a thick voice (which he immediately tries to hide by clearing his throat). "Ever played basketball at all?"

[doubled_speed]

"What, you mean in a fashion where you're not in and out of the diner like you owe me something?" he teases.

Yeah, he noticed. He always notices.

"Yeah, we can do that. And yeah, not much. Not seriously. My brother's boyfriend played that at football. And Eli did as well. So when the girls weren't twisting our arms about baseball we would do a little pick up."

He wasn't good, but did you have to be when you were as fast as him.

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve snorts. Yeah, okay. Fair enough.

Also, brother's boyfriend? Yeah, the Agro or whatever the aliens were called just wanted gay guys. That was the selection criteria. Except for...Max. Or whatever. Theory in progress.

"You and I can play a little one on one. Or you can play against my world's Billy and humble him a little." He grins at the idea. "That would be really fun."

[doubled_speed]

The theory is a bit less useful when in the old days there were more women around. As for playing with the other Billy, well, Tommy wouldn't think that likely after he ended up pissing the guy off so effectively.

"I think I'll probably stick to learning the rules for real first."

[farrahfawcetts]

"I can do that," Steve says with a smile. "I coached before. I can definitely help you out. And it'll be nice to get some sports going again."

He looks back toward the road and there is a click as the door unlocks beside Tommy. Steve slows down to a stop and parks. "I guess that means you're free to go, if you want. I don't blame you for taking it."

[doubled_speed]

"You should ask Muscles too. Guy is clearly made for sports."

With the car stopping Tommy doesn't even intend to linger. He HATES cars.

"It's not you, man. It's me."

And then he's gone.