Love Is A Battlefield (A Stranger Things/Steve Harrington Fanfiction)

Chapter Nine: What For?

"Riles...Riles, come on." I looked up, my eyes blurry from tears to see Dad standing in front of me. He crouched down, grabbing my arms and pulling me to my feet.

"Its my fault..." I sobbed. "Its all my fault, its my fault."

"No, its not your fault, what are you talking about?" He asked. I shook my head.

"I was too scared!" I shouted. "I was too scared, so I didn't say anything, I should've told you what happened a year ago when I got back, if I had we could've fought to prevent it and this never would have happened! Now that little boy is dead and its because of me, Dad, its all my fault." I started falling again, sobs, wracking my body, but Dad held me up with his arms under mine, pulling me against his chest. I wrapped my arms around him, bawling into his shirt as he stroked my hair.

"You don't know what happened to you is what happened to him, Riles. You just don't. And even if it is, this is not your fault. You were a victim just as much as he was." I pulled away from him, wiping my eyes before putting a hand over my mouth.

"And I survived." I pointed out, my eyes trailing over to where they were loading Will into an ambulance. "What for? Did-Did I survive just so I could let this happen to another person? Someone younger, someone who-who couldn't survive like I could?! I got a second chance at life and I wasted it, I took it from him!"

"You didn't kill him Riley-"

"Yeah?" I asked. "Well I might as well have." He furrowed his eyebrows and I shook my head, pressing my wrist against the bridge of my nose as I fought to compose myself. "I'll go with you...to tell Joyce and Jonathan." he shook his head.

"I don't think that's such a good idea-"

"Please, Dad." I said, my voice barely above a whisper as it broke, "Please, I couldn't save him, at least...at least let me play a part in giving his family some kind of closure." He sighed, but nodded, wrapping an arm around me and leading the way towards the car. I didn't see the kids anywhere, so I assumed they'd gone home before anyone spotted them, or noticed they were missing. 

Dad led me to the passenger seat, opening the door for me and closing it once I got inside. I put the visor down, opening the mirror and wiping my eyes with my sweater sleeves in an attempt to look somewhat presentable as he started the car and pulled out of the quary.

"I don't think what happened to Will is the same as what happened to you," Dad told me, "But just in case I'm gonna need you to tell me what happened, once and for all, ok?" I nodded, sniffing and closing the visor again.

"You think that story can just wait...just a little while longer?" I asked. "Just give me until tomorrow, I just need some time to process all of this and-"

"Its ok," He said, "Just...let me know when you're ready." I nodded.

"I will. I promise." He shot me a concerned glance, and I met his eyes for a moment before looking forward again. "DAD, WATCH OUT!"

He slammed on the brake, skidding the car to a stop mere inches away from a car that was parked in the middle of the road, all of the lights on, with two people standing in front of it, hugging by the looks of it. I squinted my eyes, trying to get a better look.

"Stay in the car." Dad said, getting out and walking over to them. I did as he said, leaning down to peer our the windshield as he spoke to them. Once he started coming back to the car and the people went back to get into theirs, the driver made eye-contact with me, and I instantly recognized him as Jonathan.

I could feel my heart squeeze in my chest with the idea that I would have to tell him that his little brother was dead...and he would have no idea that it was because of me.