A/N: I do love Steve Harrington. I've never had the feels for a fictional character like I've had for Steve. So after binge watching both seasons, I had to write a fic that was Steve-centric. Anyway, thank you for opening this story and I hope you enjoy it!

Steve Harrington, formerly King Steve, former Casanova and popular jock, stood in the corner of the Byers living room. It was chaotic in the house after El, or Jane, as was her new name, had closed the gate to the Upside Down. Presently, the house was overflowing with two adults, three teenagers and six kids. Everyone was drained, both physically and mentally, after the ordeal with the Demodogs and the Mind Flayer. He remembered with a pang the other adult who, in a fair, just world, would be here as well.

Bob Newby, aka Bob the Brain, the man who had helped save Hopper, the man who had not hesitated to get involved in the craziness that was the supernatural world, who had volunteered for what was essentially a suicide mission, all because he cared too little for his own life in comparison to those he loved. The Byers and Mike were devastated and although Steve had never met the man, he felt the Byers' grief and the loss of a man who was clearly a good, wonderful human being. Mike had told him and the other children how Bob had saved their lives and lost his in the process and Steve wished with all his soul that the kid hadn't had to watch that.

He wished for so many things right now, that Bob hadn't died an awful death, that the Upside Down never existed, that a little boy hadn't had to go through absolute hell, that all these kids didn't have to deal with nightmares like this at such a young age, that Barb hadn't died the way she had in his own yard, that Nancy didn't just think he was bullshit. But he couldn't do anything. He hated being reminded of how helpless human beings were in the grand scheme of things.

He had taken it to an all new level though. He had one job. One. Keep the kids safe. He failed on all counts. What would've happened if Max hadn't stepped in? Lucas would've been next. And knowing Billy, he wouldn't have stopped even after that. Steve had tried to protect Max and the others from her violent brother only to wind up being saved himself.

He couldn't even stop the kids from entering the tunnels after that and when he said he'd keep them safe in there, he truly believed that he could. But he didn't do that either. He didn't get Dustin up that rope fast enough. What was he good for really? He was barely passing his classes, he couldn't write college essays, he couldn't please his parents, hell, he couldn't even keep his girlfriend. And now, he'd messed up the most important thing he had been tasked with. Keeping the kids safe. He had promised Hopper and Joyce that he'd do it. He had promised Jonathan. He had promised Nancy that he would keep her brother safe. And now, he had broken that promise. Useless. He was useless. For all his talk, he couldn't take on Billy Hargrove. All he'd done was get his face pounded in before passing out in the living room. He was such a screw up.

Useless.

Weak.

A mistake.

Wasn't that what his father had told him he was since he was five years old? If his father had only put those thoughts in his head, the last two years had all but cemented it in his mind. He'd lost to his father first, then to Jonathan and now to Billy. The only beating he had actually deserved was the one from Jonathan and Steve harboured no ill will towards the other boy. But it left him feeling inadequate and weak.

Speaking of beatings, the one he had received from Billy that night was quite painful to say the least. Even now, as he stood slumped against the wall, he could feel his legs shaking with the strain of simply holding him up, his head hurt like crazy, his vision was blurred and shaky and he was amazed he could even put together a coherent thought. It was amazing what adrenaline and desperation could drive you to do. But now the high from the tunnels was wearing off and he was finally feeling the effects of the fight.

He looked around, taking in his surroundings, Ms. Byers was sitting on the couch, fussing over her youngest son. Will seemed okay, other than being extremely tired and pale. Hopper and El were off to the side, having what looked like a very serious conversation. The other kids were sitting on the floor, their attention divided between their own conversation and Will. Nancy and Jonathan were on the other side of the room and Steve's heart gave an involuntary pang when the other boy embraced Nancy. He looked away quickly, unable to watch any longer. His mind told him it was for the best, that it wasn't meant to be, but his heart was shattering all over again and it hurt. It hurt so bad. But he didn't blame them, not at all, he blamed himself. After all, by his own admission, he was a shitty boyfriend.

Deciding that he'd done enough damage, he decided to quietly go back to his house. House… not home… never home because that place could never be warm enough to be considered a home. Empty as the place was and as much as he hated being alone, he knew Hopper and Joyce had enough on their plates without him adding to it with his injuries. He could take care of himself. He wasn't that important anyway.

He slowly backed out of the room, ignoring the stab of pain in his head. Quietly opening the front door, he let himself out and walked unsteadily towards his car, haphazardly parked in the front yard. He opened the door and was about to get in when a wave of dizziness hit him hard, almost sending him reeling. He clung to the door and closed his eyes, breathing deeply to ward off the dizziness and nausea that accompanied it.

Opening his eyes, he was only mildly surprised to find himself kneeling on the ground, his arms shaking as they kept him from faceplanting into the grass. If his mind had been working clearly enough, he would have been horrified at the fact that he couldn't remember how he found himself kneeling when he started off standing. As it was, his muddled mind only helpfully supplied that maybe it wasn't the best plan to drive back home. Standing up with some difficulty, he closed the car door and pocketed his keys. He started the long walk home, a lone figure, taking slow, unsteady steps along the dark road. Finally feeling the full effects of the concussion, confused, dazed and in no small amount of pain, he didn't even realise that he had veered off course and into the woods.

Back in the Byers home, chaos ruled as everyone frantically looked for an absent teenager.

A/N: Thank you for reading! I would love to hear from you so please, please leave a review! I will be updating just as soon as I can.