𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

ⅴ 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒉

CHRIS LOWERED HER SHEILD. She slid back on her elbows groaning softly as broken glass pressed against her skin. Alex pushed herself off the wall, looking over the mess. She shook her head and sprinted to Chris, tossing her sword down, it makes a slight cleaning noise as it hit the floor and Chris's winced at the harsh sound. El slowly stood, making her way to Max you leant over Billy's bleeding body.

"Hey, Chris," Alex called, wrapping her arms around her. Chris sighed and relaxed against Alex's body, and Alex brushed her fingers through Chris's tussled hair. "Are you gonna die on me? I know you'll come back but I don't wanna see some Evil Dead shit."

"No, no, I'm okay," Chris mumbled and nodded softly. "But I need a Panadol and a beer. And uh, can we keep the whole, coming back from dead thing between us... and Dylan."

"You told Dylan before you told me?" Alex asked, watching as soldiers and paramedics rushed through the door, running to different parts of the mall to tend to everyone.

"He was there right after and I needed to say it to someone," Chris muttered.

"Excuse me miss," a paramedic interrupted, directing Alex to the side. The paramedics tried to roll Chris onto a cot but Chris held up her hands in protest.

"I'm fine, I'm fine- I can walk," Chris insisted, moving to sit up straight. Alex scooped up her sword quickly before she and the paramedic helped Chris to stand. The two led her outside to an ambulance. The man nodded across the car park, ordering Alex to see a doctor. "Hey, hey Ally." Chris grabbed Alex's hand before she could walk away. "Thanks."

"For?" Alex questioned as the paramedic turned to grab something.

"For not slapping me this time," Chris chuckled, running her finger across Alex's knuckles.

Alex laughed softly, pulling the sword back up her arm. "Watch yourself Henderson, we'll see how the night goes," Alex teased before walking off, ignoring the man's orders and presumably looking for Nancy.

A few minutes later, Chris was given the all-clear, besides a bandage on her lip which she was told would scar her face permanently. "You have an unbelievably high temperature," The paramedic pointed out, looking at the needle in his hand.

"Uh yeah, I uh, smoke," Chris mumbled awkwardly, looking away not knowing a good explanation.

"Funny," The man laughed, giving Chris a small side-eye. "There's some in the front seat if you want."

"Thanks, but uh, do you know where Steve Harrington is?" Chris asked softly, pulling herself to stand. "Wearing the sailor's uniform, his face got all... fucked up." The man gestured to an ambulance a few cars down. Steve crowed around Alex, Nancy and Jonathan sitting inside the car but turned to stand by a different ambulance. Chris thanked the man quickly and jogged over to Steve. "Steve!" Steve spun, quickly engulfed by Chris in a hug.

"Holy shit, oh thank god," Steve breathed wrapping his arms around her waist tightly. "I thought something was wrong when Alex took you."

"I'm fine Steve, I'm fine," Chris promised relaxing against him. Steve sighed in relief and let his head fall into Chris's neck "Are you okay?"

"You're fucking kidding me right," Steve scoffed slightly. He pulled away, sitting them both in the empty ambulance. "You just burnt a goddamn thing of melted people, possessed by a shadow thing, and you're gonna ask about me?"

"Yes, yes I am," Chris insisted, moving her hands up to his face. "Does it hurt?" Chris asked softly brushing her fingertips down his cheek, just enough to feel the raised skin but not enough that it would hurt him.

"Not much," Steve sighed but reeled his head back anyway.

Chris chewed on her lip, noticing Steve flinch as he tried to open his left eye fully. "Just hold on," Chris mumbled, taking the blanket off her body and wrapping it around Steve's shoulders. Chris moved to grab a small first aid kit and sat closer to Steve. "This is gonna sting."

"I know, I've had my ass kicked before remember?" Steve laughed softly. Chris smiled and pulled out antibacterial wipes. "Chris I can wait."

"I want to help," Chris huffed. Steve sighed and grabbed Chris's hands.

"Chris, do you understand how much you helped tonight?" Steve questioned, pushing the aid kit to the side.

"Yeah, but-"

"But what? You saved El, twice. And everyone else," Steve reminded, moving his hand to hold Chris's face. Chris smiled softly and her other hand laced together with Steve's.

"Kiss him already," Alex spoke up, making the two jump.

"Go away," Chris hissed. Alex smiled and raised her hands in defense, moving to stand by Max and Robin. "I can't believe her sometimes."

"Can I kiss you?" Steve asked after a few seconds of silence, bringing Chris's attention back.

Chris's eyes widened softly but nodded regardless. "Yeah, yes- please," Chris fumbled. "Please? Why'd I say please?" Steve smiled and leaned down to press their lips together. Chris's hands moved to Steve's shoulders and they kissed until they couldn't breathe. Chris pulled back, her breathing moving faster than Steve's. Steve pressed their foreheads together and he brushed her hair back, tucking it behind her ear.

"Chris! Chrisanna!" Dustin yelled pushing through different people. Chris pulled away, mumbling a sorry to Steve. Chris stumbled as she rushed from the ambulance. Chris dropped to her knees and Dustin launched at her, his hands wrapped around her shoulders, clinging to her t-shirt. "Holy shit! Holy shit!"

"Stop yelling at me!" Chris chastised, her arms squeezing around Dustin's torso. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine..." Dustin sighed, his muscles finally relaxing. Dustin sniffled slightly as he started to cry. "No, no I'm not. I was so worried."

"You don't have to, everyone's safe, it's dead," Chris nodded, pulling Dustin's tighter.

Dustin shook his head, his voice breaking slightly, "I was worried about you."

"I'm fine Dust, in one piece," Chris reassured, moving back to hold Dustin's face. "We're safe now, were good."

෴

Three Months Later

THE WHOLE DAY FELT BITTERSWEET. Chris rested against her porch, watching Alex walk between the house and her car. "You're really going?" Chris asked as Alex closed the boot to her car.

"Yeah, I'll stop by California and send El and the Byers the best," Alex promised, turning and leaning against her car. "You really not coming with me?"

"I can't leave Dustin," Chris reminded, sipping on a bourbon and coke.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Alex nodded, walking to Chris. "Put it down," Chris ordered, nodding at the can in her hand. Chris set the drink down and stood up, subconsciously chewing at her scarred lip. "If you keep chewing your lip it won't end up any better than your arm."

Chris nodded softly looking down at her feet. "What if something else goes wrong?" Chris mumbled.

Alex shook her head and pulled Chris into a hug. "You'll be fine Chris," Alex promised. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you more," Chris countered. They broke apart and Alex brushed down Chris's hair.

"Look after her curls," Alex ordered, nodding at Dylan who stepped out of the house, half a piece of toast in his mouth. Dylan mumbled something into the bread, but they couldn't make it out.

Alex shook her head and turned to her car, hoping in the driver's seat. "Be safe, please," Chris called. Dylan walked up to Chris, resting his hand against her back. Alex revved the car twice and sped off down the street.

"She'll be fine Anna," Dylan assured. Chris nodded and picked up her drink, downing the rest. "How's your tattoo healing? Dylan asked, motioning to her left arm. The scar left by the Demodog last year was covered in dark green vines with purple flowers.

"Itchy," Chris mumbled, picking up her bag and stepping off her porch, Dylan close behind.

"Why? Is yours not healing?"

Dylan shook his head softly, looking down at the matching vines on his right arm. "It's blistering, not badly, but... Y'know," Dylan mumbled, waving at Brandon who waited across the street.

"Hey guys," Brandon smiled.

"Hey, you ready to get fucked up?" Dylan snarked, hoping in the front of the car, with Chris sliding in the back.

"Do you have to swear so much?" Brandon questioned, resting his hand against the car window.

"Sorry B, are you ready to go to the car, watch Chris and I get completely fu- screwed up, kicked out and then you drive us home?" Dylan rephrased, mirroring how Brandon sat.

"Of course he is Dyl," Chris teased.

"No, I'm not," Brandon mumbled pulling out to drive towards their destination. "But Dylan goes red when he'd drunk and it's kinda cute," Brandon sighed, his cheeks flushing a slight pink.

෴

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