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[ After they'd gotten back to his place, Max had insisted on helping him bandage up his shoulder, even though he really hadn't wanted her to see him shirtless. It wasn't that he thought Max would be checking him out or anything like that, but the scars from Lover's Lake were large and ugly and still healing. He didn't like looking at them in the mirror, let alone subjecting anyone else to them. He used to be proud of his body, but now it just reminded him of the parts of himself he couldn't get back.

But if anyone understand that, it was Max, who had overcome so much more than just a few scars. He knew he couldn't be ashamed of his if he was also constantly telling her how strong she was, regardless of how she was different from the way she'd been before. And it was helpful to have someone to help him clean and wrap this one properly instead of trying to do it himself. He tried to keep Max talking to take her mind off the fact that she was trying to put him back together again, but she'd been quiet for the most part.

They'd eaten a meal of mac and cheese and half way through it the others had called to say that the Creel house was under control again. He'd given Max his mom's bedroom, just down the hall from his own and told her to wake him if she needed anything. And then he'd slept nightmare free for a very long time.

In the morning, there was still something off about Max that he couldn't quite put his finger on. Though as he asked more questions he thought maybe it was something to do with the way she quickly changed the subject from her mom when he brought her up. Now that he was thinking about it, he's not sure she'd ever called her to let her know she wasn't coming home.

He made them a breakfast of toast, eggs and orange juice and then insisted on driving Max home. They listen to the Top 40 countdown as he drives across town, neither of them saying much. When he pulls up to the trailer he notices her mom's car isn't there, despite the early hour. He turns off the car. ]

Your mom's not home yet?

[Last night had been the first night she'd slept not only all the way through the night, but all the way through the night without nightmares since -- well. Probably since before Billy died last summer. She knows why; being alone overnight isn't a thing she's ever really enjoyed. Even before all the Upside Down shit had turned her life on its head the idea of being alone at night had creeped her out.

She knows her quietness probably had Steve wondering what was going on, had caught him giving her concerned looks all evening, and all throughout breakfast. Truthfully she knows she's in way over her head with everything. She's not old enough to have a job yet, unless she wants to babysit, but it's not like money from babysitting is going to pay the bills or put food on the table. But until someone physically shows up on her porch demanding money her plan is to just keep hoping for the best.

They've all been through too much. They shouldn't have to worry about her again, much less over something that's not even life-threatening.

She glances at Steve when he shuts the car off.]

Yeah, guess not. I think she had to work a double. [She shrugs a little, pretending to be completely unconcerned.] Thanks for the ride home. And for letting me invade your space last night. Try not to get into any other-worldly fights without me.

[Max reaches for the door handle.]

Yeah, no problem. [ It really hadn't been a problem. In fact, he'd actually liked having someone to eat dinner with and watch TV with that wasn't Robin. He'd chalked up the quietness to being exhausted from the fight, but suddenly he's getting a nagging feeling in his stomach that something isn't right.

He moves to open his own door, pushing it open and getting out. He claps his hand on the top of the roof. ] Hey, Mayfield, let me use your bathroom, will you?

[ He knows Max's mom works long hours, doubles even, and he's heard enough to also know she tends to drink herself to sleep[ more often than not. But he's trying to remember the last time he's actually seen her car in the driveway in the countless times he's dropped Max off and he's coming up blank.]

[She's out of the car when he calls out and for a second she freezes, panic obvious on her face, but she shakes it off as quickly as it appears. Power outages had been frequent at the trailer park since they'd moved in. She'd commented on it a few times, back before the shit hit the fan with Vecna, even if she can't remember if she'd ever mentioned it to Steve in particular. She's sure she can play that off, though, regardless. Not agreeing would be suspicious as shit, so she can't really do that.

Instead, she shrugs, exhaling a little.]

Sure.

[She leads the way to the porch, fishing her key out of her pocket and unlocking the front door, pushing it open with the toe of her shoe and propping the bat up beside it, glancing at him over her shoulder.]

Looks like the power went out again. [She makes a show of rolling her eyes as she steps into the trailer.]

[ Something flashes across Max's face, but it's gone before Steve can really put a name to it. He follows her up the steps of the porch and watches her open the door. ] Again? Does that happen a lot?

[ He glances over his shoulder at the Munson's trailer, the porchlight still glowing despite the morning hour and frowns as he follows Max inside. He takes in the living room, spotting the flashlight on a low table near the door. There's a blanket on the couch, balled up into the corner and a thin film of dust on the tv where it's been undisturbed for a while. The trailer is warm in the June morning sun and is probably only going to get warmer as the day goes on. He nods towards the bathroom, moving past the kitchen where the only thing in sight is an open box of cereal, the opening at the top clear that whoever was eating out of it hadn't bothered with a bowl or milk.

The last time he'd been in Max's trailer it was after they'd gotten out of the upside down the first time and were trying to figure out their last move. It had been crowded with the rest of the gang and the bathroom had been one of the most highly sought spots. He remembers Max's mom's hairspray because it was the same kind he used, but now he sees none of the clutter that had marked her presence before. No hairspray, no make-up, no shampoo for colored hair. Even in the near darkness of the bathroom, the only light coming from a small glossed window, he can see only Max's things here. Steve opens the medicine cabinet and tries to squint at the labels. They're all Max's, all half full, all dated the day she was discharged from the hospital. He closes the mirror and frowns at his reflection in the mirror.

He moves to the door and opens it, stepping out and moving to the kitchen. He goes to the powerless fridge and opens it to find it nearly empty. He shuts it and looks up at Max, putting his hands on his hips.] Max, where's your mom?

Just...a normal amount I guess?

[Max looks at him warily as he heads down the hall toward the bathroom and she exhales, rubbing a hand over her face and trying to figure out what she's going to do today. School's out for the summer, and if the one remaining gate is under control, then she needed to figure out something else to do. Maybe she'd go across the way and check on Wayne Munson, who'd been beyond kind to her since she'd gotten out of the hospital and back home. She just has to be careful, because he asked questions a lot, about her mom.

And Max didn't have any answers, though her own lies are certainly getting easier to repeat. She has a feeling she'll be hearing from Lucas before long, about the time that Will and Jonathan fill him in on her adventures at the Creel House yesterday with Steve. He won't be happy about it, she knows, but.

She can't stay sidelined. Not after everything, not after being the reason the town was in shambles in the first place.

She stands in the middle of the living room, lost in thought, and doesn't even notice Steve at first, but then she freezes at the look on her face and her heart sinks. He knows, she realizes. Or at least he's close to it.]

I told you. She's at work.

Max... [ Steve's not as stupid as he looks. He knows that her mom hasn't been here in a while, though just how long is pulling at the back of his mind. He also knows that Max is too stubborn and too proud to admit that she needs anyone or anything.

He sighs and rubs a hand down his face, unconsciously mirroring Max's earlier gesture. He tilts his head to the side and stares hard at the worn kitchen floor. He thinks about Max alone in the dark, hot trailer with no one looking out for her and it makes his chest feel tight with concern and anger at her mom for leaving her alone.

He looks back at Max.] Listen, I can drive across town to see if you're telling the truth or we can sit down and talk about what's really going on. Either way, you know I'm not letting this go.

[ He gestures towards her, his shoulder pulling at the bandage she'd helped put in place yesterday.] I can't. And I know you can look after yourself, but I'm not just going to leave you on your own.

[She's ready to double down, to argue and try to be even more convincing in her lies, but his last words twist something inside her. Her face does something complicated and she has to look away from him because now she feels like she's on the verge of tears and she is not going to cry. She's not, dammit.

Her entire family, at some point or other, has abandoned her, whether by choice or not. Her dad had essentially given up on seeing her when she'd moved to Indiana, and he rarely ever called or wrote. Billy had died, even if he'd hated her guts; he'd still been family. And her mom...well. Obviously she found better things to do.

But here was Steve Harrington, vowing not to leave her alone. Steve, who'd been one of the only people who'd ever stood up for her, who'd saved her life on more than one occasion, including when he'd only just met her. She lets out a shaky breath, feeling the beginnings of another headache coming on.]

She's gone. [There's no point in beating around the bush with it. He's not going to back down on this one. She knows him well enough to know that.] I don't know where she is. I haven't seen her since...

[She shrugs.]

Before everything.

Jesus Christ. [ It's one thing to have his suspicions, but a whole different thing entirely to have them confirmed. How long has Max been doing this all on her own? She looks like she might cry and somehow that hurts the most, if only because Max never cries.

Steve nods, clenching his jaw and looking around the triler. ] Okay, pack up your stuff. You're going to stay with me until we can find her, okay? Get your clothes, school stuff, prescriptions, anything you might need in the next couple of days. We can come back for the rest later.

[ He pauses.] Do you want me to help?

[And now the metaphorical cat is out of the bag. There's no getting out of this now. She's not sure if she's relieved or stressed.]

I don't think she's coming back.

[There's resignation in her voice, but she shrugs like it's no big deal, like her life hasn't continued crashing down around her. She shakes her head and then walks toward the hallway to grab her bookbag, stuffing a couple changes of clothes in them, and her medications from the bathroom mirror. It's not much, but she doesn't need much, as it turns out. She's done without air conditioning and lights, without a fridge full of food, without her mom.

The idea of foster care is beyond horrifying but it's not like there's going to be a choice.]

I just want to be part of fixing things and then --

[She hefts the bag onto her shoulder, tightening her fingers around the backpack strap so tight her knuckles turn white.]

I guess we call family services to figure out what happens next.

[ Max says that she doesn't think her mom is coming back so easily that Steve feels his chest ache. How could she desert Max when she needed her the most? He can't even remember the last time he saw Max's mom.

Steve watches her grab her things, his mind spinning. He shakes his head when she mentions family services.] Don't worry about that right now. We'll figure it out, okay? I'll talk to Hopper and see what our options are.

[ At the very least, at least they have Hopper on their side. Steve looks around the trailer one more time. ] You sure you have everything you need?

Yeah. Clothes and pills.

[There's really not much to figure out. She knows how this story goes. She's only fifteen, but she knows enough to know what happens when a kid gets abandoned by their parent. And it's not like her dad would want her back in California. He's started a new life of his own and it doesn't include her.

She exhales, trying to get her shoulders to relax, knowing the more tense she is, the worse her headache will end up being once it hits full force.

She wraps her arms around herself unconsciously.]

You didn't really need to use the bathroom at all, did you?

No. Sorry. [ He feels bad for lying to her, though he's glad he didn't just drop her off and leave her on her own without following his gut.

He moves towards the door, holding it open for her. ] Does anyone else know? Your dad? Lucas?

[She's not mad. Not really. Not after everything. How could she be? Mostly she's just...tired. And less in a physical way than a mental way.]

No. I haven't talked to my dad since I moved here. He's - got a new life. [One that definitely doesn't involve Max.]

And definitely not, no. There's been too much going on and it's been fine. I've been fine, Steve.

[Really. Aren't you convinced? She heads out the door, clutching onto her bag.]

Fine isn't good enough, Max. [ She deserves to have everything she needs and wants, especially after she basically sacrificed herself for their plan. He thinks that the Sinclairs would take her under their wing in a heartbeat. He knows Joyce and Hopper would if they actually had a place of their own.]

Listen, I've got a big empty house and I could use the company. You can stay with me as long as you want to. Even after we track down your mom.

[She probably should have seen that coming, but she hadn't. She figured she'd maybe be couch surfing at everyone's for a few nights at a time. She opens her mouth to respond, staring at him even as her hand freezes at the door that she'd started trying to lock but she keeps missing the keyhole. Her hands are shaking just enough to make locking up difficult.]

But --

[But what if his parents come back at some point? She's not sure how likely that is given she's never met them and she's spent a lot of time with the others at Steve's in the last couple years.]

Steve, are you sure?

Positive. [ He's never seen that look on Max's face and it throws him a little off guard. Like he's doing her some big favor. Like every word he just said isn't the sad truth.

He licks his lips, tossing his keys up and catching them before pointing a finger at her.] But don't make me regret it, okay? No parties. And no Lucas after curfew. [ He can't even keep a straight face for more than a few seconds after that. ] Kidding.

But seriously, don't do anything your lawyer wouldn't approve of.

[She stares at him for a moment, holding her breath and then nodding, turning so she can lock the damned door. And if her eyes are suddenly a little wet, she hopes he doesn't make a bit deal of it. It's not like he's not seen her in much, much worse conditions. She sinks her teeth into her lower lip before she tucked her keys into her jeans pocket and turns to look at him again.

Max's mouth curves up into a tiny smirk at the Lucas comment followed by the kidding. Like she'd have taken that seriously for two seconds. The lawyer comment, though --

She ducks her head a little.]

In retrospect being an asshole to someone who was trying to help me was -- not my finest moment. [It's...not quite an apology but the sentiment is there, even if she's pretty sure he hadn't taken that comment to heart.]

[ He huffs and shakes his head. ] I get it. I wouldn't want to be stuck in Mike Wheeler's basement either if I thought I only had 24 hours left to live.

[ Thank God she got more time than that. Even if he was pretty sure he was having a heart attack the moment he saw her eyes and she started rising up into the air. Even the thought of it now sends a chill down his spine and he rolls his shoulders to get rid of it. ] Come on, let's get out of here. I'm starving.

[There's relief in her expression at his easy forgiveness. That's one of the things she liked about Steve -- he was quick to blow off offenses that weren't really meant to cause harm. But at the mention of his being hungry, she raises her eyebrows, skeptical.]

We ate breakfast like an hour ago.

[ He pauses, looking at her doubtfully. ] Did we?

[ He'd really just said it as a way to get out of the trailer park before someone asked what was going on, but a quick glance around indicated that no one was paying attention. He shrugs. ] I'm a growing boy.

[That earns him an eyeroll, though with the amount of boys she's friends with, she doesn't doubt it. They all seem to be bottomless pits.]

More mac and cheese when we get back to your place then? [Since she knows there are leftovers from last night.]

Our place. [ He gives her a grin and slaps the top of his car. He knows better than to make her any promises he can't keep, but he means it when he says she can stay for as long as she likes. It's not like his parents are coming home anytime soon. And he does have plenty of room. Besides, at least he can make sure he's getting her to school every morning. There's no way they're getting through all of this and then Max Mayfield doesn't graduate. ]

[It's another moment where she has to swallow down an unexpected swell of emotion because -- God. Just like that he's considered her as part of his family and his house hers too.

And so if her smile is just a little brighter as she climbs into the passenger seat, if her cheeks are a little warmer than usual, well. Words aren't her strong suit but it's not like she's trying to hide her response, either.]

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999 years later

Max! <3

Steve! <3

Re: Steve! <3

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Um. The latest backtag you've probably ever had...?

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