( and so steve finds himself with something of a virmire situation on his hands (not that he knows, or will ever know, what that means) as he considers eddie's idea. he could stay behind at the trailer, make sure eddie and dustin make it out okay, but then what if nancy and robin don't? he couldn't live with himself if something happened to either of them, but he can't let anything happen to eddie or dustin either.

as he thinks about it he's overcome with a strange, terrible feeling. it's like his ribs are squeezing harder and harder, growing so tight it pushes the air right out of his lungs and threatens to stop the hammering of his heart completely.

he doesn't want eddie to know he's going through whatever this is, though, so he does his best to disguise his nervous, shallow breaths as normal ones, and tries to keep a steady hand as eddie laces their fingers together. )

Maybe we can change up the plan, ( he suggests, and his voice sounds strange and thick to his own ears. ) Like, I don't know, maybe you don't have to be the distraction, you know? We can figure it out.

( a beat, then: )

Nobody's going to die.

( he hopes he sounds like he believes it. he's not really sure that he does. )