bagsybaggins - Tumblr blog

bagsybaggins · 10 months

Text

Chapter 8: Strange Feelings

[Previous Chapter]

YN opened her eyes, looking up at her ceiling, a sense of something wrong tinting the air. She inhaled softly, turning her head towards her nightstand and looking at the clock. Groaning at the time, she rolled out of her bed and rubbed her eyes. She closed her eyes, listening to the sound of Dustin and Mom fawning over Dustin's costume.

'Dare-'

Opening her eyes she looked up, turning to the end of her bed. She frowned, her fingers curling into her blanket before she shook her head. Standing up from her bed, she yawned as she walked towards her door, opening it and hearing Mom ask to see Dustin's 'pearls.' As she turned towards the living room, she paused as she felt a shiver crawl up her spine. She looked to her left, towards the basement door, an feeling in her brain pulling her towards the door.

"Dare-Bear! Why aren't you ready for school?" Her Mom said, breaking Dare out of her staring match with the door.

"Sorry Mom, woke up late."

---

"No, Nancy-"

Nancy leaned against her locker as she looked at me. "Come on Dare, you can't just not go."

I look at her from the corner of my eyes and raise my brow. She sighs while rolling her eyes.

"I mean you could, but I want you to be there Dare. So you can stop me from doing anything stupid."

I pause for a moment, my hand still on my notebook before I sigh. "I'll think about it, okay?"

She smiled and opened her mouth to say something, but I interrupt her.

"I mean it, Nance." I close my locker, turning to her with my books in my arms. "I'll think about it, but you know how I feel about parties. If I don't go, you can't be mad at me. It always ends up the same way, with a bunch of drunk people and stupid mistakes."

She stares at me, her smile drifting slowly, and then she nods. "Alright, that's fine. Just give it some thought, and call me when you decide okay?"

I smile and nod my head. "Will do Nance. I'll see you later."

I brush past her and head to my next class, knowing that if I turned to look, she would be watching me with a frown.

I knew she wasn't mad, but she wasn't happy either. If Barb was here, she would've gone and I would be either at home or with Dustin trick or treating. That's how it always went. And I didn't want to change that.

I sigh heavily as I turn into my next class, my eyes drifting close as I try to calm down my brain. Stopping it from frying with overthinking. From trying to think about what could happen if I went, what could go wrong. About what could happen if I didn't go.

"Shit!" I exclaim as I run into somebody, my nose hurting from hitting their chest.

As I rub my nose, I open my eyes and look at who I had run into.

The new guy, Billy I think his name was, smirked down at me. My eyebrows furrow as I look at him in confusion, before I shake it off.

"Sorry, didn't see you there," I mutter, taking my hand off my nose.

"Course you didn't see me there, you had your eyes closed." He said, crossing his arms and leaning in closer to me.

I raise my right brow before smiling thinly and nodding my head. "Yep, you're right. My bad."

I try to brush past him but he puts his hand on my left shoulder, stopping me. I turn to him and he smiles down at me.

"Sorry, I think we got off on the wrong foot. I'm Billy Hargrove, and you are?" He asks.

I stare up at him, my nerves buzzing underneath my skin before I sigh. "I'm YN, YN Henderson. You're Max's brother, right?"

He raises his brow before nodding his head, snapping his finger, and pointing at me. "That's right, you're the one who had called out her name our first day here. In the parking lot, right?"

Nodding my head I smile. "Yeah, that's right. She's awesome, kicked my ass at a few of the arcade games."

He pauses for a moment, his smile frozen on his face as he looks down at me. Then he laughs and his smile stretched wider, leaning in towards me.

"She's always been good things like that. Say, are you going to the party tonight?"

I hesitate to answer as the bell rings, and I chuckle awkwardly. "I'm not a fan of parties actually. But, if I'm there, I guess you'll see me."

And I push past him with a smile. "It was nice talking to you!" And I head towards my seat, him watching me before he left the classroom.

---

Dare sighed as she sat down at the normal table for lunch taking off her hat, crossing her arms on the table, and resting her forehead against them. She closed her eyes, breathing in for a moment and letting herself relax.

"Hey, Dare-Bear."

She huffed as she felt Eddie sit down beside her. "I thought I told you to not call me that."

His laughter caused her to look up and glare at him.

"Just because you tell me to not do it, Sweetheart doesn't mean that I'm not gonna keep doing it." He grins as he leans his head on his hand, looking down at her.

She rolls her eyes, turning her head so she faced him, but didn't lift her head from her arms. "True enough, Edward."

Eddie visibly pulled back, his face scrunched up in a frown of disgust. "Don't call me that, ever again."

She cracked open her eyes, lifting her brow. He sighed and nodded his head. "Fine, no more Dare-Bear."

She smiled.

"But I'm keeping Sweetheart then!" He exclaimed, lifting his index finger as if to make a point.

She sighed and lifted her head. "Fine, I'll allow it."

Eddie grinned before leaning his head back on his hand. "So what's up with the long face Sweets?"

Dare paused, glancing at him before sighing and resting her chin on her hand. "Nancy wants me to come to the party tonight."

Eddie raised his brow, nodding his head. "And I take it that you don't want to?"

Dare huffed before shrugging, leaning back and her hands dropping to her lap. "No, not really. But, I don't want to go trick or treating this year either." She turned to him. "But I also want to make sure Nancy doesn't do anything stupid, like puke in the bushes."

Eddie cringed, agreeing with her with a nod of his head. "Right, right. So what do you plan on doing?"

Dare hesitated before slouching over in her spot. "I guess I'm going to the party. Not like I have anything better to do, you know?"

He shrugged. "I mean, you could always hang out with me."

Dare smiled and grabbed her hat, putting it back on. "True, but how about you come along! We can just hang out there, making sure to disappear so we don't have to get involved with whatever happens."

Eddie paused, his lips thinning as he looks away from her. Dare laughs as she nudges his shoulder with her own.

"Come on Eddie! Who knows, it might not be a shitshow!" She smiles widely as she pokes his side. "Don't leave me to the wolves Eds!"

He groaned, throwing his head back and brushing her hand away. "Fine, FINE! I'll go."

Dare let out a cheerful whoop, her arm slinging around Eddie's neck. "YES!"

Eddie laughed, hugging her back briefly before pulling away, his ears a bright red beneath his hair.

"Yeah yeah, don't act so excited. I doubt you'll even notice me, I tend to blend into the background." He coughed as he looked back at her.

Dare smiled and shook her head. "Guess I'll just have to go and find you, now won't I."

He grins at her, nodding his head. "Guess you will."

---

"Nancy-"

"No, Dare. You look great like this!" Nancy exclaimed as she put on some eyeliner on me.

I glare up at her before brushing her hand away, looking over at the mirror. I pause before nodding my head and shrugging. "Alright, you're not wrong."

She grinned at me as I stood up and walked to the door. "Steve driving us?" I ask, turning to her as I put on my hat.

"Yes he is, but don't wear the hat-"

I stick out my tongue and turn back around. "Not happening Nance, either the hat stays or you go with Steve without me."

She huffs as she crosses her arms, her brow raised at me. I cross my arms, mimicking her. And soon enough, she folds and rolls her eyes.

"Fine, you can wear your hat." She looks back at the mirror, fixing her little ribbon. "You do know that this is a costume party, right?"

I hum as I look down at my attire, shrugging quickly. "I'm dressed as Sarah Connor, or at least I tried to dress as her. So I'd say I got my costume as close as I could to the real thing." I look back at her, raising my brow. "And you are?"

She looks at me, but before she could say anything, there was a knock on the door.

"Nancy! Steve's here!" Mrs. Wheeler said through the door, and I sigh.

"Coming!" Nancy called out before giving me a look. "Just try to enjoy tonight, alright?"

I look at her as I nibble on my bottom lip, before nodding. "Alright, I'll try. Just don't do any stupid shit, alright?"

She smiles at me, nodding her head as she hooks her arm around mine. "Of course not."

---

Dare sighs heavily as she finally escapes the heat of the dance floor, going into the backyard that wasn't as crowded as it was inside. She blows a strand of hair out of her face, adjusting her grey jacket so it was rolled up to her elbows. She pulled at the collar of the peach and white tie-dyed shirt, grimacing at the scratching of the tag in the back.

She paused for a moment, looking over the crowd of people in the backyard, drunkenly dancing to the music. She didn't exactly know how long she had been separate from Nancy, but she knew that Steve would keep her safe. Dare frowned again, not seeing any good familiar faces that she had wanted to see.

Towards the edge of the fence, Eddie stood with his arms crossed. He couldn't believe he was there, but he knew why he was. He sighed for what seemed to be the hundredth time before he finally noticed the person he had been searching for. Only, she hadn't noticed him.

He took a moment to focus on her, standing on his toes and moving around people to catch a clearer look at her. He smiled when he realized what she had worn as her costume. He glanced down at himself, the warmth creeping onto his face as he remember what he had decided to wear. And they were matching.

He had gone as, in his own style, Kyle Reese. From the Terminator movie, they had gone to see together almost three days ago. And she was Sarah Connor, but wearing the same hat that she always wore.

He grinned a little wider as he watched her flip off someone who had obviously bumped into her, her frow visible from there. The feeling in his stomach fluttered again as she crossed her arms, leaning back against the house. He inhaled sharply as her gaze drifted over where he was.

But the butterfly in his stomach started to sink, as her attention was caught by someone else. Billy had approached her, smiling as he recognized her. And she returned it, though not as widely as he had.

"YN, you're here. I'm glad you could make it." Billy said as he leaned his right arm on the house. "I guess you arrived a little late, you weren't there when I was announced the keg king."

Dare laughed and shook her head, her smile thinning. "No, must have just missed it."

Her eyes drifted over the sea of people in the backyard, before Billy leaned in closer and blocked her vision.

"What's on your mind? Can't stand the sight of me?" He laughed, his smile faltering just ever so slightly.

Dare's eyes widened before she shook her head rapidly. "Oh no! I was just, worried. I couldn't find my friend, and I just wanted to-"

Billy chuckled and nodded. "To look after them, right?"

Dare paused before smiling softly. "Yeah, it's what I do."

Dare flushed a soft pink as Billy leaned in more, a smirk drifting across his lips. "So would you take care of me too?" His hand pushed her cap up from her face.

Her brows twitched downward at his words, confused she asked, "What-"

But before she could finish her sentence, Billy kissed her.

Eddie felt his heart drop to his stomach, hell to his feet. He knew that some part of him wanted to scream, to pull her away from him. But he didn't. He couldn't. His fingers clenched tightly into a fist, his eyes narrowing as he glares at the two. But then he remembers.

She wasn't his.

Eddie exhaled and turned away from them, walking back towards the gate to leave. He paused for a moment, looking back at the two, before walking out.

Dare leaned back, her eyes wide and her cheeks a bright red as she parted from the sudden kiss.

"Why'd you do that?" She asked softly, her voice in disbelief.

Billy smiled as he leaned back toward her, his hand cupping her cheek, and his thumb touching her bottom lip. "Because you're adorable."

Dare blinked at him before reaching up and pulling her cap down, stepping out of his reach. "I should go check on my friend."

He laughed as she scrambled towards the door, not missing the redness of her cheeks.

"I'll find you later YN." He called after her, causing her to pause and look back at him. "You still need to take care of me, right?"

Her throat tightened and she looked away from him, trying to blend into the crowd as she tried to go back inside. But as she looked towards the fence, she stared at the back of someone who was walking away. She felt like she knew them, but she couldn't put her finger on it. But she recognized the coat from the movie. Someone had been her Kyle, and she didn't get to meet them.

---

"I don't understand Steve! What the hell happened?" Dare yelled as she followed him to his car.

"What do you want me to say, Dare?" He said as he turned around, looking at her with his eyes slightly red. "She told me she wasn't in love with me. Said that it was bullshit, that I was bullshit."

Dare gaped at him before frowning heavily. "What else happened Steve?"

Steve shook his head with a scoff, his arms hitting his sides. "Nothing else happened-"

Dare glared at him, her finger poking into his chest as she pointed her finger at him. "I know Nancy, Steve! What set her off, what else happened?"

He paused for a moment before sighing, looking down at the ground. "Barbra's parents, they're selling the house because they need money to try and find Barbra."

Dare's eyes widen as she takes a step back, her shoulders slacking. "Oh."

Steve nodded, not looking up from the ground. "Yeah."

She put her hands on her hip looking back at the house that was still lively, before looking back at Steve. His eyes were red, and his sniffling made her sigh.

"You should head home Steve-" He looked up at her, his eyes darting back to the house for a moment.

"No, I need to take-"

Dare shook her head, putting her hand on his shoulder. "No, Steve. You need to go home, wait until tomorrow when she's sober okay. Then you can talk to her. I saw Jonathan in there, and I'm sure he'd be fine with taking her home. But right now, you need space okay."

Steve frowned heavily, opening his mouth to argue before Dare covered his mouth with her hand.

"Go home." She glared at him lightly, waiting for him to nod his head.

"Fine, I'll go." He sighed as he pushed her hand away. "Do you need a ride?"

Dare paused, frowning in thought before sighing. "I should get back, or maybe try to find Dustin and them."

Steven nodded his head, sniffing one more time as he wiped the corner of his eyes. "Then, umm, hop in."

---

I sighed softly as I looked out the window as we drove by the many trick-or-treaters. I glanced at Steve from the corner of my eyes, frowning when I see him wipe at his eyes again. I bite the inside of my cheek, before mentally kicking myself.

"You can drop me off here. They're over there." I say, lying through my teeth.

He turns to me before looking ahead and nodding. "Alright." He said softly.

I huff and smile as he pulls to the curb. "Thanks, Steve. And, give her time. I'm sure everything will work out eventually." I grin lightly as I open the door and step out.

He nods his head, not looking at me. "Thanks, Dare. You're really nice."

I shrug. "It's only for my friends. Have a good night Steve."

I shut the door after hearing him repeat it back, waving at him as I walk in the opposite direction. He pulled away from the curb, driving off towards his home before I groan and turn around and head towards my house.

I walk through the sea of trick-or-treaters, laughing to myself at some of the silly costumes. Most of them were heading home, their bags full or because of their own curfews. And I knew that the boys were on their way home too. And as I turn the block, not too far from my house, I notice something strange.

I frown as I continue walking down the street, my hands shoved into the pockets of my jacket. As I get close to the edge of my street, the blue figure turned toward me. Hesitating to step forward, I glance around at the nearby trick-or-treaters, noticing how they didn't spare the figure a glance. Swallowing thickly, I push the growing fear down, taking another step towards the figure.

As I decide to ignore it, pretending that it wasn't there, I feel the fear bubble as it turns and follows me after I had passed it. I didn't look at it, nor did I hear its steps. But I could feel it following me, somehow I did. Turning my head ever so slightly, I try to get a look at it from the corner of my eyes, but a car passes by and the figure is gone.

My nerves are buzzing beneath my skin, and I couldn't ignore the feeling anymore. I turn down my street and run towards my house, ignoring my lungs as I feel them constrict. My feet thumping against the ground, and my heart pounding in my ears doesn't block out the feeling that it was still following me. Watching me.

As I turn to the front door, my hand on the handle, I look back. But there was nothing. I heaved and wheezed as I shuffle into my pants for my inhaler, my eyes glancing around for the blue figure. And even as I manage to calm my asthma down, the figure was gone. And the feeling had faded away.

I sigh heavily, placing my inhaler back in my pocket and opening the door. Relief floods through me as I walk into my house, my eyes drifting to my mother who had fallen asleep on the couch. I smile as I walk toward her, grabbing the remote from the side table and turning the tv off.

"Taking care of your Mom as always." I hear a voice say, one I hadn't heard in a long time.

I let the remote fall from my hands as I turn my head towards the sound of the voice. My eyes widen in panic and horror as the blue figure steps out of the kitchen doorway, and into view.

My father smiles at me, his body a strange see-through blue. Like from Star Wars. His eyes drift to mine, and his smile falters for a moment. His brows furrow as he takes a step closer and points to himself.

"Can you see me, Dare-Bear?" He asks, and I inhale deeply.

And then I turn around and head straight out the door. I ignore him calling my name, jumping down the steps, and grabbing my bike.

"Dare- YN wait! We need to talk if you can see me-"

"I am not talking to a figment of my imagination Dad!" I pause as I look at him, before shaking my head. "This isn't okay."

He calls out for me as I peddle down the street, with only one destination in mind. To the one person who I knew I could count on. Hopper.

---

I had seen his car speed down the street from the road I was about to turn on. And I failed to get him to stop. And after chasing him, for what seemed to be hours, I caught up to him. His car was left on a trail deep in the woods, I could see the cabin not too far from the car. And after I stopped and used the rest of my inhaler, I decided to take my time with actually getting to the door.

"Why is he all the way out here?" I mutter to myself, huffing as I drop my bike next to his car.

As I walk towards the house, I notice a small flash near the ground. I frown before moving my head back and seeing it again.

"Is that a wire, or a spider web?" I ask, before kneeling and putting my hand out.

My eyes widen as I feel the thick wire against my fingertips, and I launch myself backward. I sit on my butt, staring at it in confusion before inhaling deeply.

"It's probably nothing." I stand up, stepping over the trip wire carefully, and then walk to the house.

As I walk onto the wooden porch, I hear footsteps on the other side of the wall. I quietly kneel, trying to creep to the door, feeling like something was off. Maybe my gut was just going haywire, but something wasn't right.

Kneeling in front of the door, I listen in on what was going on inside. The tv was playing in another room, but heavy footsteps were moving around in the living room. I frown heavily before I reach into my pocket and get the bobby pins from it. I swallow down the lump in my throat, slide the pins into the door, and slowly try to pick it. I could feel the cold October breeze against the back of my neck and against my cheeks as I heard the audible click, and how it went silent on the inside.

I quickly turn the handle and push the door open, climbing to my feet before raising my hands.

"WHOA WHOA HOP! IT'S ME!" I yell as I was met with the barrel of the gun. "It's just me Hop, don't shoot."

He stares at me in disbelief, before lowing the gun and putting the safety on. "Jesus Christ Kid. You almost got yourself killed! Why the hell are you here? Did you follow me?"

I slowly drop my hands to my side and shake my head, before nodding. "Yeah, I followed you. But for a good reason! I needed to talk to you about something! I saw-"

"No, Kid you need to go home. You can tell me tomorrow-" And he tried to push me out the door before the door opened behind him.

We froze as I looked over his shoulder and made eye contact with someone else who I thought was dead, or gone. But she wasn't blue like he was.

"Hopper, what the fuck?" I say slowly, turning to him in disbelief.

---

I cover my eyes as I try to digest what he had just told me. How he had been hiding her for months. How she had been with him for months and didn't tell us shit.

"Look, Kid. I understand that you're upset-"

I scoff and shake my head, lifting my hands from my face. "No Hop, I'm not upset. I'm angry and confused. Because I don't know what is going on with me, and now you’re adding this-"

"Whoa whoa whoa. Hey, what do you mean you don't know what's going on with you? What's going on with you?" He asked as he kneeled down in front of me, with Eleven to my right.

I fiddle with my fingers before I look at him again.

"It's crazy Hop. I think I might be going crazy." I whisper, my voice breaking as I feel my emotions starting to boil over.

He frowns and shakes his head. "You're not crazy, why would you think you're crazy Kid?"

I exhale deeply before sniffing slightly. "I saw Dad."

He paused, his face frozen in confusion and disbelief before he frowned again. 'What do you mean, you saw your Dad?"

I inhale deeply as I cross my arms and lean back against the couch. "I was on my way home, from the party. And I saw him, on my street. I didn't recognize him because I didn't get close to him. I felt like I was being watched, so I ran home. And when I walked in, he was in the kitchen so I didn't notice him." I pause as I look back at Hopper. "But then he said, 'Taking care of your Mom as always.' And I just froze."

Hopper rubbed his hand over his mouth, nodding his head.

"And then, we made eye contact. And he asked me if I could see him. And I just ran, Hop. I just ran away, because I was scared. I was remembering that night when I had- had found his body. And I just kept remembering that he was dead, and gone. He's gone-" I blink as my eyes begin to sting and tear up, and Hopper quickly brings me into his arms.

"He's dead, so why am I seeing him, Hop? I shouldn't- I can't." I sob as he comforts me, his hand on my back as he tries to calm me. I could feel El's hand on my shoulder as he patted my back.

"It's alright Kid. Calm down, it's alright. You're safe. Just calm down, take deep breaths." He inhales, and I struggle to copy him. "In and out Kid."

I close my eyes and focus on breathing in slowly, hearing him count down from three. And then we exhale before he nods his head. And we just breathe for a minute or two.

"Better?" He asks, and I nod my head pulling back and wiping my cheeks.

"Yeah. Thanks." I whisper before he nods his head.

"What did he look like exactly Kid? Can you tell me if anything was off about him?" Hopper questioned, no doubt wanting to figure out what was happening.

I nod my head. "He was blue and see-through. Like a Star Wars ghost. And he," I paused as I frowned, trying to remember how he looked. "He looked like the way he did before he died. No bullet wound, no blood. He looked normal."

Hopper sighed while nodding his head, standing up. He rubbed his chin in thought before I stood up.

"Hopper is there a chance-"

He shakes his head. "I don't know Kid. But if you see him again. Tell me, alright? I want you to call me."

I slowly nod my head before crossing my arms. "Can I stay here with El? Just for tonight?"

He stares at me before nodding his head with a huff. "Fine, alright. But be sure to not tell anyone, alright? We can't have them learning that she's still alive."

Looking down at El, I nod my head. "Alright, will do Hop."

---

Dare yawned as she opened her eyes, the new day arriving, and a feeling of dread settling into her stomach. As she sat up on the makeshift bed on the floor beside El, she looked over at the girl who was sleeping peacefully. She sighed and slowly got to her feet and opened the door. Hopper was already awake, and he turned to her as she walked out, shutting the door behind her.

"Morning Kid."

She smiled thinly before nodding. "Morning Hop."

He looked at her as he popped some Eggos into the toaster before he place some on a plate in front of her. With a frown, she shook her head and pushed the plate an inch away from her.

"No thanks, Hop. I'm not hungry." She muttered before clearing her throat. "Can you take me home? I need to get ready for school, and check on Dustin."

Hopper stared at her for a moment before nodding with a sigh. "Alright Kid."

---

I inhaled deeply as I stepped out of Hopper's car, waving him goodbye before he stopped me.

"Remember what we talked about."

I nod my head before turning back towards the front door. As I push my keys in, Mom swings the door open and pulls me into a hug.

"Oh, Dare-Bear! I was so worried about you! I almost called the Wheelers to see if you were staying at Nancy's!" She exclaimed loudly in my ear and I force a thin smile onto my face.

"I did Mom, just didn't feel good so I headed home," I say as I pull back from her hug, my eyes drifting towards the figure I had seen the night before.

"You ready to talk?" He asked gently, his arms crossed as he looked at me.

I sigh and push past Mom. "I think I'll stay home today Mom. I'm not feeling well still."

"Oh alright- Would you like me to make some soup?"

I shake my head. "No, I just want to rest Mom."

I walk into the hall, looking back at Dad before Dustin opens his door.

"Dare! You won't believe what I found-"

I close my eyes as I open my door. "Not now Dustin, please."

And I close the door behind me before collapsing on my bed and closing my eyes.

I inhale deeply and open my eyes, noticing Dad standing in front of the door.

"Alright," I say as I sit up, crossing my legs and turning to him. "What the hell is going on Dad?"

#stranger things #eddie munson x yn #eddie munson x henderson!reader #eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x fem!reader #yn dare henderson #hawkins #steve harrington #nancy wheeler #jonathan byers #will byers #mike wheeler #the freaking rebel #chief hopper #eleven

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bagsybaggins · 10 months

Text

Chapter 7: MadMax

[Previous Chapter]

YN groaned as she rubbed her eyes, leaning back in her chair as Eddie sat on her bed and wrote in his notebook.

"Should I add in the wrathful king to this game?" He blurted out, turning to her.

Instead of turning around, she leaned her head back and looked at him upside down.

"What's his reason for being wrathful?" She asked, raising her brow.

He looked back at his notebook, flipping a few pages back before stopping. "His wife had been possessed and cursed. And she sacrificed her life to protect them all from dying."

YN hummed before nodding. "Yeah, sure. Maybe even add in her ghost. Like it's not her, but a twisted projection of her to manipulate the King even more."

Eddie grins and nods his head, grabbing his pencil and scratching it into his notebook.

A knock on her door interrupted the silence, and she turned towards it as it opened.

"Dare-" Dustin paused as he saw Eddie on the bed, before shaking his head. "Do you have any money? We're hitting the arcade later on tonight and I don't have any quarters."

YN blinked before lifting her left arm and looking at her watch. She sighed when it read 5:24 pm.

"I'll spare a little, but I'm going to head out later so I can't give you everything." She muttered before sitting up and opening her right drawer.

Dustin grinned and held out his hand as she gave him 3 dollars. "Who's that?" He whispered to her as she put her hand on the door.

"It's my friend, Eds. Now move it ya twerp." She closed the door in front of him before turning around.

Eddie grinned up at her bed as he stuck his pencil behind his ear. "We're friends?"

She rolled her eyes as a smile crossed her lips, her hand pushing his shoulder. "Shut up Ed. You know we're friends. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here."

He nodded his head in agreement before looking back at his notebook. "True, true."

She sighed and fell back into her chair, glancing at her unfinished homework with a frown.

"Wanna go to the arcade?" She blurted out as she looked back at Eddie who had the eraser of his pencil in between his teeth.

---

YN kicked the machine as she died, again. All her money was almost gone.

"Another loss for little miss geek." Eddie grinned from his place to her left. His eyes moved up from the game over the screen to look at her.

She glared at him shaking her head. "Shut up Ed, you know these games are just rigged to get your money."

He snickered as she brushed past him. "Sure, says another loser who can't play games well."

She whirled around, walking backward, and flipped him off. "I can too play! I just-"

"Suck?"

"No, I'm just off my game." At Eddie's raised brow she scoffed. "Shut up."

As she passed one of the games, she noticed the score in the right corner and gaped. She leaned in next to the player, not paying attention to who it was.

"HOLY SHIT! You beat my little brother's High Score! He's gonna be pissed!" YN exclaimed, shocking the person who had been playing.

They jumped slightly, not expecting anyone to basically yell in their ear, causing their hand to jiggle. The game screen changed, reading 'Game over.'

"Oh shit, my bad-" YN looked over at the red-haired girl with a grimace. "Didn't mean to make ya lose."

The girl shook her head, looking away from YN. "No, it's fine-"

YN dug into her pocket, pulling out her last few coins. "How about I give you this, as payment."

The girl shook her head as she moved the joystick to type in her name in the game. "No, it's cool. I would've died anyway."

Dare raised a brow at the girl, glancing at the name before grinning. "Mad Max huh. Well Max, how about I challenge you to that game right over there?"

Max turned towards where Dare was pointing, noticing the two-player shooting game. She turned to Dare and raised her brow.

"Why?"

Dare shrugged. "I think I wanna get to know the one who beat the shit out of my brother's high score. Plus you seem cool."

Max stared at her for a moment, before nodding her head. "Alright. I'll play."

Eddie spoke up from behind Dare. "You'll kick her ass, Max, she isn't too good at games."

Max looked up at him from over Dare's shoulder before Dare pushed him. "Shut up."

Max smiled lightly before heading over to the game, Dare, and Eddie following behind her. Dare glared at Eddie as he pushed his shoulder against hers, nearly making her tumble into an arcade machine. She rubbed her shoulder before throwing her shoulder into him, knocking him into another person.

She laughed as she ran towards Max, who looked over at them with her brows raised.

"Ready?" Dare smiled as she stepped up beside her, pulling the money out of her pocket.

Max nodded her head, and Dare shoved the quarters into the machine. As the game started up, Eddie walked up behind them, glaring lightly at Dare, who smirked at him before turning back to the screen.

As criminal characters popped up on the screen, they pointed their guns at the screen and shot them. Max cursed as she missed one of them, casting a quick glance at Dare's side of the screen. Her eyes widened as she noticed how Dare hadn't missed any of them, how Dare's face was focused.

A voice narrated 'Game Over' as Max's character died, due to her not focusing. Dare grinned as she twirled the gun in her hand, pausing to blow on the fake barrel.

"How did you do that?" Eddie gasped as he noticed her high score.

Max looked over at her before her eyes widened at the High scoreboard. All of them said Dare.

"I'm a good shot, Ed."

Eddie gaped at her. "Dare, what the fuck."

"I feel like I was lead into a trap," Max said as she crossed her arms, a small grin on her face.

YN laughed and shook her head. "Nah, just wanted to see if your skills were the real deal or not."

Max raised her brow in confusion. "And did you?"

YN grinned. "Yeah. I did. I'm impressed, Max."

Max nodded her head, looking at the ground. "Thanks, I guess."

YN nudged Max's shoulder, "Yeah, no problem. Wanna go again? Get your skills to grow?"

Max paused, looking at the clock before nodding her head. "Sure. I can play a game or two."

---

I grin to myself as I push past the boys, going up to the high school.

"Later Boys!" I yell.

"Bye Dare!" "Tell me if you find out who Max is!"

I shake my head slightly pulling to a stop at the bike rack. I sigh as I kick the stand up, turning around and looking for Nancy. When I notice Steve's car a little further down the lot, I groan and adjust my bag on my shoulder. I walk over towards the car, making sure to flip off Carol and her two friends. As she rolls her eyes at me, I turn back to the car that I was approaching.

I knock on the window, breaking them out of their lover's gaze.

"Move it, Harrington! She's got Algebra for first class." I grin as Nancy glares at me.

As she opened the door, the sound of tires screeching causes me to turn around. I watch as a car pulls into the parking lot, a familiar face in the passenger seat. I grin as the car parks, the driver getting out of the car. But I ignore them as Max steps out of the car.

"Hey, Max!"

Max turns to me, along with the driver, and I wave at her. She smiles thinly and nods her head at me, before throwing her skateboard down. I smile before looking over at Nancy who gave me a confused look.

"What, I met her at the Arcade. She beat Dustin's score, I had to get to know her."

Nancy shook her head as she shut the car door, smiling at me. "Of course, you manage to become friends with someone that you don't even know."

I chuckle and walk towards the school. "Of course Nance. It's my thing."

I glance over at the car, noticing the driver still looking at me. I raise a brow at him before he smirks and walks towards the school.

[Next Chapter]

#stranger things #eddie munson x fem!reader #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x henderson!reader #eddie munson #steve harrington #dustin henderson #yn dare henderson #the freaking rebel #will byers #eleven #nancy wheeler #mike wheeler #lucas sinclair #jonathan byers #chief hopper #hawkins

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bagsybaggins · 10 months

Text

Chapter 6: Rockin' Friendship

[Previous Chapter]

It had been a little shorter than a year since the Demogorgon fight. Since Will came back, and Eleven disappeared. YN's arm had healed up fully, with three jagged scratches on her left arm, and a jagged hole-shaped scar on her right shoulder. Not to mention the small puncture wounds on her ankle. Her hair was slightly longer, tied up in a ponytail with her bangs curled and pinned to the side.

"By Dustin! Be careful!" YN yelled as she stood at the front door, her hat slightly lopsided as she tapped the brim against the doorframe.

Dustin waved his hand back at her before he went on his bike, peddling towards Mike's house.

She sighed softly, moving back into the house and shutting the door softly. She paused, turning towards the basement door before walking towards it. As she opened it, she felt the familiar cold shifting through her body. She tensed her jaw, jerking the handle and swinging the door open.

---

[HAWKINS 1973]

"Daddy? What's that?" YN asked as she leaned up on her tippy toes.

He sighed and shook his head. "It's nothing Dare-Bear. I'll show you it when you're older, alright?"

YN stared up at him with her eyes glimmering with curiosity as he grinned down at her.

"How much older?" She frowned.

He chuckled, lifting her into his lap, and closing the leather-bound book. "When you're 12, at least. Depends on if you remember it by then."

She giggled as he poked her stomach, ticking her. "I'll remember! I will!"

He grinned and sighed softly. "Alright. I'll show it to you then."

---

The police lights were shining around the Henderson household. YN looked ahead, a dull look in her eyes. Her hands were stained with blood, along with her nightgown. Her mother crying hysterically with Dustin in her arms. YN looked over at the door, where a stretcher carried out a large black bag.

YN stared at it as it moved passed her, being loaded into the ambulance.

The tear stains on her cheeks were covered with new tears as she cried again. Her voice was scratchy as she called out for her father. Her mother's hand tightened around her shoulder before YN collapsed onto her knees.

Her father was to be buried a week later.

---

[HAWKINS 1984: PRESENT TIME]

I flick on the light switch, looking around the basement for a moment. Turning to the desk, I inhale sharply as I remember the blood that had been on it. Leaving a permanent stain. I lift my hands onto the desk, my fingers just brushing against the wood before I close my eyes tightly.

Inhaling slowly I open my eyes and look down at the desk. I take a small step back, bringing my fingers to the first draw. I pull on it, frowning when it doesn't move. I kneel down, pulling one of the pins from my hair out and bending it. I stick my tongue out slightly as I try to wiggle the pin into the lock's sweet spot. Grinning when it pops, I slide the draw open, pulling my hairpin out. I frown slightly when I notice an obscene collection of pens and a few scattered pages of paper.

I pull out one of the papers, smiling as I flip it over, seeing a drawing of me and Dustin. I put it down, reaching back into the draw, huffing when the papers are trapped under the pens. Grabbing them at the handful, I drop them on the desk, pushing some back as they start rolling back to the edge of the desk. I pull out another piece of paper, another drawing. Of me holding Dustin after he had been born.

I smile widely as I put it down on top of the other one. I freeze when I see the next drawing. No colors, but black shading. I pick it up hesitantly, exhaling lightly.

It was of me. When I was in a coma. I looked peaceful but sick. And the lines in this drawing were sharp and dark. Unlike the other drawings.

I shakily put it down on top of the other drawings before I hear the sound of rapid knocking coming from above. I pull out my inhaler and walked up the stairs quickly to see who was at the front door.

I pull it open and my eyes widen in shock to see Eddie grinning at me.

"There she is, I've been knocking for an hour. Half tempted to crawl in through your window to come to check on you." Eddie fiddles with his denim jacket as he looks at me.

I scoff, crossing my arms as I lean against my doorway. "Oh really? And what do I owe the pleasure of being visited by the great and powerful Eddie Munson?"

He grins widely before he leans against the opposite side of my doorway, crossing his arms. "I was wondering, if the dear Rouge would like to join me and my mini group, at a concert this weekend in the town over."

I blink for a moment, before grinning and nodding my head. "I think I can manage to get a cover for a night or two. Who are we seeing?"

He sighs in relief. "Judas Priest is touring with a few other bands. I didn't actually catch who they were, but I figured it would be enough to just see them."

I uncross my arms and nod my head. "Alright, definitely." I look up at him before noticing the smudge on his left cheek. "Hey, you got something right there."

"Here?" He asks as he rubs his cheek, but in the wrong spot.

Laughing I shake my head, reaching up. "Here, let me."

He stills as I brush my thumb against it, feeling it flake off. As I pull away, I look down at my thumb, rubbing it against my index finger.

"Uhh, thanks." I nod my head, looking up at him before he rushes off to his van.

"You're welcome!" I yell back, confused as to why he left so quickly.

---

I bounced on my toes as I check my watch, gritting my teeth as I wait for Dustin.

"Dustin! Hurry up! We're gonna be late!" I yell through his door just before he opens it.

"I'm ready, I'm ready!" He brushes past me, sprinting to the door.

"I call shotgun!" He yells as he jumps down the steps.

"NO!" I chase after him, hitting the top of the car as he closes the passenger door, grinning at me.

I glare at him as I swing the back seat door open, "You're not safe Dustin, I'll get you-"

"Enough you two! Or there will be no movie."

I roll my eyes, crossing my arms as I hit the back of my seat with a thump. "Fine."

I glare at Dustin through the side door mirror, to which he grins and shows off his front teeth that had finally come through.

"What movie are you watching again?" Mom asks as she looks at me through the mirror.

"The Neverending Story Mom." I grin before adding. "Don't worry, it's totally PG."

She hmms before driving towards the movie theater.

---

"I can't believe they killed the horse," I mumbled as we walked out of the movies, Dustin nodding at my side.

"We don't tell Mom about that, right?" He asks, and I nod in agreement.

I look down at him for a moment before messing up his curly hair with a grin.

"It was a good movie though Dusty, not a bad choice."

He grinned up at me and nodded. "Yeah, it was."

---

I huff as I dig through my closet for something to wear to a metal concert. I take a moment to glance in the mirror. A plain black shirt and some ripped jeans with combat boots could pass.

I groan before I hear a knocking at my window. I turn around, my eyes widening as I see Eddie grinning at me through the glass. I shake my head, and move to the window, opening it.

"I thought we had agreed to meet down my street?"

He grins, his overgrown mullet shaking as he laughs. "Yeah, well I had figured since you were five minutes past your pick-up, you were in trouble." He glances down at me and grins a little wider, "And turns out I was right."

Gaping at him, I scoff and push his shoulder. "I am perfectly fine! I don't know what you're talking about-"

He lifts his foot inside, ignoring my protests as he sits on my window seal.

"Sweetheart, you're gonna stick out like a soar thumb. Even though the black shirt is a nice touch-"

I hit his shoulder. "I think I could pass-"

"Dare-Bear! You're going to be late for your slumber party with Nancy!" I hear Mom yell through the door.

I groan as Eddie grins at me, his brows shooting up.

"It's fine Mom! I'll be out in a minute!" I yell back before Eddie snickers.

"What?"

He looks at me, a teasing grin on his face. "Dare-Bear? That's adorable."

I glare at him with my lips pressed together. "Shut up or I'm going to push you out the window."

He glances over his shoulder, then looks back at me. "Not like it's a long fall-"

I plant my hands on his shoulder, pushing him out, but his hands catch the window frame. He looks at me with his eyes wide and shock written over his features.

"You really pushed me out-"

"You said it wasn't a long fall!" I hiss back.

"Dare?"

I look over my shoulder frantically before I remember that I had locked my door.

"I'm alright Mom! Just stubbed my toe!"

He chuckles softly and I turn back to him and nudge his shoulder.

"Get out of here, I'll be out in a minute."

He shakes his head and I feel my lips turn down in confusion. "Not with you looking like that."

Shaking my head with a small smile on my face. "I don't have anything else Eds."

He pauses for a moment, then his hands drift to the bottom of his shirt. A Judas Priest shirt I now realize, and he pulls it over his head. I gape at him in shock as he throws it at me. Pulling it off my head I look at him in confusion.

"So you fit in. Don't worry, I have something else." He climbed out the window and grinned at me. "See you in a few Dare-Bear."

I glare at him before he runs off the lawn, turning the corner behind our next-door neighbor's fence. Glancing down at the shirt I smile, closing the window and the blinds.

---

"Be back tomorrow!" I hear Mom say from the kitchen as I make my way out of the house.

"I will! Bye, Mom! Bye Dusty!" I wave at him with a grin before he looks up at me in confusion.

"Whose shirt is that?" He asks.

My eyes widen, and I glance over at the kitchen. "A friend's Dusty, don't worry about it. I'll tell you later."

He frowns and nods. "You better."

Grinning I nod, saluting quickly causing my hat to be brushed upwards. "Got it Dusty. Be back later!"

I hop out of the door, letting it shut behind me before I run across the front lawn. I turn to the right and smile as I see Eddie's van just at the end of the block. I double-check my jacket pocket for my inhaler and my wallet before I sprint to the van.

"Open up, it's the police!" I yell into the passenger window, laughing as I see them jump.

I raise a brow as Eddie shoves Gareth in the back, leaning over and opening the passenger seat.

"I thought you had another shirt," I say as I hop inside the van, noticing the lack of a shirt under his denim vest.

He grins, his eyes flashing to mine as he starts up the engine. "Why? Disappointed that I'm wearing the vest?"

Scoffing, I shake my head with a smile. "No, I just think that if anyone is gonna stick out, it'll be you."

He laughs as I turn in the seat and wave at Jeff and Gareth. "Hey boys, been a while since I've seen ya."

Jeff nods and Gareth grins lightly. "Yeah, last saw you in the campaign. You kicked Eddie's ass by winning so quickly. I don't think he's recovered just yet either."

I chuckle as I notice Eddie giving Gareth a death glare. "Yeah, I think so too. I mean, why else would he stop hanging out with me?"

He glanced at me briefly before looking back at the road. "Well, I had to readjust my crown, since you knocked it off-kilter. Plus, I've been thinking of what to do for our next campaign."

"Hmhmm, sure. Not just ignoring me because of your bruised ego."

---

I wipe the sweat from my brow as we walk back towards the van. The whole experience was awesome. I glance over at Eddie, who was grinning like a maniac. I laugh as I remember when the band had finally walked across the stage. How everything seemed to just buzz to life. I hear a distant voice shouting something, and when I turn to my right, I notice they were selling tour shirts.

I grin and jog past people, and stop in front of the stand. When they ask me what I wanted I pointed to one of the shirts that had caught my eye. I look over my shoulder, noticing Eddie and the other two walking toward me. I turn back to exchange the cash for the shirt, thanking them quickly.

I walk back to Eddie as he looks at me in confusion before I shove the shirt at his head. "Payback."

He pulls it off before grinning down at the shirt.

---

Dare yawned as she looked up through the windshield at the night sky. She glanced back through the van before sighing. "They fell asleep."

Eddie glanced at her before looking through the mirror and scoffing. "Not surprised. But I am that you're still awake."

She laughs looking at him. "Yeah, well I've always had trouble with falling asleep."

He looks over at her, his brows furrowed slightly in concern. When she noticed his stare she shook her head with a scoff.

"It's fine. It's something I've had since I was a kid. Mom says I got it from my Dad." She pauses before shuffling through his glove box.

"I think you're supposed to ask before you grab people's things." He chuckles as she pulls out his cassettes.

She smiles and shakes her head, reading the titles. "I've never been good at doing that. Just, shoot and ask questions later type of gal."

He raises a brow as she opens one of the cassettes.

He laughs as the sound of Meatloaf plays through the speaker, somehow still not rousing the sleeping pair in the back of the van.

"Didn't take you for a meatloaf fan." He said over the music before she pushes the skip button.

"I wouldn't say I'm a major fan, but I do have a favorite song." Dare grinned as she stopped and let the song finish, moving on to the next one.

As 'Dead Ringer for Love' played she grinned widely, looking over at Eddie.

"Really?" He asked, "This is you're favorite?"

She nods her head. "I don't have a reason. It just is."

He scoffs with a smile as she begins to mumble the lyrics to herself.

"You got me begging on my knees, c'mon and throw the dog a bone." He sings half of the tune as she turns to him.

She grins. "A man he doesn't live by rock 'n roll and brew alone."

"Baby, Baby!" They sang together before the chorus came.

"Rock 'n roll and brew, rock 'n roll and brew. They don't mean a thing when I compare 'em next to you!" They smiled as they bounced to the sound. "Rock 'n roll and brew, rock 'n roll and brew."

Eddie turned to her. "I know that you and I, we got better things to do. I don't know who you are, or what you do. Or where you go when you're not around."

"I don't know anything about you baby." "But you're everything I'm dreaming of."

Dare grins and bobs her head to the song. "I don't know who you are, but you're a real dead ringer for love."

Eddie paused as he gazed at her from the corner of his eye, his grin still frozen on his face. His face grew warm as she made eye contact with him, still singing along with the song. And his heart skipped its normal synchronized beat.

---

"Bye Eddie! Thanks for taking me with you. It was awesome." Dare grinned as she stood in front of her house.

Eddie nodded his head "It's not a problem, I'm glad you could come with. And thank you. For the shirt."

She nodded her head before taking a step back. "I should sneak back inside, I'll see you later?"

He grinned. "Of course."

She smiled and nodded to herself. "Alright. Goodnight Eds."

"Goodnight Sweetheart."

Dare smiled as she walked across her lawn, glancing back at him before pushing her window open. As she climbed in, she heard him pull away from the curb, and drive away. She sighed softly as her feet landed on her floorboard, and she closed the window behind her.

With a click, she jumped as her lights turned on. She turned around, she found Dustin standing in her doorway holding a hockey stick that had been Dad's.

"What the shit Dustin! You scared the fuck out of me." She hissed at him before he pointed the hockey stick at her.

"Oh, I scared you? You scared me! I thought you were the Demogorgon or something!"

She paused for a moment before sighing heavily, leaning back against the window. "I'm sorry, I just got back."

He frowned and lowered the stick. "I thought you were sleeping over at Nancy's?"

She inhaled as she looked down at Dustin. She shook her head, crossing her arms. "I lied, to Mom. You can't tell her, alright?"

Dustin nodded his head, moving to sit down on her chair. "So where were you? And who were you with?"

She smiled as she moved to her bed, sitting cross-legged on the end.

"I was at a concert. A metal concert." She explained, his face falling to a frown at the metal concert. "Yeah, I know. It wasn't your type of stuff. But it was, awesome Dusty."

She grinned widely and he smiled. "Really?"

Nodding her head, "Totally. It was like, having a shit ton of candy, and soda. And you're on the sugar rush, but you're on it until the end of it. And even afterward, you still feel it. You can still hear the music drumming through your ears, going along with your heartbeat. It's amazing."

He stares at her with wide eyes, his mouth pulled into a smile as she giggled. "I think you would've liked it."

He nodded. "Maybe I would've. But who did you go with?"

She waved her hand. "One of my friends, Eds. He had a spare ticket and offered it to me."

He raised a brow. "Eds? Are you sure he's just a friend?"

Dare grinned and pushed him lightly in his arm. "Shut up. And yes, he's just a friend Dusty."

Dustin grins, "Yeah sure he is."

"Oh shut up!"

[Next Chapter]

9 notes · View notes

bagsybaggins · 10 months

Text

Chapter 5: The Battle

[Previous Chapter]

YN laid on top of the middle school bleachers, her bandaged ankle in the space between the two rows. Her eyes closed as she tried to rest her eyes. She could feel Mike's anxious foot tapping through shaking in the bleachers. When he suddenly stood up, she lifted her arm and looked at him.

"Where are you going?" She asked as he headed towards the door.

"I'm just checking on Jonathan and Nancy-"

YN sighed. "They aren't here."

Mike turned back to her with confusion on his face, Dustin and Lucas also facing her.

"Well, where did they go?"

YN shrugged, opening her mouth to answer before Eleven interrupts her.

"Demogorgon."

--- Steve hitting the Demogorgon with the bat---

I glance over at Eleven and Mike, who were sitting at the table near the window. I could take a guess that he was telling her what pudding was, and hopefully, he didn't make it sound gross.

Turning back to Lucas and Dustin, I grab a thing of chocolate pudding. Cracking it open, I walk to the cabinet, pulling out the bag of spoons.

"How do you know that's there?" I hear Dustin ask.

Smirking I put my spoon into the pudding, turning back to him. "Pulled a small prank, and hid all the utensils. Didn't get caught too."

Dustin grins as Lucas looks at me in confusion.

"So my sister is a badass too!" Dustin exclaimed and I laugh as I stick the spoon in my mouth, I rubbed his head and walked back to Eleven.

"I've always been a badass Dusty." I look at him from over my shoulder. "You just couldn't see it."

I sit down beside Eleven before noticing that Mike wasn't there. I frown in confusion before I notice the lights coming from outside the window. Just as I stand up to go and look, Mike runs back in.

"Guys, the Bad men. They found us."

Our eyes widen before I grab Dustin's shoulder and push him forward towards the doors.

"Move, move!" I feel a cold feeling washover as we all scramble to the doors.

I glance over my shoulder as I close the doors before turning to run with them down the hall. Eleven was in front and I was in the back. Dustin was the closest to me, with Lucas and Mike not too far from him. The adrenaline was flooding through me as we sprinted around the corner near the closest exit. But it was too late.

"Shit, Come on!" I yell as I grab Dustin and Lucas back down the hall, before grabbing Mike and Eleven's wrists and running again.

But as we turn the corner, lights are shined in our faces, with guns attached to them. I hesitate for a moment as the other 'bad men' walk into our hall, effectively cornering us. I glare at them, and position myself in front of my family, glaring at the woman who pointed her gun at me.

I feel someone grab my hand, but I didn't turn to see who it was. Afraid that if I did, someone would get hurt.

My brows furrow as I notice their eyes starting to cry blood, and I take a chance and look at Eleven. I stare at her in shock as the bodies drop, hitting the floor lifelessly. And as her eyes start closing, I move forward and catch her before she could collapse. My hand slipped out of whoever was holding mine.

"El? Eleven? Can you open your eyes for me?" I say as I gently tap her cheek and move onto my knees.

Mike, Dustin, and Lucas move down in front of me in worry as we try to wake her. But she was unconscious. I curse aloud at the sound of the door opening, turning to look over my shoulder as an old man and armed soldiers walk in.

"Hey! Let me go!"

I turn back at the sound of Dustin's yelling, my eyes wide at the soldiers who held them.

"Give her to me." I look back over my soldier to see the old man looking down at me.

Glaring at him, I grit my teeth before noticing the gun that was at my foot. As I look back at him I tighten my grasp on Eleven who was slowly coming back to consciousness.

"You'll have to kill me first, you fucking asshole." I sneer at him, before reaching for the gun.

I cough as I feel a burning in my shoulder, the old man pushing me away from Eleven as I hear them scream my name. I fell onto my right side as my back collided with the wall, the pain burning down my right arm and shoulder. I push myself up slowly, my left hand pushing me up from the floor before I leaned against the wall. I look down at my right shoulder, inhaling sharply as I see the blood spilling from my right shoulder.

"You son of a bitch! I'll kill you!" I hear Dustin scream, causing me to look up at them.

I wheezed as I tried to exhale, the adrenaline fading as the shock slowly set in.

I'd been shot. In my shoulder. They shot me.

The sound of the wall breaking, causes everyone to freeze. And as we all turn towards the end of the hall, fear floods me as the Demogorgon breaks through the wall. The sound of rapid-fire floods my ears, and I feel someone pulling my left shoulder. I numbly stand up, following Dustin as he stops to pick up Eleven. I reach down and grab one of the guns from the floor, cradling my arm around my waist.

Dustin glances back at me as I tumble into a locker. I nod my head to him, stepping forward as we turn into a science classroom. I put the gun down on the teacher's desk as they help move El onto the back table. Digging through my pocket, I pull out my inhaler, the gunfire still going on in the background along with the sound of screams.

But as it fell silent, I turn towards the door, my hand slipping the inhaler back into my pocket. I grab the gun from the desk, wincing as I move my right shoulder slightly. I back up towards the boys, glancing at Dustin who shared a look of fear. I jump, tensing as the door was knocked off. I was the only thing between the Demogorgon and my family.

I raise the gun in my left hand, not my dominant hand, but I had tried it before.

I fired the first shot, missing.

Fired the second shot, and barely cut its arm.

Fired the third shot, it was closer than before. But the bullet pierced its flesh. But it showed no effect.

It roared, its face opening as I pulled the trigger rapidly, hitting it square in the chest. But then its clawed hand sent me flying as it hit me. My head hit the wall, and the lights went out for me.

---

Dare groaned as the fogginess in her mind slowly started to clear. The ringing in her ears slowly dissipated as she became conscious again. As she opened her eyes, she could hear the steady beating of a heart monitor. The bright light from the ceiling blinded her before she turned her head to her left. She flexed and twitched her fingers around Dustin's hand, smiling as his snores lessened as he awoke.

"Hey there Nerd. Enjoy your little nap?" She grinned as his eyes widened.

She let out an 'oomph' as he hugged her tightly, and she hissed as she moved her arms around him.

"You scared the shit out of me," Dustin said quietly as they hugged, his voice slightly muffled by her hospital gown.

She lifted her left arm and gently patted his hair, nodding her head. "I know Dusty. I'm sorry."

As they parted, she grinned widely. "But hey, if asthma couldn't take me on, neither can a Demogorgon or any other interdimensional monster."

He cracked a sad grin nodding his head as he wiped his face from the stray tears. "Yeah, you're tough shit."

She laughed loudly before groaning at the pain that rippled through her shoulder. He looked at her in worry before she leaned back against the pillow.

"What happened? After I got knocked out?" She whispered.

He looked down at the bed before sighing. "El fought it, she's gone through. We couldn't find her."

Dare's eyes widened before she closes her eyes and cursed. "Shit. God dammit."

Dustin frowns as he looks at her before turning towards the door when he heard footsteps enter the room. Dare paused and looked at Nancy with wide eyes, who returned the look and then ran at her.

"You scared me, you idiot." Nancy cried as she hugged Dare, being mindful of her shoulder.

Dare sniffled as she returned the hug. "Yeah, well, I'm not sorry. " She laughs as Nancy glares at her. "I couldn't do anything, Nancy. I got hurt-"

"You were protecting us!" Dustin defended as she looked down at him.

"Yeah, and what good did that do Dusty? We lost El. And Barb-" Her eyes widen, "Wait, did they find Will?"

Nancy and Dustin nod. "Yeah, they found him. He's just a few doors down. I don't think he's awake just yet." Nancy whispered.

Dare sighed in relief before she laid her head back down on her pillow. "So, what. The monster's gone? We're safe now?"

Nancy and Dustin share a glance before shrugging.

"Yeah, I guess it is. I mean, El killed it." Dustin muttered.

Dare sighed before laughing slightly. "Good, I don't wanna be involved if there is a next time. I got scratched twice and shot."

Dustin and Nancy smile and Dustin nods. "So ignore your rule about telling you about it?"

---

Dare glared at the ceiling as she lay on the hospital bed for the second night. Her mother told her she needed 'time' to recover. She closed her eyes, trying to null out the sound of the heart monitor.

"Hey there Stranger."

She jolted as Eddie walks in, his hands in his front jeans pockets.

"Hey, Eddie. Wasn't expecting to see you here." YN smiled with her brows furrowed in confusion.

Eddie grinned and nodded his head as he stepped into the room. "Neither did I, but the news got around that YN Henderson was in the hospital and involved in the incident that happened at Hawkin's middle school. I had to come and see for myself."

He plopped down into the chair by her bedside and leaned towards her, his eyes cast down towards her bandaged arm.

"So what, happened?" He asked, tapping his finger against the edge of the bandage lightly.

YN narrowed her eyes before grinning. "What's the rumor say? About what happened?"

His eyes darted up to hers before he leaned back and crossed his arms. "Rumor is, that there was an animal that ran loose and killed people. And that you and you're brother and his friends were just in the wrong place wrong time." He then snapped his fingers and pointed at her. "Oh and that the boy, Will Byers, had been kidnapped and they staged a body to look like him."

Dare gaped at him before laughing and shaking her head. "That's one hell of a rumor Eddie. Are you sure you didn't just make all of that up for a campaign?"

He grinned widely and leaned forward. "Would you mind if I did?"

She shook her head. "Knock yourself out, Eddie."

He hummed before his smile slipped just slightly, looking at her seriously. "So what really happened? At the school?"

Dare stared at him before sighing and looking ahead of her.

"I don't remember a lot. But there was a," She paused for a moment, thinking of what she could say. "A wild animal of some sort. Like a monster, its face was messed up. And I don't think it even had eyes."

She turned to him and sighed. "I got shot, by them. They had been aiming for the animal, whatever it was. They missed and got me instead. Then I got pounced on and was knocked out. After that, I was waking up in the hospital."

Eddie frowned leaning forward. "Why were you even there to begin with?"

She smiled slightly. "We were wanting to do an experiment. With the radio. But it got busted. When we tried to leave, we were already trapped."

Eddie sighed and nodded, patting her hand before grabbing it. "Well, I'm glad you're alright. Couldn't lose one of my freak friends, now could I?" He grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

Dare smiled and squeezed his hand. "Finally admitting that I'm not a geek, Munson?"

He laughed and shook his head. "No, you're still a geek. But you're a geeky freak. And now you got some awesome scars to prove it."

Rolling her eyes, she laughed. "Oh, so the scars are the only reason I'm classified as a freak?"

"Well no-"

[Next Chapter]

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bagsybaggins · 10 months

Text

Chapter 4: The Monster

[Previous Chapter]

I glanced at Jonathan in disbelief as I was told of what they had found out so far.

"You took pictures of us?" I blurt out, crossing my arms and leaning on my right leg.

He sputters for a moment before Nancy speaks up.

"That doesn't matter anymore Dare. We think we know what took Barb, and we're going to go out tonight to see if we can find it." She steps in front of me, putting her hands on my shoulders. "I want you there with me Dare-"

"Nancy, it'll be dangerous even for us-" Jonathan interrupts, sparing me a glance. "Look, Dare, I know you want to help-"

I scoff and shake my head, brushing Nancy's hands off my shoulders. Turning to Jonathan I push my finger into his chest. "I'm gonna stop you right there Jonny-boy. If this thing took Barb and Will? I'm coming with you guys. And dangerous?" I grin slightly, turning to Nancy. "I've told you guys that's practically my middle name. Plus, you'll need me if we come face to face with that thing."

Nancy rolls her eyes. "Dare, I know you have never been arrested before. Stop trying to tell me that you have been-"

Throwing my hands in the air I groan. "Nancy, I wasn't talking about that. But it is true!"

"Then what were you talking about?" Jonathan asks as Nancy glares at me.

Turning to him I smile, crossing my arms. "You'll see later. Where are we meeting?"

---

"Nancy, don't you think this sort of insane though?" I ask from on top of her Mom's car, my right leg crossed under my left leg. I grab another chip from the bag, popping it into my mouth as Nancy grabs a baseball bat.

"What? The fact that a monster took Barbra?" She looks over at me. "Or the fact that Monsters exist?"

I snort as I swing my leg back and forth. "Both? I mean, I meant that it was weird to see you around Jonny."

She swings the bat before laughing. "Why do you call him that? I didn't even know that the two of you were friends."

Shrugging my shoulders I noticed something move from the corner of my eyes. "I'm not sure. I just remember calling him that for as long as I remember."

She keeps swinging the bat around, and I turn my head to look at who was approaching us. I raise a brow as Steve makes his way toward us. I jump off the car, dodging the swinging bat with a laugh.

"Meet ya later Alligator." I wave my hand at her, throwing the empty bag of chips into the open trashcan.

"Steve." I nod my head at him before walking to my bike.

Hopping on the bike, I glance back at her and Steve, before I push off and head to my house.

---

[HAWKINGS: 1973]

"Where's my Dare-bear?" A man calls out, hunched over as he looks under the table.

A six-year-old YN covers her mouth with her hand as she giggles. The man narrowed his eyes in the direction of the potted plant, a smile gracing his face.

"I can't seem to find my Dare-bear." He pouts and turns towards the kitchen, slowly walking away. "I guess I'll have to eat all this candy all by myself."

YN audibly gasps, jumping out of her hiding spot and running towards her father. "Daddy!"

He turns around and bends down and picks her up. "Gotcha!"

She laughs as he places a wet kiss on her cheeks. "Daddy! Don't eat all the candy!"

He laughs and shakes his head. "Of course not Sweet pea. Now, how about we go-"

---

The door slowly creaked open, the dim light of the moon casting shadows across the room. YN slowly crept into the basement, her stuffed toy bear dangling from her fingers, its leg dragging against the ground.

"Daddy?" She hesitantly whispered, the stairs creaking as she took another step into the room.

‘Dare, don't come into this room. Unless it's something serious, alright?' She had remembered Dad telling her before, making her hesitate. 'This is where Daddy does his projects, and he shouldn't be bothered alright?'

YN inhaled softly, tightening her grasp on her bear. "Daddy, I had a nightmare. And I'm too scared to go back to sleep." She said gently as she stepped onto the stone-cold floor.

She frowned as she didn't hear a reply. Her eyes drifted around the dark room, noticing the strange pictures and papers on the wall. Silently, she takes a step towards the desk that was off to the right, noticing the glass that was knocked over. Pressing her lips together she stands on her toes, reaching over the desk. She drops her bear, putting her left hand on the desk to push herself up as she barely brushes against the glass.

She slowly puts the glass upright and sighs as she takes a step back. She frowned heavily as she felt something coating her hand, and she looks down at her hands. Her eyes widened, her breath stopping in her throat.

Then she hears a small soft sound of something hitting the ground. Turning to her left, towards the dark corner, hesitantly taking a step forward.

"Daddy?"

---

[HAWKINS: 1983]

YN breathed in deeply as she stared at the basement door in front of her. She flexed her fingers as she slowly exhaled, before grabbing the doorknob. Twisting it, it clicked open and the darkness of the basement caused a shiver to crawl up her spine.

Closing her eyes briefly, she shook off the memories sneaking into her mind. Huffing, she opened her eyes and walked down the stairs, flicking the light as she passed. She paused as she saw the room again, for the first time in years. Her gaze instinctively darted to the corner, before she shook her head while pulling out her inhaler. She walked to the storage closet, opening it she noticed the box was in the corner underneath the shelf behind some spray paint.

Kneeling down, YN moves the cans out of the way and pulls the box towards her. She inhales deeply as she opens the box, and prepares for the night that would come.

---

"Screw that." I hear Nancy say before the sound of a gun being fired is heard.

I whistle as she manages to hit the can, and they turn towards me. "That was impressive Nancy. Good shot!"

She grins, giving me a small nod. "Thank you." Her eyes dart down to my empty hands and her brows furrow. "Did you not bring anything?"

I snort before shaking my head, reaching behind my back, and pulling out my gun. "Only brought this and a handful of bullets. Figured that we wouldn't need much else, right?"

Nancy's brows shoot up as she and Jonathan look at each other.

"Do you know how to shoot?" He asks causing me to laugh.

"You guys need to believe me sometimes. Of course, I can shoot." I say as I point my pistol at the farthest can.

I squint my eyes as I try to align my gun with the can before I groan and just shoot. I grin as a soft ping is heard, and the can disappears from its spot.

"Wow." Nancy gapes at me as I blow on the barrel of the gun like they had done in the movies.

I wave her off. "Don't sweat it, Nance. I've had years of this, so you're a natural since you did this for the first time."

She turns to me, walking closer, and asks me in a low voice. "So, have you been telling the truth this whole time? About, ya know."

I smirk and look over at Jonathan. "I think it's time to head out. And once this is over, you can ask Hopper if you'd like."

Nancy sputtered as I walk off before she runs after me. "No, tell me now! Dare!"

---

I ignore the bickering between Nancy and Jonathan, shaking my head as they go back and forth, taking turns to yell at each other. I wasn't exactly going to wait for them to stop yelling, if anything I'll let them continue. So they can get it out of their systems. Besides, it's not like anything wrong could happen.

I pause for a moment, hearing a stick breaking to my left. Glancing back at Nancy and Jonathan, sighing when they are still arguing. I roll my eyes before lifting my flashlight and heading toward the area where I had heard the sound come from.

It's not like we'll find anything. And maybe the monster is really just a guy wearing a shitty costume. I mean, like in scooby-doo! Someone is just being a massive dick for no reason. Looking around, mostly at the ground, I try to find the broken stick. I jump slightly when I step on a stick, and it shot up and hit my ankle.

I hop on one foot for a moment, rubbing my ankle, hissing when I realize it scrapped my skin. Just as I put my foot on the ground, I walk right into a spider web that was dangling from a tree. I brush at my face frantically, taking off my hat to brush off the web. I yelp when I notice the spider crawling up my arm, and use a said hat to hit it off. After shaking my hat a few times, I put it back on my head, pulling my ponytail through the hole. I shiver in disgust as I walk backward, still rubbing my arms to get the webs off.

Then I trip.

Groaning in pain as I feel a freaking rock dig into my back, I slowly sit up. I look back at where I had fallen, trying to find where my flashlight flew off when I see something. In a tree trunk, a dark glow, one that was familiar.

My eyes widen as I remember where I had seen it, has it been just a day ago. The thing that was in the laboratory. I frown, 'But why is it out here?' I think.

I glance back to where I came from before a stunning realization hits me. I don't remember where I came from. Pausing for a moment, I listen to the forest, waiting to see if they are still fighting. But I hear nothing.

"They forgot about me. They fucking forgot about me." I mutter before standing up, brushing my backside from leaves and dirt.

But just as I stood up, I felt something grab my ankle. As I turn to look down, I'm jerked off my feet and pulled through a god damn tree. I know I had screamed because I felt a weird slimy substance slip into my mouth, and I gagged as I spat it out. When I reached the other side, I see the monster in front of me. Its claws around my ankle, the one that had a fresh scratch on it.

It opened its mouth, face? And it roared at me, with whatever vocal cords it had. I screamed back loudly, kicking my feet wildly. I kicked its neck with my foot, the one it wasn't holding, and I managed to push it back. Its grasp on my ankle slipped just enough before I was able to kick it off. I ignore the pain that now throbbed through my ankle, where its claws had scratched me, and I stood up.

I reached behind my back, grabbing my gun as I walk backward away from it. I raise my gun and shoot at it as it charges at me. It dodges, causing my eyes to widen before I shoot it again. Managing to pierce its skin on its upper chest, it staggered back again. And I don't hesitate to turn around and run.

‘Dare?' I hear a strange echo of Nancy calling out my name, and it almost makes me trip.

"Nance! Nancy! Jonathan!" I yell, taking a quick glance behind me to see where it was.

'Dare? Where are you?' I hear Jonathan yell this time.

My eyes widen as it charges at me, much fast than I was. I turn around a tree, slipping slightly before I push myself back upright, and run again. I wanted to laugh as I hear it run into a tree, obviously not skilled in taking fast turns. I glance around the bottom of the tree trying to find the portal back to the real world.

'DARE!' Nancy shouts, and I tumble as the pain in my ankle flares up.

Scrambling upright again, I look over my shoulder, before noticing that I couldn't see it anymore. I wheeze as I twirl around, trying to find it again.

But it was as if it had disappeared into thin air.

Hesitantly I move towards the closest tree, before slumping down against it. Looking down at my ankle, I hiss as I see the wound bleeding pretty badly.

"Next time, pack a bag of first aid shit," I mutter to myself, before leaning down and untying my shoe.

I groan as I pull off my shoe before I pull off my sock and press it against the wound. I pull at the strings in my hood, jerking it out and taking in a deep breath. I clench my teeth as I tie the string around the sock and my bleeding ankle. The best makeshift bandage that I can make for the current state of things.

I cringe as I put my shoe on my sockless foot, retying them before taking a moment to breathe.

'Dare!' I hear Jonathan yell distantly in the strange echoes again.

"I'm here! Wherever that is." I mutter, using the tree to stand up again.

I raise my gun as I hesitantly take a step forward, my knee almost buckling at the pain that shoots up my leg. Gritting my teeth I lean back against the tree before noticing the branch that was on the ground.

---

I don't know how long I've been wandering around. But I do know that I am somehow still alive.

Pausing to breathe in my inhaler, I lean against the stick I use to walk and glance around.

"Dare?"

I stumble as I nearly twist my ankle turning around at the clear sound of Nancy's voice.

"Nance! Oh, thank fuck." I say as we run towards each other and hug.

"I couldn't find you, I'm so sorry for not noticing that you were gone earlier-"

I shake my hand as I put my left hand on her shoulder, pushing her back so I could look at her face. "Nance, it's cool. I'm alright. But we need to get out of here."

She nods her head but then notices my stick. "Why do you have tha- Oh my god you're hurt!"

I scoff and shake my head. Before I start nodding my head. "It fucking hurts, I wanna leave."

And then the monster popped out from behind a tree. Nancy acted quickly, grabbing my arm and dragging me behind a different tree. I lost my stick in the process.

I grit my teeth at the pain as I push my weight onto my scratched ankle. Nancy noticed my pinched face, sending me a look of apology. I sigh softly before freezing as we hear Jonathan talking, and we turn our heads towards the portal.

I turn back to Nancy, before glancing back at the portal quickly. She slowly nods her head, and I raise my hand, counting down 3.

We sprint towards the portal, and I get pushed in first. I break through the barrier, feeling Jonathan grabbing my hand and pulling me out. As I escape to the other side, I roll onto my back, and reach back in and help Nancy out. Pulling her hand, we slowly drag her out of the portal, her collapsing in between me and Jonathan. Her arms wrap around me and Jonathan as we hold her, looking back at the portal that was closing.

---

I lay down on the floor of Nancy's room, my injured foot lifted into her lap as she cleaned the scratches. Jonathan moves a blanket around Nancy's shoulders as I move my arm to cover my eyes.

"Shit! That hurt Nancy!" I hiss at her, lifting my arm slightly to glare at her.

She looked down at me and shook her head. "We have to disinfect it, Dare. You know that."

I roll my eyes, putting my arm back down to block out the light. I close my eyes, trying to ignore the cotton swab that brushed against my wound. The muscles in my leg tightened as I resisted the urge to jerk my foot out of her lap. My fingers curl into fists as Nancy starts wrapping it up with a bandage.

She looks down at me and I notice the distance look in her eyes. The realization that there was a monster in Hawkins. One look filled with fear was that she had almost died.

I moved my foot out of her lap, moving onto my knees in front of her. I wrap my arms around her and pull her into a hug.

"It'll be okay Nance. We'll beat it next time." I whisper to her and she nods her head as she hugs me back.

"Yeah, next time," Nancy murmurs softly, her hand tightening into a fist behind my back.

---

"Dare, DARE! Wake up!"

I groan as I open my eyes, the blinding light from the window forcing me to close my eyes again.

"What Nance?" I turn onto my stomach, my face burying into the pillow.

Suddenly the pillow was yanked out from under my head, my face hitting the bedsheets. I open up my eyes slightly, trying to her and glaring.

"Get up. We're making a plan to get the monster tonight." She says as she opened the window.

My eyes widen, and my brain registers the gentle throbbing coming from my ankle. I push myself up and search the room frantically for my jacket. I roll out of bed and grab it, along with my hat, and put them on over the clothes Nancy gave me to sleep in.

"Alright. Where do you want to meet?" I ask her, and at the confusion on her face I gesture down at my attire. "No offense Nance, but I'm not going monster hunting wearing this."

She looked down at me and nodded her head. "Alright. We can meet at the corner store, the one that you stole from. Make sure to change the bandages, just to be safe."

I grin at her and cross my arms. "So you finally believe me? That I did some dumb shit a while ago?"

She sighs and shakes her head slightly. "I don't know what to think. But I know you wouldn't lie to me. So I'll believe you, but I will ask Hopper."

I shrug my arms with a smirk as she leans out the window before she pauses and looks back at me.

"We think it hunts by the scent of blood. So, be careful on your way back."

---

I snuck back out through my window, to avoid questions from Mom and from Dustin. Especially from Dustin. I knew that my little brother would give me that stare that would cause my ability to lie to break like a glowstick.

I wince as my shoe presses against the rebandaged wound, and I make a mental note to get a different pair of shoes later. Picking up my bike, I frown when I notice that Dustin's bike was gone. He wasn't home.

'He's probably at Mike's. I should go visit them before heading back out with Nancy. See how El's doing.' I thought, before pushing forward and making my way down the street.

So much had happened within a few days. Will went missing after our first D&D campaign in months. A strange girl with freaking powers shows up out of nowhere. Barb goes missing and a monster from another dimension had taken her. And not to mention that Hopper and I had broken into Hawkin's laboratory, and found a gate to the other dimension.

I frown at the thought, turning a corner onto the main street.

'They had a portal to that weird place. And it was bigger than the other one in the forest had been. Had they possibly made it?' I shake my head at the thought before thinking back to how it had been blocked off. 'They might have made it. Or at least had something to do with it being made.'

I sigh heavily as I look at the passing building, that I had seen many times before. My train of thought suddenly froze as I pass by the movie theater. Squeezing my breaks harshly, I stop on the sidewalk and look at the titles in horror.

'Nancy the slut Wheeler' had been spray-painted in red on the board.

I grit my teeth as anger flares in my veins, my blood boiling as my mind filters through the assholes who could have done this. And it hits me.

Steve and his stupid little friend group.

Disappointment seeped into my mind as I thought about it more. Disappointed that Steve would just let this happen. Or even do this himself.

I turn my bike around, trying to see if I could find him if he had even stuck around. And I see a police car pulling out of an alleyway. I squint as I try to see who was in the car when I notice a familiar brunette that I had seen not even a few hours ago.

Nancy and Jonathan were in that police car.

Sighing in hesitation, feeling like I should follow them, but the growing anger rises through me. The need to get payback, or at the very least hit the one who had done it. And I choose the latter.

I push forward, turning down the alleyway, passing by a red spray can that was abandoned on the concrete. Looking both ways as I come to the end of the alleyway I notice a pair of tire tracks leading away to my left. I smirk as I head in that direction, knowing that someone had to have been hurt if they interacted with Nancy and Jonathan. At the very least, I knew that Steve would have provoked Jonathan.

---

YN wanted to laugh as she had finally found them, after biking around the town for 20 minutes. And from the looks of the interaction happening in front of the gas station, Steve and Tommy were having a falling out.

"Hey, Assbutt!" Dare yelled as walked towards them, her bike abandoned on the sidewalk.

They turned to her, Carol shaking her head with a stupid sneer on her face.

"If it isn't the sluts best friend. Or was that the other loser-" Carol had started to say before YN’s hand had met with Carol's face.

Carol fell to the ground, clutching her cheek with a whimper. Dare grinned widely as the adrenalin pushed through her veins.

"You don't know how long I've been wanting to do that." Dare laughed before looking at Tommy and Steve, who had parted at her sudden attack.

Rage contorted Tommy's face as he looked down at his girlfriend, and then back at Dare who grinned back.

"You're going to pay for that you bitch!" Tommy spat, his fist swinging back as he prepared to punch her.

But she was quicker, kicking his knee and then kneeing his face as his knees hit the ground. His nose cracked harshly at the impact, before he slipped backward, cradling his broken nose. Dare wheezed, reaching into her pocket and pulling out her inhaler. She glared down at the two as she inhaled before she sneered at them.

"Get out of here. Now."

Tommy glared at her, his blood dripping from his nose. "Fuck you." He sneered.

Dare laughed, tossing her head back. "I don't think you heard me right. Get the fuck out of here. Now."

"They'll be leaving," Steve said as he pulled her away before she could cause more damage to them.

Dare glared up at him, as the couple got to their feet and went to the car. Driving off, they flipped off Steve and Dare, who returned the gesture in kind.

"You didn't have to step in. I could have handled it." Steve looked at her as she walked back to her bike.

YN turned to him for a moment before snorting. "Yeah, sure. Just like how your face handled Jonathan's fists? If anything, I just saved you from having your asses handed to you again."

Steve huffed as he followed her, his hands drifting to his hips. "Yeah well, I know that you aren't exactly fond of me. And now that this-"

Dare paused and glared at him. "Fine, what the hell caused this to happen? And I don't mean your ass getting handed to you. I mean what the fuck is up with what's written on the movie theater."

Steve looked down briefly before sighing. "I saw Jonathan in her room, with her. Last night."

She stared at him for a moment before laughter of disbelief spilled from her. Steve looked at her in shock, and in slight offense before Dare cleared her throat.

"Steve, I don't know if she had the time to tell you before you had your ass beat. But I was there too. I was in the room the whole time. Nothing happened. At all." Dare stated as she crossed her arms. "I actually was getting patched up by Nancy, I couldn't walk so I just laid on the floor as she patched me up."

He frowned, worry slipping onto his bleeding features as she lifted her pants up enough to show off the white bandage.

"And no, I'm not going to tell you what happened." And Steve closed his mouth as he huffed.

"Then, can you tell me something at least?" He asked, and she paused as she leaned down to pick up her bike.

"Maybe. Depends on what you wanna know."

He looked at her before crossing his arms. "Does he have feelings for her?"

Dare inhaled slowly before she frowned in thought. "I'm not sure. I may know him more than she does, but I'm not his bestie. I'm Nancy's best friend. Hell, I know her brother and his friends better than I know her."

Steve sighed and nodded his head. "Alright. Thanks then."

Dare watched him as he turned around and walked towards the gas station.

"Steve!" He turned around, looking at her.

She sighed softly at the crestfallen look on his face. "You shouldn't worry about him. Nancy wouldn't do that, at all. You should apologize to her. But I wouldn't expect to be forgiven instantly, or to be able to continue the relationship." She crossed her arms, her bike leaning against her hip. "You really hurt her by doing that stupid shit. And I haven't even talked to her about it yet, but I know she's upset and hurt. Not to mention angry."

He stared at her before nodding his head, a sliver of a smile crossing his face. "Thanks, Henderson. You aren't too bad."

Dare smiles slightly. "And you could be worse Harrington."

---

YN grinned as she pulled up to the station, the thought of Nancy and Jonathan being arrested seeming surreal to her. She hopped off her bike, tossing it on top of the nearby bush. Climbing up the stairs she swung to door open, smiling as she sees the all too familiar faces of the police force, and their overworked secretary.

"Hey there Florence! How are you today on this bright and beautiful day?" She said loudly as she swung around the corner.

Florence sighed, shaking her head as a small smile crept onto her face. "Dare, what are you doing here?"

YN laughed as she leaned forwards on the desk. "I can't come in and see my favorite police secretary?" At the glare that was directed toward her, Dare raised her hands. "Fine, fine. I'm here to see someone. A certain Jonathan and Nancy were picked up, and I wanted to see them."

Florence shook her head. "I should have known that you had spread your criminal tactics to your friends. Although they should've taken more classes on how to not get caught. They're in Hopper's office. And Joyce is there too."

Dare laughed shaking her head, as she backed away towards Hopper's office. "Oh Flo, you know I've been clean for a few years now. Besides, they still don't believe me, since it was never the talk of this small town."

Shaking her head, Florence smiled and shooed her off. "You have been clean as far as we know Dare. But I know you're sneaky."

YN smiled as she turned the corner and swing the door to Hopper's office open.

"Hey there Hop! Heard that my friends were taken in, and thought that I should come to their defense." She paused as she noticed the large box and the tense look on their faces. "And can I safely assume that they know?" She asked directed toward Nancy.

Nancy nodded, as Joyce looked at YN in shock.

"YN! Have you been in on this? What were you thinking! You could have been hurt! And what about your asthma?"

Dare's eyes widened before she turned to Hopper. "Did you not tell Joyce about how many times you've arrested me?"

Joyce's eyes widened even further. "YOU'VE BEEN ARRESTED-"

---

I step out of the room, listening to a woman yelling at Phil. I needed to hear it.

But then I hear a voice, that I had heard before.

I step around the corner and look over to see Troy standing next to his mother. I glare at him, as I listen to what he had been saying. What he said about Dustin and my brother's group. And what he said about El.

My eyes widen and I move toward them.

"What the hell did you say?" I ask.

Troy's eyes widen as he sees me, stepping back as I glare at him. His mother looked at me before opening her mouth to yell at me.

"I said, what did you say about my brother?" Hopper puts his arm in front of me, stopping me.

"Enough Kid-"

"What the hell did you do?" I yell at him, causing him to flinch.

"I just wanted payback!" Troy yelled, my eyes widening. "I just wanted to scare them a little."

---

"I swear to god, I am going to murder them," I muttered as I bounce my leg as we waited for the stupid kids to arrive.

Those stupid kids also included my brother.

As I see the lights of Hopper's car pulling in, I hop up and sprint to the door. As I swing it open, I kick open the screen door. I feel someone step up beside me, but I ignore it as the car pulls to a stop.

"DUSTIN!" I yell as he opened the door, and I sprint at him.

"Oh shit!"

I pull him into a tight hug, feeling my eyes water. "What the fuck were you guys thinking!" I hear Nancy pull her brother into a hug. "You guys scared the shit out of me! Next time, you come and get me! No, you know what, I'm not leaving you. If I leave you, you all do something fucking stupid-"

"Alright, Dare. Calm down." Nancy pulls on my shoulder and I turn to her with wide eyes.

"CALM DOWN-"

---

I grin as we roll the kiddie pool into the school gym, or Dustin and Lucas roll it in.

"So you actually went there? To the Upside Down?" Dustin asked as he pulled at one side of the pool.

I nod my head before sighing. "Yep, and even got into a little game of tag with the Demogorgon, that's what we're calling it right?"

They nod their head, eyes wide in shock.

"You actually fought it?" Lucas asked, pausing for a moment.

I snort and shake my head. "No, I said we played tag. In which I mean, I ran away from it, and it chased me." I lift my pant leg, showing the bandage that I was forced to change again an hour ago by Joyce.

"Even got a gnarly scar from it. But I can hide it." I say, and they stare at it in.

"Wait, how did you run away? You have asthma and you can barely run around the block." Dustin asked as I pulled on one side of the pool.

Rolling my eyes, I take a step back holding the pool. "Well, it got distracted by a deer. Managed to escape after that. Now are we going to make this pool happen or are we just going to stand around and keep talking like a bunch of cheerleaders?"

They sigh before grabbing onto the sides of the pool, and we pull it back. And then the side stays standing up. I whoop and holler, high-fiving Lucan and Dustin as we finally managed to get it to stay up. The door opens and we turn to see Nancy and Mike walking in with the hoses.

"Got it to stay?" She asked with a smile and I nod.

"Yep, took us a while too." I grin as I make my way toward her.

We pull the hoses out of the wheel barrel, before looking at the storage closet.

"You think we have enough?" I question before Dustin says, "Well I'm not helping move the pool-"

"We'll be fine. Come on." Nancy shakes her head, putting one of the rolls of hoses on the ground. She pulls the hose out, unraveling it as she starts walking toward the storage closet.

---

I bounce on my toes as I grin down at the water, the egg that Dustin placed on the water, floating perfectly. Nancy glances over at me, raising her right brow with a small smile.

"What's got you so excited?"

"After this is done, and we know that Barb and Will are safe. I'm going into the pool and floating." I speak rapidly before the door opens, and Eleven and Joyce walk in.

I cross my arms, giving Eleven a smile as she looks at me. She smiles back before leaning down and taking off her socks. We all gather around the small salty pool as she takes a step into it. As she sits down, so do we. I hiss in pain as I accidentally sit on the wrong leg, quickly switching over.

Nancy and Dustin send me a look and I roll my eyes. I look at Eleven, who was on her back and floating on top of the water. The radio crackled, and the lights in the gym surged before going out. We looked up at the lights before we turned back to Eleven.

"Barbra?" She whispered, her voice echoing through the radio.

"Whoa. That's weird." I whisper before grinning. "Awesome."

"Barb? Is she alright?" Nancy asks, bringing me back to what was going on.

"Gone. Gone. Gone!"

My eyes widen, tears pricking my eyes and I feel like the air had been knocked out of me. I look over at Nancy, bringing her into a side hug. I push my lips into a thin line as I will the tears to go away. I don't hear Joyce whispering to Eleven. Comforting her. I sniff, before wiping my eyes with my fingers.

"Will?" Eleven whispers, and we all tense.

I look at Nancy, who looks back at me. I furrow my brows, asking the silent question of how she was. When she nods her head, I squeeze her closer for a moment, before letting her go.

"Tell him, that we're coming. We're going to come to find him." Joyce says as she squeezes Eleven's hand.

It falls silent for a moment before a soft voice comes through the radio.

"Hurry." That is all that Will says.

We let out a high collective sigh of relief and happiness. At least they did. Me and Nancy shared a sad look. Barbra was dead.

---

"Nancy! Nancy, where are you going?" I ask as I walk out of the gym for a brief moment.

Nancy and Jonathan turn towards me before Nancy heads back to me.

"We're going to go and distract the monster-"

"Demogorgon and I can list a few ways why that's a dumb idea." I interrupt as I cross my arms.

She glares at me before shaking her head. "I can't just sit here and do nothing Dare. It's still out there, and it killed Barb!"

I stay silent as she spoke, I look down before sighing. "I know Nance. I know." I look back at her and pull her into a hug.

"You be careful alright? I can't lose another friend. And," I pull back but keep her at arm's length. "Give it hell for me, alright?"

She nodded her head, her lips pressed into a thin line. "So you're staying?"

I nod my head, glancing at Jonathan for a brief moment. "Yeah. Someone's got to look after them, right? Besides, you're in good hands."

She looks over her shoulder at Jonathan before looking back at me. "You be careful too. Don't let them do anything stupid."

I scoff a laugh, shaking my head. "Oh Nancy, I can barely stop them from stealing my candy. What makes you think that I'll be able to stop them from doing something stupid."

She grins, lightly punching my shoulder. "You'll be able to do it. I know you can."

I smile and nod. "You got it, Nance. Now go kick some ass."

[Next Chapter]

#stranger things #eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x henderson!reader #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson x yn #steve harrington #nancy wheeler #dustin henderson #will byers #jonathan byers #lucas sinclair #chief hopper #joyce byers #hawkins #eddie munson x fem!reader #fem!reader #the freaking rebel

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bagsybaggins · 10 months

Text

Chapter 3: The Discovery

[Previous Chapter]

I groan as I turn onto my back, putting my arm across my eyes. The sun was bleeding through the gaps in the blinds, one of them being directly on my face.

"Dare-Bear! Wake up!" Mom yells through the door.

"Five more minutes!'

"If I gave you five more minutes you would miss school. Now get up!" I glare at the door as I hear her footsteps recede.

Frowning heavily, I sit up and just glare into space. Turning towards the clock, I huff when I realize that she was right. With much effort, I stand up from my warm and comfortable bed and make my way to my closet. Opening it, I quickly grab the clothes that I was going to wear, yawning as I pulled my shirt down over my head. I glance over at the mirror that I had on my dresser, sighing at the messy tangles of my hair. I meet my own eyes, the ones I shared with Dad, and grab my hair brush. As I brush through my hair, cursing when it pulled hair from my head, I kept thinking about everything that had happened the night before.

I groan as I remember having Jonathan take me home, instead of Barb and Nancy. With one final brush, I toss the brush onto my dresser again with a clatter. I open my door, stretching with another yawn as I walk to the bathroom. I brush my teeth numbly, sort of sleeping through half the process.

"Dare!"

I jump and turn towards Dustin who was sitting next to me.

Wait, when did I get to the kitchen?

"Dare you there?"

"Yeah yeah, Dusty. What's up?" I ask as I sneakily grab Mom's coffee, pouring it into my empty cup.

The black liquid stared back at me tauntingly, menacingly swirling in my cup as I stared down at it. I cringe at the taste of it, before downing it as quick as I can.

"YN?"

I turn to Dustin, noticing his worried confused expression.

"Shhh. I'm alright. Just, dead tired." I mutter, before finishing the black coffee. "Anyway whatcha need?"

He stared at me before nodding his head. "I was wondering if you wanted to come to Mike's tonight. You know." He trails off, giving me a look.

I narrow my eyes at him, slowly nodding my head. "Yeah, I know alright."

His face falls into a deadpan as I try to think of what he is exactly hinting at-

My eyes widen as I remember. "El! Oh shit, I completely forgot!"

His eyes grow wide in panic, turning toward Mom. Who I forgot was there.

"El?" She asks, before sending a look at me. "Language."

"El is this chick with superpowers that we're hiding in Mike's basement," I explain, enjoying Dustin's panicking features beside me.

She nods slowly and smiles. "Another character for the campaign right? That's a great sweetie."

He turns to her in confusion as I stand up, and walk towards my room.

"What the fuck YN!" He hisses as he follows me.

Rolling my eyes, I turn to him and cross my arms. "Telling a grownup the truth as a teen, a kid is great. Mostly because they never believe you until shown proof." I think for a moment before adding, "Actually most people won't believe you until you give them proof. Even then they might deny it."

He stares up at me in confusion. "How do you know that?"

I snort. "Trust me, I've told the truth multiple times, yet people find it hard to believe. So they think I'm joking. But I'm not. It's funny actually."

"Have you done that to me?" He asks, a look of worry in his eyes as he thinks back to the things I've told him.

"Yep," I say before turning around and walking into my room, and grabbing my bag.

---

"Shit shit shit-" I screech as I sprint behind another corner.

I peek around the corner and see Nancy walk in, and I narrow my eyes at her. The traitor who left me. As she walks toward my corner, I turn around to walk away before noticing Steve walking towards me, but not noticing me yet. I glance around frantically, not wanting to get caught, or just not wanting to talk to them yet actually.

I pause as I see a familiar mullet head and remember that I had the cassette to return.

I rush to him as he almost walks away from me, his headphones covering his ears. I almost tackle him, but decide against it, and instead just grab his arm and swing him around. He lets out a startled, 'shit!' before I remove his headphones and place them on my head over my hat.

"Hide me," I say as I lean back against a locker.

Eddie frowns in confusion before glancing over his shoulder. He was wearing jeans and a denim jacket, a small patch just about the right breast pocket, with JP on it. I duck down as he turns back to me, putting his hand on the locker on both sides of me. I look up at him and smile as the song begins to play.

"Hmm, this sounds good. Who's it by?" I ask him as I begin tapping my foot to the beat.

He looks at me in surprise before smiling and saying something. I couldn't hear him, and I could tell that he laughed by the way his shoulders shook. He reached up and took the headphones off my ears.

"It's Ozzy Osbourne. Not surprised that you didn't know him." He grinned before he glanced over his shoulder quickly, and leaned away from me. "You wanna tell me why you're hiding from Mr. Popular?"

I snort and shake my head, the headphones resting around my neck and Ozzy still blasting through it.

"It's not him I'm really hiding from," I say, but sigh as I looked at the corner where Nancy had been. "Nancy wanted me to go to the party at Steve's, his six-member party including me. I didn't actually know where we were going until we got there. And in the end, I was ditched."

He nodded along humming as he crossed his arms. "So you were using me to hide from them because?"

As he trialed off I rolled my eyes and then shrugged. "I'm being petty. They ditch me, so I ignore them until I feel better."

I hadn't noticed he had dimples when he smiles, but I could see them now. Cool.

"So you're only with me because you're trying to feel better? I'm your get-away happy medicine?" He snickered as I nudge him.

"No, I would never do that to you," I say as I push him down the hall.

"Oh, not me, but to some other poor unfortunate soul? I should give them a warning-" he cackles as I shove him towards the other set of lockers, and I stumble after him because of the headphones still around my neck.

As he turns and takes his headphones back, I reach into my bag and pull out the Def Leppard tape.

"I was also meaning to give you this. Not just using your tall stature to hide behind." I smile as I hold it out to him.

He looks down at it before shaking his head. "Nah, you can keep it."

"What, no. It's yours, I'm not keeping it-"

"I already have another one, don't sweat it." He grins before I realize what he had done.

"You bought the one from the other day didn't you." His Cheshire cat grin fuels me with disbelief and friendly anger. "You little shit!"

Laughter spills from him as I end up chasing him down the hall, and outside the school building. I ignore the school bell and instead focus on trying to catch the mullet head fiend.

"Get back here!" I yell, running around one of the cars.

We cross over the parking lot, weaving through the cars. He takes a sudden left, heading up towards the Middle School. I glare at him as he runs up the only steep part of the whole place.

"Nope, not happening! It's yours to keep!" He yells back before I watch him trip over the sidewalk.

I wince as I feel my lungs tightening, but also at his landing.

"You alright?" I ask as I slow down, steadily walking to him.

He slowly sits up and nods his head, rubbing the side of his face where he had a small scrape on his cheekbone. I kneel next to him and he looks at me, squinting his eyes from the sun.

"It doesn't look too bad. But you should go get it cleaned, and a bandaid." I say as I look at the scrape that was slowly beginning to bleed.

He scoffs and shakes his head, his mullet swaying from the movement. "Nah, I'll be fine."

I roll my eyes and offer him my hand, and help pull him up to his feet. "Yeah, you will be once you're out of the Nurse's office," I say as I pull him back to the school.

---

He glares at me as the nurse puts a bandaid on his cheek, and pats his shoulder. "All good as new."

"Thanks, Mrs. B, see you later," I say as Eddie hops down from the bed and heads for the door.

As we walk out I wave one more time at her before shutting the door behind me. He looks down at me with a stony face, trying to pretend like he was mad.

"It could've gotten infected," I state as I walk past him. "Then you'd have to deal with being sick and maybe even pus."

He recoils before shaking his head. "I didn't-"

"I know."

He raises his brow at me as I grin at him.

"You know her well, you go there often?"

I snicker before brushing off the overused pick-up line, knowing he didn't mean it like that.

"Yeah, I have bad asthma. So I have another Inhaler in there, and one with me." I explain and look over at him.

He raises his brows, his eyes widening in surprise. "Oh, I didn't know that."

Shrugging I turn around, walking backward in front of him. "Most people don't know that. They also don't know that I was a convicted criminal for about 5 years." I grin.

He scoffs laughing and shaking his head. "Let me guess, a thief right?"

I nod my head. "Yeah, that and a bit of B and E. Although I think I did graffiti one of the creak bridges." I put my hand on my chin in thought.

He throws his head back in laughter, clapping his hands. "Of course you did. Such the rebel of our little town."

I mock a bow and laugh. "Yep. That's me. And now that you know my secret-"

Snapping his fingers he interrupts me. "Let me guess, you'll have to kill me?"

I pause then shrug, "I was going to say make you my accomplice, but that can work too."

Our laughter fills the halls for a short time. And I think it's safe to say, that's the start of a great friendship.

---

"Dare!" I lift my head from my book and see Nancy approach me.

"Oh hey, Nance. Nice to see ya." Waving my hand at her, I look back down at my book.

She sits down next to me. "I haven't seen you all day. But I was wondering, you went home with Barb last night right?"

I look up at her in confusion. "What? No, you did. You two ditched me-"

"What? No, I never ditched you!" She shook her head rapidly, denying what I had thought happened.

I stare in confusion. "But I couldn't find you two."

"I was with," She pauses, biting her lip. "Steve. But wait, if you didn't go home with Barb, how did you get home?"

"Jonathan took me home," I say simply.

Nancy blinks at me. "Jonathan took you home?"

"Yeah." I nod. "He had been on a drive home from somewhere and went out taking pictures. Said he thought Will could have gone the other way instead of where they were searching."

Nancy frowns as she taps her fingers against her notebooks.

"Barb didn't get home last night." She blurts out.

"The fuck- what?"

She nods her head, worry written all over her face. "I know, I had called her mom asking if she had gotten home but she hadn't. And I don't know what happened, and I'm worried."

I slowly sit back in my chair, the shock slowly setting it. "She never got home?" I repeat slowly, my mind slowly wrapping around the idea that Barbra was missing like Will.

"Dare? YN! You need to breathe, shit!" I barely hear Nancy say before my vision starts getting dotted with black spots.

Her hands pat my jacket before she grabs my bag. I wheeze as I try to exhale, Nancy curses as she digs through my bag. As I inhale shakily, I hear her shaking my inhaler.

"Here, deep breath." I hear as she pushes the inhaler into my mouth.

I inhale deeply, before falling into a coughing fit. Nancy shakes it again before I grab it from her, and inhale again. She pats my back as I try to catch my breath, my heart still racing as I blink the stray tears from my eyes.

"She'll be alright, right? She probably just," I stop and cough again.

"Yeah, definitely. She'll be back, I'm sure of it." She whispered as she rubbed circles into my back.

---

"YN!"

"Whatever it is you think I did-" I turn my gaze up from the unique writing of Jane Austin, noticing Eddie jogging over to me. "Oh, never mind. You're not who I thought you were."

He grins, his eyes darting down at the book as he crosses his arms. "I don't know who you thought I was, but it's good to know some things weren't wrong."

When he sees my confused gaze, he motions toward my book. "That you really are a geek."

Snorting, I sit up ignoring the stretch of my jacket as it gets stuck under me. "You know I play D&D, yet me reading a book is what makes me a geek."

Eddie chuckles as he looks down at the ground, his mullet cloaking his eyes. "I uhm, actually play D&D too."

I gape at him in shock, a startled laugh of disbelief escapes me. "No way, you're shitting me right now-"

"No, no I'm not." He looks back at me, his brown eyes crinkling as he smiles. "I do play. I'm actually the DM."

Clapping my hands with laughter spilling from me, I nod my head. "I can honestly say I believe it. A mullet, denim vest-wearing guy, is secretly just another nerd like the rest of us losers." I cackle as I stand up, chuckles erupting from him.

"Losers?" He shakes his head with his dimples showing with the smile he's holding. "No, I think you mean freaks."

He turns to his right, waving his hand towards the middle school. "They are all losers." He then taps his hand on the brick building, his ring reflecting the sunlight. "Here, we are all Freaks."

I pause for a moment, studying him before grinning again. "So, am I a freak or a geek?"

He hesitates, looking me up and down, glancing at the book in my hand. He crosses his arms, his tongue pushing out against his cheek. Then he nods his head. "Definitely a geek."

Rolling my eyes I lean against the wall, crossing my arms, my right hand finding a frayed strand that I keep forgetting to cut off. "And how come I'm not a freak?"

"Oh, trust me, you're not a freak like me. You're friends with Nancy Wheeler, who's dating Steve Harrington. You're almost popular just by association." He points at me as leans against the wall next to me. "But you have good grades, read books, and play D&D. You're a geek Henderson."

Scoffing I shake my head. "You say it like being a freak is a bad thing, Munson," I emphasize his last name. "I think that you just don't know me well enough to know that I am not, a geek."

Narrowing his eyes he bites at his bottom lip, mulling over my words. "Nah, you aren't going to change my mind. You're a geek, and that's it." He pushes off the wall, walking away from me.

Giggling, I reach down and grab the strap of my bag, chasing after him. "I'm not a geek Eddie!"

"GEEK!" He yells back, turning his head, he looks over his shoulder grinning at me.

My converse, plain and black, scuffed against the cement as I tackled him. He laughs as he stumbles to the side before he pushes me back. I screech as I stumble over my feet, but I manage to get my footing. Blowing the hair out of my face, I turn back to him.

"You're a geek, just admit it, YN." He grins, crossing his arms.

---

"Are you sure? You don't have to hang out with me-"

I roll my eyes at Eddie's ramblings, nudging his shoulder with mine. "Yes, I'm sure I want to hang out with you Eddie. Are you trying to get rid of me already?"

His mullet sways as he shakes his head. "No! No- it, I wasn't trying to get rid of you. I just thought that you already had plans."

Pausing for a moment, my eyes widened for a fraction of a second. He grumbled under his breath.

"You already have plans, it's cool. We can just hang out-"

"Nope!" I interrupt him, pulling at the dog tag around my neck. "I mean, I did have plans. But I think they'll be fine without me."

He stops walking, looking at me with a frown on his face. "YN-"

"No, I'm serious Eddie. It's not a big deal, I want to hang out with you." I reassure, turning around and looking back at him.

I mean, I didn't know what they had been planning for today. But I'm sure they won't do anything stupid. I mean, I doubt that they would. I sigh softly as he continues to look at me with uncertainty, and I turn back around and continue to walk my bike down the street.

"Fine! If you're sure." He decided as he jogged up to me, and I glance at him as he steps in time with me. "Wanna hit, the arcade or something?"

I raise a brow at him, a small smirk creeping on my face. "Definitely, I'll kick your ass."

His brows shoot up before he grins, sticking his hand out. "You're on."

---

"Shit shit shit shit!" I aggravatedly growl as I try to maneuver the character on the screen, tapping the buttons rapidly. Eddie pushes his shoulder against mine, laughing as I try to push him back.

"FUCK!" I yell as I lose against him, him laughing loudly in victory.

"And that, my friend, is why you never challenge me." He grins as he then gives me a mock bow.

I raise my middle finger at him, narrowing my eyes at him. "Bite me, Munson. And you fucking cheat, I just know it."

He snorts and shakes his head. "The loser doth proclaims that I cheat, but when they win it's fair and square."

"That's because it is!" I argue before placing my hand next to the buttons. "I demand another round."

Eddie hesitates for a moment, looking at me before looking around the arcade. He stops and I look in the direction that he was, audibly gasping at the time on the clock.

"SHit!" I look down at my watch quickly, hoping that it had been wrong. "Fuck fuck, bitch tit! Oh shit, she might kill me." Then my eyes widen as I remember the boys. "SHit, they might be dead!"

He looks at me with wide worried eyes, and I smile thinly. "Sorry Eddie, but our rematch will have to wait. I need to get home before Mom realizes that I'm not home yet. Not to mention, I need to check on my brother-"

"Hey, it's cool. I'll walk you home-"

I shake my head quickly. "No, no. You don't have a bike, so if anything, I should walk you home."

He chuckled before nodding. " Alright. I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"

I smile and nod. "Yeah, tomorrow."

---

'His body was found, at the quarry.' Dustin's voice echoes through my head as I peddle down the street. The tears fell down my cheeks, and I hastily wiped them away with the back of my hand.

I couldn't believe it. No, I wouldn't believe it. Not Will.

I turn down Mrs. Byer's driveway, seeing Hopper's car there with the lights still on. Phil and Calvin were standing next to their car, stepping away from it as they notice my approach.

"Hey YN, I don't think you should-"

"Fuck off Phil." I curse at him, slapping his hands away, sprinting into the house.

"Hey, you can't be here!" I hear him say as I slam the door open.

Mrs. Byers, Jonathan, and Hopper look at me as I step inside. Moving towards Hopper, I can feel my shoulders shaking as I inhale.

"Is it true?" I ask softly, my voice wavering. "Did- was he found? At the Quarry?"

Hopper frowns, turning towards me. "How do you know that Kid?"

"Tell me!" I yell, feeling the tears falling down faster than before. "Please."

Mrs. Byers pulls me into a hug, but I keep looking at Hopper. I can feel her shaking as she cries, and I feel overwhelmed. And I sob heavily as I see Hopper nod his head.

Will, was dead.

---

"Will is alive!"

I stare blankly at the wall ahead of me, zoning out as Mike continues to babble on. My mind focused on the fact that Will wasn't dead. I rub my fingers into the sides of my head, trying to make the growing headache dissipate.

"You believe me, right Dare?"

I snap out of my thoughts as Mike spoke to me, Lucas and Dustin turning to me. I glance at them, before looking over at El who was fiddling with the supercomm.

"Yeah, I do. But, we need to find out the truth." I said before standing up. "I'll try to see what I can find out, what are you planning on doing?"

Mike and Dusting look at Lucas before Mike says, "We'll sneak her into school. So we can use Mr. Clarke's Heathkit ham shack. It should be strong enough to be able to hear and talk to Will."

I raise my brow as I cross my arms. "And how exactly do you plan on sneaking her into school, when she looks like this. No offense El." She says nothing in reply but doesn't look offended though.

Mike frowns in thought before he looks up at me. "We can dress her up in Nancy's old stuff! That should work."

I huff before nodding my head. "I guess. I'll help you guys search for something. And then after that, I'll go around and see what I can find out. Barbra's also gone missing, so I need to see if I can find anything on that."

"Hold up, Barbra's gone?"

Rolling my eyes and flick the brim of Dustin's hat. "No, I said she's missing. There's a difference." I recross my arms before glancing down at Mike again. "Don't do anything stupid."

---

I rummage through the back of my closet, pulling the black box out from the back. I exhale heavily, remembering what Dad had said.

'It's not a toy. It's something to be used carefully, in a dangerous situation. That's why I'm teaching you.' He had said.

I smile as I remember what Hopper had told me when I had told him of what Dad taught me. And how he had them hidden around.

'He was paranoid, and he shouldn't have taught you. But since you're not going to listen to me, I'll make sure you don't take your eyes out.' Hopper had muttered after I had told him that I would move the boxes around if he didn't teach me.

Huffing, I turn the lock and open the lid.

---

"Hopper?" I call out as I step into the bar, it falling silent as the door shuts behind me.

I smile nervously, turning my head as I look over the inhabitants. When I don't see him, I turn to the bartender. "Have you seen Hopper?"

He looked me up and down before nodding his head. "He went out back with some guy."

I grin and nod my head. "Great, thanks!"

"I wouldn't go if I were you-"

Shaking my head I walk out the door, yelling back. "Good thing you aren't me!"

Letting the door shut, I jog to the corner of the building before stopping as someone runs away.

"Hey! Watch it, buddy!" I shout as he nearly runs into me.

I sigh before turning the corner and smiling as I see Hopper walking into view.

"Hopper!" I grin, noticing that he wasn't wearing his sheriff outfit. "You finally washed your clothes! Good, you were beginning to stink."

He looks at me with a heavy frown. "Kid, what the hell are you doing here?"

I scratch the back of my neck as I press my lips into a thin line. "About that. Will isn't dead."

He narrows his eyes before shaking his head. "Kid-"

"No, listen Hopper!" He pauses as I take a step forward. "I can't exactly tell you how I know it. But I need you to trust me, he isn't dead. Hell, we can go to his body right now, and I bet you anything that it isn't real."

Hopper sighs heavily, "Kid, I'm not saying-"

"Hop, he isn't dead!" I yell, before backing down at his glare. "Hop, Barbs gone missing too. And something isn't right. And you know it."

He rubs his hand on his face, groaning in annoyance before looking up. "Fine. Fine, I'll go check myself. Not because you told me-" He turns to me with a glare as I grin and clap, "But because I already had my suspicions. And you are going home, now."

I scoff, nodding my head. "Sure Hop, I'll go home right after we go mutilate Will's fake body."

He shakes his head. "Don't say mutilate, I'm just double-checking. And no. You are going home right this instant!"

---

"So how are we doing this?" I ask as we park in front of the morgue.

Hopper shakes his head as he turns off the engine, giving me a look. "We aren't doing anything. You are staying here, and I am going in."

I hum in response, a small smile spreading across my face as I nod my head. "Sure sure."

He sends me a glare as he opens his door, stepping out and pointing his finger at me. "Stay here."

Nodding in agreement I lie, "Stay here."

He stares at me for a moment more before closing the door and walking into the building. I watch him as he disappeared into the building, pausing for another moment after. Then I pull my cap off, pulling my hairband off my wrist. Tilting my head back, I brush my fingers through my hair, pulling it into a ponytail. I grin widely as I open the door, stepping out and putting my hat back on, pulling my hair through the opening in the back.

Tapping my back, feeling the gun press into my back, I adjust my jacket over it. Hoping that it was covered completely. Shutting the car door behind me, I glance at the front doors before walking towards the side of the building. I walk along the side of the building, trying to stay in the shadows of it. I kneel down as I walk up the corner stairs, peeking my head in the window.

When I don't see anything, I push the door, softly cursing as it doesn't budge. Reaching into my pockets, I pull out my bobby pins and shove them into the lock. I close my eyes as I twist them, focusing on the clicking inside of the lock. I grin widely as it clicks open, and I carefully open the doors, making sure to pull out my pins.

I look through some of the windows, frowning as I try to think of what the room should look like. Then I hear someone getting punched, just around the corner. I tip toe to the corner and glance around it.

I snicker as Hopper punches a guy, and knocked him out.

"Nice punch Hop," I say, startling him as he turns to look at me.

"I thought we agreed that you'd stay in the car!" He hissed as I walk towards him, subtly kicking the unconscious guy in his knee.

Shaking my head I smile. "No, you agreed. I just repeated what you said."

I push past him, opening the door and pausing as I see Will's body laying on the table. Hopper places his hand on my shoulder, but I shake it off, walking towards the fake.

"I'm fine Hop. You got a knife?" I motion to the body before he gives me a look. I raise my hand my hands in surrender. "Fine, you can gut the body."

He sighs, rubbing his face before nodding his head. He pulls out his knife before he places he had on fake Will's chest. He frowns heavily and I glance down at the body.

"What? What's wrong?" I ask, and he shakes his head.

"It doesn't feel normal." He muttered before he stabbed the body with his knife.

I flinch as he cuts into it, but I lean forward as the cut opened up more. He reaches into the cut, and I gasp as he pulls out stuffing.

"I fucking knew it."

He looked at me and slowly nodded his head. "You were right."

---

"Hop! I am not letting you do this alone!" I hiss as I punch his shoulder.

"I'm not letting you come with me! It's too dangerous-"

"Oh shut up! If you don't let me come with you, you know I will just follow you anyways." He glares down at me, and I glare right back. "And that would be more dangerous for me and for you!"

He glares down at me, his eyes narrowed as he breathed in heavily. His head shook as he rolled his eyes and turned around. "Fine, do what you want."

I huff, following him as we approach the barbed wired fence.

"I have my gun, so I'll be fine. And I'll be quiet, I promise." I say as he cuts the fence, him pausing to look at me.

"You follow my every direction. Got it?"

I nod my head rapidly, and he sighs before he pulls the fence apart. He steps through it, before lifting it up for me to follow him. I lean down, stepping in behind him. He nods his head at me before he heads towards the front door. I glance around, noticing the cameras pointed at us and around us. I reach into my pocket, and pull out my inhaler, using it for a brief moment.

Hopper glances back at me, and I nod my head. "I'm fine, just a little nervous."

Hopper sighs, turning back around and stepping next to the building. I lean my back against the building next to him, waiting as two people in white coats walk out. Hopper grabs the door before it closes, motioning for me to follow. I slip in behind him, glancing at the door as it shuts behind us.

"You said you brought your gun?" He whispers, and I nod my head.

"Yeah, thought I might need it," I mutter as I glance down the hall we passed.

He glances at me and sighs. "You might, but just stay behind me."

I nod my head again. "You got it, Hop."

---

Hopper presses the large elevator button rapidly, I lean against the wall, waiting for the doors to close. My chest tightens as I notice two lights turning the corner, and two men start rushing toward us.

"Wait! Stop!" They yell just before the doors close.

I close my eyes, leaning my head back as I pull my inhaler out of my pocket. Hopper looks over at me but says nothing. I inhale slowly, coughing as we go down. He pats my shoulder and I shake my head.

"I'm fine."

He scoffs, looking at the elevator door as it comes to a stop. "I didn't say anything."

I use my inhaler again, the doors opening, and I feel something strange. The air felt different. Hopper sends me a glance, and I return it, noticing the strange particles floating in the air.

"Keep that out, you don't know what this stuff is." He murmurs as he walks out ahead of me.

I nod my head, inhaling in my inhaler again as I follow him. I lift my flashlight, glancing around as the air shifts. Colder than before, the particles of dust move around us.

"What the hell do you think happened here?" I mutter, looking at a window that had a large crack in it.

Hopper looks down another hall, shaking his head, glancing back at me. "I'm not sure. I don't even know what these guys do here."

I snort, coughing lightly as a spot of dust flys into my nose. Just as I put my inhaler in my pocket, I sneeze twice, before rubbing my nose with my jacket sleeve.

"Gazuntite." Hopper chuckles, before turning into a different room.

"Thanks." I turn into the room before freezing at what was on the wall.

"What the hell is that," I ask as Hopper walks towards it.

He shakes his head, sticking his hand out. "No clue."

I frown as I hear a strange sound from behind me, and I turn around before feeling someone cover my mouth. My eyes widen and I try to scream, but then a needle is shoved into my neck. Numbness spreads from my arms to my fingers, my eyes slipping closed as I hear Hopper yell at them to let me go.

And I slowly slip unconscious.

---

I sit up gasping for air, glancing around the room, feeling my neck where I had been stabbed with the needle. I exhale shakily, realizing that I was in my room at home. Frowning deeply, I look down at myself, realizing that I was in my pj's.

"Someone changed me," I whisper, feeling grossed out.

I look at my nightstand, noticing that my inhaler wasn't there. I think back to where I had put it before remembering it was in my jacket. The jacket that was on the back of my chair. I swing my legs over my bed, pushing the covers off of me. I reach towards it, hesitantly digging into the pocket and gasping when it wasn't to be found.

"And they took my fucking inhaler," I mutter.

"Dare-Bear! You need to start getting ready! The funeral is in an hour!" I hear Mom yell.

I glance at the door, before looking towards my closet. The black dress that has been hung up since yesterday. I sigh softly, grabbing the top drawer and pulling it open, reaching for my spare inhaler. I freeze as I realize that there was another one next to it. The one from last night.

"YN!"

"Yeah!" I yell back, staring at the inhaler. "Yeah, I'm getting ready."

---

I felt uncomfortable as the funeral started. The fake body is lowered into the ground in the casket.

Someone nudges my arm, and I flinch, stepping back before noticing that it was Nancy. She frowned at me, worry on her face. I sigh and shake my head.

"Where were you? I was trying to call you all night." She whispers to me, glancing at her mom before looking back at me.

I look at her, sighing as I turn to the casket again. "I'll explain later. Did-"

I pause as Mrs. Wheeler glares at me. Nodding in understanding, I wait until she looked away from me, before leaning towards Nancy.

"Did something happen? Anything on Barb?" I whisper in her ear.

She slowly nods her head, looking at me again. "Something happened. I'll fill you in later."

We fall silent, paying attention to the funeral that was going on around us. I barely heard anything as I kept thinking back to what had happened the night before. The strange glowing thing on the wall, or maybe it was in the wall.

"Are you alright?" She asks me, and I glance at her.

Slowly I shake my head, bringing out my spare inhaler. I breathe in and look at the casket before shaking my head again. The preacher continued talking, and the occasional sniffing from a few crying people filled the air. The breeze shifted, a shiver crawling up my spine as the cold seeped through my jacket.

"I don't think I am Nance. I'm not at all." I whisper softly, looking at her for a moment.

[Next Chapter]

12 notes · View notes

bagsybaggins · 10 months

Text

Chapter 2: The Search

[Previous Chapter]

"Fuck, shit, god dammit it!" I mutter as I toss another book behind me.

"What's up with you?" I hear Dustin ask and I pause to look at him.

"I can't find my lucky pencil. The one that's black with the black eraser." I explain before I open another drawer on my desk. "Mr. Pickles's test is today and I can't fail this one or else Mom will be pissed. That and I would have to take it again, and I don't want to do that."

He nods his head, walking towards me and reaching up. "It's right here Nerd." He pulls it from behind my ear and I groan. "I think you need glasses if you keep losing small things. How many fingers-"

"I can see just fine Dustin," I say before nudging his shoulder. "Thanks though. Would've torn my room up a lot more without this."

He glances around before snorting, causing me to roll my eyes. "Whatever, let's get moving before we're late."

He nods his head before he walks out of my room, and I sigh heavily before looking back at my bed. I snatch up my hat and put it on my head, pushing my pencil back behind my ear.

---

I frown as I notice Will's not with Lucas and Dustin, as he normally is.

"Will's not here? You don't think he's sick do you?" I pull up next to Mike and Lucas, Dustin right behind me.

Mike shook his head. "No, he's probably already at school. Like that one time after Mr. Gruskey did a surprise pop quiz, he would leave earlier to get ready for another one."

I sigh and nod my head. "Alright, you tell him that Dustin will give him his comic tomorrow. Cause someone forgot to bring it."

Dustin glares at me. "He only won because he cheated."

"And he won, but you both left me. So it's only fair he gets it, my words are god. Listen to me." I laugh before I pedal ahead of them. "Later ya nerds!"

"Later!" "He still cheated!"

I shake my head as I make my way to the bike stand at the High school, noticing Nancy walking towards the door.

"Nance!" I wave at her as I slowly stop at the bike stand. She waves back and leans to one side, waiting for me.

I kick the stand on my bike down, grabbing my bag from the basket before I jog to her. I smile as I join her side, and walk into the building with her.

"So, did he call?" Barb asked as she comes up from behind us.

Nancy's lips twitch as she tries to force the smile from crawling on her face.

"Ohh, Steve?" I ask as Nancy rolls her eyes.

"Keep your voice down." She smiles for a moment, before trying to relax.

"Did he?" Barb and I ask in unison, me walking backward in front of Nancy.

"I told you, it's not like that." She tries to explain and defend herself before she caves in slightly. "Okay, I mean, yes. He likes me, but not like that."

I look at Barb, who gives me a look, and I return it.

"Yeah, uh-huh. Sure, it's 'not like that' at all." I grin as I turn back around and lean against my locker, as Nancy starts opening hers.

She light-heartedly glares at me, before looking back at her locker. "We just, made out a couple times."

Me and Barb grin as we mock her. "We just, made out a couple times."

"Stop." Nancy smiles, opening her locker.

"Nance, seriously. You're gonna be so cool now, it's ridiculous." Barb says as I nod my head in agreement, opening my locker.

"She's right Nancy. You get with Harrington, you get the whole school watching like it's the most popular drama show in all of history. You might as well be dating a famous actor or something." I look at her past my locker door.

"No, I'm not. It's not like that." She says before Barb and I sigh.

"You better still hang out with me, that's all I'm saying."

"Hey, what about me? Are you saying I can't hang out with you? I think I deserved to be loved." I dramatically express, Barb and Nancy smiling at my antics.

"Of course, I'll still hang out with you Dare. Who else is going to help me with English homework."

I laugh. "Of course, the homework benefits are the only good thing about me. I see how it is."

Nancy's locker opened and she pauses, causing me to raise a brow at what caused her to silence.

"Oh ho ho, what's this." She picks it up, giving me a glare. "A note from lover boy? Your boyfriend slash, not a boyfriend?"

I grin as she opens it slowly, looking down at it. I lean over and laugh as she closes it quickly. "And we have a winner, Steve Harrington has the hots for you. And you know it."

"You were saying?" Barb grinned as she leaned against me, looking at Nancy whose cheeks resembled an apple.

---

"YN?" I look up from my test and see the principal looking in from the doorway.

I feel panic climb up my throat, glancing around the room as others start looking at me. The Principal looks at me and waves his hand in a come-forward motion. I look at the teacher for a moment, and Mr. Pickles nods his head.

I sigh and stand up from my chair, leaving my test on my desk. I lean down and grab my bag, swinging it over my shoulder before heading to the door. As I walk out of the room, I notice Hopper and Phil standing in the hall.

"Hop, Phil. What's going on?" I ask as I tighten my hand on the book bag strap.

They look at me and Hopper sighs, looking down at the ground.

"Whatever happened, I swear it wasn't me," I say quickly, and Hopper quickly shook his head.

"Will's gone missing. You and the other three were the last to see him. We were just wanting to get your side of the story." Hopper explained, finally looking me in the eyes.

My eyes widen and I inhale quickly. "What?"

I fight off the urge to panic and instead close my eyes for a moment. I breathe in deeply before opening my eyes and breathing out slowly.

"What do you need? What can I do?"

Hopper smiles tightly at me and nods his head towards the Principals office. I follow him silently, focusing on breathing, reaching my hand into my pocket. I pull out my inhaler, shaking it before using it. I can see Hopper look at me from the corner of his eyes, and I cough lightly. We turn the corner and I shove it back in my pocket, walking inside and sitting down on the chair they had.

Hop and Phil sit down in front of me, Phil takes out his notepad while Hopper leans forward in his chair.

"Just tell us where you last saw him, and anything that seems important," Hopper says gently, looking at me while nodding his head.

I mimic his nod and inhale slowly. "Yeah, okay. It was a normal night. We got out of our D&D campaign at 8 I think. Me, Dustin, Lucas, and Will were riding our bikes home. Lucas left first since his house was closer. I and Dustin followed Will until we got to our road. But Dustin and Will had raced ahead of me. I kinda got left behind, and when I did, Dustin was on our road. And I saw Will's light going further away before we left for our house."

Hopper nods his head. "Alright, and was there anything else? Anything at all?"

I frown, think back, and shrug. "Our lights kept flickering the closer we got to our road. I think Will's was too. But they didn't do it after we left Will. Other than that, nothing unusual."

Hopper nodded, while Phil scoffed lightly. "Thank you, Kid. Go back to class."

"Hop." He turns to me and I sigh. "Find him, he's great with directions. Rarely ever got lost, even in the woods."

He nods his head, puts his hat back on, and walked out of the room with Phil in tow.

---

I can feel my nerves buzzing beneath my skin. My leg bounced as I sat down at the table where we normally ate lunch. My fingers drummed against the table as I stare down at the book that lay open in front of me, but I wasn't reading it. I grabbed my pencil instead, flipping it between my fingers. I glanced around the lunchroom as more people poured in, waiting for Nancy to finally walk in.

"Hey-"

"Shit Biscuits!" I yell as a hand touches my shoulder.

"Whoa, whoa it's just me," Eddie said as he raised his hands in surrender, his brows furrowing as he looked at me in worry. "Are you alright?"

I sigh, turning back to the table as I put my face in my hands. "No, I'm not."

The air gets warmer as I feel him sit down next to me, his bag hitting the ground with a thump. "What's wrong? Did something happen? Did you lose the campaign or something?" He asks with a teasing smile.

I roll my eyes with a small smile twitching onto my lips. "Yeah, we did, actually. But that's not it." I sigh, turning to him. "One of my friends, my little brother's friend, he's gone missing."

Eddie's eyes widen. "Oh, shit. I had heard talks about you talking to the chief and shit, but I didn't think it would be about that."

Turning to him with a frown on my face, "What did you think I'd be talking to them about?"

He shrugs, looking ahead in thought. "I don't know actually. Maybe about a crime you had done." He laughs and turns to me. "Maybe you're a secret criminal and they had finally caught you."

I scoff a laugh and shake my head. "No, my criminal days are over. Hop caught me too many times."

His right brow raises as he laughs. "Sure, sure. Say that to the fork you took from me yesterday."

I cackel while throwing my head back, my arms crossing around my stomach. I can hear Eddie laugh with me, and I lean forward, wiping my cheeks with my hands.

"Ugh, that was a good one. I'll give you that." I smile as I turn to him again.

"Well thank you, m'lady." He gives me a mock bow, before crossing his arms on the table. "But I'm sure the kid will be fine."

I feel my stomach knot up again, I sigh and nod. "Yeah, he's a good kid." I look away from him, down at the book in front of me. "He's like a little brother to me, ya know? I mean, they all are. I have my little brother, but we all just hang out almost all the time. We're practically family."

"I get that, sorta. I don't have anything like that, but I understand that." He murmurs as I look back at him.

"Yeah." I nod, sighing as I stretch. "Did you need something? Or did you just come over cause I was jittery?"

He smiles and shrugs. "A little bit of both, but it looked like you needed some company. And I wanted to give you, this." He reached into his denim jacket, pulling out a cassette.

I chuckle as I realize that it was Def Leppard, the cassette he had been listening to the first time we met. "Letting me borrow it now?"

He nods, before standing up. "Yeah, figured I should give it to you now before I end up forgetting about it. You can keep it until you're ready to give it back."

I grin as I look up at him, tapping my finger against it lightly. "And if I don't feel like returning it?"

He tsks as he grabs his bag from the floor. "Then I guess I lose a cassette." He nods his head with a smile on his face. "I'll talk to you later, so tell me what you think."

He walks backward slowly, "I will. Have a good night Eddie." I say and he nods before turning around.

"You too YN." And then he walks out of the cafeteria.

Sighing, I look down at the cassette before smiling and putting it in the back of my bag, in the only pocket I don't use.

---

"No, Dustin! You aren't going out, that's final!" I hear Mom yell from the living room.

I sigh heavily, I turn up the stereo while listening to the cassette. And so far, Photograph was my favorite song. The sound of a door slamming, the vibration shaking my door. Turning around, I lie down on my bed, my arms underneath my head. My mind wanders to Will, and how he had gone missing. My thoughts shifted to the game, how we had lost.

The songs played on until it stopped, and the album ends. I sat up, reaching toward the stereo before frowning at the strange static sound. I pause, listen to the strange buzzing sound, and stand up. I exhale softly, walking across my room before realizing it got quieter. I walk back to my bed, leaning towards the stereo, but pull back. It wasn't coming from that.

I hear the sound a little louder as I kneel down, and my eyes widen as I remember. Dustin's supercomm!

Scrambling, I reach under my bed and pull it out. I twist the volume up and extend the antenna. I grin as I hear Lucas and Mike talking more clearly.

"Meet me in 10. Over and out." I hear Lucas say before the radio goes silent.

I frown in confusion, having missed the whole conversation, but then it clicks. My eyes widen and I curse and trip up as I run to my door. I fling it open and quickly open Dustin's door, muttering a curse as I realize he left.

Closing his door, I go into my room and grab my messenger bag. I dump all the papers and books from school out and throw the supercomm into the bag. Opening my closet I push past my clothes looking down at one of the many combination boxes that Dad and I had hidden across the house. Inhaling deeply, I slowly put in his birthday, opening it. I grab the flashlight, ignoring the bullets, and the gun that he had put in each box. I sigh as I see a picture sticking out of the bottom, past the box of bullets.

I reach past the box and pull the photo out, smiling at dad's face. His hazel eyes crinkled as he smiled at the camera, a baby Dustin in his arms. His dark blond hair was messy from Dustin's grabby hands, but Dad's face was happy. He always was, normally.

Shaking my head, I put his picture back down, before seeing his dog tags. I had worn them before he died, and I took them off after he had passed. I pull them out, looking at the words pressed into them.

Henderson. Richard G.

1224 46 7890

B Pos

Christan

The same thing was written on both of the tags, and I run my fingers over the letters.

My eyes widen as I realize I was taking too long. I slam the box shut clicking the lock shut and twisting the numbers up. I push it back to the back of the closet and move my clothes to their original spot. I throw the flashlight into the bag before I look at the blanket that was handed on the back of my chair. Sighing, I throw it into the bag as well and swing the bag over my shoulder.

Opening my window, I step out onto the grass, tumbling slightly as I hit the back of my head on the window. "Shit, ow." I hiss, rubbing the back of my head. I take one more glance at my room, before checking my pocket, sighing when I feel my inhaler in it. Walking to my bike, I put the dog tags around my neck, and pick up my bike.

"Just wait for me Dustin, I'm gonna kick your ass for this," I mutter as I push off.

---

YN wheezed as she dropped her bike next to the three other bikes, her hood pulled up as the rain fell heavily. She wiped her face with her hand, blinking as she reached into her bag with her other hand. Her light clicked on as she pressed the switch, and walked into the forest.

"Mike? Dustin? Lucas? WILL?" She yelled over the rain, blinking and pulling her cap down more to help block the rain.

"WILL!" She yelled a little louder, knowing that he was the reason they were out in the first place.

The further she got into the woods the less she felt safe.

"MIKE!" Turning to the left as she sees a distant light flicker behind the trees.

Her feet push through the already muddy ground, her converse soaked from the ride to the woods. She looked at the ground as she stepped over a fallen log, walking around the trees to find the three boys. And hopefully the fourth boy.

"DUSTIN!"

"Oh shit-"

She heard him say a little further ahead of her, finally seeing them in view.

"Yeah oh shit! You didn't tell me you were doing this! You're supposed to tell me this shit!" She yelled as she approached the boys.

"How did you find us?" Mike asked, confusion evident on his face.

"I took his old supercomm and now it's mine. And no you're not getting it back." She glared at Dustin, who looked at her in shock.

"You took my supercomm!"

"Yes, but you're supposed to tell me before you do stupid shit like this! I know he's missing but we can't lose anyone else right now, so you bring me with you!"

Lucas shook his head. "You would've told our parents! They-"

Dare looked at him offended. "I'm one of you ya nerds! We literally play D&D together! I'm not Nancy, and you all should know that by now! Why would I tell anyone anything?"

They stay silent before Dustin nods. "She's right."

"Not to mention that I can kick ass-"

"You have asthma, you can't kick ass," Mike says.

"I can kick ass, I just can't run." Dare points her finger at him with a glare. "And I don't think you want me to kick your ass."

Before they could say anything, the sound of a branch snapping near them causes them to freeze.

"What was that?" Mike asked, his eyes wide.

"I don't know," Dare muttered, taking a step in front of them, and raising her flashlight.

And then she paused as a girl was at the other end of the light.

---

"All of you shut it!" I hiss at them, glaring at them as I rub the towel through my wet hair. "I don't care if you're freaking out Lucas, she's the same damn age as you all. And if you have a problem, you can leave."

Lucas turns to me, in disbelief. "You're taking his side?"

My eyes narrow, and I step forward. "Look, tell me something. If you were scared, alone, cold, and somewhere you didn't know, would you be talkative? Would you be smiling and sunshine and daisies?" He sputters to reply, but I interrupt him. "No, you wouldn't be. Now, please shut up, all of you."

I glance over at the girl, whose head was shaved and clothes were soaked. And I had to agree, it looked like blood was on her shirt.

"Mike, go get her clothes," I say softly, sighing as I kneel in front of her. Her eyes flickered between me and the boys.

"Hi," I give her a small smile. "My name's YN, but you can call me Dare, can you tell me your name?" I ask her gently.

Mike comes back, thunder rumbling outside, and she flinches. He hands her the clothes, and I frown as she rubs them against her cheek. I stand up and shake my head as I feel some water in my ear. My eyes widen as she stands up, her hands going to the bottom of her large shirt.

"No no no no no!" I grab her wrist, the boy's quickly panicking and turn around.

I sigh and pull her towards the bathroom. "Come on, you can change in here."

She follows me, glancing at the three before walking into the bathroom. I nod my head and try to close the door, but her hand stops it. I frown before looking back at her.

"You don't want it closed?"

"No."

My brows raise as she speaks, and I smile and nod my head. "Right. Got it. Then, let's keep it here then." I close it so that there is a small sliver left open.

"Better?" I ask.

"Yes."

I nod my head before turning around and looking at the boys. I walk over and listen to the conversation happening.

"Lucas, get the stick out of your ass. I get that you're suspicious, but you're being a dick." I say as I cross my arms.

They turn to me. "But you saw her Dare! She literally tried to get naked!" Dustin exclaimed.

"Yeah! She's probably crazy!"

I roll my eyes and sigh.

"Maybe, maybe not. But we won't know that until we get to know her. And we don't know what she's been through, she could be traumatized! She could be hurt! We can't just turn a fucking kid away just because we don't know them." I explain as I glance back at the door, before looking at them.

"We were out there looking for Will. Not another problem." Lucas states as he turns to Mike.

"Yeah, we should tell your Mom," Dustin says looking at Mike.

"Are you guys insane, or just stupid?" I ask as I groan. "You weren't supposed to be out tonight, and if you guys tell her. She'll tell your parents, and then you're screwed!"

They fall silent, their faces falling in realization.

"Here's the plan, she sleeps here tonight." Mike starts.

"You're letting a girl-"

"Just listen! In the morning she sneaks around my house, goes to the front door, and rings my doorbell. My mom will answer and she'll know exactly what to do. And then we'll be in the clear!" Mike plans out, and I nod along.

"Seems good enough. Less chance of problems arising." I mutter.

Mike nods his head. "And then we go back out tomorrow night, and we find Will."

"And no leaving me out this time, I'm not kidding," I say as I look at the three of them.

"Alright, you can join us-"

"Oh gee, thanks for the permission. I didn't know that you were Mom." I say as I give Dustin a grin.

---

"Head out Dusty, I'll join you in a minute. Stay on the porch, if you aren't there I'm killing ya." I say as I shove his hat back on his head.

"Yeah yeah."

I chuckle as he walks up the stairs, and I turn back to the girl and Mike. He handed her the sleeping bag and I walked back over.

"We never got your name ya know." She looks back up at me and slowly looks down, rolling her sleeve up.

011.

My eyes widen at the tattoo on her skin, almost like a branding-type thing that was in those books. With pirates and stuff.

"Whoa, is that real?" Mike asks, reaching his hand out to touch it.

She pulls back instantly, and I sigh as Mike pulls back.

"Sorry, I've never seen a kid with a tattoo before."

"What's it mean, Eleven?" I question.

She looks up at me before she points her finger at herself.

"That's your name?"

She nods her head looking down at the cuffs of the sweatshirt. I sigh as I kneel down, sharing a look with Mike.

"Well, how about we call you El for short?" Mike asks, before looking at me. "Like how we call you Dare, and how I'm Mike."

She stares at us and I sigh again. "Alright, El. I'll see you later. I gotta get back home before it gets too late. But I'll visit before it's too late."

She stares at me and I smile lightly, standing up I pat Mike on the back. "Good night Mike, El."

"Night Dare."

"Night Dare." I hear El say and I smile as I walk up the stairs.

---

"YN?" I hum and turn to Dustin who walked into my room.

"Yeah?"

He points at me. "What's that?"

I frown in confusion before looking down. "Oh shit, I forgot about that."

I pull the Dogtags off my neck, holding them instead. "I found Dad's dog tags. You want one?"

He frowns, before nodding with a smile on his face. I grin and roll off my bed, walking to my jewelry box, and pulling out a random chain. I unclasp the dog tags chain and pull one-off, handing him the one still on the chain.

"You can this one, the chain keeps tangling in my hair," I say, grinning as he excitedly puts it on, looking down at it.

"What's the G stand for?" He asks as he reads it.

I shrug. "I don't know, but we can ask Mom tomorrow in the morning."

Sliding the tag onto the new chain, I put it on, smiling.

"Thanks, for this. And for coming with us."

Snickering I reply, "You mean coming after you guys."

He grins nodding, to which I roll my eyes.

"Night Dusty."

"Night Dare."

---

I groan as I walk into school, my feet in pain from walking in the forest last night. I think a stick got into my shoe or something.

"It's Tuesday." I hear Nancy says around the corner.

"It's Tuesday. Oh my god." I hear Tommy laugh.

I raise my brow as I turn the corner to see Barb and Nancy, standing in front of Steve, Tommy, and Carol.

'Ugh, I fucking hate Carol.'

I cross my arms as I lean back against the wall, watching them.

"It'll be just us, no one else. Are you in or not?" Steve says.

Before Nancy could say anything, Carol said, "Oh, God. Look."

I look around my corner, noticing Jonathan Byers pinning something to the bulletin board.

"Oh, God. That's depressing." Steve says, and I look back at them.

Nancy makes eye contact with me and I sigh and roll my eyes. I turn the corner and walk toward Jonathan, and he looks up when I stop next to him.

"Hey." He says, nodding his head.

I nod back, leaning against the wall. I look at the paper he was pinning up, and I feel my lungs constrict at the picture of Will.

"I'm sorry dude," I mutter, looking back at him. "I wish I had biked him home that night."

He shakes his head, looking down at his hands. "if you had, it might have been Dustin. Besides I should have been home-"

"Hey."

We turn, Nancy by my side now. She looks at me before looking back at Jonathan.

"I just. wanted to say, I'm sorry. About everything, you know." She says uncertainly, hesitant. And he glances past her, at Steve and his group. And Barb.

"Everyone's thinking about you." Nancy gives him a small smile, looking at the picture for a moment.

He again doesn't reply, looking down before back at her.

"It sucks." Me and Nancy say, looking at each other quickly.

"Yeah."

I scoff, and he looks at me.

"Sorry, you just kept silent for a while," I mutter, and his mouth twitches up slightly.

Nancy looks at me before turning back to him. "I'm sure he's fine. He's a smart kid."

After that, the bell rang, and I groan, tapping my head against the wall.

"I have to go. Chemistry test." She smiles, pulling at my arm.

"Yeah." He repeats.

"Why are you pulling me? I don't have chemistry-"

"Good luck!" She says to him before turning around and pulling me with her.

"Ow, Nance! Put away the claws!" I hiss as I feel her nails digging in.

"Sorry." She whispers letting go of me, and I rub my arm.

I glare at Carol and Tommy, flipping them off mentally as we pass them.

"Wait, Nance!"

Fucking Steve.

"No can do Steve. This little Lady has a test. No distractions. Talk later!" I say as I pull her along, away from Steve and his two stupid friends.

---

I tap my pencil against my desk. My eyes dart at the clock before I sigh.

"YN?"

I look at the teacher, who raises her brow at me.

"Yeah?" I ask, clearing my throat and sitting up slightly

"Are you with us?" She asked, crossing her arms.

Inhaling deeply, I look down at my desk, before looking at her.

"No. I'm not. I'm not feeling good." I state, looking back at her, before sighing and grabbing my bag.

"YN-"

"I'm going to the nurse's office." I quickly stand, spreading out of the room.

The door bangs open as I walk out, my head down as I speed down the hall. I jog down the hall, turning the corner before stopping and breathing deeply. I lean against the wall, closing my eyes. I slide down the wall, putting my hands on my eyes. Trying to calm down my racing heart.

"Wow, I didn't expect to see you out here by yourself Henderson."

I groan internally as Steve walks down the hall, stopping next to me.

"What do you want?" I don't even look up at him, keeping my eyes closed. Focusing on breathing.

"No need for the hostility." He laughs and I look at him.

His laughter trails off as he nods his head. "Look, I just wanted to-"

"If you're wanting to apologize, don't. You did nothing wrong." I interrupt and he looks at me stunned.

"What, how-"

"I'm just awesome Harrington." I smile thinly, standing up. "Anything else?"

He pauses for a moment and nods. "Why are you so, hostile towards me? Like we've never spoken-"

I roll my eyes. "Because of your shitty friends Harrington. Besides, I don't enjoy new people often. But, if you treat Nancy right," I say glaring at him. "I guess I can drop the hostility. But we won't be besties, capeesh?"

He huffs and nods with a smile. "Seems fair enough."

Humming I nod, turning around to walk to the Nurse's office. "Yeah Yeah, later Harrington."

---

I stare at the boys in confusion, as they explain the earlier events to me.

"She shut the door. With her mind." They nod in confirmation, and I squint at them. "Are you guys high?"

"What!" "No!"

"We aren't lying, we promise," Mike says as he turns to me.

I gaze at him before turning to Eleven, who looked up at me. I sighed and walked over to her, kneeling in front of her.

"Is that true El? You closed the door with your mind?" I ask softly.

She slowly nods her head. "Yes." She softly whispers.

Rubbing my hand on my forehead, I groan as I wrap my head around everything. My head starts feeling lighter, and I cough as I back away from her. I reach into my pocket, pulling out my inhaler.

"And she said she's in danger. Danger danger." Mike repeated and I inhaled, looking at him.

"One thing at a time Mike-"

"Guys! Time for dinner." I hear Mrs. Wheeler yell up the stairs.

I use my inhaler again and clear my throat. I look back at them, with them looking at me with wide eyes. Wondering if I believed them.

"Alright. I believe you. But that doesn't help with the fact that Will's missing." I look between them.

"But she knows about Will-"

I look over at Mike in confusion, before Nancy calls my name.

"We'll talk later." I point at them, glancing at El briefly before heading out of the room.

Walking downstairs, Mrs. Wheeler smiles when she sees me, as does Nancy. I smile thinly as I sit down next to Nancy. The food, the meatloaf, looked good. But I didn't feel good or feel like eating. Nancy cast me a worried glance, leaning towards me.

"Steve told me about what happened. You were sick in the hall?" She whispered to me, and I looked at her from the corner of my eye.

"No, I had an asthma attack. Forgot to bring my inhaler, and I didn't make it to the Nurse in time." Nancy's eyes widened, and she opened her mouth before I cut her off. "No, I'm fine! I just couldn't breathe for a few moments. I got through it. I'm fine Nance."

Mrs. Wheeler looked at me in concern. "What happened?"

"What happened?" Dustin asked as he walked downstairs with Lucas and Mike.

Sighing I shake my head. "Nothing happened-"

"Nothing happened?" Nancy loudly blurted out, looking at me with anger written on her face. "YN, you had an asthma attack and you didn't have your inhaler with you! You could have died!"

Mrs. Wheeler, Dustin, Mike- everyone except Mr. Wheeler and Holly were talking over each other at me. I waved my hands in reassurance. "I'm fine! I wouldn't have died. It was just a tiny one. Nothing major! Besides I was using the advice from the doctor and it helped Nance."

I turn to Dustin. "I'm fine, I promise."

He looks at me in worry, before sighing and nodding his head. Mrs. Wheeler gives me a look, the mother look, and I smile. "I promise, I'm alright."

Nancy glares at me before stabbing her meatloaf. "And you have your inhaler now, right?"

I roll my eyes taking a bite of my mashed potatoes. "Yes, Mom."

She turns to me and gives me the mom glare. "I keep telling you to bring it, and when you don't this happens."

Looking at her, I nod. "Alright fine. You're right. And I do have one on me, a full one."

She stares at me for a moment longer before exhaling and turning back to her food. "Well, I'm glad you're alright."

I huff and smirk at her. "Little asthma won't take me down."

Shaking her head she smiles, looking over at her mom.

"They're having a rally, at the school. For Will." She says, and I look over at her in confusion. "Everyone will be there. And Barb will drive me."

Mrs. Wheeler looked at her in confusion. "Why am I just now hearing about this?"

Nancy glanced over at me, then at Mike before looking back at her mom. "I thought you already knew about it."

Mrs. Wheeler shakes her head. "I already said I don't want you to be out at night until Will is found-"

"Come on Mrs. Wheeler." I grin at her. "It would be weird if we didn't go there. Besides, you've got your hands full with these dorks-"

"Hey!"

"I think it would be good for her to go out away from them," I state.

Nancy smiles at me, but her brows were furrowed in confusion. "You're coming with me. I'm not letting them take over your mind any more than they have."

My eyes widen, "What-"

"Fine, but be back by 10." Mrs. Wheeler sighed.

I nudge her foot with mine, giving her a confused look. She leans over. "Just go with it please."

Staring at her for a moment I sigh and nod. "Alright."

Mike coughs up his milk next to me, and I groan as I feel some of it hitting my shirt.

"Dude!" I exclaim as Dustin hits the table. "Milk doesn't wash out easily man!"

"Sorry, spasm." Dustin smiled, and I looked at him.

I had missed something.

---

Barb honks the horn, and Nancy drags me out of the house. She immediately jumps into the passenger, and I sigh as I hop in the back.

"Why are you always shotgun?" I ask aloud, as I cross my arms in the back seat.

She turns to look over her shoulder with a grin. "Because you're too slow."

I sigh leaning my head back and looking out the back window.

"It's not like I wanted to come with you," I mutter.

"Ditto," Barbra replied, and I look at her in confusion.

Nancy gives her a look, and I gasp as I realize what was really happening.

"Really Nancy? You're dragging us to Steve's stupid ass party?"

Nancy shook her head.

"That's exactly what's going on." Barbra interrupts her.

Nancy sighs and looks at her. "It would be weird if I went by myself."

I snort. "Not really, if anything it would increase his chance of getting into your pants."

She gapes at me, before shaking her head rapidly. Barbra nods her head in agreement.

"No, no he isn't-"

"Oh look at the denial on this one," I say as I lean forward, putting my arms on the two seats.

Barbra laughs as Nancy groans and shakes her head a blush setting on her cheeks. I grin as she buries her face in her hands.

"And now she's embarrassed." Barbra points out, nudging Nancy with her finger.

I laugh as I pat her shoulder. "Don't worry Nancy, I'm sure Steve will like your new bra."

Barbra gasps as she turns to look at Nancy in shock.

"I am not- It is not a new bra!" She cries out, a smile on her face, as she turns to me.

I hum and nod, narrowing my eyes. "Mhmm sure, tell that to the receipt in your trash can."

"You went through my trash?" Her eyes went wide.

Barbra bursts out laughing and I lean forward more. "No, but maybe I should. Confirmed bra for special night-"

"I didn't buy it for him-"

Barbra and I gasp and I look at Barb. "You hear that Barbra, she didn't buy it for him." I mimic a posh accent.

She grins as she glances at me for a moment before focusing on the road. "Oh dear, but she bought a new bra." She played along.

"Guys-"

"A new bra, for a different suitor. Not for Steve! Oh, who is this mysterious man? Who has doth stolen our best friend's heart." I grin deviously. "And our friend's innocent mind."

Nancy groaned and shook her head as we slowly came to a stop.

"Are you both done?" She asks, turning to me mostly.

We share a glance and I sigh. "Fine."

---

"You're fucking lucky that you didn't hit a fucking blood vessel or something," I say as I try my best to wrap her wounds.

She chuckles, before hissing as I tighten it around her thumb. I look down at it as I let go.

"I did a terrible job," I mutter.

She nods her head, squinting at me. "Yeah, you did."

I roll my eyes and nudge her arm. "Shut up, I'll get better. But we should probably leave, otherwise, Mrs. Wheeler might throw a fit."

Barbra scoffs. "Good luck trying to get her to leave."

I stare at her before sighing. "Alright, let's go."

We walk out of the bathroom, hearing the distant sounds of laughter. I glance at my hands, before realizing that I had left blood on my hands.

"Shit, I'm gonna wash this off, you go and try to see if you can steal her back," I tell Barb, who nods her head.

I disappear back into the bathroom, turning on the water. I cringe as the water starts turning pink as I scrub my hands of blood. I use the coconut hand soap, nodding my head at the alright smell. And I look around for a towel.

"Shit. They're rich but they only have one fucking hand towel?" I mutter before wiping my hands on the back of my jeans.

I walk back out of the bathroom, hands clean of blood. I glance around as I head to the front door.

"Hey, Nance?" I call out but don't get an answer.

I frown before heading to check the pool first. Not wanting to get scarred.

"Nancy? Barb?" I call out, as I walk out, but find nothing.

I look down at the board, noticing the small blood thumbprint. I frown heavily, wiping it away with my shoe before hearing a distant stick snapping. I look towards the woods, squinting in the darkness.

I glance back at the house, before sighing and heading towards the forest.

"Swear to god, if they ditched me I'm going to commit murder."

I open the fence gate and run into the forest, well, jog really.

"Hello?" I call out, trying to find out if it had been a human or animal around.

"Barbra?" I shout as I step around a bush of poison oak.

I hear another snap, and I look to my right.

"Jonathan? What are you doing out here?" I ask.

He held up his camera. "I was taking pictures. Trying to find clues. Thought maybe they were looking in the wrong direction."

I sigh and nod. "Possible, yeah. You haven't seen Barb have you?"

He shakes his head after a moment.

"No, I haven't. Do you need a ride home?"

I nod my head and follow him back to his car. I would just yell at Nance and Barb for ditching me tomorrow.

[Next Part]

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bagsybaggins · 10 months

Text

Chapter 1: The Disappearance

I open my eyes, staring out the window as I wait for the bell to ring. It was the most boring class of the day, Math. But I still had my good grades to keep Mom happy, even though Dustin always got better grades than me.

Not that I cared about that.

Sure Mom cared about the good grades the 'reputation' of being a good kid and all that shmuck. But I am not exactly a good kid. Not that anyone knows of what I've done. Not even my little brother who is 4 years younger than me, and I tell practically everything.

But Hopper does, and some of the other police officers do.

But Hopper has 'taken care of it'. I'm not sure exactly what he means by that, but I trust him. After all, he was my dad's best friend. At least he was until my dad died. And after that happened, I wasn't exactly okay. I'll admit, I acted out. Didn't deal with the whole grieving thing properly. Got into picking locks and stealing occasionally.

But I stopped doing that, a while ago actually! I swear.

"Dare! Have you seen my supercomm?" I hear my little brother yell from his room.

I snicker as I toss his walkie under my bed, making sure that I had turned it off.

"Haven't seen it Dusty! Maybe ask Mom for a new one!" I smile as I hear him cursing under his breath, turning into my room's doorway.

"Shouldn't you be getting ready for school too?" He asks as he notices me laying on my bed, with a book in my hand.

I roll my eyes, kicking my feet over the side while closing the book. "I've been waiting for you, you dork."

He rolls his eyes. "I needed to find my super-"

"Mom will get you another one Dusty, don't worry about it. Hell, I'll get you one if you just move your butt so we can go." I say as I walk towards him, slowly pushing him out of my room.

He sighs and nods his head, turning into his room.

"I'll be waiting!"

"Are you going to be at the campaign Sunday?" I hear him ask as I swing my bag over my shoulder, heading towards the door.

I click my tongue as I swing the front door open, hearing his footsteps rushing after me. "Well I have a dinner date with myself at 6:30, and a midnight slumber party including me myself and I. But I think I can rearrange the dinner for another day." I grin as I look at him over my shoulder, noticing his false glare directed at me.

"Ah, you know I wouldn't miss this one for the world Dusty. We've been planning this for what, months? I'll be there, and I'll even order pizza!" I throw my arm over his shoulders and rub my knuckles into his head, knocking off his hat.

He laughs as he shoves my hands away, giving me a nudge with his elbow. "Well good, we'll need you to help us win the fight. Do you think Mike-"

He rambles on but I glance down the street, noticing the familiar car that I had seen many times before.

"Hey Dusty, why don't you start peddling to school before you're late. I'll catch up." I say as I push my bike off the lawn, towards Hopper's car. I hear him mutter an okay, but I can feel his eyes on me as I hop on my bike.

"I haven't committed any crimes Hop, I swear," I state loudly as I press on my break, slowing down as he steps out of the car.

He chuckles down at me, shaking his head. "I would hope so Kid. But I'm here to give you something, for staying clean for so long. Or something like that."

He reached into his car, pulling out a hat. It was dark army green, and it had some pins in it. One flag pin on the right side, with a small bronze star next to it.

"It was mine, but your dad added that to it." He said as he pointed to the other side of the hat.

I turned it and stared at the words that seemed to be embroidered on the left side of the hat. Stretching from the front to back.

"I didn't know Dad could sew," I mutter, and Hopper laughs softly.

"Was full of surprises."

I run my thumb over the wording, feeling the bumps and the smoothness of the string.

'All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.'

I scoff a laugh as I realize where they were from. "Of course, he put a quote from his favorite Disney film."

"And he put it on my cap, not his. Thought you would want to wear it since he lost his original one."

I nod my head with a smile, turning to look up at him. "Thanks, Hop."

He pats my shoulder. "Not a problem Kid. Promised your old man I'd look after you, and Dustin. Though he never warned me of how much trouble you'd get into."

Grinning widely, I place the cap on my head, moving my light brown hair behind my ears. "He was good at keeping secrets, but I think he just thought you knew. Besides, my first word was ‘dare’, remember?"

He shakes his head with a snort, "I remember, he wouldn’t shut up about it either. You're just like him Kid. Stalling to try and get out of school."

Pushing on the bike peddle, I smile as I start rolling down the hill. "I'm not stalling! And I won't be late for school! Later Hop!"

"Later Kid!" I hear him yell as I turn the corner, sighing as I see four kids waiting for me on their bikes.

"I thought I told you to go ahead!" I glare at Dustin as I slowly pass them.

"What was that about?" Dustin asked, dodging what I had said.

"He was telling me to keep out of trouble. Said he didn't want to arrest me again for picking another lock at the little corner store. That and he wanted to give me this hat." I explain as Will speeds up and looks at me in shock.

"You've been arrested?"

"Yeah-" "No you haven't!" Dustin yells, and I roll my eyes.

"But why'd he give you a hat? It's kinda a weird thing to do." Mike says as he moves to my other side.

"It was something that Dad had for a bit. He thought I would like it." We turn the corner, and I can hear Dustin's bike move up next to mine.

"Why do you get something of Dad's?" He asks, causing me to scoff.

"Look Dork, I said it was something dad had for a bit. It's Hopper's old army hat, I think. But Dad stitched it a Peter Pan quote and so Hop gave it to me." I look over at him and give him a look. "And you have multiple things of Dad's. But you lose them! So I keep them safe until you stop losing your junk."

He frowns, opening his mouth to say something before Lucas interrupts. "She's not wrong. You already lost your Supercomm this morning."

Dustin sighs and nods. "Fine, alright. But why does Hop come to visit you? You still haven't told me that!"

"What do you mean I haven't told you? You know why he does."

Dustin gives me a look and shakes his head. "No, you haven't. Every time I ask, you just say it's because he was friends with Dad."

I groan as School comes into view, a bubbling feeling of math equations sends my stomach into knots.

"He is- was. But he promised to make sure we didn't into trouble. That and it was to help Mom take a load off so she could watch you more. I just got into trouble."

And before Dustin could say anything else, I push on towards the High School, dodging people and cars.

"BYE, BOYS! SEE YOU LATER!" I yell as I wave to them.

"BYE DARE!" "YOU NEED TO TELL ME ONE DAY!"

I laugh at Dustin's voice, rolling my eyes as I press on my breaks, slowing down at the bike stand. I hop off, inhaling deeply as I feel a slight burning in my chest tighten up. I hold my breath, leaning against my bike as I try to shift the feeling away. After ten seconds I exhale, the feeling lingers but it wasn't as bad anymore.

"Hey, Dare!"

I turn my head, giving Nancy a thin smile as the urge to cough erupts from my lungs. And she notices it, like always. As she sends me a look, I sigh and let myself have a small mild coughing fit.

"You need to stop doing that. It's not good for you." Nancy says as she pats my back.

I shake my head as I slowly stop coughing, my throat hurting from it. I give her a smirk as I grab my bag from the front of my bike. "I was told to do that, by a doctor Nanc. It's supposed to help me grow out of having asthma. Or something."

"Well." She looks at me before she adjusts her books. "I think that's a lie."

I laugh as Barb comes out of her car, a smile on her face. "What's a lie?"

"Nance says my doctor's tips for getting rid of Asthma are fake," I explain as we walk into the hell pit called school.

No, I don't like school. But hey, It's that or child labor.

"I mean, sometimes doctors can be wrong about things," Barb says as I dodge another basketball player, who doesn't know how to walk.

"Yeah, but they should know what helps or not, right? I mean, they studied it for how long to get a doctorate?" I ask as I stop at my locker, which was next to Nancy's thankfully. Can't stand my other locker neighbor though.

"Look, I'm not saying he's lying. I'm just saying that it doesn't help to not breathe. Or to hold back a cough. Where is your inhaler?" Nancy asks as she leans back to look past my locker door.

"It's in my bag, and the nurse has my other one just in case. But I've been fine so far without it Nance, Stop worrying. If it gets bad I'll use it. But, now that I think about it," I pause as I take out my inhaler and shake it. "I don't remember when I last had an asthma attack."

"It was last week, on Monday. You laughed too hard after you saw one of the cheerleaders slip on milk and flipped her skirt, and her entire lunch onto herself. Which I think was sloppy joe day." Barb recites from memory, squinter her eyes as she recalls the incident.

I snort, laughing as I remember it. And like before, I feel my chest tighten and I feel my breath shortening. I hastily cough as I shake my inhaler, Nancy, and Barb rubs my back as I inhale deeply with my inhaler.

"Thanks." I croak, coughing once more. "I needed that laugh."

Nancy sighed heavily while Barb nodded, understanding what I had meant.

"Yeah well, don't leave your inhaler in your bag. I want you to carry it with you at least." Nancy says as she closes her locker, holding her first and second classes books. As she turns to me, I close my locker and I see her looking at my hat. "Where did you get that?"

I smile as I flick the front up a little. "A friend of my dad's gave it to me, said my dad had it," I explain, before waving off their questioning looks. "It's a long story, but it's mine now. that's all that matters."

Barb nods her head quickly. "Alright, well I think it suits you. But I think we should head to class before we're late."

Nancy nods her head and I pat her shoulder as I walk around her. "Don't worry Nance! I won't have another attack so soon. It's uncommon-"

I later did have another attack in my first class. Someone had sprayed too much bad cologne and I ended up having to leave the room for a few minutes.

---

"What did I tell you, I knew-"

I sit my lunch down and wave my hands around. "I'm sorry Nancy! You were right! But I wouldn't have had another attack if SOMEONE DIDN'T HAVE THAT CRAPPY COLOGNE THAT CAUSED ME TO HAVE A COUGHING FIT!" I yell as I slowly look over at the basketball team.

The one who had the bad cologne ducked his head down in embarrassment because he had to use the showers to wash it off. The teacher had almost given him detention but I said it was fine.

Nancy puts he hand on my arm, causing me to stop and look at her. She gives me a look, one that tells me to stop. Like, a mom glare.

"Well, I'm glad you're okay. Are you going to need a refill sometime soon? I'm sure Mom might have some at our house when you left it there."

I sigh with a smile, shaking my head while reaching into my jacket pocket. I bring out my inhaler and shake it. "No, I should be good for the rest of the night. Besides I can just sneak in and take my other inhaler from the nurse's office if I need to."

I see Nancy and Barb look at me, and I pause as I realize what I had said.

"Guy's I was joking! I wouldn't break into the school for that! I have some more at home. I'll be okay!" I exclaim as I sit down next to them, shoving my inhaler back in my pocket.

'I wouldn't break into school again.' I silently repeat in my head as I open my milk.

Nancy and Barb shake their heads with smiles on their faces, looking down at the lunch and beginning to eat.

"I wouldn't doubt if you did do that Dare. You've done some crazy things." Nancy says as she gives me a side glance.

I scoff and look at her. "And what are you insinuating that I've done Nance?"

She hums as she looks at Barb, who snorts in response.

"Great, you're teaming up against me." I look down at my tray, frowning when I realize I forgot to grab a fork.

"Hey, if you ever need to run to pick up a refill, just call me. I'll come to pick you up." Barb says as points her finger at me.

I nod my head as I stand up. "Thanks, Barb. At least someone has my back."

Nancy laughs as she looks at me. "I got your back, Dare. Wait, where are you going?"

I wave my hand as I head back towards the lunch line. "I forgot my fork, I'll be right back."

"DO YOU HAVE YOUR INHALER?" She yelled, to which I glare at her from over my shoulder.

Now, you should pay attention to where you're walking. But I wasn't because I was glaring at her, so I ended up hitting one of the small brick pillars that are in the middle of the room.

"Whoa, are you okay?" I hear someone ask as I rub my nose.

I turn to my right as I hear the small sound of the music being blasted through headphones. A guy, with brown curly-haired mullet, and brown eyes. He looked at me with his brows furrowed, his hands holding his tray.

"Yeah, I'm alright. I think." I scrunch my nose as I take my hand away. "Quick question, am I bleeding?"

He blinks at me before I notice his eyes slip down slightly, and he shakes his head. "No, I think you didn't hit it hard enough." He smiles as he looks back up at my eyes.

I sigh. "Damn, no chance of getting sent home then."

He chuckles and shakes his head. "I don't think so, but you could try again."

I laugh shaking my head. "I think I won't but thanks. Have a good lunch-" I pause leaning forward, grabbing his fork, and trying to hear the song that was playing through the headphones around his neck. "Oh is that Def Leppard? Rock of Ages right?"

He blinks as he visibly stills for a moment, I lean back tapping my fingers against the fork I had taken.

"Uh, yeah it is. I didn't think anyone else here listened to them." He mutters a patch of pink lightly crawling up his neck.

Shit, he's embarrassed. Didn't mean to do that, whatever I did.

"Well, guess you were wrong. They're good, but I've only heard a few of their songs on the radio." I explain as I slowly step back.

He grins, his eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. "Their album's really good! I can lend it to you if you'd like to listen to it-"

I laugh and shake my head. "Maybe some other time, but I gotta head back to my friends before they start having a panic attack. If I'm gone everything goes wrong, ya know?"

I can see his face fall, just slightly before he smiles again and nods his head. "Yeah, I'll bring the cassette another time."

I smile. "Yeah, thanks." I turn around, walking back to my table with Nancy and Barb watching me. I quickly turn around and lift the fork, twirling it around in my fingers.

"Oh and thanks for the fork!" I say as he turns back around, quickly glancing at his tray. I giggle as his mouth drops in shock as he looks back at me, and he smiles and shakes his head.

I speed walk back to my table, dodging another person holding their tray. As I sit back down, Nancy and Barb raise their brow at me.

"What?" I ask as I eat my crappy school spaghetti that barely has any sauce on it.

"Who was that?" Barb asks.

"And what was that?" Nancy smiles with a devious look on her face.

I lean back from her as I twirl another strand of spaghetti onto the fork. "No idea what their name is, and that was me grabbing their fork instead of going back to grab a new one."

Nancy and Barb give me a look that just translates to, really?

"What?" I look at the two of them.

"What was that whole, leaning into him thing? Do you like him?" Nancy asks as her voice grows quieter as she leans closer.

I blink slowly and take another bite.

"He was playing a good song on his headphones. I leaned closer so I could hear it, it sounded familiar. And no, I don't like him, I don't even know his name. Yeesh, Nance, not everyone thinks about dating someone." I say as I give a look.

Barb looks at Nancy with a raised brow, and Nancy's eyes are blown wide.

"Wait- no, I don't think about-" Nancy tries to explain, but we cut her off by looking over at Steve Harrington's table.

He waves his hand as Nancy looks at where we had turned to, smiling at her before turning back to his friends. Nancy, in turn, blushes as she turns back around and looks down at her food.

"Not think about dating huh?" I mutter as Nancy starts pushing her food around.

Barb snickers as she opened her book, pulling out a sheet of homework.

"Shut up." Nancy murmurs as she gives me a false glare, one that holds no bite to her 'mom' glares.

I smirk as our table falls silent, the two either invested in their food or their homework. I exhale silently, looking up from the table as I lift my milk with my left hand, still holding my fork in my right. My gaze shifts from table to table as I slowly drink my milk, and then I see him again. His headphones were on, sitting at the end of a loner's table his bag in the seat next to him. I press back a smile as I see him trying to twirl his new fork in his hand.

He slowly lifts his head, his lips mouthing whatever song had been blaring through his headphones. His eyes look away from his hands, and we meet gazes. I smirk as I lift my stolen fork, and salute him with it as subtly as possible. His lips twitch upwards and I turn away as I snicker to myself.

"Why are you laughing?" Barb asks, her gaze not leaving her homework.

I turn to her as Nancy looks over at me. I click my tongue and blurt out the first thing that popped into my head.

"I was thinking about T rex's trying to fist fight, but their arms don't even stretch that far so they just kinda lean back and slap each other's hands like this," I say as I lean back, bringing my arms close to my chest and flapping my hands around.

Barb and Nancy stare at me for a moment, before they turn to each other. Then our little trio bursts out laughing at my ridiculousness. I smile as I glance over at his spot, feeling a twinge in my gut when I see he wasn't there anymore.

---

"No, I'm fine Mom! I didn't have any asthma attacks at school. I promise!" I say as I walk out of my room, to my panicking mother.

"But they called and said you did! Twice!" She said as she turns to me.

I sigh and shake my head.

'It was actually three times, but no need to correct her.'

"They lied Mom! They just want you to try and get me to be homeschooled. They don't want me to beat the highest grades or something. I was fine all day. I swear." I smile as I hug her quickly.

I see Dustin raise his brow at me from the kitchen, and I glare at him.

"Alright, Dare-bear. If you're sure. I'll be back later after bingo night is done." She kisses my cheek quickly as we part from our hug.

I shake my head. "I don't know why you play bingo Mom. You're not that old. Grandma's play Bingo, everyone knows that."

She smiles as she kisses Dustin's cheek, grabs her purse, and heads toward the door. "Don't flatter me, dear, I'm still going to take you for another visit to the doctors tomorrow."

My neck cracks as I look over at her, a feeling of panic filling me. "Sunday? I can't we-"

I feel my lungs constricting, her back still turned to me, but Dustin noticed.

"We have a campaign Sunday Mom, we can't cancel it! She can go after that!" Dustin comes to my safety as he walks to the door, skillfully moving her out so she couldn't see me.

I hold my breath, closing my eyes as I try to focus on counting. Drowning their words. When I slowly exhale, I fall into a wheezing coughing fit. My eyes water with each cough, and I feel my inhaler being shoved into my hand. I quickly inhale, the sound coming back into my ears. I slowly calm down again.

I slowly look at Dustin, nodding in thanks as the attack dissipates.

"She still doesn't know about it?" He asks as he sits down beside me.

I shake my head. "I try to explain, but she doesn't quite get it. Fear of the hospital is normal, you'll be fine. I just try to push through it."

He nods his head and I smile. "Thanks, for the cover."

He smiles at me, and I chuckle.

"I owe you one, ya I know," I murmur before I pull him into a hug. "But really, thanks."

"No problem, you're my sister. Plus, we can't lose our rogue right before the campaign." He says.

I laugh, shoving him away and shaking my head.

"Whatever nerd, go get ready for bed. We're heading out early on Sunday, gotta go grab something from the store before we head over." I stand up, stifling a yawn as I look over at the clock.

"What are you grabbing?" He asks.

"Girl stuff." I look at him from the corner of my eye, smiling as he falls silent with a confused look on his face.

And then light bulb, he hastily says good night and runs to his room. I laugh silently as I walk to my room, muttering a 'night' through his door. I open my door and shut it, falling onto my bed with a slight bounce. I stare at the ceiling before clicking my tongue and turning onto my side, reaching down at the bottom of my nightstand and shuffling through my books. When I see my yearbooks from middle school, I smile, grabbing them and throwing them down next to me.

I sit up as I grab the oldest one, with little sharpie doodles on the cover and sides. I chuckle at the monkey drawing I had drawn in a bright pink sharpie. I open the cover and slowly sift through it to find a familiar face, that I had yet to put a name to. And page after page, I begin to frown in concentration looking at each face slowly.

When I turn to the M's, I finally see him. At the bottom right corner.

"Eddie Munson huh," I mutter aloud as I look at the fourth-grade picture.

I smile as I flip through the book, smiling at pictures of Nancy and Barbra. They were all ahead of me by one year, I was one year behind despite being the same age. I had been born at the end of the year, December 28th to be exact. Of 1967. We were friends because of Dustin and Mike. I didn't have any friends because I had been sick, and so when Dustin was invited over by Mike, I tagged along. That's where I met Nancy and Barbra, and we've been friends ever since.

But, when I was supposed to be attending my first year of kindergarten, I ended up getting pneumonia. I fell into a coma for six months, missing my fifth birthday, and too much school to start first grade the next year. I mean, I could have gone to first grade with them. But my dad didn't want that, said I should get the joy of Kindergarten first.

And then halfway through kindergarten, Dad died. I was six, and Dustin was barely two.

I exhale shakily as the memories try to resurface, but I ignore them. I flip through the pages, looking at the pictures of different events that happened during that year. A Halloween costume competition. Thanksgiving lunch with little finger turkeys littering the walls. A Christmas choir concert and I couldn't help but notice the boy who stood up in the front. My memory was fuzzy from that, but I did remember someone had hit a really high note.

And it had been him.

I giggle at the thought that that little head-shaven boy had grown a mullet. He had been good at singing from what I remember. I mean that high note, wow.

I slowly close the book and I knock them to the ground, knowing that I would accidentally step on them tomorrow. I smiled as I turned onto my side, pulling the covers out from under me. I slowly drift to sleep, knowing that I would be his friend before this year was over.

---

I curse wildly as I bounce around on one foot, having stepped on the damn yearbooks. I huff and glare down at them, before noticing that they had fallen open.

"Oh shit, I forgot Jonathan existed," I say in awe at the bowl cut he had been sporting back in fourth grade.

"Dare! Dare, you up?" I hear Dustin yell from beyond the door.

"Yeah?" I yell back, kneeling down and closing the book.

"Wanna get breakfast before we head out? Mom made eggs and bacon." He said before I look at the door.

"BACON?" I yell, before throwing the books back under my nightstand, and running to my door.

"Move Nerd, there's bacon." I push past him, heading to the kitchen.

I pause as I realize that there was in fact no Bacon. And Mom wasn't even in the kitchen. I slowly turn to Dustin who smiled.

"Can I request Bacon with eggs?" He asks as I glare at him.

I stare at him, not moving, and watch as he slowly loses his smile.

"Fine, but you owe me," I say quickly as I walk into the kitchen and open the cupboard.

I hear him sigh in relief before he sits down at the table.

"So where's mom?" I ask as I open the fridge, pulling out the eggs and bacon.

He shrugs. "I think she went shopping. At the thingy store."

I look at him as I click my tongue, cracking an egg into the pan. "The thingy store?"

He nods. "The store where she got that, I forgot what- wait. Antique store! She's there."

I sighed heavily and shake my head. "So we'll come home to what, another weird cat statue maybe?"

He shrugs. "Or maybe she'll find another 'rare' plate. I don't think we even have a normal set."

I wince as I start scrambling the eggs. "Yeah, that's my fault. I had used them for target practice."

"What?"

I freeze before correcting the previous statement. "We had used them for target practice. Dad and I. Before and after I had Pneumonia. Which sucked, by the way, don't ever get it."

He nods his head. "I know you told me that before. I keep forgetting that Dad had taught you to shoot when you were five." He frowns.

I shrug. "Dad was paranoid for some reason, the whole PTSD thing ya know? But yeah that was weird." I hum as I think back on trying to shoot our plates.

"I couldn't hold the gun ya know. I was too small, and it would keep flying out of my hand. it was fun, except it was really loud." I say fondly with a smile.

Dustin smiles thinly.

"Hey," I put my hand on his shoulder as he looks up at me. "You might not have had a lot of time with him, and neither did I. But we still have his pictures. And you are almost a replica of him you know. Mom might not say it, but you really do look like him. Except you got Mom's eyes and her hair. I got his eyes and hair," I pause as I frown. "But where did I get my asthma?"

Dustin chuckles and shakes his head. "I know, but I wish I had at least a memory with him before he died in the crash."

I inhale sharply before covering it with a fake hiccup, yes I have mastered the art of fake hiccupping and it's something everyone should do.

"Yeah, I wish you did too. He definitely would have helped you with that radio project that you have going on. He would have also provided the snacks. He had a major sweet tooth." I smiled.

"Really? A sweet tooth?"

I laughed and nodded my head. "Oh yeah, he carried around candy in his pockets all day. By the time the day was over, they would be gone. Anything sweet, he'd eat it. He enjoyed ring pops, suckers, candy canes, anything." I pause for a moment. "I think his favorite candy was 3 Musketeers."

Dustin's eyes lit up. "We like the same chocolate?"

I smile. "Yeah, he would only eat that type of chocolate. But candy, that was limitless. So long as it was sweet."

---

"Wait there for me Dustin, I'll be right back!" I yell as I hop off my bike, running into the music store.

I cringe as the abundance of Elvis was on display. I walk around it, looking at the plastic labels for anything other than oldies music.

"If you're looking for Def Leppard-" I jump as I hear a voice say from the isle behind me.

Eddie's head peeks out from above the self, a smile spread across his face. "-I'll be willing to lend you mine as I said."

"Jesus Joe Cricket, you scared the fuck out of me Eddie," I say as I wheeze lightly, my hand on my racing heart, ignoring the look he gave me. "I thought a ghost was talking to me for a second."

"An interesting selection of words, most people say Jesus H Christ you know." He said as he walked around the aisle toward me. "You know my name?"

I cross my arm, mimicking his stance, and nod my head. "Yeah, there's no one else named Eddie who hit that high note back in our fourth-grade choir class."

His smirk shifted into an embarrassed smile, pink spreading to his cheeks. "And that apparently."

I laugh and shake my head. "No, I looked you up in the yearbook. I'm terrible with names honestly. But the high note? Man, that's something you should be proud of. It was killer, no one else could have made that without some helium."

He looks at me through his hair, raising a brow. "Really?"

I nod my head rapidly, lightly hitting his shoulder. "Hell ya, it was great! I wouldn't be able to do that, so yeah it's awesome."

He smiles, nodding his head while looking down at the shelf. His fingers tap against some of the cassettes. I tap my foot to the song playing in the store, a rock song by a band I didn't recognize.

"Here, your copy of it." He said abruptly as he held out a cassette to me.

I glance down at it and notice that it was Pyromania, the Def Leppard album that he had been listening to the first time we met. I take it from it, turn it over, see the band on the back, and smile.

"You know," I pause looking at him. "I think you would rock the long hairdo."

He stares at me for a moment before laughing, his hand drifting towards his mullet. "My hair not looking good? Is that what you're saying?"

I shake my head. "No, no-"

"So it's not good?"

I nudge his arm as he laughs loudly. "That's not what I'm saying! I just meant that it would look good on you. Not a lot of people can pull it off you know."

There's a moment of silence before he asks, "You really think so?"

Nodding my head, "Definitely. It would be wicked."

He nods his head before I see the clock above the door. My eyes widen as I realize the time. "Oh shit! I'm gonna be late, they're gonna kill me."

I put the cassette back on the shelf and turn to him with a smile. "It's been great seeing you Eds, but I got a campaign to get to." And I walk past him towards the door.

"Wait! Your cassette." He says while he held it back out to me.

Shaking my head with a smile, I reply. "No, I think I'll borrow the one I was offered. We can talk more the next time we meet! Bye Eds!" I open the door and walk out.

"Bye, YN."

---

"Okay! Break time!" I exclaim as I lean back in my chair, wincing at the verbal cracking in my back.

"We can't take a break yet! We're almost at the dragon keep!" Lucas said as he looked over at me.

I stand up and cross my arms. "We are taking a five-minute break. I can hear your stomach growling like it hasn't eaten in two days. So we are grabbing the pizza and the drinks. Plus, I need a pee break and I need Nance to answer the diabolical question for Mr. Pickles's homework assignment."

"There's a teacher named Mr. Pickles?" Will asks.

I sigh. "No, I just call him that because he smells like Pickles, and so does his classroom. Now, five-minute break!" I clap my hands and usher them upstairs.

"Oh, you're coming out of the cave, how's everything going?" Mrs. Wheeler asks as she opens the fridge door.

I sigh as the boys answer, noticing how she tries to hold her smile as they talk about the campaign.

"I got them out Mrs. Wheeler, for a short time. We need food to tame the hunger of the monsters they call stomachs." I smile.

She smiles at me, patting my shoulder. "Thank you for that dear."

"No problem, but I gotta go ask Nance something real quick," I state before moving around her and running up the stairs. "Nance! I got a question."

I open the door and walk in, falling onto her bed with a groan. She looks over at me from her desk, raising her brow.

"Is it already done?" She asks as she stands from her chair and sits next to my head.

"No, I just demanded a break. Anyway, I was wondering." I pause as I try to think of my question again. "Oh right, Mr. Pickles gave me homework, and there's one problem I can't figure out. It's got like 50 melons and the cost of one is 5, but then the inflation is like, 2.2 or something. What do I do?"

She stares down at me before laughing. "Really? That's your question?"

I smile and shake my head before sitting up. "Nope, what up with you and Steve?"

---

"Wait, guys!" I yell as Will and Dustin start racing. "Guys, don't leave me! I have asthma!"

Muttering a curse I try to push myself to catch up with them, and I manage to catch up to Dustin as he stops at our corner.

"I want your X-Men 134!" I hear Will shout as I stop next to Dustin, wheezing.

"Shit," Dustin says, before looking at me. "Fuck, where's your inhaler!"

I flip him off, peddling forward slowly, digging into my pocket for my inhaler. I hear him apologizing but I wave him off, trying to breathe again.

"Whatever. Do you think we beat it?" I ask as we go to our house.

He shakes his head. "No, we didn't. Will found the other dice, it was a seven. We lost."

Cursing again I crack my neck as I press on the breaks, stopping in our driveway. Dustin's breaks squeak loudly and I wince. "We should fix that."

He shrugs as we head to the door, ready to go to bed after a long campaign.

"Hey Mom, We're home!"

[Next Chapter]

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bagsybaggins · 10 months

Text

The Freaking Rebel Masterlist

Summary:

YN 'Dare' Henderson is Dustin's older sister by 4 good years. Her life wasn't simple or easy, especially with the death of her dad. With the disappearance of Will, her life takes a sudden turn as she is thrown into a monster hunt and in charge of keeping her brother (and friends) safe. With having asthma and a hidden past of small petty crime, its a mystery of how she survives the unfortunate events that happen alongside Will’s disappearance.

But during the hours of not babysitting the brother and friends, and monster hunting, she makes a new friend. A normal friend, who has absolutely nothing to do with the upside down, and anything that comes from it. Eddie Munson.

Headcannons/Blurbs

Chapters:

Chapter 1: The Disappearance

Chapter 2: The Search

Chapter 3: The Discovery

Chapter 4: The Monster

Chapter 5: The Battle

Chapter 6: Rockin' Friendship

Chapter 7: MadMax

Chapter 8: Stranger Feelings

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bagsybaggins · 10 months

Text

The Masterlist of Bag End

Jason Todd x OC:

A Knight Under the Moonlight Masterlist

Sebastian Sallow x OC:

In the Shadow of the Legacy Masterlist

Eddie Munson x Fem!Henderson Reader

The Freaking Rebel Masterlist

COD FICS - Task Force 505 Verse

Simon 'Ghost' Riley

The Ghost of Her: 1 2 3 4

John 'Soap' Mactavish

Soap Bubbles: 1 2

König

Pandora's Lullaby: 1

Kyle 'Gaz' Garrick

Being Rewritten! Sins to Bare Masterlist

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bagsybaggins · 10 months

Text

A Knight Under the Moonlight Masterlist

Summary:

Isabella Lockley is the younger twin sister of Elizabeth, daughters of Jake Lockley, an alter of Marc Spector. They had 6 years with their father before he disappeared without a word, and they shortly moved to New York to live near their Uncle Happy. Life changed for the better after that, but it would take a dramatic downturn when they arrived home from school one day. The twins drifted apart, and the moment upon reuniting, the Blip happened. Izzy ended up getting dusted but didn't die, at least not fully. She traveled to an alternate reality and landed in the Pena Dura and had to fight to survive under the wing of Bane. Life wasn't full of luxuries, and it took what it wanted and gave nothing but misery to those who didn't fight. Izzy didn't think of her family often and instead managed to find another.

Headcanons/Blurbs:

Chapters:

Chapter 1: The Lockley Twins

Chapter 2: The Agony of His Mistakes

Chapter 3: Of Dust and Shadows

Chapter 4: Choosing the Path

Chapter 5: The Potted Plant

Chapter 6: A Familiar Face in the Picture

Chapter 7: The Family in Alternative

Chapter 8: The Birthday, The Gala, And The After Party

Chapter 9: The Birthday, The Gala, And The After Party (Part 2)

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bagsybaggins · 1 year

Text

Chapter 11: In Different Binds

Atropos had been out of the hospital wing for nearly a month, going to her class just as before, as if nothing had changed. Everything had gone back to normal.

Everything, except for Ominis and Sebastian.

At first, Ominis had pointedly ignored Sebastian, not talking to him and going as far as leaving the room when he entered. But then, Sebastian grew tired of trying and pretended that Ominis wasn't even there. And while they were too stubborn to even acknowledge each other, practically everyone could see how upset they were without each other. Atropos was tired of it.

"I can't believe they're still ignoring each other. Even I've forgiven Sebastian, and I was the one he threatened." Poppy shook her head while sitting on the bench beside the fountain in the courtyard, petting the white cat in her lap.

Atropos, who was sitting in the grass leaning against Poppy's legs, nodded while petting two orange cats as the brown and black dotted cat slept in her lap. Her eyes focused on the heartbroken lover statue, that had been broken again.

"I have to agree, it is getting quite ridiculous." Natsai stood on the other side of Atropos, her arms crossed. "I think it's time for an intervention."

Poppy and Atropos turn their heads up at her words, turning to look at each other and nodding. Turning back to Natsai, Poppy asked, "What did you have in mind?"

Natsai grinned, lifting her wand and silently casting reparo on the statue, before sitting down on the stone bench.

When Ominis received an owl from Atropos, he was confused. She rarely sent owls, choosing to instead go out and search for him herself, unless she was away. But when reading the letter, it became relevant as to what was happening.

He knew that she didn't like the fact that he and Sebastian's friendship had practically withered away since she had been poisoned. However, he hadn't thought that she would go to such lengths to try and make them repair their friendship. The letter in question had very little to hide her little plan, and in fact, quite plainly stated it.

'Since you and Sebastian will not make peace with one another, then I will not be acknowledging either of you. Please talk to Sebastian. -Atropos'

Ominis shouldn't have been surprised when the next day, Sebastian came storming up to him after defense class; Asking if they could talk. But Ominis declined, knowing that it was purely because Atropos wasn't talking to either of them. He walked away, leaving Sebastian staring as he left.

But as the days dragged on, Ominis realized just how much Atropos had made an impact on his daily life. His thoughts wandered to her, questioning how long she would keep it up. How long she would avoid both of them until she grew tired of not interacting with them. He had no doubt that it would happen soon, but his thoughts began to waiver. Sebastian hadn't been faring well during the whole week she had been avoiding him and began snapping at everyone when bothered. And it almost became a routine where Sebastian would try to talk to Ominis, and Ominis would walk away. Rumors had begun spreading around Hogwarts quicker than ever before, rumors that were not at all true and fabricated in every sense of the word.

Yet, Ominis could tell quite easily when Sebastian would walk into a room. Because of how silent it would get, and the shuffling of feet moving out of his way. Ominis was beginning to worry.

"OI! Ominis!"

Garreth yelled from a floor above him on the Grand Staircase, turning to run down the steps as Ominis waited for him.

"Garreth, did you need something for me? Otherwise, I am in a bit of a rush-" Ominis began before Garreth interrupted him, shaking his head.

"Actually, I just wanted to ask if you knew anything about where Atropos was. You see there are some rumors strewed about-"

Ominis sighed and shook his head, "No, I don't know where she is. And you shouldn't be so trusting to listen to some rumors, a majority are themselves false ways of providing entertainment. I'm sure you'll find Atropos somewhere for whatever you need her-"

Garreth cleared his throat loudly, a concerned look gathered on his face. "Actually, I'm not so sure they are rumors. You see, word has been traveling around that she had offered to help Mr. Berkley with a troll infestation near Pitt-Upon-Ford. But that was supposedly two days ago, and she's been absent from class for the past two days."

Ominis's eyes widened.

"And when I had asked Sebastian if he had seen her, he got really angry; Well, up until I had told him the rumor. Then he looked worried, and went running straight out the door!" Garreth laughed with unease, "Well, that wasn't too long ago. An hour at most- Hey where are you going?"

His mind was scrambled and cursing as he sprinted towards the Great Hall, muttering 'excuse me's and 'sorry's as he knocked into shoulders. Why hadn't he noticed before? How could he have missed that she hadn't been in class? Was his mind so occupied by trying to avoid Sebastian, that he completely forgot about Atropos?

He had to find her, and Sebastian. Before something bad would happen.

To say that I was angry, was one of the largest understatements of the year, and this year isn't even halfway over. My girlfriend, the one who I adore and cherish, is too helpful and kind for her own sake. She never turns down any chance at helping someone, even if it is a questionable request, she'll stop at nothing to finish the job. But she is putting her life on the line, again. I don't want to think about what would happen if I didn't find her.

When I received her letter, I was worried. And when I confronted her, she told me that she couldn't stand that Ominis and I weren't talking, I didn't know what to do. Ominis had been the one avoiding me, he was the one tearing apart our friendship. I have been trying! But Ominis would just walk away.

But I hadn't thought that she would possibly throw herself into danger without a second thought.

When I reached Pitt-Upon, it was difficult to try and pinpoint where she was headed. And it didn't help that it was slowly becoming night, and there was too much for me to signal-handily search. Though the thought of giving up and leaving her out here with a troll, never even crossed my mind. I will find her tonight.

"Poppy, as much as I adore being with you-" Atropos paused, lifting her left arm where a silver chair was wrapped around her wrist. "I don't particularly want to be shackled to you."

Poppy sighed in response, turning to Natsai who was looking down at the spell book. "I don't think I would mind much, just be a little awkward at times I suppose. But when does it say the spell will wear off?"

Natsai doesn't respond.

"Natsai?"

She turns to them with her nose scrunched and a sheepish smile.

"What's wrong?" Atropos asked while standing up.

"I may have done the pronunciation a little wrong."

Poppy's eyes widened as she glanced down at the silver chain around her right wrist, the chain at least four feet long connecting to Atropos's wrist. "How wrong is wrong? We won't be stuck like this for long will we?"

Natsai shook her head, turning down to the book again with a frown. "No, but it does not say precisely when the spell will wear off. At least, not if you had done the spell incorrectly."

Atropos sighed, turning to Poppy. "I suppose we should go to the hospital wing, or to Professor Weasley. I would say prepare for her to be angry, but I'm not sure how angry she will be."

Natsai sighed and shook her head. "I know that she will be disappointed at least. And so will my mother."

Poppy winced as she nodded her head. "So will my Gran if she learns about this. But at least we're stuck together!"

Walking out of the room of requirement, laughter filled the Astronomy Tower corridor. The chain jingled with each step they took down the stairs, and they all paused as a few students looked at them in surprise.

"I don't suppose that anyone knows why we're being stared at," Poppy whispered, inching back a little.

Atropos shook her head, "No, not any reason that I'm aware of. You, Natsai?"

"I am stumped as well. Should we go ask someone, or head to get the spell removed?"

Atropos nodded her head, clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth. "We can ask someone along the way, do you have the book still with you? Good, we need to get the spell down so it doesn't trap them together forever, only until we take it off. Poppy, do you think you can get another one of the seeds? I couldn't find the extra one we had put in the jar."

Poppy nodded her head. "I can, but I might bring you with me if we can't get out of these before tonight's over. They glow at night so I would need to get them before sunrise if we're wanting to try again tomorrow."

Atropos sighed, looking down at her wrist, the chain rattling with the movement. "Well, I suppose going into the forbidden forest at night wouldn't be an unusual thing on my part."

Natsai bumped her shoulder against hers, grinning as she stumbled into Poppy. "And I will be invited with you, yes? It could be a nice adventure for the three of us."

They smiled, nodding as they continued walking towards the stairs to walk down to the courtyard.

"Of course! We can collect some more things as well and head off to Hogsmeade afterward." Poppy suggested.

"I think we've got ourselves a plan. But first stop, get these off." Atropos stated, walking around someone whose nose was stuck in a book.

Poppy and Atropos's arms get jerked back as the Ravenclaw gets caught on the chain, stumbling backward.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" They called out in unison as they rushed over to help them up.

Sebastian cursed under his breath as he walked back into Pitt-Upon, the sun was long gone and the moon was at its highest point. He hadn't found her, and the supposed troll den was already cleared out. If she had been there, it had to have been a while ago.

"Sebastian? Is that you?"

He looked over his left shoulder in confusion, eyes widening at the sight. "Ominis? What are you doing out here?"

Ominis sighed as he made his way over to Sebastian, "I was looking for you, and Atropos. Garreth had told me-"

"So Garreth talking to you is what makes you talk to me?" Sebastian scoffs, shaking his head and crossing his arms. "Unbelievable."

"Sebastian, where is Atropos?"

Sebastian raises his right brow, tilting his head to the left. "She isn't here." He answered after a moment of silence, "And it's obvious what she's done now-"

"Where is she, Sebastian? You must know something-"

"I don't know! Okay?" He snapped, "She hasn't been talking to me this whole week, so I haven't the slightest clue where she is."

Ominis frowned in worry, "The troll-"

"Is gone, it has been for a while. Not sure how long, but it's been a few days at least."

Ominis hesitated as Sebastian turned around, starting to walk away without another word. A dull pain formed beneath his chest as he turned his head towards his retreating figure.

"Sebastian, wait."

Sebastian paused in his step but didn't turn around. His eyes lingered on the ground in front of him as he heard Ominis taking three steps toward him before he stopped.

"I'll help you look for her, she's my friend as well."

"And so was I."

Ominis's eyes widened as Sebastian turned on his heel, before sighing and closing his eyes. But he didn't take the words away, didn't apologize for saying them.

"Fine, you can come along," Sebastian muttered, turning around again and walking away.

Ominis inhaled sharply before following him out of the village. The walk was silent besides the whispering of the wind, and the gravel and dirt crunching below their shoes. He swallowed thickly as he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. That something would go wrong. He paused as the breeze swept up from their right, bringing up the smell of smoke.

"Sebastian-"

"I know, let's go," Sebastian said, pulling his wand out of his cloak and following the smoke that they could see above the treeline.

Ominis's brows furrowed as he followed along, voices yelling in the distance, and a loud roar made his skin crawl. Stepping over tree roots, and around bushes, he stopped as Sebastian placed his hand on his chest and stopped him.

"What is it? What do you see?" He asked softly, tilting his head to the side trying to hear what was happening ahead.

"Poachers, about a dozen of them from what I can see." He paused, flinching back when he saw the troll smash down its club on a poacher. "And an armored troll that seems to be taking care of the poachers."

Ominis frowned, nose twitching as the smell of smoke grew stronger. "And a fire?"

Sebastian nodded his head, looking at the far end of the clearing where a fire had started to spread, no doubt from the poacher who was now beaten into the dirt. His eyes scanned the encampment, searching for any possible sign of Atropos. But the tents had caught fire, or been torn down by the troll.

"I don't see her anywhere," He mumbled, frowning at the thought that appeared in his mind.

"Perhaps we should go before we get caught in a crossfire between an angry armored troll, and some equally angry poachers," Ominis suggested, turning his head towards Sebastian.

Sebastian sighed and nodded his head. "Alright, let's leave. She wouldn't be here anyways."

"Not so fast."

As they turned around, Sebastian cursed at how he hadn't noticed them sneaking up behind them. He counted six and glanced at Ominis who had clenched his wand tightly in his right hand.

"Six of them, we could take them-" Sebastian muttered beneath his breath, adjusting his stance by shifting his left foot behind him.

As he said that, the tree behind him came crashing down to the side of them when the troll ran into it, revealing them to the troll and the rest of the poacher camp. As they turned, their faces paled as the troll looked down at them.

"I don't believe we can Sebastian. The tree got to them first."

Atropos had felt like the world had stopped spinning when they had reached Professor Weasley's classroom and ran into Garreth leaving the room. He had looked at them in surprise and told them about the rumor, and asked about their shackled hands. But they shared a look of concern when he mentioned Sebastian and Ominis having left Hogwarts hours ago.

And when he wondered aloud if they had come back yet, Atropos felt the air leaving her lungs.

"I have to go after them. It's my fault-" She murmured as she backed away.

Poppy shook her head, "No, this isn't on you Atty. This is not on you, they listened to a rumor that wasn't true-"

"She is right, this is not on you."

Atropos inhaled deeply and shook her head. "I need to go find them because they are out there searching for me-"

Poppy grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her once. "And we will go find them, but first you need to breathe. Garreth, where did they go?"

Garreth raised a brow and scratched his head. "I believe it was Pitt-Upon-" And stopped when they started walking away, "Hey, you're welcome!"

"Thank you, Garreth!" Natsai yelled back as they headed for the floo flame near the door to the Defense Against the Dark Arts tower.

Poppy pulled Atropos back when she tried to grab the floo powder, "Will the floo still work while we're connected?"

They turned to Natsai who looked at them in alarm and then shrugged her shoulders. "It did not say, but maybe it would be best to not test it."

Atropos frowned heavily before looking at Poppy, "Are you afraid of heights?"

Frowning, she shook her head and raised a brow. "No, why?"

Leading her toward the center of the courtyard, beside the fountain, she pulled her broom out of her pocket and made it grow to full size with a flick of her wand. Poppy stared at her with wide eyes and slack jaw, watching as she mounted the broom and turned to her.

"Hold on to me tightly." She said before looking at Natsai, "Can you start tracking them when you get there?"

"Of course, I will set off sparks into the sky if I manage to find them. You two be careful." She replied, giving Atropos a firm nod.

Poppy hugged her tightly as she mounted the broom from behind her, squeezing her eyes shut as they lifted from the ground. As the wind howled around them, Poppy slowly peeked open her left eye, her right cheek pressed against Atropos's back. Her eyes widened as they flew above Hogwarts and across the Black Lake, and she slowly raised her head as she smiled at the view. The star shined brightly above them, and the lake reflected them with small subtle ripples distorting them.

Atropos eyes over passing figures far below them, searching for the familiar Slytherin duo, but to no avail. As they passed by Hogsmeade, Poppy lifted her left arm over her shoulder and pointed to smoke in the distance. Atropos shared a worried glance with Poppy from over her shoulder, before leaning down and speeding toward the smoke and flames.

Ominis coughed for what seemed to be the hundredth time, resting his head back against the bark of a tree and closing his eyes, his chest heaving. His skin was buzzing, tingling as he felt his head beginning to fog up, the blood rushing in his ears. As he opened his eyes, he raised his wand unsteadily and turned his head to the right, listening as the fire raged along with the troll and poachers. But he couldn't sense Sebastian, or hear him casting anything. He could feel grim and soot covering his face and hands, his hair falling over his forehead before he brushed it back with his left hand.

He flinched when a body collided with his own, and Sebastian coughed as he leaned against him. He raised his hands, clutching Sebastian's shoulders.

"We need to get out," He heaved, looking over the edge of the tree. "The fire's spread too far."

Ominis nodded his head, "I agree, do you see a way out?"

Sebastian nodded, coughing into his elbow. "Yes, but you won't like it." He paused as he swallowed thickly, "On the other side of the troll, there's a way out."

Closing his eyes, he sighed and nodded his head. "You're right, I don't like it."

Sebastian grinned, patting Ominis's shoulder. "Look on the bright side, we get out past the troll, and we're home free."

"The only problem is getting past said troll, and what's left of the poachers." Ominis frowned as he heard the club hitting the dirt, the ground vibrating from the impact. "How many poachers are left?"

Sebastian shook his head, glancing at the clearing again. "Not as many as before, that I'm certain about. Ready?"

Ominis shook his head, and Sebastian chuckled as he pulled Ominis away from the tree. "Of course you are, let's go."

The fire blazed around them, embers and ash fluttering to the ground as they ran through the heat of the battle. The sky turned black, the smoke covering any sign of the stars or the moon. Sebastian ran in front of him, his cloak covered in a few scorch marks from where he had gotten too close to the flames. The air was thick and heavy from the heat, Ominis could feel the sweat falling down the side of his face like a tear, it was unbearable.

"Protego!" Ominis paused to cast the charm, before firing stupefy at the poacher that had fired confringo at him. As if he wasn't hot enough already.

And then he sensed it, the looming presence behind him. The troll had spotted him.

"Watch out!" Sebastian yelled as the troll reared back like he was a beater, and Ominis was the bludger.

And he felt frozen. Like time had stopped just for him, so he could understand that he was going to die.

But then hands shoved into his chest, pushing him down onto the ground. Sebastian had shoved him. And time started again, and he was falling eyes wide as he could feel the impact of the ground on his back.

And the sound of the club hitting Sebastian in the chest, his feet being brought up from the ground as he flew back from the impact. His back smacked into a tree across the burning surroundings, before he fell to the ground face first, unmoving as burning branches and leaves followed him to the ground.

"SEBASTIAN!" He screamed, heart racing with fear as he got no reply.

Atropos felt her heart stop as she heard Ominis's scream, her throat closing up as her blood froze beneath her veins. Her grip on the broom tightened and she raised down into the burning clearing. Poppy held onto her with her left arm as she reached for her wand, readying for a fight.

The troll turned to them as they hopped off, stopping just on the opposite side of where Ominis was. Atropos's eyes darted over the thick clearing in search of Sebastian, panic and fear grasping onto her heart like a vice. She raised her wand beside Poppy, the chain jingling as they moved. Ominis moved behind the troll, almost catching its attention before Atropos fired a basic cast.

"Atropos-"

"Don't worry Poppy, we've got this. Just stay with me, and don't think." Atropos reassured her, glaring at the troll.

Poppy nodded her head and raised her wand.

"Confringo!" "Diffindo!"

Atropos gritted her teeth as she pointed her wand at the troll's club, and used it to hit itself in the face. She panted, glancing to see Poppy throwing cabbages at the troll, nodding her head. Her eyes widened as the troll lifted its club for a downward swing, and she jumped towards Poppy, missing it by inches.

"Flipendo!" Poppy cast, sending the club back into the troll's face.

As the troll stumbled back, Atropos and Poppy glanced at each other before nodding in agreement. And simultaneously they pointed their wands at the troll.

"Bombarda!"

They heaved as the troll fell back, trying to catch their breath through all the smoke. But then they turned to see Ominis kneeling beside Sebastian. And the world became silent. Atropos couldn't hear anything as she ran over, falling to her knees on the opposite side of Sebastian, her eyes wide and slowly filling with tears.

A blood trail from both his ears and nose, his cloak and shirt burned through on his left shoulder, burned skin on his shoulder crawling up his neck, stopping just a few inches from his ear. His skin was covered in soot and dirt, and his hair was tangled with bark, ash, and leaves. His eyelids fluttered as she softly called his name, Poppy digging through her pockets for a wiggenweld. His eyes slowly opened and they cried in relief.

"Here, drink this. It'll help until we can get you to Hogwarts." Atropos whispered as she pressed the brim of the bottle to his lips, and he sighed softly as he finished it.

"Did we win?" He asks, softly, his voice scratchy.

Atropos laughed, shaking her head in disbelief and amusement as he grins up at her, his right hand lifting up and grabbing her arm as she cups his face gently.

"Yeah, we won. We won."

Atropos was asleep at his bedside in the hospital wing when Ominis had come to visit Sebastian. Sebastian held her hand as she rested her head against the bed, sitting on the chair after refusing to sleep in the bed beside him. Wanting for him to be comfortable, and for him to heal without worrying about possibly injuring him in his sleep. His shoulder and neck were bandaged up, the wiggenweld had helped the healing process but still needed to be wrapped. The matron had put on a funny-smelling ointment that immediately took away the pain, but the smell still bothered him.

Ominis was surprised when he found Sebastian already awake, whose eyes moved towards him as he shuffled into the room.

"Hello, Ominis." He whispered, "What do I owe this pleasure?"

Ominis pursed his lips, saying nothing as he moved to the opposite side of the bed. Sebastian frowned at his silence.

"Ominis?"

"When you were raising your wand at Poppy-" Ominis paused, turning his wand around in his hands. "What were you thinking, just before we appeared?"

Sebastian stared at Ominis, guilt stirring in his gut as he sighed and shook his head. His eyes turned towards his right hand, held tightly beneath her hand, and he pressed his lips together tightly.

"I only thought about her." He murmured, rubbing his thumb against the back of her hand. "How kind she is, and sweet, and angelic, and teasing. And how someone had wanted to hurt her, damage her, or even kill her. All thoughts faded away. I never knew how much you could care for someone besides your family, but now I understand. I would do anything for her, anything at all. If she wanted flowers, I would plant her a garden full. If she wanted books, I'd build her a library. If she wanted sweets, I would buy her whatever she craved. No matter the distance, the size, or the time. I'd give her the world."

Ominis's eyes widened a fraction as Sebastian smiled down at her. He hadn't realized that his affections ran that deep.

"You love her."

Sebastian froze, his breath caught in his throat as he studied her face mindlessly. Loved her, he repeated in his mind.

"I do. She means everything to me." He smiled softly.

Ominis turned his head down at the ground, his thoughts racing.

He didn't know what to say or do. Sebastian was in love with Atropos, and Ominis didn't doubt that she returned the feelings.

"I wasn't going to use those curses," Sebastian muttered, turning his eyes to Ominis, whose head shot up. "I learned my lesson last time and lost nearly everyone I cared for. I don't know what I was going to use, that I'll admit. I just-"

He sighed, shaking his head. "I was blinded by my rage, I couldn't think clearly. And I hadn't thought about listening to you, and I rushed ahead."

"What would you have done, if I had been the one who had let her have those chocolates?" Ominis spoke softly, Sebastian's eyes widening at his question. "Would you have raised your wand at me?"

Sebastian opened his mouth but sputtered as he tried to answer.

"Answer me, Sebastian. Please."

Inhaling deeply, Sebastian looked away from him. "No, I don't think I would have. I've known you since we were 11 Ominis, I know you wouldn't do that."

Ominis paused and nodded his head with a small smile. "Alright."

"Friends, again?" Sebastian asked with a thin smile on his lips.

"As if we had stopped. Sleep well, Sebastian." And Ominis stood up, heading for the door.

"You as well, Ominis." He replied.

As the door closed behind him, both of them knew that he had lied. He would have been at the end of his wand if it had been him. But they would lie about it, and move on.

#hogwarts legacy story #original character #hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry #hogwart legacy #hogwarts legacy #sebastian sallow x atropos caelum #sebastain sallow #sebastian x oc #sebastian sallow fic #sebastian sallow #mc atropos caelum #oc atropos caelum #ominis gaunt #anne sallow #poppy sweeting #garreth weasley #imelda reyes #in the shadow of the legacy

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