keerycoded

[keerycoded]

love like it’s ending - s.h

summary:: you run away from everything today; the government, helicopters, your feelings - too caught up with how everyone else is doing. With Eleven’s powers as your only hope, you turn your old middle school gym into a sensory deprivation bath. And you finally hear the truth

chapter 2 > episode seven : the bathtub

masterlist season one

prev chapt next chapt

word count :: 5.8k

pairing :: steve harrington x henderson!reader

warnings :: swearing, guns ig(that’s highkey it)

writers note :: This episode is a dramatic rollercoaster - highkey excluding the reader as she doesn’t get too involved but whatever. My heart just ACHED without Steve content in this chapter, so at the very end I slipped some in (oooh inner conflict Steve here we are!!) I’m ngl when my writing surpasses 3k words, I don’t look over it as much because It takes me AGES to read, so there might be some mistakes in this whoops! anywho enjoy

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The blood dripping from your brow-bone, the screech of tires on pavement and Lucas’ restless yelling has collided and amounted to the worst headache of your life.

God when can you ever catch a break?

Thousands of thoughts are flooding your head. There’s nothing you can do to stop Dustin from pulling this crap but you’d wish that he’d at least not be doing it behind your back. Why can’t he just tell you?

And now he’s in trouble, with the FBI? CIA? You don’t even know, all you know is the information you’ve managed to scrape together between Lucas’ shouting and the sound of your pulse pounding in your ear.

Then Jon enters your mind, as if your brain is flipping through a messed up compilation of the day. You feel the guilt shiver through your spine, you’ve left Jonathan. He’s been arrested and you’re not there. You’re not there to comfort him, not there to say it’ll be fine. What kind of best friend leaves someone like that? But Nancy is there, he’s not alone. Jonathan feels a comfort with Nancy, a different kind of comfort and you’ve noticed that. Even though Jonathan is like family, Dustin is family and you will always put him first. You’ll contact Jonathan after you fix this mess that the boys have gotten themselves into.

Your train of thought derails by the stillness of Lucas’ bike. When you turn your head you see vans - five of them to be exact, all surrounding the Wheelers house in the distance. Like a pack, closing in.

“Lucas, what’s going on?”

“Y/N? Have you not been listening to anything I’ve been saying? The bad men! They’re at Mike’s!”

You hate to admit it. But no, you haven’t been listening. Too caught up with the spiral in your own mind.

“What bad men Lucas? The ones El was talking about? Why the hell are they at Mikes?”

Lucas lets out a frustrated groan before turning his head to you, feet still planted holding the bike in place.

“There’s no time we need to find Dustin and Mike”

He shoves the walkie-talkie into your hands before kicking off and pedalling again with all the determination he’s got crammed into his small frame.

“- Ask where they are, we need to find them!”

You’re trying really hard to not let the reality of the situation get to you. Your brother could be in terrible danger due to the fact that you’ve left him alone to do god knows what. You begin recalling the conversation you had with El when you first found her. Bad men she said miming a gun, pointed in the direction of the four of you.

Okay fuck. Bad men - Guns. Right. Focus.

You’re internally pacing back and forth to steady your nerves,

Don’t loose it now. Help the boys. Get them out of this.

You pick up the walkie. Fingers shaking as you press the tiny buttons

“Hello? Dustin, Mike? It’s Y/N where are you guys?”

You keep your voice calm. Not for them, not really. More for yourself, because if you let your voice crack, you’re afraid everything else will too.

“Hello? Hi! Y/N hello are you there?”

The familiar voice makes you jump, answering in an instant, not leaving any time.

“Dustin oh my god-“

You sigh in relief, he’s okay, he’s alive.

“-Where are you?”

“We’re at Cornwallis!”

“-Meet us at Elm and Cherry.”

Lucas replies before you can, turning his head quickly.

“Oh fuck,”

Lucas says when he shifts his head forward, his voice edging into something dangerously close to fear. Normally you’d snap at him for his language. But then you look at the wheeler house

And yeah, you mutter it too

Oh fuck!

All five vans suddenly peel away from the house, engines roaring loudly, drifting away from the house as more begin to creep out from the streets. They’re not staking out anymore. They’re hunting for Mike and Dustin

You need to get to them. Now.

“Lucas go!”

You stammer out tapping his back as if it was a start button in a video game

“I’m going- I’m going!”

He says pedalling quickly

“Guys we’re on our way!”

You echo into the walkie, trying to slow your breath. All you’re thinking about is the guns that these bad men apparently have on them, and the fact that the bag strapped to Lucas’ back feels scarily empty. So you have no weapons and you’re going against guns. Okay.

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Three minutes, that’s all it’s been. But it’s felt like hours.

You see bikes turn the corner, there they are: Dustin, Mike and El. Safe. Alive. But there’s no time for relief, because right behind them, three vans come tearing round the bend.

And just like that, you’re back in it. Three bikes moving in sync, as fast as they can go as you rocket down the street. The engines seem to only get louder and louder as they near your back.

You don’t think you’ve ever been this stressed. Your chest is heaving, heart punching against your ribs. Ahead of you Mike yells

“Go! Come on let’s go!”

And Dustin in a pure panic keeps shouting the same phrase over and over

“Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!”

His head jerks wildly back and forth. The vans - then the street, the vans and back to the street.

As you reach a Y junction a van swerves round. And is now heading straight for you. Shit.

You’re going to get hit. It’s going fast! Way too fast, at least 50 over the limit. You’re not walking away from this.

Oh my god.

Oh my god.

Your fucked.

You’re dead.

“Shit!”

You scream, turning to face your brother who repeats the phrase back to you.

And then…you feel it.

A strange hum in your ears. An unmatched static you’ve never felt before, a high-pitched ringing and then a sudden, violent whoosh

The van lifts. No. It launches into the air. Flipping over your heads, metal crashing and twisting in the sky.

The air leaves your body, Your mouth is agape- part shock, part awe.

“Oh my god.”

You breathe, out of oxygen. Surprised you managed to even form words.

The crash of the van slamming into the concrete jolts through you, a full body fright.

Thankfully the cars behind it stop and you keep moving. All of you fast but in a shaken, stuttered silence. You’re sure everyone’s thoughts are racing just as yours are, loud and chaotic. That’s why no one’s saying a word.

And just like them not one sound leaves your mouth.

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The familiar sight of rusted cars, spare parts and smashed glass tells you exactly where you are: The Junk-yard.

Mike and El are far ahead, but once you catch up Lucas forces the bike to a stop.

You stumble off, gasping for breath as your hands fly up to your face, pulling at your skin in a mix of reprieve and frustration at the same time.

You turn to Eleven, her nose is bloody and she looks deathly pale, like she’s about to pass out, without hesitation you give her a tight squeeze before helping her sit down.

“Holy shit did you see what El did with that van!”

Dustin breaks the silence, letting his bike crash to the ground with a crunch of leaves beneath it.

“-No Dustin we missed it.”

Mike shoots back, dripping with the usual amount of snark and sarcasm.

Their conversation fades into the background as you begin to asses what just happened. I mean why, well you’ll find out why after the banter between the boys ends. You shoved the anger deep down inside you but now it’s bubbling up, and ready to spill over.

Mike and Lucas shake hands for some reason that you don’t quite understand, and you quickly stand up.

Hands resting on your hip like an infuriated mother, ready to lay down the rules. It’s time for answers.

Dustin’s demeanour changes when he notices you moving. His babbles churning into something closer to fear.

“Oh my- god, that was crazy! incredible- like oh my……Oh”

He looks at you, and then looks closely at the ground, staring into the dehydrated grass beneath him. Bracing for what’s to come.

“Dustin Henderson.”

You say sternly before pulling him into a tight hug.

He exhales sharply clearly confused, but wraps his arms around you nonetheless.

“I thought you were going to be angry”

He admits, pulling on your sides.

“I am. But let me have this for now.”

You hold on tight. You thought you were about to loose your brother, that you’d all get crushed by that van and that would be the end. Nothing ever again. But the fact that you survived that insane moment, has made you rethink everything, reminded you who you need to keep protected and also who you need to keep an eye on because seriously, how the hell did he get himself in that situation.

You let go of Dustin with a long sigh. Turning to the other boys, lightly nudging your hands to press the three closer. To tell them all off.

“I don’t know about you guys, but honestly? That whole situation? It’s exactly why you need to talk to me. Seriously, just tell me what’s going on, because the one second I’m left in the dark. You guys are suddenly getting chased by the damn goverment or whoever they were. Like what the hell happened?”

“-Start from the beginning. Now.”

You finish your point before they all begin shouting over each other. You raise your hand, causing their voices to halt; Dustin begins telling you about how Mike and Lucas got into an argument, and then a fight, and how El ended up flinging Lucas across the junkyard.

“Oh my god are you okay?”

“-As good as one can be after getting a mild concussion”

Lucas mutters, palming the back of his head. You open your mouth to say more but Dustin barrels on.

El then ran away. And then made Mike fly? Wait. No. Go back

“Wait…what? Why was Mike flying? What happened before that.”

A silence falls between the three boys. You raise an eyebrow, equal parts confused and concerned.

“What happened before that?”

Still nothing. They just sit there staring into the sky like it suddenly has become fascinating.

“Jesus- Guys we don’t have time for this! Just tell me!”

Your voice cuts through the air, loudly. They all slightly flinch before Mike finally starts speaking at a pace that is almost eligible.

“Basically we ran into these guys from our school, and this boy- who El made piss himself at the assembly for Will had a knife and was threatening Dustin. And he said that if I didn’t jump into the dam then he would cut Dustin’s teeth, so I jumped. And then I flew. Because El broke his arm and saved me.”

…

You mindlessly blink at him. Mouth slightly open.

Oh my god?

You don’t even know what to say to that.

First off: Bullies? Knives? What the hell, they’re not even teenagers yet, what do you mean he was going to “cut his teeth”? At least that little psycho got his arm broken. Karma points to El.

You stare blankly, trying to form your sentence.

“..Knives? Are you guys okay?”

You look to Dustin as you ask, needing his confirmation more than anyone else’s. A few “yeahs” are muttered before Lucas begins explaining his half.

He tells you about following a compass, how he was looking for the gate into the upside down- Where you all suspect Will is. How the compass led him to Hawkins lab. And he saw a bunch of men- some in suits others in repair uniforms, all loading into the same white vans that chased you. And how he realised that they were the bad men El was warning you about.

And if they were after her. They were headed straight to Mike’s house

Okay. It’s a lot. A lot. The kind of overload of information that scrambles your ability to think, let alone speak. All you manage to say is

“…Thanks for letting me know.”

You slowly push yourself upright, needing air. Needing something to stop your brain from exploding.

Lucas shuffles around for some sticks and rocks before laying them out on the dirt. A rough mockup of Hawkins lab, he starts explaining where everything is. You’re only half-listening, still trying to regulate your breathing. Still trying to calm yourself down.

But your attention snaps back the moment you hear the word

“Weapons”

You kneel down to join the circle.

“Weapons- to fight the Russians and commies and stuff.”

Mike says like it’s common knowledge, like it’s obvious. That’s when you see it hit them. The actual weight of the situation, it’s not just some fun mission to get Will back. It’s actual dangerous weapons. You can tell when the reality settles into their faces.

“Weapons”

Lucas repeats quietly, Dustin lets out a breathy laugh. Disbelief creeping in.

“Oh Jesus. This is bad.”

“-Really bad. The place is like a fortress”

Lucas reiterates, pointing back to the sticks representing the lab.

But then something else pulls your focus. A sound

You zone out of their voices tuning into something else entirely.

What is that? You glance up. A helicopter. Your stomach drops. If it’s military, and it has to be military, then of course they’d have helicopters. Shit.

“Guys!”

You shoot to your feet, pointing up to the sky. All five of you begin to scramble in a panic, ducking to get out of sight.

“The bikes- what do we do with the bikes?”

“Under the bus! Go!”

You grab one, dragging it over and then shoving it beneath the rusted school-bus. You help the boys slide in the other bikes after it.

“Go! Go! Go!”

Mike shouts, herding everyone toward the bus door.

Once your inside. The space feels instantly claustrophobic. You crouch, low. Hiding beneath a chair with Dustin. Lucas slips under a bench across from you. Mike and El tuck themselves into the back.

Your knees begin to ache at how tightly they are pressed together, against the harsh metal and dust.

The noise of the helicopter seems to get louder. Or maybe it just feels louder, your nerves are amplifying everything. You can hear it circle around and then slowly drift away.

Dustin reaches for your hand, gripping it tightly. You give his small fingers a squeeze,

“it’s okay”

you mouth, which he nods to. Exhaling and shutting his eyes. He’s just a kid, they’re all just kids. They shouldn’t have to be going through this.

You shift your head to look at Lucas, he catches your eye and gives you a quick thumbs up. You manage a faint nod in return. And then you whip your head back when you hear a muffled, crackling noise.

“Guys! The walkie!”

You whisper, urgency lacing your voice.

Mike pulls the walkie-talkie from his bag, it crackles to life. A distorted voice breaking through the static.

“Mike? Are you there? Mike.”

Mike fiddles with the dial on the walkie, trying to boost the signal. After a few crackles, the voice becomes clear.

“-Mike? It’s me Nancy. We need you to answer.”

“Is that your sister?”

Lucas leans in, reaching for the walkie

before Mike pulls away

“Don’t answer!”

“-She said it was an emergency.”

Lucas points out. Clearly the only one using his brain out of the three boys.

“It’s Nancy. We should answer.”

You say flatly, reaching out for the walkie. Mike only tightens his grip.

“What if it’s a trick?”

“Oh my god. It’s your sister.”

“What if the bad people kidnapped her?”

You roll your eyes so hard they almost get stuck.

“Mike! Do you really think Nancy would give you up? Use your brain for this one. I mean-“

Dustin cuts in

“It’s like Lando Calrissian- Don’t answer!”

You flick him hard in the side without even looking over

“Lando betrayed Han, not his own damn brother, dipshit”

Nancy’s voice is still cracking faintly from the walkie, getting more urgent. And your frustration is building.

“Seriously Mike, just answer the thing.”

“No!”

You and Dustin start bickering back and forth, his muttered “Lando Calrissian” repeated like it’s holy scripture. Then. Another voice cuts through

“Listen kid, this is the chief. If you’re there pick up.”

Everyone freezes.

“-We know you’re in trouble, and we know about the girl.”

“Why is she with the chief?”

Lucas shakes his head, brows furrowed in confusion.

“How the hell does he know about…”

Dustin stares at El.

Hopper’s voice booms louder, almost yelling.

“-We can protect you, we can help you but you gotta pick up. Are you there. Do you copy? Over!”

Mike gazes at the walkie like it’s going to explode lowering his voice into a whisper, as if they can hear him.

“It could be a trap.”

You snap

“Oh my god. Mike! Give me the goddamn walkie!”

You snatch it from his hands, flipping the switch with your thumbs.

“Hello? Chief? This is Y/N. I’ve got Mike, Dustin, Lucas and El. We copy.”

In the Byers house. Jonathan practically leaps towards the walkie when he hears your voice.

“What’s Y/N doing with them?”

Everyone in the room shrugs, none of them know. Jonathan sighs in relief. It’s okay, you’re okay. Hopper picks the walkie back up.

“We need to know where you guys are.”

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Steve’s perched on the hood of his car. Coke can pressed to his eyebrow, Tommy and Carol chattering to his right. But their voices barely register. He’s not even thinking about Nancy anymore. Not really.

Not after you. The way you scolded him without hesitation, how you couldn’t even look him in the eye- like we wasn’t worth your time. And maybe in that moment he wasn’t.

He doesn’t know why it stuck with him, why you stuck with him. Why he suddenly cares what you think. You were always backround noise for him, he knew who you were but you were merely just “one of those kids”. Loud, sharp tongued, always barking back. He never interfered when Tommy or Carol tore into you or Jonathan. He just stayed quiet, kept out of it.

But now? He sees you differently.

When you stood behind Nancy and Jonathan, protective. When your expression dropped at the sight of him bruised and bloodied. Something shifted

You weren’t just loud. You cared, deeply. And for the first time, he saw past your fire. He saw into the reasoning behind it.

And what’s the worst part? He wants you to look at him again. Not with pity, or anger. But with something else. Anything else.

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Dustin’s pacing again. Back and forth in the cramped space, his breath loud and uneven. And really he’s just making everyone ten times more stressed.

You groan into your hands, forehead pressed to your knees.

“Will you stop pacing?”

Mike snaps, glaring at Dustin who turns on him

“It’s been way too long-“

“-It’s been ten minutes.”

Your voice is muffled against your hands, flat with exhaustion.

Dustin throws his arms in the air

“Do you know what. Maybe you’re right maybe this is all a trap and the bad guys are coming to get us right now!”

“It’s not a trap! Why would the chief set us up? Nancy maybe, but the chief?”

Lucas fires back, fingers drumming anxiously against the window

“Lando Calrissian”

Dustin mutters under his breath.

“-Shut up about Lando!”

You raise your head just enough to look at Dustin

“I don’t feel good about this. I don’t feel good about this!”

Dustin says again, more to himself than anyone else, chest rising up and down at a concerning pace.

“When do you feel good about anything!”

Lucas rises to check the windows.

The distant hum of an engine grows louder. Finally. Hopper. Here to save you from this preteen meltdown.

Everyone bolts to the front of the bus, peeking through the foggy glass.

Not one but two cars. Shit.

You all scramble back down, ducking behind seats. In the same positions as before.

“Lando..”

Dustin breathes, like it’s a prophecy.

You smack his shoulder.

“I swear-“

“Everyone shut up!”

Mike hisses and for once, you all comply. A thick silence filling the bus.

You lift your head up, just high enough to peer out the scratched window.

Two men move cautiously slowly around the yard, searching. They sweep their eyes under rusted out cars and behind piles of scrap metal. Hands resting on the guns at their hips.

Then another figure appears. A man with a full suit. He doesn’t waste time, his eyes scan the scene with purpose.

Then he sees the bus. Worse, he sees the bikes, harshly shoved under the side.

You suck in a sharp breath as your heart lurches. Immediately ducking back down, eyes squeezed shut as if that’s going to make you disappear.

The air feels thick, like it’s pressing down on your chest. Making every breath heavier.

This time you reach for Dustin’s hand, gripping tightly, neither of you saying a word.

The bus door opens with a loud metallic creak. Your breath catches.

It’s as if you can hear the man blink. A long silence is followed by a loud grunt and a thud. You snap your eyes open to the sound of crashing. Shouts and more thuds.

And then Hopper appears in the doorway, breathing heavy, gun in his left hand.

“Alright let’s go”

He says. Voice rough but steady.

You shoot up with the others. The knot in your chest finally beginning to loosen, for the first time in what feels like hours, you actually breathe. Letting the boys exit the bus before you do.

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The night has already fallen over by the time you reach the Byers house. The porch light flickers weakly against the darkness. At the sound of tires hitting gravel, the front door bursts open- Joyce, Nancy and Jonathan rush outsides, their faces tight with worry.

You barely wait for the engine to stop before jumping out as soon as it jerks to a halt, heading straight for Jonathan. Throwing your arms around him and pulling him into a tight hug.

He exhales hard, like he’s been waiting years for you.

“How was prison?”

You mumble, face still buried into his shoulder.

“It was good, how was getting chased by the government?”

You pull back, just enough to meet his eyes, his gaze heavy with exhaustion, yours probably is too. A laugh slips from your lips. Hollow but genuine

“It was so fun.”

“How did you get yourself involved in that exactly?”

“I’ll tell you later”

You say giving him one more tight squeeze

before turning around to enter his home.

No matter how many times you re-enter, you still get shocked by sight of the house, what once used to be a second home is now torn to shreds. Christmas lights snake along the ceilings, an alphabet is painted on the rear wall with sloppy black lettering and the wallpaper hangs in ragged strips, ripped open as if something clawed through.

The boys shove past you. Digging frantically for something on the cluttered table. A piece of paper and a pen, Mike begins roughly sketching.

“The upside down.”

He explains, pointing to the piece of paper, a red stick figure drawn on a line.

“In this example were the acrobat.”

Mike explains, pointing to the stick figure

“-Will and Barbara and that monster, they’re this flea. And this is the upside down, where Will is hiding, The only way to access it is through a rip in time and space”

“A gate-”

Dustin finishes, wide eyed

“Which we tracked to Hawkins lab”

Lucas adds quickly

“-With our compasses”

The words are coming tumbling out of them, one on top of the other. Piling up. You glance at Joyce, her face blank with confusion.

You step in to help, speaking softer and slower.

“The gate has a really strong electromagnetic field, strong enough to draw the needle of a compass off north. That’s how they found it.”

“Is this gate underground.”

Hopper asks you, voice stern. You hesitate because you don’t know. Not for sure. But El lodged between you and Mike answers for you

“Yes.”

Hopper narrows his eyes.

“Near a large water tank?”

El nods her head, her gaze on his.

“How do you know all that?”

Dustin stutter’s over his words

“He’s seen it”

Mike says quietly, eyes fixed on the drawing on the table.

“Is there anyway that you could reach Will? That you could talk to him in this-“

Joyce’s voice breaks with a fragile hope

“And my friend Barbara could you find her too?”

Nancy asks, eyes clinging to the possibility of finding her friend

El just nods silently, then rises to her feet. The rest of the room follows suit instinctively. The quiet current of anticipation drawing everyone in.

You all gather around the dining table, a photograph of Barb sits beside a walkie, the only noise filling the room is static. Everyone stares at Eleven, her eyes shut, searching, feeling for Will or Barbara, for anything.

You’re standing next to Jonathan, hand resting on his shoulder, grounding him as he whispers whatever words he can to comfort his Mom, calming her.

The light above you flickers, once. Then again. The static sharpens and El eyes shoot open

“I’m sorry, I can find them”

Her voice barely above a whisper, on the edge of breaking. She steps back, retreating toward the bathroom.

You get up to follow her, without hesitation. You know she hates being alone in tight spaces.

“It’s okay, you tried”

You tell her gently, kneeling down to look into her eyes. They are red and watery, on the brink of breaking down. You feel for her.

“I’m outside okay? If you need anything, tell me”

You speak softly, lightly shutting the bathroom door, as a tear escapes down your cheek.

You know now to blame El, it just hurts. You were so close, you are so close. Yet Will still feels a world away.

More tears follow after, you try to hold as many as you can back. You can’t break down. Not now, but the image of Will, scared, alone in the upside down makes your stomach twist. He’s so small, he’s scared of the dark. You can’t even imagine what it’s like. But you stop imagining. Because the more you think about it, the harder it will be to keep yourself together.

You lightly press your hand to your face, swiping away any evidence of the emotions you’re trying to erase. Straightening up your back, waiting for when El is ready to leave.

And when she does, she slowly opens the door, grabs your hand and leads you towards the table.

“I can find them, in the bath.”

You stare forward, not fully knowing what she means. Everyone looks blankly at eachother.

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Before you know it, you’re crammed into the back of Jonathan’s car, shoulder-to-shoulder with Nancy as he pulls up to Hawkins middle school. His trunk pops open, and all the chaos ensues again. You, Dustin and Lucas begin to wrestle the massive kiddie pool out the back, dramatically carrying it above your heads. Each of you complaining about something different:

How it’s blocking your vision, it’s too heavy or how it smells weirdly chemical

The three of you march into the gym. Dropping the large plastic onto the floor with a thud. Then you begin to unravel the kiddie pool, bickering about how it’s supposed to look.

“It’s upside down”

Lucas mutters.

“No you’re upside down.”

“-It doesn’t go that way!”

Eventually it begins to spread out, resembling something vaguely pool-shaped. Then like a tragic comedy the sides begin falling down, caving in on the pool.

Dustin’s loud groans echo around the empty hall

“How does this even work?!”

“Try that side”

Lucas instructs pointing like he’s leading a military operation.

Dustin yanks on the edges of the small pool, trying to get them to stay up, and when they don’t it only frustrates him more

“Son of a bitch!”

“Language!”

You snap, full on mom-mode

“Look- just ugh. Pull it back.”

“I am!”

“One, two, three”

Lucas calls out before you all hoist the sides up, in perfect, chaotic unison. They just fall back over.

“Shit!”

Dustin barks, turning his back on the pool, as if he’s dramatically quitting his job.

You let out a laugh under your breath

“It’s not going to stay up without water, we kinda need Nancy for that part.”

“Oh we need Nancy? where was that logic 5 minutes ago?!”

Dustin snaps, mocking your tone.

As if right on cue, Nancy and Mike push through the gym’s double doors, hauling a wheelbarrow tangled with hoses.

You hold them steady as the water begins to spill into the pool. Slowly and steadily, the flimsy walls start to rise and hold.

You glance up at Dustin, smirking

“Told you.”

“Yeah yeah. Shut up.”

Lucas crouches at the pools edge, thermometer bobbing on the surface as he shouts directions at Nancy “Colder!”and “Warmer!” until the temperature is just right.

Nearby, Jonathan and Hopper tear into heavy salt bags, dumping them into the water in thick white clouds. Four bags down, Dustin carefully drops an egg in to test for buoyancy. It floats

“It’s ready.”

El steps forward, Blacked out science goggles rest on her head like armour. The room falls silent as she climbs into the pool, slowly lying on her back.

Everyone crouches closer.

You kneel beside Jonathan and as he takes your hand in his you feel his pulse. Sharp and quick. You shift your fingers gently against his, trying to calm him. You have to be strong for him, not for yourself.

The lights begin to flicker before the power is fully shut off, your gaze is stuck apon Eleven not moving elsewhere. She begins to inhale shakily, her chest rising and falling in short bursts, the water around her ripples as if holding its breath.

“Barbara?”

El whispers, her voice is faint. Cutting through the heavy silence.

Nancy jolts, her lips part. But no words exit. You reach over, threading your free hand into hers. She grips it like it’s the only thing left.

El’s chest rises faster now. She’s scared.

“What’s going on?-“

Nancy’s voice cracks.

“Is Barb okay? Is she okay?”

“Gone, Gone!”

El gasps, her voice sharp, splintered with grief

Nancy freezes, her eyes fill instantly. The truth landing like a knife to her heart. You squeeze her hand tighter, trying to hold her together

“I’m sorry”

you whisper, before your attention is pulled elsewhere. El’s voice cutting through the room again

“Castle Byers”

You immediately turn to Jonathan, of course. Castle Byers. The fort you and Jonathan built Will over a weekend. Back when the fighting between his mom and Lonnie would get too loud, you built it for him as a sanctuary. A place where the world couldn’t touch him. You should’ve guessed.

Still when you hear El repeat the name, your breath hitches and your heart feels like it stops beating. A cold flush falls over you, and you shut your eyes. Bracing for what might come.

Then.

“Will?”

Joyce gasps, your eyes open immediately.

Jonathan grips your hand, tighter than before. Eyes wide and wet with disbelief

“Tell him..”

Joyce stutters out, grabbing onto Elevens body

“Tell him mom is coming, Tell him to stay where he is”

You hear a small distorted voice on the walkie

“Hurry”

You and Jon exhale in the same breath. He’s alive. Oh my god he’s alive.

Joyce breaks, a sob tumbling from her lips

“Tell him we’re coming! We’re coming okay honey!”

A yelp escapes Elevens lips as she tears the goggles off her eyes, holding Joyce’s arms as she repeats, “I got you, I got you.”

You want to run to Eleven, to comfort her. But Johnathan pulls you into a hug first. Tighter than he’s ever held you before, you feel him tremble against your neck

“He’s alive”

Then he lets go, turning towards his mother with tears in his eyes.

You look for Nancy, but she’s already standing, walking away, arms crossed. Silent. You want to run to her, to console her but you understand her grief, her best friend is gone. You let her slowly walk out the hall.

Instead you turn and head towards the boys and El, your heart full and breaking all at once.

You grip Eleven’s hand tightly

“You did amazing, thank you”

You say as she smiles back in response.

Some time passes, just you and the boys sitting quietly in the gym. You’re doing your best to comfort them, arms occasionally brushing theirs, your words soft. But the silence is starting to press in. El leans against you, quiet and drained.

You can hear the faint voices of Jonathan and Nancy near the exit of the school. You don’t want to intrude, really you don’t but the stillness around you feels heavier by the second.

You gently rise, brushing your hand against El’s shoulder as you do. She barely moves, just closes her eyes as you press a soft kiss to her forehead. Then you quietly make your way towards the exit.

They’re getting up as you approach, Nancy flattening her shirt and Jonathan dangling his keys. They look like they’re about to leave.

“Where are you guys going?”

You ask, trying to sound casual but there’s something harder underneath your voice. Why does everyone always try to do things without telling you?

Nancy looks at you, her mind set.

“We’re going to find the demo- the monster, to kill it, we can’t just let it run free.”

You let out a laugh of disbelief.

“You’re serious?”

Jonathan steps towards you quickly, his voice low, urgent.

“Y/N, I know how it sounds but you don’t have to come. Stay with the boys, keep them safe.

Your eyebrow raises and you cross your arms.

“Bold of you to assume I’m not coming Jon.”

He hesitates but then gives you a reluctant smile as you pat his shoulder when you walk by.

When you reach the exit you pause, turning your head around.

“Let’s go kill this son of a bitch.”

[keerycoded]

no one wants to see that fuckass gold cord that jeremiah calls a ring ❤️❤️

The family's reaction to Belly and Jeremiah's engagement was so heartwarming <3 I'm glad we all hate it together

[keerycoded]

My sexuality is whatever this is

[keerycoded]

love like it’s ending

masterlist

SEASON ONE

chapter one > episode 6 :: the monster

chapter two > episode 7 :: the bathtub

chapter three > episode 8 :: the upside down

note :: this season has significantly less than the others cus I sort of couldn’t be bothered writing ep 3-4-5 (sue me) but I do have some of episode 1 and 2 written so I’m thinking I’m going to write snippets from the other episodes 2 including our lovely little reader just so it all makes a bit more sense- if I do end up doing that it’ll all be here. Anyways thank u for reading!!

[keerycoded]

love like it’s ending - s.h

masterlist

summary :: You never asked to be part of this world; monsters and babysitters with big hair and even bigger egos. But the more times you dance with death = the more you open up. Enemies to reluctant allies. Reluctant allies to something you’re definitely not ready to name, but it might just be the best thing that ever happened to you.

warnings :: detailed injury, verbal abuse, physical violence, gore depictions (mind flayer), angst

pairing :: steve harrington x henderson!reader

status :: currently ongoing

slowburn, enemies to lovers, henderson!reader

SEASON ONE

SEASON TWO

SEASON THREE

SEASON FOUR

hope you icons enjoy ₊✧

(henderson!reader x steve you will always be famous)

note :: this is just an excuse for me to overanalyse stranger things as i rewatch it</3

[keerycoded]

love like it’s ending - s.h

summary :: when getting supplies to fight inter-dimensional monsters, with Nancy and Jonathan. Your path crosses with Steve and his friends, which results in a bloody fight, Jonathan in handcuffs and you on the back of Lucas’ bike

chapter 1 > episode six : the monster

master list nex chapt season one

word count :: 2.2k words

pairing :: steve harrington x henderson!reader

warnings :: swearing, verbal abuse, violence, descriptions of injury, emotional distress

writers note:: Hii! I’m kind of a wattpad warrior so I don’t really know how to work tumblr but trust, I’m trying. Anyways! this is the first chapter of my steve x henderson!reader slowburn and well it happens over the whole of stranger things so bare with me as I write these chapters! anyways I decided to start on episode six (even though I have snippets episode one etc so i might end up uploading them) I just wanted to give yall a quick taste of what’s to come so this is shorter than most of the chapters are gonna be. I also want to say this is loosely inspired by @stevie-petey rewrite ‘come home’ } It basically just has everything I’ve ever wanted in a rewrite (and all the scenarios that i’ve imagined in my head) and I’m a reality shifter and a lot of this stuff has been sitting in my script for YEARS ( henderson reader and being besties with jonathan) so I swear i’m not blatantly copying but i would recommend reading theirs because it was incredible and SO entertaining like i was INVESTED anyway, enjoy :>

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NOVEMBER 12TH 1983 , HAWKINS INDIANA

The last week has been a complete blur. A relentless smear of grief, frustration and every word in the dictionary that tries to describe the fear that clings to your spine and crawls under your skin.

And now as if on autopilot, you hurl a 3L gasoline canister into the mouth of Jonathan’s rust-bitten trunk, sighing when it lands with a clunk, not out of relief but surrender. The weights gone from your arms but is still lingering in your chest.

Bear traps are being chucked in next to you with a loud thud causing you to jolt upright, Nancy being the one throwing them.

It’s crazy really, you never thought you would be in the same room with Nancy let alone have a conversation with her (but you also thought monsters and other dimensions were bullshit so you were wrong about many things.)

It was never on your part though, you always wanted to talk to Nancy, to be friends with her. You’d found yourself with a little friend crush, I mean she was perfect:

Had straight As, a pretty face, she was always put together and had a handsome boyfriend clinging to her side. What wasn’t there to admire. You were at her house most nights, picking up your brother so you figured you guys would get close in no time.

But no, she always avoided you, never looking you in the eye when you would smile at her. Like you were just another shadow in the hallway.

You just thought she was a prick, that she was too far up her own ass to ever notice you.

Now, as you glance at her tossing traps with mechanical precision, you feel the guilt gnawing inside your chest. Because you were wrong. You didn’t know her at all. Feeling sorry that you used to dislike her, hate her even.

Jonathan’s voice breaks your thoughts, he’s still mid sentence. Speaking to Nancy through the open door as he arranges more supplies, before he walks round the car to stand beside you.

You didn’t want to get involved in the conversation, it was like you were intruding on something they shared. The tension between them hung heavy in the air like fog. A stretched cord vibrating between each glance. You don’t have to ask to know that something was going on between the two even though you still wanted some sort of confirmation but you didn’t feel like you were close enough with Nancy to ask her and even though you’re close enough with Jonathan, he’s already going through a lot and you don’t want to be the one building on that so your fine with waiting for him to tell you.

Still your silence burns, because being left in the dark makes you feel invisible. And you’ve had enough of that lately.

Your thoughts are stopped: a loud honk and someone yelling cutting them short.

“Hey nance, can’t wait to see your movie!”

Instinctively you raise your middle finger, scoffing at the guy even though you had no clue what he was talking about.

“What was that? Y/N do you know what that was?”

Jonathan stammers before facing you. Assuming you know what the guy was referring to.

“I don’t know.”

You reply, turning your shoulder to peer at Nancy who now looks like she’s deep in thought.

“Nancy d-“

A flustered noise escapes your lips before you can even form words confused by Nancy’s reaction as she turns and walks away, frantically.

You and Jonathan exchange a look, both brows furrowed, unsure of what just happened. Without speaking, you both trail behind her

She plants her feet and gasps looking up at the sight in front of her.

When you get a proper look at it you have the same reaction

The fluorescent lights above the theatre flicker, illuminating the sharp red letters that spell:

All the right moves starring Nancy the slut Wheeler

“Jesus-“

Jonathan stares up at marquee, its glowing letters reflecting in his eyes before slowly turning to you, then Nancy.

She looks like she’s just watched a puppy get run over, pale, frozen in place, her eyes brimming with tears as she glances around in a daze, everyone seems to be watching her as if she’s standing beneath a spotlight specifically focused on her distraught face.

The weight of it all presses in, you pounce forward reaching for her shoulder.

It’s obvious really who’s done this and your heart breaks for her just at the thought.

Then you hear it, sneering, laughter and the sound of spray paint against a wall.

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Nancy shudders at the feeling of your hand leaving her shoulder as you begin to run towards the alleyway. And that’s when you catch him.

King Steve and his irrelevant friends.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

“-Did you impress your bitch pack with that Steve?”

You call out closing the distance between you and Steve who looks like you’ve caught him committing the worst crime possible, tossing the the can of paint out of Tommy’s hand at the sight of you. As if he feels guilty for letting you see him in this red-tinted light, like he wants to be deemed worthy and good in your eyes. However his demeanour changes when he sees Nancy, the guilt slipping away as it shifts into something fiercely protective

“Y/N let me deal with this, don’t get involved.”

Nancy shoves you aside, her movements sharp with urgency, slapping Steve as she shouts at him. You slowly step behind her in a silent support, drifting towards Jonathan, who’s watching the scene unfold with something unreadable in his eyes.

“I can’t believe I was actually worried about you”

Steve scoffs gazing at you, before quickly pulling his eyes back to Nancy.

“What are you talking about?”

Nancy barely even gets a word out as Carol and Steve both snap at her, then the realisation steps in

“You came by last night.”

Nancy sighs looking back at Jonathan.

“Ding ding ding, does she get a prize?”

Carol chuckles clearly searching for validation, she infuriates every bone in your body. You can’t even stop yourself from yelping at her

“Carol no one wants to hear the shit that comes out your mouth.”

“Don’t speak to her like that.”

Tommy barks out at you before Steve raises a hand, stopping him from further speaking.

“How can you even stand behind them Y/N? God I feel bad for you.”

“You feel bad for me? That’s bold coming from you Harrington, I think you have the weakest ego I’ve ever seen, it was dented just from seeing the two of them together.”

You laugh breathless

“-I mean fuck! You know what, all of this is really just none of your business is it.”

Steve can’t even meet your eyes, he turns away like a child, scorned by their mother facing Nancy.

“Go to hell Nancy”

He says before Jonathan grabs Nancy’s shoulders to get her to leave, only furthering their assumptions. The three of you begin to exit the lane triggering Steve to shove Jonathan trying to get a reaction. Saying whatever shit he can to get you all to stop.

“You know what Byers I’m actually kind of impressed. I always took you for a queer but I guess you’re a little screw up just like your father.”

You want to punch Steve and his stupid smirk right there and then, but you refrain eyeing Jonathan with a look that reads:

Just leave it

and he does continuing to walk, which only pisses Steve off more.

“That house is full of screw-ups. I guess I shouldn’t really be surprised a bunch of screw-ups in your family-“

“Steve stop! Jonathan leave it, leave it”

Nancy cuts him off, facing Jonathan

“-I mean your mother, I’m not even surprised what happened to your brother”

“You have no right!”

You snap at Steve, not even turning around as the mention of Will makes your eyes water a bit. And the fact that you can’t even look at him makes Steve angrier, as if all the noise in his chest means nothing. The gears in his head don’t just turn,they grind. Screeching for attention.

And you’re noticing Jonathan get closer on edge, one more dart and he’ll pop.

“Jon leave it.”

You say pressing his shoulder trying to guide his anger. Steve continues

“I’m sorry I have to be the one who tells you but the Byers. Their family is a disgrace to the entire-“

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Fist meets skin. Jonathan throws the first hit, his fist clicks perfectly with Steve’s right cheek as he lets out a dismantled grunt, as if this wasn’t exactly what he was asking for.

Steve without any air in him retaliates shoving Jonathan to a car, his body makes a loud thud which makes you sharply inhale. They begin throwing punches at each other, for a moment Steve looks like he’s winning.

And you can’t contain your built up fear and anger, lunging forward to shove Steve off Jonathan. Only to be met with Tommy’s hand. A yelp of pain exits your lips.

Did he just fucking punch you?

“Tommy! don’t touch he- Get the hell out of here man.”

Steve roars at Tommy shoving him to the side, disregarding Jonathan.

And well, Jonathan jumps at the opportunity forcing Steve to the ground, his fists red and crashing into his jaw.

Blow after blow, Steve’s breathless. Face raw and bloody. Jonathan doesn’t even stop, Nancy’s begging him to but he continues. You would do something if it wasn’t for that punch, you’re dizzy, barely able to focus on what’s happening

Your shot back into reality when you hear sirens.

“Jonathan stop!”

You shout reaching over for him before cops do that job for you, tearing Jonathan away from Steve as he hits them off.

“My nose- my nose!”

An officer calls out in reaction to Jonathan retaliating.

You hazily step forward, stumbling a little as you move. Before you know it, two hands are tearing you away from Jonathan.

“What the fuck-? Get off of me!”

“-What you wanna get arrested?”

Steve is the one carrying you from the scene, stumbling as he moves forward.

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Once you’re out of the passage you release your body from Steve’s grip charging forward.

“What the fuck is wrong with you Steve?”

You say turning around to meet his face. He’s unrecognisable, swollen and purple. Smeared in blood. And you’re similar, the punch that you received split your brow-bone, blood slowly being released as your skin turns a yellowy colour.

That’s all Steve can focus on.

“Tommy look what you did.”

He remarks reaching for your eye

“Don’t touch me-“

You shift back

“Don’t try to act innocent, this is all your fault.”

You say gesturing to your eye and the alley

“I don’t know why I’m even here with you, I should be with Jonathan. Are you not understanding that?”

You bark, hitting Steve’s hand away as it reaches for your face.

He looks confused and embarrassed at the same time- that you’re not thanking him that he ‘saved’ you from being arrested. Is the bloodloss fucking with his brain?

“Are you not understanding that your boyfriend slept with my girlfriend?”

He replies looking at you with hurt in his eyes at the slight mention of Nancy

“Oh my god, He’s not my boyfriend. And why do you even care how I would feel if he was. We are not friends, we never will be.”

He lets out a betrayed sigh to that last remark, what the hell? Clearly the blood loss is fucking with his brain, I mean Steve has been making fun of you since the dawn of time (middle school when you moved) You hated him and he hated you. Does he not remember that?

This is quite literally the first time you’ve ever actually spoke to him (apart from the multiple encounters of him and his little buddies making fun of you and Jonathan) You’d hoped you would never have to have an actual conversation with the guy but you were cursed into this situation.

You hear shouting to your right.

At first it sounds like nothing but noise, but then you recognise the voice

Lucas?

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Just as you suspected, Lucas enters your vision, pedaling down the street like his life depends on it, gripping his walkie in one hand shouting breathlessly.

“Hello! Mike? Do you copy? They know about Eleven. I repeat they know about Eleven!”

Your chest tightens and you stumble forward, barely even thinking. You throw out your arm to stop him from flying past

“Lucas what the hell is going on? Is Eleven- where’s Dustin? Is Eleven okay?”

You’re stuttering over your words, panicked.

Lucas doesn’t slow down, just swerves his bike slightly and gestures at you

“Get on!”

He barks, pointing towards the pegs on the rear of his bike.

Without hesitation you find the back bar and you launch yourself up, gaining balance as you grip onto his shoulders.

Behind you, Steve stares. brow furrowed, still catching up to everything. His lip has bursted, blood drying on his chin, and you know he’s confused, but you don’t even care. He doesn’t matter right now.

You lift your hand behind you, middle finger aimed over your shoulder like a farewell salute. Steve scoffs quietly, eyes falling to the ground like he’s lost the right to look up.

“Dustin when I catch you,”

You roar hearing the crackle of voices on the other end of the walkie

“You’re dead!”

[keerycoded]

This is what I look like trying to figure out how to format a tumblr post for the first time

anyways chapter one of my ST rewrite out later today!