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stbigbang · 8 years ago

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big bang fic

ok so this is my submission for the big bang!! this is only the first chapter, the rest will be up on ao3 as of tomorrow (i’m having some formating issues tonight) huge thanks to @justice-for-benny for being an amazing beta, and @alvrudart for being an amazing artist! i hope you guys have as much fun reading this as i had writing it!

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Their lives changed for the better on a snowy night in January.

Many things had happened prior to that night. Promises had been made, people had been saved, tears had been shed. But that’s an old story.

All that mattered in that moment, on that cold January night, was that a little girl was standing outside the Byers’ house, cold and afraid. She tightened the old flannel shirt that hung on her shoulders, shivering in the wet snow. Her hair, which now fell to her shoulders, was dirty and knotted, and her pink dress now barely reached her knees. She almost couldn’t believe she was finally here. She was finally home.

The stars filled the Hawkins sky that night - the same way they had on November 6, 1983. The day her life had changed. That night it had been raining, tonight it was snowing. This time, there weren’t any boys with flashlights to find her in the woods.

She slowly made her way to the porch, the snow crunching beneath her feet. Her shoes were worn and filthy, much like the rest of her clothes. Once she was facing the front door, all the girl could do was stare at it, unable to move.

She knew who was inside - the boy she had saved all those months ago. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to raise her fist to the door.

What if they don’t remember me?

It was plausible. She had been gone so long. They’d probably moved on and forgotten all about her. She, however, had not forgotten. She could never. They saved her life as much as she had saved them.

As the girl debated over and over what to do, she lost her footing and slipped. Her arms reached out for the railing to catch herself, knocking over a stack of buckets in the process. She flinched at the loud crashing noise.

Within a minute of the crash, noise came from inside the house. Someone had woken up. Oh no. The lights flicked on inside, and the front door flew open; a familiar face filled it’s frame.

There was a moment of silence as the two of them stared, too stunned to say a word.

“Oh my god” was all that came from Joyce’s mouth. She remembered. “I-I… Oh my god. It’s you. Eleven.”

“Yes.” She answered, speaking for what seemed like the first time in forever.

Joyce stared at the girl like she’d seen a ghost before coming to her senses. “Come in.” After a brief conversation, a hot shower, and a few stolen clothes, Eleven sat on the Byers’ couch, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Joyce sat next to her, rubbing the girl’s back – a gesture she hoped was comforting.

She attempted to coax a few words out of Eleven, but the girl wasn’t one for words. “Can I get you anything to eat, sweetie?” Joyce asked.

Before she could respond, Will Byers appeared in the hallway. He rubbed his eyes and looked at Joyce, clearly half-asleep. His brown hair was disheveled, and he was sporting an old Star Wars t-shirt.

“Mom? What’s-“ His mouth went dry once he looked around the room. Suddenly, he was fully awake. “Oh my god” was all he could say.

He had never actually seen Eleven, but he’d heard enough about her from the boys to know who was sitting in front of him. He stared in disbelief.

“Will.” She said calmly.

“Eleven?” He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. The myth - no the legend - that the guys never stopped talking about was sitting in his living room. “How-how did you get here? How are you alive?”

“Will.” Joyce gave her son a knowing look. “Let’s discuss that later. Why don’t I make us some hot cocoa? You can keep her company. Tell her about everything she’s missed.”

Obviously disappointed, Will let out a sigh. Nevertheless, he scooted closer to Eleven once Joyce had gone into the kitchen. Even if he couldn’t ask how she got back, he had so many other questions. He wanted to ask about her powers (Dustin said she was like Yoda with the force), or about how she could travel to the Upside Down (Lucas said she used some sort of “bath”), but he couldn’t find the words.

Sitting silently sat beside him, Eleven was staring at the floor. There was a look of sadness on her face, like she was missing something.

Somehow, the words came to him.

“Thank you.” He said, breaking the silence.

Eleven looked up at him. Her wide brown eyes studied him carefully, as if she was thinking of the right response.

“You’re welcome.” She said, returning her gaze to the floor. “Friends?”

Will smiled. “Yeah. Friends.”

Joyce peeked her head into the living room, holding a carton of milk in her hand. “Will, ask Eleven if she would like marshmallows with her hot cocoa. And has Jonathan come home yet?”

“No, he’s at the Wheeler’s. Or the Harrington’s. Who knows these days.” Will rolled his eyes. Joyce sighed knowingly and returned to the stove. “Do you like marshmallows in your hot cocoa?” Will asked, turning to Eleven once they were alone again.

“What is…marshmallows?” She asked, looking lost amongst the warm, cozy atmosphere of the Byers’ house.

“They’re like these puffy white candies. Most people like them in hot cocoa.” Will answered. He remembered Mike telling him that Eleven didn’t know a lot of words, that she had probably lived in the Hawkin’s Lab her whole life.

“Hot cocoa?” She asked again, more shy this time. It had been a question she wanted to ask since when Joyce first mentioned it, but was afraid to.

“Oh, you’ll love it. It’s this warm drink that’s really sweet and tastes like chocolate.” Will replied.

“Okay.”

“So, you want marshmallows?”

“Yes.”

Will smiled at her again. It was crazy how all this time he’d never gotten to meet the girl who saved his life, and here she was sitting right next to him. “Eleven wants marshmallows too, mom!” Will yelled to Joyce in the kitchen.

Once the hot cocoa had been served, and the marshmallows had been eaten (Eleven loved them) Joyce decided it was time to talk.

“I’m gonna have to call Hop in the morning. We’ll get the papers and everything sorted out.” She spoke gently, trying not to scare the girl.

God knows what she’d been through in the the past year. “Then maybe tomorrow, Will can take you to see the boys.”

Eleven’s eyes lit up at the thought of seeing the boys again. Well, mostly one boy.

“Yeah! Oh my god, they’ll going to freak out. They basically worship you.” Will said excitedly.

“Mike’s gonna be mental! He still keeps that blanket fort up. And he talks about you all the time.” He hardly got a breath in he was talking so quickly.

“Mike?” She asked softly, a small smile spreading across her face.

“Yeah, he never shuts up about you. It’s kind of annoying.” He smiled.

Eleven couldn’t hide her smile after that. It never left – not after Joyce gave up her bed to El, sleeping on the couch. Not after Will resigned to his room, sleepily going on about how much fun they were going to have tomorrow. Not even after Eleven fell asleep. Her dreams were filled with marshmallows and snow, and for the first time in a long time, she slept peacefully. She was safe.

She wasn’t the only one who slept soundly that night. A certain boy a few streets over was also dreaming of a certain girl in the snow. Maybe they all slept a bit better that January night. Perhaps the stars had re-aligned themselves.

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stbigbang · 8 years ago

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Operation : Get Jopper Together -

http://beautifullyflawed25.tumblr.com/post/160417187513/operation-get-jopper-together a> Writer : @beautifullyflawed25

Hosted by : @themikewheelers

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stbigbang · 8 years ago

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FOR THE ST BIG BANG

My art style has changed since i first drew this, not really worrying about the deadline. But uh..Enjoy?

My partners fic:

https://mikexelevenxeggos.tumblr.com/post/160399766797/80s-makeup-my-first-big-bang-fic?is_related_post=1

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stbigbang · 8 years ago

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The Further I’m Away- @stevemossington

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stbigbang · 8 years ago

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Operation: Get Jopper Together

@stbigbang | artist: @exploringescapist | soundtrack | Ao3

“Dude, the the Chief is so into your mother!” Steve whispered to Jonathan when Hopper stopped by to drop off ice cream for the gang just because.

“Steve!” Jonathan hissed. “Shhh! They can hear you.”

Keep reading

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stbigbang · 8 years ago

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The Strange Disappearance of Mr. Knickerbocker

Edited by @jariksolo1138 Pic spam by @cupcakesandtv Thanks so much guys!

Hop balanced the phone between his cheek and his shoulder, scribbling down an accident report. “I just wanted to invite you to dinner tonight, Hop. Jonathan and I made a little extra this week so we’re grilling and having a camp fire. I’ve already stocked up on beer for you. Will is looking forward to seeing you.”

He sighed. How could he say no to that? “I can’t. I already promised someone else I’d take them out to dinner.”

“Who is she?” Joyce teased.

“Lenny Knickerbocker, actually. Him and Mrs. Rose are fighting again and she kicked him out last week. I promised him a hot meal and a cot for the night.”

“Poor Lenny can’t catch a break. You both should come over for dinner,” Joyce sympathized. Lenny had always been a gentleman to her, despite what everyone in town said about him. The outcasts had to stick together, after all.

“You sure?” Hop asked, pausing his paperwork. “You know Lenny’s a little…eccentric.”

“Aren’t we all?” Joyce laughed. “Lenny’s got character.”

. Hopper walked to the open door of the holding cell, looking at the old man on the cot in the corner. Lenny Knickerbocker’s in his early fifties but his haggard, angular features and craggy complexion give him an older appearance. He served in Vietnam alongside a young Hopper, but got sent home early for a bullet in the leg. Over the years he shared plenty of his misadventures with Hopper, all his ill gotten knowledge and scars and tattoos.

“Hey Lenny, wake up,” Hopper called. “We’ve got a dinner date.”

Lenny adjusted his fedora over his eyes. “With who?”

“Joyce Byers invited us over.”

Lenny grinned from beneath his hat. “You’re fire and she’s gasoline, young man. You been burning for that one a long time, ain’t ya?” Hopper huffed, leaning against the doorway of the cell. “Either way you’re loving every second of it.”

“Can we leave that kind of talk here? Things aren’t like that between me and her.” Hopper replied.

“Not yet, anyway. You know she drives you crazy and you wouldn’t have it any other way.” Lenny smirked.

“It’s no wonder Mrs. Rose kicked you out again with all the shit you talk. You’re no good, Lenny.”

Lenny grinned and gave a throaty, smokey laugh, pushing his hat back on his head. “No good you say?” He said. “ You’re the same kind of bad as me, kid. Say, can I borrow your washroom for a second? Make myself presentable?”

Hop nodded, gesturing towards the bathroom with a nod of his head.

Outside Lenny stopped to gather a handful of wildflowers and pressed them into Hopper’s hand. When Hop shot him a quizzical look, Lenny laughed. “That’ll mean more to her than anything in this world, believe me.”

. Joyce welcomed them at the front door, dressed in a flowy cut blouse and jeans. “Hop! Lenny! Just in time! Will’s out back roasting marshmallows.” Lenny took her hand and kissed the back of it, causing her to smile. “Lovely as always, Joyce.”

“Good to see you, Lenny.” Joyce said warmly. Hop stood behind Lenny, suddenly feeling very out of place and awkward in his uniform. “Hello, Hop.” Joyce smiled up at him. “How was work?”

“Slow.” He responded a little too quickly, as if he’d rehearsed the short line over and over. When Joyce’s eyes traveled to the bundle of flowers in his hand he suddenly remembered he was holding them. “Oh, yeah! These, um, are for you.” He said presenting her with the blue and purple wildflowers.

“Oh these are pretty! Thank you, Hop.” She smiled warmly up at him, standing on her tiptoes suddenly. Instinctively he bent down to meet her and she pressed a kiss to his bearded cheek. “I’ll find a vase for them. They’ll look so pretty with my new tablecloth.” Lenny winked at him as he hung his coat on the coatrack. When she exited the room to find a vase, Lenny turned to him.

“Love her till the wheels come off, son. If you find someone to hold, don’t trade it for silver or gold.”

Out back Jonathan manned the grill, flipping the steaks. He regarded Hop with his usual look of distrust but widened his eyes momentarily at the sight of Lenny. Lenny waved to the young man and Jonathan waved back.

“Hello Chief! Hello Mr. Knickerbocker!” Will called from the fire where he was busy assembling s'mores.

“Please kid, call me Lenny. Mr. Knickerbocker was my father.” Lenny commented, pulling up one of the mismatched lawn chairs to warm himself at the fire. The sun was just beginning to dip in the sky and the air was already crisp feeling, bringing a slightly comfortable chill to the edges of everything. Will stood and ran to Jonathan, passing him a freshly made s'more.

“Would you like one, Lenny? Chief?” He asked. “Lemme see your cooking skills there, kid.” Lenny replied and Will set to work, dangling a marshmallow over the fire on a straightened wire hanger. Jim grabbed a chair on the other side of Will and took a seat. Joyce reappeared and offered both of the men beer. They gladly accepted and she sat down next to Jim with one of her own. They opened their beers in unison.

Jim cleared his throat. “So how have you been, Joyce?” He asked as if he hadn’t just checked in on her the day before. She shrugged. “Work was busy as usual. Donald really keeps me busy. Jonathan’s been such a dear with helping Will with his homework.” Jim took a swig of his beer.

Will presented Lenny with a s'more. “Are you sure you don’t want one, Chief?” Hop considered for a moment. “Actually, I’ll take one, Will.”

“You’re a good cook, young man.” Lenny said as he took a second bite of his s'more. “Who taught you how to make s'mores?”

“Chief did a couple of weeks ago.” Will smiled, passing a cookie to Hopper. “He promised to take me camping this summer.”

“Sounds like fun.” Lenny said, eyeing Hopper with a sly smile. “Say, Will, wanna go for a walk? We need some more wood for the fire. Come with us, Jon.”

. “Poor kids, they’re probably getting an ear full of one of Lenny’s stories.” Jim teased.

“He’s always got something interesting to say. One day I hope my life is half as interesting as his.” Joyce smiled. “Just his voice alone makes him sound like he’s had quite a life.”

“He’s had a pretty adventurous one. I think it’s because he never hesitates to say ‘fuck it’.” Jim laughed. “Who would have thought we’d be envying Lenny Knickerbocker, eh?” He commented as he moved to feed another log to the fire.

When he stood and turned back towards her Joyce was standing so close he could smell her sweet perfume. Desperate to touch her, he reached out and tucked her hair behind one ear. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you.” She said lowly, her eyes trained on the ground.

“Yeah?” He asked breathlessly, preparing to hear whatever she was thinking.

“Yeah. Fuck it.” She giggled as she pulled him forward to kiss him. The kiss was deep and passionate, surprising the both of them. She slowly explore his warm mouth, finally kissing him after spending so much time daydreaming about it. She pressed her hands to his chest, smoothing her thumb across the badge on his chest. “I’ve waited a long time to do that.” She admitted when she broke away.

“What took you so long?” He asked, his voice hoarse. He grasped her gently by the hips and pulled her closer before dipping low to kiss her again.

. In the woods Will and Jonathan ventured away from Lenny, filling their arms with wood. Lenny’s whiskey and gravel voice floated through the trees, “I’m just a poor wayfaring stranger, traveling through this world below. There is no sickness, no toil, nor danger in that bright land to which I go-” His voice came to an abrupt stop and both boys turned to look at the direction from which he was singing moments ago.

The two boys looked at each other suddenly, then back to the trees. “Lenny?” Jonathan called out into the darkness. They waited a full heartbeat before calling out to him again. “Lenny!” They called in unison. “Lenny!”

Jim broke their kiss to look towards the woods. “What was that?” Joyce said breathless, her lips kiss darkened.

“Lenny!” They heard the kids call. Taking her hand, Hop lead her to the edge of the woods and beyond. “Will! Jonathan?” He called. When they called back he followed their voices.

“Lenny’s missing!” Will called to them as they approached. Hop squinted in the darkness to the trees around them, looking for any sign of the wine colored dress shirt Lenny had been wearing. He pulled the flashlight from his belt and pointed it at the trees around them. “Lenny!” He called in his booming voice. “Lenny!”

The four of them stood in silence, listening to the sound of the woods around them. Everything was as silent as a church until an owl hooted from a nearby tree, causing the entire group to jump. The bird flew from his perch overhead and Joyce pulled her boys in close, the atmosphere becoming cold and frightening. She reached out to touch Hop’s shoulder and felt the tension there as he held a cop’s stance in front of her, the beam of his flashlight hopping from tree to tree. “Go back to the house, now!” He breathed to the family standing behind him as he unholstered his gun.

Joyce reached out for his forearm. “There’s no way I’m leaving you. Jonathan, take Will to the house and keep him safe.” Both boys made a sound of protest but Joyce glared at them. “You too Joyce.” Hop asserted.

“I’m not leaving you!” She argued. “I didn’t leave you then, I’m not leaving you now. You need an extra pair of eyes!”

Jonathan pulled Joyce close for a quick hug. “Be safe!” He said lowly, taking Will by the shoulder. Will didn’t move when Jonathan began walking. He held a far away expression, his eyes trained on the trees.

“The barn.” He whispered. Joyce squatted to his level and his eyes changed, focusing onto her face. “Don’t go into that barn!”

Joyce questioned him about the cryptic statement and he couldn’t give her any information at all, unaware that he had even said it. “I don’t know! I don’t know!” He asserted.

Jonathan escorted Will through the line of trees at the edge of the woods, ushering this little brother to the house. Joyce breathed in heavily through her nose and out of her mouth, Hopper could visibly see her shaking. “Joyce, Joyce honey. Breathe.” He reached for her with open arms and she sunk into them. “We’re going to find him. He couldn’t have gone far. We’ll find him just like we found Will. And he’ll be fine.” Her body trembled against his violently.

A shrill voice screamed Hopper’s name through the trees and he stiffened in Joyce’s embrace. “Lenny!” He trained his flashlight to the west, brandishing his gun. “Stay close to me, sweetheart.” And her hand found it’s way to his lower back, hooking her index finger into his belt loop, desperate to touch him somehow. To be grounded by him.

. At the sound of the scream the boys froze at the backdoor of their house, Jonathan’s hand on the doorknob. The boys shared a look. “We’ve got to go back.” Will said flatly.

“You can’t go back out there, it’s dangerous!” Jonathan said. “I’ll go, you stay.”

“It’ll be safer if we stick together!” Will shot back.

Jonathan considered for a moment. “Alright, come on. But stick close to me.”

He strode to the tool shed and grabbed the bat from by the door. Together they walked into the edge of the woods again.

. Hop and Joyce trekked through the woods together slowly, the beam of light bouncing along ahead of them. In the dark all the trees look looked the same, banding together to cast spooky shadows over the moonlit ground. Jim swallowed hard. His mind flashed back to a camping trip when he was eleven, getting lost alone in the dark in the foreboding woods. He had spent all night in the woods until his father found him in the wee hours of the morning. He had gotten a stern talking to about leaving the campsite.

Now was thankful for Joyce’s warmth at his back.

She surprised him, grabbing at the back of his shirt when she tripped over a tree root. “Shit!” She cursed quietly from the ground. Jim had wheeled around to kneel in front of her. ’“Hey are you okay?” She rubbed at her knee. “Yeah, I just fell really hard on it.” She replied. He offered her a hand and pulled her back onto her feet. They began walking blindly into the woods again.

In the distance a shape began to emerge.

The house stood large and imposing in the darkness. The absence of light in the windows ran a shiver up Joyce’s spine. Hop’s light brushed across a white fence, tented green with unchecked plant growth. “Did you know there was a property back here?” He asked, half turning towards her. “No. Not at all.” Hop tested the gate and it swung open with a creepy groan. “Oh, well isn’t that nice.” He said sarcastically, a frail attempt at humor. Joyce huffed behind him, fisting the khaki material of his shirt.

A massive white house stood in front of them, empty and cold. It’s paint stained and dirty with age, peeling in large chunks in places. Joyce looked into it’s empty, broken windows and shivered. He edged closer to the house, gripping the handle of his pistol, every muscle in his body tensing. Joyce moved to his side, her hand fumbling in the darkness until her fingers grazed his, reaching out to intertwine them. She gave his hand a squeeze as they moved forward in the moonlight, the damp chill in the air making her shiver.

As they approached the porch he let go of her hand. “Stay here.”

“Like hell I will!” She replied. Finding her resolve she walked ahead, wincing when the steps creaked beneath her feet. “Not smart Joyce, walking unarmed in front of the man with the gun.” There was an old axe propped by the porch and she reached for it, giving it a light swing to test it. The handle was still sturdy enough for the heavy axe head and she held it ready, but she let him take the lead.

The front door resisted but with a shove of his shoulder he forced it open. Together they searched the living room. It was like a room frozen in time. It reminded Joyce too much of the frozen stillness of the upside down.

He left her in a moonlight patch of the decrepit kitchen as he swept room to room, gun and flashlight trained in front of him. Joyce peeked through a broken window as Jim called Lenny’s name into the darkness. “Jim! The barn!” She called out.

He joined her in the kitchen, peering through the window at the faded red barn. The hayloft door stood open and a flickering light could be seen. “Well I guess I won’t waste my time going upstairs.” He said, a feeling of dread settling in his stomach.

“Why would Will see a barn? What’s in there, Hop?” She reached for his hand.

“Past experience tells me whatever it is, that’s where Lenny is.”

“Is it the Upside Down?” Joyce asked lowly.

“Probably so. I mean, it could be another gate.” He said, squeezing her hand.

. Outside, Hop shot her a glance at the barn door. “Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.” She replied, readying her axe. He held his gun steadily trained at the barn door.

He threw open the door and they both stared into the inky blackness, broken at times by a sickening greenish light. The breath caught in their throats as they recognized another gate into the Upside Down. Just like last time. Just like with Will. Jim swept around the room, leaving Joyce’s side as she stared in horror at the gate. After he climbed to check the hayloft he started advancing on the gate.

“Jim! Something’s in there! I mean I thought the monster was dead, but something had to have taken Lenny.” She said grabbing for his arms. “We don’t even know if Eleven killed the other one. What if this is the same monster? We can’t kill it!”

“I can damn sure try.” He said advancing on the gate. He stepped forward, reaching out to touch the gate. It seemed to shiver under his touch. He reached back for her hand as they stepped through. They had been here before, they can do it again.

Specks of the snowy substance landed in Joyce’s hair as Jim turned to look at her. He pulled her close and kissed her quickly to calm his nerves and hopefully hers. She stared doe eyed at him when he pulled away “Where do we start looking?” He asked.

“He disappeared in the woods behind my house. Lets try there. And the house we just came through. I doubt he went far.”

“Lenny!” Hop called lowly as they searched each room of Joyce’s house, the upside down version of it. Joyce shivered at this warped version of her own home. “Hey Hop, all clear.” Joyce called. He nodded in response to her and they began making their way to the woods behind the house.

“How are we supposed to find him here?” Joyce asked, looking at the woods hopelessly.

“We stick to the path we took. I doubt he strayed far.” Hopper said quietly. The woods, foreboding in their world, was even worse here. They both called Lenny’s name into the darkness.

In the end their search of the woods was fruitless and they moved onto the abandoned house. “Stay with me.” Hopper encouraged her. She lingered at his back as they searched room to room, his flashlight and gun trained ahead of them as Joyce gripped her axe tightly.

. “Hop-” came a low, gravely voice from the corner of the master bedroom.

“Lenny!” Joyce called, rushing to the old man’s side. His side was gashed open, the red blood soaking his side. Lenny was white as a sheet. Joyce helped him to his feet.

“There’s a monster, we have to get out of here.” Lenny said quietly at Joyce’s side as he held his wound.

“Stay close to me.” Hopper breathed.

They were almost into the barn when there was a flash in Hopper’s peripheral, and a blinding pain in his shoulder as Joyce cried out to him. He wheeled around, brandishing his gun and fired a few shots at the monster. “Take him and go, run Joyce!” He urged as he fought the monster. Joyce brandished her axe and swung, and the monster cried out in pain. “Run Hopper!”

. Lenny fell through the gate and Joyce followed behind him. “Will, Jonathan!” She said, noticing her boys for the first time. They ran to their mother and helped Lenny up.

“Where’s Hop?” Will asked frantically and Joyce looked back to the gate sadly. “I’m going back for him.”

“Mom, no!” Jonathan urged.

“I’m not just going to leave him in there!” Joyce scolded, headed back for the gate. Before she could step back through Jim fell through it, clutching his shoulder. “It’s coming, run!”

Will strode past everyone, hand outstretched. “Will, what are you-” before Joyce could finish her sentence he lay his hand on the gate and closed his eyes. The gate shuddered beneath his hand.

Everyone watched as the gate began to mend, closing before their eyes. Hopper gaped at Joyce, both shocked by his new found power.

Lenny coughed, drawing everyone’s attention back to the task at hand. “We have to get him to a hospital.” Joyce said, grabbing him by the shoulder. Jonathan grabbed the other and together they helped him stand. Hopper grabbed Will with his uninjured arm. “Come on kid.”

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stbigbang · 8 years ago

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More than eggos

Just a fluffy mileven one-shot written for the @stbigbang. Also, shout out to the great artist @mad-li who shall be posting her work anytime soon. Hope you enjoy!!

Mike Wheeler no longer dreaded waking up. It’d been a sudden and enormous yet fully welcome change especially by Karen Wheeler whose heart broke more everyday upon seeing her boy walking around in such a lifeless way, eyes void of emotion except for the occasional sadness and anger attacks that she’d witnessed more times than she was willing to count. Well, not anymore. The astronomically huge impact that El had on Mike’s life thankfully worked for both the positive and negative way so, naturally, Eleven’s return which had happened precisely three weeks ago had caused a major change in Mike’s behavior, obviously for the best. No more restless nights caused by the heartache of his failed attempts at looking for the telekinetic girl all over Hawkins, no more short campaigns or dirty looks directed at his parents who suggested that he should ‘brighten up’. No, in the current times, Mike Wheeler was absolutely pleased and fulfilled with life, no matter what the circumstances were (even though his grumpy side was often woken up when said circumstances put some distance between him and the petite brunette he was oh so happy to have back). Life seemed a lot easier nowadays, even with school in the way and the constant worry of Eleven disappearing while not under his sight (or worse, her vanishing right under his nose as he helplessly only got to watch, much like it previously happened). Either way, Mike walked with a different edge on his step, his eyes seemed a little brighter, the sight of eggos no longer caused him to flinch but brought a wide smile to his lips instead, one that wouldn’t vanish from his face not even on early mornings like this one, since in his lovestruck mind, the sooner he had his eyes open, the sooner he’d get to see El. And was she a sight to see, the most beloved one to both his eyes and heart, one that he now cherished more than anything else now that he finally has the chance to actually look at her everyday, relish in the soft smiles she often offers him and in the cute way her eyes widen in wonder every time she finds out something new instead of having to picture it himself in his mind or only being able to hold on to hazy visions of her that haunted both his dreams and nightmares after that one night in the school cafeteria.

( Yes. Mike Wheeler was becoming disgustingly sappy but in his defense a) It was Eleven’s fault and b) this was his own mind so he could think whatever he wished to)

Although in that specific moment, as Mike crossed the road to pick his eggo lover up from the Sinclair’s house, as he always now did on the weekends since Lucas’ mother had so kindly offered to tutor El when she was the most available, the sight of her didn’t bring him as much happiness as it usually did. Well, it wasn’t exactly about Eleven herself but more about the fact that she had some company. It was impossible for his attentive gaze to not notice James, a blonde boy who’d recently moved from Britain and was now a part of his class, animatedly chatting Eleven up, whose happy smile directed towards the other boy caused his hands to unconsciously clasp themselves into fists, his mind now racing a thousand miles per minute with nagging questions. Since when do they know each other? Why is he talking to her? Even the most rational part of his brain decided to make it worse this time, mockingly wondering But then again, why wouldn’t he?

James didn’t cross him as a bully but one of his biggest hobbies was talking to pretty girls during recess, almost a different one per week. Even though her vocabulary was still very limited, she did undoubtedly have the cutest personality in the universe and even though Mike thought Eleven was already the prettiest girl ever a year ago, her growth since then had been nothing but very, very flattering and it was only natural that no longer in a hospital gown and with wavy stylish hair, Eleven looked ‘average’ enough to fit in with the crowd of girls that filled his school. Needless to say, her natural beauty was noticeable enough to make her stand out in said crowd so it shouldn’t be shocking that the superficial mouthbreathers around Hawkins would also start being nothing less than attracted to her. Mike’s blood was boiling at this point and his face was scrunched up in distaste as he started imagining even worse scenarios of boys hitting on El once she finally enrolled in school with him and the boys. The wheels gearing in his brain were moving so fast that even the often emotionally oblivious Eleven could have read the signs. Jealousy. He now pitied Jonathan Byers for having to see his sister with Steve. But then again, Steve was quite the jerk, James could actually be a good guy below the flirty layer. A tiny voice reminded Mike that he shouldn’t even be feeling like this in the first place; not only did he not own her but wasn’t he also too young to have such intense feelings? Just then, as if the universe was relishing in his suffering and decided torture him a little further, the freckled teen witnessed through narrowed eyes as said boy leaned down to press his lips to Eleven’s cheek. Perhaps not as good as I thought, Mike sarcastically concluded, enduring a few more miserable moments of his own personal hell until James and El finally parted ways. Immediately right after, she seemed to acknowledge Mike’s presence, a happy beam taking over her features as it always did when she was around the freckled boy. However and unlike always, the beam was not returned by the lanky teen who only managed to force out a weak smile. The midnight haired teen took notice of how the tiny girl’s demeanour faltered and the worried tone her voice took on when she pronounced his name. “Hey.” Was all he said as he turned around, no longer wanting to put his eyes on the Sinclair’s house, a now bitter reminder of the unpleasant scene which he’d just watched. “Are you okay?” She asked slowly, immediately sensing that something was off about Mike as he started walking her to the Byers’ -well, now hers too- residence. Silence. He stuck his hands in the pocket of his jeans before shrugging and only then he finally looked her in the eye. “I’m good. Uh, what was that about with James?” Her worried gaze became confused at the sudden change of topic and he mentally facepalmed. Way to go, Wheeler. Mike ‘king of subtleness’ Wheeler. “Party tomorrow. He said he wants me to go with him.” As dramatic as it sounded, Mike could literally feel a shift in the atmosphere; the autumn wind that he’d previously found refreshing was now just cold and uncomfortable. Mike gulped audibly, trying to ignore the knot on his throat. “Oh, cool. What did you say?” “Yes.” She replied immediately before frowning at Mike’s facial expression. “Parties are nice, right?” He gritted his teeth and nodded.

“Then what is wrong, Mike?” The brunette insisted, looking slightly distraught as she reached out to touch his arm. For the first time, he pulled away from her touch and forced another fake smile. “Nothing,El.“ Pointing at the Byers’ porch, the dark haired teen nodded. "Oh, look. We’re here. Have fun at the party with James.” He said curtly before turning away from Eleven without their usual departing hug while fighting the urge to scream and rip his own hair out. This only caused the bad feeling in the pit of El’s stomach to become more prominent, sadness taking over her as she made her way to the house. Sadness was mutually felt by the Wheeler boy who stormed off to his own house, mind baffled due to how quickly another great day had gone so wrong. Now that his hazy cloud of jealousy had subsided slightly, and the rational part of his brain was willing to help him out, a much deserved sense of guilt washed over him as he took notice at how poorly he’d just treated his favourite person. El didn’t deserve it, she didn’t deliberately tried to hurt him and she probably didn’t even understand why he was even upset to begin with. Yet there he was, being a mouth breather like the ones he longed to protect her from, instead of giving her the queen treatment she deserved, instead of being a worthy choice, a better choice than James, the best choice. But then again, he didn’t have to be the best choice. Naturally, Mike wanted to be. But if she picked something or someone else once or forever, he would have to deal with it and do it with a smile on his face. And why would he do that? Because El was free, now finally able to make her choices, to have a proper life path ultimately chosen by her, so he denied to selfish to the point of stopping Eleven to go down the road she chose just because it wasn’t his favorite one. Internally groaning as he realized just how bad he’d screwed up, he started sketching an immediate apology plan and almost thought about contacting his peers but the idea of dealing with a furious Will Byers, who much likely had already talked to his naturally upset sister, refrained him from doing so.

What if he asked Nancy for help? But then again, how effective could that be? His sister would want to know why he had to apologize to Eleven, then she would get mad at him and go on one of her mad speeches about feminism and treating girls right, two ideologies that Mike undoubtedly agreed with but her words just wouldn’t help right now. Upon realizing that he was absolutely on his own, he started considering his options and after what felt like forever, the younger Wheeler’s face lit up with a new idea.

Meanwhile, Eleven remained sat on her fluffy bed with a devastated look on her face, quietly punishing herself for what she could have done or said to upset Mike. Surely it must have been related to the other kind boy who had approached her before Mike arrived? He did seem interested in that. Did he not want her to go to the party? Did he want to come with her? She definitely wanted him to go too, in fact Eleven was planning to invite him but he seemed so upset that she took that as a priority and then Mike was already gone before she even had a chance to bring it up. With her chin resting in one of her tiny hands, the brunette stared at the wall, gaze particularly set on the one picture there, the very same that Jonathan had gotten her, framed and all, the previous week. It was the first picture she owned but it would undoubtedly forever be her favourite since it captured one of her best memories. It was of three weeks ago when she came back and Mike euphorically took her in, guiding her to the Wheelers’ couch where she was turned into a burrito of blankets, one of her hands being gently held by the freckled teen who stared at her in wonder, a fond smile on his lips and something that she couldn’t yet fully understand shining in his eyes. She sighed in longing. He looked so happy, the happiest she’d ever seen him and now she just sat there wishing he’d look happy like that again. It made her feel all warm and fuzzy and light, some of the best feelings she’d ever experienced along with the one of his lips touching hers like they did before she went to the upside down. But Mike had barely met her eye today and when he did, he spoke with such coldness that caused emptiness to settle on Eleven’s stomach. And not the hungry kind of emptiness. “That really is a good picture.” Jonathan mused, pulling his adoptive sister out of her negative thoughts as he entered the girly room. Noticing the sad aura that surrounded Eleven, he comfortingly took a seat next to her on the side of her bed, examining one of the pictures he was most proud to take. “He really cares about you, you know.“ The older Byers suddenly said. He’d watched the Mileven banter ordeal from the window and for that he felt like he needed to try to cheer up his sister. "No. He hates me.” She replied quietly but her reply itself was so absurd that if it weren’t for the heartbroken tone of her voice, Jonathan would have cracked up right there and then. Settling for a snort, he was quick to disagree. “Trust me, he doesn’t. It’s quite the opposite, really.” Even though the dirty blonde teen didn’t follow them around, he’d seen enough to know about the reciprocated feelings both Mike and Eleven had for each other, even if they themselves weren’t fully aware of it. And his words were so confidently spoken that the tiny girl perked up in curiosity. “How would you know?” She slowly wondered, causing him to smile as he motioned to the picture she’d been previously staring at. “Sometimes people don’t really say what they are thinking. But if you capture the right moment, it says more.” Jonathan echoed his own words, feeling like a helpful yoda as he watched Eleven’s pouty lips turning into the brightest of smiles. Perhaps Mike was cold not because he didn’t care for her but because he cared too much, the same way she did for him; so, since she lacked talent in the words department, she’d have to keep showing him so through actions. With a brighter renewed mindset, as well as a better understanding of what might have happened this afternoon, the brown eyed teen engulfed the taller Byers in a ‘ thank you’ hug before rushing out of the door, wanting to get to the Wheelers’ house as soon as possible. Shockingly enough, She didn’t make it past the door of her own house since when she opened it, her gaze fell on the exact freckled boy she was thinking about. "Mike.“ "Hi, El.” Looking apologetic, the pale teen rubbed the back of his neck nervously, sharply inhaling a shaky breath before deciding to just get on with it. “I’m sorry for being a mouthbreather earlier. I didn’t have the right to be, but I guess I got jealous of you and James, you know?” “Jealous?” She tasted the unknown word with uncertainty, watching as the boy ahead of her tripped around his own words to give her a proper definition. “It’s like when someone that you like seems interested in someone else so you get sad angry.” At the mention of 'someone that you like’, her face lit up. “Mike–” Currently stuck in his nervous haze, he continued. “It’s alright, I understand if you’re the one who is angry now but hopefully you will forgive me soon. I even got you an apology present!” He exclaimed while pulling a silver necklace out of his pocket with the tiniest of smiles “Technically, I was only going to give this to you when I asked you to this year’s snowball-” Realizing his slip up once her chocolate orbs doubled in size he shook his head at himself, a dramatic sigh escaping his lips since to actually slap himself would imply dropping the necklace and it just wouldn’t come in handy to also ruin El’s apology present in the process. “Okay, I definitely wasn’t supposed to say that yet. But you see-“ Pointing at the small heart pendant matching the silver chain, he opened it. ”- you can put a picture here if you want. I already put one, see? I chose eggos because I know how they make you happy-“ his desperate rambling actually only came to an end when El’s lips brushed over his in the softest of kisses, the unexpected, almost magical, gesture knocking the wind out him. “Wow.” He breathlessly mused as Eleven’s beautiful chuckle echoed in the room, her arms wrapping themselves around his lanky frame and her cute button nose poked his shoulder. “Thank you, Mike.” And upon hearing such softly spoken words, his lips curled up into the brightest of the smiles and he swore to himself he’d always do everything he could to make this girl as happy as she currently sounded. Needless to say, she did make him the happiest too.

Deciding to go on with her whole ‘ actions speak louder than words’ plan, she showed up at Mike’s doorstep the following day, proudly smiling as he guided her to the basement where he was currently having a campaign with their friends. Eleven stopped him before they made their way downstairs and opened the small pendant to reveal that the eggos picture had been replaced by a small picture of Mike, one that Will cut from their school group photo, obviously a persistent request from the tiny brunette on the previous night. “You put a picture of me in there.” The blushing teen said in awe, cheeks burning even more intensely as the cute girl in front of him nodded. “You told me to put one of something that makes me happy. You do.” An incredulous chuckle escaped his lips as he felt himself exploding with affection towards the precious El. “Even more than eggos?“ "Even more than eggos.” She confirmed without missing a beat and this time he was the one wrapped his arms around her tiny frame, resting his burning face in the crook of Eleven’s neck, who brought her hands down to caress his silky hair. Apparently he did get to be the best choice after all. And he couldn’t be happier about it.

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