#I’ve barely turned in any homework this semester and we’re at least halfway through

[quibbs126]

I’m a failure

[allonsysilvertongue]

just wanted to say adore your writing, prompt: brenner/hopper ultimate confrontation, brenner tries to manipulate eleven into going back to him, calling her his daughter etc. She's scared out of her mind, paralyzed from fear, hopper knocks brenner out, assures El he really loves her not brenner

I hope you’ll like this and thanks for the prompt!

Hawkins: The Upside - Figure from The Past

Post Mind-Flayer, his life was… good. It was not easy, butit was good.

Hawkins Lab had closed down, at least in Indiana, which wasone thing off his mind. Although he was sure the Department of Energy haveplenty of other labs in other parts of the country but… that was not hisproblem. He tried not to care too much other than what was in front of him.

Andthat was El.

Hopper had taken time to sit El down just to explain to herof the adoption papers he had signed and what it meant for them. She hadrepeated the name ‘Jane Hopper’ almost in reverence and it had stirredsomething in his heart he thought had died with Sarah.

He could do this. For once, he had hope. El could never replaceSarah but… she was a balm. It wasn’t what he thought when he first took herin but she was a soothing balm to his wound, and something for him to focus hisenergy on.

“You and I…. We’re gonna be in this together for thelong haul,” he patted her hand, smiling at her. “You know what thatmeans? It means forever.”

“Forever,” El repeated with a nod, letting herfinger scratch against his beard with a grin. “This is … home.”

Home… The word sounded safe in her mouth and he held on toit. They were not so different after all. None of them had really felt at homeanywhere. This was something they could build on now.

As the weeks melted together, and having talked about it withDr. Owens, they had both agreed to ease El slowly back into society. But insteadof enrolling her in a school for the upcoming semester, El was home schooledfirst. The books came from the boys from their previous grades as Hopper triedto help her catch up on years of missed academia. The gang visited her aftertheir school to do homework, answer her questions and play board games.

Naturally, his cabin became the meeting point. At somepoint, Karen Wheeler and Joyce Byers had invaded his house. He at least saw itas an invasion, when they took it upon themselves to stock up his kitchen.Joyce had rearranged his beer cans so they were out of sight from the kids andKaren had made sure there were enough snacks to last for two weeks.

He found himself dropping by during his rounds around town tocheck on the kids, and sometimes wondered how his house became an after school'day care’.

About four months after the papers were signed, Hopper begantaking the kid out in public once or twice a day in the week. Sometimes theywould go for breakfast or dinner at the diner or sometimes he would bring heralong to the store where Joyce work.

El didn’t talk much, only when she was addressed directly andeven then, she would sometimes look his way just to make sure it was okay.Whenever he was out with her, he noticed the whispers and smiles he got behindhis back. He supposed it must be a sight – him and the kid.

“One of your women you fuck around finally left a kid atyour door, huh, Chief?”

“Your math must be really awful,” he retorted atthe guy. “Kid’s much older.”

He didn’t owe anyone any explanation of who El is and how shecame to be. Those who knew, people like Joyce, could be trusted to keep that tothemselves.

“So,” he started just as they were served pancakesat the diner, “heard you won at dominoes yesterday.”

El barely batted an eyelash, as she focused on pouring anunhealthy amount of maple syrup all over her breakfast. “Yes.”

“Boys let you win?”

She stopped squeezing the bottle.

“Did not,” she sat glaring at him.

The chuckles coming from him made her shake her head but herexpression softened considerably.

“Did your English homework?”

“Yes. Don’t like homework.”

This time, Hopper tried to hide the smirk just so shewouldn’t take it to mean that it was okay or encourage her to skip herlearning. But he was glad to hear that. She sounded almost like a normalteenager whose biggest problem was homework and not alternate dimensions.

“Presumptuous.”

He paused with the fork halfway to his mouth, “What?”

“Dustin said,” she lifted her eyes. “New word. What does itmean?”

“It means… When someone’s behaving boldly… more confidentthan they should,” he settled for that.

“Oh,”she nodded seriously, filing that information for later use. “Can I go tothe arcade later?”

May,he corrected silently, but let it slide. Instead of giving an immediate answer,Hopper stuffed a piece of bacon in his mouth and chewed. He knew the boys andMax liked to hit the arcade in the afternoon. He could drop her off before hisafternoon shift today and pick her up an hour or so later.

“Sure. Yeah,“ he shrugged.

Shecould probably use the fun. It wouldn’t do to have her all brooding, gloomy andserious later in life. She was a kid and she needed to be a kid. He wanted thatfor her, as best as he could provide it, given the situation.

Thelook on the gang’s faces alone was worth the drive to the arcade. They lightedup when they saw his truck coming in. Mike stepped forward, opening El’s doorwith a wide grin.

"Let’ssee if you can beat my high score,” Max smirked.

“Beback in an hour, kid. Wait out here,” Hopper shouted through the rolleddown window.

Swingingby the Byers’ house, he saw Joyce’s car was out front. He parked his truck andknocked on her door.

Hopperheard hurried footsteps and a shout of his name before the door was pulled opento reveal a slightly breathless woman.

“What’s the matter? Is it Will?”

“MaybeI should come by often so you wouldn’t panic each time you see it’s me on yourdoor,” he joked. “Relax. Last I checked, Will was at the arcade whereyou dropped him off.”

Theway the tension in her shoulders visibly eased let him know that as long as Willwas out of her sight, she would always worry. Alternate dimensions andmonsters was not something any parent could bounce from easily.

“Don’t mean to be rude, Hop, but why are you here? You hereto sample my meatball spaghetti? Jonathan thinks it’s the best out there.”

“Thatan invitation to dinner or what?”

Shesnorted but left the door open as she stepped back so he took his cue andfollowed. In her kitchen, he leaned against the counter, watching her poursauce into the pan.

“Flame’stoo big,” he commented.

Sheshot him an incredulous look but turned it down before the sauce burnt. Hetapped the pack in his breast pocket, a silent question to which she shook herhead to decline the invitation.

“Where’sJane?”

“Atthe arcade.”

Herbrows shot up in surprised.

“Youlet her?”

Hegave a one shoulder shrug, trying hard not to think too much about her beingoff on her own without him around.

“Babysteps, figured the arcade wouldn’t be so bad,” he answered. “Sure,you don’t want a smoke?

“They will be okay,” she smiled at him and he wasn’tsure if she was trying to assure him or convince herself. “How is your…daughter? Tell me – I haven’t seen her at all this week.”

Her eyes twinkled and he was reminded of the Joyce Byers heknew in school, the one who was a tease, a little carefree and one he had gotto know better over a few sessions of detention. He never knew that petite girlsitting three seats in front of him in English was a spitfire until he was atthe receiving end of it during detention.

“Fine. She’s fine. We’re good. Turns out she doesn’t likehomework,” he gave a mock gasp.

Shelaughed, and he really liked the way it seemed to make her look younger, lessworried.

"So,uh, I’ve got to work overnight tonight so, youmind looking after El? You know since you haven’t seen her this week, now’syour chance.”

“Aha,” she waved the ladle in his face. “Sothat is the real reason you’re here.”

His bark of laughter seemed to delight her the way it did forhim. He wondered if this was considered flirting because it was so differentthan the ones he was used to when he was younger which of course, made himwonder if Joyce flirts. He had been dropping hints but she seemed to brush offhis efforts so far. Probably still too soon after Bob’s death. Give it time, hetold himself.

She dropped her head, focused on the sauce once more but shewas smiling.

“You don’t have to try so hard to convince me, Hop. I’lldo it,” she said. “It’ll be good to have some female company hereonce in a while.”

This wasn’t the first time she had taken El in when he had towork night. Sure he had left the kid alone numerous times pre - Mind Flayer buthe didn’t have to keep her hidden and here with the Byers…. She couldsocialise. The fact that Joyce adored her was a nice bonus.

“Thanks, Joyce.  I’ll send her over a little before dinner so shecan sample your meatball spaghetti.”

Shehummed.

“Tell you what,” Hopper flicked off the ashes of hiscigarette in the ashtray by the windowsill. “To show you how I very muchappreciate you helping me out, I’ll pick Will up from the arcade when I get Elso you won’t have to drive all way out there.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’d say you’re chivalrous, Jim Hopper,but as it happen, you have to drive to the arcade to get Jane here anyway.”

“Yougot me,” he chuckled, leaving her shaking her head as he headed back outto the truck.

Thelast thing he expected when he arrived at the arcade was to see a teenager witha bad mullet haircut fuming near the entrance. Max’s brother, herecalled, the guy who beat up that other kid, Steve.

Max,Dustin and Lucas were nowhere to be seen and a quick count of the bicyclesparked outside confirmed that two was missing. Mike, he noticed, was on the payphone, clearly frantic and trying to call -

“Chief Hopper!” Mike startled when he saw him, dropping thereceiver to hang by its cord. “I called but – He’s got her! He got El.”

“Who’s got her?”

“The lab guy. The – “

“Dr. Owens?”

He knew deep down that it wasn’t him because Mike wouldn’thave panicked. But if it was Dr. Owens, Hopper would know where to find him andgive the doctor a piece of his mind for pulling shit like this. He would knowwhere to find Dr. Owens.

“The guy who … I – I can’t remember his name. From the lab.El calls him Papa. He – He just came and took her away in his car and El didn’twant to go but he pulled her hand, and we couldn’t -”

Hefelt the icy cold dread, could hear his blood rushing in his vein. It waspresumed that Martine Brenner was dead but El had actually told him what came fromher little road trip to find her mother – that Brenner might still be alive outthere – if the former agent was to be believed.

Brennerwas here. He had taken El.

Hopper’sfingers curled into a fist, his breathing heavy. He forced himself to remain calm,to think.

Hecouldn’t lose her. He couldn’t lose another kid, not again. This was his worstnightmare coming to life.

“Howlong ago was this?” He demanded.

Will burst out the front door and came to a staggering stopwhen he spotted Hopper. He breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that with the Chiefaround things would be handled

“Just left,” he said, slightly breathless. “Ilost sight of them from the window. Max, Dustin and Lucas chased his car ontheir bikes. I don’t know how far they can go on but - ”

That was all Hopper needed to know before he took off runningto his truck.

“The hell are you doing?” He hollered at theteenager leaning against his car, watching them with open disinterest.“Didn’t think to go after your sister?”

“She knows she’s walking if she’s late,” he retorted.

Menace, Hopper thought violently.

Hewould have asked Billy to send Will back to Joyce since he still wasn’t allowedto go anywhere on his bike but Hopper wasn’t in the trusting mood right now, sohe told Mike to get Karen to get them both home.

Hedidn’t wait to see if Mike called his mother. Hopperjumped into his truck and gave chase, tyres peeling against the asphalt. Fiveminutes out, he drove passed the three kids, panting by the road side.

“Get back to home all of you and stay home,”he shouted out the window. “I got it.”

The blue sedan was within sight and he stepped on the gas,muttering under his breath for the truck to go faster. If he could just cut thecar off….

It was then that he caught sight of the wobbling tree infront of him and jammed brake. The tree fell in front of the car, crushing itshood and pinning it in place. Eleven must have seen his truck coming for her.

“Good kid,” he smacked the dashboard in pride.

Jumping out the truck, he pulled the door of the blue caropen, gun pointing in front of him. Inside, El was screaming, tugging hard atsomething they had only halfway managed to fix on her head. He didn’t know whatit was but if he was out here trying to kidnap a kid with psychic abilities, hewould try to shut that power down temporarily and he supposed that thing aroundher head was it.

Brenner emerged from the car with blood trickling from a headwound. At the sight of him, Hoppers stomach churned and as the scientist sawHopper standing there, his lips curled into a malicious smirk.

“We meet again.”

He was dressed as he did before, in pressed suit, matchingtie and polished shoes but his face was that of a tired old man, not thatHopper had any sympathies for him in his heart.

“Can’t say I’m pleased.”

“You have my daughter,” Benner stated calmly which onlyenraged Hopper. “Come here, Eleven.”

It must have been years of having that command ingrained inher because El jerked forward, involuntarily. Instinctively, Hopper put a handon her shoulder to stay her but she seemed completely unaware of it. Her eyeswere fixed on that man.

“You disappointed me, Eleven,” Benner spoke softly, almostsoothingly and Hopper didn’t trust that sickly silky voice. “You left when wecould have done so much more.”

Her lips quivered and Hopper blinked. This was the same girlwho had easily killed demadogs and monster without any fear and yet now, shestood rooted to the spot, clearly paralysed by terror.

He wished he could take away the years of trauma. He wishedhe could fix her, make El whole and unafraid.

"It’s okay, darling,” Brenner knelt in front ofher. The affectionate tone the man was trying so hard to adopt soundedmisplaced. “I forgive you. I’m your Papa and I want to tell you now thateverything is okay. We’ll forget the past and we can work it all out from here.All you need to do is get the tree off the car and come with me.”

“Don’t listen to him, kid.” Hopper said, his voice gruff fromthe fear he was trying to mask. He had faced unspeakable things from anotherdimension and yet the thought of El being taken away from him was morehorrifying than anything. “He wants something from you. He ain’t here'cause he’s suddenly had a change of heart and cares about you.”

Brenner stood where he was, unwavering. He held his hand outto Eleven.

“Don’t you dare. I’ll shoot you dead,” Hopperwarned.

“Really? In front of her?” he taunted. “Now, what willshe think?”

“Come on, El, let’s go,” Hopper tugged lightly on hershoulder, hoping that it would snap her back.

Hewould get Powell or someone in the station to get Brenner but the importantthing right now, was to get El away from this toxic junk as quickly as hecould.

“Eleven,” Benner spoke her name firmly and withauthority that he used to control her with. “Your place is with me. Nextto me, always. We’ll go to your Mama. A … family,” he forced the wordout, as if it cost him a lot just to say it. “I know you want that.”

Amuscle in Hopper’s jaw ticked. He feared if El would fall for that, hook lineand sinker. Family was him. It was them in his cabin. Family was not with thisabusive scientist whose only goal in seeking her out right now when it wouldjeopardise his freedom was likely driven by desperation to save his skin, toclaw at some bullshit scientific breakthrough. It was for selfish reasons andnothing else.

Hewould not allow El or anyone to go through that.

Hegripped the gun tighter in his hand, his index finger ready to squeeze thetrigger.

“Iknow what you want, Eleven. I’ve always known.”

“That’s enough,” Hopper snapped, and without anywarning, landed a solid punch straight for the man’s nose.

He heard the sickening crunch. Hopper had never felt sosatisfied. Brenner fell backward from the force of it and as if the spell wasbroken, El blinked.

She looked around. Her gaze caught his and he knelt in frontof her so they were eye to eye.

“You okay?”

“Yes. I was…“ She touched her chest and Hopper coveredher hand with his, feeling the erratic beating of her heart. “… scared.”

“It’s over. He’s down,” Hopper said. “I got you, kid. I’malways gonna have your back so you don’t have to be scared, yeah?”

Her eyes were bright and the tears were pooling. He sighed.If only he had waited outside the arcade… He could have stopped it. None ofthis would have happened. El wouldn’t have been terrified. The whole thingcould have been avoided.

Brenner would still come forher. If it wasn’t today, it’ll be tomorrow, a voice whispered.

When he pulled her close, she melted into him, pressing herface on his shoulder. He held her tighter.

“Listen, kid, I can’t change what happened to you in thepast but… I’ll do my damnest best to make sure nothing bad happens to you now.You know why?“

“Because you’re not Papa…”

“Yeah, I’m not him. But that’s not it,” he said.“Remember what I said when I told you about those papers I signed? I’m notgonna let anything happen to you. Youand I, we’re in this together.”

“Forever,” she said, remembering their conversation

“Yeah, so I don’t want you scared. You should never be, withme. Sometimes…. Sometimes we’re gonna get angry, like we did before, you’regonna shout at me when you’re angry and I’m gonna shout right back at you butwhen it’s all done, it’s still going to be you and me. I – “ he swallowed. Hecouldn’t remember the last time he said those words. To Sarah, maybe. “I loveyou and when you love someone, you take care of them.”

She nodded, stepping back from him a little to look at him.She kissed his stubble cheek.

“Me too,” she said and he understood. He ruffledher hair. “We leave him here.“

Shegestured at Brenner’s unconscious body.

“As much as I’d like to let some other truck roll him over,best if we bring him in to the station. Help me out.”

She pulled on a leg when she saw Hopper doing the same, andhe dumped Benner at the back of his truck, not caring if his head hit anything.He tossed her a smile in the passenger seat. In the middle of the drive back,she reached out for his hand and held it all way to the Byers’ house.

"I’ll be back soon. Gotta take care of that,” hepointed over his shoulder to the truck where Brenner’s body was.

El nodded and went in without a word.

Joyce stood staring at him but he shook his head.

“Tell you later,” he mouthed, driving away.

The one-shot grew unexpectedly. Thanks for reading and let me know your thoughts!