#Mike 'but its hawkins. Its not the same without you' Wheeler

[byleriscanon]

gay people can't say "i love you" anymore it's always gotta be some shit like this

[hbyrde36]

Steddie | R: Explicit (for eventual smut) | WC:4541 | Ch 1/8 | AO3

Chapter 1: Ghost of Yesterday

Two days after they failed to defeat Vecna, after Max died and came back, after Eddie died—and didn’t. Two days after they were forced to leave his body behind in the Upside Down because everything had gone to shit, a bright yellow pizza delivery van that looked like it’d been through its own apocalypse pulled into the Wheeler's driveway.

Jonathan, Mike, Will, and El finally made it home to Hawkins with the help of a friend.

On day three, Max woke up. 

She’d have a long road to recovery, but the doctors seemed fairly confident she’d walk again. Though, no one could be sure how much of her eyesight would return, if any. The same day, in a twist no one saw coming, Joyce showed up, fresh off a plane from Alaska after escaping Russia—yes, Russia—with a miraculously alive and mostly well Jim Hopper. 

And four days after the world both did and then didn’t end, the ghost of Eddie Munson appeared in Steve’s living room.

The kids and older teens, including the newest member of the doomsday squad, Argyle, were having an off-the-books meeting. After everything they’d done and been through, the so-called ‘adults’ were attempting to pull their same old shit, trying to sideline the younger set for their own, supposed, safety. 

Steve sort-of agreed about Dustin and the others, they were still too young and had already lost so much, but if Hopper, Joyce, and whoever the hell else thought they were going to bench him? They had another think coming, and he was pretty sure Robin, Nancy, and Jonathan felt the same way too.

But, whether he agreed or not, what he wouldn’t do was stop the kids from helping to come up with a plan. Because damned if he knew what the hell they should do next. 

Dustin leaned forward from his spot on the couch wedged between Erica and Will, steepling his fingers together in front of him. “So let me test my understanding. You set him on fire, and shot him—multiple times. He fell out of a third story window, and he just went… poof? Vanished without a trace?”

There was a collective groan from the room, everyone except for Lucas and El who were at the hospital sitting with Max, and of course Dustin himself. 

Robin rolled her eyes. “Oh my god, yes, Dustin. How many times do we have to go over this?”

 “I’m just laying out the facts!” Dustin snapped back. “Clearly we got something wrong here. We underestimated Vecna, and by a lot.”

 “And how is repeating our obvious failure helpful?” Nancy asked, a little defensively. 

Steve understood the attitude, he'd also been wresting with his guilt since that fateful night.

“The scientific method!” Dustin answered with a bit of the same slightly forced cheerfulness he'd been displaying ever since Max woke up. He held up a hand, ticking each step off on his fingers as he spoke. “Question, research, hypothesis, experiment, data analysis, conclusion.” 

“I got a question—“ Erica pursed her lips, giving Dustin such intense side-eye Steve wondered if it was actually painful. “Why are you such a nerd?”

Dustin sighed, as though it were everyone else annoying him instead of the other way around. “The question is—if Vecna is just a guy with powers like El, how could he have survived this long in the Upside Down? What’s keeping him alive?”

Okay, fine. Attitude or not, Steve hadn’t really thought about it but maybe the kid had a point. 

“The hive mind!” Robin offered up.

“Possibly.” Dustin nodded to her. ”Probably. So, what does that tell us?”

Erica crossed her arms, leaning back heavily into the couch. “I don’t know Mr. Clarke, you wanna share your thoughts with the class?”

“I didn’t say I had all the answers.”

“That’s a first,” Robin mumbled. 

“I’m just trying to get us brainstorming here!”

A flutter of movement pulled Steve’s admittedly already drifting attention away from discussion at hand. Something in the corner, the air there shifting and bending strangely, a little like the way heat shimmers off a sun drenched black top. He watched through his periphery, not daring to actually turn his head to look as a familiar figure materialized there. 

Fuck.

Though he looked confused and disoriented at first, it wasn’t long before the long-haired apparition tried approaching one of them.

Steve swallowed hard, his throat growing painfully tight. He fought to keep his face neutral as the ghost raised a hand in front of Dustin's face, calling the boy's name loudly before moving on to Erica, then Nancy—and Steve panicked, knowing he had to do something before the figure tried the same with him. 

“Water,” he muttered, mainly to Robin as he rose and bumped her shoulder. She was the only one really paying attention to him anyway, while the others still argued the physics and limitations of the alternate dimension. 

Steve fled for the relative quiet and safety of his kitchen. He just needed a minute alone to get his shit together, but he should have expected the phantom footfalls that followed him across the tile floor to the cabinet. 

As he took out a tall glass with shaking hands, the ghost hopped up to sit on the counter just beside him and started talking to himself.

“What the hell does a guy gotta do to get a little attention, huh?” The figure held up his slightly transparent hands in front of his own face, turning them over and back again. “I-I’m kinda freaking out here.”

Under the show of irritation he sounded sad, and a little terrified.

“They can’t see you,” Steve muttered softly, regretting it the second the words passed his lips. 

He knew better than to engage with ghosts. 

Since the moment he’d first shown signs of the gift, he’d been taught by his late grandfather to leave the spirit world be, and mind his own goddamn business.

He’d only broken the rules one other time, about a month or so after they learned the full truth of what happened to Barb and he’d seen her essence lurking around his pool at night. That experience had only served to further prove the old man’s point. 

Nothing good ever came from acknowledging the dead. 

But this was Eddie. 

They’d fought together, bled together. Eddie was his–his ally, his compatriot, his friend. 

And towards the end there Steve was even starting to think that maybe… maybe one day they could be more, if he ever got up the courage to flirt back.

Not that it mattered now.

“No shit, Harrington!” Eddie spat. “I’ve been waving my hands in front of their faces, screaming Dustin's name at the top of my lungs and getting jack squat back in return. I mean what the fu—”

With a sad little smile Steve turned, finally looking straight at the other boy just in time to see his eyes go impossibly wide. 

“Wait—holy shit! Harrington, does this mean you can see me?!”

Steve winced, grimacing at the sheer volume of Eddie's voice. “And hear you, unfortunately.”

Who knew the loudest guy he’d ever met would be even louder in death. 

Actually, that tracked. 

“Steve?” Robin’s voice filtered in as she called out to him from the other room.

Steve took a deep breath, locking eyes with the adorably confused looking ghost haunting his kitchen as he shouted back to her. “Yeah?” He raised a hand to his head, rubbing at the bridge of his nose just as Robin appeared in the doorway. 

“What are you up to in here?” She asked.

“Oh, just…” Steve trailed off, trying and failing not to track Eddie’s movements as he hopped down off the counter and began to stalk towards Robin, a determined, mischievous glint in his eye. 

“ …talking to myself.”

Her eyebrows furrowed in concern. “You okay?”

“Are you okay she asks,” Eddie grumbled, tipping his head mockingly from side to side. “Pfft—I’m the one who’s invisible. Why isn’t anyone asking if I’m okay?”

“Um,” Steve fought to keep a level expression and not laugh, even as Eddie blew wet raspberries and made increasingly silly faces inches from an oblivious Robin’s nose. “No, actually. I think I might have a migraine coming on,” he lied.

“You want me to get everyone to leave?” She asked.

Yes, good plan! 

In fairness he wasn’t exactly feeling his best. He was exhausted. It had been a long few days.

A long… week and a half? 

Years. 

It had been a long few years.

And he needed some time alone with Eddie, to talk.

“That'd be great, yeah. Thanks, Rob.”

“Sure thing. Why don't you go get in bed with your eye mask on, and I'll bring water and painkillers up?”

“Oooh,” Eddie crooned. “His majesty sleeps with an eye mask? Fancy.”

Ugh, why were all of Steve’s favorite people such fucking smartasses? He glared at Eddie before he could stop himself. Which meant he was staring daggers at a blank wall right now, right in front of Robin, leaving her looking more concerned than ever. 

Shit. 

He should have known she’d wanna stay behind and take care of him. 

“I—um, t-that’s okay,” Steve stuttered out. “M-maybe you should just go on home too.”

Her face fell.

Hacking and wheezing, he forced a fake coughing fit in her direction, only barely covering his mouth with his hand.

“Very convincing,” Eddie commented with clear sarcasm.

Robin wrinkled her nose, recoiling like the germaphobe Steve knew and loved.

“Sorry, I think I'm coming down with a cold or something actually. You should get out while you still can.”

Robin bit at her lip, looking mildly dubious, but eventually she nodded. “Fine. Just promise you’ll call me if it gets any worse, or if you need anything?”

“I promise.”

While everyone cleared out, Steve hid in the kitchen, finally getting that drink of water he so desperately needed—his throat was on fire now that he thought about it—and splashed some more cold water from the sink on his face for good measure.

“You sure you’re not actually coming down with something?” Eddie asked, sitting back up on his perch on the counter. “You don’t look so hot.”

“I’m fine,” Steve said with practiced ease, though his head was beginning to throb a bit. Maybe that migraine thing wasn’t as much of a lie as he’d thought.

With the house now safely empty of prying eyes and ears, he ventured back out into the living room, with Eddie hovering along behind, and locked the deadbolt on the front door before plopping down hard on the couch, letting his head rest against the back of it.

“Okay, so what’s the plan?” Eddie asked, pacing back and forth along the floor in front of him.

Steve let his head loll to one side. “Plan?”

Eddie groaned, stopping in his tracks to throw his head up to the ceiling. “Why couldn’t it be Henderson who can see me.”

Okay, rude.

“A plan, y'know?” Eddie went on. “To get me back? To get me out of the Upside Down or whatever purgatory I'm currently languishing in?”

Steve could only stare at him blankly for a moment as the words sank in. “Eddie—” he began hesitantly, sitting up straight.

“What? Don't tell me you’ve all given up on me already?”

Oh.

Oh, no.

Steve had heard about this, how sometimes spirits don’t realize they’ve passed on, but surely Eddie had to know. What other possible explanation could he have for suddenly becoming invisible and incorporeal? 

“Eddie, what is it you think is happening here, exactly?” He asked, praying he was wrong but bracing himself for the worst. How on earth do you go about telling someone you care about that they’re dead?

“Well, clearly I–I'm…” Eddie sputtered haughtily for a moment before looking away. “I'm not sure. I’ve been separated from my body somehow, obviously. S-so It’s gotta be some weird Vecna shit, right? And uh, you can hear me and see me b-because… because we both got bit by the bats and it gave us, like, our own little freaky hive-mind type… thing?” 

He sounded less and less sure as he went on, and Steve’s heart ached for him. He remembered the bats attacking him part, but not the dying part. That just seemed cruel.

“Eddie, um,” Steve cleared his throat, rubbing his hands together nervously. “I don’t know how to tell you this but you… you died.”

“Bullshit,” Eddie snorted.

“I’m sorry, but it’s true. We came back from the Creel house and you…” Steve paused, struggling for a second to force his words past the sudden lump in his throat. “Dustin was sitting there with your—”.

“No.” Eddie shook his head roughly. “No–no, because, if I'm dead… then how is it you can see me? Huh?! Explain that!” 

“It runs in my family. My dad doesn't have the gift but my grandfather was able to see ghosts, and his father before that.”

“Suuure, Harrington,” Eddie’s mouth twisted into a wry smile. “So—not only am I supposed to believe that I'm dead, but also that you’re descended from some long line of ghost whisperers? Is this a joke to you?! I’m in dire need of–of fucking rescue, and you’re over here trying to fuck with me? Not cool, man. Not cool.”

Steve stood, almost reaching out as he itched to comfort the other boy in some way, but he knew well that it was pointless. “I’m not, I swear I'm not messing with you. I know it’s not what you want to hear, and I'm so sorry but I'm telling you the truth. Dustin, he—” Steve’s voice cracked. “You didn’t have a pulse, Eddie.”

“Stop it!” Eddie snapped.

“I’m sorry, really. I–”

“I said stop!” 

With a choked off sob Eddie moved to shove him away, only to stumble when his hands found nothing solid, or rather, as Eddie’s ghostly and very not solid form passed right through Steve’s body.

Steve held his breath as he waited for it, the sensation of being doused in a bucket of ice water, the spine tingling, creepy crawly thing he’d felt the only other time he’d let a ghost near enough to touch.

But this was nothing like that. 

Eddie felt… warm. And while Steve still shivered it wasn’t because the failed touch had been bad or painful. Quite the opposite, actually. He was left with a pleasant buzzing in his core, the initial warmth lingering, wrapping around him like an embrace before fading slowly.

Maybe all spirits were different. Maybe Barb had felt cold because she’d hated him, because it was his pool she died in—his fault she was out there in the first place.

But Eddie was…

Oh shit—Eddie. 

Steve spun to find him on the floor with his knees pulled up, hugging them to his chest, his huge brown eyes shining with unshed tears. 

Could ghosts cry?

Steve knelt down next to him, biting back a wince as the movement pulled at the bandages hiding beneath his shirt. He’d need to change those again tonight, they felt tacky with dried blood.

Eddie's voice shook when he finally spoke again. “I’m—dead?’

Steve bowed his head in a solemn nod. He would have given anything in that moment to be able to wrap his arms around Eddie.

“T-the bats?”

“There were just too many of them,” Steve explained. “It looked like you put up a hell of a fight, but I think you bled out.”

“My uncle, Wayne, do you know if he—” Eddie trailed off, worrying his bottom lip.

“Dustin talked to him. He couldn't risk telling him everything, but he gave him your guitar pick, and told him you were a hero. That you died a hero.”

Eddie barked a wet laugh, shaking his head.

“It’s the truth," Steve said, hoping his tone left no room for doubt. "If you hadn't distracted them we never would have made it into that attic. And If you hadn’t led them away when you did…” He didn’t need to say it, they both knew Dustin could—and likely would—have been hurt or worse, and those things would have gone through the gate and into the right side up.

It was exactly what Steve would have done too, had their roles been reversed.

“How long has it been?” Eddie asked, quietly.

“Three? No–no, four days.”

“And Vecna?”

“Down, but not out. We wounded him for sure but he got away. That's why everyone was here tonight.”

“Okay,” Eddie blew out a long breath, rubbing hard at his eyes. “What happens now? Do you like, help me find the light or something?” His eyes darted around as though some doorway or portal might appear right there in the living room. “Or maybe I'm going the other way. I can think of a few reasons the big guy might not let me upstairs, but what do I know, maybe self-sacrifice gets you a free pass?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean, you don’t know? Isn’t this your legacy or whatever?”

“I’ve never done,” Steve waved a hand, gesturing between the two of them. “This before. I was taught to ignore the dead. Pretend I can't see them just like everyone else and let them go about their business.”

“How come?”

“Grandfather said if you get too involved, if the dead find out you can see them they’ll never leave you alone. That it’s dangerous. The dead linger for a lot of reasons, but the most common are unfinished business and revenge. Lots of angry spirits out there according to the Harrington journals.”

Eddie tilted his head thoughtfully. “Am I really the first ghost you’ve ever talked to?”

Steve thought of Barb again, the way her face had morphed into a rage-filled mask when he revealed he’d been able to see her all along, but he pushed it forcefully out of his mind.

And lied.

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“I just told you, my grandfather—”

“No,” Eddie cut in. “I mean why, after a lifetime of ignoring ghosts, did you choose to acknowledge me?”

“B-because, you’re—“ Steve faltered, not knowing quite how to put it into words. He wasn’t sure even he totally understood. Yes he’d started developing a crush on the guy, but it was more than that. They had a connection, Steve felt it, even if Eddie didn’t. And maybe it was normal—inevitable even, when you get thrown into this shit together. But whether it was all just trauma bonding or something more, Steve couldn’t deny the pull.

“You’re—” he tried to say again as he pushed himself to his feet, only to double over, sucking air through his teeth as the dull pain in his sides turned searing and sharp.

“Steve?” Eddie shot up as he spoke, sounding worried.

“‘M fine,” Steve grit out, managing to straighten his posture without another outburst. “Jus' tired.”

Eddie raised a single eyebrow, but thankfully didn’t argue, silently following Steve as he headed for the staircase and began to climb.

Of course, this was Eddie, so he was only capable of being silent for so long.

“Hey, how come I can’t touch you, but I can walk up the stairs?” 

“I don’t know,” Steve huffed out, breath stuttering as he neared the top landing. 

Just a few more steps.

“Do you think I could, like, sit on a couch, or—or lay in a bed?” Eddie asked.

“I don’t know,” Steve repeated, trying not to sound as annoyed and in pain as he felt. He just had to make it to his room, get these stupid wounds cleaned and then he could pass out for a few hours. Maybe then he’d be able to answer questions and figure out what to do about all this. 

“What if I—”

“Eddie!” Steve barked from the top step, whirling to face him. He nearly lost his balance before catching himself with a hand on the wall. His sides were screaming at him and the throbbing in his head was getting worse too. “I really don’t know any more than you do. I don’t know all the ins and outs, or why things work the way they work.  Can you please just give it a rest for a minute?”

Eddie wilted, dropping his gaze to his feet. “Sorry.”

Fuck.

“No,” Steve sighed. ”No, I'm sorry, I shouldn’t be… y’know, when you’re—”

“Dead?!” Eddie snapped, raising his head again. He looked hurt.

“Sorry.” Steve sucked his lip between his teeth.

“Whatever.”

“Eddie—”

Eddie stomped past him and into the upstairs hallway. “Spare me the pity party. It doesn’t matter anyway. I’m telling you, if I was dead, I'd know it.”

Steve opened his mouth to argue but snapped it shut again without another word. He didn’t have the energy, and If that was what Eddie needed to believe for now to get through this, then who was he to tell him what to think? It wouldn’t change the facts but if it made him feel better, what was the harm?

Somehow Eddie had guessed the right door. He waited, leaning up against the opposite wall and very deliberately didn’t look at Steve as he walked over, and pushed into his bedroom. 

Steve went right through to the bathroom to get this over with, not bothering to close the door behind him, assuming Eddie would be able to walk right through anyway if he wanted to.

Eddie did follow, still silently brooding as he found another piece of wall to hold up.

Steve ignored him for now, he felt awful but he’d try to apologize again later once the other boy had calmed down, and carefully peeled his shirt off as he stood in front of the mirror. 

The bandages at his sides looked gnarly and gross. He’d bled again, and it looked like there was something yellow seeping into the huge squares of gauze too. He turned his body to the side, looking over his shoulder to see how the road rash on his back was doing. It looked better than the front, but that wasn’t saying much. The skin around the wide scrapes was red and inflamed. He couldn’t cover those on his own and could really only clean them in the shower, but they were shallow at least and would eventually heal on their own, he figured. 

A quiet gasp reminded him of his audience, and a quick glance over through the mirror showed Eddie staring at his torso with wide eyes.

“It looks worse than it is,” Steve said quietly, quickly looking away. Which wasn’t exactly true but the last thing he needed right now was another person trying to force him to go to the hospital. 

He knew some first aid. 

It was fine.

Turning back to face the sink, Steve ran water over a washcloth and held it to each of his dressings to soak them off. The air stung when it finally hit the wounds, as though they'd been freshly opened, and, sure enough, there was definitely some pus seeping from the edges.

No problem. He’d just have to clean them extra thoroughly.

Gritting his teeth, Steve poured a hefty amount of peroxide on a new clean washcloth and began to gently pat his right side. 

The pain was instant and excruciating. 

Bile rose in his throat, a cold sweat breaking out across his body as the world around him swam. Steve swayed on his feet, dropping the cloth to the ground as he himself began to fall. 

A sudden warmth at his back, and strong hands wrapping around his chest were the only thing that kept him on his feet. Carefully avoiding the worst of his wounds, Eddie had caught him, holding the bulk of his weight until the spinning in his head stopped.

The moment Steve could stand on his own again Eddie jumped back as though he’d been burned.

Steve’s eyes snapped up, locking with Eddie’s in their reflections as he realized with a start what had just happened.

“How?” He whispered. He could still feel the imprint of Eddie’s hands where they had cradled him to his chest. He’d felt so… real, so solid, so—alive for that handful of seconds. 

“I-I don't know!” Eddie said, a little too loud in the small space. “I didn’t even think, or-or like, I forgot that I couldn't. I saw you about to go down and I didn't want you to hurt yourself.”

“I didn’t think it was possible." Steve took a step towards him. "You should try to do that again.”

Eddie tucked his hands behind his back, moving as far away as he could without actually leaving the room. “Don't we have more important things to worry about? Like maybe getting you to a hospital?”

“No.” Steve shook his head. “I told you, it looks worse than it is.”

It was abundantly clear that Eddie didn’t believe him, but something about the accidental touch had freaked him out enough that he let it go.

As quickly as he could, Steve finished cleaning the ruined expanse of his stomach and got both sides wrapped in fresh bandages, managing to do so without nearly fainting this time, and threw a clean t-shirt on to hide the evidence. Hopefully that would stop Eddie looking at him with those big brown fucking sad worried eyes of his. 

Out of sight, out of mind, and all that. 

As much as he liked Eddie’s attention on him, these weren’t exactly the circumstances he would have hoped for.

Steve shut the lights off, and climbed into bed, pulling the covers up to his chin.

“We should try it again,” Steve mumbled through a long drawn-out yawn.

Eddie laughed softly from his corner hiding spot. “What was that, big boy?”

Steve wished he’d try to join him on the bed, but didn’t know how to ask. He untangled one of his arms from the sheets, reaching a hand out in Eddie’s direction. “Touch me?” 

The room was dark, and it could have been that Steve was a little delirious but he was pretty sure a light blush crept over Eddie's cheeks as he took a step closer, his own ringed hand outstretched.

The sight set off butterflies fluttering in his stomach.

Steve waited to feel the tips of their fingers brush, was desperate to feel Eddie’s touch again if he was honest, but it was no use, Eddie’s long digits passed right through.

“Maybe we have to–” Steve interrupted himself with another deep yawn. His body still ached but now that he was tucked in and warm in his bed, it was getting hard to fight the inevitable. 

“Just go to sleep, man,” Eddie said, his lips quirking into a small crooked smile. “It's not like I'm going anywhere.”

It should have been awkward, or weird to know someone would be there all night, lurking around while he slept, but as Steve drifted off he felt safer than he had in a long time, oddly comforted by the fact that Eddie would be there watching over him, even if he was just a ghost.

Chapter 2: This Haunted House Is Not A Home

Thanks as always to @penny00dreadful for being the best beta and an absolutely amazing cheerleader!

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Fic taglist (open): @sidekick-hero

[coniangray]

St5 teaser breakdown

(cus im bored) (spoilers, duh....i think)

All these clips are from the first 2 eps cus ofc they wont wanna spoil more that early into production. Like imagine if this felt too much of a sneak peak, the season is gonna be HUGE and this will feel like the 0.00001% of what it actually is lmao.

The school scenes:

i think first scenes, all from episode one.

The boys will catch a signal from the radio the night prior, paralleling s2e1

but this time either will lives with the wheelers or hes at the radio station and they contact from there.

the signal might be near a military base OR

its henrys signal that needs decoding excactly like the scoop troops did in st3.

So, the dynamics here are gonna be reminicent of both s2 and s3e2.

some quotes like "what are you doing on this channel again" and ''I cracked it", "cracked what?","I cracked the code" are also gonna make the cut. This scene will be paralelled with either mike or dustin, since these two were the brain of the party.

BONUS:

And what did robin also figure out in s4? Oh, wait-

I dont actually know what this code is, but i know it needs all four of them to solve it. And what if, in the background of the signal they catch up on little dream of me playing in the background?

The daisy song being broadcasted was accidental; the russians werent planning on including it there or they just did it as a distraction (they might have recorded the code within the crowd of the mall in brought daylight.) So what if the music, even if there is one at the background, is accidental too? After all, this song is mentioned as victors safe space because he called ella fitzgerald an angel, not henrys.

It all has to do with vecna at the end of the day, given how will touches his neck and feels him. This is an early sign of the symptoms, given how later, after school, they grow bigger and wider, giving will his first vision of the day:

And i dont even need to tell yall what this scene paralels lol

same table, but not same tree.

The code solving talk still continues here, because of how convenient it is to have will see the clock, zone out, walk towards it while the rest of the group talks about vecna and him capturing his victims in manipulative ways. In this scene they will bring up metaphors and allegories, just like they did with chrissy and eddie "do you ever feel like youre losing your mind?","i feel like im going crazy right now, doing a deal with the queen of hawkins high".

Also, like eddie said, this place promises safety because no o ne ever goes out there. SO, my bet is, mike chose they go there since eddie mustve told him right before he died.

bet hell say sth between the lines of "We have to go somewhere private. Somewhere no one can hear us." and thatll be most likely during lunch.

And thats where the bullies come in.

In order to continue their scenes out there, they mustve been interrupted by andy and jasons squad, and teased as to what they were doing with the radio on the table, given the leaks we got back in january or mike and dustin being followed by them.

no i have a feeling that during this arguement (after lunch and before the table scene), andy will attack mike and dustin and will will hopefully give a punch, paraleling el and angela in s4 and joyce in s3. This is my guess here, but i hope its true cus poor boy needs to throw hands with sb.

Spoiler alert it might not happen that day cus all of them are safe and sound without a scratch in the table woods scene.

After the woods scene, dustin visits eddied grave with his bike, which vandalized to the gods and guess who did it; thats right the bullies.

which will probably paralel maxs scene on billys grave

I wanna believe we get a heartfelt speech about his and mikes relationship with eddie, warming the ground for more eddie flashbacks to come. No, he wont get vecnad here, but rather found and beaten up by andi and the bullies, cus he was seen with a bruised face later on

and yes, the projector scene is also from the same day.

Another interesting thing to point out here is how the duffers said that our characters will start the season in action, so all the el scenes fighting vecna in the upside down and all the lights flickering, theyre all from the first 2 episodes.

After school and after the graveyard, with propably a few new scenes taking place in the middle, they all go to the new station set, and as it seems the byers are doing a presentation??

Probably from their experience in the uspide down, or most likely explaining sth about vecnas connection.

Orrr its a group thing, idk.

The thing is, dustin is beaten up standing next to steve. My bets are that hell notice dustin is hurt and make a huge deal about it, argue with the party on why he was found like that in the first place.

This would also be a chance to bring up the dynamics from the previous seasons and their flaws, aka dustin being with steve more time than he was with the party or others.

The thing is, in the same scene we see this;

M4tt showing n0ah how to choke.

Things most likely get heated in this scene, and that triggers wills connection with vecna. The mindflayer activates, and he becomes like billy.

And who else flayed choked sb else prior to this?

LETS GO BABY WE ROLL !!

Will will attack someone, most likely steve, cus he was also shown beaten up later in the teaser, especially in the car scene with nancy n johnathan.

Which leads us to this leak;

Its night, right outside the radio station. My guess is that steve tries to escape but part of him stays cus hell its will that attacks, that boy is harmless, right? While will is just there, chocking him and bagginf him to run.

Its the perfect lead up imo; first he feels the mf getting closer, then he has the vision and then he gets activated.

i feel like this is the cliffhanger between e1 and e2, since it would be perfect to have us waiting for steves safety and wills sanity for the next episode.

Bonus bonus;

Nancys Candy striper outfit

Going undercover in ep 1 was not on mybingo card, so im guessing shes an actual vollunteer at the hospital, because shed have to gain trust in order to sneak in and steal files.

but then again, why from tyhe hospital? all this place has ws maxs condition, which was already known to her and the rest of the team.

Involving her with such type of environment is simply to create more paraelels from the hmh scenes in s3.

Now, we also got this leak from april, and its most likely for ep4

the vollunteer is obviously nancy, but for her to return to that outfit, shell have to wear it again. So that means what i said, she became a vollunteer to gain trust and steal the proper files from the turnbows mansion thats connected to the lab.

Wills outfit also indicates its from a later episode.

As for the hopper scenes, idk a lot to break it down. And for el, this must be in ep 1 since this is unfinished bussiness from the piggyback if u nthink abt it

Thats it, hope you enjoyed my brain fart and i hope im right.

[stevie-petey]

LOVING where you’re going with Bug and Steve’s story so far. Looking forward to the next chapter🥰

I have a blurb idea!! What about Bug’s reaction to Dustin being sad at the Snow Ball when all the girls said no to him🥲and her reaction to Nancy dancing with him.

Ps. Sorry I meant to send this as an ask the first time my b😅

thank youuuu <3 n i so wanted to add this scene in but the chapter was already 20k words and i simply couldnt but YES i will happily elaborate on this

enjoy <3

"should i go and dance with him?" you ask nancy, nervously fidgeting with your fingers as you watch dustin, all alone with his head ducked in shame as he stands in the corner and watches his peers. since arriving, hes been rejected again and again by the girls at the dance.

nancy bites her lip, unsure herself what to do. "youre his sister, i think it might make it worse if you dance with him." she confesses with a sigh.

you both watch as dustin walks towards the bleachers in defeat, and it takes everything within you not to run after him. his shoulders are shaking, you know hes holding back tears. he had been so excited for tonight, and now he sits all alone, once again beaten down by peers who have no idea what hes done for them. dustin henderson is a hero, hes saved hawkins, and yet hes treated like a freak.

he deserves the entire world.

"thats it," you cant take it anymore. youre dustins sister, hes your baby brother, how can you be expected to stand as watch as he gets his heart broken? "im gonna go dance with him-"

"no!" nancy grabs your hand to stop you.

you pull at your wrist, annoyed and hurt that she expects you to do nothing as dustin cries. "hes my brother, screw whatever those stupid kids say-"

"i'll dance with him."

you gape at nancy, unsure if you heard her correctly. "you... what?"

"here," she hands you the punch ladle and then wipes her hands, a smile on her face as if this is a regular occurance for her. she fixes her hair, straightens out her dress, and then takes a deep breath. "i remember his crush he used to have on me. figure its time to apologize for how mean i was."

and then nancy leaves. you stare at her, still in complete shock, as she approaches your brother. they exchange words, and you cant help but laugh at how shocked dustin looks as well. nancy takes his hands and marches him confidently through the crowd of preteens and places dustins hands around her waist and they begin to dance.

a few girls sneer at nancy and dustin, which you secretly preen at. serves them right for being little monsters towards your brother. you understand that being twelve is a horrid age, but dustin doesnt deserve their bitterness.

nancy says something that makes dustin bashful and he giggles. his tears have long since dried, and you watch them with fondness. a year ago you envied nancy wheeler and resented her beauty and grace. now, shes dancing with dustin and sending you a wink as he spins her around. time is weird, but youre immensely happy that you somehow ended up here.

you look around the gym. will is with a girl with a nervous smile on his face as they dance together. nancy and dustin are giggling to themselves. max and lucas are shy as they slow dance, and without meaning to, you watch as they have their first kiss. its a short, simple peck, and lucas blushes like crazy, and your heart soars.

somehow, within the five years youve known them, the kids grew up right before your eyes.

then you see mike, and you do a double take when you see that hes with el. shes in a beautiful dress, her hair is done, and she even seems to have some makeup on. you look behind you and see hopper standing outside in the parking lot, smoking a cigarette with joyce, and the two of them share their own laugh. its been a while since you last saw joyce smile, same with the chief, and something warm fills within you. love is weird, and you couldnt be happier that the ones closest to you get to experience it.

as your eyes roam the room, they somehow find jonathans. they always find jonathan.

he points to nancy and dustin and shakes his head, laughing. he knows that your brother will hold this over his head for the next week, but hes happy the kid is having a good night. you giggle, knowing what hes thinking, and shrug your shoulders. itll be a problem for jonathan tomorrow, but tonight you both watch as the girl and young boy dance the night away. both your hearts are warm, each of you feel a deep love for the girl in this moment, and you both marvel at how lovely nancy wheeler is.

as you watch, something tugs at your chest and begs you to turn around. you do, and see steves car slowly driving away from the middle school.

your lips tingle, still feeling his cheek against them. your skin will never forget the feel of his. your promise still lingers on your tongue.

take all the time you need.

time is weird.

so is love.

and youre all the luckier for it.

“COME HOME” BLURB MASTERLIST

if you’d like to buy me a coffee ☕︎

[sadieshairbrush]

Stranger Things: Clementine

A/N: This is so scary to me as I’ve been working on this for a crazy long time! Unfortunately, I understand that a lot of people aren’t fans of Original characters but I just find the concept of it a lot more inclusive, and I can take more inclusive liberties with my character! No mentions of hair, skin, eye colour etc, just a name. As a Scottish girl imagining myself casually in Hawkins is strange and I usually find it better to envision myself playing a character I can become attached to. I love this character, and I hope she becomes as close to your heart and she is to mine. Steve slow burn.

Summary: Clementine Chase, a classic high school girl in Hawkins is suddenly faced with the mystery surrounding a missing boy.

Chapter 1: The Vanishing of Will Byers

“Thanks again for helping me out here, Clementine. I really appreciate this.”

“I don’t mind,” I smiled, dragging a cloth over the surface of the kitchen counter. “Its all my mess anyways.”

Normally this mess was created while trying to entertain the group of 12 year olds I’ve babysat a couple of times but tonight, they were playing some nerdy board game the last ten hours. They’d begun this far before I’d arrived, so the mess tonight was my own.

I’d attempted to make the boys some sandwiches near 2PM. I’d been there for an hour and not once had any of the kids come up from the basement yet. Serves me right since I didn’t actually need to be there until it got dark.

It was around 6PM when Nancy had walked through the front door, more than surprised to see me. She’d froze half way through the door, and I looked at her with a daring smirk.

“Have fun today, Nancy?”

“Just… a little.”

I knew what that meant. Her tiny grin told me all I needed to know. Steve was in my circle of friends, after all. How could I not know what was going on behind the scenes?

The story had gone that Steve Harrington, King Steve had taken a shine to Perfect Nancy Wheeler. How long would it last, would everyone know if they were to go all the way?

It had been about two weeks. Everyone knew about it. Still, I wasn’t quite sure what the official story was. Is this a silly little thing or are they genuinely interested in one another?

I was only let in on this before the weekend, and had only decided to let my bitterness go so I had a ride to school tomorrow.

Seeing her come home while I was babysitting her brother wasn’t so awkard, not as awkward as it could be anyway. But I could always sense she wasn’t quite as relaxed as I’d like her to be around me. We didn’t generally run in the same circles, but who was I to care?

By 8PM when Mr and Mrs Wheeler came home with Holly, Nancy was clearing her snacks off the kitchen counter we’d been leaning against, unwilling to let her parents into the gossip we’d been sharing.

“I’m going to study before bed, so I’ll see you in school tomorrow, Clementine.”

“She’s got Kaminskys test,” I cleared up as Ted made a bee-line for the TV. Karen nodded, heading out to take Holly to her bed.

When she was back, I’d already had my coat on, clearing the mess I’d made with a damp rag.

The last time I was here ended the same.

Clearing up the days mess while Karen practically pried me away from the cloth with a, “you’ve done enough, I’ll handle the mess.”

Though I’ve not listened yet.

I smile cheekily as the kids loud voices upstairs as they yell tensely from the basement. I meet Karen’s eyes, and . “Those kids will be wanted home about now. I could walk them out before I overstay my welcome.”

She looked down at her own watch, noting the time. It was already reaching eight fifteen.

“Mike! …Mike!” She yelled, coming back to the kitchen area. She waits patiently with a hand on her hip, but the boys voices just get louder as they chat on top of one another.

“Mike!”

She walked towards the basement door, and swings it open without an other seconds thought.

And from there, I can just slightly hear Mikes voice over the others.

“Mom! We’re in the middle of a campaign!”

“You mean the end.” She taps her watch, meaningfully. “Fifteen after.”

Mike runs up the stairs, and catches my eye when he sees me, a look of confusion.

“How long have you been here?”

I could have choked on my own scoff. That basement is playing with his head.

“Uhh, all day? I made you guys your lunch? Ordered pizza and brought it down for you like an hour ago for dinner?”

He shook his head, probably an attempt to clear his already empty brain.

“Mom, just 20 more minutes!”

“It’s a school night, Michael, and I just put Holly to bed. You can finish next weekend.”

“That’ll ruin the flow–

“Michael–

“I’m serious, mom! It took two weeks to plan! How was I supposed to know it’d take ten hours?”

“Oh, no, it’s the end of the world as we know it!” I teased, ignoring his furious look.

“You can continue it later.”

Mike regards us with an ignorant look and rounds the corner to where Ted is attempting to watch the TV, which is still mostly static.

The storm from earlier on really had to have done a number on the electronics.

“Dad, don’t you think that–

“I think you should listen to your mother,” he interrupted, lazily, moving to hit the top of the TV. “Piece of junk…”

I bite back a laugh, and move to ring out the dish towel. I should have called Steve in advance. Though, I should count my blessings; I’d rather take the short walk down a few blocks than sit in a smoke filled car in the company of two of the biggest bullies I’ve ever known, Tommy and Carol, who would invite themselves along again.

“It was great to have you. But you don’t have to stay to clean up after we’re home, you know,” said Karen as I shrug my coat on.

“I know I don’t have to. I just feel a lot better about it. It’s a thousand times better than sitting in my dads house with no one to talk to or nothing to do,” I admit, matching Dustins wide grin as he approaches, pizza box in hand as the kids all fan out into the kitchen.

“Clementine! Want one?” He opens the box to show two decent sized slices of pizza left. “Was sausage and pepperoni your idea?”

“Sure was. And it looks amazing, but have you offered anything to Nancy?”

“I did, but she just shut the door in my face. There’s been something seriously wrong with her ever since she started dating that… douchebag, Steve.” He looked over his shoulder, making sure Mikes parents were out of ear shot, and once he was in the clear, he brought his voice back up. “Plus you’ve been stuck with us all day.”

“Yeah, he can be a douche,” I laugh, taking a slice from the box and taking a huge bite.

“She used to be cool...”

“She’s just a teenager. Trust me, I’d know,” I settled with a firm nod.

Teenagers can be mean to kids, but I’ve seen Nancy in school, as innocent as can be. Like a tiny, smart fish in a big, stupid pond.

We cut the conversation short when the rest of the boys begin to gather around with their jackets and bags, ready to turn in to their own beds.

“Alright, come on.” I nod them along and open the front door, and they race out towards their bikes. “Thanks for having me.”

“Thanks for watching the boys,” says Karen as I close the front door behind us.

It wasn’t the coldest of nights, but there were still small puffs of condensation with every exhale of the November night. I patted Mike on the shoulder as he stood to see all his friends off.

“Get home safe, guys, no detours,” I half-joked.

These kids were good, but they were still kids.

They waved me off as they picked up and adjusted their bikes, and I made my way back home, more than ready to turn in.

I savoured my nights at the Wheelers. Really, I did. Whether I was there to look after Mike (sometimes all his friends too), or just there for dinner as a thank you for doing so.

For my house was just empty.

I mean it was empty all the time. When I wasn’t home I was at Steve’s, but ever since he’d begun to pursue Nancy, I’d always wait until there was a group of us, just out of respect. Same went for calling him up in the morning or at night just to talk about whatever had been going on in life.

So, really my options this morning were to watch TV with breakfast until my ride came, or to rush breakfast and walk.

I sighed, turning off the waffle maker just in time for the phone to ring.

My father had already left, so I picked up the landline in the kitchen, and held the phone between my ear and shoulder as I put my breakfast together.

“Chase residence,” I sing-songed in practiced tones. “Dad has already left for the office, can I take a message for you?”

“Hi, Clementine.”

I quirked my brow the minute I heard the voice. Joyce Byers whose son I had watched over just last night. Except this morning she sounded particularly anxious. “Will didn’t stay with you and your dad last night, did he?”

Why on earth would we have a 12 year old stay the night without letting his mother know? “No… Joyce, he left with the boys last night. He lives pretty close to Dustin, I know they ride the same way. I could call his house?”

“I-I’ll call. Thank you. Really, I think he just left early for school…”

I certainly wasn’t convinced. But I let her go anyway, and continued my morning as normal, not thinking much of the call. I had my fair share of surprise sleepovers at Wills age.

I’d already switched off the TV and washed my dishes by the time I heard the BMWs beeping horn outside.

I rushed out, locking the door behind me.

Tommy, the infamous dick of Hawkins was already yelling out the window towards me, lit cigarette hanging from his lips.

“Move your ass, Clementine!”

“Tommy, put that shit out! I told you a million times that I’m not going to be hotboxed by your smoke.”

If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a thousand times, but it always came back to the same argument.

“Those are the rules,” Steve defended with a shrug as I slid into the back beside Carol who offered me a stick of gum. “She doesn’t like smoke, you can manage the length of a car ride.”

“So prudish, Clementine~”

Carol teased.

I rolled my eyes and adjusted my seatbelt with a huff. “What’s the point on spending some amount of money on perfume just to smell of cigarettes before I’m even in first period?”

“Like money’s an issue,” Carol continued.

Fine, it wasn’t. But I’d still like to smell like the Love’s Baby Soft perfume I’d paid for. “Whatever.”

“Your perfume’s way too sweet anyways. And you’re still alright for coming over tomorrow, right? My old man’s out of town on a conference, and…”

“Yeah, yeah. The beers are on me, don’t worry. I’ve got it covered, you dick.”

“See, you drink but you won’t smoke,” Tommy scoffed. “The hell’s that about?”

I could waste my time bickering or I could simply shut up. But that wouldn’t be fun in the slightest.

“If you want to get sick and die, do it on your own time. You already look sallow and sunken, just don’t inflict that on me.”

“I look what?” He shot back, neck strained to look back at me. “Say that again, Clementine.”

“Oh, I’m just teasing!”

“You know you just piss me off when you start this shit!” He was seething. Best way to piss a guy like him off was to bruise his ego, that much was clear. And not to brag but I had years of practice under my best. It had yet to get old.

“If you don’t like my teasing, why are you moaning so much?”

“Listen to me, you little bitch-“

“Hey!” Steve yelled. “Don’t talk to her like that, alright? How you’re still friends at all is beyond me. Just shut up, and enjoy the ride.” He switched on his radio where Michael Jackson instantly blasted, and suddenly the ride was somewhat enjoyable.

Our daily procedure for the past two weeks was for me to give Steve an out to meet with Nancy. Sometimes that involved guarding the girls bathroom by standing outside, making up excuses.

“I told you, it’s a mess in there! There’s literally a tapeworm climbing up the wall, I swear…”

And of course people knew I was guarding a hookup. Probably even that it was Steves, but everything I knew about Nancy Wheeler told me the last thing she’d want is to be walked in on making out with a boy against the wall of the ladies toilets, even if stories of their dating life was floating around the school.

The other two didn’t quite get it. They couldn’t understand why he’d waste all his time chasing after a complete square who probably doesn’t even put out.

I mean that’s all he’s usually after, and they’ve all been okay with it.

But Steve was a friend. I was just happy he was finally after a girl worth his time. Nancy was nice, smart, and it made for a pleasant change.

Steve has dated tonnes of girls. They never lasted, and he never cared. He was a man of pure sexuality. But something was different about Nancy Wheeler… I could tell.

I knew her well enough what with being at her house every month or so.

What do you think our topic of discussion last week when I was paid to appear twice?

It’s the reason she’d offer a small, secretive smile as she exits the bathroom, and i’d return it with a sly nod.

Just like any normal day.

A normal school day also includes suffering through Steve and Tommy playing basketball until they knackered themselves out. Though, the athletes they are, it took them a while every time, so we would always keep ourselves occupied on the bleachers. It was a routine, one that I was about to invite disruption to as I held open the doors to the gym.

Nancy walked with her books against her chest as she talks with her friend, an almost ethereal floating opposed to stepping as she heads for the buildings exit.

“Hey, Nancy, c’mere!” I yelled out before I stopped to think that I might startle her.

She freezes and finds my eyes, startled as expected. “Hurry! Coming, Barb?”

Barbara was a tall girl. She towered above the rest of us, but she was hardly given a second of notice. I hadn’t paid much attention to her myself until Nancy took this position in the group. At the call of her name she looks shocked. It’s not that I didn’t usually try to involve Barbara, she’s Nancys best friend after all, and since Nancy was invited into the social group it only made sense to include Barbara too.

Except Nancy had always been popular in the subtle kind of way. Her trademarks were being pretty, smart and kind, and everyone wants that even if girls like Carol gave her a hard time. They liked her anyways, at least a little.

“Hurry where?” Nancy gave an unsure smile, still standing what felt like a mile away.

“To watch your boyfriend play basketball, duh!” I teased, pushing the door open as the pair approached. “You can sit with us, we’ll go out to Bennys after?”

The two turn to each other, but whatever Barbara was trying to get across to Nancy wasn’t delivered to me. Nancy then turns to me with an enthused smile.

“Sure! Sounds fun.”

With a grin, I lead them to our spot on the bleachers, trying to stay aware of how different these two were to the girls who watch us approach with weary looks on their faces.

“Are you lost?” Sneers Becky with a cruel laugh. As if I’m unaware that I had two girls trailing behind me.

Carol turns to push her, playfully. “She’s our friend!”

I motion for the pair to sit wherever they felt comfortable, and they sat a little far for my liking, huddled together as though I wouldn’t have their back if someone were to be snide.

“Yeah, be nice, you dick. You know Nancy, Steve’s girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend?” Nancy spoke wearily, but she went ignored. It wasn’t my intention to push her, but Steve generally rolled that way, and I saw it as an inevitability.

“Oh, Nancy! I heard about that. Must be really different for you, huh?” Becky started.

She was one of three of Steve’s exes that were currently present. None of them truly seemed to mind when the boy moved on. They all had their turns and they all had their shot in the limelight.

Nancy doesn’t seem to understand the workings of this, appearing more shy than usual, eying the tonnes of magazines, packets of gum and cigarettes splayed across the bleachers.

“She’s doing fine,” I said, picking up the Just Seventeen magazine that caught my eye. “Did you catch this? It only launched for the first time last month, look at its first issue!”

I tilted the magazine towards Nancy and Barb, pointing out the ad for Tri-Ac.

“I’m breaking in on my chin something nightmarish, but they say Madonna uses it.”

“No!” Said Nancy, kindly, analysing my face. “No, I don’t see anything.”

“It’s because she’s wearing so much makeup,” Laurie spoke up.

I rolled my eyes, unable to deny this fact.

“Shut up, Laurie,” Carol sighed. “Barb, you’d look so cute in these!” She yelled, pointing out the latest male fashion trends down the side of one page. “It shouldn’t be too far out of your comfort zone.”

I turn to look at the girl in question. She looks at a loss of what to say, and Nancy is no better.

“Go polish your reebok, Carol,” I remarked.

“Go, Steve!” Becky whistled, watching his bare chest rise and fall as he sweats, actually drawing our attention to the game we barely paid much attention to anyways.

“Put that shirt back on!” I yelled.

The game went on for another painful hour, and by the time they were done my stomach had begun to growl.

After a short-lived argument over who won, the boys hopped into the (well needed) showers, and we left.

“I’m going to get the biggest burger you’ve ever seen, I could eat a horse,” I groaned, mouth watering at the very thought.

Bennys hadn’t been much of a tradition, but rather a routine. Steve had made a point that it’d only been him, myself, Carol, Tommy and Nancy. And Barbara as I’d gently remind him. He thought that inviting the likes of the other girls in the group would be disrespectful, and I clapped his back for it.

Usually though, we’d have brought as many of our friends that we could fit over two booths. I think I prefer what we’ve had going in lately if I’m honest.

As we walked towards the parking lot, ready to pile into Steve’s car, Nancys voice cut through all the jeering.

“Hey, you know, my mom will be wanting me home around now. She puts a dinner out every night and-“

“You’re not coming?” Steve interrupts, stalking close towards her.

He ducks his head so his face is closer, and brings his voice down. “Come on, we won’t be there long, promise.”

She looked rather awkward, eyes on Steve’s hand that rested on her arm.

“I shouldn’t.”

“It’s fine, they can join us another time!” Carol smiled, voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Yeah, for now, I think we’ll survive without them,” Tommy adds.

“Not sure that I will,” I muttered. Though I know it’s best that the pair go home. Why should they make themselves uncomfortable? Plus, Carol and Tommy weren’t exactly solid company. “Guys, it’s fine. Seriously, we have plenty of time to hang out. Go on home,” I told.

Nancy watched me, unsure at first, then she looks back to Steve.

“I’m sorry.”

He nods, then pulls her in for a kiss. It was soft, tender.

I wasn’t too sure where they stood, whether they were meant to be a secret or not. This little moment between them cleared that up for me, and I smirked to myself.

Nancy appeared to feel the same, a shocked grin she tried to hide.

“Want us to puke? Come on, Romeo!”

Tommy blanched.

“Shut up, stupid. Let’s go, lover boy,” I butted in just as Nancys embarrassed gaze fell to the ground of the parking lot. “See you guys tomorrow.”

“Wait,” Steve interrupts, pulling Nancys stare back to him with his hands evidently magnetic eyes. “I’ll still see you later tonight, won’t I? Alone?”

I note Barbara’s shocked expression.

Clearly, Nancy didn’t let her in on this little plan. We, on the other hand, heard about their little meet up as soon as we were in Steve’s company.

“Yeah,” she smiled. “To study.”

I truly didn’t know Nancy well enough to understand whether she meant this or not. Knowing Steve, even if she did mean this, he might just try and sway her to do a little more than studying.

“To study,” I echo with a nod. “Let’s move it!”

And with reluctance, the pair were able to part ways.

We could have still had fun at Bennys like we normally did. But my mind slipped into somewhere I hadn’t expected. Something I didn’t remember until about halfway through taking my seat next to Carol.

“We should invite Nancy to yours tomorrow, right?” I asked, still rationing the contents of my burger around the table. Benny once reminded me I could order it without the pickle or the onion but why waste food when I could feed annoying teenage boys?

Steve perks up with a huge sigh of relief.

“Yes, Clementine. Absolutely, we should! And you know why?”

“So you can have sex and find out if she has a vagina?” Tommy remarked, earning a chuckle from Carol followed by an obnoxious wink.

“What, it’s weird for a girl who’s barely 16 to be a virgin now?” Steve challenged, flinging the spare pickles into his burger. “Not everyone’s been banging since they were 12.”

“I know that, douche bag,” Tommy retorts, an embarrassed flush on his cheeks. I’ve come to learn that he’s rather proud of his sex life. So it’s easy to figure that his shamefaced defensiveness was more about Steve shutting him down. “I’m just saying every other girl has at least kissed someone. She’s not kissed anyone besides you. Either she’s a wasteland or… just a tease.”

I shudder annoyingly at the slow grin that pulls at his lips, turning to Carol.

“How do you let him near you with that mouth?”

“That’s for me to know,” she laughs, sending him a wink across the table.

“You guys are disgusting.”

“Okay, little miss perfect. Lost your touch or something? When was the last time you even had a boyfriend?” Carol jabs, eyeing me up with a playful malice.

“Can’t lose your touch if you’ve never been in the game,” I countered, having never actually had a boyfriend. I crossed my arms feeling pleased with myself and hopeful that Carol would be off my back as suddenly as she was on it.

“You dated Reed!”

Steve started, suddenly on me too.

“Yeah, for like two weeks! He wasn’t my boyfriend,” I squeaked. Although being that intimate with someone in the same group wouldn’t be too strange. I mean just look at Steve and his exes.

“But you got with him at my party.”

“You had sex on Carols bed, didn’t you?” Steve smirked.

“Oh, my God!” I groaned, gripping my hair dramatically. “That was Kieran, and there was no bed sex!”

“Nah, come on now, that was actually pretty bad.” Steve attempted to come to my aid, waving off the others as if he didn’t bring it up. “Don’t you remember what he did?”

“No, wait, shut up. I thought you guys dated for a while,” Carol drawled in thought.

“Oh my God!” Tommy laughs so loud that it startles Carol. “That was all fake, to made Kieran jealous. No one told you?”

“No!”

I’d have felt guiltier, but I couldn’t hold back the bubbling giggles even with a hand pressed against my mouth. All this time, and my best friend thought I’d had a whole relationship that never existed.

“Why do you think we’re still friends after he ‘dumped me’ for Laurie? Thanks for that, by the way,” I jabbed, still a little bitter about the situation.

I was so close, he was back in my clutches. But Steve just had to see what Laurie had to offer instead of helping a friend in need. Not only did he not help like he promised, but now it looks like I was dumped for another girl, and that I’m still friends with the dude who did it.

It’s hard to see the situation in a negative light now after all this time. Especially since I lost interest in Kieran a whole while ago.

“I can’t believe you never knew!” Tommy guffawed, shaking Carols arm to tease her. Her face remained stony, showing no interest in making this a laughing matter.

“Well, no one told me!”

“Whatever,” he shrugs with a mouth full of food. “We’ve been here ages, it’s getting dark soon.”

Steve stuffed the last of his fries into his already full mouth.

With a united murmuring (Carols being a little too sharp) we begin to clear our table, all of us picking up the shakes we’d left aside to bring home, a habit we shared between us due to the distraction we caused each other.

Except when we piled into Steve’s car that night, everything was suddenly far from normal, and we hadn’t had a clue.

I was driven home, said goodbye to my friends, and walked into to a quiet house.

Only my dad was there, worrying his hands at his place on the couch. That was until he saw me at the door. He was on his feet in a flash, bee lining his way towards me.

He still wore his dress trousers and a smart purple shirt.

His brief case had been abandoned by the coffee table.

“Dad? Shouldn’t you be at work still?”

I wracked my brain, trying to make sense of his presence, checking my watch, making sure I had the date right.

“Clementine! I came home as soon as I heard, I just wanted to make sure you got home safe, and when I saw you weren’t here, I got worried.”

I’d never seen him in such distress. I’d kept my gaze on him as I dumped my school bag on the floor. “We got some milkshakes after school… but, dad, what are you talking about? You came home as soon as you heard what?”

He froze for a second, his gaze suddenly sympathetic. “I thought you would have heard by now? The Byers kid… he’s missing.”

And just like that, my heart wrenched.

I watched him the night before, he went home alone, and his mother called me only just this morning.

“Missing? He can’t be missing, dad. He didn’t just stay at Dustins?”

I don’t know why it was hard to believe. I’d just never heard of someone I knew disappearing before. Will was always quiet, very rarely said a word to me besides a Please or a Thank you. But I knew him, I knew that little boy.

“Afraid not, sweetie. Nobody knows what’s happened quite yet, but until we do, you’ve to get a lift to school and back, alright, and no detours. Straight home, no adventures, no outings, no grabbing milkshakes.”

“Yeah, yeah, okay, fine,” I nodded.

Tomorrow he’d be back to work the hours he usually was, and wouldn’t care less where I was as long as I was with friends. But I wouldn’t risk bringing it up now.

“That’s my girl. What do you say we put two nice mugs of hot chocolate on? I’m sure we can figure it out.” He whisks himself away to the kitchen and I just blink to myself.

“Yeah! Yeah, should be fun…”

Steve calls the house just as the cops settle into the livingroom that night. They’d come by to question me under my father’s watch.

They waited patiently as I promised I’d be off the phone in two seconds, taking the call in the hallway where they could see me incase I raised any suspicions.

“What do you want?” I said flatly.

I could practically see Steve as he scoffed, hand pulling away from his hair he was probably fixing in the mirror.

“Nice to talk to you too, Jesus.”

“Sorry, but seriously, what do you want?”

He exhaled loudly on the other side of the phone, voice becoming whiny.

“Nancy called. She says she’s under house arrest ‘cause of that missing kid.”

I turn to look over my shoulder towards the room my dad kept the cops company. But I couldn’t bring myself to tell Steve that they were here. Though I wasn’t worried. He didn’t even care enough to ask why I was basically whispering.

“Okay? What do you want me to do?”

“Convince me to do something stupid? I want to see her.”

Shit, that’s sweet.

I screw my eyes shut, knowing I’m about to give some stupid advice, just like he knows I will. I could be more stupid about it, so let’s cut me a break.

“Then see her. You’re not new to sneaking into bedrooms,” I shrugged, as if he could see me doing it. “Just don’t make her uncomfortable.”

“Why would I make her uncomfortable?”

He sounds offended, but he’s now heard exactly what he wanted to hear,

“If she wasn’t planning to have sex with you in the first place tonight, being in her personal space and trying to screw her is even worse.”

“I know, I know! Kaminskys test is coming up for her, I’ll help her study.”

The smile in his voice made my heart flutter. It’s like reading a romantic novel. But I know if I tell him how amazing it is to see him learning about what’s going on in Nancys life he’d take the huff and hang up the phone.

“You’re the devil, Steve Harrington,” I sigh.

“You’re the best, Clementine Chase!”

Then the dial tone.

It takes a good hour to let the cops know everything that went on that night. And then I found I was just repeating myself over and over again.

“I told you everything I know, already.”

It stands to reason I’d be questioned a little more intensely since I was one of the last to see Will. It was all unwinding just a little too quickly for me, and I felt as though I could never settle. Just a few hours ago I was enjoying shakes with my friends, laughing and making jokes about anything and everything.

Now here I was being interrogated in my own living room.

“We just want to make sure you’re not missing anything,” spoke the cop with the moustache. “You were one of the last to see him.”

I sighed, and the other, slightly more competent cop cut in. “I know it’s a little frustrating Miss. Chase. We’d just like to make sure we’ve not missed anything. Did he ever show signs of being unhappy? He fit in okay?”

I stopped to think for a second, feeling the pressure of the two looking down at me from my place on the couch.

Will was the quietest of Mikes friends, mostly timid.

“He’s really close to Mike Wheeler. He looks out for him since his friends are… you know, they always kinda picked on him.”

“They pick on him?” The second cop took to writing in his notes.

“I guess. They’re great kids but the Byers boy is sort of the runt. They kinda comment of his shoes, mimic things he says… he’s a little more… sensitive, you know?”

Thinking back on every interaction with Will, he was definitely the peewee, laughed at and teased. He wasn’t like the other boys. But what these cops were getting at wasn’t sitting right with me.

“But he’d never run away. He trusts them, his family loves him. When it comes down to it, they all have his back.”

He considers this for a moment, eventually nods and closes his note pad.

He folds his arms with a deep breath.

“We haven’t come to a near conclusion yet. Let us know if you remember anything else. Thank you, sir,” he says, nodding towards my dad who stands up to lead the pair out the door.

They need to find that boy in one piece.

He was just so small, a mouse among cats. He’d barely ever spoken a word to me, just always a polite smile, and an excited nod to whatever story the boys were telling me that night.

How could this all happen so fast? I thought, head buried in my hands as my dads weight sank into the couch beside me.

I felt his hand on my back. He was unsure how to break the silence, that much was for sure.

I lift my head to look at him, and he stills, waiting.

“I really hope he’s alive, dad.”

He leans over, planting a kiss on my forehead, grunting when the phone rings again. “If that’s one of your friends, tell them to make it quick. You’re in no headspace to be gossiping.”

I nod, knowing full well I wouldn’t be able to bring myself to chat away as if I wasn’t feeling sick to my stomach anyways.

I pick the phone up, not bothering to take the call in the hallway for privacy. Prepared to hear Carol, maybe even Tina or Steve, I froze at Mike Wheelers voice on the other end.

“What do you think happened to Will?”

What the hell is going on on this night?

I risk a glance at my dad to find he’s watching me with worry.

“I’m-“

“Did anything weird happen when you watched him ride off?”

“Umm, no.” I stand up, and walk a little further from my dad’s listening ears. “I’m sorry, I don’t know anything.”

“Meet us in ten.”

“What? Where?”

I should have asked why. Said no. Convinced him not to go anywhere. Why didn’t I?

“Mirkwood”

“What the hell is that?”

“Where Cornwallis meets Kerley!” He stressed, quickly. “Just meet us there!”

“No! Are you stupid?” I argued, not bothering to control my voice in front of my dad.

Who knows what’s out there right now.

“We’re going with or without you, Clementine. So suit yourself.”

Then that was it. He’d slammed the phone down, and left me helpless.

I turned to my dad, weighing my options.

I could tell him, then he’d involve the police and intervene with the kids plans to endanger themselves. Or I could accompany them myself, and have them still like me by the end of it.

I know what I should do.

Why don’t I tell him?

Because I’m feeling stupidly loyal to the group of boys who probably just want someone to talk to after hearing about their best friend disappearing.

“What on earth was that about?”

I don’t move for a long moment, blinking stupidly.

“Just Tommy! Carols birthday is coming up and his gift ideas are just shocking. But It’s his problem, so I’m gunna turn in.”

I yawn loudly and stretch a little more dramatically than I should have, hoping that would be enough

Luckily for me, I was allowed to make it upstairs without him following behind me.

What the hell was I doing?

I pushed all my thoughts from my head as I shrugged on my closest corduroy coat.

This is crazy, Clementine!

I cuss myself out when I open bedroom window, all too familiar. Except tonight I wasn’t climbing out to talk to a boy, or go to a party, or stay at Carols. Tonight I was meeting a bunch of kids in hopes they wouldn’t get themselves lost when I really should be telling someone about the whole situation.

But all they want is to feel like they’re doing something to help find Will…

“Oh, hell.”

By the time I reach the location they’d asked to meet at, all of them had arrived, bikes in tow. The tree line was covered with police tape. I felt my stomach drop as all four kids turned at my approach.

“What’s this all about?” I asked, arms folded lowly on my chest. “You know it’s a bad idea to be out here.”

“Exactly, yet Will is stumbling around here somewhere.”

Jesus Christ. As harsh as it is, there’s not a lot of land in Hawkins. It’s incredibly difficult to try and imagine that he’s not so far away right now.

With a sigh, I lean in close to Mike.

“So you think this is the answer? What if-“

What if he’s not out there? What if he was kidnapped?

But I couldn’t bring myself to say that to them. Mike blinks back, eyes doe-like and innocent. Mismatched with his occasional bite.

“What if nothing, Clementine. All I know is that we have to find him.”

“He’s a vital part of the party!” Lucas chipped in. I half expected Dustin to join, but he hadn’t made a peep. “We can’t let him down.”

“He’d do it for any one of us,” Mike finished.

“But if you don’t want to come, you don’t have to.”

He’s challenging me, I know it.

I hold his gaze, narrowing my eyes. If he’s bluffing about going ahead without me, his expression doesn’t betray him.

“What makes you think I won’t just go to your parents? Or the cops?”

“You’d have done it already!” Told Lucas, waving an arm to make his point.

“And you want to help Will nearly as much as we do.”

Except that’s not the reason. The best way to help Will is by letting the police do their jobs. The real reason is that I just can’t bring myself to let them down.

“Ugh, fine!” I groan, pushing myself to stand upright. “But only this one time. And that goes for all of you.”

Without a nod of confirmation from Mike he turns on his flash light, paying no heed to the on-going storm.

Dustin, on the other hand, speaks for the first time since I arrived.

“Hey, guys. You feel that?”

His head is tilted towards the sky, and he’s soon wiping his cheeks. Sure enough, it’s begun to spit with rain. The last couple of nights had all been the same. So I let myself wonder how I could be stupid enough to have worn a jacket with no hood.

“I think maybe we should go back.”

“No.” Mike told, a demanding tone to his voice. “We’re not going back. Just stay close. Come on!” Then two two were off, leaving Dustin and I behind, staring at the treeline.

I look towards Dustin, who looks nearly frozen in fear.

“Stay on channel six,” Mike instructs. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

“This whole thing is stupid, Mike.” Making a last attempt to appeal, I eventually follow behind the pair, scared they’d wander a little too far away from my sight. When Dustin doesn’t take a step forward, I catch his eyes over my shoulder. “Come on, Dustin, stay close.”

And he scurries forward, dropping his bike among the rest. Then he ducks under the police tape, jogging to catch up.

God in Heaven above, we’re in so much trouble. No, I’m in so much trouble. I’m the oldest, I’m supposed to be the responsible one. But here I am, trailing along as the kids put themselves in harms way.

“You know there’s always time to turn back, don’t you? We could wait ‘til morning,” I tried, looking straight at Mike knowing he’ll answer for everyone.

He usually does.

“He could be hurt by morning!”

Mike marched ahead, flashlight shone in every direction.

I couldn’t argue. If he was safe, which I doubt, leaving it any longer would only increase the chances of him running into danger. Again, I didn’t voice these thoughts. it’s not like they’re stupid, they know as much as I do the possibilities deriving from Wills disappearance.

“And what am i supposed to do if someone jumps out from behind a tree and attacks one of you?” The scenario runs over and over in my head as the rain begins to fall heavier.

A masked kidnapper scooping one of the kids up, a crazed murderer chasing me away.

The heavier the rain became, the less sure I knew what I was hearing around me. The snap of every twig, the kicking of every rock under the kids feet, any of it could be danger in disguise.

I swallowed down the lump in my throat, speaking to Dustin between the shouting of Wills name.

“This is bad, you know. This could go so wrong, so fast.”

But instead of a reply from Dustin, I’m with with a dangerous glare from over Mikes shoulder.

He yells out for Will whose name echoes ominously around us.

“Byers!”

“I’ve got your X-men 134!” Dustin called out, letting out a shaky breath. “Guys, I really think we should turn back.”

Me and him both.

“Seriously, Dustin! You wanna be a baby, then go home already!” Lucas argues, and I don’t like the sound of it.

“Hey, no! If we’re doing something this stupid we’re staying together. We’re not sending each other off alone,” I warned.

“So no one leaves!”

This kid! Their will is greater than mine. I have no choice.

“I’m just trying to be realistic, Lucas!”

“No. You’re just being a big sissy!”

“Shut up!” I yelled above the pair. “I’ve been trying not to scare you, but have you got any idea what are you could be in these woods? And you’re attracting all this attention.”

“Case. In. Point.” Dustin continued, flashlight now beaming from tree to tree. “Did you ever think Will went missing because he ran into something bad?”

Like a bear, or a kidnapper or a murderer. Or a Martian.

“And now we’re following in those footsteps,” I agreed. “With only me to protect your asses!”

“Clementine, shut up!”

I look at Mike with wide eyes. “Wow!”

“Shut up, shut up…” he says now more softly.

He’s listening for something. “Do you guys hear that?”

I freeze, heart suddenly in my throat.

What are the chances it was Will Byers scuttling through the trees towards us, to safety?

The rustling is from our left!

Then our right!

And every flashlight in the group is being shone is every direction with every shake of every leaf.

But then it’s just a little too loud, and a little too close.

Four flashlights illuminate a person, and for a millisecond, I was scared.

But this wasn’t a threat.

This was a kid.

[wistfulenchantress]

the amount of jancy byler parallels that exist are what make me so angry that byler isn't being more widely anticipated. like, what more do they have to do? they've held hands, done the tender moment interrupted trope a million times, given them romantic parallels, and one of them is confirmed to be in love with the other. the other who has said things like '[hawkins is] not the same without you' and '[becoming your friend] was the best thing i've ever done' as well as the fact that their relationship is constantly isolated (will hanging back to tell mike it was a seven, mike always worrying about will first/noticing little patterns, etc.) and also the fact that literally mike's supposed endgame relationship is based on the love between mike and will.

we've had the not inside the car but on the car conversation that takes place during a rough patch in the wheeler's relationship that is caused by the wheeler being unable to say i love you to their significant other.

literally im gonna lose my goddamn mind. ITS A ROMANCE ITS THE ULTIMATE ROMANCE AND I CANT SEE A REASON FOR NOT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT BESIDES HETERONORMATIVITY

[castlebyersafterdark]

i've been reluctant to holly-theorise because it feels like a mystery and i really want to be surprised when i watch s5. but so far i feel like theyve hinted that 'mike is the key' (hop said in s3) so getting to holly could hurt mike, and in turn hurt will, or perhaps mike himself is important too (people dont like this cos they think it means stealing will's storyline, when.. its not a competition).

or it could be about getting to karen, seeing as groundwork was laid in the play that they could revisit, karen went to school w henry as well as joyce and hopper. so henry is getting their kids in revenge for something?

i like the seeds sown for her so far though. joyce asks 'did you see something?' and she says yes in holly jolly episode where the lights blink. maybe she saw something she shouldnt have?

or, thematically... kids often see the truth of things where adults don't... i wonder if there's something henry wants that disappears during puberty or adulthood. eternal life? something about the innocence of children and sexual awakening, freezing time in the UD, wanting will as a child, working amongst lab kids who are developmentally delayed. if so, it's giving philip pullman's northern lights series (about sexual awakening and eve's biblical 'fall from innocence'). we saw el bring max back to life. maybe henry wants the fountain of youth for his grand plan, and holly is very young? this would also make for an emotional ending in terms of the party eventually growing up and leaving hawkins - innocence lost.

Yeah, I think that's also why I've adopted the mindset of not getting attached to any theory or prediction anymore - loving the reality that the show can go a million different ways and I don't necessarily want or need to strictly figure it out, where before it was all idea, all theory all the time, let's figure it out! I don't need to have all the answers. The mystery will be funner going in with an understanding of the deeper themes beyond surface level at play in the show, but not with a rigid preconceived notion to the finer details and plot lines.

The thing that worried me initially about Holly was a weariness about a Will in season 1 storyline repetition and that's what my initial thought was for her - but I don't believe that will entirely be the case, that it's a situation of a missing kid lost in the UD for the whole season. There's got to be something else going on. I know the Wheelers are going to be important. And agreed - that just because the Wheelers, and Mike, are going to have storylines connected very intimately with the supernatural this season doesn't mean it's taking away from Will. Going to be very different.

The difference with Will is that his is going to be of an actual connection, some sort of otherworldly thing innate to himself, to his being, whether in the traditional sense of powers or similar or more akin to abilities others don't have. Something Henry wants and needs from Will specific to Will. So my worry was Holly having that same something special or unique - but I don't think they're going to be a 1:1 situation. The nod to her in season one - that is youth and innocence and so intrinsic to children, especially children in horror movies. It's not that the child has powers or is special - but that kids are more sensitive to the paranormal as a standard horror trope, as in real life. Kids afraid of the monster under the bed, that uncertainty of what's lingering in the dark, a whisper in the air because their imagination is broader and more accessible. They're still learning the world so they observe things that adults overlook or ignore. Holly could fit that role, somehow, without making her Will Byers 2.0.

i wonder if there's something henry wants that disappears during puberty or adulthood. eternal life? something about the innocence of children and sexual awakening, freezing time in the UD, wanting will as a child, working amongst lab kids who are developmentally delayed.

YES! I think you are very onto something here. This seems very possible as a theme. The way that his victims all remain with him as a part of the lore we still need more answers for. The way that there's so much going on with the lab kids, with the age Will was taken, the way that I'm pretty sure something is going on with the children of Hawkins in season 5 but there's so many paths that potential theory can take. Love the fountain of youth theory.

This all makes me think of that speech in Poltergeist (a big inspiration for parts of the show in general - Will Byers of course, season 1 vibes, where we are returning thematically for sure...)

"There's one more thing. A terrible presence is in there with her. So much rage, so much betrayal. I've never sensed anything like it. I don't know what hovers over this house, but it was strong enough to punch a hole into this world and take your daughter away from you. It keeps Carol Anne very close to it and away from the spectral light. It lies to her, it tells her things only a child could understand. It has been using her to restrain the others. To her, it simply is another child. To us, it is the Beast."

🤔.

[weewoow-2060307]

'Will deserves better than Mike Wheeler'

Bffr.

[ur-airheaded-lesbian]

DO NOT FORGET

michael is so so unstable literally any time will byers (the lil dude) is more than thirty feet away from him. calm down little man. u silly.

[sage-greenery]

in s1 mike was unable to function (he was going crazy looking for will), and he had el. in s2, mike did not have el (yet, as many people have pointed out, did not go crazy looking for her) and he had will. between s3-s4, when he doesn’t have either of them, he’s depressed and self isolates. looking at past seasons, knowing he was yk able to function without el, not to mention they sent each other a crap ton of letters (while he was unable to contact will)....it seems to me mike wheeler canonically was freaking the hell out over will, his best friend, the person he’s closest to, not being there. which. ouch 

[demadogs]

mike wheeler actually said verbatim “its hawkins its not the same without you” to will with a stupid goofy smile while they played the same track that plays over max and lucas’ first romantic scene. like that is canon.

[willbyerssupremacist]

"not everyone in stranger things is gay"

...

"max, lucas, dustin theyre all great but... its hawkins, its not the same without you"

"its not my fault you dont like girls! (projecting)"

"you're the heart!"

"did I make you? are you real?"

*mike "my gf is mad at me let me eat chips and lay on the couch vs my best friend is mad at me let me bike across town in the rain and beg for forgiveness" wheeler*

*Owen assuming max is a guy (& probably el's partner bc shes so worried)*

*el literally running around trying to find a way to save max all s4*

*EL LITERALLY REVIVING MAX WITH HER LOVE?????*

*mike literally staring at will and his lips every time he's on screen*

*will "gay panic" byers giving veiled love confessions left and right the whole season*

*rovickie/byler parallels every 2 seconds*

*robin and nancy literally holding hands*

*eddie calling steve big boy??????*

be so fucking fr rn, atp it would be more of a surprise if they were straight💀💀

[suckerfordylansstuff]

New Journey (S.H.) Prologue Season 1

Pairing: (eventual) Steve Harrington x henderson!reader

Summary: The beggining of the story. How did Y/n Henderson get herself into this mess? How did she deal with the loss of a dear friend and how will she survive the bullies and monsters?

Warnings: swearing

Notes: Hello people. We are back and running. This backstory is going to be eight episodes (maybe an extra epilogue at the end, I haven't figured things out yet), but I do want to make sure I finish this before the new season. It was pretty challenging to make sure I didn't miss any information I had put on the character on the other chapters, but I think I managed. This whole backstory thing made me realise it was pretty stupid of me to not start from season one from the beggining, but oh well, what can you do. I hope you enjoy this first chapter and be prepared for some angst this time around! Stay safe! 💕

Gif not mine

~~New Journey Masterlist >> Chapter 1

" You sure you don't need any more help?" you called out for your boss at the diner. He had decided to close early, since not a lot people were coming in today. November had just hit and the nights were becoming even colder, so it wasn't pleasant to be out.

" Do not worry, Y/N. I can close my store just fine, I'm not that old yet." he winked at you after his joke and you couldn't help but chuckle a bit. Mr. Miller was one of the sweetest people you had met. When you decided to get a job to help your mother and save up some money for yourself, you were certain you wouldn't enjoy it so much. Sure, being a waitress at a diner had its disadvantages, especially in a small town like Hawkins where everyone knew eachother, but the rest of the stuff certainly knew how to pass the time without a sweat. Plus, the gossip was always fresh, so you weren't really complaining.

" Okay, Mr. Miller, but don't complain tomorrow if your back is hurting." you sent him a smile as he was cleaning the floor.

" Oh, I sure will! Goodbye, my dear." he waved at you before continuing his cleaning.

" Have a good night!" you told him while putting on your jacket. The moment you opened the door to exit the diner, you cursed yourself for not bringing extra clothes with you. As nice as the diner was, the uniform you had to wear was just awful during the winter. A dress cutting just above your knees, making them shiver from the cold. What was even worse was that you had to ride home with your bike. Jonathan had called you during your shift informing you that he was going to take another shift at his job, so he couldn't come and pick you up. You didn't like the idea in the slightest at the beginning, but you knew he was in a same, if not worse, economical situation with his family, so you couldn't be mad.

In the end, this left you alone at night in the cold riding your stupid bike. You tried to ride as fast as possible to keep your body warm. You were closing in at the Wheeler's residence and your eyebrows furrowed when you saw Dustin's bike still outside on the porch "Oh my God, they are still playing?" you had accompanied Dustin to Mike's just before your shift had started ten hours ago, you couldn't believe they hadn't finished yet. Even though you longed to head home, you couldn't, in your right mind, leave the kids to go home alone at this time, so you made a short stop to go and collect them.

You parked your bike next to theirs and quickly ran to ring the doorbell, begging for some more warmth. Finally, Mike's mom, Karen, opened it "Oh, hi sweetie, here for your brother?"

" Yes, I saw his bike outside and decided to come and take them all home. They have been playing for quite some time now." you answered as she welcomed you in.

" They sure have, let me call them for you while you warm up. Nancy's in her room if you want to say hello." she smiled at you and headed to the basement's door.

" I sure will and thank you." you told her and you walked up the stairs to chat a bit with your friend. You met Nancy when you were just thirteen. Your mother, Dustin and you had just moved to Hawkins, Indiana. You didn't expect making any friends that fast, but Nancy had introduced herself to you when you were sitting alone at the cafeteria on your first day. She came with a smile on her face along with another girl, Barbara. It made you so happy and relieved to finally have some company. You were beyond excited when you found out your brothers had become friends too. It made you feel like everything was coming together, that this change wouldn't suck.

You were a lot closer back then, than you were now. Not in a bad way. You still hang out a lot of the time, you just found yourselves in different situations. She was very into studying, being at the top of the class and she loved socializing, even if she mostly talked to you and Barb at school. You, on the other hand, focused on your family, doing everything you could to help them, since you didn't have your father here.. And you also didn't love the idea of talking to new people, especially at school.

Another big difference between the two of you is that you still liked hanging out with your brother's friends, the 'party' as they called themselves. Mike, Will, Lucas and Dustin had become inseparable after meeting eachother. It was because of them that you met Jonathan. His quiet persona made you want to explore more within him as a child and you were both glad you did. He was and is being viewed as weird around the kids at school, but you knew he's sweet and kind. Him and his family have been through a lot of shit because of their father, so he prefers to keep to himself and his close ones. You're just glad you're one of them.

When you reached your friend's room, you saw her on her bed talking to the phone. She had told you earlier at school that Steve Harrington promised to call and a smirk made its way on your face.

" Oh, is that Steve you're talking to? Have I walked into something inappropriate? Should I leave?" you teased her and she threw a pillow at you, but you caught it with ease.

" Shut up. No, I'm just talking to Barb." she explained to you and you walked over to her bed. You sat next to her and took the phone from her hands.

" Hey Barbara. We need to stop this madness she's got going on about Steve." you spoke to your friend on the phone about the infamous boy that has caught Nancy's interest.

Steve Harrington. He was the most popular guy at your school at the moment. He even had a stupid nickname, 'King Steve'. You didn't like him, you didn't like anyone from his clique, especially Tommy H. and Carol. Oh, you could not stand them. Always making fun of people because they didn't fit their definition of 'cool', just because they were unique, different. They always found a way to annoy you and Jonathan when you passed them on the hallways, calling Jonathan a 'weirdo' and you 'pathetic'. They started calling you that when they saw how much time you spent with your brother and his friends, saying you had no actual people your age that cared about you.

That's why you were so shocked that Nancy actually liked and went out with one of them. At first it felt like a betrayal, but she assured you that it was nothing to worry about, that he wasn't as bad as he seems. After a month of them just 'talking' you decided let your feelings of hatred aside and start teasing Nancy about her new crush.

" Oh, stop it you two." you heard Nancy say as she snatched the phone from your hands, bringing it back to her ear "Barb, I'll call you right back." she informed her friend, hang up the phone and turned to look at you "What are you even doing here?"

" Well, I'm here to annoy our brothers by ending their campaign. Can you believe they are still playing after ten hours? I mean Mike told me that he had prepared something extreme, but not like this."

" I can't believe that you still are involved with their games." she said while she hugged the pillow she had earlier thrown at you.

" It's not my fault that I can see how fun they can be. If you didn't ignore your brother now that you have become 'cool', you would have known." you sent her a smirk, when her phone rang again making you gasp "Oh, speak of the devil. Could that be dear Steve?"

" Alright, I think it's getting pretty late. Time to go now!" she took your shoulders in her arms and moved you towards her bedroom door. You started giggling because you knew you were correct, her cheeks immediately flushed when she heard the phone ring.

" Okay, okay! I'm going! But no funny business on the phone, young lady." you pointed your finger at her, when you stepped on the hallway. She just rolled her eyes at you and said 'goodbye', before shutting the door. You smiled a little at her behavior and it grew even bigger when you saw your brother coming up the stairs "Hey, Dusty. Ready to go?"

" Did you have to come? If you just ignored us, Mike's mom wouldn't even remember we were downstairs and we would finish." he complained.

" I highly doubt that." you ruffled his hat, but something caught your attention "What're you holding there?"

" Oh, a piece is left from our pizza and I wanted to see if Nancy wanted it." you found it adorable. You knew Dustin had this small crush on your friend since he met her, even though he denied it. He was crushed when he saw her with Steve one time at your school.

" She's a little preoccupied at the moment, so I'll take that." you opened the box and placed the piece in your mouth. You were starving.

" What's she doing?" you both started walking down the stairs, heading towards the front door.

" You know that saying 'curiosity killed the cat'?" you rhetorically asked him, as you finished the pizza.

" She's talking to that idiot, isn't she?" he looked up at you.

" Maybe, but that's none of your business. Goodnight, Mrs. Wheeler." you placed the pizza box at the kitchen table and waved goodbye at Karen.

" Goodnight, dear." she responded.

You closed the door behind and you picked up your bike just like the kids were doing "I don't get what she sees in him." Dustin continued complaining and now he had made his friends curious as to what you were talking about.

" Who?" Mike asked.

" Your sister. She completely ignores us now." your brother got on his bike. You just shook your head, while you waited for them to get going.

" She's too cool now that she's dating that douchebag, Steve Harrington." Lucas pointed out and your head snapped towards them.

" Boys, language. And don't blame Nancy for anything, that's what happens when you grow up."

" So why are you still hanging out with us?" Mike asked you.

" Cause I don't want to grow up. Now come on, it's freezing out here." you sent him a smile and started biking towards your house. The kids said their goodbyes and after a few seconds all of you were riding together. They started telling you all about the game and how they are going to trick Mike into thinking Will didn't roll a seven. The kids loved having you around. Sometimes Dustin argued because he didn't always want to be with his big sister, but he did agree that when you were apart of the campaign you brought so much life into the story.

Lucas was the first to get home "Goodnight, ladies."

" Kiss your mom 'night for me." Dustin teased back and you just chuckled. You knew it was all fun and games around their age "Race back to our place? Winner gets a comic." he said towards Will, who immediately had a mischievous look on his face.

" Any comic?"

" Yeah." Dustin agreed, but he regretted it the second he said it. Will had already speed up his pace, way ahead your brother "Hey! Hey! I didn't say 'go'! Y/N!" he whined at you, but all you could do was laugh "Get back here! I’m gonna kill you!" he tried to catch up to him, but to no avail. Will was going to win this one.

" I'll take you X-Men 134!" he yelled as he continued to make his way towards the Byers residence, since you had arrived at your house.

" Son of a bitch.." Dustin muttered, when he stopped in front of your house, catching his breath. You approached him and placed your bike at your usual place "You just gonna let this happen?" Dustin turned to look at you.

" What do you want me to do? He clearly won." you smiled at him, kind of enjoying his annoyance.

" No, he clearly cheated." he put his bike next to yours.

" Don't worry, you're gonna win it back, just have to play smarter." you placed your arm around his shoulders and headed inside.

___

" Sweetie, could you get that? I'm heading out." you heard your mother call out for you. The phone was ringing.

" Yeah!" you finished putting on your mascara and quickly went to answer the phone "Hello?"

" Hey, dear, it's Joyce." the voice responded and you smiled.

" Good morning, Joyce. What's up?" you saw Dustin enter the kitchen making himself a peanut butter and jam sandwich. A year ago Joyce asked you to start calling her by her first name, saying you had spent too much time at her house to keep up with the formalities. It was a bit weird at first, but you got used to it.

" Um. . Did by any chance Will stay the night at yours?" you could hear it in her voice, she was very anxious.

" No- no, he headed home after me and Dustin arrived at our house. We were with him till then. Did something happen?" your brows were furrowed and Dustin was also looking at you, silently asking what happened.

" Um, you know what? I bet he just left early for school. Thank you, Y/n." she explained trying to reassure you, but you were not sure she was telling the truth.

" Wait, Joyce, are you sure everything's fine? Because you don't sound f-"

" Yes, yes, everything is good. Bye, sweetie." you tried to ask again what is happening, but she hung up the phone. You stood still for a second, before hanging up the phone as well.

" What happened?" Dustin asked, his mouth full of toast.

" I- I'm not sure.. Joyce can't find Will." you took a sit at the kitchen table in front of your brother.

" What?" he asked surprised, his chewing stopping.

" Yeah, but then she covered it up by saying he must have left early for school.. Don't you always meet up before heading there?"

" Yeah, every morning.." you could see he was starting to get worried about his friend, so you decided to change the subject.

" You know what? I bet everything's fine. Come on, get ready and go find him at school, okay?" he nodded his head a bit reluctantly, but he followed you outside as you both rode towards your schools.

You waited on the parking lot as you usually do to wait for Jonathan, but he was taking longer than usual to arrive.

'Maybe something really is off..'

It concerned you a lot when the first bell rang and he still hasn't shown up yet. After that you made a mental note to yourself to go check up on him during lunch, but now you had to go and get your stuff from your locker.

As you were approaching the locker, your head filled with the worst scenarios about what had happened to the Byers family, you saw Barbara and Nancy talking in front of your lockers. You were glad you found them there, you needed a distraction. You went next to Nancy and opened your locker while you listened to their conversation.

"... We just... made out a couple times." you rolled your eyes and spoke up, startling only Nancy since Barbara had already seen you.

" 'We just... made out a couple times'. Oh my god, I still don't understand why you like him so much." you joked as you took a book on your arms, holding it tight.

" Y/n, you said you would be supportive." Nancy whined a bit at your comment, but you knew she didn't really mind. She had accepted the fact that for you Steve will forever be the boy that made fun of you when you first came into town. He will forever be the obnoxious jerk of the basketball team, even if she could see, he wasn't truly like that.

" Of what? The relationship you're pretending that doesn't exist?" you raised your eyebrow at her. This whole time she was pretending that the time her and Steve were spending wasn't a big deal, like she didn't actually had a massive crush on him. You smirked at Barbara as you saw your friend's cheeks turning red once again.

" I- What are you even doing here? Don't you typically come on in early with Jonathan?" Nancy asked, avoiding your comment.

" He didn't show up today, I'll go later to see if everything's okay. And why are you changing the subject? Did something happen last night?" your voice had a teasing not at the end. You closed your locker and walked over next to Barbara silently asking what happened.

" He called." she smiled at you.

" Aha! Was it the call that interrupted our conversation yesterday?" you softly nudged her arm.

" Maybe.." Nancy said with a sly smile, as if she was remembering what her 'lover boy' had told her.

" Nance, you're gonna be so cool now, it's ridiculous." Barbara said and you nodded your head in agreement. Even if you didn't like Steve's group, you had to admit there was something so appealing about being 'famous' around school.

" No, I'm not" Nancy argued back.

" Uh, yes you are. The moment you are in their radar it's a done deal." you replied.

" You better still hang out with us, that's all I'm saying." you knew about Barb's worries. One time when Nancy had 'ditched' her for Steve during lunch, she came and sat with you and Jonathan. You talked about how Nancy looks like she's starting to actually enjoy their company. You remember Jonathan laughing at that comment, but you didn't know what to think. You didn't liker her going out with these people, but you couldn't possibly stop her from doing anything.

Nancy turned from her locker to give Barbara a confused look "If you become friends with Tommy H. or Carol-" the girl next to you continued to explain her thoughts, before she was interrupted by her best friend.

" Oh, that's gross! Okay, I'm telling you, it was a one-time..." her words trailed off, when she opened her locker and saw a note falling from inside. You leaned forward to read the note that had with big letter the words 'Meet Me. Bathroom. -Steve' on it.

" You were saying?" Barbara teased, while Nancy smiled at you two, asking if it was okay to go.

" Just go." you waved her off and watched as she hurried to find Steve "Ahh, young love... Disgusting." Barbara giggled next to you.

" Come on, let's go to class."

___

You were tapping your foot against the floor, as you were pretending to listen to your teacher's lecture, when someone knocked on the classroom's door. Everyone's heads turn and watched the principal come inside with the chief of the police next to him, Jim Hopper. You didn't have a good feeling about this.

" Excuse me for interrupting your lesson, but could we borrow miss Henderson for a minute?" now all the heads turned towards you. You felt small due to all the eyes starring at you as you got up from your seat and made your way out on the hallway.

" Is everything okay?" you asked reluctantly, your feet following the men heading for the principal's office.

" We'll see." you heard Hopper say.

You entered the office. The principal sat on the chair behind his desk, motioning for you to take a seat. You placed yourself in one of the chairs in front of the big desk, watching as Hopper took his time to sit next to you, turning the chair to face you. One of his officers had come as well, leaning his body against the wall.

" You were yesterday with Will Byers, is that correct?" the Chief's voice filled the room and his words had confirmed your fears.

" Has something happened to Will?" you panicked. Will was the sweetest kid you had ever met, you didn't know what you would do if something bad happened.

" Were you with him." Hopper repeated himself. You didn't like him. You didn't have many interactions with the head of the police, thankfully, but everytime you did he always had this mean look on his face, like he didn't like anyone or anything.

" I- I, uh, yes. I was with him for some while yesterday."

" Can you tell me what happened?" you knew that it wasn't really a question.

" After my, uh, shift at the diner, I took my bike and started heading home. As I-"

" Around what time was that?" he interrupted you.

" My shift ended at 7:30, but I left the diner around eight o'clock. I was helping Mr. Miller with closing the store. After I left, I rode pretty quickly to get back home, cause I was freezing, but as I passed the Wheeler's residence, I saw my brother and his friend's bikes still parked there, so I stopped to take them home."

" Your brother's the one with the hat, right?" Hopper pointed to his head.

" The one with no front teeth?" the officer that was with him spoke up. You don't think his comment was to be mean, but it still made you give him a nasty look.

" Yes, Dustin Henderson, that's my brother. I went to go and collect him and his friends, Lucas and Will, and take them back home, since it was getting pretty late. Lucas was the first one to arrive at his place. My place was next on our road so.. Will was left alone to get back home. What happened?" you were very worried now. It hadn't crossed your mind that maybe you should have made sure Will had gotten home safely. You felt so stupid now. You were the oldest, you had the responsibility of making sure all of them are okay.

" Which rode did he take, you remember?" he ignored your question once again, making you more angry.

" He always takes the one where Cornwallis meets Kerley. The kids call it-"

" Mirkwood. Yeah, yeah, I know.." he sighed, adjusting his hat on his leg "Do you remember maybe any unfamiliar behavior with Will last night?"

" I- no. No, Will was the same sweet kid he always is.. He was actually a bit more energetic. Him and my brother had a race back to our place. Will won. Could you please tell me what's happening?" you were getting very impatient. You wanted to know what's actually happening here. If it was your fault..

The chief looked at you with his grumpy eyes and you could tell he was reluctant about telling you, but he eventually gave in "Joyce Byers has reported Will as missing. He didn't came home last night and we are trying to find out what has happened."

" What?" you didn't want to believe it. What had happened to Will last night?

" Do you by any change believe he would want to ran away? I know you are close with the kids and that they trust you. Maybe even more than they would do with a parent or a sibling. Has he told anything about going to Lonnie Byers?" his elbows fell to his knees as he leaned forward, your eye levels matching.

" Who, his dad? No way. There is no way Will would want to go to him. That's the last place I'd look." you looked him in the eye and he considered your words, before getting up and putting his hat back on.

" Alright, I think that's all we need for now. If you remember anything else come and see us."

" What? That's it? You don't know where Will is at all? Are you kidding me?" you stood up from your sit looking at him desperately.

" Miss Henderson, please, calm your voice." you heard your principal tell you, but your eyes were focused on Hopper. He turned to look at you once again.

" I promise you we're doing the best we can. Thank you for your help." that was the last thing he said before opening the door and disappearing with his colleague.

You didn't know what to think or do. Your thoughts were filled with unanswered questions and your body was frozen from the shock. You stood there until a voice pulled back into reality.

" Head back to class, Miss Henderson. The day isn't over yet." you looked at him, silently saying a quick goodbye and got out from his office. You stayed a bit on the hallway while recollecting your thoughts, until you made a decision.

" The day is over for me though."

You couldn't possibly stay here and pretend that all is well. That nothing is happening till the end of your lessons. You walked outside to the parking area and took ahold of your bike, speeding through the roads.

___

You were sitting for maybe forty minutes at the Byer's porch, waiting for either Jonathan or Joyce to return. Your heart was beating faster than it ever had before, your hands were trembling and cold sweat was running from your forehead. You were ready to start crying at the thought of what could have happened to Will, when you heard a familiar engine approaching.

You looked up and saw Jonathan and Joyce inside. When they got out you could see they didn't expect to see you here at all. you got up from where you were sitting and slowly went over to them.

" Hopper, he came into school and asked questions about Will. I knew something was happening ever since you called me in the morning, but I didn't know it was that serious." you felt tears in your eyes. Joyce saw that and pulled you in for a hug.

" We don't even know what's happening. What did Hopper ask you?" she sniffed when you broke your hug.

" He asked me to tell him what had generally happen last night when I took them from Mike's. How and when Will left by himself. Typical police stuff.. Oh! And he also mentioned Lonnie, like he would have anything to do with this."

" Oh, screw him with his Lonnie theory." she mumbled and hurried to get inside. You guessed he had talked to her about it too, a little too much.

Finally, your eyes fell on Jonathan, who looked just as exhausted as Joyce. You couldn't imagine what he was going through, both of them. If you felt bad, they must be feeling it ten times more. You immediately pulled him in your arms and he didn't miss a second returning it. He really needed that. You were one of the only people he could truly let his guard down.

" It's going to be okay.. All is gonna be well." you tried to reassure him with your words while your hand went up and down his back. It wasn't working, but it was the only thing you could do right now. How can you comfort a person who just lost a sibling? A son?

After a minute you felt Jonathan slip away from your arms. You looked up to see his eyes slightly red "I'm going to make a missing poster for Will, wanna help?"

" I'm sorry, but I wanna go and also check on Dustin. I just stopped by to see how you were. I'm pretty sure Hopper interrogated him as well and I don't know how he took it. This whole thing must have him so confused." you ran a hand through your hair and sighed.

" Hey, I get it.. All of us are really shaken up. Go find him." he gave you a weak smile that broke your heart. You wanted to stay with him a bit longer, you knew he needed it. A distraction from this mess. But you also both knew Dustin was just a kid with a missing friend. He was your priority for now.

" Call or leave a message if you need anything. I'll come in no time." he chuckled, agreeing to your statement "I'll come tomorrow morning for the posters, okay? Bye!" you rode, away waving back at him. He replied with a small and weak wave, before putting his hands on his pockets and headed inside.

Your head turned back on the dirt road, riding back towards the schools. This time the middle school. You were certain Dustin needed a break and taking him back home would be the best idea. School can wait.

~~~

I want to say a big thank you for all the people who are tolerating my ideas about this story and still wanting to keep up with it. I know I don't actually know you, but I love you guys! Also, another thank you for the new people joining in. It always feels nice when you see people enjoying something you put out there, so thank you all and I hope you like this first chapter!

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[hellfiremunsonn]

Hellfire Club

I do not allow my writing to be republished anywhere other than my own blog without my consent

Rated 18 plus. MINORS DNI.

Eddie munson AU swearing, sub fem, dom Eddie, fingering, female orgasm, praise kink? (if there’s anything else I should tag lemme know) 

You moved to Hawkins about four months ago and it was quite the change from being so used to living in the city. You grew to love it and eventually felt that slowly it was becoming 'home'. It was hard to fit in those first few months especially starting your senior year at a whole new school but your now best friends were eager to help you around. You spent your lunch and most of your classes with them. There was Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair, and Max Mayfield. Then there was Will Byers, Johnathan Byers and Jane Hopper but we called her El instead. They only recently moved back to Hawkins so you didn't know them as well as the rest of the gang. There were also Nancy Wheeler, who was Mikes older sister, who was dating Johnathan but she never was around for lunch because she was always off studying somewhere with Johnathan or interviewing people for the school paper. Robin Buckley sat with us on occasion but she spent most of her time god knows where. And then there was Steve Harrington. He graduated last year but still hung out with all of you when he wasn't working or trying to take girls on dates. Key word being trying. Last but not least there was Eddie Munson, a victory lapper of his senior year, and leader of the Dungeons and Dragons club they named 'Hellfire'. He was very intimidating and you honestly tried your best to keep quiet around him in fear of him outing the fascination you had with him. He was just so unapologetically himself, he was loud, and goofy, a little clumsy, and goddam good looking.

On this particular day the guys were bugging you to join their DnD campaign for the night because Lucas couldn't make it because of his championship basketball game. Steve had a date to the same game, and Robin was in the band so she had to attend and thus you being the only one left for them to bug. They even tried asking Nancy. They didn't want to upset Eddie knowing how eccentric he could be so they didn't want to deal with having to ask him to postpone it.

You leaned into your hands, fisting your hair as they all spoke at once.

"C'mon please! We are literally begging you, we will never ask you to do anything else, please, c'mon" Dustin pleaded actually getting onto his hands and knees next to you. Loosening the grip you had on your hair you opened your eyes and gave him a side glance. Sighing you agreed and the three boys jumped up from the table high-fiving each other.

"You are a goddess, no a queen, you're amazing, thank you so much" Dustin said holding you by the shoulders.

"Save it Henderson" You said pushing his hand off of you with a laugh. They sure were annoying but you couldn't ask for a better group of friends. "I don't know how you put up with them" You said looking at El and Max on the other side of the able. "Its difficult believe me" Max said rolling her eyes briefly looking across the cafeteria at Lucas who was sitting at the popular jocks table. She had broken up with him during the summer from what you remember being told but you could tell she still had feelings for him. You give El a quick 'she's doing it again' look and she gave a sad 'I know' look back. You had tried to talk to max about it every once in a while but she was always quite defensive about it. You sighed  going back to the book you were reading before being rudely interrupted by Dustins begging.

It was The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald that you had to read for English but had already read it a few times before. As a hopeless romantic it easily became one of your favourites. Biting on the end of your pen a little you rocked your head back and fourth absorbing the familiar words in front of you when a loud bang on the cafeteria table shocked you out of your thoughts.

"Afternoon ladies and gentlemen" There he was.

You were almost hopeful he wouldn't show up to lunch today but the tall man stood at the end of the table both hands pressed firmly on the edge. "She's going to fill in for Lucas tonight" Dustin huffed out quickly.

Your stomach turned with nerves wondering what Eddie was going to say about it. He tilted his head slightly, rising his eyes to yours. "Interesting" He said. "Never pegged you for the kind of person to be willing to give this fantasy world a shot, you're always so busy reading" He said gesturing to the old paperback in your hands. "I've played before" you said quietly trying to avoid eye contact but those dark eyes seemed to be piercing a hole through you. A large smile spread across his face. "I've only played once so I'm still new to it" you mumble in a panic not knowing what he was expecting from you. You didn't want him to think you were some expert on the game.

"No worries princess I'll show you the ropes" He slapped the table in excitement as he plopped himself down onto his seat stealing one of Dustins fries in the process.

You felt Eddies eyes on you for the rest of the lunch period but tried your best to stay focused on the book but you found your eyes just skimming the words without actually reading them.

When the final school bell rang you shoved your science binder into your locker and closed it quickly before running off to find one of the guys. You spotted Mike and El down the hall and jogged over to them. "Hey Mike what time is Hellfire?" you asked leaning up against the locker next to him and El. "In like a couple hours, we usually go home and eat dinner first and then come back" He said rummaging through his backpack.

"Okay so should I come pick you guys up?" You offered. You were one of the gang who had somehow managed to get a shitty car. Thankful it could get you from point A to point B and it had saved Steve and Nancy from driving everyone now that you could.

"Yeah that would be cool of you" Mike said closing his locker and giving El a quick kiss on the cheek before grabbing her hand. She let out a small giggle as her cheeks reddened

"Oh and where is it?" You asked.

"The theatre club room, with all the stage stuff in it next to Mr. Morrisons class" He said.

"Got it thanks"

You walked to my car quickly hoping to avoid any of the popular kids. They didn't bother you too much but when they did it really stung. Luckily they weren't around the parking lot when you emerged from the squeaky metal doors of the school.

The drive home was short but always peaceful, but today it barely gave you a moment of peace and relaxation before what your night was about to turn into.

"Mom I'm home!" you shouted from the front door kicking off your shoes and making your way up stairs. "Hi honey! I'm in the kitchen if you need me" She shouted back. You had a great relationship with your parents honestly and you loved them a lot. They were some of the most understanding and accepting people you knew.

Once in your room you threw your backpack onto the floor and rummaged around for your shower supplies before hurrying into the shower. You knew you still had a few hours to kill before you had to head back to the school but you wanted to make sure you looked presentable for it. You also felt like you had to impress Eddie, like you had to prove to him that you belonged there when god knows you were the shyest one in the group and you knew Eddie was well aware of that, and would definitely try to push as many as your buttons he could.

You washed your hair throughly, giving your scalp a good extra scrub and shaved anything you felt needed to be smooth... Including your bikini line even though you were sure no one was going to see you that close or naked below the waist, but you felt like you had to be prepared just in case.

Your clothing of choice was an old band t-shirt and some ripped black jeans. Throwing on a black leather jacket on top hoping it would appease the Dungeon master himself.

"Well don't you look cute!" Your dad said leaning in the doorframe of your bedroom. "Where are you off to tonight?"

"I told Dustin I would take Lucas's place in the hellfire club tonight. Eddie has been planing this campaign for weeks now and they didn't want to let him down"

He chuckled. "Well have fun, and be safe, don't stay out too late okay?"

"I'll try" You said giving him a wink. He knew you never stayed out too late and it was a running joke around the house whenever you did have plans and actually left the house. It was almost celebrated.

"Love ya kiddo!" He said loudly as he descending down stairs to probably join your mom in the kitchen.

Most parents would cringe at the thought of their daughter not only going to a cub filled with boys but a club to play Dungeons and Dragons. The game from hell apparently but it wasn't like that at all.

You pulled up to the wheelers house and gave your horn two light honks signalling that you were out front and the three boys stumbled out of the house only a few minutes later.

"You fucking ready?!" Dustin yelled hopping into the front seat while Mike and Will climbed into the back.

"As ready as I'll ever be" You said forcing a smile.

Driving back to school after-hours felt strange, like you weren't supposed to be there and were breaking in, but it wasn't a secret that the club was happening.

The halls were kind of creepy with half the lights turned off. You picked at the skin on your thumb trying to calm your nerves but the closer you got to the classroom the more your stomach started to flip.

The loud rock music playing from the room in the distance only got louder as we approached. I stopped in the doorway as the rest of them walked in and watched as Eddie stood up on his throne at the end of the table. One foot on the arm rest as he played an air guitar to the music blasting from the other side of the room.

I bit my lip tilting my head as I analyzed him. He sure was something.

"Munson!" Dustin yelled, snapping Eddie out of his musical trance, and a large smile spread across his face. From the other side of the room Mike turned down the music and then joined the others at the table.

Eddie jumped off of his thrown and slapped his hands together in a slow clap. "well well well the newbie actually showed up" he said taking a few strides towards me.

"Even if she bailed she offered to drive us so she had to come anyway" Mike laughed while setting up the table. Three other people joined and I recognized them from Eddies band. I had never seen them play or even heard anything from them but had seen them with Eddie often.

"Well lady and gentlemen" he said turning swiftly his long hair flowing over his shoulders . "Let us begin"

The night was filled with screaming and laughing and so much fun. Everyone was quite eager to make sure I felt comfortable and understood what I was doing and even Eddie would wait patiently as I collected my thoughts of what to do next and he seemed almost proud when I was starting to get the hang of it. By the end of the night we were all sweaty and definitely a little loopy from so much commotion.

"Andy, Nancy is picking us up so you can just go straight home instead of having to go all the way past your house to get us home first" Mike said swinging his backpack over his shoulder.

"Oh" I said a little shocked "Thanks for saving me some time" I said sitting forward in my chair, my hands folded in my lap going back to the rough skin on my thumb. I wasn't sure when to leave now because I didn't have to leave with the rest of them but I also didn't want to overstay my welcome with Eddie and his bandmates.

It was quieter now and so I rose from my chair to the other side of the room where my bag laid across one of the discarded school desks. Grabbing one of the straps it slid off the table, a few contents of my bag spilling onto the floor. I groaned rolling my eyes as I crouched down onto the floor to gather my items back together. Reaching for the the last item I leaned forward onto my hands and knees grabbing it from under the desk.

"That's a view I could get used to" I heard from behind me.

It felt like my throat had closed as I leaned back onto my knees and stood up with the help of the desk. My cheeks were hot and I didn't want to turn around but when I did everyone had left except for Eddie. He stood leaning against his throne, the soft spotlight above him lighting him up making him look almost godly.

"You probably say that to all the girls" I said softly pulling my bag up over my shoulder.

He slapped his chest imitating that he had been shot with a dramatic head drop.

"I'm wounded newbie" He said pushing himself off of the chair to stand with his arms folded across his chest.

"I have a name you know" I said scuffing the tip of my shoe across the tile floor.

"I'm aware" He said proudly. "But nicknames are so much fun"

"Newbie is a shit nickname" I said finally looking back at him.

He slapped his chest again. "Again you wound me" He said taking another step closer to me. But this time when his foot touched the ground there was a light crunching noise and we both looked down to see what he had stepped on.

My whole body heated as I realized it was my packet of birth control. It must have fallen out of my bag with the other items but I didn't notice.

"Oh um that's mine" I said walking over quickly to grab it. but just before my hand could touch the tinfoil packaging Eddies foot came back down to over it. I was now Kneeling in front of him, my hand almost touching his beaten up combat boot when he crouched down in front of me making it harder to avoid his dark eyes again.

He slipped the packaging from under his shoe and pretended to examine it throughly. "Huh" he said.

"Give it to me" I said trying to swipe it from his hands but he was faster.

"That's not a very nice way of asking for things sweetheart" he chuckled. "Try again"

"Can I have it back please" I said chewing on my bottom lip. Something about him bossing me around started a fire in the pit of my stomach and a fire a little bit lower than I'd like to admit.

He held it between his two fingers. "I'll keep this in mind" he said tilting the package towards me. I grabbed it quickly and shoved it deep into my bag. Getting up I started to walk towards the door. "So do you let all the boys cum in you?" he said in a cocky tone. I stopped in my tracks and spun on my heel slowly. "Excuse me?" I said in shock.

"You know" He said shrugging. "The birth control" he said gesturing to my bag that I clutched tightly to my arm.

"Why does it matter?" I said annoyed. Why did he just assume because I was on birth control that I was letting a bunch of guys finish in me?

"Cause if I was to fuck you on this table right now I'd want to be the only one filling you up"

I choked on my spit in an attempt to swallow and he laughed at my widen eyes and my mouth agape.

"You look pretty with your mouth open like that" He said swiping one of his ringed fingers across his bottom lip.

I stood frozen as he approached me again. I didn't want to admit to him let alone myself that the words coming out of his mouth was indeed making it hard for me to keep still. I stood with my feet close together squishing my thighs together as best as I could without making it obvious.

"Sounds like you've got a crush on me Munson" I said trying to take control of the situation.

"Oh absolutely I do" He said as a matter of fact.

Again I was shocked. There was no way that Eddie Munson was even remotely interested in me. I was the quietest one of his friends, friends and never spoke more than four words to him a day. Yet I found myself constantly day dreaming and wondering what his hands would feel like on my bare skin, and if his rings would be cold to the touch. The first day I met him when he took my hand and kissed the top of it while introducing himself he took a spot in my heart but I shoved it down as deep as I could because I didn't know him and he was the guy's good friend. So I kept my distance and avoided him as best as I could, which was hard considering he is who he is. "Well unfortunately I have to get going" I said turning away from him.

"Dream of me princess" he said with a chuckle.

I hurried to my car turning the key in the ignition and drove off as fast as I could. I wasn't sure if it was to get away from Eddie or my own thoughts.

Who did he think he was? Thinking he could just talk to me like that, to anyone like that! My hands gripped the steering wheel turning my knuckles white the harder I squeezed. I should really say something to him, I should turn around drive to his stupid trailer and kick the door down. But what would I actually say when I got there? He'd look at me with those soul seeing eyes and I'd forget why I even drove there in the first place. "Ugh!" I slammed one hand on my steering wheel in frustration. How could he have so much power over me. Yet somehow minutes later I was turning onto the dusty path into the trailer park. I had only been here once before when picking Max up for school so I knew which trailer was Eddies but I had never seen the inside of it before.

I pulled up to his trailer a little more aggressively then I meant and ripped my keys out of the ignition. Swinging my door open quickly I got out rushing towards the few metal steps to the trailer when the door swung open hitting my arm briefly before a small frame stumbled into me causing me to fall backwards scuffing both my elbows off the ground. My eyes closed briefly while I braced for impact and when I opened them Chrissy Cunningham was laid on top of me.

"Chrissy?" I said. "What are you doing here" I questioned pushing her backwards and helping her up. A small sting hitting just below my knee. I winced but continued to look at Chrissy. Her doe eyes wide and probably in shock expecting no one to see her here, considering she was popular and on the cheerleading team.

"Nothing, and if you say anything to anyone I'll be sure to make your life a living nightmare" She turned on her heel and sped off quickly and I watched her in confusion as she faded into the distance. Furrowing my brows I turned my head back to the trailer in front of me and realized Eddie was standing in the door way looking down at me still sitting on the ground. "Couldn't get enough of me huh?" He said smugly as he jumped down in front of me holding out a hand to help me up. I grabbed it and let him get me to my feet and he didn't let go until he thought I was steady enough. Wiping my arms and legs of the dust I was now covered in I scowled.  "What was Chrissy doing here" I asked with a little more jealousy in my voice than expected.

"business" He said watching me continue to dust myself off. I winced again dusting my legs off knowing I must have cut myself on something while falling. "Are you going to stand there and watch me or are you going to invite me in?" I questioned.

Eddie smiled as he took a step to the side making a dramatic gesture for me to enter the trailer before him. I stepped in hesitantly not knowing what to expect to see but it was actually quite typical. Scattered clothes and dishes, empty beer cans littered the floor, it smelt kind of old and stale but almost comforting because it's what Eddie slightly smelled like. "So what 'business' did you have to attend to with Chrissy Cunningham?"

"She wanted weed" he said shrugging while he slumped down onto the worn sofa.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Weed? Chrissy doesn't do that stuff"

"Well I guess she does now" he said laughing.

The intrusive thought that entered my mind was that Chrissy maybe got into weed from spending time with Eddie, secret time with him and I began wondering if they were sleeping together. I began chewing on my bottom lip while I continued to look around attempting to distract myself from Eddies eyes watching me as I explored the small space. "Where's your uncle?" I asked quietly examining a magazine that was on the small kitchen counter.

"Working somewhere" He said with a sigh. "He's not here very often"

I nodded slowly.

"You bite your lip when you're nervous you know" He said breaking the silence. "You pick at your thumb as well"

I let my lip slide out from under my teeth and my hands instinctively hid behind my back. "I'm not nervous" I said faking confidence.

"Whatever you say princess. Are you going to tell me why you're here or are you just going to stand in the middle of my home and stare at all my belongings?" He said leaning forward resting his head in his hands. I turned towards him walking over to him when I tripped over my untied shoelace falling onto my hands and knees in front of him.

He stifled a laugh. "Am I going to have to keep you in a bubble?" He said reaching forward helping me up once again. "You gotta stop getting onto your knees in front of me or else I'm going to continue to have some explicit thoughts"

"Stop that" I said angrily sitting down next to him. "You can't keep saying stuff like that"

"Why does it turn you on?" He said bringing a piece of his hair up to his face and hid behind it.

"I'm sure you wish it did" I said lying. "I didn't like the birth control comment" I admitted. "It made me feel gross and like you thought of me as someone who just slept with a load of guys and let them cum in me" I said making a grossed out face at the thought.

"I'm sorry I offended you with that, I was just trying to bug you"

"Thank you for apologizing" I said fumbling with my hands in my lap.

"That's not why you're really here though is it" he asked glancing at me.

"I honestly don't know why I'm here, I was just driving and ended up here, and then I saw Chrissy and I don't know" I said trailing off. Annoyed I shrugged my leather jacket off to inspect my burning elbows from falling and as I expected both were scrapped.

"Shit" Eddie said grabbing one of my arms and pulling it towards him. "Why didn't you tell me you were hurt?" He said getting up and walking to the other end of the trailer. He came back with a couple bandaids and a damp face cloth. "C'mere" he said motioning for me to scoot closer to him. I bent my arm resting my head on my hand while Eddie carefully dabbed at my elbows making sure they were clean enough for his liking before smoothing the bandaids over the scapes. Leaning back he smiled at his work clearly proud of himself. "You're cured my dear" He said clapping his hands together. "I think you're forgetting something" I teased.

"What could I possibly be forgetting?" He questioned.

I bent both my elbows this time looking back and fourth between them before giving him a small pout. "You have to kiss them better"

"How silly of me" He said smiling. He slid off the couch next to me and knelt in front of me, his hands touching my thighs as he opened my legs slightly to shift his body between them. Taking one arm at a time he planted a soft kiss to each of them while never breaking eye contact. My heart was pounding and I instinctively went to press my thighs together squishing Eddie slightly before realizing what I was doing. He licked his lips smiling while tilting his head to the side. "You like me being between your legs newbie?"

"I have a name" I reminded him.

He chuckled. "That you do princess" he said sitting back slightly.

Heat rose through my body as I leaned forward pulling him to me by the collar of his jacket crashing my lips into his. He fell backwards and I straddled him quickly. His hands held the sides of my face kissing me back harshly. They were sloppy and wet, desperate kisses. I couldn't believe what I was doing and how my body was reacting but it felt so good I didn't want to stop any time soon. I couldn't believe he really did have so much power over me. "Fuck you Munson" I breathed against his mouth. One of his hands shifted to my hair and at the base of my neck he pulled it making my head lean back and away from him.

"What was that?" He said. His eyes darker then before, his pupils so large you could barely see the actual colour of his eyes. "I said 'fuck you Munson" I giggled repeating myself.

"I don't think that's very nice of you" He said gripping my hair a little harder making a small groan of protest leave my lips. "Open your mouth" He ordered and I obliged, opening my mouth and sticking my tongue out in front of him. He pursed his lips together before letting a thin string of saliva fall from his mouth and onto my exposed tongue. "Swallow it" he said holding my chin with his other hand while I closed my mouth and swallowed. "Good girl" He said smiling. A small moan escaped my mouth in response to his praise. "C'mere" He said helping my up and leading me back over to the couch behind us and sat down gesturing for me to sit between his legs with my back pressed to his chest. Moving my hair off of my neck he peppered small kisses down the exposed skin sucking and nipping at it every so often. "Lean back on me" He said pulling my shoulders back so I would relax into him. His hands slid down my sides until reaching the top of my jeans, his fingers sliding into the waist band of them making small circles on my hips. "Mmm" I said tilting my head back into his shoulder. "More" I whispered.

"What was that?" He cooed in my ear.

"I want more" I said reaching my hands behind me and tugged on some of his hair.

"What is it that you want" He said continuing to rub circles on my hips.

"I want you to touch me" I whined. His hands stopped and he slid them out of my waistband before slowly reaching for the button of my jeans and popped it open, pulling the two sides making the zipper of them open easily.  All he did was trace the line of my underwear and my breath hitched and I rolled my head to the side biting onto the fabric of my t-shirt in anticipation.

"Jesus I haven't even touched you yet darling and you're already purring for me"

"Please Eddie" I whimpered pulling his hand and attempted to guide him between my legs but he grabbed my hands and pulled them back up over my head and placed them on the back of his neck. "Keep them here" He ordered. I squirmed in his lap. "I'll keep them there,  just please touch me" I licked my lips trying to gain back some moisture to them.

"Promise me princess" He said tapping the small black bow on the front of my underwear.

"I promise Eddie, I promise, please"

"Good girl" He said as he finally slid his hand under the thin fabric giving a small swipe of the prominent slickness of my very obvious arousal.

"Fuck" He breathed down my neck "All this for me?" He began rubbing soft slow circles on my clit, a small cry leaving my mouth. I had thought about this for so long, anything involving him touching me and it was finally happening. Moan after moan left my lips as I shifted against him.

"You're going to have to keep quiet kitten or the whole neighbourhood will hear how much you love the way I touch you" He slipped one finger into me his large ring grazing my entrance as his finger curled up into me.

"Oh my god" I said with my head dropping forward in pleasure. I could feel the grip of my hands starting to loosen around his neck but I tried my best to keep them in their place. I felt his erection behind me the more I squirmed against him but I couldn't help it. The restriction of my jeans giving me only a taste of what I really wanted.

"Eddie" I whined tilting my head back up against him again.

"My name sounds so pretty coming out of your mouth" His breath warming my neck. He went back to rubbing circles on my clit and I felt that familiar heat grow deep in my belly. "Faster" I begged and he listened still with light hands he rubbed faster. My hands loosened completely falling back against his shoulders. "I'm gunna cum Eddie" I breathed. The feeling rose and rose filling my limbs with the static of slight numbness as I rode out my orgasm loudly. Eddies free hand cupped my mouth to muffle my moans. Tears pricked my eyes with pleasure and overstimulation as his rubbing slowed. My arms had fallen completely to my sides and my breathing was heavy as I rested my head against him waiting for the ringing in my ears to cease.

After a few moments of silence I shifted slightly so I could look up at him and he was already looking down at me. His eyes looked much softer now than earlier and I couldn't help but smile. He took his hand from between my legs and stared at me as he put both fingers into his mouth and sucked them clean. "Sweetest pussy I've ever tasted"

I blushed and turned away from him trying to hide my rosy cheeks. "I can't move" I laughed. "My body feels like J-ello" I said softly. From his position Eddie picked me up placing me gently on my feet. I was a little wobbly but his hands kept me in place. He smoothed my hair out of my face and cupped my cheeks with both hands. "How do you feel?"

"Higher than a kite" I said lazily. I wasn't lying. I felt like I was floating my head and heart felt calm and happy.  I reached forward to unbuckle his belt but he stopped me. I pouted and looked up at him. "What about you" I said attempting to palm him through his jeans.

"No" he said kissing me on the forehead. "Tonight wasn't about me feeling good it was about you and that's all I want" His voice was quiet and sweet and although the brat in me wanted to try again to see what would happen I listened. "I have to go home" I hummed leaning into his chest and wrapped my arms around him.

"I don't think you should drive like this" he said with a chuckle that shook my head against him. "Sleep here"

I nodded as he grabbed my hand and lead me to his small bedroom. "Sorry it's uh, a bit messy, I wasn't planning on having company"

"I don't care" I said belly flopping onto his bed clutching one of the pillows around my head.

"Can I take these off of you?" he said tugging on the hem of my pant leg.

"Yes sir" I said snuggling further into his pillow. He pulled my jeans off of my waist and to my knees before pulling them off one leg at a time. He gave my ass a playful smack before laying his blanket on top of me. He kissed me on the head before turning to leave but I reached out and grabbed his hand. "What do you need?" he asked sitting on the edge of the bed. "Stay" I mumbled and a small blush crept to his cheeks.

He shifted so he was now laying on his back while I curled up next to him. He hummed a tune to a song I didn't recognize and stroked my hair until I eventually fell asleep.

[voidpacifist]

steddie headcanons that are keeping me awake at midnight

steve and eddie never formally met until after chrissy died. they really only knew each other through a culmination of rumors and gossip, so both of them felt like colossal idiots when they got to know one another and just realized, oh, this is actually a really cool guy who i wanna get to know better once all of this is over

which means, of course, that eddie lives after the bat attack. he has to deal with new and unknown prospects like chronic pain and literal battle flashbacks but hey! he has his friend steve harrington who can relate on both fronts

it's how the two of them start hanging out more – both of them wanna make sure the other is being safe and doing self care and shit

eddie's love language isn't just gift giving – its handmade gifts. lots of sewing or homemade enamel pins. he of course makes a bunch for the whole party after vecnas defeat to commemorate in their own special, sacred way that they did it. they won. but he also makes a bunch more for just steve, and steve doest realize how special it is until robin is over one day and is just like

"you have a whole crate of eddies weird patches and pins and shit."

"yeah, so what?"

"steve...literally nobody else has as much as you do."

which then leads to steve exercising his own personal love language on eddie, which to me is quality time. steves an event kind of guy, and even when he pretends it annoys him, he drives eddie everywhere. new appointment for some medication for the nerves in his legs and left arm? no biggie. a cool movie just came out? name the date and time. this band you really love is coming to a town nearby? cool, let's hop to it

it's almost scary how at the drop of a hat, he's at eddies beck and call. it gets to a point where eddie has to remind steve that he has a life outside of driving eddie and the kids to places. he also really just doesn't want his boyfr best friend burnt out

eddies not a terrible cook by a long shot, he's just never had a big kitchen to work with before, so when he sees steves kitchen? he's all hands on deck trying to make the best fucking food he can think of

i adore the headcanon that steve is italian and an incredible chef as much as the next steve truther. but i also love the headcanon that eddie has mexican roots. put that together with him being good at cooking? oooh baby, is steve in for a treat

neither he nor steve are bilingual, but they'd both like to learn the languages of their respective heritages. if/when steves hearing starts going caput, they also start taking asl classes together (I imagine robin and nancy tag along with them to said classes. it's like they're all in school together again minus the drama and ridiculous social expectations)

eddie taking the time to learn more about basketball and hair and "jock" things because he sees how invested steve is in them >>

also steve venturing into new music and style horizons because he loves how confident he feels when he doesn't give a fuck about looking "normal," and eddie melting into a puddle because punk steve is so. fucking. hot. >>

steve putting stickers on eddies mobility aids if he uses any post vecna. also eddie doing the same to steve's hearing aids/glasses case, etc.

decorations during holidays being just simple ribbons and tinsel since the christmas lights are just...nope. eddie and steve buy a huge wreath for steves front door

steve and nancy teaching eddie some self defense with a baseball bat

eddie and nancy teaching steve how to do eyeliner

movie nights galore, and once a month going to see a new musical in indianapolis or chicago or whichever other big city is close enough to them to access without incurring time off of work or a massive dent in their budgets

going to see hawkins high performances too, because mike wheeler became a fucking theater kid

everyone knows theyre dating before they do, or nobody knows and neither do they. there is nothing smooth about how they finally formally label it, they both just kinda realize it one day

it's during truth or dare and everyone's zooted out of their minds and eddie and steve are dared to play seven minutes in heaven. nancy dares them. because if anyone's gonna pick up on it first, it's nancy

steve is actually the one to convince eddie that they need a cat, especially since steve found the little fucker in a ditch off the road sick and malnourished. guess what eddie names it

(it's not a hard guess. the cats name is ozzy)

cat dads. and then fish dads, because eddie is too high maintenance himself to take care of an animal that needs much more than feeding and occasional supervision, so he finds a fish at the pet store and scares the shit out of steve with it when he gets home from a family video shift

one movie steve and eddie both equally adore besides rocky horror is the addams family. eddies gomez to steves morticia

(this is all I can think of for now)

[lamestteenagegirlever]

will byers has canonically been in love with mike wheeler since before the series started. he probably took a little bit to fully realize that but he at the very least understood that mike meant an insane amount to him. and that makes me simultaneously so happy and so sad looking back bc like

think about when mike rested his head on wills chest to hear his heartbeat when he saw him in the hospital and hugged him. think about when he gave mike all those drawings that mike carefully put into a binder to keep. think about when he found out about the lengths mike went to to find him when he was stuck in the upside down. think about when he grabbed will when he was having the “now memories” on halloween and told everyone to keep moving and said he was taking him home and bringing him to his basement. think about “crazy together.” think about him waking up and seeing mike in the chair next to him in the hospital immediately jumping up when he saw he was awake to make sure he wasnt in any pain with the biggest puppy dog eyes i have ever seen. think about him listening to mike say that becoming his friend is the best decision he ever made. think about mikes smile when will said he would never join a party without his best friends. when mike told him hawkins wasnt the same without him and he missed him. will was canonically in love with him in all of those moments.

but also think about when mike brought up el(who he knew mike liked) out of nowhere when will tried to express how upset he was with the “now memories” and how no one got how he felt. when mike ignored him and the rest of the party all summer for el. think about “its not my fault you dont like girls.” think about how that led to him destroying castle byer and ripping up those pictures(and swearing for the first time in the series, both representing that his childhood and the innocence he had really was done for after it was ripped away and absolutely crushed.) think about the rejected hug at the airport and the immediate jump back to el. think about “that’s because shes my girlfriend!” “and us?” “we’re friends. WE’RE FRIENDS.” think about literally just the whole car scene. think about how he told el right in front of him that “his life started” the day will was announced missing. will was also in love with him in those.

and what really gets me is that even after that and how in love he is with mike, he still does anything he can to make sure that el and mike are happy together because he thinks that thats what they both want and he wants the best for his sister and his best friend, no matter how much it hurts him because hes a selfless person and that just genuinely kills me because he could be petty. he could so easily mess things up for the two of them he could so easily do so much damage and i would more than understand after how much hes dealt with. but he doesnt because hes a selfless person that would give anything to see his loved ones happy. hes not a homewrecker, hes the only thing keeping that goddamn home together. and just oh my god he means so much to me will byers you will always be famous.