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jo-harrington · 8 months

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Lack of Faith (Eddie Munson)

Summary: Eddie Munson. Dungeon Master, Rock Star Wannabe, King of the Freaks and the Nerds. Can you believe that he doesn't like Star Wars?

Characters: Eddie Munson, Corroded Coffin, Wayne Munson, Dustin Henderson, Mike Wheeler, Lucas Sinclair

Themes/Warnings: Our nerdy boy being a nerd, and his nerdlings making him worse, Star Wars references, might borrow some dialogue from the movie Fanboys (2009), boys will be boys, angst-ish, hurt/comfort-ish?, friendship, reference to some FOI characters, don't worry about it.

Note: This has been a thought that's lingered in my mind for quite some time as I am a HUGE Star Wars fan. And a little talk with @br0ck-eddie today (an unrelated topic) brought this back to the forefront of my mind. Tagging @fracturedarkness and @courtingchaos for no reason other than "you'll like it."

This is not an xReader fic. This is about Eddie and Star Wars and if you nerf-herders can't accept that, you can get the kriff out of here. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT JIZZ IS, KEEP FUCKING MOVING NORMIE.

You can find my masterlist here.

Please do not interact if you are not 18+.

Enjoy!

---

It was a normal lunch period.

Well, as normal as it could be when you sat at Hellfire Club's table in the cafeteria. There was no talk of homework, or dates, or crushes.

Instead Gareth was tapping a beat against the edge of the table with two unsharpened No.2 pencils, Dave was working on a new character sheet with Eddie after he suffered a tragic and untimely death during their last session, and the freshman were arguing about something down at their end of the table.

Their heads were bent together, occasionally Mike would throw his head back and groan, and then get right back to his furious whispers. And although Eddie, gracious and fearless leader that he was, was typically grateful that they kept their mindless drivel to themselves, today he was curious.

He could hear little tidbits of their conversation and they intrigued him enough:

"...they still kissed."

"That was to make Han jealous."

"That was the second time, what about the first time?"

"The first time they were about to die!" Dustin got to his feet now, staring at Mike with wide, incredulous eyes. "They were swinging ten-thousand feet in the air!"

"Hey!" Eddie shouted at them now, as kids at the surrounding tables started to stare and laugh. And usually, yes, he'd flip them off, tell them to mind their own business. Pull the whole freak card to get them to look away. The freshman needed to learn when to not place a target on their own backs; he hopefully wouldn't be here to protect them forever. "Shut up! Sit down!"

The three boys immediately clamped their mouths shut and Dustin sunk back into his seat as the older boys snickered.

"What's so important that you're about to start throwing punches over there?" Eddie questioned. The boys seemingly made themselves smaller and Eddie had to sigh. "Come on, I'm not gonna bite your heads off."

The entirety of Hellfire Club shot a skeptical look at him and his rolled his eyes.

"M-maybe you can help us," Mike suggested. "We're in the middle of a debate."

"A debate? What kind of debate?"

"One of the utmost importance," Dustin said desperately. "Because Mike is insane."

"I am not! You're the one who's lost it. 'There's something innate.' Did we even watch the same movie?"

The boys all started to bicker again, louder this time, and Eddie needed to whistle to get them to quit it.

"See that's not very helpful. Why don't you tell me what movie, and what the problem is, and I can offer final and absolute judgement."

"Because you're right all the time," Jeff muttered under his breath to Gareth, causing Eddie to toss an eraser at him good-naturedly.

"Star Wars," the three freshman all answered simultaneously, and then they started talking over each other about whether Luke and Leia knew they were siblings when they kissed or if he had a thing for Leia and if Han was really weirded out by it all when he found out.

They were so caught up in their explanation that they didn't notice the members of Corroded Coffin get all tense, or the way that Eddie began to clench his fists and grit his teeth.

Until aforementioned lead guitarist stood up himself and hauled his backpack over his shoulder. They all stared at him, his bandmates with fearful eyes, and the freshman with hopeful ones.

"Easy," Eddie answered with a sardonic smile. "Star Wars is a dumb shit movie and you shouldn't waste your breath arguing over it."

And he walked past his friends just as the bell rang signaling the end of the period.

---

"What do you mean you don't like Star Wars?"

"Drop it Henderson."

"Is it...are you more of a Trek fan? Is that it?"

"It's not--"

"Because it's ok if you are! I like Star Trek too. I got Vulcan ears for Christmas last year and I have the new Klingon dictionary on hold at Waldenbooks. Pretty sure I'm already better at it than Latin."

"Do you not understand the meaning of drop it?" Eddie slammed his locker shut and stared at the younger boy. "I just don't like it. It's...it's--"

"It's a cultural phenomena!" Dustin cut him off. "It's only the most detailed and expansive fictional universes I've ever experienced. Even better than Tolkien."

"That's blasphemy," Eddie scoffed.

"Ok maybe not Tolkien," Dustin conceded, hands held out innocently. "But seriously, it's insane. I thought that you'd be all over it. I was gonna even talk to you about helping me plan a small one-shot for Lucas' birthday set in the Star Wars universe. I would DM!"

Eddie, though annoyed with the topic conversation, fondly pushed the bill of Dustin's hat over his eyes.

"Come on!"

"Listen I'll help you," Eddie promised. "Whatever you wanna cook up for Sinclair's birthday, I'm your guy. I'll even get the guys to come and play if you want a bigger group. Just anything but Star Wars ok?"

He started to walk away but Dustin was hot on his heels, dodging other students left and right to stay in-step with Eddie.

"Why not? Just give me one good reason why you don't like Star Wars, and I'll drop it. Is it because Obi-Wan wasn't secretly Luke's father? Or..." He fumbled over his words, struggling to find a reason that his friend didn't like one of his favorite series. "Or...because Wedge was a better pilot than Luke but somehow Luke was the star of the Rebel Alliance."

"Stop it now."

"Do you not like C-3P0? No one likes C-3P0! Wait...is that your favorite character and you don't like the movie because everyone else hates him?"

Dustin was sure he'd hit the nail on the head and offered explanations and tried to convince Eddie that he was all wrong. And all of it fell on annoyed ears until Eddie, at his wits end, turned and grabbed Dustin by the shoulders. He stopped them dead in their tracks in the middle of the hallway, uncaring of the other students groans and insults as they pushed past.

"I don't like Star Wars," Eddie said through gritted teeth, a sense of finality in his words so the subject could be dropped once and for all. "Because I've never seen the movies. And I don't want to. They're overhyped, and dumb, and just a way to get little idiots like you to spend their money on posters and action figures and life savers."

"Lightsabers," Dustin corrected him, but then backtracked. "Wh--Eddie? What do you mean? You have to have seen them! Ed...Eddie wait!"

The metalhead let him go and the quickly retreated into the crowd leaving Dustin to call after him, confused.

---

Of course, news spread to the other freshman quickly. Dustin was devastated, Lucas was lost, and Mike felt betrayed that his role model--loose definition--hadn't seen the movies that shaped him as a person to this day. Shaped all of them.

Into nerds.

Even Max was surprised to hear that her neighbor hadn't seen it, as she was dragged to the depths of the Wheeler's basement along with the boys to discuss how this all could have happened.

They thought of everything. Body swaps and mind control. A curse! Mike was dead set on Eddie being a die-hard trekkie and, as someone who disliked the Trek himself, got irrationally angry about it.

"I swear he didn't even bat an eye when I told him about the Klingon!" Dustin exclaimed. "I just...I don't know."

"Well have you asked the rest of the geek patrol?" Max questioned, and all the boys turned to stare at her. "If Eddie hates it so much that he doesn't want to talk about it, the others have known him for a lot longer than any of us have. They're bound to know something right?"

"See this?" Dustin snapped his fingers and pointed at her. "This is why we need you in Hellfire. Eddie wouldn't be able to trick us anymore, you'd see right through it."

"Not gonna happen," she deadpanned.

The boys protested her refusal to play DnD with them, but took her advice and ran with it.

For a solid week, they pestered Jeff, Gareth, and Dave. And for a solid week, the older boys refused to budge. They tried everything. Bribes, blackmail, threats.

"You think," Gareth laughed when the boys cornered him outside the locker room before PE. "That I'm gonna tell you anything after you threaten to have Steve Harrington beat me up? That guy might've been a big douchebag few years ago, but I know he's a loser working at Family Video now."

All hope was lost as he was about to head to class. Until Mike spotted someone out of the corner of his eye, leaving the athletics hall for their next class, and he was struck with inspiration. He called out to Gareth.

"What if I can get you one of my sister's bras?"

Gareth skidded to a halt and looked over his shoulder with shock and, surprisingly, intrigue.

"...go on," he nodded.

Thus, a negotiation was made before the coach blew his whistle. And a few days later after school, at the picnic table out in the woods behind the football field, the exchange took place.

"Gimme the goods," Gareth held his hand out for his bounty.

"Story first, bra later," Lucas scoffed at him. "Otherwise what's to stop you from taking it and leaving."

Gareth clenched his hands and then let out a long-suffering sigh.

"At least lemme see what color it is."

The three freshman ducked their heads together to discuss the risks, and then Mike unzipped his backpack and flashed the tiniest peak of pastel purple lace at him.

"Nice," Gareth nodded. "Alright! You better not have anywhere else to go, we're gonna be here for a little while."

"My mom's not coming to get us until 6," Dustin agreed.

Gareth then took the time to weave the tale. One he heard from Jeff, who heard it from some guy named Dougie, who heard it from a girl named Ronnie, who only knew about it because she was there.

"It's his closely kept secret," Gareth explained. "Ronnie was still here when I was a freshman, and she wouldn't say shit about it. Which is why this can never make it back to me."

"We swear," the boys said simultaneously, and all crossed their hearts.

Apparently, Eddie had been all excited for the very first Star Wars movie when it first premiered. He saw the posters for it at the Hawk and babbled on and on about what it might be about. He'd always been a little interested in space, thanks to Star Trek--

"I knew it!" Dustin exclaimed.

"God damn it!" Mike cursed. "He's a Trekkie!"

"Are you gonna let me tell this story?" Gareth hissed.

"Sorry," Lucas apologized and slugged both of his friends in the arm.

--and he thought Star Wars was gonna be the next big thing. He was sure of it. Not only that, it was gonna be his new favorite thing. He was hesitant to ask his dad to buy tickets for the two of them to go and see the movie together. What with money being tight and his dad's unreliable presence. Still, he heard that the local radio station was giving two tickets away and he called and called and called until he won them.

"Wow," Mike was awestruck. "Two tickets for the opening day of Star Wars. Can you imagine? What a lucky son of a bitch."

"Uh," Dustin watched Gareths shifting eyes and pursed lips. "Mike I think you're forgetting something."

"What?"

"He didn't see it, dipshit," Gareth sneered. "Duh. Isn't that the whole point of you guys bothering me with this? Did you forget?"

Eddie, excited for the day, told his dad, Al, two weeks in advance. He and Ronnie had picked up the tickets for the show after school one afternoon, lying to Ronnie's grandma about having detention. And Al Munson, father of the year, promised that he would be around to take Eddie.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," he said and flashed his charming smile at his young and hopeful son. "We can make a day of it, how's that? You got the tickets, I've got dinner at Benny's afterwards. And you can get a sundae for dessert."

Eddie was over the moon, happy that his dad was finally excited for something that he enjoyed. He couldn't be bothered with Lord of the Rings or Narnia or any of the other stories that Eddie enjoyed, but he was excited for this. Probably because it had Wars in it. But that was ok. Beggars couldn't be choosers.

And then the morning finally came. A Wednesday in May, almost time for summer break. Al was sitting on the couch looking at something in the newspaper and Eddie reminded him about the movie before he left to catch the school bus. Al simply patted him on the head and promised to pick him up at 3 so they'd have plenty of time to get a good seat and watch the previews.

"And then the asshole never showed up," Gareth scoffed and broke all the kids hearts.

They didn't know a whole lot about Eddie's dad; he purposefully said precious little except that he was in jail and "belonged there, good riddance." If a good word was said about anyone in Eddie's family, it was said about his uncle Wayne. And even then it was scarce. Hearing this whole story though instantly put a bad taste in their mouths about the elder Munson.

Gareth continued the story, telling them how Eddie sat at one of the picnic tables for his dad until Ronnie and her grandma offered to drive him to the theater so at least he could see the movie. Ronnie even offered to see it with him. But Eddie refused.

"He was sure that his dad was coming. Waited there for hours. Until the movie had started, and then was over. And then he walked home alone."

"But..." Mike frowned. "But then why didn't he try again? Why didn't he go to see it when Empire came out...or...or Lucas...remember when your dad took us to see Return of the Jedi a couple years ago? And we tried to get him to take us all to the midnight showing of the whole trilogy?"

"Yeah! He told us we were crazy for wanting to sit there for 8 whole hours."

"But he didn't wanna see it," Gareth shook his head. "That's the whole point. His dad pissed him off, and now...he's written it all off. He refuses, because...I guess he doesn't wanna admit how upset he was. I don't even know if he cried! Ronnie never told anyone what happened afterwards. We all just know not to say anything about Star Wars around him."

Gareth got his bounty in the end and left, and the three freshman all sat there, defeated.

"I almost wish he was a trekkie," Mike said sadly.

"My dad's left us and it's still somehow not that bad," Dustin whispered.

"Listen," Lucas straightened his shoulders and looked at his friends. "This...man it really sucks, but we can't just give up. Eddie deserves to know all the ups and downs of Star Wars. He would love it. Probably more than the three of us combined. Hell, even Max thought so!"

The other boys nodded in agreement and sat upright as Lucas got to his feet.

"Are we just gonna sit here and let our friend who always looks out for us miss out on the best thing that he's ever seen just cuz his dad's a big asshole? Or are we gonna look out for him too?"

Mike and Dustin clapped and cheered and whooped.

And then the three of them got out their notebooks and began to scheme.

---

Eddie rang the doorbell of the Wheeler's house and waited silently on the porch, hands fiddling with the small gift and binder in his hands.

9am was too fucking early for a birthday party, in his opinion, but for the kids--for Lucas--and for Dungeons and Dragons...eh...he could stand to lose some sleep on a Saturday.

As long as they were done by 7 so he could go make a few bucks at Matt Donovan's party over on Elm. He'd lose out on sleep, but not cash.

The door opened and a tired-looking Ted Wheeler looked Eddie up and down with a sigh, then waved him in.

"They're all downstairs," he droned. "Snacks and sodas in the kitchen. Karen's gone to the store to get more. We're ordering pizza for lunch and there'll be cake a little later."

"Great," Eddie gave him a stiff nod. "Thanks."

Ted grumbled something about "having enough birthday parties for his own three kids let alone their friends too" and Eddie rolled his eyes.

Asshole.

He kicked off his sneakers in the pile by the stairs to the basement and then shuffled down the steps, eager to join his favorite group of idiots for a day of fantasy escapism.

And he was excited; it had been a while since he'd gotten to play one of his characters and Dustin had put together a fantastic campaign for Lucas.

Only...when Eddie got to the basement, he was in for a shock.

No tables and chairs, no dice, no maps or figures. No binders or books or character sheets. Nothing.

Just his friends all sitting together on and around the couch facing the tv set that had been set up in front of it.

With lightsabers in their hands.

They all cheered when they saw Eddie, Lucas the loudest of all.

Well, not all of them. Jeff, Gareth, and Dave all looked about ready to run. Especially when they saw the scathing look on Eddie's face.

"You're finally here!" Lucas laughed. "You're late.

"Happy Birthday," Eddie deadpanned and threw the gift to him. "What the hell is going on here?"

"What does it look like?" Dustin snarked. "It's Lucas' birthday."

"It was supposed to be Dungeons and Dra--"

"Well, I changed my mind," Lucas said smugly. "I thought...you know what, save it for the summer so we can make it longer than just a one-off campaign. Dustin worked really hard on it after all."

Eddie couldn't deny that. Still he glared at the plastic...toys that the boys all held.

"And you just happened to pick Star Wars?" he asked, arms crossed over his chest as he eyed them all skeptically.

"It's my favorite," Lucas insisted. "Not the first time I've had a Star Wars themed party. First time we're watching the trilogy all the way through though."

"Yeah cuz someone fell asleep last time we tried," Dustin jabbed Mike in the shoulder with his lightsaber pointedly.

"That's why we're starting so early this time," Mike parried with a jab to Dustin's stomach.

"So," Lucas stared Eddie down with challenge in his eyes. "Are you just gonna stand there and ruin my party? Or are you gonna sit down? Because we're never gonna get to Empire by the time the pizza gets here if we don't start soon."

Eddie stared at the hopeful expressions in all of his friends--his little sheeps--faces. Even the ones who were familiar with his feelings about the franchise.

And he weighted his options.

Eddie was a man who abided by the code. He'd gotten burned to many times in life not to. And that code included things like never trust your dad, rich people are assholes, popular girls are bad news. Somewhere in that list though, between always change your underwear when you think they're still clean and shake the can of soda before you hand it to your friends was never watch Star Wars.

It'd been that way for years.

But since the start of the school year, since Eddie had met these three kids...he'd started changing his code.

Steve Harrington wasn't an asshole. Well he used to be, but he proved that he could change.

Not all popular girls were bad news. Nancy was helping him work towards a better grade in biology and the student council president had slipped her number into Eddie's locker the other day.

And while there might be things that would never change--his father wasn't trustworthy, end of story--he figured...for his friends he might be able to bend some of his self-imposed rules.

Eddie sighed and looked at television screen with the words A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far, Far Away... frozen, and he felt a little pang in his heart.

And if he could do things like that for his friends...

His inner 10-year old self was sitting at that picnic table still, waiting for the van to pull into the parking lot. Only this time, he wasn't left high and dry. This time a much older Eddie drove up and popped open the van doors for little Eddie to hop in. They could finally fulfill this dream together.

...he certainly could do things like that for himself.

"Alright," he closed the distance and pushed his way through his friends so he could plop front and center on the floor in front of the television. He tried to keep the sour attitude, but as a blue plastic lightsaber was pressed into his hands, he couldn't help but crack a smile. "Let's see what all the hype is about."

The group cheered and Gareth pressed play on the remote.

And as the swell of music began and STAR WARS flashed on the screen, Eddie said aloud...

"Hey guys, what if it sucks?"

#star wars #Eddie munson #stranger things #Eddie munson fic #stranger things fic #fast forward to 1999 he's at the midnight showing of Phantom menace #fast forward again to 2015 and he's at the midnight showing of Force awakens #Eddie munson is a Star Wars fan

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sofiiel · 5 months

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There & Back Again : xreader addition (fem/afab)

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍: 7.8k words: (CW: angst. cannon level violence. self-effacing behavior via reader.)

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The concert raged on for hours, you leaned on Scott's shoulders to rest as you started to wind down.

When the lights came on, and you could hardly hear the band bid goodbye and thanks to the crowd as your eyes would barely stay open and your stomach rumbled.

Scott laughed quietly.

"I think someone's hungry." He said, looking to Eddie.

"Alright, come on, sleepy head." Eddie said, eyes shining, tickled by the sleepy daze on your face.

He stooped and offered you his back.

Without protest, you climbed on, holding onto his shoulders.

"I'm not sleepy." you grumbled, resting your head against Eddies.

"You make a nice pillow though, you're fluffy." you said, your face lost in his waves of hair.

"Let's get back to the van, We can stop somewhere and pick up something." Jeff snickered.

"Not much is still open at this hour." Gareth said.

"7eleven has hot dogs." Scott said.

"It'll have to do." Eddie said, with you, he led them out of the building.

Your eyes closed on you as you rested against Eddie. He smiled to himself when you nuzzled your face into his hair several times in your sleep.

"You two are making me sick," Jeff teased.

Eddie tilted his head and grinned goofily, "Aren't we, though." He sang.

"So when is this going to be more than pretend?" Scott asked with a smirk.

Eddie side glanced, he wasn't sure.

For now, he was marking it down to being comfortably playful.

"We're friends," Eddie said slowly, feeling the weight of the guitar pick hanging from the silver chain around his neck.

"Bullshit," Gareth called out, squinting.

"It's true." Eddie fired back.

Gareth rolled his eyes.

"Then let me have a shot, man." Jeff said, lightly elbowing Eddie's side.

"Not a chance." Eddie said flatly.

Scott nearly cackled, "God, that was instant jealousy!" he said.

"It wasn't. I don't get jealous, I can't get jealous there's nothing there. I just think...none of us are her type, is all." Eddie spoke flustered.

"Sure," Jeff sighed.

"I mean it. Losers like us? Hell no." Eddie said with an affirming nod.

"A girl like ____ deserves a prince, not the jester," Eddie said.

Scott rolled his eyes.

"Ah, see now that's just some self-effacing bullshit." Jeff said.

"You'll wake her." Eddie shot.

Reaching the van, Eddie pulled out blankets and lay them out in the back of the van.

Sitting on the edge of the van in the back, he gently tipped backward, allowing you to carefully fall back onto the blankets before covering you up.

He brushed a few beads of sweat from your brow and found himself unable to look away.

His eyes traveling down to the Corroded Coffin logo on your shirt, he smiled bitterly to himself.

"She needs someone who isn't stuck in the past." Eddie thought.

"You don't deserve to compete with the dead." he thought bitterly, closing the back doors and heading to the front seat.

You woke up with your legs feeling like cold pins and needles, you hopped up quickly.

"You ok?" Gareth asked, stirring awake from where he had been nodding off.

"Yeah, it's just my leg has fallen asleep, I need to walk it out." you said, climbing out of the Van.

"Alright, just don't go far, the guys'll be back soon." Gareth called after you before settling back into his seat.

You smiled as he passed out as soon as his eyes closed.

"Well I wasn't the only one tired." you thought, carefully closing the doors so as not to wake him.

Looking around, you noticed a fire far back in the nearby alley.

"It's not cold." you thought, it was indeed an odd sight, and you found yourself drawn to it as you walked about trying to wake up your leg.

Unwittingly, you soon ended up in the alley.

You gazed into the fire, "weird city." you thought.

As you moved to turn back a loud bang and a string of curses echoed down the alley.

"Damn it!" Someone shouted.

"Hold on!"

"Keep going! Mick, get them out of here!"

your hair raised feeling an odd sensation, almost magnetizing. With cautious feet, you went to investigate.

"I can still see the van from here." you thought, making your way deeper into the alley.

Ahead of you, you could hear tires screeching and quiet curses.

"Ah! ...shit!" a man cursed in a sharp, painful breath.

The groaning of metal sounded in your ears. Turning a corner in the alley through a back driveway leading into the garage of a building, your eyes grew wide.

"Oh my god, are you ok?" you asked, rushing towards the man pinned to the ground, stuck under the rolling door.

"Yeah, I'm just here for the hell of it!" he snapped, face dotted with a few tattoos.

The heavy metal door was quick to punish him for lashing out, he grunted as it slipped down more, pressing into his back.

You knelt, took his hands in yours, and pulled.

"Wiggle your legs!" you called.

The man did as he was told, yet it did little to help.

Releasing him, you stepped back, "It's no good, I-I can go get my friends, they can help."

"Don't!" the man shouted, "do that... I don't need any more witnesses," he stated, calming down.

Pawing at the ground, trying to pull himself free, he held out his hands.

"Come on, one more time if you're feeling useful." he shot.

You rolled your eyes, "You're rude to be stuck you know?" you grumbled.

Bending down you wrapped your arms under his shoulders.

"I'm going to raise up and walk back, ok?" you explained.

The Man nodded.

"On the count of three, ok. One, two -" you lifted and pulled.

"Shit! You said three!" he complained.

Your back protested at the man's weight and eventually, your legs gave out from under you, sending you backward.

"Ouch!" you cried, your back screamed and worse you could feel the man's full weight on you.

"It worked! Strong one aren't you?" He asked, pushing himself up.

He looked down into your face, a smile slowly forming on his own as he looked her up and down.

"And kind of cute," he said.

Behind them the garage door raised, you craned your neck to look around the man who turned to look back as well.

"That ain't good." He muttered, spotting a man in a white lab coat pointing at them with two armed men at either side of him.

"Wh-what?" you sputtered.

"With me!" The man shouted, hopping up, he pulled you to your feet by the arm and started running.

Your feet could hardly keep up with his long legs as he ran.

"Wait! Don't haul me off with you!" you shouted.

"No time to stop, you've been seen with me, if you don't want to die, cutie, you'll keep running." He said.

You felt a cold sweat coming on, "you're a dumbass, McKinney!" your mind shouted at you.

The man led you through the back alleys, grasping his side, his pace slowed, and he started to limp.

"Are you ok?" you asked.

He panted, "ugh..." He removed his hand to show a small patch of red.

"That's not good." you murmured.

The man looked about for a quick escape, "yeah, tell me somethin' I don't know," he muttered.

Footsteps were coming up fast behind them. Looking about, you spotted the dumpster.

"In the trash or behind it, guy?" you asked the man.

"What are you talking about?" He asked.

"Hiding! Hurry pick one!" you called.

The man shrugged and limped towards the dumpsters, crawling behind them, he hid quietly.

You dropped to the ground, hugging yourself, shivering as if terrified.

Two men in police uniforms came from around the corner.

"Kid, have you seen a group of unsavory-looking persons come through here?" One of them asked.

You looked up at them, your eyes welling with tears.

"They... They went...there were gunshots, and they threatened me.... I-I was just trying to take a shortcut h-home...." you stammered, letting a tear roll from your eye.

"They're bad men, which way?" The officer asked again, clearly losing his patience.

"U-up the block, half in a car, the other took an f-fire escape." you lied, The officers signaled to each other to split up.

"Can I g-go home now?" you asked.

"Yeah sure kid, be careful." the officer called before both took off, calling into walkies.

You lingered for a moment, pretending to cry and dust yourself off.

The man quietly peeked his head out from around the dumpster after a few minutes.

"Not bad." He praised, limping over to you, he gave you a shove, "this way." he said.

"But why can't I just go back to my friends?" you asked.

The man gave a cynical laugh.

"Oh, you have no clue what you've just stepped in. You're a goody two shoes, aren't ya?" He asked, leading you ahead of him.

Eddie, Scott, and Jeff returned to the van with food in hand, looking around cautiously.

"What the hell was all that?" Eddie asked, opening the back Van doors.

His eyes fell on the empty, messy blankets.

"Where's ____?" Jeff asked.

"Gareth!" Scott called, waking the sleeping boy.

Gareth awoke with a start, "what?" he yawned.

"Where is ___?" Eddie asked.

"Her leg fell asleep, she went to walk it out. I told her not to go far." Gareth explained rubbing his eyes.

Eddie set the food down and stepped away from the van, looking around.

"I don't see her." He murmured.

"Well, she couldn't have gone far, right? Maybe she went inside to use the bathroom and we missed her?" Scott reasoned, seeing the panic slowly build in Eddie's eyes.

Eddie nodded his head, "yeah," he exhaled with a nervous smile, "that's gotta be it." he whispered.

"I'll go check." Jeff offered jogging back into the 7eleven.

Eddie however had become fidgety, climbing out of the van, Gareth offered Eddie a nearly empty pack of cigarettes.

Snatching them up quickly, Eddie pulled one free of the box and placed it between his lips, letting Gareth light it.

"I'm sorry, man. But I'm sure she's just fine," said Gareth.

"That sounded like gunfire," Scott murmured.

"Not helping!" Eddie snapped, causing Scott to hold his hands in the air.

Jeff returned from the store with a troubled frown on his face, looking to the others he shook his head.

"Not in there." he said.

Eddie's leg nearly gave out from under him as he choked on his cigarette smoke.

Scott gave his back a few pats, but it did little to help.

"Damn it," Gareth whispered, cupping his hands around his mouth, "____!" He called out.

"____?!" Jeff called as well.

"If this is payback, it's not funny, ____!" Eddie shouted, following suit.

The guys walked about the parking lot and a little down the alley.

"No sign of her," Jeff whispered.

Eddie covered his mouth, hand trembling.

"Goddammit....god fucking damn it…" he muttered.

Cupping his mouth again, he shouted, "____ McKinney! This isn't cool! Come out!" his voice pitched with panic.

"Shut up, she ain't here!" someone shouted from a nearby apartment window.

Eddie turned about until he spotted who the person was and threw up both his hands, flipping the bird.

"Fuck you, man!" He shouted.

The guys quickly moved out of the way as the man above them threw down a can of soda.

"Relax, Eddie, we'll just wait here for a little while in case she comes back. After fifteen minutes, we can ride around and look." Scott offered calmly, giving Eddie's shoulder an encouraging shake.

Eddie turned to Scott with a pitiable look on his face.

"She was afraid to leave." Eddie spoke, his voice small. "I said..."

Scott stopped him. "Don't assume the worst. For all, we know she fell asleep." Scott tried his best to lighten the mood.

Eddie walked to the van and leaned against it, his eyes darting all over the place as he puffed on his cigarette.

You followed the strange man, he seemed to be slowing even more.

"You need to stop." you called to him.

"Why we're almost there." he said starting to climb the steps to an abandoned building.

You looked up at the dirty, busted windows, "is it safe in there?" you asked.

He laughed at you, "as safe as we need." He said.

"We?" you questioned, lending him your shoulder for the support you helped him up the stairs, looking down at his wound.

"You're bleeding more." you murmured.

The man opened the battered metal door and hobbled inside with you.

It looked to be old butchers, you were unsettled by the various rusted meat hooks.

"It's empty." you whispered, "and creepy....are you sure this is where you were headed, guy?" you questioned.

The man chuckled, "first off My name's not guy, it's Axel" he said.

"And second, Kali drop the tricks, She's cool for now!" He called out, Axel's voice bounced off the walls in an echo.

"Are you sure?" A smooth voice called, when out from a room that looked to be an office came a short girl with a deep purple mane of hair and dangerously sharp dark eyes.

"She pulled me out of their clutches, so for now. She's cool." Axel said wincing.

A woman with a mass of thick kinky hair strolled lazily towards the three of you.

"Jeez Axel, you fuck up, look what you did to yourself." she sighed, examining the blood stain growing on his shirt.

"Ah! Damn it, don't touch it, Mick!" Axel barked.

You would have giggled if the intense gaze of Kali hadn't been so frightening. Kali's eyes narrowed as she walked closer.

"Who are you?" she asked, her accent foreign.

"I-I'm ___." your words fumbled.

"Relax, kid." said a large man with a thick black braid growing out of the back of his otherwise bald head.

"____ who?" Kali asked.

"McKinney." you answered quickly.

Mick took Axel's weight from you and helped him hobble to a table, while Kali circled you.

"____McKinney, from where?" she asked.

"Um.... Indiana..." you mewed, feeling fear rise in your chest.

Kali froze, "Indiana." she hissed, flipping a switchblade out, she pointed the tip of the blade under your chin.

You held your hands up, "what did I do!" you called in a panic.

"Easy, Kal! This dope don't know nothing. I wouldn't have led her here if I thought otherwise." Axel called out.

"It's just a coincidence," he added.

"Why are you here?" Kali asked.

"I, I heard something in the alley and found, Axel and then-"

Kali closed her eyes in frustration, "Not that!" she growled, her eyes opening again.

"Why are you here in Pittsburgh." she asked more clearly.

"Oh, right - my friends and I were here for the concert." you said.

"They're probably worried...." you whispered, guilt filling your words.

"The Motorhead Concert?" The large man asked with a grin.

You gave a timid nod.

"I bet that was good," he said.

You managed a small smile at his gentle tone, "it was pretty amazing." you replied.

"Stop making friends, you'll get attached, and we might need to get rid of her." Mick muttered while patching up Axel's wound.

You gulped, and your fingertips ran cold, "get rid of!" you gasped, backing away.

"I didn't do anything." you reasoned.

"I helped." you added quickly.

"You've seen us, you've seen where we are hiding. And you could tell someone." Kali reasoned.

You shook your head, nearly shouting, "if I wanted to do that, I would have told the officers that, Axel was hidden behind the trash!"

"Leave her be." Axel grunted, swatting Mick's hands away and getting to his feet.

"Look, I can handle her myself if she's a rat. Yeah?" He said.

Kali eyed you up and down. Crossing her arms, she glared.

"You feel....wrong." she said to you.

You drew your head back and asked "wrong?"

Kali turned her back to you and headed back towards the office.

"Keep her if you want, but we will have to find out what to do with her before people come looking." Kali said.

"Can't I just go back to my friends?" you asked, looking around.

"Not tonight, the streets will be hot." said the large man.

You could feel real tears sting your eyes as anxiety rose throughout your body.

"Hey," The large man called, heading towards you.

He knelt before you and smiled kindly. "You'll be fine if you do as we say, alright?" he asked.

You gave a nod, "what the hell does that mean?" you thought.

"They call me Funshine." He said.

You glanced between Funshine and Axel skeptically, "I can always...just offer..." you thought to yourself, unzipping your vest all the way.

"You can do what you want with me if you let me go." you murmured quietly, voice hollow.

Axel and Funshine looked at each other, mortified.

"Ey, I know we look pretty sketchy, but we ain't those type of guys, sugarplum," Axel said, shaking his head.

You kept your head low, "I wouldn't tell anyone if it'd get me home faster." you continued.

"It's all I've got to offer. Ransom won't work, my family won't pay." you said, voice trembling.

"How could you be so stupid." you cursed yourself silently.

Axel looked to Funshine again.

"Who the hell did a number on you?" Mick asked from her seat, where she calmly puffed on a cigarette.

You finally looked up. "I just want to see my friends again," you said, a frown forming on your face.

"He won't forgive himself otherwise. He's like that," you whispered.

Axel smirked, "oooooo" he sang teasingly, "he?"

"Leave her alone, Axe." Funshine warned.

"Aw come on, I'm just curious." Axel hummed.

"Cute little Sugarplum's got a boyfriend! We should know, we might have a fight on our hands." Axel mocked.

You fell silent, it seemed like talking wasn't helping you any.

Mick tilted her head, to a nearby chair, "have a seat, you look beat." she offered.

You quietly did as you were told, moving carefully. you slowly sat down at the table and rested your head on your arms.

"Thank you." you sighed.

Mick shook her head, "this girl is not dangerous." she thought.

"You thirsty?" Mick asked.

"Look at you being a softy." Axel chimed, walking off.

"Shut up." Mick shot.

"The girl is a whipped dog. We can chill." Mick said.

"Whipped dog?" you thought bitterly.

Mick laughed quietly as she noticed the annoyed glint in your eyes.

"Strike a nerve? Offering yourself up like that, you're someone's dog." Mick said.

You lowered your gaze and fell silent again.

"God, is it that obvious." you thought.

Mick frowned, part of her wishedyou would protest.

"Here you go," Axel said holding out a bottle of water.

"Thanks." you said taking the water and quickly drinking it.

Axel took the chair across from you, "well there's no sense sitting in mind-numbing silence," he said slowly grinning, "how about a game?" he asked.

"Does she look in the mood for a game?" Mick barked.

Axel shrugged, "what do you say? Poker? " He asked.

"I've never played," you answered.

Axel watched and blinked several times, "it's real boring out there in hicksville ain't it?" He asked, watching Funshine join them at the table.

You shrugged, "depends on who you are I guess."

"Ok, fine, go fish?" Axel asked.

"I'm not a child," you said flatly.

Axel gave you a sly smile, his eyes looking you up and down. Yet it wasn't with the pure hunger you'd faced before and mildly flirtatious.

"So how old are you then?" he asked.

You side glanced, "eighteen." she grumbled.

Axel's eyes shimmered.

"No, Axel." Mick said firmly.

Axel rolled his eyes and started to deal a hand.

"A guy gets tired of looking at two of the same old, bitter women every day." He muttered sulking.

Funshine laughed, "what are we playing?" He asked.

"Spades." Axel pouted.

"Can I.....sit this out?" you asked.

"Sure kid." said Funshine watching your eyes droop.

The thoughts in your head were of Eddie's face.

"Hopefully I can go back soon. Or Amy and Robin will skin him alive." you thought as she heaved a tired sigh, "if he doesn't skin himself."

Axel watched as your eyes closed, and your breathing became less rigid. Laying down his hand, so the other couldn't see it, he removed his large tattered blazer.

Walking around to your chair, he draped it over your shoulders.

"Consider it a thank you." He said quietly before returning to his seat.

With his elbow on the table, he rested his cheek in his hand.

"All joking aside, she is kinda cute though, isn't she? Like a puppy." He asked.

"I said no." Mick warned him.

"Lay off, we're sending her on her way, anyways." Axel shot back as they continued to play.

From within the office room, Kali looked out the windows into the main area, watching her crew play cards. Her eyes were glued to you as you slept.

"Why does the air around you feel so familiar?" Kali questioned quietly.

She didn't like it, it was both oddly comforting and disturbing. The way the air felt in that bright white room painted in vibrant designs of a storm's passing and when he would visit her there.

Deceptively gentle blue eyes filled with bitter fire came to Kali's mind, causing her to shudder.

However, her friends seemed to feel comfortable with your presence, and they had become well aware of when someone was a potential enemy.

They should have, after so many years on the run, after so many years of hunting and being hunted.

Kali folded her arms and cocked her head as she studied you. As you breathed in and out, Kali could almost feel the air around her move in the motion of your breathing.

As if each release of air moved the world around them. An unseen ripple.

"What are you?" she wondered, "you don't feel like one of us." she murmured.

Resolving, in the back of her head, she would have to check your wrists in the morning.

Trying to push her thoughts back, Kali walked to the cot made in the corner of the old office and laid down to try and find some rest. She would trust the protection of their hideout to Mick and Funshine.

Back at the 7elven, Eddie pushed away from where he leaned against his van.

"That's more than fifteen minutes." he muttered, climbing into the driver's seat and starting the van.

"We're riding around to look now," he said, peeling out of the parking lot and driving up the alley.

Jeff, Gareth, and Scott looked out the windows for clues, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary for an alleyway.

"Nothing down here, maybe check the street? She could have wandered and got lost?" Jeff offered in a question.

"You sound unsure," Gareth muttered.

"I'm just trying to hand out ideas." Jeff sighed.

Eddie gripped the steering wheel tightly, his eyes scanning every side of the road and sidewalk. His heart thumped uncomfortably at the thought of you wandering about in the dead of night, in a strange city.

In a small black car hidden under a busted streetlight, a woman peered through tented windows.

"They've been separated, from the target. She's with the agitators, they've seemed to have gotten away." she spoke into a ham radio on a private signal.

"Track her, and prepare the Chameleon. I want word sent to cast the lure for the Bauman girl. If we do this right, We will have the last piece to power the Taran. Our friends in the north will be pleased." a voice said over the radio.

"Yes sir," The woman responded, turning to the man in the car with her, she gave a nod.

"Make the call," she said. He wasted little time switching on his walkie.

When everything fell silent, you peeked one eye open and glanced around the dark room. you could hear a door open and close, and faint snoring came from across the room. Mick had fallen asleep on a small cot.

"Funshine must have gone outside," you thought.

Your one-eyed gaze falling on Axel, he was sleeping in the chair, his feet kicked up on the table as his head leaned backward, mouth hanging open.

"Probably to patrol. I could probably find a way out if I'm quiet." you thought.

Quietly removing the coat, you dropped it lightly to the floor. Careful not to make too much nose as you pushed out of your chair, eyes shifting between Mick and Axel.

"Ok, nice and easy, just take your time. You remember the way back." you told yourself silently.

Backing away from the table, you looked at the back door you'd heard close.

"He can be fast for a big man, I could probably make it out a broken window." you thought.

Studying Axel and Mick once more, you found that they seemed sound asleep. Turning your back to the table, you quickened your pace to the window.

Looking both ways of the outside, you took hold of the window seal, the glass had been broken for many years the frame was smooth but rusted.

Preparing to pull your body up and out, you felt something cold and sharp to your throat.

"Come on, sugarplum. Be smarter than that." Axel's voice whispered behind you.

You pulse quickened, "Don't make me cut you. I'd rather not." he said quietly.

"I... I need to get to my friends." you whispered.

"Yeah? So trust us. Believe it or not, we ain't in the habit of killing everyday people." He said.

You felt a chill down your spine, "but you do kill people?" you asked shakily.

"Only those that deserve it." Axel whispered.

"I won't ask again, sit back down, close your eyes, and go back to sleep," Axel warned.

You found your feet didn't want to move.

Axel sighed and removed the blade from your neck, "better? Now move." he pushed.

"Maybe I could knee him and run?" you thought, glancing at Axel.

But in that time he took hold of your shoulder, and shoved you towards the table.

"I swear to god you'd better not make me hurt you." He whispered.

You turned to look back at him.

"I said please." He said.

"When?" you whispered.

"It was implied." He shot back, taking his seat in front of you again.

You sat back down and sighed, your eyes never leaving Axel.

"How's a guy that tall and in those clunky boots move so quietly?" you questioned in your mind, shutting your eyes.

"I should have known it was a stupid idea to try running." you thought.

The sun began to rise and the guys of Corroded Coffin were sound asleep in the van, each leaning against their posts at the windows.

All but Eddie that is, pulled back into the 7eleven parking lot he leaned against the steering wheel glaring into the empty alleyway.

With heavy tired eyelids, Eddie tried his best to stay awake, guzzling down his fourth cup of the strongest coffee the convenience store had to offer.

"It tastes like crap." Eddie thought, reaching for the now cold coffee and taking another long sip.

Leaning his forehead to the wheel, he sighed and let his body relax for a moment.

"What's happened to you now." He thought.

"Did you sleep?" Scott asked, waking from the front seat.

Eddie shook his head, gazing down at his shoes.

"I think... I think we should go to the police." Eddie said, a hand around his stomach as it squirmed from the cold, bitter coffee.

"You ok?" Scott asked.

"Yeah, it's just...way too much coffee." Eddie groaned, rubbing his stomach.

The twisting inside turned into a bubble, and Eddie quickly hopped out of the van, rushing towards the nearby trashcan.

His body purged the bitter liquid out of his stomach.

Scott shook his head and watched his friend from the van.

"How's he doing?" Jeff asked.

"Not good." Scott murmured.

"Dude, he's puking." Jeff pointed out.

"Yeah Sherlock," Scott sighed shaking his head, "too much Coffee, probably a bit of nerves too." he added.

Eddie wiped his mouth and stood up, his eyes falling on a black car across the street. As Eddie stared at it, he couldn't shake the bad hair-raising feeling.

Taking one last look at the car, Eddie jogged to the Van.

Closing the door, Eddie murmured, "That car is giving me the creeps."

"You're just paranoid." Jeff reasoned.

"No, it feels like someone is in there watching." Scott agreed.

"That creepy thing still there?" Asked Gareth.

"How long has it been parked there?" Eddie asked.

"About three or four hours. I went to take a leak and some guy was snapping pictures of the area." Gareth said.

Eddie started the van, "let's move somewhere else, I don't like the looks of that car." he said.

Meanwhile, in the abandoned butcher building, your eyes fluttered open.

"Wakey, wakey." Axel's voice chimed.

"Kali said to let her sleep." Mick stated flatly.

"But it's been hours, girls get weird when they get hungry." Axel muttered, rolling his eyes.

"Last thing we need is for her to wake up raging at us." He added, setting a hot styrofoam bowl of noodles where you had your head resting.

"What?" you questioned sluggishly, rubbing your eyes.

"Breakfast, sleeping beauty." Axel lulled.

You looked down at the bowl and raised a brow.

"Instant noodles." you murmured.

Looking up at Axel and then to Mick. Mick hid her eyes with her hands, "You're a moron." she murmured.

"Look, beggars can't be choosers, we need another store run." Axel shrugged, passing you a baggie filled with a plastic fork and folded napkin, the sort of thing you get at some fast food places.

You could feel the acidic burn of your empty stomach and took the packet willingly.

"Thank you." you said, tearing it open and digging into the noodles.

Your face scrunched together after the first bite.

"Yeah, it might be about a few months stale," Axel said.

You sighed but continued to eat.

The office door flew open and you instantly jumped.

Kali arched a brow, "what, are you afraid of everything?" She questioned.

You sank into the chair, stating quietly, "not everything, you did stick a knife in my face."

Kali gave a smooth smirk.

"Well, technically it was under your face." Axel hummed, taking a seat.

"Does it matter?" you asked.

Kali walked up to you and in a swift movement snatched up your arm.

"Ow hey!" you cried out as your wrist was flipped over.

"Nothing..." Kali exhaled, her eyes searching your skin.

Kali moved her face closer, "maybe it's faded." she thought, but there were no hints of a mark.

Dropping your arm, Kali glared at you.

"What are you then?" she asked.

You sat baffled, "um...what?" you asked.

"What are you, if you are not from the lab. Why do you feel like -" Kali stopped herself, took a breath in, and exhaled.

"Nevermind." She sighed.

"So she's clear then?" Mick asked.

"For now, I guess so. But I don't want to send her off just yet." Kali replied, looking you up and down thoughtfully.

"You don't even know what you have in you." Kali murmured to you.

"In me?" you side glanced, "this whole group is nuts." you thought.

"So can we keep her?" Axel asked.

Kali crossed her arms, "I don't know Axel. A pet is a big responsibility, are you gonna walk her, feed her, and water her?" Kali asked sarcastically.

"Don't forget you have to clean up her messes." Mick hummed.

You frowned and quietly ate your noodles. "I'm still here, you know," you grumbled between bites.

Kali's head snapped up and looked about, "where is Funshine?" she asked quickly.

Mick pointed over her shoulder to the back entrance, "He went on another patrol, said he heard a car out back."

"Alone?" Kali asked, to which Axel shrugged.

"Like he can't handle himself? Nobody comes out here." He said.

No sooner had the word left Axel's mouth can the screeching of tires outside the backdoor. The three of them glanced at each other in panic and rushed out.

You sat stock still as you looked around.

"They just left me?" you asked yourself, eying the front door.

Hopping up and knocking back your chair and noodles, you made a mad dash for the front door, your feet carrying you down the steps and up the alley.

Back in Hawkins, Amy sat in the basement of the Creel House looking through another box of files she'd come across in the office at the Lab.

"These are all useless." She murmured.

Only able to knick the files from the upper levels, Amy hadn't expected to find much.

With her motivation cut, Amy sat in the quiet, her eyes scanning over the basement. She had to admit she was bored now in the days she spent alone.

Having left her uncle's Wing for the past three years to hunt for her sister, she'd been on her own.

Amy laughed to herself, "I guess she reminds me of you" she spoke quietly to her sister.

With a sigh, Amy got to her feet, "So let's make sure I find some new information for us." She said.

"Right after some exploring." Amy murmured, making her way up the basement stairs and into the Creel House proper.

The door took the jiggling but eventually, it popped open, kicking up a wave of dust.

"Ugh..." Amy groaned, swatting the air in front of her clear.

"Whoa, this place had a lot of webs," Amy murmured, looking about.

A beat-up convertible pulled up in front of the old mansion, hearing the engine, Amy ducked and sat against the hallway wall.

"Relax, who'd be coming here anyway?" Amy thought to herself, "alright, so maybe realtors. Shit..." she whispered, listening intently.

Outside, Angel stood on the long worn walkway to the old Mansion, a cold expression on his face as he watched the house.

"So I'm here." he thought to the voice in the back of his head.

"Why? Why the fuck did you want me back here?" He asked it, thoughts seething.

Oh, how he loathed this building, He'd wished for years that the city would decide to knock it down. No one seemed to understand the rot and taint it contained was far worse than anything that could naturally condemn a home.

He had left four years ago, and he'd hoped he'd never look at it again. Even going as far as dodging the block it was built on.

"Enter"

The voice in his head growled, frustrated with Angel's attitude.

Angel rolled his eyes, "I said I don't take orders. I'm beyond that now, corpse." His thoughts growled.

Regardless, Angel started the walk to the door.

Reaching the door, Angel tried the knob, "locked again." He muttered.

"Do you want to or should I do all the work?" Angel asked the voice.

Without a word from his inner annoyance, the door knob slowly turned. "Thank you for being useful. For once." Angel murmured.

"I do not take orders either."

The voice said.

Angel lifted his head and prepared to meet whoever waited on the other side of the stained-glass door.

Amy looked up at the guy before her, trying to mask her confusion.

"It's just some guy." she thought to herself.

Meanwhile, his gaze on her seemed void, "so this is why...." Angel thought.

He could feel the unique weight in the air around the girl in the doorway.

"What do you want?" Amy asked, breaking the lingering silence, "who the hell are you?" she asked.

"I could ask you the same thing, this house hasn't been lived in for well over twenty years," Angel said dryly.

He could feel his skin crawl, and something starved inside of him started to wake. Just looking at her, he could tell she found him worrying.

"Yeah, well not anymore, so beat it." Amy said quickly, trying to slam the door.

Angel slipped his foot in the way, and didn't so much as flinch. Amy looked up at him in a panic as he offered an unsettling smile, she could tell it was forced as his eyes glinted like a knife.

"You don't have to be like that, I'm Angel. You see, I'm supposed to be meet-"

Amy gasped and swung open the door, "Your Angel?" She asked, looking him up and down.

Angel squinted down at her, "You...know me?" he asked.

Amy rolled her eyes and looked him over one more time.

"You kissed my friend without asking, you little shit." Amy growled.

Tilting her head, she shook it as if puzzled, "She said you were pretty.... I don't see it." Amy murmured.

A new smile inched across Angel's face, "You know the little fairy?" Angel asked.

His eyes flickered above Amy, glancing over her into the mansion.

"Is this where she hangs out? Never would have thought that." He said.

"Not exactly no, not in here, or uh, up here...." Amy said with a shrug.

Angel peered at Amy, trying to mask the troubled grimace rising to the surface of his face.

"So" Angel lulled, "you're a friend of hers?" He asked, slowly stepping inside the house.

Amy nodded, "Why are you looking at me like that?" Amy asked carefully, taking a step back from Angel at the ominous stare.

He looked her over before his gaze shifted, Amy followed his eyes as Angel shifted his gaze to a dusty forgotten vase on a small table in the hallway.

Narrowing his eyes slightly as the vase shattered into a powdery substance.

Amy jumped, watching the dust settle around the small heap of vase.

"Holy shit." She breathed, ready to defend herself as she mentally pictured the basement for a quick getaway.

Angel's voice lent a tone like that of dry ice, "Relax. Luckily for you - I can't touch you." He hummed with bored eyes.

Amy's eyes narrowed in a glare, "and why's that, who and what are you?" she asked in a hiss.

"So I am assuming you're not from the pit." Angel murmured, looking away.

"The pit?" Amy asked.

Angel snatched up her arm and checked her wrist.

"No, mark." he sighed. "So you're a real one, and not a synthetic." Angel whispered.

Amy snatched her arms free, "ugh, freak - stop it." she ordered, holding her ground.

Angel tilted his head and closed the distance between them, "I've seen your eyes before." he said.

"I'm certain," Angel said.

Amy tore her eyes away from Angel at the sound of another car stopping outside.

After hearing a door slam, Angel too turned to listen. The two glanced at each other and flocked to the window.

It was hard to see through the slots of the poorly boarded windows, as the glass was dirty.

"Who's that?" Amy asked.

Angel glared at the black car and the man headed up the walkway in a generic black suit.

"Nothing good," Angel murmured, carefully backing away from the window.

"We need to hide," Angel said.

"Why, we can take him, it's just one guy?" Amy scoffed.

"You don't understand," Angel said calmly, snatching Amy's arm, he led her towards the basement.

"Hey!" she shouted.

"Shut up, he'll hear," Angel whispered with bite.

In the cabin near the lake, Rick fidgeted while hastily packing a bag.

"Goddammit, kid, you sure as hell know how to pick 'em don't you." He muttered under his breath.

The curtains and blinds were drawn tight, hearing noises outside his home, Rick paused. His hand lingering over the firearm on his hip.

Rick quietly zipped up his bag and took it in hand, "it's better not to go investigate." He thought, rushing to the guest room.

Rick removed the mattress and box spring of the full-size bed, revealing a secret hatch underneath, bordered by the metal bed frame.

Stepping over the bed frame, Rick pulled a key out of his pocket and unlocked the door in the floor.

After climbing in, he tugged at the mattress to cover it up and shut the door. It wouldn't buy him much time should someone bust in, but it would buy him enough.

With a flashlight, Rick navigated the dark narrow tunnel, fashioned something like a small culvert pipe.

Rick reached down into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of note paper. On it was scrawled the hardly legible morse code message.

"The Storm is turning over the Pitts. The Fallen is in the castle. A Lure has been cast."

"Damn it," Rick said, heaving a sigh.

"How'd these kids get tied up with each other...the odds." He grumbled.

As you made a run for it, you could hear a great commotion back at the odd gang's hideout, gunfire soon followed. Your legs came to a slow stop.

Eyes shut tight, you sighed, "It was stupid to help out the first time, it's why you're in this mess..." you told yourself.

But as the noise grew louder, you found you couldn't ignore it.

"I'm gonna regret this," you whispered, turning around and heading back.

"Who the hell are these people?" Mick asked, hiding behind a row of dumpsters with a mildly wounded Funshine.

Axel fired his pistol until the clip was empty.

"I'm out." He said, ducking low with the others.

"Kal?" Axel asked turning to Kali.

"I've got a fire around the dumpers, it will buy us some time but..." Kali glanced at the solid wall behind them, they were pinned in.

"These aren't lab personnel," Kali whispered as she looked at her crew with concern.

"I don't know who they are, but they are hard to manipulate," she confessed.

"Your illusions?" Mick asked.

"It is taking a lot more work to fool their minds," Kali murmured.

You reached the back of the building, huffing and puffing quietly before you there were three people in tactical gear standing before three dumpsters.

They seemed baffled, looking up, though you couldn't see a thing.

Scattered around them, at least five other men in matching gear lay dead or wounded on the ground. You could feel your heart racing. Glancing down the driveway, a familiar black car and a large white van were parked.

Clenching your fists, you stepped forward, "Hey! What are you swat or something?" you asked.

Kali's ears perked at the sound of your voice, "____?" she mouthed to her friends.

"Great, what's the kid going to do, she doesn't stand a chance," Mick whispered.

The three men turned to face you, their gear was intimidating and held no signs of who they worked for. But it was the fact that everything was covered, no skin could be seen beneath their clothing, even on their face.

The men glanced at each other as if surprised, and one slowly lifted a square device, a red laser in a mesh pattern traced you from head to toe at a distance.

It reminded you of the metal detector wands used at the plant. The device started to beep wildly and then the moment a tiny green light flashed on its side, the Men aimed their weapons.

You tossed your hands in the air, "whoa wait...." you called, backing away.

"I just came to see what all the commotion was about," said you, taking a discrete glance toward the dumpsters.

You could spot Kali and her crew sneaking out from behind the large trash bins while the odd team had their backs turned.

The lights on the white van flashed on and You could see it coming towards you from the side view of your eyes.

"Shit." you thought, you wouldn't be able to move fast enough.

Rushing out, Kali grabbed your hand but realized it was a mistake, and both of you were pulled into the van as its door opened.

"Kali!" Mick cried out, unable to abandon Funshine he was using her to stand.

"Run!" Kali shouted as the door slammed shut, and the van took off backward out of the driveway.

"Hurry to the van." Axel said, ushering Mick and Funshine back towards the building, if they were fast enough they could reach their own van and make chase.

The guys of Corroded Coffin loitered outside a Burger King parking lot. Gareth, Jeff, and Scott stood near the van watching Eddie from a distance while he paced about in circles.

"Maybe we should just let him go to the police," Jeff murmured.

"No way, look at us. A bunch of guys out of town with one girl to see a metal concert? They'd eat Eddie alive, not only him, either. The rest of us too." Gareth reasoned.

"Well, we aren't going to find here just looking on our own at this rate." Jeff sighed.

Eddie stood with his hands on his hips as he gazed off absently into the city. Watching the cars as they passed, looking at the faces of pedestrians, hoping to spot you somewhere.

He bit his lip, the anger toward himself slowly growing.

Screeching tires came whirling around the corner.

Eddie watched wide-eyed as two different white vans chased each other. The first had its windows tinted.

A deep feeling of dread filled Eddie's core as he spotted the strange black car make chase as well.

Eddie ran for the boys, "get in, we're going after them." Eddie said.

"Why?" Scott asked.

"Just a feeling, come on!" Eddie barked.

The guys, although confused, jumped in the van as they were told.

In the giant blur of chaos you could see the green van from the window.

Pressing your hands to the window you shouted, "Eddie! Guys!"

You knew it would be of no use, but you couldn't stop yourself either as the tears welled into your eyes.

The hyperventilating began, and breathing hurt as your lungs clenched and your throat tightened. Your body trembled as the reality of what was going on started to sink in.

A number of different horrors entered your mind as you tried to think of what was to happen next.

One after another, tears started to fall and the sky above them darkened greatly.

Kali reached out and took your arm, "did you see your friends?" she asked you.

You couldn't answer.

"Hey, it will be alright," Kali called, pulling you close to her, she cast a glare at the man in the backseat with them. He held a gun, while a woman pulled out a chunky metal collar.

"What is that?" Kali asked.

You were quickly snatched away from her. You tried to struggle as the woman clamped the heavy neck brace around your neck.

"No! no! get it off me!" you shrieked, and the thick gray clouds above rumbled.

A crack broke the sky and rain fell in a hard curtain.

Kali looked out the window and then back to you, who was now hysterical.

The neck brace beeped rapidly and you released a cry of pain. Shocks dug deep into your spin, the quick intervals of pain made you dizzy and lose feeling in your body.

Kali watched in horror as you fell limp to the ground. Blood trickled out of your nostrils.

"Wh-what did you do to her!" Kali cried out, rushing to hover over you protectively.

"Hey...hey!" Kali called shaking you lightly.

Your eyes were open, but you gazed into nothing.

"If you behave, no further harm will come to any of you, it's going to be a short ride." the woman said firmly.

Kali collected you in her arms and crawled to the back of the van, creating any distance she could between the two of you and the two oddly dressed people before you.

Out the window behind them, Two vans tailed after them. Mick at the wheel, Axel leaned out of the passenger window with a nail gun. Closing one eye, he took aim at the tires of the kidnapper's van and fired.

"Holy shit! They're shooting at them!" Jeff shouted.

"Yeah, but that's not bullets," Scott said from his place between the front seats, squinting to see better.

"It's a nail gun, he's going for the tires," Eddie explained, but what his eyes were more focused on as they followed was the sky.

A strange light show flickered in them, like lightning shooting across the sky rather than hitting the ground.

While the rain stopped, the turmoil in the clouds remained. And in the back of Eddie's mind, he remembered the night it thundered in the distance as he held you weeping in his arms.

A shiver ran down Eddie's spine.

"What are you thinking?" Scott asked him.

"These guys know where she is. think about it, they peeled out in the same area as ____ went missing." Eddie murmured.

"That's insane, we should just go to the cops." said Gareth.

"And if I'm right, and she's in one of these vans, and we go back now - she could vanish off the face of the earth. Human traffickers or something." Eddie reasoned.

The guys glanced at each other nervously.

"Even if that's true, what are we gonna do against people like that?" Jeff asked.

"Hell if I know." Eddie whispered.

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#reader discretion advised #eddie munson x moster!reader #eddie munson x mckinney!reader #eddie munson angst #semi-dark fic #not suitable for minors #critique welcome #There & Back Again Eddie Fanfic

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1lostsoul0fishbowl · 1 year

Note

Hey!

😂 What’s the funniest comment someone has left on a fic of yours?

🙅‍♀️ What is one trope you refuse to ever write?

😂 - I had posted a chapter that ended with Gareth getting a tattoo of a phoenix on his wrist and Eddie giggling about what a simp he was, and someone left me a HILARIOUS comment about how Eddie has no right to make fun of anyone else’s tattoos because he’s a walking Chrissy billboard. Like he went in to get a scene from the Hobbit and just ended up with I LOVE CHRISSY CUNNINGHAM in huge letters across his chest. I still laugh every time I think about it.

🙅‍♀️ - I absolutely refuse to ever write anything that’s Character x Reader. I can NOT get down with that Y/N stuff. Do people actually fill in their own names? In the very few xReader fics I’ve read, I tend to see it not as “me” but as a separate character named Why-Enn (and Why-Enn is usually a hell of a lot hornier than I am haha).

Thank you so much for the ask, my friend! 💕

Ask me anything 🌺

#ask losty

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frogtape2 · 1 year

Text

Modern!Gareth Emerson Pt. 2

Part 2 of lover boy thoughts

He absolutely knows Sophia the first theme song thanks to his little sister

he hums it all the time and doesn’t even realize it

weakness is head scratches

and cheek kisses

he loves when his girl kisses him on the cheek

Since this is modern-day he's not an outcast

Like I would say he's not quite popular but a lot of people know him in high school

He lives in an arcade

has a ridiculously amount of tickets saved up

Has an interest in hockey

He plays it for fun with his cousins because pretty boy can’t be getting injured

Loves harry potter, star wars, the hobbit, Lord of the Rings, hunger games, maze runner

He's a movie guy

But he watches them on his phone so he can move around

Oh he lets his sister paint and customize one of his dnd characters

His family gets so happy when gets a gf

I see him as being straight

But he probably questioned it and kissed a guy and realized it wasn't for him

Big ally supporter

Big supporter in general

But back to the gf

His family gets so happy and instantly opens up their home with open arms

His little sister makes them both have tea parties with her

Gareth has heart eyes for her whenever he sees her interacting with his family

Like her helping his mom with dinner yeah he's ready to propose

His little sister loves doing his hair and putting butterfly clips in his hair

He totally forgets about them

His friends wouldn't even mention them tell they were leaving wherever they were

I mentioned before that he tried skating

Because of that he has the tools

Now with those tools he may or may not have stolen a street sign

Or two

When he's in a relationship he's not big on PDA

However when he's home he's the biggest baby

He just wants to either be wrapped up in their arms or have his arms wrapped around them

This dude lives for kisses

Neck kisses and he's done for

I also mentioned he plays Minecraft

Hellfire and him would have their own server and their builds are inspired by their campaigns

He 100% found a cat by a dumpster

That cat lives in luxury now

Hes the boyfriend that does everything perfectly

Like obviously everyone has flaws

But he is such a good boyfriend

If he was to mess up he’s instantly try to fix it

His love language is quality time

It's why he's always with his family, friends, gf

He loves being around the ones he loves

Oh he loves blaring music and man has he gone through a serious amount of headphones

Definitely broke a few by stepping on them

Without even thinking about it he got into the shower wearing them

His garbage cat chewed up a pair

He eventually found a pair that has kept up with him

Hellfire Club has its own TikTok to

Which people love

Lots of thirst comments

Gareth has gotten many comments talking about him being beautiful

Oh man the way this boy's face lit up when he was going through his grandparent's stuff and found a Walkman

The way he freaked out finding metal tapes

#froggie writes #froggie thoughts #gareth emerson #stranger things #modern gareth emerson #gareth the great #gareth x reader #gareth emerson x reader #stranger things x reader #gareth xreader #gareth emerson xreader

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mooncakesofpan · 2 years

Note

Gareth x male reader washing and brushing his hair while talking about random things

Gareth Emerson x Male!Reader

A/n: I'm so sorry I've been on a short hiatus I'm moving threw all of my requests. I've been busy with life and have really just got back into the swing of things. Also, I'm sorry this is short I hope you still like it again sorry it's so late.

Warnings: Fluff , He/Him pronouns

Word Count: 553

Stranger things Masterlist | Main Masterlist

DO NOT STEAL MY WORK

Gareth was supposed to be showing up at your house to watch a movie in your basement. You jumped up hearing the doorbell ring running the front door opening it, seeing Gareth with a bag of snacks for the two of you. “Sorry I'm late had to make sure my sisters got ready for bed before my mom got home,” he said holding a bag. “You're good, let me take that,” you say grabbing the bag from your boyfriend. your parents were out for the week and with it being the summer. Gareth looked at your movie collection, the one you've been building over the past few years. “you know you need more horror movies, right?” he said looking threw the bookcase “you, gonna buy me a larger horror movie collection?” You questioned plopping down on the old couch. You raise an eyebrow at your boyfriend still being met with silence “Exactly,” you say rolling your eyes with a smirk. You were sprawled out on your couch arms open for Gareth to come to cuddle with you. he eventually came and laid his head in your lap. ”good enough,” you say to your short boyfriend laughing at your slight disappointment that he didn't come to snuggle into you. As you start to play with his hair you realize its was kinda hard, and very brittle feeling. “Uh Gareth did you wash your hair after you got out the pool,” “uh no I didn't really have time I didn't wanna be any later” he shrugged “We can wash your hair if you want it's not good to leave chlorine in it,” you say looking down at him ”yeah why not, might as well” he sat up getting off the couch and going towards the bathroom you had in the basement. The shower head came off the holder and made it easy to wash hair in there you grabbed Gareth a new shirt in case as he sat on the floor back to the bath waiting for you to get back with shampoo and conditioner and searching around for a brush and grabbing a wide tooth comb not entirely sure what your boyfriend would prefer. you ran to your room grabbing one of your own old shirts. “ok I should have everything,” you say placing everything on the counter and sitting on the toilet seat next to the bath. you turn the tub on, waiting for it to get warm you look at your cute boyfriend's face admiring it from your spot next to him. His pretty blue eyes and although currently dry curls, still cute nonetheless. “so has corroded coffin started any new songs,” you ask guiding his head back against the towel you set on the edge of the tub to soften the edge “uh yeah - were working on a new song” ”oh that's good” Your hands run threw his hair massaging the shampoo threw his hair massaging his scalp. grabbing the shower hair you run more water against his scalp as your fingers continue to move threw his hair the two of you sit in comfortable silence as you wash and condition his hair. “Thank you for doing this for me,” he said eyes still closed “of course what type of boyfriend would I be if I didn't, “ you chuckle grabbing the towel. You sit the towel on his hair the towel soaking up the water. You dry his hair as your boyfriend still sits in front of you on the bathroom floor. You kiss his lips softly.

#gareth emerson #gareth emerson x reader #gareth x male reader #gareth x reader #gareth the great #gareth #gareth stranger things #stranger things x reader #stranger things #x male reader #stranger things fanfiction #xreader #x reader #fanfic

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sofiiel · 5 months

Text

There & Back Again : xreader addition (fem/afab)

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍: 8.7k words: (CW: angst. hurt/comfort. canon level violence.)

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"Wait...what! Hey!" Rick shouted as he saw the white van disappear from the corner of his eyes.

Scott and Jeff looked away from where they stood waiting on lemonade and quickly abandoned their hopes for it. Sprinting as fast as they could back to the caravan.

"Holy shit, where'd they go?!" Jeff shouted as he joined Rick wandering in the place the white van was once parked.

The three turned about but could not, for the life of them, find it or any trace of those that were inside.

"You think Kali has hidden it?" Scott asked.

"Did they abandon us?" Jeff asked.

"Maybe Kali and her crew just didn't sign up for this much trouble." Scott reasoned.

Rick looked at the boys with a troubled gaze, He didn't want to have to tell them.

"Why is everyone shouting..." Eddie muttered, exiting the van via the driver's door.

Gail timidly hopped out behind him, biting her lip nervously. She watched as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

Eddie looked where the three of them stood, "Where's the van?" he asked hesitantly.

Gareth hopped out of the van as well, hearing the gathering.

"Somebody should tell ____ they've left." Scott said.

The color drained from Eddie's face, "She isn't in my van," he said, thumb pointing over his shoulder.

His eyes wandered to the open road ahead of them.

"Amy?" Eddie asked.

Rick shook his head, and Eddie rushed to him.

"Angel?" he asked Rick.

"They got into the van, kid." Rick sighed.

Eddie stood looking into Rick's eyes in disbelief. He cracked a shaky smile.

"No," he said, shaking his head, "No we didn't come through all this just for..." Eddie's words cut off.

Backing away, he jogged up the road. "McKinney!" He called out, cupping his hands around his mouth.

You drew in a sharp breath, his figure was getting smaller, almost a speck as you looked through the back window.

"I'm sorry." you thought.

"Damn it!" Eddie yelled.

"____! Angel!" he shouted down the road.

Gail and the boys moved to Eddie quietly, each resting a hand on him.

"Eddie." Gail called softly.

He was quick to shake them free of him, "Don't!" he snapped. His fists clenched tight.

You turned away from the window, touching your chest lightly, "It hurts," you winced.

"Emotional energy can be kinetic as well if it's strong enough." Kali said.

"Try to ignore it, for now, we'll be far enough away soon - you won't feel it." Angel said.

Amy scowled, "ugh, how cold can you be," she snapped at him.

"He's angry," you murmured.

"He's hurt, not angry, not at you anyway." Kali reasoned.

"Axel, turn on some music, we need to cause some interference," she ordered.

"Gladly." Axel hummed, turning the radio on and blasting it.

You could feel the whole van shake with the bass. But it wasn't enough, a burning constriction had a hold on your lungs.

"Doris." Angel spoke in a dry, chilly tone.

"Yeah?" she asked.

Angel's gaze was fixed on you.

"Tell him to stop." Angel said, glancing back at Doris, "he's only hurting her."

Doris nodded and closed her eyes.

"Eddie,"

Doris' voice echoed in Eddie's head.

He nearly jumped out of his skin. "Son of a- Doris!?" Eddie asked, turning about to look for her.

"I'm not actually there, dude. Look, stop kicking up a fuss. We're doing what has to be done. You're hurting her, we'll get your little girlfriend back to you someday."

Doris stated.

"Bullshit, Dodo. You turn that van around and bring them back!" Eddie shouted.

"What the hell is going on?" Gareth asked, watching Eddie with wide-eyed as he shouted at nothing.

"Doris is in my head," Eddie growled.

"You bring them back, how am I supposed to go back without-" Eddie's words stopped as he felt alone in his own head.

"Doris?" He asked.

"shit." Eddie cursed.

"Wait, what about the tracker, isn't it still in the truck?" Scott asked.

No sooner had he said so than they ran for Rick's truck. Rick opened the lock box in the truck bed.

"Yeah, they didn't take it." Rick called with a smile.

"Didn't Doris operate it last time?" Gail questioned with a brow raised.

"Hey, I helped, alright. I can manage on my own." Rick scowled, He and Scott worked fast to get it set up in the back of the truck.

Eddie closed his eyes and tried to calm himself, but it wasn't working.

"Eddie...she's not doing it to hurt you, she wants to protect you, all of you." Gail said to him calmly, waiting next to him near the Van.

Eddie crouched as he held his head letting out a growl of frustration He looked at the leather around his wrist and frowned, He'd been meaning to give it back to her.

"I can't go back without her." Eddie said.

It wasn't just that he didn't want to leave her behind, but people would question why she'd not come back. The summer concert was only supposed to be a two-day thing, it had already been nearly a week.

The pain in your chest started to fade with distance, you could breathe more clearly again.

"Better?" Angel asked you.

She gave a feeble nod, "At least as far as the pain goes, yes." you said.

"I still feel like an ass." your voice trembled.

"Munson's feelings are always out of control, little bastards got some strong emotions," Angel said with a playful smirk.

"So I've noticed." you sighed.

Angel looked you over and frowned lightly. Getting up, he knelt near your seat and took your hands.

"Here" He spoke quietly.

Where his hands touched your skin crawled briefly, the crawling turned into a pulling sensation. Soon after your arms felt cold, but the remaining pain in your chest formed around your lungs and traveled up your shoulders and down through your arms.

The pain disappeared altogether after it collected in your palms and fingertips.

"Let me take it. I'm used to a little pain," Angel said, "In fact, I'll welcome it." He added.

You looked up at him with wide eyes, "You just-" you gasped.

He flashed you a crooked smile, exposing his canine, "Impressive?" he asked you.

"But...what happens when you expend all the strength you have left?" you asked.

Angel side glanced, "Nothing, I just won't be able to be much help for a while..."

He may have spoken with a casual air, but the fact that he refused to look you in the eye made it feel like a lie.

"Bullshit, what really happens?" Amy called out.

Doris laughed, "she has your whole hall card, Pete."

Angel glared at Amy, "As I said Nothing. Besides, I didn't expend much just now. Let me worry about myself." He muttered.

Angel then stroked the top of your head with an almost innocent smile.

"When you learn to use your abilities, you can return the favor." He said.

"But what if that isn't part of my skill set?" you asked.

Angel shrugged a single shoulder, "You'll have something I can use." He said, looking out the window.

He focused on the gently falling rain outside and the pale gray skies.

"Who knows, I might need a rainy day." he said.

You looked down at your hands as you murmured, "I'm sorry I can't make it stop, I'm not sure why or how I'm even doing it..."

"You're sad. Bad emotions bring the rain." Angel said, glancing back at you.

"How do you know?" asked Funshine.

"He tells me things," Angel said quietly.

Funshine looked at Axel, who also looked unsettled.

"Don't tell me you're one of them crazies, man, do I need to keep an eye on you?" Axel said.

Angel laughed, "I'm hardly crazy, but that doesn't mean you should let your guard down." he shot in a cold tone.

Axel grimaced, "yeah, don't like you." He muttered.

Mick pulled the car to a stop at a pay phone. You, Amy and Angel piled out of the van with Kali.

"I just need to make a few calls," you said.

"Take your time, I think we're far enough now you won't have to worry about them catching up," Funshine said with a reassuring smile to combat your nerves.

"The question is which 'them' are you talking about?" Amy muttered.

"We're going to go see what supplies we can get our hands on." Mick called from the driver's seat.

"Do you need me to go?" Kali asked.

"You kidding? We were using five-finger discounts long before your crazy powers, Kal. We're good." said Axel as Funshine closed the doors.

"We'll meet you right here in about 20 minutes or so," Axel said before the van road away.

You walked up to the phone booth and exhaled, a shakey hand popping change in. The first call would be the easiest. Chrissy, something told you she wouldn't pry too much and might even understand to an extent, it was something in her eyes.

"Hello?"

A bright voice chimed on the other end of the line.

"Um, yes - this is ____ McKinney....Chrissy, is that you?" you asked.

The voice on the other end gasped,

"____! Oh my goodness, where are you? Are you ok? "

She asked.

"I'm fine, yes. I'm sorry if I caused you too much trouble. I just - I decided I'm not coming back home. I have my reasons. The guys I came out here with should be home soon, I want people to know it's not their fault. I chose this, I'll be back - eventually, but I needed to tell you, so you wouldn't be trying to cover for me." you explained.

"You're not coming back?"

Chrissy questioned, clearly confused.

You sighed voice tinged with guilt, "I'm sorry I didn't get to show you much about ballet, but if you go to my house, I'm sure my mom or Pat can give you my ballet books, they should help a bit."

"I'm not worried about that, are you sure you're ok?"

Chrissy asked, concern clear in her voice.

"Yes," you tried to put a smile in your words, "I am."

"Well, then I guess that's the most important thing. I hope you find what you're looking for, ____."

Chrissy stated.

"You're very kind," you said.

Chrissy giggled,

"uh huh, I better let you go, I'm sure you have other calls to make, see you, ____."

She said.

"Goodbye Chrissy," you replied, hanging up the line.

Chrissy was left looking at her phone, she was no less confused, but she was sure she could seek Robin out about it later.

You popped in another quarter and dialed.

"Hello? Buckley residence."

Robin's voice came through in a distracted sigh.

You remained silent for a moment, "Maybe I should have called home first, she won't make this easy on me..." you thought.

"Hello?"

Robin questioned.

Silence lingered, and Robin drew in a breath,

"____?"

She questioned.

Still the silence, Robin held the phone with both hands,

"L-look if you're there just say something, I'm freaking out over here, and I just need to know if-"

"I'm ok Robin, " you said quickly.

Robin exhaled and smiled faintly,

"Oh my god, w-where have you been? I come home, and you're hanging out with Chrissy Cunningham and - and going to concerts with strange boys."

Robin said, somewhere between disbelief and continued panic.

"I...a lot happened," you said.

"I bet, well I expect details when you get back, which I assume is soon, yeah?"

Robin said.

you fell silent again.

"It's soon right? Right ____?"

Robin asked, heart racing as unease sank back in.

"I'm not coming back Ro-"

"Of course you are!"

Robin shouted.

She quickly covered her mouth and looked about.

"Oh, that was loud."

You heard Robin whisper.

You gave a small smile, "I'm not Robin, at least not for some time. But I'm ok - I just...have things I need to find out about myself." you explained.

"How long is some time? And what things? Did you like miraculously finding a clue about your family or something? Or did that asshole dad of yours run you off?"

Robin asked.

You looked to Kali, Amy and Angel.

"I don't know...but I guess you could say that, yes, I found a clue about my family." you said as Kali smiled at you.

"And more - look, I will call whenever I can. But I'm ok, really. I'm sorry to just leave like this, But you're my best friend Robin, I wouldn't leave you behind if I didn't have to." you added.

Robins could feel the water in her eyes,

"You're my only friend, ____."

Robin whispered.

"How long is some time?"

Robin asked again.

"I don't know, I'm sorry. I really am." you answered weakly.

Robin chuckled bitterly on the other end of the phone.

"This is gonna sound stupidly selfish but...Robin, I need a favor. You're the only one I have to do this." you said.

Robin sniffled,

"Oh? Lay it on me and we'll see."

She said.

"I went to the concert with Eddie Munson and his band, They should be coming back home soon. Robin, if anybody tries to blame them, It's *not* their fault. They tried everything to get me to change my mind." you stated carefully.

"The freak?"

Robin asked.

With a roll of your eyes, you smiled a bit, "He's not a freak,"

You paused a moment, "and um.... If you go to my room, there is a number on my dresser to a Mrs.Hargrove, I need you to let her know I'm out investigating my family and that I won't be able to babysit. And Shelob will need a new home for a while"

Robin exhaled,

"Fine, I can do that, even keep your creepy pet..."

She said.

"Thanks, Robin." you whispered.

"He...He might not be taking this well, Eddie. It-It's a long story but...look after him for me, ok?" you said, "and He'll look after you too."

"You're kind of freaking me out...why do you sound like that?"

Robin asked.

"I'm just sentimental...you know, me." you tried to ease her worries, "I mean, you sound funny too." you shot.

Robin scoffed,

"Um excuse me of course I sound funny, I'm saying goodbye to my -"

Robin stopped herself and cleared her throat,

"My bestie."

She said.

"I'll call, I promise. Wish me luck, maybe some time will be sooner than either of us think." you chimed.

"Stop it. You're freaking me out again! Like seriously."

Robin groaned.

You sighed, the effort to sound cheerful was not working on her, "Right, well... I've got to call home now - wish me luck."

"If you don't come back within the summer, I am not going to forgive you, ____ McKinney,"

Robin said quickly in a shuddering breath.

You smiled and it came through to your words, "I've got a goal then, don't I? I'll try not to let you down Robin." you said.

You quickly hung up the phone and pawed at your eyes to rub away a few tears.

"One more call, hang in there," Amy said.

You puffed out the air in your lungs before drawing another deep breath.

"This one will be easier," you murmured.

"You should let me tell them," Amy said with a smirk.

Shaking your head you put in another quarter, letting your hand linger on the coin slot as it gave you a flashback.

The night Eddie saved you.

You shook your head, "Stop thinking about him, you're not helping yourself." you thought and dialed.

The house phone rang and rang, until you could hear your mother's voice speaking pleasantly over the voicemail.

"You have reached the McKinney Residence, we are sorry we are not available at this time. If you could kindly leave your name and number, we will get back to you as soon as possible, have a lovely day."

"Um yeah, Mom? Dad? It's me. I um...I wanted to say I won't be coming home for a while. It's not Chrissy's or anyone's fault. I just...I've found some clues about myself and I - I need to know. And Pat, I hope this brings you a moment of peace. I'm real sorry about this. Anyway, bye for now. I um, love you guys." you said, hanging up with a sigh.

you turned to your three waiting friends, "It's done, Angel do you have any calls to make." you asked.

Angel chuckled bitterly, "Nah, Rick's all I have, and I think he more than gets what is going on." He said

"What about your band?" you asked.

Angel, tittered his head, "Eh, they're used to me going off. They're not actual friends, just lackeys who wanted to play with the most infamous musician at the Hideout." Angel said.

You looked at him quietly, your brows knitting together. He laughed.

"Don't look at me with those sad eyes, fairy. If you recall you didn't have anyone either to start." He said.

"I know, doesn't make it any better. Things changed for me." you said.

"Don't be so sad, I'll be the weirdo's friend." Amy sighed as if it had been a great chore.

"My don't I feel special," Angel said with a roll of his eyes.

"You should, I'm picky." Amy shot.

Kali laughed, "You three will fit in well with us." she hummed. "And you'll never be alone again." Kali added.

A horn honked behind them, "Come on let's go, we got a long road." Axel called, rolling down his window.

"And where are we going exactly?" Amy asked

"Chicago." said Funshine

"That's where we were headed before, well, everything," Kali explained.

"There are some lab techs in hiding there, apparently," said Doris.

"Sounds like a good start," Angel murmured heading for the Van.

You made to follow him and Kali, but your feet stopped. Looking back at the payphone, you looked it up and down.

"I know it's a long shot..." you thought, pulling a few quarters from your pocket.

Walking back, you lay them on the phone box ledge and in the change return slot.

"If you come looking...please turn back." you thought, turning and jogging to the Van, you hopped in.

"Here, we got you some candy, chocolate bars are good for the soul." Doris said passing you a bag.

Rick, Eddie and Gail sat in the truck in silence, headed up the highway as fast as they could while trying to avoid the chances of being pulled over.

The tracker was working, though the signal was faint, and they had no physical radar to look out to tell them the distance.

"We're running blind." Rick thought.

Eddie sat in silence, and Gail quietly held his hand to comfort him.

"It was right to send them back home." Gail said to him.

"Was it? They care about her too." Eddie asked.

"No, it's a good idea. ____ doesn't want anyone hurt, it's best to cut our numbers. It's three fewer people to worry about. Plus now we also know the guys will be safe." Rick reasoned.

"And they can run interference for you back home, in case any rumors spread," Gail jumped in.

Eddie sank down in the seat, "Yeah, it all sounds about right." He said.

"But can we talk her into coming back?" he asked.

Rick glanced at the two. "I don't know the kid too well," Rick said with a shrug.

"Neither do I, but I know enough that it won't be easy, you'd better have a plan, Eddie." Gail said.

"The plan is, she's coming back, or I'm gonna stay." Eddie muttered.

You walked into a pawn shop with Axel, Angel, and Funshine. The guy's arms were loaded with items. you had to admit the place looked fairly seedy.

You quietly entered with your bag of jewelry, looking around at all the odds and ends.

Axel bopped into the place with a large stereo on one shoulder and one of the guitars they'd stolen on the other.

Angel entered with an easy stride, carrying with him a glass sculpture of a greyhound that was nearly as large as a small child. You were never going to understand how that wasn't too heavy for him.

Funshine had with him a Tv set, it was less shocking the man was the hulk.

"Helloooo! anyone home?" Axel called out at the vacant counter as the four of them collected behind it.

"Yeah, yeah, hold your horses!" A voice worn by years of hard liquor and self-rolled cigarettes called out.

The clerk exited the backroom and lazily sauntered up to the counter.

"What can I do for you?" He asked, eying the group with dull eyes.

"Can you help a couple of lowlifes get concert money?" Axel chimed with a charismatic smile.

"You see, Sugarplum down there is about to graduate, and we're taking her to her first concert." Axel lied, smiling towards you.

"And short man over here, as the boyfriend had decided to pawn some of his old man's heirlooms...god rest his soul." He continued.

The man behind the counter did not look like he wanted much of an explanation.

"What's in the bag?" asked the clerk, nodding towards you.

Unsure if you could lie as smoothly as Axel had, you looked to him and Angel.

"It's ok, baby girl." Angel said playing his role.

The words coming out of his mouth made you want to double over in laughter. However, as you tried to contain it, your nerves were shaken away.

"Um, some Jewelry," you said, placing the purse on the counter and slowly taking each piece out.

"Make it look like they matter to you," you told yourself.

The guy looked down at her, "What are these? How's a kid like you got jewelry like this?" He asked.

You gave a guilty smile, "They used to be my Geegee's old jewelry." you said putting on a timid face.

"I...I used to play in them when I was small." you confessed.

The man's gaze softened a bit. Funshine held back a smile as he watched the man start to cave.

Make no mistake, he could sell them for a pretty penny, so he was going to buy them. But it was in his eyes that he'd felt bad for you.

"Your first concert, huh?" He asked.

You gave an eager nod, "Yeah! My old man never let me listen to my music loud, made me listen to classical music trying to make me a 'proper' lady." you said.

The man behind the counter laughed.

"Well, he must be somewhere crying if these are your friends," The man said.

You tried to toss a smitten look back at Angel, and you'd pulled it off better than he'd expected, as his heart skipped several beats.

"He tried to shoot you, didn't he, Jimmy," you said with a giggle.

Angel smirked.

"Tried, is the keyword." Funshine said.

"Look... I can give you two hundred for the frost, and another two for the dog, TV and the stereo. I can only go about 20 for the guitar." The man said.

"You have a deal, sir," Funshine said happily as he and Angel sat down their items.

The man behind the counter started to count out the money, "Hey look, Jimmy? Was it? If your old man's got any more heirlooms you'd like to unload. Here's the place, I'll give you the best price with no questions asked." He said to Angel.

Angel simply nodded, "Thanks, I'll remember that." he said, taking the money from him.

"And you have a grand time, sweetheart." the man called to you.

You placed on the biggest, over-excited grin you could muster and gave Angel a sugary smitten smile once more.

"Thanks, mister!" you cheered, taking Angel's hand and waving before running out of the store.

Axel and Funshine followed behind you laughing.

"Jesus, that was over the top," Axel laughed, holding his gut as they stopped a few buildings up the block.

"It was so bad. But he believed it." Angel shrugged.

"Baby Girl?" you said face scrunched up as you shuddered.

"I don't do pet names, it's all I could think of," Angel shruged.

"What about fairy then?" Funshine asked.

Angel frowned, "That's not a pet name, it's a nickname." He reasoned.

Axel reached down and pinched your cheek, "Luckily, Sugarplum here as such a sweet face." He called in the tone used for toddlers.

You swatted Axel's hand away, "Ouch" you muttered, rubbing your face.

"I feel guilty for lying to that guy, but that was kind of fun. Do you think he knew the stuff was stolen?" you asked quietly.

"Oh, he knew something was up that's why he offered that we come back - He just simply doesn't care," Angel said.

Looking up the street they could see Kali, Doris, Mick and Amy returning with the van.

"At least we've got enough to pay for a room and food for a while." Funshine said pleased.

"And speaking of food, I'm starved." Axel grumbled.

The sun began to set by the time Rick, Eddie, and Gail decided to stop for a rest. They monitored the tracker outside a burger place, eating in and on the truck. It was quiet among them, each lost in their own thoughts.

Eddie's eyes wandered over to the payphone across the street, "She left without saying goodbye but...." Eddie lifted his head and slowly set his burger back into the bag.

"She'd call Robin," Eddie muttered, hopping out of the bed of the truck he jogged across the street reaching into his pockets.

"What's gotten into you now?" Rick called out to him, but Eddie wasn't listening nor could he hear.

Rushing inside the phone booth Eddie went to put in a quarter when a silver glint caught his eyes as the streetlights came on.

Eddie stuck his quarter into his pocket and took up the one on the metal phone box.

As he did, two more quarters fell from it.

"What?" Eddie mouthed, picking them up from the floor, seventy-five cents.

"Who leaves behind three quarters?" he asked himself. Curious, he stuck his finger in the change return flap. Metal scraped against the bottom.

"No..." Eddie thought, pulling the three-quarters out carefully into his palm.

"No, it can't be..." He exhaled as he looked down at the dollar fifty worth of quarters in his palm.

Eddie smiled, and quickly closed the change in his palm, running back to the truck.

"We're on the right track!" he cheered.

The wide grin on his face almost startled Gail and Rick as he came running along, hair bouncing in the wind.

"And you know this because?" Rick asked.

Eddie rushed to them, folding his fingers away to show the change in his hand.

"She left a sign." Eddie exhaled, still grinning.

"Change?" Gail asked carefully, "Eddie... I hate to burst your happy bubble, but, anybody could have left that." She said.

"It's the exact amount she owed me after the night we first met," Eddie said, his grin falling into a soft smile.

Gail and Rick looked at each other worried, "She's probably telling you to phone home as in go home. I'm sure she was aware you might try and follow her somehow." Gail reasoned gently.

Eddie still looked at the change in his hand.

"You're probably right," he said.

Looking up at his two friends, "or" he sighed, "some part of her, wants me to follow." He said.

Rick shook his head, "Can we eat first?" He asked.

Eddie tilted his head with a grin, "Yeah, on the way." he said, hopping into the bed of the Truck.

Gail sighed and snatch her bag of food from the hood of the car.

"Well come on then, Rick, the signal will get fainter if we linger too long." she said, getting in the bed of the truck as well.

"And no one is going to ride inside and keep me company?" He asked.

"Nope, no friends for the faithless, Rick." Eddie said.

"How'd I get wrapped up in this again?" Rick muttered to himself, getting into the truck and firing it up.

You lay nestled on the edge of the bed that you shared with Amy and Kali. A blank gaze fixed to the ceiling while your mind endlessly ran.

"Did Mom and Dad get my message? Are Robin and Chrissy really ok? Are they mad at me? Is Shelob ok?" were just a few of the pervading thoughts.

"Did the boys go back home? or, did they follow?" It was endless.

You watched the popcorn ceiling willing sleep to take you, though it didn't want to.

You sighed, giving up you carefully sat up in the bed, and in doing so. The lamp that Mick had on to read by went out.

The room became dark.

"Mick? are you off to bed?" you asked quietly, but received no answer.

"Mick? you questioned.

However, as you looked at the small table in the corner of the room you found no one sitting there.

"M-mick?" you stammered.

The air became cold and thick, you could feel goosebumps creeping up your arms and legs. A familiar dripping down your spine.

"N-no....I'm awake....this isn't happening again." you whispered, turning to shake Amy awake your hands landed on the sheets of the empty bed.

"What!" you gasped.

Kali and Amy had vanished as well.

The familiar ghostly particles trickled down from the sky like snow and you looked around to find yourself alone in the bed, alone in the room.

You drew the covers to your chest and crawled to the center of the bed, like a child trying to keep the monsters away.

Heart racing as you saw the thick vines slither across the floor, snaking slowly, taunting your fear.

"I welcomed you home, and you fled. I offer you a kingdom, you silly simple thing."

Spoke a child's voice.

At the foot of the bed stood a familiar face, though as always you could never fully recall where you'd seen the odd child before.

He looked clean through you with cold blue eyes.

"Excuse me?" you questioned.

A deep bellowing rumble echoed from outside of the motel room windows. In the cover of the night, a large shadow lingered outside.

"It looks like the thing that was coming for the building beyond the gate." you thought.

"It is, you shouldn't be afraid." The boy said in his high monotone voice.

Your eyes turned to him.

"You could create something to rival it, let us teach you." He said.

"And if I don't want to learn?" you challenged.

The air was starting to make it hard to breathe it felt something like actually being there.

Looking down at your arms an uncanny pain crept up them gradually, a vibrant red membrane took the form of a rash, glowing and pulsing up your arms in the rhythm of your heartbeat.

"No, I don't want it, stop!" you cried out crawling backward, your back pressed to the headboard.

"It's not about what you want." said the boy.

"Rather, what you are made for., His voice changed into some distorted thing, "You will become your truest self," it said.

The world flicked with a flash of red as a vibrant storm brewed outside, your head snapped to the windows as creatures outside screeched and rammed into them.

The glass groaned and cracked under the pressure.

"If you will not obey through a gentle hand I will call you home by force."

The child vanished, and the voice became harsh and deep.

Something heavy landed with a muted thud on the matress, near your feet as if it had fallen from the sky.

Your hands clasped over your mouth to muffle a scream. Your trembling eyes frantically scanned over the gnarled body before you.

Blood came from his mouth while his lips turned purple and his skin faded into a chilling blue.

You shut your eyes tight, "It's not there....it's not him... it's a trick." you whimpered.

Painful groans and small shallow breaths filled your ears, and though you tried to cover them, the sound still cut through like a knife.

"If you listen...."

The voice said gingerly.

The groans turned to screaming that clamped like a beartrap around your lungs. Tears rolled down your cheeks while you squeezed your palms to your ears.

"I will let you keep him,"

Said the voice.

Finally, your eyes shot open, watching the vision of Eddie at your feet. The screaming was gone, and now with the light gone from his eyes and the color from his skin, he lay silent and motionless.

Afraid to move you watched the body blow away like ash. The glass started to break on the window, and soon noisy winged beasts rushed in.

With a shrill cry, You made to get away, falling off of the bed in your panic.

The vines took hold of you swiftly, curling around your arms and the trunk of your body.

"Stop!" You cried out, struggling against the binds.

Your wide eyes looked down at yourself in horror, just as your arms had done within the Gate, your legs doubled in number.

While continuing to struggle, so too did yourarms.

"You will learn, there is no running - or going back."

Said the voice.

"____!" Angel called, knelt over you as you siezed on the floor.

One hand held the top of your head and the other tried to keep you still by your stomach.

"Hey!" Angel shouted to you.

"Shit..." Amy whispered hopping out of the bed and dropping to the floor.

"Wh-whats happening?" She asked, her hands carefully resting on your arm.

Doris walked over with cautious steps, she watched the lights flicker within the room, "He's here." She said.

Angel glared, "and he's got her..." He growled.

"Who has?" asked Axel as He, Funshine, and Mick watched over them from a distance, afraid to get any closer.

"One." Kali whispered.

"Her eyes are wide open," Funshine muttered.

Kali looked around the room, "maybe it's an illusion?" She asked.

"No, it's not out here, it's in her head," Doris said.

Your eyes began to bleed, red rivers slipping out of the corners of your eyes and down the side of your face.

Angel's heart raced, "He won't kill her, she's to serve him a purpose....so what's he doing?" He thought.

"Come on Fairy, it's not real. I promise it's not." Angel called to you while he and Amy struggled to keep you still.

Amy's eyes were large as her teeth dug into her lip, "who the hell is One?" she asked quietly, "what the hell is he?"

Angel glared and both Doris and Kali fell silent.

"What do we do?" Amy asked turning to look to Doris.

"If we can calm her down, we might be able to get her to sleep, it can shut her mind down to him for a while," Doris said thinking quickly.

"I've never heard of that," Angel said.

"Well....that's because it's just a theory. It's worth a try, but what would calm her?" Doris asked looking around.

Everyone, however, seemed at a loss. Amy looked to Angel who held an ever-growing frown on his face.

"Fuck." Angel exhaled softly, shutting his eyes.

"Doris we need to try another kind of tether." He said.

"Uh yeah s-sure what'd you have in mind?" She asked him, quickly stepping over your convulsing body to sit on the floor near him.

"I need you to tap into Eddie's head, I'll tether him to ____. It's the only thing I can think of." Angel said.

"But...she wouldn't want him involved," said Amy.

"Look at her, does it matter what she'd want right now?" Angel snapped, his eyes thinning into a sharp glare.

"Uh...guys," Funshine voiced tentatively, "what's happening with her skin?" He asked.

All eyes fell back on you, a faint red glow lingered beneath your skin, something like seeing the sun through one's eyelids. The shadow of your veins left a spidery pattern against the red.

"He's trying to force a transformation," Angel said quietly.

"And that's...bad?" Axel asked.

Angel looked to him flatly, "Put it this way, when I do it - I hunt, I trap and I kill, you'll all be prey." he said.

"Really bad then," Axel muttered going to his bag.

Rummaging through its contents he pulled out a small black pistol and loaded it.

"Doris?" Angel asked,

"On it just...give me a second. It's hard to focus." Doris murmured, closing her eyes. Angel doing the same.

"What are you doing put that away!" Kali shouted at Axel who had his aim trained on you.

"Look if she turns into some hungry thing, you'll thank me." He said.

"Eddie!"

Eddie jumped, falling over in the bed of the truck, "shiii-" He hissed wide-eyed as he looked around.

"Who?" Eddie asked.

"Doris, idiot we don't have time for you to be confused. We need you."

Doris said in his mind.

"I'm sorry did you just call me an idiot and then say you need me? Why the hell should I help?" Eddie said.

Gail watched as Eddie apparently talked to himself.

"Please tell me someone is doing some freaky mind thing or something." She muttered.

"It's Dodo," Eddie explained quickly.

"Tell me where ____ is or get out of my head," Eddie demanded.

"Oh, you know, seizing on the floor, about to transform into... well we're not sure what. Put it this way, Pete is nervous and he's never nervous."

Doris said quickly.

"Hold on what happened?!" Eddie called out.

"Hell if we know, look. I just need you to say something to her - Angel's going to tether our connection to ____. Think fast, he doesn't have a lot of strength to expend."

Doris spoke so fast that Eddie wasn't sure he'd heard everything right.

Suddenly Eddie's mind felt crowded,

"Speak Munson."

Angel's voice said.

"And say what? - wait..." Eddie started to panic, his word faded to black, the world around him gone in an instant.

"What just happened?" He asked.

"You're in her head with me." Angel replied.

Eddie jumped, and looking to the side he could see Angel come into view, side by side they stood in a world of endless black. Clear darkness.

In the distance, Eddie could see you on the ground. Amy and Doris hold you down as your body threw a fit.

Eddie followed Angel to them, kneeling carefully next to you.

"What...do I do?" Eddie asked calmly though he looked lost.

"If we can calm her down, we can get her to sleep as she will be exhausted that should, well, might stop this,"

Doris explained.

Her lips didn't move in the vision Eddie was viewing, although her voice still echoed all around them.

"How do I do that? Can she even hear me?" Eddie asked as he took your hand in his.

He'd expected his hand to go right through, holding tight when he felt both your hands were solid.

"She can," Angel said.

Eddie watched your face, the drying stream of red curving down your eyeline and rolling over your cheekbones and jaw.

He felt the unsettled tremor down his spine as he drew in a deep breath to ground himself.

"Hey..." Eddie started lightly, squeezing your hand in both of his.

His voice coated over in warmth, "I'm here, I know you thought you'd gotten rid of me." Eddie said trying to force a small smile, "Looks like it didn't really work, did it?" He asked.

Eddie gave his drying lips a lick, unsure of what to say, or what would help.

"I, ah, I found the change. You know, I told you I didn't want you to pay me back. Remember?" He said to you.

"You're always trying to give me nothing short of a heart attack." Eddie said.

He looked at you and leaned forward, "Can you hear me?" He whispered.

Lost in the waking nightmare, you struggled against the vines, flailing every limb you had.

"Can you hear me?"

Eddie's voice asked muffled and far away.

"Is this the boy or is this my mind doing this?" you thought past the pain that grew as the rash did.

"I can," you answered voice strained, "I can hear you," you repeated.

Eddie smiled faintly surrounded by the dark, "You know what you did kind of sucked," he said playfully.

"I'm sorry,"

Your voice called to him.

"I understand, but I'm about to prove to you - I can help," Eddie stated in determination.

"First....stop struggling." He said calmly.

Eddie rested a hand on your shoulder.

"But...the vines..." You called.

"There are no vines." Eddie replied.

He spoke in an even lull, "Stop fighting, I wouldn't tell you to stop if you really needed to be." He reasoned.

"H-how do I know you're actually Eddie?" you asked.

Eddie stayed quiet for a moment and thought, "I can't prove that to you without my guitar." He said simply.

"I could flood you with every feeling built up inside - and hopefully, they would be ones you remember." He added.

"But I'm here, in the dark with you. I can't see enough to play even if I had a guitar with me." Eddie said.

You looked at the ceiling above as the white spores fell around you.

"I'll choose to believe." you whispered closing your eyes.

You tried to relax your body and stopped flailing.

Angel sighed in relief as the seizing stopped.

In the motel room, Amy searched your body with her eyes. "It's working," she said with a smile.

"They still need to snap her out of it and get rid of that creepy glow," Axel muttered gun still aimed.

"Good, now...you must be tired right? It's just been nonstop." Eddie said to you.

"A little, but, there are monsters here. They're in the room, watching." you said.

Turning your head to the strange winged beast that opened its round mouth to show splinter-like teeth.

"I know it's not really here...But things hurt, so - part of it has to be real." you said.

"We won't let them hurt you," Eddie said firmly as he shook his head.

"We?" you asked.

Eddie looked at Angel, "Hey Fairy....you hear me now?" asked Angel. He didn't get an answer.

"Uh..." Eddie tore his eyes away from Angel as he grimaced.

"Angel is here and Doris....I can see Amy. " Eddie said, "I'm sure there are others, I can't see much."

Eddie refocused himself, "Close your eyes, if you want out you need to sleep."

"Yeah? Then....I've got an idea. Can you just, just keep talking?" you asked.

Eddie nodded, "Sure, I won't stop," He said before clearing his throat.

"Uhhhh, so....back when I was in junior high my dad thought it would be cheaper to just buzz my hair down." Eddie started to ramble.

You closed your eyes and exhaled, "It's the very same as going to see Pastor Alvin, or the Fords. Its just a waking dream, a nightmare..." you told yourself.

Laying still, listening for Eddie's voice you zeroed in on the sound of it. The deep gentle flow of his words.

"He was watching the game while trying to shave down my head and his team really messed up a play. He got so mad his hand veered off and left a big bald spot right in the center in the back of my head." Eddie went on.

He laughed, "I wore baseball caps for weeks, My uncle Wayne would buy me all sorts of them. Not that I ever actually liked them that much. They never really covered the spot well unless I wore them backward." Eddie said.

"Which really ruined the look I was working on." He laughed.

You cracked a small smile, "...so go to sleep." you sighed.

Eddie watched as your breathing began to even out.

"Pst...you still awake?" He asked you.

"Yes," you answered quietly.

Eddie held tight to your hand. "

About your Corroded Coffin shirt, when summer's over, the boys and I were thinking about starting an afterschool club. Jeff and I thought maybe you wouldn't mind helping with the Club shirts. Scott can help you with the mascot." Eddie said.

"And um...what's your favorite color? It's important for...reasons..." Eddie stammered.

He didn't get a response, "____?" He asked.

Nothing.

Angel checked over you quietly and soon a faint smile came to his face.

"Well look at that, you aren't completely useless," Angel said to Eddie.

"She's sleeping?" Eddie asked.

Angel gave a nod of his head and got to his feet.

Angel's words came out colder than he'd imagined, "You can go now."

With one last glance at you , Eddie got to his feet, "wait!" he called to Angel.

"No, you tell me where you guys are. What if this happens again?" Eddie reasoned.

Taking a step forward he glared, "You're power, sorry, powers are fading. That's why she couldn't hear you. You couldn't talk to her and keep the tether up at the same time, right?" Eddie questioned.

Angel glared at his feet, keeping his back turned to Eddie in the darkness.

Taking a few more steps forward, the foot falls echoing in the void.

Eddie sighed, eyes pleading, "I can help, you've seen it." He said quietly.

"Tell me where you guys are." Eddie said again.

Angel glanced over his shoulder, the pitiable expression on Eddie's face caused Angel to groan in frustration at himself as he scowled.

He could never stand up well to that face, "East Side." Angel muttered.

Eddie's eyes shimmered happily, "East Side where?" He asked him.

"Chicago Illinois." Angel sighed.

Eddie smiled a small grin, "Thank you, and please don't tell her..." Eddie said, "She'll only tell the others and hit the road again." he added.

Angel rolled his eyes, "And I suppose you'll want me stall too." He said in annoyance.

"I mean.....yeah, I thought that was implied," said Eddie.

"I'm done." Angel muttered as he cut the tether.

The real world dropped around Eddie so suddenly that it made him dizzy.

"What just happened?" Gail asked him loudly, leaning towards him with wide eyes.

"I was in ____'s head...I think, or they all were in mine? I, I don't know." Eddie said with a shake of his head.

"And? is she ok?" Gail asked.

"She is now, and I know where they are," Eddie said, turning around he knocked on the glass of Rick's truck and opened the small square window in the center.

"Rick! They're in East Side Chicago." Eddie said.

Rick glanced at the gas meter, "We've got enough for that, sure." He said.

"Now will you two come in here? I can't find a good station and the beeping of this tracker is driving me crazy." Rick complained.

"Sure, Rick, pull over." Gail chuckled.

"You can lower that thing now." said Amy, she had a fierce glare trained on Axel.

"Calm down, it was for everyone's safety." He sighed, taking the ammo out and heading back for his bag.

Amy exhaled and looked to you now sleeping peacefully.

"You keep drama like a stray does fleas." she said to you.

Angel exhaled shakily and without a word lay down beside you. He curled on his side and watched your face.

Doris frowned, "How you holding up, Pete?" She asked.

Angel kept his eyes fixed on your sleeping form, "I'm holding." he muttered softly, reaching out to wipe the crusted blood from your face.

"Mick, pass me that water bottle," Doris called reaching out.

Of course, he would say it was ok, Pete was prideful like that, but the already pale boy had drained of even more color.

Mick passed the water bottle to Doris.

"Thanks" Doris said before turning to Angel with a stern face.

"You need to drink this," she ordered.

Angel chuckled, "what are you, my mother?" He asked.

"No, Worse, I'm Doris. Now take it," Doris demanded, rolling the bottle across the floor to him.

Angel sat up with a bit of a struggle to push his tired body up and reached for the bottle with his fingers. Quietly he drank the water, wiped his mouth clear, and then lay back down.

"Everyone should try and get some sleep, we still have a few miles to go." Kali advised.

"And we just leave her on the floor?" Funshine asked.

"It's probably best not to wake her," Doris answered.

Funshine shrugged and made his way toward the old armchair in the room. Axel made himself at home on the floor, and Mick went to the second bed.

Amy took to the first bed and lay down, Doris and Kali getting into bed with Mick to give the girl her space.

Axel laid out a solitaire round on the small table as he prepared to take the first watch for the night.

Angel's eyes struggled to stay open as he focused on you and eventually gave up on trying to keep them open.

Eddie's eyes focused on the road ahead of him, He'd taken Rick's place at the wheel as the man was exhausted having run so many days on very little sleep.

The beeping of the tracker seemed distant in his ears as he honed in on the white lines in the asphalt, hand tapping with the music on the radio.

"So what's the plan once we get there?" Gail asked from the passenger seat.

Eddie shrugged, "Try my damnedest to get them to let me stay." He said glancing towards her.

"Angel's a pushover, no matter how much he'd like to deny it." Eddie snickered.

Gail had to laugh too, he wasn't wrong.

"You're his soft spot, it's true." she hummed.

"Sometimes, anyway," Eddie said.

"So then what? We stay with them until they finish what they set out to do? We don't know how long that'll take." Gail said.

"No." Eddie said with a long sigh, "We don't, but I'm drawn to this fucking girl and I can't fully explain why." Eddie looked to Gail.

"Like a mosquito to a bug zapper." Eddie chuckled.

"Yeah it'll probably kill me, but it's so damned bright..." He sighed looking out at the road.

Gail turned to watch the road as well, "It's what the Special K was to me back when." Gail muttered, she turned to Eddie and gave him a teasing smirk, "She's your drug, mister dealer." she said.

Eddie laughed lightly, "Ugh, never using that one. I'm not going down as being that cheesy." He said.

Gail tilted her head, "Girls like that love cheese. She's probably never had a date in her life, and dreams of all the sparkles and fluff of a boyfriend." she said.

"And then there's me, rusted and full of metal studs." Eddie said.

Gail smirked, "Oh no, you're full of fluff, you're just a teddy bear and you know it." She shot.

"You'll need to be tough though if they want to stop these people. You'll need to be nails." Gail murmured.

"It's not just because the fight we just faced. I feel I know these people, or people like these people." Gail spoke quietly.

Eddie watched her for a moment in silence.

"Gail," he called.

She looked up at him waiting as he glanced back her way.

"Thank you for this." He said.

A shakey smile formed on her face at the sincerity in his voice.

Gail gave a deep nod, "Of course, I ruined what we had. But I'll always be your friend." she said.

"I won't let you face that level of regret while I'm still here." Gail promised, "Call it my shot at redemption." she added.

Eddie looked back at the road and shook his head.

Gail smiled, "See, teddy bear." she hummed in amusement seeing his eyes glisten with a thin layer of water.

"I'm not crying." he muttered.

"Might as well be." she snickered.

"Shut up." Eddie grumbled sulking.

"Stop pouting," Gail sang, "I'm done teasing I promise," she said.

"So was she happy to hear from you?" Gail asked, she could see Eddie was getting sleepy, but she also knew there was no way he'd pull over.

Eddie gave a faint smile, "I think so, or at least she didn't seem annoyed. But she was scared so...she probably didn't have time to think about what was going on much." Eddie said.

"God, you just light up when you talk about her," Gail whispered squinting. "I'm almost jealous," she admitted.

Eddie looked at her nervously, "Of you, not her." Gail said looking out onto the road. "To feel that would be amazing." she said.

Eddie did a double take, "Wait...you didn't...feel that with me?" He asked voice quiet.

Gail shrugged, "I guess at first, yeah." she said.

"And with Angel?" he asked.

Gail fell silent, "Not really. It was never about feelings with Angel. I thought I loved him because he gave me the thing that made me feel good." Gail confessed.

"But really, I just clung to him for the special K, you wouldn't give me any, he would." She released a long loathing sigh.

"It was just that simple. It was never anything against you." Gail said.

Eddie gave a nod, "Somehow, that makes it a little better." he said.

Gail reached forward and turned up the music. "At this rate we'll both fall asleep," she said.

Eddie laughed and his eyes creased as they smiled out unto the road.

"Did I tell you I met ____ in person because of a crash?" he asked.

"That's....what?" Gail asked making a face, "That's awful!" she shouted.

"I didn't cause it!" Eddie said quickly, "Let me tell the story before you yell at me please!"

"Talk fast because I can see you, fortunately unfortunately wrecking that girl's car and trying like hell to flirt anyway," Gail said.

Eddie fell into a peal of silent laughter, leaning against the steering wheel.

Gail turned to him wide-eyed, "That's what happened isn't it?" she asked flatly.

"No," Eddie said catching a breath.

"I helped her out, she was stumbling through the trees after the crash and I found her," he explained.

Pinching his thumb and index fingers close to each other he gave a silly smile, "I was flirting a little bit, when I tried to help her get back home." He admitted.

"But I'm kinda bad at that and she didn't notice. she thinks I play too much," said Eddie.

"You absolutely do." Gail agreed.

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#eddie munson x monster!reader #eddie munson x mckinney!reader #eddie munson angst #semi-dark fic #not suitable for minors #critique welcome #There & Back Again Eddie Fanfic

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sofiiel · 5 months

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There & Back Again : xreader addition (fem/afab)

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍: 8k words: (CW: angst. slight gore. canon level violence. Dialogue heavy. This chapter is more centered around the original characters.)

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You sat in Eddie's van, hunched down low so as not to be seen, "Are they taking the bait?" you asked.

Eddie watched as Amy walked up the street, looking about uneasily at her surroundings. Only, she didn't look like herself, but rather a copy of you.

"This is making me nauseous, I have to keep reminding myself you're in here with us," Eddie murmured.

Angel shook his head, "poor small-minded Eddie, can't tell a knockoff from the real thing." Angel mused.

"Really, not now, man." Scott shot.

"Up there, you see it!" Gareth gasped, pointing to a black car lingering in the distance.

"That them?" Jeff asked, looking back at you.

You crept to the front seat and risked peeping your head above the dash.

"Careful" Eddie urged, laying a hand on your shoulder to keep you low.

"Yeah, that should be them, looks like the ones that followed me around Hawkins," you confirmed with a nod.

"Good now get down, get down." Eddie said quickly as the car started to follow Amy.

You ducked down fast, and bit your lip, "hopefully all goes well," you thought.

Amy kept her eyes on the car, as it started to follow her.

"Ok, guys now," Rick uttered into the walkie.

"Got you," Kali replied.

She handed her walkie to Axel as she and Doris exited an alley and walked to join Amy.

The three girls stopped under the shade of a tree reaching its limbs across the sidewalk and waited for the black car to come to a stop. The window rolled down, revealing a man in dark sunglasses.

"So you thought you could just nab her, huh?" Doris asked, hands on her hips.

"You broke the arrangements of the initial trade," He said in a light, monotone voice.

"Yeah, well, emotions run high when you're cattle prodding people, don't they?" Doris asked.

"Look, you've got Gail, we want her back. If you can show us she's ok, take us to her - we might be able to talk again about this trade. This time without the boy ruining shit." Doris said, acting as hard as she could.

"But you still won't get this one," Doris said, pointing to Kali.

Amy tried her best to look frightened, as if she had no say. She only hoped that Kali's illusion was making her a fairly good ____.

Eddie's heart raced as he let his arm drop to the side of his seat. He twinkled his fingers near where you sat crouched on the floor of the van.

You could see his wiggling fingers from the corner of your eyes and laughed quietly.

"Eddie," you whispered in amusement, quietly taking his hand.

Eddie's shoulder relaxed, "it's a good illusion, ok, and you're so quiet - this helps me remember you're actually in here." Eddie muttered, his cheeks faintly turning pink.

"Look, wait - wait, they got in the car! W-were they supposed to do that?" Jeff asked.

"I don't think so...." Angel said, his eyes going to the others, Rick and Funshine in Rick's truck.

"Rick doesn't seem worried," he murmured adding, "Just make sure to tail them, but stay behind Mick and Axel's van. It will hide us from them."

"Yeah, I remember that half of the plan, thank you," Eddie stated sharply.

You shook your head, "how long are they going to be like this, and why?" you thought, eyes wandering to Angel.

He offered you a smile and brushed a bit of hair out of your face with the back of his hand.

"Worried?" he asked.

"Uh, yeah, I guess. Amy's kinda sticking her neck out for us. She isn't like you or Doris." you said.

"I won't let anything happen." Angel promised.

Amy looked between Doris and Kali from the back seat of the car, The only comfort was that it was the three of them against the two men. She liked those odds with what was said about Doris' abilities.

Meanwhile, back in Hawkins, Chrissy stood nervously in front of the McKinney house.

"She should have been back by now." she thought, walking up to the door.

Chrissy lightly pressed the doorbell and a strong chime sounded on the other side of the door.

"Just a moment!" a voice called.

Chrissy tried to wash away the worry from her face and placed on a smile.

"Hi, Miss McKinney!" Chrissy called brightly.

"Oh, you're that Cunningham girl, is ____ behaving herself?" your mother said.

The plastic smile across the woman's face made Chrissy feel uneasy, she knew that kind of smile well.

"Um yeah, totally, it's just... ____'s a bit sick to the stomach, but my Mom insisted she stay a few more days, and she really needs a change of clothes, so I figured I'd come down, so we wouldn't have to bother you to drive all the way over." Chrissy said.

Her sweet smile diffused your mother instantly.

"Oh, sure, her room is right at the top of the stairs. Sorry if ____ is causing you any trouble." your mother said.

"Oh no, not at all! I'll be out of your hair soon, Miss McKinney! Thank you." Chrissy chirped, rushing up the stairs.

Quietly, Chrissy slipped into your room.

"So she isn't back yet?" Chrissy thought, "I can't keep covering, eventually someone will know." Chrissy thought with a sigh.

Wandering over to your closet, she picked through the clothes to find something that would fit the lie she just told.

Her fingers took hold of a dress in a dry-clean bag.

"That's odd..." Chrissy thought, peering closer at the tattered dress inside.

"Why is this ruined thing in here?" Chrissy murmured quietly.

Quickly grabbing a few items, Chrissy fled the closet and headed back downstairs.

"Chrissy?" Patrick asked as he exited his room.

"Oh, hi, Patrick - I was just picking up some things for ____." Chrissy said.

Patrick's scowl was hard to hide as it diminished the hint of worry that once lingered there, and Chrissy found herself concerned by the angry look in his eyes.

"So she has been staying over at your place?" Patrick asked.

"Um yeah! We became friends recently, she's helping me learn a few Ballet tips to help with cheer, so..." Chrissy tried to keep the brightness on her face, but she couldn't fight the awkwardness she felt.

"Why isn't he happy about this?" Chrissy thought.

"I really got to go, good seeing you Pat" she said rushing down the stairs.

"This whole house feels wrong." Chrissy thought.

"Take care now, Chrissy!" your mother called as the girl hurried to the door.

"Thank you! Sorry if I took too long!" Chrissy called back before closing the door behind her.

"Oh!" She gasped, nearly bumping into a girl heading up the steps to the home.

Robin tilted her head and squinted in disbelief, "Chrissy Cunningham?" she asked.

"Robin Buckley?" Chrissy questioned.

"What are you...why are you in that?" Chrissy asked, looking over Robin's vividly sky-blue outfit.

Something resembling a very fancy prep school uniform.

"It.." Robin rolled her eyes, she wasn't expecting to run into any outside people.

"It's the costume for the Band, just came back from Band Camp, the competition kinda went south when a drum stick went down this guy's tuba, snapped, and he swallowed a few splinters...and...." Robin stopped her ranting.

"You don't care about that...." she sighed.

"Ok, not to be rude but...why are you here. At ____ McKinney's house?" Robin asked.

"Holding her clothes..." she murmured.

"God, don't tell me I miss my shot and somehow Chrissy freakin Cunnigham snuck in and -" Robin's mind was running away with itself, a prickly feeling inching through her skin.

"Oh, ____ was staying at my house and -"

"Excuse me?" Robin questioned.

"____ doesn't stay at anyone's house, she barely stays at mine and we've been friends for like three years now," Robin said flying off the handle.

"Oh no." Chrissy thought, "Can't lie to her, can I?" Chrissy thought.

Robin watched as Chrissy's face twisted with various worrying expressions. Sighing, Chrissy took Robin's arm and lead her away toward her car.

"____ went to Pittsburgh to go to a concert," Chrissy started to explain quietly.

"Wait, wait, wait. What?" Robin asked, leaning forward wide-eyed.

"_____, 'bout yea high" Rombin gestured with her hand, "kinda looks like she's brooding or scared she's got a kick me sign on her back half the time, can't say two words to most people - McKinney?" Robin said in one belong breath.

Chrissy flashed a nervous smile, "yeah." she said with a nod.

"With who! Where the heck is Amy?" Robin asked.

"You know Amy too?" Chrissy asked.

Robin shrugged, "A bit yeah, she's just some new friend of ____'s," Robin said.

"Which apparently she's making a lot of," Robin whispered.

"Did she go with Amy? ...To the Concert?" Robin asked quietly, looking at her shoes.

"No," Chrissy said, and Robin exhaled.

"She went with some guy that she's pretty into a guess and his friends," Chrissy said.

Robin exhaled again and looked about confused, "some guy?" she asked, "They didn't say who!?" she nearly shouted tossing out her arms.

"Um, no...but both Amy and ____ seemed pretty confident about his character? ____ doesn't strike me as the kind of girl to do something too risky." Chrissy reasoned.

Robin gripped her hair, "yes...yes, you're right...." She said, trying to calm down her panic.

"When was she supposed to be back?" asked Robin.

Chrissy bit her thumbnail and winced away from Robin, "four days ago now." she murmured timidly.

"Four days!" Robin nearly shouted.

Robin paced about, "ok, has she contacted you or anybody?" she asked Chrissy.

Chrissy drew in her lips and slowly shook her head no, "not that I know of. Not me at least, and her parents don't know. I was covering for her so. I'd be the one she'd call." Chrissy explained.

"Have you asked Amy?" Robin asked.

Chrissy gave a strained smile, "I haven't seen Amy in a few days now, either." Chrissy said apologetically.

Robin stood blinking, "ooooh ok....don't panic not yet." Robin murmured to herself, continuing her pacing.

Robin thought for a moment, and stopped snapping her fingers.

"There's one other person she may have called or maybe Amy is with. I'll let you know...." Robin said, hopping into her mother's car and driving away.

Chrissy sighed and climbed into Jason's car leaving as well.

You hid behind Eddie's car seat, peeking around it and him to look at the storage facility in the distance.

"That's not ominous at all." Gareth murmured.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the pristine building.

"Nobody's come in or out of that place, it's clearly a front." Angel said, leaning over your shoulder.

"Look, they're taking them inside...." Scott muttered.

Eddie's eyes wandered to Rick's truck on the left side of the building. Mick and the others to the right.

"Well, we've got them pretty much surrounded," said Eddie.

"Everywhere but the back..." Jeff said.

"Can't be helped," Angel shrugged.

Gail watched the security screens from a small room in the back of the building, Franchesca at her side, and the Riddler.

"This is stupid, I was just coming back, I didn't want to trap her," Gail spoke in a low tone.

"They won't give her up, you guys know that, right?" Gail asked pointedly, looking back at the two from over her shoulder.

"Looks like they've had a change of heart." Franchesca hummed, watching as Doris, Kali and 'you' were escorted into the building.

Gail turned quickly to look at the screen, "no way." She whispered, leaning for a closer look.

"It's just Doris and Kali...." Gail muttered, she clenched her teeth.

"What if Eddie and the guys don't know what they're doing?" Gail thought.

"You shouldn't care." her mind told her, "But you do..." she thought.

Franchesca pressed a button on a long control panel, and in an instant metal shutters closed over the windows and exits.

"You won't hurt them?" Gail asked fretfully, her eyes stuck to the screen.

Franchesca took Gail by the shoulder and pushed her toward the door, "come on," she ordered.

Amy looked around, the building was stark white and felt cold, ventilation systems hummed faintly in the background but otherwise, it was unnervingly still.

A door in front of the unusually large lobby opened up and out came Gail and Franchesca.

"Why the sudden change of heart? And after going through so much trouble?" Franchesca asked, a displeased smile on her face.

Doris shrugged, "Oh, what else. Need." she answered with a shrug.

"We can't go home without an alibi now. And ____ could snitch and that would out me for what I am, let alone you and who you work for." Doris reasoned.

"At least this way we aren't stuck in this city, and your people will provide the means for a cover story so that none of us get into any real trouble," Kali explained.

"Smart girls." Franchesca sighed, "if only you could see so clearly before - but oh to be young and stupid." she shot.

Amy grimaced. Gail stood still as she was pushed forward, Amy moved forward as well as Doris pulled her by the arm.

"I also want my pay." Doris added.

"You will have it sent to you once we have safely returned ____ to the Loxion test site." Franchesca stated.

Doris gave a nod, and shoved Amy forward lightly, "then take her," she said.

As Gail went to walk to Doris, Amy rushed forward, latching her arms around Gail. "I've got you." She whispered.

"____?" Gail asked.

Amy smirked, "no."

"Yo Pete! Try to tether, now!"

Doris shouted into Angel's mind.

Angel shut his eyes quickly and concentrated.

Kali dropped the illusion as Doris aimed her palms at the wall. A funnel of wispy venom coated it, burning quickly through to the outside.

"Amy phase now!" Kali called, running towards the newly formed hole, Doris behind her.

"Please work!" Amy gasped, eyes closed tight, she pictured the inside of Rick's truck.

Doris shot a laying of venom over the ground behind them, cutting off the possibility for the guards to follow.

"Shit!" Amy shouted, looking about the back seat of Rick's truck.

Rick watched wide-eyed and hurried to reach for his Walkie.

"It didn't work! The tether failed!" He called.

"Damn it!" Axel cursed starting the engine of the van and driving towards Kali and Doris.

Mick threw open the doors and they hopped in. Doris lingered, watching the doors.

"Fuck." Angel growled, glaring at the building through the window, "It didn't work." He said, going to the back of Eddie's van, he pushed open the doors.

"What?" you stammered with eyes wide.

"They know it was a trap, and Gail is still inside, you stay here," Angel said, pointing a finger at you.

"But -" you called.

Angel smirked at you, his eyes sliding over to Doris, who made a run for him.

"Come on, Pete!" she called.

Angel turned his back to the Van and ran with her towards the gaping hole.

Both held out their hands, lifting the guards into the air.

"Release her, or they'll rain onto the ground!" Angel called out. His eyes focused on Franchesca, who stood smirking.

"They are expendable for the cause." she said simply.

Gail took the chance to kick her in the shin, and as the woman doubled over, Gail made a run toward the hole.

In an instant, more Guards ran out in a pack of protective gear and guns.

"Shit" Doris exhaled.

"Fine," Angel whispered, flexing his fingers, rather than splitting the guards up the center as normal they ruptured in a burst of red.

Blood, bone, and flesh scattered about the asphalt.

Doris shuddered, her eyes large, they hadn't had time to so much as scream.

Angel's leg trembled, that act had taken more of his strength than he'd imagined it would, he wiped the blood from his nose and panted.

"Are you good?" Doris asked him.

"I will be." he groaned reaching his hands out for the remaining guards who stood around Gail with guns aimed.

Doris tried to disarm as many as she could with blasts of venom.

A gun fired, and strange blue light shot from it. Doris hit the ground writhing, clutching her neck.

Flying from her mouth, a scream that caused everyone to shudder as she clawed at the flickering blue thing lodged in the side of her neck.

"What the fuck is that?" Angel asked, focusing, he snatched a few of the strange guns away from the guards.

"A tweak to some old tech," Franchesca called out.

Angel subconsciously touched the device beneath his own skin, hand pressed to his neck.

"Doris!" Kali yelled.

Mick kept her in the van as she tried to get to the screaming woman.

You hopped out of Eddie's van and made a run for it.

"No, no, ____! Come back h-" Eddie called to you, unhooking himself from the seat belt and making chase.

"Damn it!" He cursed, hopping out of the van.

You jumped up and down waving your arms, "H-hey bitch! Over here! The real deal - right here!" you shouted, eyes burning with tears as Doris' screams were wrenching.

Franchesca looked your way.

"You want me, right? I'm right here - Let Gail go. Let them all go!" you shouted.

"____ stop!" Angel ordered, reaching out his hand towards you, you flew backward. A force like a gust of wind knocking you back.

Eddie held out his arms, breaking your fall he held you up, wrapping his arms around you.

"Eddie, let me go!" you shouted.

"Not this time," Eddie spoke breathlessly.

Angel glared at Franchesca and she started to levitate.

"Angel!" Gail warned after noticing the calm on the woman's face, she followed Franchesca's gaze which was fixed past her friends to the neighboring building.

Angel hissed as his shoulder jolted forward, a tiny blue object sparking as it nestled into his skin, and a hole seared through his sweater.

He tried to reach the intensely burning item, but it was lodged in.

Angel held back from screaming, he didn't want to give the woman the satisfaction as he lost control over his hold on her.

Franchesca fell to the ground, her guards helping her back to her feet.

Rolling onto his back, Angel cursed. With his voice straining he called out, "Get out of here!"

Amy growled to herself, and in a blink phased out of the truck. Rick hopped out quickly with his gun aimed and fired at the guards.

Amy, popping up behind one of them, snatched his gun and jammed the butt of it into his cheek.

"Take that bitch." She shouted, before pulling the trigger on the fallen man, she loaded him with the electric rounds and watched him flop about the floor.

The sky filled with thick clouds sporting a furious gray. Lighting flickered through the dark curtain, and thunder rolled.

Your eyes didn't know where to look as you struggled against Eddie.

Eddie looked up at the sky, the hair on his head raised with static, and the skin on his face tingled.

"____?" he questioned, holding you tighter.

Resting his head near your ear, Eddie's eyes shifted to Franchesca.

"Focus," he whispered to you.

"Focus on her." He repeated.

Though that was easier said than done with the screams of your companions echoing around you. Tears slipped down your face unable to make anything happen, but still the storm above grew angrier.

Axel loaded and fired a gun with Rick, while Mick now held Kali to the ground as she struggled.

"Kali stop it!" Mick growled. But she wasn't listening.

Angel rolled onto his stomach, crawling to face Doris, he fought to keep his arms steady reaching out towards her.

He clenched his palm into a fist and the device that was causing her so much pain ripped out, falling to the ground between them.

Doris let out a gasp of air and lay still, panting as tears rolled from the corner of her eyes.

Angel curled into a ball, yelling at the top of his lungs as he no longer had the strength or resolve to hold it back.

The sound caused Eddie to tremble, his eyes filling with water as he gritted his teeth.

Letting go of you, Eddie ran for him. Taking hold of Angel's shoulders, he tried to drag him away.

"Stop." Angel ordered.

"Fuck that man." Eddie spat, lugging him towards the Van.

Amy fired the last round in the gun at a guard sneaking behind you. He dropped to the ground in agony.

"This thing's pretty cool." she said, pleased.

"No! No!" Gail cried out, trying her best to struggle.

"Hey!" Amy barked, noticing Franchesca trying to retreat with her.

Gail kicked and failed desperately. Your eyes snapped to them, tearing away from Eddie and Angel.

The sky opened with a loud crack. A blazing lightning bolt the color of fire struck, zapping through the building, and crashing between Franchesca and Gail.

Robin entered the Lobby of the Nuclear Power plant, she walked to the front desk, looking down at the confused receptionist.

"Can we help you?" the woman asked, clearly taken back by seeing a random teen enter.

"Um, yeah, I'm looking for Mr.Munson? It's kind of a mild emergency." Robin said.

"Kind of a mild Emergency?" The receptionist asked.

"Yeah, can you just ask him for me where his nephew usually hangs out? A friend of ours is kinda MIA and I need to find him to see if he's seen her....but I can't find him, so...Mr.Munson?" Robin explained, offering a smile.

The woman gave her a flat stare, "If you leave a callback number, we can let him know to give you a call. But he is currently on the clock and this is no place for you, for your safety miss -"

"Robin Buckley," Robbin spoke dejectedly.

The Receptionist slipped her a piece of paper and Robin quickly wrote down her information.

"YES!" Gareth cheered as the bolt of lightning forced Franchesca away from Gail.

People across the city watched the turbulent skies with worry, there had been no forecast warning.

You rushed forward, running through the hole in the wall, "Gail!"

The frightened girl scrambled to her feet and ran to you, taking your hand and holding it tight. You offered a strained smile, eyes glowing like a pyre, bright orange.

"Let's get out of here," you spoke to Gail.

"Amy!" you called out.

"Behind you!" Amy reassured, hopping over the guard writhing on the floor and following the other two girls out.

Kali and Mick worked together to get Doris off the ground and into the white van with Funshine's help.

"Here," Jeff said, joining Eddie in trying to get Angel to his feet.

"Hold on man," Gareth comforted Angel, opening the Van doors, while Scott hopped behind the wheel.

"Get him in" Eddie urged, releasing Angel, he turned back to the girls who made a run for it.

Rick and Axel where still firing rounds, providing as much cover as they could.

Eddie reached out for you, and your fingers grazed against his when a blue spark flew toward the two of you. Both barely managing to leap out of the way.

Your eyes went to the sniper on the building in the distance. You tried to focus once more, hoping, however, You weren't going to get lucky again.

"Stop. Forget him, let's just go!" Amy urged.

No sooner had the words left her mouth, was she taken to the ground, shouting and clawing at the blue spark in her side.

"AMY!" you cried out, dropping to the ground, you tried to help pull free the tiny metal thing in Amy's skin.

"Get it out!" Amy cried, her back arching in pain.

Gail drew in a sharp breath as she watched Amy with horrified eyes that slowly filled with tears. Memories shot through in rapid flashes, Gail gripped her head and shut her eyes tight as a headache took over.

Two girls played on the playground, the smaller one pushing the older girl on the swing set, their faces were blurred, but their laughter was happy. "This is the last time, and then it's my turn, you're heavy!" the smaller one said in mock anger.

Slowly through the memory, the girl's face sharpened, the blur fading away.

Gail's eyes shot open, and they fell on the two of you on the ground, "Amy?" Gail breathed, her voice cracking.

Amy turned her head to look at Gail, Her voice had changed drastically. Sounding, higher, lighter - not her own.

But it was a voice Amy could never forget.

"S-Susan?" Amy managed through the pain. Gail smiled for a moment before collapsing to the ground.

"What?" you gasped, shocked.

"I got her," Eddie said, gathering Gail off the ground.

You nodded and plucked the tiny device from Amy's skin, with a painful yowl as the radiating, overwhelming pain shot through your fingers.

You quickly tossed it to the ground.

"Come on Amy, we're out of here," You said, pulling Amy to her feet, you tried your best to carry her to Eddie's Van.

"Go, go!" Funshine said to Rick, the two of them running for Rick's truck.

In a blaze of smoke and burned rubber, the three vehicles tore up the road, fleeing.

Axel could hear bullets from the sniper grazing the van.

It was cramped in the back of Eddie's van. He checked on Gail, and Gareth on Amy, as you sat looking over the three incapacitated people.

"Amy?" you asked carefully.

"I-I'm ok...." Amy panted.

You gave a nod and hugged her lightly before turning to Angel.

He looked at you with a hazy gaze.

"Are you ok?" you asked him, It was a stupid question, "o-of course you're not." you said, shaking your head.

Angel laughed hoarsely though his hand still clawed trying to reach the device and flicked your nose playfully.

"It's just a scrape." He groaned.

"Here, lean forward," you offered gently.

Eddie helped Angel lean and you took hold of the small device. Biting your lip to the point of drawing blood to stop a scream, you pulled the sparking thing from Angel's shoulder. Tossing it to the floor of the Van.

Angel sighed at the relief of having it gone, and Eddie smashed the device with the stolen guitar. You held Angel letting him rest his head on your shoulder.

"Thank you," you said to him quietly.

He looked up at you, reaching his neck up he laid a single kiss on her neck and passed out as exhaustion took hold.

Eddie watched them bewildered, He wasn't going to be mad, he couldn't be.

The van fell into silence as Scott followed Rick and Axel up the road. You watched over Amy, Gail, and Angel silently. Each was now resting.

"I wonder if Doris is doing any better." you thought.

You frowned slightly, "Maybe I can't go back home if this is how things will be." You thought, eyes scanning over their worn faces.

"Will they keep hunting me? I can't keep putting people in danger."

"Hey," Eddie whispered quietly, cutting between your worries.

His hand lightly rubbed your shoulder. He looked you up and down with concern.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

You looked back at him, "Everything," you whispered for fear of waking the others.

You turned your eyes to your friends.

"They didn't ask for this, everyone was lured here for my sake." you said quietly.

Shaking your head you tried to will away the tears, "And I don't even know why."

"Ok so there's something they want me to power, and we can guess it's related to the gate. But that's not a real answer, is it?" you said

You took at look at Jeff and Gareth who were each gazing out a window as if processing everything they'd just seen.

Then you turned to Eddie distraught, "They shouldn't be wrapped up in any of this. None of you should. It'd be different if it was just Amy and Angel. We're connected with Doris and Kali and it makes sense that they're here." you rambled.

"Average ass rangers and halflings travel about with wizards and elves all the time." Eddie said.

"In fact, a very wise wizard once said, Many are the strange chances of the world, and help oft shall come from the hands of the weak when the wise falter." He added.

You leaned your head onto Eddie's shoulder.

"I don't want to be anyone's problem. I'm tired of that. It's only getting worse as I fight it." you whispered.

"Wait...a minute." Eddie muttered, glancing down at you, he arched a brow.

"Whoever told you, you were a problem?" He asked.

You side glanced.

"Who told you, you were a problem?" He repeated, his tone slightly angered, but not towards you.

When Eddie didn't get a reply, he wrapped his arms around you to hold you closer.

"Maybe I shouldn't take her home. If that's what she can even call it." Eddie thought.

"Why won't you open up to me." his mind sighed.

Eddie gave you a tender squeeze.

"One day you'll tell me everything you lock away in that pretty little head of yours." He whispered deeply to you, resting his head atop yours.

You stayed nestled in his arms, watching over your friends. "I'm not going back." you thought to yourself, "I can't."

Your mind flooded with the faces of those she'd cared for back home, Robin, Patrick, Keith, Max, your mother, Chrissy, and even your father.

"Just...after last night, how do I tell you..." you thought to Eddie.

In the meantime, accepting the warmth of his arms.

And as if he could hear you, he held on even tighter.

Deborah sat in her office digging through a small file, her desk littered with newspaper clippings and a Hawkins Middle School yearbook.

"It's not just a coincidence, it has to mean something." Deborah thought.

"You're in here on an off day...again?" Hopper asked as he entered the police station.

Deborah looked up from her messy desk and gave a feeble smile, "Um...I've taken up a Hobby?" she said, shrugging her shoulders high.

"You used to be a nightmare in high school...with all your fixations." Hopper sighed, walking to the desk.

"So, what's your newest obsession?" He asked her.

Deborah bit her upper lip and glanced down at her research.

"____ McKinney?" Hopper asked, he looked up at Deborah, "do I need to be worried about this?" He asked slowly.

Deborah opened her mouth wide, prepared to explain, when Hopper threw up his hand.

"Don't tell me you're back to looking." He said.

Deborah's face solidified into a stone gaze, "I will not stop until I find out what happened, Hopper." she said.

Snatching up a picture of you from Middle school, she pulled a worn photo from the pocket of her uniform.

"Look at them, Hopper." Deborah said placing her photo next to your face in the yearbook.

Hopper peered down at the identical faces, the old worn photo of a little girl anywhere between seven and nine years old.

"Yes, they look strikingly alike but-"

"They look *exactly* alike, and what are the odds that my sister and this McKinney share the same first name, Hopper." Deborah pushed.

Hopper closed his eyes and sighed heavily, "Deb" he said with a careful sternness.

As Hopper opened his eyes, he was faced with dark eyes daring him to defy her.

Hopper pointed at the pictures with his hand, "That girl can't be your sister. That was probably well before she was even born." He reasoned.

"I'm not stupid, I know that," said Deborah.

Hopper let out a sigh of relief.

"I'm simply saying that...well she was just found right? She could be my sister's child." Deborah said, "My sister could have named her ____ in hopes that I or someone would put things together, maybe she even helped the girl escape from the men that took her in the first place." she explained.

Hopper watched her with a blank stare. "You're a cop, Deb. You know the likelihood that your ____ is alive is-"

"Slim, yeah I know. But even you, have to admit. It's strange." Deborah said, pointing to the photos.

"They're virtually twins." she stated.

Hopper gazed at the photos and shook his head. Yes, she had a point, but at the same time, Deborah was known to reach far in her attempts to solve the old town mystery of what happened to little ____ Sinclair well over 30 years ago.

"So, what do you plan to do?" Hopper asked, looking down at Deborah.

"Have this random teenage girl DNA tested?" He asked.

"I could," she replied quickly.

"If I explained things to her, I mean she was orphaned. She might be interested in finding her real family too." Deborah reasoned.

"Or you get the poor kid's hopes up over nothing." Hopper said.

Deborah fell silent. "Just think about what this could do to the kid and her family before rushing in." Hopper warned.

Deborah sighed heavily, "I will." she promised.

"Good, now come on. I need you to flirt with that guy at the coffee shop and get me a discount." Hopper said with a grin.

Deborah rolled her eyes and grabbed her hat, "You should be ashamed." she teased.

"Isn't that the whole point of being a best friend of the former prom queen?" He said, following after her.

The panicked caravan pulled to a stop in what you would only describe as the middle of nowhere.

"Are we even still in the city?" you asked, peeking out the window.

"Doesn't look like it, outskirts of Pennsylvania looks like." Jeff said.

You looked to find Eddie fast asleep in the seat, head tilted back and mouth wide open. You suppressed a giggle.

"Are we the only ones up?" you asked Scott.

"Yeah, you, me and Jeff makes three." He said.

"Four!" Gareth called out, waking with a start.

He hastily fiddled with his seat belt, freeing himself and trying to step around the others in a rush for the back doors.

"I gotta piss!" he yelped, exiting the van and making a B-line for the side of the road, wading into the tall grass.

You and the two remaining boys looked at each other and laughed.

"I'm going to miss the guys too." you thought while unhooking yourself from the seatbelt.

"You too?" Scott snickered.

You shook your head, "Ha, no. I'm going to check on Kali and the others, see how Doris is doing."

"I also need to stretch my legs, we've been driving for hours," you added, hopping out of the Van.

The midday sun of summer felt good against your arms, even through the mild humidity. You stopped halfway to Kali's van to look around.

"Wow we really are in the middle of nowhere." you thought, the place looked more sparse than Hawkins.

Not far off, surrounded by houses gifted with large be it lazily kept yards, was a small lemonade stand by the sidewalk. It had been left abandoned as a group of children ran around the front yard to the back of the house.

The calm scene around you, almost made your reality feel like a bad dream.

Kali opened the doors to the white van, "____?" she questioned.

Her voice drew you back down to where you stood, where you really stood. Your world was a mess.

"Yeah, how're you guys holding up?" you asked, making your way over.

"We're fine," Kali said moving so that you might climb into the vehicle.

Axel exited the van ruffling through his pockets for a lighter.

"Here," Mick called, tossing him her matchbook.

You looked at Kali, "His nerves are bad." Kali explained.

"All of our nerves are." sighed Mick.

Kali closed the van doors behind you and the two of you turned your eyes to Doris, who was resting quietly with a deep frown on her face. A red splotch was left on her skin where the tiny weapon burned her.

"She's ok...." Kali whispered, "That thing just drained her, a lot."

"She was subjected to it longer than anyone else. It makes sense." you spoke with a pained expression.

You could hear and feel each one of your friends drop to the ground because of those tiny little things, and the phantom feeling was making your stomach twist into a knot.

Kali studied your expression, "You," she started slowly, weighing the air around you.

"You didn't come here just to check on us, did you?" she asked.

You gave a feeble shake of your head, "No," you sighed, turning to Kali.

"I want to accept your offer to stay with you," you stated.

"You're sure?" Kali asked.

"Yes and No. It's funny, I've got so many friends now, that I should want to return home. But -"

"You'd only end up getting them hurt." Kali said.

You gave a nod.

"Look what they did to Doris," you spoke softly, "And Angel, I've known neither long, but I know they are strong, and both were brought right to their knees. In seconds."

Your eyes welled slightly with salty water, "What could they do to the others?"

Kali nodded, "You aren't wrong to worry, but I will say they can still be of help. Mick, Funshine, and Axel aren't like us. But here they are." Kali reasoned.

You looked at Mick, "They aren't. But they're tough, I can tell. They're fighters - each of them looks like they've been fighting all their life." she said.

Mick smiled, "not wrong there, kid."

"We were just, small-town teens. They can't be like this, it's not on them." you sighed.

You then laughed slightly, voice gently breaking, "but they're oddly loyal."

"Are you going to tell them or just slip away?" Mick asked.

You looked up, "Oh," you said breathlessly, fiddling nervously with your fingers.

"I didn't think about that." you looked down at your hands.

"How do I do it? They'd throw a fit if I told them. Not that I blame them, if this was always going to be the case, they could have left me to start with." you pondered inwardly.

"But I don't want to not say goodbye." This thought rang the loudest through your reasoning.

"I don't know what would be easier." you sighed.

"Neither, if they are your friends, they will suffer either way. You'll have to cut all ties if you truly want to keep them safe," said Kali.

Her words came out cold, but her eyes were kind and held much sympathy.

You shut your eyes tight and nodded, "I won't be telling them. I just need to figure out how to just...slip away."

"We can help you with that," said Mick.

"Do you think it will be hard to get Amy and Angel to join you? We'd be something to reckon with them along." Kali asked.

"Not at all, Amy's been looking for answers about her sister involving Loxion and if they are tied with the Lab that held you and Angel. She'll be all for it, I'm sure." you stated.

"And Angel?" Kali asked.

You sighed, "I don't know him well, but I know - He's gonna be pissed off when he wakes up. Something tells me he'll want revenge of his own. We'll help you take down those involved with the Lab if you can help us find out more about Loxion and put an end to them."

Kali smirked at the determination in your eyes. Kali held out her hand, and you took it.

"We'll turn you into something to be feared." Kali boasted, giving your hand a shake.

"And we will tear down Loxion and the Lab someday together," she added.

you struggled to smile.

"I'd better be in on this path of vengeance" Doris croaked through a dry throat as she opened her eyes.

"Sorry, did we wake you?" you asked quickly.

"I heard interesting things, that's what woke me. I'd better be in on it." Doris said, she sat up and rubbed her neck.

"That hurt like a bitch." she hissed, she turned to Kali and craned her neck, "Is the scar sexy?" she asked her.

Kali chuckled, "Hardly, it looks like a giant freshly popped zit."

Doris shrugged into a simper, "Too bad, I needed another impressive scar for the collection." she sighed.

You giggled, "You're really taking this in stride."

Doris arched a brow, "It wasn't fun, but I've faced worse, and I am sure worse will be coming for me one day soon." She shrugged with her arms raised.

"No use in letting it keep me down, I won't get anything done." Doris sighed.

"The real question is...do you think that bitch is still held up in that storage facility?" Doris asked.

"Doubt it, you guys busted that place pretty good. I'm sure the police have investigated it by now. Closed the area down." Axel said, getting back into the passenger seat.

"Damn," Doris whispered.

"It'll take us a long time to track them down again." she sighed, "Even with ____ with us, they won't make the same mistake."

You shrugged stating, "That's perfectly fine, I'd rather not have to face them again until I know I can. So yeah, in no hurry."

"But taking her out now would mean getting back to your life sooner, to your friends sooner." Doris reasoned.

"Or it could mean I die a very painful, untimely death. I'd rather be alive when I go back to my friends, not in a casket or an urn." Myrtle replied.

Axel laughed loudly, "Whoa wait-" he said, "She's leaving them?" He asked.

"You missed a lot while out on that smoke break," Mick said simply.

Axel leaned back to look at you from his seat, "Welcome to the teeaaam, sugarplum!" he sang playfully.

Your smile was faint, "And to think I thought you were mean at first."

"Oh, I am, I just make exceptions." He said.

Axel's eyes fell on Kali, "One day you could be for them what she is for us. And Kal? Kal's the only one who can turn you into that." He said.

You looked to Kali, who tilted her head and rolled her eyes.

"He's putting a little too much on it, Axel is the dramatic type." She said.

"I can tell by the hair." you chuckled.

"I can hear you." Axel muttered.

"How do you even fit in here without messing it up?" you asked.

Axel grinned, "Half a can of hair spray." he said.

Gail stood with her ear to the glass of the white van, where the windows had been coated with white paint for cover.

"Leaving?" Gail thought.

She looked back to Eddie's van, where the others rested. Scott and Jeff had gone to stretch their legs, heading for the abandoned Lemonade stand in hopes of luring the seller back, so they could purchase some.

It would be easier to let you go, but Gail couldn't unsee how Eddie looked at you, or forget the way he spoke of you.

Gail took in a deep breath.

"Should it even bother me if I'm not..." her thoughts wandered as she recalled the fuzzy memory and Amy's face.

"Who is Susan?" Gail asked herself.

"Never mind it you have to tell Eddie and the guys," Gail whispered, backing away and heading to the green van.

But as she ran around to the back doors, Angel stepped groggily out of them, letting them fall shut lightly on their own.

"Why are you in such a hurry? Don't tell me you're planning on running again." He spat at Gail.

She rolled her eyes and scowled, "No. Ok, believe it or not, I'm not that stupid. I need to warn the guys." said Gail, trying to push past Angel.

However, he refused to move, "Warn them about?" he asked skeptically, clear eyes narrowing dangerously.

"____'s going to leave." Gail huffed, "I need to tell Eddie, so he can talk her out of it. She's going to leave, and she's going to do it without saying goodbye." Gail explained.

Angel's brow rose high on his face as he moved to block Gail's attempt to step around him.

"Continue." He ordered.

Gail growled under her breath, "She's going to stay with Kali and Doris. She wants to go after Loxion."

"I didn't hear much else, but...they want you to go with them. I missed some bits." Gail murmured.

"So for all you know, she told them no? And you'd be panicking everyone for nothing." Angel reasoned.

Gail looked into his eyes for a long time in silence.

"Y-you're trying to stop me from telling him." Gail stammered.

A thin smile slipped across Angel's lips. "It'd be better for the both of us," he hummed.

"Eddie would hate you for it." Gail shot.

With a hard roll of his eyes, Angel scoffed, "Eddie already hates me enough to where it wouldn't matter." he said.

Gail shook her head, "You're awful." she hissed.

"And you're not? You don't even know who you are." Angel whispered.

Taking deliberate steps forward, he slowly backed Gail away from the van doors.

"Your current existence is a lie, so what's it to tell another one?" He asked her, earning a furious glare.

"What the hell are you talking about?" She asked him.

Angel smirked, "So you've already lost a great deal of awareness about your original self." he spoke amused.

"Ok then 'Gail' think of it this way, you let the fairy and I leave, and you get your chance to start over." He bargained with a silver tongue, turning to look back at the van.

"He will need a shoulder to blubber on about it," said Angel.

Gail fell silent, "but if he found out..." she murmured.

"Oh, he'd hate you. Almost as much as he hated me. It's up to you to decide the worth of the risk." said Angel.

"Though one thing remains. If ____ wants to go, He may not be able to stop her. She's going to do it because she cares about them, and they aren't built for the world we live in." He added.

Angel left her with those words as he made his way toward Rick's truck, where the man stood smoking a short blunt.

Gail stood in a humid breeze watching the door to the Van.

"You're going to tell him." she told herself, but her feet no longer wanted to move.

Amy groggily popped her head out of the Van, "____?" she asked Gail.

Gail watched Amy with wide eyes, and Amy arched a brow.

"Okay, you're obviously still freaking out." Amy muttered, hopping out and wandering off around the Van.

Gail's eyes followed her, "Why do I know you?" Gail's thoughts questioned.

"She seems to have forgotten she called me Susan..." Gail sighed.

"Hey, weirdo," Amy called, spotting Angel as he was walking away from Rick.

Angel coughed lightly and drew in a deep breath to expand his lungs.

"What do you want?" He asked her, his usual edge seeming more passive.

"I um, have you seen ____?" Amy asked, her face scrunched up, "You reek of Ganja" she muttered pinching her nose.

Angel sighed, "I do, and you should go ask Rick for a puff of it as well. It does wonders for numbing that pain from those fucking little zappers." he said.

"I'm good, I'd rather have the clarity, thanks," Amy muttered.

Angel rotated his shoulder a few times, to loosen the muscles that knotted together, seized from the pain hours before.

"____'s visiting Doris, looks like we're headed to the same place," Angel said, reaching out for the Van doors he held one door open.

"Oh, perfect timing." Doris greeted them with a wide mischievous smile.

"Hurry get in." she called, beckoning them with a wave of her curling fingers.

Amy looked at Angel confused as he seemed to know exactly what was going on but followed him inside nonetheless.

"What's going on?" Amy asked.

You turned around to look at them and gave a strained smile.

"We're leaving," Angel said.

"Leaving? Where?" Amy asked quickly.

"To whoever the road to Loxion and the Lab workers takes us to." Kali said.

"You're going to hunt them down?" Amy asked.

"We wanted answers, didn't we?" You asked her.

Amy smiled, "I mean hell yeah but...." Amy glanced out the window to the green van a small distance away.

"They can't know, it's too dangerous. They aren't like us." Doris explained.

Amy gave a nod and looked at you, "If you're good, I'm good," she said to you.

You smiled gratefully at Amy and turned to Angel.

As you went to open your mouth to speak he tilted his head.

"I'm with you, fairy. You don't need to ask." He said, eyes glinting with the same sharpness of his smirk.

"I owe them a kick in the teeth too." He murmured as if annoyed.

Doris laughed, "I knew that zappy shit would make you mad." she hummed.

"So when do we leave?" Amy asked.

"As soon as Axel returns with Funshine, he just left to get him." Mick explained.

You exhaled a nervous breath and shook out your hands.

"It'll be ok," Kali said calmly.

"Will it?" you thought.

The back doors opened again and in climbed Funshine as Axel got into the front passenger seat.

"Soon is here, then let's hit the road." Axel chimed excitedly.

You could feel the acid burning in your gut, and Angel quietly took your hand.

"It will be alright, It's scary at first, and then it gets easier." He whispered.

You nodded, "Let's go."

Amy watched you with concern, "You're sure? Like..."

"I'm so sure, this is the only way they'll be kept safe," you cut in with a firm nod.

"It's the right path, ____, you won't regret it long." Kali said with a smile, she rested a comforting hand on your arm.

"And you're not alone." she added.

"Step on it, Mick!" Doris called.

Mick started the Van and Kali quickly cloaked it with her powers, they'd all but vanished to the world around them.

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#reader discretion advised #eddie munson x moster!reader #eddie munson x mckinney!reader #eddie munson angst #semi-dark fic #not suitable for minors #critique welcome #There & Back Again Eddie Fanfic

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sofiiel · 5 months

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There & Back Again : xreader addition (fem/afab)

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍: 8.6k words: (CW: angst. some fluff. character rivalry. relationship change.)

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"Dude." Gareth said in a long amazed sigh, his eyes opened wide.

You hugged yourself with your secondary arms and refused to look away from the floor where you sat on your knees.

Shortly after Gareth had spoken a loud, pitched scream sounded off behind them.

"Gail." Angel growled, "Quiet." he barked.

"She should be scared, she's got...." Scott started but his words faded as you flinched.

"I dunno it's pretty awesome in a way isn't it? Imagine toting about four guns and being able to fire all of them." Axel said with an amused grin.

Kali pushed past Axel and slowly made her way to you. She rested a hand on your shoulder.

"How?" Kali asked.

You shook your head, refusing to look up.

"I don't know, it started slowly the moment the gate got a hold of me, and got worse down in that place." you murmured.

"She can't just walk around like this, she'll have every freakshow in the country knocking down her door, and how are we gonna explain this away?" Rick said, panic slowly setting in.

"We could hide them, under a coat maybe?" Jeff offered.

Angel's eyes narrowed, "Why should she hide them? They're just arms." he said.

"Yeah arms she didn't have when she left home. What? we bring her back, and say 'oh by the way your daughter had some freak surgery I guess' that's not gonna fly." Doris reasoned.

"Actually I doubt her parents would know as oblivious as they seem to be about her wellbeing..." Amy muttered.

"Oh, they'd see a pair of extra limbs." Axel said.

"Can't she stay with Kali and the others? They're used to being on the run. Look at her - she's a monstrosity. Hawkins would chase her with pitchforks right out of town." Gail chimed in.

You hugged yourself tighter. Eddie's gaze wandered over the others with a flat expression.

He walked towards you and knelt without a word. Tilting his head to peer at your face, his brows knitted together with guilt.

You glanced up in surprise as He took the hands of your secondary arms gently, holding them in his own.

Eddie looked up at you with a smile faintly playing at his lips, giving your arms a tug he pulled you into a hug. All of your arms responded, wrapping around him tightly, clinging.

"For now, I'm just glad you're back." He said his head resting atop yours, allowing you to hide your face in his shoulder.

"I'm sorry." He said quietly, "we're gonna fix this, okay?" He said firmly giving your body a soft squeeze.

You nodded, your heart skipping several beats engulfed in warmth. The smell of concrete dust, leather, smoke and generic public restroom soap filled your senses.

Angel watched you cling to Eddie with a blank gaze, Eddie looked up at him.

"Thanks man." Eddie said.

For a moment Angel's eyes widened in surprise, but a near-invisible smile formed on Angel's face.

Gail stood quietly she watched the three of you while feeling detached from the world around her. Angel glanced up at her with an expression of distaste.

"They all deserve to know that's not the real Gail." Angel thought to himself. "But that's a damn good mimic."

Gail's eyes wandered to Amy, she hadn't gotten a good look at her before, their eyes met, and for a moment, something stirred in Gail's mind.

Fuzzy memories were nothing but blurs, but she could hear a voice within in.

"You're too old for this! you should be pushing me!"

The voice said laughing through irritation.

Gail gave her head a shake, "what was that?" she thought to herself.

You lightly pushed yourself away from Eddie's hold, to peer up at him.

"You know," he said examining your extra arms.

"Can you imagine what you could do with a guitar with those things?" He said playfully.

You looked at your extra set.

"She'd kill the drums." Gareth chimed in.

"You should teach her to play, it'd be a pretty Bitchin look for the band." Kali said.

"I mean yeah, four-armed lady? hell yeah." Mick stated with a smooth grin.

Eddie tilted his head to look back at his friends, "It would be pretty killer wouldn't it?" He asked with a grin.

You shook your head.

"Or a poster child, like she could be our mascot," said Jeff.

"You've all gone nuts." Rick sighed, "and I need a drink." he added.

"We should probably get out of here though. Corroded kicked up a lot of noise and for all we know Loxion has a way of connecting with this tracker," Doris said.

"True," Kali murmured.

You got to your feet with Eddie's help, you couldn't help but smile to yourself as he seemed to try and stand closer to you.

Eddie rested his arm on your shoulder and looked to the others.

"Leave and go where exactly?" He asked, "Even if they're growing on us -"

Eddie looked down at you with a sheepish smile, "Ah excuse the pun," he said.

"They make going anywhere kinda hard to do." Eddie said.

"No one's outside at this hour, getting her to the van won't be hard," said Angel.

"We just kicked up all the noise in the world, someone just might be lurking," said Scott.

Axel rolled his eyes and swept his arm in Kali's direction.

"Ah hellooo!" he sang causing Kali to laugh.

"Oh....right, Illusionist," Scott said awkwardly.

"I can keep her hidden," Kali said.

"where do we go? Something tells me it won't be easy to just up and drive out of the city. They'll want ____ back." said Amy her voice drained.

"I think the three of you need a rest," Rick said turning to the three of you, who'd just plunged through the gate.

"I think we all do." He added.

"So, what now, back to the factory?" asked Gareth.

"It's the only safe place for now." said Mick.

"I'm good with it for now yeah, everyone to the cars." Rick ordered as he and Funshine allowed everyone to leave down the stairs ahead of them.

Scott sat at the wheel of Eddie's van while Eddie sat next to where you lay in the back trying to find sleep.

However your adrenaline was still pumping, you could feel it in your veins. More than that, you could still feel the energy from before.

You groaned and sat up, "I'm not sleepy."

Eddie chuckled lightly, "I'd be more worried if you could, after all that." he said, eyeing Angel cautiously.

He'd heard from Amy what he'd done to the monsters.

"You can stop eying me, Munson. If I had wanted to flay you open, It would have happened years ago." Angel said with a menacing smile.

Eddie rolled his eyes, "From what Amy said, you can't do that on this side." Eddie mused with a sly smirk.

Angel glared, "Annoying." he muttered.

"You two play nice." Gail chimed in as she stirred in her seat.

Her eyes fell on you who watched her quietly, "Thank you for helping me." you said.

You needed to say something it felt strange just watching her.

But you had so many questions, and so far she seemed nothing like how Angel had described her.

"But he said that there were many Gails...." you thought.

Eddie sucked in his lips feeling an awkward tension in the air, it was hard to tell just who all it had been between. But he certainly felt awkward himself. Eddie placed a hand atop your head.

"You have a very pretty voice," you added, recalling the deep feminine tone that sang the melody.

Gail smiled despite herself, part of her wanted to be sour.

"But it's a very sad one," you stated.

"I suppose that's perfect for metal, sorrow and anger go hand in hand." Gail replied, "And thank you. I'm glad to help - if only to stop that dufus over there from bellyaching the whole time." she teased.

"I was not bellyaching - ok," Eddie jumped in quickly, he looked down at you nervously.

"I was simply voicing my concerns." He said.

"Very vocally," Gail shot.

Eddie gave her a warning glare and Angel laughed.

"Every two minutes..." Gail added.

Eddie blushed at the tip of his nose and ear, "Was not," he muttered.

"Was t-"

"Gail!" Eddie raged, and you giggled at the sharp tone.

Eddie couldn't fight the little smile on his face at hearing you.

Angel looked off as if bored, complaining.

"Stop being sickening," he muttered, changing sides he sat next to you, and rested his head on your shoulder.

Eddie's jaw clenched and his eyes were shouting various curses as he watched him from the other side of you.

"You might not be tired, but I'm beat." Angel muttered closing his eyes.

You sat stiff as a board and looked to Gail and Eddie for help.

"Don't lay on the tired one, dumbass." Eddie shot.

Angel kept his eyes closed, "She's got plenty of energy now, it's why she can't sleep." Angel stated matter-of-factly.

"You might be heavy with that big head of yours," said Eddie.

Angel opened his eyes and tilted his head to look up at you.

"Am I heavy?" He was frank about it.

You bit your lip, "well yeah kind of...." you thought,.

"But he did save you back there." your mind reasoned.

You sighed, "no, I'm ok."

"He helped me a lot in there, I can survive being a pillow," you said with a smile.

Eddie sulked inwardly though he remained composed and shrugged it off. Gail laughed quietly.

"You say one word and I swear." Eddie's eyes spoke as he looked Gail's way. She raised her hands in the air.

"I'm not going to stay anything else." She said quickly.

Eddie held back a yawn, you tried your best not to move too much as you glanced up at him. He did look exhausted.

"It's been a few days, have you slept at all?" you asked him.

Eddie rubbed the rheum away from the corner of his eyes and stretched with his arms up into the air.

"As if I could." He said through another yawn looking down at you.

"I talked you into coming out here, sleep wasn't going to be a thing until we got you back." He said.

Dropping his voice into a hushed tone he leaned down to you, "An Eddie is faithful one hundred percent" he said.

You held in the urge to giggle, so as not to wake Angel and peered up at Eddie. His smile grew as he watched one spread lightly across your lips. Glad to see it again.

"You snoop," you said.

"Yeah, I saw the Seuss book on the shelf in your room," Eddie admitted with a silly grin.

"All six of them." he teased.

"You keep Dr.Seuss books?" Scott asked with a snicker.

Angel lifted his head slightly and scowled, "You were in her room?" He asked.

"yeah I was, but oh look who's up." Eddie shot.

Angel laid his head back down. "I'm not up, you're loud Munson." he grumbled closing his eyes once more.

"Eddie was checking on me after I got into some trouble, that's all." you explained quickly. Trying to look everywhere but at Gail, who's gaze was digging holes into you.

"As for my books, my mom used to read them to me when I was little. Back when we actually talked." you said.

You figured you didn't need to explain further to get them to understand it was sentimental.

"I'm keeping them in case one day I have a kid of my own," you added.

"However..." you looked down at your main and secondary set of hands.

"Now...." your eyes narrowed at your own body into a glare.

"Yeah if we're going to be honest breeding probably wouldn't be the best idea," Gail said.

"Gail!" Eddie shouted causing everyone in the van to stir.

Angel's eyes opened and narrowed into a thin glare.

"Hey, *I* can say these things. I've got no business breeding either - I wouldn't put a kid through the mental hell I go through." Gail reasoned.

"I'm sure she wouldn't want to put hers through...this," she said.

You bit your lip, the conversation putting a new thought into the back of your head.

"What if my real parents knew?" you wondered silently.

Angel closed his eyes, "Were you always such a fucking shrew Gail." Angel said, rather than the groggy mutter it came out clear and old.

"Oh get bent, Angel. I'm right, she feels the same don't you?" Gail asked turning her gaze to you.

You remained silent.

"Um... let's just drop it, k?" Eddie asked carefully. But by the time he'd said the words you had already nodded.

Eddie winced as he watched you do so.

"See?" Gail asked in exasperation leaning back in her seat.

"Everybody's always trying to pin me as the bitch. I know what it is I'm talking about." Gail grumbled.

Eddie sighed heavily, leaning his head over he rested his cheek against the top of your head, watching Gail from the corner of his eyes as she sat indignantly looking out the window.

With eyelids getting heavier by the minute, Eddie finally closed his eyes.

"You do make a pretty good pillow." He murmured.

Your mind was screeching at you in a language you couldn't understand as your heart thundered.

"Not both of them...in front of her. " you thought, "come on guys.."

There would be no waking them, you could feel both Eddie and Angel breathing lightly sleep had already taken a hold of them.

"Gail." you called timidly.

"What?" Gail replied an edge to her voice.

"Um....I'm sorry about Angel. Is he always so-"

"Harsh? hateful? judgemental?" Gail asked.

"Ugh...." you didn't know about that, harsh was fitting. Hateful? Yeah she could see it, but judgemental? It seemed as though he only judged those who had judged him or others first....ok so maybe he was.

But you were not about to admit that, with him on your shoulder.

"I was thinking prickly," you said sheepishly.

Gail chuckled and tilted her head in your direction.

"God you're such a lamb," she said tossing you a cynical smile, but it wasn't mean-spirited.

Gail sized you up and sighed, turning to look away from eyes that seemed to be looking clean through her.

"No wonder he talks about you the way he does." Gail whispered.

The smile fell off her face, Gail didn't like that gaze of yours. It was full of pity.

"Do you welcome everybody you meet into the fold?" Gail asked you.

"I-I guess. Well no - I usually don't talk to many people. I mean, not many people talk to me." you struggled to explain as you chewed lightly on your tongue.

"But, you're someone Eddie cares about. I've learned he's pretty good at picking the people he surrounds himself with." you said speaking quietly.

"Yeah? You don't even know me, and I'm back from the dead. They wanted to trade me for you, that should be pretty sketchy." Gail said.

You shrugged, "But you helped me, and the trade wasn't made."

"I helped Eddie...not you," Gail whispered.

You strained to place a smile on your face as you laughed.

"Well, at least you're honest - I don't mind that. Of course, you would. Still shows he's good at picking people." you said.

Gail turned to you and raised a brow, "Oh yeah? well explain Angel then?" she questioned.

You glanced between the two guys who had made you a living pillow and giggled.

"well...Look at them." you said.

Gail cracked a small smile and rolled her eyes.

"They might not be great friends now, but...they remind me of how I and my little brother used to be. We're not great friends anymore either. That doesn't mean I wouldn't be there if he needed me." you stated.

"I hate that I might actually learn to like you." Gail thought to herself turning away from you again.

"Well, you're wrong about me." Gail shot.

"I might be," you admitted, "But he's not. Otherwise, he'd have turned away from you. And I can feel that Eddie is happy to have you back."

"How would you know?" Gail asked.

"Because I don't see that chip in his eyes anymore." you said.

"Chip in his eyes?" Gail asked.

"Yeah, he would smile, or laugh and there was this sad thing still in there. Just now, It was gone. That hidden thing was you. I know it was." you explained.

Gail sniffled "Jesus! Give me a break." she called bitterly.

"You sound like each other, for crying out loud." Gail said.

"Two people who are just friends don't talk like this you understand right?" she asked.

Your brows knitted together, "What like we are now? Sure they do - it's not weird or-"

Gail gave you a flat gaze, "That's not- I didn't mean us." she said pointing between the two of you.

"Gail leave her alone," Scott called.

"Well someone should tell her because they're making me want to fuckin barf." Gail barked.

"I'm sorry if I said something wrong," you murmured.

"You didn't -" Gail released a frustrated sigh and leaned against the window.

She was done trying to explain things and opted to gaze into the night.

Eddie held in a chuckle, briefly, he popped one eye open and looked at Gail.

"She's growing on her." he thought, closing his eye back up, Eddie cuddled his cheek into your hair under the guise of being asleep and unaware.

You could feel yourself blushing, though you were starting to feel smooshed.

"Are we there yet." you exhaled.

Scott laughed, "Actually, yes." He said bringing the Van to a stop.

"Great, my nerves can't take much more of this." you thought to yourself.

"Here you go," Kali said passing you a blanket.

"Thank you," you replied with a smile.

Kali chuckled as all four of your hands reached out for it. An annoyed scowl dropped onto your face.

"Ugh, they just move with the other two," she said.

Kali watched as the secondary arms released the blanket so that you could wrap yourself in it.

"It's just going to take practice," Kali said.

You deflated as you muttered, "Maybe but where am I supposed to do that,"

"You could stay here longer, you, Angel, and Amy. I'm sure the rest of us and Doris could help you understand the changes you're going through." Kali offered, "You'd be safe with us."

"I can't, I've got family back home, and Robin's going to be back from camp, and Chrissy...." you gasped loudly.

"Oh my god Chrissy! She was covering for me! It-it's been what three-four days? I was supposed to be gone for two!" you panicked.

The secondary hands covered your face as you groaned.

"I'm so dead, I'm also so fired - hopefully, Max's mom didn't try to call on me..." you rambled on muffled behind your hands.

Kali laughed quietly, "They will manage I am sure. It is good if you have people who would miss you." Kali said.

"That's just two people and a potential employer. Trust me when I say her family is worthless as shit." Amy complained laying out a blanket on the floor, before opening a bag of chips that had been left over from Rick's 7eleven haul.

Kali frowned and looked at you, "Is that true?" she asked.

You shrugged, "It's just work and school is stressful for them. Dad's always busy and trying to stay on top at work, Mom is bitter because her work life isn't as good and he has less time for her - my brother's just trying to find his place in the world now..." you tried to explain.

But Kali's gaze on you was hard, "Do they hurt you?" Kali asked.

You shook your head, "No, never." you answered quickly.

"Words are painful too, ____," Kali stated.

Your eyes gradually lowered.

"Consider staying with us." Kali said.

"I can't, even if I did want to" you looked over your shoulder to where Eddie stood talking with Scott,.

"It would fall on him, all of it. I couldn't let that happen." you whispered.

For a moment your eyes met, and that same grin came to Eddie's face.

"So you're going to do it?" Scott asked, but Eddie's mind was now elsewhere.

Scott watched the starry-eyed stare of his friend looking right past him and glanced back to find the culprit.

"Eddie man!" Scott called loudly.

"Huh? You said...." Eddie tried focusing on Scott desperately trying to remember what was said, but it wasn't coming to him and his sentence lingered in the air.

"Dude, you've got it bad." Scott sighed.

Eddie's arms dropped and he slumped over, "Don't I know it." he muttered.

"I said so you're going to do it?" Scott repeated.

Eddie stood up tall and pulled a necklace chain from his pocket.

"I've already taken it off." He said, eyes glued to the little red pick dangling from it.

"If it will get him to back off." Eddie frowned, "I've never seen Angel act the way he does around her, with anyone." he said.

"So maybe he's not just trying to get under your skin this time?" Scott reasoned.

"I can honestly say I don't give a damn what his motives are," Eddie said looking down at Scott.

Scott laughed, "God you're so serious it's hilarious." he said.

"Yeah well, not that I'm not ungrateful," said Eddie, glancing to where Angel slept with his back turned to everybody.

"He might have saved her life in that place. I'll let him sleep before giving it back." He said.

"Where'd Gail go?" Eddie asked looking about cautiously.

"For a walk," Scott said.

Eddie exhaled in relief and brushed back his hair.

"I do not envy you man," Scott said.

Eddie tossed him a look, "I've wanted this moment for so long," Eddie spoke as if walking on glass.

"And it's here and..." He shook his head.

"I'm glad she's back, When things calm down maybe we can talk and put shit to bed but -" Eddie looked at Scott and he gave Eddie a nod.

"You don't want what was," Scott said.

Eddie's eyes flickered to you as you played patty cake with Funshine and Kali using all of your arms.

"I don't," Eddie murmured, unable to look away for a moment.

"Don't look now, but he's looking at you again," Kali said between the laughter.

You ignored the skipped heartbeat, "Right, it's just the very sight of us - come on it's weird." you reasoned.

"He's always looking at you." Funshine said with a shrug.

"He is not...." you protested, but your heart ran away with itself.

"Rughead's obsessed ____," Amy muttered from where she lay.

You went to steal a peep over your shoulder, but both guys were gone.

Scott wandered over to where Jeff and Gareth rested, and Eddie quietly headed towards Angel.

You slowly tilted your head as you watched him rest a hand on Angel's shoulder and point towards a door.

Angel scowled, and looked back towards you, who quickly turned around and focused on the game with Kali and Funshine.

"Wonder what that was all about," Funshine said.

Kali laughed, "You're horribly noisy, Funshine." Kali teased.

Eddie paced in the dark in an empty room within the factory.

The blue hue of the night was broken by the moon's ghostly light coming through the busted window and fighting its way through the dusty one intact.

In one hand he clutched the necklace, He could recall so many memories, of a scrawnier version of himself in his second year of middle school barreling towards a girl crying on the swingset of the trailer park.

A little Gail, he didn't know then that, that Gail who was crying wasn't the same one who'd stolen her grandmother's necklace, nor was she the one who left poorly painted drawings of rainbows on everyone's car.

He could remember little Eddie being taken with her deep eyes and faint freckles. The way she spurred him on to do whatever the first thing was to pop into his mind.

He could also remember a familiar shadow looming quietly behind him watching over him as he always did.

Maybe even then Angel saw more than Eddie had. It was a short love, but as the first, it stuck like gum to his shoe.

"But gum wears off eventually." Eddie thought.

It ended in tragedy and he was left without closure.

"And now that I can get it...." Eddie turned around.

He could hear the soft thuds of Angel's boots entering the room. He stood there almost seeming unearthly, veins vividly blue under the moonlight.

The two stared at each other for a moment, Angel's eyes went to the necklace, and his facial expression frosted over.

"Tell me you're keeping it." Angel demanded.

Eddie looked down at the gift in his fist and shook his head.

"No man, I'm not. I can't tell you that." Eddie shrugged.

Angel's eyes flickered with a sharp glint and the corner of his mouth threatened to snarl.

"What is this a type of petty revenge?" He asked Eddie dryly.

Eddie looked off confused, "Uh...no?" Eddie questioned.

Taking a few steps forward he held out the necklace, "Take it." he said.

Angel shook his head and held his chin high.

"I never wanted that shit. I took it because you needed it gone." said Angel.

"She chose you, you should at least keep the memory," Eddie said.

"I don't want the memory." Angel spat looking Eddie up and down.

The ice that covered his expression faded into pain for the briefest of moments. It didn't take long for it to freeze over again.

"That bitch took my..." Angel stopped himself.

"Nevermind, You keep that piece of shit," Angel said.

Eddie drew his hand in slightly, "You'll lay off ____?" Eddie asked.

A jagged smile sat lopsided on Angel's face. "No," he said.

"You hardly know her why are you doing this again?" Eddie asked.

"It's not the same situation, Munson." Angel sighed, "And you, what about you? What a few weeks? Maybe, if that - you've known her?" Angel asked.

"It's time spent, forgive me if I feel surviving hungry demon dogs from some underworld, probably, kinda changes time considerations," Eddie said.

Angel shook his head, "She's not like you. If they come for her again? Because believe me - I know people like this Loxion bullshit. I grew up among them, they will keep coming for her." Angel said closing in on Eddie.

"What are you going to do? It took well over six people to help you figure out how to help her this time. It was people like me, who did the real work of plucking her from their hands." Angel reasoned.

Eddie took a step back, Angel was always good at intimidating him when he needed to.

"I'd managed well enough up until she ran into you," Eddie said confidently.

"I want to end this, it's not revenge. I want to put what happened to bed." Eddie said.

"It can go back to how it was." He added.

"We used to be brothers," Eddie murmured looking down at the chain dangling across his palm.

Angel chuckled in a soft sour bout of laughter as he paced, his back towards Eddie.

"You gave that up," Angel said to him.

Eddie clenched his jaw, he wasn't wrong, he did push Angel away.

"I might be the only one on this earth for several thousand leagues- " Angel said pointing furiously toward the windows.

He swallowed the rest of his sentence and peered up at Eddie.

"If you had been there you would have been eaten alive and her right with you," Angel said.

He sighed heavily and closed his eyes, he could recall your expression as you watched him stand partially transformed. You looked right into his eyes. Even while half a monster and you held his gaze.

Angel opened his eyes slowly.

"You've got girls falling all over you, can't you just," Eddie shrugged, "Pick another one?" He asked.

Angel scoffed, "Can you?" he asked.

Voice full of contempt Angel took a step forward, "Stop acting like Eddie Munson is just a poor little shepherd of freaks." Angel hummed, turning to walk towards Eddie.

He flashed Eddie a venomous smile.

"You're a fuckin rock star, man. oh, sure it's only at The Hideout and among other freaks like you and I. But girls would drop their panties for an ounce, or to hear you say their name on stage." Angel mocked.

"It could be just as easy for you to walk away," Angel said deepening his voice.

Eddie smiled to himself, he tossed the necklace, hitting Angel in the chest with it.

"No, it wouldn't." He said.

"I don't want just anyone, and those girls are shallow - I want an ocean. And they contain some pretty scary shit, yeah." Eddie spoke closing in on Angel, He peered down at him.

"But I've been told I can be pretty scary too," Eddie said quietly.

Angel cracked a smile, though silent his eyes were laughing.

"You?" Angel asked, he gave a flick of his head, and Eddie's feet slid back across the floor three feet away nearly causing him to fall.

"Yeah, you're terrifying." Angel sneered.

"Well not to your manic villain ass, obviously," Eddie grumbled in frustration.

"Look, we let her decide for herself." Eddie sighed, "That way nobody has a right to be mad at anybody." he added.

Angel lowered his gaze, "Only I've seen how she looks at you." he murmured.

"What?" Eddie asked, unable to make out the words.

"Fine," Angel said voice void as he headed for the door leading out of the room further into a separate hall that was coated with darkness.

On his way, he gave the necklace resting on the floor a kick.

"But you can keep that shit." he added disappearing into the dark.

Eddie looked down at it, shaking his head he waved Angel off and stalked out of the room the same way he'd entered.

The necklace lay abandoned on the cold cracked floor of the factory.

Mick and Axel entered the factory, bearing food, the scent of pizza caused everyone asleep to wake like zombies from the dirt.

You giggled through your mild melancholy as you watched them rise.

"Oh, I love you guys," Gareth said in groggy glee as he stumbled to his feet and headed towards the tables in the middle of the main floor.

You looked about as everyone went to gather a slice of Pizza. Eddie and Angel were still nowhere to be seen, but they weren't who you were worried about. They could handle themselves well enough on their own.

"Has anyone seen Gail?" you asked as Rick brought you a slice of Pizza.

"She went out for a walk some time ago." He said.

You got to your feet, Pizza in hand, supported on some napkins.

"I'm going to go see if I can find her, she's got to be starved too," you said.

"Alone?" Jeff asked cautiously.

You shrugged, "would you come at me looking like this?" you asked, holding out your extra arms.

Jeff shook his head, "good point." he said.

"Besides, Eddie and Angel are wandering about somewhere," you added, before heading off.

"Just don't step outside!" Rick called after you.

He sighed, "These kids are gonna turn me gray." Rick muttered.

Axel and Funshine looked at Rick's hair, "um... I got some bad news for you." Axel said.

You wandered the dark halls of the factory, "Gail?" you called softly.

It was better not to shout, so you simply spoke out. It was strangely quiet in the old building, your feet echoing down the hallways.

"I've um...got you some pizza. Everyone's digging in...Rick sent Mick and Axel for food and..." you continued talking.

You weren't sure, but you could have sworn you felt someone nearby. Though no one appeared to be around.

"I'm not sure when you last ate." you stated.

A door closed in the distance, it's echo caused you to jump. Sure it was faint, but it was close enough.

"Gail?" you questioned.

Moonlight flooded into the shadowy hall from the tall window. Looking out down at the parking lot below you sighed in defeat and took a moment to think of where to go next.

Light footsteps echoed, but were quickly overtaken by heavier steps and a creaking door.

"____?" Eddie asked, spotting you down the hall.

"Eddie?" you questioned, "so it was just you." you sighed.

"Ouch," Eddie said, his face twisted as if you'd hurt his feelings before he smiled lightly your way.

"Oh, I didn't mean it li-"

"I know." he sang with a playful face as he teetered his head back and forth. You returned his smile.

"Um... I was wondering if you had a minute." Eddie asked, his voice falling into a more serious tone.

Your heart dropped, "what happened?" you asked quickly, taking a step towards him.

"Whoa," Eddie exhaled holding your shoulders gently.

"no, nothing happened, I didn't mean to scare you." he chuckled.

Leaning against the wall, Eddie kicked the dust on the ground.

"I just wanted to talk to you about something." He said.

"But you sound so...serious," you said, concern in your eyes.

"You're sure nothing happened? I saw you speak to Angel before walking off." you confessed.

Eddie peered up at you with his head still lowered.

His eyes watched you unhindered as the moonlight aided his vision into the dark. Eddie's large eyes were like staring through the door into a lightless room, only to see something shine deep within, flickering. It was endless and it held you there.

"I'm sure, but," Eddie spoke in a careful lull.

Slowly standing up straight he leaned his head back against the wall. Now peering down at you, a dusky shadow covering his gaze.

"He's trying to make my heart burst, I know he is." you thought.

"I am serious," he said holding out his hand.

You looked down at it, and much to Eddie's delight, three of your hands reached for his. He laughed softly as you tried to refocus, and eventually took it with your right main hand.

With a slight tug, He pulled you closer.

"This isn't doing anything for my adrenaline." you thought, unable to look away from his eyes.

"Like they want to swallow me," you murmured quietly.

Eddie gave a smile, and it slowly grew wider as he knew he wasn't supposed to hear that.

Leaning down towards you, he whispered, "What is?"

You froze, "well shit..." you thought before forcing a playful glare, "stop teasing me." you said.

Eddie chuckled and tilted his head. A sweetly coy smile on his lips as his voice deepened, and his hand fiddled with your fingertips.

"But it's so much fun," he said, with a subtle shake of his head.

You glared through the urge to shy away.

"Eddie." you said, trying to stay stern, but the strength had left your voice.

Eddie laughed, He couldn't fight that face or the sound of his name from your mouth. Sighing, he took both of your main hands in his. With a lick of his lips, Eddie let his teeth sink into his bottom lip, drawing it in as he felt jitters in his stomach.

"Ok...well um, here it is...." He started slowly,.

"I...." He gave your hands a shake.

His eyes flickered up to meet yours, "I like you." He said lowly, "....more than a little," Eddie added.

Looking down at your hands, he rubbed them gently with his thumbs.

"And I didn't think - well, I didn't think there was another girl out there that could make me feel, like this." Eddie paused, "you know?" He asked.

You stood wide-eyed with your jaw locked shut as he looked into your eyes again, waiting for you to say something.

"You, you probably don't know." He in a sigh of breathy laughter, feeling all his nerves in the form of swarming butterflies.

"I just...after....um today, well-" Eddie quickly corrected himself, "the last couple of days," He rambled giving you a break from his gaze

Eddie focused on the Corroded Coffin shirt you wore.

He then laughed at himself, "I'm really bad at words when it comes to this stuff." He said scornfully, taunting himself in a scoff.

"Please say something." Eddie pleaded, he couldn't look up at you, and you were left with your mind in a tussle of different emotions.

"Eddie..." you said quietly, "You don't want me."

Eddie's brows knitted together with determination, and he shook his head.

"I don't care about the arms, or the powers, or the weird mad scientists or whatever," Eddie said quickly.

You exhaled and licked your drying lips, "My dad, would never -"

"Forgive me, but your old man can fuck right off," Eddie said, looking up at you.

His arm rested carefully in the curve of your neck as he held your cheek.

"Your uncle, works under him, Eddie. He can and will make your lives' hell." You warned.

Eddie shook his head, "Why? Anyway it wouldn't matter it's not like we're not used to that, Uncle Wayne will be fine." he said.

"I get that I'm not any dad's initial pick for his daughter's date." Eddie chuckled.

"But you speak as though you're scared," Eddie said softly.

One hand on your cheek and the other on your shoulder, he bent down to look you in the eye.

"I am." you thought.

Your father wanted you spotless as if waiting to hand you away to the highest bidder. You were his best bribe in his circle of the most corrupt men in Hawkins.

They could do what they like with you for a favor in return - but not with their bodies, nothing further than a kiss.

You'd never dated, the furious look in your father's eyes the last time you even mentioned someone was cute ended that.

You looked down at your hands, "He's well-connected." you sighed.

Eddie gave a chuckle, "Hello? Sweet turtle, have you forgotten what's gone on since we've been here?" Eddie asked.

"I got shocked with a cattle stick, and some manic woman opened up a portal to get you," he said.

Eddie moved his hand to your chin and lifted it.

"Can he get any worse than that?" He asked you.

"I like you." Eddie whispered, nudging your nose with his own.

He offered a faint smile as he studied your face.

"And I think," Eddie lulled with a sly be it slightly nervous smile, "you might like me too." He said.

You tried desperately to avoid his eyes as they battled to hold your focus. Eddie exhaled, resigning to the fact he wasn't going to get any more words from you. You were trying to shut him out.

"Can't let you do that." He thought, tilting his head to follow your gaze, Eddie leaned forward.

Warmth spread through your lips as Eddie lightly pressed his against them. Your lungs inflated as you drew in a long, sharp breath.

On instinct, you moved back, but Eddie instantly moved with you, his fingertips barely touching the side of your jaw, yet holding you still all the same.

"Come on," he thought, lightly running his tongue along the line where your lips remained sealed.

His heartbeat rushed, he could feel it in his chest and hear it in his ears.

Eddie took your hand, and rested it against his chest, over his heart.

You could feel it pounding like the hooves of a wild horse against your palm. Eddie ran his tongue against your lips again, asking again.

You felt him exhale quick and sharp in a huff of air, his mouth quivered into a frown and his fingertips slipped away from your jaw.

The thought of him pulling away shook you from your paralysis,

"Don't" you thought.

Leaning forward, you carefully opened your mouth, letting your hand press against his chest. His grip around said hand tightened.

Your main left hand rested gently near Eddie's neck, and your secondary arms reached for his hair.

Eddie's hand caressed your cheek as his tongue slipped into your mouth.

No, it wasn't great, both of you had been running and trapped for days, But each found yourselves melting as, god, was it sweet.

The feeling of hands playing in Eddie's hair slowly faded.

You could feel the arms retracting back under the skin, the unsettling feeling was painted over in a warm gentle wave of tingles down your spine as Eddie took hold of your tongue, lightly sucking on it.

your face burned beneath the skin, Eddie would feel against his own face. He laughed lightly into the kiss, and opening his eyes, he pulled away.

Your lips went to chase his, but your eyes flew open as you realized it.

"Oh...." you exhaled, and embarrassment grew as you looked into his eyes.

Eddie smirked, and leaned down, granting you a soft short peck.

His hand slipped down to the small of your back, and the other went to touch your face again.

He couldn't wipe the giddy grin off his face as he leaned his head back against the wall. Peering down at you through eyes narrowed into a curve as they smiled, glinting with fading moonlight.

"That was so much better than a yes, by the way." He said.

You slowly looked down at the pizza and napkin on the floor.

Eddie laughed quietly, feeling his chest rise and fall in little tremors, reminded you of how close you were to each other.

"Looks like we fixed your arm problem," Eddie said, drawing your attention back to himself.

"Just needed an outlet for all that energy," he whispered.

"Looks like Angel was right about that," he added in a lower murmur.

"Like the kiss at The Hideout," you whispered.

"soooo," Eddie sang, still holding a pleased smile on his face.

"When we get back home, I'm wondering...." He said pausing.

You searched his face, stuck in mild suspense.

"Wondering?" you asked, causing his smile to grow.

"____ McKinney my lovely Lady Tinúviel, would you go on a date with me? " Eddie asked, resting his hand on his chest, "Your humbly smitten mortal man." He added.

"You're just trying to get my face to burn away now." you grumbled.

"Never," Eddie hummed, "I love your face." He chuckled.

"So, what say you?" Eddie asked.

You nodded your head, "yeah." you said.

Eddie exhaled a breath.

"Good because I had no plan C if all that failed." he said, causing you to giggle.

He leaned in for another short kiss, which was followed by yet another, and another.

He found he couldn't stop, and your giggles fed the need to keep going.

In the back of a room, standing in the light from the open windows with the door closed tight, Gail lingered.

A necklace she'd never thought she'd hold again balled up within her hand. Her gaze fixed to the fawning pair of silhouettes out in the hallway.

Her eyes were pained as she leaned against the old table, and yet, she felt strangely numb.

She was glad for the smile on his face, even if she wasn't the one who caused it. Feeling not unlike a ghost left to fade in the background.

Gail sighed and flicked the stray tear from her eye. Forcing herself to stop looking as she went to find an alternate route back to where everyone had camped out.

She would wander out once everyone had settled back to sleep and return herself to Loxion.

"You don't belong here anymore," she told herself.

The thought hurt a lot more than she thought it would.

Meanwhile, outside, Angel gazed aimlessly into the flickering fire in the small trash bin before him.

Still trying to simmer down the vexation that lingered within him.

All he could see was how Eddie had not backed down, and the way you had looked into his more monstrous side in the gate.

Angel clawed at his knees through his jeans. No, part of him didn't want to go against Eddie, but the hunger he had to be close to a kindred soul was making the thought of backing down nearly impossible, unthinkable.

Clawing more, nearly tearing through the denim, as he cast a glance towards the window, where he'd just watched Eddie blatantly make a strong move against him.

Angel touched his lip, recalling when he'd kissed you in the Hideout. The feeling still lingered in a memory on his skin. Even the aftershock that sent him sliding back onto the floor.

Angel shut his eyes and removed his hand as he took a deep breath.

Eddie led you back into the main floor of the factory, his fingers laced in yourd. You tried to linger behind him, but he lightly coaxed you to walk at his side.

Luckily the boys were fast asleep, Kali simply smiled your way as she finally went to rest herself.

"Was she waiting up for us?" you thought, she was terrifying at first, but Kali was far more gentle than she let on.

Eddie walked you to where you'd left your blanket, and helped you make a place to lay.

He hovered at your side and stroked the top of your head, "I'm just over there" he said quietly, placing a kiss on your temple.

You could feel the smirk on his face. Amused at himself, He couldn't stop touching you.

"Should you miss me." He teased.

Your heart skipped a beat with a heavy thump.

"Shhh" you whispered, Amy's sleeping."

Eddie looked over to Amy and backed off glancing at his watch.

"Good morning ____." Eddie whispered.

"Night Ed-"

Moving quickly, you felt his bangs brush against you as he kissed your cheek yet again

"-ddie..." you peeped.

"Go to bed!" you hissed in a whisper, trying to remember how breathing worked.

He threw his hands up in the air, "alright, alright." he laughed, getting to his feet and heading towards his place near the boys.

You closed your eyes and tried to calm your restless heart, though the memory of the kiss lingered on your skin and in your mind, leaving an unwavering smile on your face.

"Bleh. Barf me out, would you." Amy muttered, rolling over to look at you.

"Y-you're awake?" you stammered.

"Unfortunately," Amy teased.

"So?" Amy pressed, shrugging her shoulders.

"Not now Amy." you sighed.

"You can't come back acting like newlyweds, and not give details," Amy whispered.

You rolled your eyes, and rolled over, turning your back to Amy.

"We weren't acting like newlyweds," you murmured.

Your eyes fell on Eddie who was settling down, he'd decided to look at you too.

"It's just..." you thought to yourself.

"I've never felt like this." you thought, closing her eyes again, filling your thoughts with the look in his eyes as you let sleep take hold.

"Gail!"

You were jolted awake by the sound of Rick's shouting.

Leaning over and you gave Amy a shake, "wake up, Amy!"

Amy groaned and sat up in a groggy daze.

"Gail!" Rick shouted, "I'm gonna count to three, and you'd better come out from hiding!" He shouted like an angry father.

"What?" Eddie asked, rubbing his eyes.

"GAIL! Damn it!" Eddie shouted, sleepily raging while he tried his best to wake up.

"Damn it, I wanted the end of that dream!" Eddie fussed, pulling his blanket over himself.

Jeff snickered, "Dude," He laughed.

Eddie shook the hair out of his face, cheeks tenting a soft pink as he looked toward you.

"Did she never come back?" you asked Rick, getting to your feet.

"From her walk last night?" Eddie asked carefully.

"That's because she left." Angel answered, entering the room from the front door to the factory.

"Wait, you saw her?" Rick asked.

Angel shrugged, "Yeah, she just went to the phone booth, made a call, and road off into the sunset in a black car." he hummed.

"And you didn't stop her?" Rick asked, clearly taken back.

"She's not my responsibility anymore, Rick." Angel shot.

"A black car?" you asked, worry crossing your face.

"Oh shit," Amy murmured, the two of you glanced at each other in apprehension.

"No, oh shit, what, oh shit?" Rick questioned.

"Loxion." Doris said with a scowl. "She must have gone back," she said.

"Why would she do that?" Kali asked.

Scott and Jeff began to fidget awkwardly, while Eddie turned to look at you, as you gazed at him mortified.

"Did...did she see?" you questioned yourself.

Angel glanced between the two of them and then laughed, "oh, that's too good." he mused.

"So she saw you too." Angel smirked.

"What do you mean, saw us too?" you asked, your stomach dropping to your toes.

Angel gave you a gently bitter smile, "Next time steer clear of the large window, little fairy." he said.

Your cheeks would have burned with fire if guilt haddn't began to dig it's way through you.

"This is terrible." you said, "We need to go find her."

"And how do we do that?" Gareth asked.

"Well...maybe they'll try and make the trade again?" you suggested.

"Nope!" Eddie called, "no, that went to hell real fast last time." He said.

"It would be best we not put ____ anywhere near them. But if they ask for a swap, maybe we can trick them into believing we are?" Kali questioned.

"What are you thinking?" Doris asked her.

"I can try to cast an illusion on Amy to look like ____," Kali said, "But I'm not sure how we'd grab Gail and run."

"Are we even sure she'd want to come back?" Angel asked.

"We're not leaving her here to th-those people," you flared in indignation.

Angel sighed, "If you ask of me, I won't say no." He said.

"Suck up." Eddie muttered under his breath.

"Have something you want to share with the class, Munson?" Angel called out.

"Hey! You two! Stop it. You're partly the cause of this mess." Rick scolded them.

"She had her eyes trained on Eddie, Rick. He botched it, sucking the face off of the poor Fairy, in the window for the world to see." Angel seethed.

"I mean," Eddie's eyes kept glancing towards you, your eyes begged him not to say anything, to stop right there. But he itched to break Angel's face.

Eddie clenched his jaw tight, "Just shut up, mouth stay shut." he thought to himself.

You walked to his side, "Eddie this might be our fault." you whispered.

"I thought I heard something down that hall before you walked in." you confessed looking up into his eyes.

Eddie rubbed the back of his neck, "shit." He sighed, caressing your shoulder once as if to ease your worry.

"How are we supposed to know how to reach these people?" Mick asked.

"Simple. Think about it, Gail contacting them compromised our location, right?" Rick asked, looking over the young faces. " We just send ____-"

"-decoy ____," Angel corrected.

"Yes, Angel, thank you." Rick said in annoyance.

"- to walk down the block, once we spot them lurking, and they will be. They should contact us or at the very least lead us to where they want us." Rick said.

Kali shook her head, "I don't like that plan, it leaves us all far too open." she said.

"What other options do we have, though?" Doris asked.

"Doris has a point." Scott said.

"So one group of us follows with the decoy, and then what? The rest of us just lay in wait?" Jeff asked.

"Pretty much, try to surround wherever we end up. We'll need either Angel or Doris on the inside and the other outside. So everyone is covered." Rick said.

"Funshine and Axel can guard the outside while Kali and Mick go in," he added.

Doris took a step toward Kali, "Then I'll be the inside heavy." she said, placing her arm around Kali's shoulders.

"I can post up between the real ____ and everyone else." Angel said.

"Although," he lightly touched his neck, "It won't be anything like when I was on the other side." He thought, his eyes landing on you.

You bit your lip, wishing you could be of more help.

"I've got to learn how to control these powers." you thought to yourself.

Holding out your hand, you flexed your fingers, mind trying to will something to happen, but nothing did.

Angel snickered quietly as he watched you.

Eddie's eyes stayed on Angel in the meantime, leaning over he nuzzled your temple.

"Oh!" you gasped in surprised.

The moment you jumped, a small spark fizzled across your fingertips, if only for a moment.

Eddie looked at your hand with wide eyes, "whoa," he breathed with a smile.

He looked at you, entertained with what he just saw, and then back to your hand. He took your fingers and held them up towards his face.

"Did I cause that or?" He asked.

Angel rolled his eyes, "Don't bank on it, she was trying to focus. ____ probably did it on her own." he reasoned.

"Don't worry about trying to do anything just yet, ____. You will have time to hone your abilities later." Kali said.

"Yeah, right now, you should focus on not getting caught." Amy said.

"Everyone get ready, collect yourselves, and then we'll give this a try." Rick announced.

You looked between Amy, Eddie, and Angel uneasily.

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#eddie munson x moster!reader #eddie munson x mckinney!reader #eddie munson angst #semi-dark fic #not suitable for minors #critique welcome #There & Back Again Eddie Fanfic

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sofiiel · 5 months

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There & Back Again : xreader addition (fem/afab)

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍: 8.8k words: (CW: angst. cannon level violence. lots of character backstory in this one. sad Eddie.)

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You could feel panic settling in your chest like a cloud of foul dust or vapor inhaled too deeply.

All you could do was listen from that hospital bed. Your head hurt as your thoughts began to wonder if maybe everything around here was a dream.

"So uh...what do we do to make the so-called trade then?" Eddie spoke into the walkie.

"You simply walk out that door and go home," said Franchesca.

Eddie's jaw clenched tight, nothing about this felt right.

Gail raised her brows with a smile as he glanced back at her, even she didn't feel right.

Eddie looked at Scott and Jeff, both looked uncertain, and none of them looked as if they wanted to make this deal.

"We can't do this, Eddie." Gareth spoke up.

"What happened to no fellowette left behind?" He asked.

His eyes wandered to Gail. She was a legend he'd only heard stories about, Eddie's first-ever girlfriend, second friend, former frontwoman for Corroded Coffin, and also the one who broke his heart.

Gareth scowled, "She didn't choose you, did she?" He reasoned.

Eddie froze and glanced off while Gail's eyes honed in on Gareth, they watched him as if trying to drag up a memory that had been forgotten.

Soon that blank look in her eyes was replaced with a smile.

"You mean I chose the drugs? I did...that's not my fault, they get in your head like a phantom. I learned my lesson." Gail said calmly.

Jeff frowned, "he wasn't talking about the drugs." he said.

Axel rolled his eyes, "Can we make it clear, there's no deal if Kali is staying behind too." He said.

"I'm not leaving her to these people, Axel. Not if she's one of us." Kali stated from Doris' side.

She looked up at Doris, her eyes reading "you do have a plan right?" to which Doris smirked.

Kali exhaled, of course she did, she always does. But so much time had passed, they weren't children anymore, and the fact was she wasn't sure Doris was the same person.

In those days, she would have never turned her back on him.

Eddie looked at the front door, it was easy, right, just walk out?

There would be many people back home who would be overjoyed if he'd returned with Gail. More so, if there was an explanation for it all that made vague sense.

Doris, Samantha, uncle Wayne, Rick, and the usuals at The Hideout, it would heal the old hurt her loss left behind for them.

Eddie's hand shook as it gripped the walkie. There was too much of a question lingering over what that would mean for you.

Eddie couldn't shake Amy and Robin's faces out of his head.

"You bring her back in one piece, Rughead, or I'll hunt you down like one of those damn dogs."

Amy's words echoed in his head.

He didn't understand why, but the thought of letting 'weird girl' down made him sick, almost as sick as the thought of leaving you behind.

Eddie looked down at Gail once more and spoke carefully into the walkie.

"Is she there, I want to talk to her." He said, voice calm but heart pounding.

Franchesca rolled her eyes, she hated how melodramatic teenagers were, She held the walkie to your ear.

You exhaled shakily, it was to much as the words tried to claw up from your throat.

"____?" Eddie asked gently.

You released your bottom lip from the clutches of your teeth.

"Eddie..." you spoke in a shaken breath of air.

The strength left Eddie's shoulders at the sound of your voice. You were terrified, he could hear it, and it hurt.

"Thank you." you said, and for Eddie that sounded a bit too much like goodbye.

"Hey." He called steadily.

" You promised to come to every show I play, remember? What makes you think you can do that left here," said Eddie.

You smiled faintly and tried to combat your tears with your lashes as you gave a nod.

"Hey, lady?" He called, pausing as his eyes narrowed.

"You can fuck right off," Eddie said, glaring at the walkie.

Franchesca laughed, "Oh poor delusional child, you thought you were being given a choice?" She hummed through a chuckle.

Eddie froze, "what?" he asked.

The machine hanging from the Basement ceiling started to whirl loudly, it turned on with a stronger blast than before, the laser bringing the twisted unnatural hole into the floor.

It was larger this time, pulsing with the rhythm of a heartbeat it could be felt throughout the house.

"What the hell is that?" Scott asked.

The group looked at each other, frightened at the feeling. Gail held onto Eddie's arm.

"It's opening." she whispered, visibly shaken.

Eddie looking down at her, raised a brow, somehow the look in her eyes, didn't look like Gail. The look in her eyes was that of a stranger.

"What the hell is going on here..." Eddie thought to himself.

Doris grimaced, trying her best to remain calm.

"Shit, Eddie, way to ruin the plan." she thought.

"Where is that coming from? You hear it? That noise in the background?" Mick said.

"Not sure..." Eddie said.

The front door once again opened, this time more violently as Funshine tossed it wide.

He looked to Kali, struggling to speak through huffing and puffing from the run, "There's a strange glow coming from the cellar doors."

Kali and Doris looked at each other.

"Find the stairs!" Kali called, the group scattered in hopes of finding the door to the basement.

"Why don't we just head to the cellar doors?" Jeff asked.

"They're chained," Funshine stated simply.

Eddie and Mick looked up at a thin door in the hallway, Mick gave the knob a jiggle.

"Locked, surprise!" Eddie called out frustrated. "Damn it!" he cursed.

Mick chuckled lightly, "easy there." she said, putting two fingers in her mouth as she whistled, drawing Funshine's attention.

"You feeling up to knocking down this door?" She asked him.

Funshine looked up at it, ordinary he would, but the wound on his side and in his leg was saying otherwise.

"I might need a hand," he admitted.

Scott walked to stand alongside Funshine, "I got you man, on the count of three." said Scott.

Both Scott and Funshine aimed their shoulders toward the door.

"Three!" Funshine called out and each moved forward.

All it took was one good ram, the door popped free from the lock.

Scott rubbed his aching shoulder. "It's all you" He said to Eddie.

"Thanks, come on." Eddie said, rushing through the door and down the stairs.

The roadblock in the dark stairwell sent Eddie's hands flying up to his hair, pulling at it in frustration.

"Well, that's...about as expected, isn't it?" Axel asked.

Eddie looked back at him, eyes screaming.

"Who has a giant metal door in the basement!" Eddie raged.

"Mad scientists, of course." Doris chimed, she sauntered down the steps with a confident smile.

Taking a wide stance, Doris drew her elbows back towards her hips, fingers down and palms up her hands crooked up as if trying to form claws, the skin of her palms opening up, folding away.

A bright green light started glowing softly, and then with a squelching sound, thin wispy liquid shot from her palms.

"Please stay behind the safety line." Doris mused playfully.

The boys of Corroded Coffin and Eddie all screamed and jumped back in horror and amazement as the green liquid burned holes through the metal as if acid.

"What was that?" Gareth asked in a small voice.

Doris looked over her shoulder, pleased with her handy work as a hole continued to grow in the metal door.

"Venom." Doris hummed before climbing through.

"Be careful not to let it drip on you." she advised as the others followed after her.

Gail followed behind Eddie quietly, her heart pounding hard in her chest. Something in her was afraid to go down into the basement, but for the life of her, she couldn't remember why.

Quietly, she took Eddie's hand. He looked back at her as she gave him a stiff smile.

"Shut up, I'm not scared or anything." she shot with a playful leer.

That was the Gail he remembered, a spitfire.

"So why does she revert back and forth so much?" Eddie found himself thinking.

Angel hopped out of Rick's truck and looked about at the 7eleven. Amy held a frown on her face as she exited the gas station convenience store, shaking her head.

"I asked the cashier. She says she wasn't clocked in yesterday." said Amy.

"She won't let us get a hold of the security tapes either." Rick scowled, exiting after Amy with four bags hanging from his arms and a hot dog in his hand.

Angel threw him a sharp glance as he scowled.

"Yeah, he bought out the whole store, I swear to god..." Amy complained.

"It's lunchtime and I got you two something too, so a little gratitude? Yeah?" Rick shot back.

"As if either of us is hungry?" Amy scoffed, turning her back to Rick.

"Eddie's memories told me they tracked the fairy's captors to the neighborhood of Larimer, It's an old house. I will know it when I see it." Angel murmured.

"It would have been nice had there been a clue around here, however." He spoke quietly, eyes glancing around one last itme.

"Let's just get back in the truck and go then, who knows it's been hours since we hit the road they might have moved locations," Rick said.

The three piled inside the truck, Rick quickly scarfing down the rest of his hot dog as he passed Amy the bags.

Angel closed his eyes as Rick started the car.

"You should give that a rest, you're using up your strength," Rick murmured.

"I am not." Angel stated flatly, slightly annoyed.

"Just looking doesn't take up much. Now, shut up." He added.

Rick snickered to himself as he glanced at a determined Angel.

"Kid gives me the heeby geebies sometimes, but he's alright. Fucked up in the head and all." Rick thought, shaking his head.

"Do you see them?" Amy asked quietly, leaning over the front seat but Angel remained silent, scowling with his eyes closed.

In the darkness, he could see you, your eyes frightened as you looked at something on the floor.

Angel standing at the side of the hospital bed looked in the direction of your gaze, but he could not widen his third eye's field of vision, the world around them was nothing but a void of black.

"What are you looking at? Why are you scared?" Angel asked you.

His hand rested on your shoe, and he stood at the end of the bed. Straining to bring the surroundings to vision. But nothing was working.

"____!" He could hear Eddie's voice, turning his head.

Angel watched as Eddie and Corroded Coffin entered the vision, standing at a distance from you.

The group's eyes fell on the thing that had you frightened.

Everyone seemed afraid to move, and Angel didn't like it.

"Oh, that's - that can't be good...." A familiar voice mused with caution.

Angel turned to watch the woman who spoke, his eyes widened a bit,

"Dodo?" He questioned walking towards her, but it was the girl who stepped out behind Eddie that sent a chill down Angel's spine.

Angel watched Gail and found her instantly unnatural.

His eyes squinted, "fuck." He growled quietly, looking back at you.

"They've got a mimic," Angel spoke with an urgent wariness to Rick and Amy. He slowed his words, to make himself perfectly clear.

"And are we supposed to know what that is?" Amy asked.

Rick nearly held his breath. "Why would they need a mimic?" he questioned.

Rick calmed his nerves, continuing to ask, "It's risky to use them, they're unstable and rare, aren't they?"

"More unreliable than unstable, but they aren't rare they can be easily created, it's a waste of a number, however," Angel murmured eyes still closed and flickering about.

"My guess, is they planned this, the mimic was a throwaway," Angel said.

His eyes remained on the panicking group, "Fairy's got a lot of friends..." he muttered.

Looking over the faces, but one stood out vividly, enough to cause a slow smirk across Angel's face.

"W-why is he looking like that? What's with the freaky smile?" Amy questioned, her eyes darting between Rick and Angel.

Rick shook his head, trying to keep his eyes on the road.

Angel gave a dark chuckle softly under his breath saying, "Well it looks like it's going to be a regular family reunion."

He stood before Kali in the darkness, and for a moment she looked right at him, her eyes growing wide.

Angel turned round as he realized she was no longer looking at him.

"Holy shit." he exhaled.

"What's happening now?" Amy asked quickly, but she didn't get a response.

You yelped as your skin flared up with an odd sort of pain, a boiling feeling as if hot grease bubbled beneath your skin.

Your hands and arms started to glow, a veiny red that matched the membrane covering the hole being made in the floor.

This membrane lightly rippled and bubbled as it had a volcanic glow of smoldering coals. It crept slowly up your arms, overtaking your shoulders, and neck, and emerge on your face like a spreading rash.

Your eyes blazed a startling orange, the pain and panic making it hard for you to breathe. Not only that, you also felt weak, as if you'd gone running on a hot summer day.

"W-whats happening now?" you struggled to ask.

"Franchesca, we need to release her from the binds!" The man in the scrubs shouted, worry strewn across his face.

Franchesca wasn't happy, but she rushed to free you.

While she did so, Kali walked quietly behind her, cattle prod in tow. Doris glanced towards an old large area rug rolled and bound, focusing hard she made it levitate.

Kali gabbed Franchesca with the electric rod, the woman cried out and tried to fight back, but while she did so the rug came hurdling towards her.

You watched with large eyes as Franchesca went crashing across the room, her head hitting the wall and knocking her unconscious.

"Go now, while you can." Called the man in the scrubs.

"You helped us?" Jeff asked him.

He offered a weak smile and turned his gaze to you.

"You have more people on your side than you think." He said.

You tilted your head and asked, "What's happening to me?" through the pain.

"You are waking up." Kali said.

"What?" you asked.

But before you could get any answers, you were rushed.

The air was both compressed into your lungs and crushed up and out of them.

"Guys..." you wheezed crushed in the arms of Jeff, Scott, and Gareth.

"God, you're a real troublemaker," Scott said to you.

"Weird shit just follows you around," said Gareth.

"Your weird skin thing isn't contagious, is it?" Jeff asked.

Speaking of your skin, you didn't have the heart to tell the boys their endearing group hug was sending a deep pain everywhere the odd membrane rash had spread.

"No, but coincidentally, that should likely hurt very much." said the man in scrubs.

Eddie stepped forward, leading Gail behind him. She had watched as the band threw themselves upon you in silence.

Your eyes wandered over to Eddie and quickly landed on the girl behind him. Her eyes locked onto yours and they were unreadable.

"You should hurry and leave, before Franchesca awakes, I can fare well enough in making it look like I was overpowered." The man laughed, "I'm not much of a fighter." he said.

"What's your name, guy?" Doris asked.

"Names are dangerous. My contacts know me as The Riddler." The man hummed, pushing up his glasses.

"Like.... as in...batman?" Jeff asked skeptically.

The Riddler laughed, "well no... I've never touched a comic book. I relay information in codes, riddles." he said.

"But look you need to hurry and leave, the transport van should be arriving to pick up Miss McKinney fairly soo-"

The Riddler's words ended in a gasp as Vines flew out from the odd hole in the floor, bursting through the membrane.

You turned to run as they shot out towards you, wrapping under and around your shoulders, trying to pull you back. You remembered seeing these odd vines in your dreams, in that place that felt decayed.

"So it wasn't just a dream?" you thought.

"Help!" you screamed.

Eddie ran forward, Gail releasing his arm, and took hold of your hands, but the odd rash on them made your grip slippery as it oozed a clear thick liquid.

Eddie felt sick at the feeling of it but tried to hold on tight.

Despite the pain that shot through your arms and hands, you held as tight as you could to Eddie's grasp.

"No, I got you!" Eddie called out, shutting his eyes tight, he tried to back away from the hole in the floor, pulling you with him.

The vines, however, were stronger and for every inch away he pulled, the vines pulled them several more inches back.

"I-It's growing!" The Riddler called, he turned to the various computers and started typing furiously.

Above them, the machine slowly hummed and started to whirl backward.

"Get her loose, and then we all make for the cellar doors, We can not stay in here, the machine will seal the gate." said The Riddler.

Eddie embraced you to get a tighter hold on you.

"Eddie?" you questioned.

"I'm not letting go." He spoke firmly.

"Guys, pull me!" He called back.

Gail rushed in first, and Scott, Gareth, and Jeff followed. Axel, Mick, Kali, and Funshine then took hold of them and pulled.

Doris held her palms out towards the vines and sent forth a relentless stream of venom.

It wasn't working, more vines shot out of the growing gate, taking hold of your legs now.

"This isn't happening, we've got to weigh over 800 pounds together, how is it dragging us?" Axel questioned.

"Just keep pulling!" Eddie called.

Your hands clung to the back of Eddie's shoulders, glancing back you could see the gate glowing, some strange shadow looming on the other side.

Your heart pounded, "It's a gate, then if it leads where I think it does..." you thought.

Looking at the others trying to pull, you couldn't ignore the gnawing dread in your gut.

"Even with all of us, what if this time there's no getting out? It won't be a dream we're all awake this time." you thought.

Your hands slowly lost their strength around Eddie's shoulders. You could feel it in the way he held onto you, Eddie had no intention of letting go, and asking him to would be foolish.

"Sorry, Eddie," you whispered.

Eddie drew his head back to look at you, the question on his face unable to be voiced as you shoved your hands into his chest with as much force as you could.

The impact made your arms throb in protest, the odd rash glowing brightly before growing again.

"What?" Eddie gasped as he and the group flew backward, hitting the floor.

"Damn it, ____! No!" Eddie called out, trying to get back to his feet amidst the dog pile of people.

Doris held out her hands, and with a grunt, she struggled to pull you with telekinesis. However, you barely budged, it seemed Doris and the numerous vines were evenly matched. Blood dripped from her nostril and her arms shook violently.

You could feel a magnetic force twice as strong as Doris' tether take hold of you, but not by a limb. It felt like it was pulling at your core.

Veins started to show around Dori's forehead as she struggled, her feet slipping forward across the floor.

"It's him." Doris exhaled.

"I can't hold this!" she shouted, shaking her head.

"We are running out of time!" called The Riddler as the machine hummed louder.

"What's that thing gonna do?" Gail asked, looking up at it, a bright red light forming at the end of the needle-like drill.

"Alright, we're here!" Rick called out, bringing the truck to an instant stop before the old abandoned house.

"Come on, get out of that freaky trance!" Amy shouted to Angel.

Angel's eyes shot open, and he quickly hopped out of the truck, Amy pushed his seat forward and climbed out the back. The three of them ran for the house.

"Basement!" Angel directed.

Rick pulled a pistol from his hip and aimed it as he took point, leading them towards the hall. He opened the armed door and headed down the dark stairwell.

A great commotion was coming from below. Various persons talking frantically.

Rick paused at a large metal door that looked to have been melted.

"Mother Mary of Joseph! What the hell did that!" Rick shouted.

"Screw it, let's move!" Amy called, following Angel, who was quick to climb through the gaping hole in the acid-gnarled door.

Angel slid to a stop in the basement, his eyes falling on the pile of people only just managing to get back to their feet.

"Why's everyone looking like baby deer?" Amy asked.

Angel's eyes flew to you, he glared in your direction, but he wasn't looking at you.

"Fuck you." Angel muttered, holding out one arm he held out his palm to you, slowly rotating his wrist facing the bottom of his palm towards the ceiling.

In a slow motion, he closed his fingers into a fist as if beckoning, and your body lurched forward.

Doris' looked at Angel stunned, "It's about time you got here." she spat.

But he ignored her words.

"This your cavalry?" Kali questioned.

Eddie's mouth tumbled open.

"If the day gets any weirder than this, I'm going to think it's a real bad nightmare." Scott said.

The magnetic pull on your body felt as if it would tear you in two.

Angel gasped as he noticed the rash on your body growing. He released his pull on you.

"No, what are you doing!" Doris called out.

"We're making it worse," Angel said.

With a quick motion, Angel flung Doris back a few steps, and she lost her pull on you as well.

"Pete, what the fuck, man!" Eddie shouted.

Gail grasping Eddie's sleeve held him back.

"You need to trust him, Eddie!" She said.

Eddie looked between her and the scene before him. It was something easier said than done with their history.

Free from their powers and with the new force pulling you still, you flew backward.

"No!" Gareth shouted.

"____!" called Eddie rushing forward after Angel who leaped forward, Amy followed after.

"Run! Get out!" you called to the others.

Angel held tight to your wrist and Amy to Angel's shirt. The three of you were swiftly pulled through the membrane of the gate and the vines weaved it closed tight.

"No!" Eddie stopped at the gate, which now looked like a scabbed wound, still pulsing with a faint glow.

He tried stomping on it, trying to break through, but the vines were tough.

"God-damn it!" he cursed, body trembling.

"We need to get out, now." The Riddle advised.

Gail gently took Eddie's hand, "We should listen to him, that thing up there sounds pretty angry," she coaxed.

Eddie's feet refused to move.

"Oh my- Gail?" Rick questioned.

Gail looked back at him with a strained smile.

"The doctor ain't said shit about all this." Rick exhaled, scratching his head.

"Eh, I think it's about time we listen to the riddle man." Mick said, watching as a bright ball of red light formed at the end of the drill.

Everyone looked up, watching amazed and frightened while The Riddler opened the cellar doors.

"Come on, everyone out." He said.

Gail with the help of Gareth and Jeff managed to pull Eddie away from the gate, albeit kicking and shouting.

"No damn it!" He growled, thrashing about.

"She's got Angel, she'll be fine until we can figure something out!" Rick tried to soothe him, helping the others drag Eddie out of the cellar doors.

The group ran away from the house towards the burned remains of the house behind it, not a moment too soon.

The group watched in silence as a pale red explosion came from the basement with a series of zaps and crackles. It took out the supports and the house caved in, soon after came a thick smoke.

Eddie covered his mouth from where he sat in the grass, water stinging his eyes. He'd hoped the other side of that gate had gone somewhere deep enough to survive the explosion. He wouldn't have wished it on you and Amy, or even Angel.

"Fuck." Axel whispered, watching the blaze slowly build.

"We need to get away from here before the police show up." said the Riddler.

"I know a place." Mick chimed.

"Good you go, I will find a way to contact you when I can." said the Riddler.

Rick gave a nod to him, "We'll be waiting, everyone to the cars," he said.

Kali and her crew headed for their van, and Doris went with Rick.

"You can fill me in on what you know seeing as...apparently you are in the know." She said to him, confounded.

"Everybody in Hawkins seems to be connected," Scott muttered.

"Come on, let's hurry to the van." said Jeff.

The boys went ahead, but Eddie stayed behind, watching the house. Gail reached down and rested her hand on his shoulder.

"Eddie, come on," she called gently.

He didn't look at her. She heaved a sigh.

"Stop wallowing there feeling sorry for yourself. You won't help them sitting on your ass, now, will you?" She said, adding strength to her voice.

"Get up," she demanded.

Eddie looked up at her, and the moisture flooding his eyes made Gail's heartache.

"Don't panic, for all we know that thing goes to neverland." Gail offered a hint of a smile.

But Eddie wasn't having the lighthearted comment. Gail huffed, and reaching down tried to force Eddie to his feet.

"Come on, if we stay any longer, who knows what will show up next. Everyone's left, Eddie." she said.

Up on his feet, Eddie quietly took Gail's hand.

"She was afraid to leave Hawkins," he whispered to her. "I talked her into it."

Gail gave his hand a squeeze.

"Not now Eddie, you can beat yourself up later. We need to go." she said, dragging him along behind her as they headed to Eddie's van.

Leaving the abandoned home to crackle like kindling as the fire grew taller. Inside the ruins, the gate seal shut as it was charred to nothing.

Amy slowly turned about in a circle, gazing in awe at the vividly red world around her.

"Holy.....shit." she exhaled feeling small and terrified.

"We got dragged straight to hell." She whispered.

Angel rolled his eyes from here he knelt, allowing your head to rest in his lap.

"I'd hope hell's a damn sight more exciting than this," Angel muttered.

"It's odd, this isn't where I expected to end up, it seems he wants us close," Angel said.

"Just who is he and why are you always talking about him?" Amy asked.

Angel rested his hand on your forehead.

"Wake up fairy." he hummed.

A pulse like a gust of wind shot through your body, and your eyes shot open.

They flashed between a sharp silver and orange glow as you gasped for air quickly checking your skin.

The strange rash was still there, but now it took a different form. Where it was red and slightly slimy before, it was now the color of ash with the texture of rotting fruit.

"What's happening to me?" you whispered.

Angel held a long frown as you looked up at him. He glanced around. It was odd, the deeper levels of the world beyond the gate always made his abilities feel stronger.

However, looking at you, "this place is draining you." He said, helping you to your feet.

"We will have to find a way out. He planned this," said Angel.

You squinted at him, "He?"

Amy rolled her eyes, "Yeah, weirdo here is always talking about some unnamed man," she snorted.

"A man? Does he ever look like a small child?" you asked.

Amy covered her face with her hands, "No, don't feed into his lunacy!" she scolded you.

Angel raised a brow, "I've never seen him as a boy, he reveals himself as you last remember him, if you have a memory of him that is - otherwise...." Angel glanced off.

He'd been visited by the monster often, usually as intimidation for when he was unwilling to perform his bidding.

"Some undead thing with crawly skin?" you asked.

You ran your fingertips along your bottom eyelid, "milky blue eyes."

The bitter anger in Angel's eyes answered your question for him.

"If he planned this, he has a reason. He wanted us here, both of us." Angel murmured to himself.

Amy grimaced and lifted her foot out of the soggy ground.

"Ugh, this place feels like a swamp. Why is the water so sticky?" Amy complained.

"Maybe it's not water at all, let's try not to think about it." you suggested starting to take steps forward.

Your leg threatened to give out from under you, as your body felt exhausted.

Amy supported your weight by lending her shoulder, "So, Angel? Right? Have you ever actually been here before?" Amy asked.

Angel looked around cautiously, "not while awake, and not this far down. He is stronger here." he said.

"The surface level usually has small gateways that give glimpses to the outside. They can usually be opened larger." Angel explained.

"Surface level?" Amy asked, "how do you know all this?"

Angel gave her a dry look, "how do you think I managed to get out of Hawkins' lab." He stated simply.

"Oh, so you're one of them, I knew it! Not about you, but...about the lab." Amy said excitedly, "were there lots of you? Or just a few? How long had you been -"

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I didn't give you permission to pry." Angel snapped, his voice chilling over.

"I just want out. Out, a nap, and then some answers." you sighed.

"Look, there's a weird...portal? Over there, the scenery is different." Amy called out, pointing to the far distance.

"What's a long way off." you said.

"It is, but she's right, it's a way up. It's not as vivid through there," said Angel.

The trek forward seemed painfully slow. With an arm slung over Amy and Angel's shoulders, your mind was lost in a twisted forest of thoughts.

"I shot a TV across the room, with my voice? Angel and Amy are both some people with powerful abilities, and apparently, I fit in that classification now?" you wondered.

At the forefront of your thoughts was Eddie's face, you sighed.

"It was a dirty thing to do, but we'd have pulled everyone in." you thought.

A guilt-riddled frown slowly drooped down your face as you could clearly reimagine the look in his eyes when you shoved him away.

"Stop worrying about it," Angel spoke up dryly.

"Huh?" you exhaled.

"He'll be fine, truth is he'd do the same, it's not you he'll be mad at." said Angel.

"That's what I'm worried about...." you murmured.

"It won't be Eddie's first time beating himself up. He'll get over himself eventually. Gail is good at reeling him into level ground." Angel said.

You recalled the girl, "who...who is she exactly?"

Amy snickered, "Trying to learn about the competition?" she teased quietly.

"H-hardly, Amy." you stammered.

"It just seems as though they're close, and I got the feeling she's been gone for a long time." you added.

"Gone is one way to put it, but that back there - that wasn't Gail. I'm sure of it." Angel spoke lowly.

"So who was she? What happened to the real one?" Amy asked.

"Gail....was some runaway stray Eddie and I found in middle school. She'd run away from her grandmother, who was some strict old miserable woman. Rick kind of took her in with the two of us. At the time we'd just started the band, just Eddie, Scott and Me." Angel explained.

He shook his head and sighed, "Eddie took one look at her and was head over hills. Lucky enough for him, Gail had pipes, deep pipes the kind perfect for metal, so he had an excuse. We added her to the band as our frontwoman." Angel said.

"In those days, Eddie and I competed over everything. Rick used to say we were like rowdy twins. Eddie hated it, truth was I was always slightly ahead of him, even when I tried not to be."

Angel let out a small chuckle as an even smaller smile fixed on his face.

"Gail kept running away, would come to us with bandages up her arms and rambling. You see the reason she was stuck living with that old bat was because her mother dropped her on the old woman. She'd figured out her perfect little girl wasn't alright in the head. Didn't want the responsibility of helping her through that." he said.

"Gail was a fucking mess, and we didn't see it until it was too late. Rick taught us to push weed for cash, to support the band but....one day, I went to him wanting to do something more. Last year, I started pushing special K. It's not as dangerous as other stuff, but Gail never does anything in moderation. She begged me to give her some, she couldn't sleep as she'd made a promise to Eddie to stop the cutting. But it was the thing that calmed her demons."

You and Amy listened to Angel in silence he seemed to be deep in his own memories.

"In return, she'd asked him to join her in taking it. Of course, he did, he was hopelessly lovesick. She'd helped him develop a singing voice, he used to sound like a fucking toad." Angel laughed.

He tilted his head and gave it a shake,.

"But I gave her the Special K, and it made her feel...better for a while. But she was a zombie half the time. It made me her 'hero' and it made her leave Eddie. I didn't tell her not to, and we started dating. That's about the time Eddie really started to dislike me." said Angel.

"You stole your bud's girlfriend!" Amy gasped.

Angel shrugged, "It was better for Eddie that I did." was all he said.

"Anyway, I gave her drugs, the cutting stopped, she sang even better, and instead of Eddie she did them with me. It dumbed down my powers, which at the time was perfect, as I was back in hiding from the lab. Then one day... Gail shows up at Eddie's place in tears - I refused to give her more meds. It left us all in a cage, and Gail lost her shit. She fucked around with Eddie, and with me, to create a rift. She smacked her grandmother around in a rage, and the old bat fell down the stairs. Dead. Then she went off and tried to convince us to bury the body for her. She told me we could blame it on Eddie because his dad was a felon." Angel sighed heavily.

"Annnd then she went to Scott, Eddie, and Jeff and said they could pin it on me. At the time, I was a bit notorious around Hawkins. But luckily, the missing kid put all that into the background." Angel continued.

"What did you do?" you asked.

"I confronted her, in front of the others. I was livid. I told her who she was becoming and that that part of her wasn't welcomed if it couldn't behave. There were many faces to Gail. She wasn't all bad, but this one was the strongest. I wasn't kind, but I don't believe in sugar-coating shit. Gail ran off for a few days. Stole my stock and well... one day she arrives at our old hangout. I found her there, near comatose and foaming. I don't know what all she took and what with. I called Rick, and we got her to the hospital."

Angel paused and looked up at the road ahead of them, they were closer now.

"Eddie arrived and kicked me out of the hospital room, he stayed by her side for weeks, she woke up spitting blood and was back out. One day, Eddie comes to visit after school, and Gails gone, He finds her in the woods near Rick's and brings her back. I wasn't there, but apparently, she raged at him up until the last couple of minutes of her life. Doris said she begged Eddie to stop the K, he'd gotten used to taking it too. She said she was sorry, she said thank you, she said I love you, and then she was gone." Angel shook his head again.

"Only thing was, Eddie wasn't in the room," Angel's words slowed almost to a halt.

"He'd gone...to call me." As his voice quieted you swore for a moment you'd felt guilt in those words.

"Thinking I should be there." Angel gave a cynical smile, "The fucking thing was, I didn't give a damn about Gail." He chuckled bitterly.

"Everything I did was for little rowdy Eddie Munson. Kid's like a puppy, as much as he annoys you, you know he needed somebody," Angel grumbled.

"But in trying to call me he missed a chance to say goodbye, and he's hated me for it ever since. I stole her all over again." Angel said.

You bit your lip, hard.

"And now she's back?" Amy asked, "from the dead?" she didn't like the sounds of this at all.

Peering up at your face, she squinted, "why are you tearing up?" she asked you.

"Because, it's sad, isn't it? I mean... Eddie should know. You weren't trying to hurt anybody, and Gail...she, she was never given a chance. She spent her last moments with nothing but regret. That sounds awful." you mused.

You gave a feeble shake of your head, "nobody should have to go like that."

Angel laughed loudly. The tin-like sound was cold and shocked you as he roughly brushed a tear from your cheek with his thumb.

"Oh little fairy, you have a bleeding heart, don't you?" He asked.

"It's not sad; Gail made her choice the same way I did. To shrink her own pain was worth the pain of others, she was smart in that. People only hurt you in the end. No matter how much you trust them, it's just not always on purpose. Keep them close, but be ready to cut the bind if you need to." Angel said.

"I've been trying to teach that idiot that for years," Angel muttered.

"That's horrible to say." you whispered

"But he's not wrong about the people bit. People suck." Amy said.

"Your typical ant of a person sucks. But you see we aren't them. That's one philosophy He gave me that I can live by. People like us don't belong with the rest. We are effectively spiders among flies, Young Demigods among pigs." Angel said.

You glared at him, "Don't put me in that, I'm no different from anyone else. Neither are you, Angel - we are all only human. I cut you and you bleed just as badly as any other person. You can get sick, you can die. And for all those words....why care so much about Eddie?"

Angel grimaced, "Hell if I know." he spat.

You watched him quietly. Looking at his face, it seemed that he wasn't lying, as his eyes were full of confusion.

"This whole conversation is making me depressed and hungry," Amy muttered as she looked at the red world around them.

"And I think I have to pee," she said.

"You think? You mean you don't know?" you asked.

Amy shrugged, "Could be the need to pee. Could also just be the fact that this place is the scariest shit ever, and I'm waiting on little guys with horns to drag us away."

"Do you think the others made it out ok?" you asked.

Angel shrugged, "Probably, I wish I could tell you I could check in on them. But it's probably better if none of us activate our abilities here. He will feel it and it will lead him here." he advised.

"Does 'He' have a name?" you asked.

"He has a number," Angel stated simply, his eyes glaring into the distance.

"A number?" you asked.

"We all had numbers," said Angel.

"Almost there." He added, nodding towards the odd portal-esque opening ahead of them.

The sun was lowering in the sky, and a large group of young adults sat clustered within a hulking old factory in the industrial district. Takeout scattered the tables on the main operating floor.

"This doesn't seem sanitary." Jeff complained, laying out napkins to cover up the table's surface.

Axel rolled his eyes at him, "Never rough it before kid?" he asked.

"There's roughing it and then there is this." Jeff shot back.

"You two play nice over there," Funshine called digging into his little white box of noodles printed in tiny red dragons.

Eddie sat on the metal staircase to the second-floor platform, watching the others. His hand folded in front of his mouth as his elbows rested on his knees. One leg bouncing up and down with pent-in emotions.

Gail took up her little white box and chopsticks and went to Eddie, taking a seat on a step above him. For a moment they sat in silence, she wasn't sure of what to say to him.

"Um, so do you wanna try and see if you can figure these things out?" She asked playfully holding out her chopsticks.

Eddie glanced up at her briefly, a flat gaze that read, "Do I look like I do?"

Gail huffed in defeat and opened her box, clumsily trying to eat with the utensils.

"You should try and eat something, you know." She advised.

"Might up fill that annoying itch of guilt you're feeling." She said.

Eddie leaned his head back and inwardly growled, "I can't believe I let her push me off." He said.

"The girls got the touch of a mouse." He muttered.

"She caught you off guard, she was desperate, it was on her face. People become strong when they have to be. She needed you off of her." Gail reasoned.

Eddie shook his head, holding it in his hands, leg still bouncing.

"Here man, eat." Gareth said, passing Eddie a box of noodles.

Eddie reluctantly took the box. He side glanced, "She never ate for that day either." Eddie said.

"Give it a rest, for now, I know it sucks, but right now all we can do is wait and hope that Riddler guy contacts us somehow," said Gareth.

Eddie muttered under his breath and popped open the box, steam rose above the flavorful scented noodles.

Gareth passed Eddie a plastic spork.

"Wait, how come he gets that, and I got sticks?" Gail asked.

"You grabbed the chopsticks, everyone figured you wanted them," Gareth said simply.

Eddie snickered faintly as Gail rolled her eyes, "Trying to impress people doesn't always work out so well, does it?" Eddie asked her.

"Ah, sarcasm, looks like he's feeling better." Gail chimed.

Eddie's smile faltered, "no he's really, really not." Eddie exhaled.

"But you're right, being a sad sack won't help. McKinney needs me again. It's just...I can't help if I don't know where she's gone." Eddie said.

Gail leaned forward her eyes narrowed slightly, "Who is she?" She asked.

"Patrick McKinney the jock's older sister. By all rights, she could probably be one of the most popular girls in school. Only she's hidden away in this shell, lets people walk all over her. Her best friend is the band geek Robin Buckley." Eddie said, a quiet chuckle following after his words.

"She'd never even stayed out past midnight before," Eddie snickered, leaning to look back at Gail.

She could see a fond twinkle in his eyes.

"But that all makes sense, she's quiet. Or at least at first, and has the worst luck." Eddie went on.

"She, uh, she likes Tolkien shit and Ballet. Moves like something out of this world. I saw her dance once. Tries a little too hard to see the good in people, gives you the feeling she doesn't see the good in herself."

Gail let Eddie ramble and gazed down into her noodles.

"She sounds pretty rad." Gail said quietly.

Eddie looked back at her with a smile.

"She's one of the best. I'd used to sit and think how well you two would get along." he said.

He shook his head, "seeing as she's the only person in a long time to look at a dufus like me, like I'm actually somebody."

Gareth stood quietly, listening. Eddie took a spork full of noodles in an attempt to stop himself from rambling. Gail looked at Gareth and flashed a strained smile.

"Well," Gail sang playfully, "don't stop now," She said, giving Eddie's shoulder a light shove.

"Come on, the fancy dancing nerd? That's all there is to her? I mean, she's obviously got powers, right? Your new gal pal might just be the black canary for all you know." Gail teased.

"She's too quiet for a canary cry." Eddie laughed.

He looked down at his food, "But I wouldn't be shocked one bit to learn she's got freaky abilities. You can look in her eyes and tell there's something she's hiding, and it's hidden even from herself. You get stuck just looking at her, her eyes trap you. Then there's that weird flake of light/dark blue in the one eye, tricks you into believing you're running to a light at the end of the tunnel. It keeps you gazing longer." said Eddie.

Gail sat up a little, "aw" she teased.

"Has Eddie found his next crush?" Gail said in baby talk.

"Stop it." Eddie hummed, a small smile forming.

Gareth raised his brows, "He totally has." He said.

Eddie looked up at Gareth, glaring. "Nobody asked you, you still here?" He asked him.

"Emotional support dude." Gareth shot back.

"Eddie totally has what?" Jeff asked, wandering over.

"Got a crush on ____," Gareth said.

"Oh god, so bad." Jeff sighed dramatically.

"You know he made us run through the school gathering instruments to save her from humiliation by mean girls?" Jeff said, looking at Gail.

She laughed and looked at Eddie, "as a matter of fact, no. He was too busy gushing, like a giddy girl." She sang.

"I was not, you asked." Eddie said to her.

"I asked after you'd already gone on for about fifteen minutes." Gail said, rolling her eyes. A faint bitterness in her voice.

"Oh, sorry?" Eddie said.

"That's a question?" Gail asked back.

"Well I mean....considering...." Eddie muttered.

"Look, for all you guys knew, I was dead. I was put in the ground, right? They held a funeral. I also left you for, Pete. I did....things I regret. But I'm glad if you met someone who made all the mess of the past feel lighter." Gail said.

Jeff snorted, "He's only known her a handful of weeks." he said.

"What's that matter?" Gail asked.

"Time doesn't equate to impact." Scott chimed in.

Gail held her hands out towards him, "see?" she said.

"How long have you been there?" Eddie asked Scott.

"A while dude," Gareth answered.

"It's ok, our dear Beren is still bewitched by his lady Luthien Tinúviel." said Scott in a flare of drama.

Gail giggled, "who? I'm a comic book kind of girl, not a fantasy one." she said.

"Iconic lovers of Arda, it's a Tolkien thing." Gareth explained.

"Stop trying to sound like you know, you don't know, you only just started reading up on it." Jeff said to him.

"And I do now. Remember time? Impact? All that?" Gareth shot.

Eddie shook his head, "As you see, little has changed." He said to Gail.

"That's somehow comforting." she hummed.

Across the room Doris watched Mick and Axel play a game of Solitaire while Rick and Funshine ate.

"So you've got freaky powers too?" Rick asked her.

Doris raised her head slightly, "Aren't you an ex-grunt for Loxion?" Doris asked, "Why should that surprise you?" she asked.

"Hey, I was the delivery man, I didn't get to see what was going on from the inside," said Rick.

"You saw something," Kali chimed in with a tilt of her head, "otherwise you would still be working for them." she reasoned.

Rick fell silent for a moment.

"I needed the cash bad, as I had loans that would be a health hazard. So I turned a blind eye to the hints that they were snatching women and children - I was told it was for medical studies...I didn't know Loxion was tied with anything this bad until I heard they were trying to sever ties with the Lab. I didn't even know they were tied to Brenner's research until then." Rick explained.

Taking a long gulp from his beer bottle, Rick sighed.

"Then I ran into Angel, pale as a ghost like he'd never seen daylight...." Rick paused and snickered.

"Actually turns out he just looks like that," he said causing Kali and Doris to laugh.

"But this 14-year-old kid, comes wandering into the street, head buzzed in a hospital gown. He looks about 11 or 12 rather than his age and is scrawny. I pull over and ask if he's lost, and take him to a place he says was his grandfather's block. I don't ask any questions and take him there. The kid resurfaces a year later, catch him trying to rob me. I feed him and found out he was squatting in some old abandoned house. He tells me his story in exchange for me teaching him ways to support himself ." Rick shook his head in dismay.

"The things he said about that lab were nightmare fuel, and I still think he saved me the uglier details. Later I ended up renting him the spare room at my cabin, and became an uncle, I guess." Rick muttered.

Doris could see the concern on Rick's face. It was true, he was often stoned off his ass most of the time. But he wasn't a bad guy. Most people in Hawkins said he had a rough life.

Whatever the case - He cared about Angel as if he were blood, and he'd been close with the Munson family.

"Angel's fine Rick. He can take care of himself." Doris reassured.

Rick nodded his head, "I know." he whispered.

"Anyway, that's why I went into complete hiding. I know a guy who works for the Lab. Doctor....jesus what was his name..." Rick murmured, picking through his memories.

"Maybe try a little less weed huh?" Axel advised with a scoff.

Rick snapped his fingers as it came to him, "Doctor Owens! that's his name."

"Yeah, he's the new head honcho 'round there for now. He said he had a contact within Loxion. That said contact had informed him of a plan to catch ____ McKinney. Loxion has been running surveillance on her in recent months, spotting her when all that mess went down with that Byers kid and the Russian girl." Rick explained.

Doris heaved a heavy sigh, "They got radar that can track the changes in atmospheric pressure that thoughs like Kali, Angel, and I cause just by existing. Loxion was probably trying to track me or Angel. See they couldn't replicate either of us well and have been hunting us down," she said.

She stabbed at the cold eggroll before her with her chopsticks.

"But ____? I wasn't expecting that one. She'd gone completely noticed, I wouldn't have guessed she was one of us. I don't remember her from Loxion or the Lab." Doris admitted.

"____ has a defect in her eyes that I've seen before, it's slightly concerning - though I am sure it's not horribly uncommon and could be nothing," Kali said, the caution in her tone made Doris and Rick uneasy.

"Defect?" Doris asked.

"In one eye, if you look closely there's a speck of light/dark blue. There was an orderly named Lilliandra who worked at the lab, she had dark grey eyes and one had a small fleck of Hazel in it. The color of the speck isn't the same, however... it's in the exact same spot." Kali said.

"How would you even remember that?" Mick asked amazed.

Kali turned to her and smiled, "We all loved Lilliandra. She was nice and actively tried to make the children's time in the lab seem...normal. Some of the youngest children struggled with her name, so she had us all call her Lilly." said Kali.

"She used to give me Double Dutch braids whenever I asked for them, and always carried candy." Kali frowned, "she was one good memory of that place."

Eddie hearing them from across the room stood up and walked to the table, he crossed his arms and looked at Kali.

"You know ____ adopted. People around Hawkins say her folks just kind of found her passed out in the middle of the road." he said.

Kali and Doris glanced at each other.

"Lilly didn't have any children with her, She lived at the Lab in the employee dorms and I've never seen ____ before." Kali said.

"Maybe a sister?" Doris asked.

"Why would it matter?" Gail chimed in making her way to the table as well.

"Well, aren't you nosey as ever?" Rick asked, Gail, simpered in response.

Doris took the opportunity to explain further, "Lilly was a....resident before she was an orderly. She like many of us was taken from her family, but unlike the rest of us, she didn't take to the treatments. It's said she had faint signals of abilities but her mind simply couldn't be tapped into the same way. It's said she knew too much about the Lab to be sent away, she'd been there far too long and what's more. Doctor Brenner's star patient the one who started it all was very fond of her - they grew up together in that awful place."

"That would make ____ too young to be Lilly's sister." Kali cut in.

Doris shrugged, "You're right about that. They don't look very much alike, either. It may just be a strange twist of fate." she said.

"It would help if the Riddler would call. Surely he could clear more up for us." Funshine sighed.

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#reader discretion advised #eddie munson x moster!reader #eddie munson x mckinney!reader #eddie munson angst #semi-dark fic #not suitable for minors #critique welcome #There & Back Again Eddie Fanfic

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