#hopper just goes in swinging

[bisexualmultifandommess]

✨ Manifesting the whole Byers-Hopper family beating up Brenner when they all find El ✨

[stevie-petey]

episode one: the vanishing of will byers

Steve nods, as if you almost getting hit by his car makes perfect sense to him. When you walk over to your bike and inspect it for any damage, he follows after you.  “So,” he whistles, trying to pretend that this is all a completely normal occurrence. “You, uh, need a ride?” Honestly you don’t know why you’re surprised he hasn’t noticed the clear signs of you crying, your swollen eyes and red nose. Not only is he a boy, but he’s also Steve Harrington. It’s a miracle he even stopped to make sure you weren’t dead.

summary: jonathan smuggles you free food in exchange for friendship, will goes missing the one time you listen to jonathan, hopper doesn't really like you, and steve harrington almost hits you with his car as you're sobbing like a damn baby (in a cool way).

rating: general, although there's plenty of cursing and slight innuendos, so fair warning.

warnings: cursing, fem!reader, and use of y/n.

words: 7k

before you swing in: hello ! this is the first chapter of my come home series, where i plan on rewriting the entirety of stranger things because i really love a good rewrite fic and this is me just indulging in my ideal fic fantasies tbh. before we start: this is a steve x reader fic, however there will be some slight feelings between the reader and jonathan because, but it doesn't at all get in the way of steve and honestly just adds to the angst because i love a good tragedy. also, reader is dustin's older sister, but i tried to write her as neutral as possible in terms of physical features, so let's all just play along. that is all ! i'm very excited for this series and i hope y'all enjoy her as much as i do :)

-

November 6th, 1983

Your shift at Bookstrordinary ends at 8:30 tonight, so as soon as you’ve organized all the books within the store and cashed out the last customer, you say goodnight to your boss, Mrs. Waters, and clock out. Today had been a longer shift, and it didn’t help that you had to deal with a particularly eager bookclub mother who insisted that you had the latest copy of some obscure novel that she needed for her club. After several attempts to inform her that no, you really didn’t have some novel about a cowboy falling in love with a rodeo girl from Michigan, nor would you ever want to read that, the mother angrily walked away. 

You’re happy to finally be free from work though, excited to see Jonathan to tell him about the book club mom because you know he gets a kick out of those suburban middle class mothers that terrorize Hawkins. He works across from you, at The Hawk theater, and it’s one of your favorite things about the bookstore. Besides getting to be surrounded by books all day and reading Spider-Man, you get to be across the street from your best friend and share frequent breaks together. 

A bell signifies your arrival at the theater, alerting Jonathan to look up from the concession stand and smile at you. He looks tired, which you can understand. It’s been a particularly long school year so far with Jonathan having to work more shifts than usual to support his family. 

“Welcome to The Hawk, can I interest you in our specialty popcorn and candy corn mixture?”

You make a face, “No, thanks. Candy corn freaks me out.” 

Jonathan laughs, knowing you’d say that. It’s been a running joke between the two of you for as long as you can remember. You’re not picky with most foods, but candy corn? The bane of your existence. “Tough crowd, then.” 

You laugh as well, now standing in front of the counter, and you learn against it so that you’re in Jonathan’s space. After being friends for so long, personal space doesn’t exist between the two of you. You’re the only person that Jonathan lets get this close to him on a regular basis, which you’re secretly proud of. 

“So, you almost done so we can pick up our idiotic brothers?” Tonight, as usual, Will and Dustin are at Mike’s house playing DnD. They’d biked over as soon as school let out, while Jonathan drove you to work, so he was your ride back for the night. 

He shakes his head at you, wincing, “I picked up an extra shift tonight. Stacy called out sick, and it’s good money…”

You nod in understanding. He doesn’t have to explain himself to you, which he’s always relieved by. 

“It’s okay. Is my bike still in your trunk?” 

“Yeah, I can get it out for you since I’m kind of ditching you tonight.” 

You wave him off, already reaching across the counter to grab his keys from his coat pocket. “No need, I’ll get it out myself so you don’t get in trouble with your boss.” Jonathan’s boss is an older guy, extra scary. “I’m assuming that I’m taking Will home tonight?” 

“It’ll be late by the time you get the boys, and you’ll have Dustin. We only live a couple blocks apart, you can just bike with Will until you get to your street.”

“Are you sure? I know he’s scared of the dark.” 

“It’s fine, Y/N. You’re already doing enough being there for most of the ride; I’m sure Will can survive the last five minutes alone.” 

You give Jonathan an unsure look, but you don’t argue with him. He’s his brother, he knows Will’s capabilities, and it’s an unspoken fact that you baby Will a bit too much. He’s just so much tinier than the other boys, softer in a way that you want to protect. He’s special. 

Jonathan sneaks you a large peach lemonade and hot dog from the concession stand when you return with his keys. You’ve parked your bike up front, and you accept the food gratefully. You hadn’t had time to eat your usual dinner during your break due to the bookclub mother fiasco, so you inhale the food quickly and give his hair a ruffle. 

“You’re a lifesaver, bee.” 

Jonathan lightly hits your hand away from his hair. “Consider it your payment for dealing with Will and Dustin on your own tonight, bug.” 

Bee and bug were the names the two of you had given each other years ago. Jonathan had started it with bug, stemming from the fact that you love Spider-Man so much, and you had struggled to come up with your own nickname for him. Then it came to you: bee, or B, for Byers. It was perfect, and you’re still incredibly proud of yourself for the creativity, honestly. 

After your quick dinner, you say goodbye to your friend and head off. It’s late now, nearing 9, and you hope that Mrs. Wheeler and your own mom won’t be too upset with you for being late for pick up. You know they prefer to have the boys in bed by a decent hour, but in your defense, Jonathan did skip out on you.

You arrive at the Wheeler’s in a short amount of time and knock on the door. Your cheeks are flushed from the early November cold, and you’re regretting that you only put on a thin sweater and jeans this morning.

Mike answers the door, giving you a dirty look. “Did you have to come early?”

“I’m actually later than usual,” you sidestep him, making your way into his house; you’ve become used to Mike’s attitude. “I take it the campaign is still ongoing?”

“See, mom? Even Y/N understands how long a good campaign can go on for!” Mike waves his arms at you, as if to signify to his mother the importance of your understanding. 

Mrs. Wheeler ignores her son to greet you kindly, albeit a bit exasperated. “Hello, Y/N, please come in.” Then she turns to Mike, giving him a stern look. “Mike, why don’t you tell Y/N how you boys have been playing for ten hours? I’m sure she’ll be understanding then.” 

“You guys have been playing for ten hours?”

Mike looks down in embarrassment for a second before turning to his father for help. You laugh a bit at his enthusiasm and see a faint smile on his mom’s face as well. Quietly you excuse yourself to go downstairs to find the other boys, and Mrs. Wheeler wishes you luck. 

Everyone always acts like the boys are some giant pain; truthfully, you enjoy them. Sure, they can be a handful, but they’re just kids; it’s hard for you to ever stay mad at them. Plus they like you, so it makes dealing with them easier. 

Lucas, Dustin, and Will are running around the basement when you get down there, frantically searching for something. You hear Lucas inform Will that if Mike doesn’t see something, then it doesn’t count. The urgence in his voice amuses you; you’ll never fully wrap your head around why they take DnD so seriously, but you love that they can enjoy it with each other. 

Dustin is the first to see you. “Y/N!”

The other boy’s heads turn to you and they greet you with enthusiasm as well. Will rushes towards you for a hug, which you gladly accept. When you break apart, Lucas gives you a high five and asks about a comic you’ve put on hold for him at the store. 

“Any luck?”

“Sorry, Sinclair. It’s still sold out, but the second it’s restocked I’ll smuggle one for you.” 

“Sick!” 

Dustin walks over, now in his coat and holding a pizza box. “Want a slice?” 

You decline, informing him that Jonathan snuck some food for you. At the mention of his brother’s name, Will asks where he is. You tell him that Jonathan had to cover a shift and that you’ll be taking him most of the way home tonight. 

As you all make your way upstairs, you notice that Dustin continues up to the second floor. Lucas notices too, and the two of you share a knowing look. 

“Still have a crush on Nancy?” You ask, already knowing the answer. 

“Yup.” Lucas responds, smiling in disappointment. 

You wait for your brother outside, helping Will with his coat and listen to Mike’s rambling about the campaign. Lucas is already on his bike, ready to go. 

“There’s something wrong with your sister.” Dustin declares when he finally returns.

Mike looks at you, then at your brother, confused. “What are you talking about?” 

“She’s got a stick up her butt.” 

“Dustin!” You berate. Nancy isn’t your favorite person, but she’s always been nice to you the few times you’ve interacted. You guys used to be closer when you were younger, but high school has a way of distancing people.

“Yeah,” Lucas now speaks up. “It’s because she’s been dating that douchebag, Steve Harrington.” How the hell does Lucas even know about that? You didn’t even know about that until just now. 

“Lucas! Language!” 

“Yeah, she’s been turning into a real jerk.”

“Dustin, I swear to God-” 

The boys ignore you, which you’re honestly not surprised by. While they may like you, that doesn't mean that they listen to you. On a good day they maybe listen to you 25% of the time, but tonight was clearly not a good night. 

Mike finally cuts in, “She’s always been a real jerk.”

“Hey, she’s your sister. Give her some credit-”

Dustin is now the one who cuts you off. “Nuh-uh, only you get the sister leniency, Y/N. Nancy used to be cool, now she isn’t.” 

“Remember that time she dressed up as an elf for our Elder tree campaign?” Lucas asks, almost reminiscent. 

You shudder at the way he says it, and you shudder more when you see the dreamy look in your brother’s eyes. “Yeah, I remember…” 

“Gross,” you huff at your brother, now hopping on your own bike. 

Lucas and Dustin begin to pedal away, and you call after them to wait up. Will is still with Mike, and you promised Jonathan you’d get him home. You give the boys a bit of space, waiting a few paces ahead. Will has always been shy around Mike, something that you’ve tried not looking into too much, but to be safe you give them some privacy. 

Faintly, you hear Will say, “The Demogorgon, it got me.” 

Lights flicker a bit, but you’re too focused on the slight unease you feel by Will’s words. Before you can think too much about them, he joins you. “Race you up to Lucas and Dustin?”

“You’re on,” you tell him. 

Will beats you to the boys (which you let him do), and you’re out of breath. The four of you bike in silence for a bit until you reach Lucas’s turn into his neighborhood. 

“Good night, ladies.” He says, and you don’t need to be a psychic to know what your brother’s response is going to be.

“Kiss your mom ‘night for me.” Bless him.

You and Will giggle together, and Dustin smirks at the two of you, proud. He sits in the praise for a few moments before challenging you and Will to race home with the promise of a comic for whoever wins. 

“I call last year’s Black Cat issue of Spider-man!” You call out, already biking away from the boys. 

“We didn’t say go!”

Dustin and Will call after you as they try to catch up, and within a few seconds the three of you are speeding down the hill towards your home. You laugh gleefully, enjoying the way the wind whips through your hair and the way Dustin, though annoyed by your early start, laughs alongside you with Will. 

Somehow Will is the one who wins the race, which you’re impressed by. He may be small, but he’s surprisingly good at winning when it comes to a competition. Dustin shouts at Will that he’ll kill him, which makes you send a warning look at him. 

“I’ll take your X-Men 134!” Will retaliates, still flying through the street. 

You and Dustin are now stopped at your mailbox and you take a moment to catch your breath before shouting at Will, “Be careful, please! Stay safe!”

“I’ll be fine, I promise!” Will’s voice is distant, now a few yards away, and you stand outside for a few more seconds to watch his figure disappear into the night. Dustin has already gone inside but you wait to follow, only going inside when you can no longer see Will, hopefully home safe and sound. You feel fear creep upon you, but you chalk it up to your usual worry when it comes to the boy. 

He’ll be okay, Jonathan should be home within the hour. 

– 

The next morning you’re frantically biking to school, pissed off at Jonathan. He’s your ride every morning, or everywhere, really, and for the second time in 24 hours he’s bailed on you. Dustin left for school ages ago on his bike, so you’re thankful he doesn’t see you embarrassingly sweaty and gross as you race to school. 

It’s not that you’re pissed that Jonathan bailed again, you’re pissed because he didn’t even have the nerve to call you ahead of time to warn you. Now you have only ten minutes before the first bell rings, and your sweater clings to you uncomfortably as you sweat. 

You make it to school with a few minutes to spare, so you quickly make your way over to your locker to grab the necessary books for the day. You’re still sweaty, and you don’t want to even think about what your hair looks like right now. You look down the hall towards Jonathan’s locker, still not seeing him, and you begin to worry a bit. Maybe he overslept after last night’s shift? 

A body crashes into yours, sending your notebooks spiraling to the ground. Steve Harrington looks at you sheepishly, only saying a small “whoops!” before continuing his fast pace towards the girl’s bathroom. You scoff, now even more annoyed with your entire morning, picking up your stuff as you see Nancy enter the same bathroom a few moments later. 

“In a public school bathroom?” You mutter in disgust, collecting the last of your things and heading to class. 

You decide to give Jonathan until second period, sophomore English which the two of you share, before you freak out. You know you have a problem with over worrying about the people you love, so you try to calm yourself down. While Jonathan has never been the type to cancel without at least calling first, you reason with yourself that everyone has a bad morning. He simply slept in too late. When he wakes up, he’ll come to school and he’ll be sitting in the seat next to you in English. 

Except Jonathan isn’t in the seat next to yours when you enter the classroom an hour later. Now you officially let yourself begin to worry. Something about this doesn’t feel right. 

You’ve never skipped class before, school has always been important to you. You’re the top of your class with hopes of running away from Hawkins with Jonathan to a big city with an even bigger university. However, you don’t even hesitate to flee the classroom and find the nearest phone in the school to call the Byers’ residence. 

Jonathan answers after a few rings, and the words that leave his lips change your life forever. “Will is missing.”

You feel all the air in your lungs be knocked out of you. You can’t breathe and you sway a bit as your knees threaten to give out. This isn’t real, this can’t be happening. 

“What?”

“Will, he-he’s gone, Y/N. We can’t find him and-” 

You don’t hear whatever else Jonathan says. You struggle to get air back in your lungs. Will isn’t missing, you just saw him last night. Mere hours ago Will laughed next to you, face alive with joy, he hugged you and joked along with you. 

“He didn’t come home last night-”

“He didn’t come home?” Jonathan’s words catch your attention and you feel bile rise in your throat. Will didn’t make it home last night. You were the last one to see him, and the realization crushes you; it’s all your fault. 

“Mom and I just searched the woods, and there’s no sign of him and-” Jonathan is rambling now, his own fear and despair clear in his voice. 

“Jonathan,” you force his name out, now needing to be there for your best friend. You can worry for Will in your own time, right now Jonathan needs you. “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” 

“Y/N, you don’t-”

You hang up before Jonathan can argue with you and stumble towards the exit. Your limbs feel heavier than normal, and your ears are ringing. Will is missing. He’s so small, he’s scared of the dark… You left him alone in the dark. 

The bike ride to the Byers home is a blur. You don’t remember much, your body going on autopilot the second you hopped on your bike. You’re running on pure fear and adrenaline right now, too worried for your boys to focus on anything else. 

You don’t bother to knock when you arrive, instead you let yourself in. Joyce is on the phone, arguing with some woman named Cynthia. Your eyes find Jonathan’s, who is sitting on the couch hunched over something. You walk over to him and sit down beside him and your stomach lurches when you see the words “have you seen me?” he’s so neatly printed out on a piece of paper.

“Bee…” you exhale, voice cracking a bit. 

Jonathan doesn’t say anything, but you know him as well as you know yourself. He doesn’t want comforting words right now. You take his hand into yours and lean your head against his shoulder. Worry has made his muscles tense, but you feel him relax into you a bit as he rests his own head against yours. The two of you sit like that for a moment, taking in the comfort you bring each other. 

“Bitch!” Joyce slams the phone down, causing you and Jonathan to jump apart. 

“Mom,”

“What?” Joyce is a mixture of both rage and anxiety, and you feel awful looking at her. Her son is missing, you can’t imagine what she must be feeling right now.

“You have to stay calm.” Jonathan tells her, his voice firm but kind. You know it’s taking everything in him to be as stable as he is right now; he’s putting on a front for his worried mother. You squeeze his hand, hoping it conveys the support and love that you need it to.

He squeezes back, and you see Joyce finally recognize that you’re there as well. She sends you a weak wave, which you return, before she goes back to dialing and trying to reach Lonnie. Jonathan gives your hand one last squeeze and lets go, now returning back to the posters. You immediately understand that he’s doing this to distract himself, so you do the same and wordlessly help him.

You begin writing your own “have you seen me?” when Joyce once again slams her phone down. The sound makes you flinch, inadvertently messing up your writing, which you sigh at. Before you can ask Jonathan for another piece of paper, you hear a car pull up. 

Jonathan stands up to investigate, alerting his mom that the cops are here. You follow after them outside, your heart dropping when you see Will’s bike in the Chief’s hand. He ushers everyone inside, informing Joyce that he found the bike lying in the road.

“How far was it from the house?” You ask, your voice frail. 

The Chief looks at you, his nametag informs you that his name is Hopper, and raises his eyebrows. “And can I know who is asking?” 

You clear your throat, nervous under his scrutinizing gaze. “I’m Y/N Henderson. I’m close with the Byers, I biked with Will home,” your voice catches in your throat, snagging onto the guilt that has been clawing at you ever since you found out Will was missing. You clear your throat again, determined to continue. “I was with him last night. My brother and I live right off Mirkwood, a few blocks from here. He only had a few more minutes before he would’ve been home.” 

Hopper stares at you. “Mirkwood?”

“It’s where-”

“Yeah, those moron kids explained it to me. I just didn’t think someone your age would call the street that, too.” Then, as an afterthought, Hopper adds, “The bike was found a block from here.”

His words sting, but you ignore it. If the bike was found only a block from the Byers’ home, then that means that something had to have happened to Will only minutes after you last saw him. You feel the familiar churning in your stomach, wracked with guilt. 

“Did it have any blood on it?” Joyce now asks, and you’re thankful she’s taken the attention off of you. 

Jonathan sees your distress and grabs your sweater so that you fall back a bit from the cops and Joyce. “Do you need a minute?”

You can only nod, afraid that if you open your mouth you’ll either cry or throw up. He gently guides you to his room, closing the door. Once you’re alone, he wraps his arms around you and pulls you in tight. You’re shaking harder than ever now, Will’s happy and shining face from last night keeps flashing through your mind. 

You were the last one who ever saw him.

You’re the one who was last responsible for him. 

You.

“It’s not your fault,” Jonathan whispers, his voice muffled by your hair. You’ve always loved how you fit perfectly in his arms, your height difference being just enough that he always rests his chin against your head when he hugs you. 

“I’m the last person who saw him.”

“Y/N, I was the one who asked you to only bike him halfway-”

“No,” your voice comes out louder than you intend it to, and you push Jonathan away. He lets out a confused noise as you grapple at him, forcing him to look directly at you. “I should’ve been with him, Jonathan. It’s your job to support your family, and it’s my job to help you. I have to… I have to be the one who helps you.” 

You’ve always been fascinated by psychology, and you remember reading in one of the journals about codependency; the term was used in relation to addiction, specifically alcoholism, but it had caught your interest. To love someone to the extent that their actions make you feel responsible for them, to selflessly take on their burdens to a debilitating extent, well, it reminded you of your relationship with Jonathan. 

You’ve always taken on whatever Jonathan has had to deal with, ever since you were kids, and it’s always come so naturally to you. He’s never asked you to, and sometimes the extent to which you carry his weight angers him, but it’s how you love.

It’s who you are. You’re always the one who helps, it’s what you need to be able to do. If you can’t help the ones you love the most, then what good is your love for them?

Jonathan may not know about codependency, but he knows how hard you love those closest to you. “Bug, listen to me.” He grabs your face, almost aggressively, in order to cut off your rambling. “My mom, she-she’s already spiraling and I can’t… I need you. I need you to be here, with me, right now. If I lose you too, then I-I don’t know what I’ll do.”

His words cut through you like glass. He’s right, you know he’s right, and you feel another wave of guilt wash over you. This guilt is different from the guilt surrounding Will. This is mixed with shame for allowing yourself to spiral so far and forcing Jonathan to take care of you. Joyce is clearly unwell, you can’t fathom how much he’s had to deal with today. 

You gently remove Jonathan’s hands from your face and take a step back. If you’re going to help him, you need to collect yourself. From here on out, you have to be a wall for him to lean on, a shoulder to cry on, someone who will listen to him. 

“I’m sorry.” 

Jonathan shrugs at you, now allowing a hesitant smile to cross his face. “If it makes you feel any better, it took a lot less pleading to get through to you. I’m still working on my mom.” 

The joke is foul, one that should make you feel even worse than you already do, because what sixteen year old has to plead with their mother to remind her that he’s there, too? The joke is horrible, and it’s exactly what you need to find yourself laughing, and Jonathan joins. 

Codependency can be a bitch, but Jonathan understands you in ways that no one else can. 

“You think the cops are gone?” You ask, wiping away the remaining tears. 

Jonathan listens for any sign of them and shakes his head. “No, I think we’re all clear.”

He walks out the room first and you follow after him. Joyce is standing in the kitchen, staring at the counter with a far off look in her eyes. You and Jonathan look at each other and you motion for him to go talk to her. He nods, and then you motion to the living room to indicate that you’ll continue working on the missing posters. 

Carefully writing on the posters soothes you, in a way. It’s rhythmic, providing a sense of lull that you readily embrace. You faintly hear Jonathan talking with his mother, then you watch as he leads her to her bedroom and shuts the door. When he returns he sits next to you on the couch and begins to work on the posters as well. No words are needed. 

You work on the posters in silence for a few hours until it nears 3pm. Dustin will be getting out of school soon, and you have to be there for him when he’s home. While Will may be Jonathan’s brother, he’s also your brother’s best friend. You get up and head into the kitchen, long familiar now with its layout and usual contents within the fridge, and quickly prepare the ingredients for spaghetti. It’s a simple meal, but Jonathan and Joyce need to eat. Once it’s all laid out, you return to the living room and tap on your friend’s shoulder. 

“Hey, I have to head out now to check on Dustin, but I just put a pot of water on the stove along with some noodles on the counter. I also cut up some vegetables and put them in the fridge for the sauce. Start the meal whenever, I laid everything out for you.”

“Thank you, really,” Jonathan exhales, relief evident on his face. He hadn’t even thought about dinner, which you figured he wouldn’t. 

You bend down to kiss the top of his head. “Anytime, bee. I’ll call you tonight, okay?”

“Okay,” 

“Just…” you linger at the door, not fully wanting to leave him all by himself. “Be careful, please.” 

“Go, Y/N. I’ll be fine, I promise.” Jonathan reassures you.

“I’ll be fine, I promise!” Will’s voice is distant, now a few yards away, and you stand outside for a few more seconds to watch his figure disappear into the night.

It’s brief, but the flashback punches you in the gut. You close your eyes, holding onto the image of Will’s face in the moonlight last night, and when it fades you take a deep breath and force yourself to leave. 

The second you’re on your bike, pedaling away from the house, you let the sobs that have wracked against your throat all day out. It’s messy, the tears coming down your face faster than you can wipe them away. All the fear you’ve felt is now able to freely come out. It’s not the safest way to bike home, but you know that if you hold the tears in any longer you’ll collapse. You do your best to still be alert, but apparently you fail because a BMW honks at you to avoid you hitting it. 

“Fuck!” You yank your bike to the right, having no idea that you had been on the left side of the road, and topple over. The fall isn’t anything bad, but it definitely is your final straw for the day. You lay in the ditch you’ve landed in, staring at the November sky, and let the pain from your skinned knee serve as something to ground you to reality. 

“Holy shit, did I hit you?” 

Steve Harrington stands over you, a horrified look in his eyes. 

“Unfortunately not, otherwise I’d be able to sue you and get money out of it.” 

“Uh… okay?” He offers you his hand, although still very confused. “You didn’t like, happen to hit your head or anything, right?” 

You accept his help, albeit mostly because you have to, and brush yourself off when you’re up. “I’m fine. I just wasn’t paying attention, sorry.” 

Steve nods, as if you almost getting hit by his car makes perfect sense to him. When you walk over to your bike and inspect it for any damage, he follows after you. 

“So,” he whistles, trying to pretend that this is all a completely normal occurrence. “You, uh, need a ride?”

Honestly you don’t know why you’re surprised he hasn’t noticed the clear signs of you crying, your swollen eyes and red nose. Not only is he a boy, but he’s also Steve Harrington. It’s a miracle he even stopped to make sure you weren’t dead. 

“No,” you say, now repositioning your backpack so that you can get back on your bike. “Thanks anyways, Harrington.” 

Steve continues to follow you, even after you’ve started to pedal away. “You’re welcome, random girl I almost hit!”

You’re a bit further now, and you still feel like utter shit, but his words somehow make you laugh a bit. For a brief moment, you forget about everything, so you call behind, “It’s Henderson!” 

“That’s an odd first name!” The boy shouts after you, still following from a distance. 

“Y/N Henderson!” You’re fully yelling now, a good yard away, but you can tell that Steve hears you based on the way he begins to wave eagerly, finally stopping next to his car. Faintly you understand the boyish charm that makes him so loved by all the girls in the school; you understand why Nancy Wheeler has fallen for him.

“Bye, Y/N!” It’s faint, but you swear you can hear a smile in his voice.  

The good mood that Steve Harrington inexplicably puts you in vanishes when you near your house. Nothing has changed, yet it feels as if something has shifted. Will had been here only hours ago. You spot Dustin’s bike laying on the grass, haphazardly thrown as usual. 

Dustin is just taking off his coat when you enter, immediately running over to him to pull him into a bone crushing hug. 

“Y/N!” he squeaks in surprise. 

“Are you okay?” You know you’re squeezing your brother harder than you need to, but God. He’s safe, in your arms, and you’ve now learned that not everyone can say the same about their own loved ones. 

Dustin wiggles a bit, trying to break away from the hug, but you only pull him in tighter. “Geesh, no one died.” 

Normally you’d berate him, but you embrace his snarky comments. They’re what make Dustin so unique, his humor one of your favorite parts of him

When you don’t respond, Dustin stops wiggling around and finally accepts the situation. “I love ya too, sis.” 

You giggle a bit, now pulling away. “At least mom isn’t home right now. The minute she hears about what’s happened, we’ll be on lockdown.”

Dustin’s eyes widen. “Shit, you’re right.” 

“Lan-”

“Language, I know.”

You ruffle his hair, now feeling a bit better. Dustin is still Dustin, so maybe everything will be okay. You and your brother go into the kitchen for your post school snack, and you call your boss to inform her that you can’t make it to your shift. The words “family emergency” catch in your throat a bit, and Mrs. Waters is kind enough not to push it.

Dustin catches you up on his day, informing you about Hopper questioning him and the other boys. 

You scrunch your nose at that. “Is that even legal?”

“Unsure, but it was awesome.”

“Will went missing, Dustin. It isn’t ‘awesome’.”

Dustin tilts his head at you. “Well, I bet Will is going to have a blast hearing everything when we find him.” 

His words are so matter of fact, as if he already knows that Will will be found after all. His naivety worries you a bit, but you also can’t help but indulge in his hope as well. Then you think about what he’s just said. “Wait, who’s ‘we’?”

Your brother pretends he can't hear you, miming at his ears. “Dustin-”

“What?”

“Dustin, you and the boys can’t just-”

“I can’t hear you!” He’s running to his room now with you quick behind his heels. 

“Dustin, I swear to God-”

“I gotta do homework, Y/N, bye!” He slams the door in your face. 

You sigh. There’s no getting through to him, years of being Dustin’s older sister has taught you that, so you go into your room instead. You might as well get started on the assignments you missed today, and you have a huge chem test tomorrow, so you’ll focus on that and keep an ear out for Dustin. Whatever he’s planning with the boys, you won’t let them do it alone. 

After a couple hours of silence from Dustin’s room, you decide to call Jonathan. The line rings for a while with no answer, and eventually you give up. It makes sense that he’s not answering, he’s had a long day. You hope he’s asleep, but you know him better than that. He’s probably holed up in his room, trying to distract himself like you are right now. 

A loud thud from Dustin’s room breaks you from your thoughts. Then you hear a quiet “shhh!” that sounds suspiciously like Lucas, and you immediately throw on your shoes and a jacket and march outside. 

Dustin is halfway out of his window when you arrive, and Mike and Lucas stare at you, caught red handed. 

“Guys, I think she can hear us.” Your brother says, breaking the silence. Mike scoffs at him and Lucas groans. 

You eye the three of them, unamused. “Your best friend just went missing, what the hell are you guys doing out here so late and alone?”

Dustin awkwardly finishes his descent down, finally landing on his feet with a thud. He secures his hat back on his head and goes to grab his bike. You block his path. 

“I’m serious, one of you needs to start talking, now.” 

Lucas and Dustin look at Mike, who is their unofficial leader of the gang, and he huffs. “Look, Y/N, I like you-”

“How thrilling.” You say, voice monotone. 

The boy ignores you and continues to talk. “But Will is missing, and we aren’t just going to sit around and wait. He’s our friend, we have to do something.” 

You open your mouth to speak, but Lucas interrupts you. “You’re definitely our favorite sister in the group, so you’d be even cooler if you let us go.” 

Again, you try to respond, but this time Dustin beats you to it. “Yeah, you’re like, totally cool already. If you pretend that you never saw us, that’d be great.” 

“Guys-”

“And don’t give us a whole lecture about safety. That’s all bull.” Mike says. 

“Boys!” You scream. They all fall silent, not used to you ever raising your voice at them. You’ve only ever yelled at them once or twice, preferring to be the “cool” sister whenever you can, but right now they’re seriously pissing you off. 

“Let me speak.” When no one says anything, you continue. “I’m not going to stop you guys from looking for Will. In fact, I support it-”

“You do?”

You shoot Mike a death glare, which promptly shuts him up. “Yes, I do. However, I’m not letting you guys go alone.” 

The boys all groan at this, acting as if it’s the worst thing in the world to have you tag along with them. You ignore their complaining and head over to where your bike sits against the porch. You zip up your coat, the chill from the night making you shiver a bit. 

“No arguing, or I’ll call all your moms. Ours included, Dustin.”

“Why me?”

“Look, guys. I’m proud of you for stepping up, but I’m coming with. The last time I let one of you boys go off into the woods alone…” 

The boys shift uncomfortably now, realizing how heavy the guilt weighs upon you. After a few beats of silence, Mike finally gives in. 

“Fine,” he says, pointing a finger at you. “But the second you start to freak out, you’re gone.” 

You salute Mike, hopping on your bike as you all begin to bike away. The ride doesn’t take long, since you live just off of where Will was last seen. Thunder rumbles when you all approach the crime scene, and you shudder a bit. 

“It’s going to rain, guys.” You inform them. 

Dustin looks up at the sky with uncertainty. “I think maybe we should go back.”

Mike is quick to shut down the idea, urging the others to keep going. You admire his loyalty to Will, and you figure it’s why the two of you butt heads so often. Out of the entire group, you’re the most similar to him. 

Lucas and Mike go under the caution tape first, and Dustin hangs back. You place a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “We can go back, you know.” 

He clenches his jaw, jutting his chin out a bit. “No, Will needs us.”

Your brother puffs out his chest and follows after his friends, leaving you to take up the rear. More thunder rumbles and the rain begins to come down. You flip your hood up, thankful you remembered to grab a hoodie when leaving. 

Mike guides the way with his flashlight, then Lucas, then Dustin, then you in the back. You make sure to keep your eyes on the three boys, scared that the second you look away they’ll be gone. The woods have always creeped you out, but you push your fear down to keep them safe. 

“Will!” Mike calls out, the rain now pouring down on you guys. 

“Byers!” 

“Will, little bee!” You call out as well. He never liked when you called him that in front of the others, but tonight was an exception. 

“I’ve got your X-Men 134!” Your brother bribes, unintentionally making you laugh a bit. If Will is nearby, he’ll surely come out to claim his prize. 

Your foot catches on a tree log, and you slip in the mud before just barely managing to catch yourself. It’s getting hard to see given how dark it is and the rain surrounding you. Dustin voices his concerns, only to be called a baby, and you bite your tongue. If you defend him, he’ll only look more like a baby to his friends. 

“I’m just being realistic!” He retaliates, which you commend him for. 

“Dustin’s right, guys. It’s getting really bad out here. We’re surrounded by a ton of trees, don’t they attract lightning?” You ask, now paranoid that you’ll be struck down any second. 

“You guys are being sissies.” Lucas taunts, annoyed as well. 

You try to argue, but Dustin voices a thought that’s been at the back of your mind. “Did you ever think Will went missing because he ran into something bad?”

You think back to how Hopper seemed worried when he investigated the Byers home. From what you can recall, he suspected that Will had been running away from something, explaining why he’d abandon his bike.

“And now we’re going to the exact same spot where he was last seen, and we have no weapons or anything?”

Maybe Dustin’s right. This definitely wasn’t your best idea, and you’re regretting letting them follow through with their plan. For someone who claims to want to keep their loved ones safe, you really suck at it. 

“Dustin, shut up.” Mike voices, though he now looks a bit concerned as well. 

“He’s right, Mike.” You speak up, stumbling a bit in more mud. Your shoes are definitely ruined, now. “I was at Jonathan’s when Hopper showed up, he thinks Will was running from something.” 

The boys go quiet now, and when you’re about to suggest going home, you hear rustling in the bushes. 

“Did you guys hear that?” Mike asks. 

Your heart stops as the rustling continues and you all start to twist and turn, looking for the source of the sound. The rustling gets louder, almost as if it’s getting closer, and you tighten your hand around your flashlight, ready to use it as a weapon just in case. 

Then, the light flashes upon a little girl, drenched in an oversized yellow shirt, shivering. Her head is shaved, but her small stature suggests to you that she is indeed a girl. You all stare at her, no one saying a thing. She stares back, a terrified look on her face that breaks your heart. 

“Holy shit,” you whisper. 

Her eyes land on you; something about her reminds you of Will, and  you know that nothing will be the same again.

-

⌑ series masterlist

⌑ if you would like to be added/removed from my taglist, just let me know :)

[luveline]

need need NEED more hop x reader w el they are the CUTEST

“So she’s coming?” El asks. 

Hopper pushes a glass of orange juice in her direction. “Mm-hm.” 

“And she wants to see me.” 

“Yeah, kid, she wants to see you.” 

Eleven’s hair curls just under her ears. Hopper hadn’t suspected her hair would be curly once it began to grow, but it waves gently, and tighter the longer it becomes. He doesn’t know how to take care of it. He only just taught her how to use shampoo and conditioner without leaving all the suds in. 

She scratches it. “What are you looking at?” 

“Nothing.” He ruffles her hair. “Eat your breakfast. You can get changed when you’re done. You need me to help you find something?” 

“No. I like choosing.” 

Hopper knows. She isn’t good at matching yet, but she’ll get there. 

She eats her breakfast too quickly, doesn’t drink her juice, and doesn’t put her plate in the sink before she goes, but Hopper doesn’t bother getting mad. He’s trying to be less moody. He’s also trying to be understanding; she’s learning to be a normal kid. Most normal kids are slobs. 

“Can we have dessert?” El shouts from her room. 

“You can have a snack later.” 

“Please?” 

“You can have some chips once you get dressed. Are you still hungry, or–?” 

“Snacks,” she says, turning on her radio. 

Hopper nods, laughing to himself when there’s a knock at the door. He’s been waiting to see you all weekend, and he walks to the door with a terrible smugness about him to let you in. 

“Hello,” he says, wedging the creaky frame open with his shoe. 

“Hi, handsome.” You look up into his eyes, fresh-faced like you’ve had a good scrub and dressed for a day in the house in cuffless sweatpants and a hoodie he thinks might be his. “Wow, nice shirt, hotshot. What is that? The Hawkins Police Department fun run of eighty two? That’s vintage.” 

He leans down to kiss you hello. 

“Oh, hi,” you flirt. 

You’re confident when you know you’re loved, he’s found. Still the homespun woman he knew you to be, but affectionate once you’re comfortable. He smiles into your mouth and pulls you tight to his chest, lifting you off of your feet for a millisecond before placing you back down. 

“Where’s my girl?” 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he says. 

“El?” you call. You slide around him to find her but turn back, “Did you ask her about the hugging?” 

“She says it’s fine.” 

“Like, she wants to?” 

It had been a strange conversation. Hopper is used to telling El things, or being told things by her. He didn’t ask her what she likes for breakfast, he just kept guessing until he found the right stuff. She never asked him if she could sit in his side during movies, she just inched closer until he put his arm around her. 

“She wants to,” Hopper says. She’d seemed perturbed by the question, sure, but it ended with her happy little smile through a handful of popcorn. 

“El?” you call again. 

“Kid! Your best friend is here!” Hopper shouts. 

Thunder from her bedroom, a door swung open and slapping the wall. “Y/N?” she asks, the skirt of her dress swinging as she pauses in the doorway. 

You smile and step forward. You’re tentative but excited all the same, laughing as you wrap your arms around her shoulders, and pat her back. “Hi, beautiful.” 

“Where have you been? It’s two weeks.” 

“Yeah? I didn’t mean to not see you for so long, I’m sorry.” 

“Hop says you have lots to do.” 

“There’s a leak in my bathroom,” you take her by the shoulders. “Aw, this is nice. When’d you get this? It’s light and summery.” 

“Hop… from a catalogue.” 

You raise your brows at him, grinning. “That’s nice. How many did you get?” 

“We got five.” 

“Five! From the catalogue!” You hold her hand. “Hop must really like you, huh? Who can blame him?” 

El looks down at your joined hands. Hopper feels his skeptic heart softening. “He likes you, too.” 

“But do we like him?” you joke, letting go of her hand to put your arm behind her back instead. You give Hopper a look. 

“What?” he asks. 

“I was thinking we’d go out for milkshakes?” 

Hopper bites his tongue. El has a birth certificate now, she’s his daughter, she can’t be taken, but going out with her into the world draws stares and derision alike. People can tell she’s abnormal, and he can’t stand that. She doesn’t deserve to be gawked at for talking a little slowly, or messing with stuff she doesn’t understand. 

But he doesn’t want her feeling punished for those things either. 

“Get your jacket, El.” She beams, rushing for her room. “She’s gonna love the jukebox,” Hopper says. 

You meander back into his arms, kissing his stubbly cheek. He pretends to nudge you away.

[marksbear]

Could I request a Vance Hopper x Male reader (boyfriends)? Plays a few months after Vance got kidnapped. The reader gets kidnapped too (and gives the grabber a really hard time because he doesn’t back down) and Vance ghost uses the chance to properly say goodbye to his boyfriend and helps him to get out of there. A lot of angst and heartbreak (the readers usually a tough guy too and doesn’t show much emotion but completely breaks down in the basement after Vance called him the first time) the grabber could show him the spot where he killed Vance to mock him idk make it hurt 💔💔💔I hope you have a great day and thank you!! <3

Sorry this took a while I took a lil break! But I really hope you enjoy this and that I wrote everything you asked for!

And I write this in a way so you won’t get much spoilers.

Warning:Angst! Mentions a toxic home, evil stepdad, kidnapping,trauma, grieving, sad and emotionless reader, blood, stabbing, survivor guilt.

GHOST VANCE HOPPER X MALE READER.

Y/n was inside his room laying on the floor as the TV played. Y/n's eyes bore into the screen not noticing a muffled shout from downstairs. The TV screen played Y/n favorite show ever.

Sadly it was hard for Y/n to even pay attention to the show. Y/n kept glancing around his room looking at the pictures hanging around of his boyfriend.

Every time Y/n caught himself looking at the pictures he’ll whip his head around as his mind runs wild about his boyfriends disappearance.

“Vance… We we’re supposed to runaway with each other. Get out of this stupid town together.”

Y/n thought to himself knowing deep down inside that Vance would never leave him on purpose. Y/n knew it was a deeper meaning as to why his boyfriend disappeared. But sadly it’s been months and most people stopped caring for the missing teen. It wasn’t like many people was searching for Vance anyway.

The door swings open hitting the wall on impact.

“Y/n! Your mom has been calling your name for the past three minutes! Go down there before she starts getting on my ass!” Y/n’s step dad says staring at Y/n.

“There’s something wrong kid? All the sudden you can’t hear?” His step dad says with a mug on his face.

Y/n rolls his eyes and stands up from the floor walking up to his TV turning it off. “And good lord take your boyfriends pictures off the wall son he left you.” Once those words came out of his mouth Y/n shoved his stepdad out of his room before slamming the door shut.

“You brat!”

His stepfather calls out slamming his hand on the door before walking away.

After making sure his stepdad was completely away Y/n opens his door walking downstairs to see what his mother needs.

When Y/n made it to the bottom of the staircase his mom was already waiting for him.

“Glad to see your dad listens to me.”

“He’s not my dad… And I’m sorry for not hearing you earlier.” Y/n responds back crossing his arms as his mom rolls her eyes.

“I need you to go to the store. Get some groceries and then get you and your sister some snacks to eat. And after that go to the corner store and get me and your dad some cigarettes.” She says before grabbing Y/n’s arm using the pin in her other hand writing the list of groceries on him.

After she was done she gave Y/n the money and extra just in case.

Y/n grumbles complaints under his breath as he takes the money and go back up stairs to change.

After changing Y/n goes back downstairs and walk to the front door about to leave.

“And please Y/n, come straight home. No looking for Vance or clues for his disappearance. I know you miss him honey we both do. It’s just that he’s gone now Y/n. He ran away…” She says before giving Y/n a sympathetic look.

Y/n listens to her words before leaving shutting the door behind him.

Digging inside his pockets Y/n gets the Walkman out and puts on the headphones before putting it back inside his pockets.

TIMESKIP

Y/n was finally halfway to the store walking on the sidewalk as he blasted music through his headphones. Y/n eyes were glued to the floor as he walked not bothering to look up.

Suddenly tapped into Y/n's foot.

Stopping in his tracks Y/n looked to see what touched him. It was a can and a few other things behind it. Y/n looked up seeing a man in white face paint on the sidewalk trying to but clumsily picking up his things.

Usually Y/n would have just avoided helping. Like going to a different direction or just out right to ignore them completely. But this time Y/n couldn't just fake his way out of this.

Y/n crouched down picking up the items that were scattered around the sidewalk. The stranger puts the fallen nearby items inside his bag before walking up to the teen.

Y/n hands him the items while imagining how Vance would have picked light fun at him for helping calling him "soft."

"T-thank you so much! Please let me pay you back for your kindness." The stranger says grabbing the teen's arm forcefully trying to pull him to the van.

"Hey man get the hell off of me!" Y/n shouts as he yanks his arm back. The man lunges for Y/n wrapping his arms around him. Y/n tries to fight back by kicking and stomping on the man's foot and also by scratching his arms.

The man swung the teen around in his arms yanking him to the van.

Y/n swung his head straight back hitting the man with the back of his head causing his nose to bleed.

"You brat!" The man shouts as he uses one of his free hand to pry open Y/n's mouth before using his other one to spray something inside his mouth.

Y/n continues to fight and sway around until his own body gives up on him slowly becoming unconscious the man swings open the van door angrily tossing Y/n inside of it before slamming it shut.

TIMESKIP

Opening his eyes slowly Y/n raised his head from the dirty mattress he laid on. As he looked around the more his brain processed what just happened before he got unconscious.

The walls were dirty and rusty and so was the floor. The only thing that kept Y/n company was a black phone besides the mattress on the wall. Y/n sat all the way up leaning his back against the wall.

The only door insight began to unlock and twist open.

Y/n quickly stood up and clenched his fist. Sure Y/n didn't fight much, but all the times he did he won and thankfully his boyfriend was a fighter so he knew a thing or two about beating the hell out of someone.

With the door opening Y/n got into a fighting stance just as his boyfriend taught him.

A man stepped into the empty basement staring at Y/n menacingly.

"Step any closer to me i'll kick your ass." Y/n says not even trying to threatening him. The teen told the man as if he was stating a fact. The man only laughs and step a few feet closer.

"Kick my ass? How cute." The grabber teases.

"Trust me I've been doing this for a long~ time. You won't be the first kid I snatched who fought back." The grabber says before adding."hmm... You know you sounded just like a boy who I kidnapped a few months ago. That's right Vance Hopper."

Y/n's fist clenched tighter as his whole body went into a state of shock and pause. "Y-you what." Y/n says with his voice cracking slightly.

"Vance~ I remember the day I kidnapped him. When I was driving around in my van I saw you two hug and kiss outside of your house. Y'all two looked so inlove as you wished each other bye. Even after he left after walking you open he still had a dopey smile on his face." The grabber says as he smirked behind his mask.

When he thought he would get an outburst from the teen Y/n stayed silent and on guard not even flinching.

The grabber lets out a frustrated noise before turning away leaving slamming the door shut.

With the new information Y/n lets go of the breath he was holding as he laid back down on the mattress thinking. As he thought his eyes wondered around looking before landing on the telephone.

Getting up Y/n walked over to the telephone picking up the phone and dialing 9-1-1. Much to Y/n's guess it didn't work and Y/n put the phone back into its place before sitting back down on his mattress.

TIMESKIP

For the past few days it has been weird and scary for Y/n. For numerous times him and the grabber fought and argued. Y/n refused to eat and drink and even one point threw the tray of food at the grabber once he came to collect it.

And even one time Y/n had gained advantage on the grabber taking him to the floor, but sadly he sprayed the same thing that caused Y/n to be unconscious the first time in his mouth.

The teen even met the ghost of the Grabbers old victims. They taught and helped Y/n against the grabber. Giving the teen tips and how to avoid the same fate they met.

The grabber haven't checked on the kid all day, so Y/n was just in the basement looking at the open scars from the previous fight he and the grabber had.

*riiing* *riiiing*

Y/n head whipped around looking at the black phone that was shaking. The teen quickly got up and walked to the phone. Picking up the phone Y/n glanced to the door making sure the grabber wasn't there.

"Hello?" Y/n says into the phone.

It was silence for a while until...

"Y/n you still sound like a fucking dork."

That's what caused Y/n to freeze. From everything that Y/n went through for the past few days this is what shocked him the most. The voice that he loved and cried for months.

"V-Vance! Is that you?!" Y/n's own voice began to betray him as tears threatened to fall.

"Yes babe it's me!" Vance's voice rings out through the phone causing Y/n start to break down.

"Vance! I'm sorry! I'm sorry that I wasn't there. For months I used to believe that you ran away without me. I-I'm so sorry Vans." Y/n sobs out as he spilled out the nickname he used to call him.

"Babe, don't start crying. I don't like hearing you cry." Vance says as his own voice began to crack.

"I miss you so much...I-I *sniff* " Y/n couldn't even finish his own sentence as he cried leaning his body against the wall.

"I know... I miss you everyday. And I guess it's my fault that we couldn't run away with each other as we planned---"

"Don't say that. It's neither of our faults okay!" Y/n cuts him off as he tried to wipe away his tears.

The phone grows quiet.

Finally breaking the painful silence.

"Promise me Y/n that you'll kick this guy's ass. Do it for the other dumb asses here... Do it for me." Vance says softly.

"I promise. You have my word babe." Y/n voices crack out knowing that he'll have to hang up soon.

"You better god damn it! I'll be there with you okay!?!..."

The two grow silent once again.

“Don’t go…” Y/n breathes out to the phone clenching onto it tightly.

“I have to.”

“Don’t please…even if I— I survive I won’t be able to live without you Vance! You told me that we were soulmates!” Y/n begins to sob again.

“Goodbye Y/n…”

With those last few words the phone rings silently.

With tears blocking his vision he drops the phone letting it hang. Y/n began to cry and shout screaming and cry out for his boyfriend.

“So you do cry?”

Y/n’s head whips around looking at the man that stood by the door.

“After everything this what makes you break? You miss your pathetic boyfriend? Well your in luck because I feel a bit generous today.” The grabber teases before walking towards Y/n.

Once he was close enough Y/n tries to push him away, but the grabber was fast taking a fistful of Y/n’s hair yanking him to him.

The grabber pulls Y/n to the bathroom area.

“This is we’re he died.” The grabber says yanking Y/n’s head to the wall forcing him to look at the pool of dried blood on the walls.

“I took his head just how I am with yours and banged his head against the wall until he was bloody and limp.” The grabber says whispering into Y/n’s ear.

With the picture painted in his mind Y/n eyes started to water as the grabber went on and on about how he killed him.

TIMESKIP

Since his last call Y/n and the ghost began to communicate more and more.

Their calls became more helpful and strategic preparing for what’s about to come or really the day he’s supposed to be killed. Y/n had been staring at the door for the longest.

Y/n looked to the side of the room seeing all the ghost standing by the wall. Who really stuck out to Y/n was his boyfriend looking at him with so much guilt and confidence.

Vance’s eyes softened once him and Y/n met eyes. Y/n gave Vance a small smile before turning back around looking at the door again.

With the door slowly opening Y/n stands up from the bed.

Bracing himself Y/n gets ready to fight with everything he got. With the door opening Y/n’s eyes glare.

First a dog steps inside the room with a steel chain wrapped around his neck. The grabber walks inside behind the dog with a smirk.

“You really are just like your boyfriend. Never backing down from a fight.” The grabber taunts as the dog bark and growl.

“Keep his name out of your fucking mouth.” Y/n says with a straight face showing no emotion.

The grabber ties the chain around a pipe as he takes a knife from his back pocket.

“Too much of a little girl to fight me with your fist.” Y/n says as he’s the one who’s taunting now.

Out of nowhere the grabber strikes pouncing in front of Y/n before swaying the knife to Y/n’s arm. Y/n dodges just in time right before the grabber tries to stab him again.

As the grabber misses a swing Y/n winds up his own arm before giving him a quick hook to the cheek.

The grabber reacts fast using the closeness to his advantage giving Y/n a quick slice to the arm.

As the two fought the ghost watch in different parts of the room. Watching intensely.

Soon enough The grabber begins to play dirty by tackling Y/n onto the hard cold dirty floor. Raising the knife above his head The grabber swings his arm down directly at Y/n’s face.

With luck Y/n swiftly moves his head out of the way making the knife dig into the floor. As the Grabber tries to pull it back Y/n punches the man straight in the stomach causing the Grabber to hunch over and gasp.

Y/n pushes the grabber off of him before quickly climbing on top.

Similar to how Vance got arrested Y/n started to punch the living shit out of the grabber. The grabbers face quickly became bloody.

Once the man under the teen became weak Y/n stood up walking to the knife that was stabbed into the floor he pulled it out before walking back to him.

“You killed those innocent boys… More importantly you killed my boyfriend.” Y/n says as he crawled onto him.

Sitting in his stomach Y/n wrapped both hands around the knife handle bringing the knife above his head he angled the knife above his heart.

Without any more words Y/n plunged the knife deep inside the man’s chest. Y/n drive the knife deep before pulling it out and back inside stabbing him repeatedly.

“You killed my boyfriend you fucking asshole!” Y/n shouted as he stabbed him again and again.

Finally calming down Y/n dropped the knife before getting up and looked around.

With all the ghost staring at him Y/n knew what they wanted to do. Y/n ran up the stares leaving the basement before running to the front door that was surprisingly unlocked.

The only thing Y/n could do now was shut and find someone.

Sprinting out of the yard Y/n ran with all his might. What Y/n didn’t notice that his boyfriend was in the middle of the street watching him run away watching Y/n with a proud expression.

“Good job babe…”

THE END

[strangersteddierthings]

No Regrets - Part Four

Part One🦇 Part Two🦇Part Three🦇Part Four🦇Part Five🦇Part Six

"Steve! Steve get up!" Robin's voice jolts him awake before she even reaches his cot to shake him.

"Wha?" is all the noise Steve manages to make in his sleep haze. His body is already sat up and swinging his legs off the cot before he even opens his eyes to see Robin.

"We have to go. Now," Robin grabs his wrist and tugs until he stands. She reaches past him to grab his mask from where it must have fallen off the cot while he slept as well as his boots which he barely remembers even untying. He's still wearing his jacket, he realizes. He was really out of it last night it seems.

"What's happening?"

"There's a Storm moving in," Robin says, shoving his mask into his arms before grabbing his elbow to get him walking. He goes without struggle.

"Okay? Can I put my boots on at least?"

"Put the mask on. You can put on your boots in the truck."

He obeys, masking up as she drags him out of the high school and towards one of the box trucks they'd just unloaded yesterday. She manhandles him into the back, climbing in after him. Hopper appears to close the door with just a nod at Robin and him before it shuts and latches.

Robin's flashlight flicks on and she tosses his boots to him.

"What happened?" he asks as he pulls them on.

"Wayne radioed."

He freezes in the middle of lacing up the first boot, his whole body feeling suddenly cold. "What happened?"

"They missed the check in."

"Robin," he hisses as fear climbs his spine.

"That's all we know, Steve," Robin whispers and it's the worst response she could give. Not with what she said but with how she says it. Quietly, gently, like Steve's a spooked animal that might attack at any moment. "It might just be a blown tire, or they ran out of gas. We won't know until we find them, and we have to do that before the Storm gets here."

He doesn't respond, focusing on tying his boots instead. It could be fine. It really could. It wouldn't be the first time a check in was missed due to a blown tire. But all the other times didn't have Dustin onboard, didn't have Eddie and Lucas. Didn't have people he'd lost- but. No? Lost? He's never lost them; he doesn't understand why a horrible grieving feeling washes over him.

Eddie, Dustin and Lucas often go out together to fix up the old Cerebro or to build new ones, just a little bit further than last time. Trying to extend the range little by little. Steve knows Cerebro used to reach Suzie in Utah, but the Storms drop the range so much. Whatever is in the air from the Upside Down has fucked everything in ways no one really could plan for.

"They have to be okay, Robbie," Steve finally whispers. It still echoes around them in the empty of box. "I can't- I can't lose him."

"You won't," Robin says, fierce and so sure. It's not a promise she can actually make, they both know that, but it's Robin saying it, so he's going to believe it.

More silence, the truck bouncing them around not too gently for several minutes before Steve asks, "who is driving?"

"Hop. El's in the passenger seat."

El's not a magical fix-all, but having her along decreases Steve's stress significantly. "Well, fuck, why didn't you lead with that."

Robin clicks her flashlight off, dropping them into complete darkness. "What would be the fun of that?"

-

The truck comes to a sudden stop, judging by how Robin and he are thrown around by it. He hears Robin mutter a quiet 'fuck' before the loading door unlatched with a loud scrape and opens almost violently. No one is waiting them, so Steve must assume El's used her power to free them.

He doesn't like what that implies for what they've found.

Steve scrambles out of the truck and rounds it on the passenger side. El's door is left hanging open. It takes him a few more steps to register the wreckage of another box truck off the road and on its side. One of the doors from the back is torn off, laying several yards away, and random bits of machinery are strewn about. There's a large inward dent almost perfectly centered between the front and back.

"Where are they?" he hears Hopper ask, and that's when Steve realizes he stopped moving because Hopper sounds far away still. He's frozen, staring at the wreckage, the large dent in the side of the truck that tells the story of a hard impact. They didn't crash on accident; something forced them off the road. Judging by the lack of large object, he can only assume it was some Upside Down horror, new or old he doesn't know.

"Steve," Robin comes into his view, getting close enough to prevent him from seeing most of the wrecked truck. "Come on."

He follows her on instinct, because he'd follow her anywhere.

The Storm rumbles above them.

El turned on her heel and began marching in the opposite direction of the wrecked truck. "This way. There is a building. Dustin is there."

Steve doesn't even have a weapon. Robin dragged him directly from bed to the back of the truck and he's still wearing the same clothes he's had on for almost a month now because when you're trying to survive the apocalypse, a change of clothing never feels worth the space it'll take up in your bag.

El leads the way, more soldier than woman and it hurts Steve's heart a bit. Another regret in a long list of them- but less than there used to be?

Steve squeezes his eyes shut and gives his head a shake, trying to clear the thoughts. What is wrong with him? Dustin, Lucas, and Eddie might be in serious trouble and he's, what, imagining regrets he doesn't actually have? Trying to process the grief of something he's never lost?

When he opens his eyes, El is looking at him, head tilted slightly to the side. He cannot see much of her face beyond her eyes because of the mask. She squints at him, as if that will help her see him better before she turns, continues to lead them towards what Steve can see if a barn in the distance.

El pushes the barn door open with her mind, calling out, "Dustin! It is me!"

"Oh fucking- thank fuck," Dustin says before he comes into view. "Is that thing still out there?"

"We didn't see anything," Hopper answers.

"That's a relief to hear," Lucas' voice joins them from somewhere but he doesn't appear in view.

Not being able to see Lucas kicks Steve back into gear. "Where are you?"

Dustin extracts himself from the hug he was sharing with El (since when do they hug so intimately? He's only seen El like this with Mike- but no, wait, Mike and Will have been together for years now and-) "This way. His leg's broken."

"Fuck, just his leg?" Steve asks, following Dustin back in the direction he came from. There they find Lucas, sitting up against the wall. His leg's not visibly broken, it's not jutting out at an odd angle or anything, so that's good. Or, well, better than it could have been.

Dustin says, "Yeah. Oh! Oh, you must've seen the wreck coming up the road. We weren't in the truck when that thing barreled into it. Bathroom break, actually-"

"Wait. Where's Eddie?" Robin interrupts.

"What. He's not with you?" Dustin answers, and Steve feels like he's been doused in ice water suddenly. "He left to head back, get help. He said he'd stay on the road!"

"We didn't see anyone on the road," Hopper says. "El?"

"I am on it," El says, eyes closing.

Steve thinks his heart has stopped. Eddie has to be fine, he has to be. Steve went through so much to make sure he was okay; he changed the goddamn past to resurrect him and- pain shoots through Steve with such a force he audibly grunts in pain and sways sideways, using the barn wall to keep himself upright.

"Steve!" Robin whisper-shouts.

His mind feels foggy, and his vision is blurry when he tries to look towards Robin. He- he- what was he thinking? It's like his thoughts are just gone, ripped from him as if they were water poured over his hands. He could feel them but instead of cupping his hands to catch the water, it's like he can't do anything but make a fist.

What was he just thinking? Where did his thoughts go?

"-feel terrible. I should have made sure he was good to go before dragging him out the door," Robin is saying when Steve's head stops pounding.

He wants to assure her that he's fine, but if he's being honest, he's not sure that he is. He blinks a few times, his vision clearing, before he looks at the group. Hopper is splinting Lucas's break, Robin and Dustin are in conversation off to the side, and El is by the door, unmoving. He shoves off the wall and heads over to her.

She turns her head to look at him. "He is hiding in the wreckage. Go. We will be there once Lucas can be moved."

He doesn't like that she says it quietly, for his ears only. A found party member should be something shared with everyone, so why is she telling only him? "El-"

"Go. I- Just go, Steve. We will be right behind you," El commands, and Steve obeys.

He doesn't start off at a dead sprint, but he gets to one pretty quick. He's thinking of what scenario could have caused Eddie to return to the wrecked truck, rather than the barn or keep going back towards Hawkins but all he can imagine is whatever was big enough to toss the truck off the road trying to do the same to Eddie.

Why didn't they check the truck when they stopped? How had El not known Eddie was- oh, Steve realizes. She wasn't looking for the group. She was looking for Dustin. When had that- since when were they close?

Red lightning streaks across the sky, a dangerous rumble following.

Shit, focus Harrington, Steve thinks as he comes up on the site of the wreck. He blows past their own truck, scrambling down the embankment and the short distance to the truck. "Eddie! Eddie!"

He's not sure what kind of noise Eddie makes but it's enough of a sound for Steve to find him. He's leaning against the side (roof?) of the truck, head lolled forward and kind of curled in on himself. For a moment there Steve's afraid Eddie's dead, but then he hears a wheezing sort-of whine. It propels him forward to drop in front of Eddie.

"Eddie," Steve whispers, hands reaching out to tip Eddie's face up and it's only then that the reality of it all sinks in. He shouldn't have been able to hear Eddie's breathing with a mask, but he sees Eddie doesn't have a mask on. And it wouldn't be the end of the world -they've been in the upside down without masks before- but the Red Storm is lethal. "Eddie, Eddie, where's your mask?"

Eddie blinks open his eyes and squints at him. Steve takes a quick inventory of him. His arms are wrapped around himself, and Steve can see that there's a deep gash on his thigh. Demogorgon claw probably, ripping right through his jeans and into the meat of his leg. When he speaks, it comes out soft and pained. "Who-?"

"Hey, it's me. It's Steve. Where's your mask? I'll go grab it real quick."

"Broke. Lost. Should be 'nother in the truck," Eddie mumbles through his squished cheeks that Steve wasn't even fully aware of cupping. He blinks a few times before his eyes widen and he says, "Dustin, Lucas are they-"

"Fine. They're fine. Hopper, El, and Robin are with them. Just got to splint Lucas' leg and the-" Thunder rumbles dangerously, a deep thing Steve feels in his chest. "Fuck, where are you hurt?"

"Hurt? Hurt, hurt," Eddie repeats a few times like he's puzzling out the words. "My fuckin' leg. Think I twisted my ankle at some point. Stomach," he drops his hands then, so show Steve the three cuts across his torso, too. They aren't nearly as deep at the wound on his thigh, thankfully.

More rumbling. The Storm's here and Eddie's- Eddie's doesn't have- Steve looks around, ignoring for now Eddie's inquisitive noise. He stands quickly and rounds the truck. It's filled with radio bits and bobs but there'll be room for him and Eddie to be out of the toxic rain.

Steve works quickly, throwing everything out of the truck as quickly as possible, sweeping things to one side so he can drag Eddie as far into the back as possible to avoid the rain. He wants, more than anything, to get Eddie to the truck they arrived in, but he knows he won't be able to get Eddie up the embankment alone, not without the risk of falling back down the incline and hurting them both.

As it stands, he has to drag Eddie around the truck and into the box trailer. Eddie's injuries are survivable, but he can't put any pressure on the leg with the gash. He settles Eddie against the back wall laying down. He hadn't thought too much about positioning, so it ends up Eddie's got to lay facing away from the doors in order to not lay on his wounded leg. Steve's shed his jacket, balling it up so Eddie can use it as pillow, then his shirt goes next, used to create a barrier between Eddie's leg wound and the soon to be extra toxic air. It's not great, but it'll help.

"Got nothing for your stomach wounds," Steve laments.

"Let's just zip my jacket and hope that helps," Eddie says, so Steve does. Eddie doesn't even try to fight him off as he zips him in like a child.

Now that Eddie and he are, somewhat, safe from the storm, he starts rooting around for that other mask Eddie said was in the truck. At least, he's hoping he meant this part of the truck and not the cab.

Plink.

Shit, fuck, he throws things around with abandon now, and quickly finds the other mask. It's smashed and cracked, probably from the weight of the whatever was bouncing around back here when the truck left the road.

Fuck.

Plink. Plink plink plinkplinkplink.

The rain falls, and Steve rips his mask off, rushing to Eddie to get it on him. "Here, here, I found the other mask, just lift you head- yeah, okay. Okay. You'll be okay."

Eddie pulls in a deep breath once the mask is secured, and Steve realizes just how shallowly Eddie'd been breathing before. "Fuck. Deep breaths hurt, man."

"Keep doing it anyway," Steve orders, turning his back to Eddie to watch the doorway and to prevent Eddie from being able to see he gave up his mask. He knows Eddie'll try and make him take it back but- but Eddie's injured, and they've no way to patch his wounds, and he's already breathed who knows how much shit air already. Steve knows he's more likely to survive breathing the toxic air left in the wake of the almost black rain falling from the sky than Eddie would be.

"Hey Steve. If this- if I don't-"

"Shut the fuck up, Munson," Steve's words are harsh but his voice comes out choked. "You're gonna be fine." Steve twists just enough to feel around for Eddie's hand, holding it tightly when he finds it.

"But if I'm not-"

"You're going to. You're gonna be fine so- so once you're back to Hawkins, and given clean bills of health, you can say whatever it is then."

"Steve."

Steve draws in a shaky breath that burns his lungs; not from the held back tears but from the storm. He should have ripped a part of his shirt off to use as a filter. It wouldn't- the difference might not have mattered, but his lungs wouldn't burn as much. "You'll be fine. You'll be okay. That's- that's," he stops talking because it hurts.

"... Why won't you say we. Why isn't it we'll be fine."

Steve looks over to where he'd left the broken mask. He can't lie. Eddie knows him too well for that anymore, but saying the truth out loud will hurt them both, and Steve doesn't- if he's going to- No regrets. Steve doesn't want to die with regrets. "I should have asked you out years ago."

Eddie squeezes his hand so hard it hurts. "Steve."

"I couldn't- couldn't be that selfish, I kept telling myself. Said I'd-" Steve stops because the pain makes him want to cough, so he does for a bit before he can continue, "said I'd do it once we ended the apocalypse. But that was- I was just scared. Scared you'd say no. More scared you'd say yes. I'm sorry."

"Steve. Steve, take the mask," Eddie says, and Steve can feel him trying to roll over. Hears him hiss in pain, so Steve moves faster. Lays down next to him, snakes his arms around him to hold him in place as he shoves his nose into Eddie's hair, burrowing in until he feels his nose hit the back Eddie's neck. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath then, breaths in the scent of him.

"I would have made you dinner on our first date. Let you pick a movie-"

"You don't get to do this to me! You don't-"

"-even though I think you have terrible taste in movies-"

"Stop. Stop talking. Don't-"

"-Maybe even raided the arcade for some silly stuffed animal to give you-"

"I don't- I want that. I want that, so stop talking! Stop- b-breath as little as possible!"

"'m sorry. 'm being selfish," Steve says, even as it hurts. Because it might be his regrets he's confessing, but making Eddie listen to things Steve won't be able to give him is selfish. Steve's not the one who will have to live with the knowledge.

His lungs burn. All of his insides kind of feel itchy now. He nuzzles at Eddie and places a kiss where he can reach, even as Eddie sobs in his grasp.

One last chance, Steve. I am sorry.

-

@i-less-than-three-you @nburkhardt @afewproblems @skepsiss

[steventhusiast]

IM LATE BUT LIKE WHATEVER i just decided im gonna try and commit to @steddie-week so DAY 1: somebody to love by queen

--

when steve and eddie first tell the party about their relationship, a lot of them are a little confused. especially nancy. at first glance, the pair makes no sense at all.

steve is a soft soul that really enjoys basketball. he was a jock in high school, and doesn't really have any higher ambition in life than to make enough money to live and be with his loved ones. his favourite artists are the likes of tears for fears and abba. the hobbies he's most committed to are baking sweet treats and watching reality tv with claudia henderson.

and then there's eddie, who in a lot of ways is the antithesis to that.

he almost exclusively wears dark clothes that look three days away from falling apart, he despises sport. he was an outcast in high school, and even though he barely made it to graduation (a few years later than he should've) he is full to the brim of ideas and big ambitions. he's pretentious about music, hates pop and loves metal music. and he's a nerd.

they don't have much in common, so nancy's surprised they work as friends let alone as a couple. then again, she doesn't know eddie too well past what she's already said.

so her and a lot of the party don't really get it at first. until they're having a party over summer break, and everyone's out in the hopper-byers backyard watching hopper grill burgers for everyone and there's music playing through speakers somewhere.

the younger party members are all excitedly chatting amongst themselves, and the teens are sat leaning back on the grass. eddie and steve aren't cuddling for once, settling for linking pinkies as they lean back on their hands.

the song that was playing ends, and a new song starts. freddie mercury's voice starts singing, and nancy doesn't think she's ever seen steve move so fast in all her years of knowing him.

"can anybody find me somebody to love?"

freddie mercury is barely on the second word of that first line when steve and eddie's heads whip around to be facing each other. twin grins are on their faces, and they've jumped up together by the time the first line's over. steve seems to lose steam as he realises a lot of the party are now looking at them incredulously, and his cheeks suddenly have a red tint to them.

eddie immediately grabs steve's hands and starts dramatically serenading him. if nancy thought eddie was a little dramatic from overhearing mike retelling hellfire club anecdotes, she thinks he's extremely dramatic now she's seen his antics in the flesh.

he's gently swinging his and steve's hands as he encourages steve to dance with him. steve just smiles at his boyfriend, a little shy and a lot fond, but eddie's not put off in the slightest. he keeps gently pulling at steve's hands until steve gives in and starts moving to the music with him.

by the time the first verse is over, steve's almost as into it as eddie is, and nancy has never steve like this.

"i work hard, every day of my life." eddie sings along loudly, and steve sings the other part.

"he works hard." he sings softly with a smile.

his confidence amps up as the song goes on, and his dance moves get more and more ridiculous and less restrained as eddie encourages him and laughs with him as they sing. by the time it gets to the instrumental break, the entire party is watching them with smiles and singing along in some way.

the steve nancy dated would never be caught dead doing something like this, but here current steve is, back to back with eddie as they both dramatically play the air guitar. nancy looks toward robin to see if she's as shocked as she is at this display. but robin is just rolling her eyes, like she sees antics like this on the daily. she shakes her head at something dustin says to her, and then yells at the couple.

"i thought you promised to stop doing this every time this song came on?" she tries to look annoyed as she yells over the song, but fails massively.

steve stops his dramatics for a second, and points at her dramatically.

"you asking us to do that is exactly why i am doing this in front of everyone." he claims, and gets a (subtle, because everyone respects joyce) middle finger in return from robin.

"his pettiness knows no bounds, buckley, you should know this! you can only take so much of the mean girl out of the jock." eddie adds on, and that gets the pair another middle finger.

steve throws his head back as he laughs, and nancy smiles at him. he looks a lot happier than she's seen him in a long time. probably happier than she's ever seen him, actually.

"find me, find me, find me love."

as the last little bit of the song plays out, and steve and eddie dramatically fall on top of robin to dog pile her, nancy decides that maybe steve and eddie do make sense.

even in seemingly polar opposites, there is common ground.

--

-> day two

[pinkandblueblurbs]

after-party

jim hopper x fem!reader. fluff. age gap (reader is college aged), underage drinking, drunkenness, lightly implied child abuse (just to be safe), suggestiveness, references to sex

a/n: i wrote this to take place sometime after this little headcanon, so reader and hopper have that pre-established history.

a/n 2: this is not proofread and im not very happy with it but its my first full hop piece so. yeah. take it as you will

word count: 2k

You barely hear the shouts or the pounding on the door, barely blink open your eyes to see the lines of kids walking by the couch you occupy and towards the exit. The sounds and lights all hurt your pounding head, so you opt to let yourself slip into a comfortable unconsciousness as much as you can.

You’re pulled back to reality by a hand on your shoulder, shaking you gently while a low baritone speaks to you.

“C’mon, kid. Wake up.”

You force your eyes open with a groan, and despite the too-bright lights and fuzziness of your vision you manage to recognize the serious face before you.

“Hopper...?” You murmur blearily, mouth dry and mind sluggish. “What’re- oh, shit.”

“Yeah, shit.” He echoes. “You’re busted.” He rises from his crouch, nodding towards the door, and you try to ignore the flutter in your stomach at the way he looks looming over you. “Stand up, it’s time to go.” 

It takes you a few long seconds to process his words, and he watches you while you do, looking unimpressed as you blink at him. “Can you stand up?” 

“Course I can stand up.” You finally reply, swinging your legs over the side of the sofa and planting your feet on the floor. That movement alone has your head spinning, but the alcohol has stripped you of your reasoning, so rather than take a moment to collect yourself you shoot right to your feet.

It feels like standing on a boat, like the ground is tilting under you, but you only have to sway there for a moment before strong hands are reaching out to grip your arms and hold you steady. 

“I’ve got you, kid.” Hopper moves to your side, still holding you upright as he starts taking slow steps towards the door. You follow his lead, using all of your concentration to not trip over your own feet. “Let’s get you home.”

You hum, picturing your soft bed and warm sheets, eager to be back in a horizontal position. Being upright makes your headache worse, and every time you move the contents of your stomach threaten to rise up through your throat. Yeah, going home sounds nice.

You make it all the way out to Hopper’s car- with only a few near wipe-outs and mutters of “careful”- before you remember it’s not your bed that will be at the door to greet you.

“Wait-” Hopper’s opening the passenger side door and you reach out to push it closed again, ignoring his annoyed huff. “I can’t go home.”

“You can’t go home?” He looks down at you as you lean haphazardly against his car. “Why’s that?”

“My parents,” you slur, “my parents will be pissed.”

“Your parents will be pissed.” He keeps doing that- repeating what you say back to you, as if he wants you to hear how stupid it sounds. You scowl. “Pissed at you for going to a party full of underaged drinking and getting the cops called on you? I’d be mad too, kid.”

You shake your head, eyes wide and heart thrumming at the mere thought of facing your parents. “No, you don’t get it. They’ll be really mad.” Something in his face softens as he looks down at you and sees the unmasked fear in your expression. He sighs, and once again reaches for the door handle.

“Alright, well, you can’t stay here.” He opens the door. “Get in.”

You let him coax you into the passenger seat, a sigh of relief leaving your lips when your butt is firmly planted and you no longer have to rely on your legs to keep you upright. You grab for the seatbelt and pull it over your body while Hopper closes the door and goes around to the driver’s side.

“You buckled?” He asks once he’s settled, looking over at you and assessing the strap across your front.

“Yup.” You respond, popping the p. A faint smile crosses Hopper’s face, and he starts the car.

“Then we’re off.”

You rest your forehead against the window as he drives, watching the blur of trees and road signs that whir by. There’s a heavy silence for a few moments, until Hopper speaks.

“You go to that party alone?” He asks. He’s trying to sound casual, but even in your inebriated haze you catch on to the tension in his voice, and you know you’re in for a lecture.

“No,” you murmur softly, picking idly at your cuticle, “went with friends.”

“With friends.” You can feel him glance at you, but you keep your eyes trained out the window. “And these friends just up and left you? Left you passed out on the couch?”

“Guess so.” You shrug. You can hear Hopper intake a sharp breath.

“What are your friends’ names?” His strained tone brings you to finally look at him. Your stomach flips anxiously when you see the angry furrow of his brow. He glances at you again, and your nerves must be visible on your face, because he looks back at the road and speaks again.

“I’m not mad, kid. I’m not gonna get you and your friends in trouble.” He still sounds rigid, but the words are genuine. “I’m just curious to know what kind of assholes would leave you like that.”

You keep your gaze on him, studying his profile as he watches the road. Your foggy mind wanders briefly, taking in his handsome features and remembering the last time you’d seen him. You look at his hands on the wheel, remembering the way they felt gripping your waist.

You blink a few times to clear your head, struggling to remember the conversation at hand. Something about being left alone by your “asshole friends.”

“I’m alright, y’know.” You murmur after the long pause, unsure what else to say.

He takes one more glance at you, takes in your slouched posture and glassy eyes, remembers you stumbling out to the car. You think for a second that he’s going to argue, but he just sighs and turns forward again.

“Yeah.” His voice has turned softer, almost reassuring, though you can’t tell whether he’s reassuring you or himself. “You’re alright now.”

The rest of the drive passes in silence. Once the car pulls up to the small cabin Hopper gets out, then moves around to help you do the same.

He walks you up to the door and lets you inside then guides you over to the couch, which you unceremoniously flop onto.

“You can sleep there, alright? I’ll get you a pillow and blanket.”

You hum your assent, looking around the small space curiously while he pops into another room. A few moments later he comes back with a knitted blanket and a somewhat limp, deflated looking pillow. He tosses both to you, and you don’t move to catch them, you just track them with your eyes as they land on your lap.

“Get comfortable.” He instructs gruffly before turning and walking into the small kitchen.

You do as you’re told, leaning the pillow against the armrest of the couch, folding it over once so it has some mass to it. Before you can lay down Hopper’s back at the side of the sofa, glass of water in hand.

“Here,” he holds it out to you, and you take it without question.

“The bathroom’s that door right there, and I’ll be in my room there if you need anything.” He points out the two rooms then nods at the glass in your hand.

“Now drink that and get some sleep. Alright?” You nod, eyes flitting up to him as you start to drink. He offers you a satisfied nod of his own and turns to walk away, disappearing into his bedroom.

You drink half and set down the glass, the fluid sloshing uncomfortably in your already agitated stomach. He must hear the heavy thud as it meets the table, because he calls out “all of it, kid! You’ll thank me in the morning.”

With a frown you pick the glass back up- because he’s right, you’re in for a miserable hangover as it is- and down the rest of the water.

You try to follow his other instruction to get some sleep; you shift around on the sofa to find a position that doesn’t feel contorted, you bunch up the sorry excuse for a pillow so it can offer some support to your throbbing head.

It’s all in vain, however, because you still find yourself awake. Awake and uncomfortable and thinking about the man one room over.

Before you have a chance to give it any real thought- if you’re even capable of real thoughts at the moment- your body’s in motion, heavy feet bringing you to the doorway of Hopper’s room.

“Hop?” You step into the dark space and walk over to the bed. The man lifts his head with a groggy grunt and a confused utterance of your name.

“Need something, hon?” He lets the name slip in his tiredness, and a smile graces your lips.

“Can I sleep in here?” You ask softly, reaching out to finger over the material of his comforter. The man rubs his eyes and heaves a sigh, starting to get up. “No!” You exclaim in a rush, causing him to stop in his tracks and fix you with a disgruntled look. “I mean, can both of us sleep in here.”

He lets out another sigh. “Nice try, kid, but no. You’re drunk.”

“It’s not like that.” You murmur. “I just wanna sleep, that’s all.”

He studies you for a moment, contemplating, and you offer him your most pleading expression. Eventually, there’s a third sigh.

“Alright. C’mere.” You beam at him and practically throw yourself into the bed, colliding with his side and pulling a low “oof” from his chest. For a second you think he’s going to make you scoot over, but then he’s letting his arm drop down around you and holding you in.

He’s warm, and he smells just the way you remember, and his chest makes a far better pillow than the one from the sofa.

“This is much better.” You shift your gaze to look up at him, finding his eyes closed. He still looks serious, even so close to sleep, but he also looks a bit more peaceful.

“Yeah?” You nod against him with a soft “mhm.” “Good. Now we can both get some fucking sleep.”

You hum and close your eyes, grinning to yourself.

“Then maybe in the morning we can-“

“I said sleep.” It’s as stern and gruff as ever, but you can hear the hint of amusement in his tone. Your giggle is the last thing he hears before sleep takes you both.

—

Come morning the first thing you notice is that your head is pounding worse than the night before. The sun is bright through the blinds as you force open your eyes, and you groan, struggling for a while to convince yourself to get up out for bed.

Once you do you stumble out of the bedroom and are immediately hit with the smell of coffee and eggs. There are a pillow and blanket left abandoned on the sofa, and at the table are two sets of mugs, forks, and plastic plates. You move towards the kitchen to find Hopper’s large form standing in front of the stove. He turns to look at you.

“There she is. Morning, sunshine.” He says dryly, taking in your groggy state. All you can muster in response is a vague grunt, and he lets out a huff of amusement, pushing the eggs around in the pan.

You watch him for a moment, slowly coming back to yourself, before your gaze settles back on the made-up sofa.

“Hop,” you start, voice slightly croaky. “You didn’t have to give me the bed.”

He turns to look at you again, and the corners of his mouth twitch upwards in a smile that you can’t quite discern. He clicks off the burner and steps away from the stove, holding the pan of eggs in hand.

“Don’t worry about it, hon.” The term makes your heart stutter. “You needed a good night’s sleep more than me. Had to sober you up somehow.” He flashes you a grin, and you return it, gratitude swelling in your chest.

“Now c’mere, have a seat.” He’s dumping a portion of eggs onto each plate. “I hope you like ‘em scrambled.”

follow and turn on notifs for @pinkandbluelibrary to know when I post a new fic!

[messrsbyler]

today i’m thinking about mike’s face when will yelled “FORGET IT, MIKE!” because they’ve never talked to each other like that. they’ve never had to yell at each other, it’s just not them. mike has to yell a lot so other people listen to him; with his parents and sister at dinner when will was lost and they wouldn’t listen to him, with lucas and dustin when they wouldn’t listen about el, with el when she wouldn’t understand how much she hurt him when they pulled will’s fake body out of the water, with hopper when he was being an overprotective asshole (affectionate).

but mike has never had to raise his voice with will to be heard. with will a whisper is enough, sometimes not even that. sometimes a simple look is all it takes for will to just listen and see him. and the same goes for will. quiet and shy will that only shows his true colors when mike is around, that gets loud not because he’s frustrated he’s not being heard but because he feels safe enough to not care who hears and who doesn’t.

will has never had to raise his voice because mike has always listened to him at all times. but this time, he didn’t. he was so preoccupied with the girls he stopped listening to will and made him feel frustrated the way mike feels at the dinner table with his parents, invisible enough and unheard enough, frustrated enough that will felt the need to snap and yell to be heard because mike wouldn’t listen to what he had to say. thinking about how shocked mike was, first at will’s reaction because it had never happened before and then to himself because in which moment did he stop listening to will?

also thinking about how will felt, how for the past few weeks he’s been feeling like mike, the one constant in his life, has been slipping through his fingers and how he put together this campaign in a desperate attempt to get his friends back, but his grip is still to weak and mike keeps slipping away and will panics because this can’t happen. mike is his. mike is his person. mike chose him at the swings he can’t now toss him aside because he found a new person? someone he can make out with and take on dates and do many things he can’t do with will? el can’t come out of nowhere and take mike from him. but the problem here isn’t el, the problem is mike because he keeps letting it happen as if it didn’t matter, as if will didn’t matter anymore because he wasn’t lost anymore he wasn’t possessed either and he wasn’t a girl so what did he have to hold mike’s attention? to make mike listen to him? why won’t mike just listen to him? so will snapped at mike, he yelled and stormed out and… and they’ve never been like this, not with each other. will isn’t the type of person that lets his feelings get the best of him, the one that yells and pushes people out of the way and storms out of a room. that’s what lonnie does. will has seen him do it many times before. it isn’t something will does, especially not with mike.

so what happened? how the hell did they get to this point?

anyway thinking many thoughts

[baddiewiththebook]

‘Little’ Hopper

-> You meet Eddie at the police station your father works at. His reputation makes you worry. Soon, however, you find yourself in an entangled web of love and lust. Now, all you have to do is convince your father that Eddie isn't a bad guy.

-> Eddie Munson x Hopper!Reader (she/her)

-> secret romance, slow burn, smut [+18]

-> warnings: explicit content (no minors)

< next part >

-> <-

“You can sit here,” your dad wheels a chair around for you in front of an empty desk. “I’ll be right back, but just don’t talk to anyone.”

Dad’s the sheriff of Hawkins. While you feel completely protected in your personal life, there is a downside to being the sheriff's eldest daughter. The downside is that your dating and your social life seriously suck. Anyone your dad didn’t approve of wasn’t getting past the front door. He’s hyper vigilant and he never misses.

When he picks you up from school this afternoon, your bouncing at the balls of your feet. He scans the note you hand him with a frown upon his furrowed brow. Slowly, the frown relaxes into a wide eyed and open mouth grin!

You’ve been accepted as an honor roll student as a reward for the grades you've accomplished this year. Nothing slips beyond an ‘A’ grade. All the time you spend locked away in your room because you can’t go out past four in the afternoon, or date a single boy, has really paid off.

Protective is the word Jim Hopper would use to describe his relationship with his daughter. One day you'll grow to an age, and perhaps that will be the time you have your own children, that you'll show the same emotions towards your baby. At this age, boys have one thing in their pea sized brain. And, Jim is not about to allow that to happen.

You compare your day to a spinning wheel. Routine at best. It starts the same way, and it ends the same way. Except for weekends, which is an exception because you work as an assistant in the Hawkins Library - a job your dad has swindled you.

After school, your dad likes to take you to the department. You pretend as though this isn't an opportunity to show off. That every time he handcuffs or deals with someone difficult that this isn't a way to show off that he's not intimidated by anyone. He's got to let go of the leash he has on you someday.

There's a desk in the middle of the crowded room for you to dedicate your hours to studying for your homework. Bobbleheads of a baseball team you've never heard of dance at your expense. You swivel them around, so they face the window. They're creepy.

Otherwise, the desk you've kidnapped into your work space is empty. A few notches in the wood from being roughed around doesn't stop you from beginning today's homework from school.

Scribbling down a few notes for your final project in O’Dell’s, your attention drifts when none other than your classmate is brought into the station in handcuffs. The town ‘Freak’ they call Eddie Munson. He does well for his namesake. Anytime he breathes, the whole two knows he’s up to something.

The Munson Family has a history of poor behavior. Your dad tells you stories of Al Munson, Eddie’s dad. Al found pleasure in the misfortune of others. Specifically, he enjoyed hot wiring cars that didn't belong to him, so that he could take them on a joy ride out of town going a hundred miles an hour.

The story goes, Eddie Munson was abandoned by his father. Eddie lives in a trailer with his uncle, whom raises him like his own son. Al hasn't been seen around Hawkins in a while, but that's because he's been doing time in prison.

Rumor has it.

The officer wags a thick sausage finger in the boy's face and he warns Eddie not to move from that spot. Eddie clicks his tongue to the rough of his mouth, before swinging the chains that have him locked in place. Rolling his eyes, the officer leaves the delinquent to file some paperwork.

You hope that you haven't made too much noise to draw his attention, and put your eyes back onto your assignment. Twisting the pencil around in your grip, the tip snaps.

"Damn," you've got spares somewhere in your backpack.

Little did you know, Eddie has his head cocked in your direction. Eyeing the skin of your legs that the dress you wore leaves open for wandering eyes, he shifts his weight and kicks one of his legs out in front of him. You're too soft to be arrested. Too baby smooth for the likes of him.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Eddie’s voice scrapes ice across your spine. “Whatcha working on?”

Hitting your knee on the desk with a thud, you scrunch your nose at the nickname. You're still digging through the trenches of your dad's old backpack to find a pencil.

Eddie doesn't falter, and he tries again to get your attention. This time he poses a question, “You’re in Mrs. O’Donnell’s class with me, right?”

Again, you're pretending as though he isn't there. This is someone your dad has warned you about, and you're better off ignoring him. Ah-ha! That blasted pencil you're searching for is squished between the pages of your textbook like a bookmark. Oh, well. You've written the page number down somewhere.

“Not a big talker, huh?” His laughter is smooth like the beer you steal from your dad’s cabinet when you need to relax. “I bet you’re working on that project for O’Donnell. Right?”

Eddie's seen you around the school. In the hallways, you carry yourself with your head in the clouds. You're practically floating. Not that Eddie could blame you. Golden spoon in your mouth. You’re the sheriff's kid. An untouchable light that will burn the second the flame strikes your skin. Eddie likes the risk though. He doesn’t mind getting burnt a bit, as long as you’re the one striking the match.

“I’m trying to focus,” you dismiss him.

Unsure why you've spoken up, you're in too deep now. Rule number one with your dad is to never speak to those who have been arrested. You can't get yourself roped into whatever they're up too. It'll be bad for the station, but worse it'll be bad for you.

Eddie tuts. “Oh, she speaks!”

“Eddie,” you've grown exhausted of this game. Little did you know, you're adding fuel to his ever growing fire. “I need to focus on my final project, so I can graduate.”

You stick a silver needle his balloon. Hot air fills the space around you and him. Eddie finds this funny, and laughs with his whole body.

“I’m trying to graduate too,” he shimmies to sit up with the cuffs reminding him where he's at. “What if you help me?”

You snort. “Why would I do that?”

“You’re so smart,” he plays. “Think of it as another tick on your resume. You’re helping the poor, the weak - the simpletons.”

This could benefit your reputation. If you could get Eddie Munson to graduate, then the entire school would be at your feet. You could also use practice, before you decide if you really want to become a school teacher. Taking on Eddie Munson would be the hardest project yet to come.

“Suppose I did help you,” you drop your pencil onto your notepad, and swivel the chair to his direction. “What then?”

“Anything, Princess,” his words are tactful.

You won’t admit that his charm is working. That you wouldn’t pounce on him right here in the middle of the office.

“You gonna go to college and get a real job?” You propose.

“College is a stretch,” he hisses. “Job? Yes.”

“A legal job?”

“Nothing illegal about me,” the way the chain jangles around his wrist tells a different story. “I’ll be forever in your debt, Little Hopper. Anything you need, I’m your guy.”

The nickname makes your heart skip a beat. Something you'd like to forget and to never admit. Yet, your heart is fluttering inside of your chest. Anything you need?

“What could I possibly need from you?”

Eddie raises one of his eye brows, then cocks his head to the side while wetting his lips.

You kick your legs back under the desk to keep him from eyeballing you. You'll never get anything done if he keeps doing that.

“I’ll help you,” your heart pumps. “Just - stop looking at me like that.”

He chuckles. “Oh, now that would be a crime.”

You hide the daring curl of your lip behind your work that you’re no longer focused on. You’ll be spending hours alone with Eddie, and somehow you couldn’t wait to get started.

“What did you do?” You don’t look away from the paper in front of you, but the words spill before you can hold them back.

Eddie lifts his head back up. “Hm?”

“You’re not here because you want to be,” you say.

“Oh,” he hums. “They think I stole a bike.”

“You stole a bike?!”

“I didn’t steal a bike,” he whips his head to see if anyone heard you. “I was returning the bike to the rightful owner. Someone else stole it.”

“Uh, huh.”

Eddie’s lips thin. You’re impossible, he decides. He likes the impossible. Yes, Eddie has seen the sheriffs daughter around school. He’s been purely infatuated with you since he saw you in class.

You were wearing a daringly tight outfit that day, he must say. When you bent over in front of him, he's sure you're doing it on purpose. The skin from your thighs made him parched like he hasn't taken a sip of water for years. He would like a sip of you.

Sheriff Hopper rounds the corner in time to see his daughter in conversation with that sly fox, Munson. Anyone else, he would prefer you to share words with. You’ve got all the potential of becoming a credible influence to the world, and the last thing you need is someone like him to screw everything up for you.

His grip tightens on the keys in his hand, but alas he must let Munson go since they had no real evidence to pin him on. His damn deputy messed up real good this time.

“Munson,” his voice rattles Eddie. “You’re out of here.”

You flip pages in your notebook to hide the missing tear in the binding from when you wrote your number down for Eddie to slip into his pocket without your dad noticing.

Eddie jogs out of the police department, before he finds himself in more trouble.

“I wasn’t born yesterday,” your dad hovers.

You make a new note in your notebook that makes zero sense, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I don’t want you hanging around that kid,” he points.

“I’m not,” you shut your notebook. “Can we go to dinner, yet?”

[joehawke]

Thinking about how with everything that’s happened with the upside down the last 4 years and his parents always gone to begin with, Steve hasn’t celebrated his birthday since he was maybe 10.

In retrospect, he never really cared for his birthday, but there’s something almost comical about it. He’s turning 20 and he can’t even remember turning 16. In the years before, it was mostly listening to his parents bicker around the dinner table about “what was next for Stephen” as Steve kept quiet around small bites of sheet cake, and then it was years spent alone, a lousy gift his father’s secretary sent to the door, until the upside down when gifts and calls stopped coming completely and Steve never really cared; he had other monsters to deal with.

But now that Steve has nothing to keep his mind occupied, he plans on staying in, maybe renting a movie after his shift at family video and get shitfaced on the couch that never really gets sat on anymore. Maybe he’ll ask Eddie if he has any leftover weed from his sellout days and sit on his roof and light up a joint. Maybe he’ll catch up on the sleep he’s missed. Steve doesn’t know. It’s any other day really.

Until it’s not.

Until there’s a knock on the door the minute Steve throws a microwaveable lasagna in the microwave.

Steve’s heart races as he pauses in the kitchen. His parents haven’t contacted him in weeks and they aren’t supposed to be home for a few more months. Reluctantly, Steve pads his sock clad feet over to the door, unlocking it and swinging it open to reveal a frazzled looking Eddie.

“Eddie? What are doing here?” Steve asks, taking in Eddie’s frizzy curls halo-ing his head in the dim porch lights.

“Hey to you too Stevie. What are you doing right now?” Eddie asks almost out of breath, picking anxiously and jittery at his fingernails. Steve can’t help but smile at it.

“Um. Nothing -“ Steve starts, before Eddie cuts him off excitedly.

“Perfect! I’ll be right back stay there” and he’s gone, disappearing behind the neatly cut hedges (because of course his parents would still pay for a gardener for the house they hardly live in).

Steve stands there confused before a clamber of noise starts making its way around the brick wall. He can hear whispered arguing and bickering before a loud “SHHH” cuts the sound off. Steve is about to step out and look for himself when Eddie returns around the corner, the kids, Robin, Jonathan, Argyle, Nancy, Joyce, Hopper, and and even Claudia Henderson and Wayne Munson following him in tow.

“What the -“ Steve starts, a chorus of “Happy birthday Steve’s” cutting him off completely as the party (along with Hopper, Joyce, Claudia and Wayne) step aside Steve and make their way inside the house. An array of “where should we put this” is heard from inside, as Steve turns around watching as everyone gets to work on setting up plates of food and party decorations on the counter. Steve doesn’t know what to do or say before he feels someone standing in front of him.

“I’m glad you didn’t have company or weren’t home or whatever, would’ve been awkward if so” Eddie says shyly, twisting his hands together anxiously. And Steve just stares at him in utter awe and confusion because huh??

“What - how - I don’t —“ Steve stutters out at loss of words.

“We just had an idea —“ Eddie starts before Robin cuts him off from the doorway.

“Correction: Eddie had the idea” she says conspicuously before turning away to help Nancy plate up a dish of some kind of casserole. Steve just laughs at his best friend before turning back to Eddie whose face is cherry red. Eddie opens his mouth before closing it again, chewing on the inside of his cheek.

“I hope you don’t mind” Eddie goes for, licking his lips and looking down at his boots.

“This is the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.” Steve says, tears threatening to fall. Eddie’s eyes widen at the sight of the tears dancing on Steve’s waterline. Eddie goes to open his mouth, but before he can Steve is crashing into him with full force, digging his face into the crook of Eddie’s neck and gripping fiercely into his jacket. It takes eddie a moment to realize what’s happening before he’s gripping back.

“Thank you” Steve whispers out, squeezing tighter. And it feels like there’s more to be said within, but before Steve or eddie can say or do anything else, Dustin is dragging Steve back inside the house, rambling something about a cake and how Mike was “no help”. Steve laughs to himself before giving Eddie one last smile, Eddie winking in reply as he watches Steve get pulled into the kitchen around bubbling laughter and chatter.

And if steve falls asleep that night with hope clasped between his fingertips about a new year, well, no one has to know.

[bylerisendgame105]

Reasons Byler will be endgame

So first of all let’s start on Season 1

Season 1:

We all know that Will Byers went missing in the first episode! yes that’s sad. anyway, Mike was the first one to CARE about that. (in the party) Yes, Lucas and Dustin obviously cared but Mike cared more. he said “i’m the only one who cares about will!” and repeatedly said they need to go find him. also he stood up for Will when he got bullied when not even being there. Fast forward to when Mike hides El. When El points at Will in the photo mike gets excited and decides to use El as a way to find Will. this shows, maybe Mike never actually loved el? maybe he just liked how she helped. but missed her as a friend in season two. ANYWAY he uses her and when we found out that “Wills body” was in the lake, Mike got angry… too angry. he yells at El for lying and then when gets home he cries to his mum. showing he really cared about will. (yes i know he is his best friend, but what if it was just more, and he didn’t notice?) Anyway, they finally find will and bring him to a hospital. The gang is waiting in the waiting room and when the nurse says that will is awake, mike is the fastest to get in the room and instantly hugs will. ❤️

Season 2:

in season two we notice that will is getting visions and who is the one who always snaps him out of it, or makes sure he is okay? Mike. at the arcade will gets a vision and then when he sees the mind flayer mike snaps him out and puts his arm around will and brings him to everyone. fast forward to halloween, Will gets left behind of the group and bullies start to pick on him. he gets another vision after falling and then runs away and when he wakes up he finds mike there trying to snap him out of it again. then he tells the party that they’re going HOME. Mike decides that home is his basement. they’re talking about how they are both going crazy so mike makes will feel better and says “if we’re both going crazy, we can go crazy together right?” and ofc our buddy, will, agrees. fast forward to when they lost dart at the school. Will finds him and tells dustin through the walkie talkie then senses he’s from the upside down so he gets scared and runs away. when everyone gets there the only one who notices that will is gone is MIKE. he suddenly goes to look for him and finds him in a field and tries to wake him out of it again then eventually the gang finds them too. later they find out he got over taken by the mind flayer blah blah blah and then mike decides to go to the byers house to COMFORT will and they have a cute little sleepover. they have a talk about how will feels when the mind flayer is inside of him. then when they go to the lab hospital thing mike is beside him the entire time. Will eventually loses his memory when he wakes up and everybody is around him. also mike ofc. when they ask will who mike is will says “that’s.. my friend.. mike :)” mike is so happy that. will remembers lol. fast really forward bc id remember much lol. they are locking will in the shed and when mike tells Will the cute little story, how they met, and how it was the best idea of mikes life meeting him on the swing. THAT is what triggers will to do the Morse code. (it was then if you pay attention like me, you would notice.) but it takes Hopper a way longer time to notice. eventually, they found out that Will is saying “close gate.” I don’t remember much lol. that’s all I remember right now if there’s more, comment.

This was part one. I will post part two one day that has season three and four in it because this one has season one and two, of course. ❤️❤️❤️

[stevie-petey]

episode seven: the bathtub

Steve sighs, “I just… I wanna help.” Maybe it’s his black eye or the pathetic way Steve says he wants to help, but the man comes down the ladder and hands him the dirty rag he had been using. “All yours.” Steve takes his jacket off and accepts the rag and climbs up, ready to get to work. He really does want to help, he has been trying to help. And Steve just really hopes that you can see his efforts someday, maybe even soon. He’s had a really rough week.

summary: your brother basically places himself on the fbi's most wanted list and el flips a van with her mind, now you have to create a giant salt tub because of course you do, nancy tries Talking About It but hasn't she read the title ? you don't have the time. sidenote: you've somehow become a steve defender during these trying times. typical. meanwhile: steve's inner thoughts are pathetic.

rating: general, some swearing

warnings: swearing, fem!reader, use of y/b, implications of death and violence

words: 10.2k

before you swing in: hello ! long time no see, i apologize :/ working while im home for winter break and my hours suck, but we move on ! heres chapter 7, she was a pain to write because it was more complex than i thought, but i love her dearly </3 enjoy !

-

When you finally get to the police station, exhausted and sweaty from running, an angry blond woman is following after Hopper as he guides Joyce, Nancy, and Jonathan towards his cruiser.

“Aren’t you going to do anything about that toothless kid and his weird friends?” She screams at the officer, but he just ignores her and instructs the others to get into the car.

A toothless kid and his weird friends? Gee, you wonder who the woman could be talking about.

You get to the car right as Hopper has started the engine. You knock on the window and he sighs when he sees it’s you. He rolls down the window. “Why is it always you?”

“I think it’s time you learn that wherever he goes,” you point towards Jonathan, who smiles at the chief, and then you point at yourself. “I go.”

“She’s right.” Joyce mumbles from the passenger seat.

Hopper places his head in his hands and sighs once more. “We don’t have time for this. Step away from the car. Now.”

You blink. “I’m sorry?”

“Leave, go home.”

Jonathan speaks up from the backseat. “Hopper, she has to come with us–”

“Where the hell are you guys going? Weren’t you arrested?” You ask, now even more confused.

“Not arrested, just detained.” Joyce corrects.

The officer groans. “Does any of this matter? We need to leave, now.”

“We can leave as soon as you let me in the car.”

Hopper stares at you. “You have no idea what you’re walking into, kid.”

“Try me.”

“Step away from the car–”

“The ‘toothless kid’ that the crazy woman shouted about is my brother!” You shout, entirely over this entire conversation. Like hell this bitter old man is going to stop you from following wherever Jonathan goes. Especially if Dustin is involved somehow.

“I told you, no-”

“I can and will hop on the hood of this damn car if you don’t let me in within the next five seconds.”

Hopper laughs. “Sure ya will.”

“One,” you begin counting.

“That’s not going to work.”

“Two,”

“Uh, Hopper?” Jonathan speaks up. “She’ll do it, you know.”

“Three,”

Hopper doesn’t listen, and now Joyce is getting annoyed. “Hop, just let her in.”

“I kind of want to see her jump on the hood.” Nancy says, causing Jonathan to laugh.

“Four,” you walk to the front of the car and pop your foot up, getting ready to start climbing. If Hopper thinks you aren’t being serious, then that’s his own damn fault. He starts shouting at you to knock it off while Joyce pleads with him to listen to you. Jonathan tries to get out of the car, but Hopper has locked them in. Everyone is arguing and yelling and you’re just ready to say fuck it and straddle a cop car.

Right before you can jump entirely onto the hood of the car, Nancy lurches from the back seat and screams through Hopper’s window, “Y/N, just tell the man about El!”

Everyone freezes; no one says a single word. Slowly, you lower your leg and walk over to the driver’s window once more while Hopper just stares at you. You can’t exactly read the look on his face, but if you had to guess, it’d be something like of course this kid knows about El.

“Who the hell is El?” He demands as soon as you’re back in front of the window.

“Buzzed hair, nose bleeds when she uses her powers, and hangs out with my brother and his friends. Ring any bells?” You ask, a slight smirk on your face because you know you’ve won. Bless Nancy’s quick thinking.

Hopper’s face drops and he lets out a tired sigh. “So, you know about the girl?”

You snort. “Yeah, I know about her. Better yet: I've met her, and I know something awful is about to happen. Let me into the goddamn car. Now.”

The two of you have a stare down for a couple seconds before he finally gives in and unlocks the door. “You’re the worst in the group.”

“Oh, just wait until you hang out with my brother. Now, let’s go for a drive, shall we?”

–

The slight amusement you felt earlier quickly dissipates as Hopper explains everything going on. He explains El, who is really named Jane, and how he had found her mom and learned that some guy named Brenner was conducting experiments on her while she was pregnant. Thus, he created El and her powers and ultimately kidnapped her, leaving her mother to believe that she was dead. Now El has escaped, causing Will’s disappearance, and unfortunately some other horrible consequences.

Said consequences include driving to Nancy’s house because this Brenner guy apparently really wants El back and has gone as far as faking a twelve year old’s dead fucking body. Now he’s currently tracking her and the boys down.

Who knew Hawkins could have anything as exciting as a shady lab and actual men in black coats?

“Y/N, I need you to tell me everything you know about this girl,” Hopper demands, glaring at you from the rearview mirror as you sit between Nancy and Jonathan.

You do as you’re told, but admittedly there’s not much to tell him. Sure, you know El and have spent some time with her now, but other than that you’re still a bit lost yourself. The details are fuzzy in your mind, a picture has almost formed, but not quite.

As you’re struggling to explain more about the Upside Down to a very frustrated Hopper and a concerned Joyce, a parade of Hawkins Power and Light vans fly past the car and turn onto Nancy’s block. Once again, everyone in the car goes quiet.

“Neighborhood power outage?” You ask, really hoping you’re right, but worry is now creeping in. God, you really need to just stop leaving the kids alone after this week. Dustin was just supposed to see Mike, apologize to Lucas, and have a nice conversation about how friendship is magical and all that bullshit.

It doesn’t look like they did that.

Hopper suddenly jerks the car into a different neighborhood and speeds down the block. The speed scares you and Jonathan grabs your hand, sensing your growing unease. Then, the car brakes and you’re thrown forward by the momentum. “Fuck!”

“Sorry, honey.” Joyce murmurs to you, but the view in front of you catches your attention.

Hopper has brought you guys to an overlook of Nancy’s neighborhood with a perfect view of her house being surrounded by a bunch of expensive cars and men in suits carrying items out from her basement. You see one man holding a stack of your comics with one of Dustin’s old hats on top.

You want to throw up.

Nancy reacts no better than you do and immediately bolts out the car, Hopper and Joyce not far behind her. The man whips out a pair of binoculars and scopes out the scene while Nancy just stands there, stunned. She begins to speak to him, demanding to go into her house, but he doesn’t let her.

You’re left alone with Jonathan in the car and you feel your own panic begin to settle in. Seeing all the cars, the fucking helicopters, after your baby brother… You really, really want to throw up.

You feel yourself begin to spiral. You think about how you’d left Will alone to bike home and how, because of you, he never made it back. Instead he got taken by a monster that’s big enough to kill a fucking deer. Will, small and sweet Will, is gone because of your inability to keep those you love safe.

And now Dustin and the boys are facing the same fate, all because of your stupidity. You left them alone, again, after they’ve spent the entire week sneaking off and getting into trouble. You have no reason to be surprised by their actions. You’re not an idiot, you should’ve known better.

You should’ve known better than to listen to Jonathan about not taking Will home. You should’ve known better about letting the boys explore those woods the night you found El. You should’ve reported the missing girl, called the cops, anything else rather than help hide her.

But because of your stupid, stupid, need to take care of everyone around you, to please everyone no matter what it may cost you, you’re in a cop car as your brother is being hounded down by what appears to be the goddamn FBI.

This is all your fault.

Hopper is saying something to Nancy now, there’s a commotion outside the car door and you know you should go out there and help, but you can’t. Jonathan, seeing the argument outside as well, turns to tell you that he’ll go and help, but stops when sees how pale you’ve gotten and that your leg is bouncing wildly.

He’s known you for years; he knows what you look like right before you have a complete breakdown.

He grabs you and you find yourself engulfed within his chest. His hands come up to your hair and he runs his fingers through it in a way that’s always calmed you down. You find yourself beginning to cry at the tenderness.

“I’m here, bug.” Jonathan whispers the words with his chin tucked atop of your head. He runs a hand up and down your back, drawing small patterns to try and distract you. You don’t fucking deserve the kindness.

You tighten your arms around him, afraid that he’ll slip away just like everything else has. “This is all my fault.”

“You’re crazy if you think that.”

“I was… I was in over my head.” A few tears slip out and you don’t bother to wipe them away. Instead, you bury your head deeper into Jonathan’s chest, ashamed. “This entire time, I should’ve–I needed to be better and I–I wasn’t, bee.”

Your words slur together as more tears come, but Jonathan is able to understand you regardless. He slides a hand up and under your chin, gently coaxing your head up so that he can look you in the eye. “None of this is your fault. You hear me?”

“But–”

“No. Without you, those boys would probably be dead by now. Nancy and I included. You’re the glue holding everything together, you know more than anyone else involved.”

Jonathan’s eyes burn yours, he’s so sure of his words but you know they aren’t true. You pull away from him and try to collect yourself. “There’s an entire swat team ready to hurt my baby brother… I fucked up, Jonathan.”

“Still up for debate, but if you really feel that way, then I’ll help you fix it. It’s as simple as that.” Jonathan shrugs, saying the words so simply, without any doubt or hesitation. He has such confidence in you, and you know he shares the same thought that you do: together, the two of you can do anything.

You think about your birthday gift from Will, with you and Jonathan battling a dragon together with the boys, and the thought brings you comfort. Together, you and the boys will get through this one way or another. You’re sure of that much, at least.

Plus, you have El and Nancy now.

You wipe away a few more tears and manage a smile, now feeling a bit better “Thank you, bee.”

He smiles back at you and ruffles your hair. “Any time, bug.”

The moment between you is broken by Hopper throwing Nancy into the backseat, cruelly bringing you back to reality. The boys, they’re in danger. Hopper turns to face the three of you with a crazed look in his eyes. “Look, we need to find them before they do.”

“The kids?” You stupidly ask.

“No, we’re looking for Santa’s reindeer.” Hopper deadpans, which you honestly had coming. “Yes, the kids. Do you have any idea where they might have gone?”

“No, I don’t!” Nancy still looks shaken up and you and Jonathan don’t look much better.

“I need you to think.” Hopper presses.

Nancy lets out a frustrated sigh. “I don’t know. We haven’t talked a lot. I mean… lately.”

“What about you, Y/N?” Joyce asks, her voice a bit more gentle than Hopper’s.

You wrack your brain for where the kids may have gone, but with all your exhaustion and overwhelming feelings, you can’t come up with anything. Your brain is fried. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Byers.”

“Is there any place that your guys’ parents don’t know about that they might go?”

You and Nancy look at each other for ideas, but you both end up drawing a blank and shake your heads at Joyce. She sighs, but seems to be more understanding. You really wish you could be of more use, but besides Mike’s house, the kids don’t really go anywhere except…

“The junkyard!” You exclaim, throwing yourself forward in your excitement.

“What?” Hopper asks, his interest now is on you.

“The boys went there yesterday with El, they had a fight and–”

Hopper cuts you off. “I don’t need the petty details, just tell me where this junkyard is.”

“I… can’t.” You deflate now, realizing that you have no idea how to access this damn random field in Hawkins. It’s not really an official junkyard, just an area with leftover cars and trash piled up over the years. The boys have never taken you there, it had been the one spot they’d kept all to themselves.

“You can’t?” The man questions, his usual annoyance with you is present once again.

Before an inevitable argument breaks out, Jonathan speaks up. “I don’t know what Y/N is talking about, but I think I know how to ask the kids.”

–

When you get to Jonathan’s to look for Will’s walkie, you’re a bit car sick from Hopper’s damn speeding. You get that this is an urgent matter, but holy shit you feel ill.

You, Jonathan, Joyce, and Nancy hop out the car and start heading towards Will’s room. Jonathan and Joyce guide the way and you’re right behind them until you see Nancy stop in the living room.

“Woah,” she breathes out, examining the room around her. You forget that she’s only been a part of your life for a few days now and hasn’t yet seen the state of chaos that is Jonathan’s house.

“Yeah, welcome to the Byers home.” You say, grabbing her hand to tug her along.

When you get to Will’s room, Jonathan is digging through his drawers while Joyce is on the floor searching underneath his bed. You immediately walk over to the closet and begin sifting through his numerous boxes of comics and drawings.

“I got it!” Joyce announces from under the bed and scrambles into the living room with the walkie in her hand.

You follow after her and sit next to her on the couch. Jonathan stands next to you while Nancy is on your right and Hopper is by the door. Joyce fiddles with the walkie. “Okay, now what?”

“I’ll talk to them.” Nancy says, but you shake your head at her.

“No offense, but I think they’ll respond to me better. I mean, they like me.” Hopper snorts across the room and you close your eyes. “I didn’t mean it that way.”

Nancy bites her lip but eventually nods, thankfully understanding what you meant. “Yeah, okay. You should go first, then. They’ve always listened to you more than me.”

Joyce hands you the walkie and you thank her. You look at Hopper and hold the walkie up. “Anything I should specifically say?”

“No, just find out where they are and we’ll go from there.” He commands.

You nod and take a deep breath, silently praying that the idiots will respond both for your own sanity and pride. Exhaling, you bring the walkie to your lips. “Dustin, it’s Y/N. Do you copy?”

Silence, no one responds on the other end and you feel everyone’s eyes on you. “They’re paranoid right now, okay?”

Joyce reassures you that it’s fine while Hopper groans, unimpressed. You silently curse Dustin, who would choose right now to embarrass you and not listen.

You take another deep breath and try again. “Hello? Earth to Dustin and co? Guys, it’s me and I really need you to respond. Immediately. I will start crying if I need to.”

Again, more silence follows. You want to scream and throw the walkie across the damn room, but you keep your composure and try one last time and square your shoulders. You’re aware of Jonathan and the others in the room with you, so you’re dreading having to say this, but you know it’s the only way to get them to respond. ”Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and possibly El: what you’re about to hear is private and so incredibly embarrassing but obviously I have to prove that I’m me so you idiots respond.”

Jonathan’s eyes widen. “You’re not really going to confess to–”

You shush him and keep talking. “Dustin, remember when mom told you that Mews peed on my bed and that’s why I had to stay in your room for the night last year? Well, surprise! It was me. I peed the bed because I had a nightmare after you made me watch Friday the 13th.”

Nancy makes a noise that sounds suspiciously like a laugh covered up by a cough and Joyce herself stifles a laugh. Hopper doesn’t even try to hide his laugh and you just really wish the ground would swallow you up. All Jonathan can do is offer you a pitying smile. This is fucking mortifying.

And yet: no one answers.

You let out a frustrated groan. “Listen to me! Either you answer or I have a very annoyed and rude Hopper who would be more than glad to interrogate you boys himself. This is your last chance–”

“Ya know, you really should’ve just used Hopper as a threat from the start. We would’ve listened.” Mike’s voice comes through the walkie, causing you to sigh out with relief.

“Yeah, now we know you peed your pants at fifteen.” Lucas adds.

Then Dustin’s voice carries through. “I’m ashamed to be related to you, Y/N.”

“Thanks, Dustin. You’ve always had my back.”

Hopper takes the walkie from you and heads towards his car while demanding directions from Mike. He leaves without saying another word to everyone else, simply leaving you with Joyce, Nancy, and Jonathan to wait for his return with the kids.

You wring your hands together, unsure what to do in this situation. So, you do what’s familiar to you; you take care of those around you. “Mrs. Byers, do you still have my baking supplies here?”

–

Steve was having a rough week.

It started with finding you crying in the middle of the road while you were on your bike. At first, he hadn’t been sure it was you, but as you had biked closer and almost hit him, he knew then that you were indeed Y/N Henderson. When you swerved into a ditch to avoid hitting him, Steve did what any rational person would do.

He helped you.

You had been hesitant of him at first, nervous and guarded and Steve couldn’t blame you. Up until then, the two of you hadn’t had the best interactions. He’d always seen you around in the hallways at school, knew about your obsession with comics and Spider-man, and he knew how kind you could be and had witnessed first hand how devoted you were to helping anyone you could, regardless of who they were.

When Steve was in eighth grade and you were in seventh, Carol had bled through her pants and Tommy had been laughing at her and calling her disgusting. Steve hadn’t been much better, honestly, the two of them had reacted how any other idiotic thirteen year olds would. When Carol started to cry, Steve finally felt bad and told Tommy to knock it off and help his girlfriend. It started a whole argument between the two of them, but as they were bickering you swooped in and offered to escort Carol to the bathroom.

He had watched as you delicately took the girl’s hand and said something soft and kind to her as you guys walked to the bathroom. A lanky boy, who had been with you, told you he’d wait by your bike while you were with Carol. You thanked him and then you were gone, the door to the girl’s bathroom closing behind you.

“Who was she?” Steve remembers asking Tommy. He’d been curious about you and your actions, because not even ten minutes before Carol had bled through her pants, she had been making fun of your scuffed sneakers in the lunchroom. She’d been especially viscous back then, and yet you hadn’t hesitated to help her.

“Y/N Henderson. She’s new, moved here a few weeks ago.”

Steve had kept watching the bathroom door, hoping to catch another glimpse of you. “And the boy?”

“Jonathan Byers.” Tommy snickered. “Poor family, complete nobodies. Guess Henderson likes a pity project.”

“Yeah. Guess so.” The door still hadn’t opened, so Steve sighed and motioned to Tommy to follow him. “C’mon, my mom hates waiting for us.”

So, yeah. Your very first interaction with Steve had been you watching him make fun of a poor girl experiencing her first ever period.

Not a very good first impression.

Ever since then, Steve had kept an eye on you. Maybe not consciously, but you’d always been in his peripheral. He’d seen all the times you helped someone, from teachers to the local stoner kid, Eddie Munson, who needed a pen for his exam so you’d given him your only one and ultimately couldn’t take your own exam. Steve had always wanted to ask if you regretted that, but he was sure you’d say no. It’s just what you did.

He watched as you and Byers grew closer, almost inseparable, and Steve decided that eventually the two of you would get together and live happily ever after. When your hair grew a bit longer and your scuffed sneakers turned into pretty mary janes, Steve figured it’d happen in no time.

Then Will disappeared and Steve had found you crying in a ditch after almost hitting his car with your bike, and everything seemed to change. He wasn’t exactly sure what, but he knew he wanted to make you smile. He’d never been alone with you before and he felt bad about Will; he knew how close you were with him, so he cracked a few jokes, pretended not to know who you were, and then you smiled at him for the very first time.

A real, true, beautiful smile that had left Steve breathless for a moment.

God, then you laughed and Steve swore he’d never heard something more genuine and pure. He had felt like a little kid on Christmas day, giddy over the fact that he had made you laugh at his stupid joke.

Immediately Steve was addicted. He vowed then and there to do whatever he could to help you, to get you to laugh and smile and flash him that annoyed look that seemed to make your eyes reflect everything good and lovely.

So he did.

Steve had helped you out of the ditch and watched as you biked away, lingering until he was sure you’d be safe. He had invited you to his house for a party, figuring that maybe you’d enjoy a distraction from life. Sure, you had rebuffed him pretty harshly, but he had deserved it. He had been an ass to Byers.

But then Byers had taken pictures of his naked girlfriend and Steve’s world had felt like it’d been flipped upside down. How dare he? Byers was yours, everyone knew that. Hell, the entirety of Hawkins knew that. Why the fuck would he need to take pictures of Nancy, his Nancy, when he already had you? Not only was it creepy and invasive, but it was a major offense to someone as selfless as you.

Logically, Steve had to retaliate, it just wasn’t okay. He had told Tommy the plan and then before he knew it he ended up waiting by Byers’ car to confront him, and then alongside him had been you. Of course you’d been with him. Steve should’ve expected that.

He hadn’t wanted for you to get dragged into it so aggressively, but he also had to tell you the truth. Steve knew there was no way in hell that Byers had told you about the photos, so he had to be the one to break the news before anyone else could. It had killed him to see you so upset.

When Tommy threw you onto the ground, all Steve felt was rage. You weren’t supposed to be the one getting hurt, and yet somehow you were. It enraged him that he couldn’t do more to help, but before he knew it you were on the ground and he had rushed over to help.

He doesn’t remember much else that had happened next, but when your back pressed against his chest to avoid Byers, Steve had felt his heart flutter a bit. Again, he had felt like a little kid on Christmas day, giddy and excited and warm. You had needed him at that moment, so Steve helped.

“See, you can tell that he knows it was wrong, but that’s the thing about perverts. It’s hard-wired into them. They just can’t help themselves.” He had placed his hand on your shoulder, a risky move he had been afraid would scare you away, but you stayed; you had been warm underneath his touch.

Steve hadn’t meant to break the camera, honest. It just kind of happened, his brain had been muddled by your presence. He felt bad about it, but Tommy had whooped all impressed and Carol had encouraged him on, so he had to pretend that it hadn’t bothered him.

But it had.

It had really, really bothered Steve.

He just wanted to help, to defend you, and yet he had gone too far. And he had felt awful about it.

So, when he had spotted you once again biking on the road, struggling up a massive hill the next day, Steve had figured that this was his chance to make it up to you. He thought that if he had offered you a ride, the two of you could talk. When you accepted, Steve had happily thrown your bike in the back and felt so fucking relieved. There was still a chance.

Then the two of you engaged in the banter that made Steve feel so alive and he knew that it’d all be okay, it had to be. He had teased you, gotten you to blush and laugh once more, and Steve felt like he was on top of the world being able to offer you some type of relief from the news of Will’s death. He had helped you, if even for a little while.

Somehow he had ended up confessing to you that he had been trying to make you laugh a few days prior, having pretended not to know your name. “Figured you wouldn’t want to talk about it and the least I could do was make you laugh. And voila, I did.”

He’ll always remember the shocked expression on your face, the way your eyes softened for a moment with vulnerability and Steve had found himself wanting to lean in closer to see if he could make you blush an even prettier red. He had refrained, though (barely).

But his good mood vanished when you had berated him about breaking Byers’ camera, which he had to admit was a selfish move on his end. He had already felt bad about it, but to hear you remind him that Byers didn’t have the money that Steve did, it hurt in a way he hadn’t been familiar with.

And yet, like you always seem to do to Steve, you had completely turned his mood around with only a few words.

“For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re a bad person.”

Your words had hit Steve harder than he would've ever thought possible. No one had ever told him that, not even his mother who always insisted on calling him her beautiful boy. Everyone always called Steve various names such as King Steve, the King, Steve “the hair” Harrington, and every possible way to complement his appearance, but no one had ever told him he was a good person.

You had called him “alright”, and those words had been on his mind for the rest of the day, creating a new warmth in his chest every time he thought them. You, Y/N Henderson, had thought Steve was “alright.”

It felt like he had won the goddamn lottery.

Until Nancy started acting weird and ditching plans with him for some mysterious “project”, which sucked. He hadn’t been sure what he did, but he was sure he’d done something to offend the girl. He always managed to do something to hurt those closest to him.

Imagine his surprise when he had driven to Nancy’s and spotted you, glowing in the moonlight and lovely as ever, looking for the girl as well. Pretty fucking convenient, huh? Something was up, Steve could feel it.

And boy, was he right.

There Byers had been, his arm draped over his girlfriend, sitting side by side in her bed without a singular care for the people they were hurting in the process. Typical.

Again Steve had felt that anger deep within him, the same anger from when he saw those pictures of Nancy, because how dare Byers? There you had been, standing underneath Steve, worried about Nancy because you’re the best damn person he’s ever met, and yet Byers had been abusing your kindness and trust for his own gain.

No.

Steve was livid.

“You deserve better, Y/N.” He regrets yelling at you and pushing you away, but Steve had been so overwhelmed with his anger. You deserved everything and more, why couldn’t anyone else see that? Why was Steve the only one who could see this?

Hell, anyone could hurt Steve. He wouldn’t care, he always deserved it in the end. He wasn’t nice or good or worth kindness, but you? Hurting someone like you, someone as selfless and wonderful and genuine, was goddamn unacceptable.

Steve did the only thing he knew: he had to hurt Byers and Nancy for hurting you.

So he did.

And fuck, Steve really wished that he hadn’t, because now he’s standing underneath the Hawk’s sign with a black eye and a bleeding lip and really wishing that you were here to remind him that he’s a good person.

He also really hopes that you still believe this.

Steve had only been trying to help you, to get you to see your own worth and recognize how much of an ass Byers and Nancy were to you. But you had run away, back to that asshole, and Steve had been left to clean up his own mess.

“Need a hand?” Steve calls up to Byers’ boss, who is on a ladder trying to scrub off the cruel spray painted taunts of Nancy.

The man looks down at Steve, his face twisting into a sneer. “Did you have something to do with this?”

Steve sighs, “I just… I wanna help.”

Maybe it’s his black eye or the pathetic way Steve says he wants to help, but the man comes down the ladder and hands him the dirty rag he had been using. “All yours.”

Steve takes his jacket off and accepts the rag and climbs up, ready to get to work. He really does want to help, he has been trying to help.

And Steve just really hopes that you can see his efforts someday, maybe even soon.

He’s had a really rough week.

–

The cookies only take you thirty minutes to make, which is way before Hopper is expected to be back with the kids, so you awkwardly hand out a plate of them to Joyce, Jonathan, and Nancy before sitting in between the teens and pulling out a comic.

Nancy hesitantly takes a bite, but her uncertainty melts into bliss. “Oh my god, these are delicious.”

“Y/N makes the best oatmeal raisin cookies, they’re insane.” Jonathan says with a mouthful of his own cookies.

“Thanks,” you say, flicking through the pages of your comic and trying to remember where you last left off. You keep an assortment of comics between Jonathan’s house and Nancy’s basement just in case you’re ever left with a need for one. Thankfully you’ve always planned ahead, because this latest issue of Spidey keeps you distracted as you wait for Hopper and the kids.

You’re doing your best to keep your anxiety at bay, but it’s hard. Baking has always calmed you, though tonight you’re still left feeling jittery. You’ve never been a patient person.

No one speaks as you wait, the clock on the Byers’ wall ticks away at a maddeningly slow pace. You try to focus on your comic, but it’s useless. Eventually you give up and flop your head onto Jonathan’s shoulder, frustrated and anxious.

The second you hear Hopper’s car pull into the driveway you sprint off the couch and run straight towards Dustin. He’s in your arms before he’s even had a chance to fully get out of the car. “Geesh, Y/N!”

You ignore his complaining and hold onto him tightly. He’s alive and safe and whole. Thank god.

Nancy does the same with Mike. “I was so worried about you!”

“Yeah, uh… me too?” Her brother mumbles back.

You snort at him and reluctantly pull away from Dustin to only then pull Lucas into a hug, which he hadn’t been expecting. You squeeze the other boy tight. “Where the hell did you guys run off to this time?”

Before they can explain, you see Nancy eyeing El and you immediately rush over to the girl and engulf her into a hug as well. You haven’t seen her in ages, you’ve missed her and she looks a mess. “El! God, look at you!”

“Is that my dress?” Nancy asks.

You inspect El’s dress and realize that yes, it is indeed an old dress of Nancy’s. You raise an eyebrow at the boys, silently asking for an explanation.

Dustin smiles and gives you a thumbs up. “Who’s ready for an update?”

–

All you’ve managed to learn tonight is that Will is the only one in the group with any artistic abilities.

Mike has drawn a horrible recreation of what Mr. Clark had explained to them at the funeral a few days ago, the whole tale about the flea and the acrobat. While the boy is explaining the situation to everyone else, all you do is wonder how the hell he couldn’t even draw a straight line.

“Okay, so in this example, we're the acrobat. Will and Barbara, and that monster, they’re this flea.” Mike points to below the line he’s so poorly drawn. “And this is the Upside Down, where Will is hiding.”

You’re sitting in between Jonathan and Joyce on the couch and notice their confused faces, causing you to sigh. “Oh, just wait.”

Mike glares at you but continues with his explanation. “Mr. Clark said the only way to get there is through a rip of time and space.”

“A gate.” Dustin adds.

“That we tracked to Hawkins Lab.” Lucas then finishes.

“Don’t forget the compasses.” You mumble, trying your best not to butt in too much. You’re not really sure how much you should disclose about the fact that you’ve been in on the boy’s adventure without informing the literal cop who is in the room.

Hopper, who is seated across from you, narrows his eyes at you.

Yeah. Best not to push it.

“Right, the compasses.” Dustin leans in closer to everyone to make sure they understand what he’s about to say. “The gate has a really strong electromagnetic field, and that can change the directions of a compass needle.”

“Is this gate underground?” Hopper now speaks up, though his eyes are still on you. El softly responds with a “yes” and the man doesn’t look too happy.

“Near a large water tank?”

“Yes,” El says softly again.

“You’ve been there.” You conclude, now holding onto Hopper’s gaze. Seems like you weren’t the only person keeping secrets, then.

Hopper doesn’t break eye contact. “Yes, I have. And you’ve been playing double agent.”

You shrug. “Didn’t have much of a choice, did I?”

“You should’ve told the police, kid.”

“Like you would’ve believed me.”

“You let these kids run off on their own, does it really matter what I would’ve believed if I had known they’d be in danger?”

You can feel your anger beginning to resurface. You’ll never admit it to anyone, but Hopper manages to bring out an anger within you that only your father could do before. Facing him, you feel like a ten year old again screaming against her father. “I did what I could! I’d never intentionally bring them harm. Don’t ever imply otherwise again.”

“Y/N, Hopper, now isn’t the time.” Joyce interrupts, her face ashen. You feel your anger drain from you as it’s replaced with guilt. She’s right, now isn’t the time for petty arguments with a cop who has a weird vendetta against you.

Joyce then turns to El, her voice shaky and you grab her hand as she speaks. “Is there any way that you could… that you could reach Will? That you could talk to him in this–”

“The Upside Down.” El finishes for her and then gives her own response as a nod.

You notice Nancy nervously picking at her fingers, so you ask El your own question. “What about Barb? Do you think you can find her, honey?”

Nancy gives you a smile and mouths “thank you”; you nod your head at her, understanding.

Again, El nods and you let out a breath of relief. For the first time in days, it feels like you finally have a solid and functional plan. Things are finally starting to all come together and now it isn’t just you who has to glue the pieces down. You have help.

After the conversation you help set up everything El needs to contact Barb and Will. You help Nancy tear a picture of Barb and lay it on the table alongside a picture of Will. Mike has switched his walkie into static and the white noise seems to help the girl focus.

All of you crowd around El at the table, not saying a word. Joyce is seated while you and Jonathan stand behind her, each of you have a hand on her shoulder and she holds onto you both like her life depends on it.

You find yourself holding your breath as El closes her eyes and begins her process of contacting Will. You’re terrified that maybe this time she won’t find him, or worse… She’ll find him, but he’ll be long gone already. You’ve already come so fucking close, you’re worried that your luck will run out soon.

Static fills the air and the lights start to flicker. El opens her eyes; her face falls with despair and you immediately know that something has gone wrong before she even whispers, “I’m sorry.”

Joyce’s hand tightens around yours. “What? W–What’s wrong? What’s happened?”

El begins to cry and her voice breaks. “I can’t find them.

“Shh, it’s okay, honey.” You’re at the girl’s side in a heartbeat, crouched down so that you can look her in the eye as you try to soothe her. “Hey, look at me. You tried your best, it’s okay. I’m right here, my dear.”

While you comfort El, Jonathan comforts his mother. The two of you share a quick glance and through it you’re both able to convey the same message: I’ve got her, take care of the other. Without any other word, you gently guide El to the bathroom and tell her to take some time to herself and that you’ll be there for her when she’s ready.

“Thank you.” She mumbles, tears still in her eyes.

“Of course. Take all the time you need. None of this is your fault, okay? I need you to understand that.”

El nods before she closes the door, but you know she doesn’t believe you. You guess this is how Jonathan had felt earlier in the car when you confessed that everything was your fault and he’d tried reassuring you that it wasn’t. It isn’t easy convincing someone that they haven’t done anything wrong, not when they truly believe that they have.

You hear the faucet running in the bathroom, so you walk over towards the living room to check in on the others. Mike is explaining El’s powers when you catch the tail end of their conversation.

“Like, she flipped a van earlier.”

“El flipped a van?” You ask, staring at the boys in shock.

They all smile at you and Dustin eagerly shakes his head. “Yeah, it was awesome.”

“I left you alone for five hours, Dustin.”

“That was your first mistake.”

Now Mike butts in. “I also jumped off a cliff and El caught me midair with her powers.”

Your jaw drops. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Shut up, Mike.” Lucas nudges him with his shoulder. “What we’re saying is, she’s drained.”

“Like a dead battery.” Dustin confirms.

Joyce looks around helplessly. You know she’s doing everything she can to follow along. “Well… how do we make her better?”

“We don’t.” You say, having known El long enough to notice the limitations to her powers. As far as you’re aware, the only way for her to regenerate her strength is through rest. But who knows, maybe during those five hours you left the kids alone they somehow found a magical crystal that heals El.

Mike nods at you. “Y/N’s right, we don’t. We just have to wait and try again.”

“Well, how long?” Nancy is seated next to Joyce and she looks just as overwhelmed as the woman. Had you not had some time before this with El and the kids, you’d be equally as confused as them.

“I don’t know.” Her brother responds, head ducked in shame.

Suddenly El appears. “The bath.”

You run back over to her side and crouch down once more. “Hey, I told you to tell me when you were ready to come out. Are you feeling better?”

“Yes,” she smiles at you, and though she looks exhausted, you know it’s a genuine smile. “I can find them. In the bath.”

“The bath?” You ask, and later you’ll regret doing this.

–

Dustin is the one who thinks of calling Mr. Clark, though you’re a bit skeptical of the idea.

“It’s late, what if he’s busy?”

Your brother laughs at the idea. “Sure, Mr. Clark will be busy and you’ll have a hot date waiting for you tonight.”

“Dude, harsh.”

He waves you off and dials the teacher’s number and you’re choosing to ignore the fact that it’s inappropriate for Dustin to even have the man’s number. You stand next to him as he takes the call, ready to intervene if needed.

“Mr. Clark? It’s Dustin… Yeah, yeah, I just… I–I have a science question.”

You drop your face into your hands and sigh with disappointment. Smooth, real smooth, Dustin.

“Do you know anything about sensory deprivation tanks?” Dustin’s eyes widen and he quickly looks over at you, covering the phone so that he can frantically whisper, “he asked why!”

“Why are you looking at me?” You whisper back, equally at a loss for what to tell the man.

“You’re no help!” Your brother whispers back, rolling his eyes at you before returning to the phone. “Sorry, technical difficulties. Anyways, we need to know for… fun.”

Again you facepalm and Jonathan, who is standing behind you, rubs your shoulders to relieve some of your stress. You relax against him and remind yourself to calm down. Dustin can handle this, he’s always been better at this stuff than you have; he was practically made for this life of lying and mischief. You were made for cookies and comics.

There’s a pause on the other end of the line and you can faintly hear Mr. Clark ask to talk about the topic later, preferably after a school day, but Dustin insists. “You always say we should never stop being curious. To always open any curiosity door we find… Why are you keeping this curiosity door locked?”

The demanding tone causes you to stifle a laugh and you feel Jonathan doing the same. Yeah. Dustin was made for this.

Mr. Clark and your brother discuss the details of the tank for a while so you wander over towards the table and sit down. You hand Dustin a piece of paper and a pencil so that he can write down important information and flick through a comic as you wait.

As soon as he hangs up, Dustin throws the phone down and turns towards Joyce. “Do you still have that kiddie pool we bobbed for apples in?”

“A kiddie pool?” You ask at the same time Joyce responds, “Yeah, I think so?”

“Good. Then we just need salt. Lots of it.”

“I’m sorry, salt?”

You’re ignored once again as Hopper asks how much salt is needed. Dustin looks down at his notes and bites his lip. “1,500 pounds.”

“What the fuck…” You mutter under your breath, completely exasperated by the entire situation. A kiddie pool and 1,500 fucking pounds of salt? No. This is where you draw the line. You can handle monsters and alternate dimensions, but a kiddie pool full of salt to create a sensory deprivation tank is just too much. It’s your breaking point. “My life isn’t real.”

–

Somehow, amidst the diverging of groups to tackle everything needed to make El’s tank, you end up with Nancy in the shed at Hawkins Middle. You’re really not sure how it happened but one minute you were with Jonathan and Joyce, the next you’re in a shed with the girl you have very conflicted feelings over.

Mike is standing outside the door while you and Nancy struggle to grab the hoses from the shelf. The things are surprisingly heavy so it takes the two of you to get them down. You grunt as you throw a third one down into a barrel. “God, what do these things eat?”

Nancy chuckles. “No clue, but I’m sure Jonathan and Hopper are having a better time with all those salt bags.”

“Touche.” Then both of you are quiet again as you continue working.

“So… what’s up with you and Jonathan?” Nancy suddenly asks, which causes you to drop the hose you’d been holding.

“Shit!” You bend down to pick it back up, though you also do it to try and compose yourself because what the fuck. “And nothing. There’s nothing going on between us.”

Nancy frowns. “Are you sure? I mean, I don’t want you to think I’m intruding or anything.”

“Intruding?”

“I mean… shit, I don’t know how to word this.” She fumbles with her own hose. “I just– I want you to know that you have nothing to worry about.”

You know she means well, but Nancy’s words only upset you for a multitude of reasons. “Nancy, I mean this in the nicest way possible, but why does it matter?”

“Why does what matter?”

“How I feel about Jonathan. I mean, you’re with Steve. He’s your boyfriend, there shouldn’t be any reason for me to worry about you and my best friend.”

Nancy looks down at the ground. “You’re right, but it’s not like that. Nothing happened between Jonathan and I last night. I promise, I know he’s yours and–”

“You know, I’m really fucking sick of everyone trying to tell me what Jonathan and I are.” You spit out.

Nancy flinches. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. Let’s just focus on the task at hand, okay?” The girl nods and places the last hose into the barrel, but there’s something that’s been on the back of your mind for a while. “Look, I know you mean well and I’m sorry for being so mean, but… Cheating is something I can’t get behind.”

“I’d never cheat–”

“I know, but a word of advice? Figure out your own feelings before you hurt those closest to you.” Nancy’s frown deepens and you sigh. “Don’t tell him I said this, but even though Steve can be an asshole, he’s still a good guy. He’s already really hurt over seeing you with Jonathan. I just… I don’t want to see him get hurt again, it wouldn’t be fair.”

“Didn’t know you had a soft spot for him.” Nancy says, a hint of something else within her voice.

“Believe me, I don’t, but it sucks knowing that the person you love may love someone else.”

“Woah, I don’t think he loves me–”

“Maybe not yet, but he’s starting to. So again, I urge you to figure out what you want before more people get hurt. Jonathan included. He’s my best friend, Nancy.” You take a deep breath and will yourself to be vulnerable. “Regardless of whatever I may feel for him, he deserves to be happy. You need to figure out your feelings before you’re in too deep. Okay? He’s been through enough to last a lifetime and he’s the best damn guy in this hellhole of a town.”

Nancy swallows and for a moment you think she’s going to refute you, but instead she straightens her posture and gives you a curt nod. “Yeah, you’re right.”

You finish up in the shed in silence. Once you’re done you wheel the barrel out and motion for Mike to follow. “Here, can you take this? I’m going to go check on Dustin.”

Mike makes a face. “I mean, I guess, but–”

You quickly hand the kid the barrel and run back inside the school. You’re a shaking mess from your conversation with Nancy and you need to get away from her as quickly as possible. The conversation replays over and over in your head and each time it’s like a punch. Were you too harsh? Have you revealed too much to her?

Whatever, you don’t have time to dwell on it.

You run back into the school and slam the door behind you.

–

It takes a while to set everything up within the gym. You help Mike hold the hoses as Jonathan and Nancy turn the water on. Lucas holds a thermometer and monitors the water’s temperature and when it’s time, you use your new switchblade to tear open the bags of salt alongside Jonathan and Hopper. Every five bags or so, Dustin drops an egg into the pool to check the buoyancy.

It’s a team effort, but eventually the eggs begin to float and you breathe out with relief. One task down, a million more to go.

Mike switches on the walkie and you help El put on her tapped goggles. Once everything is ready, you hold her hand as she carefully steps into the water. When she’s fully in, you step away and sit down between Jonathan and Nancy, a position you somehow always find yourself in.

As soon as El begins to float in the water, the lights start to flicker before completely shutting off. You feel the static that always seems to accompany her powers. No one moves, too scared to break El out of her concentration.

You wait for a few minutes, uneasy. You’ve never actually seen El’s power in action besides when she made your comic book fly up in the air, so you’re unsure what to do while you wait. Then, faintly, El mumbles, “Barbara.”

Nancy jolts to life and leans in closer to the girl. The lights flicker once more but this time you see El’s body tremble with fear.

“What’s going on?” Nancy asks you.

“I don’t know. I think… I think she’s scared.”

“Scared? I–” Nancy leans even closer to El now. “Is Barb okay? Is she okay?”

You pull Nancy back, not wanting to overwhelm El, but it’s too late. The poor girl trembles even more and repeatedly mumbles “gone” until her voice raises and she begins to cry out. Nancy starts to cry and you motion for Joyce to hold El while you handle Nancy.

Joyce reaches over to comfort the girl and you pull Nancy into your arms as she cries. “I’m so sorry, Nancy.”

She cries harder and you tighten your arms around her. All your anger towards the girl from your conversation from earlier has faded. Barb, Nancy’s dearest friend, is gone. You can’t imagine how she’s feeling right now. If you ever lost Jonathan… God, a piece of you would die.

Eventually Nancy manages to calm down and pulls away with a soft “thank you”, but you keep your hand around hers as you pay attention again. You know she’s embarrassed about her reaction, but you don’t blame her for a second. Later, after all of this, you’ll make sure to check up on her.

“Will?”

You hear Jonathan gasp next to you and he grasps at your free hand. You sit there in shock and feel your heart swell. Tears lump in your throat at the confirmation of Will being alive. Will, beautiful and sweet Will, is alive.

You squeeze Jonathan’s hand and the two of you look at each other. There’s tears in his eyes as well and you both let out a slight chuckle of disbelief. After this horrible week, everything that you’ve been through together to find Will, finding out that he’s alive by each other’s side only seems fitting.

“Tell him… Tell him I’m coming. Mom is coming.” Joyce instructs El, strength returning to her voice.

The walkie sparks to life with Will’s voice. “Hurry.”

You choke back a sob. “Little bee,”

Jonathan squeezes your hand again and you rest your head against his shoulder, completely sagging with relief. He’s here. He’s real and he’s alive and he’ll be in your arms once again soon.

“Okay, listen. You tell him to… To stay where he is.” Joyce is speaking with an urgency now as she hovers over El. “We’re coming. We’re coming, okay? We’re coming, honey.”

The sweet moment is ruined by the walkie’s intense static. El quickly sits up and tears her goggles off and begins to panic. She flings herself into Joyce’s embrace and you hurry over to console her as well. She’s just a little girl, she’s been through so much for someone so young.

You kiss her forehead the way Jonathan always does to you. “You did so well, El. I’m so, so proud of you. You’re incredible, okay? We’ve got you, you’re safe with us.”

Joyce echoes your words and the two of you hold tightly onto El as she cries. You look over at Nancy, who is staring off into space with her own despair in her eyes, and you feel such an intense wave of hurt hit you. You’re all so young. The kids are all huddled together in shock. None of this is fucking fair.

–

You opt to stay behind with the kids on the bleachers as Jonathan, Joyce, and Hopper discuss what to do next. Nancy has walked away, presumably to grieve, so you give her the same she desires.

El shivers, so you tighten the towel around her. Lucas rubs her arms to try and warm her up as well, something that brings a faint smile to your face. You guess the two of them sorted out their differences, then. Good. El needs more friends like Lucas in her life if she’s going to continue hanging around Dustin and Mike. They’re insensible, but Lucas isn’t so bad.

Dustin’s stomach rumbles and he lets out a sheepish laugh. “Sorry, ignore that.”

“Oh!” You gasp, suddenly remembering the cookies you packed in your bag. You had grabbed them before leaving Jonathan’s, figuring the kids hadn’t eaten all day. “Here, made these fresh today. You all get three, that’s it.”

The boys fight over who gets one first and you leave them to sort it out themselves. You roll your eyes at them; they’re such heathens. You focus your attention back to El, who remains pressed against your side. “Hey, honey. How are you feeling?”

“Tired,”

“Hmm, I think I can understand why.” You grab a cookie while the boys aren’t looking and offer one to El. “Have you ever had an oatmeal raisin cookie?”

She shakes her head.

“Ah, well then you’re in for a treat. You see, I’m kinda known for my cookies. Everyone loves them, see?” You point towards the boys, who are about to start throwing punches over the biggest piece, and El giggles.

Your heart brightens at the sound. “Here you go, try it.”

She accepts the cookie and takes a tiny bite. As she chews, her eyes lighten and she lets out a quiet “yum”.

“‘Yum’ indeed.” You agree with a smile.

Eventually the kids settle down and eat their own cookies in silence. You figure that the events from today have finally caught up to them, so you eat your own cookies in peace. You’re content to sit with them for a bit, relieved to have all your boys with you safe and sound. You’ve missed them.

Once you’re done eating, you wipe your hands off and gently nudge El aside. “Sorry, honey. I should go check on Jonathan. I’ll be back in a sec.”

She nods at you and moves so that you’re able to get up.

“Where you going?” Dustin asks with his mouth full.

You make a face at him. “Dude, don’t talk with your mouth full. You know mom hates that.”

He sticks his tongue out at you and you roll your eyes. “I’m going to go find Jonathan. Make sure no one leaves, alright?”

Your brother salutes you and you salute back before heading towards the gym doors. You’re about to open the doors, but then you see Jonathan sitting with Nancy against the wall through the glass panel.

You freeze, unsure if you should interrupt them. They seem to be deep in a private conversation, Nancy’s face is twisted with so many emotions you feel almost guilty for looking in. Like you’re intruding on something.

Then again, it always feels like you’re intruding when you’re with them lately.

Is this really what you want?

Your hand hovers over the door handle and for a moment you think you’ll pull it open, but you don’t. Instead, you turn around and walk back over to the kids. You’re not sure what you’re feeling as you walk over, but when Dustin sees you he seems to notice a change in your demeanor.

He frowns at you. “Is everything okay?”

“Fine.” You say numbly, sitting down next to him. Your shoulders are stiff, your leg is bouncing up and down.

Dustin looks over towards where you came from and he seems to freeze as well. He looks between you, then Jonathan and Nancy in the hallway, and he exhales. “Oh.”

“Yeah. Oh.”

You think your brother will leave the topic at that, but he surprises you. He grabs your hand and gives it a squeeze. You look up and see that he’s smiling at you and your heart breaks all over again for an entirely different reason. You look around at Lucas and Mike, who are bickering over the cookies, at El who watches in amusement, and then finally at Dustin who is holding your hand and offering you whatever comfort he can provide you.

Dustin knows you as well as you know him, he can sense a shift in your mood before you even can. He’s here with you, holding your hand because the boy you love has broken your heart once again, and Dustin is doing this without you having to tell him. He just knows, and you love him all the more for it.

You’re surrounded by so much love it takes your breath away for a moment.

You squeeze Dustin’s hand back, so immensely grateful that he’s your brother. “I love you, kid.”

He smiles that wonderful toothless smile that you’ve loved since he was a baby. “I love ya too, sis.”

“Are you two done? Can I ask Y/N for more cookies now?” Mike calls over, though his voice is kinder than usual. You guess that even he has noticed your mood change but doesn’t want to pry.

You wipe your eyes quickly and stand up. “So demanding. Let me check my bag, but I doubt it.”

“I’m your favorite, let’s be honest here.” He responds, trying to get you to laugh.

It works. “Sure, buddy.”

You walk over to your bag and rustle around, but you know there’s none left. You’re just thankful for the distraction, and you have a sneaking suspicion that this had been Mike’s plan all along. You look up and see him staring at you with a concerned look in his eyes and your heart swells even more.

You’re so surrounded by love; sometimes it feels like you’re even drowning in it.

-

⌑ series masterlist

⌑ if you would like to be added/removed from my taglist, just let me know :)

⌑ taglist: @siriuslysmoking @sheisjoeschateau @myeclispedsun @innercreationflower @juhdoche @frostandflamesfanfic @goosy-goose @quinnsadilla

[asbealthgn]

(as a side note i know there’s a million of these but especially from here on out they’re pretty stand alone so you don’t have to read any of the other ones if you don’t want to)

Winter 1987

“Can we be done now?” Eddie asks as soon as they’ve dropped the mattress onto the bed frame. 

Steve glances around the bare room. “Love, we’ve only brought like three things in so far,” he says. 

“I know,” Eddie says, sliding his arms around Steve’s neck. “But we have our bed. What else do we need?”

“I know you’re asking rhetorically, but we—” He’s cut off as Eddie knocks him off his feet, sending him falling back onto the mattress. Eddie’s hair spills around Steve’s head as Eddie kisses him. He kisses him back for a long moment before nudging him up.

“Rob and Nancy are going to be back any second,” he says.

Eddie kisses him again. “So what?” he asks against his mouth.

“And Wayne will be here with the truck—”

“—not seeing the point—”

“Eds.” Steve pushes him back again and wriggles out from under him. “We have actual work to do.”

Eddie sighs and sits up. “You’re no fun, you know that?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Steve says, reaching out a hand to pull him up. 

The front door opens then, and Steve walks out of the bedroom to see Robin and Nancy coming inside, each with a box of stuff. They moved into this same building a month ago at the beginning of December and are now helping Steve and Eddie move into their new place in exchange for the help they got last month. 

“These are all dishes,” Nancy says, setting her box on the kitchen counter and lifting the flap. “Do you want me to decide where things should go or do you want to decide that?”

“I can do it,” Steve says, crossing to the box and pulling out the carefully wrapped glasses. “Eds, why don’t you head down and keep helping them grab stuff out of the van?”

Eddie puts his chin on Steve’s shoulder, face twisting into an exaggerated pout. “How come you get the easy job?”

“Because if I ask you to decide where the dishes go, I will never find them again.” Steve says. Eddie looks at him, appearing to be considering this. 

“Yeah, you’re right,” he says, stepping away from Steve and heading for the door. “Come on, gals.”

A silence falls in the apartment as Eddie, Robin, and Nancy all head outside to get more boxes. Steve smiles as he puts the dishes away in the kitchen cabinets—his kitchen cabinets, his and Eddie’s. After living in his parents’ house for twenty years, it’s a little magical to be moving into a place that belongs just to him and the love of his life. 

There’s a faint knock at the door. “It’s open!” Steve calls, and the door swings in to reveal Wayne, a box under his arm. “Hey, Wayne!”

“I hope my nephew is being helpful,” Wayne says as he sets his box on the counter. 

“He is,” Steve assures, “He’s with the girls getting stuff out of the van.”

Just then, Eddie comes back in, arms loaded with a stack of books. He tries to maneuver them to one arm and hug his uncle, but he ends up spilling the books all over the floor. “Shit—” Wayne stoops and helps him stack them all back up. Then the three of them head out to Wayne’s truck to grab the couch that Hopper was getting rid of and donated to the cause. It takes some doing to get it up the stairs, then it ends up being the wrong shape to get through the door so they have to pass it through the window.

“I hope that’s the hardest thing I do all day,” Eddie says, flopping down on the couch as soon as they have it in place against the wall. 

Steve stands in front of Eddie, hands on his hips, while Wayne goes back outside to grab more stuff. “Eds, let’s keep going.”

“C’mon, Stevie, take a break with me,” Eddie says, reaching for Steve’s hand and tugging on it.

“We can’t be the only ones taking a break while everyone else is bringing our stuff in,” Steve says, glancing over his shoulder at Robin and Nancy coming back in with boxes. 

Eddie sighs and stands. “Okay, you’re right,” he says, “But as soon we get everything inside, we send everyone else away and then you’re mine, okay?”

“Always am,” Steve says, kissing him lightly.

From there, it doesn’t take long to bring everything in. It’s not like they have a ton of stuff between them, mostly just the contents of their respective old bedrooms and their recently acquired dishes and furniture. They’ll buy more as they need it. Robin stays inside and helps Steve start unpacking boxes and finding places for things while the others bring the rest in. As soon as Nancy sets down a lamp and announces that it’s the last thing, Eddie is thanking people profusely and gently ushering them out the door. Steve thanks Robin and Nancy and tells them they’ll be down to their apartment in a few hours to have dinner together. He hugs Wayne. 

Then everyone is gone and Eddie is pulling Steve by the hand into their room and onto their bare mattress. Eddie kisses Steve and waits about three seconds before lifting the edge of Steve’s sweater. “You want to break this bed in?” he murmurs. 

“Should we at least put a sheet on it first?” Steve asks, laughing. 

Eddie hums, nose nudging into Steve’s neck. “Well if we do that, then we have to find the sheets.”

Steve laughs again. “I know where they are, just give me a second.” He slides out from under Eddie and goes back out into the living room. The box with bedding in it is stacked on top of a couple of other boxes by the door. As Steve lifts the flaps and starts digging through it for a bottom sheet, Eddie comes up behind him and slides his arms around his waist, mouthing at his neck.

“You’re so impatient,” Steve says, finding the sheet and tugging it out of the box. 

He can feel Eddie’s smile against his skin. “Can’t help it,” Eddie says, “You’re irresistible, baby.”

Even after almost a year of being together, the name still makes Steve melt a little. He turns around and holds out the sheet. “Go put this on the bed if you’re so eager,” he says.

“Okay,” Eddie says, taking the sheet and kissing Steve once before heading back to their room. Steve follows him and they stand on either side of the bed, putting the fitted sheet on together. Then they’re crawling onto the mattress, meeting in the middle, Eddie reaching for Steve’s belt buckle. 

Hands sliding up the front of Eddie’s shirt, Steve feels the raised scars across his skin. A reminder of the agony and a reminder that they survived. “Hey,” Steve says, tracing a finger along one of the bites. “Not to get sappy while you’re taking my pants off, but—”

Eddie laughs and tucks his face into Steve’s neck.

“No, seriously,” Steve says, “I’m so glad that you’re alive and here and I—I love you more than anything.”

Smiling, Eddie lifts his head and kisses Steve. “I love you so much,” he says, “There’s nowhere in the world I’d rather be than right here with you.”

Burying a hand in his hair, Steve kisses him hard. The feeling is very mutual. Eddie nudges him back after a minute or two.

“I’d really like to finish taking your clothes off now, is that okay?” he asks.

Steve laughs. “Yes, please.”

(part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)

taglist: @adashofaroace @spectrum-spectre @girlwhoknewtheoriginoflove @cupc8keblonde @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @leeahpuppet @bidisastersworld @axltheedaddy @crushed-like-an-ant @whimsicalwitchm @hollysimone @awolfnamedaliac @gay-little-bitch @duckyreads @nelotegreitic @henderdads @iamsotiredman @thegingervulcan @mezmatch @stranger-poets-society @official-insanity-c @briceslayed @ohwelsh @lonestarcowpoke @lycriza @bejeweledbaby @a-huge-nerdy-nerd @cnfsd-bisexual @cheeseaddict-12 @wrenisflying @swimmingbirdrunningrock @sadcanadianwinter @ash-a-confused-enby @grtwdsmwhr @edgelordesworld @vecnuthy @lightwoodbanethings @soulminyg @notbatman00 @steve-the-hairrington @lizisodd @artiststarme @queerbeansworld @thegingerrapunzel @ceaselessly-watching @idkwwhatimmdoiing @ashlynjessi @yes-im-your-mom @steddie-there @thefailcollection @beeing-stuupid @anteaterballs @crunchiestdonut @xpaperheartso @messrs-weasley @absentlurker @panicatthediaz @thing-a-ling @bornonthesavage @momotonescreaming @slit-wrist @ironwolf11 @scarlettphantom @camachameleon @evix-syne666 @hotluncheddie @steddio @desert-fern @rotato-potato @alienace

lmk if you want to be tagged! as a quick lil plug, i am also posting an expanded version of this on ao3! i’ve posted 4 chapters on there so far, most of which has not been posted on tumblr. check it out if you’re interested!

[steventhusiast]

this week has been SO FUN! it's nice to see everyone's take on each prompt and i'm glad i decided to take part :D anyway, here is my @steddie-week day 7: free space

<- day six

--

the party doesn't know that steve is with eddie yet, so as he sits on the couch in the hopper-byers residence with eddie next to him, he can't cuddle up to him the way he wants to. it's not that he or eddie think anyone will react badly to their relationship, it's just.. hard. being queer in hawkins. but they're gonna tell them soon. at this point, they're only hesitating on it because sneaking around is kind of.. fun.

makes steve feel like the teenager he is rather than the hardened adult he was forced to grow into too quickly.

"i'm gonna go smoke, be right back." eddie says suddenly, and steve looks up at him as he leaves.

they have a signal, for their sneaking around activities, and eddie giving the doorframe three taps as he leaves is it. steve tries to look casual as he leans his head back to watch eddie leave, and hides his smile by biting his lip when he sees the tap-tap-tap of eddie's left hand as he passes the doorway.

steve throws a glance around the party, and after a couple seconds excuses himself for the bathroom and hopes no one notices that he doesn't actually head that way, and instead follows eddie's path.

when he reaches the back porch, where joyce has a lovely swinging loveseat set up, he sees eddie sat there already, frowning down at the cigarette hanging from his lips because he's struggling to light it with the breeze.

"hey." steve says softly, and lets out a breath as he sits next to eddie and immediately settles his hand on his thigh, just to touch.

with their sneaking around, it's not even like they're doing anything risky or age-inappropriate (most of the time), they just get to touch each other like they want to. it's almost like when they're compensating for all the times they can't touch each other when the others are around. the 'worst' it'll get is a little making out and kissing each other's necks without daring to leave a mark.

"hey yourself." eddie murmurs, cigarette still between his lips as he finally manages to get it to light. he hums in a little victory, takes a drag, and then looks at steve as he lets out the smoke. the wind carries the smoke away from them, so eddie doesn't do his usual manoeuvre of blowing the smoke out of the corner of his mouth to avoid it going in steve's face. not that steve would mind.

they don't say anything for a bit, and steve shuffles a little closer to eddie, letting his head fall onto his shoulder.

"can't believe no one's caught us doing this yet." steve giggles into eddie's shoulder, and he feels it shake as eddie laughs a little as well.

"outside of the universe being about to end, they're not the most observant group of people." eddie points out, and steve continues to laugh into his shoulder.

"guess so."

they fall quiet again, eddie's free hand coming down to rest on top of steve's where it still lays on his thigh, and steve just enjoys the moment. any time spent cuddling with eddie is time well spent in his opinion. eventually he presses a kiss to eddie's shoulder, and then leans back to look at him.

eddie's still got a bit of his cigarette left, but steve knows he's pushing it with his 'bathroom trip'.

"you going back in?" eddie asks, and steve nods a little.

"kiss?" steve requests, and dramatically puckers his lips at him. eddie laughs at him, rolls his eyes, and then obliges.

steve half-expects hopper to choose that moment to pull the door open to come out for a smoke himself, but the universe seems to be feeling kind today. their chaste kiss goes uninterrupted, and when steve pulls back and get up with a little sigh, eddie hesitates to let go of his hand.

"see you in there, big boy." he says, and steve rolls his eyes at the nickname.

"yeah, yeah." he mutters under his breath, and leaves with the image of eddie taking another drag of his cigarette in his head.

returning to the living area is anticlimactic, but steve feels a lot more relaxed than he did five minutes ago. he sits back in his spot on the couch with a tiny fond smile on his face, and throws a glance around the room. everything's as it was before.

that's what he likes about sneaking around with eddie like this, soft and innocent. it makes the moments feel more precious.

but he's excited to be able to have those moments with the rest of his family around.

[londonharrington]

mine | steve harrington x fem!reader

Y/N and Steve move in to a place of their own.

notes: 3/9 of my 100 followers celebration! set in between season 3 and season 4. hopper!reader. i love domestic!steve so much so yeah. :)) | prequel to this: cardigan

i say, "can you believe it?", as we're lyin' on the couch

Everything was too much for Y/N at the moment.

With her father’s death and the Byers plus El moving to California, she has never felt so alone in her life. She felt that everyone she ever loved in her life was leaving her, apart from Steve.

Steve was her only constant, ever since they were kids. From the moment Steve volunteered to push her while she was on the swing, the two have been attached to the hip. Y/N was there when Steve’s parents missed every single school event, with every birthday since they were six, and for every basketball game. And Steve was there calling her when her dad was out late, when her parents divorced, when her mom left her.

Eventually, after years and numerous times of the people around them wondering when they two will finally end up together, it finally happened and everyone, especially the kids and Robin, finally felt relief that the two people who deserved love the most, found it with each other.

Despite Joyce trying to persuade Y/N to move to California with them, she ultimately decided to stay in Hawkins. The thought of leaving added to the sadness she was already feeling. So with a heavy heart, she said goodbye to El, which she considered a sister ever since her dad found her that one night and to the Byers family.

“Hey, what if I move in with you?”

Y/N and Steve were currently trying to clean up the old trailer that she and her dad used to live in. 

“What?”

“I said what if I move in with you? I mean I’m always alone at my house and I’m probably going to spend most of my time here, so why not?”

“Are you sure you want to live here? I mean we can look for another place and move there? So it’ll be a fresh start for the both of us? I think I can’t spend the night here alone with bursting into tears,” Y/N replied, hugging Steve’s waist.

“Yeah? You sure?”

“Yeah.”

♡ ♡ ♡

Months went by and the two finally found their perfect place. Not too big that it feels empty, and not too small also that it feels cramped. 

The two just finished moving in their boxes and just looked at everything.

“I don’t want to unpack this,” Steve said looking around the boxes.

“Me either,” Y/N sighed.

“We won’t have a place to sleep in if we don’t unpack right now,” he replied, placing his head on top of hers.

“Well, the couch is right there, and the blankets and sheets are right here? What if we just build a fort? And sleep in there?”

Steve looked at her and beamed up at the idea, “See, this is why I love you! You have such genius ideas!”

“Hey let’s start now and let’s just order pizza for dinner, yeah? And we’ll deal with this tomorrow with the kids and Robin.”

That is what they did. The two of them built a fort that will fit two fully grown adults. The two ate pizza and they just talked about the most random things. What movies Steve recommends in the Family Video store based on their looks and what Y/N what books Y/N will suggest to her older customers looking for romance novels.

The two eventually fell asleep, Y/N laying on Steve’s chest, legs tangled with another, and Steve’s arms around her waist.

♡ ♡ ♡

“Hey! That goes there!”

“No it does not, Dustin!”

“Trust me, Robin!”

The gang is currently inside the Hopper-Harrington residence. They were fighting on where every thing should go while Y/N and Steve are in the bedroom.

“Hey! The two of you better not fucking in there!” Robin suddenly exclaimed when she noticed the two were gone a while.

Y/N’s head popped out of the door,  “We’re not. Steve can’t figure out the sheets because he bought the wrong size! He’s still trying to fit it in!” Y/N exclaimed, laughing at the statement.

“Hey! I told you to keep it a secret!”

“And I said no!”

Many, many hours later and numerous bottles of soda, water, and boxes of pizza later. Everything was unpacked and the placed somewhere in the house. Y/N will still fix everything but still it is still progress.

The two finally laid on there bed as they ended the night. Steve faced Y/N before kissing her lips gently.

When the two separated, Steve said, “Welcome home, love. We’re finally home.”

♡ ♡ ♡

taglist on the reblog

add yourself to my taglist

[dadsbongos]

chapter 1 - two of hearts

2.2K words

warnings - bi reader (just because i felt like it)

masterlist / next chapter

Eddie squints, fingers tightening around the plastic bag of devil’s lettuce in his palm, “You came here for what?”

Mike sighs, a hand threading through his tangled hair as he reaches out for the weed, Eddie yanking the bag back before he can snatch it. Laying his hands flat on the wooden picnic table, Mike looks up tentatively at Eddie, as if approaching a wild animal, “So.”

“Uh oh?”

“Just listen - so, the deal is that my girlfriend, Jane- “ Mike reaches up and gestures between the both of them, “You remember her, right?”

“Yeah,” Eddie nods surely, stuffing the bag of contraband into his black, metal lunchbox, “Nice girl.”

“Well, she’s got this strict dad, right?”

“Hopper?” Eddie hums, “He seems nuts.”

“He is, he’s got this rule that Jane can’t date unless her sister does,” and this is when the shoe drops - Eddie’s eyes widen, “Which is where you come in,” he watches Eddie’s expression carefully, “I wanna hire you to take out my girlfriend’s sister.”

Eddie’s response is trapped in his throat, then his head shakes - before he can even think straight, he’s waving his hand in refusal, “No. Her? No! You could not pay me to take her out.”

You’re a renowned tempestuous young woman - or as he hears muttered between his peers, a “heinous bitch”.

“What if I actually pay you?”

Eddie tilts his head, knuckles rapping against the wood bench, “Well how much?”

“Thirty per date. Upfront.”

He knows Mike can afford that with his comfortable family in their lofty, two-story house.

So Eddie punches up.

“Forty,” and he internally rejoices when one of Mike’s hands outstretches to shake his - but instead of relenting this excitement, he asks, “What kind of stuff does she like?”

Mike blanks. That airheaded stare people get in their eyes when they have no clue what you’re saying but try to appear as though they do. Mike gets that look a lot.

“You don’t know?” Eddie’s brows raise, he grins and blows air through puckered lips, “You’re a terrible brother-in-law, Michael.”

“She’s the older one! It’s her job to get to know me.”

“Bad excuse.”

“Whatever,” Mike rolls his eyes and pushes himself up from the table, swinging a leg over the bench, “Thanks,” before he can wander too far, he pauses, “Actually, there’s this club - The Sunset - she goes Wednesdays and Saturdays.”

“And tomorrow is Saturday,” Eddie blurts.

Mike hums, over-exaggerated and nothing except sarcastic, “Tomorrow is Saturday - so have fun at The Sunset, Munson!”

The Sunset is a popular spot just outside Hawkins - particularly favored by women in outfits from Molly Ringwald’s closet and kind hearts from a Miss USA interviewer’s daydream. Definitely not the first place people would search for Eddie “the freak” Munson if he were a wanted criminal.

But forty bucks is forty bucks.

So Eddie “the freak” Munson drags a hand over his face and groans, loud and tired, “Sounds like a date.”

From the outside, The Sunrise is an average bar. Few and far windows, plain paint with a red neon sign plastered across the top half of the building. Another neon sign, royal purple, animates itself to spell ‘OPEN’ glass tube letter by glass tube letter.

Based on the inside, Eddie can tell that men typically don’t visit these parts. If he were to speak plainly, he thinks men - specifically, the men that visit bars - are usually insufferable. It’s in the rose pink, rose painting-speckled, peachy-lit hallway that he comes to completely realize this. Even with the same cheesy checkerboard tiled floors, The Sunset with all its shifting lamps and bulbs that paint its women in oranges, pinks, purples, and blues - is far more aesthetically pleasing than The Hideout. But The Hideout has always been safer for metalheads.

And judging by the beloved Stacey Q’s Two of Hearts that he can hear all the way from the hallway, this place is not so tender to his particular breed of outcast. It’s more loving to your brand - the brand that dances with Barb Holland and Robin Buckley under princess pink lights. He decides to linger by the bar’s white counter that, aside from a couple of copper rings, is nearly sparkling clean.

When your throat suddenly cinches and your skin beats a little hotter between soft dresses and softer skin in the crowd, you lean into Barb and raise your voice for her to hear, “I need water!”

“Get me one too?”

Robin perks up and despite your suspicion of her not knowing what you’re talking about, pitches in, “Me too!”

And despite the rolling of your eyes, you nod and meander to the bar.

As you wait, a voice crawls over the back of your neck, “Woah, fancy seeing you here.”

It's one you recognize damn near instantly, not that you’d ever let him know that. So when three bottles of water are in your hands and the bartender is paid, you quirk a brow at the Eddie Munson, “Do I know you?”

“Eddie,” he sticks out a hand, smile glittering like cartoon pearls in the dim lights, “Eddie Munson.”

You don’t take his hand - part by choice and part by how full your own are - but you do say your name back, “What’re you doing here of all places?”

His hand falls against the counter when you make no move to shake it, “Oh, you know, just heard this was the spot to be.”

Taking a peek at the thin Slayer shirt sagging off his sinewy arms, you turn him around by the jean-vest shoulder and trace the DIO patch in the center of his back. He almost jumps at the feather trace that sparks through his spine. It’s bizarre. Spinning him back around, you grin - snarky and critical and all disbelieving, “Yeah, this sure is your spot.”

Through shifting crowds and bumping elbows and shoulders, you still manage to catch how Barb and Robin stare at you so bewildered and wide-eyed. You pay Eddie no mind - you don’t even look back. So Eddie resigns himself to a sigh before leaning across the counter to a woman with inky black coils and ‘NIA’ printed across the top corner of her uniform top.

“Is there a phone I can use?”

She jerks her head to a bubblegum phone on the wall, “Press ‘1’ before dialing.”

Eddie forgets to press ‘1’ and so calling his woodland princess friend takes two tries.

“Cunningham residence - Chrissy speaking.”

“Chris! It’s Eddie, I need a favor,” his back straightens, and he leans against the black sparkly wall, “Is there a party you know about that the general population doesn’t yet?”

He can hear the gears in her head click as she hums, “Stacey Bennett is planning something for this weekend, why?”

“I need something to bring Hopper’s daughter to,” and slams the phone onto the candy pink hook.

Diana Ross’ I’m Coming Out falls down over the floor and the lighting shifts a little more blue and purple. His back sinks into the wall and that’s how he realizes it's foam - that’s also how he comes back to how utterly wrecked a foam wall would be in The Hideout. The lobby and outside hallways would be stained, too.

He finds your eyes through the crowd and can’t yet determine what his fascination with the dark lights reflecting off your skin means. He shoots you a wink. You shout into Robin’s ear before squishing through the people - a plastic water bottle crinkled in your fist.

With narrowed eyes, you ask, “You stalking me?”

“No, but there’s a party at Stacey Bennett’s this weekend,” he leans closer so the both of you can hear each other, “I’d just about die to take you.”

“What’s your sudden obsession, Munson?” you eye him from head to toe warily.

With folded arms, he shrugs, “You just look drop-dead gorgeous tonight.”

“Only tonight?”

“Yeah, usually you look hideous.”

You giggle at that and he likes to imagine the good sum his guardian angel just rolled for that to happen. Nudging Eddie in the ribs, you squeeze the plastic bottle closer to your chest, “This really isn’t your scene, Eddie. You might wanna scram.”

“I will,” he untucks his arms just to put up his hands as if they’re tied at the wrist, “but you should definitely come to the party with me.”

Mimicking a slice against his bound hands, you nod, “You can take me, if you agree to drive Robin and Barb too.”

The rush of success almost makes him hop and heel-click right in front of you, “Gladly.”

By the time you return to Diana Ross’ now fading song, Barb leans into you as Eddie did - but this feels less exciting than when Eddie did it, “What was that about?”

Cyndi Lauper’s I’ll Kiss You consumes the dance floor and Robin snickers in that cute way to make you question why people don’t flock to her as they do to Chrissy Cunningham. She punches you on the arm, “Looked like true love or something.”

“No talking about boys at The Sunrise,” you’re surprised they even let Eddie’s ass in, “But we’re going to a party this weekend, so plan something nice to wear.”

Mr. Kennedy is an English teacher from a John Hughes movie and as much as you appreciate his grounded teaching style with students - he also has bizarre ideas for final exams.

“You’ll be making a yearbook with the partner I’ve written on this slip of paper - your yearbook will have to show how your relationship has changed from now until the end of the year and how you’ve gotten to know your partner.”

A slip of folded paper is dropped on your desk with a scitter and you peel the folds apart to see a chicken scratched Eddie Munson. You raise a hand as the boy jingles over with his chain loop and dented lunchbox. Mr. Kennedy pauses mid-stroll down the aisle of desks on your left and sighs.

“Yes, Ms. Opinion on Everything?”

At that, you deflate, body wilting entirely, “I don’t have an opinion on everything.”

“Yes?”

Eddie never really noticed how Mr. Kennedy would speak to people besides himself, but when he sees you try and perk up despite his annoyance - it’s like his eleventh-grade hallucigenia-induced ego death all over again.

“Is there a page limit for the yearbook?”

Mr. Kennedy nods curtly, in the blunt way that usually got people to giggle until it was aimed at them, “Maximum six pages - full offense, I don’t feel like reading a hundred essays.”

That’s when you turn to face Eddie, brows raised and arms folded across the desk, “Dickhead, am I right?”

“Precisely what I was thinking.”

You were the one to pitch a section structure. Hobbies and interests. Favorite things. Academics and extracurriculars. And the future. Eddie could hardly say what exactly he liked about your plan but he knew it was good - something about the categorized neatness. The way he could peek at how your brain would operate.

“Wow,” he leans on one hand while you’re already jotting ideas for your yearbook, “you’re so smart and you don’t have a boyfriend yet?”

Automatically, as if he’d flipped a simple light switch, you’re groaning and drenched in sarcastic giddy, “Noooo, nobody’s even asked me out yet.”

“Now, I find that hard to believe,” he should be writing what he knows about you - Robin and Barb and the colors pink, blue, and purple - but he’s too busy trying to have you admit he’s something akin to a date.

“Well, you better get to believing it because there’s nobody in my court,” just as you’re pulling back and he’s decided to get at least some work done, you sigh, “Well…”

Eddie shoots straight, bats his eyelashes and leans forward, “‘Well’? Pray tell.”

Shaking your head, there’s a small smile on your lips - something Eddie has to search for, “Some super suave sucker asked me to Stacey Bennett’s party.”

He bats your arm like you’re lifelong friends, “That’s exciting!”

As if he isn’t talking himself up.

“Mhm,” you finally put down your pencil, both hands souped in your lap as you look into Eddie’s baby cow eyes. You find them bizarrely cute. That makes you sick, “But I’m really unsure because even though we’ve technically known each other for years, he’s only just now expressing interest,” he presses his mouth thinly and it's a crime to hide those plump lips, “It’s weird.”

“I dunno,” he drums his fingertips against the desk, “The sucker seems like a nice guy.”

But his tummy twists in knots because he knows you absolutely have a reason to be suspicious. All the same, though, you shrug and he watches a couple bricks fall out of your wall.

“Yeah… maybe.”

You two return to your yearbooks after that. Walls a little shakier than before as you jot down things you know Eddie is ostracized for and adding small oddities you’ve noticed. Metal, D&D, chains and a black bandana, pushy nature, and a strangely comforting aura. Eddie clicks his pen a few dozen times before putting down a bulleted list that looks nothing like your categorized paper.

Robin, Barb, the colors pink, blue, and purple; and a good intuition.

He wishes he had more - but he’s never claimed to be the most observant guy in the room. Briefly, he considers asking Mike if that’s something you look for in a partner.