#karen came to get mike before joyce so she was the only one to see this

[suckerfordylansstuff]

New Journey (S.H.) Epilogue Season 1

Pairing: (eventual) Steve Harrington x henderson!reader

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

Warnings: swearing, blood

Notes: This is it! The first season is officially over people! Next up we have season 4, which might take a little time to start uploading the chapters because the story plot is big and I want to make sure I don't miss any details and that everything is plausible and enjoyable in the story. I have half of the chapters ready but I constantly keep changing things to make it better, so bear with me. Enjoy! 💕

Gif not mine

Chapter 7 << Masterlist >> Season 2 Prologue

After calming down, you decided you should go back to the middle school to check on the kids. You and Jonathan rode together, while Nancy got into Steve’s car to try and explain what had just happened to them on the way there.

The ride was silent. You weren’t sure what topic you could discuss after fighting an interdimensional monster. So you just settled on the passenger's seat, closing your eyes for just a moment until you arrived at the school. You were certain that by leaving the kids behind you were doing the right thing. You all had agreed that inside the gymnasium they would be far away from any kind of trouble. But your luck was terrible.

Arriving at Hawkins Middle and seeing all the police cars and ambulances, almost felt like a stroke. Before Jonathan could even park the car, you were out of your seat, running around the parking lot, searching for the kids. Searching for Dustin.

You spot Dustin and Lucas sitting on one of the ambulances and you make a bee line to get to them. You couldn’t even feel the tears that were falling from your eyes as he turned to see you, his eyes opening wide.

“Y/n, you won’t believe wha-” he began speaking only to get interrupted by your arms hugging his small frame.

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry for leaving.” you were sobbing, your faced smushed on his curly head of hair “Are you okay? Are you hurt? Lucas, are you okay? What happened?” you couldn’t stop asking questions, panic rising inside you as began looking all over Dustin’s body for any injuries as well as Lucas’s, but thankfully didn’t find anything out of place.

“Y/n, we’re fine, we’re okay.” your brother reassured you, taking ahold of your hands, so they would stop trembling.

“Okay, good- Wait. What about Mike? Where is he?”

“He’s over there with his parents.” Lucas pointed to your left and you turned to see him in Karen’s arms.

He looked alright as well, but there was one more kid missing “And Eleven? Where is she?”

The look on Dustin’s face made it clear that not everything was okay.

So you sat down between the boys, Jonathan joining you after a few minutes, while you listened to the kids explain what had happened when you left. How the bad men came to take Eleven, how she stopped them with her powers, but also how the blood from the bodies attracted the Demogorgon to them.

He described to you the battle between the creature and Eleven and finally, he tries to explain the fact that she just vanished into thin air, both your friend and the monster.

You felt awful. You felt like you betrayed them. You didn’t manage to kill the creature, so you didn’t protect the kids and you didn’t save Eleven. This was all your fault. You were going to miss that little girl and her peculiar powers, and as much as you hated the fact that she was gone, you couldn’t help but feel relieved that the rest of the kids were safe, you couldn’t help but thank her for her sacrifice.

___

Your next stop was the hospital where you also reunited with Hopper, Joyce, and Will, who was unconscious, but alive. Relief surrounded you now that everything was finally over. The Demogorgon was dead, and Will was rescued, you could finally breathe again. Your mother was called when the police had arrived at the school, but as Dustin told you, she didn’t answer, which meant she was having another late shift. After discussing with Hopper what to say, you decided to wait until you got back

As they were treating Will, a couple of nurses called upon you, Nancy, Jonathan, and Steve to treat the cuts you all had around your bodies. The moment Jonathan was free to go, he rushed back into Will’s room, while the rest of you made your way back to the waiting area.

You didn’t know how long you were waiting for Will to wake up. You were sitting in one of the most uncomfortable chairs you had ever sat your ass on with Dustin’s head on top of your left shoulder while Lucas’s on top of your right one, both of them sleeping and snoring. You could feel sleep calling for you too, your body aching for it, but you couldn’t sleep now, you had to wait for Will to wake up.

At one point Jonathan came back with the news you were all anxiously waiting for as he nodded towards Mike, which made him jump off his seat and shake his friends to wake up “Guys. Guys, he’s up. Will is up. Guys, Will’s up.”

The shaking surely made you more awake and get out of your seat while the kids started running to Will’s room. You walked over to Jonathan with a small smile and hugged him, his arms returning the hug before walking after the kids. You stopped and leaned on the doorframe, looking fondly over at the party reunited again. Seeing Will awake brought tears to your eyes, his gaze on you making you smile widely at him and give him a little wave.

After a while, you felt your throat drying so you walked over to the vending machine to buy a soda, but the stupid thing decided to eat the only money you had on you.

“Come on, you piece of shit.” you hit it in exaggeration when a voice interrupted you.

“Here, let me.” when your head turned around to look at your savior you definitely didn’t expect Steve, but here he was putting a dollar on the machine, asking you what you wanted, and handing you your soda. You took it silently and leaned against the wall as you opened and drank it. You watched as he took a small cup, ready to fill it with coffee when you felt the need to warn him.

“I wouldn’t drink that if I were you.”

“Why not?” you thought his tone was going to be sarcastic but his concerned eyes made you realize this wasn’t the case.

“It’s awful. I've had it before and it just isn’t worth your time. That’s why I am settling for a sugary soda. At least it will keep me awake for a little longer.”

He nodded at your words, and set the cup back down, getting another dollar from his pocket, and buying a soda for himself. You expected him to return back to the waiting room, thinking he had accomplished his goal here, but you frowned when you saw him leaning like you on the wall opposite of yours.

You tried not to show it, but you couldn’t help but wonder, why the hell was he sitting here with you? You didn’t like him, and you were certain, after your fight and Jonathan and his fight, he didn’t like you either. You debated to just walk away and return to the waiting room, not feeling the need to have more small talk about what the fuck had happened, but a memory stopped you. You remembered him back at the Byers’ with the bat in his hands, hitting the Demogorgon and saving you from getting torn into pieces, and as much as you thought he was a dickhead for everything he has done, you couldn't ignore his actions back there. If it weren’t for him things probably would have been a lot different.

So you took a deep breath, pushed your pride down and opened your mouth “Hey, uh… I just wanted to say thank you…” you looked up and saw him frown at your words as if he didn’t understand why you were thanking him “You know, for earlier.”

His eyes shot open the moment he realized what you were referring to “Oh, yeah, yeah, no problem. I was nothing.”

“Well, if it weren’t for you, I would have died so I don’t think it was nothing. So… yeah, thanks.” you looked back down at your soda, wishing the ground would swallow you up after that awkward interaction. 

Steve however couldn’t help but smirk as he watched you “How much did it kill you to say that?”

“A lot.” you admitted truthfully, but you both started snickering under your breaths “You have no idea.”

“That’s okay, I get it. I- I also need to apologize for acting like a dick before. I swear I am done with Tommy H. and Carol and with the whole ‘king’ stuff.”

“Yeah, right.” you scoffed and looked up to see his serious eyes watching you closely as you rolled your own “Oh, come on. They follow you around like lost puppies. There is no way you are getting rid of them and your fame.” you said before taking a sip from your soda.

Steve simply nodded at your words before clearing his throat “They will after I left them stranded at the Fair Mart.” a small smirk lining his lips when he saw how surprised you were at his actions.

“You didn’t.” you gasped at his words, fairly surprised that you didn’t want to hit your head on the wall after talking to him so much.

“Yeah. they were talking shit like usual, and I just realized how annoying they were being. Which made me realize that’s how the rest of you see me too, and I didn’t like that. I didn’t want Nance to see me like that.” his smile faded as his words became more honest. You never thought you were going to be having an actual meaningful conversation with the Steve Harrington, but you had to admit, you almost liked this side of him. The one that wasn’t screaming jackass in all directions. And you appreciated the fact that he wanted to change for your friend, so you decided to give him the second chance he was searching for.

“Well, if you keep making their lives a living hell, I will definitely consider changing my mind about you.” you said cheekily making him chuckle.

“Giving you my word, Henderson.” he joked back, which made your smile wider.

“Cheers to that.” you raised your sodas and drank them together.

___

One month later

You couldn’t believe it. You were literally driving your new car and you still couldn’t believe it.

After a year of working, you had saved the amount your mom had told you you needed to split the price and the day before Christmas you bought your new (well used but it didn’t matter to you) car. It felt great to have something of your own and the feeling you had as you drove down the road, made every annoying customer worth it.

You were glad you didn’t have to deal with any more of the customer’s bitter remarks. After you told your mom you had the money, she made you promise her that you would now focus on your classes, especially since next year you were graduating. So the next day you went back to the diner and parted ways with Mr. Miller promising to come for breakfast on the weekends with Dustin as much as you could.

It almost felt weird that life carried on like nothing had happened last month. No one knew what had truly happened, the government doing its job and keeping it under racks like it was nothing. It felt weird the first few weeks, going to school, and talking to people who didn’t know you had fought an actual monster, but maybe that’s exactly what you needed to let it in the past, to forget that it had ever happened, to pretend like its growl wasn’t still haunting your dreams.

That’s what you were thinking as you drove to the Wheeler’s house. The party was having another campaign and you were on your way to pick Dustin up after he spent the whole day with his friends. When you parked the car and got out you saw the front door open and smiled at how cheerful Will looked after the campaign. Jonathan followed after him, carrying a box in his hands.

“Hey, guys!” you smiled and made your way through the light snow that had fallen, careful not to slip.

“Y/n! You won’t believe what happened in the end! The thessalhydra appeared and I rolled a fourteen and- and fireballed him and we won!” you couldn’t help but giggle at his excitement, glad to see him so happy after everything he’s been through.

“Wow, well done! Next time make sure to save me a seat.”

“Really?”

“Yep. The courageous High Elf, Erida, will accompany you to yet another adventure.” you jokingly vowed before him and he responded as he laughed. You smiled and turned to look at Jonathan, trying to take a look at the present in his hands “And what loot does this traveler hold?” you kept your speech theatrical, liking the effect it had on Will.

“Oh, this… It’s- It’s nothing.” Jonathan tried to dismiss it but Will was always ready to give you every information you needed.

“Nancy gave it to him.”

“Oh. Nancy, huh?” you smirked at Jonathan who was now avoiding your eyes completely.

After all of you had a couple of days to relax, you went over to Jonathan’s to apologize for all the secrecy you held during everything. You explained the situation involving Eleven and as the tears started gathering in your eyes at her memory, you felt his arms pulling you into a hug, telling you it was okay. You calmed down and continued to talk when you eventually brought up him and Nancy. Maybe you were imagining things but you had to ask him if something had changed in him about her. He told you you were crazy and nothing had changed other than just being better friends, but you saw his blush.

Nancy was now officially with Steve, but deep down you could feel it wasn’t going to last forever. Although for now, you had decided to drop it, only annoying Jonathan with your thoughts from time to time.

“Okay, I think it’s time for us to go.” he asked when he opened the door to let Will in.

“Fine, fine. Say hello to Joyce for me.” you called after them and waved goodbye to the two brother before knocking the front door.

You only waited a few seconds for Karen to answer and invite you inside, your feet immediately heading for the basement. You walked down the stairs but stopped when you saw the sight before you. Both Dustin and Lucas were on the floor with their limbs tangled up.

“Hey, Y/n.” they said in unison when they spotted you.

“I am not going to ask what happened. Ready to go, big guy?”

“Yes. Next time make the campaign longer!” he pointed his finger at Mike, grabbing his bag and heading to you.

“Also, I wanna play next time. Will you have me?”

“Heck yeah!”

“Erida returns!”

You laughed at their exclaims “Alright, Merry Christmas, boys. And please, open a window in here. It stinks.”

“Yeah, Dustin’s farts stink.” you stopped Dustin from going back down to defend his honor and instead pushed him up the stairs “Wait. Let me wish Nancy a Merry Christmas as well and then we’ll go.”

“Make it quick. I’m hungry.” you ignored his whining and left to search for Nancy, finally finding her in the living room cuddled up with Steve.

“Sorry to interrupt, lovebirds. Just came to wish you a Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Y/n.” you opened your arms to welcome her hug as she stood up and walked towards you. Steve just gave you a smile and a wave as he returned the wish, not yet comfortable with anything else.

“Hey, do you wanna stay for a bit?” Nancy asked you “Call your mom to pick you up? We don’t want you riding home with fresh snow falling.”

“Ah, that would be now problem anymore.” you had a sly smile on your face and because she didn’t understand what you were talking about you grabbed her hand and walked over to the window that had a clear view of your car.

“Shut up. It looks great.” Nancy announced excitedly.

“My Christmas gift to myself.”

“That’s a nice set of wheels, Henderson. I’m impressed.” Steve told you after he joined you two by the window.

“Why you sounding surprised, Harrington? I know my stuff.” you were ready for a playful banter when Dustin’s voice to hurry up gave you your cue to leave.

You wished them goodnight and opened the passenger’s door for the impatient Dustin to get in, before opening your own and starting the car.

“I still don’t understand what she sees in him.” you heard him mutter.

“Who?”

“Nancy. Isn’t Steve a bully? Why does she like him?” you couldn't help but smirk at how miserable and disappointed your brother looked at this very moment. It's incredible how delusional you can be at that age.

“He’s not that bad anymore, and don’t forget that without him you wouldn’t have a sister anymore.” you stole a glance to see him frowning which made you chuckle “Oh, come on. I bet you’ll have your chance one day.”

“Really?”

“No, but it’s important to have dreams.” he stuck out his tongue at you while you laughed.

You arrived back home quickly and began preparing the dining table to eat with your family. While you sat on your chair and looked around, you were grateful to be alive and well. Grateful Dustin was also okay, even though you still catch him crying in secret but always hiding it so he would not concern you. Grateful to let everything in the past and forget about the Upside Down and the Demogorgon. Ready to start living your once again normal life.

~~~

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[will80sbyers]

The talk of the movie date and enzos happening at the end of the last season is so cute bc I love the idea of Hopper and Joyce finally getting their little cute restaurant date and it’s been a little time skip after they all defeat vecna so it’s been like either a few month or a year or so they’ve been dating so this is a special date where their storyline ends with Hopper proposing to her (I don’t think we would get a Jopper wedding cause I think that’s maybe too soon depending on the time skip that happens at the end usually) and before they go on their date Jonathan, Will and El help hype Hopper up cause he came to them with the idea first and they reassure him before they leave for enzos that Joyce will be over the moon like I need to see the byers-hoppers family dynamic in action in a normal setting before we end the show. I also love the movie date for Lumax too cause I can imagine seeing them sitting together in a little cinema watching some spooky horror movie and laughing and giggling and Lucas describing the movie in extreme detail and Max telling him to stop being gross she can hear the sound effects just fine and they’re finally happy. I can imagine Robin and Vickie going to the same college together and getting out of Hawkins together finally and Nancy and Jonathan either going to the same college together too or Nancy is back from Emerson and Jonathan is back from NYU depending on how they do their plot line and Steve is still in Hawkins (L) so he’s there to welcome them back too for the holidays and Hellfire club (now ran by both Dustin and Mike RIP Eddie) is taking place for their last session at Christmas in the Wheeler basement with the og party and Erica, as per season one Karen interrupts them to say that Nancy and Jonathan are back for the holidays so they should come and say hi, everyone else runs up to greet them but Will and Mike stay behind to talk about how this is what home feels like now that they’re back together, playing games on the basement together again like they’ve both always wanted. Bonus, Murray is having a heated debate about some government conspiracy in the Wheeler living room with Ted Wheeler. Like they’ve said the last season ends similarly to the first and that one ends at Christmas with everyone together only this time they’re ALL together and all finally happy. Like will all of this happen? No probably not however it’s more likely that it ends happily like this than it does tragic like these leak people really want it to for whatever reason.

I love this so so much I hope you're a divine Oracle ❤️

[marypsue]

I'd love to hear your thoughts on S1 of ST being a tragedy! No main character dies, so I never thought of it that way before

I mean, nobody has to die for a story to be a tragedy (at least, in the modern definition. I'm pretty sure '(almost) everybody dies' is a requirement of Greek tragedies and Renaissance revenge tragedies). But also, no main character dies in season one...if you take season one as part of a series. Which it wasn't originally conceived as.

I am not going looking for copies of the original pitch bible, because I am lazy, and also I only saw them floating around this webbed site. But the show changed a lot from the initial pitch (Joyce had a Long Island accent! Lucas' parents were divorcing! Murray was there and named Terry Ives! Most of what ended up in Hopper's character originally belonged to Mr. Clarke! The original pitch bible is fascinating). And part of the original pitch was a proposal for possible sequels.

The Duffers' proposal for a possible sequel was "It's ten years later, and Eleven is dead".

So that's the setup. Everything that came after season one was made up wholecloth after season one was a hit and people wanted more, but also people loved the adorable little psychic murder child (cue the Duffers shockedpikachu.jpg) and Netflix obviously recognised it would be a bad call to make a new season without her in it. So it makes sense to take season one as a unit, as a self-contained story on its own. You can also take it as part of a whole, but it makes sense to read it first as a complete story. Especially given the thematic drift of later seasons and the way they are...I'm just going to say it, each new season is very much added-on to what came before rather than being built on foundation that the earlier season(s) laid. It is very clear there was never a planned five-season story arc from the beginning. (This isn't necessarily always a bad thing, when it comes to sequels, but it does mean it makes sense to 'read' each season as its own thing.)

Okay, now that we've established all of that. Season one has one very clear goal, one very clear stake for the characters: save Will Byers from the Upside Down. (I like this. It makes the stakes both extremely high and extremely personal, it makes it very easy to understand each character's motivation, it also keeps the stakes grounded in reality. I like this a lot.) And by the end of the season, that goal is accomplished. So at first blush, you're right, season one doesn't look like a tragedy.

But when you start to unpack it a little, you start to see just how many important things were lost along the way. It's most glaringly obvious with Mike and El, with Nancy and Barb. The whole Wheeler family is fractured down the middle, with Mike and Nancy on one side and Ted, Karen, and Holly on the other, and Karen, who's been trying so hard the whole time to be part of her children's lives and understand what's going on with them, is aware of the ever-expanding gulf between them but will never be able to cross it, and will never fully know why. Hopper's finally managed to snatch a kid out of the jaws of death, save a woman he obviously cares about from the pain of losing a child, and Joyce has finally had someone believe her, support her, trust her. But it became blindingly obvious to me on my fourth rewatch that Hopper's plan, from the moment he went to leave the middle school gym, was always to trade El for Will. And that decision (and the fact that Joyce obviously understands that he did something to get the lab to let them go after Will, but she obviously doesn't dare press him on what) has broken her trust in him, and left him with what looks like an equally heavy burden of guilt as what he was carrying before. The lab stays open. The government gets away with everything. No one will ever know the true extent of the hurt they've caused.

And in the end, none of it even saved Will. He's back. He's alive. But he's spitting slugs in the sink. He's permanently marked by the Upside Down, and by trying to hide it from his family, he's putting a crack down the centre of them, as well. They're losing Will, just as surely as they had when they thought he was dead, just without him going anywhere.

And there's still a hole in the world.

The fragile bonds of community, the things that people share in common, the way catastrophe can bring people together and bring out the very best in them, are the major thematic threads woven through season one. Human connection is the only thing that can change what seems inevitable, the only thing that can bring back what's seemingly lost forever.

And it's still not enough to protect anyone from the random tragedy of the world.

The love was there. The love mattered. The love bent the entire course of the world around itself.

And it still wasn't quite enough.

If that's not a tragedy, then I don't know what is.

[dcbicki]

sorry if you’ve already answered this, but what characters do you think will die in st s5?

I've talked about it at length on Twitter (even before S4 came out) and honestly I can't see a single death among the regular cast. And I can see people disagreeing but, to me, it's just not that kind of story and never has been.

I mean:

El and Hopper are most likely safe because they've "died" before and it wouldn't feel genuine, and Max isn't going to die again when there are only 8 hours left and she's already in a coma.

The Byers have been the main family the audience can empathize with since the beginning, and they're not going to kill off Joyce or her boys because it would break her. That said, Will is at risk because of the UP connection.

They've already said Mike is safe -- There are some characters you just can't touch. As much as people want to hate the kid for some reason, the Duffers love him and he's their surrogate. (Not to mention the cascade of shit it would cause.)

Lucas, Dustin, Erica, Nancy and Robin are all clear for one reason or another. The boys (and Erica) have plot armor because they're the 'kids'. Nancy is more than likely safe; she's been a driving force of the show since the start and I can't imagine her not making it through the final battle. Robin might be a possibility if she wasn't both the only out character and had not been around long enough to have a real impact. If anyone is going, it'd be a season/two-er.

Karen, Murray, Owens, etc. are all up on the chopping block tbh, but really the one main character who could bite the dust and (I say this light) shock the audience...

... is Steve. He's an original, had a great-to-middling arc, and he has connections to several characters. But he's not actually tied to them. We've never even met his family. He's technically disposable, and that sucks. But he's probably also safe because he has the advantage of being a/the fan favorite and even though the Duffers claim to never pander to fans, they do when it comes to Steve. That's why he's still around cracking jokes, being a full-fledged himbo.

Really... I don't think any of the key players can die. And this whole "gotta kill off people! there's no stakes! blahblahblah!" thing people go on and on about is just mind-boggling to me because, like, what show have they been watching? Those dudes love their own characters too much to kill them. They've proven that. It's why they bring in new meat. This isn't based on a book -- there are no deaths to check off a list. It's rooted in 80s coming-of-age movies and horror. How many of those end in actual tragedy? That's what it would be to kill off one of these characters.

So the problem isn't that they don't kill off enough characters or ones that have actual meaningful arcs. It's that they can't because their storylines are so intertwined that it would cause a whole chain reaction of sadness. This doesn't happen with most shows, etc: If you kill off the Love Interest to the Hero, it's not going to ricochet to every other character in the series.

Throw in the fact that there's a limited timeframe to do it in, which means the story has to be condensed and concise. Short and sweet. You kill Mike -- the glue of the show. I will keep repeating it -- and it affects his family, his friends, and Eleven. And if you send Eleven off the deep end, Hopper's arc gets tossed out the window too. This affects Joyce, then her boys, then Nancy, and no matter which order you put them in they all directly have an effect on each other. You can't have a bittersweet ending if any of these characters die -- The bitter has to do with either El's powers or Hawkins or these people who've all become family having to separate. Not death.

[madwheelerz]

Keeping with this idea-

Will confesses

Mike, confused blinking: Oh, I thought you got over that

Everyone: What

Will: ?

Mike: Yeah, I mean like you kinda did ask me to marry you

Will: No, I didn't

Mike: You did. My mom has the video, but we were like 7 so...I just thought you got over it? Anyway I like you too

[dxrlinggxd]

who i think may/may not die in vol 2

since noah just confirmed that there will be some deaths in v2, here's my opinion on all the characters' safety

NOT safe:

lucas sinclair

the first name that came to mind. he might get vecna'd in vol 2 and he kinda seems killable rn if that makes sense (not that i want him to die don't get me wrong i love lucas) and also (this applies to the other 3 boys) it wld be rlly mean to kill them off just before the final season

max mayfield

i was 85% sure she was getting vecna'd again in vol 2 and then the new teaser practically confirmed it. the vol 2 trailer doesn't look good for her

dustin henderson

could die saving steve, plus the duffers said a fan fav is dying, but also he's one of the 4 ogs so for that reason alone he might be safe

murray bauman

the hilarious comic relief character everyone loves. seen this film before

enzo/dmitri

i was surprised they hadnt killed him off already, but now if they do it wouldn't be surprising at all so idk lets see

mike wheeler

this is the one character who i assumed was safe because i was just all "nah they wouldn't do that"...but honestly? he isn't rlly safe. there's also the whole IT parallel to think abt (bec it's basically canon that will has feelings for mike). but then again like i said earlier, they might not kill the of 4 in the penultimate season

jonathan byers

i feel like of the teens this is the most likely death. not steve or eddie or robin, as I'll explain later. and i highly doubt nancy. his death would hurt everybody but especially will (we know he gets a bigger arc)

erica sinclair

again, the entertaining side character. you never know

karen wheeler

she has a character poster even though she rlly hasn't played a major role so far. there was also that clip in the trailer where shes scared and holding holly. very very likely shes dying

UNSURE ABOUT

(in descending order of likelihood)

jim hopper

again, he got too close to peril for him to actually die again, but again, we never know. of the people in this section, he seems the most likely to die

nancy wheeler

they put her too close to peril for her to actually die. her character also feels like it has a lot of potential vis-a-vis the plot. i'd say a 93% chance she survives

steve harrington & eddie munson

put them together because they have the same explanation: does the way the show is going seem to set up for their deaths? yes. but i think it was shawn levy who said steve is safe, and also joseph essentially said he's in s5, so they wont die. most likely. but they could also just be lying so :|

[edit] + robin says to steve in the vol 2 "i have this terrible feeling it might not work out for us this time" so tbh...idh a good feeling

joyce byers

she could've died, maybe, but winona accidentally said she's in s5 so lol she might not. she isn't a hundred percent in danger (and also there's that snippet of jon and will hugging that we need to be wary of)

SAFE

el hopper

no way she's getting killed off with a whole season left

will byers

again, no way he's dying with a whole season left + he obviously has a much bigger role to play

robin buckley

because it'd just be plain wrong for them to kill off their only openly lgbt character. and also vickie apparently has a bigger role to play. so

[dumdumsun]

Lost and Found

A/N: We're learning a teeny bit about Doc's roots...

Warnings: death/dying and implications of child abandonment

Word Count: 2136

—————————————

Chapter Six: The Heroes

For just a few moments, the soft ticking of the timer was the only noise to fill the silence between Karen Wheeler and Joyce Byers, save for Holly’s occasional one-worded exclamations. At the Byers’s kitchen table sat the three, Karen giving her companion her time to collect herself. Joyce had been silent since she was sat down, but when she noticed Karen glancing at the Christmas lights strewn about the house, she decided to “explain” herself. “Will always loved Christmas, you know,” She quietly chuckled. “So I thought if I… I put the lights up… I don’t know, he… I’d feel like he was home somehow. I- It’s silly, I know.”

Karen quickly leaned forwards and gently placed her hands over Joyce’s. “No. No, it’s not silly. How is Jonathan holding up?”

“You know, he’s good at taking care of himself. He always has been, you know? I… I mean, he thinks I’m losing my mind, but…” Joyce abruptly stopped speaking and stared forward into her living room. Frowning, Karen followed her gaze, but saw nothing.

“Is something the matter?”

“Uh, no… No, I just… We’re having electrical problems.”

Inhaling, Karen situated her hands as Joyce looked up at her thoughtfully. “Joyce… I want you to know something. If you need anything, anything at all… Ted and I are here for you.”

“Thank you. Thanks…” She slowly nodded, feeling a bit guilty of the Wheeler wife taking pity on her financial struggles. So, she decided to change the subject. “How… How’re Mike and (Y/N) dealing with this? Are they, uh, okay…?”

Furrowing her brows, Karen glanced down at the table. “Mike? Uh… I don’t know. He skipped school yesterday. He’s never done anything like that before. And (Y/N) skipped, too… I don’t know, she’s getting like how she used to be when she first moved in.”

“What was that like?”

“Oh, horrible nightmares, she cried all the time, she was very distant. She used to wake up in the night, calling out to a woman named Sonia.”

“Sonia?”

“I don’t know, probably a sister or something she used to have. But… this whole situation isn’t anything new to her. Now it’s happening to someone she cares about. You know she loves Will.”

Joyce quietly chuckled. “Oh, that’s no secret. And Will… He’s… He’s head over heels for her. I-I remember when I took them to see Poltergeist last year. They were both so scared,” She quietly laughed, smiling fondly at the memory. “They kept grabbing each other’s hands whenever something jumped out at the screen.”

“Really? That’s so sweet.” Karen joined in the laughing.

“Yes! And I don’t think they even noticed… But she’s always been very sweet and caring to Will. They’re very close, I know this must be hard on her.”

Karen slowly nodded, failing to notice her youngest wander away to follow the blinking of the Christmas lights.

-------------------------------------------------

Trailing behind Dustin and Lucas, who trailed behind Mike and El, Doc silently walked her bike through the woods, her sneakers crunching the fallen autumn leaves below her. It was such an odd sensation, getting by without her skates, but she knew she had made the right call not to wear them. She could do almost anything on those skates, but she hadn’t quite mastered gliding through the woods without tripping over logs and rocks.

Up ahead, she could hear a distant conversation between Mike and El, but her thoughts were too far gone to have actually listened to them. Her mind was set on Will.

If Doc’s suspicions on where El came from were correct, and she was certain they were, then that made her sick to her stomach. If the people after El were the very ones to take Will, there was no telling what they would be doing to him. They had no doubt traumatized the poor girl, who’s to say they wouldn’t do the same to him?

And with El leading them there, what would that mean for Doc? She wanted more than anything to be rid of her past, not to get caught up in it. She prayed that whoever her parents were, never found her, never wanted her again. She always stiffened around police officers, always assuming someone finally claimed her and she would be ripped from the Wheelers and placed into that dreaded hellhole she ridded herself of all those years ago in the middle of a park.

“Sweetie, where are your parents?”

That’s what Karen had asked her. Kneeling on the ground in front of a very young (Y/N), the headlights behind her belonging to a car that held Ted and a much younger Nancy and Mike. Doc had stared ahead, smiled, and made the best decision of her life yet.

“What is parent?”

She softly smiled at the memory, not once feeling an ounce of self pity for her lack of memory of her past life.

By the time the five had reached their destination, the night had taken over and their breaths fogged in front of them with every exhale. El briskly walked in front of Mike and Doc, leading them to a very familiar home. Doc knew where they were before they even reached the front. Turning on her heel, El came to a stop in front of the group. “Here.”

“Why are we at Will’s house?” Doc frowned up at the house, her stomach twisting.

“Hiding.” El answered, Mike shaking his head.

“No, no, this is where he lives,” He clarified. “He’s missing from here. Understand?”

From behind them, Dustin and Lucas dropped their bikes to the ground, the latter about fed up with El at this point. “What are we doing here?”

“She said he’s hiding here.”

“Um… no!”

Dustin let out a breath, equally as irritated. “I swear, if we walked all the way out here for nothing-”

“That’s exactly what we did. I told you she didn’t know what the hell she was talking about!”

As Mike and Lucas broke into an argument, Doc was drawn closer to the house. Her slow steps led her up the small hill, goosebumps spreading across the back of her neck as bile rose up in her throat. She was sure that if she got any closer to the house, she would hurl her guts up in the yard. Before she could do such a thing, the approaching police sirens snapped her out of her daze. She rushed back to the group in hurried steps, coming to a stop beside her bike she had left on the ground.

Her throat constricted when two police cars and an ambulance zoomed past the house. Without a second thought, she picked up her bike and sped off, the four following suit after recovering from their shock. Her heart hammered in her chest as she led the group in their chase after the police, alleviating herself on her bike every once in awhile to keep herself from turning straight into a tree out of frustration. To keep the group from being discovered, she and Mike seemed to have the same idea of taking a different path from the police, who drove straight through the woods.

“The quarry,” Doc whispered. “They’re going to the quarry…”

Chest heaving, she pedaled harder, sending her past Mike and allowing her to be the first person to reach the quarry, which was littered with police cars, a firetruck, and an ambulance. Doc smoothly made her way down the short slope and hopped off her bike, letting it fall to the ground as she hid behind the firetruck. Her friends and brother were soon at her side, the five peeking from behind the truck to watch what the authorities were doing.

Several police officers stood by the lake, two of them standing in it with a safety raft floating beside them. Doc grabbed onto Mike’s arm as the officers reached into the lake and turned something over, picking it up out of the water and placing it into the raft.

“Will…” Doc covered her mouth to muffle her sob.

“It’s not Will,” Mike frowned. “It can’t be.”

But it was, and Doc knew it. That was his same outfit. The same pants, the same vest.

“It’s Will,” Lucas whispered as the men pulled the raft to shore. “It’s really Will…”

Doc’s eyes welled up with tears before she made a start to run out of hiding. Dustin and Lucas immediately caught her before she could be seen and pulled her back. “No, no, no! It’s not him, it’s not Will…” She cried, turning her face into Dustin’s shoulder. Lucas sniffled and rested his head against hers. Mike, unable to understand it all, slowly walked away from where he had been watching the discovery of the body. El followed after him, hand raised to her head in confusion before she placed it on his arm.

“Mike-”

The boy slapped her hand away, now angered. “‘Mike’? ‘Mike’, what?!” He snapped, El gasping at his outburst. “You were supposed to help us find him alive! You said he was alive! Why did you lie to us?! What’s wrong with you? What is wrong with you?!”

Lip quivering, El slowly shook her head. “Mike…” She softly whispered.

“What?” He shot, the girl flinching back. When she only shook her head again, he moved away from her and to his bike. “Doc, we’re going home.”

Said girl lifted her head and pulled away from her friends, slowly taking a step forward as tears cascaded down her face. “M-Mike…”

“(Y/N)!” He screamed and picked up both their bikes. “Home! We’re going! Now!”

At the use of her real name, Doc began to follow her brother. Right before she took her bike from him, she turned to El. The girl stared at her, conflicted and sorrowful. Both their fingers twitched, but Doc made no move to make contact. Tears clouding her vision, she ran her bike up to her brother.

“Mike, come on. Don’t do this, man!” Lucas called, tears falling.

“Mike! Doc!” Dustin called after them as well, but the siblings didn’t bother.

Once the two reached the road, they hopped on their bikes and pedaled hard towards their house. Mike was silent, refusing to cry until he was alone. Doc, on the other hand, didn’t care for seclusion. Her tears continued to blur her vision as she biked. She reached her hand up multiple times to wipe her nose on her jacket sleeve. One of the times she’d done it, she lost control of her bike and swerved right off the road, slamming right into a tree. Hearing his sister’s pained cry, Mike turned his bike around and was soon by her side. Letting his bike fall yet again, he turned her over so that she was on her back. “Doc? Doc, are you okay?”

“No.” She sobbed and painfully sat up, crying into her brother’s chest. Blinking back his tears, he gently petted the back of her head and attempted to stand her up.

“We have to get home.”

“No, Mike, no-”

“(Y/N), come on, we have to go.” His voice broke, standing them to their feet and holding her face between his hands, staring her in the eyes. “We have to go, okay?”

Doc couldn’t stand to watch his face crumble any further, so she nodded and limped to her bike, getting on and pedaling the rest of the way home. They didn’t bother parking their modes of transportation, leaving them in the driveway instead. Mike pulled Doc’s arm around his shoulders and held her by the waist, assisting her in getting inside.

He wordlessly opened the door and walked her inside, shutting it behind him. The two failed to notice Nancy, Karen, and Barb’s parents sitting together in the living room.

“Michael?” Karen called, her children halting in their steps and turning to their mother. “(Y/N)? What’s wrong?” She stood from the couch and ran up to them.

At her question, Mike’s face scrunched up in agony. He raised his free arm out for comfort, Karen pulling the two into a hug as they cried in her embrace. They clung to their mother as she confusedly rubbed their backs and whispered into their ears.

Doc felt overwhelmed by the grief and body heat, so she pulled away and ran up the stairs, ignoring Karen’s calls for her. Storming into her room, she flicked the light on. The bright yellows of her walls and her bed contrasted just about everything she had been feeling. Her hands reached up and tugged at her ears, her nose stuffy and tears ice cold from how long they had been stuck to her skin. Grabbing her doorknob, Doc slammed the door shut.

She only flinched slightly when her drawers cracked and fell into each other.

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Taglist: @yurtletheturtlehenderson @crybabyalex @sapphicsyn @shydestinymoonalexa @nailbatbitch @that-one-multifandom-chick @ariyabella @uncompletemasterpiece @bilesxbilinskixlahey @onlyveryslightlysane

[amazingphanisnotonfire-imagines]

Steve//can’t make it all alone

hey! oof, third part already. and happy 2nd christmas! i hope all of you had a wonderful day yesterday!!! and i hope you’re all having another lovely day today! stay safe everyone!  

“So, do you want me to drop you off at home?” Officer Powell asks. 

Christmas is officially over, but for Steve it was over as soon as you walked away. He watches the sun rise over another day...another day that you’re still out there somewhere. 

Another day wasted. 

While Steve was sat in a dingy room, with cream walls and ageing furniture, being asked the same three questions over and over again, he hoped his friends were out looking for you. 

But when nobody interrupted the little chat he was having to let him know you’d been found, he slowly lost hope, until there was just a hole where his heart used to be.

You’re somewhere out there by yourself, instead of lying beside him in bed, already reminiscing about the previous day and ignoring calls from your parents to get up. 

“Can you just take me to The Wheelers?” He mumbles, staring down at his hands. His finger nails have been chewed down to as short as they can. It’s a habit Steve picked up from you. 

You’ve always been a nail biter when nervous, and Steve tried everything to get you to stop, he even learnt how to paint nails so he could do yours in the hopes it would stop you from chewing. It was also just an excuse to spend more time with you, even if it meant he had to listen to Robin complaining about being used for practice. 

But instead of stopping you from ruining your nails, he ended up developing the same coping mechanism as you did. Now he’s surprised there’s any finger left at all. 

“The Wheelers?” Powell asks surprised and glances at Steve through the mirror. He doesn’t bother to look back at him, but he can feel his eyes on him and he knows for a fact as soon as he gets back to the station he’s going to tell everyone that’ll listen. 

“Yeah.” He nods and leans his head against the cold glass, his eyes scan the houses as they pass, hoping he’ll catch a glimpse of you. A clue as to where you’ve gone, where you’re hiding.

You’ll be standing outside The Wheelers, in your bright red jumper with your arms crossed and an annoyed expression on your face, but you’ll be safe and alive and that’s all he wants. He doesn’t care how upset you are with him, he just wants you back. 

Instead he just see’s people twitching their curtains and spending far too long putting the bins out, in order to see what’s happening. News of a missing girl travels fast around town, especially because of its history, and by now, everyone will know about you and you’re broken necklace. 

He knew coming back to Hawkins would end in disaster at some point. He always thought of it as taunting it, like he was saying ‘we’re back but you can’t get to us’, well now it has, whatever it is, and he hates himself for letting it happen to you. 

He doesn’t know what’s scarier though, if it’s something thats crawled out of the Upside Down, or if it isn’t. There’s every possibility that an actual person could have taken you too, and neither of those options fill him with hope.

The first person he see’s when they pull into the drive is Joyce, stood outside with a cigarette in her hand while she paces. She lifts her head up at at the sound of car and quickly drops it.

He’s only seen Joyce once since he’s been back, and that was before everything went to shit. He remembers Dustin telling him over the phone, that Will and El were coming back home to spend Christmas with everyone. And that because of Nancy and Jonathan, The Wheelers had told Joyce, Will and El they could stay with them over Christmas. 

The months leading up to Christmas, everyone was so excited, you included.  The whole gang was going to be back together, even if it was just for a week. And he remembers how happy you looked when he told you, you didn’t stop talking about how perfect the week was going to be. 

You couldn’t wait to tell them the good news going on in yours and Steve’s lives, but now within a night it’s all been snatched away. Instead of celebrating, Steve feels like he’s mourning, despite you not being dead.

“Here you go.” Powell says and Steve forces a small smile while opening the door. “Don’t go too far.” He warns and Steve looks away, slipping the car.

Joyce pulls him into a tight hug and he feels himself breathe a little. She smells like cigarette smoke and lavender and it fills him with the tiniest bit of comfort, but the way she’s hugging him, like she’s holding something back, rips it away almost as quickly as he feels it. 

“Are you okay sweetheart?” She asks and looks him over. “Of course you’re not. Come on, we need to tell you something.” She says and guides him into the house and down into the basement.

He passes Karen and Ted, both of whom are busy doing who knows what. Karen is sat at the kitchen island, sorting through a stack of papers, her hair is messy and Steve thinks its the first time he’s seen her in her pyjamas. Ted stands on the other side of the room, talking quietly into the phone. He looks just as stressed as his wife, but they both stop what they’re doing when they hear footsteps and force a smile at Steve. 

“I’ll bring you down some food sweetie.” Karen is the first to break the tension and he gives her a grateful, yet crooked smile. 

“Thank you.” He mumbles and looks back at the floor. Karen and Joyce share a look before Joyce continues to guide him down the stairs. 

The last time he came down the stairs, his head was too full  to actually take anything in. Now though, it feels too busy and empty all at the same time, and so he takes a minute to actually look around. 

The basement hasn’t changed since Mike moved out. Old toys are still strewn about, Dungeons and Dragons sit open in the corner, now with about twelve other things piled on top of it, but it’s still there. 

It feels like he’s walking into a piece of history, frozen in time. The sleeping bags and blankets have been rolled up and thrown in the other corner of the room, and any traces of alcohol from Christmas Eve have disappeared.

The whole party is crammed into the space. Chairs have been stollen from upstairs so everyone has a place to sit, but as soon as they hear floorboards creaking they’re all standing up. 

Nobody knows what or how they’re going to say it.

They thought they were done fighting monsters and losing loved ones. But it seems no matter how far they run, it always follows. Maybe its their own fault for coming back. They thought Starcourt was the final battle, but this seems like some sort of hidden ending and they’re hating every single second of it.

“Steve.” Robin starts gently and everyone, including herself hates it. Robin never speaks to Steve like that, she never even calls him Steve. It’s always dingus or some variant of it.

But the tone in her voice and the look on her face makes everyone realize just how bad this is.

“Sit down.” She says and tries guide him to the chair closest.

“I’m fine.” He shrugs her hands off him. “Have you found her?” He asks, his voice rising with each word and they look at each other.

“No, we haven’t.” Mike continues and takes step towards him. “We went out looking, and well...”

“We found goo on a tree near where her necklace was found.” Dustin sighs.

“Goo?” Steve asks, staring straight at him.  

“A portal.” Jonathan says and even he’s unsure of how to say it nicely.

“To the Upside Down.” Eleven pipes up. It’s the first time she’s spoken to anyone since Steve, Robin and Annie turned up this morning. “She’s there, I can feel it.”

Everyone looks at her, their worst fears being confirmed and Steve feels the air being ripped out of his lungs. 

“Are you sure?” He asks, the question surprising himself and El nods slowly. 

For four years she’s worked on getting her powers back, but she’s never longed for them more than she does right now. You may not have been in her life for very long, but you certainly made an impression on her, and you’re always there when she needs you. 

She can’t see you, but she knows you’re there. She can feel it and she’s never been more certain about anything. But she can also feel something else, she can’t quite place it, but something is wrong. Something isn’t quite right about you disappearing. 

“Yes.” She says, louder than before and he sits down and runs a hand through his hair. “Okay.” He nods slowly and looks around. “Lets go.” He stands and starts towards the stairs. 

Everyone moves at the same time, all of them not wanting him to do something stupid. 

“Woah!” Dustin grabs his arm and pulls him back. Robin blocks the stairs and he gives her a look she’s never seen before. His eyes narrow and darken and his jaw clenches as he stares at her. 

“Move out my way Robin.” He mutters. 

“No.” She replies and crosses her arms. Annie stands beside her, also crossing her arms and they give him the ‘steve’ look making him huff in annoyance. 

“Move.” He says once again forcing it through gritted teeth before trying to push past her, but she stands her ground, and suddenly he feels himself being pulled away from her. 

Dustin and Mike hold his arms tightly and he quickly pushes them away. He knows they’re trying to help, but he knows where you are and it’s like they’re trying to keep him from saving you. 

He also hates the way they’re looking at him, at least with Robin, it’s a look he’s used to seeing. But everybody else’s is new. It’s all sympathy and pity and he doesn’t like it. It makes him feel like they know something he doesn’t, like you’re gone forever and he’s doesn’t know yet. 

“Steve.” Joyce says sternly. She holds his shoulders, forcing him to look at her. “If you go in there with nothing, you’re not going to come out again, and then what?” 

He knows she’s right, but it does little to comfort him. 

“So what? We just sit around and wait for he to get out herself or to just die.” He snaps back but it doesn’t seem to bother her. 

“No.” She shakes her head. “We figure out what it wants. We go in prepared and we get her out.” 

“But-She’s in there alone.” He cries and she wraps her arms around him, pulling him into another tight hug. 

The group exchange glances, none of them know what to do. How do you comfort a friend who’s girlfriend of 4 years has been dragged into an alternate dimension that creatures pulled from hell call home. 

It’s also the first time they’ve seen Steve cry, some of them ever, and its a weird sight. They all have a silent conversation, trying to get somebody to say something useful, but its no use, Steve’s sobs echo off the walls while everyone stands around awkwardly. 

The top step creaks but Steve doesn’t seem to notice, Nancy shakes her head at her mom standing by the door with a plate full of food, and she nods before quietly leaving again. 

“I’ve been in there, and it’s not that bad.” Will pipes up and everyone stares at him, eyebrows raised. “Okay, maybe it is that bad.” He sighs, and sits down. “But, think about it, I was only a kid when I was there and I’m fine.” 

“Debatable.” Dustin mumbles and everyone glares at him. 

“Shut up.” Max slaps the back of his head. 

“Would you like me to tell your mom what really happened to Mews.” Will retorts, and Dustin pauses rubbing his head to stare at him. 

“You wouldn’t.” He narrows his eyes at his friend. 

“I would.”

“Guys.” Lucas interrupts and stares at each of them. “Not the time.” 

“Yeah, get to the point.” Mike adds annoyed. 

“My point is.” Will continues, making sure to glare at Dustin before looking at Steve. “I came out of there alive, and I was just a kid. Y/n, is a grown woman, who’s dealt with much worse. She’ll be fine.” 

“She’s probably made whatever took her, her bitch by now.” Lucas says and forces a laugh. “You saw how she took down that demodog that was trying to make Steve it’s lunch.” He adds, and for the first time in three days Steve feels himself smile. 

It’s a nice break in the tension, the entire group sharing a smile and laugh as they think of you. The story is famous in your group, even Joyce knows it. 

You saved Steve’s life without knowing what was happening. And how when you’d finished beating the crap out of it, you called it a bitch and then apologized.

“Yeah, she’ll going around smashing the place up and then saying sorry afterwards.” Robin says, placing a hand on his shoulder and he feels himself relax a little. 

The little moment of joy is soon gone though. Every single one of them have the same thought. 

What if that’s a story no longer told with happiness. What if it’s told out of grief, as they stand around a casket all dressed in black, clinging on to the memories of a life that should have been way longer.  

A very, very short life. 

Steve clears his throat and moves away from Joyce. 

“Okay, what do we know?” He asks, looking at each of them individually. He doesn’t want to think about what’s happened to you, what could be happening to you an-

So does the only thing he knows how to. He gets ready to fight.

“We know that something must have happened in order for it to wake back up again.” Joyce replies and gives him a reassuring smile. 

“Why wake back up? Why not just come back?” Max asks. 

“Because how can it come back after Starcourt.” Will replies. “We blew the whole mall up. Whatever took Y/n must have been hiding and healing. I’ve been there, I know what it’s like.” 

“Okay. So something disturbed it?” Mike asks. “What though?” 

“Us?” Nancy asks. “No.”She shakes her head, answering her own question. “We’ve been here countless of times, so what’s so different this time?” 

“Y/-” Steve starts but Jonathan interrupts him, and he feels himself shrink. Maybe its a good thing he didn’t tell them, it just doesn’t feel right without you.  

“Nothing has happened here in years.” He says. “Or maybe it has, and we just haven’t noticed.” 

“My mom says the only difference is the weather.” Mike shrugs. 

“Yeah, my mom says the same thing.” Dustin agrees and Steve sends him a confused look. 

“What do you mean the weather?” Annie asks. 

She’s still piecing together the story that Robin and the rest of the gang told her while Steve was at the police station. The words Upside Down and mind-flayer keep coming up, and don’t get her started on El and her lost powers. That’s something she’s locked in a box for future her to deal with. 

“Really? Out of everything I’ve told you, you’re confused about the weather?” Robin teases, and she rolls her eyes at her. 

“Shut up.” She nudges her ribs gently. “Has anyone else’s parents noticed a change in the weather?” She asks and slowly, everyone nods their head. 

“It does seem a bit windier.” Joyce says. “I’ve lived here my whole life, I know what winter is like here, but this time...its different.” 

“Could that not be because you moved though?” Dustin asks. 

“No. I know this town like the back of my hand. Something’s off.” 

“Listen.” Steve snaps. They’re getting absolutely no where with this conversation and he knows it. “I don’t care about the wind or the rain or the snow. I don’t care what’s taken her and why. I just want to get her back.” The effects of not sleeping for 48 hours seem to be catching up with him. Tiredness hits him like a truck and he feels it settle in his bones. 

“Steve.” Robin starts.

“What?” He mumbles annoyed. 

“Why don’t you go to sleep.” She suggests gently but he just glares at her. “Or have something to eat.” 

“No.” He shakes his head. “The quicker we come up with a plan, the quicker we can get her back.” 

“True.” Robin starts. “But we don’t know how long it’s going to take. And you’re going to be no help if you’re falling asleep and starving.” She finishes and he hates that she’s right. But the need to save you far outweighs the need to eat or sleep. He’d go for years without if it meant getting you back. 

‘its all your fault’ The little voice says again and with each day it grows louder, Steve sometimes feels like its the only thing he can hear. 

It is his fault. It’s all his fault, and whether you do come back or not, he’s going to carry this guilt around with him for the rest of his life. 

“Please Steve.” She says, she’s clearly worried, not only about the friend that’s missing, but the one sat right in front of her. 

“Have some rest and while you’re asleep we’ll keep planning.” Annie finishes and places a hand on Robin’s arm. 

“We’ll even go out looking again.” Mike says.

“We’re not going to give up just because you’ve fallen asleep.” Dustin smiles. “We promise. We love Y/n, just as much as you do.” He thinks about it for a few minutes, before finally agreeing. 

“I’ll eat, but I’m not sleeping.” He says and everyone lets out a collective sigh of relief. 

“Okay.” Joyce nods, her motherly instincts kicking in again. “Why don’t you go sit over on that sofa, and I’ll get you some food.” She smiles kindly and he nods, before pushing himself up and towards the sofa. 

Everyone moves around him. Joyce goes upstairs, and is quickly followed by Mike and Jonathan. 

Dustin, Lucas, Max and Will huddle in a circle, dragging their chairs with them and Steve listens to their quiet mumbles about the upside down and the mind flayer. 

Nancy, Robin and Annie stay by the staircase, he know’s they’re hanging around just in case he tries to make a run for it, and their not to subtle glances at him don’t make it any less obvious. 

And El sits alone in the corner closest to Steve. She stares at a picture of you smiling along with the rest of the gang and Steve’s heart aches at the sight. Everyone is grinning at who he assumes is Joyce, and Steve stands beside you, his arm slung over your shoulder, his smile as bright as yours. 

Steve watches her close her eyes as she desperately tries to find where you are. But no matter how hard she tries, she can’t seem to focus. It’s been four years since she lost her powers, they’re not going to miraculously come back. 

He can feel the fatigue settling even deeper into his bones making him feel heavier than he already does. But every time he closes his eyes, all he can picture is you, scared and alone and calling out for him. 

Upstairs, he can hear Joyce and Karen talking quietly as they walk around the kitchen and every so often he hears Jonathan and Mike join in. 

Steve just sits. 

He sits and stares straight ahead, imagining the worst. 

You could be dead, or dying, or even worse you could not be you anymore. You could have turned into whatever Billy was. That thought alone is enough for him to loose his breath and he chokes on a sob, his head falls into his hands as he quietly cries. 

He’s never going to see you again. 

Tears stream down his face and stain his jeans, but he doesn’t bother to wipe them away, what’s the point. He’s been wearing the same clothes since Christmas Eve, they already smell like the stale coffee thanks to the police station, so what’s a few tears? And it’s not like he hasn’t had worse on his clothes, blood and puke come to mind. 

“Steve?” Nancy’s voice is quiet as she sits next to him. 

Robin and Annie have moved to sit with the kids to talk about what to do. And Nancy was going to join them, but as soon as she looked at Steve, she decided she could try and be helpful elsewhere. 

You would never forgive her if she let something happen to him while you were gone. After the events of 1984, you and Nancy became rather close, despite what had happened between her and Steve. All of you knew what had happened between them, however painful, was in the past. 

Or at least that’s what she thought. Of course she knows Steve feels nothing for her other than a platonic love, but it must have hurt to be called the name of his ex. Especially when everyone knows how messily that ended. 

Nancy can’t help but share some guilt with Steve. It was her name that caused you to storm off in the first place, and even though she knows she can’t go back in time and un-do everything, she really wishes she could. 

She hands him a warm mug of coffee and he takes it but doesn’t look at her, he just stares at the brown liquid and feels himself sink deeper into his thoughts. He didn’t even notice her leaving to get one, too wrapped up in his own guilt and depressing thoughts. 

“She’ll be okay.” She tries her best to comfort him but he just scoffs at her and takes sip. 

“How do you know that? She’s in there, with god knows what running around.” He seethes. “And what are we doing? We’re sat around drinking coffee and talking about our feelings.” 

“We’re not talking about or feelings Steve.” She sighs and watches Dustin draw on an old map. 

“I know, but I know you’re going to talk about yours.” 

“I’ll let that pass under the circumstances.” She rolls her eyes. “But when Y/n comes back...and she will come back. I will kick your ass.” 

“I don’t doubt it.” He replies and a small smile twitches at the corner of his lips. She feels the weight in her chest lighten a little, but his only gets heavier. 

He shouldn’t be sat here laughing with his ex girlfriend, while his current one is lost out there. 

‘its all your fault. she wouldn’t be in there if it wasn’t for you’ 

“Do you think it’s my fault?” He asks and everyone pauses what they’re doing. 

“No.” Nancy shakes her head and forces a smile. 

“It’s not your fault Steve. You didn’t ask for her to be taken did you?” Robin asks. 

“Well no, bu-” 

“And did you tell her to go in there?” Dustin interrupts. 

“No, but I-” 

“And did you know what would happen to her before having that argument?” Jonathan adds while walking down the stairs. It’s the first time in what feels like a long time he’s said something remotely nice to him, and it does make him feel a little better. 

“No.” 

“Well then it’s not your fault.” He finishes and hands him a plate of food. 

“Thanks.” He mumbles and stares down at the very late Christmas dinner. 

This isn’t how he imagined he’d be eating his Christmas dinner this year, he imagined you beside him. Both of you in matching jumpers and paper crowns, telling each other stupid jokes out of crackers that no one but the two of you find funny. 

“I miss her.” Robin says out of no where and everyone looks at her. Steve watches in shock as her lip wobbles and tears form in her eyes, he’s never seen Robin cry before, and when you come back, he’s so going to tell you that you made The Robin Buckley cry. 

“Me too.” Dustin nods, giving her half a hug. Annie sits on the other side of her and leans her head on her shoulder. 

“Yeah. Me too.” Everyone else agrees, sad smiles taking over their appearances.  

“What am I going to do without her?” Steve sighs and places the plate on the floor. 

“You’re not going to have to do without her.” Jonathan replies. 

“And, I think you’re doing pretty well right now.” Robin adds and he lets out a bitter laugh. “Okay, maybe you’re doing okay then. But that’s still better most.” She finishes, sending him a toothy grin and a small smile flickers on his lips. 

“Thanks.” He rolls his eyes. 

“No problem.” She replies. “Now eat your food.” She adds, giving him a stern look. 

“I will in a minute.” He slumps down in the sofa, his back hits the soft furniture and he lets out a sigh. Everyone goes back to talking quietly amongst themselves, although this time, they’re talking about you and he feels himself smile. It’s both happy and sad, but it’s real, and thats all that matters to him. 

His eyes flutter shut as he hears Will come down the stairs, and the last thing he hears before he falls asleep is Robin...

“Okay, what do we do?” 

[yurtletheturtlehenderson]

S.T. REWRITE - S2:E9; Chapter Nine, The Gate - [Pt. 6 - FINAL PART]

A Will Byers x Reader Series

The survivors turn up the heat on the monstrous force that's holding Will hostage, and Y/n's powers are put to the ultimate test in the process. Eleven makes plans to finish what she started.

A/n: your snowball outfit is completely up to you since everyone is different. IF you need ideas, I have a pinterest board you can look at if you want. My username is the same as my Tumblr, which is in my description. Also, I was wrong again, THIS is the longest chapter. Happy reading!

We’re finally here!!

Ps: you think this chapter is cute jUST WAIT FOR COSMIC 3 🤭😉☺

||3rd Person POV||

"Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock,"

The light and blithe tune of Bobby Helms' classic, 'Jingle Bell Rock' fills the Hawkins Middle School gym as everyone prepares for the annual Snow Ball. A mix of faculty and volunteers are spread across the gym hanging decorations, including Mr. Clarke who finishes hanging the large banner reading; Hawkins Middle Snow Ball '84.

"Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time,"

The Byers house is once more filled with soft music and laughter, smiles are worn by all. In the time of Will's recovery, everyone had been ecstatic to find his memories promptly returned to him. The dark fog over his brain had been cast away, returning to him all his forgotten memories.

Many new drawings hung on the fridge mixed in with older ones, one, in particular, sat front and center for all to see. None more proud to see it than Joyce who had wrapped her son in a tearful hug upon seeing it. It was a bright and smiling picture of Bob in the classic Superman pose, a bright red cape flying behind him and written boldly beneath were three words; Bob Newby Superhero.

"Yeah, you got it. See?" Joyce says, a big smile evident in her voice.

"Mom!" Will pleas, thoroughly embarrassed.

There's another beat of silence as Joyce dances around the living room with her son, a smirking Jonathan off to the side filming.

"Jingle bell, jingle bell Jingle bell rock,"

The two bounce across the floor as he gets used to the rhythm, short bursts of frustrated muttering under his breath do not go unnoticed by his mother.

"Will, honey," she smirks knowingly when he worriedly meets her eyes. "You're doing fine."

He tries to shake the nerves away, and the rising blush attempting to make an appearance. He tries to take his mind off his anxieties and redirects his attention to his older brother. Jonathan seemed intent on getting every angle, and it only put Will on edge further despite the small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. After all, it wouldn't be Jonathan if he wasn't trying to document everything.

Still, Will quirks a brow, trying to sound as polite as possible.

"Do you always have to be filming everything?" He asks.

"No, no," Jonathan chuckles, peeking out from behind the camera's scope to smirk at his brother. "Just the good stuff."

Will's eyes flicker from their bouncing feet and his hand on his mother's arm, the other in her hers, unsure. All week he had been racked with nerves as the Snow Ball got closer, not to mention how uptight he had felt all of that day.

Will wanted his dance with Y/n to be perfect.

He had decided early on he would ask her to dance, no matter how nervous he got. After she had saved him, things had been... different between them. They were both a bit of a blushy mess, but never said or did anything about it given Will's recovery. Something had already changed between them when he was rescued from the Upside Down. Since she kissed him on the cheek. But again, both of them had been too scared to do anything, or Dustin, Mike, or Lucas would interrupt before something could happen.

But now? The Snow Ball? Everyone had decided to go as a group, so they would meet up there anyway. But Will decided he couldn't hide it much longer, and he had hopeful suspicion she felt a similar way. So he planned on changing everything tonight.

But none of that put any of his nerves at ease.

What if she said no? Or worse, what is she said yes? And then he would be dancing like this with her and no one else would be, and she'd laugh.

"Are you sure people still dance like this?" Will asks finally.

"Yeah," Joyce shrugs, still bouncing them around the room. "It's what's happenin'."

He looks to her expectantly, only to see her smirking at him. Confused, but allowing himself to feel a bit hopeful, he looks to Jonathan past the camera. Unknowingly, his mother keeps her smirk screwed on her face as her eyes follow Will's.

"Is it what's happenin'?"

Jonathan shrugs, going along with the charade. "Yeah, yeah, it's what's happenin'."

Will lets out his arm, allowing his mother to duck and twirl. She unravels in step, spreading out her arms in a big show and a proud smile before returning to her son's arms.

"That was good," she cheers. "That was good, very good."

Will relaxes, nodding to himself and returning his attention to where he steps.

"Hey," she says softly, bringing his head up to look at her. She grins sweetly, her eyebrows shooting up. "You two are gonna have fun, I know it,"

Jonathan can't stop the chuckle before it breaks loose, and hides behind the JVC as Will turns pink.

"Mom!"

⊹ ⊹ ⊹

The shutter of Karen Wheeler's polaroid camera hooks sharply into Mike's ears as does the blinding white light of the camera's flash that blinds him. The freshly printed polaroid falls to the ground and she quickly grabs it.

"Oh, wait!" She orders to a stiff and uncomfortable Mike who stands at the end of the stairs in a tie and sweater vest.

"Alright, that's enough," he huffs, hand still on the banister.

"One more, okay?" She pleas. "Just one more."

"Why?"

She grins proudly behind her camera and coos. "You look so handsome."

"Mom!"

"Mike." She retaliates, cheerfully.

The shutter clicks, grabbing another picture of Mike. This time, a pouty and exhausted expression on his face instead of a flat and embarrassed one.

⊹ ⊹ ⊹

"Hey... wanna dance?"

Lucas shakes his head, hands on his hips as he tries to clear his head. He stands before his mirror, working through his nerves as he practices asking Max to dance. He felt a little silly doing it, but he deemed it necessary it if meant he was more prepared to dance with the girl who made his heart skip a beat.

"We should, you know, get out there, like, do our thing... Stop," he tells himself suddenly.

Even he felt himself growing uncomfortable at that request. But he tried again.

He looks at himself in the mirror, raising a finger and gesturing to his reflection. His mouth opens to say something clever, anything, but nothing comes out.

Okay, he needed to shake this. He was better than this! He smacks his face lightly, rubbing his puffed-out cheeks around trying to wake himself up a little more if possible.

"I love this song," he beams into the mirror with a charming smile. "You?"

Okay, that wasn't bad. That could work! He could feel the confidence swelling up in his chest like a balloon.

And then it popped.

"Yeah, I love it." Came an exaggerated, sickly sweet voice from his doorway. "But not as much as I love you, Lukey."

His face drops when he sees Erica in the mirror behind him, a mischievous grin stretching wide across her face. He whirls around to face her and stomps towards her as she bats her eyelashes, feigning innocence.

"Get out of my room!"

The door slams shut, leaving a giggling and rather pleased Erica out in the hallway.

⊹ ⊹ ⊹

"Ow, ow. That hurts." Max protests.

Max sits in front of the mirror, her mother behind her as she pins back her long bangs in one thin braid. She smiles at her daughter through the mirror.

"It's gonna be worth it. Promise."

Max catches movement out of the corner of her eye, and she turns her head to see Billy who had come to a stop outside her door when she caught his eye. He looks at her blankly, testing the waters but she has none of it.

"Jingle bell time is a swell time,"

The radio continues it's Christmas melody, like Susan Hargrove, blissfully unaware of the hostile glare Max holds her stepbrother in. The threat of that night still burns behind her eyes, sending him walking.

She returns her attention to the mirror, where her mother finishes fluffing her long red curls and beams down at her.

"See? Pretty."

The word sends Max into a sigh, and she throws her head back with a groan.

⊹ ⊹ ⊹

"Son of a bitch! Son of a bitch!"

Dustin marches out of his room in a cornflower blue button-up, black suspenders, bowtie, and a frown. He passes his mother who sits in her usual armchair, she is cuddling the family's newest edition; a young kitten she had dubbed Tews. Y/n took quite a disliking to the name, wishing her mother had been less obvious she was trying to replace Mews. Especially since she knew what had really happened to their "missing" cat.

The kitten purrs in delight as Claudia Henderson strokes Tews behind his small ear. She looks over at her son who angrily enters the kitchen, his head of damp curls bouncing near his shoulders.

"Where did you see it last?"

"Right here," he argues, gesturing to the counter. "Where I put it."

"What's in there that's so important anyway?" She asks gently. "You look fabulous, baby."

Dustin's hardened exterior melts, his worry dissolving completely into relief when he spots the brown paper bag hiding away behind a box of 'MeowMix'. He picks it up, testing its weight and he smirks back at his mother.

"Got it,"

Dustin dashes across the living room and back into his bedroom, just missing the sharp and quick ring of the doorbell.

"That's your ride." She perks, eyes darting to the door. "Dusty!"

Dustin unravels the bag on his bed, pulling out the cold tin can of Farrah Fawcett Hairspray, and uncaps it. He glides towards the mirror, taking a deep breath, and starts the first coat.

⊹ ⊹ ⊹

Soft moonlight spills over the faces of Jim Hopper, El Hopper, and Y/n Henderson as the truck they sit in navigates through the trees and into town. In the time since their defeat of the Mind Flayer, and especially since the latest news of El's adoption, Y/n had been over a handful of times. The only other person having been allowed to the cabin being Mike, each visit carefully planned and spaced out so as to not draw any suspicion.

When the news had been broken to El, she hadn't stopped smiling for weeks. Not only was she finally allowed a normal life, but she was also finally surrounded by people who would love her and nurture her, always. No more uncertainty of where she would end up, or if she were ever allowed to leave. She knew now her freedom was certain.

When she had first broken the news to Y/n, her smile was still screwed to her face as she repeated the word with great excitement.

"Adopted!"

Y/n had erupted into giddy laughter, more than thrilled for her friend. "El, that's fantastic!"

And when Hopper brought home the dress he had picked out - with the welcomed help of Joyce - and told her about the Snow Ball? She was elated. It wasn't long before plans were made with Y/n. And even though Y/n was there to offer her help with getting ready, Hopper couldn't quite pull himself away from offering his own assistance with whatever the girls needed. Whether it be hair, make-up, or simple advice.

He was just happy to have a daughter to worry about again, and she didn't seem to mind.

They now traveled in comfortable silence, the Christmas music on the radio blended with the steady white noise of the engine, and the tires traveling on the road blanketed the silence. El and Y/n sat together in the back seat that had recently been installed, Hopper turning his attention into the radio to give them as much privacy as possible.

El kept her eyes glued on the passing scenery outside her window as she took several deep breaths, her right hand absent-mindedly twirling the braided blue hair tie Hopper had gifted to her around her wrist.

Y/n, recognizing the behavior all too well, smiled timidly at her friend.

"You excited?"

El turned to her friend, trying to ignore the flutter in her stomach at the question. Her smile quickly matched Y/n's.

"Yes,"

She takes another deep breath, forcing her shoulders to relax and slowly they sink back down. El is quick to catch the quirked brow sent her way.

"It's okay to be nervous," Y/n says, drawing El's attention back to her.

El looks at her best friend, studying her. She feels herself relax a bit when she senses Y/n's words are completely genuine. Y/n offers El a soft smile that eases away any remaining tension. As the truck passes a clearing in the trees another ray of moonlight glides across Y/n's face, making El smile to herself.

'Pretty,' she thinks.

"It's completely normal to be nervous for a dance," she continues. "I'm nervous about it, too,"

El nods, thinking about this.

"I think it'll be different once you get there," her next words bring a small blush to El's cheeks. "Once you see Mike, I think it'll all get a bit easier,"

There's another beat of silence as El contemplates her words. Finally, she turns to Y/n, this time being the one to pull her attention away from the window to look at her. Her eyebrows raise in question, a small grin tugging at her lips.

"Same with you?"

Y/n's head tilts subconsciously to the side in question.

"What do you mean?"

"With Will? It'll be better when you see him?"

El grinned when Y/n broke away her gaze in a nervous laugh, her ears, and neck beginning to burn.

The two fell into shushed fits of laughter that would sneak back up on them for the rest of the ride. And as the two sat together, continuously feeding into one another's laughter, a warm thought crossed El's mind.

El wasn't quite used to this mood she was in. The mood Y/n had been bringing out in her lately since things had quieted down. It was a giddy and mischievous, light-hearted banter that always cropped up when she felt most relaxed. But she quite enjoyed it, and the feeling it brought to her chest.

El supposed this was what it felt like to have a sister, that this was what it meant. And she enjoyed it immensely.

⊹ ⊹ ⊹

Steve's car comes to a gradual halt in front of Hawkins middle, a less than eager Dustin in the passenger seat. He had to say he was quite impressed with the kid's technique, he did okay on the hair in his opinion.

"All right, buddy, here we are."

Dustin's eyes are fixed on the propped open entrance to the school where they were taking tickets and his stomach flutters. He takes a long and shaky deep breath.

"So, remember, once you get in there..."

Dustin looks to his friend and nods, affirmatively. "Pretend like I don't care."

"You don't care,"

"I don't care,"

"There you go," Steve chirps. "You're learning, my friend. You're learning."

Dustin nods as if psyching himself up and he eagerly reaches for the review mirror to check his reflection. Wounded at Dustin's self-doubt, Steve frowns, pulling the boy's hand away from the mirror with a gentle voice.

"Hey,"

"What?"

"Come on. You look great, okay? You look," He says, readjusting the mirror and turning to Dustin, giving him an okay sign. "You look great,"

"Okay? Now you're gonna go in there..."

"Yeah,"

"Look like a million bucks," he continues, matter of factly.

"Yeah!"

"And you're gonna slay 'em dead."

Dustin nods, feeling his excitement - and confidence - build at Steve's reassuring words.

"Like a lion." He adds.

He draws back his lips and rolls his tongue in his signature purr. Steve bites back a wince and says as gently as possible. "Yeah, don't do that, okay?"

"Okay," he nods.

Steve sticks out his left palm in gesture, and Dustin takes it happily giving it a firm shake.

"Good luck."

Dustin nods in thanks and exits the car with a blooming sense of pride. Unknowingly, Steve lingers behind assuring he gets in safely, a proud smile tugging at his lips.

When Dustin enters, he takes one swift deep breath expelling the creeping anxieties. He makes his way to the ticket table that Mr. Clarke manages. The teacher in question looks up from his clipboard and smirks.

"Looking very snazzy tonight, sir."

Dustin nods proudly. "Thank you, m'lord."

Dustin drops his ticket into the bowl as Mr. Clarke jots down his name. Steve watches happily from the car, and without his permission, his eyes drift past the young Henderson boy and through the gym doors windows. He can make out Nancy at the punch bowl near the entrance. Her hair is up in curls and on her face is her usual warm smile as she passes out punch to kids.

He feels a tug at his heart at the sight, wishing more than anything things had gone differently between them. But the words exchanged between that one night, ring in his ears. And yet he does not regret them.

Steve knew as he looked at her now, things had worked out for the best. She seemed truly happy, and in the end, that's all he ever wanted for her. A bittersweet look crosses his features as he silently says goodbye to his first love, and quietly he takes off into the night.

Dustin enters the gym, a new rush of excitement overpowering him as he sees the gym transformed. Curtains of silver, and flowing streamers hung in the center stretching out over the center of the gym in a beautiful canopy. The entrance he walked through was lined with three large balloon archways and several soft twinkle lights dangled from the ceiling and walls like stars. And at the very edge of the canopy, was the large glittery letters that hung before it; 'Snow Ball'.

It was surprisingly breathtaking for a small, middle school dance but it was still appreciated. Another deep breath leaves his chest before he stalks forward to tackle the task at hand; finding the rest of the party amongst the crowd. As he passes the punch table, he sends a smirk and a quick salute to the young woman behind it.

"Hey, Nance,"

"Hey," she smiles back.

As the ladle sinks once more into the punch bowl, collecting the contents for the next cup, a young boy approaches the table.

"What's in this?" He asks curiously.

A wistful smirk flickers across her face as she hands him the filled cup. "Pure fuel."

He stalks off with a curious look into his cup, and Nancy takes a moment to rest her arms against the table. Her eyes travel across the gym at the younger kids having fun, and it reminds her of simpler times. She stops when she sees a group of kids at the photo arch, smiling wide as they pose for a photo. The camera flashes and they wander off as Jonathan prepares the next shot. He feels a pair of eyes on him, and he glances over his shoulder to find Nancy.

The two smile warmly at one another, a small but noticeable spark deep in their chests.

Dustin approaches his friends with a grin and enters with a showy twirl, excited to show off his new do. His heart sinks when he's met with several chuckles. Mike even jumped up from his seat, wide-eyed.

"Holy shit, what happened to you?"

His friends circle around him, each of them failing to fight back a smirk.

"What do you mean, what happened?"

"What?" Mike asks bewildered.

"Dude--" Lucas begins, only to be cut off by Max.

"-Your hair!"

Lucas steps forward with a mischievous smirk, his hand reaching up to prod at his friend's styled hair. "Is there a bird nesting in there?"

Dustin pulls away, throwing Lucas's hand away from his head. His eyes dart back and forth between his four giggling friends and whines.

"No, what do you mean, 'what's wrong'?" He glares at Lucas. "There's no bird nesting in here, asshole. Okay?"

Dustin subconsciously pats his work, assuring not a single hair had gone astray. "I worked hard."

Everyone's attention is pulled to the dance floor at the newest song change. Quickly recognizable as Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time blasts through the gym's speakers, they all watch as kids all across the gym pair up for the first slow dance of the night.

Lucas takes a deep breath and turns excitedly to Max.

"Max..." she turns to see him grinning nervously at her. "Um, it's nice, right?"

He looks around at the room, gesturing to the song. A wide and bemused smile breaks out on her face as he continues to stumble. All the while, a deflated Dustin watches the exchange.

"Um, you wanna like, you know...?" Lucas gestures between himself and Max, a hopeful look on his face. "Like, just... you and me?"

"Are you trying to ask me to dance, stalker?"

His face falls as he begins to panic. "Um, no...? Of course not."

The expression breaks when he notices the great look of amusement on her face, and he perks a bit.

"Unless you want to?"

Max sighs despite her grin, interlocking her hand with his own and she shakes her head.

"So~ smooth," she chides lightly, pulling him onto the dance floor. "Come on,"

The three remaining boys stand awkwardly watching off to the side, a bit unsure of what to do. This feeling only worsens for Will when he hears the dreaded nickname he had been itching to escape since the moment he was tagged.

"Hey, Zombie Boy,"

His eyes are pulled to a girl he recognized from class approaching him. She offers a small smile.

"Wanna dance?"

A pit forms in his stomach at the unexpected obstacle. He was nervous enough building himself up to ask Y/n. Just thinking about seeing her soon sent his heart aflutter in the best way possible, but this was not something he could have possibly anticipated. Or asked for.

He gulps, unexpectedly swallowing a large ball of saliva as he begins to panic. His words come out in a panicked stutter.

"I- Well, I, uh... I'm-"

His eyes dart quickly between Dustin and Mike, silently asking for help but he only finds expectant - and a slightly threatening on Dustin's part - expressions. Dustin elbows him lightly and Will clears his throat, collecting his breath.

"Thanks," he mutters with a polite smile, slowly gathering courage. "But, I'm waiting for someone. Sorry..."

She smiles, nodding. "No worries,"

Her eyes catch a familiar face across the room. She sends one more polite smile at Will and the others before departing towards her friend. The three friends stand rooted to the floor as an awkward silence hangs in the air. Mike looks down at Will, his eyebrows shooting up weakly in a surprised manner.

Upon seeing this, Will scoffs nervously, both of their eyes returning to the entrance as they wait. Unbeknownst to them, Dustin's eyes sweep across the gym at all the new couples, starting with Max and Lucas. He can't deny the pang he felt in his chest, but he also wasn't surprised at the turn of events. It was something he had seen coming for a while.

Instead, he scans the gym and he smiles to himself when he sees his classmate Stacy across the room. She was laughing amongst a group of her friends.

Dustin tugs at his blazer readjusting it and lets out a puff of air grabbing Will and Mike's attention. He turns to them.

"Wish me luck, gentlemen." He nods in the girl's direction with a confident simper. "I'm going in."

Dustin sends his friends a wink and a click of his tongue before marching onto the battlefield. Will and Mike watch taken aback, turning to one another as they share a bemused look.

The closer Dustin grows the more intense his heart beats, but he embraces it, Steve's words still ringing clearly in his ears. When he apparatuses the group and she doesn't seem to notice, he brushes it off at first. She was deep in conversation.

"Stacy?"

Her conversation continues without skipping a beat.

"He just broke up with Jennifer."

Her eyes bug out slightly as she continues, shaking her head a bit in disgust.

"Plus he's, like, not my type." She laughs.

Dustin clears his throat as politely as he can, not wanting to overstep his boundaries.

"Stacy?"

Finally, she breaks away from her conversation, clearly filled with great agitation. Her eyes widen when she spots his hair, not bothering to hide her distaste.

"Yeah?" She spits.

Dustin brushes it off in the moment, clears his throat, and bows his head as he gently extends his right hand out to her. He sends her a warm and charming smile.

"Shall we?"

Her eyes bug out once more, a chuckle leaving her lips.

"Um, no, thanks," she scoffs, voice dripping with sarcasm.

The girls around her burst into fits of laughter, and she joins them. Together, the pack of girls stride off, still overwhelmed with laughter as they begin talking about Dustin. None of them bothered to wait until he was out of earshot.

He watches sullenly as they disappear through the crowd, and he tries his best to stamp down the aching in his chest. He allows himself to perk a bit when he spots two other girls chatting quietly off to the side looking rather bored.

Dustin begins making his way towards them, but it isn't long before he halts in his path. Upon seeing him, they quickly whispered back and forth between one another before promptly scurrying.

He blinks several times, trying to keep the tears that threaten to spill at bay. He looks around the gym, heart sinking completely when he finds everyone in pairs. Everyone except himself.

He was completely alone.

Gifted with a small lull in which there was no punch to serve, Nancy's gaze sweeps the dancefloor. Her jovial composure fades almost instantly when she spots a lost and wounded Dustin planted on the sidelines. His shoulders sag and his lip begins to quiver as he searches the crowd sadly. Not a moment later does he slink off, disappearing behind the curtain of streamers.

The sight is enough to send a crack through her heart.

Dustin sits on the bleachers, his hands tucked into his lap as he invests all his energy into suppressing his sobs. His bottom lip quivered with intensity and a rather large tear he had been holding back finally broke free, gliding down his cheek.

It takes far too long in his taste for him to register the figure approaching is heading for him. Nancy pulls back the streamer curtain and offers him a gentle smile.

"Hey,"

He straightened immediately, swiping furiously at his cheeks as he tries to get rid of the evidence.

"Hey," he sniffles.

"Wanna dance?" She asks, offering her right hand.

He looks up at her in shock, his wide eyes still glassy. "What?"

"Come on," she grabs his hand, pulling him up to his feet and through the veil of streamers. "Let's go,"

He looks around bewildered as he finds himself pulled to the dancefloor. But already he can feel himself perking, and he smiles weakly at Nancy, not exactly knowing what to do now.

As if reading his mind, she smiles, grabbing his hands and gently placing them in her waist. "Here,"

He freezes, still not quite believing what is unfolding. She places her palms on his shoulders and he smiles wistfully. A wide smile plasters Nancy's face when she notes his distance, and she tries to reassure him.

"Closer,"

He stumbles forward a few inches, his eyes on her still wide and moonstruck.

"A little closer," she assures, smirking fully now. "Okay,"

Dustin's chest swells at her kind smile, and already he can feel his confidence returning. Both of them have yet to notice the spiteful glares being sent their way from Stacy and her friends.

"Now feel the music," he head sways gently with the beat. "The rhythm. Start to move to it."

Dustin's feet finally receive his brain's commands, and they begin to shuffle slowly as the dance begins. Nancy nods, eagerly.

"Yeah," she chirps, brightening his grin. "There."

"Good?" He asks hopefully.

She nods.

"That's good. Yeah."

"Okay,"

"You know," she begins. "Out of all my brother's friends, you're my favorite."

His grin stretches from ear to ear, his chest swelling once more in pride.

"You've always been my favorite."

"Really?"

"Yeah," she nods, her own heart-swelling seeing him happy again.

The distant sound of murmuring brings Nancy's attention across the room, where she spots a pack of perturbed girls. One brunette in particular, who stood at the center with a flustered glare fixed on Nancy. Upon being caught, she blinks rapidly trying to brush it off and looks away.

Dustin's eyes follow Nancy's, and that's when she returns her attention back to Dustin.

"Girls this age are," she rolls her eyes quickly. "dumb. But give them a few years, and they'll wise up. And, uh,"

Nancy softens when she notes Dustin is still beaming at her, hanging on her every word.

"you're gonna drive 'em nuts."

"You think so?" He asks hopefully.

She nods, a series expression befell her briefly. "Oh, I know so."

The two fall into a comfortable silence as they enjoy one another's company, and the music that fills their ears and sways their bodies.

Just across the room, still sat glumly at their table as they wait - and hope - are Will and Mike. They look around the room at all the dancing couples, and all they wish for is the sight of the two party members who have yet to show. Other than the occasional word, they sit in silence.

Will is the first to break it with a sigh, and he sits forward in his chair before rising. Mike looks up at him, his attention snapping towards Will as his mind jumps to the worst possible conclusion.

"Everything okay?"

Will nods, forcing a smile through his nerves.

"Yeah, I'm okay. I think I'm gonna freshen up a bit though. Use the bathroom while I can."

Mike nods, less than convinced though he shoves down the thought. He merely watches with a worried frown as Will stalks off towards the back of the gym. He relaxes a bit when he sees how many times Will's eyes fly to the entrance on his way back, and he supposed the jitters were all it really was after all.

Mike sighs, slumping back into his chair and he counts the minutes as they march on.

⊹ ⊹ ⊹

Joyce watches as her wind carries anther fallen leaf across the pavement, and checks her watch for the thousandth time. Logically she knows the dance is far from over, but she can't bring herself to leave. A familiar gruff, but soft voice pulls her attention up.

"Hey,"

"Hey,"

Hopper approached her with a weak smile, hands stuffed into his pockets.

"Thought I might find you here," he says.

Joyce lets out a defeated breath meant to be a laugh, her body leaning against her green Ford Pinto.

"Will wanted me to give him some space, so..." she shrugs, and a small chuckle breaks loose from her chest. "I'm giving him a few feet."

Hopper pulls a pack of cigarettes that had been hiding in his pocket, gives it a small tap and he smirks at the woman.

"What d'ya say?" He opens up the lid, pulling out one of the remaining cigarettes. "I'm pretty sure that Mr. Cooper retired in the seventies, so..."

He stepped forward to join her against the hood of the car, speaking through a smirk as he lit the cigarette that dangled from his lips. "we might be okay."

He takes one long puff of the cigarette, letting the smoke sting his lungs and he passes the stick onto her. She gladly accepts, taking the next puff only to be sent into a coughing fit. They both laugh lightly, and she passes the cigarette back to Hopper with a wince. It really was like old times.

He always picked the worse brands.

His next question does not exactly surprise her, but it definitely catches her emotions off guard. Immediately she feels a large lump growing in her throat.

"How are you holding up?"

She shakes her head, eyes falling back to the concrete as she nibbles at her nail.

"Ya know," She mumbles.

"Yeah, I mean," he nods, tsking another drag of the cigarette. "that feeling never goes away. But it is true what they say, you know..."

Joyce looks up at the man that towers over her, he holds the bud in his hands with a frown before handing it back to her.

"Every day does get a little easier."

Joyce takes the cigarette in her shaky hand, taking one long puff hoping it will replace the sadness that sits on her heart. But when the smoke leaves her lips the weight remains, and she finds it growing even heavier as the memory engulfs her once more. Her head grows heavy and dangles off her shoulders and into Hopper's side.

He can feel his heart lurch at her sadness, wanting nothing more than to take it all away. But he knows more than anything that healing took time. Instead, the two remained locked in one another's embrace. They feel the breeze carry the snippy winter air over their bodies unaffected in each other's warmth.

⊹ ⊹ ⊹

"Y/n Henderson! I thought that was you,"

"Hey, Mr. Clarke,"

El timidly follows Y/n to the table with the familiar man who she almost immediately recognized. El watched silently from Y/n's side as she placed the bright red ticket in a glass bowl on the table. El froze suddenly when Mr. Clarke suddenly addressed her.

"Well, hello there, Miss," his eyes tightened into a friendly squint, and he gestured towards her. "Have we met? You look awfully familiar."

El's eyebrows twitched upwards, her mouth parting as she looked to Y/n not quite sure what to do. Y/n quickly jumped in with a rigid smile.

"She gets that a lot, but no," she explained quickly. "This is an old friend of mine, El,"

Y/n meets eyes briefly with her friend and they share a quick smile before returning nonchalantly to Mr. Clarke, hooking their arms together.

"She's my guest for the night,"

The man nodded in understanding, clicking his tongue as Y/n handed him El's ticket along with the special form.

"Ah, well," smiling up at the pair, unknowingly giving El a strikingly similar welcome as he had the year before. "Welcome to Hawkins Middle, El. We're happy to have you."

The two look at one another before departing, the largest of grins breaking out on their face. They burst into another fit of giggles as they head for the door, leaving Mr. Clarke to shake his head and smile as he welcomes the last of the guests.

⊹ ⊹ ⊹

"Every breath you take,"

Mike sits alone, twiddling his thumbs. A small sigh builds up in his chest as he realizes yet another song change has been made, and still no El. He wasn't mad, just worried. All he wanted was to see her. To dance with her. To hold her.

"Every move you make,"

The usual creak of the gym's wooden door rings in his ears once more, and lazily he turns to see who else had risen his spirits. But his heart stops when he sees two figures entering the gym. One of them, his long time friend who glances excitedly behind her as she beckons the other shy figure behind her.

When he realized it was really El, he jumped to his feet, unable to blink. Too afraid she would vanish in thin air. She was gorgeous. Her hair was slicked back in adorable dark curls, and the dress she wore complimented her perfectly. But none of that mattered to Mike, just her being there was enough to take his breath away.

"Every bond you break Every step you take"

The girls crept forward under the archway of balloons, their eyes sweeping across the crowd. El breathing stopped momentarily just as Mike had. Y/n noticed this and smiled. The two were locked in a wide-eyed stare across the gym, and she laughed silently to herself.

"I'll be watching you,"

Mike watched as Y/n gave her a playful nudge, urging her forward. She watched warmly as the two glid across the sidelines, coming to a gradual stop when they came face to face.

Mike shook his head, unable to rid himself of the beaming smile even if he wanted to.

"You look beautiful," he blurts.

Her gaze drops to the floor in a wild blush, a bright smile on her face to rival his. He casts one glance at the dancing pairs around them and looks back at her.

"Do you wanna dance?"

She looks around the room nervously for a moment. Her eyes wander back to Mike's, and she looks up at him shyly.

"I... don't know how." She admits.

He shrugs, much to her relief.

"I don't either. Do you want to figure it out?"

El quickly nods, feeling her heart burst when he takes her hand in his. They wander onto the dance floor together, both a nervous - but happy - blushing mess.

Y/n smiles to herself once more from the edge of the gym when she sees them disappear into the crowd. Her eyes continue to venture around the room, her heart sinking when she finds no sign of Will.

"How my poor heart aches,"

Together, El and Mike blend in with the crowd of kids when they found a spot to dance. Gently, he takes her hands and places them over his shoulders.

"Like this,"

She smiles, her hands creeping up further to rest comfortably around his neck and he nods.

"Yeah, like that,"

They chuckle lightly as they softly begin to sway, loving nothing more than being in each other's company.

"Every vow you break,"

Nancy and Dustin begin twirling further, a joyous laugh bouncing between them.

When Y/n spots them, among Lucas and Max, the smile grows smaller. Both were pleasant sights, as each pair seemed to be having endless amounts of fun. But like her brother minutes ago, she began to feel lost.

"Every smile you fake, Every claim you stake,"

Finally, she spots Jonathan off by himself, taking advantage of the lack of kids waiting to get their pictures taken to clean his camera lens. Quietly she slips over to his side.

"Jonathan?"

His head picks up, and he smiles when he sees her.

"Hey, Y/n,"

His happy composure quickly falls when he sees her worried expression.

"What's wrong?"

In the back of the gym, the door to the locker room opens and Will enters boredly. He wipes off beads of water he had missed when drying his hands. He trudges back to his spot where he left Mike, his eyes glued to the floor. His head picks up when he sees Mike is no longer there, and he scans the crowd. His eyes widen when he sees him dancing with someone, El he realized it was. His heart began beating sporadically when he realizes what this meant.

"Since you've gone I've been lost without a trace,"

Quickly, Will shuffles forward, even rising himself up onto his tiptoes as to see over the sea of heads to find her.

"I dream at night I can only see your face. I look around and it's you I can't replace,"

"Hey Will the Wise,"

There it was, the voice he had simultaneously been waiting for, and afraid of all night, rang in his ears. Her voice was gentle and equally as nervous.

He blushes at the name, until he sees her. At that moment he swears he forgot how to breathe. When she caught his gaze - and the blush that raged like wildfire on his cheeks - a small laugh escaped. Her hands were shaking but in the best way possible. Like Will, she was just happy to have found him. To be here with him finally.

"You, uh, you're,"

Her eyebrows rose as did the heat in her cheeks at his sudden stutter. And though he seemed to be at an unending loop, he couldn't wipe the grin off of his face. It spread from ear to ear as he looked at her. Finally, he cleared his throat when he decided this was not how he wanted to remember this moment. The thought alone seemed to do the trick and he shook out his nerves as best as he could and exhaled.

"You look..." he shakes his head, unable to find the proper word, but none seemed to do her justice. "amazing."

He winced a little on the inside, finding the word ill-suited for how he usually saw her. He tries once more to shake it off, and just as Lucas had, the millions of scenarios run through his on how to ask her. But before his mouth could even part to speak, she extended her hand.

A playful smile paints her lips at the cheesy words that form on her tongue, but she leans into it, happy to see the delighted and bright warm smile that breaks out on Will's face as he chuckles.

"Care to dance?"

Will feels as if his chest just might burst with the rapid speed of his heart, but he couldn't be happier. His mind jumps back to the bit of advice Jonathan had given him when helping him get ready. At the time he had thought it had been too much, but now as he looked at Y/n, the two of them wearing big goofy grins, he quickly finds himself extending his right arm for her to take.

Gladly, her arm snakes under his arm, trying her best to suppress the violent storm of butterflies raging in her stomach, not realizing Will is doing the same. The pair find themselves in the center of the gym, and shyly their hands come to wrap around one another. Gradually, they begin to sway with the music. They share the occasional giggle as their gaze falls to the floor so as to not step on one another's toes in their nervous state.

In near percent sync, the gym full of students sway with the beat of The Police's Every Breath You Take. Everyone in question can feel themselves getting lost in the beautiful, fleeting moment.

The giddy, and frivolous pair of Lucas and Max twirl with the music. Max's eyes fall briefly to Lucas's lips as he smiles down at her. She can't help but blush back up at the boy who had managed to worm his way past her walls and made her feel welcome. Finally, she pulls him forward, bringing him into a soft and sweet kiss.

"I feel so cold and I long for your embrace,"

She pulls back, smirking up at his awestruck face. He blinks slowly, trying to process what had just happened and he can no longer contain the excited grin breaking out on his face. Softly Max giggles at his reaction, and brings her head to rest on his shoulder.

"I keep crying baby, baby, please,"

El and Mike remain with eyes locked on one another, their hearts beating at dangerous speeds as they sway with one another. The first and only time their eye contact is broken is when simultaneously, their heads inch closer together until their lips meet in a fiery explosion that melts their hearts.

Even when they pull apart, they can longer stand the small distance between them. In a happy, content lull, their foreheads meet, eyes fluttering closed as they lose themselves in the music.

"How my poor heart aches, with every step you take,"

At the very heart of the Snow Ball, Y/n's gaze mingles properly with Will's for the first time since they started dancing, and immediately her skin flushes. Heat resides the most in her cheeks and the tips of her ears and even the back of her neck. Will was her best friend in the whole world, the one she could always confide in and felt most comfortable around. But now she could hardly look at him without melting into a puddle. The way he treated her, just the way he looked at her now set her heart aflutter.

"Every move you make and every vow you break,"

They had been turning numbly in circles, and all she could do to take her mind off of her nerves was to put all her attention into commanding her feet. And yet, anytime she dares steal a glance at him, and feared he'd grow annoyed, he would just be smiling at her. It was a smile of genuine admiration, and it was as if he was silently telling her, 'it's okay. I'm nervous, too,'.

"Every smile you fake, every claim you stake, I'll be watching you,"

Her anxieties began to tell her to look away again, but now as she found herself looking into his kind hazel eyes, she couldn't bear to pull herself away. Y/n is quickly reminded of the dark times just one month ago. How awful it had been to look into these eyes and see nothing but hatred and darkness. But strangely, it assured only further now. These were the kind eyes that had always admired her from afar. These were the kind eyes she had missed so much.

"Every smile you fake, every claim you stake,"

The way he had always felt about her was undeniable, and as she felt the warmth brewing in her chest, spreading to her stomach and even dizzying her head, she knew she felt it too. She wondered why it had taken so long to get there, but more than anything she knew she wanted to hold onto it. What he had felt all these years.

Simultaneously, their smiles melted away, the blood pumping fast through their veins. Will and Y/n both felt it, the unbreakable magnetic pull that drew them towards one another. The closer they grew the quicker their racing hearts blended closer into one sporadic heartbeat. Finally, their lips met in a tender kiss as the music swelled around them. Will tried desperately not let his knees buckle, his stomach doing flips. It felt as if a firecracker had went off inside of Y/n's stomach, the warmth in her chest exploded and spread all the way to her fingertips, unknowingly her hands and arms warming his shoulders.

The kiss had lasted seconds but felt like a lifetime in the best way possible. It was a kiss that still lingered on their lips when they broke apart, a feeling they never wanted to let go of. The pair broke out into matching grins that neither one of them could contain. Finally, they were together.

"I'll be watching you,"

Finally, they were happy. And they would be, in the many months to follow.

"I'll be watching you,"

The four young pairs - even Dustin and Nancy who happily bounced their heads along to the rhythm of the beat - danced long into the night. The music from the speakers blasting through the gym, and echoing out into the cold December night.

"Every breath you take and every move you make Every bond you break, every step you take"

Each and every one of them blissfully unaware of the greatest threat Hawkins had ever known, towering above their heads in the Upside Down.

Watching.

I'll be watching you.

Waiting.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

More helpful links for the Black Lives Matter movement. Please don't ever stop fighting!!

Justice For Breonna!

I'm sure I must have shared this so many times but seriously, her killers are STILL free. This particular petition is SO close to meeting it's newest goal of 10,500,000. Just shy a couple hundred thousand. End this now, call, email, sign petitions to get her killers arrested. Sign this petition and share it,, HOWEVER YOU WANT. To a friend with a simple link, your insta, wattpad, idc just please share! Their names are BRETT HANKISON, JONATHAN MATTINGLY & MILES COSGROVE

Petitions That Still Haven't Met Their Goals

"Here’s a doc with petitions to sign that’s being updated regularly"

[Link]

If you are on tumblr, and have some money you want to donate to blm but also love BTS, I found this cool masterlist of accounts that take commissions for BTS work and all money goes to BLM!

[Link]

+++

Tag List: @dickkwad​​ @aimee-lucass​​ @iblesstherainsdown-in-africa​​  @miscellaneoustoasts​ @happyandlonely-blog​ @missmulti​ @youpi-chan​ @peeperparkour​ @ba-responds​ @bibliophilesquared​ @blogforhoes​ @witch-of-all-things-soft​ @shawkneecaps​ @whothefuckstolemykeds​ @mirdall @fishswimbetterunderwater​ @daughter-of-the-stars11​ @stranger-things4​ @heavenlycat567​ @nightbu-g​ @grapesauze​

DM me, or drop by my inbox if you want to be added!

[kaypeace21]

The Duffers use of music proves byler is endgame (music-analysis)

The Duffers in an interview said that they choose songs for the show very deliberately -sometimes spending weeks on Spotify to find just the right song to convey an emotion/context of a scene. Songs in all seasons (but especially in s3) were used to show how characters are feeling- or just an action they’re about to commit.

For instance, Karen when she’s about to meet Billy at the motel-  feels apprehensive and wants to get out of it (since it would hurt her family) and she was just flirting with Billy as a way to escape her own issues, about her life. She never flirted with Billy for the end-goal of “getting him.”

They even use “cat’s in the cradle’ which could be shown as a way to illustrate the inappropriate age disparity between Billy/Karen.

Other examples-

Right before the boys run away from the lingerie store- the lyrics are literally “I just walk away” XD

Jim when he looks at Joyce- the lyrics are “she’s got you.” ( cause he’s in love with her).

-And Jim after getting Mike to not come over to see El, (by yelling at him) sings…

Joyce after she sees Bob’s drawing fall to the ground and then crouches to pick it up.

And songs also illustrates how Nancy feels about her job (with her sexist co-workers). As the morose lyrics of “I’ll be working here forever” play as it zooms in on Hawkins post -as Nancy rushes inside.

As well as  her excitement -about investigating a new case. As Jancy leaves and the very on the nose song  of “get up and go” begins -as they get into the car.

Billy when he pulls out chloroform (from a perfume bottle).

El after dumping Mike (and smiling about it) XD

So all the byler stuff I’m about to mention proves byler is endgame.

So yes, the fact that the very first lyrics that play when we see mileven kiss for the first time  is “Just a little uncertainty can bring you down”- reflects that (just like the others, the song reflects Mike’s true feelings). The song is from the album “boy in the box (cough closet)”.

And we know this is how Mike (not El) feels about their relationship because he begins to sing the song right after this lyric. It mirrors how when Will danced with a girl (who owned a rainbow hair clip) the lyrics were “every smile you fake.”

Mike continues “And nobody wants to know you now. And nobody wants to show you how.So if you’re lost and on your own. You can never surrender.” He fears that if he isn’t straight everyone he cares about will abandon him, and that he’d be lost and the only one ‘like this’ -all alone.But he can’t ‘surrender’ the false-idea of being in love with El (out of fear).  El even says to “stop” and tries to cover his mouth to prevent him from singing and Mike asks “What you don’t like it?” and El just says “No!”.

Which may be a purposeful juxtaposition to how Robin came out- and instead both Robin and Steve sang off-tune happily together- while El covers Mike’s mouth and tells him to stop singing. When Mileven kiss at the end of the season the song ‘the first i love you’ plays. The same song that plays when Robin comes out to steve (to illustrate the juxtaposition).

What’s interesting is ( right before the mileven kiss) we see a zoom in shot of a picture of Will and a rainbow . Like that’s Will! He has light brown hair (not black) and Will is the only one associated with fire and has drawn himself with fire in the past.

And since El has Mike related-stuff all over her room, and barely knows Will. Mike probably lied saying it was supposed to be him- which is why it’s above her bed.And we also see that based on it’s placement Mike is facing the Will drawing so he can see it  (cause we see El in front of the poster and Mike sitting opposite of her during the 1st kiss) . 

And during this transition the lyrics read “cause just a little more time could open closing doors” Which could be hinting at byler becoming a thing later - when (after some ‘time’) they both become ready to actually admit their feelings/sexuality - despite the other probably doubting the other has feelings for them.

I mean we even see an illustration of Will & the text of the name ‘Mike’ written out next to a rainbow-heart. And 2 other drawings next to the rainbow heart drawing (that are covered in red hearts). XD

(*for those who can’t see Mike written out in the transitioned will/mike pic)

However, what’s interesting though is the one other things he took down from his wall. In S1 Mike (before he even met El)  has a heart sign, with a red heart being propelled by a rainbow. Then in s3 it's gone from his wall when he dates El (cause he's trying to repress the fact he's gay). Why El has a drawing that says Mike (with a heart also propelled by a rainbow.) He can't use El to escape the truth. His rainbow follows him everywhere even when he tries to hide it (from his basement wall and himself) -  and when kissing El!Aka he tries to take it down (like he pretends to be straight). However, in the first ep of s3 when Mike is making-out with El (trying to project his feelings for Will on to her by looking at the Will drawing while kissing) we see a emergence of the heart being propelled by a rainbow (in El’s room) as a drawing.  signifying Mike participating in compulsory-heterosexuality,  and the fact no matter how hard he tries- he’s not straight!

Also El’s reaction to the song - hints that this isn’t actually her mixtape. But one that Mike made for her. or Will made for Mike (since jon makes mixtapes and prob taught him how- Will in s3 gave a mixtape to Dustin so it would not surprise me if he gave one to Mike).

So similar to the drawing, the mixtape hints at byler’s feelings

  ‘I can’t fight this feeling’ (which mileven makes out to later). Actually indicates Mike fighting his feelings for Will. And how he’s been trying to fight his feelings for Will, all season.

Besides the lyrics themselves- the singer literally went on record about the song’s meaning . Which is about a boy being in love/pinning over his friend of many years and never thinking he had a chance at being with them (and being afraid he’d ruin the relationship if he confessed)- but slowly thinking he could  be with them (and that they might feel the same way about him) . And in the song the 2 people AREN’T even together yet!

“Oh, I can’t fight this feeling any longer. And yet I’m still afraid to let it flow. What started out this friendship has grown stronger, I only wish I had the strength to let it show. I tell myself that I can’t hold out forever .I said there is no reason for my fear ‘Cause I feel so secure when we’re together ‘.You give my life direction. You make everything so clear. And even as I wander I’m keeping you in sight. You’re a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter’s night. And I’m getting closer than I ever thought I might”

This makes no sense for mileven who kissed after knowing each other for a week and who didn’t have a long established friendship, beforehand. And who also are already together (and not afraid to express their ‘romantic feelings’ for each other).

Then in s2, mileven dance to ‘every breath you take’ a break up song about a stalker ex. The writer of the song also has said many times “it’s NOT a love song.” The duffers obviously knew that. Lumax also danced to it and Lucas was called a ‘stalker’. El also stalked Mike in s2 (all that stuff milevens found romantic- El watching him without him knowing. Mike says he was not ok with it in s3). And in s3 he said not to do that and she just says ‘i make my own rules’. Not to mention Nancy teaching Dustin how to dance is a direct parallel to Mike teaching El. 

Mike also tries to act like Dustin, and  forces Will to dance with a girl (who’s wearing a rainbow hair clip). Trying to be a good sport like Dustin is about lumax. And right after this we see Dustin look sad about Max/Lucas dancing and Mike (next to Dustin) look sadly at Will/girl dancing in the same exact frame as Max/Lucas. As they switch between these 2 shots to emphasize their sadness/jealousy.Then they both sit down (mirroring each other) on the verge of tears before Nancy and El show up to comfort them and distract them.  As El once again (presumably) wears Nancy dress. Mike “you cant go with your sister… i mean you can but it’d be really weird.”

Also in regards to Will- when I heard they were going to have the song ‘Never ending story’ I wondered if they were going to re-contextualize one line in particular to be a hint at Will’s queerness. And shock- they did it! XD

The lyric is “ Rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds and there upon a rainbow Is the answer to a never ending story. ”

And of course Will is the one with a secret- that is ‘rainbow’ related. And they pan to him during the “secrets” line. I think Will is less in the denial phase than Mike is and already knows he’s gay and in love with him.

And this wasn’t a coincidence because when Lumax makes fun of Dustin they sing the lyrics incorrectly as  “The mirror of your dreams. Rhymes that keep their secrets…” And it pans to Will AGAIN!

We see Will obscured in shadows to represent he’s “hiding”.

And then he appears in the light, looking sadly at D&D as the lyrics , “rhymes that keep their secrets” is sang (again).

And we see he’s specifically looking at the d&d game sadly and about to give it away- since they zoom in on the game title (before he places it in the “donation” box). 

Because the d&d game is used to reflect his desires (like a “mirror”) . It’s the ‘mirror of his dreams’- to be with Mike. Cue Mike saying “ what did you think,really? That we were never gonna get girlfriends? We were just gonna sit in my basement all day and play games for the rest of our lives?” And poor Will  just responding with “Yeah, I guess I did. I really did.”

This lyric about the mirror is NOT in the original song. It was used once again to establish D&D as a romantic symbol for byler. Just like how they zoomed in on d&d right before the romantic “crazy together” speech.

Mike in s3 says “Blank makes you crazy… y’know like the word (love).” Flo in s1 says “ Only love makes you that crazy and that stupid.” Cue Will calling himself “stupid” 4 times (after Mike says they won’t be together playing games for the rest of their lives-and ripping up the Halloween pic , out of heart-break).

(x)

So again right after we see the zoom-in of the game (another romantically coded scene happens after). Will puts the game in the ‘donation’ pile - and Mike isn’t happy about it.

Mike: “WHOA, dude, that’s the donation box.”

Will: “ I know, I’ll just use yours,  when I come back. (pause) if WE still want to play?”

( translation: “I love and want to be with you but I’m not going to pursue you and get my heart broken again. Because even if I feel like you love me… I can’t trust my own instincts about how you truly feel anymore. If you want to play this ‘game of love’  with me you have to initiate/participate in the game properly.” Mike when fixated on El even says it was a cool campaign but  “we just weren’t in the mood right now.” and  also says to Will “c’mon, let’s play for real”  but Will storms off (not thinking that what Mike said was genuine).  

Mike : “Yeah, but what if you want to join another party?”

(*cough, the other ‘species’/girls, or just someone else: girl, guy or otherwise)

Will: “Not possible.”

(Will will always love Mike, and  admits he wants to be with him for the rest of his life).

(x)

And we actually see the Hopper’s Monologue (where Mike is shown)- reflects what Mike said to Will earlier. Mike does want to love Will but he’s just scared of changing their relationship into something romantic- and even though a part of him doesn’t want things to change, he’s still afraid that Will will move on from him as they both get older. “I’ve been feeling distant from you. Like you’re pulling away from me or something” (Will does this both figuratively/literally). I miss playing board games every night (d &d)”. “But I know you’re getting older, growing, changing. And I guess, if I’m being really honest, that’s what scares me. I don’t want things to change.”

Also the lyric “ Rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds and there upon a rainbow- is the answer to a never ending story. ”

One way or another Will’s secret (of being queer and/or being in love with Mike) will eventually come out. And that’s the answer to this “never ending story” between Will & Mike. Their love story. I mean who else is associated with Will’s story and has loads of rainbow symbolism - and has rainbow symbolism that  specifically connects them to Will?

*Lol don’t even get me started  on analyzing how in s1 when Mike thinks Will is dead- Mike hugs his mom and the lyrics are “and we kiss as though nothing could fall. And the shame.” Which is queer coded and written by David Bowie- and during the s2 “freak” speech- Will even says he’d rather be friends with Bowie than Kenny Roggers.

People need to realize no one is a bigger shipper of byler- than the Duffer brothers themselves! XD

[fangirl-1523]

Cherry Bomb: Chap. 1

For clarification, Milven is purely platonic and events from Stranger Things 3 did not happen, such as Jim Hopper's death and the Byers and Eleven moving away.

June 14, 1985

"Roth... Roth...." the voice of Mike Wheeler said coming from the comm.

[Y/N] groaned and picked it up. "What you want, Blackbird?"

"You want to come over and play some D & D? With the rest of the party? Over." He asked.

[Y/N] [L/N] had lived next to the Wheeler family since she was five. Her family had moved there for a change of pace as it was a small town and very different from Indianapolis. She and Mike had grown up as window neighbors.

"But my elvan archer will die! It's happened every time. So much for me trying to be a female Legolas. Over."

"Then, bring your other characters. I know you created like twenty, so you can continue on playing with us for ten hours. Over." He told her.

[Y/N] could faintly hear the sound of snickers and giggles from the other end followed by the normal "Shut up!" from Mike. She sighed to herself.

"What will I be getting out of this again? Over."

"Time with the greatest people you have ever known? Over." Mike paused before adding. "We have food. Blackbird out."

"I'll be there in a minute. Roth out." [Y/N] put the comm down and left the room.

She didn't hear the endless teasing from Eleven, Max, Lucas, and Dustin. Or any of what Mike said in retaliation of their teasing and mochery. Instead, while that was going on, she hopped down the stairs to her mom. At the moment, it was just [Y/N], her mom, and her cat at the house (her parents were seperated, but they both liked the small town life of Hawkins, Indiana).

"Hey, momma, can I go over to the Wheeler's right now? Mike invited me over to play Dungeons & Dragons with the party." She asked finding her mom in the kitchen baking some deserts.

"Sure, sweetie. Just be back by six. You're father will be over here to pick you up for the weekend." Her mother, [Mother Name], replied.

It was the Friday after school let out for the summer and the first thing the party wanted to do was play Dungeons & Dragons. Of course some people (Max Mayfield) resented that notion seeing as it was summer which meant no more school and some more beach.

"Okay. Love you! Bye!" [Y/N] kissed her mom's cheek and zoomed out the door to her neighbors house.

She knocked on the door and Nancy opened the door for her. The upcoming senior at Hawkins High sighed before allowing the young girl that hadn't been involved with anything weird yet into their house. One thing the party, Jim Hopper, Joyce Byers, Nancy Wheeler, Jonathon Byers, and the Scoup Troop all agreed on was to leave the girl out of it. Out of all of it. [Y/N] went down towards Mike's basement where she found the boys setting up the pieces at the table and the girls were setting up snacks such as chips, some bite sized deserts, and soda.

"Hi, [Y/N]." Eleven said.

"Hi, El." [Y/N] said coming over to the two girls.

"[Y/N], which character are you playing?" Mike said looking through the folder labeled [Y/N]'s characters.

"Uh... actually... I wanted to try to be... a... uh..." then the girl mumbled what she wanted to do.

Max Mayfield and Eleven smirked (as they had heard what she said). Dustin Henderson asked for her to speak up, so they could hear her. All they got out of her was a smear of red across her face. Now that the boys were staring at her and her two only female friends were smirking, she instantly regretted every decision she had ever made.

"You know what? Just forget it. I'll use my elva-."

"She wants a chance as Dungeon Master, but she is too nervous to say anything to you four." Max said cutting her friend off.

[Y/N] tried to cover her face with her hands as she waited for the laughter to come right afterwards. It was a stupid idea. A stupid, silly thing to suggest she do. Way to make a fool out of you, [Y/N]. the [H/C] haired girl thought to herself before shying away from her friends.

"Since when do you know how to be Dungeon Master?" Dustin asked as he and Lucas sneakily (not that sly though) glanced over at Mike.

"It can't be that much difficult than putting on shows with action figures and dolls while my little cousins intervene about what the different characters could do." And Mike taught me.

"I say we give her a shot. I'm tired of doing the same thing ever single time." Max said.

"We don't do the same thing every time!" Lucas retorted back at his girlfriend.

"It's the same thing, but different outcomes based on the die roll." Eleven agreed.

"Just let her be dungeon master, guys. For one day. I actually want to see where she'll go with it. I'll just be a Gnome Thief." Mike told them.

"I don't have a problem with that." Will Byers added making his first statement in the conversation.

"Go on, [Y/N]." Dustin said glancing at the seat next to Mike. "You can sit there."

[Y/N] didn't see the glare Mike sent Dustin as she sat down in the seat. Eleven and Max got some food before sitting down.

"So, are we ready?" she asked them.

"Yeah. Let's see what you got." Lucas told her.

"To be clear, this is going to be totally -."

"Just start already, [Y/N]." Mike interrupted her. "Yes, we're well aware this is 'Geek Improv'."

Eleven looked from Mike to [Y/N]. As soon as she started to go to school with the party, she met [Y/N] almost as soon as she stepped into the door. And instantly, she understood why Mike hadn't been able to return her feeling. And now, watching the two of them, it reminded Eleven of why that was. Time passed and they all realized how much more involved she was with the details than Mike was and they all knew the adventure they were on was all sprouted from her mouth like bullshit. Because it was. She was making it up as she went along.

"You have reached the end of your quest. But your quest is not over. Instead, one of your party members carries a dark secret. One of them is actually the Great Darkness that vows to shrall the land in eternal night. You hear the cackle of what sounds like the Wicked Witch of the West Hehehe! As the sound bounces off the walls of the cave, you wonder where and who the sound is coming from. But it's too late. Your hear it say 'It's too late for you. Hehehehe!' And the voice is coming from-."

"[Y/N]," Karen Wheeler, Mike's and Nancy's mom, said walking down into the basement, "your mom says your dad is waiting for you. Time to go."

Karen Wheeler went back upstairs and Dustin leaned over to Mike, "Since when does your mom come down here?"

Mike simply shrugged. "Can we finish this really quickly?"

[Y/N] shook her head getting up from her seat. "Sorry. Dad's impatient as it is, and we're supposed to go to Chicago for the weekend. I'll be back Wednesday though. We can finish it then. Have a good weekend, Blackbird. Fellow geeks." She saluted them.

"Bye, Roth. Have fun with your dad." Mike said as she went back up the stairs.

"Dude!" Max exclaimed once she was out of earshot.

"What?!" Mike fired back.

"Do you two really have to act like that?" Max asked him.

"Like what?" he asked her.

"Like that! Two love sick idiots. Why don't you just ask her out?" asked Max.

"He can't."

"He's tried."

"Countless times."

"Failed countless times."

"Stuck in the friend zone, is he." Dustin said in the voice of Yoda.

"He's not that stuck. She likes him back. Right, El?" Max asked looking at her female friend for assistance.

"She does." Eleven nodded her head in agreement. "Just ask her out."

"Do it. When she comes back." Max told him.

"Jeez, okay, I will." Mike told him.

Wednesday came, and he commed [Y/N]'s radio. "Roth... Roth... Roth...."

No answer. Usually she would pick up after the second or third Rorh, but silence filled the radio. He tried again thinking her mom may have cleaned up her room while she was away (it has happened before). Silence.

"[Y/N], you there? Blackbird here ... trying to talk to you. Over." Silence.

This was weird. It was strange. Even when she was angry with him, she never metaphorically left him on read. She would radio in that she was angry and didn't want to talk and there would be a "I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU! I HATE YOU!" followed afterward that she didn't really mean. And that's when he heard shouting, yelling, and screaming from next door. It sounded like her parents.

Mike got out of his basement and along with his family and the rest of the street watched the scene play out between [Mother] and [Father] who hadn't spoken or saw one another in months.

"What do you mean you lost her? She was here yesterday! She called telling me she was back in Hawkins!" [Mother] yelled.

"I went to get food, and then she's gone! I checked everywhere for her! She's not here! And I'm pretty sure she didn't go back to Chicago! So, yeah I lost her! But I didn't lose her OKAY? She's missing! Gone! And it's not my fault! Dear god, why would you think it was my fault?" [Father] yelled back.

"It wouldn't be the first time you thought that." [Mother] mumbled before shouting, "If you didn't lose her, then help me find her! Help me find my daughter! Before something awful happens to her!"

[Y/N] was missing? Mike looked over at Nancy who was looking at him back. They both knew that the Upside Down had a part to play in the disappearance of [Y/N] [L/N].

What Netflix Original would the characters of Stranger Things watch the most often?

Eleven - Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Eleven would compare the events of her life to Sabrina's events in her life when they are sorta similar)

Mike - Orange is the New Black (gives me Mike vibes)

Max - Sex Education (gives me Max Mayfield vibes)

Will - A Series of Unfortunate Events (i feel like he would have read the books in elementary school, so he felt obligated to watch the show)

Lucas - Lost in Space (i didn't know what to pick for Lucas, so I just picked something random)

Dustin - Voltron Legendary Defender (Dustin has always given me vibes that he's a cartoon watcher type of TV person)

Steve - Daybreak (gives me Steve vibes)

Nancy - The Worst Witch (this was an accident. Nancy didn't want to watch it, but saw the trailer, thought it was interesting, and watches it afterwards).

Robin - Disenchantment (doesn't it just scream Robin at you?)

Jonathon - You (he would have heard about it from Nancy who wanted to watch it and he got hooked)

Joyce - Santa Clarita Diet (funny zombie humor)

Hopper - The Crown (this would have started off as something that both Hopper and Eleven watched together as a sort of father-daughter show or whatever, but he got hooked really, really fast)

[onlyssca]

Marriage sucks, unless it’s with you

summary:  Will is at a sleepover at Mike’s and suddenly gets sad. His parents are getting a divorce so Mike tries to cheer him up.

words: 895

Since the very first day they met in kindergarten, Mike Wheeler and Will byers were inseparable. It took them only a week after to ask their parents to have a sleepover. It quickly became a tradition. There was even a period, when they were around 8, where they would sleep at each other’s at least once a week.

In the Byers’s house they would both sleep in Will’s bed. Just because it was easier to read comic books together. Mike would read out loud and Will would listen while looking closely at the pictures and glance at Mike’s face every now and then. Usually falling asleep late and right next to each other. Multiple mornings, Will’s mom, Joyce, had walked on them cuddling. Except that one time where Will’s head was hanging down and Mike was lying the opposite direction with his head at the end of the bed. The covers half on the ground.

Mike liked to go at Will’s because Joyce was the sweetest to wake them up and always let them stay up a little longer than his own mother would.

In the Wheeler’s house they would sleep in the basement. They once built a fort with cushions and bed sheets, and never took it down. So every night they would both lay down on the covers and countless cushions surrounded by fairy lights. There was that one night though, when they both received their own Supercom. They insisted to sleep in separated rooms so they could talk on the walkie talkies. Mike in his bedroom and Will in the basement where they usually slept. They talked until one of them fell asleep around 2am. But when Will woke up, Mike was right by his side curling himself around Will’s petite figure. He hugged him back and went back to sleep for a little longer.

Will liked to go to Mike’s because his mom would always make the best breakfast.

Tonight was a different night. Will was glad to have a sleepover at Mike’s but was quiet the whole evening and looked very sad. Mike didn’t say anything in front of his family even though Karen had noticed the boy wasn’t wearing his usual bright smile.

After they changed into their pajamas and brushed their teeth, the boy said goodnight to everyone and headed downstairs. Will went into the fort and switched on the fairy lights while Mike switched off the lights of the room. He joined his best friend under the covers and they started talking.

They talked about anything and everything. From movies to school friends. They told each other’s jokes, some funnier than others. But the room felt silent when Will’s laugh died and his smile turned upside down.

Mike looked at him frowning and calmly asked. “Will, what’s wrong?”

“My parents are getting a divorce…” Will said.

Mike’s lips parted like he wanted to say something but nothing came out. A few seconds later, Will’s watery eyes met Mike’s.

“I’m sorry” Mike finally said. Will just shrugged and laid on his back turning his gaze away from Mike, looking upwards instead. “Do you know why?” Mike asked getting closer, resting his chin on his friend’s arm.

“I think they don’t love each other anymore…” Will exhaled some air, and placed his head against Mike’s, looking for comfort. Mike responded by putting his arm around the smaller boy, pulling him into a hug.

“Well, I don’t think my parents still love each other the same either” Mike said staring at the little light.

Will looked down at him and Mike did the same, their noses were almost touching so he moved his head back a little. “Why do adults marry each other if they’re gonna end up separated in the end?” Mike said.

“I don’t know” Will sniffed.

“Well marriage is stupid!” Mike spat out angrily.

“I think it’s kinda nice” Will replied. Mike frowned. “I mean you get to spend the rest of your life with someone you love. You can see them every day, have sleepovers every nights-”

“like us?” Mike said.

“I don’t think that’s how it works” Will looked back at Mike.

“Well who says we can’t get married?” Mike asked confused. To be fair he was only 9.

“I don’t know it’s just that” Will unconsciously knew that somehow they couldn’t even though he didn’t exactly know why.

Mike sat up. “Well we love each other and always spend time together”

“I guess” Will said still unsure.

“Will you’re my best friend, I love you, and I want to stay with you so we could sit in my basement all day and play games for the rest of our lives” Mike said truthfully smiling looking at Will with tender eyes.

Will smiled back.

“So?” Mike asked.

“So?” Will repeated, frowning, not understanding what Mike was implying.

“Will you marry me?” Mike waited for an answer.

There was a small silence of two second before Will smiled and nodded. “Yes” Mike smiled back then yawned which made Will yawn too.

“Okay well, we’ll get married tomorrow because right now I’m tired” Mike said lying back down, next to Will.

“Okay, goodnight Mike” Will whispered.

“Goodnight Will” Mike mumbled already falling asleep. And once again they woke up cuddling each other, leaving a soft smile on Karen’s face when she checked on them in the morning.

[suffering-and-happy-about-it]

... I'll Be Watching You (Sriracha, Part 32.)

Description: A problematic college student gets the worst summer job of the ‘83 - Jim Hopper, the Chief of police in your hometown will have you as his secretary since his old lady Flo has two months lasting holiday. It was agreed so Hopper could let you far away from all the trouble.

Part Summary: You thought that love is strong. That love can overcome anything. But what are you supposed to do... When the person you love... Just isn't there anymore?

A/N: I'M GETTING EMOTIONAL AGAIN. I KNEW IT WILL COME, BUT I DIDN'T REALIZED UNTIL NOW. I'M SO SORRY.

Word count: 3.8 K

Warnings: Angst, fluff, everything mixed together, major character death, (mine) sadness, (mine) minor depression, (mine) anxiety... I JUST REALLY MISS HOP, OKAY?

Tagging: @nemodoren​, @creedslove​, @missdictatorme​

Master list: H E R E

It was just another normal Thursday in the bistro. Well... Normal was too far fetched maybe. It was full because a lot of people came to the bistro to have dinner there before taking off to the funfair happening just five minutes from Hawkins. The people were in a good mood, the TV on the wall was going between news channels, showing various towns celebrating the Fourth of July.

The independence day was always great for you - huge tips, big smiles and good chatting with the costumers. You also liked to watch the fireworks on the TV, just to stop for a second and look at the colors, laughing and happiness it could cause. On days like those were, you loved your work. Ada was there with you, she always was, and another waitress came by - Camilla. She usually didn't have her shifts crossed with yours, but she was nice as well.

You were worried out of your mind for Hopper. Eleven at least called you earlier that day, telling you what was going on. She always at least told you who she’s with - but he just disappeared two days ago and people were spreading rumors that maybe, just maybe, he ran off to Indianapolis with Joyce Byers. You didn't believe any of that, but it was kind of strange for Jim to go off radars just like that. You knew that he's at least partially okay, but where he was or what he was up to, you haven't got any idea.

You leaned over the desk to take another offer, swaying your hips in the direction of table number four. What were the kids up to, you had no idea - you just knew that Eleven had teamed up with Max and that she had some relationship trouble with Mike. They told you that they have plans - and you trusted Eleven. You made a compromise with Jim that she can plan something on the Fourth of July and you kept your word. You simply trusted her, not asking any more questions.

"Breaking news." - The news suddenly shifted from a playful and happy tone to a completely serious one. Everybody, including you, in the room, looked at the screen, while you put the plates down. Could it be a fire started by the fireworks? Or did something happened at the fair? You shut up and watched the TV. Then an image of Starcourt mall in flames flashed on the screen and there could be gasps and whispers heard in the room. Your heart stopped as well, imaging Eleven anywhere near this.

"Starcourt mall is on fire. The source of the fire itself remains a mystery, but about thirty people are rumored to be inside the building at the moment." - A woman on the screen said with a completely serious, yet emotionless face. That was... Tragic. Truly tragic. How could one of the most modern shopping centers catch on fire? On the Fourth of July? Was it an error on the inside or could fireworks cause that?

"Local police Chief, James Hopper, is rumored to be inside along with eight teenagers who he intended to safe from the construction. Stick with us for news as soon as we got any." - She said and the logo of the TV station appeared on the screen.

Your look immediately traveled to Ada and your boss, who come to listen to the breaking news as well, your heart racing at the speed of light, thumping so loud that you could barely hear anything else. Hopper. Hopper was inside. In the falling apart building which caught on fire. They were yelling at you to drive there, so you nodded and not caring about the uniform, you ran to your old car.

Everything seemed to be unclear and smudged - you running to the car, starting it and driving off to the mall, breaking every possible speed limit that existed. You listened to the radio station informing on the current situation, but there were no mentions of Hopper or the teenagers. They were only talking about the firefighters and more and more policemen driving in, the sirens of ambulance cars in the distance and about how destroyed Starcourt appeared. It was slowly coming down.

You stopped in the middle of the parking lot, even leaving the motor running, just jumping off and running directly to the crime scene. You ran to where the police tape was starting, joining those who already stood there. It was indeed in flames. And it was one of the most terrifying things you've seen. Your mouth opened up as you looked at the dark clouds of smoke coming from the inside, the destroyed foyer which could be perfectly seen from the spot you were standing at and at the disoriented. Lost people standing there... Waiting for something. Anything.

You looked closely and furrowed - you realized that just in front of you, there was Steve Harrington dressed up in his Scoops Ahoy uniform sitting on the ground with a blonde girl, the medics were patching up his beaten up face and wrapping him up in a blanket. There were Eleven's friends sitting around on the pavement in front of Starcourt, everyone had a blanket over their shoulders. You noticed even Joyce Byers and Murray Bauman coming out, supported by the firemen, Joyce running to her son as soon as she saw him, not caring about the medics. She was crying her eyes out, her expression was terrified and she clearly couldn't understand a thing that was happening. But she hugged Will tighter.

And then you noticed her. Eleven standing in the middle of all of that chaos, with a patch on her forehead, dressed up in a bright yellow shirt with a black pattern, looking completely out of focus. She was searching for Hopper. Your crying got louder just because you knew she's safe.

You crouched under the tape, not caring about all the policemen that came from Bloomington, running towards her. You were screaming her name with relief. She turned to you, unable to take a gasp at the situation, she didn't know what to do at all. One of the officers almost ran after you, but Powell shook his head and caught his shoulder. Eleven was known as your daughter just as you were known as her mother. Nobody cared how you got together or that you were only about ten years apart from each other, they just knew you're family.

Eleven ran to your arms, almost bringing you down. Your hands grasped her face, your fingers cleaned it up a bit before you kissed her forehead and brought her closer to your body, almost suffocating her. You couldn't care less - the relief was just too strong.

"Ah, baby girl." - You mumbled with sobbing, still holding her in your arms. She started to cry as well, hugging your bistro uniform with her palms. Where was he? Where was your goddamn fiancé? Why wasn't he coming out of the flames? You were holding Eleven, which made you partially calm, but there was no sign of Hopper.

Joyce slowly looked around to see Karen Wheeler, Mrs. Sinclair and Mrs. Handerson running towards their boys, but then she looked at you, holding Eleven tightly. You were searching for something and Eleven was too - until her gaze fell on Joyce. She brought Will even closer when the events happening just minutes ago resurfaced on her mind. And Eleven knew what was going on in a second - and at the time, she truly started to cry.

Jim loved both you more than anything in the whole world. If there was anything he would sacrifice for, it was you two. If there was anyone that gave his life a direction and meaning, it was his daughter and the love of his life. He sacrificed himself, so you could be safe. But it dragged you to the hell and back - it was soon about to, but you didn't see it coming yet.

When you realized that maybe Hopper isn't coming out, you could swear that you felt the ground shaking under your feet. Did Eleven know that too? Of course, she did know that. She wasn't dumb.

That night, you both slept at your mother's - well, Eleven cried herself to sleep with her head on your thighs and you were sitting at the coffee table with a mug of black tea with a blanket over your shoulders, still watching the news, hoping for some news about Hopper. Your mother was with you the whole time, watching over you since your eyes were practically glued to the TV screen. And there were news, around five in the morning - but they sure as hell weren't good.

"We have another breaking news about the Starcourt mall being in flames." - The moderator said with a completely serious face - this time, it was a man. Your palm tightened around your mother's as you moved closed with your breath stuck. - "The list of the victims had finally been completed. Along with thirty citizens of Hawkins and Bloomington, there is also the name of local police Chief, James Hopper..." - He confined his speech, but you didn't listen to any of the things he said anymore. Your covered your mouth with your palm closed your eyes tightly and started to cry again. The coldness hugged your body tightly, flowing all over you, making your head spin and your heart thump a bit slower than it used to.

You pulled yourself together, but it was just because of Eleven. You needed to be strong for her - you were both suffering in your special way, but there were many things to go through. You gave yourself a few days to cry and to try to get a hold on that shock, mostly just sticking together, like cooking, or reading or just nuzzling while watching a movie. She was allowed to sleep with you in your bed, it somehow made the falling asleep easier.

After a week, you knew that you had to do something - so you decided to visit Joyce in her workplace, dropping Jane off at Mike's to spend some time with her friends, which could also make her help to feel better. You knew that you're not able to take care of Eleven on your own. You wanted to. You couldn't even say out loud in words how much you wanted to - but you hadn't your place, you hadn't even your diploma finished, you hadn't got any work... You weren't in a position to take care of your baby girl.

But Joyce could help you with that. She was surprised to see you walking in, especially with how bad you looked. There was no wonder why did you look so bad, but you looked like a ghost.

"Oh, hey there." - She waved at you with a small smile on her lips. She was looking tired as well, but at least, she did stop with living her life. She couldn't stop her whole life, not even for a minute since her need to be the rock for Johathan and Will was too strong. Eleven was also the one keeping you going - without her, you wouldn't be most likely ready to get up in the morning. Those were just things only moms could understand.

"Hi, Joyce." - You smiled back and took a sandwich out of your bag, giving it to her. - "Are you up for lunch? Took you some Bologna one, since I heard you like them the most."

Of course that Joyce was. It was a normal working day, which meant that she won't have much to do until two p.m. You sat in front of Melvald's under the summer sun and the warm wind, eating sandwiches. You knew you can talk to Joyce about the Hopper situation - she was his friend and probably, she was with him until the end. She was the first person who had crossed your mind when you thought about letting Eleven go to live her own life.

“How are you feeling, darling?” - She took your left hand to yours, looking at the small piece of silver on your ring finger. It was still there - just as she remembered it months ago when you first visited Melvald’s after that big day.

“Like a piece of fucking shit, not gonna lie.” - You chuckled bad and nodded to yourself. - “But she's making me feel better. What about Will and Jonathan? How are they holding up?”

“You know boys. They're almost adults, so they don't talk to their mamma about everything going on inside their heads. If there would be something off, I'm sure that they would come to me.” - She smiled back with sincerity. She was such a good mom and even a better human being. You haven't talked to Joyce much before you and Hop started dating, but when you got to meet her, you knew that you love that human being. She was also the one who supported your decision to date Hopper from the very start.

“I heard you'll be moving out of Hawkins?” - You asked and took a fair bit from that sandwich. You haven't eaten properly in a week, so you knew that even that small Bologna sandwich will bring you to bellyache.

“People talk, don't they?” - Joyce giggled back and nodded soon after. - “I'm thinking about Maine. But maybe ill change my mind.” - She shook her shoulders and smiled sadly. - “It will be strange to leave Hawkins. I'm living here since the day I was born and my boys do too.”

This was your time to ask her. You just prepared yourself to shoot the question out blatantly.

“What about taking Eleven with you?” - You told her a bit too quickly, taking a deep breath after that. You gave yourself a long time to think about how you'll continue the speech. - “I mean... Joyce. I don't want to get rid of her by any means, I love her with everything I have and since last week, she's the only one who keeps me in the boundaries of sanity. But she endured already too much in Hawkins - Jim told me about her escaping a lab near the town, she was surviving in the woods on her own, he adopted her and now, when he's gone... We still have each other and nothing’s more powerful than that, but I don't think I can do it on my own.” - You told silently and Joyce, even though she was already furrowing at you, didn't interrupt your speech.

“I don't have anything to give her - no flat, no money, my job isn't the best and I'm still a college student. My parents would take care of her, yeah, but... I don't think she would be happy here. Everything's going to remind her more and more as the time passes and I know so, because I already see memories of Jim every time I walk out, or when I cross the police station... And it's painful and numbing. I don't feel like I can take care of her, not at this point in my life.” - You caught Joyce's hand, looking her in the eyes, having a completely serious expression. - “Please, I beg you. Take her with you, I'll send you money for the rent and food, I’ll support her, I’ll visit you as often as I can, just... Don't let her rot in Hawkins.”

Joyce was watching your hands on her thigh, still chewing the last bite of the Bologna sandwich she took, processing all the information. There were a lot of things you tried to say and she wasn't completely sure if she caught all of them, but the things she heard, they were pretty rational as far as she could say. As a mother, she could feel how hard it must've been to even ask the questions you did or to even allow yourself to think about them.

It did make sense.

“Darling, I know it's hard for the both of you and I know how in pain you are while asking me and the least I can do is saying yes. You can count on me and Jonathan. You need time for yourself and once you're ready, I know you'll give Eleven the best home a child can ask for.” - Joyce answered with a low smile, making you cry with gratitude once again. The last thing you needed to do was to talk to Eleven about that - which was the worst part about everything.

You weren't ready to talk about the moving out until the end of August - you dodged the subject in both your head and conversations with Eleven. You told your mother and even if you had a huge argument after that, she could say that she understands why you chose such a radical solution.

When you felt like you're finally ready to talk about that with Eleven, you lit a fire on your parent’s garden and made both of you some tea while she prepared the marshmallows to roast.

“Come here.” - You smiled at her and rose your right arm. She took it as an invitation and you snuggled her up to your side, kissing her temple. She smiled and leaned a bit away from you - she was getting older and as most of the kids of her age, she started to think that things like that are cringy. - “I need to tell you something, okay?” - You whispered and Eleven nodded, while she started to roast the first pieces of the sweet treat.

“It doesn't make me happy, baby girl, but... I was silent about all of that for already a bit too long. You know I love you and that I want you to be happy, right?” - You asked with a slight furrow, watching the flames. Eleven slightly nodded, still looking away from you. - “I think it would be better if you move out with Joyce, you know?”

That was when her big, brown and widened eyes looked you in the face. You were already crying at that moment, being completely broken. She shook her head, catching your palm in hers.

“I don't want to go.” - She whispered, starting to cry as well. You palmed her face, hugging her with your eyes closed, trying to keep yourself calm. How could you stay calm in a situation like that one? - “My home is here with you, Mike and grandma. Why don't you understand?”  

“And it will always be your home, baby. You just need to give me some time to find us a flat, I need to finish that degree... But then, it will be just us again.” - You whispered and cried, even more, feeling as Eleven wiggled out of your embrace. She threw the stick away, not even thinking about eating the marshmallows. You completely failed that one as a mother. You should tell her sooner and choose different words. This was just a stupid move.

“I don't want to go!” - She yelled and stormed off to somewhere. You stayed there all alone, crying and regretting ever doing this.

The following weeks were extremely hard for you. You finally visited the cabin again alongside Joyce, Steve Harrington, Jonathan, and Eleven, trying to save at least something. You cried with relief when you found all of your photo albums untouched and the framed photo still standing on the nightstand. There was even his naughty album, which you took with you as well, knowing well it has some photos of him too.

Most of all, you saved the rest of yours, his and Eleven’s clothes, moving a lot of it to Joyce’s house afterward. You kept a lot of his t-shirts and flannels, giving Eleven the ones she liked the most.

When the day of your separation came, you both lived at Joyce’s for a week to help her with packing all of the things. Joyce was making you occupied and laughing almost all the time, not thinking about what is coming. Even Eleven stepped aside from being very angry with you, she still was, but she started hugging you again and calling you mom. You and Joyce agreed on the kids staying every day of the week since you knew that they spent their best years together.

Especially sad you were about Mike - he was about to lose not only a girlfriend but also a friend he knew since kindergarten. The day before Byers left Hawkins, the house was empty, but you had a big pizza party, letting the kids do everything they wanted in the living room. And to your surprise, they played Dungeons and Dragons until the morning came around.

“Can you for a minute?” - You asked Eleven when she helped Will and Mike to pack the younger Byers’ room. She nodded, leaving the two boys alone. Joyce knew what you’re about to do, so she left the kitchen and told the kids not to come there. You gave her a small, wrapped up package, encouraging her to open it up.

It was the blue shirt Hopper gave you before you almost left for Indianapolis. It started to smell like you, since you wore it a lot, but now, it was time to pass on the legacy. Eleven knew you loved that piece of flannel, so she held it on her chest, looking you in the face. - “Why?” - She whispered.

“This shirt was really special for Jim. It’s a family tradition that one gives it to a person they love. He got it from Sara, then, and one day, he gave it to me. And it's my turn to pass the shirt on. I want you to have it.” - You smiled at her, kissing the back of her head once again.

“I love you, you know that, right? And he loves you too.” - You whispered when she hugged you so tight you could barely breathe, making you close your eyes while you closed your eyes, leaning your nose into her hair. - “I know that, mom. I know.”

And when you watched her leave with Joyce, crying her eyes out as well as everyone else, you knew that the part of you which belonged to Jim left on that day with Eleven. She was taking it away with her, leaving her behind against her will. Nancy drove you back home that night, but you knew that your world is never going to be the same as it was when they were with you.

[willel]

Random Season 4 Wishes

Here is a random list of things I want to see in season 4 in no particular order. Some of these are more like predictions than wishes, but at this point, any prediction made is just a wish. 

A break from all out romance. The romance wasn’t really handled all that great last season. Other than the looming monster danger, it was the forefront of season 3. I would like a return to a season 1/season 2 formula where while there is still romance, it is never the focus. Stranger Things excels with subtle tender moments and meaningful physical contact. 

Character growth over character drama. Another issue season 3 had is too much conflict between character. Hardly any of it really contributed to character growth. The only character growth to be seen is Mike being a little less clingy and El being a little more independent. Nothing else noticeably changed, not on screen. Conflict is important... but it should be pushing our character forward, not locking them in place. 

Recapture the importance of family. Our cast has been divided in two. The Byers + El are somewhere new while the others stayed behind in Hawkins. This leaves an excellent opportunity to revisit old threads long forgotten. I would love to see Nancy and Mike actually interacting. Not just one conversation or exchanging a glance. Full out brother and sister duo. I feel similarly about Jonathan with his own family. I would like to see a plot where all the Byers + El are in it together. 

Return of Kali. Kali, I feel, is a very important piece of El. While season 3 would have us forget her influence of El, I hope next season doesn’t completely ignore her presence. It would be interesting if Kali’s prediction comes true, that no matter where she hides or who she’s with, “they” will never let her live in peace or have a normal life. Not because I want harm to come to El, but because I don’t for a second believe the government is done with her or the other experimented children.

Proper strategist Michael Wheeler and proper action man Lucas Sinclair. I would like to see the return of the strategist Mike who always seems to have a plan and can get everyone on the same page. In season 3, he was fumbling around distracted. I feel normally, Mike would have set a trap for the Mind Flayer or would’ve formulated a proper plan to escape the mall or the cabin. In Lucas’s case, they did ok with him in season 3 actually, but it was really out of character for him to freeze up while El was being choked out. I want to see a more forward athletic Lucas. 

Will to make new friends. In season 3, we saw at least 2 of the 4 boys interests changing drastically and the other was all too eager to go off and hang around new people. Given Will’s situation (new town, new house, new school, distant old friends), I’d like to see Will gain some new friendships. That’s not to say he’d drop the old ones. They’re the OG after all. But, before all the drama of next season picks up, it would be nice to see Will being happy and acknowledged by new friends.

US Government becoming a threat again. Personally, I did not enjoy the Russian plot. Everything seemed like a joke. When the US government were the bad guys, everything felt more dangerous and dire. You never knew who was listening. Who was watching. What would happen if they found El or if they would hurt the boys and their families. Next season, I feel they could make the Russians feel like as much of a threat as the US government if both governments are clashing and in a race to the bottom. By that, I mean the government should become a major foe again racing against the Russian government to do bad things. Open a gate? Control a demogorgon? Allow the Mind Flayer in again? Both these governments should screw up equally. 

A slow return of El’s powers. I want El to get her powers back, but I want it to be a slow daunting process. It’s like she starts back at square one. She can move and pick up small things, but even that has taken her months. She’s stuck between being seemingly normal with no powers, but also missing the power she once had. 

Casual power training. As we know, Will is really into comics. El might be too since Max introduced her to them. A classic of comics is the super hero training to regain their strength or to become stronger. It would be really interesting if Will contributed to El slowly regaining her powers by setting up obstacles and challenges just for her. Maybe on the weekends, he designs a building and she must use wooden blocks/legos to make it with her powers. Or, build a house of cards. A game of darts using powers only. A game of catch. (I was going to say Jenga, but it looks like that didn’t get released in the US until 1987) Anything Will can creatively come up with that he thinks will help her regain her strength. (whether it does or not is up for debate) It’s mostly casual fun. Some bonding opportunities. Who doesn’t enjoy training the hero/super hero? (basically, it’s roleplay) 

Will’s power expanded. I am writing a proper theory page on Will’s/the Byers’s powers, but let me explain exactly what I mean here. It’s clear Will has powers, but they severely limited them in season 3. Examples:

Instead of only sensing the Mind Flayer when it’s nearby, he should be able to close his eyes, concentrate, and locate the center of activity

Will should have great insight into the Mind Flayer’s intentions even if it’s just honest guesses on what the Mind Flayer wants and what he’s trying to do (like in season 2)

Will’s danger senses should happen immediately, not delayed like we saw in the hospital or in the mall. He should be able to tell the Mind Flayer is coming for them from miles away or even across dimensions.

Will should retain true sight, the ability to see into the Upside Down. A dangerous ability to be sure, but can be useful if we’re going to have gates popping in and out around the world like what’s been implied.

Karen possibly discovering the truth. Honestly, Season 1 Karen is such a good mom. And in season 3, that discussion with Nancy was superb and beautiful. I would love for Karen to learn a little more what her two eldest kids have been up to. If not that, I’d like for her to at least give more guidance to her kids. I’d like for Nancy and Mike to vaguely come to her for advice and she’d grant it, no questions asked. (ok, Karen used to be very nosy so maybe she does ask questions, but takes a step back and respects their privacy)

Joyce to be believed right away. I honestly do not understand why people doubt Joyce, you know? She’s been right 3 years in a row now (Nancy too). I swear if anyone questions her intuition next season, she should give them her classic Joyce sneer until they realize how silly they’re being. In order of “alarm bells”, I think it will go like Will >> El >> Joyce >> Jonathan in quick succession. All 4 family members should be very sensitive to weird things as this point. 

Jonathan gets a plot. I want to see things from Jonathan’s perspective again. After season 1, we’ve barely gotten anything. I want to see Jonathan putting forth plans or leading the charge, at least for a little while. There is a great opportunity for this next season since he’s the man of the house about to graduate from high school if he hasn’t already. (*sobs remembering Will is taller than him now, officially). Heck, if we want to switch around the order of “alarm bells”, maybe Jonathan becomes alert of something wrong before Joyce does this time. 

Less product placement. In season 1/season 2, there was product placement, but that was because they were really setting the scene. It was 1983. This is what products used to be like. This is what was popular at the time. But season 3? They cranked that dial up 2000% when they didn’t need to. It really made it feel less serious and set in reality. Don’t dare use Lucas to spit out a damned Coke ad ever again. 

Genuine friendship moments. I’ve mentioned this earlier, but with less romantic drama and stuff, I’d like to see genuine friendships return. The El and Max friendship was great and all, but it’s really a shame it was so heavily focused on Mike. I hope in the future, these two girls are able to share screentime without the boys being mentioned or thought about. Same with the guys, it would be nice if they could hang out like before without splitting off into pairs or focusing entirely on their romantic lives. They don’t really feel like a friend group anymore, just a group of double dates (hence why I’d like for Will to make friends outside the original group.)

Proper use of the supernatural. Season 3 was weak when it came to the Mind Flesher imo. They had this whole idea of the Flayed who seemed to be totally normal (and sweaty) just walking around town living their lives until a flip was switched. Whyyyyy in the world weren’t they used to try to get at our cast? The only time they did it was in the hospital, but we saw dozens and dozens of people who could’ve served the same purpose except it could happen anywhere. Maybe there were other ‘patients’ in the waiting room that also turned on the kids that they had to fight off? Maybe strange people came to all their houses trying to find them or break in? They could’ve gone full creepy like season 1/2 but they didn’t. I’d like to see them fully use the horror aspects next season. 

That’s what I got off the top of my head. 

[bentnotbroken1fanfiction]

Can't Keep Pretending

Side Drabble III

Joyce doesn't know how, exactly, she acquired two more teenage boys to care so much about, it just kind of happened.

The Upside Down had chewed all of them up, spit them back out and left them to pick up their own pieces. And it was harder for some than it was for others.

Most of them had family, friends to lean on.

But not all of them.

There was a cloud of loneliness following after Steve Harrington. Maybe the other kids didn't see it, didn't know what it was, but she did. When she asked Jonathan about it, he'd told her Steve's parents basically lived in a condo in Chicago and only came home one weekend a month.

It was obvious from the very beginning that he longed for connection, was eager for affection, and it broke her heart.

So with Steve it had been easy.

There was no real hesitation when she offered comfort, told him he always had a place here with them. It's not good for him to be alone all the time.

He'd accepted her offer immediately, even with his history with her son. It was like none of it mattered. They'd all been through hell who cares who is dating who. He was just grateful that someone noticed his loneliness.

Steve was easy for her to approach and get through to.

But Billy Hargrove was a different story entirely.

Joyce is under no delusions when it comes to the boy. He'd done some awful things, even before getting possessed, but he's still a kid. He deserves a second chance like everyone else.

And it only took watching him interact with the others, watching him react to Hop's presence to realize what plagued him, what caused his violence before. She'd seen the slight changes in his facial features, could see him flinch or back away from any quick movements that he wasn't prepared for.

She'd seen these behaviors before. In herself, in Jonathan, and it makes her angry, so angry that she confronts Hopper about it one night after they all leave. Did he know? Was he aware of what was happening?

He was. He told her he knew exactly what was going on, that he was working on a legal way to intervene. But that's not enough, Hop.

I know.

She thinks maybe she can help in a different way, show him that not everyone will hurt him. That there are people that care. But he wouldn't let her get anywhere near him so she has to keep an eye on him from afar.

At first she thought he was afraid of her, which threw her for a loop because unless you're a threat to her kids, she's practically harmless. So she paid closer attention, looked over the wall he's struggling to rebuild. The one from before.

He wouldn't let her near him.

So she'd asked Max a few questions, but all the girl knew was that Billy's mom left when he was ten and never came back. But as horrible as that was, she had a feeling that it wasn't abandonment issues that caused him to shy away from her.

She just didn't know what it was.

Then one night Will made a comment about him being a lifeguard at the pool that summer, and Mike responded by making a face, yeah, and totally flirted with my mom.

Lucas had jumped in at that point. Dude, get over it. He flirted with everyone's mom.

Max agreed. Yeah, pretty sure Mrs Grant even slipped him her number one time.

The kids were talking about it like it was all a joke, and to them it was, but...things started making a little more sense to Joyce.

Billy's mom had left him. Left him with an abusive father. He got hit on by older women, moms, and he even flirted back with them, maybe even came onto them first. It all makes her a little queasy because he was seventeen that summer. He's was a kid, still is a kid. And these women, Karen for Christ's sake, should know better.

And she can't help but think that maybe this had happened back in California too and that maybe, maybe one of them, someone's mom, took advantage.

It would have been almost too easy to do. He's a good looking kid and if he had gone looking to fill a void, well…she can imagine exactly what he'd found.

So now she doubts that he is afraid of her, but she's pretty damn sure that he doesn't trust her. And she doesn't blame him. He's been through a lot, more than any of them really.

He's the only one with visual physical proof of the Upside Down marked across his body.

She hurts for him.

Wants to help him.

But she knows she has to wait until he's less cagey, less flightly. Has to wait until he's not jerking away whenever she gets close or hiding behind Steve when they're all crowded in the house.

If he starts to get more comfortable, more at ease with them all, maybe then she'll be able to get through to him.

But until then, she'll wait.

Part I

Read whole series on AO3

[clericbyers]

4

“You wanna talk to Will?”

Will froze at the door and turned on his heel to face El, who sat on the couch with the receiver in hand. She eagerly motioned to the phone and there was muttering coming from the other end that Will couldn’t decipher from this distance. Whatever was said made El giggle and she once again motioned for Will to come over and answer.

It wasn’t that Will didn’t want to talk to Mike—and he knew who it was on the phone, El’s voice was always a little softer around the edges when Mike was on the line—but he also didn’t want to talk to Mike. Their conversations had started taking a different turn and Will wasn’t really sure what to do about it. He could definitely pinpoint that Mike started getting a little more flirty after he and El called it quits for good, but Will wasn’t as confident about these things and didn’t know how to respond.

All Will knew was that if Mike made another side comment about how he missed Will’s “sparkling green eyes” or mentioned in passing how he missed Will’s voice and wished he could wrap it around him like a blanket, Will would possible combust. Even with all of this, Will still nodded and took the phone from his sister. El clapped her hands together excitedly and curled her arms around her legs as she patiently waited for Will to talk.

“Hey, Mike,” he sighed though he couldn’t hide the excitement laced in his voice.

“Will! Oh great; look, I wanted to talk to you about something I’m working on for when you guys get back.” There was shuffling on the other end and the familiar sound made something in Will’s chest a little warmer. “I started working on a new campaign but it’s kinda just you with me as DM. We haven’t really played since you left so I don’t know if the others still wanna play.”

“I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t.”

“Girlfriends and all that.”

“Ironic.”

“I know and I’m sorry,” apologized Mike for the hundredth time even though Will had long since forgiven him. The wound was still sore but that argument did force each boy to look at each other in a different light. Will wasn’t sure what light Mike saw him in, but given they were still talking and still so close, he figured it was a positive one.

“It’s okay, Mike. We can play with just the two of us when the others are out.” Will leaned back against the couch and started twirling the phone cord around his finger. “What is it you wanna share though? I know you can’t tell me about the campaign.”

Mike huffed. “Oh, that. Well, I told you about how my mom and dad are getting a divorce and all that, right? Mom feels really guilty about the whole thing and how I’m being treated in school because of it, which really isn’t anything to worry about for her. Not a lot of high school kids actually care about her life enough to bully me about it despite what she seems to think. There was that one kid but he turned to something else pretty early on so it’s not an issue.”

Will smiled as Mike spoke on and on. Mike was a chatterbox when his mind locked on a certain topic and it could take forever for him to stop talking enough to get to the point. Maybe if it were someone else, Will would be more irritated about all the talking, but given he was a little more on the timid side of social interaction, he didn’t mind not having to talk. Plus, Mike’s voice was pretty soothing to his ears. One day, Will would have to ask him to sing on the line.

“Will? Are you still there?”

“What? Oh, yeah. Yeah, I’m here.” the brunette reconfigured himself on the couch with a cough. “Sorry; my mind got away from me.”

“That’s okay. It’s okay. I was just saying that my mom forced my dad to buy me a ‘sorry we’re getting divorced’ gift.” Mike snorted and Will couldn’t help his smile at the familiar sound. “It’s new Atari games if you’re down to play.”

“Always, Mike.”

“Yeah?”

“Mmhmm,” purred Will just enough to realize he was, well, dipping his toes into flirty waters. “I wish I could see you right now.”

Silence answered before Mike’s soft voice came through. “I wanna see you so bad, like I’m going crazy, I swear; I biked down to your old place a couple weeks back and saw people moving in already and I felt like such an idiot for thinking no one was gonna move into the house.” Mike paused. “I, uh, I also sometimes start drafting these secret letters as if I’m talking to you? Like at the end of the day I just sit at my desk and write a little. Is that weird?”

Will shrugged even though he knew Mike couldn’t see it. “It’s only weird if you never send it to me so now you have to start sending me your secret little letters.” Mike laughed and it sparked something in Will before he could stop himself. “Sometimes I turn on my supercomm and tune into our transmission line even though I know I can’t hear you from out here.”

“Will.”

And the broken tone in Mike’s voice then–the desperation and sorrow that bled through the line and coated Will with pain–brought tears to Will’s eyes. “Mike, I miss you.”

Those three words could never convey everything Will wanted to say to his friend but it would have to do. “I miss you, too,” Mike whispered hoarsely. They listened to each other breathe for a few minutes before Mike cleared his throat. “I gotta go; helping Dad move out the house has been a bit of a pain in the ass.”

“Okay. I, uh, we’ll talk later then.” Will turned to El and pointed at the device in his hand but she shook her head. “Bye, Mike.”

“Ha, yeah. Yeah. Talk later, Will.”

Mike ended the call first but Will found it hard to put down the phone. He missed Mike’s voice already and it hadn’t even been a full minute. Only El’s teasing managed to catch Will’s attention and bring him back into the present. “Mike, I miss you,” she cooed overly sweetly, giggling when Will’s glare hardened. “You sound lovesick! I heard that in a soap opera I watched with Joyce. It’s when you sound sad but happy about someone.”

“L-lovesick?”

“Yes! That’s you! And Mike. He is maud–made–maudleen?”

“Maudlin. He has plenty of reason though, I mean, Karen and Ted are splitting up. I totally understand what it’s like to have divorced parents.” Green eyes looked down at the phone in hand. “I hope he’s taking it well.”

El made a noise in the back of her throat and then suddenly gasped with understanding. “Oh my god!” she exclaimed with a hand at her mouth. Will turned to her with raised eyebrows and a bucketful of confusion on his face. “You’re in love with him!”

Will’s face would have burst in flames if he was capable of such a thing. “I–wait, what? No, no, no, I’m not. I can’t–I’m not in love with Mike, El.”

“You are.”

“I’m not. That sounds completely crazy.”

El pouted. “Friends don’t lie.”

Will groaned. “El, I’m not in love with Mike!”

“But you’re lovesick! You care about him. And your voice changes with him.” She started listing off points with a contemplating smile. “You talk about him with me a lot. You turn on the radio as if he’s gonna call. You spaced out and just listened to his voice. You care about how he’s taking things back in Hawkins.”

“That’s being a considerate friend.”

“Yes, you love your friends,” El cocked her head to the side with curiosity, “but Mike is different, right?”

Will looked off to the side. He couldn’t deny it, he hadn’t been able to deny it for months now, but he still refused to say it. Something about saying I love Mike aloud cemented the fact and Will wasn’t sure he could handle that. His face must have contorted because Will felt a hand on his shoulder and he snapped out of his thoughts with a quickness unmatched. Turning to face El fully, he raised his eyebrows for her to continue what she wanted to say.

“It’s okay to love Mike. I loved him, too. And he loves you!”

“Yeah, but not in the same way.”

El snorted. “He didn’t tell you what’s in the letters he won’t send you?” A smirk crawled onto her lips. “He tells me.”

“Tells you what exactly?”

The girl stood from the couch with a soft hum and started stretching. “I guess you’ll have to wait until you get a letter.” She gave him a wink. “Don’t worry; it’ll be worth the wait.”