#[girl who only watches max mayfield] this reminds me of max mayfield | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

fangirl-1523 · 5 years ago

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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)

#stranger things #stranger things x reader #mike wheeler #mike wheeler x reader #dustin henderson #eleven #lucas sinclair #max mayfield #will byers #steve harrington #robin buckley #nancy wheeler #jim hopper #joyce byers #jonathon byers

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platypanthewriter · 4 years ago

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The Keg-King of Elfland’s Sword: REWRITTEN Ch. 4/10

Billy Hargrove and his sister travel across the ocean to his mother’s hometown, looking for answers about his past--but he’s distracted the very first night by a man he meets at the Hunt Ball, and starts to wonder whether the past or the future is more important.

Part One/Two/Three/Four/Five/Six/Seven/Eight/Nine/Ten

Once they had Harrington’s bleeding mostly stopped, Buckley glanced at Billy, holding up the bag she’d pulled the bandages from—he waved her away—and turned to Carol, who yelped at Buckley’s single-minded yank at her torn shirt.

Carol flushed as Buckley wiped at her shoulder, and cleaned gravel out of her arm, and checked under her hair where blood smeared her neck. When Buckley was done, she seemed to abruptly realize she’d torn Carol’s shirt half asunder, and muttered red-faced as she yanked at her jacket and threw it around Carol’s shoulders. Carol tilted to lean against her, and Buckley shoved her off, flailing a hand at her, but Carol just laughed and dropped her head against Buckley’s shoulder.

Harrington had gone quiet, his head on Billy’s thigh, and Billy ran his fingers through the man’s wet locks as he watched Buckley and Carol mutter to each other, and snicker. Billy raised his eyebrows, glancing over at Thomas, who was glaring back at him.

As they neared the dock, motion came visible through the fog. Little Will Byers was there, held firmly by his mother, both of their nightshirts soaked through in the pattering rain. “Take me back,” he yelled hoarsely. “She is searching—”

Nan Wheeler bounded from the ferry to the dock, kicking off so hard the ferry rocked and splashed against the water, and put her arms around them. “Unload,” she called. “I’ll help her with Will.”

“She wants her child!” Will shrieked, and Ms. Byers shouted, “No, Will, you’re mine—”

“Quickly, now.” Buckley steadied them with her oar against the dock. “Hargrove—can you take Harrington home?”

“Gladly.” Billy looked up at her steady feet and set jaw. “I—should I—”

“We’ll send a healer.”

“I can take him.” Thomas stomped close, and Steve’s horse flicked her ears, huffing.

“Go for the healer, or go to Hopper, he needs to hear the dire tidings,” Buckley shot Thomas down in mid-bluster, and Billy lowered his head to hide a grin.

Harrington squeezed his hand.

Thomas grabbed Carol’s arm, shouted something about the healer, and stomped to the edge to leap the gap.

Once they tied off the ferry, Billy scooped Harrington up entire, though he protested he could walk. He couldn’t, as Billy and Buckley learned while trying to tip him upright so Billy might swing up onto Mairead. The horse kept trying to turn and inspect Harrington’s crushed leg (an impulse Billy had to respect), but they finally managed, with Billy hauling and Buckley boosting Harrington from below, to get the man settled sideways against Billy’s shoulder. Buckley tied Harrington’s reins to Mairead’s saddle, and Harrington took a few strained panting breaths against Billy’s neck.

“Which way,” Billy asked against his hair, switching the reins to his left hand so as to hold Harrington secure.

“D’n—down the—just keep going,” Harrington grunted. “Big house.”

They rode along the river. It seemed to Billy that it had been lower, before, not this roiling mass of white water and silvery crabs, gushing across the paving stones, and he kept an uneasy eye on it. “That...the Nuckelavee,” he said, stumbling over the odd syllables. “It can’t follow? It can’t get to the town?”

“...it can’t,” Harrington mumbled into his shoulder, then sighed, rolling his head to talk into the air instead of Billy’s shirt. “It can’t, but other things can.”

“The water-horses?” Billy asked.

“...and other things. I don’t—” Harrington paused to swallow, his voice shaken. “—one of, ah, one of my friends sought a favor only—only a fortnight ago. It was a—an easy thing, for Fair folk, and they granted it for only the price of rare flowers. Why—why would they—”

“What was the favor?” Billy asked, and Harrington paused.

“Ah. Well, it—it—you know how—sometimes—” he said, then hrrrm’d.

“...yes?”

“Sometimes—sometimes a, ah, a person—a person is born who is a boy or a girl—”

“Often,” Billy couldn’t help interjecting, fascinated.

“Stuff it,” Harrington muttered. “They’re—it’s a mistake, you know? They look like one, when it should be something entirely—”

“And the...Fair folk...changed how they looked?” Billy asked, pulling Harrington closer as the rain soaked their clothes.

“It was—it was kind,” Harrington sighed. “We’ve always—we've always trusted that they—would be kind, here. There's no knowing what to prepare for, now.”

Billy wondered about the safety of the inn, and reminded himself they were on an upper storey, and unlikely to be washed away. It’s a stone house, Billy, Max’s voice teased him in his head. The Big Bad Wolf can’t blow it down.

“This wasn’t much of a favor, was it,” Harrington said suddenly, his laugh warm against Billy’s neck. “Coming along. Meeting the Nuckelavee.”

“You never introduced me, even,” Billy told him, ready for a distraction, as the blood from Harrington’s pant leg soaked into his. Harrington had more color in his cheeks, after Buckley had wrapped his leg, whispering rhymes, and Billy wondered whether it was magic, or superstition. He wiped the rain from his face. “Are you embarrassed to know me, Harrington? Or questioning whether you should count someone who throws tombstones among your acquaintance?”

“I am questioning that, now you mention it,” Harrington laughed tiredly. “Unbelievable rudeness, when we rode so far to come calling.”

“What...was it?” Billy asked cautiously. “I didn’t...”

Harrington was quiet for a long moment, and Billy opened his mouth to change the subject just when he finally started to speak. “You ask so few questions,” he mumbled, “—I forget you don’t...belong here. The Nuckelavee is...an enemy, to humans. We don’t know why, some say the mining awoke it—and while the other Fair folk welcomed us—some of them, anyway—it attacked. The Lady fights it, for our sakes. But even she cannot win, not truly. She beats it back into hiding. And now it is free.”

“It will...come for the town?” Billy asked, wondering whether he ought to throw Max and Harrington into a carriage for London, and apologize later.

“Maybe the Lady will fight it for us,” Harrington sighed. “Except humans attacked her home with iron and fire. Maybe she released it. The only way down from the mountain is the ferry, though. Across the water.”

Billy took a long breath, glad he wouldn’t have to haul Max to a carriage, clawing and snarling like a badger, and tie her to the luggage rack. “What about...the Lady?”

“She took children,” Harrington said, sounding bewildered. “She—she stole children. Ellie from the—that camp, but little Will Byers, too, and Callie—”

“Younger than Max?” Billy pressed. “She wouldn’t—”

“She’d hardly go out alone, your sister,” Harrington laughed. “In this rain?”

Billy thought she might, if only to show the weather who made decisions for Maxine Mayfield. “...Wheeler doesn’t know what happened?” Billy asked, and Harrington took his head.

“She said the Door has been closed. The Lady—”

“She’s not home to callers?” Billy asked, smiling, but his stomach was sinking as he wondered why he’d thought an errand for his father would be safe for Max.

“She’s not like a human,” Harrington said, and Billy flinched. “She vanishes for years, or she rides the Hunt through the town, and everyone is afraid to sleep for fear of the dreams. I—we don’t know what she’ll do.”

Billy bit back how could you not tell me, and why did I not ask, and hoped Max was continuing her journal of their travels, and waiting for his return in front of the fire. “...not much of a favor, indeed,” he sighed.

Harrington took a deep breath, held it, and then only sighed.

“...are you saying you’ll give me leave to choose again?” Billy asked, and Harrington hummed, as though considering. “Maybe a kiss,” Billy whispered.

“Perhaps,” Harrington whispered, smiling, and Billy didn’t push.

Mairead wasn’t the smoothest ride, but she paced along steadily even after a day of climbing mountains and running from monsters. He told her she was very brave, and her dapple gray coat was lovely, and when they arrived he would not rest until he had depopulated the county of dandelions and daisies for her voracious and sinister appetite, and Harrington laughed against his shoulder.

When the road split into two, divided by a thin belt of green, Billy veered to the side and rode along under the dogwood trees. They were blooming like burst feather pillows. Mairead puttered along until they came to a stone house, tall, with wide windows, and a statue of a deer drinking from the fountain, and Billy held Harrington tighter, in case he tried to get down on his own.

“...that’s just the gatehouse,” Harrington muttered, as Billy nearly tugged Mairead to a stop, then turned to continue along the way.

“Do you live in a castle—” Billy hissed, as they passed through gates taller than the trees, and iron fences barely visible in the massive hedges.

Harrington cleared his throat, shifting. “...didn’t you ask about me? Tommy said—”

“Max asked around.” Billy nodded, leaning his head to try and see around the bends in the road, and swallowed back a wash of guilt. “She told me you risked your life to save two children, not of your own family, and I could see you teasing the girl into a smile.”

“Nobody said, ‘he owns Harrington House, he has tens of thousands of pounds a year,’” Harrington mumbled against his shoulder, and Billy bit his lips together, considering his story.

“You were wearing fine silks to hunt monsters,” he said aloud. “Either the mark of a spendthrift, an idiot, or a man with no worry about affording shirts; and at the ball they spoke of you with smiling respect. You rode a mop of woolens like the rest of us—”

“Mairead, he’s insulting you,” Harrington whispered. She flicked an ear.

“—but your tack was fine indeed, new, and some of it gilt—”

“—it was very fine, I thought,” Harrington sighed.

“And,” Billy said, and kissed Harrington’s hair, tightening his embrace as they rounded another turn up the long hill, and squinting through the orchard wondering whether there was a house at all, “—you have a rather gaudy new watch, not monogrammed, with an antlered hart on it; I can only imagine because of Wheeler—”

Harrington’s face felt hot against his neck. “Mercy.”

“—and from her face, I think it was not a gift from her. To her, perhaps—perhaps you intended to present her with it at—”

“Mercy, man!” Harrington grunted with pain as he pushed away enough to lift his head and kiss Billy, who made a noise less dignified than he’d have liked. “Is this the only way to shut you up? Why were you studying me?”

Billy licked his lips, considering whether to say something more to bring the color up in Harrington’s cheeks, in hopes of another kiss. “You are a fine dancer,” he whispered, trying for a kiss, which Harrington allowed, then gathering the man back against his shoulder. “I could not look away, well before I knew your name,” which was true enough, “—but I mislike your sweaty pallor; let us get you in a bed, and I’ll fetch a doctor, if one hasn’t come.” He squinted again through the blooming apple trees. “Is that it?”

“That’s the cat’s house,” Harrington mumbled against his neck, then slowly heated again, until his skin felt like it would leave a brand on Billy’s neck.

“...the...cat’s house?” he asked, already smiling.

Harrington groaned. “When I was a child—”

“So, last week.”

“Brute. I'm wounded, be kind—when I was very, very small, I desired that the cat might stay with me, in my rooms, so as to have some company in the night.”

Billy bit his lips, brows drawing together as he imagined a small and lonely Harrington, inviting the cat. “They wouldn’t allow it?!”

“The cat did not wish to stay; she had an appointment with the groundskeeper’s fireplace, and beef stew. So I was told she had her own home to go to, and I—I, quite frequently, would visit the ‘cat’s house’.”

“During polite hours,” Billy said, and then his throat closed inexplicably; he cleared it, tucking Harrington’s head under his chin. “Leaving your calling card.”

“I did not leave a card,” Harrington snorted, shifting to slump more easily against Billy’s chest, and sliding a cold hand inside his jacket.

“Do you have a cat now?”

“Oh,” and Harrington’s hand slid up and down Billy’s ribs, “—no, I—I never thought to ask for one.”

“They never thought to give you a kitten? Is—” Billy narrowed his eyes through the trees as they came over a little rise, and finally the House loomed before them. “...it’s a castle. You live in a castle.”

“It’s not!” Harrington huffed. “There’s an old keep, in the center, but it’s just a wretchedly massive house.”

“How do you live there?” Billy asked, keeping his voice teasing, but sliding out of his jacket to wrap Harrington’s shivering shoulders. “Start a brisk walking circuit through with your morning tea, round the second floor after lunch? Can’t let the—” He waved a hand. “—east wing get jealous of the kitchen—”

Harrington snorted, sliding his arms around Billy’s waist. “It was my parents’. After my father died at sea, my mother, uh, she left for London. It’s locked.” His voice was muffled against Billy’s neck. “My rooms are next to the library. My father wanted to…”

“Hrm?” Billy prompted, and Steve shook his head, sighing. The enormous doors made Billy feel they were visitors from Lilliput. “I feel like Tom Thumb,” he said into Harrington’s hair. “Will someone meet us?”

“I have keys in my saddlebag,” Harrington mumbled, and Billy steadied him against the saddle.

“Will you fall?”

“No,” Harrington said, swaying, and Billy raised his eyebrows, and frowned around. Harrington’s arms trembled as he tried to steady himself against the saddle, and Mairead’s withers. “I’m fine.” Harrington pushed an inch or so back from Billy, his jaw set, and Billy forgot about the keys, and kissed him.

“—ah.” He remembered his goal, as Harrington shivered, but leaned to press another couple of kisses to Harrington’s jaw.

“The doctor’s going to arrive and find us standing here in the drive,” Harrington whispered, grinning, and Billy kissed him again.

“I’ll get down,” he murmured against Harrington’s smile, “—and catch you. We can send someone out for the horses?”

“We can ring the bell,” Harrington grunted, knuckles whitening as Billy swung down and he clung to the saddle. Billy watched him, then turned to grab their bags, filled with a wriggling sickness as he felt in Harrington’s for the heavy iron keyring. By the time he had the bags slung over his shoulder, Harrington was shaking, leaning forward to prop himself against his horse’s neck. Billy nearly dropped it all again running to grip Harrington around the thighs, steadying him as he tipped forward and slid down, then manhandling him until his face was against Billy’s shoulder again, Billy’s other arm under his thighs.

“My hero,” Harrington snorted, slumping against him, and Billy laughed, kissing his hair, gently enough for him not to notice.

The journey to Harrington’s room was long, for which he apologized, at first, before he started asking questions.

“Why are you doing this,” he mumbled, and Billy stopped, panting, at the top of the stairs, and tromped over to a loveseat that appeared to be mostly gilt. It creaked as he dropped into it, freezing at Harrington’s swallowed moan.

“Any one of your friends today would carry you up these three stories,” Billy told him, sidestepping the question, and Harrington laughed. “They’d have to sit down on your embroidered cushions, here—”

Harrington snorted, his cold hands shaking around Billy’s neck. Billy kept whispering into his hair.

“—and they’d curse you for weighing as much as your horse, but they’d carry you up another three stories, and another—”

“My house isn’t that huge,” Harrington said, smiling, and Billy leaned to kiss his forehead.

“And up the beanstalk, and into the castle of the giant—” he announced, getting into the spirit of the thing, “—and fight him for you—”

“Fight my own giants,” Harrington whispered.

“Are you saying you can walk?” Billy asked, running his fingers through Harrington’s hair, and wishing he hadn’t, quite fairly, sent the single responding servant to mind the horses, instead of running to see what the devil was delaying the doctor.

“Why did you come back for me,” Harrington asked, for about the seventieth time, and Billy groaned, swallowing back an honest answer that it didn’t particularly matter, what happened to Billy Hargrove.

“Because I’m Prince Charming,” he answered, hoping the guilt didn’t show in his face. It must not have, because Harrington leaned his head back for a kiss.

“You could have died,” he whispered.

“So could you,” Billy sighed.

The next landing had a painting whose gilt frame started at the carpet and reached the ceiling, and Billy settled them on the loveseat facing it, his legs trembling. “That...you?” he asked, and Harrington groaned, his face hot against Billy’s neck.

Billy studied the painting, his lungs aching after hauling Harrington’s dead weight up three flights of stairs. A somewhat younger Harrington—maybe four or five years ago—looked miserable in it. The man standing over him and the woman seated next to him were looking at the viewer, while Harrington was staring off into the distance, his shoulders hunched, wearing a piece of clothing that could only very charitably be called a dress. “Who dressed you in that,” Billy panted, feeling Harrington’s fingers dig into his arm. “I only mean, it’s—it’s impressive. Is what it is. You could—you could wear anything. Make it look good, and yet. Yet that thing exists. It’s like an that—you know. The unstoppable force, immovable object. Paradox.”

Harrington snickered, and pressed warm lips against Billy’s neck. “...my mother...picked it. She—would like a different child.”

Billy leaned to whisper in his hair, “—does that mean I may have this one?”

Harrington laughed, but Billy could feel his heart pounding.

While they waited for the doctor, Billy got Harrington settled in his room, somewhat bandaged him up, and stuck some pillows under his leg.

“...I’ll be fine,” Harrington said, watching him. “Robin used a magic poultice—ffmmmgh,” he muttered, as Billy pulled the blankets over his face.

Billy dunked the shaving towel in the basin, and wrung it out, returning to wipe at Harrington’s face. “Is that blood yours?” he asked, biting his lip as he dabbed above Harrington’s eye.

“Maybe,” Harrington returned, smiling, then wincing, so Billy leaned in to kiss him again.

“Does it hurt here?” he whispered, brushing his lips over the bloody side of Harrington’s mouth. He could feel the man grin, and then flinch. “Stop smiling,” Billy told him, watching Harrington fight a laugh. “...that’s not a good way to test for injuries.”

“Stop making me smile, then,” Harrington mumbled against his face, and Billy brushed a soft kiss on the spot between Harrington’s eyebrow and hairline, where he’d wiped it clean.

He dabbed down Harrington’s whole face, following with kisses. He could feel Harrington’s face heat. “Are you clean yet?” he whispered.

“Not remotely,” Harrington laughed. The scrape along the side of his face flexed, and bled again, and Billy leaned in to press their mouths together. Harrington hummed.

“Do you want me to sponge you down?” Billy asked, flicking his tongue over Harrington’s lips, and Harrington snorted, snickering.

“No, you—” He smiled up, wide-eyed. “—you’re going to stay with me? Here?”

“You can’t walk.” Billy ran his knuckles along Harrington’s cheek, and Harrington grabbed his hand, laughing.

“I—it’ll be only a short while, until the doctor comes, I won't die, I won’t...starve,” he protested, but his smile was so wide, Billy had no difficulty in answering correctly.

“Are you ordering me to leave your side,” he whispered, stroking Harrington’s fingers, “—liege of my heart?”

Harrington cackled, then groaned, paling. He squeezed his eyes shut, and nearly crushed Billy’s hand. “Oh, don’t,” he begged, gasping. “Save your charm for when I can laugh.”

“I’m mortally offended you’d laugh.” Billy kissed his hand, biting his own lip in concern. “You’ve certainly forgone poetry, you...uncouth barbarian. There will be no serenades.”

“...you sing?”

Billy paused, cocking his head. “...when the spirit moves me,” he answered, “—by which I mean the spirits in my flask—”

“So, you sing badly.” Harrington’s smile widened again. “A drunken yowl.”

“Like a cat,” Billy confessed, untruthfully, to see Harrington’s eyes sparkle again as he attempted not to laugh.

“Oh, no,” he whispered, closing his eyes again. “Do not tease me, mercy.”

“Shall I let you sleep?” Billy asked, tucking a bloody hank of Harrington’s hair back and behind his ear.

“No,” Harrington whispered, flapping his hand out, grasping Billy’s tightly. His hand was cold, and felt damp, and Billy covered it with his other hand. “No, I take it back, speak.”

Billy bit his lips, then pressed them to Harrington’s palm. “As you wish, my liege.” He looked around for something to comment on, and found too much. “This was...the nursery? Play with the jack-in-the-box often, do you?”

“Usually I let you do it,” Harrington whispered, and opened his eyes, rolling his head to take in the dusty shelves.

“Maybe later,” Billy told him, squeezing his hand. The toys were the kind he saw in shopfront windows—clockwork monkeys, armies of tiny soldiers with cannons, and a theater with a real curtain, his height, in the corner. There was a dusty atlas on the window seat, left open, and small, perfect sailing ships, with anchors and rigging. On top of the shelves was a dragon ship nearly six feet long, and Billy considered the ladders and servants necessary to get it down, wondering whether Harrington had often stared at it forlornly, wishing to play. “Looks like you could summon an entire armada.”

“Oh, I could,” Harrington laughed, and winced. “Tommy would rouse the staff, and we’d take them down to the pond, and he’d tip me in.”

“I’ll tip him in, with interest,” Billy offered, leaning to the side to see the dragon’s face. “Is that...Gauvin? Max would talk of nothing else but the pirate queen and her dragon, on our journey—” Harrington bit his lip, then stuck his tongue in his cheek, looking like an idiot, and Billy laughed. “She caught your imagination as well,” he said, smiling up at the ship. “How old were you?”

“...young,” Harrington admitted.

“Did you buy a fancy hat?” Billy asked, his grin widening. “Did you carry a toy sword and gun?”

“I...named my pony after Gauvin,” Harrington said with a grimace. “And yes.”

“Do you still have the hat?”

“Somewhere,” Harrington replied, and sighed, watching him. He snorted softly, then asked, “Would...you like to hear the story of Jacqueline de Corriveau, the pirate queen?”

“I would, absolutely, yes,” Billy said, turning to face him, but Steve shook his head, pointing.

“The magic lantern,” he said, waving his arm at a low shelf with a handled case on it.

“You have slides about her?” Billy squeezed Harrington’s hand one last time, and lowered it, before walking over and hefting the case. “...and your pony in here?”

“I couldn’t lift it, so I used to just leave it on the bed,” Harrington admitted, and Billy’s lips thinned, his theories about tiny lonely Harrington seeming likely.

When he placed it next to Harrington, he tried to jar the bed as little as possible. Still, Harrington grunted, his jaw working as Billy crawled up beside him. Billy bit his lips together, clenching his fists to avoid patting uselessly at Harrington’s leg, and Harrington glanced at them, and smiled.

He cocked his head, biting his lip, and raised his eyebrows, and Billy leaned in closer for a kiss. He rolled to his stomach, half on top of the magic lantern case, so as to lick more deeply into Harrington’s mouth.

Billy had the feeling no one had taken their time, courting Harrington—he certainly wasn’t, fearing the onset of common sense on Harrington’s part—but he had a few hours to spare to make sure someone was properly appreciating Harrington’s mouth, and the shift from startled to sly in his grin.

When he started to pant, his lips red from Billy’s, and squirm against the bed, Billy slid a hand down and under the edge of Harrington’s trousers. “No—no, wait,” Harrington whispered, and Billy pulled his hand back.

“Does it hurt?”

Harrington glared at him, teeth clenched.

“I can tug your jack-in-the-box later,” Billy whispered, kissing his forehead.

“Wait, I—I can—” Harrington flapped his hand over, and Billy laughed, kissing him again.

“You can’t,” he whispered against Harrington’s mouth, biting at the man's lower lip, and letting it pull through his teeth.

Harrington groaned, twitching. “I could at least—I can—”

“Mmm,” Billy hummed back, leaning his face into Harrington’s neck. “Tell me about the Pirate Queen.”

Harrington laughed, trailing off into a pained mutter. “Bastard. Tempting— devil.”

“That is all true,” Billy ran his thumb along Harrington’s side, and he made an undignified wheezing yelp, and then a growling moan, like a stuffed toy.

“I changed my mind,” he muttered, red-faced.

Billy leaned to whisper against his hair, “Show me your magic lantern show.”

“Set it up, then,” Harrington muttered back, and Billy scooted down, grimacing at Harrington’s hiss at the movement of the bed. He opened the case on a marvel of brass, copper, and glass lenses, lifted it out, and Harrington reached over to tap it to life. A flame leapt up inside, like the lanterns along the steep trail up the mountain, and Billy jerked back, then leaned in, squinting through his fingers.

“It’s not hot,” he realized aloud.

“I’m not allowed to set my room on fire,” Harrington said, smiling, and straining as he patted at the case.

Billy tipped it towards him, raising his eyebrows. "Were you trying to make dragon fire in here?"

Harrington huffed. “There—was reason, for that rule.”

“...what are cannons for, after all.” Billy nodded, eyeing the tiny soldiers, and Harrington smacked a slide into his hand, choking on a laugh.

“I knew you’d understand.”

The slide barely showed on the shelves, and Billy frowned over, then clambered gingerly off the bed to roll down a screen. It showed, shakily lettered, Being A General Hiftory Of The Remarkable Actionf And Adventuref of P Y R A T E Jacqueline de Corriveau . Billy stopped, then slowly turned. “Harrington.”

“Never mind,” Harrington muttered, grabbing another pillow, and pulling it over his face.

“...Harrington,” Billy whispered, circling the bed to crouch at his side. “Did you make these slides? You wrote that, didn’t you. How old were you?!”

“Let me die,” Harrington moaned into the pillow.

Billy turned to regard the screen. “Harrington. I’ll tell your future lovers you build a man up, then leave him like this. Leave him hungry.”

“I should have shoved you off the ferry,” Harrington muttered, then grimaced, sitting up enough to tuck the pillow under his head. “Fine. Come over here.”

“Anything, my pirate king, pirate king,” Billy sang, watching Harrington’s cheeks flush as he rattled through the slides.

“Do you know the story of how she—”

“Hold up,” Billy said, waving, and drew his keepsake out of his shirt, pointing its aperture at Harrington. “—Max will want to hear this.”

Harrington just looked at him for a long second, then pulled out a slide. “...do you know the story of how she acquired her dragon, Gauvin?” Billy grinned, waiting, and Harrington’s mouth quirked. He cleared his throat. “...you know her beginning.”

“She was kidnapped—” Billy answered, but Harrington huffed a laugh.

“Not exactly.” He handed over a new slide, and Billy fished out the previous, half expecting it to be hot despite the rules against child-Harrington setting his bed on fire. The new slide was a child’s drawing of a ship—three-masted, and a beach, with a line of...people? Billy squinted at the art.

“Enough skulls, do you think?”

Harrington made a face at him. “It was kidnapping, but it was also a different crime, called slavery. Selling people to be chained up, and forced to work for no pay, until they died. Their children, after them.”

“What?!” Billy stared, the childish picture no longer quite as amusing. “Who would—that can’t be—”

“It was a burgeoning trade, until Jacqueline de Corriveau,” Harrington smiled. “Until it had her attention.”

“How—how widespread?!” Billy asked, his voice barely emerging, such was his horror.

“A few trade routes,” Harrington said. “A few ports. The structure was in place to expand, and they thought—they thought they were protected,” he laughed. “By their money, and their power.”

“Who?!” Billy whispered, wide-eyed, and Steve narrowed his eyes.

“Do you want to see the magic lantern show?” he asked, and Billy pretended to button his lips.

“First,” Harrington began, in the tones of one reciting a familiar fairy tale. “First, the slavers took her friends, while she protected her family. Then, they took her family, while she hunted for her friends.

“Finally, she let the twenty strongest capture her, to find out where they were going,” Harrington said, handing over another slide. This time it was a woman in a huge tricorner hat, punching the air, while a bunch of bodies flew away from her fist. “But she wasn’t fighting hard, because she wanted to know where they’d taken everyone…” he trailed off, and Billy turned to crawl closer, when another slide smacked into his hand. It was two women this time, holding hands high in the air, one in the hat, the other with a hook hand. “She freed the captives on the ship, and asked about her friends, and her family, and learned they—they had already gone.”

The pictures were exuberant stick figures, and Billy longed to see the rest of the slides, but Harrington's skin had gone grey. “Harrington,” Billy whispered, eyeing his leg. “Maybe you should rest.”

“Mmm. Some of the captives," Harrington said doggedly, "—agreed to come with her. To steal the ship, and rescue their families,” he said, handing over another slide—a fleet of ships, with faces. Billy covered a grin at the now-familiar cutlass-waving hat wearer standing on the deck of the the biggest one. “She did not find her family first, or second, but by the time she did, she was the Pirate Admiral of a fleet of ships taken by slaves, and in less than a year, there was no safety for slavers in the waters between Europe, and Africa, and the Americas.”

“Good.” Billy raised his eyebrows, shaking his head. “How could—surely that wouldn’t work well? Stealing people? Someone would find out, they’d find them, and rescue—”

“It made money,” Harrington said, laughed sharply, and paled, clenching his teeth. “The right people looked away. But she made herself the Pirate Queen, and she was—she didn’t care where they were going, she freed them. The slaves to pick the Queen of England’s tea, even, headed to India. And—she made powerful people angry.”

“They knew?” Billy whispered, accepting a new slide of a fleet with frowning little faces, surrounding her single ship in a mass of clouds and lightning. The pirate queen held the cutlass outstretched, standing on top of her main mast. "They knew the workers were kidnapped?! The Queen—”

Steve nodded. “And...they came for her. They sent soldiers. But she had the first captain’s cutlass, still, and—” Harrington paused to take a deep breath, and Billy watched him, biting his lip. “—he was an evil man. He had—the things she had seen on that ship haunted her, and the cutlass was always, always cold. So she held it up, and she yelled for the Devil.”

Billy waited for the slide of the Devil, hearing her call, but Harrington didn’t move.

“She yelled for him, and she said, ‘Devil! I have here the most evil that there is in this world, why don’t you take it?’” The bed squeaked as Billy leaned in, and Harrington smiled at the box of slides. “She lit the fuse to her barrels of gunpowder, and then the Devil came, and he said, ‘Why didn’t you wait for me? You’ll die too.’ She said, ‘That doesn’t matter.’ He said, ‘Ask and I’ll save you,’ and she said, ‘You aren’t anybody I’m wanting to owe a favor, boy.’”

The cadence of Harrington’s voice had changed as he remembered the familiar words, and Billy leaned his chin on his hand, wondering whether it had been a picture book, or a particularly grisly bedtime story. He tried not to think about the favor he’d demanded of Harrington.

“‘A wager, then,’ said the Devil.” Harrington growled for the devil-voice, and Billy felt his cheeks getting tired with smiling, as he accepted a slide that turned out to be the pirate queen herself, her cutlass in one hand, and what might have been a parrot in the other. She was pointing both at a frowning imp that seemed to be floating in midair, slightly crooked. “‘Flip a coin. You lose, and you enter the briny deep. You win,’ said the Devil, ‘and I save you, your treasure, and your life.’”

“Not a bad deal,” Billy whispered, not wanting to interrupt, and Harrington shook his head.

“It was a good deal. She flipped the coin, and as it flipped, she saw it change to heads on both sides, for that’s what she had called—and she was more trouble on Earth than the Devil wanted in all of Hell.”

Billy covered his mouth against a full belly laugh, and Harrington smirked, turning the next slide in his hand.

“He gathered all the gold, and silks, and cotton she’d taken from the slave ships and took them into Hell. Then he brought back a great blackness, a piece of Hell itself, and as the fuse burned low, he formed it into the great dragon, Gauvin.” The slide of the dragon’s forming was not dignified, with the crooked floating imp grabbing at the cautious dragon’s big round startled eyes. “She ran up Gauvin’s neck, and it grabbed the best ship amongst them, and shook the slavers out.”

The slide with the intent smoke-dragon shaking a ship in midair, and a load of angry falling slavers had Billy laughing so hard his lungs hurt.

“Gauvin flew her high, high above the explosion, where they circled until there were only scraps of wood left. Once she had her dragon to carry her ship, she rode all around the world, chasing down the last of the slavers with the dragon's black flames that burn underwater. Some of the slavers were...very powerful. It took years, tracing letters, and finding names, but she hunted them down. And that,” here Harrington handed over a last slide of the pirate queen on the dragon’s back—Billy wasn’t sure why, from the side of a flying dragon, he could see all of every single appendage—“that is how,” Harrington finished, “—my...father died.”

“What,” Billy choked, scrambling to close his keepsake, to stop it remembering Harrington’s voice. “What—your—”

“I stopped playing pirate, then,” Harrington told the ceiling. “I thought she might come for me, and my toys, bought with his dirty money.”

Billy grabbed the lantern, and moved it and the slides off to a pile next to the bed, before carefully crawling to lie alongside Harrington again. “...if she comes, I’ll use her own methods. I’ll point a parrot at her,” he said, and Harrington snorted a laugh, swallowing hard.

“My hero always.”

“You should rest,” Billy whispered, glancing back out the window, and wondering whether he was going to have to track down a doctor himself. Harrington’s cold hand closed over his, and he settled in to wait.

The clock chimed an hour after Harrington’s eyes had closed, and still Billy sat, stroking his thumb down the side of Harrington’s jaw and neck, and sliding his fingers through his hair. It chimed another quarter hour, and Harrington rolled his head away. Billy’s side felt cold, without snores pressed into it, and he winced as he tried to uncrick his neck. He sat up, watching Harrington crinkle his nose, then turn farther into his pillow.

Billy waited, lying back on his elbows, for another quarter hour, finally nudging Harrington’s good leg with his foot, but Harrington snored on, and so he sat up, rubbing his face. He sighed, looking at the keys on the desk, then braced himself over Harrington’s shoulder, and pressed stubbly kisses into the soft skin of his neck. Harrington shivered, but didn’t stir, and Billy finally drew himself away.

The keyring was massive. It got him into Harrington’s desk—a dead end, as he’d suspected, but he unclasped his keepsake necklace and swung it over the whole mess he’d made. “Finders keepers,” he whispered, thinking of Max. “Losers weepers, finders keepers…”

It didn’t so much as waver meaningfully. He looked at the ring of keys again, and wiped his hands on his trousers, before walking around to crouch next to Harrington’s side of the bed and pinch his nose.

Harrington snorted awake, flapped a hand out, and yanked Billy’s close, hugging it to his chest.

Billy groaned, dropping his face to the edge of the bed. The eiderdown felt cold against the heat in his cheeks. He leaned there for a while, watching Harrington sleep, before drawing his hand away.

The keyring opened Harrington’s wardrobe, and his bureau—even the small, secret false-bottomed drawer that contained only a tied bunch of lavender, turning to dust. He swung his pendant over it, just in case. That done, he sat back on the floor, and looked out the window, wondering whether he should close the drawers back up, or whether Harrington would wake, and see them, and throw him out. In the end he dropped the rifled papers back in the drawers and pushed them closed, wondering whether Max would be proud to see him preserving the chance at Harrington not finding out. I could lie to him indefinitely, then, he thought, jangling the keys in his hand. Harrington grunted, rolling onto his back, and Billy jangled them again.

Harrington slept on.

Twirling his pendant led to a tug towards the east wing, and Billy ran his fingers through his hair, turning in a circle on the marble. It clacked under his boots, and he wandered over to lean his elbows on the gallery railing, looking out over the front hall, and the chandeliers, and letting the iron turn his stomach sour and his knees to jelly. He dropped his face in his arms, taking a long breath of soot and dust, and then set his shoulders, and went to break into the rooms of Harrington’s dead father.

Previous | Next

Completed on Ao3 as peterqpan, but I’ll post the whole rewritten work here!

#Harringrove #Swordfighting instead of kegstands #trans character #trans steve harrington #Fairies and cameraderie #Billy and Max friendship #platypan fic #platypan FINISHED FIC

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marypsue · 4 years ago

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hey @gnomewithalaptop it’s more Stranger Things ageswap fic

_____

Mike Harrington has no idea what he’s doing here, out in the woods, alone, where a kid just went missing, in the rain, like an idiot.

He’d rather be home. In the basement. Curled up on the sagging couch with a good Philip K. Dick or Ray Bradbury novel and a big mug of hot chocolate. Doing nothing. But no. He just had to be a good friend, and let Lucas talk him into coming along to the party Max Mayfield’s throwing in the scrapyard in honour of her dad going out of town and leaving his beer fridge unguarded.

“Jennifer Hayes’ll be there,” Lucas had tried, and, “Mike. Seriously. If you don’t go, you’re never getting invited to another party for as long as high school lasts. Do you even know what I had to do to get you invited to this one?” and then finally, “Look. I wouldn’t push it so much, but Dustin’s got that science club thing, and you know Max hangs out with those mouthbreathers Troy and James, and I really don’t want it to be two against one. So can you please, please just come?”

So Mike had made some lame excuse to his dad and Carol about meeting Dustin and Lucas at the library, and set out on his bike for the scrapyard.

He’s pretty sure he could have just told them where he was actually going. Carol doesn’t give a shit what he and Karen do so long as they don’t get arrested, and his dad – his dad would probably give him a pat on the back.

Mike’s heard all the stories about what his dad was like in high school. He’s sat through one too many lectures about trying out for the basketball team and going to the homecoming dance and getting out of the basement and into the fresh air and sunshine and maybe making some friends who care more about girls than goblins. If Mike had said where he was really going, his dad probably would’ve sent him off with a six-pack, and instructions not to come home unless it was with Jennifer Hayes in tow.

Which is…exactly why Mike didn’t tell him.

At least it didn’t end up being two against one, though. Oh, no. No, it ended up being three against one, with Max teaming up with Troy and James to rip on Mike while Jennifer sat in uncomfortable silence by the fire and gave him pitying looks, and Lucas got drunk. Mike, it turns out, hates being drunk. And being around drunk people. It reminds him too much of his mom. Of stuff he’d prefer to forget.

So when he got up to go piss, he walked into the woods and kind of just…kept going.

That was maybe fifteen minutes ago, although Mike can’t read the face of his calculator watch in the dark. It’s started to rain, a fine, steady drizzle, cold and piercing. Nobody’s come looking for him. He hasn’t heard anybody call out for him, either. He’s kind of not surprised. Unfortunately, he can’t seem to stop being disappointed.

At least Dustin’ll get a kick out of this when Mike tells him about it tomorrow –

Something moves in the trees up ahead. Something big.

Mike freezes in place, not daring to even breathe. A string of possibilities race through his head, each more horrible than the last. Something happened to his little sister’s best friend last night, after all –

“Joyce?”

Mike breathes out, as a flashlight beam sweeps through the rain, through the trees. He knows that voice. Not well, but –

“Will?” he calls, and the flashlight beam stops.

“Who’s there?”

Mike steps into the light, raising a hand. He can barely make out the scrawny, lanky shape of Will Byers on the other side of the flashlight, but it’s honestly just such a relief to see somebody he knows instead of an axe murderer. “Hi.”

Will lowers the flashlight, just enough so that it’s not shining right in Mike’s face anymore, just enough so that Mike can see his unfortunate bowl cut and suspicious squint. “Mike Harrington? What are you doing out here?”

Mike gestures vaguely back over his shoulder with one hand. “There was a party. It sucked.”

Will’s squint doesn’t get any less suspicious. Mike can’t blame him. They aren’t really friends, but their little sisters are, and in a school the size of Hawkins High, you know who everybody is. Will must know Mike isn’t exactly the kind of guy who goes out to the woods to get drunk on a Monday night.

Then again, neither is Will. “What’re you doing out here?”

Will waves the flashlight, like it should be obvious. “Looking for my sister. Haven’t you heard? I thought your mom would’ve mentioned, I know my dad went in and reported her missing first thing…”

“We don’t really see my mom anymore,” Mike says. “Except at holidays.” And unannounced late some nights – or maybe it’d be more accurate to call it early some mornings – although that hasn’t happened for a while. “But, yeah. Karen said.”

Will’s shoulders kind of slump. More than before, anyway. Mike’s never really noticed, because, well, it’s Will, who blends into most backgrounds, but – he’s really shot up since middle school. He used to be such a shrimp. Now, he’s almost as tall as Mike. Except, between what Mike remembers about him and the slouch, somehow Mike hadn’t noticed.

He wonders, with a sudden sharp feeling of disorientation, what else he hasn’t noticed about Will Byers.

“Yeah.” Will shakes his head. “I should probably just head home, though. It’s getting pretty late. And it’s so dark. And the rain…”

He just sounds so…defeated. Mike thinks about how Karen had picked at her dinner. About his so-called best friend who hasn’t been able to quit locking lips with Max fucking Mayfield for long enough to even notice Mike is gone. Will’s thin jacket is already dark with water on the shoulders. He must have been out here since before the rain started.

“I’ll help you look,” Mike says, and Will looks at him like a deer in headlights. Like a rabbit caught in a trap, not sure if the human looming over it is here to set it free or shoot it dead.

“What – really?”

Mike shrugs. “Sure. Joyce is my little sister’s best friend. And it’s not like I’m going back to that stupid party.”

Will’s smile is a brief, bright flicker. “Okay.”

…

She runs.

The rain hisses down around her, turning the forest’s carpet of leaves slick as ice. Her own breath is harsh and ragged in her ears, her heart a frantic drumbeat. The wound in her side throbs and burns in time with it, pumping hot blood out over her fingers. There’s a stitch growing there too, stealing her breath.

She can’t stop. She runs.

Her boots slip, and she’s on her knees. Free hand outflung to catch herself against a tree. Barely feels the sting of the palm, bloodied.

Behind her, shouts. The crack of a gunshot.

She scrambles back to her feet. She runs.

…

“…so then, Joyce pops out from under the bed, yelling something about how I’ll never take them alive, and goes rocketing straight for my kneecaps…and anyway, that’s how I ended up with this scar on my chin.”

Will lets out a surprised shout of laughter, one he hastily swallows, like he’s not sure it’s allowed. “Yeah,” he says, though, still grinning. “She’s so quiet and nice at school, nobody ever believes me when I tell them what a little monster she can be.”

“Oh, you want to talk about little monsters? You can’t keep anything in the house that you don’t want Karen finding out about. Dad gave up trying to hide our Christmas presents when she was six. He tried putting out decoys for a couple years, but -”

Will holds up a hand for quiet. Mike stops talking. They both stop walking, too. In the sudden silence, the whisper of the rain through the trees sounds loud, rising and falling almost like human voices on the very edge of hearing.

And then something rustles. Something goes crack.

Mike whirls. So does Will, swinging the flashlight around in a wide, sweeping arc. The rain glitters through the moving beam.

And drips down the pale, startled face of the person skidding to a halt in the trees a few feet away.

For a breathless moment, no one moves. No one speaks. The – girl? Girl – standing in the trees, staring at them like they are axe murderers, is about their age, but she isn’t anyone Mike’s ever seen before. He’s pretty sure he’d remember if any of the girls at school had a shaved head. Or wore that much black eye makeup.

“Mike,” Will says, urgently, sounding worried, and Mike takes his eyes from the girl’s wide ones just long enough to glance over. “She’s – you’re bleeding!”

The girl’s eyes flick down. Mike follows her gaze, sees that the arm she’s wrapped around her middle is clutching at her left side, under her oversized black leather jacket, just at the bottom of her ribs.

And Will’s right. There’s a huge dark stain spreading across the pale grey knit of her sweater, under her hand. Mike can’t tell, in the flashlight’s glare, if her nails are painted black or if they’re just coated in gore.

“Whoa,” Mike blurts. “That’s a lot of blood.” He looks around. He’s not sure how far they’ve walked, but – “The road should be around here somewhere. We can probably flag somebody down. Or – Will, we can take her back to your house, right? Then we can call an ambulance, get her to a hospital -”

“No!”

“What?”

The girl leans heavily against the nearest tree, hunching over. She’s breathing hard, from running and also probably pain. But she manages, “No…hospital.”

Will frowns in confusion at the girl’s words. “Mike’s right. That’s a lot of blood. You might really be hurt, and I only know first aid…”

“Why don’t you want to go to a hospital?” Mike asks, and the girl’s eyes flick to him. Her glare is, frankly, terrifying. The raccoon eyes don’t help. “What are you? A criminal? A bank robber? A murderer?”

The girl doesn’t take her eyes off Mike’s face. Her voice is low and full of menace, even though Mike’s starting to seriously wonder if she’d fall over if she tried to take a step. “Yes.”

Mike probably has a deathwish, or something. “So which one is it? Bank robber? Murderer?”

If either Dustin or Lucas were here, they’d be hissing at him to shut up. But Will doesn’t. He’s just looking at the girl.

Mike thinks he really should’ve expected it when Will asks, all intense, “Do you know where my sister is?”

The girl looks back and forth between them, disbelief clear on her narrow face. Mike can’t blame her. He can’t actually believe himself and Will either. “…sister?”

“Joyce. She’s twelve. Dark hair. Looks a lot like me?” Will takes in the girl’s confusion, and says, “She’s missing. The last place anybody saw her was on the road up here. Have you seen her?”

The girl shakes her head no. She’s swaying, now, Mike notices, those piercing eyes starting to droop. “They got…another one?”

“What?” Mike and Will start talking at once, over each other.

“Who are they? What do you mean, ‘they got another one’?”

“Who has my sister?”

The girl doesn’t answer. She just sways, one more time, and then topples face-first to the ground.

This time, there isn’t anything coherent in Mike and Will’s shouts. The flashlight beam sweeps crazily over the carpet of leaves as they both scramble over to the fallen girl. She doesn’t react when Will rolls her over onto her back, the arm that had been clutching her side flopping over into the dirt to reveal the bloody hole in her sweater – and her side.

“Oh my god,” Will mutters, under his breath, as he peels back her enormous jacket and yanks up the sweater to get a better look at the wound. “This - this looks like somebody shot her. Mike? Can you help me get this jacket off her?”

Mike doesn’t answer. His attention’s been caught by something else.

“Mike?” There’s an edge of annoyance creeping into Will’s voice.

Wordlessly, Mike holds up the girl’s limp arm. Shows Will the tattoo inked into the inside of her pale wrist.

011.

“What is that?” Will asks. Mike shakes his head.

“I think…this might be the reason she didn’t want to go to a hospital.” He looks up, into the trees, in the direction the girl had come from. But all he sees is still, whispering darkness.

He makes a decision.

“Can you do anything to help with that?” he asks Will, with a nod towards the girl’s injured side.

“If you can tear some strips off the bottom of your shirt, I can bandage it up so it won’t bleed so much,” Will says, dabbing carefully at the girl’s side with a clean edge of her sweater. “I don’t think it’s as bad as it looks. She just got grazed. But it bled a lot.”

“Great,” Mike says, shrugging off his windbreaker and pulling his tee shirt over his head. “If you can get her fixed up enough to move – I know somewhere safe we can take her. Somewhere where whoever’s after her won’t find her.”

“How do you know somebody’s after her?”

Mike looks down at the number tattooed on the girl’s wrist again. Thinks of a plastic hospital bracelet wrapped around another too-skinny, pale wrist. With a name printed on it.

To identify. To track.

“Call it a hunch,” he says.

#this is mary's fic tag #stranger things #i'm sort of just throwing scenes down onto paper as they come to me there still is not a full coherent plot #stranger things ageswap au tag

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cocastyle · 5 years ago

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The In-Between - Prologue

Stranger Things x It Crossover

with some Bill Denbrough x reader

Word Count - 3,967

Warning - cursing? (if people don’t like that kind of stuff), some Stranger Things Season 3 spoilers? (don’t know if they would still be spoilers or not)

A/N - this is officially the beginning of my The In-Between series! I’m so excited to get this thing started and wanted to have a prologue so you could see how Y/N meets the Losers’ Club and what her relationship with The Party is like.

reminder that this series will take place in 1987 where the kids are all 17. however, in this prologue, the year is 1985 which means they are all 15 and the events of Stranger Things season 3 just occurred (I switched some things up like I’m not having Hopper die that way Eleven and Will stay in Hawkins).

since the year is 1985, that means the events of It are going to have taken place the year before in 1984. to have Beverly in the group, I basically had her move back with her aunt in the earlier half of 1985 and her and Bill have decided to stay friends (this allows the Bill Denbrough x reader part of the series). anyways, I hope you all enjoy!

also, since Mike Hanlon is homeschooled, he will not be in this prologue. Y/N meets the Losers’ Club at school which is why he will not be mentioned at first. he will be in upcoming chapters though!

if you would like to be added to the tag list, let me know!

T H E I N - B E T W E E N

Intro The Losers’ Club The Party Prologue 1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Epilogue

August 1985

Hawkins, Indiana, the one place Y/N thought she would stay forever. Having been born and raised in the town, it was hard to imagine a life where she didn't live there. But then the events that had taken place during the summer of 1985 had occurred and the unimaginable suddenly became reality.

Fright was the main reason they were moving. Not that Y/N was scared or anything. It was her parents who were scared, scared that the unusual events that occurred in Hawkins would harm their family and ruin their lives.

After all, their daughter had barely been able to escape the forces of the Upside Down the previous couple of times, so when she came home with blood stained clothes and news of the death of Billy Hargrove, her parents were convinced that the only thing they could do was move away.

Y/N did not agree with her parents' decision in any way, shape, or form. Her life was in Hawkins. Her friends were in Hawkins.

Her family was in Hawkins.

However, her parents' minds were already made up and within two weeks their house was already sold and they were packing up their final things as they prepared for the journey to their new home in Derry, Maine.

The sky was filled with grey clouds on the day Y/N was supposed to leave Hawkins, a gloomy atmosphere falling over the town as if it could sense the girl was leaving and was genuinely upset about it. Y/N hardly noticed the weather seeing as her own gloominess was worse than that outside.

She almost didn't want to put the last of her things into the giant cardboard box that sat on the floor in front of her. Everything was already out of her room, leaving it so barren that she felt as if she were in a completely different place.

The only thing left had been her pictures that had decorated the walls with her memories throughout the years. It physically pained her when she had to take down the last picture—one of her with all of her friends where they were all laughing and looking at each other instead of the camera.

Now she held fast onto that picture, her hands shaking as she looked down at it with an almost longing expression on her face. Knowing it would only hurt more the longer she took, Y/N quickly looked away and set the picture in the box before closing it up. She only let out a shaky breath when the deed was done.

Y/N then picked up the box that held the last pieces of her life and began to make her way to her bedroom door. It was when she was about to grab onto the door handle that the door suddenly slammed shut, causing her to jump back in surprise. She hesitated for a second before going to open the door. However, it quickly slammed shut again before it was even half way opened.

This continued for a few more tries before Y/N let out a small sigh and turned to look behind her where her friends were all sitting on the floor looking upset. Her eyes flickered over the group that liked to call themselves 'The Party' and she stopped on Jane Hopper, otherwise known as Eleven, who had blood trickling from her nose.

The young girl wiped the blood away and stared at Y/N with wide eyes as she tried to act innocent. Y/N gave the girl a sad smile before looking around at her other friends who were all visibly upset. "I have to go," Y/N announced, the words earning a few head drops and shakes of heads.

Y/N kept her eyes on Eleven as she went to open the door again. "I have to go," she repeated as she began to pull the door open. However, Eleven wasn't having it and quickly shook her head and slammed the door shut again with her abilities.

Y/N let out a small sigh and dropped her head slightly. This was just as hard on her as it was on them. "El-" she began in a whisper, but before she could even get the words out, Eleven had jumped onto her feet and was throwing her arms around her.

The cardboard box fell from her grip and onto the floor and Y/N silently thanked herself for having only put pictures and posters in there. Her arms were quick to wrap around her friend while she dug her face into Eleven's shoulder, tears filling her eyes as she realized this was pretty much going to be their goodbye.

"Don't go," Eleven whimpered. "Please, don't go."

Y/N squeezed her eyes shut and tears rolled down her face as she hugged Eleven harder. Her body began to shake as she started to cry, but she hardly noticed it because Eleven had begun to cry as well. Arms began to wrap around the two and Y/N looked up slightly to see that her other friends—Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair, Will Byers, and Max Mayfield— had all joined in on the hug.

Y/N closed her eyes again and leaned into her friends' embraces, trying to enjoy this moment where she was with them. She didn't know when she was going to be able to see them next, but she knew she would never lose them. They had been through too much to allow that to happen.

It took a minute, but Y/N eventually got them all to let go so that she could look at them. They didn't mean to, but they had ended up forming a small circle and Y/N looked around at each of her friends before letting out a shaky laugh.

"I love you all, you know that, right?" she whispered. The Party was quick to nod their heads and Y/N smiled softly. "Good. Never forget it."

There was a silence before Y/N said, "You all stick together and take care of each other, okay? And if you all are ever in any sort of trouble, you get Dustin on his radio and have him contact me, okay? Cause you can bet your ass I'll be back here in a heartbeat."

"We don't doubt it for a minute," Max replied, the others all nodding their heads in agreement.

"I know you're going to Maine, but if anything happens and you need us, just know the same thing applies. We've got your back," the young Wheeler boy said.

"Got it, Wheeler," Y/N said with a small smile as she sniffled and wiped away her tears.

"Y/N! It's time to go!"

A look of dread washed on each of the kids' faces and Y/N reached down to pick up the box she had dropped before saying, "That's my cue."

The group was silent, but when Y/N opened the door that time, no one stopped her. Together, the Party all walked out of the girl's bedroom and made their way outside where Y/N's parents were waiting by their car.

Y/N furrowed her eyebrows in confusion when she saw someone talking to them, but her eyes instantly lit up once she recognized the person to be Steve Harrington. His parents and Y/N's parents had been close in college, so Steve and Y/N had practically grown up together despite the five year age gap between the two. He was like the older brother she never had and it was only in that moment that she realized saying goodbye to him was probably going to be the hardest goodbye she would have to face.

Trying not to dwell on the fact, Y/N smiled and called out, "Harrington, is that you?"

Steve instantly perked up at the sound of her voice and muttered something to her parents before looking over at the girl, taking his sunglasses off in the process. "Yeah, it's me. Don't cream your pants," Steve jokingly told her.

Y/N chuckled and walked over to where he stood by the car before quickly putting the box she was carrying in the back seat. She glanced over at her parents and gave them a sad smile before asking, "Can I have a moment to say goodbye?" Her parents nodded and began to get in the car, but not before her father nodded at Steve and her mother patted him on the shoulder.

Once the car doors had closed, Y/N hesitated for a moment before turning her head to look at Steve. He was already looking at her with an unreadable expression while his hands were placed on his hips. He stood there in silence before saying, "The day is finally here."

Y/N's smile disappeared and she looked down at her feet as she nodded. Steve titled his head slightly and watched her for a second before reaching out and placing a hand on her shoulder. "Listen, squirt. You're going to do great things, okay? Hawkins. . .all it's doing is holding you back," he told her.

"I'm moving to Maine," Y/N pointed out as she gave Steve a look that told him all he needed to know.

"You never know, maybe Maine is going to have just what you're looking for," Steve said as he gave her shoulder a light shake.

Y/N looked over her shoulder and at her friends who were all standing at the bottom of the staircase watching her with sad eyes. They gave her shaky smiles which she returned before looking back at Steve. She studied him in silence for a moment before lightly shaking her head as she stared at him fondly. "I don't think so," she told him, knowing that Maine would never be able to replace the people she loved so dearly.

Steve flinched slightly at her words and his face contorted in pain for a second as he looked as if he were about to cry. However, it quickly disappeared and he inhaled sharply as he tried to put on a brave face for the girl in front of him.

"Okay, L/N, serious talk right now, okay? I know this whole move is tough on you. Trust me when I say it's going to be tough on all of us. But you got to make the most of it, you hear? You go to Maine and you show those shit heads just who the hell moved to their town," Steve told her. He then reached out and poked her shoulder as he pointed at her. "Cause they have no idea how lucky they are to have you."

The tears that she had been trying to suppress since she walked outside began to fill her eyes and she couldn't stop herself from launching herself into Steve's arms as she started to cry. Her grip was tight and she balled her hand into fists around his shirt as she tucked her face into his neck.

Steve stumbled back slightly, but didn't hesitate to hug her back as he felt tears began to fill his eyes. He was going to miss her a hell of a lot more than he thought he would. She was practically his sister and one of his best friends. Age had never mattered to them, only the friendship they created had.

So the fact that he was going to have to go through a good chunk of his life without her? Yeah, it was going to be hell.

Y/N tucked Steve's shoulder under her chin as she hugged him and let her eyes flicker over to her friends who were all watching the two with tears in their eyes.

Max was leaning against Lucas who had an arm around her as both struggled to keep it together. Then there was Eleven who was holding hands with Wheeler as she hugged his arm with tears streaming down her face, Wheeler looking pretty much in the same state. Finally there was Dustin who had a hand on Will's shoulder as the two looked to each other for support seeing as the couples were busy comforting each other.

Steve eventually pulled away from the young girl, knowing that it would only be harder on both of them if they didn't end the hug now. He used his shirt to wipe his tears away before he gave Y/N a shaky smile and reached out to swiftly wipe her tears away with his thumbs.

"You'll be okay," Steve assured her. "You're going to be just fine."

Y/N gave the boy a smile, her lips quivering slightly as she forced herself to hold back a sob. "I love you, Harrington," she whispered as she stared at the boy in admiration.

Steve softened slightly at those words and leaned forward to kiss the top of her head. "I love you too, squirt," he told her.

Then, before either of them could start crying, Y/N went over to the car door and opened it up. She hesitated and turned to look back at all of her friends, her eyes scanning over each of them. It was in that moment that she realized just how much she was going to miss them.

She was going to miss Lucas who had been her first friend back in elementary school and the one who had introduced her to the other members of the Party. She would miss Wheeler and the times they would spend in the record shop looking for the right music to play at the karaoke nights they hosted for the group.

She would miss Dustin and being able to talk science with him as they worked on creating their high-range radio from scratch. She would miss Will and playing D&D together when no one else would play.

She would miss Eleven and how the two would have sleepovers and stay up all night giggling before making Eggo waffles in the morning. She would miss Max and the girls days they would have at the mall as they tried every flavor possible at Scoops Ahoy.

And she would miss Steve and the moments she knew would never get to happen. She would miss the times when they would have contests to see who could eat the most ice cream without puking and when they would team up and pull pranks on the others.

She would miss the arcade trips, the late night adventures they would have, and the times they spent together. She would miss each of them. She would miss their friendships. She would miss her family.

Y/N knew they were all thinking the same thing just from the tears that were in their eyes. Steve was the first to raise a hand and wave goodbye, everyone else quickly following suit. She let out a breathy laugh before waving back.

Then, with a heavy heart, Y/N stepped into the car and closed the door. She had just buckled up when the car began to pull away and she was quick to look out the back window at her house and her friends who were all walking out into the middle of the road to watch her go.

Her father glanced back at her in the rear view mirror, but she didn't notice, her attention on her friends who were getting further and further away. As for her mother, she grabbed ahold of her father's hand and kissed it lovingly before saying in an almost excited and slightly saddened voice, "Goodbye Hawkins, Indiana. Hello Derry, Maine."

Y/N didn't look away until her friends' figures had disappeared in the distance.

- - -

"I'm bored," Richie Tozier announced for what had to be the tenth time in the last five minutes. He looked between his friends who were all obviously ignoring him as they ate their lunch and tried to talk about other things. He momentarily saw Beverly Marsh glance his way, but she looked away and turned her attention back to Ben.

Richie had been surprised when Beverly moved back to Derry with her aunt only a year after moving away. But what had surprised him even more was that Bill and Beverly had decided they were better off as friends and Beverly had since grown closer to Ben of all people.

Richie shook away his thoughts and let out a loud sigh before he turned to Eddie Kaspbrak who was sitting beside him. "Eds," Richie whispered. When Eddie didn't respond, the boy poked him not so lightly in the arm. "Pssst. Eds, I'm bored," Richie whispered.

Eddie clenched his jaw and gave the boy a sharp look. "I know. I've heard you the other twenty times you've said it. And don't call me Eds," he said.

"Fine, Eddie Spaghetti," Richie told him with a small smirk. "But it's not my fault I'm bored. It's this shitty town! There is literally nothing to do around here!"

"Weren't you just complaining the other day about how you felt like you never had time to just do nothing?" Stanley Uris asked with a raised eyebrow as he looked at his friend.

"That was the other day, this is now!" Richie exclaimed. "And right now, I'm bored."

"S-s-shut up, Richie," Bill Denbrough muttered in annoyance as he stared blankly at the ham sandwich in his hands.

Richie rolled his eyes and let out a groan as he smacked his head against the table. "But I'm so-"

Before Richie could get that sentence out, the noise in the cafeteria virtually disappeared causing the boy to stop mid sentence. He furrowed his eyebrows and sat up before following everyone's gaze to where the cafeteria doors had just opened up. His mouth dropped open a little and the others all looked to their friend confused as to why he had actually shut up for once.

Seeing his shocked state, the group followed his gaze and their eyes landed on a girl around their age who had just walked into the cafeteria. Her eyes were wide due to the sudden attention and Bill could see the small blush creeping onto her cheeks as she nervously brushed a strand of h/c hair behind her ear.

Bill blinked in surprise as he stared at her, instantly stunned by her beauty just like all the other kids were. He could practically sense the jealously radiating off of all the girls except for Beverly and the boys were practically drooling at the sight of her.

The girl then began to walk forward and her shoes clicking against the ground seemed to echo throughout the whole cafeteria. It was only when she had taken a few steps that everyone seemed to snap out of their spell and go back to whatever they were doing. Well, everyone except for the Losers’ Club.

"Who is that?" Ben Hanscom asked, none of the boys taking their eyes off of the girl while Beverly just shook her head and laughed quietly to herself.

"She must be that new girl I heard Jane Greenwood talking about in math class," Eddie suggested.

"You knew there was a new girl and didn't tell me?" Richie asked as he looked at his friend in shock. "Come on, man. I could've been working my Richie charm on her already."

"Yeah, you won't be doing that," Beverly Marsh told him as she rolled her eyes at the boy. "Let the poor girl have a chance to breathe before you annoy her to death."

Richie made a face at Beverly which Bill barely noticed for he was too busy watching Y/N who was trying to find a seat. He watched as she attempted to sit down at a few tables, but each one either had girls that were too jealous of her to let her sit there or guys that were too stuck up to allow a girl to sit with them. It was only when he saw her passing their table without even trying that Bill called out to her.

"You can s-s-sit with us."

The Losers’ Club all froze and glanced over at Bill in surprise while the young girl paused in her tracks and turned to look at who had talked to her. Her eyes locked with Bill's and she gave him a breathtaking smile that had him blushing a little under her gaze.

"Thanks," she said as she walked over to the only empty seat that happened to be in between Bill and Richie. "Seriously, thank you. I was afraid I would have to sit by the trash cans. It's kind of hard trying to find a seat when you're new and know literally no one."

She was rambling a little, but Bill couldn't help but smile as she talked. "N-n-no problem. I-I-I'm Bill. B-B-Bill Denbrough," he introduced himself, stuttering a little more than usual due to the fact that a pretty girl was sitting next to him. He then gave the rest of the group looks that told them to introduce themselves as well.

"Beverly Marsh."

"Ben Hanscom."

"Eddie Kaspbrak."

"Stanley Uris, but people call me Stan."

"Richie Tozier, but you can call me the man of your dreams."

"Don't call him that," Beverly instantly said as she sent a small glare towards Richie. However, the girl had turned her gaze on Richie and was staring at him with wide eyes.

"Look guys. I'm so handsome she can't even speak," Richie smirked, but it disappeared when the girl poked his cheek and moved his face so she could look at him better.

"Incredible," she whispered. "You look exactly like one of my friends back home! You two could be twins!"

Richie frowned at that and muttered, "There is no one like me, but me!"

The girl just shook her head in amazement and stared at Richie for a moment longer before looking away with a blink of her eyes and looking to the rest of the group. "Sorry. I'm Y/N L/N," she introduced herself.

"Where did you move from?" Ben asked while Richie sat muttering something about he was unique and there was no one someone looked like him.

Y/N's smile made Bill's heart flutter a little and he mentally cursed himself for being affected by her smile when he had just met her. "Hawkins, Indiana," she replied.

"Hawkins?" Stan questioned as he scrunched up his nose. He then shrugged and looked down at his food before saying, "Never heard of it."

"Most people haven't," Y/N chuckled. "Which is probably a good thing now that I think about it."

"Why's t-t-that?" Bill asked, genuinely curious.

Y/N let out a nervous laugh as she almost seemed to be recalling some memory, "It can be a pretty weird place."

"Well you obviously haven't been in Derry long," Eddie muttered.

"Trust me. Nothing can be weirder than Hawkins," Y/N assured them. "It's like a shit show on steroids."

Richie rolled his eyes. "Trust me. Derry can and is," Richie argued.

Y/N raised an eyebrow as the corner of her lips turned up in a small smirk. "Want to bet?" she asked as if she knew something they didn't.

Richie glanced at his friends and Bill chuckled softly to himself knowing that nothing could beat what they had been through. It wouldn't be until after Y/N explained her whole story that he would realize he was wrong.

"You sure you want to do this, L/N?" Richie asked. "We wouldn't want to scare you away."

Y/N smirked and set her backpack on the ground and her lunchbox on the table.

"Try me, Tozier."

* * *

Tag List-

@witch-of-all-things-soft

@nightbu-g

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steveusesfaberge · 5 years ago

Text

Sunsets Back Home (pt. i)

Pairing: Billy Hargrove x Reader

Summary: Billy longs to see a California sunset again, he misses the way the sun kisses the rim of the ocean; how the wind carries salt...how the sand feels. He doesn’t think it can ever be the same now that he’s stuck in the middle of Indiana... But...it seems in his dark days, he’s forgotten that despite where you are...the sun always sets the same. A few hours talking with little miss Y/N and he can’t help but give in to a ridiculous arrangement...too bad she can’t make it happen....or can she?

Type/Style: Imagine, female pronouns

Warning(s): None really...a bit of angst (it’s Billy, c’mon now..)...lots of fluff...and...a hopeful promise to be fulfilled!

Word Count: 7k

a/n: I thought of this on a whim!~ I decided that Hargrove needed a lil’ more love because that boy is....so much more than what people cookie-cut him to be <3 (sorry it’s a bit long, got carrrieddddd awayyyy...<3)

Also...that wink in that gif...hadddd meee weakkkkkkkkk -- WEAK; I say!

Please send requests! I’m excited to write for you all! I have many stories coming out soon, as I’ve got burs/ideas of them written out and ready to be flushed out and made reality! Can’t wait! I wish there was more time in the day..what can ya do? What can you do...<3

Part 1 (you are here) - Part 2 - Part 3

━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━

Most wouldn’t think it, but he liked sunsets. Yes - the Billy Hargrove - enjoyed witnessing the sight of what most would consider; sentimental and considerate. The dance of light finally meeting its downfall finding solace in the horizon and touch of land as a welcoming embrace. Yes, Billy enjoyed them. If you spoke anything about it though - you’d surely never be able to speak again - he’d make sure of it...(that classic Hargrove style of his).

Back in California, he’d drive down the winding roads linning the coast; to one of the many piers, or find a nice, withdrawn, abandoned stretch of beach and watch the sun dip into the water; simmering with the last lights of day. The smell of the ocean, the feeling of sand underfoot, the sounds of tranquility, and the sight of such a beautiful phenomenon...how could one not love it?

He found himself at peace when watching the great ball of flames and gases have its own tragedy - reminding him that everyone and everything has its own weaknesses; its own flaws. Reminding him that even with those flaws, the sun is still able to rise once again - banishing the darkness of night to the corners of the world. An endless, honorable cycle.

He knew that even if his father’s heart was made of what the sun chased away - Billy could still wake up each morning and go on living. Sitting in his bedroom, staring at the ceiling, his mind wandered back to The Golden State.

He had a cigarette hung loosely from the corner of his mouth, one hand on his chest, the other jaded off the side of his bed. He was in a plain, white tank top, accompanied by denim jeans hanging shyly off his hips. His door was shut and there wasn’t anything he wanted to do on this early evening besides brood in his own thoughts and emotions.

Hawkins, Indiana was nothing like California...nothing like it. They didn’t have beaches - not the kind Billy was looking for (lakesides didn’t count, they didn’t carry the same grand-gestures or even the vast mileage of just...ocean). It was drab, cold, and shit always seemed to be lurking around every damn turn. Hawkins didn’t have the same style as Cali either - with its energy, the air of freedom... Here, Billy felt trapped. Suffocated. Alone. Nothing. He felt nothing here.

They say home is where the heart is, but Billy forgot long ago what such a phrase meant. Throughout his years, he found that if you gave away such a vulnerability, you’d only end up stabbing yourself in the back. People were not to be trusted, because they were snakes who had venom dripping down their fingertips, hiding in the grasses ready to strike a weak heart down without a second thought. A handshake was a deathwish, and a smile was worse.

Home is where the heart is - to Billy this meant: you cannot trust anyone, because if home is where the heart is - your heart is in your own goddamn chest -- and who else better to trust than yourself? Yes. That was the motto of a lifetime.

And Hawkins...Hawkins...was not home, to begin with. There was nothing to keep him here (besides...begrudgingly...Max, he knew he wasn’t always kind to her, but...he needed her to learn to never rely on someone else, because it would only end up in tears and disappointment. If she knew how to keep herself guarded and hold a level mind...he’d say success to his job as an older brother). He’d always felt alone, even back home...but...now? Billy had nowhere to go. Nowhere at all. Home being miles away from...here.

There wasn’t a California sunset waiting for him at the end of the road; just some crappy gas station adjacent to downtown Hawkins. At the end of the paved road, all Billy could see was his own violence, longing, frustration...he figured driving slowly would only prolong those feelings within him. So he drove fast. Always, always driving fast. If it was all a blur around him, maybe he’d forget who he was and where he was...

Because God...all he wanted was to be found...maybe if he drove fast enough, wished hard enough...someone would see him. The pitiful man he’d become - and they’d see he needed someone...anyone...just...a hand to hold, a heart to love, and a mind to cherish.

And as they say; (though Billy thinks they say a lot of things...can’t they shut the hell up and mind their own goddamn business?) there is more to life than simply increasing in speed. Billy hoped someone would stop him one day. Ask him why he was driving so recklessly...he’d only ask them a question in return. Did I lose the road yet? If they told him no; he’d sigh. I guess I’ll have to be faster then.

Knock, knock, knock.

It came in threes, followed by a soft, even tone. “Billy...can you take me to El’s house?” Max’s voice was heard from behind the door, only muffled to a slight distortion. He rolled his eyes; he wasn’t doing anything - but...the silence of collecting his own mind was more than enough to be doing for an entire decade. It would keep anyone busy if they decided to take a look in that head of his.

“Yeah, yeah - whatever. Just be ready by the time I’m out the door or your ass can walk for all I care.” He heard a soft okay and her gentle footsteps were gone. He wondered briefly if Max too felt alone - but...the images of her smiling and laughing with her friends...that...that was all the family she needed, besides she had Susan (his step-mother) as well, it wasn't like she was completely on her own...He was there too... Billy wiped a troubled simper from his lips, throwing the butt of his joint out the window.

He slid his boots on, grabbed his car keys, and slung his leather jacket over his left shoulder. “C’mon, Max!” He yelled down the hall while tapping his sunglasses down.

The drive was quiet. It always was. Maybe it was because Maxine couldn’t ever speak above the music Billy played, or maybe she just didn’t have anything in particular to say; not to him anyway. He didn’t mind. Her presence was enough.

He slammed on the breaks, and out of the corner of his eyes, catching the redhead brace herself readily (she’d been in a car with him enough times that his driving was more than normal). He watched her climb out, carrying a small bag with her. He raised an eyebrow in question, fingers rapping the steering wheel.

“She asked if I could sleepover,” Max explained while holding a hand up to close the passenger door. He gave a curt nod. “Call me--,” “Yeah, yeah, I know...if I need something or whatever.” He wondered if Max thought he said that out of mockery and habit. Billy meant it...despite how he may sling it, as much as he’d hate to admit it - he’d be back here in less than six minutes if she asked...

He watched her knock on the door, and expecting to see the sheriff - he was greeted with a face he’d never seen before. Leaning forward in his seat, he tilted his head in slight curiosity, not really caring if it was odd he was still parked outside.

His window was open, and their conversation flowed through with ease. He even turned down the radio a few notches; to make sure he didn’t miss a single note.

“Hey, Max! You here for El?” the y/c/h haired girl chipped, holding the door open.

“Yeah! Are you babysitting tonight?” Mayfield asked hopefully.

“Yup, Hop asked me to -- he’s got a late shift at the station, I think,” the young woman explained.

Billy wasn’t quite sure who this was, but he could tell Max was well acquainted. She looked roughly his age - she’d probably gone to Hawkins High without him even noticing; Hargrove rarely ever forgot a pretty face - especially if it had been hers (names, sure - but he remembered their face at least)...he’d have known if they’d met before.

She had y/l/h y/c/h hair, and from what he could make out - y/c/e eyes that seemed excited to see his little sister. He wondered who this babysitter was. So, instead of leaving right away, as he usually did - he killed the engine, the music freezing abruptly - both heads turning just as Max was entering the house.

“Does uh, your brother need something?” Y/N asked while tilting her head, looking down at the younger female.

“Beats me, he never really sticks around this long,” Max didn’t waste much breath on it - not really caring what Billy wanted. Disappearing into the cabin a second later, calling for El.

The y/e/c-eyed girl stepped outside, closing the door behind her with a soft click. “Hey! It’s Billy, right?” She greeted kindly while walking to meet him at the front porch’s steps. Of course, she knew who he was...No one knew his name without his face to match (not a face like his anyway...and certainly not a name like his).

Sure, she’d seen him a few times when dropping Max off - or picking her up. A few more times around the halls at school, and at the basketball games (almost all of them to be truthful)...and once at the pool (deciding to hide instead of being caught by the particular lifeguard).

“Glad you know the name, do I get the pleasure of yours?” Y/N was taken back by his wave of...charm and confidence. She’d seen him around school, philandering up a storm; walking like he owned the place...but...that didn’t matter anymore, because they were both graduated. There shouldn’t be a single title to his name; other than Billy Hargrove. No, Billy The New King, or Boy Toy Billy, or even The Billy Hargrove...as of now - he was just Billy Hargrove...the kid dropping off Max for a sleepover.

“Y/N, Y/N L/N,” she offered, leaning against one of the support pillars holding up the roof over the porch.

“L/N? By chance, you have a--,” “Brother? Yeah, he used to play basketball with you for the school.” Y/N filled in for him. She wondered if he had ever realized that she’d been to all their games, had seen Billy play, and how much of a commotion he made when he got fouled...(she’d laugh about it on the car ride home, her brother only rolling his eyes telling her that if Hargrove ever found out you make fun of him - he’d have your neck).

Billy had no knowledge of this, he didn’t think L/N had a sibling - let alone a sister as attractive as the girl before him. How come he’d never heard him talk about her? Not even a hint of lockerroom talk from any of the other boys either...

“Who knew little Davy was hiding you at home,” he chuckled while lifting one foot to rest on the second step of the porch. Leaning back on his grounded leg, hands in his jacket pockets. He looked like a god on earth and Y/N could understand why David told her to stay away from him. All he cares about is alcohol, sex, and his own skin, Y/N/N -- don’t even think about bringing him home. She’d never believed all of it - well, some of it...from first-hand experiences of watching him have girls fall to their knees with just a wink... Nonetheless, Y/N liked to judge a character for herself - which was why she got along with the party so well -- she lives next door to Henderson for Christ’s sake! She can smell the geek on him...(not that Y/N cared, she’d often go to his house and just hang out with the kid - seeing as he was an only child, and his darling mother worked most of the time. Y/N was an avid babysitter for him - a good friend of Harrington’s at that; which explained why Dustin had a hard time deciding who was his favorite sitter; he told Steve it was him...but...he was really only protecting the brunette’s, dainty heart).

“Ha, well -- little Davy -- is literally, the most overprotective guy, you’ll ever meet,” she explained with a shake of her head and a good-natured sigh. The number of boys David had run off “for” her...He wasn’t any good! He was looking at your ass! I just don’t like him! He was acting out of line... If he saw Y/N now - talking to Billy Hargrove, the catch of them all...he’d have had a heart attack for sure.

Billy only nodded, he understood why. The same reason that he cared for Max in his own way...what did they call it? -- Brotherly love.

He fancied the way Y/N could pull off a solid grey T-shirt like she was wearing Ralph Lauren - preparing to walk the runway. He liked her casual air...a lot.

“Well, seeing as you’re still here - is there something you need?” Y/N asked while trying to steer the attention away from herself and back to the topic of babysitting El and Max (she had a strange feeling that Hargrove didn’t just come here to make sure his little sister went to bed on time).

“Just wanted to see who’d be watching Max for me,” he shrugged earnestly. He ran a hand along his chin and the dirty-blond pushed back a few curls from his view. “Glad to see she’d be in good hands.”

The conversation carried on longer than Y/N and Billy both thought it would, he ended up coming inside when it got dark.

He was sitting at the small kitchen table, the distance so short, if he reached out his hand, Billy could grab Y/N’s. The girls were in El’s room - intimations of laughter would bubble up every now and then, allowing for both Billy and Y/N to breathe easy that both were okay and not doing anything troublesome (so they assumed).

“So, you just expect me to believe...that?” she snorted while shaking her head, using her hands as if to push away the thought and the words he’d spoken, back to where they’d come from.

Billy was leaning in his chair -- slouched -- having one arm resting on the tabletop, the other hung over the back of his seat. He shared a smile with her (and damn did he have a nice smile...whether it was fake or not, Y/N found herself staring for a second too long. Even with the sneaky wink he’d shoot her when he noticed her gaze - she still felt that Billy was being...genuine), while lightly drumming his fingers on the table. His left leg was bouncing up and down...up and down...Billy was clearly the jittery, go-go-go type.

“I’m for real! She didn’t even realize she’d left without them!” He chimed, noting the way Y/N’s y/c/h hair was held back messily with a polka-dotted scrunchie; thinking it was kinda cute how she held such a childish essence.

“But...they were her underwear!” Y/N sputtered, lowering her voice as she spoke, pulling a hand to her lips in obvious disbelief.

Billy shrugged, running his tongue over his bottom lip. “What can I say? One night with me and you’ll forget your own damn name, sweetheart.” Oh, he was smooth...

Y/N had so far taken him as a flirty guy - but she’d also noticed he’d listen when she spoke. He’d give her all his attention, and it washed her in a sense of simple understanding. He’d not be a step out of line when not necessary, and he hadn’t raised his voice once (like he was oh-so infamous for).

Yet, Y/N was reminded by the small voice in her head, that he had almost killed Steve and Lucas only last year...and she recalled the multitude of fights and parties Billy’d pick and crash; sleeping with anything with legs and a pretty face...remembering the distaste the majority of the party held for him (she’d even comforted Max once when she was frustrated with the said boy, claiming that he was just the worst to live with - so moody, so cold, and hateful of everything).

It shocked her honestly, to see Billy act so...normal. It kept her on edge, curious to see if this was just a facade or his charm acting up - assuming those old habits would die hard with him.

“What’re they doing out there?” Max questioned while pressing her ear to the door. She’d heard laughing and talking, and when she and El realized Y/N had invited Billy in - and he’d accepted it...both were left suspicious and confused. Max had expected Billy to burn rubber as he left, the second she got out of the car, heck, he’d have done it with her half-way in. So, she was more than astonished to see he’d come in the damn house.

They were both pressed to the door, trying to understand why Billy was being so...weird. “He better not try anything with her,” Max grumbled while listening to her brother’s hearty chuckles - narrowing her eyes at the sound. Max couldn’t tell if he were being serious or not, his charm held such a captivating lure...no one was safe.

“Maybe he likes her.” Eleven’s honesty had always shocked Max and the gang. She always spoke her mind, and always had something to say with such heart and interest (of course, she knew that El wasn’t the most versed in speaking, but she could speak well enough by now).

“Maybe...,” Max offered lightly, her eyes dodging to the girl,” But Billy doesn’t like girls - he doesn’t like people, for that matter! Not like that anyway,” The redhead explained, only partially listening to the conversation held between the two eighteen-year-olds about Billy’s job as a lifeguard. She was too fixed on but Billy Hargrove hates getting to know people...Billy Hargrove hates small talk and cuts to the chase of whatever he does...Billy Hargrove hates going slow...

“Maybe it’s different this time,” El proposed while offering a shrugged solution, lifting a hand to scratch her neck.

“Maybe.”

“Are you sure you wanna go now, Billy? It’s really la--,” “It’s fine, dollface. This isn’t my first time driving in the dark, L/N,” he chuckled as he stood himself to full height. His sunglasses now hanging from the collar of his tank top.

Y/N frowned, playing with her fingers as she glanced outside the nearest window. “Yeah...but...it’s...really dark, and the road here is like - at this weird angle - you know? Like, right where you turn in to get to Hop’s cabin? Yo--,” “If you wanted me to stay. You could’ve just asked.” He cut through her rambling, smiling to himself as he watched Y/N’s face paint pink at his “humor-filled” suggestion.

“O-oh! I mean...I...uh..It did kinda sound like that,” Y/N offered sheepishly, not believing her own feeble-minded mistake (saying such a thing in front of him...of course, he’d take it as...an offer...). That hadn’t been her intention, she just wasn’t sure if she liked the idea of Hargrove driving blindly without a proper road, save for dirt cut through the woods...

Billy only waited, watching her; arms crossing over his broad chest. “You want me here or not? Make up your mind, princess...I can’t just stand here forever.” His tone was teasing, and yet, it was sincere in the oddest way. Y/N bit her lip and glanced around the small cabin, trying to decide what to do with this...rather sticky situation. The girls had long gone to bed - Y/N had peaked in for a check-up, and found them asleep on the floor for some reason...by the door at that. (Billy had been kind enough to carry each to the bed and help Y/N tuck them in, seeing as she wasn’t apt enough to do it as effortlessly as he. She was thrown off to see him so willing and so helpful for someone who Max described as senseless and selfish).

“Um...,” she brushed past him, Billy eyeing her as she did, wondering what she was up to - turning to watch her step to the couch. “This pulls out into a bed - I know that ‘cause Hop lets me stay here a lot.” Y/N confessed a bit shyly.

Billy was so surprised to hear that, that he didn’t even fight her while she was casually offering him to spend the night. “You...stay here...a lot?”

“Oh...uh, since Davy left to Virginia for college, the house is...kinda..ummm...lonely,” she admitted softly. Now that, had Hargrove stunned. He was surprised to hear that leave her lips as a follow-up.

“What about the rest of your family?” He asked while walking over to help Y/N remove the cushions from the pull-out. He was interested in her response, Billy hadn’t known the L/N estate was...lonesome.

Y/N pulled the left seat off and plopped it to the floor. “The only person there is my aunt - but she works....like...a lot. So, I don’t see her very often. She’s a businesswoman or something like that.” Y/N told while struggling to pull the actual pull-out bed from its original placement. “Here, let me do it.” Billy offered.

He didn’t even break a sweat...usually Hopper grunted in inconvenience, as the stubborn old thing was always a bit finicky - it seemed those muscles of Billy’s weren’t just for show (Y/N had presumed they helped him pick up chicks or just to be manly). She thanked him, and then shuffled down the short hallway, looking for the pillows and blankets - Hop usually had them in the closet in his bedroom.

“You home alone most of the time?” Billy asked while following her a bit awkwardly - not really knowing if she’d need help again, nor knowing what to do with himself still there. He hadn’t expected...well...any of this to happen. He was hoping to snag Y/N’s number and leave, or even persuade her to ditch the babysitting and come home with him...(the options had been endless in his mind...Billy supposed he just hadn’t thought of this being one of them).

Y/N didn’t really tell people about her absent home life - from what she knew, she had it easy (she’d heard a few stories from Max...and it had her heart twist for Billy). Y/N was surprised she was so easy to tell him (of all people) - maybe it was just the heat of the moment...

“Yeah - well, since Davy’s gone now - and my aunt doesn’t come back for weeks on end...it’s just me,” Billy admired how she could say such a sad thing without faltering - in fact, he thought the smile on her face was too gently worn for such words.

“Oh, I have a cat named Lolly...-- but I know you meant...like...real company,” Y/N added with a soft laugh. Finding the spare pillows and blankets on the top shelf in the sliding door closet (Hop’s rather messy closet, that is) she reached up on her tiptoes to seize them.

Getting a hold, Y/N passed them down to Billy who stood behind her (closer than she’d like to admit, and closer than Billy realized). He chuckled.

“You sayin’ Lolly isn’t real company? That’s harsh,” he joked.

Y/N could only giggle - she didn’t take Hargrove as the...witty type. She expected a poke about pussy-cats or something lude, she almost felt shameful for how much she undermined him.

“She’s good enough I suppose...likes to hide more times than not though, so really...I’m the victim here.” Billy only offered a crooked grin.

“There, you’re all set up!” Y/N announced, clapping her hands together at the finalized work. Billy was standing a few feet to her left, an eyebrow raised as he glanced over the mismatch pillowcases and random maroon comforter - along with a few other sheets that clearly didn’t make a set. Not that Hargrove was complaining, he had learned to take blessings in life with ease; as they were rarely given out and when they were, they didn’t last long).

He ran a hand down his chin, nodding at their so-called quick thinking and handy-work (as Y/N placed it). “Okay...and where are you sleeping? Hopper’s room?” Y/N hadn’t thought about that...she wasn’t a fan of sleeping in a someone else’s bed (some could argue that sleeping on their couch wasn’t any different, but she begged to differ. The bedroom was a private space and she didn’t feel swell invading that).

She also wasn’t sure if she even had permission to do so - Jim was only expecting Y/N and Max to be staying the night...and not a third guest as well... (if she called him asking about it, he’d get suspicious - and as it was, Hopper treated her as a second daughter - and would drill her about who was there, and if he found out it was a boy...Hargrove at that...he’d flip his lid. Probably never trusting her again - goodness sake...Hopper would hire another babysitter for her as she watched the kids...a sitter for the sitter...).

“I um...I mean yeah...I guess,” she replied while thinking over her options thoughtfully. Hop staying the night at the station meant he’d be back by...she calculated...maybe sometime tomorrow morning. She could fix his room back the way it was, still leaving enough time for Billy to wake up reasonably and---

“Look...if it’s too much trouble, I’ll just go,” Hargrove answered quickly, seeing the slight alarm in her y/c/h eyes. As much as he’d like to stay over - he wasn’t going to stick around if he were a bother. He knew what it was like being bothersome to someone...he didn’t need to add to a new list.

To be frank, Billy himself wasn’t sure why he was being so considerate to someone else’s troubles in the first place. Normally, he’d kill to be out of the house - unsure of what mood his father was in...and how he’d react to Billy being home so late...

Maybe it was because he learned Y/N’s favorite bands were The Rolling Stones, Queen, and Guns N’ Roses (all of which, he approved of). Or that she liked talking with her hands - allowing him to be entertained as she told her stories (Billy thought it was amusing to see such excitement over something as little as that one time I fell because I missed a step and everyone saw it moment). There was also the fact that Y/N talked about Max so highly (while Billy had rolled his eyes, scoffing lightly - as he had a reputation to keep up... he was beaming to think that Y/N thought so of his little sister).

She’d also mentioned a taste for late-night drives and hating a kid named Vance Kerr back in her Junior Year (You wouldn’t know him - he moved to Ohio before you and Max came ‘round. But God...was he awful - let me tell you about this one time he--), and the time Davy and her snuck out to met with Harrington (to which Billy groaned on cue, earning a smack to the chest and a laugh. Oh, shut up, Hargrove!) for a party...

Point being...Billy didn’t do much for other people. He didn’t see a point in putting more energy than it was worth. People were disappointing; conniving; and cruel...that’s what they said about him anyway. That’s what they’d made him believe...

So, for Billy to give Y/N a soft smile - reassuring her it’d be fine if he just...drove home...it took a lot out of him. But...for her? He didn’t mind letting his reputation slip.

Standing on the front porch, arms rubbing away the chills of a summer’s night; Y/N watched as Billy strode to his car. “Billy, I really don’t--,” “Relax, princess. I’ll be fine. I’m a big boy, and fully capable of driving fifteen minutes down the road without losing my way in the dark,” he eased while chuckling. Billy’s left arm holding himself up on the side of his Camaro. While he came off calm and collected, he was truly shocked at her display of...care.

Billy didn’t think it was possible to be so sincere and endearing with someone you’d just met less than twelve hours ago. No one had ever cared enough to ask him to stay the night - not for sex - but to simply make sure he wasn’t driving in the dark...that was honestly...something...he’d consider....sweet (and he rarely used said word; You want your ego stroked? Go ask Harrington to give you a-- it was too...soft...for a guy like him to use and, or be referred to as).

“Will you be okay here with the girls?” He asked, switching the attention back to Y/N, his eyes never leaving her as he popped his driver’s door open. She stood there, leaning against the wooden pillar, arms holding her heat as close as possible before the chilled summer swept it away.

“Oh, yeah! I’ve done this plenty of times! - Though I’ll admit, sometimes I have Steve’s help - I’ll be fine, really! He’s usually only around when all the kids are with us, but I’ll be fine with these two.” Hargrove didn’t like when people talked too much (nor when they brought up Harrington), but for some reason...he didn’t mind Y/N’s rambles...he almost...enjoyed them.

Noticing the slight shiver run down her figure; Billy clicked his tongue shaking his blond head of hair - walking back in her direction. Y/N raised her eyebrows, going to question his actions - wondering if he’d decided to just spend the night instead of going home. She was tempted to crack a joke - but he stopped her.

“Here, you’ll get cold standing there like a moron,” he muttered, sliding his leather jacket around her shoulders. “Bu--,” “I’ll get it back when I pick Max up. Don’t worry, L/N,” he paused, and she swore it, that her heart skipped a beat at that smile of his. Illuminated by the soft glow of the cabin’s porch light, Billy’s skin was glowing golden and his eyes were rimmed with a glittering warmth, their blue color seeming to intensify at that moment. Hargrove’s curly hair had a golden hue - and Y/N had to blink away a faint streak of fatigue to realize that it was simply a few out of place strands and not a halo of sorts...

“No seriously, I’m just gonna go back inside--,” she was cut off again as Billy sighed, a roll of those pretty blue orbs and a tug of the coat to be more snuggly fit about her torso. His hands stilled as he fixed the collar; lingering there for a few heartbeats extra.

Billy licked his lips, glancing away from her for a short instance (but all Y/N could see was the way he bit his lip nearing the end - and the way his long eyelashes brushed his cheeks gently). “Can’t you give a dog a bone, Y/N? I’m trying to say, I wanna see you again...but you’re not lettin’ me do it!”

She was speechless. His hands slowly falling from being so close to her neck, dropping to dig into his jean pockets. “I’ll keep the jacket, Billy. Until you come back tomorrow.” He smiled at Y/N’s response - her gentle blush even evident in the dim lighting. He thought that despite having her back to the light; it really wasn’t fair - because a soft glow seemed to haunt her silhouette anyway (and that just wasn’t fair for him to have to walk away from without looking like a fool).

“Thanks, princess,” he hummed while winking, trekking back down the set of stairs and towards his car. Y/N admired the defined muscles of Billy’s arms, seeming to show-off without him even having to try. She also thought his white tank top was tastefully tight. Shape up, Y/N! You’re drooling! God...

“Oh, and Billy?” He hummed, slowly spinning back to Y/N on the balls of his feet. He was just a few steps from his (still) open car door and questioned her by cocking his eyebrow.

“I-I...I liked talking to you...,” Y/N admitted while playing with the edge of the too-long sleeves (Billy’s jacket fell down to meet her mid-thigh and it was still warm with his presence). “You’re...a...a nice guy.”

Billy only smiled, offering her a soft goodnight, Y/N, and then he was in the car - and pulling out without another word. The music still as loud as ever. Y/N only waited a minute or so before she could no longer see him - silently crossing her fingers that he’d make it home okay...

Closing the front door, she pressed her back to it, soaking in the night’s events at their truest form. She’d talked to Billy Hargrove...and it hadn’t been about sex...(he’d made a few cracks at it - but it was lighthearted nonetheless). Y/N wasn’t even sure why she offered him to stay the night; she told herself it was because she didn’t feel okay with him (or anyone) zipping down the road in the dark...but...Y/N knew there were other reasons. She wasn’t the type to invite guys to stay over; heavens no! (Steve and the boys didn’t count because they were honorary family - even Steve who she’d agree was good-looking...he was too much of a dork to even attempt flirting successfully).

Maybe it was because Billy’s favorite drink was Jolt Cola (an overly spiked energy drink, bursting with caffeine...so much, that she didn’t think it was safe for anyone to be consuming), and he liked late-night drives just as much as she did - windows rolled down, music turned up.

Or how he hadn’t interrupted her unless he had a suitable reason (like when she nervously rattled off, Billy had put a hand to hers and gently changed the subject) - staying respectfully quiet and nodding when Y/N spoke, as a sign of acknowledgment to him listening.

Maybe it was the fact that Billy had a sweet-tooth, claiming he could introduce her to the best kinds of chocolates she’d ever had...or...maybe it was because he enjoyed watching sunsets. Yeah...Y/N liked that about him.

Oh, and the other night - this was after the whole pranking Harrington thing - I saw the most beautiful sunset, like...you won’t believe how gorgeous it was! I...um...know it’s kinda stupid to...rememeber... she’d trailed off when he began chuckling under his breath. A hot new color finding her face, hands tampering with a chipped corner of the kitchen table. No, no -- I don’t mean to make you embarrassed! I...I just think it’s ironic. I...uh...like sunsets too.

When Y/N had asked Billy if he’d seen the one she was talking about, he’d only shook his head, tapping the table with his pointer. Not the sunsets here, L/N. I’m talkin’ ‘bout the ones back home in Cali. I haven’t watched a sunset since I came to this crappy little town. Y/N hadn’t taken offense; too focused on the fact that Hargrove had been missing out on such pretty moments in time - the only chance he’d get to see the sun ready itself to rest, draped in painted colors of pink, red, and orange... It happened every day, and he still managed to miss it.

God -- you’re crazy, Hargrove! What’s the difference! He’d only shaken his head, his tongue skimming the skin of his teeth as he leaned back in his chair. Billy had explained that back home, the sun was different. A California sunset is better than any skimpy one you see here, kid. I’m sure the sunset you saw, was nothing compared to the one happening three hours later in Cali.

Tightening her scrunchie (gifted to her by Eleven - promising to always wear it), Y/N pursed her lips. Well then, Hargrove - you haven’t seen everything this... ”skimpy” town has to offer. Using hand gestures she’d used air-quotes on his words - narrowing her eyes playfully.

Billy had rolled his eyes, lifting his eyebrows once in understanding, though Y/N could tell he was still unconvinced. Sure, doll. Whatever your little heart wants to believe. Y/N had then and there, decided one thing - Billy Hargrove -- I’m gonna show you the most...amazing sunset you’ve ever seen! It’ll blow those California ones out of the water! They shared a smile, Billy’s bordering smirk (at her poor attempt of a clever pun) while competing in a short staring contest. It was as if Billy was trying to have Y/N take her words back if she blinked. She hadn’t. And so he ruined the lovely moment by mentioning she could always blow something else...

Y/N tried settling down on the pull-out bed (previously set up for Billy), drawing the maroon quilt to her chin. She had the radio humming lowly in the background, as she found white-noise the most excellent way to fall asleep. Y/N lifted the jacket, still adorning her body, up to her nose. The collar smelt of cigarettes, a classic Aramis cologne, and what she could only describe as...Billy Hargrove (Y/N made a mental note to tell Billy when returning his jacket that he pulled off Aramis’ scent flawlessly...woody, with a fresh smell she couldn’t place...spiced with cinnamon maybe...and garnished with that masculine touch she thought represented Billy perfectly).

She drifted to sleep with only good thoughts of her night - hoping to prove to Hargrove that he could truly enjoy a sunset...even if it wasn’t Cali’s beach dime reflections and beauty.

Who would’ve known...Billy Hargrove enjoyed sunsets. Y/N wasn’t sure what to anticipate anymore - he’d already thrown all of her expectations out the window (and of course, she’d thought some of it was simply for appeal...as he was notorious for flirting, to which by now, Y/N suspected him to have perfected it - she did not deny him that). Either way, it made her smile as she fell asleep, thinking it possible she had Billy Hargrove all wrong...

The drive home was quiet. Though it was always quiet. Billy didn’t have someone to talk to - the melodies of music being his only company. He was speeding down the road, nodding his head lightly to Scoprions ‘You Rock Like A Hurricane’ as it lulled the night’s silence to something more his pace.

He was rewinding and replaying his night spent with Y/N... Puffing an air of smoke out from his lungs - he held his hand out the window to get rid of the ash (he didn't like getting it in his car after all).

She was unpredictable. Absolutely someone Billy wouldn’t have given the time of day if they’d met in a different situation (and if it hadn’t been Y/N that he’d met, it wouldn’t have been worth a single breath - he’d be certain of it).

Y/N had this...enchanting air surrounding her - leaving Billy with more questions than answers. He wanted to ask about how she felt - now that David was gone...how did she...feel...being home...alone. And if she didn’t mind; he wanted to ask her - shaking her by her shoulders either for the truth - or for an answer of how? How she managed to be okay with being alone... weren’t nights dark and days indifferent? Y/N had mentioned staying at Hopper’s house more times than not - so maybe being alone bothered her more than she led on. If so...they had more in common than he’d originally pinned her for.

Billy would also criticize what Y/N thought was a good sunset. Throughout their talk, he’d learned that she had never left Hawkins - not once in her lifetime. He’d been floored. So..you’ve like...never...been to the beach? She had bashfully said no. God, you would love the beaches in Cali! Our house was like...on the beach...and surfing -- wait, don’t say you haven’t even thought about it before?! Y/N had only rolled her eyes, grin on her lips as she reminded him where they were. She was admiring the way he seemed to lit up like a little kid at the topic of something he really loved. No beaches around here, Hargrove. I’ve never even dreamed about it. Billy had promised, then and there - that he’d one day, take her to the beach to teach her to surf. And as a payment...I suppose you’d need to wear a bathing suit...I like the color red, by the way, L/N. He just had to go there.

In return, Y/N had promised him the most amazing sunset he’d ever lay eyes on. I’m gonna hold you to that, L/N. He’d teased. Oh, I won’t disappoint, Hargrove! On my word! Why he even told her his interest in gentle dying evenings was beyond Billy... He had never told anyone; as it’d totally throw off his image of being this badass, chick-magnet, with no regrets or regards...mainly because desolate failure who missed his old home, dragging daddy issues wherever he went, who also squealed at sunsets didn’t have a ring to it, nor did it fit...

Now pulling up outside his house, Billy cut the engine quickly, his music having already been turned down to a low muted static. Neil wasn’t a fan of Billy’s favored engine roars and revving. Getting out of the midnight blue Camaro, he stepped out his cig and made his way down the busted walk-way in easy silence.

Slipping into the house undetected was a blessing, and he was able to make it to his room without any issues. Kicking his shoes off, he stripped to his boxers. Laying on the bedsheets with nothing but the ceiling to look at...Billy wondered how Y/N was seriously going to pull off a sunset better than California’s.

Billy still believed that leaving your heart carelessly on your sleeves would only result in disaster...but, he was reminded that he’d given his entire jacket away - so screw the sleeves...he had neither.

He could only hope Y/N spared him that...mercy was the gift of a genuine soul...and good God...he hoped she was forgiving - because Billy wasn’t sure what he was thinking, but he’d found himself slowly letting his guard down. All of that time spent building it up - brick by brick with stones of malice and contempt.

All that being threatened by a lonely girl with a grey T-shirt and a polka-dotted hair-tie...topped off with (a now) sick leather jacket.

“This damn sunset better be worth it, L/N,” Billy mumbled to the darkness. Lord knows how she’d have answered such a remark.

Falling asleep, Billy thought it possible he had Y/N L/N all wrong...

Sooooo~ what do you think about part 1 of Sunsets Back Home? I wasn’t planning on it being a possibly two-parter (or three), but here I am...XD

Part 2 anyone? <3

Tag List: @novaddictx @mairalynn416 @wefracturedmotivation @truthdaze @xxcxrolinexx @billyhargrovescigarette

#billy hargrove #billy hargrove x reader #billy hargrove imagines #stranger things imagine #billy hargrove fluff #stranger things #billy hargrove stranger things #dacre montgomery

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thephantomofthe-internet · 6 years ago

Text

Stupid Cupid

Steve Harrington x Reader

Author’s Note: So, two important things to note here: one, this is for @moonstruckhargrove‘s 1k Challenge, which ended two days ago I know. Two, in regards for this being late, I have a reason! I started some fucking angst with both Billy AND Steve and it...fine. And then I just hated it and it was over 6k and I just had to scrape it all. So now we have some fluff and longing, which I’ve probably written five times and is probably boring. BUT when I say I’ll do something, I do, so enjoy I guess

Tag List: @hargrovesgoldilocks @moonstruckhargrove @casaharrington @denimjacketkisses @lilmissperfectlyimperfect @thechickvic @alex--awesome--22 @so-not-hotmess

Word Count: 2,995

Warnings: cheating, maybe swearing?

Prompt: 11. I love you, you enormous pain in my ass

You’d been dancing around the subject for a month and a half.

You really shouldn’t have been, but you were scared.

You’d started dating Billy the second he arrived in town and Steve thought you were actually nuts. At first, it might’ve been because he was in love with you, but then he got the shit kicked out of him by the fucker and all bets were off. He didn’t tell you about the scene, because he didn’t want you to worry or worse, bring it up with the asshole that’d done it to him, but he didn’t hold back his disdain about him with you anymore.

But you had a feeling something more was going on. Billy was not exactly subtle about his disdain for your friend, but you assumed it would fade eventually, a sort of jealousy on both their parts. But that didn’t fade and soon Steve was actively pissing on your guy. And Billy, well he’d always been an ass about Steve, so nothing much changed.

What changed was Billy’s attention. Kristen McMasters got a boob job over the Christmas break and all bets were off. Billy was…enticed to say the least.

Everyone seemed to know it was coming before you. Everyone except Steve. He would’ve told you, he swore that and you believed him, but he was distracted by his hatred and missed the signs. And you certainly didn’t see it coming. You knew enough about Billy’s family to guess that the holiday season was not going to be a merry season for him. You thought he was stressed out by upcoming exams and finding the cash to buy gifts for his stepmother and Max, which Neil was forcing him to buy. You thought it would fade when you got to Macy’s birthday bash.

And it did, sort of. Because he abandoned you and, after you went searching, you found him with Kristen McMasters riding him, her fake tits bouncing wildly. You guessed it was a good stress reliever for him.

You blamed Carol, for not telling you what was happening in the room she declaring your missing boyfriend was in. You blamed yourself, for not knocking first. You blamed Kristen, for going off with your boyfriend and screwing him. But mostly, you blamed Billy for being unable to ignore the lure of big, perky, fake boobs. You blamed him for being such an awful boyfriend.

You thanked Steve.

He found you, screaming at Billy and crying as he dismissed your emotions and smacked Kristen’s ass as she scurried out, red faced and head hung in shame. He led you away, letting you cry it out in the car, and letting you punch Carol in her bitchy face, wiping the snotty smirk off her face. Best of all, he let you hide at his place when your mother sent you angrily over to the Hargrove-Mayfield house with the big batch of cookies she’d made for them for Christmas. You gorged yourself on baking while watching movies in his big empty house; his parents weren’t home till Christmas Eve and you hid a batch your mother had made in the freezer for them to have, switching the notes she’s written out from ‘To Billy, Love Y/N’ to ‘To the Harrington’s, season greetings from the Y/L/N’s’ and insisting Steve pull them out to defrost before his parents returned. It was a nice that turned into several days as you just kept hiding their, studying for exams and listening to music and forcing him to decorate.

He helped you heal over Christmas. He helped you when you had to return to school. He held you back when you found Kristen and Billy were a couple and bragging about how Billy hadn’t been satisfied before he ditched you. He drove you to school and brought you coffee and kept Billy off your ass. He took a lot of grief from the guy in exchange for him ignoring you. It was something he didn’t even think twice about; you didn’t need his bullshit and Steve didn’t really care, it just made Billy look like an asshole.

And it was making Billy look like an asshole. Even Tommy didn’t think it was that funny anymore.

The semester shifted wildly in Steve’s favour-suddenly, the world seemed to go back into place. But Steve didn’t want it anymore. He didn’t want to be King Steve; he wanted to be the world’s best babysitter to Dustin and his friends and your best friend. Internally, he wanted to be your boyfriend, but he didn’t think that was gonna happen and so he held out for the friendship you shared.

Of course, you were more than ready to be with him, if he’d ask. Steve, post Nancy, had gotten incredibly good at hiding his feelings. He didn’t want to get hurt again and you couldn’t stand the idea of ruining your friendship or his comfort with you by bringing in silly feelings. You’d just suffer in silence and watch him be happy.

But it was sort of weird. As Steve gained his status back among your peers, the girls who hadn’t been so vocal in their interest in him began crawling out of the woodwork and into his lap. Maybe they had always been there and you hadn’t noticed, or maybe they simply jumped ship from Billy onto him. But either way, Steve wasn’t as interested in them. And that threw you for a loop-Steve was always a ladies’ man, a womanizer and a flirt. Every girl seemed to have a Steve Harrington story-an encounter or a near miss that bound them in some sort of gossip circle. You didn’t have one of these moments, at least not one that you’d tell anyone about.

Steve was trashed, positively trashed. You knew that he was gonna go nuts, seeing as how it was March break and he had the house empty, again, meaning no one to catch him trashed upon his return. Katy Andrews, a naïve junior, had decided to throw the annual Spring Break Bash at her house, her parents seemingly equally naïve as to leave her alone while they went to Florida to visit her grandparents. The house was destroyed and poor Katy was crying in the bathroom, moaning that her parents were going to kill her, and you had to get Steve back home before he blacked out or did something even more regrettable. He had already smashed poor Katy’s pool table in the basement, although you weren’t sure she knew about that yet. You intended to get Steve out before he started blabbing about it.

Steve wasn’t easily dragged off by most, but you grabbed him tight and kept him moving, hooking an arm around his chest as he whined about wanting to “fucking party!”You were just glad Steve lived close so you wouldn’t have to drive him anywhere. Once you were out on the sidewalk, Steve went with you without a hitch, a goofy smile like pure sunshine on his face. When you arrived at him house, you pulled the spare key from under the mat and unlocked the door, not bothering to try to get Steve to remember where he put his.

“Finally, I got you alone…” he slurred stumbling into the dark house, his warm hands coming to your hips as he walked, well tripped, up the stairs.

“Oh god, Steve, be careful you’re gonna fall down the stairs and take me with you.” You laughed, pulling his hands off your waist and hoping he didn’t fall from the change. He whined loudly as you pushed him up and into his room.

“Alright lay down I-”

“Woah woah slow down, baby, I like it slow.” His hands came to your face and you froze, unsure if he was kidding or not. But his lips came to yours, quick and warm and gentle. And you let yourself kiss him back, a selfish decision you rationalized as the only one you’d ever make with him. He broke away first, rubbing his thumbs over your cheeks, smiling softly at you “You’re so beautiful, Nancy…”

Your blood ran cold, but you maintained an easy smile as your heart broke “And you’re so drunk, Steve. Let me go get you some water so you’re not hung over tomorrow.” You said, patting his cheek gently and pulling away. Steve didn’t follow and you took the opportunity to let a loud and sad sigh trying to keep from crying. You’d done it yourself, letting yourself get your hopes up that he could feel the same way about you. You filled a glass, bringing it back upstairs. Steve had passed out and you decided not to wake him, letting yourself feel a bit of vindictive anger and letting him suffer in the morning. You had told your parents you were crashing at a friend’s house and so made your way downstairs, crashing on Steve’s couch, feeling smaller than ever.

You never reminded Steve of this moment, you didn’t want to embarrass the poor guy, but you distanced yourself a bit after that. You had had hope before that moment but after it you put some space between the two of you. You didn’t want to get hurt and you really didn’t want to get hurt by Steve. So you did your best to break away-you went out with other people, including one terrible date with Keith from the arcade. You partied without him, you drank and danced, you even hung out with Tommy and Carol again and got high in Tommy’s basement, watching Kristen beg for Billy’s attention as he kept his locked on you. It wasn’t fun, not nearly as it would’ve been to just get high with Steve, hot boxing his bedroom with a bag of cheese puffs between you. But it was what you needed to do. You needed to be away.

But Steve kept dragging you back.

He couldn’t lose you, he wouldn’t. He didn’t know what he did but he was determined to get you back. He chased you single-mindedly, determined to keep you in your life. And he did, you were never going away, and he knew that.

He made his moves in small ways too. He took you to prom, under the guise of him needing a date for when he won prom king, which he did by a landslide. He tried to not marvel at you in stiff taffeta as you shuffled around, trying to blow stiff pieces of hair out of your eyes as you sipped spiked punch with a bored expression. Prom wasn’t exactly your scene, but you had some fun dancing with him. He looked so handsome in his dumb suit and, later, in his cheesy plastic crown, you couldn’t keep your eyes off him. Despite not wanting to go at all, you had a lot of fun. It would’ve been better if he was actually your boyfriend, so you could be jealous when Tina tried to hit on him and make a scene. Instead you watched in silence, barely listening to Nancy as she whined about Jonathan’s whining about the music playing at the event. You wanted Steve to be happy and if that meant Tina then you’d deal with Tina next to your broken heart.

As summer came and college approached, you began to hit your breaking point. You had two options for college, one within driving distance and one on the opposite side of the state. You had been honestly been considering staying in two, a cheaper choice that could mean renting an apartment in between the school and your home town. But staying in town could only lead to more pain from your longing, a pain that could be ended simply by leaving him behind. Steve was staying in town, he was going to the police academy, so leaving could be the right choice.

But there was only one way to find out.

Steve had been working at Scoops Ahoy! all summer, leaving him smelling like spoiled milk all the time, but flushed with cash and a new found disdain for his classmates and their parents. You hung out with him at work often enough, meeting his co-worker Robin, who you thought Steve obviously had a crush on, until you learned about her girlfriend Heather. You felt silly after that, but it just reminded you that you had to tell him how you felt.

And soon.

You waited until July, because you had to submit your acceptance by the end of the month for community college and the second week for your second choice. You needed to know before you chose.

Normally, you wouldn’t invite yourself over to Steve’s house, especially without a call first, but something in your gut told you that if you tried to call, you’d chicken out. So you got in your car and drove, grinding your teeth and locking your eyes on the horizon, fingers rapping on the steering wheel erratically. You knew Steve’s parents were gone to the summer house in Spain, a trip Steve wasn’t invited on, but you didn’t know if Steve was home.

His car certainly was. You parked behind him, scurrying up the steps and knocking loud and fast on the door. There was no answer, but you tried again, ringing the doorbell, pressing the button a few too many times.

You heard Steve’s voice through the door “I’m coming! Jesus Christ…” He pulled the door open with a scowl that fell away when he saw you. He had obviously just been in the pool. You started to wonder if someone else was here. Still, you held your ground.

“Hey, Y/N, I didn’t know it was you, what’s up?” he said awkwardly, smiling tersely.

“I need to talk to you.” You said, pushing your way past him and into the dark house, dropping your bag on the table by the door. Steve followed behind you awkwardly, wet feet squishing on the tile. He didn’t know what you were here for, but he wasn’t exactly going to kick you out now.

You stopped in the living room, unlit and quiet. You turned to look at Steve, trying to settle your heart and breathing. “Should I go away for school?” you asked breathlessly, the words falling out of your mouth in a tangled string.

Steve’s eyebrows flew into his hairline “Why are you asking me?”

“Cause you’re my friend and I want your opinion.” You snapped, crossing your arms over your chest, foot tapping fasting on the carpeted floor.

“Well I don’t know, do what you want.” Steve said, your tense energy starting to feed into his own and making him tense and snippy.

“Well I don’t know! That’s why I’m asking you!”

“What does my opinion matter anyway, Y/N?” Steve sighed, looking away. His body language changed and you noticed instantly.

Because of course Steve didn’t want you to move away. He wanted you to stay right there in his pocket, where he could hold onto the hope that you’d one day catch onto these signals he was so sure were obvious to everyone and you feel the same.

“You clearly have an opinion, so let me hear it, I wanna hear it!”

Steve groaned, dread settling into his stomach. He didn’t like this conversation, he knew it would only end in a fight.

“Go wherever you want, Y/N, what does it matter what I think?”

“Because I love you, you enormously stubborn pain in my ass and I’m not gonna move away if you feel the same!” you cried exasperatedly.

Well there it was. It’s out. And Steve was deadly silently, staring at you unblinkingly. That was answer enough for you, you pushed past him and rushed towards the front door. You knew you were about to cry or scream and you wouldn’t let either happen in front of him.

Steve grabbed your arm, pulling you back and crashing you into his chest, his other coming to your face, kissing you hard before you could interject or try to pull away.

He’d frozen when you said that you loved him. Because that had never happened before. He’d said it once and the results were disastrous for his self esteem and mindset. But you loved him. It rocked him to his core, he didn’t know what to do. And then you were walking away and he knew he’d waited a second too long. And now he was kissing you and you were kissing him back and oh my god the world could end and he’d be utterly content.

He broke away first, he needed to take a deep breath, but he kept his hands firmly on your face, looking down at you with the softest, most love struck expression you’d ever seen.

“Don’t go, okay? I want you to stay here with me.” He whispered softly.

You couldn’t help the grin that broke onto your face “I thought you didn’t have an opinion?”

“I thought you didn’t feel the same.”

“How could I know how you felt if you didn’t tell me?” you asked teasingly, poking a finger into his chest.

“I thought you’d catch on to…the obvious signals I was giving?”

“And what signals would those be?” you asked, watching Steve flounder for an answer, which he never found. “If it makes you feel better, I was looking for proof that you didn’t like me at all.”

“We’re idiots aren’t we?” Steve asked, pulling you closer to him.

“Nah, we’re just…selectively smart.” You grinned, and Steve pulled your chin up to meet his lips. You pressed a finger on his lips, keeping you apart for a second. “Wait, you…you like…you love me too right?” you asked awkwardly, watching as the error hit Steve again.

“Oh yeah! Shit, right, I do! I love you!” Steve blushed and you pulled him down to kiss you again, clinging onto him as if your world was ending.

In a way, it was.

#moonstruckhargrove1k #steve harrington #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x you #steve x reader #steve x you #steve harrington au #steve harrington fanfic #steve harrington headcanons #steve harrington headcanon #steve harrington fluff #steve harrington one shot #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington imagines #stranger things #stranger things 2 #stranger things fanfiction #stranger things au

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flowers-creativity · 5 years ago

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Whumptober day 11

Fandom: Stranger Things Characters: Max Mayfield, Lucas Sinclair, Erica Sinclair (supporting: Nancy Wheeler, Jonathan Byers) Warnings: Blood, minor injury

Prompt: Stitches

Summary: Erica and Lucas fight a lot but in the end, they’re family

Notes: First time writing Erica, I hope she is IC. Also very rough and off-the-cuff.

Fun fact: the idea for the injury is actually taken from the same happening to me (glass (bottle), tiled kitchen floor, shard to the leg). Mine was not quite so severe as I made it for poor Erica here but I still have the scar.

"Hey!"

Lucas smiled at her. "Hi!" He grabbed Max's hand and pulled her towards him, giving her a quick kiss. When he let her go again, his face clouded over, though. "I'm sorry, Max, I can't come out today."

"Huh?" Max raised an eyebrow at her boyfriend. "Did you get grounded?"

Lucas rolled his eyes. "I'd actually prefer that," he grumbled. Louder, he continued: "No, Mom and Dad had to go to some appointment they forgot about, so--" he hooked his thumb over his shoulder towards the living room, "I'm stuck with her."

From behind him, she could hear Erica's voice: "Screw you, Lucas!"

Max laughed. "Babysitting?" At his answering nod, she smiled and gave him a little push into the house. "I'll help. We can just hang out here."

His face lit up, and he seized her hand again, squeezing it. "You're awesome – thank you."

Max just nodded – it was not much of a sacrifice. As much as she liked going to the arcade and hanging out with the rest of the Party, there was a reason Lucas was her boyfriend, after all. Time spent with him was always enjoyable.

Plus, even though Erica antagonised Lucas at every turn, Max actually liked her. She was an unstoppable bundle of self-confidence and sass and able to take down her boyfriend a peg or two which he sometimes needed. Max couldn't be solely responsible for that.

She trailed behind Lucas into the living room where Erica was curled up on the couch and was watching something on TV. "Max and I are going up to my room," he told her, "so call if you need anything. Remember, one hour, and then you turn the TV off, understood?"

Erica rolled her eyes at him. "Yeah, yeah," she answered. "Hi Max!"

"Hi Erica!" Max smiled at her. "How's everything?"

"Well, apart from being stuck here with this dumbass, as if I need a babysitter ..." Erica waved lazily at her brother, "things are good. Go suck face with him, so he leaves me alone."

Lucas groaned. "Eeeerica ..." He pulled her name apart like chewing gum.

"Luuucas," she mimicked him. "What's your problem? Go spend time with your girlfriend, so you don't have to bother me, and I don't bother you."

Lucas threw up his hands. "That's all I want!"

"Well, then you have it!"

Max watched the back-and-forth with a raised eyebrow, amused. She never got tired of watching those two bicker because it never escalated above complaining and mild insults. What a difference to her home life ... But finally, she took Lucas' arm and pulled him away. "Come on, let's go suck face or something!" She grinned up at him and then back at Erica who mimed throwing up but then flashed her a bright grin.

They spent the next half hour or so in his room (not only sucking face, thank you very much) when suddenly a loud crash disrupted the relative quiet of the house. Lucas looked up, frowning. "What's the plague doing now?" he murmured. The next moment, a wail rose up from below, and Max sat up on Lucas' bed. "That--" She didn't even manage to finish the sentence before Lucas was already up and across the room, wrenching the door open. She scrambled to follow him as quickly as she could.

When she reached the Sinclairs' kitchen, she stopped dead in her tracks. Erica sat on the floor, her hands wrapped around her right leg, crying up a storm, and there was blood smeared all over the kitchen tiles, mixed with the cold glitter of broken glass. Lucas was crouched before his sister, his eyes wide, his hands hovering over her leg. "Erica, calm down," he pleaded with her, "tell me what happened, where are you hurt?"

Max quickly crossed the remaining distance and dropped into a crouch next to them, placing a calming hand on the younger girl's arm. "Let us see," she urged her.

Erica hiccupped but finally managed to unwrap her hands from her leg. "It's bleeding so much," she whimpered. "Make it stop, Lucas!"

Lucas gave Max a helpless look but took a deep breath and pulled Erica's hands carefully away from her leg. There was a long, deep slice running up her leg from her ankle, bleeding freely. "Oh shit, Erica, how did you do that?!"

"I didn't do it on purpose, you idiot! I dropped a glass!" A bit of her usual spark lit up in Erica's eyes but was quickly extinguished as she bit her lip, fresh tears welling up. "It really, really hurts," she sobbed, and it reminded Max painfully that for all her precocious lip, Erica was still only ten years old.

She looked from the wound which was really bleeding a lot to her boyfriend. She was good at first aid but this looked as if it needed more than a plaster or even a bandage ... "We should get you to the hospital," she said. "That could need stitches."

Erica blanched and grabbed Lucas' sweater, hiding her face against his chest. "No!" she wailed. "No, I don't want that!"

Lucas rubbed her back and looked uncertainly from her to Max and down at the wound again. "Hey, Erica, Max knows a lot about first aid. When she says you need a hospital, I'm sure she's right," he told her. "And you want it to stop bleeding and hurting, don't you?"

Max squeezed Erica's arm in sympathy. "I'll grab your first aid kit so we can bandage it for the time being," she said to Lucas. "Bathroom, right?"

"Yep, left door above the sink," he replied. "Thanks, Max!"

She smiled at him, then jogged quickly to the bathroom. Luckily, Lucas' parents were the kind who kept their medicine cabinet well-stocked, and she was back quickly with a cotton pad and two rolls of bandages. Lucas readily let her do the bandaging while he held Erica, soothing her with small touches as she still clung to him, quietly crying. When Max had finished, she looked at him and asked: "Uh, how do we get her to the hospital, though? I don't think letting her ride on the back of your bike is the best idea."

Lucas frowned and rubbed a hand over his hair. "Good question. We could go over to Mike and see if his parents or Nancy can take us?" The Wheelers only lived a few doors down the road.

Max nodded, relieved. That was a good solution. "I'll go," she offered. "You stay with her."

He gave her another thankful look and nodded before going back to comforting his sister. Max almost smiled as she got up and left the kitchen. No matter their bickering, they were family, after all. It was only almost a smile, though, because she truly felt for Erica.

It turned out neither Mike nor his parents were home but luckily, Nancy was – with Jonathan, which was lucky since she wouldn't have had a car otherwise. But they only needed to hear Max's short description of what happened to get up and snatch jackets and car keys. Soon enough, she and Lucas were helping Erica into the backseat of Jonathan's old car. She had stopped crying except for the occasional sniffle or hiccup but there were still tear streaks on her cheeks, and she was refusing to let go of Lucas' hand. Lucas met Max's eyes over her head and shrugged helplessly. She shook her head at him – really, she thought it was sweet.

It turned out, while a cut in the leg was not a huge emergency, kids still got pretty quick treatment. It took maybe half an hour until a doctor saw them and confirmed Max's assessment: the wound needed stitches. This prompted another round of tears from Erica but Lucas remained patiently at her side, stroking her back and telling her: "It'll be okay. I'm sure they'll make it quick. And I'm here, I promise, I'll be here the whole time." And he was, as was Max, while the (older and a bit tired but not unfriendly) doctor cleaned the cut to ensure there was no glass in it and closed it with a few stitches.

Later, when they were again sitting in the back of Jonathan's car on the way back and Max was watching Erica leaning her head against Lucas' shoulder, she thought that Erica and Lucas were really lucky to have each other. She hoped that deep down, they knew it, too.

#whumptober2019 #no.11 #stranger things #max mayfield #lucas sinclair #erica sinclair

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junosmind · 5 years ago

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A World of Firsts

rating: teen and up audiences (for language)

characters: mike wheeler, el hopper, jim hopper, max mayfield

relationships: mike wheeler/el hopper

(disclaimer: i also originally posted this on archive of our own, so click the link to give it some love)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19855081

——————————————————————————

“you LIE!”

el storms through the door to the Wheeler’s basement, mentally throwing it open without even flinching.

thunder cracks through the sky as rain continues to cascade from the clouds.

“el! el would you just stop for a minute?”, Mike runs to catch up to her, out of breath. He spots her frantically packing her bag in the corner of the room, immediately rushing to stop her.

“hey. el. el! please would you just listen to me?”

he reaches out to touch her shoulder, desperate to try and stop her so he could explain. so he could say anything to get her to stay even though she had every right to leave and never look back.

mike knew he was probably the stupidest teenage boy in the world, and by far the shittiest boyfriend to an amazing girl who deserves so much better.

she whips her head around, fire ignited in her eyes as she stares him down.

mike slightly retreats, but he doesn’t relent.

“i’m done listening”, she practically spits at him, turning back around to try and violently close her bag, but failing much to her annoyance.

“you won’t even give me a chance! i’m trying el, i really am. i just need you to calm d-“

“calm down?”, el says quietly but sharply, her voice wavering from the anger radiating off of her.

she’s standing up now, walking towards mike as he stands and creeps backwards until his back hits the wall.

“el please i-“, mike hopelessly pleads to her, tears now brimming his eyes at the raw emotion he caused her.

“no.”, she says, now inches from his face.

“no. more. lies. you say nana is sick and that you can’t see me, but you’re out with your friends running around the mall like some...”, el fishes her memory for the exact word max used to describe mike earlier,

“asshole”, she finishes indignantly, watching the hurt instantly flash across mike’s features.

“don’t...don’t do this”, mike’s voice cracks as a massive lump forms in his throat and pressure builds upon his chest.

el briefly closes her eyes, and then opens them again.

“you say you care about me. you tell me friends don’t lie but you do it anyways. you make so many promises, but all you do is break them. why? why do you treat me like garbage?”, she whispers the last word, the anger fading into complete and utter heartbreak.

mike can literally feel his heart shatter at her words.

he knew he’d fuck this up eventually.

“you don’t mean that.”, mike whimpers as he reaches to cup her face, but is absolutely mortified when a powerful force pushes it back against the wall.

a painful silence fills the room, and all that can be heard is the storm brewing outside and the heavy breathing of a heartbroken girl standing before a terrified and desperate boy.

el has never once used her powers on mike out of sheer anger before. she has never even thought of taking out her problems on the boy she loves more than anything, so the fact that she actually did not only surprised mike, but herself as well.

“goodbye, mike”, el muttered, walking away from him, each step more painful than the last.

she’s suddenly reminded of the first time she was separated from him. those same words uttered from her mouth as she looked back at him for the last time, the same look of desperation, pain, and worry etched all over his face. mike wheeler is still the same stupid little boy he was then.

the same stupid little boy who never knew how to shut his mouth and could nervously ramble on about unimportant topics without even realizing.

the same stupid little boy who looked at her like he wanted to give her the world and more, even if he knew he wouldn’t be the best at it.

the same, stupid, amazing, beautiful boy who showed how much he loved her every minute of every day without even saying anything.

here she was screaming at him and unintentionally using her powers on him when he couldn’t even defend himself.

el is snapped back into reality at the sound of a heart wrenching sob echoing through the small basement as she turned to see mike collapse in a lanky pile on the floor.

“el p-please don’t g-go! i don’t want to l-l-lose you again! i....”, he pauses, his voice cracking as he tries to force out one last word, “can’t.”

mike completely breaks down, curling into a ball on the floor as he continues to cry even harder than before, if that’s even possible.

el feels hot tears stream down her cheeks at the sight of him, never once witnessing him so vulnerable, and she feels compelled to comfort him as her heart tugs her closer.

“mike?”, she whispers, crouching down next to him. she gently tugs on his arms in an effort to make him look at her, and he eventually lets her, sitting up to meet her gaze.

she takes in his usually bright and exuberant, boyish features that now seem so broken. his sharp and pale cheeks dotted with freckles are now stained with tears and splotched with different hues of red. his dark, ebony eyes are cloudy and bloodshot.

how could she do this to him?

el begins to cry again, and places her hands on either side of his cheeks, wiping away the fresh tears streaming down his face. he slowly places his hands over hers, unsure if she’ll retreat like she did earlier.

she doesn’t though, and he breathes a shaky sigh of relief and leans into her touch.

“i’m...so, so sorry. i would never leave you, not again. i’m here”, she reassures him.

he shakes his head though, and her stomach drops. he moves her hands from his face and drops them to his lap, intertwining their fingers together.

“don’t apologize, el. this is all my fault. i lied to you and blew you off but i swear it’s the last thing i wanted to do. hopper...he-he scared me and i thought i’d lose you if i didn’t listen to him but then i fucked up and almost lost you for good this time and it scared me shitless el. i do care about you...i care about you so much it hurts and all i want to do is protect you even though i know you’re fully capable of-“

“mike”, el giggled slightly, and mike realized he had been rambling again.

damn him and his unstoppable mouth.

they pressed their foreheads together, their cold, red noses touching slightly as they closed their eyes and basked in the proximity of each other.

after all they’ve been through, they knew that this would only make them stronger.

they also knew that the word mike wanted to say wasn’t “care” because they were far more than just a couple of teenagers in a meaningless high school relationship.

eventually, mike would find the courage to say it, and when he did she would say it back. everything would make sense in that moment.

but that’s another first for another time.

#mileven #mileven fanfic #first fight #angst #fluff #hurt/comfort #they love each other #so much #mike wheeler #eleven #jim hopper #max mayfield

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neurodivergentnecessity · 2 years ago

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I took over this account and made the owner watch about Stranger Things >:)

I'm going to make them talk about Stranger Things just like she made me talk about Ducks.

She has only just finished S2 Ep5 so no spoilers!

Mike Wheeler- I like how he cares about his friends, he really wants to help Will and find Eleven. That scene where Mike nearly sees Eleven but she leaves made me slightly upset.

Eleven/Jane- *slaps top of her previous buzz cut head* This girl can fit so many nose bleeds in her also trauma. She is such an interesting character with all of the experiments she was a part of to even the experiments that were going on before she was born. I'm even pretty interested to see what her mother has to do with everything.

Will Byers- *slaps his dumb little bowl cut* This boy can fit so much trauma in him, he always looked sickly even before he went to the upside down, he is a very good drawer

Dustin Henderson- I really like him and I love how caring he is about others, if anyone else has found dart I don't think they would've taken it in like he did, sure did it end up bad? Yes, but he couldn't have known what would happen. Also if he had a dog instead of a cat I'm pretty sure that it wouldn't have been subjected to the cat's fate, because EVeryOnE LoVEs DogS AnD NoONe cARes aBoUT CaTS

Lucas Sinclair- He's cool, I really like how he decided to tell Max the truth about everything

Max Mayfield- I like her but I'm not the biggest fan of the "I'm not like other girls, I skate and play video games" trope, but we obviously see that she has some family issues

Nancy Wheeler- I really like her and she sort of reminds me of me, trying to figure out who you are and what you want. I also love how tough she is and how she is willing to do all of these dangerous things.

Steve Harrington- He's pretty cool and just based on everything I really like how he's first portrayed as some sort of bully but we see him start to change when he's with Nancy.

Johnathan Byers- I really like how awkward he is and how much he cares about his younger brother

Barb- I really liked her, I really did like her and then they killed her >:(

Billy- He's a huge jerk, he's so mean to Max not to mention he's racist.

Joyce Byers- 10 out of 10 best mom, she is so determined to find Will in the first season and how she's so patient with him in the second season.

Jim Hopper- I like how he seemed to be just a plain old lazy cop at first but he's actually been through so much. He really only saw Eleven once and had the adoption papers at the ready.

Dr. Martin Brenner- no, bad scientist but then again he was probably never a good one to begin with

Fav Character(s)- Barb, Nancy, Joyce

Finale Thoughts- We love seeing Eleven killing her abusive "father" and I love how she faced down the Demogorgon.

#will byers #mike wheeler #eleven #jim hopper #dustin henderson #lucas sinclair #nancy wheeler #steve harrington #johnathan byers #billy stranger things #joyce stranger things #joyce byers #martin brenner #stanger things

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caseyk112 · 6 years ago

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Lightweight

Chapter 2- Am I your Child Or Just A Charity Award

Pairing: Mike/Eleven

Rating:T

WC:6,438

Chapter Links 1

read on Ao3

It has been three weeks since school started back so why were they getting some new teachers now. It was Thursday El had maths first class of the day luckily she had Max with her for it she always hated maths since she never been good at it . Ten minutes had passed and the teacher hadn’t shown up yet.

“You know El if a teacher doesn’t show up in five minutes we can legally leave” Max suggested

“Well let wait five more minutes before we decide something” El said

Right after El said that the door open and the new teacher walks in he got a mustache big gray tinted glasses and beer belly with his pants being held up by suspenders, he went to the chalkboard and write down his name “Mr Down”. El was in complete shock since he was one of the worst math teacher she ever had she only managed to pass his class last year with study help from Mike. He gave good notes but he would never show them how to apply it to the equation, it didn’t help he made class even more boring by the way he talks.

“Shit I thought I would never have to see him again” El says while she looked at Max

“He not he is crap at least you have me this year so you won’t get to lost” Max replied

“Trust me Max you will” She says back

He started to go through the register calling out everyone name he said them with the most monotone voice ever he wasn’t really paying attention to the students as they were saying if they were hear or not. Once he was done that he started to write on the chalkboard it said “Daily maths problem once solved a new one will put up this one hasn’t been done right in four years, close was from a Miss Hopper last year in my class” he put down the equation and everyone turned and looked at El she felt a bit embarrassed and bit impressed.

“Okay class am going to pick a name and this student has to come up and solve, Oh how interesting I want Miss Hopper to come up and solve it” Mr Down says

El slowly get up feeling embarrassed but managing to keep her cool she never really like attention last time she did this problem she got distracted when Rebecca start to make fun of her but she was determined that this time she was going to get it right and show she is smart.

“Good lucky Miss Hopper you were the only in four years to get close the last time” Mr Down say reminding her. El started to work it about and she managed to get X=27 unlike last time when get to X=37 El went back to her seat. She look at the chalkboard and saw she had done it right she felt ever proud of herself. Her and Max felt like time was moving extra slow in this class.

“Does he always have scratch is ass while he write” Max asked discussed

“Unfortunately I think he has to Max” El replied back

One of boys in there class asked the teacher about Pi, El rolled her eyes since she knew he would talk about this for 30 minutes and she won't even fully awake and knew this would put her to sleep she looked over at Max who was already yawning, Mr down started to ramble on about it always been more than 3.14 El started to day dream. About ten minutes late Max nudged her and asked

“You okay El bell”

“Yeah i'm okay I just been thinking alot” El says

“What are you thinking about surely part of it to get out of this class room it feels like we been in here for five years” Max say a serious face

“Well there is that but some reason my mum been on my mind I think it because it the anniversary of Sarah death this saturday I never heard what she said to me as I left the hospital” El explains

“Has that been on your mind for years then” Max asked

“Yeah it has and it sounded mean and rude like she has alway been to me” El says

“Maybe Mike hear what she said”

“But why wouldn’t he tell me”

“Did you ever ask him?”

“No I never did”

“Even if he heard what she said to you he not going to tell you since he doesn't want you to be upset beside he cares way too much to hurt you El”

“Max what do you mean by cares to much ?”

“El how are you so blind it so clear you love him and he loves you” Max statated

Before El could say anything else Mr Down was standing right in front of the girls

“Welldone Miss Mayfield and Miss Hopper you are the only people in this class not getting a detention today to get your bags and leave the class now so I can give out the detention to the rest of the class”

As the girl walk out the classroom they heard there teacher yell at the rest of their class, the girls walk over to there lockers El was about to start up her conversation with Max again but just as she was about to Mike and Lucas walk over. Lucas give Max a quick kiss and they start to talk about something,

“So how was clas with the new maths teacher?” Mike ask El

“It was terrible mostly am going to fail” El says

Why do you think your going to fail with only having one class?” Mike asked integrated

“Well since I had him last year and I just managed to pass his class after I got a amazing tutor” El say with a soft smile

Mike started to blush a little he leaned down more to look right in to El eyes before he could say anything Dustin runs over and says

“The new girl who is really pretty dad is running against your Dad to be mayor”

“Your joking right Dustin” Lucas says

“I’m not joking Lucas her family rich she moved from three towns over” Dustin says still trying to catch is breath

“You said three town over do you know that school she came from?” El asked worried

“Some Catholic school why does that matter El and ways what you going to do about Lucas” Dustin say

El shock her head at Dustin and give Mike a look he knew that El am slightly piss of look. Suddenly the bell rang Will catches up with them as they all walk to gym class.

Max was excited for today’s class since the girls where playing volleyball, she was very good at since her dad taught her when she was little. She was excited to have El back since they always win. The teacher tell everyone to warm there been awkwardness in the class since Stacy and Jennifer had decided not to be friends anymore today everything changed when the new girl came out arms linked with Stacy. El looks over at the girl and suddenly she felt faint she never though she see Rebecca again but there she was right in front of her, she never liked El she had always picked on her made fun told her she should have never been born it sounded like she never something about El life that she didn’t. Max looked over at her friend and turned her around with help from Jennifer. Jennifer was always nice to Max and El.

“You okay El?” Jennifer asked

“I guess i'm okay i just thought I left her behind clearly not” El say

All three girl look around when Rebecca spoke

“My name is Rebecca but you can call me Becca and I don’t need any loser rewinding my first day” She said as she flipped her wavy blonde hair over her shoulders she was tall looked like she had lots of money.

After she said that the teacher come in and say “ I'm picking five team captain first captain is Miss Mayfield” and she went on Max picked her team they were up first against Stacy’s team. The game started the ball went to Max then to Jennifer then to El who smacked it down and wins the point it continued you like this for about ten minutes before comments were made

“Oh this must be the only thing your good at El” Becca laughed

El rolled her eye this made Becca mad since she got no response. There game was so close that the other games had been over and the hole class was watching them the girls could feel the pressure Max team were a head by two points they need to get two more points for the win. El was on front right now she was in front of Becca El took a deep breath as Stacy severed the ball it went to Max then she hit it over to El who hit it down it just miss Becca fingers and Max team won. The girl were happy and the other team huff and stormed off El was pretty proud of herself she didn’t let Becca get in her head. Yet nothing prepared her for what she said next. As there teacher used to play professional basketball she made sure that everyone shook hands at the end of each game. Becca whispered to El as she shook her hand

“Listin you might have own this game it doesn't mean I’m going to stop you deserve all that coming for you I can see why your mother walked out on you”

Just like before El just rolled her eyes at her and walked away still wondering why she kept bring up her mother also the question in her head was she never talked about her so why did Becca always bring it up. That question was in her head for ages she put it to the back of her mind. The rest of the classes before lunch went by really fast.

Mike ,Lucas, Dustin and El had chemistry class together before lunch today was one of the days the teacher was letting them do practical work. Mike sat next to Lucas in class they both are as stubborn as each other you could say they act like brothers.

“Mike pay attention I can’t afford to get bad grade right now” Lucas says trying to get Mike attention

“I’m sorry” Mike says

“What's a matter Mike you been acting kind of weird all day?” Lucas says concerned

“Yeah you know how they say bad thing come in threes am just sitting and waiting for the third one” Mike says as he shrugs his shoulders

“That sucks man don’t worry about it to much after that they say you have the best luck” Lucas says

Lucas always look for the brighter side of everything but he know this friends inside and out and even though his friends annoy him he still wouldn’t change them for the world that how he knew there was something else bothering Mike. The teacher handed out paper with instruction on how and what to do leaving it up to them to work it out.

“First put the blue one in with the red” Mike says

“Okay so what after that” Lucas says

Lucas and Mike worked quickly and where done faster than anyone else

“Are you going to tell me what really bothering you Mike” Lucas asked

“What do you mean?” Mike says

“I know there more to it Mike so cut the crap” Lucas explains

Mike look over at Lucas and remember the number one rule of there friendship is friends don’t lie , Mike also know once he say this it might hurt El because of the words or since he never told her

“Okay I been thinking about what El mother said to her and me the last time we saw her at the hospital El didn’t head any of it since she was crying” Mike starts to explain

“Oh is it bad? Have you ever told El?” Lucas asked

“It is bad and no I haven't to her yet what she said to her as we were walking out she said it should have been El not Sarah also said that Hopper only loves El because he has to and she the reason she her life sucked” Mike say a little out of breath

“Wow that really disgusting she said that but why did you think of that today” Lucas asked

Before Mike could answer the teacher yell “Mr Henderson don’t use that one” as he ran over.

“I saw someone today that looked like her and it made me feel mad” Mike say

“Oh that stranger did El see this person also why does seeing her make you mad?”

“No El didn’t see her she made me mad because of what she did to my mum” Mike says looking over at El watching her read to Dustin

“Dude stop with the heart eyes and the drule also I forgot about the hole thing with your mum and her”

“I wasn’t drooling”

“So you just admitted your in love with her right”

“Shut up it not like she likes me back am just her best friend”

“You so blind Mike it unreal”

“What do you mean?”

“Look you both are scared of your feeling but trust me she love you to”

Mike didn’t say anything he just thought about what Lucas said for the rest of the class as his teacher rambled on about the ph scale for the rest of the lesson. Mike started to wonder when did his feeling about El changed he knows it been for a long time but he thinks knows when it changed. I was the day she tried to run away and he went with her. It was day for her eighth birthday her parents were having a party for her at her house but her mother had only invited people from her school, that upset Lucas, Will ,Dustin and it hurt Mike the most. He knew he wasn’t aloud at the party at the time he didn't understand(It was because his mom had fallen out with El’s mom over a secret and how she was treating Joyce) but that didn’t stop him from seeing her on her birthday. As he walked up to the door he could hear yelling mostly coming from her mom he went to knock on the door but before he could Sarah opens the door, she walks outside and tells Mike that she in her room. He walked up stair carrying her gift and a homemade card every year they made each other cards. He walked over to her room he could hear crying he went into her room he could see she had packed some bags and then ask her a soft voice

“Are you okay?”

“Am not okay I can’t take the fighting I want to run away” El says wiping all the tears away

“Why El?” Mike says in shock

“Because my mom keeps yelling at my dad then yelling and fighting with me so if I go away she will stop yelling at him am sure know one will miss me”

“I will miss you” Mike says giving her a soft smile

“Then come with me Mike so am not alone” El asked

“Okay I will El”

Mike never knew why he agreed to go with her maybe it was because she was so upset or how her eyes light up when he said he miss her. They walked in the woods till the got to the quarry it wasn’t to far away but it was fair enough way to hid.They walked around in the woods around the quarry till they found a tree stump to sit on.El was still up set Mike asked her what was up she knows she can’t lie about it any more she need to tell someone about it. El began to Mike her mother what she did to El and said at eight years old both of them were still to young to understand fully what happened but nevertheless it made make him very mad, how could anyone hurt her she amazing Mike pulled her close to hugger. El fell asleep for a bit Mike knew it was because she had been crying as the sky started to change colors as El woke up she could see the sunset over the water in the quarry it was really quite breathtaking suddenly they saw one looking at them and the woman said

“What are you doing out here?” she started to walk close and Mike and El saw it was Will’s mom Joyce

“Umm watching the sunset” Mike says clearly lying

“I need to take you back to your parents they are worried sick you mom hasn’t called me yet looking for you Mike and neither has your dad El since I was on a walk I know there look around town for both of you guys” Joyce said

“I can cover for you guys if you want so your not in too much trouble i can say you came over to see Will” Joyce conted to say

“Okay thank you miss Byers” El say

The car ride was quiet until Joyce asked

“What made you want to run away I seen that look before”

“My mom keeps yelling at my dad about me so I thought if I went away she would stop” El explained

“That real nice of you to do El but all it did was worry your dad more so I guess your birthday sucked today didn’t it” Joyce said

“No it been good” El said smiling at Mike

Once they got dropped off El gave Mike a big hug and thanked him at that point Mike knew felt different about her. Mike didn’t realize how long he had been remember that day till Dustin did a spit take in his face remind him he at lunch

“Really Dustin?” Mike say angrily

“Glad to see your with us know Mike you missed all the drama I heard today”

Dustin started to tell everyone about how Stacy got rejected by the new quarterback Zack somehow he knew about El and Max’s Volleyball game and said he wish he would have seen them win the game then talked about the knew maths teacher and stuff about Becca.

“Dustin your worse than Stacy and every other girl in this school” Max says

“I take that a compliment” he says

“El you been more quiet than Mike are you okay” Will asked concerned

“Yeah you know how bad things come in threes while am just waiting for the third one first Mr Down being hear then Becca there only one more thing left and I don’t know what could be worse them” El say

“Really both you and Mike waiting for the last bad thing maybe it will be for both of you” Lucas say

“What bad thing can affect both of you guys?” Will asked

“I really don’t know but we will find out” El say

Mike worried that it could be El mom as he was sure he saw her that is the only think Mike could think of same with El.

“Oh speaking of the new math teacher I heard he has given everyone in his classes destion today” Dustin say

“Yeah mostly well beside me and Max he just as the most boring voice in the world but I had him last year so I knew he would give them out on his first day” El explains

“Are you really to get another new teacher El?” Mike asked

“Yeah it better not be someone I know or I might have a breakdown” El says worried

“Knowing are lucky today it will be someone we both know” Mike say laughing

Just as they all got up from the table Becca walks right into El and spills spaghetti all over El top

“Told you am only getting started” Becca laughed as she walked away

El held back the urge to cry her top was completely covered in spaghetti there was no way she could wear this for the rest of the day

“What am going to do” El asked

“Sorry El I don’t have a spear shirt” Mix tell her

“I have a spear hoody in my locker if you want to used that El” Mike offered

“Omg you're a lifesaver Mike” El says as she run to hug him

They walked to his locker once they got there El was handed some books since it was buried in the locker once he got it out she ran to the nearest bathroom and quickly got changed. She looked at herself in the mirror and decided to take her hair out of the ponytail it felt more right with this look she has right now she quickly put on some lip gloss. She walked back to Mike and hugged him

“So what are we going to do about the shirt?” El asked

“I will take it home and wash it since I promised Holly tonight we could watch movies in the basement” Mike replied

Mike took it and shoved it in his bag he knew by doing this Hopper wouldn’t get mad that if he knew the truth. They hear someone yelling both of them walk closer to the door outside the school with the payphone beside it both of them look through the glass and see it Becca

“Daddy how much longer is going to wait to tell them the truth”

“But I need her to now or she keep picking on me”

“I will be strong daddy thank and love you to”

She came back in the school and Mike quickly put the hood over El’s head

“Who were you on the phone to Becca?” Stacy asked

“My dad I want him to tell my mother to tell the truth because that person is just a charity award” Becca explained

“So what is it then”

“You find out soon enough and trust me the person it will affect the most won't know what hit them”

“Who’s the dewbs over there” Becca says pointing at Mike and El

“One Mike Wheeler and am pretty sure the other is Will Byers there friends with that Dustin kid or and El Hopper” Stacy says

“Oh I almost feel sorry for her but that shouldn't come as a surprise she is one to” Becca said as they walked away

“Well that was interesting” Mike says

“More like insightful” El says with a eye roll

Mike sat next to El in health class the room felt extremely warm there was a candle in the room that gave of a very strong citrus smell on the bored it says “today’s topics marriage and problems that come with it” the name Mrs Copper was on the bored. Once she turned around El’s face went white her mind was shouting run but her body was frozen it been almost four years since she last saw her she looks a lot different now but El knew it was her mother. Unlike El reaction Mikes was full of anger not just because of the way she treated El, and because of what she did to his mother Mike never like her at all even before he found out what she did to her own daughter and to one of her best friends there was something off putting about her. James being the smart ass ask Mrs Copper

“Mrs how is your marriage can you tell us all about it since we are on the topic”

“Of Course I can I want you to lean from my past mistakes” She said with a soft voice

“Well my first marriage didn’t work we meet in high school I fell madly in love with him but I could tell his heart belonged to someone else one of my best friends I fell pregnant after we got married with my first daughter she was beautiful kind and loveliest person you could ever meet” she said

El smiled a little about when she mentioned Sarah but she knew her dad loved Joyce but not at that time he would walk on water for her mother when they were together.

“After she was born my husband was distant he didn’t talk to me anyone more so I found someone who would talk to me he is my current husband Tim at the time my old husband disappeared for about a year or so I had fallen pregnant with my second daughter.Tim decided to keep her after I had given birth my old husband came back and of course I went back to him and I also found out Tim got engage to another woman. After about 14 year his wife left him and I found him again she goes to this school” she continued

Mike looked at El both of them had shocked faces they never knew about this

“Mike I know how she is remember what we over hear Becca say on the phone” El whispered to him feeling a little dizzy

“Oh no that why she said it would hurt that person”

“Mike” El couldn’t say anything she just started to shake Mike up his hand on top of hers to calm her down.

“So how did your first marriage end?” Someone asked

“Well everything was great with him and I feel pregnant again with another girl. With having three daughters they were all different, my youngest daughter was wild never stop moving, she was more like my ex husband but she was also getting into trouble all the time she played with the kid next store he was about her age or a year older than her they were best friends, On her twelfth birthday my husband started to yell at me we got into a big fight that day she ran away with the boy next store” she said

Mike and El looked at each other confused,El didn’t know what to think because how she was describing El made no sense since she never cared about her El was only like a prize to her when they were out in public.

“Because of him I haven't seen her since that dreadful day” Mrs Copper says

“Mrs what happened on that dreadful day?” Adam said while throwing something at Mike

“Well my first born daughter am not going to say her name it to hard so we will just call her S got really sick and had to be in hospital I was still living with my ex at the time, the day of her death me and my ex were talking about the funeral. I saw my ex best walk over with my youngest daughter Jane and her best friend I had forgotten she was his mother we got into argument and then both kids were gone I blame my ex as i’m he helped them leave” she says

“Are you kidding me” Mike says a little to loud

“Do you have a problem Mr Wheeler” She said

“No Mrs”

“You okay with her lies like that?” Mike askes

“No but what am going to do about it am pretty sure she doesn't know it us to in her class I saw her face look very confused when she ask if you had a problem and cheeked what your name is” El whispered

“Yeah I guess you're right” Mike tells her

“Do you even know what your mom did to make my mom hate her so much?”

“Yeah it was that your mom wanted my mom to stop being friends with Joyce”

“Really that so mean”

For about ten minutes or so people in the class talked about their parents marriage’s till Adam asked a question that

“So how did you meet your ex husband you told us about your current husband?”

“Well we meet in highschool he was a smart kid never got in trouble but after the we got married things changed he was always drinking and never came home till four in the morning he also hit my ex best friend at the time her name is Karan she was the best untill she had kids of her own then she changed into someone who didn't care about her friends“ Mrs Copper explained

While she was saying this El felt faint she became very pale and was sweating and suddenly everything went blank. El woke up in her bedroom confused about what happened was it all just a bad dream she looked over at her alarm clock and it said 2:10PM, she slowly go out of bed and walked down the stairs and saw Joyce drinking some coffee she gave her a soft smile

“Hey you feeling any better sweetheart?” Joyce asked

“A little better I thought it was all a bad dream I still feel kind of lightheaded what exactly happened?” El asked

“You were in health class and you fainted because of the heat in the room luckily Mike was there to take you to the nurse do you remember what happened before”

El began to Joyce about her day about halfway through she began to shake once she started to talk about her mother Joyce could see the hurt in her eyes just like when she found her in the woods that evening she never understood why her mother was like that. She was always mean to El how can a mother treat her on child like that. Joyce loved El like her own daughter so she understood when she was too upset to speak. El never really had a mother figure but she found comfort in Joyce and Karan she was close with both of them but she was closer with Joyce. Joyce made El some hot chocolate she could see El need to get more sleep after the horrible day she had.

“There two one things I have to tell you about what I found out today” El says worried about how Joyce is going to react to the knew

“Well I found out I have another sister it Rebecca” she continued

“Oh that horrible El” Joyce says in shock

“I also found out that my mother tried to break up your friendship with Mrs Wheeler” El tells her

“Really am glad Karen stayed friends with me I don’t know what I would have done without her that really what bestfriends are for”.

Late friday night El was sitting on the swings at that the park it was the quietness she need with everything that happened yesterday and how hard tomorrow is going to be El had to get out of the house and be alone. El found herself looking at stars it always made her feel less alone it reminded her she part of something bigger it made her feel happy as Sarah always wanted to go to space and know it reminders her to be a big dreamer like her big sister. El looked around the park remembering how much fun Sarah and her had hear, El hasn’t been to this park in years she avoided even passing by this park but tonight it felt right to be here since she was missing her right now. This park was always quite it's the older one and nobody goes there while El was lost in thought she hear a noise it was a loud thud it made her jump she turned around to see Mike standing there.

“Why are you hear?” El asked

“I could ask you the same question El am here since my dad is on the phone and is yelling at someone so I need to be outside the house and what about you?” he says

“I need to get out of the house I forgot about this place and it reminded me of Sarah and I need it today”

El and Mike sat on the swings talking and laughing it was like they were six years old again at this park with their sisters. They started to talk about the past pointing to places in the park where they had some crazy memories until Mike asked

“I know you have been feeling weird after seeing your mom on thursday want to talk about”

“I really don’t want to but now that my older I can explain it better than when we were eight and you know some so I guess I tell you the rest” El says smiling at him

She started to explain how the arguing started when she was four years old the yelling between became violent sometimes as her mom would hit her dad. Yet her mother always drinking as El begging her to put the bottle down. El told him how it had been four years since they had spoke last but she could still feel the anger in her mother voice towards her. How could her own mother push her out of her world how could she lie to her own flesh and blood. Her selfish hands always expecting more there was only so many times El should be manipulated before even saying she love her start to sound like a lie. How her mother never stop drinking then got into drugs and told him about the one time she almost sold El to get drug money. El started to cry as she told Mike everything she never told him before it hurt her to talk about this Mike at her sad face he hugged her tight. El managed to stop crying all she could think about right now is what Max said to her about Mike caring to much about her. He was thinking about will Lucas said to him about her crushing on him to his watch read the 12:45 AM Studdely they hear voices

“Thanks showing me around the town” One voice said

“It no problem I just didn’t think it would take so long” another voice said

“It okay I enjoy spending time with you”

“Well sound like someone had a date and is out late” Mike states

“Lucky them or not so lucky if they get caught also stop trying to find out what going on in strangers lives Mike” El says

Mike and El talk all night as they acted like five year old again they didn’t even realize the time until they saw the sunrise with the golden color of the sky it made El hair look like it had a tint of blonde it make Mikes heart jump. While Mikes freckles look lighter

“We should probably be heading home now” El say

“Okay let get going it going to be long hard day for you” Mike says

“Not just for me but for you , Nancy and my dad she was a big part of your life to Mike”

“Yeah she was”

“I know you been there for me about this but did you even talk to Nancy about it?”

“I did El your one of the bravest people I know”

El stayed quite as they walk home the street was quite no cars on the road once they got to the Wheeler house Hopper drove up with his truck he didn’t look mad at them he said

“Glad to see am not the only one that been up for ages”

“So your not mad at me dad?” El says

“Am not mad at you I understand today of all days everything a bit much don’t worry Wheeler am not going to rat you out”

“Thanks Chief” Mike said as he walked into his house

As Hopper and El walked in the house and looked in the living room and saw a sleeping Will on the couch and Joyce drinking coffee she gave Hopper a hug and a kiss then ask El

‘Did you see Will at all when you were out?”

“No I didn’t why?” El asked

“Oh didn’t come home till 12” Joyce explains

El walked up to her room and wrote in her diary

“Dear Diary,

I had the worst luck with week the girl that hate me is my sister it feels like a cruel prank. I miss Sarah so much right now i needed someone big sister advice but talking to Mike helped he also know how to make me feel better. Still doesn't mean I can tell him that when he pulls me close there feeling I never know they mean everything to me leaving me with no choices about my feeling for him. I just can’t tell him not yet or ever I can’t lose him as a friend but what if Max is right and he feels the same way. I can’t tell him that every single gift he made me I keep in a box under my bed lets just hope he never looks under there.”

After El closed her diary the pen fell behind the disk so she pull out the desk and found two drawing, once was by sarah it was of the family it made El smile the other was once she drew with all her friends with a message on the back saying never forget your friends El this was my favorite drawing of yours. El smiled and cried her sister really knew how to make her smile. There was something else on her desk a letter she opened it and it said

“El I know you been having a hard week so I write you this letter to remind you your the bravest person I know and to let you know I will always be there for you even when we don’t live next to each other any more from Mike”.

El smiled as she read it again it gave her some hope that maybe she could tell him about her feelings. It doesn't mean it had to be today she can wait for the right moment. She took the letter and pulled out a box from under her bed it was labeled special stuff. She opened the box and put Mike letter in there with the rest of the stuff he made her and written for her. She put the box under her bed and finally got some sleep.

Tag list @mileven-and-contemplation @puzzlingsnark @bitchin-promises

#mileven #mileven fanfiction #stranger things #mine

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beeupsidedown · 7 years ago

Text

Down The Rabbit Hole

Summary:The Hargrove/Mayfield children aren't the only California natives new to Hawkins. Love and friendship bloom despite being thrown into a town that doesn't know how to be normal even if it tried.

Part 1: Follow The White Rabbit

Chelsea Steely had always been a fun girl. She’d often take hikes up the west coast mountains or sunbathe on the sandy beaches. She’d attend fairs every year like clockwork and had a group of friends who were always more than willing to accompany her on joy rides. She was young and free with an adventurous heart, and yet somehow she ended up in Hawkins, the place where time seemed to literally stand still.

“Are you sure you don’t want a ride?” Chelsea asked as she ran her hand through her wavy brown hair yet again. The spring day was oddly humid with warm winds and the sun showing itself for the first time that week. She wiped at the light sheen of sweat that sat on her forehead and sighed. She was bored, something she found was not uncommon when you’d been forced to move to a town in the middle of Indiana. The only interaction she’d had in the past few days since arriving had been with her cousin’s friends, a group of kids who seemed to get into more trouble than even she could handle.

“No, I’m good,” Dustin replied. “My friends will just stare at you again. You’re too pretty.”

She chuckled at his reference to the previous days where the younger boys seemed to focus on her every move as if she was a new creature to them. She couldn’t even grab something from the kitchen without one of them watching intently.

“You think I’m pretty,” she awed, her hand touching her heart. Every year Dustin would spend a week with her family out in California so she was more than fond of her little family member. He wouldn’t ever admit it out loud but he thought she was pretty cool as well.

“Ew no, gross. You’re my cousin!” He quickly corrected. “But you’re a girl.”

“Max and Jane are girls,” Chelsea pointed out. She’d met the two girls and she was convinced they were the coolest of the bunch. She especially liked the redhead as she seemed adamant to be nonconforming to the typical gender stereotypes. She saw herself in her and the younger girl seemed elated to have someone older she could talk to.

“Yeah but you’re a real girl.”

“That makes absolutely no sense.”

“Come on Chels, why don’t you just hang out with Steve? I know you’re bored,” Dustin replied as he scoured the sofas for spare change. She sighed deeply, not liking the idea of being left home alone.

“I’ve seen enough of Steve this past week,” she commented. She’d met Steve considering he was always around. She’d been surprised to wake up and find a strange boy in the kitchen making breakfast but he was charming with his jokes and fluffy hair. She found that she actually enjoyed his company but today just wasn’t the day for it.

Steve was great and all, and it was nice to have someone her age to talk to, but she wanted to meet more people. She’d be starting school soon and the thought of only knowing one person was intimidating.

“Alright, come on. I’m taking you.” She waved away Dustin’s protests as she slipped on her shoes and grabbed her keys. “Don’t worry. I won’t go inside the arcade. I’ll just hang out outside. Maybe catch some sun.”

“We don’t get sun here like you did in California,” he replied as he followed her out the door.

“I’ve noticed,” she looked at her legs, noticing the way her tan had faded in just a week.

-------

“An hour. That’s it,” Billy said as he looked at Max. She rolled her eyes but nodded in agreement, knowing better than to fight when he had that tone of voice.

“Fine. I won’t be late.”

“You better not. You don’t even have a skateboard to skate home on.”

She frowned at the reminder of her broken skateboard. No amount of tape she added was enough to mend it and her mother refused to buy her a new one, insisting she should act more like a girl.

“See ya,” she said as she hopped out of the car. He took off almost immediately, almost crashing into another camaro that was going at nearly the same speed. She heard him swear loudly as he passed by it, taking off towards what she could only assume would be some lonely girl’s house.

She watched as the dark purple camaro pulled up, instantly recognizing both the driver and the passenger.

“Jesus fuck! You almost killed us!” Dustin exclaimed as he got out of the car.

“Hey! It’s not my fault that asshole was driving so fast!” Chelsea defended as she slammed her door shut.

“You were driving fast too!”

“Hey guys,” Max interrupted with an amused grin. The two looked over at her, momentarily distracted from their argument. Chelsea smiled as she recognized the red hair.

“Hey Max!” she greeted as she embraced her. Max smiled, the affectionate gesture more than welcome.

“Hey,” Dustin greeted with a nod. “Let’s go inside. I bet the guys are waiting.”

“Dustin! Wait up,” his cousin called out before he reached the arcade entrance. He motioned for Max to go inside as he walked back towards her. She held out her hand, dropping two dollars worth of quarters into his palm. “Have fun.”

“Thanks Chels,” he smiled, exposing his teeth in a cheesy grin. She nodded as she watched him run inside with more money to spend and some added excitement in his step.

---------

“Chelsea, you’re looking great.”

“Hey Steve,” she greeted as she leaned against the trunk of her car, basking in the sun. The warmth on her skin reminded her of home and for the first time since setting foot in Hawkins she found herself missing it greatly.

“You ready for school tomorrow?” he asked as he joined her. Her eyes remained closed as her head tilted upwards, the sun illuminating her tan skin. Even her hair seemed to have bits of the sun woven into it with strands of gold catching the light.

“Ugh, don’t remind me. Looks like I’ll be having lunch alone.”

“Nah, you’ve got me,” Steve’s voice was nonchalant as he reminded her of his offer to accompany her during her first days of school. Being new was always scary and she was Dustin’s cousin which meant she was definitely going to be around. Besides, he liked her. She was funny in an effortless way.

“Hmm, mighty King Steve to my rescue. How charming,” she hummed. Even those stories hadn’t escaped her, especially when Dustin idolized him so much.

“I’ll see you around, Chelsea,” he chuckled as he walked towards his car.

“See you around.”

The sound of blaring music and screeching tires filled her ears. Immediately she knew it had to be that asshole of a driver that had almost crashed into her. She could practically hear the obnoxiousness in his music choice alone.

“Don’t look, Chels. You know you’ll just get mad,” she muttered to herself as she stretched, her eyes still tightly closed as she continued to soak in the sun.

Billy couldn’t help but stare at the brunette as she stretched, revealing a tan midriff as her shirt rode up. He looked her up and down, noting her toned legs and the way her hair seemed to bounce down perfectly. She looked drastically different than the girls in Hawkins with their horrendously teased hair and colorful jackets. She seemed toned down, and somehow that brought out a beauty that he only every associated with the oceans from where he had once called home.

It took him a moment to realize that this was the same girl who he had nearly crashed into on his way out of the parking lot. Her car was similar to his except for its color. He pulled up close enough to take a peek at her license plate, surprise filling him as he saw that it was from California.

The door of the arcade swung open and out came Max looking happy. He scoffed at the expression before his eyebrows furrowed. He watched as Max made a quick beeline for the pretty brunette, embracing her in a giant hug before jogging up to his car. He made eye contact with the tanned beauty as Max climbed into the passenger seat.

“Who’s that?” he asked gruffly, taking a long drag from his cigarette.

“Dustin’s cousin. She’s nice,” Max replied simply. Billy nodded, his eyes still locked with the brunette’s. She raised an eyebrow at his blatant stare as if daring him to say something. A smug grin broke onto his face as he sent her a wink that caused her to roll her eyes.

“Since when is she here?” Billy questioned as he pulled out of the driveway at an alarming speed. Max buckled her seatbelt out of habit as they headed home.

“It’s been a week. She starts school tomorrow.”

Billy nodded, a clear end to the conversation before turning the volume up of his car stereo and speeding all the way home.

#hi lets start this #give it some love #pls dont let the inspiration die #billy hargrove x oc #billy hargrove #stranger things s2 #steve harrington #stranger things 2 #dustin henderson #maxine mayfield #billy hargrove imagine #billy hargrove fic #dacre montgomery #dacre montegomery #joe keery

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blah-blah-stranger-things · 7 years ago

Text

The Monk (Chapter 1/2)

The Party plays D&D at the cabin, and the damn place is too small for Hopper not to overhear.

My first Stranger Things fic. Hope you enjoy! ao3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/14260926/chapters/32891049

Chapter 2

"Ok, nerds, prepare to be awestruck. This is what, 7d6 fire damage, one per level, plus - "

"First of all it's per caster level, you're multiclass. Second of all the spell is capped at 5d6, so even if - "

"That's such bullshit! So your girlfriend gets to incinerate everything in the room and I'm stuck taking potshots?"

"It's not bullshit, Mayfield, it's the rules. You're the one who insisted I help you pick out an ability set for a Zoomer, and that meant multiclassing. Lucas, a little help here?"

"Hell no. I'm recusing myself."

"Smart move, Stalker."

"Pah. Your glorious red mane is clouding his judgment. It's always better to min-max."

"...what the hell does it mean to min?"

"No - min-max. Not you, the word max. As in 'maximum.'"

"A min-max lecture coming from the bard..."

"Oooh, burn from Will the Wise!"

"7d6 fire damage?"

Hopper rubs his temples. The boys all laugh in response to El's quip, a helpful reminder as to why he's allowing all this in the first place. Socialization. It's good for her. If it's not safe for her to wander around town yet, at least she can enjoy herself with friends now and then. It's nice, he reminds himself. Worth a few hours of wanting to stab his eardrums through with a pen.

With anything, really, but the pen's handiest, and likely more effective than rolling up one of the case files in front of him and making a play for deafness-by-papercut. Callahan's handwriting is hard enough to parse without a litany of nerdspeak assaulting him from behind. Somehow this Dungeons & Dragons shit is even worse than the stereotypes had led him to believe. Jesus - when he was Wheeler's age he was fixated on a very different pair of Ds, that's for sure. Granted the thought of him thinking of El that way...

Hopper rubs his temples again.

Ok - the file. Thief only took items from the Valentine's display, so definitely a crime of opportunity. But in Callahan's interview notes from the -

"Woo, sneak attack! Multiclass that, asshole!"

"The guard goes down with a sickening groan. But when you move away you open yourself to an attack of opportunity from - "

Focus, Jim.

...right. Shopkeep said it happened after the doors were locked, and there was no sign that any of the locks had been tampered with, which suggests an inside -

"INSOLENT FOOLS! FACE THE WRATH OF ARIYBAR THE PROFANE! SOON, YOUR FLESH WILL ADORN MY HALLS AND YOUR ENTRAILS El stop looking at me like that, this is supposed to be, like, intimidating."

"Sorry. You're adorable."

Four dramatic groans.

- an inside job. Or else, uhh... what was he thinking about again? Right - or else the shopkeep is a dope or a liar. He skims the list of employees. Let's see - Carmichael, Hayes, Daniels... wasn't it somebody by the name of Daniels he locked up overnight just last week for -

"Pew pew! Pew pew!"

"Dustin that's not what Magic Missile sounds like."

"It could be."

"That's lasers. It's anachronistic."

"Oh so you're saying they didn't have sound effects in medieval times?"

"Anyway, while the bard and ranger are distracted by this fascinating conversation, Will you manage to get past the gnome to the door. Inside is a short hallway with a door at the end and a passageway off to - "

Hopper grinds his teeth. Ok. Maybe better to save the critical thinking for later. There's got to be some good old-fashioned paperwork around here somewhere. God knows Flo spends enough of her time berating him about it. He lights a cigarette, shuffles papers until lines requiring his signature manifest. Time off request for Powell - fine. Signed. Office supplies requests... let's see. Coffee's an office supply, right? Eh better safe than sorry. Oh, and he brought home all that extra tape for El around Christmas, after the, uh, mishap with the first round of present-wrapping. Is he out of staples? Not that he ever staples things, but they're fun to flick into the garbage can on slow days. Could probably use -

"Oh shit guys that's gotta be where the princess is. I have dibs when she decides to throw herself into the comforting arms of her rescuer."

"Dustin you're a halfling. If she throws herself into your arms you'll both fall over.

"Screw you."

"You open the door and there she is, golden hair shimmering in the sunlight pouring through the fortress window. Her room is tiny, with only a bed and a small wash basin, but even if it were enormous your eyes would be drawn straight to her. She's as beautiful as the rumors said, and though she looks nervous at first she soon greets you with a grateful smile."

Hopper closes his eyes and his forehead twitches. Office supplies. Think about office supplies.

"Fear not, m'lady! Your heroes have arrived to see you safely back to - "

"So, like, is this it? Campaign done? I know we get a reward back in town, but I kind of figured this Profane guy would have a treasure trove or something. He had that whole side business with the cursed amulets, he must have earned - "

"Hey, Zoomer, shut it. You're killing the mood."

"'Actually,' the princess interrupts, 'he did mention something to one of his lieutenants about a store room behind the bookcase in his study...'"

"Now we're talking. Lead the way, blondie."

Envelopes. Probably need some of those. Hopper snuffs out his cigarette in an ashtray.

"Cure light wounds, anybody?"

"Me please."

"Coming right up... 13 HP for the mage."

"Thanks Will."

"And I'll dispel the bookcase too, in case it's booby-trapped. Lucas, can you check for - "

"Already on it. Ohhhh, natural 20 ladies and gentlemen. Hold your applause, please."

"You make a mockery of the variety of traps both magical and mundane that guard what you soon confirm is a chamber filled with gold coins - more than you can possibly carry. They sparkle in the light from Dustin's glowing lute."

"I wink at the princess."

"Jeez Dustin."

"What? I didn't do the growl, that's called character development."

"Fine. She smiles shyly back at you, smoothing the folds of her elegant silver-patterned dress. Meanwhile - "

Hopper's hands slam down on the tabletop before he can stop them. "Ok," he says, with a tone so measured he considers it downright admirable, "that's it." He pushes himself up out of his chair and turns to see six startled faces looking up at him from the living room floor.

"...uh... what's it, exactly? Sir?" Dustin asks after a moment. "I wasn't going to... I mean - uh - I know there was some real sexual chemistry building there between me and the princess but we don't typically roleplay the... I'm going to maybe stop talking now anyway how's the paperwork going? Going good I bet, I bet you aced every page, sir, bet you really showed it who runs that office oh god I didn't stop did I."

Hopper blinks. "What - no. No, that's not what I - Jesus." He rubs his forehead. "I just have to say - this story makes no sense."

Four pairs of eyes glance nervously at Mike. El looks at Hopper, taken aback. "Dad!"

Wheeler himself narrows his eyes, and Hopper sees hints of the anger that exploded that night last October. "Excuse me?"

Hopper raises his hands defensively and addresses his daughter. "I'm just being honest. Friends don't lie, right? Look think of this as a learning opportunity," he says, turning his head back to Wheeler, "a chance to get better, right?"

Mike crosses his arms. "What, exactly, doesn't make sense about it?" he challenges in the way only angsty teenage boys can.

Hopper sighs. He really should just leave it.

He doesn't. "First of all, this whole fortress arrangement. The brilliant villain puts a half-dozen guards in his great hall but has nobody actually watching the princess's room? Not to mention his piles of gold? I mean speaking of gold - what is this guy's motive, anyway? Clearly he's a hoarder or something since this room is filled with cash but Jesus, if he's interested in padding his retirement fund why the hell didn't he try to ransom the girl back to her rich prick of a father? And the amulet side gig, for god's sake, if you're trying to make a mint selling trinkets why make them suck people's life force? That's not exactly a great long-term business strategy, when every product you sell screams 'I'm an evil asshole.'"

Lucas and Dustin share a mildly disturbed look. "...how much attention has he paying this whole time?" Lucas mutters.

Hopper ignores them. "And the princess - you said at the start the only reason she was out in the field instead of in her guarded ivory tower or whatever was because she was badly claustrophobic. You expect me to believe she's been kept in that, quote, 'tiny' room for a week and yet a few seconds after you open the door she's smiling and offering to show you around and playing footsie with the hobbit over there?"

"Actually, sir, technically I'm a halfling; Hobbits are specific to Tolkien's universe whereas halfling is a more generic - "

"I don't care," Hopper replies emphatically. "And I was going to just let it go, whatever, it's just a game and you're just a kid and bound to make a few mistakes now and then, except then you talked about her dress, and that was a step too far. The elegant silver embroidery shining in the light from mini-Dylan's glow-in-the-dark axe."

"Yeah, it's not technically glow-in-the-dark, it's imbued with a Light spell, which takes is luminescence from - " Will elbows Dustin and the boy stops talking.

Will's a good kid.

"One of the key pieces of evidence," Hopper resumes, circling around the back of Wheeler's little board set-up like he does with perps in the interrogation room, "that pointed your little band of misfits to Eeriebear's fortress - "

"Ariybar," Dustin mumbles.

" - to the ogre's fortress, was - "

"Actually he's a gnome."

Hopper's hand slowly fists and he offers a smile as he feels a vein throb in his neck. "Thank you, Dustin." He returns his gaze to the back of Wheeler's head, who's still sitting with crossed arms and hunched shoulders. "Now if I recall, that bit of evidence was a sizeable piece of torn cloth, covered in mud, found caught on a broken fence post in back of one of these amulet shops. Isn't that right," he asks the witnesses. Uh - other players.

El is glaring daggers at him, but Max nods cautiously. "Yeah, that's right."

"And why was that a clue?" he asks, crossing his arms, too. "Anybody?"

"...because it was from the princess's dress," Will answers shyly after a moment.

"It was. Now, it's just barely possible that your Dungeon Leader failed to mention - yes, fine, Dungeon Master, and if you interrupt me one more time Henderson you're never going to find out what it's like to get through puberty - that Wheeler just failed to mention that there was a giant tear in the princess's dress, though you'd think it'd be a detail the halfling horndog here would've been interested in. Or maybe there's just so much material on medieval dresses that nobody'd notice if a little went missing, what do I know. But! What'd you have to do to figure out it was part of her dress?"

"It has a unique pattern," Lucas replies.

"Right. But you couldn't see that, at first."

"No - we... had to wash it."

"And what exactly did the Dungeon Master say when you washed it?"

El's eyes flash for a moment, and she glances guiltily at Mike before answering slowly, "That... the embroidery wouldn't return to its original shiny color no matter how much we scrubbed it."

"No matter," Hopper says, pacing back around to Mike's front, "how much," he punctuates, "you scrubbed it. So what happened? Did the villain go to all the trouble of creating a new dress exactly matching the pattern of the old one? Did the dress somehow only get dirty exactly where it tore? You were only a few hours behind the villain at that point, and it hadn't rained since the day the princess was kidnapped, so there's no way the scrap got muddy after it was torn.

"It makes no sense," he concludes.

He takes a deep breath, smirking triumphantly.

...God, he's an asshole.

The realization comes as soon as he stops talking. Jesus. The kids are just trying to have a fun time, and here he is critiquing Wheeler like he's a suspect. The two are hardly best buds, but they've settled into a comfortable detente after their confrontation the night El closed the gate, and at the end of the day Hopper's fond of him, is consistently impressed by Mike's patience and generosity when it comes to El and her idiosyncrasies. God knows El's crazy about him; Hopper's certainly not winning any points with her, spouting off like this.

He scratches the side of his nose - as close to embarrassed as he ever lets himself look these days - and after a moment works up the willpower to turn to apologize.

But instead of the angry or hurt or humiliated look he expects to see on Mike's face, there's a half-smile there instead. An appraising smile. A devious smile.

"Suddenly, the light reflected from the coins grows more intense, and for a moment you're all blinded, a sound like the chime of a high-pitched bell ringing in your ears. Roll Will saves."

It's a moment before anyone speaks. "...what?" Lucas says, finally.

"Roll Will saves."

Hopper, left hanging, feels a little lost, and looks at Will. But after a moment everyone, not just Will, is rolling one of those damn multi-sided dice, and reporting some numbers that hold no meaning for him.

"When the light fades, you find yourselves frozen in place. The coins have vanished; sinister circular runes line the chamber in their place. And where the princess stood moments before now stands Ariybar, cackling loudly.

"'You fools! You really thought a great Illusionist like myself would choose to confront you in a contest of brute force?'"

"Fuck me," Dustin says, dragging his hands down his cheeks.

"Hey," Hopper warns, glancing at El. He knows it's almost certainly futile to try and safeguard her vocabulary at this point, but he's at least going to pretend to qualify as good adult supervision. Granted, the way El is staring at Mike with a proud smile on her face, Hopper isn't sure she even heard.

"What the hell is going on?" Max demands.

Wheeler shifts his attention to her. "'Ahh, yes. Where are my manners. Welcome to my ritual chamber. I've spent years perfectly attuning it to the outer planes in anticipation of this day.'"

Lucas tightens his hands into fists. "What happens today?"

"'Today, I finally bring my master home from exile. Today, he will take his place as the rightful king of this wayward nation.'"

"You don't mean - " Will begins.

"'Oh, I do. Today, the Tyrant returns.'"

Everybody gasps as though this means something. Hopper just looks bemused.

"'Through the amulets, I've gathered enough vessels to activate the ritual. Once I begin, everyone who has come into direct contact with one of the cursed tokens will become subservient to the Chosen One - the Tyrant's secret offspring. Then it's simply a matter of channeling their life force here in this chamber, and my master will walk the earth once more.'"

"Wait - wait wait. The Tyrant was a human, you're a gnome. You can't be his offspring... right?" Lucas makes a face.

"'Oh, no. Not I. I spent many years trying to discover his offspring's identity. Imagine my surprise when I learned she herself was unaware of her parentage,'" Mike says, turning his attention to Max.

Max looks at him blankly, before her eyes widen. "Wait - me? But I'm... my character's an orphan. My father died in a - "

"'In a fire, yes. Not entirely untrue; when the Tyrant was banished, a great fire swept across the capital.' Max, you feel a strange tingling in your spine, like some kind of dark energy is running up and down your body."

"I draw my bow," Lucas says with a scowl.

"Can't move."

"She won't help you," El says, her voice certain but her eyes shooting Max a questioning glance. "Um, duh," Max confirms. "My dad sounds like a real asshole. I'm not channeling anything."

"'As I expected. Reports of the Zoomer's exploits suggested someone with views that diverged significantly from her father's. No matter. I'll simply Dominate you after the ritual begins.'"

"Excuse me?" Hopper interjects.

"What? - oh, god, no," Mike says, blushing, "it's a - it's a spell."

"Though hypothetically with the control it gives you it'd be possible to use it for stuff like - " Will elbows Dustin again. (Good kid. Jesus.)

"Where is the princess?" Will demands, surprisingly forcefully.

"Uh - right. 'Her? She's insignificant. I needed a way to get the Zoomer here, to the chamber. When I heard she had fallen in with the king's favorite errand boys, it was simply a matter of contriving a circumstance that would cause the king to send them my way. The princess is currently resting comfortably at a farm not far from here. After the Tyrant returns I see no reason not to release her.'"

"We won't let you get away with this," El says, her eyes narrowed. For a moment Hopper's afraid he'll need to make a run for the tissues, but nothing falls over of its own accord or flies across the room.

"Ariybar cackles as the glyphs along the wall turn a sickly green. 'There's nothing you can do to stop me. You're trapped, and I have everything I need to complete the ritual. You should feel privileged, to witness the dawn of a new era!'"

Will grips his knees tightly. "What can we do? Can we move?"

"Nothing but your mouths."

"Does anyone have any spells prepared that don't have somatic components?"

El shakes her head.

"Stupid goddamn multiclassing," Max mutters.

"Uh... Feather Fall?" Dustin offers, presumably unhelpfully given the unenthused responses from the others.

"Well. This is it. We're finally, truly doomed," Lucas says, leaning back with resignation.

Max grunts. "This sucks. It's unfair! It's an impossible situation."

Wheeler gives a half-smirk. "Well... maybe there's one way you might be able to pull through."

Will leans forward. "What is it?"

"Well... there was someone who figured out Ariybar's ploy. So it's probably safe to say he didn't get caught."

Dustin frowns. "Who? We're all..."

Hopper scratches his chin. All the kids are accounted for. Was there some other ally they mentioned he's forgetting about? That weird carriage driver with the beard? No, he was killed by that jello cube thing. (Jesus, this game is weird.) Seems kind of lazy to let one of Wheeler's characters solve the problem at the eleventh hour, anyway. Who could...

It's at this point he realizes they're all staring at him.

"Uh - what's up?" he asks, afraid he already knows the answer.

"He doesn't even have a character sheet," Lucas points out.

"We can use some default stats," Wheeler says, pulling open one of those massive rule books.

"Uh - kids, I have a lot of work to do - uh - for instance there's case files, and... ordering, uh, staples..."

"Please Dad?" El asks, eyes wide. "You're our only hope."

She doesn't always call him Dad - it's something they're both still getting used to - and he's very aware it's no accident she's using it now, which only makes it more irritating that he already knows it's going to work.

"Fuck me," he says under his breath.

"That's the spirit, sir," Dustin says as Hopper drags one of the kitchen chairs out into the living room.

#mike wheeler #eleven #jane hopper #jim hopper #will byers #dustin henderson #lucas sinclair #max mayfield #mileven #stranger things #fanfic #fanfiction #lumax

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