#El Hoper-Byers

[fluffyfangirl]

(Today, on this Wip-Wednesday: Something I will probably never finish. Wondertwins in a Sailor Moon AU I guess)

[tryinganythingtobehappyagain]

Pls don't send me hate but I feel like will deserves better than Mike and El does too

[lillie98]

Rewriting Mike’s Speech

I’ve been thinking about Mike’s speech and what it really means. As I saw someone else say, Mike is not lying to El, he’s lying for her. He’s realized that she no longer needs him, but he desperately needs her. She is his hope, his salvation. Without her, he is nothing. He’s terrified to lose her and face his demons alone, and he knows the rest of the Party feels the same way. They can’t let their Hope die. I’ve copied the original text and added my annotations in blue. I hope they shed some light on his words and help you see Mike in a new light. 💙

"El? I don't know if you can hear this but... if you can, I want you to know I'm here. Okay? I'm right here. And I love you. El, do you hear me? I love you.”

[Please don’t leave me, I can’t bear to live without you. I tried for a year and nearly killed myself. And I do love you, just not in the traditional sense. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t love you. Because I do, I love you so much it hurts me. Even though you say you love me, too, I see in your eyes that you don’t mean it. You were trying to break up with me in the pizza shop and honestly, I was, too. But we’re both scared of what breaking up means, especially for Will, so I’m covering for you. I hope that’s okay.]

“I'm sorry I don't say it more, it's not because I'm scared of you. I'm not. I've never felt that way, never! But I am scared that one day you'll realize you don't need me anymore. And I thought that if I said how I felt it would somehow make that day hurt more.”

[I take you for granted. You’ve been in my life for four years, and I now expect you to fix all my problems. But I realize that’s not fair to you or me, and I’m sorry for putting you through that. You’re not a dog or a superhero here to save the day, you’re just El, and that’s okay. Do your powers scare me sometimes? Yes. But does that mean I’m scared of you as a person? No. I trust you with everything, including my life. I know you would never hurt me. I am scared though, that you’re growing up and realizing you’re way too powerful for me and that you’ll leave me behind. Please don’t leave me behind. I’m not strong enough to survive on my own. I would tell you this, but then you might actually leave me and I’m not ready for that yet.]

“But the truth is, El, I don't know how to live without you. I feel like my life started that day we found you in the woods. You were wearing that yellow Benny's Burgers t-shirt and it was so big it almost swallowed you whole and I knew, right then and there in that moment that I loved you.”

[If I’m honest, I don’t know how to believe in myself. I hate who I’ve become and I’m terrified of being on my own. There’s no way anything could ever happen with Will , so you are all I have. I can’t lose you, too. The day we found you, all soaking wet and swallowed in that Benny’s T-shirt, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time…hope. Hope of getting Will back, hope of closing the gate and saving Will from the Mindflayer, and hope of a normal life were these terrifying thoughts in my mind. The moment we found you, and my flashlight lit up your face, I knew I had found something special, and I wanted to hold onto it. I wanted to keep you for myself. But I know that’s selfish. It’s not what you deserve. Anyone else benefiting from your hope makes me jealous. You’re my El and you always have been. It doesn’t feel fair to share you with the world.]

“And I've loved you every day since. I love you on your good days, I love you on your bad days. I love you with your powers, I love you without your powers, I love you for exactly who you are. You're my superhero! And I can't lose you! Okay? Do you hear me? I can't lose you! You can do anything! You can fly, you can move mountains. I believe that, I really do. But right now, you just have to fight. Okay? El, do you hear me? You need to fight! You have to fight! Fight! Fight! That's it, El, fight El. Fight. Fight!" 

[That hope I talked about, you have kept it alive every day since. I called you for 353 days, remember? You are hope. You’ve kept me alive. On my good days, my bad days, with your powers, without your powers, you alone make me feel wanted. You alone make me feel like my life is worth living. I love every part of you, even the parts without your powers. I will admit, though, that I feel inadequate to you. You have freaking superpowers and I’m just some dumb nerd who fell in love with his best friend. 

Please don’t be mad at me. This is not something I chose. Things just happen sometimes and you have to follow fate where it leads. As we close the chapter on our relationship, I want you to remember that you are so special. Regardless of your powers, you are an incredibly brave, kind, and devoted friend. I am a better person for meeting you, and I can’t bear to lose you. Because, if you die, I might die, too. Please don’t make me face my demons alone. You saw what happened last time. What if I jump again and you can’t catch me? Will wouldn’t be able to live with himself if I died. I can’t do that to him. 

I fully believe you can shift the world on its axis if you want, but right now, I just need you to survive. For me, for Will, for Jonathan, for yourself, and for Max. If you can see her right now, look at her. Draw strength from her. She loves you so much and has fall apart with you. She needs you, El. Fight for her, for all of us. Please don’t leave us here alone. We can’t survive without you. Fight for us, El. Please, God, Fight!!!]

[oceanfruitsstuff]

Yapping during my rewatch

Even discussing Mike and Will, whether it’s platonic or romantic, I always think it’s important to recognize their right dynamic in the show. I think at large, most of the audience of stranger things brushes their relationship to the side. Which can be understandable at times, the way Mike and Will interact is very soft and delicate in a plot of chaos. Their conversations—again, platonic or romantic—are extremely intimate. We obviously see this with other characters as well, but with Mike and Will it’s kind of ignored because there’s this overwhelm and “flare” of Mike and El, people believing that Mike is El’s in a sense, so when Will comes in the picture I’ve seen people evoke the emotion of…jealousy maybe? I’m not sure how to word it correctly if I’m being completely honest, and this is all purely my opinion, it’s very possible I’m way off.

What I’m saying, there is a lack of flash when it comes to Will and Mike, their love for eachother as friends, as maybe more, is displayed in quiet understanding, while a lot (not all) of other relationships in the show have this air of bravado. Hoper and Joyce (sometimes not always, but they are dramatic), El and Mike, even friendships like Dustin and Lucas, or the core four. It’s comedic and attention grabbing in the way that it’s somewhat loud or dramatic or funny. Not saying that Will and Mike don’t have their moments, they most definitely do, we all watched the rain scene and the rink-o-mania scene, but there is this heavy weight on those conversations of Mike and Will never quite saying what they want to say or trying to say. It’s not funny, their conversations aren’t necessarily humorous really ever. They obviously have that back and forth together as friends, but when we watch them on screen, even when they’re shoved next to eachother every second of most seasons, it’s subtle. Most love is found in the quiet—without other emotions warping what love truly is. It’s not brash or angry or jealous, it’s soft, kind, and delicate, but most of all, understanding. My opinion of course.

I’m just yapping constantly, so if this is not where your thoughts or beliefs with Will and Mike are, totally fine, not saying I’m completely correct or anything. Anyway, Will is a character somewhat placed in his own genre for the first two seasons of the show, which is where we really get to know all these other main characters. So when he shows up in season 3 as himself + having a speaking role, people have already built relationships with the other characters that we know a lot better than Will. We don’t really know Will that well, we’ve only really seen him as him for two seasons, compared to the other core 4 or El. So, when he swooped in and still was—whether anyone wants to admit it or not—Mike’s #1 without him being missing or possessed, I think people had mixed feelings about it.

Of course Mike’s focus was Will in season 1, is friend is missing. And of course Will is his focus in season 2, he’s possessed by an evil monster that might kill him…but then it continues. We are told in seasons 3 that Mike has been ignoring all of them for El all summer, but when the true plot hits, we’re seeing Will and Mike shoved right next to eachother throughout the entire season. The rain fight, Mike chasing after him, the sauna scene, car scene, the Byers moving scene in the kitchen, the shot of Mike looking back at the house and then immediately cutting to Will crying. It’s odd the tensioned focus put on those two. I think people were expecting El and Mike to be this unstoppable duo once Will was safe and Mike didn’t have to “save” him anymore. I mean Mike is this main guy with the superhero savior girlfriend, Will is gonna just be in the background now right? I didn’t even expect when I was watching the show for the first time, getting to season 3, to see so much of Mike and Will, it made my clocks start finally working. and when El and Mike together didn’t really happen, I think it raised a lot of questions, confusion, and irritation with the general audience. We’ve seen promo for El and Mike for years, and then you watch the show and suddenly quiet Will is in the place everyone expected El to be in. Everyone kind of has their partner in crime in the show. Usually it’s Dustin and Steve, Max and Lucas, Hopper and Joyce, El usually has a plot alone or leans towards Max the last two seasons—then Mike and Will, but shouldn’t it be El? Why isn’t it El? They’re this main important couple everyone’s making them out to be, but their relationship is shown as very brushed off or “isolated” or even a joke at times when you actually watch the show, especially in season 4. Will always just beats her out, even if it’s by a sliver. In the sense that he’s basically getting the relationship Mike and El should have outside of kissing. Mike doesn’t really have divided attention, at times they all do it’s a very long show, but overall, he’s very focused on Will. They are a duo, almost everyone else in the show is a duo with their love interest—unless they’re single or their girlfriend lives in Utah. And El is right there for Mike to be paired with, but he never is and I think it’s always raised the question, whether people are voicing it or not, as to why that is. When anything happens, Mike looks at Will first, we are shown that a lot actually since I’ve been going back and watching, it’s actually kind of crazy. People hate to admit it, but Mike and Will have been best friends their entire lives, I think at the end of the day of course it’s Will. It’s impossible for it not to be.

Anyway what am I even saying who knows, I think nothing is being hidden about Will and Mike’s relationship, based on how they structure couples in the show, we are told exactly who is gonna be with who, no matter what other interferences happen on the way there.

[bananasbyler]

SNOWBALL?!?!

[quinnick]

Halloween Headcanon: While in Lenora, Will introduced El to Star Wars and she promptly fell in love with it. So, one year for Halloween, her and Will dress up as Luke and Leia :)

🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 Yes !! I love it !! I love it so much !! Halloween headcanons > any other headcanons. They'd look so cute !! And Jonathan and Joyce probably help them and Joyce does El's hair and agafdhavgshasghjfg

[malewifeconnoisseur]

i totally think that dustin asked steve to play d&d with them and steve was like “fuck no i’m not playing that nerd game with a bunch of kids” and he saw dustin’s face fall and crumple and steve was like “fuck”

so the next time they hunker down for one of their 10 hour game plays with max their new zoomer and eleven their newly returned mage, and lucas and max are giggling and lowkey holding hands under the table, and eleven, will and mike are trying to explain to eleven that no the demogorgon figurines won’t come to life and try to eat them, and dustin’s just sitting by himself playing with his dice while he waits for them to settle down and he’s fine ! he’s great ! totally cool !

and then they hear feet clomping down the stairs will is just like “gOd moM i’m FINE !!” and steve is just like “actually it’s just me, i’ve come to see what keeps you dweebs here for 10 hours straight” and dustin just like LIGHTS up because finally he has someone !! he has his person !!! everyone has been pairing off (mike and eleven and will & lucas and max) and he’s starting to feel less like the outsider looking in, that one weird kid in the group-which is saying a lot when one kid has telekinetic powers and one was possessed by like a demon- who’s just now getting his adult teeth in fucking middle school

and like he jumps up and hugs steve and he’s like thank you all sincere and shit and steve is like “emotions ? i don’t know her.” so he hugs him back a bit hesitantly and is like “ok man don’t cream your pants, i’m just here to find out how to actually kill these demogorgons” and dustin settles down to help him create a character and even though the rest of them are kinda hesitant to let another newbie into the party, let alone an adult ™ in, but they see how happy dustin is and steve has stopped treating them like toddlers after the whole burning party in the tunnels 

(except for mike, he goes out of his way to call mike “kid” and interrupts him to ask questions  just to see him get riled up and everyone loves™ it “kid, what the hell is the cult of the eternal flame and why did they capture me? can i just like runaway when they’re not looking ?” “NO you need to cast a spell to distract them !1″ “ok so i cast a fireball” “you need above a 13 to cast a fireball you rolled a 3″ “what do you mean i need above a 13 to cast a fireball ? just pretend there’s a 1 in front of the 3 and call it a day” “NO !!1!!!!!”) 

and later when eleven’s softly asks “cream your pants?” and they all look at steve to answer because he started it, and he starts to explain “well when mommy and daddy love each other very much” they all vote to have him get kicked out because they are NOT about to listen to eleven get the sex talk from steve harrington of all people 

[fantasticallyfruity4]

Thinking abt hopper referring to will and Jonathan as “my boys” affectionately when he tells people stories about them.

Joyce calling El her daughter, her little girl. Getting choked up about her little girl growing up on her. Joyce and el having little girls nights (doing each others nails, watching chick flicks/rom coms). Because Joyce loves her boys but it’s really nice to have a daughter.

Hopper doing dad shit with will. Baseball games, fishing, and yeah, the arcade. He learns how to play Nintendo to play with his kids.

The idea of Jonathan calling hopper dad is the one that gets to me the most. He’s the oldest, the most cognizant of how hurt he was by his own father. Old enough to truly understand his own poor relationship with his father. So when he starts calling hoper dad occasionally, it really touches Jim.

Family photos, family vacations, the corny family road trip driving Jonathan to college. I need to see them at road side attractions I’m sorry.

The byers hopper family just has a emotional hold on me.

[mxtantrights]

✹ PART TEN (DAMSEL)

HAWKINS, INDIANA

NOVEMBER 10, 1983

I moved the eggs with my fork, it was the only thing on my plate left. Anything to make this longer. I really don't wanna go to school. And I really don't wanna pick a fight with my mom or my dad. I don't need any of that right now. A kid that I knew a smart and kid boy, is dead.

Dead.

Mickey said he was going to school. But I know he wasn't.

I know he was going to one of the boy's houses. I think they could really use each other right now. I'm not about to snitch on him. He just lost his friend, whatever he needs from me I'll do it.

My dad sits next to me at the table. He doesn't have a plate with him so he not here to eat. He's here to talk. To me.

"I know you're sad so I'm gonna allow you to cut school today," He begins and I look at him in the eyes. He looks sad too. "But on the condition that you spend it with me."

I nod my head. "Yeah, alright."

He points to plate.

"Finish your food, I'll go warm up the car." He gets up from his seat even though he just sat down and stands in the archway of the kitchen. He's turned to the left a bit, to talk to my mom probably. "She's staying with me today, you alright to get to work?"

I can hear her say yes.

I use my fork to pick up the last few pieces of scrambled egg and eat it with one bite. My father turns around just in time to see my mouth full and my plate clean. He has a tiny smile on his face. "Come on Jess."

-

My dad drives until we end up at the station. I've never seen his workplace before actually. I never want to seeing as I don't want to end up in a police station. However the conditions are different.

He pulls up in a parking spot and cuts the car off.

"Why are we at your job dad?" I ask, opening the door but still remaining inside.

He opens his door without a word and takes the keys out the ignition. Closing his door he walks around over to my side and leans his arm on the roof of the car. "I need to speak with the chief, do you wanna meet him or you wanna stay here?"

Meet the chief or warm the passenger seat?

"I'm coming."

He gets out of the way and I open the door fully to get out. My dad closes it for me and then slings his arm around my shoulder while leading me into the station. There's lady in the front who smiles at him.

"Florence, this is my daughter Jessie." He introduces me, and I stick my hand out for her to shake.

She takes it. "Oh wow- nice to meet you young lady. You've got a good dad, you know that?"

I nod my head. "Yeah I know. It's nice meeting you."

We let go of each others hands and my dad walks me further into the station. It looks like a small own station if that's anything. Like it wasn't meant to hold a lot of people. I see a large man watching tv a few feet away.

"Jim!" My dad shouts.

This makes the man spin around. Once he sees my dad he puts his hands on his hips. This is the chief. And then he looks over at me and a polite smile comes to his face.

"Oh is this- tell me this is Jessie Glendall!" He boasts with a booming voice.

Good god was he the chief.

"That's me. Jessie." I politely smile back.

Now the chief makes his way over to the both of us. My dad takes his arm from around me while the chief holds out his huge hand for me to shake. But I'm not quite sure if I wanna do that, he might break a bone. I bite back my hesitation and place my hand in his.

As soon as he shakes it I can feel my whole body shake.

"It's nice to meet you. Your dad talks about you all the time. I'm Jim Hoper, the chief." He explains and I nod along to everything he's saying. Partly because he's still got my hand in his and he's shaking me with brute force.

He let's go of my hand and I let out a little breath. "Nice to meet you. Thought you were gonna separate my shoulder there for a second."

He laughs and- if it's even possible it's as loud as his voice.

"I thought I gave you the day off? Why'd you come in to work?" He asks my dad and I look at him too.

He had the day off? I'm not so sure he told my mom about it. Maybe he did when I wasn't downstairs. Or last night.

"Just wanted to show my daughter off. How's Joyce doing?"

I look back at Hoper. He knows Joyce Byers. Well everyone knows her, but he knows her well enough to be able to comment on her well being. I wonder how she's doing too, and Jonathan. I can't imagine.

"She's strong. Stronger than you and me combined, man. Speaking of which I have something to handle," He looks to me with a wink. "It was nice meeting you Jessie."

I smile at him. "You too. If you see Ms.Byers or Jonathan can you give them my condolences?"

He nods and leaves it at that.

My dad slings his arm around me once again. "Ever since Will went missing, my mind kept going back to you and your brother. I need you both to be safe."

"We will dad. I promise, I'm looking out for him."

"Yeah, and who's looking out for you?"

I suck in a breath. He's right. With Dayton gone it's like I'm the new alpha. And I know that even though he's all about feminism, my dad can't help but worry a bit more for me because I'm a girl.

"Don't worry I've got my back and Mickey's. Come on." I nudge him to the door and he beings walking with me. I'm really in the mood for a burger. Benny's burger. Maybe i can introduce my dad to Benny too. "We can go to this for place, you'll like it."

We walk all the way back out, saying goodbye to Florence in the process. We both hop into his car.

"What's the name of this joint?" He asks

"It's called Benny's. It's not Randolph lane-" I begin to explain to him but he lets out another sigh. What did I do? "Dad? What's with the sigh?"

He doesn't put the key into the ignition. No he just sits there and looks dead ahead through the front window.

"Sweetheart, we can't go there."

"Why not?"

"The owner, Benny, we found out a couple of days ago that he committed suicide inside the restaurant."

My heart drops.

-

I'm sitting in the Wheeler house again, on the basement couch, but my mind is running empty. Benny is dead. Will is dead. I didn't think this small town was capable of giving me people that I cared about. And then it did. And then it took them away.

My mom and dad settled on the idea that me and my brother can go out as long as we're together. We leave together and we come home together and no one gets in trouble. I figure that could be arranged since I'm definitely keeping an eye out for him now.

I was already doing that, but before it was more laid back.

Now I'm ready to attack.

"Jessie why are you so quiet?" My brother asks.

I look to him not even trying to fake a smile. "I just found out that my friend Benny passed away."

"Benny?"

El's voice alerts me. She looked at me with those sad eyes. Like she understood what I meant. But there was no way she coud-

"Yeah he owned a burger restaurant." I say and I can see her begin to get frightened. She knows something about Benny. Something that's scaring her from the inside.

I move from my seat on the couch and join her on the floor. "El, did you know Benny?"

She nods her head slowly at me and I swear I can see her eyes watering. She's scared to tears, she's sad.

"The bad men."

I didn't think I could get more nervous than before but I stand corrected. She only talks about them when she can and even thens he doesn't  get into it much. The only thing I know is that they would kill us, with guns.

She raises her hands and forms a gun with her hand.

"The bad men killed Benny?"

She nods again.

I don't know what El's part is in all of this but I can't- I can't let her go back to them. Those bad men are responsible for Benny's death. They have the smarts to make it look like a suicide. They can't get anywhere near Eleven.

I won't let them.

[ladyvialana]

Fic: Left Unsaid

Stranger Things fic. Hopper & Mike. Hopper-POV. Gen.

Summary: It was only when Mike offhandedly – and with a bit of exasperation – mentioned burying a body in the desert during his explanation of the trip to find El that Hoper realised Mike was really not okay and probably hadn’t been for some time

Notes: post-S4, dealing with trauma, mentions of death and violence, background Hopper/Joyce

Also on Ao3

El locked herself in her old room in the cabin when they returned from Weathertop and the sight of the Upside Down erupting into Hawkins and poisoning the wildlife. She had glanced at Hopper before shutting the door the whole way. He nodded to let her know he understood. He’d give her as much space and time they could spare to sort out this new danger thrust upon them.

It wasn’t fair, that this was still happening – that it would inevitably be El who would have to take on this threat. It wasn’t fair, and Hopper hated it, but he couldn’t let that show. Not now. Not while he was needed.

Joyce squeezed his shoulder when she saw him turn away from El’s closed door. He was so grateful she was at his side – that she was the sort of person who would never give up on the people she loved. He was humbled to be counted among that number. He took her hand and pressed a gentle kiss against the back of it before pushing her towards her sons who were more in need of her care right now than him.

Jonathan leaned towards her, seeking comfort even as he wrapped her in his arms as though he were the one needing to provide support to her. She indulged him before pushing his head down enough to kiss him on the crown of his head and it was as though he crumbled – all weight falling from his shoulders as he let his mother hold him.

It wasn’t long before Will got his own turn. And Will – now even taller than Jonathan – folded into Joyce’s arms as though her embrace could shield him from all of the horrors of the world. They had both been made painfully aware that it couldn’t but that they could still try – believe that their love would be enough to save them – was painfully beautiful to witness.

Hopper wasn’t the only one watching the Byers reunion. Both Wheeler siblings were staring at the trio as well. Nancy was smiling, but it was a small faded expression, marred by the worried furrow in her brow. She was still standing tall and taught – like she couldn’t relax, even with her loved ones safe and in reach. When she noticed Hopper looking though, she just shook her head and shrugged.

Battle weary, Hopper recognised. He knew she could handle herself, but the fact that she needed to still grated at him. Nancy Wheeler should be up to her ears in college acceptance letters and heart-broken boys right now instead of in a run-down cabin with hardening calluses from holding a shotgun too long.

Her smile turned more genuine when Jonathan pulled away from his mother to walk over and talk to her. They headed back outside, Nancy suggesting they might as well finish with the repairs they started earlier.

With Joyce and Will chatting quietly in the kitchen, huddled together like even an earthquake couldn’t tear them apart right now, Hopper was left with just the younger Wheeler sibling in the cabin’s main room.

At first glance, Mike seemed fine. Taller and ganglier than Hopper remembered, but on his way into filling out his awkward features from his youth. He was still watching Joyce and Will. Not smiling, even little like Nancy had, but still relieved.

But that was just the first glance. The longer Hopper stared, the more he noticed was off about Mike. He was taller, yes, but he was hunched in on himself – like he was trying not to intrude further on the space than he needed to. This was so antithetical to everything Hopper had ever known about Mike Wheeler – the brash, headstrong boy who inserted himself into every situation like it was his right to be involved in everyone’s business regardless of their feelings on the matter – that he almost made a joke about Mike finally gaining some self-awareness. But it wasn’t just the hunching. It was how still he held himself, the tension in his shoulders, the alertness in his eyes, the fact that – aside from his joke to Hopper at their reunion – Hopper hadn’t heard him speak once.

Resolved, Hopper walked over to clap Mike on the shoulder and steer him towards an empty corner of the room – far enough from Joyce and Will in the kitchen to give them all some privacy.

“Why don’t you catch me up on all the details Will doesn’t want Joyce to know.”

The comment got a small huff of laughter from Mike, but little more than that quick twitch of lips.

“Pretty sure everyone else has us beat as far as stories go.”

“Indulge me anyway.”

Mike shrugged. “Sure, whatever.” He glanced around and, seeing nowhere to rest, leaned up against the wall of the cabin to settle into his role as storyteller.

Maybe everyone else did have them beat as far as stories went, but it was still devastating to hear about El’s struggles at school and her feeling so desperate that she had to lash out and hurt someone. Mike didn’t explicitly say anything but his guilt about his own actions – or inaction – was palpable in his tone as he recounted her arrest and subsequent flight with Owens.

The firefight at the Byers’ new house though … that was more than a little alarming. Mike noticed Hopper’s sudden concern and held up his hands, rolling back his sleeves as though to show he was uninjured – that somehow he, Will and Jonathan managed to escape completely unscathed from a squad of highly trained military goons sent to kill them.

Mike … he laughed it off. Just another wacky pit stop on their road trip to hell.

Hopper wanted to believe that. But, as Mike continued with the story and mentioned the dead agent the buried in the desert - offhandedly and with a bit of exasperation – the tension in Mike’s frame increased, shoulders hunching further. He was rubbing his hands together, squeezing his fingers tight enough to cause sickly white splotches to bloom on his skin. He was still trying to downplay the ordeal, brushing over the fact that he and Will and Jonathan had to hold this man’s guts inside him as he died, shrugging off the guilt of not remembering the name of the man who saved their lives. Making a joke about Argyle’s obliviousness when creating a headstone.

Hopper remembered the last time he was alone in a room with Mike. Not in the cab of his truck – that whole mess still sat sour in his stomach – but the last time the world seemed to have gone to shit and another of his friends was unconscious and close to death. He remembered the lab and trying to shield this gawky kid from horrific violence but knowing it was futile. He remembered Mike shaking, breaking down, in his arms after a night so terrifying even Hopper was still having nightmares about it.

And here Mike was, trying to brush off the aftereffects of more violence, more death, more loss and fear and terror.

 He’s only fifteen.

Hopper moved before he realised it, interrupting Mike’s story about Dustin’s girlfriend and a computer, to pull the kid into another hug. Not like their reunion before – relieved and warm – but tight and grounding. Will and Jonathan had their mother. El had him. Who did Mike have to reassure him that it was okay to not be okay? That what he went through was awful and he was allowed to rely on someone else. Who could reassure him that the world could still be a safe and comforting place even knowing there are literal monsters and people dying horribly for no reason every day? Sure he had his parents, but they didn’t know – not like Hopper or Joyce.

Mike trailed off, stiff and surprised in Hopper’s hold. He made a noise – questioning and confused – before he hesitantly brought his arms up to return the hug. His fingers dug into Hopper’s back, clinging to the reassurance Hopper was offering. Hopper just pulled him in tighter when Mike’s breathing started to shake.

“I hate this,” Mike whispered into Hopper’s shoulder, his voice breaking at his admission.

“I know kid.”

“I just want it to stop.”

“It will. I’m gonna make damn sure of it.”

Mike slumped, relieved by the comfort or just exhausted, Hopper couldn’t tell.

“I’m just … so sick of seeing dead bodies in my dreams.”

And that, that was something Hopper couldn’t lie to him about – couldn’t reassure him with words or vague promises. Hopper knew the truth.

He pulled back, just enough to make eye contact. “That won’t stop. But it does get easier.”

Mike snorted and brought a hand up to rub at his eyes. He wasn’t crying, not yet, but his eyes were red-rimmed. “So, just like high school then?”

And Hopper shouldn’t let him get away with it again, brushing off something so serious, but Mike’s hands were still clutching his jacket and he was still leaning into Hopper’s embrace. Mike knew, understood that he could come to Hopper with this – with his feelings, the nightmares – and Hopper wouldn’t judge. He had someone to turn to.

So Hopper ruffled Mike’s hair with a laugh. “Yeah, sure, exactly like high school.”

Mike batted away the hand and shook his head, settling his curls back into place. He finally pulled away from Hopper and took a deep steadying breath. “So what now?”

“Now? We do what we can. Fix this place up. Regroup, gather intel. All the boring stuff.” Hopper sniffed exaggeratedly. “Though honestly, a shower and a change of clothes might be top of the list for you.”

Mike glared and punched Hopper on the shoulder half-heartedly. “Asshole.”

Hopper shrugged, continuing to tease. “Just saying, I didn’t hear anything about motels or bathroom breaks in that story.”

“How is my hygiene in any way relevant to saving the world?”

“How is Dustin’s girlfriend relevant?”

Mike settled back against the wall to continue his explanation, a little lighter and more relaxed than when he started.

Hopper listened and watched and did what he could even as the world around them turned to shit.

[immortalpramheda]

Stranger Things ‘Chapter Nine: The Gate’

Well, we’ve come to the end of an awesome season! Seriously, this episode had me either on the edge of my seat in fear, crying because of how emotional it was, or not being able to wipe the smile off my face.

Eleven is back! She has an emotional reunion with Mike. He tells her he called her everyday and she says she knew. She heard. Awww!! But then Mike finds out that Hopper has been hiding her for almost a year, and he lashes out at him. It broke my heart when he broke down in tears. He’s been missing her so much and this whole time Hopper has known where she is. I know that must be really tough for him to comprehend.

El reunites with the rest of the gang, and Joyce, which was so sweet! But she gives the cold shoulder to Max, which I think is a little harsh. She doesn’t even know her.

They all split up. Hopper and Eleven go to the lab, where they need to close the gate. Joyce, Jonathan and Nancy take Will to Hopper’s cabin. And Steve stays with the kids at the Byers.

Will’s journey this episode was intense. I could feel his pain through the screen. His screams gave me chills. That actor is phenomenal. He’s tied to the bed and heaters are put on and fires are set. The room is boiling to try to kill the minster inside of him. But it seems to slowly be killing him and that was tough to watch.

Joyce got so mad and just wanted her son back. And she was remembering Bob, and how this monster inside her son is the reason he died. She turns up the heat to immeasurable temperatures, almost killing Will. Jonathan is really worried, but Nancy gives the final push and places a hot knife on him an the monster leaves him. Fuck!!!! That whole scene was fucking intense and made me squirm and cry, but Will is back! He’s himself again. After all that kid has been through, it’s really great for him to finally be back.

Steve has taken over the role of babysitter of the kids. He promised to keep them safe, and that’s what he’s going to do. He doesn’t want to indulge in their crazy plan to lure the monsters away from the lab to give Eleven time to close the gate.

Billy goes to the Wheeler’s house in search of Max. This scene was hilarious! He full on flirts with Mike’s mother, who just took a bath. I was both cringey and ridiculous but i loved it. Well, he finds out Max isn’t there, so he goes onto the Byers house next.

Billy turns up at the Byers and starts a huge fight. But Steve protects the kids, like he promised he would. Although it doesn’t go very well for him. The fight was brutal, and Steve was getting his ass beaten. But he didn’t give up. The kids are cheering on, and Max has the brilliant idea of jabbing a sedative into her step brother. He’s down and Steve is barely conscious. Max tells Billy to never mess with her or her friends again, and almost hits him with the nail laden bat. Good on Max! She finally stood up to her brother.

Steve is completely out of it, so the kids take things into their own hands and head to the tunnel. Max drives, even though she’s 13 and doesn’t know how to drive. She somehow manages to get them there safely. Steve freaks out when she sees this kid driving a car! It was hilarious when he woke up he thought that Mike was Nancy!

They go into the tunnels, Steve taking the lead. He does eventing he can to protect the kids. They spread gasoline and then set it on fire, causing an explosion. The demodogs go away, except for one. Dart.

It turns out that Dustin did have a special connection to Dart, and he does remember him. This scene warmed my heart. This monster from another dimension actually did care for its caretaker. He feeds him some nougat and they safely pass by him.

Steve helps the kids up out of the tunnels, but then a horde of demodogs come running at him and Dustin. But, luckily they run right on past, because Eleven has been working on closing the gate and they’re all in a rush to get there.

Eleven and Hopper made up on their way to the lab. El tells him that she found her mother. She doesn’t say anymore, except for the fact that she looks ‘bitchin’ with her new makeover. Her new favourite word. Oh I love their relationship! Hopper tells Eleven that he had a daughter, but now she’s gone. He locked El up because he didn’t want to go through the pain of losing Sarah all over again. Such a beautiful moment between the two of them.

Eleven bravely enters the lab, considering it’s where she went through years of torture. They head down the pit to the gate. Hopper keeps watch as Eleven uses all the power she has, channeling all of her anger the way Kali taught her to, into closing the gate. This scene was incredibly powerful. The red lighting, and El working as hard as she can to close the gate. I was holding my breath the whole time and got goosebumps when the gate finally closed.

Eleven collapses into Hoper arms, blood coming out of both nostrils because of how much power that took out of her. She is completely exhausted, but she’s alive. She’s alive and she closed the gate.

It’s all over, and things start to conclude. Murray’s watered down story has made the news. We finally get real justice for Barb. It’s reported that she was killed by toxic chemicals that leaked from the Hawkin’s Lab. It’s not quite the truth, the truth is a lot messier, but it’s something. She’s finally been given a farewell.

Hawkin's Lab is shut down, which is a huge victory! They’ve gotten away with way too much stuff, and this is just so damn satisfying. For El and for everyone else who was put though hell because of it.

Dr Owens gives Hopper a birth certificate for Eleven. It says that he is the father and Eleven’s name is ‘Jane Hopper’. She now officially has parents, and Hopper is her legal guardian! That makes my heart so happy!

The Snowball Dance! Dustin got some Farah Fawcett hairspray, and Steve gave him some advice. He dropped him off as if he’s his own child, which was so adorable. I did feel bad for Steve when he sees Nancy, and then sadly drives off.

Dustin is declined by all the girls, but he gets to dance with Nancy, who he’s had a crush on for years. That was so sweet and nice of her. Will got to dance with someone, and Lucas and Max danced together, and Max even gave him a quick kiss.

And finally, Mike and Eleven have a dance. They both don’t really know how to dance, but it’s so sweet. They share a kiss too. That whole final scene made my heart smile. The music, the atmosphere, it was the perfect ending for these kids.

Everything is peaceful and back to normal… or is it? Everything turns Upside Down and the shadow monster is lurking over the Upside Down version of the school.

What a fantastic ending to this phenomenal season! This episode was damn near perfect. The conflict of the season was resolved, and everything ended on such a positive and beautiful note.

My favourite parts about the season were Eleven and Hopper’s relationship and Steve’s transformation from douche to dad of these four kids. I didn’t really like Steve in S1. I mean he got redeemed a little towards the end, but this season just completely changed my view of him. He’s my new favourite character.

Hopper and Eleven’s relationship is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. They act like a real father and daughter. They fight, and Hopper does eventing he thinks is best for her, even though she doesn’t see it that way. And he admitted that he was a little harsh and in the wrong sometimes. I just love the dynamic of those two.

The kids were fantastic as ever. I loved the whole Dart storyline. Max was a great new character for the show, and I hope next season she really becomes in with their group.

Bob Newby, superhero. We all knew he wan’t going to last when he was intercede, but that didn’t make his death hurt any less. He deserved so much better.

Will was incredible this season. He was barely in S1 so it was great to get see more of his character, and the ramifications of what he went through last season. He was full on possessed for quite a big chunk of the season, and Noah Shnapp was absolutely phenomenal playing the role. He completely blew me away.

Mike and Eleven’s reunion was so beautiful and touching. I’ve grown attached to these characters and seeing them reunite really pulled at the heart strings.

I’ve wanted Nancy and Jonathan to be together since the start of the show, and I think they got together at the right time. As much as I feel bad for Steve, I’m sure he’s want Nancy to be happy, and she obviously wasn’t with him.

The only thing that brought the season down was ‘The Lost Sister’ episode. It just took me out of a world and stalled the momentum of the season. I appreciate the back story and extension of the world, but it just felt completely out of place.

Overall, a fantastic season full of so many great moments. I look forward to seeing what Season 3 has to offer!