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skyfallslayer · 14 days ago

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Should We Stay or Should We Go? || Chapter Six

-A ST Rewrite Feat. Steve Harrington x Henderson!OFC-

Main Masterlist || Series Masterlist

🎲Summary: A frantic Jonathan, Hopper and Joyce look for Nancy in the darkness before uncovering the truth about the lab’s experiments. Steve starts accepting his babysitting role. Steph and Will are running out of time.

🎲Pairings: Will x Platonic!OFC; Dustin x Sister!OC; Slow burn! Steve x Henderson!OFC (Ex-bestfriends to Lovers); Slow burn! Byler

🎲Rating: Teen-Mature

🎲Word Count: 15,845

🎲Date: 12/13/24

🎲Warnings: Angst; Heavy Language & Dialogue; References To Broken Friendship; Mental Strain/Breaking Down; Talks of Mental Health Issues; Bullying of All Kinds; Physical Fighting; Lying; "Death" and Talks of Death; Brief Mention of Corpses; Gun Use; Implied Unloving Parents; Implied Child Abuse; Implied Drug Abuse; Blood & Gore; Arson & Alcohol; Will & Steph's Mental Strain - Joyce's Too; Hopper Being a Great Cop & A Total Mess; Dustin Being a Slight Asshole; Steve's 'Asshole Era'; Steve's Emotional Damage. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!

(And let me know if I missed anything)

🎲A/N: I am sooooo sorry this took so long! It was never my intention to have neglected it for this long, but here it is. Hopefully it lives up to your expectations. Also, small heads up, I've only re-read this over a few times, so hopefully everything makes sense and looks good. Thank you for your patience ❤️. Enjoy!

You know what they say… Curiosity kills the cat. Or in this instance…

Curiosity kills the Wheeler.

Now she was staring at something truly horrifying, something that was like out of a Stephan King novel or out of an exorcist movie. This… thing was huge. When she first caught a glance of it at Steve’s house she never pictured it that big. An eight foot, lanky, twisted limb individual that was feasting on a poor deer. Her breath was caught in her throat, its munching sounds found its way into her ears rocking her to her core; Her dying flashlight was shaking in her hand.

She needs to leave, go back through the tree before this thing decides it wants desert. Yet, luck was not on her side, as soon as she took a step backwards something crackled beneath her feet. On cue the monster turns around with a shriek, causing her to drop everything and run.

“Jonathan!” She screams, hoping that he – someone – would hear. Then her heart skipped a beat when she got a reply. “JONATHAN!!”

“Nancy!”

She twisted around the trees, the beast right on her tail–

“I’m right here! Nancy! Just follow my voice!”

Follow his voice. Follow his voice. Follow his voice. Follow his– The thing decided to lunge, which she manages to get out of the way in the nick of time, running in a new direction.

“Follow my voice, Nancy, I’m right here! Nancy?!”

She pulls herself to a halt, clinging onto a tree and taking a breather. She hears him but she just can’t see him! Everything was starting to blur and look the same to the point she doesn’t even know where the damn entrance is!

“Jonathan…?” She whispers, and chokes down a sob as she hears the beast growling and lurking around somewhere behind. Is this it? Is this how her life was going to end? In a place that people probably won’t even believe exists? She shook to her core, the beast footsteps starting to fade, but what good would that be if she didn’t know where she was going?

But something must have answered her prayers as a hand suddenly covers her mouth, startling her as someone quietly and quickly shushes beside her ear. Her stomach dropped to her ankles, as she fearfully followed the hand to… she couldn’t even finish the thought she was so taken back. She was completely baffled to find it belonged to the Police Chief of Hawkins.

The Police Chief? She thought, her mind of course strolling to the dread and the worst of it all. Did her parents call because she was gone? Did Hopper get abducted like poor Will and Stephanie? What could it–

Once he registers that he has her attention (mostly), he silently tells her to follow him. Obliging, she stays close, following him right back to where she came through.

Relief fell through her, then once again horror when that growling came back at full force. The two parties stop, frozen as the beast returns a few paces behind them; Then…

It charged. The next few seconds were a blur for Nancy–

Barely remembering how he grabbed her and held her close–

Barely registering him taking out his firearm and taking shots–

Barely recalling as he yanked them both backwards into a tree–

Both Jonathan and Joyce let out a scream when someone’s hand shot through the bubble.

“HELP!!!” It shouts, their eyes widened.

“Hang on!!” Joyce yells, as her and her son use a death grip on his hand, planting their feet into the Earth and pulling with all their might. All it took was their faces to turn bloodshot red before finally seeing the upper half of Hopper’s body. “Ugh– COME ON!!”

And one more large yank from the both of them sent them flying across the forest floor, and Hopper crashed flat on his back with Nancy in his hold.

Hopper immediately squeezed the sobbing girl comfortably, reassuring her softly. “It’s okay. I got you. I got you…”

“Nancy!” Jonathan sighs with relief, him and Joyce crawling over to see them. He helped them sit up, the two of them covered in a weird goo, both looking like they had just seen hell and survived.

As the four of them tried to process the last few minutes, they gazed upon the tree that was slowly closing itself back up.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

“Eleven!” Her name erupted his throat for the thousandth time tonight. Steve’s not quite sure what time it was, but it was definitely dark and freezing cold, yet he refuses to give up. “Eleven!”

Once he was completely sure his mother was dead asleep it was easy enough to slip out again. Dressed as warmly as he could, flashlight in hand, baseball bat in the other with a backpack full of supplies for anything that he might need along the way. He even brought an extra jacket to sling around the kid when he found her. He was left circling around the junkyard and the area around it; And of course it had to be all wooded, the perfect place to hide.

“Eleven!” He shouts again, then sighs, his breath could be seen in the air. “Look, kid, I… I don’t know if you can hear this, but if you can, I’m not mad about what happened. Frankly, I’m more worried about you. And that’s the god’s honest truth, I swear, I just…” Another sigh. “It’s cold, and I don’t want you freezing. I just… I-I just want you to be alright, kiddo. Okay?”

Of course he was expecting an answer, but he had a feeling he wasn’t going to get a reply which was correct. Instead, he was met with a heavy wind blow that sent a chill through his body.

Shit… He frowns. “Listen, if I don’t see you in the next few hours or you don’t want to approach me, just… please consider going back to Mike’s place, or�� you can even come to mine.”

Then he mentally slapped himself. Of course she wouldn’t know his place! “Um, if– if you remember where Will’s house is, I’m not too far from there. The woods across the street just take that straight through. The walk’s about… forty minutes, and uh, my house has a big pool in the backyard and… I’ll be waiting for you. Um…”

It kind of hurts that he’s not getting an answer.

“I’ll probably have to repeat what I just said in a few hours but–” His face morphs into something warm and greeting. “I really hope you heard what I said. And please consider.”

Nothing again, and Steve prays that she hears him, I mean, that’s all he can do as he starts his walk back up again; Shouting her name over and over until the sun starts to rise.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

|| THE OTHER SIDE ||

She felt him pull the blanket around them closer before snuggling against her side – not just for warmth this time, but for comfort, something they both desperately needed now. Steph and Will found themselves sitting inside Castle Byers, both trying to stay snug, both trying to process what had happened in the last few hours, those…

Those hours that they couldn’t even believe just happen.

“So…” Steph begins, fiddling with the walkman in her hands, the one that apparently saved her from the nightmare she was in. “You just played music?”

“Uh, huh.” Will said, nodding.

“And…” Her hands shook at the slightest. Just thinking about it made her skin crawl. “How did you know how to do that?”

“I didn’t.” He frowns, visibly upset. “Like I said earlier, when I accidently turned on the boombox, the music was scaring the monster away. So I thought, maybe, whatever had a hold on you would have the same effect.”

“Well it worked.” She lays the device in her lap, sighing into her hands, thinking. “Listen, Will, I’m going to be blunt.” She meets his worried gaze. “I don’t think we’re going to make it.”

Steph hated how easily those words slipped out, how easily it was to admit that they were stuck in a rut. Her fingers clawed at her thighs as she continued, “I mean, I have faith in your mom, I really do, but we’re running out of time here. And who knows if she’s even figured out a way to get to us, if she knows where we are. We’re both…” She swallows. “We’re both physically and mentally tired, we’re starving and cold too. I mean, if that thing doesn’t kill us, then the cold certainly will. Look at us, we’re shaking and we have layers upon layers of clothes that slowly are not doing much for us. We’re slowly dying at this point.”

Will says nothing knowing she’s right. He’s lost count how many pairs of socks were on his feet, or sweaters he has under his jacket. “Then… what do we do?”

She sighs again, rubbing her forehead (and putting her brain into overdrive). “Alright let’s stop and really think. We obviously weren’t the only ones brought here, right? Remember the girl from Steve’s pool?”

“Yeah.” He straightens up a bit, catching on what she was trying to explain. “From the looks of it, that thing caught her off guard.”

“See, that’s what I was thinking. What if that thing–” She shakes her head. “You know what, we got to give it a name. Can’t keep calling it ‘thing’ or ‘beast’, it’s confusing. Um…”

Will suddenly recalls what started all this indirectly. “...I got beaten by the Demogorgon.”

“Huh?”

“I rolled a seven, and I needed to roll a ten, so I ended up getting beaten by the Demogorgon.” He locks eyes with her again. “We got beaten by the Demogorgon.”

She clenches her jaw. “The Demogorgon. That’s what is hunting us.” Steph says, while nodding. “Okay. Okay. Alright, so what I was thinking is that Demogorgon is like a wolf. It kills its prey, and drags it back to the den, its home, this place, to feast.”

“So… it’s hungry, and this whole place is its home?”

“Correct. The thing is, who knows if we are even the Demogorgon’s first victims? There could have been plenty of people before us that got dragged here. There’s probably been more people than the girl at the pool we saw.”

“So if it’s dragging people here, then it’s somehow able to travel between here and Hawkins. Like it’s using a gateway.”

“Correct. But I don’t think it’s using one gateway, I think there’s somehow more than one.”

He tilts his head, curious. “How so?”

“Remember what you said? The girl looked like she was caught off guard. But–” How does she phrase this? “But she was scared like we were scared when we first saw that thing. Now, I mean we’re still scared anytime we come across the Demogorgon, but not like the first meeting, right?”

“Yeah.” Will said, after taking a second to process it. “Yeah, you’re right.”

“See? Every time we encounter it, it comes out of nowhere.”

“Like it portal-hops, almost.”

“Yeah, exactly.”

“So out there…” He starts looking more hopeful. “There’s at least a few gateways. So all we have to do is find one, and maybe it’ll take us home.”

Steph nods before frowning. “There’s only one problem about that. Every time we try doing something to help us get out of here, the Demogorgon shows up. I mean, this evil version of Hawkins is still Hawkins. It’s huge. We’ll never be able to search around without having to worry about it showing up.”

“We have to do something then.”

“Yeah. I mean–” She shrugs. “What can we do? Music and guns seemed to only stun it.”

“Unless, we figure out a way to not stun it. What if…” Will couldn’t believe what was coming out of his mouth next–

“What if we kill it?”

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Hopper let himself close his eyes as he rested at the table, sitting in nothing but his boxer briefs and undershirt. His (dry clean only) uniform had been shoved into the wash in an attempt to get the sticky goo off as he’s second in line for the shower. He was still trying to process what he just went through in the last hour. Another world, real monsters, the lab, the Staties, the fake bodies, everything. It was way too much for the forty-two year old man to wrap his head around. Way too much for any sane human being.

My god… what have I gotten myself into? He was pulled from his thoughts when someone rattled the table as they sat down.

“Look, we gotta go through this again.” Joyce pushed eagerly, hands flat against the news articles Hopper brought over.

The Police Chief looks at her tiredly. “I told you everything that I saw.” He replies, then takes a puff of smoke from his cigarette.

“Oh, my gosh.” She rolls her eyes. “Tell me again.”

Just before Hopper could continue, her son came into the room, looking mentally and physically exhausted. “Is she alright?” He asked, getting a nod.

“Yeah.” Jonathan said, nervously fiddling with his hands as he took a seat with them. “She’s showering right now.”

“That’s good.” Joyce said, before turning her attention back on the other adult. “Continue.”

“Upstairs or downstairs?” He asks, softly.

“Upstairs.”

“There was a laboratory. It was where they must do experiments or something, and then there was… there was this kid’s room–”

“How do you know it was a kid’s room?”

“It’s.. M-More like a prison.”

“So why would you think it was a kid’s room, then?”

Hopper inhales sharply. “Because, I told you, the size of the bed, there was a drawing, there was a stuffed animal–”

Joyce perks up. “You didn’t say there was a drawing.”

“Yeah, there was a drawing of a... an adult and a child. It said ‘Eleven’ on it.”

“Was it good?” Both Joyce and Jonathan said in unison, both having the same idea.

Hopper looks between the two, confused. “It was a kid’s drawing. It was stick figures.”

Joyce then sighs herself, getting up quickly to fetch something before slamming it down in front of him. “Wasn’t Will.” She clarifies, as he takes in the skillful drawing, confusion going away instantly.

Although that went away, something else took its place.

His eyes widened. “Earl…” Hopper mutters, setting the drawing aside to grab the news articles, shifting them around to find something he just thought of. “The night that Benny died, Earl said he saw some kid with a shaved head with Benny. Now, I pressed him, he said it might be Will, but maybe…”

“Maybe, it wasn’t?” Jonathan asked, him and his mother leaning in closer to what the cop was digging around for.

“Look…” He flashes the piece of paper at them, a woman plastered on the front of it all. “This woman, Terry Ives, she claims to have lost her daughter, Jane. She sued Brenner, she sued the government… Now, the claims came to nothing, but what if…” A look of horror crosses his face. “I mean, what if this whole time I’ve been… I’ve been looking for Will… I’ve been chasing after some other kid? What if this goes so much deeper than we thought?”

“So you’re saying that, maybe this Brenner guy is taking kids for some… experiment?” Joyce asked, trying to get some clarity.

“Maybe yes, maybe no.” He replies, his fingers subtly twitching against the table. “But I know in my gut that the lab has something to do with your son’s disappearance. It has to. There’s too many paths crossing for them not to be.”

“Okay, but if that is the case, why Will? And where does Stephanie fit into this?” Jonathan asked.

“Here’s the thing about Stephanie, with all the evidence we have, I think she simply was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. I think Will was always the main target, she just happened to be there when they decided to move in.” Hopper sighs. “Where is she now? I don’t know. But they must have crossed paths with her once if they managed to make a fake corpse that looks like her.”

The teenager took a moment to think everything over, before shaking his head. “This is getting… insane. Really insane.”

“Tell me about it, kid. I know.”

“Then what’s the next step? Where do we go from here?” Joyce asks, but before she got an answer, Nancy had entered the room. Semi-damp towel wrapped around her neck, and dressed in clothes she was given, she comes in with a distant look that she tries to play off.

“Thank you for the clothes, and shower, Ms. Byers.”

“Oh, no need to thank me. Um…” Joyce takes a step towards her with a warm smile. “Listen, it’s late. How about you stay the night?”

“Are you sure?” Nancy asked, surprised.

“Yes, I’m sure. Just… call your mother. I wouldn’t want her to worry. Uh, Jonathan–” She gets her son’s attention. “Why don’t you show her where the phone is and get the extra blankets and pillows out?” She awaits for them to disappear from sight before turning back to Hopper and asking, “So what’s the next step?”

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

It wasn’t until she had to get Joyce on the phone to confirm she really was at the Byers Household that Nancy was allowed to stay. They came up with some excuse that Nancy was helping Jonathan with some homework and it went later than expected. Luckily, Karen bought it, and now her daughter was wondering how she was even going to get any sleep. Every time she closes her eyes… she sees that thing. That monster stalked her like prey, and was this close to snagging her and the Police Chief and ending their lives.

This. Freaking. Close.

I mean… how would Jonathan and his mother explain to her family what happened? To explain how she was eaten/killed by a beast with no eyes? Speaking of…

“You feel better?” Jonathan asks, as he looks up from fixing up his bed when enters the room.

“Yeah.” She said, nodding.

“That’s good. Um…” He shifts nervously on the balls of his feet, gesturing to the object at hand. “I-Is my bed okay? Do you need another blanket? Or–”

Nancy shakes her head. “I-I can’t take your bed.”

“Trust me, my mom will kill me if I offer you the couch.” He chuckles. “Just take it. I’ll sleep in Will’s room.”

“You sure?” She asks, and he nods. “Okay.”

“Okay.” He repeats, and starts making his way to leave, but–

“It’s just, um…” Her hands squeeze together tightly. “I… I don’t wanna be alone, so….” She adverts her eyes. “Can you, like, stay with me tonight?”

“S-Stay?” He slurs, surprised.

She shakes her head slowly as she sits down on the bed. “Yeah…”

“Uh, y-yeah. I-I’ll stay. Um–” He looks around the room. “Just let me get–”

“Can you just come sit? Uh, you can… take half the bed if you want or…” She groans quietly into her hands, before shuttering visibly. “Jesus…”

Jonathan immediately sits down as well, taking in how scared she is and tries to find the right words. “You know, it… it can’t get us in here.”

“We don’t know that.” Nancy whispers, looking at him “Every time I close my eyes, I just… keep seeing that... thing. Wherever I was, that place… I think that it lives there. It was feeding there. Feeding on that deer.”

“Hey, I won’t let it get you.”

“But it got everyone else? That means that if… if Will, Stephanie and Barbara…”

“Hey.” He wraps an arm around her shoulder, giving her a side hug. “My mom said she talked to Will. Talked to Stephanie. If they’re alive, there’s a chance Barbara is, too. That means that she’s… trapped in that place. We just have to find it again.”

She gives him a puzzled look. “You wanna go back out there?”

“I don’t know.” He frowns. “I’ll see what my Mom and the Police Chief say tomorrow, then I’ll make a decision.”

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Dustin springs up and off the couch when he hears the front door open and shut. Walking the direction of where it was, he was nearly bulldozed over by his big sister, whose arms were crossed and had a sour look upon her face.

“Where have you been?” He asked, following her closely behind. “You didn’t walk me home from school, and you’ve been gone for six hours now. Mom’s worried sick and is looking for you.”

“Well I’m fine. I just wanted to clear my head.” She mutters, heading for her room.

“You could have cleared your head when you came home. You could have just told mom you wanted some time alone. You didn’t have to freaking disappear on us.” What will their mom say? She’s been freaking out and fearing the worst and his sister’s acting like it’s nothing! What’s her deal? “Phanie? Phanie you listening? Phanie–”

“Jesus, Dustin–” She turns around to face him, stopping in the middle of her doorway. Her sour expression had faded into a certain sadness he couldn’t pinpoint. “Just– I’ll explain to mom what happened, I just… I just want to be left alone.”

His shoulders slack at her tone. “Okay. That’s fine. It’s just, we were just worried, you know? You normally don’t disappear like that. We… should I call Steve to let you know you’re fine? I’m sure he’s worried–”

“I don’t want to talk about Steve. I don’t want you to, or mom, I don’t even want to see him again.”

“Phanie…?”

“I don’t–” She laughs quietly on the verge of tears. “I shouldn’t even be crying. It’s not like he cares, or that he wants to be my friend anymore, or… h-he acts like he doesn’t so… fuck–”

“Stephanie–”

“Just leave me alone!”

Then she slams the door in his face without a warning or word.

That was over two years ago, and he still doesn’t know the full story (and even doubts that he ever will). His sister told their mother they had a bit of a disagreement that led to their falling out, ending all discussions and/or thoughts about the boy; Everything she had that held any memory of him was long stored away. Or so he thought.

Dustin still couldn’t wrap his head around why she was still wearing this damn necklace he gave her. Out of everything that they gave one another, he would think that this gift was the most sentimental of them all, so why keep it?

He examines in his palm almost wanting to chuck in the trash, but another part of him wants to wait until he gets his sister back to ask her, ‘Why? Just why?’.

Phanie. I just don’t get it. Is there something I’m missing? But his thoughts were abruptly stopped when his walkie fired up with feedback. He sets it aside and grabs the walkie, pulling up the antenna to listen.

[ ‘Dustin, you copy?’ ]

“Yeah, Mike. I copy. What’s up?”

[ ‘Meet me at my place. We got to go over a few things.’ ]

“Copy that. Over and out.”

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

|| THE OTHER SIDE ||

Will couldn’t believe where all the confidence suddenly came from, especially given their situation. But for some reason, it all felt so right to say.

Stephanie stares at the boy with her big blue eyes, a little bit shocked by what he said. “You want to kill it?” She asked, to confirm.

“Yeah.” He says, adrenaline pumping his veins. “What if we kill the Demogorgon? If we kill it, it might be our only shot at finding a gate unscathed.”

She blinks. “That’s… that’s not the most terrible idea I’ve heard. But how does one kill a thing like that?”

Will hums, brows pushed together in concentration. “Music?”

“Music could work.” She nods. “However, from what you told me, one boombox seemed to just scare it off. There’s no electricity, it’s not like we can broadcast a song over the radio, we’re going to need a lot more boxes. Plus, who knows if we have to play the same song on all of them. There’s no way everyone in town has the same cassettes.”

“True.” He bites his lip. “Guns? We can go get more.”

“Guns could do the job. But when you faced it back at the house? Did it look injured at all? I shot after we talked with your mom.”

“Hmm.” He stops to rack his brain again. Did it? “I think it was injured, but it surely didn’t stop it from coming after me.”

“Okay. So if we use guns, I mean we’re going to have to rapidly fire after rapid fire.”

“That’s going to be too hard.”

“Yeah.”

“So what do we do?”

Stephanie stops to think for herself, pulling the blanket close when she gets a chill. And that’s when the lightbulb went off. “Cold.” She gasps quietly. “This place is cold. It must like the cold. If it likes the cold, then–”

“It hates the heat.” Will perks up excitedly. “Heat is the weakness, then–”

“We can kill the Demogorgon with it.” She couldn’t help but smile at the revelation. “Alright, quickly. What is stuff that’s flammable?”

“Flammable? Um, matches, gasoline, lighter fluid–”

“Alcohol.” She replies. “If we can get all those things, find a good place to set up a trap, overload the shit out of it with everything it hates, and we kill it then…”

“We might be able to go home.”

Their gazes lock again, and suddenly they felt like they were finally on the same level, save wavelength with their thinking. They finally found something that could bribe them into not losing their will to live.

“Then let’s go shopping.” Steph said, grinning. Her words kickstarted them to pack everything up and crawl out of the hideout. Before they took off, she stares down at the walkman again, thinking. “You know, just thought of something.”

“What?” Will asks, looking up at her.

“Remember when we said that maybe we could hear people if they were only thinking negatively?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, they say when playing your favorite music, your brain releases dopamine, giving you a sense of euphoria. What if playing the music keeps all the bad things away?”

“That makes sense. You did say when you were trapped in that place, it got all brighter when the song was playing.”

“Yeah. It did.” She looks down at it again, fascinated by how such a basic thing saved her life.

“Maybe you should wear it while we walk there.”

“You think?”

“Yeah. Better safe than sorry, you know?”

“Yeah, I guess.” She sighs. “Okay, I will. But listen–” She makes sure she has his full attention. “If you start feeling weird, or you get a headache, or your nose starts to bleed, or anything unusual, you need to tell me and I’ll hand it over. Capish?” He nods. “Good. Got ‘The Clash’ cassette?”

“Yep.” He nods, patting his pocket.

“Alright. Let’s go.” She slides on the headsets and starts the song before taking his hand.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Joyce was nervously fiddling with the cigarette in her mouth as she waited for Hopper to get off the phone with some kind of news. She hopes it’s good news, she hopes that he’s able to use his connections to get some kind of push in the right direction.

Come on, Hop. Don’t let me down. She soon watches him hang the phone on the receiver, and turns her way. “Did you get it?”

“I got it.” Hopper replies, waving the piece of paper around.

“Got what?” Jonathan interrupted as he entered the kitchen. “Mom?”

“Um–” She briefly looks over at the Police Chief. “We found out where that Terry Ives woman lives. We’re going to pay her a visit.”

“Oh.” He looks between them for a second. “Just the two of you?”

“Listen–” She places her hands on his shoulder. “It would be best if just me and Hopper went alone.”

“Mom–”

“She’s right, son.” Hopper cuts in. “Something big is going on, and it would be best and safe if you and Nancy stay behind.”

“But, Chief–”

“If the lab is really behind this, then it’s better that they don’t know the two of you are involved in solving this, alright?”

As much as he hated to admit it, Jonathan knew he had a point. “Alright.”

“Just… make sure Nancy gets home safe, and stays out of trouble.” Hopper glances over at Joyce. “I’ll get the car started up.”

“Okay.” She says, watching him leave. “Listen–” She pats her son’s chest to make sure he’s paying attention. “If you want to, you can stalk up on ammo for our guns, that’s fine with me. However that’s not an invitation to be going after that thing we saw. Guns are emergencies only. Alright?”

He cracks a small smile. “Alright.”

“Good. And only if Nancy feels up to it. But I have a feeling that she’s not leaving until she gets some answers too.”

“Okay, mom. I got it. We’ll be good.”

“Good.” She says, just before Hopper honked his horn and shouted something incoherently. “Okay. I got to go. Love you, and be safe.”

“I will.” He squeezes her hand real quick. “You too. Be safe.” He anxiously watches her leave, and that’s with him knowing how skilled Hopper is. He knows she’s in safe hands, but still. They still haven’t puzzled all the pieces together yet. Who knows what is still missing and awaits.

“Where did they run off to?” Nancy asked upon entering. She was dressed in her old clothes from yesterday, freshly cleaned, and her brown locks tied back in a ponytail.

“Actually that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” Jonathan says, all business now. “They figured out something last night. Something about the lab and having a connection in all this.”

“The Hawkins Lab?” She gives him a strange look. “What does a research lab have to do with all this?”

He sighs. “I think it’s time to get you up to speed.”

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Strange.

The forty year old science teacher at Hawkins Middle school surely wasn’t expecting any kind of guest today. Nor someone so special like the woman before him. Dressed very nicely, hair done perfectly, and with a bright smile she shared with him why she’s here with much excitement.

“-and we’re making a newsletter, which we’ll send out monthly.” She continues as she hands him over a pamphlet that says: ‘The Indiana AV Club’. “It’ll showcase all the latest equipment, as well as how-to articles, which the kids write themselves.”

His face lights up as he reads. “Oh, that’s neat.”

“What we’re really trying to do here, Mr. Clarke–”

“Uh, please, call me Scott.”

“Scott.” She tests, her smile growing bigger. “What we’re trying to do here, Scott, is to connect kids from all over the state and give them the support and encouragement to pursue careers in technology. We feel these are the kinds of kids that are going to make Indiana proud.”

“I agree, yes.” He nods. “Completely.”

Hook.

“So, you know any kids you think might wanna participate?”

Line.

“Oh, I have a few in mind.”

Sinker.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Dustin is this close to shoving his friend’s head into a wall. He swears, out of all his friends, both Mike and Lucas are constantly fighting for the title of ‘Most Hot Headed/Overexaggerator’. Will was too quiet to ever play peace-keeper, so naturally this role fell on him. But man… after knowing them both for so long, it was really hard to keep the ‘peace’ part of the role up.

“I just... I can’t believe she didn’t come back.” Mike repeated and paced around the basement once more.

“She’s gotta be close.” Dustin tries again to reassure.

“She said it wasn’t safe. She just messed up the compasses because she wanted to protect us. She didn’t betray us–”

Dustin bites his lip. “Mike, calm down.”

“I shouldn’t have yelled at her. I never should’ve done that.”

“Mike, this isn’t your fault.”

“Yeah, it’s Lucas’.”

“It wasn’t his fault, either.”

That got the Wheeler to stop moving around and give a stern glare. “It wasn’t his fault?”

“No.” Dustin said, standing his ground.

“So you’re saying he wasn’t way out of line?”

“Totally, but so were you!”

“What?” Mike scoffs.

“And so was Eleven.”

“Oh, give me a break!”

“No, Mike, you give me a break!” The Henderson jabbed his finger at him. “All three of you were being a bunch of little assholes. I was the only reasonable one. Shit, hate to admit it, but even fucking Steve Harrington was being reasonable. The bottom line is... you pushed first. And you know the rule. You draw first blood…”

Mike shakes his head and throws his hands in the air. “No! No way! I’m not shaking his hand.”

“You’re shaking his hand!”

“No, I’m not.”

“This isn’t a discussion. This is the rule of law. Obey or be banished from the party. Do you wanna be banished?”

Mike crosses his arms and looks away. “No.” He whispers.

“Good.”

“Kids, that boy Steve’s here.” Karen yells from above, the boys perking up with a bit of hope. They waited (im)patiently for him to come down as he strolled in with a new layer of Fall clothes and a tired face.

“Well?” Mike asked, nervously.

“I’m sorry.” Steve said, making them frown. “I walked around those woods for six hours, and then I even waited to see if she would show up at my place. Nothing.”

“Shit…” Dustin mutters.

“Well, thanks for looking.” Mike said, genuinely.

Steve nods in reply, shifting his weight around on his throbbing feet before asking, “How’s Sinclair?”

“We were just about to go check.” Dustin answers first, moving around them both to grab his backpack.

“We are?” Mike asked, confused.

“Yes, Mike. We’re doing this now. We’re going to get Lucas. And then we’re gonna find Eleven. Alright?” He sighs, before looking at the oldest teen. “Steve, thank you for looking, we’ll take it from here.”

Steve straightens out his posture immediately as the kid starts trying to leave without. “Hey, hey, hey–” He maneuvers in front of him, blocking him from the stairs. “This wasn’t a one time thing. I’m staying with you guys.”

“Dustin, come on, man, we talked about this.” Mike said, turning their roles around. His friend’s shoulder sagged and he muttered something under his breath.

Steve takes a quiet inhale before addressing him. “Look, Henderson, I know you hate me, you have every right to hate me, but right now you need all the help you can get.” His jaw tightens. “Not to mention, whoever’s responsible for all this doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty. They’re not going to care that you guys are twelve year old boys. You need me, whether you like it or not.”

Dustin lets out a long, angry exhale as Mike locks his gaze with the older boy.

“Now, let’s go get Lucas, let’s find Eleven, find the gate, and pray that it leads to your sister and Will.” Steve finishes, and the curly haired kid exhales again.

“Fine.” He huffs.

“Good. We’ll take my car. Will go to Lucas’ and then I’ll take us to the woods. Capish?”

“Capish.” They say, as they follow him out of the basement.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

|| THE OTHER SIDE ||

Will looked around the store wondering where they even began. His big doe eyes then turned to the teenager who pushed a shopping cart over to him. “What do we grab?”

“Whatever we can.” Steph says, grabbing a cart of her own with a smirk. “And obviously you don’t have to worry about the price.”

That got him to laugh as they migrated around the store, filling up with stuff they talked about. The teenager found herself starting with certain alcohol that she knew could be considered “flammable”. Some of the numbers were… extremely high and made her question people’s choices (And she thought the whiskey Steve and her drank at the Snow Ball was strong).

Thank god I never drank imported Vodka. She keeps filling her cart up, just as Will comes around the corner with something.

“Hey, hairspray’s flammable, right?” He asks, holding up a can.

“Uh, yeah. It is.”

He hums, taking the cap off and harmlessly spraying the air. “Huh. That’s probably not going to do much though.”

“Probably not.” She says, making him nod and was about to leave when an idea struck her. “Wait.” He stops. “I’m actually getting an idea. Whatever hairspray you can fit in that cart, do it.”

“You know how to build the trap?” He asked, hopeful.

“If I’m picturing this all out correctly, I know this is going to work. But we’re going to need a shit ton of stuff if it’s going to cover the whole place.”

“And where’s that place?”

“Remember that old building with the broken clock tower I took you to?” He nods. “I know that place like the back of my hand. If I’m picturing the trap right I think I know exactly how to set everything up.”

“And we’re going to need a lot?”

“A hell lot.” She hopes her imagination won’t let her down on this one. She starts pushing her cart towards him and heads off for a new one while saying, “Keep grabbing everything flammable, I’m going to get some tools.”

“What kind of tools?” He asked, curiously.

“Basic tools. Hammer, screwdrivers, saw–”

“Saw?”

“Yeah. Saw.”

“What’s the saw for?”

“‘Cause–” She turns around with a smirk. “It’s completely illegal, but a sawing off the front of a shotgun makes the impact more intense, right?”

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Steve stayed a few steps behind the boys as they knocked on the door and awaited their fate; Which seemed dreary when Lucas saw who it was.

“What do you want?” He snapped, and it wasn’t until Dustin slapped Mike in the arm he finally got his answer.

“I drew first blood, so…” He holds out his hand, Lucas’ eyes scanning him head to toe for any signs of a lie.

The Sinclair sighs, thinking it over. “Okay, I’ll shake. On one condition.” He crosses his arms and stands tall. “We forget the weirdo and go straight to the gate.”

“Then the deal’s off!” Mike scoffs, and turns around to leave.

“Fine!”

“No, no, not fine!” Dustin said, stopping Lucas from closing the door.

“Guys, seriously?” Steve said, blocking Mike from taking another step. “Stop acting like you’re six, and talk it out like your age.”

“Come on!” Dustin claps his hands together, tackling this head on. “Do you even remember what happened on the Bloodstone Pass?” He watches his friends stare in confusion and sighs. “We couldn’t agree on what path to take, so we split up the party and those trolls took us out one by one. And it all went to shit. And we were all disabled! So we stick together, no matter what!”

His little speech managed to knock some sense into them, and all seemed hopeful till…

“Yeah, I agree.” Lucas said, and gestured to everyone. “But this is the party, right here. The three of us.”

“El is one of us now.” Mike said, as he got an eye roll for a reply.

“Um, no, she’s not. Not even close! Never will be. She’s a liar, a traitor–”

“She was just trying to keep us safe! She didn’t mean to hurt you. It was an accident!”

He scoffs. “An accident?”

“All right, accident or not… admit it, it was a little awesome.” Dustin said, unintentionally digging a bigger hole in the ground for them.

Lucas blinks (with Steve face palming in the background). “Awesome?”

“Yeah, she threw you in the air with her mind!”

“I could have been killed!”

“Which is exactly why we need her. She’s a weapon!” Mike explains. “Do you seriously wanna fight the Demogorgon with your wrist rocket? That’s like R2-D2 going to fight Darth Vader. We’re no use to Will and Steph if we’re dead.”

Lucas shakes his head, clearly frustrated, clearly fed up. “If you two and Steve wanna waste your time looking for a traitor, go ahead, ’cause I’m not spending my time on her anymore. No way! I’m going to the gate. I’m gonna find them.”

And the door slams shut.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

It took a bit to get up to Bloomington but they made it; That’s all that matters. Hopper parked his car on the gravel driveway, him and Joyce getting out and cautiously moving towards the front door of the residence. It took several knocks until a petite blonde woman answered. She seemed on her toes just like they were.

“Can I help you?”

“Hi, we’re looking for Terry Ives. Does she live here?” Hopper asks.

Her brown eyes darted between them. “Who’s asking?”

“The Hawkins chief of police.” He flashes her his badge long enough to give her a good look.

“And… you want to talk to my sister?”

“Well, if your sister’s Terry Ives, then, yeah, we do.”

She frowns, looking a bit apologetic. “Okay, well, you can come in, but if you want Terry to tell you anything, you’re about five years too late.” She lets him and guides them to the living room. “Terry, you have some visitors.”

Joyce presence herself in front of the woman in the rocking chair, the similarities in their features were enough to tell the Byers that these two were definitely sisters.

“Hello. My name’s Joyce Byers. Uh, this is Hopper.” She begins, the woman turning her distant gaze off the TV towards them. “We drove over from Hawkins. Um, you see, uh, my son… he’s been missing for almost a week now, and, um, we were wondering if we could talk to you about your daughter, Jane? If there’s anything that you could tell us about when she was taken…”

“What was your relationship with Dr. Brenner? You guys keep in touch?” Hopper asked, observing from the doorway carefully.

Joyce fumbles with trying to unfold the picture for a second. “This is, uh... this is him. This is Will. Uh, you may have seen him on... on the news. Uh…”

Hopper casts his gaze to the relative, confused/concerned. “What’s wrong with her?”

“I told you, you’re wasting your time.” She replies, sadly.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

|| THE OTHER SIDE ||

The four shopping carts rolled inside with ease, the duo looking around the place, that long been abandoned in their world, that they found use for. Stephanie nods after a while, the trap she thought of earlier was now fully registered.

“Yep. This is the place.” She said, while slinging the guns off her shoulders and putting them to the side.

“Where do we set it up?” Will asked, still not picturing it like she is.

“Everywhere. Let’s leave no square inch untouched.” She locks eyes with him. “And then we’re going to practice, over and over so we don’t get caught in them. Alright?”

“Right.”

“Good. Let’s get everything out. There’s no telling when the Demogorgon will return.” They’re both running out of time. For their sake, their sanity, they have to find a way out soon or they’re done for. So, thus starts the grueling process of trap making.

Will made sure to listen carefully as she explained what needed to be where – where to pour the gasoline, where to stick the trip wire, where to hide, etc. And they did practice like she said, in one area that was a pool of alcohol and gasoline just below where the broken bell tower stood, she showed him where to step on the bricks in order to not get any liquid on them. It was hard, especially when he knows they’re going to be running instead of walking when the Demogorgon does show up, but damn it to hell! He will not mess this up. He’s going to stay calm and stick to the plan that he wholeheartedly believes is going to work.

Will finds himself setting aside another Molotov cocktail, before looking over at his companion. She was in the zone trying to saw their shotguns in half, which is a very hefty task on hand. The silence was starting to get to him a bit though, and there was still a… lingering question that was bothering him and wanted to ask, but should he? Or was it safer to make something else up? He ponders as he grabs an empty bottle before deciding to just come out and say it. What’s the worst she can do? Say no?

“Hey, Steph?”

“Yeah?” She said, eyes still trained on what’s in her hands.

“I have to ask again, but…” Should he back out? Should he–

“What is it?”

Well, here goes nothing. He takes a deep, quiet breath and says, “What happened between you and Steve?” She immediately pauses her actions, making him shrink quickly, like he was flinching away from someone’s attack. “You don’t have to tell me, I know it’s a touchy–”

“It’s fine. Really.” She meets his gaze. “I think I probably should talk about it with someone. Especially after the whole… floating-mind game I was in. I saw… a lot of memories of him.”

He fiddles with his hands nervously, curiously. “So…”

Stephanie sighs, her face flashing with pain. “I don’t know. One day he just pretended he didn’t know me.”

He blinks. “Really?”

“Yeah.” Her eyes grow distant as she recalls everything. “I remember that day clearly. We would always meet up in the doorways at school, and he wasn’t there that day. Mind you, we were both getting older, more responsibilities were being added onto us; And it was around the same time Steve was really getting into sports, so I thought maybe he was talking to one of his coaches.”

Another sigh before continuing, “Eventually, I found him, ran up to him, and I noticed he looked a bit sad so I asked him if he was okay. He told me he didn’t know who I was.” She catches the boy starting to look as hurt as she was. “I thought at first, maybe he was upset at me over something, so I tried all day to ask him what was up, and when the school day ended he just told me he has no idea who I am and why I’m bothering him and… left. We’ve never spoken again after that. Our… ten years of friendship ended just like that.”

Well…

Jesus H. Christ.

Will had no idea how to respond to this.

“Wow. What a…” He shook his head. “What a douchebag.”

She chuckles dryly. “Yeah, well, he wasn’t always like that. He’s not like what he is now. Trust me.” Then there was a bit of anger in her next words. “I suspected his parents might have threatened him with something to break our friendship. But I don’t know. Could be wrong about that.”

Will gives her a confused look. “What do you mean by that?”

She frowns, but it wasn’t directed at the said teenager. “Let me tell you a bit about Steve. He comes from a line of… rich people. Generational wealth. And due to this they have certain standards. Standards that Steve has to follow to the T.”

He blinks again, thinking. “But…” Another head shake. “But Mike’s family is not like that. I mean I know they’re not as rich as Steve’s, but still.”

“Well, a lot has to do with how Mike’s parents were raised. Not to mention, even though it might not seem like it sometimes, Karen and Ted do love each other in some way. And they really love their kids, and want nothing but the best for them. Tough and nurturing, in a healthy way.” Steph’s frown deepens. “But as for Steve’s, that nurturing and toughness goes a bit differently. Not exactly healthy.”

“How so?” Will asked, on the edge but invested in this tale.

Steph gives it some thought on how she should move forward. She had really only one story that would make sense of it all (or at least it wasn’t as violent as some of the other ones). She sets her stuff down, giving him her full attention now.

“I might have mentioned it to Dustin, or you guys, how I met Steve. Right?” She asks, waiting to confirm.

“Yeah. You said it was school.”

“But I never told anyone the full story. Not even Dustin or my mom knows.” She bites her lip and adverts her eyes for a split second. “Not even Steve knows.”

He tilts his head. “How does that work?”

She takes a deep breath. “It was probably a few weeks before the school year ended, and my class was to make cards to celebrate Mother’s day that was coming up. I remember being really excited about it. I drew my card, school ended and now I had to wait to be picked up. My mom mentioned earlier she might run behind because of work, but no biggie, I didn’t mind waiting.”

She could still picture it, holding her card close and humming a tune to herself as she waited and waited outside in front of the entrance of the Elementary school (The good old days, she calls it).

Stephanie was fiddling with her own hands now as she continued, “Kids started leaving one-by-one, and soon as I was the only one left. Or so I thought. I… suddenly heard this arguing, it was very loud, very terrible sounding, and… curiously I went to check it out, and there he was. Him and his mom. And… she’s yelling at him, telling him how crappy the card was, and how it should’ve been better, or this what he should have done, etc. And–” She swallows, hands tightening together. “Steve’s on the verge of tears, and he’s trying to come up with an explanation for her, and he promises he’ll do better and… um…”

“What?” He says, a bit scared for what was next. Especially when he saw the haunting look on her face.

“She… slaps him. Right across the face. And it was one of those slaps you know it hurt just by the sound of it.” His eyes widened. “Then, she grabbed him by the arm and dragged him back to the car.” She sighs and shifts in her seat. “I was so shocked by it, ‘cause I never witnessed something like that before, so…” She shakes her head with a small groan. “God. I think at first I… I befriended him because it was out of pity, but that soon went away quickly. We became two peas in the pod in just one day. Never, ever alone.”

“That’s…” He was lost for words. “That’s so awful– So wrong. W-Why would they think that’ll make things better?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know.”

“But…” His fingers clenched his pants legs like a nervous tick. “D-Did they do anything else? We’re they always like that?”

Stephanie’s face morphed into total sadness now. “Listen, there’s a lot of stories I can’t tell you about his parents. They’re not exactly… kid friendly, to put it lightly. But yeah, they’ve done a lot of that, and a hell lot more.”

“Jesus.”

“But that’s why we worked together so well, Will. We complimented each other. He had shitty parents, and I was dealing with a shitty dad. We both helped each other navigate around that.” And ain’t that the truth. “But, besides all that negative stuff, he was a great kid. Me? I was a quiet kid, like you. I kept to myself most of the time, but Steve helped me come out of my shell. As for Steve? I helped him live a little, I helped him have a life that his parents never wanted him to have.”

“T-Then they should be grateful!” He says, sitting up straighter, more lively in his seat. “Y-You befriended their son. You were always there for him.”

“Will–”

“You helped him. Why should they be so upset about all this?”

She gives him a pitiful look for his sweet little heart he had. “Because I wasn’t perfect.” Her throat suddenly felt like it wanted to close up. “I wasn’t rich, I was a wild card. I had a sad, workaholic mother who was trying to keep us afloat, and a father that gambling 24/7 to the point we almost went bankrupt. There were a lot of cons in their eyes compared to the pros, which is probably zero.”

Despite the reasons, Will still couldn’t understand. She did nothing wrong! They should be mad at her. “But you were their son’s friend. That shouldn’t matter.”

She smiles just a tad and says, “You’re so sweet. I wish more people in the world could be like you. That’s why…�� How does she cheer him up? “You gotta marry someone who is as kind hearted as you. So the legacy lives on.”

He snorts (Bingo!). “You sound like my mom.”

“Well, she’s not wrong.” She smirks. “But… I’ll tell you something funny about Steve. Maybe you can use it against him since he’s dating Mike’s sister.”

“And what’s that?” He asks, skeptical.

“Guess what his middle name is?”

“Mmm… I don’t know. What?”

She grins. “Steven Grant Harrington.”

“Steven Grant–” He gasps. “Captain America!”

“Yep.” Steph chuckles. “Captain America. I remember when Steve told me his name, I started laughing. He was confused and I told him the truth. At first he was a little mad, but when I explained who Captain America was he seemed cool with it.”

“That’s awesome.”

“If you ever want to tease him, just call him Grant.”

“Oh, I’ll definitely remember that.” He finds himself smiling too and picking back up the empty bottle to continue his work. “My name’s Jacob.”

She perks up. “Jacob?”

“Named after my mom’s father.”

“That’s sweet. I’m Elizabeth.”

“Elizabeth?”

“My mom is a huge Elizabeth Taylor fan. I’m honestly surprised that wasn’t my first name.”

“Where does Stephanie come from?”

“Grandmother. At least that’s what she told me. But who knows? Knowing my mom… she got it off some cheesy magazine about cats.”

That seemed to do the trick for cheering him up because Will broke into a belly laugh that she hasn’t heard in a while. To her, besides “Separate Ways”, this was probably the best music she’s heard in a long time.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

“This is weird without Lucas.” Dustin finally said after a long period of silence in the car. It felt weird, super weird not having all of his friends together at once. It already felt weird when Will disappeared, but now there’s no Lucas? Not much of a group anymore.

“He should’ve shaken my hand.” Mike said, just as Steve scolded him not to put his feet on his dashboard.

“He’s just jealous.”

Mike’s face morphed into confusion as he turned his whole body around to look in the backseat. “What are you talking about?”

Dustin sighs. “Sometimes, your total obliviousness just blows my mind. He’s your best friend, right?”

“Yeah... I mean, I-I don’t know.”

“It’s fine. I get it. I didn’t start going to our school until the fourth grade.” He looks away, not wanting Mike to see the hurt in his eyes. Except Steve did. He caught his gaze in the rearview mirror and frowned.

Damn it.

He forgot Steve knew the reason he didn’t go to public school right away thanks to his sister.

He tries to act tough and tell him off. “I don’t need your pity Harrington, alright?” The tone made Steve break away and Mike give him the strangest look ever again.

Damn.

Damn this situation.

Dustin sighs. “He had the advantage of living next door. But none of that matters. What matters is that he is your best friend.” He swallows. “And then this girl shows up and starts living in your basement, and all you ever want to do is pay attention to her.”

“That’s not true.” Mike reassures him.

“Yes, it is. And you know it. And he knows it. But no one ever says anything until you both start punching and yelling at each other like goblins with intelligence scores of zero. Now everything’s weird.”

“He’s not my best friend.”

Dustin laughs. “Yeah, right.”

Mike sighs, reaching over to tap in the arm to get his attention. “I mean, he is, but so are you. And so is Will.”

“Can’t have more than one best friend.”

“Says who?”

“Says logic.”

“Well, I call bull on your logic, because you’re my best friend, too.”

Dustin notices his genuine expression and smiles, satisfied with the reply. “Okay.”

“Okay.”

“Uh, hey, guys.” Steve interrupts, slowing the car down a little as the past pays a local grocery store. All eyes were on the front, spotting how the automatic doors were shattered and there were boxes of food laying around the parking lot filled with men in blue. “So… I’m assuming that might be…?”

Mike nods. “Uh... definitely. We’re going in the right direction then.”

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

The sister, Becky, brought them to the kitchen table, offering them cigarettes and some water while promising to explain. “She was a part of some study in college.”

“MK Ultra?” Hopper asks, getting a nod.

“Yeah, that’s the one.” She sighs. “Was, uh, started in the ’50s. By the time Terry got involved, it was supposed to be ramping down, but the drugs just got crazier. Messed her up good.”

“This was the CIA that ran this?”

Becky stared at for a second before a small smirk bestowed on her face. “You and Terry would’ve gotten along. ‘The Man’, with a big capital ‘M’.” Another sigh. “They’d pay... you know, a couple hundred bucks to people like my sister, give ’em drugs, psychedelics. LSD, mostly. And then they’d strip her naked and put her in these isolation tanks.”

“Isolation tanks?” Joyce asked after sparing a look with Hopper.

“Yeah.” She nods and stares explaining with her hands. “These big bathtubs, basically, filled with salt water, so you can float around in there. You lose any sense of, uh… sense and feel nothing, see nothing. They wanted to expand the boundaries of the mind. Real hippie crap. I... I mean, it’s not like they were forcing her to do any of this stuff. The thing is, though, is that she didn’t know she was pregnant at the time.”

“Jane.” Joyce whispers, getting another nod. She takes in a sharp inhale and asks, “Do you have any pictures of her?”

Becky paled and made sure they were both listening carefully. “I don’t think you guys understand. Terry miscarried in the third trimester.” Her words were like a knife to their heart, catching them both completely off guard.

“What?” Hopper said without realizing it at first.

“Come.” She says, standing up and making them follow. She takes them to a bedroom, a baby room, filled with a crib, toys, and anything else a newborn needs. “She keeps all of this up. Been doing it for 12 years.” She takes a seat, allowing them to walk around and observe. “Terry, uh, pretends like Jane is real, like she’s gonna come home someday. Says she’s special. Born with ‘abilities’.”

“Abilities?” Joyce asked, confused.

“You read any Stephen King?” Becky asks, surprising them again. She laughs. “You guys look scared, actually. I mean, it’s all make-believe.”

“What... what kind of abilities?”

“Telepathy, telekinesis… You know, shit you can do with your mind. That’s why the big, bad Man stole Jane away. Her baby’s a weapon, off fighting the commies.” She takes a long puff of her cigarette, frowning. “You know, the doctors all say it’s a coping mechanism. You know, to deal with the guilt.”

Joyce locks eyes with Hopper again before continuing, “Do you think there is any chance she could be telling the truth? Ab-About having had the kid.”

“There is no birth certificate, nothing from the hospital. Doctors and nurses all confirm that she miscarried.”

“Yeah, but that could’ve been covered up.” Hopper says, straightening up. “Right?”

Becky smirks again. “Like I said, you and Terry would’ve gotten along.”

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

After Jonathan explained what Hopper had found to Nancy, sure enough, his mother’s hunch was right. The eldest Wheeler needed some answers, and wasn’t going home until she got them. So he took up his mother’s suggestion and decided to stock up on ammo, getting ready for whatever comes next.

“Monster Hunting?” He teased, as they came out of the store with a few boxes. He was poking fun at her response to the clerk asking why they were buying so much, and could help but laugh.

Nancy cracks a smile as she pops the trunk. “You know, last week… I was shopping for a new top I thought Steve might like. It took me and Barb all weekend. It seemed like life or death, you know? And... and now–”

“You’re shopping for shotgun shells with Jonathan Byers.”

“Yeah.” She chuckles.

“What’s the weirdest part? Me or the ammo?”

She gives him a playful look and says, “You. It’s definitely you.” Then their little moment was immediately ruined when someone honked their horn and rolled their window down to shout:

“Hey, Nance! Can’t wait to see your movie.”

The highschoolers laughed as they drove off quicker, stunning them both.

“What the hell was that?” Jonathan asked, as she shrugged. But then it hit her. “What?” She suddenly takes off. “Wait! Where are you going? Nancy!”

It didn’t take long for him to catch up, finding her staring up at the local theater sign. The movie that was playing was called: “ALL THE RIGHT MOVES”, and was followed by a very unpleasant word mixed into her name that was written in bright red spray paint.

“Oh, Jesus.” He mutters, but before he could apply any comfort, she stormed off again. “Nancy!” He followed her again, this time down an alleyway where he saw all the douchebags of high school were standing around and giggling.

“What the hell’s wrong with you?” Nancy yells, getting their attention.

Tommy, the one who had the spray paint can, takes center stage with a cocky look and attitude. “Well if isn’t the star of the show.” His eyes then trail to Jonathan. “And the devil himself. How we all doing?”

Nancy grits her teeth and smacks him across the face, the crowd ‘ooh-ing’ as he takes it like a champ. “What the fuck are you doing? Why would you write that?”

“‘Cause it’s the truth. You… have one fight with your Boyfriend and suddenly he’s not good enough for you, huh?”

“What?”

“What did you say to him? What was so bad that he suddenly isn’t showing up to school anymore? Or…” He jerks his thumb in Jonathan’s way. “How you just decided that the weirdo is better than the King? Come on.”

“Seriously?” Nancy scoffs. “You think I’m the reason that Steve’s not showing up at school? Unlike you, I’ve actually called him and even went to his house, to which he told me specifically that he was fine. Why hasn’t he been showing up? I don’t know! Maybe because he had to attend an old friend’s funeral yesterday?”

Carol snickers and laughs. “The nerd? Stephanie fucking Henderson? You really think those two were ever friends? He just felt sorry for how fucked up her family was and took pity.”

“Yeah.” Tommy says, grinning. “A drug addicted mother, a father arrested for illegal gambling; Two ‘fantastic’ people managed to fucked their own son over and give him all kinds of birth defects and diseases. I’m surprised your family gives them so much pity.”

“W-Wait…” Nancy pauses to try to wrap her head around what she had just heard. “Claudia…” What? “Ms. Henderson isn’t a drug addict.”

“Awe.” Carol pretends to pout. “Looks like Steve’s parents haven’t gotten close to you yet. What a shame.”

“His parents have a lot of dirt on a lot of people.” Tommy said in a sickening way. “Especially the Hendersons. There’s so much that this town doesn’t know about them, it’s shocking. Stephanie has a shit ton.” He chuckles. “God, the Harringtons can bury her to the center of the Earth with all the dirt they have on her.”

Then they all started laughing at the cruel joke it was, and Nancy was ready to go off when Jonathan took her by the arm and started stringing her away.

“Let’s go.” He says, calmly, but the bullies weren’t done yet.

“You know what, Byers? I’m actually kind of impressed.” Tommy says, trailing them. “I always took you for a queer, but I guess you’re just a screw up like your father.” He shoves him forward. “Oh, yeah. Yeah, that fucking house full of screw-ups. You know, we shouldn’t be surprised. A bunch of screw-ups in your family.”

“Tommy, stop.” Nancy hisses, as he shoves Jonathan again.

“I mean, your mom– I’m not even surprised what happened to your brother.”

“Tommy! Shut up!”

“I’m sorry I have to be the one to tell you, but the Byers, their family, it’s a disgrace to the entire–”

And that was the final straw as Jonathan turns around and sucker punches Tommy in the face. It took a brief second for him to recognize he got hit before all hell broke loose. So much so…

That this day ended with one of them in handcuffs.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

The leaves crushed beneath their feets as they continue their trek along the train tracks, occasionally yelling the girl’s name. From where the trashed grocery store was, it laid directly near the forest that they’ve been wandering for a while now – staying in the direction they think she went. It shouldn’t be that hard then, right? Wrong. Going in one freaking direction didn’t seem that bad, but the tall trees didn’t seem to end any time soon. And what if she broke off? What if she went some other way? Then what? How many days will it take for them to comb the area until they find something?

This all feels so… pointless. Steve admits in his thought. I mean, he probably combed at least nothing less than a quarter of forest last night, and he didn’t find anything! Nothing to point him in the right direction. And now, he and the boys actually had a lead and… nothing. Nothing at all. As much as the tiny voice in his head telling him to stop and go home, he knows Eleven’s the only way of finding their loved ones.

And that is if she wants to help us after all this. He frowns, thinking about that. What if they find her and she blows them off? Then what? Do they just truly forget about her and move on? Nah…

He knows that’s not the right answer either. But what if–

“Should we split up?” Mike asked, knocking the teenager back into reality.

“Absolutely not.” Steve immediately says, as they all slow down to talk. “Like I told you guys, whoever’s involved in this is not afraid to get their hands dirty.”

The kid sighs, remembering. “Yeah. You’re right. I forgot…”

“But what if we do?” Dustin said, shrugging.

Steve squares up and stands his ground quickly, prepared for an argument again. “Henderson–”

“No, seriously. What if we do? We can get it done quicker.”

“No. No splitting up.”

“We’ll get done–”

“I don’t care if it’ll get done quicker. We’re staying together. End of story.” Steve finishes, as he starts walking again alongside Mike.

“Then what do you expect us to do, Steve?” Dustin snaps, stopping them all once more.

“What?”

“You said it yourself, you checked the woods last night and didn’t find a thing! And that was just around the junkyard.”

“And your point being?”

“Yeah, man. What’s this about?” Mike asked, confused.

“This place is huge!” The curly haired boy yelled, throwing his arms out. “And you think just the three of us are going to cover it all today?”

Steve blinks, more puzzled by the question than the attitude. “Well… no. Of course not–”

“Then we should split up! Cover more ground.”

“Henderson–”

“Look, it’ll be easy. You continued this way, Mike goes left, I go right, and then–”

“Oh, my god– we are NOT splitting up!” Steve explodes, silencing him. “You can argue with me all you want, but it’s not going to happen. We are going to keep looking together, or you can march your butt straight back to the car and we’re done. Got it?!”

The boys stay quiet, Steve’s flushed face turning normal before walking away, Mike on his heels once more.

Dustin chuckles dryly under his breath. “You’re so useless…”

“What was that?” Steve perked up, slowing down again.

“You’re useless. Here I am having a solution to our problem, and you don’t want to take it.”

The eldest scoffed. “I am not useless. And only turned down your ‘solution’ because it’s too dangerous.”

“So what if it’s dangerous? This whole thing has been dangerous since the beginning!” The boy yells, throwing his hands in the air. “Will and Phanie taking a gun, a girl with real life superpowers, fake bodies, other worlds leaking into ours– this whole thing has been dangerous! So we might as well continue dipping our toes into it!”

Mike cuts in quickly after noticing the tension in the teenager’s form. “Dustin, I know you determined to find Stephanie, but maybe–”

“No, Mike! No ‘Maybes’! We should be taking risks at this point! I mean–” Dustin groans. “God!” He points at the oldest. “You’re so fucking stupid! I-I don’t know how or why my sister ever cared for you. I don’t know why she still cares for you! It’s so… fucking bizarre!”

“Dude…”

His response made Steve scoff again, trying to play it cool. “What are you even talking about? She doesn’t care about me.”

“Oh, yeah?” Dustin said, hands on his hips to look stern. “Well… news flash Harrington, she does. Even after what you did, she still gave a damn about you.”

“I…” What is he going on about? “That’s… that’s not possible.”

“Well, here then!” He digs around into his pocket, and fiercely tosses something at him. “Is that enough proof for you?”

Steve manages to catch it before it hits him in the chest. Expecting something completely different, of course that gold chain with a red pendant catches him off guard. A gift he gave to her many years ago for her birthday… one that she still had.

She… kept this? He was so surprised he didn’t notice Dustin moving past him, beckoning for his friend to follow. Mike hesitates for a second, feeling empathy towards the older teen before he ends up leaving with his head hung low. His thumb brushes over the initials, swallowing hard as his heart clenches at the memories.

“Oh, yeah?” He shouts, turning around in their direction bitterly. “I’m still going to look for Eleven, you shitheads! And you’re going to regret going off on your own!” He doesn’t know why he half expected them to stop and turn around, but it was enough to make him cuss and go another way.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Joyce closed the car door a little more than she should have before covering her face with her trembling hands. This did… not go as planned as they thought.

“Hey…” Hopper interrupts her thoughts, softly.

She sniffles. “What?”

“We’re gonna find him.”

“Yeah, like Terry found her daughter?”

He swallows, subtly, trying to keep it together – to be the strong one right now. “We’re close.”

She shakes her head. “B-But Tw-Twelve years? Twelve years she’s been looking for her and– oh god. Stephanie. W-We… we have to look for her too, and–”

“And then Jane shows up at Benny’s five nights ago, which means we’ve got a chance.” He inhales. “You know what I would give? For a chance? You know what I would give?”

“Hop–”

She was cut off by the sound of his walkie’s static, followed by Callahan’s voice.

[ ‘Hey, Chief, you there? Hey, Chief?’ ]

He fishes it from his side, hitting the button. “Yeah, go ahead.”

[ ‘Yeah, a fight broke out here and–’ ]

Hopper bites his lip. “Cal, I don’t have time for this–”

[ ‘It’s Jonathan Byers.’ ]

Well that stopped him from hanging up. Him and Joyce both froze and looked at each other with confusion.

[ ‘Uh, you haven’t seen Joyce, have you?’ ]

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

After shouting her name for a while, Mike nervously decided to ask, “Don’t you think that was a bit harsh?”

“What?” Dustin glances at him. “Do you think it was?”

“Uh… yeah.” He shrugs. “A little.”

“Well, I don’t.”

“Dude–” Mike stops them both. “Listen, I get it. You’re upset ‘cause he hurt your sister. But you don’t think it’s weird he’s helping us then?”

Dustin tilts his head, confused. “What do you mean?”

“Well…” How does he put this? “I mean, have you ever wondered why he stopped being friends with your sister? Like… did he have a reason for it?”

“Mike–” The warning starts.

“Here me out.” He holds his hands up. “What if he had to? What if he didn’t want to stop being friends but he had too? I mean, if he just broke the friendship because he hated her, then why is he here helping us? Have you ever thought of that?”

Well…

Of course not.

His eyes widened at it, at the slim possibility that there may have been a reason for all this. But just as he says his friend’s name, Mike froze at a sound.

“Do you hear that?”

“What?”

“El!” Mike looks around, hopefully. “El!”

But as the leaves kept rustling around, the sound getting closer, he had waited for the girl to come out from behind the trees and…

Totally not a pissed off Troy and James.

“Hey, there, Frogface.” Troy hissed, popping open his switchblade.

“Toothless.” James grinned maliciously.

“Shit!” Dustin screams, hitting his friend in the arm to make him go. “Run, Mike! Run! Come on!”

The bullies take off after them yelling, “You’re dead, Wheeler. You’re dead, Henderson! DEAD!!”

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Meanwhile, back at the police station, Nancy was waiting impatiently (Both wanting to leave, and wanting the front desk lady take forever to make an ice pack).

“Do you think we’ll be out of here soon?” She finally asked.

“You, yes. Him, no. He assaulted a police officer.” Flo explained, her reply was unsatisfying.

“Well, how long are you gonna keep him?”

“You and your boyfriend have big plans, do you?”

Nancy shakes her head and laughs. “He’s not my boyfriend.”

Flo gives her a look. “I think you better tell him that.”

“What?”

“Only love makes you that crazy, sweetheart.” Flo hands her the homemade ice pack. “And that damn stupid.”

When she leaves the words lingered in her head more than she thought they would have. She has a boyfriend for Christ’s sake! They shouldn’t be making her think too much about her and Jonathan’s relationship…

Right?

“Found some ice.” Nancy says, as she walks up to where he’s sitting – handcuffed to one of the officer’s desks. She smiles, trying to hide the thoughts as he locks eyes with her.

“Thanks.” He says, leaning into the ice pack as she holds up to his bruised side. It doesn’t take a genius to know that something was bothering her, prompting him to ask, “Everything okay?”

“Yeah.” She reassures him, reassures herself. “Everything’s fine.”

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

|| THE OTHER SIDE ||

“Everything okay?” Will asks, as he finishes loading the last of the ammo up when Stephanie reenters the building.

“Yeah. Everything’s fine.” She says, nodding. “Alright, the wire is set around the building. Whatever direction the Demogorgon comes from we’ll know. That should give us a good starting point towards a gate.”

“Right.” Just as he said that, their little decoy light flickered on and off rather quickly. They locked eyes with each other, the girl mouthing, ‘Be Ready.’

“I’m going to check a trap real quick.” Steph says the code word, before disappearing.

“Sounds good.” Will takes a deep breath, reminding himself to stay strong and not stray from their plan. We got this. We got this. It’s going to work, and we’re going home.

He turns away from the open space of the room, facing the wall. His eyes trail to the shotgun hidden by his feet, the light flickering again, telling him to start kneeling to the floor. He felt the hair on the back of his neck stick up, a low growl from somewhere behind him as he acts like he’s fixing the light to stay on. He felt the presence move closer and closer, he could hear the boney fingers cracking open, its face slowly doing the same. Just when he notices the shadow looming overing him, he shouts,

“STEPHANIE!”

The girl suddenly comes out of her hiding spot and slashes the nearest hand clean off. A shriek erupted from the beast, and just before it could retaliate, Will took a shot with the gun – officially starting their trap. Will took shot after shot, while Steph swung the axe into places she could get, ultimately backing the beast into some wiring, evidently knocking it over temporarily.

“Let’s go!” She shouted, and they were off on a run… and soon was the Demogorgon.

Just like they had practiced, they ran across the stepping stones with ease, heading for the stairs as the beast bathed itself in a concoction of liquid death. About a quarter of the way up, she swung the axe high and skillfully hacked some rope in half, her and Will covering their heads with their elbows to protect themselves from the raining shards of glass and nail from the tarp they put up. The Demogorgon shrills again and tries to navigate through the sharp storm.

Will takes a good look back at the girl and asks, “You ready?”

“Yep. Let’s finish this.” She replies, getting a nod and a flash of determination as they continue to run all the way to the top.

The Demogorgon was met with Molotov cocktail after Molotov cocktail, courtesy of the Byers boy, bidding enough time for Steph to slip by to the other side of the tower without falling. With the rope in her hand, she signals the boy she’s done, and switches roles with him. Dropping the axe and taking the hand gun from her side and starts firing. Will takes this chance to move away, grabbing the other end of the rope and begin entangling it.

Their plan was to trip it over the edge, falling back below to the toxic pool – but I guess cutting off its hand seemed to fuel its rage as the tripping technique doesn’t seem to be effecting it like they hope. The Demogoron thrashed its good arm around, managing to nick Will in the bicep.

“Will!” Steph shouts, her worries making her loosen her grip. She almost gets sliced as well, having just enough to react and jump backwards. The rope slips from her hands, her body stumbling into the wall, the beast taking an opportunity to charge. She scramblings out of the way, running to the other corner to scoop up the shotgun they placed there, and fires away.

“Stephanie!” Will yells, scaredly. No. This wasn’t the plan. They need to get that thing to fall or they can’t finish it off. But how? Their tripping plan didn’t work? Come on, come on, come on! Think! What else?

His eyes frantically looked around, they had weapons, they had rope, what else? And that’s when he finally noticed it.

The bell! He mentally gasps, getting an idea. “Stephanie!!” He shouts her name, and starts running to scoop up the discarded axe. “Get as close to the edge as you can!!”

Steph didn’t question it, knowing she didn’t have many options left in store. She starts aiming directly at the face, hoping her shots make it as she stands her ground. If she gets hurt by the Demogorgon, she gets hurt. Trusting her little partner in crime, she kept pelting it until she noticed where its footing was, and took another shot in its mouth. Then, using all the strength she could, she uses the butt of the gun to strike it, its heels dipping right over the edge–

Will lets out a yell of frustration as he swings the axe right into the rope that was holding the bell up. Snapping and dropping almost immediately, it manages to clip the Demogorgon, sending it free falling to the floor. It screams all the way down, the two of them meeting to look at their results. The pair watches as the beast tries clawing the broken bell of its lower half – splashing the alcohol and gasoline around, re-bathing itself in it.

Without muttering a word to one another, Stephanie digs out a lighter, switching it on; No hesitation as she lets it slip out of her fingers. The impact of the lighter caused the place to shake a little, the heat from the flames were so intense that she ended up shielding the boy’s face when it landed.

Its scream turned up by a hundred as they made it down the stairs, carefully avoiding the flames until they came to a safe spot. Sure enough, the Demogorgon was definitely Barbequing now. They could smell the burnt flesh, its discolored blood spilling out, and becoming weaker and weaker, all as they watched with disgust on their faces.

Fill with unexplained rage, Stephanie, who had one last load in the chamber, takes a step forward. Then another… then another… then another, the flames itching to get her too. The Demogorgon’s hand flopped around on the ground in its poor attempts to get her, its mouth opening for one last weak scream–

She sticks the short barrel in the center of it, the shells doing its job as the trigger pops.

Droplets doused her face, letting the gun fall along with its head, the creature officially not moving anymore.

Now they’re outside, the flames still could be seen through the murky stained glass window. The two of them just stared at it, dirty clothes and tired eyes, stomach grumbling from their worked up appetite. However, they weren’t done just yet.

“Just in case?” Will broke the ice first, looking at her with a blank expression that she returns.

“Just in case.” She repeats, before fishing out another lighter. “Care to do the honors?”

He takes it with his bruised hand, flickering it on and watching it for a second before throwing it at the foot of the building. The line of gasoline they poured around it erupted like fireworks, like…

Like it was their grand finale. A big old ‘Fuck You’ to this shitty place.

But despite the wave of emotions, the one of disgust, then nothingness… It soon ended with them laughing and crying of pure relief that they could finally breathe in a place like this.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Steve was this close to picking a fight with a freaking oak tree. He knew he shouldn’t get mad, I mean… Dustin did have a point about splitting up, but he knew he couldn’t risk that. He saw whomever these people were not afraid to get their hands dirty, and couldn’t risk anything happening to these kids but…

Jesus.

Dustin was really pissing him off. But he also wasn’t pissed off? The necklace he threw at him, the very one he gifted to the older Henderson all those years ago, the one he was for sure had been thrown in the trash at this point, was now in the palm of his hand, was fucking taunting him now?! I mean, Steve kept a box of things that he got on his and Steph’s adventures, but that was him. He thought after breaking her heart at school, he was sure that she would have trashed everything he’s given her over the years.

I guess he was wrong about that.

He rubbed his face with his hands, biting his lip as guilt started creeping back. It was guilt about their friendship, but there was also some that came from the boys he decided to freaking abandon moments ago.

Abandon. He just abandoned those kids because he was mad! Them being assholes or not, he should’ve been the grown up here and stood his ground despite if it meant potentially strangling Henderson. I mean what if something happens to them? How the hell would he explain that to their parents?

He completely stops, mentally slapping himself. “God. What the fuck am I thinking?”

Just as Steve was about to turn around and go looking, he heard something. He carefully looks around, starting to think he imagines it until he swears there was a person like shadow casting out from behind a nearby tree.

“Eleven?” He takes a hopeful small step forward. “I know that’s you. I can see your shadow.” That statement was enough to confirm it when the shadow moved slightly and the leaves rustled quietly. “Hey, can you come out? I just want to talk.”

But what did he expect? Just for her to come out and run into his arms? No. Of course not. However she was right there, just four steps ahead, and he’s not losing her this time.

“Listen, I’m not mad, okay? And I’m not just saying that so you can come out. I mean it. And…” How does he word this? “I don’t know why you chose to mess up the compass, you clearly had a reason, a reason I kind of agree with Wheeler, I think you wanted to protect us. Why? From? I don’t know, but I want to know. You have to tell me, you have to tell us.”

Please say something. Or move a bit so I know you’re acknowledging me. But neither of that happens, so he keeps going.

“I promise you, none of us are going to be angry. But you have to understand, time is of the essence right now, we have to find Stephanie, we have to find Will. So…” He knows his voice trembled at the end, but who cares. Maybe the honesty will help his case. “Please. Will you come out? Come out and talk to me? Please, Eleven?”

It’s so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Or in this case…

Screaming.

Steve’s head snapped in the direction of where he just came from, the familiarity of the screams made his stomach drop.

“Shit.” He mutters, looking one last time at the tree before taking off, hoping he isn’t too late for whatever reason they’re screaming for. Him running away was the missing chance of him seeing the girl’s gaze on him with a frightful face, wondering too what is happening to her friends.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

The boys were running out of steam fast. It didn’t take long until their bullies had surrounded them, just off a trail that wraps around the whole quarry. With their stomach turning, and their hearts pounding in their ears, they scooped up any “weapons” they could find for defense.

“Stay back! Don’t come any closer!” Mike said, before chucking a rock at James.

The bully laughed at the terrible aim. “Nice throw, numbnuts.”

Dustin, in one last attempt to fight them off, comes full swinging at Troy with his stick – a complete fail too. Now, he was struggling to break free from his hold, as the switchblade was placed just under his chin, causing him to freak out.

“Let him go!” Mike yells, urgently. “Let him go!”

“Stay back, or I cut him!” Troy snaps.

“What do you want?!”

“I want to know how you did it!”

“How I did what?”

“I know you did something to me. Some nerdy science shit to make me do that!”

Mike almost rolled his eyes at the statement. “You mean piss your pants?”

Dustin, being Dustin, replies with, “Our friend has superpowers, and she squeezed your tiny bladder with her mind.”

“Shut up!” Troy grits his teeth, bringing the blade closer to his face. “I think I should save Toothless here a trip to the dentist. Help him lose the rest of his baby teeth.”

“Let him go.” Mike says again. “Let him go!”

“I’ll let him go, sure. But first... it’s your turn.”

“My turn for what?”

“Wet yourself.”

“What?”

“Jump…” Troy’s eyes gesture to the open water below. “Or Toothless here gets an early trip to the dentist.”

“NO!!” Dustin shouts, shaking his head, trying to wiggle out of the hold. “Stop! No! No!”

“Or I’ll cut him right now!” He continues, the blade now resting right on his lips, causing his hostage to whimper.

Mike shook with anger, but he had no choice. He didn’t want to be the cause of his friend getting hurt. “All right, just hold on!” He says, looking between the bullies as he starts walking away. “Hold on!”

“Mike, don’t do it. I don’t need my baby teeth, Mike! Mike, seriously, don’t!” His friend pleas, but he’s not listening as he gets closer and closer to the edge, stopping just as his toes went past the line.

With his big brown eyes he looks down at the blue water and wonders what hitting that would feel like. The fall was what? 50 feet? 70? Maybe a hundred? Would he even survive this? Would he never see any of his friends or family again? He hears Dustin pleading with him once more, and almost takes a step back, a step back to maybe striking up a deal with Troy; But would he even listen? Maybe jumping really was the only option here, so…

“Troy, I don’t think this is a good idea, man.” James says, a bit scared at the idea, yet his friend blows him off.

“Mike, don’t!” Dustin screams, as Mike takes a deep breath and starts closing his eyes, bracing himself for whatever awaits him below.

“Dentist’s office opens in five–”

This is for Dustin.

“Four!”

I’m sorry everyone.

“Three!”

Say Hi to Will and Steph for me.

“Two!”

Dustin yells his name.

“One!”

Just as Mike lets his foot slip down for the descent he felt himself get yanked backwards by his collar…

Someone else using the momentum to take his place.

He had enough time to stop himself from tumbling to see him plummeting into the Quarry.

“STEVE!!” Mike yells at the top of his lungs, everyone else staring in shock before running over to the edge. Now, everyone present expected to find the teenager’s body crashing into the water, or hear some kind of scream on the way down, yet instead…

They see the teenager panicking at how he found himself stopping in mid air like he could suddenly fly.

“Holy shit.” Dustin said, blue orbs blown wide just seconds before Steve started floating back towards them.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!” The Harrington spewed, limbs frantically moving. He continued his descent up and up, right over the four boys and landing semi-gently on the ground.

“Steve?!” Mike said, surprised (and relief blooming onto his face).

He shot straight up in the sitting position, his hair a mess, his eyes big like saucers, his heart pounding like a never ending drum. What the heck just happened? “How the hell did I…?”

And right on cue, like you could hear boss music play as Eleven was storming over, her red wig gone and dirtied face full of rage. She quickly blew James off his feet, and snapped Troy’s arm like a twig. The boy cried and El told them to go. The two bullies waste no time to leave, their tails tucked between their legs as Dustin eggs them on.

“Yeah, that’s right! You better run!” He yells, a shit eating grin blooming onto his face. “She’s our friend and she’s crazy! You come back here and she’ll kill you! You hear me? She’ll kill you, you sons of bitches. She’ll kill you!”

“You think she would?” Mike asked, half rhetorical, half serious.

He shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe? I was just saying that to scare them.”

“I wouldn’t let that get that far, alright?” Steve says, looking at them with amusement also. “You guys okay?”

“Okay?” Mike says, helping him get up. “Dude, you took my place!”

“Yeah, well, I would do it again if I–” He trails off, just as he notices Eleven’s knees buckling. “Hey– Hey! Eleven!” The boys rush over to the unconscious girl. “Eleven?”

“Is she okay? Why did she faint?”

“She might have overdid it. Eleven? Hey? Can you hear us? El?”

Eventually, She cracks her lids open slowly, finding all the boys hovering over her like she was made of glass. Glass. They shouldn’t be looking at her like that. Not after everything she’s done.

“El, are you okay? El?” Mike said, worriedly.

“Mike...” She sobbed, lip quivering. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? What are you sorry for?”

“The gate… I opened it. I’m the monster.”

“No.” He shakes his head. “No, El, you’re not the monster.”

“You saved us.” Steve said, with a smile. “You saved me. Do you understand? You saved me. Whatever you did in the past, that’s all said and done. All that matters now is what you do in the future. Okay?”

“Okay…” She sniffles and nods. “Okay.”

“Okay.” His expression grows as he sits her up. “Come here.”

She allows herself to grab a hold of him, burying her head in his chest for a sense of comfort. Steve keeps her close, relieved that she’s here, relieved that she’s fine, relieved that she saved their lives. Whatever she’d done is done, now they must move forward and save their loved ones. But for now, they were allowed this one sentimental moment. He soon felt Mike wrapped his arms around them, just before Dustin did it too.

Steve locks eyes with him, Dustin sharing a small smile while mouthing the words ‘Thank You’. Probably for the fact that he swapped places with Mike (Or was there something else beside that?). Whatever it was, Steve copies his expression before ruffling the top of his hat before continuing with the hug.

Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, Lucas found himself hidden in a tree, watching with his binoculars as he spotted the suspiciously familiar vans behind the fence. It took him a moment to realize where he saw those vans. Realizing that he saw one parked outside his house when he left a while ago, he put two and two together right before this situation got worse. He watches as Men in uniform stroll out of the lab, guns in hand and pouring into the vehicles that made their way into the main roads.

His eyes widened and his heart skipped a beat.

“Oh, fuck.”

(TBC)

A/N: Only three more chapters to go for this season! This next one should be a "fun" ride for you all 😈

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oceanfruits-blog · 2 months ago

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Hey! So this is actually decades late, but I’ve decided to get back into it. When I was writing The Cemetery Dance (a byler fanfiction I started forever ago) I moved away and could not find the time anymore, but I want to continue it. Here’s something I wrote for the next chapter for anyone interested. Thank you!

****

“Still hasn’t said much to you?” Lucas asked.

Mike sighed. “No, not really.”

The house was quiet; night had started hours ago. Mike couldn’t sleep; it was rare for him to find a time when his body would relax. Lucas had a blanket draped over his shoulders, curled into the corner of the couch, looking much smaller than he was.

“Won’t talk to me either.” Pellets of rain hit the window. “I just… it has to be them, right?”

Biting his lip, Mike looked down. “I don’t know. I mean, we haven’t seen him in years. What if something else could have happened? What if—”

“Mike.”

He released a breath. “I know. I just thought it was over.”

“I think we all did. For a second, at least. I mean, when Will left, it felt like everything went quiet; like he had taken all the problems with him. I feel bad saying that.” Lucas’s eyes were cast outside. “He’s going to have to talk eventually; I think he knows that too. Maybe we should just give him more time?”

“It’s been four days. I don’t think we have a lot of it left. If they find us—”

Lucas cut him off. “But they haven’t yet, and that’s what we need to focus on. We can’t start freaking out now.”

Mike huffed, the sound devoid of humor. “I haven’t stopped freaking out. I mean…”

He trailed off, his eyes on the coffee table. It was too tall, and the more Mike looked at it, the more he realized Lucas had most likely placed a kitchen table in the middle of the room. On top of it were a few magazines and unused coasters. In the corner of the table was a piece of notebook paper sticking out from under a book titled Washing Machines and the Wars They Cause. The handwriting was familiar, and Mike found himself grabbing it.

“What?” Lucas shifted closer to him.

“Is this yours?” Mike asked. Lucas took the piece of paper, squinting down at it.

“No, I’ve never seen this before.” His eyes moved over it quickly. “What the…”

Mike took it back. The writing was small, but the words “orange lights” were repeated over and over on both sides of the paper. The penmanship started off neat but progressed in an almost erratic way, becoming unreadable by the end.

“Will used to talk about the colors down there. Do you remember that?” Lucas’s voice sounded airy, tipping toward unsettled. “It was one of the only things he’d really say—that everything was cool-tinted. He talked about seeing white lights… would wake up from nightmares screaming about them.”

Mike gripped the paper tighter. “I remember. He always acted like he didn’t know what I was talking about when I mentioned it. Do you think this…”

“I mean, you go through what he went through; there’s no way you aren’t messed up.” Lucas ran a hand over his face. “If he didn’t talk when we were eleven, he’s definitely not going to say anything now.”

Mike placed the paper down. “That’s not an option.”

#byler #byler tumblr #byler fanfiction

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campbyler · 1 year ago

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hi guys!

first of all i loooved the new chapter it’s definitely worth the wait ♥️

i really enjoyed how mike and will barely interacted, at least verbally, and we were more in mikes head the entire time. and ofc the final scene!!! im not gonna lie i expected the kiss and i suspected that they kissed before but it didn’t make the scene less exiting!! my favorite part was probably when the mood shifted from passion to tenderness. it changed smth in me (and it calmed will enough to fall asleep in the middle of the action. i really wanna know what was in his head during this chapter cause boy. wtf r u doing?).

i also want to know what was the reason for stonathan fight?

and who’s will ex and how dare he break wills heart but i think that it will be important plot point so fell free to ignore this part.

and finally…. when is someone going to prey on my neurodivergency and kiss me stupid with “swoon” by beach weather playing on the background? 😔

first of all thank you alya i'm really glad you enjoyed it and feel that way 🤍

honestly i think that might have been part of the reason this chapter was like pulling teeth for me! the lack of Byler Banter™ might have been what did me in. but the kiss definitely helped hehe. it was definitely fun to write, because i knew will fell asleep at the end lol, so Getting there and striking tht balance between the passion and the tenderness and making sure it was paced properly was very difficult, so i'm glad that it paid off! (will fell asleep for a few reasons - one he mentioned in chapter, and one that i will refrain from saying at this time)

but LITERALLY. WHEN!!!!!!!!! IS SOMEONE GOING TO PREY!!!!!!!!!! ON MY NEURODIVERGENCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND KISS ME STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WITH SWOON BY BEACH WEATHER PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS WORLD IS BOTH CRUEL AND UNJUST.

#asks #ch04 #acswy spoilers #anyway remember when we said that will's driving playlist had some easter eggs #<- swoon was one of them

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id-rather-be-home · 6 months ago

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Byler omegaverse thoughts: the one a/b/o byler fic I absolutely loved was dirty rain, I think it’s been deleted now but I wish I had downloaded it/ it get reuploaded or at least knew why it got deleted since it did have almost 40 chapters. Everything about it was sooo good and I feel like people NEED to know abt it if they don’t already so here is why I love this fic: Mike walking around in the middle of the night the same night Will came back to Hawkins because of Wills scent, the slight age gap between the two, protective Mike when Will started school again, Mike courting Will and scenting everything he gives him, their desire for each other being so strong even before Wills first heat that they end up grinding against each other multiple times because Mike refuses to hurt Will since his body isn’t fully ready yet, when Wills first heat does happen he chooses to stay at Mikes house instead of his own because the scent of Mike calms him, during their first time (I think) Mike lets Will bite his neck even though it’s seen as a bad thing in society for alphas to have claim marks, Mike also claiming Will by biting him but being so careful because he knows Will has trauma related to his neck and also biting all his other scent glands if I remember correctly, and finally Mike making sure Will eats and stays hydrated in between the times when Wills heat isn’t spiked high I could honestly go on forever talking about this fic bc I love it so much and I never see anyone mention it which is 😢

side note: I recently saw the anatomy chart of a male omega and the science/anatomy college side of my brain has so many questions relating to the technical side of things bc I love combining what I’m learning with fantasy to help me understand concepts better but this is already so long and I think the answers to them will differ between different authors so I’ll save you of them

i’ve never heard of that fic and if it has been deleted that is actually a whole tragedy! i believe that i have read every a/b/o byler fic that is there (at least on ao3) and i haven’t ever come across dirty rain. and after just googling it, i’m pretty sure it’s been deleted since all that came up was “deleted byler fic” so 😔

it sounds like it has so many aspects that i love too! i’m a sucker for mating fics where they claim one another and bond - it’s usually so sweet! and it’s even better when there’s a taboo thrown in with an omega claiming an alpha but their alpha wants their mark regardless

i guarantee that it would be talked about a hell of a lot more if it was still available! hopefully the author may decide to post it again one day

also! the anatomy of alphas and omegas is such an interest of mine as well! especially male omegas and female alphas, particularly because it goes against the binary biology that we have in real life so there’s so much that can be explored. if you ever want to talk my ear off about a/b/o biology PLEASE feel free i would love it!

#byler #spicy byler #answered 💌

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problematicbyler · 11 months ago

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well I for one enjoy your preferences and look forward to every version of will being laid out and ravished that you put out 🥰

tbh. I admire and appreciate how you stay true to what you do like and don't write or change your ideas/preferred dynamic to appeal to anybody around you or audiences! i think the only time I wondered if that happened was the one chapter in illicit affairs that wasn't bottom will, but i wasn't in the fandom back when it was posted and wasn't up to date. but i can kinda see why it went that direction!

basically i've just seen fic writers caving happen in my other fandoms before and it would feel forced and i always feel bad for the author, because as a writer you want to be proud of your work and writing what you like yknow!?

i admire you as an author though and the honesty about what you like! I like seeing u have fun with it <3

Thank you so much!

I definitely feel like - it's fanfiction, it's supposed to be fun and self indulgent, so why would I spend the time and energy writing something I don't personally like or want to write??? Everyone can have their own preferences.

I'm certainly not limited to bottom!Will both in reading and writing fic. As you mentioned in illicit affairs, there's a bottom!Mike scene. That definitely wasn't external pressure - I just headcanon them as switching but leaning toward bottom!Will so that was me expressing that aspect of their relationship. Plus that fic was so much about sexual exploration and experimentation so it almost would have felt odd to me for them to not even try it! It just felt natural to that version of the characters! There's always top/bottom discourse, but I rarely let it sway me or bother me because everyone can have their own preferences and ideas and I don't care as long as it's Byler in all of their sappy, nerdy glory.

I did actually have a few bottom!Mike fics I never ended up finishing that I might revisit one day (including an omegaverse/omega Mike fic playing with gender roles etc), but for now I have Real Life Responsibilities (ugh) before I can even get back to When I Kissed The Teacher, let alone working on other WIPs.

Thanks for the ask!

#spicy byler #byler #illicit affairs #anonymous #ask

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bookinit02 · 10 months ago

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just read the episode seven script. HOLY FUCKING SHIT DUDW

there is . so much. SO MUCH i want to say about it. so many great moments. oh my god. final girl karen wheeler my QUEEN. and the camp scene at the end, witg all the reunions- mr. clark!!! lucas and his parents!!! KALI!!! god im SO EXCITED to see what you do with kali man, i loved that part of season 2 and kind of hated how she was just...never mentioned again... and seeing her in your season 5 makes me so happy!!!!

and now to scream about byler.

*deep breath* .. ASJFBFKFNWIJDKDBFJFBIDBDJD DHHDJDVDJDBDJDHD HEHVDJDBDKDHDIDBJDBDJDBEJEHDJ

HOLY SHIT!!!! THE LETTERS. TYE FCUKGIN LETTERSSSSSZSSS. THAT. THE. MIKE. READING THE LETTER TO WILL. "i dont know how to love people without hurting them" DEAR GOD. AND THEY FINALLY KISSED!!!!!!! IN THE RUINS OF CASTLE BYERS!!!!! AND IT LITERALLY FUCKINNG RESTORES THE UPSIDE DOWN!!!!!! LIKE FUCKING MLP TWILIGHT SPARKLE MAGIC POWER STYLE!!!! HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!

also on that note . i loveloveLOVE how you did the hive mind flashback to before henry showed up, i LOVE the notion that the upside down wasnt always creepy and evil and thats all henry's doing, i LOVE the demodogs and demogorgons being real, sympathetic creatures rather than these mindless drones for the Good Guys to kill. doggie!!!! theyre just doggies!!!! im!!!!!!!!!

clears throat. anyways

YES final girl karen wheeler!! i am so glad everyone is starting to care about her as much as i do bc i have had this plotline in my head for over a year now🥹

actually. confession! karen’s plot was like 80% of the reason i decided to do a script at all, bc i had such a solid s5 vision in my head for her but i couldn’t figure out how to work it into a byler-pov fic. i was thinking about doing separate related ficlets originally, but then i got even more ideas, and the scripts were born!

and yeah, i’m super excited about all the reunions!! i was going to wait for the finale until some of them, like mr. clark, but i figured i’d just get them all done in one big reunion extravaganza. the plan was always to include kali somehow—i want to make sure i close out the arcs of all characters in the show, like terry and the police, etc! and el needs her sister back💗

i’m glad you liked the letter scene :) it’s one of my favorites, and i’m very happy with how it turned out.

thank you so so so much for the comment about the hive mind (and for your notes on the fic as well)! i know that understandably this chapter got overshadowed very much by byler, but the restoration/decolonization of the upside down is a really important theme to me, and i’m looking forward to writing it out. especially because (and i could be wrong about this) it’s not a route that i necessarily see the duffers taking, and i wanted to be able to do it justice.

thank you for the comment!!!! sorry for the long reply, i just woke up from a nap and apparently i had a lot to say😭

#asks #script comments #script spoilers #thank you!!💗🫂

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androcreates · 2 years ago

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Ordinary Superstar (wip)

Hello. I’m currently writing a longform Byler fic. I’m on chapter 4 and about 16k words in, with a lot of content I still plan on writing, but I did want to share a short section from a chapter to gauge response (and show what I’m working on.) Please let me know what you think, and I hope you anticipate when the fic is finally completed.

The library was silent as usual as Will read. His copy of Alan Turing: The Enigma sat squarely in his palm, only a few pages left before he was done reading it. The sense of melancholy sat on his shoulders as the ending drew near, and fruitlessness filled him as he read the final sentences.

Alan Turing’s body was cremated on 12 June 1954 at the Woking Crematorium. His mother, brother, and Lyn Newman attended the ceremony. The ashes were dispersed in the gardens at the same place as those of his father. There is no memorial.

The words There is no memorial. struck Will hard, and it caused him to put the book down with a huff of exasperation. He knew the ending of Alan Turing’s life, but reading about it once more made him angry. He rarely felt anger, often aware enough of what actually caused him discomfort to manifest in himself. But, sometimes the anger could creep up on him, like a shiver going up his spine and spreading in his bones. He liked the book, but he didn’t want to think about it anymore.

Will stood and made his way to the front desk. Mrs. Waldon sat at her desktop, her typing the loudest thing about the library. When he got close, she noticed him, and she gave Will her attention.

“Well, hello Will Byers.” Mrs. Waldon gave a cheery smile, and Will returned it.

“Hi, Mrs. Waldon. Sorry to interrupt.”

“No need to apologize, I’m always happy to talk about literature with you.”

Will set his copy down on the counter, and she looked at it. “I just finished the biography of Alan Turing.”

“Incredible biography.” She took the book and looked it over as she continued speaking. “So glad younger people like you can still take an interest in world history like this."

“Yeah, it was a really good read.” Will didn’t bother mentioning the end of Alan’s life, they both knew how that went. “But, now that I’m finished reading it, I wanted to know if you had any other suggestions.”

Mrs. Waldon’s eyes lit up. “I do! Just give me a quick second to see if it’s available for borrowing.” She went back to tapping before returning to Will. “Yup, we got it. I recommend you read Autobiography of an Androgyne by Earl Lind.”

“An androgyne? Like someone who’s androgynous?”

“Precisely. It was written in 1918, so you can imagine the sort of significance it held then as well as today.”

Will nodded along. “Sounds interesting, I’ll check it out.” He reached out for the copy of Alan Turning: The Enigma. “I’ll take that back for you, Mrs. Waldon.”

“Thank you, Will Byers, have a good rest of your day.”

Will walked away as she began typing again, walking through each corridor of library shelves to get to the correct section. He traced his fingers against the spines of the books in front of him, searching for the proper place for the book in his hand. When he found that place, he gently slid the book in, showing the respect it deserves.

His fingers continued to travel, scanning each of the names on the spines until he found the copy of Autobiography of an Androgyne. Will picked it up, studying the book. The edges and pages were crisp and clean, like it hadn’t been held in a long time. It smelled antiquely and Will felt trepidation while holding it.

Will flipped it over, reading the summary of the book, and before long, Will began reading. He sank down to the floor, sitting criss-cross as he became enraptured in the new book, forgetting about the items he left at the table he once was at.

Reading came naturally to Will, and biographies of all sorts made it even easier for him to get caught up in the whirlwind of literature. He made sure to delicately turn each page, and his eyes moved swiftly across each page.

Will is almost pulled out of his reading when two pairs of legs begin shuffling around him. He can hear the pair talking, but he’s too engrossed to comprehend what they are saying, but he determines he’s not in their way.

Eventually their talking morphs into bickering, and it becomes too much for Will to endure. He stands, and gets a look at the couple, and is startled to see Mike Wheeler, alongside him, Angela. He sees a book in Mike’s hand, the boy talking to Angela. Angela gives Will a disgruntled face as she notices him finally standing, causing Mike to end his sentence.

Mike smiled at Will. “You’re Will, right?”

The last time Will had seen Mike, he had made no concerted effort to talk to Mike. Truthfully, he figured it would be the last time he would interact with Mike, unless El somehow invited Mike to properly meet Will. Seeing him with a smile on his face, juxtaposed with his girlfriend’s which was filled with annoyance, made Will nervous.

“Yup, yes I am.” Will stuck a finger in his copy of the book, folding it closed to keep his place.

Mike smiled again, and Will decided he had a nice smile. “Sorry, if we were bothering you. We were being kind of rowdy.”

“No problem at all, I shouldn’t really be sitting on one of the floors of the aisles.”

Before Mike can respond, Angela interjects. “Agreed.”

Will can only give a flat smile at her response, while Mike gave her a knowing look. Before he could continue the conversation, Will left the couple, returning to the table he originally sat at. After hearing the stories about Angela’s attitude from El and Max, Will knew the best course of action was to leave her vicinity.

When sat, Will checked his watch. He had 15 minutes left before lunch ended, and that was sufficient time for him to finish the section he was on. He opened the book once more, finding the line he stopped at.

Will didn’t get to continue his reading. Instead, a person sat next to him, immediately starting a conversation with Will.

“Sorry about Angela, she can be prickly around new people.” Will begrudgingly put the book down again, finding Mike in the nearby seat.

Will fought the urge to answer snarkily, to say she’s prickly around everyone. He decided to act like he understood. “It’s fine, really. I recognized my part in it too.” Will nodded, a flat smile on his face as the two sat in silence for a short moment. Will didn’t like silence with Mike. “Was that all you wanted to say?”

It was like Will brought Mike out of a trance. Mike blinked and stuttered. “Uh, n-no, I guess I just wanted to talk to you.”

Another silent moment. “What about?”

Mike smiled at Will. “What book are you reading?”

Will was surprised at where the conversation headed. He showed Mike the cover. “Autobiography of an Androgyne. It’s really interesting so far. Have you heard of it?”

It’s like a light brightens in Mike’s eyes. “Yes, I have! That’s a great read, I’m glad you’ve been enjoying it.”

Will thinks about what El told him, how Mike is a writer, and he decides to lean into it. “Are you a big reader?”

“Absolutely.” The words fall out of Mike easily. “Reading is one of my biggest hobbies, aside from writing, I’m like, always carrying a book.”

“You are?” Mike nods. “Well, what are you reading now then?”

“I’m reading Lie With Me by Philippe Besson. It’s this great romance novel based in France, it’s actually been really inspirational to read.” Will can’t help but to watch Mike’s lips move a mile a minute, enjoying the fervor coming from Mike. “You should read it, I highly recommend it.”

“Eh, I’m really into biographies and autobiographies right now.”

“Hence Androgyne.”

“Yeah.” Mike smiles at Will, and Will smiles back this time.

There’s another moment of silence. “Sorry, again. For interrupting your reading on like, two separate occasions.”

“It’s no problem.”

Will can’t help but to stare into Mike’s eyes, but before he can be embarrassed by his actions, the school bell rings. He stands up quickly, grabbing his belongings in a rush to leave the library on time.

“Well, it was nice talking to you, Will.”

Mike has a hand out to Will. Will reaches out and shakes it. “It was nice talking with you too, Mike.”

Their hands release and Mike is the first one to leave. “I guess I’ll see you around then.”

Will notices Mike lick his lip, and before he can respond in turn, Mike leaves. Will remembers what time it is, and hastily returns his copy to its rightful place, hoping he won’t be late for his next class.

#byler #byler fanfic #byler wip #wip #fanfic #fanfiction

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kaypeace21 · 3 years ago

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The 3 monologues of Dustin, Mike, and Chrissy’s (theory)

So in a lot of films said to inspire s4: they have at the beginning of the film - a play, musical number, etc -that foreshadow future events of the film, or give us insight into the psyche of said film characters. So I think that’s where the bts pic showing monologue performances comes into play. if we do see monologues it may be a quick montage of the 3 monologues- with the most prevalent lines being shown.

1) Mike’s monologue-perhaps is Antonio’s monologue from ‘12th night” (shown on the bts monologue-poster )

Antonio is gay/in love with sebastian. His monologue is about being in love with Sebastian and going to a treacherous town to be with him, and feeling betrayed and wrongly assuming Sebastian doesn’t want to be friends anymore .

Antonio's monologue referencing his love for Sebastian:

“His life I gave him and did thereto add my love- without retention or restraint. All in his dedication; for his sake , did I expose myself. Pure for his love, into the danger of this adverse town.”

cough Mike going to Cali to see Will, which ends up being dangerous.

Sebastian - also has a female twin (both of which are mistaken for each other due to their resemblance, cough Willel). Antonio is very forward with his feelings to Sebastian, but it almost always comedically goes over Sebastian's head. Which after Mike initiated every byler moment- but then in s3 is like "i love el" "not my fault you don't like girls". I couldn’t blame Will for dismissing anything from Mike as him "over-reading ' the situation.Literally in one s4 movie this was a comedic-bit too. Sebastian also cries over missing Antonio (which he himself deems as “effeminate”) to do. Cough-Will’s “boys don’t cry “ poster- which is a gay anthem. 12th night is a very queer coded shakespeare play. We have Antonio loving Sebastian. But, we even have a plot point of a girl thinking she loves sebastian's female twin (dressed as a boy/pretending to be her brother sebastian). Cough like mike being into El when she looked like a boy/Will (sebastian)

Also, historically, quite a few people tried to "no-homo" Antonio as just loving sebastian as a friend... which... if that doesn't remind you of byler XD

I suppose they may go for the more cliche romeo & juliet- since s4 posted the “what is in a name “ quote where ( juliet describes how she loves Romeo despite his family drama- using a metaphor of a rose ). Which may work given the rose imagery of the creel's and their problematic family dynamics- paralleling the byers. But I like the former possibility more- especially cause most scholars agree romeo & juliet weren’t in love- but just young kids who foolishly thought they were in love after a few days (cough m*leven). And it's implied romeo was actually using Juliet as a rebound to Rosaline (juliet’s cousin, who rejected Romeo before hand and who physically resembled juliet).Not to mention how shakespeare didn't believe in "love at first sight" like r&j. Shakespeare in every play that had "love at first sight" always had the relationship end poorly. And shakespeare instead believed in the concept/ trope of - not realizing you've been in love with someone you've known for a long , until a great separation occurs. Cough byler.

2)Dustin’s possible monologue from -hounds of baskerville . The quote he says in the teaser is from ch 3 , where in said chapter -Holmes also gives an interesting monologue....

”The devil’s agents may be flesh and blood. There are 2 questions... whether any crime has been committed at all. The second- what is the crime and how was it committed. If we’re dealing with forces outside the laws of nature, there is an end to our investigation. But we are bound to exhaust all our hypotheses before falling back on this one.”

Essentially fits my theory that maybe - the real “devil’s agents”/ bad guys are ‘flesh &blood ‘ humans (like some fathers in the show). And the lines about whether a crime was committed or not could be foreshadowing of chrissy’s death being faked - and her ‘death’ fueling the false satanic panic. Similar to in the novel, the (fake) hellhound death curse -being spread by real human villains, to cover up their horrible deeds. We may soon see the real devils are humans. Especially if Chrissy’s disappearence was caused by her trying to fake her death to escape her ab*sers (and later ending up at penthurst). The same goes for them investigating the supernatural happenings of the creels- if it’s just supernatural nonsense, like Holmes said the “investigation is over”. But if not.... there’s more to this that the Hawkins crew need to investigate (aka what was the crime? And what’s the explanation for this rumored supernatural phenomena?) - aka maybe Will subconsciously creating the creels and others via his powers and tra*ma. Which may be revealed in s5.

Also Brenner’s actor’s post alludes to this concept of the real monsters being humans. Similar to Holmes quote.

*this book ref could just be a minor demodog eastergg, but i think it’s possible he is in theatre. Dustin wore a theatre shirt in s1, so it’s possible foreshadowing. Plus, in the rebel robin novel-robin was in theatre & went to a roller-rink. And we already see both set pieces for s4 (for different characters). And since Dustin was never shown to be into sherlock before- maybe the fact he's quoting him has to do with playing him in a monologue for drama club.

3) Chrissy’s monologue - Nina’s from “the seagull” (shown on the bts poster)

The monologue is of a girl describing her ab*ser, herself as a seagull , her mental health, & being a poor actress... the pain on stage would be Chrissy’s actual pain rather than simply acting. Chrissy and Nina are also nicknames for Christina.

In the st book rebel robin- robin during a play audition - relates too much to her character. And she's starts having an anxiety attack on stage (which everyone perceives as great acting /being in character). Then she passes out- i wonder if something similar happens?

The context in the play: Konstantin shows up to give Nina a gull that he has shot. Nina is confused and horrified .Trigorin sees the gull that Konstantin has shot and muses to Nina on how he could use it as a subject for a short story:

"The plot for the short story: a young girl lives all her life on the shore of a lake. She loves the lake, like a gull, and she’s happy and free, like a gull. But a man arrives by chance, and when he sees her, he destroys her, out of sheer boredom. Like this gull."

The seagull motif reminds me a lot of Jonathan’s rabbit-hunting story. It’s also a parallel to El - whose papa tried to make her k*ll a cat. And reminds me of how Billy was free and happy like the seagulls at the beach-before his dad corrupted him. In fact when El is in Billy’s positive memories - we see seagulls . And possibly a seagull painting next to Jonathan -when at Lonnie’s.The k*lling of an animal for Chrissy, El, and Jonathan is probably indicative /symbolic of paternal ab*sers destroying their childhood innocence.

#byler #mike wheeler #will byers #dustin henderson #el hopper #jonathan byers #stranger things theory #monologue

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sirendoesomestuf · 2 years ago

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C’est La Vie, Says The Old Folks, It Goes To Show You Never Can Tell - Phase One // Byler x Doctor Who //

ok so basically this is the first ‘chapter’ (they are very short chapters, im putting this all in one ao3 chapter) of my byler doctor who crossover fic that i’m about halfway done with maybe. since i have adhd i know that it will probably take a while to get done so i decided to share the first chapter on here because of reasons i myself do not know lmao.

basically the plot is: wills a time lord, mikes immortal, they are professors at moon college. have fun.

this is obviously not all what i have done, i have like 9k words so far, so maybe i’m not halfway done yet. i just felt like sharing this

tw- mentions of death and seppuku

——————————————————

Chapter 1- The Calm Before the Storm

Riiiiinnnngggg

Riiiiiiinnnnnggggg

Riiiiinnggg-

"Professor Byers from the arts department, how can I help you?"

"It's about Wheeler."

"What did he do this time?"

"He's being put on no-pay suspension for the rest of the month."

"For what?"

"For committing seppuku in front of a lecture hall full of freshmen."

"That's just what Mike does."

"Professor Byers, please do not encourage your husband's behavior."

"He gets better every time!"

"His immortality should not change the fact that he is regularly traumatizing new students."

"Well, some of them are psychology students aren't they?" There was a pause from the other end.

"I-I do not see how that could change anything."

"I think it gives them a very good insight into the trauma of seeing a dead body." The other line was silent for about a minute.

"Professor Byers, you cannot be serious. For one this was not one of his psychology lectures, but one of his Anthropology ones." Mike, seemingly after he learned the true species of his beloved, became a slight overachiever.

"And he committed seppuku? What was this lecture about?"

"We're not completely sure to be honest." Will sighed.

"Where is he?"

"We sent him home." Where Mike would get a dirty look from Will, a list of chores they need done--the study really needs a good going through--and a grocery list. Will sighed.

"And...what do you expect me to do about this?"

"Talk to him?"

"What should I say to him?" The other line stayed silent. Will leaned back in his chair.

"I have an appointment soon; I have to go." That was a lie. This wasn't the first time Mike had killed himself in front of other people--hell, this wasn't the first time Mike killed himself in front of students. These days Mike is never careful if he's the only one in danger. Will can't blame him--why would you be careful if you came back to life 4 minutes after you died every time. Will hung up the phone. He worries about Mike; Will has no idea if the day will come when Mike doesn't wake up and that scares him--the idea of their lives together ending before the end of time itself.

Needless to say, when Will came home, he and Mike had words.

Will found Mike lying on the dining room table. They didn't live in a house--they lived on the moon, it's not like they had the space to. They lived in what was essentially a dorm with multiple rooms. Mike was nose deep in a book titled 'The History of Honor in Medieval Japan', a very ironic book title. Will slammed the door and stared at him. Mike blinked and had an expression that screamed 'I did something wrong; I know I did something wrong, and I am not sorry for it.'

"Mike, you have to stop doing this!"

"Why?"

"Because eventually they're not going to put up with your bullshit and you're going to get fired." Will put his bag down on the couch.

"So......I'll just go full time with the Ops!"

"Oh yeah! That's a great idea!"

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"Because The Master is still after me, which means he could be after you, so forgive me for being a bit worried about you going full time on special ops missions for the Galactic Federation without me!"

"I've gone on them before! Why are you always so worried about me?"

"Because you're still human, and humans are fragile."

"I'm immortal, I come back to life every time I die!"

"But what if you don't! What if you die someday and you don't come back?! What am I supposed to do then?" Mike sat up and swallowed.

"You...you'll manage. You managed before."

"Because I knew you were still alive Mike!" Mike stayed quiet. "Mike. I love you. So much. I can't live without you."

"And you think I can? Do you have any idea how hard it was when you were on the run and I wasn't with you? Two hundred years and the only person I had was Professor Song!"

"I didn't want The Master to know who you were!" The human got off the table and went over to his husband. Mike cupped his face and kissed Will's forehead.

"Alright. I'll be more careful."

"You fucking better." Mike smiled.

"I promise!" Will smiled back.

"So no more killing yourself in front of your students?" Mike looked away and Will could hear a little laugh from him.

"Yeah."

"Thank you." The two hugged. After a couple seconds Will pulled away.

"I'm still mad at you."

"I figured."

"So you know I'm gonna make you get the groceries and clean out the lining closet?" Mike sighed but nodded. Will grinned. "Thank you~" Mike let out a breath and smiled. He stole a kiss from Will.

"I made dinner."

"Are you trying to bribe me?"

"Nooooooo...." Will giggled.

"What did you make?"

"TV Dinner." Will grinned.

#byler #stranger things #fanfic #fanfiction #doctor who #crossover #byler fic #will byers #mike wheeler #will be posted to ao3 when finished #unfinished #doctor who au #tw death mention #byler au

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yousaidyes · 4 years ago

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how are you? have been drinking water? anything happen thats semi interesting? i suck at convos lmao, but yeah!! also any progress on HOT (i cant with that name-)- 🌈 anon

um, at this point i barely even am, anon. 😭 thank god the weekend is here because lmao i was on my last fucking legs. i hate my job. i hate formal suits. i hate board rooms. i hate black coffee. i hate pretending im a normal human being! my antisocial-depressed-anxietyridden ass is missing student life like hell. i wanna go back to colleegggeeee 😭 and nope, haven't been drinking any water. istg there's black coffee running in my veins. anywho. enough whining. it's a weekend and i'll damn well make sure to live the fuck out it. i'll drink lots of water and roam around naked in my room and read byler meta and stalk people on instagram. yes, this was my life before.

anything interesting? oh god yes! i made out with my best friend of nine years *screams* 😂😂😂 the only highlight of not only this week but the whole year. 💀 well, save for the fact that i wrote a fic this year *screams even louder* which reminds me…

ughhh i can't with that name either it makes me blush 😂 sadly there's not much progress plotwise. i was packed with work. didn't get the time. and when i did… instead of writing more i made another outline for the third chapter like an idiot. :) but it did help me realize some things:

first, it's going to be one long ass chapter. like i've only just written the starting scene and it's already more than 3k which was… the avg length of previous chapters??? and if we add that to the middle portion and the ending scene i'm already done writing… it's 6k???? so like???? it's because these shitheads have stopped listening to me and are doing their own thing and using me to make it happen. blame them! i swear it's like trying to herd a pair of chaotic kittens. cute and soft and fluffy little kittens but also evil as fuck! so i have no choice but to give up and let them guide me. can't help thinking of the time it was only supposed to be a oneshot with a 4k smut scene lolol

second, it's going to be full of action. no more of mike sitting idle, no more of zoning out, no more of flowery thoughts. i wanted to make it fluffy like the rest of the fic but when i tried to do that, none of it sat right with me. and then i realized… the graph is changing with each chapter. while mike was totally lost in his head in chapter one and both absorbed in his thoughts and aware of his surroundings in chapter two, he's gonna have to be in full control now; not only of his actions but also his thoughts. bc there are some things – some facts he isn't allowing himself to acknowledge until it's the right time. which is a challenge for me to achieve bc those facts are practically impossible to avoid while writing. 😭 he's such an idiot. 😩 but i suppose it's unfair to put that on him since it was my idea. 💀 i guess i just never expected him to take me so seriously but then he did and now im in deep shit.

third, i have to get over my shyness with the word “dick” otherwise this whole fic is going to shit and we're all screwed. :) i thought of using a substitute for the word like chicken nugget or something (a writing tip i saw on a writeblr) but that just made it worse. and yes i know smut can be written without mentioning dicks just fine but no! i love it sm when it's mentioned in the fics i read. i wanna give back what i like receiving, damn it! fuck it if im a pussy about it. dicks dicks dicks! there.

#this is sooooo long #sorry #like i said i have no concept of word limit #and this week was difficult #heads or tails?#asks

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jack-kellys · 6 years ago

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thank u, next: finale part 1

hey everyone ;)

thank u, next is finally back and this thing I wrote is so long that it's TWO PARTS LONG!! isn't that EXCITING?? (it's only two parts because tumblr won't let it fit but it's fine)

all previous chapters are at the bottom of my masterlist—read for a refresher if ya need lmao it's been a while

here we go!

————

LAST TIME ON TU,N: al and race had their first date, al revealed some of his history, both boys admitted they loved each other (essentially), and race mentioned something about needing to stall....

words: 1527

warnings: cursing, death mention, cliffhanger?? :0

———

Five, Part One

“I think it’s ready.”

Race tilted his head to face his boyfriend as he said this, hands placed neatly over his stomach as he laid on the bed. Race’s quiet demeanor was misleading, as usual—a storm was roaring inside, a hurricane spinning and making his chest tighten in apprehension.

“What’s ready, Al?” Race asked.

Albert turned his head to the side as well, gazing at Race with a new light in his eyes. His smile was so wide and endearing that it nearly broke Race’s heart.

“The apartment, stupid,” Al scoffed. “We fixed it up, cleaned it, I got all the papers ready, my stuff’s all ready…” Al grinned. “I’m ready to move into it.”

And then Race’s heart did break.

Al looked so, so happy. Race knew that for Albert, getting his own place was a bigger milestone than it already would be for the average person. It meant something more than just a second floor apartment—it was a freedom Al had longed for since he was twelve, he'd said. A freedom that would rip whatever freedom Albert currently had away from him.

“You sure, baby?” Race whispered, trying not to let his voice break. “Everything’s done? There’s nothing left to prepare, nothing left to pack up?”

“Nope!” Al shook his head, eyes glinting as he leaned over to Race. “It’s done. Everything’s done. It’s gonna be mine, Antonio. All mine. Just like you.”

He pressed his lips hard onto Race’s, Race eagerly tangling his fingers into Albert’s red hair. Al’s hand was warm against his cheek, his thumb rubbing softly against him despite the intensity of the kiss. Race lost himself in Albert more than usual, hyper-focused on every detail—every freckle, every hair out of place, the feel of his hands on him, the taste of his lips and tongue, every small sound he made. Ironic how Al called him perfect, since the opposite was true.

After a while, Race was tracing his fingers over Albert’s stomach as the man rambled about how he wanted to set up the place, Race nodding every so often.

How Race’s heart shattered for him—this most undeserving man who had been nothing but endlessly interesting and funny and warm to him. Yes, Albert’s infatuation was mostly false, but Race could feel the deep friendly affection Albert harbored for him as well, one Race harbored right back. Only once before had Race let himself do that—in 1905, a boy named Sean Conlon walked into that same apartment door with a skeptical glance and narrowed eyes, and to Race’s dismay, they were friendly as well as intimate. It had broke him then, and it was breaking him now.

Through the rest of the week, it would continue to break him. Race helped Albert move into the place, not allowed to let Al get any suspicions as to why Race might have seemed gloomy. Moving in was tragically fun, the two of them laughing as they dropped boxes, picking up their contents and talking about nothing and everything. Race was surprised at his ability to keep the lump in his throat down enough to even talk to Al. Lucky, too—Albert was rather smart at figuring when something was wrong.

“I think that's everything,” Albert huffed, smiling and wiping his hands on his jeans. “I can't believe it.”

“Neither can I,” Race laughed, shaking his head. “Fast, huh?”

“Yeah, thank God. I thought that was gonna take so much longer. I'd assumed the worst,”

Al shrugged. Then he grinned, doing a small spin with his arms out in the center of the room. “But this is so great! It's all mine, and I'm responsible for it, and I make the rules—well, technically not, but still…”

Albert’s rambling faded away slightly as Race felt something in his chest. A sort of tug, like something was trying to get out of him

His heart stopped. That was so soon. Surely he had a little more time? An hour at least? He still had to tell him everything.

His change in demeanor must have been noticeable. Al was practically scanning him, analyzing anything that could be wrong.

“Babe, you oka—”

“I lied to you,” Race interrupted.

Albert went silent. His head was cocked slightly, that skeptical frown of his making Race’s heart skip a beat, that frown that meant Al wasn't just some pawn in Race’s wretched game.

“About what?” Albert asked slowly, eyes narrowed. A pang of guilt jabbed Race through the ribs as he remembered Al’s shitty past with relationships. This would be one for the books, Race supposed.

“About me. About who I—well, not about who I am. I lied about what I'm here for,” Race confessed.

“About why your mom left you here,” Al concluded. “What you're saying is that you ain't here to protect the people who buy this apartment, like you’d said to me.”

Race couldn't help but be slightly impressed. Albert’s expression remained rather neutral, his actual anger probably fighting with his infatuation with Race. Al was doing a good job at not letting either side win.

“No, I'm not here for that,” Race sighed. He had to get this over with. Maybe it'd hurt less that way. “When my family first moved to New York, my mom was at a loss as to where to go. Not many people just welcomed immigrants like that, y’know? And then we found this apartment. The landlord charmed my ma’s pants off—he was the first nice person to us in the city. But then he changed.

“He stopped caring about us. He didn't get anyone to fix anything when things were broken, no one cleaned anything. He took advantage of the people in this building, knowing no one could go anywhere else. He just took our money and kept the place in shambles. And so I died from the conditions—that part’s true.

“As I was dying—stay with me here, Albie, we don't have much time—my mother cursed me with haunting this apartment, and….making anyone who walks into the door with intentions to buy...instantly fall in love with me. It keeps me alive—the more people, the longer I get to live.”

Race hugged himself, willing the feeling in his chest to wait. Albert looked paralyzed, with fear or confusion or anger Race couldn't tell.

“So...so none of this was real? I-I don't...I don't love you right now?” Al questioned, eyebrows knit together.

“It's real to an extent,” Race explained, his heart cracking as Albert’s face dropped further. “I just...I gave you the initial infatuation, and then amplified the feelings you caught for me.”

“The feelings I caught?” Al scoffed. “Like you don't have them.” Then Albert froze. “You don't have ‘em, do you. You never did. That was just my stupid head telling me that you did, wasn't it.”

Race shook his head wildly. This was going worse than he thought it would. “No! No, Al, I promise you I do. I fell for you, I didn't mean to, but I—”

“Didn't mean to?” Albert seethed. If he was this worked up, time must really be up soon, Race noted sadly.

“It hurts less that way,” Race decided to admit. “I've been doing this for centuries now. My Ma wants revenge for eternity and I'm the pawn she needs to play it out.”

“This is fucked up,” Al said, tone decisive and expression stiff. “You're fucked up. Get the fuck outta my apartment, right now, you lying sonofa—”

“I’m afraid I can't do that,” Race said, the words coming out of him rather than him actually saying them. He was starting to feel a little distant, but he had to hold on. Just a little longer.

Albert’s eyes narrowed. “You're not physically attached to the place. Your words, not mine. Get out.”

“Can't leave this time,” Race shook his head solemnly.

“Then fuck you. I'll leave,” Albert bit out. Approaching the door, he scoffed, “if I didn't fuck a ghost, then you must be a goddamn demon, fucking prick.”

Race didn't say anything—couldn't, rather, as Al tried to open the door. He jiggled the knob a few times, then looked at Race.

“I didn't lock this,” Al stated. His eyes were wide. “Did you?”

“Not exactly,” Race murmured, looking at his feet. “I can't leave, which means you can't leave, either.”

“Race?” Albert breathed, back flush against the door as fear flashed in his eyes. “What are you saying.”

“I’m running out of time,” Race said instead. “I just...I need you to know that I've loved you. I'm in love with you, I swear on my mother’s soul I am. And I'm sorry you have to pay for it. I'm so, so sorry…” He felt tears slide down his cheeks.

“Race, for what?” Albert demanded. “What's- what’s going to happen?”

“I'm not part of what comes next, okay? I don't want this, I don't...want this…please…”

The tugging was too strong. He'd pushed it off for too long; he was out of time. Race felt his mind slip away from him, and then he was gone, torn away from Albert and leaving him to go through what was next alone.

———

haha what the fuck does THAT mean? read part two to find out!

TAG LIST

@suddenly-im-respecsable @cream--rises @bencookisagod @felix-loves-albert-and-ralbert @spot-conlon-king-of-brooklyn @stopthe-presses @technically-whizzy @papesdontsellthemselves @starrysence @seasickdolphin @iamliterallyaghost @beep-beep-byler @the-newsies-justice-for-zas-blog @thomasbeingthomas @the-king-of-brooklyn @sunshine-e-cigarettes @thebroadwayaesthetic @spot-me50-papes @i-got-no-clue-what-im-doing @iwontfallinlovewfalling @timehops @kingofsantafe @we-dont-sell-papes @eveningpaper @sure-as-a-star @godhatesjordan @awkwardstranger98 @ireallyloveiainyoungwow @big-potato-asshole @have-we-got-news-for-you @bxnesof92 @backgroundnewsies @orollyitsracetrackhiggins @a-most-auspicious-erster @modern-race-owns-airpods @asphodelnerd @infinity-fandom-trash @whateva-ya-want

#thank u next series #my writing #yayeet #wild huh #get ready sisters lmfao #albert dasilva #racetrack higgins #ralbert #newsies au #newsies #newsies fics #fizz freaks

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imstrangerthanthings-blog · 7 years ago

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I Will Give Up This Fight (Cause I Can't Make You Love Me If You Don't) - Chapter 1

AN: Um hi…lol this is my first time posting fanfiction on tumblr and I’m not gonna lie, it scares the sh*t out of me. There are so many good writers out there and they just inspire me but also intimidate me. But whatever, I’m just overthinking, but anyway I hope you like the story.

This story will be be split into two parts (maybe three not really sure yet). This is a soulmate au because I’m unoriginal and just a plain sucker for soulmate aus.

This is also posted on ao3, you can find it here

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13241733/chapters/30289386

Summary: Will can see the red string that connects him and Mike. His heart breaks as he watches his soulmate fall more and more for someone else.

Word Count: 3307

Pairing: Byler, side Elmax

Warnings: Homophobia and some homophobic language is used (the f word)

From the moment a person was born a red string was tied around their pinky, going off into the distance seamlessly as if it never ended. Yet somewhere else in the world, near or far, the other end of the string would be tied around another person’s pinky. The two people connected were soulmates, two halves meant to be together.

The one problem was that nobody could actually see the string, therefore making it almost impossible to find out who your soulmate was. Almost impossible. There was one way you were able to find your soulmate. You just needed to find a seer.

A seer was someone born with the gift of being able to see all the red strings entangling the world. They also had the ability to change soulmates. They could cut the strings of soulmates and tie them to another, or they could just cut the string and leave it at that. It was as they say ‘With great power comes great responsibility’. It wasn’t common for soulmates to change but sometimes there was the odd act of jealousy or longing or hate that caused soulmates to be changed or cut off.

It was very rare to find a seer, although some of them sold their services of being able to find people’s soulmates (or changing/cutting depending on the situation). Most however, kept to themselves, not telling people of their ability, as they could never be sure if they would only be used as a way to find soulmates instead of friendship.

That’s why when a 5 year old Will Byers came up to his mother, Joyce, and asked her about why there was red string everywhere, she sat him down and told him about soulmates and his special ability.

“The red strings, they tie people to their soulmates.” Joyce tried as hard as she could to make her explanation something a 5 year old could understand.

“What are soulmates?” Will asked.

“There like…your other half, in which you share an unbreakable bond with.”

“Unbreakable bond?”

“It’s like forever friendship.”

“Oh.” Will said thoughtfully. “So how do people find their soulmates?”

“Well, like I said people are tied to their soulmate by the red strings. However most people can’t see the string.”

“Can you see the string?”

“No honey.”

“Why can I?”

“Well there are people born into this world with a very special ability. They are able to see the strings, it is very rare though.”

Joyce decided to leave out the fact that Will could also cut and tie strings together. It was too much power for a kid to have.

“So it’s sort of like a superpower ”

“Sure, yeah it’s like a super power.”

“Why couldn’t I get something like super strength or laser eyes.” Will pouted while Joyce just laughed.

“But just like any superhero, you can’t tell anyone about your powers.” Joyce told her son.

“Why not?”

Joyce didn’t really know what to tell Will. How were you supposed to tell your son that he shouldn’t tell anyone about his ability because of the chance that they may use him and his feelings could get hurt. So instead she just told him;

“You’ll understand why not when you’re older.”

“But mooooooom.”

“No buts Will. Just promise me you won’t tell anyone.”

“I promise.” Will said, a small pout on his face.

“Is that a frown I see?” Joyce smirked. “I guess we’re going to have to wipe that right off.”

She reached in and began tickling Will, his loud giggles filling her ears, a sense of childhood innocence swept over the room. Joyce thought in that moment that just maybe, everything would be okay.

Will didn’t bother asking why his mom and dad’s strings didn’t match.

It was on the first day of kindergarten that Will found out who his soulmate was. A lanky boy with wavy hair covering his head and dark brown eyes. Mike Wheeler, Will had found out was his name.

Mike had come up to him while he was on the swings and asked to be his friend. Will had, of course, said yes, he was desperate to make friends and so far Mike was the only who had come up to him.

While they both sat on the swings, Will looked at his string and began following it with his eyes like he usually would. He liked to see how far it would go and guess where his soulmate might be. Except this time, his string wasn’t stretched far out into the unknown distance. The end of his string was tied around the pinky of the boy animatedly talking about a board game that he had gotten recently.

Will stared at it for a minute, looking back and forth between the two ends of the string. He wondered if Mike could see it too but he seemed too unfazed, that Will doubted he did. He wanted to say something but he remembered what his mother said. If he told Mike that they were soulmates then he would have to explain his ability and Will promised his mom he wouldn’t tell anyone.

So Will spent the day getting to know the brown eyed boy who was his so called, other half. He liked Mike, he was funny and he was good at telling stories. Will usually didn’t talk much to other kids, but with Mike he felt himself opening up more and although he definitely didn’t talk as much as Mike did, he found his voice was filling the room more than usual.

When Joyce met her son at the end of the day, she certainly didn’t expect him to come skipping out a wide smile on his face, waving a quick goodbye to a boy across the way from him. It was quite the drastic change from that morning.

Will had been dreading to school and when Joyce and Jonathan were walking him to kindergarten he had been a bundle of nerves. When his mother and brother bent down to say goodbye and wish him luck, his doe brown eyes had filled with tears and Joyce had to restrain herself from just walking back home and taking Will with her.

So to say it was a drastic change was an understatement. Joyce had expected to have to spend the whole walk back home convincing Will that he had to go back to school the next day. Yet there he was, talking fast about his day and how he made a new friend called Mike. Joyce silently thanked this boy, Mike, for befriending her son and actually making him excited for school the next day. When they arrived home Will was still talking and even though Lonnie, his father, still gave him a cold greeting hello, nothing could bring down his mood.

Lonnie and Will didn’t have a very good father son relationship. Will was the opposite of what Lonnie wanted his son to be. Lonnie thought Will was strange unusual and Will was kind of scared of his father. Joyce and Lonnie would often fight, the yelling would be heard throughout the whole house. During these moments Will would go into Jonathan’s room to hide. Lonnie didn’t look very nice when he was yelling.

Will had always felt closer to his mother and brother anyway. That was probably why Lonnie was so cold towards his youngest son. They had no connection at all, the only thing that really made them similar was the fact that they shared a few genes and a last name.

It wasn’t until everyone was sat at the dinner table that Will mentioned that Mike was his soulmate.

“He’s really funny and pretty and nice which is good because I’d hoped my soulmate would be that and-”

The table fell silent as Lonnie dropped his knife and fork onto the table creating a loud clatter. “You think this Mike boy is your soulmate?” Lonnie asked.

“I don’t think so.” Will said. “I know so. I saw our string was the same.”

He looked around the room in confusion as everyone seemed to have weird expressions on their faces. Jonathan looked as if he was waiting for something to explode, like he knew something bad was going to happen. His mother looked worried almost and his dad looked a mix between angry and disgusted.

Joyce quickly hopped into action before anything to bad could happen. “Jonathan could you please take Will into your room.” It was more of an order than a question.

Will was about to protest as he was still hungry and wanted to finish his dinner but he then noticed how Jonathan just went along with what their mother said and how serious he looked that as soon as he gestured for Will to follow him, he immediately got up and followed.

The two of them made it to Jonathan’s room and sat down on the bed. “Jonathan what’s happening?”

“Mom and Dad are just talking.” Jonathan replied.

“Does this have to do with Mike being my soulmate?”

“I don’t know.” Jonathan lied. Will was very perceptive for his age and could tell that his older brother was lying.

“Why are you lying? Mom said lying was bad.” Will said.

Jonathan laughed despite the situation. Will was always able to read him like a book. Jonathan loved his brother to pieces, the minute he held him in his arms after he was born, Jonathan vowed to protect his baby brother from anything and everything. However, Jonathan feared that now he may have to protect Will from their own father.

Jonathan had found out about his father’s views on same sex relationships when he was 7. His dad and him were having a ‘Father-Son’ day, as his mother called it. Jonathan could tell his dad didn’t really want to do it but his mother forced him to. The two were walking back from the park when Jonathan spotted two men sitting on a bench a few meters away from them, holding hands.

“Dad? Why are they holding hands?” Jonathan had asked, his young mind full of curiosity like any other.

“Because they’re queer .” Lonnie said the word like poison on the tip of his tongue. “They like each other, which they shouldn’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because boys shouldn’t like boys, it’s wrong.”

Jonathan wanted to ask why it was wrong. It seemed fine to him, it was just two boys who were holding hands, it’s not like they were doing anything wrong. Well not in his mind anyway. Jonathan held off on talking about the subject anymore. He could tell his dad didn’t like it.

His curiosity got the better of him though, so he asked his mom about it that same night.

“Why is boys liking boys wrong?” He asked.

Joyce had stopped in shock for a minute. She wasn’t sure what to say, she was sure she hadn’t given any impression of the sorts. She wasn’t against people who were queer, she found it sort of weird but what didn’t really affect her day to day life didn’t really bother her.

“What brought this on?” She asked her eldest son.

“Well me and dad were walking in the park today and I saw two boys holding hands and I asked dad why and he said because they like each other and that it’s wrong.”

“Well, you know, it’s more unusual than wrong. People will like who they want to like, they can’t help their feelings. Although most boys like girls and most girls like boys, sometimes the universe decides to switch that around.”

“So it’s not wrong?”

“You seem very curious about this Jonathan, do you like boys?”

Joyce wasn’t sure how to handle the situation she was in. She knew she’d love her son no matter what but she never thought she’d have a situation like this come up.

“No!” Jonathan answered almost immediately. “I just don’t see the problem with it.”

“Well you are one of the rare people who don’t. Don’t listen to your father about it being wrong. He just isn’t very open minded.”

“Do you think it’s bad?’

“If they are good people then it shouldn’t matter.” Was all Joyce had said.

From that day, Jonathan knew that his father was against anyone that was different in the matter of sexuality. The minute Will had said this Mike boy was his soulmate, he immediately looked at his father and saw the surprise and disgust in his eyes. He knew whatever was going to happen next wasn’t going to be good.

“So you’re positive this Mike kid is your soulmate?” Jonathan asked.

“I already told you, I saw our string, it was the same.” Will replied.

“Did you tell him?”

“No cause then I’d have to explain that I can see the strings and mom said I couldn’t tell anyone.”

Jonathan was about to say something when they heard their dad yells fill the house.

“Our son!? A faggot!?”

“Lonnie stop!”

“I always knew he was weird, girly even” There was the sound of a door slamming, which made both Jonathan and Will jump. “It’s no surprise he’s…one of them.”

“Will is our son! It doesn’t matter who his soulmate is, he is our son. Stop talking about him as if he’s nothing.”

“Jonathan why are they fighting because of me?” Will’s eyes were brimmed with tears. He was used to his Mom and Dad fighting, it happened more often than not. But this time he knew they were fighting because of him and he didn’t know what he did.

“Dad’s just being a jerk.” Jonathan told him before getting up to lock the door. “Ignore it Will.”

“Is this about Mike? What’s so wrong with him being my soulmate?”

“It doesn’t matter Will.” Jonathan insisted. “Please just drop it for now, okay?”

That night ended with Will sleeping in Jonathan’s room, Jonathan lying next to Will vowing to protect Will from anything this new found situation would throw his way, Joyce sitting on the couch cigarette in her hand silently praying that everything would be okay, and Lonnie out at a bar drinking up a storm. Whatever innocence was previously in the household long gone.

The already almost non-existent relationship between Will and Lonnie had perished in the fire that had occurred that night. Will still hung out with Mike, finding both him and school a break from the emptiness that was his home.

The dinner table was now filled with agonizing silence and Will was no longer even greeted when he came home from school. The fights between Joyce and Lonnie increased, which both Jonathan and Will didn’t even think was possible. This carried on for a couple more years until Will was 8.

Will was sat on his bed, his sketch book open, carefully working on his new masterpiece. There was a knock on the door and Will assumed it was his mum or Jonathan.

“Come in!” He called and he did a double take when he saw his dad enter the room.

“Hey son.” Lonnie greeted before sitting down on Will’s bed.

“Uh, hey dad.” Will replied.

“You must be wondering what I’m here for.”

“Just a little.”

“I just want to talk to you.” Lonnie explained. “About this whole soulmate thing.”

“Oh.” Will wasn’t exactly sure what was going on but he was sure that his dad wasn’t exactly happy about his soulmate situation.

“You have the ability to see the strings right?” Lonnie asked.

“Yeah…”

“Did your mother tell you about your other abilities?”

“What other abilities?”

“You can change soulmates.”

Will was confused, ‘Change soulmates?’ . “What do you mean?”

“You can cut people’s strings and tie them to others creating different sets of soulmates.”

“Why didn’t mom tell me?”

“She thought it was too much responsibility for a five year old, which it was, but now you’re eight and I think it’s time you knew.”

“Well thanks for telling me I guess.” Will still wasn’t exactly sure why his dad was talking to him.

“There’s more.” Lonnie said. “I want you to change your soulmate.”

“What!? Why!? I like Mike.”

“Because boys and boys aren’t meant to be soulmates Will, that’s just the way it is.”

“Who said?”

“Everybody!”

Will didn’t understand what was so bad about a boy being his soulmate. Sure most boys were with girls but so what? He liked Mike, a lot actually.

“Look it won’t even hurt. All you have to do is cut the string.” Lonnie pulled out a pair of scissors.

“I won’t do it!”

“I can’t have a queer as a son!”

“I-”

Will was cut off by his mum slamming open the door.

“What is going on in here?” Joyce announced before her eyes landed on the scissors in Lonnie’s hands. “You wouldn’t…”

“It has to be done Joyce. It’s not right.”

“He’s eight Lon! What’s not right is making him give up his soulmate!”

“It’s not a soulmate Joyce, it’s a mistake.”

“The only mistake is me allowing you stay in this household, if you can’t accept your son, you are not welcome in this house.”

“You don’t mean that Joyce.” Lonnie insisted. “You need me here.”

“Get out!” Joyce yelled. “Get out!”

That was the night Will truly lost his father, not that he had much of one to begin with. Lonnie packed up his things and left the house. Will couldn’t help but sob in his bed that night, their family was falling apart and it was all his fault. He almost wished he had cut the string.

The next day, Will went over to Mike’s as Joyce wanted him out of the house while she cleared away all of Lonnie’s left over things.

When Mike greeted Will at the door, the two of them made their way down to the Wheeler basement and as soon as they sat down, Will broke down.

He told Mike all about his dad leaving, his parents fighting and how he ‘knew’ it was all his fault. He left out the soulmate part of the story. Mike held him throughout the whole thing. Not saying anything, which was rare, he listened to Will and comforted him.

“You m-must think I’m s-such a baby.” Will sniffed.

“Actually I think you are one of the strongest people I know. Once my parents got into a fight and I ran out of the house crying like a baby and I didn’t stop crying for two days. If I’d been through what you have, I would definitely have reacted so much worse.” Mike told his best friend.

“Thanks Mike.” Will wiped his eyes for what seemed like the hundredth time.

“Hey do you want to invite Lucas over so we can all play a game? It’ll get your mind off everything.”

Lucas Sinclair had lived next door to Mike since forever. They had become really good friends when they were six, so when Mike befriended Lucas, he extended his hand in friendship to Will as well. Will was kind of surprised at first because….well two people now wanted to be his friend, he never thought he’d see the day.

“Yeah that sounds fun.” As the two of them ran off, Will held his pinky, fondling with the bright red string that tied him to the person who always seemed to make things okay. Any thought he ever had about cutting the string was far away from him.

That afternoon, Will Byers was just an eight year old kid playing with his friends, the weight that always seemed to be on his shoulders, lifted for just one moment.

#byeler #byler fanfic #mike wheeler #will byers #stranger things #stranger things 2 #byler

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mywholehistoryintheam · 5 years ago

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Those Four Words

I just decided to just drop here the not so many chapters of my tyrus fanfic :)

Excuse my terrible English.

Chapter 1

-Chapter two-

Cyrus’ POV

'Do you want to make me cry? I loved the newest chapter!, I guess you're a hopeless romantic right? And I bet that more people like you! Maybe not in the way I like you, my way it's special. Love, Your secret admirer.'

Honestly, I'm enjoying the anonymous asks, this person it's really sweet. PLEASE.BE.A.GUY.PLEASE.BE.A.GUY.PLEASE.

What should I answer this time? This person is taking the time to read something I wrote and send me asks about it, plus, and tell me that this person likes me in a special way. Yes, I can't help, I love romance, this feels like a movie. Am I in 'A Cinderella Story'?

"I need to go to work guys," says Buffy. "That means that you should go"

"What are we going to do today Cy?" asks Andi smiling.

"Uhm, maybe we could go to Buffy's work and wait for her" we both dedicate Buffy a 'puppy' look.

"No" she keeps a straight face. "Why don't you go out with Walker?" she tells to Andi. "And take Cyrus with you"

"I don't know, why don't you take Cyrus with you?"

"Andi I'm going to work"

"Wait" I interrupt them. "I feel like a child, you two are not my parents" I laugh. "You go to work," I tell to Buffy. "And you go out with Walker," I tell to Andi. "I'll go to my house or go to eat some ice cream" I smile at them. "Now let's go, we have things to do"

I'm on my way to get some ice cream, I actually don't know what I'm going to do later, maybe I can take some pictures, I need new ones, there's a couple that looks really cute, oh, there's a dog, but the trees look so great, and those kids, they are having so much fun, maybe I should start with the flowers. I wonder what are the girls doing right now? Maybe Buffy is a little bored, I mean, her work is cool, but they don't have too many customers. By another part, Andi is probably painting with Walker, I just start to think that I need more friends.

I start walking while I'm eating my ice cream, I can see how everyone is doing diverse things, for some reason there's a lot of couples and I'm feeling lonely, just a bit, but like a miracle, Andi appears with Walker right in front of me, well not that close, you know what I mean.

They're giggling and I sincerely don't know why, but it just took a few seconds to notice that a puppy it's eating my ice cream. Great, amazing, just what I needed. They're closer this time, they both are smiling at me and, of course, I smile back at them.

"I really hope that your ice cream wasn't that delicious," says Andi looking at the puppy.

"You can ask this little friend if you want to know" I keep smiling, why be mad? Puppies are adorable. "Hello Walker"

"Hey, Cyrus, who's your ice cream friend?" he smiles. Well, I can see what Andi sees on him, he's really nice, and his smile is dreamy. Good job Andi.

"Honestly, I don't know" I can notice their hands, yeah, they were painting.

"So, Cyrus," says Andi. "Do you want to join us? We're going to The Spoon"

"Without Buffy?" I ask.

"Yeah, she's working"

"Oh yeah, I forgot that," I say a little confused by my own words. Man, I'm always confused, but begin confused for something that I said it's pretty new.

Just like magic, because I don't recall when I said that I was going with them, we're on our way to The Spoon, this is going to be fun, I'm just going to be the third wheel, but that's ok, that happens a lot.

TJ’s POV

My new ask is a little risky, but, what's life without risk?

I'm on my way to Amber's house, we're going to celebrate her birthday, I made her a sketch, I hope she likes it, well I bought her some makeup too and I wrote a birthday card with Reed and Lester, the card it's too great, too funny, we are actually geniuses. Also, I'm going to do in a drawing for the woman who had Simon in her house last night, I'm going to draw her, her husband and her daughter, I just can't decide if it's a great idea to add her daughter's friends, why I don't use their names? Buffy, Andi, and Cyrus, just like the first three letters of the alphabet, that's curious.

Reed and Lester are waiting in the same place as usual; when they see my car it seems like they see the most beautiful thing in the world, I'm going to be honest, my car is too old and awful, but when they open the door everything makes sense, it's too cold, but these idiots are dressed like they were on the beach in the sunniest day. They get into the car fast and close the door.

"Dude it's freezing," says Reed while he was putting the belt on.

"I know" I inspect his clothes again, this time closer. "Why are you dressed like that?"

"I look amazing, right?" he winks.

"You look like..."

"An idiot," says Lester in the backseat. "I can't believe you messed up my clothes Reed"

"We look great" Reed makes an expression a little, well, too Reed.

"What happened to your clothes?" I ask Lester.

"Well, Reed went for some coffee, and you can imagine what happened later man"

"Well, it was Lester's fault," Reed is looking at him through the mirror. "You wanted that coffee"

"Yeah, but I wanted to drink the coffee, I never said that I wanted you to say something so stupid to the waiter"

"Who found the new clothes?"

"I don't know why I'm friends with you two guys," I shake my head and smile at them.

They stop fighting, and Lester asks me about the new chapter of the fanfic, maybe that was a mistake. I mean, I loved the chapter so much, I even sent an ask to the writer again, just like the other time, trying to flirt via Tumblr I think, but for Reed, I'm so sorry for him, but I'm going to talk about the fanfic the whole road. Shady Side is not that big, that's a good and bad thing; good because Amber's house is too near, but it's bad because I need more than seven minutes to talk about the chapter. It's a kind of lucky day for Reed, he's not going to hear me more time.

We are finally outside Amber's house, and Reed sends her a message.

'We're here! and we're waiting'

Amber appears, and she looks different, I mean more than just friends going to eat somewhere in celebration for her birthday looks like she was getting ready to go to a party, and the only party I have knowledge is Marty's party in two days.

"Hey, guys" she smiles. Amber looks great, she looks exactly like a celebrity.

"Happy birthday to our queen!" we say at unison.

"We have cool presents for you, your highness," says Reed doing something like a strange reverence.

"Let's go, we'll take you to the restaurant you want," says Lester while he opens the door.

She gets in the car and smiles thanking us.

"Where do you want to go?" asks Reed.

"The Spoon! I haven't been there in a while"

Actually, none of us have been in The Spoon in months, we're always searching for new places to eat some good food.

Cyrus’ POV

I'm talking about how much I ship Byler to Andi and Walker, but they are actually just confused, and god I almost mention my fanfic a couple minutes ago. I know that I should already tell my friends about my fanfic, and my secret admirer, but I'm not prepared for doing that. Having a long talk about why I write a fanfic or why I didn't told them before, or how amazing is that someone has a crush on me, or if I know who is my secret admirer and all those stuff that I don't want to answer, not yet.

Now Andi is staring at Walker like a freak, a cute one. Walker is just drinking his milkshake trying not to make eye contact with Andi. I'm waiting for someone familiar to appear and save me from this scene. There, there is my savior.

"Hey JB!" I yell when I see Jonah after he opens the door of The Spoon.

"Cyrus! Andi! And the guy who I don't know, hello!" he smiles, the charming smile.

"Jonah, Uhm he's my friend Walker," says Andi introducing Walker.

"Walker? Nice name! I'm Jonah Beck" he sits next to me, thank you, Jonah. "And... what's your last name?" asks Jonah to the dreamy artist, or at least for Andi and him, they both look like 'I.THINK.I.HAVE.A.NEW.CRUSH'

"Brodsky, I'm Walker Brodsky" he smiles at Jonah, actually that smile is different.

After all the 'Hello Jonah' and 'Hello Walker' everything is going great, they're making jokes and laughing. I'm forgetting something important, really important, I haven't replied to my secret admirer's ask. I don't have too many ideas, it's hard to get the perfect answer, I mean, he already has a crush on me, I don't want to mess that.

Did I just say he? What makes me think that this person is a guy? I must be really crazy... or lonely, for some reason I feel like a third wheel, and we're four.

Walker is doing a beautiful drawing in a napkin. I'm not an expert but man, he's too good at drawing, again, heart eyes from Andi and... Jonah? Is that possible, Jonah Beck is impressed in a romantic way? Walker my friend you should come every day with us to The Spoon.

"Cyrus is that the guy we saw earlier?" Andi whispers near to me.

"Uhm I think so" I look back at him, he's with some friends. "Why we care about him?" I say to Andi.

"Well it's the first time I see him here" she is doing 'The Andi Mack expression'. "And we technically live here"

"Uhm maybe he wanted some good food and milkshakes?"

"What are we talking about?" Jonah and Walker whisper at the same time.

I don't know what to say, it's time for the best and the only thing that my brain can think at the moment.

"I was telling Andi about the amazing photo I bought, Mike and Will look so in love in that one"

Jonah and Walker are extremely confused, even Andi is confused. I just save us, I mean, save us from talking about how Buffy and Andi convinced me to go the three of us to investigate a strange noise in Buffy's backyard, and how we found a cat, how I took pictures of the cat, how we found the owner later, and that the owner is right here in The Spoon, sitting with his friends just a couple tables apart, yeah, Andi should be grateful.

TJ’s POV

We're finally in The Spoon, Amber is taking pictures of Reed doing something stupid, he's always doing something stupid I'm not impressed.

Lester is talking about the new chapter, I'm just listening to him, it's funny how he talks about the fanfic and how I talk about the fanfic; he's so calm when he talks about it, and I look like if I was trying to explain a conspiracy theory, huge difference.

While Lester is still talking with me, Amber and Reed order everything, even four pieces of cake, I'm not going to lie, they ordered a lot of food.

"When are you two going finally to stop talking about your fanfic," says Reed trying to put a lot of napkins in his head.

"Never," I say to him.

"Maybe when it's finally over?" says Lester to us.

"What makes you think I'm going to stop talking about it when it's over?"

We all laugh and the food arrives while Reed has two straws on his mouth, the waitress just put the food on our table. Amber laughs of Reed and then she starts eating. Lester grabs some baby taters and turns to talk with me, we're still talking about the fanfic, I almost tell him about the asks I sent to the writer, and the little crush I have on the writer.

When I'm going to tell them? I think I prefer this to be a secret, is better, the asks are my secret, my crush is a secret and the best part, my friends can't make fun of me.

Cyrus’ POV

After saving Andi and me from explaining all the cat situation, Walker invited us to see some of his paintings, In the whole road I thought it was going to be cool, but at this moment, I'm standing here, actually admiring them, they're the most amazing thing I ever seen in my life, this boy has some talent.

You can tell by Jonah's face that maybe he's even more impressed than me right now.

"So, guys, you like my art?"

"Absolutely!" I say to him. "You're really talented"

"You are a genius," says Jonah. "I felt a lot of emotions looking at this one" he smiles.

"Thank you guys" he smiles.

Jonah, Andi, and Walker are talking about every color Walker used on his paintings, actually, Jonah knows what to say, he knows what he's doing. I'm on my phone, checking my Tumblr and answering the anonymous ask courtesy of my 'secret admirer', I'm a little insecure about what I'm writing.

I've been thinking about how it looks my 'secret admirer', is a guy or a girl? Is he or she tall or not? Is he or she older or not? Is a cute guy? I'm begging for him to being a guy. I'm not saying this in a romantic way, of course not, I'm saying this in the most friendly way, I want and I need more friends and who knows? if I ever meet my 'secret admirer' maybe we could be friends or more than friends, like best friends, that's what I meant.

What I was talking before all the mess I made? Yeah, I was talking about the ask, well, I was talking about my answer, it's a pretty cool one, or confusing one, or the worst. Oh, 'secret admirer' you made a bad decision.

TJ’s POV

"We're just four, how you make a party with four people?" says Reed pointing at us.

"Reed please, we don't need a hundred people, we only need each other," says Amber.

Amber is right, we can have a party with just us, that's why we're friends.

"Why you want a party with three boring guys when you have a party in two days with Marty, who is one of the most popular people we know" actually, Reed has a point.

"Then, tell me what are we going to do, because I'm getting a little bored" by another part Amber has a point too.

"We can cook some cookies"

I don't understand how but Reed won, now we are making cookies for Amber and her family. I'm enjoying this, even Amber is enjoying this, she's taking pictures of us and throwing chocolate chips to Reed, let's be honest, he can be annoying sometimes, so he obviously deserves the chocolate chips in his face. I check my phone, maybe my mom sent me some messages, but she didn't, now I'm opening my Tumblr, just to check anything new, like what's new with the writer, the writer is not just talented at writing fanfics, the writer is always making cool posts, he's funny in so many ways. Well if the writer is a guy, in my mind the writer is a guy, in my heart, the writer is a guy, my radar tells me that the writer is a guy.

'Is your way special? Definitely. I was waiting for your ask, I hope this becomes more usual. Love, Bylerspotter'

That's it, that's my end, I'm deceased, he was waiting for my ask!. Oh God. HE.WAS.WAITING.FOR.MY.ASK.

That's definitely something I can't share with my friends, they don't even know I send him asks, I can feel how my face draws a smile, bad idea brain, bad idea.

"Are you texting with someone interesting?" Amber gives a look over my shoulder.

"What? No!" I block my phone. Oh no my cheeks feel like they're on fire.

"Teej, are you blushing?" Reed grabs my cheeks.

"Don't do that again Reed" I pull apart his hands. "And I'm not blushing... I was just smiling"

"I bet you're reading the chapter again," says Lester while he eats some chocolate chips.

"Teej if there's someone, you can tell us, or at least you can tell me" Amber winks at me.

"You know what?" I leave my phone on the table. "We should bake some muffins, I love muffins" I smile at them. I hope you're happy now writer.

Cyrus’ POV

We're at my house this time, another sleepover.

Buffy came with Andi after the first one ended her turn at the work. I left Andi with Jonah and Walker when I received a message from my dad, it was my turn to help him with the dinner, spaghetti, great choice, but I'm not the best chef. I know my two best friends love the spaghetti night at my house, that's why we're having another sleepover. I love them but having them in my house when I should be writing and dreaming about what could be the next ask from my 'secret admirer' turns things a little uncomfortable.

The girls are talking in my room, I have a couple of ideas of what could be the topic, maybe, Walker and Marty. Buffy doesn't talk too much about him, she only does it when Andi is there, perhaps she feels free to do it, I mean her best friend talks about the guy she likes, yeah I get it, Andi technically encourages her to talk about Marty.

Again, I don't have anyone to talk about or anything to talk about, I'm more the friend who gives their other friends advice related with guys.

"Cyrus," says Andi while she's looking at her plate. "We were talking about how you have no one, I mean you don't have a crush" I was wondering when she was going to tell me something like that.

"What about Jonah?" says Buffy.

"Never" I drink some water.

"And the cat boy? What was his name?" ANDI.ARE.YOU.SERIOUS?

"TJ!" yells Buffy.

"Yeah, he's cute, don't you think so?" Andi, please!

"Why are we talking about this?"

"We want to know if there's something or someone we ignore," says Buffy.

Here's my dilemma I can tell them that there's 'someone' but lying and tell them that I just have seen him in the park or tell them the truth about my 'secret admirer' or tell them that there's no one. In the first case, it's a bad idea, they could go to the park every day just to find who my non-existence crush is, bad idea; in the second case, actually, I can hear all the questions about who is my 'secret admirer' from Tumblr; and finally in the third case everything stays in calm, no questions, no crazy friends who will want to go to the park to see your non-existence crush, yeah, I prefer the last one.

After telling them that there's no one, I decided to check my phone, that was a wrong move, my 'secret admirer' sent me another ask, and now I'm smiling. Cyrus stop. No, Cyrus. Don't smile.

"If there's no one why are you smiling at your phone?" asks Buffy.

Yeah, I'm in trouble.

#tyrus #tj kippen #cyrus goodman #andi mack #tyrus fanfic #those four words

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kaypeace21 · 4 years ago

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DID theory part 3: St novels/comics/spotify list analyses

*read part 2 of DID theory-first! You’ll be lost otherwise, seriously XD. First, I’ll say -I find the ST comics/ books as canon as the st movie inspirations . I don’t consider the books/comics ‘literal canon’ (cause they contradict the show ( like Max and billy meeting a year before s2 in runaway max - but meeting as little kids in s3, or El’s age being wrong in suspicious minds, in the d&D comic Will’s friends instead of him /Jonathan building castle byers, etc) .

So I think we shouldn’t take it literally - but more like the st movie lists - filled with foreshadowing/symbolism and other eastereggs (That the Duffers may have told them to add). So here’s some more (possible) alter / DID hints...

‘Suspicious minds’ novel

- Brenner equates k*lling rabbits to h*rting kids. And he’ll hurt (kid) Kali (the bunny in the analogy) if Terry tries running away from him . I wonder if Lonnie used a similar threat against jonathan? Jon could be giving only a partial truth to why he cried for a week (about the bunny story)?

-Kali “hops” like a bunny then talks about tigers obsessively (linking her to rabbits/tigers similar to the other alters/Will/Lonnie). Terry also imagines tigers and kali says to Alice they can all be tigers together.

- one of the only male psychic experiments (who can see the future) is gay

- Terry is into lord of the rings, like Will. Has her and her boyfriend dress as sam & frodo (m/m ship). Terry calls her and her friends “the fellowship”.

-when Terry/Alice were injected with d**gs -they hallucinated rainbows.yikes.

- Alice (like Lonnie) is a car mechanic. She can see the future like Will the wise and says “monsters of course my mind has them as long as they stayed in there, everything would be alright? Wouldn’t it?” (in her visions she saw the demogorgan).

(completed) graphic ST novels (by Jody Hozer) so far (+ other st comics).

*Jody Hozer writes all the graphic novels (every novel is 4 chapters each) - the will byers comic, number 6 comic , into the fire comic, and at the moment she’s writing the d&d series and the summer camp series (which isn’t done yet). Then there’s the occasional 1 chapter st comics not written by her.

- Number 6 has (the ability to foresee the future like Will the wise/Alice) and has an ab*sive dad.

When having a nightmare of the demogorgan ...she says as she wakes up “screw you dad” (another hint the demogrgan -aka in d&d means ‘deep father’ ...is Lonnie).

- when number 6 and others run they say they’re’ “rabbiting”(which yes technically makes sense but I found such an uncommon phrase odd.)

- The (summer camp and d&d graphic novels aren’t completed yet) but they establish d&d creatures are based off real life people the boys don’t like in real life. Or that d&d is used as an outlet to explain true events from their pasts -but they just give the true stories a d&d fantasy slant.

- Which brings me to the halloween oneshot(not by Hozer),taking place before s1. Will tells a scary story told to him by Jonathan, and originally told to him by Lonnie. Says the boys have to keep it a secret cause it was something he was never supposed to tell to anyone. Mike says he has to finish the story he started. It’s about a “ch*lld-eater” monster first attacking a boy near the quarry (like where Will was found) and attacking kids in a library (where Will was also found in s1).When the child sees the sheriff she bangs on the library door begging for help-he ignores her , walks away, and tells the other cops to never speak of what they saw as she screams for help. Because the previous sheriff was in kahoots with the monster. It def had some ... uh questionable imagery too 0_0

The vine in the mouth is also like the one in Will’s mouth (when Joyce found him in the library).And of course Dustin asks whether or not something like that could be covered up.

- In the “bully comic” (about troy) also not by Jody. We focus on Troy and his ab*sive dad (who encourages him to fight/ditch his best friend). The dad has a drinking problem (gets fired), calls Troy a “mess” , pushes him, and constantly encourages Troy to be vi*lent/macho. He pretty much tries sabotaging the relationship Troy has with his friend (which I could see Lonnie doing in the future with byler).The dad/troy is framed similarly to when Billy gives Max a ride home- after both ab*sers give bad advice saying not to hang out with their friend (after witnessing them fight in the school parking lot). Dad also laughs about almost k*lling a squirrel (a trait we see troy mimic)- and we see El feel guilty about k*lling a squirrel in s2. At the end of the comic- Troy (like Will) after making up with his bff james- moves leaving his best friend behind.

- (into the fire) Twins: (one was normal with no powers living in the real world and the twin with fire powers is trapped in a dark sunless “cold” world styled like a psych facility/medieval fantasy) . pics in link.She hated her reflection cause it reminded her of being betrayed by her normal non powered twin who left her behind in the ‘cold’ place. She’d call herself a ‘hunter’ who would defend herself and attack others to never be hurt again. Her powers being unleashed were described like opening “a door.” And she loves her twin deep down and just wants friends . And fire twin goes to the “other side” to reunite with her reflection and find happiness in the real world. *also there’s sunflower/bunny symbols which she lights on fire-which can relate back to Will/Terry/Lonnie etc. The twins = Will & Will the wise (mf)

Mirrors also connect to Will and Will the wise via the canon spotify playlists too.

Will playlist (song: mirror in the bathroom)-Mirror in the bathroom Please talk free.The door is locked -Just you and me.Mirror in the bathroom recompense for all my crimes of self defense.Cures you whisper make no sense!Drift gently into Mental illness.

Demogorgan playlist ( from perspective of Will the wise aka the mf) (song: are you dead yet? )-”polluted soul through a mirror I behold.Throw a punch, shards bleed on the floor. tearing me apart. but I don't care anymore.Should I regret or ask myself are you dead yet?Wake up, don't cry. Regenerate to deny the truth. The fiction you live in blindfolds your eyes. Disclosure, self loathing, this time you've gone too far.Or could it be, my nemesis, that you are me?

(*st ‘into the fire’ comic. the fire powered twin’s thoughts echo the song)

*I think this foreshadows the later plot points of mf (will the wise ) and Will interacting via mirrors. The fire-wielding twin and the non powered twin had a lot of mirror imagery. Including the fire powered twin (Who denies reality/and imagines herself in a fantasy world) punching her reflection because it reminds her of her non-powered twin. Here’s some cover art from the novels showing how much they emphasize mirrors.

*And in s4 movies Black swan - “the black and white swan twins (two halves of the same person-Nina)” had creepy mirror imagery. In long kiss goodnight the women with DID talks to her “ (supposed)dark 1/2″ via a mirror (in a dream). in ‘the visit’ the teen girl who’s dad abandoned her when young- refuses to look in the mirror (and it’s never explained why she hates her reflection). So yes I think we’ll see this in s4 or 5. We already see the mf take on the appearance of Billy when talking to him.

- Will in “zombie boy” comic is afraid he’s a monster.

also lets appreciate the lil byler moment of Mike and Will being the only zombies and mike comforting him. honestly , though, the characters were pretty out of character for most of this 1 ch comic (until the end) tbh.

- in the “d&d comic” mf is (possibly) described as a “protector” (aka like how i said the mf is probably a perpetrator alter- which are misguided protectors).

*update now that it’s finished... hinting Will created everything subconsciously.

‘Runaway Max’ novel (before s3)

(I didn’t get time to read this book unlike ‘suspicious minds’ -so can’t show screen shots of everything others talked about. May read it eventually)

-Max compares Billy to ‘her monster’ and a ‘shadow’ that will attack anyone that comes close (mf parallel).

- Dart k*lled a cat, El’s papa tried to force her to k*ll a cat. And Billy when seeing a d*ad cat lights it on fire for a “viking funeral”. A connection to WW (who has fire powers) and El & dart.

-Max and Billy both are into cars and bond over fixing them (similar to Lonnie’s interest in fixing up cars). And since Lonnie tried to brag to Jonathan about fixing a car up and Will is into tech it wouldn’t be a stretch that Lonnie and Will were into fixing cars together (like Max/billy who would hang out at a autoshop in Cali) . Similar to Will ,max says hanging with Billy wasn’t always so bad- which made things more confusing to her.

- Max compares Billy being beat up by Neil: to ‘punching a pocket of a baseball glove’. This is interesting since this book was pre-s3 which was when they established the connection of billy and his dad to baseball (similar to s1 saying Lonnie taught Will baseball).

-Billy’s friend is a nice ‘music snob’ . He tries distracting Max with music while Billy is burning the cat. Which reminds me of Jonathan trying to distract Will from their parents fighting in the next room-with music

- Max’s bio dad is a criminal who takes her to shady bars, and Max fears he’d ‘get bored of her’. Max also ran away from her mom to her dad’s 2x.Which reminds me of Jonathan thinking Will ran to Lonnie’s in s1.

-Max mentions how Billy misses his friends after moving out of Cali. And he starts acting even worse-after the move. Which will probably be the case for Will (at least a bit) when moving to California.

-Billy tells Max Neil isn’t his ‘real dad’ either because Neil can’t be a father to anyone.

-Billy also tells Max who (at the time ) is 12 years old not to act “easy” and breaks her best friend’s (Nate’s) arm over someone joking he was Max’s boyfriend and also cause Nate tried to get in between Billy bullying Max. Eventually all her Cali friends ditch her cause they’re afraid of Billy.And Ugh- why could I see Lonnie doing something like this in the future with Will/his new friends.

- Creepily Max says Billy doesn’t fool around with her like other girls not because of her age or being family. But cause she wasn’t ‘attractive’. This whole excerpt gave me the heeby jeebies,on so many levels, honestly. Almost like he’s jealous- and controlling her cause he doesn’t want Max to have any love interests. Maybe i’m just missing the context? But ugh... excerpt:

Will byers secret Files

-Hopper gets scared by a pumpkin-scarecrow. And in Will’s canon journal when talking about the mindflayer and his nightmares draws the same scare-crow , Hopper saw. There’s also a lot of s4-5 foreshadowing in the book... but that’s a post for another day.

Darkness on the edge of town (Hopper novel)

*didn’t get time to read this (except the preview)

I think it’s more foreshadowing for future seasons though- cult/supposed ritual k*llings, people being wrongly blamed for those crimes-like the hellfire club , most likely. (similar to the guy number 3 in the number 6 comic) saint john in the novel also has the same brain control powers as 3- similar to the mf. .” When a blackout plunges the boroughs into chaos, Hopper must escape the the mobs in the streets to make sure his family is safe and stop Saint John from fulfilling his prophecy.” I already talked about here- how the next few seasons would start having more religious symbolism/a future apocalypse (based on what we’ve seen in the show/s4 movies). Although, i think there’s quite a few differences between (the novel’s) saint john and Will the wise. Hopper is also a star wars nerd like the boys (alter hint)

Canon spotify songs (posted after s2/before s3) hinting at DID/ alter /lonnie stuff-

Will and Will the wise (aka the mf) being an alter

*Used Will and the demogorgan playlist (which i think has perspectives of Will the wise aka the mf, demogorgan, and Lonnie).

Besides the mirror songs previously mentioned...

Will (cold inside)-Doctor the problem's in my chest.My heart feels cold as ice but it's anybody's guess?Doctor can you help me cause I don't feel right?Better make it fast before I change my mind. Doctor can you help me cause I don't feel right?Better make it fast before I change my mindWell it's cold, cold, cold, cold inside. Darker in the day than the dead of night Cold, cold, cold, cold inside...Counselor give me some advice Tell me how hard will I fall if I live a double life?

El (ghost)-your ghost, the ghost of you.It keeps me awake.My friends had you figured out.Yeah they saw what's inside of you. You tried hiding another you.But your evil was coming through... living in the shade Your cold heart makes my spirit shake.

El (monster Lead me home)-I don't know what, what I was afraid of, I was afraid oooof...Monster take me somewhere...We walk in shadow.Monster lead me home.Where there is no place to hide.Stranger on the other side We walk in shadow.Monster lead me home.

The’ innerworld’/ other hints Max, El, Hopper, and Billy are alters of Will’s

Max (Logical song)-I know it sounds absurd. Please tell me who I am, who I am, who I am, who I am?

EL(Buzzcut season)-I remember when your head caught flame It kissed your scalp and caressed your brain ...nothing's wrong when nothing's true. I live in a hologram with you Where all the things that we do for fun . Play along (make-believe it's hyper real) But I live in a hologram with you.

Billy (broken bones)-Broken bones.Stay alone. If I see only what I believe -reality's bound by what I conceive

Max (Why can’t i touch it)-Well, it seems so real.I can see it.And it seems so real-I can feel it.And it seems so real-I can taste it.And it seems so real-I can hear it.So why can't I touch it?

Hopper (breakers)-Just to keep me from losing my mind .It's so easy to drown in the dream.Oh, and everything is not what it seems This life is but a dream.Shatter illusions that hold your spirit down ...From the inside, so it seems.Oh, I'm telling you it's all a dream It's all a dream It's all a dream It's all a dream It's all a It's all a dream.”

Max (comfortably numb)-When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse out of the corner of my eye.I turned to look but it was gone.I cannot put my finger on it now.The child is grown.The dream is gone.I have become comfortably numb.

Max (Kids aren’t alright)-Still it's hard Hard to see Fragile lives, shattered dreams...What the hell is going on? The cruelest dream, reality.

El(team)-Livin' in ruins of a palace within my dreams. And you know we're on each other's team

Hopper (denial twist) ( just change ‘she’ to ‘he’)-Just because she makes you feel wrong she don't mean to be mean or hurt you on purpose, boy!Take a tip and do yourself a little service...by playing a different role Ya, by playing a different role, oh.The boat ya you know she's rockin' it.And the truth well ya know there's no stoppin' it.So what, somebody left you in a rut and wants to be the one who's in control.But the feeling that you're under can really make you wonder.How the hell she can be so cold?So now you're mad, denying the truth.And it's getting in the wisdom in the back of your tooth

El (the story)-You see the smile that's on my mouth.It's hiding the words that don't come out.And all of my friends who think that I'm blessed.They don't know my head is a mess.No they don't know who I really am.And they don't know what I've been through

El (hero) ( pretty much alludes to El being a construct of Will’s mind similar to his juju zombies in the d&d story he wrote )-Who knows what you'll find when you look inside (billy’s mind)?Haunted beach (billy flashback), roll the dice.The zombies in the corner aren't amused (d&d ref).Play the part of the blushing bride...Out of view, cloaked by night...My spirit dims, but I feel the force"No longer in my hands," (loses powers) .I say to you .I could've been a hero, I could've been a zero.Could've been all these thingsI could've been nothing, I could've had something.Could've been all these things.And if I am unable, tell him that I'll try but underneath the table will spin the wheel and hope for gold. Oh, and where it stops, nobody knows.

Max (it’s real)-I don't know who's behind the wheel.Sometimes I feel like I don't know The deal.But when I tell you how I feel-Believe me when I say It's real.I skated on a frozen Sea.It's real as far as I Can see?

Max (Halloween)-Because your role is planned for you there's nothing you can do.

El (White rabbit... alice and wonderland/lonnie ref)-And if you go chasing rabbits, and you know you're going to fall...When logic and proportion have fallen sloppy dead.

demogrogan(Dimensions of horror)-Gaze upon the ancient face you dread (lonnie)... Passing through the doors, into Dimensions Of Horror. Haunting visions from the past, rise once more.Realms of darkness, terror, death and gore.Scream in fear, your sanity is lost

demogorgan (SCHORCHED)-Terrorizing madness. Vivid dreams. internal. Hallucinating the unknown. Abstract entities prey.Through superhuman abilities.Fragments of memory erased.

demogrogan (Calling from a dream)-the shadow king...seven spirits (7 ref) Swarming around his head.Close your eyes.Listen to my call. Our bond will bring us together again.I will wait for you. For our hearts still beat as one.Listen to my calling from a dream. (integration?)

Maybe a coincidence or a hint at Will having both male &female alters?Billy (dude looks like a lady)- What a funky lady...Oh, he was a lady.Dude looks like a lady. Hopper (turn the page)-All the same old cliches,"Is that a woman or a man?" Max ( rebel rebel) (this was on her her pre s3 spotify list + post s3 “wrapped list”)- you got your mother in a whirl, doesn’t know if you’re a boy or girl?

SHIT DAD/ AB*SIVE FAMILY

*trigger w*rning ahead for dark themes like s**ual ab*se

demogorgan (my children)My children I never loved them.Why feel that way when their existence is my business?My children...feral vessals of my selfinterest...So don't lean on me man 'Cause I ain't got nothing to give.Don't lean on me man 'Cause I ain't got nothing to give.My children they're right behind you My children they're gonna beat you.My children if you let them Oh, oh, my children.

demogorgan (black dahlia-window): I’m not quoting the lyrics you can just look it up. it’s messed up.Based on the 1st person pov of Gilles de Rais -k**ler and p*d*rest who also kidnapped a cleric.

Will (creature comfort)-Some boys hate themselves.Spend their lives resenting their fathers... hate their bodies .Stand in the mirror (another mirror ref) and wait for the feedback.Some boys get too much, too much love, too much touch.

Jonathan’s Playlist- We’re happy family: “Eating refried beans (poverty). Gulpin’ down Thorazines (pills for a mood disorder). We ain’t got no friends (s2 ref). Our troubles never end. Daddy likes men. Daddy’s telling LIES.”

Jonathan’s playlist-Enter sandman: “Don’t forget my son. Sleep with one eye open. Gripping your pillow tight, Exit light, Enter night. Take my hand, we’re off to never-never land. Something’s wrong, shut the light, heavy thoughts tonight. Dreams of LIARS and of things that will bite, yeah. Hush little baby don’t say a word, and never mind that noise you heard. It’s just the beasts under your bed, in your closet in your head.”

Jonathan (The killing moon-guy sings this)-So soon you'll take me up in your arms. Too late to beg you or cancel it. Against your will!He will wait until you give yourself to him...In starlit nights I saw you.So cruelly you kissed me... unwillingly mine.

jonathan (haunted)-You and I both know that the house is haunted And you and I both know that the ghost is me. You used to catch me in your bed-sheets just a-rattling your chains.Well back then , it didn't seem so strange...In the midnight hour..I was busy trying to charm that snake. When the sun came up we had no place to hide...You and I both know that the house is haunted yeah you and I both know that the ghost is YOU! You used to walk around screaming, all slamming all 'dem doors Well I'm all grown up now and I don't scare easy no more But you and I both know.

Hopper (Confession)-Now I'm on the low Confession, to a virgin ghost Admission, force you know.

hopper (Tomorrow ) Yeah, and back when s*x and amph*tamines were the staples of our childhood physique.

Max (Last caress)-I got something to say.I k**led your baby today.And it doesn't matter much to me.As long as it's de*d.Well I got something to say.I r*ped your mother today.And it doesn't matter much to me.As long as she spread. (Lonnie pov? Neil?messed up song to be on Max’s list)

hopper House of the rising sun- And my father was a gamblin' man Way down in New Orleans... And the only time he's satisfied Is when he's on a drunk

Max Poor relations-An attitude, no patience, he's paper thin.Talking over everything you have to say...Don't correct the things he said, what's the use?Can't handle violence.Can't handle violence.Learning to love the abuse you can't live without.Your familiar oppression, your daily injustice...That loser man that belongs to you, he's ruling you.

el (sweet dreams are made of this)- Some of them want to use you ...Some of them want to ab*se you.Sweet dreams are made of this...Hold your head up.Keep your head up, movin' on.

Max (Alternative ulster)-They say they're a part of you.And that's not true, you know.They say they've got control of you.And that's a lie, you know.They say you will never Be free, free, free

max In bloom-”Sometimes at night I let it get to me.And last night it had me down and feeling NUMB...And thinking back upon those days Way way back when I was young.I was such a little shit.Cos I was always on the run.Well you know just what they say-Just like father then like son.Don't delude me with your sympathy.Cos I can do this on my own.And this will be the last time-That I break down and wanna crawl to bed. “(since Billy has a playlist I found this song choice being on hers instead of his interesting- in fact almost all of Max’s songs are from the 1st person perspective of a boy unlike the other gals.)

Max (comfortably numb)-The child is grown.The dream is gone.I have become comfortably NUMB.

hopper (numb)-Honey, here I go again Down that crooked road of sin.My momma locked me out again And hung me high to rust under the rain I am NUMB( 8x)....Little bluebird at my window Sing a pretty song for me Don't you know that you can fly, fly, fly away Don't you know that you can leave I am numb.

other psych songs

Hopper (life of sin)-Every morning when I rise I look in the mirror (another mirror ref) and despise the sight of everything and all that I've become. The level of my medicating some might find intimidating But that's alright cause' it don't bother me none.

Max (Moon over marin)- “Dive in my scalding wooden tub (connects to mf/el)...There, wasn't that a nice visit?Don't forget, a psychiatrist is on duty twenty-four hours a day in the blue room...Drink plenty of water when you take these.Now you can relax.” ( I wonder if stranger writers saying to “drink plenty of water” is secretly a line said by a psych person in s4?)

Max (Feeling ok)-My doctor says that I should take it -At least I won't have to keep faking.I know, someday I'll find it-Where I, I least expect it.Today I know I feel ok.

Max ( Going gets tough)-.No home since the fire.Me and the ash can't settle down...So I sink another round-Placebo for pain.And there's no one for to blame . I refuse to accept-That my work is all in vain...Still always remembering .When the going gets tough .That the labor of our love-Will reward us soon enough.

Max (Comfortably numb)-Hello? (Hello? Hello? Hello?)Is there anybody in there?Just nod if you can hear me.Is there anyone home?Come on now-I hear you're feeling down.Well I can ease your pain .Get you on your feet again.Relax // Now I've got that feeling once again.I can't explain . you would not understand.This is not how I am. I have become comfortably numb.I have become comfortably numb //Okay (okay, okay, okay)Just a little pinprick.There'll be no more, ah .But you may feel a little sick.Can you stand up?I do believe it's working, good.That'll keep you going through the show.Come on it's time to go// Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying.

Explanations of Why the mf (WIll the wise)behaves the way he does

demogorgan (ww) (Cowards starved)- friends think of me as a priest.I had to show them that the weakest hands Can still make impressive fires. (aka MF = will the wise)

demogorgan (ww) (Unmerciful):I will be reborn...Tranquil demeanor.Now devoured.Surfacing malice...I can't reconcile the torment others bring unto me.I will not take any reproach.Turning the other cheek.Relentless hatred consumes.Control released.Absolved of all compassion.I am free .Look into my hate filled eyes and tell me What do you see?Surging aura of my rage Paralyzing you in fear.

Demogorgan (ww) (bodies-Beaten why for (why for)?Can't take much more.(Here we go, here we go, here we go).One, nothing wrong with me,Two, nothing wrong with me.Three, nothing wrong with me.Four, nothing wrong with me.One, something's got to give.Two, something's got to give.Three, something's got to give now...You're all by yourself but you're not alone...Driven by hate consumed by fear.

demogrgan (ww)-Orbs used as transmitters carry electromagnetic beams from above (affecting magnetic fields in the show).Silence, manipulated, tortured ...How immune is your system of suffering?Its in the blood of suffering (familial ref).Its in the blood.

Demogrgan (Monster)-I shoot the lights out..Whoa, just another lonely night...None of who you get it, ain't nobody cold as this.A zombie (will ref) with no conscience .Everybody knows I'm a motherfucking monster. Everybody wanna know what my Achilles' heel is? Love I don't get enough of it.

#stranger things #will byers #stranger things comics #did theory

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