#eleven hopper x sister reader

[bambisworlds]

the freak and the new girl (1)

part two, part three

eddie munson is the freak of hawkins high. y/n is the new girl. like eleven, she was taken in by hopper after getting rescued from the lab. y/n has been in bad relationship after bad relationship since attending public school and was starting to give up on finding a healthy, loving relationship until eddie munson changed everything (1,623 word count)

content warnings, mdni 18+

f!reader, hopper!reader, bisexual!reader, telekinetic!reader, no physical reader description, reader grew up in the lab like eleven, reader can sing, slow burn, friends to lovers, fluff fluff fluff, jason carver and billy hargrove are readers exes, reader has a female ex named amelie, this follows the season 2 plot but the party are freshmen instead cause it makes things easier, eleven is in public school for the season 2 plot, let me know if i forgot anything x

my masterlist

There’s always been some unspoken understanding between Eddie Munson and I. Whenever my ex-boyfriend Jason Carver got into it with Eddie, I came to Eddie’s defense. Sure, it was a soft comment about Jason backing off, but it was something. Eddie would nod his head in acknowledgment or say something like “Thanks sweetheart”. It was mainly to get to Jason but also to show his genuine thanks to me. 

Jason was an ass, I was not. Eddie knew this. That’s why he spent many an hour wondering why the fuck I was dating Jason. The simple answer was Jason was the first boy to show an interest in me at Hawkins High and I was lonely. I was desperate for attention. I didn’t know that Jason was a bad boyfriend per se. I didn’t know what a good boyfriend should behave like. The only other relationship I had was when I was at the lab. That relationship consisted of stolen glances, hidden touches, and love notes slipped under doors. When we were around other people we acted as if we were strangers.

I’d never been in a so-called public relationship like this. The conclusion I came to is that no matter what kind of relationship you’re in your boyfriend ignores you. That’s just how it is. When I was in my, I guess you could call my relationship, with Amelie it was the same thing. Treat me like a lover behind closed doors then like a stranger in public.

With Billy though… that was when I started to get the idea this wasn’t what a relationship should be like. Billy wasn’t ever nice, not even behind closed doors. I wasn’t even sure if he liked me or just the idea of me. He liked to rub it to the other popular kids, especially Jason, that he could date the new girl too.

The first time I experienced what a good boyfriend could be like was with Eddie Munson. The moment was fleeting in the hall in between classes but it shocked me down to my core.

Eddie was walking past me when he suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me to a stop, “Woah… you like Motley Crue? You?” he asked me in disbelief, motioning to the Motley Crue t-shirt I was wearing.

“Yeah?” I answered, feeling unsure.

“Jesus, why the hell are you dating Carver? You’re like my dream girl.” he joked before patting my arm and starting back down the hallway like nothing happened. 

Jason and Billy never complimented me.

Eddie told me that I was his dream girl in 1983. Now it’s nearing 1985 and I still think about it. I’m not sure why it took me so long to see Eddie as someone I could date. I think it was all of Hopper’s complaining about Eddie’s parents. He called them low-life wastes of space. I kinda assumed Eddie would be the same way. I was so unbelievably wrong.

I sat alone next to the concession stand in the arcade sipping a Coke. My seat was away from everyone else but I still had a clear view of my sister Eleven, Mike, her boyfriend, Will, Lucas, and Dustin. They were all circled around a machine, yelling and laughing at the same time.

Will’s mom, Joyce, gave me the task of keeping a close eye on Will. His PTSD had been flaring up while we got closer to the anniversary of his disappearance. I’m all too familiar with PTSD so I took this task seriously, but I didn’t want to be the overbearing older sister to Eleven.

“Y/n?” A voice spoke up from beside me. I stopped sipping on my drink, the straw still sitting between my lips.

“Hey, Eddie.” I greeted with a soft smile. He wore his typical leather jacket and D&D jean vest. It made his back look hot. 

“What the hell are you doing here?” he asked with a smile, plopping on the bench across from me at the table.

“Babysitting.” I motioned to where Eleven and her pals were standing.

“And you’re just gonna sit there instead of playing games?” he teases.

“I don’t know how to play any.” I shrug. Eddie’s mouth dropped open dramatically and I laughed. “What? I don’t think Jane does either, to be honest.” I say, using El’s legal name instead of her chosen name.

“Get up, get up.” he motions at me as he stands up. I do as he says, “C’mon I’ll show you.” he insists as I throw my half-drunk coke in a trash bin. He walks with some pep in his step as he leads me over to a machine, “Ever play this one?” he motions to the machine in front of us and I shake my head, “You’ve never played Galaga?” he gapes, “Jesus you’ve never lived!” he gasps and I laugh again. No one could ever make me laugh this easily. He ushered me to stand closer to him so he could explain how to play it. I could smell cigarette smoke, the smell clinging to his hair that would probably stick to mine. 

After a good 5 minutes of instruction, he coached me through my first try, cheering me on and giving me advice in my ear. We stood at that machine together for 30 minutes, our laughter radiating around us until a timid voice spoke up behind me.

“Y/n? It’s 8:45. We should probably head home.” Will says and I finally separate myself from the Galaga machine. “Hey, Eddie.” Will greeted his fellow Hellfire Club member.

“Byers.” Eddie nodded his head in greeting, “Well, this was fun Hopper. We should do it again sometime.” Eddie smiles and I nod.

“It was. Now when I beat Dustin’s ass I’ll have you to thank.” I tell Eddie goodnight, leading Will, Mike and Eleven out to my car.

“Since when are you and Eddie friends?” Mike asks me, sitting beside El in the backseat as I drive to his house.

“Since today I guess.” I shrug, “We’re not not friends. We say hi and stuff to each other in the hall.” 

“Well, Eddie’s cool. A lot cooler than the jerks you used to hang out with.” Will says, alluding to Jason and the nauseating popular kids that he would hang out with, therefore I hung out with.

“Yeah.” I agree softly. After dropping off Mike, then Will and listening while Joyce thanked me profusely, I headed to Hop’s cabin.

“Is Eddie your boyfriend?” El asks, looking out the car window as we drive.

“No.” I chuckle, “Although that wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.”

“Eddie’s nice,” El notes as we pull into the driveway. I twirled my keys in my hand and unlocked the door from the inside out with my mind. 

“We’re home,” I announce, Hopper coming out of the bathroom, clearly fresh out of the shower.

“Have fun?” he asks and I nod.

“Y/n was with a boy,” El tells him as if it was the most casual thing in the world.

“Another one? Give your old man a break.” he sighs dramatically, sitting down in the recliner.

“I wasn’t with him. He was there and so was I so he showed me how to play one of the games.” I insist, heading towards my room.

“Who was he?” Hopper asks, stopping me in my tracks.

“Eddie Munson,” I answered nervously.

“Munson? That kid’s a dipshit.” Hop answers without missing a beat.

“Dad, have you even met him?” I ask. Silence. “Exactly,” I argued, heading into my room.

The next day at school, for the first time ever, Eddie sat beside me in class. That same day he invited me to sit with him and the Hellfire Club at lunch. I hesitated but with El's encouragement, I did.

At some point, the group got to the topic of Will’s drawing abilities and for some reason, he threw me under the bus, “Y/n can sing.” 

Eddie’s head whipped towards me so quickly I was scared his neck would break, “You sing?”

“Kind of.”

“She is really good.” El insists, nodding at me encouragingly.

“Don’t you write music and stuff?” Mike asks from beside El, “I’ve seen your guitar and sheet music in the dining room like a billion times.”

“You play the guitar?” Eddie’s eyes widened even more if that was possible.

“Yeah,” I confirm with a soft smile.

Eddie grabs his chest dramatically, “God you really are my dream girl.” he sighs. 

The time he said that to me in the hall last school year came to mind. I smiled.

“Show him your songs.” El encourages, motioning to the journal next to my food tray.

“Are you telling me that journal right there that you’re always writing in is filled with songs that came out of that pretty little head?” Eddie asks me and I nod. “Can I read some? Pretty please.” he sticks his bottom lip out and gives me puppy dog eyes.

“If I let you, you have to promise to not read any others. They’re personal.” I tell him, giving him the most ‘no bullshit’ face I could muster.

“Okay, okay,” he mutters, holding his hands up in defense. I bite my lip nervously, flipping through the pages.

“That one.” Eleven stops my flipping, pointing at one of the pages. I let out a breath and handed it to Eddie.

“Dark…” he notes as he continues to read. I tap my leg nervously, “I love it.” he smiles widely before closing the journal and handing it back to me.

“Thanks.” I smile. 

“Anytime you wanna show off your writing skills to someone I’m here,” he says with a wink and I unwillingly blush.

if you have any requests including the people on my masterlist please comment them below any of my posts or in my submissions!! (check here: about my blog  to see what things i'm not comfortable with in regards to requests <3)

[silent-stories]

𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝟑 𝐀.𝐌

Pairing: Eddie x F!Hopper!Reader (adopted or not)

Summary: Your dad would never approve of your relationship with Eddie, so you sneak out for a night walk in the woods with him.

00.13 a.m

"Where are you going?" Eleven's voice reached your ears as you got out of your bed trying not to make the slightest noise that could disturb the silent night.

You turned around as your bare feet touched the wooden floor, and you found your little sister sitting on her bed looking at you quizzically and half asleep, her wavy hair falling over her eyes.

You sighed, staring at the window you'd intended to jump down that night, the moonlight was filtering through the glass and reflecting off the floor as you walked over to El's bed. "Can you keep a secret like a good sister?"

She thought about it for a moment. "Am I not a good sister?"

"What? No, of course you are, it's just that... Dad doesn't have to know, okay?" You explained, whispering and hoping that Hopper in the room next to yours was snoring loud enough to drown out your voices.

El nodded.

"I'm seeing a boy."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"Is he the boy with pretty eyes you were talking about last week?"

You froze, either El was a very smart kid or you weren't paying attention at all when you were talking about Eddie with her. "Yeah...yeah he is."

"Why Hopper doesn't have to know?"

"Because when your dad is a cop and your boyfriend has already been arrested three times, family dinners might get a little awkward."

El nodded, thinking silently. "Why was he arrested?"

"The first time because he caught him selling dr..." You stopped, thinking that these weren't things El should have known, cursing the thousand questions he could every time in your mind. "It's not really important."

"He's not a bad guy, is he? Hopper says he only arrests bad guys."

A corner of your lips lifted at the thought of El worrying about you. "No. Absolutely not. A lot of people think he is but...he's not. He's sweet and...he cares about me."

A smile appeared on the girl's lips. "He's like Mike!"

"Like Mike?" You scoffed. "He's way better than Mike."

She laughed, shaking her head.

"But it's very important that you don't tell dad, okay?"

She nodded. "Okay. Good luck with the boy with pretty eyes."

You giggled, bringing a hand to ruffle her hair. "You are the best sister ever."

You pulled on the boots you'd left in the corner of the room and grabbed a jacket off a chair.

El waved to you as you slowly opened the window and sat on the edge, breathing in the fresh but not too cold air of the night.

You waved back to her and smiled before jumping out the window, your boots making a soft thud as they hit the wood of the porch.

You looked around for a moment, enjoying the silence of the night which wasn't really a silence, after all.

You could hear an owl in the distance, the croaking of frogs and the squealing of some of the small animals that lived in the woods. Two bats flew over you one after the other almost as if they were playing and you instinctively ducked so as not to collide with them.

You looked around, searching for the spot among the trees and bushes where the path that would take you to where Eddie told you you would meet started.

You breathed in the air that smelled of moss and wet grass. Then, after taking one last look at your house, you went into the woods.

00.39 a.m

When you saw him, his back was leaning against a big old looking tree, he was wearing a black shirt with a red flannel over it. As soon as he saw you a big smile appeared on his face as he walked towards you.

You'd always loved the way his face lit up whenever he saw you, as if just your presence made him happier.

It was night and probably someone would have been frightened to see a figure in the woods walking towards them, in the dark of the night illuminated only by the light of the moon, but not you, you would have recognized him even without the slightest light.

"Hey, princess. I almost thought your dad caught you." He said as he reached up to you and his lips met yours in a quick but soft kiss.

"Baby, you know I love you-"

"But?" His expression suddenly turned concerned.

"But you could have chosen a more recognizable place, I walked around this fucking wood for half an hour before I found you." You chuckled before pushing him back towards you, placing a hand behind his neck as your fingers tangled with his hair. "But you're worth it."

When your lips parted, Eddie looked at the tree he was leaning against some moments bofore. "But I described this tree to you perfectly!"

You rolled your eyes. "No, you told me it looked like Treebeard from the Lord of the Rings. And trust me, even though I've read it dozens of times it wasn't that easy to find."

He chuckled as he put his arm around your shoulders and started your night walk.

"Did you just say you've read The Lord of the Rings dozens of times?"

You huffed but raised an arm to intertwine your fingers with his. "That wasn't the point."

When you felt his fingers brushing your face, you turned your head towards his hand to leave a kiss on his knuckles.

A smirk was on his lips now. "I knew my girlfriend was a nerd."

1.26 a.m

"She has hair like yours, but her ears are pointed, because, you know, she's an elf. She's kind and always willing to help her companions but it's best not to make her mad because she's also a ruthless killer who won't hesitate to cut your insides to pieces if you do hurt her family." Eddie continued to tell you about his latest DnD campaign, describing the new characters in great detail, his arm still around your shoulders as you continued walking through the woods, following the path.

When you went out at night to meet him in the woods like that, sometimes you were afraid that you would get lost and that you would never be able to get out again, but then you always remembered that you had Eddie by your side and that if something like that happened he would turn him into a another one of your adventures.

"Her eyes the exact same shade as yours and-"

"Wait…did you base one of your characters on me?" You asked with a smirk.

"Maybe?" His uncertain tone let you know that the sincere answer would be yes.

"Well, what an honor, I wonder if-"

A sudden rustle coming from the bushes in front of you made you stop, your last words echoing in the silence of the woods.

"Did you hear that?" You asked, your voice reduced to a whisper.

"Yeah." Eddie's arm was softly pushing you behind him, as if to protect you from some possible danger but you stopped him and stayed beside him even after his glare.

"What if it's a wolf?" You asked as you continued to stare at the bushes moving.

"There are no wolves in Indiana."

"How do you know?"

"I've never seen one."

"Yes, because they usually hide behind bushes like that one."

When the snout of a weird animal popped up in the branches, your grip on Eddie's arm loosened.

"Oh, it doesn't look like a wolf."

A raccoon scrurred towards you, sniffing the ground probably looking for something to eat.

"Hey Buddy!" Eddie exclaimed as if he was saying hi to an old friend.

You brought your arms to your sides. "What? Do you know the raccoon?"

"I think it's the same one who's always hanging around the trailer area. Sometimes I leave him food." He explained with a smile on his lips as he knelt down and the raccoon approached him curiously.

"Eddie, it could carry some disease."

"Oh, shut up. Look how cute he is."

"All right, Snow White, go ahed. Don't come complaining to me when you have rabies." You commented as Eddie patted the raccoon's head like it was a puppy.

Eddie Munson.

The boy that people thought was a cult leader who worshiped the devil.

The boy who tried to hide his true feelings and his soft side to protect himself, creating an armor around himself, through which only those who really knew him could see.

Eddie Munson, who was called a "freak" by almost every single Hawkings resident, was kneeling in the mud to pet a raccoon, claiming he was "cute".

When he stood up, you instinctively pushed him towards you for a kiss, his lips were warm even if the night was cool.

He smiled. "What was this for?"

"Because you are so fucking pretty."

He scoffed. "Pretty? I'm not pr-"

He didn't have time to reply that your lips were on his again."Don't argue with me."

A kind of squeak, after a few minutes, made you separate.

Between your feet, walked four little raccoons, their black and white muzzles pointed at you, as if asking what the hell you were doing in the woods in the middle of the night.

"I think your raccoon is a mom."

Eddie chuckled when one of them tried to climb up your leg, falling after a few seconds.

"Who is Snow White now?"

"Oh, shut up."

2.00 a.m

"I don't wanna do that anymore." You said as you sat next to Eddie at the foot of one of the trees around Lover's Lake.

The moonlight reflected off the water surface creating an atmosphere of complete calm and the croaking of the frogs was all around you.

Eddie turned to you with a worried expression, you could almost see his anxiety suddenly rise and you cursed your choice of words.

"Are you breaking up with me?"

"No!" You exclaimed, perhaps a little too quickly. "No, absolutely not. I meant hiding."

"Hiding?"

"Going out at night, you know. I want to tell my father about us." You explained.

A gust of wind rustled the leaves and nearly drowned out Eddie's only word. "Oh."

"Is that a problem?"

"Not for me. It sure will be for him though. I don't think he likes me very much." He added the last part with a not-quite-genuine chuckle, probably thinking back to all the times he'd been arrested before.

"Eddie, I love you. So he'll get over it."

He pulled you closer to him, until you sat between his legs, and planted a kiss on your head as you rested your back against his chest. "I love you too" He murmured. "But I'm not sure your family would approve."

"Oh, my sister already knows about us." You commented, saying it like it was nothing important, but waiting for his reaction.

"What?"

You raised your head slightly towards him, your nose brushed his cheek.

"She caught me sneaking out." You explained. "But she said she's happy for us."

Eddie let out what felt like a sigh of relief.

"Good, because I don't want the little girl with superpowers against me." He chuckled.

"I would protect you with my life." You were joking, even though what you were saying wasn't too far from reality.

He giggled when you dropped a few kisses on his neck, since you couldn't reach his face from your position.

"And what about your father?" he asked after a few moments.

"He's never even given you a fine. And trust me, he usually gives a lot of them. I think he kinda likes you already."

"But he put handcuffs on me once."

"And you ran away and kept them."

His laughter echoed through the trees as his chest vibrated against your back. "I did."

"No, but seriously." You added. "I wanna tell him. And if he doesn't approve, fuck him. I'm happy when I'm with you."

Eddie held you tighter, but, as always, careful not to hurt you, enjoying the last few moments together before you both have to go home.

"He's really gonna put me in jail, this time."

You chuckled, shaking your head.

"I'll post bail."

3.14 am

You knew something was wrong when you saw that the light in your room was on.

Getting in from the window, you found yourself in front of Hopper, sitting on your bed with his arms crossed over his chest and the most pissed expression ever.

"I swear I didn't say anything!" El exclaimed, sitting cross-legged on her bed. You knew from her almost desperate tone that she meant it.

"You are up early this morning, aren't you?" You asked with a half laugh, trying to defuse.

"There are two options." He said curtly pointing an accusing finger at you. "You're either a werewolf or you owe me an explanation."

You thought about it for a moment.

"I am a werewolf?"

Not even El could hold back a laugh.

Tags: @jacklesdeanvessel @morning-sky7 @pipsqueakkitten @navs-bhat @michaelfuckinglangdon

[wishing-on-a-staranise]

Ch 2: The teenage hobby of making out.

(s.h. x gn!reader)

from the river to the sea. (get in your daily clicks, read about it, donate if you can.)

Summary: Hopper’s getting mad that his kids are kissing boys.

Word count: 7.7k

Warnings: use of (y/n); no pronouns used (gn!reader); Suggestive (sexy ice cream consumption); steamy but no smut; boner alert; hopper being a cockblock; arguing; reader is jealous of Eleven; hopper makes a 'your wife' joke (its canon); daddy issues?

A/n: this is the closest i think ive gotten to writing smut so far lol i struggled so much

Anyway ive been having the big bad no good awful time lately and feel like doing literally nothing but i really pushed myself to finish this guy so have this and also I think it's high time we get readyyy for desi!reader!!!! She will be arriving soon hopefully!!!

masterlist

...

‘You don’t tug on superman’s cape, you don’t spit into the wind.’

Hopper’s record player blares. Your eyes fling open at the intruding loud tone of at this point what you know to be Jim’s favourite song.

‘You don’t pull the mask off an old lone ranger and you don’t mess around with Jim.’ The faceless crowd chants through the speakers. Quite swell headed of himself when you really think about it. 

Your face scrunches, a yawn leaves you when you stretch under the quilt. The sheets beside you ruffle, and when you turn it is your sister, rousing from her sleep as well, Mr. Arnold, the teddy bear, in her arms. She lets out a frustrated groan at the loud song, before pulling her blanket over her head. 

You snort at that because you’re sure it's impossible to fall asleep with that playing right outside the room. This is not the first time that Jim has used this really effective strategy to annoy you and your sister out of your slumber.

You lay there for a second before finally getting up to get started with the morning, knowing full well Hopper won’t be quietening it down unless both of you were out of bed and having breakfast. It also isn't like you had neighbours to complain about the noise.

By the time you come out of the bathroom, Eleven is once again stirring awake. She stretches both her arms above her head again and lets out a deep sigh.

"Morning, El.”

She mumbles something that sounds like ‘morning’, her tone a lot less peppy than yours. she once again decides she wants to be back asleep, rolling over and burying herself in the sheets again. “I think… I hate that song now”, you hear her grumble under the mass of the comforter.

“Yeah, that happens when you are forced to listen to something a billion times. What's weird is he does have other records but he really loves the song with his name in it”, you laugh both at your sister’s and Hopper’s antics.

You sit back on the bed with an ‘oof’, looking at where she lies beside you. “Okay, kid, let's get outta bed”, you say knowing full well that the noise isn't going to stop unless you both step out of the room. “c’mon El”, you sigh, shaking her a little by her shoulders. "Don't you have to go meet Dustin today?"

El’s eyes shoot open, she looks up at you with wide eyes as if she'd forgotten about her plans. She throws the blanket and the soft toy off of her and jogs away to her room.

You chuckle to yourself at her excitement, reaching under the quilt to look for Mr. Arnold. You pull him out, brushing the messy fur around his beady eyes before putting him neatly with the rest of the pillows and get out of the room yourself.

You head out into the kitchen, the smell of roasted coffee hitting you immediately. Jim has always been notorious for having his coffee extra strong, no cream, no sugar. you remember trying it once and pledged to never do that again, not being accustomed to that taste. 

There's a box of cereal on the kitchen counter, you fix yourself a bowl and put some in another bowl for Eleven. You then head to the couch where Hopper is reading a newspaper and sipping the bitter and brown beverage, "morning" you say quietly— shouting was not needed since he had turned the player off when he noticed both you and Eleven were awake. 

"Morning kid", he greeted from behind the newspaper, not really bothering to look up.

"You have to find a better way to wake us up."

He chuckles to himself, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" he jostles the flimsy paper.

You roll your eyes which he doesn’t notice. That’s the usual with him. He doesn’t ever seem to notice you. And for the most part, you’re used to it. Somewhere between adopting you and now, things changed. Not to be mistaken, he is the closest thing you have to a father and you know he does love you but some part of this relationship feels… hollow now. Like you’re not getting enough, he’s not willing to give you enough. 

In silence, you swirl your spoon around in the floating cereal while Hopper takes a big sip of his coffee. You think to finally tell him about Steve.

Just when you were contemplating when to speak up about it, Eleven comes out of her room, still wearing the same clothes, "Morning Hop", she greets brightly.

He looks up, "Morning kiddo", he smiles before his gaze moves back to his newspaper.

“There's a bowl for you on the kitchen counter”, you let the girl know. She smiles and pours herself some milk into it.

"Hey, Hop?", The super powered girl calls out. He hums through a mouthful of soggy cereal as he looks up from the newspaper. "Can you take me to Will's?” she says while walking over to the couch where he was sitting, "Dustin is coming back today. We're surprising him"

"Oh, okay kid. We'll just leave in a bit", he sets down the papers and downs all of the cereal. He goes into his room. By the time you and Eleven are done with your breakfast, Hopper comes out, clad in his uniform. 

"Hey y/n any groceries you want me to get? Going to the Market today", he asked while putting his shoes on.

"Yeah, it's on the fridge"

The man went over to the fridge door and took the list off of it. He took a second to read the contents of the list before muttering out the last one, "icecream, again?"

"I like ice cream. We ran out", you shrugged.

"I bought a tub this sunday."

“I really like ice cream”

“seriously? this is getting more ridiculous than El’s eggo obsession–”

“hey!�� she interjects. 

“and weren’t you expanding your horizons? How’d that combo work out last night?” He looks between you and Eleven.

"It was…", she pauses, looking for a suitable word, "disgusting.” she says with the straightest face before going to her room to get changed and to put on her shoes, you assume.

“I… can't say that I disagree”

“Look kid, I'm not getting you ice cream so often, okay? Anything else?"

“...Nope that's… that’s it. Just the list.”

“‘Kay,” he shoves the paper in the pocket of his shirt. He glances over at the room that Eleven is in before clearing his throat. “Hey, do you uh…”, he looks back you, voice softer than it was just a second ago, “wanna talk about it?”

“About..?” 

“That nightmare I’m assuming you had last night.”

“... there's– there isn't anything to talk about”

“Yes there is”, he barely gets the words out of his mouth when you sigh, frustrated before getting off the couch and moving towards the kitchen. 

“C’mon kid,”, he follows behind you, “you haven't been telling me anything recently, and Owens told me–”, you groan at the name, “don't interrupt me– Owens told me that you refuse to share anything with him either.”

“I don't tell anything because there is nothing to tell. And honestly,” you put your bowl in the sink, “I don't want to talk about stupid feelings with a stupid old man”

“You think I haven't been hearing you scuttering ‘round in your room trying to fall asleep? So don't bullshit me but there is a lot to tell. He recommended these weekly check ups because they will help. I mean– look at El, she barely struggles with the night terrors or–”

“You just have to compare me to her, don’t you?”

“Owens will call saturday and you better tell him everything”, he commands with his nostrils flared.

You roll your eyes away from him, crossing your arms.

“Do you hear me? Hey! look at me when I’m talking to you”, he uses that stern voice again, the one that means ‘you better listen or else’. You aren’t sure what the ‘or else’ ever is yet you always listen when he uses that voice. You look at him, reluctantly so, “Good. now… I'm getting late. Why don't you get rid of that attitude and stop being such a brat" he shoves his wallet in his back pocket, calling out Eleven's name and she comes out wearing a navy-blue t-shirt that seemed a little too big for her, and she casts you a concerned look.

You let out a frustrated huff as soon as the door shuts close behind them. You run your fingers over your face, your head hurting again after that argument.

You then head to put the rest of the bowls in the sink and the milk in the fridge, but that's when you notice it. The Eleven's drawing— of you, Hopper and herself— that was initially stuck to the fridge door with a magnet, was now on the floor— along with the other magnets. You tried to put them back on nevertheless they fell again. You were frustrated as it is, it only made you angrier when they didn't stick. In your rage you shove them in the nearest drawer, it closes with a loud thud.

You weren't sure how this entire thing had managed to get you so mad. You wanted to rip your hair out, break all the bowls, burn the stupid phone so Owens never calls, shatter hopper's favourite coffee mug, tear apart every drawing Eleven has made of you all together. But you don't. You just stand there, trying your best to keep it at bay– the anger, the tears, both. And god, you needed to catch your breath, you needed some water.

You grab a glass of water from the tap. As it fills, you latch open the window above the sink. The window and the glass of water had become a part of your routine to calm yourself down. A compulsion at this point because if you didn't do it, everything felt off.

You guzzle down the thing, the liquid cooling you. You force yourself to close your eyes, breathing in, holding it and then breathing out– just like Hopper had taught you. Although it brings down your anger, it doesn't exactly calm you down. You blame it on the lack of wind today.

You don't keep your eyes closed for too long though. You close the window and head to your room. You don't bother with anything else, planning on hiding under the sheets for the rest of the day. It is then that you hear a knock on your bedroom window.

You look up from the mess of wrinkled sheets and you are met with the beautiful smile of your boyfriend. He gives you a little wave with a bouquet of flowers and holds up a takeaway cup from scoops ahoy. A smile automatically forms itself on your face as you walk over to the window and open it so he could climb in.

He lets himself in in a rather not ninja way, your hands flying to steady him. you take in his clothes– his scoops ahoy outfit, the colours suit him, his favourite watch snug around his wrist, the shorts fitting him perfectly, his floppy hair resting softly against his forehead— he looks beautiful to say the least. 

"Morning your highness!", He spoke up with a rich English accent– gesturing wildly with the bouquet, "Flowers picked by yours truly! Ice cream scooped, once again, by your beloved", he handed you the flowers— which you held close to your chest while showcasing a huge grin. "And guess what? New flavour! You have to try it, babe."

You adjust the crooked name tag on his shirt, "I was just leaving for work but decided to take a little detour. Hope you don't mind me coming."

"Of course I don't— it's just, if you came like two minutes earlier, Hop would've caught you."

"Close call", he wipes the imaginary sweat off of his temple, making you giggle a little.

"You look very pretty," you say before you even realise.

"I'm supposed to be a manly man! you calling me pretty and beautiful isn't helping with that", he complains only half-heartedly because he loves hearing you call him those things. No one has ever complimented him in such a way, sure he has gotten compliments about his hair or his nether regions from girls but you telling him he's pretty and cute made butterflies flutter all over in a way he didn't think was possible.

"Well, that's too bad. You are pretty", he blushes all pink when you say it, "The prettiest ever", he smiled shyly as you came closer to him— faces merely inches apart.

"Not too shabby yourself babe", he pecked the tip of your nose and then you go to put the flowers in a vase next to your bed.

“How did last night go?” he asks, following behind you.

“Hmm?”

“You were... going to tell your dad about us?”

“Oh.”

He purses his lips, “I'm guessing you didn't”

“I wanted to, I swear but then Mike Wheeler happened."

“‘Course he did”

“And then I almost did this morning too but then Jim and I had a fight, like right now..”

“Fight, about what?”

You quickly shake your head, “.. doesn't matter. I’m sorry”

“Hey, its okay. How ‘bout this okay, you.. try again. okay? whenever feels right-- no rush" you nod slowly. the boy flashes you a grin before speaking up again, "now, gimme a little kiss"

"No."

"No? why no?" he pouts.

"’Cause I want to have ice cream first", you declare, booping his nose.

He lets out a playful scoff, “is that all I am to you? I stole this just for you yesterday and I don’t even get a kiss?" he is all theatrical as he holds is palm on his chest to show just how scandalized he feels.

“Stole it?”

“Nah", he clicks his tongue as a no, shaking his head, "we get free ice cream.”

Your brows fly up at the information, “Woah, really? hmm, I need to work there.”

“Will you? Please do. My coworker pretty much hates me–”

While he is rambling, you try to snatch the cup from his hand, but before you could do so he pulls his hand away. "Ah ah ah, you gotta give me the password first to get the ice cream babe"

"What?" you ask, brows knotted together.

"Not the password", He says in a monotonous voice.

"Steve c'mon–"

"Not the password."

"Just give it to me, Steve", you try reaching for it again– to no avail.

"Not the password."

"Stevieee", you're practically draped over him, yet he somehow manages to keep the cup right out of your reach.

"Not the password", he smirks, laughing a little.

You sigh, you had to play it his way to get what you want. You give a quick kiss on his cheek– more so a peck. "Hm, warmer...", he hums, "but still not the password."

You groan all frustrated, knowing full well what he wanted. and you had no other choice than to give in. You tilt your face so your lips meet his and when you pull back, awaiting his response. He finally says, "You got it", before lowering his hand.

Steve then goes into character– sitting you down on the edge of your bed, he takes out his hat from his pocket that said 'ahoy' on it and puts it on top of your head.

He greets you how he would welcome any other customer, you giggle at his theatrical antics. "Now, since you are one rather good looking sailor, I'll let you set sail on this ocean of flavor with me with this amazing scoop of our new invention!!'

The treat is a little melted— blame it on the summer heat. tasting phenomenal, surely to be your new favourite. As Steve watches you relish the delicious flavour, he notices that the runny liquidy ice cream has managed to drip around the corner of your mouth and lower lip.

"Oh babe, you've got a–" His thumb swipes over your lower lip— eye contact unbreaking— Smearing the liquid much more than actually wiping it. He does it unreasonably slow.

"There", he pulls his arm back, and without looking at the residual ice cream on his thumb he licks it– gaze still unwavering. "Delicious", he murmured. Heat creeps up your neck and spreads through your cheeks. You both knew what Steve was doing although you'd be lying if you said that it wasn't working.

Having expected for you to be absolutely flustered, Steve is surprised when instead your features morph into a mischievous smile, "right? You wanna try some?"

"Uh, sure", he hesitates.

You go to feed him the drippy ice cream with the spoon only to 'accidentally' smudge it at the corner of his mouth.

"Oh, you've got a—"

"Oh, very funny babe—" Before Steve could finish, your lips were attached to the corner of his mouth. Your tongue darts out to lick at the liquid— the movements agonisingly slow. It is then that Steve forgets how to function. He doesn't reciprocate your kisses, being sure he'd forgotten how to kiss. This was the first time you'd initiated a kiss, or made a move on him and now he didn't know how to react. 

When you pull away, his eyes remain closed for a bit longer. But when they finally do flutter open, instead of the same mischievous sly smirk, he is met with your wide eyes. You blink as if unsure of what you had done, Steve sees you gulp before you get up and leave the room.

Steve was stuck, he realises. His mind has forgotten how to work for however long that lasted. Maybe it was minutes or maybe it was only just a few seconds– to him it felt like hours though. Blood rushed to his cheeks and other parts of his body.

He paid it no mind though and quickly got up to find you. His situation will go away, right now he needed to make sure that you were alright. He went out of the room and sees you by the kitchen— throwing away the empty cup— your back turned towards him.

You don't look up when he stands beside you, he calls out your name and you shyly turn to sneak a look at him, rubbing your own arm anxiously, “S– sorry that was weird right?”

“Uh– n– no! It wasn't", he assures, shaking his head, "It just… um, I wasn't expecting it. It was– It wasn't weird.” he waits, hoping you'd say something but when you don't, he speaks up, "That was like the– the hottest thing ever– what you did back there."

“It wasn't... too much? It felt like it was too much.”

“Too much? I have a boner right now, respectfully, of course.”

Your eyes widen, and just when they were about to trail down– “don't look down!” You hold your breath, trying your best to muster all your power to maintain eye contact with him, but your gaze betrays you for just a second as it snaps down to his groin before jumping back to his eyes. Your face becomes so warm, palms clammy.

“W-what do I do?”

“No–nothing? It’ll go away”, he barely manages to stammer out, turning his body towards the kitchen counter so you don't see it, eyes roaming everywhere but towards you. 

Steve in high school never would have faced such issues, king steve never would have been so clumsy and embarrassed in front of someone he liked. The old Steve wouldn't get this damn red and awkward. But he does, he isn't the old Steve afterall.

He feels your hand on his shoulder, urging him to look your way. When he does, his eyes meet your unsure gaze-- you were looking at his lips. He himself can't help but trace the contour of your face, from your eyes to your nose, to the swoop of your cupid's bow to finally your lips.

It is you who leans in. This kiss was different than any you have had before. It grows deeper. And suddenly, its all tongue and teeth. Steve has never kissed you like this before. Its hands over your body, fingers creeping under your t-shirt. And its unusual. A good unusual. One you could get used to.

“Steve?" you breathe out when you pull apart.

“Y– yeah?”

“I’m sure. What I said yesterday, I’m sure.”

“Wait– you’re not just saying that ‘cause I–’

“No. I– I mean it.” You let out a giggle. The giggle which he was sure could end and fix all his fears and nightmares. The giggle that made his heart flutter and stomach do summersaults. You were sure to be the death of him. 

His grip around your waist tightens as he rests his forehead against yours, warm noses touching. "When.. uh– when does Hopper come back?"

"5:30," you huffed out, once again leaning in and he once again pulled back to be just out of your reach.

"One last question, El isn't home, is she?"

"No, no. She– she's with– friends. Won't come back till four."

"Good, wouldn't want them to come in on this", he almost growls before latching your lips together. And then you're kissing him. It is messy, but he loves every single second of it. His hands go to hold your jaw and yours to his cheeks, pulling in closer– deepening the kiss. At this point you'd both forgotten to breathe, too intoxicated on each other. But soon, both your lungs start to burn off the lack of oxygen and you both pull apart.

Your breaths were jagged, foreheads still touching. You gasp into his mouth. Your lips move in tandem as Steve pushes you between himself and the counter. The edge of the counter digs into your thighs. His hands travel to right below your ass, ready to lift you up onto the counter. But before he could do so, you pull him by the collar of his sailor outfit towards your room— lips never stopping contact. Steve takes the hint and gently pushes you against the door of your room, fumbling for the door knob.

You grab a fistful of his hair, he lets out a moan into your mouth. He finally manages to open the door, and you immediately pull him in. Steve tries to steady you both while tightening his hold on your hips, fingers playing with the hem of your shirt. 

You pull him towards the bed. He finally pulls away to take off his shirt only to latch his lips back to yours. He is hovering over you, lips never not touching, hands roaming each other's bodies. You slightly pull away, your digits fumbling for the cassette player's buttons next to your bed. The button clicks and Asia’s ‘heat of the moment’ starts playing. The both of you laugh because it was the mixtape that you and Steve had made a couple months ago.

…

Hopper had just reached the Byer's when he realises that he had forgotten his hat in the heat of the argument with you. He frowns upon the thought of the argument, he regrets shouting, he was worried about you and maybe he shouldn't have gotten that mad.

He waves over at Eleven, watching behind her to make sure she gets inside. He starts the engine and heads back to the cabin to retrieve his hat and perhaps make amends with you.

When he gets there, you don't open the door. You were possibly still mad at him, he thinks when he lets himself in, he could hear the song blaring from your room. He takes a peek in through the cracked open door.

Through the few inch wide door gap, he sees you and Steve Harrington. A shirtless Steve Harrington on top of you. The boy kissing you. And you kissing him back.

Through the kisses, his lips trail along your jaw and down your throat landing on your collarbone— pulling a moan out of you. "God, you're– fuck", Hopper barely hears the boy mumble. The man's nostrils flare as he sees his hands go back to the little sliver of skin exposed between your shirt and your shorts, fingers playing with the hem of the shirt.

"HEY!"

Steve immediately pulls away and yelps when you accidentally yank his hair. You both look up towards the source of the sound and there stood Jim Hopper, eyes wide with seething anger. 

“HOPPER?--”

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!"

"Hopper", You yelp out, speedily turning the player off while Steve fumbles to hide his integrity behind a pillow. Both Steve and Hopper were bright red. You were sure to go deaf to the loud beating of your heart.

"What in the fuck are you doing with my kid, Harrington?", You were sure Hopper's face would burst into flames any second now.

Steve eyes bounce frantically between you and hopper, he stammers, "I— Hopper—"

"That's fucking sir to you, Harrington."

"Sir, I—"

You hold your hands up, hoping to calm Hopper down after he found you in such a compromising position, "It's– its not what it looks like Hop—"

"So you're telling me that you two weren't about to–"

"Hop—", you try interrupting him but he interjects you by turning to Steve, pointing his finger at the poor boy while simultaneously squaring up on him. "I'm gonna have a serious fucking talk with your father, Harrington."

He walks backwards, incredibly intimidated, "But, sir—"

"Cover your goddamn tits and wait for me outside, Harrington." Steve gulps, silently nodding– knowing well enough that talking back was going to be fruitless so he leaves the room, the door shutting behind him.

You try speaking up again, "Hopper, listen–"

"No, you listen", he scolds with gritted teeth and flared nostrils, "You are fucking grounded. You can live your stupid paranoid fantasy and stay safe and stuck in this cabin”

“Hop–”

"And that means no tv–"

"Dad–"

"No radio or cassettes, no more phone, no more tv– ", he said as he unplugs the radio player and pulls out the cassette box from under your bed and throws the tapes around in anger "what else are you hiding from me, huh?”

"Nothing, hopper–"

He notices the box pushed further back under your bed and pulls it out— filled to the brim with Steve related stuff. your graduation caps, polaroids, mixtapes, books that had flowers pressed between their pages, beer bottle caps from when you had gotten drunk for the first time– all on the floor for display; the entire thing doing nothing to calm the raging man down. "Hopper, stop–"

"No more fucking dating", he picks up the mixtapes and books, throwing them with immense fury and rage. He pulls out polaroids of you and Steve and crumbles it up.

"NO!!--"

"And NO MORE FUCKING STEVE HARRINGTON", he smashed the now empty box against the floor, "D'YOU FUCKING UNDERSTAND?" he was shouting now, full on shouting— and it scared you. For the first time, Hopper scared you. The same guy who had saved you, protected you. The first person with whom you felt safe, ever. 

Tears spring up in the corner of your eyes. you duck your chin into your chest, squinting them shut.

“Asked you a fucking question.”

You try to even your breaths before answering, "No."

"What'd you say?", Words dripping in fury.

"I said, no."

"Why? You love that stupid idiot or something?"

The question scares you because you don't have an answer. You wrack your brain, looking for an answer but still…. your brain pulls up a slide that was nothing but a blank screen.

Do you love him?

You like him. You love being with him. He is your best friend, your only friend. But do you love him? how would you know? You do not know. 

“He’s my friend. He’s my only friend, Jim”

"Cut the bullshit, y/n", Hopper spoke as he noticed the tears springing up in your eyes and right now he was too damn angry to regret it.

Either of you don't hear the sound of the door shutting over your own heartbeat. you finally speak up, "You're bullshit."

"What?"

"You see El and Mike everyday, they're always kissing. But you see me with Steve one time–"

"The one time I see you two, you are fornicating— El and Mike don't do that."

"I'm a fucking adult, Hopper"

"You're a goddamn teenager is what you are!"

"Look me in the eyes and tell me you didn't do this stuff when you were a teenager, Hopper. You’re being an asshole!”

“Maybe you shouldn't have hid things from me y/n and I'm not being an asshole, I'm giving you a reality check. and if you think you’re such an adult then stop fucking hiding in this cabin from the world and feeding you little paranoid fantasy”

Both your chests rise and fall, face warm with aggravation, “Oh, don't look at me like I’m some monster", Hopper shakes his head at you, exasperated. you don't say anything, instead you get up to leave the room, "… where do you think you are going?”

“I’m leaving.”

“Aww, where are you gonna go, to your boyfriend?”

"You know what? That's a great idea, Jim. I’ll go and never come back again, I'll live with Steve or I’ll live in that stupid trailer. I've done it before and I'll do it again", you say with absolute resentment, all gritted teeth and red eyes. "I’ll leave", you sniffled, "Cuz you sure as hell don't want me here."

"Sure, kid, go 'head", he said through flared nostrils and a mock smile.

You raise your volume too before, "You won't have to fucking pretend to care for me anymore, you can take care of El all you want now", you pause for a beat before murmuring, "Clearly you like her more."

"..What–"

"Don't play dumb", your voice shakes as you speak, "it took you years to even consider adopting me, but you took El in in a heartbeat. El’s the one you care about Hopper– just fucking admit it, she's the one that gets hugs, she's the one that gets all the love and affection, she’s always mattered more to you, she's the one who matters to you because she's the one who reminds you of your dead daughter"

You said that. You said that. And the truth was that you meant it. Sure, you regret it, knowing how much it affected Jim. But it seemed only fair in your rageful brain to do the same.

Hopper is frozen, he swallows a lump in his throat. He looks at you hunched over the mess he'd made, your eyes red, watery and enraged.

You see him take a deep breath; it almost seems like he was about to say something. Maybe he'll apologise, you think, maybe you will too. Instead, he turned, his body lingering for a second too long near the door, and you pray that he says something– anything so you could take it all back. He lets out the breath he had been holding and shut the door behind him. A few seconds later you hear the cabin's door slamming. He left. 

…

At the station, Jim was having his lunch– donuts, which Flo had bought for everyone in the light of her birthday. Powell and Callaghan were discussing something, Flo has given Jim some paperwork– he isn’t sure about what though. His mind was too busy playing your argument on repeat.  

El’s the one you care about, Hopper. 

She’s the one who matters to you.

Because she’s the one who reminds you of your dead daughter.

“Chief?” Jim realises that he had been staring at the files that Flo had given him. 

“You okay, boss?”

“Uh, yeah— I’m peachy Callaghan”, Hopper gets up from his chair picking up another donut, “exactly how your wife was last night.”

Powell and the rest of the workers let out a guffaw while Flo looks at Jim with disapproving eyes and Callaghan looks like a kicked dog. Jim picked up his keys, headed towards the exit.

“Where are you going Jim?”, Flo demands behind him.

“Gotta take care of something, Flo”, he picks up his hat and puts it atop his head, “Hold the fort down for me while I’m gone?”

“It’s not like I have a choice.”

“Thanks, Flo”, he muttered, flashing a fake grin. Hopper shoves the donut in his mouth and went out the door and into his car. He drives through the empty streets of the local market, one hand tight around the steering wheel and the other holding the crumpled up shopping list you’d made. Joyce would know how to deal with both your and El’s situation, he thinks to himself as he stopped in front of Melvald’s general store, she was actually good at the whole parenting thing, afterall. 

When Jim steps into the empty store, he is met with Joyce putting up a sale sign. “Hey”, her head turned at the sound of the bell ringing.

“Hey, You busy?”

“You’re our first customer, so..” There is a beat. Hopper’s fingers fumble with the edge of his hat. “What now?”

Hopper vents about everything that happened between you two to Joyce while picking up all the groceries you had written in the list. “And its not just y/n, El too— she and Mike are kissing, like constantly and the other day— she just…. slams the door, right in my face. and– and y/n just doesn't wanna tell me anything and every time I try to talk, it just turns into an argument. and this last one just really went to shit”, Joyce hums as she rings up all of Jim’s groceries.

“Y’know, those smug sons of bitches, Steve and Mike. They’re corrupting them, I’m telling you.”, he shakes his head, “This has never happened before. And I’m just gonna lose it. I mean, I’m gonna lose it, Joyce–”

“Just take it down, Hopper”, Joyce speaks with a calm tone as she packed up the groceries.

“I want– I need to get rid of them."

“'rid of them'? you sound like you're going to murder them. and didn’t you already tell Steve and y/n that they can’t see each other anymore?”

“But El—”

“Hopper, that is not your decision to make”

“You don’t get it Joyce, El and mike– it’s constant. It is constant. And y/n's been hiding this thing from me for months probably! Months!”, Joyce huffs at Hopper’s anger, “Okay? That is not good or normal, that isn’t healthy”

“What you did to y/n and Steve isn’t healthy either”, Joyce pushes Hopper’s grocery bag on the counter towards him, “Besides, you can’t just force them apart.” She leaves the checkout counter and moves to an aisle and starts putting sale tags on the items, still continuing the conversation. “I mean, y/n’s right— they’re not little kids anymore, Hop.” The woman explains with knitted brows while the man picks up a random thing from the aisle nearest to him and starts playing catch with himself like a bored toddler.

“They’re teenagers Hopper”, Joyce huffs, “If you order them around like a cop, then they’re going to rebel. It's just— what they do.”

“So what am I supposed to do? Let them do whatever they want?”, Jim tosses the box up again.

“No, I didn’t say that”, she sighs, snatching the box midair while shooting a chastising look towards the tall man, “I think you should talk to them.”

“No. no, ‘cause talking doesn’t work–”

“Not yelling. Not ordering”, she gestures with the tag gun, “But talk to them” The woman turns to put the box back where it belonged while muttering with a shrug, “y'know like a heart-to-heart.”

“A heart-to-heart?” Hopper questions, confused, “what’s that?”

“You sit them down, you talk to them. Like you’re their friend”, Joyce explains while the man leans against a wall rather dramatically as if he was five-year-old listening to a lecture about the theory of relativity, “if you talk to them like you’re on their level, then they really start to listen. And then– you know, you can start to create some boundaries”

“Boundaries”, Jim repeats.

“Yeah, but Hop— it's really important that no matter how they respond,” she pauses for emphasis, “You stay calm. You cannot lose your temper”

The uniform clad man rolls his eyes; however, he hid it quickly before Joyce could notice and taps his fingers awkwardly against the wall, “uh, maybe, you could do it for me?”, he requests as if asking Joyce if he could do his homework

“No.”

“Yeah you could. You could come over after work. Yes?”

“No. it only works if it comes from you. Besides you're the one who yelled at y/n. So, you're the one who will apologize.”, She punctuated her sentence by putting a tag on Hopper's shirt. “But…", She trailed off.

“But?”, Jim echoes.

“Maybe I can help you…”, she picks up a notepad from the counter, “find the right words.”

…

You have locked yourself in your room, not planning on seeing anyone. It's what you deserve anyway. Its probably for the better. The lights are turned off, the only source of light in the pitch darkness is spilling through the tiny gap of your slightly open door. You've hidden yourself under the blanket, the bed a mess from tossing and turning.

You hear muffled sounds of Jim reciting something in a monotonous tone from the room next to you. “...important to establish these boundaries...”, His muttering sounding like he had a cigarette between his teeth, “....we can create an environment where.... we feel comfortable, trusted and open….”, you hear him pause, “to share our feelings”. He pauses again and you turn around in your sheets, burying your head under the quilt not planning to hear any more of it. Because if you did you’d cry, whether of jealousy or hurt or regret or guilt, you did not know, you just knew that you would cry.

After some time you then heard the thump of his feet from his room. They stopped in front of your door for a few seconds and you think for just a second that maybe he will knock, maybe you both will fix this, but then they started moving again, moving further from your door and finally stopping in front of El’s door. He knocks. “Hey”

“Yes?”

“Can I talk to you guys, a minute?”, he asks. You couldn't hear the rest of the conversation as it was muffled by the walls and door. But you filled in the gaps— hopper was trying to talk to Eleven and Mike, possibly about the previous night. He was trying for Eleven. Not for you. For Eleven.

Then Hopper abruptly left with Mike— something about the boy's nanna. You knew that definitely wasn't the truth. For once, you felt bad for Mike.

...

"Y/n?", Eleven cracked the door open. You were lying in your bed, back facing the door. Eleven approached the foot of the bed. "Are you okay?", with knitted brows, she asks, eyes trying to adjust to the dark room.

"I just feel a little sleepy, El", she did not need to know about your fight with Hopper. She did not need to see that ugliness.

"Do you want to watch romcom?"

"You do that"

"And you?"

"I'm not in the mood, El. Kinda tired. I'll be fine, I think I just need sleep.”

The short haired girl nodded rather half-heartedly and left. A few seconds later, the door opened again, you didn't turn to see who it was. 

“Do you want ice cream? Hopper brought some”, It was Eleven again.

“... No, I'm alright”, you don't bother looking up.

"Y/n?", you feel her palm on your shoulder before you turn around hoping the dark room hid your red eyes. "I've kept your food here”, she tells you.

You give a faint smile at the girl's kindness. She closed the door behind herself, leaving.

After eating your food, you fall headfirst into the pillows and there lied Mr. Arnold. You held the bear flush against your chest. Maybe the soft toy could help you fix this too. It smelled like Eleven, you smiled at the thought of your sister and you hated the fact that you were jealous of her. She was the kindest, strongest and most adorable kid— and you'd talked to Hopper about her like you resented her. She was your sister, you loved her.

The bear also smelled like Steve. You missed him, you wondered what he was doing. You told yourself to call the boy after Hopper leaves the next morning. You are curled up in your bed, exhaustion overtaking you. Your eyelids grew droopy and soon you were drifting into sleep.

…

You’re in your room, grey and sterile. your headache had dulled out for the most part, although your eyes still felt too dry. Your Papa had come to check in on you. He said that you were getting better and that you could go back to lessons and the rainbow room from the next day.

The entire week you were like this he didn't bring up why you are hurt. You reckon he was disappointed. You don't bring it up either, just glad that you didn't have to wear the collar because you were hurt.

When the doctor gave you medicine with the injection, Papa held your hand, his other hand brushing over your shaved head to comfort you.

"Good job, Seven."

When the doctor leaves, you finally speak up, "Papa?", he looks at you, "are you angry... at me?"

"For what?"

"For what happened that day."

"No, Seven. I'm not. I am proud of you and the extent of your powers”, your heart swells at the praise, "now we just have to hone in on it. Get better at it. Do you understand?"

You nod silently. He clears his throat before getting up from beside your bed. He buttons his grey blazer, "now, I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" you nod once again.

He is about to reach for the door when you speak up again, “Papa?”

“Yes, seven?”

“Where is my mother?”

He turns around, the wrinkles on his forehead more prominent, “What?” he walks back up to you.

“I was reading a book in the rainbow room", you explain, " The child in it had a papa and a mama. Why don't I have a mama?”

“Not everyone does, Seven", he answers curtly, “Your mother died when she gave birth to you” he says before once again turning to leave the room.

“You're lying”, he stops and turns and is met with your knitted brows, “I can tell you're lying.”

You see him purse his lips for a second before he speaks up, ”Well, your powers have never been reliable, have they? Your mother is dead.”

“Did I kill her? like I did with that man and the child.”

”yes. Get some rest. Lessons start again tomorrow, Seven."

“Yes Papa”, he is out the door before you even say the entire thing.

…

Hopper doesn’t know what the hell he is doing. He just knows one thing and that is that heart-to-hearts are not his thing. Not anymore anyway. He used to be better at this, at emotions. 

Ever since sarah… he’s felt like this. This empty chasm, this darkness. A black hole. That sucks in everything that is good, warm and bright. Everything he loves, everything he cares for, he swallows it all if it gets too close. It happened after sarah. And for a really long time, Jim decided to never let anyone in– which included you. Your younger self had tried, to win him over, to let his walls down but he hadnt let up. But then last year… Eleven managed to break down those walls, and just like he always does, he swallowed her whole. Enough that she had compared him to that psychotic man who called himself your papa, enough that she had decided to leave. And now he was doing it again, with you. 

Hopper fucking sucks at feelings, not because he doesn't feel but maybe because he doesn't want anyone else to know that he does. The folded-up paper in his hand makes it really fucking clear. And though his palm is slightly sweaty, he blames it on the summer. 

He hates that he shouted at you, multiple times.

Look at me when I’m talking to you.

That is what he had said back then, that is what he had said today. And he saw that same look on you, that deer-in-the-headlight look, the same one he saw on you when he first saw you at the police station. And he immediately regretted it. He and his inflated ego are to blame when he didn't apologize. But he will now, he is going to apologize. He is going to talk things out– have a heart-to-heart. You’re his kid dammit and you fucking deserve it.

Alright hopper, you got this. Just do what Joyce told you and they'll listen to you. 

He stops at your doorstep first, knuckles lifted to knock but then he hears Eleven giggling, and he glances over to her room. Mike is still here, he thinks. Let’s just deal with them first, lets get the easier conversation over with and then he’ll talk to you– he’ll tell you everything, he'll listen to you. 

But then he goes to Eleven’s room and asks if he could talk to them, and he tries he really does try but as it turns out the easier conversation still wasn’t easy at all. Hopper can't help but repeat history.

He has always felt cursed. Cursed to ruin everything as he tends to always end up doing. And in his anger he ends up blackmailing mike to stay away from his daughter.

When hopper came back, Eleven asked him if Mike's nanna (bless her) was okay. "Uh, yeah– she'll be fine kid– pretty sure it was a false alarm." He had lied through his teeth, but he doesn't take it back.

He doesn't take it back. he never goes to your room. he doesn't talk it out. So much for a heart-to-heart.

...

[glimmerlofsea]

Billy Hargrove x Reader

MASTERLIST

PLEASE

Warning : mentions of blood, fluffy fluff!

WC; 1,7k

#TALKISSA; hear me out... what if you were Billy's girlfriend and you guys had an argument a few days ago before he almost died because he was possessed by a mind flayer... Did he make it?

It feels like it was just yesterday when he said that dumb thing to you that he was in love with you. Do you believe that Billy Hargrove loves you? What is the reason? But little by little he proved it.

He's in love with you, and you're in love with him.

And a few days ago you two had a fight because Billy was distancing himself from you for no reason. You hate him when he suddenly shut himself off from you and doesn't let go of his true feelings. You hate it when he carries his heavy burden alone. You are with him to carry his burden together, not to add to his burden.

But it turns out there was a reason, you are Y/N Hopper, you know all that little Upside Down stuff, you know it very well since you were the one who helped your father solve the case of Will Byers who disappeared. And now your boyfriend is affected. Maybe you shouldn't have dragged him into this in the first place? You just wanted to stick his relationship with Max since the fight with Steve at the Byers house, but things got out of hand.

You went through everything with a heavy heart, you didn't want to hurt Billy but he hurt El, she wasn't just a supernatural girl who was saved by your father, but she was also your sister.

When you realized Billy was standing in front of the mind flayer, you were too busy looking for firecrackers to distract the mind flayer, but it was too late. When Max shouted Billy's name, your whole body shook, you immediately took the stairs to run down, ignoring Steve who shouted your name.

As much as you want to throw your body on the floor, your heart hurts too much to see Billy who is lying on the mall floor with blood flowing from his stomach and coming out profusely from his mouth. You remember very well when he said, "I would risk my life for you. Even with all these interdimensional problems." You wouldn't think he really proved what he said.

Tears streamed down your face and you ran fast towards Billy,

"Mike, help her!" You said in between your runs for Mike to help Eleven while you propped Billy to lie on your thigh.

You held back the bleeding with your hand, your whimpers echoed throughout the Mall, even the huge monster's groans were almost overshadowed by your voice.

"No, no, no, please, please, hold on." You whined looking at Billy's face and at his wound in turn, "Please."

Billy coughed, "It's okay. I'm sorry."

You shook your head, pressing your forehead against his, "Don't fucking act like these are your last words." Your breath hitched, "I won't let that happen. To you."

You looked around, looking at Mike who was hugging El while looking at you, "What are you doing?! Call 911, ask someone for help, or— Or call my Dad! Call my dad! Or anyone!" You felt guilty for yelling at Mike but Billy really needed help.

"I won't— I won't make it." Billy stammered.

"Don't. Don't say that. Don't you dare to say that, Hargrove."

"I love you. And tell everyone I'm sorry, especially Max."

You really did what you could to stop the bleeding, you couldn't help him and you hate yourself for that, you promised to help him through the difficult things in his life but even you yourself dragged him into this difficult thing?

"Dad! Please, where are you, I need you!" You scream in your tears.

Some time later the government arrives with the police and an ambulance, you're not sure but you really have to hold on if Billy is going to make it.

You came out of the mall while holding Billy's hand tightly, who was already on the patient's bed with a nebulizer to help him breathe, with Max running behind you.

You saw Eleven who was crying accompanied by Joyce, your bad thoughts started to nest in your head, you looked at Max, "Watch him, okay? I'll be back." With an unsteady breath, Max nodded, you kissed the side of her hair and walked slowly towards Eleven and Joyce.

It's raining there, but you don't care anymore, what's worse than rain? You've been through it all.

"El, what's going on?" You asked El but she didn't answer, you looked at Joyce who was looking at you with pity, "Oh, Y/N, honey, I'm sorry—"

You shook your head, taking a deep breath, "No. Tell me."

"Hopper is dead."

The words echoed in your ears, you fell silent, not allowing your eyes to blink even once to process Joyce's words once again, you felt like you heard wrong but you hoped you didn't hear those words, never in your life. You couldn't hear what Joyce said next.

You looked at the ambulance where Max was waiting there, you let out a cry, does there have to be a victim every year? And should those be the two people you love most in your life? Life isn't fair. You're despiteful.

The funeral for your father had passed, when the Byers family and El went back to California you just locked yourself in your father's cabin. Yes, it was a mess because of the mind flayer, but that cabin was the only beautiful memory you could remember with your father.

You just curl up yourself at the corner of the cabin and cried. After the funeral you don't dare to meet anyone. Max called you but you ignored her. You are too lost in thoughts that are against you, you think that everything you touch will slowly leave you, will die.

The phone rang, you immediately stood up quickly and wiped your tears, what you thought was maybe it was your father who was faking his death, right?

You picked up the phone, “Dad?”

You expected to hear his voice, but you didn't, "Y/N... I'm sorry. I'm Max. I just wanted to let you know that Billy is awake and I know some things are really hard for you to go through, but we need you, Y/N. Please."

You hold back your tears, maybe your father is really gone, the one precious person in your life, but you still have one more precious person and you won't let him go like you neglected to let go of your father.

You immediately go to the hospital in minimal clothes, saw Max who was sitting in front of the room, you were standing in front of her, she got up from her seat and hugged you, "I'm sorry." You shut your mouth tightly so you wouldn't cry.

As soon as she let go of the hug you tried to smile and nodded, "Don't be sorry. It's not your fault."

Max smiled faintly, "Lucas will pick me up, there's only Billy inside." You nod.

As soon as Max left, you immediately opened the bedroom door to see Billy's condition. He had opened his eyes and immediately looked at you, as if he had been waiting for your presence. He smiled, how could it be that a few moments ago he almost lost his life and now he was smiling?

You smiled in relief and approached him,

"Hi,"

You took a chair and sat next to him, holding his hand and kissing it, “Hey,” Your voice was shaky.

He took his hand from you to wipe your tears, "I heard the news, but that doesn't mean I'm going to let you cry, Princess. Come here,"

You shook your head and caught your breath, "About me it could be another day, but today you're awake and that's a really good thing. Let's make this your day, okay? I can hold it."

"Are you sure? I hate seeing you like this."

"You think I don't hate seeing you ridiculously act like that in front of a big giant monster?" You asked, pursing your lips.

You lost your father, but that is a sign that he is in a good place, a place where he can rest from the problems that make his life complicated.

Billy chuckled, "Give me your kiss, I miss them. I can't wake up, my body still hurts."

You smiled and wiped away the remaining tears that Billy had not had time to wipe away moments before. You got up to kiss his cheek, but he turned his head so that your lips met.

"I love you." He said in between your kisses, "I love you too."

When Hopper allowed your relationship with Billy you were very happy, on the condition that Billy would protect you at all costs. And he really did. Your mind has gone too far when you think about starting a small family with Billy and Hopper becoming really great grandfathers. But what happens if you live in a city full of curses, right?

A few weeks later you sent a letter to California where El and the Byers lived, apologizing for not being there when they were away, and also conveying your longing for El or now preferring to be called Jane.

Since the incident at Starcourt Mall an unexpected incident occurred, Neil was arrested following a suggestion made by your father before all this happened. Making you live at the Mayfield residence, apart from helping to look after Billy, you also help Max with her homework and Susan with daily household activities.

"Babe!"

You heard Billy shouting from the room, you who were washing dishes turned off the sink, "A minute!"

Max is at school and Susan is trying to blend in with the Mother of Hawkins, so for now you're the only one you can rely on at home.

You dry your hands briefly with a small towel and then walk towards the room. Billy can walk, but the doctor said it would be good if he did bed rest for a while so that the stitching wound in his stomach could really heal.

"What do you need, baby?" You asked landing yourself in front of him who was leaning on the edge of the bed.

Billy sighed, he pat the side of the bed next to him, signaling for you to sit next to him, you did as he said and he buried his head on your shoulder, "I hate being useless. I'm sorry if I bother you."

You pushed his body gently and cupped his cheeks, "Hey. You're not useless, okay? Why do you think like that, huh? Throw those thoughts away, I'm not here to feel you think like that, I'm here because now what I really prioritize and care about is you, Billy. I almost lost you, because of myself and I won't let that happen again."

Billy raised the corners of his lips, you pecked his nose, "Besides, I like you like this, it's like taking care of a big baby, you know?"

Billy chuckled, "Oh, so now my nickname is big baby?" He started tickling your stomach, making you laugh in amusement, "Stop it,"

Billy smiled and kissed all over your face. You love him, really love him.

Author Note : Okay! I know I said I would upload a Sebastian Stan fanfic, but it takes a lot of will to release it... sorry for the delay, but don't worry, it will come! for sure! I just need to give up my freedom to write as many Billy Hargrove stories as I can! Thank you, issea! :D

[reysdriver]

Meeting The Dad | E.M.

Your police chief dad insists on meeting your misfit boyfriend, so you bring Eddie over for dinner — eddie x fem!hopper!reader fluff

warnings: just a stressful dinner and a mention of eddie dealing drugs

words: 1.2k

Eddie always insisted on getting out of the van first so he could open the door for you. After telling him it’s not necessary about a million times, you just gave up and let him do it. 

You exhaled while it was just you in the car, waiting for him to walk around to your side. This dinner was nerve-wracking, but you didn’t want to show how nervous you were to Eddie and potentially scare him away. 

When the passenger side door opened, you smiled at Eddie as he took the takeout bag from you and helped you down the step. 

“So,” Eddie wondered as you started walking along the forest floor. “Remind me again why we have to do this? Your dad and I have already met.”

“Because the situations in which you two met weren’t… the most desirable. We want to show him that you’re a respectable person and a great boyfriend to his daughter.” 

Eddie took an exaggerated step over a fallen branch on the ground. “It’s not like he’s going to change his mind about me.”

“But we can try getting him to see you differently.” You told him. “So that means you have to be on your best behaviour, remember?”

He rolled his eyes jokingly. "Shake his hand, call him 'Mr. Hopper’, and keep my elbows off the table. I remember all your training"

“Eds, I’m serious. I really want him to like you.” 

He understood that you were nervous and dropped the teasing. “I know. I want it as much as you do, really. I promise I’ll try as hard as possible to become best friends with your dad.”

You laughed at that. “Well, you don’t have to get that close to him.”

“Oh, we’re gonna be super close. Soon, I’ll spend more time hanging with him than I do with you. He’ll let me sit in the front seat of his cop car as we cruise around town and share embarrassing stories about you.”

Now it was your turn to roll your eyes. You both continued walking towards your cabin, and you pointed at the ground a few feet ahead of you. “There’s the tripwire, we have to go over that.”

“I know about the tripwire, sweetheart. How do you think I sneak in to see you?”

You lowered your voice to explain. “I know. I’m pointing at it in case my dad is watching from the window or something. We don’t need him knowing about you sneaking in through my window.”

“She’s too smart for me!” Eddie spoke dramatically into the forest. “Another reason I can’t slack in making a good impression with her father.”

You giggled at him as you both stepped up onto your porch. You took one deep inhale before opening your front door to reveal your dad and sister on the couch waiting for you. Your dad stood up and started walking to you with an unreadable expression, Eleven following closely behind. 

“We’re here, and with food!” You said after Eddie shut the door behind the two of you. “Dad, El, this is Eddie. Eddie, this is my dad, and that’s my sister.”

Your boyfriend held out his hand to share a handshake with your dad. “Thank you so much for inviting me over, Mr. Hopper. It’s good to meet you in a different setting than we have before.”

He took his hand and spoke slightly more grumpily than you had hoped. “Yeah. It’s a pleasure.”

They broke the handshake and your dad moved out of the way, leaving Eddie and Eleven face to face. 

“I know you.” She said to Eddie. 

He and you both went slightly wide-eyed, remembering what happened a few weeks ago when Eddie snuck in at night. He came to show you his most recent tattoo—among other things—and your little sister had walked into your room to find you making out with a shirtless Eddie when she got up to get a midnight snack and heard voices behind your door. You had explained that you and Eddie were just playing a game but she couldn’t tell Hopper about what she saw. 

She agreed not to say anything, but now she was forgetting her promise and you had to cover it up quickly. 

“Yeah, you’ve probably seen him around town. Anyways, we brought waffles for you and we don’t want them to get cold, so let’s sit down to eat and you can figure out where you’ve seen Eddie later, okay?”

Eddie put the takeout bag on the table and sat down in the seat next to yours that you had gestured to a second ago. There were plates on the table for you already, so you started taking out the takeout boxes from the bag and handing them out. 

“El, here’s your waffles. Eds, here’s our burgers. And, Dad, we got you a steak. Benny threw in extra fries but I got him to add vegetables for you too.”

He was obviously displeased. “Oh, yay. My daughter’s drug dealer boyfriend and I get a bunch of steamed vegetables? Best dinner ever.”

You chose to ignore his attitude, and you placed a calming hand on Eddie’s thigh. “You know, Dad, Eddie actually has a real job. He just started at the music store in the new mall. Right, Eds?”

Eddie dropped the fry in his hands before answering. “Yeah, I mean, I’m mostly just a stock boy, but at least it’s honest work.”

“And you’re saving?” Your dad asked. “Planning to move away, buy a house? At least pay off those student loans?”

There it was, the part you didn’t want to explain to your family. You avoided eye contact as you spoke. “Actually, Dad. Eddie doesn’t have student loans. He’s not going to college yet.” 

“So, you’re both about to take a gap year?”

“Not exactly.” Eddie told him. “I’m staying at Hawkins High for another year. I just have a few credits left, but it’ll happen. Third time’s the charm, right?”

“This is gonna be your third senior year?” Your dad asked, looking surprised. 

Even Eleven joined in. “That’s six years of high school!”

“Yeah, it is. Unfortunately, I didn’t put a lot of my focus into school, so I wasn’t always the best student. But I’m almost there.” 

You were so scared about how your family would react to this information. Obviously, you didn’t care that Eddie was a year older but still in high school; you were just so proud of him for sticking to it and trying. You winced as your dad started to laugh. 

“I guess I don’t need to worry about you running off with my daughter anytime soon ‘cause where the hell are you gonna go?” 

You were about to tell him off for being mean about your boyfriend’s education journey, but Eddie sensed this and held your hand under the table. In fact, he seemed to find it funny too. 

“No, sir. Not going anywhere yet.” Eddie responded. “In fact, I’ll even stay for a fourth year if it’ll put your mind at ease about me.” 

You realised you were still holding your breath from when your dad asked the question, and you finally exhaled calmly. Maybe this dinner wouldn’t be as intimidating as you thought.

[janovavalen]

not just another bloody mary .°୭̥ ❁ ˎˊ˗ mike wheeler x fem!reader

summary: mike wheeler finally founds out about elevens sister and she’s more than ordinary.

warnings: swearings, yearing, y/n being clueless, y/n having a slight problem with understanding jokes and metaphors , mentions of a scar, obsession (very slight), eleven and mike have no romance connection!(only mentions of childhood crush), y/n only knowing how to kiss from a movie<3!

word count: 4k

the day was bright and school had just come around the corner once more, mike and his friends in it for their final years.

sitting in his room with nothing but his underwear and a tank top on, mike had been contemplating if he should play sick or actually go to school. there wasn’t anything wrong with going he just kinda wanted to stay in bed for the hell of it.

‘mike! what are you doing? get up! it’s time for school’ his mom said while she busted through the door.

‘oh, god! why doesn't anyone knock anymore? what if i was doing something you wouldn’t be able to forget?’ he asked as he groaned and got up to put his pants on and his shirt. placing his shoes on and making a quick stop to the bathroom to wash his face and brush his teeth. he checked out his hair and decided it would have to do.

making his way downstairs to see nancy waiting for him as she talked to their mom, he cleared his throat making her turn around—‘i’m ready’ he simply said leaving her to scoff.

‘about time? i’ve been waiting for nearly a hour, come on. i promised to get eleven and max today.’ she said as they walked to the door. mike didn’t have a problem with the two, it’s just they barely talked anymore so it would be awkward.

just because mike didn’t talk to them didn’t mean they hadn’t talked every now and again, just not enough to properly get into the ‘non-awkward’ zone. as they walked out to the car with his book bag slung over his shoulder, they sat into the car and pulled off with the radio music playing.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 🍰　˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

when they pulled up to the cabin where eleven had been living with hopper in, he watches his sister honk the horn to let them know she was outside. after a bit to see nobody was coming out she sighed heavily.

‘mike, can you go and knock on the door? we really need to go.’ he groaned but did as he was asked. leaving the door open making nancy frown her eyebrows in confusion.

as he walked up to the wooden brown door, the porch decorated with lights and some flowers, when did they get that? the white curtains visible through the glass window, he held up a hand and knocked.

hearing noise going on along with music he went to knock once more but we stopped when the door opened quickly to reveal someone he’s never seen, ever, before.

she wasn’t too short but not entirely as tall as him, she had e/c eyes and h/c hair. her hair was h/l and she wore it out. the most distinctive thing about her was a scar that ran across from one cheek, over the bridge of her nose and onto the other cheek.

it looked…badass.

he looked at her in confusion until max and eleven came running to the door—‘sorry! we woke up late, we’re ready tho, y/n you ready?’ she shook her head a bit before rushing through the two girls and to her room to put on her shoes and then she came back with a small smile.

‘okay! come on—mike please your getting the floor wet with your drool’ max commented with a scoff as eleven laughed with her and grabbed onto y/n’s hand, interlocking their hands.

he was beyond confused. who is she? where did she come from? when did she get here and why was she so pretty

stammering before he closed the door for them, he walked back to the car and was hearing nancy talking to the new girl—‘hey? uhm, eleven?’ she looked at her as she smiled softly.

‘this is y/n, she just got here from the lab…i hope your not mad with giving her a ride?’ eleven introduced her sister who smiled and waved at mike and nancy.

he could’ve sworn his heart just skipped for a second, causing him to turn around in a hurry—‘can we just go?’ he said while staying faced forward.

nancy looked at him from his strange behavior and only lifted her eyebrows in exaggeration before starting to drive off.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 🍰　˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

when they got to school nancy shut off the car and let the girls out with mike following—‘thank you..for the ride.’ y/n with her soft voice said with a smile before max and eleven wrapped their arms around both of hers.

mike watched her walk away with the girls as he let his eyes follow them until they went in. his heart was racing and his mind was replaying her voice over and over. what just happened? what was happening…at this moment?

‘wait—so, eleven brought her sister here and so what?’

‘so what? dustin—she has a badass scar, she obviously had powers as well—‘

‘and he definitely kinda likes her already’ lucas interrupted mike who looked at him in a hurry.

‘what!’ he yelled, causing some people in class to look at him.

‘dude, it’s so obvious, you all a sudden want to talk about her for the whole class period? if you want to know her, get to know her then.’ lucas commented while he made it as if it was obvious.

‘it’s not like that, and it’s not that simple, guys we need to get to know about her first, we need to know if she’s good or bad—‘

‘good or bad? dude, we’re not twelve anymore. it’s either she fucks with us or she doesn’t’ dustin laughed a bit while will nodded.

‘plus, you said she was having a sleepover with max? i’m pretty sure she’s already cool enough, eleven wouldn’t just bring someone “bad” with her back here and let alone to school.’ lucas told him as mike only listened.

he couldn’t stop thinking of the scar that ran across her face. it wasn’t red but a lighter color than her original skin color and had obvious smaller circle-like dots on each side that showed she got stitches.

he had to think of a way to know her…for protection purposes of course. why else? will looked at him in a bit of worry and looked at the other two who shrugged.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 🍰　˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

later that day mike had been walking the halls around most of the people, he has been in search for eleven, max and y/n practically all day—not to sound weird, but he’d stopped by all the classes. he even left his classes a bit early just so he could get clear views of each classroom and who was in them.

and yet he managed to find her in none of them. that was, until now.

as he walked to his locker and started to grab some books he needed and putting away the ones he didn’t, he backed up and knocked into someone with his back.

‘whoa!’ max yelled out. he turned around in a hurry to see he bumped into y/n, her book had fell on the floor and she looked around as if she were embarrassed.

‘wow mike, not even going to say sorry?’ eleven rolled her eyes as she and max leaned down with y/n who was rushing to pick up her fallen books. mike didn’t know what to do; he just stood there looking stupid as ever, frozen.

seeing there was another book left on the floor next to him he turned to get it, that’s when y/n so happened to reach for it as well. their hands touched as if some romcom was being filmed and he felt like he froze. her hands were beyond warm and her hands soft in his own. he looked up at her as she did the same.

smiling softly she mumbled—‘will you let go now?’ making him awkwardly pull his hand away and let her pick the book up.

‘s—sorry about that, i wasn’t looking and i didn’t know—‘

‘it’s cool’ was all she said before leaving with max and eleven who rolled their eyes once more. he watched as they muttered something to her but he didn’t even think too much about it, he couldn’t get the fact her soft voice sounded so beautiful and calm throughout his mind and it made him want to hear her more, so much that he didn’t even think about what he was doing next.

‘w—wait! uhm, are you new? i saw you earlier but i didn’t know—‘

‘yeah she is now leave her alone’ max said with upset running through and over her face only for y/n to place her free hand on max’s shoulder and smile sweetly—‘no it’s okay, i’m new, yes, and you must be mike?’ she asked, the way she combined her words was obvious that she didn’t know how to really speak, but she did very well.

‘yeah i am, how’d you know?’ he acted a bit dumb, he already knew that max and eleven told her, probably told her about the whole damn school, but he just wanted to hear her talk more.

‘uhm, eleven and max told me—‘ just as she said this the bell rang causing everyone to make their way to class, eleven and max grabbed onto y/n who mumbled the sweetest—‘see you around.’ before making her leave.

he watched her figure disappear throughout the hallway and he turned to look away so he wouldn’t look like a weirdo.

he felt his heart racing, he never felt this—well maybe once when he had a very short lived crush on eleven when they first met and he saw her use her powers, but by short he means a week.

groaned lowkey to himself he walked to class to continue the day. the haunting image of y/n running around his mind all day and clouding his mind in class, stopping him from thinking about anything else. he wanted—no needed, to know more about her, wanted to see her again and wanted her to talk to him again.

he had to come up with a way to accomplish his new task, and nothing stood in the way of completing anything…except maybe his curfew, and eleven…and max.

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‘okay so you want us to do what?’ lucas asked with his eyebrows ground in complete confusion along with dustin who almost wanted to leave the second mike began speaking.

‘i need you to take max out for a date for at least three hours, dustin to make up some bullshit thing where it will hold you guys up for three hours as well, it should give me time to talk to y/n more—‘

‘dude you’ve been on about this shit all day! y/n, y/n, y/n, that’s all we heard, give it a rest’ dustin groaned while will suppressed a laugh, lucas looked between the bunch only to shake his head.

‘nah, it’s okay, i’ll talk to max and we can go to the mall or something—‘

‘you're actually agreeing to this?’ dustin asked, shocked as he looked at will who shrugged, defenseless.

‘i mean, why not? he’s helped you with suzie when you two had that fight, and it’s not like we’ve all asked him for something, so yeah i’m in.’ lucas agreed. mike smiled a bit before letting it slowly drop as he looked at dustin who groaned loudly.

‘okay, okay! fine! fine! i’ll do this stupid shit, i want something in return!’ he said while standing up and making his way to get ready, will mumbled—‘what will i do?’ he said, looking at mike who thought.

‘you stay with dustin and if eleven tries to make a leave you stop her at all cost’ mike said with determination. will nodded and turned to follow dustin.

‘what if max tries to leave? you know damn well i can make her do anything, she will beat me’ lucas said with a dead face expression.

‘then i’ll leave a bit earlier, it should be enough time anyway’ mike said with a slight grin with the thought of y/n and him talking more.

‘and how will you even get to y/n?’ he asked another.

‘i’ll go with you guys, hide and go, or something? i don’t know i might wait here’ lucas nodded before leaving and the three of the boys making their ways to the cabin.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 🍰　˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ��

after a bit of time passed, he had assumed it was a good time to head over, he had the idea of pretending he was there for max and eleven, knowing they’d be gone, but when he saw they weren’t he would wait on them to get back.

what he was going to tell them was he needed help on the homework assignment. walking to the cabin seeing a soft light alluded from the window, he cleared his throat and fixed his eyebrows, hair and clothes. his hands rubbing over anything and making sure it looked good, god he hoped he didn’t have anything on his face he couldn’t see, let alone his teeth.

walking up to the house he stepped onto the wooden flooring and hesitated before knowing on the door, he waited a bit, hearing the faint sound of music playing only for it to turn down.

‘h-hey! max? you there? it’s mike’ he faked asked for another name besides y/n’s knowing she was there.

‘oh! hold on!’ y/n yelled while. not too long after the door opened and the smell of sweetness hit him in the face.

‘oh, mike, what are you doing here?’ she asked with a small smile, she wore white shorts with a tank top and fuzzy socks, her short hair out and all over. she looked amazing.

‘yeah, i was just looking for max and eleven? we had a homework assignment and i needed their help, were they here?’ he knew the answer.

‘oh, no. but you can stay until they are back?’ she told him but it came out more like a question. he smiled but tried to play it off as good as he could—‘what? oh no; i can’t i don’t want to play up your time, i can just go home and just come back another day—‘

‘no, mike, stay. it’s okay’ she smiled while reaching out for his arm and pulling him into the house the was filled with sweetness and the warmth of the fire and something being cooked in the kitchen.

‘okay’ he said with a smile. looking around as y/n walked back to her kitchen she placed a mitten on and opened the oven, pulling a pan out and placing it on the counter.

‘what are you making?’ he asked as she looked down at the food and was pleased with him of delight—‘just french toast but i didn’t know how, hopper wasn’t here and i guess this was how?’

‘oh, i thought you usually make that on the stove? in a pan…but i guess you can make it like this too’ he laughed a bit before walking over to the kitchen, in the pan was stacks of bread that was toasted pretty good for being made.

y/n smiled with delight as she clapped her hands together, walking over to the cabinet to open it and grabbed the syrup, powdered sugar and placed them onto the counter next to the freshly made toast.

walking to the refrigerator to open it and grabbing out blueberries and strawberries. when she had everything she slowly started to combine the rest of her meal. and the finished product was actually pretty good.

ur had the right amount of everything—more syrup but that was okay.

getting a fork, he grabbed two and handed one to mike who looked a bit shocked but grabbed it nonetheless. putting her fork into it and getting a bite, she ate and hummed with the flavor.

‘have some!’ she encouraged mike who shook his head—‘no, no, it’s okay! i just had dinner—‘

she rolled her eyes and placed her fork down, grabbing his and getting a bite for him then placing it next to his lips—‘here’ she mumbled, he looked down at the fork and then her to see she wore a smile.

it was beautiful—she was beautiful.

opening his mouth just enough for her to place the food into his mouth he ate and hummed with agreement that the food was good, he got lucky and had a blueberry on his piece.

‘you like it?’ she whispered, scared that he didn’t. he nodded with a smile and she squealed a bit before getting more for herself with her own fork.

her reaction to his approval made him want to say and agree to any and everything she asked. he watched as she ate a bit more and he leaned against the counter—‘so, what were you going to do until they got back?’ he wanted to ask her to watch a movie but didn’t know if she had anything else planned.

‘we can watch a movie?’ she read his mind perfectly .

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 🍰　˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

the two of them went back to her own room, he was expecting the two of eleven and her to share but it didn’t accrue to him that there were two rooms in the house, he expected hopper to take one and then to take the other but he guessed they both got lucky and had their own while hopper stayed on the couch.

walking to her room her was met with a very good set up, there was a rug in the middle of the wood floor with her bed on the left side of her room, the window on the side of her bed and in the middle of the wall.

she had a bedside table with her lamp, a plant, a book and a mug on it and her dresser with more things all over, she had a tv that sat on its own stand across from her bed.

her room was clean, and it smelt just like her, sweet and warm, a smell of soap as well.

walking over as she held the pan of toast she placed it down on her bed and parted for him to sit down which he quickly did. watching her every move, y/n walked over to the tv and slipped in a vhs tape, pressing play only for the movie to be one of the ones his sister watched endlessly—‘wait is this pretty in pink?’ he asked with disgust but tired to hide it.

‘yes! it’s my favorite—do you not like it?’ she noticed his face held displeasure but he quickly fixed it.

‘what? no! i love this movie! i love how she wore pink…’ he mumbled as y/n smiled and let the movie play out. he didn’t even pay attention to the movie, how could he when he sat right next to the prettiest girl he’s ever seen.

he watched as she would laugh occasionally and eat a bit of her food. the whole pan didn’t get eaten but he contributed to some of it, it going from full to half gone.

a scene of the main girl—andie and duckie were having a argument about blane—‘it’s just, he’s gonna use your ass and throw you away, god! i would’ve died for you’ the character confessed. mike didn’t know what or why, or even how he found himself getting into the movie.

looking at the side to see y/n looking at him only to quickly look away at the tv, she bit her lip and took a quick bite. he felt his face grow red and grinned, looking back at the tv. a new scene played where she and duckie were holding their heads together as they talked and joked, deep down mike imagined what it would be like it if were him and y/n.

his heart raced when he noticed how close the two suddenly got, the food placed on her bedside table and the only thing on the bed being the two of them. somewhere towards the end is where she finally kissed him. mike couldn’t help but let his hand set up and push its way to y/n who noticed but didn’t do anything to stop it.

his pinky touching hers and lifting up and linking with her own, y/n inhaled sharply and smiled a bit as the movie started to end. looking down at their hands, the two let their eyes meet.

‘your uh…your very pretty’ he said with his face red. she smiled warmly and mumbled—‘your pretty too’. he knew her saying this made his face look like he was head smashed in a whole tub of tomato sauce.

clearing his throat when he felt it almost close, his heart racing he noticed her looking him in the eyes and at his lips, he two did the same.

before he knew it, y/n began to lean into him—he knew she probably didn’t know anything about kissing and to be fair neither did he, he only watched them in movies and would sometimes kiss his little sisters injures to make her feel better but he never, ever, placed his lips on someone else in a romantic way, let alone a kiss.

the two leaning in closer, so close that her breath was softly fanning over his lips, he felt a faint feeling of her soft lips, this urging him to press his against hers, she inhaled sharply and didn’t know what else to do, but him seeing enough movies, started to move his lips, her following.

the softness of her lips and the syrup as her lip gloss intoxicated him, her taste being everything he could imagine. the way she spoke, smiled and hummed. he didn’t imagine anything more than this—beautiful.

he pulled apart to let her breath but quickly pressed his lips against hers once more, his hand now making way up to her cheek and holding it lightly, her skin soft to the touch. he heard a faint sound coming from her causing him to kiss her more roughly.

a sudden tug on his bottom lip that was revealed as her teeth pulling it only to go back—grunting he kissed her more until he ran out of breath, his lungs screaming for air—pulling apart with hesitation he felt her kiss his lips with quick kisses.

he licked his lips and smiled as she opened her eyes, him looking over at her scar as the two of them both smiled and laughed a bit, their heads being pressed together like in the movie.

pulling apart slowly, he reached up to touch her scar—‘how’d you get this?’ he asked a bit scared but it washed away when she let her own hand move up and touch his.

‘i was it, with glass.’ he was a bit shocked but expected it hearing the stories told by eleven about the lab.

‘hm, you look pretty badass though’ he complimented. her eyebrows scrunched in confusion.

‘badass?’ she mumbled. she didn’t know what that word even meant, was it an insult?

‘yeah badass, y’know? cool, it looks cool’ he told her,he could visibly see her relax and smiled sweetly as she leaned in to kiss him again only to hear—‘y/n!’ eleven was home, and from the sound of it max was back too.

‘where are you?’ the damn door was open, almost running to get up and slam it, y/n used her power to slam the door and rushed to get up—‘i’m getting dressed!’ she yelled before ushering mike to get up.

‘what do i do?’ he asked, scared for his damn like—max and eleven on him? he’d rather die right here and right now.

‘there’ she whisper shouted while pointing at the window, rubbing over to it and try and open it only for it not to budge he pulled away and to her only for her to use her powers again and open it without effort, he felt embarrassed but nonetheless went through it.

landing on the crunch of the leaves, he turned to her and she still held the door shut, looking at him through the window, the two face to face.

‘i’ll see you tomorrow?’ she asked for reassure.

‘at school, i’ll be there’ he nodded, she smiled sweetly, leaning in as he did too, then sharing one last sweet and savory kiss before he pulled apart and left her. she shut the window and he was met with lucas, dustin and will.

they all calmed once seeing he was out of the house alive—‘you good?’ lucas asked him as mike nodded, a smile on his face.

‘dude they totally kissed’ will told him with a laugh as they all looked at mike how he was beat down red.

‘shut the fuck up’ he yelled at them as they laughed. he himself hiding a smile at the thought of y/n.

[missmarveledsblog]

I Think I love you a little bit more everyday ( Steve Harrington x Reader)

summary : being in love is never easy and it most definitely not easy when the person you love is one of you best friends .

warning : steve is an insecure boy , angst and fluffy

Steve harrington was known for many things , the great head of hair on his head, most popular guy in hawking high for a long period of time , many jobs he had despite his family being rich . He was also widely known for his failed love life , from nancy and his up and down romance to all the failed dates afterwards . Another thing that was well known was when she was a round steve puppy dog brown eye would light up and follow her around  or an inkling of trouble and he was ready to come to her rescue not that she needed it given she was one of the kids from the lab one that help eleven escape after something so horrible nether spoke about it . when those two showed up it was like a nuclear bomb went off exposing so many things. One of those things that most people of hawkings forgot was chief hoppers first fleeting marriage and his first daughter , back when he was young cop he and claudia henderson’s sister maggie had one night stand that would lead to a pregnancy and marriage to do the right thing, then one night when the girl was four years old  maggie took off and sent papers of divorce . What Hopper didn’t know was the girl's ability or the lab approaching the mother paying her a large sum of money . For years and years even before she returned he never stopped even though mentally he was done , he’d never stop looking  .  in all that time she was so close and yet so so far away it wasn’t til he noticed the birthmark on her arm  and a  under wraps blood test to find out who the  now almost young woman was . unlike eleven she was able to be out in public the towns people talked for long time but soon with everything else it became old news. 

The odd nature of it all skipped over but for steve harrington it was more skipping from a crush to full blown feelings . Everytime he tried pulling his mind to something else she would be around and everything would flood back , convince he was undesiring of love or convinced that he was cursed and destined to never get the girl some form of karma for his stupid asshole behaviour . so it was safe to say he was afraid to get that close to her in a way where he could get hurt even thought realistically  this was killing him . 

Even though many times their lives had been put in situation were if a love confession should arise it would be now on the tip of his tongue but he chose to ignore it  a decision he nearly regretted when he say eddie carrying her weakly while dustin henderson was chewing him out for being an idiot for not sticking to the plan  mainly because he was scared , because he watching people he loved being taking  from his life . steve heart fell into his stomach , the blood in his veins cold looking at the lifeless limp pale body in his arms  rushing to their side all at once asking what happened what was wrong . all bickering til the reached the byer place one where they all spent many of times at not wanting to leave her side as she lay , least the colour was starting to come back into her cheeks and he did turn so nancy and robin could clean the blood and fresh clothes on her. Then when it was last straw , it was end battle one of good and evil wayne munson promised to the stay by her side . when it felt like everything was hitting the wall , when it felt like a loss was on the brink the bright headlight of a pick up truck and added effect of metallica blasting through the  speaker like some knights on four wheeled beat up stallion . 

“ As metal as this is what the hell your suppose to be watching over her” eddie hissed although slightly impressed at the entrance he couldn’t lie .  

“ she was going to go whether i let her or not so i got her here safely … shit kid i was kinda hoping this wasn’t actually real “ wayne’s eyes looking at monstrous creatures . 

“ can you use one of these” hopper asked holding the shot gun like nothing  . 

“ yes sir .. legal hunting “ he was made sure to clarify . 

“ i don’t care just aim and shoot  these fuckers legalities don’t come into play here” dustin yelled as  y/n stood out of truck eyes locked on the enemy before turning to see steve both happy she was up and pissed she was there something she could ask about once it was over .  hand in hand they stood watching her and eleven get the better hand holding Venca in the air almost tearing him apart . the anticipation and fear all over everyone's faces.   Like a sick joke the two thrown apart the cruel laugh that spilled from its grotesque mouth as their friend watched trying to get to the girls  then when the beast turn his sights on the people they loved it was like every life lost due to this creatures being channeling through giving them the strength to rip him apart and this time for good . that should of been that moment for steve but again he missed it by just hugging her so tightly til hopper had to clear his throat all in the midst of it all the feelings of it finally being over , the seemly curse of hawkings finally broken as eddie munson screamed his victorious yell and few obscenities that prompted wayne to slap him back of his head . 

“ ladie present” he’d gruffed . 

“ shit sorry … shit “ the boy cursed . 

A year after that day , the town of hawkings rebuilding people still coming in droves to the so called cursed town as it and the people in it are some sort of spectacle .  oddly at first it help getting so much aid but it came with a price  , media circus and droves of people coming to town . steve stood in family video because of course  that could be rebuilt fast not that he could complain and in hindsight his parent stayed longer this time before heading off again . something else that linger in the air , tension of a sort with him and y/n. He tried once more burying the feeling deep down  which seemed harder to do every time he would try close his eyes he could see her lifeless in eddies arms or thrown by Vecna  to point he was losing sleep  , ignoring robin and co pleading with him just to talk to her which he would if it wasn’t for kyle , he first came to help the town wit others and seemly took an interest in y/n and before steve knew it he was watching yet another girl he was in love with in the hands of another like a knife constantly plunged into his heart and it was his own fault or was it just future proof of his own curse.  Yet it did nothing to quell the feeling the weeks almost months of distance did nothing to stop the strong coursing feelings that building up and up he felt it was going to rip him apart . everything he face nothing scared him more than this  , no matter what fear he had  he needed to tell her maybe if he got it all of his chest he could move on , closer in it own bitter way . flowers in hand and man on a mission he drove like bat out of hell not caring if he blew a red light of if the cops would try pull him over because in this very moment nothing was more important than freeing himself of all this . he needed a release from  it and he needed to do it now , right now . pulling the car to a stop and walking to the door muttering to himself , psyching himself up . 

“ rip the band aid off look she gonna reject you , you might have to fight kyle but we need to do this “ he muttering unaware of eddie and wayne sitting on their porch ready to witness  it all . pumping himself up and knocking at the door watching it fly open  and her voice filled with surprise of course it was he actively avoided her for months because he couldn’t fess up or bare the thought of her with another man . 

“ look no talking , listening yet shitty of me to say so but i need to get this out because if i don’t i will throw up and make this a hundred times worse , i know i have been a dickhead… “ 

“ putting it lightly “ 

“ ok deserved that but look hush … i couldn’t be around you it was killing me … i mean not you but you and kyle it was killing me watching another doing what i should be doing but i know would never happen because let face it henderson and the rest of shitheads will get married before i can find a girl that doesn’t leave me for someone else and that in itself is why i’m afraid .. was ..no actually still scared to tell you i’ve been in love with you since i met you , every time i try think of way tell you end of the world happens or that voice in my head tells me to shut up because you one of my best friends and now i need to tell you get some closure and also be made at you for almost dying twice  and even then my coward ass couldn’t tell you i think i love you a little more every day and it killing me , i can’t eat or sleep because it’s tearing me apart holding on and i know ….”  his whole body seized up at the feeling of her lips and his , the fact of her lips on his sending him into a short circuit and that fear melting away  , what felt like ice that was thawing away a warmth was coming into his body for first time .  pulling her close even if kyle was there and  not that he care he pulled her closer almost like  their bodies were welding together in iron clasp hold . suddenly the alarms in his brain ringing off she felt the same, she feels the same . as much as he didn’t wanted to pull away he needed to breathe and he was pretty sure the nerves of it all still had him ready to throw up still . 

“ kyle? “ he gasped .

“ we broke up couple months ago “ 

“ why didn’t you tell me ?” 

“ because you kept avoiding me “ she glared still feeling pissed at him. 

“ why didn’t anyone else tell me ?” he asked .

“ BECAUSE YOU NEVER LISTEN BIG BOY “ eddie yelling making him aware of the audience . 

“I wanna hit you for ignoring and avoiding me “ she glared. “ but i also want you to kiss me again ,  you idiot i’ve been in love with you since we met too “ her face softened. 

“ what if you find someone better” that broken vulnerable voice spilling from his lips made her own heart clench . 

“ there is no one better than you steve , in my eyes your the best of the best, everyone knew it  i was like a little school girl all heart eyes at you that when you dated i was secretly wishing they sucked and you would like me back honestly i owe buckley and all of friends therapy for all times i’ve pretty much blabbed about how much i’ve been and still am in love with you “ all her own pent up feelings finally breaking like a dam  gushing out of her mouth before she could even think to stop them . 

“ so this whole time “ 

“ you both been dumber than a box of rocks  … yeah “ eddie called. 

“ maybe we should take this inside “ she laughed as both their faces flushed . 

“ and make up for lost time i’m way ahead of you sweetheart “ he chuckled lifting her up and rushing in, the voice in the back of his head was telling him this was going to hurt but the voice in his heart told him he was going to be ok because this time he got the girl who was going to want him and only him .

[marwritesgood]

Stepping on the Last Train

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Hopper!Reader

Summary: Tensions in the Hopper household come to a peak when El runs away under Y/n's supervision.

series masterlist // main masterlist

A/N: this is a side-story (though technically a back-story) to my Steve series, Cardigan. i recommend reading the first two parts of the main storyline, if you haven't already, for better context.

September 18th, 1978

Sara let out a tired yawn as her older sister read the last sentence of her favourite storybook. The hospital bed was the least bit comforting, nothing at all like her bed at home. Sara frowned as her sister closed the book shut.

"The end," Y/n sighed, relieved one of the longest days of her life was finally coming to an end.

Between school, her neglected chores and the daily trips to the hospital, she had barely any time to sleep. Even when she did catch a break, she never could go to sleep. Not when her baby sister was sitting in a cold gloomy hospital room, their parents both a mere shell of the lively people they once were.

Some nights, Y/n would dream the four of them were all dancing in the living again. Her stepping on her dad’s toes as her mum lifted Sara up in the air. On those nights, she could not help but wish she could sleep and dream that forever.

Y/n turned to place the book down on the chair beside the bed, but Sara grasped her arm and stopper her. She huffed, knowing where this was going.

"Again," the little girl spoke softly.

Her big sister's voice was a significant upgrade from the hospital ambiance and the annoying beeps from the heart monitor. The older girl sighed. Those days, it felt like everyone wanted more from her than what little she had left to give.

"No, Sara, I'm really tired."

The young girl pouted, sticking out her bottom lip and staring up at her sister until her eyes watered. She had gone from almost always having her way to not having any say at all. It wasn't fair, they both thought.

"Pleeease, Y/n," she pleaded, weakly grasping onto her sister’s forearm.

Y/n frowned, her heart sinking. Sara huffed defeatedly as her sister leaned in and kissed her temple apologetically.

"It's getting late, Sara bear,” Y/n whispered with a weak smile. Time was no one’s friend in the hospital. “- We should really get some sleep.”

As Y/n shift the hospital bedsheets to sit up, the faint sound of her father's voice could be heard. Her eyes shot up to the silhouette of her parents through window, as their conversation in the corridor escalated just as it always did.

"I'm doing everything I can!”

Hopper threw his hands up in frustration which only infuriated his wife more. Livid, she inched closer with a deathly glare and a horrified expression.

"What, and I'm not?!"

Y/n winced and instantly looked down to Sara. Their parents fighting had become routine now, but she knew that didn’t stop the youngest Hopper from trembling in fear every time.

Y/n shifted back into her original spot and wrapped her arms around her baby sister. What was one more late night, she told her. Sara already had her fair share of things to worry about.

"Let's read it one more time, ok?”

Sara sniffled and looked up to her big sister, nodding her head as she tried to bring herself to smile. Y/n frowned before leaning in and kissing her temple softly. She opened the book to the first page again and made a point of raising her voice and doing extra goofy character voices to drown out the sound of her parents.

***

December 20th, 1983

Y/n gulped down a mouthful of soda as she studied her father from across the room. He said goodnight Eleven and carefully closed shut to the door that Y/n guessed would now be her bedroom.

Once he turned to approach the kitchen table, Hopper met his daughter's hard gaze with glazed over eyes riddled with guilt. He was grateful she waited until he sat down opposite her before ripping him a new one. El needed a decent night's sleep, among so many other things.

His daughter huffed, surrendering the death grip she had on her soda can. How was he so calm and casual about something that impacted their day-to-day lives massively? Y/n leaned in and glared at him with knitted brows.

“What the hell, dad?”

She spoke in hushed tone, yet her voice still projected with a piercing sharpness. Hopper sighed. He knew his daughter well enough to suspect she would not take the news of El moving well. Even so, he couldn't help but hope it bode over a hell of a lot more smoothly.

“Listen, bug, I know-“

Y/n scoffed, cutting whatever explanation he had short.

“Look, I get that she’s alone and needs a safe place to stay," she reasoned. "- but you can’t just take in a child we only met a few weeks ago and just expect me to be on board.”

Hopper pursed his lips as his posture slumped. That was a fair point, one he had always been aware of but chose to overlook. It was easy to do when El looked up at him the way she did.

“I know it’s a big change-"

"It's a massive change," Y/n corrected.

This was a much bigger deal than bringing in a stray cat. Eleven was an entire person who needed and deserved more than what Y/n had been just barely getting by with that last few years.

Hopper leaned back against his chair and ran his hand over his mouth. After a moment's deliberation, he turned to his daughter once more. Y/n felt uneasy as he looked to her with pleading eyes. She knew then he was not going to give up easy, and that only made her feel worse.

"I just thought that maybe after all she's done and all she's been through…” Hopper shook his head, unable to even fathom just how much that little girl had endured.

He looked to his daughter and sighed once more. They could go back and forth all night about what it was that led him to making such a rash decision. However, ultimately, Hopper's reasoning was simple.

“She needs me, bug.”

Y/n winced. Finally, she was able to put her finger on what it was that made her so uneasy. In one chance encounter in the woods, Hopper dropped everything to bring El home. In one encounter, he made the call to step into her life and be a parent with seemingly little hesitation.

Where had this version of him been for the last few years?

Hopper reached out and placed his hand atop Y/n's, causing her to jump. He waited until she finally looked back before pressing further.

“She needs us.”

Y/n stared blankly at him. She blinked a few times then moved her hand away. This was not a movie, or some storybook tale. There were very real factors to account for and very real considerations to make. He needed a cold hard reality check, Y/n told herself.

"You work first thing in the morning and show up drunk in the middle of the night almost every night, dad,.” Y/n’s voice was calm and level, which sent chills down her father’s spine.

He didn’t feel like the parent in their conversation. He felt like a kid sitting in the principal’s office. Y/n sat back and narrowed her eyes, only heightening that very feeling.

"Do you really think your guardianship is what she needs right now?"

Hopper scoffed defensively.

"Hey, now that's not fair.”

He wasn’t new to the parenting scene. Sure, it had been just him and Y/n for a while and sure, he had been asleep at the wheel for a while too. But he was still a parent.

Y/n eyes only narrowed further.

"It isn’t?"

She licked her lips and swallowed thickly. She knew she was in the right, but that did not stop the guilt from creeping in. Maybe there was a nicer way of going about it. Maybe she was being a bit harsh.

Y/n dismissed that train of thought immediately. If not for Eleven’s sake, then it would be for hers. She already had her hands full trying to keep the lights running with just herself and Hopper. Adding another kid into the mix would only complicate things further and Y/n knew if things went south she would be the one to have to step up.

Lord knows he father knew nothing about doing that.

"Look, I don't want El to be out on the streets, but... and I'm not trying to be cruel,” she had to make sure he knew. “I just… I don't see how she's gonna be better off here."

Hopper’s stomach sank as he struggled to think of a decent retort. There was none. Their kitchen was a mess of dirty dishes, half-empty pizza boxes and a plethora of empty and almost-empty beer bottles. Their living room was no improvement. Old boxes Hopper had moved out of the spare room to make space for El, piles of policework and cigarette burns all over their sofa.

Y/n pressed further, though she suspected he was already getting the hint.

“I mean… how do you plan to look after her when you've barely been able to look after yourself the past few years?"

Much less her, the person he was already responsible for.

Y/n had to look away and excuse herself from the table. If she stayed and kept looking at him, she knew she was either going to scream or cry hysterically. Waiting for him to come to his senses was pointless, but she always struggled to resist doing it.

She was still his daughter, after all.

Hopper heard Y/n’s bedroom door close and leaned forqard again, this time putting his head in his hands and lettig out a quiet groan. What had he done? What had he gotten himself into.

Y/n words echoed through his head as he tried to figure out the best way around it. He took a deep breath and resisted the urge to reach for the whiskey he kept in the kitchen cabinet. She was right, he realised.

He hated that she was right.

Balling his hands into a fist, Hopper glanced over once more to the pile of dirty dishes among the mess that was the kitchen. That was one way to start. He let out a huff and then got up from his chair and approached the mess, turning the faucet on and making a start on what he knew would be a long journey and an ongoing process.

If for nothing else, then it was to make sure Y/n thought of him as more than a drunken deadbeat.

***

October 31st, 1984

El looked up to Y/n with glossy eyes and pouted, her shoulders slumping defeatedly. She knew it was a long shot, but Y/n always came to the rescue when El had disagreements with Hopper. She did not thing she was asking for much.

Y/n sighed and glaced past her little sister. She could just make out Steve’s car pulling up to front of the cabin. As much as she hated disappointing El, Y/n did not want to get caught in the crossfire.

"That's Steve. I have to go now.”

She sped past the pouty young girl and reached for her bag from the kitchen table. Before she could make it to the door, El raced to block her path, this time with her hands clutched together pleadingly. That was new.

"Y/n, please,” El cried.

One night. All she wanted was one night out of the cabin doing somethings kids her age were doing. Something Mike was probably doing, though she would never know for sure because of Hopper’s stupid rules. Y/n frowned.

"I'm sorry, El, Hopper already said no."

Usually, Y/n could not care less what Hopper had to say, but when it came to El he was an otherworldly kind of strict. If Hopper banned Steve from coming over for a week after she missed her curfew twice in a row, Y/n dreaded imagining what he would do if she took her little sister out.

"I never leave," El complained, her brows knitting together as her frustration reached an all-time high. If Y/n was not going to take her side, what were the chances that anything was going to be different?

"C'mon, you know I don't agree with him, but I can't just-"

"Please, Y/n.”

Y/n froze for a moment. El sounded different. She didn’t sound like a kid throwing a tantrum because her dad wasn’t letting her go and play.

She sound like a kid who desparately wanted a break. She sounded like someone who needed their big sister. She sounded like Sara. That was enough for Y/n to give in.

"Go put on your costume."

El didn’t need to be told twice before bolting to her room and coming back out with the white bed sheet she had cut out holes into. Y/n could not help but smile as she opened the door for her and followed her out to where the BMW parked.

Steve had been waiting outside, leaning back against the hood of his car. As El came racing out towards him, he instantly stood straight and embraced her as she hugged him excitedly. Y/n smiled nervously as he looked to her in confusion.

"What's going on?"

Y/n shoved her house keys back into her bag and crossed her arms anxiously. It was too late to go back now.

"El wants to go trick or treating,” she explained nervously. Steve toyed with the car keys in his hands as he only felt more puzzled.

"I thought your dad said-"

"It's too dangerous," Y/n nodded. Glancing between her little sister and her boyfriend, she scratched the back of her head. "So- I don't know- I was thinking we could just drive around and El could stay in the backseat and watch? That way no one sees her."

Steve couldn't help but feel bummed their movie plans were being given a rain-check, but one look at El and her adorable costume and he knew he could not say no.

"Yeah, sure.”

He went to open the door for Y/n when he took notice of the way El lowered her head and left out a huff. Even with her expression concealed behind the white sheet, Steve could tell she was disappointed.

He reached his hand out for Y/n's, halting her from getting into the passenger's seat. She turned to him, puzzled.

“Or maybe..." Steve gave El a small smile before turning to her older sister. It would be worth a shot. He gave his wristwatch a once-over. "I mean it’s only 5 o’clock. Muncie's just a little over an hour away, and we don't know anyone there."

Y/n furrowed her brows, unsure whether she felt more startled or touched by what Steve was implicating.

"You wanna drive to Muncie?"

Steve shrugged, as if it was no big deal. To Y/n, it was. He stood behind El and placed his hands on her shoulder, feeling assured he was doing a good thing by the way the young girl was already jumping with excitement.

Maybe it wasn't trick-or-treating with Mike, Lucas, Dustin and Will, but it was a hell of a lot better than sitting in the backseat on the outside looking in.

"I want El to have the full Halloween experience."

"I do too, but it's risky," Y/n argued, folding her arms and taking a step towards the two of them. "What if someone sees her?"

"C'mon, she has the best costume to disguise her," Steve nudged El's shoulder gently, prompting her to lift her hands up.

"Boo!"

"See? Terrifying."

Y/n laughed beneath her breath then pulled Steve closer to her as El stood behind with a hopeful gaze. As much as she wanted to indulge, she could not ignore how risky it would be.

"Steve," she whispered. "If my dad finds out, he's gonna be pissed."

"I’ll get you both home before he gets off work, I promise," Steve assured, snaking his arms around her waist and closing the gap between them almost entirely.

Y/n pursed her lips, still unsure. Steve, not wanting to let El down after already getting her hopes up, pressed a soft kiss against his girlfriend's temple and then leaned his against hers until she met his eyes.

"Please, baby?"

Her knees weakened. Something about the way he called her baby always seemed to have that effect on Y/n. As if she was not already convinced, a small hand tugged on the bottom of her t-shirt.

"Yeah, please, Y/n?"

With two pair of eyes glued onto her, Y/n felt completely cornered. How was she to say no to the two people she loved most? Letting out a sigh, she playfully rolled her eyes and uncrossed her arms.

"Ok, fine."

El hugged her briefly before speeding to the BMW, where Steve stood holding both right-side doors open. Y/n was glad he brought up the idea of going to Muncie. El deserved a normal kid-experience. Maybe they could even make a habit of it.

Steve upheld his promise and got both Hopper girls home safe well before Hopper was due back. While Y/n turned in early, El stayed awake. Between the bucket of candy she had to hide in her closet and the numerous exchanges she had with kids and other families, she was awestruck. El didn't know when or how.

All she knew was that she wanted to go again, and soon.

***

November 10th, 1984

Hopper's truck was already parked outside the cabin when Steve pulled up with Y/n in the passenger seat. She mumbled a curse beneath her breath, dreading having to leave the car. She leaned back against the headrest and squeezed her eyes shut.

“My dad’s gonna kill me.”

This was beyond missing curfew or letting El outside in broad daylight. After their massive argument and broken television, Hopper stressed that his eldest keep an extra close eye on his youngest. And now she was nowhere to be found. There was no telling how Hopper was going to react.

She tried not to think about the worst case scenario. Just the situation in itself made her a nervous wreck. Feeling helpless, Steve reached for her hand and held onto it firmly.

“We can keep looking, baby," he spoke softly. If she wanted him to drive her halfway across the country, he would. There was very little he hated more than seeing her so upset.

“It’s no use,” Y/n huffed defeatedly. “We’ve looked everywhere.”

There was no other place in Hawkins she could think of that they had not already been to. Even if there was a place they had missed, it had been hours now. There was a greater chance El was out of Hawkins entirely, maybe even Indiana.

Y/n unbuckled her seatbelt and sat up straight. The longer she stayed in Steve's car, the more time she would have to psych herself out.

It was time to face the music.

“Do you want me to come inside with you?”

Steve's offer caught her by surprise. She smiled weakly and shook her head. Showing up with Steve would only agitate Hopper more given how much he already had against him.

“It’s ok."

Y/n waited until Steve was out of the driveway before going inside. The cabin was eerily silent, so much so Y/n was beginning to think Hopper was in his room. The she turned to the kitchen.

“Where is she?”

Hopper ascended from the shadows of their dimly lit kitchen until he and Y/n stood facing each other from opposite ends of the kitchen table. He crossed his arms and waited for a response, though he already knew the answer.

“Dad, I can explain,” Y/n whimpered quietly.

However, before she could even start, Hopper was muttering something about a report a woman made to the station with a description that matched El to a tee.

“What the hell happened?”

His voice was chillingly level, in a way that made Y/n's chest hurt.

“I came home from school with Steve, and El was still really upset and she asked me for some eggos, but we had none left. So I told her I would be super quick, and I was!”

Hopper furrowed his brows.

“You left her?”

“For five minutes, dad,” Y/n reasoned, her voice breaking. Suddenly, she felt like a little kid again. “Steve and I drove to the nearest store, got some eggos and came back but she was already gone.”

If it weren't for Steve suggesting different solutions, Y/n would have probably been on her knees crying and hyperventilating for hours. She looked to her dad and hoped he would at least acknowledge how distressing that must have been, but his expression was unchanged.

He was still looking at her like she was a sorry excuse of a person. Like she should have been the one missing, not El.

“And you didn’t call me?”

Y/n winced. Steve suggested doing that, but the prospect of it terrified her.

“I thought maybe she wouldn’t have gotten that far yet," Y/n defended, though it was a mere half-truth. "- so Steve and I drove around looking for her.”

“How could you be so irresponsible?"

She clenched her jaw. He did not have the right to say that to her. Not with his track record. Even so, Y/n bit her tongue. Escalating the situation was the last thing she needed, but he was sure testing her.

“If you had kept an eye on her, she would have never left," Hopper added, inching closer and narrowing his eyes at his daughter.

He could not believe it. The one person he thought he could always count on let him down massively. Adding insult to injury, she scoffed at him. Hopper's blood was boiling.

“Well, maybe if you had given her a bit of freedom she wouldn’t feel the need to retaliate by running away," Y/n hissed. Had he already forgotten the very reason he and El fought just a mere day ago?

“Don’t turn this around on me," Hopper growled, pointing his index finger at her. She was toeing the line of going too far, something she once never did but seemed to make a habit of in recent years. "I'm not the one who lost her.”

“No, of course not," Y/n laughed dryly, her tone saturated in a sarcasm that only angered her father more. "You can never do any wrong, all your rules are completely reasonable and not at all controlling.”

“El never disobeyed my rules until you started encouraging her to," Hopper argued pointedly.

"You mean until I listened to her and encouraged her to exercise her freedom of choice?”

“Since when does lashing out at and keeping secrets from their dad fall under freedom of choice?”

Y/n rolled her eyes. Did he not know anything about teenaged girls? Maybe if he was sober when she was 13 he would have even a semblance of a clue as to what El was going through.

“Oh my god, fine!" Y/n yelled. "- sue me for thinking a 13 year old girl should have a bit privacy and be allowed to say how she feels.”

“Don’t do that," Hopper shook his head, doubling back. "You don’t have a monopoly over knowing what’s best for El, I know a thing or two about raising a teenager.”

He was still the parent, Hopper told himself. That had to count for something.

Y/n stared at him, bewildered. He really believed that, didn't he? She knew then any attempt she could make at convincing him otherwise would be in vain. She shook her head.

“But you have no idea what its like being a teenage girl," she pointed out. "- especially one that has to live with you, because let me tell you…”

She stopped herself. While she found great satisfaction in ripping her father a new one, now was not the time. Not with El missing and her father still oblivious as to what could have compelled her to leave.

Hopper narrowed his eyes.

“Go on," he retorted.

Y/n sighed. This was about El.

“She had questions, dad." Y/n voice and expression softened. “- Questions about where she came from and what she can do and how long she has to stay cooped up in here, and all you do is give her vague answers or no answers at all, and it just…”

She tried to find the right words. She tried to think of a way of getting the message across without provoking him further, or making him defensive.

“You know, living with you and… and being your daughter, it’s…” Y/n shook her head. Maybe there wasn't a nice way of going about it. She looked to him and let out a huff. “You make it really hard sometimes.”

Hopper's brows rose, taken aback. He nodded his head, and for a second Y/n let herself be convinced that he got it. That he finally got it. But then he clenched his jaw and suddenly his gaze became a cold glare.

“Yeah well, being your dad hasn’t been all that great either either.”

Regret seeped in the very instant the words left his lips. Hopper inhaled sharply, watching his daughter intently, terrified of another screaming match. It would be two nights in a row.

However, Y/n did not scream at him. She didn’t even flinch. Hopper didn't think it was possible but, somehow, that left him feeling a hundred times worse. Y/n shrugged her shoulders with a deflated frown. She had only one response.

“You stopped being my dad years ago.”

There was no other emotion in her voice, only exhaustion. She could never understand how he had it in him to say such horrid things to her. Perhaps there was time where she would have become livid by him saying what he did, but Y/n had little to nothing left in her.

They could go back and fourth as long as they wanted, but what use would it be? It would always end the same way; with Y/n walking away even more hurt and traumatised than she already was.

***

February 20th, 1986

“You got kids, American?"

Hopper's train of thought was swiftly intercepted as the Russian man seated next to him waited expectedly. He nodded once.

"Two girls," Hopper stated shortly.

He leaned back against the stone wall behind him and closed his eyes. If he tried, he could picture the two of them in his head and it would feel real enough to give him some comfort. It was the way he kept himself grounded and determined to stay alive.

"My youngest, she’s great," he explained, smiling to himself as he remembered El.

He recalled the way she kept him on his toes and brought so much light into his life. He could not remember how long it had been since their last movie night. He wondered how long her hair was now. God, did he miss her. Both of them.

"And my oldest? My god..." Hopper opened his eyes and looked up at the ceiling. His Y/n was really something. What he would give to see her again. "- She’s the spitting image of her mom, but she’s got my stubbornness."

No description could do her justice, but in simple words that was Y/n in a nutshell. All the best part of her mother and all the rough edges of her dad. Hopper knew that was part of the reason they butted heads so often.

He also knew he shouldered the rest of the blame for that.

“I was supposed to be the parent, but…” Hopper sighed, his shame getting the best of him as he remembered all he did wrong and how she always put up with it. “- Every step of the way she’s been the one looking out for me, keeping things in line and… calling me out on my bullshit.”

It was never fair, he knew that. He knew he should have never put her in a position where she had to be the one keeping the lights running and keeping him in check. Yet, even so, she did it.

She was resilient and patient and forgiving when she had every reason to be vengeful and leave him in the dumps.

“And she’s become one hell of a kid… in spite of me. Not because."

Maybe he would tell her that, if he ever made it home to her and El. Hopper tried not to think about it too much. In order to get home, he needed to get out of whatever hellhole he was in. In order to do that, he needed to stay alive long enough to figure out how.

***

i do not give permission for any of my works to be copied, translated or reposted onto another site.

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@littlepadfootmoony @geeksareunique @agustdeeyaa @babygirlwilly @rqmanoff @midnightsgetawaycar @ilovereadingfanfics-blog @lou-la-lou @dickgraysonspersonalwhore @starkleila

[ornii]

Numbers Don’t Lie.

Jane/ Eleven X Male Brother Reader.

Summary: You express the want to see your presumed dead sister. Being another one of Brenners experiments, you were luckily able to escape years before it, growing up in Ohio, when you turned 18 you headed to Indiana, to find her.

December 23rd, 1984

It's been a few days or perhaps a week or two since the Snow Ball Dance and it's festivities, while it was a different experience for the kids, you felt the same in Indian High School in Ohio. It all felt so, nostalgic, but the addition of all the horrific and mostly insane things made a twist on it. But, out of all the horrific and Almost unbelievable things that occur in this town, there was one thing that made it worth it all.

Eleven.

After helping Dustin and his Prolific father figure, Steve, find his "Pet." It lead you on a journey to finding about the Upside Down, Demagorgons, and the truth behind Dr Brenners experiments, and most importantly was Eleven, still alive and very much kicking. After closing the gate for the last time you had time to get to know her just a bit more, about her journey the first time she met Dustin, Lucas, Will and Mike. Those times you were able to talk to her were heartwarming. After your spat and fight with the gate, and her Dress at the Snow Ball Dance, you ruffled her curly but small hair and finally felt somewhat at peace.

Giving you some semblance of a normal life with your little Sister, but unfortunately, not everyone was so accommodating about it. There was one person who didn't share your declaration of peace. Jim Hopper.

"Coffee, Two sugars, Spoon-full of creamer."

"Just Black for me."

"Got it chief." The waitress at the Diner walks off, leaving (Y/n) and Hopper at the table, across each other as the tension is a bit, high. The gruff and more experienced hopper glares at the younger and hauntingly mysterious (Y/n).

"So, what did you want?" (Y/n) asks, he leans back into the leather seating of the diner, calmly but smugly folding his arms, hopper looks more annoyed than most in this place.

"It's about Jane." He says, which causes (Y/n) to raise an eyebrow.

"Jane?" He says, Hopper reaches into his chest pocket and shows him a birth certificate, with the words "Jane Hopper" printed. (Y/n)'s eyes narrow to the name and he looks back up to Hopper.

"Eleven.. that's her name." (Y/n) says, but Hopper ignores that.

"Sure Pal, it's obvious that.. you know more about her, situation than I do. I don't know what those doctors did to her but it's obvious she isn't the most sociable kid." Hopper says and (Y/n)'s eyes look more sullen.

"Yeah. The, Test.. Experiments, shock therapy, we didn't go outside, we didn't get to have any contact with the outside world, we never even saw sunlight. I got lucky when my mom was able to pull me out of there, who knows how I would have ended up... but why are you asking? You don't seem like the type of guy to care." He says, and Jim shrugs.

"Who knows I might surprise you.."

"I Highly doubly it, so.. what do you want?" He asks, the waitress returns witu their coffee and places it, they give her a small nod of Thanks and she walks off, (Y/n) sips his sweet coffee and Jim spills it.

"Jane needs someone to help her control her powers, so you're going to help.. In Exchange, you can see her."

(Y/n) stops drinking his coffee, and slowly places the cup down and turns his cold eyes to Jim.

" "In exchange?" This isn't some trade of goods, and regardless I am going to see my sister." (Y/n) clenched the cup handle a bit tightly.

"Yes, in exchange, as much as you want to act like It, you aren't all of a sudden everyone's friend. You just popped up randomly with powers."

"Just Like her, Right?" He says back.

"I can trust her."

"And why not me?"

"She's a 11 year old girl, they're not good at lying, barely legal adults on the other hand."

"Well aren't you funny? I'm not going to play by some dumb rule to see my sister. You aren't going to stop me."

"This 41 Magnum says otherwise." He replies, (Y/n) could probably assume the handgun is under the table in his holster.

"You really want to try this Jim?" (Y/n) and Jim stare at each other. There was silence between them but the tension was so heavy, an intensity fills the diner, as their aggression whispers were promises of destruction.

"I've lost most of my family, I won't lose her too." He says, Jim sees the desperation and Sorrow In his eyes when he spoke, Hopper relents just for a moment and sighs.

"God Dammit... okay, it's true I don't trust you, but Jane.. she wants you to come over for Christmas."

"Christmas? Huh.." (Y/n) says, and Jim nods.

"Yeah, told me she wants it with her Family, with her "Papa and Brother.", and, if that's what the kid wants.." Jim says, and trails on. (Y/n) felt his heart skip a beat, a depressing warmness fills his heart and he nods. Holding back a few tears Jim can see him look down and sniffle.

"...I'd like that." He says. Jim's attitude softens, and stands up.

"Yeah... come over, I'm sure she'd like to see you." He says, and (Y/n) nods once more, wiping a single tear.

December 24th.

The Cabin was renovated to fit the lifestyle of a Preteen girl with powers and a rugged Old cop. A medium sized Christmas tree was planted on a big pot and (Y/n) and Eleven are setting it up.

"Okay, now, place the star on the top."

"Okay."

Eleven, using her powers lifts the star up, and places the plastic model on the top. He gives her a small pat on the back.

"There you go." (Y/n) gives her a smile, and Jane couldn't help but crack a smile. The two look at the fully decorated Tree adorned with Christmas foil and ornaments.

"Well, I guess that's that, you want some Cocoa?"

"Cocoa?" Jane asks, obviously confused by the term. (Y/n) raises an eyebrow.

"Cocoa? You've never heard of it? Jim's never given you any?" (Y/n) asks and Jane just shakes her head confused. He scoffs and walks to grabs his keys.

"Cmon." He says, Jane looks hesitant and fiddles with her fingers.

"We're not supposed to go outside." She says, and he stops.

"Jane, you've been cooped up in this place, Jim's out on some investigation, and who knows when he's coming back and I'm not leaving you here alone, Cmon.. I promise you'll have fun." He says, A bit convinced, Jane follows and they head to his car and out of the woods and into the city, he keeps Jane close as he shows her the snow, the cool winds and the festivities of Christmas. After shopping for the food for Christmas, and getting Jane a Santa hat, they return as she has a glow about her. Jim is still away, but that doesn't stop them or (Y/n), boiling milk in a pot on a stove he shows Jane the brown powder.

"Now. This is Cocoa." He says and she looks at it, obviously a bit confused.

"It's.. Dirt."

"It's Not Dirt."

"It looks like dirt."

"I know what it looks like—"

"I bet it tastes like dirt."

"No it's..anyway.. it's made from Cocoa beans, they grind them down and refine them into a powder. And you mix that powder into hot milk or water, and it turns it into Cocoa." He explains, as the milk comes to a small boil, he pours it into the pot and begins to stir, Jane watches with intensity and curiosity, as he finishes the brew, he can see the intensity that Jane is watching and finds nothing but amusement. He pours a hot up into a mug for him and another for her. Sitting down at the couch he hands it to her, and she cautiously takes it with both hands.

"Now, it's hot.. be careful and just take a sip." He says, and She does as told, she takes a cautionary sip, the rich flavor and scent of warm chocolate hits her sensory and goes overload, she stops for a second, her eyes going wide.

"Good, isn't it." He says, and she begins to chug it down and his face quickly turns to concern. She finishes and a deep brown mustache is above her upper lip and hands him the cup (Y/n) tries to stiffen down his laugh, Jane looks at his quizzically.

"What?" She says, "Do you want another cup?" He asks, snickering and she nods eagerly. He refills the cup and she continues to eagerly consume the cocoa. She finishes again with the same mustache and he tries not keep his composure again. This time she looks more frustrated.

"What's so funny?" She asks and he obliged.

"Okay, let me show you." He drinks a portion of his and forms his own mustache, he points which causes Eleven to giggle at it, he smiled so genuinely at her. She drops her cup on accident and it plummets to the ground, before it can shatter on the ground, it stops mid air, and slowly floats upward via (Y/n), who then takes the handle of the mug.

"Cmon, I got a few movies we can watch." He puts in a VHS of the classic "Gremlins." And sits next to Jane, who is a bit oblivious.

"What's a, Gremlin?" She asks and he elaborates.

"They're annoying little monsters that you can't feed after midnight. Trust me I think you'll really like it." He says, halfway into the film, Jane is asleep, most l due to the literal gallon of Cocoa she consumed. Resting her head on his shoulder, she sleeps so soundly, he looks over to her resting so calmly and he smiles.

"Lightweight."

Five minutes later, he's also asleep, his head cocked back and open. The door Jingles and opens to a grumbling Jim.

"I leave for one day and you two.." he says before seeing them sleeping so, soundly and calmly. His attitude lightens up a bit and he just puts a blanket on them, he checks his watch and raises an eyebrow, he looks at them sleeping so warmly.

"Huh, Midnight.. Merry Christmas."

[imaginefan]

Mistakes For Life

Jonathan Byers X Fem!Reader Steve Harrington!Platonic X Fem!Reader

Word Count: 1488

Requested: Anon

Request: Can you do a series for Stranger Things where the reader is Hopper's daughter she lost her little half-sister and she is best friends with Tommy H ( They are cousins ) and Steve Harrington but she ends up having a drunken one-night stand with Johnathan Byers and one month later she finds out she is pregnant and Will goes missing as does Barb. She ends up having Twins Jasper and Stevie ( Female )

Warning: teen pregnancy, one night stands, sort of absent father

You should have known that a one night stand at a party was going to end badly, reckless decisions never worked for you, now you sat in the doctor's office while she told you that you were pregnant, your Dad had brought you after, you had woken up 4 days in a row with sickness, there was a good chance that he already knew what was going on but he was sitting outside the room waiting and now you had to tell him what was going on, you wouldn’t be able to hide from him after all.

“Don’t be mad.” You said as you sat in the patrol car with your father. “What?” He asked as he looked at you. “I’m pregnant.” You decided to just saying, there was no point in beating around the bush or making a big scene out of it. “Excuse me?” He asked. “I’m not saying it again.” You mumbled as you looked away from him. “When?” He asked. “A 2 weeks ago.” You answered. “With? That Steve kid?” He asked, he always assumed that if you were going to get into trouble it would be because of him. “What no, Steve had nothing to do with it, but you can’t go knocking on people’s doors. The Byers are going through enough within Will missing.” You answered. “Jonathan?” He asked. “Isn’t he with that Nancy girl?” “It was a one night stand at one of Tommy’s parties.” You shrugged “figured he was doing it to try and take his mind off of her.” “And you just let it happen?” He asked. “Look Dad please, I don’t want to talk about all of that, he doesn’t know and it’s going to stay that way until it dies down.” You ordered. “(Y/N) you can’t just hide it from him, he’s going to notice.” Your father reminded you and you shook your head. “Dad please I just want to know what you think, stop deflecting.” You pleaded “because having a baby is fucking scary but I’d really like to know that you are there.” “You want to have this baby?” He asked. “I can’t kill it because I was stupid.” You said placing your hand over your stomach, he looked at you for a second before nodding his head. “Alright, don’t worry, I’ll be here but you have to promise me that you’ll tell him when the time comes, even if he doesn’t want anything to do with ‘em, he has to know.” Your father said and you nodded, he knew more about being a father than you ever could after all.

It was about 2 weeks later, you had moved into the old cabin with your Dad and Eleven. Your father came into the old cabin looking sheepish and you knew that he had done something “what?” You asked as you looked at him. “I know that you were supposed to tell him about the baby but…” He scratched the back of his head. “What did you do?” You asked. “…I was arguing with Joyce and it kinda slipped out and you know that she’s going to talk to him about it.” He said and you looked at him, you didn’t even feel angry, you just laughed at how nervous he looked, he honestly looked how you did when you told him that you were pregnant and honestly since Will was back you decided that you were going to tell him anyway. “Dad, don’t worry about it, you just made it easier.” You shrugged as he came over and sat on the couch with you. “Really?” He asked. “I was going to tell him anyway.” You said as you glanced at the door where El was standing. “What are you doing over there?” You asked, putting your arm out. “Trouble.” She pointed at your father and you laughed. “A little so he’s going to get us pizza to make up for it.” You smirked, leaning back, your phone vibrated and you reached over and grabbed it.

Steve: When were you going to tell me?

“Is that him?” Your father asked. “No Steve.” You answered.

You: What? Steve: Your having a baby You: How do you know that? Steve: Nancy asked me about it. You: Oh. Steve: You need anything? You: What? Steve: Let me know if you need anything.

“Why are you crying?” Your father asked and you turned your phone for your father to see he frowned. “Don’t worry I’ll get something sorted out, maybe you can stay home from school, get stuff sent here-” “He’s so sweet.” You mumbled. “Yeah guess he is.” Your father muttered, he was having to accept the fact that Steve might not have been as bad as he thought. “So pizza?” You asked. “Alright.” Your father smiled as he stood up “I’ll be back soon.”

Your first scan was where you were really surprised, your father couldn’t come with you but Steve did, because he was literally the best. You laying on the table as the doctor started the ultrasound, there was a moment of pause “what?” You asked. “You're having twins.” The doctor said and you looked at her. “Are you sure?” You asked. “I thought I was only having one.” “I’m sure,” she turned the screen so that you could see it and pointed out the outline of both children to you. “Would you look at that, two little yous running around.” Steve teased. “Steve, this is way more than I thought.” You said as you looked at the screen. “Don’t worry, I’ll be here and Robin, your Dad will love them and I’m sure that Joyce will help you too, even if Jonathan isn’t around.” He explained “relax.”

Jonathan came looking for you that day when you texted him to let him know the new development, you were sitting in a small diner with Steve and Robin when he walked over with Nancy “can I talk to you?” He asked, his eyes shifting to Steve who’s arm looped around your shoulders. “Yeah sure.” You nodded as you looked at him. “Um, alone?” He asked. “Oh sure,” You nodded standing up, Steve steadied you lightly as you weaved your slightly showing stomach through the small gap of the booth. You followed him as he walked over to a booth a little away from the others, though Steve was still keeping an eye on you. “Did you want to see them-” “What’s going on with you and Steve?” He asked. “Nothing, we’re just friends.” You answered. “So why did he go with you, you didn’t even ask me.” He frowned. “You never told me what you wanted, last I heard you knew but you hadn’t bothered to contact me.” You informed him. “I didn’t want to bother you while Will was missing and then you did know and you still didn’t do or say anything. Jonathan, we can’t act like we’re in school anymore. Look I’ll let you know when I book the next scan but Steve will be there.”

Jonathan was a distant presence after that, but Steve was the one that was most present. That was why as you laid there holding your two twins in the hospital room you decided on what you were going to call them “Do you have names?” The nurse asked as she came in to check you and the babies over. “Mmm, the little boy is Jasper and the girl is Stevie after my best and most supportive friend.” You said softly. “The boy that was with you?” She asked. “Yeah.” You nodded. “Where is he?” She asked. “He’s gone to get drinks.” You explained. “He seems sweet.” She said. “He is.” You nodded. “Does he know?” She asked. “No.” You shook your head. “Here, a hot chocolate for the new mother.” He cheered as he put the cup on the stand next to you as the nurse left. “You wanna hold one of them?” You asked. “Y-yeah sure.” He answered. “Jasper or Stevie?” You asked. “Stevie?” He asked. “Mm,” You hummed as you looked at him “named after the friend I couldn’t have done any of this without.” You were about to say something when there was a knock on the door and the commotion started as you father and Joyce walked in with Will following after them and lastly Jonathan, you handed Stevie to Steve and then handed Jasper to Joyce as she cooed at him and showed him to her sons. “You okay?” Your Dad asked. “Yeah.” You nodded. “All of us are healthy.” You said and he pressed a kiss to your forehead. “They said that we can go home in about an hour. They just wanted to check my blood pressure one more time.” “El’s excited to see them.” He said and you smiled. “I’m excited to go home.” You smiled as you watched your two new children bring light to the room.

Requests and general question!

[queen-honeybee-stories]

Billy Hargrove x Reader

Summery-Reader mourns the death of her love, Billy Hargrove after his death in the Starcourt Mall Incident

1.3k words

Billy stands from kneeling over Eleven, facing the Mind Flayer. Eleven starts to back up, Y/N reaching out to grab her and help her up, but is distracted by the long tentacle-like arm that comes out of the monster's mouth. Before it can grab onto Eleven, Billy takes hold of it, pushing back on it. More tentacles emerge from its body, slamming into the teen's body, first on his left, then his right. Another two to his back. Billy lets go of the first tentacle, screaming in pain. Y/N wills her body to stay put, knowing she'll only make it worse if she tried to make it release her boyfriend from its slimy grasp. 

Billy falls to his knees, looking at the monster head-on, almost as if he's asking if that's all it's got. Black goo and blood oozes from his mouth, rolling down his chin and neck, down to his white muscle shirt. 

The Mind Flayer opens its mouth once more, another tentacle arm coming from its mouth, shooting out and embedding itself in the center of Billy's chest. The troubled teen falls quiet, slumping down and to the side when the tentacles let go of him. 

Y/N is the first at his side, her hands falling to his blood and goo-covered cheeks. Billy sputters, spitting blood and goo onto her face, but Y/N couldn't care any less right now.

"I love you, Y/N/N." Billy whispers to her, giving her a gentle smile.

"No, no Billy, come on, we gotta get you out of here." She says, trying to get the boy she loves to move. Max falls at her side, telling Billy to get up. 

Billy looks at his step-sister once before uttering his last words, "I'm sorry." Y/N watches as his chest stops moving, his eyes becoming unfocused and glazed over as he looks at the ruined ceiling. 

Y/N's eyes shoot open the moment she wakes up. Her body is drenched in a cold sweat, soaking through the thin layer of clothing she has on and into the bed sheets under her and blankets around her. A harsh breath leaves her trembling lips, her eyes momentarily closing to try and fight off the tears filling them.

The shaking girl pulls herself out of her bed, throwing on a random sweatshirt from the floor and grabbing a pair of shoes. She treads lightly down the stairs and out to the driveway to the car awaiting her. She quietly slips into the driver's seat, pushing the keys into the ignition, listening to the engine's roar as it comes to life. The newly fixed blue Camero is quickly backed out of the driveway and tearing down the roads of Hawkins in a matter of minutes, driving to the only place the driver can think of.

The Quarry

Y/N steps out of the Camero, sitting down on the hood, looking over the cliff's ledge. The screams from her dream comes back, running through her head again. She closes her eyes again, trying to will the tears away, but it doesn't work this time. Salty tears roll down her cheeks, falling onto the sweatshirt she's wearing, which she just noticed was Billy's. The tears flow harder down her cheeks when she sees the police lights roll up behind her. It's only about a minute between the tires coming to a stop and the door of the Blazer being opened before Chief Jim Hopper is standing next to the hood of the Camero, letting out a sad sigh.

"Max call?" Y/N asks, looking out over the water instead of the chief.

"You know she did. She heard you start the Camero and drive off. She called for me to check on you, make sure you didn't wrap yourself around a tree." Jim says from next to her, taking off his hat and tossing it onto the hood in front of Y/N.

"Yeah, well you can go now, Chief. As you can see, I didn't wrap my car around a tree, so you're free to tell her I'm perfectly fine." Y/N said, a slight edge to her tone.

"Look, you and I both know you're not fine. Max, Steve, everyone knows you're not fine. We know you lost someone, but so did Max, Joyce did last year, and Nancy did two years ago. You're not the only one who has lost someone in this mess. You're not the only one hurting, so maybe you should stop looking at it like you're the only one hurting, 'cause you're not." Jim said but immediately felt guilty as soon as it left his mouth. A tear slid down Y/N's cheek when she looked down at her lap. "Y/N, I didn't mean it like that." Jim tried to backtrack, but it didn't work.

"Leave," Y/N whispered, still not looking at the chief.

"Y/N, c'mon, you know I didn't mean it like that." Jim said, reaching out to rest his hand on her arm. 

Y/N flinches away from the contact, raising her voice to get her point across. "I said leave! You can see I'm fine so leave me alone!" She yells, her voice echoing around the quarry. Jim lets his hand fall from her arm, backing up and back to his Blazer. Y/N watches as he drives back down the road, turning around when she can no longer see the large vehicle.

The mourning girl is quick to jump off the hood of the Camero, standing there and staring out at the blue water before she screams. And screams. And screams until her voice cracks and breaks, until her throat is raw. She falls to her knees on the rocks, letting sobs rack her body. She's uncaring of the way the rocks dig into her knees not covered by her pajama shorts. The pain shooting up her legs from the rocks is nothing compared to the pain of losing the one she loved the most. 

Y/N is unaware of the BMW pulling in behind the Camero, a concerned Steve and even more concerned Max step out. She has no idea how long she sits on the ground and sobs. It could have been minutes, hours, or even days, she doesn't know. All she knows is as she's crying, warm arms wrap around her from behind, pulling her off her knees and resting her butt on the ground. She begins to cry harder when she hears the sweet and soothing sound of Steve Harrington talking to her gently.

"I know, Y/N. I know you're hurting, I know. I'm so sorry." He says, repeating how sorry he is for her. Not long after Steve embraces her, Max is wrapping herself around her brother's girlfriend like a koala. Trying to soothe her cries.

Y/N is once again not sure how long the three of them sit on the ground in a tight embrace, but her cries eventually slow to small sniffles. They continue to sit in silence for a few more minutes before Max pulls away, looking at Y/N. "Let's go home Y/N/N. Billy wouldn't want us out here this late at night." Y/N nods her head, letting Max up first, then Steve, and finally, Steve pulls her to her feet. Max walks to the passenger back seat, sitting down in the car, waiting for the other two.

Steve pulls Y/N into one last bone-crushing hug. "You have no idea how sorry I am Y/N. I want nothing more than to bring Billy back, even if I hated his guts. I hate seeing you in so much pain. I wish there was something I could do for you." Steve says, ending his words with a kiss pressed to Y/N's hairline.

"I know, Steve. I just need some time." She says, squeezing his middle one last time before she lets go and walks over to the BMW. The Camero would be picked up later when Y/N was a little more stable.

The Camero would be just fine in Billy's favorite place. Just for one last time...

[weirdmorefics]

Could I request an eleven x brother!reader who struggles with depression; and always last tries to hide it from 11 and because she’s always busy with Mike, the reader feels he got away with it. But as reader becomes more withdrawn, El starts to notice the silence in the house after Mike leaves, and apologises for not noticing sooner and comforts the reader?

x younger brother!reader

No More Lab

Pronouns- He/Him

Word Count- 659

Summary- Eleven and her younger brother(reader) have become very distant. One night all of her brother's hidden feelings spill out all at once

Eleven's pov

I could not stop thinking about Mike's Grandma, I hope she's okay. Hopper seemed like it was very urgent and Mike seemed very worried. I will definitely call Mike again to check in... I guess I could pass the time by watching TV. I walk out of my room and hear light sniffles from the couch. I quietly creep towards the couch to not startle the person crying. It has to be Y/n, Hopper can't be back already, and not to mention I have never once seen him cry.

I can barely see who it is because they are wrapped tightly in a ball buried in a blanket. I can only tell that it is Y/n due to his hair sticking out. I lightly tap the blanket cacoon trying not to jump him and upset him more.

He slowly crawls out of his blanket cacoon cheeks flushed and eyes puffy from crying. He wipes his eyes and clears his throat "I'm sorry I thought you left with Hopper and Mike. Do you want the living room? I can go back to my room."

I shake my head, "Of course, not! I wouldn't ever kick you out while you are crying! I just want to know what's wrong."

Y/n scoffs and says something under his breath as he gets up to leave.

I am quick to grab his arm to stop him from leaving but it just makes the situation worse. Before I know it he turns back eyes filled with fear and he instinctively puts his hand up. He throws me back onto the couch with his powers but it wasn't that strong due to his age and lack of experience. I sat on the couch in shock that he would use his powers on me but his eyes soften again.

"I am so sorry I just... I just don't know how to do this," he whimpers softly.

"Do what?" I respond.

"This," he gestures. "life. You just blend in so easily now; you have friends, you went to a school dance, and you even have a boyfriend now." He runs his hands roughly through his hair and takes a deep breath, "I feel like you have it all figured out and you are moving on without me. I am still just your scared little brother from the lab except your here and I am still back at the lab."

I contemplate running up and hugging him but he seems still anxious and I don't want to make it worse. I still try to comfort him from a distance, "I think I will still always be stuck at the lab as well... I still get nightmares about Papa." It was a struggle to say that out loud and I had to swallow deeply to imagine that I had swallowed the anxiety with it.

"I didn't know you still thought of the lab... it seemed like you completely moved on and I was just a reminder." He rubbed his arm awkwardly.

I stand up urgently, "I would never want to move on from you! You are my family!"

"It just doesn't feel like that anymore, I never see you anymore. It's like the Wheeler's are your family now." He sighs and blinks frequently. I think his eyes are watering as well and I feel like the worst sister in the world.

Without thinking I grab Y/N into a deep hug, "We will always be family! Now that we are out of the lab we can add people to our family like Hopper he is our family. We can even have friends something we are both not used to. How about you come with Max and me to the Mall she is always saying we need to leave the house."

I can feel him smile against my shoulder "What about Hopper's rules?"

"It's our rules now! No more lab." I respond.

"No more lab," He repeats quietly.

Check My Other Socials Here

[wishing-on-a-staranise]

Ch 4: Sleeping over.

(s.h. x gn!reader)

Summary: a lot of stuff happens and you have a bad feeling about all of it.

A/n: truly scraping the bottom of the motivation barrel. that chapter summary is soooo bad soz bbs :(

Word count: 8.1k+

Warnings/tags: no use of pronouns (gn!reader); use of (y/n); magnets; Hopper being a jealous guy🚩; flashback; weird accurate customer-service interaction;

masterlist

...

You are awakened by the sound of thunder rumbling. When you open your eyes, you have to double check the time to make sure that you haven’t woken up too early.

It reads 8:27 a.m.

Looking out the windows you see grey clouds swirling over the Hawkins’ sky, the trees around the cabin rustling with the fast winds.

You rub your eyes and let out a sigh before finally rolling out of bed, messy from a night full of tossing and turning. another nightmare.

Images of the lab flash in your brain. the sickening fluorescent lights. The hospital gowns. the doctors. The machines. The tanks. The shock collar. the guards. Him. Papa. The people he had made you kill. Their memories. The cold. 

Your brothers and sisters. Eight.

Kali.

That's what her name was now; you found out through El.

you were jealous once again of El. jealous that she got the chance to meet Kali and you didn't. she got to meet her. Kali let her see her, and she hadn't even let you find her in the void back when you had your powers.

You walk through the quiet cabin, the wooden floor creaking under your feet. you fill up a glass of water from the tap. you gulp down the water while opening the latch of the window. when you swing open the window, a gust of wind hits you along with the smell of impending rain.

you take a deep breath in, lungs filling with the earthy smell that comes with these winds. A choir of birds chirps nearby. The branches moved with the winds, their leaves pattering, acting as a white noise. You close your eyes, holding your breath for a while before letting it out. When you first stayed with hopper at the age of 14, he taught this to you, to calm yourself down when he woke up to you screaming in the middle of the night. 

With your eyes still closed, you do it again, holding your breath for longer this time. These days you find yourself doing this entire routine more. A yawn breaks out of you accompanied by stretching yourself out a little– a crack and a satisfying pop sounds from your lower back.

You stay by the window a little longer before finally turning around to get something from the fridge. As you do so, you notice the note Eleven had written, stuck to the refrigerator with some tape– Gone to Maxs sleeping over  --El.  

you smile at the unrefined handwriting, glad that El is becoming good friends with Max.

You open the fridge, gathering the stuff you needed to fix yourself some sandwiches and juice, doing so in silence since Hopper had cut off the TV.

A groan echoes in the cabin. Speak of the devil. You hear the sound of the shower going off, a few more groans heard every now and then.

you sigh, definitely still mad at him. 

When he comes out into the living room/kitchen, he does so with a bottle of pills rattling in his hand, wearing nothing but a towel tied around his waist. He pours the contents of the bottle into his hands before downing them and throwing the bottle in the general direction of the table you all normally ate at. You make a mental note to pick that up later.

The man paid no heed to your presence. You watch with a disgusted frown as he starts drinking right out of the carton rather unmannerly. Your nose scrunches in cringe and a scowl morphs itself onto your features when he lets out a loud burp.

You were about to get back to your sandwich when there were rapid knocks at the door followed by a call for, “Hopper!” the muffled voice of a woman came. Joyce. “Are you there?”, she asks while knocking continuously against the old wooden door.

Hopper quickly makes his way through the cabin and opens the door, “aww! look who it is!”, he says with mockery dripping in his tone.

Joyce skips all salutations and pleasantries, walking towards the fridge, saying, “we need to talk.”

“Yeah, we do”, he punctuates his sentence by slamming the door. “I haven’t been stood up like that since Alice Gilbert in 9th grade.”

you blink, not wanting to listen anymore of Hopper's love life, you get up from your seat on the couch, Initially meaning to retreat to your room. But as you made your way, curiosity blooms in you as you lean against your room's door instead. You watch as Joyce puts her bag on the floor, scrambling to take some things out of her bag. She does so frantically, deciding to rather just dump all the contents of the bag instead.

“What are you doing?”, he questions with a squint,  “Joyce? Hello?” he asks loudly when he gets no immediate response from the lady.

“Just…. watch”, she said before taking one of the magnets and trying to put it on the metal surface of the fridge. She looks at Hopper and then you before releasing the magnet.

It falls with a clatter.

your mind immediately goes back to two days ago when you had found your own fridge magnets on the floor when you had your first fight with Hopper.

The woman in front of you tries to put the magnet on again, and it falls… again. She looks with wide eyes towards the man, shaking her head as if awaiting a response or reaction from him.

“Okay, you're freaking me out”, he says with no expression.

“You slipped on this, remember?” she says, holding up the magnet.

“Yeah.”

“Yeah, it fell in the night and it lost its magnetism”, she explains.

“Oh, did it?” he asks with a pout.

“And the same exact thing happened at my house the day before.”

“Wow--”, he sighs as he says it.

“It happened here too”, you interject his bitchy tone.

“What? no, don’t entertain this”, he holds up what you assume is a warning finger.

But the woman pays no mind to it, turning towards you, she asks, “So, it happened here too?”

You nod, not really maintaining any of eye contact with her, instead glancing at Hopper while answering, “happened like.. two days ago”

"Okay, you're going to your room", he points to the door you are standing by, his inflection almost more protective than authoritative.

you still grit your teeth a little, defensive, "I'll do whatever I want"

"that's weird, right?” she turns back to Hopper, probably consciously deciding to ignore your bickering, questioning the man with wide eyes and her jittery hands, “Like why are all these magnets suddenly losing their magnetism?” you and Hopper share a look. you get him, kind of. it all is a little ridiculous. but you get her as well, everything upside-down related is absolutely ridiculous. and who are you to judge her considering you definitely the second most paranoid person right after Joyce Byers. “Anyway, so I went to Scott.” she continues, also deciding to not pay attention to Hopper's mockery.

“Scott. Who’s Scott?” You sigh and roll your eyes when the man in front of you mocks Joyce; trying his best not to show the twinge of jealousy and failing disastrously.

“Scott Clarke” Joyce states, still not quite catching Jim’s true meaning of his words.

“Your child's science teacher?” he squints.

“He’s pretty brilliant actually”, she explains, hands moving fast and her tongue faster, “And I asked him, ‘how is this happening?’ and he built this magnetic field using an AC transformer and plugging it into a solenoid and with that solenoid–”

“Slow down, slow down”, He sits up a little straighter, holding his hands up to stop the woman from rambling, “I just wanna make this exactly right, okay?”

He bends down slightly to come eye to eye with her, his irritation openly evident on his features, “You stand me up”, he counts, holding up his finger infront of her face. You sigh before burying your face in your palm. “no phone call, no apology”, he adds two more fingers up in the air to add count to the list, “because you had to go to Scott Clarke's house.”

“Yeah.” Joyce replies, as if it were the most obvious thing.

The tall man scoffs and chuckles before clapping his hands once, “you’ve outdone yourself, Joyce”, he says before turning to create some space between them and when she tries to speak up, he immediately interjects, “No, you really have. You have outdone yourself.”

“Oh, c’mon Hop. you’re not even listening to me”, she takes a few steps to cover the distance that he had created, “Scott was able to demagnetize some of the magnets and he thinks–”

“I don’t care what Scott thinks!--” he shouts, irritated, cutting the woman off.

“He thinks,” she shouts back so she can be heard, “that a large-scale magnetic field could be built by using some sort of machine or– or experimental technology–”

a pit forms itself in your gut at those words. experimental. thats never good. you were a experiment for god's fucking sake. and whatever the hell Joyce is saying, you do not like the sound of it-- not one bit.

“He’s brilliant, isn’t he? He’s really brilliant. Is he single too?” he says with a mock smile and gritted teeth, walking away towards his room.

Joyce scoffs, pausing for a second before she asks, “what if it's them?” Hopper stops in his tracks, she continues, “to build a machine like that, you need resources, you need scientists, you need funding, tens of millions of dollars–”

“Joyce.”

“It can't just be a coincidence, Hopper. It has to be them” she insists.

“Joyce stop.” he says sternly, eyes flicking towards you whose eyebrows were pulled together and eyes transfixed on the lady in front of him. Your hands curled up into tight fists, nails digging into the palm. An ache in your gut as you truly realise what the woman was saying.

her eyes follow where he was looking at you with soft, almost pitying eyes. her brows soften as well.

you gulp, blinking a few times before looking away. not really sure what to do with your hands or yourself. as much as you wanted to retreat to your room, you also needed to hear the rest of their conversation.

“It has to be the lab, Hop.” she repeats again, more gently– being the only person in the room who doesn't know about your past and your relations to the said lab.

“It is impossible”, he says it loud and clear, making sure both of you hear him.

“Well, then prove it to me.”

“Prove it?” he echoes.

“Yeah, take me back there.”

“To the lab?”

“Yeah, I wanna go back!”

“Because some magnets fell off your fridge.”

“Yes.” she affirmed with finality and a firm nod.

“Okay. Makes sense.”

“Thank you.” she sighs out.

“It makes sense, I’m sorry”, he apologises like he actually means it, before making a show of looking at his wrist watch, “I’m a little busy right now but maybe we can meet up there, like tonight– like seven o’ clock. You know, of course, unless something comes up– which you know, it will.” Jim pulls the curtain to his room in one quick motion.

“You know after everything that's happened”, Joyce talks to the yellow curtain, “This is no joke.”

“No, I don’t think it's a joke,” Hopper’s voice echoes in the air along with him shuffling behind the curtain, “I think that when I asked you out. I think you got scared.” he says with gritted teeth, “I think you got scared and now, you're inventing things. You’re inventing things to get worked up about so you can push me away.”

You rub at your forehead, glancing awkwardly at Joyce who was looking at you with a ‘can-you-believe-this-guy?’ expression. 

“Because God forbid, any of us…. Move on! Because that”, He trails off before letting out a mock laugh, “that would be too much… right Joyce? You know? That would be too much, wouldn’t it Joyce?” he waits for a second for a response before repeating, “Wouldn’t it Joyce?”

The woman in question turns to you, pointing at the tool shed right out the cabin, "uh, is the shed locked?"

"Nope. all yours." you give her a tight-lipped smile. you watch as she makes her way out the door.

When Hopper gets no response, he says the woman’s name one last time, his voice echoing with a timbre in the cabin, “Joyce?”you have choice words for Hopper considering how much he is contradicting himself, but youre a bit too worried for that right now.

The curtain is pulled aside sharply before asking you, “Where’d she go?”

You all but silently nod towards the door before saying, “you know if you wanna get the lady, maybe try not being an asshole to her?”

Hopper, without acknowledging what you said, takes long strides, crossing the threshold of the cabin door and repeatedly calling out Joyce's name.

“Hopper– Hopper listen–”, you call behind from behind him, trying to make him hear you over his own voice. He walked onto the porch, his eyes scanning the surrounding area. The shed door swings open with a loud bang! as Joyce comes out with a torch and a large wire-cutter in hand.

“What the hell are you doing?” he inquires while putting on his shoes.

“I’m borrowing these..”, she declares, walking past him and not even sparing him a glance.

“No, you’re not going back there", ignoring Hoppers words, the woman keeps walking, “Hey! Are you even listening– Joyce!-- goddammit–” he tries his best to walk down the porch stairs, his foot halfway in his shoes, jumping while trying to push the rest of his foot in.

“Hopper!”, you call out loudly, catching his attention, when he turns his head to you, you speak, “I’m coming with you guys.”

“No. no.” he turns his entire body to you, “You’re not. You are staying", he holds up his finger, “And if you tell anyone about this all– I will–”, his finger stays in front of your face, stern and hard. but then then he sighs, hand falling back to his side before muttering a, “just don’t tell anyone”

“But what if it really is them?”

“It isn't.”

“How can you be sure?”, you couldn’t help the slight quiver in your voice.

“I am.”

“How– I– she’s right about the magnets, Jim. I saw it too.”

“Look–", he raises his hands– perhaps to put them on your shoulder but he stops midair as they once again fall to his side, "I’ll go and check okay?”

“But I need to–”

“No. trust me. Its not them. I made sure of it. last year? i was there when they sealed it. it isn't the lab. trust me on this one thing, can you do that?”

“But…”, your voice trails off, gaze falling to your feet. despite your anger, your rage, and whatever else you feel from him, somehow you feel trust a billion times more.

Somehow, you'll always trust him.

Its other people you dont trust. its the lab. its those monsters.

Hopper sighs once again, before reaching for his wallet in his pocket and pulling out a few bills. “Here. get yourself something from the mall ‘kay?”

“...what?”, just as you whisper into the air, you hear the sound of an engine revving.

“Oh, fuck– she’s– I gotta go– I’ll— yeah. Don’t tell Steve or– or anyone there about this” the man ran, shoes untied, shouting the woman's name behind her.

...

“Hi?”, you greet awkwardly after ringing the bell at the counter. Sitting on the counter infront of the sliding window, engrossed in a book with a pair of headphones on her head was Robin buckley. aka Steve's coworker who also practically hates him. When she doesn’t look up, you ring the bell again. And again. And again. 

Its the constant ringing that finally makes the girl pull off her headphones with a groan and look towards the source of the sound. 

“Hey…”, you wave shyly.

"Hey– how can i help...”, she says, sliding off of the counter, “um– you…", she trails off a bit, recognition flashing through her features, "You were here yesterday, right?”

“Uh, yeah.” you answer a bit unsure.

“Are.. you and Steve friends?” she asks with a tilt of her head as trying to decipher something.

You nod, "y-yeah, i was looking for him actually." it feels like its been forever since you've talked to him. you just miss him. especially after everything that happened back at the cabin.

“Oh, he’s… a little busy.”, Robin reckoned she can’t exactly tell you about their super-secret plan to find a super-secret russian base in Hawkins. “He’s not here right now.”

“Oh, so how long will he not be here?”

"uh... a while"

"a while?"

"yeah, a while. can’t say when though– maybe minutes…. Maybe Hours.”

your brows fly up, “Hours?”

“Yep”, she nods to herself, “So, you should probably….” she is about to get you out of her hair, but then she thinks back to the dejected Steve, there is tension there for sure. and though they're not actually friends, Robin would be lying if she said she didn't care about the boy. just a teensy bit though, tiny bit, below the normal amount, miniscule really. and maybe she was just curious.

So, before she knows it, she is asking you to, “Wait. you can wait. Uh— if you want. I have to do some... homework. so I have to..", she gestures back to the counter she had been priorly sitting on, where the book, notebook and a cassette player were laid. 

"yeah, that's okay", you shake your head, “Thanks", you add, smiling timidly before moving to take a seat on an empty table closest to the counter.

You watch as she pulls herself onto the counter she had been on. she puts on the headset, turns it on, drowning out any and all sound.

When you look around in the store, the tables are filled with mostly teen couples, sharing milkshakes, holding hands, looking oh so deeply into each other's eyes and kissing.

Normally, you might've sighed with wistful eyes, maybe called it cute, and Steve would've playfully rolled his eyes before kissing you. Steve.

Steve.

You aren't exactly sure what is happening between the two of you. ever since that day at the cabin when Hopper had caught you both, the boy has been avoiding you. Although you first thought it was because Hopper had really scolded him, giving him earful about his dad. but after finding out that he hadn't in last night's little interrogation, you were utterly clueless as to what was happening.

You are determined to confront the boy, face to face, if he'd actually show it to you.

You sit at the table for fifteen minutes before you spoke up "Hey, robin.”, you call her name out again. time was moving at a sloth's pace, in those fifteen minutes, you had identified a flyer stuck to the wall that read 'we're hiring!' in a deep blue font.

She sighs, pulling her headset around her neck, "yeah?”

"you guys have a vacancy?" you point to the flyer on the wall, “I was wondering, if I wanted to get a job here… How would I do that?”

“We do have a vacancy open so… you could do it. I honestly wouldn’t mind some company other than dingus.”

And that is when an idea hits her. she smirks to herself before clearing her throat. “Okay, how about this…", she slides off of the counter, walking towards you, pointing at you with the red book she had in her hand, "you want a job here?”

You nod at her.

“Well then, you start now”, she declares before reaching for her scooper.. “Get scoopin’ ”, she commands, pulling your hand up and smacking her scooper into your palm. “Or sailing, I guess”, she adds, turning to go sit back in her place. 

“That’s it?”, you question with a pull of your brows, “You don’t get trained or anything?”

“It's just slinging some ice cream”

“It can't be that easy”

“oh, so you think what I told you is easy? well, I guess wouldn't have a problem then", she tries her best to hide her smirk before putting her headphones back on again.

...

may, 1985. graduation. 

It feels like your life was finally on the right route. 

You are soon going to move in with Hopper and Eleven, you and the girl are going to be adopted any time now. you are graduating! and you have a friend– one that you talk to everyday. And that friend is none other than Steve Harrington. 

Ever since that night at the snowball, both of you had started bumping into each other more at school. At first it was just the exchange of little 'hi's' and 'hellos', which then grew to small talk, which further progressed into making plans for every weekend.  Sometimes he'd invite you to his house and sometimes you'd do so to your van. And just like that the rest of the school year passed.

Now, here you are– sitting next to the boy. cheeks hurting from grinning. you wave over at hopper who although had told you the previous night that he couldn't make it but here he was, sitting with the rest of the parents. 

"Hey, you nervous?", the boy next to you asks.

"a little bit", you look at him, the bright sun blinding you for a second, "but I'm okay."

Steve smiles, "you'll be fine. Just a bit more and we’ll be free.” you both giggle at that. The flecks of gold in the boy’s eyes are more prominent, the lines around his eyes and the sound of his laugh make your heart skip a beat and you weren’t exactly sure why.

Your name is heard on the speakers, Steve nudges you out of your trance. You blink, shaking off whatever thoughts that were going through your head before quickly getting up and weaving through the rows of other graduates. Steve gives you a little a grin and a thumbs up as reassurance when you turn to catch a quick nervous glance at him.

When you come back, the boy greets you with a tight hug. The both of you then wait for his name to be called. 

"Harrington, Steve", the name echoes from the speakers. The crowd was mostly tame as compared to how it had arisen in an uproar when Billy Hargrove or any of Steve’s older ‘friends’ were called up.

Steve Harrington is no longer the king he was once titled. and quite honestly, he doesn’t care. Ok, maybe a little. The boy wouldn’t lie and say that he didn’t miss the constant attention whether from girls or boys but at the same time he didn’t want to go back. He didn’t want to go back to pretending to care about things that didn’t matter and pretending that he didn’t care for things that actually mattered. 

So, as he went off the stage, there are no cheers, no chants of his name, just some obligatory clapping. King Steve was dead and somehow Steve didn’t mind.

When he comes back to your seats, you let out a squeal in which Steve joins you, wrapping an arm around you and squeezing you. 

"can you believe that school's actually over?”, you ask as the students slowly start dispersing, getting pictures and leaving with their parents.

"yeah, it's…. holy shit", Steve says as if the realisation had dawned on him just now. you laugh as the two of you moved to leave the place as well, "so, where are we goin’?”, the boy asks hoping he could smoothly segue into telling you what he had planned for the two of you for the rest of the day.

"Steve, I– hopper is here so me, him and eleven are going to have dinner", you try explaining apologetically, "I would have–"

"yeah, no that's cool”, Steve interrupts you, shaking his head and flashing you a smile as if its no big deal, ”I get it.”

"But you can come by after dinner? if you want."

"Ok, cool", he says before waving you a quick bye. he watches as you make your way past the crowd of parents towards Jim. the boy watches the both of you interacting. he feels a little pang of something in his chest when he sees Jim hugging you. His parents didn’t even bother coming home for his graduation.

Without having a single other interaction with anyone else, Steve left in his car.

...

“Umm… sir?” you call out for a third time to a tall blonde, 20-something guy who has just been staring at you a tad bit too much. his pupils are wide blown, hair greasy, forehead covered in a sheen of sweat and he stares at you if he was staring through you and into your soul. the eye contact is unsettling to say the least. "Sir?"

He blinks out of his trance, “huh?”, his dark green eyes finally moving towards the tubs of colourful ice creams.

you force on a customer friendly smile, “Which one did you want?”, you ask for a fourth time.

He looks back up at you. it makes you want to shrivel up, his unmoving gaze, “Whichever you suggest", he says with an accent you can't quite place.

“Oookay. Umm…. ch-chocolate is always a safe option. What do… whatdoyou say?”

“I couldn’t agree more", he grins, a Cheshire smile that doesn't reach his eyes. you quickly move to scoop him his ice cream and get it over with already.

you do so hurriedly, exchanging the cone for his money and quickly returning his change. but the man lingers. he tastes the dessert, another dead smile spreading on his face. "this is great", he states with no true enthusiasm in his words. 

the man puts the change in the tip jar, before turning to you, "thank you so much….", his words taper off, leaving room for you to finish the sentence.

"oh, uh– (y/n)", you help hesitantly.

"(y/n)", he echoes, pupils never wavering, dead set on you. "thank you, (y/n)." he finally says before exiting the store.

You watch as the tall statured man bumps into a person while weaving through the people in the food court. The man gives a final glance over towards scoops ahoy-- towards you. For the one second he looks at you, a chill runs down your spine, goosebumps arising on your skin. It is when he is out of sight, when you finally let out the breath that you had been holding. 

“Was that really weird or is that normal?”, you ask out loud, waiting for a response from Robin who surely should have been watching the entirety of the unsettling interaction. But when you turn around the girl is still engrossed in that book, her eyes flitting between it and the notebook she'd been scribbling in. when you get no response from the girl, you don’t even try to bother disturbing her. You sigh and go back to facing the counter.

About five or so minutes later, you hear banging on the backroom-corridor door. You hand the change to the girl you were serving before turning to poke Robin's shoulder to get her attention. “Hey, robin?”

“Hmm?”

“There's uh.. someone…” you point towards the backdoor. 

She says something about shipment before getting up to check it out while you went back to the counter. You were wiping the surface when you heard the familiar voice you’d been waiting to hear. A certain head of hair emerges from the crowd– in his deep blue sailor uniform, accompanied by Dustin Henderson.

A blur of a sailor uniform and blond hair flashes by you, “Robin, where’re you going?”, you call out behind her. You get no response as she knocks past Steve and Dustin— running through the crowd.

“What're you doing here?”, Steve’s voice pops up beside you, and when you look back from the flurry of people, he is looking at you, awaiting an answer.

“I work here”, you state simply.

“Since when?”

you take a look at the watch on your wrist before answering, “45 minutes ago." Nodding towards the direction where Robin had run off to, you ask, “Is she always this uh… runny?”

...

When you finally take a seat in the car, Eleven pops up from the backseat, "con-gratu-lations", she says slowly (surely a new word Hopper had taught her), with a huge genuine grin. She hands you a card she had made, the words written in her shaky handwriting, the spelling wrong in 'graduation' which is crossed out by a pen to correct it (most definitely Hopper’s deed).

"aw, thanks El!”

the rest of the ride to your van, Eleven tells you about all that the two of them had planned for the evening. A movie and then a well-cooked dinner. it wasn’t a lot or anything special, but you didn’t mind that.

they had some lasagna packed in a pan dish and covered with some aluminum foil. Apparently, Hopper had requested joyce to make some for the special day. It was when you were heating up the food with Hopper when he gives you an envelope.

“Here’s your gift kiddo”, he says with a wide smile.

“what is it?”

“I think you know.”

You have never opened an envelope so fast. and …. There it was. 

(Y/N) Hopper.

You finally had a surname.

“You like it?”

Tears spring up in your eyes.  You tackle him with a hug, an oof! involuntarily sounding from his chest before his arms wrap around you. Soft sobs escape you, tears wetting his flannel shirt.

“Jesus, no need to be so dramatic, kid.”

You let out a wet laugh. Neither of you let go. You sniffle into his shirt as he rubs your back, grounding you. 

Its the beep of the microwave that makes you finally pull away and wipe your face.

“'bout time we get you moving out of this place. So, I’ll come here by, 11:00 a.m.”, he rubs his nose, “Move all this stuff over”

“What?”, you say, plating the steaming lasagna.

“You don’t plan on carrying all of this on your bike do you?”

...

“Look for Imperial Panda and Kaufman Shoes”, You barely hear Robin's raspy voice over the rumbling of the clouds and the pitter patter of the rain.

You were drenched, confused out of your mind as to why you were all on a rooftop, in the middle of a storm, spying on the mall guards while simultaneously battling the highly possible chances of being charred by lightning. 

When Robin had come back from wherever she had run off to, she'd pulled Dustin and Steve into the backroom. You'd heard muffled quarrelling before you decided to lean in a little closer to hone in what was being said. 

“Oh, no, Henderson. We’re not getting (y/n) into this. that is an awful idea”

“Look, steve. if Dustin is right about this entire ordeal. Then we need as many people as we can get.”

"yeah, dude, strength in numbers!"

"well, i don't that number to be (y/n), you hear me?"

“....no. No! I said no. Hey! Henderson!-”, the door bursts open. They pause for half a second, probably realising that you heard all of that.

“We need your help.”

And now here you are, ‘helping’, apparently.

“So why are we doing this exactly?”, you finally ask, wiping the wet strands of hair from your face– hating the awful feeling of wet clothes and hair clinging to your skin.

“To become American heroes”, Dustin states as if that made a single iota of sense.

“oh, okay. That makes so much sense", you mutter mostly to yourself, Hopper's sarcasm has definitely started to rub off on you.

“There, with that whistling guy. Ten o’clock”, Dustin informs, watching from his binouculars while you and the others squint through wet lashes.

“What d’you think’s in there?” Steve asks, referring to the boxes the guard carried.

“Gun? Bombs?” Dustin answers as if it were no big deal.

“Chemical weapons?”, Robin suggests.

"What?", you ask, rightfully shell-shocked. What in the actual fuck is happening? alarm bells ring in your head, you dont like this plan anymore.

“Whatever it is, they’re armed to the teeth.”

You really dont hear what they say anymore. Armed guards never ever mean anything good. you would know, you have been chased by a fair share of them. Their voices, the rain, and the thunder get drowned out and all you can hear is your own damn breathing and heartbeat.

Its a loud clang! that alerts you and breaks you out of your head. it echoes through the air along when the binoculars hit the railing, alerting the armed guards. 

Given the options of fight or flight, your brain still decides to do the unthinkable and freeze. You barely hear a ,"get down!" over the sound of your own blood rushing. You barely felt the arm pulling you down, out of the sight of the guards.

There's a warm hand holding yours, when you look up, it is Steve’s. Both your chests heave as you look at each other for a second before Steve pulls his hand out of your grasp. You don't get a moment to process anything that happens.

A shout is heard below you. And before you know it, you were being pulled– maybe it was Steve, maybe Robin, or maybe even Dustin, their grip on your forearm tight as they pull you through doors you’d never been through. 

Your heart is loud in your chest, eyes burning. Rainwater drips from your clothes as you walk past the now closed stores of the mall.

"I think we found your russians.”

...

“Hey, where are you both going?”, Steve's voice rings through the haze of your brain.

“Going home? You don’t expect me to stay and investigate all night do you?”, Robin quips.

Steve scoffs lightly before saying, “c’mon I’ll drop you guys off. I’m dropping off this little demon anyway.” he says, pointing his thumb at dustin.

“Steve, it’s okay-”, Robin shakes her head.

“No, its raining and late and....", he gestures to you, "you don't even have a bike." When none of you move, steve tilts his head towards his car, his hands on his hips, “C’mon. Buckley, you can put your bike in the trunk of the car”

Robin lets out a quick sigh, “alright, fine then”, she says, strolling her bike over to the back of Steve's car. Steve helps her mount the thing before slamming it shut. And while the blonde makes her way to the seat, Steve turns to you who was still standing where you had been; having made no movement towards his car.

Steve looks at your drenched and shivering frame, he mutters a small “c’mon” into the air.

“Are you sure?” you ask all unsure after a brief pause, "i'll ruin your seats." when you shrug, the fabric of your shirt squelches and sticks to your skin.

“you wont. I'm sure. come on.”

You lick your lips, taking the one remaining seat next to Dustin without another word; as Robin had taken the front passenger seat. 

The storm was over now. Steve drops off Dustin and then Robin, helping them unload their bikes out of the trunk. 

The rest of the drive to way to your cabin is silent. The radio turned all the way down, Steve doesn’t need directions to your place as he’d taken the route nearly everyday since the first time he sneaked in right after graduation.

There is no particular road that leads to the cabin, it is surrounded by thick groves of trees. He parks his car on the main road, making sure to lock it before wordlessly leading you to your own house. 

You want to hold Steve's hand. you want to hold him so bad. you miss the warmth. but something in you stops you. something in his body language and tightly closed fists that say that he doesn’t want you to hold his hand.

You both walk in silence, the crickets chirp, the frogs croak, wind blows and rustles the tall trees around you.

You want to break the silence. Ask the question that had been on your mind– why is Steve acting so distant? Why does it now feel like you had conjured up your entire relationship in your mind?

This is nothing like the past two weeks had been. Where is the constant flirting? Where is the unending banter and jokes? Where is the constant touching? Where is the warmth?

You're deep in your thought when Steve’s shoe slips a little in the muddy grass, but he catches himself.

“Are you okay?” you immediately ask, arms extending on their own accord to steady him. But before your fingers could touch his arm, he mumbles a “yeah” which you almost don’t hear. and then he keeps walking– not even sparing a glance at you. 

Your hands fall back unceremoniously to your sides. Your shoulders slumped and you decide that maybe you shouldn’t speak. you just want to go to sleep now.

You silently follow the boy through the bushes. When you finally reach, alarm bells immediately ring in your head when you see that none of the lights are on. neither do you notice Hopper's Blazer.

Steve might have noticed it too, "Is– is no one home?", he asks.

"I... guess not", you answer, voice barely above a whisper. 

Theres this awkward silence, this pause where neither of you say a thing. you wring your fingers around your wrist. "I'll uh–", Steve cleared his throat , "I'll leave now. um...", he nods to himself as if trying to convince himself, "See you." He slowly steps away, turning back to where you both had come from.

He is already a few steps away from the porch when you speak up, "Steve?"

He halts, head turning, "... yeah?"

you lick your lips. worry and anxiety eats at you from the inside. you're soaking and cold. you want to ask him to stay. you want to hold him. you want him to hold you. you want him to stay. you dont want to be alone.

you swallow, "... be– get home safe."

The boy gives you a tight-lipped smile before turning once again. You watch his retreating figure. when he is finally out of sight, then you finally let yourself in, immediately calling Max’s house.

Eleven is with Max, you know that much after that call. So, you know she was safe.

What concerns you is Hopper. He and Joyce were supposed to go and check out the lab. Surely, they should’ve been back by now. A knot ties itself in your gut as you walk through the empty cabin.

You are thinking of what to do when you hear a knock. You open the door, fully expecting Hopper with maybe a bottle of beer in his hand.

But it wasn’ him. 

An all too familiar face meets yours, his hair in a disarray as if he had run his hand through it a million times. Before you could say anything, he starts, “Hey, sorry– it just didn’t… I’ll stay till– till Hopper shows up", he says, stumbling through his sentence.

“You don’t have to–”, you shake your head reluctantly.

“Look, I know he isn’t my biggest fan, and he might freak– but I'd rather stay", he finally looks you in the eyes. his warm honey eyes that you're sure could heal anything. "You hate being alone.”

you sigh of relief at that, “Okay,” is all you say before moving aside to let him in.

...

There is a knock at the door. Hopper had left with Eleven about twenty or so minutes ago and it could expectedly be only one person who would be visiting you.

you opened the door immediately.

“Hey", he greets you with a grin.

“Hi, Steve”, a smile comes onto your face as well, “what's that?”, you point to the plastic bag in his hand.

“Well, I remember that you said that you’ve never tried it so I brought some beer to celebrate. You obviously don't have to drink if you don't want to but-- I don't know maybe I didn’t really think this through--”

“Steve.” your voice manage to stop his rambling, “we can try it.”

“Yeah, okay– that’s what I thought”, he nods, making his way in through the door.

You giggle, closing the door behind him, “do you just plan on getting me drunk as a graduation celebration?”

“Of course not. I your favourite movie, snacks as always; and I know what you’re thinking– ‘Steve we do that like every week!’”, the boy says the last part in a mock voice at which you rolled your eyes, “Well, we are going to lovers lake for a late night swim!”

“What–”

“well, its beautiful out tonight, and late night swimming sounds perfect right about now, we can even bring food if you have any leftover or we can just buy some on the way--”

“Steve, slow down–”, you put your hand on his shoulders to decelerate his words, “Lover’s lake?”

“Yeah, Lover's lake– its like the only lake in Hawkins--”

“I know what Lover’s lake is. I just–”, you hesitate, “I... don’t know how to swim.”

“Oh, that’s okay! I could teach you?” he shrugs.

“No. I–”, you stutter, wringing your wrists, “I don’t like water, Steve. I just– it… scares me.”

the boy reasons, “I’ll be there the entire time (y/n).”

“Yeah, but I– I don’t know… I guess, its just an irrational fear that I have." Well, it isn’t completely irrational. Maybe it had something to do with being forced to stay in sensory deprivation tanks filled with water and no escape for hours on end because you couldn’t do what they wanted you to do.

“I just can't." you declare with finality. "please?" you add with brows pulled together.

“... okay." you can tell he agrees reluctantly, "Okay. do you have any suggestions for what we’re gonna do, then? Because I’m stumped now.”

“I don’t know”, you frown, eyes falling down to your feet.

“... You know what? Lets have a drink and we’ll figure it out.”, he moves to put the six pack on the coffee table before taking a seat on the rickety old couch. he takes one out for himself and holds up one for you as well. "you sure you still wanna do this?" he inquires with a lifted eyebrow.

the corner of your mouth lifts up a little, “What? D’you think I’m a pussy?”

An involuntary laugh bubbles from his throat at the unexpected word usage, “Damn, where did you learn such vulgar language from?”

you lift your chin, “You, potty mouth.”

“Please, I’ve never used that word. I'm a gentleman.”

“Well, maybe Dustin, then.”

“Ah, yes. That checks out.”

“I can't believe that I’m friends with Steve Harrington yet it’s Dustin Henderson that is the bad influence”, You laugh.

Steve produces a bottle cap opener out of his pocket, “Yeah, that kid is like a profanity machine”, he mumbles, opening the bottle cap before handing you your bottle, “Alright. You ready?”

You give him a quick nod.

“Bottoms up.”

you cough at the taste, holding up your hand over your mouth, “Aww that’s disgusting"

"its an acquired taste”, he chuckles, taking another swig and you fake gag as he does so.

the both of you fall into conversation, something that flowed so easily between you that you don’t even notice when you subconsciously end up finishing the bottle. you still continue to complain about the awful taste when Steve recommends to play a board game to decide who would clean up the mess you two are conjuring up.

Steve loses; purposely, but he wouldn’t tell that to you. Steve would have played fairly, he really would have and he did, for the first round atleast. But when you won the first round, your drunken victory dance was a little too cute for him to not witness again. so, that’s what he did. he lost on purpose.

while he is wiping the table, you appear behind him, calling his name, “I wanna show you something!”

“Yeah?” you take out the envelope from your back pocket, a huge grin on your face as you do so. “what’s this?”

“open it!” you say all excited. the boy does so, his eyes skim over the page, “You got adopted?” he asks with a small grin.

“Yes!!” you exclaim, tackling his torso like you have made the habit with Hopper; you nearly knock down the both of you but his hands instinctively fly up to hold your waist, making the both of you stable in your footing. “Sorry,” you apologise shyly, pulling away but the boy doesn’t allow you as he pulls you back in, “congratulations”, he mutters into your hair.

“I’m so happy.” you state, warm breath tickling the skin on the junction between his neck and shoulder. the two of you finally pull away, “We’re moving tomorrow morning, so goodbye to this shitty van.”

“Wait, really?”, you nod, excited. brows fly up almost into his hairline, “thats great! but don’t you think you should pack a little maybe?”, he suggests, gesturing towards, well, everything around the two of you.

“Oh…”, you pause, “Oh, shit”, your forehead creased as you frantically look around at the van, it is a mess to say the least and the thought packing had completely flown over your head.

“It’s okay dude,” he reassures, and for some reason, cringes at his use of ‘dude’. he isn’t exactly sure why. that’s what you two were, afterall. just buddies, best buddies, pals-- that’s it. “I’ll help you out.”

“Oh my god– thank you so much Steve!” you flash him a huge thankful grin.

“Yeah, I know, I’m your knight in shining armor”, he mumbles. it is completely normal to feel a little giddy from your best friend’s smile. right? Right.

The night goes quite the opposite of how he had planned it. packing up wasn’t anywhere near hanging out around a lake but he, once again, finds himself not minding. because of you. 

oh. oh yeah. that makes sense.

it is 12:17 a.m., you had fallen asleep in the middle of the task of organising your books. And although he had assigned you the task, he makes no efforts to wake you up. Instead, he does that as well, listening to your soft snores and a random mixtape you had been playing in the background.

it is in that moment, Steve realises that his feelings for you might be a bit more than platonic.

You wake up about a few minutes past 1:00 a.m., apologizing profusely and then thanking the boy when he tells you that everything was done.

“Alright I better get going”, He announces, getting up when everything was packed up.

“Steve. Its one a.m.”, you state, pointing at the clock, “Its too late. C’mon you can stay the night.”

“And sleep in your rickety couch?”, he jokes.

“We could share my bed?”

“If you want me in your bed, you just have to ask”, he says before even realising what he had said.

why is he trying to flirt with you? 

“I am asking you, Steve”, you insist, not quite understanding what the boy had actually meant.

“Uhm, yeah– okay cool.”, he sighs.

why is he trying to flirt with you and why is he disappointed when you don't get that he's trying to flirt you?

So, the both of you share your small bed, but still managing to maintain an appropriate amount of space. as much as you remember atleast, and you don’t remember a lot. but Steve did.

He remembers that it was about 3:30 when he was awoken by the urge to take a leak, but there you were, arms laid out over his torso, nose snuggling into his shoulder, and those same cute snores. 

Despite how much he didn’t want to, he had to get up. so, when he does, he does so slowly, making sure to not wake you up. when he is finally out of bed, he is nearly jogging on his way towards the bathroom. He sighs, disappointed, because when he comes back, you were now on your back, robbing Steve of his chances of having you snuggled up against him again.

...

“Hey, Y/N”, you groan all groggily, pressing your face further into the pillow, “Hey, sleepy pants”

“fuckyouiwannasleep”, your words are barely audible, muffled by the sheets.

“C’mon”, he laughs, “don’t you wanna move to your new home now?” You jolt awake at that, hair a mess, mouth sticky, trying to rub your eyes free of sleep. “There you are. C’mon brush your stinky teeth, I made breakfast”

...

[tooearlyforthis]

Partners in Crime | part four

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Hopper!Reader

Synopsis: (6.1k wc) As the ski trip approaches and y/n and Steve spend more time together, they struggle to stay on the same page.

Warnings: language, heavily inspired by To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han.

masterlist || series masterlist || steve harrington taglist

Ahhh it's finally finished! Sorry for such a long wait!

“He what?!” Robin exclaimed, her voice cracking over the phone. 

“What? He asked me to go on the ski trip what’s the big deal?” Y/n replied, twirling the chord with her finger. She laid back on the bed, letting her head hit the soft pillow. 

“He invited you to the ski trip that is a very big deal!”

"No, it's not Robin. It's just a school trip. It’s like asking someone if they want to work on a homework assignment.”

“You don’t get it,” replied Robin, her voice dropping ever so slightly. “The ski trip has like no faculty supervision. It’s just a bunch of teenagers on a mountain, skiing, going in the hot tub, and sleeping wherever they want.”

Y/n sat up on her bed, grabbing the phone to bring with her. The realization of what that meant dawned on her as she said, “So you mean-“

“Everyone goes on that trip to have sex.”

She didn’t know what to say, what to think. Steve didn’t mean it like that, right? They weren’t even properly together. 

“I don’t know, Robin.”

“What is there not to know? He is smitten with you I can see it. The way he holds your hand at school? He looks at you like you’re the only person in the world.”

It broke Y/n inside just a little bit hearing her best friend talk about Steve. He had done such a good job convincing everyone he was madly in love with her. It was so well done that part of Y/n hoped it would be true.

She couldn’t deny that part of her wondered what it would be like to actually be with Steve. The have the handholding and locker letters be real. To feel his lips brush against hers...

No, she needed to stop. Fantasizing wasn’t going to change the situation. 

“You’re coming right?” Y/n asked, changing the subject. “You and Vickie?”

“Yep! We’ll be there.”

“Good. I don’t think I could stand this trip alone.”

Robin scoffed. “Please, you won’t be alone. You have Steve.”

The Hopper Cabin was a mess. There were blankets strewn across the couch. Flour already covering the kitchen floors. Max hadn’t even arrived yet and the place had fallen into chaos.

“El, just wait until she comes! You don’t have to take out the ingredients,” Y/n pleaded with her sister. She was rummaging through cabinets like a madman.

“No, I need to take everything out. That way when she gets here we can start!” 

Y/n sat on the couch, watching as Eleven prepared the table for her cookie-baking day with Max. The girl was due to arrive any minute and she would be the chaperon for the evening. 

“What kind of cookies are you guys gonna make?” Y/n asked, leaning over the back of the couch. 

El’s face beamed. “So many! Dad took me to the store we could make chocolate, vanilla, even red velvet!”

“We’ll I’m excited to try them.” A knock sounded from the front door. “I’ll get it.” Walking the short distance to the door, she was ready to greet the younger redhead with a happy smile. “El has been preparing all day for….Billy.”

Billy leaned against the frame of the door, a cigarette loosely hanging from his lips. Pushing his sunglasses to the top of his head, he gave her a smirk. “Hey doll, it’s been a while.”

Y/n stood frozen, not expecting to see him after so long. As she stared forward, not knowing what to say, she saw him stumble a little. Max pushed past him, walking up to the doormat.

“Jeez, you’re only dropping me off,” she complained to her older brother.

Recovering smoothly, he crossed his arms. “Can’t make sure you arrive safe?”

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Don’t wait up - I’m sleeping over tonight.”

“Uh- El is just inside,” Y/n managed to get out, still wondering how this situation was going to go. 

“Thanks,” Max said with a smile, running past her to greet her friend.

“So,” Billy began, wanting to keep the conversation going. “You’re looking fine.”

Feeling the sudden urge to cover herself, Y/n crossed her arms. “And you’re still invading people’s privacy. Good to know.”

“Oh come on, sweet cheeks. I catch you staring at me in the halls,” he said, trying to walk closer to her. She put her foot down, preventing him from stepping into the house.

“To make you stay away from me. Unless you want to deal with my boyfriend.”

Still persisting, he leaned forward. “Huh, Harrington’s still around is he?”

She could almost feel his breath against her face, finding herself unable to move. Humming a yes, she could see his face getting closer and closer - he took the cigarette out of his mouth.

“Then I guess he’ll hate it if I do this.”

Before she could process what was happening, Billy leaned forward, kissing her on the lips. In shock he pushed on his chest, making him stumble back on the porch. She wiped her lips with her sleeve, trying to get the taste of him off of her. Looking up, she could see Billy laughing, taking his cigarette back to his mouth.

“Dick!” she yelled, before slamming the door shut. 

It was almost as if all the air in the room entered her lungs, allowing her to breath steady again.

“Y/n, are you okay?”

She turned to see her sister and Max standing in the kitchen. There was already a mess surrounding them, cookie ingredients splattered on their shirts.

“Y-yeah. Yeah let me just grab something from my room,” she told them.  She scurried away before they could ask any more questions. 

Shutting the door quickly, she leaned against it, allowing herself to sink to the floor. Billy had kissed her. She felt disgusted, not only by his actions but by the first thought that entered her head.

Would Steve be mad?

Upset maybe. He knew how much she hated Billy. But would he get jealous the same way she did when Nancy was around? How would she tell her fake boyfriend she cheated on him?

“So where are we going exactly?” Y/n asked, getting into the passenger seat of Steve’s car. 

“Just a couple of towns over,” Steve responded as he put the car into drive. “Can you grab the map from the glove compartment? I circled the address.”

“Sure.” Opening up the map, she searched for the red circle. “Is this a residential street?”

“Yeah, some lady's house. Ms. uh…Ms. R-Rottenberg! Yeah, Ms. Rottenberg, that’s it.”

“Okayyyyy,” she responded, drawing out her words. “But why are we going to some random house?”

“She’s having a garage sale and my mom wanted me to pick up these candlesticks.”

Y/n felt her ears perk up. Steve never mentioned his parents, not even when they were kids. Not even when they were still around.

“Oh,” she said, not knowing what else to say. “You talked to your mom?”

He could understand her shock, catching her eye for a moment before turning back to the road. “Y-yeah. She called last week.”

Nodding she asked, “And she wants you to pick up candlesticks?”

“They’re coming back to town for some dinner party and she wanted them.” He paused for a moment, debating whether to continue before doing so. “We used to go to a lot of garage sales when I was a kid. It was like a little adventure. Our thing to do together.”

“Now I feel bad for coming. If this was you and your mom’s thing-“

“No!” he interrupted immediately, waving a hand dismissively. “I want you here.” She tried not to smile at his comment. “Plus, who else is going to look out for the Wittensteins?”

She cocked her head toward him. “The Wittenstein's?”

“This old couple that goes to every garage sale in a 30-mile radius. They are- ugh, vicious.” 

Y/n giggled at his intensity. The way he gripped the steering wheel tighter. It was like he had a personal vendetta against them.

“They are the fastest, most cut-throat elderly people I know. They always try to get to the sales first to snag all the good stuff. They drive a red Toyota so be on the look out.”

Pretending to be just as serious, she saluted him. “Yes, sir.”

One of Y/n’s favorite things about Steve was his laugh. It was loud, cracked up, and gave you a warm feeling over your chest. So when she told him a recent story about her sister, she couldn’t help but smile as he doubled over the wheel.

“No, really?!” he asked through his laughs.

Y/n replied, equally full of giggles, “I swear! She used her powers to slam the door shut and it hit my dad square in the forehead.”

“Oh my god, that’s amazing. I would pay big bucks to see that happen.”

“Well, I’ll invite you over next time.”

He peeled his eyes away from the wheel for a moment to flash a smile - it made her feel warm. She felt safe with him. It was comfortable, easy, and she liked it that way. But there was still a lingering thought in the back of her mind - Billy.  

Did she tell him about the kiss? They weren’t together so it wouldn’t matter right? But there was still a part of her that felt like he needed to know. That she cheated on their fake relationship and it didn’t feel right.

“Hey,” she said more seriously. "I need to tell you something.”

“Yeah, what’s up.”

“I-“ As she looked up, hoping to tell him what was eating away at her for so long, she spotted a car in the lane beside them. “Oh my god. Is-is that them?”

“What?” Steve asked confused. He looked over at her.

Pointing past his window she said, “The Wittensteins. Is that them?”

They turned to look at the red Toyota next to them. Inside was an older couple, hunched over as they concentrated on the road.

“Shit, it’s them!”

“Floor it! We gotta beat them!”

“I know, I know I’m going!”

Racing forward, Y/n watched as their car got smaller and smaller on the road. But then, it was getting closer, almost at the same speed as them.

In the passenger seat sat a little old woman, she assumed to be Mrs. Wittenstein who was giving her the death glare. 

“Oh my god,” Y/n, said, slightly offended and surprised by her actions.

“I told you they’re vicious!”

“Yeah, but I thought you were joking!”

“We’re almost there what exit are we getting off of?”

Turning away from their competition, she struggled to get her place on the map. “Uh…next exit! Next exit!”

“Copy!” 

Zooming off the road, Y/n hung on for dear life. She gripped the handle above her seat, trying her best not to fall into Steve’s side.

“How are they driving so fast?” she asked him.

“They have a need for speed!”

She turned and looked at him, his face still concentrated on the road. She smiled as she saw his tongue poke out in concentration. “Did you just quote Top Gun?”

A smirk formed on his lips. “Maybe…. Okay, this is it!”

Moving further down a residential street, the road became crowded. There were cars lining the street, people walking in words toward the garage sale. She eyed the crowds from her window. It was mostly filled with middle-aged women. Their husbands being dragged along against their will. But there was no parking in sight.

“Let me out.”

“What?” he asked, turning to look at her as the car slowly came to a stop.

Y/n turned to him. “Let me out. I’ll go get the candlesticks while you find a parking space.”

She watched as Steve smiled. “Oh, that’s a good idea.” Reaching over he unlocked the door. Y/n quickly got out, leaning back in to grab her bag on the floor. Steve grabbed her hand before she could pull away. She looked up at him as he said, “Go get ‘em, tiger.”

Smiling, she raced up to the house. There were so many people running around. Grabbing trinkets from the endless amount of boxes. She began to look through one. 

“Find what you’re looking for sweetie?”

Y/n turned around, coming face to face with a familiar face. Mrs. Wittenstein stood in front of her, hands neatly crossed around her front. She had a stare so solid it could be a statue. 

“No,” Y/n responded. She tried to puff out her shoulders, imitating the confidence of the small lady. “But I will.”

Mrs. Wittenstein grimaced and it felt like the race had begun. Walking around she began to dig through boxes, trying to find ones labeled for the kitchen. She could feel the old lady’s eyes piercing her back as she dug through another box. Then finally, it was like she hit the jackpot. 

Taking away a small set of china revealed two silver candlesticks packed below. She felt ecstatic, a wave of happiness washing over her. Pulling out the candlesticks, she let them glisten in the light, the silver reflecting on the warm sun. A curse swore behind her, Mrs. Wittenstein crossing her arms in anger. Y/n couldn’t help but smirk as she passed her, going to pay for her items. 

As she handed over the money, an out-of-breath body moved to stand next to her. Their shoulders grazed at the sudden impact. 

“You found them!” Steve exclaimed, turning the candlesticks over in his hand. 

“Yep! No thanks to her,” Y/n replied. She motioned behind her where their competition was begrudgingly going through other boxes. Laughing she asked, “Why are you so out of breath?”

“Had to park two blocks over so I ran.”

“You ran?”

Nodding, the owner handed her their change. Steve took both candlesticks in one hand, reaching out and grabbing Y/n’s hand to fill his other. She tried not to smile at the action. 

“We are not running back,” she stated.

“You don’t have to tell me twice.” Laughing, they let their hands swing back and forth across the uneven sidewalk. “Thanks for coming with me,” he said suddenly, his faze fixed on the cracks in the ground.

“Of course,” she responded. “I had a lot of fun.”

“We should do this more often.”

“What? Go to garage sales? What do we need?”

“Stuff for our house.” He said it so casually she almost missed it. Their house? What was he talking about?

“Our house?” she repeated.

He nodded, looking up at her. “I mean if we're gonna fake-date let’s go all the way. Get married, buy a house.”

Y/n rolled her eyes. Why was he thinking about their relationship? It was getting harder not to imagine a future with him - especially when he said stuff like that. 

“Sure,” she replied, playing along. “We’ll go to all the garage sales and get all the good stuff before the Wittenstein’s.”

“It’s like you reading my mind.”

She smiled at him before looking away. All this talk about their pretend future made her think about their real one. What would happen to them after the ski trip? Do they “break up?” Could they still hang out? She was getting so accustomed to having Steve in her life she didn’t want to imagine letting him go.

The last person Y/n expected to see at her locker was Eddie Munson. So when she saw him waiting for her, she stopped in surprise. her. He was leaning against her locker, one foot propped up as he scanned the halls. 

“Eddie,” she greeted as she approached. “What are you doing here?”

Smiling, he turned to face her. “Hey,” he said, watching as she opened her locker grabbing her books. “I have something to tell you.”

Y/n’s smile dropped. She had never heard him in such a serious tone before. Her heart began to race with worry. “Oh no, what happened is it your uncle?”

“Wayne? No, he’s fine it’s just-“ Looking around, he waited for a group of students to pass.  Leaning in he whispered, “I saw Harrington climbing into Wheeler’s window last night. I was coming back from a client's house.”

Y/n frowned. “Steve? You saw Steve at Nancy’s house?” He nodded. “But- I mean - are you sure?”

“Yeah. I’m sorry Hopper, I thought he was different.”

“No, it’s- it’s fine. Thank you for telling me.”

The bell rang throughout the halls, students began to rush to class. “I’ll see you later?” Eddie asked. 

She nodded, waving as he walked away with the bravest face she could put on. As soon as he turned around she buried her face in her locker, hoping no one could see her. Why was he playing these games with her? He said he was done with Nancy so why does he keep crawling back to her?

As she looked in the darkness of her locker she spotted another folded-up note that Steve had left her. Hesitantly, she reached over and opened it.

Can’t wait to go on the ski trip with you xxSteve

The ski trip? He was excited to go on the ski trip with her after sneaking into Nancy Wheeler’s bedroom? 

She decided before that she wasn’t going to tell him that Billy kissed her but she was boiling. Every part of her was ready to go into chem class and announce it to the whole room. Why was she sparing his feelings when he wasn’t sparing hers?

It was a ridiculous thought but one that she couldn’t let go of. The ski trip would be the end of it. After that, Y/n was determined to break up with him for good. She slammed her locker shut, racing off to class. 

Her days of pining after Steve Harrington were over.

As she sat down at her desk, she waited patiently for the rest of the class to file in. Steve was one of the last ones to arrive, like always. He smiled when he saw her - so innocently. She forced a smile back before looking down at her desk.

Class went on and she had written her note, the one about Billy that she was going to hand to Steve. She waited and waited, her mind far from the algebraic equations on the board. Finally, right before the end of class, the tossed it onto his desk.

He looked at her for a moment with a smile before opening the note.

Billy kissed me.

It didn’t say anything else, she felt it got the point across very precisely. She watched as his face quickly drained of color like hers had done that morning. Y/n only caught his stare for a moment before she turned back to her desk, gathering her things as the bell rang.

Pushing past people she tried to get out of the hall as quickly as she could, hoping to avoid Steve for the rest of the day. He cared about her, that much was certain so even if it wasn’t in a romantic way she knew he wouldn’t like it. 

Unfortunately, she wasn’t fast enough, feeling a hand grab her wrist. She whipped around quickly.

“Y/n, wait,” he pleaded with her, his brows furrowed in anger. 

“Let go of my wrist,” she said plainly. 

He did so, realizing his mistake. “Is what you wrote true?” She nodded. “Jesus, Y/n what the hell?”

“Excuse me?” she replied.

“Why the hell would you kiss Billy?”

“I didn’t want to!” she defended herself. She crossed her arms, trying to control her temper. “He came to drop off Max and he kissed me.”

“Well did you kiss him back?”

“Would it matter if I did? You’re not my real boyfriend.” She said it in a whisper, one she knew only he would hear in the constantly moving hallway.

He dropped his hands to his sides, letting them swing back and forth in defeat. She didn’t add the reason why she opted to tell him, it was clear the note alone was enough. 

“Just-“ he began, before trying to choose his next words. He moved closer to her, almost towering over “Let me know if he tries that again okay?”

The only this she could do was nod. She didn’t know what else to say, what could make everything go away. At first, she reveled in his anger, that he could feel what she had been feeling every time he snuck into his ex's window. But now, as he was standing in front of her, jittery and upset - it didn’t feel good anymore.

Nodding in return, Steve backed up, gripping his backpack tightly. No more words were exchanged as he walked off to his next class. 

“Fuck,” Y/n whispered to herself as he left. She had royally screwed over the ski trip.

Y/n had never been more nervous about a school trip. Her hands were sweating, feet tapping against the floor. She gripped her duffle bag and backpack tightly in the front seat of her dad’s car. 

“I’ll pick you up on Sunday, alright?” Her father said, turning in his seat to look at her.

She gave him a forced smile, trying to hide the fact that she had been dreading the trip all week. “Yep, Friday,” she responded. “See ya, Dad.”

Leaning over the center console, he gave her a hug. Feeling the pat of his hand on her back eased some of her stress but it wasn’t enough to go away completely. She gave him one more smile before climbing out of the car. Walking off toward the group of teenagers, she watched them load their bags under the school bus. 

Most of the faces she recognized were from passing in the hall or from her classes. Trying not to look too hard in the crowd, she placed her duffle bag under the bus in storage and boarded. The seats were already filling up, most of the ones in the front completely taken. 

As she hoisted her backpack on her back, she heard a name calling out to her. “Y/n, hey.” She looked up to see Steve leaning up in his seat, moving over to show he was by himself. 

“Hey,” she responded, before trying to walk further down the aisle. 

“Wait!” he called out. Slowly, she turned back to face him. “Do you wanna sit with me?”

Before she could even think about it for a moment, her lips began to move. “I’m sitting with Robin.”

She watched his expression sadden. “Oh.”

“Yeah…so don’t worry you can sit with Nancy,” she rushed out before walking to the back of the bus. 

“Wait what-“ Steve began but she was already out of earshot by the time he registered her words. 

Scanning the seats, she sighed in relief when she saw who she was looking for. Her face was stuffed in a book when Y/n took a seat, startling her.

“Jeez, Y/n! Give me a warning!” Robin exclaimed, sitting up fully and allowing her friend to sit down.

“Sorry,” Y/n replied as she placed her bag on the floor. “I hope you didn’t have plans to sit with someone.”

“Nah, it’s cool. Vickie’s sitting with a friend from her calc class.” She looked over the seats confused. “Thought you were sitting with Harrington.”

“We got in a little tiff the other day,” she said. “About Wheeler.”

“Ugh, really? I’m sorry, dude.”

“It’s okay. Just figured he’d rather sit with her than me. Plus, I don’t really wanna be around him right now.”

She tried everything in her power not to spill the whole truth to Robin. That the real reason, beyond their little fight, was that it was getting hard to be around him and deny her feelings. Ones that will continue to stay even after their relationship ends. 

“But, Jonathan is coming on the trip.”

Robin's words pulled Y/n from her thoughts. “Wait what?”

“Yeah, look.” 

Leaning over the seats they saw Nancy and Jonathan board the bus. They held hands as they took a seat together. “Shit,” Y/n said softly. 

“What were you thinking? You left King Steve to sit by himself.” Robin said to her.

“I don’t know, okay? I wasn’t thinking!”

“Well go sit with him!”

“What? No way.”

“Why? He’s your boyfriend.”

“I-I can’t face him right now. Plus,” She bumped shoulders with her friend. “I would be leaving you by yourself.”

Robin rolled her eyes, and settled back down in her seat, leaning her head against Y/n’s shoulder. “Please, I’ve been alone for most of my life. I would’ve been fine.”

The trip to the ski lodge wasn’t long and before Y/n knew it, she was crashing down onto her bed for the night. Robin was right in saying that there was barely any supervision on this trip. Couples immediately began to pair off to their own rooms - including Nancy and Jonathan. Steve caught her eyes for a moment as everyone made their way to their rooms. 

Did they sleep in the same room? Would people talk if they didn’t? After not sitting together on the bus ride there, the last thing she wanted to do was share a room with him. Making up her mind for the both of them, Y/n grabbed onto Robin’s hand and declared that they would be sharing a room. 

Well, Y/n, Robin, and Vickie. The two had recently kissed for the first time and Y/n expected that they would want to sleep together. She reassured both of them that she would leave the room for the night if they wanted to be together. Find someplace in the lobby to sleep for the night.

Vickie and Robin had barely dropped their bags before they were out the door and onto the skiing slopes. So Y/n sat in their room by herself. 

She didn’t know how to ski, which in hindsight was silly. But she and Steve had made plans for him to teach her while on the trip. So her original plan was out the window now.

Robin had mentioned something about a hot tub but she didn’t feel like going. Instead, she opted to spend most of the day reading in her room. She tried to let her mind drift off into the pages of her book, to let herself get engrossed in the story. But her mind kept drifting back to Steve. 

She needed to not think about him, to push him out of her mind. Then, she thought of an idea. She didn’t want to do it, but it felt like a last resort at this point. 

Y/n Hopper decided to go on a run.

She had brought her Walkman, placing it in her fanny pack before going off to find the gym. It was easy enough to locate - she remembered passing it on the way to her room. It was empty, thank god. Y/n didn’t think she could run with eyes all around her, even if they were strangers. 

Starting at a slower pace on the treadmill, she eased into a pattern. Letting her music take over her thoughts. This was definitely helping. The music, plus the combination of doing something she hated, took her mind off of Steve for sure. Before she knew it, over an hour went by and she hadn’t thought of him one bit. 

As night set in, Y/n was satisfied with what she had done. She got off the treadmill trying to control her breath as she left. There were complimentary water bottles and rags placed near the front door. Grabbing one of each, she made her way down the hallway, hoping to shower before Vickie and Robin got back. 

This was great. She read some of her book, excersized and was successfully able to avoid thinking about Steve. But as she turned the corner, she dreaded the person she saw.

The moment she made eye contact with Steve, they both froze. Neither of them knew what to do. Do they say something? Just pass each other? Y/n wiped the aftermath of her workout off her forehead, trying to distract herself. Still, she let her eyes scan what he was wearing. Or, lack of. He wasn’t wearing a shirt - only swimming trunks and a towel draped across his right shoulder.

He spoke before she could decide what to do. “Hey.”

“Hey,” she said back, dropping her hands to her sides.

“W-what are- uh- what are you doing?” 

“I-i just came back from the gym. Running.”

“Running?” he said in surprise. “I thought you hated running.”

“Oh I do,” she said, making him chuckle a little. “Thought it was time to change that.”

Steve nodded, his hands coming up to play his towel, not knowing what else to say. 

“Are you mad at me?” Y/n blurted out. “For not sitting with you on the bus?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Not mad just…sad. Mostly I don’t understand why you didn’t want to. I’m friends with Robin too and I know how much she likes to be left alone sometimes.”

“I thought you would want to sit with Nancy.”

“But Jonathan came on the trip.”

“I realized that, yeah…. I promise I’ll sit with you on the way home.”

“Cool.”

He smiled softly. It wasn’t much but it felt like the start of going back to normal or as normal as the two of them could get. 

“Well, I guess I’m gonna get going then,” she said, giving a small wave as she began to pass him on her way back to her room.

That felt like a good start. Maybe the next day they could go ski and-

“-I like you.”

Y/n stopped in her tracks, Steve’s words still echoing in her brain. Turning to face him, she let her rag drop to the floor. 

All she could muster to say was, “What?” 

He took a step toward her. “I like you,” he repeated. “And I’ve been thinking a lot recently about our kiss.”

“When I jumped you?”

“No, back in middle school. During that spin the bottle game.” He took another step toward her. “I remember having all these butterflies in my stomach. I couldn’t tell if it was because I liked you or because it was my first kiss too.”

Y/n stood still, her grip on her water bottle tightening as he took another step, coming just a few feet away.

“But then you kiss me,” he continued. “Cause of those letters and I thought: she’s cute, might as well go along with it right?”

She still couldn’t believe what she was hearing. He liked her? Never did she think she would hear him say those words. She had been dreaming of hearing him say this back to her; but then he had to go climb in Nancy Wheeler’s window.

“Are you still in love with Nancy?” she asked.

Steve looked down for a moment. “I think…I still care about her a lot. I mean, we all fought demogorgons together we’ll all be bonded in that way forever.”

“That isn’t what I mean.”

“I know...but, I like you.”

He took another step toward her but Y/n backed away. “I-I don’t know what to say to that, Steve. I want to be your first choice, not someone that you have cause Nancy dumped you. If you really liked me you wouldn’t be climbing into her window anymore.”

“I- who told you?”

“Does that matter? You still did it.”

“Nancy was going through some things. Stuff that I helped her with when we were together- just- I shouldn’t even be talking about it.”

“Well talk Steve, 'cause from over hear it looks like you’re still in love with her.”

“Oh my god, why do you only want to choose boys that you don’t have a chance at dating? What are you so afraid of? I’m here in front of you, saying I like you and it’s an argument.”

“I don’t choose unobtainable guys! You’re upset I didn’t die of happiness when you admitted your feelings like every other girl in this school would.”

She knew they had both crossed a line, both panting from their screaming match. Not wanting to take any more of his hurtful words, she said, “I’m going to shower,” before turning away.

“Whatever, I’m going to the hot tub.”

She tried to shower, listen to music, put on pajamas. Nothing would stop her mind from drifting back to Steve Harrington. Who did he think he was accusing her like that? Only going after guys that she can’t have - ridiculous. She desperately wanted a guy to like her back. Well, a guy that wasn’t Billy Hargrove.

Steve liked her back. And she liked him so much.

In the aftermath of their fight, it felt ridiculous that she yelled at him. She still felt valid in her reasoning with Nancy. But there was a big part of her that desperately wanted to give it a shot with him. For real this time.

Not thinking through it anymore, Y/n put on shoes and raced out of her room. He had to still be at the hot tub right? Well, it was worth a shot. She passed through hallways, coming across students who all looked at her strangely. She was still wearing her pajamas, now becoming a little more conscious of her appearance.

As she turned the last corner she found the pool room. There wasn’t anybody left inside as she searched for the hot tub. Heat emitted from its surface, smoke filling the air as it surrounded Steve. She raced over when spotting him. 

Standing in front of the tub, she urged him to look at her. His head turned to the side, aware of her presence but not choosing to acknowledge it. Y/n sat down on the floor. 

“I’m sorry,” she began, hoping he would pay attention. “I wasn’t being fair before. I mean, I still would like more context about Nancy but- never mind… I should’ve confessed to you too. I like you, Steve. Like a lot.”

His head whipped to look at her, taking in her words. “I really don’t understand girls.”

They both gave a chuckle as Y/n took off her shoes, letting her feet dangle in the hot water below. “I’m sorry,” she repeated.

“Don’t be,” he replied quickly. Sitting up from his end of the tub, he slowly walked over to her. Out of instinct, she separated her legs, allowing him to stand close to her. “I'm sorry too... and I promise I’ll tell you if Nance comes to me with anything else. Full honesty.”

“I’d like that.”

He placed his hands on either side of her thighs, inching his way close to her. She watched as his eyes darted from hers to her lips. “Is this okay?”

Y/n didn’t hide her blush. Nodding she said, “Just kiss me already.”

Not wasting any more time, he leaned in, finally allowing their lips to connect. She felt his arms wrap around her waist, pulling at the material of her shirt as she tangled her fingers in his hair. It was soft and passionate and everything she had wanted from a kiss with him. 

Barely pulling apart for air they leaned back in with a little too much force. Steve stumbled backward, falling into the heart of the tub, Y/n coming down with him. They splashed against the water, going under for only a moment before he hoisted them back to the surface. His hands were still on her waist as he pulled her into his lap.

Y/n raised an eyebrow at his forehead. “Okay, Harrington,” she giggled against his neck.

“Don’t act like you’re so innocent in this,” he told her, using a hand to gently pull her chin back towards him.

“I never said I was.”

Their lips connected again, more desperation in each passing second. She wanted to stay like this forever - in his arms never to let go. As she opened her mouth, hoping to give him more access, she felt him lean back.

“Do you wanna go upstairs?” he asked. Her eyes widened at his insinuation. “Not like that, curfew is going to hit soon….though if you want to.”

Giggling, she pressed a hand to his chest, slowly climbing out of his lap. “Come on Harrington.”

He smiled too wide, following her out of the tub. Y/n leaned into his touch as he wrapped his towel around the both of them.

As they went back up the stairs of the lodge, she smiled at the fact that she had no intention of going back to her own room. 

part one || part two || part three

Thank you to everyone who wanted to be tagged in this series!

Series Taglist: @sigh-mon-says @johnricharddeacy @totally-bogus-timelady @in-this-minute @steveharringtonisfit @dukesmebby @pricelessemotion @angel-jz @zulpix-blog @my-my-only-angel @cautionhotmess @wisteriandprose @carinacassiopeiaepeiae @harleywaymustdie @morganasimp26 @k-k0129 @l0ve-0f-my-life @fangeekkk

[thewidowsghost]

Five (Eventual Max Mayfield x Fem!Reader)

Main Masterlist

Inside the Hawkins National Laboratory, lights flicker.

A scientist sprints towards the elevator, panting heavily. He slams his fist on the button repeatedly.

Because something was coming.

. . .

"Something is coming," a young boy says, his voice softened to add to his spooky narration. "Something hungry for blood. A shadow grows on the wall behind you, swallowing you in darkness," the boy, Mike Wheeler, pokes his head over his Dungeons and Dragons book. He whips his head around to look at each of his friends, his mop of dark brown - almost black - hair  swings in front of his eyes. The boy lifts his hand, brushing his hair out of his eyes, but he doesn't seem to care, almost smacking himself in the face. "It is almost here."

"What is it?" another boy asks, his doe brown eyes widening as he leans forward.

"What if it's the Demogorgon?" another boy with curly dark brown hair asks. The boy, Dustin Henderson, leans forward, his dark brown eyes widening slightly. "Oh, Jesus," Dustin says, pressing a hand to his forehead, "we're so screwed if it's the Demogorgon!"

"It's not the Demogorgon!" another boy, Lucas Sinclair, pipes up.

"An army of troglodytes charge into the chamber!" Mike says, reaching over his book to place three figures onto the board.

"Troglodytes?" Dustin asks, smiling slightly.

"Told ya," Lucas says, chuckling.

The three boys - Will, Dustin, and Lucas - giggle, but then Mike speaks.

"Wait a minute," Mike whispers, and the others lean forward. "Did you hear that? That . . . that sound? Boom . . . boom . . ." Mike smacks the table. "Boom!" and the other boys jump. That didn't come from the troglodytes," Mike says. "No, that . . . That came from something else." Mike slams another figure onto the table. "The Demogorgon!" the other boys groan.

"We're in deep shit," Dustin curses, adjusting the baseball cap on his head.

"Will, your action!" Mike says, turning to his friend sitting across from him.

"I don't know!" Will replies.

"Fireball him!" Lucas tells his friend.

"I'd have to roll a thirteen or higher!" Will replies, throwing up a hand.

"Too risky," Dustin tells Will. "Cast a protection spell."

"Don't be a coward!" Lucas argues. "Fireball him!"

"Cast protection," Dustin says.

Mike slams his hands down on the table. "The Demogorgon is tired of your silly human bickering! It stomps towards you. Boom!"

"Fireball him!" Lucas tells WIll.

"Another stomp! Boom!" Mike narrates.

"Cast protection," Dustin meets Will's eyes.

"He roars in anger!" Mike yells.

The other three boys begin all talking at once and Will shouts, "Fireball!"

He throws the dice, and they roll off the table.

"Oh, shit!" Dustin curses as they loose sight of the dice.

"Where'd it go?" Mike yells

"Where is it?" Lucas questions.

"I don't know!" Will replies.

"Is it a thirteen?" Dustin questions.

"I don't know!" Will says again.

. . .

"It was a seven," WIll turns to Mike as he goes to leave his friend's house.

"What?" Mike asks.

"It was a seven. The Demogorgon. It got me," Will says, shifting slightly on his bike before he speeds away.

. . .

A girl is running through the forest, a large golden retriever keeping up with her pace. The girl trips over a root and crashes to the ground.

The dog immediately skids to a halt, turning back to press her nose to the girl's cheek.

The fallen girl blinks, and, instead of the golden retriever, she sees a girl, about her age, yet the sight of the other girl didn't unsettle the fallen girl - for this was her fellow escapee.

The fallen girl had '011' tattooed on her wrist, and the other girl, '005', offers Eleven a hand and Eleven accepts it gratefully.

"Come on," Five says, and Eleven nods, her hand remaining in Five's.

The two girls set off through the woods again, not daring to look back.

. . .

Eleven stops, watching closely as her companion, once again transformed into a golden retriever, pauses to sniff the air. Eleven had come to find her companion's animal nose quite helpful when they'd been looking for food.

Five, shifting back into herself, takes Eleven's hand and pulls her towards a metal building.

Moving silently through the cracked door of the building, the two girls duck down below the counters so as to not be seen.

Eleven finds a basket of fries sitting on one of the counters and both girls, their stomachs rumbling sickeningly with hunger, take quick, sloppy bites of the food.

"Hey!" someone shouts, and both girls look up, meeting the gaze of an older man.

"Run," Five pushes Eleven along as they are chased through the building.

The man finally catches up to them, pulling them around. "You think you can steal from me, boys?" Then the man pauses, studying the conditions of his captors closely, noting their grubby hospital gowns, shaved heads, and thin physique.

. . .

The two girls race though the building once more, Five's eyes on metal instrument in the woman's hands.

It had made a loud sound and the man who had given them food - Benny - had dropped to the floor, dead.

Five and Eleven join hands as they sprint for the treeline.

. . .

Rain pours down, sliding off the leaves of the trees and plopping down on to the girls' heads.

Eleven tries to swat away the drops of rain, and Five chuckles, her eyes glimmering with amusement.

At the sound of her companion's laughter, Eleven smiles a little.

The two push through a few bushes, creating a rustling sound.

. . .

"Did you guys hear that?" Mike Wheeler asks, leading his friends through the woods towards the rustling noise.

The three boys, Lucas, Dustin, and Mike all jump when Mike's beam from his flashlight falls on two figures - Five and Eleven.

. . .

"Is three a number we can call for your parents?" Mike questions, now back in his basement with his two friends and the two girls.

"Where's your hair?" Dustin questions. "Do you have cancer?"

Five meets Dustin's gaze with a raised eyebrow.

"Did you guys run away?" Lucas asks.

"Are you in some kind of trouble?" Mike adds.

"Is that blood?" Dustin questions.

Five and Eleven exchange looks before gazing up at the three boys again.

"Stop it! You're freaking them out!" Mike says, swatting away Lucas's hand.

"They're freaking me out!" Lucas replies.

"I bet their deaf," Dustin says, and his two friends nod in slight agreement. Dustin claps his hands close to Eleven's face, and the girl flinches.

"All right, that's enough, all right? They're just scared and cold," Mike scolds his friends, his gazes falling on Eleven, and then lingering a little longer on Five, as though he recognized her.

Mike walks over to a laundry bin, pulling out two pairs of sweatpants and sweatshirts.

Five rests a hand on her sister's wrist and leads her towards what she assumed to be a bathroom, and her guess was correct.

"Here," Five says, cracking the door so light was still let in from the other room.

Like Eleven, Five had been locked up, but not for as long, Five having joined Eleven when she was about six.

Eleven looks around the bathroom, her gaze finally falling on Five.

Five turns around, allowing Eleven to change her clothes before Eleven does the same so Five can change.

"Come on," Five says, taking her sister's hand. She pauses for a moment when she hears the boys talking.

"All right," Mike says, "here's the plan. They sleep here tonight."

"You're letting girls -" Dustin begins but Mike interrupts him.

"Just listen!" Mike says impatiently. "In the morning, they sneak around my house, go to the front door, and ring the doorbell. My mom will answer and know exactly what to do. Mom'll send them back to Pennhurst or wherever they come from. We'll be totally in the clear. And tomorrow night, we go back out. And this time, we find Will."

. . .

Lucas and Dustin head up the stairs, watching Mike as the boy sits in front of a blanket fort he'd built for the two girls.

"Here you go," they hear Mike say. "This is my sleeping bag." He hands it to Five before she, in turn, hands it to Eleven.

"You really think they're psycho?" Dustin asks Lucas.

"Wouldn't want 'em in my house," is Lucas's reply, and the two boys continue up the stairs.

"Hey, um, I never asked your names," Mike says.

Both girls hold out their wrists, the numbers tattooed there showing darkly against their skin.

"Is that real?" Mike asks, reaching out a hand to touch Eleven's tattoo. The girl flinches, pulling her arm away. "Sorry, I've just . . . never seen kids with tattoos before. What do they mean? Eleven? Five?"

Eleven points to herself, and then her tattoo, and then Five, and her sister's tattoo.

"Those are your names?" Mike asks. Eleven and Five nod. "Eleven. Five. Okay," the boy says. "Um, well, my name's Mike. Short for Michael. Maybe we can call you 'El.' Short for Eleven."

Eleven looks up shyly and a smile twitches at the edge of Five's mouth.

"Um, well, okay," the boy says. "'Night, El. 'Night, Five."

"'Night, Mike," the two girls say as Mike stands up, dropping a blanket in front of the entrance to the fort.

The overhead light of the basement turns off, and Eleven clutches Five's hand.

"Could you -?" Eleven begins to ask, but Five already know what the question was going to be. Shifting into a golden retriever, she lies down, and Eleven wraps her arms around the dog, cuddling into Five's warmth.

"'Night," Eleven murmurs into the dog's ear and Five just simply rests her fluffy head against Eleven's chest.

. . .

"All right, Mom," Jonathan Byers says, picking up two plates and moving to the table. "Breakfast is ready."

Joyce Byers is dazed, but at the sound of her oldest son's voice she starts. "What? No, be careful of the poster," she says, moving the flyer out of the way, as to not have anything spilled on it.

"Yeah, okay," Jonathan says gently. "All right."

"I can't eat," the woman murmurs. "First (Y/n), then Will."

"I just need you to eat," Jonathan says, looking a little desperate now.

Joyce sniffles, "Listen, the Xerox place opens in, like, thirty minutes."

"Yeah," Jonathan says.

"And I don't want you to go alone . . ."

"Mom, I promise, I'll be fine," Jonathan tells his mother.

". . . so I'm gonna have Karen take you, 'cause I should be here," Joyce continues on.

"Okay," the boy replies.

"We need to make, what, two-hundred, three-hundred copies?" Joyce says. "How much is a copy?" she questions.

"Yeah, okay," Jonathan replies. "Okay, Mom. Mom."

"Ten cents?" Joyce adds, as though her son had not spoken. "I-if we . . . Ten cents -"

"Mom. Mom. Mom!" Jonathan finally says loudly, and Joyce pauses, looking up at the teen. "Y-you can't get like this, okay?" Jonathan tells his mother.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," Joyce says, wiping her eyes.

"No, it's okay," Jonathan soothes his mother.

There is a knocking on the front door as Joyce is taking a drag of her cigarette.

Joyce gets to her feet immediately, making her way to the door.

Jim Hopper, Chief of Police, steps into the Byers home.

"We've been waiting six hours," Joyce says, taking a step back as Hopper steps into the house.

"I know," Hopper replies, closing the door. "I came as soon as I could."

"Six hours," Joyce repeats herself.

"A little bit of trust here, all right?" Hopper asks. "We've been searching all night. Went all the way to Cartersville." Hopper fiddles with his hat, rotating it in his hands.

"And?" Joyce asks.

"Nothing."

"God," Joyce covers her mouth with a hand.

"Flo says you got a phone call?" Hopper says.

"Oh, yeah," Joyce says, leading Hopper to her phone, which had been burned by electricity.

Hopper picks up the phone, studying it closely. "Storm barbecue this pretty good."

"The storm?" Joyce questions.

"What else?" Hopper replies.

"You're saying that that's not weird?" Joyce asks.

"No, it's weird," Hopper agrees.

"Can we, like, trace who made the call?" Jonathan asks. "Contact the -"

"No, it doesn't work like that," Hopper replies.

Word Count: 2032 words

So, yeah!

This is the first chapter!

Let me know if you guys would like to be added to the taglist!