#my favorite one is always gonna be the possibility of mike finding max in his trance

[wibble-wobbegong]

oh man i can’t believe i forgot about the mike hostage theory for a minute there. the situations and circumstances that are running through my brain again

[apomaro-mellow]

King&Prince 10

After his foot was deemed fine, Dustin dragged Steve to a sitting room and pushed him onto a couch.

"Wait here. I need to get everyone", he beamed before running off.

Steve really didn't understand what had gotten into him, but figured that he might finally meet this enigmatic Eddie. It was odd that he hadn't made himself known. From how the kids talked, he seemed like a larger than life personality. Dustin must have sent his friends ahead first, because Max, El, and Lucas arrived, and then Will and Mike.

"Where were you this morning?", Max asked, arms crossed.

"I...went on an outing with the king", Steve answered. He didn't think it wise to admit that while on the outing, he had smacked him and ran off up into a tree. Now that he thought about it, the whole thing was embarrassing. Steve rubbed his eyes and groaned.

"What's wrong?", El asked.

"I think my father was right. I'm an absolute idiot."

"Yeah, but a useful one", Robin said, coming in, following behind Dustin. "If our liege is going to be taking you out like that, I suggest we draft up some kind of sign out sheet."

Steve brought his hands down from his face. "What? For me? Like a piece of equipment."

"The music room looks great now, thanks to you", Will pointed out.

"Dustin. Why are we all here?", Lucas asked.

Dustin really looked like his face would break from how hard he was smiling. "You guys aren't gonna believe this. Steve says he's never met Eddie. Ever."

Steve wondered when he got comfortable not hearing the title 'prince' before his name. Probably when people spat it out to him like a curse word. While he was meditating on this, the rest of the group shared confused looks.

Mike spoke up first. "But he-"

"I know!", Dustin giggled.

"Does he-", Lucas stammered, pointing to Steve. "Does he not know-"

"How is that even possible? Is he brain-dead?", Max asked.

"Starting to seem like a real possibility", Robin said.

"If you all came just to insult me, I'll be heading back to my room now", Steve said, standing when El grabbed his arm.

"Wait. Sit", she ordered softly, so he did. Then she looked to the others. "Don't be mean. It's not his fault he doesn't know."

"Know what?", Steve asked.

"Certainly the things a Harrington doesn't know could fill a book", the king announced his presence with that quip. "Perhaps several books."

"Perfect. We're all here", Dustin grinned.

Steve didn't get what he meant by 'all'. "You all were talking him up so much, I thought I was finally going to meet this Eddie." He didn't miss the way the king's eyes got wide.

"This is probably the funniest thing I've ever seen", Will grinned.

Dustin cleared his throat. "Steve, why don't you tell us about Eddie?"

"Why would I tell you about your friend?", Steve crossed his arms.

"Just, tell us how you'd describe him", Lucas urged.

Steve glanced at King Edward, always wary of him, even though there was a small table between them. "He's always hanging around you guys. Telling you stories that you like, playing with you."

"Which was your favorite story?", Dustin asked.

"Depends", Steve shrugged. "If it's the one he does with you guys, I sort of liked that one about the missing friend. I don't believe in leaving anyone behind and I can't believe you argumentative shits actually worked together long enough to find them."

"You gonna let your prisoner call your wards 'shits'?", Robin smirked at the king.

"If the boot fits", he replied, face unreadable.

Steve didn't actually know how the king felt about this band of children. They seemed to enjoy the benefits of having the king's favor, despite at least one of them being a servant's child. Not for the first time, he wondered what they were all doing here.

"Anyway", he continued. "If it's my favorite story about Eddie, probably the one you called the uh, what was it? The ribbon incident?"

The king shot up to his feet and pointed an accusatory finger to Dustin. "You told him about that!?", he squawked in a very un-kingly manner.

"I didn't, Max did", Dustin ratted right away.

"I did. It was funny", Max said.

"What about the nice things about Eddie?", El asked.

"Who's saying nice things about Eddie?", Robin asked, brow raised. "Like, out loud?"

"Great gusts, you'd think they worship him", Steve groaned. "Half the things they told me about were how amazing Eddie was."

"Okay, Steve you can shut up now", Mike warned.

"'Eddie did this and it was great', 'Eddie did that and we fucking loved it'. 'Eddie's the best', Eddie is-", Steve paused when he saw the king smiling. Not just smiling but looking...well and odd combination of smug and bashful. Why would he...wait...

"I'm going to ask a stupid question", he started.

"My word, I think he's got it", Robin said.

"Shh, birdie. There's no such thing as a stupid, little prince", the king looked to him.

There was something different about the way he said 'little prince' this time, but Steve forged ahead. "King Edward...are you Eddie?"

"That I am", he answered.

"You just-you just let these random children call you that?"

King Edward-no Eddie-no, he was still King Edward, looked around the room at the gaggle present. "I wouldn't call them 'random'."

Steve couldn't take it. He was looking at them with...well it could only be described as fondness, as adoration, something like love. He shot up from his seat and marched towards the door, needing to get away. This time, El didn't hold him back. But he did hear Dustin running after him and calling for him. Steve didn't stop until he was back in his room. Not his room, a cell. He might have a better bed and a window now, but this was still very much a prison.

"Hey, what the shit?", Dustin demanded, coming in without so much as a knock.

"You all just expect me to believe all of that? That King Edward is Eddie?"

"Yeah", Dustin jutted his chin out. "Why's that so hard to believe?"

"That man is the same one who cried when his favorite lute broke? The same one who used to sing El to sleep? The same one who ate so many strawberries that he passed out?"

"To be fair, he was shifted into a bat at the time, so it only took like ten strawberries", Dustin clarified.

"You're asking me to look at red and see blue."

"Huh?"

"King Edward is not the same as Eddie. Those are two different people and I won't believe that they're the same." Steve turned to look out the window. He was wasting his time here. He had to think of an escape. It was far up but with enough sheets, this might be a viable option.

"Maybe I don't want you to see blue. Maybe I want you to see purple."

Steve's brow furrowed. "What?"

"You knew about one side of Eddie. Let's call that red. Now you know the other side, his blue side. Now you just need to put them together to make purple", Dustin explained.

"You're asking the impossible." Steve sat down on his bed but kept his eyes trained on the window.

Dustin came over and sat next to him. "Have you ever had someone look at you and only see one thing?"

"It's different with him. He's a tyrant."

“Did you ever think it might be time for you to get rid of that narrow worldview of yours and broaden your horizons?”, Dustin tilted his head like he was talking to a child.

Steve, ever stubborn, didn’t respond and kept looking out the window. He couldn’t see his kingdom from here, and at this point he was wondering if he’d ever lay eyes on it again. He didn’t know whether that would be a bad thing or a blessing. He didn't want to admit it, but Dustin had hit the nail on the head. Back home, he'd only been one thing or the other. People rarely got close enough to see the whole picture of what he was.

“Seriously, what’s the worst thing that can happen?”, Dustin urged, frustrated.

“I’m not going to be toyed with by your king.” At the end of the day, they were mortal enemies. There was no common ground wide enough to change that. A few stories of him not being a menace meant nothing. At least that's what he was telling himself.

"Henderson, leave us alone", the king said, also coming in without knocking.

Steve expected to hear protests, but Dustin got up and left without a word. Apparently he did actually respect the king's authority sometimes. Steve turned, knowing it wasn't wise to have your back towards the enemy.

"Suppose you're here to tell me how nice you actually are."

The king closed the door but didn't step away from it, keeping the distance between them. He looked uncertain and that enough threw Steve off. What did he have to be unsure about?

"There's something I need to tell you. Something I should have said days ago."

"What? Your nickname? I would have figured it out if those brats had any sense of awareness."

"They talk about you the same way."

Steve stood slowly, feeling somehow vulnerable even though neither of them were positioned to fight. "What?"

"Ever since they started talking to you, it was always 'Steve this, Steve that'", the king smiled in much the same way he had before. "'Steve knows so much, I learned a lot from him today'. It was kind of annoying to be honest."

Steve crossed his arms. He could relate, but he wouldn't let that show.

"I didn't want to believe that the son of my enemy could be good with kids. That he could be kind and gentle."

"Why are you telling me this?", Steve asked.

"Because I know you're not like your father. Or your grandfather. As much as you pretend to be."

"You don't know anything. And if you think being nice to me is going to get me to defect, you've got another thing coming."

"You're that loyal to your father?", he felt the words rising up out of his mouth like venom but couldn't decide if he wanted to poison the prince or protect him.

"I'm loyal to my kingdom", Steve said, voice full of sincerity. He knew he wasn't the perfect prince, but his father wasn't infallible either. But Steve's allegiance had been to his people for a long time. He felt as though he'd said too much though, when he saw the king's expression slip.

“Your king…Your father…”, Eddie looked away, unable to meet his eyes. Why was this so hard? Why couldn’t he say it? “When I sent the ransom letter, all I asked was to negotiate. Only then could I guarantee your safe return.”

Steve’s face showed no change. No realization. If anything, he looked resigned.

“King Alric has refused to sit with me.”

“So you can no longer guarantee my safety”, Steve surmised.

There was an even deeper resignation as his shoulders sagged and Eddie knew that Steve believed he was here to execute him. He shook his head frantically, making a decision right then and there.

“Your safety is between you and I now. It has nothing to do with that man.”

Steve frowned. "But you just said-"

"I said you're not your father."

"...So you'll let me go?"

Eddie could hear Nancy berating him and even Jeff giving him some choice words for releasing what should be a very valuable hostage without consulting them first. He pushed their voices away.

"If that is what you wish."

Steve didn't know if he felt a weight lift off his shoulders or a heavier one bear down on him. Before, his father had decided where Steve would go and he obeyed. Then he had been shackled by King Edward, only allowed where he let him. But now he was being giving a choice. To return home or to...to what? Stay here? Was it even a choice?

He felt completely unmoored and didn't know what was right.

"If you stay...", Eddie started, looking unsure himself. "If you stay, you won't be a prisoner anymore."

Steve let out a breath. "Then what will I be?"

Eddie grinned cheekily and Steve thought of the color purple. Dammit, Dustin.

"You'll be one of my little shits."

Steve laughed so sudden and loud that Eddie startled. Everything he'd been feeling had bubbled up and overflowed and finally found its way out. When he finished, he wiped a stray tear and caught his breath.

"Can we think of a better title while I think about it?"

"At your leisure, little prince."

Holy cow can you believe we're nearly done with the first arc?

Part 12

Tag Team

@thesuninyaface @only-evanescent @snakeorsquid @ignoremyworld @theclichefortunecookie @goodolefashionedloverboi @just-a-tiny-void @0body0disphoria0 @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @samsoble @jamieweasley13 @y4r3luv @xtkxkrzrizir @un-knownperson @greekgeek24 @justdrugsformethanks @potato-of-the-lord @notaqueenakhaleesi @swimmingbirdrunningrock @queenie-ofthe-void @nebulainajar @lil-gremlin-things @nicememerino @robininblue @hornedqueenofhell @anne-bennett-cosplayer @moomkin77 @here4thetrama @bookworm0690

[just-jordie-things]

Bite Me - Mike Wheeler

word count: 4052 warnings: swearing, unedited and poorly written summary: Mike has harbored a crush on (y/n) since the day they met.  And all it takes is a run-in with Billy Hargrove for him to lose his shit and let his feelings be known. (a/n): I just randomly felt the need to write for one of my best boys

___

(y/n) (y/l/n) was a sweet girl. If you asked anyone they’d tell you how kind she is, to everyone she meets.  From giving out homework answers when someone forgot, to sharing her lunch, she’d lend a hand no matter who you were.  She was a good person, and that’s why Mike was so in love with her.

He had been ever since she’d joined the Party, back in the fourth grade.  She’d been bringing in an extra juice box and snack for two weeks, just for Will, and the four boys agreed unanimously to offer her a spot in their group.  Mike can still remember the look on her face, the wide grin that showed off her recently lost tooth, and the way she’d giggled and agreed instantly.

They taught her D&D, she was invited into Will’s fort, and taken in by Joyce as one of her own.  She was truly one of them.

She didn’t look at him like everyone else did, it’s one of the first things he’d noticed about her, and he could see it every time their eyes met.  That annoyed expression that he was used to receiving -from peers, from his parents, even Nancy, even their friends- he’d grown so accustomed to it, until he’d met her.

“Fuck you! Fuck you!” Mike was shouting, about to lunge towards Steve, before (y/n) and Dustin grabbed his arms to yank him back.  “We can’t just stay here and-”

“That’s exactly what we’re doing!” Steve shouted back, shoving a scolding finger in the younger boy’s face.  “We’re staying here, so I can keep you dipshits safe!”

Steve rolled his eyes before spinning around to leave.  Nothing stressed him out like these kids.

“Come on, we’ll figure something else out” (y/n) said quietly, and tugged on Mike’s arm a little more.  

His glare softened when he turned to her.

She nods her head off to the side, prompting him to walk off with her.  He groaned, but he followed when she pulled him towards the living room.  Her hand didn’t let go of his wrist until they were away from everyone else.

“You know nothing you could say right now is gonna make me less pissed off-”

“I know,” (y/n) giggles before he can start ranting again.  “But maybe you can just take a breath and pretend to calm down?” She hums, and she laughs again.

Mike groans loudly, loud enough that everyone in the house could hear him, before he threw himself down onto the sofa.

(y/n) just shook her head, and sat next to him.

“Steve’s just trying to keep us safe, Mike,” She says, voice just as soft, but a bit more serious now.  “He’s not doing this to make you mad, you get that, right?”

He nods, but hangs his head in his hands.

“Are you… um… upset because El’s out there?” She asked unsurely.

She had a pretty good feeling that Mike had a crush on Eleven.  He was distraught when she left, and since she’d come back (a few hours ago) he’s been extremely on edge.  Hence the pouting right now.

“I guess,” He shrugged.  “I just- I want to just-”

“I know,” (y/n) murmurs again.  “I get it”

She admired Mike’s need to help, to get involved.  He was brave, if not a little reckless as well.  But there was something sweet about his extreme need to help.  Even though she was still convinced he was only wired this way because of his crush on Eleven.

Mike looked over to her, finding that loving look on her face.  His favorite expression -maybe even his favorite thing- and it somehow calmed him down a bit.  She smiled when he hadn’t started grumbling again.

“You good now?” She asked.

“Yeah,” He sighed.  “I’ll be fine”

She grinned, and poked his cheek affectionately before getting up from the couch.  

“I’m gonna get a glass of water and make sure Steve’s calmed down too,” She told him.  “Guess I’m the only sane one around here”

He laughed a bit as she left the room.

“Steve?” (y/n) called gently as she approached her older friend.

He turned to her, an unamused, and rather annoyed, look on his face.

“You alright?”

“I will be, once I’m in a retirement home and have restraining orders placed on all of you,” He answered, making the girl laugh.  “Your boyfriend calm down yet?” He asked, and her laughter stopped almost instantly.

Steve was chuckling now at how red her cheeks were turning.

“He’s not-”

“Yeah, yeah, I know, heard it before, pretended to believe it before, whatever,” He said, and (y/n) busied herself with getting a drink.  “Now’s as good a time as any to just, you know, confess.  You’re stuck here anyways”

“No I… I can’t um…” She shakes her head, staring down at the bottle of water she’d grabbed from the fridge.  “I can’t do that” She finished weakly.

Steve had known (y/n) for a few years now.  He’d met her the first night he’d hung out with Nancy in the Wheeler home, she’d been there with Mike coming up with a new character for D&D.  His first impression, as it was for all of the kids, was that she was a geek.  And she was, but she was a lot of other things too, and what stood out the most to him was her kindness.  She didn’t exactly fit in with the Party like the boys seemed to.  Not only because she was a girl, but because she was… friendly.

Mike wasn’t cruel to Steve by any means, but he was a snarky little shit that sometimes made Steve just want to-

“Why the hell do you like that little asshole so much anyways?”

(y/n) was still blushing as she shrugged her shoulders.

He’d picked up on her little crush one of the first times she’d met him.  He called her out on it right away too, luckily only Dustin had heard, and he’d laughed it off, thinking it was a joke.

It wasn’t.

“He’s such a piece of shit,” Steve said through a laugh, earning a pointed glare from (y/n).  “Obviously he doesn’t treat you the same way he treats, well, everyone else”

“No, he doesn’t,” (y/n) sighed lovingly.  

Her eyes glanced out to the living room, where Mike and Lucas were heatedly, and quietly, arguing.  She rolled her eyes at the sight, not that it surprised her.

“He’s very, um-”

“Sweet on you?” Steve supplied, earning another look, which quickly turned into a nervous smile.  “Yeah, that’s how I’d put it.  I don’t know why you’re being such a baby about it.  He obviously has a little crush on you too,” Steve said, wagging his finger around in her face.  “Otherwise he wouldn’t be such a little gentleman towards you”

(y/n) didn’t say anything else, but she didn’t have to for Steve to know how she felt.  He’d always known.  She didn’t do a great job at hiding it, but her friends, and Mike for that matter, were oblivious.

They were interrupted by a bright light shining in through the windows, bright enough that she shielded her eyes as she wandered out to the large picture window.

“Who is that?” She asked, as everyone gathered around to figure out who could show up at the Byers’ house right now.

Their question was quickly answered.

“Sinclair!”

The angry, dangerous voice sent a shiver all the way down (y/n’s) spine, before an uneasy feeling settled in her stomach.  Billy Hargrove was bad news, but him being here, right now, was even worse.

“Stay inside” Steve ordered, shoving the kids down underneath the window.

“I know you’re in there!” Billy screamed again from outside.

“Stay inside” Steve repeated, before walking out of the house.

“What the fuck does he think he’s gonna do?” Lucas asked, as everyone peeked their heads up just enough so they could see what was going on outside.

“He’s gonna fight him” Dustin said in a matter-of-fact tone of voice.

“He’ll lose,” Max mumbled.  All eyes turned to her, but her gaze was trained on her brother, afraid.  “He’ll kill him”

“He’ll be okay,” (y/n) whispered to her new friend.  “Steve’s a tough guy, and can throw a punch-”

“I’m not so sure he can take one, though” Max said.

(y/n) frowned, and set a comforting hand on the girl’s shoulder.

“We’ll be alright” She assured, even though she wasn’t certain what was going to happen.

Steve was now walking down to Billy, who was still yelling, but they couldn’t make out what exactly.

“What’s he saying?” Mike hissed, only to get shushed by Dustin, thus starting a ‘shh!’ war.

(y/n) only let it go on until Billy shoved Steve back by his shoulders.

“Boys!” She scolded, sitting up a little straighter as the fight outside escalated.

Just as she’d sat up, Mike grabbed her by the shoulder and pushed her back down.

“You want to get seen and murdered?” He whisper screamed.  She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t hide her sweet smile.  His brow furrowed at her smile, but he wasn’t quick enough to say anything about it, as everyone’s attention was pulled back to the scene outside.

Billy had shoved Steve to the ground, and was racing up to the house now.  He locked eyes with the Party, who all quickly leaned down as low to the floor as they could get.

“Lucas, run!” Max screamed, shoving the boy to haul ass before her brother could storm in and get his hands on him.

When the door swung open so hard it slammed against the wall, Mike grabbed (y/n) by both arms and just about ripped them out of their sockets as he pulled her upwards with him to get her as far fucking away from Billy as possible.

“We have to help Lucas!” She tried telling him while he dragged her off to the other side of the house.  “Mike!” She shoved his hands off of her, and gave him a pleading look.  “This isn’t like you, come on, he needs our-”

“Where are you, Sinclair!? Come on out!”

She ran away from Mike before he could convince her to hide.

Finding Lucas shoved up against the wall, something in her clicked.  Billy’s significantly larger framed towered over the boy, who was clearly afraid, while Billy snarled nasty things right in his face.

“Why don’t you just fuck off?” She yelled at him, before thinking through the consequences of her actions.

Dustin and Mike stared at her in shock.  She didn’t curse much, so to hear the foul word come out in her voice was… pretty out of character.

Just as Billy whirled around, likely about to send one knockout punch to her face, Lucas took his moment of distraction to knee him right between the legs.  (y/n) squealed, both hands covering her mouth in surprise.

It was then that she took Mike’s advice to run back into the kitchen, and duck down behind the cabinets so she was out of sight.  

“You’re fucking dead!” Billy howled in pain, and while every bone in (y/n’s) body told her to cover her ears, close her eyes, and stay hidden, she peeked around the corner anyways.

“No,” A different voice, a calm voice, a familiar voice, spoke up.

(y/n) had never been so relieved to see Steve in her whole life.

“You are” He finished, and took a strong swing of his fist against Billy’s jaw.

The crack that resonated made her wince, and she shut her eyes only for a moment as illy toppled backwards.  He didn’t fall, and instead swung back at Steve, starting a very violent fistfight in the Byers’ kitchen.

“Come on, you gotta move” A pair of arms encircled her torso and helped her up from the ground.  

Mike’s hands were much more gentle with her now than they had been a few minutes ago, and this time she let him bring her out to the living room, away from the fight.

Her eyes were wide with fear as she watched Billy throw Steve around the kitchen effortlessly.  It was terrifying, she felt as though she was about to see him get killed.

When he landed a rather harsh punch, right under Steve’s chin, she cried out for him.

Steve crumbled to the ground, definitely knocked unconscious.  He looked dead, though, and as the thought crossed her mind, she felt it again.  The snap.  Like an instinct buried deep was just let loose.

“You motherfucking piece of shit!” She screamed in a way that Mike, or any of them, had ever heard before, and was charging at Billy in an instant.

It was a hasty decision, grabbing the beautiful vase of flowers off of Joyce Byers’ table and throwing it full force at the back of Billy’s head.

While his head was soaked, and definitely bleeding from the shards of glass, he still managed to stay standing, and was fuming with anger as he glared down at (y/n).

“You made a big mistake little girl” He growled, and began to stalk towards her in a threatening manner.

“Bite me” She snarled back at him, followed by the rash decision to spit on him.

“(y/n) what the hell are you-!?”

Mike’s warning was cut off when Billy reached her, and she kicked him with all the force she could right in the gut.  He grunted, but it hardly slowed him down.  All she could see was red as she kicked him again, and began to throw her fists against his chest.

She didn’t have an ‘oh fuck’ moment until he grabbed her wrists in his large hands, and kept his hold so firm that tears welled in her eyes from the pressure.

“I’m gonna fucing kill you, little girl” He snarled, teeth bared right in her face.

Oh, fuck.

She tried to yank her body backwards, out of his grip, but he was faster, and stronger, and bigger than her.  This resulted in her being thrown, no, slammed into the nearest wall.  She cried at the crack of her skull against it, but had no time to react as Billy’s fist was all she could see, before it struck her and knocked her out instantaneously.

She fell like a limp, broken thing, and even when Mike grabbed her and shook her by her shoulders, she remained unconscious.  It didn’t matter that Billy was still looking for blood, he pulled her into his lap and held her close against his chest.  He was living a delusion thinking he could protect either of them if Billy came back for more, but he didn’t care.  He was gonna keep her safe now.

Max had plunged the syringe into her brother’s neck, and was threatening him with Steve’s bat, but Mike hardly paid them any attention.

“(y/n), wake up, come on,” His voice was barely a mumble, and he hated to admit it but his throat was growing hot and tight with his tears choking him up.  “C-come on open your eyes” He stuttered.

He pushed her hair out of her face so that it wouldn’t get sticky from the blood running out of her nose.  He wiped away the red substance with his sleeve, not bothered by it at all.

“We’re going!” Lucas called, and rushed over to Mike to help him carry her.  “Dustin Will and Max are getting Steve in the back.  I’ll help you with her”

Mike didn’t have time to question anything Lucas had just said, and hastily went along with the plan.  They looped (y/n’s) arms over both of their shoulders, and made their way out to Billy’s car. ___

Everything.

Hurt.

It was the first thing that (y/n) was aware of when she came to.  Her legs, her arms, her torso, her head-

Oh shit my head hurts.

She groaned softly, reaching a shaky hand up to prod around her eye.  She wasn’t exactly sure why, but it was definitely bruised.  The rest of her body had to have been bruised too.

She suddenly shot upward as the car went over a bump, and that’s when she realized she was even in a car.  Why was she in a car…?

Her head rolled against the seat, and she was met with someone’s shoulder against her cheek.  She winced at the pressure, probably because her cheek was bruised and bleeding.

“(y/n)?” A gentle, but distant voice called.  It sounded kind of hazy, like the person talking was miles away, and not right next to her.  “Hey, can you hear me?”

Her eyes met Mike’s round and worried brown ones, and a lazy smile tugged on the edges of her lips.  Even though his brow was furrowed, and there was a deep frown on his lips.

“What happened?” She asked, voice scratchy and quiet.

“What happened?” Mike repeated, much louder than he intended.  She flinched, and while an apologetic look swept over his face, he didn’t apologize.  “(y/n), you attacked Billy Hargrove” He told her in a grave tone.

“I did?” She asked proudly, her smile returning.

“No- don’t- jesus (y/n) what the hell are you on?” He asked.  “He almost killed you, I mean, look at you!”

“Can you please stop yelling dipshit?” Max called from the front.  “I’m trying to focus here!”

(y/n’s) eyes widened, and it dawned on her that Max was the one driving.  But just as she opened her mouth to protest being in the car right now, Mike continued on with his angry little rant.

“I mean, seriously, what the hell, (y/n/n)? Did you think you were gonna win? Did you really think that you were gonna take him down?”

Her brow crinkled and her eyes welled with tears, both from all the pain and his cruel words.

“Do you even realize that he could’ve killed you? Huh? I mean, I really thought he did for a second.  Do you even care?”

“What’s your problem right now?” The girl whimpered

“You are! You’re my problem,” He said, not thinking through the fact that she was crying right now.  “That was really stupid (y/n), really reckless”

“Oh, because you care so much about playing it safe,” She scoffed.

It was getting awkward for the others in the car, minus Steve, who was still knocked out.

“All you wanted to do tonight was to get out there- well- well here we are, Mike!” She shouted.  It hurt her head to yell, and Max was yelling again too, but she drowned it out.  “Hope you’re freakin’ happy” She mumbled, holding her hands against the side of her head.

Mike sighed, and pulled her hands away from her face, staring at her seriously.

“(y/n)...” He said softly.  “I’m sorry it’s just…” He let out one more heavy breath to prepare himself before diving in.  “Look at yourself (y/n), you’re hurt and there’s- there’s nothing I can do about it”

(y/n’s) brow furrowed as she stared back at him.

“What do you mean?” She mumbled weakly.

“I mean I- you… I have to… ugh” He groaned, clearly frustrated by his inability to form a coherent thought.

“You have to… what?” She hummed, face leaning around his shoulder tiredly.  

They were close enough that their whispers were only heard by them.  And somehow, it felt like they were the only people in the car.

“Mike?” She whispered when he hadn’t said anything yet.

His eyes flickered over her battered face.  The black eye, her split lip, her bruised and cut cheek, his heart broke looking at how much pain she must be in right now.  He couldn’t believe he let this happen.

“...protect you” He answered lamely.

“Protect me?” She repeats, soft, and loving.  “From what?”

“Apparently everything from interdimensional monsters to senior year bullies” He said, making her laugh softly.

“You don’t have to do that,” She said with a small shake of her head.  “I’m alright, I will be anyways.  You don’t have to worry so much about me-”

“See I do though- you- you make it impossible not to worry.  I’m just always- I’m a mess, okay?”

She giggled again, and rose a brow.

“I’m not following…you sound kinda crazy Mike-”

“I love you, okay?” He told her.

She choked.

“And I just need you to not get yourself hurt… okay?”

She’d never heard him speak so quietly, so nervously.

“You- you’re- um-”

“No more fighting people- and-and things- bigger than you, deal?”

His hands cupped around her face, thumb stroking over the bruise on her cheekbone in a comforting sort of way.  She swore she was melting into his touch, for a moment she forgot all about the agony her body was in.

She didn’t think twice about leaning off his shoulder so she could reach up and plant her lips against his.  It’s a gentle kiss, because her lips are sore and she was a bit nervous.  

Mike’s eyes widened, and he was sure this wasn’t real.  No, it couldn’t be real, there was no way (y/n) was kissing him.  Maybe he was the one that got knocked out? And this is all some kind of twisted nightmare-dream?

But it was real, she was kissing him.  And it was… wow it was great.

She’d almost pulled away, but he pulled her right back in, and shut his eyes to kiss her properly this time.

If he was being honest, he wanted nothing more than to just take her and pour every ounce of love he had for her into this kiss, but it would probably only hurt her more.

They were cut off by a low whistle, and (y/n) turned to see Steve, who had apparently been sat next to her this whole time, and Dustin, who was sat on his other side, both giving the pair very different looks.

Despite his face looking just as messed up as hers, Steve pulled a sly grin, and winked.

Dustin, however, looked like he might vomit.

“What.  The.  Fuck!?” His voice cracked when he screamed, making both (y/n) and Mike jump a bit in their seat.  “You guys have been- been- hooking up this whole time!?”

“What? No!” (y/n) argued back, shaking her head and trying to kill the idea in Dustin’s head before it escalated, but it seemed to be too late for that.  

“You have! You’ve been frenching!”

“Oh my god,” Mike rolled his eyes.  “Dustin, shut up”

“Can we save this argument for later, fellas?” Max hollered from the front.  “I don’t think that this is the most important thing going on-”

“W-wait a- wait a minute- wait a-!” Steve’s eyes widened as he started to panic.  “No! No way! Stop the car right now! Who let her drive-!?”

His screaming was abruptly cut off by the car swerving, causing everyone to scream now.

“Drive on the right side of the road! Jesus Christ we’re all gonna die!”

(y/n) wrapped both arms around Mike, one behind his neck and the other around his torso, keeping her secure.  In case this car were to crash, her seatbelt, and Mike, would anchor her in place.  Well, she hoped it would anyways.

He reacted quickly, embracing her tightly.

“I’ve been thinking I would get killed by a demogorgon,” She mumbled to him.  “Guess it’ll just be a plain old car crash that takes me out”  

He chuckled, but shook his head at her.

“No one’s dying, we had a deal”

She glanced up at him, a sweet smile on her lips.  And she waited for him to look back down at her to say anything.

“I love you too” She hummed, just soft enough that Dustin (luckily) couldn’t hear.

The smile that grew on Mike’s face was brighter than she’d ever seen from him before.  (y/n) was so relieved that her feelings were returned, that she felt she could go back to sleep, if she wasn’t getting nervous all over again about what was going to happen.

All they had to do now was to kill a monster and save their friends.

___

xoxo ~ jordie

[lesbianrobin]

Hey, so I’ve only done this ask thing once before so hopefully this is good. I am in love with your content and analysis. I am especially in love with your Steve content since he was one of my favorite characters. Also I love your edits!! I also am in love with your fics on Archive. You are so talented and I love your writing!!!

Also I know this was a while ago but I love your analysis on Jancy. I agree with everything you said!!!

Questions : what is your favorite trait about Steve? And you may have already answered this but what do you think Steve’s plot line in season 4 involve? And which people do you want to see him interact with (besides Robin, Dustin, and Max)?

ahh thank you so much, you're so sweet!! i think my favorite Steve Quality is the way he's always ready to put his own safety to the side in favor of helping and protecting others. i mean i love everything about him i love how goofy and sarcastic and dramatic he is etc. etc. but what really gets to me is just the fact that after he makes that decision to help nancy and jonathan fight the demogorgon in s1, he never really hesitates to do what's right. like he just decided that he can't let anything happen to the people around him and he's not even gonna fuck around about it he's gonna do whatever he can!! in s3 especially it fucks me up that he was SAFE he was away from the mall and he had every reason to stay on the hill with erica and dustin but he didn't!! he heard that the group at the mall was in trouble and his immediate response was to drive right back toward that danger, without any weapons or anything, having already been beaten to shit and drugged that night... god. that's my man.

in terms of characters i want him to interact with, you already listed the obvious (robin and max). i actually kinda want less interaction between him and dustin this season, as i feel we kinda have... enough. sjdnkm. i'd really like to see him and lucas interacting more, especially if the speculation about lucas being involved in some Jock Plot this season ends up being true. i also really want to see him interacting with eddie, because 1. eddie is new and i'm intrigued, 2. they seem very different and i think seeing them interact could be really fun, and 3. steve literally only has one friend his own age pls let him have another friend. he needs it he's pathetic. unfortunately i don't think odds are good of him interacting with hopper/mike/el/joyce/jonathan bc of locations which sucks because he's barely interacted with them and i just KNOW the dynamics could be good.

as for my hopes re: his s4 plot, i'm gonna put that beneath the cut bc there are spoilers from the paparazzi set pics lol

i think his s4 plotline is likely going to be a continuation of the stuff they brought up in s3 about him struggling to find his place after graduating high school. so far we know that the s4 plot has steve investigating the creel house with the whole remaining hawkins crew, and he seemed to be taking the lead in the few short clips we got (breaking into the house and entering first, assuming the danger if there's anything inside). we also know that there'll be some sort of satanic panic witch hunt targeting eddie. the fact that steve is wearing eddie's vest after having been injured makes me think that he and eddie will have some kind of significant relationship, not necessarily as friends but possibly as foils. my personal theory is that steve's s4 plot will be about him finally letting go of his desire to fit in and live up to his father's expectations, possibly identifying some passion or goal he has in life, and eddie's status as an unapologetic outsider/"weirdo" will play some part in this arc. thus, steve wearing eddie's vest toward the end of the season in intentional contrast to the pastels and polo shirts we see him sporting in other spoiler pics. my hope is that he ends the season in a situation that's somehow quite different to how he started; maybe having moved out of his parents' house, attending community college, or engaging with something he's passionate about. the way he's literally the oldest character left in hawkins + his injuries in the spoiler pics + his behavior in the teasers leads me to believe that he'll be taking on a lot of responsibility to protect everyone this season, and i think that through this assumption of responsibility and interacting with eddie, steve will come to a realization that he doesn't really need or want his father's approval, and he's an adult now who can live his own life.

[penaltbox]

begging for more - roman ahcan

to the anon who asked for this to get reposted - i forgot this needs a slight nsfw warning hahah. i hope you guys like it (again)! let me know if you do!

word count: 3.5k

__

“Tie or no tie?” Roman asks as he steps out of the bathroom, fixing his collar. 

You glance up from your phone and stare for a moment, forgetting that he’d planned to wear your favorite suit that night. The dark blue material with the brown belt and white shirt has you wanting to skip the banquet altogether, but you know he has to be there. 

You stand and walk over to him, helping him get his collar in the right place, “I like it without one. I think I could be biased on that though.”

Roman laughs a little and leans down to kiss you, “I knew it wouldn’t take long for a comment on this suit. You better be careful tonight.”

He throws you a wink and heads back to the bathroom to finish getting ready, leaving you to wait impatiently for him. 

“Uber’s here, Ro. Let’s go,” you yell, grabbing your things. 

He comes out quickly, slipping his shoes on and grabbing his wallet from his dresser. He grabs your hand and heads for the door but stops before opening it. He looks back at you and smiles suddenly. 

“I didn’t tell you how pretty you look yet,” he says, leaning down to kiss you quickly, “you look amazing.”

You blush and squeeze his hand, “thank you, Ro. You look good, too.”

The ride to the athletics hall is short, but you weren’t risking walking across campus during the winter in heels. Roman doesn’t argue the logic and goes along easily, making sure you get into the building safely. 

There’s people everywhere right from the beginning and you stick close to Roman until he finds his teammates. You can relax around them, which is nice, and Roman knows that too. He mentions he needs to go talk to someone quickly, leaving you with the boys. 

It was so loud in the banquet center and dinner was still almost an hour away. There’s people from all different sports teams in the room and you need to take a quick breather. You lean over and put a hand on Max’s arm, asking if he’ll let Roman know you’d stepped away for just a second. He agrees and goes back to his conversation with Brock and Tarek as you slip away. 

You step out and roam down a couple halls, realizing you didn’t really know where you were going. You stumble upon old team pictures and somehow find the hockey team. 

You’re looking at the framed roster photo from the year before with all the boys lined up in their uniforms. You can’t help but smile when you find your boy, eventually looking at the rest of them. You hear footsteps behind you and glance back, seeing Roman walking up slowly towards you. 

“There you are,” he smirks, pressing against your back. He leans in to leave a kiss on your shoulder as his arms wind around your waist. You look back at the roster and go to say something when his hand slides up around your neck, “should we try something new tonight? I’ve seen the way you keep looking at me and it’s not making this night any shorter.” 

You bite your lip, trying to figure out if he’s being serious or not. Of course you want to try it. You’d wanted to try it ever since you saw the video of him grabbing Mike at their team dinner. You had been too shy to ask though and so you let the thought fade. Until now. 

Now when you’re in a hallway where any athlete could stumble upon the way Roman is holding you  and has you so completely flustered that you’re grabbing his hand that’s still tight around your waist to try and keep yourself from getting too worked up. 

“Please,” you whisper, not able to muster out any other reply. 

Roman’s thumb presses down hard enough to feel your pulse that’s hammering beneath the skin and you can’t help but gasp when he does it. You push back against him and he lets out a low grunt. 

“So that’s a yes then? I didn’t know you wanted it so bad, baby. Why didn’t you tell me?” He asks, kissing your cheek softly. It’s a sharp contrast to the feeling of his rough fingers on your neck. 

You can feel how hot your cheeks are and can only imagine what they look like, what this whole scenario must look like. You didn’t expect to have such a quick reaction to his hand around your throat, but you did and you’re trying to get your mouth to say even one coherent thought. 

“I wasn’t sure if you’d want to,” you manage to say, turning to look at Roman. His cheeks are rosy and he’s staring hard, evaluating your expression as his fingers tighten gently before loosening up. 

“You trust me, right?”

You nod immediately, because of course you did. Roman lets go and turns you towards him, his hands resting on your hips now. 

“If you’re good the rest of the night we’ll go back and try it. I have the room to myself tonight, guaranteed,” he says, a cocky smile taking over his features. 

Your knees practically give out from the way he’s looking at you. You find yourself pulling him down for a kiss, grabbing the lapels of his suit coat. He presses you back into the wall, slipping one leg between yours. He lets you catch a little friction before pulling away and earning a quiet whine from you. 

“I said you have to be good, baby,” he says, his voice already teasing. 

You look up at him with a pout because if his hand on your neck hadn’t been bad enough that small amount of friction had sent you over the edge of wanting to skip the banquet. 

“I’ll be good. I promise,” you says, nodding at him. 

He kisses your forehead before taking your hand and heading back to the event. There’s just as many people as when you left, if not more, but the noises seem more fuzzy now as you focus on Roman. He pulls your chair out for you at the table before sitting down next to you. 

You smile over at Dom sitting on your left as he says hello to the both of you. You’re about to say it back when you feel Roman’s hand on the back of your neck. You shiver immediately and Dom laughs at it. Of course he noticed, but you don’t think he fully understands. 

Roman’s hand squeezes a little, but he innocently asks, “are you cold? Do you want my coat?”

You nod, trying to cover up the real reason you’d had such a reaction to Roman’s seemingly innocent touch. He slips his arms out of his suit coat and puts it over your shoulders, successfully making you even warmer than you were. His hand falls back onto your neck as he faces you and starts a conversation with Dom. You sit between the two, looking straight ahead and trying to keep your cool. 

He glances at you every few seconds, his hand squeezing gently when he does. Every time he does it you press your legs together and try to keep your expression even. Dom either doesn’t realize or doesn’t say anything, luckily, but you’re sure someone must notice. 

“Ro, how much longer?” You ask quietly after what feels like forever. 

He frowns and checks the time on his phone, “we still have almost two hours technically.”

Your jaw drops, but you shouldn’t be surprised. You knew there were awards to go through and speeches to listen to. Roman raises his eyebrows and gives you a look that you know all too well. ‘You have to be good’ rings in your mind, his words tumbling over and over in your head. You nod, giving him a little smile then. 

He’s slightly confused by the quick change in your demeanor, but he lets it roll off him and kisses your cheek. You cross your leg over the other, scooting your chair as close to Roman’s as you can and reaching for his hand that’s on your neck. 

You set it on your thigh and Roman quickly grabs on, his thumb rubbing back and forth without even thinking. You wouldn’t survive with his hand on your neck so you had to distract him with something he was used to. He always ended up with his hand on your thigh when he drove so you figured autopilot would save you during the banquet. 

The event starts to kick off and coaches, administrators, and players all get called to the stage. It’s fine for a bit and you think your tactic was successful, but then Roman leans over suddenly during some football player’s speech. 

“So do you want me from behind or do you want to look at me when I wrap my hand around that pretty little neck tonight?” He asks quietly, his lips pressed against your ear. 

Your breath catches in your throat and your eyes widen a little. You glance over at your boyfriend who looks far too proud of the reaction he just drew from you. You clear your throat, subtly shaking your head at him. 

“Stop,” you whisper, but you can see the spark in his eye now. It’s a game to him and you know you’ll lose. 

He lets you sit for a few more minutes, another coach stepping up to the stage. You try and pay attention but Roman slowly slides his hand up a little higher on your thigh, rotating his grip more to the inside of your thigh. You bite your lip but won’t look at him. 

“Hey,” he leans over once again, “what about in the bathroom? Then you can watch it happen in the mirror.”

“Jesus Christ, are you serious right now?” You whisper harshly, your head whipping over to look at him. 

He shrugs, turning his attention back to the stage but his hand tightens on your thigh. You grab his forearm, squeezing your eyes shut. He shouldn’t have this much of an influence when he’s just sitting next to you, but he does, and he knows it. You tug his suit coat a little tighter around your shoulders, trying to hide in it as much as possible. 

The comments continue every once in a while from him for the entirety of the event. You’re all but squirming by the time things wrap up and Roman is just as ready to leave. You hand his coat back and he slips it on, standing still while you fix his collar quickly. You’re ready to grab his hand and rush out when Max steps over. 

“Think we’re gonna go grab a quick drink at KK before we call it a night. You two in?” Max asks, smiling at you both. 

He has no clue that Roman’s been ramping things up all night and teasing you endlessly. You’re about to say no, and you can feel Roman’s hand land on your hip and tug you into his side. You get an idea suddenly and look at Max with a smile. 

“We’d love to.”

“What?” Roman says quickly, looking down at you like had spoke a different language.

“Why not?” You ask, turning your attention to him, “we didn’t have plans tonight, right?”

You can see his jaw tighten as he gives you a fake smile. You hear him agree, but your mind is already wandering. He’d be even more worked up by the time you got home now and you were glad Max had extended the invite. 

Roman reluctantly calls an Uber to get to the bar, piling in with you, Max, and Brock. The ride over is short but Roman’s eyes are locked on you, making you feel hot all over. You knew you were pushing your luck for that night but you were having too much fun to stop now. You didn’t want to lose the game just yet. 

The bar has plenty of people in it when you all get there, most of them coming over from the banquet, and you easily find the other boys. You see Ryder and an idea forms in your head quickly. You knew he’d play along if you asked. 

You step away from Roman, saying hi to everyone, but pulling Ryder down for a hug when you get to him. He laughs a little and you take the chance to ask him for a favor. 

“Will you help me make Roman a little fired up tonight? I just need to ruffle his feathers a bit before we leave,” you ask, pulling back and seeing Ryder glance over your shoulder. 

He smiles and nods, “he already doesn’t seem happy about this so it should be easy. I’m in.”

You laugh and let you hand rest on Ryder’s chest, looking up at him. He leaves his arm low around your waist as you turn to talk to Mike standing next to him. Ryder’s arm slides and he leaves a hand on the small of your back, glancing over at Roman. 

“He’s gonna kill me. You know that, right?” Ryder asks, leaning closer so you can hear him better. 

Mike overhears and looks at his teammate that’s glaring in your direction, “Ahcan is not a dude I ever want to piss off. Just saying.”

You look from Ryder over to your boyfriend and see the way his jaw is set. He’s not having fun with this game and you waver. 

“Okay, call it off. I don’t want to do this to him anymore,” you shake your head, giving Mike a hug before you walk away to make the whole thing look more innocent. 

You duck your head as you walk back towards Roman, sure that he was going to have an attitude about the stunt you’d just tried to pull. He holds out a beer for you instead, a smirk on his lips that makes you wonder what was going on in his head.

“Baby,” he mumbles, pulling you close once you take the bottle from him, “I knew you were trying to play games, but let’s be honest here. None of those little boys over there could handle you like I do. None of them could make you beg like I do. And they certainly won’t choke you like I know you want me to.”

You lean hard into him, your heart beating wildly against your chest. You swear he always knows exactly what you’re thinking and you’d be lying if you pretended he wasn’t right on the money yet again. 

“I’m sorry, Ro. I know you know me best,” you pout, looking up at him with the best puppy dog eyes you can manage. 

He swears a little under his breath before he leans down to kiss you hard, his fingers digging into your hip and making you press against him even more if it were even possible. His teeth tug on your bottom lip as he pulls back and you can’t hold in the moan that leaves your mouth. 

Max happens to be right next to both of you when it happens and his jaw drops at the noise. You immediately bury your face in Roman’s chest but you can hear him as he speaks up. 

“Guess I’m staying with Mersch tonight, holy shit.”

Roman chuckles and kisses your head, thanking Max for his quick decision. You look up at Roman finally and realize he’s talking with the boys, no one worrying about the obscenity you’d released a moment before. 

You let out a sigh and spin around, leaning back against Roman and working to finish your beer. You knew it was a one and done kind of night, so the sooner you finished yours, the sooner you could leave. 

The cold liquid goes down easily and you find yourself setting it on a nearby table before grabbing both of Roman’s lapels, waiting for him to look down at you. Once he finally does you tug him lower and lean towards his ear. 

“Please take me home now. I really need you,” you say, feeling the effects of the quick beer you’d all but slammed and the desire he’d built up all night. 

Roman stands up straight and nods, waving at the boys over your shoulder. He’s quick to request the Uber and even quicker in getting you out to the curb. The ride back to his apartment is a blur and your excitement is through the roof, causing you to practically buzz in anticipation. You can’t help but fidget occasionally, stealing glances at Roman and giggling when he’d return eye contact. 

You both stumble into the apartment, both in a hurry to get things started. You trail towards his room, clothes being left behind you down the hall as your patience finally disappears. Roman’s quick to get you onto the bed, hardly having to do any prep work. 

He slides a condom on quickly and presses in almost too fast, making you gasp and yell his name for the first time that night. Your fingers dig into his sides as he starts to thrust in, dragging back out slowly each time. The pace is killing you and you beg him to hurry. 

“Roman, please go faster. I need more,” you whine, trying to pull him closer to you. 

He listens for the moment, his hips snapping at a faster pace, driving you up the wall. You can feel the build and you’re sure you won’t last long, mumbling to Roman that you were getting close already. 

He slows down suddenly and leans up, one hand fully supporting his weight as the other slowly wraps around your neck. 

“Look at me,” he says seriously, “if you get overwhelmed I need you to tap my arm three times and I’ll let go.”

You swallow hard and he can feel it, the smirk on his lips widening. He starts to tighten his grip as his hips move faster again, maintaining eye contact that’s almost too intense. You don’t notice much at first but he hits a certain point and you can feel the restriction then. 

You grab his wrist, but not to pull him off. You give him a little smile to let him know it was good and he tightens his hand just slightly more. You can feel how close you are then and he must know because his thrusts falter for a second. 

Before you know it you’re tumbling over the edge, trying to say his name but barely any noise comes out. As you tighten around him he swears and lets your throat loose, finishing hard and leaning his forehead down on your collarbone. 

You both catch your breath, your fingers carding through his damp hair as he leaves a couple soft kisses on your chest. You laugh a little and Roman props himself on his elbows, smiling down at you. 

“What are you laughing about, pretty?” 

You lean in and kiss him quickly, “I can’t believe I waited to tell you to try that. It was so good.”

He agrees, finally moving to stand up and detangle himself from you. He suggests a shower that you agree to easily, asking him to carry you into the bathroom. You weren’t trusting your legs just yet. He’s gentle throughout, helping you wash your hair and even rubbing your shoulders a bit. 

It’s such a contrast to the feeling of his fingers pressing into the sides of your neck and you revel in it. When you’re finished he gets his biggest towel and wraps you up in it, kissing your forehead as he slings a towel low around his own waist. 

You wander out to his bedroom, picking up the button down he’d worn earlier and replacing your towel with that, inhaling the smell of his cologne you loved so much. You return to the bathroom to finish getting ready for bed and find Roman brushing his teeth. 

You groan, “seriously, gray sweatpants after all that? are you trying to kill me?”

He rinses his toothbrush and wipes his mouth off before stepping over to you and kissing your cheek, “I figured you might like them.”

You shoo him from the bathroom and get your own business done. You find him half asleep in bed by the time you’re finished and slide under the covers carefully. He’s quick to pull you closer, nuzzling into the crook of your neck like he loved to do at night. 

“Was that good tonight?” He asks, his words slurring a little from how tired he is. 

You kiss his head, playing with his hair gently, “sure was. I think we may have to try it again.”

“Deal. Just don’t try and flirt with the freshmen before. If you ask, you can have whatever you want.”

You blush and give a quiet ‘okay’, feeling called out. He knew you too well for you to try and play games like that. Roman’s breathing starts to level out and you find yourself wondering what else he might want to try next. You definitely had a couple questions ready for him the next morning.

[chloelucia13]

Chapter 8: Trick or Treat, Freak

Pairing: none for the moment (currently Jonathan Byers x Platonic!Henderson!reader)

Prompt:  You always thought Hawkins was the most boring town of all, stuck in a vacuum void of excitement and entertainment. Well, it seems that way until the world decided to flip upside down, literally.

Chapter Summary: You hated Jonathan for dragging you along to this stupid Halloween party, but you hated him even more for ditching you so he could help the girl of his dreams. But when one friendship falls apart, another one may just come together.

Warnings: angst, fluff, language, teenage drinking, idk just the usual

Word Count: 2324

A/N: Here’s the next part! I’m so sorry it took so long to come out, I’ve been so busy with work. I hope you guys like this chapter!

Taglist: @just-my-fandom​, @nightbu-g​

Catch up

You hadn’t even realized school had ended until the last bell rang and people scrambled from their seats as fast as possible. With a sigh, you had pushed yourself out of your desk and shoved all of your things into your bag before exiting the classroom, trying to wake yourself up and be present in the moment.

The whole day, your mind was swamped with worried thoughts about the party, what you were going to dress up as, and, most importantly, how you were going to stomach seeing Jonathan dating Nancy. Those thoughts blanketed over the activities that took place that day, leaving a blank space where your memories would be.

Your mind stayed blank as you drove from the school to the drug store and the thrift store, picking up the items that you needed for your costume. Afterwards, you made your way home.

As soon as you got home, you laid down on the couch and cuddled up with Mews. Dustin had barged through the door moments later, tossing his backpack to the floor. “How was your da-” you began before he cut you off.

“Horrible!” He stomped over to the recliner and dramatically flopped down onto it, startling Mews away. “No one dressed up and Mad Max tried to kill me!”

You furrowed your brows, popping your head up slightly to look at him. “Who?”

“Mad Max? The girl who beat my score at Digdug?”

That just confused you more. “Someone beat you at Digdug?”

He groaned, rolling his eyes. “The new girl at school beat my score at Digdug and on my ride home her brother tried to hit me with his car.”

You sat silently for a moment, trying to piece together what he said. “Wait, is her brother the new douche bag that just started going to Hawkins High?”

“I don’t know! He’s just an asshole with a mullet!”

You sighed and laid your head back down against the couch. “Awesome. So no one dressed up at school then?”

“No, they did not. Try and catch up!”

You scoffed. “God, you get some front teeth and then you start acting like you own the place.”

“Hey, I earned these!” he tapped his finger against his top front teeth before scowling at you. “Are you and Jonathan still taking us trick-or-treating?”

You shrugged. “I don’t know. Jonathan is trying to convince me to go to this Halloween party-”

“Wait, you’re going to a party?”

You rolled your eyes. “Why is that so surprising?”

He shrugged, letting out a hum. “No reason, you’re just... You.”

With a sigh, you sat up and grabbed your bags. “Thank you for the kind words, Dustin.”

As you walked back into your room, Dustin shouted a “You’re welcome!” in response.

***

You had just finished applying a light layer of makeup and doing your hair when Dustin knocked on the bathroom door. “Come on, we’re gonna be late!” he shouted.

You rolled your eyes and let out a huff, grabbing the top hat off the counter and rushing out. “Okay, let’s go,” you instructed, slinging your bag over your shoulder and searching for your keys.

“Who are you supposed to be?”

You pulled your keys out and turned to arch an eyebrow at Dustin. “Stevie Nicks.” He just shook his head. “The White Witch?” Again, he shook his head. “God, that’s so disappointing.” 

With a sigh, you stepped out the door and got into your car, waiting for Dustin to get into the passenger seat before driving to Mike’s house where all the boys were planning to meet. 

As soon as you pulled up in the cul-de-sac, you saw Mike and Lucas impatiently waiting for the other two boys to arrive. You parked by the sidewalk and let Dustin out, watching as he ran over to the two boys. You hopped out of the car afterwards, leaning against your door as you waited for Jonathan and Will to show up.

“What are you supposed to be, Y/N?” Mike shouted over to you.

“Stevie Nicks,” you shouted back.

“Who’s that?”

You groaned in response, throwing your head back and staring up at the sky. A moment later, you heard a car engine near the house and stop right behind you. 

“Hey Y/N!” Will shouted to you as he got out of the car, hurrying over to his friends. “Are you Stevie Nicks?”

A wide smile spread across your face and you rushed over to give him a big hug. “Don’t tell the others but you’re my favorite,” you whispered to him before pulling away and heading over to Jonathan’s car. “You guys be safe tonight!” you shouted to the group before hopping in the car.

“You look nice,” Jonathan commented as you sat down in the passenger seat and got buckled.

You smiled and turned to look at him, a small frown settling on your face when you saw his lack of costume. “I thought we were gonna go to the party?”

“We are.”

“Then why aren’t you dressed up?”

He let out a sigh. “You know I don’t like-”

“I know, I know, you don’t like having fun.”

“No, I just don’t like being the center of attention.”

You pursed your lips, restraining yourself from quipping back. “Fine. Well if we’re gonna go, let’s go.”

***

As soon as you arrived, the feeling of hesitation and regret hit you instantly. Drunk teenagers were scattered along the lawn, and even more were flooding inside the house. “I don’t know, Jonathan,” you rushed out. “Maybe this was a bad idea.”

He shook his head. “Nope, we’re doing this. Come on,” he countered hesitantly, watching a guy in a toga throw up just feet from where the car was parked. 

You arched an eyebrow at him before huffing and getting out of the car. You waited for him to get out before the two of you walked side by side into the house. Your heart began to race as soon as you stepped inside, wiping your clammy palms off on the front of your dress before clutching onto the sleeve of Jonathan’s jacket. “There’s a lot of people here,” you whispered to him, only for him to respond with an uncomfortable nod. He took your hand in his as the two of you weaved through the crowd, Jonathan clearly on a mission to find Nancy.

“Nice costumes,” a girl voiced behind you, and the two of you turned your heads to see a girl dressed up in gothic attire and makeup.

“Huh?” Jonathan voiced, clearly taken aback from being spoken to.

“I said nice costumes, both of you.”

“Uh, yeah. She’s Stevie Nicks. I’m uh- I’m going as the guy who hates parties.”

She chuckled at his retort before holding her hand out. “I’m Samantha.”

“Jonathan, and this is Y/N.” You and Jonathan shook hands with her before standing there in an awkward silence. You watched him through your peripheral as he searched the crowd before his eyes landed on someone, his body immediately going stiff. Quickly, he turned his head back to Samantha. “Kiss?” You immediately furrowed your brows at him, and she flashed him a confused look. “The band,” he explained, gesturing to her outfit.

She chuckled, shaking her head. “Close, but no. Siouxsie.”

He nodded. “Right. Got it.”

Suddenly, an odd silence filled the house, and you both looked over to see Nancy with a red solo cup of punch spilled all over his top, Steve standing right next to her. She ran off and he immediately followed after her.

“Shit,” Jonathan sighed out, looking between you and Nancy for a moment before turning to Samantha. “It was really nice meeting you, but I gotta go,” he rushed out before going the same direction that Nancy and Steve went.

You let out a sigh, slouching slightly and crossing your arms over your chest. “Are you two dating?” Samantha asked.

You shook your head, pursing your lips. “No, no. We’re just... Friends.” You cast your gaze to the floor for a moment before turning on your heel and making your way through the crowd, heading out the back door and stepping out onto the back porch, which was almost completely void of any people. With a huff, you sat down on the porch steps and took off your top hat, setting it in your lap.

The buzz of people continued from inside the house, an odd muffled sound that settled deep in your bones as you stared at the line of trees at the end of the house’s backyard, the woods lying just beyond. You were trapped between the two things that scared you the most: people and the unknown.

The two things that plagued your nightmares: losing the boy you loved and getting lost in the endless abyss that was the upsidedown.

You nearly jumped out of your skin when you felt a hand on your shoulder, turning your head to see that it was Jonathan. “Hey, would you be able to find a ride home?” he rushed out, looking panicked.

You took a moment to process what he said. “I-I guess. How come?” you stuttered out, furrowing your brows.

“Nancy is really drunk and I need to give her a ride home. Is that okay?”

You heart ached in your chest, but you pushed a smile onto your face. “Yeah, of course.”

He flashed you a quick smile before hurrying back inside, leaving you all alone. 

Your shoulders and your smile fell as soon as he left, tears starting to well in your eyes. How the fuck were you going to get home? It’s not like you could call your mom to pick you up, and you didn’t trust a single person in that house enough to give you a ride. That Samantha girl crossed your mind, but you were too scared to be a burden to ask her.

After thinking it through, you had finally decided on walking three miles home. You pushed yourself to your feet and started on your trek, abandoning your top hat on the front porch.

As you walked, every single one of your senses was on high alert. You flinched at every noise, eyes following every movement along the treeline, heart racing every time the wind rushed against your skin. All your muscles were tensed, your hands so tightly curled into fists that your nails were cutting into your palms. 

You had only gotten about 100 feet into your trek when a car slowed to a stop next to you, their window rolling down. “Y/N?” a familiar voice shouted from inside the vehicle.

“Steve?” you replied, crouching down slightly to look into the car. 

“What are you doing?”

You wrapped your arms around yourself. “Walking home.”

He gave you a confused look. “Don’t you live a few miles away?” You nodded slowly. “Do you want a ride?”

You let out a small sigh of relief, immediately reaching for his passenger door handle and opening the door and getting in. 

He waited until you were buckled in before beginning the drive. “Thank you,” you whispered, staring at your folded hands in your lap.

He just nodded in response. “Why were you walking home?”

“Jonathan had to take Nancy home.”

He let out a sigh. “So we both got dumped then.”

You furrowed your brows, shaking your head slightly. “Jonathan and I are just friends.” You sat in silence for a moment. “Did... Did you and Nancy break up?”

He shrugged. “I guess so.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, in her words. our relationship is ‘bullshit.’ That everything is ‘bullshit.’”

You winced, looking up at him and frowning. “I’m really sorry.”

He shook his head. “It’s alright. At least I didn’t get ditched and had to walk home.”

You opened your mouth to argue, but closed it when you realized that he was right. “Can... Can we go to Nancy’s? My-my car is parked at her house. That’s where Jonathan picked me up from.”

Steve nodded and glanced over at you for a moment before looking back at the road. The two of you sat in silence, staring straight ahead as he drove you to Nancy’s house.

You noticed that the light in Nancy’s room was on as Steve pulled up to the Wheeler’s house. You gulped and waited until he stopped the car behind Jonathan’s car before you got out. “Thanks, Steve. It really means a lot,” you told him as you got out, bending down once you got out to give him a smile. “I’m really sorry about you and Nancy.”

He let out a sigh. “I’ll be alright. I’m sorry about you and Jonathan,” he replied.

You just nodded, too tired to correct him. “Goodnight, Steve.” With that, you closed the door and made your way over to your car. You pulled your key out from the pocket of your dress and stuck it in the lock, but didn’t turn it. Instead, you stared up at the window right above you, Nancy’s bedroom window. 

You could see Jonathan tucking Nancy into bed with such a gentleness that you had only seen him display with his mother, his brother, and you.

A harsh sob left your body and you immediately turned the key in the lock before yanking it out and tugging your car door open. You jammed the key into the ignition before you were fully in the car, collapsing into your seat and slamming the door shut.

You wanted so badly to just drive away, but you couldn’t force yourself to look away from that damned window.

You knew that he had heard you as he jumped at the sudden noise before a look of regret settled on his features. You watched him gulp before staring out the window.

Tears rolled down your cheeks as you finally forced yourself to drive away, your whole body shaking with sobs as you drove home haphazardly.

[galactic-magick]

Star Wars Marathon: Steve Harrington x Henderson!Reader

Summary: You have a Star Wars marathon with your brother, his friends, and your boyfriend Steve Harrington.

Rating: PG?

Words: 1400+

Warnings: None I don’t think, but if you thought my last Steve fluff was teeth rotting, you better order yourself some dentures cuz this is even worse lol

-

-

-

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Robin, I think the most gorgeous girl in the universe just walked in here!” Steve shouts as you and your brother Dustin enter Family Video.

“Oh, shut up,” you lean over the counter and give him a kiss, pulling away with a giggle as Robin rolls her eyes. Steve comes around and does his secret handshake with Dustin, happy to see him too as always.

“So, what brings you by here besides me, sweetheart?” Steve asks, running a hand along your cheek.

“You do know people actually come here for movies and not just you, right dingus?” Robin teases.

“Yeah,”

“We’re gonna have a Star Wars marathon tonight!” Dustin pipes up ecstatically. Steve raises his eyebrows and smiles.

“Yeah we’re inviting all the kids over and you and Robin are welcome to come too!”

“Sounds like fun! I’ll be there as soon as my shift’s over,” Steve grins.

“What about you Robin?” Dustin asks.

“I wish I could, but I’m doing a double shift tonight,”

“Aw, we’ll miss you,” you frown. “Hey Dustin, how about you go find the movies?” he nods and heads to the sci-fi section.

“I’ll pick up some snacks on my way to your house too,” Steve pulls you close to him by your waist and presses his lips to your forehead.

“Steve, you don’t have to, we have stuff at home,”

“I want to,” he smiles.

“I got them!” Dustin drops three VHS tapes on the counter.

“Alright, that’ll be $3 for three 24 hour rentals,” Robin says. You pull out the money from your wallet and hand it to her.

“We’ll see you soon,” you give Steve another kiss before you’re out the door.

 -

 The kids start bubbling about as soon as they arrive, excited out of their minds. This wasn’t the first movie night you’ve had, and it’s always a blast. The kids love to build the most comfortable movie-watching space with pillows and blankets possible, everyone wears their pajamas and brings any stuffed animals they have, and there’s always an abundance of snacks. You baked tons of cookies with your Star Wars cookie cutters, ordered a couple pizzas, and bought a box of microwave popcorn.

Mike and El are already cuddled up on the couch, Mike telling her how much she’ll probably enjoy the movies; she’s the only one in the group that’s never seen them before. Lucas and Max don’t hesitate to start stuffing their faces with snacks, and Dustin and Will are having an intense discussion about Star Wars lore. You contribute to the conversation occasionally between popcorn batches and setting everything up.

Soon enough the doorbell rings, and in comes Steve with fuzzy PJ pants and some grocery bags.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he kisses your cheek before unleashing all the goods on the kitchen table. He bought loads of candy, flavored popcorn, and sodas. All the kids race to dig in.

“You really like to rub it in that you’re their favorite, don’t you?” you laugh, giving him a playful punch to the arm. “The normal popcorn I made was just fine,”

“Yeah, but, mine’s flavored,” he winks and kisses you.

“Alright, you guys ready? My mom will bring the pizza on her way home from work,” The kids nod furiously and plop themselves down across the couches and mini pillow forts while Dustin puts in A New Hope. You cuddle up against Steve under a blanket, inhaling the sweet scent of his hair and feeling his arm draped around you.

Everyone watches the movie attentively, laughing and cheering throughout. Most of them including yourself have seen it many times, but somehow the magic still captures you like it’s new. Steve’s not nearly as much of a nerd as you and your brother are, but he still loves it and thinks it’s cute whenever you geek out.

“I’d make a good Han Solo, don’t you think?” Steve jokes.

“I could see that,” you giggle. “But only if I get to be your Princess Leia,”

“Well of course,” he slithers his fingers into your hair and tries to twist it into two buns, eventually giving up and settling for holding your face in his hands and crashing his lips to yours. “Just no kissing your brother,” he adds, pulling away slightly. “Doesn’t she kiss her brother in one of these movies?”

“Yeah, in the second one,” you laugh. “Don’t worry, I’m not planning to,” he smirks and pulls you onto his lap, wrapping his arms around your stomach and nuzzling his face into your neck.

By the time the first movie’s over, your Mom has come home with the pizza. Everyone sprints back to the kitchen to get yet another serving of food and snacks, but Steve doesn’t want to let you go.

“I want pizza, Steve,” you groan as he grips you tighter.

“Just use the force to get some,” he mumbles into your hair.

“I’m not the one with powers here,” you laugh. “I’ll be right back, I promise,” You wiggle out of his embrace and grab a couple pieces for each of you, switch the movies in the VHS player, and land back in his arms. “See? That wasn’t so bad,” the kids all come back as well and Dustin presses play on The Empire Strikes Back.

“Mhmm,” he snuggles you tight.

Everyone continues to stuff their faces with snacks while their eyes are glued to the screen. Occasionally Dustin makes comments about how some of the special effects were done or lists random facts about background characters.

“Mike, do I have the Force?” Eleven asks after watching Luke Skywalker and Yoda lift the X-Wing ship.

“I mean, yeah, basically,” he shrugs. “Maybe we can make you a lightsaber so you can be a Jedi!” she smiles and nods enthusiastically.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, we are not making weapons,” Steve objects.

“And you guys know lightsabers aren’t real, right?” Max adds.

“Well we thought super powers and monsters weren’t real too, didn’t we?” Dustin reminds them.

“Touche,”

When the movie ends, it’s getting late. Not that anyone cares, the kids just drink some high-caffeine sodas and claim to be good to go. Dustin pops in Return of the Jedi and everyone settles in for the final film.

“Wait, I’ll be right back,” Steve whispers to you, getting up from the couch. He returns with a gift bag and hands it to you.

“What’s this for? It’s not my birthday or anything,” you question.

“I couldn’t resist,” he pecks your cheek and slings his arm around your shoulders as you open the bag. Your mouth falls open when you pull out an Ewok stuffed animal.

“Steve this is adorable!”

“I knew you liked those teddy bear things, and I saw one at the store so-“ you cut him off with a kiss.

“I love it, Steve. Thank you,” he leans in to kiss you again, until his face is met with a pillow.

“Can you please stop making out with my sister?!” Dustin glares. Your cheeks grow hot and you laugh, pushing him away so you can rearrange the blanket and hug your new stuffed animal.

“He thinks that’s making out? I’ll show you making out-“ he mumbles.

“Steve!” you elbow him.

“I heard that!”

“Maybe later?”

“STEVE!”

“I heard that too!”

You giggle and finally settle down to watch the movie. To your surprise, some of the kids start dozing off as it goes on. Mike’s eyes are fluttering shut with his head on El’s shoulder, and Lucas is zonked out on the other side of the couch. It’s close to midnight when the movie’s over and everyone’s dazed.

Your head had fallen to Steve’s chest, with him twirling your hair through his fingers. He kisses your temple and guides you upright.

“Hey, sweetheart, you want me to give the kids a ride home?”

You fall back onto him and sigh, “That would be great,”

You hop in the passenger’s seat and all the kids squish into the backseat of Steve’s car. He drops them all off to each of their houses, leaving just you and Dustin in the car when he pulls back into your driveway.

“So, how about that make-out session?”

“I’m still here!” Dustin groans.

You roll your eyes and grin, “Maybe another time, pretty boy,” your fingers interlace with his and he closes the gap between you, his lips sweet from the candy. “Goodnight,”

“Tomorrow?”

“I said maybe,” you laugh, finally leaving the car and waving goodbye with Dustin fake barfing next to you. “Hey, at least we’re not as gross as you and Suzie,”

“Shut up!”

[barbarasbae]

Just a Taste-The Aftermath

Part 2 of Just a Taste 

Word Count: 1.4k

Warning: blood mention, threats/blackmail, implied smut, threats of violence against women/teenage girls (small scene but I don’t want people to be thrown into it and be uncomfortable) 

Notes: Y/n is cousins with the Byers and that is simply because the Party’s and Hopper’s involvement are pretty crucial to the plot of this series towards the climax so far. The vampire information from Dustin in this chapter are all almost just copied and pasted from the vampire DnD wiki page. I have italicized the text I am referring to. Also, this is about to be the most used gif:

Y/n woke up that morning with a special kind of pain permeating through her brain. With a groan, she trudged out of bed and pulled on her favorite sweatshirt and jeans. Due to the hangover, she was already running late and was forced to down a muffin and banana in the car. It didn’t help that she was also battling against the movement-restricting puffy coat her mom always made her wear. School was uneventful, boring as always. By lunch, Y/n had convinced herself that she had just dreamt having sex with Billy Hargrove, as well as him most likely being a vampire. That is until he threw his arm around her shoulders as she left the building. “I need to talk to you.“

“Okay?” He pulled her behind the school building, looking around like he was trying to make sure no one saw them. “So last night was...good.” He said, lighting a cigarette. She saw the fangs. Oh. She hadn’t made that up. Well,  fuck. “You’re cousins with the weird kid right? Zombie boy?” 

“Don’t call him that.” He flicked the bud of his cigarette to the ground before advancing towards her until her back hit the cinderblock wall. “He’s one of my step-sisters little nerd friends.” They were so close she could feel that he wasn’t really breathing like he should. It was like he forgot to inhale every third or fourth breath. “Do not tell anyone about what happened, got it?” He said, fangs looking much more prominent. “This is why all those girls are scared of you aren’t they?” She murmured, his gaze too intense on her face for her to keep eye contact. “Wait...really?” His brows furrowed. “Yeah. Girls start acting different after going out with you.” He twisted one of his rings, looking like he was thinking. The moment was over as soon as it started, him looking back into her eyes. “Good.” Y/n found it easy to say this was one of the scariest moments of her life. “I know where you live, princess. If Max finds out, I can and will drain your body in two minutes.” The tip of his nose brushed hers. She wanted to cry. “Got it?” He snarled quietly. She nodded, biting her lip. He walked off, leaving Y/n to deal with her pounding heartbeat and weak legs. 

Once she was able to form a cognitive thought again, she immediately went to the public library. It just didn’t sit well with her that such a creature was free-roaming Hawkins. She checked out some classics: Dracula, The Vampyre,  Interview with the Vampire, Survival Skills for boys (you never know), and Varney the Vampire. She spent the night completely ignoring her homework, pouring over the books and writing notes in order to help her understand what the hell was going on. And maybe help her get rid of him. She felt a little queasy at the thought of going against him; everyone knew how Billy had almost hospitalized Chris Nickleson his second week in Hawkins. Despite feeling like she was walking on eggshells, Y/n didn’t actually see Billy for the entire day. Which could be a good thing. Or really bad. As soon as the final bell rang, Y/n beelined to the middle school, cornering Will and his friends as they came down the front steps. “Hey, you guys gonna play Dungeons and Dragons today?”

“Yeah.We’re gonna meet up at Mikes house.” Will answered. “When?” She pulled out a pen.

“Four.” Y/n marked it down on her hand.

“Ok. I need to ask you guys about something. I’ll see you then.” She said, trying to keep her wits about her and make sure no curly haired blond heard her discussion. The kids looked perplexed, but went along. They thought Y/n was pretty cool. Maybe cooler than Steve. (A big maybe). 

After returning her books (getting rid of the evidence), she went to the Wheeler’s house with her notes in hand and was greeted by Mr. Wheeler. “Hi Mr. Wheeler, is my cousin here?” He didn’t look like he knew who she was talking about. “Will Byers?” 

“Oh yeah. They’re in the basement.” She thanked him and scooted into the door, almost running to the basement. “Hi Mrs. Wheeler!” She called as she ran to the steps. “Hey Y/n!” The boys looked at the out-of-breath teenager as she threw her notes on the table. She tossed her coat, sitting down at their little table, getting her pen and paper out. “So, let’s say theoretically, if there was a vampire in Hawkins, how would I kill it?” They looked at her like she had a third eye. “Or even turn it back into a human?” 

“Is there something happening?” Mike asked, looking for his walkie talkie. 

“It’s for a...book I’m writing.” She fibbed, Dustin grabbing the manual and looking it up. “A vampire can be of any evil alignment, and if its alignment was not evil in life it becomes so in undeath.” He scanned for some more stats a little farther down. “It retains all the abilities it had in life, plus it gains the ability to drain blood and life energy, and to dominate other creatures with its gaze...it can also command rats, bats and wolves or take the form of them. They are superhumanly strong and regenerate/heal quickly from injuries. They can also turn into a gaseous form.” He finished, looking up to see Y/n furiously writing down more notes. “How do I get rid of it?”

“You stab it through the heart with a wooden stake. You can also deter it from attacking you by wearing a cross and throwing holy water at it.” Will supplied, looking over Dustin’s shoulder. “Okay. Thanks guys. Have fun with your game.” She went home and spent the evening organizing all the information she had gathered, writing a plan of sorts down. Then there was a knock on her window that scared her half to death. She looked up, the blood draining from her face. Billy. She collected her stuff and hid it the best she could in her closet. She walked over to the window, his eyes dark. She cracked the window as little as she could so she could hear him. “What do you want?”

“Food. You smell so good. Could smell you from the street.” Okay, creepy. He kept his eyes trained on her, watching her leave the room and return with towels. After laying them on the bed, she walked to the window and begrudgingly opened it all the way. “You’ve got to invite me in.”

“What?”

“Just say to me ‘you can come in’.” 

“Okay. You can come in.” He came in and kissed her, hands greedily seeking the warmth her skin held from laying in bed. She leaned over and closed the window, him breaking for a moment. But then he just kissed her deeper. She kissed back, but he could tell it was different. “You know I wont drain you, right? I was just saying that stuff to scare you.” He was suddenly a teenage boy again,not a monster, rubbing his thumb into her waist. A faint blush was painting his cheeks, which she didn’t think was possible. “Well it worked.” She said softly, hands going to his biceps. “Sorry,” he sounded sheepish, like he was genuinely embarrassed by his decision to threaten her. He stopped touching her, walking over to her bed and sitting. She sat next to him cautiously, feeling more and more anxious as he kept his eyes trained on her bandaged neck (now decorated with a Batman bandaid).

“Were transformers not good enough for you?” 

“I needed to change it because it was an open wound that hadn’t been cleaned.” She retorted with an eye roll and a little smile. His hand ghosted over hers that was resting in between them. He gently kissed the wounded spot, then trailed his lips up to her cheek. She winced, clutching her fist as an especially painful cramp throbbed in her lower belly. “Can I help? Please?”  He begged, hand gripping her upper thigh. His fangs had grown longer, Billy ready to eat. “Y/n, I won’t bite again. I promise!” The look in his eyes was very innocent compared to what he had just asked her to let him do. She nodded. A smile grew on his face. She was on her back, hungry lips against hers before she could blink. 

[nicememerino]

Read Chapter 4 of not an experiment on AO3 or under the cut! thanks for reading.

Steve went and knocked on the Byers’ door and waited maybe 30 seconds before an excited El swung it open and threw her arms around Steve, engulfing him in a hug.

“Hey, El. Where’s Joyce?” He asked as he stepped into the house. El shut the door behind him and pointed down the hall. 

When the Byers moved they decided it was probably best to stay close to Hawkins, they had gotten a pretty good-sized house right outside of town with the hush money the government provided. The house was close enough that Will was able to stay at school with his friends and Joyce could keep her job.

“Mrs. Byers! I’m here!” He called out towards her room. She quickly came out of her bedroom as she finished buttoning up her Melvalds vest. 

“Thank you so much for staying with her Steve. I should be home around 5, are you still picking the boys up from school?” She asked as she ran around the living room collecting her things and kissing El on the forehead as a goodbye. 

“Yep! I’ll get Will back here in one piece. Be safe Mrs. Byers!” He called out after her as she ran out the door. As the door closed, he turned and glanced over the room. 

This house was bigger than the old one but it was still homey and comfortable. On the walls there were pictures of Jonathan and Will as kids, some of El scattered throughout but in reality, they hadn’t been able to document her existence until recently when the government finally gave them the okay. Since then, Jonathan had decided to take plenty of pictures of her, making sure she knew that she was a part of the family just as much as he and Will were. 

Everyone in the house had their own room, the kitchen was large, there was a separate dining room, and Steve bet that they could probably fit at least three couches in the living room. Joyce had argued that they only needed two.

 Steve turned his attention towards El and shrugged. He had always been close with the kids but he and El never really had a chance to get to know each other until she moved into the Byers house and started homeschool. He knew more about where she came from than he did about her but he still tried, it was just hard with both of them not knowing how to act around each other. It wasn’t until he started babysitting for Joyce that he had learned anything personal about her, it started with El showing Steve all her scrunchies, her favorite one that Max had given her, the first one she ever bought, the one that Mike gave her for her birthday.

El’s birthday was celebrated intensely, Steve came to find out. All the kids always went way out and tried to make the craziest parties for her. She had only had two birthdays since she had escaped the lab, but everyone always tried to make them special for her. Since the only people who knew her real birthday was the government and maybe Brenner, the kids decided they would celebrate it on the day she had shown up. 

Steve learned everything he could ever want to know about El after all the time he spent babysitting her. Of course, she had school work to do but after the first few weeks, they established a routine. Steve would get there, say bye to Mrs. Byers, listen to El talk about whatever she wanted for about 30 minutes, then she would hop into her school work for the day. Once El ran out of things to talk about and didn’t have anything particularly interesting to share, she started talking to Steve while she did her work. It turns out she’s a better multitasker than most of the kids.

When Joyce wasn’t there with her somebody else typically was just to make sure she was doing her work. The plan had been for her to catch up as quickly as she could then for Hopper to enroll her into Hawkins High when the time came, but now Hop was gone and El wasn’t exactly ready to be a freshman. 

“So are you still working on 7th-grade math or have you moved up since I last saw you?” Steve asked as he pulled out a chair from the kitchen table. It had only been a week since he had last babysat but El was surprisingly good with math and moved quickly. She was maybe even better than the other Gremlins.

 “I’m almost done with 7th grade. Joyce said I might be able to go to school with Will next year!” El explained as she grabbed her most recent worksheets from the desk in the corner. She spread them out on the table and took the seat next to Steve.

“That’s great kiddo! Do you need help with any of it?” Steve asked. Most of the time if she got stuck she’d come to him on her own, but there had been few occasions where Steve had found her with tears of frustration coming out of her eyes because there were some problems she just couldn’t quite grasp. 

El shook her head and looked up at Steve, “Do you?” She asked him. El had also started asking Steve questions about his personal life, which he didn’t mind, but most stuff that goes on in his life wasn’t exactly exciting.

“Do I what?” Steve questioned back. Of course, he didn’t need help with 7th-grade math, he was the one teaching her, not the other way around.

“Need help. You’re confused” She said matter-of-factly. Steve groaned and shook his head since they had gotten closer El had lost all ideas of boundaries when it came to looking into Steve’s head or asking questions about anything going on. It wasn’t fun when she had come out of Jonathan’s room one day with a dirty magazine and asked Steve why some of the girls weren’t wearing shirts.

“What is with you kids and being in my head. No El, I don’t think you can help me with what I’ve got going on.” Steve answered as calmly as he could. Between wanting to see Billy, Dustin basically coming out to him, Robin telling him he needs more friends, and him being the resident babysitter, Steve had his hands full.

“I can try,” El stated. She sat her pencil down and focused completely on Steve. He rolled his eyes and nudged her.

“You’re just trying to get out of having to do your work. But I’ll humor you.” Steve said as he leaned back as far as he could in the wooden dining chair, he saw El’s face light up out of the corner of his eye.

“Robin thinks I need more friends, and I want to be friends with this one guy, but I don’t think he likes me very much,” Steve explained. He wasn’t about to spill everything to a 14-year-old, he tried to be as vague as he possibly could considering the circumstances.

“Billy?” She asked. Steve blinked at her, once, twice, three times, before he spoke.

“You in my head again kid?” He asked jokingly. El shook her head and rolled her eyes, a habit she had learned from Mike.

“You like him,” She stated once again with her matter-of-fact tone. Steve groaned for what felt like the millionth time that day. 

“Yeah, I guess. He’s better now. He isn’t trying to beat me up constantly, which is nice. He comes in to rent movies sometimes and he’s smiling” Steve explained. Of course, he liked Billy, he thought he was super cool, he had since he had first shown up in Hawkins.

“You want him to be your boyfriend,” El said. She then picked up her pencil and looked back at her paper as if she hadn’t said anything strange at all. 

“What? El no. I don't want Billy to be my boyfriend. That’s crazy. Insane. I mean he tried to beat me up! You weren’t here for that but he could have killed me!” Steve said, trying to convince himself more than El. She shrugged and started working on her paper.

“Jonathan said it’s okay,” El informed Steve. Of course, he knew what she was talking about but he really didn’t want to have this conversation with another 14 years old. He should at least talk to Robin about it first before he involved all of the Gremlins. Steve sighed and rubbed a hand over his face wishing his life was easier.

“I know it’s okay El, but lots of people think it’s really not okay. Billy is probably one of those people” 

 El looked up from her paper at her babysitter, “Max said he is better. He isn’t mean to her anymore. He talks to her.” El said looking into Steve’s eyes. “Maybe he won’t be mean to you” She suggested. It was probably the best words any of the Gremlins had ever said to him but he didn’t want to inflate El’s ego so he changed the subject to breakfast which quickly got her mind off of Steve’s boy problems.

 When it came time to go get Will and Dustin, Steve asked El if she wanted to ride with him. As far as people in Hawkin’s knew, El was Will and Jonathan’s cousin Elenor whose mom had recently passed. That was the story they had stuck to ever since El had been able to go out and people had started asking questions, but Joyce had still tried to keep her away from people that might go poking where their noses didn’t belong. El still left the house at any chance she got, today being no exception.

 The two pulled up in the high school parking lot and sat for a few minutes before the final bell rang and students started pouring out into the parking lot. Before they saw any of the Gremlins, El spotted the exact person Steve was hoping to avoid, El hit Steve’s arm and pointed to the blonde. Steve quickly pushed her hand down and reminded her it was rude to point.

“Go talk,” She told Steve. Before he could protest, he looked up and made eye contact with the younger boy. 

Billy was wearing a tight pair of jeans, his regular black boots, and the tightest black shirt he had ever seen on a boy. It held onto his biceps like the shirt was clinging for dear life, Steve didn’t even want to think about how good Billy would look if somebody dumped water on him right now. 

The brunet was quickly pulled out of his fantasy when El pinched his arm.

“You’re gonna pay for this when we get home,” Steve told her as he watched Billy walk towards the car.

“Hey pretty boy, didn’t expect to see you here,” He said casually as Steve stepped out of the car.

“Yeah yeah don’t cream your pants” Steve replied as he tried to hide his smile. From inside the car, he heard a quiet hum of confusion. Billy had heard it too because before Steve could say anything the blonde looked into his rolled down window and came face to face with El.

“Oh shit,” Billy said as he jumped back. He hadn’t expected another person to be in the car with Steve.

“Billy, this is-” Steve started before he was rudely interrupted.

“El!” Max yelled as she ran up to the car. She quickly pushed Steve out of the way and hopped in the car to talk to her best friend. Billy laughed as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his shirt pocket. How they hadn’t become crushed against his pecs, Steve would never know.

“You let all the shitheads push you around like that?” Billy asked as he lit the item in his hand. Steve chuckled and glanced into the car to check on El.

“Nah, but they don’t get to see her a lot so it’s understandable,” Steve explained. Billy nodded and offered Steve a drag of his cigarette.

“I’ve met her before. Just so you know,” Billy said as Steve plucked the cig out of his hand.

Steve raised an eyebrow before taking a drag. “Really?” Steve asked. As far as he knew, El’s contact with the outside world was super limited, there was no reason for her to have ever met Billy.

“Well, more than once. But only once as me.” Billy said. Steve didn’t have to ask what he meant by that. 

 After Starcourt happened and everyone had started to heal Steve had finally gotten the courage to ask what happened to Billy and the munchkins had explained the whole flayer incident in detail, including the sauna story. Steve still didn’t like to bring it up but Billy mentioned it as if it was as normal as asking about the weather. Steve was gonna ask where he and El had met but before he had a chance the rest of the kids had come running to the car.

“Steve!” Lucas had shouted. He ran up to give him a high five but he spotted Billy, he decided against getting too close and just gave Steve a quick nod before going around to the other side of the car where El had her window rolled down. Steve heard Billy audibly sigh from beside him and suddenly Steve wondered if he had ever apologized for what had happened that night. 

“We should get pizza and go back to Will’s to start the campaign!” Dustin yelled. All of the kids shouted in agreeance as they started to pile into Steve’s car. He and Billy were standing next to the driver's side door. Will had looked over at the two and gave them a weird look before sliding into the backseat.

“Looks like I have to get them all pizza and watch them play the game for the rest of the night. You want to come hang out and make my life a bit more bearable?” Steve asked before he could even process what he was offering. 

Billy gave him a smirk and stole the cigarette back from him, “I’ll meet you there?” He asked as he licked his lips before he took a long drag off the stick. Steve was mesmerized but was quickly shaken out of his trance by El tugging on his shirt sleeve.

“Yeah, you know where Will lives?” Steve asked as he watched Billy get into his newly fixed Camaro. Steve hadn’t even noticed it parked a few cars down. Max quickly took the hint and got out of Steve’s car and headed to get into Billy's.

“We’ll find out won’t we princess?” Billy said as he pulled off leaving Steve slightly mesmerized.

 On the way home everyone kept asking Steve about Billy and what was going on between the two boys.

“I saw you guys sharing a cigarette. I might be 14 but I know that’s not something normal people do” Lucas said as they pulled out of the pizza hut drive-thru. Steve rolled his eyes and continued to ignore their questions until Mike said something that pissed him off.

“My mom said that you’ll get aids if two guys share saliva” Mike, of course, meant nothing by it, he knew what aids were and what his mom really meant. He wasn’t even trying to be an asshole, it was just one of those comments you let slip and then realize what it means the second it comes out of your mouth.

Steve huffed and replied with, “Yeah well your mom was trying to fuck Billy last summer so I’m not sure what she considers worse, being gay or a predator” 

All the kids had gotten quiet when they heard that, mostly because nobody knew about it except a select few people, and Steve wasn’t supposed to be one of them. He honestly didn’t know how true it was, Heather had come into Scoops that summer and he had overheard her telling the story to her friends and in all honesty, Mrs. Wheeler was kind of a creep, so he wouldn’t put it past her.

The kids all made a noise that Steve could only describe as disgusted as he continued towards the house. Steve regretted saying anything about the incident but he wasn’t gonna let the kids think he tolerated people saying stuff like that. He almost made Dustin walk to school that morning because of a slur, there was no way he was gonna let the kids think he condoned Mike’s mom’s behavior just because she was an adult.

“Mike, your mom is a cougar,” Dustin had said quietly before the car erupted with laughter and moans of protest from Mike.

[wigwurq]

WIG REVIEW: STRANGER THINGS 3

Stranger Things season 3 is here!!!!! Bust out your 80s nostalgia and demogorgon attitude because I fully don’t remember where we left off but Netflix kind of reminded me in a very extended recap that was definitely too long? Whatever, let’s just discuss the wigs! (AND MUCH MORE).

As with last season (and any season of TV I review) I will be adding each episode to this post and then changing my wig verdict as the season progresses. 

CHAPTER ONE: SUZIE DO YOU COPY?

We begin with two tweens making out and YUCK I really don’t want to live through this! I share this opinion with Sheriff Hopper who has to live through these make out sessions that are scored by 80s soft rock music. Even more insulting: THESE HAIRCUTS. I don’t know at what point these kids are gonna outgrow their bowlcuts but the answer seems to be a resounding: NEVER. Also Elle’s hair has finally grown out! TO THIS?!?!?! What overprocessed curly nightmare is this?! I feel like they were going for a Jennifer Grey situation but if that’s the case, I’ll be needing like 110% more hairspray and like 200% more dancing ability, please.

Anyway, the real news in town is: THERE’S A MALL NOW! It’s called Starcourt which is the most 80s sounding name ever and it is home to SCOOPS AHOY ice cream shoppe where Steve and Uma Thurman/Ethan Hawke’s daughter works. This whole storyline is incredibly Fast Times at Ridgemont High themed but Steve’s hair is still very wonderful. Also he can get all the tweens into the movie theater which is showing Day of the Dead and I get it Stranger Things: YOU ARE MAKING ALL THE 80S MALL REFERENCES. 

Also: Dustin is back from camp! It was a science camp called Camp KNOW where and I am definitely gonna see some assholes in this shirt this summer. Anyway, this storyline was all about Dustin forcing his friends into helping him with a radio tower to talk to his possibly fake girlfriend named Suzie and truly: meh.

Meanwhile: WINONA’S SEASON 3 WIG! I’ve gotta say, this season is the best season of wig for Winona. Sure, it is still very much a mess (as is she after the untimely death of her boyfriend Rudy Reuttiger!) but it’s the best wig she’s had so far so MAZEL!

Elsewhere, the most boring teen couple in America (aka Nancy and Will’s brother whose name I won’t learn) are working at the local newspaper and Nancy’s whole job seems to be fetching hamburgers for an entire room of #MeToo examples. Her hair is business chick 80s which is to say: on brand but I could use about 90% more Working Girl, please. 

And now let’s get to the only storyline I truly cared about: Nancy’s mom Karen Wheeler (aka Carla Buono). Every season, her wig brings the drama and glamour I crave in an 80s-based TV show. The arc of her wig story is truly the story of America - from 70s disco queen to bored early 80s housewife to the wig we see today - 80s mall glamour queen. AND I AM HERE FOR IT. She and the other ladies of the Hawkins Town Pool are unfortunately here for the worst character on this show: BILLY.

UGH BILLY. I will give this show major props for having his entrance to the same music playing when Phoebe Cates gets out of the pool in Fast Times (second Fast Times reference in this episode tho) but it’s a gender reversal I can definitely get behind. HOWEVER BILLY IS THE WORST. Within 2 seconds of his entrance, he fat shames a tweenager and also HAS THE WORST WIG.

Nothing has changed much from last season on this wig front. It is still very much a curly dried out MESS which is very much trying to reference Rob Lowe in St. Elmo’s Fire yet this bish has yet to wail on a saxophone or talk about granny panties so truly: no redeeming qualities here. 

This does not dissuade Carla Buono from falling under the spell of Billy’s terrible wig. To be fair, her husband is a constantly napping Reagan supporter of indeterminate middle age. Anyway, the episode ends with her getting 80s GLAMOUROUS for a latenight rendezvous with Billy at a fleabag hotel. Billy, however, is run off the road by falling/exploding rats (?) and then dragged into a dirty warehouse full of said exploding rats which truly is the fate I wanted for him and his bad rattail so: COSIGN.

CHAPTER TWO: MALL RATS

We begin with Billy in the rat-infested warehouse being very much alive, so already: I’M ANGRY WITH THIS EPISODE. However, Billy and his awful wig have definitely been through the ringer and he’s about to high-tail it out of there when he comes face to face with: HIMSELF?!?! I don’t know what sort of US crossover this is supposed to be...can we get Jordan Peele on the horn about this? Anyway, he drives out of there in his now somehow completely fine car that didn’t work about 5 minutes ago and then stops at the most bizarrely situated telephone booth literally in the middle of nowhere. I thought this might be a Bill & Ted crossover but nope: he just tries to call 911 before all the electricity bails on that plan.

In other telephone news, Mike has been shook to his core by Sheriff Hopper and tells Elle that he can’t see her and makes up some lies about his grandma. Queen on the scene/his mom Karen and her GLAMOROUS PERFECTION WIG are somehow listening in (KAREN!!!!) and she’s concerned about grandma now too. Everyone back at the pool is concerned about Billy/”Billy” (not sure if he’s the real thing or a mole person version or a possessed alien version - probably the latter) and he is straight up RUDE to Karen so definitely: EFF YOU BILLY ALWAYS. There are also a bunch of shots of the back of his nightmare wig that gave me the shivers. Oh, and he fully kidnaps the other lifeguard as a human sacrifice to a demogorgon blob so definitely: EFF YOU BILLY x100000.

This episode also introduced MAYOR CARY ELWES! This is very good casting and this whole storyline seems like an homage to Jaws so: OK! Also Sheriff Hopper asked Winona’s season 3 wig (which is still good!) on a date/nondate which she definitely didn’t attend because she had far more important lessons to learn about magnets and that’s probably the best reason to stand up a dude ever.

Elsewhere, boring couple is investigating some weird rat/fertilizer situation at an old lady’s house and basically I didn’t pay attention to this part because it was boring and it involved exploding rats so: hard pass. Nancy’s hair looked fine. Jonathan’s hair is a mess. The end.

The rest of the episode was devoted to the only kind of rats I like: MALL RATS! Over at Scoops Ahoy, my favorite bromance between Steve and Dustin was rekindled and truly it is a beautiful thing. 

However, Maya Hawke and her language skills (which are romance based, not Russian but whatever!) come into play to translate the Soviet message Dustin intercepted. They somehow translate it (SURE?) and also Maya’s hair is about as 80s as John Travolta’s 70s costumes were in 50s-set Grease. This hair is pure 2019 and you do you Stranger Things. THE DEMOGORGON’S IN THE DETAILS ALWAYS. 

Meanwhile, Mike is BUMMED about having to lie to Elle so he brings Lucas and Will along with him to the mall to...buy something for Elle to erase the lie he told her? The whole time Will kept asking when they could leave and play D&D and the whole time I wanted these boys to not have bowl cuts anymore.

In the most important storyline, Elle teamed up with Max to have a LADIES DAY AT THE MALL AND I WAS HERE FOR IT! Max does not seem like the kind of chick who is into fashion or commercialism but her overriding guidance of finding yourself through consumerism and forsaking any sad feelings about boys is just good TV. Retail therapy is great!

And I’m sorry but there is absolutely no better cinema than an 80s makeover montage to effing MATERIAL GIRL. YES PLEASE.

Elle also used her powers to prank some asshole chicks at the Orange Julius and this whole part of the show felt very Girls Just Want To Have Fun (the movie but I guess also the song) so VERY YES PLEASE.

THEY EVEN TOOK EFFING GLAMOUR SHOTS. CAN YOU EVEN?! THIS IS EVERYTHING! I don’t know who funded this amazing afternoon at the mall since Max’s parents seem like pretty absentee wrong-side-of-the-tracks types and clearly this whole mall fiasco goes against everything Sheriff Hopper stands for but whatever logic: YAY MALL!

In the end, Elle calls out Mike on his lie and DUMPS HIS ASS! GIRL POWER! MALL POWER! ICE CREAM POWER 4EVER!

CHAPTER THREE: THE CASE OF THE MISSING LIFEGUARD

My favorite bromance, Dustin and Steve, are on the hunt for Russians in the mall! This whole plot is ridiculous and wonderful. They think they’re really onto something here (and maybe they are?) and just need to find some guy with blonde hair and a duffle bag (like all Russians!) When they find someone who fits that description, he turns out to be a FABULOUS aerobics instructor and I like what everyone has done here with the gay or European? trope.

Meanwhile, Hopper comes home from being stood up with bottle of Chianti and general sense of hopelessness when everything takes a turn for the GREAT because Elle isn’t making out with Mike - she’s found a great galpal and they’re having a sleepover. Halleluj all over the place! Elle deserves a great galpal and Max is pretty awesome and can ALMOST land an ollie so I say amen. Winona’s season 3 wig (still great!) shows up and explains about magnets and then they go back to the lab and find an actual Russian (not an aerobics instructor!) but then he hightails it out of there with no other explanation other than the fact that he might be the Terminator and/or just a motorcycle enthusiast.

Anyway, Elle and Max have the best sleepover EVER by using Elle’s sensory deprivation skills to spy on the boys and truly this is the What Men Want crossover no one wanted but sure! (PS the answer is Doritos belches and farts UGH BOYS). 

Beyond that, what Will wants is to just play D&D IN THIS GODDAMNED ELEGANT CAPE, OK?! Mike and Lucas go along with it for a bit, but they are just too girl crazy to concentrate on being a nerd for long. Mike yells at Will, “it’s not my fault you don’t like girls” which is interesting phraseology since the internet really wants Will to be gay and only time will tell but honey: the cape eleganza story you’re serving is pretty fabulous, just sayin! (THE DEMOGORGON’S IN THE DETAILS ALWAYS). 

Anyway, after some fun sensory deprivation visions of the guys doing stupid stuff, Elle and Max decide to invent a whole spin-the-bottle inspired game to see what other dudes in Hawkins are up to and dammit if the bottle didn’t land on my wig nemesis BILLY. Elle sees that he’s up to some pretty effed up nonsense involving kidnapping that other lifeguard so they decide to investigate IN THE RAIN.

The rest of the episode is mainly devoted to fabulous 80s raincoat fashion and I WAS HERE FOR IT. Beyond these great raincoat lewks, most of the rest of the cast also rocked some fab 80s raincoats (excepting Will who got soaked destroying his childhood fort and Steve who OF COURSE was wearing a members only jacket but jokes on him bc that rain totally dented his ‘do). 

Anyway, Elle and Max go over to the missing lifeguard’s house and OF COURSE her dad is the #1 asshole that boring couple works with (oh also they did more boring investigating which resulted in an old lady eating fertilizer. Meh). But shocker: BILLY AND HIS AWFUL WIG WERE THERE TOO.

LOOK AT THE SIDE OF THIS DAMN WIG. Truly, this wig IS the demogorgon of this season.

Anyway, double shocker: THE LIFEGUARD ALSO WAS THERE! Or I guess a possessed version of her since this plotline is getting less US and more Invasion of the Body Snatchers (no need to return my call anymore, Jordan Peele). Also possession or not, this chick’s side pony and wispy bangs are the true terrors (second only to Billy’s wig). 

Also can we talk about Billy’s mustache for a second? IT IS SO DISGUSTING. That’s all I have to say. I don’t want to look at it any further.  Also look at how dried out this wig is and this whole episode involves torrential rain. I DEMAND MORE WIG HUMIDITY DAMMIT.

Anyway, Max and Elle (smartly) hightail it out of there right before Billy and the lifeguard attack her parents for further demogorgon possessions and we get one last terrifying view of Billy’s wig. HORRIFYING.

CHAPTER FOUR: THE SAUNA TEST

So I’m really liking the whole Elle and Max vibe going along here. I also like that they weren’t dissuaded by the whole Billy being a possessed demogorgon thing to spoil their sleepover. IT CONTINUES! And not only that, Max is literally introducing  WONDER WOMAN TO ELLE. I could watch an entire episode of this also because both of their hair isn’t too offensive and they’ve both discovered scrunchies. Mazel! But of course, the guys call in a code red and they have to hightail it over there to fix everything. Ain’t it always the way, ladies?

I would like to take a moment to talk about bowl cuts. So far, I have just lumped both Will and Mike’s bowl cuts into “awful” territory as all bowl cuts are awful. However, this episode gets a lot of shots of the back of Will’s head (because the back of his neck is always sensing those goddamned demogorgons). Anyway, it became very clear in this episode just how terrible this wig is as opposed to Mike’s terrible bowl cut actual hair. I consulted the internet, and apparently the kid who plays Will CUT HIS HAIR (which he was contractually obligated NOT to do) days before shooting began and the wigmaster had to scramble and make a wig literally out of the childhood cut hair of one of her assistants. READ IT ALL HERE. Despite her hustle, this wig sucks in the way that all man wigs suck: the back taper is just all off!! And with all those closeups of Will’s neck it is VERY DISTRACTING!! Billy officially is not the only one with a terrible man wig this season. But his is still the worst!

It did hide a bit under this sweet NIAGARA FALLS hat this episode. And his oily bohunk body was hidden under this sweatshirt which was a dead giveaway to all the kids that SOMETHING WAS AMISS HERE since Billy can barely keep a shirt on at school let alone the pool. Since Will knows that demogorgons (specifically the mind flayer?) like it CHILL, everyone was all: THIS DUDE IS STRAIGHT UP POSSESSED. Great work, kids! Also honestly, this whole lewk was giving me Weekend At Bernies realness and I was here for it (since it implies that Billy is dead which I would like very much please). 

Meanwhile, Hopper’s anger management issues get PEAK BLOODY when he just beats the shit out of Cary Elwes (who is technically kind of his boss?) in demanding answers about that Terminator/motorcycle enthusiast who beat the shit out of HIM last episode. Oh, and just an FYI: Winona’s season 3 wig was along for the ride and was still looking great! I cannot say the same for Cary Elwes’s face!

Over at Scoops Ahoy, Steve and his superior wigless mane are doing some serious air duct work with the help of Lucas’s precocious sister. This whole plotline begs the question: do any of the parents of Hawkins ever know where their kids are?

Meanwhile, boring couple is on the rocks after having a really boring fight about whether it’s worse to be a woman or poor and they called it a draw I guess? Anyway, I haven’t spent much time talking about Nancy’s hair which is starting to look a little lumpy honestly and the article I read (link above) told me the bizarre fun fact that most of this hair is real and permed (duh) but that part of the undercarriage is remnants from Winona’s season 1 wig which is obviously why it looks so shitty. The more you know!

Anyway, after being fired by the #metoo boss (who is now also demogorgon possessed) for wanting to investigate why that old lady with the fertilizer eating rats is now also eating fertilizer, she turned to her mom - the one and only queen of Hawkins glamour - KAREN WHEELER. LOOK AT THIS GODDAMNED PERFECT LEWK. Mama Karen ended up giving her a very great motivational pep talk that legit made me cry (SERIOUSLY) about how she had to keep fighting and get the world out about this effed up fertilizer situation. She also delivered a sick burn about her constantly napping husband. I LOVE YOU KAREN.

Back at the town pool, all the kids concocted a Home Alone-style booby trap to get Billy into the sauna, crank up the heat, and prove that there is a heat-hating demogorgon inside him. It kind of worked except they also almost died during the battle royale between Billy’s inner demon (literal this time) and Elle. 

Also I know that I demanded wig humidity last time but this is NOT WHAT I MEANT OMG THIS WIG IS A GHOSTMARE. Anyway, Elle saved the day (duh) for now by throwing Billy through a brick wall like he was the Kool-Aid man but seems like he’s forming a demogorgon army of possessed mole people so seems like it’s gonna be one crazy summer, you guys!

CHAPTER FIVE: THE FLAYER

Straight off the bat: this was a weird episode because it included neither my least favorite wigwearer, Billy, nor (SOB) my favorite wig wearer, KAREN WHEELER. So we were left with a bunch of other randos, mainly Soviets. We begin with Winona’s season 3 wig (looking a little rough around the edges in this episode, I am sad to report) and Hopper, fresh off the info he beat out of Mayor Cary Elwes, high tailing it to some farm owned by The Terminator dude. Under his bed, they find a bunker with these two dudes in it. Good morning!

Terminator dude, obvs shows up fairly immediately and lots of yelling, guns, and machismo ensue. In the end, the Terminator is briefly subdued by a fallen bookshelf and Winona’s season 3 wig, Hopper, and one of the rando Soviets escape but not without car troubles because: of course?

After Hopper’s truck explodes, they are all forced to walk through the woods while Winona’s season 3 wig hilariously tries to ask the non-English-speaking Soviet dude about magnets. It’s all pretty silly stuff but I’m here for Winona’s season 3 wig to get some comedic scenes instead of long suffering Christmas light crying scenes.

Anyway, they find a 7-11 where a lot of product placement and caffeine takes place, as well as Hooper yelling a lot for no reason which is essentially his entire character this season. Get some anger management classes, dude! Also the rando Soviet gets a slushie so between that and Billy’s icee last episode: WHAT A TIME FOR FLAVORED ICE WATER!

My absolute favorite part of the episode came next when Hooper commandeered a sweet convertible from this yuppie asshole. I’m not sure how often police commandeer vehicles in real life but I love it when they do it in movies because it’s always taking a car from some pompous idiot who clearly doesn’t deserve to drive (see: Speed, So I Married An Axe Murderer, etc). You can’t get more pompous or idiotic than this yuppie (named Todd, of course?!) with both a popped Polo shirt AND a blazer with zhuzhed sleeves AND white pants. THE NERVE OF THIS GUY FOR EVEN EXISTING! PLEASE TAKE HIS CAR! OMG HIS LICENSE PLATE IS TDFTHR! EVERYTHING IS JUSTIFIED!

Then Hopper, Winona’s season 3 wig, and the rando Soviet drive directly to Murray’s compound in Illinois. I’m bummed we have to suffer through Murray and his existence again since I’ll never forgive him for the gross pull-out couch jokes he made about #boringcouple’s sex romp at his house but here we are. He DOES speak Russian so let’s just get through this translation. Oh and obviously the Terminator dude questioned the 7-11 clerk so he’s probably on his way to Murray’s house now, hopefully to kill him so I don’t have to suffer through any more of his gross sex jokes. 

Meanwhile, the Scoops Ahoy spy crew are still locked in that elevator they took way into the bedrock of earth/logic but somehow manage to escape when some (more!) rando Soviets come to unlock some deliveries. Then they discover the whole Soviet plan to reopen the Upside Down while also not being noticed by one single Soviet (great security, dudes!) except for this one Soviet who Steve beats up (GO STEVE!) I’d also like to say that Steve’s superior wigless mane is truly wonderful in this episode. The lights from the underground labs really bring out his summer highlights and it’s truly a thing of beauty. Uma Thurman’s daughter continues to have a 2019 beach wave blunt instagram cut not welcome in this 80s narrative please but otherwise she’s fine. 

Over with #boringcouple, they got back together I guess? Remember at the end of season 1 when we were all deeply offended that Nancy was still with Steve and NOT Will’s brother (I refuse to believe he has an actual name). How things have changed! If Steve ever took back Nancy, I would be personally DEEPLY OFFENDED so I guess it’s fine she’s just still a #boringcouple but it’s still boring you guys. Even more boring: the actors are a couple in real life and have been for years! I just found this out this week and found it DEEPLY BORING.

Anyway, #boringcouple teams up with the tween gang to solve this whole fertilizer eating mystery and Nancy totally mommed it up when she put her shitty perm back in a banana clip and told all the kids to buckle up so she could drive her parents’ wood-paneled station wagon and honestly this section felt very Adventures in Babysitting so I’ll allow it. Also Will’s bro’s hair always looks like it was cut by a weed wacker and I’m not sure if this is a comment on his socioeconomic plight but truly Winona’s season 3 wig should get her kids better haircuts please. If her wig can improve so can theirs. In any case, at the missing lifeguard’s house, they vaguely put together some blood-related clues and then decide to visit the fertilizer eating grandma in the hospital.

Only fertilizer eating grandma ain’t there, hunties! Also please return all those flowers to their vase, please. Instead, #boringcouple apologized to each other for their boring fight in an elevator and then had to fight two possessed #metoo bros from the newspaper (which was very satisfying) while Elle and Mike basically starred in an M&Ms commercial in the waiting room. I honestly was hoping that #boringcouple would get possessed too but they ended up being ok (SIGH) and the back of Will’s bowl cut wig sensed danger so I guess Elle is just gonna have to fix everything in the next episode or 3. 

CHAPTER SIX: E PLURIBUS UNUM

We begin, UGH, with #boringcouple who are still battling with (part of?) the mind flayer in the hospital and Nancy gets very Sigourney Weaver in Alien and I thought she was about to get flayed but sadly Elle saved her ass. Back at Hooper’s bunker, the whole gang is still basically relying Elle for both protection and sensory deprivation recon. Nancy gels her hair up for some reason (I hope she used DEP!) and Will keeps getting the tingles on the back of his terrible bowl cut wig. Max and Mike have a battle royale about who cares about Elle more and whether women can make their own decisions about their own telepathic powers which Nancy rightfully weighs in on (you go gurl?) But honestly, no one was protecting Elle from the real catastrophe here: WEARING CRISS CROSS SUSPENDERS THE WHOLE GODDAMNED EPISODE. Suspenders are fine and I’m glad Elle has found fashion, but maybe the kids can elect one of them as Elle’s suspenders advocate to avoid this in the future?

Meanwhile, Terminator dude still hasn’t caught up with Murray (sadly) and everyone in his bunker is still very much alive, at least until they die of lung cancer (ZING!) Anyway, Murray does a lot of Russian translation, rando Soviet dude throws a diva fit about slurpee flavors, Hopper continues his reign of anger management/alcoholism problems, and Winona’s season 3 wig is honestly not looking great. They do somehow figure out what the Russians are doing under Starcourt (they even make diagrams and use a lot of Burger King product placement to reenact nuclear scanarios!) And Hopper calls a secure line to demand backup back in Hawkins. Okay?

Back in Hawkins, Bloody Bloody Cary Elwes seems to have recovered from Hopper’s beating pretty nicely (as long as he keeps those shades on) and is very much invested in the 4th of July county fair he is PRODUCING (he even made signs crediting himself!) The Terminator dude demands answers about Hooper but no matter: JUST ENJOY THIS FAIR RIDE!

Speaking of people getting face beatings, Steve is getting absolutely SAVAGED by the Soviets. It was honestly very heartbreaking because he has somehow become the male MVP of this show, partially to do with his hair god status (EVEN WITH A BLOODY FACE HIS HAIR LOOKS SO GREAT!) but also because he’s become a really sweet guy and I just want him to catch a damn break! (Tho please continue to be broken up with Nancy - dear god!) 

We shouldn’t be too worried about him getting back together with Nancy, though, because if it wasn’t clear from the moment Uma Thurman’s daughter was introduced: THESE TWO ARE OBVS GETTING TOGETHER. Her hair is still a very 2019 distraction but she’s def an upgrade from Nancy. However, after taking some weird Soviet truth serum (probably just LSD, right?) she admits that she harbored a crush on him way back in the 10th grade and also totally undermines her cool outsider status by admitting that all losers want to be popular (I DON’T KNOW IF ALL LOSERS STAND BY THIS GURL I HOPE THIS IS JUST THE LSD TALKING!) This whole section gives a lot of Some Kind of Wonderful realness and honestly that is a lesser John Hughes work so I’m not sure I can give any of this a passing grade. However, Dustin and my new favorite sass machine, Erica save the day with a nuclear cow prod! GREAT WORK KIDS! ALSO YOUR PARENTS DEFINITELY DON’T CARE WHERE YOU ARE! Speaking of parents, yet again the glamour of KAREN WHEELER did not grace itself in this episode and we were all worse for it.

Back at Hopper’s cabin, Elle decides to go nuclear with her sensory deprivation recon and we all have to welcome BILLY (UGH BILLY) and his terrible wig back. Anyway, he pushes her further into the recesses of his memory/all logic on an astral plane that can only be described as the place where Michelle Pfeiffer was in the Ant-Man sequel (IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT HOW VERY DARE YOU). So we get a lot of terrible childhood flashbacks which try to show Billy’s abusive tendencies to be learned from his horrible upbringing and truly: DO NOT MAKE ME FEEL BAD ABOUT BILLY.

JUST LOOK AT THIS IDIOT. NO THANK YOU PLEASE. Despite the humidity of his entire body, his wig remains a dried out hellscape that I would love to never see again for the rest of my days. Also he almost traps Elle in the astral plane they’re on JUST LIKE MICHELLE PFEIFFER IN THAT ANT-MAN MOVIE) but she escapes into the arms of Mike (fine sure) and then Billy explains that he and and his army of mole people have been waiting for Elle this whole time and: REALLY? That seems very specific but you do you, mole people. Oh also all those mole people (grandma fertilizer included!) all file into the rat warehouse and shapeshift into a disgusting mind flayer/demogorgon/blob nightmare. YAY!

CHAPTER SEVEN: THE BITE

Welcome to the Fun Fair (a Mayor Cary Elwes production!) Somehow he recovered from his terrible face beating to show some FACE at this thing. The whole town is there and ready for some 4th of July FUN that will definitely not be ruined by Russians or demogorgons. 

Most importantly, this episode gave us the triumphant return of KAREN WHEELER! HER HAIR LOOKS AMAZING! She is bringing full out bouffant glamour to the Fun Fair and damn if she didn’t have this lewk done at Dolly Parton’s salon in Steel Magnolias. IT IS THAT GOOD.  Clearly employing the “higher the hair the closer to god” theory - and not just hair-wise actually because this bish bribed some carnie to stop the ferris wheel at its highest point so that she and her family (at least the part of her family whose whereabouts she knows about) can enjoy some FIREWORKS. KAREN YOU MINX I LOVE YOU! HOW ARE YOU STILL MARRIED TO THIS DUDE IN GOLF PANTS?!

The top of the ferris wheel is also a perfect place to see the incoming demogorgon!! The back of Will’s bowl cut is getting the tingles too. And before Elle can fully explain her trip into Billy’s beach memories, the mind flayer is THERE, y’all, busting through the roof of Hopper’s cabin like it’s straight out of a 50s b-movie. I would like to note that for ONCE Winona’s house isn’t about to get trashed so mazel! #Boringcouple armed themselves with guns and axes but obvs they prove completely useless and the flayer is about to steal Elle away when they make a human chain and are victorious...FOR NOW.

Meanwhile, Dustin and Erica are dealing with a very drugged up Steve and Uma Thurman’s daughter and decide to lay low in a showing of (WHAT ELSE?): Back to the Future! They actually show so much of this movie that I’m assuming the entire wig budget went straight to Robert Zemeckis. 

Over in the TDFTHER convertible, Winona’s season 3 wig is looking a damn MESS as is all the side projection of them getting back to Indiana. There’s a lot of bickering between Winona’s season 3 wig and Hopper and finally my beloathed Murray has to meet his gross sex talk quota for the season and tells both of them to just have sex already and then he and the Soviet dude laugh a lot and OMG GET ME OUT OF THIS CONVERTIBLE.

#Boringcouple and the kids smash into a supermarket to get Elle some medical help for the leg that the flayer effed up. I’m not sure why a hospital wasn’t an option but it’s probably so there could be more 80s product placement like Mr. T cereal and a whole actual conversation about New Coke. Nancy’s hair is still VERY depped up. Max seems to have the most medical training from skateboard injuries and fixes Elle up pretty well while the dudes prove completely useless other than finding a treasure trove of fireworks. I guess most importantly, Elle was reunited with her ain’ true love: EGGOS. They hightail it out of there with a ton of fireworks that they definitely won’t (lol jk) use later. Oh and Elle’s blood kind of comes alive and Billy and his shitty wig come back to sniff her out. Gross. 

Speaking of gross, Steve and Uma’s daughter left the very confusing (for them) screening of Back to the Future to go stare at the Starcourt ceiling to the point of barfing (which I honestly did not need to see TWICE or at all!) The barf did get the LSD out of their systems so now it’s time for truth talk and LURVE TALK! I really have to hand it to Steve for being completely face beaten and bloody and covered in barf and still having enough swagger to admit to Uma’s daughter that he has feelings for her (despite her 2019 hair) and just when I thought this show was so predictable, Uma’s daughter comes out as a LESBIAN!! What? Okay! To his credit, Steve pivots pretty easily to ally/friend and truly: HE IS THE BEST AND WE DO NOT DESERVE HIM. ALSO PLEASE GET HELP ON YOUR FACE WOUNDS AND YOUR HAIR STILL LOOKS GREAT. 

NOR DO WE DESERVE THIS MUCH GLAMOUR TWICE IN ONE EPISODE. Karen Wheeler may look great but damn if she knows where her (or Winona’s season 3 wig’s) kids are. But let’s just enjoy this space ship ride! Also a rando carnie calls Hopper “Magnum” and: sick burn. Also there is a woman dressed up as Uncle Sam at the fun fair and between this drag king realness, Uma’s daughter, that one Jazzercise instructor, and (maybe/probably) Will, I’m so ready to throw a Hawkins Pride Parade. Karen is already wearing rainbow stripes!

Elsewhere at the fun fair, Alexei is having the time of his damn life winning a Woody Woodpecker with the support of 10000 children. Sadly, his joy is cut short when the Terminator dude kills him in cold blood. HARSH. Also Murray chooses to blame himself for not guarding him like he was supposed to and instead buying a corn dog. I AGREE, MURRAY: THIS IS YOUR FAULT PLEASE LEAVE. Then Hopper has a whole sequence with the Terminator dude (and some other rando Soviet baddies) in the funhouse which is the second time this season which felt like a weird homage to US and I guess I need to get Jordan Peele on the horn again about this. Anyway, Hopper gets ANOTHER face beating and so does Cary Elwes from Winona’s (also beat) season 3 wig. 

Back at the mall, Steve and company are trying to just slip out with the rest of the movie crowd from Back to the Future but the Soviets are totally onto them and it looks like they’re about to be killed when (AGAIN) Elle saves the day by throwing a Chrysler LeBaron on them. GREAT WORK! Unfortunately, Elle is also receiving a threatening phonecall from a mini demogorgon and the call is coming from: INSIDE HER LEG. 

CHAPTER EIGHT: THE BATTLE OF STARCOURT

So this demogorgon situation with Elle’s leg is pretty severe so Will’s brother (again name NOT NECESSARY) prepares for mall surgery based on stuff found at the Panda Express and literally gave her a wooden spoon to bite on as if this was happening during the Revolutionary War. The demogorgon leg removal is not working so as always, Elle just DID IT HERSELF because she may be the only capable person in this mall/town. 

Hopper and Winona’s season 3 wig (not looking great) and (UGH) Murray show up and everyone compares notes on how to fix this whole mindflayer situation. Most importantly, Erica outsasses Murray and wins. Steve (rightly) gets the keys to the TDFTHER convertible to take him, Uma’s daughter, Dustin and Erica (now known as Scoops Troop) to Dustin’s radio tower. The rest of the tweens plus #boringcouple (now known as The Griswold Family because sure) are getting sent to Murray’s bunker and can’t they maybe stop and get Elle some medical attention on the way? No matter: they’re not going anywhere because Billy, possessed or not, still knows way too much about cars and stole their damn ignition cable. DAMMIT BILLY. 

Steve is driving the Scoops Troop up a damn hill to the radio tower while listening to Jackie Wilson’s Higher and Higher which I’m sure is a Ghostbusters 2 reference and also Uma’s daughter looks exactly like her in the convertible driving part of Kill Bill and honestly all of these pop cultural references are getting tiring. Anyway, from the top of the radio tower, they can see the demogorgon closing in on the mall and Steve and Uma’s daughter hightail it back there. 

At the mall, Elle is having some trouble moving that LeBaron to get the ignition cable - she can’t even move a damn coke can. WHAT GIVES? This does beg the question: since she has literally done all the heavy lifting this season, could she maybe call in a favor from her telepathic sister in Chicago? Why did this show even introduce that character - just to check off “punks” on their 80s pop culture list (note: DEFINITELY) But seriously, it’s like when Marvel makes a stand-alone superhero movie after an Avengers movie. SOMEONE GET THAT PUNK CHICK ON THE HORN!!! Anyway, Will gets some back of bowl cut tingles and the damn demogorgon smashes through the roof. Elle, Mike, and Max make a run for it through the gap, where the demogorgon confuses a mannequin wearing Elle’s same clothing and truly: the gap would NEVER sell this graphic eleganza! Did Esprit just not want to be involved in this whole mess because that is where she would have bought that. The rest of the tense gap scene plays out basically exactly like the kitchen scene in Jurassic Park. Meanwhile, #boringcouple is doing boring auto work while Billy just endlessly stalls in his evilmobile but is about to hit them when MVP hair god Steve saves the day and everyone piles into the station wagon. YAY!

Elsewhere, the Terminator dude has made it to the Soviet subbasement where Hooper, Winona’s season 3 wig and (UGH) Murray are now in Soviet apparel. Winona’s season 3 wig (looking great hidden under that hat) and Hopper have a nice talk and make plans for a legit date which definitely won’t be derailed by a demogorgon (lol jk jk). Murray manages to infiltrate the room where all the wires control the nuclear weapon the Soviets are using to open up the Upside Down and why wasn’t this room better guarded? Oh well. Much like sucking at guarding Soviets and not buying corndogs, Murray sucks at remembering important numbers which are the combination for the nuclear keys. 

Of course the code is some nerdy equation that requires Dustin to ask fellow nerd (and girlfriend Suzie who exists!) for help. But not before Suzie demands that Dustin sing....The Neverending Story theme song. This is peak 80s cultural reference and we can all go home now. Also it is mainly an excuse for Galen Matarazzo to sing and sure: he and this chick sound great! Now please get those damn keys! 

Elle,  Max and Mike are confronted with (unfortunately still alive) Billy who beats the shit out of all of them and takes Elle. She’s about to get flayed when Lucas and Will throw all those damn fireworks on the demogorgon. Sure!  Elle uses Billy’s memories to reason with him. This show definitely wants us to root for Billy all of a sudden because he turns on the demogorgon but I REFUSE TO LIKE BILLY WITH THAT DRIED OUT WIG IN THIS SWEATY MALL. 

   Back in the subbasement, Winona’s season 3 wig and Hopper are ready to end this but the Terminator dude shows up. They duke it out very close to a nuclear warhead while Winona’s season 3 wig turns into MacGuyver and uses a belt to try to disarm both keys and bless her. Hopper throws the Terminator into nuclear generator thingie. Byeeeeee. Then Hopper looks back at Winona’s season 3 wig for long enough to definitely make it back into the safe glass room where she is but instead just gives a really long nod, signalling her to disarm the nuclear whatever thing and he definitely (absolutely does not) die. 

However, all my hopes and dreams for Billy’s death finally came true! YAY FOR ME AND MY HATRED OF HIS TERRIBLE WIG AND HIS CHARACTER WHICH HAD NO REDEEMING QUALITIES NO MATTER HOW MANY BEACH FLASHBACKS TRIED TO PROVE OTHERWISE. I will say that his exit is VERY METAL so in some ways, this was the only appropriate death for his Metallica and Tank loving character. FINE. Two seconds after he and the demogorgon die, the feds show up with Paul Reiser! I am honestly very mad at this show for not blasting Pat Benatar’s Little Too Late during this entire sequence. OH WELL. Outside the mall Winona’s season 3 wig and Will’s terrible bowl cut wig are reunited in a bad wig hug. Then Winona’s season 3 wig catches sight of Elle and gives her a look that says: I am definitely adopting you.

Three months later, a fake Inside Edition show gets us up to date on the burning of the mall, government coverups, and comeuppance of terrible mayor Cary Elwes. Also Uma’s daughter (now with 80s appropriate updo!) and Steve are trying to get jobs at the video store! Uma’s daughter and her love of Billy Wilder movies make her a shoe-in for the job but Steve's taste in the Ewok Star Wars movie and the 5 minutes he saw of Back To the Future whilst on LSD don’t make him the best candidate. Also he trips over a Phoebe Cates cut-out and truly Phoebe Cates: thank you for your service in being name-checked constantly this season. In the end, Steve’s awesome hair gets him the job. Maybe? 

Meanwhile, Winona’s season 3 wig is moving just like she said she was going to this whole season and no one believed her. Also she put her wig back in a ponytail and: good move it looks ok! Elle still doesn’t have her powers back but eh? She does get a heart-tugging letter from beyond the grave (he’s totally still alive) and all the kids/tweens/#boringcouple sob that they are being separated. It isn’t clear where Winona’s season 3 wig is going or how she could have sold her shitty house in the town that fake Inside Edition show called haunted. And yes, separating her now 3 PTSD kids from their only support group is also shitty but what has this goddamned town ever done for Winona and any of her seasons’ wigs other than stealing her children and killing her love interests and trashing that shitty house at least twice?! I SAY GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE (they will fully be back next season). 

After collectively sobbing all their faces off, the tweens of Hawkins are left only with the ELEGANZA OF KAREN WHEELER and whatever healthy dinner she’s preparing with the help of some white wine. YOU KIDS ARE STILL LUCKY WHO NEEDS FRIENDS WHEN YOU HAVE KAREN WHEELER! Oh and back in Russia, Hopper is like 110% definitely still alive. See y’all next season!

FINAL VERDICT: DOESN’T WURQ (YOU KNOW IT WAS BILLY’S FAULT)

[argylemikewheeler]

Flown Home

|| this came to me while I was delirious at 4am because we deserve Nice Dacre and Steve deserves a good adult, male (boy)friend.

Stason having a delightful day together [Steve Harrington / (non - PR) Jason Scott] ||  ao3

Steve had picked him up from the airport right after work. Which meant he was standing outside the terminal in his goddamn sailor outfit, the most easy to spot dork in the whole crowd. But, Steve had to admit, embarrassment or not, it was nice being told right off the bat that he at least looked cute. It had been a long day and this definitely helped– hell, it was the only highlight.

The uniform of course sparked questions, ending with the conclusion that he had to see where Steve worked. Steve happily obliged even though he had just gotten off a long shift. He’d do anything for him– and some discount ice cream.

They got a table and a sundae to split, and Steve had some jeans and shirt to throw on in the employee bathroom to attract less attention. It had been a few years since they’d seen each other in person and Jason’s voice sounded so much nicer in person than through six states and static of a telephone.

“So, did you ever pass that big History exam?” Steve asked, pulling the spoon down and out of his mouth. The hot fudge stuck to the metal in streaks, only some getting on his tongue and lips.

“I did!” Jason nodded with a quiet laugh. “I’m actually applying to Franklin to become a History teacher.”

“Franklin? Isn’t that like–”

“Two hours from here? Yes. I checked.” Jason grinned, reaching over and tapping Steve’s spoon with his own. “Better get used to me, Harrington.”

Steve wanted to properly express his excitement with some shouting and possible embarrassing jump-hugging, but instead he smiled and stretched his foot out under the table, nudging Jason’s leg.

“That’s awesome! It’s gonna be great. This is gonna be so great.”

“So what about you?” Jason never liked talking about himself too much. Well, directly, at least; Steve would need to share something first before Jason felt it was appropriate to share his own. “Where’s this Party you keep talking about?”

"They’re typically here is the funny part–” Steve said, turning in his seat and craning around the shop. His back and neck cracked after hours of being slumped, standing at the counter. Across the way, near the window, Steve saw a high ponytail held up by a neon green scrunchie. “El! Over here!”

Her head turned and so did five others. El smiled at first, and so did Will and Dustin, but Lucas and Mike’s faces stayed in stilled confusion. Max looked seething mad. She shot up first, cutting the Party off before they even finished waving. She held her skateboard like a bat, read to swing as she stormed up to their table. Jason placed his hand on the table where Steve’s hand had been– it was currently up trying to shield his nose from being broken again.

“What are you doing? What– what are you doing?” She wasn’t entirely shouting yet, but she was getting close. Only one stranger turned to look. They weren’t impressed and went back to their ice cream. “Who are you?” She asked Steve rather than the literal stranger across from him.

“I’m your goddamn babysitter.” Steve said shortly. “What is your problem?”

“My problem?” She gripped the board tighter. “What have you done to the real Steve?”

“R-Real Steve?” Jason echoed, his eyebrows furrowing. He’d only been caught up on half of the whole story so far. Although, Steve wasn’t sure where he’d encountered any body snatchers– maybe that was something else he repressed.

“Quiet you!” Max snapped, pointing at Jason. The Party was slowly emerging behind her, trying not to cause suspicion to the rest of the shop.

“Hey, watch your tone-”

“You better tell me one fact that only our Steve would know!” Max held the board higher, giving her more leverage for a firm swing down onto his head. She wasn’t kidding.

“Uh, I don’t know… Your favorite color, at the moment, is yellow?”

“Not good enough.” Her elbows bent back.

“Okay! Okay! Uh, last week I spent most of my shit-ass paycheck buying you better pads because your mom stock piled a type you hate.” Steve said, holding hands over his face. “And you threatened to kill me then too if I told anyone about it. But… I’ve got nothing to lose I guess.”

Her board lowered slowly and her face crumpled in somehow further confusion. The Party reached the table. Lucas stood the farthest away.

“That’s really sweet, Steve. I’m assuming this is… Wait which one is this?” Jason finally reached and grabbed Steve’s hand, quickly sliding to just touch his wrist.

“You know who I am.” Max pointed a finger at him, gritting her teeth.

“I really don’t.”

“Alright! Alright! Max, cut it out. This is my pen pal from California… And this is the Party. The Party apparently in Fight Mode, but this is the Party.” Steve waved out to the crowd, pointing at each child. “You’ve met our Mad Max, she’s our Zoomer. You’ve got Dustin over there, our favorite, don’t tell anyone. Our darling El, sometimes goes by Jane, but we’re working it out, right, kiddo? This is Mike– Nancy, I told you about her, right? This is her brother– you can kind of see it right? And Will… Where’s Will– there he is. We’re waiting on a growth spurt. And last but most certainty not least we have our Commander in Camo, Lucas!”

“Nice to meet you all. I’ve heard so many great things from Steven.” Jason whipped out the full name if only to embarrass him in front of children who think teasing is a great pass time.

Except no body even flinched. They stayed staring at Jason, Lucas clenching his jaw and fist like he was moments away from lashing out.

“Lucas, he’s not gonna bite. He’s nice! And human, I checked.” Steve laughed forcefully, hinting for Jason to do so as well, despite not quite getting the point.

“Steve, are you fucking stupid?” Mike said flatly.

“Language! Don’t make me tell Karen you’ve got a sailor’s mouth on you, Mike.”

“That’s pretty funny coming from you.” Jason still smiled and made a joke, reaching over to poke at the neckerchief Steve had tucked under his shirt from his uniform.

“I asked you a question.” Mike cut their moment off, grabbing Steve’s shoulder. “Are you fucking stupid?”

“Excuse me? I-I’m so sorry, Jace, they aren’t typically like this.”

“Jace? W-What are you talking about?” Lucas finally spoke and his voice was rattled. “That’s Billy.”

“Who?” Jason leaned in toward Steve, suddenly not knowing a player in the game.

“Bil– no.” Steve turned to take in his pen pal with new light. He didn’t see it. “No, they look nothing alike, guys. What are you talking about? This is Jason.”

“You’re joking.” Max laughed coldly. “That’s the Monster with a haircut!”

"Who are we talking about?” Jason asked the table, looking to Max.

“YOU!” Max lifted her deck again. “I’m gonna clock you into next week, Hargrove, if you think for one second I don’t see what you’re doing you slimy piece of–”

"If you finish that sentence I’m gonna start making you do all your homework before the arcade trips, do you understand me?” Steve stood and grabbed her skateboard, pulling it out of her hands. She let go easily, eyes still glowing and hair practically aflame.

“B-But that’s Billy! It has to be!”

“I don’t mean to disappoint, but I’ve been on a plane for the past few hours…  And living in California for the past nineteen years. There’s no way I’m anyone you know, Max– It is Max, right?”

Her face fell into a more relaxed state of confusion. She begrudgingly nodded. “Yeah. Call me Maxine and I’ll cut your ears off.”

“Noted. Definitely noted.” Jason laughed and reached a hand out to shake hers. Everyone cowered back. “It’s just a hand shake… We don’t have to.”

“S-Sorry, you just. You look like Max’s dickhead step-brother.” Lucas said, stepping up beside Max, arm around her shoulders. Steve didn’t scold his language. “He’s kind of quick to uh… anger, I guess is the word.”

“He’s always angry.” Mike quipped.

"Oh, wait, Steve, is he the one that–” Horrified realization crossed his face as he turned to him. The mailed polaroids of his beat up face probably appearing quite nicely over his face, Steve imagined. “Oh, I’m sorry. I can, uh, definitely see now why you almost cracked my skull open.”

“Yeah. Sorry about that.” Max reached out and carefully took his hand. “It’s nice to meet you… Jason.”

“The same to you. And who else do we have? It’s Dustin, right?” Jason held a hand out to him. It was taken eagerly, Dustin’s now-toothed grin greeting him.

“Steve’s mentioned you a few times!”

“A few times?” Jason pretended to be offended, quirking an eyebrow at Steve. “We’ve been friends for ten years.”

“Sorry you aren’t the center of my world, Jace.”

“You’re forgiven this time, Harrington.” Jason turned back to the kids and faced Lucas, extending the same hand slowly. “It’s an honor, Commander.”

“Oh this so isn’t Billy.” He laughed, grabbing his hand with a slap. “It’s cool Steve’s got friends his age.”

“Ouch.” Steve laughed, covering his face. “You guys are brutal.”

“I thought Mike was the one with the quick insults.” Jason said, scanning and pointing to one of the two boys left for Jason to identify.

“I try. Lot of practice from Ted.” Mike reached forward to shake Jason’s hand before he offered. “I’m getting better though.”

“Oh, I can’t wait.” He said. Jason leaned on the table to find Will half blocked by Mike’s shoulder. “The cool Byers, right?”

“Don’t tell Jonathan I said that.” Steve muttered, nudging Will. “He’s already got it out for me because I got Nancy a better birthday gift than him.”

“It’s really good to see you, Will. That snow storm you guys had last winter slowed my letters to Steve right as he was giving me updates on you. I was so worried. I’m really glad you’re okay.”

“Thanks.” Will reached out and shook his hand, his wrist looking like it could snap.

Lastly, El stood in the center of the group, having been quiet the whole time, with a single stream of blood running to her lip. Jason looked alarmed, grabbing a napkin for her. As soon as he touched it carefully to her lip, her eyes came back to life. She nodded, turning to Mike. “It’s him. I checked.”

“C-Checked?” Will asked, peering around Mike to look at her.

“Yeah.” She offered no further explanation. Steve really loved that cryptic child, he really did. “Hi, Jason.”

“Oh, she’s really cool.” Jason laughed and held his hand up for her. “Up-top for bitchin’ extra-curricular brain power.” El high-fived Jason quickly and harshly, almost pushing him back. “Oh, she’s really freakin’ cool.”

“I told you. I have the best friends.” Steve held an arm out, Will stepping in and leaning into his side for a hug. “I’ll introduce you to Nancy and Jonathan later if you want.”

"They’re going to come pick us up in like, fifteen minutes!” Will said. “Taking us to the arcade– or was it the movies?”

“We didn’t decide yet.” Lucas said. “I still think we should go and see Back to the Future.”

“You’ve seen it three times, Lucas.” Mike said with an annoyed look. “Is it really that good?”

“It is!” Will piped up.

“You just think Marty’s cute.” Dustin teased, reaching to playfully poke Will. He froze and Dustin’s touch nearly tipped him over. His throat bobbed as he swallowed, looking like he was falling through reality. It was a familiar look for Will, honestly. But in a far different way, Steve knew that look too. He panicked to quickly paint over the accidental admission by Dustin. The words jammed on his tongue, Steve only about to reach out and brace Will upright.

“He is though.” Jason said with a nonchalant wave at Dustin. “Will, I agree. Hundred percent.”

"That still doesn’t help us.” Max said.

“I want to go to the arcade.” El said, miming playing at a machine. “Let’s go to Palace!”

“How about Jason and I take those that want to go to the arcade? You guys can go with Jonathan and Nancy to the movies. I know Nance has been trying to go and see that new James Bond for a while– that alright?”

“Fine by me if they’re okay with letting me in their sacred Palace.” Jason laughed, holding his hands up.

The kids looked between each other, silently deciding if the trusted this stranger– one that apparently looked like a deranged sibling to them. Lucas nodded first, scanning the crowd with a pointed finger before looking at Steve with a thumbs up.

“Does everyone have enough quarters?” Steve asked, digging for cash in his pocket. “I can use the register and get you some.”

“You really spoil them, huh?” Jason said quietly. He took a spoonful of their ice cream, pretending that he hadn’t just forced Steve’s hand back to his side when he reached for his wallet to pay for their sundae.

Steve stood and shoved Jason’s shoulder across the table, ignoring the smirk curling around the spoon. The kids parted and allowed Steve to swing around their booth to get to the counter and register. He got five dollars in quarters and split it among the kids that said they’d be going to the arcade: Mike, El, and Dustin.

"Is everyone set?” Steve asked, holding hands out over everyone’s head, silently counting them. “I also have money for the movies if anyone needs it.”

“We’re fine, Steve.” Max said, nodding between her and Lucas. Will gave a thumbs up as well, still anxious and silent. Steve didn’t know how to show Will that it was okay, that he was okay, without making the outing worse.

"It’s nice out, let’s wait in the parking lot, huh?” Steve said, roping the kids into his open arms and gently guiding them out of the ice cream parlor. Jason was placing his tip on the table and sliding out of the booth. Dammit, Steve wanted to beat him to it. He was 0-2.

The group slotted and parted into their usual couples and sections. Lucas and Max were already talking about their favorite parts of the movie they wanted to see again; El and Mike were counting the quarters between them, El also getting a small lesson in US currency (again); Dustin, as always, stuck himself to Steve’s side, even silently so, and walked alongside him; and this time, Jason was on Steve’s right, their shoulders bumping every time they took a step.

Steve did a quick count again.

“Hey, where’s Will?” Steve turned his head and saw him loitering behind them, staring at the window displays as they passed. “Hey–”

“I’ve got it.” Jason touched Steve’s wrist again before stopping. “So, Mr. Cool Byers– can I call you Will?”

“Yeah?” Will’s head whipped to face Jason, startled by the company. “Uh, sure.”

“Will, how many times have you seen Back to the Future?” He asked, changing his strides to walk beside Will evenly. Steve held the door for them as the exited the mall. Jason thanked Steve but never took his eyes off Will.

"This is the third.” Will said sheepishly. “I just think it’s really cool.”

“Oh, definitely. And you know what? I kind of want to learn how to skateboard now, don’t you?” Jason laughed, holding his arms out and turning to the side like he was keeping his balance on a board. It looked more like he was surfing, but Steve wasn’t going to critique him. Steve was well aware he knew how to do both skate and surf board. He’s from California for Christ’s sake. He’s the coolest person Steve knew– would ever know.

“Yeah! Max says she’s going to teach me!” Will cried, grinning brightly. His hands timidly clasped in front of him with excitement.

“I’ll join you, then! I’ll bring the knee pads.” Jason placed a hand on Will’s shoulder as he pretended to trip off his imaginary board– and maybe a crack in the uneven asphalt as well.

“Get your hands off my brother!” They heard Jonathan before they saw him. Steve looked away from Jason and Will to see Jonathan walking toward them quickly, Nancy hurriedly behind him.

“Steve, what is wrong with– Oh.” Nancy stopped and titled her head as Jason came into closer view. “Billy?”

“You’re the seventh person today. But no. I’m Steve’s friend from California, Jason.” He held out a hand again for a handshake. Both Jonathan and Nancy stared at it before going back to his face.

“What… What the hell is going on?”

“Is this for real?” Jonathan said, face twisted in uncertainty.

“El says he’s not anything weird. Except a weird twin.” Mike said with a shrug, already opening the door to Jonathan’s car and grabbing his bag sitting in the back.

“Are you sure?” Nancy was standing with her feet apart and planted; any moment she could cock her arm back and swing.

"I’m one hundred percent positive it’s not Hargrove. Please, trust me.” Steve sighed. “We’ve been friends since I was eight. And there’s no way they’re the same person. The worst thing Jason does is, like, eat ice cream while being mildly lactose intolerant.”

“It’s actually gotten better! I’m not too bad now. Eat it all the time.” Jason added with a pleasant shrug.

“Yo that’s awesome! We’re definitely going to grab some different flavors on the way home at Big Buy so you can try some.”

“That’d be great.” They high-fived and Steve couldn’t hide the cheek-splitting grin practically hurting his face.

“Yeah… that’s not Billy. Either that or a delightful possession.”

“Can we stop acting like possession is a positive experience!” Will said with faux annoyance. “Some of us really hated it.” Nancy and Jonathan hesitantly looked to Steve, unspoken truth dangling in their extended silence.

“Oh, don’t worry, he knows. Oh he knows.”

Steve couldn’t remember how many hours were logged between the payphone outside the local Fair Mart and Jason’s home phone. During his late night, insomnia-induced drives, he’d sit in the parking lot with a pack of strangely off-brand saltines and listen to Jason talk him back into his skin. After the first five calls, Steve realized he had to start telling him at least some of what was happening. He penned careful letters and sent them off pressed behind the backs of picture frames and pressed between book pages. As much as having his home base in Hawkins helped him resolve some issues, having Jason, a safe, uninvolved third party, was great in making sure he wasn’t coming unhinged. He was the one person who always promised Steve he wasn’t.

"The kids want to split, half go to the movies and half to the arcade. We’ll take these three to the arcade if you take them to see Back to the Future again.”

“Again?” Jonathan said, shaking his head. “Who’s idea was it?”

“Lucas.” Will said, holding his hands up to prove innocence. “I’m just going along with it!”

“Fine. Fine. We’ll take you.” Jonathan said, placing his arm around his brother. “Thanks, Steve… and, uh, Jason.”

“Yeah, thanks, man!” Dustin found no hesitance in his gratitude. He clapped Jason on the arm as he walked past Jonathan’s car to Steve’s. “You better watch your score, Max. It’s on.”

“You’ve been saying that for over a year, Dustin. Give it a rest.” She called back over the hood of Jonathan’s car. “You can’t beat me.”

The two of them playfully bickered as the rest of the group split between the cars. Nancy and Jonathan blinking at Jason for another full minute before deciding to let them part and get into their own vehicle. Will waved at them through the back window and Max seemed to smile through many conflicted urges to grimace. If she was being truthful about the likeness, Steve completely understood. He was just glad Jason smiled back. Steve didn’t see his smile often, but when he thought about it, hearing it in Jason’s voice over the phone, they were healing.

“Alright, hooligans. Palace?” Steve said, sliding into the car and clapping his hands. “Or do we have a new hangout?”

“Palace is the only good place in town.”

“Okay, then away we go! Everyone buckled in?”

“Yes… and yes!” Mike said, reaching over El to help her get the middle buckle out from under Dustin.

“Yes, my lord. Ready to go!”

"I’m all buckled, Steven.”

“I swear to God, I’m gonna unbuckle you and send you through the windshield if you keep that up.” Steve joked, placing his hand on the back of Jason’s seat as he turned around. He backed out of the spot and pretended he couldn’t see the look of playful suspicion on the kids’ faces.

After pulling away, the car ride was quiet. Not awkwardly so, but still quiet enough to hear the old engine of Steve’s car cough when he changed gears. He was sure the kids were just staring out the window, or quietly talking to each other, but part of him was sure they were hyper aware of the hand resting near the stick shift. The one waiting to be held by Steve’s, tightly gripping the wheel and afraid to move.

They didn’t notice. They didn’t care. But Steve still was afraid to do it in front of the kids. This was still his person, his secret. Keeping him hidden was like keeping him safe– even though that’s truthfully what Jason did for Steve.

Before Steve had even parked the car, Dustin was swinging his door open. The three kids climbed out while Steve was still checking his mirrors. He called after them, straining his voice in vain. They opened the door and slipped inside without a single glance back.

“Absolute hooligans.” Steve muttered, checking to make sure everything was straight– with the car at least.

“You’re really good to them.” Jason said. His hand finally found Steve’s, only his fingers touching his upturned palm. “I didn’t know you were such a great brother.”

"I wouldn’t say that–”

“Well, I’m saying it.” Jason slotted their hands together and squeezed before pulling away. He opened the car door as they started to notice passersby peering in curiously. “You’re a great babysitter.”

“Now that’s what I’m saying!” Steve cried. Jason rolled his eyes before walking up to the front doors.

Steve opened his own door and got out, quickly hurrying around the hood to meet up with Jason. Jason held the door and let Steve in first, knowing he’d want to see where his kids were. He did a count: all three. It wasn’t always easy to relax, but seeing his full set of smiling, familiar faces was a comfort. It was one of the things Steve always tried to remember when he felt himself slipping.

“Want to play something? I’ve got a few quarters.” Jason dug into his pocket and held out a palm of coins. “Come on, let me kick your ass in Paper Boy.”

"No, please. You’re too good at that fucking game.” Steve groaned, grabbing Jason’s sleeve with quiet resistance.

“Which is surprising because you were a paper boy.”

“It’s not the same.”

“It’s exactly the same.” Jason teased.

Steve was pulled along to the open machine, making sure he could still see Mike, Dustin, and El. The view was clear over the shorter machines– and he very clearly heard Dustin shouting at Mike about his technique at Pac-Man. He allowed his ears to track the kids while his eyes returned to Jason.

He’d changed so much from the last summer he was there– back when they were fourteen– and from the last picture he saw of him– a polaroid of Jason in his Sunday best last Easter, looking absolutely miserable (if only playfully so for the photo-op). His hair was slicked down, but still allowed for its natural curl to swoop in the front. Sunday best was replaced with a plain gray t-shirt and contrasting yellow flannel. The collar was half popped by accident and part of the t-shirt was caught behind his belt buckle. Steve felt himself smile; he didn’t know flying someone in would mean making everything else finally feel like home.

“I’m really glad you’re here.” Steve muttered, leaning against the side of the machine. He let his head rest against it, slightly looking like he was swooning. Only slightly.

“I told you to get used to me, Harrington. I’m not going anywhere.” He shifted his stance and let his foot nudge Steve’s. “I’m not going to let you do this alone.”

“Do what?” They’d begun unpacking his anxiety consciously after Steve was nearly eaten by the Earth, but he was in a good place. He was going to be fine. He was then after all. “I’m okay.”

“Steve, you’ve broken your nose how many times in the past two years?”

“That’s out of my control. I’m never the one breaking it.” Steve nearly squawked. “Blame Jonathan and Billy!”

Jason stopped for a moment, the next level screen flashing and offering him a reprieve. He sighed and looked at Steve with unwarranted guilt. “Do I really look like Max’s brother?”

“Step-brother. And no, I don’t see it. Not really.” Steve shrugged. “I don’t think I could ever love a face that’s nearly killed me.”

“Love, huh?”

“Oh shut up.” Steve muttered, playfully kicking Jason’s foot. "You know what I meant.”

“Yeah yeah.” Jason laughed, still looking away from the screen. “Love you too, Steven.”

It was a public arcade, and Steve knew he was recognized– and maybe Jason falsely so– but he didn’t hesitate to meet the coy smile teasing him. The kiss was short and barely caught an eye, but the joy wore evidently on Steve’s face as he leaned away. He placed a hand on the back of Jason’s neck as he peered in to watch him play.

“So what flavor of ice cream do you want to try tonight?” He asked, trying to pretend their small talk wasn’t flirting.

“I’ll let you pick.”

“No, no, you’re the guest.”

“But I’m buying it.”

“Jason, I swear to god–”

“When are you gonna get it through your thick, luscious mane, Harrington. You supply the housing, I supply the ice cream.” Jason nudged him with his elbow and dipped his head toward his shoulder. It only rested on Steve for a second, but it was enough.

“You aren’t sleeping on the couch this time, you know that right?” Steve muttered, afraid they’d be overheard. A passing kid looked at Steve’s hand with confusion– or was it disgust. “We can share mine, if you want.”

Jason nodded, but nervously shifted under Steve’s hand. “You know, I brought someone else with me.”

“Someone?”

“Remember that stuffed shark you bought me when you went to–”

“The Shedd Aquarium! No way!” Steve gasped, hand dropping and resting on Jason’s back. “You still have it?”

“It’s my only connection to you all the way over there. Of course I kept it.” Jason was quiet, admitting something without any prompting. “I miss you all the time, Steve. All the time.”

“Well now you’re here. For the rest of the summer.” Steve rested his chin on Jason’s shoulder, hand now resting on his waist. “I’ll buy you something else to take back before you move for college. I’ll buy you whatever you want– and don’t try and stop me. I’m doing it.”

Jason turned and looked at Steve, biting back a bright grin. They got to look at each other without any overexposure or bad developing. They got to hear each other’s laugh without any interruption or cutting out. Steve got to see Jason’s smile, and got to be the cause of it.

“I love you, Jason.”

“Love you too, Steve.”

And God, it sounded so much better to hear that in person too.

[elshopper]

Secrets

... aka my contribution to Stories From Summer, spearheaded by the lovely @mikeweezers!! Thank you so much for all your hard work in organizing and including me in this incredible group of writers!! And yes, I know this is one day late, but I scheduled it before midnight the night of so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Prompt #30: Girls Night, in which Max and El attend their very first sleepover.

wc: 3,009 

summary: Honestly El and Max have a sleepover and bond and stuff. Need I say more??? It’s cute I promise.

Read below or on ao3 here!!

Max was a little reluctant at first.

Actually, she was a lot reluctant at first.

It all started at the lake behind Dustin’s house… if you could call a snake-infested pond a lake. All the summer blockbusters at the theatre had been watched three times over. All the hikes up the quarry had been made. All the ice cream trucks had been chased down. It was late July, and now, all that was left of summer was the horribly sticky heat. Max hated to admit it, but she almost wanted to go back to school.

After mentioning on occasion how she totally took summers in California for granted (what with the beaches and the nice weather and the lack of snake-infested ponds), her friends had been gracious enough to plan a picnic by the water. Except the water was a really funky shade of green and their meal consisted of greasy burgers from McDonalds smashed in the bottom of Will’s backpack.

Everyone was pretending to enjoy it. For her. She appreciated the gesture, but was it really worth it to sit and suffer while risk getting eaten alive?

“I’m calling it,” Dustin said, reading her mind. He pulled his back pack towards him and started to unzip the front pocket. “This blows.”

The cicadas screamed in agreement.

“It’s, like, one million degrees out here and – oh shit!”

Out of the front pocket of his backpack, Dustin pulled out what used to be a bag of gummy worms. Instead, they were now a hot, sticky bag of rainbow-colored goo.

“I’m sorry, El. I really am. I’m gonna bring you double next time, I swear.”

His apology was sincere, but El still glared at him while twiddling a blade of grass in between her fingers.  She had really developed a major sweet tooth over the past few months, heightened by the fact that she only got to leave the cabin every once in a while. In fact, every time they chased down an ice cream truck, it was because Mike told them that she wanted some.

El rolled her eyes and sighed, her expression softening.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to bring me double.”

“I really can! It’s no big deal…”

Their chatter continued until Max finally spoke up.

“Can we get back to the part where this blows?”

She had their attention now, and she could tell each one of them was trying and failing to find another alternative.

“Yeah, but what else are we going to do?” Lucas said, fiddling with a twig he found in the grass.

“Why don’t we just watch a movie?” Mike asked.

“We’ve seen them all already,” Dustin replied. “I don’t think I can go see European Vacation again.”

“We can just watch one at my house,” Mike suggested.

“What movie do you have that we haven’t seen a thousand times?” Lucas asked.

“None,” Will answered, “but I bet he has some El hasn’t seen a thousand times.”

That seemed to perk everyone up. They just loved showing El normal people things in the same way they loved to show Max all of the reasons why Indiana sucks.

“El what movies have you not seen?” Dustin asked, but Mike and Lucas shot him a how on earth would she know look. Sure enough…

“I don’t know,” El replied.

“I don’t think she’s seen Raiders of the Lost Ark,” Will supplied.

“Um yeah, she has. In June,” Mike said, as if everyone should be keeping track.

“Well guess what?” Dustin said, mocking Mike’s tone. “There’s a sequel! El have you seen Temple of Doom?”

Before she could reply, Dustin kept on, “… because if you haven’t you’re really gonna lose your shit when they get past the –“

“How is she going to lose her shit when you already told her what happens?”

“There’s something to be said for cinematic storytelling, Lucas.”

“Dustin, that makes no sense.”

“What do you mean it makes no sense?”

As they bickered on, Max met El’s gaze and she discretely rolled her eyes. Max stifled a giggle. El had really come to enjoy eye-rolling too. When there was a break in the argument, El reminded them gently.

“I’ve seen Temple of Doom.”

“Well, damn.”

“El, it’s your first summer. What do you want to do?” Max asked, trying to get the ball rolling again. El was always a big fan of the burger place with the name she was always forgetting, but they just finishing up their gourmet meal of Quarter-Pounders and soggy fries. There was a candy shop down town that was likely already closed. Their options really were running low.

“I want to have a sleepover.”

Silence. Even from the cicadas.

“You know, like they do on TV.”

It was times like these where everyone turned to Mike to do the explaining, but it was also times like these where Mike turned beet red and had no idea what to say.

“Well, I mean… you know… we can’t all…”

“I know that,” El snapped, offended. She was trying to act like she didn’t already ask and receive painful explanation from the chief a few weeks prior. “I mean me and Max.”

Besides the occasional smile and shared eye rolls, Max was positive this was the first time El had showed any intention of actually being friends. Although she wasn’t positive about the reason, she assumed it was something to do with the feeling of being replaced. A feeling Max knew a little too well watching her mom’s attention shift to her idiot step-brother the minute she married his dad. So, she stayed back, let wounds heal, and tried not to take it too personally. Lucas said she didn’t really like new people anyway.

To avoid any awkward situations or small talk (Max loathed small-talk), she could easily make an excuse. But the look on El’s face made her understand why Mike had made them chase after so many ice cream trucks. If the two were going to be friends, they were going to have to start somewhere.

“Um, yeah! We can have a… girls night,” Max said, her voice wavering.

Surprisingly enough, El actually looked a little relieved.

“Cool,” she said. “I’ll tell Hop you’re going to stay.”

Max arrived a little after 8:00 with her duffle bag tossed over her shoulder. With all the hype about El’s first sleepover, Max had almost forgotten that she’d never really had a sleepover either. She was just never the type of person to make friends with other girls. So, she had absolutely no idea what to bring. She didn’t have any nail polish or face masks or magazines – nor did she enjoy any activities that involved those things. She just brought her pajamas and her toothbrush. But just in case, Max did stash a tape of her very favorite movie – Grease – into the bottom of her bag.

She had never told a soul about it being her favorite. When her mom wouldn’t let her see it, she rode her skateboard to a video store down the street with her saved-up weekly allowance and bought it on tape. She would watch it when she was home alone. She had probably seen it a million times, but she knew someone who probably hadn’t…

“Hey kid,” the chief grumbled, trying to squeeze out a smile when he opened the door. “Do you want anything to eat?”

“No, I’m fine, thank you,” Max said as she stepped through the creaky threshold.

After a beat of painful silence, Max asked, “So where’s –”

“Oh, El’s in her room,” Hopper said, pointing toward the door to the right with white light flashing through the crack above the floor. “Some show is on, I don’t know.”

Max nodded and moved towards the door.

“I’m going to bed if you need me,” Hopper said, and laid back down on the couch.

Max creaked open El’s door slowly and was not shocked to find exactly what she had expected.

Illuminated by the soft white light of the television, El was wrapped in a cocoon of blankets with a bowl full of popcorn in her lap. Her eyes were wide and focused on the screen, as she mindlessly shoved popcorn in her mouth. Max shut the door behind her.

“You’re just in time,” El said, her vision staying locked on the TV. “Break just ended.”

Max dropped her bag at the foot of the bed.

“You’re watching that TV like it’s the president’s funeral,” Max teased. It was something her dad used to say to her when she watched cartoons as a kid.

“Who’s the president again?”

“Ronald Reagan.” Max sat down next to El on the bed, and El scooted over ever so slightly to make room.

“Right.”

Someone on TV pulled a knife out of a drawer, and El’s eyes grew even wider (if that were possible) and she sat up taller as if to get a better look. Max was okay with watching TV with El, even if soaps drove her nuts. Making friends took time and effort. Just hanging out with El while she watched her weird shows was just going to be the time part.

“Mike’s dad talks about him.”

“The guy with the knife?” Max asked in concern. El laughed.

“No. Ronald Reagan.”

“I’m shocked he has an opinion about anything since he never gives a shit where his kids are.”

After thinking about it for a split second, El stifled a laugh under her breath.

“Sometimes I think I’d kill to have parents who didn’t care where I went,” Max said wistfully.  “You know, I had to make up this whole story about going camping with some girl from school so my mom wouldn’t try to call someone’s house.”

“You lied?” El’s tone was accusatory.

“Right, like you’ve never lied to your parents.” Max fired back, and as the words fell out of her mouth she felt her stomach drop. She wished she could grab the words put them back in. Of course El hadn’t lied to her parents before. She had never had any. Instead of being met with shit from any of the boys, the room was silent marking their absence. She had to fill the quiet with something.

“I mean… you know… you have to have lied to some…”

“I’ve lied to my parents,” El responded, totally oblivious to Max’s panic. “Parent,” she corrected herself. Even though he acted as one, Max had never heard El refer to the chief as one of her parents before.

“You lied to Hopper?”

“Yeah.”

“About…”

“About where I went.”

“Where did you go?”

El finally broke her gaze from the television (the guy with the knife had stashed it in his briefcase before the commercial break) and looked at Max. She took a deep breath.

“To the city.”

Max knew how easy it was to scare El into silence. Instead of taking a quizzical tone, she brushed the new information off.

“The city? Which city, El? There’s more than one.” Max asked casually, reverting her attention back to the TV and grabbing a handful of El’s popcorn. The guy with the knife had shown up on some woman’s doorstep looking awfully shady. She would be lying if she didn’t admit she was a little invested. El looked at Max, offended that she had stolen some of her popcorn, but she relented and moved the bowl in between the two of them. Max grabbed another handful.

“The big one.”

“Indianapolis?”

“No.”

“I’m going to keep bugging you until you tell me. Fort Wayne?”

“Chicago.”

Max raised her eyebrows.

“All by yourself?”

“Yes,” El said, shrinking down a bit.

“That’s badass,” Max replied.

She was missing key details, but Max didn’t want to press to hard. If she was going to guess, that’s where El was last November right before she met them at Will’s house. When she asked Lucas, he said that El would tell them when she wanted to. She figured that Lucas was referring to the rest of the group with the exception of Mike, since he was the one she did most of her talking to.  

The show cut to a shot of a bloody knife on the ground and El tensed. That was the end of that. When the credits were finally rolling, El turned to her.

“Now you have to tell me something.”

Max laughed.

“What do you mean I have to tell you something?”

“A secret you haven’t told anyone.”

“You haven’t told anyone you went to Chicago by yourself?”

“No,”

“Not even – ”

“No,” El said, cutting Max off, her tone urgent. “Don’t tell him yet.”

“Um, don’t worry,” Max said. She picked up El’s pinky with her own. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

El smiled.

“He just gets so worried sometimes,” she said.

Max laughed again.

“Mike? Worried? Really?”

That one really set El off, and she began laughing so hard the popcorn spilled onto her bed spread.

“Shit,” El muttered under her breath. That made Max laugh, and then both the girls were laughing hard enough to drown out the Nair commercial playing on TV.

Once they picked the kernels off El’s quilt, she was quick to jump back to the secret thing.

“You still haven’t told me something.”

“Technically I don’t have to tell you a secret.”

“Yes, you do. Those are the rules.”

“This isn’t how truth or dare is played, El.”

“We’re not playing truth or dare.”

Max rolled her eyes.

“Fine. But you can’t tell anyone, okay?”

El nodded, sitting up and eagerly anticipating whatever Max had to say.

Max reached down into her duffle bag, rummaging around for the tape.

“This,” Max started, “is my favorite movie of all time. Grease.”

“Grease?” El asked, taking the tape and looking at the pretty people on the cover.

“Yeah, but you can’t tell anyone.”

“Why not?”

“It’s too girly. It’s a musical.”

“So?”

“So, I brought it because it’s right up your alley,” Max said. By the look on her face, Max could tell the idiom was completely lost on El.

“You’d love it,” she corrected.

“That’s not a secret.”

“Yes, it is! You said something I’ve never told anyone! You’re the only person on earth who knows I even own that on tape.”

“Well it’s not the secret I’m looking for.”

“And what type of secret are you looking for? Because I don’t have any –”

“Boy secrets,” El said. Max scoffed.

“You think I have boy secrets?”

“That’s what girls talk about at sleepovers.”

“Not it is not!”

“Yes, it is.”

Max knew exactly what was happening, and she was somewhat impressed. El was trying to be coy about trying to get some information out of her.

“Well, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment, because I don’t have any boy secrets because I don’t like any boys.”

El hummed and narrowed her eyes.

“You’re lying.”

“Um, no! I’m not.”

“You are.”

“Not!”

“Max.”

“What?”

“Friends don’t – “

“Yeah, yeah, I know okay?”

“So why are you lying?”

“I’m not lying.”

“So, we’re not friends.”

The playful tone from before was replace with something that sounded like hurt. Max took a deep breath. If she was being honest, she technically didn’t have a boy secret. Everyone pretty much knew. But that didn’t mean she needed to say it out loud. In fact, Max couldn’t remember a time she admitted out loud to anyone that she had feelings for a boy. She was easy to blush, and Max could feel it creeping up on her cheeks. El noticed, and her hardened expression melted a little.

“I mean…” Max started. Ugh.

El sat up and moved toward Max, looking at her with the same wide-eyed fascination that she was watching TV with just minutes earlier.

“Lucas is nice, I guess.”

“I knew it.”

“Well if you knew it, why was it such a big deal?” Max said, shoving El’s shoulder a little bit. She giggled and pushed back before grabbing Max’s pinky like she had before.

“Your secret’s safe with me.”

“It better be,” Max said.

El picked up the tape from her lap.

“Do you want to show me this?”

Max nodded, and shuffled over to the VHS, pushed it in, and pressed play.

El was mesmerized. So much was happening. People were singing and dancing and wearing such weird clothes. And Max was beginning to understand why Mike liked showing El new things so much. She was so funny to watch.

In the middle of the sleepover scene – one El was particularly excited to see – El tapped Max on the shoulder to ask a question.

“That brown bag has wine in it, it’s alcohol. It’s illegal to drink it underage. And I’ve heard it tastes like shit,” Max said.

“I know that,” El said back. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry.”

Max laughed, expecting a joke, but the look on her face actually looked remorseful.

“El, what are you sorry for?”

“You were new. I was mean to you.”

“Oh, yeah that,” Max said, shifting her gaze to her hands in her lap. “You don’t have to be sorry.”

“Well, I am,” El said.

“Well, thanks.” Max said. They both turned their attention back to the movie, both with smiles growing on their faces.

On the other side of the door, Jim Hopper was just trying to get some sleep. He had an early shift tomorrow. Just because all the kids are on summer vacation, didn’t mean that everyone else was. It was a Wednesday night for Christ’s sake.

He was seconds away from banging on the door and calling lights out when he heard El laugh through the door. He hadn’t heard her laugh – at least not at home, where she felt trapped and alone – in God knows when. He didn’t even know she was that close to the Mayfield kid. But it was a good thing, he supposed. He smiled to himself as he wrapped his pillow around his head, covering his ears.

What’s the harm in a girl’s night after all?

a/n: I have been super busy with life changes and all that fun adult stuff (!!!!!) and haven’t written in 5-ever... so I’m so glad I had this as an excuse to get the juices flowing again... 3k words???? Who am I right now. So much dialogue whew. Anyway, I edited this in a hurry so be forgiving, but I had so much fun writing it and being a part of this series!!!! It’s been so cool to read everyone’s work. I know it’s getting kind of boring around here, but the best is yet to come!!! <3 <3 <3 <3

tagging the sfs crew and praying these are all your correct users: [ @mikeweezers][ @el-and-hop ][ @summer-in-hawkins ][ @partwayhappy ][ @she-who-the-river-could-not-hold ][ @janeswheeler ][ @cstlebyrs ][ @formerlyjannafaye ][ @jane-el-hopper ][ @themikewheelers ][ @elizabthturner ][ @the-proud-princess ][ @itcouldbendoritcouldbreak ][ @scottsclarke ][ @the-most-beautiful-broom ][ @hannahberrie ][ @dancingskygreen ][ @mileven-and-contemplation ][ @eddieksgazebos ][ @mikeswheelers ][ @moodyandmoonyeyed ][ @jopper-chopper ][ @earlgreyteagirl ][ @janehoppers ][ @michael-hearteyes-wheeler ][ @stevemossington ][ @thezoomermax ][ @dustinhendrsn ][ @mothersnail ][ @writer-lia ]

[hopewritcs]

dancing in the kitchen. one.

pairing: romantic steve harrington x reader, familial dustin x reader 

word count: 2.9 k 

summary: without giving too much away: the reader is Y/N Henderson, Dustin’s older cousin who’s staying in town, due to some family problems. takes place soon after s2. 

note: this is my first x reader fic (and first fic in a while) so please let me know what you think!! a like would be appreciated and i’m gonna be working on a part 2/possible series for this. let me know what y’all think!

other chapters: masterlist

Y/N had just gotten to Hawkins, the familiar street the taxi drove down bringing back memories. Memories of when she used to visit her Aunt and cousin all the time. Unfortunately the past couple years, with her own high school drama and family issues, there hadn’t been much time to catch a flight out to Hawkins and visit. But when her parents announced they were going to Italy for a month or two to “sort out” their differences, her Aunt Claudia had welcomed her into the home with open arms. 

Y/N had been thrilled to stay with them, she’d always thought of Claudia as another mother, and Dustin as that dorky twerp brother she never got. So when her parents told her, Y/N had her things packed and was on the next flight from New York City to Hawinks. She had taken a taxi to her family’s home--not wanting to inconvenience Aunt Claudia more by making her drive all the way to the airport, but more importantly because she wanted to surprise them. Her parents had told Claudia she’d be coming out closer to New Years, but with the chance to spend Christmas with her favorite (and only) cousin Y/N couldn’t pass it up. 

Dustin’s bright smile had greeted her when she rang the bell and he seemed as excited as she was, apparently his mother hadn’t told him about her visit. He wrapped his arms around her tightly in an excited greeting before he raced out to the taxi to help Y/N with her things, all the while shouting into the house at his mom, “Y/N’s here! Y/N’s here! Why didn’t you tell me she was coming?! Mom! Mom! Y/N’s here! Stop playing with Tews and get out here!” and when he attempted to grab a suitcase from the waiting taxi, Dustin grunted and turned toward Y/N, “Fuck, Are there rocks in here? Wait--are there? Cause that would be so cool!” 

Y/N just shook her head and walked to the taxi, handing the man a wad of cash and going around back, pulling the bags out with only slight problems and closing the trunk. She tapped it three times and waved goodbye to the driver as he drove off down the road. Then she turned to Dustin, “Why are you looking at me like that Dusty? What--it wasn’t that hard to get those bags out. Stop looking at me like that.” She shoved his shoulder playfully as she laughed, hoisting the duffel bag to her shoulder and walking into the house. She greeted her Aunt Claudia, who was waiting by the door, with a kiss on the cheek as she walked past and went toward the familiar guest room. 

Y/N could hear Dustin calling for his mother to help with the other bag, and just laughed to herself. The conversation between them seemed endless as Y/N continued to unpack, startled by a sudden mewing at her feet. She bent down and looked at the kitten curiously, “You’re not Mews.” she mumbled, holding out a hand for the kitten to come toward before she began to pet it. “But you are a cutie!” she cooed as the kitten purred against her hand while she pet her. 

Soon enough, Dustin and Aunt Claudia’s voices got closer to her room, still arguing. “Aunt Claudia, when did you guys get a new kitten?” Y/N asked, her attention fully on the cat in front of her. She picked the kitten up and looked at her tag. “Tews, huh?” she posed the question to the kitten. Looking back up she asked, “Where’s Mews?” 

Claudia Henderson didn’t like to talk about her cats disappearance and Dustin nearly paled at the mention of Mews--as immediate thoughts of Dart eating the poor thing flashed through his mind. “Mews ran away.” Claudia said, shaky as she spoke. 

Y/N frowned, she hadn’t known. “Oh, Aunt Claudia I’m so sorry. I had...I had no idea. Mom and Dad didn’t tell me.” Y/N didn’t know what to do, she gently put Tews back to the floor, apologizing to her Aunt Claudia again as the woman excused herself. Y/N fell onto her bed, looking at Dustin. “Mews ran away?” she asked, an eyebrow raised at her younger cousin. She wasn’t sure if she believed that. Sure, her Aunt Claudia could be smothering sometimes with her over affection toward the house pet, but Mews running away? Y/N didn’t know. 

Dustin nodded, “Yup. Gotta go. A friends coming over tonight. I’m going to Mike’s now. Tell him the news. They won’t believe you’re back!” And just like that the curly haired boy dashed away from her room, leaving Y/N alone and staring at the door. 

Eventually, Y/N got back up and finished unpacking her bags, making the room feel more homey than it already did. Being in Hawkins, being with her cousin Dustin and her Aunt Claudia, she felt more at home than she did in the townhouse in New York with it’s big rooms, tiled floors and no one around except for Y/N and the occasional parent. 

When she finished unpacking, Y/N went downstairs to the kitchen, seeing Aunt Claudia talking on the phone. Y/N didn’t want to interrupt, so she went into the fridge and grabbed the container of juice, pouring herself some. Moments later, Claudia said her goodbyes and turned to Y/N. 

“Y/N, I’d love to stick around and welcome you in, but one of my friends needs some help with a new kitten and called me. I’m going to go and help her out. She’s a ways out of town, so I could wind up staying the night. I’ll call later on.” Claudia said as she was gathering her things, running around and shouting back to Y/N. “Would you mind watching Dusty tonight, dear? He’s got a friend coming over and there’s ingredients to make some dinner, but if you and Dustin want there’s money for a pizza or something in the cookie jar.” Claudia came back into the kitchen with a bag packed and kissed Y/N on the forehead. “I’ll call when I get to Mary’s! Love you.” 

And with that she was gone. 

Y/N just laughed once the door was shut, waving goodbye as her aunt backed out of the driveway. She shook her head and looked around the house, there was no sign of Dustin. But she was sure he’d be back soon, since he’d told her he had a friend coming over tonight. She settled down in the kitchen and drank the juice, petting Tews when she came to her feet. It was only half an hour before Dustin came back into the house, startled by Y/N sitting at the table. He’d almost forgotten she was there. But he’d just spent the past hour telling everyone, Nancy and Jonathan, Mike, Will, Max, Lucas, and El about Y/N’s homecoming. He took his helmet off the top of his head and put it on the counter. 

“Nancy says you need to call her ASAP.” Dustin explained, going to the cabinet to search for something to snack on. “Everyone’s excited to see you. I told them you’d come to Mike’s tomorrow. That’s when we play DnD. I told you about that, right? Nance and Jonathan usually hang out for a bit before going out, but I’m sure they’ll be there considering you’re back. I filled everyone in. Well, on what I knew. Mom said I shouldn’t ask many questions, so I won’t. I’m just happy you’re back. Oh, and Max and El are gonna love you. You’ll meet them tomorrow.” Dustin had turned away from the cabinet as he couldn’t find anything he wanted, he was rambling excitedly filling Y/N in on his friends as he went to the table, giving Y/N a side hug before taking a seat at the table with her. “Where’s mom?” Dustin asked after a moment of silence. 

“Her friend had some cat catastrophe or something--a catastrophe if you will--and she had to go help. Apparently your mother is a cat expert.” Y/N laughed, getting up from the table as Dustin sat down. She grabbed a glass and poured some water, setting the glass down in front of him with a smile. “So, it’s just you and me, Dusty, what do you think: pizza or should I try to make whatever Aunt Claudia left us in the fridge?” she asked, her hand on his shoulder. 

“Pizza.” Dustin replied without hesitation.

“That’s what I was thinking too.” Y/N laughed. She turned to the cookie jar and nodded to Dustin. “You wanna call and order, then set up for your movie night or whatever?” she offered, walking to the cookie jar and getting the money out as Dustin got up and called the pizza place. 

After he placed the order, Dustin was out of the kitchen and running around and gathering stuff to put in the living room for his movie night. Y/N went to the stereo and turned it on, going back to the bedroom and changing into something much more comfortable than what she’d been in for a plane and all day. She put on a pair of sweats and an old t-shirt and then went back into the kitchen. 

Y/N took her hair down from the bun atop her head and began getting ready for the pizza. She gathered plates and cups from the cabinets, remembering where everything was in the house. Y/N was wondering what she should put out for Dustin and his friend when the doorbell rang for pizza. With Dustin running around, Y/N grabbed the money and the pizza, turning back and putting it on the counter.

“Pizza’s here!” she called to Dustin. 

“Can we wait til Steve gets here? He said he’d be here soon.” Dustin replied, running past her with another pile of pillows. 

Y/N nodded, “But, if he doesn’t get here soon, I’ll be eating his share.”

Dustin laughed, “Sure you will.”

“I so would.” 

Dustin walked past her, rolling his eyes as she shouted her reply again with a laugh. Dustin laughed at her from his room. “Call me when Steve gets here.” 

Y/N rolled her eyes and continued moving about in the kitchen, hopping around to the music from the stereo. She danced around, humming to the beat of the song, getting some soda pop from the fridge and putting it on the countertop. When Let’s Hear it For the Boy came on after the previous song, Y/N was singing along, bouncing and dancing around in the room. She was glad she was alone, singing along off key to one of her new favorite songs and dancing around like no one was watching. 

Except someone was. Steve Harrington had promised Dustin he’d come over for a movie night, knowing it would give Mrs. Henderson a reason to get out of the house and because, though he wouldn’t say it out loud, Dustin was his favorite kid in town. He had picked up the hide a key from it’s spot and walked into the house. He’d been about to knock on the door when he saw someone dancing around the kitchen. He didn’t make a sound, instead just quietly closed the door and leaned in the doorway watching her. She looked familiar to him, but Steve couldn’t remember her name. Besides, Y/N hadn’t noticed him and he didn’t want to disturb her as she sang and danced about the kitchen. She didn’t seem to have a care in the world, and Steve was intrigued. Unfortunately, his appearance was noticed by Dustin. 

“Steve! Buddy! You made it. Y/N, why didn’t you tell me he was here?” Dustin called, running down from the top of the staircase, heading to greet his friend. On his way passed, he turned the stereo off. 

Y/N stopped mid jump, falling to her butt on the kitchen floor, startled by her cousin’s shouting, and the knowledge that someone was in the kitchen with her. Curly hair falling into her face, Y/N blushed furiously. She hadn’t noticed anyone standing in the kitchen. Clearing her throat, Y/N stood up and apologized. “Sorry Dusty, didn’t know anyone was here.” she turned her attention to this Steve and her jaw dropped. Steve was not the pre-teen she was expecting to find in the house, he was a teenager. Probably around her age. “When Dustin said he had a friend coming over I kind of expected a kid.” she replied, walking over with her hand stretched out to him. “I’m Y/N.” she smiled. 

Steve shook her hand with a smile of his own, “Steve. Nice to meet you Y/N.” Steve looked down at Dustin and shrugged, “So your mom got us a babysitter. She does know I’m fully capable myself, right?” Steve joked, pretending to sound offended. 

“Actually, Y/N’s my cousin. She’s kinda staying here now.”

“I’m actually staying here for a while. Y/N Henderson, Dustin’s cousin.” 

Both the Henderson’s gave their explanation at the same time. 

“Cousins? Shit--you’re that girl who used to watch Dustin all the time. Didn’t you have pigtails or some shit? Weren’t you friends with Nance or something too?” Steve looked like he pieced together the last bit of a jigsaw puzzle. 

“Guilty.” Y/N replied with a shrug, her face flushing with remembering how she used to look years ago. Pigtails had been a staple in her wardrobe, and she’d spent most of her time with Dustin and his friends, Mike, Will, and Lucas, so she’d always wind up having sleepovers at the Wheeler house and gotten close to Nancy. Until Y/N had disappeared, not coming back to Hawkins, she and Nancy had been like best friends. Clearing her throat, Y/N continued, “So, uh, on that note.” Y/N pointed to the set up. “There’s pizza in the kitchen. I’m gonna go get my room settled.” She turned around and took a step toward the stairs when a voice stopped her. 

“Y/N you already unpacked everything.” Dustin looked at her, confused. Damn it, Dustin. She’d just wanted to get out of this room. Sighing, Y/N stopped walking and turned around, she was about to say something when Steve spoke up.

“Why don’t you join us?” Steve proposed. 

“Yeah! Come on, Y/N. I haven’t seen you in forever. Steve won’t be annoying, I promise!” Dustin pleaded, nudging Steve with his elbow. The older teen nodded as if agreeing with what Dustin said, despite rolling his eyes. 

“I’m not annoying.” Steve countered. 

“Keep telling yourself that buddy.” Dustin laughed before turning his attention back to his cousin. “Come on, Y/N. You can even pick out the first video.” Dustin held his hands together, under his chin as he pouted his lips--practically begging his favorite cousin (only cousin) to spend some more time with him. 

After a moment, Y/N smiled, ruffling Dustin’s hair, “When you put it like that, how can I possibly say no?”

Dustin cheered, grabbing a slice of pizza from the box and getting everything set up for himself before running into the living room. Neither Y/N or Steve had moved an inch, the pair standing next to each other awkwardly as Dustin ran in and out of the kitchen, gathering snacks and such. 

“Steve! Y/N! What are you doing just standing there? Let’s go!” Dustin clapped his hands, ordering them to get a move on as he ran back into the living room, claiming his usual spot on the couch. 

“We’re coming, dipshit.” Steve called back, grabbing the other two plates and walking over to the pizza box, handing Y/N the other plate as he grabbed two slices for himself. 

And that’s how Y/N spent her first night back in Hawkins. Watching movies with her cousin and Steve Harrington, the likes of which she never thought she’d see again. 

Dustin was laughing at the movie choices Y/N would suggest as he drank his soda and snacked on some popcorn they eventually made. 

Steve was watching the movie, but every so often glanced over at Y/N. It was hard to believe the girl he used to see running around in pigtails and overalls, chasing after the group of kids, was the same girl sitting next to him now.  

And Y/N, she was cuddling with Tews on the couch next to Steve. She made it through the first movie, and most of the second, but just as the third movie started, she drifted to sleep, her head falling to Steve’s shoulder.

Steve glanced down at her, noticing she was sleeping and he grabbed the remote, turning the tv off. Dustin was about to turn and shout something at Steve when the older boy put his finger to his lips. “Y/N’s asleep. I’ll get her upstairs and then we can continue the movie night.” Steve suggested, looking at Dustin for approval. The boy nodded, gently reaching for the sleeping kitten in Y/N’s arms to place Tews back on the ground. 

As quietly as he could, Steve stood up from the couch, hoping not to wake Y/N up. He lifted her up from the couch, her head falling back against his shoulder--she was still sound asleep, breathing softly. Steve knew where the guest room was and headed that way, placing Y/N atop her bed and pulling the throw blanket on top of her sleeping form. 

[fanficsandfluff]

Stranger Things Tickle Headcanons

An anon asked if I had any Stranger Things headcanons, and boy do I :) Gonna be a long list so stay tuned.

Mike: This kid’s strong-willed and knows what he wants and works hard. He’s more subdued than the rest but they all love him just the same. And since he’s more reserved, the group find it hilarious to tickle him and hear him laugh. And let me tell you, Mike is very ticklish. At first, he only let Will tickle him since they were the closest, but once Dustin found out, as well, it was game over. Mike’s laugh is squeaky and he becomes breathless very quickly. Probably most ticklish on his knees, sides, and the back of his neck.

Will: Ohhh my precious baby who suffers too damn much. He’s got the sweetest smile and since he’s been through so much, it’s been hard for him to rejoin the group and be as happy with them as he once was. But Mike is always there to help him out. It was Mike who started to lightly tickle Will when he saw that his friend needed it. Will’s one to plead with his attackers when they tickle him, but he doesn’t exactly hate it. He knows how ticklish he is and how much he can handle, so he’s so relieved when his friends tickle him to the point of passing out because they don’t see him as some fragile boy. Will dreads tickle attacks from his mom and/or Jonathan because the two of them know all of his spots. His spots are definitely all over his neck and his ribs.

Lucas: He fights the tickles to the death. Like he will hurt anyone who tries to get him, so he needs to be pinned down. Once the guys use all their strength to get Lucas pinned, it’s usually Dustin who does the honors and wrecks him. The guys take great pleasure in hearing Lucas’s shrieking laughter. He’s the kind of kid who when tickled can’t form words properly and winds up just laughing. His spots are his lower ribs, thighs, kneecaps, and armpits.

Dustin: This fucking child. Oh my god. He has the best time when he’s tickled, even though a majority of the time he’s the ler. He has the tendency to curse when he’s being tickled, even though he’s in no real danger nor is he uncomfortable. And the incessant cussing gets the guys laughing right along with him. He has one of the deeper laughs of the gang, but it’s adorable and addictive just the same. If he’s tickled too much, he starts screaming out of nowhere and it’s funny as hell. Dustin’s worst spot is his belly.

Max: Even though she’s new to the gang, Lucas made sure he inducted her properly by finding out where she was ticklish. And surprisingly to him, she wasn’t super ticklish. He had to work hard to find a spot that even made her giggle. If you grab her in her sides and squeeze repeatedly, you’re gonna get a laugh. But she’s such a mischievous ler once you get her going and she won’t stop till her victim’s red in the face.

Eleven: It was a delicate combination of Mike’s help as well as Hopper’s to get El used to knowing what tickling is. While watching TV, El stumbled upon a cartoon that used the word tickle, to which she asked Hopper what that was. And from there it was history. Nothing made Hopper quite as happy or emotional as hearing Eleven laugh that loud and for so long, as the sound and her light struggling brought back memories of his daughter. He warmed up to the damn kid even quicker after that encounter. But Mike was the one who found out next and made tickling a fun activity for the two of them. He was gentle with Eleven, never wanting to tickle her too hard in case she tossed him across the room. But she never stopped him, not once. And once she got the hang of the concept, she made Mike her plaything for a looong time. El’s tickle spots are her belly, armpits, sides, and hips.

Nancy: Being the older sister, she was never the one to get tickled, even though she dished it out to Mike when they were both younger. Nancy has the cutest giggle, and a bright little smile. She was first tickled when she was with Steve. He was a playful guy, so he’d end up caressing her or poking her in certain sensitive places, and once he found out she was ticklish, he’d do it every chance they were alone. Steve liked that it was some private activity they could engage in. Once Jonathan came into the picture, he was more hesitant. It was actually Nancy who found out Jonathan’s ticklishness first before he ever got her. And he enjoyed making her giggle, but never tried to destroy her with intense tickles. Nancy can be quite the ler though, so watch out. Her worst spot is her ribs, with a close second being her toes.

Steve: This dad is as playful and loving as a damn dog. He’s protective and little things can set him off. But man is he a tickle monster. Now that he’s worked with the kids and even hangs around them, he gets involved in tickle fights with them a lot. He growls and really plays the part well. But the downside to playing tickle monster with a group of young, barely-teens is that they can overpower him easily. Steve has a super loud laugh and when he’s tickled, he lets it out. He’s also a squirmer so he’ll thrash his legs and arms around, but he knows he won’t hurt the kids when he does so. Dustin seems to take the most joy out of tickling him, and makes him admit to dumb stuff just because. Steve also had a grand ol’ time with Nancy. When it was his turn to get tickled, he’d shrink into a ball and just giggle the night away. His worst spots are pretty much everywhere, but his hips are a spot that makes him spazz. 

Jonathan: Similar to Nancy’s situation, Jonathan would be the ler throughout most of his and Will’s childhood. However, before Will was born and even when Will was barely a year old, Joyce would love to tickle her son. She’d get a rare laugh out of him that was hard to come by after his father left them. Jonathan would laugh along with Will whenever he’d tickle him to try and show him that he was having fun, too. And he remembered Will loving to be tickled for a good three years or so but then he stopped all of a sudden. He wouldn’t ask for it anymore and he would protest it if Jonathan tried it. Still, the two were close. Jonathan forgot completely about being ticklish himself until he met Nancy. As a lee, Jonathan is the type to try and hold back his laughter for as long as possible since it was always something he didn’t quite like about himself. He’d try to hide his smile and hold in all laughs as Nancy worked her fingers all over his torso. But the thing was, Nancy’s encouragement and teasing didn’t help his resolve so he’d crack when she got to a certain spot and he’d wind up giggling. Jonathan’s laughter was a light, giggly kind, and he only let out little screams of laughter when Nancy would jab into someplace. Nancy tried to make Jonathan comfortable with his smile and especially his laugh, so she’d whisper loving compliments to him as she tickled him. But the both of them being lers most of their lives made for some great payback for each of them. Jonathan is really ticklish in his armpits, his neck (like Will), his lower belly, and his knees.

Joyce: Joyce is an absolute anxious sweetheart, and she deserves peace and happiness for once in her life. Growing up, she’d been on and off with Hopper, but they ultimately remained great friends. And yes, Hopper did get his fair share of tickles in with Joyce Byers in their youth. How could you blame him? She had a wide smile and would scream and “punch” him in defiance, it was all hilarious and adorable. Once Joyce found Bob, there was hardly a day in her life without some laughter, whether from tickles or not. She adored being tickled by Bob because he was so sweet about it. She’s very ticklish with spidery tickles across her back and her sides. 

Hopper: To the town of Hawkins, Hopper is a hardened sheriff who’s hard to press and hard to please. They see him as a smoking drunkard half the time, but he does end up doing good things for the town. He tries hard. Only a select few people get to see Jim Hopper’s softer side. The most special of those people is Joyce. From a young age, the two were paling around, teasing each other, smoking behind the school. Joyce did find Hopper cute, and she was not going to let him live it down when she found out he was ticklish. It was really a slightly drunken discovery, since they were in her parents’ basement at the time, drinking and smoking to their liking. A few curious pokes later and Joyce had Hopper a laughing heap on the couch. While he is ticklish, Hopper much prefers being the ler. Getting Joyce to laugh when they were younger was one of his favorite pastimes, and even in more present times he loved her to death. When his daughter was around, he loved playing tickle monster with the child. And some of that love carried over to Eleven once he took her up. Jim’s a loving father-figure to anyone he can be to. He’s most ticklish on his belly, but he’s also pretty sensitive to gentle neck kisses.

[renee-walker]

Yet another super incomplete, entirely incoherent, and most definitely not chronological list of my thoughts, this time on Stranger Things 2 eps 4-7

I will never be over my feelings about Joyce Byers and her love for her children. Obviously Will is the focus at this point, but omg the raw ferocity of her love and concern just leaps out of my tv and murders my mom heart. And wow, I could do this in every ep, but the most major shoutout to Winona Ryder’s acting chops. She never overdoes it for a second, which I think is a feat when she constantly has to convey so much desperation and terror. Amazing.

ALSO. Noah Schnapp, holy shit. I mean we didn’t honestly get to see hardly any of him in the first season, but wow I will never stop yammering about what a great job this show did in choosing the kids who make up the main cast. There’s not a weak link, and the scene where Will tells Joyce that the monster/shape/what the fuck ever that thing is got him pretty much broke me.

Ew, Dustin’s bizarre affection for his slug toy turns out predictably badly, but how awesome is it that by pure serendipity, he winds up with Steve? The second they got in the car together, S says, “I love the way this show always sticks together the characters you wouldn’t really expect to hang out,” and YEP, he is so right. And I mean, can we talk about Steve’s face when he asks Dustin how he knows it’s not a lizard and Dustin’s like, “I know because it’s face opened up and it ate my cat.” STEVE’S FACE. Just like, “Okay, fair.” I am die.

Tbh I really don’t see the point of Max’s brother. He’s a dick and apparently a giant racist and I guess he could be there just so Max can have that heart to heart with Lucas on the bus but idk. I just really don’t find anything about him interesting or compelling and I’m super confused as to why he’s always so goddamn shiny. Also did I just hang with the wrong crowd in the ‘80s or did all parents just let their kids sit around in their living rooms, smoking and drinking beer while lifting weights? I didn’t know any of these parents, but my best friend’s mom did let us have wine coolers when we were 13 so clearly I was a giant fucking rebel.

Hopper and El’s fight sucked a whole lot of ass, and although I love Hopper, I seriously wanted to hit him myself when he called her a brat. Yes Jim, I get that you have manpain AND I LOVE YOU but holy fuck this is a traumatized child who’s entirely isolated from the world. I don’t blame her for taking off.

And then of course we have another episode of Poor Life Choices With Jim Hopper, in which he decides the best idea ever is to dig into the upside down all by himself, without telling anyone what he’s doing or where he is, and that’s bound to turn out super great, RIGHT? Spoiler alert: It does not turn out super great. I still freaked when the vines got him, ngl.

Omg, Bob. I know what’s going to happen to him and I hate it so much I can’t deal. HE’S SO FUCKING CUTE. And as @faith5by5-1013 said in a comment on my last post, I just love that there’s no love triangle bullshit here. Like Hopper is (more or less) happy for Joyce and Bob and Bob accepts Joyce’s history with Hopper and it’s just refreshing is all. ANYWAY Bob breaks me because of course he figures out the map since he’s Bob the Brain and his ridiculously adorable instant acceptance of all this wild fuckery is the stuff that dreams are made of. Get yourself a guy like Bob Newby, is all I’m trying to say.

The entirety of everything with El and her mom was just well, the worst. I’d assumed that Brenner had done something like electroshock on Terry, but assuming and watching are two different things. And for fuck’s sake, Eleven is a CHILD, which I think is something that’s very easy to forget with Millie Bobby Brown’s precociousness and her wild acting skills. Watching Eleven pretty much relive her mother’s horror is the worst, and it only makes Eleven’s eventual choice NOT to kill Otis (oops wrong show, lmao) even more meaningful and poignant.

Erica Sinclair is everything. The end.

MAJOR ASIDE. I could not get over the gajillion ways in which this show is using Paul Reiser’s character to remind any viewer familiar with Aliens of that movie. I mean, shit. He repeats phrases that are almost verbatim dialogue from Aliens, there’s the motion tracker stuff when the demodogs attack the ambushed lab dudes, there’s the “Stay frosty.” Yeah, Aliens was 1986 and this is supposedly 1984, but nobody can convince me that all this wasn’t intentional. That said, I’m starting to have the feeling that Dr. Owens isn’t going to turn out to be as awful as Carter Burke.

I used to use Faberge. Like, I was DYING.

SO, both my kids pretty much hated ep 7, and while it certainly isn’t my favorite of the eps I’ve seen so far, I really appreciated a number of things about it.

Like, I never stop thinking about the fact that Eleven has spent her entire life in a lab. Her face when she sees the city lights at night is just everything. There are so many aspects of life this child has never had the chance to touch, and it makes me hurty inside just thinking about it.

I do think the ep was too long, but whatever, this isn’t the kind of issue I’m gonna be mad about. Since the beginning of the season, the show has been riffing on what could possibly be “home” for El. This ep is so important if only because it answers that question for her in a deep and final way. Kali’s gang was honestly pretty dull and I didn’t give much of a shit about them, but I did give a lot of shits about El finally answering some very specific questions about her past and learning to make her own choices with this new information.

Look, one of my greatest fictional kinks ever is That Person Who Chooses To Be A Wonderul And Good Person Even Though Every Single Thing In Their Life Suggests They Should Absolutely Be An Axe Murderer. And of course El is exactly that. There’s nothing in her past that should make her choose mercy, but when it counts, that’s exactly what she does. And I could not love her more.

Also lbr. I pretty much died when she figured out that Mike, Hopper, and everyone else were in danger and was just like, peace out motherfuckers, I gotta save my friends and family. Not all heroes wear capes. Some of them wear a lot of eyeliner and hair gel:)

Final thoughts: I’m super surprised they waited this long to reunite El and Mike. I really do not want to watch Bob Newby die. I’m glad Jonathan and Nancy are together but I still find my interest waning whenever they’re the focus. Omg WHY AM I LOVING STEVE HARRINGTON?

[awaygamespodcast]

2018 Season Predictions

By podcast co-host, Kevin McCaffrey

This’ll be a long one, so BUCKLE IN!

NL EAST Washington Nationals NY Mets Philadelphia Phillies Atlanta Braves Florida Marlins

The only “interesting” thing here is that I could see 2-4 in any order. I think the Phillies are almost overhyped as a possible breakout team, but they have a weak division to beat up on...just like everyone else. I think the Mets land a couple of games above .500 and are in the wild card mix late.

NL CENTRAL Chicago Cubs St. Louis Cardinals* Milwaukee Brewers Pittsburgh Pirates Cincinnati Reds

I think the Cubs are, uh, the best team in the NL on paper? And with extreme bias, I probably put them #2 behind the Astros overall, right in the mix with Nats/Yankees/Indians. The tough part is that I do believe the Cardinals are going to Cardinals it up this season and be 5 wins better than they have any reason to be (Jose Martinez, with good playing time, I really believe in as a kind of Bautista-lite late-ish career breakout). The Brewers I think *should* be a touch better than the Cardinals, but I don’t think they *will* be. They really needed one more starter this offseason, and I’m not sure they have the farm system to deal for one mid-season stud...though their GM David Stearns I think is really good, and as a Cubs fan, bothers me.

NL WEST LA Dodgers Arizona Diamondbacks* Colorado Rockies SF Giants SD Padres

(Dumb guy voice that is identical to my actual voice) “The Dodgers don’t scare me!” Except, they kind of don’t. With Turner hurt, that lineup gets un-scary very quickly. He’ll be back, sure, but hand and wrist injuries can be long lingering poison to hitters (as I get deeply sad, thinking about Derrek Lee post-’05). The Diamondbacks are my reluctant pick for the 2nd wild card, as I feel like I could flip a coin between them and the Brewers. The Rockies I believe so little in, with a weak lineup and decent young, but hard-to-count-on pitching, that I had them 4th behind the Giants before everyone on that team died.

AL East NY Yankees Boston Red Sox* Toronto Blue Jays Baltimore Orioles Tampa Bay Rays

I’ve heard a lot of analysts say the Rays still shouldn’t be that bad, and that they aren’t “tanking” (Olney & ESPN types, mainly), and I know there are projections that always love the Rays no matter what. But they have a 4-man pitching staff, and they have 3 pitchers. So, last. The Orioles are weird but always better than they should be, I think the Blue Jays have a pretty solid year in what could be the end of the Donaldson era. Of the teams everyone thinks are playoff locks (Nats/Cubs/Dodgers/Yanks/Red Sox/Indians/Astros), I think the Red Sox are the most likely to just whiff it. It feels like they’re one key injury away from being kind of middling. Take out any one of Betts, Martinez, Sale, even Bogaerts, and they look good, but, eh. The Yankees are, annoyingly, going to be awesome for at least 8 years now.

AL CENTRAL Cleveland Indians Minnesota Twins Chicago White Sox Kansas City Royals Detroit Tigers

Woof, the bottom of this division. The Indians thank you for your fast-pass to the offseason. Because of that weak-ass schedule, my head tells me the Twins are the other wild card, but my heart tells me it’s a team from the city that invented the “fast pass” for their theme park. I love the Twins bargain shopping, going against the grain in an offseason when that meant just paying a little bit good players (Morrison, Lynn). If Cleveland can keep their pitchers healthy at the end of the year -- and the weak schedule could let them pull a 2017 Dodgers and fake DL guys mid-season for rest -- they could really go on a run...kind of like they did during the regular season, last year.

AL WEST Houston Astros Anaheim Angels* Texas Rangers Oakland A’s Seattle Mariners

Well, the Astros are the best, and they got better. I made money betting on them at the beginning of the playoffs last year, when it seemed everyone was on the Dodgers or the Indians, but I literally put my money on a historically good offense. I like those. They made a great trade that I wish the Cubs made for Verlander, added Cole, and all I can say is thank God they had moments of pure idiocy a few years ago when they waived pre-breakout JD Martinez and passed on Kris Bryant, because if they didn’t do those things, we’d just have to hit fast-forward until they stopped winning titles, and I’m not ready for 2022 yet. The Angels, man, c’mon. They’re maybe my #1 team to tune into when the Cubs aren’t on via MLB.TV (which somehow gets worse every year, from a technical standpoint -- my next story: “The At Bat App Is Tanking”), and thank God they finally went all-in to get decent older dudes to surround Trout with in Cozart and Kinsler, and re-signing Upton. Billy Eppler is really smart, and good, and even though getting Shohei Ohtani is largely through luck of location and the inequality of rules between the two leagues, they still got him, and that’s fun. So, what the hell, Angels for the 2nd wild card because them in the playoffs would be friggin’ cool. And the Mariners rebuild, once they start it, should have them really good by about 2025, when Felix is throwing one of his last opening day starts.

PLAYOFFS

Wild Card Cardinals over Diamondbacks Angels over Red Sox

Division Series Nationals over Dodgers Cubs over Cardinals Astros over Angels Indians over Yankees

League Championship Series Cubs over Nationals Indians over Astros

World Series Cubs over Indians in 7

Jeez, there are a lot of teams tanking, but this October is going to be a gauntlet of incredible teams. Every year is a year when “any team could win” in the playoffs, because that’s how the future works, but this year is one where it’s possible that almost any team *should* win.

I think the Cubs and Nationals will battle it out for a very important #1 spot in the NL, which could be rough for the Cubs looking at the Nationals division. Loser plays a rough series against the Dodgers, and goes into the next series with a disadvantage, as the Cubs did last year, heading to LA completely depleted. Fingers crossed the Cubs dispatch with the Cardinals in a very stressful NLDS, and the Cubs once again knock out the Nats, with a great 4-man rotation and Chatwood turning into a high-leverage bullpen weapon, plus whatever reliever Theo gets at the deadline (my prediction is Zach Britton).

In the AL, there’s part of me that just wants to say Mike Trout wins all the games by himself. But if that doesn’t happen, the Astros are the best team, the Yankees could score 8-10 runs just about every game...and yet, I’m saying this sneaky, historically good rotation in Cleveland puts a run together, choking the life out of every offense on their way to the World Series.

In storytelling, you’d have Cleveland take down the Cubs in a 2016 rematch, now with their rotation more than just Kluber and spare parts. But I think the Cubs rotation is just about the only one with the depth to matchup with Cleveland, and the Cubs might have more of an AL offense than the Indians. The pitching plays to about a draw, and the Cubs bats give them the title in 7...at Wrigley. Cleveland gets the consolation prize of getting to continue the claim of being the longest suffering franchise, which they’ve held for a full two years now.

The Cubs find themselves one title short of being able to claim a semi-official “dynasty,” with three more seasons left in the current window.

Or at least, that’s what I think will happen.

AWARDS

MVP

NL: 1. Bryce Harper 2. Kris Bryant 3. Anthony Rizzo

I honestly think this could/should be Bryant, and my heart wants Rizzo to get one of these for his future HOF case, but Harper in a walk year, but more importantly in a year he knows might be his last with a great Nats core, has him go on a high-profile tear.

AL: 1. Carlos Correa 2. Mike Trout 3. Giancarlo Stanton

It’s probably Trout, but let’s get slightly weird. Correa finished in the top 10 in MVP voting last year in less than 110 games, he’s on the best team, and the team played waaaaay better with him active last year. He’ll still likely be the 2nd best player on his team but voters won’t go Altuve again. Stanton hits bombs, you probably heard.

CY YOUNG

NL: 1. Stephen Strasbourg 2. Kyle Hendricks 3. Max Scherzer

Stras’s performance in game 4 of the NLDS was a real turning point in an already great career. With all the weirdness leading up to his maybe not pitching, if he bombed, that narrative would have stuck forever (like Kershaw/playoffs, as stupid as it is). But he dominated a great Cubs lineup, he has three plus-plus-plus pitches, his changeup is actual wizardry that should be outlawed, and he and Bryce go nuts in this last year of the Washington window. Hendricks rules, and people will never realize how much until maybe his 200th win. Scherzer’s maybe my favorite non-Cubs pitcher, and I’ve got him in the top 3 over Kershaw just because of Clayton’s back.

AL: 1. Carlos Carrasco 2. Corey Kluber 3. Chris Sale

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

NL: 1. Scott Kingery 2. Ronald Acuna 3. Nick Senzel

Acuna seems like he’s gonna be a star of stars, but this could be a year where Kingery simply gets more counting stats, as he’s not having his service time manipulated (well, with the contract he signed, you could argue he still *is* being manipulated, but whatever). Acuna might be the best rookie since Bryant. Senzel’s a reach, just anticipating an injury and him coming up, playing out of position at SS, and hitting a bunch of homers in that mini-park.

AL: 1. Shohei Ohtani 2. Michael Kopech 3. Willie Calhoun

I believe in Ohtani! I think he’ll hit 12-15 homers, and be a solid #3 starter this year. Kopech could be Verlander. Calhoun is a position-less fire hydrant who might hit 25 homers in part of a year.