Henry Creel: Favorites
Fandom: Stranger Things
Henry x platonic!mom-ish!reader
CW: physical abuse, verbal abuse, mental abuse, employee mistreatment, hierarchy, child abuse, misogyny, threats, creepy guards, Dr. Brenner makes an appearance(I fucking hate him)
He makes a true friend in one of the nurses, she sort of becomes a mother figure to him as she's been caring for him since his capture:
⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅ ⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅ ⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅
His hatred for you was overwhelming during his first few months in the Hawkins Lab, viewing you as nothing more than another captor - someone allowing his pain. At least, that was until you stumbled upon one of his punishments, catching everyone by surprise as even the guards paused - allowing his body to fall lax without the consistent flow of electricity.
You're frozen in the doorway, having clearly entered the wrong room at the wrong time. Seemingly ready to turn and walk away like nothing happened, but then your eyes drifted to Henry, stunned at the sight before you.
He was just a child, someone you'd grown rather fond of despite his rather apparent hostility. You'd never taken it to heart, feeling complicit in his imprisonment, though you know there isn't really anything you can logically do without endangering yourself and your friends.
Shocked eyes meet his pain-stricken gaze, distress meeting distress as emotions are relayed through the contact. He's observing you, there's nothing else he realistically can do, body still reeling to recover, exhausted and wanting nothing more than to leave this place. He watches your unease turn into alarm, believing still that you will turn and walk away like all the others do.
However, you do no such thing, instead hardening your gaze with a fury that catches everyone off-guard.
Brenner makes no motion to intervene, analyzing the situation before making any decisions. Only acting when you step forward, aggression clearly communicated by your heavy glower.
Brenner moves forward, blocking your path, though he was unprepared for the swift shove you deliver – sending him back a few steps. Huffing in distaste before muttering your name, expecting you to back down. Surge forward again, you force leaving Brenner to stumble back once more.
"What the fuck are you doing to him?" Leaning into his space with a snarl. Despite Brenner being quite a bit taller than you, you refuse to back down – even when he towers over you with a temperamental glare.
"You," Brenner pauses, tone carrying the steeled authority of a man who's not afraid to cause pain. "...are on thin ice already. Another step, another word! And it'll be you instead of him!" He yells, having lost his self-control by your second push.
Henry collapses in further defeat, believing you'll surely leave after such a statement. Your anger will dim at the knowledge you would be hurt, just like everyone else.
"Go to hell!" You hiss back, delivering one final shove that sends Brenner to the ground, his eyes widening in disbelief, having clearly assumed you'd back down. Henry's eyes widen as well, flitting between you and Brenner before staying fixing on you. You're still glaring at Brenner, but one glance to Henry and your expression visibly softens.
Brenner doesn't say a word, one swift flick of his hand and the guards begin their approach.
"Come and get me you fucking cowards." A taunt followed by you grabbing a saline flush from your scrubs, swiftly spraying it at the both of them before sprinting out of the door.
The guards immediately pursue, even Brenner stands to rush after you, leaving Henry alone with two orderlies that hesitantly stay behind. Approaching his collapsed form, they each grab an arm, lifting his deadweight before escorting him away from the room.
The walk is quiet for a few minutes, until one of the orderlies starts speaking, seemingly to him though he rarely responds to anyone these days.
"You must be something for that Nurse to trade places with you."
"Hmm?" Henry mumbles, head lolling to the side so he can give them a glance, unwillingly begging for an explanation.
"She's so sweet, I've never seen her get so angry before!" Exclaims the other orderly, both falling into silence after that.
Henry is left to recover in the infirmary, a different nurse caring for him. He found himself glaring at her for a different reason other than vague hatred, instead realizing he's unhappy because she isn't you.
The next time Henry sees you was two days later, you've got a split lip, bruising running up your arms, and a rather obvious limp. His brows furrowing at the sight, he was barely ever beaten by the guards, Brenner usually prefers a slow electrocution... Perhaps it was different since you were a member of the staff?
You halt by his open door, softly knocking to alert him of your presence.
"Hey kid." You smile, though he can see the way your cut stings you from the action.
"Is it alright if I come in? I need to run your vitals and I'd prefer we do this without any of the guards... please." On all past occurrences he'd needed to be held down by the guards due to his rather violent refusal to remain still; but the memory of your anger at Brenner followed by the painful sight before him? He knew he couldn't refuse you.
A simple nod in confirmation followed by him shifting to sit on the edge of the bed, hands resting anxiously in his lap.
You're grateful he's agreed, the guards have always been crude animals, but after they'd hurt you they'd found a sick sense of delight in hurling insults your way. The last thing you wanted was to be up close and personal with them after two days ago.
You slowly walk forward, kneeling before the bed as you lay out your equipment.
"Alright, I'm not doing anything new, just the usual: BP, HR, etc., and a blood draw. Is that okay?" He'd never taken into account that you always asked for his consent before beginning, even when he was being physically restrained.
He nodded once more, remaining silent and still as you maneuvered his arm with delicate hands.
"Why did you do that?" He questions after several minutes of silence. You'd been caught off guard, assuming he was talking about the vials that were currently being filled with his blood.
"Oh, well the blood is-"
"No, why did you... get angry?" He clarifies, eyes dropping to his lap as you remove the vacutainer needle and hold gaze to the puncture. You remain silent, wrapping his arm with coban before settling back a bit to contemplate your answer
"I didn't know they were hurting you... When I saw it? I've never felt so upset. To think that he's justifying such a cruel punishment, that he's torturing you!"
Henry doesn't realize it immediately, but his eyes start to water at your words. He's been beaten, tased, verbally abused and experimented on like a rat since his time here. Never once has anyone apologized, no sweet words of affirmation other than Brenner's sick attempts to become a sort of pseudo-father.
No, your words are genuine, you sound pained, you cry at the knowledge that he's been hurt since the first day you saw him.
"Oh, I'm sorry honey." You comfort, hand slowly raising to his face, hesitating when he flinches from the contact. You go to pull away, but stop when you feel him resting into the contact, allowing you to brush away his tears.
"What are you doing." A sharp voice interrupts you, both pulling away at the sight of a guard standing at his door with an all too amused smile.
"Aww, I see the scratches are healing well!" A mocking tone that catches Henry off guard. Quickly noting how one of your nails seems a bit broken, connecting them to the multiple scratches littering the guards face and neck.
As amusing as your comment was, Henry and you both knew it was a stupid thing to say.
"Enough!" The guard growls, grabbing your arm and yanking you up, grasp tightening in a sick pleasure after hearing your pained cry.
"Let her go." Came Henry's quiet voice. You and the guard turn back to see Henry standing now, shoulders squared and jaw tensed.
"You want to go, freak? Last time didn't go to good for you." Henry grimaces at the memory, he'd been having trouble with his abilities since being imprisoned, seemingly unable to focus. Leaving him rather vulnerable to the guards should he become aggressive.
He thought of you just now, your pain, the way you apologized for having not realized how cruel he was treated, for the way you'd comforted him when he started to cry.
Reaching out, his hand arcing up before contorting slightly. The pressure is gone from your arm, allowing you to stumble away and stand beside Henry.
Henry doesn't stop though, no, he won't stop until every bone in that man's hand is broken. Working quickly, listening to each snap and how the guard is crying in pain while calling for help.
"Help, he's attacking me, he's protecting that bitch of a nurse!" Yells the guard. Henry pauses, he was going to stop at the limb disfigurement, but the guards choice of words practically sealed his fate.
He focuses once more, forcing the man's neck to slowly turn until it reached the point where he was crying from the strained tendons. He's ready, almost snapping his neck before a gentle pressure is felt on his shoulder.
"Henry, don't." You whisper, not wanting to see him get hurt again.
Opening his eyes he stares from the panicked guard to your worried expression, slowly releasing his hold on the guard until the man fell slack to the floor gasping for breath.
"Don't hurt him! Please! It was my fault!" You yelled, stepping between him and the 20 guards flanking Brenner.
"She's lying, she had nothing to do with this!" Henry proclaims, stepping forward and allowing the guards to grab him despite you trying to yank him back.
Brenner simply watches, eyes flitting between your tears and Henry's sudden willingness to be captured. A cruel gleam in his eyes lights up at having finally found a weakness, something Henry cares about.
"Grab her." He orders softly, two guards immediately subduing you, dragging you into the hall.
"Put him back in his room." Brenner orders, the guards roughly shoving him into the room. He falls forward, catching himself before turning in horror after hearing Brenner's next words.
"Give her his punishment."
"What? No, no! I did it, I hurt the guard because I wanted to, it has nothing to do with her!" He yells, trying to rush forward before having his door loudly slammed and licked in front of him.
Brenner follows behind the group as the guards drag you away, a cruel grin easing onto his face at the sound of Henry's pleas for them to not hurt you.
"She's nice, isn't she?" Henry remarks as he walks Eleven back to the rainbow room; having noticed the way she clung to you during her medical checks, seeking comfort during the blood draw.
You were kind as ever, praising her for how well behaved she was. Henry didn't miss the pain in your eyes though, no... even after all these years you still cried for the pain he and all the other children received.
Eleven looks to Henry hesitantly, nodding in confirmation.
"Hmm, she's my favorite too." He replies, guiding Eleven through the doors before moving to stand silently in observation.
"If you guys yell at me one more time - Oh! Henry." Your irate tone dropping into a motherly fondness at the sight of him.
"Mom." A warm smile never shown to anyone appears so easily in your presence.
Before another word is spoken he's rushing forward, a tight hug that must be cut short. You're technically not supposed to talk or interact with him since Brenner sees you as an emotional attachment that destroys his authority, but Henry has found he doesn't give a shit about the potential consequences.
"I missed you." He mumbles, slowly pulling away from the embrace.
"I missed you too." Voice a soft tone specifically kept for him, one not even offered to the most distraught of the children, and Henry revels at knowing that.
"But you must stop, you're going to get in trouble." You urge, wishing he'd care more about his well being, but knowing he won't.
"You worry too much." A playful smile on his lips at noting the serious expressions marring your gentle features. You just shake your head, having already known that'd be his response.
You step back, turning around to face some of the medical cabinets.
"Here, I thought you might enjoy these." Turning back to him with several books in hand.
"No way!" Henry's grinning wide as ever, grateful to have something to pass the time as Brenner still kept him under lock and key.
He lifts his eyes back to you, mouth open to thank you before freezing at the sight before him.
You stand there, a small cupcake in your hands with a single candle lit, eyes gentle in the way they regard him.
"I know it's not a cake, but I couldn't be stopped from celebrating your birthday."
"I-" He stutters, unable to vocalize the way he's feeling.
"You don't have to say anything, though I would prefer you eat this thing in the next 10 seconds before the guard passes this room." You remark in a worried yet humorous tone despite the fact you're not joking.
That's just what Henry does, blowing out the candle, which you swiftly remove before he all but shoves the entire cupcake in his mouth. Turning so his back is facing the door while he chews as fast as humanly possible.
"Hey, he's not supposed to be in here." A gruff voice sounds, your head snapping to the guard knowing Henry has not removed the evidence of his birthday gift.
"He had a medical issue, I was the only nurse available." You smoothly lie, hoping the guard will just leave. Sadly, no such luck.
"Medical issue huh, like what?" The guard calls your bullshit.
"Ever heard of HIPAA, dipshit?" An insult was the first thing to come to mind, and even at your rather adult age, who were you to turn down taunting an asshole?
"Why you-" The guards snarls, but is quickly cut off by Henry stepping in front of you.
"I had a sore throat, she was just about to give me some lozenges." His words causing you to snap into action, locating a bag beneath the counter. Henry rarely gets sick, but he's not allowed candy, so you've found a way to sneak him some sort of treat in the form of sugarless unmedicated lozenges, his favorite were the fruit ones - which you kept stocked just for him, them being the bag you were handing him at the moment.
He pops one into his mouth, humming at the sensation, hoping the guard will be convinced. He still looks suspicious, but slowly walks away, huffing that Henry better be gone by the time he's back.
"You're the best!" He grins, kissing your cheek at your feigned annoyance.
"Yeah yeah, I know, now get out of here. We got lucky this time, so take your books and get going." You grumble, though he knows you're anything but upset.
He turns to leave before facing you once more.
"Can I come back? Next week?" He begs, tone low but eyes hopeful. He always asks, each visit made is a threat to you, Brenner has ensured Henry knows that any infraction will mean you get hurt - hence why each rendezvous is completely at your discretion.
"Henry, the more you stop by, the more likely it is you'll get hurt." Standing in silence, awaiting a definite yes or no. One simple nod of your head sends him off with a light smile, a sense of serenity encompassing him.
