Redeemed Henry Creel headcanons !
— These are personal headcanons of mine on how I would interpret Henry if he were to be free from the mind flayer :)
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• First off, Eleven would be the one to redeem Henry. not Will.
• Kali would also take a role in freeing him from the mind flayer, but it’s mostly Eleven.
• Henry would fall into a coma for a while after being released from his Vecna form.
• When he wakes up, he no longer has his abilities since they originally came from the mind flayer, to which he’s salty about since Henry likes feeling powerful.
• Very physically weak. probably struggles to do basic things like eating, walking, and sleeping.
• Like, I’m talking insanely weak. can barely walk, is always in chronic pain, and even throws up after he eats :(
• He suffers from frequent nightmares, so he’s extremely insomniac.
• He also gets overstimulated easily.
• Definitely suffers from severe depression, PTSD and social anxiety.
• Henry’s hatred for humanity and his twisted worldview remains, but without the genocidal part.
• Is INCREDIBLY stubborn at first. He’s overwhelmed with hatred and has trust issues and a shit-load of trauma. so obviously, he’s going to be avoidant and cold.
• In the beginning, Henry would push everyone away. denying any form of help until El and Kali finally make him see the light. (Joyce as well since they knew each other in high school.)
• It’s only after a whole year that Henry begins to finally accept the help and love that’s being offered to him. love is such a foreign concept to him.
• Very, very, VERY affection/touch starved without realizing it
• Like when El hugs him, he starts to cry.
• Doesn’t like anyone else touching him, though.
• Speaks in a very alienated and articulated way.
• Still gives evil speeches on how much he hates society (but without the urge to murder everyone anymore)
• Henry honestly still struggles with the darkness inside of him and has intrusive thoughts about hurting others due to his trauma.
• Lowkey a Will Byers hater. keep them away from each other.
• Has MAJORRRR mommy issues (this is just canon)
• Joyce high-key triggers those mommy issues.
• Henry is only close with El, Kali, and Joyce.
• Realistically, the others are still skeptical of him because he committed horrible acts at the end of the day. (actions he did himself that weren’t influenced by the mind flayer)
• When El tells Henry about Angela, he praises her for bashing her nose with the roller skate.
• Henry enjoys drawing and painting.
• He most likely vents through his artwork. drawing morbid pictures of his experience with the mind flayer, hawkins lab, and his abusive parents when he was little, along with his hatred for the world.
• Kali understands Henry the best regarding his worldviews since she was in the same boat as him since they were both individuals who took out their anger on the world because of the hatred they had towards people back then.
• Loves visiting insectariums
• Can’t drive for shit LMAO
• Doesn’t understand D&D
• He thinks it’s stupid
• Naturally likes the cold weather now and can’t get used to the hot weather.
• Acts somewhat childish since the mind flayer took hold of him at such a young age.
• Doesn’t want to be employed due to his social anxiety
• CANNOT attend any doctor’s appointment for the life of him.
• It reminds him of the lab.
• Oddly enough, he doesn’t have a phobia of needles, since they’ve been punctured in him throughout his entire life. he would probably get flashbacks, though.
• Has beef with Hopper because he’s jealous of him since Hopper was the one who got to raise El.
• Most likely would need to attend therapy regarding his mental health. he can’t bring up his supernatural past though.
• Henry is extremely awkward when it comes to comforting others despite being insanely emotionally intelligent. even though he worked as an orderly where he was surrounded by children and trained to comfort others, that comfort was never genuine, so he honestly just has no clue on how to be normal.
• But all the things he struggles with in life eventually gets better, and he improves each and every single day!
• Henry debates on whether or not to go and visit his father, Victor Creel, in the psychiatric hospital, but it wouldn’t be good for either of them since Victor is basically insane now.
• Henry definitely asked Joyce about Patty and was disappointed to find out that Joyce has no contact with her whatsoever.
• Sadly, Henry will probably never fully recover since the trauma he experienced may have permanently altered the way he operates as a human being. however, having people who actually care for him and be present in his life makes it better, and he eventually mends himself back to health, finds better coping mechanisms, surrounds himself with outcasts who understand him, accept him, and most importantly give him the love he deserves so that he can live out the life he’s always dreamed of.
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I hope y’all enjoyed my headcanons! should I do a part 2? also feel free to leave a comment telling me what you think of these or if I should’ve added something specific.
