Summary: With Dr. Alexei as a hostage, Jim, Joyce and you try to get back to Hawkins. When the car breaks down, you'll have to find other resources. Jim annoying himself over how familair Alexei and you are getting. [part 2 & part 3 & part 4]
“Magnets. Do you know magnets.” Joyce clicking the two rocks in her hand against each other. “Magnet…” her desperation growing in the tone of her voice. “Magnit.” The Russian guy answered as you watched from afar. Seeing the expression on his face that he tried to hide. Trying to remain polite to Joyce as she tried communicating with him in such a childish way.
“So magnit on my fridge… icebox…” Joyce went on, acting it out. Upon following their conversation, you snorted soft, trying to supress your laugh by keeping your knuckles against your lips. Shoulders shuddering a bit with silliness, your eyes locked with the Russian guy.
Giving you a dead-ass stare for what he had to endure. There was no need for an explanation to understand, he was close to asking to sedate him. His expression made you chuckle up even more. The Russian pushing his glasses further up his nose with a brief chuckle.
Joyce lost focus for a second, looking back at you before continuing her rampage over magnets that lost it’s magnitude. “Machina?” he responded to her words, drawn back to her. “Yes, yes Machina!” Joyce exclaimed. Adding some engine sounds with it. “Machina.” The Russian repeated with some understanding.
Pointing at the car, Jim was trying to fix. “Vroom, vroom.” The Russian spoke, turning his hand like switching on the engine. Joyce confused, shook her head. “No, no not car.” Swaying her hands across. The entire conversation made you chuckle. “Joyce! Please you give me a headache!” Jim said loudly.
“Both of you.” He approached you as you held out an old shirt to him. He accepted it with a nod, wiping his face clean. He rolled with his eyes and a loud sigh when Joyce approached. “Hey I am making progress.”
“Progress? You call that progress, Y/n?” Jim looked over his shoulder to you. You pulled up your shoulders. “What have you learned then? That Smirnoff.” Jim began. “Alexei.” Joyce corrected him. “Smirnoff.” Jim persisted on, refusing to call him by his name.
Rolling your eyes at them, you approached Alexei. Their bickering continuing. Pulling your shoulders up with a cheeky glance at him. Alexei responded with an expression of his own that you were right. “Why don’t you do something useful as try to start the car.” Jim threw the keys at Joyce, which she almost dropped.
Making your cousin sigh the loudest, laying the old shirt on his face. Wanting to disappear. Joyce started the car as Jim came leaning over the engine. Alexei stared with focus at the car. “It’s not working.” Joyce called out. “Well try again.” Jim outed. Joyce tried to start the car again.
Faintly you could hear something that didn’t seem right. Feeling tapping on your shoulder, made you turn around. Alexei pointing quickly at the car. “Hey!” he called out. “Stop! Stop! Stop!” waving his cuffed hands best as possible. “Cous… Jim!” you joined to get his attention. Jim looked back at you with confusion.
“Stop!” Alexei spoke clearly. When Jim wouldn’t listen he started to shout in Russian at him. “Smirnoff, shut it. Come on didn't you hear me I said shut up!” coming over annoyed. Your eyes widened seeing the black smoke come from the engine. “Jim!” you called out, a second later a small explosion.
That for sure getting his attention. Joyce cursing as she jumped out, right before the engine exploded. Leaving the car useless. “Stop.” Alexei spoke unable to resist rubbing it in his face. “He did warn you.” You added, backing up Alexei.
Jim wiped his hand frustratingly down his face with a loud exhale. Jim freed Alexei from the tree, keeping him handcuffed for the walk. A walk for civilisation. Jim wanted to keep a close eyes on him, pulling him along by his cuffs. Joyce walking by his side. You joined Alexei’s side. With your cousin and Joyce getting in a discussion again, you wanted better company.
Alexei pointed at you, then at himself. “Alexei.” He spoke. Understanding what he meant, you gestured at yourself. “Y/n.” Pronouncing it slowly for him to catch it. It took Alexei a few attempts to say it. “Y/n.” saying with a soft chuckle, pushing his glasses back. You hummed loudly, repeating your name as well. “Hey!” Jim suddenly yanked at Alexei’s cuffs.
Making him stumble over his feet, further away from you. “No getting cosy.” Jim called out. “He just asked my name.” you responded a bit bothered by your cousin’s protective jealousy. “I don’t care, I don’t like Smirnoff.” He answered, moving his hands to his hip. “Alexei!” you made clear that he had a name. “Smirnoff!” Jim repeated with a hard stare. “Uhm… Hop.” Joyce began. “Not now Joyce.” He snapped back at her.
“He’s running.” Joyce pointed at Alexei running off. Jim immediately turned his head. “Sh*t.” he cursed out, going in pursuit. “Smirnoff stop!” he shouted. Joyce and you began running after them. Smiling a bit at how cunning Alexei was. Jim huffing and puffing to catch up.
Grabbing him firm by his shoulders when Alexei had stopped at the edge of the woods. “Vroom vroom.” Alexei spoke, pointing at the cars by the gas station. Having looked over his shoulder, smiling back at you as he proudly pointed it out. You couldn’t resist a smile back. Sighing with a shake of his head,
Jim grabbed Alexei by the shoulder, shoving him forwards. The four of you entered the gas station. Going immediately to the coolers for drinks. Dehydrated, you nearly drank an entire can empty. Alexei tapped you on the shoulder.
“вхатс тъат?” pointing at the slushy maker. “That’s a slurpee.” You explained to him. Alexei spoke some more, still pointing at it. You hummed loudly, going with him to the slushy machine. Alexei pulled the lever down, letting it fall on his fingers.
Scooping it up and putting it quickly in his mouth. Making you laugh at how silly he was being. He hummed happily at the flavour in his mouth. “You want one?” you suggested, pointing at the machine. Alexei nodded. You filled a cup with a slurpee.
“до ёу вант то тастэ?” He spoke as you tried to understand what he meant. He moved the cup closer to you, lifting the straw a bit up. Furrowing your brows at what he meant till it got you. Laughing softly. “No, I’m fine. It’s yours.” Declining a taste.
Alexei pulled his shoulders up, slurping from the straw. Jim whistled loud at you, calling you over. You joined him at the counter. “Don’t get so close to him.” He mumbled to you. “Aw are you jealous Hop?” you fluttered your eyelashes at him to tease him more. Jim grumbled annoyed. “No.”
Poking him in the cheek, you found it funny how Jim sometimes acted like a big brother to you. Having grown up together with just a few years apart. He was the closest family you had. Cousins. Following them outside, Jim walked straight up to a Cadillac. Shoving Alexei in the backseat.
“Hey! Hey! What’s going on?” the owner called out confused. Jim continued to casually claim the car. ‘That man in there,” referring to Alexei already in the car. “I know he doesn’t look like it, but he is one of the most dangerous men in the world.” Jim casually opening his snack. Glancing back at Alexei.
Alexei slowly moving his lips over the straw to slurp from his slurpee with a cheeky glance. It took you immense willpower not to laugh at that. “He’s uh… murdered many children.” Lying straight to the owner of the car. Jim motioned with his head for you to get in the car. You jumped in the backseat with Alexei.
“Hey.” Alexei said softly. “Hey.” You responded finding his Russian accent cute. “I’m confiscating this car.” Jim finished urging Joyce over. Joyce got in the front seat. “So… so how do I get my car back?” the owner asked. “Call the station.” Jim responded, starting the engine. Enjoying the sound of it. “
What station? Hey what station?” the owner grabbing onto the side with some desperation. “The station.” Jim repeated driving off. Nearly riding over the owner’s feet. The car chased off. “So where are we going?” Joyce questioned. “To someone I know.” Jim responded. “Y/n” Alexei said tapping you on your knee.
Humming loud, you turned your head to him. Pulling his shoulders up, he spoke in Russian as you tried your best to understand from his body language what he wanted. He tried to act it out with gestures. “Oh… I don’t know where we are going, Alexei.” You responded hoping it was what he wanted to know. “All I know is we need to stop machina.”
