DON’T USE ANY OF MY WORK FOR AI OF ANY KIND!
Steve Harrington x Powered!Fem!Sinclair Reader (she/her)
Childhood best friends to Lovers
You just wanted to be a normal teenage girl: annoying siblings, teen drama, even a crush on your charming best friend, but life has other plans when nightmares from your past come back to haunt you, plunging your friends and family into a world of fighting chaos and monsters.
Prologue: The Vanishing of Y/n Sinclair
Season one
Chapter 1: Back To Normal...Right?
Chapter 2: Sometimes I Only See A Stranger
Chapter 3: The Impossible Reunion
Season Two
Chapter 4: MADMAX
Chapter 5: Trick or Treat
Chapter 6: What's The Verdict: Cat?
Chapter 7: The Case of the Horrified Butcher
Chapter 8: Before I Never Get The Chance To Tell You
Season Three
Chapter 9: Amateur Code Crackers
Chapter 10: Free Ice Cream For Life
Chapter 11: Does Anyone Copy? This Is A Code Red!
Chapter 12: The Adventures of Bloody Boy and Puke Girl
Hi! I was wondering if, in the future there will be skits for anyone under 16? Because I'm 13 (14 in September and would love to be in tttbu. Thank you for getting back to me and have a nice day.
hi! yes, there will be more opportunities for younger voice actors in the future too! every skit will have it’s own rating, so some will definitely be 13+ rather than 16+, as of now, i’m not certain on what the ties that bind us is going to be. it was 13+ to beta, but i can’t guarantee anything on voices right now, since the project is currently on hiatus!
I'm of course going to finish my holdovers au, but I was really inspired and I wanted to start getting some parts out. This will be a series rewrite, so there will be plenty to come. I hope you all like it. I don't see a lot of powered/number readers so I wanted to write one that extends through all the seasons. A good amount of chapters will probably include multiple episodes in them, depending on the season. But enough yapping I hope you guys enjoy it!!!
TW: Canon level violence, gore, death, and blood, kidnapping
WC: 3.6k
Childhood best friends to Lovers
Steve Harrington x Powered!Fem!Sinclair!reader (she/her)
Series Masterlist
Divders by @reevesoc
1977 - Age 11
The Hawkins Six O’clock news’s reporting on the weather forecast for the next week had been abruptly interrupted. The forecasted sunny week was about to be rain on by a heavy melancholic cloud
“Breaking News, A young girl has been reported missing, Y/n Sinclair, age 11.” They described your features and height while displaying a photo of you from your eleventh birthday party. “She was last seen by her best friend, the two splitting up at approximately 4:00 pm. She left Hawkins Junior High on a purple bike. If you believe you have seen her or have any information on her whereabouts, please reach out to the number below or call 911. Thank you.”
That day began as it usually had. Steve arrived at your house at 7:30 am to bike to school.
You said your normal goodbyes to your parents and siblings before running to meet Steve at the end of your driveway. Like usual he had your bike already stood upright, supported by its kick stand so that the two of you could take off at a moment’s notice. You did your special secret handshake before climbing onto your bikes and the two of you were officially on your way at 7:35.
The day that seemed like any other began to shift when after only five minutes of biking, you couldn’t shake the feeling that the van behind you was definitely not for a new plumbing company in town.
“Are you ok?” Steve questioned after the fourth time you looked over your shoulder.
“I don’t know. Do you think that van’s following us?” Your question prompted Steve to look behind him as well. As soon as he looked, the van took a sharp right turn.
“It turned, so I guess we’re ok. If it comes back, then I’ll protect you. A knight protects the damsel in distress.”
“I am not a damsel in distress. Out of the two of us, I am definitely the knight. You’re more like the jester.” You teased. He swerved his bike into yours in retaliation, the two of you falling into fits of laughter.
You were so caught up in your moment that you hadn’t even noticed the van creeping out from an alley like a lion stalking its prey.
You saw the van again when you were out in the school yard. You didn’t want to believe that it was following you. You tried to reason it away, thinking that it was maybe what Mr. Clark described as apophenia. You noticed more vans cause you couldn’t stop thinking about the one from the morning. Simple pattern recognition.
You hadn’t realized how long you’d been staring until Steve shoved you out of the way when a soccer ball nearly took your head off.
“Y/n? What the hell? I was shouting for you to move for like ten seconds. Are you ok? You’ve been acting funny all day.” Steve asked with concerned eyes.
“Sorry, I don’t know. It’s been a weird day.” You rubbed your forehead like a genie contained lamp.
If one came out, you would’ve ask it to poof you home, leaving behind a cloud of purple smoke.
It had completely slipped your mind that Steve had basketball tryouts after school. You felt a little bad considering it was one of the only things he’d been talking about for the past week. As much as you wanted to go home, you knew you had to stay with him. He did the same for you when you tried out for the soccer team a month ago.
“You can go home without me.” Steve offered when the pair of you walked up to the gymnasium only to realize the line had been out the door.
“No way! I’m have to be here. It’s what best friends do.” You locked your fingers with his. The contact brought a smile and light blush to his face.
“I know and I really want you here, but it’s almost four. There’s no way you’ll make it back home before curfew if you wait with me. Your parents almost killed you last time and I don’t know if I can go another week without you. Your punishment is my punishment, so go home before we’re both in the doghouse.” He reasoned. You were annoyed that he was right. It sucked when you were apart from each other. School wasn’t enough, especially since you started middle school. You had only been sharing one class this year. The school hadn’t realized you were a dynamic duo. A package deal with a red notice stamp that read ‘THIS IS A SET DO NOT SEPARATE.’
You were about to concede until you remembered what had been the reason for your constant uneasy feeling.
“What about the van?” You whispered as if it was top secret information.
“I’m sure it’s nothing. And I said I would protect you. Even if you think I’m just the jester. Even from here at school. I’ve got your back. Always.” He held his pinky out which you promptly accepted.
“Fine! I’ll go.” You groaned dramatically. “Call me when you get home. Tell me everything.”
“Duh! You’re first on the list.” He chuckled pulling you into a parting hug.
Steve’s promise to you would haunt him for years to come. He really thought he could do it. He thought he could protect you from across the world. He was your knight in shining armor no matter what you said. It destroyed him that day when he realized he couldn’t. That his broken promise would hurt the person he loved most in the world in ways he couldn’t yet comprehend.
If you had known then that it would be the last time you would hug your best friend in two years, you would have clung to him tighter. Like he was your life raft while you were adrift at sea.Before you left in the morning you would’ve stayed in your father’s embrace and gave your mother an extra kiss before you ran out the door to meet Steve. You would’ve entertained your Erica’s toddler babble for longer and let Lucas finish his rant about Dustin scamming him out of his latest Spider-Man comic. Every silly little thing that you hated, every chore assigned to you that felt like the end of the world. You would have cherished them. It was true when your parents would say ‘you never know what you have until it’s gone.’
You had no idea the trouble that would follow you when at the age of eight, you realized you could move things with your mind. It started with little things. You would stare at a pencil a little too long then it would launch itself off the table. If you got mad, objects around you would crack or shatter. If you had nightmares, you would wake up to a room in ruins. When your parents would ask what happened, you answered truthfully. You had super powers, but of course they didn’t believe you. Who would? Every child thinks they have them, but they never prepare parents for when it’s true.
The older you got the easier it was to control. You could move things in neutrality. It felt freeing to not worry about shattering a window because you flunked your math test.
You had no idea at the time that you were special. Someone that people in lab coats would search and scour for.
The lab discovered your abilities by accident. They were doing routine surveillance of the area when they saw you in the woods on Valentine’s day. It was the first time in a while that your emotions caused you to lose control of your powers. It was the day Tammy Thompson kissed Steve on the cheek. She thought he sent her a valentine gram, never knowing the blue eyed girl sitting behind her was the true sender. That day the two of you unknowingly shared the sorrow of watching the person you liked being interested in someone else.
As soon as school had ended, you ran into the woods behind the high school. You sat at the lone picnic table and began to sob. You hadn’t realized that the trees around you seemed to bend and crack at every ragged breath you made. Your destruction only being evident when the tears subsided and you lifted your head to see that the trees around you had snapped in half.
It all led to this pivotal moment. In a stand off with four men who were sent to bring you to Hawkins Lab to be poked, prodded and tested by scientists in white coats.
You had put up a good fight as long as you could, running circles around grown men. It would’ve been pretty comical when you remove the ‘fearing for your life’ aspect from it. You were so close to getting away until you collapsed to the ground. Your body unable to take anymore stress, let alone all the blood that was rushing from your nose. You had never knowingly used your powers like this before and it felt like they were draining everything your body had to give.
Your vision had been spotty when you woke up. The blinding fluorescent light above you definitely wasn’t helping. You began to panic when you didn’t recognize your environment. The EKG machine’s beeping sped up, drawing the attention of the nurses from the hallway.
“What am I here? I want to go home.”
“You are home, dear.” The nurse tried to soothe you.
“No, I'm not. Where’s my mom and dad?” You were starting to hyperventilate as you attempt to pull every uncomfortable piece of medical equipment off your body.
“How about this sweetheart, I go get the doctor and he’ll explain everything to you. Will that make you feel better?” She offered as kindly as she could, but you could hear the contempt bubbling under the surface. You gave her hesitant nod, hoping that by the end of this would be able to go home.
You jumped when the nurse came back with a tall man with gray hair. Just like the nurse, he wore a friendly veneer to hide the ugly underneath.
He tried his best to explain why you were in what you now know is Hawkins Lab. He said you were special. That you had a gift that could change the world and that he understands you. He never mentioned your parents or when you would be be leaving. It quickly became clear that this is “home” now.
After that you spent the rest of the day sedated. You had already been causing problems and they couldn’t handle anymore power related outbursts. The lightbulbs in the room shattered when they tried to take the razor to your head to shave your luscious hair and the door almost blew off its hinges when you realized what the big buzzing needle filled with black ink was for.
When you finally woke up, you were in a small white box in an incredibly uncomfortable bed, with a bandage wrapped around your wrist that felt sore when you touched it. You peeled it back to see 009, tattooed into your inner wrist. You pulled your knees to your chest, sitting against your headboard and began to cry.
Once you were cried out, you spent the next hours trying to pry the door open. It never budged once. You were only hurting yourself at this point. You let out an exasperated breath and flopped onto your bed after your most recent attempt. You were getting out of this place one way or another.
1978 - Age 12
The past year had been absolute hell for you, but you found your bright spots, mainly in the other kids. You grew especially close to 005. 005 had been fourteen years old when you arrived, but of course he didn’t know that. You told him about the outside world, about your family, about Steve. He would listen in wonder and ask you questions when you would mention things he’d never heard of before. He was funny and protective, and he deserved so much more than a lab that only saw him as a number. All of the you did.
You had become a thorn in the sides of the staff. They were sick of your non compliance. While you grew to speak to the children, you hardly opened your mouth for them.
You would fight when they tried to put the monitor on your head during tests. You would defy instructions no matter how simple they were. When ‘papa’ told you to crush a soda can, you would launch it into the examination window, giving them the middle finger.
At skill checks, you would purposely under perform when they knew you could do better than that.
‘Papa’ would always give you a talking to, but he had absolutely nothing on Diane Sinclair.
You began to notice a specific orderly hovering around you and another girl you knew as 011. When you would exit the testing room he would be there. Even when he wasn’t assigned to escort you back to your room he would be there. His eyes would always send a shiver down your spine.
When you were forced to spar, it was like a fire lit behind his eyes, excited to see what your abilities could do. Whenever you tried to avoid him, he would be there, especially if you were around 011.
When you would have time alone, you would scheme. You would take stationary with you under your bed. You began to keep track of times. When doors would open how long they would stay open. Gaps when things were left alone when they shouldn’t be. You would write and collect every opening. When you had time, you would walk the halls ‘aimlessly’ counting steps to write down later. You had spent the year trying to map everything the best you could. Every possible exit and hurdle. Freedom felt so close that you could taste it.
1979 - Age 13
The door to your ‘bedroom’ was cracked open. Your brows raised in confusion when you approached it. You couldn’t decide if this was a mistake or a trap to ambush you. You hoped that it was the former.
As soon as you excited the room the red emergency lights began to flash and the ear pricing alarm blared.
You creeped through the halls checking around every corner. Your confusion only heightened at the lack of orderlies. They were always roaming the halls, either patrolling or to escort children to and from the testing rooms.
Your heart hammered at the eerie energy radiating through the walls. A rapidly flickering light illuminating a previously pitch black hall grabbed your attention.
The closer you got, the hair on your arms began to rise.
You screamed in horror when you saw the path of dead mangled bodies. Blood streaking from their noses and eyes. Their limbs twisted unnaturally and the bones jutted from their skin. Their attempts to flee were evident when you saw bloody handprints smeared on the walls. The further you went through the hall the worse it got. You finally arrived at the recreation room, decorated with a rainbow covered wall. When you entered of course there were more bodies. The river flowing from your eyes rushed faster when you saw 005, his body in the same condition as the others. It felt like your heart was being absolutely crushed. You hoped you could take 005 with you and show him the world. You wanted to introduce him to Steve and hoped that he would love him as much as you did. Now that dream would never come true.
You eyes shifted to the orderly standing in the middle of the room, covered in blood. He stood tall, proud of his actions.
“What are you doing out of your room, 009?” He tilted his head, sending you sinister smile that made your stomach turn and your heart rate accelerate.
Without thought, you ran through the door slipping on 005’s blood on the way out. You raced back to your room with tears streaking down your face. As soon as your room door shut, you jolted awake, body soaked in sweat. You climbed out of bed as fast as you could. You pushed your bed and desk against your door, before sitting down in the corner furthest from the entrance.
You pulled your knees to your chest and sobbed, rocking back and forth to self soothe. Your body felt bone dry but you kept crying anyway. It didn’t feel like a normal nightmare. Not like when you and Steve would watch scary movies and you’d get scared. You felt like you were there. Seeing the bodies, their metallic blood overpowering the sanitized lab smell. How real the blood felt under your foot when you slipped on it. You began to think that you walked through your dream into a doorway of the future. You should’ve known that it was him. He always hovered where he didn’t belong and stared like he was calculating any and everything that moved all while trying to present as the young friendly orderly.
You were resolute in your decisions when you decided that the only way to protect everyone was to stop him before he had a chance to act in his sick desires.
Your plan to escape had been put on the back burner. You instead focused you attention on him. Every road you could think of always led to the same dead end. You had to kill him. It was the only way to ensure everyone’s safety.
“Mr.” You shuffled up to him with a frown.
He was a slightly taken aback by your actions. To his knowledge, he would be the first staff member you would go out of your way to speak to since you arrived.
“Yes?” He leaned down to look at you with piercing blue eyes. Any doubt that you had about what you were about to do left. Those eyes carried nothing but anger and evil, no matter how well he tried to mask it.
“My head hurts really bad.” You began to sway in place like you were on the brink of collapse.
“Really? How about I fetch you an aspirin and see if that helps.” He offered, placing a hand on your forehead feel for a fever.
“No Mr, I don’t think so. The last time I had one, the pain would go away so the nurse had to give me morpha something.”
“Morphabond?” He corrected. You nodded lightly, bringing your hand up to your forehead to offset your action. “Those are in the medical wing. It’s going to take a minute to get them. I can bring them to you.”
“Can I come with you? ” You answered a bit too quickly for someone in as much pain you claimed to be in. His eyes squinted at you in slight distrust.
“Are you sure you don’t want to sit down?” He countered.
“I just want to take them right away. It hurts so bad.” You whined.
“How about this? You sit here.” He pulled out a wheelchair stashed behind a cart. “And I’ll wheel you with me. We both win. Does that sound like a deal?” He held his out for you to shake. He smiled widely when you shook it.
“Great! Let’s get you fixed up.”
The medical bay was almost vacant when you arrived just as you expected. As part of your escape plan, you had been monitoring shifts, silently faking ailments to different orderlies.
“Ah-ha! Found it!” He cheered, dumping two pills into a small cup. He handed them to you before grabbing you a cup of water.
“Thank you.” You replied before ‘swallowing’ them. You had been pretending to take your ‘vitamins’ for weeks when you first arrived, before they caught you and forced you to start swallowing them in front of them.
“Feel better?” He bent down to your level. You meekly nodded.
“Perfect, let's get you back.” You almost shuttered when he placed a bent finger under your chin, just like your mom did as a ‘good job’ when you swallowed all of your cold medicine.
As soon as he stepped forward, you spit out the pills and held your hand up, your power focused on his throat. You could feel his pulse thrum against your fingers as if they were really on him.
His hand flew to his neck clawing at his throat as if he could pull your hands away. His eyes bulged, turning red as his pulse continued to slow and slow. You could feel his end approaching until a hard object prodded straight into your back, electricity pulsing through you, forcing you to drop your hand and crumble to the floor. The other orderlies were on you in an instant. Each of them held down a limb to keep you pinned to the floor.
“No! No! Let me go! I have to finish! He’s gonna kill them. He’s gonna kill them all! Please! I saw it! Please!” You screamed through tears as you fought against them. The objects in the room began to fall and break in quick succession. The harder they held you down, the more objects crashed around you.
They wouldn’t listen and they wouldn’t let go. They had no idea the horrors that would follow if they didn’t let you finish your self appointed mission. You couldn’t pass up the opportunity to save all the kids that you have bonded with and protected.
You sucked in a deep breath, clenching your eyes closed, pulling something from deep inside you, sending them flying off of you in different directions. The effort forcing a scream through you that almost made your vocal cords rupture. You tried to crawl away from them until the man you almost murdered slammed a syringe into your neck. His dark eyes and mocking wave was the last thing you saw before your eyes shut.
The next night you woke up with your lungs on fire. Your door was ajar, the red lights flashing and the emergency alarm blaring, just like your nightmare. You didn’t want to believe it, but when you pushed through the door, and turned the corner, everything was identical. Blood and dead bodies, lining the hall.
You didn’t want to see the sight ever again, but a part of you hoped that the men in the hallway would be the only casualties. Hoping if you pushed forward some way or somehow the other kids would be safe. You felt stupid for hoping. You had come to know better. Your stomach lurched when you followed the flickering light, once again seeing some of the kids lifeless on the floor. Tears rushed down your face. You decided that this was enough, you couldn’t stand to see anymore. You couldn’t handle seeing him in his blood soaked clothes. This wasn’t a dream to wake up from.
Your stealthy plan of escape had been completely abandoned. You had to get out now before you were next. You tried everything you pushed every door ran through every room and nothing would budge.
The lightbulb in your brain went off as you stepped through the bloodied bodies until you found a doctor. You turned her over, unclipping his ID badge and keys from her coat. Your heart was thundering, scared that at any moment the orderly would come for you.
You swiped the blood slick keycard connected to the reinforced door that was the only thing keeping you from freedom. When the little light finally flicked green, you pushed through and ran as fast as you could. You swiped it at every checkpoint until you made it through the exit of Hawkins Lab.
A wide smile cracked across your face when you felt the rain hit your skin and the earthy fresh air fill your lungs. You were free.
You broke into a sprint, looking behind you every few seconds to see if anyone followed you. You were sure your lungs would explode as you pushed yourself, refusing to stop. Your steps only slowed when you reached the familiar fence that lined the Harrington backyard. Even though it had been two years, you scaled it as if you hadn’t missed a day.
You sighed in relief when you saw a dim light on in Steve’s bedroom.
You found the trellises on the side of the house, climbing it just how you used to until you flopped on the first story roof. You carefully tip toed across it until you reached his room and began pounding on the window, covered by curtains
Steve nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard the banging against his window . He was assuming that it was Tommy trying to play a prank on him. He rolled his eyes, standing to push his curtains apart.
“Real funny assho-” His heart nearly stopped when he instead saw you shivering, soaked in the rain.
His hand flew to the window, unlocking it before sliding it up so hard he thought he would break it. He stretched his hand out for you to grab, wrapping his arm around your waist to help your shivering form make it through the window.
“A-Are y-you real? Is it you?” His voice broke as tears welled in his eyes. He brought his hands to your cheeks, using them to feel your presence and ground himself in what he hoped was reality. He’s had a recurring nightmare at least once a week since you went missing. You would either arrive at his window or his front door. He would hug you tightly and cry because you're finally home only for him to pull away to look at you and you’d be gone.
You nodded through tears in confirmation, your mouth not able to form words.
“Oh, what did they do to you?” His eyes raked over your appearance. Your eyes were sunken and your head was shaved. They had sucked all the life out of you. That sunshine girl with shining eyes and a smile so bright it could light up the whole block was not the same as the one in front of him.
He pulled you into him, squeezing you as tight as he could manage. The space between you was nonexistent and it was evident that not even the jaws of life could separate the two of you. Even as your legs grew tired, you refused to let each other go, opting to sink to the floor, sitting in your own puddle of tears.
Summary: This is what everything has been building up to. Every secret, every lie, every nightmare had been leading up to this. You finally meet a part of your past you thought was forever lost and gained something you never knew that you had, all while your knucklehead best friend can't seem to follow very simple yet important instructions.
A/N: We're finally at the end of season one! It's not one of my favorites just because its the introduction, but I'm still proud of what I did with it. I'm so excited to jump into the next four seasons, so I'll see you on the other side. Also thank you for 150 followers because wtf?!?!?
CW: mentions of kidnapping, experimentation, language, mentions of blood, emotional breakdown, fear of abandonment. I think that's it but lmk if i missed something.
Childhood Best friends to Lovers
King!Steve Harrington x Powered!Fem!Sinclair!reader (she/her)
WC: 7k (again, sorry)
Series Masterlist
Dividers by @reevesoc
lmk if you want to be added to the taglist
Your heart had been hammering in your chest. You were swimming in your own thoughts. When you were sure that you were out of Steve’s view, you slid down the alley wall. You needed to ground yourself. It almost went too far. Breaking a few lights on accident was way better than blowing out an apartment building’s window.
“Breathe in…Breathe out.” You repeated the mantra your therapist had instructed you to do. The storm brewing inside of you was finally beginning to subside. You couldn’t take it anymore. The only thing that would take away this pain, anger, and deep pit of sorrow that sat in your chest was to be honest. No more running, no more hiding, no more lying. You needed to end this before anyone else got hurt.
You ran as fast as you could to the police station.
“Is Chief Hopper here?” You questioned Florence when you arrived at the front desk, trying to catch your breath.
“He’s really busy, dear. How about you take a seat and I’m sure he’ll be with you when he’s free.” She tried to reason, but you were having absolutely none of it.
“Look, this is very important. If you tell him that it’s me asking for him then he will come.I promise. I just really need to talk to him as soon as possible.” You were getting fidgety and slightly annoyed.
“I’m sorry he asked not to be disturbed.” Fuck this. You ran past the desk your destination his office only stopping when you found him talking to a young boy and his mother
“Ms. Sinclair! She called after you, but you paid her no mind.
“Hopper!” You skidded to a stop when you saw him talking to a woman and her young son.
“I’m a little busy, kid”
“I’m ready. I’ll tell you everything. What do you want to know?” You asked.
He pulled you into his office to talk to you.
“The lab. This all because of the lab.” You were quick to start.
“When you escaped, you had a shaved head. That boy out there said that a girl with a shaved head could do things. If this is all connected to the lab, do you know who she is?”
“Girl?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Shit…Ok I don't know who she is but if she was in the lab then I know what she can do.”
“How?” He leaned forward in intrigue.
“Because I'm just like her.” You confessed. It was finally out in the world. You were happy to admit that the elephant sitting on your chest was finally standing up. He was quiet for a moment, trying to process the information that was thrust upon him. A week ago all of this would’ve made absolutely no since. Something conjured up from a child’s imagination, but there was no going back now.
“What about the creature?” He pushed the photo across his desk to lay right in front of you.
“I have no idea what it is. I've only seen it. I've been having nightmares about that thing for days. They started a few days before WIll went missing. I had no idea what it was then and I still don't exactly know what it is now. It just gave me this feeling. I would’ve said something earlier, but who the hell was going to believe me. Do you know how insane I would sound?” You explain the best you could.
“Alright,come on we need to figure this shit out.”
You followed everyone outside, Hopper using the binoculars you bought to spy on the Wheeler’s house. You all stared wide eyed watching men in suits carry boxes out of their house.
“All of the this for Mike?” Nancy began to panic, deep wrinkles etched between her eyebrows as helicopters began to circle overhead. The pit on your stomach began to grow deeper. If they think Mike is involved, what if they know about Lucas we have to find them. L
“Hey, hey listen to me, listen to me.The last thing in the world we need is them knowing you’re mixed up in all this.” Hopper explained, his hand catching her arm as she tried to make a break for her house.
“Mike is over there!” She shouted back with a froggy voice and tear filled eyes.
“They haven't found him. Not yet at least.” He pointed to a circling helicopter.
“Look, we need to find them before they do. Do you have any idea where they might’ve gone?” Hopper asked the three of you as you piled into the back of his car.
“No I don't know, we don't talk a lot. I mean, lately.” Nancy answered, slightly embarrassed by the distance that had formed between the two as she got older.
“Is there any place that your parents don’t know about that he might go?” He reshaped his question.
“I might.” Jonathan chimed in. “I don't know where he is but I think I might know how to ask him.”
Hopper sped to the Byers’ house. The plan was to find Will’s walkie so that you could hopefully get in contact with the boys.
“Mike! Mike! Are you there? I need you to answer, please.” Nancy pleaded over and over again once the walkie was found. All eyes were on her as you, Joyce, Jonathan, and Hopper crowded in the living room.
“Let me try.” You offered when she received no reply.
“Are you there Lucas? We want to help you. We just need you to answer.” You spoke calmly . Your eyes squeezed shut as you silently pleaded for a response. “Please, Goober.” You begged, pulling out your nickname for him, but you still received nothing. Tired of waiting, Hopper yanked the walkie from your grasp.
“Listen, kid, this is the chief. If you’re there, pick up. We know you’re in trouble and we know about the girl. We can protect you, we can help you, but you gotta pick up. Are you there? Do you copy? Over.” The room hung in silence. The hope of a response waiting by the second.
“Anybody got any other ideas?” He questioned, looking at the four of you. You were all about to give up hope until it finally crackled to life.
“Yeah, I copy.” Mike finally replied. “It’s Mike. I’m here. We’re here.” He confirmed. You all breathed a collective sigh of relief, finally knowing where the little groups of troublemakers’ location.
Hopper made the four of you wait at the Byers’ house while he went to get the boys. The last thing he wanted was for any of you to be more implicated in this mess. Especially now knowing your secret. Your knee was bouncing nervously. Every minute felt like an hour. You just needed to know that he was safe. Things have gotten exponentially worse when you realize a girl just like you was now in the picture.
The three of you shot up from your seats when you heard the car pull up to the house. You and Nancy sprinted through the door, needing to ensure the ones you loved were safe.
“Lucas!” You barreled into him, squeezing him tight. “What the hell Goober? You had me scared out of my mi-” the word died on your tongue when you saw her. Your hold on Lucas relaxed so you could step toward the girl.
“E-eleven?” You sputtered out as you recognized the girl. Your eyes welled and your chest tightened as you took her in. She was so big now.
“Nine?” She asked, just as shocked. You nodded in confirmation and she ran to you. Your tears finally fell when you made contact, holding each other tight. You couldn’t believe she was here. Alive and standing right in front of you.
“What the hell is happening?” Dustin questioned, utterly perplexed
. “How does she kn-”
“Lets talk about this inside not out here.” Hopper swiftly cut him off, craning his neck around in suspicion.
When you got inside, Everyone surrounded you and El, her hand refusing to leave yours. You breathed deeply, preparing to finally talk about the secrets that have been binding you like a straight jacket for years.
“When I got kidnapped they brought me to the lab. There were no names, only numbers. She’s eleven and I'm nine.” You began to vigorously rub the foundation you had been using for years to cover your tattoo. The reminder of every shitty thing you’ve been through. You held out your wrist to the group so that they could see the 009 permanently etched into your inner wrist.
“How have we never seen this before?” Jonathon asked.
“Because I didn’t want anyone to know. I was scared for months when I escaped. I thought that they were gonna come for me, but they never did. Now I'm not so sure anymore. If the lab knows that Eleven is missing and they’re ransacking the Wheeler’s house, who's to say they won’t come find me next.”
“But why you? I’m not sure if I’m understanding.” Joyce tried to follow, her forehead creasing in confusion.
“They wanted me because I can do things.”
“What kind of things?” In lieu of a verbal answer, you focused on the lamp sitting on the table next to the couch. You lifted it and set it down on the coffee table, without a word.
‘What the fuck?!” Lucas freaked. Not because he’s never seen it before, but because his sister was straight from a comic book.
“I mean I can do more but I don’t want to destroy your house.”
“More, like what?” Jonathon prodded.
“Uh…do you guys remember a few years ago when all the trees behind the elementary school all split in half?” The eldest in the group nodded. “That was me.” You admitted.
“Shit.” Hopper rubbed his forehead. He had been trying to figure out what happened for so long. They didn’t seem like a lumberjack came through and chopped them all down. They seemed like someone ripped them apart in an act of pure anger. “Do your parents know?” Hopper questioned.
“No. Not even Steve knows. Until today.”
“Can you do the radio thing like el?” Dustin asked.
“No. He tried to force me, but I could never do it.”
“He?” Nancy questioned in confusion.
“Papa.” Eleven answered, creating more confusion.
“Papa?” Hopper asked.
“Dr. Brenner.” You clarified.
“C-can you guys help us find Will?” Joyce inquired, reaching for your locked hands.
“We can try.”
The group had spent the past fifteen minutes sharing information and bringing each other up to speed. To say you were scared shitless would be an understatement. Everything is happening all at once and you had no idea where things were gonna fall.
The boys brought out a radio, placing it on the table. Eleven had her eyes closed, trying to align her frequency with the static. The lights began to flicker while she tried to find any trace of Will and Barb.
“I’m sorry.” She apologized, immediately feeling a wave of guilt and failure.
“W-whats wrong? What happened?” Joyce asked, scared of the young girl’s answer.
“I can't find them.” Her eyes welled when Joyce, Jonathan, and Nancy’s faces drop when the hope that they were holding onto was squashed. Her eyes finally landed on yours for comfort.You were the only one who could understand what she was feeling. That feeling of failure Dr, Brenner used to instill in you.
She was quick to bolt to the bathroom. It was like she sent herself to her room like Brenner did to the all of you when you couldn’t perform.
“Eleven? It's me. Can I come in?” You calmly asked as you gently knocked on the door . It felt like a year had passed between the end of your sentence and El slowly opening the door.
“I failed.” She cried with tear stained cheeks.
“No. No sweetheart. You didn't.” You soothed her, stepping in, closing the door behind you.
“But I couldn't find Will or Barb.” She supplied.
“This isn't your fault El, ok? We’ll find another way if we have to. They aren't like papa. They won’t lock you up or hurt you because you couldn’t do it. You aren’t in the lab anymore and I am so sorry El. The night I escaped I thought he killed you too. I would have never left you if I knew that you were still there and I promise that you will never go back again. So let's go out there and see what we can do alright. And I'll help you the best I can. We’re in this together, ok?”
“Ok.” She replied with a meek nod. Before you exited, you caught the tub’s reflection in the bathroom mirror. You couldn’t believe this hadn’t dawned on you earlier.
“We can make her a bath.” You suggested coming out of the bathroom.
“How is a bath supposed to help her?” Lucas questioned in confusion.
“I don’t mean draw her a bubble bath, it's just what the lab called it. Brenner would put us in a bath to amplify our powers. There was no sound and he would make us wear blackout goggles. It was like sensory deprivation. When he tried to see if I could tap into frequencies, he figured if I had nothing else to focus on I could do it. It didn’t work for me cause I just can’t do it, but Eleven can. If we make her a bath, it might help her find them.”
“Yeah, but how do we build one?”
“I don't know that was the last thing on my mind at the time.”
“Mr Clarke!” The lightbulb above Dustin's head illuminated.
You all piled into Hopper's truck, speeding to Hawkins Middle School. It was the best place to find the 1500 pounds of salt that Mr. Clarke told Dustin was required to make this thing work.
While Jonathan and Hopper grabbed the ice, You helped Lucas and Dustin set up the kiddie pool.
“So how long have you been able to do that?” The boys began to interrogate you.
“I don't know, I really only noticed when I was eight.” You answered, earning a gasp from Dustin.
“Youre like a mage!” He cheered, his finger pointed at you.
“Mage?”
“It's a DnD class.” Lucas explained.
“Cool?” You accepted the compliment?
“Hell yeah, it's cool. I can’t believe my sister is like a real life mage!” Lucas’ smile grew wider, excitement deep in his eyes.
“Why didn't you tell us?” Dustin followed up.
“I tried to tell our parents, but they just laughed it off as my imagination. If they didn’t believe me, then who else would?” You spoke, eyes casting down as you opened up.
“Well, we do.” Lucas quickly proclaimed as if it were the law of the universe. The boys dropped the deflated pool, the rubber smacking the hardwood floor, so that they could wrap you into a hug.
“Thank you guys. It feels good that people know. I don't feel like I'm hiding anymore.” You patted their arms as they squeezed you.
“I'm your brother. You never have to hide from me.” Lucas parroted your sentiment for him back to you.
“You got this El. No matter what happens we’ll find Will. Everything will be ok.” You encouraged before releasing your grasp on her hand to allow her to float freely. She gave you a small smile in acknowledgment as the salted water carried her away.
When she tapped into the frequency, the lights began to flicker.
“What's going on?” Nancy questioned, looking at you for answers
“She’s trying to find him.” You explain.
“Is Barb ok? Is she ok?” The worry deep in her voice.
“Gone, gone.” Eleven repeated. You could sense her panic. You and Joyce reached in the water to hold her hand in comfort. Instead of providing her warmth, you found yourself landing in a dark abyss, water under your feet.
“Y/n!” Lucas shouted, running to your side when you slumped forward, head resting on the pool’s edge.
“What’s happening? What the hell is happening!” He frantically looked around the group for answers, they were not equipped to provide.
“She is here. With me.” Eleven spoke slowly, trying to keep her focus.
“If she’s with Eleven, she’ll be ok.” Mike tried to comfort the boy his friend who just wanted his big sister to be ok.
“What the hell? You whispered. “Where am I?”
“The void.” Eleven answered, stepping next to you. “It’s where I see.”
You followed her as she navigated her way through the nothingness until she found a fort labeled castle Byers. When you stepped inside you a shivering Will curled in the fetal position. The two of you comforted him, promising that his mom was coming for him until the vision began to fade and you were yanked back into reality.
You woke with a gasp, pushing yourself away from the pool to lay in your back, your chest rising and falling, blood dripping from your nose as exhaustion began to creep through your body.
“You’re ok. I’m here.” Lucas held your head in his lap. The way you used to do with him when he was younger and would have nightmares about the monsters he believed lived under his bed.
“What just happened?” Hopper looked at you in concern, his eyes blown wide.
“I think she piggy backed.” Dustin tried to explain his revelation
“What the hell are you talking about, kid?” Hopper asked, the scientific speak flying over his head.
“Y/n said that she couldn't do the radio thing that El can, but as soon as she held El’s hand she went into the void with her. Right?” He looked over at you. Only receiving a weak thumbs up in confirmation. Despite taking very little of it in, he still nodded as if he did. If he were to be honest, he didn’t really care much, he just wanted to make sure whatever it was didn’t hurt you.
“Are you ok, kid?” He kneeled down beside you.
“I don’t know.” You responded honestly. You’d never experienced something like this before. It was like your soul left your body before being forcefully shoved back inside. Your powers usualy felt natural, like they were a part of you. Even the parts of them that you hated. But this was new. It was painful and unexpected.
“Let’s get you up, yeah?” Hopper stretched his hands out for you to grab.
“No, no. Just leave me here. I need a minute.” You waved away the help, trying to catch your breath until the world went back.
Lucas jumped when you woke up, practically screaming in his face.
“I’ve got you.” He tried to calm you the best he could.
“Shit, sorry. Are you ok?” You apologized, slapping your hand over your face.
“Am I ok? What about you? You just like passed out and then woke up screaming.
“Sorry I scared you I just- where’s Nancy and Jonathon?” You questioned looking around, your group now split in half.
“They left.” Lucas answered.
“What do you mean they left?” The new information makes you bolt upright. “How long ago?”
“I don't know. Maybe 15 minutes ago.” Dustin estimated, looking down at his watch.
“Fuck! I need to go.” You stood up in a panicked scramble.
“Go? Go where? You can’t just leave us here.” Mike stood, throwing up his hands.
“I’m going to save your sister and Jonathon. They are about to do something incredibly stupid. Like getting themselves killed stupid. ” You paced back and forth trying to figure out how to get to the Byers’ house as soon as you could.
“Ok, I'm just going to have to run.” You mutter to yourself, realizing that there were no cars or bikes available for you to use.
You had been running for god knows how long until a car sped down the road, only to stop and reverse just as quickly. You would be lying if you didn’t say you were nervous, thinking it could be the lab trying to patrol with a low profile.
However your fear quickly dissipated when you recognized the car and the big haired goof who was driving it.
“Y/n?” Steve rolled his window down to look at you. Despite your ever present frustration towards him at the moment, you knew you couldn’t squander the perfect opportunity just fell into your lap
“Oh thank god, let me in!” He quickly leaned over unlocking and pushing open the door for you. No matter how mad you were with each other, he would do the small things that became engrained into the fabric of your friendship.
“What the hell are you doing out here?” He asked when you climbed inside, eyes filled with concern.
“Don’t worry about it. I just need you to get me to the Byers’ house as fast as possible.” You dismissed. Your knee began to bounce, anxiety creeping through your body. It had been fifteen minutes since they left just from you waking up and god knows how long you had been running until Steve drove by. You could hardly pull your eyes from the car’s clock. You had to get there before it was too late.
“Good thing I was on my way there already.”
“Why?” The last thing you wanted or needed was for Steve to get mixed up in this chaos
“To apologize. After the fight, I realized that I was being a total jackass and I need to apologize to him.”
“That’s very nice of you Steve, but can you just drop me off and go?”
“What, the two of you have a date or something?”
“Can you stop joking around? Some serious shit is happening right now, so please just wait like another day. Plus I’m sure you’re the last person he wants to see right now.” You reasoned.
“Well I'm so sorry that my apology to someone else is inconvenient for you. He shot back.
“I don't have time to fight with you again, all right. There is just some shit going on right now that you don’t need to be a part of, so please just drop me off and go home.” You pleaded.
“What is so bad about me trying to apologize to him? Isn’t this what you wanted?”
“Apologizing is the bare fucking minimum you could do, Steve. And he is not the only one that you need to apologize to.”
“Is that it? You want me to apologize to you first?” He threw anything at the wall, trying to figure out why you were being so stubborn.
“I don’t have time to fix our shit right now Steve and our issue requires more than some half assed bullshit apology.” You shook your head, tired of this conversation.
Tears began to well in his eyes. He knew he fucked up before, but now that it was right in font of him he was devastated. You wouldn't look at him, your knee was bouncing as if you were scared, your body was turned away from him. It shook him to the core that he was the cause of this. If only he knew the true reason why.
When the beamer pulled up to the house, you practically launched yourself out of the car. “Jonathon open up! It's y/n! I’m here just let me in!” You pounded against the wooden front door.
“What the hell is happening?” Steve questioned, watching your frantic behavior.
“Thank you for the ride Steve but you really need to get the fuck out of here!” You urged.
“In case you didn’t notice Sinclair, this isn’t your house. I came here to apologize so that is what I’m going to do.” Sometimes you really hated this stubborn knucklehead. You were only trying to protect him from something he couldn’t possibly understand.
“I’m sure you can do it later but for now you need to leave. It’s for your own good.” You turned back to the door.
“I’m here guys!”You continued to pound until the door finally swung open.
“Come on!” Nancy rushed you inside. She was about to close the door until Steve stuck his foot in to stop her.
“Steve, you need to leave…” Nancy parroted your words. The pair beginning to argue at the door.
When you stepped inside you saw the mess of makeshift traps they had created.
“What the hell are you guys doing in here?” You interrogated Jonathon.
“You were out cold so we needed to improvise.” He explained while frantically checking the traps.
“You guys should've woke me up.”
“We were but the boys said something about your battery recharging for your powers to work or something.”
“That’s not- Whatever just tell me what’s happening. Has it come yet?”
“Yeah it came a few minutes ago. Nancy shot it pretty good before it set off a couple of the traps and disappeared into the wall again. Whenever it's here the lights start to flicker.” He explained. Just like clockwork, the lights began to flash on and off.
“Nancy! It's coming back!” He shouted for her attention.
“Shit!” she turned towards the two of you, lowering her gun. Before she could get him to leave, Steve forced his way in. Why can’t this knucklehead do what he's told? No matter how pissed you were at him, all you wanted was for him to be safe.
“What the hell is that?!” Steve shouted when the demogorgon appeared. This was it. The monster that had been haunting you in your sleep. Tall and grotesque, towering over the three of you.
Jonathan latched onto your wrist while Nancy’s latched onto Steve’s.
“Jump!” Jonathan commanded when you began to approach another one of their jerry rigged traps. When the four of you made it inside Jonathon's room, you breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone was ok. You weren’t too late.
“This is crazy !This is crazy!This is crazy!” Steve paced frantically, nearly ripping his hair out as he, tried and failed to wrap his head around what he just experienced. “How the hell are the three of you not freaking out?! What the fuck was that thing?!”
“I told you Steve. You need to go. Get out before it comes back!” Nancy tried to shoo him away.
“Y/n?” he turned to you, hoping you would show him more grace and understanding.
“I’m sorry, but you need to leave Steve. You have no idea what you’re dealing with. Leave now before it’s too late.” In an act of self preservation, he sprinted out the door, not yet realizing what he just left behind.
Once outside, Steve began to dig through his pockets, scrambling to find his keys.
He was about to climb into his car until his head finally cleared and realized what he was doing. He was doing it again. He wasn’t there when you needed him, even if right now you didn’t think so. “What the hell am I doing?” He muttered to himself before slamming his car door before running back inside. Avoiding the traps he remembered were placed along the path to Jonathan's room.
“ I thought you left. What the hell are you doing here?” you questioned when he burst through the door.
“I promised to protect you and I am never breaking that promise again. So what do I need to do?What's the plan?” He looked between the three of you, trying to prepare himself for what’s to come.
The plan was simple. When the demogorgon came back, the three would do what they could to weaken it before retreating to safety back down the hallway, leaving you to finish it off when it came back from licking its wounds. Something Steve wasn’t comfortable with nor understanding of. How were you so sure that you could kill that thing with an axe (something that you grabbed for Steve’s sake.) that was dug from the depths of the Byers’ tool shed.
Your plan went into motion when the lights started to flicker.
“We stick to the plan. No matter what.” The reminder was mainly for Steve, trying to stop him from doing anything stupid.
After being face to face with the massive creature was no longer comfortable in the agreed upon plan, not that he was too fond of it in the first place. The blows he delivered with his nail bat was only effective to the point that it made the demogorgan stumble back. Watching you stand in front of its towering figure made his stomach turn. He began to stand from his position to help you until Nancy grabbed his wrist forcing him to sit back down.
“Stay here. She told us to trust her.” Nancy implored.
“Trust her,are you crazy? She’s gonna get herself killed!” He exclaimed, taken aback by their seemingly nonchalant behavior. “What the hell is wrong with the two of you?”
“We’re sticking to the plan.” Jonathon tried to reason.
“I don’t care about the plan. I’m helping her. I lost her once and I refuse to ever let it happen again.” He shook himself free before creeping out of the until you were in his line of sight.
“Come on you son of a bitch! It's time to end this!”You taunted without a shred of fear. You were tired of this. Not sleeping, lying to your friends and family, that pit of being misunderstood that sat in your stomach. You were finally getting out of your own way and killing that thing is the incredible cherry on top of your self actualization milkshake.
“What are you doing?! Go back in the hallway!” You instructed, agitated that he was straying from the plan.
“I’m here to help you. You’re being stupid. There’s no way you can do this by yourself.”
“Wanna bet?”
“No. Not really. Seeing you ripped to shreds is not something I want to gamble on.”
“She has it under control.” Jonathon tried to reason with Steve again, both he and Nancy joining the two of you in the living room. The lights started to flicker again. The demogorgon began to stretch and claw through the wall.
You closed your eyes and took a deep breath. It had been years since you pushed your powers this hard before. The three of them gasped when your hands raised, forcing the demogorgon from the floor. You let out strained grunts as you began to separate your hand horizontally. Both Nancy and Jonathon had to hold Steve back. His stomach turning at the sounds ripping from your throat.
The farther apart you pulled your hands apart, the skin of the demo began to separate unnaturally. The body began to split down the middle. You finally dropped its body when you tore it in half completely. It’s blood spilling all over the floor. Something you definitely needed to apologize to Joyce for.
When the deed was done, you dropped to your knees, resting your hands on the floor to collect yourself as your nose bled.
Jonathon and Nancy stood in shock. They believed you when you had it under control, but jumping from moving a lamp to ripping apart an interdimensional killing machine was a different story.
“Y/n!” Steve ran to you, dropping to his knees to be at your level. Nancy and Jonathon following him soon after that. “What the hell was that?!” He looked between the three of you.
The two were lost for words considering this was also new territory for them.
“It’s fine. I’m fine Steve.” You tried to calm him, lifting your head to look at him.
“No it’s not ok. Look at you. You’re bleeding!” His breaths became short and panicked.
“It’s ok. I promise.”
“You keep promising me that you’re ok, but that doesn’t seem to be true. What did you do to that thing?”
“I killed it.” You answered as if saying that the sky was blue.
“Killed it? How?” He was utterly confused, especially when Jonathon and Nancy aren’t as freaked out as he is.
“I have powers.”
“Powers? Li-like a super hero?”
“Pretty much.” You replied, wiping your blood.
Your small group had been busy with demogorgon body clean up when Hopper radioed in.
“They found Will!” Jonathan informed the three of you. You all piled into Steve’s beamer to drive to the hospital. You could feel the curiosity in the air as a mixtape of your favorite songs that Steve created played at a low volume.
“I can tell you want to ask Steve, so just out with it.” You prompted, lazily lulling your head over to look at him.
“How long have you been able to do that?” Steve looked at you with a mix of emotion coursing through him. Excitement at the fact that you could do that, fear of what this means for you and a betrayal at the fact you didn’t feel comfortable enough to tell him something of this magnitude.
“Remember when your lamp exploded like seven years ago?” You pulled them from the first example you could think of.
“Yeah?” He responded wearily.
“That was me. I got mad that you kept beating me in battleship.” You began to laugh. It was back when things were simple. A fun secret that you had to yourself that you used to mess with your best friend.
“You did that?!” He quickly glanced at the road before shifting his bewildered focus back to you.
“Yeah. I also used to cheat when we did the strength tester. I would shoot mine all the way up.” You confessed between ragged breaths that you're now incessant laughter.
“What the hell?! I gave you like four comic books because of that.” He complained. Playfulnees lace in his tone.
“I know.” You nodded along, continuing to now laugh in satisfaction.
“I want them back!”
“No! Those are mine. I won those fair and square.”
“Fair and Square? You cheated.
“Yeah, but it was rigged from the beginning. You knew you were gonna win when you asked me. I just leveled the playing field.
“I can’t believe you!” He laughed, taking a hand off the wheel to playfully shove you.
“Oh! That was also me in the alley when the lights exploded.”
“No kidding.
“I didn’t mean to do it. Whenever I get really sad or angry, if I’m not careful I can really fuck stuff up.You're lucky I didn't explode your head like a grape. I was this close by the way.” You raised your hand, pinching your fingers together. “That’s why I left.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your mercy.” He teased.
“Watch it. You're still on thin ice.” You reminded him. Your heart opened up more to forgiveness when he came back, even though he ran away like a scaredy cat to begin with. You had to respect him for coming back when he didn’t have to. It puts a warm feeling settle in your chest knowing that he came back for you even though you could hold your own this time around.
“Is that why you were taken?” Steve questioned, the dots beginning to connect in his mind.
“It wasn’t some pervert in a van. It was like four guys and they stopped me when I was riding home. I almost got away, but I had been fighting for so long I just collapsed. I woke up in Hawkins lab. I had just escaped the night I got to your house. That’s why I was in that god awful hospital gown and my head was shaved.” You explained.
“Who else knows?”
“Um… Nancy, Jonathan, Mrs. Byers and the chief and all the kids.” You listed off.
“So, I'm the last to know again?” He shook his head in disbelief.
“Cool your jets there buddy. No one knew before today. I was planning to keep it a secret for the rest of my life. To lock that part of me away and try to live as inconspicuous as possible.” That still didn't seem to quell his heightened emotions. “Look when and if I was ready, you would have been the first person I told. I just didn’t want anyone to know.” You tried to explain, beginning to tear up. You haven't felt so open and vulnerable in such a long time.
“H-how did you know about that thing?” Nancy questioned from the back seat.
“I started having nightmares. I mean I’ve been having nightmares, but they were always the same. They were always about the night I escaped, but this one I started having about a week ago, I kept seeing those things. I stupidly thought they weren’t real that they were just some fucked up concoction I made up in my mind. I should have known better. I saw what happened on the night I escaped a few days before it happened too.”
“So, you can see the future? Like a psychic?” Steve asked.
“Not really. I can’t predict what’s gonna happen tomorrow or anything. Sometimes I just have really vivid nightmares that feel so real and then they happen. I don’t know when or why whatever's gonna happen, happens. I just see it over and over again. That's why I was barely sleeping. Everytime my eyes would close, I just saw that thing.” Steve gave you a sad smile, reaching to hold your hand in comfort.
“Did you know Will would go missing?”Jonathan piped up.
“No , no. If I knew I wouldn't have let that happen. I only saw the demegorgan, nothing else.” You explained in no uncertain terms.
When you arrived at the hospital, you rushed to the waiting room, finding the rest of the group impatiently waiting to see Will.
“Mom!” Jonathon called for Joyce’s attention, running to hug her. The two taking time to catch the other up on what happened
You and Nancy instead made your way to the group of sulking boys. Lucas and Mike shot up to wrap their arms around the two of you. Both in concern now that they came face to face with what the two of you had been up against.
“Are you guys ok?” Their concerned question overlapped.
“Are you guys ok?” It was now your turn to question when the boys’ faces dropped back into sorrow. “Everything’s going be fine. Hopper and Joyce found Will. The doctors are saying he’ll be ok.” You tried to comfort them until you made a now clear observation. "Where's El?”
“She’s gone.”Mike informed solemnly after a beat of silence.
“Gone, what the hell does that mean?” Nancy looked between the boys.
“The bad men found us at the school. We did the best that we could until a demogorgon came. “When she tried to kill it. This ash stuff started floating everywhere and she was gone.” Lucas explained, presuming her death.
“Shit.” The two of you spoke simultaneously. You leaned forward, eyes looking down at your shoes. She didn’t deserve for her story to end like that. Even though she escaped, she wasn’t truly free. Having to hide from the outside world that should’ve been embracing her.
“What about you guys? Did you kill the one you hunting?” Dustin questioned.
“Kill it? She ripped that sucker in half.” The familiar voice of your best friend made you snap your head up. “I know this might not be the best time, but can we talk?” He began to rock nervously on his heels.
“Y-yeah, sure.” You agreed. Steve led you away towards the vending machines where it seemed there was more privacy.
“I’m going to speak and I need you to listen. Ok?” He looked pointedly at you.
“Ok.” You agreed, using your fingers to mimic zipping your mouth closed and flicking the pull tab away.
“Perfect.” He inhaled and exhaled deeply. This was it. This is the chance to fix what he broke. “I am so sorry. Truly and deeply sorry. For everything. I know I said I could never apologize enough, but I need to start somewhere, so with every fiber of my being I’m sorry. For all the shitty things I’ve done and said and all the promises to you that I broke. I never want to let you down. I mean it’s one of my biggest fears because you are the only person in the world who knows me. You see me for who I am and you call me on my shit. And you were right, by the way, about Tommy and Carol. I mean you were always right, but today really made things clear and before you ask, yes I finally cut out the cancers.” Your eyes went wide at that. You were so proud that he finally saw those assholes for what they truly were. “I’m not asking you to forgive me. I’m not sure if I even deserve it, but I just- I just need you to know how sorry I am. I feel like shit that I didn't make you feel comfortable to tell me about who you really are.”
“It’s ok Steve. Like I said earlier, I didn’t want anyone to know.” You repeated.
“It's not ok, y/n. I fucked up. You’re always there for me. You listen to my girl problems. You let me bum toast off of you in the morning. You defended me to your parents when all they wanted was for you to leave me alone. You were always there when my parents came home and treated me like shit before running off again like I’m nothing. You have been there with me through everything and when you needed me, I wasn’t there for you.” His eyes welled with tears. He couldn’t help but feel that he failed you.
“I didn’t think I could ever talk to you about it. Like really talk about it” You confessed. The dam had already begun to break. There was no time to turn back and patch up the cracks.
“I would have listened.”
"I just-I just thought that if you knew what I really was, you would think that I'm a freak. After what happened to me in the lab, having powers wasn’t cool anymore. I was just something to be poked, prodded, and tested on. They tried to take away who I am. I wasn’t even ‘y/n’ anymore. I became nine. A lab rat. I mean look at what they did to me.” You pulled your sleeve up to show him your tattoo that lived on your skin like a brand that read Property of Hawkins Lab. The sight struck Steve to his core. All this shit that you were dealing with and carrying and he had no idea how broken you truly felt. “Who would anyone want someone like that? Why would you want to be friends with me?” Your face contorted in a way he’s only seen a few times before.
“Oh,no,no no.” He gently grabbed the back of your neck, pulling you into him, giving you a warm and comforting shoulder to cry on as you began to utterly breakdown. “You aren’t some lab rat and you're not a freak. You are so much more than you realize and even if you were I wouldn't love you any less. Don’t let those assholes in that lab make you think any different. You are more than just your powers. You’re not a number. You’re a human being and you mean so much to so many people. Lucas loves you, Erica adores you and don’t let me get started on myself. I’m here for you. Everyone sitting in that waiting room is here for you. No matter what.” He tried to quell the fears that were taking over your head. You only buried your head deeper into his shoulder and held on tighter. He began to rub your back in comfort like a mother trying to soothe her screaming baby, until your tears stopped.
He held your face in his hands, looking right into your red rimmed eyes.
“It is you and me. Forever and always.” He nodded his head vigorously to hammer his point home.
Summary: After a revelation. you become Hoppers sidekick in his quest to find out what really happened to Will Byers, before teaming up with Nancy and Jonathon to find the monster that lived in your nightmares. Instead of finding what you were looking for, you find out who your best friend truly is.
A/N: Sorry for this one for being so long but I'm trying to get through season one as fast as I can. I've only watched season one once before when I originally watched the show and OMG I forgot how much of a piece of shit Steve was. Like the fight with Jonathon almost made me hate him again. And to ME its not as fun on rewatch because I know the info already, Steve sucks, and Robin isn't in it yet. I also wanted to go in a different direction and have your main pair up be with Hopper this chapter.
CW: Canon level violence, child death, nightmares, anxiety/panic attacks, break up, brief slut shaming, breaking up, arguing/yelling, language (you curse like a sailor in this chapter), King Steve in all his glory
Chapter Outfits 1,2,3
Childhood Best friends to Lovers
King!Steve Harrington x Powered!Fem!Sinclair!reader (she/her)
Series Masterlist
Dividers by @reevesoc
WC: 7.8k (sorry)
lmk if you want to be added to the taglist
You couldn’t sleep. You had been tossing and turning for hours at this point. No matter which position you laid, it felt like a twenty pound dumbbell was sitting on your chest. When you looked over at your clock, it read 3:00 am. You were beginning to lose your mind. You were racked with guilt that you weren't sure you should be feeling yet. You saw her inside. She was inside when you left. She’s at home and everything’s ok. Right?
By the time your alarm rang, you gathered that you got a collective two hours of sleep. You just wanted to roll over and ignore it, but there was no point. It’s not like you were gonna sleep anyway.
“Did you sleep last night?” Steve questioned, taking in your exhausted posture.You just shook your head in reply, before resting your head against the window.
“Where are we going?” You turned to look at him when you realized he was driving in the wrong direction.
“To get you coffee. You look like you’re on death’s door.” He chuckled.
“Gee thanks.” You smiled, shaking your head.
“What? Did you want me to lie?” He teased.
“Yeah, a little bit.” You playfully punched his arm.
“Calm down there Mike Tyson. I’m driving.”
“I thought we were just going to Melvad’s. We don’t have time for the diner. We're gonna be late.” You complained when he pulled into the parking lot.
“I’ll speed, we'll be fine. Come on sourpuss you’ll feel better. I promise.” He pleaded.
When you entered, the two of you made your way to the booth that practically had your names on it.
A big grin broke across your face when Muriel your regular waitress came over to take your orders.
“Can I get two coffees, two Belgian waffles and the breakfast special.” Steve ordered for both of you.
“So the usual?” She smiled at the two of you.
"That’s the one. Thank you Muriel.” He returned her smile, passing over your menus.
“Of course. Anything for my favorite customers.” She complimented, walking away.
“Aww, we’re her favorites.” You cooed with a sappy pout.
“I think it’s the Harrington charm.” He proudly credited himself.”
“Slow down there. I think I’m pulling the weight here.”
“It’s a mix of both.” Muriel chimed in when she came back with your steaming coffees.
When the food came, the interview started.
“Why aren't you sleeping?” Steve questioned, cutting into his short stack of pancakes.
“I-Ive been having nightmares again.” You hesitantly confessed while slicing your waffles.
“Again? I thought you always have nightmares.”
“I do, but I'm having the screaming ones.” Steve broke eye contact, his eyes looking anywhere but yours.
“Shit.”
“It's fine, Steve. I'm fine.” You tried to reassure him.
“Are you sure, because I understand if you’re not with Will and everything.”
“I promise, Harrington. I’m ok, you don’t need to worry about me so much.”
“I'm always worried about you. It's my job.”
“Thanks, dad.” You chuckled, before taking a sip from your coffee. “You know what will make me happy though?”
“What?” He already knew what was coming. He should’ve known by now.
“A strip of bacon from my best friend in the whole world.” You rested your chin on your hands and batted your eyes.
“It’s always something with you Sinclair.” He playfully teased before pushing his plate over for you to take from.
“Thank you.” You smiled in appreciation before taking a bite.
“I can’t seem to say ‘no’ to you no matter how hard I try.” He shook his head, while bringing his mug of coffee to his lips.
Before joining Steve and the others for lunch, you decided that it was time to bite the bullet and end things with Jack. When you found him at his locker, you took a few deep breaths before walking up to him.
“Hey, Jack, can we talk for a minute?”
“Of, course babe. We can do it on the way to the cafeteria. I’m starving.” He reached for your hand.
“Actually I’d prefer if we do it here.”
“O-ok, what’s going on?”
“I don’t think we should be together right now. I think it would be better if we end things.” You tried as gently as possible, but you could tell your method was definitely failing.
“I-is this what you were worried about last night? Why you wanted to leave so fast? Did I do something cause if I did I’m really sorry.” He tried to apologize.
“No,no that's not why. I know everyone says it but, it’s not you, it’s me. I just have a lot on my mind right now and I don't think I can handle a relationship at the moment.” You were being as honest as possible.
“Is this about the missing kid? Is it making you feel weird or something?”
“One his name is Will. And two I just don’t feel like we’re right for each other.”
“So, this is about Harrington.” He nodded in understanding, his tongue poking through his cheek.
“What? Where did you get that from?” You questioned, your eyebrows scrunched in bewilderment.
“I’ve been trying to ignore it but the way you two look at each other and you guys hang out so much. Plus he clearly doesn’t like me. It wasn’t even an issue until we started dating I mean come on how could I think anything different?”
“Not that it should matter but he’s my best friend. That’s all. Plus he has a girlfriend. This break up is about me and you. No one else alright. I just can’t do a relationship right now. I have so much going on in my head right now. I just can’t do this.” You motioned back and forth your fingers between the two of you.
“So does that mean you want to pause or take a break or something.” He tried to bargain.
“No, I don't want to pause. I want to break up, like completely. You're a sweet guy jack but, there’s something wrong with me ok. I’m not myself right now and I don’t want to drag you down with me so just can we make this easier and let me end this.” Tears were beginning to well in your eyes. You felt awful when he looked at you with mirroring glassy eyes.
“Fine if that’s what you want.” He threw his arms up in defeat.
“I'm sorry, Jack.” He covered his eyes with his hands, trying to process your confirmation and to fight back the tears that wanted to fall.
“Ok, um. I’ll see you around ba-y/n.” He corrected himself,his voice almost shaky, before walking away.
You rested your head against a neighboring locker, trying to collect yourself. You felt like shit for breaking his heart.
“Thats why science doesn't make sense to me.” Tommy complained.
“That’s cause you're an idiot, Tommy.” You cut in, placing your lunch tray down and sitting next to Steve.
“Where were you?...Shit, are you ok?” He questioned when he heard you sniffle.
“I'm fine, I'll tell you later.” You promised.
“I swear this is frost bite.” Carol brought her foot on the table displaying a big red and flaky sore on her ankle.
“It’s a heated pool.” Tommy commented.
“Ugh, I don't care what it is. It's disgusting.” Steve leaned across the table to look at it.
“Get it off the table. We're eating here.” You complained, turning your head away when Tommy tried to touch it with his spoon before Carol smacked it away.
When Nancy sat down, it was clear something was wrong. She seemed trapped in her own head, a feeling you’re very familiar with.
“Tommy, when you left did you see Barb?” Your heart almost stopped.
“What?” He questioned in faux confusion.
“Barbra.” Nancy repeated. “She's not here today.” Your palms were beginning to sweat.
“I seriously have no idea who you're talking about.” He smirked, making Carol laugh.
“Stop being an ass and answer her question.” You chided like you were talking to a misbehaving child (which you kinda were).
“Exactly. Did you see her leave last night or not?” Steve grilled him.
“No, she was gone when we left.”
“What about you, y/n?”
“No, When I left with Jack she was in the kitchen.”
“Probably couldn’t stand listening to all that moaning.” Carol teased.
“Oh,Steve!” Tommy moaned, banging on the table.
“Oh, Jack!” Carol followed, making you roll your eyes.
“Alright, chill out guys.” He shifted his focus onto Nancy. “Listen, I'm sure she’s fine. She’s probably just, like skipping or something.” Steve tried to comfort her.
“Yeah.Yeah,probably.” Both of you really wanted to believe that.
“You ok over there,Sinclair?” Steve turned to look at your now stiff and quiet demeanor.
“Yeah, I’m good,” You answered with a tightlipped smile. He could see through your facade so easily, but he decided not to call you out on it considering the audience.
It was the last class of the day. Ten minutes and you were almost home free. You just wanted to flop on your bed and hopefully get a couple hours of uninterrupted sleep, until…
"Y/n Sinclair to the front office.” The loud speaker called for you. Steve’s eyes snapped to you.
“Can you hold onto my stuff? I'll meet you at your car after class.” He nodded, beckoning for you to hand over your bag.
When you arrived, Chief Hopper was leaning against the front desk waiting for you.
“What’s this about?” You tried to act nonchalant.
“I think you know y/n. It’s about Will. I have a theory about what might be happening but I need to talk to you about a few things.” He led you to a secluded room worried someone might hear.
“I need you to be honest with me. Do you remember anything about the man who took you. I know when we originally spoke you were in shock and you said everything was fuzzy but I need to know something, anything.” You looked down, trying to decide what part of the truth you wanted to tell.
“I- I remember a plumbing van. It was blue.”True.“But I can’t remember anything else.”
“Are you sure?” You forced a nod.
“Come on, give me something else kid.” He pleaded. You sighed, your face scrunching up in hesitation before speaking.
“Check the Lab.”
“The Lab? What do you know about the Lab.” He stood up straighter, a new glint in his eye.
“I just have a gut feeling something might be happening there.”
“I already went kid. I didn’t find anything.”
“Then check again.” You tried to walk away.
“No,no,no. We're not done here. We need to talk more if you know something I don't. We need to get to the bottom of this.
“Fine, can I at least go get my stuff from Steve?” You relented.
“Yeah, let's get a move on it. Meet me at my truck in five.” He instructed.
When you got outside you saw Steve and his goons around Jonathon’s car talking to Jonathon. You wanted to hope for the best. That maybe Steve was imparting some advice considering he was in a similar position, but with Steve’s recent track record, you knew it was wishful thinking.
When you got up to them, Steve holding out Jonathon’s camera
“What’s going on here?” You questioned
“This perv was taking pictures of us at my party.”
“What?”
“Yeah. He even got pictures of you and Jack.” Tommy passed you the photos of the two of you.
Your eyes went wide when you looked through them seeing you and Jack taking each other’s shirts off.
“Ew Jonathon what the hell?” Your eyes snapped up at him. He looked at you sheepishly.
“You don’t get it. I was out looking for Will.” He tried to explain.
“Yeah, you said that already.” Steve spouted, clearly upset.
“Please just give me my camera back.” Jonathan begged.
“Here you go, Byers.” He stretched out his hand, ready to pass it over. As soon as Jonathon reached for it he dropped in claiming that it ‘slipped’. “Shit. I’m sorry.” He smirked before instructing everyone to leave Jonathon to pick up the pieces to his camera.
“Don’t you think breaking his camera was a little much?” You stopped him so that you can speak to him privately.
“What,he was being a perv.” Steve reasoned.
“Yeah, it was fucking gross but the Byers don’t have money like that. Joyce worked double just to be able to buy that camera for him.” You whispered
“Then he shouldn't have been a freak.”
“Ok.can we talk about this later, just give me my stuff so I can go.”
“Yeah, sure. Whatever.” He replied in annoyance. He passed you your bag before reaching into his pocket, digging for his keys.
“Oh, no, Steve. I have a ride.”
“What?Who?” He looked around confused. Excluding the days either of you were sick, Steve has never missed a day of taking you to and from school.
“I'm going with Hopper. He wants to talk to me about some stuff that might help him find Will.” You looked over at Jonathan, picking up scattered pieces of his photos. His eyes met yours at the mention of his brother’s name. Your eyes snapped back to Steve, still grossed out by Jonathon’s actions.
“Fine, just call me later. We might do something tonight.” He offered.
“Yeah. I'll see I might be really busy. I don't know how long this goi-” you were cut off by Hopper repeatedly honking his horn.
“I’M COMING, GOD!” You shouted in his direction. “I’ll see you around or call you or something. I don’t know.” You finished, before running to Hopper’s truck.
“What are we doing at the library?” You questioned when you hopped out the truck.
“Research.”
“Research for what?”
“You’ll see, let's just get inside.” He rushed you into the building, leading you to a table where Officer Powell was already sitting.
“Why is y/n Sinclair here?”
“She's here to help.”
“Help with what?”
“I don’t know, Chief. This lady, Terry Ives, sounds like a real nut to me. Her kid was taken for LSD mind control experiments?” Powell questioned. You had been looking down at, fiddling with your fingers while Hopper had explained the story of Terry Ives. “She’s been discredited, claim was thrown out-”
“Ok, forget about her.” He slid away the case file, swapping it with a newspaper clipping.
Your body physically recoiled when you saw the picture. Your heart hammered in your chest when you saw him standing next to kids you recognized.
“Dr. Martin Brenner.” You never knew his full name till now.
“Who?”
“Brenner. He runs Hawkins Lab.” Your knee began to bounce with nervous energy.
“Ok.” Hopper scoffed at this dismissive reply.
“You don’t find that interesting?” He looked between the two of you. You continued to look down while Powell answered.
“No. He was involved in some hippie crap back in the day, so what?”
“No, this isn’t some hippie crap. This is CIA-sanctioned research.” He argued.
“Doesn’t mean he had anything to do with our kid.”
“Come on. Look at that, hospital gowns. all of them. Now that piece of fabric that teacher found by that pipe sure looks like a hospital gown to me, huh?” You were sweating all over.
“Can I take a break?” You stumbled out, wiping your hands on your pants.
“Take a break? we just started.”
“I know but it's really stuffy in here so please.” You begged.
“Yeah, yeah.” Hopper finally relented, sending you on your way.
You were leaning against a railing outside, inhaling and exhaling just like your therapist had instructed. You were so close to calm until Hopper and Officer Powell burst through the door.
“Come on kid, let’s go.” He let out running past you.
“W-What’s going on?”
“I don’t have time, just get in the car. Now!” You followed after them, climbing in the back of the truck. As soon as the door was closed, the police siren was blaring and he was speeding off..
The car finally slowed when you arrived at the Lover’s Lake. First responders already had a base set up at the shore of the lake.
“Oh. Jesus.” Hopper muttered climbing out of the car.
You jogged after him, trying to peer over the crowd of emergency crew.
“Oh, God. Please tell me it’s not the kid.” It was. They loaded his water logged body onto a stretcher to carry him out of the water.
“Fuck.” You muttered. Your chest tightened and your body began to shake. Somehow and someway your gut told you that this was wrong. Like you were in a warped reality, that was forcing a lie down your throat, but your mind, so you ran, and ran, and ran.
When you came down the next morning, your mom was on the phone.
“Sweetie, Chief Hopper is on the phone asking for you. Is everything ok?”
“Yeah, he just wanted to talk to me about you know…” She gave you an understanding smile and a nod, passing you the phone.
“Hello?”
“You disappeared yesterday, what happened?”
“Um, things just got overwhelming and I needed to make sure that Lucas was ok.”
“Right. Can you come by after school again? I have more questions for you.”
“No! No more questions, no more news articles. I’m done with this ok. I can’t do anything else to help you. Will is dead. It’s over Hop!” You slammed the phone down on the receiver. Everything was becoming too much. Will is dead and Barb is missing and it felt like the weight of it all was pressing down on you, filling you with intense guilt. Ten seconds later the phone rang again, it no doubt being Hopper.
“Just pick me up after school.”
When you climbed into Steve’s car, he looked at you with worried eyes.
“Are you ok?” You nodded, eyes staring off into the distance. “Really because you don’t look ok.”
“Is this our new thing now? As soon as I get in the car you tell me how bad I look.” You asked.
“I never said you look bad. I’m just concerned that you're gonna go back to how you were. I can see what this is doing to you. You’re jumpy and you’re not sleeping, and you’re not telling me things. I’m just trying to make sure that whatever is going on up there you can handle.” He looked over to you in concern.
“I can handle it just fine. I promise.” You tried to reassure him.
“Do you want me to go to the funeral with you? You know, for emotional support.”
“No, I need to be there for Lucas and make sure he’s ok.Thanks for the offer though.” He had been a wreck when he came home. You had no idea that he was there last night. That he watched one of his best friends get pulled from the lake. You spent a good amount of the night trying to comfort the grief stricken boy.
“Anytime, y/n.” You nodded. “I’m serious though. I’m here for you when you need me.”
“Oh, you don’t need to drive me home today.” You state.
“Again? You want to talk about a new thing? I don’t like this ‘no driving you home’ business.” He teasingly complained.
“It’s not permanent, ok. I’m just doing some stuff with Hopper right now.”
“Is that what’s got you messed up again?”
“No, and I'm not messed up. I’m just giving him some information. I’ve been remembering some stuff so I’ve been telling him about it.”
“Really? What do you remember?” He looked over, ears perked up and ready to listen.
“I don’t feel like talking about it right now. It’s a lot and we only have about fifteen minutes left before we get to school.”
“You’re telling Hopper. Why can’t you tell me?” Annoyance prominent in his voice.
“I would. I really would, but you wouldn’t understand. It’s-
“Complicated.” He finished. “You always say that.”
“I’m sorry ok. If I could tell you I would.” You gave him a sad frown. This had been a song and dance the two of you had been playing for almost four years at this point. He would ask, but you would never tell.
“Why are we going to a bar?” You questioned Hopper when he pulled up to the brick building.
“Because there’s a guy in there that I need to talk to.”
“What about me? Am I supposed to just sit here and do nothing while you drink?”
“Calm down, I'm not gonna be in there long. Do your homework or something or whatever it is you kids do.”
“Fine.” You agreed as he climbed out the truck. “Wait! Can you get me a beer?” He gave you a playful scoff and smile at your joke.
You had been in the truck for almost thirty minutes. You blew through your chemistry homework, ready to start reading your book for Click’s class when the bar’s side door blew open. Hopper came out forcefully pressing a man against the brick wall, giving him a few punches to his face, clearly trying to pry answers out of him.
You ducked down when you saw Hopper look behind him, before pulling out his pistol, aiming for a car that was speeding away.
“What the fuck was that, Hop!” You whisper yelled when he climbed back into the car.
“Something weird is going on ok. That guy was with the team that found Will and pulled him out of the water. He’s saying that whoever he works for told him not to let anyone get too close to the body.”
“Ok?”
“Ok. So we’re going to go see that body.”
“We?”
“Yes, we.” You pulled your hands down your face, trying to wrap your hand around the entire situation.
“Ok, why are you doing this Hop?”
“To figure out what the hell is happening.”
“No, Hop. I mean me. Us. Why do you keep calling me and trying to talk to me and bringing me to places that I definitely shouldn’t be at.” You questioned in sheer confusion, making Hopper sigh.
“Look kid, I know that you know something and I’m not talking about a blue plumber’s van. You told me about the lab when I didn’t even mention it. You know something and I need you with me when you decide you’re ready to tell me. Until that time comes, I need to keep investigating and a pair of fresh eyes doesn’t hurt. Does that work for you?” You had to admit he had a point. You were fighting an internal battle with yourself. You weren’t sure how much to tell. You were scared, but being with Hop helped you feel more comfortable with the truth.
“Yeah. Where to going next?”
The truck stopped when Hopper pulled up to the coroner’s office. The plan was for Hopper to make an excuse to get past the receptionist, then he would meet you at the backdoor to let you in.
“What the hell, Hop?” You questioned when he knocked the officer out cold who was guarding the door.
“What? I needed his keys.” He rifled through the man’s packets until he found what he was looking for.
You followed him through a swinging door where they keep the bodies. When he slid the bottom freezer drawer out. A sheet was tented in an outline of a small body. You wanted to throw up when he pulled back the blanket to reveal Will’s lying pale and lifeless.
“Oh my god!” you slapped a hand over your nose and mouth. “What are you doing?” You questioned when Hopper pulled the sheet covering Will down further.
“I have to make sure.”
“Make sure what?” You turned your head away.
“That he’s de…” His words died on his tongue when he placed a hand on Will’s chest
“Hop?” You repeated until he responded.
“Touch his chest.” He instructed.
“Are you fucking crazy?!”
“I’m serious y/n. Touch his chest.” You closed your eyes and reached a shaky hand forward. Your brows knitted in confusion when he wasn’t as cold and rigid as you expected him to be.
“What the hell?" You mumbled to yourself as you ran your fingers across the 'skin'.
"Woah, Isn’t defiling a corpse like illegal?” You questioned with wide eyes when you saw Hopper open his switch blade.
“I’m not defiling, I'm inspecting.” He explained before taking shaky breaths, preparing himself for the worst.
You turned your head away again when he finally brought the knife down, slashing it through Will’s abdomen. You only looked back, when what at first sounded like squelching began to sound like fabric ripping.
“Y/n” He beckoned you over with his head. You looked bewildered when he began to pull cotton out of Will’s abdomen. The kind you would use to stuff a doll…
“What the fuck?” You whispered looking up at him.
Your brows furrowed as the familiar scenery passed you by. It put an uneasy feeling in your chest. All day had felt like scooby do search for the truth, but this was too much. It felt to real and the threat was ever proaching.
"Where are we going, Hop?" You asked, hoping that he would answer with literally anything else.
“Hawkins Lab.”
“No,no!” You began to shift in your seat in a panic. “Take me home Hop.” You demanded as your worst fear had been confirmed.
“We’re almost there.” He tried to dismiss.
“No! I'm not going in there.”
“You said check the lab and now you don’t want to go?”
“I said YOU should check the lab. I can’t go near that place.”
“What? What is it about this Lab that freaks you out so much?”
“I’m serious Hop. I am not going anywhere near that building. Take me home or I will jump out of this car!” You looked at him pointedly.
“Fine, fine, relax.” He sighed, finally relenting. “I’ll just come back.” He looked over at you, your chest rising and falling as you brought your hands to your eyes, quickly wiping them. He felt a little bad for working you up to this state, but your reaction was only helping to build his working theory.
Lucas had been acting strange all morning. Obviously one of his best friends just died, but still. The other day he was inconsolable and now he’s acting as if nothing happened. You wanted to chalk it up to him being in the denial phase, but you couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. You hadn’t told him of the latest development you and Hopper had discovered so you weren’t sure why he was so normal.
When you got to the wake, you noticed that all the boys were acting the same way. From the outside looking in it seemed like disrespect.
“What the hell is going on with you guys?” You questioned, pulling them aside outside to speak privately. The boys looked at each other, unsure if they should disclose this secret information to you. Their eyes finally landed on Lucas who nodded in approval that they could trust you.
“Will’s not dead.” Dustin admitted. They boys were expecting you to look confused or in disbelief, but instead you seemed puzzled like you knew they shouldn’t know that information.
“I know he’s not dead, but how do you know he's not dead?” They looked at each other again, trying to decide how much of the truth they wanted to disclose.
“The radio.” Mike slowly drew out his answer.
“What does that mean?” Your brows knitted in confusion.
“It means we heard him on the radio. How the hell do you know he’s not dead? Mike interrogated. You looked around and lowered your voice before answering.
“Because Hopper and I went to the coroner's office yesterday. The body they pulled out of the water was fake.”
“But we saw it. How could it be fake?”
“Why are you asking me? You already know that he’s not dead.”
“Yeah, but we still don’t know where he is. Maybe this will help us find him.”
“Hopper has a theory on what might be happening, so I’ll give you all the information I can.”
“Thank you.” They replied in appreciation.
“Of course, Goober.” You wrapped him in a hug. You jumped apart when Hopper honked his horn and shouted for you.
“Y/N!”
“Fuck!” You turned from the boys.
“I’ll fill you guys in on what I know later alright.Tell mom and dad I'll be back tonight. Love you.” You pulled him back into a hug before jogging towards his truck.
“Why didn’t you come to the funeral?” You questioned when you climbed inside.
“ I was busy. I didn’t want to think that this was a conspiracy before, but it’s really starting to seem like it. I broke into the lab last night.” Your eyes went wide at that. “I found this gunk on the wall and there was like this red pulsing light inside and there were these spores floating everywhere.” You looked at him confused. “Do you know anything about that?”
“No, I have no idea what you're talking about.”
“Come on kid, shit’s getting real no more half truths. Do you know what that thing is?”
“No. im serious I dont know what the fuck youre talking about.” You answered truthfully.
When you got to Hopper’s trailer, it was in ruins.
“What the hell happened here?” Your eyes raked over the flipped tables, tipped lamps, slashed couch and the lights missing their decorative fixtures.
“The Lab.”
“What do you mean the Lab?”
“Last night when I went, I found that gunky thing I was telling you about. Then somebody knocked me out, but I woke up here at home. I figured they bugged my place.”
“And they did.”
“Yep!” Look I just need to make a call really quickly then we can go.”
“Go where?”
You stood with Hopper at the Byers front door. You could hear Jocye yelling at the two of you to go away, thinking that you were Lonnie.
When she opened the door, Hopper held up the piece of paper he had you write Don’t Say Anything! on it.
When you entered, you saw the alphabet painted on the wall with Christmas lights strung up everywhere. The windows had been boarded up and the wallpaper stripped from the walls. Any other time you would have thought this was an insane display of behavior, but after all that’s happened, nothing could seem crazy to you anymore.
Hopper had been sat at the Byers’ dining table, trying to catch her up on everything the two of you had been doing. In your boredom, you decided to be a little snoop. When you peaked through the doorway of JOnathon’s room, you spotted black and white photos on his bed. They looked like the ones Tommy handed you in the school parking lot. You couldn’t help but to creep in to inspect them.
You were glad when you thumbed through them and all the ones from Steve’s party were gone, but your heart dropped when you landed on one in the woods. It looked like it could be the thing you saw in your nightmares. If it was needed to be absolutely sure.
“Where's Jonathan?” You rushed back to Joyce and Hopper, you stopping the flow of their conversation.
“I-I think he's with the Wheeler girl.” She stuttered out.
“Nancy?”
“Yeah!”
“Ok, great. I need a ride.” You shifted your focus to Hopper.
“We’re kind of talking here.” He huffed.
“Come back and finish later. You wanted me to help, this is me helping. I need to get to the Wheeler’s house. Now!” You urged.
You pounded on the Wheeler’s door, shifting your weight from foot to foot as you waited for an answer.
“Hi, y/n. Is everything ok? You seem a little freaked out.” She looked at your demeanor in concern.
“No, I’m fine Mrs. Wheeler. Thank you for asking. I just came by to see if Nancy’s home.”
“Yeah, yeah I think she’s upstairs.” She moved out of the way, inviting you inside. When you got to her room you knocked rapidly.
“Nancy! Nancy, open the door please. I really need to talk to you.” When you got no answer you rested your head against her door, bringing your voice down to prevent any eavesdropping.
“I saw the photo of that thing in the woods.” The door immediately swung open at your words and you were swiftly pulled inside by Jonathon.
“What photo are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb. You know which one I’m talking about.What the hell are you guys doing? Do you know what that thing is?” You grilled Jonathon. You stepped out of your conversation for a moment when you took in Nancy’s fragile state. “Oh my god Nancy are you ok?” You walked up to her in concern.
“She’s fine.” He answered for her.
“She doesn't seem fine.”
“I’m ok, y/n. I promise. I’m just a little spooked.” She tried to dismiss your worry. God is this what Steve feels like when he tries to pry information out of you.
“Spooked because of the thing in the photo?”
“It's nothing..” She lied, trying to protect you from the awful truth.
“It’s not nothing. If you thought it was nothing then you would have told me what it was. What did it look like?”
“You won’t believe me.” She looked up at you with glassy eyes.
“I’m more open minded than you think.” You reassured her.
“I-it was big and gray and it was eating a deer a-and when it looked at me its face opened and I just ran until Jonathon found me.” You could see traumatized tears form in her eyes. You went quiet trying to take in all that she had described. “I knew you wouldn’t believe me.” She shook her head, and wiped her tears.
“No. No. I believe you, I promise.Just how did you find it?”
“We were out there to hunt it.” Jonathan answered.
“Hunt it?” You questioned incredulously.
“Yeah. We thought that it might have something to do with Barb and Will.”
“Wait, wait. You were taking pictures the night of Steve’s party, right?” He looked down in guilt.
“Y-yeah.” Oh, god. You were right it was there.
“What, what? Do you know something?”
“I just thought maybe I saw it that night and I wasn’t sure.” You shook your head hoping to clear your thoughts. “Um, what is the plan here?”
“The plan is to kill it.” Nancy confirms.
“Kill it? How the hell are you supposed to do that?”
“I don't know. We were gonna get weapons and guns or something tomorrow.”
“Guns? Do you guys actually know how to shoot?”
“I've been practicing.”
“Yeah, she's a really good shot.”
“That’s actually pretty awesome.” You complimented, before focusing back on the matter at hand. “How are you going to find it again?”
“We aren’t sure. We were going to brainstorm tomorrow morning.” He informs you.
“Cool, great. Do you mind if I came with you guys? You need all the help you can get right?” If they were going to try to kill this thing you had to be there to protect them the best you could.
“Are you sure because we don't even know what exactly we’re dealing with here.”
“I'm very sure.” You confirm in no uncertain terms.
“Ok.” She nodded rapidly. “Jonathan was going to stay over. You can too if you like” She offered.
“Yeah, yeah that would be great. Just let me call my mom.”
“Hi,mom.”
“Hi sweetie, where are you? You’ve been gone all day.” You could hear the concern in her voice.
“I’ve been with Chief Hopper all day then he dropped me off at the Wheelers. That's kind of why I'm calling actually. Nancy invited me to stay over to have a little girls night if that’s ok.”
“Nancy?”
“Yes, Nancy.”
“I’m sorry. It's just I didn't think you guys were close like that.”
“She’s dating Steve so we’ve been kind of hanging out. It doesn’t matter, can I stay please?”
“Sure, you can stay but speaking of. Steve called about ten minutes ago. He wants you to meet him at The Hawk tomorrow around noon.” She informed.
“Yeah, cool I’ll do that.” You nodded as if she could see you.
“Oh and Robin called too. The team’s going to get together on Sunday for pizza.”
“Ok. I'll call her back, just tell everyone I love them. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Ok. Love you sweetie.”
“Love you too.” You replied in a sing-song voice before hanging up the phone.
You couldn’t sleep. Again. Every time you closed your eyes you would see it and the last thing you wanted to be was a screaming nuisance to the Wheelers.
When everyone woke up, you helped Nancy sneak Jonathon out before joining her family downstairs.
“How was the sleepover?” Her mother questioned, looking between the two of you.
“Uh, it was great mom.” Nancy gave her a tight lipped smile and a nod.
“That’s nice. I’m so glad the two of you are getting to know each other better.”
“Yeah, it was fun.” You nodded along. “Do you mind if I have a cup of coffee?”
“Oh, no. Not at all.” She placed the back side of her hand to her cheek to whisper “Ted might though.” She jested. You gave her a courtesy smile for her joke before reaching for the pot.
The three of you dumped your purchases into the trunk of Jonathon’s car. You were all about to climb in when a car sped by, congratulating Nancy on her movie. You looked at each other confused before Nancy took off running, you and Jonathon following suit. You recoiled in disgust when you read NANCY THE SLUT WHEELER! Spray painted in orange on the movie marquee.
She was turning down the alley of The Hawk when you finally caught up to her.
Your hand flew to your mouth in shock when you watched her slap Steve.
“What’s wrong with you?” She questioned, glassy eyed.
“What’s wrong with you? I was worried about you.” He looked down at her. “I can’t believe that I was actually worried about you.” He scoffed, almost looking disgusted by her.
“What are you talking about?” Her voice shook in anger and confusion.
“I wouldn’t lie if I were you. You don’t want to be known as the lying slut now, do you?” Carol cut in.
“You’re one to talk.” You shot back at slut shaming.
“Look at what the cat dragged in. Where the hell have you been?” Tommy questioned you with a smirk.
“None of your fucking business, Tommy.”
“Bitch.” He mumbled loud enough for you to hear.
“Call me that one more time and I swear to god!” You threatened.
“Swear to god what? I’m not scared to hit a girl.”
“Neither am I.” Only earning a defeated scoff from him, before his focus shifted to a panting Jonathon who finally arrived in the alley.
“Woah, speak of the devil.” Nancy turned to look at him before focusing back on Steve.
“You came by last night.”
“Ding!DingDing! Does she get a prize?” Carol mocked.
“Look, I don't know what you think you saw, but it wasn’t like that.”
“What, you just let him in your room to …study?”
“Or for another pervy photo session.” Tommy piped up.
“We were just-”
“You were just what? Finish that sentence.” He stepped forward menacingly when she hesitated to respond. “Finish the sentence.”
“That’s enough,Steve. Leave her alone.” You jumped in.
“Stay out of this Sinclair!” He pointed at you before looking back down to her. “Go to hell, Nancy.”
“Fuck you,Steve!” You shouted at this monster your best friend had transformed into.
“Yeah, you wish.” Carol smirked.
“Keep talking, Carol. I would love to punch your lights out after I get through Tommy.” She scoffed at you.
When Jonathon tried to get Nancy to leave, Steve projected his anger onto Jonathon.
“You know what Byers? I’m actually kind of impressed. I always took you for a queer, but I guess you’re just a screw-up like your father.” He shoved Jonathan in the back.
“Steve, leave them alone!” He snapped his head over to you.
“I told you to stay out of this!”
“Yeah,yeah, yeah, that house is full of screw ups.” His focus back on Jonathon. You and Nancy tried to calm Jonathon so that you could all leave, but Steve was relentless. “I mean, your mom. I’m not even surprised what happened to your brother.” That was the straw that almost broke the camel's back for you.
“Stop you jackass!” You were trying so hard to control your anger. With how angry you were, you could’ve exploded his head like a grape if you focused on him hard enough.
“I’m sorry I have to be the one to tell you guys.” He shoved him again “but the Byers, their family is a disgrace to the entire-” Steve was cut off when Jonathon swung on him, punching him straight in the face. You couldn’t help it but you laughed, when he fell into the wall. Everyone was calling for the other to either stop or kick the other’s ass, but all you could do was laugh when Jonathon had him pinned to the ground and delivered blow after blow to his face. You only fully jumped in when the cops sped down the alley. You had to help Tommy pull the two apart.
“We gotta get out of here, man.” Tommy urgently helped him up. You were prepared to stay with Nancy and Jonathon until you felt Steve’s stumbling form latch onto your wrist to pull you with him.
The five of you ran as fast you could down the alley. Only stopping when the cop who was chasing finally gave up when he was out of breath.
Everyone leaned against the wall, trying to catch their breath. After a minute and you felt right again, you decided it was time to lay into Steve.
“What the fuck is wrong with you!” You shoved him in the shoulder, but he just rolled his eyes at you.
“Can we not do this now? Don’t you think I got it bad enough already?” He questioned pointing at his bloody face.
“No, I don’t. I think you deserve more, because what the hell was that? You need your ass beat to fix what is going on up there because I am sick of your awful friends and your King Steve bullshit.”
“What?” He scoffed.
“Don’t ‘what?’me. You don’t give a fuck about anyone’s feelings. You can’t pull your head out of your ass to realize that the world doesn’t revolve around you. Do you even hear the bullshit that spews from your mouth sometimes? To say that it’s his family’s fault that his brother’s dead. Are fucking kidding me? Why would you say some disgusting shit like that?. I can’t believe I’ve stayed friends with you for this long. You know, you've done some pretty shitty stuff over the past few years but this is the worst. And I don’t give a fuck if you think Nancy cheated on you. I don’t care if she actually did, but to write Nancy the Slut Wheeler on a sign-”
“I didn’t write it! Tommy did!” He finally cut in trying to defend himself, but it only made you angrier.
“Ok. I don’t care if you wrote it, Steve! We’re not doing semantics right now. What matters is that you thought it was even ok. You treat everyone like they’re the gum under your shoe. Even your own girlfriend isn’t exempt. I don’t even recognize you sometimes. What the fuck happned to you?” You scoffed, shaking your head.
“You! You are what happened! You were gone for two years!I had nobody! All our friends ditched me!Everyone blamed me! I did what I needed to do to get by! You were all I had and you left. You disappeared!” Your eye almost started twitching at that.
“Left?! I was kidnapped you fucking asshole! I lost two years of my life! I’m so sorry you were lonely for a couple of years, but I was going through hell! I woke up screaming every night for a year! So get off your fucking high horse, stop projecting, and just admit that you’re an asshole! This has nothing to do with me! I didn’t tell you to write that up there! You don’t get to blame me for your shit! So be honest with yourself!” You jabbed your finger into his chest.
“Be honest!? You don’t get to teach a lesson in honesty. I’m supposed to be your best friend, right? You used to tell me everything but since you got back you keep secrets. You don’t tell me anything. Even on little shit that doesn’t matter! You didn’t even tell me you were going to break up with Jack until I brought him up! I have been asking you for four fucking years to be honest and talk to me about what happened to you! I shouldn’t have to beg you for information.” He was pleading at this point. The windows of the apartment sharing the alley were beginning to rattle.
“I don’t want to relive that shit! What is your obsession!?Why do you want to know so bad!?”
“BECAUSE IT'S MY FAULT!” He snapped. “It’s my fault. If I didn’t tell you to leave without me or believed you about that van then you wouldn’t have gotten taken. You would’ve been safe and with your family and with me. You wouldn’t have nightmares that make you wake up screaming and your parents wouldn’t look at me like they barely know me anymore. Every bad thing that’s happened to you is my fault. I’m waiting for the day when you realize that and cut your losses. When you realize that I don’t deserve to have you in my life and move on with your’s without me, because I can never apologize enough. There aren’t enough ways to tell you how sorry I am. I could apologize all day everyday for the rest of my life and it would never be enough. And I know you think that sometimes. That you think it’s my fault too. I see it. When you think no one is looking. When you think I’m not looking.”
“I don’t blame you.” You looked down, trying to hide your lying eyes.
“Yes, you do. You have this look, like some part of you hates me for what happened to you. You should hate me. I hate myself for it.” You didn’t want to admit it. You fought so hard not to feel it but, you do. Sometimes in the lab you would hate him more than you loved him.
“Fine, a small minuscule part of me sometimes blamed you.” Tears were beginning to well in your eyes. “You promised, Steve. You promised that you would protect me no matter what and you didn’t. I know that it’s crazy to think, but my stupid eleven year old brain actually believed that you would. You said you were my knight in shining armor, but where the hell were you? I needed you. I needed you and you weren’t there.” You shoved his shoulder again, your tears freely falling.
“See, that wasn’t so fucking hard! Right!?” He shot back, using his frustration to drown out the sound of his heart shattering at how horribly he broke you.
The rattling of the windows only intensified. You needed to get out of there before you did something you regretted.
“Fuck you, Steve! I’m not doing this anymore. I’m done!” You pointed in his face, before turning away from him.
“Done?!”
“Yes. Done! With you and with us!” YOu shook your head, turning to walk down the alley.
“Hey, we aren’t finished here!” He shouted after you.
“I AM!” You screamed back, causing the alley’s lights to shatter.
“Fuck!” Steve threw his hands up in defeat.
“Wow, you really shit the bed on that one Harrington.” Tommy whistled when you disappeared from their view.
Summary:Things could never stay normal in Hawkins. After spending the last four years rebuilding a sense of normalcy, the vanishing of your little brother’s friend changes things in ways you never thought possible.
A/N: I modeled your outfits around Denise Huxtable and Brenda Sykes. I know a few of the outfits dipped a little into the 90s but we’re trend setters so… I’ll link outfits when I describe them so you can have a visual because her style is often pretty eclectic.
Chapter Outfit
TW: Canon level violence, mentions of a missing child, nightmares, brief makeout (not with Steve), slight King Steve, mentions of going to therapy
WC: 4.2k
Childhood Best friends to Lovers
Steve Harrington x Powered!Fem!Sinclair!reader (she/her)
Series Masterlist
Dividers by @reevesoc
1983
You had been a little on edge since Joyce Byers called your house yesterday, inquiring about Will’s whereabouts. You could hear how frantic she was through the phone. You could only assume that this was how your mother must’ve felt.
Of course you were concerned about Will, but a pit grew in your stomach when only a few days earlier you started having nightmares again. Granted you always had nightmares. You would wake up screaming soaked in sweat, always about your days in the lab and usually about one in particular. After years of therapy you were able to tone down their severity. You no longer screamed bloody murder in the middle of the night, forcing the whole house awake. Those painful moments became still horrific but distant memories. They didn’t send a shiver down your spine like they used to. That was until a few days before Joyce's call.
You saw something you had never seen before. Something so bizarre and terrifying, yet so real at the same time. It gave you the same feeling as the nightmare you had of the massacre at Hawkin’s lab. It was a tall and boney creature. Its skeleton covered in gray and glossy skin with fingers sharp enough to cut through metal. You wished that was the worst part, but of course it wasn’t. You thought you were going to have a heart attack when it stalked up to you and opened its petaled face to scream at you, revealing rows and rows of razor sharp teeth. It was a horror lurking in the shadows waiting for the right moment to pounce. You began waking up screaming again, and again, and again. You wished you knew how to make it stop.
You couldn’t help but feel that this thing might have a connection to Will’s disappearance, you just couldn’t figure out how. Who were you supposed to tell about this? Ever since your escape, you kept tight lipped about what you experienced. You swore off your abilities wanting to pretend like you weren’t cursed with them. That you were just like everyone else. When questioned by police, you told the chief that a non descript man threw you into his white van. Classic pervert trope. Of course with not much to go on, your case went cold. You wished that you could tell your story, but who would believe you?
After an amazing wake up call, your day started behind schedule. Your hair was taking forever and you had been debating with yourself in the mirror on which patterned fabric would work best with your pants, almost giving up on the outfit as a whole.
“Shit!” You panicked when you read the time on your clock. Steve was supposed to be here in five minutes and you hadn’t even eaten yet. You grab your backpack and bound down the stairs, rushing to take your seat at the dining table.
“You were screaming in your sleep again.” Lucas commented as soon as you sat down.
“Oh yeah?I didn’t notice.Can someone pass the bacon please? Steve’s gonna be here any minute and I’d like to finish eating before he gets here.”
“I don’t know why you still hang out with that boy.” your father complained from behind his newspaper, making you roll your eyes.
“Charles!” Your mother chided him, knowing how sensitive of a subject this was for the two of you.
“We’ve been over this, dad. He’s still my best friend.”
“And because she’s in love with him.” Erica teased, making kissing noises as she brought her face closer to you.
“No I’m not. We’re just friends.” You placed your hand on her face, pushing her away from you.
“Knock it off, Erica.” Your mother scolded. Right as you brought the bacon to your lips, you heard Steve’s distinct honking pattern.
“Crap, he’s here.” You got up from your seat in a hurry, throwing the bacon and two pieces of toast on your plate onto a napkin to take with you. You kissed your goodbyes before running out the door.
When you stepped outside, Steve was standing in his usual place. He was leaning against the passenger side of his car, arms impatiently folded.
“Come on, Sinclair, we're gonna be late.” He urged you to move faster.
“Since when did you care about being late?” You questioned when you finally made it to him.
“I don’t but you do.” He replied, opening the door for you.
“Ooo, can I have a piece of bacon.” He looked over at you after he started the car.
“No, the bacon is mine, this is for you.” you held out one of the pieces of toast for him to take a bite from
“What no peanut butter?”
“If you want peanut butter so bad, you can go inside and get it yourself. I’m sure my dad would love to share his peanut butter with you.” He narrowed his eyes at you.
“You know what, I think I’m good.”
“That’s what I thought.” You chuckled, clicking your seatbelt.
“By the way, I’m having a little party tonight and I’d love it if you came.”
“With Tommy and Carol?”
“Yeah, who else?” You rolled your eyes at that fact.
“I think I’m good. I might hang out with the girls after soccer practice tonight.”
“Pleeeeasse.” He begged with an exaggerated pout. When it seemed like your will wouldn’t resolve, he brought out the big guns. He gave you the stupid big brown puppy eyes. The ones he would use to make you do incredibly dumb shit.
“I don’t know. I’ll see after therapy.” You began to relent.
“Great! so you’re coming.” Steve cheered.
“What?” You looked at him like he lost his mind.
“It’s kind of your thing at this point. You always sigh and say ‘I don’t know. I’ll see after therapy’ and then you come over and we have the best night ever.” He explained.
“Yeah, but that’s when it's just us. I don’t like hanging out with Tommy and Carol outside of school hours, and even then it’s too much.” You tried to reason.
“I don’t force you to hang out with them.”
“Yes, you do. You whine and cry when I don't. Your like an obsessive boyfriend.”
“Sorry for wanting to hang out with my best friend.”
“Don’t try that manipulation shit on me. I love hanging out with you Steve, but full offense, Tommy and Carol suck.”
“I know but, I don’t have anyone else besides you that I want there.” He confessed, making your eyebrows clench in confusion.
“What about Nancy, she's practically your girlfriend at this point.”
“Sure, but things are still kind of weird when Nancy hangs out with us. It’s a weird energy. I know you can feel it too.” Ever since Steve and Nancy started dating, Tommy and Carol became wolves ready to pounce on their next meal. They took in her shy demeanor and ran with their antics as far as they could before Steve would “attempt” to reign them in.
“Things are weird because Tommy and Carol are awful." You explained.
“Exactly.” He nodded along.
“Exactly what? Part of it’s your fault."
“What’s that supposed to mean?" He asked with furrowed brows.
“It means you let those idiots get away with way too much. Punching Tommy in the arm and telling him to ‘shut up’ doesn’t do what you think it does. He’s a jackass who mooches off your popularity and he thinks he can do and say whatever, because you let him. When you grow a pair, maybe your friends won’t treat your girlfriend like shit.”
“What about you, they weren’t weird with you.”
“That’s because I don’t want them to like me. I’m only around them by circumstance. I hang out with your goofy ass cause you're practically glued to my side and they’re practically glued yours. It’s a fucked up chain of symbiosis. I think Nancy and I would both love it if you cut out the cancers.”
“Alright, they aren’t that bad.” He tried to defend, earning your pointed eyes.
“You are so lucky you’re handsome, Harrington.”
“Slow down there Sinlair, I have a girlfriend.”
“Fine, I'll call you stupid next time. Is that better?”
“I think I prefer handsome."
“That’s what I thought.”
“I’m serious though,come to my party. Hang out with your good ol pal Steve.” You rolled your eyes in faux annoyance. You already knew you were going, but you wanted to let him sweat a little bit.
“Listen. I’ll think about it. I don’t really want to be the fifth wheel tonight.”
“What about Jack? Bring him.” Steve offered.
“I think I’m gonna break up with him. It might be a little confusing if I bring him to your party and then dump him.” You hesitantly confessed. Steve looked over at you with wide eyes. He brought a hand to his mouth, trying to slyly cover a satisfied smirk. He shouldn’t be as happy about that as he is. Something about him irked him. He wasn’t a bad guy by any means, but he just didn’t like when he was around.
“Woah, slow down. When did you decide this?”
“Like a week ago. I’ve been trying to find the right time to do it.” You shrugged.
“A week ago?Why didn’t you tell me?” As much as he cared about the information,he was more so concerned that you didn’t tell him, something that became more of a trend after your escape.
“I didn’t think you cared. You didn’t even like the guy.”
“When did I ever say that?”
“You didn’t have to. Your eyes would basically glaze over every time I would talk about him and you would barely acknowledge him when he hung out with us. Anyway, things just aren’t working anymore.”
“Aren’t working? He’s like head over heels for you. It’s a little annoying.”
“I know. He’s a cute guy and great in bed…” Steve gave you the side eye. “but I’m just not in the relationship the way I should be. I figure I should rip off the bandaid now before I really hurt him. He’s a sweet guy but I don’t think we're right for each other. He bought me farah faucet hairspray. What the hell am I supposed to do with that?” You pointed to your hair, making him chuckle. “I mean come on.”
“At least get some Afro Sheen.” He suggested.
“Exactly!” You nodded in agreement.
“Look,you can cut him loose tomorrow or something.Can you just bring him so that we can both be happy.”
“Fine. I’ll bring him to your lame ass party.”
“Ah! You're the best!” He reached over to sling his arm around your shoulder, pulling you closer to him to kiss your forehead.
“Let go! You’re driving!” You remind him wriggling out of his grasp when you feel the car begin to drift.
“Shit!” He put his other hand back on the wheel to straighten out, making you both breathe a sigh of relief. WHen Steve’s mind finally cleared, a wave of realization hit him.
“Wait, did you regift that spray to me?” He looked at you bewildered. His suspicions were confirmed by your sudden silence. “I can’t believe you're regifting me shit from your boyfriend!”
“You said you were out and I had a free bottle right there! Be grateful Harrington.”
When you walked up to the group after class, Jack’s arm slung over your shoulder, Steve and his goons were trying to convince Nancy to come to his party.
“Sooo you in?”
“In for what?” Nancy questioned, confused.
“No parents,big house.” Carol spoke as if she was stupid.
“A party?”
“Din!ding!ding!”
“But, it’s Tuesday.”
“It’s Tuesday. Oh my god.” Tommy mocked her, making you roll your eyes.
“Come on It'll be low key.It'll just be us.” Steve gave her that signature ‘king steve’ smirk. “What do you say, are you in or out?”
“I’ll be there if it makes you feel better.” You chimed in, hoping that would make her feel comfortable. She was the main reason you were going in the first place. She was the first girl in a while that Steve seemed to actually be into for more than sex and you would’ve felt really bad if you left her with the two assholes Steve called his friends. Before Nancy had a chance to answer, Carol decided to do what she does best. Bully and deride anyone she deems worthy, even in their worst circumstances.
“Oh god, look.”She spoke in disgust, all of you shifting your attention to Jonathon Byers hanging up missing posters of Will. Steve felt like he was looking into the past. He remembered what it had felt like to be Jonathon. To be so sacred and so fragile. To not know if the person you cared about the most was suffering, or worse. Dead. A chill ran down his spine at the memories creeping up on him. They made him unconsciously move closer to you. He needed to know you were still here before he spiraled like he used to.
“Should we say something?” Nancy questions.
“I don't think he speaks.” Carol’s words made your blood begin to boil.
“How much you wanna bet he killed him?” Tommy teased.
“Shut up!”Steve shoved his shoulder.
“Does it help you two sleep at night knowing you’re the biggest assholes on the planet? His brother is missing and you still can’t find it in yourself to be a normal human being.”
“I was just joking, you don’t have to get so bent about it.” He brushed you off
“Joking? What’s so funny about this? Is it the part where a little boy’s family is worried sick because they can’t find him or is it the part where he might be alone and scared or god forbid dead. I really want to know. I’m sure Steve can give you an answer to one of those, right?” When he didn’t respond you pushed further.
“Don't get all quiet now Tommy. I wanna know which one you think is funny.” Tommy’s jaw began to clench in anger. This kind of interaction wasn’t new for the two of you. You never took shit from neither him nor Carol. Since it seemed Steve would never do it, you made it your little passion project to keep their egos in check whenever you had the chance to.
“How bout this, I’m gonna talk to Jonathon like a normal human being so that you can take your time and think real hard about your answer.” You gave him a tight lipped smile before walking over to the sulking teen.
“What is your problem man? Why would you say something like that around her?” Steve pressed him.
“We were just joking alright.” Carol tried to defend her boyfriend.
“Well it wasn't funny, asshole.”
“Hey.” You walked up to Jonathon, hoping you had fully shaken off your look of frustration.
“Hey.”
“Any leads?”
“No. I’m planning to go out to my dad’s house and look for him there. I hope he’s there, but at the same time I don’t. He would be safe, but not safe ya know.” You nodded solemnly.
“I’m sure you're tired of hearing this already, but I’m here for you and the boys are too. I promised Lucas that I wouldn’t tell anyone, but they went out last night to find Will.”
“That’s not safe
“I know, but you do crazy things for the people you love right?”
“We do, but I-I don’t know. I feel like I’m spending more time trying to keep my mom from falling over the edge and then I end up feeling like I’m not doing enough for him.”
“Speaking from experience, Will knows that you’re doing everything you can to find him. Even if you feel like you aren’t. He knows that you and your mom won’t stop looking for him. I knew that too. It’s part of why I’m even here today.”
“Thanks. I-I appreciate it.”
“Anytime, Byers. Call if you need anything.” You gave him a sympathetic smile before walking back to the group, Nancy passing you on her way to Jonathon.
“Did you decide yet, Hagan?”
Once the school day ended, Steve went his usual route to meet you at your locker. He would have approached further until he saw you locked in a conversation with Jack. He knows that a break up between the two of you was on the horizon, but watching the two of you for some reason put a pit in his stomach, which is stupid. He liked Nancy. He liked her a lot, but to him Jack didn’t seem worth your time.
“Pick me up at around seven thirty so that we can get there by eight?”
“Yeah, I’ll call you when I’m about to leave.”
“Perfect. Thank you.”
“Of, course.” He pecked you on the lips. “I’ll see you tonight.”
He waved a quick ‘bye’ to Steve, before walking to his own locker, leaving you and Steve alone.
“Aw, you guys are so cute.”
“Shut up!” You playfully punch his shoulder
“WHat you are, you and your little bench warmer. I can’t believe you’re breaking up with him.
You're one to talk, you haven't won a championship yet Mr. Varsity. You’ve got about a year left. He's only on the bench, but you're starting five. What’s your excuse?”
“My excuse is that I have a Sinclair breathing down my neck begging me to take her to therapy.”
“It's just you and me, Harrington, no need to lie. If anyone is begging, it's you. I was perfectly content with my mom taking me, but nooo.”
“Sure, but would your mom take you for a milkshake and fries before your appointment?”
“No, but at least she lets me pick the music.”
“What do you have against The Cure?”
“Nothing, but I thought that after almost twelve years some of my music taste would rub off on you at some point.”
“It has, but sometimes I just want to listen to The Cure, so for today it’s my car, my rules.”
“Now you sound like my mom.”
“There she is!” Steve cheered when he greeted you at the door. “Now the party can start.”
“Alright, calm down. I’m not Princess Diana or anything.” You commented. You held onto Jack’s hand as Steve led you to his backyard. You realized that Steve was being incredibly liberal when he described his little function as a party. It was a kickback at best and even still, it was pretty lame. The music sucked (Tommy’s mixtape), the energy was weird, and the only thing to drink was shitty beer. You felt bad for dragging Jack out of the house for this. That feeling was made worse when you realized that Nancy brought Barbra with her. You liked her well enough. She didn’t talk much and was pretty straight laced, so it was clear why she would be uncomfortable. The only person she felt comfortable with was Nancy and she had most of her attention focused on Steve. She was in the position that you didn’t want to be in, but instead of the fifth wheel, she was the seventh.
When either you or Nancy tried to bring her in on some of the fun, she insisted that she was fine even though she was clearly not having a good time. It felt like she was watching the party from the outside in. SHe stayed reserved to her lounge chair while the six of you tried to squeeze what fun you could out of the party.
You knew it was coming before it happened. The gears were turning in Tommy’s head while his eye bounced between the pool and his girlfriend.
You doubled over in laughter, walking up to the pool with Nancy when you heard Carol scream and the subsequent splash that followed. The two of you were too busy in your shock and laughter to hear either of your boyfriends creeping up behind you. Before either of you knew what was happening, they pushed you in, both of them quickly jumping in after you.
You splashed water at Jack in retaliation before swimming to the pool’s edge.
“Barb, are you sure you don’t want to join us? The pool’s heated so you won’t get cold.”
“Thanks for the offer, but I’m ok over here.”
“Are you sure?” She responded with a nod. You knew parties weren’t for everyone, but you really wanted her to have a good time.
After about thirty minutes of swimming, you felt a tingle run down your spine when Jack swam close to whisper in your ear.
“Do you think Harrington will care if we occupied the guest room for a bit.” You looked over to Steve, his arms wrapped around Nancy. He probably wouldn’t even notice if the two of you snuck off.
“I don’t think he’d mind at all.” You accepted his proposition. You felt bad for agreeing considering the relationship was on borrowed time, but what’s one more for the road right?
You led Jack upstairs to one of the guest bedrooms. One that was originally for a Harrington sibling, until they realized they barely had the time or care for one.
“We have to make this fast. They’re gonna figure out what we’re doing pretty quickly.” You explained before pulling him into a heated kiss.
“You know how quick I can be.” He pulled apart from you, each of you helping the other remove your tops. Before gently pushing you back into the bed. He climbed on top of you, his lips finding your once more. You brought your hands to the back of his neck, trying to pull him closer. You closed your eyes, leaning into the pleasure. You were ready to jump into the abyss with him until the darkness behind your eyelids transformed into flashing images of something terribly familiar.
You were seeing it again. The gray and glossy monster clearly designed to kill. It made your blood run cold. IN your nightmares it felt so far as if it were a danger coming from far away, but now it felt present. Like it was close enough to touch.
You were only pulled out of your trance when you heard a pained groan. Your eyes snapped open at the sound. You realized you had been digging your nails into Jack’s back like a cat’s claws clinging into fabric.
“Oh, my god. I’m so sorry.” You promptly released him, your chest rising and falling in a panic.
“It’s ok. I think I might be into it actually.” He tried to soothe your anxieties. He began to lean back in until you stopped him. You had to see for yourself. You had to make sure that thing wasn’t out there.
“Shit! Did I go too fast?” He crawled off of you.
“No, no. It’s me. I-I just need to check something really quickly.” You rushed out, throwing on your shirt. “I’ll be back in a minute!” You called behind you before slamming the door and running down the stairs. The first floor had been vacant. When you looked through the sliding glass door, you spotted Barbra, sitting on the edge of the pool.
“Hey, where did everyone go?” You looked around suspiciously.
“Um, Steve brought Nancy upstairs a couple minutes after you left with Jack and I don’t know where Tommy and Carol went.”
“Um, maybe you should go home Barb. I know it's not my place to kick you out but, I think Nancy is going to be a while and who knows when Tommy and Carol are coming back. I'm about to leave anyway so Jack can drive you home.” You desperately offered. You couldn’t shake the bad feeling you had about her being out here at all let alone by herself.
“Oh no, I can't go. I’m Nancy's ride.”
“I’m sure Steve can give her a ride home.”
“Mrs. Wheeler saw her leave in my car. I don't want her to get in trouble.” You were losing your mind. You wish you could control her mind and make her leave.Your anxiety only grows the more you survey the scene. Your ears listening for as much of a twig snap.
“Listen, I just have a bad feeling about you being out here so just please sit inside.”
“It’s ok, I like the fresh air.”
“Can you at least do it until Tommy and Carol get back.” You felt a wave of relief wash over you when she finally seemed to give in.
When you went back to the room Jack was waiting patiently on the edge of the bed, his leg bouncing with excess energy.
“Hey, I'm really sorry to do this to you cause we were just getting started, but I need you to take me home. I really wanted to do this, but I can’t. Not right now.”
“O-ok. Is everything fine?”
“I’ll explain later ok, but right now we need to go.”
“Did something happen? Are you ok?” He questioned, taking in your nervous energy.
“Yeah, I just have a lot on my mind right now and I just really need to go home.”
You waved 'bye' Barb while she was in the kitchen grabbing a drink on your way out the door with Jack. You only hoped she stayed there, but there was a chill that ran down your spine that told you she didn't.
