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dwobbitfromtheshire · 6 months

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Don't get me wrong, I love Eddie being Steve’s awakening, but it's been done a lot, and I'm getting a little bored. It's Eddie's turn to panic. He kind of panicked very quickly in this.

18+ MINORS DNI

Vecna sensed the connection between his new puppet and Steve Harrington. It needed to be put to an end. So far, Edward has fought against him and his orders. Has he hurt his former friends? Yes. Killed them? No. It was his connection to Steve that was keeping him from controlling Edward completely.

"For the last fucking time, it's Eddie," he said, coming up behind him.

"You are getting good at getting into my head," Vecna said. "Now, if you only spent more time working on that instead of fighting me."

"I told you before that I don't want to hurt them. I don't want to kill them," Eddie snapped. "Do whatever you want to me but leave them out of this."

"It's not just me your fighting," Vecna chuckled. "You're fighting yourself too."

"What the fuck are you talking about, Henry?" Eddie asked.

"Don't you realize why you are still connected to Steve Harrington?" Vecna asked. "You want him."

"I don't want to kill him," Eddie replied. "I keep telling you that."

"No. You want him," Vecna said.

"I want him to do what?" Eddie asked.

"No. You want him. . . You yearn for him," Vecna growled.

"Are you saying that I want to fuck him?" Eddie scoffed.

"Yes, if you must put it that way," Vecna rolled his eyes.

Eddie laughed and laughed, slapping his slimy knees with his claws.

"You're funny," Eddie said. "I didn't think it was possible, but you're fucking funny."

When Eddie had woken up, his clothes were gone, and in their place were the vines that wrapped around Vecna's own body. Eddie hated it. His hair was gone, and didn't that just suck? Eddie felt so disgusting. Eddie looked down below. They were standing on Mount Weathertop, looking down at what used to be Hawkins. His friends were down below, trapped by the vines.

"Stop it," Vecna growled.

"I like women, you big slimy idiot," Eddie snapped at him.

"Nothing is impossible," Vecna said, spreading his arms. "Look around us."

"I mean, I always - " Eddie frowned.

He stopped and thought about it. He thought about the way he flirted with Officer Moore, the way he noticed the muscles on the jocks that chased after him, the way he used to watch Steve Harrington in the gym, and the way those little shorts used to ride up on his thighs. He always thought he had the case of the wandering eyes like the way his mind always wandered. They were stupid little shorts, and he scoffed at them all the time. He realized he liked them the same way he liked the skirts on the cheerleaders.

"Oh, Jesus H Christ," Eddie said, slapping a clawed hand on his bald head. "I'm bisexual and I have a huge fucking crush on Steve Harrington."

He watched as the vines started moving down below. They were moving closer to them, and the vines were carrying something in their grasp. They deposited Steve onto the grass beside them.

"Now. Kill him. Purge the entire connection," Vecna said.

"No, please, don't!" Steve begged.

"You gave me a sexuality crisis about Steve only for you to fucking demand that I still kill him," Eddie snapped. "Are you fucking stupid?"

"Eddie?!" Steve asked.

"Yeah, big boy, it's me," Eddie said.

"You won't have to feel that fight in your head anymore. Do you really think that he will want you when you look like this? That anyone will want you?" Vecna said. "Stop fighting."

Eddie cackled and clapped a hand on Vecna's shoulder.

"No, of course, you're right," Eddie said, smiling at him.

"I am glad you see it my way," Vecna replied.

Eddie slammed his claws under Vecna's chin and straight into his skull, effectively killing him. Vecna's body dropped to the ground. Everything started to shake, and a hole in the ground opened up. The red sky cleared up, the lightning stopped, and the sun came out. The vines started slinking back into the ground. To Eddie's surprise, the vines started sliding off of his body along with the claws. The vines slithered into the hole, and it slammed shut behind them. There was nothing but bright green grass. Eddie felt his head, and he shrieked with delight when he realized that he had hair again. Of course, that's when he realized he was completely naked. He shrieked again.

"Eddie?" Steve called out.

Eddie grinned and ran towards him. He threw his arms around him and hugged him tightly. He pulled back quickly.

"Shit, sorry," Eddie blushed.

Steve’s eyes darkened as they raked over Eddie. Steve cupped Eddie's face and slammed his lips to his. Eddie deepened the kiss, wrapping his arms around Steve’s neck. Steve wrapped his arms around his waist, pulling him close as he slipped his tongue into Eddie's mouth. His hands traveled from his waist and gently cupped his butt, his nails digging into the flesh slightly as he squeezed it. Eddie moaned into his mouth and broke the kiss.

"Lay down. This has to be quick," Eddie said.

Steve took off his backpack before laying on the grass. Eddie straddled his waist and started unbuckling his belt.

"You said just had a sexuality crisis - are you sure?" Steve asked.

"Yeah, yeah," Eddie said eagerly. "Do you want to?"

"Fuck, yes," Steve said, his face flushed.

He freed Steve from his pants and let him use his spit to fuck himself open on Steve’s fingers. Steve pulled his fingers out and replaced them with his cock. Eddie quickly started moving his hips, rocking wildly. Eddie's head tilted backward, his hair falling back as he bounced on top of Steve. He smirked, feeling Steve’s intense gaze. The grass was an annoyance against his knees, but that didn't matter when he was alive and fucking Steve Harrington on top of Hawkins. He laughed gleefully as his pushed up Steve’s shirt, his hands gripping his tits. Eddie let out a happy howl when he came, spilling all over his chest. Soon after, Steve was also spilling inside of him. Eddie pulled off of him and collapsed on the ground next to him. He closed his eyes against the sun, a euphoric smile on his face. He was alive and queer as hell. The last thing he felt before drifting off to sleep was Steve using a piece of cloth to clean him up.

"Eddie?"

Steve was suddenly above him and gave him a crooked smile.

"How long was I asleep?" Eddie asked.

"About an hour," Steve said. "You needed it, but we need to get out there and find the others."

"Hmm. So what we did. . .it wasn't a dream, was it?" Eddie asked.

"You mean us having sex? No, not a dream," Steve smiled and leaned down to kiss him. "Sit up and get dressed. Unfortunately, when I packed my bag, I forgot a shirt, so you're stuck with sweat pants."

"Better than nothing," Eddie said.

He stood up and took the pants, quickly slipping them on. Eddie enjoyed the way Steve eyed them hanging off his hips, and he smirked. Steve scoffed and took off his brown leather jacket. He threw it at Eddie.

"For your modesty," Steve said.

Eddie laughed as he pulled on the jacket. He threw himself at Steve, kissing him soundly. He wrapped his arms around Steve’s neck.

"So, what do we tell people when they ask how I saved the day? I needed your dick so badly that I just couldn't do what Vecna told me to. I was being controlled by the power of your dick," Eddie gasped.

"We are not telling people that," Steve said, laughing. "We tell them that your feelings for me were just too strong."

"Hmm, yes, there are a lot of feelings," Eddie said, kissing him sweetly.

Steve blushed and took his hand in his, intertwining their fingers. They began moving down from Mount Weathertop and started moving towards the center of town. Vecna had left a lot of destruction in his wake, but the town had been evacuated before he could hurt or kill anyone. It was mostly property damage that Eddie and Vecna had caused. Eddie stared at the dead bats and demodogs lying on the ground, wincing at the sight of them.

"Hey," Steve said softly as he leaned his forehead against his. "This wasn't you. This was Vecna controlling you. You could never do something like this, so stop blaming yourself for something you couldn't control. Okay?"

"Okay," Eddie said softly.

Steve kissed his forehead and pulled back, stroking his ringless fingers.

"Oh!" Steve exclaimed. "When we were forced to leave you in the Upside Down, sorry about that, I couldn't just leave these behind."

He took off his backpack and took out a smaller bag, a drawstring pouch typically made for dice. Eddie grinned. Steve dumped out his rings into his hand.

"My rings!" Eddie exclaimed. "Help me put them on?"

Steve grinned as he slid them correctly into place. Steve rubbed the pads of his thumbs over the rings and leaned forward to kiss him.

"I'm never going to get tired of kissing you," Steve whispered fondly.

"Me neither," Eddie said.

With their hands clasped together, they moved closer to the center of town. Suddenly, Steve’s radio in his backpack crackled to life, but they didn't need to answer it because a group of people were running towards them.

"Never mind! I see you! I think. Over!" Dustin's voice came through.

It was the entire party, and all of them skidded to a stop when they saw Eddie. Dustin looked at him, his mouth open.

"Eddie?!" Dustin shrieked.

Dustin ran and threw himself into Eddie's arms, sobbing.

"How the hell are you still alive, Munson?" Hopper asked.

"Not still alive. Alive again. Henry brought me back to be his little bitch. He didn't expect me to fight back, though, or to kill him," Eddie grinned.

"You were the one to kill Vecna?" Will asked. "Me and El felt him die, but we didn't know who did it."

"Wait, were you the other monster?" Mike asked.

"Yeah, I lost the slime when Henry's body got eaten by the Upside Down," Eddie said as Dustin pulled away, wiping his tears.

"Wait, are you the naked man who attacked Steve?" Dustin asked.

"What?!" Steve and Eddie asked.

"Yeah, El went looking for Steve using her powers. She saw a naked man throwing himself on top of you," Dustin said.

"I do not think Eddie was attacking Steve," El said. "Steve agreed with Eddie a lot."

"Jesus," Steve said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Kill me now."

"Oh!" El yelled in realization, her cheeks red. "You had sex. That was sex, yes? I did not know boys could be on top of boys like that. It was like Steve was a horse. How does that work?"

Dustin slapped a hand over her mouth. Eddie cackled while Steve hid his face into his hands.

"Oh, sweetheart, it looks like we're going to have another talk," Joyce said to El.

Hopper rubbed his face with his hands and sighed.

"Hope you boys were safe," Hopper said, looking as if he wanted to run away.

Not that he thought there was anything wrong with them being together. He just didn't want to think about his pseudo son having sex at all or the fact that his daughter accidentally witnessed it.

"I'm happy for you guys, but I never want to hear the details of you having sex ever again," Dustin sighed, practically voicing Hopper's thoughts.

"I can't believe you guys did it outside," Mike scoffed.

"Mike? What did I just say?" Dustin asked.

"Well, we were both very grateful that I'm alive," Eddie said.

He pulled Steve into his arms and let him bury his red face into his neck. It was true, though. They were both very grateful.

#stranger things #stranger things s4 #eddie munson #joseph quinn #eddie stranger things #steve harrington #eddie munson lives #steddie #steve x eddie #steve harrington x eddie munson #steddie fanfiction #the party #vecna #vecna’s curse #vecna/henry/one

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aloneinthehellfire · 1 year

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Chapter 23: The Aftermath

Season One | Season Two | Season Three | Season Four

Word Count: 4847 words of these kids definitely have ptsd now

Warnings: swearing, mentions of death, blood, hospitals (i myself am not fond of being in one), minor violence?, some nice sweet stuff in this one since all the others have been an angst fest

[A/N: this is kind of like a filler episode we all know and love on our fav shows (or not lmao) but i really wanted to give a shot at what was happening before 'two days later'. you don't really have to read this chapter if you don't want to, but there are some important parts?]

The Aftermath

Dawn was breaking by the time you left the Upside Down, slowly casting an orange light on your silhouettes. For a moment, everyone glanced over at the rising sun.

It wasn’t until you were heading to the RV that you realised this particular sunrise wasn’t meant to be seen by your eyes, or any after that. It was a bittersweet reminder that you almost never saw a sunrise ever again. You didn’t even remember the last.

Steve drove away from the trailer park, Nancy taking care of Eddie’s wounds in the back, while Dustin and Robin shared stories of the night. Despite their efforts, there was an unease that even the attempt of comedic conversation couldn’t break.

You sat in the front, staring out of the window and wincing at the reflection of the girl with a blood-stained face staring back.

There was too much running through your mind to truly allow you to focus, only ever seeing the same images burned into your brain. The visions of the people you lost, the grave inscribed with your name. The look in Vecna’s eye when he took your life. Your blood.

“Hey.”

Steve’s foot gently nudges yours, voice lowered in attempt to keep the conversation private. Not that it was needed; Robin and Dustin’s exchange of tales were loud and excitable, the pair happy to just discuss random movies and keep Eddie awake.

“You okay?” He asks before his face drops, shaking his head and looking back to the road. “Sorry, stupid question.”

“We lost.” You say after a time, quietly. He glances over to you.

He took a moment to decide his next words, flexing his knuckles as he gripped the steering wheel tightly. “Not yet. We’ll get another chance, and we’ll win. I know it.”

“Yeah.” You try to agree, but your heart wasn’t in it.

“Look,” Steve sighs, quickly checking the mirror to ensure the others were distracted, “All I know is that we’re okay. That you’re okay.”

His voice was slightly cracked at the last three words and your whip your head to find his eyes, frowning.

“Steve-”

“No, I-” He breathes away the reddening of his eyes, focused on the road ahead in the soft yellow glow of the headlights, illuminating the paths hidden in darkness from the early morning shades of trees. “I genuinely thought I was gonna have to figure out the rest of my life without you and I never wanna do that again. I wish I could say it was the first time.”

“When have you…” You shake your head, confused.

Steve’s eyes flicker to yours, gulping. “Last year. When… the Russian base. We got separated. All I could hear were your screams. Even if I was getting beaten to a bloody pulp, those screams were the worst torture, believe me. Then- then that woman showed us a knife- your blood, and…”

A tear rolls down his cheek as he continues. “Jesus, I seriously thought that this year would be different. You left, and believe me that sucked, but you were safe. That’s what mattered.But I- I couldn’t get any of it out of my head. Then the worst finally happened just a few hours ago and I don’t even know how I’m gonna process that one.”

“You aren’t the only one.” You admit quietly and he nods.

“Yeah, of course. Right, I can’t even imagine-” His breath is shaky and you lower your head.

There was always a part of you that declared you needed to be strong, to never show weakness. It was that part that always ended up failing you, spinning you out of control until you did something you regret. But those usually extended from small lies or lack of communication. This time, it was quite literally death.

And you didn’t have the strength in you to pretend like you were okay.

“Don’t ever die again.” Steve frowns, breaking the silence, eyes filled with that painful memory. His lips were tight, glistening eyes watching as the light began to beam between the branches you pass. “Please.”

You lean over and wipe the tear from his cheek. “You’re not getting rid of me that easy.”

“Good.” He chuckles, taking your hand and squeezing it. “Because I’m not letting you go that easy.”

That was the first time you felt like you smiled for a normal reason. The only times happiness had struck you over the course of the past few days were when you celebrated that your friends were alive. This… this felt better. Because it wasn’t a relieved smile for once. It was the joy you felt after the boy you loved told you that this was forever.

The moment was broken with a thick air of smoke clouding the road, Steve pulling the RV to a stop and frowning.

“What’s going on?” Nancy joins you at the front, peering through the windscreen.

As Steve wordlessly shakes his head, you can make out a shadow in the distance, a scarlet outline. Your eyes widen.

You were out of your seat and jumping from the door in no time, feet planting on the solid ground before taking a few steps. Your breath slipped from your lips, a clearer view of what you feared.

The Creel House was surrounded by the dark smoke but illuminated by a red light, almost like fire.

And it was no longer standing.

A huge slit broke the house in half, the beating heart of a gate staring back at you. Your gaze travels up the building, face dropping completely. The attic was incinerated.

“Do you think they got out?” Dustin asks with the smallest whisper.

Your friends had collected behind you, poking their head out of the vehicle and staring at the destruction with wide eyes.

Robin nods vigorously. “Yeah. Yeah, they- they had plenty of time.”

Your eyes flicker around, part of you hoping to find Lucas safe and sound among the rubble. Nothing.

Erica would have gone for help, you tell yourself, he’s fine, she’s fine… Max is fine.

“Maybe they’re-” Dustin hobbles down from the step in the direction of the building, until his ankle folds beneath him and he’s almost face first on the ground.

Steve catches him just in time, “Woah, no, okay. We’re getting you to the hospital. You seriously need that ankle checked out.”

“But-”

“No, he’s right.” Nancy affirms, nodding. “You’re obviously in pain, Eddie needs those bites properly treated. And Y/n-”

Nancy turns to you and for the first time tonight, took in your appearance, breath hitching. Almost your entire torso was covered in dry blood, splattered across your neck and face. Three gashes were torn into the fabric of your shirt, outlining the red scars that replaced your once fatal wounds. Bruises coated the public skin, some more brutal than others. You were, to put it simply, a mess.

“I’m fine.” You shrug, clearing your throat. “But, yeah. We, uh… we should get to the hospital.”

You ignored her worried look, turning away from the wreck and stepping back into the RV, reclaiming your seat. Steve slips back behind the wheel, taking a deep breath and relying on the headlights to guide you all safely through Hawkins.

The earlier chatter of distraction had dissipated into unsettling silence. Perhaps they were originally riding the high of their survival, but now the truth of the surface had unveiled itself and plunged them into dread.

And it only got worse.

Driving through streets of chaos, your heart drops; crumbled buildings, fires burning away memories, people cradling limbs as they’re pulled from beneath.

Crying parents held their children, police men desperately trying to assess the source of the destruction. It was soul-breaking to see the panic, residents fleeing their homes without a choice. Hawkins was once so cosy.

The aftermath of Vecna’s victory hadn’t just hurt you. It affected the entire town.

The road to the hospital was busy with cars, forcing Steve to stop in the Family Video parking lot. Luckily for you, the final destination was only around the corner.

Steve supported Eddie’s weight, the latter insisting he was fine when, especially in daylight, he clearly wasn’t. Dustin simply loops his arm around Nancy, allowing her to help him along with no complaints. From the grimace of his face, the adrenaline must have worn off and he was now feeling the pain of the drop.

Robin offered to help, only met with a few murmurs of ‘no, it’s okay’ before she gave up and shuffled up next to you, her curious eyes assessing the buildings around her.

After seeing the Creel House destroyed, your hope had gone. You knew Max was dead, that part was made very clear by the grand opening of Hawkins’ biggest gate yet. But you also knew Lucas had to have seen that, and he wouldn’t have left her side, even if the ground was swallowing them both up. It hurt.

Lucas had a natural charisma about him when you first met. It was late, your first night in Hawkins, and the house beside you was lively, bundles of excited chatter and exclamations spewing from the tiny window of the basement and echoing straight to your window. It wasn’t until you took a step out of the house for some fresh air that you met the kids; Will’s shy smile, Mike’s under-eager wave, and Dustin’s wide grin. Lucas was the first one to talk to you, a warm welcome to the town.

Ever since then, you’ve seen him grow from that 12 year old boy into someone you wished you could be. You’ve dealt with his unrealistically optimistic flirts, his arguments with the other boys, his small and quiet conversations about wanting to play basketball like the older kids did but scared he would upset the Party. And he dealt with your sarcasm, your denial of emotions, even your constant refusals to assist them even though you would do anything for them. When you think of any memory tied to the town, almost every one had him connected into it, his sincerity and love for his friends inspiring you to make the same sacrifices onto selflessness. You couldn’t have hoped for a better person to care for your sister.

The thought of losing them both…

Warmth slipped into your hand and you look up to see Robin’s smile, her hand squeezing yours gently as you led the others towards the hospital. Neither of you spoke, only basking in the safety you felt with eachother, calming nerves.

As the greying white of the building appears into view, flashing lights blare the road behind you, screeching sirens of persistence loud enough to pierce the chaos around you.

The ambulance stops just outside of the entrance, a gurney being pulled from the back and slid onto the paving. You barely take notice, head hung low as you glance back to check on Dustin and Eddie.

“Is she gonna be okay?! Anyone?!”

Your head whips up to see someone else emerge from the transport, reddened eyes and quick breaths as they yell in exasperation.

Erica steps around him, noticing you stood with a look of shock on your face. She immediately turns to get his attention, pulling on his shirt and nodding in your direction.

Lucas’ face drops when he sees you, eyes widening. He glances to the gurney.

It doesn’t take long for the puzzle to build itself.

“Max.” You breathe out, loud enough for your friends to halt all movement and find the source of your whisper.

Without even waiting for confirmation, you drop Robin’s hand and sprint over to where they were carting your sister into the hospital, a sob leaving your lips when you see her face, blood staining her cheeks in tear paths.

“You need to step back.” A nurse informed you a little bitterly and you shake your head, keeping up with the fast pace.

“She’s my sister!” You insist and the woman sighs, nodding to another worker.

“And we will let you know everything once we finish her surgery.”

“No, I- Surgery?” You repeat, hand brushing against Max’s face before she’s pulled away from you and through restricted doors, leaving you stood alone in the foyer, murmurs of busy people vibrating around you.

“Y/n?”

You turn around to see Lucas stood a few steps from you, body almost curling in on itself like he was guilty, ashamed. With the drop of your heart, you realise he must think you’d hate him for breaking his promise. Your feet moved quickly.

Closing the distance, you wrap your arms around him and pull him close. His arms immediately clung onto you, soft sobs vibrating into your shoulder.

“I’m sorry, I tried- he-”

“It’s okay.” You soothe, squeezing your eyes shut. “You’re here. That’s what matters. You did everything you could.”

Lucas’ mumbles of apology quickly faded into silent tears, his tight grasp finding comfort in your arms and letting you hold him up. Behind him, Erica patiently waits, her sad eyes finding yours and flickering to her older brother, a look of helplessness.

The doors open to reveal the others, Steve calling for doctors passing by and struggling to make excuses for Eddie’s condition.

“Look, I don’t know what to tell you, we…” Steve stumbles over words, looking to Robin.

“Uh, yeah, we… found him. Like this, I mean. We found him like this.” She finishes, turning red. She was never one for lying.

The doctor raised an eyebrow and Eddie sighed.

“Bats.” He states and they look surprised.

“Bats?” The doctor repeats and Eddie nods.

“Yeah, bats.”

Nancy clocks the medic’s startled face and clears her throat. “He might just be in shock, you know. The, um, earthquake must’ve spooked a lot of animals.”

“Right.” The doctor sounds hesitant but motions over a nurse, whispering something in her ear before she helps them take Eddie from Steve’s hold.

As they pass, Eddie sends you a smile, your brain instantly recognising that look where he hides something behind his eyes. You frown, carefully pulling away from Lucas but keeping an arm around him.

You watch as the doctor nods to a guard by the entrance, the man moving swiftly across the foyer and towards where the medics were helping Eddie.

And, with the sickening realisation, you knew there wasn’t even a small chance he’d have a normal life after this.

Because you never managed to clear his name.

Steve was by your side as you glared up at Officer Callahan, arms crossed as you stared with such malice he was starting to look uncomfortable.

As you intended. After all, his spiel about Eddie’s ‘murder rampage’ boiled your veins with each shake of his head.

“I’m just stating the law-”

“Fuck the law!” You spit and he widens his eyes, adjusting his hat.

Steve raises his brows but says nothing, trying to hide a smirk as the officer slowly shrinks in size.

“And it’s not even true. Which we’ve been trying to tell you for the past 20 minutes and honestly, I’m really starting to think our law enforcement is really fucking stupid.”

“Hey, now-” Callahan complains but you raise your hand and he shuts his mouth.

“Please, tell me how it’s humanly possible for anyone, much less Eddie, to be able to do that to someone.” You challenge and whatever retort he had was thrown away, shoulders slumping as he sighs.

“It’s not up to him.”

You and Steve turn to see Powell enter the hallway, nodding to his colleague.

“Since he was seen in contact with 2 out of the 3 victims, we have to take into account that he doesn’t have any kind of alibi.” Powell explains and you purse your lips.

“Explain my sister, then.” You say and he looks surprised, glancing to Callahan for clarification but in return getting a shrug.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Max is currently in surgery after being found with all her bones snapped and her eyes bleeding.” You try and keep control over your voice, wanting them to take you seriously. “Exactly like the other kids. And Eddie couldn’t possibly have done that.”

“How do you know that he didn’t?” Powell raises an eyebrow and you’re ready to answer until Steve’s reminding touch stops you.

“Uh…” You struggle to speak.

To tell the police that you had been hiding a fugitive wouldn’t look great for anyone, but especially not you. You knew about the records they kept on you at the station, the looks you’d get anytime you would pass an officer. They’d be quick to assume that Eddie had an accomplice.

“He was with me.” Steve breaks his silence and your eyes widen, whipping your head to him. He avoids your eyes, looking to Powell and scratching the back of his neck. “Yeah, long story short I kinda ran into him at Skull Rock, got to talking. I mean, I was all on board thinking Eddie could’ve done it until I actually met the guy and yeah, I gotta tell ya… not a murderer.”

Callahan’s eyes narrowed while Powell assessed Steve’s face for any hint of a lie. You held your breath.

Powell eventually nods, glancing off into the distance before running a hand down his face. “Alright.”

“Alright?” You prompt, brows furrowed.

“We’ll reopen the case.” He states and Callahan turns to him with wide eyes.

“We will?”

“Yes.” Powell nods, adjusting his hat and finding your eyes. “I can’t guarantee anything will change, but he’ll no longer be in our custody. At least not until we’ve dealt with this earthquake.”

You let out your breath and exchanged a triumphant smile with Steve.

Callahan clears his throat pointing a stare. “It does mean we’re gonna have to take statements, from you and your boyfriend here. We expect you to show up this time.”

His narrowed eyes stay on you until he’s rounded the corner, contrasting the slight nod giving by his chief and then they’re out of sight, leaving you and Steve stood outside of Eddie’s room with dumbfounded smiles.

“Did that just really work?” You ask, unfolding your arms and frowning in joyful confusion.

“I’ll be honest,” Steve runs a hand through his hair, “When you said ‘I’m gonna scare them into freeing Eddie’, I kinda expected to be visiting you behind bars.”

You smirk. “Aww, you’d visit me?”

There was a smile on his face, but not from the humour. He was glancing to where Powell and Callahan had disappeared then returning to your face, struggling to keep his lips from widening into a grin.

“What?” You question, cocking your head.

“Nothing, I just…” He wets his lips as he shoves his hands into his pocket, grin on display. “You didn’t correct him.”

You furrow your brows, searching through your memory. “About what?”

“Nothing.” Steve shakes his head, grinning still. “Don’t worry about it.”

Laughing, you open your mouth to respond when something catches your eye. Silhouettes of two figures stood down the hall, sporting matching jackets that you’d recognise anywhere.

Steve frowns, looking over his shoulder to what stole your attention and he holds his breath. He turns back to see your furious gaze, the way your hands balled into little fists.

Lucas had explained everything, from the very beginning of Max baiting Vecna to the ending of Jason showing up out of the blue, smashing her Walkman in the process. Erica was quick to chime in about his friend, the attack. Needless to say, one of them had picked a wrong day to show up in your line of vision.

“Okay, let’s-” Steve begins, but you’re already storming towards them. “Nevermind, okay.”

“Hey!” You shout across the hallway, the boys’ heads locating the call. The one with darker hair looked surprised, fearful even, making you think he knew exactly who you were. The other sported a hat, and, adding fuel to your fire, seemed completely unbothered.

“Can we help you?” He grumbles. Andy, you read on his jacket as you stop in front of them.

You take a look between the two before settling on Andy. “You the one that tackled a little kid and threatened to break her arms?”

The boy beside him- Chase- shifts uncomfortably, looking to his friend with a startled expression. Andy barely flinched.

“No.” He spat, shoving his hands in his jacket and nodding to his friend, a cruel smile on his face as he begins to turn away.

“You realise harming a minor results in both jail time and high monetary fines?” You retort, his footsteps slowing.

He looks to you with a scoff. “You a fucking cop or something?”

“No.” You shrug, tilting your head. “Just a friend of the victim.”

“I don’t know what that little shit said but I didn’t do anything.” Andy insists, voice deep. It wasn’t a plead of innocence. It was a warning.

“Look, we’re just here looking for Jason.” Chase interjects, looking extremely nervous.

“Uh…” You frown, feeling a little guilty in knowing the truth. But you didn’t want to be the one to bear the news. “Haven’t seen him.”

“Waste of time.” Andy mumbles, scanning your body before rolling his eyes and sending Chase a sarcastic look. You purse your lips.

“Maybe if you had checked on him before running away like a wimp, you wouldn’t be wasting your time.”

“Andy?” Chase frowns and Andy’s amused face abruptly drops to a scowl. Chase seemed to have no idea of the previous events of the night, part of you wondering if he wanted out of the ‘hunting’ after his teammate died. Or maybe he was just morally better than the rest of them.

“I’m warning you.” Andy grits his teeth, body fully facing you now. He was clearly a violent one.

Maybe you should take the warning. After all, Andy was physically built as an athlete, much taller and stronger than you were. Your most recent exercise was climbing up a rope and hell, that was a struggle.

But Vecna had really heightened your preferences on what you would find intimidating.

“About what?” You challenge, raising your eyebrows. “You gonna break my arms then run away? Because as I recall, my friend still has her limbs perfectly intact and she’s 11, so… if you can’t even win a fight against a literal child, what makes you think you’ll win-”

Andy’s arm flies out, hand flat as he aims to swipe it across your head. The effect would have hurt for sure, if someone hadn’t caught it just before impact.

You barely flinched as it was, already set to have dodged the attack. But there was something even better having Steve Harrington stood next to you, hand gripping Andy’s wrist tightly as he glares at him.

“I’m warning you.” Steve threatens, voice low. “You fucking touch her and I guarantee someone’s losing their arm today.”

He violently thrusts Andy’s arm back to him, earning a wide-eyed stumble. Andy moves forward, but Chase blocks him.

“Come on, man, let’s just go.” He places a hand on his shoulder and manoeuvres him backwards.

There’s one more angry look from Andy before Chase manages to wrangle him back down the hall and out of your sight. You figure this won’t be the last of seeing him.

“I swear you make more enemies than you do friends.” Steve lets out a breath, shaking his head in disbelief.

“As long as I always have my knight in shining armour to save me.” You bat your eyelids sarcastically and he chuckles, clicking his jaw.

“I’m just glad I actually did something this time instead of running in when it was all over.” Steve smirks knowingly and you look to the ground.

“Can’t believe he did that to Erica. That any of them were just ready to kill a guy because of what? A- a game that they thought was satanic. Part of me felt bad for Jason, but the rest of them barely had an excuse.”

“And Jason did?” Steve quirks a brow.

You sigh, “He was broken. Chrissy was his girlfriend and, I mean, he clearly loved her. Love makes you do crazy things and no, I do not think anything he did was right, but he was hurting. So badly. God, if I was told that someone I loved was murdered, I’d…”

“Hurl Molotov cocktails at the guy who did it?” Steve suggests, attempting a joke but ultimately placing his arms around your shoulders and pulling you closer, planting a kiss on the side of your head.

“She’s gonna be okay, you know.” He mumbles into your hair after a while and your shoulders slump. Of course he already knew what you were thinking.

“We should probably be in the waiting room. For when the doctors have news.” You say quietly and he nods. “Maybe get some coffee so I can be awake. They’ll be a while.”

His arm slips from your shoulders but instead finds your hand, intertwining fingers as you walk towards the busy noise of people impatiently waiting for good news.

“Should also probably get our bruises looked at.”

“I’d rather suffer in silence until I get a good night’s sleep.”

“You literally just said you wanted coffee.”

“Huh, then I guess it’ll have to wait a little longer.”

“You’re insufferable.”

“You love me really.”

“Yeah, I do.”

“You guys heard from California yet?” Lucas asks, his voice thick with tears as one hand holds an icepack to his face. He was trying his best to stay calm, but his leg anxiously bounced as he leant back in his chair. Erica's head was rested gently against his shoulder, the girl drifting off to sleep.

“No.” Nancy sighs, scrunching her face. You knew she and Jonathan hadn’t been talking as much lately. You prayed that everyone was okay, and that Nancy and Jonathan would be fine. They were meant for eachother.

“Oh my god.” Robin suddenly blurts, standing up abruptly. She glances around at everyone’s concerned faces. “I gotta call my parents.”

Once her eyes locate it, she bounds over to the phone hanging from the wall, scrambling to dial a number in. Nancy raises her head.

“What is it?” You notice Nancy’s fallen expression, the tightening of her lips. It looked like she was about to cry.

“My parents. Holly.” She says in breaths and you move from your chair to crouch in front of her.

“I’m sure they’re fine.” You comfort, placing your hand over hers and dipping your head down to find her eyes. “Okay, your- your dad is always watching those disaster documentaries, right? He would have gotten your mom and Holly to safety in no time.”

You didn’t have that much faith in Ted Wheeler. It wasn’t that he was a bad father, or anything like that. You were just closer to Karen, her taking you in like you were her own, and their marriage was far from perfect. Ted seemed grumpy most of the time, but regardless he definitely had love for his family. That was something you could have faith in.

“Yeah.” Nancy gulps her anxiety. “Yeah, I’m sure you’re right. I’ll call them when the phone’s free.”

You stand in time to see Steve rejoin you after a brief coffee run, noticing Nancy’s unease straight away.

“Nance?” He questions, placing her coffee beside her and another on the small table for Robin, “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m okay.” She sends him a quick smile, reaching for the cup and holding it up. “Thank you.”

Steve walks back to the seats opposite her, carefully placing himself in the seat beside yours, holding two cups. Gratefully, you take the hot beverage from his hands and hold it to your lips, breathing in the familiar scent. If you were going to be here a while, you needed caffeine.

Just as you shift back into your seat, echoing footsteps approached behind you.

“Mayfield?”

You whip your head up, exchanging wide glances with Lucas, and jumping from your seat to raise your hand.

“Hi, yeah. I’m her sister.” You stumble across the words, not expecting to hear back from the doctors so soon. The surgery would surely take hours to be successful without…

...without anything going wrong.

Your face drops as the doctor hugs the clipboard, offering a tight smile.

“I’ll need to speak to you privately.” Their eyes shift to the curious faces of your friends behind you. “Family only.”

You glance back at Lucas, the ice pack now deserted on his seat. There wasn’t much to do, so you made a silent vow to tell him everything.

As you follow the doctor down the surgery hallway, the bleached white walls seemed to be closing in on you, tightening your chest. Not a word was uttered as you pushed through the doors, entering a room with artificial lights that blinded you on first look.

The doctor stills, turning back to you and sighing. They didn’t need to say anything.

Your eyes had already drifted to the window beside you, your furrowed expression faltering.

Chapter 24: Hell Comes To Hawkins ->

[A/N: guys, there's only one episode left of Raining Hellfire 4 SOMEBODY SEDATE ME]

taglist: @gnnnne / @beepisbeep / @paintballkid711 / @eddiesbirdie / @livasaurasrex / @darktimelegends / @jackierose902109 / @mvrylee / @chervbs / @eternallyvenus / @nervouscatsuit / @f1nn-wolfhard / @hereiamhereigo / @ladybug0095 / @fangirling-4-ever / @astrolockley / @mothmanatemycat / @sheisjoeschateau / @champagnejoker / @umidktbh / @fallinginlovewithqueue / @ilovetaylorswift132006 / @live-the-fangirl-life / @sadbitchfangirl / @cherrymedicine13 / @engenelxver / @sagaonpandora /

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stranger-chichka · 1 year

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#two cursed besties <3 #madwheeler #platonic madwheeler #max mayfield #mike wheeler #stranger things #hellfire club #vecna’s curse

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kwerty98 · 3 months

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"Smalltown boy" would be the "Running up that hill" for mike when vecna gets him. Please, i would be so epic!! Run away, turn away from the flashbacks, from mike running after will's fake body was found, from the swings, from the cliff fall, from all the time in the basement after the byers left. Run away mike!

#byler #mike wheeler #will byers #stranger things #vecna’s curse #st season 5 #i know im not the first one who thought about it but yep #please bear with me

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rangerdangerstranger · 2 years

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YOU’RE TELLING ME THAT THIS TIME NEXT WEEK WE WILL KNOW WHO LIVES? WHO DIES? WHAT WILL’S PAINTING IS? IF THE RUSSIA CREW GETS BACK TO HAWKINS? IF BYLER IS CANON? WHAT SONG EDDIE PLAYS? IF DUSTIN REALLY IS SCREAMING EDDIE’S NAME IN THE TRAILER AND WHY? WHY WILL IS CRYING AND HUGGING JONATHAN IN THE TRAILER? WHAT LUCAS IS SCREAMING ABOUT IN THE TRAILER? IF THEY CAN BEST VECNA? IF THEY CAN STOP THE CURSE? YOU’RE REALLY TELLING ME THAT THIS TIME NEXT WEEK WE’LL SEE LUCAS BEAT UP JASON? WE’LL SEE DUSTIN AND EDDIE FIGHTING TOGETHER? WE’LL SEE WHERE THEY GOT THAT RV FROM? WE’LL SEE WHY MIKE AND WILL ARE IN HOPPER’S CABIN? THIS IS TORTURE I’M SO IMPATIENT

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helloitisiafellowgay · 1 year

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i need to actually hold myself accountable so have an excerpt of a steddie fic i’m working on where Steve gets Vecna’d and Eddie finds out:

——————————————————————————

”I’m not going to let you die in silence,” Eddie whispers into his hands. “I can’t.”

Steve looks wrecked, a unique kind of hopeless. His mouth opens, slides shut without a sound. They both know that he will make no promises, no reassurances; he values everyone else too much, or rather himself too little.

They don’t say anything else, just linger in a silence too poignant for meaningless platitudes.

Even so, Eddie resigns himself to the devastation ahead. He knows in his bone marrow, knows like breathing, that Steve Harrington will slip through his walls like a marauder, pocket everything of value, and reduce the whole building to studs.

He holds Steve’s hand within both of his own, and he can already feel this boy slipping through his fingers.

When the others get back, Jason and his fellow teammates on their heels, they find themselves swept up in the chaos.

Dustin appears in front of the two adults, pulls Steve to his feet and shoves him towards the driver’s seat. “Come’on, we gotta go!”

Eddie’s lips part, ready to protest that someone experiencing regular bouts of hallucinations might not be the best driver, but Harrington’s already behind the wheel, shifting it into gear and directing the beast of a van onto the road. No one’s listening; talking over each other, too wound up.

Maybe if Eddie had said something then, made them all listen—

But Steve’s tired eyes meet his through the rearview, and he keeps his mouth shut.

He keeps his mouth shut.

———————

When the rest of the Party inevitably find out, Eddie sits back and says nothing, just looks at him with these dark eyes. There is something inconsolable in his gaze, a quiet mourning of a body that doesn’t realize it is becoming closer to vacancy every moment.

Eddie stares at Steve like he’s already lost, and Steve, despite everything, wants with a ferocity he cannot reckon with, for that to mean something.

If he were to bolt right now, he wants to know that this enigma of a boy will follow him over the edge of the world. Steve doesn’t know anyone that has ever loved cared about him enough to not just give chase, but to lead him back to a safe harbor.

Steve almost wishes they hadn’t talked earlier, just so he can forget the warmth and scrape of raw callouses on his biceps, the intensity of Eddie’s concern. Two palms wrapped around his own, a silent plea to stay and fight.

That small scrap had settled in his belly like warm ambrosia, settled on his palate like divinity. Now that he’s had a taste, he’s ravenous for more.

He doesn’t deserve it. God, he doesn’t deserve it. But he wants, and that has always been the worst of his crimes. He pickpockets attention like a petty thief, knows that he can survive on crumbs but he’s never been satisfied. Never felt full, never escaped that insatiable pit in his stomach.

Eddie has ruined him; called attention to the scrambled puzzle of his own existence, traced out the edges with a soft surety that has only made him aware that no one has ever bothered to dust off the box in the first place. Steve wants him to sit down and sort out all of his pieces, fit them into place and assemble him into something that makes sense. That someone might find interesting enough to assign value, beautiful enough to frame like a loved memory.

He wants to be worth something, and damn this boy for making that seem like a possibility, like a feeling worth staying for.

#stranger things #stranger things fic #steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #steve stranger things #eddie stranger things #babysitter steve #vecna’s curse #steve gets vecna’d #eddie my beloved #i need to finish this soon #please bother me about it because my motivation is Lacking

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elya-doodles · 10 months

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Random Will Byers doodle 🤷‍♀️

#Will Byers #Will Byers fanart #fanart #art #stranger things #stranger things fanart #artists on tumblr #stranger things fandom #vecna’s curse #idk what this is #i have art block

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madelynraemunson · 5 months

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just my nutrition bar, coffee, a mcdonalds coke, and my laptop against the world… REVENGE LAP DANCE CHAPTER HERE I COME

#call me what you want #eddie munson x reader #Eddie munson fanfic #Eddie munson fanfiction #Vecna’s curse

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crappymixtape · 1 year

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their faces in this scene are just 😭😩😫💔

#stranger things #stranger things Netflix #lumax #lucas sinclair #max mayfield #Steve harrington #steve #lucas #max #dear billy #vecna’s curse #Kate bush #stranger things season 4

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counting-stars-gayly · 1 year

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And if I said Mike has been dealing with passive suicidality every day since he saw Will’s fake body, at the least?

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captainx-camino · 11 months

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Desperate to gain favor amongst his new classmates, our young hero accepts a dare to stay over night in Hawkins most infamous haunted house. What important lessons can possibly be learned from the Creel house and it's phantoms within?

Truth Or Dare: A Young Eddie Munson Fan Comic

This is the first half done and set to the music that will encompass the entire short story. Please enjoy.

#eddie munson #eddie stranger things #vecna #vecna/henry/001 #vecna stranger things #stranger things #fan comic #young eddie munson #ghost #vecna’s curse #henry creel #001 #010 #creel house #creelson #Vecneddie #my art

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aloneinthehellfire · 1 year

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Chapter 24: Hell Comes To Hawkins

Season One | Season Two | Season Three | Season Four

Word Count: 7170 words of i'm writing through blurry eyes cause i just realised this is the last chapter

Warnings: swearing, trauma, mentions of death, visions, guns, mentions of scars, lots of tears

[A/N: We did it. This is the last chapter of RH4... My mind is racing with a million grateful words. I just can't believe we've completed this series. I hope this chapter is somewhat satisfying and enough to possibly continue our story in the future <;3 ]

My Masterlist

Hell Comes To Hawkins

Two days later…

Taking a breath, you look down at the boxes you had packed, the sight almost identical to where you were last year. Except this time, you weren’t leaving.

There was so much unfinished business left in the town. Even if the news had claimed it was just an ‘earthquake’, that wouldn’t put an end to Vecna’s plan. You needed to be ready.

“Stop worrying so much.”

You turn back to where Max was shuffling through tapes, her smile bright as she sets them down and leans against the wall.

“I have every right to be worried.” You sigh, fussing with the jacket on a teddy bear you had long forgotten. “It isn’t over.”

“Maybe not.” Max shrugs, pursing her lips before an idea strikes her mind, eyes light. She straightens her posture, looking down at the boxes. “So… what if we just leave?”

“What?” You set down the soft toy in your hands and face her properly.

“It��s not like I’m going back to school any time soon.” Max continues, wandering around the room and making her way to the window, peering out. “We could just… go. You know, travel. Maybe start in LA or something.”

You take a deep breath, watching as your sister tenderly brushed her fingers against the glass before glancing back at you with a genuine smile.

“That sounds perfect.” You smile at the idea, fiddling with the ring on your hand.

“Yeah!” She nods, coming closer to you, “We wouldn’t be gone that long, just like a vacation or something. I mean, we deserve it, right?”

“Yeah…” Your voice trails as your smile begins to falter, but Max is oblivious to your emotional change, shaking her head in glee.

“We could go to Europe!” She suggests before frowning. “No, that’s too far. Maybe we just stick with America and don’t go too crazy.”

“Max.” You say softly and she turns to you, eyes wide in anticipation. You sigh, slumping your shoulders. “We can’t.”

“If you’re worried about leaving everyone, don’t.” Max steps forward, looking up to you in admiration. “You literally just risked your life- died- for all of them. If you think for another second you still owe them something then you are genuinely crazy.”

“I guess I gave them hell, huh?” You attempt a joke, but your heart was far from in it. Max chuckles at your words, nodding.

“Yeah, you did.” She grins, before suddenly raising her eyebrows. “So… vacation? And don’t claim we have no money because I’ve been keeping those jars safe for you for almost a year and they’re heavy.”

“Max…”

“No, we need this.” She states, frowning, “We need to get out of this town and just let go of the past. After everything we’ve been through, we deserve to be together for once. A family.”

“I want that more than anything.” You assure, teary eyed. Your hand wanders to stroke her hair before you let it fall back by your side. “But we can’t.”

Max’s brows furrow as she stares up at you with her blue eyes, searching your face for some kind of answer. “Why not?”

A tear slips down your cheek as you close your eyes, heart wrenching.

“Because you’re not real.”

Once you open your eyes again, you’re left standing in the middle of your room. Alone.

Wiping away your tear with a shaky breath, you stack a few light boxes and make your way out of your room and down the stairs.

Even your hallucination of Max was right. You needed to stop holding on to the past before it shattered you completely.

As you slide another box into your trunk, you let out a sigh, mindlessly fiddling with the ring on your right hand. Anything to distract yourself.

There was a slight tremor in your fingers, but you noted that as an effect of sleep deprivation.

You and Lucas had been at the hospital, taking shifts whenever the nurses kicked you out for staying too long. Neither of you wanted Max to be alone.

You didn’t know how, but she had survived. Even knowing her heart was still beating, it still broke you to look at her so fragile, covered in casts. Whenever you weren’t by her side, your brain had mustered up some kind of illusion of her to cope with the pain. It wasn’t healthy, not by a long shot, and you hadn’t told anyone about it. You just wanted your sister back.

They don’t even know if she can wake up from the coma.

But it was a second chance. And you would find a way to bring her back. No matter how many times you had to will the Mind Flayer’s presence to you and plead it to bring Max back the way it did you and Eddie. You weren’t giving up.

“Someone order pizza?” Karen asks, but you pay no mind. You slot another box into the trunk before there’s a tap on your shoulder.

You turn, frowning in confusion when Nancy points to the van approaching in the distance.

Squinting your eyes, you notice the pizza sign, eyes widening.

They had finally returned from California.

You all gather in the driveway, eagerly waiting for the vehicle to stop. When everyone steps out of the van, you can’t help the grin that spreads onto on your face.

El immediately catches sight of you and you move towards her, catching her in a hug.

Everyone celebrates in embraces around you, the reunion long overdue. You all deserved this; to be together again. You needed this.

You kiss El’s forehead, overcome with joy as she tenderly touches your face.

“Hey.” You laugh and she giggles.

“Hi.” She beams at you and you hold her again.

It had been so long since you had seen El, much less heard her voice, that it brought a tear to your eye. When you and the others lost communication to California, your mind constantly brought up the worst scenarios. You were just grateful she was okay.

“I’m so sorry.” She mumbles into your hair and you frown, stepping back.

“For what?” You ask, before focusing on her, holding her back at arm’s length. “Wait, what happened to your hair?”

Her eyes fall to your chest, noticing the scar lines that begun just above your shirt. “What happened to you?”

“Vecna.” You say and she frowns. “Oh, right. Uh… Henry Creel. One?”

Her face drops before crashing back into you, arms wrapped around your torso. “He killed Max.”

It was barely a whisper but you heard it, letting out a shaky breath. “She’s alive.”

El looks up at you with teary eyes.

“She’s at the hospital.” You nod and she looks over to Will. “You should go see her.”

“Are you coming?” She asks and you tighten your lips, glancing over to where Steve and Robin stood.

“I have to drop of some boxes in my car.” You say with a sigh, stroking her hair. “But I can come get you later?”

She nods, “I want to go to the cabin.”

“Then I’ll pick you up at the hospital, yeah?” You promise and she smiles.

El catches Dustin waiting and runs over to him, pulling the slightly injured boy into a hug.

You watch as everyone talks, the teary greetings and happiness. You wished it wasn’t because you were all imagining the worst had happened to eachother.

“Y/n?”

You turn to the voice before your eyes widen in glee, immediately jumping at the boy as he laughs, catching you and spinning you around.

“Shit!” You grin, pushing his shoulder. “Couldn’t pick up a damn phone?”

“Couldn’t stay out of trouble?” Jonathan retorts and you raise your hands in surrender. He laughs before his face slowly falls, struggling to hide an expression you knew as sympathy.

“I’m guessing Nancy told you?” You ask quietly and he nods, pulling you into a hug.

“I’m so sorry.” He says and you nod, willing the tears away.

“What happened with you?” You question, glancing around. “And where’s Joyce?”

“I…” He takes a breath before frowning. “I have no idea. She went on a business trip and I’ve been calling her but... no answer.”

“I’m sure she’s okay.” You comfort, rubbing his shoulder. “I mean, it’s Joyce. She’s pretty badass.”

“Yeah.” Jonathan chuckles before noticing something behind you. “Oh hey, man, come meet Y/n.”

You raise an eyebrow, turning around to see a boy stood there shyly. His long hair fell on top of brightly coloured clothing, sporting a pizza chain shirt and you smile.

“You must be Argyle.” You greet and he smiles, nodding. “Jonathan talked about you a lot on the phone.”

“Yeah, he doesn’t have any other friends.” Argyle chuckles, extending his hand and you take it with a small laugh, “Jonathan talked about you a lot. Oh, and Nancy. Like, a lot, dude.”

“Oh, yeah, did he do that thing where he pretends it’s the end of the world when in reality all he needed to do was talk to her?”

You send your friend a knowing look and Argyle laughs, nodding.

“Yeah, dudette, he’s so stressed it’s stressing me out.”

“Same! And she’s not even my girlfriend.” You comment and his eyes widen in happy surprise, elbowing Jonathan.

When you shrug, Argyle steps next to you, hand on your shoulder. “I like your sober friend, here.”

“And I like your mellowed out friend.” You nod approvingly.

“Okay, okay.” Jonathan intercepts, pushing you both apart. “I thought this was a good idea but it looks like you’re gonna bond and use it against me.”

“How’d you know?” Argyle widens his eyes and you smile. “Hey, if you ever want some palm tree delight, you just gotta come find me.”

“Noted.” You grin as he walks away, stepping back into his van. “I think I just met my new best friend.”

Jonathan playfully shoves your shoulder. “Hey, get your own.”

“I seriously missed you.” You smile, “I feel like it’s been years since we got to just... hang out, together.”

“I missed you, too.” Jonathan sighs, running a hand through his hair. “But we’re here now, right? To stay?”

“I haven’t got anywhere else to be.” You reassure and he lets out a relieved sigh, ruffling your hair as you laugh.

“Good.”

“Uh, can you take the kids to the hospital?” You ask and when his eyes widen, you sigh. “I’ll meet up with you guys later, I just- I need to get these boxes to the high school but I promised El I’d drive her up to Hopper’s cabin.”

“We’ll meet you there.” He agrees.

Steve and Robin call you over and you take a breath, moving to your packed car and slipping into the driver’s side, Dustin already waiting in the passenger seat.

You stayed and volunteered with the others, thinking you could at least do some good while waiting to pick up El from the hospital.

Setting down a kid’s shirt, you raise your head to see Robin chatting away with a girl across the room, making quick work of spreading bread. The way she was smiling, her eyes lighting up… you knew the ginger girl next to her had to be Vickie, her smile just as wide.

Beside you, you notice the proud look Steve bore as he shook his head with delight.

“That’s adorable.” You comment and he looks at you, smirking.

“Yeah, well, she deserves it.” Steve says, folding up a shirt.

As you place another item of clothing on the folded pile, you found yourself disassociating, everything feeling off. Around you, people were reeling from the ‘earthquake’, some homeless, others volunteering, not a single one of them knowing the truth behind the disaster. Why were you stood here folding clothes when Vecna was plotting his next attack? How many more scars would you obtain next time? What nightmare will keep you awake again and again until the next-

“Hello?” Steve waves his hand in front of your eyes and you snap back into reality, a nervous chuckle on his lips. “You okay? Just, uh, just lost you there.”

“Hm?” You inhale a breath, shaking your head. The flicker of a burning memory fades from your mind, images of Vecna’s claws covered in your blood vanished. “Oh, right, yeah, I’m fine.”

Steve sends you a sceptical look and you laugh, gently nudging his arm.

“Seriously, I’m fine.” You offer him a quick smile before leaning over the table and snatching clothing from the messy pile in front of him. “Now come on, clothes don’t fold themselves.”

“Jesus, could you imagine having to do this every day of your life?” Steve chuckles, the neatly folded t-shirt between his hands set down beside him. You could tell he was only trying to make you feel comfortable, but you enjoyed the distraction. “Surely no one can have this many clothes.”

You raise your eyebrow with a smirk. “Aren’t you the guy that wants, like, a dozen kids?”

“How do you know that?” Steve frowns, pausing his hands, “And no, not a dozen.”

“You told me years ago.” You explain with a smile. “Yeah, I remember we were out at Skull Rock and this couple goes by with a kid- you ended up complaining that they were ‘tarnishing’ your hard work or something like that- then you said something else about wanting kids and when I asked for a number, you said 12.”

You finish with a little nod of content and, when Steve doesn’t reply, you glance over at him to see he’s looking at you with an expression that made your heart melt.

“What?” You giggle, sorting out clothes. You figured you should at least separate them from shirts and pants.

“I just… I can’t believe you remembered that.” Steve shook his head, returning back to the task at hand with a smile on his face.

“I have a great memory.” You comment with a shrug, noticing a baby-grow in the pile. You tentatively reach out and hold it out in front of you. You remembered when Max was that small.

“What about you?” Steve questions, clearing his throat when you raise your eyebrow. “Kids, I mean. Do you think you’d ever have kids?”

“Someday.” You smile, gently stroking the fabric. “You know, after getting a house and a job. I… I always wanted a big family.”

Steve’s focus on separating clothes had vanished now, solely focused on you. “Really?”

“Yeah. I just hate the idea of being in an empty house, you know?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I do.” Steve smiles, holding your gaze. For a moment, everything felt like it was falling into place, pieces of a puzzle that for so long you thought never fit.

When you realise the silence, you turn back to the table, clearing your throat. “But, uh, that’s gotta wait until I’ve wasted all my money on travelling.”

“Still the plan, huh?” Steve chuckles knowingly, returning to the task but glancing over at you with creased eyes.

“Yeah, absolutely. I want to go everywhere.” You laugh, folding up the grow and placing it on the table next to you. “The entire world if I can. Max and I always said…”

Your voice drifts, the white shirt striped with colours paused between your hands.

“We always said that we’d build our own home somewhere new, no matter how far.” You finish, your voice barely a whisper as a sob is caught in your throat.

“I-” Steve starts but you clear your throat.

“It’s fine.” You dismiss, letting out a breathy laugh, “Here I am talking about kids and travelling when I can barely take care of the six I already got.”

He sets down a blue shirt and looks to you, startled. “That’s not true.”

“Why are we pretending, Steve?” You suddenly ask, brows furrowed.

“What do you mean?” He frowns, lowering his voice to a whisper, aware of the residents currently wandering around him.

“Why are we all pretending that it’s all fine?” You start, controlling the tears threatening to spill.

“Vecna won. Max is in a coma. Eddie-” You take a breath, gnawing at your bottom lip. “And- and what? We’re meant to just carry on and pretend like it was all an earthquake? It’s been two days.”

“Hey, hey, hey.” Steve grabs your shoulders, rubbing the space of your upper arm. “Look at me. We all know it’s not okay. We know. We- we’re just trying to get through it.”

“By ignoring it?” You stare up at him, brows furrowed. “Look at the past four years of our life, Steve. Where has ignoring it ever gotten us before?”

As Steve searches for an answer, your eyes drift to the clock on the wall, the minutes ticked by so quickly that you realised you had other plans.

“I need to get to the hospital.” You suddenly announce, quickly shuffling around clothes and grabbing your keys from your pocket. “I’m meant to be taking El up to the cabin and meeting everyone which will probably end up being too late because Hop’s cabin must be in shambles right now, and I don’t want to be there too late ‘cause it’s my shift at the hospital next and I really-”

“Woah, okay, okay.” Steve interrupts you and you take a breath, running a hand through your hair. He dips his head down to meet your eyes, catching your hands. “You need company?”

You smile at his offer, to know that he never wanted you to feel like you had to do anything alone. And, just as you automatically went to blurt out a ‘no’, you stopped yourself.

You didn’t have to be alone anymore.

Because you were never alone.

“Could you…” You begin, pushing away the part of you that made you feel like a burden. “Maybe come with me to the hospital later? To see Max.”

Steve raises your hands in his to his lips, gently kissing them before releasing you and nodding. “Of course.”

“Thanks.” You smile, sighing. “Don’t have too much fun sorting clothes without me.”

“Couldn’t possibly have fun without you here.” He retorts with a grin, watching as you walked towards the entrance, keys in hand.

As the doors come into view, something catches your attention out of the corner of your eye. A man was pinning a ‘missing’ poster to the bulletin board, a worried frown on his face. Your breath hitches.

A hand rests on your shoulder and you jump slightly, meeting Dustin’s tired eyes. “Hey. Sorry.”

“No, no. I’m just… on edge.” You admit, smiling down at him. He notices who you were looking at, your fingers mindlessly twiddling the ring on your right hand.

“I’ve got this.” Dustin says, nodding towards him.

“You don’t have to-”

“I want to.” He assures and you let a breath out, planting a kiss on his head.

“Okay.” You nod slowly, “I’ll, uh, I’ll see you later.”

Dustin simply smiles before walking over to the bulletin board, his limp still prominent in his stride. It had gotten worse the more tired he got. Max wasn’t the only person you were visiting in the hospital.

Eddie was kept under observation after his wounds were checked out. The doctors had stated that there wasn’t an infection, but something was effecting his blood pressure. You and Dustin had been visiting ever since then, bringing different games and magazines to help him cope with staying in bed. You didn’t want to admit it, but you had noticed how his complexion had been paler each time you saw him. The doctors ensured everything was fine, but you felt like they weren’t telling you something.

And, when they deemed him fit to leave after those two nights, they hadn’t officially released him. No, you had to beg and cry as you watched men escort him from the building, almost ending up detained from your efforts.

And, in the total chaos and despair you were feeling, no one had the chance to track down Wayne and tell him where his nephew was, much less inform him that the kid he raised was under arrest for murder and he wouldn’t be able to see him ever again. Part of you was just grateful Dustin would be the one to explain; you weren’t sure you could bear that look on Wayne’s face when it was your fault Eddie was ever involved to begin with.

Especially since you weren’t at all convinced Eddie was arrested for murder.

Hours before...

“Knock, knock.”

You poke your head around the door with a smile, Eddie’s amused face staring back.

“You know, there’s this crazy thing where if you tap the door, it’ll make that sound for you.” He chuckles and you enter the room.

“I had no hands, dumbass.” You laugh with him, collapsing the stacks of entertainment on the table beside him. “Anyone who says that out of pure delight and not convenience scares me.”

“Agreed.” Eddie nods with a smile. You notice his pale skin hadn’t changed, bags under his eyes a little worrying. But he was up, and he was smiling.

“How are you feeling?” You ask, perching on the side of his hospital bed. The white sheets had been bunched up to allow his bandaged legs to be free from the suffocation of the material.

“Like I’m never gonna find a better drug than this thing.” He laughs, tapping the morphine drip beside him. “But other than that, I’m ready to go.”

“And your legs?” You pester further, just to be safe.

“Well…” Eddie sighs, leaning into you and tightening his lips. “They say I may never dance again, coach.”

“Shut up.” You roll your eyes, unable to resist a smile.

“Nah, I’m fine.” Eddie finally assures, shrugging. “I’m not gonna be ready for bikini season anytime soon but I’ll live.”

“Good.” You say and he smiles. You let out a brief laugh. “No one should have to see you in a bikini.”

“Asshole.” Eddie shoves your shoulder lightly just as another head pokes around the corner of his hospital room.

“Knock, knock.” Dustin grins before entering the room, clapping his hands.

Turning your head, you see Eddie is stifling a laugh, ultimately releasing it once he caught your eye. Dustin giggles, walking up to the bed while shaking his head.

“Why are we laughing?” He asks, still giggling along nervously.

“Don’t worry about it.” Eddie dismisses, waving his hand.

Dustin shifts his gaze between you both before rolling his eyes and suddenly shimmying his shoulders, wagging his eyebrows. It was a recent replacement from his excited little hops he would always do, his ankle temporarily unfit for the movement.

Eddie sends you a look before stretching his arms. “Let me guess… you know something.”

“I do.” Dustin grins, continuing his little dance.

“Is it good?” Eddie raises an eyebrow, Dustin nodding enthusiastically.

“Really good.”

“Please for the love of god, spit it out.” You pinch the bridge of your nose, shaking your head.

“Okay.” Dustin carefully drags the chair behind him until it’s almost touching the bed, leaning close. “You didn’t hear it from me, but I overheard some doctors talking and…”

“And?” Eddie pesters impatiently when Dustin’s voice trails off.

“You may or may not be getting released today.” Dustin spits out quickly, almost squealing in delight.

Eddie’s eyes widen, a smile teasing his lips. “Well.”

“Well?” Dustin frowns, “That’s your reaction. Well?”

“Sorry if I don’t do a little song and dance about it.” Eddie makes a face similar to one a sibling would do when mocking the other.

“Yeah, his coach won’t allow it.” You laugh, earning an eye roll, and you stand from the bed to place your hands on your hips. “Damn, so I brought those comics over for nothing.”

“Gra-” Both boys start but you let out a groan.

“Graphic novels, sorry.” You correct just as a woman dressed in a long white coat enters the room, smiling.

“Hey, guys.” She nods to you both, hands in pockets, before she stands at the foot of Eddie’s bed. “Eddie, how we feeling?”

“Pretty god damn great.” Eddie nods.

“Wonderful.” The woman grins, sending both you and Dustin another excited smile.

For a moment, an unsettling feeling buries a home in your stomach. Of all the doctors you had met and talked with over the past two days, you didn’t remember any quite as cheerful as her.

“We need to do one last test but…” She holds for dramatic effect before leaning back slightly. “You’ll be free to go in a matter of minutes!”

Eddie tries his hardest to seem surprised, smiling something forced. “Great.”

“Huh.” The woman tilts her head. “I would have thought you’d be happier.”

“Oh, believe me, I am. I just, uh…” Eddie fiddled with the sheets between his fingers. “May have overheard, that’s all.”

“Well, darn.” She laughs, her voice reminding you of the way teachers would talk to kindergarten children. “What matters is that you’re all better.”

“Are you sure?” You blurt before you could stop yourself and Eddie looks to you.

“Come on, I’m like this close to freedom.” He whispers loudly to you.

“Well,” The woman barely glances at you before refocusing on Eddie. “Like I said, just one more test and we can confirm. I’ll need you to sign some release forms if everything comes back clear, which I know it will, and you can finally leave.”

On cue, the sound of squeaky wheels turn their way into the area, operated by a man in a matching coat. The woman turns with a smile, nodding to where the cart should be placed. If you weren’t staring so intently, you wouldn’t have caught on to the way her expression changed for a split second, or how she slipped her hands from her pockets and brought them behind her.

“Oh, we’re doing these now?” Eddie questions, sitting up straight. He clocks the needle laying on the metal tray now beside him, gulping. He hated needles.

“If you want to be out of here quick.” The woman winks kindly, nodding. Her eyes wander to Dustin still perched by Eddie’s bed. “I’m afraid we don’t allow any visitors while we run tests.”

“We’ve been allowed to sit through the others.” You say when Dustin’s face fell, stepping forward. She turns to you, still smiling softly.

“It makes it easier for us if we don’t have any distractions.” She explains with a shrug. This close, you can see how her eyes don’t have the same calming effect as her voice.

“We’ll be as quiet as a mouse.” You challenge, keeping your own voice sweet in its inflections.

“Uh…” Eddie’s eyes shift between you both, a look of curiosity at the way you were acting. But he trusted you. “I would feel better to have them here. Especially if we’re checking the old blood pressure again, that shi- uh, stuff’s gonna be nice and calm with them around.”

A single twitch in the woman’s eye before she lowered her head. Your eyes flicker to Dustin, his face warped in confusion as he sends a look back. The woman had closed her eyes taking a deep breath, the man behind the cart still and posture straight, like he was awaiting orders. The whole situation sent a chill down your spine, goosebumps along your skin. Your stomach dropped.

Ever since you made that final connection to the Mind Flayer, it had somehow heightened your senses of danger. It wasn’t just when there was a gate nearby, or when Vecna was practically breathing down your neck. No, it alerted you to everyday danger that didn’t even include alternate dimension monsters.

And right now, it was screaming bloody murder at you.

“Can you just do the test later?” You quickly ask, and the woman perks her head in interest. “You see, Eddie’s pretty tired and was just telling us how he needed more rest.”

There was a tone in your voice that had Eddie nodding. “Yeah, she’s right. Feeling like a nap, so… reschedule?”

A deep breath inhaled through her lips as she raised her head fully, glancing at the man in the white coat.

“I’m afraid that’s just not possible.”

In one swift motion, the man plunged a needle into Eddie’s neck, the boy crying out before falling flat against his pillow.

Dustin jumped from his seat, wincing when he landed heavy on his ankle, and began yelling out questions. His startled eyes find yours before his whole body stills in fear.

Because there was a gun pointed directly at your head.

“Stay calm, no one has to get hurt.” A low voice announced as a man in uniform steps from behind the door, several other men flanking him.

“You just stuck a needle in Eddie.” Dustin points out and the man clears his throat.

“My name is Lieutenant Colonel Sullivan. I am here to ensure the safety of Hawkins and to reprimand those a threat.” He says, removing his sunglasses and handing them to another uniformed officer behind him. He glances over at you, and then to your hand. “I suggest you drop your weapon, Miss Mayfield.”

Your heart jumps. How did he know your name?

After a moment of consideration- there were too many men for you to successfully fight your way out of here- you slowly extend your arm and drop the scalpel back on the metal tray, the contact echoing a shrill clatter.

“What do you want?” You spit out, eyeing the gun by your head. Sullivan gives a quick nod and the cool pressure of the handgun is released from you.

“We’re here for Mr Munson.” He briefly says before motioning his officers to the boy led unconscious. They start to move towards him.

“Woah, hey!” Dustin protests, feeling helpless.

“You’re not taking him anywhere!” You block their path, but one of them simply grabs you from behind and locks your arms against your back.

You bring your head back, fast, and manage to make contact with a nose, a shatter of bone crunching behind you. The hold is released and you’re reaching for the scalpel again. You don’t make it very far.

“Make one more move, Miss Mayfield, and I will be forced to make a very unnecessary command.” Sullivan states calmly.

All guns were pointed at you and you had no choice but to freeze. You weren’t any good to Eddie if you were dead.

“How do you know my name?” You question finally, still the target of unreleased bullets.

“We know everything about you, Miss Mayfield.” Sullivan’s voice barely held any kind of emotion, but there was something in his eye that told you he knew more than he was letting on. “November of '79, in particular.”

You gulped, avoiding his eyes. Dustin sent an inquisitive look but remained silent. Some things were better left unsaid.

“You can’t take him.” You whisper, eyes misting over. “We already talked with the police, they’re reinvestigating-”

“We are aware.” Sullivan interrupts, stepping closer. “But we also aren’t asking permission. Mr Munson is coming with us to deal with his crimes.”

“He didn’t do anything!” You cry as officers release the wheel brakes on Eddie’s bed and start to pull him away. “Tell me where you’re taking him!”

Just before Sullivan turned to follow his men out of the room, he collects his glasses and places them back on his face. “That’s classified.”

One by one, the men threatening you lower their guns and follow their Lt. Colonel, ensuring you didn’t follow. They left you and Dustin alone in the room, still trying to understand what had occurred in a matter of seconds.

“What the fuck just happened?” Dustin stumbles forward, shaking his head. He looks up at you. “Y/n, what happened?”

“I don’t…” You furrow your brows, instinctively reaching for the ring on your right hand. You stare down at it. You were meant to have returned it when he was released. And now that would never happen.

“What do we do?!” Dustin cries and you bite your cheek. “Y/n, what-”

“I don’t know!” You yell in a sob, dropping your hands and pacing. “Okay, Dustin, I don’t- I’m sorry, I just…”

You take a deep breath and Dustin is already catching you in his arms. You reach out until you’re both enveloped in a hug, holding eachother.

The first time you lost Eddie, you had mourned his death and sacrificed your energy to try and make things right.

The second time you lost Eddie, you had held Dustin in the empty hospital room until Steve eventually found you both, escorting you out and asking enough questions to make your brain hurt.

But not before you and Dustin had an hour to vow that you weren’t losing Eddie a second time.

Just as you pull up to the hospital, you see the others patiently waiting outside.

Jonathan and Nancy were resting against his car, chatting away, until he clocked your car heading towards them, giving a quick wave and motioning to El that you had arrived.

She smiles at you when opening the door, sitting in the passenger seat and opening her mouth to speak just as the back doors open, cutting her off just as Mike and Will slip in behind you.

Your frown is met with a simple look from Mike.

“We were with our siblings for ten minutes and almost went insane.” He explains and you chuckle, turning the ignition.

You knew that wasn’t why. After seeing Max, and finding out about Eddie’s disappearance, they must have known how you would be feeling. Because that’s the thing about this family that you found… you looked out for eachother.

“So... what happened in California?” You ask, filling the silence, and you notice the exchange of glances in the mirror.

“Don’t freak out like Jonathan and Nancy did.” Will pleads and you raise your eyebrows, clearing your throat while turning a corner, trying not to look at the vine covered buildings.

“I promise.” You say and he sighs.

“Uh, well…” His eyes drift to El and you see he is struggling on where to start.

El gives a nod of confirmation before shifting her body to you.

“I hit my bully with a roller blade and was arrested.”

You almost swerve the car in surprise, regaining control. You were sure Nancy and Jonathan would be knowingly nodding to themselves behind you.

“Um…” You glance at her. “Okay.”

“Are you mad?” She asks and you immediately shake your head.

“What? No, of course not.” You assure, reaching over and taking her hand in yours for a moment, other hand on the wheel. “I was just surprised. If anything… I’m proud of you.”

“You are?” Her voice was filled with disbelief and you let out a breathy laugh.

“Are you kidding me?” You smile, reminiscing on past experiences, “I’ve lost count of the amount of bullies I’ve fought.”

“But it was wrong.” El frowns and you sigh.

“Yeah. But we’re human.” You shrug, finally reaching the tree line. “We get angry. And sometimes we’ll just snap when it all gets too much. And who knows, maybe this bully will finally learn their lesson and actually get a life.”

“She was an asshole.” Will mumbles, earning surprised glances, “What? She was.”

El erupts into giggles and Mike smiles, bumping Will’s shoulder.

“So what was jail like?” You ask, driving up the long path to the cabin, far from the usual roads of Hawkins now.

“I didn’t get there.” El explains. “Papa found me.”

“Pap- wait, Brenner?” You risk another glance, a worried frown. “Is that where you got your new haircut?”

“Hm.” She fiddles with the bottom of her top, “I got my powers back. He died. But I am okay.”

You slowly nod, squeezing her hand before returning it to the wheel.

“Good.” You mutter beneath your breath and you look into the mirror to the boys in the backseat. “What about you two? Anything crazy you wanna share?”

“Um.” Will looks to Mike who purses his lips, raising his hand as if summoning something from the air.

“Well… because Joyce wasn’t there we were being babysat by these cops. They wouldn’t let us leave so Jonathan came up with a plan to get Argyle to break us out.” Mike starts and you nod for him to continue. “Yeah, then there was a shoot-out and they died.”

“Wow.” You breathe. “Just… wow.”

“Yep.” Mike nods. “My mom has banned me from vacations.”

“I hope my mom is around here.” Will mumbles and you smile.

“I have no doubt in my mind that she’s okay.” You assure and he sends you a grateful smile.

“What about you?” El suddenly questions as you notice the cabin just ahead. “How was your… crazy?”

“Uh…” You pull the car to a stop, turning off the ignition and shifting to face her.

There was so much you undoubtedly had to say. How you had been cursed for four long years, how the monster that controlled your nightmares had plunged his claws into your chest, leaving you to die alone on the cold wooden floor. How you had unexpectedly connected with the Mind Flayer and brought yourself back to life and would have to carry that trauma with you forever.

So much to say, but not enough heart to say it.

“How about we get to all of that another time, yeah?”

As everyone steps out of the car, air is sucked in between your teeth. Hopper Cabin was a little worse for wear from the earthquake, something you had all expected. When Jonathan and Nancy eventually pull up, everyone gets to work cleaning up.

It was almost therapeutic to be able to actually control something. As you swept the floors for remains of debris, depositing them on the porch for Argyle to happily stuff into a trash bag, you felt somewhat calm knowing that you found a mess you could actually clean up.

After a while, El disappears to her room, gently setting the door so there was still a gap. Mike and Will sat on the couch, having a heart to heart, so you resigned from your broom to venture outside.

Jonathan and Nancy were nailing boards onto the windows when you walk past, exchanging smiles. You send Argyle a little wave as he inspects a mushroom, getting a sloppy grin in return.

Then, as you take a deep breath, you notice a vehicle approaching in the distance.

You send a glance back to your friends, Nancy’s frown matching your own. The car stopped just a few feet in front of you, but you weren’t afraid.

You had already caught a sight of the mother in the front seat.

“Joyce?” You call out when she steps into the open, her smile spreading. You quickly move towards her, motioning back to the house, “Everyone is helping clear up Hop-”

Your words come to a halt when another man steps out of the vehicle, sporting a cap and a sincere smile.

“Hopper?”

You couldn’t believe it when he made his way over to you, pulling you into a hug. His light chuckles vibrated through his chest, a sound you hadn’t heard since the late nights you would spend waiting for Jack at the station.

“What- how?” You stammer out questions, pulling away with a smile.

“It’s, uh…” He glances at Joyce who just tightens her lips with a shrug, “It’s a long story.”

His eyes frown at the scars starting just below your neck.

“What happened to you?”

“It’s a long story.” You sigh, looking back to the cabin. “But I think you should probably go see your daughter, right?”

An array of emotions flashed across his eyes when he nods, parting from your with a ruffle of your hair and heading inside. Joyce lets out a satisfied sigh of joy as she reaches her arms out to you, pulling you into a hug.

“I'm so glad you're okay, hun.” She whispers into your ear, a kiss placed on your cheek before greeting her children, pulling them into tight hugs.

You smile as they all reunite, as a family.

Even though you were stood on the outside, looking at that display of love, you didn’t feel envious like you would have a year ago. If anything, you felt a little sad that you couldn’t hold Max like that right now.

Y/n

Spinning around, you feel goosebumps trail along your skin, quickening your breath. Something appeared in the corner of your eye, someone stood beside you, and you look over to see Will sporting your same feared expression.

Exchanging glances, your eyes tear away and drift to the sky, noticing the little flakes that fell.

No one needed to move to know exactly what the white particles were, what they brought. After all, the Upside Down had already leaked into your town, spreading amongst the buildings and forcing people out of their homes.

You all start to walk towards the source, curiosity high. But before you would even see it, the chill down your spine told you all you needed to know.

Hell had come to Hawkins.

Standing high on the hill, a curse had spread amongst the fields, burning away the light and joy within the nature. You and El had stepped forward first, the younger girl examining a flower that had wilted away. You stood a few feet from her, the others behind you and close to another for comfort. Your eyes were glued to the cloud of smoke pouring into the sky, bleeding the dark world into your own, military surrounding the areas like they had a chance of containing everything within it.

Four years of your life was given to protecting your town, your friends, your family, from this. You had battled monsters you hadn’t known existed, risked your life for people that cared for you just as much as you cared for them.

You hunted a Demogorgon, taking justice for Barb, and succeeded, finding a whole world of danger that threatened Hawkins. You saved Will from the Mind Flayer, protecting the kids and reuniting with your best friend, a vow to protect eachother always. You fought a disease that took so many people away from you, survived the efforts of the men living beneath Starcourt, and found yourself to be more powerful than you ever realised.

You suffered losses, and lost focus, but you did it with your friends. You all worked together to take down the greatest evil you had ever faced, and you had failed. But that failure brought something to make you fight.

You learnt and accepted that you will never be alone.

You had no idea what would happen next, what could possibly be the biggest battle of your lives. All you knew was that you hadn’t fought, bled, died, for this to be the result. This wasn’t the end of your story.

This was just the beginning.

[A/N: *wipes tears away* So... I guess this is the final chapter to Raining Hellfire 4. I cannot thank everyone enough for the indescribable feeling I have knowing that you have loved and supported this story. So much has happened, and we've come so far, that this genuinely felt like our journey to this end. I'm getting really emotional so I will end this by just saying thank you again. Will I return for RH5? Possibly. I want to. I hope we'll all be ready to reunite again soon.

love, Angel <3]

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