𝖕𝖆𝖗𝖆𝖓𝖔𝖗𝖒𝖆𝖑 || 𝘀. 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻

S4E9: The Piggyback Part 1

"Decoys," Dustin says. "Don't worry. You can be the hero, Steve."

"Absolutely," Eddie agrees. "I mean, look at us. We are not heroes."

I squeeze Dustin's shoulder. "Be careful."

He nods. "I will."

I look over at Eddie. I was just going to tell him to be careful, but then I remember what Vecna showed me. Eddie dead.

My legs seem to move without thinking. Before I know it, I'm only inches away from Eddie. I wrap my arms around him. "You be careful, too, Munson."

He pats me on the back. "You got it, y/l/n."

We start to leave, but Eddie stops us. "Hey, Steve?" Steve turns to face him. "Make him pay."

Steve nods. The four of us walk off, venturing deeper into the woods in the Upside Down.

"Uh... I don't mean to freak anyone out," Robin begins, after we've been walking for a few minutes, "but I swear we've seen this tree before."

"That's impossible," Nancy says.

"That would suck, right? If Vecna destroyed the world because... 'cause we got lost in the woods?"

"We're not lost, Robin," Nancy tells her.

Robin laughs, not believing Nancy. She picks up her pace and forges ahead.

"Robin, watch for the vines!" I remind her. "Don't forget about the hive mind!"

"Thank you!" She calls back without stopping.

"I'll keep an eye on her," Nancy says, following after Robin.

I keep my eyes cast to the ground, making sure I don't trip over any vines. It would be terrible to already get killed by something before we've even had a chance at defeating Vecna. If I'm going to die today, I'd rather it be after I've attempted to save Hawkins.

Steve bumps me in the shoulder, making me look up at him. "Hey..." he says softly. "What's wrong?"

"Everything," I admit. "Max being bait. Us leaving Eddie and Dustin like this. You know, this is, like, the first time we've ever been separated from Dustin while fighting the supernatural?"

"Is it?" He asks. "Man, that kid is clingy."

A breathy laugh escapes my lips and Steve looks down at me with a smile. "Yeah, he is," I agree. "But that's not the point. What I mean is we're all really divided up. I feel like when that happens... I don't know. I feel like it's a bad thing."

He knows how I feel. I can see it in his eyes. He cares for those kids just as much as I do. He takes my hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "I don't like it either."

"It's just..." I keep my eyes on the ground so I don't trip on any vines, "Vecna shows his victims what bothers them. Whatever they're traumatized from, that's what he forces them to live through." I take a shaky breath. "He showed me the people I love, dead. Max, Robin, Will, El, even Eddie, you." I glance up at Steve. "I swear, when we were held by the Russians and you were lying on the floor beaten up, I thought you were dead."

He studies my eyes. "We have a solid plan this time. It's not very often we have this good of a plan. We usually just kinda wing it."

I nod slowly. "That's true. Still though. What Vecna put me through... it really shook me up."

"It was just your fear," he assures me. "It doesn't mean it's the future. Vecna was just trying to get in your head. Literally."

I draw in a deep breath. "Yeah... yeah, you're right. I wish the others were here."