Stranger Things:We Didn't Mean to Be Heroes

Chapter 1

Cold air rushed in with Elias as he stepped into the Wheeler house, jacket half-zipped, a folded magazine tucked under his arm definetly stolen it from a waiting room.. He shut the door with his heel like he'd done it a hundred times before.

"Miss me?"

Karen Wheeler looked up from the counter and visibly stiffened.

"…You're late."

"Emotionally or chronologically?" he asked. "Because I'm guilty on both counts."

Her eyes moved over him despite herself quick, controlled, like she hated that her body answered faster than her judgment.

"They're downstairs."

"Good," he said lightly. "Because if I accidentally end up in your kitchen again alone, we're gonna have to pretend we're both mature adults. And I just ate gas station jerky. I'm not in the right headspace for growth."

"You're impossible," she muttered.

He smiled like that was the nicest thing anyone had said to him all day.
"I know. It's tragic."

For a second, neither of them moved, like they'd both hit the same memory at the same time.

Well Several memories to be exact.

Elias broke it first with a crooked half-smile.
"Anyway," he said lightly, tapping the magazine against his arm, "I'm here to retrieve my annoying younger brother before he becomes a warlock or whatever phase he's in this week."

Karen exhaled through her nose, a sound halfway between a sigh and a warning. "Dustin's downstairs. Where he's supposed to be."

"Shocking." He angled toward the hallway, then paused. "You doing okay?"

The question slipped out before he could dress it up as a joke.

She hesitated. Just a flicker. "I'm fine."

Elias studied her for half a second longer than he should have. Not smiling now. Not joking either.

"Yeah," he said finally. "You always are."

Her jaw tightened. "Don't start"

He lifted one hand in lazy surrender."That wasn't me starting anything," he said softly.

"I know," she said quickly. "And that's where it stays."

He raised two fingers like a lazy salute. "Scout's honor. Which I was never a part of. So legally meaningless, but emotionally sincere."

She didn't smile. "don't rile them up," she said.

Elias grinned like he absolutely planned to do exactly that.
"No promises"

He turned and headed for the basement.

"Oh and Elias," she added.

He glanced back.

"Don't stay long."

He grinned, again "I never do."

He turned with a lazy grin and took the stairs and didn't look back when he started up the stairs. That somehow made it worse for her.

His boots hit the steps in quick, careless rhythmm

"Wow," Elias said immediately. "You guys waited for me. I'm touched."

He grabbed the last slice and flopped onto the couch like he'd been there the whole night.

"ELIAS!" Dustin shouted, startled and thrilled at the same time.