⚠️: (1) very brief mention of anxiety, (comedic) filler dialogue is not my strong suit unless i have a purpose for it, sassy will, protective Max, Jonathan being a good bro, Lucas and Y/n being iconic as usual, and a little bit of a third-wall break from me calling out the show's logic 😀 why this is my breaking point? idk
📝: let us have some lumax... as a ✨️treat✨️
❓️: have you checked the cast chapter for Cosmic 4 in while? Perhaps it's worth keeping a close eye on 👀
🔑: b/f = breakfast food (if you don't eat breakfast, it can be anything really)
||𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕||
-MINUTES EARLIER-
"Will, you know you can--," Mike sighed with a wince, no doubt trying to be the friend he was last year. Almost like he had forgotten how to be. "you can be honest with me about this stuff. I get it, man. I do. What you went through last year was... scary. It was really scary,"
Looking up from my last few bites of cereal and peeking through the window I barely make out the two of them sitting on the porch together. From what I can see, which isn't very much, the air is still very much tense. I can only see the back of her head as she sits to the left of Mike, but as he looks at her... I don't know, he almost looks shocked. Relieved? I can't very well make it out when the two of them keep turning away, but it's likely for the best. They need their privacy.
"I appreciate that, Mike." A passing glimpse of my old friend makes me smile, but I can't bring myself to all the way. Not with all the dangers we're still facing.
I take another bite, my attention wandering to the living room where the others are still gathered. Jonathan and Nancy are pretty much just bouncing theories back and forth between themselves now, and Lucas and Max have grown aware of the two missing party members out on the porch.
"She's not giving up anytime soon, is she?" Mike asked, his voice lost farther away in guilt than his eyes as he watched her pace.
Any instinct I'd normally have to get protective doesn't come. It's clear, for once in a long time, there's no ill intent. Just a glimpse of the old Mike; the one who, Y/n had told me of, had given Dustin a certain best friend speech all that time ago.
"Can you blame her?"
I know for certain I'm not the only one who misses how things used to be. It's something that comes up often, whether in stolen moments or subtle glances. Lucas, Dustin, and I most of all, had been there for the most tight-knit of days back in elementary school. But no matter how much we try and intervene, it's been proven many times over this is something only they can fix.
Looking back out, I see Y/n setting down her comm on the steps at her feet. Mike is watching her carefully. He looks the most vulnerable I think I can ever remember seeing him. Probably since that night with the Mind Flayer.
I shake my head of the thought and creeping blush and return to my cereal. I really need to give them privacy.
Nothing about their friendship stands a chance if I'm breathing down their neck. I should know this by now, it's happened before. Granted, things were never this bad in fifth grade-- shoot! A couple of pieces tumble off my spoon as I try to eat them, my head ducking after them in reflex but it does nothing. I feel myself frown instinctually as they fall back into the milk with a small plop and looking up at the others I'm glad to see no one saw. But they were starting to break off from each other and mill about.
Swallowing the last bites of my cereal and downing the remaining bit of milk before rinsing my bowl, I was at Max and Lucas' side at a moment's notice. They had since gotten up from the couch and were lingering by the phone, not so subtly trying to catch a glimpse at the two outside every once in a while.
Prying a pointer finger free from the arms folded against his chest, Lucas gestures wearily to the window. "Are they actually," His eyes meet with Max once before landing on mine, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "talking?"
Glancing back at the two, I find them both still facing out at the forest. It's hard to tell if either of them is speaking. Mike looks as if he's staring at his shoes and I wonder to myself just what might have pushed him to this point. What finally brought him here?
"Yeah," I nod with a small smile. "I mean, hopefully."
Max narrowed her eyes over my shoulder, and I have no doubts she's trying to scope out the air between the two. "Isn't that, like, a fire hazard?"
"Hey," I chide, despite the half-hearted chuckle that arose at the comment. "Watch it. Besides, this is progress. We all wanted this."
She wastes no time in tossing me a blatantly playful 'you know what I mean' look and shrugs it off. "Well, duh, yeah! In a perfect world those two would be best friends and not just for the sake of appearances, but, Will, face it. They're just not. Besides," Max straightens, almost in a defensive manner as she prickles, her eyes settling on who I could only assume to be Mike. "no one could blame her. Not with the shit he's been pulling,"
The very hot and itchy feeling of anger in my chest I had been getting well acquainted with threatened to return at the many examples gathered over the past two years. But none quite so much as the memory of the mall.
She looked around quickly, her voice falling into a whispered hiss. "What, so I should be locked up all day, too?"
"Maybe!"
A sharp breath escapes without me trying as the moment shoots to the surface above most of the rest. Most.
"It's not my fault you can't move on!"
That was a side of Mike I thought I'd never see. I never thought it could even exist. But I was wrong. It did exist. But as ridiculous as it sounds, the more things unravel, the more I start to see the old Mike. The Mike that was willing to put his pride aside for the sake of his friends cause at the end of the day, the ones he loved were what mattered most. Even if it meant going on a long, stumbling ramble he meant to be an apology.
"And I guess... I feel like I've been losing you to her. That once you two got together, I wouldn't ever see you. Which is totally stupid, I know, cause, like she said... friends don't do that..." he looks at me sincerely. Apologetically. "You wouldn't do that, and you haven't... and even worse, I went and did that exact same thing."
It was true Mike wasn't who he used to be. But something in my gut was telling me he wasn't all gone. And I refused to believe he was. It was the least I could do for him. After all, he did the same for me.
Hardly any time had passed before Lucas seemed to jump in with similar thoughts.
"They used to be," he admitted wistfully, causing Max to straighten in curiosity. "Best friends, I mean."
"Who, those two?" Max laughed, shaking her head in disbelief. But I could see it dying in her eyes fairly quickly when she met my gaze. And all either of us could offer her was a simple shrug. "Wait, you guys are serious? I thought they always just, you know, tolerated each other?"
"They do now," I say, "barely," and Lucas nods solemnly along.
"It's true. I mean, don't forget, Mike once jumped off a cliff for her and Dustin,"
Apparently, Max hadn't heard about that story before. Her head jerked flat to the back of her shoulders as she rapidly blinked, looking as if she had short-circuited back about three hours in time.
"Uhm, sorry," Max threw a dry laugh at both of us. "He what now?"
"I told you this!" Lucas insisted with great shock. "Last year. At the arcade. Ya know, when you didn't believe me?"
"No, no, no. You told me Dustin, Y/n, Mike and you got in a huge fight about El. The three of them went looking for her, got chased down by those bullies. And basically, a bunch of shit went down: Troy knocked Y/n out, getting ready to kick the shit out of her or something, and Mike and Dustin were nearly killed defending her until El showed up. But you didn't exactly go into detail,"
Lucas threw his shoulders up in defense. "If I did skim on the on details, it was because you kept eyeing the door like you were gonna bolt!" Max crossed her arms in a challenging manner, but I smiled a little to myself when I saw the signs of their lighthearted argument. Neither of them was mad and both held traces of amusement. "Besides... I wasn't there. I was on the other side of town. You know, doing real work and finding the gate. I warned everyone about the bad men."
Max was clearly fighting a losing battle with a smile, her lips puckering harder as she tried not to crack. But the more sheepish Lucas grew the more she melted.
"So you really didn't know he jumped off of a cliff?"
"No!" She turned to me, playfully batting at my arm and 'turning' back on Lucas. "Stalker here didn't exactly specify. So what the hell happened?"
Lucas shrugged again, trying to recall the details he had heard from the others. I do as well. It's then I realize neither of us were actually there for the encounter. "Apparently Troy and James cornered them at the quarry like I said. Mike couldn't throw for shit but apparently Troy could. It did a number on Y/n-she was out for most of it, I don't think she realizes Troy was ready to give her a few broken ribs while she was out,"
"Jesus," Max mutters, eyes drifting away.
I don't bother nodding. I'm too focused on trying to find a spot in the room to take my mind off of the growing pit in my stomach and the grit in my teeth. No wonder I avoided the details. I really hate hearing this story.
Judging by Max's reaction throughout, she didn't love it either. It was all I could do to tune out. I didn't want to hear it again, once was enough. The story of Y/n nearly punching Troy's lights out, however, I could listen to any day.
I'm not sure what makes me decide to tune in again, but when I do, Lucas is wagging his finger thoughtfully at Max as he recalls. Maybe it's something she said about this sounding familiar.
"Hey, I did mention the cliff. I specifically remember saying Mike jumped off of a freaking. cliff."
Max thinks hard on it for a second before something in her face catches. She gives us each a wince before focusing it on Lucas. "Maaaybe there's a slight possibility you did?"
He threw his arms up in exasperation and I chuckled. "Are you serious?" I ask, thoroughly amused by the whole ordeal.
"I don't know! Cut me some slack, I was brand new, and some randos start stalking me--" without taking her eyes off of me she affectionately nudges Lucas with her arm, causing a small smile to break out on his face as he looks down at her. "--hot and cold, hot and cold, and then dumps this elaborate sci-fi story in my lap, insisting I never say a word! I guess I convinced myself it was all bullshit and then when it wasn't, I didn't pick everything up. That or if I did catch on I didn't take it literally. It happens."
Lucas and I shared a look before we met her now defensive stance. It wasn't very hard to tell however there wasn't much bite to it. She gave way easily with a small roll of eyes and an 'Oh, like you two are so perfect,' just as Nancy stepped up to us.
"Sorry, guys," she flashed a quick, polite smile as she squeezed in to use the phone. All of us stepped out of her way, and it was then I caught Jonathan's eye back in the kitchen. "Thanks,"
I excused myself with a quick nod and wandered back into the kitchen where Jonathan was. He stood arms outstretched, propping himself up on the counter as Nancy began dialing the first of many numbers on a small notepad before stepping as far into the living room as she could.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey,"
Looking down at the counter between us, I spotted the open phonebook the two of them had previously been studying. Several addresses were marked, other pages of the book were dog-eared. But I had a sneaking suspicion our search for the flayed was going to be a lot more complicated than going through Hawkins with a fine-tooth comb.
"Any theories?"
Jonathan shakes his head and shrugs.
"It's all pretty much in the air right now," he flips a few pages before ultimately letting them all fall back into place. "But my best guess says if anything is going on, it's somewhere it doesn't draw a lot of eyes,"
All I can do in this moment is nod as my mind returns to the heavy picture. I can feel his eyes on me as I move back further into the kitchen and start digging through the fridge. Jonathan turns around to face me and I can hear the curiosity in his voice.
"Didn't you just eat?"
"It's not for me," I answer, retrieving a few things from inside and closing the fridge.
Jonathan looks (not so) subtly between me and the view of the front porch outside as a knowing look crosses his face. I try not to pay him any mind as I pull a dish out from the cabinet and begin making b/f with the necessities from the fridge and cupboards.
"I don't want to hear it," I say, and he cracks a smile.
"I didn't say anything,"
"Then you think really loud,"
"Will, come on," Jonathan chuckled, dropping his ballpoint pen on the phone book and turning to face me completely. He nods towards the window and speaks at a volume only we can hear. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about. You have someone you care about, who-and I have it on pretty good authority-cares about you too."
"Then why do I not like where this is going?"
"Maybe because you're not used to this kind of territory? Maybe this is all new to you still and you might be a little nervous-all of that's totally fine, you know. It's normal."
"Or maybe I don't really want to have an awkward conversation about relationships right now?"
"Ouch," he frowned despite a small dry laugh. "But fair. I guess? The point is, Will--" he stops mid-sentence, looking for the right words. He sighs. "I don't know, it's just. It's nice. It's nice seeing you happy. The both of you, I mean,"
Acting like my blush wasn't there, I looked up from my task for the first time since starting it. Just out of my peripherals I could sense Jonathan following my line of sight to the two people I couldn't keep off of my mind for long.
"You're conflicted," Jonathan says in realization. His voice is quiet, likely for my sake. But all I can focus on is the mindblowing fact that I haven't visibly confirmed his suspicions in any way. Unless he can tell my heart rate just skipped a beat.
To my surprise, I'm completely calm despite it all. I look out there and I see my two best friends, two of the many people I love, and the one person I want to be with. Tentatively, she reaches out for Mike's hand that lays still at his side and places hers over in a tender grip. He gratefully squeezes her hand back, and though I can't see her face, I can see Mike's: there's resolve in his watering eyes and a smile of relief. Seeing it all, I'm not surprised my answer for Jonathan is so sure.
Taking the last of Y/n's breakfast in hand, finally prepared, I turn to Jonathan with a certain growing clarity.
"No," I smile. It feels so good to say and as I'm saying it, it's like a nagging question I never even got to ask has been lifted off of my chest. For the first time, any scary feeling I don't necessarily understand with Mike is something I feel like I can actually tackle. Cause one thing is for certain, and it's something Y/n has helped me realize; I'm not alone. "I'm really not,"
||𝟑𝐑𝐃 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐎𝐕||
By the time Mike and Y/n had returned, Will had gotten Y/n's breakfast laid out on the breakfast bar. Nancy had already hung up the phone on her first three numbers and was dialing her fourth when the wooden creak of the screen door pulled everyone's attention to the unlikely sight of Mike and Y/n simpering and hiding chuckles under their breaths, not unlike old times. Both of them quickly discovered the attention fixed on them and came to a slow, the screen door bouncing shut behind them.
Rather than address the elephant in the room and eager to move on, Y/n gave the many lingering eyes a half-hearted shrug. "What'd we miss?"
She was met with awkward upturned lips and several shrugs right back. Nancy just turned back to whoever had just answered the phone.
"Y/n?"
Ever grateful for the sound of her partner's voice, Y/n gladly accepted the excuse to step away and came to meet Will. She released a mixed sigh as the room dispersed once more. Glancing over Y/n's shoulder, Will caught a glimpse of Mike as he joined what looked to be a prying Lucas and Max. His warm eyes falling back over his partner, Will spoke up with a hopeful glint to match his lowered tone.
"How'd it go?" he prompts, returning to his seat on the inner bar stool. Y/n followed suit without even thinking, taking a seat to his left as he nudged the b/f further into sight with a hopeful smile.
Butterflies lit up in his stomach in tune with the smile that lit up her face at the welcome sight. Already diving in with a mouthful, her thanks a muffled 'mmk ymm' and a tight and grateful squeeze on his arm before she could even get properly settled in her seat.
"Can't believe I'm saying this," she began after swallowing her first bite. She flashed Will a mischievous smile, and he couldn't help but notice a layer to her he hadn't seen in ages. "But I just might be thinking twice about killing him,"
"Oh, well, that's a step in the right direction," Will nodded, more than happy to play along.
"I think so, yes."
Y/n chuckled with him as her attention traveled steadily to Mike's increasingly tensing figure. Upon returning, he had quickly taken note of his absent girlfriend-or, ex-girlfriend, he reminded himself. She was still in her room, using her powers and exerting herself for the sake of everyone. All over again. And while her determination to do the right thing had been one of the many things about El to have won his heart, he couldn't easily fight the tightening clutch at his chest.
"Holy shit, you're alive," Lucas had mused the moment Mike had joined their side.
"Ha ha,"
Max took sudden hold of his wrists, much to Mike's (very visible) disdain, lifting his arms above her head, making a show to inspect him. "Nope," she concluded with a lopsided smirk as he yanked his hand away. "no sign of third-degree burns. You behaved! I'm surprised,"
"I get it alright?" Mike looked around, quickly letting go of his frustrations much to the Mayfield girl's surprise. Nevertheless, her folded arms and sharp sigh indicated she wasn't easily convinced of his new change, but she was willing to give him this. But she could steadily feel her walls rebuilding themselves at Mike's next comment. "Where's El? She's not still in there looking for the Flayed, is she?"
Lucas shrugged. "Yeah, but I'm sure it's fine. She said it could take a while,"
The lesson with Y/n freshly learned on his mind was just enough to keep him from blurting out his concerns. But the worry still clutched at his heart, and Mike feared it just might take control. It took just about everything in him to keep his voice steady and his mind open.
"Okay, but shouldn't we at least check on her? It can't be good for her to be looking this long, it takes a lot out of her,"
"Mike," Max sighed. "If she says she can handle it, then you let her handle it,"
Mike nodded, chewing on his bottom lip to keep his worries from spilling out. But it only delayed them. Max rolled her eyes in great exasperation when he let loose the breath that had been holding them back. "Okay, but what if she's just saying that so we don't worry? Like-not that she knows she can't handle it or anything, but that she knows she needs a break but she doesn't want to waste any time cause that's just who she is--"
"--Just relax, Mike. Give her a chance. For her. She's done this a million times,"
"That's kind of my point. She's always putting herself on the line and draining her battery for the sake of the group, it can't be good for her."
"Yeah, micromanaging her can't be too good for her either," Max huffed, Mike not far behind her. "And it's not like we're making her do this, or it's just all for us. She's saved countless people,"
It was clear to anyone watching the two were elbow-deep in their newest 'debate'. Having sat through just about one too many himself, Lucas knew he could slip away quietly without their noticing, and whatever was going on at the breakfast bar was looking far more appealing than another fight.
Lucas noticed Y/n was already halfway through her breakfast when he joined them, but with over five years of friendship with a Henderson under his belt, stuff like this didn't surprise him. Just like the Byers, they didn't like stuff going to waste. But the look growing on her face as she, Will, and Jonathan watched silently as Nancy fought to get a word in over the phone said otherwise-it was obvious Y/n's worries were seeding in her stomach at record speeds.
"Yes, yes, um, I was just..." Nancy shook her head around as she tried to summon the words. She remained in the corner of the kitchen, notepad in hand, crease in her brow, and desperation begging to escape her voice. This was one of their last possible leads, they had tried everything else. "following up to see if anything else had gone missing, or if-- okay,"
Nancy's shoulders sunk in defeat, falling low much like the tone in her voice. Behind her, the four listening in exchanged wary glances.
"Um, sorry to bother--"
Nancy didn't have to tell them the dial tone had been the one to cut her off this time. She had pulled the phone away with a huff before slamming it on the hook with a harsh 'twing'. Frustrated sighs echoing hers rippled out amongst the kitchen as everyone visibly deflated. Apart from Y/n, who, with a grumble, had grabbed her now empty dish and walked it over to the sink. Jonathan made sure to cross out the number in the phone book (not without a bitter scowl) and Nancy came to his side, eager to get a glance over his shoulder.
"Who's next?"
"There is no next," Jonathan said. "Unless you want to start calling random people's homes,"
Nancy chucked her notepad on the counter in an agitated manner. "It doesn't make any sense,"
"What part of any of this makes sense?"
"There's a pattern, okay?" Nancy insists. "A consistency to their behavior. They've been feeding on these chemicals since this started an-and what? They just stop out of the blue?"
"Maybe they have all the chemicals they need?" Will wondered aloud. "Maybe they've all turned into those things?"
"But what about the source? I mean, did the Mind Flayer just suddenly stop infecting people? And, even if the flayed are monsters now, why can't El find them?"
The sudden clang of a freshly Y/n's washed dish sliding into the drying rack pulled all attention to her.
"Why can't anyone?" she said with a thoughtful hitch in her voice, eager to make her way back to Will's side. Planting herself against the wall between Will and Lucas, she gestured over her shoulder out front where Nancy's car was still parked. "wouldn't we have heard something about it on the radio? An emergency broadcast on the drive in about the hospital-I mean someone had to have seen something. Or at least, if this is happening everywhere, wouldn't we have heard something by now?"
"Well, I don't know about the hospital but don't they hide?" Lucas gestured to Will curiously. "Didn't you say he uses you only when he needs you?"
He nodded gravely. "He does. But that's what we really need to worry about. If he was hiding in people like Tom and Mrs. Driscoll on top of possessing Billy, who knows how many people he could get ahold of?"
-"Okay, can you guys settle something for us?"
Max came striding up with Mike close in tow, cutting all conversation short.
Y/n's arms involuntary interlock over her chest as she braces herself for whatever is to come. She tries, at the very least, to remind herself of her friends' patience with her own arguments with Mike-so she didn't exactly have room to complain about an awkward situation.
"Who do you think should decide El's limits: Mike, or Eleven?"
"Okay, the way that you're framing that is so unfair,"
"There's nothing unfair about it, Mike, this is your whole problem! It's also precisely the reason she dumped your ass,"
Y/n couldn't stop the weak and tired plea of her best friend's name from slipping past her lips. Just when she thought the worst had been put aside, she was realizing all too late she wasn't the only one involved in an inner-party conflict. All of this had been lost, however, in Nancy's shock.
"El dumped you?"
Mike's cheeks flushed red and the hot static in his chest was sparking but he did what he could to roll it off his shoulders.
"Does it matter? My point is, I don't think it's a good idea she be in there that long,"
Max bristled at this-whether from subconscious connections to her own trauma at home, her newfound protectiveness for El, or a powerful combination of the two. Regardless, she was quick to fire back on behalf of her new friend.
"Of course it matters! You never trust her to do anything. All you can accuse me of is enlightening her-how to be her own person," in the blink of an eye, Max had zeroed in on Y/n with a hopeful glint, confused as to why her other best friend was shooting her a 'what the hell' look. "Come on, Y/n, tell him. He's being ridiculous,"
Y/n straightened up off the wall, looking around at all the eyes suddenly on her. Her mouth fell open and shut once or twice before she cleared her throat. Something told her she was not going to get the best reaction.
"What, you really want my input?"
Incredulous, Max nodded. "Besides the fact you've been complaining about not seeing El all year," Almost no one caught the split-second exchange between Mike and Y/n before the silent understanding fizzled out when they broke their gaze. "you're basically in the same boat as El." Max continued, none the wiser. "I mean, I'd say the same thing about Will if he was going around telling you how and when to use your powers,"
Y/n stayed silent apart from the small sigh taking place of a coherent answer. Her eyes dropped to the floor as if the courage lay somewhere within the details of the old floorboards. But it didn't stay, it returned to Max and the others with stubborn confidence, and the grip on her arms subtly tightened.
"I'm sorry Max, but I think I agree with Mike on this one,"
Silence. Silence, and then--
"--Seriously?!"
"--Seriously?!"
Max and Mike shared a fleeting distasteful glance at having had the same thought, but both were quick to shake it off. The others seemed just as shocked.
"Y/n, you cannot be serious right now,"
Her stance begged to stiffen at Max's reaction, but she had been anticipating this. Especially as her mind returned to the day this drama all started days ago-when El had first sought their council; Max had been quite eager for El to dump her boyfriend, and completely disregarded her own suggestion to talk things out. But with that memory, also came the heart-melting sight of El discovering her true sense of self for the first time in her entire life. This only prompted Y/n to quickly explain.
"That doesn't mean I don't agree with you, Max-about El needing to be her own person." Y/n settled on Mike as she said this, her tone towards him, for the first time in ages, gentle and pleading. "Mike, I know you. And I also know how much she means to you. But that's exactly why you of all people should understand how important it is she discovers who she is outside of her relationships with other people--
"--exactly."
"--she has never had that opportunity before."
"--exactly."
"--And you should have seen her," a somber smile threatened Y/n's face made Mike falter as he imagined the sight. "She was so happy."
"--exactly!"
"Max?"
"Sorry," Max pursed her lips but quieted all the same.
"That's something you should want for her. And you know what, it's good for you too. And I'm not just saying that because, as much shit as we may or may not have been saying behind your back--"
"--You've what?"
"--not important--" Mike caught Will's eye over Y/n's shoulder and he felt a murmur in his heart again when they shared a tiny, noiseless laugh as Y/n continued, unaware. Just a small breath of air, barely noticeable but enough. "we missed hanging out with you. With you and El. None of us have seen you, actually present with us since the snowball, and it's been hard."
Max felt the satisfaction drain from her as soon as Y/n turned back to her.
"But Max, you wanted my opinion and here it is: I get what he's saying. And yeah, that's coming from someone like El. That's exactly why I agree, actually."
"But Y/n...?"
"Again, I'm not saying El shouldn't make her own decisions. They're her powers, she knows them better than anyone and she should be the one calling the shots. But..."
The memories hadn't stopped. Frankly, she was willing to spend as much time as she could get out on that porch even if she wasn't calling for her brother, who, infuriatingly enough, was still MIA. Between Will's presence, the distraction of the task at hand, and the current argument unfolding before everyone's eyes, it had done enough to keep the memories from last November on the back burner. But now, the pot was boiling over and spilling out as she somberly met eyes with the only two in the room who had been there with her during her endeavor. Even among the chaos of saving Will, each of them had found room to look out for her.
With one look, Y/n knew both Jonathan and Nancy were reliving everything with her. Will might have been reunited with them that night, but they were the only two to remember what it took to get there.
"But having someone looking out for you can make all the difference,"
Nancy and Jonathan knew at once what she had been referring to-Jonathan more than anyone. The sight of her strain as she put her life on the line to save his brother was something he would never forget.
"Especially when in situations like this. It is-and should be-our choice but it isn't much of one. Not when the people we love, and many more are in danger."
Max had yet to consider that, and it was clear to all by the shift in her feet and subtle change in demeanor. That didn't mean she was too happy with where this conversation was going, but she would much rather hear Y/n out than Mike.
Poorly masking the slouch in her posture with crossed arms, Max sent a small pout Y/n's way. "So what, then? You want her to stop?"
"No, I never said that." Y/n quickly defends. "Just, maybe you should try and see where Mike is coming from. He's worried about her and I kinda understand why. She's been through a lot trying to protect everyone. Twice. And now, the Mind Flayer is back with his-- little--" her nose scrunched up as she fought the words she still couldn't believe she was uttering. "flesh monsters-- the flayed-whatever. And that's a lot of responsibility with a line she probably shouldn't cross but she's willing to cause that's just the kind of person she is. But it doesn't mean she can't get scared or that it doesn't help to know someone's looking out for her, or willing to cross one for her,"
Y/n finished with a huff, not realizing until now she had never stopped to take a breath. She could feel the stares of the others, all a mix of worry and confusion on their faces, but she didn't much care at the moment. Her insides were winding back into knots so she allowed herself to sink back into the wall in between her boyfriend and Lucas. It wasn't long before Will's hand was rubbing soothing circles on her back as he looked up at her in concern, the conversation picking back up around them.
"She's not gonna be alone, Y/n," Nancy reassured, making sure the young girl met her eyes. She exchanged a single understanding glance with Jonathan before they both returned their soft gaze to her. "And neither are you. We're all here. Together. And we're all gonna be looking out for each other," she finishes, turning to make sure Mike heard. "But in order to do that, you have to trust us. You have to trust her,"
Mike could feel the tension returning to his shoulders and seizing up his body. His defenses were kicking in again. But he doesn't see the tension spilling off of him and pouring back into Y/n, who's cup was already running full.
"I do trust her," Mike defended.
His friend pulled her face from her palms which she had distressfully been rubbing up and down her cheeks, nose, and eyes, and gruffed impatiently at the boy. "Then why are you fighting this?"
"I thought you agreed with me!"
"I do! She should take a break, even if for a few minutes but--"
"--great," Mike jumped in, in his desperation to help El, disregarding what else his friend might have to say. Subconsciously, too afraid to hear it. "So let's get her,"
Max made a show of rolling her eyes and grasping the air angrily beside him.
"No!"
"Why not?!"
"Because that's not what she decided!"
"And if she hurts herself?!" He was yelling now, the panic in his voice no longer contained. Nancy made a move to say something but he cut her off before she could manage a single syllable. "Or gets herself killed?!"
"Mike," Jonathan's voice had cut in this time, laced with understanding, but Mike wouldn't have it. His worried had consumed him completely. He could hardly register the rising pitch of his own voice, let alone the looks he was etching onto everyone's faces around him.
"No, there's nothing that justifies that! I'm just trying to demonstrate how careless everyone here can be with El's powers. You're all treating her like a machine when she's not a machine and I don't want her to die looking for the Flayed when they've obviously vanished off the face of the earth. So can we PLEASE just come up with a new plan because I love her and I can't lose her again!"
The room had come to a stand still at the command of those very words. They clung to the air, silencing everyone and everything but the pounding drums in Mike's chest as he realizes what he has said. Shock had etched itself on everyone's faces and lodged Mike's next breath in his lungs-his gaze was miles away. Max felt her gaping mouth snap shut, and Will sensed the sudden gaze of his girlfriend burning into the side of his head.
It hadn't exactly been a secret-Mike and El's feelings for one another. But never before had it been brought to words. Not like this. And just when Mike was sure the silence was going to drown him, the gentle creak of the wooden door unveiled an even more gentle, wide-eyed gaze that roamed the group.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing," Mike insists, refusing to meet El's eyes. "Nothing."
"Just family discussion," said Lucas through a Chesire grin. This only prompted Y/n to bury her growing smirk in the crook of her elbow that rested on his shoulder.
Had he not known any better, Will would have said he noticed a certain sag in El's shoulders.
"Oh," she said with a hint of disappointment that lingered only for a moment. Drawing in a deep and courageous breath, El gave a nod. "I found him,"
Him? The group wondered simultaneously. El had been searching for many suspects-all of which they believed to be flayed. But there was just one 'him' to truly be worried about. One they all feared would slip past her lips the moment Nancy asked the question on everyone's minds-the question everyone already knew the answer to.
"Found who?"
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·
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