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"I KNOW THIS MAY BE, LIKE, UPSETTING AND SHIT, BUT THAT FUTURE PROM QUEEN IS GONNA BE FINE." ARGYLE ASSURED AS HE DROVE THE PIZZA VAN BACK TO THE BYERS' HOME. Mike, El and Will sat in silence in the back as Johnathan was stoned in the passenger seat. "It's just, like, rubber wheels." He turned around, none of the teens responding. "Plastic." Johnathan corrected, Argyle gasping to him. "Not like hard plastic. Just..." He assured El, the girl not listening. "Just the soft kind." He finished, Argyle nodding. "Totally. But you ever wonder why the wheels aren't wood, man? Or metal?" The two got into their own conversation, Mike looking down with a sigh. "So people don't get hurt when they get shmacked." Argyle emphasized, Johnathan looking down.
"Oh." He let out, Argyle nodding. "Yeah. Because it happens more than you think, man." Argyle turned back around to El. "Roller-skate attacks." He spoke, El watching him turn back around. "Man. Hey, at least it wasn't an ice skate." Johnathan compromised, Argyle 'slicing' down his face. "That nose would've been sliced clean off, man." He exclaimed, Johnathan wincing in agreement as the two nodded to one another. "It could've been so much worse." Argyle told El, the girl staring at them both. "So much worse." Johnathan agreed as he briefly met eyes with her, sitting back in his seat properly. "In the grand scheme of things, it's just a little blip." Johnathan spoke, Argyle smiling.
"That's a funny word, man." He chuckled, Johnathan repeating himself. "Blip." He smiled, the two going back and forth saying the word 'blip' as El leant her head against the window.
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OPENING THE DOOR TO THE BYERS ESTATE, OPERA MUSIC WAS PLAYING, WILL CONFUSED AS HE WALKED IN AFTER EL. The girl walked first, Mike behind Will and Johnathan and Argyle behind the three. "Mom?" Will called, the group stopping to see Murray wearing Joyce's apron and cooking food. "Well, well! Aren't you lot a sight for sore eyes, huh?" He asked, Argyle confused as to who this man was. "Hi, Murray." Johnathan smiled, Murray holding up a spoon with food on it. "You kids like risotto?" He asked them, Johnathan nodding.
"Yeah."
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MURRAY CONTINUED TO TELL HIS STORY AT THE DINNER TABLE, EVERYONE EATING THE RISOTTO HE MADE. "and suddenly," Murray hit the table. "bam, it hits me. 'Didn't the Byers move here'?" He smiled to the children, Joyce nodding with a smile. "Small world, isn't it? It's a small world." The two adults laughed, no one else joining them. "So I thought, 'Why don't it drop it, say hello to my old friends?'" He chuckled, Will not even looking at the man. He hadn't seen him since Seb was alive, the man being with Seb as he died. "Its so sweet of you." Joyce smiled, Murray humming. "Sweeter of you to let me stay." He shot back playfully, Joyce smiling to the kids.
"And he cooks." She held up her fork of risotto, a grin on her face as Mike observed Murray. "Mm, and cleans. A regular little housewife." He laughed, pretending to caress his hair with his hand. El just stared at the man, not amused whatsoever. "You should stay." Joyce smiled, El looking to her. "I'd be tempted, Joyce, except, you know, you have that, uh..." Murray hinted Joyce to say the plan they had made up to get them away from the kids to Yuri's Fish n' Fly. "Right, that business trip." She let out, everyone turning to her. "Business trip? What business trip?" Will asked, Johnathan grabbing another piece of bread as Argyle stared at the table. They were both so high. "Oh my gosh." Joyce chuckled, Murray nodding to her.
"I almost forgot to tell you guys. This thing came up at work..." Joyce explained, Johnathan tapping Argyle's shoulder. "Can you pass me the olive oil?" He asked, the boy looking to it. Turning back, the boy gulped as he spoke. "That's wine." He corrected, Joyce speaking up. "And it turns out I have to go to a conference tomorrow. In Alaska." Joyce added, Will dropping his fork. "Alaska?" He asked, Mike confused. "Tomorrow?" He asked, Murray nodding. "Crazy, right?" He chuckled, Joyce looking to her son. "That's where they're based, the Britannicas." She nodded to Murray, receiving the same action back. "Joan and Brian Britannica." She made up names, Murray shrugging with a smile. Argyle looked to him, Joyce smiling.
"So do Eskimos, like, still live in igloos, or, are they, like, fully living in the suburbs now?" He asked, Murray's smile dropping as he looked to Argyle. Who was this kid? "Who is this?" Murray asked, Joyce nodding. "So, Johnathan, this means you're gonna have to, you know, take charge while I'm gone." He looked to his mother, the woman nodding to him. "Wait. What? What's going on?" He asked, Will hiding his face. "Oh my..." "You're mom's going to Alaska." Argyle informed, Joyce watching her son. What was wrong with him? "You're going to Alaska?" He asked, the woman very confused. "What's going on in Alaska?" The boy asked Argyle, him leaning to the side. "The Britannicas are there." He answered, Johnathan looking back to his mother.
"The Britannicas?" He asked, Argyle humming. "Johnathan, what is wrong with you?" She asked, Murray adjusting his glasses. "I think I know what's wrong with him." He muttered, Johnathan gripping his glass of water. "We just had a super stressful day." He let out, Murray humming. "Stress, huh?" He urged, Argyle speaking up. "This girl got shmacked in the head today at the roller rink." El looked up quickly, looking between both Argyle and Johnathan. They better not tell Joyce. "Shmacked?" Murray asked, Argyle nodding. "Yeah, one of those vicious skate attacks." He spoke up, El squeezing her lips shut. "A skate attack?" Murray asked mindlessly, Argyle nodding as Johnathan turned to his mother. "Yeah, but it wasn't an ice skate. It was... It was a plastic skate."
The two seemed to miss the teen's glares, Argyle shaking his head. "No, it was, like, rubber." He corrected, Johnathan looking back to Joyce. "Rubber. Rubber." He informed, Joyce staring at him. Something was wrong with Johnathan... what was it? "You know what? I'm not sure." Joyce looked to Argyle as he spoke, shrugging afterwards. "Anyway, she looked like she's gonna be fine. She's totally fine." He assured, Mike messing with his risotto. "She didn't look fine." He let out intentionally, El and Will staring at the boy. Why would he say that? Throwing her fork onto her plate, El chucked her napkin and stormed away from the table, Joyce confused. "El, aren't you gonna finish your- What?" She spoke, everyone watching El storm upstairs to her room.
"What is going on, you guys?" Joyce asked. Murray sighing. "Okay, I, uh, I sense tension." He let out, Johnathan taking a bite from some more bread. "Is it the risotto? Everyone hates the risotto?" Murray's chuckling halted quickly, looking down. "Absolutely not. No, it's incredible." Johnathan complimented, Murray nodding to him confused. "This risotto," Argyle started, pointing to the plate with his fork as Murray leant back a little. "is shmackin' dude." He finished, Murray chuckling as he looked to Joyce.
"Still have no idea who he is."
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NOISES SOUNDED OUTSIDE, EDDIE TAKING THE TARP OFF OF HIS HIDING SPOT AS HE GOT UP. They were quick with the food delivery. Eddie was pretty sure stores didn't even open this early in the morning. They weren't shouting his name... Who was it? Getting up slowly, the Munson boy heard the mailbox being opened. Was he being robbed? I mean, it wasn't his mailbox anyway so he shouldn't care but who was it? A parcel flew past the window, the boy jolting back.
Maybe it was some sort of animal?
Seb dug through the letterbox, finding nothing interesting. It was broad daylight now so he had to be even more careful of his surroundings. He hadn't slept since what happened, that being around two days ago. He didn't even know anymore. Getting his broken bottle, Eddie opened the window slightly, his eyes widening once he saw a green-uniformed person rummaging through the things. That was not Dustin. Or any of his friends. They had already sent the army to look for him? That was a bit extreme. And the army they sent didn't look too well presented. Seb felt eyes on him, Eddie ducking down quickly when he noticed the soldier turning around.
This was shit.
He'd only been hiding for not even two days and he's already been found? The soldier seemed to be on his own and weak, meaning Eddie could overpower him if he wanted. Why was he thinking that? He hit his own head, terrified of what he might endure if this soldier catches him. Crunching leaves got closer, the teen's breathing quickening up before the footsteps stopped. Eddie didn't dare move, what if the soldier was playing some sort of sick game and looking down on him through the open window with a smile. That would be terrifying. Looking up slowly, no one's face came into sight as a relieved exhale was heard from Eddie. Letting only his eyes be seen, the boy's face dropped.
First of all. What had this soldier gone through to look like this? Eddie's eyesight was blurry as he was terrified, only seeing the soldier stood still. "Hello?" He called out, hearing no response as he stood up fully. Checking his surroundings, he walked out of the boat house he was staying in, armed with Steve's oar and the broken bottle. And with the radio to call Dustin if it went wrong. This soldier was going to cause him no harm. He's on his own. Injured. And close to dead. How was he going to defend himself? Leaning forward, Eddie quickly jumped back once he saw that the soldier's eyes were rolled back. "No. No." He muttered. He's not dealing with this again. Dustin had told him that this was some interdimensional monster, the two linking it to 'Vecna'.
"Why do they always come to me!" Eddie cursed, watching as the soldier continued to look straight. "I'm so sorry, you know? I'm sure wherever you came from, you don't deserve this." Eddie kept on ranting out of fear, confused as the soldier started shaking a little...
Chrissy never did that.
Seb panicked, seeing a small El sat facing him. Her hospital gown covered her completely, the boy leaning down to her. "El..." He let out softly, the young girl looking up. She looked scared. "Bad." She began, Seb's gaze softening. "No..." He started with a chuckle, El shaking her head and moving away from him quickly. "Bad." She repeated, Seb standing up straight. "No, El. I'm your brother." He tried to assure her, El holding her hand out. Eyes widening, Seb was shoved back, reaching back to his sister as he hit the floor. A groan left his lips as he landed on his back, squeezing his eyes shut.
This was another one of his delusions.
"I don't need you." A voice spoke, Seb opening his eyes to meet with El, the girl aged up to the last time he saw her. "Stop looking for me." She spat with venom in her tone, Seb scrambling up. This wasn't real. "El... this isn't real." He let out, facing the girl. "No one needs you." She continued, staring at him blankly. "We're all better off without you." She spoke, Seb shaking his head. "You don't mean that." He spoke, his eyes starting to sting. "Stay away from me." El seethed, walking forward as Seb stepped back. "El, please." Seb started to cry. "You don't mean this, please." He spoke, El's emotionless face making him cry more. "Stay away from us, Sebastian." Seb turned around quickly to hear a familiar voice.
Hopper.
"You ruined everything." The voice spoke, no Hopper present. "No, I was trying to help." Seb panted, his head whipping to the right once he heard leaves crunching. "Seven." A gruff voice called, Seb making his hands glow red. Eddie flinched back onto the ground when the boy's rolled back eyes went red. "Don't try and fight me, Seven." The voice continued in Seb's left ear, the boy looking that way rapidly. "Stop it." Seb spat, Eddie quickly getting out the radio he was given. "Uh, Dustin, a little help! Shopping is great but, like, we have another Vecna thing!" The radio played to a sleeping Dustin, given it was so early in the morning. "Dustin!" Eddie let out into the radio, hearing no response.
"Oh, my God. Dustin!" He yelled, scrambling back once Seb's body started to levitate. "Dustin! A literal soldier is having a Vecna! Oh shit-" Eddie spoke, throwing the radio away to cover his eyes. Even though he knew what was going on, he couldn't bear to watch it again. Seb gasped, feeling his head get turned forward without his own intent, meeting a long hand. Looking through the fingers, his eyes widened once he saw a fleshy monster. This was the thing that was haunting him. Waiting until he was most vulnerable to eat him. "What... are you?" Seb asked, gasping for air as Vecna never said a word, straining his hands. Hearing no bone-snapping, Eddie slowly separated his fingers to reveal his right eye.
"Oh, God." He spoke, covering his eyes again. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Eddie repeated, Seb making his hands glow more. Thrusting it forward as much as he could, Eddie was too busy panicking to notice a falter in Seb's levitation. Vecna winced once the energy ball burned his body a little, dropping the boy. Eddie flinched at the thud, squeezing his eyes shut before he heard breaths as quick as his own. Looking up quickly, he met Seb's eyes, the two boys frozen in their spot. Both terrified. "Who are you?" Eddie asked quietly, Seb standing up quickly. He'd been spotted. So had Eddie. "Hey, Hey! It's okay." The older teen assured, standing up also and moving towards Seb. "Okay." Eddie surrendered once he met the gaze of Seb,
a deadly one.
"You just, like, levitated off the floor." Eddie spoke, stunned by the fact that Seb didn't die. Chrissy was in the exact same position as him, why did she die and not him? Seb's head tilted, Eddie gulping. "I have so many questions." He spoke, observing the boy up and down. Walking forward, he stopped once Seb stepped back. Realising this boy wasn't a threat, Seb's glare softened. "I'm on the run too, if you are." Eddie spoke, Seb nodding slowly. "Okay." He spoke, pointing up to his nose. "You got a little- alright." The boy spoke, watching as Seb's nosebleed started to come out of both of his nostrils. "You can camp with me, if you want." Eddie offered, Seb's head tilting again. "I've recently figured out I'm great at hiding."
Seb let the boy talk, confused greatly. Why was he not shocked and terrified by what he'd just seen? "Why are you so calm?" Seb finally voiced, Eddie freezing in his spot. He sounded so gruff. As if he had not been in the best situations in the past... forever. "I've kinda seen this before. But, like, she died." Eddie cleared his throat, Seb staring at him. This guy seemed trustworthy. "I can take care of you? Not like that, but like-" "Yes." Eddie looked to Seb once he was interrupted, nodding slowly. "Okay..." He spoke, Seb taking any accommodation he could get. "Follow me." Eddie spoke slowly, stunned by everything that just happened. Seb watched him pick up the radio, the oar and the bottle, walking backwards and ushering the boy to follow him.
"You can crash here, I need to tell-" "You're not telling anyone." Seb spat, Eddie turning to him. "Well, I have this friend..." He decided not to tell this lone soldier Dustin's name. "group. This group of people that help me. They bring me food and stuff. I could, I don't know, hide you from them?" Eddie suggested, surprised at how easy this was. "Mhm." Seb spoke, sitting down on the boat in the middle of the room. That wasn't real. El needed him. Hopper needed him. He doesn't ruin anything. Does he?- "Sleep there, I don't really... care." Eddie spoke, Seb staring at the floor. "My... group? They're supposed to be here late with food so, like, if you want to sleep, I'll have to cover you up." He explained, Seb nodding half-heartedly.
Eddie watched awkwardly as Seb laid down in his previous spot, staring up. "This sounds weird because we've just met," Eddie began, Seb looking to him. "But I won't let anything get you, okay?" He spoke, Seb nodding slowly. "Okay." He spoke, Eddie looking to his injured leg. "Hey, I could get my group to help with your leg." He offered, Seb shaking his head. "No." He spoke, Eddie nodding. "Alright." He spoke, sitting and staring as Seb turned his back to Eddie. "My group are very understanding-" "No one." Seb snapped, Eddie flinching. "Okay, okay." He soothed, Seb laying back down. Eddie had suddenly been overcome with the sense to keep this boy safe, him not being able to save Chrissy from 'Vecna'.
But this boy was different. He got out of it...
How?
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What a pairing...
[2918 words!]
Hope you enjoyed!!
Byeee!