sofiiel

[sofiiel]

GRAPHIC/GIFSET TAG MEME: favourite member of the fellowship — tagging @daenerys-stormborn & @tomcriuse (tagged by @lotrlorien ♥)

#lord of the rings #frodo baggins #beautiful gifs

[sofiiel]

[sofiiel]

There & Back Again : xreader addition (fem/afab)

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍: 7.8k words: (CW: angst. cannon level violence. self-effacing behavior via reader.)

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The concert raged on for hours, you leaned on Scott's shoulders to rest as you started to wind down.

When the lights came on, and you could hardly hear the band bid goodbye and thanks to the crowd as your eyes would barely stay open and your stomach rumbled.

Scott laughed quietly.

"I think someone's hungry." He said, looking to Eddie.

"Alright, come on, sleepy head." Eddie said, eyes shining, tickled by the sleepy daze on your face.

He stooped and offered you his back.

Without protest, you climbed on, holding onto his shoulders.

"I'm not sleepy." you grumbled, resting your head against Eddies.

"You make a nice pillow though, you're fluffy." you said, your face lost in his waves of hair.

"Let's get back to the van, We can stop somewhere and pick up something." Jeff snickered. 

"Not much is still open at this hour." Gareth said.

"7eleven has hot dogs." Scott said.

"It'll have to do." Eddie said, with you, he led them out of the building.

Your eyes closed on you as you rested against Eddie. He smiled to himself when you nuzzled your face into his hair several times in your sleep.

"You two are making me sick," Jeff teased.

Eddie tilted his head and grinned goofily, "Aren't we, though." He sang.

"So when is this going to be more than pretend?" Scott asked with a smirk.

Eddie side glanced, he wasn't sure.

For now, he was marking it down to being comfortably playful.

"We're friends," Eddie said slowly, feeling the weight of the guitar pick hanging from the silver chain around his neck.

"Bullshit," Gareth called out, squinting.

"It's true." Eddie fired back.

Gareth rolled his eyes.

"Then let me have a shot, man." Jeff said, lightly elbowing Eddie's side.

"Not a chance." Eddie said flatly.

Scott nearly cackled, "God, that was instant jealousy!" he said.

"It wasn't. I don't get jealous, I can't get jealous there's nothing there. I just think...none of us are her type, is all." Eddie spoke flustered.

"Sure," Jeff sighed.

"I mean it. Losers like us? Hell no." Eddie said with an affirming nod.

"A girl like ____ deserves a prince, not the jester," Eddie said.

Scott rolled his eyes.

"Ah, see now that's just some self-effacing bullshit." Jeff said.

"You'll wake her." Eddie shot.

Reaching the van, Eddie pulled out blankets and lay them out in the back of the van.

Sitting on the edge of the van in the back, he gently tipped backward, allowing you to carefully fall back onto the blankets before covering you up.

He brushed a few beads of sweat from your brow and found himself unable to look away.

His eyes traveling down to the Corroded Coffin logo on your shirt, he smiled bitterly to himself.

"She needs someone who isn't stuck in the past." Eddie thought.

"You don't deserve to compete with the dead." he thought bitterly, closing the back doors and heading to the front seat.

You woke up with your legs feeling like cold pins and needles, you hopped up quickly.

"You ok?" Gareth asked, stirring awake from where he had been nodding off.

"Yeah, it's just my leg has fallen asleep, I need to walk it out." you said, climbing out of the Van.

"Alright, just don't go far, the guys'll be back soon." Gareth called after you before settling back into his seat.

You smiled as he passed out as soon as his eyes closed.

"Well I wasn't the only one tired." you thought, carefully closing the doors so as not to wake him.

Looking around, you noticed a fire far back in the nearby alley.

"It's not cold." you thought, it was indeed an odd sight, and you found yourself drawn to it as you walked about trying to wake up your leg.

Unwittingly, you soon ended up in the alley.

You gazed into the fire, "weird city." you thought.

As you moved to turn back a loud bang and a string of curses echoed down the alley.

"Damn it!" Someone shouted.

"Hold on!"

"Keep going! Mick, get them out of here!" 

your hair raised feeling an odd sensation, almost magnetizing.  With cautious feet, you went to investigate.

"I can still see the van from here." you thought, making your way deeper into the alley.

Ahead of you, you could hear tires screeching and quiet curses.

"Ah! ...shit!" a man cursed in a sharp, painful breath.

The groaning of metal sounded in your ears. Turning a corner in the alley through a back driveway leading into the garage of a building, your eyes grew wide.

"Oh my god, are you ok?" you asked, rushing towards the man pinned to the ground, stuck under the rolling door.

"Yeah, I'm just here for the hell of it!" he snapped, face dotted with a few tattoos.

The heavy metal door was quick to punish him for lashing out, he grunted as it slipped down more, pressing into his back. 

You knelt, took his hands in yours, and pulled.

"Wiggle your legs!" you called.

The man did as he was told, yet it did little to help.

Releasing him, you stepped back, "It's no good, I-I can go get my friends, they can help."

"Don't!" the man shouted, "do that... I don't need any more witnesses," he stated, calming down.

Pawing at the ground, trying to pull himself free, he held out his hands.

"Come on, one more time if you're feeling useful." he shot.

You rolled your eyes, "You're rude to be stuck you know?" you grumbled.

Bending down you wrapped your arms under his shoulders.

"I'm going to raise up and walk back, ok?" you explained.

The Man nodded.

"On the count of three, ok. One, two -" you lifted and pulled.

"Shit! You said three!" he complained.

Your back protested at the man's weight and eventually, your legs gave out from under you, sending you backward.

"Ouch!" you cried, your back screamed and worse you could feel the man's full weight on you.

"It worked! Strong one aren't you?" He asked, pushing himself up.

He looked down into your face, a smile slowly forming on his own as he looked her up and down. 

"And kind of cute," he said.

Behind them the garage door raised, you craned your neck to look around the man who turned to look back as well.

"That ain't good." He muttered, spotting a man in a white lab coat pointing at them with two armed men at either side of him. 

"Wh-what?" you sputtered.

"With me!" The man shouted, hopping up, he pulled you to your feet by the arm and started running.

Your feet could hardly keep up with his long legs as he ran.

"Wait! Don't haul me off with you!" you shouted.

"No time to stop, you've been seen with me, if you don't want to die, cutie, you'll keep running." He said.

You felt a cold sweat coming on, "you're a dumbass, McKinney!" your mind shouted at you.

The man led you through the back alleys, grasping his side, his pace slowed, and he started to limp.

"Are you ok?" you asked.

He panted, "ugh..." He removed his hand to show a small patch of red.

"That's not good." you murmured. 

The man looked about for a quick escape, "yeah, tell me somethin' I don't know," he muttered.

Footsteps were coming up fast behind them. Looking about, you spotted the dumpster.

"In the trash or behind it, guy?" you asked the man. 

"What are you talking about?" He asked.

"Hiding! Hurry pick one!" you called.

The man shrugged and limped towards the dumpsters, crawling behind them, he hid quietly.

You dropped to the ground, hugging yourself, shivering as if terrified.

Two men in police uniforms came from around the corner.

"Kid, have you seen a group of unsavory-looking persons come through here?" One of them asked.

You looked up at them, your eyes welling with tears.

"They... They went...there were gunshots, and they threatened me.... I-I was just trying to take a shortcut h-home...." you stammered, letting a tear roll from your eye. 

"They're bad men, which way?" The officer asked again, clearly losing his patience.

"U-up the block, half in a car, the other took an f-fire escape." you lied, The officers signaled to each other to split up.

"Can I g-go home now?" you asked.

"Yeah sure kid, be careful." the officer called before both took off, calling into walkies.

You lingered for a moment, pretending to cry and dust yourself off.

The man quietly peeked his head out from around the dumpster after a few minutes.

"Not bad." He praised, limping over to you, he gave you a shove, "this way." he said.

"But why can't I just go back to my friends?" you asked.

The man gave a cynical laugh.

"Oh, you have no clue what you've just stepped in. You're a goody two shoes, aren't ya?" He asked, leading you ahead of him.

Eddie, Scott, and Jeff returned to the van with food in hand, looking around cautiously.

"What the hell was all that?" Eddie asked, opening the back Van doors.

His eyes fell on the empty, messy blankets.

"Where's ____?" Jeff asked. 

"Gareth!" Scott called, waking the sleeping boy.

Gareth awoke with a start, "what?" he yawned.

"Where is ___?" Eddie asked.

"Her leg fell asleep, she went to walk it out. I told her not to go far." Gareth explained rubbing his eyes. 

Eddie set the food down and stepped away from the van, looking around.

"I don't see her." He murmured.

"Well, she couldn't have gone far, right? Maybe she went inside to use the bathroom and we missed her?" Scott reasoned, seeing the panic slowly build in Eddie's eyes.

Eddie nodded his head, "yeah," he exhaled with a nervous smile, "that's gotta be it." he whispered. 

"I'll go check." Jeff offered jogging back into the 7eleven.

Eddie however had become fidgety, climbing out of the van, Gareth offered Eddie a nearly empty pack of cigarettes.

Snatching them up quickly, Eddie pulled one free of the box and placed it between his lips, letting Gareth light it. 

"I'm sorry, man. But I'm sure she's just fine," said Gareth.

"That sounded like gunfire," Scott murmured. 

"Not helping!" Eddie snapped, causing Scott to hold his hands in the air.

Jeff returned from the store with a troubled frown on his face, looking to the others he shook his head.

"Not in there." he said.

Eddie's leg nearly gave out from under him as he choked on his cigarette smoke.

Scott gave his back a few pats, but it did little to help.

"Damn it," Gareth whispered, cupping his hands around his mouth, "____!" He called out.

"____?!" Jeff called as well.

"If this is payback, it's not funny, ____!" Eddie shouted, following suit.

The guys walked about the parking lot and a little down the alley.

"No sign of her," Jeff whispered.

Eddie covered his mouth, hand trembling.

"Goddammit....god fucking damn it…" he muttered. 

Cupping his mouth again, he shouted, "____ McKinney! This isn't cool! Come out!" his voice pitched with panic.

"Shut up, she ain't here!" someone shouted from a nearby apartment window.

Eddie turned about until he spotted who the person was and threw up both his hands, flipping the bird.

"Fuck you, man!" He shouted.

The guys quickly moved out of the way as the man above them threw down a can of soda.

"Relax, Eddie, we'll just wait here for a little while in case she comes back. After fifteen minutes, we can ride around and look." Scott offered calmly, giving Eddie's shoulder an encouraging shake.

Eddie turned to Scott with a pitiable look on his face.

"She was afraid to leave." Eddie spoke, his voice small. "I said..."

Scott stopped him. "Don't assume the worst. For all, we know she fell asleep." Scott tried his best to lighten the mood.

Eddie walked to the van and leaned against it, his eyes darting all over the place as he puffed on his cigarette.

You followed the strange man, he seemed to be slowing even more.

"You need to stop." you called to him.

"Why we're almost there." he said starting to climb the steps to an abandoned building. 

You looked up at the dirty, busted windows, "is it safe in there?" you asked.

He laughed at you, "as safe as we need." He said.

"We?" you questioned, lending him your shoulder for the support you helped him up the stairs, looking down at his wound.

"You're bleeding more." you murmured.

The man opened the battered metal door and hobbled inside with you.

It looked to be old butchers, you were unsettled by the various rusted meat hooks.

"It's empty." you whispered, "and creepy....are you sure this is where you were headed, guy?" you questioned.

The man chuckled, "first off My name's not guy, it's Axel" he said.

"And second, Kali drop the tricks, She's cool for now!" He called out, Axel's voice bounced off the walls in an echo.

"Are you sure?" A smooth voice called, when out from a room that looked to be an office came a short girl with a deep purple mane of hair and dangerously sharp dark eyes.

"She pulled me out of their clutches, so for now. She's cool." Axel said wincing.

A woman with a mass of thick kinky hair strolled lazily towards the three of you.

"Jeez Axel, you fuck up, look what you did to yourself." she sighed, examining the blood stain growing on his shirt. 

"Ah! Damn it, don't touch it, Mick!" Axel barked.

You would have giggled if the intense gaze of Kali hadn't been so frightening. Kali's eyes narrowed as she walked closer.

"Who are you?" she asked, her accent foreign.

"I-I'm ___." your words fumbled.

"Relax, kid." said a large man with a thick black braid growing out of the back of his otherwise bald head.

"____ who?" Kali asked.

"McKinney." you answered quickly.

Mick took Axel's weight from you and helped him hobble to a table, while Kali circled you.

"____McKinney, from where?" she asked.

"Um.... Indiana..." you mewed, feeling fear rise in your chest.

Kali froze, "Indiana." she hissed, flipping a switchblade out, she pointed the tip of the blade under your chin.

You held your hands up, "what did I do!" you called in a panic.

"Easy, Kal! This dope don't know nothing. I wouldn't have led her here if I thought otherwise." Axel called out.

"It's just a coincidence," he added.

"Why are you here?" Kali asked.

"I, I heard something in the alley and found, Axel and then-"

Kali closed her eyes in frustration, "Not that!" she growled, her eyes opening again.

"Why are you here in Pittsburgh." she asked more clearly.

"Oh, right - my friends and I were here for the concert." you said.

"They're probably worried...." you whispered, guilt filling your words.

"The Motorhead Concert?" The large man asked with a grin.

You gave a timid nod. 

"I bet that was good," he said.

You managed a small smile at his gentle tone, "it was pretty amazing." you replied.

"Stop making friends, you'll get attached, and we might need to get rid of her." Mick muttered while patching up Axel's wound.

You gulped, and your fingertips ran cold, "get rid of!" you gasped, backing away.

"I didn't do anything." you reasoned.

"I helped." you added quickly.

"You've seen us, you've seen where we are hiding. And you could tell someone." Kali reasoned. 

You shook your head, nearly shouting, "if I wanted to do that, I would have told the officers that, Axel was hidden behind the trash!"

"Leave her be." Axel grunted, swatting Mick's hands away and getting to his feet.

"Look, I can handle her myself if she's a rat. Yeah?" He said.

Kali eyed you up and down. Crossing her arms, she glared.

"You feel....wrong." she said to you.

You drew your head back and asked "wrong?"

Kali turned her back to you and headed back towards the office.

"Keep her if you want, but we will have to find out what to do with her before people come looking." Kali said.

"Can't I just go back to my friends?" you asked, looking around.

"Not tonight, the streets will be hot." said the large man.

You could feel real tears sting your eyes as anxiety rose throughout your body.

"Hey," The large man called, heading towards you.

He knelt before you and smiled kindly. "You'll be fine if you do as we say, alright?" he asked.

You gave a nod, "what the hell does that mean?" you thought.

"They call me Funshine." He said.

You glanced between Funshine and Axel skeptically, "I can always...just offer..." you thought to yourself, unzipping your vest all the way.

"You can do what you want with me if you let me go." you murmured quietly, voice hollow.

Axel and Funshine looked at each other, mortified.

"Ey, I know we look pretty sketchy, but we ain't those type of guys, sugarplum," Axel said, shaking his head.

You kept your head low, "I wouldn't tell anyone if it'd get me home faster." you continued.

"It's all I've got to offer. Ransom won't work, my family won't pay." you said, voice trembling.

"How could you be so stupid." you cursed yourself silently. 

Axel looked to Funshine again.

"Who the hell did a number on you?" Mick asked from her seat, where she calmly puffed on a cigarette.

You finally looked up. "I just want to see my friends again," you said, a frown forming on your face.

"He won't forgive himself otherwise. He's like that," you whispered.

Axel smirked, "oooooo" he sang teasingly, "he?"

"Leave her alone, Axe." Funshine warned.

"Aw come on, I'm just curious." Axel hummed.

"Cute little Sugarplum's got a boyfriend! We should know, we might have a fight on our hands." Axel mocked.

You fell silent, it seemed like talking wasn't helping you any.

Mick tilted her head, to a nearby chair, "have a seat, you look beat." she offered.

You quietly did as you were told, moving carefully. you slowly sat down at the table and rested your head on your arms.

"Thank you." you sighed.

Mick shook her head, "this girl is not dangerous." she thought.

"You thirsty?" Mick asked.

"Look at you being a softy." Axel chimed, walking off.

"Shut up." Mick shot.

"The girl is a whipped dog. We can chill." Mick said.

"Whipped dog?" you thought bitterly.

Mick laughed quietly as she noticed the annoyed glint in your eyes.

"Strike a nerve? Offering yourself up like that, you're someone's dog." Mick said.

You lowered your gaze and fell silent again.

"God, is it that obvious." you thought.

Mick frowned, part of her wishedyou would protest.

"Here you go," Axel said holding out a bottle of water.

"Thanks." you said taking the water and quickly drinking it.

Axel took the chair across from you, "well there's no sense sitting in mind-numbing silence," he said slowly grinning, "how about a game?" he asked.

"Does she look in the mood for a game?" Mick barked.

Axel shrugged, "what do you say? Poker? " He asked.

"I've never played," you answered.

Axel watched and blinked several times, "it's real boring out there in hicksville ain't it?" He asked, watching Funshine join them at the table.

You shrugged, "depends on who you are I guess."

"Ok, fine, go fish?" Axel asked.

"I'm not a child," you said flatly.

Axel gave you a sly smile, his eyes looking you up and down. Yet it wasn't with the pure hunger you'd faced before and mildly flirtatious.

"So how old are you then?" he asked.

You side glanced, "eighteen." she grumbled.

Axel's eyes shimmered.

"No, Axel." Mick said firmly.

Axel rolled his eyes and started to deal a hand.

"A guy gets tired of looking at two of the same old, bitter women every day." He muttered sulking. 

Funshine laughed, "what are we playing?" He asked.

"Spades." Axel pouted.

"Can I.....sit this out?" you asked.

"Sure kid." said Funshine watching your eyes droop.

The thoughts in your head were of Eddie's face.

"Hopefully I can go back soon. Or Amy and Robin will skin him alive." you thought as she heaved a tired sigh, "if he doesn't skin himself."

Axel watched as your eyes closed, and your breathing became less rigid. Laying down his hand, so the other couldn't see it, he removed his large tattered blazer.

Walking around to your chair, he draped it over your shoulders. 

"Consider it a thank you." He said quietly before returning to his seat.

With his elbow on the table, he rested his cheek in his hand.

"All joking aside, she is kinda cute though, isn't she? Like a puppy." He asked.

"I said no." Mick warned him.

"Lay off, we're sending her on her way, anyways." Axel shot back as they continued to play.

From within the office room, Kali looked out the windows into the main area, watching her crew play cards. Her eyes were glued to you as you slept.

"Why does the air around you feel so familiar?" Kali questioned quietly.

She didn't like it, it was both oddly comforting and disturbing. The way the air felt in that bright white room painted in vibrant designs of a storm's passing and when he would visit her there.

Deceptively gentle blue eyes filled with bitter fire came to Kali's mind, causing her to shudder.

However, her friends seemed to feel comfortable with your presence, and they had become well aware of when someone was a potential enemy.

They should have, after so many years on the run, after so many years of hunting and being hunted.

Kali folded her arms and cocked her head as she studied you. As you breathed in and out, Kali could almost feel the air around her move in the motion of your breathing.

As if each release of air moved the world around them. An unseen ripple.

"What are you?" she wondered, "you don't feel like one of us." she murmured.

Resolving, in the back of her head, she would have to check your wrists in the morning.

Trying to push her thoughts back, Kali walked to the cot made in the corner of the old office and laid down to try and find some rest. She would trust the protection of their hideout to Mick and Funshine.

Back at the 7elven, Eddie pushed away from where he leaned against his van.

"That's more than fifteen minutes." he muttered, climbing into the driver's seat and starting the van.

"We're riding around to look now," he said, peeling out of the parking lot and driving up the alley.

Jeff, Gareth, and Scott looked out the windows for clues, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary for an alleyway.

"Nothing down here, maybe check the street? She could have wandered and got lost?" Jeff offered in a question. 

"You sound unsure," Gareth muttered.

"I'm just trying to hand out ideas." Jeff sighed.

Eddie gripped the steering wheel tightly, his eyes scanning every side of the road and sidewalk. His heart thumped uncomfortably at the thought of you wandering about in the dead of night, in a strange city.

In a small black car hidden under a busted streetlight, a woman peered through tented windows.

"They've been separated, from the target. She's with the agitators, they've seemed to have gotten away." she spoke into a ham radio on a private signal.

"Track her, and prepare the Chameleon. I want word sent to cast the lure for the Bauman girl. If we do this right, We will have the last piece to power the Taran. Our friends in the north will be pleased." a voice said over the radio.

"Yes sir," The woman responded, turning to the man in the car with her, she gave a nod.

"Make the call," she said. He wasted little time switching on his walkie.

When everything fell silent, you peeked one eye open and glanced around the dark room. you could hear a door open and close, and faint snoring came from across the room. Mick had fallen asleep on a small cot.

"Funshine must have gone outside," you thought.

Your one-eyed gaze falling on Axel, he was sleeping in the chair, his feet kicked up on the table as his head leaned backward, mouth hanging open.

"Probably to patrol. I could probably find a way out if I'm quiet." you thought.

Quietly removing the coat, you dropped it lightly to the floor. Careful not to make too much nose as you pushed out of your chair, eyes shifting between Mick and Axel.

"Ok, nice and easy, just take your time. You remember the way back." you told yourself silently.

Backing away from the table, you looked at the back door you'd heard close.

"He can be fast for a big man, I could probably make it out a broken window." you thought.

Studying Axel and Mick once more, you found that they seemed sound asleep. Turning your back to the table, you quickened your pace to the window.

Looking both ways of the outside, you took hold of the window seal, the glass had been broken for many years the frame was smooth but rusted.

Preparing to pull your body up and out, you felt something cold and sharp to your throat.

"Come on, sugarplum. Be smarter than that." Axel's voice whispered behind you.

You pulse quickened, "Don't make me cut you. I'd rather not." he said quietly.

"I... I need to get to my friends." you whispered.

"Yeah? So trust us. Believe it or not, we ain't in the habit of killing everyday people." He said.

You felt a chill down your spine, "but you do kill people?" you asked shakily.

"Only those that deserve it." Axel whispered.

"I won't ask again, sit back down, close your eyes, and go back to sleep," Axel warned.

You found your feet didn't want to move.

Axel sighed and removed the blade from your neck, "better? Now move." he pushed.

"Maybe I could knee him and run?" you thought, glancing at Axel.

But in that time he took hold of your shoulder, and shoved you towards the table.

"I swear to god you'd better not make me hurt you." He whispered.

You turned to look back at him.

"I said please." He said.

"When?" you whispered.

"It was implied." He shot back, taking his seat in front of you again.

You sat back down and sighed, your eyes never leaving Axel.

"How's a guy that tall and in those clunky boots move so quietly?" you questioned in your mind, shutting your eyes.

"I should have known it was a stupid idea to try running." you thought.

The sun began to rise and the guys of Corroded Coffin were sound asleep in the van, each leaning against their posts at the windows.

All but Eddie that is, pulled back into the 7eleven parking lot he leaned against the steering wheel glaring into the empty alleyway.

With heavy tired eyelids, Eddie tried his best to stay awake, guzzling down his fourth cup of the strongest coffee the convenience store had to offer.

"It tastes like crap." Eddie thought, reaching for the now cold coffee and taking another long sip.

Leaning his forehead to the wheel, he sighed and let his body relax for a moment.

"What's happened to you now." He thought.

"Did you sleep?" Scott asked, waking from the front seat.

Eddie shook his head, gazing down at his shoes.

"I think... I think we should go to the police." Eddie said, a hand around his stomach as it squirmed from the cold, bitter coffee. 

"You ok?" Scott asked. 

"Yeah, it's just...way too much coffee." Eddie groaned, rubbing his stomach.

The twisting inside turned into a bubble, and Eddie quickly hopped out of the van, rushing towards the nearby trashcan.

His body purged the bitter liquid out of his stomach.

Scott shook his head and watched his friend from the van.

"How's he doing?" Jeff asked.

"Not good." Scott murmured.

"Dude, he's puking." Jeff pointed out.

"Yeah Sherlock," Scott sighed shaking his head, "too much Coffee, probably a bit of nerves too." he added.

Eddie wiped his mouth and stood up, his eyes falling on a black car across the street. As Eddie stared at it, he couldn't shake the bad hair-raising feeling.

Taking one last look at the car, Eddie jogged to the Van.

Closing the door, Eddie murmured, "That car is giving me the creeps."

"You're just paranoid." Jeff reasoned. 

"No, it feels like someone is in there watching." Scott agreed.

"That creepy thing still there?" Asked Gareth.

"How long has it been parked there?" Eddie asked.

"About three or four hours. I went to take a leak and some guy was snapping pictures of the area." Gareth said.

Eddie started the van, "let's move somewhere else, I don't like the looks of that car." he said.

Meanwhile, in the abandoned butcher building, your eyes fluttered open.

"Wakey, wakey." Axel's voice chimed.

"Kali said to let her sleep." Mick stated flatly.

"But it's been hours, girls get weird when they get hungry." Axel muttered, rolling his eyes.

"Last thing we need is for her to wake up raging at us." He added, setting a hot styrofoam bowl of noodles where you had your head resting.

"What?" you questioned sluggishly, rubbing your eyes. 

"Breakfast, sleeping beauty." Axel lulled.

You looked down at the bowl and raised a brow.

"Instant noodles." you murmured.

Looking up at Axel and then to Mick. Mick hid her eyes with her hands, "You're a moron." she murmured.

"Look, beggars can't be choosers, we need another store run." Axel shrugged, passing you a baggie filled with a plastic fork and folded napkin, the sort of thing you get at some fast food places.

You could feel the acidic burn of your empty stomach and took the packet willingly.

"Thank you." you said, tearing it open and digging into the noodles.

Your face scrunched together after the first bite.

"Yeah, it might be about a few months stale," Axel said.

You sighed but continued to eat.

The office door flew open and you instantly jumped.

Kali arched a brow, "what, are you afraid of everything?" She questioned.

You sank into the chair, stating quietly, "not everything, you did stick a knife in my face."

Kali gave a smooth smirk.

"Well, technically it was under your face." Axel hummed, taking a seat.

"Does it matter?" you asked.

Kali walked up to you and in a swift movement snatched up your arm.

"Ow hey!" you cried out as your wrist was flipped over.

"Nothing..." Kali exhaled, her eyes searching your skin.

Kali moved her face closer, "maybe it's faded." she thought, but there were no hints of a mark.

Dropping your arm, Kali glared at you. 

"What are you then?" she asked.

You sat baffled, "um...what?" you asked.

"What are you, if you are not from the lab. Why do you feel like -" Kali stopped herself, took a breath in, and exhaled.

"Nevermind." She sighed.

"So she's clear then?" Mick asked.

"For now, I guess so. But I don't want to send her off just yet." Kali replied, looking you up and down thoughtfully.

"You don't even know what you have in you." Kali murmured to you.

"In me?" you side glanced, "this whole group is nuts." you thought.

"So can we keep her?" Axel asked.

Kali crossed her arms, "I don't know Axel. A pet is a big responsibility, are you gonna walk her, feed her, and water her?" Kali asked sarcastically.

"Don't forget you have to clean up her messes." Mick hummed.

You frowned and quietly ate your noodles. "I'm still here, you know," you grumbled between bites.

Kali's head snapped up and looked about, "where is Funshine?" she asked quickly.

Mick pointed over her shoulder to the back entrance, "He went on another patrol, said he heard a car out back."

"Alone?" Kali asked, to which Axel shrugged.

"Like he can't handle himself? Nobody comes out here." He said.

No sooner had the word left Axel's mouth can the screeching of tires outside the backdoor. The three of them glanced at each other in panic and rushed out.

You sat stock still as you looked around.

"They just left me?" you asked yourself, eying the front door.

Hopping up and knocking back your chair and noodles, you made a mad dash for the front door, your feet carrying you down the steps and up the alley.

Back in Hawkins, Amy sat in the basement of the Creel House looking through another box of files she'd come across in the office at the Lab.

"These are all useless." She murmured.

Only able to knick the files from the upper levels, Amy hadn't expected to find much.

With her motivation cut, Amy sat in the quiet, her eyes scanning over the basement. She had to admit she was bored now in the days she spent alone.

Having left her uncle's Wing for the past three years to hunt for her sister, she'd been on her own.

Amy laughed to herself, "I guess she reminds me of you" she spoke quietly to her sister.

With a sigh, Amy got to her feet, "So let's make sure I find some new information for us." She said.

"Right after some exploring." Amy murmured, making her way up the basement stairs and into the Creel House proper.

The door took the jiggling but eventually, it popped open, kicking up a wave of dust.

"Ugh..." Amy groaned, swatting the air in front of her clear.

"Whoa, this place had a lot of webs," Amy murmured, looking about.

A beat-up convertible pulled up in front of the old mansion, hearing the engine, Amy ducked and sat against the hallway wall.

"Relax, who'd be coming here anyway?" Amy thought to herself, "alright, so maybe realtors. Shit..." she whispered, listening intently.

Outside, Angel stood on the long worn walkway to the old Mansion, a cold expression on his face as he watched the house.

"So I'm here." he thought to the voice in the back of his head.

"Why? Why the fuck did you want me back here?" He asked it, thoughts seething.

Oh, how he loathed this building, He'd wished for years that the city would decide to knock it down. No one seemed to understand the rot and taint it contained was far worse than anything that could naturally condemn a home.

He had left four years ago, and he'd hoped he'd never look at it again. Even going as far as dodging the block it was built on.

"Enter"

The voice in his head growled, frustrated with Angel's attitude.

Angel rolled his eyes, "I said I don't take orders. I'm beyond that now, corpse." His thoughts growled.

Regardless, Angel started the walk to the door.

Reaching the door, Angel tried the knob, "locked again." He muttered.

"Do you want to or should I do all the work?" Angel asked the voice.

Without a word from his inner annoyance, the door knob slowly turned. "Thank you for being useful. For once." Angel murmured. 

"I do not take orders either."

The voice said.

Angel lifted his head and prepared to meet whoever waited on the other side of the stained-glass door. 

Amy looked up at the guy before her, trying to mask her confusion.

"It's just some guy." she thought to herself.

Meanwhile, his gaze on her seemed void, "so this is why...." Angel thought.

He could feel the unique weight in the air around the girl in the doorway.

"What do you want?" Amy asked, breaking the lingering silence, "who the hell are you?" she asked.

"I could ask you the same thing, this house hasn't been lived in for well over twenty years," Angel said dryly.

He could feel his skin crawl, and something starved inside of him started to wake. Just looking at her, he could tell she found him worrying.

"Yeah, well not anymore, so beat it." Amy said quickly, trying to slam the door.

Angel slipped his foot in the way, and didn't so much as flinch. Amy looked up at him in a panic as he offered an unsettling smile, she could tell it was forced as his eyes glinted like a knife.

"You don't have to be like that, I'm Angel.  You see, I'm supposed to be meet-"

Amy gasped and swung open the door, "Your Angel?" She asked, looking him up and down.

Angel squinted down at her, "You...know me?" he asked.

Amy rolled her eyes and looked him over one more time.

"You kissed my friend without asking, you little shit." Amy growled.

Tilting her head, she shook it as if puzzled, "She said you were pretty.... I don't see it." Amy murmured.

A new smile inched across Angel's face, "You know the little fairy?" Angel asked.

His eyes flickered above Amy, glancing over her into the mansion.

"Is this where she hangs out? Never would have thought that." He said.

"Not exactly no, not in here, or uh, up here...." Amy said with a shrug.

Angel peered at Amy, trying to mask the troubled grimace rising to the surface of his face.

"So" Angel lulled, "you're a friend of hers?" He asked, slowly stepping inside the house.

Amy nodded,  "Why are you looking at me like that?" Amy asked carefully, taking a step back from Angel at the ominous stare.

He looked her over before his gaze shifted, Amy followed his eyes as Angel shifted his gaze to a dusty forgotten vase on a small table in the hallway.

Narrowing his eyes slightly as the vase shattered into a powdery substance.

Amy jumped, watching the dust settle around the small heap of vase.

"Holy shit." She breathed, ready to defend herself as she mentally pictured the basement for a quick getaway. 

Angel's voice lent a tone like that of dry ice, "Relax. Luckily for you - I can't touch you." He hummed with bored eyes.

Amy's eyes narrowed in a glare, "and why's that, who and what are you?" she asked in a hiss.

"So I am assuming you're not from the pit." Angel murmured, looking away.

"The pit?" Amy asked.

Angel snatched up her arm and checked her wrist.

"No, mark." he sighed. "So you're a real one, and not a synthetic." Angel whispered.

Amy snatched her arms free, "ugh, freak - stop it." she ordered, holding her ground.

Angel tilted his head and closed the distance between them, "I've seen your eyes before." he said.

"I'm certain," Angel said.

Amy tore her eyes away from Angel at the sound of another car stopping outside.

After hearing a door slam, Angel too turned to listen. The two glanced at each other and flocked to the window.

It was hard to see through the slots of the poorly boarded windows, as the glass was dirty.

"Who's that?" Amy asked. 

Angel glared at the black car and the man headed up the walkway in a generic black suit.

"Nothing good," Angel murmured, carefully backing away from the window.

"We need to hide," Angel said.

"Why, we can take him, it's just one guy?" Amy scoffed.

"You don't understand," Angel said calmly, snatching Amy's arm, he led her towards the basement.

"Hey!" she shouted.

"Shut up, he'll hear," Angel whispered with bite.

In the cabin near the lake, Rick fidgeted while hastily packing a bag.

"Goddammit, kid, you sure as hell know how to pick 'em don't you." He muttered under his breath.

The curtains and blinds were drawn tight, hearing noises outside his home, Rick paused. His hand lingering over the firearm on his hip.

Rick quietly zipped up his bag and took it in hand, "it's better not to go investigate." He thought, rushing to the guest room.

Rick removed the mattress and box spring of the full-size bed, revealing a secret hatch underneath, bordered by the metal bed frame.

Stepping over the bed frame, Rick pulled a key out of his pocket and unlocked the door in the floor.

After climbing in, he tugged at the mattress to cover it up and shut the door. It wouldn't buy him much time should someone bust in, but it would buy him enough.

With a flashlight, Rick navigated the dark narrow tunnel, fashioned something like a small culvert pipe.

Rick reached down into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of note paper. On it was scrawled the hardly legible morse code message.

"The Storm is turning over the Pitts. The Fallen is in the castle. A Lure has been cast." 

"Damn it," Rick said, heaving a sigh.

"How'd these kids get tied up with each other...the odds." He grumbled.

As you made a run for it, you could hear a great commotion back at the odd gang's hideout, gunfire soon followed. Your legs came to a slow stop.

Eyes shut tight, you sighed, "It was stupid to help out the first time, it's why you're in this mess..." you told yourself.

But as the noise grew louder, you found you couldn't ignore it.

"I'm gonna regret this," you whispered, turning around and heading back.

"Who the hell are these people?" Mick asked, hiding behind a row of dumpsters with a mildly wounded Funshine.

Axel fired his pistol until the clip was empty.

"I'm out." He said, ducking low with the others.

"Kal?" Axel asked turning to Kali.

"I've got a fire around the dumpers, it will buy us some time but..." Kali glanced at the solid wall behind them, they were pinned in.

"These aren't lab personnel," Kali whispered as she looked at her crew with concern.

"I don't know who they are, but they are hard to manipulate," she confessed.

"Your illusions?" Mick asked.

"It is taking a lot more work to fool their minds," Kali murmured.

You reached the back of the building, huffing and puffing quietly before you there were three people in tactical gear standing before three dumpsters.

They seemed baffled, looking up, though you couldn't see a thing.

Scattered around them, at least five other men in matching gear lay dead or wounded on the ground. You could feel your heart racing. Glancing down the driveway, a familiar black car and a large white van were parked.

Clenching your fists, you stepped forward, "Hey! What are you swat or something?" you asked.

Kali's ears perked at the sound of your voice, "____?" she mouthed to her friends.

"Great, what's the kid going to do, she doesn't stand a chance," Mick whispered.

The three men turned to face you, their gear was intimidating and held no signs of who they worked for. But it was the fact that everything was covered, no skin could be seen beneath their clothing, even on their face. 

The men glanced at each other as if surprised, and one slowly lifted a square device, a red laser in a mesh pattern traced you from head to toe at a distance.

It reminded you of the metal detector wands used at the plant. The device started to beep wildly and then the moment a tiny green light flashed on its side, the Men aimed their weapons.

You tossed your hands in the air, "whoa wait...." you called, backing away.

"I just came to see what all the commotion was about," said you, taking a discrete glance toward the dumpsters.

You could spot Kali and her crew sneaking out from behind the large trash bins while the odd team had their backs turned.

The lights on the white van flashed on and You could see it coming towards you from the side view of your eyes.

"Shit." you thought, you wouldn't be able to move fast enough. 

Rushing out, Kali grabbed your hand but realized it was a mistake, and both of you were pulled into the van as its door opened. 

"Kali!" Mick cried out, unable to abandon Funshine he was using her to stand.

"Run!" Kali shouted as the door slammed shut, and the van took off backward out of the driveway.

"Hurry to the van." Axel said, ushering Mick and Funshine back towards the building, if they were fast enough they could reach their own van and make chase.

The guys of Corroded Coffin loitered outside a Burger King parking lot. Gareth, Jeff, and Scott stood near the van watching Eddie from a distance while he paced about in circles.

"Maybe we should just let him go to the police," Jeff murmured.

"No way, look at us. A bunch of guys out of town with one girl to see a metal concert? They'd eat Eddie alive, not only him, either. The rest of us too." Gareth reasoned.

"Well, we aren't going to find here just looking on our own at this rate." Jeff sighed.

Eddie stood with his hands on his hips as he gazed off absently into the city. Watching the cars as they passed, looking at the faces of pedestrians, hoping to spot you somewhere.

He bit his lip, the anger toward himself slowly growing.

Screeching tires came whirling around the corner.

Eddie watched wide-eyed as two different white vans chased each other. The first had its windows tinted.

A deep feeling of dread filled Eddie's core as he spotted the strange black car make chase as well.

Eddie ran for the boys, "get in, we're going after them." Eddie said.

"Why?" Scott asked.

"Just a feeling, come on!" Eddie barked.

The guys, although confused, jumped in the van as they were told.

In the giant blur of chaos you could see the green van from the window.

Pressing your hands to the window you shouted, "Eddie! Guys!"

You knew it would be of no use, but you couldn't stop yourself either as the tears welled into your eyes.

The hyperventilating began, and breathing hurt as your lungs clenched and your throat tightened. Your body trembled as the reality of what was going on started to sink in.

A number of different horrors entered your mind as you tried to think of what was to happen next.

One after another, tears started to fall and the sky above them darkened greatly.

Kali reached out and took your arm, "did you see your friends?" she asked you.

You couldn't answer.

"Hey, it will be alright," Kali called, pulling you close to her, she cast a glare at the man in the backseat with them. He held a gun, while a woman pulled out a chunky metal collar.

"What is that?" Kali asked.

You were quickly snatched away from her. You tried to struggle as the woman clamped the heavy neck brace around your neck.

"No! no! get it off me!" you shrieked, and the thick gray clouds above rumbled. 

A crack broke the sky and rain fell in a hard curtain.

Kali looked out the window and then back to you, who was now hysterical.

The neck brace beeped rapidly and you released a cry of pain. Shocks dug deep into your spin, the quick intervals of pain made you dizzy and lose feeling in your body.

Kali watched in horror as you fell limp to the ground. Blood trickled out of your nostrils.

"Wh-what did you do to her!" Kali cried out, rushing to hover over you protectively.

"Hey...hey!" Kali called shaking you lightly.

Your eyes were open, but you gazed into nothing.

"If you behave, no further harm will come to any of you, it's going to be a short ride." the woman said firmly.

Kali collected you in her arms and crawled to the back of the van, creating any distance she could between the two of you and the two oddly dressed people before you.

Out the window behind them, Two vans tailed after them.  Mick at the wheel, Axel leaned out of the passenger window with a nail gun. Closing one eye, he took aim at the tires of the kidnapper's van and fired.

"Holy shit! They're shooting at them!" Jeff shouted.

"Yeah, but that's not bullets," Scott said from his place between the front seats, squinting to see better.

"It's a nail gun, he's going for the tires," Eddie explained, but what his eyes were more focused on as they followed was the sky.

A strange light show flickered in them, like lightning shooting across the sky rather than hitting the ground.

While the rain stopped, the turmoil in the clouds remained. And in the back of Eddie's mind, he remembered the night it thundered in the distance as he held you weeping in his arms.

A shiver ran down Eddie's spine.

"What are you thinking?" Scott asked him.

"These guys know where she is. think about it, they peeled out in the same area as ____ went missing." Eddie murmured. 

"That's insane, we should just go to the cops." said Gareth.

"And if I'm right, and she's in one of these vans, and we go back now - she could vanish off the face of the earth. Human traffickers or something." Eddie reasoned.

The guys glanced at each other nervously.

"Even if that's true, what are we gonna do against people like that?" Jeff asked.

"Hell if I know." Eddie whispered.

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#reader discretion advised #eddie munson x shy!reader #eddie munson x moster!reader #eddie munson x mckinney!reader #eddie munson angst #semi-dark fic #not suitable for minors #critique welcome #There & Back Again Eddie Fanfic

[sofiiel]

.....and Episode still refuses to give the better hairstyles available to male character models as well.

One's been around for at least two years I think? if not longer....I'm pretty sure it's been longer than that.

Like, they'll make the ones that look kinda wonky if you squint too long unisex.

but the actually good hairstyles are stuck to either one gender or the other.

Users/readers/authors have all been asking for hairstyles like the one I'm glaring at right now to be added to the male character creator.

😶 look Episode you've botched the app's reading system something serious the last time I checked. For the love of god ~ Give us the voluminous curls, the beach wave, the layered wavy bob, and the faux hawk solid. please.

Could design some lovely masculine characters with those, please.

On my actual knees.

....do I have to donate for it? Commission it into reality? because I'm not against it. Would totally pay to play just to get those damned hairstyles.

#episode interactive #whinging #i'm bitching and moaning i'm sorry #but seriously

[sofiiel]

[sofiiel]

There & Back Again : xreader addition (fem/afab)

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐄𝐍: 9.4k words: (CW: some angst. mostly fluff. mentions of being lifted general corny/cliche themes.)

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"Rick!" Eddie's voice called as he entered the cabin near the lake in the woods.

He held a grin on his face with his metal lunch box in tow.

"I got your half," He said.

Rick gave him a smile, "Eddie, my boy! Can always count on you!" He called cheerily.

Taking a long drag from a blunt, Rick coughed lightly and held it out to Eddie.

"Um, no, man, I'm good for now." Eddie laughed, setting his box down on the coffee table and taking a seat in the armchair.

Eddie pulled money out of the box.

"Whoa, you sold your little ass off, junior!" Rick called with a grin, taking a seat on the sofa.

"The Hideout is good for business. Anyway, I've completely sold out, so I need a full restock." Eddie boasted.

"Yeah, I got you. Got some good stuff came all the way from California," said Rick, reaching under his sofa pulling out a case, and starting to open it.

Eddie eyed him carefully, "ah..." he hummed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I was wondering if you could kick me a bit more stock than usual?" Eddie asked carefully.

"Oh, wanna work overtime, do ya? What for? It's a risk on me, you know, if I let too much circulate around town." Rick said.

"I know, I know. I'd be careful it's just um. The Band and I kind of have a trip planned and -"

"No, nope. No way, this isn't just about your boys." Rick pushed, with a sly smile. 

Angel stirred in the guest room, hearing Rick and Eddie's voices, he quietly got out of bed and tipped to the door. Cracking it open slightly with one eye, he looked about, his eyes falling on Eddie, who started to fiddle with the ends of his hair.

"There's um, a new friend of mine, we got an extra ticket, and she's going to tag along," Eddie said.

"She's never been out of Hawkins before, not even one town over. There's so much she hasn't seen. It's her first real concert and I-"

Rick leaned back on the sofa, "you want to blow her away and paint the town red." He said.

Eddie gave a half-shrug, "yeah, you can say that. I want her to remember it." Eddie spoke in a low, shy tone and couldn't hold Rick's gaze any longer.

"I want her to think back and possibly tell her kids and grandkids about it, that time she snuck off to Pittsburgh with Eddie the Freak to see Motörhead for her very first concert." Eddie rambled.

"Jesus" Rick sang, setting down his blunt.

"How long have you known this girl?" He asked. 

"I dunno...about…a couple of weeks I guess," Eddie said.

Rick chuckled, "she must be one hell of a girl, junior, you're sprung like a bear trap." He laughed.

Eddie slumped over and ruffled his fingers through his hair, "I'm well aware, thank you." he sang in annoyance.

Angel's eyes narrowed as he remained quiet.

Eddie smiled to himself, "she likes the band, she saw us play the other night and called us amazing." he said.

"Don't gush at me kid, Here I'll double your usual stock," Rick said in false irritation.

A grin eased its way across Eddie's face, he tilted his head to one side and his eyes twinkled gratefully.

"Thanks man, see I told you, you're a great big softy." Eddie teased Rick.

"I'm no softy, I'm just a sucker for young love." Rick grumbled, taking back up his blunt and taking a long drag.

"That would be called a softy," Angel spoke dryly, stepping out of the room and coming up the short hall.

"Hello, runt." Angel called to Eddie, an icy, mocking smile faintly present on his lips.

"You feel you have to haul her all the way out of town to keep her out of my way?" Angel teased.

Eddie's smile vanished in an instant and was replaced with a frown.

"Hardly Pete." Eddie answered, voice void of emotion to match the dryness of his gaze.

"You know what they say. I have a kiss of death, Munson. No girl looks back." Angel smirked with pride, his eyes falling on the chain around Eddie's neck.

"I see you've kept it, you know what I want in return." Angel hummed. 

"She's a person dipshit, I can't just hand her over. That's her call." Eddie snapped.

"I agree with you on that one." Angel said, taking a step forward and smiling coyly.

"And what was her first impression?" he asked.

Eddie's gaze on Angel wavered slightly, "she called you a pretty boy." Eddie grumbled.

Angel rested a hand on his chest as if moved, "how sweet of my little fairy." He hummed. 

Eddie's eye twitched at Angel's words, "your little Fairy?" Eddie grumbled, looking up at Angel.

"Guys, hey! This is a zone of zero drama! Read the sign! Giant smilie face!" Rick shouted, pointing his finger toward the wall.

"A chill-only zone," he stated.

The two boys locked into a stare-down again, and the smug, snide smile on Angel's face was making Eddie's skin crawl.

"Sorry about that, Rick." Angel murmured, leaning against the wall.

"But for the record, I think ____ and I shared something rather electrifying between us." he said quietly. 

"I can feel a bond in the works, so whisk her away while you can. She's bound for me." Angel sang, pushing off the wall as he strolled past the living room and into the kitchen.

Eddie sat quietly, looking down at his hands.

"Don't worry, the boy is just full of himself." Rick sighed.

Eddie shook his head, "no, he's right. He's hard to compete with on a bad day." Eddie said with a nod.

"But I'm not known for quitting," he said, tossing a halfhearted smile at Rick.

Rick sighed and started to fill Eddie's box with new stock.

"Just try to keep me out of it. I don't play favorites, regardless of who my goddaughter chose." Rick muttered.

"Ok so... You were just listening to the band and all of a sudden you felt weird, glowy and things started to break?" Amy asked, sitting across from you in the sheet fort in the Creel basement.

You nodded slowly, "yes, but I'm not so sure that it was so much the Band as a whole. It fell in line with the guitars specifically." you recalled.

"And then all the lights busted?" Amy asked.

You nodded again, "A thick bolt of lightning struck outside the building, and then when Angel kissed me, it felt like a small shock, like static."

"It was probably from the lightning." you reasoned.

Amy studied you carefully and was worryingly quiet.

"What?" you asked with caution.

"You also said it felt like this Angel guy took the weird feeling from you?" she asked.

"It left me after the kiss. If it was because of him, I'm not sure, but he also knew taking me outside would make me feel better," you explained.

"He wasn't wrong?" Amy asked.

"No, but it could have just been that talking with Eddie made me relax and not think about what happened," you murmured.

"How long before you go on this trip?" Amy sighed, rubbing her temples.

"A handful of days." you answered.

"Well then go, I'm going to keep hunting, I'll go back to the lab and snoop around The Hideout. Maybe try and find Angel." Amy sighed.

"You shouldn't be doing all this alone," you cautioned.

Amy smiled faintly at the concern on your face.

"I'm better on my own. Fewer people to worry about. Besides, I have an ace up my sleeve should I need help." Amy said.

You looked off to the side, "we've got to find someplace better than this for you." she sighed, looking around the basement.

"It's quiet, and nobody comes around. I like it here." Amy said, kicking back on her pile of pillows.

You turned to her with an unsatisfied gaze, Amy gave a roll of her eyes.

"Anyway, come on, less talk about our possibly strange circumstances and tell me. How was the kiss other than the weird?" asked Amy.

"Angel has cold lips, for them to be so rosey." you confessed.

"Ugh, cold lips are like fish lips." Amy grimaced.

You touched your lip and could feel your heart race again, it was easy to remember what Eddie's face looked like from so close.

"Well, it obviously wasn't too awful." Amy teased.

"Huh?" you asked.

"You're clearly thinking about it, reliving it...you look like a you're doing everything you can not a smile." Amy laughed.

That smile came through timidly, "not Angel's." you whispered.

Amy sat forward, "someone else kissed you?" she asked wide-eyed.

Your smile grew, "Rughead?" asked Amy.

You gave a vigorous nod of your head.

"Holy shit, that's bold." Amy laughed.

"Not really, He was trying to remove Angel's cooties." you sighed.

"Cooties? That's a lame excuse." Amy laughed.

You sighed, "I'm glad for that excuse. It was nice." you murmured softly, fiddling with your fingers.

"Go on and gush. I'm used to it, my sister was boy crazy." Amy said, gesturing for you to continue.

"It's just," you gave a shrug, "no man ever really treated me as softly as Eddie does. I'm afraid I'm just mixing signals. I've never dated, and I've never had guy friends. It's just...the older men my dad needs me to blackmail and bribe." you confessed.

"And they are all, rough and...hungry. A kiss feels like being smothered by a pillow, and they touch you like you're not human." your voice became small as you hugged yourself. 

Amy sighed, "I wouldn't know about mixed signals, but....you should see the way he looks at you."

"Anyway, it's summer. Summer has its own sort of magic. You're going out of town with him-"

"And Jeff, Gareth and Scott." you added.

Amy rolled her eyes, "details," she scoffed.

"He's kissed you, he takes any chance he can get to be close to you." Amy reasoned.

"And your point is?" you asked.

Amy raised her brows, "you may get a date out of this." she said.

"Or a boyfriend." Amy added.

You shook your head and went to climb out of the fort.

"You're thinking way too much into this, Amy." You sighed.

"I could be, but my family, we're born matchmakers," Amy said, walking you to the window and giving you a boost out.

"You need something like this. Someone who can show you what things could be like, it might get you to fight for yourself." Amy spoke with genuine words as she peered up at you, who lingered knelt on the ground outside the window.

"I'll see you tomorrow sometime Amy, please be careful with your hunt for information," you said before getting up and going back to your car.

The following day, you exited Chrissy's house.

"Are you sure you can't stay for lunch?" Chrissy called, walking you to your car.

"I'm sorry, today's my first day for my babysitting gig and I don't want to be late." you said.

"Considering it's the test run before the real job within a few days." she added.

"No, I completely get it! Well, good luck." Chrissy said, she waved goodbye to you and headed back inside her house.

With a light frown on her face, Chrissy exhaled. It was nice to have someone else around besides her mother. Her mother didn't lay so many hurtful comments on her when she had company around.

You stopped just shy of getting into your car and watched Chrissy's back as she lingered at the doorway.

"Um hey!" you called out.

"Yes?" Chrissy answered quickly.

You gave a wry smile, "They loved the dress you helped me pick. Maybe you can help me out again. I'm going on a short trip soon, and I could use some fashion pointers." you said.

Chrissy's face lit up with a bright smile. "Of course!" she said happily. 

"I start packing in a few days," you called out.

"Just call me up then," Chrissy said, waving one more time before walking through her door.

You gave a satisfied nod, "I don't need too much help, it's only two days, and I'll probably wear one outfit, but..."

You couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness that came from Chrissy. 

"And then I unpacked the box to find my old board from 4th grade had been broken in two. I know it was Billy, but mom won't tell Neil until I have proof." Max ranted from the passenger seat of your car.

You kept your eyes on the road as you listened.

"Why'd he break your board? I thought you said it was one of your favorites?" you asked her.

"He hates me and he's mean. Billy doesn't need reasons to be a jerk, it's how he is all the time." Max complained.

"Sounds like my brother. Some guys turn into assholes when they hit puberty." you sighed.

You turned to offer Max a smile, "but that doesn't mean they really hate you."

Max shook her head, "well, Billy does. I bet your brother doesn't break anything of yours." Max shot.

You sighed, "they can break things that aren't objects. Like feelings."

Max looked up at Myrtle with a hint of pity.

"So you do have a jerk brother," she murmured.

You gave a strained smile, you didn't, not truly. Patrick had very viable reasons for his mood switch the past year or so. Unfortunately, those reasons were not something you could explain to anyone - let alone this preteen girl.

"Hey, look, let's stop talking about stupid brothers. They're clearly ruining everything," you changed the subject.

"You like to board, right? Hawkins doesn't exactly have a skate park but, I can show you where the kids go." you offered.

"Really! Awesome. Because I've been looking, and the only place close was some parking lot full of potheads." Max said.

You giggled, "Yeah, no, you have to go to the older parts of town. But be sure not to go alone, there aren't many people around, which can be a bad thing." you warned.

"I'll ask you then," Max said, turning her eyes to the road.

"I don't have any friends yet." she sighed.

"Mom's busy, Neil's is always busy and Billy is just - no." Max added.

"That's ok with me, maybe I'll learn how to board myself." You hummed.

"You?" Max laughed.

"I could, I do ballet, so I have pretty good balance, can't be any worse than ice skating." You reasoned.

"You ice skate?" Max asked with a grin.

You smirked, the look of impression Max gave you reminded you of when Patrick was little and every little thing made you 'the coolest' big sister.

"I do, for about seven years now," you said.

"Can you do any cool tricks?" Max asked as if a challenge.

You laughed quietly. "One or two."

You sat on the rubble of what was left of the old community pool. Watching Max skate her heart out in the small emptied pool.

The girl had a grin on her face a mile long and seemed to be having the time of her life.

"That one is called an Ollie!" Max called to you.

"Is that safe?" you called with concern.

Max laughed and shrugged, "As safe as skateboarding I guess." she called back.

You shook Your head, "at least she's having fun." you thought, looking up at the sky.

The sun was starting to set. "Fifteen more minutes ok Max!" you called.

Having taken Max home, you headed home yourself. Coming through the front door, you nearly dumped into your father.

"Sorry." you said quickly as he glared down at you.

You searched his face, asking, "something happened?"

"Something came up at the plant." He said pushing past you.

You blinked a few times and stared at the front door as it closed. 

"Was it just me or did dad seem....fearful." you thought, recalling the look in his eyes.

You bit her lip, "maybe Amy was on to something." you sighed, heading for the stairs.

"At least it's all giving me time off from my usual role." you thought.

After a shower and changing into pajamas, you sat on your bed drying your hair, which had turned into a wild mess as the cold water washed away any styling.

Picking up your brush, you slowly combed it through small sections. Closing your eyes to gather your thoughts as they traveled back to remember the current events of your life.

"So much is happening." you sighed.

A knock against the window caused your eyes to open.

"No way." you breathed, getting to your feet.

Setting the brush on the dresser, you walked to the window and opened it. Below, was a bright smile that put butterflies in your stomach.

"Hey, mind if I make this a habit?" Eddie called up to you.

He pointed over his shoulder, "I saw your dad leave so..." he hummed.

You shook your head and reached down to grab the rope ladder, tossing it over the window. Eddie wasted little time as he started to climb up.

The closer he got, the faster your heartbeat in your chest. Your eyes locked into his, and the memory of his kiss filled your brain.

You quickly walked away from the window, giving him space to climb inside. Eddie pulled the rope ladder back in and quietly shut the window.

"I ugh...just got back from work and wasn't exactly ready for bed." He said, turning to face you. 

"Work?" you asked, lowering a brow, "you mean your hustle?" you asked.

Eddie laughed, "sounds way cooler when you say it like that." He said.

Looking you up and down, he could see the water still glistening faintlyon your damp skin.

"Sorry, was this bad timing?" Eddie asked, slowly averting his eyes as he dropped the backpack free from his shoulders.

"N-no, I just um," you cleared your throat to fix the weird sound your voice was creating.

"Got out the shower. It's fine really." you said, reaching past him for your brush.

Eddie followed your hand and took up the Brush before you could. He held it up and smiled innocently.

"Mind if I help?" he asked.

You sucked you lips in nervously.

"It's kind of a tangled mess." you muttered, touching your hair.

"To be honest, so is mine half the time." He said, sitting down on your bed.

Eddie gave the place in front of him a pat.

"Come on, I promise I won't make it any worse." He spoke playfully.

Calming the butterflies, you walked over and took a seat. Eddie combed his fingers through your hair to move it toward him and then parted a section to brush.

It sent chills down your back as he brought the brush through your hair.

"Oh, my hair is in far worse shape than this." Eddie laughed.

"Is it?" you asked.

Eddie rested his chin on your shoulder.

"Here" he called taking your hand in his, he placed it on the top of his head. you slowly and carefully worked your fingers through his slight curls.

Eddie's eyes closed, and you could feel the quiet sigh he gave.

"It shouldn't feel that good." Eddie thought to himself.

Your fingers snagged a little, but as if used to it you instinctively worked the knots away with wiggles of your fingers, and eventually, your hand found its way free.

"It's not so bad," you said.

Eddie smiled in contentment.

"I've had worse days." you hummed. 

Lifting his head away, Eddie sat up straight and went back to brushing your hair.

"So, are you excited for the concert?" Eddie asked you.

"A little....just anxious." you answered, looking down at your hands. 

"You aren't afraid, are you?" Eddie asked.

"no...." you peeped. Eddie silently chuckled. 

"It's ok if you are, it's the biggest rebel moment you've ever had, isn't it?" He said.

You quietly sulked.

"You'll be fine, we've got you." Eddie laughed, moving to another section of hair.

You gave a nod, "that's why I'm not too worried, at least not about what's going to happen out there." you said, turning back to look at Eddie you offered a smile.

His heart beat a little harder as his eyes zeroed in on it.

Eddie looked off, and a timid smile wandered onto his face. Your smile dropped into worry.

"But I hope you don't regret my dad's wrath afterward." you sighed, turning back around, and taking the brush from him.

"I'm not afraid of your old man, ____." He huffed, watching you walk to the mirror of your vanity and start braiding your hair.

"You should be, he can be dangerous to a person's future here in Hawkins," you murmured.

Eddie drew his head back and squinted, "Well, it's a good thing I don't plan on being stuck in Hawkins forever, isn't it."

Then holding his head high with the smirk of a young lion he leaned over your shoulder whispering, "And Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens," into your ear.

"Maybe....but have you seen the nightfall?" you asked him back, looking up at him from the corners of your eyes.

Eddie's smile faltered as he spoke quietly, "more of it than you'd think."

The heavy forlorn sound made your heart ache for him.

Eddie was quick to put on another smile and back away, "I'm here now aren't I?" he asked holding out his arms.

"Your old man could walk through at any given minute," Eddie pointed at you.

"But for you, milady. Oh, for you, I will laugh in the face of danger." He said dramatically.

You couldn't fight the smile trying to force its way on your face

"Ha, ha, ha. You're a clown, Eddie Munson." you sighed, setting the brush down.

Eddie smirked, "Your pops wouldn't happen to have a fear of clowns, would he?"

You shook your head.

"Damn." Eddie sighed with a snap of his fingers.

Seeing something crawl in the tank on the dresser, Eddie did a double take.

"Holy shit, you have a spider?" Eddie said rushing over.

Stooping a bit, he peered into the glass, and Shelob peered right back.

"It's huge," He murmured.

You smiled, "that's Shelob." you said, walking to Eddie's side.

He chuckled, "of course it is." before tapping lightly on the glass.

"She likes people...would you? Would you like to hold her?" you asked. 

Eddie stood up quickly and waved his hands, "Oh no, no, no I'm good." he said.

You laughed, "oh come on, don't tell me Metalhead Eddie is afraid of a sweet fluffy spider?" you teased.

Eddie rolled his neck slowly to look at you, and his voice deepened.

"Bite your beautiful tongue, babe." He said with a slight squint of his eyes.

You found it hard to keep your breath.

"Then hold her." you pushed, reaching down into the tank.

Shelob happily scuttled into your palms. Holding Shelob out to Eddie, you smirked.

"She's waiting." you dared him.

Eddie's look of dark confidence faded fast, and his eyes filled with nervousness as he looked down at the fuzzy little creature. Many eyes locked onto him.

"Shelly, this is Eddie... He's our friend." you whispered down to Shelob while Eddie held out his palms.

Laying your fingers over his you created a bridge for Shelob to walk. Eddie stood, afraid to move as the spider made her way into his hands.

She nestled into place and continued to watch him, this caused you to giggle as you watched the two stare at each other. Each waiting for something to happen.

"You're a big girl, Shelob," Eddie murmured, cautiously petting the spider's back.

"She's oddly soft." He said, looking up at you with a smile.

"I know right!" you called happily.

"She's my best and trustiest friend. I don't know what'd I do without her around," you confessed.

Eddie looked down at Shelob, "I'm jealous. You're a lucky spider, Shelly." Eddie whispered and then carefully transferred Shelob back into her tank. 

You sat down on the edge of your bed and Eddie walked to his bag, pulling a walkman out he turned to you and grinned.

"I brought you something to listen to." He said, taking a seat next to you.

"It's um…to prepare you for the concert. It's a mixtape, of Motörhead and some songs by others, so you can get a feel for the music." Eddie stammered.

He looked down at the walkman nervously. He wanted you to like the music that inspired his life. Music held a special position in his life, it was like blood in his veins.

"It's a chunk of me." He thought, and it was a nerve-wracking thought, that you might reject it.

You walked your fingers across his hand holding the walkman and pressed the play button. Leaning his head closer to yours, Eddie stretched the headphones as wide as they could go.

You could scarcely listen as you were keenly aware of your head pressed next to his, though you tried your best.

"What do you think?" he asked.

You closed your eyes and listened, the sound of the drums made your adrenaline flow, and the strings of the guitars recharged your heart, the Vocals tapping into emotions you'd never voice.

"Straight through the Heart. Shout to the wind, How can you hurt me this way" 

They said.

You froze as Eddie's hand took yours, you wished you could see his face as the air around him felt wounded.

You looked down at your entwined hands, speaking in a hushed tone, "um... I like it, who is this?"

You needed to break whatever thoughts he was having, you couldn't stand it.

"Dio." Eddie muttered, his voice seeming far away.

You turned your body slightly and slipped your hands under his arms and hugged him lightly. 

Eddie let out a strangled scoff but welcomed the gentle embrace and the song changed. He rubbed the side of his head against yours like a kitten and returned the hug.

"You don't play fair." He sighed, closing his eyes.

"Yeah? You've got no business thinking you can be sad here." you whispered back.

Eddie smiled faintly.

"You came here for this." you thought to yourself, squeezing him lightly, "I know you did."

Eddie leaned back, causing you both to fall backward onto the bed. 

"Just for a while, can we stay this way?" Eddie whispered, never opening his eyes.

You gazed up at your ceiling, the position you were in was hardly comfortable, bodies half twisted into a hug and heads made to face the sky.

You knew eventually your legs would go to sleep hanging over the edge of the bed. However, you couldn't protest, you didn't want to.

"As long as you need us to," you replied, the music roaring in your ear and coursing through your body. 

You watched the baby spiders crawling about the ceiling in the small hole that'd become their home. Your eyes briefly glanced toward the bedroom door.

"At any moment, someone could walk in." you thought, your arms tightening again around Eddie.

You could hear something quiet inside daring them to try it, and that quiet little something was baring its fangs.

The thought made your pulse quicken. Looking towards the lamp, you grimaced.

"Should have turned it out." you thought, and no sooner had it come to mind, the room fell into darkness.

"Oh." you whispered, "How'd..."

"Hmm?" Eddie hummed sleepily.

"Oh, n-nothing." you stammered.

"It's just the faulty lights," you told yourself.

You awoke to find your head resting on something far firmer than your pillow. Subtly rocked by a gentle rise and fall. Your eyes fluttered open, and took in the arms latched around you.

"So much for a little while," Eddie mumbled groggily, his half lidded eyes peering down at you. 

You quickly rolled away, "sorry!" you gasped.

Eddie watched you from where he lay, "don't be." he said simply.

Reaching out Eddie hooked his index finger around your pinky.

You looked down at your hands before rolling one over to show your palm, letting Eddie draw aimlessly across your skin; youtwo continued to sit in silence.

"I should probably go before everyone wakes up." Eddie sighed, slowly sitting up.

You covered your mouth to quiet a giggle as you noticed his terrible case of bedhead. You leaned towards him and smoothed out his hair as best you could.

"Not looking like that, it's daylight. People will see you." you laughed.

Eddie smiled softly content in accepting the small moment. 

"There" you announce once done,

Eddie shook his head before flinging it back and forth as he had any time before during a show.

"What are you doing!" you gasped as quietly as you could.

Peering through the wild mop of brown tangles, Eddie glanced up at you. With his head held low, Eddie flashed an impish smile.

"Oops, looks like you'll need to fix it again," he sang.

You pushed him lightly, "nope, you'll have to leave just like that." you said, to which Eddie pouted.

"That's not fair, Eddie." you murmured, narrowing your eyes.

"What's not fair?" He asked, making his lip tremble, you winced as you tried to ignore the sad puppy look in his eyes, turning your head away from him.

However, Eddie moved back into your field of view, getting down on the floor he leaned against the bed to stay within your sight.

"Stop it, you brought it on yourself." you shot.

Eddie smiled briefly, "so did you." he said quickly, falling into his pout again. 

You groaned in defeat, "fine."

Eddie climbed back onto the bed and held his head down towards you with a grin, feeling like putty as your hands fussed with his hair.

He kept his gaze in your eyes, and your couldn't dare to look away. Eddie felt his heart fluttering, sucked into your pupils and under the spell of your touch.

A knock came to your door.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit." Eddie whispered, sliding off the bed like an eel out of the water and rolling under the bed.

You sat stunned for a moment at the scene, choking back a laugh.

"My parents don't usually knock." you thought, getting off the bed, you quickly kicked Eddie's bag under it as the door opened. 

Standing there was your brother.

"Pat?" You questioned as he glared at you.

"You were at Chrissy's house again? I thought I told you to stay out of my life." He raged.

"That's what you're here so early for?" you exhaled.

"I was just teaching her some Ballet. That's all," you added.

"Jason says, Chrissy's excited about her new friend, says she's trying to help you out with fashion advice?" Patrick said eyes squinting.

"I mean.... I can't help, my new friend happens to be your friend's girlfriend." you murmured.

"Yes you can, you ignore her." Patrick hissed.

"You stay away from her." Patrick ranted.

Eddie lay on his stomach under the bed, fists clenched as tight as his jaw, reminding himself to stay hidden. 

You bit your lip, "Alright, if it matters that much to you. I'll tell her... I'll find a reason as to why we can't hang out anymore." you sighed.

Patrick scowled down at you, "Why do people have to get mad at you for you to listen." he growled, leaving the room with a slam of the door.

You looked at the door and covered your face with your hands. You wanted to scream in frustration, but managed to calm yourself, turning around to face the bed.

"It's ok to come out now." you said weakly.

Eddie pulled himself from under the bed, bag in tow.

"Does he always talk to you like that?" Eddie asked, pointing to the door.

You shook your head, "no just recently, it's a phase."

Eddie glared, "Where the fuck does he get off telling you who to be friends with?" He asked, eyes on fire as he raged as quietly as he could. But still, he found his voice steadily rising.

"He wouldn't have a single one himself if he wasn't kissing Jason up the ass crack and spit shinning his shoes with what's left of his pride." Eddie went on.

"Teenage hick town wastoid tras-" you rushed forward and held a finger to Eddie's lips, silencing him. 

He released a slow huff of hot air and nodded.

"Sorry," he muttered, fully realizing he had gotten fairly loud.

You smiled faintly, "I appreciate it."

Eddie looked back at the door, fingers uncurling from his fists. He looked down at you, shaking his head.

"You don't have to take that." He murmured firmly, "You shouldn't take that shit." Eddie said, speaking as if words might shatter you.

"He's just upset." you reasoned.

"He didn't deserve your excuses either," Eddie grumbled, taking his bag he headed for the window, tossing the ladder over himself.

You leaned on the window as you watched Eddie climb down.

Looking up at you one last time, he sighed.

"If he ever pulls some shit like that again, and I'm so much as in earshot." Eddie shook his head, "I'll tell him just where he can stick it." he warned.

"See you later, Eddie." you called, unsure of what else to say.

"Yeah, take care of yourself." Eddie sighed, hopping down the rest of the way, allowing you to pull the ladder back in.

From that morning on, the days passed quickly. The quiet and lack of tasks from your father had you unsettled. Not that you would ask for it, your mind and body were thankful for the break.

However, with him rarely returning home until the small hours of the morning and then gone as soon as the day broke, you started to worry.

No word on the mutant dogs, no word from the cops. An uncanny calm seemed to be looming over Hawkins, as if silently waiting for its moment to sound off. 

You sighed, inward jitters refused to let you stand still.

You stood in the shade, waiting patiently by the Palace arcade, with Amy at your side.

"Relax," Amy said with a tiny smile.

"You need this, and by the time you get back. I bet we have lots more answers who whatever Hawkins seems to want to hide." Amy reasoned.

You looked down at her, "I never would have thought you're so level-headed." you said.

Amy smirked, "I know it's pretty scary, huh?" She laughed.

You pulled your car keys out of your pocket and held them out to Amy.

"Only drive it if you absolutely need to, otherwise. I parked it near the station.  Should you ever need a place to hide." you said. 

Amy took the keys, "bet, thanks." she said.

Looking up, Amy nodded towards a Van that pulled up to the sidewalk.

"They're here for you." she said.

You exhaled and tried to shake your remaining nerves. An overwhelming mixture of excitement, anticipation, uncertainty, and self-doubt. 

"Will you tell Chrissy I'm sorry for not calling to tell her. That I said nevermind?" you asked.

Amy gave a nod before smirking. "Who do you think told me what to do when you had me advise you on what to wear?" Amy laughed.

You looked down at Amy surprised, "the girl knows about troublesome family and your whinny little shit of a brother." Amy hummed, giving you a light push forward, seeing Eddie hop out the back of the Van.

"He's waiting on you," she whispered.

You nodded and started walking to the Van

"You ready?" Eddie asked you, grinning wide as he took your backpack.

"That's seriously all you've got?" Jeff asked, having hopped out to help.

"Um yeah, it's just two days?" you questioned. 

Jeff held out his arm and brought you into a stiff hug, "best girl ever." he said before returning to the van.

"You bring her back in one piece, Rughead, or I'll hunt you down like one of those damn dogs." Amy called out.

Eddie rolled his eyes, "later. Much. Weird girl." Eddie called back dryly.

You waved goodbye to Amy and climbed in the van, Eddie behind you.

"You're gonna love the show, ____." Scott said with a pleased grin from the backseat. 

"The seats are super close too." Gareth said, abandoning the passenger seat, while Eddie lead you by the hand to the front.

"Really?" you asked taking the seat.

"Yeah we aren't right up to the stage, but it's in the standing area." Jeff said, clearly excited about it as well.

Eddie started the van up and pulled away, You waved one last time to Amy.

"Yeah, you'll have to be careful though, stay close, wandering into the center can be hectic." Scott said.

"Why?" you questioned.

"That's uh…where the circle is." Eddie explained.

"Circle?" you asked again.

"It's for moshing, it's where fans go dancing," Gareth said.

Your eyes sparkled, "I like to dance, what's so bad about it?"

"They do so very roughly." Jeff muttered.

"Trust me, for your first concert, if a mosh circle forms you stay close to me and stay off to the sides alright." Eddie warned.

"People sometimes get hurt, it's usually not on purpose, it's just very…contact orient, thrashing about to the music, the harder the music goes the harder the fans go." said Gareth. 

"Oh" you exhaled.

"Then there's always some guy who snuck booze in, got pissy drunk, gets mad that someone bumped him a little too hard, and starts swinging," Eddie said.

"Punching?" you asked wide-eyed.

"It's rare that he doesn't get escorted out or have the crowd push him out instantly." He added.

"You'll be ok, just stick with me, or find the guys. There are ways to get out of the pit if you need to in a hurry." Eddie reassured.

You gave a nod, "don't worry, I'll be as close as a shadow the whole time." you said.

Reaching past you two and up to the stereo, Jeff turned the music up, til it shook the van.

"WHOO!" he called out.

"Road trip baby!" called Gareth.

You laughed at the boy's excitement.

"Pittsburgh, here we come!" You called out.

"That's the spirit, lady Tinúviel." Scott chuckled.

Before long, you could see a signpost up ahead, and the words painted onto its brown surface made your heart beat faster.

"Wait, wait, slow down," you murmured to Eddie, almost drowned out by the three rowdy boys in the back seats.

Eddie pulled the Van to a crawl and turned to you.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

You kept your gaze on the sign and Eddie followed it. 

"Leaving Hawkins." it read.

Eddie smiled, "I knew it." he hummed, leaning in your direction. "You're scared."

"I-I'm not...I just." you sighed heavily,

"If I cross that invisible line up there, It'll be the farthest away from my family. From this place, that I've ever been." you murmured.

"What's this? Cold feet?" Gareth chimed, turning his attention to you both.

Scott laughed and rested a hand on your shoulder.

"Come on guys, be easy on her, it's a big step." Eddie said.

"Of course it is, very dangerous business, isn't it?" Jeff hinted.

Scott gave your shoulder a pat, "You'll step out unto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to." Scott said.

You gave a sheepish smile as you turned to Eddie, "You told them?" you asked.

"It's not every day you find a girl who's into nerd shit openly around here, of course, he did." Jeff chuckled. 

"The greatest adventure is what lies ahead!" Scott sang.

Eddie chuckled quietly.

"Today and tomorrow are yet to be said" Gareth jumped in.

"The chances the changes are all yours to make!" Jeff belted dramatically, causing you to laugh. 

"The mold of your life is in your hands to break." Eddie sang, sweeping his hand out towards the Hawkins sign.

The Van lingered on the brake, inches away from the crossing.

You shook your head, "Alright, fine, go." you laughed.

Eddie smirked, pleased with himself and his boys.

"Great job guys!" Eddie called back to them.

"Onward!" Jeff called out.

"We ride!" Gareth hollered as Eddie lay his foot heavily on the gass tearing up the road. 

You desperately griped your seat, "Wait, not so fast! Eddie! My seatbelt!" your cries echoed into the dark early morning with the laughter of the boys.

You stirred, unure when you'd fallen asleep.

"Good, I was bored as sin." Eddie said, eyes glued to the road ahead.

You sat up in the seat and rubbed your eyes.

"I haven't slept that good in years." you yawned, stretching out your arms, an arm going out the window to feel the breeze as the van moved up the open road.

"Actually...that's a lie," you murmured, recalling how peaceful the night in Eddie's arms had felt. 

Eddie glanced at you, "you just needed to get away. Some room to breathe." He said, eyes stuck to the horizon.

"Breathe the fresh air, my friend. No more lung-crushing pressure, Because out here nobody knows you, nobody knows how much you can take, or how much they can take from you. No expectations, no requirements." Eddie lulled as he glanced at you briefly.

"Outside that hellhole, you're unknown for now, you can be anything and anyone you want to be." He said.

You watched him as if entranced.

"I'm the girl who rolls with the leader of the band." you said with a smirk.

Eddie laughed, "That you can be." He said.

"I'll be happy to have you as my little dancer." He chuckled.

You smiled and turned to look at the sky, bright blue with thick white clouds cruising by. 

You exhaled and rested your elbow out the window.

"I'd love to just go and chase the skyline wherever it leads me someday. Walk, ride, sail, fly it wouldn't matter just following it in whichever direction calls me," you confessed quietly.

"New people, cities, places, sounds. Collecting memories." Eddie said, "Touring is the perfect way to see it all." He said to you.

"That's why I hope Corroded Coffin can really go places," Eddie said.

"You guys have a real passion for your music, It shows in the way you play." you stated.

"All of you just get lost somewhere when you play, but you're lost together. I've not seen or heard a band so in tune with each other. Your instruments are like extra appendages, you play them like your vocal cords. They speak for you." you went on.

"You're gonna make me blush at this rate," Eddie said in a bashful laugh, he relaxed against the steering wheel.

"But it's true, and you're still in high school. Can you imagine, in two or so more years, where you'll be?" you asked.

"I know you don't hear yourselves the way the audience does. I wish you could." you said with a smile.

Eddie made a small noise as he held a fist to his mouth, hiding his face in his hair.

"Well, shit." He hummed before laughing.

You looked at him, eyes crinkling into a smile, "oh my god are you blushing?" you asked.

"Shut up, alright, I told you didn't I?" Eddie said, his voice flustered.

"Aw" you sang.

"Stop it." Eddie playfully grumbled.

Reaching out you lightly swept his hair out of the way, and behind it, you spotted the rosiness of his cheeks.

"Oh, you are!" you gasped.

"Shut up, you'll wake the others," Eddie said quietly.

"Too late, I wanna see!" Jeff called, peeking around the driver's seat.

"You look like a strawberry, man." Gareth yawned.

"Nobody asked you, man!" Eddie nearly shouted, the blush only getting worse.

You giggled quietly, slipping slowly into a laughing fit as you held your stomach.

"Oh god, she's gonna turn blue soon," Scott called.

"Seriously, ____, air take it in!" Jeff called out.

You waved a hand as if to say you couldn't as your laughter continued.

Eddie looked at you quickly with a playful leer. With his eyes back on the road, he leaned over as far as he could and planted a kiss on your cheek.

With a gasp, your laughter twisted into a series of coughs.

"Oh my god." you gasped.

Eddie back in his seat held a victorious smirk. "That serves you right." He said.

You glared at him as your cheeks started to warm up and your stomach swirled with a whirl of fluttering.

"Nice" Gareth said sharing a high-five with Eddie.

You continued to leer at Eddie.

"You enjoy it, I-I've got a secret weapon for payback, and you won't know when it's coming." you stammered.

"Oooh payback you hear that Eddie?" Jeff teased.

"I did," Eddie said leaning towards you whispering "and I'm quaking in my boots."

"Be that way." you shot, crossing your arms and turning to face the window.

Eddie chuckled, "alright, alright, we'll lighten up." he said.

"Alright guys, hurry it up, we don't have long before the concert." Eddie called, shepherding the group into a convent store. 

"Stocking up on munchies!" Gareth called, rushing to the snack aisle.

You stood behind Eddie quietly clutching your backpack to your chest.

"I need to change," you said, eying the bathrooms cautiously.

"Well now is your chance," Eddie said, holding his arm out towards the bathrooms.

"Um..." you murmured, "is it ok? I mean....this place looks a little...suspect." you whispered, to which Eddie laughed.

Grabbing your shoulders, he pushed you over to the bathrooms playfully.

"Nothing can happen to you here, alright. There's four of us on guard. The bathroom might be kinda nasty, but that's it." He said.

You glanced over your shoulder at him.

"For real, if someone bothers you, just call. You're fine here." Eddie reasoned.

You gave a nod and went inside.

Only one of the two stalls was in working order, you quickly seized the stall, hanging your backpack from a hook inside the door, and pulled out a fresh shirt.

You looked at the shirt you'd picked up from the printing press the day before.

"I hope it's ok, I'm not exactly an expert on Band shirts...." you thought while slipping it on.

You then pulled on a leather vest Amy had pinched and zipped it up to hide the shirt.

"I hope this surprises them." you thought, taking hold of your backpack and walking out of the stall.

The bathroom lights flickered and your heart dropped.

"No not here too," you thought biting your lip.

The light flickered off and you stood in the darkness, clutching your bag.

"This isn't happening," you whispered, shutting your eyes tightly.

"Please." you hummed.

Opening your eyes and looking around, strange particles floated around you, and vines slithered slowly across the ground.

"Shit." you whimpered, backing away from the door as the vines reached from under it.

You backed up until your back bumped into something strange, it moved along your back like worms but stood solid as a wall. Holding your breath, you turned slowly to face it, eyes locking with a haunting milky blue gaze.

Dead or alive, you couldn't tell what he was, but his gaze kept you frozen, your throat tightening as if being strangled.

The thing's large, spindly hand reached out and lightly held the side of your face.

"She will lead you back." He said.

"T-that voice." you stammered.

"You aren't the boy, but..." you cried out in pain as your head felt as if it would implode as if being filled with air like a balloon.

A sharp shock flew up Eddie's spine as he turned to the Bathrooms, "____?" he questioned, a faint scream lingering in his ears.

Looking around, it seemed as though no one else had heard. Walking with careful steps towards the bathroom, Eddie knocked lightly.

"You ok in there?" He asked.

With no reply, Eddie knocked again, "____ come on you in there?" He asked, but silence lingered.

Eddie looked up at the door and then back at the others before entering.

"Jesus, McKinney!" he exhaled, rushing to you, finding you kneeling on the floor clutching your head, your body trembling faintly. 

At his touch, your eyes flew open, filled with tears as you looked up into Eddie's face.

"Eddie?" you questioned.

Eddie nodded and opened his arms as you fell into them, gripping at his shirt as you hid your face in his shoulder.

"Y-yeah, I'm here...what happened?" Eddie asked quietly.

"I don't know, it- it happened again." you choked.

"My head..." you whispered.

Eddie grimaced as an odd tingling sensation seemed to radiate from your body. 

Rather than pull away, Eddie held you tighter.

"It's ok. you're probably just overwhelmed by everything right now." He reasoned.

You shook your head, you wanted to tell him of the things you saw, of the flickering lights and how the world around you turned into some infected thing. Of the walking corpse.

"He'll think I've lost it." you thought to yourself. 

Eddie knelt there with you, quietly stroking your head until you settled down.

"You know..." you mustered, trying your best to be convincing.

"You're probably right. I-I'm sorry for being such a basketcase." you apologized in a quiet murmur.

"Don't be, it's that cesspool household of yours that did it." Eddie spat, helping you to your feet. 

With his thumb he wiped away the tear under your eye and smiled down at you.

"It'll be nothing but a bad memory once we get you to the show, alright. Just hold on." He said.

You smiled and nodded, letting him lead you out of the bathroom as you stole one last glance behind you, expecting the thing to return.

"Hey, what happened?" Jeff asked, looking between you both with concern.

"Ah, nothing," Eddie spoke carefully.

"Let's just pay for the stuff and go, or will be late." Eddie said, the boys let it go but shared glances with each other following the two of them.

"Aren't you hot with that jacket zipped up that far?" Scott asked you as you all waded up the long line into the concert venue.

"Nope" you hummed, rocking back and forth on your heels, hands on the vest collar. 

Gareth looked between his friends, "anyone else think that 'nope' was kinda ornery?" He asked chuckling.

"Kind of? Totally." Eddie laughed, but he was happy it seemed as though you'd shaken what had happened to you.

"Whatever it was..." He thought.

You let Eddie handle your ticket as you entered in, your hand lightly holding his sleeve as he led the pack down halls and stairs to the floor behind the security escort.

He and the boys seemed very hyped, and you held a large smile as you watched them talk animatedly among each other.

The floor was crowded in the dark room, "stay close," said Eddie speaking into your ear.

You gave a nod and looked curiously around, your eyes eventually wandering off to see the stage. you were close, but there was still a good number of people in front of you.

Lost in the new sights and sounds, you were taken by surprise as the room fell even darker and the stage lights flashed on, smoke covered the stage and the amps sang before the guitars did.

Around you, the boys roared loudly with cheers, as did the rest of the room.  The band welcomed the audience and thanked the city of Pittsburgh before starting to play.

It didn't take long for the crowd to lose it, singing along and moving about.

You giggled as Eddie and Gareth sang the song at each other while hopping around near where Scott and Jeff air-guitared.

You swayed to the music and found yourrself watching them more than the stage. 

Eddie stole a look at you and smiled.

"Like this." He instructed, kneeling in a wide stance, he flung his head back and forth. His hair whipped forward and back along with the music.

You shook your head, "I can't, you look cool, I'll look silly." you called over the music.

Eddie flipped his hair back and grinned at you.

"Oh come on," he said.

Jeff came up next to you and he and Eddie headbanged together. Soon all the boys were doing it.

"Come on ____! You have to!" Scott called.

You shook your head no again, and Eddie sighed.

"Fine, then do as I do." He called out and began to jump up and down to the music, his arms and legs doing whatever came naturally as he bopped his head to the beat.

"Not that bad, right?" He asked.

You hesitantly did the same.

"There you go!" Gareth cheered for you.

"Ok, this isn't too bad." you confessed.

But for all your protesting by the time the third song came around,  you stood at Eddie's side shaking your head about.

"Yeaaah! go!" Jeff cheered.

Eddie laughed from next to you, once more playing his guitar out of air and singing.

The group suddenly felt the crowd pushing towards them.

"Oh... Eddie! Eddie!" Scott called, Eddie stopped his thrashing about and looked around, he pulled you to him as the crowd became slightly aggressive. 

"We aren't near the middle, are we?" Gareth asked, watching as a mosh circle was starting to form.

"I think...we're far enough away." Eddie said.

"Just keep a patch clear for her." He added.

The boys made sure to circle around you.  She watched them keep up well with the crowd and felt safe between them.

All was well until, "wait...wait, where'd they go?" you asked yourself.

You felt that you'd been slowly pushed about, but you never noticed you had been pushed away.

You could see a slight clearing in the middle of the floor and tried your best to keep out of the way of the wildly flailing and jumping fans. 

Your eyes grew wide as one man had a slightly busted lip.

"Ouch, that's unfortunate." you thought.

"Watch the elbow man!" Eddie called, slipping between you and another fan, blocking their elbow with his hand.

"Sorry!" they called.

"All good." Eddie replied.

Turning to you, he gave you a smile.

"How'd you manage to end up here?" he asked you.

"Hell if I know." you said with a shrug.

"Don't worry, let's hitch you a ride to safer ground." He said.

You blinked, asking, "h-hitch a ride?"

Eddie turned to a group next to him, "Hey it's her first concert, mind helping us out?" He asked them loudly, pointing his finger upwards. 

"Yeah man," one of the group called happily.

"Whoa!" you yelped as you found yourself hoisted into the air, mind screaming madly as you could feel hands holding you high.

"Strange hands on my ass! Because that's what I want to relive!" your mind shouted.

Turning your head, you saw the crowd push Eddie into the air as well. He laughed at the expression on your face. 

"Relax, they've got you!" He called as the two of you started moving across a sea of hands.

"It's like being stuck in an ocean!" you called wide-eyed.

"That's why it's called crowd-surfing!" Eddie shouted.

"Relax, together they're strong, you won't sink. Enjoy it!" He added.

Once you relaxed, a large grin came to your face.

"This is kind of fun!" you giggled watching Eddie air guitaring once more gliding across the hands of the audience, and you joined him.

Being lowered back to the ground at the back of the circle, Eddie held out his hands to help you down to your feet. Back on solid ground, you peered up at him with an amazed smile.

"That was a little amazing!" you called to him. 

Eddie took your hand and you both started to hop around to the music again.

It didn't take long for the guys to find you again, once you were surrounded once more you looked between them and unzipped your vest, revealing the shirt.

At first, neither of the guys took notice.

"Wait, wait.....what does that say?!" Gareth nearly shrieked.

"No fucking way!" Scott shouted.

Jeff and Eddie turned to see what the commotion was about.

"Holy shit. Where did you get that?" Jeff asked wide-eyed.

You smiled with pride, "I had it made."

Eddie threw his arm around you and leaned his forehead against the side of your head.

"Looks like we got a number one fan now, gentlemen!" Eddie cheered. 

"I can have more made for -" your words turned into a yell of surprise, Eddie swept you up.

With the help of Jeff and Gareth you found yourself sitting up on Eddie's shoulders.

"Oh, too high!" you screamed.

Eddie held tight to your legs, "I got you." He laughed.

"This girl is fucking amazing!" Eddie shouted to the sky.

It was as if every once of embarrassment, fluster, and emotion gathered up to ache in the apples of your cheeks.

"Sh-shut up!" you warned.

"It's not supposed to backfire!" you shouted down at him.

"what, this was supposed to be payback?" He snickered with a smirk.

"You just put me on cloud nine, what kind of revenge is that?" he asked, swaying with the music as he bopped you around on his shoulders happily.

You sighed in defeat but smiled to yourself.

"I can see the stage better up here." you stated.

"Eat your heart out up there." Eddie said, watching his friends dance about as well as the band perform on stage.

You threw your hands into the air and started to move, throwing metal signs you'd seen the guys use.

Looking up at you, Eddie shook his head, a content smile on his face.

"This isn't actually happening." he thought to himself.

"I'll wake up sleep at home, surely." he thought.

You looked down at him and stuck you tongue out, "am I doing it right?" you teased.

Eddie chuckled, "not even close, but it's perfect." he said.

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#reader discretion advised #eddie munson x shy!reader #eddie munson x moster!reader #eddie munson x mckinney!reader #eddie munson angst #semi-dark fic #not suitable for minors #critique welcome

[sofiiel]

I just discovered foodtimeline.org, which is exactly what it sounds like: centuries worth of information about FOOD.  If you are writing something historical and you want a starting point for figuring out what people should be eating, this might be a good place?

[sofiiel]

There & Back Again : xreader addition (fem/afab)

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄: 7.1k words: (CW: some angst. fluff. protective Eddie. strained family dynamic. character rivalry. canon divergent Eddie backstory.)

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"Come on let's go outside if we leave we can go get something to eat"

Jeff's words faded as Eddie took up your hand again leading you this time towards the stage.

You looked back at the boys for help.

"What's happening?" you mouthed to them.

Scott shook his head but beckoned the others to follow him as he made chase after Eddie.

"Eddie?" You questioned as you got closer to the stage, your eyes grew wide.

"Eddie wait! E-Eddie! No sto-" Your pleas fell on deaf ears as before you knew it, you were claiming up onto the stage with him.

Angel turned to Eddie with a smile showing off his canines, Eddie swung his guitar around and releasing your hand hooked his guitar into the amp.

Angel held his hand up in the air and slowly close it into a fist, silencing his band.

"Well look at this, it looks like I have a challenger, it's been some time hasn't it," Angel spoke into the mike, amusement oozing from his voice as his eyes shimmered.

Eddie rolled his eyes, "like this isn't what you wanted." He said, taking up the scarlet guitar pick.

Angel turned to face Eddie and waved his hand with a roll of his wrist as if saying "after you."

Eddie started to play and you stood frozen in place, as the crowd cheered and jeered you went unnoticed from your place awkwardly off to the side. 

Corroded Coffin scrambled from backstage trying to drag out their instruments, as Angel's band was quick to back him up to fill in the sound.

Angel faced each of Eddie's riffs with a quick answer, and the back and forth was dizzying.

Your neck started to hurt as your head turned between the two as you tried to focus. The two seemed to forget about everyone and the things around them.

"This feels personal." You thought to yourself, watching nervously.

Looking out to the crowd, you studied the wild calls from them.

"They are eating this up." you murmured.

Angel tossed Eddie a closed smile and fell into a low, almost sweet tune. It tickled your ears and your gaze wandered over to him. 

Eddie glanced over his shoulder as Angel smiled lightly at you.

The tune quickening in pace and sharpness like a battle march, almost as if a different song.

Eddie scowled and stood up straight, head held high, He gave his strings one hard pluck, a deep yet short chord.

"You've not practiced this one much...." He thought to himself.

Eddie could feel his palms sweat, but he soon fell comfortably into the song, it had been one he had written and worked on personally. 

You grinned at the levels built from the chords, and the clever sound play of the strums.

"Go Eddie go," you cheered quietly behind him.

With a smile that went from ear to ear, Eddie added his riff and looked at Angel expectantly.

Angel took his turn, again with a low but belligerent tune, it had a sort of whimsy lost within it. Like wayward spirits at play, lost somewhere with the wild things.

Eddie's eyes thinned into a glare as he cut in with his guitar, making her sing in a tune that worked in harmony with Angel's tune.

Corroded Coffin caught on quickly and worked to sound well-meshed with Angel's band. And before long, while trying to work in harmony with their rivals, they started to outshine them all together.

But the sound the two bands were making was something that left tingles in your core. Music like raindrops bouncing against the blacktop in the middle of a storm.

Or was the tingle just the music?

An odd sensation fired off at the tips of your fingers, and static buzzed in your head. It didn't hurt, but you could feel a cold pressure in your arms and head.

You squinted as your vision filled with blue and orange hues.

"What is happening?" you thought to yourself, looking about the room.

You could feel the hair on your arms rise. Bringing your hands up to your face, studying the faint glow coming from your fingertips.

A pale white light just beneath your skin.

Looking away from his guitar, Angel's eyes widened, briefly he could have sworn he saw a shimmer of lightning in your eyes as they flashed a pale silver.

Angel exhaled, his mouth falling open, now watching your fingertips as well.

Eddie stopped playing and looked over his shoulder, "____?" He questioned.

You found it hard to keep your eyes open as the pressure in your head grew, and your eyes became red as the veins strained.

You called out for Eddie as the stage lights burst, small shards of glass raining onto the stage.

Glasses at the bar shattered as well, and a few people below in the audience shouted cries over broken eyeglasses.

The musicians were quick to cover their heads from the falling bits of shards from the stage lights.

"___?!" Eddie called, throwing his arms over you and himself.

But the shards seemed to avoid the space around you.

"What's that feeling?" Eddie asked himself looking around, a clashing sensation of both being pressed down, and yet he felt distinctly light.

You groaned, whispering, "My head feels funny," causing Eddie to look down at you with concern.

Angel left his guitar behind him and walked to the two. 

A large lightning bolt struck near the window outside the building. The people screamed at the sudden fright, however, Angel seemed unfazed.

Jeff, Scott, and Gareth rushed over.

"What's going on?" Scott asked.

"Yeah, she ok, man?" Jeff jumped in.

Eddie carefully checked your head, moving his fingers across your scalp.

"I don't feel anything." He said.

"She's not hurt." Angel hummed, standing at Eddie's side.

"How would you know?" Eddie nearly spat, pulling you closer to him.

Angel paid Eddie little mind, his eyes focused on you. Holding out his left hand, he took hold of the top of your head and closed his eyes.

"What. The. Fuck." Scott murmured.

Angel's eyes wavered about beneath his eyelids.

"You don't know." Angel said, his eyes opening, he looked down at you, your eyes bloodshot as a red liquid filled them.

Angel smiled slyly and tilted his head, closing in on your face. 

Eddie's heart pounded in his chest, eyes frantically switching between Angel and you.

"You have to give the energy an outlet," Angel murmured before his lips brushed against yours.

Eddie's hand moved before he could stop himself, and his fist connected with Angel's gut.

With a groan, Angel held his stomach where he lay knocked away to the floor.

"What the fuck, Munson!" Angel groaned.

"I..." Eddie exhaled, "I didn't hit you that hard," he said with wide eyes looking at his fist.

Gareth roared with laughter as he pointed. But Jeff stood with wide eyes.

"Did you guys not see that?" Jeff asked.

Angel rubbed his stomach with one hand as he lay on his back, his other lightly touching his bottom lip, which had the numbing feeling of pins and needles.

"What just happened?" you asked.

"We would ask you the same thing," Eddie said, taking a closer look at your eyes.

"Damn...you busted a few blood vessels," he said quietly.

"Hello? Anyone? Little string of-of electricity surrounding Pete after he-" Jeff looked about to find no one was paying him any mind.

"Guess not," Jeff murmured.

Angel chuckled and sat up, "Now that's a kiss that will knock you off your feet." He said.

You touched your temple.

With an arched brow Angel asked, "Feeling better?" from where he sat.

"Yes... albeit the kiss feels unnecessary..." you said carefully, "do you know what that was?" you asked him.

Angel stared at you wordlessly, and the void expression on his face was quickly making Eddie nervous.

Nothing good ever happened when he had that look.

"Well?" Eddie asked him.

Angel smiled, "no." he hummed with a tilt of his head.

"I just took the moment to kiss the little fairy." Angel sang.

"You ass." Eddie shot.

You kept your eyes on Angel, who had his gaze locked into yours like teeth, you could have sworn the corner of his mouth was ticked into a hidden smile.

"You should take her to get some fresh air." Angel suggested. 

"But it's storming outside...the lighting strike..." Scott said.

Angel got to his feet and turned his back to the group. "It's not storming," he said, returning to his band.

The crowd below them either returned to their groups or fled the building for the night amidst the madness.

The night around you was oddly still, and buzzing with quiet murmurs of those who remained around the Hideout.

You sat with your legs dangling out of the back of Eddie's van, the fresh air did ease the constricting feeling in your arms and hands.

"You know you look pretty good in my jacket, Milady." Eddie teased, leaning against the closed van door.

You looked up at him with a bashful smile, before carefully taking off the jacket and holding it out to him.

"I thought it would help me not stand out so much," you confessed.

"Trust me, you can't just blend in anywhere." He said with a smile.

The familiar flutter returned to the pit of your stomach as you looked down at your hands.

You could remember the faint glow that had been in your fingers.

"What in the world was that." you wondered quietly.

Eddie sighed and opened the second door, taking a seat beside you. He dropped his jacket back over your shoulders and turned his eyes to the skies.

"Is Angel a friend of yours?" you asked Eddie.

He exhaled a long breath of air, "He used to be, I guess we're more like enemies than anything else these days," Eddie explained.

"We grew up together in a way and then he...." Eddie grimaced, "I guess it's easier to say he broke the bro code. But it's not even that simple." He said.

Eddie turned to you and gave a small smile, "Don't worry, he's just weird and likes to press my buttons." He said.

You ran a finger over your bottom lip, "he shocked me...literally." you muttered.

The electric feeling of touching a doorknob after dragging your feet lingering in your lip.

Eddie watched your finger slowly caress your bottom lip, his eyes glassing over as he couldn't look away.

He hadn't noticed his body lean in and down slowly.

"Maybe the lightning outside did something to the building, you all have rubber on your shoes..." you muttered.

Removing her finger from your lip, you turned to Eddie with another question.

However, was met by a jolt down your spine and a hand cupping your cheek as Eddie's lips softly landed on your own.

You could feel your stunned lungs hold desperately onto the air that filled them. Eyes wide open, you couldn't look away from Eddie's face, the eyelashes of his closed eyes tickling your skin along with the air exiting his nose.

"Pull away." Eddie's mind shouted at him, "Pull away, you'll ruin everything if you move too fast." it continued.

Feeling you finally relax into the kiss, Eddie smiled to himself, "or…you know, keep going. Way to go Munson," he thought to himself, mentally chuckling.

As Eddie broke the kiss, You leaned forward trying to keep hold of it.

Eddie held you by the side of your shoulders, a silly, dazed smile on his face as he looked down at you.

"And here I was about to apologize," he spoke coyly.

Your eyes flew open as you quickly created distance, turning your head to look away.

"Don't worry.... I thought you just needed to get Angel's cooties off you." Eddie played it off.

You stole a glance at him, "was that all?" you thought, far more disappointed than you expected to be.

"And Eddie cooties are better?" you shot back playfully.

"I'm told they taste better," Eddie replied just as fast.

He pointed playfully at you, "you're sharper than you let on. Look at you with your comebacks, McKinney." Eddie teased.

You watched Eddie and shrugged, "I don't have many people to let my guard down around. I've got an image to keep for my family."

Inching closer to Eddie, you leaned your head on his shoulder, and he could feel every nerve in his body smile and melt at once. 

Leaning his head to rest on top of yours, you both heaved large sighs, Eddie playing with your fingertips which were slightly cold even though the summer night was warm.

"You can't do that!" Scott's voice called, ruining the quiet moment.

You broke into laughter just at the sheer exasperated inspiration in his voice.

Eddie turned around to glare into the Van.

"Do what? I thought you guys were inside the Hideout!" Eddie called.

"You can't just kiss her and casually play it off!" Scott near shouted horrified.

You choked on your laughter, "Oh god, someone saw that!" your mind yelped.

Eddie rolled his eyes and fell back onto the floor of the van. Covering his eyes with his palms.

"Jesus, Scott!" he shouted. 

Gareth popped his head into the front seat, "Scott, you are ruining the mood, come on!" He called, dragging Scott out of the van and lugging him towards the back doors to The Hideout.

You and Eddie lingered in awkward silence.

"Th-there was a mood?" You stammered out a question.

Eddie chould feel his face burning, and he moved to remove his palms from his eyes.

"I don't even know anymore." Eddie muttered.

Hearing his sulking voice, you giggled quietly, laying down next to him.

"well I kissed your cheek to say thank you, so now we're even." you hummed.

Eddie removed one palm and looked at you, "that's hardly even, all I got was a peck." he said.

You laughed through your burning cheeks and whirling butterflies, "But you didn't have pretty boy cooties forced upon you."

Eddie removed his other palm and sat up quickly.

"You think Angel is pretty?" he asked with wide, worried eyes.

You shrugged, "keep in mind, the only boys I've even seen up close are my brother's jock friends who look like cavemen and old-" you caught yourself and shut your mouth. 

"You got too comfortable..." You scolded yourself mentally.

"Em...odd Keith from the arcade." you corrected.

"True..." Eddie said with a nod, he poked the tip of his nose to your temple and nudged your face, "good thing you now know me." he sang coltishly.

Pulling away, he looked at you from a small distance, flashing a toothy grin.

Your eyes narrowed you wanted to tell him he was being full of himself, but you also found, that you couldn't get over the way his dark eyes reflected the surrounding light in the night.

"You really do have some beautiful eyes," you said matter-of-factly, and Eddie's whole face flushed.

"You'd better be careful," He warned voice deepening for a moment.

You tilted your head in confusion as the smile came back to his face and he leaned towards you.

"Flattery will get you everywhere," he whispered.

His gaze then flattened, "I'm never forgiving you for thinking Pete Angel is pretty. Gross toad-faced ghoul." Eddie murmured, you giggled at his clear irritation.

As the two of you talked in the back of the Van, Gareth poked his head back into the driver's seat.

Gareth held a wide grin on his face, "Good news!" he cheered, getting both of your attention.

In Gareth's hand, he held a single piece of paper. 

"What is it?" Eddie asked.

"A fifth ticket." Gareth grinned.

Eddie sat up quickly, "serious?" He asked.

Gareth nodded his head vigorously, "Yeah, Doris just passed them to Scott, to replace the postponed concert only...they gave us an extra from the radio company!" Gareth looked like he could jump up and down.

"I'm lost." You said, looking between them.

Eddie crawled forward and took the ticket from Gareth before turning to you.

"Oh, you're gonna be more than lost." Eddie sang, waving the ticket around.

"Ever been out of Hawkins?" He asked.

You shook your head, Eddie walked across the van floor on his knees to you and held out the ticket.

"Lady Luthien Tinúviel" he said, causing you to laugh. 

His eyes lit up at your soft chuckle as he tilted his head, "Come to Pittsburgh with me? An adventure to a concert you'll never forget?" Eddie asked.

You laughed, "I couldn't..." you said with a strained smile.

"It's summer....you deserve to enjoy it. You'll only get these days once in life." Eddie pushed. 

You looked down at your hands, asking, "How long?"

"Two days...tops." Eddie said.

You glanced up at him, and he lowered the ticket.

"Right, nevermind. Yeah, with your dad... It's probably not wise." Eddie sighed.

He held the ticket up one more time, "but you have to tell me, you really don't want to go. I can always take the fault."

Eddie took on the tone of a strict father, "That wild Munson boy at it again." He said.

You smiled despite herself.

"Tell me you don't want to. I let it go. I tear it up. But I'll take silence as a no." Eddie said seriously.

Your eyes were stuck on the ticket.

"I don't know who's playing." you said.

"Motorhead" Eddie answered quickly.

"I've never listened to them." you replied.

"I've got all their music on tape and albums." Eddie said, pointing over his shoulder to his van radio.

You bit your lip, Eddie gave a sigh and motioned as if he'd tear the ticket.

"Stop!" you called reaching out.

Eddie held out the ticket, "I promise, two days, the time of your life and I take the fall for it." Eddie said.

You sighed, whispering, "I don't like the last bit."

"You're more than worth it." The words left his mouth before he knew he'd said them out loud.

You winced, "no I'm not." you state in a whisper, taking the ticket from his hands.

"But because you think I am... I'll do it." you thought.

Meanwhile, across town in the woods under the dark of night, Amy headed towards a large, looming building. Poking her head out from around a tree, she tried to hold in her shock.

"The lights are back on." she whispered.

The lab seemed to be buzzing with life, even the large satellites on the roof swiveled about and blinked with red lights.

"We were just here a few days back, and it was a ghost town." Amy thought.

"So why is it now up and running," Amy questioned.

Searching for shaded spots between all the blaring lights, she phased herself out of the woods and across the street, under a faulty light within the Lab's sprawling yard. 

Glancing around, Amy turned her eyes towards the side of the building.

"So far, so lucky. Let's see how far I can get." She murmured, fazing again near the side of the building, just below a window.

Peeking into it, Amy took in the look of the long hallway, before ducking at the sight of employees.

Her back pressed to the wall, she took a deep breath.

"You can do this." she told herself, picturing the hall, recreating it in her mind.

"Go" she thought and with it, she vanished.

Angel stood in the bathrooms of The Hideout, gazing deep into his reflection in the mirror.

"It's been so long since I've felt another one." He thought to himself, but as he looked into his own eyes, he wasn't talking to the eyes in the mirror.

Rather, eyes that his eyes mimicked, the eyes of an old friend.

Angel gently rubbed his hand over his wrist, trying to resist the urge to scratch.

"Damn thing still itches... it's been so long." He muttered.

The lights in the bathroom flickered and goosebumps formed on the back of Angel's neck.

"It's all your fault...." Angel growled, gripping the side of the sink, and glaring into the mirror.

"It all started with you!" he shouted.

The door to the bathrooms opened, and a man stood there stock still. 

"Out," Angel demanded.

"But I need to..." The stammered, pointing towards the stalls.

"Go shit somewhere else." Angel barked, turning away from the man.

The unwanted visitor didn't protest and quietly stepped out of the bathrooms.

Angel pressed a hand to his neck and released a quiet moan of pain.

"God damn it....she zapped it." he sighed, rubbing his thumb over the tiny lump beneath the skin of his neck. 

Angel flexed his free hand, he could feel the power surge as his lips touched yours.

Not just the electricity of it, but the jolt of pure energy shifting through his veins and bones. It filled every nerve in his body.

Leaning his head back, Angel began to laugh quietly, "fuck, it felt like home." he groaned.

"And yet you've sent her to him? How long have you known?" Angel asked, closing his eyes.

But the usual voice in the back of his mind decided he wanted to remain silent.

"I gave you Gail for your own ends. Why did you not give me this?" Angel pressed.

Still no answer. 

Seething, he clenched his jaw and sharply looked down, glaring knives into his own reflection.

Leaning to the mirror with his nose to the glass, Angel snarled, baring his teeth, "fuck you then. Don't ask me for shit else!" he shouted, and in doing so the glass cracked.

Angel turned and stormed out of the bathrooms. "I won't let you take this from me," Angel whispered.

You sat in your car staring at the ticket in your hands, outside of your house.

"How'd I get talked into this." you asked yourself, shaking your head.

"He's got a face that'd make you square off with a devil and a voice that could lure you right off a cliff if he called." your mind told you.

"And you're hopeless." you sighed, sinking into your car seat, and holding the ticket to your chest. 

"Pittsburgh," you mumbled, scrunching up your nose.

You laughed at herself, "Pittsburgh....with Eddie Munson, who you never knew existed really..." you sighed again.

"But he didn't know you did either," you uttered. 

"Wait til I tell Robin, she's gonna freak out." you thought, finally heading inside.

No matter how strange the night was, no matter how strange they'd been the last couple of days. The people you'd spent them with made them the highlight of your year.

Somehow it made everything waiting behind your front door less frightening.

"Why are you trying to infiltrate my life?" Patrick asked, hearing you enter the house.

"E-excuse me?" you asked, taken by surprise as your brother rushed towards you with angry eyes.

"I'm not... I don't understand." you stammered.

"Jason called, he says you spent the day with Chrissy, Chrissy Cunningham. His girlfriend!" Patrick raged.

You side glanced, you didn't want to lie to Patrick, and you certainly didn't want to while he was so upset.

"Pat, she just wants me to give her some ballet pointers to up her cheer game." you stated calmly.

"Stop trying to sound cool! Stop trying to leech off of me!" Patrick shouted.

"I'm not, I was using her words. Wait...leeching?" you asked.

"Yes, my parents, my life, and my friends. Clawing your way to make things better for yourself." Patrick ranted.

You shook your head, "I wouldn't, Pat - Look, I won't say a word to Chrissy ever again if that helps." you spoke with quick words.

"No, cause then she'll ask why, and Jason will tell her things and she'll tell him not to hang out with me anymore or worse kick me off the team." Patrick said.

"Chrissy wouldn't do that...she's nice.  I-" you took a deep breath.

"I wasn't at Chrissy's, I went to The Hideout." you confessed, peering up at your brother, eyes pleading to be believed.

But instead, he started to laugh, it was a bitter sound.

"Right, so now you're a freak on top of being lame? Do you know what they do there? Get high and torture cats." Patrick said.

You scowled, "they do not!" you called.

"They listen to music...and drink…a little. But that's it. It's no different from you hiding out in Benny's old place and seeking beers with Jason and Steve!" You raged back.

Yoou covered your mouth once you'd realized your voice had raised.

"What, afraid dad will hear you? About who you really are?" Patrick snickered.

"It's not who I am. I was there to see friends." you muttered.

"Sure," Patrick scoffed, "they aren't here anyway... Pastor Alvin's in the hospital, got mauled or something." Patrick muttered before heading off into the kitchen.

You headed up the stairs, your mind buzzing with too many thoughts.

"Just feed Shelob and go to bed." she sighed.

Eddie let the water run over his body as he stood in the shower, he couldn't stop smiling to himself.

"She came to your show, she liked it, and now we're all off to a concert in Pittsburgh." Eddie thought to himself.

Even alone, the goofy grin he knew was on his face was almost too much to bear.

"You'll make yourself sick at this rate." he told himself, "not that you actually care." he thought.

As Eddie replayed the night over in his head, he could recall how mad, Angel had made him, and then he remembered...

Eddie eyed his jeans on the bathroom floor, he could see a silver chain coming out of the pocket. He heaved a sigh. And behind closed eyes, he could see a beautiful smile and eyes as dark as his own, if not darker.

"Happy birthday Eddie."

A voice called to him, always teetering on the edge of teasing. 

"You're three days late," Eddie could remember himself sulking.

"Yeah, well, I hand-made it. It was Petey's idea. You know."

Her voice echoed through Eddie's memory.

"Then I hate it." Eddie murmured.

"Impossible,"

she said through his memory.

"Your favorite person spent hours making it...come on. Your face is twice as gloomy as the weather,"

she said.

Eddie opened his eyes and gazed at the chain.

"He won't let me let you go," Eddie murmured.

"He's taunting me."  He sighed, letting the soap rinse from his hair, Eddie held his head under the gently rushing water.

"I'm not trying to forget, I just....let me at least move forward. Please." Eddie uttered quietly.

"I swear, you'd like her. Then again, maybe that's the problem. If you would - so would he." Eddie thought.

Turning off the water, Eddie finished his shower and collected his clothes. Towel tied around his hips, he headed for his room, shutting the door behind him.

Once inside, Eddie kissed his finger and pressed it to his guitar.

"Goodnight, Sweetheart. Thanks for tonight, even if you didn't want it....you came through for me." He murmured.

Into his pajamas and settled in bed, Eddie watched the ceiling. His mind replaying the way those deep eyes of yours watched him from the crowd.

How he lured you back in with his music, and his heart skipped a beat.

Eddie lightly touched his lips, "right, just getting rid of Angel cooties." he muttered to himself. 

At Hawkins lab, Amy carefully slipped around corners and dodged into unlocked rooms.

"It doesn't seem too unordinary here." she thought to herself, but still, there was a feeling lingering in the air. 

"Then again that's what they'd want people to think isn't it?" Amy questioned herself.

Sorting her way down the endless maze of halls, Amy finally came to a strange elevator.

It wasn't anything like the other elevators she'd passed. This one was thick and of white metal.

"Bingo" Amy whispered with a pleased smile, but one problem presented itself.

"No buttons," she thought, feeling along the wall next to the large door.

You lay in bed, after what happened to the lights in The Hideout, and you felt the urge to turn off every light in your room.

There you lingered in the dark, and no matter how hard you tried, you couldn't fight the jitters that had taken over your body.

The thrill of the night had worn off, and the finer details buzzed about in your mind.

Able to think more clearly, you couldn't stop replaying how it felt with that strange pressure that had taken over.

Raising your hands, you examined your fingertips, half convinced they'd be glowing once more. You felt at your eyes, then your temples, and finally your lip.

"He shocked me somehow…or-"

You recalled Angel falling back onto the floor, the impact far too hard to have been from a punch to the gut.

"Eddie wasn't facing the direction Angel fell, either." You pondered. 

"And after the terrible feeling was gone, as if -" you stroked your bottom lip, "he took it away, took it in"  you whispered.

"But what is it?" your mind asked you. 

The floor lamp flipped on, filling your room with a warm, dim light.

The soft yellow reminded You of the orange hue your vision took on. But before the memory could settle, the light started to flicker.

"He thinks he is rebelling, and yet he has led you further on the path to home."

A deep voice echoed.

"Please," you thought, shutting your eyes tight.

"Who are you?" you asked it.

"I am you, a tiny speck of you that is the strongest part of your make-up. I am your venom and that world is not where you live, it is but an egg sack until you are ready to become who you are."

The voice said.

"E-egg sack?" you stammered.

"You're the only one who will survive once you let the wind take you away, and you will make your home here, Spiders like dark secluded places."

as the voice spoke it held a fondness in its tone.

"I will not have to show you how to survive it will come to you, and you will help me change and shape the world."

It said.

"I've lost it." you exhaled. 

"No, you're merely sleeping, ____. You will wake up in time."

It lulled.

You blinked slowly and found sunlight pouring into your room.

"I lost time," you murmured, mild panic setting in as you frantically felt around at your bedding.

"Still in my room, still in my bed." you exhaled.

"I didn't wander," you whispered. 

Angel paced about in the woods, his hands latched into his hair, his arms shaking with the tremble of pain.

"Stop it." He murmured.

"I'm not coming back. I'm not." He uttered.

Back and forth, and back again, he paced until he wore a line in the dirt.

Fingers locked tight in his hair, almost tangled, anything to stop himself from clawing. Blood trickled from raw flesh at the base of his neck, and gnaw marks marred his wrist.

"You are not my father, and I am not him. It's lies, lies, all of it. I am - I am Pete." Angel murmured.

"Only one thing quells the pain"

a quiet rumbling voice faded into Angel's memory. 

Angel exhaled slowly, trying to steady his shaking breaths.

"No," Angel laughed, his voice strained with pain.

Pulling out a pocket knife, he held it to his own neck, near the bleeding.

"I can remove it." He said.

"It's not the old model, you remove it, it explodes, and you will find the hell you claim to welcome."

The voice said to him.

Angel's hand trembled, "I do not fear death." Angel snarled.

"No, you fear leaving without a legacy."

said the voice.

Angel closed his eyes and clenched his fists as if to control a building rage.

"You have a target,"

said the voice.

"Worthy prey."

It tempted.

And a vision entered Angel's mind. He could see a girl navigating familiar hallways.

Angel grimaced, "she's one of us." Angel murmured.

"She is one who will not survive."

The voice warned.

"You take what you need from her to keep going."

It said.

Angel heaved a sigh.

"To hell with you, I'd rather wither than be a simple crawling pawn." Angel raged, turning his back on the wooded path towards Hawkins Lab and heading back home.

In a cabin near Lover's Lake, a smoke detector blared.

"Damn it! Not the chimichanga!" A man cried out in anger.

"Stupid oven needed to be replaced ages ago." He muttered, giving his stove a kick.

"What are you burning to the ground now, old man?" Angel asked as he entered the home, dropping his guitar and backpack onto the sofa.

"Dinner, you little brat." The man called.

Angel smirked and made his way to the kitchen, fanning his hand at the gathering smoke.

"Rick, Rick, Rick, haven't learned by now that you have the cooking skills of a rock." Angel mused with a lazy smile as he headed for the fridge.

Reaching inside, he pulled out a cola and started to chug it. 

"Hey, you be grateful, you'd go hungry without me." Rick said, pointing at Angel with his oven mitt. 

Angel twirled his index finger around in a circle.

"Reverse that, You'd starve without me." He hummed, looking back at the middle-aged man in the tourist shirt.

Rick grimaced, but then released a small chuckle.

"Yeah, why do you think I'm in here burning chimichangas? You forgot to leave leftovers." Rick confessed.

"You really need to stop smoking the merchandise, old man." Angel sighed, shaking his head.

Tossing his cola can in the trash, Angel made his way to the spare room.

Rick followed Angel a few paces and leaned out the kitchen.

"Heads up! Eddie will be by to pick up his next stock from me today!" Rick called out.

"I don't care, Rick. I'll be sleep anyway." Angel called, slamming the door.

You sat in the living room of Mrs.Hargrove's home, a cute little white house on a slight grassy hill surrounded by trees. The living room was modest but comfortable.

"I've been through all your references, and it seems everybody has glowing things to say about you." Mrs.Hargrove said with a pleased smile.

"And you listed here that you've been through CPR training?" She asked you.

"Um, yes, mandatory for lifeguard duty. Unfortunately, everybody and their brother applied for that job in the summer, so I wasn't one of the fortunate ones to get hired last year." you explained.

Mrs.Hargrove gave a smile, "My stepson Billy was a lifeguard last year back in California."

She leaned forward as if sharing a secret, "He hates it but likes to look at all the pretty girls." she giggled.

You simply smiled as a worry crossed the woman's face briefly.

"Speaking of which," she said, clearing her throat and sitting up straight.

"Billy isn't a bad kid, but...he's angry often and likes to test people." She started.

"You're warning me that he's going to give me a hard time?" you asked.

Mrs.Hargrove gave a nod.

"He's a jerk, he tests everybody, and he is always picking on me. He's broken my board twice in a month." Max chimed, entering the room with a box of Hi-C and a pear.

Mrs.Hargrove smiled as Max plopped herself down next to you. 

"He's not normal," Max said, looking up at you.

"I know a thing or two about brothers. Mine is angry all the time too. He can be mean, It's not because that's who he is inside." you said, turning your gaze to Mrs.Hargrove.

"Some folks don't handle change well." you murmured, your conversation with your brother cutting a fresh new memory in your mind.

"Max would be my main concern, I am sure I can defuse Billy," you said, offering a reassuring smile.

Max looked between you and her mother expectantly. Mrs.Hargrove laughed quietly at Max.

"Then I think all that's left to talk about is your pay and then... how soon can you start?" Mrs.Hargrove asked.

"Yes! This will be great!" Max cheered.

You giggled, but if you were honest, you thought Max's mother was worrying too much. For the little time you'd known her, Max was perfectly capable of caring for herself during the day.

You side glanced, "unless it's the brother that's the real problem." you thought to yourself.

"Billy won't be joining us until the end of the summer, taking his time to say goodbye to friends before he starts the school year up again." Mrs.Hargrove explained almost reading your thoughts. 

On her way back home, you found yourself quietly humming one of Corroded Coffin's songs and amused herself.

"I bet Eddie and the guys would be really surprised if I had a few shirts made." you thought.

"Holy shit, where are we now?" Amy thought to herself, lurking deep within the Hawkins Lab.

"It must be between shifts." she thought, as there were far fewer people to have to dodge now.

Everything around her felt pristine and there was a stake metallic scent in the air, something like chemicals.

"And there have been no more surges?" Amy heard hushed voices coming from one of the rooms.

It was protected by a thick metal door with a thin window at the top.

"No, Dr. Owens. This last one is the first and last, it seems. We're trying our best to track it, but there seems to be interference." a mousy voice stammered.

"Interference?" The first voice, Owen's asked.

Amy pressed her ear to the door.

"We've seen their agents in town, We need to find whoever he or she may be before they do." Owens said quietly.

"You share these findings with no one, I do not tell you, do you hear me?" He asked.

"Yes, Dr. Owens." chimed the mousy voice.

"Serge? Agents?" Amy's thoughts questioned.

Her stomach dropped, "shit..." she thought memories of you talking about a strange vehicle trailing her around town chattered in the back of her mind.

"And any sign of the boy?" asked Owens.

"No, he's hiding himself well. But it's been well over seven years." said the other voice.

"He reached out once, that couldn't have been for nothing," Owens murmured.

"We lost two more kids that day," the other voice said hopelessly.

"Was that reaching out or.... Brenner says that-" the voice was cut off and a heavy silence lingered.

"Must have touched a nerve." Amy thought, "But they mentioned kids. Are they working with Loxion after all?" Amy questioned.

Slowly backing away from the door, "There is so much more I could find out here, but..." Amy turned to look back down the path she came.

She couldn't shake a nagging feeling in her core, and all she could picture of Myrtle's face.

"I need to check on her and tell her what I've heard. Maybe her father has mentioned something about the plant or something." Amy murmured quietly, closing her eyes, she pictured the outside of the Lab and phased out.

Deborah and Callahan arrived at The Hideout, stepping over trash left from the night before. Empty beer and soda cans littered the ground.

"Wow, must have been some power surge." Callahan said as his shoes crunched on the broken glass beneath the streetlamps outside the old building. 

Deborah silently walked to the windows of The Hideout and peered inside, her eyes scanning over the interior. Glasses sat broken on the bar top and hanging behind the bar. The stage was covered in colorful shards of glass from the busted lights. 

"You sure a power sure did all this?" Deborah asked skeptically.

"Yeah, the power plant called it in last night," Callahan said holding the front door open for Deborah.

As soon as her foot stepped through the door, a metallic crunch echoed. Deborah raised her foot.

"Somebody is gonna be mad later on." Callahan hummed, looking down at the pair of glasses.

"You broke them." he pointed out.

Deborah turned her eyes upward and shook her head.

"No, Callahan.... I don't think I did." She exhaled, nodding towards the open floor where tens of glasses were left abandoned, all broken.

"What the hell?" Callahan questioned, going to investigate, Deborah not far behind him.

"You think it's some new weird party trend?" He asked.

Deborah threw him an arid glare.

"Breaking glasses?" He questioned.

Callahan shrugged, "This kinda crowd of teens are strange alright." He said.

"Yeah, I bet the same was said about you," Deborah murmured, walking towards the stage.

"Mind still stuck on the case of the deformed strays? They've not been seen in a while." Callahan said.

"Hoppers working on leads. In the meantime, there's nothing that can be done. The killing of local pets has stopped, and Pastor Alvin seems to have been the only human victim, so...." Deborah spoke as if trying to convince herself, but she still saw the monsters even in her sleep.

"Have you called the McKinney and Munson family? Have they seen or heard anything?" Callahan asked.

"Wayne Munson spoke for his nephew. Says he hasn't seen anything odd. The boy is almost never home." Deborah heaved a heavy sigh.

"And I can't get past Myrtle McKinney's father. The man's like talking to a wall or a phone recording. Anything to get off the phone fast." she murmured.

"Well, let it go, and don't let it bother you too much, we've got bigger problems. Rumor has it Reefer Rick is back in town." said Callahan.

Deborah made a face, "seriously? There are deformed wild dogs in town and you're worried about Reefer Rick?"  Deborah questioned through narrow eyes. 

"It's a big problem, they guys selling to our kids." Callahan reasoned.

Deborah shook her head and threw her arm out towards the bar.

"Yeah, you're really going to argue that one while we're standing in the middle of an unlicensed bar that doesn't check for age ID?" She shot at him.

"This is harmless, a little booze never hurt anyone. They cut them off before they get drunk. Drugs mess with a brain in bad ways" Callahan replied.

Deborah gave him a flat gaze, "yeah? I smoke the shit all through law school. And finished top of my class." She hummed.

"Yeah? Then why are you a cop?" Callahan shot back.

"Have you tried being a Lawyer? Kills you faster." Deborah grumbled.

"And I'm looking for someone..." she added quietly.

You grinned ear to ear as you left the printing shop.

"I hope that quick mock-up was enough." you thought.

Heading for your car, you spotted Amy, twigs and leaves caught in her hair as she rushed towards you, nearly frantic.

"____..." she called.

"Holy crap, Amy, what have you been doing?" you asked.

"Snooping, I got into the Lab, I thought it had shut down, but it's back up and running." Amy said, speaking quickly.

"I'm not surprised my dad says it has up and down moments. Hawkins is a small town, it's hard for them to keep two energy-based plants up and running." you responded.

Amy scowled, "I think it's more than that, that place feels wrong, ____." she said.

Walking closer to you, she started to whisper, "I heard the employees talking. They're tracking some weird power surge that happened last night." Amy relayed quietly.

Flashes of memory of your experiences last night gave you phantom sensations in your head.

Lightly, you laid your fingers on your forehead. Amy glanced up at you.

"why are you doing that?" Amy asked.

"Did," she stepped forward, "did something happen last night?" Amy asked.

You took Amy's hand and rushed to your car, "get inside, and I'll tell you" you said.

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#reader discretion advised #eddie munson x shy!reader #eddie munson x moster!reader #eddie munson x mckinney!reader #eddie munson angst #semi-dark fic #not suitable for minors #critique welcome

[sofiiel]

oh

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Post corrections/clarifications are my favorite genre of humor: a compilation

[sofiiel]

#robin coded #so robin coded

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#instantly pictured st characters #hop was panicked next stall guy in my head lol

[sofiiel]

x reader should be (and, generally speaking, often is) the most accepting fanfiction space because its consistently, and almost exclusively an expression or fantasy of being desired or wanted or wanting—or in an even more basic sense, considered. even if you dont explicitly self-insert, even if there’s a an oc thats just you but better or a faceless insert u make - it starts with the same premise. which is wanting to be seen or desired by some extension of who you are. or wanting to fantasize explicitly about a life that isn’t yours, any life but yours. its admitting more openly than other mediums—i want someone to want some part of me. to take interest in me sexually or romantically or platonically. i want this element of myself to be considered or thought of. sometimes that is accomplished through writing, and sometimes that is accomplished through reading and seeking to bits of yourself in other peoples. the other half is having space to want and yearn for something else. how liberating it is to admit that you’d like to be somewhere else.

and it is hardly a flawless medium and im really, really simplifying it but i do think that there is something uniquely enjoyable and freeing about it. i want agency in the stories i love. i want my presence to haunt this fiction like a ghost. i want to be loved, i want to be interesting. i want to experience hundreds of lives that aren’t mine. i want i want i want. this a story of you. this is a story of me.