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emily-the-fae · 2 years

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A Shard of the Sun

Henry Creel/OC

I have been happily watching Stranger Things, not having to hyperfixate on any of the characters for three seasons straight, no big fanfic ideas. No broad hcs. Then season four came...

self-explanatory. of course it's the bad guy.

This piece of text has been written in a 24-hour frenzy I have dived in after finishing the final episode and found myself at 3AM of next day with this in the notes of my phone

needless to say i'm a lover of a pretty human story

Fandom: Stranger Things

Pairing: Henry Creel x OC

Rated: M

Warnings: spoilers to season 4, angst (come on, it's Henry), but also sort of fluff, mentions of abuse/torture/injury/death, suggestive content

Eleven accidentally drops into Henry's memories and sees something he keeps tucked away in the furthest corner. A shard of sun hidden in the depth of his memory.

It's life or death. Eleven is panicked and out of breath and Vecna is right in front of her. She's been running all round his little ruin temple, but at this point escape options were down to zero. Vecna reaches out a clawed hand and Eleven panics, lost for what to do. Her body reacts subconsciously with no regard to whether it was effective protection or not: Eleven grabs his wrist desperately in an attempt to push him away and win some escape space. She grabbed him. She probably shouldn't have. It felt like something inside the entire space snapped. Vecna froze. Eleven stared at her palm holding onto his thick red wrist, tattooed numbers 001 faded but still visible. She wanted to let go. She had lost control of her fingers. Eleven lurched backwards in panic, screaming, and her palm suddenly unclasped. She fely herself trip over, falling backwards on inertia. Eleven stretched out her arms trying desperately to grab onto something, to prevent the fall, but she couldn't. The world suddenly disappeared. She was falling into a black abyss, surrounded only by darkness and emptyness. Even Vecna was gone. Eleven was flying down and backwards, screaming for her life.

***

Suddenly the world reappeared around her like she had not just a second ago been flying like Alice through the rabbit hole. There was a flash of light and suddenly Eleven was in a cold-lit white corridor, landing on the tile floor painfully with her bottom. The girl yelped on impact, disoriented. It took her a few moments to get a grasp of her surroundings and stop her head from spinning. Eleven then stood up cautiously. Where was she? The place would have looked like a hospital if the corridors weren't so empty. It looks familiar. It's the lab, isn't it? Is it another one of Vecna's mind tricks? Or is it a memory? But if so, whose? Her own or...?

Eleven could hear rapid clicking of heels nearing from behind a turn. Someone was coming. The girl looked around frantically, searching for a place to hide, realizing once again the space was oddly empty apart from a few locked doors in the other end of the corridor. The steps sounded closer now. Eleven looked in the direction they were coming from right in time to see a young woman come around the corner. Nothing threatening: white lab coat over a formal white shirt and a grey pencil skirt, hair tied in a bun and a folder with some papers in her hands. Eleven looked her over in confusion: the woman appeared surprisingly normal and somewhat remotely familiar. If this was Eleven's memory, she had no idea what this particular episode could be about. The girl stepped away cautiously: the woman's gaze met Eleven' face...

And slid past it without exposing any interest. Eleven, who was ready to run or fight, froze in frustration. Definitely not illusion. A memory.

The woman was a few steps away now, Eleven could see her face clearly: she was about twenty five and seemed very nervous. "I've definitely seen her before," - Eleven thought to herself. Maybe it's her own memory afterall. The woman walked past her and Eleven turned to follow, jumping slightly on her way, trying to peek into the papers in the folder. On top of the pages a small card read: "Katherine Brandt".

They called her Dr Brandt. Eleven remembered her suddenly and vividly. It was that friendly woman from the medical room, who always smiled and gave them treats when no one would notice. For a moment Eleven forgot how to walk. Why was she seeing her now?

The woman had walked some distance away and Eleven had to chase after her to catch up. Running felt strange, perhaps because she couldn't feel any wind. The woman reached the end of the corridor, took a turn right and almost immediately there was gasp and a soft thud.

Eleven saw the papers scatter on the floor. She turned around the corner hastily, expecting to see the woman get attacked by something, ready to...

- I'm so sorry! I didn't expect...

The woman was crouching on the floor, gathering the papers in a hurry. There was a man on his knees next to her, dressed in all white, his blond hair falling into his face - he was helping her pick up the contents of the folder. They had apparently bumped into each other.

- It's nothing, - the voice was definitely familiar.

Eleven looked them over in surprise, unsure what to expect.

The pair stood up, brushing off.

Eleven was finally able to see the man's face and realized with a start - it was One. So it's not her own memories after all. They are his. But why this one?

- I umm... - the woman started nervously. - I was looking for uh.. - she took a glimpse at her files. - Dr Brenner?

- He is working with the children. Why do you need him? - his voice was somewhat more tense than previously.

- I think I'm supposed to confirm my arrival with him or something like that... I uh.. I'm a resident... Intern. Hard to explain.

- Didn't know they took more nurses, - the man mumbled. Eleven looked closely into his face, trying to figure out a hidden meaning of a frankly ordinary scene before her - piercing blue eyes, probably in his early thirties, maybe younger: he looked just as she remembered him and uncannily normal.

- I'm not a nurse!

- Of course. My bad, - he seemed amused, or maybe just irritated. - Follow me.

Eleven felt strange, as if her vision was going blurry and lights were circling around her head. She tried to follow the woman again, ran after her, but as she turned the corner, the room suddenly changed. She realized the memory was switching to a different one and she had no control over its turn.

***

The room is windowless and dimly lit. It seems like a common room for employees. Eleven realizes judging by the interior that she is still in the Hawkins lab. The same woman is sitting at a table now writing something, her attire is changed: the lab coat is hanging on the back of her chair and her skirt is dark blue.

The door opens with a small creak and someone enters: Eleven turns around and makes a step back, seeing One shut the door behind himself. The palm of his hand is bleeding. The woman raises her head briefly to acknowledge the entry of another person, but she too, apparently notices the blood.

- Evening... Oh, are you alright? - she stands up from her seat swiftly.

- It's nothing, - same phrase as before, he brushes her off.

- Please, let me help, - the woman walks up to him, although he tries to wave dismissively. - Oh, it's you, - she says, when she sees his face. Pause. They are looking at each other for a moment, the man recognizing her too. - What happened?

- Just children messing around, - he turns away, reaching out for the first aid kit.

- Let me help you clean it, please.

- It's nothing.

- There's too much blood for a nothing, - she touches his shoulder carefully and he flinches away, startling her.

One stares at his palm for a moment. Then at her. He huffs and hands over the first aid kit. Eleven watches them, tired of attempting to understand what is the meaning of all this.

- I'm Kate, by the way, - she smiles, turning away to focus on the first aid kit.

- Peter, - he responds after a short pause. He reaches out to tug his left sleeve down lower, while she is distracted.

Eleven watches his hands and it's just a second, but she still catches a glimpse of it. He is hiding the tattoo on his wrist.

The woman - Kate - turns back to him and asks to let her look at his palm, she doesn't notice the look of strange curiosity on his face. The world is already starting to go blurry as the previous time and Eleven realizes with a jolt, perhaps too late - she had somehow dropped into the back of One's mind, a series of memories tucked away for some reason. Moving around through the blur she realized something else: the room, the light, the air around her - everything was ever so slowly turning warmer.

Eleven felt her head spinning, she turned to the door, grabbed the handle and pushed.

***

The cafeteria was half-empty, but it seemed to be lunch time. Eleven looked around, searching for a glimpse One's blond hair - he was sitting at a round table alone, seemingly deeply preoccupied with studying the contents of his plate. A strand of hair has fallen in front of his eyes. Eleven walked closer, studying him carefully. Why am I seeing these memories? What is the...?

- Hey, Peter. Haven't seen you today, - he flinches slightly. Eleven jumps on spot too. She hadn't seen her coming. Kate is walking up to his table, tray in hands, and sits herself across from him.

- Hi, - he responds, unsure.

- You seem off, - she remarks. Eleven hears a quiet noise, coming not quite from the scene in front, but from inside her head - a crackle of electricity and an echo of a scream. It takes her a moment to realize the sound is from One's thoughts.

- I'm alright. Just a headache, - he spits out a lie and sounds rather hostile. - Are you going to sit here?

- Yes. Why? Do you mind? - she was about to start on her food, then raised her eyes to his face expectantly.

- Not good for your reputation. Others here are rather... displeased by my company so...

- So they are full of shit, - she stated, turning back to her food and picking up a fork. One stared at her for a moment, stunned.

- I guess... - he mumbled, not knowing what to say.

Kate snorted.

It made the corners of his lips rise - only a little bit, but it was still noticeable.

- And do tell me when you get headaches. I have, like, unlimited access to painkillers here, I'm pretty sure I'm allowed to give them out to employees too, - she blurted, not looking up at him. Paused, then added: - Hate to see you so gloomy.

Eleven watched One stare at Kate as the room started to go blurry. For a moment it seemed to her that soft light started emanating from the woman. Eleven closed her eyes and shook her head slightly, frustrated, and when she opened them, the scene changed again.

***

It looks like a hospital room. There is a boy of about fourteen sleeping on the bed, a monitor beeping monotonously next to him.

Kate is rushing about the room, mumbling something incoherently. There is a knock on the door, she doesn't answer and the door still opens after a couple of seconds. She turns abruptly to face the intruder.

- I have to check on four's condition, - One slides in quietly and shuts the door behind himself. He watches her move about with curiosity, identifying some new emotion to her character.

- Here, take this sheet to Dr Brenner, I just made a fresh check up a few minutes ago. Don't bother him now, let him rest.

She doesn't turn to him, handing out the paper. She is visibly distraught.

- Something wrong? - he asks, out of curiosity.

- Nothing, - she states.

A few moments pass. He is about to leave, when she suddenly continues:

- Those marks are from a shocker, - her voice is almost shaky with anger.

- They are, - One responds quietly after some hesitation.

- They can't be using it! He's a child! It's...

- They use it on everyone, it's a method of disciplining, - he mumbled, forcing his voice to sound calm.

She turned to him abruptly.

- It's discipline for wild lions in a circus. I thought they were trained to control their abilities here, not...!

- Dr Brenner believes it an effective method to stop them from using their power for bad or misbehaving in the facility, - he barely brought himself to say it, his voice sounded fake and he seemed angry at himself for pronouncing it. Maybe he just wanted to see how she would react.

- That's not going to stop them from misbehaving! They are just going to hate him and this place and try to sneak... They are supposed to be assisted here! It's wrong! - she was getting worked up and emotional. One watched her as she spoke - just for a second an expression ran over his eyes - barely noticable, but still there, it looked oddly like admiration.

- It's Dr Brenner's methods, - he sighed deeply, letting his own disapproval show if only a little.

- It's cruel! This cannot be allowed, it's just.. wrong! You can't treat children like this! You can't treat anyone like this!

One stared at her for too long. Then dropped his head, looking at the floor.

Brenner can.

And no one tells him he shouldn't be?

- He doesn't take advice on what he should or shouldn't do. It's his project.

- What do you mean? ... Peter!

He was about to turn away, then looked back at her abruptly.

- We shouldn't be talking about this. You are right. But we shouldn't. Not unless you want problems, - he uttered quickly and quietly. Kate looked like she had swallowed a glass of water that was about to become ice.

- Peter... - he shook his head, threw an apologetic look at her and turned on his heels. Kate closed her eyes. The door shut.

The room started to buzz and go blurry. Eleven watched Kate closely. She realized she was right the previous time - when everything started blurring there was a faint glow around her, like rays around clouds on a sunny day. And the room was ever so slowly growing warmer. There were voices behind Eleven. She turned around.

***

It is the same room, but the date had apparently changed. The bed is empty, the lights are slightly more dim. Kate had dragged One into the room by his arm and closed the door behind them. He seems to be limping, slightly shaky on his legs, whilst Kate is walking determinedly, fuming. She released her hold on him by the table, allowing him to support himself on his arms, leaning on the surface. She is going through one of the drawers, searching for something actively and angrily.

- For how long has this been going on? - her whisper comes out in a white-hot hiss.

- It happens sometimes, - he answers evasively. He is breathing heavily, it looks like he is struggling to regain himself.

Eleven suddenly realized it must have been one of the times Brenner "treated" him with shockers. Kate must have walked in on it accidentally.

- How often is sometimes? Is this a regular occurrence? How the hell-? - she turns to him.

- It's nothing, - he mutters, avoiding her gaze.

- Peter, no! He hurt you, this is serious, this is not okay!

He turns away as if trying to ignore her, then, almost whispering, with a sudden uncanny determination to his voice:

- Henry.

- What? - she asks dumbly, startled.

- My name is Henry.

- I'm sorry? - even more confused.

He turns to her with a sigh and rolls up his sleeve, exposing his left wrist - and the tattoo. Kate gasps, then puts her palm over her mouth and sinks into the chair behind her. He watches her reaction in silence. He sits down on the edge of the table before her. Then pronounces more firmly, but quietly.

- My name is Henry Creel. I am One.

She stares at his wrist for so long the tension becomes uncomfortable, she is breathing heavily and when she allows herself to speak tears are laced in her voice, but she still attempts to ask:

- Why- How-?

- He found me as a child, I was twelve, - he stares into her face, suddenly something overcomes him and he blurts out, words that he wouldn't have said to anyone normally. Almost as if he is trying to scare her. - I did things. Gruesome things. I killed my family with it. My mother was going to hand me over to him for "treatment", - he spits out. - And I knew he was no good. I killed my family so they wouldn't do it, my mother, my sister, it wasn't pretty. My father barely survived but they blamed their deaths on him anyways. And I still ended up with Brenner.

- Peter... Henry... - Kate is staring up at him in shock, then looks down again, but he continues determinately.

- He tried to train me like all those kids - didn't manage. Said I was too stubborn, uncontrollable. So he started a whole program, to get obedient versions. I'm just the failed first experiment. Hidden in plain sight so to say. Brenner's bad bloody monster.

He finishes and leans back, watching her angrily, expecting her to react, panic, run out of the door.

Eleven felt the air tense up, but the lights for some reason didn't grow colder or darker like she expected them to.

Kate is staring down at her lap now with tears in her eyes, her gaze focused, she is apparently actively overthinking every word he said. A minute passes, but it feels like thirty.

- I'm so sorry.

He flinches. Then stares in surprise.

- Sorry for what? - he hisses.

- Brenner has no right to be treating you the way he does.

- Well, I've killed my family.

- That is no normal behavior.

- No-o, not normal at all, - he growls, leans in a little closer to her. - Aren't you scared of me now?

She looks up, her eyes meeting his. His gaze is angry, piercing, he is expecting her to turn away. Eleven could hear echoes in her own head like before: a woman yelling, berating someone; "hold yourself together"; "...you're incapable of behaving yourself, boy" and a sound of a slap; "Henry, you're a freak!" then a girl's laughter; then more of the familiar sounds from before - electric cackling and screams.

Kate held his gaze. It visibly took her some effort.

- No... A little bit. But that doesn't change the fact that you were just a boy. You did awful things. But you were twelve. You didn't deserve to be dragged into a cage and studied like a wild animal, you needed help, not a damn collar, - her words grow heated towards the end of her speech. She stops abruptly, then looks away from him, breaking eye contact. - It's no excuse for what he has done or what he is doing.

The sounds and echoes in Eleven's head stopped, as if someone switched off a radio. The room is filled with silence.

One stares at the floor, then at Kate for a brief moment. Then back at the floor.

- You're not supposed to know this by the way. So do your best pretending that you don't. Brenner will get angry, - his voice is emotionless, he seems lost for a proper emotional response to her words.

He is about to stand up when she leaps on her feet and makes a hasty step towards him. She grabs his hand firmly.

- Pet-... Henry, - he freezes on spot, still not looking at her, but now purposefully so. - This doesn't change anything between us, right? I mean... We're still friends, right?

- Friends? - he looks up, startled.

- If you want.

There is a silent pause.

- I think I do, - he responds after a while.

Silence ensues. She is still holding his hand.

- Can I hug you?

He looks at her like he is seeing a perculiar extinct animal. Then nods hesitantly.

Kate leans in closer, wrapping her arms around his neck. He puts his around her waist cautiously. Something tells Eleven he is contemplating on how to break her spine with least effort in case she tries to stab him with a scalpel in his back. She doesn't. They stay still, breathing.

- Aren't you scared of me? - he repeats his question from before.

- You freaked me out. I guess quite a bit, - she responds quietly, her lips close to his ear. "Then you are very incautious" - whispers a voice in Eleven's head. - But I've known you for some time and... You told me all this so...

He breathes out heavily, holds still. His arms are still wrapped around her. They don't seem to be that ready to break her spine now. As the room starts to go blurry it seems to Eleven that she sees a foreign gleam in his eyes. She also notices that the yellow glow that seemed to emanate from Kate was drastically more visible. Eleven turned away, and the room rolled in a blur. She had a feeling for some reason that she wouldn't like where this was going.

***

It's the far medical room, one like those the children were put in when they were sick for a long time - a rare occurrence. Henry is looking around awkwardly, suspiciously. Kate is in front of him, it looks like she had brought him in the room on purpose. They are alone, the door is locked.

- Here we are, - she says.

- Yes, and why are we here? - he says, cautiously, suspiciously.

- You said your room was always checked, right?

He nodded, still looking at her in distrust.

- So?

- So, Brenner never goes in here.

- And?

- And there are no cameras in the medical rooms because they are barely used and supposed to be safe and boring.

- And?

- And there are those cupboards that have locks and I can lock them up and we can hide stuff for you in here so that Brenner doesn't find out... I mean... - she pauses, catching her breath anxiously: she had been speaking very fast, afraid he'd interrupt her. - I brought you some pencils and a sketchbook. I noticed you draw. And I brought some books. You don't have to read them. It's just the ones I thought you'd like. I can buy you something else, you just tell me what you would prefer...

She crouches down, producing a set of small keys and unlocking one of the drawers of a nearby table. Henry is watching her closely.

- Here, see?

He makes a couple fast determined steps towards her. Kate jumps to her feet, watching his face intently, perhaps worried she might have upset him somehow. He stares into the drawer for a long moment: there are new pencils, pastels, a fresh sketchbooks and a couple hard-binded books, a copy of "The Hobbit" at the top. He breathes out, heavily, shakily, with a small smile on his face. Kate smiles awkwardly at him too, then flinches almost unnoticeably, startled as she looks down. He reached out timidly, touching her hand, interlocking their fingers. She squeezes his palm. They look up at each other simultaneously, their gazes meeting.

- Thank you, - it comes out as a whisper, but it seems to echo around the room.

He makes a rushed awkward movement and suddenly he is holding her, snaking his arms around her waist and behind her back reluctantly. She looks startled and surprised in his embrace, frozen for a couple of seconds with her eyes wide open, her hands hanging mid-air in hesitation. She regains herself, wrapping her arms around him carefully.

She is glowing again. Again more vivid. Eleven feels warmer again and the room is going blurry as the two slowly begin to pull apart. The girl turns around reaching for the door behind her, ready to go to the next bit of memory, but it's not there anymore.

***

It is once again that what appeared to be a common room for employees. There is Dr Brenner standing in front of the doorway, several people are sitting about on chairs or couches, all looking at him. Right in front of Eleven, at a table with several other people there are Henry and Kate, sitting next to each other.

Dr Brenner carries on talking, it looks like he has been going on for a while.

- I believe we might need some extra effort with Two and Three today. It looks like they believe they are allowed superficial privileges since they are older, which is not quite what we have discussed with them.

Henry tenses up. It looks like Kate notices.

- Michael, Peter and Jacob will be on assistance in class today...

Brenner is still talking, but the sound becomes slightly muffled.

Eleven sees Henry's shoulder shift slightly, as if he is about to flinch, but restricting himself. Kate notices it too. She moves her hand carefully, slowly, and grabs his palm under the table while no one notices. He squeezes her fingers.

The sound of Brenner's voice becomes more clear again.

- That's it for now. Back to work, ladies and gentlemen.

Everybody is standing up, some picking folders, some turning back to desks, beginning to write something down. Kate is up on her feet before Henry is, but he is following her close by.

She is passing by Dr Brenner, about to exit the room, when she stops. Henry is a couple steps away, next to another employee that was apparently assigned for assistance on the day's lesson too.

- Oh, I almost forgot... - Kate suddenly speaks. - I'm sorry, Dr Brenner, but Peter has kindly agreed to assist me with the check ups today, I would like to keep him on it if that is okay with you, - she has turned away and shows with her entire pose that she is in a hurry, about to leave. Like she doesn't really care about what she is saying, throwing it in as an afterthought. If Brenner could see her face he would have noticed she was holding her breath nervously. He seems to be mulling over what he just heard.

Henry freezes for a moment, caught off guard, but quickly regains himself, adding quietly:

- I have said I would be free to assist in the medical rooms today. I'm sure I'm not irreplaceable on the lessons, - he adds quietly. Now it looks like he had planned it all to escape the lessons that day. Like there was no startled look on his face just seconds ago when he heard her speak.

Brenner turns to Henry and looks him over strictly, quite possibly contemplating if allowing him to work in the medical rooms could lead to Kate's untimely death. He probably decides it wouldn't.

- Why, if you are already needed there, I will get someone else to step into your place on the lesson. But I require to be warned next time when there are duty arrangements that I am unaware of, - he finishes strictly, then turns away dismissively.

Kate nods, exiting the room and Henry follows her, visibly making an effort not to pick up his pace.

- Should I not have? - she asks him cautiously when they turn the corner and are out of earshot.

- Can't know. I'm glad you did, - he replies.

- Isn't he going to be suspicious?

- Of me, not of you. And not more than he has already been. He hates me, remember? - he chuckles darkly. They are walking fast in the direction of the medical office. Kate turns her head swiftly to throw an apologetic glance at him. He continues:

- I'd rather spend the day working with you than with anyone else in this place.

She smiles, broadly. It even seems she blushes.

- Is that true?

He doesn't answer, just huffs.

- Well, that's mutual.

They have reached the door and she is fumbling with the keys, so she doesn't hear when he says:

- You're the only one who'd say that, - shacking his head.

Eleven knows Kate hadn't heard him - she would have turned if she had. Eleven notices something else: Henry is staring at Kate's face intently - she is looking down at the keys in her hands, it takes a minute to realize that a strand of hair that had fallen down and in front of her face is slowly, but steadily, against common sense and gravity, moving up and behind her ear. The woman doesn't notice. Eleven stares. The corridor goes blurry. The door opens and everything is engulfed in a flash of sunlight for a moment and when it goes away, the scene is changed again.

***

It's like Eleven has been transported into the medical room and has to watch the door open from the inside, as Kate stumbles in, leading a rather unstable Henry inside, holding him up by his elbow. She throws a quick glance left and right back into the corridor before shutting the door behind them.

It's evident that Henry's head is spinning. She leads him carefully to the examination table and gestures for him to sit down - he doesn't, he just leans on it with his back to the surface.

- Wait a second, I'll grab some painkillers and I can also... - she mumbles on, hurriedly, almost indistinguishable, rushing around the room. Henry watches her intently. The entire room seems to be buzzing - maybe it's the aftermath of the shockers affecting his perception.

She steps back to the table, bringing a couple bottles with pills and a first aid kit.

- Take these, it will ease the pain, - she drops a couple of round pills on his outstretched palm and gives him a glass of cold water. He follows her instruction silently.

- Show me your burns, we have to check out those, - she doesn't notice the way he is staring at her.

- It's alright, - he replies, his voice is slightly raspy.

- Henry... - she presses on, opening the first aid kit.

- There is no need, - he continues.

- Just hold still for a moment, - she tells him. He looks her over, glimpses into her concerned face, still focused on what she was doing. There is a tenseness in him that wasn't there before. He apparently contemplated on what she asked him to do and decided against it.

Everything happens quickly. An invisible force yanks the first aid kit out of her hands. She gasps lightly. He leanes down to her face quickly, his hand coming up to take a hold of her chin and turn her head towards him. And then he touches his lips to hers - quickly, without hesitation. She freezes. He remains still and firm, his eyes closed.

It feels like time had slowed down.

Then her palm comes up to lay on his chest. She moves aside whatever she had been meaning to pick up and her other arm finds its way around his neck, her fingers sliding into his hair and then all at once she is in his embrace and he - in hers. And they are holding each other: his lips moving against hers, both breathing heavily, it seemed their heartbeats filled the room with a soft humm.

They pull apart, gasping for air. His arm has snaked around her waist and his fingers are digging into her side hard.

- Henry... - she whimpers, breathless.

- I've been meaning to do this for a while, - he responds.

She chuckles, quietly. Then reaches up and kisses him again, on her own initiative, closing her eyes. Henry is smiling against her lips, pulling her closer, until they are pressed firmly chest to chest and she lets out a soft sigh through the kiss.

The room is buzzing and lighting up with sunshine, Eleven has to turn away, blinded, and when she does she sees a staircase - definitely not a part of the medical room.

***

- Where are we going? - Kate asks.

She is following after Henry down a dimly lit narrow corridor and towards the staircase - they seem to be still in Hawkins, although the space looks quite uncharacteristic.

- Just wait, we're almost there, - he answers shortly.

- I don't think we're supposed to be here.

- It's alright, I've done this before.

- But what if we get in trouble? What if you get in trouble? - she is hurrying after him.

He turns around briefly to give her a short smirk.

- I won't.

He runs up the stairs that seemingly go straight into the ceiling and pushes on a door that is barely noticeably there. It gives a heavy groan, but opens nevertheless. Kate watches at the bottom of the stairs, curious.

- Come on, - he calls to her, climbing up through the door. Bits of blue are visible above him - it's an opening to the roof.

Kate follows up the steps quickly and as soon as she climbs through the opening, he shuts the door behind her. She gives him a worried startled look.

- Don't worry, I can open it from up here too.

Kate looks around, Henry is watching her.

- How is this place not guarded?

- I believe it's not viewed as an escape route - if anyone even finds their way up here and opens the door - it's a seven storey fall to freedom, - he explains simply. He had obviously been thinking it through. That roof had probably brought him a lot of disappointment before it brought any joy. He seems to be glad to have come up there now though.

Kate gives him a long concerned stare. Then walks to the edge. There is a fence, but it isn't very tall - Kate walks up to it, taking in the view. Henry follows her close by.

The sun is setting slowly, colouring the sky in the west in pink and orange. Woods are surrounding the laboratory building and behind them the town of Hawkins emerges with roofs lit up by the setting sun, only to melt back into more woods further west.

- It's a view, - Henry comments.

- That's one way to describe it, - Kate answers. She had been holding her breath.

Henry sits down on the roof and gestures for her to do the same.

- Won't they notice us from the ground? - she asks as she lands next to him.

- No, we're obscured from view on this side. Don't worry.

They sit in silence for some time, taking in the scenery before them.

In a while Kate mutters, almost to herself:

- I sometimes wonder how this place is still standing. With everything going on inside.

At first Henry is silent, as if he hadn't heard her. When he finally speaks there is steel in his voice:

- Weak people containing beings far more powerful than themselves. The miracle of obedience.

Kate visibly senses anger in his voice. She tenses up.

- It's not about weakness or strength, Henry. I don't think it is, not in this way...

- It is, - he interrupts her. - They are weak and they know those like us are stronger. They know they are weaker. They pretend to study this power to try and understand it, but they don't want to understand, not really. Only interpret. They are weak, they are scared and want control and it makes them blind and stupid.

Kate is tense and seems nervous, searching for what to say next.

- I don't think it has to be measured through strength and weakness. Not for all of them, at least.

He is silent. They stay quiet and it makes the pause uneasy. She wants to add something.

- I'm one of them, - she offers, needing to set the conversation right.

Henry turns to stare at her and Kate holds his gaze. He seems to be thoughtful for a moment.

- You're not weak, - he says finally.

- Why do you think that?

- Because you're not afraid.

She looks like she is about to ask what exactly she isn't afraid of, but then last moment decides against it, apparently coming up with a few answers of her own, neither of which she needs to hear from his lips.

They sit submerged each in their own thoughts for a while. Henry reaches out carefully and takes her hand, squeezing it gently. Kate looks at their interlocked fingers and when she doesn't resist, he pulls her in closer, wrapping her in an embrace. She lets out a relieved sigh.

- Come here, - she whispers. Her fingers clutch his collar and she pulls him down to meet her lips.

It turns out a little too hard - Henry leans forward too quick and pushes her down accidentally. Now Kate is laying with her back on the surface of the roof and Henry is leaning over her, supporting his weight on his arms, one bent in elbow, one outstretched. Kate giggles. He snorts.

He leans down closer to her face and touches his forehead to hers, smiling, looking into her eyes, breathing calmly for a few seconds, before connecting their lips again. Kate's fingers let go of his collar to slide into his hair. Henry sighs heavily against her lips. He shifts his weight on one arm, the other going down to her waist. The sunlight becomes blinding - it seems it is coming both from the sunset and the couple.

Eleven flinches away, unable to watch, hiding her face in her hands. She hears hushed voices and a familiar jiggle of keys.

***

It's the medical room again. The door bursts open, Kate lets Henry step in first, then closes the door behind them carefully, making an effort to pretend like she wasn't in a hurry. Henry waits tensely watching her movements impatiently.

As soon as the door clicks shut, Kate is turned around and pushed with her back to the wall right next to it. She probably doesn't realize it happened without Henry even touching her. In seconds he is on her, one hand on the wall next to her head, caging her in, the other wrapped around her waist. The noise she makes is somewhat a surprised squeak. The room seems hot, the air feels dense. Henry is kissing her lips, his hand dropping from her waist and down to her hip, tugging the material of the pencil skirt up, and climbing underneath it. Kate gasps for breath when his lips finally leave hers, fingers of one hand entangled in his hair, the other clutching his shirt. His lips descend to her neck and she gasps in surprise before muttering:

- Wait, wait, Henry, someone can walk in on us.

- They won't, - he growls quietly, not raising his head from the crook of her neck.

- But what if...

- Tssch, quiet... - he mutters looking up into her eyes, pressing a finger to her lips.

There is a soft click.

The key turns itself in the lock.

With another click the lights go off.

Kate gasps softly. Henry growls.

It's dark, but there is again a warm glow coming from their figures - it blurs everything, the whole room seems to start spinning, the sounds become entangled as if someone is playing multiple audiotapes at the same time. Suddenly the world is a caleidoscope of images and sounds - everything sunlit, although barely distinguishable, it was warm and there were laughs and sighs and exclamations and bits of conversation coming from everywhere and nowhere in particular. Words are echoing, they seem quiet and loud at once.

"You're not supposed to come into work sick" - "I was worried it would upset you if I didn't show up"

snort - "I have never heard you say that before..."

"I'm pretty sure this isn't supposed to hold two people"

"Henry, wait, Jesus!" quiet muffled laughter

"when was the last time you tried chocolate?"

"I'm so awkward, I'm sorry" - "you aren't"

"god I'm glad they didn't put cameras here" quiet giggles

And in the midst of it all, there are bits of one hushed conversation, laced through, ringing somehow more prominent than everything else.

- Henry I...

There is a sound of something falling, pushed off a surface.

- Is something wrong?

It seems like music is playing somewhere far away.

- Henry I'm...

There are quiet indistinguishable voices in the background.

- You look sick.

Repressed laughter echoes somewhere, turns into a satisfied sigh.

- Henry, I'm pregnant.

All the other sounds don't quite die down - they blend into and overall background noise, present and indistinguishable.

- You need to leave. Leave this place. You don't understand, if you don't, he will...

- Henry, WE need to leave this place.

- I can't.

- We can run far, they will never find us.

- You need to hide from him.

- We will hide together. I'm not leaving without you!

- I am tracked. He put a chip in my neck, I...

- I have a scalpel.

- Kate...

- I don't want to do this without you.

The conversation mixes with the other sounds. It seems to Eleven she hears muffled swearing and quiet coughs. The lights starts to shimmer, like sun rays on the forest floor on a windy day, obstructed by the trees. Eleven can hear sounds of someone running. Something creaks. Then there is rain. Rain and thunder.

***

The rain is pouring and it's freezing cold - still a different cold than the upside down. Thunder rumbles close by and Henry is soaking wet. The caleidoscope stopped. It's another memory. He is on a porch and he is knocking on the door desperately. He knows who lives here, he is confident.

He had escaped the lab.

Less than a minute goes by and the door sweeps open, revealing a sleepy Kate. Her facial expression changes from mistrust to recognition and then relief, settling somewhere in between joy and overwhelming anxiety.

He is wet to the bone, dripping all over her porch and the door mat. Strands of wet hair are plastered over his face, he is leaning on the door frame, looking down at her.

- Henry!? - she looks him over for a few seconds, a bit lost. He is just staring down into her face, waiting, breathing heavily. It seems there is a silent dialogue between them.

She lets out a gasp, awakening from her shocked paralysis, reaches up to grab him by the collar and drag him into the house. The door swings shut swiftly behind them, but not fast enough for Eleven not to notice that he was smiling - a broad relieved grin.

The rain picks up and it obscures the house from the view - Eleven tries to push closer and open the door. She yanks it open, it takes effort.

***

The room is not what was to be expected looking at the house. The door altered right in her hands.

The room was lit with rays of setting sun. It was obvious that this was a different house - the view was nothing like the surroundings of the previous one: this was apparently sat on a hill and overlooking a valley with a lake below. It didn't seem to be a home too, most probably a hotel. There are takeout boxes on the edge of the table, a couple suitcases on the floor, a radio is muttering news on lowest volume.

Kate lays stretched out on the bed, her head on Henry's shoulder. Eleven realizes that she is seeing him in ordinary clothes for the first time: he is wearing jeans and a white t-shirt and looks suddenly absolutely normal, not even a little bit strange or scary. He is petting her hair gently, her fingers are drawing patterns on his chest.

- The sunset is better from here, - he mumbles sleepily.

She chuckles.

- It is. And the view is prettier.

- You're looking at me, - he whispers.

- And I still mean it.

He shifts his head to stare back at her. She is smiling softly. He reaches out to trace her cheek with his fingers.

- Won't you regret it?

- I won't, - she says firmly. - I will miss some things, of course. But... - Kate shifts upward slightly, her face coming on the same level with his. - If this means you are free and-and happy... And I can be with you-WE can be with you, - he makes a careful movement to pull her closer, hand leaving a soft caress on her stomach before wrapping around her middle. - See you like this... It's well worth the price, - she pauses. - We can pull through. Together.

They are staring at each other solemnly for several moments. Henry's eyes seem to be searching her face. Then his smile broadens, turns into a smirk. He presses her down, forcing her to slide off the pillows and fall back on the bed. Kate yelps in surprise, then starts giggling, when he gives a quick kiss to the tip of her nose. He is hovering above her, placing kisses on her jaw and neck, making her squirm slightly underneath him, huffing and flinching her nose.

She regains herself quickly, one of her hands pushes on his arm, the other - on his chest. She catches him off guard, pushing him back, making him fall on the pillows and landing on top of him. He is unprepared for the sudden push and his head jerks a little bit, hitting on the headboard. Henry lets out a quiet hissing "ouch" and Kate freezes for a moment, worried if she hurt him. Henry chuckles. Both burst out laughing quietly. Henry wraps his arms firmly around her back.

- You little...

The sun lights up the room. Eleven is covering her eyes again when suddenly it blinks. Once. Twice. She lowers her hand, confused, anticipation rising somewhere in her stomach.

***

It's a different setting again. It looks like a house now, a cabin maybe: there is a kitchen and a couch, a TV in the corner. Kate is sitting down, Henry is standing alert in the middle of the room, worry plastered on both of their faces. Something is wrong.

There's a crash outside, loud voices. Kate jumps to her feet too.

- We should go now.

- No. Not straight away. They'll be waiting.

There a loud crash from somewhere behind the door that leads into the room - Eleven intuitively knows it's coming from the front door.

Henry throws up his hand. There are several crashes and a couple of screams. He makes a swift palm movement and the lights go out in the entire house.

Complete silence follows.

- That was pretty... - Kate begins to whisper.

- Pretty horrific? - mutters Henry, listening in carefully.

- I was going to say pretty amazing but whichever you prefer, - she chuckles, then smiles. She's frightened, but the smile is still sincere. It makes him smile back at her.

Eleven sees the glow again, bright and sunny.

Then there is noise, sudden and deafening and everything is happening at once: the door bursts open, men are running in, the window shatters into tiny pieces and there is gunfire.

And somehow, fantastically, louder than all of this, there is a gasp.

Henry is disoriented, if only for a moment and when he turns back to grab Kate and run, she isn't smiling anymore.

The glow falters.

Kate is tripping forward, falling into his arms. There's blood running down her shirt.

The armed men are closing in on them, for a moment Henry looks lost, like he is going unconscious, and when that look is gone from his face it is replaced by rage.

He is screaming, it feels like the sound vibrates through the house at the magnitude of a strong earthquake - the men are thrown backwards, against the walls and on the floor.

It gives him time to throw Kate's arm over his neck and run: out of the backdoor and into the woods.

Eleven follows them, as if hypnotized. She is quite sure she knows how this memory will end. She isn't sure if she wants to see it, but she can't help watching still, heart beating somewhere in her stomach.

They don't manage to go far anyways. Kate's legs give out, Henry is dragging her now and she slips off his shoulder, collapsing on the ground. The wound seems to be just little above the sternum, her shirt and jeans were soaking in blood.

He tries to pick her up again and she herself is trying to stand, but all the effort earns is a painful gasp. She sinks back on the ground and he catches her, dropping on his knees.

They haven't gone far - the lights of the highway can still be seen.

- Kate?

- It hurts. It hurts so much, I can't breathe.

He sees the blood over her clothes and a shiver runs through his body.

- Kate...

- Just give me a moment to rest, just a second, - she is barely whispering, her voice hoarse. He is trembling.

- It's okay. Just catch your breath. It's fine, - he mutters.

She lets out a painful gasp, her breaths are slowing down, coming out like whimpers.

- Henry...

- It's going to be okay, - his voice is shaking.

Her palm comes up to his cheek and he catches it and holds it in place, leaning closer.

- Henry, I...

- You will be okay, - their foreheads connect, far behind there is noise of people coming closer.

- I love you.

He kissed her, desperately, his breath shacking. "Just hold on". When he pulls away, she wasn't whimpering anymore.

Eleven distantly notes that Kate suddenly resembled a broken doll.

The sounds of the world have gone muffled, indistinguishable, everything went into a blur apart from the two of them on the ground.

- No! No, no, no! - Henry was trembling full-bodily now, clutching her to his chest, rocking back and forth. His hand was caressing her hair, his shirt getting soaked in her blood. He was muttering feverently. - You'll be okay. You'll be okay. Please don't go, - he was sobbing, crying, every word coming out with a painful whimper. - Please. Don't leave. Not now. - he was crying, gasping, catching his breath. It was like he wanted to scream, but couldn't. - I love you, - quiet, defeated. - I love you so much.

Eleven suddenly feels like crying too. She wants to scream in fact. She feels like she is suffocating and catching her breath in large gulps, the ground was being pulled from underneath her but she was standing still. She felt like he has thrust his pain all over the forest and now everything and everyone was gasping, trembling and wailing with him.

Eleven stumbled back, overwhelmed. And fell.

***

Eleven gasped awake. Mike was holding her, petting her back worriedly.

- It hurts so much, - she wailed. She hadn't realized she was crying.

- Where? Where does it hurt?

- Nowhere and everywhere and I can't breathe and every breath is too much at the same time. And it's cold and-and...and...

- It's okay, it's okay, I'm here, with you, - Mike is muttering, trying to hug her. - He can't hurt you here.

- No! - Eleven is fighting back his hands, sliding pushing away until suddenly her back hits a corner and she is sitting on the floor hugging her knees, gasping, overwhelmed with emotions that were her own and someone else's at once. - You don't understand, don't understand...

- What happened? Did he do something? - Mike and Will are both next to her, trying to shake back to reality.

- I thought she left... I never... I thought she just left... And she was gone... And they...

- El! What did he do to you?!

She suddenly stared up at the boys, looking at them and through them at once.

- There was so much light. It was warm and sunny and it was coming all over and it was so happy... They were his happy memories... - she was mumbling between sobs.

- What?! - Mike and Will are staring at her in confusion, if only a little less frightened. - What did you see there?

- It was his memory, - she chocked out. - I fell into his memory, I... He... There was so much light and then... And then it was gone, - another round of loud sobs shook her. - They shot her. They shot her and she was gone. They shot her and he lost them both. And he was alone.

He was alone.

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