Chapter Text
“Friends?”
“No.”
Will swallowed painfully. His chest began to ache.
“Best friends.”
Mike grinned at him, reaching out an arm to nudge him playfully. Will released the breath he was holding, returning the smile with one of his own.
“Hey, Will? I just wanted to say - ”
Will shook his head. “You don’t need to say it Mike. I know.”
Mike kept staring at him. “You know? And…and that’s okay?”
Will cleared his throat, letting his gaze finally drop. “Yeah, yeah it’s okay.”
Will knew Mike would never like him the same way. And that was okay. Sure it hurt, but this was his lot in life. He couldn’t just expect everyone to be like him. Especially not when doing so could get someone beaten up or even killed.
Mike was normal. Will had accepted it.
Mike smiled at him. A little softer this time. Will was too busy wallowing in his own misery to notice. Just as Mike was about to reach out, they were interrupted.
“Guys! What’s the hold up?”
“Coming!”
Will started climbing, missing the way Mike kept staring. Later on, the pair of them would realise that this was where it all started. But for now they remained oblivious. Each convinced they now knew what the future would hold.
“Breakfast!”
Will groaned, flinging an arm over his eyes to block out the sun.
“Will!”
He groaned again as his door slammed open. His sister, well step-sister technically, stood in the doorway. A brilliant smile spread across her face as soon as she saw him.
“I’m coming with you.”
He froze, staring at her in disbelief. “You’re…you’re what?”
El giggled. “I’m coming with you.” She repeated. “Dad said yes.”
He scrambled out of bed. “Holy shit, El!”
The two of them laughed as he picked her up, spinning her around in excitement. El couldn’t stop smiling as she recounted everything to him.
Following the battle, they had almost lost El one final time. She had been determined to keep them safe. To keep the army from hurting them yet again. But the Party and her family weren’t about to let that happen.
From the army’s perspective, El had indeed been lost to the Upside Down. Consumed by the wormhole that destroyed it all. But that had not been the whole truth.
El had hidden, she had escaped. To a place where no one would think to look for her. A place Will had rebuilt after returning to Hawkins, just for her.
“It was my safe place once. It could be yours too, if you want.” He had said to her back then, with an awkward smile.
Castle Byers was Will’s. Will’s and Jonathan’s. She hadn’t wanted to take that from either of them. And yet Will had offered.
“You’re my sister. You’re family.” He had assured her. “You’re not taking anything away. You’re just…you’re adding to it. You’re adding more good memories.”
El had cried. So had Will. Only the two of them could understand just how important something like this was. Two people who shared trauma. Who had awful things done to them time and time again. Two people who beat the odds and survived it all, even if it cost them far too much.
Castle Byers was where they found her. Even after she gave her goodbyes. El couldn’t explain why exactly she had stayed, instead of following her and Kali’s plan. Honestly, there were so many reasons.
First, Mike had begged her. Despite no longer being together, something they’d kept secret from everyone, he was still the very first person she trusted. The one person who had always fought to get her back, just as he had done with Will.
Second, Will had reached out to her. He’d been sobbing and screaming and begging her to stay, even as the soldiers tried to haul him away. Will, the one person she felt who should have resented her, for getting him involved in the first place. For taking away the boy he loved. But no, he hadn’t resented her. He had understood. He had loved her all the same. Even when it meant he would be hurt yet again. How could she just ignore that?
Finally, Hopper had cried. After losing his first daughter, El knew he was at breaking point. Sure he had Joyce and her boys. But that wasn’t the same. He had raised both of his girls. He had already lost Sara. Could she really force him to watch as he lost her too? Was she really that cruel?
No. No she wasn’t.
She waited for them in Castle Byers for the longest time. Part of her prayed they’d never find her, so they could live normal lives once more. But another part, the selfish part of her, wanted them to find her. That part wanted her to get her own happy ending, filled with love and family and all the things she had missed.
Will was the first one to find her. When she heard footsteps, she tensed, dreading the worst.
“Radagast.”
That whispered plea was all she needed to fling open the door. There he was. There they all were. Staring at her like she was something precious.
El couldn’t remember who hugged who first. Nor could she remember when exactly she started crying. All she could remember was everyone surging forward, smothering her with their love and sobbing their hearts out.
They had made it. The Party had made it. All of them together.
In the days and weeks that followed, they still couldn’t relax. Every day El feared that the military would learn the truth. But it seemed that seeing her die, right in front of their eyes, was enough to make them leave. Eventually. By the time they did, El was finally able to return home. With a new ID to confirm once more that yes, her name was Jane Hopper. Soon to be Jane Hopper-Byers, once her dad and Joyce finally tied the knot.
The adults had assured them that everything would work out. While no one quite knew how, Murray apparently had some contacts which gave Jane everything she needed. New ID, a valid social security number, birth certificate, even a passport. Everything was real. Everything was there for her to finally start living her life.
But what if the government found out? What if the army returned? Those questions had been asked and answered, as best as they could. The government wouldn’t return, not when they so desperately wanted to hush everything up. The army would stay away, seeing as how they no longer had any reason to stay.
With the internet still in its early stages, the only way the government would find out about her was if someone told them. And nobody in Hawkins was about to do that. Not when those assholes had kidnapped their children and almost gotten them killed in some kind of accident. Not when they had held them in quarantine for months on end with no answers. Only for stories of secret experiments and monsters to start leaking, evaporating any trust Hawkins had in the people at the top.
Hawkins looked after their own. Hopper was one of their own. And his daughter Jane, was undoubtedly one of their own, even if no one quite understood the story there.
Will squeezed her one last time before setting her down. El beamed at him, before grabbing his hand as she started pulling him out of the room.
“Come on, he’ll tell you too.”
Will followed, still shaking his head in disbelief. He just couldn’t believe that Hopper had finally said yes. That El would finally be coming too.”
Hopper looked up at the pair of them as they stumbled inside the room. With a heavy sigh, he stared up at the ceiling, as if praying it would give him strength. Then he sent the pair of them an unimpressed look.
“Seriously? You ain’t even dressed.” He complained.
“Tell him.” El ignored him, still gripping Will’s arm tight.
Hopper let out a heavy sigh, then turned to look at his soon to be step-son. The kid stared back, wide-eyed and looking oh so hopeful. Hopper couldn’t help himself. He softened, just a little. He’d always had a soft spot for the kid, ever since he brought him back to life in that monstrous place.
“She’s going to school with you. Starting today.”
“Today? Really?” Will continued to stare. Hopper nodded and Will laughed. “Holy sh-! I mean, thank you, thank you, thank you!” He babbled.
The two of them lunged forward to tackle him in a hug before racing off to get ready. Joyce narrowly avoided colliding with them, letting out a soft laugh.
“I take it you told them.” She said, placing down a plate of Eggos. Their family’s breakfast couldn’t be complete without them.
“And I’m already regretting it.” Hopper replied, shaking his paper, before leaning over to kiss her good morning.
“Uh, what’s going on?” Jonathan finally appeared with a yawn. He at least, was dressed. Although he looked pretty dead on his feet.
“El’s going to school.” Joyce told him.
“You mean Jane.” Hopper corrected.
Joyce held a hand to her forehead, giving him an embarrassed look. “Right, Jane’s going to school.”
Jonathan sat down. Hopper’s eagle eyes quickly noticed the red mark on his neck. And even in his old age, his hearing could still clearly pick up the faint cursing coming from Jonathan’s room, as someone made a hasty exit out the window.
“Harrington? Really?” He couldn’t help but comment.
Joyce smacked his arm. But Hopper had no regrets. It was absolutely worth it to see the way Jonathan reddened, then ducked his head, exposing a few scratches down the back of his neck too.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jonathan tried. He still refused to look at him.
Outside, a car started. Jonathan’s eyes shot towards the window. His face paled.
Hopper snorted, then shrugged. “Listen kid, it’s none of my business. Am I surprised? A little. I thought you had taste. But you did save his life. Crap like that bonds people in ways you’d never expect. Just make sure there’s no bonding going on while El and Will are home. And especially not when I’m home. Got it?”
Jonathan swallowed his bite. Still refusing to look at him, he gave a single stiff nod, bracing himself for something more to come.
“Good. Now let’s eat.”
Jonathan paused and blinked. “That’s it?” He couldn’t help but ask. “Seriously?”
Hopper turned to him. “Do you want there to be more?”
Jonathan shook his head.
Hopper took a sip of coffee, then set it down on the table. “It’s your life, kid. Not mine. Am I thrilled? Hardly. Is it any of my business? No. Am I glad this means you won’t be marrying Wheeler’s sister anytime soon? Immensely. Like hell did I want to be tied to that disrespectful little shit.”
Jonathan snorted. Joyce smacked Hopper on the arm, but even she was trying to hide her smile.
“Jim, honestly. You know if-”
“No. Don’t say it. Don’t even think it.” He interrupted her, shooting him a warning look.
Joyce held her hands up in defeat. “Alright, you win.” Hopper let out a slow breath, relaxing into his seat. “Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.” She added with a teasing smile.
Jonathan let out a slow breath of his own. Relieved that the conversation was finally moving on. Last night had been…interesting. He’d never planned on hooking up with Steve, stumbling home with him in the dead of night. And yet that’s exactly what had happened. After the mess that had happened between him and Nancy, he’d been feeling pretty low. Lower than normal. And Steve…well Steve knew exactly what he was going through. So after a few drinks, things just sorta happened. It didn’t help that Steve kept insisting he thank him for saving his life.
So where did that leave him now? That was the million dollar question. Him and Nancy were officially done. Due to go off to college in the fall. And Steve had already made his escape, before they even had a chance to talk about what had happened between them.
Jonathan poured himself another cup of coffee. He damn well needed it.
Will and El finally returned, dressed and ready to start the day. The two were bickering playfully as they served themselves breakfast.
“Your lunches.” Joyce came over and dropped the paper bags on the table.
El stared at hers with shining eyes. She turned to Joyce and gave her a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
Joyce returned the smile, squeezing her shoulder before sitting down next to Hopper. “You’re welcome.”
For a moment, nobody said anything. They just sat and watched as El started eating. A tear trickled down her cheek. Without a word, Jonathan handed her a tissue. She took it with a small sniffle.
“Can we get a dog?” Will asked all of a sudden.
Hopper immediately groaned. “Jesus Christ, kid. Not this again.”
Will grinned back, glancing at El out of the corner of her eye. She was smiling now, more relaxed than she had been before. Grateful for the distraction.
“Aww, but why? We could go to the shelter. Find one for cheap. Give it a good home. You know, like you gave us a good home.” Will tried, giving his most innocent smile.
Jonathan choked on his eggs, somewhat diminishing the effect as they all scrambled to keep him alive. Once the crisis was averted, Hopper turned to glare at him.
“That was low kid, especially for you.”
Will winced. “So, no dog?” He tried one last time. Hopper’s expression didn’t change. He sighed. “No dog.” He confirmed to El.
She nodded, giving a little frown of her own, before placing her hand on his. “You tried. Thank you.”
The two returned to their breakfast, finishing it quickly. Just as they finished, a car honked outside.
“That’s the guys. Thanks Mom, love you. Bye Dad, bye Jonathan. Love you too.” Will said, rushing over to grab his backpack, as Joyce helped El put on hers. He grabbed their lunches too, handing one to her.
El beamed, holding onto it tightly as the two of them rushed out of the door.
“You know Jim…” Joyce’s voice could be heard behind them, followed by another loud groan. Will smirked.
Outside, Mike waved at them from behind the wheel. It had been a very recent gift, courtesy of the US government, as they desperately tried to buy the silence of those most afflicted by what had happened. With both of his parents still in the hospital, Mike and Nancy had used Murray’s help to squeeze them for every penny they could. Securing a decent ride for him, after just getting his license last month, and putting enough aside for all three Wheeler kids to go to a college of their choosing.
“Holy shit, El!” Dustin yelled. His head poked out of the backseat as he beamed at them both. “He finally said yes?”
El laughed. “He did! I’m going to school with you guys.”
Mike and Dustin whooped as she clamboured into the back. Lucas and Max would meet them there, the latter still relying on her wheelchair to help her get around. Like Mike, Lucas too had fought hard to get some kind of settlement. So he could get his own ride to help take Max to her appointments. They had all fought hard to get what was owed to them.
“Will, come on, I saved you a spot.” Mike gestured to the passenger seat. He was smiling at him, the sun shining on his face in a way that made his eyes sparkle.
Will gave him a nervous smile, hastily climbing inside and turning to put his seatbelt on. Trying desperately to ignore the flutters in his chest. Reminding himself that Mike wasn’t like that. That he never would be.
Together they drove to school, chatting about anything and everything as they drove through the town. After the fight, things weren’t quite back to normal, but they were getting there. Slowly but surely. Max was proof of that.
For just over a week now, Max had been allowed to return to school. The school board had welcomed her back with open arms, hailing her slow recovery as a miracle and trying to milk it for all they could. Everyone knew it was the real tragic stories that got the most funding. And nobody was more tragic than the girl who lost her step-brother, was attacked by a serial killer and who almost lost her life.
“Max!”
El was the first to scramble out of the car once Mike had parked. She raced over to her best friend, flinging her arms around her with joy. Max stared at her wide-eyed and let out a disbelieving laugh.
“El, you’re here? What the hell?” She turned to Will for an explanation, still squeezing her as tightly as she could.
Will chuckled, scratching at the back of his neck and giving her a sheepish smile. Mike stood next to him, pressing ever so slightly against him.
“Dad said yes.” El interrupted him before he could speak. “I can come to school with you now.” She added.
Max gaped at her. Then much to her mortification, tears started to well in her eyes. El noticed first, of course she did, and quickly pulled her into another hug so that passers by couldn’t see.
The boys watched on, grinning madly at each other and trying to blink back tears of their own. It was really happening. They were all together at last. Vecna was dead. The Upside Down was gone and life could finally move on.
“Hey.” Mike whispered to Will, while the others were still distracted. “Did you know about this?” He asked.
Will shook his head. “They just told us today.”
He bit his lip, trying to push back the tears. The last thing he needed was to give the other students even more ammo to hurt him with. He had already realised he was queer, that his bullies had been right all along. He didn’t need to make things worse by crying in public.
El and Max finally broke apart, sniffling softly as Lucas took the lead. He started pushing Max’s wheelchair towards the doors. The others followed, glaring at anyone who dared to try and say anything mean. But strangely, no one did. Not anymore.
Since the battle, none of them had realised it, but they had all changed. They were confident now. No longer afraid. Ready to fight for those they loved and give everything they had to win.
The other students noticed that. They stayed clear. Confidence like that didn’t just appear out of nowhere. It was built from something. But none of them were brave enough to ask what that something was. Instead, they just watched from the sidelines. Trying not to get involved. Trying to keep their heads in the sand, so to speak.
“Oh, I almost forgot. Here.” Mike muttered to Will, handing him a tiny figure.
The Party were all stood at Max’s locker, waiting for the bell to ring. Just chatting to each other and trying to catch El up on how high school worked in Hawkins. She already had her schedule in hand and Dustin was going crazy trying to help her with it.
Will took it, giving a hesitant chuckle. “What’s this for?” He asked, even as his heart clenched.
It was him, Will the Wise. As a sorcerer this time. His hand stretched out, palm facing up. Will felt a lump in his throat. He turned to Mike, desperate for an explanation. One that would actually make sense.
“I just figured you’d need a new one now. One that showed how far you’d come. I kind of figured it’d make a nice anniversary present, you know. But uh, well I didn’t want to wait anymore.” Mike replied, giving him a shy little smile.
The air around them changed. It felt different, more heated. Charged almost, like the air was full of static. Full of promises that something powerful was there.
Will blinked. “Uh, cool. Thanks, Mike.” He smiled back, pocketing the figure before anyone else could see it. “I love it.” He added, seeing Mike’s face drop a little.
Mike beamed back. He almost took a step forward, then seemed to catch himself. “Right, cool. That’s…that’s cool.”
“What anniversary?” Will started to ask, but was interrupted by El coming over to grab his arm.
“Will, are you in my homeroom?” She asked, shoving her schedule in his face.
Immediately his attention turned to her, making him forget what he was trying to ask. Mike hadn’t quite heard him and leaned in close trying to see the paper too.
“Uh, yeah. And in my first period too.” Will answered. “Mike’s too.” He added.
El breathed out a sigh of relief, trying to hide the way her fingers had started to shake. After everything that had happened last year, she couldn’t help but feel nervous about how today would go.
She had noticed everyone’s eyes on her. The way they silently judged her. Well she was judging them too. They could look all they wanted and say what they wanted. But she and her friends were the real heroes, not them. She just had to keep remembering that.
The bell finally rang, cutting off any more conversation. Collectively, they all groaned.
“You ready to go?” Will turned to her, smiling softly.
El closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She re-opened them once more and nodded. “Let’s go.”
Life was finally good for her. It was getting better every day. And as she headed towards homeroom, she couldn’t help but notice the way Mike kept looking at her brother. The way he used to look at her. Full of warmth and love and all the best kind of feelings. Maybe part of her was a little sad, more so because neither of them had admitted to dating yet. But a bigger part of her was just happy for Will. Happy that he would finally get his happy ending too.
If only she knew the truth.
Mike followed them, trying to look normal. An impossible task, when his eyes kept lingering on his secret boyfriend. On the one person he had never stopped loving, even if that love had changed and evolved over time. But he knew he couldn’t do anything. He couldn’t say anything either. Not until Will gave him the signal. Not until Will said it was okay. Only then would they tell their friends. Only then would they be able to admit they were in love, to those closest to them.
There was only one slight flaw with that plan. Will was completely clueless about it all. About Mike’s feelings, about the unspoken confession, about all of it. For a storyteller, Mike really sucked at explaining things sometimes. As he was about to find out.