Chapter Text
The battle with Vecna ended, and Hawkins was thrown into confusion. The townspeople came face to face with a reality that turned out to be much more frightening than they could have imagined. But there were no answers to the questions about what was happening. Chief police officer Jim Hopper, trying to restore at least a semblance of order, hastened to explain what happened as the vagaries of nature: earthquakes, abnormal weather events, gaping cracks in the ground, ash that settled on the streets. And although his words sounded convincing, they could not calm the residents. Many, gripped by fear, left their hometown, trying to escape the nightmare memories. Safety now took precedence over everything else for them. Those who witnessed the battle had no choice - they could not leave. They were the only ones who knew what was hidden behind the mysterious events, and therefore, in order not to leave the city to the mercy of fate, they gathered a week after the battle. Time was running out, and no one knew when a new threat would appear. Training became a necessity and had to begin immediately.
At first, the fighters tried to work in groups or pairs: Dustin with Steve, Nancy with Jonathan, Mike with El, Joyce with Hopper. However, Will did not want to train with anyone. He chose solitude, not wanting to be out of place again, as he once was in California. Despite their “reconciliation,” he couldn’t help but notice how Mike, openly delighted, looked at his stepsister, and not at him. Will still loved both Mike and El, but he suppressed his feelings and resigned himself to their happiness. However, every day it became more and more difficult for him and Mike to maintain even simple communication. Mike seemed to be not only indifferent, but not even trying to understand what was happening. This became increasingly clear as Will, through the sheer curtains of his window, saw Mike and El happily spending time together.
A year passed and all threat seemed to have disappeared from Hawkins. The Demops, last seen in the summer of 1987, have not appeared again. The police continued to patrol the city, but in early 1988 announced that the anomalies would not happen again. The capital's authorities even allocated huge funds to restore the city, and Hawkins became a popular tourist destination. The houses filled with life again, and those who had left the city returned. Hawkins seemed to be reborn, transforming, becoming a place full of new meaning.
The Wheeler family never learned about the battle with Vecna, or where Mike was all this time. They perceived his silence as another teenage isolation, deciding that this was normal - “our boy is growing up and does not want to share his personal life.” However, a year after the victory, Mike decided to introduce his girlfriend, El, to his parents. By that time, her hair had grown noticeably, and she looked like an ordinary girl, without arousing suspicion. No one knew that behind his appearance was a person capable of controlling the minds of others and easily destroying the space around him.
Mike and El's relationship was complex, contradictory and unstable, like a furious see-saw swinging in both directions. These relationships have long become a kind of mechanism, not very healthy and filled with hidden manipulations, lies and concealment. Meetings became just a habit, an obligation. There was no change, and perhaps that was the main problem. The tension between the Byers and Wheelers was palpable, which was surprising given that their shared experiences should have united them. However, in their case it only stretched the distance.
A breakup, if it happened, would be the spark that would ignite the flame, destroying their shared past and ending a story that had barely begun.
What about friends... There was no longer that group of six: Mike, El, Will, Dustin, Lucas and Max. The children, of course, met each other and maintained some kind of connection, but their communication became noticeably worse, less frequent and lost its previous colors. The guys stopped getting together as a group. They separated.
Max came out of her coma six months after the battle. It was painfully difficult to realize that you had to learn to do everything all over again. Hold your head, talk, eat on your own, sit, stand. Lucas visited her every three days, reading her favorite authors. El went to see her once a week, and the rest once every six months or a month. But it was Lucas’s faith that forced Max to take action and gave birth to the desire to get out of this state and live a normal life. After another year and a half, the girl already knew how to stand and move in a wheelchair, which everyone was incredibly happy about.
Jim and Joyce finally went on that long-awaited date that they had been putting off for so long. Six months after the incident, they got engaged and moved in together, adopting Odie. The man hired his wife to work in his office, because she had an excellent understanding of situations, skillfully compared facts and was quite smart. The family was happy.
Jonathan did not part with Nancy, and still spent all his free time with her, which, unfortunately, was terribly small. The guy completely immersed himself in photography, devoted himself entirely to photographs, films and equipment. His works were always valued at high prices, so there were no problems with money.
Will tried to muffle his feelings for Mike, pouring out all his emotions on paper. Perhaps partly because of his sympathy for his friend, the guy moved away from Wheeler so as not to torment either himself or him. He tried to forget Mike, because there was zero chance. Only at night, in his hot fantasies, under his closed eyelids, the silhouette of a guy appeared, either changing his clothes, or biting his plump lips or touching Will. After such innocent dreams and ideas, more erotic scenes began to emerge, making you feel tightness in your pants and an aching pulsation in your lower abdomen. The guy tried with all his might to drive them away, to remove his hand from the terribly irregular stone riser, but his body did not listen, nor did his thoughts. The desire to imagine this as clearly as possible, even though it was quite difficult, tore the guy apart from the inside, creating a pulling knot and a pleasant tingling sensation.
“One more time... The last time...“- the guy thought and returned his hand to the penis leaking with pre-cum, instantly choking on the warm wave of pleasure enveloping his entire body. Will barely forced himself to suppress his groan, pressing his teeth into his lips and raising his eyebrows.
There was no room in his head for shame, embarrassment or awkwardness, for all thoughts were filled with gradual outbreaks of manifestations of his immodest fantasies. The guy’s ragged breathing, a naughty body that moves in rhythm with the movements of his hands, teeth biting his plump lips to hide sweet moans - all this was difficult to imagine, but his artistic skills were very useful in this. Trembling knees, feet, blurry eyes and head thrown back...
When Will approached the climax, he tried to imagine that Mike was doing all this to him, that it was he who made him feel so good, that he liked to see Will so broken, thirsty and impatient, so desperate... And as soon as he succeeded, the guy swallowed the collected saliva, rolled his eyes and twitched, pouring out pearly transparent liquid, imagining Mike's lips sucking up his sperm.
After the next “sessions,” Will felt devastation and guilt for such fantasies, and each time the hatred and disgust became stronger. But, having failed to cope with the need for more than a day, he again returned to his secret pranks.
Again and again.
After Eddie's death, Dustin, although he lost a part of himself, did not allow himself to withdraw, abandon his friends and remain in the past. He accepted the inevitability of loss, realizing that a person cannot be returned, and he needs to move forward.The phrase Eddie said always sounded in his head: “Dustin Henderson, never change.” And Dustin tried his best to follow this advice, because he promised. He promised that he would remain the way Eddie remembered him. Not giving up - that could be the best tribute to a friend. Dustin continued to communicate with Susie, improving the radio station and placing it in his yard. Its power was now ten times that of Cerebro. Talking to a girl has become much easier and more comfortable. There was no need to get out of the city, rushing from forest to field, from field to hill. Once he even persuaded his mother to let him go to Susie for a week, which he was immensely happy about. Dustin also made sure to visit his friends, bringing them something to eat every time. It was the same this time.
Byers House.
After the wedding, Hopper bought a two-story house a kilometer from Joyce's old house. Will's room was on the second floor, in the attic. Painted walls, on top of which various drawings were hung, a vine enveloping them and as if protecting them from something dangerous, a bunch of albums on the shelves, an easel near the bed created Byers’ cozy corner. Will himself sat at the table opposite the window, with one hand resting on his chin and drawing. Thin fingers carefully ran a pencil over the paper, applying warm shades of green, brown and yellow, trying to transfer the view outside the window onto the canvas.
“I love summer,” Will thought, listening to the soft rustle of wind outside the window blending with the birdsong. His fingers carefully guided the pencil across the paper, adding the final touches to the landscape he had been working on for several days.
Somewhere in the distance, his mother’s voice called out:
“Will! Dustin’s here!”
He straightened up, quickly glanced at his hands smeared with paint, and hurried to the sink. Warm water washed away the traces of creativity just as he heard Dustin loudly talking in the hallway.
“Coming, Mom!” Will shouted, drying his hands on a towel before running to meet his friend.
“Henderson!” Will grinned widely when he saw him. “What are you doing here?”
“Surprised?” Dustin stepped forward, throwing his arms open for a hug. “Good to see you, man!”
“Good to see you too. How’ve you been?”
“Alive and kicking, as you can see. What about you?”
“I’m doing okay...” Will began, but Dustin suddenly pointed at his shirt.
“Dude, you’ve got a stain here. Red. Is that blood or—”
“Oh! It’s just paint!” Will quickly rubbed the spot, only smearing it even more. “I was drawing before you got here.”
“Ah, got it. Anyway, I brought snacks,” Dustin said, patting his backpack. “Maybe we could watch a movie?”
“Great idea. Come on in,” Will said, gesturing toward the door.
“Hey, is El home?”
“No, she’s with Mike right now. Actually... things haven’t been going too smoothly between them lately,” Will replied, frowning slightly.
“Seriously? They should take notes from Lucas and Max. Or from me and Suzie!” Dustin proudly adjusted his hair, trying to imitate Steve’s signature move.
“You guys are in a long-distance relationship. That’s different.”
“Exactly!” Dustin protested. “We’re miles apart and still understand each other. Those two are face to face all the time and still fight like kittens.”
“I don’t know...” Will started to say, but their conversation was interrupted by Mrs. Byers.
“Dustin, are you hungry? I made pancakes — with honey and jam!”
“Mrs. Byers, I could never say no to your pancakes!” Dustin replied enthusiastically.
Dustin was already holding a plate of hot pancakes when a loud shout suddenly tore through the quiet house.
“I hate him!”
El slammed the door upstairs, and something crashed loudly below.
“What was that?” Dustin froze with the pancakes in his hands.
Will slowly turned toward the staircase, tension creeping into his shoulders.
“I think that was El...” he murmured. “Maybe she had a fight with Mike.”
“A fight?”
Will only nodded as they cautiously started heading upstairs.
“Has it ever been this bad before?” Dustin asked as they entered Will’s room.
“Not that I remember,” Will replied, his voice tight.
“Man... that sucks. But these pancakes are still amazing,” Dustin said, taking another bite.
“Glad you like them!” Mrs. Byers called happily from the kitchen.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to bother her right now,” Will said quietly. “She probably doesn’t want to see anyone.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right. Let’s just hope your mom doesn’t start interrogating her.”
“I’m sure we’ll find out sooner or later.”
The boys sighed and settled into Will’s room.
“Wow, still messy in here,” Dustin chuckled, sitting down on the bed.
“It’s creative chaos. Don’t judge.”
They sat there eating their snacks and watching *Poltergeist 3*, talking about all sorts of things without noticing how quickly time passed. Five hours slipped by before they even realized it.
“Alright... I should probably get going,” Henderson said, standing up and stretching his back until it cracked loudly.
“Oh no, Dustin...” Will groaned, covering his ears. “That sound makes my whole body twitch. Stop!”
“But it feels so good,” Dustin teased, continuing to crack his joints. “Instant relief.”
“Yeah, yeah. Just go already,” Will laughed, lightly pushing him toward the door and following him out.
Later that evening, as darkness slowly settled outside, Mrs. Byers called everyone down for dinner.
Will quickly got up from his chair and went downstairs.
“Will, could you talk to El?” Joyce asked, leaning against the counter. “She hasn’t come out of her room once, and I’m worried about her. I’d try myself, but I think you two have a stronger connection.”
“Okay, Mom. I’ll do my best.”
“Thanks, sweetheart. But eat first before it gets cold!”
El sat on her bed, a tearful girl who only wanted honest and happy love. Curling into her knees, she still couldn’t get over what had happened.
Why had Mike lied?
Why had he quietly kept taking advantage of her kindness, her affection, her love?
She had never asked for much — just love and attention.
“That was really good!” Will said after quickly finishing his plate of spaghetti with cheese. Then he went upstairs.
“El? Can I come in?”
She heard the knock and his quiet voice behind the door. The door opened slightly — not by telekinesis, but by her trembling hands.
“Come in...”
“Do you want to tell me what happened? Is it about Mike?” Will asked gently, sitting beside her.
“Yes...” she sniffed. “I asked him, ‘So… are we dating?’ And he just looked at me with that stupid expression and didn’t say anything. Idiot.”
“That’s weird... You two kissed and hugged. What else could that have meant?”
“Exactly!” El snapped. “He’s an idiot! He used me! But for what?!”
She buried her face in Will’s shoulder, wrapping her arms around him.
“You’ll make up,” Will said softly. “He’ll come running back to you, begging you to take him back.”
Will wanted his sister to be happy so badly that he would sacrifice his own feelings for her. Even for Mike — who loved her... or maybe loved her once.
“I don’t want someone like that,” El whispered as tears streamed down her face.
Will realized words wouldn’t help right now. Instead, he simply moved closer, letting her cry. Soon a large wet stain appeared on his shirt.
“Sorry...” she sniffled, wiping her tears.
“It’s nothing,” Will replied quietly. “I just don’t know what to say. You were together for so long... and now he doesn’t even know what it meant.”
“We broke up. It’s over. Let him mess with someone else’s nerves.”
“You’re just going to let him go like that?” Will asked, suddenly remembering how long he had waited for Mike’s feelings to be returned.
But he wasn’t going to give up.
“Of course. What else am I supposed to do? Why would I want such an indecisive guy? He’d make a great friend, but as a boyfriend... not so much.”
“I believe everything will work out,” Will said gently. “If being friends makes you happier, that’s cool too. But honestly? I still think he’ll come back apologizing. Remember how long we ran around the mall trying to find your birthday gift? Half a day and we still couldn’t find anything good enough for you.”
“Or maybe Mike just had a three-dollar budget,” El said, the corner of her lips lifting slightly.
“Or that,” Will laughed.
Soon they were both laughing loudly.
Will truly sympathized with his sister, but somewhere deep inside him a tiny spark of hope stirred — a hope that would have died completely if not for this news.
No matter how hard he tried to forget Mike, he couldn’t.
Every dark curly head in the distance reminded him of him. Every time someone mentioned Mike’s name. Every familiar silhouette.
Everything reminded him of him.
“Will, you’re amazing!” Joyce said warmly when she saw him guiding El downstairs by the arm.
“Feeling better?” she asked.
“Yes. If he wants me, he’ll come himself,” El said, quietly starting to eat her salad.
“That’s the spirit! Chin up. No need to cry over boys like that.”
The evening passed peacefully. First Jonathan came home, then Hopper. Joyce told them what had happened, and Jim let out a triumphant sigh.
“Finally! Did it really happen?” he said, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied smile.
“Hop! Show some respect,” Joyce scolded.
“I *did* show respect by not killing Mike on the spot when they were kissing in my house! I told them I’m a cop — I could make the evidence disappear,” he winked before continuing to eat his spaghetti. “By the way, this is the best thing I’ve ever eaten.”
His squinting eyes, satisfied grin, and nodding head clearly gave away that he was teasing. It wasn’t that he didn’t like the food — Hopper simply enjoyed messing with the people he loved.
Calmly. Playfully.
But if someone treated *him* like that, he definitely wouldn’t tolerate it.
“Don’t forget I can hide evidence too!” Joyce shot him a sharp look.
Hopper just laughed — and immediately got smacked on the head with a kitchen towel.