Chapter Text
***
And I can hear her sing and I know she's giving up
And I don't know what to do, how to help her
How to bring her home
And I can hear him break and he doesn't understand
And I wish that I could take his hand
But where I'm going is for me and me alone
And I can hear her sing
“If I don't make it back from where I've gone
Just know I loved you all along”
***
As the music stopped, Mike felt his heart stutter. Max looked at him with wide eyes and he swallowed. They might not know the words but he does. He loved this song because he sang it with Will. He loved- he loved Will. Mike moved forwards, “I would tell you that I loved you.” He sang out and locked eyes with Will. “If I thought that you would stay. But I know that it's no use and you've already gone away.”
He didn’t look at El, Nancy, or Max, keeping his gaze locked on Will. El had her eyes squeezed shut and seemed to be holding Will in place. “Misjudged your limits,” He continued and blinked back tears at another flicker of Will. “Pushed you too far. Took you for granted.” He didn’t look away from Will, he couldn’t. Not when the lyrics mixed with his thoughts and his guilt. Will/Vecna was struggling and Mike pushed on. “Thought that you needed me more, more, more. Now I would do most anything. To get you back by my side.”
He moved closer and closer until he was a foot away and pulled him into a hug. “But I just keep on laughing. Hiding the tears in my eyes.” He sang with as much emotion as he could. Thinking of all those moments where it had just been the two of them. All this time Mike had pushed Will away, afraid of his feelings. “'Cause boys don't cry, boys don't cry, boys don't cry.” He sang into Will’s ear, waiting but ready to start again if need be.
“I- I thought we were supposed to go crazy together?” He chokes out and Will startled in his grip. He’s shoved back and Will’s eyes are frantic. He can’t tell if it was Will or Vecna as he stumbled backward. But then El’s holding Will still and looks like she’s miming ripping something apart. A shadow of red dust funnels out of Will and Mike catches him before he can hit the ground. “Will?” He shakes the younger boy, unable to look away from him. “Will, come on. Come back to me, I need you to come back to me. You’re my heart, Will. Please come back to me.” He begs, taking one of Will’s hands in his.
“Mike?” Will’s voice is faint but it’s there.
He uses his free hand to cup Will’s face and he just says it. “I love you,” It comes out strong and Will blinks up at him with wide eyes. “I love you more than anything else in the world.” He promises and Will uses a shaky hand to bring him down to press their lips together. It doesn’t feel like fireworks, there’s no danger in it. It feels like he’s a kid again, at the Byers, curled up in a blanket fort with Will. They were watching some movie, sharing body heat under a blanket. It was just the two of them and it was perfect. Until it wasn’t.
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Eddie uses the bond that has connected him and Steve all this time. He ignores the bats that want to hurt. He ignores the fight, and he falls straight into Steve's mind. The world was dark like it normally was. But for the first time, it was like Eddie's brain was clear enough to understand. The floor was black with a layer of water that his feet sunk into. It would’ve looked peaceful if there weren’t cracks in the ground and red scars. But in the middle of all the wreckage was Steve.
Steve in Eddie's Iron Maiden crop top with Robin's pastel pink cardigan over it and a pair of jeans. And as Eddie moved closer, Steve spotted him. His glasses rested gently on his nose, and he flickered for a moment, his body covered in blood and scars before it was just him again. "Eds?" Steve questioned, moving closer, and Eddie met him in the middle. When he reached out, he noticed his own clothes. He was wearing Steve's yellow sweatshirt under one of Wayne's worn blue flannel with his black ripped jeans. Both of them are in outfits of comfort and love.
Steve’s right hand moved to cup his face and Eddie leaned into it. He watched as the sleeve drops down his arm and notices black ink trailing up his arm. Steve notices his gaze and shrugs off his sweater. Eddie traces some of the lines and he finally pulled Steve into a tight hug. Steve instantly melted into him and they held each other so closely. "Hey Stevie," Eddie whispers and it gets a laugh. Steve’s laugh was so full of joy even now.
Steve’s face buries into his shoulder and Steve’s voice is soft. “God, I’ve missed you,” Steve whispers and Eddie blinks back the tears in his eyes. “I thought you promised to live for me?” Steve’s eyes are so open and Eddie can see the pain in them.
It makes him swallow hard, “I know. I’m really sorry but I’m here now.”
“And I understand if you don’t trust me because of it but I really need you to trust me right now.” Eddie starts but he’s cut off by another soft chuckle.
Steve rolled his eyes and leaned into Eddie, "I will always trust you. You never have to ask me to trust you, Eds, I already do."
Eddie tries not to let the tears fall because of his kind words, but it doesn't work. "Steve, you don't understand. I'm not who I used to be. I've killed people, Steve."
Steve nodded, "I know. But I also know that you’re my Eddie. My home. And I know that you have been going through your own story as I've lived mine." He's so confident that Eddie nods. "So, Eds, what do you want me to do?"
Eddie took a deep breath and placed his hands on Steve’s temples, “I’ll take care of everything. I promise all you need to do is trust me.” Eddie's hands shake and for a moment he gets a flash of his rings covered in blood, black claws, and black veins curling up his arms then it’s gone again. His hands are smooth against Steve’s face and he swallows, wishing they’d stay this way.
“I trust you, love,” Steve hums.
Eddie let the shadow out and it fluttered around. It leaked into the ground and seemed to smooth everything back out. The reddish glow disappeared and Eddie held Steve carefully as it continued to heal up what it could. “I’m going to save you,” Eddie promised.
“I know,” Steve murmured and Eddie backed away. Eddie opens his eyes back to see the way Steve was strung up to the wall. As Eddie looks deep into Steve and there's nothing there, the link connecting Vecna and Steve was gone.
“Eds, please,” Steve whispers and Eddie opens his eyes to gently grab at Steve. Pulling him from the vines. The vines gently let him go, muted apologies pressed into Steve’s skin until he was completely free.
Steve’s knees buckle as his weight lands on his feet and Eddie easily catches him. “It’s okay darling, I’ve got you.” He promises and Steve’s eyes crack open. “I’m not going anywhere.”
He shallows back the pain at seeing Steve so hurt, the arm that was missing. He focuses on the way Steve smiles up and him and murmurs, “I trust you.”
He lets out a small noise from the back of his throat and a few bats fly into the room. “Help me,” he begs them, begs the shadow. A laugh echoes into the air and the bats move towards him. They drop down around them and Steve tenses but doesn’t move. Steve was trusting Eddie to help him. The bats press their apologies into Steve’s skin and Eddie looks at Steve’s left arm. There's burnt skin wrapped around it like something seared his flesh. It was the same goo from the vines that were filled with nutrients Eddie's needed to survive since he awoke. But the damage done to it was enough to cause Eddie to growl low and deadly.
Steve huffs and grips his arm with his other hand. “I love you.” He says like it’s nothing and Eddie fights the urge to squirrel him away. Keep him locked away so he stays safe, never to be harmed by anything ever again. “my Abhaile,” Steve says like it’s a secret.
Eddie smiles, “I love you too my beautiful melody.”
Eddie waves the others over and they look nervous at the sight of the bats. Wayne drops down across from him and Eddie moves Steve into his lap. He presses a kiss to Steve’s forehead, “I need to finish this but I will be right back.” He promised and Steve panicked, gripping him tighter. “Hey, I’m not going to disappear again. You trust me, right? Then trust me when I say I’m going to be right back.” He locks eyes with Wayne and smiles. Wayne gives him a small nod and Eddie gently pulls Steve’s hand back and hands it to Dustin. Then he stands and walks to the window.
He steps off the side and drops. The shadow wraps around him and brings him to the main fight. He lands in front of Lucas and roars at the creatures attacking his found family. Everything seems to pause and black oozes from Eddie. “This is over,” He orders and feels the shadow in his every word.
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El had to truly dig to feel like she grabbed all of Henry. The music seemed to be making Will fight. Like he was trying to pull away from a hug and El took the space quickly. Digging her fingers in and pulling. Henry struggled and fought but he was overconfident. He thought he was strong in his new form but El could tell how much weaker he was. How much weaker they made him. It made her smile as she ripped one of the red tendrils from Will, then another, and another.
Until El completely ripped Henry away from Will with the help of Mike and Will’s own fight in his mind. She pulls and pulls until red dust fills the room and she directs it up into the air. She watches tendrils spilling out of the cloud and pulling tighter. A part of it split off as she screamed, “Max!” And Max rolled to her feet, grabbing a can of hairspray and a lighter. Turning the flame onto Henry and burning him in place. Blood drips down her face but she keeps holding him still. She can feel the way she lifts off the ground in the effort it takes. Her voice feels rough from screaming but as she feels the way Henry crumbles under her hands it’s worth it.
She drops her hands and would’ve fallen to the ground if Max hadn’t been there. Max grips her tight and El is so tired she could cry. But it isn’t over. The battle is still going on. She pushes herself up and sees Joyce slowly moving. However, then she sees Nancy. Nancy’s hands are covered in blood and her entire body is trembling. El moves as fast as she can to Nancy’s side and glances around. Joyce is moving to Will and Mike is allowing Will to be taken away from him. Max is standing there frozen until El locks eyes with her. Then she’s moving to the med kit and that catches Mike’s eye.
He looks confused for a moment before his gaze lands on Nancy. Then he’s scrambling over to them. His lands land over Nancy’s on her side and she gives him a tight smile before looking at El. “Finish this,” she tries to order but it comes out more as a plea. El nods and she listens as a roar sounds outside. Max and Mike surround Nancy as she does her best to tell them what to grab out of the kit. Nancy still trying to stay strong and in control of the situation. El stands on wobbling feet and pushes through the door.
Eddie’s in the middle of everything and the dust of the Mind Flayer roll off him in waves. “Supergirl,” he grins, and El notices how the monsters are staying back. “Let’s end this, yeah?” He questions and El’s confused for a moment before Eddie roars and red tendrils appear in her sight. They’re tied into the environment and the monsters… and El understands. She holds her arms out and screams. The red tendrils of Henry scramble from her but she pulls them taut. Eddie moves fast, slipping between the trees and monsters. His claws cut through the red and they fade to black.
Eddie’s large wings blur the battlefield and soon El has no more red to eliminate. She dropped her hands and when she almost hit the ground Lucas was there, helping her. Eddie roared at the monsters still there and they all disappeared into the trees like they never wanted to be here in the first place. The bats, however, kept circling around and Eddie nodded toward them. The cloud above descended and funneled into the shape of a woman. El moved to defend her family but Eddie was smiling and she trusted him even now. She closed her eyes and could see the way the red was smothered, killed. She could feel the Upside Down hivemind and the relief coursing through it. There’s not a smidge of Henry left it wasn’t under his control anymore.
She lets out a relieved laugh before melting into Lucas. “He’s dead,” she says softly.
We thank you… the dust woman echoes. For that alone, I grant you safe passage out. However, if you return, I will let my children end you. The demo creatures move away from them and El realizes they truly won. Go now, children.
“Steve-” Hopper starts but it cut off.
The young one is already healing. My children have shown upon your… party. They will protect all of you. They kin with you. They too have been tainted by the one you call Henry. The ones you call Nancy and Steve will need much rest but they will live. My vessel will need rest once all of me leaves him as well.
The door opens behind her and Dustin is the first one out the door. Following him are the others. Joyce with Will leaning against her. Robin and Chrissy leaned against each other, holding each other up. They're covered in scratches and a few bite marks, no doubt from the bats that fluttered around them now. They looked exhausted and Robin’s thigh was bleeding heavily but there was a ripped piece of fabric slowing it already. Nancy was between Mike and Max, a bat perched on her shoulder. The wound was bandaged up but El could tell it wasn’t as bad as it had been. Then lastly it was Steve and Wayne. Wayne held most of Steve’s weight but a bat was also helping, the tail wrapped around his shoulder, helping him up. They were still alive.
Relief flowed through her at the sight of Steve, even if he looked worse for wear. Except… he was looking around. His eyes landed on her for a moment and he smiled at her, making her knees weak. She hears Dustin cheer and she can’t help but laugh in relief as well. She notices Eddie moving towards Steve before he crumbles to the ground. Steve and Wayne, (mostly Wayne) shout their worries. Steve tries but the bat tugs him, slowing him down. El calls and feels like the dust woman’s laugh is in her mind. Like their worry was amusing. The young one is fine, for I am letting him go. And El can see the shadows leaking from him. Hopper takes Steve from Wayne so that Wayne can move to Eddie and El winces as Eddie’s body shifts and changes.
You should all get moving, before the gates close for good. The woman states and El’s too tired to move. She feels a hand rest on the top of her head and blinks her eyes open. It feels like the dust woman is smiling down at her. Young Eleven, we thank you. Rest now, the voice echoes and El can’t help but listen.