Chapter Text
The party lounged around Will’s house. Eleven leaned up against the couch with Max sitting above her, weaving her hair into a French braid. Dustin was raiding the Byers’ kitchen for snacks. Lucas was lying on the floor throwing a ball up in the air and catching it in a rhythmic thwip, thwip. They almost looked like normal teens playing hooky from school.
It might have felt like a normal day, but Max knew something was wrong. Mike seemed off… Every so often, he glanced at the door and when no one burst through it, he just went back to jiggling his leg anxiously. Max raised her eyebrows and sent him a look that said, calm the hell down, Wheeler. He flipped her off, and she rolled her eyes.
And if Mike was off, Eleven was even worse. Her shoulders had been tensed since that morning, and she’d been biting her nails. She’d only calmed down once Max started braiding her hair. Something her sister only asked the redhead to do when she was mulling something over or dealing with a particularly shitty day.
Eleven had been really quiet over dinner last night too, the kind of quiet that meant something was seriously wrong. Max had tried to figure out what was going on, but El refused to answer any questions. And even more frustrating: Hopper clearly knew what was going on, but neither he nor El would budge. All Max knew was it had something to do with those survivors out in the Wastes…
“How is Will still not here?” Dustin asked.
The curly haired nerd had returned with arms full of demogorgon jerky and hardtack crackers.
“Yeah, it’s Byers’ house, shouldn’t he have gotten here first?” Lucas added.
“He’ll be here soon,” Mike said absently.
“Can’t you just tell us what’s going on already?” Max asked.
“I think… I think Will should be the one to…” Mike trailed off.
Mike stared at the door with all the confidence of a wife waiting for her husband to come home from a milk run. Max was getting really tired of this, and not just the way Mike was today. It had been years since the party had actually felt like a unit. And lately, it seemed like they were drifting apart, like they were forming into these little groups that barely had anything to do with each other.
Sometimes when they hung out, it was just so obvious. Eleven and Will would mutter about something about the Council, while the other party members just shrugged and discussed something that had happened at school or some other meaningless gossip. And sometimes, Max would catch Mike watching these little asides between his boyfriend and El, clearly feeling left out. Other times, there were things that Eleven could only tell Max, in confidence, which the redhead’s sometimes-boyfriend Lucas, would ask about, forcing Max to just shrug and apologize, in order to keep her sister’s secret. And honestly, it was all a giant mess.
Things between the party were strained and complicated, and after growing up most of her life in a house that was scary as shit and its own, totally different kind of complicated, Max was tired of it. She wanted to be normal. She wanted to live in a normal town with unusual friends that had the usual problems.
But I guess that’s just my life… I never really get what I want. Max grabbed another strand of El’s hair and working it in with the rest.
“Soooo…” Dustin broke the tense silence. “Are you guys dating or what?”
Dustin was obviously trying to fill the time. The same way they always did. He was trying to whittle down the hours until the party was finally filled them in on what the hell was going on.
“They are… on again, off again.” Eleven explained.
Her sister said the words carefully, like they were rehearsed. Max chuckled. She’d been the one to explain to El what the phrase meant. Her sister had been very confused by the concept of dating someone sporadically.
“If you are in love, then why only date some of the time? Why not all of the time?” Eleven had asked.
Max… didn’t have a good answer for that. Her relationship with Lucas was as much of a mess as everything else in her life, and yet somehow, she liked him enough for it to be worth it.
“So, then, are you guys on or off?” Dustin pressed, stuffing an entire cracker into his mouth.
From Max’s vantage point on the couch, she could see Lucas waggling his eyebrows. He tossed the ball up in the air, before catching it and tossing it again. She eyed him flatly. She was getting that feeling again. The one she always got right before the boy said something stupid.
“Oh, we’re always on.” Lucas smirked.
“Off,” Max shot back.
Max fixed him with her own small, self-satisfied smirk. Lucas’ eyes widened. The ball plummeted, smacking him square in the forehead. He bolted upright and leapt onto the couch.
“Off?” he said. “What do you mean off?!”
“Off,” Max repeated.
“Max! Come on! Wha – Did I do something?”
Lucas scooted closer. Max shrugged, focusing intently on Eleven’s nearly complete braid.
“Max please! Whatever it is, I’m sorry, okay? I’m really sorry!”
Lucas clasped his hands in front of him and literally started begging. He scooted even closer, giving her absolutely no elbow room. Was it bad that that somehow made everything even funnier? God, I’m kind of an asshole.
“You’re gonna mess up El’s hair,” Max said
Max nudged him with her shoulder, and he tumbled back onto the other cushion dramatically, only to pop up again moments later.
“Max, I’m serious,” Lucas said. “What do I have to do?”
Max stayed silent for a couple seconds, biting her lip, but she couldn’t contain it any longer… She snorted. Lucas gasped, and glared at her.
“You were fucking with me,” he accused.
“Was I?” Max asked.
“You suck,” Lucas said.
“Yup.” Max finished El’s braid and leaned over towards Lucas, whispering, “But you love me anyway.”
The redhead kissed her currently-on-again boyfriend on the cheek, and Lucas puffed out his cheeks in an adorable pout, before he gently turned her head and kissed her back.
“Hate you,” Lucas said.
“Hate you too,” Max snarked.
“Can you guys get a room?” Dustin complained.
“We have room Henderson. It’s not our fault you’re in it,” Max said.
“Guys, shut up!” Mike said. “I think… I hear him.”
And now that he mentioned it, Max also heard footsteps walking up to the porch. Thank God! Finally, some answers! Now, that Will was here, they would finally fill everyone else in.
The door opened and… Bob Newby stepped into the house. Shit.
Bob stopped in the doorway, looking at all the teenagers in his living room, and he sighed. As he walked inside, two demogorgons trailed after him – the family pets: Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
“Guys… Why are you all here on a Tuesday?” Bob asked.
The man frowned, obviously already knowing the answer.
“It was a… half-day?” Dustin tried half-heartedly.
“It’s not even noon,” Bob pointed out.
“Well, we, uh… We wanted… uhm,” Mike trailed off.
“Listen, Bob,” Max interrupted the pitiful display. “A lot of shit’s going on, and we needed some time to deal with it. We’re all eighteen now–”
“Except Dustin,” Lucas cut in.
“What the hell?!” Dustin glared.
“What? It’s true.” Lucas shrugged.
“And you had to say this now?” Dustin asked. “Your birthday was only–”
“Most of us,” Max spoke over them, “are adults. At least, legally…” The redhead glowered at the two boys, and they promptly shut up. “Whether you like it or not, we can do what we want now.”
“I…” Bob sighed. “Alright. Sure.”
Will’s stepdad shrugged helplessly, leading the two demogorgons to the kitchen and feeding them lunch. The party sat in an uncomfortable silence, until door opened again and this time, Will stomped into the house, little motes of light trailing behind him.
“You too, Will?” Bob asked.
Will waved absently, barely acknowledging his stepdad, and collapsed in front of Mike. He scooted backwards, pulling Mike’s arms around him. Will let his head fall against his boyfriend’s shoulder.
What was that about getting a room? Max thought wryly.
“So?” Mike asked.
Will shook his head.
“Just El,” he said.
“What do you mean ‘just El.’” Max straightened on the couch.
“El’s… El’s the only one going on the mission to find those people,” Will muttered with a scowl.
“Wait. Just El!?” Max asked. “They’re not even giving her a fucking team?!”
“No, she gets a team… I’m just not allowed to be on it,” Will replied.
Max sighed, sinking back down onto the couch. The news sent a wave of relief through her. Of course, she didn’t want Eleven to go out into the Wastes for God only knew how long, but having a sister with super powers meant that sometimes she just left, and as much as Max hated that, she really didn’t have a choice, did she?
Byers should understand that. They might technically be adults, and sure he and El had seats on the New Hawkins Council, but he didn’t seriously think they had any say, right? Then, again golden boy Will Byers didn’t really get told no all that often.
“So?” Max challenged.
“So?! So, I should be going too!” Will scowled.
“Why? ‘Cause you don’t think El can handle it?” Max asked.
Will’s eyes widened, and he lurched forward.
“What? No! I didn’t say that!”
“Why else would you wanna go?”
“Because– Because I should be there!” Will said.
“Eleven is stronger than you. She’s always been stronger than you! And maybe you’re just jealous there’s something she can do that you can’t!” the redhead yelled.
“Shut up!” Mike said. “Will is a million times stronger! You’re the one who’s jealous! Because you don’t have powers!”
“Me? Ha! Don’t try to force your shitty insecurities onto other people, Mike. You’re the one who’s always felt weak. Why else would you keep going to the GSP, even though it was obvious you’d never get powers!”
“Max,” Eleven muttered.
“You’re such an asshole!” Mike shouted.
The dark-haired boy clenched his fists, and if Will wasn’t holding onto his boyfriend’s arms, he probably would’ve tried to punch her in the face. Good thing Will was holding him back, because in a fight, fair or otherwise, Max would absolutely wipe the floor with him. Wheeler was shit at combat.
“It’s not about who’s stronger!” Will growled, the motes starting to swirl around him. “If there’s something going on out there, then it concerns both of us, so we both need to go.”
“You just can’t leave things to other people,” Max accused. “You don’t trust anyone else! You pretend to be tired of all this hero worshipping when you fucking encourage it!”
The room went silent. The motes that had been swirling around Will had stopped dead. Their glow faded until they only emitted a dim little sparkle. His face was blank. It felt like everyone in the room was staring at her.
Max felt a pit of dread building in her gut. She’d run her mouth again, and though she definitely meant what she’d said… she also knew she’d gone too far.
Max considered apologizing… She knew she probably should apologize. But she still didn’t want to back down. It was a shitty way to say it, but Will needed to hear this. He couldn’t just be miserable all the time, expecting things to change without ever actually doing anything about it.
Will took a deep breath, and the glittering lights around him dispersed, flitting back to their original positions in the living room.
“I trust Eleven. I know she can deal with whatever… or whoever is out there.” Will looked up, directing the rest to El. “I’m sorry if I made you feel like you couldn’t do it or – or that you weren’t important. You’re strong, El. Really strong.”
Max could feel Eleven tense up in front of her.
El mumbled something, then got up, fleeing the room and dashing into Joyce’s bedroom. The party stared down the hallway after her, and Max felt like complete and utter shit. No matter how you looked at it, she had started the argument, and somehow, instead of waking Will up, it had just hurt El.
Will started to get up, but Max held up a hand, shaking her head. Reluctantly, the boy sank back down into his boyfriend’s arms, as the redhead, slipped off the couch and followed Eleven into Joyce’s room.
El was sitting on the bed, fiddling with some kind of little antique clock that obviously belonged to Bob. She put it down when Max entered, and her sister attempted a shaky smile that immediately melted into a grimace. Max lowered herself onto the bed next to El.
“So… Why’re you hiding here?” Max asked.
“I… I do not like fighting.” Eleven said.
El smoothed some stray hairs from her braid and carefully moved it over her shoulder. She kept running her hands along it. Her breathing was shallow and strained. Max needed to tread carefully.
“Okay. Yeah. But what’s going on? You were okay until…” Max trailed off. “Did what Byers said upset you?”
“No. Will was…” Eleven glanced away. “Will was being nice. He is kind.”
Max hated it when El shut down like this, bottling all her shit up and thinking that she needed to deal with it by herself. The redhead still remembered when Eleven had been so convinced she was a burden that she’d hadn’t talked for weeks. She was always so concerned about other people’s feelings that sometimes she forgot her own.
“El… It’s just me. And I…” Max chuckled wryly. “I’m kind of an asshole, case you didn’t hear. You can be a little mean. Is it my fault? Because I started the fight?”
“No!” Eleven said, and whispered, “It’s… I do not want to go.”
“On the expedition?” Max asked.
“Yes,” Eleven murmured.
“Why?”
“I am… scared. I do not want to see him again.”
Eleven clutched her arms tighter around herself and almost seemed to shrink.
“Vecna…” Max realized. “But you defeated him before, and El you’re stronger now. You don’t need Will. I know you could overpower him.”
“I…” El inhaled shakily. “Max. I was a monster. I hurt people. If I see him… I could become a monster again…”
Max put a hand on her sister’s shoulder.
“He made you a monster, El,” Max said. “And even when he was all you had, you still got away from him. He doesn’t control you.”
“What if… I am still a monster?” Eleven asked, her voice choked up.
“You’re not,” Max said.
The redhead jumped off the bed to stand in front of her sister. Max ran her hands through her hair. How was she supposed to get through to her? Why couldn’t El see what everyone else did? Eleven shrunk even further onto the bed, and Max realized she’d been pacing.
“Eleven you’ve spent years helping people,” Max said. “There’s no way in hell you’re a monster. If you’re a bad person, then there’s nothing good left in this world.”
“Do you know why they chose me?” El asked.
“Because you’re strong,” Max said.
“No…” Eleven said. “Because they still do not like me. They do not trust me. Will stays to protect them. I go, because I am… expendable.”
“El… Did they use that word?” Max seethed.
Eleven paused for a long time, and the redhead knew the answer even before El spoke.
“… Yes.”
“Who– WHO SAID THAT?!” Max screamed.
Eleven flinched, scooting back on the bed.
“It… It does not matter. They all think it,” Eleven said, her eyes brimming with tears. “I have tried. I have tried very hard to be good. But… I– I am not good.”
“Bullshit, El!” Max shouted. “That’s fucking bullshit!”
“It… It is true,” Eleven’s voice broke. “They… They hate me.”
“Then, fuck them,” Max said. “Because you’re the best damn person I know.”
Max grabbed Eleven and hugged her. Her sister’s shoulder’s shook, and her tears soaked into Max’s hoodie. Max squeezed her tighter, trying to be comforting but also still feeling angry as hell. That good for nothing fucking Council! El had saved New Hawkins, and not only did they still not trust her, but they told her that to her face!?
Max felt Eleven tense again, and so she loosened her grip with an angry sigh. El hated fights, and as much as Max wanted to kick their sorry, pathetic asses, her sister couldn’t stand when people got angry on her behalf. Maybe it reminded her too much of her old self. She’d only ever talked about her time with Vecna once, but based on what she’d said, Max didn’t blame her sister for being scared.
Finally, Eleven’s crying died down, and she pulled away. With a flick of her wrist, she lifted a blanket on the end of the bed and draped it over her own shoulders. She sniffled, trying to wipe the snot away with her hands.
“I’ll get a towel or something,” Max said.
The redhead turned and opened a door, only to find Will standing awkwardly outside. Eavesdropping. Seriously? Typical Byers.
“Get tissues or something,” Max ordered.
Will leaned around her and saw Eleven sniffling with puffy red eyes. He nodded, dashing off to the bathroom. Better he did it, it was his house anyway. And just moments later, he reappeared, tossing a box of unopened tissues to Eleven.
Will came into the room and sat on the floor.
“Sure. Make yourself at home, Byers,” Max scoffed.
“Well, it is my house,” Will huffed.
Max shrugged. Not much to argue with there. And she sat down on the ground across from him. She could hear El blowing her nose and decided to give her a moment to compose herself, while she addressed the elephant in the room.
“Did you know?” Max asked. “What they said about her?”
“Yeah. It was fucked up. Mr. Walsh is a total dickface.” Will scowled. “Hopper, Mom, and I all gave him hell for it, but…”
Will glanced at Eleven. Her shoulders were hunched, as she wrapped the blanket tighter. Will sighed, continuing hesitantly.
“Everyone else was silent too. Even Flo and Mr. Clarke,” Will said. “It really sucked.”
“Is that why you wanna go?” Max asked. “You could’ve said that!”
“I didn’t wanna bring it up again! Jesus!” Will huffed. “And… I really don’t think that El should have to face… him with a bunch of strangers. Do you?”
Max glanced at her sister. She offered the redhead a wane smile. El looked a bit better than before, but Max could tell she was still rattled.
“This whole town is so fucked up. The apocalypse didn’t do it any favors,” Max grumbled.
“That’s why I’m so involved with everything. And it’s why I’m not… you know…” Will sighed. “It’s why I’m letting this stupid ‘hero’ thing keep going.”
“Is it, Byers? Is it really for everyone? Or just yourself?” Max asked.
“I don’t like being worshipped! Stop fucking saying that!” Will growled.
“But you do like being able to walk around with your boyfriend,” Max pointed out.
“So, stopping the homophobes and bigots is a bad thing?” Will asked.
“No, I didn’t say that! I’m just telling you to get off your high horse and realize that everything isn’t always about you. Things aren’t better for everyone.”
“At least they’re better!” Will yelled. “I’m making things better!”
“MAX!” Eleven shouted.
The other two startled, immediately scanning the room for threats.
“S-Sorry…” El said. “I must ask you a question.”
“Uhm, okay?”
“It is about Rule Eight,” Eleven continued.
“Oh God.” Will paled. “Uhm E-El, maybe you should ask this later…”
“Byers. What did you do?” Max asked.
“I didn’t do anything! Why are you always blaming me for everything?” Will pouted.
“Oh, I’m sorry. So, you’re saying this doesn’t have anything to do with you?” Max asked.
“I’m just saying that… Uhm…”
Eleven cut in before Will could think of another BS excuse and told Max about how Will had terrified some jock a couple days ago. Max could see the problem immediately, and while, she wasn’t exactly against beating up bullies, it was gonna set a terrible example for El. Jesus, it was like Will didn’t know how to handle things civilly.
“So, I am confused. Will says scaring Chance is okay, because it helps James. But intimidation is wrong. But… it does not break Rule Eight?” Eleven summarized with a contemplative frown.
“Yeah. So, here’s the thing. Will,” Max said. “Will is a hypocrite.”
“I am not!” Will scoffed.
“Really?” Max raised an eyebrow.
“What’s a hyp… hypocrite?” El asked.
Max turned back to her sister with sardonic smile.
“Well, El. A hypocrite is when you do one thing, but tell other people to do the opposite.”
“I understand. Will is a hypocrite,” Eleven said.
“Max, what the fuck! I’m not a hypocrite!” Will said.
“Oh? Then, what would you call it?” Max asked.
Will grumbled under his breath, but obviously he had no defense for that. Max got on the nose. The situation was a bit more complicated, but honestly, Byers didn’t have to jump in like a dramatic fucker and make it into a spectacle. That was on him.
“I’m not the only hypocrite,” Will said.
“OH really?” Max glared. “You go there, Byers? Because I bet if we make a list of all the times I was a–”
“GUYS! For fucks sake!” Dustin groaned. “Can you both just stop!”
The curly haired boy leaned in the doorframe. How long had he been there?
“He started it,” Max said.
“Me?!” Will said.
Will gathered motes of light around him.
“I SAID STOP!” Dustin yelled. “We’re all fucking adults here. And the party has–”
“Except you,” Max and Will said at the same time.
The two glared at each other for stealing the other’s quip.
“God, I hate all of you,” Dustin said.
Eleven pulled her legs up against her chest, making herself even smaller.
“Not you, El! You’re great. You’re the only sane in this goddamn party. You two,” Dustin whirled on Max and Will. “You need to apologize.”
“Fine, I guess, I’ll accept Will’s apology,” Max said.
“M-My– MY APOLOGY?!” Will shouted. “You should apologize.”
“Ha! To you? No fucking way,” the redhead said.
“Max. He’s right,” Dustin said. “You gotta shake his hand.”
“What? Why me? He started this!” Max said.
“I did not!” Will retorted, sounding like a six-year-old.
“Will! I said quiet,” Dustin said. “You two– Jesus! I swear to God, if you don’t figure your shit out, you’re both getting exiled from the party.”
Lucas appeared behind Dustin.
“You drew first blood, Max,” he said.
“Lucas….” Max narrowed her eyes.
Her boyfriend was really angling for breakup number seventeen, wasn’t he?
“Will… You should apologize too,” Mike added.
“HA!” Max shouted.
Will gaped. A look of utter betrayal.
“That’s not even the rule! I didn’t draw first blood!”
“Well, the rule is kinda dumb,” Mike said. “I think you both should apologize.”
“You’re supposed to be on my side,” Will hissed.
“I am!” Mike insisted.
“You’re not acting like it,” Will grumbled.
“Please,” Eleven said, her voice a bit thick from crying. “Please stop. Do not fight.”
Max sighed. A long, long exhale that ended in a groan. Goddammit. She held out her hand.
“I’m sorry, Will,” she said.
Will frowned, glancing towards Mike. The dark-haired boy narrowed his eyes and tilted his head. Will sighed, and Max knew there was no saying no to that face. Mike looked exactly like his mom when he made it.
Will finally took her hand.
“I forgive you. And I’m sorry too,” he said flatly.
“Good. Jesus. Was that really so hard?” Dustin rolled his eyes.
“Were all of you eavesdropping?” Max asked.
Lucas winced, and his eyes darted towards Dustin. The nerd grimaced and shrugged.
“Yeah…” Mike admitted. “Kinda?”
“We just wanted to know what was going on,” Lucas added. “And it’s total bullshit.”
“Yeah. Total. Bullshit!” Mike said. “I think Will is right. We shouldn’t split the party.”
“We can’t all go.” Max pointed out.
“Says who?” Mike challenged.
“She’s right.” Will said. “There’s a reason expeditions only ever have four to six people. Bigger groups attract demogorgons and they move too slow. And… there isn’t enough space for all that food…”
“So, then, we go. The six of us!” Mike insisted.
“We’re not… We’re not equipped for that. They have training and–”
“Fuck training! We should be sticking together!” Mike shouted.
“Come on, Mike.” Dustin put a hand on the dark-haired boy’s shoulder. “There’s some things, we just… can’t do.”
“You mean things, I can’t do…” Mike mumbled.
“Will should go, at least.” Max said.
Everyone looked toward her, stunned. Just, what, maybe a half-hour ago, she’d said the exact opposite, but… Eleven was scared to go alone. Someone from the party needed to go with her. If there was even the slightest chance that Vecna was back, then there was no way in hell her sister was facing that bastard with a bunch of strangers.
“Like I said… I can’t,” Will said. “El and I fought for it, but we were outvoted. Even Mom didn’t want me to go. And if leader of the ED doesn’t want me on the mission, then I’m screwed.”
“I must wait a month. Until school is over. And then I must go…” El bit her lip. “I must go by myself.”
“Or… Why don’t you two just go?” Dustin asked. “Like next week.”
“But Mrs. Byers. She said, no,” El said.
“If you just left though… nobody could stop you, right?” Max beamed, catching on. “I mean… the two saviors of Hawkins? Is anyone strong enough to stop you two?”
Will grinned. He drew the glittering motes to him, and the lights billowed around him like a fog cloud. The way they light up his smile made it look almost menacing.
“I’d like to see them try.”