"MATERIAL GIRL" // Will Byers x Reader

The Ignition Cable //CHAPTER 23

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M NEVER LEAVING 

'Hey,' Joyce says, pulling me to the side. 'How're you holding up?' 

I sigh, leaning against the wall. 'Okay, I guess.' 

She smiles kindly, rubbing my arm. 'You're doing amazing. Everything's going to work out, you hear me?' 

'Thanks, Joyce,' I say, reaching out to hug her. I breathe in her familiar scent, trying to remember this moment, and praying it's not the last one I'll ever have. 

Hopper's standing by the large fountain, talking to El. She's holding a Coca Cola can in her right fist, nodding at something he's saying. 

'Y/N,' Will says, coming up beside me. 'Hi, Mom.' 

He wraps an arm around my waist and I lay my head against his shoulder. 

Joyce looks at her son, a warm expression on her face. 'I always knew you two would end up together.' 

'Mom,' Will stares at the ground. 

She waves it off, a firmer look coming onto her features. 'Listen to me, I need to end this, but I will be back before you know it, okay?' 

Will hesitates. 'I don't know, Mom.'

'No, listen,' She reaches out to touch him on the shoulder. 'You're gonna be safe there. It's... It's far away from all this.'

'Okay,' Will nods finally, glancing at me. 

'Just make sure you stay close to your brother,' Joyce says, blinking. She inhales deeply before waking over to stand with Hopper. 

Mike, Max, and El join us, watching as the Chief gives us one last glance, shouldering his gun. 

'Mike?' Hopper calls back. 

My brother raises his eyebrows, his shoulders tensing. 

'Be careful.' Hopper nods firmly, turning back to Joyce and Murray. 

And then it's just the seven of us. 

Nancy, Jonathan, El, Mike, Max, Lucas, Will and I. 

It almost feels nostalgic in a way. The group's pretty much reunited, just like we used to be before all of this crazy shit happened and tore us in different directions. 

I hope this is a sign that things are going to get back to normal. 

'You guys ready?' Nancy asks, grabbing her car keys. 

We nod. 

El's still limping slightly, and a faint trail of blood is beginning to drip from the bottom of her calf. 

'Are you okay, El?' Mike turns to her, wrapping an arm under hers for support. 

'Yeah,' El says slowly, something in her voice telling me that she's not. 'I...don't know.' 

'What is it?' 

'My powers,' El frowns. 'I can't-' She holds up the pop can. 

I understand in an instant. It was an old drill, back from the Lab. Dr. Brenner would make her crush old cans all the time. 

'It'll be okay,' Max says uncertainly. 'I'm sure you're just recovering...they'll be back soon.' 

'Y/N, do you still have your powers?' Nancy asks. 

I raise my hand, a tiny blue light appearing on my fingertip. 

'Yeah.' 

We step into the parking lot where the car is parked. Nancy hops in the driver's seat, Jonathan on the passengers side; the rest of us in the back. 

She inserts the key into the hole, turning it. A dull roaring sound comes from the engine, and then the car stalls. 

'You can't be serious,' Nancy groans.  'Come on!' She tries again. And again. And again. No avail. 

'Didn't your mom just buy this car?' Jonathan asks. 

'Yes. I'm sure it's fine,' Nancy says hurriedly. 

'Did you leave the lights on?' 

'No.' 

'Do we have gas?' 

'Yes!' Nancy's tone reaches full frustration and she smacks the dashboard. 'Come on!' 

'Whoa, whoa, whoa!' Jonathan removes her hands. 'Just stop, stop! Pop the hood.' 

He gets out, searching around the machine parts. 

'What the hell?' Jonathan's face turns to confusion. 

'What?' 

'The ignition cable's gone.'