𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗻.

thirteen.

𝐃𝐈𝐆 𝐃𝐔𝐆

edited.
1333 words.

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"It's like I feel what the shadow monster's feeling, see what he's seeing." y/n sat on the bed beside the boy, their hands interlaced as Mike paced back and forth behind them. "Like in the upside down?"

"Some of him is there..." Will paused, sweat drenching him. "But some of him is here too." Mike stopped, stepping in front of the bunk beds. "Here, like in this house?" He asked. "In this house and... in me."

y/n tightened her grip on his hand.

"It's like...It's like he's reaching into Hawkins more and more. And the more he spreads, the more connected to him I feel-" Mike finished his thought, "And the more you see these now memories." He took a seat on the bed, exchanging worried glances with y/n.

"At first I just felt it in the back of my head, I didn't even really know it was there. It's like when you have a dream and you can't remember it unless you think really hard. It was like that. But now it's like, I remember, I remember all the time."

"Maybe...Maybe that's good."

Will turned to his friend, squinting in confusion. "Good?" y/n turned to Mike as well, the boy continuing. "Just think about it, Will. You're like a spy now, a super spy, spying on the shadow monster."

"If you know what he's seeing and feeling, maybe that's how we can stop him. Maybe all of this is happening for a reason." y/n smiled, casting her eyes downwards. "You really think so?" Mike nodded, smiling slightly. "Yeah, yeah I really do."

Will looked to the drawing of the shadow monster on his floor, "What if he figures out we're spying on him? What if he spies back-"

"He won't." Mike interrupted, Wil''s hands beginning to shake. "How do you know?" y/n tightened her grip, Mike taking the boy's other hand.

"We won't let him."

***

Will gasped, sitting up in the bed. y/n sat up beside him, rubbing her eyes groggily. "What's wrong?" Mike shuffled on the top bunk, sticking his head over the side. "What happened?" He questioned, y/n shrugging at him

All of the sudden the boy stood, making his way into the living room. y/n immediately got up to follow after him, Mike quickly climbing down the ladder to do the same. They made their way to the living room where Joyce sat in the middle of the floor, looking around at all the drawings plastered on her walls.

"Mom." Will called, no answer. "Mom."

"Mom!"

Joyce gasped, turning around. "Yeah?" Will knelt to her level, looking at her worriedly. "I saw him." y/n and Mike exchanged glances, Joyce looking up at her son. "You saw who baby?" She asked. "Hopper." Joyce's face fell, Will continuing.

"I think he's in trouble. I think he's going to die."

***

"I should stay."

y/n picked at her hat, Joyce shaking her head at the girl. "You and Steve have had this tradition for years, you're not breaking it now." She set her hands on her shoulders, smiling slightly. "We'll take care of everything here, it'll be fine."

"Promise?"

Joyce frowned, pulling the girl into her chest. "You should go." y/n looked up at the woman, the two making eye contact. "Mom promise." Joyce let out a sigh, "I don't make a habit of breaking promises." She smiled.

"Promise."

The two hooked pinky fingers, something Joyce had taught her a few years back. Slowly y/n backed towards the door, waving bye to Mike and Will before exiting her home. She grabbed her bike, starting off down the path towards Steve's home.

She made it there after about 20 minutes, her legs tired and she did not have a good feeling about leaving Will. However Joyce was right and this had been a tradition of hers for a while now; hanging out with Steve every Saturday morning. She dropped her bike in the driveway, Steve leaning against the garage.

"You're late kiddo."

Steve ruffled the girl's hair, y/n nodding as she climbed into his car. She buckled her seatbelt, frowning. "There's a lot to tell you." She whispered, Steve nodding. "We're gonna make a few stops so you have time."

y/n took a deep breath.

***

"So if I've got this right, Will has been taken over by some sort of 'shadow monster' and he drew a bunch of vines, and then Dustin found some weird pollywog that's actually from the upside down but you guys lost it and now it's somewhere in Hawkins."

y/n nodded, looking out the window. She rolled it down, allowing the wind to blow into her face. Steve reached over, pushing her hat over her eyes. "I'm sure it will work out. It did last time right?" He smiled.

The girl nodded, frowning. "But Eleven." Steve sighed, smiling. "She's your sister right? And if she's anything like you then she's still alive, I promise you." y/n smiled, looking up to Steve.

"How are you and Nancy?"

Steve shook his head, holding up the roses that were in his lap. "That's actually our next errand, I'll teach you how to steal someone's heart." y/n fell quiet, color warming her cheeks. Steve looked over to her, stepping on the brake.

The car stopped, y/n jerking forward.

"y/n! No! No! No! What the fu- Who the hell?!" Steve whipped his head to y/n, the girl looking up at him in bewilderment. "I-I...what?" Steve glared at her, "Who is it? That you like?" y/n knitted her brows.

"I like you and Will and-"

Steve shook his head, "No y/n- Is there a person that you're close to, that you maybe..." He struggled for words, sitting back in his seat. "Someone you are protective over and sometimes your face gets red around them..."

"And you want to be with them all the time."

y/n faced forward, her lips parting. She wasn't necessarily sure if she wanted to be with Dustin all the time, she needed some time for Will and the others but... She looked up to Steve, nodding slightly.

"Dustin."

Steve's face fell, "Henderson?!"

y/n wasn't really sure when she started valuing Dustin's presence over others, maybe it was Max who made her realize.

"Yes, Dustin Henderson."

Steve turned back to the wheel, starting up the car again. "Well at least he seems like a nice kid-" The boy paused, remembering the person who had taught y/n her first curse word. "Actually nevermind."

They began to drive smoothly again, y/n turning to Steve. "Teach me how to steal his heart?" Steve shook his head at the thought, "He's the one I need to teach to steal your heart, you're just fine."

The girl smiled, turning back to look out the window. She noticed they were turning down Mike's street, Steve pulling into a spot. y/n noticed a frustrated Dustin coming toward the car, Steve not noticing this and getting out anyway.

Dustin marched up to the teen, snatching the flower from him. He began to approach the car, y/n finally being able to hear him. "We have bigger problems than your love life. You still have that bat?"

He pulled open the passenger door, realizing y/n was in the car. His breath fell short, a smile taking over his once aggravated features. "Hi y/n." The girl smiled back at him, Steve interrupting.

"What bat?

Dustin kept his eyes on y/n, "The one with the nails." Steve nodded. "Yeah-" Dustin smiled wider, "Then let's go." He stuffed the flowers into y/n's hands before closing the door and climbing into the back.

"Come on Steve, let's go!"

y/n looked down to the flowers in her hand, smiling wide. She stuffed them into her backpack, Steve climbing back into the car. He turned, looking over his shoulder at Dustin.

"Where are we going?"