Hidden Within the Shadows

i come from a land down under

Eddie's hand was firmly in Adrian's. He wouldn't have it any other way. Eddie by his side kept him grounded and made sure that he wasn't about to go batshit insane. They, alongside Robin Buckley, Nancy Wheeler, Steve Harrington, and some idiot teenagers were making their way through the woods. Max was listening to her tape of Running Up That Hill, and the audio bled from her headphones out into the air. If Adrian concentrated, he could hear the lyrics.

And if I only could, I'd make a deal with God, and I'd get him to swap our places.

Adrian thought about those lyrics. Would they come to fruition? For someone to want to swap places with another? He knew he and Eddie would if shit went sideways. Somehow it made sense - to want to swap places with the other to ensure they were safe. He'd want Eddie safe, and Eddie would want him safe. A stalemate would happen.

"So ... you're a guy now," Lucas said, slowing his pace to walk beside Eddie and Adrian. They were near the back of the group. Steve was ahead with Dustin, Nancy and Robin behind them, and Max behind the girls.

"I was always meant to be a guy. It just took a while for me to realise it," Adrian said, tightening his hold on Eddie's hand. Eddie squeezed back, bumping his shoulder into Adrian's. Always the comfort and reassurance Adrian needed. He was scared, and everyone was slowly broaching the subject apart from Nancy.

Lucas nodded. "I guess it makes sense," he said, eyebrows coming together as they continued on down the slope of the hill. "You always acted like a boy - playing D&D with us, Sudeiman Murnyethara -"

"You remembered his name?" Adrian asked, completely taken by surprise. "After all this time?"

Lucas smiled shyly. "Yeah, man, I mean, we had all those campaigns together, he was one of our best characters. Mike still had all the papers and everything in the basement,"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. After a while, he called you Nin. Kept telling us not to call you Nina. I - shit, I - am I allowed to say that name or not anymore?"

Adrian shrugged. "It's not my name anymore, so I don't really care. Nina's ... a part of me, but she's not me."

"Alright," Lucas said, stepping over a thick root. "So ... why do you look so different? You don't look like a girl anymore,"

"Dr Brenner. I mentioned earlier about the whole kidnapping and forced into drug-induced tests and shit, right?" he said, and Lucas nodded. "Well, I said to him I'd only be, like, complacent and behave if he'd make sure I got surgery and hormones,"

"Wait, so you don't have boobies?" Harrington asked suddenly, turning around to look at them.

"Don't say boobies!" Robin snapped at him.

"Uh. No. Cut clean off, you fucking perv,"

Harrington had the decency to blush. Nancy was ... being Nancy. At least she was keeping quiet about it all.

"Oh. Did it hurt?" Harrington asked, sounding genuinely curious.

Adrian looked at Eddie, silently asking, is this real? and Eddie just smirked at him, that crooked little thing he knew Adrian loved.

"I was put under for it," he said, eyebrows pulling close together as he eyed up Harrington. He looked so very different to when he'd been in high school - and he was hanging out with Robin, one of the resident weirdos. Not to mention, he was the resident babysitter for their group. So maybe he was different and wasn't as ignorant as he used to be.

"Wow. It must've felt great having the weight taken off your chest," Harrington said.

The group collectively groaned at him, coming to a stop.