Raising Hel | a Stranger Things fanfiction

Chapter 19

Timeline check: sets during ST4 episode 8, on Thrusday 27th of March 1986, when the gang is at Max's place.

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Eddie stirs and gently pushes Lucas aside to get up. The boy shifts and cuddles against his sister on the other side of the couch. Eddie is pretty sure Dustin fell asleep next to him too but finding him turns out to be easy. He's sitting at the kitchen table, having an animated yet quiet conversation with Hellen over whatever documents are spread in front of them.

Eddie leans against the wall and watches them with a smile. He doesn't even try to understand what they are talking about, just enjoys the fact that two of his most favorite persons in the world get along like he knew they would.

Dustin notices him first and greets him with his usual cheerfulness. How the kid manages to stay like that in such an ominous situation baffles Eddie, but then he remembers that this is his own coping mechanism too. He walks around the table, puts his hand on the boy's shoulder and gives it a squeeze.

– It's good to have you here, man.

Dustin looks taken back but his smile reappears shortly.

– Good to have you too!

Since the rest of the gang hasn't woke up yet, Eddie figures it's the perfect time to fill in Hellen. With the occasional help of Dustin, he recounts the events of the last few days. As he goes, he puts more and more emphasis and acting in his storytelling, finding it somehow liberating.

By the time he gets to the fight against those creatures – the Demobats, as Dustin insists they should call them – everyone is gathered around them to watch him perform Steve's bat-ripping move on an apron. He earns a few cheers from it and prides himself on putting a tiny smile on Nancy's face.

A smile that vanishes when it's her turn to recount her journey into Vecna's psychic world. No matter how Steve tries to reassure her that those visions were just a way to freak her out, nobody seems to buy it. Now it's not just the redhead girl and Eddie they need to save, it's the whole town!

*

Hellen watches with a mix of pride and disillusion Eddie taking the lead of the group and explaining where they can find all the weapons they need. He forgot to mention that trip to War Zone in his letters...

She still remembers the day he came to her a mess because his father had forced him to shoot their dog whose sole mistake was to be old and incontinent. He swore he'd never touch a gun again, earned a black eye from it when his father decided that Eddie should actually learn how to use one. But people change.

Arguably, the situation requires everybody to step out of their comfort zone. Hellen has seen first hand what the creatures that live on the other side of that gate can do to a human body, she understands they need to be able to defend themselves. Still, guns and grenades seems too much for a group of teenagers!

– You got some sort of car we don't know about, asks Steve when the debate moves to how they are going to go to the store. Cause there's no way we can all fit into Hellen's.

– And we need to clear the house before my mom comes back, adds Max.

– It's not exactly a car, Steve, he smirks. And it's not exactly mine but, uh ... it'll do.

As he finishes his sentence, he meets Hellen's eye and the smug vanish from his face. She looks away.

– Uh ... can we have a moment?

He pushes her toward the bathroom as Steve urges him to make it quick.

– Yeah, yeah, man. In the meantime, Red, can you find me something to hide my face?

He closes the door on them, turns to Hellen and puts his hands on both her arms.

– It's not what you think.

She lifts her eyebrows.

– You want to steal a car.

– An RV, but uh ... yes, that's the idea. But it's not like I'm doing stuff like that on a daily basis.

– I don't know Eddie. You're using drugs, selling them too apparently, you go to gun stores. What else am I going to find out?

She didn't mean her voice to be so cold and apologies with her eyes.

– I know how it looks, but I'm not... I'm not like him. I haven't stolen a car since he went to jail, I swear. Never touched a gun neither.

He falls silent. The despair in his eyes breaks her heart.

– I don't think you're like your father, she says softly. I'm just ... surprised by how much you've changed, I suppose.

– I'm not that different...

– Yes, you are.

And it hurts her to have missed so much. They have a lot to talk about, but now is not the time. Now she needs to be a supportive friend, not the big sister who tells you better.

– In good ways for part of it, she says.

She lifts her hand to his hair and adds with an amused smile she hopes will lightens his heart too:

– I mean, look at those curls!

He chuckles and pulls her into a hug.

– You don't have to come, you know, he says.

– I'm not leaving you, she replies without any hesitation.