Raising Hel | a Stranger Things fanfiction

Chapter 20

Timeline check: sets during ST4 episode 8, on Thrusday 27th of March 1986, while at the War Zone.

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Eddie bends over to walk stealthily to the back of the RV and sits next to Hellen. The rest of the gang, minus Dustin and Lucas, have gone shopping at the War Zone and now that the vehicle has fallen silent, Eddie feels the guilt of disappointing Hel resurfacing. She lifts her head from her notes and smiles at him.

– What's that, he asks.

– Designs for a lifting device. To get your amp to the Upside Down.

It was Dustin's idea to create the diversion they needed : plugging all of Eddie's amps and having him play guitar to catch the attention of the Demobats. They talked about it on the way to War Zone, he can't believe she's already making a blueprint for a crane!

– Show this to Dustin and you'll have a friend for life!

She chuckles and puts her stuffs on the backseat before glancing at the boys, then at him.

– So... Steve?

– What about him, he asks with a hint of jealousy.

– You know ... are you...?

It takes him a few seconds to get what she means and it brings heat to his face.

– No, he replies in a lower voice. We barely spoke before like ... this Saturday? I used to hate him actually. Or the idea of him, you know. King Harrington.

– So earlier, that wasn't you ... flirting.

– I'm just, uh ... messing with him. He's not available anyway.

– Oh.

– Well, technically he is. But he's smitten with Wheeler and, uh... I basically convinced him to go for it so ... yeah. There's nothing.

– Okay.

They exchange an intended look. She seems genuinely sorry for him and he's not sure how to feel about it.

– He's hot, though, he adds to hide his unease.

She agrees with a tilt of her head and they both laugh. Before he can catch himself, he spills out what has been in the back of his head:

– I wrote you a letter. When I was in that boathouse. Because there was something I wanted you to know. It's uh...

He's already regretting it. He can't have her rejecting him now, not when he feels like he's got a little control over the next part of the story. Ironically, Steve saves him from saying anything else: he bursts inside the RV, followed by the rest of the group, claiming they've got to go. From his tone, Eddie guess they've met with the basketball team...

*

Dustin pulls up his hood over his hair and adds a headband to make sure it holds in place. They've parked the RV in a field, as far from Hawkins as they dared to go, and gathered around their recent purchases.

– Well, that's a look, points out Steve.

– I don't want any of those Demobats tangled into my hair!

Steve cocks his head approvingly but adds:

– You guys are not supposed to let them get that close, though.

– Sure.

They nod to each other but then Dustin frowns. Steve must have had the same thought because they both turn to Eddie who makes a face, lifting his hands to his large mop of hair. Nancy, oblivious or unbothered, starts giving everyone assignments: Steve and Robin to prepare the Molotov cocktails, Lucas and Erica to spears building, he and Eddie get the shields and Nance takes Max with her to prep her gun. She then turns to Hellen and asks: