Thunderstruck | Steve Harrington

CHAPTER ONE-HUNDRED-AND-SIXTY: SEPARATE WAYS

Chapter One-Hundred-And-Sixty: Separate Ways

(Papa, Pt. 6)

***

The mood was grim inside the RV.

No one spoke a word, as if they all knew that the joking and talking was over and this was the time for action, the moment where the world was either saved or not. But even without words, the mood, the emotions, was palpable in the air—determination to ending this, and fear. Fear they wouldn't make it out alive, but they were still doing this, still knowing that they were the best—and only shot—to defeat Vecna and save the world for what was hopefully the last time, were resigned to it. That if this was their final battle and not all would survive, then they would fight, and fight like hell.

Rowan sat in the front, staring out the window as Steve drove. Behind them, Eddie, Dustin and Robin sat on the back window seat, Robin holding the bag full of Molotov cocktails, Eddie and Dustin gripping their makeshift spears and sharing a quick look before turning forward. Alistair and Cami sat at their feet, Alistair holding his own spear, his face stoic, jean pockets full of bone shards and headphones slung around his neck but ready to be played, Hugin remaining quiet on his shoulder as if the raven could sense the mood, while Cami held a lantern, her face just as stoic, her sunny optimism darkened by the gloom of the coming fight, of the knowledge they might not all make it.

Leaning against the wall were Nancy and Valerie, both wearing matching grim looks but holding their own unique steel, while Erica sat in a chair next to them. And in the booth were Leo and Lucas and Max, the redhead sitting across from them, her face resigned to what she was doing, her choice, but holding the determination and defiance that only Max Mayfield possessed.

In the front, Steve looked at Rowan. She looked at him before turning away, her face settling into an icy glare, full of anger and vengeance that had transformed from burning and explosive to frozen and sharp. And as she glared, her eyes sparked with lightning, a promise of what she would unleash onto Vecna.

When they arrived at the Creel House, Max, Leo, Erica and Cami got up to head inside, grabbing their lanterns, flashlights and notepads and markers. As they did, Rowan got up and headed over to Max, grabbing the redhead's shoulder as she said, "Hey, Max."

She turned, letting Rowan truly see how resigned Max was to her fate of being the distraction, the bait, but not budging on it, her choice to do it.

Rowan swallowed, before she pulled Max into a hug. She stiffened, but returned it, and Rowan hoped to dear God this plan would work, that this would not be the last time she would hug Max.

When they pulled back, she said, "Give him hell, Madmax."

Max gave a rueful smirk. "Was already planning on it."

Rowan returned it, but it dropped the moment Max turned. As she did, that was when Rowan noticed Alistair and Cami share their own hug, that when they broke apart Hugin hopped onto Cami's shoulder while Alistair gave Max a look, a million things being transferred over it—good luck, be safe, survive, kick Vecna's ass, and a hopeful, tentative, see you later—before Max looked away and got out of the trailer after Cami.

She slammed it closed, and Rowan returned to her seat, the RV driving away—back to the trailer park, back to the gate, back to where the fate of the world would be decided  just as much as it would be decided in that house, back to where it would tilt in either their favour or Vecna's.

Rowan prayed it tilted in theirs, that the world would be saved this one last time and Vecna destroyed, and Max safe.

And that despite the fear, despite the uncertainty that they might not all make it, that they all would.

That no one else would be lost tonight.

***

AHHH HERE WE GO!!!!

Short, I know, but I think shortness is needed since this was a short scene (even while it was so impactful and INCREDIBLE) and I really enjoyed writing it! And yeah, the title IS from Seperate Ways (may or may not confirm all the chapters focused on this scene have a lyric from this song as the title...)

Also, the image of the camera staying on Rowan as she had this... cold glare full of anger and vengeance as her eyes literally spark with lightning if she was a real, canon character? That would be absolutely poetic cinema

Also, speaking of scenes... can we take a moment to just acknowledge how AMAZING this scene was? The cinematography, the feeling of fear of doing this and not all of them making out of this alive but also resignation and the determination to end this, kill Vecna and save the world because no one else but this ragtag group can from all the characters, the shot of Max, Erica and Lucas and the Creel House as they entered it, the freaking SONG CHOICE? I get chills EVERY single time I rewatch this and, in my opinion, this scene and Seperate Ways (Worlds Apart) in general should get the same hype as Running Up That Hill and Master Of Puppets did (not that those weren't FANTASTIC scenes and song choices on their own, they were and deserved all that hype). ESPECIALLY Seperate Ways because that remix and the song itself elevated that already epic scene to new levels and it's criminally underrated compared to Running Up That Hill and Master Of Puppets and deserves the same amount of hype as they were getting (which is why I HAD to add that remix on the top because of how much I loved it in the scene and needed to have it for this chapter, and I will definitely be doing the same with the Running Up That Hill remix when I write that scene as well...)

And yeah, just before they left, Rowan and Max had one last moment. Little did Rowan know it would be (so far) the last yet again...

Now, they're off to descend back into the Upside Down! And the calm is officially over! We're now in the storm that is s4e9, and I literally cannot wait! Who is ready for it? I know I am >:) 

Please read, comment and vote!

GhostWriterGirl out!