My Number One (001/Henry Creel/Vecna x Reader)

Comedown

Soon enough, Mike returned back downstairs after getting himself ready for school. "Okay, come with me," he said, and he sounded agitated.

"Bye," Nancy said, and she smiled. "I hope to see you soon."

"Bye!" I said, smiling back.

Mike led me back down to the basement. The first thing I noticed was the den at the back of the room—Eleven's bed.

"What do you want?" Mike whispered angrily.

Suddenly I felt as though I'd been stabbed in the heart.

I had sort of assumed Mike had only been acting like he didn't want to see me because he didn't want me to risk the secret of Eleven in front of his family...but now that we were safe in the basement, and he still spoke as if I was a burden, I realised he just simply didn't want to see me.

I looked at Eleven's little nest at the back of the room. A curtain of blankets, with cushions spilling out of it. What made her more special than me? What made her more worthy of being protected? Why was I a burden, but she was a pleasure?

I knew she was a pleasure to Mike since the moment we first met. The moments I'd be speaking, but he'd be looking at Eleven. The moment he agreed to keep the secret while looking her in the eye.

But, then something dawned on me.

I couldn't be jealous. I wasn't any less fortunate in that department than Eleven was, because we had both been in that same situation before, but with the roles reversed.

Mr Ballard had chosen me to escape the laboratory with, and had done everything in his power to make us leave Eleven behind, even going as far as to nearly get himself killed with determination. What made me any more special than her? What made me any more worthy of being protected?

But, then I remembered, Mr Ballard had answered that question for me. He had told me I was smarter, prettier. I felt guilt for cherishing that thought, for subtly smiling while replaying the words in my mind.

"Hello?" said Mike, staring at me with raised eyebrows and an opened mouth.

The audacity! I suddenly decided that Mr Ballard's bad attitude towards Eleven didn't give Mike a free pass to be rude to me. "What do you think I want? To see my friend, obviously. I'm beginning to regret coming here and making you late for school, because it's clearly awaiting you."

Mike stared at me for a moment. "All right, all right! She's in here," he said, walking over to Eleven's den and pulling the blanket back. He seemed as if he wanted to pull it back roughly with annoyance, but he held back not to disturb Eleven.

There she was, asleep in her nest like a peaceful baby bird.

On occasion, I almost felt maternal towards Eleven. I felt that, regardless of however she annoyed me, that I had to protect her, treat her like a baby...perhaps, without knowing it, it was my own lack of a childhood and loving parents that made me want to give to her what I didn't have.

But...what now? I had somehow built myself up with excitement to see Eleven again, to see that she was safe, see how she was getting on in the real world, but now that I'd been shown that she was doing just fine—without me—I felt a little...disappointed? I suppose it was just the low after a high, the comedown, if you will.

I started to realise that perhaps Eleven was the purpose in my life, sort of like the child of a mother or a father. During my time in the laboratory, she had kept me going. She had been my only reason to live. And, I hadn't known it, but maybe I wouldn't have kept on going and surviving in the lab, and in those woods, if it hadn't been for her, for her life to be kept afloat as well as mine.

But she didn't need me now.

The more I thought about it, though, it was sort of freeing.

I was tied to no one. For once, I was able to live my life for me. Not for Papa, not for Eleven, but for myself. I had the chance to do what I wanted, make decisions where I wouldn't have to be concerned about the impact they'd have on other people. I could be stupid and reckless.

Maybe this would be the last time I'd see Eleven. Actually, no, I'd check in on her once in a while, but without her knowing, probably. She was better off without me. Better off with a fresh start, as was I, with no one there serving as a reminder of the trauma of her past life.

"You done staring?" asked Mike, raising his eyebrows again.

"Yeah," I said, and I smiled.

"...Okay? Can I go to school now? And can you leave?"

I nodded and smiled wider. "Yeah."

"Okay," Mike said, sighing and heading for the basement door.

I went to follow after him, but while giving one last glance towards Eleven, I saw her move and sigh.

Then wake up.

"Twelve?" she mumbled, her voice soft and groggy. "Where are you going?"