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

Reconciliation

Walter looked tired, his face more wrinkled than when I had last seen him, his under-eyes sunken and dark, and his skin moist with sweat.

He laughed faintly and shook his head. "You're here...you're okay."

I forced a smile. "Yes."

His mouth was open a little with shock. "Well...where were you? What happened?"

I had planned a vague excuse while walking to the strip club. "Someone in my family needed my help."

Walter blinked, bewildered. "And you didn't think to tell me?"

"No...I'm sorry...it was an emergency."

Walter looked up at the ceiling for a moment, took a breath as if gathering composure, and then looked back at me. "Okay. Well, fair enough, but if it ever happens again, can you at least afford to give me a call? I mean I-I've been worried sick, and you know I can't call the police with what they'll find out."

What would they find out? Did he somehow know about my powers? "What do you mean?"

"Well, with the brothel. They're illegal in this state. My whole business would get shut down, and I might even get charged." He shook his head. "Come on, you know this."

Why was this against the law? Was I putting myself at risk by working there? If the police found out, would they arrest me? "I'm sorry," I said, anyway.

Walter shook his head again. "No, it's okay. I'm just glad you're safe. You had me here thinking anything could've happened. Brothels are a dangerous place to work. Any one of those customers could've taken you, and done things I don't even wanna think about. You know, it got me thinking, I need better supervision over this place. Maybe some male workers, security guards, to watch any guy that comes in or out. Security guards outside the brothel sex rooms to listen out in case any of you girls need help in there. It's really opened my eyes."

It was sweet that he cared so much, but I found it so funny how he thought any man could protect me more than my own powers. I was stronger than security guards, stronger than the whole building of customers, even if they tried to harm me all together. It was good for the other girls, though, who weren't like me, and did need the protection.

Also during my walk, I had decided that I would continue working at the strip club and brothel when need be. I didn't want to leave the normal world forever, but I wanted to spend most of my time in the Upside Down with Mr Ballard. I would hover between the two worlds, because I still had so much too see here, and so much to experience, to leave it behind me forever.

Well, that was if I was allowed to work at the brothel on a casual basis.

"Um...you know what I said about the family emergency?" I asked timidly.

"Yes?"

"Well, the problem going on at home is quite frequent, so I won't be able to work all the time, but I don't want to lose my job."

Walter smiled comfortingly, and reached his hand out to pat my arm. "For whatever your family is having to deal with, I'm so sorry. It must be hard for you all. And of course, my dear. Your schedule is your own here. For people with flaky availability, this is the right place to work. It's on your own basis. There is one thing, though. You're only allowed to sleep in your provided accommodation on the nights before and after your shift. This is to prevent people from working, let's say, only a few times a month, but using their free housing every day. I'd lose money if I allowed this, and it wouldn't be a business, you see? I'd that okay?"

That actually worked out perfect for me. When I was spending time with Mr Ballard, I was sure I'd sleep in the Upside Down, anyway. Things just seemed to be falling into place. "Yes, of course, I understand. Thank you." I grinned.

"What a gem you are," said Walter, grinning back. "So, will you be working tonight?"

"Yes," I decided. I might as well try out my first shift. My only concern was Mr Ballard's opinion on the situation. Last time he saw me about to go on stage, he snatched me into oblivion. How did he even see, though? I wondered if I could check out where it happened, in the backstage area. "Do you mind if I get a feel of the stage right now, so I can get used to it a little before tonight?" I asked Walter.

"Of course you can. Do you remember how to get to the stage?"

"Yes, I think so."

"Then it's all yours." He smiled. "Welcome back."

*

I found the underground strip club quite easily. There was nobody down there. Nobody on the stage, and nobody in the audience. It was almost chilling, seeing it like this after how full of life it was before. I walked all the way across the room, my footsteps echoing, to the door beside the stage. I slipped in, and was backstage once again.

It was pitch-black, and I felt around the wall beside the door for a switch. When I found one, I was about to flick it on, but then I noticed something...

Glowing the back of the room was something green and luminescent...almost like that portal I had climbed through in Mr Ballard's bedroom in the Upside Down.

I went to step towards it, but almost tripped over objects on the floor that I couldn't see without the light on.

I flicked on the light switch, and the bulb flickered a few times before lighting up the room. It was quite a small backstage, filled with cardboard boxes and props and pieces of fabric. I searched with my eyes through the mess on the floor to find that glowing green light again, but it wasn't so visible without the dark.

I stepped over objects on the floor, making my way towards the back of the room where I was sure the light had been, and that was where I found it.

I was right. It was a portal, a gate, exactly like the one which had transported me from the Upside Down into the real world.

Cautiously, I touched it with my hand before reaching it all the way through, but then my heart dropped.

On the other side of the portal, where I couldn't see, a hand gripped mine and pulled me through.