Raining Hellfire 2

Chapter 9: Stuck On The Bench

El was alive.

You couldn't believe it. You assumed your eyes were deceiving you until Mike pushed past the group, pulling the girl into a tight hug.

"Is that..." Max questioned beside you, Lucas and Dustin nodding their heads as they looked on in bewilderment.

When you had been fighting off the Demogorgon with Nancy and Jonathan, the party had their own adventure. It turned out that the Demogorgon was only one of many and it was threatening their lives just as much as it threatened yours. El had used her power to send the monster back to the Upside Down, and it had taken her with it. To hear the news, to find the kids at your doorstep heartbroken...

"Why didn't you tell me you were there?" Mike questioned, teary eyed. "That you were okay?"

Before El could reply, Hopper stepped forward. "Because I wouldn't let her."

Mike stepped away in confusion but you just lowered your head. Of course Hopper knew about this. But you couldn't blame him for keeping this a secret. At least now you know that El was safe.

"The hell is this? Where you been?" Hopper asks her, concern written across his face.

"Where have you been?" El responded but she was already hugging him.

You felt a pang in your heart to see the father-daughter relationship they shared. You never had that.

"You've been hiding her." Mike says, quietly before raising his voice. "You've been hiding her this whole time!"

"Hey!" Hopper yells as Mike lashes out, grabbing his arm before he hits again, "Let's talk. Alone."

Hopper leads Mike into another room and leaves you all in stunned silence.

"So..." Dustin speaks, pursing his lips with a smile. "You're alive."

"We missed you." Lucas says.

El smiles at him and Dustin before walking to them and pulling them both into a hug. You smile at the sight, especially with Lucas; he really did see her as a friend now, even after all the complications.

"I missed you, too." She replies before pulling away. Something catches her eye behind them and her eyes light up with joy. "Y/N?"

She looks to Steve who was currently blocking her view. You didn't remember him moving in front of you. Steve clears his throat in realisation, lowering the arm that was still instinctively held out in front of you and he stepped away, crossing to the other side of the room.

El grins, running to you and you catch her in your arms.

"You're okay." You laugh, eyes swelling with happy tears. You thought you lost her.

"Hurt." She frowns at your shoulder but you shake your head with a smile.

"I'm okay, too." You notice her look, holding her at arms length. "You look so cool."

"Cool?" She smiles when you nod.

"Obviously." You laugh, "But you have always been cool."

"We talked about you pretty much every day." Dustin confesses, grinning. It catches El by surprise.

Without warning, El reaches her hand out and touches his mouth.

"You have teeth." She simply says and Dustins face lit up.

"Oh? You like these pearls?" Dustin says before he makes a weird noise, practically purring. You could see everyone's face scrunch with a mix of confusion and disgust. It was almost comical to see El so concerned.