STRANGER THINGS ONE-SHOTS || TAKING SUGGESTIONS

The Endless Dark || Dr. Brenner x Reader [1/1]

hi!! i hope u enjoy this, i worked hard on it. it's pretty long, 1739 words actually. i'm exhausted right now so i'm gonna sleep, but i hope you like this. obviously as the title suggests it's a reader x dr. brenner fic. you're y/n, and you're about 52 (brenner's age in s1 i think lmfaoooo)!! you're also his assistant and you have eleven's void powers of entering minds. there'll be a more backstory-ish explanation during the story so this should be all u need! <3

"Y/N?" A gentle voice rang through my mind. I ignored the soothing sound. I had to focus on reaching Eleven. It's what Dr. Brenner wants.

"Y/N, it's fine. Just... try later. You need to rest," the same voice reached into my head, trying to lift me out and tear me away from the wall that I was so close to shattering. I wouldn't have it.

"Give me a minute! I'm so," I groan in pain, "...I'm so close! Just- just let me try."

I hear a disapproving sigh, but no more protests or efforts to take me out of this void.

I hear relaxing water dripping.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

It's a sign. A sign I'm the closest I've ever been. I feel beads of sweat on my forehead. It's painful to even attempt to go further in this deep blackness, but I won't give up.

Suddenly, I feel my eyes open. I can't control it. It's uncomfortable, but what sets me off before my eyes are fully adjusted, is the feel of water on my feet.

My eyes jerk open and I immediately know where I am. I step back and hear the pattering of water splashing. Shallow, non-existent water. I swallow my breath.

It shouldn't be possible, but I felt closer each time I attempted to breach into a darkness thought to be unreal. Only the kids Brenner had located and saved should be able to do this.

I smile a bit. I just did the impossible. My heart surged with pride. That's when I remembered why I'm here. To find Eleven.

See, Eleven had escaped from Hawkin's lab a few days ago. Dr. Brenner had been calmly panicking, which I believe is the best way to describe it.

Recently, I'd been having these "dreams" where I would end up in this same void. The same void I had heard the lab kids explain. A darkness with light water soaking the floor. An endless room, where you could seek whoever, as long as you focused.

That's when I'd brought it up to him. He thought I was crazy, but what other thing could he do? He had people searching for Eleven— but she would always win.

I could be his best bet. I do admit, even I thought it was insane. However, we both made sure to prepare me and I let go of my doubt.

It took multiple attempts, and multiple times I had been painfully rejected by the void.

Finally, I had broken in.

"Y/N? Are you in?" Brenner's recognizable voice echoed through. He sounded somewhat excited, but still nervous. I stayed silent for a few seconds, still in shock myself.

"Yeah," I began, "it's exactly how I thought it would look. But, there's nobody here. It's a win, I think. It's the closest I've gotten, plus, now we know it's possible for me."

I closed my eyes, trying to take myself out. After a minute or two, I opened my eyes and was surprised to see no white light or satisfied expression on Dr. Brenner. I was still in the void.

I began to panic a bit. Maybe it's a sign to just... try and reach Eleven?

I gathered every bit of power I had left and forced it through my mind, creating an unstoppable wave of something I couldn't recognize. My eyes were glued shut, and I growled in pain.