el and max had been wanting to have a sleepover for weeks now. mike was still wary about eleven going out, but max gave him a stern reminder that he "doesn't own her" and that they would be fine. they settled plans and it was finally time. eleven couldn't wait!
mike was helping el pack her overnight bag, but was met with a disapproving look. "i can do it," she told him. he put his hands up in surrender and backed off. she finished packing what she needed before she felt mike tap her on the shoulder. she turned around to see him holding up one of her pacifiers in one hand and her stuffed bear in the other. "need these?"
she quickly looked down, a soft blush spreading across her cheeks. "hey," mike put the things down and rubbed her shoulder, "you don't have to. just...y'know...just in case." after pondering for a few seconds, she quickly grabbed the things and shoved them into her bag, towards the bottom. "just in case." she repeated. mike nodded. "and in case you need anything, or get uncomfortable, or want to come home, or regress and want me, or anything else, you can always walkie me—"
"mike," she smiled a little, "i know. i will be okay. promise." mike looked at her with a small sigh. "okay. promise." she nuzzled him before getting up and heading out the door.
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not even fifteen minutes into their sleepover and max was already trying to convince eleven to do each others' makeup. "come onnnn!" max tugged el's arm, gently and playfully, "it'll be great! just try!" el felt torn. she had very little experience with makeup and she didn't want to embarrass herself, especially in front of her friend. "i...don't know how," she admitted. "don't worry about! it's not just about how good it looks, it's about having fun doing it on each other." el finally nodded after some hesitation. max beamed and got up to get her makeup bag. el played with her hands and took a few deep breaths, just like mike had told her to. 'you don't have to worry,' she recalled him saying, 'you'll have fun!'
billy and his father were out of town and her mother was visiting a friend, so it was just them. max took full advantage of this and blasted music that both the girls liked. after an hour long session of doing makeup, listening to max's cassettes, and talking about actors from their (mostly max's) favorite shows, the girls settled themselves onto the bed. they skimmed through magazines before max finally piped up. "oh," she started, closing the magazine, "i meant to ask—i-i mean, only if you wanna answer—what's...going on with your...mind....thingy? i forget what it's called."
el knew what she was talking about—her headspace. she was expecting the topic to come up, as it was virtually unheard of before. her and max were growing closer as friends, so she decided that it would be okay to open up more to her. she just...didn't know what to say. or how to explain it. "well..." she began, still pretending to look at the magazine while her mind raced, "it's just....something i do. i have done it for a long time. it started after i left papa." max nodded, listening, but looking down at the magazine cover as to not make el feel uncomfortable or pressured. she also knew not to ask too many questions about el's past.
"it's just so...interesting. i've never heard of it before." el nods slowly. "a lot of people have not. i had to tell mike all about it. but he does a good job taking care of me when i am feeling that way." max listened intently, taking her questions slow. "what, uh, does it feel like?" el flipped over so that she was laying on her back and staring at the ceiling. "fuzzy," she replied, "sometimes it makes me confused. mike says that i can be 'extra happy', too. he also says that i am 'extra whiny'." max chuckled. "hm. and he takes good care of you?" el nodded. "yes. he plays games with me and he gives me lots of hugs," she replied in her usual monotone voice, "it makes me feel...safe."
"i won't put anymore pressure on you...sorry if i asked too much.." max stammered. el shook her head. "no. you didn't. it's okay." max sat up. "i'm going to get my pajamas on." el sat up and nodded. "me too." they got off of the bed and el slinked to the floor to find her pajamas, which were buried at the bottom of the bag. she took out her next-day clothes somewhat forcibly and finally took out her pajamas. this action, however, resulted in her pacifier being pulled out of the bag and onto the floor. max heard it hit the floor and briefly glanced over. she caught a glimpse of it before el scrambled to tuck it away. she didn't want her knowing about...that part, just yet. but max saw.
she got changed and decided not to question it. el
could just tell that max saw it. she glanced up at max, who was still looking, but quickly turned back to the mirror when she saw el. shoot, she thought to herself, i hope i didn't upset her. el's mind started to race. she definitely saw it. she thinks i'm a weirdo, just like everyone else does. she'll never be my friend now. without notice, el's eyes started to swell up with tears. max noticed her wipe them and frowned. "hey—" she bent down by el. "you saw.." el whimpered. "hey, don't worry about it—seriously, it's no big deal-"
el hid her face. "you don't want to be my friend anymore—" she hiccuped. "that's not true at all, el. really, i mean it. don't worry." el tried to take a few shaky breaths while max rubbed her shoulder. that comfort, the impure thoughts, the nagging temptation of her pacifier and bear being just inches away from her...
...she felt her mind get fuzzy.
a/n:
hi y'all i rewatched stranger things and decided that this book needed some updating. you're welcome (jk lol)
xoxo nat <3
YOU ARE READING
playing superheroes - stranger things mileven littlespace/age regression
Fanfictioneleven has been with mike for a while now. as time's gone on, mike's noticed el's childish tendencies, which he soon learned to be age regression. he's taken on the role as her caregiver. this book talks about some of their adventures! <3
