Beyond the Battle: Action & Consequence (Steddie, Stranger Things)

Chapter 23: Good Day!

Steve stood in the darkness doing nothing, just waiting. As it turned out, what Will and El had had planned was practicing communication between them. The fact that he and Will had been able to find El when she was trapped in the Void had caught her attention. Apparently linking up, communicating between them, and combining powers had been something Brenner had been against, except in very controlled circumstances. 

Which made a nasty kind of sense considering the way the man had been intent on controlling his test subjects.

El on the other hand was very enthusiastic about it, now she had others to join her in it.

They'd started off by practicing going into the Void. It was something Steve had only ever done instinctively because of need, but El was a surprisingly good teacher, showing him and Will how she had learned and how her powers had grown. In fact, she was so good at it, literally guiding them with her own powers as they learned the technique, within a couple of hours, both he and Will were slipping in and out without the need for white noise or proper blindfolds.

Once they'd had that down, all three of them sliding out of reality and into the Void at will, they had started more complex things. At first El had gone into the next room and Will and Steve had had to find her in the Void. The first couple of times he and Will had slipped into the Void and had to walk to find El, but then Will had gotten really excited and the next time, they had slipped in right in front of El.

Steve still wasn't one hundred percent sure how that worked, but when he was with Will it was easy. If he was honest, he wasn't clear on if he was helping much or if he was just along for the ride, even when Will explained about how he was focusing on El.

That's why Steve was alone now. He had swapped with El and was playing at being the one to be found. Then afterwards he would swap with Will, and they would try again.

It was actually hard not to try and reach out as he waited. His natural inclination was to try and find the others even if he wasn't sure exactly how to do it. He was staring into the darkness when a thrill of cold lanced up his spine. Only a moment later Will and El ran out of the darkness holding hands.

"Yes I see," El said in a delighted tone. "It is like searching for someone, only Steve feels brighter."

"Exactly," Will replied with a smile.

"I'm still not sure I get that," Steve admitted.

"It is like when I piggybacked into Max's mind," El told him. "I could find her well because I have known her for a long time. I am familiar with the feel of her. With you it is much easier because I feel you more."

"Think of it like people are Christmas lights," Will offered, "but we're a really bright flashlight. Once we know what to look for, we are easy to find for each other."

"I think we can also hide," El said, eyebrows pulling together in a small frown. "I think Papa taught us that before he taught us how to find. I do not know if it was to keep us apart or to protect us."

"After what he did," Steve said, "I'd put money on the first. Can you imagine how powerful all of you could have been if you'd worked together?"

"He did not wish us to be friends," El agreed. "But that is enough about Papa. He is gone and we are learning. We should go out and come back in to see if I can find Steve straight away."

Steve nodded his agreement.

"See you soon," he said and slipped out of the Void.

"Ready, Steve?" El's voice called from the next room.

"Just need a moment," he replied, taking a deep breath and reorientating himself.

El might be used to moving from reality to the Void and back again, but it was still a trial on the sense for him. He wiped his nose, healing the tiny lesion his efforts had caused without really thinking about it.