"I didn't need a hero, Billy." Darian sneers, dusting off his coat, eyes glaring.
Billy only smirks, reaching over and untangling one of Darians dark curls, quickly catching himself, pulling his hand back. "It didn't seem like that a minute ago." B...
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Hawkins, Indiana
July 1985
。.✦ ☾
Hawkins Park
。.✦ ☾
Years ago.
Darian stares passively out towards the trees as he swings softly on the swing set, his hands loosely gripping the metal chains. "Are you almost done?" An annoyed voice asks
Darian looks up and his eyes meet annoyed brown eyes. "No." Darian states bluntly, earning an eye roll. "You're just sitting there, not even swinging. You have to give others a turn." She states. Darian scoffs. "But I'm using it." Darian says
"How about this, I'll give you half of my popsicle." She offers
Darian hums, "Deal." Darian says, standing from the swingset. The girl smiles a toothy grin, taking over his seat. "I'm Jamie." Jamie states "Darian." "Weird name." Jamie answers. Darian rolls his eyes. "Like yours is any better." Darian says
Jamie giggles. "I like you." Jamie says
Finally, Darian smiles.
....
Starcourt/Present
Steve, using a box cutter, opens one of the imperial panda boxes. Inside is a large metal case. Steve turns a crank on the lid, and air hisses from it. He lifts off the lid as vapor drifts out from the case which holds four identical cylinders. "That's definitely not Chinese food." Jeffrey mumbles beside him.
He starts to reach inside but Steve stops him. Steve looks up to the others and he calls out to them. "Uh, maybe you guys should, you know, stand back." Steve says, he didn't want to risk whatever was inside hurting the others. Robin and Erica stand back, but not Dustin or Jeffery. "No." Dustin says
Steve sighs. "Just -- just step back, okay." Steve says "No. No!" Dustin argues, glaring. Steve places a hand on his hip and he huffs. "Step back. Seriously." Jeffery orders, waving him away. Dustin shakes his head. "No! If you die, I die." Dustin says with his chin raised. Steve and Dustin stare at each other. "Okay." Steve grumbles
Steve reaches in and pulls out one of the cylinders by its handle. He holds it up, revealing a tube of shifting particles within a green substance; radioactive fuel. "What the hell?" Steve says "What is that?" Jeffery asks, peering over his shoulder. Just then, the room shakes. "Was that just me, or did the room move?" Dustin asks, earning looks from Steve and Jeffery.
"Booby traps." Erica says "You know what, let's just grab that and go." Robin says and she takes the cylinder. Dustin presses the button beside the door, but nothing happens. "Which one do I press, Erica?" Dustin asks, turning to the pigtailed tween.
