ᴘᴀᴘᴇʀʙᴏʏ {} 𝗠𝗮𝘅 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝚡 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗢𝗖

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄: One Last Mission

"Eleven..." Mike breathed out, breathing heavy while stepping toward her. His mind raced and his palms were sweaty, he was unsure if he was dreaming or not right now. Mike instantly reached out for her, sliding his arms around her and pulling her in close to him for a giant, warm embrace.

"Mike..." Eleven breathed out as well, also unable to control her emotions in this moment when she was reunited with her friend. She gasped as Mike pulled her in close for a hug, but she did not resist whatsoever. She welcomed it and, in-fact, wrapped her arms around him as well.

"Is that...?" Max asked, in wonder.

Dustin, Nathan, and Lucas all nodded at her.

Mike reluctantly pulled away, tears clawing at his eyes. He rested his hands on her shoulders, gripping it as firm as he could, as if she would fade away into nothing if he were to let his grip loosen for even just a moment.

"I never gave up on you..." He smiled at her, swallowing a bit before continuing, "I called you every night! Every night for—"

"353 Days..." Eleven finished, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"I heard..." She choked out while gazing deep into Mike's eyes. His eyes widened at her.

"Why didn't you tell me you were there, that you were okay?"

"Because I wouldn't let her..." Hopper answered for El. He lowered his AR, the barrel's tip now pointing at the Byers' wooden floor. He slowly stepped toward the young girl as Mike stepped back, giving Hopper a path to walk to her while slowly processing the sentence Hopper just said. Mike's eyes widened at Hopper.

"The hell is this? Where you been?" Hopper asked.

"Where have you been?" El countered.

He slid the rifle into his right hand, wrapping his left arm around her and pulled her close into his arms. It'd been so long since he's seen her. He pressed his cheek into the top of her head, rubbing her back gently. She didn't fight him, instead pressing her head against his torso. They hugged each other tightly, like it was the last time they'd see each other.

"You've been hiding her!" Mike deduced.

"You've been hiding her this whole time!" Mike shouted, stepping forward and shoving Hopper in the back. The Chief stumbled slightly and turned around, grasping Mike by his collar.

"Hey, HEY!" Hopper shouted.

Nathan breathed in, eyes wide open. Nathan couldn't help but picture the scene in front him with him and his own father in Hopper and Mike's position at the moment. He didn't know why he did, but he just did. Fear slowly overcame the boy, breathing out a shaky breath, his hand shaking slightly as well.

It felt like deja vu when Hopper grasped Mike's collar in that manner, like it was flashback or something. That action reminded him of the prospect that his father was home waiting for him. Nathan could picture the yelling; the fighting that would occur. 

His father would be furious at him when he got home.  

What was Nathan going to do when the time comes? He could just stay at a friend's house, right? No, he couldn't, not forever at least. No matter how hard he could've tried to avoid it, he had to go home in the end.

When that time comes it'll be...

Nathan remembered Lucas and Max talking to each other in the hallway of the Byers' house before Eleven returned. One phrase that Lucas had said to Max stuck with the paperboy deep in his heart. It was the only way he could possibly explain his punishment after this whole ordeal was over, after he would be inevitably forced to retreat back into the abyss of the Harrington Household.