𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥 ; ᵂᶦˡˡ ᴮʸᵉʳˢ

x ; The Piggyback II

A long and agonizing two days had passed since the battle.

Eddie had died, giving his life to try and save a town that hated him.

Max died and was brought back to life with some sort of God-given miracle.

The gates had all been opened, black smoke polluting the air.

So many homes were destroyed, so many people were missing, hospitals filled to the brim. Donations were being taken at Hawkins High for anything that people didn't need that could've benefited others in these trying times.

SWAT was in Hawkins. That was the scariest part to Ethan.

He, Dustin, Robin, Nancy, and Steve were filling up the car to take old stuff down to the high school to donate. Nancy needed to do some spring cleaning anyways, so giving her things away to young girls who would appreciate it more than she would now meant the world to her.

Ethan stands next to Dustin in a dark tie-dye sweatshirt, and the sleeves rolled up so he could breathe. He wears dark blue baggy jeans that nearly covered his black Converse, his hand stuffed in his pocket. The other hand, which he'd injured, was now properly treated by medical professionals, wrapped in some wonky cast.

His hair, like Dustin's, was damn near a mess. He needed a haircut and a hug from his mom.

"Did someone order pizza?" Karen asks, eyeing the pizza van pulling up to the house.

The four at the rear of the car turn to look at the bright yellow pizza van, not recognizing the brand. Nancy joins Steve by his side, watching as the occupants of the vehicle exit.

In that car were Mike, El, Will, Jonathan, and some friend they'd made along the way that drove them from California to Indiana.

It was an emotional reunion to put it lightly. God, they all looked so different.

Mike runs to his mom while Jonathan runs to Nancy, El and Will rushing to Dustin.

Ethan awkwardly stands to the side by Robin, needing his awful gay feelings validated. Robin lightly and discretely rubs the boy's back as he stares down at his casted hand, obviously not wanting to talk to Will.

He wished he'd never have to see his face again so he wouldn't have to solve their problems. They were never anything to begin with, just confused gay teenagers who saw another gay teen and thought they were in love.

Ethan shares a look with Robin, a sad and scared, almost embarrassed look in his eyes. He uses his goo's hand to scratch his opposite hand under the cast, feeling nervous rashes pop up on his arm.

That's what he liked about Robin, she didn't invalidate him. She got him. Gay solidarity for the win.

Ethan felt like curling into a ball and crying in a corner. He hurt, mentally and physically, and was too drained to have to approach Will. Thankfully, he didn't even look at him.

El looked at him, though, which meant more than she could've ever known.

Ethan smiles and gives her a little wave before she rushes over. He takes notice of her shaved head, knowing the worst. She pounds him into a hug, smiling as she does so, having missed her brother so much.

She looks down at his hand and gently places it in hers. She softly looks up at him, "Are you okay? What happened?"

Ethan shrugs with a dorky smile. "Long story, but I'm okay. Are you? What happened?"

She looks away, her smile fading before she collects herself. "Papa. He was alive, he took me, tried to help me regain my power to fight One."

Ethan gives her a saddened, sorry look that he wasn't there to protect her, hugging her again. "I'm so sorry, El. Holy shit, "

"Language!" She chuckles, trying to put a smile back on both of their faces.

It works, making Ethan lightly smile as he searches her eyes. "I'm so sorry we haven't talked, I really am."

"It's okay." She smiled, assuring him it wasn't a big deal, "It'll be alright. We'll talk more now, yes? Grow from mistakes."

Ethan looks at her a little weird before admitting what he'd meant to tell her. "I can't use my invisibility, like, at all. I dunno if I'm regressing like you, but, yeah..."

She frowns, running her hands through his hair. "It will be alright. I will help, yes?"

He smiles ear to ear, giving her one last hug before she goes to the hospital to visit Max and Lucas.

"I'll see you later, yeah?" Ethan calls to El.

"Later!" She smiles, waving goodbye as she piles back into the van.

"Alright," Steve begins, "Let's get this show on the road, I don't wanna be there forever, got it?"

"Sir, yes, sir!"

"On it!"

"Okay -"

"You had it coming, loser."

<•>

The group walks into the school gymnasium, a cardboard box in each of their hands. They set them down on the donation tables, standing awkwardly as Robin speaks.

"Would you like a tax receipt?" The girl behind the table asks.

"Uhm.." Robin looks at Steve, "No, uh, I don't think we need one. Thank you, though. " She looks back at the other tables where volunteers are rushing around, trying to keep themselves organized and up to pace. "But is there anything else we can do to help?"

Steve watches from afar as he folds and organizes clothes, eyes on Robin and Vickie, smiling and conversing as they scramble up PB&J after PB&J. Dustin, on the other hand, had found Mr. Munson, Eddie's uncle. He needed to tell him the truth, or at least a fraction of it, before his heart broke into a million pieces.

Ethan had found his own little thing to do, though, giving people some emotional support. He had his own little therapy room setup in the gym, how neat.

He sits on a beanbag chair, across from him, a girl about the age of thirteen, also sitting in a beanbag chair. She wore long black overalls over a lavender shirt, complimenting her dark brown hair that reached her mid-torso.

She vented on and on about how she'd lost her dad in the earthquake, that he was dead, and how she can't help her struggling mom in any way, shape, or form. She explained that she saw when her mom looked at her, she saw her father. She didn't know what to do and needed advice for herself and for her mom.

Ethan happily gave her said advice, talking his way into her heart to give her some stability. It was like giving someone who broke their leg some crutches. It wouldn't fix it, but it'd help. The girl gave him the tightest, most affectionate, and thankful hug before saying goodbye.

Ethan wouldn't forget her til he died.

But, he couldn't help think about his mom. He tried calling the home phone with no avail. Maybe she'd gone out of town and didn't tell him. He was just trying to keep his mind off the negatives.

He sees people begin to swarm the windows, then sits up, wanting to see what the commotion was. As he leans into the window, he sees it clear as day.

The Upside Down debris, those little bubbles that could've been mistaken for snow.

Damnit, they let him escape.

He tries to look for Steve, Robin, and Dustin among the crowd but is unable to. The smoke that rose from the depths of the ground became larger, like they were creating clouds like a fossil fuel burning company or something.

He runs his hand through his hair, eyebrows furrowed, eyes focused on the little dust falling to the ground.

"It's never over, is it?"

AN ; s4 is officially complete! bye bye, see you guys when s5 releases and I plan plot stuff haha. on another note, I'm really hoping you guys are enjoying Ethan's story (also dw well 100% see more Nicole (and Nicole + Enzo (idc if he's not in s5 hell be here)) and Nicole and Ethan, Nicole in general cause I need more of her so lol) and yeah! see you later pals :)