𝙏𝙀𝙀𝙉 𝙓 - Max Mayfield

- pand3monium-

A/N: For flayedcrank
Here's an extremely belated birthday present.

---

Max still didn't understand how any of this was even remotely possible as she stared at Jordan, who was still pedaling. He was so quiet and awkward-looking when she first met him, kind of a ghost in the corner, and something about him and Will reminded her of her childhood friend Nate.

But Jordan had a little fight in him too, especially when it counted.

Jordan was different.

And even though he didn’t have powers or anything insane like that, there was still something about him that made you pause. Maybe it was how much he held back.

Max was starting to question reality itself when they arrived at the junkyard.

"I said medium well!" Lucas called out as he and Jordan slowed their bikes.

"I don't think Dart's exactly picky with how his food is cooked," Jordan muttered, hopping off his bike.

"Buckley?!' Steve grinned when he saw Jordan.

"Yo, Steve," Jordan gave him a tired nod as the four kids approached.

"Who's the girl?" Steve asked, eyeing the new face.

"Oh, yeah." Jordan gestured lazily. "Steve, this is Max Mayfield. And you already know the blonde gremlin."

"Hey!" Maya kicked Jordan in the shin.

"Okay, kid... here's the plan," Steve started explaining, but Jordan had already heard most of it from Maya earlier. Still, he kept listening out of respect, even if his thoughts drifted a little. He couldn’t stop thinking about Will... What was going on was getting even creepier and he could bet his non-existent allowance that Dart the demon was part of it.

"...dan, Jordan!"

"Huh?" Jordan blinked and looked back at Steve.

"You get the plan?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm good."

"You sure? I don’t want you getting hurt. Your mom's already worried as it is. I don't want her passing out" Steve pressed.

"Relax," Jordan muttered. "I’m not planning to be a hero tonight. Just trying to keep people safe."

"That better not be famous last words," Steve warned.

"I make no promises," Jordan said with a shrug.

Max arched an eyebrow. "What happens if the plan goes south?"

Maya turned to Lucas. "Yeah... what then?"

Lucas glanced at Jordan, then back to them. "Then we run. Fast."

That didn't exactly inspire comfort.

---

"I know you kept him," Jordan said as he and Dustin picked through the piles of scrap.

"What?" Dustin blinked at him.

"Dart. You found him, but you still took him home."

"I didn't know he was, like, a mini-Demogorgon," Dustin defended.

Jordan shuddered at the sound of that word. "Whatever. Let’s just focus on not dying."

They returned to the others and continued helping set up. It wasn't long before the sun started setting. The bus had been fortified and surrounded with makeshift traps. Jordan stood beside it, arms crossed, analyzing everything they'd done. It wouldn't hold forever, but it might buy them time.