Don't Be Afraid (Stranger Things Fanfiction)

New Names. New friend.

Dustin's P.O.V.

Things seemed to be going normally so far since the incident. The most recent one that is. No government bad guys had showed up and all was as well as could be expected with Eleven.

I can't help but grin as I remember how cheerful Mike has been ever since her return. That smile almost never leaves his face.

On that note, it has never been more fun teasing Mike than ever before. Even Eleven is already starting to understand enough about the concept. Soon, hopefully, we'll be able to tease her too. All in friendship of course.

While those thoughts are flying through my brain I hear a knock downstairs.

Footsteps, my mother's footsteps, made their way to the front door. I can only hear muffled chatter, before she calls me.

"Dustin! Get down here!"

I sigh, forcing myself to get up out of bed and head down the stairs. Before I get downstairs though, I stop dead in my tracks upon seeing who was there waiting.

Mortifer, the one whom I'd seen move faster than several trained government assassins at once, stood there smiling warmly at whatever my mom was saying. Noticing I was present he turned his gaze to me causing me to suddenly swallow audibly. He chuckled.

"There's no reason to be nervous Dustin." He said reassuringly. "I only mean you and your family well."
I heard his words, believed them even, because only truth could be seen in his eyes, yet still my legs did not move.

My mom laughed. "Come on Dustin." She teased. "Is that any way to treat the one who saved all our lives?"

Mortifer looked momentarily uncomfortable and muttered something along the lines of, 'it was no trouble.'

But that was all I needed to snap me out of whatever I was in. I rushed down those steps and gave our new friend a big hug, at which point he seemed oddly surprised, but then just chuckled while half heartedly returning it.

I step back and begin my usual bombardment of questions. What? I have questions.

"Sir, if you don't mind my asking, how did you do all the things you did?" I ask excitedly.

"Immense psychic power along with something else."

"So you can do it at any time?"

"That's right."

"Can you show me something right now?" I inquire, unable to contain my enthusiasm. I half expect my mom to scold me for asking but she looks a little curious too. Mortifer just tilts his head a little to one side and remains silent. I remember how El only uses her powers when it's necessary and am about to tell him it's okay if he doesn't want to when he smiles mischievously.

"Dustin?" He prompts.

"Yeah?"

"Look down."
I do and am shocked, as well as thrilled to see that I am no longer on the ground.

"Wicked!" I exclaim as I look at my mom who smiles back at me. After a few moments he sets me back down and turns back to my mom.

"Mrs. Henderson, would you mind if I borrowed your son for a couple hours?" He requests in an overly elegant way.

"Um...sure." She says hesitantly. "But what will you two be doing?"

He smiles again. "I want to introduce him to an upcoming new friend his age. I believe he possesses a wonderful sense of humor that could be used to great effect in this case."

My mom looks at me to see if I was on board. Not that she had to.

"Can I mom?" I ask grinning.

"Yes, but be back before eight." She commands. She gives a pointed expression to Mortifer who just nods ever so slightly.