The Strangest Things (Dustin Henderson x reader)

The Flea and the Acrobat

You got back to Mike's house and to the basement. You helped Eleven down the stairs and onto the couch. You got her some cold water for her to drink and something small to eat to get her energy back. 
"What was Will saying? Like home... Like home... but dark?" Mike asked as he paced around the basement. 
"And empty." Lucas chimed in. He had his head in his hands. 
"Empty and cold. Wait, did he say cold?" Dustin asked briskly. "I don't know. The stupid radio kept going in and out." Lucas replied. "It's like riddles in the dark." Dustin sighed. "Exactly." you agreed. 
"Like home. Like his house?" Mike asked. "Or maybe like Hawkins." Lucas replied. "Upside down." Eleven replied weakly from the couch. "-What'd she say?" Lucas asked. "Upside down." Mike replied. "What?" Lucas replied.  "Upside down." Mike repeated, taking a seat at the table where they would play D&D. 
"When El showed us where Will was, she flipped the board over, remember?" Mike asked. You, Dustin, and Mike approached the table.  "Upside down. Dark. Empty." he showed the backside of the board. 
"Do you understand what he's talking about?" Lucas asked. "No." Dustin replied. You shook your head. "Guys, come on, think about it. When El took us to find Will,she took us to his house, right?" Mike asked. 
"Yeah. And he wasn't there." Lucas replied. "But what if he was there? What if we just couldn't see him? What if he was on the other side?"
He flipped the D&D board over, right-side up. "What if this is Hawkins and..." he slipped it over again to the back side. "...this is where Will is? The Upside Down."
"Like the Vale of Shadows."you and Dustin say in unison. The two exchanged looks with each other. You never ended up in the Vale of Shadows in any of the campaigns, but some of the other boys did, but rarely. Dustin got out a D&D manual and opened it. He turned the pages to a certain section and started to read. "The Vale of Shadows  is a dimension that is a dark reflection or echo of our world.  It is a place of decay and death. A plane out of phase. A place of monsters.  It is right next to you,and you don't even see it."
" An alternate dimension." Mike said. "But... how... how do we get there?" Lucas asked. "You cast Shadow Walk." Dustin replied. "In real life, dummy." Lucas snapped. "We can't shadow walk, but...maybe she can."
 You looked to Eleven who was zoning out on the couch. "Do you know how we get there?To the Upside Down?" Mike asked. Eleven shook her head weakly. "Oh my god." Lucas sighed. 
"Guys, it's getting late, I need to go home." you say. "Okay. See you tomorrow for the funeral." Mike replied. 
"Yeah." you reply blankly. "I'll take her home." Dustin volunteered. "Okay." Mike and Lucas replied in unison. You go to El. "I'll see you later, okay? Drink lots of water. It'll make you feel better."
"Okay." El's  voice rasped. .

You say goodbye to the boys and go upstairs with Dustin. "Ready?" Dustin asked. You nod as the two of you go out the front door and get on the bike. "Hey, would you mind putting your arms around my waist? The road gets bumpy." Dustin said awkwardly. "Okay..." you reply awkwardly. You sit on the back seat of his  bike and put your arms around his waste and blush. He did so too, but you couldn't see it. He rode off and you put your feet on the pegs.

The 10 minute ride was silent and awkward. Once you stopped in front of the house, you noticed something. Your father's car was parked in front of your house. "Shit." you whisper as Dustin came to a stop. "What's wrong?" he asked. "My father's here." you reply, looking back at the car. "Oh..." Dustin sighed. "Dustin, can I tell you something?" you ask, looking back at Dustin. "Anything." Dustin replied with a nervous grin. "Remember the bruise on my arm?"
"Yeah." Dustin replied unsteadily.
"That was from him. He hurt me."
Dustin's expression turned one of sorrow and concern. "That son a bitch." Dustin growled. "I don't want to go in there." you say nervously. "I know you don't. I wouldn't either." Dustin replied. "But, you're the strongest person I know who doesn't have magic powers. And you have your mom and Jonathan here to protect you if he causes trouble. Don't worry about it. I'm sure he's just here for the funeral."
"But, what if he tries to take me back?" you asked panicked. "I can't go back there. I'm treated like shit and i'm isolated and alone."
"That's not gonna happen, Y/N. I promise,"Dustin pulled you into a hug. "Everything will be okay."
You hug him back. "Thank you."
"Anytime." he replies.