1985 (Jim Hopper II)

Owe This Town a Favor

A/N: sorry for the VERY late update, life's been CRAZY BUT GUESS WHAT? This story isn't over and I'm not done writing it don't sweat it kiddos.

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"Why do you keep making me sit still?! I want to HELP!" I shout, heated and in Jims face.

"Hannah. Please. The guy who smashed my face up last night could be lurking around, we're in the middle of the woods... stop being so damn dramatic and listen to me!" Hopper begs.

I open my mouth to try and protest again but the look on his face made my heart sink. If something happened to me he wouldn't be able to live with himself. If I lost him though,

"I'll be okay. I always am. I'm tough and I can fight. You're a small girl, Hannah..."

I wanted to say something about Joyce going along with him but I couldn't, I wouldn't, it's just a friendship I don't think I'd ever fully understand. Maybe he came to terms with losing her a while ago... this hurt my heart even more. I couldn't believe I was overthinking how much he just wanted to keep me safe. Was I being selfish?

"Okay." I mutter.

"O-okay? You just said okay, right?"

I chuckle lightly and nod, putting a hand to his chest and kissing his nose from over the passenger seat.

"Yes." I part, smiling.

And again, I sat, waiting. Only this time I was alone and the silence was eating at me. I tapped on the dashboard with my feet, resting them up. I twirled my hair into my fingers, playing with its softness. All the while I thought about Steve again... I thought about Robin. El, wherever she was at this point, what if this got to her to? It was starting to become more and more serious and I had no doubt in my mind. I began to panic, my chest felt tight and I couldn't breathe. My stomach was being punched by my overwhelming emotions. The hot tears started rolling down my cheeks as I tried to calm down but my vision just started to disappear, it was like the disco all over again.

Looking up the clock didn't make me feel any better, it had been 35 minutes since Hop and Joyce stepped out, where could they be?

But the worst part was the my ears were still working at full capacity... and they heard a piercing gunshot come from inside the home. I grab at my car door handle, my hands shaking and my vision blurred. I open it quickly, rushing out of the cruiser as best I can, my legs wobbling.

"Hop-" I whisper out, beginning to pick up the pace with a broken run.

But then I see he and Joyce racing toward me, a man being held tightly by Hopper. He looked innocent, nerdy, young.

I furrowed my bros and Hopper didn't even need to say anything, I turned back into the direction of the car and opened the doors for them. Joyce took the backseat to watch the guy wed I'm guessing just kidnapped and Hopper and I once again sat up front.

But then we started to get shot at and I screamed loudly, like bloody fucking murder.

"HOP?!"

We got out of there quickly, Hopper trying to ask the man questions but... this dude spoke straight up Russian. Russian was sort of... perfect. Considering I lived with a guy who could-

"We need to hideout, we need to get answers out of him, if anyone has any ideas I'm all damn ears." Hopper growled with heavy breaths.

He was sweating, his lip and eyebrow bleeding, but god damn did he look good. So good that a pit in my stomach fell as I contemplated. Do I suggest what I'm about to suggest, given his current state of panic? Would it just piss him off more? Or do I just... potentially save Hawkins? That's why I originally stayed, right? After the god awful rat incident I stayed because, this town needed me last time and I left it all. Over someone who didn't know how to love me at their full potential. I backed down for him then, left and felt like I was doing him a favor. But I owe this town a favor, if anything. If they'd known about Elliot earlier, maybe none of this would be happening. My friends, family, living and deceased deserve this. Plus, how upset was he going to be? Really?

I swallow slowly and flutter my eyes open to hopefully butter the guy up... and with just a pout of my lips, ever so slightly, I gave Hopper a weak grin,

"Baby... do you remember Murray?"