Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

CHAPTER 1

Will woke up his mind was still filled with the events from the starcourt mall, after all that happened, he did not expect his summer to be that way, he still felt a shiver, like the mindflayer was still close. His mother had decided to move them to California and despite not looking like it, Will was low key happy, he wanted to get away from all this, from the place that destroyed him, the trauma, he wanted to start a new but he did not show it.

It had already been a month and a half: They had a funeral for Billy and Hopper. He had seen his mother broken twice already, this was the last straw, at the funeral he saw El and Joyce hug each other, two people connected by trauma, they had each other for comfort, Jonathan was with Nancy and he was alone again, just like the whole summer. GREAT.
He walked to the breakfast table, nobody was there, he noticed the door to El's room was open 3 inches, he took the plate of eggos, warmed it up and walked towards the room. He knocked once, twice and heard a groan. He went in. One look at her, he saw someone else, himself and it broke him.

Will: hey, you okay, I brought your favourite.
She still didn't look. He walked to the bed and sat there near her.
Will: I'm not letting you be like this anymore longer, wake up, you're gonna pass out at this rate.
El turns a bit, looks at him, sits up and sighs.
El: he promised, he lied, he's like papa.
Tears start flowing down her cheeks, it breaks Will who puts the plate down and starts wiping her tears with his hands and hugging her.
Will: hey it's okay, it's fine, I'm sorry. Look, I know it's sad but eat first and I'll take you somewhere, okay? Just try a bit and...
He says patting her back.

El calms down a bit, will takes the plate and a fork, he cuts the eggos slowly and feeding her, this girl, he needs to be strong for her. El gives him the softest eyes, they've not interacted much but he was here taking care of her like they knew each other for years, she smiled a bit. Will looks at her happy, he wipes crumbs off her face.

Once done, they shower and start walking towards the woods. Towards Will's happiest and saddest memories, CASTLE BYERS, now destroyed, Will sighs, something in his throat catches and he almost starts crying but stays strong, he's here to help El heal.

El: what happened here? She asks surprised.

Will: When I was little, I had a dad, he hated me for being... different and the day he left i came here with Jonathan and built castle byers. It was my safe place, till some people made me think I was still a child a stupid child. So I broke it down and decided it's time to grow up, right? He gives El a weak smile.

El: Will I...

Will: I'm not saying this so that you can feel sorry for me, I'm telling you this so that we can start to understand each other. You're gonna be... no you're my sister after all and my mom is your mom and Jonathan is also your big brother. We're a family right? You don't have to go through this alone, you got that?
El's breath catches, she feels a warmth that she's never felt since Kali, her sister and hopper.
Here this boy he barely talked to was calling her his sister, sharing his family with her and for the first time since hopper left, she felt loved.

Will: now come on, let's go, we need some fresh air.
He pulls El's hand and she let's out an almost giggle as the get back to the house and get on Will's bike. They drive all the way to the hills near Dustin's cerebro. All while El is taking in the sun and wind after weeks of locking herself up.

El: Will?

Will: stop crying, it will ruin your pretty face, we don't want that do we? You don't have to be okay right away but, at least try to live a bit, that's what he would have wanted, okay?
El nods, smiling for the first time in weeks.

They sit there talking about their past and trusting each other with secrets.
By the time they reach home, Joyce has already made the table and she looks up at the faces of her kids, she wants to say something but they look almost happy, she smiles a bit and for the first time in weeks, the table is a bit lively.
Will looks around and thinks to himself, maybe he's not alone.

They go to sleep that night and El comes to Will's room.
El: hey, can I? She says pointing towards Will's bed.

Will: What? He asks flustered. You want to sleep here?

El: brother, I want to be with my brother. She says hugging the teddy bear she had even tighter.

Will finally understands something, she's a scared little girl who just needed a family and nothing more, he was like that but decided to be a big brother for once and become strong to help her.

IT WAS TIME TO GROW UP.

El slides into the blanket and Will pats her head, he felt like a big brother for once, he needed people but El needed them more.

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El: Will wake up, Joyce is calling us to take breakfast.

Will stirs and goes with El to the table, they sit down and start eating. El starts to eat normally again after weeks of refusing to have anything.
Joyce: El are you feeling okay? Do you need anything?

El smiles and shakes her head and keeps eating. Will gives her an encouraging look.
Jonathan walks in and sits with them, asking if they are okay.
El passes him the syrup and Jonathan is actually surprised that she agreed to come and eat with them.
They even talk, cause after last night even Will thought El wouldn't try to at least keep living but here she was.

Joyce: Are you guys sure you'll be okay here alone.

Will: mom we're good

Joyce: okay I'll be back after my shift, Jonathan...

Jonathan: I know, I know, gooooo. He says chuckling.

Later Will walks out with his sketch book, wanting to draw a bit, he's startled to find El and Jonathan already there.
Will: what, what's going on, is everything...

Jonathan: join us for a bit.
Will sits and hears him out.
Jonathan: well El i see you've started to get a little better and I appreciate it but just know, you have a family, I'm your brother too and if you need anything, anything, you should come to us. Right Will?
Will nods.
El's eyes tear up.

Will: besides, we're gonna be in the same class once we get to California, we're going to suffer together. School is hell.
He says chuckling and they all laugh. El snorts.

Jonathan: I'll help you get good at school work, we both will, just don't beat yourself up, you're Jane not Eleven, you're my little sister and never forget that. As I told Will, being a freak is the best...

Will: and I asked is that why you don't have any friends.

Jonathan: shut up
El laughs, like really laughs for the first time in weeks and will and Jonathan join in.
They hug her.

Will: so you're planning for college already Jonathan?

Jonathan: yeah something like that, don't worry about me, you guys just make sure you study and all that. He says standing up

Will: Hey Jonathan, just put yourself first this time, okay?
Jonathan looks at Will who knows something is going on. He just sighs and leaves.

El: so what are you doing now?

Will: nothing just some sketches. He says tilting his sketch book so El can see.

El: this is soo...
Just then the walkie talkie.
Mike: Will do you copy? Over...

El takes it
El: Yes Mike, we copy... over

She listens to what Mike is saying and turns to Will.
El: It's about my powers.

Will gasps.

Later in the evening.
Joyce walks in, the kids are on the couch watching TV.
She has takeout.
They sit and start eating.

Will: hey El can you pass me the salt.
El forgets for a moment that her powers are gone and tries to move it then turning red picks it and gives it to Will.

SILENCE.

Joyce: sweetie look at me...
El tilts her head
I know, your powers were a part of your identity but you're still a human being not a superhero, you are...

Jonathan: Jane, not Eleven, Jane Hopper, a teenage girl who likes eggos.

El smiles.

Joyce: yeah, besides, we're moving and once there in California, you can finally find yourself, it's a good change of scenery, yeah?

Will: yeah, this also reduces the risk of the government, you're just a normal girl now and that won't change the fact that we love you.

They all comfort El and decide to watch another movie. Together.

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At cerebro.
Dustin: Suzie poo, it was so good to hear your voice, I missed you so much.

Suzie: Dusty bun, I don't know when we are gonna see each other again but I promise we will

Dustin: oh suzie poo...

It trails off to Lucas and Max who are sitting on the other side.

Lucas: how are you feeling today, is it still bad?

Max: well my step-dad is not in the best mood at all, he's literally taking his anger out on my mom, I try to help but I made things worse last time. He has reduced the violence but the arguments are still very much there, I just...

Lucas: hey, hey, I'm right here, I got you, okay...

Max smiles a bit and Lucas holds her hand.

Mike arrives to witness the lovebirds

Mike: where's Will and El

Max: they arrived but disappeared into thin air. Max says sarcastically.

Mike: ha ha very funny.

Lucas: there they are!

We turn and see Will and El walking up the hill, they look so cute together. Sibling goals. Showing just how much they've grown closer. El smiles at everyone and runs to Mike, hugging him, foreheads touching. Will remains behind, forces a smile and walks up to Lucas and Max, hugging them.

Lucas: long time no see, it's been a while.

Will: yeah! Are you okay Max. Will asks her concerned cause he also kinda knows about it.

Max: yeah holding on. She replies, smiling weakly.

Will turns to look at Mike who immediately turns towards Dustin. He's kinda hurt. It has been like this since the rain fight.

Mike: hey yo Dustin, c'mon, El's here already. Mike says acting impatient and annoyed, nobody knows why.

Dustin: I baby my girlfriend, you baby yours. He shoots back, clearly annoyed by Mike.

Mike: bullshit. He claps back, sitting in the circle.

Dustin finally finishes talking to Suzie and goes to sit with everyone, specifically next to Will.

Dustin: hey buddy. He says in his nicest voice yet.

Mike: so we need to help El get her powers back, we all know that they're part of her identity.

Will and El exchange glances, Will looks sad cause El is still fixated on them and that she was loved the way she was.

Max: so how do we do that, I mean we aren't even sure about what happened. Like how she lost her powers and all that shit.

Lucas: yeah and even if we do, like find a way how do we implement the plan cause we're not sure how long it would take to get the powers back.

Will: Also, isn't this too much pressure on you now El, do you think you can do this right now? Like are you okay?

Before El gets the chance to answer.

Mike: looking at Will: yes she is
Looking at everyone else, sharper: of course, she's a superhero, she can do anything, she will get her powers back and maybe then you guys can bring the party back to how it was, ending all this awkwardness and getting back to how we were.

Everyone is shocked. El is uncomfortable and a look of hurt on her face. Will wants to say something but...

Dustin: you're one to talk, so now you care? Just shut up Mike.

Everything falls silent.

Mike scans flustered, his eyes immediately lock Will's, who looks away and he suddenly shuts up, looking down.

Everyone knows Dustin is right and they don't wanna speak either. They just give each other knowing glances except El who doesn't know what is going on.

Then as normal as he was,

Dustin: so here's how we're going to do this. I just got off the phone with my certified genius girlfriend and we had a talk about telekinetic powers.

El: what can I do to get them back...

Dustin: so we came up with three steps, although we need to do them in the simplest methods possible.
Step 1. Signal calibration, The first step is always to calm the sub-vibrational interference in the brain.They must be in a space that is as close to pitch-black and silent as possible. Forcing the brain to stop processing the outside world and start processing its own internal energy field.Think of the mind as a radio dish—if it's constantly picking up static, the main signal gets lost.

El: you think that's what happened?

Dustin: most likely? The subject needs sensory deprivation...

Lucas: wait like what we did to find Will?

Mike: but where do we find a sensory deprivation tank? And all that salt...

Dustin: we don't need it, she just needs to concentrate, focused breathing. This anchors her attention, creating a still point from which the psychokinetic energy can be redirected.

Will: so basically in a quiet room where she can focus?

Dustin: exactly!

Max: what about the other steps?

Dustin: in easy terms, the next step is just like training your muscles. We need to prove the power is still there.
He takes a stick from the ground.
Picture this El, you see this stick already broken because you did it with your mind. Basically, don't doubt yourself here.
El nods.

Will: the last one...

Dustin: okay um, do you have a happy memory that contains a song?

El: i think so, um, a song Hop used to play for us during cleaning.

Dustin: if you can find that, it should be able to create an emotional surge, hence shocking your powers back to life. That positive energy equals breaking the stick.

Lucas: wow I literally forgot you're kind of a genius.
Dustin: i know, I'm too humble at times. Okay let's move people. Where can we find the quiet place.

Will: the house. He says turning to El.
Mom and Jonathan aren't going to be home till later.

Dustin : then we need to hurry up.

Max: so El do you know this song?

El: she swallows, something about not messing with Jim.

Dustin: i think Steve can have such a song. I need someone to get to the cabin and check.

Will: I'll go, I mean...

Mike: I'm coming with you. He's says standing up.

Will: wait i can go a...

Mike: no I'm going with you

TENSION.

Dustin: okay, we meet at Will's place in 40 minutes, let's go.

Lucas, max and El go to the byers house.
Dustin goes to Steve.
Mike and Will head to the cabin

El: guys be careful...

Mike : of course.

They leave but Will feels uneasy being with Mike. He already knows it's going to be the longest 40 minutes of his life. GREAT.
He walks a little ahead of Mike to avoid conversation.