MIKE & EL & LUCAS & DUSTIN & WILL

✦ ¨ ✧ ─ ‘ No mom’s - ! ’ Maybe that was a bit QUICK , but Eleven had said no adults , at all , and Mike was not going to ARGUE the point , not when he knew about the bad men that were now after them ALL . ‘ No parents - at all . Okay ? ’ MONEY , though , and a healer , would be appreciated , and most likely NEEDED . ‘ How do I know I can trust you ? ’

✦ ¨ ✧ ─ Sweet on each other ?! Mike blushed to his hairline and shook his head , shaggy hair splaying out almost to his shoulders . ‘ WHATEVER . We’re smart , too . Sciencey stuff - that’s what WE’RE good at , ’ Mike paused for a moment , glancing up at the teen . ‘ How good are you at D&D ? ’

✦ ¨ ✧ ─ Who was Sidney ? Most importantly - G I R L F R I E N D ? No no - hah , no ! ‘ She’s NOT my girlfriend , she’s just - she’s a friend , ’ Mike knew that wasn’t , in the LONG RUN , actually important , but being teased about it by first his friends , and now a stranger , well - Mike shook his head . ‘ You CAN’T help . I don’t think you can , anyway . I don’t think ANYONE can . ’

✦ ¨ ✧ ─ Mike wasn’t supposed to tell anyone ( ANYONE ) and he hadn’t , but maybe him and his gang hadn’t been as quiet about the ordeal as they had MEANT to be . Maybe whispers were too well heard around Hawkins . Maybe they’d talked a little TOO LOUD and a little too blunt , because now THIS GUY knew . Mike stammered for a moment before stopping , composing himself . ‘ What’re you talking about ? ’

✦ ¨ ✧ ─  Eleven knew her . She remembered bits and pieces of her face when she was coming into the lab and when she was being FORCED out of it . And though she was scared of everything around her , she found herself approaching the other girl SLOWLY , eyes wide as she did so . ‘ Stuck , too ? ’

✦ ¨ ✧ ─  ‘ That looks pretty bad , ’ Lucas stared down at the CUT on the other man’s finger , tilting his head slightly as he sucked in a breath through his teeth . He didn’t like blood , not really , but he felt as if he needed to HELP . ‘ Here , ’ Quickly bringing his pack to the front , he unzipped it and took out to large bandaids , handing them to the man with a small grin . ‘ This’ll help . ’

 ✦ ¨ ✧ ─ ‘ You saved me , it’s not a SECRET , ’ Will was grateful for what Eleven had done for him , just as much as he was grateful towards his best friends . He didn’t know how she had gotten BACK , and he knew that something evil still lurked inside of him , but he was ALIVE because of her . Will quickly stepped forward and wrapped his arms around El in a tight embrace . ‘ Thank you . ’

✦ ¨ ✧ ─ ‘ I’m tellin’ you man , it’s REAL , ’ It probably wasn’t real , but Dustin was EXCITED , all the same . The tiny clump of gold ( or WHATEVER it was ) was laid out in his palm , but the two boys were huddled around it , so no one else could SEE it . ‘ How much d’ya think it’s worth ?? ’

Mike let out a laugh , being patient with El as she was trying to stay upright on his bike . ‘ You’ll get it , don’t worry , ’ He was always trying to be ENCOURAGING with her . She could do anything she wanted now , and he was going to HELP HER . One hand was on the handlebars , the other on the back of the seat - just like his father did for him when Mike was learning - holding her still . ‘ Ready to try AGAIN ? ’