Pairing: Robin Buckley X Elyse Harrington(OC)
Prompts: “I’ve got you.” “You mean too much to me.” “Kiss me.” “I can’t do this on my own.” “Please don’t go. “I’m not ready to say goodbye.” “Don’t you ever change.” “I don’t want to have to live without you. I can’t.”
Summary: One casualty that comes with the defeat of Vecna causes the biggest heartbreak no one can be prepared for.
Warnings: Character death, angst, cursing, my shitty writing of course
A/N: this goes hand in hand with my stranger things wattpad story. The storyline of that is NOT the same as the show.
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As Elyse stood in the small bedroom of her apartment that she shared with her now fiancé Robin, she started to feel anxious. Like something was going to happen. It had been over a year of normalcy after the group had finally defeated Vecna. Their lives had gone back to normal-or as normal as they could. Elyse and Robin got engaged last week, a beautiful sweet moment that for the time being only Steve knew about. They wanted to savor the memory for a bit alone, before everyone else knew.
She looked into the mirror, fixing her hair. Today the whole group was getting together to have a small dinner. In honor of normalcy for over a year, courtesy of Nancy. Elyse had honestly been dreading this. If they celebrate normalcy, the other shoe is going to drop. Something is going to happen. If she had it her way she would be snuggled up in her bed with Robin drinking wine and hiding from the world. But, she’s going because Robin wants to go. And she would do anything for her. She would live, die, and everything in between for her.
And that might be happening today. A glimpse of red smoke caught Elyse’s eye out the window. In the distance, red smoke puffed up into the sky. She thought she was seeing things. She tried blinking it away, hoping it was just the sunset or something. But it was still there. And then she felt it. He was back. And her mind went back to the conversation last year. You’re the only one who can stop him. You were made to stop him. And she knew what had to be done. Robin was still in the shower so she had about ten minutes to frantically write out letters exposing what happened. In case she didn’t make it out of this alive.
She couldn’t say goodbye to everyone, they would all try talking her out of it, saying there’s another way. Except, there isn’t another way. This was always meant to happen. She had to stop him. She couldn’t let anything happen to her friends. Her family. She sealed the letters in envelopes. She stood for a moment in front of the mirror, preparing herself. As she walked out of the bedroom, past the bathroom, the shower wasn’t running. “Hey, Robin I have to go take care of something, but I’ll see you at Nancy’s, okay!” She yelled, grabbing her flannel to throw on. Robin cracked the door open, a towel loosely wrapped around her body and her hair thrown haphazardly down from it being wet.
“Do you want me to wait for you and we can go together?” She asked, her fingers combing through her hair absentmindedly. Elyse shook her head, forcing a smile so as to not worry Robin. “No, it’s okay. It might take a while. I’ll see you later. I love you.” She said, placing a kiss on Robin’s lips, giving her a smile as she walked away and out of the apartment. She took a breath. She had a stop to make first. One that she honestly never expected to make.
As she approached the house she grew up in, she grew anxious. She hadn’t seen her parents since they kicked her out last year. And now, on what could be her last day, she’s giving them these letters in hopes that they will get to the people they need to. She had her fingers crossed that only her mother was home. While she may not have done anything to stop her father, she never added to it either. She raised her hand, knocking on the door twice. And not even five seconds later the door swung open. And there stood her father. She sighed, his anger clear on his face. “What do you want?” Elyse swallowed hard, controlling herself. “I need you or mom to give these to Nancy. She’ll know how to get them to everyone else. Don’t ask me why. I just need this.” She was pleading, his anger residing a bit. “I guess that can be done.” He took the letters out of her hands, his eyes narrowing at her. “Is there anything else you want to say?”
She sighed, knowing what he was referring to. “If you want me to apologize for who I am, that’s not happening. I’m happy. Is that so terrible?” He scoffed, his glare intensifying. “How can you be happy? You’ll die alone. No man would want a woman who looks at other women the way you do.” Elyse rolled her eyes, her sight getting caught by her mother in the back of the house. “Actually, I found a girl who is amazing. And has made me happier than I have ever been. And we’re engaged. And I wish you could accept that. But, I don’t need your approval anymore. Please, get those letters to Nancy. Bye dad.” And without giving him a second glance, she walked away. For what could very well be the last time.
As she approached the smoke, the silhouette of Vecna was visible in the distance. Her breath hitched in her throat as she prepared to do this. This was the end. Of him. Of herself. Of the pain and suffering. She hated that she wouldn’t get to have a proper goodbye with everyone, but it had to be done this way.
As everyone was gathered in the wheeler house, the smell of freshly made food filling the house, Robin sat anxiously in a chair in the corner of the living room. It had been 2 hours since Elyse had left. She figured she would’ve been done by now. Steve walked over, bringing a small glass of water. He handed it to her and then sat down on the chair next to her. “Thanks.” She said, her voice hoarse, as she took a sip of water. “Where’s Elyse at?” Robin shrugged. “She said she had to take care of something. I thought she would be ba-.” Robin was cut off by an earthquake shaking the house. As screams filled the rooms, PTSD flooded all of them from the past.
When it stopped, everyone frantically went outside to see what was going on. The red smoke in the distance caused concern to grow between everyone. And then Nancy raced back into the house. She grabbed her car keys, sprinting back out. “Robin, Steve, come with me! Now!” She said, quickly getting into the driver's seat. Robin quickly followed, getting in the passenger seat. Steve took a seat in the back. “Where the hell are we going? Nance?” Robin asks, Nancy pulling out of the driveway. “It’s called your girlfriend is about to get herself killed. That red smoke? I’m betting it’s Vecna. And I’m betting Elyse took a conversation way more literally than she should have. And now I’m hoping we get there before she does something so incredibly stupid.”
Nancy sped down the street to the other side of Hawkins, following the red smoke. Before the car even stopped completely, Robin was sprinting to Elyse. Nancy and Steve followed closely behind, however the ground started shaking causing all three of them to lose their balance. Nancy and Steve caught up to Robin as they all stated into the distance where Elyse stood, hand raised, blood flooding out of her nose. She was pushing her powers to a limit beyond what she thought was capable. She was doing what she should’ve done a year ago. Her powers surged through her body, the pressure building as she put everything she had into defeating Vecna once and for all.
In the distance, Robin, Nancy, and Steve all stood there, shock freezing them in their steps. Robin was sobbing, her voice wavering as she called out to Elyse. She tried walking forward, however, being stopped by Nancy grabbing her wrist. “Let go of me.” Robin pulled her hand, Nancy’s grip tightening.
“No. If you walk over there you're going to get yourself killed.” Nancy said, a few tears clouding over her eyes. As selfish as it sounds, if she was going to lose Elyse today, she couldn’t lose Robin too.
“I have to stop her. I can’t let her die.” Robin said through choked back sobs. She managed to free her wrist from Nancy’s grasp. Walking towards Elyse, her breath hitching as she saw it in front of her. Nancy and Steve stayed back. “You’re not going to try to keep her back?” Nancy shook her head. “No. She’s not going to listen to me.” A few tears slid down her face as she watched in front of her. The vision of Elyse stood in front of Vecna, Robin approaching from behind.
“Elyse.” She said, just barely above a whisper. Elyse heard her, and her heart broke at it. “Robin, I’m sorry. But, I had to stop him. There was no other way.” Elyse said, her voice straining as she fought against Venca. His eyes glared over to Robin, a sinister smirk forming on his face. “There’s always another way. You don’t have to sacrifice yourself. We can do this ano-.” Robin was cut off by Vecna putting her into a trance. Elyse let out a yelp, pushing against him even more. “Let. Her. Go. This is between you and me.” As she pushed her powers further, his powers wavered. Robin was let out of the trance and fell to the ground.
Nancy rushed over to her, helping her to her feet. Robin tried running forward, to do anything to save Elyse. Nancy held her firmly in place, her arms wrapped tightly around her. Robin let out screaming sobs as she saw Elyse lift into the air. “Holy shit….” Steve said under his breath. The three of them watched as the fight raged on. As she fought against him, his chest started to tear open. And after a moment it seemed as though Elyse may actually make it out alive.
However, his hand snapped up causing Elyse’s powers to falter, allowing Vecna to gain the upper hand. She used all the strength left in her to push him backwards. His body ripped more, his power dying down causing Elyse to fall to the ground. Vecna’s body went limp and then disintegrated into dust. Robin broke free from Nancy’s grip, rushing towards Elyse and falling to her knees. She gently pulled her up and onto her lap, holding her close. Tears flooded down her face, the sight of Elyse making her stomach churn. The blood had dried underneath her nose, however, fresh blood was now covering her body.
Robin gently brushed a few strands of hair off of Elyse’s face. The girl in her arms had let out a small whimper at the pain coursing through her body. “Hey hey hey, I’ve got you. It’s going to be okay.” Robin said, gently cradling Elyse in her arms. Tears were falling from her eyes, pooling on her cheeks. Elyse let out a few small sobs. “Kiss me. One last time.” Elyse choked out, her hand struggling to reach up to Robin’s face. “No no no no. You’re going to be fine. You have to be fine. Please don’t go. Please.” Robin said through choked back cries. Her grip tightened, pulling Elyse closer to her.
Elyse managed to pull herself up enough to place a gentle kiss on Robin’s lips before falling back into her lap. The moment made Robin’s heart shatter. “Don’t you ever change, Robin Buckley.” Elyse said, a small smile spreading on her lips. The same shimmer in her eyes as the day she and Robin first locked eyes. ‘Elyse….I’m not ready to say goodbye.” Robin said, her words catching in her throat.
“Neither am I. But….he had to be stopped. Yo-you gav-gave me the strength t-t-to stop him.” She said, the words struggling out. “I don’t want to have to live without you. I can’t.” Robin said, her hands shakily holding Elyse. Robin’s hand found Elyse’s, Elyse squeezing it gently.
“Robin, don’t worry about me. I’ll be okay. You mean too much to me. I don’t want this to destroy you.” Elyse said, her words just barely above a whisper. Robin let out a few sobs, her lip quivering as she looked at the girl in her arms. “I can’t do this on my own. I need you. I need you.” Robin let out, Elyse squeezing her hand once more. She gave a soft smile, tears welling up in her eyes. “You don’t need me. You’re so incredibly amazing, Robin. You don’t need anyone.”
“Elyse…..please. Don’t give up.” Robin said, pulling her impossibly closer. Elyse let out a soft sigh, her breathing became labored and hoarse. “I love you, Robin. Always.” Elyse choked out, her eyes fluttering shut. “I-I-I lo-love you, Elyse. Al-always.” Robin said as she felt Elyse's body stilled in her arms. She was gone. She felt a presence come up behind her. “She saved us.” Nancy said, kneeling down next to Robin. “She saved me that first night. When she kissed me. I’ll never have that again.” Nancy gave a tight hug to Robin as both girls started to sob. The red smoke had dissipated. Vecna ws defeated once and for all, but at what cost.
“We were engaged….” Robin said just under her breath. “What?” Nancy asked, her gaze going over to Steve who simply nodded. Nancy pulled Robin in tighter, holding her close. The only comfort she could give in this situation. The three sat there, all lost in the haze of what happened. No idea how to go on from now.
