📝: please bear with me here, while cosmic is always planned out beforehand, about 45% is improvised. Including all this Byler and Yelmax stuff so I'm trying to figure out how and where to incorporate it and handle it respectfully and satisfyingly without disrupting Will × Y/n or my original plan. Oh yeah, also the uhhh.... stuff at the end 👀 anyways, Happy Cosmic anniversary and HOLY CRAP THAT TRAILER?!

⚠️: fluff, gay fluff, me improvising & jumping some of the plot ahead a wee bit, some cute callbacks to Cosmic bk1, brief mention of implied homophobia but nothing in real-time or anything specific, and mentions of reader eating specific food [usually I try to avoid this only cause some people have allergies or restrictions so sorry if that's the case!]

❓: how long have you been reading this series? + and do some of you remember your predictions? 👀

||𝟑𝐑𝐃 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐎𝐕||

Death surely awaited the Scoops Troop at the bottom of the seemingly bottomless pit. At least, that's all their minds could comprehend in the sudden plummet of the secret room.

Their screams still hadn't stopped and it was certain the only thing that would, was their inevitable demise when they reached the bottom.

"SHIT! SHIIIT!" Dustin shrieked, clamoring for the wall panel.

"WE'RE GOING DOWN!" Steve bellowed, his head whipping around in panic. "WE'RE GOING DOWN!"

Robin, who was desperately clutching the wall of shelves behind her blurt to the young man in anger. "YEAH, NO SHIT, HARRINGTON!"

Dustin tried his luck again on the panel, slamming his palms into all the buttons with no results and he cried out again. "WHY DON'T THESE BUTTONS WOOORK?!"

Erica bolted to the panel beside Dustin, her hand fighting his own to hit the right command.

"PRESS THE BUTTON!"

"WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M DOOIIING?!"

"COME ON, JUST- PRESS-! SOMETHING!" Steve stutters. "JUST-! PRESS A BUTTON!"

"PUSH IT!"

A sudden jolt shook the room and the four were sent hurtling into the metal floors, once again the grinding of gears screaming in their ears. Robin clutched at her head with a wince, and Erica and Dustin untangled one another from a very uncomfortable heap on the floor. Steve groaned from where he lay smooshed in between the shelves and the wall, the very heavy package they had uncovered now piled on top of him.

"My groin," he wheezed. "It fell on my groin,"

He took a deep breath, doing his best from his unfavorable position to remove the obstacle but it hardly budged.

"Dustin! Get this off of me!"

The boy finally succeeded in climbing to his feet and met Steve at his side. Bunching his knees, he was able to heave the large box off of Steve and return it to the shelf. He finally managed to pull himself off the floor, his face a beet red.

"...Is everyone okay?" A dazed Robin asked, still clutching at her scalp.

"Yeah, I'm GREAT," bellowed Steve, storming towards the panel and hurling Dustin out of his way. "NOW THAT I KNOW RUSSIANS CAN'T DESIGN ELEVATORS!"

Still trying to calm her racing heart and trying to regain a hold of the situation, Robin sighed as she stepped forward.

"Okay, we've clearly established that those buttons don't work,"

"They're buttons!" Steve argued with a wave of his hands. "They have to do something."

"Yeah, if we had a keycard,"

"What?!"

"It's an electronic lock," she explained, maneuvering to Steve's side near the panel. "It's the same as the loading dock door. If we don't have a keycard, it won't operate, meaning-"

"-we're stuck in here." Dustin sighs.

"Yeah,"

Running an anxious hand through his mop of hair, Steve turns away, slamming the panel door shut angrily.

"Just so you nerds are aware," Erica begins. "I'm supposed to be spending the night at Tina's, and Tina always covers for me. But if I'm not home for Uncle Jack's party tomorrow, and my mom finds out you three are responsible, she's gonna hunt you down, one by one, and slit. your. throats."

"I don't CARE ABOUT TINA! Or Uncle Jack's PARTY!" Steve snaps, throwing his arms around in exclamation. "Your mom's not gonna be able to find us if we're dead in a Russian elevator!"

Erica throws him a glare and Dustin's eyes catch on a hatch in the ceiling.

"Hey," he says, pointing to the hatch. "What if we climbed out?"

⊹ ⊹ ⊹

The hatch opened with a hiss and the pine green and gold Camp Know Where cap emerged into view. Dustin's foot wobbled a bit on the small staircase of boxes they had constructed atop the shelves but he still managed to hoist himself to the roof. Steve joined him moments after, the two of them careful to regain their balance among the many divots they had to maneuver.

But their attention was quickly stolen elsewhere. Specifically, the long stretch of the elevator shaft that waited above them, that stretched on for miles.

Their hopes sunk as fast as their journey down when they realized any hope of escape was impossible. And when Steve finally spoke, even the echo of his voice seemed to be swallowed whole by the never-ending pit.

"What'd you say about climbing?"

||𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕||

Her head was limp under my hand despite her crying and gasping for breath. My fingers ghost over her face, wiping away any obscurity from her field of vision and even the clots of blood dripping from her nostrils - anything to make her even slightly more comfortable. Her head slowly and weakly shook back and forth in my lap as she sobbed in pain, her voice coarse and disappearing. I would say my heart was breaking but it was already crushed, three - even four times over in the past few minutes alone.

All I know is Y/n is in pain and I don't know how to fix that. She's sad and hurt and I want to make that go away. I need to make that go away. But I can't.

I can't see through the thick wall of tears, and yet Y/n's pain is still all too clear. Not knowing what else to do, I lean down and plant a shaky kiss on her forehead before resting my own against it. I felt her right hand move to wrap around my left wrist, my hand still cupped under her neck.

- 𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗢𝗙 𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 -

My eyes fall away to Y/n's hand still wrapped around mine, her breathing now soft and calm.

She was still sprawled out across Mike's basement couch, using my legs as a pillow and a thin, crochet blanket draped over her side thanks to Lucas. She was sleeping and had been since we got her and El to Mike's house - thankfully, without raising any questions on her condition. Never thought I'd be thankful for Mr. Wheeler's negligence and inattention to detail.

Aside from checking in on everyone else, I hadn't let Y/n out of my sight.

I'm glad we were able to get Y/n and El back to Mike's last night once they were strong enough. And when we were sure El wasn't showing any signs of a concussion. El had dozed off in the upholstered chair across from us, an ice pack popped against her forehead in one arm. For so long she had watched over Y/n with me from afar, and I could tell she was just as worried as I was.

We were all still shaken up. And definitely in over our heads.

I look back down at my girlfriend, still relieved to see the steady rise and fall of her shoulders that came with peaceful sleep. I could almost let myself believe it was a normal day, and nothing was wrong... if my eyes didn't drift to the back of her shirt that was dotted in her blood. I was revisiting the urge to try and fixate on it more than I already had. Everything that could have been done, for now, already had been.

Besides, I didn't want to wake her. And she looked like she was finally dreaming of something peaceful for once, and I don't want to take that away from her. My eyes jump to my watch on my free hand before looking back at her; it was still early morning. Undoubtedly, her body was still hard at work repairing the damage the Mind flayer had caused her and needed every bit of energy it could create. I recognized her behavior from the year before, and how tired she had been when... when I had hurt her.

My eyes are torn away from Y/n when I sense someone walking up to us hesitantly. It was Mike. He was shifting on his feet like he used to all the time when we were younger. He was doing that a lot lately.
His eyes jumped from me to Y/n, something faraway and broken in them.

"...how is she?"

I shrug, looking back at her, and fix the falling blanket back over her shoulder. I smile a little bit to myself when her free hand cuddles it in tighter to her chest, still in sleep.

Mike looks around for the others; Lucas and Max were both likely still upstairs. Last we had seen them, they were shyly checking in one another after the encounter and as for El, she was still sleeping soundly from where she sat.

Mike finally took a seat on the chair on my left. I can feel him looking at her, and I can tell he wants to say something. But doesn't know how.

Instead, he chuckles weakly, wringing his hands together nervously.

"Remember the first time Troy picked on us?" Mike asked suddenly, taking me by surprise. "Like, the second day of seventh grade?"

I find myself blinking rapidly a few times, the memory once forgotten to me. Mike smiled a little as he looked at Y/n, sadness behind his eyes.

"He saw you and me playing together... and I fell," He began, his voice going kinda soft and I pang return to my chest. "You stopped to help me up, made sure I was okay," he smiled, looking lost in the memory. But then the smile fell. "And then he came over..."

My head fell again, an awful feeling I hadn't felt in a while creeping back up. And one look at Mike, and he was feeling it too. He looked almost... ashamed.

"...he said all those awful things. In front of the whole seventh-grade class and I... we wanted to just melt into the ground."

I could see that moment clearer and clearer, and I hadn't realized how much I had tried to bury it. Or how much it still affected me, even today. My skin felt hot and I felt ashamed, and I could feel my skin burning. Again, Mike looked no better.

Until the corner of his lips hooked up in a sad smile, and for just a second I saw the friend who fought so hard to save me all those years ago. The one who had raced to my bedside when I woke up in the hospital.

"Then Y/n overheard..."

We both broke out in a small laugh, looking back down at her, still fast asleep.

"Yeah," I laugh, unable to stop my chuckles from growing into something bigger. "That was the first time I ever really saw her that angry,"

Pretty soon, me and Mike were trying hard not to wake her from laughter. I finally pulled the back of my hand away from my mouth and spoke through chuckles.

"I still can't believe she pantsed him,"

"I can," Mike snickered, his shoulders shaking with laughter. "She got detention for what? Like a week after that?"

"Two," I smirk, and shake my head.

Our laughter trails off into silence, the both of us lost in the memory. And then Mike breaks the silence, his voice still in a quiet whisper.

"She really cares about you, you know? I mean," he shook his head a little. "well, she always has. Way before you two got together."

He laughs, rubbing the back of his neck almost like he's embarrassed.

"I mean, it's kinda intimidating. The two of you... I guess I've always been kinda... jealous? Of... her, maybe," he mumbles, eyes darting to the floor.

I look up at him, taken aback and he stumbles more and shrugs quickly.

"It's just that- you know, you two have always been so close. Like... I don't know," he shrugs. "like how we used to be. Before her and Dustin moved here."

"...What are you saying?" I ask, that blush beginning to creeping up again despite the knot in my stomach.

"I don't know," he said quickly, shifting around again in his seat and moving his hands in a nervous fashion. "I guess I just..." he stops, sighing again. As he looks at me, his voice grows soft and sincere. "I guess I'm just embarrassed. I'm not great with my feelings, and with stuff that was happening last year... With you and Y/n getting closer, on top of El being gone I was in a weird place and let that get in the way. I was a total, insecure jerk.

And I guess... I feel like I've been losing you to her. That once you two got together, I wouldn't ever see you. Which is totally stupid, I know, cause, like she said... friends don't do that..." he looks at me sincerely. Apologetically. "You wouldn't do that, and you haven't... and even worse, I went and did that exact same thing."

I didn't say anything. I didn't know what to say, really. I was surprised to hear all this. From Mike of all people. And while I could tell he meant every word, it didn't change what happened.

I just look down at my lap, where Y/n still lay resting, unbothered.

"You've said some horrible things to her, Mike. Really messed up things, to both of us,"

Mike sighed into his hands, looking as aggravated with himself as he had when he came to us about El.

"I know! I know," he sighs again. "I really messed up,"

I barely nod.

"I haven't been much of a friend, have I?"

I chuckle bitterly with a pitiful smile. "You could say that,"

He chuckles sadly, his face falling into a look of solemn realization.

"I don't expect you - or Y/n - to forgive me. Cause frankly, I'm not so sure I would believe me either. But for what it's worth, I'm... truly sorry. For everything. For how I acted, even last year. And for all the shitty stuff I said to you, and to her. And I'll tell her that when she wakes up, if she'll hear me out but I just had to say that... Cause I mean it. Not cause I got caught."

I smiled sadly at him.

"And... when this is all over-"

The basement door swung open, and a flash of red hair came trotting down the steps. Moments after, the door swung shut and Lucas followed in step. The sound of footsteps had been enough to stir El from her sleep, and her head shot up off the armchair.

In hand, Max and Lucas carried several small plastic square containers and plastic spoons. Pudding cups, I realized.

Max dropped one by El who looked up at her gratefully with wide eyes before Max took a seat on the arm of El's seat with her own. Lucas swung by us and handed me and Mike a cup and spoon of our own before placing one on the coffee table in front of us for Y/n.

I was eager to check on her of course, but I couldn't help but smile a little as Y/n finally stirred at the arrival of pudding. Again, perhaps, like El, she had heard the movement and maybe even our whispered conversation had started to wake her but she was up now. When she saw the pudding cup being placed out in front of her, she peered up at Lucas through lidded eyes as he placed the spoon on the lid and smiled at her.

"For stamina," he said looking as if he were telling an inside joke. He must have, because Mike chuckled breathlessly beside us and Y/n smiled knowingly, rubbing at her eyes tiredly. "Thanks,"

"Sure thing," he said, pulling out a seat from the D&D table and began digging in.

I felt Y/n's head shift around on my lap, and she tried her best to peer up at me through sleepy eyes without hurting the back of her head or back.

"Morning," she mumbled, her voice an octave lower and still a bit coarse. But it sounded much better. More normal, like it was healing.

I smiled. "Hi," I said, tracing the indents the corner of the blanket made on her cheek where she had slept on it. "Need help?"

"Thanks, but I got it," she said, sucking in a breath through her teeth before hoisting herself up.

"Feeling any better?" Lucas asked with a sympathetic wince, already digging into his pudding cup.

She nodded, reaching forward for her own and peeling back the lid.

"I guess," she winces. "My throat still hurts. But it's tolerable,"

We all nod, and I grab ahold of my pudding cup just as Y/n takes her first bite. She goes slack beside me, sagging in relief and dropping her head on my shoulder in content.

"You are my new favorite person," she sighs, making me laugh.

"Hey!" I scoff, smirking down at her in feign offense.

"Sorry, Byers, but you've never brought me pudding." She shrugs, digging her spoon in for another bite and sighing in content when the spoon reached her tongue.

I scoff again, looking around the room at my chuckling friends when my eyes land on Lucas. He flashes me a smug smile and shrugs, leaning back into his seat and taking another scoop.

"Hey, the lady has spoken,"

Y/n hums a small, mischievous laugh on my shoulder and I fake a pout into my cup. I feel my left cheek light up in a blush where Y/n's lips made contact in a fleeting kiss and my pout vanished. I plopped my head back on hers and a surprisingly comfortable silence fell over all of us as we sat in one another's company.

When Y/n finally spoke again, her voice - again, still hoarse, sounding like it had gone weeks without use - was without its previous mischief. It was tinted with worry.

"So," her spoon dug around in her cup in an anxious manner. "You guys haven't heard from Dustin?"

Mike shook his head regretfully, as did me and Lucas.

-"No,"

-"No, sorry,"

"We'll get ahold of him," I say. "I'm sure of it."

"Yeah, totally," Max agrees. "I bet he's fine. Probably just mad at us for the whole Cerebro thing,"

Y/n scoffed. "Can you blame him?"

Max bowed her head back into her snack and Lucas winced, doing the same. Mike and El just shared a sad, regretful glance and there was another silence, this one much less enjoyable.

"Even if Dustin were here, we're still out-numbered," I say, and everyone nods.

"We need all the help we can get," Y/n says.

"Agreed," Max nods.

"I could get Hop," El says.

"Perfect," Mike then turns to me. "Will, you could call your mom? And Jonathan?"

I nod, ignoring the sinking feeling in my stomach. "I guess I could try the house again? I tried earlier today, to let them know I was okay but nobody picked up."

El looked like she was sinking back into the chair, her shoulders sagging almost worriedly.

"Me too," she admitted, meeting my eye and sharing my worry. "Hop didn't answer,"

We all looked around at one another, growing suspicious. The same question seemed to bounce around our heads at the same time.

Where was everyone?

||𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕||

The five of us sat assembled around the couch in front of El, empty pudding cups discarded on the coffee table and around the room. Blood dripped from her nose as her headband comfortably hugged her eyes. She had been in for nearly five minutes now, and the sound of the static pouring out from the TV was starting to get on my nerves.

With an inaudible sigh, I leaned back against the small ottoman cushion Will was sat on; my back falling in between his shins.

She had volunteered another trip to the void, looking for Hopper after another failed phone call to our families, Lucas and Max aside. The only reason I had called my mom was to assure I was alright... and that I might be gone another night. I was lucky I had gotten out of that conversation somewhat unscathed, I could tell she was getting worried. And for good reason. Apparently, neither I nor Dustin had been home in a few days. I panicked and told her he was with me, the two of us staying over at Mike's for a D&D session.

After catching the party up, we found ourselves here and I once again found myself worrying about Dustin. I just hoped he was still with Steve, somewhere safe but the thought was beginning to feel unrealistic.

My mind was unraveling more and more and would have likely gotten worse had it not been for El's sudden voice cutting through the silence.

"I found him,"

"Where is he?" Max asks softly from beside me.

"Woods."

"The woods?" Lucas can't help but ask.

"He's with... Will's mom."

Will and I share a curious look before our gaze lands back on El.

"My- my mom?"

Max's face scrunched up in confusion. "What are they doing?"

"Ill... annoy," El answers, and we all share curious glances. "They're going to Ill-annoy."

Under normal circumstances, I probably would have smiled at her phrasing and the adorable familiarity but I was too concerned. And completely baffled.

A sudden, rapid knock on the basement door startled all of us and we heard the muffled voice of Mrs. Wheeler.

"Kids! Breakfast!"

Mike turned around in his seat beside Will and cried out suddenly, making me jump at the unexpected volume.

"NOT NOW, MOM!" He turned back to El as if nothing had happened. "Illinois? Illinois, like the state? The state of Illinois?"

Taking off the headband, El shrugs flatly under our stares. "Ill-annoy," she stammered.

Again, we all look around at one another curiously, and there's a beat of silence as we all seem to mentally buffer.

"...well, what the hell are they going there, for?" I ask with a scoff.

Lucas shrugs and Max scoffs, standing up from the floor. "No idea," she says with bitter disappointment.

She looks down at me and offers her out her hand. Not knowing why she does so, I take it anyway and she helps pull me to my feet but doesn't release my hand. She instead maneuvers around the table and offers her other to El. "But I guess we won't be seeing them anytime soon. Now come on, let's get you two cleaned up,"

I smile as El stands from the couch and Max leads us away to the bathroom, the door shutting closed beside us undoubtedly thanks to El.

Max gets the warm water running, the tap handle moving with a small squeak. The sound of running water hitting the drain fills the bathroom, and I can't help but try and get a glimpse at my bloodied back in the mirror. Max goes on to pull two small washcloths from the shelf and dips the first one under the water.

"Y/n, do you need me to... take a look at your back?"

I looked up, a little surprised and instinctively my hand reached for the gashes near my spine. I felt the blood in my shirt, some of it even sticking to the material but it just felt bruised. I could feel my cheeks lighting up a bit, and maybe I was crazy but her cheeks looked a little redder than normal. I finally shook my head with a thankful, albeit bashful smile as I looked between the two blushing girls and shook my head.

"I think I'm good," I say, clearing my throat and instantly wincing at the ache. "Thanks though,"

My reaction didn't seem to go unnoticed, and both their eyes fell to my throat.

"Does... it hurt?" El asked.

I looked into the mirror, craning my neck up to see a noticeable ring around my throat where Billy had grabbed me. My breathing threatened to pick up as I fully allowed myself to remember last night. Until now, where it was shoved to the back of my mind and I didn't let myself think about it, it felt almost like another nightmare.

I shrug at them, my face falling as my fingers linger over the ring.

"Only when I talk," I say, still internally wincing at the sound of my broken voice. "But, not as bad as it did."

Max shrugged, looking back at us through the mirror with a blooming smile.

"Well, I guess it's good you're not Mike, then. 'Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.' You'd be in constant pain,"

The three of us laughed, and despite the ache in my throat it felt good to do so. El perked up and looked at us knowingly with a nod.

"Nyeh-nyeh-nyeh!"

We laughed even harder, and Max returned the rag to El's forehead, wiping away at the last of the dried blood that hidden away under her hair from last night.

"Precisely," I chuckled, giving El a proud nudge.

We fall quiet again at the sound of the tap squeaking back on, and Max dampened the second washcloth. Moving over to me, Max got to work washing away the dried blood that still remained on my skin, doing as she had with El.

I was about to thank her, but the words died on my tongue when we heard the slightly muted - but all too clear - voice of Mike outside.

"Something's not right. I can't get Hopper off my back all summer now all of a sudden, he's hiking in the woods with your mom to Illinois? And Dustin's MIA too? I mean, this can't be a coincidence."

"Agreed," It was Lucas's voice that was speaking now. He sounded anxious like he was growing impatient. "but, where does that get us? We're alone here, and the longer we wait the more danger we're in."

"So what do you suggest we do, then?"

"I don't know! But we have to do something! It's up to us!"

"Up to us to do what exactly?"

"Find Billy and stop him."

"Lucas, but we tried that already," Will cut in, sounding urgent. "Y/n was nearly killed, El too! And who knows what he would have done to the rest of us with them gone,"

"Will's right," Mike says. "Even if El can find him - and that's a pretty big 'if' - then what?"

"We find something stronger to hold him, and burn the shit out of him. We know for sure he's the Mind Flayer, we'll be prepared,"

"Will we?" Will asks. "I mean, he broke through a chain lock and steel pipe,"

"Well, we'll have to think of something!"

"Okay, let's say we do," Mike begins.

I silently thank Max when she returns the washcloth to the sink, my face, neck, and ears now free of blood. My face fell again as their conversation continues.

"Then we win," Lucas enunciates.

"No, see, that's the problem. We don't win. We got the Mind Flayer out of Will before and he just came right back. We don't just have to stop Billy, we have to stop the Mind Flayer."

"Well, how in the hell do we do that?" Lucas asks.

"I don't know,"

Will's voice returns to the mix, and what he says leaves the three of us looking around at one another. Particularly, me and Max looking curiously at El.

"Maybe El does,"

There's a pause and for a moment, I consider - literally - throwing in the towel and joining them when again, their words stop me. It was Mike, and his voice had quieted and yet we shared another look in the mirror with a small, curious smile.

"What are they still doing in there?"

"I don' mknow," came Lucas's obscured voice, sounding as if his mouth was full. "Girls just like hanging out in bathrooms."

I shake my head with a smile, trying not to laugh and El and Max seem no better.

"Why?" Mike asks.

"I don't know,"

"They're conspiring against me," we hear Mike say through a voice full of worry.

"That's what you're concerned about right now?" Will asks heatedly.

"It's not my main concern," he eased. "it's just a sub-concern."

"And what happened to wanting to be a better friend? What happened to wanting to be better?"

"I do!"

There was another small beat of silence. One I could picture Will filling with a pointed look.

Mike's voice softened considerably. "I do. I really do,"

"Then respect her wishes. Give her space. If she decides she wants to make things work then great! But we've got bigger things to worry about,"

"I know, I know," he groans, sounding tired with himself. "...it's just- I miss her. And being away has been... difficult."

I hardly have time to look at El and see how she's doing before I find myself throwing a hand over my mouth, trying not to laugh at what Will said next. I didn't want to give ourselves away. At least not yet.

"Hey," Will says, and I can practically see the small and smug smile growing on his face as he throws Mike's words back in his face. "it's not my fault you can't move on."

There's silence, and I bite my lip so hard it hurts and bury my silent laughter into my palms. Max and El watch me with splitting grins, amused and confused with what I found so funny.

"Okay... I deserved that." Mike says, and I hear muffled laughter. I beam to myself, proudly. "Anyways. You're right, and I'm sorry. I guess I just figured the break would be over by now,"

"She said she dumped your ass, that doesn't sound like a break,"

Max couldn't resist the temptation any longer and decided to put the boys out of their misery. She shook her head, rolling her eyes and glaring over our shoulders at the door.

"It wasn't!"

The basement goes silent and I finally let myself snicker as I meet knowing eyes with El. One look and I knew we had both been instantly transported back to the night we had found her; the night her and I had been in this very bathroom and overheard everything they had said.

I shook my head and peered over my shoulder.

"It may have been two years, but it's still the same bathroom, Wheeler," I shout as best as I can. Despite the flaring pain in my throat and the hoarseness of my voice, I know all too well that I had gotten their attention. "We can hear you,"

El burst into giggles, burying her head in my shoulder and I smile at her through the mirror, thinking about how far we've come.

I wince as I rub my throat, and Max's smile fell away for only a moment in worry before I groaned, "Totally worth it,"

We laughed again.

"Oh god," Max chuckled as she rolled her eyes. "What happened two years ago?"

El looked at her with an amused, wistful smile and eyed the door. "That," she said, and Max giggled.

My eyes fell to Max's bandaged wrist and I nearly gasped.

"I almost forgot," I say gesturing for her wrist, my grin disappearing. "How's your arm?"

A barely audible knock on the basement door broke our attention and the only confirmation we got was Mike's sudden screaming.

"NOT NOW, MOM!"

We rolled our eyes and returned to our conversation. Max held out her arm and I gently took it, examining the bandages and the skin around it.

She shrugged, speaking over the muted voice and thumping of feet on the basement stairs. "I'm fine," she assured before a small, fleeting frown crossed her face. "Actually, it's great. It hasn't really bothered me since we went back to bed. Whatever you did must have worked,"

"Mind if I check it still?" I asked. "Billy snagged your arm a little bit, and it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to freshen up the bandages. If you still need any,"

"Be my guest,"

El watches curiously over my shoulder as I casually peel back the tape and unhook the clip holding everything in place. I can feel Max looking at me through the mirror.

"You sure you're alright after last night?" She asks.

"Are you?" I counter softly, knowing it couldn't have been easy for her with Billy. I didn't exactly feel like talking about what he did last night, either.

She smiles sadly. "I don't know... I guess? I'll feel better when this is all over."

"You and me-" I trail off, and I barely hear El gasp softly near my ear. "both..."

"What?"

Max's face grows stern in the mirror when she catches my puzzled frown, fixed on her forearm.

"What? Is it...bad...?"

It's her turn to trail off when her eyes meet her blank and undisturbed forearm with widened eyes. Hints of excess aloe vera I had placed on her arm still lingered in traces but it was as if she had never been touched.

"Um... Max?" I asked slowly.

"...yeah?"

She didn't blink. None of us did. My mind for some reason I could only guess to be from shock, was trying to connect every possible dot except for one. Why just last night, she had a second degree burn and was now standing here completely healed.

"Do you, like, by any chance have... magic aloe vera or something?" My voice comes out in a cautious daze. "Or maybe you just heal," I gulp, knowingly. It couldn't be... Right? "really, really, really, quickly, maybe?"

"Nope." She says, popping the 'p', and eyeing the unbroken skin on her arm. "that's just... you."

I breathe a nervous laugh, meeting my friends' eye and I gulp.

"Cool, just thought I'd check,"

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