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𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗬

chapter fifteen:
I love you and that's all I really
know

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"WHERE'S EL?" SERENITY asked, turning towards the others in the front seat. "And Mike and Max?"

That was one of the things that made her even more worried. If the three of them were here, all of them would be basically piled on top of each other. But since they weren't all sitting on top of each other — with the exception of Serenity, who was practically on top of Steve due to Robin also being in the very back — it made her realize that they were missing.

"We had to leave them at the mall," Will answered. "We — we were cut off, Renny."

"They're still there?" Serenity asked. "Fuck. This isn't good."

"It — it can't be that bad," Robin reassured her. "I — I mean, the Mind Flayer's following us, so they're safe."

Serenity shook her head. "No. They're not, because Billy."

"But you knocked him out," Steve protested, threading his fingers through some of her hair and pushing it away from her face for her. "I saw."

"I'm not so sure. His body's stronger now because of the Mind Flayer. I mean, during the sauna test, El absolutely smacked the shit out of him, and he got right back up."

The already-tense setting of the car got even more stifling as everyone let Serenity's words sink in. Serenity glanced behind her, staring out the window. The Mind Flayer was still following after them, crawling on all eight legs like a spider made out of human flesh and guts — well, because it was.

Jonathan had taken one of the old deserted country roads of Hawkins, bringing them farther and farther away from the Starcourt, where three of Serenity's kids were still trapped. The road was deserted, just like it had been when Serenity drove. Most likely everyone was at the Fourth of July fair, blissfully unaware to the dire situation that was going on right now.

Serenity flinched as the station wagon rattled from the Mind Flayer's footsteps. Each one was booming, becoming more and more ominous. Jonathan was going fast, but the Mind Flayer was doing a pretty good job of keeping up. They couldn't drive forever, though — they would reach a point where the car ran out of gas or maybe shut down.

(She always liked to stay positive and be a ray of sunshine, but this — this was not positive.)

"Dusty-bun, you copy?" a girl's voice suddenly rang from the Walkie in Robin's hand.

"I copy, Suzie-Poo," Dustin answered. "It sounds much better now, thanks."

Serenity's eyes widened. She whipped her head around, only to share a shocked look with Steve. Sure, she hadn't heard much about Suzie, but this was just proving to everyone that she was absolutely, totally, completely real.

"Suzie," Steve and Robin stated together.

"Okay, so listen, do you know Planck's Constant?" Dustin questioned.

"Do you know the Earth orbits the sun?" Suzie countered.

"Okay, so I know it starts with two sixes, and then a . . . w-what is it?"

"Okay, let me just be clear on this. I haven't heard from you in a week, and now you want a mathematical equation that you should know, so you can . . . save the world?"

"Suzie-Poo, I promise, I will make it up to you as soon as possible," Dustin voiced.

"You can make it up to me now," Suzie suggested.

"What?"

"I want to hear it."

Serenity's eyebrows knit in confusion. What was it? What did Suzie want to hear?

"Not right now," Dustin told her, sounding a bit panicked.

"Yes, now, Dusty-Bun," Suzie insisted.

"Suzie-Poo, this is urgent."

"Yes, yes, you're saving the world, I heard you the first time. But, Ged is also saving Earthsea and he's about to confront the shadow, so this is Suzie, signing off."

"Wait, wait, wait!" Dustin shouted. "Okay, okay, okay."

There was complete silence for a moment. Serenity raised an eyebrow, staring at the Walkie in Robin's hand for whatever Dustin was about to do.

Well, it was definitely true that Serenity never expected Dustin to start fucking singing.

"Turn around, look at what you see," Dustin sang, his voice gaining confidence with each word. "In her face, the mirror of your dreams."

"Make believe I'm everywhere, given in the light," Suzie and Dustin harmonized. "Written on the pages is the answer to a never-ending story! Ah-ah-ah!"

Serenity slowly looked at her boyfriend. "Am I dreaming? Is this some kind of twisted nightmare?"

It wasn't that they sounded bad, or anything. They actually sounded quite good. Serenity just didn't know if now was the best time to be singing a duet while they were dealing with evil Russians and a deadly monster from a parallel dimension. Basically, there were more pressing issues.

"I genuinely don't know what's going on right now," Robin admitted.

"Reach the stars, fly a fantasy," Suzie and Dustin continued. "Dream a dream, and what you see will be."

"Aw, Neverending Story," Will commented. "Remember when you watched it with us, Renny?" When she didn't respond, he looked into the backseat, only to see her forehead on Steve's shoulder as she blankly stared downwards. "Renny?"

"I just . . ." Serenity let out. "I can't believe this is happening."

"Rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds, and there upon a rainbow is the answer to a never-ending story! Ah-ah-ah! Story! Ah-ah-ah!"

Not going to lie, that felt like the longest minute of Serenity's life — which was saying a lot. But, finally, the two lovers stopped singing, their duet ultimately coming to a close.

"Planck's Constant is six-point-six-two-six-zero-seven-zero-zero-four," Suzie recited.

"You just saved the world," Dustin replied.

"Gosh, I miss you, Dusty-Bun."

"And I miss you more, Suzie-Poo."

"I miss you more, multiplied by all the stars in our galaxy."

"No, I miss you—"

"I'm so confused," Serenity mumbled. "So, so confused."

Steve shrugged, making Serenity's head rise and fall with it. "Hey, sometimes, you'll do anything for your girlfriend."

"I'm not sure if right now is the time for romantic speeches, honey."

The Mind Flayer suddenly shrieked. Serenity picked her head back up and looked out the window, only to see it stop in the middle of the road and turn around, leaving the car alone and walking in the opposite direction. She knew it, she fucking knew it — Billy wasn't knocked out, and the Mind Flayer was going back to the mall, with only one thing on its mind.

Death.

"It's turning around," Steve announced.

"What?" Nancy called.

"It's turning around!"

"Maybe we wore it out," Lucas suggested.

"I don't think so," Jonathan responded. "Hold on."

He drove onto the left side of the road before yanking the steering wheel all the way to the right, swerving the car in the opposite direction. Serenity felt her body crash into Steve's, and he caught her, setting her upright.

The Mind Flayer was making it back to the mall with incredible speed. Jonathan had his whole foot on the gas, but the station wagon was struggling to keep up. Serenity's heart beat faster and faster against her chest as they got closer and closer to the mall, and she could feel her hands start to shake.

She knew this would be the final battle. Everything they had dealt with the past few days, it all led up to this. The world would either succumb to good or evil, and right now, Serenity was putting all of her faith into good.

Unlike how it used to be on those carefree summer days, the neon lights of the mall made Serenity positively sick to her stomach. Jonathan made the car screech to a stop, and all of them immediately clambered out. Serenity looked up, her jaw clenching at the sight of the broken glass on top of the mall.

The Mind Flayer had climbed back in. She could hear its booming footsteps and its inhumane shrieks, the ones that she hated with every inch of her being.

"Okay, Lucas," Serenity said as Jonathan got the box of fireworks off of the roof of the car. "Let's see if your firework plan works."

"You?" Steve inquired, gathering some of the fireworks in his arms. "You allowed them to get fireworks?"

"There's really no time for questions, Steve."

All of them took as many fireworks as they could carry and hurried into the mall. They split up into teams on the second floor — Lucas and Will, Nancy and Jonathan, and Serenity, Steve, and Robin.

Serenity's eyes widened and she felt her stomach twist uncomfortably as she looked down below. Mike and Max were nowhere to be found, but Eleven was laying on the ground on her back, looking positively scared. Billy was standing above her — even if he wasn't in his right mind, Serenity still fucking hated him. And the Mind Flayer, big and monstrous as ever, was reaching out one of its weird tentacles right towards Eleven. Serenity looked across the way at Lucas with a pleading expression.

Lucas got her message. He struck first, throwing a firework right at the Mind Flayer. Instantly, bright sparks and smoke started to fill the mall. The Mind Flayer shrieked and shuffled around, clearly not expecting that.

"Flay this, you ugly piece of shit!" Lucas shouted.

The Mind Flayer roared at him, and Lucas took his opportunity to launch another firework right into his mouth.

Steve looked over at Serenity, holding the lighter out to her. "Ready, sunshine?"

Serenity lit her firework up. "Let's fucking do it."

All of the groups continued to throw firework after firework. The Mind Flayer continued to stumble and shriek from the loud booms, the sparks, and the smoke.

"Hey, asshole!" Steve screamed. "Over here!"

The Mind Flayer turned towards them, and Serenity felt her breath hitch in her throat for a second. Steve then threw another firework at it, lighting its fleshy body up in sparks.

"I've told you twice now, and you won't listen!" Serenity yelled. "Don't fuck with the babysitter!"

She reared her arm back and threw her own firework. The mall was a mess of bright lights and smoke, and Serenity couldn't really see or hear anything besides the fireworks and the yells of the Mind Flayer. However, it didn't take long for them to run out — despite taking the entire supply, it was inevitable. Lucas' firework plan had worked, but it wasn't able to last forever.

The smoke and sparks cleared, leaving nothing but the Mind Flayer. Serenity was finally able to see down below, and Billy was still kneeling over Eleven's body. She breathed heavily and reached up, holding onto Steve's arm tightly. Billy stood up from Eleven, staring at the Mind Flayer. However, something seemed . . . normal about him now. Serenity tilted her head in thought. Even from so far away, she could tell that his veins weren't black anymore. He stared up at the Mind Flayer with wide eyes.

There were no sounds in the mall besides the roars and snarls of the Mind Flayer. It opened up its mouth and sent an arm out right towards Eleven. However, Billy reached his hands out and stopped the arm as it approached. He yelled as he pushed it back away from Eleven.

But there were more where those came from. More arms reached out from the Mind Flayer's body and one of them latched onto the side of Billy, staining the white tank top a deep shade of red. Another arm latched onto his other side, and Billy stopped, his gaze hazy with pain. He let his hands drop from the original arm, and more arms started to latch onto him at different points of his body, successfully holding him in place.

Billy sunk to his knees. He yelled, blood pouring out from his mouth. And a final arm, straight from the Mind Flayer's mouth, thrust right through Billy's chest. Serenity gasped in horror, and she felt herself stumble backwards. Steve caught her in his arms and held her up.

"Billy!" Max screamed.

It was so agonizing that Serenity felt tears spring to her eyes from it. She blinked them away, and they rolled down her cheeks, hot against her skin. Serenity barely had time to process anything before the Mind Flayer started to stumble around again, but it wasn't from the fireworks this time. It screeched as it thrashed around, and Serenity watched as it got closer to her. Steve pulled her back, and the two of them — plus Robin — fell to the floor as the Mind Flayer crashed into the railing.

Finally, it fell. Serenity scrambled up and walked to the edge, only to see the Mind Flayer laying on the ground in a heap, slime dripping from it and surrounded by flames. Serenity knew it could only mean one thing that it was dead — the Gate had been closed.

"It's over?" Serenity asked tiredly, not really believing her eyes. "It's gone? All gone?"

She knew she sounded childish. But considering how much shit the Upside Down left her with, she really wanted nothing more than for this to be over.

"I think so," Steve answered.

He then reached out, pulling her back into his arms and bringing her close to him. Steve placed one hand on the back of her head and held her tight. Serenity sighed in relief, feeling the literal weight of the world lift off of her shoulders. She rested her cheek against Steve's chest and wrapped her own arms around his torso, listening to the sound of his heartbeat Steve leaned down and pressed a kiss right on the top of her head before resting his chest there.

"'Renity?" Steve began softly.

"Hmm?" she hummed in response.

Steve hesitated for a second, but his heart was practically bursting — he couldn't hold it in anymore, especially since reuniting with her after everything. "I love you, by the way."

Serenity froze for a second. She wasn't really expecting that, but she would be lying if she said she didn't feel the same. Of course she did. She had felt nothing but love for Steve her whole life, from when they were little kids to now. And judging how much she yearned for him when they apart, she knew with the upmost confidence that she absolutely felt the same.

Serenity picked her head back up, looking at his bruised and bloody face. "I love you, too."

And there, in the aftermath of the worst thing they had ever faced, their lips pressed against each other's in a sweet kiss — and perhaps sealing their fate.

❯ ────── ｢ ✾ ｣ ────── ❮

SERENITY SAT IN the back of an ambulance, her head on Steve's shoulder while his arm was wrapped around her waist. The rest were scattered around, either in other ambulances or on stretchers. Serenity had checked up on everyone — obviously, they weren't okay, and they probably wouldn't be for a long time.

She watched as firefighters ran in and out of the mall. They were under the pretense that there was just a mall fire, but everybody inside the mall plus some of the U.S. government knew the absolute truth.

Her eyes then caught on something else. Joyce, wearing a Russian guard costume, was stumbling towards the group, searching for something — or someone. Will immediately stood up from where he was sitting, letting his blanket fall from his shoulders, and sprinting up to his mom. Joyce immediately took him in her arms and hugged him tight.

And, probably something that made Serenity's heart sink the most. Eleven had stood up from her place next to Mike, looking around for the one person she cared for probably the most (besides Mike.) However, even as Serenity looked around, she didn't see Hopper. He would've been with Joyce, and the fact that he wasn't gave Serenity horrible clarity.

"Oh," Serenity whispered. "Oh no."

Serenity went to stand up. However, Steve gently pushed down on her shoulders, forcing her to sit again.

"I know you think you need to take care of everyone else," Steve told her softly. "But right now, you need to take care of yourself."

"The only way that can happen is if I'm surrounded by my kids," Serenity replied, tears of her own filling her eyes. "And right now, another one of them just lost somebody they cared about. Please, Steve."

Hesitantly, Steve nodded. Serenity gave him a tight smile before pushing herself off of the ambulance and walking slowly towards Eleven. Eleven had started to cry when she saw Joyce absolutely sobbing into Will's shoulder. Serenity placed a hand on Eleven's shoulder, making the girl turn towards her. Eleven let out a sob at the sight of her and immediately sunk into her. Serenity pulled her in closer, running her fingers through her hair in effort to soothe her, although she knew nothing would really work.

So that's where Serenity stayed, holding the girl that had lost so much in her life, not daring to let go unless Eleven wanted to.

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AW MY BABIES

only the epilogue left :(