Chapter Seven: The Bathtub

chapter thirteen , Guardian: Part One

a/n : I love this gif sm 🫶

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Gus folds her arms and stares at the man with an arched brow.

"Just let me go with you!" She groans.

Nancy, Jonathan, and Joyce shift their gaze between Hopper and Gus.

"No! It's not up for discussion!" Hopper snaps.

"And why not?!" She shouts at him.

"Because it's dangerous! I didn't think I would have to tell you that." Hopper pinches the bridge of his nose.

"Hop, I can help--"

"We've had this conversation in the past, and I'm still telling you. No!" He barks.

Gus runs a tongue over her teeth. "You need me."

Hopper sighs, "What?"

"You need me. They won't trust you, you need a more...calm presence with you." Gus says, her hands now on her hips.

Hopper raises his brows, "You calm? That's funny..."

Gus' nostrils flare. Before she can say something snarky, she stops and inhales a soft breath. "I am...calm." a forced smile forms on her lips. "You are the one who is not."

Hopper deadpans, "Convincing, Gus..."

Gus squints her eyes.

Hopper looks at Joyce, wanting backup. Joyce slightly opens her mouth, "If I were a kid, I would rather trust the teenager who watches me for 10 hours on end than a scary cop."

Gus smiles triumphantly. Hopper growls, he turns around and walks out of the house, signaling Gus to follow. The brunette's smile widens. She looks at Joyce and grabs her hands.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Gus shakes Joyce's hands up and down.

Joyce smiles softly and the woman realized for the first time since she lost Will, she was smiling. "Go on, sweetheart."

Gus nods her head and hurries after Hopper.

After driving for a while. Hopper gets out of the car as he sees men surrounding a bus with guns. Gus attempts to get out, but Hopper points a finger at her.

"Stay."

Gus opens her mouth to object, but she stops herself from saying anything. She knew they were short on time and they didn't have time to argue anymore. So, she sinks in her seat and closes her mouth.

Hopper approaches the bus and Gus turns toward the window to watch Hopper beat the men up. Hopper enters the bus. Gus notices movement in her peripheral vision. She looks to the side and sees a man with his gun out, approaching the bus.

Gus' eyes shift to Hopper and the kids leaving the bus. Her eyes widen and she sits up.

Now or never idiot!

Panicked, Gus' ears start to ring and the truck starts to shake. She swings the truck door open.

"HOPPER!!!"

A high-pitched ringing runs through everyone's ears. They all cover their ears and turn toward the brunette. The ground begins to shake violently, causing everyone to fall to the ground. A large sound wave was leaving Gus' mouth.

Dustin's mouth hangs open, "HOLY SH--"

The wave hits the man, who was about to shoot Hopper. The man slams into the side of the bus. The wave forces the bus to flies back and it lands on it's side with a crash. The ground below everyone starts to crack up, and the trees begin to fall, while splintering. Gus inhales a breath, slowing her heart rate. The brunette's eyes widen, seeing the man on the ground who was out cold.

"Holy shit!" Dustin exclaims, he looks from the knocked-out man to Gus.

"I-Is he dead?" Lucas asks.

"Oh...Oh, God." Gus runs over to the man.

"Poke him," Mike says.

Gus' eyes blow wide, "What? No!"

"Gus..."

The girl turns to Hopper. His face was a mixture of confusion and shock. "What the fuck?"

All the kids audibly gasp.

"Whoa!"

"We are kids!"

Gus sheepishly smiles. Hopper inhales a breath, "Everyone...get in the truck."

"But—"

"Now!"

Everyone runs to the truck and hops inside.

Everyone in the truck was silent while Hopper was driving. The Chief of Police inhales a breath.

"So when were you going to tell me this?" Hopper looks at the brunette.

Gus chews on the inside of her cheek. She shrugs her shoulders, "Once I figured out if any of it was actually...true."

"You have powers--"

"She most definitely is our Guardian now!" Dustin shouts. The kids all agree.

Gus smiles softly. "You're our..." Dustin and the other two boys look at each other.

"Black Canary!" They all say.

Gus laughs softly and Hopper turns to her with a stern expression. Her laughs morph into coughs and she hits her chest softly.

"There was...something in my th-throat." She sinks in her seat and looks out the window. A small smile spreads across her lips.

☆

"Okay, so, in this example, we're the acrobat," Mike explains. "Will and Barbara, and that monster, they're this flea."

"And Sofía," Gus speaks up.

Mike nods his head, "Yeah, and Sofia."

"And this the Upside Down, where Will is hiding. Mr. Clarke said the only way to get there is through a rip of time and space."

"A gate," Dustin adds.

"That we tracked to Hawkins Lab." Lucas states.

"With our compasses," Gus speaks.

Everyone looks at Gus and the kids, confused.

"Okay, so the gate has a really strong electromagnetic field, and that can change the directions of a compass needle," Dustin explains.

"Is this gate underground?"

Gus turns to Hopper.

"Yes." Eleven answers.

"Near a large water tank?"

"Yes."

"H-How did you know all that?" Dustin asks.

"You were there?" Gus questions.

Hopper nods his head.

"Is there any way that you could...that you could reach Will?" Joyce asks. "That you could talk to him in this...?"

"The Upside Down," Eleven says.

Joyce nods her head.

"And my friend Barbara...can you find her, too?" Nancy asks.

"Yes." Eleven speaks.

...

Everyone goes over to the table and the kids set everything up for Eleven to find Will, Barbara, and Sofía. They all watch Eleve at the table as she closes her eyes, trying her best to track down the missing people. The lights begin to flicker and everyone looks at the light.

Eleven opens her eyes and looks at Joyce. "I'm sorry."

"What? What's wrong? What happened?" Joyce stammers.

"I can't find them," Eleven says with her voice shaking.

Gus swallows when she sees Eleven's eyes start to burn with tears. She knew that their relationship was still rocky, but Gus had sympathy for Eleven and she needed to reassure her.

"Uh--hey, look at me," Gus speaks in a gentle tone.

Eleven hesistantly looks at the brunette. Gus presses her lips into a small smile. "It's okay. We can try again later, all right?"

Eleven pulls her brows together. Even after everything these two have put each other through, Gus was still able to put that all aside just to make Eleven feel better. It made Eleven's walls slightly become weaker.

The corner of Eleven's lips twitches and she slowly nods her head.

"Bathroom..." Eleven manages to speak.

Jonathan directs her to the bathroom. Eleven exits the room. Gus folds her arms and bounces her leg.

"What just happened?" Joyce asks.

"Whenever she uses powers, she gets weak." Mike answers.

"The more energy she uses, the more tired she gets," Gus adds.

"Like, she flipped the van earlier," Lucas says.

Gus closes her eyes and pulls her head back. "Wait a second...she flipped a van today?"

The kids nod.

"Yeah, it was awesome." Dustin chuckles.

"But, she's drained," Mike says, getting back to the point.

"Like a bad battery," Dustin adds.

"Well...how do we make her better?" Joyce asks.

"We don't." Mike answers. "We just have to wait and try again."

"Well, how long?" Nancy questions.

Mike shrugs, "I don't know."

"The bath." Eleven says, standing in the hall.

Everyone turns to her.

"What?"

"I can find them," Eleven says. She looks to Gus and the brunette's back straightens.

"We can find them."

Gus blinks and cranes her neck forward. "I-I'm sorry--what?"

Everyone turns to her and she looks at each of them. Her breathing quickens and her face heats up.

"Why are you all looking at me?" Gus murmurs.

"Gus, you have powers?" Nancy asks.

Gus slightly opens her mouth. "I...I'm not--I don't know how to..." the brunette stops talking and she feels like throwing up.

"Bathroom." she quickly brushes past Eleven and takes her spot in the bathroom.

Gus presses her hands against the sink and shakes her head.

"El can flip a fucking van..." she whispers. "...what the hell am I supposed to?--Yell at some guy?"

Gus looks at herself in the mirror. She examines the dark circles that have become familiar to her. She wasn't an expert in the abilities that she had. But it seemed like Eleven knew enough to instruct her on how to use them.

The brunette inhales a breath and she exhales sharply. She walks out of the bathroom and approaches the table.

"What do I have to do?"

☆

Gus bounces her leg nervously, while she rubs her lower lip with the pad of her thumb. The brunette looks over at Eleven and she was already staring at her. Eleven quickly looks away from Gus. The fear was so evident in Eleven's eyes, it made Gus' stomach turn.

"I'm really sorry."

Eleven looks back at Gus. The girl watches as tears blur Gus' vision. "Me hurting you...it's unforgivable." she inhales. "And whatever you need me to do, to help find Will, Barbara, and Sofía. I'll do it."

Eleven didn't necessarily trust Gus. But she knew that the teenager was trying. And Eleven couldn't help but feel motivated to try too.

"I'm...sorry too," Eleven says. "I was butt."

Gus laughs softly, "No, you weren't butt. I was butt."

Eleven gives Gus a small smile.

"Does it always feel this...nerve-wracking?" Gus asks.

A scrunch forces between Eleven's brows. "Nerve...wracking?"

Gus slightly opens her mouth. "Uh...feeling nervous or scared."

"Oh..." Eleven looks at her hands. "...yes. It's always Nerve-wracking."

Gus inhales a shaky breath. She feels a hand in hers and she looks at Eleven. "You...will be okay."

Gus nods her head.

"You're a battery."

The brunette blinks. "Uh--what?"

"Your power helps us stay in the Upside Down longer." Eleven explains.

"Oh, okay..." Gus nods her head. "...thank you for explaining that."

The door opens and Joyce enters.

Gus and Eleven turn to the woman.

"Hey, I've been looking for you two." Joyce holds up the two goggles in her hands.

Joyce walks over to them. She sits next to the girls and hands them the goggles. "This will keep it dark for the both of you in the bathtub." she points at the tape covering the goggles.

Joyce looks at Eleven then Gus. Both of the girls were nervous and Joyce could see it.

"You two are very brave." Joyce smiles softly. "You know that, don't you?"

Gus looks down at her hands and her mouth twitches.

"Everything you are doing for my boy, Will, for my family. Thank you." Joyce holds their hands.

"Miss Byers..."

"Joyce."

Gus nods her head, "Joyce. I would do anything for your family." she shrugs. "And El's doing all the work, she's walking me through all this..."

Joyce looks at the teenager. "I know you feel guilty about Will and if this is why you're doing this—you don't have to, because it wasn't your fault." she gently squeezes Gus' hands.

Gus looks at Eleven. The brunette did feel bad about Will. She couldn't help but feel guilty for what happened to him. But it was deeper than that.

"El needs my help," Gus says. "And I'm going to give it to her. And we're going to bring Will back. We're going to bring them all back."

Tears form in Joyce's eyes. "I am so proud of you..." she cups Gus' cheek and pulls her into a hug.

A lump forms in Gus' throat as she hugs Joyce back. About a month ago, Gus was trying her best to be distant from the people she cared about and getting into reckless trouble. Now, she was doing everything she could to bring those people back.

Joyce and Gus separate from the hug. The woman looks between the two girls. "Listen, I am going to be there with you both the whole time. And if it ever gets too scary...in that place, you just let me know, okay?"

Eleven nods her head slowly, "Yes."

"Ready?" Joyce asks.

Gus slowly turns her head and looks at Eleven.

"Ready."

☆

Gus stares at the pool. She slowly reaches down to take off her socks and shoes. Eleven explained everything that Gus needed to do to help her before they got into the gym. But this is Gus' first time, purposefully using her powers. Gus was basically a battery. She needed to help Eleven continue forward and that's what she was going to do.

Hopefully, her memories will help her.

A hand is felt on her shoulder. She looks up at Hopper.

"You're going to be okay." He says.

The brunette forces out a chuckle. "Is it that obvious that I look like I'm going to shit my pants?"

Hopper lets out a laugh and Gus smiles. Her smile then lessens and she looks at her hands.

"I just...I don't want to mess up." She whispers, so no one else can hear her.

Hopper crouches beside the girl. "The point is you're trying...that's enough."

The brunette inhales and nods her head. Hopper hands her the goggles and she places them over her eyes. Joyce and Hopper lead Eleven and Gus into the pool.

Gus inhales a shaky breath and then she sharply exhales. "Holy shit..."

The brunette instantly begins to shiver from the freezing water. "Does it always feel like this?"

"Y-Yes." Eleven answers.

Gus shakes her head in disbelief. The brunette immediately started to feel a stone cold pain submerge in her toes. But she knew that she needed to stay strong. Eleven needed her.

Gus slowly sits down in the pool and lays down. She felt Eleven's hand in hers.

"Don't let go." Eleven instructs her.

Gus' heart drops into her stomach. "O-Okay." She swallows hard.

Just relax, that's the whole point of this. Trust Eleven, find Will, Barbara, and Sofia.

The lights begin to flicker in the gym.

A small familiar ringing grows in Gus' ears. It grows even louder with every second that passes. She then opens her eyes again and looks around the pitch-black area. She looks down and sees Eleven's hand in hers.

They slowly walk around the darkroom. Water splashes underneath their feet. There's nothing, it's so dark and...cold.

Is this what Dr. Brenner made Eleven do all the time?

Gus hears the sound of squishing. She slightly turns her head and sees a figure on the ground.

"Barbara?" Eleven whispers.

Simultaneously, they walk towards the figure in the pitch-black area.

Gus felt Eleven become more nervous, with every inch they get closer. And that made Gus feel nervous. As they got closer to Barbara, they saw her body it was covered in an unidentifiable mucus that reminded Gus of webs.

The brunette's stomach turns and a small whimper leaves her mouth. "Oh my God..." her voice trembles.

The lights in the gym shut off completely.

"What's going on?" Nancy questions.

"I don't know." Mike answers.

Nancy looks back at the girls. "Is Barb okay? Is she okay?"

Tears form in Gus' eyes and her breathing quickens as Eleven starts to scream.

"Gone! Gone! Gone!" Eleven begins to shout. No matter how shaken Gus was she tried her best to keep her hand in Eleven's.

Nancy's eyes widen and her hand flies over her mouth.

"It's okay, we're here. It's okay, you guys."

Joyce takes Eleven's hand and Hopper takes Gus's.

An echo of Joyce's voice moves throughout the dark area. "It's okay. We got you two. Don't be afraid."

Gus inhales, and she squeezes Eleven's hand softly. Eleven looks up at Gus and nods her head. She closes her eyes and opens them again.

Gus looks at the fort, "Castle Byers."

Joyce and Jonathan look at each other.

Gus and Eleven slowly walk into the fort. The brunette's eyes widen, seeing Will laying on the ground.

"Will?" Gus and Eleven quickly approach him. The teenager crouches beside the boy.

"You tell him...tell him I'm coming. Mom is coming." Joyce's voice echoes into the area.

Gus brushes some of Will's hair out of his face. Eleven grabs his hand, "Your mom...she's coming for you."

Will barely opens his eyes, "Hurry..." His voice was weak.

"Hurry..." Will's voice echoes from the walkie in the gym.

"Okay. Listen, you tell him to...to stay where he is. We're coming. We're coming, okay? We're coming, honey." Joyce says.

"Just...just hold on a little longer." Gus manages a small smile. The brunette pulls her brows together when Will doesn't reply.

"Will?"

The fort begins to disappear and so does the boy.

Gus' eyes widen, before she could call out for Will's name; she hears sniffling. The brunette turns around, "Will?"

Eleven looks at the brunette and they both stand up. "What's wrong?"

"I thought I heard crying..." Gus follows after the crying.

"Gus, we...have to--"

Eleven gasps awake and her hand slips from Gus'. She sits up and her breathing was quick. Joyce wraps her arms around Eleven. "You're okay, you're okay..."

Everyone looks at the teenager. Her goggles were still on and she was quietly muttering words.

"No..." Eleven shakes her head. "...she's still in."

"We have to wake her up." Hopper reaches for the brunette.

"No!" Eleven quickly says.

Hopper stops and looks at Eleven.

"What?--why not?" Mike asks.

"Dangerous."

Gus looks around the dark area. "Eleven?!"

The small cries she was hearing before became more clear. Gus pulls her brows together, seeing a bunk bed come into her view. She makes it over to the bed and falls to her knees. Gus looks under the bed and sees a little girl curled into a ball, sobbing.

Gus pulls her brows together. "Sofía?"

The brunette inhales a soft breath when the girl doesn't answer. "Hey, Sofía, where are you?"

The kid's skin was pale, she looked sick, and she was hanging onto dear life. Just like Will.

"Wallace...Wallace..." the girl whimpers.

"Wallace?" Gus pulls her brows together.

"Why is she talking about Wallace?" Lucas asks, he looks at Dustin.

Dustin shrugs.

The ground to the gymnasium starts to shake, causing everyone to freeze.

"Can you tell me your name?" Gus asks out loud.

Nancy looks at the floor and sees it start to crack. "What the hell?"

"She's going to bring this whole building down." Jonathan huffs.

"Or sink it," Hopper adds.

"Wallace? You mean Mrs. Wallace? Her Orphanage?" Gus asks the quiet girl. She touches her arm.

The girl quietly gasps and snaps her head up. Gus' eyes meet the girl's teary bloodshot eyes.

"Help me."

Gus' eyes widen, but the girl and the bunk bed dissipates into the air. "N-No...No!" she quickly stands up. "Sofía!--"

Gus shoots up from the pool, she rips the goggles off her face and starts to scream. "NO!"

Everyone jumps from the gymnasium shaking violently. Hopper wraps his arms around the crying teenager. "Gus, Gus, hey...you're okay--you're out."

Gus' screams fall silent and she inhales a shaky breath. "Wh...what...?"

She looks around at everyone's scared faces.

"You've gotta stop before the building collapses, okay?" Dustin says.

Gus shakes her head, "I-I don't know how..."

"Hey, hey, Gus--look at me, kid."

Gus turns her head and Hopper touches the side of her neck. "Just breathe..." Hopper speaks. "Come on, in and out..."

Gus' inhales a short breath and exhales sharply. Her breathing slowly synchronizes with Hopper's. And as her breathing calms down, the building becomes still.

Mike, Lucas, and Dustin look at each other. "Holy shit."

Jonathan looks at the ceiling, seeing the deep cracks; they all would've been killed in seconds if Hopper hadn't helped Gus control her powers.

Nancy smiles softly, relief running through her.

"I saw someone in there."

Nancy's smile drops and her eyes widen. "Was it Barb?"

Gus' chest tightens and her eyes fill with tears again. "I-I'm sorry...it wasn't her."

Nancy's shoulders sag and her eyes start to wel with tears once again.

"You saw Sofía?"

Gus nods her head, "She was...hiding under a bunk bed."

"Mental."

Hopper shakes his head, "I just don't get how she wasn't reported missing."

The brunette wipes at the water on her face.

"She lives at St. Wallace's Orphanage," Gus says, shivering.

Hopper looks down at Gus and pulls his brows together. "The Orphanage you used to live at?"

Gus nods her head, "Mrs. Wallace said Sofía was left at the Orphanage alone and wasn't there when anybody came back. So, she thought the girl just ran away, but..." she inhales a shaky breath.

"...you thought different?" Jonathan asks.

Gus looks at him, "She was there. In the Upside Down...I saw her."

Everyone helps the girls out of the pool and gives them towels. Gus looks down at the gym floor and notices blood dripping on the floor. She lightly touches her nose and sees the crimson red liquid staining her fingers. She then wipes her nose.

How does Eleven do this?

Gus looks at the brunette standing near the door. She clutches the towel and walks over to the girl. Nancy looks over at Gus and turns to her.

"Hi--"

Nancy wraps her arms around Gus. Gus slightly stumbles back, but she quickly regains her footing. She hugs Nancy back. Nancy quietly starts to cry and the lump forms in Gus' throat.

"I am so sorry," Gus whispers.

"You and El already did so much for us." Nancy shakes her head. She pulls away from the hug and burns her eyes into Gus'. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

"Kid."

Gus looks away from Nancy and looks at Hopper.

"I'll leave you guys to it." Nancy gives them a small smile before walking away.

Gus turns back to Hopper.

"I have to go," Hopper says.

Gus pulls her brows together, and her back straightens.

"Go? Hop, it's dangerous out there." Gus shakes her head.

"I know, but...I have to find Will." Hopper says. "You've done your part, now let me do mine."

"The little girl, Sofía, what did she look like?" Hopper asks.

Gus raises her brows, "Black hair and she was wearing a white nightgown."

"Why didn't you tell me when you first suspected Sofía to be in the Upside Down?" Hopper asks, folding his arm.

Gus sighs, "I didn't even know you were in all of this." she bunches her shoulders. "And I didn't think you would believe me."

"And honestly, I didn't believe myself for a second." Gus looks to the side. "But, seeing her there...alone under that bed crying..." she shakes her head.

"Hey." Hopper touches Gus' shoulder.

Gus looks back at Hopper.

"I will find her and I'm going to find Will, all right?"

She gives him a soft smile.

"Don't die," Gus says.

A chuckle leaves Hopper's mouth, "Inspiring words."

Gus shrugs, "I try."

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author's note.

SOFÍAAAAAAA!!!!!

Words : 3917