satan's baby? i think yes

✧

NANCY WHEELER WAS A disastrous — horrible — reckless driver. Every kid in the car questioned how she'd ever get her driver's license. And they wondered how Jonathan was staying calm as he put pressure on El's leg.

"Nancy. . ." Alex mumbled over the sound of the tires screeching as the older teenager turned the corner carelessly. They were lucky it was late, and the streets of the small town of Hawkins were empty with everyone at the fair — or else Nancy would have gotten arrested.

"Yes, Alex?" Nancy huffed, looking at the back seat for a second before looking back at the road.

Alex's face had gone sickly pale, and the tip of his nose was turning green. His eyes were blown wide, and his hair flopped messily over his face as he stared at El's bleeding leg. "I think — I need to throw up." He had said it quietly, terrified that if he had spoken any louder, the vomit would have escaped from his stomach.

"What was that?!"

"I think—"

"I can't hear you,"

"I—" There was another reckless turn from Nancy, and the streetlights seen as orange blurs out the car windows. "—Ss—stop the car—"

Nancy laughed worriedly, "We can't stop the car—"

Alex began to panic, looking between the blood on El's leg to Nancy. The green had spread from his nose to his cheeks, and his stomach had weaved unnaturally. He felt a hand on his shoulder, "Lex, are you okay?"

Alex looked to his left to find Will Byers staring at him worriedly, "I'm— um— I—" he couldn't get another word out before he swallowed thickly, pushing back down the lunch that wanted to come back out.

"He doesn't like rollercoasters," Said another voice, and he glanced in front of him to see Rue Newby, who was hugged tightly by Max Mayfield and Lucas next to them. Rue had more bandages and bruises on her than he could count, her clothes were dusty and full of ash, and she had dirt on her tan skin. The majority of the people in the car had the same dirty appearance on them from the explosion his ears were still ringing from.

Will looked at his sister weirdly, "What does roller coasters have to do with anything?"

There was another turn, and Alex gagged.

Rue pointed at him, "Look at him!"

Will turned to look at Alex, and for a second, the blonde had forgotten he was in the car before it finally came to a stop. From the speed Nancy Wheeler was driving in, and how she had abruptly stopped, Alex got sent forwards. He felt Mike fall on top of him on his back, and Will had wrapped his arms around him to hold him from falling off the seats.

Alex looked up at him, lost for words. "Th— thank— " His face dropped, and he pushed himself off Will's arms and out the car. Alex wrapped his arms around his stomach and leaned on the light post in the parking lot they were at. He heaved, then throne up a few feet away from the car.

Rue and Max slowly stepped out of the car with Will close behind them. They stood together, watching Alex get rid of his lunch. "Good luck with him," Rue pat Will's pack and Mike and Lucas had come out of the car as well.

"Gross," Mike huffed, walking past the trio to help Jonathan with El.

"Hold me back," Max grumbled, "or I swear—"

"It's fine," Will shook his head while smiling amusingly as Alex walked back to them, wiping his mouth. His face had finally gained his colour, but it was bright red under the white lamp post as he stood in front of Will.

"Don't be embarrassed," Lucas grinned. "I mean — I haven't thrown up since I was ten, but it happens to the best of us."

"Are you supposed to be making me feel better?"

"Don't listen to him, Alex," Rue said, "I threw up yesterday."

Alex made a face, "Can we not talk about this?"

"Hey!" Someone clapped in their face, and the group of kids jumped to look at Nancy, who was storming towards them. "Come on!"

Rue pulled the bat with nails out from under the seat she had tucked it in. It scraped against the car's flooring before she shut the door and walked to Bradley's Big Guys' supermarket.

Jonathan was trying to pick the lock of the sliding doors when she limped her way to the rest of the group. "Excuse me, Jonny," She put her hand on his shoulder softly, leading him away from the door. Rue swung the bat and hit the glass door. It shattered loudly, and for a moment, she held her breath, thinking alarms would go off for breaking in. But when it didn't, she slowly stepped inside, her dirty converses crunching on the broken glass.

It felt wrong to be in a store when it was closed. The emptiness gave Rue a small chill, which she thought was herself being silly because she had just seen a monster nearly kill her best friend. But for some reason, that whole cabin fight wasn't scarring her mind as much as she thought it should. Maybe it was because it was still a fresh memory, because of the adrenaline and power running through her veins at the moment. The last thing she needed was herself going numb again. Not when she has never felt more alive.

Jonathan walked in behind her, holding Eleven gently in his arms.

Nancy leads everyone to the medical aisle. They walked down the hall for a short time, and she grabbed rubbing alcohol and gauzes. "Okay, put her down," Nancy told Jonathan.

"Does this count as stealing?" Alex asked as Rue and Max kneeled to attend El. "This feels like stealing."

Jonathan looked up at him, "Well. . ." he trailed off, "Not really, this is an emergency."

"But we're not paying—" Alex quickly stopped talking when El looked up at him, tears in her eyes and her face paler than his when in the car. She was losing a lot of blood from her nose and leg. Her skin had gone so pale her veins were seen from under her eyes.

Rue put the bat aside, watching as Max carefully rolled up the bottom of El's pants. "Oh shit," she huffed. This wasn't a normal injury — it wasn't like the one Rue had on her leg — no, this was something else. It was a bite, and she could tell from the way her skin was purple and the blood oozed out every time the cut throbbed. Alex thought he was about to throw up again.

Max shared a worried look with Rue, and when she looked at Nancy, her eyes widened. "What —? What — hey! What are you doing?"

Nancy held up the open box of gauze and the bottle of rubbing alcohol. "I'm cleaning the wound."

"No, first you need to stop the bleeding, then clean, then disinfect, then bandage," she explained, and everyone looked at her, wondering why she knew so much. However, Rue smiled at her admiringly as she held El's hand to comfort her.

Max's face went red, "I skateboard, trust me." She finished, then looking back down at El's leg.

Max grabbed the box of gauze from Nancy's hand and pulled a few sheets out, and pressed it on El's bleeding leg, causing the girl to wince and hold onto Rue's hand tighter.

"Mike, hold this," Max moved his hand to put pressure on El's bite. "Keep the pressure on it — nice and firm, okay?" She told him. "We're gonna need water with soap," Max looked up at Nancy and Jonathan, who nodded and turned to go get it.

El jumped and whimpered when she heard loud cluttering and things falling on the floor. She thought of the worst at first, thinking Billy or the monster had found them. But she furrowed her eyebrows at the trash on the ground from Lucas' bag. "Does any of this help?"

Eleven looked at Rue, who had the same confused expression on her face. Max glanced down at the objects on the floor before looking up at her Ex-boyfriend again. "No," Max said. "Go get me a washcloth and a bowl."

"A bowl?" Lucas made a face, and he looked at Will and Alex, who shrugged.

"Lucas." Max glared at him.

Will patted Lucas's arm, leading him away with Alex by his side. The three boys walked down the aisle.

Max looked at Rue, who tried her best to comfort El as Mike kept the pressure on her leg. "Rue?" El asked softly, her voice was shaky and in the midst of cracking.

"Yeah?" Rue hummed, running her fingers softly through El's hair. She was careful when she reached a knot, and she untangled it delicately.

El leaned her head on the shelf and looked at Rue. There was a ghost of a smile on her lips as she said. "I want a plant in my room."

It was so simple. And to Max and Mike, there was barely meaning to it when El said she wanted a house plant. But Rue nearly burst into tears, and she wanted to say: El, Shut up because El looked like if she blinked too slow, she wouldn't open her eyes again. Rue wondered if this was how Max felt the night before when she barely said anything. When she barely looked alive.

Rue sniffed and let out a watery laugh. "Yeah?" she asked, and El nodded weakly. "Okay, I'll get you one."

"Promise?"

"I promise. . . . Cross my heart."

El beamed, raising a hand to make an X over her heart. "Cross my heart."

Rue chewed on her lip, smiling at the girl she could basically call her sister. She had taught El the "Cross My Heart," promise only a week ago. It was silly, really. ("It's stronger than a normal promise," "Really?" "Yep, it means that if you don't keep your promise . . . you die," "Oh. . . that's really sad." "Yeah. . . it is. But it shows just how strong it is." "Okay! Promise me you'll teach me how to make cookies!" "I promise I'll teach you how to make cookies. Cross my heart." "Cross my heart.")

"Can it be a tiny baby cactus?" El asked.

Rue chuckled, "Anything you want."

（ ₊˚. ✰┊📼 ! ）

"What's taking them so long?" Mike groaned, stretching his legs across the aisle. Rue shrugged, and Mike looked at her for a moment before suggesting, "Maybe you should go check?"

"She's hurt, Mike," Max said, stopping Rue from standing from her spot next to El.

"She looks fine to me."

"You're an ignorant little shit," Max scoffed, picking on her nails. She glanced up at Mike through her eyelashes. "You know that, right?"

Mike rolled his eyes at her, but he didn't say much — not wanting to get into another argument like the one they had that afternoon. Mike Wheeler kept his mouth shut as he looked around the aisle, his eyes tracing along with the overpriced numbers for nursing products before they landed on El, who kept her attention on Rue. He couldn't hear what Rue had whispered in her ear, but it caused El to giggled, which made him smile. Mike looked at Max again, who was also looking at Rue. He turned his head to El again. "Maybe you should check — I mean, we can't really trust Lucas and Will alone, can we?" He added when Max gave him an annoyed look. "Alex, sure, but Will and Lucas are probably looking in the cereal aisle or something."

"Why would they be in the cereal aisle?" Rue asked, tilting her head at the boy.

"Because what else do you use a bowl for?"

If it had been anyone else Mike was speaking to, they would have thought he stupid for thinking so petty about his friend. But knowing Will and Lucas, he was probably right.

Max huffed, getting up from the tiled floor. "Fine," She mumbled, turning on her heel to find the boys.

"Take Rue with you!"

"Why does Rue have to go?" El pouted, childishly grabbing onto Rue's arm, not wanting her to leave.

Rue glanced at Mike, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, why do I have to go?"

Mike's cheeks flushed red. and his grip on El's bite loosened for a moment. "I — because! You need to try walking normally again — so your leg feels better—"

"That's not how it—"

"Just—go—with—Max!"

"Alright. . . okay, jeez," Rue mumbled, slowly beginning to stand from her spot. "El, you're gonna have to let go."

"But—"

"She'll come back," Mike told her, flashing El a soft smile.

Eleven looked between the two for a moment before making up her mind. She hesitantly let go of Rue's arm and let her hurry off to Max.

Rue hurried down the aisle to catch up to Max, and she grinned while wrapping her arm around her shoulder, catching the girl by surprise. Max let out a small squeal and spun around, but she relaxed when she saw Rue beaming at her. "Aren't you hurt?"

Rue shook her head, "Nah — it barely hurts anymore," she looked down to her bandaged leg. There was still a little sting to it, but there was no more throbbing pain. "I guess I heal quickly," she shrugged it off, locking her hands with Max as they walked around to find the three boys that were probably messing around.

It wasn't true, though — that Rue could heal quickly. She could remember very well that after she got those beating on the baseball field, she got taken to the hospital because of her wounds. Rue had bruises and cuts and even a broken wrist she didn't know of until then. Her injuries had lasted for nearly three weeks. She remembered she still had the bandages on her skin when she first met the Byers — a month after. So, how could it be that her leg barely hurt anymore? Rue wondered if it was one of the abilities Emilia had given her, but that would be impossible — Emilia didn't have Healing abilities. Or maybe it was just the adrenaline running through her, dulling any pain that would lash at her.

God, she hoped that's what it was. She didn't need to go numb — For fucks sake — why did she keep thinking about it? Why was the thought of going numb floating around her head? It needs to go away because after all this — after they make it to The Source and destroy it. Everything was going to go back to normal. Sure — there might be a few more nightmares — but it was nothing Rue couldn't handle. There won't be anymore speaking in third-person — or the lingering life of her powers needing to save her from near death. Everything will go back to how it was at the beginning of summer — when she was happy and hung out with Max every day — when her only worry would be baseball practice or what she'll have for dinner.

Everything will go back to —

"That doesn't look like a bowl," Max's voice pulled Rue away from her thoughts of a normal summer. It seemed so far away — Rue could barely remember the last time she had a typical summer. It was two years ago — yet it still felt so long ago.

Alex, Lucas and Will spun around with wide eyes, clearly not having heard Max and Rue walk to them. The three boys were gawking at a firework stand. More specifically, Satan's Baby.

Lucas and Alex began to talk at the same time. Lucas was talking to Max and Rue all about the firework — Alex was explaining how he tried to look for the bowl.

"I told them, Max! I swear I did! But they were looking through the cereal — the cereal! Idiots they are — I can't believe how they had the highest marks in all their classes. . . . They said the bowl would be with the cereal because — " He lowered his voice to mock Lucas "—that's all bowls are used for — could you believe that? I tried to tell them — but they wouldn't listen—!"

"Nah, this is way better than a bowl." Lucas was saying, "There is a reason this warning label says eighteen or older. This sucker is filled with one-hundred and fifty grains of black powder. A.K.A gunpowder—"

If Rue was honest, she was listening to Lucas more than Alex. And she caught the box he tossed, clearly throwing it to Max, but she was too busy listening to Alex's rant.

"So it's a bomb?" Rue asked.

Lucas grinned, "Yeah, basically! Strap two of these together, and it's bigger than an M-80."

Her eyes went wide, "Wow."

"Five of them, we've got ourselves a stick of dynamite!"

"No way."

"Yes way!"

Now Max was listening, "You wanna kill that thing with fireworks?"

"Do you have a better idea?" Lucas turned to her.

Max rolled her eyes, shifting in her spot. "We still need a bowl."

"A bowl, you say?" Alex teased, looking over his shoulder to take a glance at Will.

Will scoffed, "Don't you dare."

Rue didn't even try to hold back a laugh, and neither did Lucas and Alex as Will tried to roll his eyes to look annoyed, but his red cheeks and the smile on his face said otherwise.

"I'm joking," Alex grinned, and nudged Will's shoulder.

"Gross, get away from me with your vomit breath."

"A bowl," Max said again, grabbing Rue's hand and pulling her back to Mike and El. Rue chewed on her lip to hold back her giggles as she heard the boys' chatter.

"Will, go get a cart."

"Lucas! Max said—"

"Relax, Lex — what's the worst that could happen?"

"Oh! I don't know? Maybe we blow something up!"

"That's like the whole point."

"This is dangerous—"

"Okay? And?"

（ ₊˚. ✰┊📼 ! ）

"We need to find Dustin," Was all Mike stated, barely explaining further. They had been trying to contact Dustin for days, and it seemed as if when they needed help most, he answered. But not exactly? He was the one calling for help. Something about the Gate, at least that's what Mike said.

After helping El and wrapping up her bite with the best of their amateur abilities, they brought her to the frozen foods section. Jonathan had found an American flag for El to use as a blindfold after she said she could find Dustin for them. Nancy was iffy on the idea, she thought that El should get all the rest she could get, but she decided to let it slide this time if El promised she'd eat something and drink water after.

Eleven sat in front of freezers with Eggos. All of the doors were open wide, bringing a bitter chill to the already cold aisle. El focused on the buzzing of the freezers as everyone else made themselves comfortable around her.

Rue sat quietly between Mike and Alex, sharing a box of colourful sour gummy worms with Alex. "You shouldn't be eating this," Alex whispered as Rue took another one.

"Why not?" She asked, turning to look at him instead of El.

"You haven't eaten all day, and when you do it's pure sugar."

Rue snickered quietly, shrugging, "I'll be fine," she whispered. "I'll eat an apple on the way out."