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When El pauses, just outside the door, something in her sparks. The feeling of closeness and familiarity that she realizes rapidly can’t be Mike. She can feel Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Hopper, and even somewhat Will, but something or someone feels even closer to her. Somehow more familiar than the others. When a demogorgan moves towards her she kills it, sending it flying through the glass. Hopper had definitely talked about breaking windows before. She opens the door with more gentle ease, hoping Hopper won’t be mad at her for it.
She sees the sea of people she knows, some she doesn’t know, but they all seem ready to fight. The boy standing just in front of Mike is who she is feeling. Mike rushes her immediately. She says the right words because he seems happy before fighting Hopper.
“El?” Dustin asks it softly, like Hopper does when El isn’t sure what is real or not. She turns to look at him and he has teeth.
“Teeth!” She touches them, they’re real. The boy has seemed to slink away from her, not the same level of excited as the others.
“What?”
“You have teeth!” The boy is lurking behind.
“You like these pearls?” He growls and she flinches back, not sure how he made the noise.
“El!” She hugs Lucas. When she sees the girl who Mike was playing with in the gym she curls away almost in jealousy. She didn’t want to be her friend. She walks towards Joyce after she ignores the girl with all her might.
“Hi honey.” She hugs her close and when her eyes open they meet the figure of a boy. A boy she thinks she knows, but Joyce is pulling her towards Will.
He’s sick. She knows he’s sick. Something is infecting him and she has to accomplish something she is unaware of.
“We can’t make her.” She hears a familiar voice say, it doesn’t sound angry.
“We weren’t.”
“I think you are!” It’s the same tone she remembers with Papa, she curiously peeks over the door frame. He must know her too. He’s fighting with Hopper about her.
“What the hell do you know?” Hopper looks angry.
“I know we can’t force a child to risk their life!”
“Then what the hell was that a couple hours ago!” Hopper looks really angry.
“Saving them! Protecting them!” His voice rings familiar as they all start talking, laying down game plans. She keeps looking where he stands, his wrist is covered and she wishes she could move it easier.
A feeling had been within her for the past year, she thought it was just longing. She’s starting to doubt herself. That boy when he turns his head reminds her of something, or well someone. Someone older, wiser, softer, and most importantly someone who is supposed to be dead. Hopper is pulling her before she can open her mouth to ask him who he is.
“I’ll keep them safe.” The boy promises the room as she leaves the house. She wants Kali, she wants her sister because she doesn’t know what this feeling is. How he moves, how he speaks, she knows him and doesn’t know why.
“The boy?” She asks Hopper and Hopper stares at her, clearly confused before the conversation changes.
As she screams to close the gate images flash by her. A boy with a scar by his eye playing with eight, clearly reliant on her. She can hear his laugh as Eleven plays with them. The same face she just saw, the same face she just saw, but younger. As it closes she questions if she’s finally crazy like Mike has said. If she’s crazy as Lucas said, but she doesn’t think so.
“Eleven!” Seven shouts, clearly excited to see her. When he turns in her memory the familiar scars show and she suddenly feels like maybe she truly is right.
“Seven?” She asks out loud as it completely closes.
“You did so good kiddo.” Hopper is holding her, it feels nice. She realizes she can’t keep her eyes open, over excretion winning as the world fades to black.
When she awakens they’re back at Will’s house, not the cabin. When she awakens everyone is around, but she does not see anyone. She can hear talking, she can hear a lot of talking. She can feel who she’s looking for though.
They’re all gone, well they’re all asleep, but she sees who she is looking for when she creeps down the hall. He’s sleeping on the couch, clearly very hurt. She walks slowly, seeing everyone asleep, but his face is the same. Underneath all the blood the same face who once comforted her still shows. His eyes shoot open before she even gets too close, it makes her stumble back.
“I’m sorry.” She whispers and he has a faint smile.
“It’s okay, are you okay?” He sits up some and she notices how he flinches.
“I’m sorry.” She says again.
“It’s okay.” She closes the gap, touching his wrist.
“Caterpillar?” She feels silly saying it, but only her Seven and Kali would understand.
“We can read it every night.” His eyes are glossy, so are hers.
“Seven?” She whispers, question already answered.
“Hey Eleven.” She slams herself into him, crying openly. So is he.
“You’re dead.”
“Well, god, I hope I’m not.” He jokes with her and she gets impossibly closer, climbing on him and the couch.
“Alive.” She hides herself in his shirt.
“You’re okay. You’re safe.” She feels actually complete, like she got more of her back. All the pieces feel together again, she’s a puzzle with no missing pieces like Hopper says.
“Stay with you?” She wouldn’t leave even if he asked.
“Always. Forever. Fuck, forever.” She laughs a little, feeling tired again. There’s no rush to find the missing puzzle pieces anymore.
“Stay tonight?”
“Yeah, oh my god Eleven, yeah.” He agrees, moving them both. The couch is too small, the kitchen light is still on, but for the first time in a long time she gets to slip into an actual peaceful sleep. He must feel it too. That’s the only thing that makes sense.