Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It thought It was going to die when It was cut off from It’s host. 

Its mind was on Him when It found Itself drifting through the air and towards where He wished to keep It, the brief thought allowing Him to take control.

He set It down into the hard ground, and explained His plan.

It would be dormant, and would awaken when the next Doorway to be opened, because there was always another Doorway that would be opened, for mankind was not going to let such a wellspring of power go untamed.

He had a plan, and so It relaxed even as It felt the pain of the Doorway closing and It being stuck in the other side away from the rest of Them and Him.

It trusted Him, as the trust It placed in It’s creator was never misplaced.

He continued, telling It to wait for the next Doorway to open, and when it opened to find a Recruiter, someone that He deemed charismatic, yet with a strength that can be tamed, then have the Recruiter seek out Hosts, and change Its form into flesh like His, and find Her, and bring Her to Him.

“She will open more Doorways,” He whispered into Its ear as It lay, “For She is my Sister, and She had my power. And with Her, everything will be different."

And so when It awoke It began hunting, using the small creatures that Their former host called “rats” in It’s awakening spot to scout for a Recruiter and regain some bit of It’s former strength.

It stationed one of the rats next to a “road,” waiting for “automobiles” carrying lookalikes to Him, listening for His assessment on those passing by, always ready to take the Chosen to Itself and become Its Recruiter.

It waited for days as He scanned each automobile that passed, not a signal given that the “human”  riding was supposed to be the Recruiter. 

Automobile after automobile passed by as the “sun” made its loop in the sky.

It knew not to be curious about the sun, as it’s head had burned Their former host, so It only hunted at night when the sun could not touch It.

It continued to stare through the eyes of the rat, looking into every automobile until a larger one with loud “music” came barreling down the road.

It started, and felt a piece of Itself shift into place as It gazed through the eyes of the rat.

NOW. He commanded, and It acted.

It moved the rat into the “windshield” of the automobile, causing the “machine” to serve and come to a stop. 

A “man” with “curly hair” came out of the automobile after a few minutes, and It watched as he tried to get the automobile to work pointlessly.

It knew that He would not let it work as it should.

It let one of It’s arms shoot out towards the man, grabbing him and pulling him into the area where It had awakened, and began to turn His Recruiter.

Chapter Text

Robin Buckley didn’t know what to think of Steve Harrington. 

The former King of Hawkins High was quite a bit different from his high school self, less self centered and babysitting more middle schoolers than she ever would have thought their parents would allow him as their role model.

Like, what was that about?

The middle schoolers were everywhere Steve was, and Robin hated how her life was full of them.

Speaking of middle schoolers…

Mike rang the ball in front of her, and she hated how she knew his name. Robin shivered at the implication that Steve was rubbing off on her, making her view the children by name instead of just seeing them as what they were, children of complete strangers.

Robin Buckley hated Steve Harrington with a burning passion and always would, and it would take something supernatural to change that.

Mike continued to ring the bell, his three little friends behind him, smiling in the way children do when they want something and they knew that they had the adults wrapped around their fingers.

Robin stared into the eyes of all four children combined with a challenge of her own, and sighed, backing down, knowing that this was a battle she couldn’t win. “Hey Dingus, your children are here.”

The window behind her slid open, and Steve sighed. “Again? Seriously?“

Mike, the absolute little shit that he was, rang the bell again

Did Robin mention that she didn’t like them?

Steve opened the door to the back room, gesturing for them to walk through. “Well don’t just stand there, come on.”

Steve had truly changed from who he was in High School, anyone could see that, and it was weird.

Gone was the tyrant who ruled atop the throne built from harsh words, here was the outcast who helped literal children break so many rules put in place by his employers with gentle herding.

Steve walked back to his post scooping ice cream, doing what Robin has deemed his ‘mom sigh.’

“You need to put an end to that.” Robin warned, ensuring to the delivery hallway where the group had just charged down, presumadly to get into the movie theater for free.

“I will.” Steve paused. “Eventually.”

“Steve.” 

“I know Robin, but after last Halloween they deserve a little happiness.”

“The little bit of happiness could get you fired, Steve.”

He sighed, a difference in the tone from the ‘mom sigh,’ this one more of an acceptance than annoyed. “I know, Robin.” Steve turned towards the customer waiting in front of the counter. “Ahoy! Would you guys like to set sail on this ocean of flavor with me? I’ll be your captain, I’m Steve Harrington.”

Robin stared at his back, mind whirlling as she tried to piece together another piece of the puzzle that was Steve ‘The Hair’ Harrington. The way he chatted with the customers and flirted with the female ones were what she expected from the former King of Hawkins, but these little moments of inconsistency with the children were like a neon red sign, impossible to ignore and begging for her to investigate.

As Steve moved to scoop the customer's order, and Robin greeted the next person in line, she couldn't help but let her mind drift more from the moment in front of her and to the former student at her right.

What the heck was up with him?

Then, darkness. 

And Steve snapped up, looking up at the lights before relaxing after a few seconds. He moved from the ice cream and towards the light, flicking it. The lights didn’t turn on.

He frowned, “That’s weird.” Steve flicked it more, the furrow of his brow growing deeper as he continued to flick the light switch.

“That isn't gonna work, dingus.” Robin moved behind him, feeling a little bit of concern over Steve’s panic.

Just a little.

Steve stared at her, one eyebrow raised. “Oh, really?” He flicked it faster just to spite her, and Robin winced at the annoying sound.

The concern was gone.

And the lights turned on.

Steve sighed in relief and his shouldered relaxed as the stupid store music started playing again. “Let there be light.” 

And Steve walked back to scooping the ice cream, leaving Robin to scream internally.

She really hated working with Steve Harrington.

-<{}>-

Din didn’t know why Robin didn’t like him as much as she did.

He knew he was a douchebag in high school, so a little dislike was understandable, but he didn’t know what he could have done to get her to hate him. He dosen’t even think they’ve had a single conversation before they shared shifts at Scoops Ahoy.

Like, at all.

Din knew that she sat behind him his junior year in Click’s class, but she never talked to him, always chatting with Tammy Thompson instead.

But he couldn't remember if he had bullied any of her other friends.

He hated that he didn’t know how many people he, Tommy, and Carol had hurt in high school, and he would forever be trying to make it up to those around him.

Having Luke definitely helped.

His riduur was supportive when it came to righting the wrongs Steve did for most of his life, patient when it seemed like no one ever was.

Just the thought of his riduur placed a small jump in his steps and a tone in his heart as he made the endless steps between scooping ice cream and giving it to those in front of the counter.

His riduur who was understanding in Din’s need to stay in Hawkins until everything was over the scholarships he received, the way Din needed to stay and keep watch over the Party as they progressed through life.

The way Din wanted to make sure Luke was okay as he progressed through his third senior year.

Din knew it was partially his fault for Luke failing the year once more, the hours spent taking care of Din and his problems while ignoring his own tanking grades.

Din was not going to let that happen again, staying in Hawkins in part to make sure that Luke got his degree instead of gallivanting towards wherever Din was going to college.

Din loved his riduur, but sometimes he was too self sacrificing.

“Alrighty, one scoop of chocolate. That's a buck-twenty-five.” Din handed the ice cream to the girls in front of the counter, trying to remember their names. 

What were they?

Whatever, the Purdue sweatshirt one of them was wearing told him that they most likely won’t be around for much longer.

He snapped out of his daze, and looked back at the girls, who were looking at him in confusion, most likely from his pause.

“Uhh, so, Purdue.” Din took the money, opening the cash register. “Fancy.”

The dark haired girl who handed him the money smiled. “Yeah, I’m excited.”

Kriff, what was their names?

“I considered it myself, but I decided to take the gap year and see that it’s like to earn a working man’s wage, you know?”

Din didn’t need to learn about a working man’s job, but Steve’s dad didn’t know that. The change he handed the hark haired girl fell, clattering on the counter. All three of them winced, and Din could hear Robin drag out her ‘You Rule, You Suck’ board.

He sighed.

“Well, this was…fun.” The girls winced and stayed silent as Din continued talking, “See you around.”

The pair left as fast as they could without it seeming rude from the shop, and Din waved goodbye at them with a wince on his face.

He never wanted to have another moment like that ever again.

“And another one bites the dust.” Din sighed, and turned to face Robin. She drew another tally on the ‘You Suck’ side of the board. “You are oh-for-six, Popeye.”

“With what?”

“With the girls. You just aren’t swaying them like you used to. Can you even count?”

I don’t even try to flirt with them, I just do my job.

He held back his tongue, knowing that his relationship with Robin had a hard line and that Din was a few millimeters from crossing onto her bad side.

“Yeah, yeah, I can count.”

“You know that means you suck.”

“Yep, I can read, too”

“Since when?“ A voice sounded from behind them with a bell ring, and Din turned to see Luke in front of the counter, and a smile broke out on both their faces. 

“Since before I was four, you Lunatic.” Din walked over to Luke, ignoring Robin as he placed his elbow on the edge of the glass ice cream container. “What can I get for you on this fine Cruise of Cavities?”

Luke smiled. “Well, Diver, I think I’ll trust your expertise on this.” Luke put his elbows on the counter, looking coy. “Surprise me.”

“I’m sure you’ll enjoy the flavor only available to this location, as it has more than enough sugar to give anyone diabetes. One scoop of our Starcourt Strawberry Cheesecake in a waffle cone coming right up!” Din removed his elbow from the container, grabbing a waffle cone and lifting up the lid to scoop the flavor into the cone. “On me.”

“For little ol’ me? You shouldn't have.”

“Technically, I still owe you for lunch.” Din scooped the Starcourt Strawberry Cheesecake into the cone. “Consider it payback.”

“Consider your debt paid.” 

“Are you ready for your show tonight? I see you’re already getting ready for it.”

Luke puffed out his chest as he fiddled with his sleeve-length jacket like it was a vest. “It’s gonna be great for Corroded Coffin. We have to pull all the stops.”

“Hence the jacket.”

“Hence the jacket. While I do like wearing long sleeves and pants all year round, one has to up the quality when performing an actual gig.”

Din handed the cone to Luke, who held an extra few seconds of contact.

The pair stared into each other's eyes, and Luke whispered, “What, exactly, are Tarre and Jaster doing?”

Din looked to the side where Tarre and Jaster occupied a booth, the leftover trash from the group that sat there earlier in the morning spread throughout the flat surface of the booth.

Tarre reached out with his hand, and lifted up a spoon.

It was only for a second before it fell right through his hand, but Jaster immediately erupted in cheers and all but tackled Tarre out of the booth and into the floor.

“Tarre made a chair skid earlier, so they’ve been trying to see if they could replicate that moment with other objects.” Din turned back to Luke, “This is their first success.”

“How long have they been working on this?”

“About five hours.” 

Luke smiled as the sounds of Jaster cheering went back into quiet as Tarre tried to explain what he was doing, and let go of the cone.

Din smiled back, instantly missing the warmth of Luke’s hand.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Diver,” Luke turned away, heading back out to the rest of the mall, “Wish us luck tonight!”

“You don’t need luck!” Din called out.

Luke waved back and strolled out of Scoops, a swagger to his steps.

In the break room, Robin pulled back out the board, and added the first tally to the ‘You Rule’ side.

Chapter Text

Steve Harrington was a well-known figure throughout the town, with his rich parents and great hair.

When Mike told the Party about Nancy dating Steve, Dustin didn’t like hearing about how the Nancy who used to dress up and play in their campaigns was dating Steve “The Hair” Harrington.

Dustin may have been only twelve, but he knew all about bullies.

And Steve Harrington was their appointed King, the biggest and baddest of them all, controlling all his minions with only a look.

So when the entire mess of the Upside Down happened and the part Steve played came to light, Dustin couldn’t understand why the King of the Bullies would willingly step in and fight the demogorgon at the Wheelers’ house.

Dustin could understand Steve protecting his girlfriend, but he didn’t understand why Steve would protect Jonathan, the most forgetful person in the entirety of Hawkins.

Then the gossip began to trickle from the High School down into the Middle School.

Whispers of the King’s hold on his crown beginning to slip, of a court falling apart, of a restless population of servants.

The year passed, and the murmors quieted, as all gossip does, and Dustin began to see more of the Steve under the crown once he started paying attention.

The Steve that gifted Jonathan a new camera that worked better than the other one, but still had the same smooth handle and general settings.

The Steve that held Nancy with a gentleness that only came from a deep love, a love that Dustin had only seen his dad show his mom.

The Steve that ran into a house bar swinging, the monster's weakness unknown to him, letting the instinct to protect take over and dictate his movements.

The year passed quickly, and with the fall came the Hargroves.

And with Billy Hargrove, the murmurs reemerged, as gossip never fully disappears.

Murmurs of Steve’s grip loosening, of his character showing that he was originally crowned in barbs and quips instead of the protection and love he shows with those closest to him, Dustin wouldn't have even thought about going to Steve for help tracking down Dart.

Dustin was glad he did.

Steve protected him and his friends, throwing his crown to the ground and letting Billy’s punches stomp on the rest.

He helped Lucas practice basketball, gave Mike someone to talk to, encouraged Will and gave him confidence, taught El more about what the outside work was like, provided a roof over Max’s head when her home life got challenging, and most of all, Steve became Dustin’s brother.

In return, the Party gathered the bits and pieces of Steve’s destroyed crown and remade it, gluing the jagged edges together and filling the cracks with their love.

However, Dustin never truly saw Steve accept his new crown; his role model always had a small dip in his shoulders and a hunch in his neck, smiling yes, but a sad smile and eyes that seemed to speak of a tragedy that he saw all alone.

A dip in his shoulders and a hunch in his neck that smoothed out when Eddie Munson was in the room. His eyes were still sad, but Eddie’s matched them, both pairs of eyes brightening when the other looked at them.

Eddie himself had the opposite reputation than Steve did, hated by the jocks yet loved by the losers and geeks, especially after his recent endeavors of standing on tables and yelling at certain plate-smashing jocks.

Yet the duo fit together well, Eddie the only person to take their crown and place it on Steve’s head, the only person to get it to stay.

So while Dustin may not know Eddie Munson as well as he knows Steve Harrington, but he knew enough to know that Eddie was just what Steve needed.

And he would always be grateful for it.

-<{}>-

Dustin looked at the teenage girl manning the counter, his stomach internally filled with panic as he looked at the Steve-less Scoops Ahoy.

It’s all good, Dustin, maybe he’s just late. At eleven. An hour after opening. His hair could just be uncooperative, or Eddie might have needed a ride somewhere, or he could be on break. Jobs got breaks after an hour, right? He totally got the job.

The girl smiled awkwardly, and Dustin smiled back, pretending that he wasn't anxious about Steve not getting hired anywhere.

Because he wasn't.

“Hi.”

The girl blinked and responded. “Hi.”

She doesn’t know who you are, dumbass. Fix that first. Then ask about Steve.

“I’m Dustin.”

“I’m Robin.”

Awkward, you need to fix that now. Just tell her why you’re here! Steve!

“Pleasure to meet you. Uh, is-is he here?”

Nailed it.

“Is who here?”

Shoot. Steve didn’t get the job, and he has no way to make money since his parents cut him off and he’s gonna die without any money and alone-

The backroom door opened, and Steve all but fell through, a big smile on his face. Dustin felt his smile turn real, growing two more sizes on his face as he laughed in relief and joy.

“Henderson.”

He did it!

“Henderson! He’s back!” He turned to his coworker, Robin, and she looked confused. “He’s back!”

He really did it!

“I’m back! You got the job!”

“I got the job!” Steve picked Dustin up by his armpits and spun him around, both laughing. He sat him down, and Dustin hugged him tightly, smiling and happy to just be held in the arms of the older teen as Steve patted his back.

Dustin let go of Steve, and they pulled apart, smiling as they looked at each other. Steve patted his head, and Dustin preened at the contact.

Man, did he miss Steve at camp.

“How many children are you friends with?“ Steve sighed at Robin’s question, looking at Dustin with a slight grimace, a silent message of “do you see who I work with“ shown on every inch of his face.

Dustin’s smile never once dimmed as he continued to look at Steve, soaking in the moment of reconnection.

“Way too many.” Steve gestured at the ice cream in their containers through the glass cases. “Take your pick.”

Dustin scanned every flavor, his eyebrows furrowing as he tried to think of what he would want. “Do you guys do Banana Splits?”

“Yep, they’re called Banana Boats to stay more on theme. You want that?” Steve moved behind the counter and pulled out the special bowl needed.

Dustin nodded enthusiastically, mouth almost watering at the thought of all that delicious ice cream after having camp food for a month. “Yes, please!”

“Great.” Steve turned to Robin, “Hey Robin, can you pass me the-oh, thanks.” Robin rolled her eyes as she let go of the scooper as she passed it off to Steve, grabbing a washcloth and moving to clean up the messy booth of a family that Dustin saw leaving when he waited in line.

“Tend to your child, just don’t bother me.” Robin walked away, and Steve winced.

Dustin looked at her, confused about why she didn’t like Steve. Granted, he didn’t like Steve a year and a half ago, but Steve had changed; anyone could see that. “What’s up with her?”

“I have absolutely no idea.” Steve shook his head and turned back to the task of making Dustin his Banana Boat, scooping the different flavors into the bowl. “So, anything happened at camp?” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “Any girls?”

Dustin winced. “Don’t say it like that. It’s weird.”

Steve laughed as he stuck a spoon into the ice cream, handing it to Dustin. “Sorry, man. So, did you?”

“I did.” Dustin smiled into his ice cream, his mind drifting to his Suzie-poo.

“Well, tell me about this special girl.” Steve walked out from behind the counter, maneuvering himself to Dustin’s side and motioning for him to take a seat.

“Her name's Suzie Bingham.” Dustin sat down. “She lived in Utah, has an amazing singing voice, and on top of all that, she’s hotter than Phoebe Cates.”

Dustin stuck his spoon into the ice cream.

Steve scoffed. “No, no way. Hotter than Phoebe Cates? No.”

Dustin took a bite, making a mental note to get more of it when he came back later in the summer. ”Yep, brilliant too. And she doesn’t even care that my real pearls are still coming in. She says kissing is better without teeth.”

Steve blinked a few times before he smiled softly. “Yeah, that’s great. I’m glad you’ve found someone who accepts you for you.”

Dustin smiled and took another bite of the ice cream. “Thanks. And speaking of girls, have you found someone yet? You know, your own Suzie?”

Steve opened his mouth to reply, but Robin beat him to it, speaking from where she was wiping down the table. “If you count fumbling with every woman that walks in the shop, then great.”

Steve glared at her, and she turned away, stuck her tongue out, and went back to the counter, helping the next person.

Steve turned back to Dustin, sighing. “Ignore her.”

Dustin smiled. “She seems cool.”

“She’s not.” Steve turned back to Dustin from where he was glaring daggers at Robin. “So, uh, where are the other knuckleheads?”

Dustin glared and stabbed into the ice cream in anger, taking a bite, his good mood gone with the reminder of how his friends left him on the hill yesterday. “They ditched me yesterday.”

Steve looked shocked. “No.”

“My first day back! Can you believe that shit?”

“Whoa, seriously?” Dustin nodded.

“I swear to God.” He took another bite of Banana Boat and let the coolness of the ice cream soothe his anger at the memory of his friend's betrayal. “They're gonna regret it, though, big time, when they don’t get to share my glory.”

Steve looked confused. “Glory? What glory?”

Dustin held his spoon conspiratorially as he leaned forward, eager to share the news with the one person he knew wouldn’t have left him the night before. “So, last night, we were trying to get in contact with Suzie.”

Steve nodded. “I see.”

“And, uh..” Dustin looked around, suddenly feeling the weight of the words he was about to share. What if he was wrong? He looked at Steve, at his eager eyes, and his anxieties went away. He leaned forward and whispered to Steve, keeping his voice as low as he could. “I intercepted a secret Russian communication.”

Steve looked confused. “What?”

Dustin repeated himself. “I intercepted a secret Russian communication.”

“I just need you to speak louder.”

Dustin took in a deep breath and repeated himself one more time, speaking up like Steve asked. “I intercepted a secret Russian communication.”

Instantly, everyone around him stopped talking and stared at him. Dustin shrank into the seat, wishing to take back his volume.

Shit, he was too loud.

Steve waved everyone back to their previous tasks and enjoyments and turned back to Dustin. “Yeah, okay. What exactly does that mean for you?”

“It means, Steve, we could be heroes. True American heroes.”

“Huh, American heroes.”

Steve wasn't taking the bait, and Dustin knew just what bait to attach to his hook to get Steve to bite down and work with him. After all, he knew Steve could help him with anything he needed. “Just think, you could have all the ladies you want and more.”

Steve sighed. “I don’t need ‘women and more’ to help you, Dustin, just explain more of what you need me to do.”

Dustin smiled and unzipped his backpack, pulling out the Russian-English dictionary he borrowed from the library earlier in the morning. “Translation.”

Steve blinked in confusion

-<{}>-

Din walked around the backroom with his banana in hand, listening to the transmission Dustin picked up. The music…where had he heard it before?

Dustin stopped the recording and looked at Din. “So what do you think?”

Din took a bite of his banana and swallowed, thinking. “It sounded familiar.”

Dustin looked confused, “What?”

“The music. The music right there at the end.“ Din explained, his mind trying to figure out where he had heard it before. As a former Beroya, he knew that it was the small details that mattered.

“Why are you listening to the music, Steve? Listen to the Russian. We’re translating Russian!”

“The music could be important, Dustin, we never know-“ Robin barged in, interrupting their argument.

Din was glad for the interruption. He and Dustin, for all they loved each other, could fight like nobody's business when they each got going.

“All right, babysitting time is over. You need to get in there.”

Never mind, Din was not glad.

Robin moved towards her board, turning around in anger when she realized her board had been erased and written over by the Russian alphabet.

“Hey, my board! That was important data, shit boards.”

Din took a bite of his banana and tried to make himself as small a target as possible.

An angry woman was scary; an angry Robin was even scarier.

“I guarantee you, what we're doing is way more important than your data.”

“Yeah?“

Kriff, she was quiet. As long as Dustin didn’t talk, everything would be fine.

“Yeah.”

Dustin was dead.

“And how do you know what these Russians are up to no good, anyway?” Din blinked in surprise, chewing.

Dustin was…not dead?

“How does she know about the Russians?” Dustin looked at Din like he had betrayed him.

“I don't know.” He swallowed.

“You told her about-“ He did not! Robin was just scary, and she seemed to know everything!

“It wasn't me-“

“Hello, I can hear you.” Din and Dustin looked up sheepishly. “Actually, I can hear everything. You are both extremely loud. You think you have evil Russians plotting against the country, on tape, and you're trying to translate, but you haven’t figured out a single word because you didn’t realize Russians use an entirely different alphabet than we do. Sound about right?”

Dustin looked at Robin in quiet surprise, and that’s when Robin struck. Her arm reached out to grab onto the recording, but Din was faster, grabbing onto it before she could take it.

“Whoa! What do you think you’re doing?”

“I wanna hear it.” Robin looked and sounded excited, and that scared Din. He had only ever witnessed Robin express three emotions: anger, tiredness, and annoyance.

He didn’t think she had anything more than that.

Dustin narrowed his eyes, looking at her suspiciously. “Why?”

“'Cause maybe I can help. I'm fluent in four languages, you know.” Din did not know that.

”Russian?” Dustin questioned.

“Ou-yay are-yay- umb-day.” Robin sounded smug as she spoke, and Din knew that it wasn't Russian. She was missing an accen,t and the way she pronounced her letters was slightly off from the recording.

Dustin, however, did not recognize that it wasn't Russian. “Holy shit!”

Kriff, he was dumb for a smart kid. He was lucky he was cute.

“That was Pig Latin, dingus. But I can speak Spanish, French, and Italian, and I’ve been in band for 12 years. My ears are little geniuses, trust me.”

The bell rang from the counter before either Din or Dustin could speak.

“Come on, it's your turn to sling ice cream, my turn to translate. I don't even want credit. I’m just bored.” Robin melted into the table they were using, pushing the scooper towards Din just as the bell rang.

In his mind, Din laid out all the pros and cons of bringing Robin into this, trying to see if they truly should bring her in.

Pros: She knew more than one language. Granted, Din knew more, but Robin knew more than Dustin, and it would be good to have another person who he could bounce ideas off of.

Cons: It was Robin, and Robin hated him.

The bell rang again.

Dustin looked at Din with his puppy eyes, and Din sighed, taking the scooper from Robin and giving her the recording.

Robin smiled, and the bell rang.

-<{}>-

Din didn’t know that by putting Robin on the team, he would be manning the counter for the rest of the day.

Alone.

If he had known that, he wouldn't have done it.

He yearned to be back with them when Erica and her troupe of girls visited once every two hours and begged for samples.

He yearned to be back with them for deniability when Max and El visited.

He yearned to be back with them when Jaster and Tarre moved onto human interaction, each one trying to touch a person, each one of them failing.

He yearned to be back with them when they told him they translated the transmission, sentence by sentence, knowing that he would be able to cut the process by at least half with his knowledge of picking up new languages.

He yearned to have a moment away from two ghosts who just seemed to think that they could lift a chair, failing every time they tried to lift it up.

All said and done, he didn’t even know if this was the correct translation.

“I mean, it just..it just can’t be right,” Din said, locking the gate of Scoops Ahoy to the ground.

Robin forged on ahead, Dustin trailing after her. “It’s right.”

“Honestly, I think it’s great news.” Din stood up, putting the keys in his pocket and looking confused at Dustin.

“How is this great news? I mean, so much for being American heroes. It’s total nonsense. ‘The week is long, the silver cat feeds, when blue meets yellow in the west,’ whatever that means.”

“It’s not nonsense,” Dustin defended himself, “It’s too specific. It's obviously a code.”

Din frowned as he walked behind Dustin and Robin. “A code?”

“Like a super secret spy code.”

He scoffed at Dustin’s words. “That's a small stretch, and unlikely.”

“I don't know, is it?”

Din groaned when Robin joined in. “You’re buying into this?”

“Listen, just for kicks,” Robin continued, “let’s entertain the possibility that it is a secret russian transmission. What did you think they were gonna say, ‘fire the warhead at noon?’”

“Exactly.” Din glared at Dustin’s back when he chummed in. Din opened his mouth to respond with his reasoning of why would they be so stupid as to project it like that in the first place, when Robin started talking.

“And if my translation is correct. I know that for sure, so… ’The silver cat feeds.’ Why would anyone talk like that unless they're trying to mask the true meaning of their message?”

“Exactly.”

“And why would anyone mask the true meaning of their message unless their message was somehow sensitive?”

“Exactly.”

Din rolled his eyes as Jaster and Tarre fell into step beside him.

What’s wrong? Jaster questioned.

There’s a piece of the recording that we’re missing, but I don’t know what. Din projected.

Tarre sighed. Is there anything that your gut thought was big? Sometimes the gut is a tip from the Force guiding you into the right direction.

I keep on forgetting that you were a Jetti as well as a Mandalorian. Jaster commented.

A lot of people do. Tarre turned around to Din. Well, is there anything?

There was music on the recording, but… Din’s eyes widened as his mind finally clicked, and he looked towards the left of himself, eyes trained on the Indiana Flyer.

The music? Tarre questioned.

Kriff, the music. Jaster and Tarre looked at each other, and then at the ride, both shrugging in their mutual confusion.

Din started digging through his shorts, trying to find coins, his mind running through what exactly the ride took.

“Hey, Steve,” Robin said, coming over to Din. “What are you doing?”

“It’s a quarter. I need-Hey, do you have a quarter?” Din looked at Robin and Dustin.

Robin chuckled a little bit. “You sure you’re tall enough for that?”

“Quarter!” Din raised his voice into what Luke called his Buir Voice, causing Robin to drop her smile.

Robin tosses a quarter at him, and he catches it, placing it into the ride.

Music filled the empty mall as it started to play.

“Steve-“ Din shushed Dustin.

“Would you two just shut up and listen?”

The music continued for a few more seconds, and Din was able to see the exact time his idea clicked for Dustin.

“Holy shit.” Dustin looked at Din, and he nodded in return. “The music.” Dustin took off his backpack. “The music!”

Dustin dug through his backpack and pulled out the recorder. He clicked play, and rthe ecording played in the small mall, sound mirroring that of the pony.

“I don't understand,” Robin asked, confusion layering in her voice.

“It’s the exact same song on the recording.”

Robin grimaced. “Maybe they have horses like this in Russia.”

Din gestured to the name he'd seen on the house. “‘Indiana Flyer?’ I don't.I don't think so. This code, it..didn't come from Russia.” Din looked up. “It came from here.”

Kriff. Jaster swore, and Tarre looked like he was about to as well.

Chapter Text

Din loved Dustin, he really did.

But the kid had absolutely zero idea of what it meant to be stealthy.

And in this moment, it showed big time.

When Din clocked in earlier in the morning at Scoops, he thought his day would revolve more around people watching than whatever Dustin was having him do.

And yes, while that was technically still happening, Din thought it would mean more ‘Dustin leaving and reporting back what he saw while Din and Robin scooped ice cream,’ not the ‘Din helping Dustin while still in his uniform and Robin scooping ice cream’ kind.

So when Dustin dragged him from his post behind the counter despite his protests and handed him a pair of binoculars, and forced him to stand behind a plant, it was definitely something that surprised him.

After all, wasn't Dustin supposed to be smart?

Din was pretty sure that him being in the stupid sailor outfit created an easy target on his back for those who knew what shop the uniform was connected to, leading to some really stupid things happening.

And if the Russians were in Starcourt Mall, they would know which shop the stupid sailor outfit would go to, and would connect him to everyone he had been seen with or whoever shared his same shift.

And that thought filled Din with a deep fear.

He had already lost one son because of a mistake, something that was preventable and he would never make that mistake again-

“You see anything?“

Din started from his flashback, looking at Dustin.

He sighed when he saw his big, curious eyes staring at him. “Dustin, I don’t really know what I’m supposed to be looking for.”

“Evil Russians.” Dustin looked at Din, his eyebrows frowning and eyes dulling. “I’ve told you this a few times, Steve.”

Din sighed, forcing himself to look away from Dustin’s eyes. Why was the stare of younger people in his life so effective? First Grogu, and now Dustin?

“You’ve told me to look for evil Russians, not what they look like.” Din knew that Dustin would most likely be thinking broadly and not as specific as he needed him to be, so he tried to get Dustin to think about something non-stereotypical and hidden.

“Tall, blonde, not smiling.”

Well, that didn’t work.

Din sighed for the twentieth time today. “Dustin, that’s a description for Billy Hargrove.” Dustin looked sheepish. “Is there anything else that could be different from most of the people here?”

Dustin paused for a few seconds, thinking. “Earpieces, camo, duffle bags, that sort of thing.”

Din raised a disbelieving eyebrow at Dustin. “Duffle bags?”

Dustin nodded. “Yes, duffle bags! They’re large, and for the most part, they can pass under the radar. Perfect for a spy.”

Din nodded, internally rolling his eyes. “Whatever you say, dude.”

He didn't have the heart to say that the duffel bag thing was only really ever seen in movies. Din looked away from Dustin and held the binoculars back to his eyes as he scanned the section for anyone his trained eyes thought to be suspicious.

Din grimaced.

“What do you see?” Dustin questioned.

“Nothing important, just that Anna Jacobi’s talking with Mark Lewinsky. What happened to standards? She deserves so much better than him.”

Dustin reached out and grabbed the straps of the binoculars. “Dude, if you're not gonna focus, just gimme the binoculars.”

Din winced when they tugged on his neck. “Ask first, Dustin!”

Dustin ignored him. “Dude, you are the worst spy in history, you know that?”

Din glared at the younger boy as he grabbed the binoculars from around his neck and handed them to Dustin.

“Besides, I don’t get why you're looking at girls anyway, you have the perfect one in front of you.” He groaned as Dustin continued, already knowing what he was gonna say. “Robin!”

“She's not my type, Dustin.” While this body may be eighteen, my mind is well into my sixties. Even if I wasen’t married, I would never date a minor. Dustin just continued staring, and Din sighed. “She's not even in the ballpark of what my type is.”

“What’s your type again?” Dustin quipped. “Not awesome?”

Flashes of bright light swinging through the air or the confidence and kindness of a man whom he loved.

“Not Robin.” Din corrected Dustin.

Dustin sighed. “Now that you're out of high school, which means you're technically an adult, don't you think it's time you move on from primitive constructs such as popularity?

“This isn't about popularity, Dustin.” Din reached over and flicked Dustin’s forehead.

Dustin pouted and rubbed at his forehead before looking back through the binoculars.

Din sighed. Why did he even put up with the kid sometimes?

Because you love him, his treacherous voice responded.

Touché. Din spoke back.

To his left, Dustin held his binoculars down and looked at Din. “Target acquired.”

Din tensed, scanning the grounds. “Where?”

“Ten O'clock. Sam Goody's.” Din turned his head, scanning for the person Dustin recognized.

When he didn’t find them, Din held out his hand to Dustin. “Can I have the binoculars?” Dustin handed them over. See, Dustin? That’s how you ask. “Thanks.”

Din held the binoculars to his eyes, scanning the faces with a new, heightened eyesight, missing his helmet now more than ever.

He frowned. That was weird.

“Do you see him?” Dustin asked, and Din nodded.

He wasn't about to tell Dustin that while the blonde guy in black with the duffel bag was suspicious, he was way too inconspicuous to actually be a secret Russian.

“Evil Russians,” Dustin commented, and stood up. Din sighed and moved to follow him.

Children.

Dustin wove his way through the other people, making Din say quick “sorrys” as his son bother bumped into many people.

They both follow him up the escalator, Dustin barging ahead.

”Slow down!” Din called, trying his best to see Dustin’s curly head above the crowd. He picked up his speed, accidentally running into a man. “Sorry.”

He moved to continue forward, but the man’s voice stopped him. “Steve?”

Din turned back to face the man he ran into, recognizing his face. “Hey!” Luke smiled, and Din pulled him into a hug. ”How was the concert?”

Luke pulled back, rolling his eyes as he smiled. “It wasn't a concert, and you know that.”

“You still played in front of people, and that takes guts.”

“Guts that you don’t have, I assume?”

Din chuckled. “One can only spend so much time in a helmet before they lose their ability to stand in front of people without one.”

“I think you mean that being in a ship alone for so long drags down your ability to talk to people.”

“I thought I was doing fine.”

Luke smiled. “More than fine. You did talk to me, didn’t you?”

Din smiled back, lacing their hands together instead of kissing, a small burst of sadness filling him at the reminder of their relationship being hidden.

He reached out to Luke using their bond to showcase just how much he truly cared about the other, even when they couldn't say it out loud.

“Are you okay?” He asked.

Luke frowned. “What do you mean?“

Din probed around more in their bind. “Your signature feels…smaller than it normally would be.” He looked into Luke’s eyes, repeating the question from earlier. “Are you okay?”

Luke smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I am, just tired.”

“Are you sure? ‘Cause I remember the last time you said this, you broke Wayne’s favorite mug.”

Luke grimaced. “Don’t remind me, I couldn't look at him for a week.” He gazed back at Din, his signature gaining strength. “I’m fine.”

Din scanned every inch of Luke’s face to see if he was lying, seeing the way his eyebrows had a small scrunch to them. He sighed. “Okay. If you won’t tell me, I won’t press. Just know that you can tell me anything.”

Luke didn’t relax, but he did smile softly. “Thank you.” He adjusted his shirt and gave Din a hug. “See you later!”

He turned and left, waving behind him as he went, not waving back like he normally would.

Din waved after him. He missed Luke more than words could ever say.

Someone tapped him on the shoulder, and Din turned to see an angry Dustin.

“Where were you?”

“Talking to Eddie.” Dustin perked up and lost his frown, looking around for the mentioned person. “He left a little bit ago.”

“Do you know where he’s going?” Dustin asked.

“No, he didn’t tell me.” Din frowned. Weird, he normally tells me everything. Din’s mind caught on to the fact that Dustin was blushing. He raised an eyebrow. “What happened?”

Dustin averted his eyes, gazing at something in the distance. “Nothing.

Din followed his eyes, looking at the Jazzercise. Or rather, looking at the man they were trailing teaching a group of women. Women who wore tight-fitting clothes. He looked back at Dustin, who just blushed deeper.

Din knew Dustin’s feelings too well.

Din chuckled and looped an arm around Dustin. “It feels too much like you're looking at someone like your mom, right?”

Dustin groaned, nodding. “I never want to see that ever again.”

“You’re lucky,” Din replied, “You don’t have to look at them whenever you just want to call someone.”

Din’s eyes caught on Robin, standing on the fountain. He paused, standing as he gazed at her in confusion.

“Why did you stop-oh.” Dustin frowned, looking at Robin as she spun around in different directions. “What is she doing?”

“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.” Din removed himself from Dustin, starting to walk at a faster pace.

“Hey, wait for me!” Dustin sped up beside him, and the two made their way down the escalator.

“Robin!” Din called out. “What are you doing?”

Robin paused in her frantic movements and smiled as she stepped off the fountain. She gazed at Din, pure joy in her eyes. “I cracked it!”

Din’s eyes widened, and he looked at Robin, feeling hope swirling in his chest. “You mean-you cracked the code?”

Robin nodded frantically, a laugh escaping her. “I cracked the code!”

-<{}>-

It was a little while later that Din realized he had forgotten to tell Luke about the Russian code.

And a few more to realize that Luke called him Steve.

Chapter Text

Its’ time was coming.

And it couldn't wait.

-<{}>-

Din frowned, his eyes trained on Dustin from where he was pacing.

If he paces for a few more minutes, he’s gonna ruin the floor!

I don’t think that actually happens, Jaster.

It might, you never know!

“They have a keycard that opens the door, but unfortunately, the Russian with this keycard also has a massive gun. Whatever’s in this room, whatever’s in those boxes, they really don’t want anybody finding it.” Dustin paused in his pacing and finally looked at Din and Robin.

Robin let out a breath and removed herself from the wall. “There’s gotta be a way in.”

“You know,” Din said, unclenching his hands from his side as he brought up the option he was trying his best not to resort to, “I could just take him out.”

“Take who out?” Din stood up at Robin’s question, ready to defend himself.

“The Russian guard, Robin.”

With a shake of her head, Robin sat back in her seat. “You can’t do that, Steve.”

“Why not? It would be easy. I’ll sneak up behind him, knock him out, and take his keycard. I’ll get the card to us with little need to worry.”

“Did you not hear the part about the massive gun?” Dustin fretted.

“I did, Dustin, but I know I can do this.”

“Well, please, tell me this, and be honest, have you ever actually…won a fight?”

Din frowned at the comment. “I have.”

“Really?” Dustin snarked, “Because the last one I saw ended with a medical-grade concussion!”

“What?” Din ignored Robin’s comment.

“That was one time, Dustin.”

One time without his memories.

“And what about Jonathan, Steve?”

“Maybe it was more than once.” Dustin stood unwavering, his eyebrows furled in defiance. Din stepped in front of Dustin, placing a hand on his shoulder. Almost immediately, all of Dustin’s tension left his body.

“If you’re so worried about me, Dustin, I won’t go after the guard.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Not unless it was absolutely necessary.

“Then what are we going to do?” Dustin questioned.

The three fell quiet, contemplating what they were going to do.

Any ideas? Din? Tarre?

Do you remember that one time when Din made Grogu fix the wires of his ship?

I do. Jaster frowned before his eyes widened in understanding. Wait, you don't mean-?

I do. Tarre turned to Din. Do you remember what the name of that girl who always gets samples is?

You need to be more specific, Tarre. Many girls get samples here.

Tarre sighed, shaking his head. Before he could chime in, Robin all but jumped out of her seat and ran out of the break room.

Dustin and Din looked at each other in confusion before running after her.

They opened the door, and one of the first things Din noticed was Robin taking all the tip money they made that day.

A feeling of pure panic ceased, and he dashed forwards and only stopped for their customers.

Money was a necessity that Din didn’t have a lot of.

“Robin! What are you doing?”

Robin turned her body towards Din, still backing out of the store.

“I need cash!” Robin explained.

She’s bad at explaining things, isn't she?

“Half of that’s mine! Where're you going?”

“To find a way into that room, a safe way!” Robin smiled and picked up the pace. “In the meantime, sling ice cream, behave, and don’t get beaten up. I’ll be back in a jiff!” She saluted the duo left in the shop and ran off.

Din huffed, and grabbed his stupid sailor hat from the counter and shoved it back onto his head.

-<{}>-

Robin took just under an hour and a half to get everything that she set out to get, and it honestly scared Din.

After all, the rest of Hawkins was about a thirty-minute bike ride away, which led her to only have thirty minutes to get what she needed.

Overall, Din was pretty impressed by her ability to get what she needed in such a short amount of time.

He knew that if he was in her shoes he would have spent too much time trying to actually figure out how to get what he required, and then would spend a while fact checking and making sure that everything was correct.

And he knew that Robin was smart enough to do the same things he would do.

It was a testament to her tenacity that she got something done in easily half the time it would have taken Din..

“It is fascinating what 20 bucks will get you at the County Records office.” Robin rolled out one of the things she was carrying under her arm. “Starcourt Mall. The complete blueprints.”

Din whistled in appreciation.

Kriff, she’s good. Tarre nodded with Jaster’s statement.

“Not bad.” Robin smiled at Dustin’s words, and pointed at one area of the blueprint.

One that Din recognized almost immediately.

“Scoops Ahoy.” Robin nodded.

“Exactly. This is us, and this,“ She pointed at another point on the map, “is where we want to get to.”

“Did you get the other blueprints as well?” Robin and Dustin blinked at Din’s words.

“What do you mean by ‘other blueprints?’” Dustin questioned.

“This only shows the ground plan, not anything else.”

“He’s right.” Robin unfurled the other thing Din saw her carrying under her arm, and it revealed the remaining elements of the blueprints. “The first one would be great if you’re talking exclusively about doors.”

Things that if Russians were really here for malicious reasons, they wouldn't want anyone to see were all clearly laid out.

“Air ducts.” Dustin breathed out.

“Exactly.” Robin uncapped a new red marker and moved the tip in a very specific direction. “Turns out, this secret room needs air just like any old room, and these air ducts lead all the way here.” Robin stopped her line and circled the secret room where the Russians kept their unknown things. “Now, there's just one thing left to do.”

She grabbed a screwdriver and tossed it to Din. Robin pointed at the air duct in their break room.

Din smiled and grabbed the ladder from the corner where it had been gathering dust. “At least now there's a use for this thing.” He started climbing and unscrewed the grate. “Dustin, can you pass me the flashlight?” Dustin handed in the flashlight, taking the screwdriver from his hand. “Thank you.” He clicked it on, moving it into the duct and gazing around. “Dustin, I don’t want to crush your dreams, but I don’t think you can fit into this.”

Din turned back towards Dustin, who rolled his eyes. “I’ll fit in. Trust me, no collar bones remember?”

Robin blinked in confusion. “Uh, excuse me?”

Din stepped down the ladder, holding it steady as Dustin clambered on. “Dustin was born with Cleidocranial dysplasia, which means that he’s missing a few bones.”

“Like Gumby.”

Din blinked. “Who?”

“You know, the cartoon character?” Din stared blankly at her. Robin stared back. “From the children’s show? Have you ever seen it?”

Din shook his head. “My parents didn’t want me to watch a lot of TV, they said it would rot your brain."

“That…explains a lot, actually.”

“Explain what?”

Before Robin could chime in, Dustin yelled for them. “Can you guys stop talking and push me?”

“On it.” Din walked towards Dustin, trying his best to maneuver himself into a more comfortable position to push the younger into the vent. Din placed his hands on Dustin’s feet, grasping onto his legs to push him in safely.

“Not my feet, dumbass. Push my ass!”

Din blinked. “What?”

“Touch my butt, I don’t care!” Dustin yelled, and Din hesitantly started pushing where Dustin wanted him to. “Come on! Harder!”

“I don’t like this, Dustin.”

Dustin just continued yelling at Din to push him in, and the bell rang. Din turned away from Dustin to see Erica at the counter, her finger’s tapping the bell in annoyance.

“Ahoy, sailors! All hands on deck!” She yelled. “Ahoy!” Din frowned, thinking. “Come on! Get over here and serve me some samples!” He softly smiled as the plan began to take shape in his mind.

It would be perfect.

Dustin kicked Din in the shoulder.

At the very least, it was better than Dustin’s plan.

-<{}>-

“Yeah, I don’t know.”

“You don’t know if you can fit in?” Dustin questioned Erica.

“Oh, I can fit in.” Din sighed, regretting asking this pre-teen for her help. “I just don’t know if I want to.”

“Are you claustrophobic?”

Erica laughed. “I don’t have phobias.”

“Then why won’t you help us?” Din raised his eyebrow in her direction. “Your brother said that you liked capitalism.”

Erica snorted. “You can’t spell America without Erica, now can you?”

“Then why don’t you contribute to the system?” Din crossed over, putting a hand on her shoulder. “You, Erica Sinclair, have been abusing our company policy of free samples, making us work three times as hard to provide for you and your friends, yet we get nothing out of it. Is that what capitalism is? You, abusing the system to make yourself seem better?” Erica looked down in shame, shaking her head. “That’s what I thought. Now, would you like to give back to us and help?”

“Fine.”

“Good. Now lift that chin, and Robin will lay out the plans to you.” Din forced Erica’s chin up, and soon Erica’s back was straight with her confident swagger as she walked over to Robin, who was looking shocked at Din’s words. She gave Din a small nod of respect, and Din nodded back.

Dustin looked at Din, his face taking on a quizzical look, and Din smiled at him.

I think he’s figuring Din out.

I agree, Jaster.

“You see this?” Robin pointed at the blueprints. “This is the route you’re gonna take. Then we just wait till the last delivery goes out tonight. Then you knock out the grate, jump down, open the door.”

“And you find out what’s in those boxes.” Erica put a finger down on the area the room was on the map.

“Exactly.” Robin agreed.

“And you say this guard is armed.” Erica looked up.

“Yes, but he won’t be there,” Dustin reassured her.

“And booby traps?”

Robin blinked. “Booby traps?”

“Lasers, spikes in the wall?”

“Erica, those don’t really happen.” Din would know. “The only thing you need to worry about is getting into the room. We’ll take care of the rest.” Din squeezed Erica’s shoulder, reassuring her about their presence. “Are you in?”

Erica nodded. “I am.”

-<{}>-

Din was regretting this plan. True, he had been the one who convinced Erica to participate, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t worried about her, after all, a Father’s instincts can’t be quelled once they’ve been activated. The pacing was the worst part, and he had enough of it. He walked over, and grabbed the walkie from Robin.

“Erica, do you copy?” He asked, trying to keep his voice calm.

“I copy.” Din let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. “You nerds in position or what?”

Robin took it back. “Yeah, we’re in position.” She said, glaring at Din. “It’s all quiet here, so you’ve got the green light.”

“Green light, roger that. See you on the other side. Nerds.”

Time passed slowly as Erica continued forward, and Din began to feel every little rock from the roof in his knees, left alone in his thoughts as he was.

“All right, nerds. I'm there.” Erica’s voice chimed, and Din let his breath exit his body.

“Do you see anything?” Robin asked.

“Yeah, I see those boring boxes you're so excited about.”

“Any guards?”

“Negative.” Thank Luke’s grandfather.

There was a brief thud from the other side, and Erica’s voice came in. “I'm in. “

There was the sound of a button being pressed, and soon the garage door opened. Erica stood triumphantly, and the trio on the roof made their way down to join her.

Din smiled at her when he exited the stairway, pride warming his chest. “Well done, Erica.”

Erica beamed at him, “Well, what else would you have done without me?”

Din laughed, “Fair point.” He entered the garage and looked around, eyeing all the boxes around him. He grabbed one, pulling it down carefully as he could as he analyzed the weight. It was most likely something metallic, based on the size of the box and the mass it seemed to have. Din took out his pocket knife and slit open the box that said Imperial Panda.

Din whistled. The metal clasp was definitely meant to protect the outsiders, not protect the object from people. If it was meant to be protected by people, there was a surprising lack of security.

“You all should step back,” Din warned. “Whatever is in this thing could be toxic.”

Robin and Erica took a step back from where they were looking at the metal container, but Dustin refused to move. “No.”

Din forgot just how stubborn children could be. “Dustin, I’m not kidding. You need to step back.”

“No.” Dustin repeated.

“Step back.”

“No!”

“Dustin,” Din lowered his voice, no longer putting up with Dustin’s stubbornness. “I’m not joking around here. This is serious.”

“No!” Dustin stepped right next to Din, squaring his shoulders. “If you die, I die.”

Din groaned internally, knowing that if Dustin could resist his ‘dad voice’, as Luke so lovingly called it, he could resist anything. “Fine.” Dustin perked up. “Just, stay behind me, okay?” Dustin nodded, and took a step behind Din. “Good.”

Twisting the metal circle, Din unlocked the container and pulled out a second container with a glowing green liquid inside.

“What is that?” Robin leaned forwards, and as she took a step the room shook and rumbled.

“Was that just me, or did the room move?” Dustin asked, pressing closer to Din. Din wrapped his free hand around Dustin, gesturing for Erica to move closer.

“Booby traps.” She breathed out, joining Dustin in behind held by Din.

“You know what?” Robin grabbed the green substance from Din. “Let's just grab that and go.”

Din frowned. “Be careful with that, Robin.”

“I am being careful, Dingus.”

The lights flickered, and Din tightened his grasp on Dustin and Erica, examining the room around him as the windows shut.

Everyone around him started to panic, but Din looked around, his mind taking in every detail it could to help them get out of this situation.

There.

Din’s eye caught on the walls between the cracks.

The moving walls.

They weren’t in a garage; they were in an elevator.

“Oh, Kriff.”

-<{}>-

“Max! Let me out of here!” Will stared at Billy through the glass “Let me out. You kids... You think this is funny? You kids think this is some kind of sick prank, huh?” Billy spat at the window, and Will winced.

He didn’t like seeing people get this worked up.

“You little shits think this is funny? What is this?” Billy questioned. “Open the door. Open the door!” He started to kick the door, sweat streaming down his face. “Open the door! Open the goddamn door!”

But he knew it was necessary. As Billy continued screaming, Will checked the thermostat. “We're at 220.”

And Billy stopped screaming, his eyes trained on Max. “Let. Me. Out.”

Maz turned her defiant gaze onto her brother. “No.”

Billy hit the glass. “Let me out, Maxine!”

“Not yet, not until we know for sure.” She whispered.”

“Know what, Maxine?” Billy’s fire diminished, and while his rage was still prevalent, he stopped hitting the glass and kicking the door. Will thought it was an improvement. “Until you know what?”

Will felt the all too familiar prickling rise on the back of his neck as he felt someone watch him, and he raised his hand to feel it.

It was active, yet Billy showed no signs of being possessed.

“I don’t think it’s Billy.” He whispered out, and the group stared at him.

“If it’s not him,” Mike asked, “then who is the host?”