Chapter Text
It was a plan so insane that it just might work.
Max had seen the development of a lot of stupid plans over the years. From stealing fireworks to baiting an interdimensional demon in a haunted house, nothing seemed too crazy anymore. She stared at the drawing on the wall, the so-called wormhole. She really fucking hoped Dustin was right.
She was left to her own devices while everyone prepped for battle. She felt so beyond useless, but no matter how hard she tried she just couldn't find the strength to move her foot off the rest, let alone stand or walk or fight even a demodog.
Footsteps came up behind her. Hands grabbed the back of her wheelchair.
“I thought you might want to go sit outside with everyone,” Vickie said. Max hummed.
“It's warm for November,” she remarked as the air hit her face. “Not as warm as California though.”
“Do you miss it?” Vickie asked, clicking on the brakes on the wheelchair. She moved around and leaned up against the banister of the porch to look at Max.
Max frowned, then shook her head. “I miss when the world wasn't ending, but I'd rather be here with everyone than all alone out there.” In the field, Murray fiddled with the truck, El sat back to back in the grass with her sister, and everyone else packed boxes into the back like they were shipping off to war.
Vickie nodded like she understood. Max knew she never could, nobody could comprehend the two years she spent lost in those memories. She herself couldn't even piece it together most of the time. She blinked, trying to stabilize herself. She had to stay in the now, she repeated it like a mantra. She couldn't have left Holly for nothing.
“It's all so… much,” Vickie was talking again. “When Robin told me about all I thought she was on drugs, I really really did, I mean who could possibly believe anything about wizards and monsters and evil kidnappers from other dimensions named Henry or Vecna or One or Mr Whatsit! And that's when the lights started to go… kablooey.”
Max huffed a laugh. She talked like Robin. “You get used to it. I didn't believe it at first either. But back then it was just a parallel dimension and a single scrawny demogorgon.” Her eyes trailed down to her lap as the moment went cold.
Vickie’s voice softened and she kneeled down to Max’s level. “Don't worry, you’ll walk again. You just need time, and physical therapy.”
“Maybe there will be time for PT after Vecna collides two worlds together,” Max replied. Vickie smiled softly.
“I’ll make sure it gets on the schedule.”
In the distance Max heard Steve say “That’s the last of it.” She looked up, eyes scanning across the group. She had fought so hard to get back to them, it almost shattered her to watch them leave again. It didn't take long before Lucas caught her eye. She watched him say something to Mike before he started jogging over. Out of the corner of her eye, Vickie slipped away towards the main group.
“Hey, uh, we’re almost ready to head out. Erica and Mr. Clarke are already en route.”
“You’re really sending your sister ahead of you in the charge?” Max asked, quirking her eyebrow. Lucas rolled his eyes.
“She’ll be safe in the lookout tower. And you’ll be safe here, with Vickie.” He was down on one knee, a hand placed firmly on her shoulder.
Max frowned again. “I feel so useless,” her voice cracked ever so slightly and she felt tears in her eyes again. She blinked them away.
“You’re not,” Lucas replied immediately. “You know Henry’s mind better than anyone. El needs you to help her kill this son of a bitch. For good.”
Max slowly leaned her head down until her cheek was resting on his knuckles. “You promise me you're gonna stay safe out there?”
Lucas smiled, the stupid charmer he was. “They don't call me Lucas Careful Sinclair for nothin’.” He puffed his chest out and she laughed, watery but real. Lucas’s face softened. He leaned closer to her until their foreheads were almost touching. “I really missed hearing that.”
“That's what you said last time,” she giggled, a single tear dripping down her cheek.
Lucas grabbed her hand with his free one and squeezed. “It was true then, and it's true now.”
Max took a deep breath, still smiling faintly. “Don't do anything stupid and you can hear it again.”
“You’ve got it, boss.”
When she met his eyes, she didn't think anyone had ever looked at her with so much adoration. Maybe he had been doing it all along and she was too caught up in her own ridiculous emotions to notice. This time though, she just smiled.
“You can kiss me y'know, stalker.”
Lucas breathed like he had been waiting for her to say that all afternoon. He didn't hesitate, and he tasted like the best parts of spring and, weirdly, popcorn. The movies, she thought.
When he pulled away, she was the one to squeeze his hand this time. It was barely any pressure, but it was enough. “I hope you have a movie picked out, because I don't have any idea what's playing,” she told him.
Lucas laughed. “I've got it all planned out, don't you worry Mad Max.”
“You gonna tell me what it is?”
He hummed like he was contemplating it, then shook his head. “It's a surprise.”
Max giggled again. Fucking giggling, he did something to her that would have made her the most uncool person in the eyes of her 13 year old pre-Hawkins self. She leaned back in.
“Holly thinks you're my boyfriend,” she whispered, teasing. Lucas’s face fell for a fraction of a second before Max grinned. “Are we really that obvious?”
Lucas laughed, and god she missed hearing that too. “Yeah, I guess we are.”
As the sun dipped down over the hill, Lucas and Max sat there and held hands. They didn't need to say words to know they were both scared. But they had been scared before, and they were both still breathing. That was enough for right now, Max decided. The next minute would come and they would deal with it then.