Chapter Text
“Does anyone copy?”
Dustin's voice was far past annoyed; it was even past frustration.He had been trying for half an hour now, hoping for a response from any member of the party, or at the very least. Following the events of Starcourt Mall, everyone who knew of the upside down got walkie-talkies, and all the broken ones were awake. The Russians had scared the group off typical communication such as letters. They were too easy to get ahold of and were far too permanent. Walkie-talkies allowed information to travel so much faster as well, almost completely avoiding the risks and the drawbacks of a house phone.The best thing about the walkie-talkie, though, was meant to be the instant communication. They had all agreed to keep them on their person constantly, like they were their favourite item of jewellery they just couldn't part with. The party had their own channel separate from the one for everyone.
Nancy had complained they clogged the line and it should only be used in the case of an actual emergency. However, Dustin was becoming so peeved with the lack of answers from the party that he thought he could risk the telling-off from Nancy just to ask if anybody was free for his first day back in town. He must admit that as much as he loves Nancy, she was a little bit of a hypocrite (he would never say that out loud, however) because Dustin knew that Nancy would make little noises 3 times in a row when she was thinking of Jonathan and wanted him to know. Even though she claimed it was an accident.
“Guys, I thought we always kept our walkie-talkies close.”
The walkie-talkie simply crackles back.
“I could be dying as we speak.”‘Or,’ Dustin sarcastically thought, ‘as I speak.’ He huffs out a breath, his own comment reminding him of Erica.
Dustin plonks himself down on his bed. He had only returned home last night, so it still had the novelty of a familiar comfort. He lightly chucked the walkie up and down. Never too far as to ensure it landed softly back into his hands. He dragged the instrument back up to his mouth. As he's about to speak back into it again for the fifty thousandth time, most likely with a swear word or two, the walkie-talkie finally crackles to life. Dustin jumps up at the sound, scrambling to pull away from his face a little just so it wasn’t screaming into his face.
“Jesus, we’re here, we’re here. Over” Lucas’s slightly distorted voice fills the practically silent room.
“Lucas! Hey!”
“Hey Dustin, long time no see.”
Dustin smiled. He missed his friends so much when he went away, almost as much as he worried about them.
“Do you know where the rest of the party is? Over”
“Max has been offline for a while and”Lucas shuffles around his room, the noise sounding demonic over the unreliable machines.
Dustin doesn't point out the deep sadness he can hear in Lucas’s voice. It calls out like church bells, low but so penetrating. Dustin doesn't call it out because he feels it too. He feels it in his heart, an ache, a difference in his chest. Dustin can’t put it into words, but he feels it. He feels it all the time.
“And, yep, Mike is in his garden.”
Lucas must be spying from his bedroom window.
“I think he’s writing letters again. Over”
“Do you want to get him and go biking to Cerebro so we can check on Suzie and how her journey was?”
Dustin purposefully avoids mentioning Max, as much as he would love to take her on the journey too; she had become really distant since the death of Billy, almost as if when Max looked at the rest of the party she was seeing ghosts and that it was simply too much for her. Dustin knew he should go to speak to her, and he will, but Max always seemed so sad, and her voice carried an angry tone that broke Dustin’s heart.
The last time Dustin saw Max before she went to camp, she looked so … disconnected. He wanted to see her. He would see her. But not today for the reason of going up to Cerebro. Dustin wanted to go with her to the arcade. Maybe just the two of them; he saw how she looked at big groups. The arcade would be nice. It had been so long since they’d been, and Max was so good at the games in the arcade. They could bike and skate down together. Maybe tomorrow.
“I can’t, but, um, I can shout over to Mike and ask him to go to his walkie-talkie. Over”
“Oh, okay,”
Dustin answers sadly. He felt a little dejected that he had just returned home and Lucas couldn’t make time for him, but Dustin wouldn’t hold it against him. The walkie-talkie jolted to life.
“Okay, Mike should be coming to the line soon, over,” Lucas updated.
“Thanks! Why can’t you come out today?”
Dustin wasn’t always the best at polite social interactions. He didn’t quite pick up on the difference between being rude or simply just being social and engaging in a conversation. It was his mother who pointed out his habit of questioning people, which he learned was not what was socially acceptable in social settings. Mr. Clarke had told him the habit was his scientific curiosity. His friends didn’t mind much. They knew Dustin too well to take any offense to his questioning and missing of social cues. Though the way Lucas responded made him think that today Lucas couldn’t be bothered with Dustin.
“I just can’t over and out.”
“Bye,”
Dustin shouted into the walkie, hoping Lucas had stuck around long enough to hear it.
He sat twiddling his thumbs awaiting word from Mike. He tapped his feet and hummed to himself as he looked around his room. He had started to make a collage of photos of his friends on his wall. Dustin focused on a group photo of the party Jonathan had taken one night. They’d ordered pizza in, and we’re starting a new DnD campaign per the request of Will. This was before the big break in their playing time. Chairs and beanbags had been pulled up to the table so they could all sit around the board together. El sat on her beanbag next to Mike and Will. Lucas and Max sat on the opposite side of the table fighting over who had the better character as Dustin sat a little off to the side. Jonathan hadn’t even altered them all when he was taking the photo because he claimed “realistic photography was so much better.” Dustin thought he was just too awkward to ask them for a photo.
“Dustin,”
Mike’s voice called out.
“Mike!” Dustin’s voice was laced with enthusiasm.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” Mike’s voice was quieter and didn’t perk up in the end the same way Dustin’s had.
“Do you want to bike up to Cerebro with me so I can check up on Suzie?”Dustin kicked his feet as he spoke.
“No thanks, man, maybe another time. Over and out.”
Mike didn’t even give Dustin a chance to jump in and suggest another date before he signalled his complete disappearance. Dustin huffs out a breath, the sound of his disappointment filling the room. “Just make sure to keep your walkie-talkies near you. Over and out.”
Dustin pulled the instrument away from his mouth so he could sourly mutter. “Because clearly neither of you had it on your person earlier.”
When Dustin arose from his bend, his knees let out a faint crack despite his youth. His body, whilst still young and fairly healthy, has been run ragged from his encounters with demogorgons and mind flayers. So, despite no permanent damage, his knees still slightly cried out under his weight and produced a tired feeling he sensed he shouldn’t feel yet. When he was standing firmly, he forced his shoulders back, and his back let out a roaring crack. Dustin knew his back shouldn’t be doing that yet either. He threw a glance over to his picture board once more before he exited the room. This time his eyes looked at the photo Jonathan had taken of the party minus Dustin before he got home from camp last year. It was all of them, beaming at the lens, with his welcome home sign firmly in the middle of them all.
Dustin smiled and then slammed his bedroom door, burying his walkie-talkie into his hoodie pocket. He would bike to Cerebro by himself. Dustin walked through his halls, his feet landing harder than expected against the wooden flooring.
“Mom,” he called out.
“Yes, sweetheart.”
Dustin found her in her typical chair, some soap opera broadcasting on the TV.
“Going out; I’ll be home later.” Dustin jingled his keys, which he had just grabbed for emphasis.
“Okay, sweetie, have fun with your friends,” Claudia beamed at him.
Dustin didn’t correct her.
Dustin was thrilled to be back on his bike. His hands relaxed against the handle, cradling it softly, setting perfectly into their familiar position. He had missed the freedom of getting on a bike and just going whilst away. Cycling offered him something not a lot of other things could. Cars came close, yet there was something about pedaling to move that felt all the better. The burn in the legs as he pushed himself where he wanted to be was extremely welcome. His foot slipped off the pedal when he first mounted the bike; it quickly regained its rightful place, though it took a few moments of movement for his legs to become fully comfortable with the action again. But, once his legs had warmed up, he was flying down the familiar streets of Hawkins.
He raced through the streets and roads; Hawkins was already a small town, but in the summer it seemed as if it was empty. There were hardly any cars on the road, which Dustin loved because it meant he could cycle on the roads during daylight, perfectly avoiding the potholes and bumps. It was a long ride up to Cerebro, and he was pushing himself too hard on the cycling. He knew his legs would grow achy and tired soon and that he would wish he hadn’t gone so fast. But, with the wind pushing his cap slightly back, he felt good. So he wouldn’t stop.
Cerebro was a little far away from Hawkins but was up this massive hill. It was surrounded by the tallest trees in Hawkins, yet they stood pale in comparison to the gorgeous mound standing tall from the ground. The grass was a blinding green when the sun hit it; it looked like magic. Like nature was dancing. Like it could feel alive too. He dismounted his bike and stared up. His eyes lock onto Cerebro. The panels looked smoking in the blinding sun, and Dustin felt a surge of pride. His Magnus Opus. His invention that very literally saved the world stood strong.
He slightly frustratingly started dragging his bike up the hill. The wheels resisted the hill, the grass tangling itself in the spikes. His breath came out short as he moved, but finally, finally, he reached the top, and Cerebro loomed over him. Its arms reached out, hugging the sky, as if its psychic prowess alone would conduct a signal.Dustin let his trusted bike fall to the ground, the soil changing slightly to welcome the heavy object. Before he left, there used to be a permanent dent in the ground where his bike sat.
Dustin was well aware he didn’t have to trek all the way up to Cerebro. It was working perfectly, so he could’ve radioed Suzie from anywhere. But, there was something special to him about making it an adventure and seeing Cerebro in person. It was even more special when he was with the party. Besides, whilst he was up here, it meant he could check Cerebro was working fine. He plopped down onto the ground, spreading his legs out and allowing the muscles to relax. He excitedly removed the walkie from his hoodie and thrust it up to his mouth.
“Suzie,” he shouted.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
“Suzie,” he called again.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
“Suzie, it’s Dustin. Do you copy?”
No response again, just the faint sound of static and painful silence.
‘That’s fine,’ Dustin thought. She was often busy with siblings and may have just left her room for a while.
He let himself fall backwards. Dustin removed his hat and ran a hand through his hair. Although he couldn’t see it, that action made Dustin look a whole lot like Steve. The grass cocooned him. The ground is warm from the sun. He hummed his and Suzie's song as he waited around. They’d promised to speak today, so he knows Suzie will come soon.
Dustin follows the clouds with his eyes. The clouds slowly move, chugging along like a train; they weave around birds and planes. The clouds make their claim of the sky clear. Dustin smiles. His fingers thread through weeds and flowers, ripping at the ground and twiddling them in his fingers. When they were completely crushed and left his fingers slightly sticky, he lifted them high and chucked them behind his head. Dustin was unaware of how long he lay in the grass. He found himself lost in thought. He slightly twisted and turned. His mind lands in the upside down. They were safe now, or so he tells himself. The demogorgons run rampant in his mind, clawing at his memories. Billy flashes in his mind, his chest pierced. Dustin shivered. He fights them away. His mind travels through old DND campaigns. Their losses and wins. He feels warmer at the memory, and a breath falls comfortably from his chest.
The walkie-talkie weighs heavy in his hands, and he moves it to his mouth again.
“Suzie”
No answer.
He flips to the main channel.
“Anyone”
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
No answer.
Silence.
He forces himself to his feet. Dustin stares at Cerebro. He walks towards it; he reaches out and runs a hand along the main pole. His forehead falls against it, and he sighs.
“Bye, Cerebro,” he mutters before yanking his bike up and making the walk down the hill.
It’s a slow walk down; he stumbles over his feet and the wheels as he goes. He hums to himself as he goes. When he reaches the bottom and does his final turn to look at Cerebro once more, he sighs. Cerebro is beautiful in this lighting. It’s magic to Dustin. This is the closest to magic he has ever been. The sparkles from the metal hit his eyes, and almost, almost, he can believe that Hawkins is a beautiful place. In actuality Hawkins in an occasional beautiful moment in a sea of bad ones. He longs to be a person who lives in the beautiful moments.
The ride home is tiring. Dustin longs to be sitting on his bedroom floor, a comic in hand. Dustin longs to be 11 again.
On the cycle home suddenly an idea hits Dustin. His leg moves before his mind decides to go along with the plan. The bike jerks and immediately turns 180. His legs speed up as he cycles away from where he was meant to be. He finds himself in unfamiliar territory. The Forest Hill trailer park. It had a slightly haunted aura to it; the trailers smelled of grief. Every home looked identical except for the varying laundry left out on the lines. He knew the number of Max’s trailers, but he hadn’t seen them in person. He had never even been in this area of the town.
It took a couple minutes to find; the park wasn’t big. Eventually he saw the number he was looking for and gazed through the window. He saw no sign of Max but presumed they were still getting comfortable in their new home. The only sign of any life at all was a game show playing on the TV and a beer bottle left out by the bin. Dustin straightened his cap and dropped his bike on the lawn. He confidently walked up to the door before rapping on it a couple times. At first there was no sound of anybody coming to the door. He looked down at his feet as he waited, shifting from foot to foot. As he raised his fist to knock again, the door was thrown open quickly. It was Max.
“Dustin?”
She looked tired; her eyes seemed heavy, and she had no smile on her face. Her braid was lazily done. Yet, she still looked beautiful.
“Max!” Dustin tried to quietly exclaim.
Max lifted her hand questioningly, and her head cocked up a little.
“What are you doing here?”
Dustin jumps up a little.
“Okay, I know it’s getting dark soon, but do you want to go on a walk or something? It’s been ages since I’ve seen you. Or if tonight’s not good, we could do something tomorrow, just the two of us”
Max’s gaze softened a little; her mouth, however, remained tight. It had been so long since anyone had seen her; after her breakup with Lucas a few weeks after the Byers moved away, she’d been a rare sight.
Max crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Can’t.” Her eyes flicker towards what Dustin presumes to be the living room.
‘Maybe some other time,” she glares at the floor.
“Cool, okay, some other time.” Dustin does finger guns to try and make the rejection more upbeat.
Her eyes look through his. As Dustin stumbles over his feet as he turns around.
“Hey, uh, just a reminder to keep the walkie-talkie close just in case; nobody really had it close today.”
Max nods.
“Dustin,” Max shouts, “Don’t come to my trailer without asking again.
The door slams shut.
Dustin hops back on his bike. He cycles until he reaches the end of the trailer park and is well out of sight of Max’s trailer. He makes his final calls into the walkie-talkie.
“Suzie”
No answer
“Anyone. Mike, Lucas?”
“Yeah.” It was Mike.
Dustin breaks into a huge grin.
“Mike! Hey!” Dustin took a breath. "Hang out tomorrow."
There was a minute stretch of quiet.
“Sure, my basement,” Mike’s bored voice says.
“Yes!” Dustin pumps his fist into the air.“Okay, I’ll be around in the afternoon. Over and out,” Dustin says happily.
“See you tomorrow, over and out.” Two voices responded, being distorted by the wind.
It caused Dustin to pause. Mike was with somebody. Mike was with somebody that sounded like Lucas. They were clearly outside by the sounds of the wind. He looked up to the sky; it was a light orange glow now. He had to pass a lot of places on his way home. It wouldn't hurt him to have a look around on his way home.He started biking back, but this time with his eyes peeled for Mike and Lucas.