Work Text:
1979 September
Seven felt a whimper escape from his mouth. His body felt crumpled up like a piece of paper. He inched across the floor, unsure if the red liquid streaking around him was his own or his fellow projects. His eyes lifted up to see Eleven standing in front of a pulsing light with blood running down her eyes. Seven wanted to stand up yet he couldn’t. Every inch of his body hurt in a numb way.
And then Papa entered. He looked just as confused as the rest of them. All of the numbers – his siblings – were dead except for them. Eleven turned to Brenner, face pale and slack, blood running everywhere, and looking dead on her feet. Seven crawled towards her. The motion made Brenner flicker his eyes to him. He looked a touch relieved but it was clouded over when he noticed Eleven wavering in her stance.
Seven barely stayed awake long enough to see his sister collapse before his eyelids forcefully shut.
The next time he woke, he was in a room on a bed. Almost immediately upon sitting up, Brenner had entered the room. He held out his hand for Seven to take. Seven did as he always, and gripped onto Brenner. They made their way to a testing area. The only good part of that day was going out to the new lounge room with toys and seeing Eleven playing with one of the mind games.
It was then that he formulated his plan. If Eight could get away, then he and Eleven could too.
1980 February
They escaped on a snowy day. People had to sleep– Seven learned that quickly, as he needed sleep too. However, his abilities were different from just being able to control lights or telekinesis. He could store energy within himself and use that energy at a later time. Eight used to say it was stupid– that her power of illusion was better than anything he could ever do. They were kids, though, so Seven never held it against her.
But there was a part of his power that Seven never hinted at to Brenner. He could transfer energy, too. Whether from one of the guards to a scientist, or from himself to Eleven. He could take energy if he focused enough. He could get attached to it and drain a person. His range wasn’t long. He couldn’t test it well, though. The secrecy mattered more.
When One was there, he would give Seven tips on how to stay under the radar. Seven would lie awake at night and wonder if that was why One let him live. They both wanted more than they were allowed. One was different, though. Colder, meaner, more manipulative. Seven wasn’t good at hiding his emotions like One was.
So, when the lodge room was chiller than normal, Seven knew that Brenner would leave early in order to get home on time. Whatever made it colder out there was harder to work with. Seven had heard guards and doctors mention “snow.” It sounded like a normal thing yet everyone complained about it.
Eleven looked up from her position, playing with a few blocks. She didn’t look good. The training had been rough ever since their siblings were killed. The training was more focused, now, more intense. Eleven’s screams echoed in the halls and Seven hoped that she never heard his own. Brenner liked to be seen as a fatherly-figure. It made something inside of Seven boil.
It was a snowy day when Seven waved at her, fingers apart until they bounced together at a rhythm. Eleven’s eyes widened as acknowledgement. She went back to building towers until Seven stood up. He glided across and smiled at the guards. Most of the doctors and scientists would have gone home. It was the grunt work that was left.
One of the guards looked a bit smiley, maybe thinking of their own family while Seven giggled and he clapped his hands together innocently. The other guard was more knowledgeable, having worked there for years. Seven was a troublemaker. He didn’t like how the other kids bullied the weaker ones. He was at the top, but he never hurt someone with his powers just to see them in pain. He was known for somehow making the other numbers trip in the hall, though, if they were especially mean. It meant more collar time, but protecting his younger, weaker siblings was worth it.
And then Seven’s hand fell from a wave into a ball. The guards’ energy depleted instantly– they couldn’t even shout before their eyes rolled back into their skull. They crumpled to the floor as Seven felt the energy buzzing beneath his skin. He called out, “Eleven!” She was already there. She took out her own hand to blast the doors open. They ran through the halls.
Gunshots went off around them. Seven yanked Eleven around a corner before the bullets could get them. They weren't tranquilizers, either. Seven saw the metal rounds breaking apart the walls. Seven sucked in a breath as he reached for the energy all around him. As he felt it warm his body, he paused when he realized that Eleven was wrapped in it too. Her eyes looked betrayed as she fell limply in his arms.
Seven apologized to her as he carried her towards the exit, scuffling over the unconscious bodies in the hallways. When he finally made it to the gate, he focused on transmuting some of his stored energy into his sister. Eleven woke slowly, but they weren’t on a time limit so it was fine. Everyone around was passed out. The alarms blared around them but there was no point.
She smiled up at him, hope in her eyes. Seven asked – pleaded – for her to take down the gate. Eleven did so, still rocking on her feet. Her hand outstretched and she screamed. Seven never had to scream, yet at the same time he never pushed his limits. As soon as Eleven demolished the gate, she fell back. Seven scooped her up into his arms and ran.
It was morning the next day when he saw it. A house, he assumed, that was empty. No cars in the lot, no lights on. Eleven hovered in a shrub in the woods while he checked it out. He felt no large energy disturbances inside, not even a mouse. A few spiders and insects, but that was common, even in the lab.
Seven called Eleven over once he checked over the house. It was empty, clear of any sign of humans. Dust covered the house, yet everything was in pristine care. They checked the whole house, eventually finding a room with odd appliances. In one of the cupboards in that room, there were canned goods. They ate out of the cans that day, not knowing any better. It was hard to open them with a knife, but Seven considered it good that he only cut himself twice.
Things slowly turned into a routine. Seven would alert Eleven of any energy signatures nearby. They would wait in silence for an attack. When the energy went away, they would sigh out in relief. They didn’t go outside, afraid to show that the place would be known immediately if it was shown to be disturbed.
It was a month later when food was running low that Seven went out into the world. He put on an oversized ball cap, dressed in many layers, and walked around in clunky shoes. Eleven promised to stay inside as he searched for the cans they had at the house. He had learned how to use a can opener from a list of guidebooks in the desk of a study upstairs.
He barely made it a street over when a van pulled up beside him. Seven felt his breath hitched as he was met with Doctor Owens. He wasn’t as bad as Brenner, but he still did things to them. He never stopped it.
“Seven,” he called out casually, “get in the vehicle or I’ll take Eleven instead.”
Seven complied. Owens was the only energy signature he could feel. That had to count for something, right? Seven sat in the passenger’s seat, wide eyes blinking as Owens simply gave a pitiful, sad look before he locked the doors. Seven could escape still, but he supposed Owens felt better with his locks.
“If Doctor Brenner ever finds out about this… let’s just say he won’t be happy with me.” Owens took out a large manilla envelope. He handed it off to Seven carefully. “I know you won’t ever be able to forgive me. To forgive any of us for what happened to you. However, I wish for peace. I will keep Doctor Brenner focused on searching other areas.”
“What are you–”
“It’s okay,” shushed Owens. He tapped on the envelope in Seven’s hands. “Your new life is in there. Birth certificates, social security cards, history of your new parents, a bank account… Everything is there. Use debit cards to get cash. Use credit cards for bigger purchases. I’ll take care of any bills and keep the accounts floating. Try to stick to cash purchases. Less information that way.”
“I don’t– I don’t even know what any of that means.”
“You’ll learn,” promised Owens. He seemed hesitant as he unlocked the van. “I… There’s another thing too. Never. Never ever mention your previous identities on the phone or over radio signals, do you understand? Seven and Eleven do not exist anymore. If you slip up, even once, you’ll be found and surrounded in hours if not minutes.”
“I don’t– Why are you helping us?” he couldn’t help but ask.
Owens looked down. There was something off about him that made Seven wonder if something was wrong. Was this deal long-lasting? Was it a trap? Would Owens hold this over them forever?
“Just keep safe, kid,” croaked out the doctor. He gestured to the door. “Get outta here. There’s no patrols out right now. We’ve lessened it immensely since your escape, but every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday they’re out there, waiting for the chance that you’re around. Don’t go out until you both have longer hair and better fitting clothes that hide who you really are.”
Seven opened the door, standing on the pavement but not moving yet. He looked at Owens, thoughts clouding his confused mind. “Thank… you.” He wasn't sure if this was right, but it meant the possibility of being normal.
“Don’t do that.” Owens gave him a glum smile. Seven brushed the back of his neck anxiously. His wrist was in full view. Owens inhaled, then announced, “Cover up the tattoos.” It was a hard tone, too. “Use watches, bracelets, markers, whatever. Don’t let anyone see those tattoos– let them see the part of your life that’s behind you. You’ll end up back in the lab and I don’t want to see you there.”
Seven nodded, filing the order in his head. Owens gestured for him to shut the door, so he complied. Seven watched from the sidewalk as the van drove away. He looked down to the large manilla envelope in his hand. He held it tight before running back home.
Eleven jumped when he opened the door with the key. She had her arm raised just in case. She laughed as Seven shook his head. He attempted to explain the meeting, but she was scared at the mention of Doctor Owens. Seven chalked it up to, “We have normal lives now, El. We’re people.” He spread out the SSN cards, birth certificates, and other papers across the dining room table in glee. “We’re real.”
He read over their names, testing it out. “Jane Eleanor Harrington,” echoed the girl, not being able to read like he was.
“Is it okay if I still call you ‘El?’”
She nodded. “I like being El.” She grinned, then said, “Steven Joseph Harrington.”
He gave a grin back. “Jane Eleanor Harrington.”
“Steven Joseph Harrington,” repeated El. “It says that mom and dad call you Steven, but you go by Steve, right?”
Steve nodded, looking at the papers about their fake parents. Janice and David Harrington, always traveling for a new building or business deal. Drowning in money. Steve wondered where the money Owens supplied them with came from. He looked at the credit and debit cards with unease. Money. What a concept.
They giggled as they ate weird bags of food from the house that they had previously been too wary to check out. The chips tasted good, but not totally filling. But at that moment, Steve didn’t care. He looked at his sister across the table and laughed as they went over their backstory and how to slowly enter the world. School. Owen had it listed for something to do in a year or two. For now, though, they needed to learn how to read, write, do math, and speak normally.
1981 August
Steve checked El’s backpack one last time. The stores around here had lists for school supplies, but surely they were forgetting something. He mentally counted off the list while he poked around El’s backpack. He couldn’t find anything missing, not even a pencil.
El shook her head next to him. She said, “I’m fine. We have everything.”
Steve sighed at the backpack, but smiled and ruffled El’s curls before giving her one last hug. She slung the backpack over her shoulders before walking outside the lawn. From there, she took out her bike. Steve shook his head as he put on his own backpack and dragged out the bike he bought at a garage sale a month ago. El’s was nicer, from a neighbor that saw them and didn’t have any kids that biked anymore. The learning curve had been awful, but now he loved it. The wind ruffled his hair when he went fast, almost like he was flying.
They biked down the streets, grinning and laughing. They stopped at Hawkins Elementary School first. El locked up her bike outside. Steve pointed out the other bikes, “Maybe there’s a club for it. Maybe you should join.”
El shook her head in disagreement, “I’m not joining any clubs.”
Steve gave a pout-like look. “Why not?”
“I don’t want to be weird,” she said plainly.
“If anyone calls you weird, tell me. I’ll set them straight. They don’t have any idea what they’re talking about.”
El gave a soft smile. “Alright.” She paused, embarrassed as other kids passed her without anyone accompanying them. El said quickly, “I love you, but bye. You have your own school to see. High school.”
“I’m a freshman,” agreed Steve. He looked down to see his hands trembling on the bike handles. “I’ll be by after it to ride back with you, alright?” He then grinned, setting aside his anxiousness for a moment. “I love you too. Be good. Make friends.”
“You have to make friends, too,” she called out to him as he slowly biked away.
Steve didn’t have to travel far. He locked up the bike and looked at the new place he’d go to for hours Monday through Friday. It was the first day of the school year, yet everyone seemed to know he was new. He gave his best waves and casual smiles as he went to the office to ask for a locker and combination, as well as a schedule. The lady, Dawn, was nice enough to print it out and explain how the halls could be tricky at times.
He was barely seated at his first class when a boy full of freckles tapped his shoulder. Steve gave the other boy a slightly wary glance. No one had bothered coming up to him yet. It was peculiar.
“Who are you?” asked the boy bluntly. “Hawkins is a very small town. Everyone knows everyone. For the most part, at least. There seems to be a conundrum.”
“Oh, uh, Steve Harrington.” He stuck out his hand, smiling when the boy returned it easily.
The boy didn’t let go. “I’m Tommy Hagan.” He pulled Steve into a further hug, grinning, before letting go. Steve backed away slightly, not sure what was happening. “I’ll show you around, if you want, during lunch.”
“Sounds good.” Steve tried his best to be normal. He paused in thought as he tightly smiled. “But isn’t it your first day as well?”
Tommy’s cheeks brightened slightly. A girl seated next to them chuckled. “Oh, Tommy, he got you there.”
“Carol,” drawled Tommy, tone almost fond but still whiny.
Carol showed off a grin, wide and innocent. “Tommy, here, is new. Just like everyone else in this class.” She patted Tommy on the shoulder, then turned her attention to Steve. “I, however, visited the library over the summer so I actually know where to go.”
“The library was open here?” questioned Steve. He was using the Hawkins Public Library to get new resources. He didn’t realize that schools had libraries too.
“Only for a few days and hours of the week,” affirmed Carol. Tommy sighed at her tone. “Don’t be like that, Tom. I can show both you boys how to get from class to class. I heard the locker rooms are pretty nice, considering how small and off the map this town is.”
“That means it has showers,” whispered Tommy, like it was a conspiracy that needed to be hushed.
Carol snorted softly as Steve gave them confused looks. She said, “You’re part of the new family, yeah? That house that was sold a while back by the Coopers.”
Steve recalled the cover story. The house they first approached was where they still stayed. Owens somehow bought it under the Harrington name, and the Coopers never returned. It was sold privately to them, so it was told.
Steve agreed with a hum. “We traveled with our parents mostly, but since I’m in high school now it was decided I could take care of the house while they were away.”
“They’re always traveling?” wondered Carol aloud. Steve hummed in confirmation. “That’s fun.”
Tommy added, glee in his voice, “That sounds awesome. Most people around here have parents that work in town or the towns nearby. No one goes on business trips.”
Before they could continue their conversation, a bell rang. Steve looked around him, honing in on the speaker above the door. The teacher walked in promptly, looking too tired to be teaching. Steve smiled as he took notes on the lecture. He was officially an average high school student. He could graduate in 4 years. He could get his license in 2. He had a whole life ahead of him, and El did too.