Chapter Text
She’s small, and thin. Too thin. Hopper vaguely notes to himself. It’s no surprise really. He doubted any of these fuckers cared about her getting her age appropriate amount of nutrition. Rather just keeping her heart beating long enough to strip her of her lifeblood.
What was age appropriate? He never asked Jane this mystery persons age. She didn’t even have an official name to him other than ‘sister’. But she looked to be older than Jane. Body more, ahem, developed to a young woman rather than a teenager. But it’s not like it mattered much in the moment. As he attempted to carry her half unconscious body through the abandoned halls of the lab. Sirens blaring at every corner.
Her eyes blink open once again, a deep mahogany, as they traversed around a corner, having slipped back into some dream state. He couldn’t imagine the amount of drugs pumping through her systems right now. He’d need to ask Joyce about that as soon as they reunited.
The woman- no, the girl, flinches away from him as much as she can. It’s a hard feat as he quite literally is supporting almost all of her weight. But it’s enough that he stops. Enough that he falters, almost dropping her in the process. He doesn’t- just barely- mainly because she flinched into the opposite direction, where Jane was holding up her other side.
Jane stumbles too, but plants her back foot, flexing her arms as she manages to hold her weight. Brows knitting together.
This girl looks at him with wild eyes. Frenetic. Untrusting. It’s an eerie look. One so familiar to him, but he can’t place why.
“Sister?” She rasps out. Voice hoarse in a way it can only be achieved after screaming for days on end, she panics a bit more, twisting away from him once more, “Sister?!”
“Kali.” Jane calls out. Firm, but soothing. Kali, he renames in his head, jerks towards the sound, body relaxing as it locates the source. Trust allowing the panic to dim to a low simmer.
“Kali,” Jane repeats once more for good measures. It must have been so long since she’d been called that, as the name itself makes something flicker in her eyes, “It’s okay. I’m here. We need to go. The bad men aren’t here. But they are coming.”
Kali’s head tilts in his direction. He can’t see her face. But the alarm on Jane’s makes something twist in his gut. Theirs something wrong. Something more than visible.
Kali grunts, shakes her head, trying again to communicate her thoughts, but all that comes out is another crooked, “Sis-ter?”
Jane bits her lip, in the way she does only when she’s really worried, “That’s Hopper. He’s okay. He’s not a bad man. He’s safe.”
And suddenly Hopper realizes why Kalis behavior seems so familiar. What’s been eating away in the back of his mind.
He’s seen it all before, in Jane herself. Before she was Jane and just a number. Before she learned how to trust again. How to love.
Shit. He’s in a bigger pickle than he previously thought. Now he has two children who have been through unimaginable horrors. Except one of them doesn’t trust a single thing around her except the other. All those things that took painstaking years and months to teach and imbue into his daughter, were completely lost in Kali. She was a blank slate. Like. A fully blank slate.
Fuck. He needed to really pick up a book on parenting sometime soon.
But first. He needed to get back home.
——
“That’s Kali.” Jane softly offered, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
“Yeah kid, I got that much,” he muttered back, staring at the woman they low key kidnapped from the kidnappers. huddled on a chair in the small area he had for eating in his cabin, the plate of eggos in front of her untouched, “Any other input that might help me out here?”
Jane bristled, turning to face him, “Shes my sister. Family. We stay together.”
“No I got that, I got that, I just-“ he broke off, shaking his head, “Nevermind. Does she have a last name? Any sort of identification you know of? I’m sort of running blind here, you know her more than me.”
She wrinkled her nose, “I saw it once. In the missing kid papers. P r a s a d. I don’t know how to say it.”
“Prasad most likely, sounds somewhat Indian in origins, that could be a clue.”
It was barely a clue. He still had no idea how old she was. How long she’d been taken. Nor what to do with her. It had been complicated enough hiding Jane from the government. But this girl had been under lock and key in the damn near upside down. Someone had to be looking for her. She was quite literally Dr. Kay’s most guarded secret. She was clearly vital to some part of their plans.
But that was something he was slowly accepting he was going to have to figure out later. Right now, he just wanted to make sure she wasn’t about to pass out, or throw up. Or spontaneously combust.
He frowned as Kali refused to move an inch, kneels pulled to her chest. Eyes darting rapidly between the two of them, “Well we need to get her to eat something. Who knows what diet they had her on.”
Jane’s lips twitched down, “Papa gave us food. Not sure about Dr. Kay. I tried Eggos?”
“I know you did kid. That was very, um, generous.” He gave her a little pat on the back for good measures. She was clearly at a loss as well. Unused to caring for someone to such a degree, “I don’t think she’s had much physical food in a while. Had her all hooked up to IVs remember?”
Jane made a noise of acknowledgment, tilting her head at different angles. Almost if she looked at her through the right one, things would suddenly make sense and the answers would come clear as day.
Hopper was at a loss himself, it was a miracle she was still even awake, considering they’d practically dragged her unconscious body all the way here. Apart from a small period of time where he held her bridal style while catching up with Joyce and the rest of the gang. Their reactions were all equally surprised. Not expecting a +1 to what they thought was their own rescue mission. Joyce had promised to come visit soon with supplies. But that could be hours from now. And she still wasn’t eating.
“She knows it’s food right?” He spitballed.
The telekinetic shot him a glare, “She’s not dumb.”
He crossed his arms more firmly, face heating up slightly, “Yeah uh, I know. That was a dumb question.”
Still, Jane stepped forward, approaching Kali cautiously, hands up where she could see them. Kali stiffened, but her eyes weren’t afraid. She knew her, knew she wasn’t a threat.
“Kali,” she tried tentatively, gesturing towards the plate, “You should eat. It’s eggos. Food.”
Hopper grunted, “I thought it was a dumb question.”
The glare he received was icy, and full of ire, “Stop talking.”
He rolled his eyes, but complied. Watching to see what she’d do next.
Kali looked at the plate, then at Eleven; then at him, then back at her, “Sister.”
You see, that was the other problem. Whatever had been keeping her unconscious seemed to have scrambled her brain. Either messing with her ability to speak, or altering her memory. In total, she’d only spoken that one word since they’d stumbled upon her. And aside from body language and an affinity of scowls, Hopper couldn’t get much in terms of her current thought process. It was painstakingly similar to how he’d found Jane all those years ago. And the irony was not lost on him that she was witnessing the same thing on someone who he could only assume used to be much more verbal.
“I think it’s you.” Janes voice piped up, breaking his train of thought.
“What?”
“She doesn’t want to eat in front of you.” She answered, looking back at him, as if worried he’d be insulted by the answer.
Suddenly Hopper felt ten times more dumb than before, having not considered that, “Oh. Uh- yup, that uh makes sense. Definitely could be why. Prolly should have thought of that before. I’ll um, I’ll go find some, um. Clothes. You think some of yours would fit her?”
His daughter squinted her eyes in thought, “Maybe some of my older ones.
He nodded. Kali was a bit on the shorter side. Her current ones would be too loose. Although maybe she preferred a looser fit? Ack! Look at him, considering style. He was sure she’d be okay with anything else besides those government rags, at least for the very moment.
It definitely was hard leaving them alone, the protector in him wanted to be there every second. Making sure they were okay. Keeping watch on Kali, to make sure he’d be there if she did end up passing out. At least to make sure she didn’t proclaim to be any sort of threat. Jane was in there after all.
It was unlikely of course. The two called each other sister and Kali reacted positively towards her. But the only other number kid he knew of was that Vecna bastard. And he wasn’t about to let his guard down because Jane trusted her. As much as he trusted his daughter, he needed to stay liminally suspicious to protect her. It wasn’t the first time El had trusted someone who ended up betraying her after all.
He attempted to busy himself going through Jane’s clothes, specifically the ones pushed to back of her closet that were either forgotten or running small. He ended up spotting a few that he was sure were donated by Will ages go. He remembered Els previous look, grungey, greaser vibes. A bit masculine if anything, and decided that Kali would most likely appreciate this more than some pink collared blouse.
He hoped he was right. He knew the shaved hair was lost likely involuntarily and even if this wasn’t at the top of his list at all, Hopper didn’t want to seem like he was making fun of her by giving her boy clothes.
He froze at the idea of underwear. He was not about to go rooting through his daughter’s knicker drawer if that’s what you were thinking. But if Kali needed a different pants and shirt. She’d most likely need more.
Fuck. That’s another time thing. He could ask Joyce about it later. They’d have some girl talk or something. For now Pants and shirts would have to do.
It would be a lie to say he didn’t haul ass go get back to the kitchen, probably looking a little crazy with how suddenly he appeared.
Kali flinched. A hand flashing out, but Jane, as if knowing she’d do this, reached out as well. Kinder. Softer. Gently thumbing the tattoo on her wrist as if to say; hey, you’re okay, it’s safe.
Kalis cheeks darkened, seemingly angry at herself for showing such a reaction in a safe place. Head looking at the ground and refusing to look back up as Hopper approached.
“I um. Got some clothes,” he mumbled lamely, holding them out for Jane to take, “Any luck?”
Jane placed them on the table with an encouraging nudge toward her sister, “She still won’t eat. Maybe she’s not hungry?”
Hopper took the woman in once more. Really taking his time to analyze her, try and figure out what was holding her back. He spotting her sneaking glances at him through the corners of her eyes.
“Kid, and uh, Kali. No offense but your skin and bone. You need to eat something.”
El nodded along eagerly, “Yes!We recharge our batteries!”
Kali glared at the food as if it declared war, brows cinching in destress when she shifted towards Eleven, “Sister…”.
Jane’s let out a broken exhale, “I don’t understand. I could try going into your mind?”
That probably wouldn’t be ideal, it was a risk any time she attempted it. And using it for some eggos would definitely not count as necessary.
“Actually kiddo, we don’t have the tank prepared. It would take too long,” Kali snuck another peek at him, darting back to the plate as soon as she was aware he noticed, and something dawned on him, “Actually, Jane, I need your help with something.”
Jane stood up, hesitating for a moment before walking towards him, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothings wrong, “ he lowered his voice, deliberately making it so if Kali really wanted to hear she could, he wanted to come across as humble, not secretive, “Kali might need some, ahem, girl things.”
El narrowed her eyes, “Girl things?”
“Yes,” he replied through a gritted smile, trying to communicate he just needed her to leave the room unsuccessfully, “Girl things Jane. As in. More than a shirt and pants.”
It took her a second to get it, but when she did her eyes widened, snapping to Kali, and returning to Hopper, “Oh!”
Hopper refrained from wincing, knowing how suspicious that must have looked, “Yeah, just. Eyeball what you can. I’ll stay here.”
“Alone?” Now it was Jane giving him a look over, and rightfully so. Hopper probably wasn’t enough to appear non threatening. Especially to Kali.
“She’ll be fine,” the man waved of with forced nonchalance, “Your only gonna be a moment. I’ll take a crack at getting her to eat something.”
Eleven shifted awkwardly, frame uncertain but expression steely, “Don’t hurt her Hop. She’s my Sister.”
Hopper patted her on the shoulder, “I won’t kid. Trust me. The quicker you grab what you need, the quicker you can see I’m not tearing her to pieces.”
That seemed to kick her into high gear, Jane running off without a second to think.
Hopper noticed immediately how Kali stiffened without El in the room. Growing increasingly wary of his every movement. Hell, maybe his every breath. He couldn’t exactly blame her. But he wasn’t about to let his guard down either.
But overall, Kali wasn’t any good to them on the brink of collapsing from malnutrition, so if his hunch was correct, he needed to act fast before Jane returned.
“Hey.” he twitched a lip towards her, walking forward casually, forcing his muscles to relax, pulling a chair out and collapsing like he’d just ran a marathon.
Unsurprisingly Kali didn’t respond, but she did give a a minuscule nod of acknowledgment. Gaze never leaving him for more than a second. He wasn’t even sure if she was blinking anymore.
Hopper pointedly looked at the waffles in front of her, “You gonna finish that? I’m starving.”
Kalis mouth dropped slightly, closing it, she moved to speak once more, growling when she couldn’t find the words to say. It was evident that his nonchalance was throwing her off. Eventually, she simply shook her head, lifting a bony hand and nudging the plate towards him.
“Thanks.” He chirped. Grabbing a waffle by hand, folding it in half before shoving it in his mouth like a taco.
It was a little grotesque he’d admit, Hopper was never one to he prim and proper. But he’d like to think he maintained at least decent table manners. But this was not one of those times. The taste of chemicals and honey butter flooded his tastebuds. Gnashing his teeth together and letting crumbs fall onto his beard. The gluttonous smacks of his jowls only elevated by his open mouthed chewing.
He didn’t even bother to use a napkin when he was down, simply shoving the last bite in his mouth and swallowing, letting out a mighty burp at the end of it.
Kali just watched in stunned silence. Beyond confused.
Once every moral of the waffle had been consumed, he pushed the plate back in her direction, “Now you.”
Kali nearly looked offended, but he interrupted before she could call out for Jane, “Look. It’s not poisoned. I just proved that. Think the other one is? Look.”
He ripped off a decent sized chunk of the remaining waffle, consuming it in seconds.
“Their. Now you know both of them aren’t poisoned,” Kali just blinked, brows furrowed in disbelief , “Kid. I may not trust you as far as I can throw you. But your Els sister and she obviously cares and that means something. You’ve been through hell and no one expects you to perform miracles while running on fumes. If you pass out, that only negatively affects the rest of us. So please. Just eat. If you think somethings poisoned, just bring it to me and I’ll eat it right in front of you. No tricks. The last thing I’m going to do is kill you in front of Jane. So trust me on that one, okay?”
The girl didn’t move. Didn’t adress him in anyway. Just sat there, mind either frozen in time or going a mile a minute.
He was getting a little antsy, while it wasn’t something he was necessarily hiding from Eleven, he was a little worried she’d be upset at this encounter. Like it was somehow too personal or something.
Just when he thought to call his attempt a dud, Kalis hand shot forward, snatching the leftover waffle in the blink of an eye. Curling back up in the chair, resting her forearms on her knees and taking little bites. Nearly mouselike.
Hopper almost laughed in relief, but managed to school his face at the last second, not wanting to startle her.
“Good job Kiddo.” He offered instead, coughing into his hand and glancing toward Els room.
Thankfully, that was when Jane finally returned, some items stashed in a small knapsack, saving him from the sweltering silence.
She brightened immediately once she saw Kali was in fact eating, looking at him with such shock that it verged on insulting, “Hop! How?”
He could sense Kali stiffening, awaiting his reply, and making a split second decision, he shrugged, “Idk Kid, I think maybe just telling her it was food worked out. Not as dumb as you thought huh?”
Jane squinted at him judgingly, he could feel sweat dripping down the back of his neck. Hoping she wouldn’t call him on his obvious bluff.
“I guess.” She conceded, shoulders relaxing, “Do we have more food?”
Noting Kalis adjoining stare, he stood up, “Yeah, we should have some leftover grilled chicken, I’ll heat some up for us, might as well eat while we can hmm?”
“Oh!” Jane gasped, “I forgot something, be right back!”
The sound of her feet pattered of on the hardwood floors, leaving Hopper once again alone with her questionably moral sister.
He was entirely prepared to just ignore what had happened, moving to prepare the food in question, when a somewhat loud knock drew his attention.
Kali looked awkward, for the first time, knuckles still resting on the table where she placed them.
He raised a single eyebrow, “Yes?”
Her face cringed, running her tongue across her teeth, “Sis- um, is-“
-“Jane’s coming back,” he assured gently, “And we both already had the chicken. But you don’t have to eat till I do if you’re worried.”
She shook her head, more urgently this time, hand pounding the table once more.
“Look um I can go get some paper, I’m sure El has a sparkly pen somewhere and-
“Policeman!” She barked out, momentarily stunned by her own voice, lips creaking into a proud little smile, “Policeman.”
Kali stared at him expectantly, and he realized he was the policeman. A touch of fondness welling deep inside.
“Oh,” he was sure he was blushing, but his facial hair should cover most of it, “Um, Your welcome Kali.”
Before he could possibly embarrass himself or do something stupid, Jane was running back, holding up a shining black stick of eyeliner, “For Kali!”
Now that definitely got a smile out of her sister, nearly jaw breaking. He assumed that was a staple of hers beforehand, and was glad she could find the simplest of comforts after everything.
He whistled, heading off to prepare the chicken, and whatever vegetables he can find stored in the back of their run down freezer.
Okay. So maybe he still didn’t trust this ‘Sister’ completely just yet. But just for now, just in the moment, he willfully believes there might be hope for the three of them to get through this unscathed. In the most fucked up adoptive ragtag completely not planned family there was.