Work Text:
Today had been pretty eventful.
Alongside waking up from a two year long coma - or trance, maybe - Max has reunited with every one of her friends, and their middle school science teacher. She’s also been witness to a deeply emotional confession from Will, and a plan, that if it fails, will result in the destruction of the world. So, all in all, a mixed bag.
But amongst the chaos of their gang gathering weapons and supplies for their final showdown, Max finally, finally, gets a moment alone with El.
This is the first time they’ve spoken, just the two of them, in over three years - if you don’t count their weird encounter in Max’s mind. But it’s not like she’s been given much room to talk now, either, because she’s currently being hugged like it’s the last time they’ll see each other. Again.
When El eventually pulls away there's a depth to her eyes that hadn’t been there before, a sadness, a finality in her look that makes Max feel uneasy. And though that look never leaves her eyes, the blinding smile she puts on is nearly enough to distract her entirely.
“I’m sorry Max,” she eventually says. “I missed you.”
Max giggles. “Hey, I missed you too, duh. But, uh, are you holding up okay? This whole thing is pretty overwhelming. It’s a lot of pressure on us getting this right, but I can’t imagine how you feel.”
El’s smile drops a little, and she gently places a hand on Max’s forearm. “You know you don’t always need to be the superhero, like, as cool as your powers are, I just like you, El.” She blushes and corrects herself. “Uh, we all do! You don’t have to go through with all this if you don’t want to.”
There’s a tired look in El’s eyes when she speaks, “I’ll be okay. I am pretty used to it at this point.”
Before Max can open her mouth to speak her mind about how sad that statement is, El continues.
“But, are you sure you are okay with going back into Henry’s mind? We would be fine if it's too much to relive those memories.”
Max winces slightly, “It’ll be difficult but I know my way around his mind better than anyone else here. And besides, you’ll be there with me. How bad can it be with my telekinetic best friend and her equally as psychic sister there with me?”
That sad look in El’s eyes deepens for a moment, but she recovers quickly, letting out a small giggle.
“So,” Max continues, “is she the one who gave you that totally bitchin’ makeover you had when we first met?”
“Yeah, she is. But, Max I-” She almost says something but an odd look that Kali sends El’s way stops her in her tracks.
“El? What were you saying?”
She stands abruptly, and turns to leave. “I’m sorry, I have to go. But I’ll see you soon Max, up here.” She points to her head and runs off.
“El?”
~~~~~
Now that Max has a moment to herself, she can try to at least partially take in all of the wild events from today.
She’s convinced there’s something suspicious happening with Kali, and although she’d never say it to El’s face, she doesn’t trust her sister. The strange look on her face and Kali’s almost permanent role as El’s shadow are adding up to something she doesn’t like the sound of.
But on the flip side of today, there was Will’s confession, which she has yet to digest properly. Like, yeah, she was already aware that he didn't like girls, and that's cool with her, but there was a strange feeling she got when he actually told someone. Like it was something real.
The way his hands shook, and his words stuttered, and his eyes nervously searched for any negative reactions, it was almost a little like looking at a reflection of the secrets hidden deep within her. The guilt around Billy, the pure hatred towards Neil, those deep-seated feelings that she was sure would leave her exiled if they were spoken aloud. But there is a small, lighter feeling hidden deep within herself, that she can’t bring herself name - or at least couldn’t, until Will was brave enough to speak it.
The atmosphere in the room was beginning to become unbearable, and so she wheeled herself down the corridor to get some fresh air until she was stopped in her tracks. It appeared the Squawk hadn’t completely cleared, because standing in front of her were Robin and that kind nurse, Vickie, passionately kissing.
Normally when Max had to - unfortunately - walk in on a similar situation she’d immediately tell them to get off each other. But it seemed like this was a goodbye, a last embrace in case Robin never came back from the Upside Down. That idea made Max feel ill, the older girl almost a mentor to her, and she couldn’t stand the thought of her, of anyone in their little team, not making it back.
And so she wheeled herself quietly as possible out of sight, close enough to hear, but hidden from view. She could hear quiet sobbing, and something about Enzo’s before there were footsteps, a door slam, and finally, silence. Max counted to ten, then turned the corner, taking the opportunity.
“So, how long have you and Robin been together?”
Vickie jumped and turned around, looking absolutely petrified. “Max! Uh, how much did you see? I swear we’re just friends, I just-”
Max was confused for a second, then suddenly remembered that it was 1987 and just because one person had come out, it didn’t mean it was perfectly socially acceptable to be gay.
She didn't really know how to handle this, she barely knew the girl, and she had only just woken up from a two year coma that afternoon for God’s sake.
“Uh, I’m sorry for scaring you. But, you guys didn't really look like friends, and that's cool, I’m, uh, not homophobic or anything.”
Vickie turned bright red, but began walking back towards the main room, Max following behind. “Oh, uh, thanks? I’m sorry, I’m not exactly out to anyone. It’s just kinda terrifying, you know?”
“Well, I’m not sure I exactly know, but I saw how scared Will was, so I think I get it.”
Vickie collapsed into a chair, turning to face Max. “Oh yeah, I don’t exactly know the kid but Robin spoke about him once or twice. That was really brave of him.”
She leans in conspiratorially, with a smirk on her face. “But, you don’t by any chance know who the guy he likes is? I know he said he was over it or something, but it sure didn’t look like it.”
Max has to think for a moment before it dawns on her, and she doubles over, laughing. It’s so infectious that Vickie joins in, though unaware.
“What’s so funny?”
“It’s just, I shouldn't have had to think. It’s Mike, of course it’s Mike. They’ve been attached at the hip since, like forever. God, why did it have to be him though, I love Will, but Mike of all people, eugh!”
The two girls collapse into each other until their giggles eventually subside. “So, do you think Mike might feel the same?”
Max scoffs. “Wheeler’s so oblivious he probably has no idea Will was talking about him. But Mike is like, obnoxiously in love with El. Sorry, but Will’s got as much of a chance with Mike than I do with-”
Max suddenly cuts herself off. She’s not completely sure where that conversation was going but it was surely going to be something ruinous.
“With who, Max? Lucas is clearly head over heels for you.”
Max’s face was growing increasingly red. “No one! Never mind! Anyway, you never answered my question from before, how long have you and Robin been together?”
Her distraction clearly worked, a dreamy look taking over Vickie’s face. “Just over a year? We were in the same grade in school, and in band together, but we never really talked much until we volunteered together after well, uh-”
Max chimed in, “The Vecna stuff?”
“Yeah that. I’m still kinda taking all that in, Jesus Christ. Anyway, we got to talking after that and she eventually asked me out! I’m kinda glad she took that step, I was pretty terrified, I mean, I had a boyfriend when we met!”
“You had a boyfriend? But you like girls?”
Vickie laughs, “Max, I’m bisexual, I like girls and guys.”
It’s like the world tilts on its axis, (it could be physically happening, magical evil sorcerer and all that) pieces falling into place. “You can do that?!”
“You have much to learn. God, why isn’t Robin here, she’d be so much better at this than me!”
~~~~~
The two girls talk for the rest of the evening until their call time, Max unlocking some parts of herself hidden deep inside.
“Hey, so you don’t have to tell her. God knows this could be our last shot, but that’s a terrifying thing. All you need to do is let it exist. Let yourself accept you like it, and let it not be a burden. It’s just a part of you, Max, like it’s a part of me, and Robin, and Will. And who knows, it could be part of El too!”
“Please don’t start getting my hopes up. Besides, I’ve only just accepted these feelings, I’m not ready to jump into anything yet!”
Vickie gently rests a hand on Max’s arm. “That’s what I’m trying to say! Just let yourself feel, be yourself, and you’ll feel ten tonnes lighter.”
Max goes to speak. But a sharp blast of static blares through the Squawk’s speakers. “Uh, I guess it's go time.”
“You sure you're ready for this?”
“Vickie, I’ve been waiting to kill this motherfucker since I was 13.”
Vickie laughs nervously. “Go get him. And remember-”
“Yeah, I know. Let it exist.”
And when Max opens her eyes to find herself inside Vecna’s mind once again, she feels the fear over what’s to come wash over her, but that internal fear is lighter.
She sees El make her way through the void over to her, and grabs her hand. El eagerly accepts it, bumping their shoulders. “You ready?”
Max has no idea what’s to come, she’s still extremely suspicious of Kali, and the idea of getting out alive feels quite difficult to achieve. But she squares her shoulders, remembers Vickie’s advice and squeezes El’s hand a little harder.
“I was born ready.”