Chapter Text
Dustin fell in slow motion, knees crashing into Steve’s hard wooden floors, his body flat against its surface, knocked out instantly. The words Steve and Max were speaking to him are now forgotten.
“Dustin? Dustin!” Steve yelled, almost tripping over himself as he bent down to Dustin’s height, hand colliding with Dustin’s hair, petting it reassuringly.
“What’s wrong with him?” Max asked, bending down to Dustin’s body as well, her face examining him for any explanation.
“Maybe he hasn’t been eating? He probably passed out.” Lucas inserted, looking between the two frantically as he eyes landed on Dustin.
“ Lucas , go get me some water and a towel. Now.” Steve demanded, eyes finding Lucas. Lucas looks like he wanted to argue, really argue but Lucas simply clenched his jaw and headed off in the direction of Steve’s kitchen.
Dustin didn’t know where he was. He just woke up here. Around him the sky was filled with red and blue, contradicting each other. Bats flew around him dangerously and Dustin was terrified. His face was pale and Dustin was shaking as he looked around him helplessly.
“Steve! Robin! Hello?! ” Dustin yelled but it was no use. Nobody would hear him. He was here alone . In The Upside Down.
Dustin forced himself to walk around this place. His legs were practically about to give out on him every time he tried to take a step. His breathing became heavy as he came across Mike’s house and he ran towards it, banging on the door. His hand hurt from the impact but he ignored it.
He wanted anything but to be in this hellhole right now. It reminded him too much of Eddie and he didn’t think he could handle it right now. Not ever again.
“ Nancy ! It’s Dustin! Help me, please !” He yelled, banging harder on the door, looking behind him like something was chasing him. Which it probably was and he was just unaware.
“ Mike ! Steve ! Someone ! ” Dustin yelled desperately, his throat clawing at him to stop screaming.
No answer. Dustin felt like he wanted to faint. He wiped the sweat building on his forehead and turned around widely, eyes darting everywhere.
He found himself running back down the street, towards his house.
On the other side, Dustin’s nose was beginning to bleed, profusely. His breathing is quick and shallow but his chest barely moves. Dustin’s pale and his hands are curled into fists at his sides. Eyes clenched tight.
“What the hell..” Steve mutters as Lucas settles beside them, placing the wet towel on Dustin’s forehead and handing the cup of water to Max who sets it beside herself, growing anxious at Dustin’s state.
“His nose…why is it bleeding if he just passed out?” Max questioned, tilting her head slowly, her voice lacing with uncertainty.
Steve knows what she’s thinking. What she really wants to say, really wants them to think. Something else has happened in Hawkins and it probably isn’t good, and Dustin so happens to be right in the middle of it.
“I don’t know.” Lucas answered instead and Steve was so relieved he did. It felt like too much pressure to say Dustin was gonna go through yet something else traumatic. The kid didn’t need it. None of them did. They were still just kids.
Steve slowly started to panic, he could feel it in his chest, his body, everywhere. Steve’s mind scrambled to every possible alternative and Jesus, Max for making him have to.
Steve’s hands cups Dustin’s face now, patting him gently. “ Henderson. Henderson, come on .”
“Shit.” Dustin cursed, his body shaking under adrenaline, breathing heavily as he gained on his front door.
Dustin banged on his front door, also trying to twist the knob only for the door not to budge. Dustin went to the windows next, hands on them as he peeked inside looking for any sign of life.
And that was it. It was over.
And before he knew it, he was back up. Gasping awake, shivering, eyes wide as he takes in everything around him.
“Dustin. Dustin. Breathe, it’s okay. It’s okay, we’re right here.” Steve breathed out, pulling Dustin into a hug the boy didn’t ask to be brought into.
“I saw..I was back there, in The Upside Down. I don’t know why but it felt so real and-“
“Hey, look at me. You’re not there okay? You’re here, with me and with Lucas and Max.” Steve said, as he helped sit Dustin up who was still pretty shaken. His lips trembled like he was gonna cry.
Instead, Dustin hiccuped and his hand slowly lifted, fingers grazing underneath his nose as his eyes widened again at the feeling of blood on his fingers. “Did I hit my nose?” Dustin asked, looking at Steve for the first time since he woke up.
“No, you didn’t. You just- I don’t know, look. You need to sleep.”
“I'm not-“
“He’s right, Dustin. You literally just passed out on us. Have you even been eating?” Max asked. Not in an accusing tone but more of a concerned one. Her eyebrows furrowed.
Dustin looked to Lucas who looked like he agreed with Max and Steve. He pouted but didn’t argue with them as he let them help him up and practically dragged him to Steve’s bedroom.