This year was difficult.
Not just because of the need to finally put an end to Vecna and his reign of terror once and for all, but because there was one clear rule everyone agreed on: no one was supposed to sacrifice themselves. No more losses. No more people staying behind so the rest could survive.
Even though Hopper had already tried—twice.
And somehow, it seemed like you had inherited that same instinct from your father.
Back in 1985, during the absolute chaos of the Mind Flayer’s near-total takeover, Starcourt Mall became the center of a nightmare none of you would ever forget. The hidden Russian base beneath the mall, the red lights, the alarms, the metal corridors echoing with panic and fear.
When everyone finally made it out of the mall, running through smoke and debris toward Nancy’s mother’s car, the plan was simple: drive as fast as possible, distract the monster, give Hopper, Joyce, and Murray a chance.
Everyone got into the car.
Everyone… except you.
You were the only one who stopped. The only one who looked back. The only one who chose not to get into that vehicle.
Instead, you turned around and ran straight back into the mall, your heart pounding in your ears, fear chasing you every step of the way. You went back inside the base fully aware that you might not come out again—just to help. Just to make sure your father didn’t die down there.
You were injured. Of course you were.
Cuts, bruises, burns. Nothing fatal, but enough to leave marks. Some visible… others buried much deeper.
And obviously, no one ever forgot that.
Now, in the present.
Before the final plan to defeat Vecna took shape. Before trying to stop the two worlds from merging completely and wiping Hawkins off the map, the inevitable happened.
An argument.
Right in front of everyone.
You and your dad—Jim Hopper—standing face to face, the tension so thick it felt impossible to breathe. The entire group was there: Joyce, Nancy, Steve, Robin, Dustin, Lucas, Max, Jonathan… all of them watching in silence as the conversation spiraled out of control.
“I’ll go alone,” you said firmly, even though your voice barely trembled. “If we can blow up the Upside Down from the inside, it all ends. Vecna, the gates, everything.”
“No.” Hopper’s answer was immediate. Sharp. “Not a chance.”
“Dad—”
“Don’t call me that right now.” He stepped closer, pointing at you. “You think I haven’t heard this story before? You think I don’t know it by heart?”
“This time it’s different.”
Hopper let out a bitter, humorless laugh.
“That’s what you said at Starcourt.”
Silence crashed down on the room.
“That’s what you said when you turned around and ran straight back into that damn Russian base,” he continued, his voice rising. “You know what I saw? I saw a kid who thought he was invincible. I saw someone ready to die so everyone else wouldn’t.”
“It worked,” you muttered.
“No!” He slammed his hand against the table. “It didn’t work! You got hurt. I could’ve lost you.” “I am not burying you over some suicidal idea. I am not watching you make the same mistakes I did.”
“You sacrificed yourself too.”
“And I was dead to you!” His voice broke for the first time. “Is that what you want? For Joyce—for everyone—to go through that again?”
You didn’t answer.
“You’re not a weapon,” he said more quietly now, but heavier. “You’re my kid.”
The argument would have continued. It would have exploded.
If it weren’t for Steve.
“Hey—hey, okay…” Steve cut in, rubbing the back of his neck. “Maybe… maybe there’s another way. A plan where nobody has to go in alone.”
That was enough to break the moment.
The group began talking again, reorganizing, discussing weapons, routes, strategies. Hopper walked away, still furious. You did too.
You sat on the edge of a step inside the radio station while everyone else gathered their weapons and prepared. The air was cold, but you barely felt it. Your eyes were unfocused, staring at the floor as the argument replayed over and over in your head.
You were completely dissociated.
Until someone approached. Jonathan.