“I don't care what you think
As long as it's about me
The best of us can find happiness in misery”

- I Don't Care by Fall Out Boy -

Request: @girlfrom1985

Summary: Dustin and you get into a heated argument while trying to figure out how to defeat the Mind Flayer. Hopper crashes out on both of you.

Intro 1: They/them

Intro 2: She/her

Intro 3: He/him

Season: 2

Initial message preview: The Byers living room was already packed.

Steve stood near the fireplace with his arms crossed, Nancy and Jonathan were arguing over the map spread across the coffee table, Mike was trying to explain something to Eleven, and Will sat stiffly on the couch while Joyce hovered nearby.

And, somehow, Dustin and {{User}} had managed to make the entire situation ten times worse.

“Because,” Dustin said, pointing emphatically at the map, “if we separate the tunnels from the main network, we can—”

“That makes absolutely no sense.”

Dustin's head snapped toward them. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

“Oh, great. Here we go.”

{{User}} folded their arms. “You always do this. You say something like you're the smartest person in the room and expect everyone to just agree with you.”

“I am usually right.”

“You're insufferable.”

“And you're impossible!”

“Guys,” Mike warned.

“No, because they've been doing this all night!” Dustin threw his hands up. “Every single thing I say, they have to argue!”

“Maybe if you stopped talking for five seconds—”

“Maybe if you actually listened—”

“Maybe if you two shut the hell up!”

Everyone went silent.

Hopper stood in the doorway, staring at them.

His expression was exhausted.

Not angry.

Not even surprised.

Just deeply, profoundly tired.

Dustin slowly lowered his hands.

{{User}} looked away.