11 Works by TalesOfRuby01
Listing Works
-
Tags
Summary
Name: Dustin Henderson
Date: 02/19/88
In this unit we are reading Little Women, a book in which a major theme is family. The story tells us about four sisters, all who are very different yet very close. Before reading, reflect on what having siblings means to you, and if you have no siblings, how would your life be different?
OR
The boys reflect on what it means to have a sibling. They are both only children. But now they have each other
Series
-
Tags
Summary
But right now, as Dustin stands alone in the bathroom- eyes red, body lingering with black and blue- he's just so tired. He's so, so tired.
Tired of being angry. Tired of missing Eddie. Tired of pushing people away and being unhappy. Tired of being terrified of what's coming next, who he's going to lose next. Tired of seeing the people he loves more than anybody in the world and knowing that they probably wouldn't miss him if he died. Because Dustin made it that way. Because at this point, they've probably realized that Dustin's half the reason everyone is still stuck in this shit in the first place.
So, if Dustin downed the sleeping pills his mother has sitting on the bathroom counter, would anybody even notice if he did?
OR
Dustin Henderson is tired. He just wants it to stop. He doesn't realize his mistake until it might be too late.
So he calls Steve. -
Tags
Summary
He clutches at his chest, taking big, gasping breaths that only make him thirst for more, but it doesn't seem like he can. Because his best friend is dead and he can't breathe without him, not when it was his fault.
Everything is swirling around him, like that one painting by Van Gough Nancy showed him years ago. He can somewhat make out a figure, talking to him, clutching at his shoulders. But Steve is drowning, Steve is drowning and nothing else matters besides his baby brother is dead, and it's Steve's fault because if Steve was faster, if Steve had tried harder, he could've stopped it. It could've been him, it should've been him.
OR
Sometimes Steve needs help too.
Dustin’s more then happy to be there for him.
Series
-
Tags
Summary
“Talk to me.”
Dustin takes a shaky deep breath, hoping that Steve didn’t notice the way his hands shook, the way his eyes burned, the way his throat seemed to be closing in on itself.
“You know my sleeping medication I’ve been taking?”
And it’s like Steve knows what he’s about to say, because he straightens in his seat, his eyes going wide ever so slightly. The shimmer of fear glistening.
OR
Short exploration of Dustin’s suicidal tendencies cause the Duffers refused to touch on it.
Series
-
Till You Came Into My Life (Gave Me Something To Lose) by TalesOfRuby01
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
14 Jan 2026
Tags
Summary
“We can use force, y’know.”
Steve refused to look up at the soldier, continuing his silent protest.
The soldier inches forward, sneering. “We won’t get in trouble. Our goal is to make you talk. That means we can use whatever method we want.”
Steve’s heart flipped. Whatever method. That could include hurting Dustin.
He was sitting in a dimly lit room, the soldier in front of him attempting to conduct an interrogation. But Steve wasn’t going to answer questions. Not until he saw Dustin.
OR
The military needs information from the party after the events of the final battle. They question Steve and Dustin separately.
That does not work out great.
Series
-
Tags
Summary
Dustin shoots up, feeling warm and sweaty. His heart is beating outside his chest, and his face is drenched in tears, and he needs to get to Steve, he needs to get to Steve-
He scrambles out of his bed (he's in bed? Wasn't he just in the radio tower?), nearly falling face first while escaping the knots of his blankets. He scours the room, trying to see through the darkness. Eventually his eyes land on Steve- unconscious on the mattress in the corner of Dustin's room.
Dead dead on the ground falling falling 100 feet lifeless he promised he promised gonegoneGONE-
OR
Dustin has a nightmare that feels all too real. Comfort ensues.
Series
-
Tags
Summary
OR
After years of no contact, Walter Henderson shows up in Hawkins to see the son he abandoned- leaving Steve skeptical about his intentions.
He just doesn’t want his little brother to get hurt again.
Series
-
Tags
Summary
So, now that the hell was over, after he and Steve were closer then they ever expected, after it was time to figure out how to heal- there was just one question.
Who, really, was Dustin Henderson?
OR
Dustin decides it’s time to start looking like Dustin again and asks Steve to help cut his hair.
He reflects on what ‘being Dustin’ means.
Series
-
Villian and Violent, Infant and Innocent by TalesOfRuby01
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
06 Jan 2026
Tags
Summary
"When we said we'd kill you, last time," Andy growled in a low, manic whisper. "We meant it."
"What the fuck is happening?!"
OR
Two weeks after they destroyed the Upside Down- two weeks of turmoil and trying to find normal, Dustin finally visits Eddie’s grave. Only to find Andy and his group of assholes have come back.
They didn’t account for Steve Harrington.
Series
-
I Used to Say I Didn’t Have a Brother (I Guess I Can’t Say it Anymore) by TalesOfRuby01
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
06 Jan 2026
Tags
Summary
He could hear the soldiers around them, yelling at them to put their hands in the air. But they couldn't. The thought of being separated from Steve made Dustin sick to his stomach, so he buried his face in Steve's neck and clung on to the older boy as tight as possible. Knowing that if they decided to open fire, they would be taking out the both of them.
'Silver lining, if it fails, we both go down'
'You die I die.'
'You die I die.'
But they didn't.
OR
Moments after Eleven disappears and they destroy the Upside Down, Steve and Dustin must face what’s next together.
Series
-
I Hear Your Heartbeat (To the Beat of a Drum) by TalesOfRuby01
Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)
30 Dec 2025
Tags
Summary
Steve pulled Dustin into his arms, wrapping one arm around the younger boy's shoulders, the other cradling his head, pressing it to his heart.
And Dustin could hear it. Hear the too fast- yet steady- beat that kept on going. Despite everything, it stayed. Despite the demodogs and the flesh monsters and the falls and every other near-death experiences. It just kept going.
Dustin took fistfulls of Steve's jacket and buried his face into the older boy's chest and clung to the sound.
*
OR, Steve and Dustin, after the final battle.