She hesitates visibly at the suggestion to walk ahead, and leave him at her back, and Eleven hates the instinct. Hates that part of her is so on edge, she has that animal instinct of not showing weakness, of not putting someone who could pose a threat at her back.

She forces herself to take a slow, deep breath, pushes the instinct down, and walks on, outside. Even on the way she keeps reaching for the blue hair tie on her wrist, fingers stroking over it or tugging on it lightly.

The hair tie is the same colour as her lantern, notably.