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Steve talks to him 3 weeks after they get back from California.
His face isn't what he remembers from Steve- it's softer, he looks as though the anger he carried with him melted from his features. The judgmental look in his eyes seems to have faltered and, if Jonathan can tell anything from how tight his face feels, he thinks that he may be presenting a harder exterior than the other.
"Hey," Steve greets as he slams his car door shut. As always, Dustin is fastened tight into the passenger seat, but he runs past Jonathan and into their house within the time he blinks. He figures he must miss Will a lot. Jonathan fixes his head from where it was turned over his shoulder to find Steve approaching him. "You guys settling in alright?"
"What are you doing here?" Jonathan asks bluntly. The words come falling out of his mouth faster than he can account for. Based on the look written across Steve's face, he hadn't expected Jonathan to be rude, either.
Steve points to the front door, still idly swinging from the wind, as Dustin hadn't gotten it properly stuck to the frame. "Came to drop the dipshit off. Wanted to make sure you guys were doing alright."
Jonathan puts a hand up, firmly planting it on Steve's chest. The man in front of him backs up, bringing his hands up in surrender. "We're fine, Harrington," Jonathan grits through his teeth. "The last person we need around here is you."
Steve's brows furrow. "The hell, man?"
"Don't 'the hell' me!" Jonathan practically shouts. His takes his pointer finger and jabs it straight into Steve. "You wanna' just pretend the past few years didn't happen? That we're suddenly best friends?"
"I-" Steve pauses. It seems as though his mouth ran dry as he searches for something to say. Steve presses his lips together, swallows, and breathes. "I meant it, when I apologized," he said. "I thought you understood. Will- Will did. Your mom did."
Jonathan snorts. "I'm not just going to forgive you that easily. Not after what you said about Will." Jonathan turns around and walks towards the house, leaving Steve standing in the driveway. "Get lost, man."
For a moment, Steve stares at the front door, his mouth just slightly agape, and a look of guilt painting his face. Jonathan nearly feels bad, but as he watches Steve turn around, start his car, and back out of his driveway, Jonathan hopes that he feels even just a bit of what he felt during high school. He shakes his head as he turns inside, shutting the front door behind him.
He walks into the living room to find Will, Dustin, and El seated on the floor together. His mom is looking down at the drawings Will is showing them. Hopper sits at the table with a smile.
"Where's Steve?" Dustin asks when he looks up.
"Yeah, he said he was excited to come see my paintings!" Will adds.
Jonathan shrugs, gesturing to the entryway. "I dunno. 'Said he had to go do something."
Quickly, his mom leans forward. "He probably forgot about something important, maybe work. Don't feel bad about it, ok?" Joyce says.
El deflates, the smile on her face dropping at the news. Jonathan only starts to feel guilty about the whole thing when Will frowns. Then, he escorts himself to his room, turns on his Walkman, and sulks in his bed. It's what he does best.
Hopper wants to have a barbeque. He says that it's something that the houses in Loch Nora do every Fourth of July, and he wants the kids to feel like they have even a bit normality in their lives.
"That's great and all," Jonathan says through a mouthful of their dinner. "But who's house is this gonna' be at?"
When his mom says Steve Harrington's, he nearly loses his mind.
"Are you serious?!" he groans. "He would've never let us step foot in there a few years ago-"
"And a few years ago, our lives were completely different than they are right now. We were completely different than who we are right now," Joyce explains. Jonathan snaps his mouth shut at her tone. "Be friendly."
Jonathan rolls his eyes, grabbing his plate and walking towards the sink. "He's not my friend."
As he dumps his dish, his mom sighs. "How can he be when you don't give him a chance?" she asks.
Jonanthan turns around.
"I saw what happened, Jon," she explains, getting up from her chair and walking towards him. Her voice is hushed. "I know you turned him away. And I'm not telling your brother because I don't want him to be mad at you."
Jonthan sighs. "You don't understand, Mom. What he did. What he said."
"I do," Joyce argues. She puts a hand on his arm. "He was a bully. He was rude to you and your family, and I know that. It was wrong." Joyce rubs his arm and tilts her head. "But, I think he's trying to be better, honey. And you should give him a chance to change."
Jonathan takes a deep breath. He doesn't answer his mom, just accepts the hug she gives and goes back to his room. He ignores her and Hopper's mumbling remnants of a conversation for the quiet of his room.
In reality, the barbeque happens a full month after they return.
The kids- who seem slightly too big to be called kids- are running around Steve's big Loch Nora house in no time. They jump in and out of the pool and sprint through the yard, and Steve doesn't comment on the fact that they're dragging water across the entire patio and bringing grass and dirt into the water. It's confusing.
Jonathan goes inside for a moment of peace when Hopper announces that there's still 10 minutes until he pulls the burgers off of the grill. He thinks it's a good time to take a break and wash his hands. He closes the back door, sealing the noise off from the house, and after the sink turns off, Jonathan notices just how quiet it is. Shaking the water off, he turns around and looks down the hall. Jonathan takes a few steps, transitioning from the kitchen to the living room, and looks around.
He always envied Steve's house. It was big and fancy and they had their own pool. Jonathan couldn't help but wonder what kind of cool paintings his parents owned and how many fancy family photos they could fit on their many walls. As he looks around now, though, Jonathan just thinks the Harrington house is kind of... empty. Sort-of cold. The walls are pretty bare. The furniture looks stale and new, as though no one ever uses it. The floors are pristine, and the only thing that looks lived-in is the kitchen.
He looks at the single photo on the wall of the stairs. It's small, and there's two people that he doesn't recognize standing behind a child. The boy resembles Steve, but he's not smiling at all. All three people- the adults of which he presumes to be Steve's parents- are staring at the camera with a stoic gaze. It's chilling, given the fact that every family photo his mom hangs is joyful and makes him feel warm inside. He also wonders why it seems so old, as if this is the last and only picture they have together.
Suddenly, the back door slides open, and Jonathan jumps at the sudden movement. Steve closes it behind him and looks around until he catches the sight of Jonathan. "Oh, there you are!" he calls, jogging over. "Food's ready, if you wanna' come out."
"Oh. Thanks," he mutters. Jonathan looks back down at the photo. "This your folks?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, that's them." Steve takes a few steps towards the frame and lifts it from the table. He wipes the dust from the glass, bringing it closer to his face and squinting. "Heh, I look like a real killjoy in this one."
Jonathan doesn't laugh as Steve does. He bites his lip. "It looks a little sad, don't you think?"
Steve shrugs, haphazardly discarding the frame back down. "Fitting," he answers. Then, he turns and starts walking back to the door. "You coming?"
He spares one last glance at the picture before nodding. He follows Steve out to the patio; they're both swept up into separate conversations, but anytime Jonathan catches a fleeting glimpse of Steve, he wonders who taught him to smile.
Their lives slowly start taking the same form of normality as the summer progresses. It's comes to a head when Nancy asks for his help in packing for college and he realizes that she's actually going to be leaving. Nonetheless, he gets himself to the Wheeler house and helps Nancy pack up some boxes. By the time they're done, it's nearly 5 p.m., and she's hurriedly apologizing for keeping him from getting back home for dinner.
"I really didn't mean to keep you this late," she says, looking around for where she placed his keys. "It's just that Steve's been helping me pack, but I didn't realize he had work today, and his parents around never home for dinner anyway-"
"Wait, did you say Steve's been helping you?" Jonathan interrupts.
Nancy grins. "Oh, yeah!" she confirms. She rips his keys out from underneath the sweater on her bed and holds them out for him to take. "He came by to drop Mike off from DnD and stopped inside to see my mom and Holly. My mom told him that I needed some help and he's been coming by a few times to help out."
"Huh," Jonathan mutters, taking his keys.
"Is... that a problem?"
"What? No! No, of course not," he rushes, fumbling to shove his keys into his pockets. "I just- I don't know, I didn't expect Steve to be going out of his way to help you."
Nancy furrows her brows. "Of course, he would. We're friends."
Jonathan wiggles his jaw, looking for any ounce of sarcasm in her voice. He finds none. "Right."
"Is this about- are you still mad at him, Jon?" She accuses. Nancy gets her answer in Jonathan's silence. "Jonathan," she starts, taking a few steps towards him. Unwillingly, Jonathan looks at her. "I'm leaving in a week. You're attending locally, meaning you'll be here way more than me. And, let's face it, you're going to run into Steve."
"Doesn't mean I have to like him."
"He's not evil, Jonathan," Nancy snaps. "Unlike you may believe, he's not. He did fucked-up things, yes, but he's not evil. And he's dealt with his own personal problems, just like you have. The only difference is that he's trying to get over this heap with you and be friends."
Jonathan stares at her. "But he made that heap."
Nancy stares back. "And you're the one that won't let him bury it." She takes a deep inhale. "He hurt you, I get it. But, Steve's grown, and he's changed, and I'm asking you if you can be civil while I'm gone." Nancy takes his hands in hers. "Just- try to like him, will you? For me?"
And, if there's anything that can get Jonathan to do something he may not want to, it's Nancy Wheeler. He sighs. "Fine," he agrees. "But only for you. And I'm not being his friend. Just... not gonna' hit him."
Nancy grins, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "That's all I ask." Then, she turns him around and starts pushing him towards the door. "Now, go home before your mom puts together a search party."
Jonathan decides to go to Family Video and get the movie Will requested for the Party's upcoming movie night.
When he walks in, he finds Steve's friend Robin, who he's only talked to an odd few times, standing at the counter in a uniform. She's going through a pile of tapes laying on the counter when she sees him walk in.
"Hi," she greets with a smile. "What're you doing here?"
Jonathan points to the horror section. "Looking for a movie for the kids. This is where you and Steve work?"
Robin grins, putting one of the films back down. "Yeah! Started here after the mall burnt down. I only wanted to work with him, anyway. You just missed him, actually. He went home early."
Jonathan hums and excuses himself from the conversation when another customer asks for her help. The older woman leaves, and Jonathan finds himself with his wallet getting ready to rent the movie.
"You said Steve went home early?"
"Oh, yeah," she starts. "He got another one of his bad migraines and couldn't really do anything anymore. I'm covering his shift now. It took forever to get him to actually leave, though."
Jonathan furrows his brows. "I don't think he ever said anything about getting migraines."
Robin snorts. "No, he hasn't told anyone. He's stupid like that. He thinks he's a burden and whatever, but I keep telling him that getting all these concussions isn't really his fault. I'm just frustrated because I won't be able to check up on him until tomorrow."
"Oh," Jonathan mutters. He had no idea that Steve had long-lasting effects from their battles with the Upside Down that range farther than mental. "I'm sorry, then."
Robin grins. "It's fine." She hands the movie back over to Jonathan. "Bring this back in two weeks. Have fun!"
Jonathan leaves without another word. He delivers the movie to Will when he gets home and watches as he and El disappear into the other room to radio their friends. Joyce laughs as they leave. Hopper sits down on the other end of the couch. "Did you happen to see Steve when you went today? I need to talk to him."
Although Jonathan isn't sure what about, he shakes his head. "No. Robin said he went home early because of a migraine."
"Oh, is he alright?" Joyce asks, worried.
Jonathan shrugs. "I don't know. She said he's been getting them for a while 'cause of all the concussions. She sent him home and is gonna' check on him tomorrow."
Joyce frowns. She glances up at Hopper, but he looks just as clueless as she is. "Is he staying with anyone tonight? No- he went home, didn't he?" Jonathan confirms with a nod, and Joyce gnaws at her cheek. "Could you do me a favor and-"
"Mom-"
"-could you go check him?" she finishes. Jonathan groans, throwing his head back and staring up at the ceiling. "Jonathan, it's a nice thing to do."
"But we're not friends," he argues, which he's telling his mom for the umpteenth time. Nonetheless, she glares at him, and he gives in. "Fine! I'll go make sure he's okay, but that's it. Just a check in."
As he stands up and grabs his keys his mom grins. "Thank you, sweetheart."
The drive to Steve's house is short, and he probably would've kept the keys in the ignition if he wasn't paranoid about getting the vehicle stolen, even in Loch Nora. He walks to Steve's door and knocks, but no matter how loud he is, Steve never answers. Sighing, he simply tugs at the doorknob. He's surprised that it's unlocked but lets himself in anyway. "Steve?" he calls. All the lights are off as he stalks around the hallway. "It's Jonathan!"
He clears the first floor without finding Steve. Jonathan finds himself ascending the stairs and thinking about how this is not what he signed up for. He looks in the first bedroom he finds, which is clearly Steve's, but he's not inside. The next room has a locked door, so the only other place he can look before calling it a day is the last door.
Jonathan opens the door, flicks on the light, and finds Steve Harrington passed out of the floor of his bathroom.
Jonathan's breath catches in his throat as he takes in the scene. Steve is wrapped in a blanket on the tile, his head leaning against the wall of his bathtub. There's clearly vomit in the toilet, and a bottle of medicine spilt on the floor. The only movement Steve makes to acknowledge Jonathan's presence is a low groan at the sudden light.
"Steve?" Jonathan asks, crouching down. He reaches out and shakes the other's shoulder. "Are you alright?"
"Dad?"
Jonathan is so not equipped for this.
"Hop?" he slurs, going through his list of guesses. Then, he squints, focusing in on Jonathan's face, and lays back down. "Jon."
"Yeah, it's me," he explains. "Steve, how many painkillers did you take?"
"Three, I think," he answers. Though Steve's voice doesn't sound like normal, Jonathan sighs in relief. "I threw 'em all up."
Jonathan presses his lips together. "That's alright, man. You think you can sit up?"
"Uh huh," Steve answers. He starts moving faster than expected, so Jonathan lunges forward to help guide him. "Why 're you here?"
"Don't worry about it," he answers. "I'm gonna' bring you to your room, ok? Then I'll get you some water, and you can sleep again."
Jonathan does as he says. It takes longer than he anticipated to get Steve on his feet without falling, and it's harder to get him down the hallway than he wishes it was, but soon enough, Steve is lying on an actual bed, rather than the tile floor. He leaves him for a few minutes to flush the toilet, clean up the pills, and come back with a glass of water, but Steve is still awake when he gets there.
"Feeling better?" he asks.
"Mhm. Thank you," he mumbles. Steve takes a few sips of water before lying back down, slipping his eyes shut, and pulling the blankets up to his shoulders. "'m sorry."
Jonathan widens his eyes. "Huh?" he asks. "Why are you sorry?"
It takes a moment for him to find his words, but Steve finally collects himself enough to explain. "I know 'ou don't like me very much. Hate me," he starts. "'nd I'm makin' you help me. Don't deserve it. So, 'm sorry."
As surprising as it is, Jonathan finds himself feeling bad for Steve. Like, really bad. "I don't have you, Steve," he admits. "I'm just... cranky sometimes. I hold grudges. That doesn't..." he pauses, looking at the half-empty cup of water. "That doesn't mean you don't deserve help. I'm glad I'm here to help you, Steve."
Steve's eyebrows raises, even though his lids remain shuts. "Really?"
Jonathan finds himself smiling ever so slightly. "Really." At that, Steve nuzzles his head back into the pillow. "Get some rest, Steve."
"Night, Jon."
Within a few minutes, Jonathan finds himself on Steve's house phone, explaining to his mother that's he's gonna' stay for a few more house just to make sure that Steve doesn't need any more help. His mom calls him a sweet boy and he rolls his eyes. What Jonathan doesn't do, though, is plan for the fact that he falls asleep on Steve Harrington's overly stiff couch. He also doesn't plan for said man to find him there in the morning.
"Byers?" Steve asks as he turns into his living room. His hair is both flat and sticking up randomly, and the heel of his hand rubs at his eye. "What're you doing here?"
Jonathan sits up slowly. "Came over last night to help with your migraine. Didn't mean to fall asleep."
"How'd you know about my migraine?"
"Robin told me," he answers, tossing a pillow back into place. He can feel Steve's confusion radiating from his body. "I was at the video store for a movie."
Steve blinks at him. "Robin... told you about my migraine, and you decided to come help me?"
"Is that so unbelievable?"
"Yes."
Jonathan takes a deep breath, grabbing his keys off of the coffee table and standing up. "You're ok now?" At Steve's nod, Jonathan returns the gesture. "Good. I'll be off, then." He looks to the door and stops himself. "Look, I'm sorry for being an ass these past few months," he says. "I understand that you're trying. So, if you wanna be friends, then..." Jonathan holds his hand out. "We can be friends."
Steve looks at him quizically before folding and shaking Jonathan's hand. "Rule number one," he says, "I don't think friends shake hands."
Jonathan laughs. When Robin bursts through the door, he sees himself out and, for once, leaves the Harrington house with a smile.
If Jonathan was told two months ago that he'd spend a whole weekend hanging out with Steve Harrington, he would've answered that that was a load of horse shit. He probably would've laughed. And he probably would've said some other rude shit, too.
Now, though, Jonathan is laughing in the passenger's seat of Steve's Beamer, and if that wasn't more shocking that the existence of an alternate reality, he doesn't know what is.
It started with him inviting Will to this art show in Indianapolis, and subsequently asking Jonathan if he wanted to go, because there was going to be a photography section. He's still a little hesitant, but his mother is ecstatic, and they go.
It's nice, really nice. Will has smiles brighter than what he's seen in a while and makes an offhanded comment about having two big brothers. When Jonathan catches Steve wiping away tears, he knows that he's completely forgiven Steve Harrington. It's on the ride back home, with Will asleep in the backseat, when they really start to connect.
"Thanks for this," Jonathan starts, glancing over at Steve.
The driver turns down the music and continues. "It's nothing, really. I knew Will would enjoy it, and I knew you would, too. There was no reason for me not to invite you guys."
Jonathan shrugs. "You still drove us and paid for our tickets. And the gas. So, I mean, it's really a lot."
Steve hums.
"And... thank you for treating Will like I would." Jonathan glances in the mirror, finding his baby brother's eyes still glued shut. "He's been through so much. And it's- it's nice to know that he has someone like you. Someone like me, I guess."
Steve smiles. "I didn't realize he actually liked me that much," he jokes. "I guess ever since we connected when you guys came back, it's been... he's like a brother, I guess." Steve also takes a look in the rearview mirror at Will, takes a brief gaze at Jonathan, and turns back to the road. "I thought it'd be nice to take him to Indy. He- he knows what Indy means to me."
Jonathan tilts his head. "And that is...?"
Steve takes a deep breath. "Will told me that he's talked to you about, uh- he's talked to you about his... crush?"
Based on the weird way he's wording it, Jonathan knows they're on the exact same page. "Yeah, yeah. What- has he told you about that?"
"Robin and I went to this place in Indy before the Upside Down got bad again," he starts. "It- it made me realize some things. So, when I found Will- I guess some stuff happened on your guys' way here- I was able to connect with him. Helped him out through my own experiences. And- and it helped. I think it made him have more trust in me."
Jonathan's eyes practically bulge out of his head. "You-" he stutters. "You're-"
"Robin said it's called being bi," Steve explains. "I don't know. I just... think... people can be hot."
Jonathan blinks a few times, because Steve Harrington is an enigma, apparently, and he keeps finding out the craziest things, like about how Steve is apparently not straight.
"Jon? You there?"
"Yeah, sorry, just thinking." Jonathan meets Steve's eyes before he can look away. "That's cool, man." Steve hums and turns back to the road. "I think me too, a little."
Steve grins. "Yeah?" he asks. Jonathan hums and begins tapping to the beat of the muffled song on the window. "Sick." Steve turns up the volume, and the drive goes back to normal.
Jonathan doesn't really remember falling asleep, but he wakes up with a scream.
It's not a rare occurrence for him to dream about the Upside Down, but ones of Vecna are particularly horrifying. Something about watching his friends' limbs snap uncontrollably, their eyes becoming white and glazed and blood pouring down their face really irks him. So, Jonathan wakes up screaming, practically jumping out of bed and smashing in the wall. He leans his back against it and places a hand on his chest, hyperventilating.
Suddenly, the door opens, and a tall silhouette stands in his doorway.
"What's wrong?" Steve shouts, looking around the dark room. "Jonathan?"
Through fast breaths, Jonathan manages to gather the words "over here" in a strained voice. Steve's head snaps towards him; he walks over and grabs Jonathan by the shoulders. Despite his movements being fast, his hands are gentle.
"Are you hurt?" he asks, trying to check over his body. "What happened?"
"I- I'm fine, Steve. Everything- it's ok," he tries.
Steve shakes his head. "I heard you yelling."
Jonathan takes a deep breath, trying to still the shaking in his hands. "It was just a nightmare. That's- that's it."
He expects Steve to be relieved and leave the room. Instead, the deep furrowed lines of concern remain carved into Steve's forehead. He nods. "But, you're ok?" he asks, to which Jonathan confirms with a nod.
"What are you even doing here?"
Steve snorts. "I came by to steal some leftovers. Your mom said I could swing by tonight, even if she wouldn't be home."
"That's weird," Jonathan mumbles, even if he doesn't mean it. He looks over at Steve's hand, still holding onto him, and the other doesn't seem to let go. "I think- I think I'm gonna' try to go back to sleep now."
"Oh, right. Of course." He pulls away and gestures to the door. "I'll be going, then."
Jonathan nods and watches as Steve walks to the door. He approaches his bed and pulls the blankets back, but, as Steve begins to close it behind him, he feels the loneliness and darkness of his room in full force. "Steve?" he calls out without thinking.
Instantly, the door swings back open. "Yeah?"
"Could you... stay?" he requests. Shocked, Steve remains in the doorway without giving any hints as to what he's thinking. Jonathan immediately backtracks. "It's just- I mean, you don't have to, but, I don't know, it's kind of dark in here and-"
Then, Steve lets himself into the room, closes it behind him, and grabs his hand. "It's ok, Jon. I'll stay."
Jonathan sighs in relief. His mom doesn't say anything when she comes home and finds Jonathan in Steve's arms, both of them asleep.
Steve comes over for dinner sometimes now. Steve takes the kids home from school. Steve takes Jonathan to Indy again. Steve invites the Byers-Hopper household for dinner. Steve invites Jonathan over on his own.
Steve makes Jonathan dinner.
Steve takes Jonathan out to the poolside, and they sit together.
For some reason or another, Jonathan finds that his heart is absolutely pounding, even though seeing Steve is a constant in his life. He kicks his feet in the pool and waits for Steve to come back from turning the lights on and he feels like his chest is going to explode.
Steve sits down beside him. His feet fall in the pool next to Jonathan. "I had fun."
"Me too," Jonathan whispers. He's scared to say anything else.
Luckily, Steve isn't. He looks at Jonathan, even though his eyes are fixated on the water. "Jon, I-" His words die in his throat. Jonathan makes no effort to join in as he waits for the conversation to continue. "Do you remember what I told you a few weeks ago? On the way home from Indy?"
Jonathan gulps. He nods.
"You said that you- you get that feeling, too."
Jonathan nods. "I do."
"Let me take you out," Steve murmurs. His fingertips graze across the back of Jonathan's hand.
Jonathan's fingers twitch. He digs them into the concrete and clenches his jaw. Something in his gut screams at him to say no, but one look at Steve and his wide doe eyes is enough to make his heart do flips. He swallows and nods. "Yeah," Jonathan whispers. "Take me out."