The Strange Things about Jonathan Byers β part 3
this is gonna be the last and gayest part of this epic saga. i do wanna write more stuff in the future soo... enjoy i guess?
Jonathan fell silent. It made even less sense now that he said it out loud. But he already let those stupid words escape his mouth and Steve was looking at him, searching for context. Jonathan didn't want to run from it. Not again.
"I don't know!" he threw his hands to the side. "Jane got bullied today and I somehow kinda knew beforehand."
Steve blinked like he just got blinded by that information. "Wait, hold up. What do you mean you knew?"
How does one explain it? Jonathan himself couldn't fully understand what he saw exactly, let alone describe it.
"Earlier today in the car I had like... a vision or something," he explained slowly. Jonathan was searching for the right words while it seemed like there weren't any. "Like a memory maybe? I just saw the exact thing that happened to her."
Steve just looked at him for a while. Completely silent with his eyes narrowed. Jonathan's mind instantly went to the worst case scenarios of what the man could be thinking. And he'd continue to overthink it if Harrington didn't speak up.
"Okay. Yeah," he hummed. "What exactly were you doing? We need details, man. To know what triggered it."
In any other setting Jonathan would call bullshit. But considering he was the one who brought up the idea in the first place, he was stuck.
"Well, we were in a car. My car. And The Fall was playing on the radio-"
"What song?" Steve interupted.
Jonathan sighed. This conversation was probably going close to nowhere. Neither of them actually knew how all this supernatural shit worked. How likely is it that they would find out what caused it?
"Living Too Late," he shrugged.
"Alright. Okay," Steve nodded again and Jonathan could almost see the wheels in his head turning.
Steve hit the play button and the song began blasting from the radio. Jonathan was pretty sure the Wheelers could hear it through multiple walls all the way into the house. And it seemed even louder in the small interior of the car.
"Anything yet?" Harrington glanced at him with hopeful eyes. He seemed pretty eager but also kind of catious.
Jonathan shook his head. It wasn't working. They were just two dumbasses sitting in a parked car in the middle of the night, disrupting the neighborhood.
"Shit..." Steve leaned into the driver's seat, running his hands through his picture-perfect hair. He obviously wanted it to work more than Jonathan did. Or at least he made his disappointed more known.
"Well, what else?" he tried again. "Think, Jonathan, what exactly did you do?"
Jonathan shook his head. He was starting to get a little frustrated. And the idea that he made all of this up was starting to look all too real.
"I-I don't know. We just talked and she hugged me and then my head started to hurt."
Jonathan automatically took Harrington's silence as a sign of defeat. It was hopeless, he didn't have powers, and they were wasting time. What was even the point of all this?
Jonathan's head snapped instantly.
"Hug me," Steve repeated with full confidence. And before Jonathan had the chance to protest or question his intensions, call him crazy, the man explained himself. "You said El gave you a hug. Maybe that's what triggered it. C'mon, dude."
Thinking about it, it kind of made sense. If it wasn't the place or music, it must have been the act itself. Or maybe it only worked around Jane? They didn't know. The only thing left was to try.
Jonathan wasn't used to hugging anyone beside maybe Will. When Jane started doing it he got a little freaked out. And even though he was very close with Argyle back in California, he never really initiated something like that.
Not to mention this was Steve Harrington. A guy who was his years-long rival and whom he only learned to take as a friend recently. So how come the same man he got into a bloody fight with a few years ago was now looking at him with those eyes?
Jonathan bit the inside of his cheek when he hesitantly put a hand on his shoulder. Because how could he make this even more awkward than it already was? Steve on the other hand was quick to pull him closer. He was probably just trying to trigger the ability faster. But his arms felt firm and tight wrapped around Jonathan's torso, and his breath was calm. It came out warm near his ear. And what Jonathan would never admit, kind of comforting.
He felt like crying. Not for any particular reason. Not one that he could explain. Steve's worn-out cologne hit him in the face the moment his shoulders finally relaxed. And while it still felt very strange, Jonathan would be happy to die like this.
"Is it working?" Harrington whispered, completely ruining the moment. Not only it made Jonathan realised what the hell he was thinking. But it also confirmed the fact that no, it wasn't working in the way they wanted.
He pulled away. His body instantly went cold after losing the radiant warmth of Steve's presence and the disappointment hit hard.
"This was a bad idea." Jonathan opened the car door, inviting the cool air inside.
"Wait, Jon, we haven't figured it out yet," Steve protested. He wanted to keep trying, wanted to get to the bone of it. But Jonathan was done.
"We tried. Goodnight, Steve."
Days felt like months and they passed without an answer. Jonathan's fever dream caused by migraine and imagination faded into a distant memory, and soon enough he pushed it down.
The fluorescent light above his head was bliding and the humming noise quickly became the only thing he could focus on. His state of delirium seemed close to what he experienced in California the first time he got high. Of course it was with Argyle. Appart from that Jonathan couldn't remember much. Only how relieving it felt not to be stuck in his head 24/7. His mind was constantly flooded with doubt, kept making him overthink each action. The voice in the back of his head faded only when he was under the influence. He was free to do whatever with whoever and not feel shame. It was the most peace Jonathan ever felt.
Ever since returning to Hawkins that dread came back. He felt trapped. And the only thing even close to that sweet escape were the moments spent with Steve. He didn't even realise it at first. But his mind seemed so quiet around him. Harrington was like the absence of chaos. Like few days ago in the car...
His gaze drifted towards the entrance to the basement. On the bottom of the stairs stood Will, tense and fidgeting. He had the look in his eyes like he was worried his older brother might be on drugs again.
"Hey," Jonathan sat up. With his vision all blurry from staring into the light for such a long time, he tried to readjust. "What's up?"
Will seemed nervous. More than usual. "I wanna talk... about something."
Jonathan nodded and scooted over to create space on the pull-out couch. He already knew this wasn't just a regular check-in judging from all the above.
"I'm, um..." he sat down with his hands in his lap. "How did you know you liked Nancy?"
Jonathan grinned and leaned back. "Is this about someone?"
"No! No, I'm just... curious."
He knew who this was about. They both did. Jonathan has known for longer than he dared to admit.
"I don't know," he scoffed. "I guess I just... felt like I could trust her. And knew she would always be there for me."
Will seemed to think for a while. And he wasn't the only one. Jonathan fell silent, connecting the puzzle pieces in his head, realising he could trust Steve in the same way. After all, he trusted him enough to confess such ridiculous idea as him having superpowers.
"Look... if you're in doubt about someone," he sighed, pushing the thoughts away. "Just tell them. You've got nothing to lose."
He felt stupid and hypocritical. Telling his brother all those things while ignoring his own advice completely.
"But what if h... they reject me," Will whined. Times like these confirmed that he was still just a kid at heart.
"Then they're missing out," his older sibling shrugged dismissivly. "You're amazing, Will. And talented and smart, okay?"
He meant every word. Will was the one person he loved the most. More than Nancy, Argyle, Steve, even himself. That boy meant the world to him and if he wanted to date a Wheeler, so be it.
Will looked down with a nod, and his expression shifted into something way more pleasant. Jonathan was glad he could bring a smile to his face. His hand rested on top of Will's head automatically in attempt to affectionately stroke his hair.
But then it happened again. Just when he managed to supress the feeling, push it down and return to a semi-normal life, the visions came back to haunt him.
The headache was instant. A sharp, restless pain starting the moment he made contact with Will's presence. Yet the Will he saw after a flash of light didn't look so happy. He was all tied up, terrified and back in Upside Down. Even the thought of his brother being back in that hell made Jonathan sick to his stomach. And the nausea only pushed his urge to throw up. It couldn't be real, it wasn't. But what if it was? Will couldn't go through that hell again.
Will's concerned voice snapped him out of it. Jonathan removed his hand and the headache slowly faded. But the dread and worry lacing his thoughts didn't.
Jonathan couldn't take it alone. He was taught to handle himself, but this was something he couldn't bear. His brother might have been in danger. And the worst part was Jonathan couldn't prevent it. He didn't know when or how it was going to happen. What if he was imagining it after all and this was just another coincidence...
He slammed the breaks and his old ass car rapidly stopped. The sound of his fast heartbeat filled the interior. He found himself in front of a familiar house. More like a mansion with it's own damn pool. It brought back unwanted memories of freshman year. Yet none of those were worse than the stuff he saw Will going through.
The wind was cruel. Weather in Hawkins was getting worse by the day, as if it could sense the emotions boiling within one teenager. Jonathan knocked on the door and the sound echoed inside. For a moment he thought they would just let him stand there until he gave up. But just as he was getting anxious, the door creaked open.
Inside stood a tired woman. Not tired in the usual sense with eyebags and overgrown hair like he was. She was wearing a robe and her hair was neatly braided, spilling over one shoulder. She looked like a typical snobby rich person, and the tone of her voice matched perfectly.
"Can I help you?" she asked, staring him down with slight disgust.
"Uh, yeah. I'm looking for Steve?"
The woman rolled her eyes, and looking back into the house she sighed. "Steven!"
An angry "What?!" echoed back.
"Some... junkie is here to see you!"
Ouch. Jonathan couldn't blame her that much. In his current state he did look pretty worn out. Then again he looked like that most of the time.
Soon enough the woman disappeared back into the depths of the living room and Jonathan invited himself in. Else he'd stay standing out there like an idiot.
Through means he didn't dare to admit he knew where Steve's bedroom was. He didn't really care to knock, just hoped Steve was decent enough and walked in.
Thankfully, Harrington was sitting on his bed, already staring at him. A book laid open beside him, but it was hard to believe that a man like him would willingly read in his free time.
"Byers. Is everything alright?"
Did he really look that disheveled?
"Yeah. Yeah, totally, I just... need to talk."
Steve's whole demeanor shifted in an instant. He leaned forward with the same look as the last time they've seen each other. Jonathan feared his knees might give out if he starts talking. Therefore, he took a few long steps and settled down on the bed next to Steve.
He folded his arms. "It happened again."
"The freaky vision stuff?"
They stared at each other in silence for a while. Steve was already pondering and looking for the best next step, while Jonathan was still freaking out internally. He could tell from the look in his eyes that Harrington needed more context.
"It was Will," Jonathan swallowed the lump in his throath. "And you were right, it was triggered by touch. I think."
Before Steve could react to any of that new information, Jonathan trailed off.
"And I know something bad is about to happen, and I can't put him through all that again. He's a fucking kid, Steve, and I failed him, I..."
He put his head in his hands the moment his voice broke. This wasn't just about the vision anymore. All the stuff from the past piled up and simply came crashing down then and there.
Harrington's voice cut through like a knife. That gentle tone returned, and lord did it do something to Jonathan.
"It's gonna be okay, a'ight? We have saved the world countless times, Will is going to be just fine."
Perhaps Steve was just being nice. He couldn't be sure of his words, no one could predict the future. Well... one could, but it wasn't Steve.
One way or another his monologue seemed to work. Jonathan looked back up at him and nodded. A weak breath left his lips.
"I've got you, man," Steve continued. His body shifted closer, and as reassuring as it was, the warmth seeping from him only created more conflict within Jonathan's emotions.
"And if something happens to your brother, I swear to God I'll rescue him myself."
Jonathan nodded again. Or at least he tried to, his nervous system already gave out by that time. There was just something about Harrington taking him seriously. Promising to protect the one person Jonathan cared about. The look in his eyes seemed so soft and honest, and the smell of cologne and fancy detergent Jonathan could never afford mixed in a comforting essence.
Jonathan leaned a tad closer, expecting Steve to pull back or ask what the fuck he was doing. Because what was he doing? The advice he gave Will earlier today kept replaying in his head like a broken record and he was beginning to doubt himself. Until Steve tilted his head to the side and interlaced their fingers.
And the moment was supposed to be perfect. Jonathan felt freedom without being high and the guy he had doubts about up till now seemed so sure of his feelings. If it wasn't for that damn curse that started it all.
Jonathan jerked back with an audible gasp. Despite blurry vision and fear that his knees might buckle, he stood up. Shortly followed by Steve featuring worried expression.
"You- you're gonna... I can't," Jonathan breathed out, unable to form a sentence that could properly describe the terror he felt upon the upcoming future.
Steve on the other hand stayed calm. Or at least tried to. He didn't see the look of pure fear in his own eyes falling from a radio tower. He didn't experience the absolute burden of not knowing when it was going to happen.
And quite frankly he didn't need to. He planted his hands on top of Jonathan's shoulders.
"Jonathan, whatever you saw-"
Oh, how dumb he felt being so emotional. But Harrington didn't seem to care. If anything, his knuckles brushed against Jonathan's jaw as he brought them up to cup his face.
Jonathan's fingers curled around his wrist. The doubt faded from his eyes, replaced by the same old tender gaze that only belonged to a few people. He trusted Steve. And felt like he'd always be there for him.
