#chiefhoppcr

       but HER RATIONAL MIND quickly caught up to her ( admittedly powerful ) libido, and she pulled back sooner than even she would have liked. she didn’t go far though, couldn’t bring herself to. she was so touch starved that she would take any sort of closeness she could get. still, perhaps the kiss was too much. ❝ i...i’m... ❞ sorry.

       she WINCED as she pressed the ice pack ever so gently to his face. the fight hadn’t lasted very long. jim was bigger than lonnie, and he had military training. he’d knocked lonnie on his ass in about five seconds flat. of course, lonnie had started the fight, hence the BRUISE currently forming on his right eye. joyce felt guilty. she shouldn’t have kissed him, shouldn’t have goaded lonnie in the first place.

       ❝ I’M SORRY hop, ❞ she breathed, voice small. her free hand came up to lightly caress the uninjured part of his face. ❝ you didn’t have to do that for me, you know. ❞

       DIANA HATED HAWKINS. that was what she kept telling herself. and she did when she first got there. she hated how quiet it was, how docile and tame and not at all exciting. when she first arrived, she couldn’t imagine a life for herself here. and yet now she COULDN’T picture herself leaving. her leg bounced rapidly as she sat on the front porch of the house she’d been renting for...god almost a year now ? she’d managed to narrow her belongings down to a bag, tossing or giving away EVERYTHING ELSE. 

       he was late, and when he arrived, she had every intention of letting him know. she was dreading this, dreading leaving him, and yet he seemed determined to drag out her suffering. ❝ what the hell, jim ? ❞ she hoped he’d attribute the crack in her voice to ANGER, not heartbreak. ❝ my flight’s in an hour. ❞

       it had been A LONG TIME since she and henry had laughed together. years of grief and knowing each other too well had taken their toll. but finally, despite their worst fear seemingly coming to pass, they were able to smile again. perhaps it was because they finally had a sense of closure. the wounds could finally begin to heal. whatever it was, diana was CONTENT to curl up in her favorite chair, have a glass of wine, and reminisce with her ex-husband.

       until there was a knock at the door. “who could that be at this hour ? are you expecting someone,” henry questioned, hand tentatively reaching for his gun. diana waved a hand, signaling he should put it away. ❝ let me go check it out. it’s probably just ANOTHER NEIGHBOR welcoming me back. ❞ but it wasn’t. no, instead, what lay beyond that door was the source of another wound: one that was far from healing. as soon as she saw him, her breath caught, her heart pounded. he was here. why ? ❝ jim, ❞ she breathed, ❝ what are you...what’s going on ? how did you even FIND me ? is everything alright ? ❞

       she wasn’t expecting him to be AWAKE before she left, anticipating instead to kiss him goodbye and be on her way. instead, he caught her as she was buttoning the shirt of her uniform. she offered him a smile. ❝ sorry if i woke you. i got a call this morning...i’m heading to chicago for a couple of days. ❞ she slid her hand up and over his chest, ducking in and capturing his lips. ❝ HOW DO I LOOK ? i haven’t worn this thing in forever. ❞

       SHE HATES THIS TOWN. it makes her skin crawl. it seems so quaint and idyllic, but she knows the monsters that literally lie beneath. she takes a breath to steady herself as she walks into the police station, flashing her badge at the secretary and making her way straight to the chief’s office.

       ❝ jim hopper ? special agent pearson. i’m here to talk to you about HAWKINS LAB. ❞

        every rule she’s ever been taught tells her that THIS IS WRONG. she has a duty ( as her mother never fails to remind her ), and their stable hand is hardly an appropriate match. but she wants him all the same. she’s fled the social function she’s supposed to be at and FINDS HIM. the music can still be heard from inside and it isn’t long before they’re dancing. her head comes to lay on his shoulder and she lets out a soft sigh. ❝ my name, dear saint, is HATEFUL to myself, because it is an enemy to thee... ❞ her fingers run through the scruff on his chin. ❝ my lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to SMOOTH that rough touch with a kiss. ❞ she leans in, not quite closing the distance between them. she wants to know he wants her too.

        ❝ may i kiss you, JAMES ? ❞

       ❝ wow. i’ve been in town all of five minutes and i’m already getting a visit from our esteemed chief of police ? i’m flattered, jimmy, and i see PRINCESS JOYCIE didn’t waste any time. i guess some things never change, huh ? she still cowers behind you and expects you to fight her battles for her. unfortunately, i’ve got better things to do than cater to you so SPIT IT OUT and tell me why you’re here ? ❞