#stongyle

He takes another sip of his bitter lukewarm coffee, eyes watching Argyle carelessly dump a basket full of clothes to his feet, abandoned it seems for whatever unserious conversation they were about to be having. Jonathan continues to drink while Argyle takes an empty seat beside him at the Wheeler kitchen table. It's pretty late into the morning. Everyone's either left to volunteer, visit Max's hospital room, or figure out this whole Vecna thing going on. Jonathan and Argyle got to stay at the house, their turn to do chores like piling laundry and unclogging both the bathroom and kitchen sinks, everything more overworked with more mouths to feed and shelter in one shared space.

"Nah, man, today's a certified holiday!" Argyle insists, wagging his finger around and crowding into Jonathan's personal space, their knees bumping and thighs touching. "It's 4/20! Today! Ultimate holiday ever!"

"4/20?" Jonathan scrunches his face, officially downing the last drivels of his coffee. He's honestly never heard of it. Seems like just a normal day to him, but Jonathan's not the one to be on the up-and-up on trends, surrendering to his premature curmudgeonly old man tendencies without fuss. Argyle smiles goofily at him, his staring full of endearment causing the eldest Byers brother to gulp nervously at the warm gaze. "Is there a reason why this mysterious date is so important?"

Argyle deviously chuckles at that inquiry and digs in his pocket, procuring a girthy, thick and long doobie nestled betwixt his thumb and index finger. One that Jonathan's never seen since he started smoking daily as a semi bad habit. Looks like Argyle's been holding out on him.

"Forgot you're not originally a Cali boy. Here ya go." The Purple Palm Tree Delight 2.0 is handed to Jonathan carefully, their fingers brushing and jolts are briefly sent through his body, head to toe, from the touch. Argyle must've not felt it, either that, or he doesn't let on. "Lemme explain! This is my special, extreme, awesome, totally cosmic strain of our favorite lady Mary Jane, good sir, good man! I've been saving it just for this exact moment!"

"Just for 4/20, huh?" Jonathan's still confused and none of his questions have been truly answered in a clear, concise way, but that's usually how their dynamic goes. Argyle speaks halfway insanely or philosophically while Jonathan pretends to follow until he can piece it together in afterthought.

"Yessiree, my guy!" Argyle chirps, zealously nodding his head, his hair flying about prettily and Jonathan's hand itches to tug at it or play with it. "Later on this evening, we're gonna smoke. Okay!"

"Okay.... But we always smoke, though." Jonathan really wishes he elaborates. The coffee isn't helping his brain declutter. "What's the difference now, again?"

Argyle grabs at Jonathan's shoulders, staring intensely and pointedly. "We'll be smoking my most sacred strain, duh! That's why this upcoming smoke sesh is different! It'll be monumental! Historical! Magical even!"

"And you saved something that potent, not just for this, uh, weed holiday, but also cuz you wanted to smoke with me specifically?" Jonathan fights back a blush at the consideration. Argyle's very picky about his weed and who gets to have some. Clearly this day and his special strain meant a lot to him, and he's willing to let Jonathan be a part of that experience.

"Yeah. How many times do I have to say it? You're my best friend. I wanna do things with you." Argyle hasn't let go of his shoulders yet, the pressure of his hands on him has the eldest Byers son sweating.

Jonathan's heart thumps loudly in his chest and he stutters. "Oh. Yeah. Sure. Yeah. We can do that, then. We'll smoke it together."

"Ah! Wait! Hold on, Jonny Boy." Huh? Jonathan's back to being confused, and a bit flustered at the nickname.

"It won't just be you and me, dude." It won't?! Jonathan's not sure who else would join them during their hazy recreation. He feels himself deflating at Argyle's words that they won't be alone. Odd since it's not like it should really matter. There's more pressing matters afoot.

"I tried to get Nancy and Robin to hang, but they gave a hard no. Which is crazy cuz you'd think they'd need it the most being all jumpy as they are. Especially Nancy. She's so wired, dude." Argyle's referring to how Jonathan's girlfriend hovers over Mike, almost smothering him, that Vecna vision she had screwing with everyone's heads. "So, the only other person showing up is gonna be that guy Steve."

The name barely registers in his mind. Argyle invited Steve. Steve? STEVE?! When has Jonathan's best friend and his briefly former bully ever interacted in these past few months? As far as he's concerned, Argyle tended to stick beside Jonathan's, Will's, or El's side - not too keen on the other Hawkins teens - all of this newness of Midwestern (apocalyptic) lifestyle overwhelming for the easygoing California native.

"Steve?!" Jonathan squints, eyes focusing on Argyle's lips to confirm he heard that correctly. Definitely not just noticing how moisturized and enticing Argyle's lips look right now.

"Yup! S'not a problem, right? We both bonded over our gorgeous manes the other day, and how we preserve it in like, uh, um, whad'ya call it, the end of times or whatever. You know he uses Farrah Fawcett Spray? Amaaazing, right?! Who'd have thunk!"

There goes Argyle rambling on while Jonathan's mercilessly chewing the inside of his cheek in alarm, enough that it gets raw and metallic bloody. His world splitting open and crashing down just like Hawkins merging with the Upside Down. He's never thought there would be a day he'd hangout with Steve Harrington of all people. At most, they were acquaintances, having the same taste in women and protective instinct for the younger kids. They would see each other in passing and smile, cordially greet with a hey or hi, and split off to their own separate inner-groups until the next awkward small talk. For months now, Steve and Jonathan stayed in their lanes while Nancy and Robin acted as the go-betweens of communication for the older teens, the girls having grown closer in Jonathan's absence during Spring Break, but apparently Argyle's been secretly chatting away with Steve behind his back. Which, is like, okay, it's not like he's possessive of Argyle or anything, but Steve already has Robin. He has a best friend. Why's he talking to Jonathan's best friend Argyle?! Why is Argyle, who claims Jonathan's his only friend, about to share weed with Steve?!

"That's cool with you, right? Steve showing up later?" Jonathan realizes he tuned out way too much and absently nods in agreement. His biggest mistake, but no take-backs, unfortunately. "Oh, sweet! We'll be like the three amigos! Right on!"

"Damn." Jonathan quietly sighs while closing his eyes in discomfort, Argyle unaware of the blooming tension.

Steve and Jonathan will never be just "amigos". Too much history between them to just be considered that. They weren't quite enemies, though. In fact, Jonathan doesn't know what to define his relationship, or lack of, towards his girlfriend's ex and best friend's new pal. He decides to put off his mixed feelings about the whole ordeal, helping Argyle with the laundry like originally planned.

****

Steve's buzzing with energy as he slathers globs of peanut butter on sandwich bread at the volunteer center. He's going to hangout with Argyle and Jonathan in an hour, his skin tingling at the mere thought of finally being around other boys his age. No offense to Robin or Dustin, but Steve can't really go full unhinged in their presence. It's not like he isn't comfortable around them, but Steve missed Eddie dearly. He missed Eddie kind of like how he missed douchebag Tommy. He missed having male friends not consisting of solely Dustin, and he mourned for the lost friendships of the past, whether it was the unlikely comradery of freak Eddie, or even the parasitic one of asshole Tommy. Steve gets really lonely at times, especially if Robin or Dustin's not available. His two main sources of socialization having other options besides him (Dustin's always had the party to rely on and Robin's either been running off with Vickie or Nancy these days, both leaving him behind).

Not even the pastime of picking up chicks has soothed the bereft hole in his heart. He's hopeless. That is until he randomly struck up a conversation with Argyle the other day. Usually, the Californian isn't by himself, but as Nancy and Jonathan had pulled off somewhere to discuss privately, with Robin busy talking to Dustin, Steve took a chance at making small talk (something that's been proven unsuccessful whenever he attempts with Jonathan). For a minute, Steve thinks birds of a feather flock together, assuming Argyle's going to be just as cagey and closed-off as Jonathan, but's it the opposite. Argyle's very friendly and they get on a conversation where both compliment the other's lovely tendrils of healthy hair.

"Man, I wish I had something to take the edge off." Steve says honestly, tapping his foot like a jackrabbit, hands on his hips. "My folks really upped and left. They got the hell outta here. Wanted me to go with them, but... Well y'know... I like being around the kids and um.. Robin and everyone than my own, uh, parents."

"Oh." Argyle has no judgment laced in his tone. He's very receptive and Steve's less anxious because of it. Something about Argyle has his tense shoulders sagging. "Sucks they just left you, dude."

"Yeah. I-I know. So, what's your story?" Steve probes, gesturing to Argyle's laxed posture. "How long you staying for? Since, y'know, you're not from here."

That's how Steve found out Argyle's truly just along for the ride. He doesn't get much information out of him. Where's Argyle's parents/Why haven't they put out a search party for him yet/Is he allowed to cross state lines with that much weed on him? Argyle's an enigma, but Steve's seen and heard worse. He kind of adores Argyle's unknown background. It's not threatening like the common things of his hometown.

"That Jonathan Byers is something else, am I right?" Steve whistles before laughing at the ridiculousness of it all. "I, too, got swept up in the madness by visiting his house."

"It's a part of his charm, I think. Picking up boys." Argyle tacks on and now they're both laughing at Jonathan accidentally ensnaring them in his web of crazy shenanigans.

Because of that simple talk, Steve's got a ticket to not only hanging out, but also the hookup to primo weed. He doesn't know what makes his buzzing energy shake his body and tingles his skin tenfold. Maybe, it's the promise of taking the edge off, or the promise of being near Jonathan without Nancy present. Maybe, it's just Jonathan Byers getting high around him for the first time and Steve can't wait to see it.

*****

Argyle compares Jonathan and Steve to two skittish alley cats he's seen back home, no one knowing if they're on the verge of fighting or cuddling, as starved stray felines do. They're all in the back of his van. He's sitting in the middle, with Jonathan to his left, and Steve to his right. Argyle pulls out his trusty lighter, clicking on the flame, and lighting the doobie. He pretends not to notice that Jonathan and Steve are sneaking glances at each other. Well, Jonathan's sneaking glances properly. Steve, bold as he is, blatantly eyes Jonathan like he's taking him in, like Jonathan's an art piece being scrutinized by either stuck-up or enamored critics.

"Who wants to do the honors?" Argyle tries to break the ice. Geez, he knew these boys didn't have the best repertoire with each other, but last he heard, Jonathan and Steve reconciled their differences.

Jonathan wordlessly takes the doobie, popping the end in his mouth, and smokes deeply, inhaling for an impressively long time. Argyle grins, proud that he's taught his student how to handle the strong potency of California's homegrown choice herb. Steve has his jaw dropped, entranced that Jonathan, once Hawkins resident weirdo, looks actually cool puffing-puffing-passing the doobie to Argyle to start a rotation.

"Fuck. California made you interesting, Byers." Steve admits with a tone in his voice that's bordering smitten and Jonathan blows out the smoke clumsily, slightly choking because no way did Nancy's ex just compliment him?!

Argyle pats his back, giggling at Jonathan's blunder. "I'd say my special strain was too powerful for you, big guy, but I'm pretty sure you just didn't expect Steve's kind words to make ya shy."

"I'm not shy!" Jonathan recants at the same time as Steve breathlessly asks, "I'm making you shy, Byers?"

Argyle's giggling turns into raucous hollering when Jonathan glares evilly at them, and Steve's innocently unaware of how he effects his ex's current boyfriend. They begin the rotation. Jonathan to Argyle to Steve. It's normal for Jonathan to share with Argyle. It's abnormal for Jonathan to share with Steve. He hates leaning over a red-eyed, giddy Argyle, to receive the doobie from Steve's grasp. He hates how their fingers slightly and gently caress. He hates that Steve's a better smoker than him, despite all the times he's practiced and done this with Argyle in Lenora. Steve never coughs or wheezes or gasps like Jonathan did in the beginning, getting used to the strain effortlessly. It's annoying and unfair and bothers Jonathan severely.

"Wow, this stuff's great, Argyle. What the hell was I smoking before?" Steve takes a lengthy drag.

Argyle slumps over to Jonathan, resting his head on Jonathan's shoulder. "Pure garbage, man. But don't worry. I'm here to provide and supply the utmost high."

"Whoa, that rhymed." Steve's voice is drowsy, a yawn ripping out his throat. "You should totally write songs or something."

"See! This is what I was telling Jonathan! Musicians sound better high as a kite." He can't stand to watch Argyle and Steve relating to one another.

Jonathan, in a rare fit of jealousy, pushes Argyle off his shoulder so he's toppling over Steve's lap. To his chagrin, the boys with the best hair, find it funny and cozy, Steve threading fingers into Argyle's dark silky hair to stroke it without second thought. Argyle makes Steve's lap his personal pillow, encouraging the impromptu scalp massage, and giving Jonathan a thumb's up of appreciation.

"Thanks, brochacho. This way is so much more comfy. Isn't Jonny Boy smart and attentive?"

Steve lifts his clouded gaze to an exasperated Jonathan. "Sure is. He's a helluva guy."

Jonathan hurries to inhale more, puffing more smoke into his mouth and throat and lungs. He's not high enough because being the center of both Argyle and Steve's undivided attention is very, very exhausting. He's positive his heart will give out. He ignores how Argyle and Steve complain that he's hogging the doobie. Who cares about them? Honestly, Jonathan needs it the most. He's got Nancy, who looks at him with huge soft eyes, blown pupils so wide he can see his reflection in them. Argyle and Steve's eyes sometimes do that, too. Act just like Nancy's; huge, soft, blown pupils - a look of unadulterated love.

He doesn't know exactly what he did to get Nancy or Argyle or even Steve to look at him like that. Joyce told Jonathan once, that he's a good boy and people want that, want someone good in their lives, but he chalked it up to a mother being doting like usual. Of course Joyce would say that, she's his mom, but now Jonathan thinks there's some truth in her words, somewhat. Not many people want him, but in this hotboxed van of misty Purple Palm Tree Delight 2.0, Jonathan's mind has been temporarily enlightened (Well, Argyle did claim it'd be a magical high). He's got three people charmed by him. Only one of the three he's dating. The other two are boys who've found a way to be in his orbit despite all odds.

He passes the doobie to Steve or Argyle or whichever one his hand glides across. Jonathan scoots closer, taking Argyle's abandoned spot to be right up next to Steve. He's hesitant and he's certain if he wasn't high, he wouldn't even attempt this, but the weed's mellowed him out tons. His body feels like it has no bones, like he'll be a melted puddle, and he's going by intuition than by logic. So, Jonathan stares at Argyle and Steve being physically affectionate, and in the safety and privacy of the van, he places his head atop Steve's shoulder. He's surprised to find Steve not tensing or pushing him away. He's even more surprised when Steve wraps his free hand on the side of Jonathan's face, balmy fingers interweaving through his hair just like he's doing to Argyle's.

Jonathan sighs contentedly, nudging his face further into the crook of Steve's neck and shoulder. He can smell Steve's pungent cologne, some musky earthy sandalwood which complements the scent of the weed haloing them. He can feel Steve tilt his own head towards him. Steve's cheek resting at the crown of Jonathan's head, propping him up. Argyle places the almost gone doobie in his lips again and smiles toothily. He observes Steve's half-lidded eyes while Jonathan's full on shut his, on the brink of sleeping.

This is pleasant. All three of them being touchy-feely like this. Jonathan still doesn't know what Steve is to him if not friend nor enemy nor acquaintance nor mere comrade. That's fine, though, he doesn't need the details. Nothing needs to be categorized or set in stone as of current. He'll take a page from Argyle's book and not overthink. All he knows is that at this now, Argyle and Steve are the only things that matter, and that's a good enough answer for him, to calm him down.

He's back in Hawkins after all, stuck in Hawkins actually, and if anything, for Jonathan Byers to endure it once more, he wanted to be high for this.

____

Finally, finished this like omg thanks for reading! Stonathan x Jargyle x Stargyle have my heart. Jonathan deserves a lil harem considering the lengths Argyle and Steve have done for him, y'know? Let the first daughter Jonathan get taken care of sometimes. Anyhoos, I'm a multishipper so Jancy's still in tact, but Jonathan should have bfs just like Nancy should have gfs. That is my truth and I'm sticking to it!

@cluelessbees thanks for encouraging me when I was in my half-sleep daze yesterday. I got it out!