Chapter Text
Steve and Jonathan were never the best of friends.They never truly saw eye to eye. Then, one day, running away from the billionth monster attacking Hawkins - or so it seemed, anyway, there were so many these days - Steve’s shirt got ripped. As everyone assessed how everyone else was, Jonathan caught a glimpse of Steve’s chest under his shirt, and the faint, neat scar right under his pec. Jonathan’s eyes widened and his heart leaped, and his gaze met Steve’s, who looked just as surprised. A hand quickly moved to cover the rip, but it was too late. Steve knew Jonathan had seen it. Now his secret was out there, wasn’t it? Jonathan had no reason to protect Steve.
As the group walked away, finally safe, Steve stalled, walking slowly next to Jonathan.
“Uh, Jonathan?” he hesitated.
“Yeah?” the other replied, knowing what was coming.
“I don’t know what you saw… but whatever you think you did see, it’s not what you think, okay?”
“I saw nothing, man. Don’t worry.” Jonathan mumbled. “Really.”
Steve knew that was a lie. Of course Jonathan had seen something. But that was him telling Steve his secret was safe, which he was grateful for.
Over the years, Steve had kissed many mouths. More than a handful of people prided themselves over getting into his pants. The truth, though? No one ever did. He doesn’t know who started the rumor, but now he had this reputation of being a womanizer. When his face got pale if anyone even insinuated they wanted to touch him. Being a stealthily transgender man in a small town like Hawkins? During the times he lived in? Absolutely terrifying. It was already bad enough that he had to go to Chicago for his annual medical checkups, because the doctors there weren’t gonna tell anyone he knew, and they didn’t truly care. Patient confidentiality didn’t really exist in Hawkins if you weren’t part of the majority.
A few days later, Jonathan went to the Wheeler house to pick Will up. To his surprise, Steve was there. He had gone to pick Robin up. She had been spending a lot of time with Nancy lately, and she didn’t drive. So Steve came to the rescue.
The other man was leaning against his car, and greeted him with a nod. Jonathan reciprocated the gesture, walking towards the house. He entered, calling for Will. He heard his younger brother downstairs, asking for five more minutes. Jonathan acquiesced, going back outside. He leaned against his own car. Steve stared at him for a few seconds, then smiled.
“Always popular, the Wheeler house, huh?”
“Yeah.” Jonathan gave him a small chuckle.
After a minute or so, Steve spoke up again.
“I know you saw it. My… scar. Why didn’t you tell anyone?” his voice was hesitant. A bit shaky, lacking the usual confidence that was always present when he talked to Jonathan.
“I don’t know what it is about…” Jonathan started.
“Bullshit! You’re smart. I know you know. So… Why?”
“It’s… Not my place. None of my business.” he paused, considering what to say next. If he knew about Steve, it was fair to level the playing field.
“And we have more in common than you might think.”
Steve looked confused for a second, then his eyes widened.
“What? How- When? You?” he mumbled.
“Ah, no. I didn’t get the surgery. Can’t afford it… and mine… you know. Aren’t big. They’re well hidden. Baggy shirts do the trick.”
“You’re not binding all the time, right? You could faint.”
“Hah, no. I haven’t touched my binder in ages. Just on special occasions.”
Before they could keep chatting, Will and Robin left the Wheeler house, talking to each other.
Jonathan leaned closer. “Come by one day. We should talk about this more. I’ve never… met anyone like me.”
Steve nodded, a surprised look still in his eyes. Then they went their separate ways.
A few days later, there he was. Steve Harrington was knocking on the door to Jonathan Byers’ home. Luckily enough, neither his mom nor his brother were home. He opened the door with a hesitant half smile. “Come on in.”
Steve followed Jonathan towards his room. The door closed behind them, and Jonathan sat on the edge of his bed. Steve was too fidgety to consider sitting down. Driving there had already been torture.
“So… I suppose the transgender population of Hawkins, Indiana is all in this room right now?” he tried to joke.
“There might be others… Never saw one, though. So, as far as I’m concerned, it’s just you and me.”
“What are the chances that Nancy Wheeler only ever dated two trans dudes?”
“Should be low! But here we are.” Jonathan smiled. It was a rare occurrence, for him to smile at Steve. Steve decided he liked when that man smiled at him. His chest felt funny, but he chalked it up to nerves.
After some more seconds, Jonathan spoke up.
“But dude… How are you stealth? I mean… You hooked up with half the girls in Hawkins High. Even Nance.”
“That’s the thing. I haven’t. I have no idea who started it. We just… Made out. I have never done it. I’m terrified of someone spreading it. Me and Nancy… Second base only. You?”
“We did it. She knows… It was nice. But, you know. We didn’t work it out. Still friends, though.”
“Was it weird?” Steve asked. Then he shook his head. “Sorry. Personal question. Nevermind.”
“It felt good.” Jonathan replied. Steve looked even more surprised that he was willing to share that with him. “Won’t give any details, though.”
Steve chuckled, shaking his head again. “Fair enough. I just, I don’t know, I get paralyzed at the idea of someone seeing… Down there.”
“You want that complicated and expensive surgery, then?”
“Nah, too experimental. Too new. And… I like myself. I just don’t like the idea of others seeing it. You know, people who aren’t like us.”
“Oh, for sure. It’s scary as hell, isn’t it? I managed it that one time, but I don’t know if I can bare myself to someone else again.”
The hours went by as they talked, sharing experiences, finally having someone to relate to. Then Steve asked what had been on his mind.
“How do you even get the testosterone? I know it’s expensive as hell.”
“The owner of the drugstore is a childhood friend of my mom’s. He knew how important this was. So he gives me a nice discount.”
“That’s nice.”
“It is. It helps a lot.”
After that day, they started hanging out more. And Jonathan started realizing he quite liked Steve’s company. Something about their shared experiences made their past disagreements (to say the least) melt away. A few years ago, he would’ve never believed he’d become such close friends with Steve Harrington. But, well, a few years ago he wouldn’t have believed that something like demogorgons existed. So, whatever.
One night, Joyce was at Hopper’s, Will at Mike’s. And what was more and more usual these days, Steve was at Jonathan’s. They were lounging on the bed, a song softly playing on the radio. Jonathan was reading something when Steve spoke up.
“You… Only like chicks?” he said suddenly.
Jonathan’s heart rate picked up almost immediately.
“Back in school, there were rumors… Since you were never with anyone.”
“Ah, man. If anyone else asked me this I’d mumble an excuse. But you know stuff about me no one else does. So, no. I’m into men, too. You?”
“After graduating… After talking to Robin… I’ve come to realize I like men. Exclusively. And even if I come across a guy who likes other guys, he will probably reject me, right? Because of… Y’know.”
“Dude, don’t say that. You’re attractive, you’re fun to be around. I doubt what you got in your pants would make anyone hesitate.”
“...Did you just call me attractive, Byers?”
Jonathan froze. Steve had the biggest, cockiest shit-eating grin he had ever seen plastered on his face.
“You know what I meant!” he stuttered.
“Nah, Byers. I don’t. Did you mean that? I got a pretty face?”
“A pretty good face for punching.” Jonathan retorted, but even that couldn’t stop Steve. His eyes were sparkling.
“C’mon, admit it!” he was kneeling on the bed now, poking Jonathan’s side.
“Never!” Jonathan laughed as Steve kept poking him. “Stop it, Harrington!”
As Jonathan tried swatting him away, Steve dramatically threw himself on top of him, going limp as he laughed. Jonathan managed to take control, rolling both their bodies until he was on top of Steve, straddling him, cheeks red with effort and laughter. Steve was smiling up at him. And God, he would’ve hated himself for thinking this just mere months ago, but Steve looked so good. Without thinking, he leaned in, connecting their lips in a quick kiss. When he got back up, Steve’s eyes were wide.
“Woah…” he mumbled.
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have-” Jonathan started.
“Hey, hey. It’s okay. I liked it. But it was too quick. May I get another one?” His smile was almost hypnotic.
Jonathan had no choice but to nod. Then he leaned in for another kiss.
It immediately turned more heated. Turns out years of hating someone to then becoming friends to then bonding over being trans did wonders. Jonathan’s tongue swirled around Steve’s, and he felt breathless. He was as good of a kisser as everyone always said. Fucker.