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His vision was fuzzy, his heart rate was slow, he felt relaxed.
~~~
Jonathan had found some of his “purple palm tree delight” given to him by Argyle before left California. He was surprised to find it in his room even after Nancy had supposedly gotten rid of all of it. After he found that he had put it in a drawer. He was a bit stressed out one day, thinking about the future.
~~~
Jonathan sat in his bedroom, feeling alone, but it wasn’t as bad after he had smoked some of what he had left.
Jonathan turns on some music, humming along while sitting on the edge of his bed.
Suddenly he hears a knock on the door.
“Huh.. come in?” He turns his head to look at the door, the door opens and he can see Steve Harrington. At least he assumes he’s actually there, Jonathan doesn’t really know what’s exactly in “purple palm tree delight”.
“Steve..?”
“Byers!” He looks at Jonathan’s current appearance and tilts his head.
“What’s up with you?”
“What are uh.. you.. doing here?” He was so confused of why Steve just so happened to be standing in his room.
“Uh.. we needed to.. bake something for that little party.. thing..? Whatever they are calling it.”
Jonathan had not remembered that.
“Oh shit.” He covers his face with his hands.
“Ughhh… we have to..?”
Steve sits down next to Jonathan and bumps his arm. “Well I’m not good with baking..” Jonathan looks over at Steve with an expression that shows he’s not fully there. “How would I help..?” He mumbled.
“Uh.. emotional support?”
Jonathan leans against Steve’s arm.
“Wow.. ME helping YOU emotionally..? You’ve changed a bit, Stevie~”
Steve shook Jonathan, which made him a bit dizzy. "Shut up, idiot!" he said this in a friendly way though.
Jonathan put a hand over his own mouth, feeling nauseous. "ugh...."
Steve stops shaking him.
"Oh shoot- uh- sorry man"
They both are silent.
“You okay?” Steve looked down at Jonathan who had been staring off while still leaning against Steve’s arm.
“Let’s go.. bake.. uh.. what are.. we baking..”
“I think they asked us to make brownies.”
Steve stands up and grabs Jonathan’s hands to help him up from the bed as well.
“Ok.”
They stay with their hands intertwined for a moment too long. Steve lets go of Jonathan who slowly lowers his hands in front of himself, holding them together.
“Dang I thought you had the stuff, Jon!”
Jonathan walks over to the cabinets and opens them up, not finding the ingredients needed for brownies.
“Uh.. store?”
Steve closes his eyes, taking a deep breath.
“Jonathan, you’re high.”
“You’re gonna leave me here?” He reached out for Steve’s hand but quickly pulled back, standing nervously. He was too nervous, he hated feeling that way while high.
“I guess we can both go, I don’t really mind”
Steve spoke softer than usual. Almost like he noticed how Jonathan was feeling and wanted to make sure he was okay.
They walked into the rain outside, of course it had to be raining. They stepped into Steve’s car. “Jeez..I-It’s cold.” Jonathan shivered.
“Yeah, kinda is.” Steve wasn’t too cold but was a bit concerned seeing Jonathan still shivering slightly.
“Take this” Steve tossed a jacket from the back of the car to Jonathan who had only been wearing a t shirt, he usually would wear a coat over it but he wasn’t exactly thinking straight.
“Oh- ok, ok..” Jonathan puts on the jacket, it feels warm and smells a lot like his friend in the drivers seat. “Thanks..”
“Yeah no problem man.”
When they arrived to “Melvalds General Store,” Steve hopped out of the car and opened the door for Jonathan.
“Cmon, Byers” he tapped the door with his hand. “Yeah.”
They walked into the store and began to look around for whatever it is they needed, probably just a pre-made box. Easier for them, less likely for them to fail.
“Do they even have this here..? Jonathan sounded confused, clearly still not sober from the drugs.
“I mean they should” Steve shrugs.
Steve spots the box of brownie mix at the end of the isle, his hand brushes against Jonathan’s as he walks by to grab the box. Steve holds up the box. “?”
“This is fine right?” He shrugs.
“Cmon let’s go, Byers.” Jonathan follows along to the counter where they pay for the mix. They head back home, the car was quiet. Jonathan tapped his fingers on his leg. “Sorry for.. being like this- I forgot about the party.” He really felt bad, hoping this wouldn’t ruin later.
Steve looked a little surprised at the apology. “It’s fine? I get it.”
“Yeah I just..” he sighs. “I thought I would stop this once nance got rid of what I thought was everything.”
“Jon, do whatever the hell you want. You aren’t with Nancy anymore.”
“…” “yeah. You’re right. I just.. ugh- feel alone sometimes? You know?”
Steve looks at Jonathan closely as he says that.
“Well I mean you’re still friends.”
“But- that’s different.”
“Yeah sure.”
“But also it’s like we broke up but you know people say we’re bonded by trauma? Or whatever that crap is?”
“Buuuttttt you’re not together anymore, Byers.”
“And trauma bonding doesn’t equal a healthy relationship.”
“Jeez don’t tell me YOU still want you go for her”
“No! Of course not!” Steve shakes his head.
“I was just asking questions!”
“Simply. Asking. Questions.”
“…” “yep.” Jonathan felt a little upset thinking about stuff like that, he just wanted someone with him so he wouldn’t be alone. Someone he trusted. Someone he cared about. Someone to love. He doesn’t have Nancy like that anymore.
Steve bumps their shoulders.
“Hey what’s up, Byers?”
“Thinking.”
“About what~?”
“Everything.”
“Well that doesn’t help me help you!”
“You’re trying to help me? Because you’re making me feel stupid for breaking up with Nancy.”
“Jon, I don’t want to argue. Just- ugh let me know what’s wrong so I can help!”
He does a hand motion in front of himself.
“Steve I already told you I guess I just feel alone sometimes.” He almost felt embarrassed saying it again.
“Is there a way I can help with that?”
After Jonathan had saved Steve’s life, Steve was always trying to help out his friend.
“That’d be a little difficult.”
Jonathan didn’t want to admit that he just wanted care and affection and all of that stupid shit. He felt like an idiot thinking he might actually want that from Steve.
“Nah probably not just tell me what you need.” Steve was serious.
Jonathan barely opened his arms hoping Steve would understand what he wanted. What he needs to remember is that Steve is always extremely oblivious.
Steve did not know what Jonathan wanted, he just thought the shorter guy was staring at him awkwardly. Which I guess he was.
“Ok, ya ready to bake these?”
Steve shakes the box lightly.
“Yeah.”
They go into the kitchen, Jonathan reads off the box, listing what they will need.
“We have everything?” Jonathan asked.
“Yeah!” Steve responded.
The boys began to put together all of the ingredients until it made a nice batter to put in the oven for 12 minutes.
There was a bit of a mess on the counters. Steve and Jonathan cleaned up for themselves, accidentally touching arms or bumping into each other occasionally.
“Now we wait!” Steve exclaims as he walks back into Jonathan’s room and flops onto his back on the bed.
Jonathan follows, sitting next fo Steve.
He looks down at Steve’s face.
“Sit up.” Steve is confused but sits up after Jonathan’s request. “You have stuff on your face..” he holds Steve’s face with his hand and wipes off the powder from the box mix. “Ok.”
Jonathan notices Steve’s slightly flustered expression.
“What? Your face was a mess.”
Steve looked away, tapping his leg.
“Waiting. What do you wanna do while we wait?” Steve turned his body to Jonathan.
Jonathan gives a suggestion. “We could.. listen to music? I want you to hear this stuff, it’s pretty good and your music taste is.. something.. you need an upgrade.”
Jonathan plays one of his mixtapes, starting with “London Calling” by The Clash. It had a fun beat, Jonathan rocked his head back and forth. “Good right?”
It wasn’t really Steve’s style, but he still enjoyed the music. “This is good, Jon.”
“Yeah, it is.” He smiles. “I’m surprised you like it.”
The minutes went by as the songs went on, it was 30 minutes later and they smelt burning.. “oh shit.” Jonathan spoke quietly.
“Huh, what’s wrong- OH.” Steve replied.
They both rushed into the kitchen, stopping the oven and taking out the brownies. Jonathan stares down at the extremely over baked brownies. “What the hell.” Jonathan put his hands over his face, “how did I let
this happen!”
Steve wasn’t thrilled with how burnt the brownies were, “damn, we suck.”
Jonathan walked back into his room, flopping face first on the bed.
Steve followed Jonathan, seeing if he was okay. “Uh.. you good?”
“I just can’t believe I messed that up-“
“I mean.. it was kinda a WE thing so don’t worry, Jon.”
“Jeez what’s with the nickname? Also, I played the music and distracted us it’s not your fault.”
“Well~ you shouldn’t blame it on yourself, really, we should blame the music” He shrugs.
“Maybe, I guess so.” Jonathan was still upset that the brownies were burnt.
“We really have to start over..”
he sat up, looking at the ground.
Steve didn’t know why he was doing this, speaking in a calmer tone with Jonathan. Maybe it’s because he feels bad for the past? Maybe it’s for other reasons? He doesn’t even know.
“Yeah, but.. it’s okay” he puts a hand on Jonathan’s shoulder, leaving it there.
“I mean we wasted money for that..I don’t have any on me” Jonathan shook his head.
“Jon! stop worrying. I have a couple bucks in my pocket.” His grip on Jonathan’s shoulder tightens slightly.
“The staff at Melvalds are gonna know we’re idiots who can’t make brownies out of a box mix,” Jonathan looks at Steve.
Steve looks back at him. They stare at each other for a few seconds before Jonathan was smiling slightly. “What are you happy about, Byers?” He laughs slightly, silence between them still. “I don’t know, man.” He shakes his head slightly, laughing a little bit as well. Steve’s hand was still resting on Jonathan’s shoulder.
“Ok we should go get SOMETHING for the party,” he gets up, letting go of Jonathan. Jonathan’s face becomes more neutral when Steve lets go, he feels disappointed.
“Is it cold out?” Jonathan was still sitting on the bed.
“I mean it’s- not really? Why?” Steve was confused.
“Can we walk?” Jonathan suggested, he hoped Steve would say yes.
“Uh.. what? I mean, Jon, it’s like, a 20 minute walk. It could take 5 if we just drive?”
“It’s not that long. Fresh air might be nice..”
“That is crazy for you to say.”
Steve smirked. Jonathan got up off of the bed and headed outside with his friend.
“You REALLY wanna walk there Jon?”
“Yea. It can be fun!..” he smiled. Jonathan kept his hands in his pockets. Not his pockets. Steve’s pockets. He was still wearing his jacket. “Hey where’d you get this? It’s pretty comfortable.”
“I got it at-. well.” He thinks for a second.
“You can keep it if you want, I have other stuff.” Steve gave a thumbs up.
“Really? You don’t have to-“ and then Steve linked his arm with Jonathan. “Take it, man.”
Jonathan had no clue why he felt this way about his once “rival.” He didn’t THINK he wasn’t straight, but he had to admit he found some men attractive before. Not many. Jonathan usually didn’t find people “attractive” until they’ve really gotten close. Maybe that’s how it was with Nancy? No. He would want to say it was. Forget about the photos. He wasn’t doing good during that time. Ever since that incident he’s felt guilty. Though he wasn’t even exactly attracted to her when he took those. He really needs a bond with someone first. Maybe that’s why he now is feeling this way for Steve Harrington. They've gotten close in the last few months.
Jonathan had gone silent, looking up at Steve, down to their arms, and at the ground. He didn’t know what to say.
Jonathan smirked, thinking of something funny. “People are gonna think we’re a couple, Steve.” He says jokingly.
At that comment, Steve panics and tries to pull away his arm. Jonathan doesn’t say anything but he grabs onto Steve’s arm to make sure he can’t go. “Sorry-“ he lets Steve go. “Dumb thoughts.” Jonathan felt stupid for doing that, Steve still hasn’t responded. They both walked in silence. From what was once a comfortable silence, to an uncomfortable one.
Jonathan was regretting his idea of walking, this wouldn’t have happened if they were in the car. “God I wish I was high right now.” Oops.
“What?” Steve quickly replied. Jonathan just stared back at his friend, not having much to say. “Meant to.. say that in my head.”
Steve sighed, “is it really that hard to hang out with me? Steve? Steve Harrington? Hard to talk to? Cmon man.”
“It’s not that.” Jonathan was being very quiet. Quieter than usual. He used to be quiet a lot anyways but recently he had been more talkative with friends. Not today.
“Then what is it?” Steve tilted his head.
“I’m honestly not sure. I guess I’m just making things weird.” The whole situation felt weird.
“We should have just drove, I’m sorry.” Jonathan keeps blaming it on himself. He didn’t really know why he was doing that now.
“Hey, Byers? Don’t apologize-.. there’s nothing you need to apologize for.” Steve watches as Jonathan walks stiffly, hands in his pockets.
“Mhm.” Jonathan still felt bad for making them walk.
Steve stays quiet, but loops his arm through Jonathan’s once again. “Better?”
Jonathan stares at Steve. He wants to say something, but can’t. He just moves slightly closer and keeps walking.
“Do I get the silent treatment or something now? Cmon..” Steve teases.
“I-.. I’m not trying to, dude.” Jonathan didn’t want to mess ANYTHING else up.
“It’s fine.” Steve smirks.
“You’re so annoying.” Jonathan couldn’t help but let out a little laugh.
They kept walking, everything felt so much better now. Less awkward and Jonathan felt less anxious.
They kept walking along, it was the afternoon with lots of people around in town. Since it was still the 80’s, they did get confused looks. Jonathan tried to ignore it, and Steve just looked oblivious anyways. Like usual.
Once they finally made it to the store, the walk taking a few minutes longer than expected, they grabbed a new box and got in line. They waited through the long line.
“There’s a lot of people out today.”
Steve nodded in agreement.
"You seemed stressed in there, Byers?"
Jonathan shook his head.
"Nah- it's alright, just a lot of people in there." He noticed how he lacked Steves arm intertwine with his own.
They walked along the street.
Steve spoke, "you want me to take that?"
Jonathan handed Steve the brownie box, placing it in his right hand. This made the hand that was closer to Jonathan open.
Jonathan smirked, he had an idea. He didn't know if it was a good one but it was worth a shot. "Are your hands full?"
Steve responded confused,"huh? No-"
Jonathan grabbed Steve's hand.
Steve looked at Jonathan's smug expression. "You're so dumb-" But he didn't let go. If anything Steve held on tighter.
The time went by quickly. It felt so quick to arrive at the Byers house.
"We uh- are back.. Already.." Jonathan sounded disappointed. He wanted to keep doing this.. Whatever this was. I mean, brownies wouldn't really take long? Right?
They immediately got to baking once they went inside, they both seemed eager to do something other than baking brownies, both unsure of what the other wanted.
After what seemed to be an eternity, the brownies were finished.
"Hey, Byers! These actually seem pretty good!"
"Really?"
"Yes! Mm- how many can we have?"
"Well.. I think we need at least enough for everyone later.." (it was only friends and family coming for the 'party' so there wasn't much to worry about)
"We could split one?" Jonathan suggests.
"Ehh.. I guess.." Steve pretends to be disappointed. He wasn't really, he couldn't be disappointed with that man who saved his life standing in front of him.
"Well, Byers! We are done. I guess I should go?" this statement made Jonathan's smile fade. "Wha- why do you have to leave?"
Steve looked away, trying not to make eye contact. "I guess I don't have to."
"Why were you thinking about it? I mean- it's fine.. I just.. Thought we were hanging out.." Jonathan felt a bad-weird now.
"I dunno, just didn't know if you wanted me here." Steves statements caused confusion.
"Dude, were we not just having a good time baking..? Did we not.. Hah- did we not just hold hands walking home? I obviously want you here. It's nice to have a friend over."
"Oh- yeah, Yeah! Of course!" Steve gave a thumbs up. “So what do ya wanna do?”
Jonathan thought but it wasn’t really reasonable thoughts of what he wanted with Steve.
“I uh. I’m not.. really sure.” He just enjoyed Steve being there but was worried Steve was bored.
“I mean, I’m not busy. I’m up to everything. ALMOST everything.” Steve smiles.
“Wanna just watch tv?” Jonathan suggests.
He had a certain taste of media but was fine with whatever Steve wanted to watch as long as it meant he would stay.
“If we can have popcorn, yes.” Steve compromised.
“I can go make popcorn, you chose something to watch? That good?”
“Yes it is!” Steve turned on the tv to chose a show or movie.
Jonathan stood by the microwave as the popcorn popped, looking at Steve from a distance, seeing what he would choose to watch. He was zoned out before hearing the microwave beep. He didn’t care about putting the popcorn in a bowl, he walked to the couch and sat down right next to Steve.
The bag was on the other side of Jonathan because he hasn’t had time to move it yet.
Steve reached over Jonathan and stuck his hand in the bag. “I want some~!”
Steve stayed there for an abnormally long amount of time, his body stretched over Jonathan’s. “You gonna grab your popcorn or what?” His face was a little red.
“Mmm.. i actually think I can see the movie better from here.” Steve gets more comfortable laying his head on Jonathan’s lap.
“Uh. Ok. Fine.” His face was burning. Jonathan could feel the weight of Steve’s shoulders and head against him. “You have something in your hai-..” as Jonathan tried to help, he noticed something.
“Oh.. wow.. uh your hair is soft.” He continued to glide his hand through, forgetting about what he needed to do.
“Hey that feels nice can you just keep doing that, Jon?” Jonathan feels weak at the name. “Yeah, I can.
Jonathan continued to gently glide his fingers through Steve’s hair. It weirdly reminded him of a cat. Jonathan chuckled quietly at that thought.
Jonathan noticed his right hand awkwardly sitting beside him. He lifted it before asking Steve something.
“Hey is it okay if I.. uh-“ his hand shook slightly. “If I put my hand on you? Just.. like.. I don’t know-.. never mind.” He pulls his hand back, putting behind his neck nervously.
“I didn’t say you couldn’t. If you want to. Do it.” Steve was just enjoying the movie.
Jonathan slides his arm under Steve’s, resting it against his body. This was so weird.
“Steve?”
“Yea?”
“What are we doing?”
“Mm.. hanging out.”
Jonathan looks down at Steve.
“Steve. This isn’t..”
“What?” He looks up at Jonathan.
“This is more than hanging out I think, dude.”
Steve turns back to the TV.
“Only if you make it like that, Byers.”
Jonathan just sits there, he doesn’t know what to say next.
They watch tv until late at night when it is time to go to the WSQK for a “party.” It wash really a party? Not a big one. Just friends hanging out after dealing with everything.
They both enter, Jonathan putting the tray of brownies on a table with other snacks. He noticed how Steve quickly got distracted talking to Dustin and the others. Jonathan stood around awkwardly, even after all of these years he was still similar in that aspect.
Then somebody spoke to him. It was somebody he didn’t speak to much, he should more, she seems very friendly. It’s Robin Buckley.
“Hey Jonathan!”
“Huh- oh, hi.”
“So you and Steve made these?” She picks up a brownie from the tray and takes a bite.
“They’re good!”
“That’s good!” He worried he was looking bothered when he really wasn’t, just trying to talk.
“We should all hang out as a group sometime, I’ve gotten to know both Steve and Nancy well but.. not you, Jon! Can I call you that? Sorry.” She spoke fast.
Jonathan liked her energy, “it’s alright. And yeah, we should. I would like talking to more people.
Jonathan really wanted to get this thing about Steve off his chest. Should he really with that man’s best friend?
“Can I uh.. confess.. something?”
Robin was scared this was going in a different direction. “Jon, I’m not-“
“What is Steve like when he likes someone?”
He blurted out quietly, looking embarrassed.
“Well.” Robin totally saw where this was going now.
“He~ talks to them a lot, jokes, uh… he’s probably like closer or something? Steve stuff you know.” She shrugs. “Why do you ask?”
Jonathan froze up. “Uh.”
His heartrate sped up, beating rapidly.
He plays with the zipper on the jacket Steve gave him.
“Hold on is that Steve’s jacket?” Robin smirks.
“He.. gave it to me.” Jonathan reveals.
Robin giggles, “oh my god this is great!”
“What?” Jonathan looks a bit concerned.
“I’m gonna be straight forward with this, do you like Steve?”
“Do you?” Again, he doesn’t know much about Robin.
“Ew! No! No offense to him but I think I would rather have to go back to the upside down. No I- I like girls, Jon.”
Jonathan was honestly relieved to hear that? “Oh, that’s cool. Huh. I didn’t know.”
“Want me to talk to Steve for you?”
“I don’t exactly know how he is with you but he can be stubborn. I want to have a talk with him.” Robin pats Jonathan’s arm before walking to find Steve.
Jonathan wishes he could have kept talking to her. That was useful. She’s so nice.
Jonathan awkwardly stands alone with his hands in his pockets.
~~~
Robin rushed over to Steve, ready to interrogate him. “Steeeevveeee~!”
“Whaaaatttt~” He replied sarcastically.
“I have important questions! This is important!! Come on!” She drags him to a corner away from the others, Jonathan lets his eyes linger in their direction every once in a while.
“Ok! Uh- how, how good of friends are you and Jonathan?” She asks quickly.
“I mean.. we’re friends. We hung out today. Uhhh we watched TV for a while. His lap is comfortable!”
Robins jaw drops. “His lap?”
Steve awkwardly responds. “Yea.. his lap?”
“And you enjoyed that? Steve Harrington enjoyed laying on his male friends lap?”
“A lap is a lap, Robs.” He shrugs.
“Might as well expand my options."
As Steve and Robin continue chatting, Jonathan stands nervously watching in the distance.
"shit shit shit shit.." His heartrate picks up.
He didn't want this anymore it was going to mess things up, he wanted friends, friends like Steve. "no no no.." He scratches his hand anxiousously.
He slowly approaches Steve and Robin to stop whatever Robin wa going to do.
"Hey! Uh- guys.. There's uh a- um. Sorry. Jeez I-I uh.." Already as overwhelmed as he was, there wasn't really anything to say. He felt embarrassed.
"I-.. I forgot. Sorry."
As he walks away, hiding his face, whispering to Robin.
"Don't tell him..." He stumbles while heading to the bathroom to calm down.
"Huh..? What's his deal?" Steve looked slightly worried, Which Robin noticed.
"I er.. I dunno. I was just chatting with him!" Robin smiles.
"He doesn't.. Like you ri-"
"Yeah he doesn't." Robin shakes her head.
"Hm.."
~~~
Jonathan stands by the sink, splashing water in his face.
He has been in there for a few minutes now.
~~~
"Er.. Check on him?" Steve suggests.
Robin nods and follows
~~~
Jonathan hears knocking on the door
"Jonathan?" he heard Steve's voice.
Fuck he feels like a teen again.
~~~
"Jon what's wrong..?" Steve is worried when his friend doesn't respond."
"You seem worried, Stevie?" Robin says smugly.
"Robs, shut up." He obviously isn't really mad at her, just hoping Jonathan's okay.
~~~
Jonathan hesitates for a moment before shitting off the sink and opening the door, actually calmed down.
"Hi guys, sorry about that."
"It's okay Jon!"
"Don't worry, Byers." Steve and Robin spoke at the same time.
Steve couldn't help but feel slightly weird with Robin saying that nickname. He liked that they got along of course. Obviously. He just wanted Jonathan to know it was supposed to be important when he said it.
"So.. What were you doing?" Steve was accidentally pushing Robin out of the conversation which he hadn't noticed but Jonathan did and he felt pretty bad because of it, even though she didn't even look upset, just smug.
"I just needed a minute to relax, I started feeling overwhelmed for some reason, it was stupid." He felt like he was bothering Steve by telling him this.
"I mean, I don't think that's stupid. Whys that stupid? That happens to everyone sometimes!" Steve moved slightly closer, almost just to show he was there and cared about what Jonathan was talking about.
"Yeah but that happens to me like.. All of the time."
"Well. I mean. There's nothing wrong with that. Well! Yes, you may feel a bit shitty.. But I mean, hey, it's still okay to feel stuff like that!"
"I mean I don't want to do that and resort to using weed, y'know?"
"Whats stuff that helps?"
"Uh. I mean.. Just.. Laying in my room listening to music.. uh. Hugging a. Pillow.. I guess." This was embarrassing.
"Nancy helped when she was around a lot, but I can't really do that now."
"And earlier? On the couch? That was like.. Stressful but also not? I don't know how to explain it it was good though." He was trying his best to explain that without confessing much. It was kind of difficult to.
"Jeez Jon, I uh. Here-"
He puts his arms around Jonathan, who had tensed up immediately.
“Should I have asked?”
“Nah, you’re fine.” He hugs Steve back.
Robin watches from a distance.
“Aw you guys are so cute together.”
She says teasingly.
Neither of the guys say anything in response but she can see a slight smirk on Jonathan’s face.
Robin walks away to go talk to Nancy or something.
“Steve this is great.”
“Yeah.”
“I want like.. more of this..you know?”
“I.. agree.” Steve felt a bit nervous, he usually wasn’t when talking to people he liked. Usually just thought they were attractive and asked them out. That was it. This was deeper than that.
“So good? We’re on the same page? Yea?”
Jonathan wants to make sure everything said was what he had thought.
“Well I believe so, Jon.”
~~~
The next day, Steve laid in his bed, still being surprised from yesterday. He wanted to call Robin.
He rings the phone and quickly gets a response.
“Heeeeyy~ Stevie. Is this about Jonathan?”
“Maaaybee.. how’d you know?”
“Well I mean I saw you two yesterday and you’re usually quick to bring that stuff up.”
“Shut u- ugh. You’re right, but yeah, what do I do??”
“Do what you do with the other people you date, I don’t know dude.”
“No because I usually just am nice to them for a bit, we have sex, and they leave me. Also with that second part, I don’t think he’d want to do it, seems like more of the cuddly type. Yesterday he seemed to always be near me.. I mean it was nice! Just not what I expected.”
“Do you.. WANT to have sex with Jonathan?”
“I mean. If I. If I get with him.. then.. maybe that’s something I could do. In the future though. Also, what if he doesn’t even like me like this? What if it’s just he wanted to be better friends?”
“Steve, that didn’t look like a ‘better friends’ thing. Plus.. I may have talked to him before hand. He’s totally into you, dude.”
“Huh. Really?”
“Yeah. Really.”
“Gosh.. thanks Rob.”
“Of~ course.”
They end the call.
Steve sits by the phone for a minute or so before dialing Jonathan.
The phone rings and nobody picks up.
Steve decides to leave a message.
"Hey, Jonathan. Hopefully you uh- listen to this? But I just wanted to ask if I could come over.. Later.. Or something.. Just answer whenever ya can. Bye."
For some reason that felt so hard to send? What would they do if he came over this time? What will they do?
A couple minutes later, the phone rings.
"Hello?"
"Hey Steve" Jonathan answers.
"Oh! Hi!!" Steve smiles.
"Sorry I didn't pick up, I was in the shower.. Uh.. You can come over whenever I'm not really doing anything."
"Really? Okay, is like right now fine??"
"Honestly.. Yeah! Sure."
"Ok! Bye! See you- uh- soon!"
Steve ends the call, puts on his shoes, grabs the keys, and heads out the door.
~~~
About ten minutes later, Jonathan hears a knock on the door. He opens it and sees Steve staring at him, smiling.
"Hi Steveee.." he grabbed his friends hand and dragged him into his bedroom.
"How uh.. How was your night?"
"It was good.." Steve smirks. "Missed you though." he reached out at Jonathan, putting his arms on both sides of Jonathan who is sitting on the bed.
"Jesus, Steve-" he grabs one of the arms for a moment before letting go, they keep eye contact for a few seconds.
Jonathan pulls Steve towards him, his legs around Steve's waist. He moves his face forward, kissing him. Steve pushes Jonathan onto the bed, continuing to kiss the other man. They eventually take their faces apart from each other, both breathing heavily.
"You're a good kisser, Byers.." he says between shallow breaths.
"I know." For some reason being with Steve like this made Jonathan feel more confident.
Jonathan pulls Steve into another kiss, this one being more pationate than the last. They were so lost in this kiss, not noticing that Will had came home along with Dustin to go grab something for a session of DnD.
The two older teens hadn't noticed Will and Dustin passing by the open door. The younger teens looked at each other in shock.
Dustin couldn't help but make a comment.
"Harrington?!"
Steve pulled his face away from Jonathan's.
"Holy shit! Get out! It's rude to invade privacy or something!"
"Well you shouldn't have left the door open, dumbass." Dustin rolls his eyes.
Will laughs slightly in the back, clearly still in shock.
Jonathan still had Steve in his grasp, not letting go. "Can you close the door?"
Will spoke up, "Dude- this is..crazy." He's still laughing quietly.
"Do NOT tell anyone about this, I am serious." Steve says, mostly staring at Dustin.
"We won't, we won't." Dustin sighs.
"Have fun being gay or whatever!" he shuts the door.
Jonathan honestly just wanted to get back to what they were doing. He knew Will and Dustin wouldn't judge them anyways, there was nothing to worry about. It was a little embarrassing but not as bad as it could be. What if it was someone like Joyce? Hopper? NANCY? he chuckles at the thought.
"Dude, what if like. Nancy walked in on us like that.."
"That'd be insane. We should have something like that happen.." He speaks into Jonathans ear with a low tone of voice.
"Mhm."
They got back to making out on Jonathan's bed. After a bit they had fully gotten on the bed rather than just standing and sitting. They were all up in each others space, it felt so god damn good.
they kept changing positions. One Steve happened to enjoy was with one of Jonathans arms on his waist, the other on the back of his head, and his knee between Steve's legs.
"This good, Stevie?" Jonathan keeps a wide smile on his face.
"mm..." At this point Jonathan just needed to accept how fucking hot Steve looked like this. He was looking into Jonathans eyes desperately, it's a good think he hopes.
While still kissing Steve, Jonathan let's the other man rub up against his knee. It was both painful and pleasurable to Steve. As their kissing intensifies, Jonathan moves his leg, feeling like it might hurt Steve if he kept it there. Steve let's out a small whimper when Jonathan moves his leg out of the way.
They eventually let go of each other, now just laying on the bed beside one and other.
"Jeez should have just done that instead of punching me in the face when you did."
Jonathan sighs,"I mean I guess now the think that you said about me being queer isn't wron-"
"Jon, please.. Forget about that? What I said was fucked up- I changed- I"
"I know..? You okay? I won't talk about it anymore I just.. tried to mess around-..?"
"Yeah. Mhm. Okay. Sorry."
They laid together, staring up at the ceiling, Jonathan eventually turned to Steve.
"Was all of that good? You liked it?"
"That was.. Fuckin' amazing, Byers. We didn't even.. Y'know.. And it was amazing."
Jonathan feels flattered, a smile forms on his face. He also feels a little nervous now.
"You would want to do that with me?"
"Of course! I think..! I mean if you want to.. LIKE not right noww but.. Y'know, just.. When you want to. We can."
"Okay, Steve."
~~~
It is now night time, Steve has gone home. Jonathan keeps the door closed. He's just sitting on his bed reading a book, eating some chips. Nothing much.
There's a knock on the door.
"Can I come in?" It was Will.
"Hm? Yeah." He sits up and turns to the door. Will walks in and closes the door behind him.
"So.. What's with you and Steve?"
"That's a uh.. Good.. Question. I honestly don't even really know, it's confusing."
"I didn't know you.. Also.. Like guys."
“I mean.. it’s like.. something I think I’ve known for most of my life- well, I also didn’t like that many people.” He chuckles.
“And.. you didn’t tell anyone? Or.. you weren’t worried about it?” Will questions.
“Uh.. no, not really. It wasn’t something that I was really concerned about. I uh- I dunno.
“It’s easier to just not tell anyone, just let them find out if they need to. I mean, with who I’m friends with I don’t think they’d really care, y’know?” Jonathan is fidgeting with his hands.
“Yeah, yeah. I get that.” Will nods.
“Well, I suppose I will wait till tomorrow. For now he can be in my dreams.” Jonathan laughs, his eyes gazing into the distance.