[ It's not that Steve's concerned about Jonathan per se. But, you know, their small team of monster hunters (which is what they are, okay) is, well. Small. And the fact that his ankle looked bad hadn't escaped Steve's notice. That, and there was something he just couldn't let lie.
It's not your help that I have a problem with.
Were they friends? He didn't know; he couldn't tell and, anyway, it wasn't like he knew how he felt either. But on the other hand, it's not like he gave much of a shit before when it was someone like Tommy or Franky R, before Carol had declared him persona non grata. Shit, his old "friends" really were assholes and so was he. It was different now though, and it bothered him to think that Jonathan Byers was off by himself in his house, hopefully laid up and letting his stupid ankle rest instead of being a total stubborn jackhole.
Which is why he shows up at the Byers home the next afternoon with a bag of elastic bandages, an ice pack, and a bottle of Advil as well as a couple of VHS tapes from the nearby rental place tucked under his arm. Steve rocks back and forth on his feet for a moment before knocking at the door. ]
[ Sunday afternoon, and Jonathan had spent way too long in bed, feeling guilty that he couldn't get up to make breakfast for Mom and Will. But they're out now, and Jonathan is stuck inside for the time being... Well, there were worse ways to spend the weekend. Mom hadn't lectured him, at least, but he wasn't supposed to go out. Keep his foot up. She'd check on it tonight, and they'd see about school tomorrow. The worst part about this was that he probably wasn't going to be able to develop the star pictures he'd taken last night.
Priorities.
He'd slowly migrated from the bedroom to the living room by the time the afternoon had rolled around, because at least the TV was there, and it was something different to look at. He's got a book next to him, but he's spent most of the time just being pretty bored, flipping through the channels.
And then the door happens and Jonathan starts at the sound, glancing down at his ankle propped up on the other end of the couch, foot sockless and still looking, well, not great. At least the swelling had gone down a little. ]
It's open?
[ He calls out, hoping whoever's there can hear him. Mom didn't want him getting up to answer the door, but he will if he needs to. ]
[ Well, that's good enough for him. Steve shrugs his shoulders and opens the door, stepping in. He briefly glances around the house, chuckling a bit to himself. How many times had they had to clean up this house now? It was amazing how everything seemed to be back in order, like they hadn't lit a demogorgon on fire down that hallway or witnessed a demodog get launched through the window to his right. But then again, that was a testament to Mrs. Byers's tenacity. Well, that and a general group effort to bring back some sense of normalcy.
He spots Jonathan on the couch and gives him a wave with his free hand as he pushes the door shut behind him with his foot. ]
Wow. I'm actually surprised to see you taking it easy there.
[ . . . that's as good as a "hey how's it going" from him, really. ]
[ The house will never be quite the same from everything it's gone through but it's still home. Everyone had pitched in to get things back together, at least, so it hadn't been rough for too long. (Admittedly, he still feels a little guilty about the burn marks in the hallway that hadn't quite faded from the floor.)
Jonathan pushes himself into a sitting position when Steve comes inside. Okay, so he's not sure who he expected but it hadn't really been Steve. Still though? Appreciated. It had been getting mind-numbing in here by himself. And, he doesn't mind Steve's company... As strange as that is to really wrap his head around still.
Jonathan still can't decide what they are. And it's still weird. ]
[ He snorts lightly at that, walking over and setting the bag and the VHS tapes down nearby. ]
Figured you could use some of this crap. [ At that, he gestures at the bag as he tugs a chair over. With a shrug, Steve opens it and starts pulling out the contents. ] Didn't know if you had any of the ACE shit on hand but I went with "no" because it's you. Another ice pack because jesus, Byers, you did a real number on your ankle there. And my personal favorite, of course — Advil.
[ And a couple movies from Family Video — The Last Starfighter and This Is Spinal Tap — but he doesn't mention those. But then again, it's not like he actually picked out the movies himself exactly, so. ]
[ This is extremely thoughtful of Steve? And maybe Jonathan isn't completely surprised given the help he'd gotten last night, no matter how grudging it had kind of sounded at the time. But he can be gracious, and thankful, because like, of course they didn't have ACE bandages. Not that he wants to wrap his ankle right now.
And no, he's not ever expecting (or prepared for) guests. ]
I'm pretty sure we have ice. [ even if he doesn't have any on it right now, oops ] And it doesn't really hurt as much as it did.
[ Well, it just hurts differently? Aching more than anything else... ]
Yeah, I know. But see, this is the shit that friends do for each other.
[ At least, that's how it should be in theory. If he'd tried doing anything like this for Tommy H back in the day, he would've been teased endlessly for it. He already got ribbed a bunch when he'd gone to check in on Nancy after Barb's disappearance. ]
Also, it was either I do this or I tell Dustin and let the rugrats handle it, and I figured you'd probably prefer low-key. Though I really should've let them at you, Mr. I'm-Too-Good-For-A-Flashlight.
[ What friends do for each other. He's not wrong. It's kind of... nice? To hear something like that. It's not really even about Steve saying it, though hearing him say it? Wants to make the idea cement in his own mind. Friends. Jonathan presses his lips together in the faint image of a smile as he ducks his head and Steve continues on - ]
Uh, no thanks. My ankle would probably hurt more. But I get it. I'll take a flashlight next time. If there is a next time. Mom's gonna be the one giving me a hard time whenever you're not.
You know? If anyone else put me in the same boat as their mom, I'd be offended. Fortunately for you, your mom's pretty badass.
[ If there was one thing he'd learned in the past year and some change, it's that Joyce Byers was hardcore and not a woman to be trifled with. He smirks at that as he leans back into his chair. ]
[ He has to return the smirk with his own smile again, because it's true - Joyce Byers is pretty badass. He always believed in his mom but, admittedly, there had been times when he wasn't quite so sure. After all, she was his mom. Moms aren't supposed to be cool, right? ]
I can't deny that.
[ Both, either. Looking at Steve reminds him that, sometimes it's easy to misjudge a book by its cover. Hell, he's victim to that most of the time too, though he kind of welcomes it at this point, because it's just easier, and he doesn't like people anyway.
Steve deserved the judging at first, but now? ]
You might be in the same boat as mom, but at least you can't ground me.
[ Steve probably would, where his mom is a little less severe about that. ]
[ Which would imply that he's spending an extended amount of time here, and that wasn't necessarily what he means, but still. And in a way, that's like a grounding, isn't it? Sort of? ]
[ And yeah, that would imply that, but that's not what Jonathan really gets, either. Just that he gives enough of a damn to shit on him about it. In a friendly way? Because... that's what friends do, right? ]
[ Usually, Jonathan can manage to stay out of enough trouble to make sure that happens. Yesterday was a complete fluke, he'll insist that, for sure. Still, he'd deal with it, if that were to happen.
He glances from Steve to his ankle, and he sort of tilts it back and forth in its spot on the couch, as if examining it. ]
Been trying to keep off of it, but I did make it from the bedroom to here. So let's go with better. But I don't think I'll be running track anytime soon.
Yeah, that's not happening. Hell, you'll get out of gym class for at least a couple weeks with that, as long as you play your cards right.
[ He smirks a bit, chuckling at the mention of a "rude entrance." Because— seriously? ]
Okay, if you call that rude, you clearly haven't seen Dustin busting in there after he's dumped his bike on my front lawn. My dad would have a heart attack — if, you know, he were home.
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winterfish
will dw give you this notification. let's find out.
Date: 2019-08-19 03:13 pm (UTC)It's not your help that I have a problem with.
Were they friends? He didn't know; he couldn't tell and, anyway, it wasn't like he knew how he felt either. But on the other hand, it's not like he gave much of a shit before when it was someone like Tommy or Franky R, before Carol had declared him persona non grata. Shit, his old "friends" really were assholes and so was he. It was different now though, and it bothered him to think that Jonathan Byers was off by himself in his house, hopefully laid up and letting his stupid ankle rest instead of being a total stubborn jackhole.
Which is why he shows up at the Byers home the next afternoon with a bag of elastic bandages, an ice pack, and a bottle of Advil as well as a couple of VHS tapes from the nearby rental place tucked under his arm. Steve rocks back and forth on his feet for a moment before knocking at the door. ]
I am here finally!! sorry!!
Date: 2019-08-20 09:59 pm (UTC)Priorities.
He'd slowly migrated from the bedroom to the living room by the time the afternoon had rolled around, because at least the TV was there, and it was something different to look at. He's got a book next to him, but he's spent most of the time just being pretty bored, flipping through the channels.
And then the door happens and Jonathan starts at the sound, glancing down at his ankle propped up on the other end of the couch, foot sockless and still looking, well, not great. At least the swelling had gone down a little. ]
It's open?
[ He calls out, hoping whoever's there can hear him. Mom didn't want him getting up to answer the door, but he will if he needs to. ]
no worries!!
Date: 2019-08-20 11:00 pm (UTC)He spots Jonathan on the couch and gives him a wave with his free hand as he pushes the door shut behind him with his foot. ]
Wow. I'm actually surprised to see you taking it easy there.
[ . . . that's as good as a "hey how's it going" from him, really. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-08-21 10:07 pm (UTC)Jonathan pushes himself into a sitting position when Steve comes inside. Okay, so he's not sure who he expected but it hadn't really been Steve. Still though? Appreciated. It had been getting mind-numbing in here by himself. And, he doesn't mind Steve's company... As strange as that is to really wrap his head around still.
Jonathan still can't decide what they are. And it's still weird. ]
Mom would kill me if I didn't.
[ For various definitions of kill, anyway. ]
I wasn't really expecting guests though.
no subject
Date: 2019-08-21 11:15 pm (UTC)[ He snorts lightly at that, walking over and setting the bag and the VHS tapes down nearby. ]
Figured you could use some of this crap. [ At that, he gestures at the bag as he tugs a chair over. With a shrug, Steve opens it and starts pulling out the contents. ] Didn't know if you had any of the ACE shit on hand but I went with "no" because it's you. Another ice pack because jesus, Byers, you did a real number on your ankle there. And my personal favorite, of course — Advil.
[ And a couple movies from Family Video — The Last Starfighter and This Is Spinal Tap — but he doesn't mention those. But then again, it's not like he actually picked out the movies himself exactly, so. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-08-25 11:29 am (UTC)And no, he's not ever expecting (or prepared for) guests. ]
I'm pretty sure we have ice. [ even if he doesn't have any on it right now, oops ] And it doesn't really hurt as much as it did.
[ Well, it just hurts differently? Aching more than anything else... ]
You really didn't have to do this.
no subject
Date: 2019-08-25 04:09 pm (UTC)[ At least, that's how it should be in theory. If he'd tried doing anything like this for Tommy H back in the day, he would've been teased endlessly for it. He already got ribbed a bunch when he'd gone to check in on Nancy after Barb's disappearance. ]
Also, it was either I do this or I tell Dustin and let the rugrats handle it, and I figured you'd probably prefer low-key. Though I really should've let them at you, Mr. I'm-Too-Good-For-A-Flashlight.
no subject
Date: 2019-08-26 09:30 pm (UTC)Uh, no thanks. My ankle would probably hurt more. But I get it. I'll take a flashlight next time. If there is a next time. Mom's gonna be the one giving me a hard time whenever you're not.
no subject
Date: 2019-08-27 04:11 pm (UTC)[ If there was one thing he'd learned in the past year and some change, it's that Joyce Byers was hardcore and not a woman to be trifled with. He smirks at that as he leans back into his chair. ]
And good, you deserve it.
no subject
Date: 2019-08-28 10:15 pm (UTC)I can't deny that.
[ Both, either. Looking at Steve reminds him that, sometimes it's easy to misjudge a book by its cover. Hell, he's victim to that most of the time too, though he kind of welcomes it at this point, because it's just easier, and he doesn't like people anyway.
Steve deserved the judging at first, but now? ]
You might be in the same boat as mom, but at least you can't ground me.
[ Steve probably would, where his mom is a little less severe about that. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-08-29 02:22 pm (UTC)[ Which would imply that he's spending an extended amount of time here, and that wasn't necessarily what he means, but still. And in a way, that's like a grounding, isn't it? Sort of? ]
no subject
Date: 2019-08-30 05:58 pm (UTC)[ And yeah, that would imply that, but that's not what Jonathan really gets, either. Just that he gives enough of a damn to shit on him about it. In a friendly way? Because... that's what friends do, right? ]
It's a toss up as to which is worse.
no subject
Date: 2019-08-31 02:39 am (UTC)[ Which one is worse, that is.
He stretches a bit, nodding towards his ankle. ]
How's it doing, any better?
no subject
Date: 2019-09-01 06:34 pm (UTC)He glances from Steve to his ankle, and he sort of tilts it back and forth in its spot on the couch, as if examining it. ]
Been trying to keep off of it, but I did make it from the bedroom to here. So let's go with better. But I don't think I'll be running track anytime soon.
[ He pauses, his hands gathering in his lap. ]
Sorry for the, ah, rude entrance last night.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-09 01:15 am (UTC)[ He smirks a bit, chuckling at the mention of a "rude entrance." Because— seriously? ]
Okay, if you call that rude, you clearly haven't seen Dustin busting in there after he's dumped his bike on my front lawn. My dad would have a heart attack — if, you know, he were home.