Stonathan ❤️

43

NOT MINE!!

all credits go to mummifiedgoose on ao3

"There's a van outside." Dustin announces with a tired type of fear in his voice as he peaks through the blinds of Eddie's trailer. It's enough to have all of them on their feet immediately, even Steve who still feels a bit too wobbly. Then Dustin's voice turns to confusion, "It's a.. pizza delivery van?" He amends.

They all still stand there, confused but on guard. "Scoot over.." Max says, pushing Dustin aside to look out the window as well. A second later they both shout, in perfect unison, "Mike!"

"Wait, hang on-" Lucas says, squishing in beside them to confirm, "And Will!" He says with a gasp. And before anyone can stop them the trio is out the door, focused only on seeing their friends.

Steve wants to shout after them, that they should be more careful, something. He can't bring himself to. And Erica is trailing after them, Robin raises a hand as if to tell him she's got this and follows after, Eddie close on her tail.

Nancy, ever the observant person she is, provides balance to him when he nearly falls trying to go after all of them and she carefully guides him outside.

Once outside, he's greeted with the welcome sight of Mike, Will, and El piling out of yes, a pizza delivery van, and rushing to reunite with their friends.

He can tell Nancy wants to go to her brother when he glances at her and sees the tears in her eyes. "Go on, I'm okay." He assures her and she whispers a thank you before removing herself from his side and rushing to Mike. Steve stays upright, leaving heavily on the railing that leads to the trailer.

Coming out of the driver's side of the van is a guy Steve doesn't recognize with some of the best hair he's ever seen and a totally out of it grin on his face. He doesn't get the chance to dwell on him for too long before he sees him.

Rounding the front of the van, and coming to stand by the aforementioned unknown individual, is Jonathan. He's looking around frantically, out of breath and worked up, a stark contrast to all the happy and relieved emotions going around. And then he locks eyes with Steve.

"Steve!" He shouts and begins running over, closing the space between them. Steve wants to make his way towards Jonathan but he stumbles the second he goes to take a step and Jonathan catches him and holds him back up, "Holy shit! What happened to you? Should you be standing?" He asks frantically, his eyes wild.

For some bizarre reasons this calms Steve. Jonathan cares about him and it means the world. He grins at him, "Oh you know, got dragged into the Upside Down, got chewed on by a couple bats, the usual." He knows he looks like shit. His hair is sticking to his forehead, he's still coated in layers of blood and grime, wearing only his jeans and Eddie's vest, sporting some real bandages that weren't made of Nancy's clothes. He can't bring himself to care about it too much. Even if this is the first time he's seen Jonathan since they moved forever ago, he can't care about his appearance. Because Jonathan is standing in front of him, fussing over him much like Mrs. Byers tends to do, and he seems tired but he's okay and all the worst case scenarios have left Steve's mind as the feeling of being cared for washes over him.

"That really feels like more than the usual." Jonathan laughs humorlessly as tears well in his eyes. Steve hates that.

"Really, I'm fine," He says and reaches with the hand not steadying himself to wipe away an escaping tear, "I'm strong, you know that."

"You shouldn't have to be."

"But I am," Steve supplies, "And you're here and now it's better." Steve can't deny that he gets mushy around Jonathan. There's just something about him that makes Steve melt, that turns him into a silly romantic. He likes the way Jonathan makes him feel. He runs a hand through Jonathan's hair. It's much longer now.