Two Hearts (Joyce Byers x Fem Reader)

Tape

After Will returned home a few hours ago, Joyce figured it would be fun to look over the video of Will trick-or-treating.

So, she snuck into his room and took the tape from the camcorder before putting it into her TV.

You two sit on the floor, backs against the couch, watching the TV together as it begins.

First, you see Joyce, waving Will away as he begins to bike down the trail to a nearby neighborhood where eventually, he meets up with his friends that you recognize on the recording as Dustin, Mike, Lucas, and that Max girl.

Joyce skips ahead a small bit to the part where her son actually begins to trick or treat.

As he and his gang walk down the road, somehow he gets separated from them.

You and Joyce watch side by side as a few masked kids around Wills age begin to bully him saying things like "Haha! Look at the Zombie Boy!".

One of them pushes him and he falls to the floor with a soft whimper.

Joyce sits up as you watch Will walk away sadly.

She freezes the frame, pausing on it.

She runs to the kitchen, leaving you on the floor of her living room, seething in anger upon replaying the bullying scene in your head over and over again.

How could someone say that to such a sweet, innocent kid like Will?

Soon, Joyce returns, sitting on her knees in front of the TV before holding up a thin piece of paper against the screen.

You watch, curious, as she traces a shape onto the paper.

Once she finally finishes, she brings another piece of paper out from her pocket, unfolding it and placing the two drawings side by side.

She gestures for you to come look.

You crawl over beside her, looking between the two papers.

The one Joyce drew is almost identical to the other one.

"What... What are these?" you ask.

"Will... Will drew this the other day... His friends and him call it the Mind Flayer. They say it takes him over sometimes. Look, they're identical..." she begins, "Whatever this monster is... it's real. See, look.".

She points to a small outline on the top of the TV screen.

It's in the shape of several long tentacles attached to a body in the middle.

It looks just like Joyce's drawing and Will's.

"What do you think is happening, Joy?" you ask.

She shakes her head, "I-I don't know... But I've been telling Hopper about Will's weird drawings and Hop says he knows a guy that can try to help.".

"Who?" you inquire.

"A guy called Dr.Owens. He works for the lab...but he doesn't know we were the ones that broke in... for all he knows someone random saved Will and we just received him." she says.

"That sounds risky, Joy." you whisper.

"Well, I'm willing to take as many risks as it costs to get my little boy healthy again." she replies.

You sigh.

"You're not gonna let up, are you?" you ask.

She shakes her head, "Never. Are you gonna help me get him there in a couple days, Y/N?".

You nod after a few seconds, "Fine. You're my girl. I'll come with you.".

She smiles, "Perfect. Come to work with me tomorrow so we can discuss more.".

You nod, "Of course.".