Two Hearts (Joyce Byers x Fem Reader)

Danger

You were sitting on the couch at the Byer's family home with just yourself there alone.

Joyce had taken Will to Dr.Owens again, and you decided she would be safe with Bob and Hopper down at the lab.

She had convinced you to get some rest while she gets Will taken care of.

And, eventually, you complied.

Jonathan was somewhere, probably at his girlfriend, Nancy's house.

You were asleep on her couch, awaiting her return when all of a sudden you hear the house phone ring.

You wake with a start, jolting up to answer it, "Hello?".

You hear a familiar voice on the other end whisper, "Y/N? Y/N is this you baby?".

"Yes?" you reply.

It's Joyce's voice but she sounds scared, terrified even, and her voice is constantly cracking with fear.

"Joyce? Joyce, what's wrong?" you ask.

"The demodogs... they're in the lab... Hop, Dr.Owens, me and Will are stuck on some floor and Bob went to go restart the power but... If I die. Just know that I love you, okay?" she responds.

"J-Joyce! Joyce what are you talking about?!" you exclaim.

"Listen to me. I love you, okay? I love you so, so much. I just hope I'll come back home to you safe and... if Will makes it out, take care of him for me, alright?" she asks.

"J-Joyce, no! You're not gonna die! I'll be there ASAP!" you promise.

"No, babe! It's too dangerous! Please, just promise me you'll take care of my baby! Please..." she murmurs through the phone.

You cave.

"I... I'll take care of Will.".

"And Jon?" she asks.

"Yes. Of course. I'm heading there now, Joy." you say softly.

"Y/N! No, it's infested! Please, sweetheart!" she says desperatly trying to stop you.

But you're having none of it.

"I love you, Joyce Byers. Never forget that. Now, here I come.".

You hang up the phone before dashing out of the house and to your car, speeding towards the lab.

Every second matters.

And you fully intend to make those seconds count.

But if you get there and Joyce isn't...

You shake your head clear of the thoughts as you begin going almost 100 miles an hour.

You know you're passing the speed limit, but it's an emergency.

So, you keep your foot pressed on the gas until you reach the lab.

You practically leap out of the car...but... you're too late.

All you can see is blood on the front doors of the building.

You gasp.

It must be Joyce.

You sprint into the lab, pistol drawn.

You scream, "Joyce?!?! Joyce where are you?!?!".

You look around.

The blood is from Bob, who is dead, and activley being feasted upon by a demodog.

It's a horrible scene.

You aim and shoot at the monster, killing it after a few shots.

"Joyce???" you yell again.

You turn around in circles, looking for your girlfriend until you see a closet open.

Hopper emerges and your body tenses up again.

As he walks out you whisper, "Where's...?".

Then, Joyce nervously steps out from behind Hopper.

As soon as she sees you she runs into your arms, embracing you tightly as she cries into your shoulder.

After a second though, she tries to go back for Bob who is now about to be raided by several more demodogs coming through the hall.

She sobs as Hopper shoots at the monstrosities.

You pull Joyce close to you, guiding her out of the building as she resists, desperate to save her friend.

Once you're out and into the parking lot, she gives up and wraps her arms back around you.

"I-I-I saw him.... I saw him die.... I was so scared." she whimpers.

"I know, Joy... I know... Shhh, shh, shh." you whisper, stroking her head gently as you make eye contact with Hopper, who is coming out of the building as well, locking the door behind him.

Will is beside him, shaking.

"I'll take the boy home. You take care of Joyce." he istructs.

You nod, cradling Joyce between your arms.

She sputters as she sobs into your shirt.

"Sweetheart, sweetheart... It'll be okay. Come on, get in the car. It'll be okay." you promise her before taking her into the car.

She sits quietly in the passengers seat beside you as you start the car.

You begin to drive.

She speaks not a word for a while.

"I... I... you saved us." she whispers.

"No. Bob did. I was just the cleanup crew." you reply.

Your little joke gets a small smile out of her as you park in front of her house.

You both get out of the car before you grasp her hand, leading her inside.

Hopper must still be on his way here, so you take her to your bedroom.

She sits down on the edge of the bed as you drape a blanket over her shoulders.

She grasps the edges of the soft material as you kneel down in front of her.

Joyce looks down at you, tears in her eyes and her nose red.

"Do you need anything?" you ask.

She shakes her head.

"Joyce, it's not your fault. It's okay to cry." you promise.

She sniffles, "But I didn't pull him out of the way. I could have. But I didn't realize quick enough...".

"No, babe. Nobody has that kind of reaction time. You did what you could. I know you did." you reply.

Tears fall from her eyes as she asks, "Maybe but... are my baby boys okay? Are they coming home?".

You nod, "Will is fine, and Jon is at Nancy's house or something. They'll be home soon but in the meantime, if you need anything and I mean anything, I'll be right here.".

She pauses for a moment before she whimpers, "Please just hold me.".

You do as she asks, standing up and lifting her into your arms, crawling to the end of the bed where the headboard is before laying down and placing her into your lap, cradling her.

Cocooned in her blanket, Joyce closes her eyes in your warm embrace.

You stroke her cheek gingerly with one hand while supporting her head with the other.

She cries in her sleep the whole night, but you're there to wipe all the tears away until eventually, the two of you fall asleep together, Joyce in your arms.