Jopper Oneshots

Returning From Hell pt.1

This story takes place just after Hopper is rescued without the crazy Vecna stuff happening in Hawkins.

When they finally entered the room they were assigned by the receptionist, Joyce could read the tiredness in Hopper's eyes. He might not have slept for a few days and the hunger and wounds had finished making him look like a zombie.

"You may at least want to take a shower first," exclaimed Joyce, watching Hopper getting ready to sleep.

He groaned but knew she was right, he was still covered in blood and demodog drool.
He started walking towards the bathroom, thinking about the eight months he had spent in that shithole and realized how much Joyce must have missed him by the way she kissed him even though he smelled like sh*t and hadn't showered for these eight months.

He locked the door and started getting undressed but a simple glimpse of his reflection was enough to give him nausea. His chest and back were covered in bruises and scars caused by the whips and the blows they gifted him with after his capture and during his time in prison.

The bottom of his body wasn't any better, his legs were covered in frostbite and his feet were scarlet red. The skin of his ankles had been rubbed by the chains, unprotected because of the absence of socks. The wound atop the rubbed skin of his right ankle was now infected and dark red.

He felt a panic attack coming and quickly entered the shower where he made the water run. It was hot, nearly burning his skin but he didn't care, he needed to break down without Joyce hearing him.

The pain of his time there and his wounds grew stronger as he fell crying.

He stayed there for a couple of minutes after which he regained control of his mind and his body. He stopped the water and got out; he rolled a towel around his waist, unlocked the door, and walked into the small bedroom he would share with Joyce for the night.

Without saying a word, she handed him the pajamas he put on quickly.

He played down next to the woman who quickly remarked on his troubled face.

"You okay ?" she asked softly.

He straightened up to sit down.

"Yes", he lied."Why ?"

"You do know that you were never able to lie to me, Jim ?" she asked sarcastically, looking at him.

He lowered his look in shame but the woman made him look at her by pressing her finger on the bottom of his chin.

"Hey, you can talk to me. You know that ?"

He nodded silently and thought about how he could explain everything to her.

"I'm not okay, outside as well as inside. My wounds hurt and I want to see the kids, mostly El," he said, holding back the tears about to stream down his face.

Joyce smiled sadly, looking at the man she loved who had suffered so much.

"You'll see them tomorrow. As for your wounds, I can take care of them."

"I love you, Joyce", said Hopper smiling softly.

"So do I", she responded, placing a kiss on his cold lips before standing to get bandages and disinfectant.

Hopper removed his shirt, showing the marks on his back and chest.

When Joyce came back, she grimaced, having almost forgotten about the horrible-looking torso and back of the man.

"It may hurt a bit," she said, worried.

"Believe me, I've been through way worse," he said, smiling.

The spray was cold and it stung a little bit but was still bearable. She stopped and rolled up the bandages around her chest Hopper, covering the infected wounds.

"Is it too tight ?" asked Joyce.

"It's perfect, thank you," he answered with a grimace.

"What is it ?" she asked remarking on his last gesture.

"It's my ankle," said Hopper, pulling off the blanket to uncover his legs and feet.

She covered her mouth with her hand, surprised by the ugly-looking wound before his right ankle.

"Is it because of the ..." she started.

"The chains? No. I did that myself," he informed her.

"But why ?" she asked, nearly disgusted.

"I'll explain everything to you but not right now," he said.

Without talking anymore, she applied the spray and then rolled the bandages around Hopper's ankle.

Then, the two layers are down, replacing the blanket over their cold bodies.

"how are the kids ?" asked Hopper breaking the awkward silence.

"Well, El had a hard time getting used to the new life but lately she's been doing good. She misses her dad a lot though.

"What about the boys ?" he asked, really interested.

"Jonathan is still waiting for his admission letter to go to a university along with Nancy. Will, well the move was hard for him and the trauma from the 4th of July is still visible but El and he helped each other get over the pain. They both miss you; you always were like a father to them."

"I kind of always considered myself as if I was but I'm pretty sure they didn't."

"Of course they did! Remember the Christmas of 1980, Lonnie wasn't there like every year and you spent the two days with us, you even offered them presents. They still talk about that year !"

Hopper smiled, recalling the first Christmas when he hadn't been alone but instead happy since Sara's death. He yawned loudly shortly after.

"Maybe we should sleep now," said Joyce.

Hopper nodded, resting his head on his pillow, looking at the woman he loved, and smiled. She looked at him and kissed him one last time before they both fell asleep.