Jopper Oneshots

Hard Life [Angst]

"MAYBE THIS ISN'T MY FAULT. MAYBE IT'S YOURS!" She yelled.

"NO, JOYCE! NO, IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT. BUT IT SURE THE HELL ISN'T MINE. MAYBE IT WAS CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST!"

"YOU CAN'T JUST DENY ALL RESPONSIBILITY YOU BASTARD! YOU'RE... you're acting just like Lonnie used to."

He had been trembling with anger before that sentence, but that emotion was quickly replaced by guilt. He hadn't meant to... to... act like that sick bastard. Hopper sighed. "Joyce, Joyce, I'm sorry. But you shouldn't go picking fights with me. I can make your life difficult."

"Wow. I wonder what it would be like to have a difficult life," her voice was dripping with sarcasm.

"Okay, that's not fair, Joyce. I shouldn't have said that. But you are not the only person who's had a rough life!"

"You act like your life has been sooooo difficult. Please."

"Joyce. You're taking it too far. And anyways, you haven't been through half of what I've been through."

"Have you been in an abusive relationship? Have you lost your child, told that he was dead, called crazy, only to find out that you were correct? Have you seen somebody you loved eaten by something from another dimension?! No, Hopper. You haven't."

"Have you watched your child die and known that it was your fault? Have you fought in a war? Have you gotten captured by Russians and tortured for eight months, Joyce? HAVE YOU?! Did you get stuck in the Upside Down and nearly die? Did you sell your soul to the government to keep somebody you loved safe?"

"Wh-what? When? Hopper, you never told me you were working with the government."

"It was the only way I could get you away from Brenner and go look for Will that night. What were you expecting me to do, let you suffer?" They locked eyes and she was the first to look away. He took three steps forward and hugged her. "I'm sorry. This was my fault." She started to say something, but he cut her off. "No objections. This was my fault." She buried her head into his chest, and he didn't think that she knew that he knew she was silently sobbing. He simply hugged her tighter, not knowing anything that would make it better.