Jopper Oneshots

Café [Fluff]

They walked into the café together. There was a 2 person line, so Joyce and Hopper waited. As Hopper searched the menu he decided on a black coffee and a slice of pumpkin bread. He then realized that he had no idea what Joyce's coffee order was. "Hey Joyce? How do you want your coffee?"

"Black. Like my soul."

"Joyce, your soul is a latte. Pick one." She punched his arm, only half playfully.

"I still want a black coffee. And my soul is not a latte."

"Yes, it is. You are the kindest person ever. You've been through so much, and yet you're still the incredible Joyce Byers that I know and..." he muttered something indecipherable.

"I... Thank you, Hopper. That means a lot to me." She paused. "Wait a minute. What did you say at the end?"

"Nothing, Joyce. Nothing at all."

"No, Hopper. You said something about me and I want to know what it is. Please?"

Hopper sighed. He didn't want to tell her then, not in public, not like that. He realized that he shouldn't have said it out loud and regretted it. "Joyce... I- This is hard to say... I..." There was no way to say this right, not then. He just couldn't form the words. "I... Joyce-"

"Hopper, just say it."

"Hello. Can I get your order?" The lady at the desk asked.

"Hello. I'll have two black coffees and two slices of pumpkin bread." She nodded. The screen read $8.17 so he gave the lady a 10. She disappeared into the kitchen after giving him the change. Hopper led Joyce over to an open table and as soon as they were sitting Joyce started up with the questions again. "What did you say? Tell me, Hopper."

"I said that you're the incredible Joyce Byers that I know..."

"And?"

"And love. Okay? Are you happy now? I said that you're the incredible Joyce Byers that I know and love. I didn't want to say it in a place like this, but yes, Joyce. I love you." The lady called them for their order and he stormed off to go get it. He was nervous that he messed everything up. He didn't want to lose his best friend all because of something he didn't mean to say. He gave her the coffee. "Do you want this pumpkin bread?" She nodded, so he handed it to her, then sat. They enjoyed the coffee and bread in silence.

"Hopper... I love you too." The softly spoken sentence took him by surprise after such a long bout of silence between the two. He played that phrase in his mind, then did a double take. 'She loved him too?' He froze, not sure what to do.

She put her hand over his, squeezed, then smiled at him. He smiled back, genuinely happy.