Jopper Oneshots

Trauma Memory [Angst & Fluff]

Joyce was staring at the wall, eyes fixated on nothing, mind blank and coffee cold. The TV droned on in the living room, playing an advertisement for Coca-Cola. The annoying jingle barely registered to Joyce's mind, the music and words swirled together to make background noise. The soft rain pattering against the wooden boards that covered the hole in the wall contributed to the noise.

The telephone rang and it startled her out of her trance. She panicked, thinking that maybe Will figured out how to call her again or Hopper had some information or a lead, maybe even her kid. She pushed out from the chair too quickly, it slammed into the wall and she fell to her knees. Joyce scrambled to stand and rushed over to the phone praying that she wouldn't miss the call. She caught it before it went dead. "Hello?" Her voice was filled with worry and sounded shaky.

"Uh... Joyce? Are you alright?" He was concerned at how scared she sounded, like something was wrong. "Is everything okay?"

"You know damn well that nothing is okay! My son is missing, Hopper! MISSING! Do you have any leads? Anything at all?! Please, I can't lose my son, Hop!"

"Joyce..? What are you talking about? Did Will go missing again?"

"Again..? He was never fou- oh." Everything came flooding back. Will had been found three months ago. He was probably fine, since he was hanging out at the Wheeler's. "I'm sorry to bother you."

"Bother me? No! I called you." He listened to her breathing and he could tell that she was crying. "I'm on my way, Joyce." The line went dead before she could protest. She hadn't even asked him to come over, to comfort her, but she liked the idea of it.

When she opened the door, she stared at him for a moment. He gazed at her as well, somewhat surprised. Her breathing was ragged, tears were still flowing from her eyes and leaving streaks, and she was trembling. He stepped closer to hug her, and she collapsed into him. He shut the door with his foot, then sat down with her. She sobbed into his shoulder, arms wrapped around his torso. Her body shook, wracked with sobs.

"Shh~ It's okay, Joyce. I got you. It's okay Joyce." He gently patted her back, hoping to calm her down. "This happens sometimes. It's alright." Her breathing began to slow, the tears no longer flowing as much. She quit trembling after a minute and hugged him tighter.

"Thank you." He hugged back.