Room with a View - [Jopper] ✓

You're a Saint

Joyce couldn't lie, she had been stuck with worse roommates before. Hop on the other hand? He was more like a blessing rather than a curse. Of course, upon finding out she would have a roommate during her stay, she was pretty nervous. She was actually surprised at how helpful Hopper had been in her first few weeks... and it helped that he made her laugh sometimes.

"I bet that when you talk with that on, it sounds like when you'd talk into a fan as a kid." Hopper laughed while he fussed with his Xbox controller. 

Joyce smiled and rolled her eyes as her airway clearance vest buzzed against her. She had to admit, it was a little awkward that the nebulizer in her mouth was making her drool right in front of him, but he didn't seem to mind.

It had been a rough night. Instead of Hopper complaining about the horrific coughing fits she had, he stayed awake to sit with her. He could tell that she was a little rattled since she hadn't had a coughing spell that bad in a while, and not since she had been admitted. 

Hop had even gotten out of bed, helping Joyce flip over on her side before repeating the back patting techniques that he watched her chest P.T. therapist do to her. While she fell asleep after the coughing fit, he stayed by her side for an extra half an hour and rubbed her back. 

When Joyce woke up, she had barely remembered what had happened. She was expecting Hopper to yell at her for coughing all night, but she was rather surprised when the memory started to wake up with her. She felt sheepish when she thanked him, but he simply nodded and their day carried on. 

"C'mon you stupid thing!" Hopper groaned as he continued to fuss with the Xbox controller. 

"What's wrong?" Joyce asked hoarsely after removing the nebulizer so she could talk. She didn't expect her throat to sound so bad, but at least she felt better.

"I'm playing Saints Row. I have to escape this ship but every time I get close to the ending, I crash. Fuck!" Hopper shouted again as he failed the quest to the game.

"Here, let me try." Joyce motioned for him to come sit on her bed while she situated the nebulizer back into her mouth. Hopper shifted comfortably into her bed next to her while she rapidly started pressing the buttons.

"Alright, see that crevice? Flip the ship about 90° and try to fly through it." he pointed to the screen but she ignored him, playing it her own way. Right as she reached the part he continued to fail, Hopper moved in closer to her. 

"How the hell did you do that!" he shouted with joy as she managed to maneuver through the game perfectly. She shrugged as she handed the controller back to him. It was pretty obvious that behind the nebulizer, Joyce was giggling furiously. 

"Damn JoJo, who knew you had the gaming skills." he huffed with shock before a smile grew on his face. 

"My nephew taught me how to play a few games. Whenever I would babysit him, we'd always play." Joyce replied after taking the nebulizer out of her mouth again.

"I bet I'd kick your ass at Call of Duty though." Hop laughed as he got up to switch disks. 

"How about I go down and get us some snacks while you finish up your airway clearance?" he suggested as Joyce nodded.

As Hop made his way down through the elevator and to the cafeteria, Powell and Callahan ran up to him excitedly. "Hop, Jenny is giving us the clear to head out for a little bit. You down for a beer run?" Powell asked, out of breath from running.  

"No. I'm gonna stay back with Joyce," Hopper admitted without taking his eyes off of the vending machine.

"What?" the two asked in disbelief. "Hopper! You never miss beer runs! Now you're staying back with some chick you've known for a month?" Callahan asked with his eyes wide and horrified.