STRANGER THINGS IMAGINES

Where are You? | Jonathan Byers

Prompt: "Where did you go?"

It was dark when you woke, the room cold and the sheets rubbing against your skin uncomfortably. A cool breeze washed through the small bedroom through the open window, and for a moment you shivered, looking around as you noticed that the other half of the bed was empty, Jonathan nowhere to be seen. You ran a hand through your messy hair before sliding the covers off your body and moving towards the window and shutting it, locking it and pulling the curtains closed.

Jonathan never left the window open, always slept with the door shut and the curtains pulled together. For him, it gave him a sense of security that he was safe and secure in his room, that he could hear if someone or something was opening the window or door, that he could hear the rustling of the curtains and the turn of the door handle.

But tonight was different because the bedroom door was wide open and Jonathan was gone.

You felt the fear pierce through you then as you started to make your way out of the room and into the hallway of the Byers house, creeping quietly as you looked around the old house. Will was staying the night at Dustin's so his room was empty like it should have been. Joyce was working a late shift to cover for another co-worker, so you knew she wouldn't have been in the house either. So that left you, and Jonathan.

The bathroom door was open, so you flicked on the light and peeked in, once again noticing Jonathan was nowhere to be seen. You let out a shaky breath as you stepped into the kitchen and lounge room, which had the lights on, basking the space in a dim glow. The front door was open too, banging gently against the wall as the wind howled outside.

"Jonathan, babe, where are you?" You called out, hoping for a response, hoping for him to just appear in front of your and that him being missing was some stupid prank. But that never happened, and even though you absolutely didn't want to, you started to approach the front door. Your body was shaking, hands grabbing onto the door frame as you walked over the threshold of the house and into the dark night.

"Jon? Are you out here?" You called for him again, glancing at his car parked in the drive and for a sickening moment, all you could think about was the fact that he was gone, that he could have left your or had been taken by someone, by something. And then you were running onto the drive in your socked feet, screaming his name, looking everywhere for a sign of the boy you loved.

Something collided with you then, a large mass thumping into your body and pushing you to the ground as it fell on top of you. You screamed and pushed against it, clawing at it as you felt skin on yours and some rough material catching on your nails. The mass let out a groan before starting to move away from you, but since it was dark you could still only see a form and no distinguishing features.

"Y/N. Woah, sweetheart, it's me. Calm down, babe." The familiar voice startled you as hands came down to grab your wrists gently, pulling them away from his chest to stop your pounding fists colliding with his body.

"Jonathan? What the hell?" You looked closer then, noticing more of his features like his sharp jawline and cheekbones, the feel of the knife scar on his palm against the skin of your wrist. You leaned up then, moving closer to him and wrapping your arms around him much to his surprise. But he didn't wait long to hold you back, running a hand through your hair to soothe your fears. You tucked your face into the curve where his shoulder met his neck and all of a sudden you felt so safe again.

"Where did you go? God, Jon, I was so worried and scared and I thought-".

"Hey, it's okay, I know what you were thinking." He let out a sigh as he pulled himself and you up from the ground, tugging you to him once again as he led you back to the old house. "I'm sorry, I should have woken you. I just needed some air and I thought going for a walk would help." You looked at him bewildered as the both of you stepped into the house.

"Wait, you thought it would be a good idea to go for a walk in the pitch black, in the woods, in your sleep clothes, leave the front door open and not tell me? And with no type of weapon?" He lowered his head as your voice started to rise towards him, and for a moment he looked ashamed. Then he pulled the gun from his coat pocket and looked back at you.

"I mean, I didn't mean to leave the door open, I thought I closed it. And I did take a gun, even if I'm a terrible shot. I just...I'm sorry I made you worry." He apologized then, pressing a kiss to your forehead with a sigh.

"It's okay, Jon. I'm sorry I reacted like that, I just got scared after everything that's happened. Now, how about we just go back to bed?" You took the gun from his hand and placed it back in the kitchen draw you knew he had gotten it from, before taking his hand in yours and pulling him towards his bedroom, flicking off the lounge room light on the way.

"That sounds like a pretty good idea. I forgot how tiring it is to walk in the woods at night." You let out a quiet laugh at his statement as he collapsed onto his bed, pulling your down next to him before yanking the covers over your bodies.

"You know, if you ever need to go for a night walk again, you can always wake me and I'll come. You don't have to go alone, Jonathan."

You rested your head on his chest, wrapping an arm over his stomach as he wrapped his arm around your shoulder and tangled his legs with yours.

"I know sweetheart." And with that, the both of you were falling back into a peaceful sleep cocooned in each other, chests rising and falling softly, safe, secure and oh so loved.

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