Work Text:
Dealer!Jonathan comforting Steve Harrington.
{Set after all the events of Season 4.}
Steve was laid up against Eddie’s van. The tire, more specifically. He was stoned off his ass, seeing stars. His blood shot eyes, glossy, fell off to the side to look at Eddie. He was taking a piss off by a tree.
“Eds.” Steve called out, slurring Eddie’s nickname. He started smacking his lips together softly. His mouth felt dry, like a desert. He felt like he could feel every crevice of his mouth.
“Yeah, Harrington?” Eddie zipped up his old black jeans and started walking back to the other. He tripped over a branch, which sent him stumbling against the van. This cause both the men to go into a fit of giggles.
“Do you have a bottle of water?” He said between giggles, snorting now. He took a puff of his ‘Purple Palm Tree Delight’ and dragged his eyes to look up at Eddie.
Eddie wasn’t there. It was like he disappeared into thin air. Steve giggled again and sagged his head. Eddie must’ve went to fetch him some water. He stomach started to feel heavy. He felt a lump swell up in his throat, so he stood up and ran off into the woods. Stumbled was more accurate. He got pretty far in and started to retch. His hand found purchase on a tree as he bent over and began to puke. He heard a faint noise in the distance. He chalked it up to animals running around or Eddie coming to find him. He stayed bent over, trying to get everything out of his system. Never mix kush, meds, and cheap beer. Noted.
“Anyone out there?!”
It sounded like a young voice. Not too young though. Like.. a young man. Early 20s, like Steve.
The foot steps got closer. Steve slid down the tree, laying his head against the hard bark.
“Eddie?” Steve mumbled out, he could just make out the outline of someone though his foggy Vision.
“Steve….?”
ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ
Steve all but fell off the couch when he jolted awake. He looked around, frantic. His heart felt as if would explode. He had cold sweats. His breath was erratic and shaky. Eyes still blood shot.
“Dude. Are you alright?”
Jonathan’s slightly lanky frame came into view. He sat a cup of brown warm looking liquid on the coffee table. He crouched down in front of Steve’s shaking posture.
“Where’s Eddie?” He breathed out, glancing around.
Jonathan went still.. his voice caught. His eyes saddened, unexplainable pain related from his to Steve’s eyes.
“Steve. He’s still gone.” Jonathan’s hand reached out and laid his hand to on Steve’s knee in comfort.
Steve froze and dropped his head into his hands. Right. The Upside Down. Vecna. The Bats. The accident. His death.
“I shouldn’t have let you have that stuff, Man.” Jonathan mumbled, running a hand through his own shaggy hair. “I thought it’d ease the pain, not send you into a depressive spiral.. that got you stumbling out in the woods.. puking your guts up… hallucinating Eddie.”
Then, he noticed how Steve’s frame was shaking. Choked sobs erupted from Steve closed lips. Tears dripped down his bare arms.. leave trails of wet pain in their wake.
Goddamnit.
He stood and pulled Steve into a tight hug. He felt Steve break into his arms. A single tears left Jonathan’s eyes as he ran his hands through Steve’s hair.
He’ll help Steve heal through this. He swore on his love for him that he would.
As Steve raised his head off Jonathan’s shoulder, he saw Eddie.. He stood there waving, laughing. He dropped his head into Jonathan’s shoulder letting another wave of tears hit him.
“I just want it to go away. Please Johnny.. make it go away.” He mumbled, choking on his own sobs again.
“I wish I could. I really do..”
They sat there, in one another’s arms.
Jonathan wishing for Steve to heal. To be happy again.
Steve wishing Eddie would just leave him be.. or come back in the flesh. To see him one last time.
The real him.