Chapter Text
Spring 1970
New York City
Oo-wee babe you set my soul on fire
That's why I know you are my only desire
Oo baby, here I am, signed, sealed delivered, I'm yours
-Stevie Wonder
For the first time in a long time, Jim Hopper didn’t question his vital status. He didn’t actually believe himself dead, but muted colors and the ever-growing hedge surrounding him raised frequent suspicion. If anything, he compared himself to the man in the tinfoil hat, not quite knowing what to believe about reality. When he walked through the doors of Harrison Elementary School, however, that all changed. At least, for a little while.
“What seems to be the problem?” Jim grunted as he walked into the school office.
“Good afternoon, Officer,” the principal greeted him. “There’s been a bit of an altercation between two fifth graders, and—”
“What kind of altercation?” Jim glanced at his watch. “You know the NYPD has more important matters to attend to.”
“Of course, sir. But these boys got in a fight, and I believe one child’s nose is broken—”
“Have you called the parents?” Jim interrupted.
“Of course I have, and we will suspend both of them. But I want a police report just in case one or both parents decide to follow up legally.”
Jim sighed, squeezing he bridge of his nose. “Fine. Where are they?”
“Right this way.” The principal led Jim to his office where two bloodied boys and their teacher sat.
“We’re sorry, sir. Don’t arrest us!” one boy begged.
“I’m not—” Jim paused, reconsidering his tactic. “Yeah, you better be sorry. Because I had to haul my ass over here to deal with you two when I could be catching murderers on the street. So if someone gets murdered today because there’s one less cop out there—”
One boy started crying, and the other elbowed him, whispering, “Don’t cry, you baby.”
“Excuse me!”
Both boys straightened up.
“I’m gonna file a police report like your principal asked, but I don’t ever want to see your faces again. Understand?”
“Yes, sir,” they both said in unison.
Jim glanced up at their teacher. She sat, hands clasped together in her lap, fidgeting with the skirt of her navy dress. Probably uncomfortable. Jim had that effect on some people. She looked about his age, twenty-seven, give or take a couple years. Her curly, blonde hair fell past her shoulders, and Jim noticed the faint gray in her blue eyes as they darted up to meet his. He cleared his throat. “Mrs.—”
“Miss. Miss McAlister.”
“Miss McAlister, I’m sorry for all the trouble these boys have caused you. I’m sure it won’t happen again.” Jim shot the boys a look, and they nodded, wide-eyed. “I’ll just need you to tell me what you witnessed, and then you can go back to your class.”
The bell rang while Jim took down information. By the time he finished and talked to both boys’ parents, almost no one remained in the building. As Jim walked out to his cruiser, he drew in a breath, gritting his teeth. “Fuck,” he muttered. Someone had slashed all four of his tires.
At that same moment, Miss McAlister exited the building, heading to her car. She stopped when she saw Jim, noticing the tires. “Oh, that’s not good.”
“Not good? Yeah, I’d say this is fucking terrible,” he shot back.
She laughed, the last thing he expected. “Okay, you’re right. You need help?” She walked over to stand beside him.
“Miss McAlister, I highly doubt you could—”
“Diane.”
“Diane, I don’t know what you think you could do to help. I’ll have to get this towed.”
“I could at least give you a ride back to your station,” Diane said. “That way, you won’t have to wait around here. I know you’re a big cop and all, but it’s not exactly the safest place to loiter.”
“That’s nice, but but you don’t have to do that.”
“I want to. It’s the least I could do for having you come deal with this today. I know you have better things to do.”
Jim chuckled. “Believe me, I do. But hey, it was kind of a nice break from dealing with muggings and arson and all that shit.”
“It’s gotten worse, hasn’t it?”
“Oh, yeah. A lot worse,” Jim said. “Even since I’ve gotten here.”
They continued to talk as they got into Diane’s car. “How long have you been here?” she asked.
“Three years. All the way from small town Indiana.”
“Oh, that’s…exciting.”
Jim snorted. “Actually, it’s not. How long have you been here?”
“My whole life,” Diane answered. “Since my great grandparents. My parents still live here. Well, off in the suburbs, now. City’s getting too dangerous, they said. What made you decide to move here?”
Jim stayed quiet for a moment, considering his response. “Um, well, I couldn’t think of anyplace better to disappear.” The silence grew uncomfortable as Jim tried to correct the situation. It’d been a long time since he’d really talked to someone. “Uh, turn here,” he said. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to get all personal and shit.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“This is me,” Jim said as Diane pulled her car up to the police station. “Thanks for the ride.”
“No problem. I enjoyed meeting you, Jim.” Diane smiled, her mouth crinkling at the corners. “Hey listen, if you wanna finish our conversation, I’m free tonight.”
Jim grinned, probably a little too eagerly. “Yeah, actually that sounds great.”
“When do you get off?”
The two exchanged numbers and agreed to meet up at a bar close to where they lived. As it turned out, they didn't live far from each other at all. When Jim got off work at six, he rushed home to shower, shave, and change into a slim-fitting navy shirt and jeans. When he found he had a little extra time, he tidied up a bit, just in case. She’s an elementary school teacher. She’s probably not going to want to—but maybe? he thought. Since he and his girlfriend of a year broke up six months prior, Jim’d had a few dates and hookups, but nothing that struck him as worth pursuing. But he felt drawn to Diane in a way that he hadn’t felt drawn to anyone in a long while.
When he met her at the bar, she had changed out of her teaching clothes and into a tight red sweater and flared jeans. “Long time, no see,” Jim joked, then regretted the cheesiness of it. She laughed. A good sign. They found a seat and ordered drinks. Jim offered Diane a cigarette, which she accepted. “So how is it that you’re a native New Yorker and so…”
“Friendly?” Diane asked.
“Yeah. One of the appealing parts of New York for me is that no one wants to know anyone else’s business. People leave me alone.”
She shrugged. “I dunno. When I’m teaching, I’ve gotta develop relationships with the kids if I want them to trust me. I suppose that carries over into my interactions with adults.”
“Makes sense,” Jim said.
“So how is it that you’re a tough-guy cop, handling the baddies all day long, but right now, you’re nervous?” Diane asked, her lips floating into a smirk.
Jim huffed, shifting in his seat. “Nervous? I don’t know where you get that.”
“Mmhm, sure.” She smiled. “So what’s with the weird, indirect comments about wanting to hide and all that? You murder someone or something?” Diane’s eyes grew wide as she realized what she’d said. “Wait, maybe—never mind.”
Jim slumped forward a bit. “It’s okay. Yeah, I suppose I have.”
Diane reached her hand across the table, putting it on his arm. He’d been dead for so long that when she touched him, just that hint of a spark lit his body ablaze. “I’m sorry. You’re a cop. That was a stupid thing to say.”
“‘Nam.”
“Excuse me?”
“Vietnam,” Jim said.
“Oh. Of course.”
“That’s all I want to say about the matter.”
“I understand.”
“No, you really don’t, but it is what it is.” They sat in silence for a minute before Jim spoke up again, this time a bit more strained. “So tell me about you.”
“Well, I told you I grew up in New York. I have an older brother and sister. They both live in the state, just not the city. I’m twenty-six. Teach fifth grade, and have been since I graduated from NYU. Um…broke up with my boyfriend of two years two months ago today, so I’m kinda looking to get my mind off of it, you know?”
“Yeah, I broke up with my girlfriend six months ago. We were together for a year.”
“Relationships, right?” Diane smiled.
“Yeah, right?” Jim grinned back.
They sat and talked for another hour, mostly about their jobs, interests, and a little about growing up. Diane lamented that she was the last of her friends to get married, then shrugged her shoulders, saying, “Who needs it?” They were all pregnant and bored, anyway, not out in the workforce and having fun with handsome men. Jim frowned a little at her use of men, but he admired her carefree attitude.
Suddenly, Signed Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours came on over the sound system. “Oh, I like this song. Wanna dance?” Diane asked.
“Now?” Jim asked, but Diane had already grabbed his hand and pulled him to an area cleared of tables where a few other people danced. She placed his hands on her hips and her own around his neck, guiding him along the dance floor. “Aren’t I supposed to be the one who leads?” He smirked.
“So lead.” She gazed up at him and bit her lip. He pressed his fingers into her lower back, urging her closer, their torsos flush against the other. He could feel her breasts press into him, sending a jolt of electricity to his groin. Jim leaned down, pressing his lips to hers, and she reciprocated, sliding her tongue into his mouth.
“Wanna get out of here? I know a good Chinese place down the street from my apartment. We could get some to go…"
“Yeah, let’s do that,” Diane said. “I’ll follow you in my car.”
Not too long after, Jim and Diane sat on Jim’s couch, an assortment of Chinese food spread out on the table in front of them. “Wow, you really went all out,” Diane said.
“Yeah, this stuff is delicious. Try one of the egg rolls. The best.”
Diane picked one up and took a bite. She put her hand over her mouth and talked as she chewed. “Mm, you’re right. These are really good.”
The pair continued to talk as they ate. Jim couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this at ease with someone. His tense work environment left little room for friendship. He’d had a few when dating his former girlfriend, but they all left with her during the messy break up. Since then, he’d been on a few dates, but the effortlessness of which he could talk to Diane surprised him.
After they finished eating, Diane followed Jim to his kitchen to help him put away the leftovers. As he opened the fridge, she came up behind him, placing a hand on his arm and a kiss to his shoulder. Jim turned around, exploring her sea mist eyes. She sucked in her lower lip and gave a slight nod, so Jim cupped her face and joined his lips to hers. Soon, Diane’s hands tangled through Jim’s blond hair as she kissed all over his freshly-shaven face. He reached his hand down to squeeze her ass, causing her to yelp. “I’m ticklish,” she said.
“Are you now?” He did it again, and this time, Diane pressed even closer, rubbing against Jim’s quickly-growing erection.
“Do you keep condoms here?” Diane asked.
Jim’s eyes widened. “Oh. So you wanna…”
Diane tilted her head, a smirk lifting the corners of her mouth. “Am I not being clear enough?”
“I mean, yeah, but you teach little kids, and—”
Diane looked around. “I don’t see any of my students here, do you?”
Hopper felt a little silly for bringing it up. “No, I guess not. And yeah, I’ve got condoms.” He groped her all the way to the bedroom, thanking the higher powers that he’d happened to wash his sheets the day before. He backed Diane onto the bed, hovering over her as she pulled his shirt over his head, then slid her hands up and down his chest. When he removed her sweater, he admired her athletic build before trailing kisses down her flat stomach. His breath caught when she unhooked her bra. Seeing breasts for the first time never got old, and Diane’s were little, but cute and perky. She wiggled out of her pants and underwear, and he sat up to admire the view. “Beautiful,” he murmured before hovering over her chest, bringing an erect nipple into his mouth. He noticed that her nipples were the exact same shade of pink as her lips, which amused him, for some reason.
When he removed the last of his clothing, Diane hummed in appreciation and gripped his length to pull him toward her. Jim gritted his teeth until her wet mouth wrapped around his cock, a growl ripped from his throat. After a few playful bobs, Diane pulled away. “It’s a shame we’ve gotta cover it, but cover it, we must.”
Jim grabbed the condom from his bedside drawer and, after rolling it on, positioned himself over her. He guided himself in slowly, and Diane gripped his ass, yanking him toward her. “Is that how you want it?” Jim asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Definitely. Fuck me hard, Jim.”
He didn’t need her to ask again. He thrust into her repeatedly, firm handle on her hips. Diane slipped her hand down to pleasure herself, catching Jim off guard, almost breaking the rhythm he’d found. He could count the number of women he’d slept with on both hands, but he’d never encountered anything like this. Diane knew what she wanted, and she would get it. Jim’s head swam and beads of sweat formed on his forehead. After a little while, his insides signaled impending explosion. Not yet, he told himself. No no no, not yet. Of course, nothing listened. His body jolted, thrown into a torrent of endorphins as he gripped bruises into Diane’s hips. Holding out as long as he could didn’t come without reward, however, as Diane’s orgasm crashed down on her near the end of his. Her legs twitched as she let out several long moans before stilling.
As they lay next to each other, Jim breathed out a sigh. “Damn, that was good.”
“Yeah, it was pretty good, wasn’t it?”
Jim side-eyed Diane. “Pretty good? Wow.”
“Do I gotta stroke your ego or something? Oh, Jim, you’re the best I’ve ever had. You’re a god in bed. I don’t know how I would find pleasure without you.” A ghost of a smirk appeared on her face before Jim realized she was teasing him.
Jim crossed his arms, exaggerating a pout.
“Aw, poor baby!” Diane reached out to rub Jim’s arm. “Big, bad cop man is so sad.”
God, he wanted her again, but would his dick be up to the task this soon? He longed to show her who was boss, to hear from her lips that he was the best fuck she’d ever had. “You better be careful, or you’re going to get it again. And this time, I’ll have you so worked up, you’ll be begging.”
“Is that a promise?”
***
As the early dawn penetrated the curtains, Jim stirred, rolling over to see Diane up and getting dressed. “Hey,” he mumbled. “What’re you doing?”
“I really didn’t mean to fall asleep here. I guess a whole night of fucking will do that.”
Jim smiled. “It’s already five. Might as well stay for breakfast, at least.”
“Yeah, I don’t really—”
“Please?”
Diane sighed, then smiled. “Fine. But only because you asked nicely.”
Jim set a plate of eggs and toast in front of Diane before pouring a glass of orange juice. When he sat down with his plate, he smiled. “Maybe this’ll sound dumb, but it’s been a long time since I’ve felt this good. I had a lot of fun with you last night. Not just—you know, but all of it.”
“I had fun, too, Jim. I just—it’s been two months since my relationship ended. I didn’t tell you, but we were engaged. We both just kinda realized that we weren’t right for each other, you know? But that doesn’t mean I didn’t love him. Still do love him.” Diane half-laughed. “I guess I should have chosen a slightly less charming man to sleep with.”
Jim raised his eyebrows. “So I’m a rebound?” Deep down, he knew that was probably the case, but he deluded himself into thinking otherwise.
“I’m sorry. I do like you.” Diane blew a puff of air. “Listen, I’ve got your number. I’ll call you sometime this week if I want to do this again. If I don’t call, it’s just that I’ve decided the timing’s not great. It’s not you. I just need some time to think. I didn’t expect to like this as much as I have.”
Jim took Diane’s hand, rubbing his thumb against her skin. “I really do hope you call, but I’ll understand if you don’t.”
“Thanks, Jim. I’ve gotta get going. I’m supposed to meet my sister later this morning. This was really nice.”
Jim walked her to the door and gave her a kiss goodbye. He had to show major restraint not to follow her out the door, but he knew that would pretty much ensure she didn’t call. He thought back to Claire, his ex, and the handful of dates since her. No one, not even Claire, made him feel the way Diane did. He needed her. Maybe she held the key to happiness that he so desperately longed for.
Jim moved through his week like nothing had changed, when in reality, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He made arrests, responded to burglaries and shootings, had someone yell, “Pig!” and throw a brick at him, and stopped a group of nine-year-old boys from torturing a cat. Miserable, really. Day in, day out.
On Friday, he left work at six, heading back to his apartment. As he walked inside and threw his keys on the table, the phone rang. He picked it up. “Hello?”
“Jim? It’s Diane.”