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Distantly, Jonathan can hear knocking.
He shoves his face further into his pillow, trying to will away the disruptive sound. When it doesn’t stop, he makes a noise, throwing a hand out to the other side of the bed — where there should be a warm body next to him, but instead there’s nothing but rumpled sheets.
“Will? Jonathan?” a voice calls out. A voice that suspiciously sounds like their mother’s.
Then it all clicks in Jonathan’s sleep-dazed brain. Their parents are visiting today, he remembers. They were meant to arrive shortly after noon — Jonathan lifts his head to peer at the clock on the bedside table, finding it already ten minutes after their planned arrival time.
Shit. They forgot to set an alarm. Again.
They’d been out late the previous night; some of Jonathan’s friends are in a band that manages to get gigs at decent venues. And Will likes their music enough to come along. Although, most nights, wherever one Byers brother can be found, the other isn’t far behind. Even in a city as big as New York.
Jonathan hurries out of bed, grabbing the first set of clothes he can locate. It’s dark in the room — Jonathan hung up black out curtains after one too many hangover complaints from Will — so he’s squinting in the dim light spilling in from the hallway as he tries to find something decent to wear. He manages to pull on a shirt, briefs, and pair of pants before he’s stumbling out of the bedroom and to the front door.
“Sorry,” is the first word out of his mouth as he swings the door open. “Hey, Mom.”
Joyce is wide-eyed when she’s revealed — she probably started to worry at the lack of an appearance from either of her sons after the first knock. Her shoulders drop before she returns, “Hi, honey.” Then she’s reaching up for a hug, and Jonathan leans in to return it.
As she pulls away, her eyes narrow at him. “You said you didn’t have a girlfriend,” she states, visibly bewildered and miffed by something Jonathan’s oblivious to.
“Huh?” He blinks. “I don’t.”
“Then what’s this all over your face?” She starts rubbing at Jonathan’s cheek, and when she pulls her hand away, her fingertips are tinged red.
“Oh,” Jonathan breathes, stomach dropping at the sight. He starts desperately scrubbing at his face, trying to wear away any sign of lipstick on his skin. “That wasn’t uh— It’s just a friend. We were at a show last night and she gets… really friendly when she’s tipsy."
It’s almost the truth, in a way. Jonathan and Will did go to a show last night, and Will did get tipsy, but Will definitely didn’t smear this lipstick all over Jonathan’s face in public. No— that came later, when they were home safe in their apartment, and they couldn’t even make it to the bed at first, so they laid on top of each other on the small couch in the living space, and Will pressed all sorts of kisses to Jonathan’s face. Not friendly ones. Not brotherly ones, either.
And eventually they did make their way to Jonathan’s bedroom. Jonathan probably has lipstick marks elsewhere. Will probably has tear tracks outlined with eyeliner.
“A sexy friend?” Hopper cuts in, with a smirk that means he’s just giving Jonathan shit. He knocks his knuckles against Jonathan’s shoulder as he greets, “Hey, kid.”
Jonathan taps the side of Hop’s arm with a nod. And then there’s a third figure pushing past Joyce and Hopper — El, who launches herself at Jonathan for a tight hug.
“Hi,” Jonathan laughs into her hair. Over her shoulder, he sees Kali in the doorway. Jonathan smiles at her, and Kali nods in return.
El and Kali flew in from Chicago — where the sisters have been sharing an apartment as El works towards her GED and Kali’s working at a tattoo parlor. Joyce and Hopper drove in from Montauk, swinging by the airport to pick up the girls before all four of them arrived here, at Jonathan and Will’s humble apartment.
“Hello,” she says with a grin. As she steps back, her eyes dart around the small space. “Where’s Will?”
Which Jonathan realizes is a very good question — a very important question. If his brother is hiding away in the other bedroom (which is technically Will’s bedroom, but he hardly ever slept in it, only sometimes he lounged inside when he needed alone time) and Will was about to wander out with a face full of smudged makeup, wearing lipstick the same shade of red that’s all over Jonathan’s flushed face; well, they might end up answering a few more important questions.
But then he hears water running and he knows they’re in the clear. For now, at least.
“Showering,” Jonathan answers. He hopes none of them notice the intense relief in his voice.
While they waited for Will to make an appearance, everyone spread out across the apartment. El went to the kitchen to make a pot of her and Will’s favorite coffee, while Joyce and Hopper went to the window, looking out at the admittedly unimpressive view of an alleyway as they discussed their dinner reservation for the evening. Kali interrogated Jonathan about the show he went to the previous night, and they traded more stories about the various bands they managed to see since the last time the entire family met up, both subtly trying to one-up the other.
When Will finally makes his way out of the bathroom — in plain clothes, barefaced and dark hair wet, Joyce and El are immediately at his side, pulling him into hugs and firing off questions. Will’s pure glee at the sight of them, prominent teeth gleaming as he huddles close to his mom and sister. Jonathan can feel his heart clench at the sight; after nearly two decades of seeing his little brother’s smile, it’s a wonder how he still gets palpitations at the sight. Dozens of photographs of that expression, countless inside jokes cracked and mixtapes made and favors done just to make his brother smile. And if anything, it’s only getting worse as the years go on. Will has plenty of reasons to smile these days; now that they’ve escaped Hawkins and they’re chasing their dreams. Still, Jonathan craves the sight of it, goes breathless at it, finds so much purpose in finding ways to create it.
Jonathan tries his best to school his expression. Will, El, and Mom move into the living room, where Kali’s sitting on an armchair in the corner and Jonathan’s lounging on the couch. Hop claps Will’s shoulder as Will settles down next to Jonathan.
Their thighs are pressed together suddenly, and Jonathan has to inch away, creating a bit of space between them. Will notices, searching Jonathan’s face — it’s unfortunate that they don’t have the same telepathic bond as their sisters. The dilemma Jonathan’s created is too complex to convey in a single look.
Keep your distance, he tries to say.
Mom sits on the other side of Will. El brings Will a mug of coffee before she squishes into the armchair with Kali. Hopper hovers near the windows with his arms crossed.
“Will,” Mom starts, placing a hand on Will’s knee. “Tell me about your brother’s girlfriend.”
“What?” Will laughs, eyes going wide. His head swivels between Joyce and Jonathan. “He doesn’t—”
“My friend,” Jonathan corrects, attempting to clue Will into his previous lie.
“Fine, your friend.” Joyce leans forward to give Jonathan an unimpressed look, before she turns her attention back to Will. “Your brother’s friend who left lipstick all over his face.”
“Oh,” Will says, the sound punched out of him. He looks to Jonathan immediately, as warily as Jonathan feels. “That wasn’t— She’s just—”
“Friendly,” Jonathan repeats. “I already told you, Mom, she’s very friendly when she’s tipsy.”
He can’t help the private little smile he gives Will. His brother smiles back, a little sheepishly, a flush on his neck that threatens to overtake his face if they don’t manage to change the topic soon enough. Will tries to hide himself behind his mug.
“I don’t care about Jonathan’s friend,” El blurts, ever the savior. “I want to know if Will has any boyfriends.”
“Now, why would Will need a boyfriend?” Joyce pats at Will’s knee. “He’s already got Jonathan here to take care of him.”
In an instant, Will’s choking on his coffee.
Jonathan’s nerves, already soaring, fly even higher as he reaches out to thump Will’s back. Joyce’s hand moves to Will’s other shoulder, trying to soothe his coughing fit.
“Jesus, Joyce. All that work we did to keep him alive and you go and kill him yourself,” Hop deadpans.
“Mom,” Will wheezes out, horrified.
Jonathan’s horrified too. Neither of them are horrified for the right reasons.
Joyce throws a glare Hop’s way before she says to Will, “I didn’t mean it like that.” She’s still rubbing at Will’s shoulder, a strange, shaky smile on her face as she clarifies, “I mean, you don’t need to be running around this city with a stranger. You like spending time with your brother, don’t you? He looks after you, he takes care of you. That’s all I want for my baby.”
Will meets Jonathan’s gaze, who has to turn away soon after — because Will’s eyes are slightly red and teary. Like they’d been last night, when—
Well, Jonathan didn’t really take care of his brother. If anything, Will took care of Jonathan.
Except, that’s not really true either. At least, not early in the night. Not when Will showed up with his younger group of friends, all of them with their faces painted pale, their lips and eyes all dark. It’s always the same, every time Will goes the extra mile to enjoy the alternative scene in the city — Jonathan’s dumbstruck at the sight, eyes glued to his brother the entire night. Will’s always pretty, of course — Jonathan wouldn’t have so many photographs of him if that wasn’t the case — but he has an extra glow about him when he’s all dolled up, when he gets to turn Zombie Boy inside out.
The city’s been a gift to both of them. Jonathan has loved film school and all his new friends with their off the wall bands, but seeing Will come into his own — so happy and comfortable in a way he could never be in Hawkins — has easily been the best part.
They had debated going out the night before their family was visiting, but the venue was a favorite, and Jonathan’s friends would kill him if he hadn’t showed, and Will promised he wouldn’t get sloshed which—
Yeah, no. Will always has one too many drinks when he’s out. That’s why Jonathan always goes out with him, so Will has a shoulder he can lean on in the subway ride back to their apartment.
And at their apartment, Jonathan continues to look out for him in different ways. Sometimes it was helping Will out of his clothes, sometimes it was… Making sure Will didn’t suffocate himself.
Last night was the latter.
After Will reached for Jonathan’s belt one too many times while they kissed on the couch, Jonathan finally wrangled him onto the bed, and Will didn’t leave any room for discussion as he settled between Jonathan’s legs, fishing out Jonathan’s half-hard length and pressing it against his mouth.
It was a gorgeous sight — Will was a pale-faced angel in the privacy of their room. His lipstick’s already smudged everywhere, but now it’ll be all up and down Jonathan’s cock. Will always starts with little kisses when he gives head, teasing and testing until Jonathan’s aching for it.
Jonathan’s head fell back into his pillow at the sensation. He was ready to sleep after the busy night, but he could will himself awake long enough to get off (hopefully).
A pathetic sound snuck out of Jonathan’s throat when Will pulled Jonathan into his mouth. It’s heaven, for a moment, but then he heard, and felt, as Will pushed him too far down his throat, gagging around him. Except, Will didn’t pull back, seemingly determined to see it through. Jonathan wasn’t having any of that — for many reasons, one being he just washed his sheets. “Whoa, hey, hey—” he tried as he grabbed Will by his wild hair, tugging Will off of his dick. Thick strings of saliva still connected Will’s red, red lips to his cockhead as Will’s empty mouth panted. “Too much, bud. You’re gonna hurt yourself.”
Will shuffled forward. “Jonathan,” he mumbled against the side of Jonathan’s length, dark eyes barely open. “I love your cock.”
Jonathan inhaled. It wasn’t a revelation; far from it — he knew how much Will loved, enjoyed, and craved him every day. Sober or drunk, after a night out or before class in the morning. They’re both so busy now, in this city where they’ve made so many new friends and finally have the means to seize their dreams. But it’s like Will still can’t get enough of him, like he’s still that little boy that used to grab Jonathan by the hand and drag him out into the woods to play pretend in Castle Byers.
When they built the fort, it was a manifestation of everything Jonathan wanted for Will. Someplace safe. Someplace he was free to do whatever he wanted, without having to worry about anyone’s judgement.
New York is three hundred square miles of Castle Byers. (For the most part, Jonathan still looks out for him.) He was never selfish enough to include himself in his dreams for what Will’s life could be like one day. Of course, he always wanted to be in his brother’s life, in one way or another. He didn’t dare dream for this. For this amazing, secret, scary little thing they’ve turned into.
Now, Will has everything he needs. A flourishing social life full of freaks just like him. An impressive college portfolio which will lead to a prosperous career. And his big brother’s cock.
“It loves you too,” Jonathan breathed, half-laughing. “I love you too.”
“Mmhmm. Love you.”
Will wrapped his lips around Jonathan’s cockhead again, humming as he suckled. He didn’t try to swallow down again, thankfully heeding Jonathan’s gentle words. Now, it was on Jonathan to keep his dick at a reasonable depth, the hot suction of his brother’s mouth was almost too tempting, his hips flexing with the need to buck up into it. Instead, he breathed through it, shaky and desperate and just wanting to—
Without warning, Will pulled off again. “Jonathan?” he asked, bordering on a whine, voice raspy from a night of singing and screaming with his friends.
Jonathan was so keyed up, he almost wanted to beg for Will’s mouth back on his cock. “Yeah, buddy?” he managed to respond eventually.
Will’s tone was curious and calm as he continued, “Are you gonna fuck me?” His breath was warm against Jonathan’s spit-slicked dick.
It was a nice thought, leading to many pleasant ideas in Jonathan’s head. Will bent over, or Will’s knees pressed to his chest. Will’s rough voice hiccuping at moans with each shallow thrust. It wouldn’t take much, Jonathan’s so far gone, he might be spilling inside his brother on the first thrust.
“Not— Not tonight,” Jonathan said. He wasn’t sure whose ego he was attempting to save. Both, maybe. “I think that’s too much for you tonight.”
Will’s eyes slipped closed — as if processing Jonathan’s words and keeping them open at the same time was an impossible task. “Oh, okay.” He sounded dejected by this decree from his older brother, but he didn’t try to argue. “Can I fuck you instead?”
Jonathan couldn’t hide the way his dick twitched at the question. Will wasn’t going to sleep until he was satisfied, so he threw a hand out to the nightstand. The words were out of his mouth without another moment of consideration, “Sure, yeah, let me—”
“I got it,” Will blurted, pushing at Jonathan’s legs before his head dipped lower, and he pressed his tongue against Jonathan’s hole.
All Jonathan could do was shiver and fist the bedsheets as Will opened him up. They’ve learned the ins and outs of each other, all the places to touch, all the things to say, to make the other fall apart. Will was working efficiently, especially after he allowed Jonathan to grab the lube from the nightstand, but he was still enjoying himself as he moved all around. He licked at Jonathan’s insides, mouthed at his balls, kissed his thighs, and sucked on his cock again as Will worked his fingers in and out. Then Will started pressing in deeper, caressing the spot that made Jonathan shudder uncontrollably. Jonathan tried, in vain, to push at Will’s forehead, the dual pleasure too much. “Wait, Will—”
But his brother kept on bobbing, humming, and finger-fucking him, either too in-the-zone to care, or eager for some spunk in his throat. Either of which—
“Shit,” Jonathan cursed, entire face scrunching as he came.
Will swallowed around him, and he kept sucking until Jonathan’s body went lax. Then he popped off with a wet noise and maneuvered Jonathan’s exhausted body onto his stomach.
In the haze, Jonathan could feel Will pushing his dick into him, could hear all the desperate, high whimpers Will made at the feeling of Jonathan around him, and he could shiver as Will bit at Jonathan’s shoulders and neck.
He doesn’t remember if Will came. He must have. Jonathan probably fell asleep before. It wouldn’t be a first, for either of them; so at peace with the other’s presence, completely trusting to let the other use them as they please.
It was as if one moment, Jonathan’s getting railed by his brother, and the next, he’s waking up alone in bed, hearing his mother’s voice.
And now he’s sitting with his entire family, desperately trying to keep his cool. He shouldn’t be thinking about last night, that’s for sure. Not with Will’s glassy eyes peering at him.
It’s easy, too easy, to conjure the same eyes painted all black, gazing down so lovingly at Jonathan’s cock.
I love your cock.
God. Jonathan’s just as obsessed with Will’s — can still feel the slight stretch he left him with. He’s obsessed with every part of Will. Big eyes, beautiful lips. Gentle hands, plush thighs, and the ass that got him so much attention at the lively gay bars around the city. But Jonathan appreciates the whole of him, the parts that the other bar patrons can’t see in a simple glimpse.
Will’s a fighter and a lover, tough and delicate. He’s a needy little shit. He’s been through more than most could ever bear, and still grins like an angel. He’s clever and talented and deserves every good thing coming his way.
And he’s Jonathan’s brother. And Jonathan loves him so fucking much. He didn’t know it was possible to love Will anymore than he already had, growing up at his side in Hawkins. But Jonathan falls deeper every day. A city of strangers, some that even vie for his attention, but Jonathan still only has eyes for his brother.
“I…” he hears Will start, back in the presence. His voice sounds as distant as Jonathan feels. “I don’t have a boyfriend, El.”
It shouldn’t hurt to hear Will say it, but it always does. Sometimes they go out alone, without any friends, and they can hold hands or Jonathan can have a hand planted on Will’s thigh as they sit side by side on barstools. Really, it isn’t anything too out of the norm of their typical behavior around friends and family, they’ve always been tactile with each other, long before either of them fully understood why. But, if anyone comes up and tries to make conversation with them, they can say, This is my boyfriend.
It’s also a lie in its own way. They’ll always be brothers, first and foremost.
El searches Will’s face. “The boy from your literature class—”
“It didn’t work out,” Will cuts in, waving a hand dismissively. “Honestly, I don’t think I have time for dating right now. I’m so busy with my classes, I can’t imagine trying to get to know someone in between it all.
“You’re a good boy, you’re focused on school,” Joyce says. “Maybe when you graduate, you can move out to Montauk and we’ll find you a nice boy there.”
Will’s lips twitch for a brief moment. “I don’t know, Mom. I’m happy right here.” He turns to face Jonathan, and Jonathan feels his heart seize at the warm look on his brother’s face. “I guess, you aren’t wrong… I do like spending time with Jonathan.”
There isn’t anything Jonathan could say in response that wouldn’t be far too revealing. He doesn’t think he could manage to form an entire sentence anyway, with the range of emotions swirling in his chest.
“Your brother should come too, and the girls, and we could all enjoy each other’s company together, all the time!”
Jonathan doesn’t miss the little looks El and Kali give each other after Joyce voices her wishes. They’re probably enjoying their freedom away from Hopper as much as Jonathan and Will are appreciating their time away from Joyce.
They manage to steer the conversation away from girlfriends, boyfriends, or the possibility of moving out of the city. They trade stories from the past week, but they all regularly keep in touch, there isn’t anything groundbreaking to discuss. Jonathan hears from Joyce almost every day, as well as El. While he doesn’t talk on the phone with Hopper or Kali directly, he still hears quite a bit about them through Joyce and El.
Eventually, Joyce and Hopper have to head out to catch their dinner reservations. They’ll all meet up again in the morning, but Joyce still litters Will and Jonathan’s faces with kisses.
With their parents gone, Jonathan and Will relax a bit more with only El and Kali’s presence. They trade more stories they wouldn’t want Hopper or Joyce to know about. El rolls up her sleeves and shows off the latest tattoo Kali inked for her. A year ago, El got a butterfly coverup for her number, and she loved it so much that she’s been slowly decorating her arm with more and more of Kali’s designs. El’s eyes light up when she explains the meaning behind each, as do Kali’s eyes when Will compliments her new hair — which is streaked red on El’s request, according to her sister.
Eventually, El and Kali also have to head out, they’re meeting up with some of Kali’s friends before going out. They invite Jonathan and Will along, but neither brother is wearing anything presentable to go out in (and Jonathan still needs to shower) so they agree to meet up later.
El hugs Will and Jonathan before they head out. As she pulls away from Jonathan, she says, very seriously, “Are there zombies in New York?”
Jonathan blinks at her. Sometimes, it was difficult to tell when she was joking. “What?” he laughs.
“Your neck—” El touches the back of Jonathan’s neck, which causes him to flinch, discovering he’s sensitive there, at the moment. “It looks like your friend tried to maul you.”
Jonathan slaps a hand on the back of his neck, feeling the bruised flesh from a fresh hickie. “She’s, uh…” But he’s too flustered, and can’t think of a half-decent excuse. Will bites his lip, and Jonathan can’t tell if he’s holding back a laugh or a yelp.
El returns to Kali’s side, entangling their hands as they get ready to leave. Kali isn’t a hugger so she just waves at the brothers.
“By the way,” Kali says, as El opens the door telepathically. “I like the photograph on your fridge.”
Which has Will and Jonathan’s heads swiveling to the kitchen, to their dinky fridge littered with gift shop magnets. In the center, there’s a polaroid taken by one of Will’s friends of the two of them backstage at a show. They’re both smiling, Will’s got an arm around Jonathan’s shoulders, and Jonathan’s holding Will by his waist. Jonathan’s in his typical attire, dark jeans and a denim jacket. Will, on the other hand, his face painted white, his eyes painted black, and his lips painted an all-too-familiar shade of red.
Will and Jonathan turn to each other wide-eyed.
El and Kali are already out the door.
They stare in silence for a long moment, before Jonathan has to break it, “Do you think Mom saw it?” He can handle Kali and El knowing, but Mom—
Will lets out a humorless laugh. “Your brother takes care of you,” he mocks in a high tone. “Yeah, Jonathan, I think she noticed.”
And, well. At least she didn’t seem upset.