Work Text:
Walking through the Hawkin's hospitals sterile, white, hospital corridors, Joyce was fidgeting with her sleeves and occasionally, missing a turn. She knew that a conversation with Karen was imminent. That didn't make it any less nerve-wracking.
Joyce had been leading her kids into battle for multiple years against inter-dimensional monsters and now, she had to face a fully informed Karen. She'd probably think of her as a monster herself. Keeping such a secret. Joyce wouldn't blame her.
Hopper had wanted to tag along. Whether that was for a distraction or to actually see Karen, Joyce was pretty sure it was the former. However, she didn't have to give an answer because on that same Monday morning, Jonathan needed to do some errands. Between discussing his traumas whilst sitting in on a heart felt conversations and running errands, Hopper didn't spend time choosing. It was Hopper, after all and at that moment, Joyce didn't fault his decision. It was going to be one hell of a talk that Joyce herself felt heavily unprepared for.
At last, she reached Karen's room. Taking a couple of deep breathes to ensure she wouldn't begin hyperventilating, she entered the hospital room.
Joyce had previously talked with Karen over the phone. Light-hearted words and idle talk was all it contained. Now, Joyce would be forced to discuss the real issues and turn on the light. As her gaze landed on the beaten up woman on the bed, she couldn't suppress her shock. Karen's injuries were nothing short of terrible and her face must have picked this up, even if she tried to school her expression.
"Hey. That demogorgan got me pretty good didn't it? At least, that's what I hear they're called?" Her tone wasn't bitter. Nor were her words said in a way which criticised Joyce. I anything, her words were as light as they'd been over the phone.
Joyce didn't deserve sugar coating. She'd been dragging her kids into danger and this was how Karen reacted. She perched on the chair beside her bed, "I'm so so sorry."
Karen didn't react well to the remorse, "You're kidding, right? You saved my kids when I couldn't, Joyce. You have nothing to apologise for."
Joyce shrugged, placing her bag down, "Can't help but feel bad. We should have told you it was-"
"I've already endured this talk with Nancy and I won't do it again. I'll admit, I was a little pissed at first but now I've heard everything, I understand why you didn't tell me."
Joyce nodded with a huff. "How's the injuries?"
"Not too bad. I'm constantly being checked because they don't want my gash to be infected. Apart from that, there's nothing terrible. Even if I was in pain, I can't feel it because of the amount of morphine being injected into me." Noting her guilty expression, it was Karen's turn to sigh, "Please, listen to me Joyce. Don't feel bad."
Joyce shrugged again, "Can't help it. You must have been surprised when you found out."
"Surprised is an under statement. I knew that something was going on, just didn't know what. Between the monsters and Jim being in a Russian prison, I definitely had my fair share of shock. Anyway I'm sick of talking about such shitty things. On the topic of a certain dead man..." Karen's brows proceeded to raise knowingly. Nancy clearly didn't miss out on the part about Joyce and Hopper whilst giving the debrief. "Wasn't to much of a shock when I found that out."
Joyce lightly chuckled, grateful for the topic. Normally, she'd avoid discussing her love life with her son's best friend's mother. However, she felt as though Karen, being her peppy self, wouldn't want to remain on the gloomy topics for long. Joyce felt her cheeks redden as she replied, "Well... yes."
"I thought you had that glow when you walked into the room. Even if you were nervous."
"That glow?" Joyce repeated, confused as to what Karen meant.
Then, it dawned on her just as Karen offered an explanation, "Someone who's being satisfied." She finished with a wink.
For a moment, Joyce was unable to form words. She stuttered so much that her answer was inarticulate.
Karen's smile only widened, "Tell me some gossip Joyce. I'm in a chronic condition. When did you get together? Where? "
Joyce rolled her eyes at the way she discussed her condition. Karen exaggerated her words, making it seem as though she actually wasn't in a chronic condition when she most definitely was. When Karen gestured for her to spill, she was slightly taken aback, thinking that the woman was kidding, "You really want to know?"
"Of course. Start with the where."
Joyce bit her lip, fighting back her love-struck smile that arose when thinking of Hopper as she said, "I don't know how much you've been told about Russia. But, when we'd broken out the prison."
Karen's lips twitched at the edges, "That's all you're telling me, Joyce? Come on, tell me more! I want a minute by minute break down."
"Okay, okay," Joyce replied, taking herself by surprise by enjoying revealing the events. Maybe it was because she hadn't with anyone but her kids yet. Who, for obvious reasons, didn't receive a minute by minute break down. "We were waiting for a phone call in this abandoned church filled with peanut butter and guns."
"A church?" Karen actually laughed, "Very holy."
"Yeah. Though, it hadn't been used as a church for a long time. Anyway, we were waiting for a phone call, from the states, about getting out of there. In the meantime, we found some clothes because we were filthy."
"So it was you and Jim, in a church, alone, getting dressed?" Karen asked.
Joyce smiled to herself, "Yeah."
"Keep going," Karen encouraged. Joyce knew that if she could, the woman would be seated on the edge of her seat. "Don't hold back anything."
"So, we were in the church and I found some clothes. Very colourful. I handed him his clothes then I said I'd go to one side of the big room, he'd go to the other. Then, I got changed but his back caught my eye."
"His back?" Karen questioned, confused.
"Yeah, he wasn't in a good state." Joyce grimaced at the memory knowing that the images of his scars would forever be imprinted into her mind. "So, I approached him and we started talking."
"Flirty or sympathetic?"
"At first it was sympathetic. But, we ended up talking about our date we'd decided to go on the day he 'died'."
"Tell me what you said? What did he say?"
"We were talking about the food, how he'd been dreaming about it. And then the words suddenly had a double meaning and we were... kissing."
"You made out with Hopper in a church? Joyce Byers, wow. Just wow. What was it like?" Karen continued to persist.
Joyce laughed, thinking she was jesting at first. At the realisations he wasn't, she said, "Can't believe I'm telling you this but... it was amazing. he just knew where to put his hands."
Karen smirked, "You deserve that, more than anybody. Did you go past first base?"
"We were... about to. But, the damn phone rang," Joyce revealed.
Karen appeared as disappointed as Joyce felt at the time. "I'm guessing you answered it?"
Joyce nodded glumly, "Yeah."
"Tell me when this was. Just before you returned back to Hawkins? Have you been keeping him a secret from when you left Hawkins?"
"The first. We'd been in Cali for eight months and then, I got a letter and it all went to shit from there."
"Jeez," Karen muttered, her intrigued tone not yet extinguished. "Tell me more. When you were staying at mine, did you sneak out at night or during the day?"
Smiling at the thought, she replied, "At first, it was during the day. But, I may or may not have sneaked out a few times."
"God, Joyce. All you had to do was tell me you were getting some action, didn't even need to mention who, and I would have let you use the front door. Tell me, how long did it take to go past first base?"
Joyce sighed, realising that Karen really was interested in her romantic life. There really was no backing out of this. Didn't Joyce owe the woman a wagon load already? Wasn't this a way of repaying? Joyce knew that even if she didn't owe Karen, she'd still be digging for scraps of information. With a sigh and pink cheeks, she revealed, "Not long."
"In days, or hours. Give me a time frame."
If it was possible for Joyce to become more flustered, she did whilst recalling the event. It wasn't in a crappy Alaskan hotel. That was where they patched up one another's wounds and held each other close to reduce the amount of inevitable nightmares. Actually, it was in the cabin. El was at the radio station with Max all day and finally they'd been granted some alone time. Joyce explained this.
Karen gasped, "In the daytime? Did it go from one to ten quickly or was it a slow and long lasting thing."
Continuing not to believe she was speaking about this, she muttered, "We had nothing else to do so it was long."
"And, is he as good as they say?" Karen asked with a smirk.
Joyce knew the answer: yes. If anything, he was better. But, she'd already discussed more about her sex life than had ever been voiced before so she shook her head, "I'm not telling you that."
"He is!" Karen inferred, clapping her hands. "And was it just a 'home run' so to speak or did you spend a little time at second and third base first."
"I'm not telling you that!" Joyce repeated, tone likely giving Karen all the answers she required. Of course they did. But, Joyce was never going to announce that aloud, even to the person who was sat in front of her in a hospital bed.
"Come on, Joyce. Give me something to work with. Why did you think I asked you to come to visit me for a talk? Ted is boring me and I need some details about someone else's exciting life. Is he a top or a bottom?"
Subconsciously, Joyce smiled. Counter acting her recent vow she inwardly made she answered, "A mix."
"Meaning?" Karen persisted.
"He gives me the option. Sometimes, he enjoys being in control but sometimes, he enjoys being, you know, being bossed around a little."
"Joyce Byers!" Karen gasped again, clearly thriving with each revelation. "What's he like when in charge? Confident?"
"If you want a word, then that's it."
"You don't understand how much you deserve this Joyce. After everything I've heard, you really are in need of some stress relief."
Again, Joyce smiled, breaking the eye contact, "Please, just swear you won't tell anyone."
"No one to tell. They all left Hawkins at the news of an 'earthquake.' I won't though, even I they do come back."
Joyce breathed, "Thank you." The last thing she needed was word travelling back to Hopper. Or, worse, the kids.
"No, thank you. Promise me you'll give me updates?"
"Updates?" Joyce choked, knowing her meaning but was taken aback by the request. Never has she ever been asked to update anyone on her sex life. When Karen nodded, she agreed. "Okay, then."
"We'll discuss it over wine on Friday. I should be home by then," Karen proposed.
Joyce shrugged, "What makes you think something will happen between now and then?"
"Don't pretend Joyce. I know a couple who are acting as though they're on their honeymoon. And, when I'm home, feel free to let the kids stay at ours. Nancy mentioned a cabin. I'm guessing it has thin walls."
"It does," Joyce replied. "But, we should be offering to look after your kids, not the other way round."
"You already have been looking after my kids," Karen stated. "Now, it's time for you to have a little fun."