Bonding In

Sibling Arrest

Disclaimer: I was inspired by a post I saw on Tumbr for this.

As day turned to night and Jonathan drove the Pizza Van in the direction towards Hawkins, Indiana, he couldn't help but look at Jane/El in the seat next to him. His sister in all but blood and part of him wished the blood was included while hating that she'd been forced to lose her hair yet again. "I'm sorry I never got a chance to say this, but what happened at the rink didn't make you a bad person or a monster." He told her softly.

Not wanting to chance waking up the others as El turned to look at him in surprise. "You really think so?" Asked the young woman with a waver to her voice.

Jonathan gave her a firm look as he nodded. "I do. You were just at the end of your rope with a bully and I know how that can feel. It just means you're as Human as the rest of us."

"How… How can you really know that for sure?" Wondered the girl hesitantly.

"Because I did somethin' similar to Steve Harrington back when Will had first been taken and got arrested for it. So we've got that in common."

"R-Really?"

"Really, only, I used my fists instead of a skate and it ultimately gave him a wake up call. Like I told Will at Surfer Boy, I'm sorry I wasn't there for you as much either due to me dealing with my own shit. I don't want to make that mistake again with anyone in my family." Jonathan told her.

"I'm family?"

That she had to ask that broke Jonathan's heart as he looked at her. "Well, yeah. I thought you knew." He replied, like it should've been the most obvious thing in the world.

But in retrospect, it probably wasn't for her given all the shit she'd been forced to deal with and he hated that he hadn't made it clearer much sooner that she's family. El couldn't help but smile at his words while her eyes grew wet. "I… I think I knew but I wasn't certain. I am certain now though."

Jonathan smiled at her and motioned for her to reach over for the two to hug while driving carefully. "Do, do you think Angela will do like Steve did with the wake up call?" Wondered El after reluctantly pulling away from her big brother.

"One can hope, but if it doesn't, that's her loss and not yours."

Part of El wondered if that would happen but felt that would be something to worry about after dealing with 01's threat to the world while hoping like crazy the others, Max especially, were as okay as they could be back in Hawkins. "Do you think Will will end up arrested like us?" She found herself wondering and Jonathan couldn't help but laugh.

"It'd be one heck of a tradition for us to have but hopefully he won't. Mom probably wouldn't be able to handle it."

"Do you think she'll be able to handle it when she finds out I got arrested?"

"If her reaction is anything like how it was with me, I doubt it. But I'll just tell her you were followin' in my footsteps."

"But that'll get you in trouble." Pointed out El worriedly.

But all Jonathan did was grin at her in return. "Exactly, its what big brothers are for. To take the heat for their Siblings when needed."

"Oh. I will make sure to remember that." Her brother chuckled over that as he began to fiddle with the radio.

"You ever figure out what kind of music you like?"

El shook her head. "Well, another thing I'm gonna work on then when we get the time. Why don't you pick what we listen too that sounds good to you." He suggested and tentatively, she began to mess with the radio before ultimately finding something that reminded her of what Max had playing that night after their trip to the Mall.

"Found your interest then?" Jonathan asked supportively.

"It, makes me think of Max but… I do like it."

"And that's the important thing." He told her and El smiled while wiping at her eyes as the drive continued onwards.

Unnoticed to the two, Will had been watching in silence with a smile on his face due to not being much of a sleeper after what he'd been through. The sight of his brother and their sister bonding made him happy and when he got a chance after everything was dealt with, he was gonna make some art to showcase the Byers family in all its awesome. "Eden, have you met Nina? She's a really small woman." Muttered Argyle in his sleep, causing Will to shake his head while his siblings couldn't help but grin in amusement.

Well, perhaps exasperated amusement in Jonathan's case.

Authored Notes: This was really fun to write.