life since moving to california has been different, your mother joyce getting a new stay at home job, your older brother jonathan getting high all the time with his new friend argyle, your other older brother will spending more time in his room painting, and your adopted sister eleven- well jane always writing to her boyfriend.

you started having your own struggles, normally you would talk to jonathan but he’s been so busy lately.

right now, you were both currently making a salt bath for el to use her powers in to find max and defeat vecna, before he decides to speak.

“i feel like you use to come to me more for help, or to just… talk you know? cause like you don’t do that anymore. a lot of that is probably my fault, i know i’ve been distant.”

he spoke, guilt evidence in his words- it wasn’t his fault being distant, he’s just been dealing with his shit and you understood that, you nodded your head before you responded.

”or stoned..”

you teased, wanting to make the conversation lighthearted, not wanting to talk about deep stuff, it was hard to talk about stuff like that, but jonathan wanted to.

“or stoned, yeah- the truth is, i miss talking to you. and i think we need to talk more than ever, because things are just getting complicated.”

he said reassuringly, as he continued stirring the salted water, taking a deep breath as he spoke again.

“i don’t want you to forget that im here, no matter what. because your my younger sibling, and i love you. and there is nothing in this world, okay? absolutely nothing, that will ever change that.. you got that?”

he asked, raising an eyebrow, as you nodded tears filling your eyes as you managed to choke out a few words, not wanting to sob in front of your older brother.

”yeah, and i’m always here for you too.”

you choked out, wiping your eyes as he put the stick down before replying.

“i know you are, c’mere.”

he responded, before pulling you into a tight brotherly hug.